I'm really really sorry for not posting the story sooner; basically I just didn't have the time to write so this is the latest chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece yadda yadda yadda… you get the picture

Thanks for the reviews :D

Chapter 10 – A fight and a bird?

"Shall we go?" I asked. He nodded cracking his fingers and started walking towards the base.

We walked toward the base, Luffy looked cheerful and carefree but I recognized hidden anger in his eyes. He was going to break something, I thought to myself. It wasn't long till we were in front of the wall separating the base from the city. And no matter how many times I looked at it, I still found it ugly. Luffy jumped without problems over the wall and I followed him over.

"Yo!" he said to Zoro.

"It's you again? I told you I don't wanna be a pirate!"

Luffy ignored him and said: "I'm Luffy. If I loosen up the ropes, then you're gonna join me, okay?"

I chuckled quietly; I couldn't help myself, when Luffy gets something in his head nothing changes his mind.

"I've told you clearly!" he spat out through his clenched teeth. Then he continued: "I have things that I need to do. Besides I'm not going to be a bad guy like a pirate."

"That's the difference? Besides everyone already thinks you are a bad guy," Luffy said and I could see he was getting annoyed a bit. I sat down on the wall thinking this is going to take time. In the meantime Coby managed to climb onto the wall and he sat next to me. He almost fell down but I managed to grab him and steadied him.

"Aren't you afraid?" he asked me. I looked at him as I replied: "Afraid of what?"

"Of being a pirate, of Grand Line, of dying?" he almost shrieked the last part.

I sighed and looked at Luffy and Zoro arguing, I couldn't help myself as I smiled.

"No, Coby. I'm not afraid, at least not of the things you counted. But I'm afraid of many other things. But death does not scare me. Both Luffy and I have a dream, a wish so strong that we're willing to do almost everything to achieve it. Besides Coby, if one does not risk everything for what he believes in, then his dream and will is not strong enough."

"But, but… What…"

"We have made a promise, and we're planning on fulfilling it!" I added and smiled at him. Coby sat there quietly, seemingly deep in thought. Meanwhile Luffy already left into the bowels of the base searching for Zoro's katana that much I have overheard.

I jumped down leaving Coby and went towards the tied man, which was soon to join our little band of pirates.

"Hi, I'm Shana and you're the one who's gonna join Luffy and me, right?" I couldn't help myself saying. Living with Luffy did have some consequences. I could see his veins throbbing in anger and I smirked.

"As I said, I'm not joining you!"

"Hai hai, I know, but let me ask you something. What choice do you have? You can stay here and die or you can join us and live," with that I got his attention.

"Die? I'm not gonna die! Not here!" he exclaimed. By that Coby has already reached us and started to untie him.

"Stop it! You're going to get yourself killed!" he told Coby. Coby merely looked at him defiantly and said: "What Shana-san said it's true. They are bad marines and I'm ashamed for them. That Helmeppo bragged that he'll execute you in three days!He never intended to keep his promise!"

He took a deep breath and continued: "Luffy-san got mad and punched him on your behalf! Because he was just toying with you!"

"What did you just say?" asked Zoro stunned.

"Luffy-san wants to be a Pirate King and what he just did here the navy will never let you guys off! Please! After we set you free, please help them escape!" asked Coby while he was untying him. I stayed out of the conversation but I noticed marines closing in on us and right before one fired his gun I pulled Coby aside and he narrowly avoided getting shot. I ran towards the marines and incapacitated the two that were shooting with my technique.

"Hurry, Coby! We don't have much time left. They have noticed us and are closing in!"

He scrambled and tried to untie him. I backed of towards them to help when I realized we were in a bit of a jam. We were surrounded and with Zoro still tied up he was sitting duck. I pushed my ki into my legs and in a blink of a second I was next to him and pulled the ropes till they broke. With that he was free. I was quietly admonishing myself why didn't I release him sooner but I really thought that Luffy would be faster. Yeah, right, I thought and pigs do fly. My legs and arm was aching, I still didn't completely mastered that technique. If I had time and slowly push ki into my legs it wouldn't hurt as much as it does when I push it rather quickly.

And by the time Zoro got rid of all the ropes, Lieutenant Morgan was already in the courtyard. By myself I could have no problems taking all of them, but with Coby there and Zoro who I might say was not in perfect shape I just could not risk it.

"Roronoa Zoro… I've heard of your name from a long time ago, but do not underestimate me, before my great strength your just garbage!" Lieutenant Morgan pronounced.

I scoffed and said: "Oh, please! Another idiot!"

"Ready!"

The shooter aimed their weapons at us and I was already preparing to grab them and jump away when I sensed familiar presence closing on. I grinned and looked up.

