So I just realized that Luffy couldn't really swim even before he got his Devil Fruit so I went back in chapter 1 and made a small edit ;)

Also! Happy (belated) Birthday, Luffy!! Lot's of love for the child <3 <3 <3

It was easy to say that Makino was not amused when Luffy returned to the pub. As soon as he pushed past the saloon doors he was met with an angry Makino who was tapping her foot against the wooden floor.

"Luffy," she said sternly, and Luffy knew he was fucked.

"Y-Yes?" He asked, quickly hiding the tiny pouch of beri behind his back.

"Where did you go? I asked you to stay here until I came back, not run off and leave the shop unwatched." The sound of her shoe hitting the floor resounded in the empty pub.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

"You're lucky nothing got stolen, Luffy," Makino said, crossing her arms. "So? Where did you go?"

Luffy gulped, unconsciously stepping back. Makino was giving off a scary aura that made Luffy's instincts scream at him to run. He knew he couldn't lie—his tells were way too obvious—but Luffy didn't want to tell Makino so he could surprise her in the future.

"It's a secret!" Luffy blurted out, breaking out into a cold sweat as the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

"Oh? Is that so?" The tone of her voice sent chills down his spine and he sweated more.

"Yup! Not telling!" Luffy's hand moved on it's own and made a motion of zipping his lips. Luffy regretted the very action.

See, Makino was a very nice and kind person. She was patient and friendly and very understanding and sympathetic. So naturally, people like her were absolutely terrifying when they were angry. It was like Nami when she was angry but ten times worse (except Makino didn't hit him but had an intimidating presence and looked really really disappointed. Luffy didn't know what was worse, getting hit by Nami or having Makino disappointed in him). If both of them got angry at him at the same time he'd probably die.

Apparently he was zoning out again while thinking about that and when he tuned back into reality Makino was kneeling in front of him. She didn't have the scary aura anymore but her eyes showed a bit of concern. Of what?

"Alright, Luffy, but don't run off like that again, okay? Just make sure you tell me where you're going before you do from now, okay?" She lifted her hand and carded it through his hair.

Luffy leaned into the touch and grinned, happy she wasn't mad anymore. "Okay! I promise!"

Makino smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately before standing up again. "Good."

She made her way to the stove where he could smell food cooking. With her back still to him she suddenly said, "Oh, and by the way, no training for a week. I want you to stay where I can see you the whole time."

Luffy's jaw dropped. "Wha- but-!"

Makino interrupted him. "No buts. It's your punishment. Just to make sure you're sincere."

(Of course, Makino knew he was being sincere. She also knew Luffy couldn't lie and was only honest about everything he did. He only hid the truth when it was important. So it wasn't really a punishment, but Makino wanted to watch him for a few days and figure out what was wrong. She was worried and last night hadn't slipped from her mind at all.)

Luffy pouted at her back. He couldn't exactly blame her for doing that, but Luffy never broke his promises! And he wanted to make more money for her the next day. He couldn't tell her that, though, so Luffy only sighed. When Makino was truly set on something she wouldn't back down. While they weren't related, it was a trait he and Makino shared.

"Alright..." He said, still sulking. He decided to go to his room to hide the beri, making sure to hide the pouch from Makino's eyes as he made his way up the stairs.

His room was pretty plain, since he didn't have anything to put in it. He was fine with not decorating it much and it was for the best anyway since it wouldn't be his room forever. Once he left to go to Dadan's it would become a free room in the inn.

Luffy found an empty box and put the pouch of coins in it before pushing it under his bed. He grinned for a moment, thinking about filling the box to the brim, before he remembered that he'd have to wait a while longer for that to happen. Luffy didn't know what he was going to do in the next week. The only things he really did was eating, training, sleeping (sometimes), and helping Makino. He supposed he could keep helping Makino since she said she wanted him to stay where she could see him.

They had lunch in relative silence, occasionally throwing in random comments, when three people walked in as they were cleaning up. They sat at a table and Makino went to take their orders, happy to finally have some customers. Luffy helped her, carefully pouring drinks into glasses (and discreetly taking a sip from the bottle before spitting it out. How did Zoro drink this stuff all the time?) while Makino cooked. He served them their drinks and earned a pat on the head, making him grin happily. They spoke a little bit, Luffy asking questions, them answering, talking some more and then laughing.

It was the first time Luffy did something like this—serving customers with Makino and chatting with them. Whenever customers came Luffy was usually out training. Before the time travel, when he was actually five years old, he used to go around the small village and talk to everyone, befriending almost the entire village. He was more focused on retraining his abilities now so he didn't really do that anymore. He missed it, though, and decided to help Makino like this more.

