Chapter 28

Zoro was feeling tired of waiting for a month to pass. He didn't like to stay here but he had a promise to keep. If he doesn't do this, Rika would be in danger. Tied up in the cross, smelly, stinky and starved, Zoro heard voices. He lifted his head and found two heads popping up from the wall and looking at him.

"Hey! You!" Zoro said with a grin, which came out to be intimating. But he didn't care. "Could you please come here and untie me?" He spoke. He really want to release his muscles. They were too tense for his liking. "I've been tied up for 9 days and I'm exhausted."

"Look he is smiling!" The Strawhat boy said to the pink haired one who ducked lower.

"He..! He talked!" The pink haired boy, who looked like a scaredy cat yelped.

"I'll repay you. I could hunt down a fugitive and give you the rewards. I'm not lying. I'll keep my word." He saw the straw hatted boy about to come over to him, when the pink haired started warning him.

"Don't do it, Luffy! Don't be tricked by his words. If you free him, he'll kill us and escape!" The pink haired boy warned and Zoro felt a headache coming through. He really wanted to be left lose, at least for a minute.

"He can't kill me 'cause I'm strong too." Zoro snorted at the word of the teen. He really looked like a pre-teen with his face. All those baby fat and big doe eyes made him look more younger. If Zoro had to guess by seeing the teen's face, he would say he is at least 14 and the boy beside him must be 15 or 16.

But before the teen could come over to him, a ladder was placed beside them and Rika, the little girl, came up and shushed them. She peeked around the courtyard, and once she found that the coast was clear she hung a rope down using it to climb down the other side of the wall. Once she was down, she began running towards him, which made the pink haired brat freak out.

Zoro watched as the girl, carrying something wrapped in a paper approached him. He ignored the yells of the pink haired boy trying to warn Rika.

"What are you doing here?" Zoro asked in an angry voice. He didn't want Rika to stay here even for a minute. What if a marine came up and punished her? He is tied up and he can't get free of the ropes holding him to protect the little girl. And he couldn't leave it on the teens on the wall to be of any help.

.

Coby was freaking out at the sight of the Pirate Hunter shouting at the little girl. He didn't want the girl to be dead. But one look on Luffy said to just watch and not act.

"Why don't you do it yourself?" Luffy asked when he asked him to save the girl.

Coby was scared and he couldn't move. He watched as the girl offer onigiri to The Pirate Hunter, only for the swordsman to yell at her to go away. Then a young man in a suit and two marines came in.

"He must be someone important. Thank goodness. The girl is safe now," Coby breaths a sigh of relief.

But the worst thing he saw was the blonde man stepping on the food prepared by the girl and stomping it. It was so cruel. That girl had worked so hard to make them and was crying now.

Coby looked at Zoro who was growling at the Captain's son. Then looked at Luffy who was watching everything with his hat shadowing his eyes. The air felt heavy and cold. And then the worst thing happened, that blonde man ordered the marines to throw the little girl over the wall.

He was too shocked to do anything, but luckily, Luffy caught the girl. Coby snapped out of his shock, and went to check over her.

"Coby," Luffy spoke in a calm voice. "Take her to her house." Coby nodded without waiting.

.

Luffy jumped over the wall and walked to Zoro, who looked at him with eyes filled with anger, but he knew that behind the anger was worry for the little girl. Behind the anger was a flame burning in his heart.

"You still haven't left?" Zoro asked after finding his voice. When he met the teen's eyes, he stilled. It was the moment when he felt the vast power hidden behind the scrawny baby look of the teenager standing in front of him. Those eyes looked as if they were looking into his soul, reading each story of Zoro's life, without judgement but just curiosity.

Zoro was about to avert his eyes from the big brown eyes, when he saw them flicker to gold and red. Zoro's breath caught in the throat. Last he had heard no one could change the color of their irises. He blinked his eyes to look clearly, but the golden-red irises were no where to be seen.

'It must be the sunlight.' Zoro tried to calm his fast beating heart.

Zoro looked at the teen in front of him, who was grinning widely. "Yo! I'm Luffy. If I loosen up the ropes, then you're gonna join my pirate crew, ok?"

Zoro raised his eyebrows. Why would he want to be a pirate? "Pirate? Heh! So you gave up on life and became a crook, huh?" The one person whom he felt worthy of being his opponent was asking him to be a pirate. What a joke!

"It's my dream!" The boy chirped happily as if Zoro had never commented on being a pirate was a bad idea at the first place. "There's nothing wrong with being a pirate."

Being a pirate is wrong. At least for Zoro. Pirates are evil but from no angle the boy looked evil but he looked the exact definition of innocent. Zoro is not good at studying people, but he could tell that the kid can't do any harm. But who was he kidding? Of all people, Zoro should know to not judge a person by their face.

"Don't tell me you're gonna set me free and force me to join you." Zoro said in an annoyed voice. The brat pouted at him and looked about to whine, like a kicked puppy. But then he grinned.

"You will join me!" The brat said with a bright smile. The surety in his voice, even made Zoro stop for a second.

"I'll never join you because I have something that I need to take care of." Zoro said truthfully. It was not due to the fact that he hated being a pirate and hated the bright smile given to him.

