Every chapter just keeps getting longer! This is amazing! Work has left me with less time to write, but it's the weekend now so hopefully I should get at least one new chapter done by Monday
Thanks to all of you who've read so far. I'm a little happier with this chapter than the last. I found all the dialouge difficult, but I think it works! And thanks for reviewing!
rubysp: I love your enthusiasm for my story! I'm glad you brought up that about the background stories. When I was thinking about them I was trying to make up new stories but I just thought that the histories Oda wrote are so perfect for some characters, I just had to kep them similar. I knew I had to include Kunia somewhere, but as soon as I thought it I knew she had to have been important to Zoro, and she had to have died. The rest just kind of clicked one day! I've got most character's pasts down now, I hope you enjoy it all!
xHitsulover: Thank you very much, I'll try to upload as quickly as I can, I just love writing it so much!
Blu: Do you mind if I call you Blu? I want to try and put more humor in the story but its hard! Drama and whatnot is so much easier! And if you enjoy Chopper, I loved him in this chapter. Chopper is just the greatest, next to Zoro, that is.
I wanna go to a place: lol even from their first meetings Zoro and Sanji always bickered and fought, it just made sense to make that the first thing they really do. I'm glad you like the long chapter, cause I can't help but write them that way! And I meant no disrespect in what I said, writers block is the worst. I just get through by writing and writing until I find something I like, and my stubborness is stronger than my boredom of writing something! :D
So, enjoy chapter 6!
Disclaimer : I do not own One Piece
Chapter 6 – A Delicate Subject
Downstairs, diners of the famed Baratie restaurant were peacefully enjoying the best food in Grand Line. Upstairs, six people (well, five and a reindeer) were all thinking about what to do at that particular moment in an awkward situation.
The spacious apartment was decorated fashionably; the latest gadgets and furniture were spread across the ultra modern space. At that moment, four stood frozen in the middle of their actions, gaping at the other who had just walked through the door.
They all stood in some Mexican standoff, except one sat at the table, eating an enormous amount of meat in a disgusting and frighteningly quick manner.
Ussop was shaking as he stood next to the table. The look on his face was torn between wanting to find out more and wanting to hide in the bathroom until the man left. Sanji was half glaring at the newcomer, biting down so hard on his cigarette it was almost ripped in two. Nami sheltered safely behind him, poking her head out to watch the man in disbelief. Chopper had jumped from the man's side and attemped to hide behind a nearby chair.
Unfortunately, the reindeer got it a bit confused and was facing the other way.
The man in question looked from one to the other and inwardly sighed 'good one Luffy, that didn't freak them out at ALL. Now what am I mean to do you idiot?' Zoro cleared his throat and made an attempt of a smile. He wasn't used to it though, and managed to force out an evil grin that made Ussop squeak and jump under the table, knocking over Luffy's mound of meat.
"AH! MEAT! Ussop what was that for? Oh, what's going on guys?" Sanji span round to face his black haired friend, pointing at the newcomer and shouting
"Rubber idiot! What are you doing letting a shitty man like that into my house and near my precious Nami swan?!" Luffy tilted his head in confusion
"Naaa, what's wrong Sanji? Zoro won't do anything, ne Zoro?" Ussop's head poked out underneath the table before Zoro had the opportunity to reply
"But…but Luffy! He's from South Blue! People there can rip out a man's heart and eat it as it still beats! I should know after all, I, I've been there!"
Choppers impressed cries ("Na Ussop, really! That's so cool!") were drowned out by Luffy
"But Sanji I thought it'd be okay, you're from North Blue after all" The exclamation was disrupted by a loud crash, as Sanji kicked Luffy clear across the room. Zoro was about to see if his friend and saviour was alright, but the glare from Nami left him glued to the floor
"How DARE you bring that up, shitty gomu! That's nothing like this! Why's an idiot from the South even doing round here anyway?" Luffy stood and brushed himself off, looking back and forth from Sanji to Zoro. His cook friend looked mad, and annoyed, and a little nervous. But Zoro looked so…closed off. Luffy caught a glimpse of rejection and hurt in his features, but it was quickly masked with indifference.
The silence was broken as Nami gave a short cry, her eyes widening as she looked at Zoro.
"Bellemere said…something about Clahador Kuro and a breakout. He was from the South…" Nami trailed off, muttering to herself and shaking her head. Ussop and Sanji looked at Nami whilst Zoro glanced at Luffy, in a silent plea to explain. The rubber boy shuffled over to the former slave and muttered
"Nami's mother works for the Police. Maybe she heard about you" Zoro went rigid, his fists clenched as he watched the Redhead. Was she going to ruin everything? He should have guessed it would turn out this way, no one wanted to know him. Not since her.
"Nami swan, what is it? What did Bellemere-san say?" Nami never took her eyes off Zoro as she told the room
"Sanji kun, he's a slave."
It was difficult to see Zoro pale under his tanned skin, but somehow he managed it.
The fear that was in Nami and Sanji's faces had been replaced with disgust, Ussop edged out from under the safe haven of the table, but he still looked petrified. Chopper watched everyone, he seemed confused but also like he was trying to process everything he could. Luffy stood at his new friends side, and simply gave the best argument he could think of
"He's not one anymore Nami. He escaped" Sanji scoffed
"Oh, and that makes everything SO much better!"
