8. Roronoa Zoro

As Noir leapt back to his small boat, he cast one last glance at the chaos he left behind. The four women had finally calmed down, though their battered bodies and torn clothes showed evidence of their earlier struggle. With a sigh, he landed gracefully on the deck of his boat. His companions, though clearly bruised and bloodied, greeted him with weary grins.

"Looks like you girls had fun," Noir muttered, fishing a cigarette from his coat pocket. He lit it with a flick of his lighter, the flame briefly illuminating his sharp features before fading into the dim light of dusk.

One of the women, Yuki, replied. "You could've helped, you know."

"I was helping," Noir replied nonchalantly, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "By not getting in your way."

Before Yuki could retort, a loud, familiar voice cut through the air.

"Oi, Noir!"

Noir turned to see Luffy's small boat bouncing on the waves in the distance. Koby was frantically rowing, his face pale with fear as cannonballs rained down around them, fired by a Marine ship pursuing them.

"These idiots…" Noir muttered under his breath.

With a powerful kick, Noir's boat started drifting closer toward Luffy and Koby. As the two boats aligned, Luffy grinned widely. "Yo! We're heading out! Come sail with us!"

Noir raised an eyebrow, his cigarette dangling from his lips. "Sail with you? I don't even know where you're going."

"Doesn't matter! You're strong, so you're part of my crew now!" Luffy declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Noir pinched the bridge of his nose, already feeling a headache coming on. "I don't remember agreeing to this."

"Doesn't matter!" Luffy repeated, his enthusiasm unshaken.

Koby, sensing the tension, interjected timidly. "Maybe Noir could be your first mate, Luffy? You know, like a vice-captain?"

Luffy's eyes sparkled. "Yeah! Vice-captain! That's perfect!"

Noir groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I never said I wanted to join—"

"Done!" Luffy shouted, cutting him off.

Before Noir could argue further, the four women from his boat suddenly leapt aboard, startling everyone. Yuki wrapped her arms around Noir, pressing his face into her chest.

"Noir-kun~! If you're going, we're coming too!"

The other three women nodded in agreement, each wearing expressions that dared Noir to argue.

Noir, his voice muffled, tried to push Yuki away. "Let… go… of me!"

Luffy, watching the scene, laughed heartily. "Great! The more, the merrier!"

Noir finally freed himself and glared at the women, then at Luffy. "You… You're just like that idiot protagonist with one brain cell, aren't you?"

"Huh? What's a brain cell?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.

Noir sighed deeply, leaning back against the mast of his boat. "I hate my life."

Noir took a long drag from his cigarette, his crimson eyes narrowing as he turned to Luffy, who was now lounging on the edge of his small boat, a carefree grin plastered across his face. The sun glinted off the waves, casting a golden glow over the sea.

"If I'm going to stick around, there's one thing you need to understand," Noir said, his voice sharp and deliberate, cutting through the sound of the waves lapping against the boat.

Luffy tilted his head, still grinning. "Huh? What's that?"

"I don't want anyone interfering in my fights," Noir continued, exhaling a plume of smoke. "No helping me. No jumping in. No saving me at the last second. My fights are mine alone."

Luffy blinked for a moment, then broke into a loud laugh. "That's it? Sure, no problem! I'm not the type to jump into someone else's fight unless they ask for it." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "But if someone messes with my crew, that's a different story."

Noir smirked faintly, his expression unreadable. "Fair enough. Just stay out of my way when it comes to my battles."

Yuki, who had been sitting nearby tending to her torn sleeve, chimed in. "You're so stubborn, Noir-kun. It's part of your charm, I guess." She winked playfully, but Noir ignored her, flicking the ash from his cigarette into the sea.

As the conversation lulled, Noir's gaze drifted to the horizon. The sea stretched endlessly before him, golden under the bright sunlight. Two weeks on the water had been… strange. He hadn't expected to stick around this long, but something about the chaos of this group had kept him from leaving. Still, the aimless drifting, the lack of purpose—it was starting to gnaw at him.

