Chapter-2
"You're still weak as always, Zoro." the young blue haired girl said, a smirk tugging on the corners of her lips.
Gritting his teeth as if to hold in a growl the green haired child raised his emerald eyes to meets the girl's own obsidian, determination and grudging respect shone through them. "I demand a re-match!" the child of barely 7 growled.
Shrugging, as if she couldn't care less, she simply said "Whatever you say, Zoro. But, when will you accept that I'm better than you?" superiority was lacing her voice.
Snorting, the child raised himself off the ground and dusted his clothes. "As if, I will win next time, and I'm going to be the best!"
Humming in insincere acknowledgement of the child's claim, The blue-haired girl crossed her arms behind her head and starting walking leisurely away from the bruised green-haired kid.
Somehow, as the world of the living began digging it's claws into his dreams, demanding his return to the other side, he unconsciously thought about this new technique he developed that he could use to defeat Kuina. But, as he gained more awareness, he remembered. There, never again, would be a re-match. Because somehow, the undefeatable kuina was bested by a flight of stairs.
As anguish started crawling further throughout his body scratching behind his eyes and clawing at his throat, demanding that he succumb to weakness he diverted his thoughts towards his training. it was always a soothing thought, it showed that he was getting closer to his goal even if it was still so far away. Eyes still closed, he couldn't help but notice the delicious smell that surrounded him. his stomach growled, reminding him that since the day he left the Dojo the meals had been few and far in between. The vague rocking feeling was worrying, he wanted to open his eyes to check out his surrounding but he was for some reason so out of energy that this small action itself sounded so tiring.
He could hear murmurs above him, it wasn't that weird after all most of the times he is in towns he tends to sleep in the back garden or shed or whatever place that he could easily steal food from. So it was probably the occupants of the house wondering why the hell was there a brat sleeping in their…in their… Zoro frowned; he couldn't remember where he went to sleep last night. That was a bad sign, a very bad sign indeed.
Ignoring his protesting body, Zoro tensed all over ready to a fight or flight response the moment he opened his eyes. Damn him for letting his guard down!
The murmurs above him stopped suddenly and he could feel the heated gazes burning holes on his supposedly unconscious form.
'Here goes nothing' Zoro brace himself and opened his eyes preparing himself to the worst.
~~~~…..~~~~~~…~~~~~….~~~~~
Robin was busy relating the information she got the previous day to her comrades. They had agreed to let the children camp in the galley until they wake up, check their state of mind and then further action would be determined according to the outcome.
With their cook out of the picture, Nami took over the cooking. She was currently flipping over some eggs as she listened to Brooks 'Yohohohos' and Franky's 'Suuuupers' at the monster trio's state. Honestly you would think they never saw children before. Shaking her head in exasperation, she noticed that Chopper and Usopp weren't there, shrugging she went back to her cooking though it would be nothing compared to Sanji's extraordinary cooking, but it was still edible.
It hadn't been more than a few minutes when the galley door was opened and chopper clomped his way over.
"Ne, Nami?"
"Hmm, what is it Chopper?" She was in a surprisingly good mood, being woken up by the sound of screams everyday tended to have a negative effect on the person.
"Can you put this in Sanji's food?" the little reindeer said, handing over a small yellow bottle labeled 'Sanji'.
She raised an eyebrow but accepted the offered bottle nonetheless. "What is it?"
"It's a formula I developed; it contains all the necessary nutrients and vitamins that the body might be missing." He sounded a bit proud of himself for doing so.
Nami smiled kindly at the little reindeer doctor, he was just so cute sometimes! "Very well, But why only Sanji?"
This seemed to snap the doctor out of his happy daze." Sanji seems to be a bit malnourished at this age, Luffy and Zoro would need some too but a little less intense." He said producing two other bottles out of his short pocket.
"The red one's is Luffy's while the green is Zoro's, each formula has different percentages and concentration of the minerals but they have the overall same effect."
Humming to acknowledge that she did understand, she took the bottles and placed them on the counter, taking the already prepared food and placing it on the table she called the others and let them know that the food was ready. Habit was a hard thing to suppress, she mused as the rest of her crew-mates practically ran towards the table, afraid that if they were late their black-hole of a captain would have finished it already.
though it wasn't up to the standards that Sanji had set regarding the quality of the food. The food was quickly devoured. Setting aside some portion of it for the unconscious trio, Nami returned to her seat to discuss the matter with her nakama's.
However before that could commence, Usopp, puffed up his chest, and placed a brown parcel on the table.
Chopper, ever the curious one, asked "What is that Usopp?"
"That, my dear Chopper, is what i have spent the whole morning working upon!" the curly haired guy said proudly as he revealed what was hidden beneath.
Nami leaned in to have a good look at whatever it was that Usopp made, only to gasp in surprise.
She couldn't believe that she actually forgot something as mundane yet extremely important as their clothes! of course their old clothes won't even fit them now.
