Author's Note:

Sorry, sorry to anybody who read the first chapter and thought that it was crap. This is actually my first fanfic and I've been rather hesitant on everything. My apologies to those that read the first chapter, but thank you if you're still reading.

I've also fixed up the first chapter, but the plot's still the same so blob!

2

"So what's with the outfits again, Mr. Red Hero?" asked a square long nosed man with orange hair as he sat on the bench in the backyard of the depressing blue house. He was poking at the crimson cloak that looked more a like a rag stained with blood after a war instead of a piece of fashion for the hero.

Zoro sat across from him polishing his swords and frowning at the reason why he had to wear the house color of his father's enemy.

"Luffy said something about how we're supposed to work together to ease tension between our fathers, and to keep the city safe, and by wearing each other's house color, we're supposed to show respect for one another. But…" he trailed off with an irritated grimace.

"It's not working," finished Kaku.

"It's done shit!" the green haired teen shouted. "It's done absolute shit for the families! The city's fine, but Father and Aka-Ashi are still at each other's throats."

"True, the air seems to be grow bloodthirsty each time their men see each other. Then everything is shot down to hell when your father and Zeff see each other." Kaku then smirked. "It kind of reminds me how a love triangle works."

"A love triangle?"

"Well, something along those lines."

"No, not even close, Kaku. It's definitely not a love triangle," Zoro insisted. "They just hate each other for some damn reason."

"Oh? You don't know?"

"Father never really told me and Robin's a little unsure on telling me. It's irritating."

"So they didn't tell you," grinned Kaku. "Well, no matter, you'll know when you know."

"Huh? What's with that? Just tell me."

"Oh, look, it's Chopper and Franky." The subject was quickly changed with Kaku waved to a little reindeer wearing a pink top hat sitting on a large shoulder that led up to a head of electric blue hair swished upwards.

"Yo, Zoro-bro, Kaku-bro, are you feeling SUUUUPPER today?"asked the cyborg while striking a pose with Chopper on his shoulder emulating the same pose.

"At least put some pants on when you're outside," Zoro said noticing the black speedos after the bright blue waist coat he wore with a black bow tie. Zoro's biological cousin couldn't be more abnormal than Kaku's strange long nose and Chopper being a talking reindeer. At least he didn't look like a mutant, thankfully.

Chopper climbed off Franky's shoulder to jump into Zoro's arm with a cute smile. His head was ruffled before he made himself comfortable in Zoro's lap.

"So, Zoro-bro, since you haven't been looking super for the last few days, I got some great news for you!" the cyborg grinned but earned himself a raised brow from the green haired teen. "Chopper and I have been invited to a party and we can bring a few friends to it, too."

"That's it?" Kaku asked in disbelief.

"What? A party's always SUPER!"

"I don't think a party's going to help me, Franky," hesitated Zoro hating the fact that he was always forced to go to some party whenever Franky was invited. He stood out from the crowd because of his green hair, but it didn't help much when there was a long nosed assassin, a talking reindeer with a blue nose, and a cyborg posing all the time with him. The group stood out as much as a quarrel in the streets.

"Nonsense, a party always cheers someone up when they're in the gutters. Look, it's a special party," snickered Franky as he squatted in front of the three and started to whisper. "There's a poor servants that joined the Red House recently and he's been given the task to inform their guests that they've been invited to the party Aka-Ashi will hold tonight. The sad thing is that he can't read and so as Chopper and I were walking back here, he asked us to read off the list for him. As thanks he invited us to the party and said that we could bring a few friends."

"I'm unsure that I should go, considering that its enemy territory."

"But Zoro, you've been walking around the house as if you've died," worried little Chopper that pouted and stared up at Zoro with his adorable brown eyes.

"That's nothing. I've just been tired for the past few days, that's all," he assured the reindeer. However, because he was assuring Chopper that he was fine, he didn't notice that Franky and Kaku were standing a few feet away whispering to each other. "Oi, what the hell are you two planning?" Zoro shouted angrily. Kaku has always been sly since it was part of his job, but he hated it when he brought the engineer into the plan too. The things the cyborg invented were troublesome most of the time, but they were also rather useful when in battle.

"Oh, nothing," smirked Kaku with evil eyes. Zoro and Chopper felt a little shiver run down their backs as Kaku spied them.

"Zoro, I'm scared," Chopper muttered clinging to Zoro's shirt.

"Better get to Robin," he grunted getting up with Chopper in his arms. But before he could a few steps, a thick chained wrapped around him. Chopper jumped from his arms as Franky coiled Zoro with the seastone. "Oi, what the fuck, Franky?" he shouted as Zoro was soon lifted into the air and over Franky's shoulder.

"To the party!"