"If you don't mind me asking...Luffy-san wants to be King of the Pirates but why did you decide to set sail?"

"Hmmm, I haven't thought about that, but if that dream is a reflection of my current actions, maybe I will become the strongest." Said Noir who thought about the fight against the bastard thorn fist pirate and it was so exciting, if he forged his way to the top, there would definitely be a lot of people he would have to fight.

Koby's eyes widened in shock. "The strongest? You mean… the strongest in the world?!"

Noir smirked. "Of course. There's no point in aiming for anything less. Strength is all I've ever known, and I'm damn good at it. So I'll make it my purpose."

The four women on the boat exchanged knowing glances. Yuki, as usual, couldn't resist commenting. "He's always been like this. A total battle maniac. It runs in his blood."

"Shut it, Yuki," Noir muttered, though his tone lacked its usual sharpness.

Koby looked torn between awe and disbelief. "That's… incredible. But you make it sound so easy."

"It's not about being easy," Noir said, leaning back against the mast. "It's about not giving myself a choice. If I'm alive, I'll fight. And if I'm going to fight, I'll be the best."

Luffy's grin widened as he stood and stretched, his shadow stretching long across the deck. "That's awesome! Someone like you is perfect for my crew! The strongest fighter should sail with the future Pirate King, after all!"

Noir raised an eyebrow, studying Luffy carefully. "You talk about being the Pirate King like it's the only thing that matters. But I get the feeling there's more to it than that."

Luffy's grin didn't falter, but his eyes seemed to glint with something deeper—something that made Noir's instincts stir. "You think so?" Luffy said lightly, his tone carefree as ever. "Maybe. But being Pirate King is my dream, and that's all that matters."

Noir didn't press further. If Luffy wanted to share, he would. Noir wasn't the type to dig into someone's private thoughts unless they chose to reveal them. He leaned back, exhaling another plume of smoke as the conversation shifted to lighter topics.

Turning to the four women, Noir's expression hardened slightly. "You four. Go to the back of the boat and take care of yourselves. Bandage your wounds, change your clothes, and stop looking like a bunch of vagrants."

Yuki pouted dramatically. "You're so bossy, Noir-kun. But fine." She stood, brushing off her tattered outfit. "I'll go change into something nice. You know, for you~."

"Not for me," Noir said flatly. "For everyone's sanity."

The other women followed, murmuring among themselves as they disappeared below deck. Yuki reemerged a few minutes later, now she wears a sleeveless, heather indigo top reminiscent of female Chinese martial artists' attire with a gold mandarin collar. The vest is tucked into high-waisted stone blue jeans that cover most of her stomach area with a grey bodice with buttons. She finishes this outfit with a pair of brown heeled boots. She spun once for effect. "Better?"

"Much," Noir replied curtly, taking a final drag from his cigarette before flicking it overboard.

As the sun climbed higher into the sky, the group settled into a companionable silence, the sound of the waves lapping against the boat filling the air. For the first time in a long time, Noir felt a flicker of something he hadn't felt after reincarnated in this world.

Purpose.

*****************

"Oi, shorty, how's the navigation going?" Noir asked, gazing up at the sky while adjusting his sunglasses. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of karma had brought him to this point—stuck with a rubber-headed kid who refused to take no for an answer. Sure, he was curious about how Luffy's story would end, but joining a pirate crew? That hadn't been part of his plan.

Still, what was done was done. Noir figured he might as well see where this path would lead him. Was it death? A long life? Who knew?

"We're on the right course," Koby replied, his voice steady as he glanced out at the open sea. "If the wind stays with us, we should reach the Navy base island soon."

Noir sighed in quiet relief. Of all the people on board, Koby was the only one who knew anything about navigation. Thanks to him, they'd finally be able to set foot on solid ground again—and restock their dwindling supplies. Their sake was gone, the food was nearly finished, and only a few pieces of fruit remained.

