Disclaimer: I do not own One-Piece nor any of it's characters. Those belong to Oda Eiichiro.
Nunya Bizniz 2
Chapter One: A Name
Rachel blinked her eyes as she tried to rouse herself into something that resembled being awake. The events of the night before slowing dawning on her. She, Zoro and Ace were now the only three members of the Nunya's crew. She being the only one there right from the very start. Rachel took in a deep breath and exhaled in a soft sigh. It would be a bit dull around here without Missy to harass. Rachel pulled the blanket from over her and started to roll to her edge of the bed, intent on standing.
An arm suddenly across her waist stopped the action. Rachel turned to look at her husband. Zoro still looked like he was sleeping peacefully. Rachel tried once again to move out of the bed. She used both of her hands and started lifting Zoro's arm off of her gently. She was nearly free when the muscles in Zoro's arm tensed and pulled her back into the bed, further in the center than what she had been when she awoke.
With an eyebrow raised in suspicion, Rachel looked towards Zoro once more. He still had the same, peaceful look of sleep... She wasn't buying it anymore. "Look here mister," she started poking Zoro's chest. Proof of his wakefulness came when a small smirk slipped out for an instant. "You can't fool me like that. You have to let me get up. I need to cook breakfast for you and Ace."
"I'm not hungry right now," Zoro stated. "You can stay here with me."
"You might not be hungry," Rachel continued. "I'm sure that Ace will be awake any moment and want something to eat. Since I'm the only one on board that I trust in my kitchen I have to get up so that he doesn't destroy it."
"He knows not to mess with your kitchen," Zoro chuckled. "He's a big boy, he can go without food for a little longer."
"Let me up you goof," Rachel poked his chest. "You might be fine with being lazy all day, but I'm not."
"You don't want to be lazy?" Zoro's good eye peeked open and stared at Rachel.
Rachel's eyes narrowed, wondering if this was a trap. "Of course I don't want to be lazy. It's not good for the body."
"Then you can stay here until Ace does start whining for food."
"Wha..." Whatever protest Rachel was going to make was cut off abruptly by Zoro.
Ace was pacing back and forth in the kitchen area. He had thought that Rachel would have been there by now. He wanted to go over with her what their first objective should be. Luffy didn't give any specific order that the Nunya and her crew should follow. It wasn't too surprising, in fact, that Luffy would let them figure out what their next move should be on their own. "Maybe I should go and check on her," he mused. He then made his way to Rachel's room. Rachel and Zoro's room, actually. That thought made Ace slow his steps a little. Zoro and Rachel's, who were now husband and wife, room.
He stopped in front of the door. He couldn't hear anything, but that was a good thing as far as he was concerned. "I'll have an apple until lunch," he decided as he turned around and walked away.
Rachel sat on the bridge as she poured over some maps, a mug of coffee in her hand. No one had stated yesterday where they were going to head out. She could only assume that Luffy would want to head in the direction of the most wobbly of the log post needles. She let out a light laugh at the headache he would have once Nami finished yelling at him, and when she says yelling she really means punching over the head.
Rachel was brought out of her musings when Zoro came up onto the deck. "Do you have the number of the Sunny's Den-Den Mushi?" he asked.
"Of course I do," Rachel responded. She pulled open a small drawer where they usually stored all of the maps. She reached in and pulled out a leather bound book. She flipped through the pages quickly to one that had a tab marking it out from the rest. She handed him the book and pointed to a number on the top of the page. "That's the one right there."
Zoro took the book with a grunt as thanks and dialed the number. There were a few rings before a childish voice was heard. "Hello? Is someone there?"
"Chopper it's us," Zoro both called and identified himself. "I need to talk to Luffy. Tell him to stop whatever nonsense he's doing and get on the line."
"I think he's playing tag with Usopp," Chopper mentioned. "Last I saw he was chasing him around with some sort of sea creature in his hands."
"Well tell him to stop and get over here," Zoro growled.
"Just a minute." A tap was heard as Chopper put down the speaker. Light footsteps fading indicated he was walking away.
It didn't take too long for the silence to be disturbed. "ZORO! I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU IN SO LONG!" Luffy shouted.
"You saw me yesterday," Zoro mentioned.
"But that was yesterday," Luffy's voice pouted. "I'm used to seeing you sleeping on the deck everyday."
"He still sleeps on the deck," Rachel interrupted. "Just now he sleeps on the Nunya's deck."
"RACHEL! I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"
"I'm sure you have," Rachel mused.
"What did you guys call for?" Luffy asked. "Oh! Did you guys find a new island to explore? Is there an adventure?"
"I need you to find a cook for the Nunya," Zoro said.
"You do?" Luffy asked.
"Excuse me?" Rachel stood up and faced Zoro. "Is my cooking not good enough for you?"
"That's not it," Zoro dismissed. "I just want to spend time with my wife without having to worry about her needing to go and cook."
"Is that a fact?" another voice broke in.
"Oh, Robin, did you hear what Zoro said?" Luffy asked.
"I did indeed," Robin's voice spoke. "It sounds like a fantastic idea. How often is it that our swordsman is so easily distracted? Getting a cook to join the Nunya should prove interesting at the very least."
"Don't I get a say in this?" Rachel asked.
"You're already steering the ship," Zoro ticked off. "The ships marksman, shipwright, navigator and doctor. It's time to build the crew and take some of the burden off of you."
"You're just upset because I wouldn't stay in bed past eleven this morning."
