Silmeria - Thanks for being patient everyone. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer - I claim no rights to One Piece or Sentinel.
Chapter Five - The Sentinel of Duty - Zoro
"We will be arriving to Gecko Islands in three days. I repeat, we will be arriving to Gecko Islands in three days."
Luffy sighed, reaching up and pushing his hat further on his head as he explored the deck, nodding his head when a woman and a child walked by, their faces enthralled, as if it was their first time on a ship and Luffy could scarcely blame them. It was his first time as well. He lived near the sea his entire life, but to explore it and actually see the waves underneath his feet? It was an amazing sight and he wished that Ace was-Luffy stopped, lowering his head so that his straw hat covered his face. Now wasn't the time to dwell on what could be and what couldn't be. Ace wasn't here and that was the end of it. But, it barely seemed like any fun to travel alone, but it was something that he had to do. Besides, his grandpa said that there was a possibility of people joining his ship should they have the same objective, but objectives didn't always stay the same and dreams had a bad habit of separating people who were good friends. It was one of the reasons as to why Luffy didn't want a crew. They were good and a necessity, but he didn't want the emotional attachment that came with it. It was such a strange thing to say for a Guide, but he had enough of emotional attachments as of late.
Ace's face came to his mind again, and Luffy huffed, shaking his head and waving the image away with a tight frown and tense shoulders. Insufferable man. Gone for more than two years and little word. That was just like a Sentinel to run off and leave their worried Guide behind as if they nor their emotions hardly mattered in the end.
"Did you hear? We picked up a few Sentinels last night."
"Oh? Were they cute?"
A titter followed the question and Luffy perked his ears as he waited for the response. It wasn't rare for Sentinels to travel to East Blue by normal passage and Luffy was curious as to why these Sentinels decided that a normal boat was the best idea.
"One of them is, but the others? Not a chance. I always thought Sentinels from other islands were handsome and rich, but I guess not. What a let down."
"Still, I want to go see what they looked like. Are they on the deck?"
"Yeah, the other two are, but I don't know where that cute one went. Probably in his cabin. I heard Sentinels don't like all the sounds and smells of the sea assaulting their senses all the time..."
"Oh? Really...? I thought..."
Luffy raised his head, his mouth set into a disapproving line at the women's conversation. Seeing Sentinels as pieces of meat was just as bad as seeing women the same damn way.
Still.
He wanted to see what this Sentinel looked like and he could admit that he was being a hypocrite by deciding he wanted to get to know them a little bit better. Besides, if they weren't from East Blue then maybe, maybe they could have met Ace along the way. Surely, such a charming, thick-headed man, would have made a reputation by now?
Or a wanted poster. Whichever came first.
"Good," a deep voice muttered in a sour tone, startling Luffy out of his thoughts. "They're finally gone."
Luffy watched, with bemusement, as the man stepped out from behind the column and his first thought at seeing the man was Marimo. The color of his hair was that of Marimo and a small chuckle escaped his throat and it was enough for the man to turn to him with a scowl.
"The hell you laughing at?" the marimo-colored man asked roughly. "You find it funny that I'm being chased by these women?"
"Of course not." Luffy coughed, stifling his laughter to take a good look at the man that was standing before him. He was certainly different from the Sentinels on Dawn Island. He was broad shouldered and dressed in a kimono that was a shade darker than his hair and finally looking at the man's face, he noticed that one of his eyes were sealed shut by scar rending his sight sense to what Luffy would have guessed to forty to fifty percent, lowering his rank and making him a Beta at best.
"You seemed to have lost them for now, Sentinel." Luffy smiled again, lowering his head as proper greeting from a Guide to Sentinel. "My name is Monkey D. Luffy, Guide from Dawn Island, Foosha Village to be more specific, and you?"
"Roronoa Zoro, Sentinel, and from where, well, that's not your business, child." Zoro huffed, folding his arms and looking out towards the sea with a displeased expression that reminded Luffy of his grandfather. "Where's your Sentinel?"
"Well, that's not your business, old man." Luffy gave Zoro a cheeky grin before joining him at the railing, taking a deep breath and taking in the salty smell of the sea. "What brings you on this trip? If you don't mind me asking?"
"I'm looking for someone." Zoro responded, his eye locked firmly on the sea before them. "You? What's a Guide doing traveling alone?"
"I'm looking for someone too." Luffy replied lightly. "And no need to worry about me, Zoro. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself, but you? You better watch out for those terrible vultures." Luffy chuckled, lowering his head when Zoro gave him a scowl for his words. "They're going to have no problem devouring you."
"And what about you?" Zoro countered. "Wouldn't want a Sentinel to get ahold of you." Zoro smirked when Luffy stilled. It was a joke in poor taste, but-
"I don't think you'll let that happen, right?" Luffy raised his eyes, a smile touching them and his lips and Zoro found his cheeks flushed before turning away with a grunt. "You don't seem the type to little ole Guide like me get hurt, right?"
