Silmeria - Thanks for being patient everyone. Enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to One Piece or Sentinel.

Chapter Fourteen - The Guide of the Eternal Pose - Part Two of Three

"Gotcha!" Luffy wrapped his hand around the delicate wrist of the-Luffy's nose twitched as the smell of his own kind drifted up into his nose and he almost released her wrist at the surprise at discovering one of his own kind. "You're a Guide?"

"So?" the red-headed woman snapped, struggling to get her arm and tensing when Zoro appeared behind Luffy like a wicked shadow. The sight of the Sentinel caused her to renew her struggles against Luffy's grip. "Let me go!"

"Not until you give back what you stole." Luffy grumbled, tightening his grip on the girl's arm, careful not to bruise his fellow Guide. "Besides, who steals from visitors? That's a great way to keep the flow of tourism going for you, you know."

The woman snorted at the comment before realizing that she wasn't going to be released until she returned the pouch. Grunting, she pulled it from her pocket and tossed it in Zoro's direction before snatching her arm out of Luffy's grasp and folding her arms under her ample breast and giving the ground the most interesting look. "I gave back your stupid pouch, can I go?"

"We ought to turn you into the authorities." Luffy stated firmly, narrowing his eyes at the woman's callous attitude. "You're a thief after all."

The woman shrugged her shoulders, shooting Luffy a bored and yet amused look. "You can try, but I doubt that the police have time for a petty thief when they have more...trouble to worry about." the woman's brown eyes flickered to the towering padoga that sat in the distance, and Luffy didn't miss the way the woman's eyes flickered with distaste before she turned to them with a tight smile. "Can I go?" she repeated, holding her hands together in a mocking gesture. "Or...are you going to turn me into the authorities?"

"You can go now." Zoro ordered. "You should stop stealing before you rob the wrong person and get those pretty hands cut off. Or worse, bonded to the Sentinel whom you stole from." Zoro raised an eyebrow at the wretched glare he received for his words. "Isn't that the way of life in the East Blue?"

"Isn't that the way all over the world?" Nami countered, her brown eyes scrutinizing them in what Luffy recognizes as envy. "Is he your Sentinel?"

"No." Luffy remarked with a tight smile of his own, as if he regretted the denial. Zoro was a good man and he deserved a good Guide one day and there were times where Luffy regretted that he couldn't be the one. He knew that the more they traveled together, the more that people were going to inquire about it.

"You're traveling...unbonded with an unbonded Sentinel." the skepticism was heavy in Nami's voice and Luffy found himself tensing at Nami's tone-a tone of a Guide who thought her fellow Guide was being an idiot. "And you're looking down on me?"

"Zoro is a gentleman." Luffy defended swiftly. "He's kept his hands to himself and he's been a great to help to me and my journey." Luffy's eyes drifted to the padoga and a flinty smirk pulled at his lips. "What about the person that lives in that tower? I'm sure he's not as much as gentleman as his surroundings lead him to be, no?"

"No." Nami griped. "He's far from it, but then again, what business of it of yours?" Nami's expression shifted into bored and nonchalant. "Again, are we done here? I have places to be and people to see...?"

"You're more than welcome to leave, Guide...?"

"Nami."

"Guide Nami." Luffy repeated, exhausted from the conversation. This woman was certainly a spitfire. "If you don't mind, would you point us in the direction of a hotel and bar? We're a little tired."

Nami huffed, her nonchalant gaze shifting to one of curiosity and the sudden shift caused Luffy to tense and Zoro to take a step closer. "I can understand the hotel and bar, but you two don't look like the type to stop on an island like this." Nami turned, a sly smile pulling at her lips. "What could you be looking for?"

"Just a place to rest our heads." Zoro spoke up, his face blank against Nami's growing inquisition. "Would you mind pointing us in the right direction? If not, then we can find our own way."

"Down the road, take a left and then a right before you'll see a bar and a hotel. They're the same building." Nami's bored expression had returned. "Good luck and have a nice time, I guess."

"Thanks." Zoro rumbled, folding his arms in a clear dismissal fashion that had Nami huffing before she turned and continued down the long road, giving them one last look before going her own way, strides confident.

