Silmeria - Thanks for being patient everyone. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer - I claim no rights to One Piece or Sentinel.
Chapter Eight - Corruption Among Innocence
Zoro whistled sharply at the state of the manor. It was small, but adequate to the only occupant that lived in it, but Zoro was still impressed by the vases, wall art, carpeted floors and grand staircases. Honestly, he saw no sense in having such a large home, but to each their own, he supposed. He turned to Luffy and blinked when he realized that the Guide had removed his hat and was looking around with an interested air about him. Normally, Luffy would never have bothered with such luxury, but Zoro realized that it had been a while since he saw a Guide around his age bracket and was most likely getting a feel for the place.
"She's upstairs." Usopp stated, staring at them with a suspicious eye that rankled Zoro, but said nothing of it. "I'll go fetch her. Merry? Merry!"
"Oh, dear," an aristocratic voice called out sarcastically. "How did you get in? The security system must be on the fritz again." a man, around Luffy's height, appeared through the door that was hidden by the staircase with a tight smile that faded into a frown once he spotted Zoro and Luffy. "Honestly, how do these riff-raff keep getting into Mistress' Kaya's home? Who might you be? Come now, speak up, or I will be forced to escort you from the premises."
"Monkey D. Luffy, son of Monkey D. Garp and Guide from Foosha Village of Dawn Island, and his Zoro, Beta Sentinel." Luffy raised an eyebrow at Merry's silence at the introduction. "And we've come to acquire a ship from the Mistress Kaya as promised via this letter." Luffy pulled it out, watching as Merry approached him, taking the letter and scoffing at the wording.
"Admiral Monkey D. Garp had a child?" Merry scoffed again before handing back the letter. "I'm afraid that the little deal initiated by the Mistress' late parents doesn't qualify for her, I'm afraid."
"It's her parents." Zoro grounded out, his cheeks flushing with anger. "She has to honor their words to Luffy's grandfather. It's the way our society works, Merry. A human or goat such as yourself wouldn't understand such a thing."
"I am well aware of how the Sentinel and Guide world works, Sentinel Roronoa." Merry smirked at Zoro's surprised hum. "I am well aware of your activities as a bounty hunters and am rather surprised to see you with Sentinel Portgas' Guide." Merry smirked, the motion growing tighter. "Oh, didn't think I would know that? Sentinel Portgas has been known to be fiercely protective of his so-called Guide, but if you have the right person then information comes rather easily." Merry stood straighter as soft steps clicked against the wooden staircase and the smirk Merry bore softened into a smile that was quite stiff as Usopp appeared behind Maya.
"May I present, Lady Guide Kaya of Syrup Village." Merry announced, turning swiftly to help Maya down the stairs, his stiff smile turning fond when Maya gently swatted him away with a soft laugh.
"Thank you, Merry." Kaya turned, her eyes widening once she locked eyes with Luffy whose smile was just as soft if not curious as Merry's. "You must be our guests?"
Zoro's nose twitched and he tilted his head to the side. "Interesting."
Luffy broke the staring contest he had with Maya at Zoro's murmur. "Interesting? What is, Zoro?"
"No shields and little empathy." Zoro summarized, his tone holding little sympathy, smirking when Merry bristled at the obvious insult, but pressed on. "Although, it's no fault of hers, but it's obvious that she's sick. She reeks of it."
Luffy huffed in exasperation, nudging Zoro in the ribs firmly before turning back to Kaya with an apologetic smile. "You'll have to forgive him. He's rather blunt. My name is Monkey D. Luffy-"
"Yes." Kaya interrupted tightly, her blue eyes narrowed at Zoro's previous words. "I am aware of your name and why you're here, Guide Luffy." Kaya turned to Merry with a frown when she noticed him scowling in her guest direction. "Merry? Prepare the guest rooms, yes? Guide Luffy and Sentinel Roronoa will be staying the night."
"Madam-"
Luffy was shaking his head along with Merry's protests. "There's really no need, Guide Kaya, we'll get accommodations-"
"Nonsense." Kaya interrupted smoothly, showing Luffy and Zoro that some of her Alpha traits were still prevalent despite her illness. "I'm well aware how my villagers treat newcomers and the fact that a Guide and Sentinel as well adjusted as the both of you can be trouble." Kaya smiled sharply, once more showing her nobility and Alpha status. "But, I assume that the both of you are not going to be trouble for me and my villagers?"
"None at all, madam." Zoro responded, sounding impressed at Kaya's sudden sharpness and honesty. "We'll be more than happy to stay within your wonderful household."
Kaya smiled, the action satisfied that she had gotten her away for the time being-a trait of a spoiled woman. "Good." she murmured. "But, first, might you join me for lunch? We can discuss my family's debt towards you."
As if Luffy's stomach could hear, it grumbled loudly eliciting a small chuckle from Zoro and an indulgent smile from Kaya. She held out her hand towards the dining area, sending Merry a look as he scurried towards the kitchen to prepare a quick meal.
Zoro patted his stomach in anticipation, turning to Luffy who had a thoughtful look on his face. "What's wrong? We're about to get a decent meal and we haven't had one in days."
"I know, but you can't feel that?" Luffy looked around, his eyes narrowing as Zoro lifted his nose and took a deep sniff, rearing back as if it was slapped across his face. "I didn't think that there was another one here."
