The Singer's Secret Chapter 3 - 5 Years Later, an one piece fanfic

The Singer's Secret

Heyo~

So I'm here again. In this chapter we finally reached the present and the story line finally starting, huhh.. ;)

I'm gonna write it donw here too. This whole story was bason on when I heard this one song, which is the main song, it gives the most emotion, the most accourate description about how Luffy feels. So I think you should read at least the lyrics of it, if you don't like the music.

All of the song was choosen by their meaning, it will help to understand Luffy's feelings at the moment!

I thought I share you this little information :p ... little .. huhh.. oh well... here comes the story now!

Disclaimer is on the first page.

Chapter 3 – 5 Years Later

4 men were standing in a smaller room, full of lights, mirrors, make up stuff and etc. what's usually in a dressing room. They got here by Shanks's recommendation. He became sort of like their manager, after the past 5 years together. This whole thing started after Shanks game him that advice.

"So, you think I should start singing? I don't know how to sing, I never had to before!" Shrieked Luffy after Shanks's astounding idea. He was nervous, like, really nervous. So, Shanks's got a new idea, he told Luffy to think of his favourite song and listen to it trough an earphone. Then as he feels the music flow, he just got to sing whatever part he knows about it and that should be a good start.

Luffy nodded, searched his favourite song at the moment, which is Pieces from Red. It's a slow song with a strong vocal voice, but at the same time really shooting. It became his most favoured song not long after the incident, it was nice listening to something dark but beautiful at the same time.

He closed his eyes, to feel the music inside of him, and when the singing finally started all of his doubt was gone, lost in the music, so he just sang his heart into that song. At the end, a loud clapping shook him out his trans. He looked up and Shanks's shocked, proud, curious face was showing at the same time, which startled him.

The older man didn't find words to his performance. His voice made the exact notes, and his emotions got trough his singing, making him like an open book. As Luffy just blinked, Shanks motioned him to come over with him to the piano and try to play it live, without the help of the background music.

Seeing the constant smile on the older's face he became braver. It made him feel whole and if it wasn't that bad than it makes it even better. The thing he was missing came back for the few minutes he was deep within the song and that made him breath freely, like a big pressure was moved of off him for a while.

They started playing songs like this and Shanks started teaching how to play instruments too. Luffy had a born talent for music and Shanks saw it quite well.

XYZ

A few months later, Luffy was quite good with the guitar. So, Shanks' counselled him to try and write his thoughts down, and maybe form out of them lyrics, songs to develop it to a new level. He new the basics from school and from him so it should be possible him to be able to do this. But the main reason for that is to him not keeping his buried emotions in him, to let it out, and in his case trough music, trough songs.

After that Luffy spent a lot of time with writing into his notebook. It became suspicious to the thee other. They always saw him writing into that thing, and they didn't even know what's he writing that hard.

One day, Luffy left out his notebook on the sofa and Usopp noticed it right away. He creeped there despite knowing Luffy wasn't home, and after a few looks around he started to open it, when the front door opened. Zoro and Sanji came trough and found a notebook at the tip of their feet, and a half dead Usopp on the carpet not too far away, clutching his shirt on top of his heart, because he almost had a heart attack of the fright.

As they processed the notebook's owner and that he wasn't home the jumped at the possibility to finally find out what the hell he's been writing about.

The nicely kept, black, hard lidded booklet was full of little texts in riddles and rhymes, or dots with lines connected to them. The question was still standing, because they didn't find out anything by looking into the notebook. So, to find out about it, they decided that the next day, Luffy'll go to therapy, they'll go there at the end to ask Shanks about it.

Three days later the three were on their way to pick up Luffy after the talk and the main reason to ask Shanks. As they were nearing the door, they heard a loud music, but it wasn't the usual sound recorded tone, it sounded weird. Weird but good tho'.

It had a strange feeling to it, like it's been played right on the other side of the door, it had a sharp sound into it. However, what stood out the most was, if they listened long enough, they could hear Luffy's voice into the singing voice. But Luffy couldn't sing… or at least they never heard him before.

More question came one-by-one, their brain trying to precess the datas with little success and when they had enough, they just burst trough the door not caring about the consequences anymore.

The music faded soon after they stepped in. Luffy's relaxed look took upon a frightened one after they finally found out his secret, his dealing with things from now on. He lost his colour and was like a sheet of paper, as he thought what're they going to say. His hands went limb, he lost his grip on the guitar in his hands too.

After the immediate shock left him, he carefully put down the instrument on the floor, then started to back away to the wall behind him, he'd go further but the wall was quite unbreakable at the moment.

Shanks and the others recognising this behaviour were disembarrass him right away. Shanks being the professional approached him, as Luffy followed his every move, his eyes like hawk's, examining his every movement, but not moving an inch in the meantime.

Shanks started shooing him with things just Luffy could hear and finally he calmed down enough to open up to the others. The hiding was rubbing off on him, as time went by, it became so bad, that he freaked out this bad only because this simple thing came to light about him.

They have to work on that later, the important thing now was to make Luffy tell them his solution to his fears. Because it was obvious he did not tell them about it…

Shanks motioned to Zoro to make the first move, to encourage him.

