A/N: So here is part two of Luffy's flashback. Sorry this update took so long, finals and school were crazy the last few weeks. This is going to be the last part of the flashback for now so I hope you like. Also, I really tried hard on the interaction between Robin and Luffy. If you feel that it wasn't up to par please tell me in the comments.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. Duh.
Devlin Dracul: This one is for you mate.
Luffy was currently sitting in the dark, empty dining room of the Baratie, sipping tea and contemplating. It had been about an hour after everyone in the restaurant had gone to sleep, leaving Luffy with nothing to do. He had already refurbished the place yesterday and any training would either wake up the sea cooks or destroy the floating eatery. It was times like this when he could truly think. Reflect on things. Too bad that was something Luffy did not want to do, especially considering that last he tried to reflect, he accidentally let loose a blast of Conquerers Haki so large it engulfed Dawn Island. Ace had really let him have it that day. So that was out.
Luffy had already checked the book selection and was less then impressed. As to be expected, all were either cook books or the type of magazine you keep away from your mother. It does get lonely out at sea. Never the less, the Strawhat had no use for either type.
If he still had a Den Den Mushi, maybe he would call Ace up. It had only been a few months since he had left but Luffy still missed his older brother. Thinking about him brought up some of the few good memories he held on to. Ace had been his greatest friend and greatest rival for a long time. Over the years, they had grown stronger together, training until exhaustion was an understatement. Some of their spares had become legendary to the inhabitance around Fusha Village, one lasting a full 56 hours. Another match that had involved a clash of Conquerers Haki shook the entire island to the core. After Ace learned Geppo, their sparing battles usually started and ended in the sky. Now with his brother gone, things would be a lot quieter.
Luffy took another sip of tea. With any luck the marine ship that came to pick up the Swordfish Pirates would have room for him to hitch a ride to.
Wait, what was that?
A large reptile entered into Luffy's observation range, moving at a very slow pace. This usually wouldn't be any cause for alarm, a little weird for a Grand Line creature to be in the East Blue but not impossible. What was alarming was that someone was riding it.
Now of course the turtle might be the females(?) pet, although it was unlikely. Those animals tended to live over 100 years so it would have been to late to train it from birth. The other option was forcing the creature to obey you. Now, that animal was naturally docile but that didn't mean it would listen to where you wanted to go. Training it would most likely involve high physical strength or Conquerers Haki. Being that the animal was from the Grand Line most likely meant that the person was also from the Grand Line too. Which part of the Grand Line was up to speculation. It most likely wasn't a pirate because of the lack of crew members. That left a female bounty hunter or assassin from the Grand Line that may or may not have Conquerers Haki.
Well, at least I'm not bored anymore.
ROBIN
Slowly but surely, Robin made her way towards the floating restaurant. She had been doing calculations and figures in her head since first seeing the kid in action. How to approach, any weaknesses she could exploit, or any information in general. After going over all the bounty hunters, pirates, and assassins that called the East Blue home, no one fit his description. She needed something to give her leverage in the coming conversation or getting him to join would be impossible. If only she had more time to follow and gather information, maybe figure out if he had any motivation or dreams.
I guess I'll have to make something up to catch him off guard.
Just as she was going to prepare to dismount Banchi, inspiration hit like a Buster Call to the face.
He may be the Red Phantom. Thats the only person I can think of that might be able to send a flying blade attack. Although, if this is true, I must tread very lightly.
When Banchi pulled up beside the Baratie, Robin slid down the turtle without so much as a sound. Moving with practiced precision, Robin briskly walked past the Sword Fish Pirates, who were currently fast asleep on the deck. One stirred a little in his sleep and opened his eyes, seeing a lone shadow bathed in moonlight. He blinked and like magic it was out of sight, almost as if it never existed. Shrugging it off, the man fell back to sleep.
Robin checked the door to the dinning room and to her surprise, it was not only unlock but the door was slightly ajar. It seemed a bit to easy. The Baroque Works agent slipped into the darkness, crouching and keeping close to the wall until her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. After about two minutes, she rose to full height and scanned the large dining area. To her surprise, there was actually someone here near the back of the room at a table. Dropping low again, she slowly walked towards the person, making sure to leave a wide berth as to not be in their field of vision. After getting about ten feet away, she could tell that it was indeed a man in the process of drinking some sort of liquid. Judging by the kettle, tea was her guess.
After getting a little closer, she notice a sheath laying on the table beside the kettle of tea. It was safe to assume this was the man she had been hoping to talk to, too bad a proper introduction still hadn't been planned out.