"FIRE!" yelled Morgan and in that moment Luffy jumped in front of us. The bullets hit him and he stretched on impact and sent bullets flying back to their senders.

"You!"

"Luffy-san!"

"The straw hat boy…"

"You're late as always Luffy! And what's with the flashy entrance?" I asked grinning. He grinned back and said : "It looked cooler!"

"What kind of a human are you?" asked Zoro stunned. He grinned and looked at him: "Shishishi, I am the one who will become the Pirate King!"

He pulled three katanas from his back and shoved them to Zoro: "Look, which one is your treasured katana? I couldn't figure it out, so I brought all three of them."

He took all three of them and checked them out: "All three belong to me, because I use three katanas."

I said it then: "Resisting the navy here together with us will make you an outlaw, Roronoa Zoro! What will you choose? The pirate life or death?"

"Are you the offspring of the devil… Forget it … Rather than to die here, why don't I just accede to your request and become a pirate!" he replied and I smiled. Luffy grinned even wider and shouted: "Yes! We have a new nakama!"

"Now we just have a small problem over there," I said and pointed towards marines.

"No problem, we can take them," said Luffy and cracked his knuckles.

"Coby, stay behind and find some cover," I said to him as marines started shouting battle cries with Morgan spouting death threats. He nodded and we sprung into battle. It wasn't much of a battle, the marines were a joke. It was over in less then a minute. And when the battle was over Zoro turned to us and said: "I already told you I'm going to join you to be a pirate, but I have my own dream. I'm going to become the World's Greatest Swordsman! Badguy, goodguy, it no longer matters, as long as my name is known worldwide! If you do something that ends up in the way of my goal, I will have you cut your stomach open to say sorry!"

Luffy grinned and replied: "Good! To be the worlds number one swordsman! Since you're going to be in the Pirate King's crew, if you couldn't accomplish something that small, then I would be very embarrassed as well!"

"Heh, well said!"

I just sighed and said: "Boys!"

"And by the way what the hell are you?" asked Zoro, when he noticed stretching Luffy's arm when he knocked out another marine that got up.

"Me? I'm a rubber-man!"

"A rubber-man?" said one of the marines, "Lieutenant we cannot kill them, they are too strong!"

Morgan clenched his hand and looked sharply at his men: "This is an order. Whoever said that, get a gun and kill yourself! I don't need useless soldiers!"

I grinded my teeth at that statement. How I hated that man, I was already preparing on running and striking him when Luffy beat me to it.

"Luffy-san! Defeat these marines!" shouted Coby from behind us. And with that the battle between Luffy and Morgan began. I could see that Luffy was playing with him as the fight continued. And when Luffy managed to knock him on the ground I heard Helmeppo, shouting to stop. It wasn't a surprise to me as I have sensed him long before he sneaked closer. He was pointing a gun to Coby's head.

When Coby told him he didn't want to stand in his way, he looked at me and I smirked and showed him one of my needles from my bracelet. Luffy smirked and started stretching his hand. And a second later Helmeppo was unconscious from my paralyzing agent. Coby shouted to Luffy to look out and in the same moment Zoro took out Morgan.

"Nice, Zoro, Shana!" he said.

"Leave it to me, Captain!" said Zoro with his sword in his mouth and I just mockingly saluted.

"The Lieutenant lost!""

"Lieutenant Morgan has been defeated!" shouted the marines.

"If you still want to arrest us, come and get us!" said Zoro and I smiled and cracked my neck. But instead of attacking us they started to cheer. While Luffy and Coby were talking I noticed a decline in energy from Zoro. Apparently he was running on pure adrenalin and before he collapsed I caught him and yelled for Luffy.

"I'm hungry," he said before he completely passed out. We carried him to the restaurant where Rika and her mother were living and I tended to his injuries. Luckily Rassa insisted that I learn some of it and I must say that living with Ace and Luffy they came in handy.

"Stupid pride," I muttered while I cleaned the last injury. I smacked him on his head and said: "If you don't get up, Luffy's gonna eat all your food."

It didn't take long and he was stuffing his face with Luffy at the table. I already ate so I, as the unfortunate First Mate of our motley crew asked the owner if the supplies and water were prepared. Meanwhile the boys were in an argument and just as it escalated I joined the conversation.

"Of course we're heading to the Grand Line Coby, where do you want us to go? One piece is there as are all the other pirates. As I said for someone to achieve his dream you have to take a risk."

"But, you're still to reckless."

"First of all, you should worry about yourself?" said Zoro.

"Huh? Why?"

"Even though you were on Alvida's ship against your will, it was still a pirate ship. Do not underestimate the navy's intelligence gathering."

He was about to reply as the door to the restaurant opened and marine entered.

"Excuse me? We are wondering if you are truly pirates?"

