Starting the Adventure!
"Wait!" Zoro hurried after Luffy. The stupid idiot was going to get himself killed! "What if there are gangs hiding in there?!"
"There won't be. A really strong police officer lives next door." Luffy pointed at the mansion. "I've heard him yelling. He's really loud. That's how I know he's strong."
"You can't judge strength based off how loud they are!" Zoro exclaimed, feeling oddly aggravated. "My sensei is quiet but he is really strong."
"I know." Luffy took off to the crooked front door. Zoro growled and followed him. Somehow Luffy managed to wiggle through the rotten door in seconds it took for Zoro to reach the door. He managed to catch a glimpse of Luffy's feet as the green haired boy shoved himself through the rotten wood. Finally Zoro pushed himself through with an exasperated huff. The inside of the house was just as bad as the outside. Holes, ivy, and moss layered everything in sight. What a waste of a mansion.
"Okay. If I were car keys, where would I hide?" Luffy pondered as he stopped in the middle of the hallway.
"In some drawers probably." Zoro grunted, coming up from behind.
"Like where the kitchen is?! The kitchen where they have meat!" Luffy's eyes turned to sparkles. Meat! Luffy took off like a rocket.
"Wait!" Zoro lunged and managed to grasp Luffy's shirt collar as took off. Usually this method was successful in getting people to stop moving. Only, this didn't stop Luffy. In fact, it didn't faze him at all, and Luffy plowed forward with the determination of a angry bull.
This caused a little problem for Zoro. Seeing as Luffy moved at an impossible speed, and Zoro's grip refused to falter even when he was knocked off his feet. Luffy zoomed down the decrepit halls, letting Zoro wave behind him like a terrified living flag. His three wood swords occasionally smacked the ground, and Zoro painfully slammed into the wall every time Luffy rounded a corner.
When Luffy finally skidded to a stop Zoro dropped to the ground like a stone. He laid on the floor, his arms and legs spread haphazardly. "Don't.. *Wheeze* ever...*gasp* do that...*cough* again." He wheezed.
"Meeeeeaaaaat!" Luffy spread his arms, triumphantly took in the whole kitchen. It was large, with a lot of counter space. There was an island in the middle of the kitchen, and a large table rested nearby. Any paint had long faded away, and green from the ivy was the most dominant color.
Zoro sat up and groaned at the sight. He didn't know a kitchen could have this many drawers! And the keys might not even be here. The owners could have taken it with them.
Luffy ignored him and burst into the pantry. There was a couple seconds of silence, then "Huuuuuuuuhh!? All the meat is gone! I'm gonna beat up the person who did this!"
Zoro stomped into the pantry and grabbed Luffy's shirt collar. Luffy didn't protest as Zoro roughly dragged him from out of the pantry. He only glared at the empty shelves and gave an aggravated snort. The person who ate all the meat was going to pay big time!
"Start looking for the keys." Zoro ordered, and he pulled the angered Luffy in front of a drawer. Luffy opened it and started to dig through the drawer with a mad expression permanently set as his features.
"You don't have to look so angry!" Zoro yelled, and smacked the side of Luffy's head. Luffy took the blow with no reaction, and Zoro sighed. "Besides, any meat would have been long gone."
"What!" Luffy's face grew twice as outraged, and he sent a deadly glare at the pantry while his hands continuously searched the drawer.
"Oh!" Luffy hands stilled, and his face went from angry to happy.
"Did you find the keys?" Zoro asked. Dang, that was quick. Maybe Luffy really did have some potential.
Luffy grinned and pulled out a telescope. "Ah sweet a telescope! I've been wanting one!"
Zoro smacked Luffy's head again. This time Luffy flinched and dropped the instrument back into the drawer.
"You keep looking through these drawers while I look on the other side." Zoro said. He walked to the opposite end of the kitchen, pulled open a drawer and sifted through it. There was a lot of small metal things, which was really annoying. A couple minutes passed with the two clanking through the drawers before Zoro grinned triumphantly and pulled a single out of his drawer. "Hey Luffy, I found a key. Want to go try it out?"
He turned to face Luffy.