"I could survive even if you don't help me. I can survive for a month and I'll be set free. That Idiot son promised me. I'm gonna do everything I can to stay alive and fulfil my dreams." Zoro grinned at the thought of why he set out to sea.

He hopped that his would get through the thick skull of the wannabe pirate boy but the boy looked at him in awe. "If I were you I think I'd starve to death in a week."

"That's why we're different. Go find someone else to join you." Zoro said seeing the boy study him with his hands in his pockets. Zoro felt his stomach growling and ache and he eyed the onigiris, wondering if he should ask the boy or not.

"You want it?" The boy said pointing the muddy food on the ground and picked it when he nodded. "But it is all muddy now. Well, I guess you can't be picky when you are hungry."

Zoro opened his mouth wide, gesturing to just deposit the food. He chewed the food even if it was all muddy. He swallowed it. He didn't notice how the boy smiled at the action but he felt grateful. He coughed and his shadowed eyes hid his happiness of getting some food to his crying and grumbling stomach.

"Tell that little girl, 'The rice balls taste very good. Thank you very much.'" Zoro said and his coughing ceased. He looked at the boy whose smile was splitting his face into two, which was practically impossible for anyone.

"Why don't you come and tell her on your own?" Luffy grinned cockily.

"If you are blackmailing me for joining you and becoming a pirate, then give up." Zoro said with a sigh.

"If I say please, then?" The brat pouted making shiny puppy eyes. Zoro sweat dropped at it. Which pirate tells please, join me and makes puppy eyes.

"I've told you clearly." Zoro gritted his teeth. "I've things that I need to do besides I'm not going to be a bad guy like a pirate."

"Why do you care?" He saw the teen cross his arms over his chest and look at him. "Everyone already thinks you are a bad guy."

Zoro was getting tired with the conversation but it was also good to talk to someone after not speaking to anyone for days. "I don't care what they say about me." Zoro said truthfully. "I haven't not done one thing I regretted in the past and it will be the same for the future. I won't become a pirate."

Zoro saw the bratty teen huff and say his own decision, despite him reasoning with him. "I don't care. You are joining me."

"Don't decide yourself!" Zoro said with shark teeth. He was really getting angry. But a part of him thought or considered being a pirate. Not that it matters.

"You use Katana, right?" Luffy said with his cheerful attitude. How did the boy know that he is a swordsman was beyond his comprehension. Luffy didn't look like the type of guy who would invest his ears in any new information.

"Yeah, but that stupid bastard took them," Zoro said, calming down from his previous anger.

"I'll go get it back for you!" Luffy proposed.

"What?" He can't believe the bratty, lanky, scrawny teen is about is infiltrate into the marine base all for him and risk his life. He liked the guy. He could feel the conviction and determination in his voice only for making him join.

"So if you want your sword, join my crew!" Luffy said with a smile.

All pity for the boy vanished in thin air.

"You're getting on my nerves!" Zoro shouted, but a part of him wanted to be free. Wanted to check if Kuina's sword was okay or not. He would never forgive himself if he lost that.

It's not that the kid will even live by getting inside the tiger's den. But before he can say so, Luffy dashed to the marine base.

'It's the most weirdest day of my stay in this island.' Zoro thought.

Zoro could not help but scowl at the scrawny kid getting inside the Marine base for getting his katanas and making him force to join him. The kid was weird to say the least. The way he moved, the way his eyes scanned the marine base showed recognition. His eyes looked as if he had seen these things countless of times.

His eyes at Zoro, on his dirty smelly self, didn't show pity or disgust but pure belief. Belief on what? That Zoro won't betray the kid? That he won't refuse the kid's offer? Zoro wasn't sure. But one thing that he was sure was that despite the kid's scrawny, innocent stature, the kid was powerful.

The kid's eyes when he had looked at him felt as if he knew. But what did Luffy know about what or why was he doing what he was? But would Luffy be safe roaming around the base alone? Zoro didn't want to dwell in his thoughts and was luckily snapped out of it by the pink haired boy who was with Luffy.

"Where is Luffy?" The brat asked him. "Oh, and I'm Coby."

"Luffy went to the marine base," Zoro replied nonchalantly, not bothering to say why he had gone. He thought the boy would ask, when he saw the boy trying to open his ropes.

"Oi!" Zoro warned the teen. "If you help me, they are going to kill you." He doesn't care about deaths, but death of innocents never sits well with him.

"You shouldn't be arrested." Coby said trying to open the knots of the ropes. "I can't stand those kinds of marines. I'm going to become a real marine. Just like the way Luffy is determined to become the Pirate King."

Zoro narrowed his eyes on the teen. The scrawny kid being a pirate king? That's a big dream as his. The respect for Luffy increased in his heart. But still it felt like a joke to him. The kid must be joking, right?

"Heheh.." The kid laughed a nervous laugh. "I was a bit shocked when I first heard him but he's serious."

Before Zoro could react on Coby's words, Coby was shot in his shoulder, making him fly a good three feet away from Zoro.

"Are you alright?" Zoro asked the kid, who was screaming in pain. "Run for your life. They are almost here." A group of marines were coming his way and Zoro didn't know what to do.

