Disclaimer: All the characters herein, with the exception of some random extras, are the intellectual property of Eiichiro Oda and all the companies involved with publishing and production of the One Piece manga and anime. I just twisted 'em a bit.

Spoilers/Warnings: This story will eventually encompass the entire first season of the anime, which is up to about halfway through volume 11 of the manga, just so you know. This is an AU, so many things have been changed/altered/warped to suit my needs. Also, there is some language and violence.

Pairing: None. However, I like subtext, so you can probably find hints of just about anything, if you look for it.

Dedication: To the OP at the fanforall at LJ, for requesting a cowboy AU and spawning this in my brain. Many thanks to Dandy Wonderous for beta-ing.

A/N: Name order for all characters has been westernized. Don't like it? Tough cookies! I do not claim to be an expert on anything involving gun fighting, the old west, or the cavalry. I did some very basic research for some of this, but I probably got lots of stuff wrong. Humor me!

A/N 2: This one is chiefly transitional stuff and a terribly butchered rendition of Sanji's farewell scene. Apparently I'm a tad emotionally stunted! (Probably why I'm such a Zoro fan, right? XD) At any rate, it used to be much worse, but it scandalized/traumatized poor Dandy, so I reworked it.

Part 16- All Roads Lead to Coco

Usopp couldn't help flinching at the dark expression on Zoro's face. The other man rode slightly hunched over, the only visible evidence that he was injured. He currently wasn't speaking to or looking at Usopp.

That morning, Zoro had slept later than usual, most likely due to his wounds, and Usopp had not awakened him. He had probably needed the rest, Usopp figured. Consequently, they had lost all visual contact with the wagon. They had caught up enough the previous day to keep the wagon just in sight without Nami noticing them, but she had continued westward shortly after dawn.

"I'm really sorry, Zoro," Usopp tried apologizing again. "I just thought-"

"It doesn't matter," Zoro snapped. He sighed at an additional flinch from Usopp. "I'm not really angry at you. If we're lucky, we'll make up enough time to catch sight of her again."

"Yeah, maybe..." Usopp noted that the other man's face was slightly flushed, and his forehead was beaded with sweat, even though the day wasn't very warm yet.

At least initially, Nami appeared to be following the railroad track. Up ahead, the outline of a water tower could be seen next to a small train depot. It was probably chiefly a spot to switch mail bags, but perhaps someone had seen Nami pass.

When Zoro and Usopp entered the small building, they found it was staffed by one older gentleman.

"Excuse me, sir," Usopp began in a friendly tone, "we were wondering if you might have seen a wagon pass this way earlier today?"

"It would have been driven by a woman with red hair and had mismatched oxen," Zoro added.

The man eyed them warily, eyes flicking repeatedly to Zoro's guns. He kept the small counter in the room between himself and his guests.

"I did see a wagon earlier, though I couldn't say whether I noticed anything about the driver or the oxen." One of his hands started to drift below the counter.

"I wouldn't do that." Zoro's voice was almost disturbingly calm. He kept his arms crossed in front of himself, unmoving, as he continued to speak. "We don't mean you any harm, but, if you pull a gun on us, I'd be within my rights to defend myself."

The man swallowed nervously. "W-what do you really want?"

"We're honestly just trying to catch up with that wagon," Usopp assured him. "Is she still following the tracks?"

"Please, I don't have any valuables here, just the mail! I have a family..."

Zoro snorted and rolled his eyes at the simpering man.

"I'm going outside for some air," he told Usopp. They exchanged a look before Zoro left the building. The gunman was removing the perceived threat, but he would be within shouting distance, if Usopp should need him.

"We honestly just want to know about the wagon," Usopp insisted, turning his attention back to the railman. He held out his hands placatingly. "We'll be on our way, if you can just tell us which way she went."

The man chewed his lip for a moment, mulling it over, occasionally glancing toward the doorway. Usopp suddenly felt exceedingly brave by comparison.

"She's not following the tracks anymore," the man finally conceded. "She crossed the tracks here and broke off to the northwest."

"Thank you very much for the information," Usopp acknowledged with a smile and a nod. He began to head back out the door.

"Wait," the man called to him, "there's something else you should know."

"Oh?"

"There's only one place in that direction for days, and you may not want to go there..."

"Well?" Zoro was already sitting in his saddle, waiting, when Usopp emerged.

"She split off from the tracks. That man thinks she's headed for a town called Coco."

"You ask him to point Luffy in that direction, if he stops here?"

Usopp nodded. "He gave me some other interesting information, too."

"Oh?" Zoro let Usopp take the lead as they headed away from the depot. Usopp smiled to himself at the echo of the question he had asked moments ago.

"It seems the town has been more or less taken over by a former outlaw."

"Former?"

"The railman said he's the acting sheriff, now. He made some kind of deal with a corrupt marshal. Apparently it's a pretty dangerous place for outsiders."

"Hmm."

"Do you think Nami knows? She might be wandering into danger."