Once she was out of sight, Zoro gave him an amused stare. "Didn't think I would run into another Luffy."

Luffy's gaze sharpend at the words, and he cocked his head to the side. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It doesn't mean anything!" Zoro waved his hands, chuckling when Luffy narrowed his eyes until they became mere slits. "Really, Luffy, I was just teasing, alright? I didn't mean to get you angry."

"You did." Luffy snorted, rolling his eyes at the sheepish smile his ire earned. "You think that Nami and I are just alike, don't you?"

"A little." Zoro murmured, reaching out a hand and placing it on Luffy's shoulder. "You two definitely have some fire to your spirits that's for sure." Zoro frowned, his hand squeezing Luffy's shoulders a little tighter. "That's rare in Guides."

"Is it weird?" Luffy questioned, a thoughtful expression crossing his features. "Not to be submissive to one's Sentinel." Luffy looked away, his cheeks flushing at Zoro's curious hum. "I can't imagine being submissive to Ace."

"I can't imagine you being submissive to anyone let alone Ace." Zoro stated, looking amused at the very thought. It was strange even thinking about Luffy bowing his head at a Sentinel. He supposed that it was one of the reasons that Luffy left Dawn Island and the Goa Kingdom in general. It wasn't the best place to advance intelligence-wise let alone be independent. "What brought that question up?"

"Nothing." Luffy murmured, the same thoughtful expression coloring his face before a small, bright smile pulled at his lips. "Let's go find that bar and hotel, alright? I'm starving."

Zoro tilted his head to the side, wrinkling his nose at the abrupt subject. Did Luffy not think that he wasn't normal? Sure, he was a little more brave than most Guides he met, but that didn't make him strange. Shrugging, Zoro nodded in agreement, holding out his arm for Luffy to take and finally noticing that Usopp was nowhere to be seen.

"Speaking of weird, have you seen Usopp?" Zoro looked around, taking notice of the emptying streets. "I've haven't seen him since we ran after that Nami character."

Luffy blinked slowly, as if Usopp was becoming an important thought and he felt his cheeks warm a little for not noticing that their new member was missing in action. He would have to be more careful about that in the near future.

"No." Luffy responded. "I haven't seen him since we docked. We got too caught up in messing around with Nami." Luffy shrugged, but Zoro didn't miss the worry glint that flashed in the Guide's eyes. "We'll catch up with him later. It's safe to assume that he knows that we'll try to find a place to sleep."

"Right." Zoro seriously doubted it, but he wasn't one to pick a fight. "Let's check this place out. It can't be bad, can it?"

00000000000000

Empty.

Luffy swallowed, his hands twitching as non-existent hands reached up and wrapped around his neck, suffocating him with the tension and lack of emotion that lingered in the room. He shuddered, closing his eyes in an effort to push back against the solitude when he felt a gentle shove against his back, startling him and forcing him to open his eyes and see Zoro frowning down at him with a concerned expression.

"Alright?"

"Yes." Luffy lied smoothly, turning around before Zoro could protest against the poor lie. The bar was simple with a stone floor, a dozen or so tables with the bar in the back with a pair of windows that faced the ocean. The view would have been spectacular if the general air the people held would have been more positive. However, Luffy was never one to judge until he had the full story.

"Visitors." the barkeep greeted, a solemn smile stretching his lips and Luffy gave a shaky smile in return. This man reeked of despair. "Greetings from Cocoyasi Village. What brings you here?"

"Information." Zoro slid into the seat next to Luffy and waved a hand towards the tap. He was going to need it. "You ever heard of the name Portgas D. Ace?"

The barkeep stopped, staring at Luffy with a strange expression before continuing with Zoro's order. "Fire Fist Ace? Who hasn't heard of him?" the barkeep set the drink in front of Zoro who gave a grin of thanks. "Fire Fist Ace. Portgas D. Ace. Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. The name doesn't precede the man."

"Has he been here? Passed by?" Luffy swallowed down the hope he felt and he was glad that he didn't for the barkeep shook his head in rejection. "Have you heard of anything about him being nearby?"

The barkeep raised an eyebrow at the line of questioning. "Nothing. Besides, Whitebeard's Pirates often stay in the New World protecting their territory. It's not often that they even touch the Blues, or even this side of the Grand Line."

