I was lying lazily on the kitchen floor, watching Rika put together her rice balls and I couldn't help but laugh mentally as she put sugar instead of salt. Mom always said it was the thought that counted, so I let the kid go. She'd been pretty kind to me the last few days; hiding me in her house and feeding me scraps. I tried not to dwell on the fact that Zoro hadn't eaten anything at all from the time he was tied up. It made me feel really guilty with the whole situation. But, today was the day he gets free, thank Gods, and I'd been trying to figure out what I was going to do about my situation these past few days.

I can't stay with Rika. I don't think her mother would look kindly on having a dog; even with Morgan and his son gone. And, it can't have been coincidence that I was dropped right in on a main part of the story line right? So I think, at least I hope, that I am meant to go with Luffy and Zoro. But how do I achieve that? I can't go up and I say "I want to join." It sucks not being able to speak as a dog, but I was getting used to it. And they leave in a small boat so I couldn't exactly hide myself in their boat until they leave… At the moment my best plan is to help free Zoro and follow them back to their boat and jump on. It can't be that hard right? Right? I don't think I want to know the answer to that actually. I had thought of the fact that if I go with Luffy I will get in lots of trouble, get beat up many times, and be in constant danger of dying. But, hey, no pain no gain.

"I'm going to take these rice balls to Zoro now!" Rika declared happily, picking up her package that she'd managed to finish making while I had been lost in my musing. I felt a nervous jolt through my gut as I stood up, it was finally time. Lord help me.

I followed loyally at Rika's heels as we left the house and started making our way through the town. I saw a few people look at us curiously as we passed, of course they would though. Most of these people wouldn't have seen me since they weren't there the day I helped save Rika and had most likely just heard stories about the event. I bet they're wondering what Rika and I are up to today.

'Well let them wonder,' I thought deviously, my head held high as I pranced through the street with Rika.

When we reached the place that Zoro was being held I saw Luffy and the pink haired kid hanging on the wall to look at Zoro. My steps faltered as I realized I was seeing the real Luffy. He looked just like a kid from behind but he is one hell of a powerful kid - or at least he was going to be.

While I was contemplating this, Rika had found a ladder and leaned it up against the wall next to the pink haired kid.

I watched her scrambled up it and I saw the curious looks she got and watched as she held her finger up to her mouth and said, "Shhh!"

This kid had balls, I had to give her that much. As she jumped over the wall to the other side I decided it was time get my own butt in gear, and I took off running at the wall. I managed to clear the wall easily with practiced ease.

I felt myself smirking as the pink haired kid called out to Rika, "Ah! Don't do it! It's dangerous!"

As I landed my jump I ran over to Rika's side again looking up in time to hear Zoro say, "Hey, what are you doing here?" He paused again, looking at her before continuing with, "Do you want to die or something? Get lost!"

Rika was not discouraged and just flashed that bright smile of hers that could charm the socks off a cat and said, "Umm, I made some rice balls for you! You haven't eaten for a long time right?" As she said that she held out the rice balls she had made earlier. "This is the first time I have made rice balls…"

"I'm not hungry! Go away!" was Zoro's only reply, causing me to emit a soft growl in his direction. He might have been trying to help the kid, but he was being damn rude about it.

"But…" Rika stuttered, her smile being replaced by a frown.

"I don't want it! Leave me alone! I'll kill you if you don't!" shouted Zoro, even if it was too late.

I spied a rat and his fleas heading this head and let out a soft growl as the rat said, "Roronoa Zoro! Don't pick on little kids or else I'll have to report it to my father."

Could this guy sink any lower?

I saw Rika and Zoro turn their head around in surprise and I heard Zoro mutter, "Tch, if it isn't the Lieutenant's bastard son…"

"Bastard?" questioned Helmeppo. "Don't get cocky, my dad is a Marine Lieutenant!" I think this rat did just sink lower than before.

Helmeppo came towards Rika and myself, reaching out and snatching up one of Rika's rice balls before I managed to put myself between Rika and the rat.

"Well hello little girl, these rice balls look pretty tasty," he remarked, causing me to growl louder in a warning.

"Ah! Stop it!" said Rika as Helmeppo took a bite out of her rice ball.

"Blegh!" He spat it out, a look of disgust on his face. "Horrible! You put too much sugar in it! You're meant to put salt in it!"

"But… but I thought they'd taste better if they were sweet!" Defended Rika.

Helmeppo threw the rice ball he'd just taken a bite out of right over my head and straight at Rika before I could react. It hit the other rice ball in her hand and they both rolled onto the ground and away from me and Rika.

Helmeppo stepped forward and started stomping down on the rice balls declaring, "How can someone eat something like this? Damn it!"

