I do not own One Piece
It is owned by Oda
I just own this story and OC's
Enjoy!
One Piece: All Scope Adventure Pt.2
It was a nice sunny day. Seagulls were flying in the sky, and a lone sailboat was coming across the ocean.
"What a day!" exclaimed an excitable young man. The young man had raven black hair and large eyes showing his energetic personality. Under his right eye, he had a scar. On his head was a straw hat that the boy proudly wore, a red vest, blue shorts, and sandals. "It's gorgeous!" he declared, raising his arms in the air. His name was Monkey D. Luffy.
"As long as we can stay on this heading, we should reach the Marine Base in no time at all," Luffy's friend commented. The friend was a boy with short pink hair who wore round glasses over his eyes, a white and blue shirt, black pants, and red and white shoes.
"Wow, Coby, you're great out here!" Luffy said. "You mean we're actually gonna reach the place we originally set out for?"
"Of course," Coby stated. "It's nothing. I'm just using the skills that every sailor should have." Luffy just laughed happily in response from where he sat on the front of the ship. "Because at the Marine Base... they're holding the great 'Pirate Hunter', Roronoa Zoro." Coby's voice held one of fear as if he were telling a scary story. "This is the man who's diced up his bounties like an animal bent on carnage. A blood-thirsty beast. He's been called nothing less than a living, breathing demon in human form."
After a while, their small sailboat docked next to Shells town's dock. Once docked, Luffy was the first one off the boat as Coby tied the boat.
"We're here!" Luffy cheered. "The Marine Base city!"
"Yep, finally," Coby nodded.
"You're great, Coby," Luffy commented. "We've reached our destination!"
"Of course," Coby said. "That's the basics of navigation. If you wander around at sea every time, you'll never become a Pirate, Luffy. You should at least find a Navigator to join you."
"All right!" Luffy exclaimed, not hearing what Coby advised him. "Let's go eat!"
Shells Town local restaurant
"Thank you," Kusari Jou smiled at a pair of departing customers. Come again." Shortly after leaving Pelican Island, Jou had been staying in Shells town for almost a month now. His plan was to stay here, get a job, and hopefully make enough money for him to get a ship to sail him over to the Grand Line.
The start of his journey wasn't exactly as glamorous as he imagined, but he had to make do somehow. He managed to obtain a job at a restaurant, waiting tables for customers and also picking up plates so they could be washed and reused later. He had discarded his cardigan and other accessories, only wearing his dark grey T-shirt and an apron. Jou gathered the plates from the now vacant table and placed them on the counter.
"Ririka, here are some more plates," Jou called. Ririka, the restaurant's owner, walked over to gather the plates so she could take them to the kitchen.
"Thank you, Jou." Ririka smiled at him. Could you go gather the plates from the table over there, too?" She pointed toward the table where a boy with a straw hat and another boy with pink hair was seated.
"I'm on it," Jou said smirking.
"By the way, have you seen Rika anywhere?" Ririka asked. "I haven't seen her for a while now. I'm getting worried."
"Not since earlier, I'm afraid," Jou shook his head. "I could go and look for her if you want unless you still need help around here?"
"No, that's fine," Ririka assured. "The other waiters and I can handle everything around here. Go find Rika, please?"
"If you're sure, then okay," Jou nodded. As soon as I get the plates from that table, I'll find her and tell her to come back here."
"Thank you, Jou," Ririka smiled. "Really, thank you. I appreciate you and Rika really likes you. You've been a lot of help, especially since all the other waiters for the restaurant quit because of the Marine Captain's son."
"Yeah..." Jou muttered remembering that so-called Marine Captain's son. The guy had a very punchable face, the kind that Jou hated. "I'll find Rika as soon as I get those plates."
Jou was grateful to Ririka. He really needed a job, so he asked Ririka if he could work for her restaurant. Thankfully, she was nice enough to let him since a lot of her workers quit due to being afraid of the Marine Captain's son or the Captain himself. Throughout his time working here, Rika, Ririka's daughter had grown quite attached to Jou. At first, she was nervous around him, but he showed her there was nothing to be worried about and she opened up to him and Jou enjoyed spending time with the young girl since she reminded him of Dot. He made his way over to the Straw hat boy's table and started taking their leftover plates.
"Hey, there," Jou said. "Enjoy the food?"
"Yep!" the Straw-hatted boy claimed while grinning with a pat on his stomach. "It was tasty!"
"I'm sure it was," Jou replied. "I don't think I've ever seen someone as thin as you scarf down 10 plates of food."
"I must've eaten a lot, too," the pink-haired boy said with an embarrassed blush.
"Don't worry about it," Jou smiled. "Glad you enjoyed it. And come again." Jou took the plates, discarded his apron, and left the restaurant to go and look for Rika. As soon as Jou left, Luffy was thinking about how he was going to find Zoro, he might have figured out where could find him.
