Wow! Sorry for the lack of update, lot of things going on. But summer is here and I'm able to get as much done as possible, unless I have to do a few odd stuff that may take up most of my time, but other than that, I'm able to do this a bit more.
Chopper: You're back! (hugs)
Chopper! (hugs back) I missed you too!
Chopper: How was graduation?
It was fantastic!
Chopper: (giggles)
Would you mind doing some reviews?
Chopper: I was waiting a long time to do that! (grabs one) From Sogequeen2550…
Soge-san… Thanks for understanding. And yes, sharks are much cooler and from reading about Zoro from Wiki, he mostly resembles a shark. So… ta-da!
Chopper: He does get a bit scary when he's angry, but he's really cool over all!
I know.
Chopper: (grabs another) From Iryann…
Oh! A reviewer I don't know. I hope so too.
Chopper: Huh? You mean you don't know?
When it comes to stories, I usually don't have a full length idea of how it goes. So I wing it.
Chopper: Oh… (grabs another) From Phalax…
Another new reviewer… Thanks…
Chopper: (grabs another) From smexygecko…
Gecko-san… You never know…
Chopper: So you do have an idea?
Possibly.
Chopper: (grabs another) From DarkDreamer2009…
Dream-san… Thanks…
Chopper: (grabs another) From Lectori…
Tori-san… Thank you!
Chopper: (grabs another) From twilightserius…
Twi-san… Yeah… I know…
Chopper: (grabs another) From Kami-san…
I know, and what did you do to Sanji? He looks like a wreak.
Chopper: He wouldn't even tell me what was going on.
That's odd, even for him. That means he won't be my next host for a while.
Chopper: (grabs another) From OPFAN…
You never know…
Chopper: (grabs another) From Kyo-kun…
(nods) I know.
Chopper: (grabs another) From Suguri Takeuchi-chan…
Suguri-chan… Thanks for the ice cream!
Chopper: (eyes sparkling) Ice cream!
I'll get it, you go ahead with the review. (set up two bowls)
Chopper: (grabs another) From MintCa…
(hands ice cream to Chopper) Sorry about that…
Chopper: (takes a bite and grabs another) From deathshark…
Definitely new… You'll find out soon enough.
Chopper: (takes another bite and grabs another) From Saiyoru-chan…
New reviewer… It's here, don't worry…
Chopper: (takes another bite and grabs the last one) From Mimi-chan…
You'll find out.
Chopper: Can we start now? (takes a bite)
We sure will! Enjoy everyone!
Chapter 4
The next day, during dance practice, Luffy was doing a horrible job.
"Luffy-chan! What has gone into you?" Bon Clay asked as he brought Luffy aside.
At first Luffy didn't want to talk about it, didn't really want to have his dance teacher get involved. "It's nothing, just not really in a great mood lately…"
Bon Clay knew something was wrong, and the only way to do so, is to talk to the older brother.
Once practice was over, he was about to do just that when he saw a familiar face. "C-Croc-"
"Zip it! Or those are the last words you'll ever say." Said a man with a fur lined coat and a cigar in his mouth.
"What are you doing here?"
"I thought you might've heard by now… I'm building a hotel here."
Back outside, Luffy was talking to Usopp, who was trying to cheer the other up when he realized he was missing his watch that he takes off after practice.
He ran back to the studio to search for the watch when he heard some muffled voices, arguing in the small office that Bon Clay occupies.
He went up to hear a bit better and heard a crash, making him go up against the wall.
Sometime before Luffy arrived
"Nani?"
"You see… the trades back in the major cities have gotten a bit too… grabby with the profits. So… a lot of the trades have been… decommissioned."
"What does this island have to do with it?"
"A fresh start. It's conviently on the route to outside trades by ship. Surely makes a great drug trade for our organization."
"You mean…"
"I came here to re-hire you. Knowing that your mastery of disguises is quite useful for undercover and confidential workings."
Bon Clay finally figured out why Luffy, his most energetic student, wasn't himself. He knew the boy lived just at the ocean front and just a good distance from the village and towns on the island that never needed a resort.
"You can even keep this dance studio. We may have some famous dancers that are willing to 'get in' to our 'offers'."
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"I willingly quit your organization because I felt that I didn't have the certain freedom of expressing myself as an Okama! But now that I finally have that, you want to drag me in this scheme, because back in the city it has become faulty!?"
"All but ours… The cops never had the slightest idea of our workings."