Ihwa, sitting cross-legged on the deck, glanced at Koby with mild curiosity. She had been quietly observing him for a while, her sharp blood red eyes narrowing as she considered her next question. Eventually, she leaned forward and broke the silence.

"Oi, midget," she called out, her tone teasing. "I heard something interesting back on that wreck of a ship. Something about Kaizoku Gari no Zoro. Who is he?"

Koby froze mid-row, his eyes wide with alarm. "W-w-why are you asking about him?!" he stammered, his face paling.

Luffy, who had been lounging at the bow of the boat with a casual grin, perked up at the mention of Zoro. "Zoro? Who's that? Is he strong?"

"He's more than strong," Koby said nervously, glancing over his shoulder at Ihwa and Luffy. "Roronoa Zoro, also known as the Pirate Hunter, is a demon in human form! He's infamous for hunting pirates across the seas. They say he's a monster!"

Ihwa raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by Koby's fearful tone. "A monster, huh? Sounds like someone worth meeting," she muttered, her fingers idly tracing the hilt of her dagger.

Luffy sat up straighter, his grin widening. "That's awesome! I bet he'd make a great nakama!"

Koby nearly dropped the oars, his mouth hanging open in shock. "N-nakama?! Are you insane?! Zoro's a bounty hunter! He'd kill you on sight if he knew you were a pirate!"

Noir, who had been quietly listening to the conversation while lighting another cigarette, finally spoke. "If he's as dangerous as you say, why haven't the Marines captured him yet?" His tone was calm, but there was a glint of intrigue in his voice.

Koby swallowed hard, his grip tightening on the oars. "That's because Zoro isn't the kind of person the Marines can handle easily. Even though he's a bounty hunter, he's not exactly on friendly terms with them. He's… unpredictable. People say he has no loyalty to anyone."

"And yet he's still alive," Noir said, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Interesting."

Yuki, who had been leaning against the railing, smirked. "Sounds like someone Noir-kun would get along with. Another lone wolf with trust issues."

"Shut it, Yuki," Noir muttered, though there was a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Luffy leaned forward, his excitement bubbling over. "So where is he now? Do you know, Koby?"

Koby hesitated, glancing nervously at the horizon. "I… I heard rumors that he's being held at a Navy base on an island nearby."

"What'd he do to end up there?" Ihwa asked, tilting her head.

Koby shifted uncomfortably, clearly reluctant to continue. "I don't know the full details."

Luffy's eyes sparkled with admiration. "He's definitely strong! I'm gonna ask him to join my crew!"

"You're insane!" Koby shouted, his voice cracking with frustration. "Zoro's not someone you can just recruit like that! He's dangerous!"

"That's what makes it exciting," Luffy said with a laugh, stretching his arms behind his head. "I like people who are strong and don't give up. He sounds perfect!"

Noir chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You really are reckless, aren't you?"

"I don't see the problem," Luffy replied, his grin as wide as ever. "If he says no, I'll just convince him. Easy!"

Koby groaned, burying his face in his hands. "You're both crazy…"

*****************

The seagulls cried overhead, their wings gliding effortlessly against the clear blue sky as the boat gently rocked against the docks of Shells Town. The bustling port was alive with noise—dockworkers shouting orders, crates scraping against wooden planks, and the distant murmur of a busy market.

As the group disembarked, Luffy wasted no time stepping onto the dock, his excitement radiating as he threw his arms wide. "Alright! We made it! The Navy base city!" His voice carried across the port, turning a few heads, though most passersby quickly hurried along, avoiding eye contact with the rowdy newcomer.

Behind him, Noir took a slower approach, adjusting his sunglasses as he stepped onto solid ground. His pitch-black eyes with white irises scanned the area from behind the dark lenses, taking in the unfamiliar sights. Fubuki and Maki followed closely, the latter casually adjusting her ponytail while the former walked with a dignified air.

"You're acting like a kid in a candy store," Noir muttered, lighting a cigarette as he watched Luffy stride forward.

"That's because he is," Yuki teased from behind, her tone light as she carried a small bag of supplies they'd stocked up on before arriving.