"Say, I wonder if Zoro is still being kept at the Marines' base?" Luffy mentioned aloud. At this point, tables were flipped, and plates of food went flying. Luffy and Coby looked in the direction of the customers freaking out from just overhearing Zoro's name being said out loud.
"Looks like we can't just yell out the name 'Zoro'?" Coby whispered aside to Luffy. "I just saw a notice on the streets, there's someone called Captain Morgan at the Marine Base-"
As Coby mentioned, the entire restaurant went bonkers when Coby mentioned Captain Morgan of the Shells Town Marine Base.
Jou was walking around town while looking around for Rika. He walked past a lot of people in the market district. With how many there are on the street, that just told him that there were plenty of people in town today. He hopes it won't be too hard to find a little girl through everyone. He didn't need to look very far, since finally, he found the young girl, carrying a ladder underneath her arm and holding a cloth that was wrapped over something.
"There you are, Rika," Jou said putting a hand on his hip. "I've been looking for you."
Rika turned her head. She's a cute, young girl with dark eyes and brown hair that was put into two pigtails. She wears a striped, turquoise, long purple shirt with a white hood. Her face brightened into a happy smile.
"Jou!" Rika exclaimed. "What are you doing here? I thought you were helping Mommy today?"
"Your mom gave me time off..." Jou stated. "But only so I can find you." Jou looked at the ladder and cloth in her hands. "It looks to me like you're up to something, aren't you?" Jou figured out where Rika was off to. "You're going to the Marine Base, right?" Rika frowned as she put her head down.
"Yeah, I'm going to bring some food over to 'him', Rika mentioned. "You saw what happened? He protected me, and I just want to do something nice for him."
"Hmm?" Jou hummed. He knew who she was referring to. Jou wished he could've done more to help that day, but someone else stepped in before he could interfere. But it was nice that Rika just wanted to show her gratitude, so who was he to deny her of that. "Alright, I'll come with you. Let me carry the ladder."
"Thank you, Jou!" Rika smiled and handed Jou the ladder. Let's go." She kept hold of the cloth she was carrying and pointed toward the Marine Base.
"So, what's wrapped up in there?" Jou wondered.
"Rice balls," Rika claimed with a smile.
"Really?" Jou smirked. "Mind if I try one?"
"No," Rika quickly shook her head. "I made them for him!"
"Alright, I hear you..." Jou said, putting his hand in his pocket. "Worth a shot," he stated with a shrug of his shoulders.
"But I could make some for you later!" Rika smiled letting out a small giggle.
"I look forward to it," Jou remarked.
"This town is such a weird place!" Luffy commented laughing. He found it amusing how the town freaks out by only hearing Zoro's or the Marine Captain's names. But unlike Luffy, Coby was confused as to why the people were acting like that when it came to the Captain.
"That was odd," Coby said. "I understand if they're scared of Zoro but why did they flip when I mentioned the Marine Captain's name? I don't know. I got a bad feeling about this."
"Maybe they were all just jumping around for the fun of it," Luffy hypothesized in his own way.
"And how would that make any sense!" Coby asked Luffy.
After a bit of walking, the two finally reached the Marine Base, which was just at the edge of town. The building was a large blue building bigger than any structure in Shells town, with a stone fence all the way around it.
"This looks like the place," Luffy commented.
"I made it..." Coby stated as he cried in disbelief since his dream was to become a Marine. This is where you and I part ways, Luffy." Coby cried in his arm as tears continued to leak out of his eyes. We didn't have long together, but..." Coby finally looked up and saw Luffy clambering on the stone wall around the base.
"Where's the foothold?" Luffy wondered as he was trying to get a good footing on the wall.
"Get down from there!" Coby frantically warned while waving his arms around. "Get down from there! They'll see you!" Luffy never paid Coby any attention.
"Now, where's this demon?" Luffy wondered as looked around for Zoro.
"They wouldn't keep him out in the open," Coby stated. "Probably tucked in a prison cell below ground."
"There he is!" Luffy claimed as he spotted Zoro and hopped off the wall. "I'm gonna get closer!" Right in the front of the Marine Base's building, with his arms tied, was a lone man. "Coby, look!" Coby had climbed up the wall next to Luffy.
"I'm telling you he's not-" Coby said until his eyes widened.
That hood on his head... and a haramaki... Coby thought as he realized. It's Roronoa Zoro.
Roronoa Zoro wore a bandana on his head, his hair seemingly light green. He wore a white T-shirt tucked into a haramaki around his midsection, dark green pants, and black boots. He was pretty much in the middle of the base's front yard, arms bound with ropes on a crucifix.
"If we untie those ropes he can just walk away," Luffy declared with a smile.
"Oh, don't be such an idiot, Luffy!" Coby yelled with shark teeth. "There's no telling what a bandit like him will do if you let him go! He might just kill us both!?"
"Don't worry, I'm strong," Luffy remarked proudly. "I can protect us."
He's lost his mind!? Coby thought with tears in his eyes.