"What the heck!" he yelped and jumped back a foot. A giant pile of keys on the floor laid behind Luffy, at least three feet high. Zoro watched as Luffy, bored, tossed another key into the group without a glance.
"I think that's enough keys." Zoro sweat dropped.
Luffy was alive in an instant. Finally, the boring searching was over! The adventure could begin! "Yay! Yay! Let's go try them out!" Luffy pirated and wrapped his arms around the pile. Instead of staying in a clump as he expected, the pile slipped through his arms and scattered onto the floor.
"Awww." Luffy pulled straw hat on his head, disappointment evident in his tone. "What happened?"
"Idiot! Did you really think it would stay together!? Take off your shirt, we'll use it to hold the keys." Zoro bent over and started to sweep up the keys into a pile once more. Luffy shrugged off his shirt and placed it on the ground. He and Zoro placed the keys in the center of the shirt as they picked them up. Soon, the giant pile reformed back on the cloth. Once no more keys could be found, Zoro carefully examined the pile. He frowned as he noticed a future problem. The keys would just slide right out if they left the sleeves open. "Pick it up. I'll hold the sleeves so nothing falls out."
Zoro latched onto the sleeves, and Luffy very carefully tossed it over his shoulder. "Let's get going!" Luffy started to walk at a fast pace. Oooo, he was getting so excited! Luffy couldn't wait to get to the car!
"Oi oi oi I can't see!" Zoro complained. He shuffled to the side, and he still couldn't see anything past his captain's body.
"That's okay. I'll lead you just like a captain." Luffy grinned and laughed.
Somehow, Luffy successfully lead them outside and to the rusty old car without getting lost. Zoro let go of the sleeves and Luffy dumped the keys on the passenger side's floor inside the car. The keys spilled outwards, nearly taking up the entire foot-space.
"That's a lot of keys." Zoro commented. Then he added. "Who even needs this many keys anyways?"
Luffy slipped his shirt back on while Zoro tried the first key. The key was too blocky, and didn't even fit in the ignition.
"No." Zoro tossed it over his shoulder. He didn't care about where the key landed, and Luffy didn't seem to mind either, so he tossed the next failure as well. And the next one after that. And the one after that as well. And all the ones that came after. He tossed keys for what felt like a long time.
A really long time. Like five whole minutes long.
Luffy couldn't take it anymore. They were taking forever! "Zoooorooo. I'm bored!" He groaned, laying limply across the backseat of the car.
"Not my problem," Zoro grunted. "Figure something out yourself."
"Hm!" Luffy stuck out his lip. "Fine!"
He glanced around. There had to be something for Luffy to do. His face turned bright red as he thought really hard. Hmmmmmmmmmm. Aha! He could practice pirating!
So Luffy began. The transformations may have been quiet but Luffy certainly wasn't. He chatted away, and talked about everything yet nothing at the same time. Usually Zoro would have yelled at him to shut up, but the talking was a welcome distraction from the dull task of trying out keys.
This went on until morning. Gushots echoed constantly in in the background. Each time the two boys would pause what they were doing, and stare. There was always a chance that the gang decided to come their direction. But the gunshots only became quieter, and faded away completely by the time the sun rose the next morning.
Zoro yawned, a large eye-watering yawn that Luffy copied in seconds. He tiredly glared at the sun, and slightly swayed on his feet. None of those stupids keys worked. The thought sent a rush of anger run over his body. This whole deal was was going to go with a stranger to go find another stranger in a old car that looked really to break down any second. And Zoro was trying to find the key so that all could happen. Who needed this many freakin keys for one house?! The giant key pile wasn't even dented, and Zoro had been trying all night.
Grumbling, Zoro picked up a key and slid in into the slot. It took him a couple moments to realize that it actually went into the ignition. He stared in surprise. Keys had clicked before but have yet to twist. Each time they had gotten his hopes up for nothing. If this wasn't the stupid key then Zoro was going to snap it in half.
"What's up?" A young Luffy stuck his head over the back seat to look at his companion, curiosity written all over his face.
"It fits." Zoro twisted it. The key moved. "And it turns in the keyhole."
