Raya's POV

Sooo... wanna take a guess as to how Luffy dealt with the Marines?

Did he talk camly and rationally with them, try to convince them we're not a threat? Pft. Yeah right.

Did we high tail it out of there, because God knows we've had enough of the Marines? No, but I wasn't expecting that in the first place.

Did he bounce a cannonball off his over-inflated stomach, consequently shooting said cannonball into the restauraunt and nearly killing a bunch of people? BINGO!

Of course, Luffy was horrified and immediately went to talk with Zeff about his punishment. And while it didn't surprise me, per say, I still wasn't used to how unpiratelike he could be.

And this is what I'm thinking about as I follow Nami, Usopp and Zoro into Baratie. Johnny and Yosaku offered to watch the ship, for which I am eternally grateful. I could not imagine eating lunch in public with those two baka.

The four of us take a seat at a table that's unoccupied. I sit next to Nami and Zoro so that Nami is nowhere near the Swordsman. Because, apparently, she can't stand Zoro OR Luffy when they eat. I snicker at that, but honestly, I've seen her drink. Girl can pack more sake into her than even Zoro! And he has an inhuman tolerance for alcohol.

I know this because two nights ago, Zoro and Johnny had a drinking party, something about celebrating old memories, which quickly escalated into a contest. Johnny passed out after about five bottles. That's when I had the GREAT idea to dare Nami to take Zoro on. She agreed, but only if I would do it too.

I was out of it after my sixth bottle, so at least I beat Johnny. Anyway, Zoro and Nami were even until their twelfth bottle, or so Usopp tells me. Then Zoro muttered "I quit" and--I'm not sure if this really happened because it IS Usopp who told me, and it easily could have been Luffy--carried me below deck to my hammock.

Which is where I woke up the next day with a MASSIVE hangover. Yeah, I'm pretty much done with alcohol for the rest of my life.

Zoro on the other hand? He was just pissed that we ran out of sake.

"Can I help you Mademoiselle?"

I'm startled from my thoughts by a tall, long-legged blonde man, who has to have the coolest looking eyebrow I've ever seen. It's all curled and just plain awesome.

God, I think Luffy is rubbing off on me...

"Uh, I'm not hungry," I mumble. Immediately, the man's cool demeanor is cast aside, replaced by demented adoration. Huge pink hearts appear in his eyes, his face pulled at unnatural angles, his hands clasped a little ways from his face.

Ah, I believe people call this "swooning".

"Ah!" the man cries, closing both his hands around one of my own. "The beauty even has the voice of an angel!"

Voice of a... what now?

And did he just say... beauty?

Is this guy high?

I blink at him and he turns flirtatious in an instant. He leans closer to me and says, in what he must think of as a charming voice, "Your beauty no knows no bounds, my dear! Your eyes, like twin roses, as delicate as flowers!"

This is where Zoro barks out a laugh, and honestly? I agree with him. My eyes... delicate? Ever heard the phrase, "if looks could kill" Blondie?

And this is where I voice my thoughts. "What kind of drugs are you on?" And I'm completely serious about this question, because right now I'm fearing for this guy's sanity.

But this man doesn't seem to hear the tone of my voice.

"The only drug I require is your love, my dear!"

A sword appears in front of my face, between my own and the blonde man's, just as he leans forward to... I don't want to know what.

"Oi, can't you see she's not interested, Dartboard Brow?"

Thank you God, for Zoro and his quick thinking.

The blonde man, though, I don't think he registers either Zoro's words or his sword. He just continues staring at me with hearts in his eyes, until his eyes slide to the bandages adorning my left shoulder, the ones that also wrap around my chest.

"Who would dare harm such a beautiful woman?" he demands, eyes full of fire, immediately turning to Zoro, who stares back at him blankly. "You, Moss Head! How could you do such a thing?!"

Oh holy crap, this won't turn out well. Before Zoro can respond, I jump from my chair and step in front of the blonde man, who I think is our waiter. I guess he's attractive, in his full piece suit and blue, pinstripe button down shirt. But again, I really hate smoking.

"Wait!" I say, grabbing his attention so that he doesn't try to murder Zoro. "I got this wound from the Marines, not Zoro!" I don't add in that I got the wound for saving Zoro's ass; that will no doubt only make this chivalrous man angrier.

But as his gaze flicks to me, he returns to his charming, albeit mentally wrecked, self. "My mistake, my lovely," he says, gently pulling me back into my chair. Er, I don't really like the touchy-touchy, but I won't complain. As long as he doesn't pick any more fights with Zoro, that is.

