Chapter 14

As night fell, the streets were being filled and the stage was just putting on the finishing touches.

"Hurry now! Hurry!" Bon Clay said as he clapped his hands. "We'll be doing warm ups and then to the dressing rooms to get ready!"

"Bon-chan!" Luffy said as he arrived with a box.

"Luffy-chan!" Bon Clay said, happy to see his star student. "Are you ready for tonight?"

"Oh yeah!"

"What's in the box?"

"It's my outfit for my dance."

"Well! I can't wait to see it when you perform!"

Luffy laughed as he went to his dressing room, only to open the box and took something out of his pocket to place into the box. With that, he left to do the warm ups with everyone.

With Zoro, he was at the cove, thinking and re-thinking the same plan that both agreed on as well as the dream. He was in his human form and was putting pants on when he had an unexpected visitor.

"That's an interesting view."

He quickly turned to see Robin. "Damn it! Give me a damn warning!"

"You were good at predictions before. You must've been in deep thought then."

He sighed, knowing it was true. "What is it?"

"The whole folk area is talking about what's going on here. Care to explain why you look worried? You seem to have everything under control."

He sighed and looked at her. "I'm going to kill my best friend tonight in front of everyone."

She looked shocked to hear this, but stayed silent for him to continue.

"Once I've done that… I'll be able to get to the top office, take the plans and what not, and shut them down for good."

"That's a very huge risk on your part… but you're also not a very good liar, even with that face."

"I'm not telling the truth either…" He said as he put on his shirt.

"I hope all is well for you in the end."

He didn't say anything as he picked up the gun and walked out of the cove.

Back in the festival, the people were enjoying themselves before the traditional dancing contest would come up.

"Why is the dancing contest the big event?" Said one small child to his mother.

"Because sweetie, the people on this island from a very long time believed dancing was a way to communicate to the gods. So, every year they would dance to bring good weather and harvest to the island and the people, as well as protect them from evil spirits. And sometimes the gods can grant a wish to a few lucky people who deserve it."

"Wow…" The child said, eyes wide with wonder.

Unknowingly, Crocodile and some of his people were scattered among the crowds, watching the stage as well as their possibly new addition to their little group. If he done his part of the deal.

It was about this time Zoro came in. A black bandana on his head, light fitting dark black coat on him, dark brown pants and black shirt and boots allowed him to blend into the dark shadows of the alleys and looked up every tree and building for that certain angle of what he was about to do.

He eventually found a tree that looked strong enough to hold him, and it was surrounded by a thick bush that would allow him to hide in until he had to climb up.

The stage itself was open, overlooking the ocean, just barely at the edge of the cliff.

The stage was the ideal place every year for this special event, for it linked earth, sky and ocean. And, as ancient folk tales were told, it served as a judging platform for when a crime is committed, and two or more people are involved, they would dance and the guilty will take the wrong step and plummet to their death by the rocks below.

"Are you sure Luffy is going to be okay?" Usopp asked, holding Chopper in his arms.

"This is Luffy we're talking about." Sanji said as he took a cigarette out. "He's been doing this since he was five."

"It's a non smoking event Sanji." Usopp noted.

"Forgot."

"How long have you lived here?"

"Oi…"

"Hey you two!" Ace said, startling the two.

"Shit Ace!" Both said, making the other laugh.

"Sorry guys, and it's a kid friendly event as well. So no foul language."

The two didn't say anything as the drums started to beat, signaling the start of the show.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" Bon Clay said, adorned in his Okama style of the dancers outfit. "I would like to thank you all for attending our yearly annual and very traditional dancing contest! The history of this island and it's arts inspired this competition long before even our great grandparents were even born. Of course, back then, the best dancer was to be the embodiment of the god's messenger for that one year and on as long as he or she rises as the victor. But today! This competition is purely to show the hard work and dedication, as well as the creativity of the people of this and all other schools! Now lets begin this show and enjoy the wonders of the arts!"

Everyone cheered as Bon Clay walked off the stage, the first group going out as he did, and looked for Luffy.

"Luffy-chan?" He asked as he found Luffy among the other students in a small shack they had to use as their dressing room. The ones that were done and anxiously waiting for their turn were outside of the shack.

"Hi Bon-chan!" Luffy said as he looked at the mirror reflection.

"What are you doing?"

"Figuring out this make-up stuff."

"You're going to wear make up?"

"For tonight's dance, yeah."

"What are you wearing first. I wanna see!"

Luffy got up and spread his arms out and turned slowly for the other to see.

"Oh Luffy-chan!" Bon Clay said as he looked happily at his student. "It's so beautiful on you!"

"It's for a special person…"

"Oh?"

Luffy smiled a smile that taken back the teacher. "You've been a great teacher, Bon-chan."

"… Thank you, and you're a great student. The best I have actually."

Luffy still have the same smile as he sat back down and looked at his reflection. "Can you help me with the make up?"

"Of course…" Bon Clay said as he grabbed an empty chair and helped apply makeup. "Something going on?"

Luffy closed his eyes for the applying the makeup. "No…"

"You're a terrible liar."

"It's my idea for him to go through with it."

"Go through?"

"My brother did something stupid and now Zoro has to do something to prove himself to the organization."

Bon Clay stopped what he was doing and looked at the teen. "Luffy… You mean…"

"It's going to be my turn on stage soon Bon-chan." Luffy said.

Bon Clay sighed as he finished applying the makeup. "I don't know what's going on, but it better not be what I think it is."

Luffy smiled again. "That just depends on him."

"Clay-sensei!" A student said as he came into the room. "You have to come out for the intermediate dancers."

"Okay, I'll be there." Bon Clay said as he got up. "I hope things work out for you."

"Same."

With that, Luffy was left alone and looked at himself to see the light green and ocean blue eye shadow and silver glitter around his face in a wave-like style. He took a deep breath as he put on the big ring on his right hand, which looked onyx in the dim light.

After a couple hours of seeing dancers, it was Luffy's turn.

"Look!" Usopp said as he pointed to Chopper. "There's Luffy."

Chopper seemed happy to see the teen as he barked.

Sanji came back after smoking. "Did I miss anything?"

"You're just in time." Ace said as he had an awkward smile that was, fortunately, unnoticed by the two.

Zoro watched the stage from the tree he climbed up earlier and waited for Luffy as the said teen walked out to the stage. 'There he is…' He thought with a sigh as he aimed the gun.

' "Zoro…" '

He remembered what the other said to him.

#Flashback#

"You should do it."

"What?"

"You should kill me."

"Luffy! Did you hit your head on the way here or something!?"

"Hear me out Zoro."

"Luffy, even if I possibly want to, I would have to not know you to kill you!"

"Zoro…" Luffy said as he placed both of his hands on the others face and leaned in close to a point that both noses almost touch.

This was unexpected to the sharkman, but stayed still.

"Zoro, listen. I know it's crazy for me to say this. But here's the plan…"

#End of Flashback#

Zoro sighed once more as Luffy was doing a starting stance. "I'm sorry if this doesn't work." He said as he pulled the trigger, which hit the shoulder.

Everyone gasped at the loud sound as they saw the teen stumble back a bit, close to the edge of the cliff, with right hand over his shoulder. Then he lifted his hand off his shoulder and saw a lot of red on him before leaning back, going down from the cliff's edge, hearing the screams as he did.

'It worked…' He thought as he was close to the rocks.