Hey everyone! Time for the first chapter!
Chopper: And I get to do the reviews!
Aww! (hugs) So cute!
Chopper: Shut up! (blushes)
Okay! (sets him back down)
Chopper: Okay! (grabs first one) From Gnomjovel…
New reviewer! Thank you! I hope I don't disappoint.
Chopper: (grabs another) From Blu-Calling…
That's Blu-san, and… no stealing! Or I'll sick Nami and her finance on you!
Chopper: Why not Zoro?
Because at the moment he's doing odd jobs for me to pay for the camera he broke.
Chopper: Oh… (grabs another) From mimifoxlove…
That's Mimi-chan, and she's the cute reviewer. And to answer your question, there's a tunnel under the cove that's attached to the ocean, so fish come in and out of the cove, Luffy doesn't really collect fish, they just like to hang loose. And the tail thing, at first it was going to be a normal mermaid's, or this case merman's, tail, but then I remembered that Zoro resembles a shark, and boom!
Chopper: So cool! (eyes shining)
(squeals and hugs) You're just too cute to not hug!
Chopper: (blushes and does his cursing thing)
(lets go)
Chopper: (grabs another) From Kyo-kun…
Good job! And thanks, I thought it suited him.
Chopper: (grabs another) From Uzun Nan-Nan…
Thank you!
Chopper: (grabs another) From DarkDreamer2009…
You and me both…
Chopper: (grabs another) From OPFAN…
Thank you!
Chopper: (grabs another) From Lectori Salutem…
Thank you!
Chopper: (blushes and does his little dance) That doesn't make me happy! You bastard!
I'll do the last review, who's new, from Saiyoru-chan… Of course I'm going to continue this! I can't let it end there!
Chopper: Is it time to do the fic?
You bet your medical books it's time! Enjoy!
Chopper: (giggles)
Chapter 1
Ten years went by since that fateful day, and things in the island were peaceful.
"Ahh! I'm late!"
Well, some of the time it's peaceful…
Luffy, age seventeen, ran out in a white shirt, dark jeans, sandals and his straw hat, grabbed his school bag and his lunch. After a speedy breakfast, which was toast and sausage, he ran out of the beach house calling out his departure.
"Luf!" Called out a young man, twenty years old, with wavy black hair, freckles across his cheeks, and a toned body.
"Can't talk! Gotta run! Really late!" Luffy called back as he continued to run down the hill they lived on surrounded by palm trees and other topical plants that hid the house well.
The young man looked confused as he looked at the clock, which read 7:05. "But school doesn't start until eight…" He said. "I even changed his alarm so he didn't have to get up so early…"
Luffy ran like the devil was hot on his trail and found the path that lead deeper into the vegetation towards the secret cove. "Zoro! Good morning!" He called as he went towards the edge of the small shore of the cove. He waited, knowing that the other liked to take his time in the mornings. He only waited for five minutes until he saw a pale green fin appear on the surface before seeing the masculine body.
Zoro, age nineteen, yawned as he looked up at the teen, who crouched down to his eye level.
"Good morning!"
"Morning Luffy." He said as he looked at the school bag. "New school year?"
"Yep!"
"Why you here? You're going to be late…"
"I wanted to say good morning to Zoro before I do!"
Zoro sighed, knowing why the teen did that. "Would you go before the 'good luck' aura runs low."
The teen just giggled, grabbed his bag, and dug something out that looked like a small box of sushi. "Here Zoro! I got these the other day." He handed the box to the other, who accepted them, and dashed off. "See you after school!"
Zoro watched the other dash off and shook his head. "Hasn't changed at all…" He said with a smile before going down to the cove's floor bottom and sees the octopus, who was getting old. "Hey old tentacles, Luffy brought something." He opened the box and threw some towards the octopus, who grabbed it with ease.
"That time of the year again?" Asked the old octopus.
"Yeah…"
"Are you going to collect shells for the boy's yearly dance?"
"I'll wait to hear what he has in mind, you know how he is… Unpredictable…"
The old octopus chuckled as both enjoyed sushi.
After school
Luffy ran fast back to the secret cove and saw Zoro laying on the shore, with the sun on his back. "Zoro!" He called with a laugh, making the other look up.
"Hey Luffy, how's school?"
"First day's are usually good, but I missed talking to you."
"Usopp is there, isn't he?"
"Yeah, but he can't swim as fast as you can."
Zoro grinned as he got up, using his arms to stabilize him. "So, any plans about this years dance?"
Luffy smiled widely, showing that he did have a basic, and mostly simple idea of what he has planned, with the other usually stands ready for any crazy idea. "Yeah! I have to learn a new dance, I'm not sure what theme it's going to be, but we may need to find blue or yellow shells."
"We'll wait for the theme before the plan of action…" Zoro said as he rested back onto the sand. "Until then, you should get home so Ace wouldn't worry about you."
"Yeah, I should, he's been coming and going lately so I better spend some time with him." He said as he straightened. "What are you going to do?"
Zoro shrugged. "The usual, make sure the beaches are safe from hungry sharks and strong currents."
The teen smiled. "You're a great guy Zoro! Well, see ya later!"
"Be careful going home!"
"I will!"
Zoro shook his head. "That guy…"
Beach House
Luffy slammed the door open and ran to where he knew his brother would be, he threw his bag down and ran up the stairs opened the door, only to pounce on the man.
"Luf!" The man, Ace said as the two wrestled. "How was your day?"
"Great!"
The two of them laughed as they had dinner together, then went out to the hammock to watch the night sky, where a couple shooting stars were seen.
"Make a wish Luffy!" Ace said.
Luffy didn't need to be told twice as he closed his eyes to make his wish. 'I wish to stay friends with Zoro forever and ever!'
Secret Cove
Zoro was looking up at the same night sky and smiled, knowing that the teen made a very simple wish that was already true, and feel into an easy sleep, only to be awaken with the change of the wind. "Can't be…" He dived down until he found the tunnel, went through to open ocean, swam out a little, only to confirm what he hoped was not happening. 'The currents changed… that means they're here…' He saw the faint silhouettes of the huge group of merfolk before darting back into the cove.
How was that?
Chopper: I liked it.
(hugs) You're so sweet!
Chopper: (blinks and blushes)
See you next chapter!