"Hey, you two..." Zoro called to Luffy and Coby. The latter screamed in fear since Zoro had noticed them. "You're an eyesore." He raised his head and opened his eyes toward their direction. "Get lost."
"Luffy, trust me!" Coby screamed as he waved his arms frightfully. "There's no chance you'll survive with someone like him on your crew!"
Without the two realizing it, Jou and Rika arrived at the wall themselves. Jou propped the ladder up, allowing Rika to climb up it so she could get over to the wall. She clambered up the ladder as Jou jumped to take a spot on the wall.
"Are you ready?" Jou asked her.
"Mmhm!" she nodded.
"Okay, be careful," Jou smiled.
"I will," Rika said smiling back. She turned her head to look at Luffy and Coby. She put a finger to her lips and shushed them for them to be quiet. She takes a quick look around, checking if she spotted any Marines. Rika threw a rope over the wall which allowed her to safely land on the other side. Coby screamed as Rika landed on the ground and started running over to Zoro.
"Luffy, we gotta stop her. She'll be killed!" Coby stated. "By the Marines or the Demon himself!" he looked at Jou. "And you! Aren't you the guy from the restaurant? How can you let that little girl go in there? Are you crazy!?" Jou looked over at Luffy and Coby, who were staring at him.
"I didn't think I'd see you guys again so soon," Jou said. "It'll be fine. Just calm down and just watch. Nothing bad is going to happen." Rika stopped in front of Zoro, beaming a kind smile at him as she held her rice balls close to her chest.
"What do you want?" Zoro asked sounding annoyed.
"I thought you may be getting hungry now," Rika said. "So, I made you a couple of rice balls." She unwrapped the food in her hands.
"You got a death wish, kid?" Zoro wondered. "Just scram."
"But you haven't eaten anything the whole time you've been tied up," Rika reasoned as she presented the snack to Zoro. "Here, I never really made them before, but I did my best, so I think they're fine." Zoro was astounded by the young girl wanting to give him food, but he knew she'd be in danger if he didn't tell her to get away from him.
"Listen, kid!" Zoro yelled. "I'm not hungry! Now, stop irritating me and get outta here!"
"But..."
"Do not make me kick your ass, little girl!"
"Now, now," said a new voice walking in through the gate. "No one likes a bully." Zoro glared at the new individual who walked with a Marine escort. It was a young blonde man with a mushroom-styled haircut; he was wearing a purple suit, a pink undershirt, and white shoes. This man was named Helmeppo, everyone knew him as Captain Morgan's since he would announce it everywhere he went. "Roronoa Zoro, you seem to be handling this well. Don't you agree?"
"Hey, look," Luffy said. "Now there's another weird guy."
"That's great," Coby remarked with relief. "He must be with the Marines. Now, we know the girl will be safe."
Jou was glaring harshly at the Helmeppo with his fist clenched. He had every reason to be angry toward this bastard. He was the reason why Zoro was tied up there in the first place.
"This jackass," Jou muttered loud enough for Luffy and Coby to hear. Helmeppo saw the rice balls that Rika was holding.
"Looky," Helmeppo said. "Some tasty rice balls." he quickly scooped one up in his hands and put it in his mouth.
"That's not for you!" Rika declared. The taste finally set in for the blonde man, and his eyes widened in surprise.
"Bleuaagh!" he screamed. "Too sweet! They're packed with sugar! You're supposed to use salt, you idiot! Salt!"
"But, I..." Rika replied sadly. "I thought they'd taste better sweet."
"Gimme that!" Helmeppo grabbed the remaining rice ball from Rika, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it until it was ruined in the mud.
"No, stop!" Rika pleaded as the blonde man kept stamping the now mud-covered treat.
"That's just awful," Coby noted as he felt bad for Rika. Jou had half a mind just to jump in there and beat the ever-living hell out of Helmeppo for doing that to poor Rika. Rika was only staring at the destroyed rice ball with tears in her eyes.
"But, I..." she choked. "Worked so hard to make those."
"Too bad," Helmeppo commented. "You must have not read the notice that was posted." He pulled a piece of parchment out of his pocket. Those who assist criminals in any way will be executed. Signed, Marine Captain Morgan." He laughed as he saw Rika's look of despair. "It seems even little brats fear my daddy."
"His daddy?" Luffy repeated.
"So that guy's father is Captain Morgan?" Coby wondered aloud.
"You..." Helmeppo pointed at a Marine. "Toss this kid out right now." the Marine seemed confused and didn't want to follow the order. "I said to throw her over the wall, soldier! Now, if you won't follow my orders! I'll tell my father!"
"Yessir!" the Marine fearfully nodded his head. "I'll do it!" he approached Rika and went to grab her causing the girl to scream. "Sorry about this. Try curling up into a ball."