"So-o… What'cha... ohm…do-in'…?" Zoro started after he cleared his throat, but the incomprehension in his voice didn't help at all. Shanks Usopp and Sanji just face palmed at that, Luffy titled his head, now totally lost what's happening.

"What Zoro meant was that… the singing you did was… good. I didn't know you can sing!" Continued Usopp indefinably or at least better than Zoro.

"Eh?" Was Luffy's total reaction.

"What the really mean is that it was great! You should sing more, you looked exceedingly happy. I assume it's part if the recovery?" Said Sanji after the morons he calls his brothers almost screwed it up for Luffy. Plus, after thinking about it, it was obvious it was his way of processing things.

Luffy nodded, seeing that they didn't acted weird about it, it was fine them to know it.

"So, if you like it, why don't you hear it inside the room to?" Offered Shanked horrifying Luffy for a moment, but seeing his brothers' enthusiasm, he took a deep breath and calmed his nerves immediately concentrating on the song they going to play.

He turned around, facing the wall, if he's going to do it, it won't be face-to-face for the first time. He picked out the new song, and hold it out for shanks, still not turning. Shanks just nodded even if Luffy couldn't see it. They were going to play: 'Stumbling In Your Footsteps' by Get Scared.

Shaks started the slow piano intro, and as Luffy released his first few line, the three on the grey sofa, just gaped at them. It wasn't just good, it was fantastic. The music barely began but they felt right into it, Luffy had that talent to give out his emotions trough his voice.

The feelings overwhelming. As the main part would've started and as well as Luffy's intro with guitar. The three scattered in the room, searched out the most matching instrument for themselves and entered with him, the harmony in their team work was something else.

Usopp found the drums, Sanji the bass guitar and Zoro an another guitar. They followed Luffy's lead. It had a pretty harsh sounding at first until they finally got into it. Was quite a while since they used any of these, but later with a Shank' help it'd be close to perfect.

As the new sounds began, Luffy not wasting a second turned around, first was quite surprised by that, but he suddenly felt happier than ever.

Tears were beginning to form at the corner of his eyes, he almost laughed and ruined their best production, however, his voice did not quiver, but gained a new strength.

Shanks just admired them, it was really a sight to see, to be a part of something so natural and so great at the same time.

XYZ

From this point on they always practiced together, and Shanks were helping on their way. He was like a father figure to them all, he was their teacher and manager too.

He was the one, who entered them into this competition too. He thought the world should see them, because they could be very successful, and it radiated of off them, that they were ready, all, except one.

Luffy was quite anxious about the idea, not like he didn't dreamed about becoming a superstar, but his fear always butted in.

The night before the show they had a party. Just the four of them, Makino and Shanks. Everybody had a great time, well, maybe all but one. His worry eating him from the inside. The, now nineteen years old boy went out to the balcony to have some fresh air.

He leaned on the railing, lowered his head as he got himself together. His mind was racing, his thoughts were going a mile per hour.

All of them noticed he disappeared right away, they protecting side increased in the past years. They defended him anywhere and anytime from the point they heard, what happened to him the day he started singing.

Shanks went after him, but before he went out, he made a bee-line to the hall to pick up something, then went across the quite big living room to the balcony.

Stepping outside he saw Luffy's troubled composure, they all know that he agreed to this only, because he didn't want to drag down the others.

"You wanna talk about it?" Asked Shanks also leaning on the railing, but he was watching Luffy the whole time. After the years, he was still nervous around new people and especially girls. He always tried to avoid speaking or meeting with other people, he did if he must, but if he didn't have to…

"No… It's nothing, I'm just nervous… hehe…" he answered quietly as he closed his eyes and fidgeted with his fingers. Shanks nodded, understanding him well enough to know what's going on in his mind, but if he felt like he could make it trough he won't push it.

Shanks put the thing on his head, that he rushed out to get before, and started explaining, as he heard Luffy's quiet gasp.

"You remember the I talked you about the teacher who helped me trough the harsh times, right? And the story behind the straw hat you liked so much?" Shanks saw Luffy slowly lifted his hands to touch the old straw material with a red stripe at the base of the protuberant section. His breathing fastened, as he quickly looked at Shanks. The question is visible trough his eyes.

"I got it from him, from the great Gol D Roger, before I graduated school. He sent me off whit this, it symbolised his belief in me. So now I'm giving it to you, so you could see my belief in you, in all of you." He finished and patted his head with the hat on, then left.

XYZ

Now we were in the waiting room for that signal that it's almost time. Luffy was nervous, he tried humming to sooth himself down. He was walking back and forth in the room. Zoro saw this, walked to the table, picked the straw hat up and using the string, he overlaid the hat on him. The straw hat perfectly fitted to his clothes.

The red string was similar to his shirt's colour plus he wore black trousers and a black tie. (an.: Luffy looks like when he did in the movie 'Strong World', when he fought Shiki. I had to! I loved his looks there so~ much 3.) The others wore alike clothing to him, but with different colours. Zoro was mostly green, Sanji almost just blue and Usopp used his usual brown compilation.