As soon as this guy is done fawning over Nami, and leaves to retrieve our free food (well mine and Nami's anyway. Sanji, the waiter, made it very clear that both Usopp and Zoro still have to pay) I let my head collide with the table.

"Oh it wasn't that bad," Nami comments. I would glare at her, but I don't feel like lifting my head to face the world just yet. So instead, I say, "For you maybe. He wasn't lying to you and being a total creeper."

"What do you mean, lying?" Usopp asks curiously.

I laugh bitterly, before speaking against the table cloth. "Here are four words that answer your question, my friend." I lift my hand, counting off each word on my fingers. "I. Am. Not. Beautiful. Actually, substitute any word that means attractive in for 'beautiful' and that'll work too."

There's a long awkward silence that follows my statement that makes me glad I've kept my head down this entire time. Then Nami says, "Raya, you're selling yourself short. And lift your head off the table. People are looking."

I grudgingly raise my head, narrowing my eyes at my orange-haired nakama. "Can we just end this conversation? It's giving me a headache."

"Same here," Zoro mutters, and everyone but me scowls at him.

I jump as I feel hands land on my shoulders. Damn. It's Sanji again, and he is entirely too close to me. "Nami-chan, I've brought your food~" he sings, swooning towards her, plate in hand. He serves her the steaming hot plate, along with a top notch glass of wine, explaining to her what the meal consists of.

Groaning, I scoot my chair closer to Zoro, since he's the farthest away from the lovesick puppy.

I lean my elbows on the table, my head in my hands, not caring if its considered bad manners. "How does a man like this exist?" I wonder out loud. Zoro laughs, and I feel him lean back and place an arm on the back of my chair. "He'a definitely a freak," he agrees, just as Sanji turns to me. I hear him gasp, almost in anger, it sounds like. So I peek at him over my hands to see him staring daggers at Zoro.

Well crap.

Apparently Sanji gets jealous when another man is even NEAR a woman. Just what I needed.

I don't even bother explaining that there's nothing going on with me and Zoro; I just groan and fold my arms on the table, dropping my head onto them. "Can you please just bother Nami?" I plead, my words muffled greatly. "She actually enjoys the attention."

He doesn't even listen to a word I've said. "Hey! Moss Ball, remove your arm from the lady's chair!"

"Why?" is Zoro's bored reply.

You know, why. As in, why the HELL did I ever decide to get out bed this morning? Or, why don't I just grab the sword strapped to my hip and stab Sanji in the eye? Or, even better, why don't I just leave?

I like that idea. I'm going to roll with it.

I get to my feet, kicking my chair back and probably making a scene. But who the hell cares? I'm in a mood right now, and I'm still blaming Yosaku and Johnny for it. "Enjoy the meal you three," I say, trying to bring out even a minuscule amount of politeness. "I'm gonna go wait on the ship."

I wave off their questions, shove my hands into my pockets, and start to walk out the door.

"Gum Gum Pistol!"

Something slams into my back and I'm rocketed forward, right into the ocean.

"Aw hell!" I shout, hitting the water hard enough to wrench my injured shoulder back painfully. Even if I COULD still swim, I doubt I'd be able to with my arm like this. So sink to Davy Jones' Locker I shall.

Third Person POV

"Dammit Luffy!" Zoro growls at his captain, before dropping his three katanas on the table and racing out the door, diving after Raya.

Luffy had just clashed with a customer while working busboy duty. Luffy had dropped one two many of the man's plates, and he'd snapped, lunging at the Straw Hat captain with the intent to kill.

Luffy had, of course, fought back, pounding the man with his Gum Gum Pistol. But alas, one of his punches missed and Raya became his unwilling target.

Now the captain stands worriedly beside his nakama, waiting for Zoro to resurface with the pink eyed girl.

Sanji, having seen the misfired punch coming but unable to do anything about it, slams his foot down on Luffy's head. "Moron!" he yells. "I can't believe you did that!"

"Hey!" a weak voice shouts back. "You can't talk to my captain like that. Only the crew can!"

Everyone, including the other customers and cooks, snap their attentions to the patio just outside the doorway. There, a spluttering Raya is supported by Zoro, keeping her shaking form steady.

Raya slumps against Zoro's chest, feeling drained from her experience in the water. She never realized just how badly the ocean affected a Devil Fruit user, and she wonders if it's the same for everyone.