From the Marine's toss, Rika went soaring over the wall, screaming in fear. Luffy was about to reach for her using his powers, but Jou beat him to it. Jou kicked off the wall, used Fade-Step, and appeared in the air to catch Rika in his arms. He fell onto the ground right on his back. Luffy and Coby were both amazed by what Jou just did.
"Woah, he's fast," Luffy commented.
"T-That was insane!" Coby noted. "He was just right next to us, then he appeared in the air just so he could catch the little girl. We should go check on them." Both Jou and Rika leaned up as the young girl smiled at him.
"Thanks, Jou!" she thanked him.
"Anytime," Jou smiled back.
"You guys alright?" Luffy asked as he and Coby ran over to check on them.
"We're fine," Jou answered. "Thanks for asking."
"Hey, are you two okay?" Coby asked as he quickly ran to check on them, with Luffy following. "Little girl, are you alright? I can't believe how wretched a person he is. Now, where are you hurt? Anywhere?" Luffy placed a hand on his straw hat as he looked toward the Marine base.
"Hahahaha!" Helmeppo chuckled in response. "You're just deadset on staying alive, aren't you?"
"That's right," Zoro avowed. "I'm going to make it through the month without any problems."
"Right?" mocked Helmeppo. "Good luck with that!" he continued guffawing as he walked away with the two Marines he brought with him in tow.
"Only 10 days left!" Zoro reminded.
"Oh, you'll still assume you'll make it to the end of those 10 days!" the blonde replied while continuing his laughter. Coby was still checking to see if Rika was alright.
"How can that man be so cruel?" Coby wondered. "Luffy?" Coby turned away from Rika to look and see where Luffy ran off. "What the!? Where did he go!?" Coby looked toward Jou. "Hey, did you see where he went?"
"Probably back over the wall," Jou pointed.
"Huh?" Coby mouthed. Jou turned his attention back to Rika.
"Rika, you should go back to your mom," Jou stated.
"Okay, but what about you?" Rika asked. "Aren't you coming?"
"I'll be right behind you," Jou stated. "Don't worry and go, alright." Jou looked at Coby. "You, what's your name?"
"M-Me!?" Coby stammered. "It's Coby. My name is Coby."
"Alright, Coby..." Jou said. "Make sure she gets back to her mother. She can show you the way." Jou stood up and started walking toward the wall. During this time, Luffy had approached the tied-up Zoro from behind the wall.
"So, I hear you're a bad guy?" Luffy asked Zoro.
"Are you still here?" Zoro questioned.
"You're stuck out here for all the world to see and nothing," Luffy stated. "Are you really all that strong?"
"Mind your own business!" Zoro yelled. Jou, who hopped over the wall, started to make his way over to the two. Zoro looked up and saw Jou, remembering him. "Oh, it's you again."
"Yeah, good to see you, too," Jou stated. "Though, I wish it were under better circumstances and not when you're just tied up here."
"Yeah, whatever," Zoro grunted.
"Do you two know each other?" Luffy asked Jou.
"You can say that," Jou answered Luffy.
"How long has he been here?" Luffy questioned.
"For three weeks," Jou mentioned.
"That long?" Luffy wondered with a smirk and looked at Zoro. "If I were you, I'd probably starve to death."
"Is that a fact?" Jou smiled at the kid next to him.
"I've got more spirit than you could ever have," Zoro claimed and smirked at the two before him. "Which is how I'm gonna survive this ordeal. This, I swear."
Jou was very impressed that Zoro managed to hold out for this long without food. And judging by the bruises on his face, it also meant that the blonde jackass has the Marines take turns beating up Zoro. But Jou was sure that despite what was happening to the green-haired swordsman, he was going to uphold the deal he had made just a few weeks ago.
"Ha!" Luffy gave a short laugh. "What a weirdo." Luffy was about to leave when Zoro spoke again.
"Could one of you pick that up for me?" Zoro was motioning his eyes toward the ruined rice ball covered in mud.
"You're gonna eat this?" Luffy said as he knelt to inspect it. "Cause it's mostly a ball of mud."
"Shut up and give it to me! Now!" Zoro shouted.
"If that's what he wants," Jou commented as he accumulated the pieces of the destroyed rice ball. "Here you go. Eat up."
Jou threw the 'food' in Zoro's mouth as the swordsman started to chew and swallow through all the mud. He choked and gagged on the destroyed 'treat' but managed to down it.
"You should've listened to me," Luffy said in an 'I told you so' tone, arms folded.
"It was good," Zoro muttered. "Thanks for the food."
"And people say you're a demon," Jou remarked. "But you're a good guy, huh?"
"Shut up," Zoro growled as he averted his eyes away from Luffy and Jou, who just smiled at him. The two left the Marine Base together. Luffy and Jou were walking through the town, and Jou asked Luffy why he was even here at Shells Town. Jou turned his head to look at Luffy. He was a kid, most likely younger than him, and Jou wasn't too much older.