The plan was to look smart, but at the same time more common set of clothes. Sanji was the stylist, he usually knew what was good for each of them, so he's chosen them this time too.

Luffy looked at him, a little startled by his act but grinned afterward. That was exactly what he missed. The straw hat hanging on his back for reassurance, for support.

Suddenly the door opened and one of the staff came to call them out. Three minutes till the show. They were the eighteenth participant out of twenty. Only fifteen gets to enter the next level.

It's not the usual talent show, it has longer breaks between each show and it wasn't really talent show, better call it something like, battle of bands or something like that. But the organizer decided the name, so there's nothing much we could do.

Only one minute till they enter. The four grouped together for one last courage burst, then they were called. Shanks and Makino were sitting in the rows of the audience waiting patiently for their boys.

The staff member motioned them, it was time to go. They walked in to the middle of the stage as the audience went crazy right away. They were in the mood for a while, so if they just saw some good-looking guy they'd immediately screamed they head off.

The scenery was breathtaking, not like standing at the edge of some awesomely deep gap, but still, it was something else.

The back-floored stage gave back the reflectors light, but just as much as that wasn't blinding them, and made the floor sparkle a little too.

The reflectors made it difficult to see the whole audience, just a few lines at the front and of course the jury at the middle-end of the stage. However, their voice, their screaming was audible perfectly well, making it possible to imagine how many more rows there really were.

Luffy closed his eyes, the nervousness was there, but this time for concentration. Usually the frontman did the introductions but Luffy was uptight. Zoro sensing this stepped closer to him and said:

"If you give yourself, everything's gonna be alright, you wrote this, you put you soul in it, if it won't outshine the others I don't know what will." Zoro stated confidently, and Luffy with still closed eyes chuckled a little.

Then Zoro stepped back, then spoke up louder to introduce them, as the crowd quieted down at one of the jury's intervention.

"We're the One Piece. You're gonna hear our new original song the 'Courtesy Call'. Hope you'll like it." And as he finished the light went off. (An.: I've chosen every single song with care so that they would fit in the story as much as possible. I'm going to name every song at the beginning too if you'd like to listen it, I recommend you to do so, 'cuz it'll give a little more information of Luffy's feelings and such. BTW this is Thousand Foot Krutch – Courtesy Call)

Hey-o, here comes the danger up in this club
When we get started man, we ain't gonna stop
We gonna turn it out, 'till it gets too hot
Everybody sing, hey-o
Tell 'em turn it up 'till they can't no more
Let's get this thing shakin' like a disco ball
This is your last warning, a courtesy call

Hey-o, here comes the danger up in this club
When we get started man, we ain't gonna stop
We gonna turn it out, 'till it gets too hot
Everybody sing, hey-o
Tell 'em turn it up 'till they can't no more
Let's get this thing shakin' like a disco ball
This is your last warning, a courtesy call

I am not afraid of the storm that comes my way
When it hits, it shakes me to the core
And makes me stronger than before
It's not a question about trust
But will you stand with us?
Can you feel it?
Make it real and

I think it might wash away tonight
Awakened from this never ending fight
It takes more than meets the eye
This war we're fighting is not just writing

There's a rumble in the floor
So get prepared for war
When it hits, it'll knock you to the ground
While it shakes up everything around
But survival is a must
So will you stand with us?
Can you feel it?
Make it real and
Make me feel it

I think it might wash away tonight
Awakened from this never ending fight
It takes more than meets the eye
This war we're fighting is not just writing

As the song started, vocal intro boomed trough the place. His voice wasn't quivering, not a bit, he put everything on the line, the others were counting on him, his fear won't interfere this time, it was too important for that.

A single light was directed on him at the beginning, his eyes still closed. Then as the song reached it's first exploding point as the other entered too and all the lights suddenly lit up, maddening the audience.

Hearing the crowds' exultation, Luffy opened his eyes, he saw the cheering around them. They couldn't believe it was really happening to them. The recreation was visible on all of them and it gave another strength to them, to the song what made the music even better. And with smiles on their faces, as they rocked the place to no end.

Even after they finished, the audience was crazy loud, the screams were unclear, because the excitement made them to hectic, not like they cared, it was so uplifting, so unimaginable experience what they'll never forget.

XYZ

The grin on each of their faces never left them, not to one minute, despite that the show was a few day ago. They were so popular, that they passed as best for the very first time.

They had to record the song trough the production and it was played throughout everywhere, because it was so liked pretty soon. Everyone who heard about them tried to search them up, the music sites were full of their one and only song for now, or pictures of them were cut out of the records.

The records were played in radios, and the video of the show was played every weren't the only ones, but they were the new favourites around the world. It was a quite common and popular show everywhere.

This show, this experiment, this feeling was really special what really few people felt before. They rocked the place and they spread all about it. It was good, but the best was that they liked their music, they liked them, like, really-really liked them. And that was the start of the million plus one changes of their life from now on.

To be continued...

I just noticed, that as I copyed the text from the other program, every little thing setting was deleted...

Well I'm not so happy about it, but I'll correct them of course. There were like flashback which were marked properly...

So I' gonna correct them!

Thank you for the reads! Bye :D