"Ah.. Ah..!" Coby was crying in pain, but denying to leave him alone. "I've got to set you free as soon as possible."

There is no use in giving up life for him. Moreover he would be freed in a month. But as soon as he let his thoughts be known, Coby was standing up, shakingly.

"They will not set you free because they're gonna kill you in three days." The brat said and Zoro's eyes widened and he halted in his tracks to shout at the kid to scram off. They promised him to free him if he survives a month.

"Helmeppo never intended to keep his promise because he was toying with you." Coby said with a sour taste in his mouth.

Zoro mentally laughed at himself. Why did he trust these people? That these marines will leave him alone after he completed his promise. Nine days of him being tied up, starved and dehydrated, not that he care. But the gall of them not keeping their end of promise felt wrong.

"The marines will never let the two of you off. Please! After I set you free, please help rescue Luffy!"

Zoro didn't say anything. The boy had gone inside for him, and a part of him feels that Luffy knew from the beginning that he was not about to be freed, but that feels so surreal.

"I'll not force you to become a pirate, however, he's my savior." Coby was kneeling on the ground in front of him. "Luffy is very strong. As long as you two join forces, you all will definitely be able to escape this town!"

Zoro knew one thing. That is he can't die here. He has a promise to fulfil and he will do anything to survive. He won't die today even if the marines pointing their gun to him say otherwise. He can't die.

"SURROUND THEM!" It was Captain Morgan, who shouted. The marines had already surrounded them, and pointed their gun to them.

"How interesting! The three of you are planning to cause political upheaval?" Zoro doesn't like where things are going. With him tied up, he can't do anything. He felt useless.

With the gun pointing at him, Zoro realizes that he is so close to dying. He has made a promise. He can't die here.

"FIRE!"

Not even a single bullet hit him or Coby. In front of him stood the kid with his katana's strapped at his back.

"YOU!" He can't believe the boy sacrificed himself in order to keep him and Coby alive.

"LUFFY!" Coby was crying.

"Straw Hat!" Morgan said with veins on his forehead.

All at once everyone was shouting, their fear rising within them, but it wasn't necessary as they saw Luffy's skin stretch in each spot that held a bullet. The boy curled in on himself, allowing the pull to become a push.

"IT'S NO USE!!" The boy sprang up to life. The bullets bounced off his body and went hay way. Not hitting anyone. Zoro saw Coby getting up from his place and coming towards him and continuing his work.

"What the hell are you?" Zoro yelled his question. Luffy turned towards him, with a cocky grin.

"Shishishishi! I am the one who will become the Pirate King!" Luffy said, yelling to everyone in the courtyard. He ignored the looks of shock coming from the marines and turned to Zoro giving him his infamous D grin.

"Here's your treasure," He said unstrapping the katana's from his back.

"Resisting the marines here will make you an outlaw. Staying with me will make your life riskier." Zoro didn't know the straw hat boy was possible of tact. "Or maybe you want to die here?"

"What are you? The devil's son?" Zoro said with a smirk, making Luffy laugh carefree.

"Forget it. I'll be a pirate if I'm gonna die here instead!" Zoro said, still grinning.

"Woo-hoo!!!" Zoro sweat dropped as he saw Luffy going in circles with cheers and doing a little victory dance, not even caring about the marines in front of him. "That's great! I got a crewmate!!!"

"Okay, hurry and get these ropes off of me!" Zoro yelled in desperation, looking at the marines who were watching with a shocked look on their faces.

Luffy immediately got to work on trying to untie the ropes, not bothering to look at the Marines who were talking among themselves.

"Damn! These knots are tight!" Luffy whined as he tugged at them, but Zoro could see the ropes were tightening across his arms more.

"Hey! Quit wasting time!" Zoro yelled, noticing that the marines looked to be preparing themselves.

"Fine!" Luffy said, with a cheshire grin. He could have used Haki, but he isn't going to use it so early. So, he did what he can. A powerful gust of wind blew tearing the ropes in his hand, making it loosen in an instant.

His grin widened when he saw Zoro grab his swords, fitting perfectly as he had heard his mother say and using them to block all the marines at once.

"So cool!!" Zoro heard Luffy say.

"Move and you're dead!" Zoro growled to the marines, making them stiffen in fear.

"Too scary!" One of them cried.

"I already told you I'd be a pirate with you. Either way, after this incident with the marines I'll be an outlaw too. But it's okay, I still have my own goals." Zoro told Luffy, whose grin was getting impossibly wider.

"Goals?"

"I'm going to become the World's Greatest Swordsman! I no longer care if my name is clean or not.. bad guy or good guy, it no longer matters. As long as my name is known world wide." With one push he pushed away the marines, making them fall on their butt. He stood tall and looked at the boy in front of him.

"If you do something that ends up in the way of my goal, you'd better accept responsibility and apologize to me on the end of my sword!"

"Good!" Luffy grinned. "The King of Pirates needs the best on his side!"

"What are you guys standing there for? Slaughter them this instant!" The marines shrieked in terror at Morgan's words while Luffy's grin turned more deadly.