A few moments later Makino came back with a tray of food in her hands. She set it on the table and Luffy peeked over the edge to look at it, drooling slightly. Makino always made the best food (though Sanji's was better, sorry Makino!) and even though he just ate he felt hungry again. Makino scolded him lightly when she saw him eyeing the food, telling him not to steal other people's meals, and the customers laughed.

There were a few more customers throughout the day (not a lot, Luffy noticed) and he served them and had fun talking to them again. The next thing he knew it was nighttime and they were finishing up dinner. Just as Makino finished eating, she seemed like she remembered something and looked at Luffy.

"Ah, Luffy," she said, and Luffy looked up from his fourth serving to look at her (thanks to his not-rubber body he got fuller faster and he was somewhat glad that he wasn't eating up all their food supplies. They weren't exactly poor but he didn't want to waste Makino's money). "I forgot to tell you, but I need to go to the next island over to resupply the shelves. There's a few types of sake that we're low on and can only be bought on that island."

Luffy's eyes lit up and he quickly swallowed his food. "Really? Can I come, too?"

Makino smiled. "Of course. I can't leave you here by yourself, after all."

The boy cheered, happy to get off the island. It hadn't been too long since Gramps last came to take him on a training trip but the trips were never to another village or city with people. It was usually just a small deserted island with no people on it, and while he liked to explore them it kinda got boring. He was excited to finally go to another island with human beings on it and not dangerous wild animals and plants that were too big to be considered normal.

"Is it a village? Or a big city? Are the buildings tall? How's the food? Are there lots of people? Oh, oh! Is there a fountain? A big fountain? I wanna see a fountain! And eat something!"

Makino laughed and Luffy grinned because he liked making Makino laugh. "Go finish your food before you talk about more food, Luffy!"

Luffy gladly did so and asked more questions when he was done. Makino answered each one individually with the patience of a saint and the smile of a goddess.

———

Makino wasn't without worry, but she was glad Luffy seemed to be alright after the nightmare. She was concerned with the way he wouldn't cry or let out a sound, and the bags under his eyes made her wonder how many times such things had happened.

She decided to sleep with him that night, making sure he was comfortable and warm and sleeping, before going to sleep herself. He didn't have a nightmare again, which she was grateful for, and he looked fine the next day (the bags were still under his eyes but he was as energetic as ever).

(She didn't know that Luffy woke up an hour after she fell asleep, shaking slightly and clinging to her tightly. She didn't know he never went back to sleep.)

They spent most of the day in the pub, sitting in the empty seats and talking. A few hours passed and Luffy brought out some paper and crayons she'd bought him a while back. He asked if she wanted to draw too but she said she was fine with watching.

He drew them first (although a bit crude, but she could tell what it was), Makino in magenta clothes and her hair the darkest green he had and him in red and a scribble of black with what seemed to be a messy straw hat on top. They were in front of the pub and inn, holding hands and smiling while a sign hung over their heads saying 'Partys Bar' in messy handwriting.

Luffy gave it to her and she proudly pinned it to the wall by the bar counter.

He drew some more throughout the day and stopped occasionally to help when some customers came in. She watched him interact with them and make them laugh and it brought a smile to her face.

Luffy was a loud and happy boy, bright as sunshine and drew everyone near. He was very social and talked a lot and made friends easily. He was always like that, from the moment he was able to comprehend things, but after he came back from that trip three months ago he started to change. It wasn't noticeable—it took her this long to truly realize it after all—but he had changed. He didn't cry as much as he used too and knew when and when not to bug someone. He seemed more mature (if mature was the right word for it, maybe grown up or understanding) and had this odd air about him sometimes that made Makino feel like she was standing in front of someone to be feared but respected.

Most of all, he was sad, though he hid it impressively and frustratingly well. The only reason Makino could ever catch a glimpse of it was because she raised the boy. It worried the hell out of her and she didn't know how she could help. There was something about his eyes that made her think he'd lost something—lots of things—important to him, like a bit of his heart was ripped out along with everything he lost. He'd get moments when pain would flash behind those glassy onyx orbs and he would look so, so much older and tired than she'd ever seen someone look before. Like he'd seen hell and didn't know why he was still alive. He seemed much more closed off than before, but open enough for everyone to assume nothing was wrong. Like he'd curled into himself and was distancing himself from others ever so slightly.

Makino didn't understand it. She wanted to, but she didn't know how to ask.

Now though, watching him talk to other people with that bright genuine smile as he asked questions with curiosity shimmering in his eyes, she couldn't help the relief that washed over her. It was like a weight lifting off her chest ever so slightly and her heart warmed at the sight.

One day she would ask him. She'd figure out why he looked so lost and alone when he shouldn't have a reason to. Until then, she'd make sure he felt everything but those emotions. She'd shower him in her love and attention and would continue to care for him like a mother. She would do everything in her power to keep him healthy, smiling, and shining brightly like the tiny sun he was.