"Face it Luffy, he's not good for anything but being told what to do, and if he escaped, he must be dangerous to boot! He's nothing but a beast" Her final insult was spoken so pointedly it seemed to pierce straight through Zoro's chest. He stepped forward, away from the support of Luffy, and pointed at the girl
"Hey, I…"
"Shut your mouth, Slave." Nami snarled at him, and Sanji stood beside her for protection and support against their common enemy. The tone of her voice wasn't lost on anyone, the room snapped back into silence as she and Zoro caught eye contact for what seemed like forever.
Zoro backed down; his fists shook with anger as he watched the floor, shoulders slumped in defeat. That was how it would always be, she had authority over him. The way she spoke, looked, behaved, it was all proof as to why she owned slaves and he was one. And after so many years of oppression, Zoro couldn't fight the scrutiny of so many upper-classmen advocating their superiority.
Luffy watched the words pass with pain, how could she treat Zoro this way? As the green haired man turned and walked past Luffy, he opened his mouth to speak. The beaten Southerner beat him to it
"Don't bother Luffy, I should just go. I don't belong here" The room watched as he made for the door. None of them expected his path to be blocked, especially by a pair of furry hooves that latched onto Zoro's leg. He looked down to see the pink hatted reindeer look up at him, smiling softly
"Don't go, Zoro san, please? Can you tell me about South Blue?" Chopper's meek voice was filled with warmth, and Zoro felt his heart melt, just a tiny bit, in the presence of the adorable creature. Sanji floundered, dumbfounded at Chopper's friendliness
"But Chopper!"
"No Sanji...You know, people used to call me a beast too." Luffy grinned at Chopper, while Sanji opened and closed his mouth like a confused fish. Before he could try and protest further, Chopper pulled Zoro towards a big couch and sat him down (by this point, Zoro was so confused he just let the little animal lead him around, like some weird circus show where he was the pet) Luffy giggled and jumped into the sofa perpendicular to the one his friends sat at.
Nami sighed in exasperation and stalked out to the kitchen, and Sanji glanced at the group sitting down before shaking his head and following his precious Nami Swan.
Ussop was confused. On one hand this new guy did seem kinda cool, if not really scary. But Sanji and Nami were right, he was a lowly slave, and was a dangerous man from the South! But the great expert spy Ussop would never be afraid of a man, oh no! He decided to go in between, and hovered around near the open plan living room so he could understand what the group was saying.
Luffy couldn't stop smiling at Chopper. He was so pleased his little reindeer companion defended Zoro like that. A rubber arm stretched across the room to grab some meat, and Luffy sat back and watched his friends acquaint themselves as he ate his big meat lollipop. Zoro looked between the meat loving boy and the reindeer as he frantically thought of a way to ask the question without seeming impolite
"Um, sorry…but, you're a reindeer. How can you talk?" He looked at Chopper as if he expected him to rip off his head and reveal a robot underneath, but the little animal did nothing but giggle
"Well, I was born a normal reindeer, in Drum. The land my herd grazed on was polluted by the Devil Fruit when it was dumped there, so when I was born, I kind of got like this. I got taken in by two doctors, now we live here so I can go to medical school, I live next door to Ussop."
"Isn't he COOL Zoro!" Luffy chirped out from the other sofa, which Ussop was now occupying as well. Zoro was amazed, the animal's a doctor? That chemical must've messed him up. Thanks to Luffy's compliment, Chopper squirmed in his space, wiggling his arms and looking like he had just found the magical world of candyfloss.
"Shut up bastard! That doesn't make me happy, you know!" Luffy and Ussop roared with laughter where they were sat, while Zoro was torn between laughing and moving away from the crazy animal. Once the laughter died down Zoro turned to Ussop
"So what's so special about you then? He pointed at the curly haired boy who squealed quickly, before seemingly recovering, jumping from his seat and pointing to the sky
"You mean you haven't heard of the Great Ussop? One of the richest and most popular men in all of Grand Line?" He heaved a breath, preparing to launch into a grand story when Luffy laughed
"He wants the truth, Ussop! Ne Zoro, Ussop tells great stories! Oi Sanji, can I get more meat?" Luffy jumped up and ran to the kitchen to find some more delicious meat to eat. Chopper looked distraught
"Eehhh Ussop, you mean that's not true?" Zoro snorted in disbelief – even he didn't believe the long nose.
"Baka! You know it's not Chopper!" Ussop grinned sheepishly and sat down "There's nothing special with me, Zoro-san, I met everyone through Luffy. My dad is a lawyer, he works for Shanks." Zoro nodded in understanding
"So you're at law school then?"