"Duck, Zoro!" Luffy told Zoro, swinging his foot back. There was a brief moment of shock from Zoro before he did as told.

"Gomu gomu no whip!" Luffy's leg whipped over him and knocked over the marines. Zoro noticed how Coby had went stiff in shock as him with the elongated leg which kicked off the marines.

"What the hell are you?" Zoro asked Luffy, voicing everyone's question with it.

"I?" Luffy turned towards him. The teen seemed to be thinking for a second with his face barely visible under his straw hat. He lifted his head to show a sunny smile, which shouldn't belong to the battlefield, stretching his mouth past human limits, he said. "I am a rubber man!" Luffy was sweating, showing he wasn't telling the full truth but that can wait.

"Captain! We don't stand a chance against them!"

"These guys are crazy!"

"We can't even handle Zoro, much less that kid!"

"This is a direct order!" Morgan shouted, drawing Zoro, Luffy and Coby's attention back to him.

"Everyone who spouted weakness just now, must shoot themselves in the head! I have no need for a weak soldiers!" Morgan ordered, much to Luffy's annoyance.

"These troops are mental!" Zoro commented, taking in fighting position.

"Luffy!" Zoro heard Coby say and saw Luffy heading to Morgan. "Crush this navy!"

Running through the marines to the leader, Luffy grinned. His arm swung to the captain, who blocked it with his large axe hand but was sliding back from the mere force Luffy was giving. With a burst of anger for these marines who have tainted Coby's dream and held his crewmate Zoro, he shattered the axe in Morgan's hands and hit him, making fly backward.

"Hold it Strawhat!" Helmeppo shouted from behind him before Zoro could get rid of his shock. He saw his captain looking to Coby who was shaking in fear but grinned suddenly.

"If you value this guy's life, don't move!" Helmeppo shouted, but regardless Luffy stalked to him.

"Luffy! I don't want to get in your way! Even if it means dying!" Coby shouted, genuinely meaning his words.

"Yeah, I know," Zoro saw Luffy smile and grab his bicep. From behind, Morgan was getting up looking all angered. "Give it up stupid son! Coby really is ready to die."

"Don't move! I told you not to move! I-I'll shoot!" Helmeppo shouted once again.

"Gomu gomu no..."

"I'm Navy Captain 'Axe-Hand' Morgan!"

"Dad! Kill him, quick!"

"...Pistol!" At once, Luffy threw his punch at Helmeppo, knocking the blonde into the wall on the other side of the courtyard, while Zoro slashed through Morgan who had attempted to behead Luffy with one of the soldier's swords.

"Nice! Zoro," He heard Luffy speak, his arms snapping back in place.

"My pleasure, Captain!" Zoro said, facing him with his own grin.

Silence.

The Marines looked at their captain.

He was unmoving. He didn't get up again. He was down!

"CAPTAIN MORGAN IS DEFEATED!"

"WE ARE FREE!"

"WE ARE OUT OF MORGAN'S CONTROL!"

Weapons and caps were thrown in the air, marines started dancing with each other, surprising Zoro who thought that they would need to fight them too.

"Everyone's happy that their Captain's been beaten?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Everyone was just afraid of Morgan!" Coby answered gleefully as if it made all sense.

Zoro suddenly twitched and then fell onto his back, Coby freaking out while Luffy lifted the man giving him his shoulder to lean.

"What's wrong Zoro-san?! Are you hurt?!" Coby asked as he rushed over to the man.

"I'm... hungry..."

.

"Man, I'm stuffed!" Zoro said as he felt his stomach being filled after such a long time. With a smile, he leaned back in his chair to look at Luffy, who was still eating and stacking stacks of plates one by one on his side.

"How the heck can you have a bigger appetite than me?" Zoro asked eyebrows raised in disbelief. Zoro had literally been starving after all and Luffy was still eating as if he'd been the one to go weeks without meals.

"It tastes good! Right, Coby?" Luffy asked Coby who sat at the bar where Rika's mother was smiling and cleaning dishes. Rika was nearby as well, carrying dirty dishes from the table Luffy and Zoro sat at and bringing them to her mother.

"Thank you for treating me to food too," Coby said rubbing the back of his head as he addressed Rika's mom. She smiled at him, continuing to clean.

"It's no problem. The town has been saved after all." She said cheerfully.

"You really are amazing!" Rika told to Luffy with a wide smile, which the rubber boy returned with ten folds of his own.

"Yep, I am! Shishishishi!" The boy laughed. "'Cause I am going to be the King of Pirates! And I even have my own crew!" The boy said looking at Zoro, who smiled at the enthusiasm.

"So, how many others have you gathered besides me?" He asked, watching Luffy take another large bite of meat. The boy blinked at him.

"It's just you," He said simply, returning to focus on his meal.

"Huh?!" Zoro pointed between the two of them in shock while Luffy nodded.

"Yep! Just us two!" Luffy confirmed his doubt.

Zoro's head was paining pretty badly now. Two people can't make a pirate crew!

"And what about a ship? Where's your pirate ship?" Zoro asked hoping against all odds that the boy did have one.

"There," Luffy pointed. Zoro looked at the window to the boat which Luffy pointed.

