It's the beggining of the end peoples. Shouldn't be too much longer now! -dances- I'll be finished before christmas! Haha! About time too, this story has taken up a lot of my time and effort, so, it's been draining away at other stories I want to finish i.e Luffy's first day, Alone, One Piece's messed up fairy tales. Stuff like that. But, it's had a good run this story. Dissapointed that people lost interest though. I went from an average of ten to fifteen reviews, to about 5, so, yeah. But, anyhoo. It went over two hundred! -squeals- how cool is that?

Still, if you could review, I would be really, really happy.

Okay, gonna shut up now.

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Chapter 28: House of horrors

Stopping suddenly in front of the others, Luffy's blood ran cold.

"G-guys. I just remembered something…" he muttered. Sanji peered over his shoulder.

"What?"

"Zoro's swords… they weren't in the car when we left." he replied.

"Now you decide to tell us!?" Nami yelled, angry that this had only just come to her attention.

"We don't have time. If we want to help Zoro, we're going to have to just go into this house and figure everything out. We'll find Zoro's swords afterwards." Sanji added, not usually one for cooling a situation where his wonderful Nami was upset, but, he wanted to get moving. This place was more than a little unsettling. Dark alleyways and worrying circumstances had never really sat well with Sanji. Not at all. He had been exposed to too many as a kid.

But, it wasn't time to think about that now. Luffy was distracted for a moment, thinking about what Zoro would do before he nodded and they continued in the direction they had been heading before. It didn't take long to reach the area. Luffy gazed up at the two storey house that was sitting at the end of a cul-de-sac. How Luffy knew what a cul-de-sac was, was beyond anyone's comprehension. But he did, and that's where the group found themselves.

"Do you think that's it?" Chopper asked.

"Yeah…" Nami replied, slightly breathless. They had been standing still for a full five minutes while everyone stared at the building. It was old, and rickety and it looked like it was a real fixer upper.

"It's c-creepy." Usopp whimpered. Sanji privately agreed with Usopp… but he didn't show it. He wrapped his hand in Nami's as Luffy began moving slowly towards the house. He was the first to reach the door, while the others stood in a small group behind him. It made the hairs on the back of their neck stand up, and goose-bumps appeared on their arms and legs. Nami shivered slightly.

"I don't like this place Sanji…" she muttered softly. Sanji nodded, tightening his hand in hers, ever so slightly before Luffy pushed the door open. It creaked loudly and they all jumped, not expecting the noise in the silence. Not even birds seemed to call around this place. Luffy moved inside, tentatively placing a foot down on scratched and old floor boards.

"I-I might j-just stay out here on g-guard." Usopp whimpered, taking a long step back from the door.

"Sure Usopp. But, the first one to get eaten by ghosts is always the one who decides to take watch." Sanji commented with a wry smile. Usopp stiffened visibly and then hurried through the door.

"Right. I'll come with you guys After all, it's not like anyone's going to care that we're in here." and he stayed right beside Sanji all the way into the house. Luffy was looking around, his jaw slack with amazement and interest. He had never seen anything like this place.

It was a dump, but it was a regal looking dump. The walls were tall, and the staircase was wide. It was almost like entering a very old palace or something. Pictures with a blank background, covered the walls.

There were no spider webs, no bugs to speak of. And the doors had been painted a dark red. Almost like rust. It had a nice affect. Nam let go of Sanji's hand to walk over to one of them, and she brushed a hand across it before pausing, her face going pale.

"Nami? What's wrong?" Usopp panicked, looking around wildly for what could have been the cause of Nami's fear. The orange haired woman turned a faint shade of blue and jumped away from the door, wiping her hands furiously over her skirt as she did so.

"It's… blood. Dried blood." She squeaked, looking thoroughly disgusted. Luffy frowned and walked over to the door Nami had touched, before swiping a hand across it. He pulled his fingers away and rubbed them together before nodding in confirmation.

"Yeah. It's blood." and he wiped his hand on his shirt slowly as he searched the door for a handle. Finding it, Luffy laid a hand on the knob and then pushed the door open to reveal a grand study.