The only thing stopping me from mauling this guy so his face was no longer recognizable, even to his daddy, was the fact this needed to play out for the story. If that wasn't the case this guy would be chopped liver by now.

"Ah!" Rika cried out, trying to push past me to get to the rice balls but I pushed her behind me, not giving her a chance to get forward. "Stop it! Stop! He can't eat that now!"

"Don't worry! The ants will eat them!" he said mockingly as Rika fell to her knees behind me sobbing.

"That's so cruel… I tried really hard… To make them," she cried.

I took a step towards Helmeppo and snapped my jaws together in his direction as a warning. His eyes finally landed on me, as if seeing me for the first time while he had been here. "Ah! It's my dog!" he cried, seemingly happy.

I stopped, blinking for a few seconds. His... Dog? His? Oh fuck no! I might be a dog, but I sure as hell am not someone's property!

I took my growling up a notch and pulled back my gums to flash my teeth at him, hoping to scare him off. But, it seemed that he was as thick as a brick because he just turned his attention back to Rika stating, "This is all, your fault you know, didn't you see what's written here? 'Anyone who helps a prisoner will be charged with the same crime- Lieutenant Morgan'." He sneered at Rika and continued with, "You know how scary daddy can be right? You could have gotten the death penalty if you were an adult." He then turned back to the marines and said, "You! Throw this kid out! And you! Capture this dog for me, but do it right this time!"

"Huh!" cried out the one charged with throwing Rika out.

"I'm telling you to throw this kid out! Are you disobeying me? I'll tell my dad!" Helmeppo barked.

"Ay… aye sir!" The marine relented as both the marines turned their attention towards Rika and I.

I knew that to follow this story line Rika needed to be thrown over the wall, but it still pissed me off! I was not very good at following the story line, but unless I want to change a lot of things, I'd just have to let some things go. I knew Rika would be fine.

I took several steps towards the marines, not relenting on my growling and snarling. At least they seemed a bit put out by my attitude, and I saw the one who was ordered to capture me take a length of rope out of his pocket.

I didn't want to hurt these people. There was a difference between a wolf and humans, and I'd never been an aggressive type of person. In fact I hated hurting others, but I'm guessing I was going to have to get used to it. I took a deep breath and flung myself at the marine closest to me. He raised his arm up with a cry, trying to protect his face and neck, so I wrapped my jaws around his arm and slammed them shut around his arm. Again the unbelievable power behind a dog's jaws came into play as I heard bones in his arms break under the bite force. My teeth sliced into his skin like a knife in butter and I managed to knock him backwards onto the ground with the momentum from my leap.

I felt him struggle underneath me and I sunk my teeth further in, hoping and praying he'd give up so I didn't have to hurt him more. He let out a loud cry of pain which distracted me momentarily and a something hit my nose and the back of my neck. I jerked my head up in surprise, letting go off his arm. Whatever it was slid over my nose and rested against my chest, and I realized what it was just as it tightened around my neck. It was the rope! Shit.

I jumped off the man as he scrambled to his feet, pulling back on the rope to try and slip free, but the harder I pulled the tighter the rope become. The man who held the rope then tied it quickly to the post on which the sign about what happens to 'those who assist the prisoner' sat. He rushed out of my range as I charged at him. The rope cut my charge off short, jerking me to a rough stop.

I let out several rage filled barks at the men, seeing one of them turn away and walk over to Rika. He picked her up and started to walk over to the wall. I knew I'd be too late to help her now, again, I seem to be useless most of the time. Why am I even here then! I quickly shoved those thoughts out of my mind as I realized I'd be no good to anyone if Helmeppo got his hands on me.

Instead, I turned my attention to the rope around my neck. I picked up a loose piece in my jaws and began agitatedly gnawing on it. I could chew my way out if I was quick. No one was watching me, they were all watching Rika, so I didn't have to worry about anyone watching me chew threw my rope and trying to stop me. I heard Rika cry out as she was thrown over the wall at the same moment I chewed through the rope that was holding me. It was one hell of a flimsy rope if I could chew through it that quickly. But I didn't stop to admire my handiwork, I took off at full speed towards the wall, launching myself over it and after Rika.

Yet again I left Helmeppo and his men crying out in my wake as I ran. As I landed on the other side off the wall I landed next to Luffy who was brushing off his pants. I froze as he looked at me, meeting his gaze for the first time, my stomach tying itself in knots from nerves. We stared at each other for a few seconds, I seem to be staring at people and things a lot these days. I wagged my tail and let out a soft whine in greeting, my muzzle pulling into an impish grin. I saw the corner of his mouth quirk up in response and he then turned around and climbed over the wall to go see Zoro.