"That?"

"We'll have a ship this big soon!" Luffy said, demonstrating with his hand at how big he wanted his future ship to be. The sight of comical, making Zoro laugh.

"And a pirate flag too! Yeah! Yeah, yeah!" Luffy said to himself, ignoring Zoro completely. Zoro rubbed his forehead, wondering which reckless idiot he had gotten himself tagged with.

"I think Luffy was born without any sense of planning," Coby said with a nervous chuckle.

"Did I really make this kid my captain?!" Zoro asked himself seeing Luffy continuing to smile all the while eating.

"Hey, hey!" Rika asked, jumping with the same enthusiasm as that of Luffy. Zoro was beginning to wonder if Luffy's smile and recklessness was infective because the next moment, the plates in Rika's hands were threatening to fall over, which he had to catch to prevent it from happening.

"Where are you guys gonna go now?" Rika asked before thanking Zoro.

"Paradise!" Luffy said with D grin.

"Paradise?" The occupants in the bar asked.

"Oops," Luffy said rubbing his back of neck with a sheepish smile. "Grand line I mean."

"How did you mix Paradise with Grand Line?! Besides, you still have only two crew members!" Coby shouted in disbelief. "You are still saying crazy things! How can you enter the Grand Line with just you two?! Don't you understand? The World's Strongest Pirates all gather there!"

Luffy pouted. "But I have been sailing those seas for like," He counted on his fingers. "half a decade!"

Coby's jaw dropped at the ground. "W-What?! You have came from the Grand Line?!" Zoro seemed interested in the conversation and paid attention.

"Shishishishi!" Luffy dismissed the whole matter with his laugh.

"Guess it can't be helped," Zoro said, leaning back in his chair with a grin, prepared to take on whatever challenges they would face here after.

"Not you too, Zoro-san!" Coby moaned.

"OH!" Luffy banged his fists on his palms, gaining the attention of the occupants in the bar. "Coby you want to be marine right?" Coby nodded.

"I know someone who will willingly take you under him. I won't vote for anyone regarding my friends," Luffy huffed.

"Am I really your friend?" Coby asked with tears gathering in his eyes.

"Yep!" Luffy said with a beaming smile and placed his bag in front of him and put his hands inside it. After a few moments he started sweating.

"Oops!" He said, with sweat trickling down from his forehead.

He emptied the bag pack on a clean table and out came a red cloak, then some weird looking needles encompassed in a glass, a compass, a scrapbook, few papers and some clothes and a pouch which made a clang on being dumped on the table.

Luffy rummaged through the red cloak shaking it but nothing came out of it.

"Shit! I'm gonna die," Zoro heard the teen mutter but the next moment he cheered up and pushed the things back into the bag pack.

"Hey, miss!" He chirped jumping on his way to the Rika's mom. "Can I borrow your snail?"

"Sure," The lady said giving a pleasant smile and passed a snail to the boy. Luffy skipped to the table and picked up a paper from the rim of his strawhat and dialed a number. All the while Zoro and Coby looked at him and the snail which popped to life, curiously.

Purupuru Purupuru Gatcha

"Vice Admiral Garp here!" The snail responded.

Silence

Zoro was wondering if Luffy had a death wish and how the hell did the kid got Garp The Hero's number.

"Ji-chan!" Luffy said, shattering the silence into pieces.

"EHH?!!!!" Coby and the people who heard Luffy shouted, while Zoro's eyes widened.

"Bwahahhaha!" The snail responded. "Does my adorable grandson need my help in the beginning of his journey?"

"Nope!" Luffy said making the 'P' sound like a pop sound. "I got an appetice for you!"

"Apprentice, Luffy!"

"That's what I said!" Luffy huffed adorably, making Zoro and some people think if he really was a pirate.

"I guess that you have lost your snail?"

"Ah, about that," Luffy grinned sheepishly while rubbing his back. "Please help me, otherwise Dad's gonna go on a rampage!" Luffy whined.

"Huh? My idiot son?" Garp said. "Don't worry I'll tell him for you."

"Thanks, Jiji!" Luffy beamed.

"Where are you and where is my new apprentice?" The Vice Admiral from the other side asked.

"Shell's Town!"

"I'll be there soon," He said. "Take care!"

"Love ya, Jiji!" Luffy said before disconnecting the snail and looking at the baffled expression of the people before him.

"What?" He asked with his eyes blinking in confusion.

"Your Grandpa is Garp The Fist?!!!!!" The people in the bar yelled together, making Luffy laugh. People sure are funny.

"Yep!" He said returning the snail to the nice bar lady, who looked a bit paler.

"I-I-I'm going to be trained by the legendary Hero!!!" Coby asked with fear. He had never thought of meeting the marine, hell less that he would be trained by him!!!

"Yah!" Luffy said with a smile. Coby was about to freak out, but a Marine disrupts them by entering the bar.

"Excuse me," The Marine said as he stood in front of Luffy who looked at him with a smile on his face. "We are wondering are you really pirates?"

"Yes, we are," Luffy chirped.