She sighs tiredly as she pushes away from Zoro and manages to climb to her feet. Momentarily panicked, she relaxes when she places her hand on the hilt of her father's sword.

"Thank you, you know, again," she says to Zoro as he stands beside her, ready to catch her if she was too weak to stand. He shrugs, relieved he could finally repay his debt for her pushing him out of the way of the cannonball.

Raya attempts to walk back into Baratie, having decided that she needs to inform her captain that she is in fact alright. But... she fails miserably. Her strength still drained from her unplanned dip in the ocean, her legs give out and she crumples to the ground, only to have Zoro catch her, arms wrapped around her waist.

Sanji watches all this with anime tears rolling down his cheeks, biting the napkin he's holding for dear life. Why couldn't HE have been the one to save sweet Raya's life? Then it would be HIM she was clutching!

Usopp's POV

Phew! Good job Zoro! You saved Raya again. I would have gone to help, but I have can't-risk-my-life-in-possibly-shark-infested-waters disease! But everything's fine, cause we have Zoro to rescue our Devil Fruit users!

"Gah! Why will she let Moss Head near her when she won't for me?!"

I look over at Sanji, still miffed at him for playing favorites with the girls. Why give them free food and not me and Zoro? It's ridiculous!

Actually, the guy seems a little pervy, so maybe I don't want special attention from him.

It's obvious he has a thing for Raya and Nami, and possibly every other woman on the planet. But he's out of luck if he thinks he can convince Raya to like him like that.

I grab onto Sanji's arm and pull him towards me. He glares at me, but I ignore the look. "How about I give you some advice?" I say, and he gives me a puzzled look. "Give up on Raya."

He practically explodes!

He yells insult after insult at me, something about me having no idea about to win the hearts of women. Internally, I'm freakin out! This guy is totally going to pulverize me!

Outside, however, I'm all calm and cool. I smile smugly at him, hands on my hips, and lean closer to him to say, "She likes Roronoa Zoro."

Nami, beside me, blanches at my words. She stares at me like she is fully prepared to rip my head from my shoulders. Ah! What did I do?!

Then Nami turns to Sanji with a winning smile. "Don't listen to Usopp, everything out of his mouth is a ridiculous lie."

My cheeks flame and I get to my feet angrily. "T-that's not true!" I insist, as Sanji stares adoringly at Nami. Why, I don't know. Nami scares me, and I'm not sure why this weird guy likes her so much. Raya on the other hand... Yeah she can be rude and she isn't at all afraid of Zoro, which REALLY scares me... But man, is she a looker!

"And that was the honest truth!" I exclaim, pulling myself from my thoughts about Raya's... er, hotness. "I heard her say it myself--"

I yelp as Nami wraps an arm around my neck and drags me closer to her, her face taking on that menacing look she gives to people who owe her money.

"Were you eavesdropping the other day?" she asks in a low, calm whisper. Shaking like crazy, I stammer "I-I didn't m-mean to! I was just w-walking by and I heard Raya say that she has a crush on Zoro! I swear!.... Don't kill me!" I add in a tiny whimper.

Nami looks straight into my eyes, deadly serious. "Do not, under any circumstances, breathe a word of what you heard to ANYONE, got it?"

I nod my head vigorously, sweating buckets. She releases her hold on me and turns back to Sanji. "Sorry!" she chirps charmingly. "He's a compulsive liar! Can't believe a word he says!" She then jab me in the side with her elbow, and like the whipped dog I am, I nod and say, "Yeah! Never said a true sentence in my life!" Both Nami and I tack on a nervous laugh to the end of my sentence. But Sanji seems to believe me, calling out, "I'll do anything for you Raya-chan~" Well to be honest he more like sang it.

I snap my head towards the doorway in time to see Raya, still in Zoro's arms, face palm. He laughs at her, and she scowls up at him. But the scowl quickly becomes a laugh as he says something to her, the smile overtaking her annoyance with Sanji and making her pretty face light up.

Ha! I KNEW she liked him! Ah, that actually kind if sucks, because now she'll never go for be famous Captain Usopp, and my 80,000 crew members!

Oh well, at least she'll be happy.

I swing my attention back to the others, when I notice the weird, confused look on Luffy's face, as he watches Raya and Zoro. I mean, it's not weird for him to be confused, but it's different this time, like he's confused about one of his own thoughts, and not something someone said. His hands reaches up for his hat and he grips the old thing tightly, like he needs something to hold on to.

................

I hope my captain's ok....