"I'd bet good money she knows," Zoro grumbled. "She's a planner. She doesn't just wander into anything."

"Oh good," Usopp groused, sarcastically, "it's just us, then."

Luffy's eyes blinked open slowly. He frowned. The last thing he remembered, he'd been fighting Krieg...

He bolted upright and looked around. He recognized the cooks' quarters at the Baratie. His hat and gun rested on a small nightstand next to the bed. Sanji sat in a chair nearby.

"I see you're finally awake. How are you feeling?"

Luffy put a hand to his bandaged side. The injury was only a dull throb now. His stomach rumbled loudly.

"Hungry," he answered. Sanji chuckled.

"That seems to be a rather constant state for you. It's about lunch time anyway; let's see if we can't find you something, hmm?"

The two men headed out of the bunk room and into the main dining hall. The area had been more or less restored to its pre-fight state. They were short a few tables and a lot of chairs that would require major repairs, but they were actually in a state to serve customers, which was an achievement in itself. Someone had even boarded over the window again.

Zeff, however, had decided that the restaurant could handle one day of downtime, and all the cooks were preparing to sit down for a meal together. Everyone loaded their plates from large, communal dishes, and ate with gusto.

"So, old man," Luffy wondered through a mouthful of food, "I'm free to go, now, right?"

"I suppose you were a big help yesterday, and I certainly don't need you hanging around, breaking things and causing trouble."

Luffy whooped and focused all his attention back on his meal. That is, until another thought occurred to him.

"Hey, Sanji," he turned to the man next to him, who grimaced at his atrocious manners, "are you sure you don't wanna come cook for my gang?"

"I've already told you, no." Sanji scowled. "My place is here."

"Not that we need a second-rate cook like you under foot," Zeff growled. "Why do you think I had you waiting tables?"

The table went quiet. Sanji clenched his fists until the knuckles shone white.

"That's a lie. I'm the best chef here, apart from yourself. I was only waiting tables because that's where I was needed."

"Oh, absolutely," Zeff sneered. "Who doesn't need a server who spends all his time flirting with the ladies and ignoring the men?"

Sanji abruptly pushed back from the table and stood. "Suddenly," he ground between clenched teeth, "I seem to have lost my appetite. I'll be outside." The swinging doors slammed into the walls on either side when Sanji kicked his way through them during his furious exit. The others at the table let out held breath and went back to eating.

"What's that all about?" Luffy blinked at the restaurant owner. "I thought Sanji was a real good cook!"

"That he is, boy," Zeff sighed, "that he is. The trouble is, he hasn't been living his own life for years. Stupid kid thinks he has to stay with me forever. He's got his own dreams, but he won't leave unless I drive him out of here myself."

"Oh." Luffy shrugged. "It's too bad he doesn't want to go with me, then."

"You won't take him?"

"Not if he doesn't want to go."

"I can hear you," a voice drifted in from out front. It seems they had forgotten about that window again...

Sanji shuffled back inside. He met Zeff's glare with one of his own, and they stared each other down for a few moments.

"You really want me to leave?" Sanji finally asked.

Zeff turned away. "Like I said before, I don't need you under foot." He stumped off to the kitchens.

Sanji sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He turned to Luffy, who was still stuffing his face. "You still need a cook?"

Sanji had packed up his belongings silently. It turned out that the pack mule wasn't the only animal Sanji owned. He met Luffy out front about an hour after the meal, a large work horse trailing behind him. The animal was plenty large enough for two people to ride comfortably.

Before leaving, Sanji took a few moments to look at the restaurant that had been his home most of his life.

"Don't you wanna say goodbye to-"

"Why should I bother?" Sanji cut Luffy's question short. "If the old man doesn't care, why should I?"

They had only gone a few steps before a voice stopped them.

"Sanji," Zeff called softly, "take care of yourself out there." He was standing in the front doorway.

"Thank you," Sanji replied. He didn't want to turn back, so Zeff wouldn't see the tears in his eyes. "I'll never forget all you've done for me!"

Then Sanji heard a sound that was almost certainly a sniffle from the direction of the porch. Eyes wide in surprise he turned to look at his father figure. Zeff furiously blinked the moisture from his eyes and managed a smile. Sanji answered with a wave an a broad grin. He then spurred the horse forward and they trotted out of the area.

Luffy was careful not to say anything that might ruin the moment.

"So," Sanji cleared his throat, breaking the silence, "which way are we going?"

"Um..."

Nami stopped the wagon on a small rise outside of Coco and looked down at the town in which she'd been raised. She couldn't see her own home from this angle, but she knew exactly where it was. She sighed and turned to head around the town. There was no reason to cause a scene. She wasn't heading there anyway.

She glanced over to the spot in the wagon where she had hidden the documents taken from the fort what seemed like ages ago.

"I'm back, Arlong..."

End Note:

I shortened the name of Nami's hometown from Cocoyashi to Coco because it jived a little better with the setting. It seems a little random to me now, since I left the names of all Arlong's men, Genzo, and Nojiko the same... Oh well.