"We're all grateful that you saved our town and base but as Marines we can't let you stay any longer. You will need to leave this island immediately. To show our gratitude, we won't report you to Headquarters." The Marine finished his boring speech, making the town people angry on behalf of their saviors.

"Mmm.. Okay! Let's go Zoro!" Luffy said as he tossed the bag pack on his shoulder.

"Hey! Wait a second!" The same Marine called them out. "Isn't he with you?"

"I'm n-n-not with them," Coby said while stuttering.

"Is he telling the truth?" The Marine asked Luffy.

"I know this guy," Luffy said laughing inwardly at what he was about to do. "I don't remember where, but he used to be with this reeeeealy big lady. I think her name was Almika. She was a fat and ugly pirate. He spent-"

Coby had enough. He punched Luffy's face as hard as he could. He didn't want his dreams to be ruined by the one who showed him a hope right now, only to crush them. He couldn't believe that he was betrayed.

"Why you!" Luffy retaliates, hitting Coby back a few times until he was stopped by the Marines. Luffy smiled inwardly as he saw his plan being successfull. He can plan when he wants.

"I know he's not your friend. Please leave this island immediately!" The Marine yells at them.

Coby caught a glimpse of the smile on Luffy's face before the boy turns to leave and knew it was all done for him. He wanted to cry at how he needed Luffy's help even in the last moment. He felt useless that he needed the push. Not letting the chance get away, Coby stood tall and loudly asked to join the marines.

.

"Don't you think you went overboard?" Zoro asked about the Coby incident once they got out of the bar.

"He'll be fine," Luffy laughs as they headed to the docks where their small boat was waiting for them, no one stopping them as they did.

"Luffy!" Coby's voice came to them, as they were undoing the ropes. Seeing that Coby had Luffy's attention, Coby saluted, standing up tall and straight.

"Thank you! I'll never forget all you've done for me!" Coby shouted.

"I've never seen a marine salute a pirate before," Zoro said whistling, making Luffy laugh. Getting onto the boat and setting sail, Luffy turned and waved to Coby.

"Let's meet again someday, Coby!" He shouted watching Coby as he continued saluting.

"Group Salute!" A crowd of marines appeared behind Coby and Rika who were waving at them and they all saluted as Luffy and Zoro drifted out of the docks and onto the sea.

"See ya!"

.

"Ugh, I'm so hungry," Luffy groaned holding his stomach and looking at the endless ocean. His mother seemed to be cooing at him, making him frown more. He was ready for his own adventures and didn't need to wait for two more years, as his mother always insisted!

"It's weird that you have absolutely no navigation skills," Zoro said looking at him.

"Why shall I have?" Luffy asked titling his head.

"'Cause you are a pirate!" Zoro stated.

"But I don't understand those at all!" Luffy pouted. "And even Zoro don't know even though Zoro is a wandering man!" Luffy pointed out to the man, about whom he had heard stories from his mother last night.

"I was searching for a man, that's why I am wandering but now I can't find my way home," Zoro said.

"Oh, so Zoro is lost?"

"Shut up! You are the one who's lost!" Zoro shouted in irritation. Damn it, with everyone telling him that he is the one to be lost always!

"So hungry..." He heard Luffy whine and plop his head on the boat and look at the sky.

"When the hell are we gonna reach land?" Zoro asked from where he sat. It had only been a couple of hours since they have left Shell's Town.

Luffy sighed. "I don't feel like cheating."

"You are weird," Zoro said to the boy who was mumbling how he can't ask his mom's help.

The boy sprang up and looked at Zoro with excitement. "Zoro! Do you know how to swim?" The teen bounced in his place, all thoughts of hunger vanishing.

"Every pirate worth their salt knows," Zoro said with a sigh, when a horrible realization struck him. "Don't tell me you don't!"

Luffy pouted at the accusation and rubbed his back. "How did Zoro catch me?"

Zoro groaned with his palms hitting his own face in annoyance. "Why did the hell I join you?!!"

"Ne, can Zoro teach me?" Luffy asked with his eyes shining with innocence and curiosity and Zoro found it unable to resist. He turned his head to the other side and grumbled about stupid captains and idiot kids.

"Fine!" He said throwing his shirt over his head and dropping himself to the ocean, where he began kicking his leg. "Come on, we don't have enough time." He said. Well, at least the time will pass pretty soon with it and he can get some exercise.

He looked at the boy who let out a squeal of excitement and threw his red vest to the boat. Now, that he looks at the kid- no, captain, he looks more scrawnier than before, with his abs and collarbones visible. He can clearly see the silver necklace with the red crystal hanging from his neck and the Straw Hat on his head, which he pushed it to his back. His wrists even had two bracelets, one made of pearl and the other of seashells. It looked pretty on the boy.

Luffy jumped from the boat and for once, Zoro felt afraid about the boy, who can probably drown in the water.

"Idiot!" He yelled and dove in searching for the boy. He saw him struggling a bit, with his mouth and eyes open. He caught the boy easily and brought him to the surface of the water, holding him in position.

"Don't go jumping in," He yelled at the kid, who just laughed. Man, he really needs to stop calling his captain a kid!

"You could have drown!" He shouted again, making the boy pout.