I quickly turned my attention To Rika, trotting over and licking her cheek with a whine to see if she was okay. She just gave me a pat on the head with a soft smile before we both turned our attention back to the pink haired boy. He looked ready to pee his pants whilst looking me. I wasn't that scary looking was I? Blah, don't answer that question.

"Really!" Rika exclaimed

"Yep, he ate all of it," confirmed Luffy with a grin.

We were all back at Rika's house after the incident, well sitting on the front steps at least. Rika then went on to explain about how Zoro and I saved her, and about Morgan and his unfair rule of this place. While she was doing this I had walked over to Luffy, my ears sitting back against my head, tail wagging slowly. I let out a soft whine before placing my head in his lap. I saw him look down at me with a smile before patting my head, causing me to close my eyes and rub my head into his palm.

Well, I'd gotten onto Luffy's good side at least, I was glad of that, but I was then jolted for my thoughts. Yet a fucking again it was none other than the daddy's boy himself calling out, "Heh heh heh heh, who dares raise their head? I'll tell my dad!" How many times was that now! He needs his voice box removed, I swear. "Do you want to be like Roronoa Zoro? I'm going to publicly execute him in three days! I'll use him as an example for all of you, it's going to be pretty interesting."

I lifted my head out of Luffy's lap as he stood up and walked over to Helmeppo. I decided to stand up and follow after Luffy, I seemed to have developed a liking for stirring shit with people.

"Three days?" questioned Luffy. "Didn't you say you'd give him a month?"

"I was only joking with him, only an idiot would believe that!" Helmeppo didn't get to say anymore before Luffy had launched a punch towards him, catching him across that face whilst gripping the front of his shirt so he couldn't get away. I knew Luffy was pissed about what Helmeppo had done to Zoro, but I wasn't as angry. I knew all along what was going to happen, which is the only reason I hadn't launched myself at the rat after Luffy had hit him.

"Luffy! Please stop! Clam down!" cried the pink haired boy, whom I'd learnt was called Coby. He ran over to Luffy trying to hold him back. "You want to mess with the Marines or something?"

"Coby, I've decided" Luffy started. "I'm going to ask Zoro to join me!"

My ears and head swiveled around as the citizens started to yell out things in shock, they were all wondering where Luffy kept his brains, if he had any. Actually that is good question, I needed to find that out later.

"Luffy! Calm yourself! They are Marines!" Coby yelled whilst still trying to hold Luffy back, but I don't think it was working very well. Luffy could have easily gotten out of Coby's grip if he had wanted.

"I don't care, a bastard is still a bastard!" stated Luffy as he glared at Helmeppo.

"Y… Y… You dare hit me! My dad hasn't even hit me once!" Helmeppo looked a bit crazed as he said that, but I'm guessing his attitude problem has something to do with his dad. Who knows? "I'm Marine Lieutenant Morgan's son! I'll tell him about this!"

As the daddy's boy said that last line most of the town's people seemed to freak out, and I'd had enough of standing here like an awkward banana, so I let out three loud barks in succession at Helmeppo to voice my disagreement, although I don't think he understood me.

"Why don't you fight me yourself?" challenged Luffy.

"Luffy, don't do this!" argued Coby.

"You'll regret hitting me!" cried out Helmeppo as his Marines helped him up and he started the running away routine that he was all too fond of. "You'll get the death sentence! And my dad will be the one to execute you!"

I watched as he and the Marines ran away, barking at him in a cheeky farewell.

"It's meaningless to hit people like him," sighed Luffy as Coby finally let him go.

"He ran away…" said Coby, looking shocked.

"Luffy you were so cool! Just then I was scared to death!" Rika praised. The kid had enough balls to go and feed Zoro, but was scared of the rat walking down the street? How did that work?

"Really?" Luffy said, a smile back on his face. "I should have hit him a couple more times!"

"Ri… Rika! Come here!" I turned my head, recognizing that voice.

It was Rika's mother and she looked to be worried about Rika, not that blame her. But still, poor Rika. Rika's mother lead her daughter away, chastising her about talking to strangers and going to the execution site.

"Bye, bye!" called Luffy in a cheerful way - this kid is going to give me whiplash with his moods.

Coby started to freak out again and Luffy declared he was off to see Zoro, and I didn't have anywhere else to go anyway so I followed him as he started walking off. I let out a soft bark to let Luffy know I was with him and Luffy sent me a strange look before asking, "You want to help Zoro too?"

In response to his question I threw my head happily up in the air and barked several more times. Luffy just smiled, taking my barking for a yes.

Updated 15/12/12

Thanks to Praeses, my beta, for her hard work.