"Really?" Jou said. You're here to recruit Zoro into your Pirate crew?" He didn't take Luffy for a Pirate. He didn't really look the type, but then again, neither did his mother, but that's a different story. Luffy seemed forthright about mentioning his Pirate crew and serious about even starting one.
"Yep," Luffy simply declared. "Though, I haven't decided on letting him join yet."
"I see," Jou replied. "We met at the restaurant, but I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Kusari Jou, but I let people just call me Jou."
"Nice to meet you," Luffy grinned. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy."
"Nice to meet you too, Luffy," Jou smiled back. "So, you're starting a Pirate crew. That's great. What do you plan on doing once you get your crew started?"
"When I get a few members for my crew, I'm going to the Grand Line," Luffy said.
"The Grand Line, huh?" Jou said. The Grand Line is where Jou heads to himself to find the All Scope. He needs to make enough money to get a ship to take him there. "What will you do in Grand Line, if you don't mind me asking?"
"To be the King of the Pirates," Luffy declared, still with a wide grin.
"What!?" Jou asked dumbfoundedly as he and the straw hat stopped walking. "Really? You, King of the Pirates? Then, if you're going to try to become the next Pirate King, then that means you're going to look for the One Piece."
"Yep!" Luffy exclaimed.
"And you're sure you are gonna do that?"
"Yep!"
"Certain?"
"Yep!"
Jou had to wonder if this kid was brave or just downright dumb or both. He was planning on going to the Grand Line to go after the legendary treasure that pretty much every Pirate on the seas was looking for. But when Jou thought about it, he was probably just as dumb. He was planning on going to the Grand Line to search for something that perhaps doesn't exist and it was just as tricky as finding the One Piece. So, who was he to judge Luffy if he wanted to find the One Piece?
"Well..." Jou said. "If you say you can find it, I wish you luck, Luffy."
"Thanks!" Luffy laughed giddily.
"I'm actually on the way to the Grand Line myself," Jou said, which he thought wouldn't hurt to mention. "I'm actually going there to look for something."
"Yeah?" Luffy asked, sounding interested. "What for?"
"Well, I'm looking for..." Jou stopped himself from saying anymore. He was close to mentioning the All Scope to Luffy. Jou stopped because he believed that this kid would laugh at him for wanting to find it, just like all the other people who did when Jou brought it up as a child. He remembered the faces of the other kids and adults who would laugh in his face. Luffy's dream of finding the One Piece seemed much crazier than his, but who's to say he's any different since Jou barely even knows Luffy? "Never mind."
"Hmm?" Luffy hummed in confusion. "What's wrong?" he wondered why Jou would even stop what he was going to say.
"Come on," Jou continued walking. "We're almost at the restaurant."
"Really!?" Rika's excited voice was heard inside the restaurant.
"That's right," Luffy said. "He ate every last grain of rice there was," he claimed with a smile.
"That's great!" Rika smiled.
Jou, who was waiting tables at the restaurant, was listening in on their conversation. Rika's smile was enough to bring a slight grin to his face. He remembered how devastated she was when Helmeppo crushed her rice balls into the mud. So, it was nice of Zoro to want still to eat it even when it was covered in dirt. While listening, he set a plate of food in front of a young woman with orange hair and brown eyes. She wore a white and blue striped shirt, a yellow skirt with two white circles on either side of her hips, and brown boots.
"Here you are, miss," Jou said. "Enjoy."
"Thank you," the girl nodded with a smile. Jou brought his eyes back to the conversation Luffy and Coby were having with Rika.
"I wonder if Zoro is really as evil as everyone thinks that he is?" Coby chimed as he only stared down at the table.
"He's not!" Rika claimed as she looked down. "He's good. Because he got himself punished. For us." The way Rika was talking sounded like she wasn't giving Luffy and Coby the full story of why Zoro was tied up at the Marine Base.
"You're making no sense," Luffy stated since Rika wasn't giving them the whole story.
"Sorry," Rika apologized. "It's that dumb Helmeppo. He's the son of Captain Morgan."
[Flashback]
"Step aside! Step aside!" Helmeppo shouted at the townspeople. "Make way for my beautiful pet, doggy!" as Helmeppo walked through town with his Marine escort, a dangerous-looking grey wolf was walking in front of Helmeppo, growling and barking at every civilian it looked at as the people screamed in horror when seeing the animal. "Anyone who doesn't move, I'll have executed! Hahahahaha!"
The wolf burst right through the restaurant doors. Everyone became startled when they saw the wolf. Rika, who was gathering a plate from a table, let out a short shriek in fear. Jou, who was setting a plate down on a table, saw all the commotion from through the front door.
"What the hell...?" Jou muttered as his eyes glared. The wolf started eating the food off of a customer's plate. The people were still frightened by the wolf's presence.
Rika picked up a broom and started swinging it at the wolf. "Stop it! You mean old thing!"
"You, little girl!" Helmeppo said. "Is there some kind of problem with how my beloved dog is behaving!"