"The New World?" Zoro brows furrowed at the statement, leaning back against the seat. "Who would have imagined that Portgas D. Ace would become a commander to one of the Yonkos?"

"Yonkos?" Luffy pressed, flushing when the barkeep and Zoro gave him incredulous looks. What? If wasn't if he knew all this pirate technicality. Yet.

"The Yonko or The Four Great Emperors are a group of men that are considered the most powerful in the New World, each of them dividing the islands and the self-governing lands among themselves. It would be in your very interest to never cross these men should you find yourself crossing into the New World, you hear?"

"Well." Zoro swallowed down the rest of his beer, waving for another before continuing. "It's going to have to come to that considering that you said that Ace never comes to this side of the Grand Line."

"I didn't say that."the barkeep protested. "I said that he never step foot on this island, but the larger cities? I don't see why he wouldn't visit to tickle his curiosity. I heard he was from East Blue. Nothing wrong with visiting home every once in a while, no?"

"Of course." Luffy frowned at the information. At least they had a touch of a lead and a sense of a direction, but the New World? They would have to cross to the Grand Line and getting to the Grand Line with a skeleton crew wasn't the best of ideas.

"Are you guys bounty hunters?" the barkeep asked in a low tone, drawing Luffy's attention once more. "Because if you are, I advise against speaking out-loud or asking so many questions about pirates. It'll get you in trouble, you know? Especially with Arlong prowling around even more than usual."

"Arlong?"

"You're a little naive thing aren't you?" the barkeep chuckled before sobering. "He's the one whose running things around here. The one-" the barkeep's jaw tightened before continuing. "The one who took everything away from us. From Nami."

It was then that Luffy felt the first surge of emotion in the room: anger and it was pure in all of its right. He felt as if he should smile, but the moment wouldn't be right. Not yet.

"He's the guy running that Padoga just up the road, right?" Zoro questioned. "What's his story?"

"Isn't much story to a pirate." the barkeep spat. "Came in. Took over and started killing those who wouldn't pay his ridiculous tax." the barkeep huffed at the thought, dark eyes dimming. "He was the one who killed Bell-mere."

"Bell-mere?" Luffy pressed gently, feeling a gentle and firm resolution from such a name. It sounded beautiful and he even though he never met the woman, he knew that she must have bore a strong will and even a stronger smile.

"Ah. She was a former Marine and Nami and Nojiko's foster mother." the barkeep explained soberly. "When Arlong came along, he demanded a 100,000 monthly tax for adults and 50,000 tax for the little ones, but Bell-mere only had enough for her children and well-I don't have to tell you what happened when you don't pay."

"No." Luffy responded tightly. "You don't."

Poor Nami and Nojiko. Being left alone at such a tender age all because a dreadful man was greedy and vile, but that was the way of the world, unfortunately. if it wasn't for Garp and Ace then he was positive that Wood Slap would have married him off to one of the Celestial Dragons that resided on Dawn Island. It was despicable that the innocent suffered for the world's rules and not for the first time did Luffy wish for the World Government burn to the ground and their rules with it. Their corruption and so called righteousness could burn to ashes and scatter into the winds of the sea. Now, more than ever, he wanted to find Ace and bury his face into the man's strong chest and not worry about the world and its atrocities, but Luffy couldn't do that. He didn't do that in Syrup Village and he wasn't going to let it happen here either.

"Zoro." Luffy purred, his lips pulling into a smile when Zoro gave him a wary glance. "How do you feel about picking up that sword and doing a little bounty hunting for me?"

Zoro blinked before his lips formed into a wicked smirk and his eyes burned at the thought of his swords seeing action after so many weeks. "Sure? Why not?"

"Good. That's my man. Now, why don't we find Usopp and Nami? I have a feeling that she knows about our target." Luffy turned to the shocked, but grateful looking barkeep. "Thank you for the drinks and information-"

"No." the barkeep rumbled. "Thank you. For your future service. Nami should be in the Tangerine Groves about this time. You'd best fetch her before Arlong starts prowling."

"Will do. Come on, Zoro, we've got some hunting to do."