"Wow!" Usopp commented behind him. Everyone stared at the boy before he shrugged, "Thought it looked cool." Luffy ignored this as he walked in, searching for something that might help him free Zoro. Paper clippings about a mass murderer were spread everywhere, the slowly rising sun hitting them through a stained glass window. In the window, was a picture of a Panther, with cruelly glinting claws that were longer than what looked normal.

It's mouth was stretched in a silent growl while it's bright yellow eyes seemed to watch their every move. Luffy turned away from the mirror and went over to a cupboard that was sitting in the corner. It had a large padlock on it, but Luffy soon disposed of that.

He smashed his fist down on it and it snapped open, breaking and falling to the ground in two pieces. The doors creaked open, dust spiralling out. Inside, was an assortment of prettily dressed dolls. Some were porcelain, while others were vinyl. Some looked well played with, while others didn't look played with at all.

"They're so pretty." Chopper whispered as he stepped up beside Luffy. The boy tilted his head before reaching in and drawing out a particularly well played with one.

"Wonder who they belonged to." Nami muttered as she picked up a porcelain figure and cradled it in her arms. Luffy shrugged as he studied the doll. He turned it over and his eyes widened slightly at the name that was imprinted on the back of the doll.

"Property of Miki Power." Sanji read aloud from over Luffy's shoulder. Nami looked up and so did Usopp.

"That's the name of the girl that Zoro was said to have murdered." Usopp added. Luffy nodded again.

"Yeah. This must definitely be the house then." Luffy said before gently placing the doll back on it's shelf. The others replaced the dolls they had been looking at and Luffy closed the doors before turning around and moving back towards the door.

"Zoro said they were murdered in a bedroom. The bedrooms look like they'd be upstairs." Luffy commented as he slid out the door. The others followed hurriedly, noticing the serious change that seemed to have come over the young man. It was strange, unusual… and a little frightening. Luffy was calm, too calm almost. He was looking for something and it felt like the others were just there as a cheer squad.

"Sanji, you and Nami go that way." Luffy instructed as they reached the top of the dangerously rickety stairs, "Usopp, you and I will go this way. Chopper, you can come with me and Usopp, or Nami and Sanji. Your decision."

"I wanna go with you Luffy." Chopper said and bounded over to him. Luffy nodded, smiling, before he turned and began walking in the opposite direction as Nami and Sanji.

"Think we'll find anything?" Usopp asked anxiously as he looked around. Luffy shrugged and grinned, carefree attitude playing through again.

"We'll find out when we find something." he replied and chuckled.

---

The four would be 'heroes' were piled into Smoker's car, Tashigi and the old man himself in the front and Zoro and Ace in the back. Zoro was pondering over how he had gotten his swords back when he had specifically instructed Luffy to look after them. It was a strange incidence and the only thing he could think of, was that Smoker or Tashigi must have stolen them out of his companion's car.

That had to be it! It pissed him right off that they had done that, but then, he needed them for what they were going to do anyway. Whatever that was. Who knew? Going to stop a murderer that Smoker would reveal nothing about. Tashigi glanced back at the two men before speaking to Smoker.

The glass that separated the front from the back, was apparently sound proof. Zoro paused, watching the woman's lips carefully to see if he could figure out what she was saying. It was no use, she kept turning her head away and putting her hand over her mouth when she spoke. Zoro sighed in frustration before leaning back in the seat.

"So, you never told me." Ace said beside him, arms folded casually over his chest. Zoro didn't even glance at him.

"Told you what?" he growled, annoyed. This apparently 'short' trip was taking a hell of a long time.

"About Luffy. How is he?"

"Fine. Sort of." Zoro replied, but that's all the answer he would offer up. If Ace wanted to know more, than the man would have to ask the right question. Or more correctly, the direct question.

"So, how do you know him?" Ace asked, pausing a moment to readjust the black police jacket Smoker had made him wear.

"We met somewhere. Saved his life. Travelled together for a while." Zoro replied, looking out the window. That day when he had shoved Luffy down an alleyway, seemed such a long time ago now. And his life had changed so much since Luffy came into it as well.

"You saved his life?" Ace asked, a wry smile sneaking onto his face, "What was he up to?" and Zoro turned to him, his brows creasing slightly.

"You sound like you were expecting it."

"Well, with someone like Luffy, you really have to expect anything." Ace replied and chuckled. Zoro smiled.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. He's a really smart guy." Zoro said. Ace nodded.

