Chapter 10
Zoro, in his human form that he's grown accustom to, went up to a restaurant, Baratie.
'Didn't Luffy mention a guy working here?' He thought as he entered, only to see a sun-blonde male talking to some women. 'Now I remember. Sanji was the name.' He thought as he looked around the restaurant, only to see that everyone was dressed elegantly while he looked like he was spat out of hell.
Sanji was talking to some women, his favorite pass time, when he noticed a new person walk through the door. He could tell by the dress that he was in the wrong place. "Excuse me ladies." He said as he went up to the man. "Can I help you sir?"
Zoro could tell the guy wants him out. "I was invited by a…" He looked at the card he was given. "Mr. Zero…"
Sanji couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'Mr. Zero!? What is he? A new recruit?' He thought as he noticed the slight bruise marks the other at least tried to cover. "Yes… Right this way…" He said as he mentioned the other to follow.
Zoro could tell by the tone that Sanji didn't like this man. "I don't like this guy anymore than you do." He said in a quiet voice.
Sanji, hearing this, was a bit surprised. "So, you're not going to join?"
"I have to join to destroy whatever it is they're planning."
"Just who are you?"
He smiled. "If I told you that, I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you."
Sanji grinned. "What are you? An agent?"
"No…"
They reached to the destined area and Zoro was seated and ordered just water.
"So…"
He looked at the man across from him.
"You're the favored Shark Attack I've heard so much about." The man with a scar across the slightly pale grayish skin. "Certainly fits… You look like a shark yourself."
"Thanks…" He said as he thought. 'Keep it light… this may be the only chance to get into their operation.'
"So… Tell me about yourself. What brings you to our little fight club."
Zoro shrugged. "Nothing really… I just like the feeling of broken noses on my knuckles and the thrill of the fight. When I heard there was an underground fight going on… Well! I felt like I was shoved aside from this information."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Mr. Zero said. "Roronoa-san… it has come to my attention of your unique strength and sharp mind. And I would like to know is this… A new utopia?"
"Utopia?"
The man nodded. "Roronoa-san, we're living at an age where things need the change in order to bring about the good of the world! Don't you agree?"
"Now that you mention it… I have always felt that things aren't moving fast enough and that I'm always stuck in one place everyday…"
The man smiled a smiled that signals the sharkman that he has him.
"I'm sorry you feel that way. But that is what I'm trying to bring to this island, a push to get to the next step forward. So? Are you interested in joining this grand venture of overseeing this change?"
Zoro, so he didn't agree right away, thought about what he should next while looking like he was considering the offer. "If I do join, what will I be doing?"
"Beginners usually start from the bottom, where you can just be the look out and all that. But if you work hard and bring me things that are useful to bringing up the utopia, then you will get into the ranks of my officers. Of course, you can only get that far by only one of them being resigned or… and unfortunate even occurs…"
He grins. "So you know, I only work at night. Any problems with that?"
The man also grins. "None at all."
"Then I'm in."
"A wise choice, Roronoa-san…"
Zoro, after finishing up the meal, walked out of the restaurant, only to see Sanji.
"So you got in?" The blonde asked.
"Yeah… " He said quietly as he walked pass the blonde like they've never seen each other and not recognized each other.
Sanji looked out into the starlit sky as he blew out smoke through his parted lips. 'Good luck, Marimo…'
The next morning, Zoro got up, not feeling so sore anymore.
"You seem to be in good spirits today." Said Old tentacles.
"Yeah… I just got my foot into the door and tonight I'm going to infiltrate the area."
"So soon?"
"No… just to get the idea of what the area is like, the passwords, entry and exits…" He smiled. "This is getting a little exciting the more I think about it."
"You certainly can't move away from that point now."
"I know, and I don't plan to." He said as he heard his name, making him go up.
"Hey Zoro!"
"Hey Luffy!"
"You sound a lot better this time!"
"Yeah… seems those bitch sharks have finally had enough."
Luffy laughed. "That's good to know. Guess what!"
"What?"
"The dance competition is being moved to a closer date."
"Huh?"
"Yeah! I wanted to tell you yesterday, but I fell asleep instead!"
"When is the competition?"
"In a week."
"You got a dance in mind?"
"Uh huh!"
"Can I see it?"
Luffy shook his head. "Nope!"
"Huh? Why not?"
"It's a surprise for Zoro!"
"A surprise?"
Luffy nodded. "So you'll just have to wait until I come back after the competition!"
Zoro splashed water on the teen. "So I can't even get a preview?"
Luffy shook his head. "Nope!"
"You little jerk!" Zoro said teasingly as he got the teen in an arm lock and gave him a noggie.
"No! Not the noggie!" Luffy said as he laughed and tried to get out.
Zoro let him go, only to be tackled into the water, which both of them were upside down in the water.
He smiled at the teen, only to see the other's odd stare. He was going to say something when he felt the other's hand on his face. It was warm to the touch as it grazed from his cheek to his jaw, then stopped at his neck.
Luffy, seeing the light on the other's face under the water, was almost in a trance. He moved forward, feeling the other's heartbeat under his palm. That was, of course he needed air.
Zoro, snapping out of the trance daze, got both of them up, and that seemed to broke the spell.
"You okay?" He asked the teen.
"Yeah…" Luffy said as he laughed it off. "Sorry about that."
"You're the one who got wet."
Luffy stuck his tongue out playfully as he was settled back down onto the damp sand. "I better get back to Ace, we're expecting that Smoker guy that I told you about."
"Ah!" Zoro said, knowing that the cop was going to give them the good news.
"I'll see you later!"
"See you Luffy!" He said as the other disappeared.
He went down to the cove, only to see Nami with a grin on her face. "How long have you been here?"
"Just in time to see that the human boy tried to kiss you."
Zoro was sure he was red in the face. "You crazy? The light must be playing tricks in your eyes!"
"Whatever… So, have you gone to the mermaid I told you about?"
"Yeah…"
"And?"
"My human business is mostly at night."
"You naughty pervert."
"Not like that you sick minded bitch! I happen to try to save this part of the island from becoming some illegal trading organization disguised as a tourist attraction!"
That brought the mermaid's attention. "What?"
"Seeing that this also concerns you, I'll tell…" He said as he explained everything that's going on.
Okay... Now I have to do this all over again. But first a break...