"Oi! Wait up!" Koby called out, struggling to keep pace with Luffy as he hurriedly tied off the boat and scrambled onto the dock. His wide eyes darted around nervously, clearly overwhelmed by the bustling town. "You can't be serious about asking Zoro to join you! He's a monster!"

Luffy grinned, spinning around on his heel to face Koby. "Monsters are cool! I bet he's strong!"

"He's not cool; he's terrifying!" Koby shot back, his voice almost a squeak as he imagined Zoro's infamous reputation.

Noir exhaled a puff of smoke, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "If he's that terrifying, now I'm interested," he said, his tone casual yet dripping with intrigue.

The group moved through the busy streets of Shells Town, the colorful stalls lining the roads filled with merchants hawking their wares.

"Hey, old man," Luffy called out as they passed a fruit vendor. He snagged an apple, tossing it in the air before tossing a coin back to the smiling merchant. "You know where we can find Zoro?"

The cheerful atmosphere shifted instantly. The surrounding townsfolk visibly recoiled at the name, their faces turning pale. Some quickly retreated into nearby shops, while others hurried down the street, whispering in hushed tones.

"Guess he left quite the impression," Noir said, his tone laced with mild amusement.

"Zoro?" Fubuki tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "I'd like to see what makes him so scary."

"Let's go find him!" Luffy declared, his grin stretching wide.

"You're insane!" Koby shouted, but his protests went ignored as the group pushed forward, making their way toward the massive Marine base gates that loomed ahead.

"I can't believe it. I'm finally here…" Koby muttered, his voice trembling with emotion as he stared up at the towering gates. Tears welled in his eyes, and he sniffled loudly. "This is it. My dream, within reach…"

"Oi, I'll check it out first," Luffy announced, already grabbing onto the wall.

"Wait a second, idiot!" Noir muttered, though there was no real heat in his voice. Sighing, he followed after, crouching to give Ihwa a lift.

"Step lightly," Noir said, bracing himself as he boosted Ihwa onto his shoulders.

"Don't worry, I know where to step," she replied, a smirk on her lips as she settled herself for a better view.

Koby, meanwhile, stood at the base of the wall, anxiety radiating off him in waves. "You're going to get us all in trouble! What if someone sees us?"

"We'll handle it," Noir said dismissively, exhaling a plume of smoke as he waited.

Ihwa leaned over the wall, scanning the yard below. Her gaze locked onto A tall, muscular man was tied to a post in the middle of the yard. His white shirt was stained with dirt, his green haramaki wrapped tightly around his waist, and his black boots planted firmly on the ground. His face, framed by short green hair, remained stoic despite the brutal heat of the sun beating down on him.

"Found him," Ihwa murmured. "This guy's got presence, I'll give him that."

"Lemme see!" Luffy shouted, leaping up with his stretchy arms to grab the top of the wall. He hung there for a moment, his wide grin growing even wider. "That's him! Zoro!"

Koby's voice trembled as he finally scrambled up the ladder nearby. "A black haramaki… that's him! Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro!"

Noir finally climbed up behind them, pulling himself onto the ledge with ease. He glanced down at Zoro with mild curiosity. "Hmm. He doesn't look like much right now."

Luffy tilted his head. "He can get away easily if we cut those ropes!"

"Absolutely not!" Koby cried, waving his hands frantically. "There's no telling what he'll do if we let him go! He'd probably kill all of us!"

Luffy and Ihwa ignored him, their attention drawn to a young girl with black eyes, and dark hair done in pigtails, she climbing up the wall near them. Her small hands gripped the rope as she shushed the group, then dropped down into the yard with surprising agility.

"What's she doing?" Ihwa asked, her tone intrigued.

The girl quickly crossed the yard and offered something to Zoro. "You must be hungry! Here! I made you some rice balls!"

Zoro's expression didn't change. "You trying to get yourself killed, pipsqueak? You should just get lost."