During the time there were no customers (which was still most of the time, but there had been a few more customers than usual today), Luffy continued to draw and doodle with his crayons. After his picture for Makino he drew some other things. She watched him for a while, saw him make a small ship with something that looked like a sheep or goat for the figurehead. (Of course, Luffy's drawing skills weren't all that great, but Makino had a trained eye when it came to him.) He set it aside when he was done and drew another ship on a different piece of paper, bigger than the other one and with a sun(?) attached to the bow. Makino left while he was drawing the ship to clean around the bar, and when Luffy asked if she wanted help she declined and let him continue drawing.

At dinner he showed her all his drawings, talking animatedly about the things he drew. One was of Garp with a big fist screaming 'Fist of Love!' It made Makino laugh and Luffy promised to give it to his grandfather when he came back. Another was of two men, one in an orange hat and with no shirt and the other in blue and black and with a top hat. They both had fire around them and just when Makino was about to ask who they were Luffy put the paper away and took out the last one.

"This is my crew!" He said excitedly, holding it up for Makino to see. There were nine colorful figures lined up beside each other on the white sheet.

Luffy pointed at the first of the nine, a man with green hair that seemed to be wearing a haramaki. There were three swords tucked in the haramaki and a scar ran across his chest. "This is Zoro! My first mate! He uses Santouryuu! Three sword style! It's so cool! He can cut through buildings and steel and stuff! He also sleeps a lot and drinks a lot of sake and booze. When he comes you should probably keep him away from the bar!"

Makino chuckled at his enthusiasm as he pointed to the next one, a girl with orange hair and a blue pole in her hand.

"This is Nami! She's my navigator and she really likes money! She knows a lot about the weather and uses her staff to shoot lightning at people! It's awesome! She's also super scary when she gets mad and hits really really hard!" He seemed to wince a little as if imagining something and Makino watched him curiously as he shook his head with a bright grin.

He pointed to the third figure, a man with goggles and a long nose. He was holding a large staff that looked like a slingshot.

"This one's Usopp! He's my sniper and lies a lot, which is cool because I can't lie at all!" He laughed and Makino smiled. "He also likes to build things and helps Franky with his inventions. Franky's this one," he pointed to a blue haired man in a speedo, "but let me show you the others, first!"

Luffy continued talking, rattling on and on about his crewmates. There was Sanji, their perverted cook who worshipped girls, Chopper, a tiny reindeer who was their doctor, Robin, an archaeologist who loved reading, Franky, a cyborg who built the big ship he drew earlier, Brook, a skeleton who was a musician, and Jinbe, a fishman who knew karate. He started telling her stories about them, how he met them and what he did with them as their captain. She laughed a few times, happy that he was happy and amused at his imagination.

Makino helped him pin the pictures to his wall in his room and he smiled fondly at them when they were done. He was getting that odd look in his eyes again, but it seemed soft and relaxed if his smile was anything to go by. It was an expression she had never seen on his face before.

She asked him if he wanted her to sleep with him again and he politely refused. Makino gave him a worried look but Luffy only smiled and assured her that he was fine.

She couldn't really believe him but let him sleep on his own anyway.

———

The next two days were busy. More customers came in and Luffy helped Makino serve them once again, having fun talking and messing around with them. The pub was half full, the most customers they'd had in a while, and Makino seemed happy at the business opportunity.

(Of course, Luffy didn't know that the increase in customers was because of him. Word had gotten around about the cute little serving boy at Partys Bar who was fun to talk to and down right adorable. Makino guessed that was the case but didn't tell him.)

Luffy got a bit more sleep that night but woke up early in the morning, partially because he couldn't go back to sleep and because he was too excited. They were leaving the island for the next few days, after all! They'd only be gone for a day or two but Luffy was excited nonetheless.

He was still up too early, though, and didn't want to wake Makino up yet. The sky was pink and orange outside his window, enough for him to see clearly around his room, and his eyes landed on the drawings on the wall beside his bed. He grinned at them, whispering a good morning to his crew, and sat up on his sheets to get a better look at them.

He wondered what everyone was doing now. Zoro might still be training at that old dojo he used to talk about, Nami was probably with Arlong and stealing money from pirates, Usopp was still in Syrup village telling lies, and Sanji might have met Old Man Zeff already and was helping him build the Baratie. Chopper was probably with that old hag doctor or maybe the other sakura doctor he would talk about sometimes, Robin could have been travelling around the Grand Line or maybe was already with Crocodile, Franky was probably at Water Seven building cool cola cannons, Brook was probably still in that dark foggy place, and Jinbe was with his pirate crew.

