Me: Yosh! I need to continue this anyway XD Sorry it took so long XD Enjoy!
I feel the need to say this but One Piece does not belong to me. If it does, I would've make Luffy a lot younger *looks to the side* But that's just me and my love for kids.
Zoro: I would hate to find out what would happen if you do own One Piece…
Me: Of course! I would have lots of fun with you Zoro!
Zoro: -_-
7. A Demon Babysitter!
"-And you know, Makino is really nice! I mean she's pretty and had really good milk and apple juice! You should come to Fuusha village and drink her milk; they say it calms the beast! It's not unmanly as it sounds! You should come, really, you should come!"
"Look here kid-" Zoro stop himself on mid-sentence after much thinking (Me: … Zoro: Don't say anything). He told the kid to go and leave him alone for at least 20 times. At one time, he even asked politely. What's the point wasting energy and oxygen when this hyperactive kid wouldn't listen anyway?
Zoro made a gesture with his head for the kid to continue, defeated by the child's persistence. He could've sworn that the brat had just grinned victoriously, like he planned this from the beginning.
"You know, me and Ace are out in sea right now, finding the ultimate treasure-"
Zoro decided to try to block out the rest of the toddler's rambling.
He was tied up by the marines to finish a challenge made by that weird wimpy guy with blond hair. He expected a lot of things. Like quietness and sometimes insults whenever that bas- comes. Yeah, those are normal. But he didn't expect to see a random kid that literally comes out of nowhere just to talk to him.
This has been going on for almost more than few hours already.
"-and me and Ace are going to become King of the Pirates! Or can there only be one King of the Pirates? If so, then I'll become King of the Pirates! Or maybe Ace is better suited to become King of the Pirates… You know Ace is cool! He can blow out fir-"
"Wait, are you telling me that you both are pirates?"
"Yes." was the blunt, yet proud, answer that Zoro had received. If his hands and arms weren't tied up right now, he would've facepalm.
"You do know that I'm a pirate hunter, right?"
"Huh? What's that? A tropical sandwich or something?"
Well, that explains a lot of things.
"A pirate hunter! You know; the guys who hunt pirates for their bounty?"
"But we don't have a bounty yet."
Zoro gives up on trying to make this kid understand this situation at the moment.
"You have a brother, right? I'm sure he's worry about you."
"Nah. Ace said that I have to be back by 3." Which is just an hour from now. Ok, he can make at least that long.
"Mister, aren't you hungry? How about I free you?"
"No I'm not; and I told you why you can't free me."
"Oh yeah, because-"
Luffy stopped at mid-sentence when he heard the opening of the gate, turning to see the very same blond that tied up Zoro, Helmeppo.
Zoro growled. Shi-, he didn't expect him to be here yet!
"Brat, get out of here!"
"But why?"
Without warning, one of the guards, that is with Helmeppo, picked up Luffy by the scuff of his collar.
"Oi! Don't you know it's rude to pick someone up by their collars?" Luffy dared to complaint as he struggled with the marine's strong grip. He could just easily bazooka the guy to the next two islands, but he promised Ace that he wouldn't use his powers unless his brother gives the go. So, no bazookaing people. Especially since this one time when their boat had drifted off to sea and Luffy ended up having a bright idea to sling-shot them towards the boat to catch it. Hey, at least they live.
"What a noisy kid… don't you know that 'Helping a prisoner means punishable by execution.'? Do you want to die brat?"
Luffy looked undeniably confuse.
"But I didn't help him, he wouldn't let me. And all we did is talk."
"Do you have proof of that?"
"He's not freed?" Luffy questioned while tilting his head. What a strange, yet somehow annoying, person.
"You're weird ossan."
There was a moment of silence, Helmeppo gaping as well as the two marines by him.
"O-O-OSSAN? DO I LOOK OLD TO YOU?"
"Yes."
At the answer, Zoro jaw dropped, the two guards did a comical fall out of his bluntness, and Helmeppo's face became red.
And so, before Luffy have any say in it, he's tied along with Zoro behind his back on the same pole.
"Y-YOU! I'LL GET MY DAD TO KILL YOU! JUST WAIT YOU BRAT!"
"Why can't you do it yourself…?" Luffy couldn't help but deadpanned, thinking how pathetic this guy seemed, as he watched Helmeppo disappear from his site as the doors of the execution field close.
There came an awkward silence between the two that is currently tied up.
Luffy huffed.
"I don't like that guy."