Zoro gave the key another push. It clicked into place once more. Zoro broke into a huge grin, tiredness forgotten. "It works Luffy! This is our key!"
"Yes!" Luffy slid over the back and into the passenger seat. "What are we waiting for! Let's get goin'!"
Crash!
"What the," Luffy jumped up in his seat. He peered through the windshield. "What was that!?"
Zoro ducked down. He scooted down to the front of the car, and cautiously peeked his head over the hood. Instantly he jerked his head behind the car and came scuttling back. "It's a police officer, he jumped over the wall!"
Luffy immediately crouched. They couldn't be caught now! He'd get sent back to Gramps! Luffy snatched the car key from the ignition, and stuck it in his pocket. Then he slid out of the vehicle, and landed quietly besides Zoro.
"What are you doing?!" Zoro whispered.
"If he finds us, he'll take the car!" Luffy spoke quietly. He darted towards the nearest overgrown bush. "We can't let that happen."
"Don't forget the part about possibly getting arrested!" The child swordsman scrambled after the other boy.
The two mini-pirates slid into the bush. It wasn't fun. Branches grabbed his practice swords, and Zoro had to continually jerked them out. Even when they stopped and turned around, Zoro had a branch poking into his stomach. He ignored it as he took another look at the police officer. "Crap! It's Axe-Hand Morgan!"
Luffy stuck his head out the bush. "Onion Hair's dad? But didn't we already beat the crap out of him?"
"Yeah, in the memories as teenagers. We've done nothin' to him in this one." Zoro pointed out.
Luffy squinted at the hulking mass, his giant hands clenched around something small. "What's his weapon? It looks really small to be an axe hand."
"It's Axe Body Spray."
Luffy burst into a smile. His face turned bright red as he tried to hold in laughter, and one of his hands came to slap down on his thigh.
"Oi, oi, oi, don't laugh! I know it's silly but that's some fearsome stuff. He traps you in a contained area and sprays the Axe until you're knocked out from the smell. People have died. I've seen him take out entire gangs with that stuff."
"How didya' see that?" Luffy asked, and shoved his laughter down to giggles. He couldn't laugh while they talked about fighting. This was serious after all. "Did you fight him already?"
"No. He's the town's resident officer and is constantly on the prowl for gangs to beat up. I happened to walk by once while he was taking care of some. We live in the same town, how do you not know this?" Zoro glanced at Luffy with a raised eyebrow.
"That sounds like a terrible weapon." Luffy nodded, and completely ignored the question. Zoro sweat-dropped. This guy was an idiot.
As Luffy spoke Morgan turned and examined the car. Ivy that had grown over the car snapped as he forced the hood open. None to gently, he slammed it back down. Grabbing the underside Morgan lifted the side of the car upwards, until both of the right side wheels in the air. More overgrown ivy snapped, and keys scattered against the floor. Oh crap. The stupid keys were going to give them away! Dropping the car, Morgan bent down to investigate the sound.
Luffy huffed angrily, and Zoro knew he had about two seconds to grab him before Luffy busted out of the bush. He didn't hesitate, and wrapped an arm around Luffy's waist, while another to cover the other boy's mouth.
"What are you doing!?" Zoro demanded.
"That's our car!" Luffy whispered harshly around the hand. "He's gonna take it!"
"Rather that then us. We could always get another car." Zoro reasoned.
"No. That's our car. That's the car that will lead us to the girl. I can tell."
Luffy was dead serious, Zoro could see that. He put his hand on his face. There was no use trying to deal with the idiot. He let go of Luffy to rub his face, exasperated. "Fine, fine. We'll get the stinkin' car."
Luffy grinned, but then grimaced as a smell hit his nose. Beside him, Zoro made the same face. Then he stiffened. Something was… off. Zoro glanced around. There was this white mist everywhere. It was barely starting to penetrate the bushes where they were sitting.
"Ugh." Luffy took a deep whiff of the stuff. It smelt terrible! Disgusted, he stuck out his tongue. Quickly his face morphed into horror. "Ew, ew, ew! Mistake! Now I can taste it!"