"You can get up now," spoke a soft voice, almost like a whisper.
Robin reluctantly rose to full stature, a little disappointed he had noticed her. She hadn't failed to sneak up on anyone in a long time. Didn't matter anyways, she figured, it had saved the trouble of having a proper introduction. Robin closed the distance to the table with a notable sway in her hips. It was usually good to get the subject distracted before having the conversation. Made them more likely to make slips and it lessened tension. To bad this particular man didn't seem to notice or care. Maybe even both.
Robin sat in the seat facing the man who had now peaked her interest. Looking him up and down, she noted that he had changed out of what he had been in the last time she saw him. The raven haired teen now had on a red long sleeve button up shirt, very dark blue dress pants, polished black shoes, fingerless gloves, an untied yellow bowtie, one knife in the black belt he had on, and a straw hat to top that would seem to clash with the rather dressy appearance but actually fit.
"So, what brings you here?" Asked the well dressed teen while pouring another cup of tea. After she didn't speak immediately the teen spoke again. "Oh, I'm sorry! Did you want something to drink or eat?" Robin almost giggled.
"No, no, I'm quite all right. Thank you though." The teen nodded and began to take another sip of his own drink.
Not exactly knowing how to proceed, Robin decided to get right to the 'Join Baroque Works' pitch. "So, may I ask your name," inquired Robin in her smoothest voice.
The teen quirked an eyebrow in the middle of another sip of tea. "Sure, my name is Luffy," answered Luffy, making sure to leave out the Monkey D. part. If this person was from the Grand Line it was safe to assume that they knew of his Grandpa and Father. Better keep that on down low until he started his journey in two years.
Robin nodded and introduced herself as well. "Ok Luffy, my name is Miss All Sunday." She heard a choked noise come from Luffy, afterward there was sounds of coughing. After his fit was over, Luffy looked at Robin in surprise.
"Is that really what your parents named you?" Asked the teen unbelievingly. Robin smiled, for some reason, this teen's antics amused her more than they should have.
"No, that is my agent name. I work for an organization named Baroque Works that currently in the process of making a Utopian society. We go by agent names because most of us either are wanted or just don't want their name put out there. Either way it's protocol," explained Robin. Luffy had gone silent and was currently staring intently at her, the way you would if someone looked vaguely familiar and you were trying to recall their name. After a few seconds, the look was gone.
"So, are you about to try to recruit me for your organization or something?" Luffy asked, lacking any sort of definite emotion, "Because if so, don't waste your breath." Robin took on a more professional look.
"Let me assure you Luffy, Baroque works is a very big and powerful agency with over 5,000 members. This is a grand opportunity for anyone with ambition and power to reap large rewards. Someone as strong as you could easily take one on the top ranking spots. The higher the ranking, also correlates to how much share in the new kingdom you will have. I suggest you reconsider your reply."
"Who is the boss?" Luffy couldn't help but ask, now very interested.
"That information can't be disclosed."
"Really? You're telling me over 5,000 people joined without knowing who the boss is? The agents must be packing some serious heat then. Can you at least tell me where operations are?"
"All I can tell you is that the future Kingdom is located in the Grand Line," answered Robin getting a 'really' look from Luffy.
"Ok then, what is your rank in Baroque Works?"
Robin considered not telling him, but decided there was no harm in it. "I work along side the Mr. 0 or the boss." That tidbit of info got Luffy interested again.
"Really now? You must pretty strong then right?" Asked Luffy in a slightly excited voice. What luck to meet a Grand Line powerhouse right after Ace leaves to stave off boredom!
"Not exactly. Im good at assassinations, but really I'm useful in a...different way," responded Robin in a slightly seductive tone. Luffy got the wrong idea though.
"So are you like a sex toy for the boss or something?" Asked Luffy in all seriousness.
Robin giggled a little, she should have explained that better. "No, nothing terrible like that. I simply have valuable information so the boss keeps me close."
Luffy smiled, "Sorry, it's just what it sounded like to me. Your outfit wasn't exactly helping either." Robin hated to agree with him but Luffy did have a valid point. She was currently wearing a pretty revealing purple cowgirl outfit that left just enough to the imagination. This wasn't the dress code or anything, she usually wore it to distract or fool men. Such dumb creatures men were, with the exception of the strong willed.
"Do you have a dream Luffy?" Asked Robin, hoping that maybe she could use it to get him to join. It had worked in the past, why not now?
"Actually yes, I do have a dream. But I highly doubt that your group could help me out with it."
"Well, let's here it."