"Ahh no. I'm not too similar to my dad, except for in shooting"
"Shooting?" Ussop's face brightened
"Yea, I'm known as Ussop, the great shooter who can hit a penny from a mile away!" Ussop was on his feet again, declaring his brilliance in a grand voice. Chopper clapped him wildly, before asking the cool new guy
"What about you, Zoro-san? Were you really a slave?" Zoro sighed heavily, and gave a curt nod
"Yes. I worked for Kuro for…11 years" Zoro's voice seemed almost distant, as he talked about his recent past. It already seemed like so long ago, even if it were only a few days. "I was just bought by some Crocodile guy when I escaped. Somehow I ended up here in Rouge Town; Luffy saved me from the police" Ussop gasped
"Sir Crocodile? The businessman? He's one of the most loved men in the world!" Zoro's deep growl made Ussop hide behind the chair
"The man's a bastard" The room went cold at Zoro's stark comment. Chopper and Ussop were nervous; the green haired man seemed tense. They decided to leave the subject alone
"So, Zoro, why's your hair green?"'
In the kitchen Sanji was putting all his attention towards cooking some meat (some is an understatement, it was more like an entire cow), admiring his lovely Nami swan and ignoring that grassy haired slave bastard next door. Nami bit on her lip, tutting as she turned to the stove
"You have to throw him out, Sanji-kun! No matter what Luffy says, the man is dangerous! To escape from Crocodile, that slave is no good!" Sanji turned from the stove, oozing joy and love
"Of course, Nami-swan! You are right as always!" Sanji's rambles of joy were cut short as the lanky, straw hat wearing friend stumbled into the room
"SanjiIwantsomeMeatwherestheMeat!" One look at Nami's face, and Luffy sat opposite her looking concerned "Nami, is something the matter? Did you lose some money?"
It was a well known fact to Luffy that Nami loves money, something he learnt many years ago when he was desperate to buy the bug training leash for his fighting beetle. He had to borrow the money from Nami, and when she found out and told him 50 Beli was ridiculous for some string, he learnt how careful Nami is with her finances. So when she was upset, Beli was the first thing on his mind.
"No Luffy! It's that, that friend of yours. He's dangerous! And just a slave!" Nami seethed as she tapped Luffy in the centre of his forehead. Luffy looked at the table sadly
"What's wrong with being a slave, Nami?" The girl stopped mid-poke
"Well, nothing's wrong with them Luffy, I mean, its just…" she trailed about, looking for the words to say
"What about your slaves, you think there's something wrong with them?"
"No no no, they are important to me!"
"As what? Property? Someone to tend your orange trees?" Luffy's voice rose as he spoke, defending those people of his heritage. Sanji frowned, the kid was too much like Shanks.
"Don't speak to Nami Swan that way Luffy!" He was about to kick Luffy in the head when Nami waved a hand, signalling him to stop
"How dare you Luffy, you know I'm not like that!" Their voices were loud now, drawing attention from all in the house. Nami had risen from her chair, and was staring down at Luffy in anger as he chuckled darkly
"Do I? All I know is you like to treat them kindly, but they still work for you, for no pay. Still live in poor quarters. You don't even know their names!" Luffy too had risen, almost as angry as his redheaded friend. The two seemed ready to come to blows when a firm, deep voice spoke from the doorway
"Luffy, just forget it" Zoro spoke to his friend, but never stopped looking at Nami.
So the girl owned slaves too huh? The way the perverted cook acts, it seems like he would too…but as Zoro looked around the apartment it appeared they didn't have the space to keep any.
What about the other two? Ussop and Chopper stood behind Zoro. The three had heard the arguing, and wandered over to investigate. Ussop was trembling again as his friends argued, while Chopper seemed worried about Zoro, sweet thing. The green hair's surveillance of the situation was cut short when Luffy answered
"No Zoro, this is important! They can't talk about you that way…about anyone that way!"
"It doesn't matter, I'll just go"
"NO!" Luffy pointed at Zoro as he shouted at Nami "What makes you better than him? At least he's not angry or greedy or manipulative!"
A slap rang across the room. Nami was shaken, her face hidden from view, and a red mark was rapidly growing on Luffy's face. Chopper cried out
"Luffy!" His fear of the fight forgotten as the doctor instinct kicked in. Chopper jumped up onto the chair and examined where Nami hit him. She was shaking still, and when Sanji went to put an arm around her she shook it off
"No Sanji kun, I'll see you tomorrow" As Nami exited the room, she stopped next to Zoro. He looked at her with interest as she glared back in anger.
She knocked his shoulder, pushing him back as she walked out of the room, and slammed the door shut behind her as she left. Chopper's sniffs of sadness and the sizzling of meat on the stove were all that could be heard through the thick atmosphere.
--
Man, that all got a bit tense at the end. There were bits I felt were a tad OOC, especially for Zoro and Luffy, but I needed to for the story and the characters in this world, so I'm sorry but I don't really care! :P
I LOVE Chopper so much! He is so compassionate and sweet and I'd imagine he would be so sweet to Zoro even if he were different. Zoro and Chopper interactions in the manga are just too cute sometimes, I had to add alot of chopperzoro here. The conversations worried me, I wasn't sure if they were good. But it went okay I think. I wanted Zoro to get to know the rest of the crew without repeating too much. This whole story thing gets so much harder the more you do!
Anywhoo, I'm gonna try and write one or two more chapters this weekend, so keep checking for more Price of Freedom!
Thanks for Reading - Pamplemoose