"I'll find what you're looking for Zoro," Luffy stopped their conversation. "I can also look for more crew that fit what you need. You're right, Rachel's doing too much as it is. Besides, it's like Nami says. Rachel can't make me an uncle if she's too busy with the jobs she has on board the Nunya." His statement was met with silence. Both Rachel and Zoro were beet red. Robin could be heard laughing in the background. "Hey Rachel, I have a question. How are you and Missy going to make me an uncle?"
"Get your grandpa to explain the birds and the bees to you," Rachel hissed. "Better yet, have Nami do it. She's the one that got you thinking those things in the first place."
"Kay, I'll go ask her right now." Luffy's sandals hitting the floor as he ran away was heard.
"This will be amusing," Robin's voice sounded closer.
"I want details later," Rachel stated.
"I expected nothing less."
"I'm surprised that the Love-Cook wasn't the one to put the idea into Luffy's head," Zoro commented.
"You shouldn't be that surprised," Robin chastised. "I'm sure you're aware of how Sanji abhors the idea that you and your lady-love have not only found each other, but you've also acknowledged your feelings and are married. We can assume that he'll avoid the subject due to his lady-love not acknowledging his own feelings. I'll let the two of you be alone now." The line then closed off.
"What was that about?" Rachel demanded.
"What do you mean?" Zoro asked.
"Don't play that with me," Rachel put her hands on her hips. "You're telling Luffy to find a cook to replace me. On top of that, he's going to start looking for other crewmembers to place on this ship."
"It's not a bad thing," Zoro stated. "I see you work late into the night and get up early in the morning. Having more in our crew will mean you don't push yourself too hard. I'm worried about you exhausting yourself."
"Either you really gave this some thought," Rachel started. "Or you just sprouted that on the fly trying to avoid my wrath."
"That all depends on how well the wrath is avoided," Zoro smirked.
"I think you have a good chance of dodging that bullet." Rachel was about to say more when the Den-Den Mushi started ringing. With a sigh, Rachel picked it up. "Brooke's Roadside Grill, you kill it and we grill it."
"That's gross Rae," Missy's voice came across.
"Blame yourself for interrupting my conversation."
"How was I supposed to know... You know what? Nevermind. I'm calling you for a very specific reason."
"That being?"
"We're trying to come up with a really good name for the sub," Missy answered. "Everyone thinks it's either nameless or it's name is 'Death' since that's what's painted on the side. I refuse to ride in a sub that's called 'Death'. It's a bad omen."
"You should be good as long as you don't see any Reaper Crabs."
"Ace if you're there, smack her for me!"
"HA! He's not here," Rachel blew a raspberry in defiance.
"Do you two ever stop?" Law's voice asked.
"No," both women answered in unison.
"Can we get back to the reason for the call then?" Law pushed.
"Alright already," Missy's voice rolled it's eyes. "Don't get your panda pajamas in a twist."
"He wears panda pajamas?" Rachel asked. She was trying her hardest not to laugh, but a few snickers managed to sneak past. Even Zoro found it amusing judging by the toothy grin, like a cat in the cream.
"Anyway," Missy cleared her throat. "A name for the sub. Got any suggestions?"
"Dead weight?" Zoro asked.
"Just leave," Missy ordered.
"I have a few," Rachel put in. "How about Scorpion?"
"It's bright yellow," Missy reminded. "Not really something one would associate with those creepy crawlers."
"Not the reference I was going for," Rachel said. "Okay, here's another one for you. I bet you get this reference. Same scenario, different ship. Why don't you call the sub, wait for it... The Thresher?" Rachel then proceeded to plug her ears.
"OF ALL THE IDIOTIC," Zoro's ears were now plugged as well. "BAD OMEN, RAVEN IN MY WINDOW KIND OF CURSES YOU WOULD CHOOSE THAT ONE!? IF I WAS THERE RIGHT NOW I WOULD BEAT YOU SENSELESS WITH THAT DAMN RABID CRAB THAT STARTED THIS WHOLE AFFAIR!"
Rachel slowly released the plug on her ears. "It sounded better than 'Depth Charge'," she placated.
"Did you say 'Depth Charge'?" Law asked.
"I did..." Rachel hesitantly admitted.
"We have our answer," Law stated. "I'll make the necessary arrangements."
"Wait," Missy's voice sounded panicked. "We're not naming the sub 'Depth Charge' are we?"
"Of course we are."
"Law wait," Missy's voice then got dangerously low as if she was leaning in and whispering into the speaker. "I will get you for this girl. Sleep with one eye open." The line then cut off.
Rachel blinked at the creature owlishly. "I didn't actually think either of them would take me seriously on that," she admitted.
"What's so wrong with 'Depth Charge'?" Zoro asked. "It sounds fitting if you ask me."
"You remember what I said about being from another world?" Rachel waited for Zoro to nod. "Well, a depth charge in our world is a bomb or mine specifically designed to hit and sink submarines." Rachel waited for that news to sink in. She didn't have to wait for very long before Zoro's laugh could be heard across the ship. With the danger of Missy out of reach, for now, Rachel joined in.
For you history buffs. The names suggested in this chapter, Thresher and Scorpion, are actual submarine names that had been in service to the US Navy during the 1960s. Thresher imploded when it exceeded it's test depth in 1963 and it's assumed that Scorpion sank due to one of the charges in the torpedoes going off accidentally, setting off an explosion while the sub was still submerged in 1968. None of the officers on either vessel survived. You can look this up on Wikia, where I got my information.