"When he needs to be. He's not a smart guy by nature. Man, he must be so different now. What's he look like?" and Ace turned on the seat, crossing his legs and leaning his arms on his knees. Zoro paused a moment, wondering what kind of a question that could be. But then, Ace probably hadn't seen Luffy for a while, so Zoro was willing to comply.

"He's about this high," and he indicated with a hand that Luffy was as high as his eyes, "He's skinny. Really skinny, almost scrawny really. And he has a wide grin plastered on his face… all the time." and Zoro smiled, his eyes staring at a spot on the chair in front of him, but he wasn't staring at the spot. He was thinking about Luffy. Those wide eyes that crinkled with joy when Zoro said something to him. Wide grin. It was all a part of what he loved about the boy.

"Yeah... His grin gets to everyone." Ace muttered and then noticed the look on Zoro's face. He tilted his head slightly and then a grin to rival Luffy's, flashed across his face, "And it seems like he's gotten to you as well." and he chuckled. Zoro's head snapped up and he frowned.

"You said so yourself, it gets to everyone." he growled. Ace chuckled.

"Some more than others."

"What's the supposed to mean?"

"Whatever it's supposed to mean."

"You're fucking weirder than your brother." and Zoro turned away, staring out the window with a hand under his chin. He knew perfectly well what Ace was talking about though, he just wasn't ready to let Ace in on the secret. Zoro knew he would have to eventually, but, he would cross that road when he reached it.

For now, he was more worried about getting to this place and finding out who it was that had set him up. Helmeppo obviously, but he hadn't been the only one in on the joke apparently. Maybe Ace would know? Having been in Smoker's custody for a while, one would think Ace had at least heard something.

"So… do you know who they're talking about?" Zoro asked. Ace blinked at him for a moment and then shrugged.

"How should I know? I don't listen to the stupid old man and his bumbling sidekick."

"You telling me you haven't heard a thing the whole time you've been in there?"

"Nope." and he grinned. Zoro sighed, half groaning at the same time. Same as Luffy. Knows everything, but listens to nothing. They soon stopped outside a house that Zoro knew very well. He gazed at it sternly, as if glaring at it would make it give in and stop making those horrible memories in his mind, rise back to the surface again.

"Are you getting out?" Ace asked, tilting his head and letting the long dark hair fall across his eyes. Zoro blinked and then nodded as he opened the door and swung his legs out.

---

Luffy's ears pricked when he heard something outside that sounded like a car had just pulled up. He turned to Usopp and Chopper and they shrugged.

"Where did it come from?" Usopp asked. Chopper turned his nose towards the wall beside them.

"Sounded like it came from the front of the building." the little reindeer replied. Luffy bounded forward, running down the corridor as he tried to find a window, but a high pitched scream made him twist around and almost lose his footing as he turned around. Luffy immediately ran in the opposite direction.

It must have been Nami. And she sounded terrified! Luffy finally found her sitting by a wall, her hands over her eyes and her breathing ragged. Sanji was sitting beside her, his eyes wide and his face almost the same colour as the smoke from his freshly lit cigarette. He looked up as Luffy stopped in front of him, before pointing straight toward a room beside them.

"I-I'm gonna s-stay with them." Usopp muttered, not wanting to look at whatever it was inside the room with the door open and seemingly inviting them in. Luffy set his jaw and walked towards it, hand resting on the still swinging door as he slowly peeked his head into the room. At first it was the smell that hit him.

It burned his nostrils and Luffy reeled back, clutching at his face and coughing slightly. He moved forward into the room and Chopper backed away, the stench too strong for his sensitive nose. Luffy's eyes widened at the sight that greeted him and he began to breathe heavily through his mouth.

A body. It lay in the corner, almost more than three weeks old. Dead, obviously. Luffy's nose wrinkled even though his hand was still over it and then he couldn't look any more. It had been ripped apart by something that possibly could have been claws. He backed out of the room, grabbed the side of the door and slammed it shut, breathing heavily.

"W-what was it Luffy?" Chopper asked. Luffy looked down at the little reindeer before shaking his head.

"Nothing." he replied before moving over to the others and gulping in fresh air. That had been a horrifying experience. Usopp suddenly spun around, his sharp ears picking up the creak of the door downstairs. Chopper had done the same thing.