"DID THE FACT THAT HE TIED YOU UP JUST MADE YOU REALIZE THAT?" Zoro couldn't help but yelled, not believing how the situation had turned. Also, just when he could just get rid of the boy! He's going to be stuck here for a long while.
"By the way, back to topic-"
"Oi, don't just ignore the situation you're in!"
"You don't want to be free because you wanted to prove your strength and use this as some kind of training to help you become the world's strongest swordsman?"
Zoro disliked how carefree this kid is. He means, the kid is going to get killed and didn't he care about that? How he can be so calm is beyond him; and so confident also…
"Yeah, that's right." If you can't beat them, join them.
Even though Zoro couldn't see it, he could've sworn that the child behind him is grinning as if he knows something special.
"You know, that kinda sounds stupid~"
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT FROM A GUY WHO LETS HIMSELF GET CAUGHT!"
"Didn't you let yourself get caught also?"
"…" Zoro can't argue with that apparently, which made Luffy laugh quite enjoyable. And in the end, Zoro laughed himself, thinking how contagious the kid's happiness is. He couldn't help it; the child had a rare kind of happiness that made the world seemed so… bright.
He didn't have that much of a privilege to be a kid really back then. He didn't play like the other kids, just train. He didn't goof of like the other kids, just set his eyes on one goal. Back then, he was a bit too serious than a child should be. That's what happens to him when he already got a goal in his mind. He was always a single-minded child; once he got a purpose, his mind would stay with that purpose unless something drastic change.
Like getting defeated by Kunai.
"Oi mister, wanna be in my crew?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Zoro tried to turn his head so that he could give the kid an "are you kidding me?" look, but seeing how the kid is right behind him, he gave up soon after.
"Do you even know what you're saying?"
"So, is that a yes?"
Zoro just groan, but nonetheless smile. He wondered what it would be like being in a crew with this cheerful kid.
"Heh, who wanted to be in a crew with you?"
He can practically feel the kid pout, making Zoro chuckle.
How did he get so attached?
"Baka."
"Am not!"
"Are too." Zoro argued, grinning.
The swordsman can tell, without looking, that Luffy is grinning also. He had that kind of happy air around him that just tells whoever is close that he's happy. And then he remembered the situation and noticed something.
He didn't want the kid to die.
He's just too young, starting his adventure of becoming a pirate or whatever. Zoro wanted him to keep smiling.
"Hey brat," He couldn't see any indication to whether Luffy is listening or not, but judging by how silent the child is, he guessed that the kid is hearing him out. "I'll ask them to give me the execution instead, and if you can escape or free yourself; then mayb-"
"It won't work." Zoro was quite shock to how serious Luffy had said that.
"Sure it will. They hate me more than you, so they'll let you off-"
"It doesn't matter; you were planned for execution anyway."
Zoro can feel the sadness of what the kid had said. And because of that, he had no choice but to believe that what he said is true. On one point, it wasn't surprising. He knew what kind of people these marines are. He knows that they don't fight fair. And even if they do keep their promise and let him go by the end of the month, who can say that they won't lock him up again? By that time, he won't have the choice between life and death.
"Bast-"
He knew, yet he couldn't swallow his pride. He is capable enough to take on Helmeppo. Even Morgan, the captain of this marine division. He could save this town if he wanted. But he wanted to prove something. What he wanted to prove, he forgotten.
"I didn't want you to die." Luffy was able to loosen the ropes enough for him to scoot closer to Zoro, resting his tiny head on the swordsman's back. The raven-haired child can feel how the pirate hunter's muscle tense up in surprise.
When they got here, him and his brother, the town looked friendly and inviting. People were here and there, going from places to places; it reminded him of Fuusha village, except that it was a little more quiet and small. They were just getting supplies; and since they have yet made their pirate debut, they could walk anywhere.
Both of the boys took the chances to go near the marine's headquarters and found a pink-haired boy looking over the wall, quite frantically in fact. Ace just ignored it while being very curious at the same time. He had to get the supplies first before doing something that would probably cost their lives.
Luffy followed his curious mind even more than his responsibility.
Jumping onto the top of the wall –making the pink-haired boy surprised– he watched as a man with green hair, strangely tied to a pole, interact with a girl who wanted to give him a rice ball. Ace decided to wait for his brother, knowing very well that he couldn't leave him alone in the town where he could get lost easily.
Weirdly, Luffy's fascination isn't towards the rice ball which most would've think. It's towards the rough looking man. The man had a rather scary face that most people wouldn't dare look at; yet, it didn't scare Luffy one bit. He had a muscular body that most people would be imitated by; yet, Luffy wasn't scared by that either. His voice was rough and harsh; something that people would flinch at. And yet, to Luffy, it seemed caring and sensible.