"Rika, put it down!" Ririka warned her daughter. "You don't want to get us in trouble!" Helmeppo only snorted and laughed at the scene before as his 'dog' turned its attention on Rika and dashed to attack her with a howl.
"Rika!" Jou shouted. He was about to use Fade-Step so he could protect the young girl from getting hurt. But thankfully, someone was there to prevent that. A bar stool hit the wolf from under its chin, causing it to fall to the floor. Helmeppo screamed in alarm from his wolf getting knocked down to the ground by the stranger at the counter.
"Who the hell are you!?" Helmeppo shouted as he soon realized just who the stranger was. "Wait? You're him! It's you!"
Jou ran over to Rika to check if the little girl was alright. "Are you okay, Rika? You're not hurt, are you?"
"N-No, I'm fine..." Rika claimed as wiped her eyes.
"Glad to hear that," Jou smiled. "Go over to your mom, okay?"
Rika nodded and ran over to her mother. Helmeppo, with his sword still pointed at the stranger, shuffled a bit closer to him, getting a good look at who he was talking to.
"You're the 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro!" Helmeppo said. "What is a pirate hunter doing defying the Marines, huh!?"
"Can it, and let me finish my meal in peace? " Zoro asked as he continued eating his food.
Helmeppo has had it at this point. He screamed when he swung his saber to attack Zoro. Zoro effortlessly dodged the sudden attack as the sword hit the counter. Zoro swiftly kicked the sword out of Helmeppo's hand as it flew up and lodged into the ceiling. Zoro then followed up with a punch across Helmeppo's face, knocking him into the bar counter. Zoro pointed one of his katana near Helmeppo's face, causing the blonde man to scream in fear.
"You're getting on my nerves, pal," Zoro declared darkly. "You and that precious mutt of yours."
Jou walked up next to Zoro with his arms crossed over his chest. "He made a big mistake," Jou commented. "Especially when he brought that ugly, flea-ridden beast he called a 'dog' in here." Jou knelt to Helmeppo's level. "I say you leave and forget this ever happened, but I'm sure he has other ideas if you don't," Jou mentioned, looking up at Zoro. "Your 'dog' tried to attack a friend of mine..." Jou spoke about Rika as he placed his hand hard on the bar counter next to Helmeppo's face, causing the blonde to flinch in fear of being hit. "So, I wouldn't mind breaking a few of your bones myself," Jou remarked, clenching his fist tightly.
Helmeppo felt afraid now. He gulped as he had two men threatening him. It should never have to be this way for someone like him. He nervously looked to his side and laughed as a slight grin etched onto his face.
"You do realize..." Helmeppo started. "If my dad finds out about this...? He'll surely execute the girl and her mother."
Jou's eyes glared at him. "And why the hell would he do that?" Jou asked. "You're the one who came in here starting trouble. As far as I know, they're innocent. They've done nothing wrong."
"You work in this restaurant as well, don't you?" Helmeppo asked, smirking. "You'll be executed alongside them. Especially since you just threatened me."
Jou's eyes widened as his eyes locked on Rika and Ririka. There was no way out of this one. He didn't think anything like this would happen on his journey. He couldn't let it end like this, first and foremost for the mother and daughter who let him work in their restaurant. He sighed as he stood up, clenching his fist.
"There has to be a catch," Jou said. "You seem like you have something in mind?"
"I have something of a proposition for Roronoa Zoro," Helmeppo mentioned as he stood up from the counter looking at Zoro. "So, what do you say between a little deal between men? In place of the kid, her mom, and the waiter, we string you up instead. For, say, one month."
"What?" Jou questioned. "That's your deal? How will we even know you'll follow through with your deal?"
"I'm a man of my word," Helmeppo assured. "If Zoro survives that one month, then I'll be so nice as to let him live, too? What do you say?" he asked Zoro.
Jou looked at Zoro's expression. His expression was serious. Now, Jou is pretty good at reading people when it comes to their faces. But right now, it was hard to tell if Zoro would do Helmeppo's deal. If Zoro didn't want to do it, Jou believed he might have to step in and do it himself since he's thankful for Rika and Ririka's help in letting him work at the restaurant.
"Sound fair?" Helmeppo still wanted Zoro's answer. Jou was about to suggest himself, but it took Zoro a moment to make his own decision.
"Then one month it is," Zoro avowed as he dropped his sword, letting the tip get lodged in the floor.
The deal had been made.
"It's been three weeks since then," Jou mentioned as he joined the conversation mid-story.
"Helmeppo keeps punching him and kicking him while he's tied up," Rika brought up. "He's being so unfair! I don't know how to help him!" Rika put her face in her hands and bawled into them.
"Hey, hey..." Jou softly said as he knelt to Rika's level. "I'm sure you're doing all you can. You brought him food, knowing it would get you into trouble. If that's not helping him, then I don't know what is." Rika ran into Jou, putting her face in his chest as Jou put his arms around her shoulders. "It's going to be alright, Rika. Zoro is going to be alright. I promise." Rika only continued to sob in Jou's chest.
