Chopper: You're alive!
I am, sorry for the long wait.
Chopper: (hugs) I was worried that you wouldn't come back!
(hugs back) Oh Chopper!
Chopper: Oh! You got some reviews!
Okay! Let me have it.
Chopper: (grabs the first one) From Tori-san...
Took a long time, but I got it, and I looked it over a few times, so hopefully there won't be too much errors.
Chopper: (grabs another) Kira-chan...
Here it is! Finally!
Chopper: (grabs another) Sogue-san:...
17) Thanks… That was a crazy day for me. Sorry it took so long. 21) Yeah I know.
Chopper: (grabs another) Iryann-san...
Sorry it took this long.
Chopper: (grabs another) Mimi-chan...
17) I know, but each knew Zoro in someway, and it was Luffy. 18) You'll get to find out now, after so long. 19) A fearful shop woman. 20) Yeah… But he has the sneaky skills. 21) Here it is!
Chopper: (grabs another) Kirai-san...
Here it is after a long wait.
Chopper: (grabs another) Hanabi-san...
I know… sorry for the long wait and leaving it like that. I just couldn't find the right time to just sit down and relax to do this. Like right now.
Chopper: (grabs another) Saiyoru-san...
Sorry it took so long, but hopefully this will still live up to it's reputation.
Chopper: (grabs another) Gecko-san...
I'm not a god! -blush-
Chopper: (grabs another) Hmob-san...
Luffy-Angel: (crashes in) Itte…
Hm? Who are you?
L-A: I'm sent here to deliver you these truffles to you and candyfloss to Choppa!
Oh, thank you.
Zoro-Devil: (crashes in) Oh, I see you're not as crazy as you appear.
Eh? Because I'm a yoai fangirl? I'm pretty calm, except when I'm a bit stressed and have sugar.
L-A – We better get back. See ya!
See ya.
Z-D: I'm going to take a nap once we get back.
That was interesting…
Chopper: (grabs the last one) Mantineus...
Sorry for the long wait and hopefully his is worth the wait.
Chopper: (enjoying his candyfloss)
That's all we have for today. I haven't got the other chapters for the other fics done yet, but I think I'm done with this fic, except the epilouge. So expect that either tonight or tomorrow. Until then, enjoy!
Chapter 21
Luffy was so close to getting his friend, but now the man who took him now was keeping him from going any further unless he wants to die by the golden hook the man seems to have ready.
"You got guts kid, I'll give you that… And by the look of your hands you were searching the other two auction houses before this one. I'm impressed, but unfortunately your efforts are in vain." He bent down and held the hook to the teen's throat. "You see… Much as I would like to kill you right now, I did keep my word to sparing you and the other's lives to the man that's in that tank right now. Do you know why I'm not going to back out on my word?"
Luffy was afraid to ask with a tip of the hook at his throat.
"Because after he gets sold, he will be even more out of your reach and possibly loose him entirely. You see… even if the item is stolen, once it gets sold, there's a proof of sale and even if you do find him again, I can assure you, you will be fined with theft and loose him again and again." He heard the people putting up their bids for the lesser items and smiled. "And these people are not going to make your life easier because they have money while you on the other hand have to sneak around like a little rat and take and take."
Luffy heard the tapping sound of an item being sold and feared for his friend.
"Do you still believe you can get him out? Even if you managed to overcome me, there's still the chain that I placed around his waist for precaution, knocked out from further damage to himself, and if I remember correctly, you can't swim to save your life. You would have to wake him up to do that." He then looked like he came up with a great idea. "You know… I could make this easier on you."
Luffy looked at the man from the corner of his eye.
"When your friend gets sold, I'll throw you in for free, be the caretaker for him while the owner enjoys however he pleases, but that would mean you would have to know your place and step down when your master says so. What do you say to that?"
Luffy did think about it but he didn't see anything good come out of it except that he will have Zoro near him, but he didn't like the idea of sharing him with someone who doesn't know a thing about him. He heard another tap of an item being sold.
"Only five items left… You better be quick." Crocodile teased as he watched the young man mentally struggle with the decision. "Would you join your friend after he gave you a chance to live out your life, or will you leave peacefully knowing that you just left him to be cared for by someone else?"
Luffy didn't like how this guy was messing with his mind as he hoped for a better option.
As if his prayers were answered, Chopper came up and bit the man's leg, allowing him to move the man's arm away and shove him to his side, which resulted in the man falling down the short flight of stairs.
"Thanks Chopper." He said as the puppy looked at the collapsed man on the ground, waiting for the man to get up for him to get again. He wasted no time as he heard another tap of an item being sold and opened the lid and looked to see a dark figure in the water and dived in. 'If I can at least get him up…' He thought as he reached to the other and saw that the man was out and he tried everything to get him up while trying to get the waist thing off of his friend until he felt his lungs burn with lack of oxygen but he didn't give up.