As Zoro was being carried off in Kairouseki, the green haired boy saw his sister walking down the corridors of the yard.

"Oi, Robin, help me!" called Zoro in a desperate heat to murder Franky and Kaku.

"Hmm, and where are you taking my brother?" hummed Robin with a smile.

"We're kidnapping him to the party at the Red House," answered Kaku.

"Very well, have fun."

"Don't just ignore me, damn it!"

"Ah, Kaku," turned Robin. "There's an outfit I've laid out for Zoro on his bed."

"We're on it," grinned Franky as they started to walk into the house.

"Sister, what are you doing? Help me!" continued Zoro as he was carried into the house.

"It's rather lively today, I hope Zoro's having fun," she said ignoring Zoro's rants behind her.

"I hate you, I hate you two," Zoro muttered under his breath as he was walking down the streets with Kaku, Franky, and Chopper. The four of them were wearing the recognizable blue from the Blue House. After seeing what Robin had laid out for Zoro, the rest decided to change before they left. Now, the group looked a lot more formidable, but they were unable to compare to Zoro. Apparently Robin had gotten Zoro new clothes for the night that came out with the teen wearing a thick midnight blue coat lined with golden threads over a nylon shirt and luminous sapphire vest and at his throat was a simple navy blue cravat puffing up from underneath his vest. Kaku had something similar to Zoro's attire, but they were shadier than what Robin had picked and Franky's clothes would have been much brighter and cheerier.

"Now, now, you look lovely, Zoro, so calm down and embrace the gift Robin and Franky and Chopper are giving you," smirked Kaku as he handed Zoro a laced, black mask. The four of them wore the masks to symbolize that they were uninvited guests which was rather common in both of territories. It was wear a mask or sing, dance, or tell a story to gain entrance to the party. "Stop pouting or else you'll look like the demon people rumor you."

"You know they call the Red House's hero a devil," added Franky with a teasing smile.

"Ah, so he's much feared more than you, Zoro. You should confront him and see if he really is that sinister. It's expected of those from the Red House."

"It may not be true though," pouted Chopper with angry eyes.

"You're just saying that 'cause you're scared," Franky teased.

"Am not!"

Zoro sighed looking around at the dark streets as the sun had already set. The torches were brightening the streets when they walked up to the crimson house. From the fire, Zoro can see how the Red House blended in with the flames. Its bright colors turning duller with each step Zoro took in which he saw how the red soon resembled blood stained walls. It matched his cloak just the same.

Franky led the group into the mansion seeing how there was already a number of guests that arrived as relatives and friends of the Red House owners'. Music was played in the back and dancing commenced in the middle of the room. Different heads and attire had a magnitude of colors and glittery jewels. They were all laughing while having the time to enjoy themselves from the buffet that kept getting bigger and bigger with each servant that pulled out a new dish from the kitchen.

The group separated as they went off with people they recognized and joined them to eat and dance. Zoro sleuthed away towards the wall sighing as he hid in the shadows of the party. A few girls and boys came up to him to flirt and offer him to join them, but he gently declined lying to them that he needed to rest after dancing and drinking from earlier. He wanted to leave, but he knew that the streets would start rearranging themselves again on his way back. His friends would also have to spend the rest of their nights looking around him until they all found him in his house talking with Robin.

"Oi, oi, what's with that glum look," said a nostalgic voice. Zoro was good friends with Luffy and obviously knew his older brother, but it's been a while since he's heard that teasing baritone. "Here, drink up, it's best to keep your glass full."

"Uh, I don't think I should, Ace," said a hesitant, suave voice that captivated Zoro's curiosity. He poked his head from behind the curtains to look for the voice. "I had thought that Luffy would be joining us so I asked Zeff to give me a hand earlier, but all of that food is too much even for this size." It was recognizable, indeed, but Zoro couldn't put his finger on where he had heard that voice before. The streets, possibly? Yes, around there, but from what?

"You should enjoy yourself here. Your father made this party to help you relax," said an unknown voice.

"We both know that's not the case, but I apologize for that conclusion," said that same suave voice that tempted him to look for.

The people were in the way of course, but the voice sounded close by. Do you need help getting back to your house? He soon remembered where that voice had called him from. The Blue Hero had the same voice as he did, but it sounded more relax now than it did outside when they were both on patrol. He finally knew who it was and now he got the chance to see his face. You know they call the Red House's hero a devil. His feet stopped halfway he was freed from the shadows. What monster was he looking for? He, himself, was a monster, but he was rumored as a demon than a devil. What was the name of the Red House patroller? What was his name? He knew it started with a number that spelled out his birthday.

"Why don't you sing for us?" suggested an unknown voice.