Water started to come from their eyes, and the back of their throats began to burn as the mist thickened. Not that Luffy noticed. He desperately scratched his tongue as he tried to get the smell off. Zoro let out a cough, and covered his mouth with a hand. He recognized that burning smell. It was Axe! Morgan knew they were there!
A huge hand shot forward and grabbed the back of Zoro's shirt. It jerked Zoro above the body spray mist, and he let out a relieved breath. He could breath!
"Hey!" Luffy protested as he dangled besides Zoro in another hand. He twisted to see the owner of the hands.
A tanned head with blond hair glared angrily back. "So you're the two kids who offended me." Morgan eyed them. Both boys gulped.
"But we've ne-never met before." Luffy stammered. He looked to sides, and refused to meet Morgan's eyes while he puckered his lips like he was whistling. Zoro gaped in disbelief. That was the absolute worst lying he'd ever seen.
Morgan stared for a moment, then shook Luffy viciously. Luffy let out a small yip of surprise.
"That's a lie. I remember seeing this green-haired brat a couple of times from a distance." Morgan held Zoro up to his face and leered at him. "And as for the offense, you attacked Helmeppo."
"What?" Zoro scoffed. That was it? "We never touched Onion Hair. He ran away before I could beat him into a pulp."
"And I wouldn't care if you took his life. He's a idiot not even worth hitting. But the fact remains that Helmeppo represents me in this town. When you attack him I consider it an attack on me." Morgan pointed at himself with those last words.
Luffy blinked, then coughed. Zoro frowned. Both stared at the police officer with blank expressions. There was a couple moments of silence.
"DO YOU NOT CARE!?" Morgan yelled.
"Not really." Luffy yawned. Immediately his eyes watered and he started spitting. The stupid spray got in his mouth!
"Besides, that doesn't really make sense. You hate your son, but'll attack his attackers. It's not reasonable." Zoro pointed out.
Morgan's hands trembled. Luffy perked up. Maybe Morgan realized something and was about to let them go! That was good, cause him and Zoro still needed to find the rest of their crew.
"Shut up!" Morgan cried, and tossed Zoro into the thickest part of the Axe body spray mist.
"Zoro!" Luffy shrieked. He jerked in Morgan's hand. He had to save Zoro! "That will kill him!"
Morgan grunted. He eyed the small mist hill that covered the brat. "That's the point."
Luffy strained his eyes. Zoro couldn't die! He was his swordsman! He was his first crewmate, and Luffy couldn't let him die here! The very thought of Zoro dying just felt so wrong. After a couple seconds Luffy started yelling Zoro's name.
"Give up," Morgan commanded. "No one can survive my Axe Spray attack except me, making me the greatest person!"
Luffy squirmed again. No! He refused to accept it! Luffy cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted one more time. "Zoro, you idiot, get up!"
A tense moment passed, and then spray hill shivered, and Zoro erupted from it. "Don't *cough* insult me dang it! *cough* You're the *cough* real idiot!" he covered his mouth as his lungs cleared themselves out.
"Impossible! He survived!" Morgan gasped. There could only be one greatest person in the world! And it was Officer Morgan! What could he do!? Morgan's eyes lit up as a idea hit him. He would have to do what he always did then. "That means I have to kill you."
Morgan promptly dropped the other brat to the ground, and forgot about him as he advanced on the coughing green-haired brat.
"Axe-Hand Morgan has two meanings." Morgan opened a small pouch on his waist, and dug something small out. "There is my famous Axe Body Spray, but then there is also this!"
A/N: Hey guys, here's another chapter for you. I want to thank all of you again for telling me about the weirdness with the last chapter. If you didn't see, I re-uploaded it, and it is fine now. So if you missed it, go back and read. This chapter shouldn't have any problems, but feel free to tell me if it does. I have to say though, I really feel like Morgan is suuuperrr badly written in this chapter. I'm sorry about that. Hopefully my editing made him better. We hardly knew Morgan, and heaven knows we barely paid any attention to him when he was around, so I hope I can be forgiven for his crappy character. Anyways, thanks for reading!