"Shishishi! Sorry Zoro!" He didn't sound apologetic at all and just grinned brightly at him. With a sigh, he focused on the task in his hand.

"Hold it," He said and made Luffy hold the boat's sides. "And now start kicking with your legs."

The boy- no, captain, did as he said. After a few minutes of watching him, he finally deemed that Luffy could do it on his own. He let him leave the railings and told to kick as he was doing.

But within moments, Luffy was drowning all again! He groaned and went after the boy, who was laughing all again.

"Are you even serious?!!!" Zoro asked with anger coming from his voice.

"Sorry, Zoro," He said and he let him try to swim again, but again he flailed. This continued for a while, until Luffy got tired and his stomach started growling.

"It's enough for today," Zoro said holding Luffy and getting up the boat.

"Can we do it again?" Luffy asked enthusiastically, wearing his red vest.

"If you want," Zoro said with a groan. But how much he says, he hated to guide the boy to swim, he enjoyed it. At least after the boy learns to swim, he wouldn't need to dive after him to save him.

"And what's with the Straw Hat?" Zoro asked. "Shouldn't you have took it out before swimming?"

"It's my treasure," Luffy said laying on the ground of the little boat with his head on the little bag pack, and his stomach still groaning. "I can't part with it ever, like these," He pointed to the necklace and the bracelets in his hands.

"So, they are pretty important to you then, huh?" Zoro asked as he observed Luffy looking at his trinkets with fondness.

"Yeah," He said grinning at him. "They are a promise to meet them again." Zoro didn't ask further about it.

"So, your grandpa is Garp 'The Fist'?" Zoro asked. He had heard about the man a lot and how no pirates escape from his grasp. So, how did the man didn't know about his own grandson going off to be a pirate? That was something Zoro was curious about.

"Yeah," Luffy said smiling.

"How did he let you be a pirate? Or does he not know?" Zoro asked eyeing the teen- captain, he means.

"He knows," Luffy said with a fond smile. "We had a long debate with him and then finally he was able to see the truth that being a marine will only get our lives in danger."

"Ours? You are speaking of as if you are the son of a devil," Zoro smirked.

"Hmm," Luffy hummed. "Man, I'm hungry..." He groaned ignoring Zoro's curious looks and looked at the sky again. Zoro sighed, having heard this multiple times and wondering how the teen could be hungry after eating everything they had only a little while ago. Not to mention the food he had eaten in the Marine base only hours ago.

"A bird..." Luffy said, making him look up to see what his captain was seeing.

"Looks pretty tasty," Luffy said licking his lips. "Let's eat it!" He exclaimed looking at him with his signature grin.

"Huh? How?" Zoro asked looking at the bird again. It was flying at quite an altitude.

"Leave it to me!" Luffy said as he stood and stretched his arms back, flinging them forward and grabbing onto the rigging.

"Gomu gomu no rocket!" With that, the teen launched into the sky, straight towards the bird in question.

"I see..." Zoro said with a raised eyebrow, having forgotten that his captain was a rubber man. He watched as Luffy got smaller and smaller as he got higher before he stopped. He squinted, wondering how his body was lower than that of the bird's, yet he wasn't falling.

"Help!!" Luffy's voice called, and it was then he realized his new Captain was an idiot, who got caught in the bird's mouth.

"You idiot!!!" He shouted springing up and rowing the boat as fast as he could. "What the heck are you doing!!!!"

.

Luffy pouted as his mother giggled at his latest antics of being caught by a bird which was not stopping and was continuing to fly. His mother's gentle voice echoed his ears making him smile. He allowed himself to entertain his mother but also tried to find a way from his current situation. He was bored as he waited for something to happen.

If he wanted he could have got rid of the bird easily, but the giggles from his mother and the presence of people ahead of him made him to stay in his current position. Finally, after a few minutes of the bird flying, Luffy saw an island below them and grinned.

"Oi, bird, let me down now!" He said with a huge grin on his face. It was the first island in his journey and he was excited to explore it. Zoro will find him, so he was not worried about him.

But the bird was not leaving him and they were already midway over the island. That was when he felt danger coming for him and he started flailing his legs.

"Bird! Let me down!" He shouted, but it was too late as a cannonball hit them, exploding and forcing the bird to let go of him. He screamed, flailing as he began falling to the ground, and before he knew it he crashed into the stone pavement.

"W-What?!" A woman's voice came making him look from the crater which he had created to the voice. But all he saw was white dusty fog which surrounded him.

"Someone..." Another voice came and this time it was of a man.

"Fell from the sky?!" Another man said in shock.

"That was fun!" He grinned, holding onto his hat as he looked around, finding men on the ground looking surprised and shocked. They were likely the guys who were speaking and were pirates! There was a woman in front of him, who looked shocked and a bit afraid.

Nami didn't know what to do. She has just stolen a map of Grand Line from the Buggy pirates and was running for her life. But right now, she was on a stop. Someone had fallen from the sky and that someone made it alive and was around the age of 14.

Nami didn't know what she should do. Should she continue to run for her life or take the kid with her. If the boy would have been around 16 she would have left him to fend for himself, but right now, she can't. Her morals, her heart would fight against her, if she would be responsible for the kid's life.