"I know one song and that's a lullaby, ask Brook for a song," chuckled the same suave voice that gave Zoro the extra boost to step forward. He looked around then above the people's heads as he started to walk among them looking for that voice. "Ah, Ace!" it exclaimed sounding as if he was taken by the arm and led onto the dance floor. A head of gold and a familiar grin whizzed past Zoro in a pair. An arm wrapped around a scarlet coat as a befuddled face on a blonde blushed in embarrassment.

From the curtained area, Zoro can see the jovial older brother Luffy had wearing a bright grin and flaming colored outfit that looked like he was on fire. He leaned back against the wall sighing. That blonde with him had the same voice as he had heard earlier. Even with the people surrounding the pair, Zoro can easily see the blonde's face. Soft golden hair trailed down half of his face, creamy pale skin had irresistible pink lips for a mouth and a jeweled blue eye. Above his right eye was a strange curly eyebrow that Zoro thought was rather interesting. He took note that the two of them at least had one thing in common: They both had distinguishable features that stood out. Though… Ace's partner looked more desirable than he did.

"Zoro, what happened?" walked up Chopper with Kaku and Franky. Their masks were gone leaving Zoro to be the only one left to wear the black disguise. Chopper was at his pants tugging on the cloth. "You were smiling."

"So what happened?" asked Franky in a teasing tone.

"Nothing," replied Zoro as he smirked at the trio in front of him.

From the group of people surrounding Sanji and Ace as they fell into the beat of the dance, Sanji noticed that each time they spun around with the people there would be this spot of green he could see from the corner of his eye. He poked his head over Ace's shoulder and above to find the green spot again.

"Something wrong?" Ace asked a little hurt that Sanji had found something to focus on rather than him.

"No…It's…" he trailed off while still searching for that spot of green. "I thought I saw something green, like a head of green poking over the crowd. It must be my imagination."

"Yes, it must be," Ace turned looking for that green head he knew so well. He understood what Sanji was talking about, but he was wondering what Zoro was doing at the Red House's party. Though, that distinguishing feature had Sanji poking his eye throughout the whole dance until Ace had let go of Sanji at the end for him to venture through. "Usopp," Ace hissed and gestured Sanji's cousin to his side.

"W-What's wrong with you? Why a-are you glaring?" the long nosed coward asked.

"Oh, sorry, didn't know," apologized the county as he tried to be gentle with the marksman. "Roronoa Zoro is here," he whispered.

"A-And you want me to stop him, right? Why didn't you say so? I can easily defeat that demon with a few bombs of mine," lied Usopp as his knees were shaking and he was sweating like a madman.

"Of course you could…" Ace made a face. "Go inform Zeff. There might be a few more from the Blue House."

"R-R-Right!" And off Usopp was to the kitchen where Zeff would be nearby. The man loved cooking and was glad to teach his only son the same passion, but he honestly hated throwing parties when they would be filled with younger men and women Sanji's age while the old geezers were senile and talking way too much for his taste.

Sanji squeezed through the cracks and openings of the people as he tried to get to the side of the crowd to find that green spot he saw earlier. He kindly declined to the women that wished for his attention and held his temper when the men were trapping him. If Zeff wasn't holding a party, Sanji would easily be breaking every one of those men's bones without a second thought to the damage he would cause to the house.

"Ah, excuse me, sorry," he muttered to the people as he kept noticing that the spot of green kept moving. It was starting to get a little irritating having these people in way, but he continued to push forward until he was free from the dancing and music.

Now that he was walking along the walls of the party, he stopped to look around to find that spot of green. Unfortunately, that head of green had walked somewhere else disappearing from Sanji's view. The blond frowned as he walked along the wall looking over the heads of the people dancing to his servant's music. As he continued to walk along the wall, Sanji sighed being unable to find his goal. He then bumped into someone who was walking across him with a tankard in his hand. With a motion of the stranger's elbow hitting the blonde, Sanji fell back being caught by two hands on his shoulders.

"Ah, sorry about that," apologized the man as he was tucking his mask into his pocket. Sanji looked up to see orange hair and a strange long square nose and two bright eyes. The first thought that ran through Sanji's head was Usopp before he heard the man's words and straightened up.

"Uh, not a problem," he stuttered to the long nosed stranger and turned around slightly to the man behind. "Sorry," he said and started to walk along the walls again once the orange haired man walked away.

"Eh, er, w-wait," behind him, Sanji can hear a faint voice calling to him before he feels his hand being gently taken and pulling him back. A head of green was the first thing that Sanji noticed until he saw the black mask being removed from the guest's face. A handsome tanned face with two amber eyes stared at him. Sanji widened his eyes after he felt the thought of a handsome man ran through his mind. He blushed involuntarily feeling his body freeze up. Finally, he'd be able to see who this guest was, but he was little suspicious of the fact that he was wearing a heavy coat of blue on his shoulders.