"I don't know." Zorro grunted out, his frown displeased at Luffy's playful nature. "You seem like the type to draw trouble to himself and furthermore, you seem like the type to go looking. So, tell me, Monkey D. Luffy, what sort of trouble are you looking for?"
"It depends on whose really asking." Luffy's brow furrowed as he stared at Zorro with renewed interest. "Could I ask you something? If don't mind, of course."
"You could ask me, but I can't promise that I'll answer." Zoro gave him a cheeky grin. "What is it?"
"I'm looking for a man." Luffy began, huffing when Zorro wiggled his eyebrows in suggestion. Idiot. "I'm looking for a man named Portgas D. Ace."
As if being stabbed, Zorro's leer dropped and his face darkened at the mention of Ace. That was an interesting change. "What's it to you? Want the bounty on his head?"
Ah.
Well.
That was certainly going to make things a lot easier. If Ace was wanted and had a bounty, that meant he had a trail-a whimsical trail, but a trail nonetheless. Luffy didn't answer Zoro's question, turning his head and staring out into the sea. The man grew angry at the thought of him going after Ace's bounty which meant that he was either a friend of Ace's or needed the beri for himself. Whichever the case was, he would gain some kind of information.
"Hey-"
"No, I don't have a need for the beri." Luffy cut in swiftly. "I just want the man. He's-"
"Your Sentinel." Zoro remarked quietly, almost as in awe of the situation planted before him. "It's faint, but I can still track the scent of him on you. He must have imprinted on you without realizing it."
"It's possible." Luffy stated, his heart racing wildly against his chest. If this was true, then he would have to re-evaluate his entire plan. As much as it hurt him and disrespected Ace, he couldn't go around smelling like him and drawing unwanted attention. Then again, it could be used to his advantage if it drew people like Zoro to his side. People that could move quietly and take down people Luffy couldn't yet. "Do you know him?"
"Probably."
Luffy frowned at the answer. Zoro wasn't going to make it easy was he? No, of course not and neither was Luffy. "You would deprive a Guide of his Sentinel? Separate a fledgling bond? Surely, you've seen the ramifications of such actions?"
Zoro gritted his teeth, his shoulders tensing against the question and Luffy felt anger, remorse and regret pressing against his shields which he quickly blocked. He didn't need the distraction. He waited, quietly, before Zoro answered again, his voice soft against the wind.
"No." Zoro sighed heavily. "A childhood friend of mine passed in such a manner. Her father stripped her Sentinel from her and she died of loneliness and the thought of seeing that again-" Zoro shook his head, shaking the memories off. "The last time I saw Ace he was in Whitebeard's territory. Why, I don't know, but he's far gone by now."
"How long ago was this?"
"I'd say about a month." Zoro placed a hand on his chin. "I ran into him on the edge of Whitebeard's territory and we got into a small tussle with him being the winner. He earned my respect by then. He didn't give me his next location and I didn't ask for it."
"I-I see." Luffy chewed on his bottom lip, exhaustion coming over him in waves. Whitebeard's territory was the best to pick up his trail, but he had to acquire a ship before he could trace Ace. The disappointment he felt in that trail going cold was heavy, but he would catch his Sentinel again, in time.
"Thank you." Luffy said, with a small smile. "That gives me a good spot to start looking eventually. What about you? You never told me where you were going?"
"Didn't pony up the information." Zoro responded, his voice gaining that annoyed tinge. "I'm just travelling and picking up bounties along the way."
"Ah," Luffy murmured, realization striking him suddenly. A bounty hunter? Or a pirate hunter. To him, it was the same thing, hunting for beri and it mattered little which the target. "You must be heading somewhere in East Blue."
"Nah, I'm going to Alabasta."
Huh.
"Huh?" Luffy blinked at the response, a wave of confusion overtaking him. "But-but this isn't the boat to Alabasta."
"I know, it's to Syrup Village and then it's to Alabasta."
"No..." Luffy protested softly, almost feeling pity for the directionless man. "This boat is heading Conomi Islands."
"What, but-" Zorro suddenly looked panicked and Luffy felt a swell of pity for the man. Poor Zoro. "How am I supposed to get to Alabasta?"
"Well, I guess you'll have to go Ilusia which is in North Blue and then maybe you can get to the Grand Line and cross over to Alabasta, but you're way, way, way off, Zoro. Sorry.'
"Crap."
"Or," Luffy murmured, drawing Zoro's attention once more. "You can come with me for the time being? The tickets to North Blue are expensive and maybe you can catch a bounty along the way? Besides, I could use a friend." Luffy held out a hand for Zoro to take. "So? How about it?"
Zoro grumbled, his face flushed at the obvious mix up, but he took Luffy's hand nonetheless. "Deal."