"Run!" She shouted to the kid and dragged him away, not giving the boy even the chance to think, 'cause that could possibly kill him. "We need to run or they'll kill us."

"Uh?" The kid let out a voice of confusion, clearly unsure of what was happening.

"Don't run off again!" The pirates yelled at them, making Nami urge to run faster.

"Are we playing tag?" The boy cluelessly asked, making Nami really want to bonk his head but she didn't want the boy to panic. She didn't want him to die. And if he did, then she knew she would blame herself.

"Yes," She replied quickly, with a laughing kid at her side. But before they could run more, the boy was yanked free from her hands. She gasped in horror and turned as fast as she could.

"We told you to not run!" One of the three pirates while trying to punch the boy.

Nami watched with her breath in her throat as the punch neared the boy's nose. That would surely break it. Nami was running to the boy before even thinking, but she didn't need it as the boy ducked off at the right time but his hat was knocked out of his head.

The string which Sabo had tied to it was the only one that kept it from falling off. Anger overtook Luffy as he straightened again, placing the hat back onto his head as he glared at the man who'd hit it.

"Don't you dare mess up my hat!" He shouted, reeling his fists back and punching the man, sending him flying.

"Damn you!" The remaining pirates yelled lifting their swords to attack him. He saw from the corner of his eyes, the girl with whom he was playing tag held her palm on his mouth and watched in horror. Her other hand went down to prepare her staff, even if she was afraid.

Without wasting any time, Luffy knocked out the remaining two pirates, knocking them out and sending them crumbling to the ground.

"Wow!" The girl said him with awe in her eyes. "You are really strong!"

Luffy smiled at her and his stomach chose this time to grumble. "I'm hungry. Who are you?" He asked the last part loudly to the girl who was now leading him to somewhere. He just chose to follow her. Zoro would find him or he would find him later.

"I'm Nami," The girl- now, Nami- said with a smile on her face. "And we weren't playing tag. Those pirates were chasing me."

"Aww! I wanted to play." Luffy pouted. He wanted to play tag. But he didn't like them since they hurt his hat. "But why were they chasing you?"

"Those guys were pirates. Their captain is Buggy The Clown. I just stole a map from them, and they want it back." Nami said as they walked down the alley to a house she had opened the lock of.

"What kind of person is this Nami person?" The kid said in pure confusion, but she couldn't help herself from yelling at the boy loud.

"I'M NAMI! THE PIRATE IS BUGGY!!!" She yelled and took a deep breath. She didn't want to harm a kid yet. And won't be doing anytime soon, but if the idiot continued sprouting nonsense, she wasn't sure i she could control herself.

"Buggy is a famous pirate who likes cannons. I assume you aren't from this town?" That got a nod from the kid. "The villagers of this town are in hiding. Buggy took over here."

"Okay," Luffy answered. The name Buggy was striking a cord in his memory but where have he heard it? Sabo hadn't told him about any pirate like that in East Blue. But he had heard it. Maybe from one of the stories of his mother.

"So what's that hat?" Nami asked pointing to his straw hat. "When you said they nearly damaged it you got so mad! Is it expensive?"

Luffy held his hat from one hand and said, "This is my treasure."

"Treasure?" Nami said her eyes changing into berries when her eyes caught the shiny pearly bracelet with an ASL written and a seashell bracelet with a straw-hat symbol on it. Her eyes flicked back to the hat. "Are there jewels in your hat too like those?"

Luffy pouted at that and forced his left wrist in his pocket. 'Stupid Ace and Sabo giving expensive gifts.' He thought but he liked the thought behind the gift. Ace and Sabo had given him to not feel too far from his mom and not feel too lonely.

His stomach growled as he held it, ignoring Nami's question. "I'm hungry."

"Why don't I treat you to some food?" She asked with a smile, and even though Luffy felt her eyeing his treasures, he could tell she was genuine on the food part.

"Really?!" Luffy asked with a beaming smile, making Nami chuckle. She briefly wondered if this would be what Nojiko would feel if they had a normal childhood.

"Yeah!" She replied, walking ahead of the path and her thoughts.

"Yosh!" He cheered running to her. They walked down the street, and eventually stopped in front of a house. Nami got first followed by Luffy who made a beeline for the table and sat on the chair. Nami rummaged through the fridge and began digging around in it.

Soon enough, a steak of meat was placed in front of him and he ate it in one bite, Nami watching with wider eyes as she sat on the edge on the table.

A/n:

So, another chapter is finally out!! Zoro and Nami have already entered. I hope the chapter was good enough for everyone to read.

Also, some people have been asking if there is a platform or somewhere where they can read the story in advance. First, we weren't sure how to do, since we already have lots in our plate to do. Then a reader suggested us about the app 'Patreon'.

So, yeah, we have created an account there and will be posting chapters which wouldn't be released publically at least for two weeks. If anyone wants to go for it, you can.

The id is: /DecoyRin

And the price is $5 per month, taking into account that there would be four extra chapters in a month, so it nearly costs $1.25. But if you think it's too high, then you are free to opt for $3 per month.

And if you don't want any, you can wait for the chapters to be published here!

Have a good day/night!