"My answer is still 'no'."
The man swung his arm across the small desk, that's mostly used to pile papers and whatnot, to reveal a gold hook towards the dancer's neck.
"Listen you cross-dressing queer! I've already got the power over the mayor and most of the wealthy, underhanded locals here agree with my plans to bringing the hotel up. And I'm asking you to come join us once more to the organization because your skills are, by far, the most effective of anyone I have known." He dropped his hook back to his side. "You have a week to decide… or else…" He went to the door and exited the office, not noticing the young teen hiding behind the door.
Once the man left, Luffy went into the office to see Bon Clay, on his hand and knees, on the ground. "Bon-chan…" He said as he bent down to his teacher's side.
"L-Luffy-chan!?" He looked up, shocked to see his student here. "H-How long have you been here?"
"Just when I heard the crash… Bon-chan… what's going on?"
Bon Clay sighed, knowing that this involves the young teen. "Listen to me Luffy-chan… what I'm about to tell you is very secretive and should not, under any circumstance, should be repeated.
Luffy numbly nodded as his teacher told him what was really going on.
Back at the cove, Zoro woke up from his afternoon nap and headed out to patrol the area, seeing that it was still a bit early for Luffy to get out of his dance lesson. He was just heading out when he saw Nami.
"You again?"
"Now that wasn't nice!" She said. "I wanted to say thanks again for helping me out the other day!"
He looked around the ocean and behind her. "What's the catch?"
"You really don't trust other merfolk."
"Since the day I was born. So what's your real reason for being here."
She sighed. "If you must know, I came here to tell you that, although you and I don't like each other due to our differences and the stance of preference, I owe you one."
"One for saving your life, or one for you to stay in my cove after you knocked me unconscious."
"Okay I owe you two things. Anyway… I talked to my mother, who knew your mother. And let me tell you, if my mom was able to adopt you, she would! But it seems your mother already knew the kind of treatment my mother would face if she would continue their friendship, so she ended it as soon as it started. In a way, I guess that's the third thing I owe, but only to your mother."
"Like it matters. She's dead and gone, so it doesn't count."
"Well! Since you're not really wanted by the sea, and you're friends with a human…"
"Get to the damn point! You're wasting my time."
"I was getting there!" She said, controlling her temper. "I know someone who can change you to a human."
There was a brief silence before Zoro started laughing.
"That's a good one! A merman with a tail of a shark can be a human male!? That's a load of whale shit!"
"It's not! She's able to do it herself before and I'm sure she can do the same for you!"
"You're a riot, now get out of my way before I have to finish what Mako started." He said as he swam passed her.
She was really tempted to punch the sharkman, but she took a few breaths before turning and shouted. "If you do happen to change your mind! She resides at the dead coral just south of this island! Near the ship warehouse ports! And you have to be there about midnight!"
Zoro heard, but he kept swimming.
She took a moment to watch the retreating figure before she swam back to her colony. "Stupid bastard…" She whispered.
Later that day, Zoro returned just in time to see Luffy emerge from the thick vegetation that served as a barrier for this cove for as long as both were alive. However he noticed something about his friend that seemed… alarmed and frightened.
"Luffy? What's wrong?" He asked instead of his usual 'Hey Luffy'.
Luffy knew that he couldn't trick the other to thinking that nothing was wrong and went up to his friend, similar to the episode of what happened yesterday.
"Luffy?"
"The hotel is a cover up for an illegal drug organization!"
"N-Nani?"
"Bon Clay, my dance teacher, he used to be a part of it, but he quit to come here and dance… But then his old boss tried to recruit him, but he refused. He has about a week to decide to go with them again or die!" He said on the verge of panic. "Zoro… I don't know what to do… The only chance is the dance competition, but that not in the next few months! This place will be completely bulldozered by then! And Clay-chan… He would either join up again or die."
Zoro held him tight. "Don't worry Luffy… I'm sure there's something…"
Luffy held him just as tight. "I don't know Zoro… This isn't some wealthy snob after land or any other regular hotel management guys… These people… They'll kill to get what they want…"
Zoro rubbed the other's back in vain comfort as he thought about Nami's mention of the mermaid who could turn him to a human. Any merfolk who is able to do such a thing is called a Sea Witch. 'If she's able to turn merfolk to humans… then… maybe…' He thought as he felt the other shake from crying on his shoulder and the information he just gained.
Hopefully this was satisfying for some of you out there.
Chopper: See you next chapter!