Before the girl could respond, the gates to the yard creaked open, revealing a lanky, average-sized young man with a distinctive cleft chin and light blonde hair, he wore his hair in a bizarre mushroom-shaped style and he wears a purple suit flanked by Marines. His gait was exaggerated, arrogance dripping from every movement. He sauntered toward Zoro and the girl, spouting insults too faint to hear over the distance.

Noir's sharp eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses as he watched the blonde man snatch the rice ball, shove it into his mouth, and immediately spit it out in disgust.

"Salt instead of sugar, huh?" Noir muttered, his tone dripping with disdain.

The man stomped the remaining rice ball into the dirt, his loud complaints carrying across the yard. Luffy's face darkened slightly, his carefree expression slipping into one of irritation.

The final straw came when the blonde man ordered the Marines to throw the girl over the fence. The Marine hesitated for a moment but ultimately followed the order.

As the girl soared through the air, Yuki suddenly appeared, leaping up to catch her mid-flight. She landed gracefully several feet away, holding the frightened girl securely.

"Whoa, easy there," Yuki said softly, setting the girl down and offering her a reassuring smile. "You okay, kid?"

"Y-yes. Thank you," the girl stammered, her small frame trembling.

Luffy vaulted over the wall effortlessly, landing near Zoro. Noir and Ihwa followed, the latter landing lightly while Noir stepped with his usual nonchalance, a fresh cigarette dangling from his lips.

"I hear you're a bad guy," Luffy began, his tone light. "At least, that's what everyone says. But being stuck out here like this for everyone to see… are you really as strong as they say?"

Zoro's piercing gaze snapped to him, cold and unforgiving. "Mind your own damn business."

Luffy grinned. "If it were me, I'd starve to death after three days!"

"I'm not as weak-willed as that," Zoro growled.

"Hmm," Noir murmured, stepping closer. He crouched down, studying the ropes binding Zoro to the post. "What are you looking at?" Zoro snarled, his voice low and threatening.

Noir's smirk widened as he leaned closer, his pitch-black eyes with white irises locking with Zoro's. "Back off, ya..." Zoro's eyes narrow as he stares into Noir Sunglasses. "Ya lookin' for a fight, Sunglasses?" After a few moments Noir leans back with a grin on his face.

"Oi! I like this guy, Luffy!" Noir tells him. He turns away from the bound Zoro and comes to an abrupt halt when he calls out.

"Oi...before you go, give me that rice ball."

"Eh? But it's more of a mud ball now," Luffy complains, lifting the squashed remains.

"Just shut up and give it here!" Luffy does as asked, giving the rice ball to Zoro who scarfs it down without protest. "Thank you for the good."

Luffy suddenly picked up the dirtied rice ball from the ground. "Eh? But it's more of a mud ball now," Luffy complains, lifting the squashed remains.

Zoro's expression hardened, but after a moment, he nodded. "Just shut up and give it here!"

Without hesitation, Luffy handed over the rice ball. Zoro ate it without complaint, swallowing the gritty, muddy remains. "Thanks for the food," he muttered gruffly.

Noir chuckled, turning away. "He's got guts, I'll give him that."

Luffy grinned wide. "I like him!"

"Crazy recognizes crazy," Ihwa added, following after Noir with a smirk.

As they moved away, Zoro's voice called out behind them. "Oi, sunglasses. You'd better back up your attitude if you're gonna stand that close to me again."

Noir didn't turn around, but his smirk deepened. "I don't need to back it up, Zoro. It just is."

****************

The midday sun cast its warm glow over Shells Town, its bustling streets alive with vendors and passersby. After parting ways with the Marine base, Rika, the young girl who had offered food to Zoro, led the group toward her mother's small restaurant.

As they walked, Rika recounted the story of how Roronoa Zoro had ended up tied to a post in the Marine base yard. "It was because of that jerk, Helmeppo," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "He brought this wild wolf into town, letting it do whatever it wanted. It even barged into our restaurant, snapping and eating everything. Nobody could stop it…"

She hesitated for a moment, her small fists clenching. "Then Zoro stood up. He beat the wolf down with a bar stool before it could hurt anyone!"