"Yes, we are," I answered, feeling oddly proud of the fact. I knew my mother is laughing at the things we have done in Shell town. In the world where I grew up I would have never done things I'm doing now.

"Even though you are pirates, in reality," the marine continued, "You saved our town and base. For that we are grateful. But, since you are pirates, as marines we cannot allow you to stay any longer. Please, leave immediately. And for what has happened we will be reporting to the headquarters."

The people listening inside and outside the restaurant started complaining how unfair and what are they saying. But Luffy just stood up and said: "Hmm, well then… Let's go! Thank you for your food."

"Luffy, wait! Take that barrel with you," I told him and pointed to him at the barrel full of water. He lifted it up and started to leave. I took my own bag and the bag with food and paid for it. Just as we reached the door, the marine asked Coby: "Aren't you with them?"

He stuttered a bit and finally said: "I'm not with them!"

Luffy grinned and was about to step through the door as the marine asked: "Is he telling the truth?"

Luffy then proceeded to tell him all about who Coby was and I was about to stop him when Zoro stopped me.

"Why?"

"Just wait," he said and he took the barrel away from Luffy. Coby couldn't listen to the story Luffy was telling and drew a punch at him. At the surprised face Coby was wearing he apparently couldn't believe that he actually hit him. It wasn't long before they were both fighting. I sighed, muttered I give up and collected his hat from the floor.

"I'll take the supplies to the boat," I said to Zoro and left. I went to our dinghy thinking about how cramped it's going to get. The marines didn't stop or bother me on the way, they just warily observed me. I thought to myself, how high they would jump if I turned around and shouted boo at them.

I sighed, thinking that I really need some other company as Luffy, his behavior is apparently contagious. They eventually arrived and Zoro handed me the barrel, while Luffy collected the rope the boat was tied with. We were just about to leave when Coby ran to the docks shouting: "Luffy-san! Thank you very much! I will never forget you for the rest of my life!"

He then saluted to us, I smiled and Luffy replied: "Shishishi! Coby! We'll meet again someday!"

"I've never seen a marine saluting pirates!" commented Zoro.

"See ya, Coby! Try not to worry so much!" I added and waved. By then a whole bunch of marines showed up and saluted. We, in the boat laughed and sailed out of the bay. Luffy was again in his cheerful mood as he shouted: "Yahoo! We're off! Grand Line, here we come!"

I sighed, "Luffy, in this dinghy we wouldn't last half an hour on Grand Line!" and shoved Shanks' hat on his head, "And we need a bit bigger crew. Preferably a navigator!"

"So neither of you knows how to navigate?" asked Zoro.

"I know a bit, but not nearly enough how to do a proper job. Besides, you're not showing any particular skill how to do it either," I replied.

"I never needed it. I went to search for a man and didn't know a way back home," he said, not at least bit ashamed. I sweatdropped and gaped at him.

"What's your story?" he then asked and pointed to Luffy, "How did you join up with him?"

Luffy in the mean time was sitting in front of the boat looking in the water, humming to himself.

"He's my little brother," I said and smiled, "When we were little we made an oath and I'm here to honor it. And besides he decided when he was ten that I'm his nakama."

Zoro laughed, "You two don't look at least bit alike."

"I found her and kept her," proclaimed Luffy and I smacked him. He pouted at me and I glared back, Zoro laughed at our antics.

Few hours later I told them I need to meditate and not to touch the food. I was supposed to last a few days at least. I calmed myself trying to sort my thoughts and with calming, healing ki release my aches in the muscles I used in a fight. I also decided to center myself after using my gift in the city. I don't need to do it, but since we have time, why not.

I should have not left food out for Luffy to get it. After one whole day at the sea, the food was gone. Luffy was incapacitated thanks to my Kyuusho bujutsu technique and I was fuming. Zoro wisely kept his mouth shut. An hour later he was complaining of being hungry, lying on his back, I tried to rein my temper as I was sitting at the rudder steering.

"Oh, a bird! Looks tasty! Let's eat it," he said to Zoro.

"How are you going to eat it, never mind getting it?"

"Leave it to me! Gomu gomu no Rockett!"

"Luffy, don't!" I shouted a second to late. Zoro whistled appreciatively and looked up. It wasn't long when he started screaming and callong for help.

"Why me? Why in the world do I always have to rescue him!" I ranted and turned the boat in his direction, while Zoro grabbed the oars and started rowing.

"Shaaanaaa! Zooorooo! Heeelp!" we could hear from the distance.

"When we catch that idiot, I'm going to kick his ass to moon and back!"

"And I'm going to help you!" said Zoro while rowing.

Again I apologise for the late update... oh, and for bad grammar... :)

Thanks for the kind reviews! :D

ja ne