Behind the rough features, the man seemed to care about the girl that he's currently yelling at to go away.
And the opening gates, showing Helmeppo coming, confirmed to why he wanted her to go away. He's trying to protect her.
Soon after, the girl was thrown over the wall, and Luffy jumped to catch her.; which ended up Ace catching both of them and landing in a messy piling heap.
Luffy could hear the swordsman's angry voice at the other side of the wall.
Both of the brothers soon found out that the pink-haired boy is named Coby, a person who ends up being here since his… 'Captain's' ship was destroyed, strangely, by a fireball. The little girl is a local here, her mom owning a restaurant and bar. Her name is Rika and she explains to us to why Zoro is tied up. How he did it to defend her family.
For some reason, Luffy had felt a bit angry at that. The swordsman simply did not deserve that.
Then that blond guy came into Rika's restaurant and said that he was bored of Zoro and decided to kill him soon. Ace has to drag Luffy out so that the straw-hat wearing child wouldn't maul the guy right there.
"I've decided-" He had told Ace with teary yet determined eyes. "-that I will have Zoro join our crew!"
Ace didn't say anything but nodded, as if understanding that Luffy needed to do this, and let his brother go.
And so, Luffy then made his way towards the restrained swordsman in the execution field. Even when Zoro had glared at him, Luffy grinned happily. He's not afraid of this person.
"Luffy, ya there?"
In response, the child grinned.
"Ace over here!"
Zoro watched as that person named "Ace" effortlessly jumped over the wall, landing on the other side rather gracefully and with dignity. He expected the brother to be as half-baked as Luffy, but this one…
"I'm sorry that my brother had caused trouble for you." Ace had apologized, smiling ever so politely. "I'm afraid he's like that."
'Mature! This guy is the exactly opposite!' Zoro thought as he looks upon Ace skeptically. Sure, the guy is half naked but he looked genuinely like a good, level-headed captain… Thank goodness. Zoro was wondering how this kid manages to survive at sea if the captain is anything like him.
"Zoro is going to join us Ace!"
"W-What? Who said I'm going to join?" Zoro sputtered as he tried to glare at the kid in the corner of his eyes.
"Well, that's great!"
"Don't just decide that all by yourself!"
Zoro was surprised to see his three katanas laid down in front of him casually by Ace. The strange man known as the pirate captain that Luffy mentioned then took out a pocket knife and began to let his brother loose.
"Just be lucky that Luffy took an interest in you." Ace whispered specifically towards Zoro, making sure that his little brother wouldn't hear him. "I wouldn't have given you a second thought."
Ok, forget that. He rather has annoying Luffy than this guy any day!
"It's nothing personal really. It's just that people die every day." Soon, Luffy was free, rolling his shoulder to get some of the kinks out. "Before you know it; you brush it off as an everyday thing."
And before Zoro knows it, Ace suddenly dash towards Luffy and hugged the child to death. The swordsman couldn't help but sigh, then soon after chuckle. He can tell that the freckled teen was probably really worried about his little brother. Heck, even he would be. And even though he didn't want to admit it; he would've done the same. If he didn't know Ace, and the teen seemed like he was fated to die, he would've leave him there too. People die every day.
Zoro looked at the confused yet happy expression on Luffy's face, the child hugging his brother back in a reassuring way.
Yet, Luffy decided to go and help him, a stranger.
"I'm happy to see the touching reunion but…" Zoro tried to move his hands, already knowing that he almost couldn't. "CAN'T YOU UNTIE ME NOW?"
"But I thought you wanted to prove-"
"That's before I knew I was going to die!" Zoro exclaimed with pulsing vein on his head. Luffy made a silent 'ooohhh' with his mouth.
"Yep! You wanted to be the greatest swordsman, right? So you can't die, right?"
Zoro smirked in response. The kid actually got it.
Rolling his eyes, Ace went forward to free Zoro-
-until the gates have been ripped off their hinges, thrown in the direction of Ace. The freckled teen wasn't ready to block or dodge it and ends up being hit by the separated gate, flying till he hits the wall which crumbled upon him soon after.
"Ace!" Luffy went forward to where his brother was buried but stop when he heard an evil snort, as well as many stomping of feet coming closer.