"Someone's in here." Chopper whispered quickly, panicking slightly. Luffy stood tall and looked down the corridor.

"Then I'll see who it is. You guys stay here." and Luffy snuck away. Usopp made a small noise in the back of his throat but didn't actually say anything. Luffy moved to the corner of the wall, and slowly poked his head out, his hat falling to rest against his back so it wouldn't give him away.

He couldn't see properly, but he vaguely saw a mop of dark hair, and silver hair and another one of blue. It was the fourth though, that caught his attention. Green hair. He hadn't seen anything like that since Zoro, and he never would. Zoro was here. But how? Luffy poked his head out a little further and saw the sides of the faces.

One had two cigars in his mouth and had a rather grumpy looking face. It was that Smoker guy! The blue hair belonged to the woman with the big glasses. The mop of dark hair was… and Luffy's heart skipped a beat. It couldn't be. He slid back behind the wall, and fell back on his rump to lean against it. His breathing had somewhat quickened again. It… was him. It couldn't have been him. He was dead! Luffy scrambled back around again as he heard Zoro's voice.

"Who the hell are we dealing with Smoker?" he asked in a snappy tone. Luffy blinked and listened as the smoking guy replied in a low rumble.

"He's a mass murderer. By the name of Kuro. He's clinically insane, but he doesn't act like it. He's been employed to do Morgan's dirty work… and I've been employed to stop the bastard." Smoker replied harshly. Luffy tilted his head and blinked. Kuro huh? Weird name.

"Oi Portgas, don't you go getting out of my sight." that Smoker guy rumbled in a grumpy tone. Luffy felt his stomach jump at the name. It had to be. Who else could it be?

"Yeah yeah old man. I'm just looking around." and it was definitely him. Ace was back! Luffy knew it! How could his big brother be dead? There was no possible way! Ace was alive! Luffy wanted to run out of his hiding spot but if he did that, then he might endanger Zoro, or Ace, or himself. Or someone.

Wait, wasn't Smoker looking for this Kuro guy anyway? Luffy's stomach did an unpleasant flip when he remembered something else. Zoro's swords. He had lost them, and he didn't think Zoro would be too pleased about that. He ducked down again and sighed, biting his lip and wondering what the hell he was to do.

Looking back down the corridor, he saw Sanji and the other watching him. Usopp made a motion towards him with his hands, trying to get Luffy to tell them what was happening. Luffy smiled and nodded in a reassuring way before turning back to the railing again.

"Tashigi, you go with Roronoa upstairs and look around up there. Portgas, you're coming with me." Smoker growled.

"Just can't bear to be without me, can you old man." Ace replied. Luffy grinned at the comment.

"Shut up brat, before I kick your ass back into the car and leave you there." Smoker growled in return.

"Oohh. I'm really scared now." Ace mocked and there was a low growl, but the pair of footsteps were fading away and Luffy didn't hear the return comeback. Instead, he looked up just as Zoro appeared at the top of the stairs. He blinked down at the boy before his face split into a wide grin.

"Luffy!" he said and moved towards the boy. Luffy grinned in return.

"Hee, Zoro!" and he jumped up and ran towards his friend, launching himself into the man's arms. All thoughts of swords, and possible 'getting people into danger' scenarios, disappeared as Zoro hugged him tightly. Tashigi was watching them, uncomfortably shifting her feet from one side to the other as she averted her eyes. Usopp, Nami, Sanji and Chopper appeared from the corridor, but Luffy ignored them as he reached up and planted a solid kiss on Zoro's lips.

"Missed you Zoro. Told ya we'd come to find ya!" Luffy cried as he stepped back, grinning from ear to ear. Unembarrassed as always. Zoro glanced up to see Sanji grinning at him slyly. Nami was smiling in a similar way, and Usopp and Chopper were watching with obvious interest and happiness that Zoro was back.

"What are you staring at cheese head?" Zoro growled, frowning at Sanji. The cook snorted, not annoyed by the familiar insult.

"A shit head." Sanji replied. Zoro grinned, happy with the old familiarity. Luffy still had his arms wrapped around Zoro's waist when the thought hit him.

"Zoro…" he muttered and then looked up at the swordsman, "Was that my brother?"

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Whee! Reviews please! -dances-