"My dream is to become King of the Pirates. In two years time Im going to form the greatest crew to ever sail and conquer the sea. I'm still not completely sure what the goal of Baroque Works is but I'm almost positive it can't help me out." Luffy looked up at Robin and was surprised to see she didn't laugh at his dream or even giggled. All she had was a knowing smile gracing her lips.
"You and I aren't so different Luffy. Both of us have dreams that seem impossible, yet we pursue it anyway." With that said, Robin stood up to leave, knowing this was a lost cause. She walked to the door and stopped when Luffy called out to her. She made no effort to turn and face him.
"Are you Nico Robin?"
"I don't know, our you the Red Phantom?"
"..."
"..."
"I guess you were right, we aren't so different."
"Yes, I guess not. Both of us have left destruction in our wake."
"Is it true you took out eight battle ships?"
"Is it true you leveled a kingdom?"
"..."
"..."
Robin turned and looked back one last time before walking through the door. "Goodbye Luffy-san," she spoke a bit sad to leave. That had been by far the one the most interesting conversations she ever had.
"Goodbye Robin," spoke Luffy, also a bit put off at the conversation ending. Didn't meet someone like that everyday.
As Robin mounted Banchi and began to drift away, she took out her den den mushi and phoned Crocodile. The dial tone rang twice befor he picked up.
"What do you want Miss All Sunday, this better be important."
Robin sighed. "I'm heading back to Alabasta, send someone else to recruit Zoro."
"Did you find anything on that Red Phantom while over there?" Asked Crocodile completely ignoring her request.
"No, I didn't find anything."
There was some grumbling heard and the line went dead. Robin put the den den mushi back into her coat sleeve and sat back into her chair, letting sleep envelop her.
Three Days Later...
Luffy had been basically accepted into the family of cooks that inhabited the Baratie. At some point he had just blended with their regular routine. Cooking, cleaning, serving customers, Luffy did it all and was well liked to boot. Him and Sanji had actually became very good friends over the course of the week. Right now they were preparing for the lunch rush.
"I still can't believe you want to be Pirate King," said Sanji for the eighth time.
"You know, its still not to late to say you'll join my crew. You could be first mate and ship cook," replied Luffy for the eighth time.
"No way I would be on a pirate ship. Plus I still need Zeff to recognize me as a chef before I ever leave this place. I owe him my life and respect."
"Whatever, in two years when I come back, you are joining my crew for sure."
"Hmph." Secretly, Sanji wouldn't mine being on a ship with Luffy but just wouldn't happen until Zeff recognized him. Although, if that happened while Luffy was away, when he got back, Sanji would be going along with him to pursue his own dream.
Same Day...
"Tashigi what's the report on the East Blue relief work in this region?"
"We have visited all the ports that were hit the hardest by the storm and provided the necessary goods for each one! As far as the relief work goes, we have done our part to the letter Captain!"
After the mega storm devastated the East Blue, countless Navy vessels were sent to provide food, shelter, and medical care for the hardest hit islands and kingdoms. Smoker's region had not been hit very hard so the relief work didn't take long. While he was at the first kingdom in need, they had gotten a call that someone had taken out the Swordfish Pirates and needed them to be picked up. Apparently a stranded teenager staying at a sea restaurant and a bunch of cooks defeated the infamous group. Hard to believe but not impossible apparently.
"Make a course to the Baratie, we pick up the Swordfish Pirates today," shouted Smoker.
"Yes sir!" Tashigi ran off and began yelling out orders to the marines currently on deck. Many of the marines were quite happy to be going to the sea restaurant, hoping that maybe Smoker would let them eat a little before leaving, though no one was counting on it. Tashigi ran towards Smoker, having put the men on the right track, was now looking for more orders. The Navy Captain sighed and began walking toward his courters, Tashigi trailing close behind.
"Sir, if I may ask, what do you think of a citizen taking out the Swordfish Pirates. They were worth 20 million and feared throughout the East Blue for their power and intimidation. Its very strange that cooks and a shipwrecked citizen could beat them when some of our own ships could not."
Smoker stopped and listened to what he had already been thinking. Honestly, he didn't really know what to think. Hopefully everything would become clear when they made there.
"I don't really know Tashigi, but I guess the only way to find out is to make it there and see for yourself."
"Yes sir!" Yelled the women, saluting the Captain before walking off. Smoker sighed and walked towards his room, interest throughly peaked.
A/N: You guys like? The Red Phantom thing will be cleared up eventually, so be patient. Also, while Luffy is telling this story it should be noted he left out some parts. Mostly the parts he wasn't there to see an anything concerning the name Red Phantom.
Next Chapter: Stowaway