"Che. Weakling."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY? ACE IS THE BEST!" Luffy exclaimed in fury, his fist up and his face red with anger. Zoro slightly paled. W-Wait a minute, don't tell him that this kid is trying to fight them all by himself! There is no way he would win! Look at all these marines with guns and swords!
Morgan, the one who ripped the gates of its hinges and called Ace a "weakling", smirked ever so amusingly. They all know that he wouldn't give any mercy to the kid at all.
"Shoot him."
The marines look back at him in shock.
"W-What? B-But Senchou-"
"SHOOT HIM!"
"H-He's just a k-kid-"
"SHOOT HIM! DO YOU WANT TO DIE INSTEAD?"
The marines were at a lost. They couldn't shoot at a seven year old kid; that's so wrong. But they didn't want to die either too. Apparently, one made up his mind too quickly and shot the child.
Zoro called out his name.
But the bullet only stretch his skin back… and back… and back… then sling shot back just an inch from Morgan's head.
Luffy gave Zoro a thumb up, who hung his head in relief.
"What… in the he-… was that…?"
Luffy looked confuse, before he remembered that he never shown Zoro his powers before. "Oh yeah! I'm a gomu man, see?" And to prove it, he pulled his cheek farther than any human could do.
Zoro made a note that the brothers are probably not normal people.
"So I'm strong and I'll fight them!"
"DON'T BE STUPID! YOU'RE JUST A KID!"
Before Zoro could say anymore, Luffy already dashed into the battle field. The swordsman watched helplessly as the kid fought the marines, stretching, punching, kicking, and doing all sorts of moves that would put acrobats to shame. Probably because of his rubber powers. His size is definitely an advantage in this battle, for he had a lot of escapes and openings to go through, like between someone's leg and a small space between two people that bigger people couldn't go through. In other words, Luffy had already gotten rid of the underlings, using his final move; Gomu Gomu no Whip. Sheesh, what a childish name for a move. But it's affective.
Now Zoro absolutely knows that these people are far from normal. Maybe monsters.
But when Luffy had gotten to Morgan…
"Ouch-" The marine stomped on Luffy's torso, rendering the child unable to move. Luffy squirmed as much as he can, but it was useless.
Back when Luffy tried to pull his Gomu Gomu no pistol on the guy, Morgan had dodge the punch and even grabbed it, pulling Luffy towards him. When Luffy came to arm's reach, he then smack the rubbery child down with the top hilt of his ax-hand, the boy slamming down to the floor.
"Get off stupid-head! You're heavy!"
Morgan snorted. "Brat." And he wasn't above adding more pressure to his foot. As his lungs were being suppressed by the foot, Luffy squirmed even more, whining loudly.
"!"
That just settles it.
Using his feet, Zoro kicks up his katana towards himself; ropes are then off with a couple of slices. Ace then actually burst out of where he was buried; literally on fire. I mean, literally.
Back in town, people trembled as they can see the flames and the evil demon shadow that goes along with it. Some screamed that the devil is here.
"How about I burn him to dead while you cut him from pieces to pieces?"
"Aye, aye captain."
For the first time in a long time, Morgan isn't confident about winning this round.
In the end, Morgan actually lived, along with his son who foolishly thought that they would stop for Coby's life. Luffy scolded both of them that even though they are pirates; they came for adventure, not to take someone's life even though they might deserve it. Therefore, the marines took care of those two.
"With your logia powers, you could've burst out of rubbles minutes ago!"
"Yes well… you see, my narcolepsy condition kinda kicked in at the last minute."
"DON'T TELL ME YOU FELL ASLEEP!"
Currently, all three are in Rika's family restaurant as her mom is giving them free food as thanks; much to Luffy's pleasure.
"You know, like you, I'm going to fight for my dream." It embarrasses Coby to know that a kid much younger and smaller than him was able to fight for his dream, even if the odds were against him. So he decided if Luffy can do it, so can he!
Luffy said his congrats in a mouthful.
Zoro watched with a "you got to be kidding" expression towards Luffy.
"Oi… how much can you eat?" Zoro asked with sweatdrop, watching as the boy finished his tenth dish. Ace stopped at eleven, not wanting to fall asleep since he was planning to set sail soon. And Zoro only have three dishes; yet how can this kid eat more than him when he was starving for almost two weeks?
"Is that all ya gonna eat?"
"Said the one with the eleventh plate…" Zoro grumbled, leaning his head in his hand as he propped his elbow onto the table. Ace just laughs.
"Come on Luffy, two more plates and that's enough. We don't want to empty out the nice people here."
"Ok Ace."