Wanting to face palm and at the same time hug Usopp as he had spared her paying money for altering their old clothes or even to buy new ones, for in front of them laid three sets of clothes all altered from their tattered old ones a red vest and light blue shorts that are obviously Luffy's a white shirt and black pants complete with a mini green Haramaki for Zoro, and a light blue dress shirt and slacks for Sanji.
Thinking of how utterly adorable all three of them would look in their minified clothes, Nami couldn't help but coo silently glancing at her only other female companion she saw the same sentiment reflected in her friends eyes while the men of the crew just stared blankly at the two women.
It was at that moment that she noticed Zoro's change in breath pattern, he was awake, she could tell by the tensing of his muscles. Shushing her companions who glanced at her oddly she just pointed at Zoro and realization dawned over them.
All of them were standing now, surrounding the mini Zoro, staring at him hopefully.
That was the sight that greeted the emerald green eyes as it slowly opened.
Now, Zoro prided himself as being a rather cool person. nothing fazed him...usually. but seeing a skeleton, a weird man with a metal nose another weird gut with a long nose two women and one Tanuki staring at him he couldn't help the slightly startled scream that escaped from his throat.
"W-WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?"
The black haired woman, raised an eyebrow. " So you do not remember, swordsman-san?"
"Remember what? and who are you?" the green-haired boy asked voice more subdued than before.
Glancing around him, Zoro caught sight of the looks being exchanged by the odd assortment of people.
"Where am I?" He finally asked at last.
At that, the blue haired guy in Speedos puffed up his chest, "You're on the Thousand Sunny Zoro-bro"
nodding slightly, though the explanation didn't ring any bell, he glanced around again.
Franky, seeing the kid's uncomprehending look elaborated " the thousand sunny a pirate ship in the grand line."
Zoro nodded again eyes wary, then the words seemed to sink in.
"T-THE GRAND LINE! HOW THE HELL DID I END UP HERE?" Silence, then " A PIRATE SHIP!"
Nami rubbed the bridge of her nose, well it seems like Zoro was still slow as a child. This was going to take a long while.
"Guys, First things first." Nami clapped her hand to gain their attention. "Zoro, wear this." she said handing the child the clothes Usopp made.
Zoro glanced down at himself and blushed furiously, he was only wearing his old shirt which reached down to his ankles the neckline was too wide that it hung over one shoulder, how he hadn't noticed his state of undress is a mystery to him.
Robin chuckled at the red faced marimo. It seems like their swordsman was a shy child. she thought ruefully.
Minutes later, the swordsman emerged dresses in his proper clothes, But Nami was prepared, armed with a camera she quickly snapped a picture. The mini swordsman blinked quickly at the flash of light. he glanced at Nami, "What was that?!"
Nami smirked, "Nothing you have to worry yourself about for now kiddo."
he rolled his eyes and sat down crossing his arms and pouting.
It was then that he noticed the other two kids that were still asleep on the sofa beside him.
It felt like a really long while the kid just shifted his gaze from the children to the adults. children to adults. children to adults.
"You are not some kind of pedophiles or something are you?" the kid questioned uneasily.
Robin chocked back a laugh while Nami face palmed the rest of the group simply laughed while Chopper looked scandalized.
"I assure you swordsman-san we are no such thing."
this seemed to reassure the kid slightly placing a hand on his hip as if to grasp for something only to be met with air. he looked down and stared... Wado was missing, this can't be he turned his now hostile gaze towards the group he practically growled. "Where. is. she.?"
taken aback by the hostility, Nami hesitated. " She who? Zoro?"
"Don't mess with me woman! Quina's katana ,Wado, where did you put her?" The fire in his tone seemed to dampen at the mention of 'her' name.
"Ah, you mean the white katana?" Nami inquired, raising an eyebrow at the unfamiliar name the child uttered
Growling again he nodded glare intensifying.
"No need to lose your temper Zoro-san I've taken care of your sword for you here it is." Brook said easily handing the child his precious sword.
Zoro latched at the sword checking over it to make sure it isn't damaged, running a finger over every inch of it as if really convince himself that it's there and not only his imagination. He didn't know what would he do if he had really lost Wado, it would be like losing Quina all over again.
Glancing up to thank the guy who took care of his sword for him. the green haired boy stilled. It was a freaking skeleton a skeleton with an afro...
A skeleton with an afro who was looking at him and actually speaking to him
A skeleton who was asking if he was alright.
He couldn't help it, he screamed " WAAAH A GHOST!"
The skeleton screamed "AAAAH WHERE?" glancing around him.
Nami face-palmed, Robin, Usopp, Franky and Chopper laughed.
During all the mess, the group didn't notice the little figure of luffy stirring.
"Ne, Ace, Sabo, where are you?" then catching sight of the odd group he tilted his head cutely to the side " ha? Who are you people, What are you doing here?"
A/N
I would like to thank all of you people who reviewed, Favorited and alerted my story. It is really appreciated, and couldn't have been happier when i got your reviews they do boost ones confidence in their writings.
Hope you liked this chapter, reviews would be greatly welcomed and oh i don't own one piece and all the disclaimer crap.
-diva-