Fubuki, walking beside Noir, raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like something a bad guy would do."

Rika nodded emphatically. "He's not bad! But when Helmeppo tried to stop him, Zoro knocked him out too!"

"That's where it went wrong," Ririka added quietly, walking ahead of the group. she is a woman of average height and weight. She has brown hair that is usually tied back. She wears a light green dress over a dark green shirt and brown sandals. She is Rika's mother.

"Helmeppo threatened to kill Rika and me unless Zoro took responsibility. He made Zoro agree to be tied up in his place for an entire month. If he survives, he'll be set free… or so Helmeppo says."

Yuki clicked her tongue, visibly irritated. "Tch, what a coward. Hiding behind threats just because he got his butt kicked."

Maki adjusted he staff she'd taken from Alvida's ship, the worn wood resting against her shoulder. "I'd like to see this Helmeppo try pulling that nonsense with us," she said with a smirk.

Noir exhaled a plume of smoke as he listened. "This guy sounds like a waste of air," he said flatly.

As they entered the modest restaurant, Rika led the group inside. The cozy atmosphere was marred by the unwelcome sight of Helmeppo, lounging with his boots up on a table. The blonde man sneered, his tone grating as he barked orders.

"Oi, woman, bring me food! And make it snappy!" he yelled, pointing at Rika's mother. "Let us eat for free, too. You owe me for tolerating this dump."

The group exchanged dark glances, Luffy and Maki's tempers already flaring. Helmeppo ignored the growing tension, yawning loudly as he added, "Aah, yeah! I've been pretty bored lately. So I've decided to execute Zoro tomorrow. It should be fun to watch! I hope everyone's looking forward to it!"

The entire room went silent.

In an instant, Luffy crossed the distance between them, delivering a punch so powerful that Helmeppo was sent flying across the restaurant, crashing into a wall and upending several tables in the process.

"Luffy!" Coby shrieked, rushing to grab the straw hat-wearing pirate. "You can't just go around hitting people like that!"

Helmeppo groaned, clutching his jaw as he staggered to his feet. "Y-you hit me?! I'm Captain Morgan's son! You're gonna regret this!"

As if to emphasize his disdain, Maki stepped forward, spinning the battered staff in her hand before swinging it down hard on Helmeppo's head. The wooden staff cracked audibly, though the force of the blow was enough to send him sprawling again.

"You're pathetic," Maki said coldly, tossing the broken Staff aside. "Hiding behind your father while playing tyrant in a small town. Disgusting."

Helmeppo wailed, cradling his head. "Y-you're all dead! My dad's gonna execute you for this!"

Yuki and Fubuki entered the restaurant at that moment, carrying a small pack of cigarettes for Noir. They paused at the scene, watching Helmeppo flail and cry like a child.

Yuki raised an eyebrow. "What's going on here?"

"Just cleaning up some trash," Noir replied, taking the cigarettes from her and lighting one. He took a long drag, the faint smirk on his face hinting at amusement.

Fubuki folded her arms, her expression calm. "Looks like Helmeppo got what was coming to him."

Ihwa, seated next to Noir with her legs crossed, watched the scene unfold with a mixture of boredom and disdain. "Seriously, Maki? A broken Staff?" she asked, tilting her head. "That's just lazy."

"It worked, didn't it?" Maki shot back, leaning the broken Staff against her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Luffy's focus remained on the sniveling Helmeppo. "I've made up my mind," he declared, turning to Coby with unwavering determination. "I'm gonna have Zoro join my crew!"

Coby's jaw dropped. "Are you insane?! You're already in trouble for hitting him! Now you're talking about recruiting Zoro?! He's a pirate hunter!"

"And he's strong," Luffy replied, his grin widening. "That's all that matters."

Noir exhaled another plume of smoke, his eyes glinting with quiet interest. "This just keeps getting more entertaining," he said, standing up and adjusting his sunglasses.

"Let's see if Zoro's really as strong as everyone says."