Zoro's face lifted into a scowl before he turned to the door to see it open and a man step through, dressed in a butler's suit with a smile that caused Luffy's lips to thin in suspicion. He opened his mouth to greet the man, but Zoro stepped in front of him, his eyes narrowing, assessing the person who stood before him.
"Oh, Klahadore." Kaya greeted gently, approaching the man who stopped her with a stern stare. "What's the matter? Is something wrong?"
"Yes, Mistress." the man, now identified as Klahadore, stared Luffy and Zoro down, his distaste for them obvious behind the gaze of his glasses. "Who are these riffraff invading your home? I explicitly told Merry not to let anyone of their kind inside. Your protection is of the utmost importance, Mistress."
"We were invited into the Mistress' home, sir." Luffy smiled, the motion sharp and amused as Klahadore stared him with offense at being taken so lightly. "I am sure Alpha Guide Kaya is more than capable of accepting and rejecting guests, no?"
"Of course." Klahadore murmured tightly, his eyes flickering behind his glasses before bowing in Kaya's direction. "If this is what the mistress desires?"
"Yes, Luffy and Zoro and Usopp-"
"Usopp?" Klahadore interrupted sharply, causing Luffy to narrow his eyes at the outright disrespect. "Mistress Kaya, I believe we have discussed that Usopp is not welcome here. Not...with his rather questionable lineage."
"Questionable lineage?" Luffy repeated softly, drawing a wary glance from Zoro as the Guide folded his arms and regarded the man with only what Zoro would describe as disgust. "I trust he doesn't have dangerous people in his family or born from dangerous loins?" Luffy's lips twitched and Zoro let out a small chuckle when the butler flushed at the rather blunt wording. "You shouldn't base a person's reliability on their lineage. After all, we cannot help whom we are born to nor what we're born as." Luffy turned to Kaya with a kind smile. "The world has blessed us as Guides and has blessed my grandfather as a Sentinel and my significant other is a reliable, good, and kind man as well. He has questionable origins, but I don't begrudge him for it. I do not have the most pure bloodline myself and he doesn't begrudge me for it. So, Sentinel Klahadore, please do yourself a favor and don't judge others based on their lineage."
Klahadore was quiet for a moment before a grin pulled at his lips, his eyes full of malice. "That is your philosophy, Guide Luffy, but Lady Kaya must maintain a proper reputation among the people of Gecko Island and Syrup Village, her main home. So, while you think it is best to ignore bloodlines. It is not the same for more..prominent families."
"Prominent families?" Luffy repeated, snorting as he folded his arms behind his back. "Like the Celestial Sentinel and Guide Families? Those who rule the World Government like its their playthings?"
"What's done must be done to keep the lower families in place, but we all have our opinions, Guide Luffy." Klahadore turned to Kaya who was listening with an interesting look on her face. "Mistress Kaya? Is there anything I can do for you?"
"No." Kaya's response was cold and she narrowed her blue eyes at her butler. "You are being very rude towards my guests. I am not asking you to agree with their opinions, but I am asking you to respect them while they are within my household, do you understand?"
"Yes, my lady."
Merry stepped through the doors, the smile melting off his face at the obvious tension in the room, but with with his installed training, he bowed and held out his hand towards the dining room. "Dinner is served."
No one moved, but Usopp grunted, drawing their attention to him as he made his way towards the dining room, stopping when Klahadore coughed and glared at him. He opened his mouth to stop the Sentinel when Luffy spoke up, his own voice condescending.
"Lady Kaya, I am sure that Usopp is allowed to dine with us? I have no qualms about him listening in about the purchase of the ship?"
"Of course." Kaya murmured, smiling in approval. Usopp was her friend, after all. "He is always welcome in my home."
The bright grin that Usopp bore made it worth the anger and offense Luffy went through at Klahadore's hands.
"I still can't believe that Admiral Garp had a grandson of all things." Usopp uttered, downing the beer roughly. "And a Guide of all things."
"There is nothing wrong with being a Guide." Kaya admonished, the wine in her hand swaying as she set it back down on the table. During the dinner, she had grown pale and Merry was quick to get her medicine which had returned her coloring and obviously put her in a better mood, forcing Luffy to wonder what was in said medicine and if he could give Zoro-who seemed to be in a permanent bad mood-a dose of it.
"It wasn't particularly well known that I'm his grandson. His son isn't the best man either." Luffy chuckled down his own glass of wine when Zoro shot him an amused look. "Enough about legacies and lineages, I want to talk about the ship. We want to make sure that you hold up the end of your bargain, Lady Kaya."
"I have no problem building you a ship, but it's going to take time for it to be complete. Honestly, I did not expect for this deal to be upheld. Guides aren't known to travel the seas and without their Sentinels no doubt."
"Ah, Zoro joined me half-way and I decided to take him along, you see. We both have business to take care of and it would be beneficial to us both if we stuck together."
Kaya nodded, her lips pursing and her eyes curious. "Might you tell me about your adventures."
Luffy smiled, shooting Zoro a look before turning back to Kaya who seemed enraptured at the thought of a Guide traveling alone in the vast sea. It seemed like a big adventure in a long novel.
Luffy, supposed in a way, that his adventure was exactly like that.
"Of course, it all started..."