"I see why you're upset," Coby said sadly. Helmeppo had arrived at the restaurant with two marines following after him and made himself comfortable at one of the tables, putting his foot on top of it.
"I'm hungry!" Helmeppo announced. "Bring us whatever you got and keep the check for yourself!" the blonde man chuckled. "And bring me a bottle of your finest moonshine or whatever crap you serve!" he demanded. "And put some speed to it, lady! I don't have all day!" Ririka had no choice but to do what Helmeppo said and poured him a glass of wine. "That's more like it!"
Luffy walked right up to Helmeppo without the blonde noticing him. Jou slowly followed behind the straw hat as Helmeppo kept talking.
"I'm trying to think of something interesting to do, seeing as how I'm bored out of my skull here," Helmeppo added. "I suppose I could execute Zoro! Hahahahaha!"
Execute him!? Jou thought as he angrily clenched his fist. I knew this jackass wasn't going to keep his end of the bargain he made!
Luffy, hearing Helmeppo's statement ran at him and punched him right across the face. Helmeppo's face hit the wall from the force of Luffy's attack.
"Y-You just hit me!" Helmeppo shrieked at Luffy with tears in his eyes.
"Luffy, no!" Coby warned as he restrains Luffy's arms in a lock with his own. "You can't hit him!"
"This guy is scum!" Luffy growled at Helmeppo.
"You actually hit me!?" Helmeppo yelled at Luffy. "I am Captain Morgan's son, you know!"
"Yeah, like I care!" Luffy retorted.
"You'll care after he executes you for this!" Helmeppo mentioned. Jou approached the whining blonde, mushroom-haired man. Helmeppo let out a shriek of surprise as Jou lifted the whiny, little man by his shirt, pressing him against the wall. "Let me go! You'll be in big trouble if you-"
"I don't give a rat's ass what you do to me!" Jou growled. "Even after you made a deal with Zoro, you're still going to execute him!" Jou's glare was enough to put fear into Helmeppo's eyes. "I should've known. Spinless cowards like you always try to weasel out of a deal when things aren't going the way you want them, huh? I have half a mind to beat some sense into you but that wouldn't get me anywhere, now would it?"
Jou tossed Helmeppo outside of the restaurant, with him screaming as he flew out the door. He ran from where he got up off the ground, followed by the 2 Marines with him. Jou placed his hands on his hips and breathed out. He turned around and looked at all the customers inside the restaurant. They looked at him with indifferent expressions. Jou assumed they might be wary or maybe scared of him. His eyes landed on Rika and Ririka, and he hoped they wouldn't think differently of him because of what he had just done.
"Jou..." Coby said. "You might be in big trouble now. You and Luffy, now the Marines might be after you both."
"I've made up my mind," Luffy announced, clenching his fist.
"Luffy...?" Coby looked toward Luffy.
"Today, Zoro joins my crew," Luffy stated.
"That means you're going to get him out of the Marine Base, aren't you?" Jou asked.
"Yeah," Luffy nodded.
"Then I'm coming with you," Jou declared. "I'll help you get Zoro out of the base. No one deserves to be just outright killed like that."
"But, what the-!" Coby squeaked out. "Jou, you might be branded a criminal if you help Luffy. You might have to leave the town, too."
"I'm willing to take that chance," Jou answered. "So, Luffy, what do you say? Can I come?"
"Sure, Jou," Luffy smirked. "You can help."
"Perfect," Jou smiled back. "Give me a second to run and get a few things. Don't worry, you won't regret letting me help. I have a few skills to help us get Zoro out of there."
Jou and Luffy were on their way down to the Marine Base. Jou was no longer wearing his apron, he was now wearing his cardigan, his black fingerless, his telescope, and his throwing knives, both hanging from his belt on his left and right hips, respectively. On either of his wrists were his chains. His red steel chain and his typical steel chain. Jou noticed Luffy gaze at him, staring down at his chains.
"Hey, if you're worried about my combat ability, you don't need to worry," Jou assured. "I've been training ever since I was a kid."
"Don't worry, I wasn't worried about that," Luffy commented. "Do you fight with those chains? I've never seen anyone fight like that before."
"Everyone's got their own way of fighting," Jou said, raising his arms. "Fighting with these is mine. My mother trained me. She said if I ever went out to sea one day, I need to know how to protect myself."
"Is she strong?" Luffy wondered.
"She was very strong," Jou stated. "She's the reason why I'm out in the first place. My mom was the strongest person I knew when I was a kid."
"Was...?" Luffy said. "Why do you keep saying 'was'?"
"She's dead," Jou mentioned as she looked down at the ground; he scratched the back of his head and cleared his throat. "Anyway, before she passed away, I promised to go to sea and find what she was looking for. What she was looking for is in the Grand Line, and I intend to find it, no matter what."