Zoro was frankly surprised the Luffy listened to his brother's request. He exclaimed in genuine shock; "He listened!"
Luffy only stuck his tongue out to the swordsman; which Zoro did the same.
The people in the background, that originally came to thank the pirates, couldn't help but laugh at the playful argument.
"Ya know, you're pretty good with the katanas, green-hair." Ace commented, wiping off some sauce on corner of Luffy's mouth. Many girls sighed at that; since Ace is rather hot himself, having no shirt on him, and there is also the fact that it is rare to see such a cute relationship between brothers.
"Heh. Of course, if I wanted to be the world's greatest swordsman, I have to be skillful and strong." Zoro answered with a confident smirk, earning an eye roll from Ace. At Zoro's seemingly 'bad as-'ness, the girls giggled. (Me:*sees best friend in those crowds* Oi! You're not supposed to be here!)
"AND IT'S ZORO! RO-RO-NOA ZO-RO! NOT GREEN-HAIR!"
"Never heard of you."
"I don't expect you to! At least say my name!"
"Zoro; the guy Coby talked to us about who had the scary face and is the demon pirate hunter, remember Ace?"
The swordsman looked at Luffy incredulously.
"Oi! You knew that the whole time and yet; what in the he- is with all those questions?"
"I need to make sure." Luffy smiled very innocently.
Zoro decided not to question it further, for he'll probably get a headache if so… why did he have a feeling that he had been out-smarted by a kid?
"Well, is there anything you want to get in town before we leave, Mr. Roronoa?"
He would question about the formalities but at least the guy is saying his name rather whatever he came up with him… wait a minute…
"'We?'" Zoro inquired suspiciously, narrowing his eyes towards Ace. "What do you mean 'we'?"
The ex-pirate-hunter didn't have a good feeling when he saw that oh-so innocent smile on Ace's face.
"Don't you remember? You called me 'captain'~"
"I don't remember-"
Wait a minute… does he mean…
"Aye, aye captain."
"That means you have officially decided to join our crew Mr. Roronoa!"
"Don't just decided that yourself-"
"Yaaaayy! That means we would go on a lot of adventures together, huh Zoro?" Luffy declared joyfully as he looks upon the swordsman with sparkling eyes.
He could not deny the kid with a face like that shining happily towards him; therefore he was already beaten before he even actually started. Zoro then have slump in defeat.
'Oh well…' The swordsman thought as he watched the happy siblings. 'It can't be that bad…'
With that, Zoro lets himself relax and smile.
And then he questions to himself to whether he would be able to live out at sea with them and their pitless stomach.
Omake: Bad Sneeze
"Ace, you ok?"
"Yeah, it's just a little itch on my nose." The freckled teen reassured as he sniffled, rubbing his nostril. Maybe just picking it would help.
"Hey! There is a pirate ship!"
Luffy pointed at a pink ship with hearts on the sails out near another ship. The pirate ship didn't look that much threatening, but it's a pirate ship nonetheless.
"I wonder what it's-" Ace sniffled. "-doing out there?"
"A pirate raid maybe?" Luffy concluded, looking at the ship, though pink, with admiration; loving how big it is.
"I want a big ship like that Ace!"
"Yea-" Ace rubs his nose more, a bit irritated how itchy it is. "-we'll get one soon Luffy."
Luffy cheered at the thought, hoping to get a really big ship with lots of sails!
"With a lots of sails and big masts?"
Ace nodded.
"With a lot of sails and big mas- ACHOOOOOO!"
A spit-fire ball of snot, which is actually on fire, came towards the direction of the pink, heart-filled ship and the brothers could only watch as the vessel has gone aflame.
"Agreed that we pretend that we were never here?"
"Agreed." Luffy settled as they continue to sail pass the two boats as if they were never there.
"Ace."
"Yeah?"
"You won't set our ship on fire, will you?"
"As long as you won't have to break anything on our ship."
"Deal."
Back where the two ships are, a pink-haired boy was able to escape from the confusion as the marines were getting much faster and closer; since the fire helped them identify where they are.
Me: Usopp! Give me more planks!
Usopp: Why do I have to help you barricade the girls? Why not Zoro or Ace?
Me: Because that would only encourage them! *mumbles* especially my best friend…
Usopp: … I'm going to get more planks!
Me: Please! Get Franky here if ya can! *looks back at the reader*
Well, thank you for reading this!
Sorry it took so long, there were a lot of things happening at once and I couldn't get to it in time. I love this chapter (not as much as when Shanks made his appearance) so I hope you did too!