He tried getting the other up again when he started to lose his fight to keep conscious and his struggles were getting weaker from not getting any oxygen to the point of blacking out, but only for a moment when he felt lips on his and breathing into him. He breathed in and out with the offered air and was back to being conscious to see the other finally awoke and both begin to struggle with the belt before their combined effort managed to break the thing that was keeping the sharkman down in the moment the curtain was about to fall.
Zoro acted quickly and grabbed the teen and headed up to the hole at the top and got both of them out in time to hear the gasps and cried of arguments of dissatisfied customers.
Luffy coughed as he had fresh air enter his lungs as he looked at the sharkman, who seemed relieved but shocked to see him.
"How did the hell did you find me?"
"Took forever to find out, but I did."
"I'm guessing you don't know how to get both of us out of here."
"None of you are going anywhere…" Crocodile said as he threw the injured puppy to Luffy.
"Chopper!" He said as he held the puppy close to his chest and glared at the man.
"You've become such a pain now…" He said as walked towards the two. "But now there's no other way than to sell both of you off separately, and make sure that you, Strawhat, wouldn't try something like this again."
"Oh?" Robin said as she came up the steps. "But now all your customers are leaving…"
"There's always tomorrow… And you are?"
Robin smiled mysteriously as she held up what looks like a black pearl. "A friend to the two and I must say I really don't like what you did to them."
"And what will you do about it?"
She snapped her wrist, sent the pearl flying to the water, and smiled. "I'm going to place a curse on you by the sea herself."
The water turned black and it must've caused a stir to the remaining people in the area as it swirled dangerously in the tank before the breaking of glass was heard and a black dragon appeared in front of Crocodile before lunging down and got the man before turning to the remaining people in the area.
"What the hell was that?" Zoro asked as Robin walked up beside him and handed out the peach colored pearl.
"A black sea dragon summon. Now, we better get you out of here."
Zoro took the pearl and swallowed it, which he curled up as he breathed heavily.
"Zoro!"
"Don't worry Luffy, he's just transforming to a human." Robin explained as the shark tail morphed to two separate legs. She got out some clothes she managed to get and gave it to Luffy. "We'll be at the front of the building." She said as she took Chopper and walked away.
Luffy looked at the pile of clothes and then at the now nude Zoro, which he could feel his face burning at the sight of the strong legs and the noticeably firm rear.
Zoro, though glad that was over with, couldn't help but feel a little uneasy with the teen's eyes on him. It didn't help that the teen's face was red as a tomato and blood was falling down like a waterfall. He grabbed the first article of clothing, the pants, and then the shirt. "Let's go." He said as he wobbled a bit, but the teen was there to help balance him.
Luffy was over the impressive sight of the other's human form and they made their way out of the building, which the man had to wipe his face clean from the earlier nosebleed.
***
They found their way to the front of the building to see the group and Franky helped carry the man as they ran their way back to the pier and got the boat running and were out of that island.
"Now do you see why I don't like going to that island?" Franky said as everyone was far too tired to complain.
Ace looked to see his brother was holding to Zoro like a frightened child with a stuffed animal as the man held him like a parent would. The sight itself was touching and he was glad they got to Zoro in time.
Smoker was glad to see that they got the man back, but he looked back at the island and sighed. "He got away again…"
"I wouldn't say that…" Robin said as she came out with some blankets for everyone. "I'm sure my dragon summon has got all of them and will be on the island when we arrived."
"How is that possible?"
She smiled mysteriously. "A sea witch never explains her spells in detail."
Smoker felt a chill go up his spine as he didn't want to mess with her.
"Chopper needs to see a vet once we get home…" Usopp said. "Seriously… how are you two able to get in?"
"A bit of charm and a little hypnotizing goes a long way." Robin said as she softly chanted as she petted the puppy, which he looked good as new.
"Robin-chan is so beautiful when she's so strategic." Sanji said.
"And she's my girl." Franky reminded.
"I think we should rest up." Ace said. "We've been through a rough day."
"Hai…" Everyone agreed as they headed down to the cabin part of the ship, except Zoro, Luffy, and Franky who was driving the ship.
"You two staying out here?" Ace asked.
"I'll bring Luffy in with you guys in a moment." Zoro said as Luffy, asleep, snuggled more against the strong body.
Ace nodded as he went down and saw that there's hardly any space for his younger brother to sleep on. He then saw that the cop, not asleep but not awake either. He grinned a bit as he went over and laid down next to the man, gaining his attention.
"What?"
"My brother and Zoro are going to need some room. Do you mind?"
"Yes."
"Too bad…" He sang as he suddenly fell asleep, which was perfect timing.
Smoker was peacefully and slowly going to sleep when the other decided to flop himself next to him, and falling asleep half a minute later. He wasn't used to having anyone sleep next to him, but it was a small ship and the guy was out like a light for the time being.
A moment later Zoro came down carrying Luffy and found a comfortable spot for the teen to sleep on. He thought about going back out and into the ocean, but he decided against it, seeing that it was late and he was tired as heck. Plus he knew the spell would last until morning, which he would then need to be in the water. But that would wait until morning and rested with the teen, feeling content and relaxed.