Luffy could tell Jou seemed serious about finding whatever it was he was looking for. He's got a dream, a goal similar to his. Luffy is the same way; he wants to find the One Piece no matter what. He may have intended to recruit Zoro into his crew, but he also found another possible shipmate to join up. Now, it was a matter of asking, the only way Luffy knew how.
"Hey," Luffy said to get Jou's attention.
"What's up?" Jou wondered.
"Join my crew," Luffy said.
What Luffy had just asked made Jou stop in his tracks. He only stared at the Straw hat and didn't even know where to begin what Luffy had just said. Jou and Luffy had just met, and he just asked him something he didn't expect to hear when he woke up this morning.
"I'm sorry to stop here..." Jou said. "But, I don't think I heard you clearly. What did you ask me?"
"I said join my crew," Luffy repeated. "I want you to join my pirate crew."
"You want me to join you and become a Pirate?" Jou asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Luffy nodded. "You're going to the Grand Line. And I'm going to the Grand Line. That way, you can go and look for whatever your mom was searching for. How about it? Do you wanna?"
Jou thought about his options. He's going with Luffy to break Zoro out of the Marine Base so he doesn't get executed and join Luffy's crew. Jou, doing this, knows that he may have to leave the town or be arrested by the Marines if he stays. He plans to leave by himself and hopefully get a boat to take him to the next island. If he joins Luffy's crew, he'll become a Pirate, which wasn't what he had in mind when he decided to take on this voyage. Being a Pirate couldn't be so bad, his Mom and Vic were Pirates so he wouldn't mind becoming one. Luffy seemed like a good guy, especially for not wanting Zoro to be killed outright. But, he couldn't decide to automatically because Luffy simply wants it to happen.
"I can't," Jou finally said. "I can't join your crew."
"Why not?" Luffy questioned.
"I..." Jou began to say but sighed. "Look, we should hurry. Zoro might be executed soon. We'll talk about joining your crew later, okay?"
"Yeah!" Luffy grinned. "First, I'll get Zoro to join, and then you'll join."
"I never decided anything," Jou deadpanned. "Let's get a move on."
Not much happened in this chapter. I had to think of a way for Jou's involvement in this arc. Him being a waiter at the local restaurant was what I thought up of. Well, that's what I put in my notes and plans for the story so I went with it.
Now, Luffy initially did go to Shells Town to seek out Zoro. I hope the way Luffy asked Jou to join his crew doesn't come off as forced to some of you. Jou will eventually come clean with what he's on a journey for and will decide to join Luffy's crew next chapter.
Jou: I mean, I'm obviously going to join anyway. Everybody can see it a mile away.
Yeah, yeah. But you haven't decided on joining yet. I also hope in some scenes it didn't feel I was just randomly tossing Jou in there or felt like Luffy was out of character.
Anyway, reviews...
Drakedragon297:
Jou: I'm not one to toot my own horn, but I feel I've always been awesome. Though, according to my author, I'll probably be even more awesome in this version of the story.
I hope it wasn't too quick how he met Luffy. I don't know, it depends on what other people think about that. I'm glad I made you feel better, Drake.
Jou: Frustration is the worst. My author goes through at times, too.
You didn't need to mention that, you moron!
pokemonking0924: And that's what I was going for. I thought it would be nice for me to show off what Jou's mother was like as a person. Rather than just show her death as soon as she's shown in the previous story. Yep, Jou's new ability is 'Fade Step' which just the Shave/Soru technique from CP9. Honestly, at first, I didn't know how the move worked. I literally thought they were just teleporting but after some research(which I am glad I looked up) it was actually the person moving much faster than a normal person.
Jou: I'm fast now! I got a need for speed!
Though, Jou's version of it currently is much weaker. Soon, I will show just how many times Jou can perform Fade Step(Shave) technique since I don't want him coming off as over-powered.
Oh, and about Rana. I will confirm that she is in the story. I would hate to just drop her from this rewrite. I actually really liked her as a character, so I'm definitely going to show her off again once Loguetown rolls around.
StormSlitner: I mean, there are a lot of characters in One Piece besides Katakuri, like Arlong and Hody Jones(though they're fishmen).
Jou: Still though, who the hell names their kid 'Sharptooth'? That's like someone calling themselves 'Taser Face' like that guy from Guardians of the Galaxy 2.
Jou? Were watching my movies again?
Jou: I might've been...
Johannvanguard: Glad you liked it. I really wanted to Jou to have people back at his home island who root for him like how most of the Straw Hat's have at the island or place they're from. I thought it'd be a fun idea if Jou had a pair of adopted siblings and a dog back home.
Okay, that's all I have for this second one. I'll see if I can get the next chapter out probably a day or two from now, we'll see.
Jou: We'll see, he says. Probably be out a week later.
Shut up! Besides, I already have the thing pretty much written out.
Anyway, I'll see you guys next time!
Jou: Next time and same place, everyone!
Later!