Luffy wanted to get everyone together already. He wanted to find them all and get them on his crew and sail the Grand Line all over again. He wanted to save Nami from Arlong and Brook from his loneliness. He wanted to help Robin find a place to call home and people to call family and show Chopper that he could be a pirate, monster or not. He wanted to help Usopp become a warrior of the sea and sail with Franky on his dream ship. He wanted Zoro to become the World's Greatest Swordsman, help Sanji find the All Blue, and see Jinbe's dream of fishmen and people walking in the sun come true.

He wanted to become the Pirate King with them at his side.

But he knew it was too early to find them and he was too weak to get to them. Half of his crew were in the Grand Line and there was no way he could get across the Red Line or the Calm Belt now. Plus, he wanted them to get strong, too, and he wouldn't know how to train their strengths. He didn't know a thing about swordsmanship or navigation, didn't know how to cook or be a doctor. The skills they learned were ones they'd learned without him, but strengthened with him. They'd all gotten strong together on the sea with each challenge they faced.

He couldn't look for them now, but when he was seventeen he'd set off to sea again and gather them up just like before.

Or, at least that was the plan.

———

They left at noon in a fishing boat they rented from one of the fishermen in Foosha. Makino said the island wasn't too far away, just a few hours. She warned him that they'd have to be careful, though, in case any sea kings showed up, but the chances were unlikely.

It wouldn't be a problem, though, since Luffy could keep them away with Conqueror's Haki.

As they glided over the calm waters with Makino at the wheel, Luffy stayed at the front of the boat, peeking through rails that went a bit over his head. He almost climbed onto the bowsprit but Makino stopped him before he did.

Watching the waves split around the hull was a familiar and mesmerizing sight, one he didn't realize he'd missed. It brought back so many memories of days on the Going Merry and Thousand Sunny and Luffy couldn't help the small smile that slipped onto his face.

The trip was a long and quiet one, save for the sound of crashing waves and the light breeze in his ears. Normally, Luffy would have broken the silence by now, complaining about hunger or rambling excitedly about the ocean or island they were going to, but he kept silent, keeping by the bow and watching the sea.

It reminded him of a day back on the Merry, before they went up Reverse Mountain and entered the Grand Line. It was another one of those days where he was quiet and enjoying the small things in his life. He was sitting on the front deck with his back leaning against the bow, watching Usopp tinker on the main deck and Sanji move around in the lounge through the open door. Nami was off in her room doing who knows what and Luffy just sat there with a fond smile. There was a certain atmosphere on the ship that made him feel comfortable and relaxed, similar to the feeling he got when he was with his brothers. That feeling that made him think of home, right where he was supposed to be. He gave no indication of noticing Zoro when the swordsman walked up the small steps and sat beside him.

"I'm surprised you're not running around the ship right now," he said, taking his swords out of his haramaki and propping them up against the railing.

Luffy snickered and glanced at him, noticing the sweat dripping down his brow. "Did you finish training?"

Zoro nodded, wiping the sweat with his hand and leaning back. "Yeah, gonna take a nap."

Luffy snickered again and left it at that, falling back into a silence. He could see Zoro looking at him oddly from the corner of his eye. It was quiet for a few moments before Zoro caved and sat up, leaning forward to take a good look at his face.

"You're acting strange. Stranger than usual, anyway. What's up?"

Luffy hummed and shook his head. "Nothing, just happy."

"Happy?"

He nodded. "Yeah. Happy that I have this," he waved his hand to gesture around the ship. "Happy that I can sail out and have nakama and be the Pirate King. We're all here for our separate goals but we're going to the Grand Line together and we'll get closer than we are now. It's gonna be great."

Zoro raised a brow. "You're getting weirdly sentimental. It's weird."

The captain laughed. "Shishishi! Maybe, but it's true! I waited forever to have this and I'm glad I do now."

His first mate snorted and leaned back again. Luffy turned towards him and gave a half-hearted glare. "Oi, don't make fun of me!"

Zoro grabbed Luffy's face with one hand and pushed it back. "I'm not, dumbass."

He put his arms behind his head and shifted to get comfortable on the wooden floor. Zoro looked out at the deck like Luffy had been and grinned. "Just thought it was funny, s'all. I never thought I'd be a pirate and have this, but I'm glad I do, too."

Luffy remembered thinking Zoro was a huge softy under all that muscle after that. While his first mate was initially cold and distant, he gradually opened up to the crew the longer he was with them. Even though he was usually thickheaded and blunt (and that's saying something if it was coming from Luffy), everyone knew Zoro cared about them and would do anything to protect them. It was the same for everyone in the Straw Hats, really. He never really talked about his past and no one asked. If he ever wanted to talk about it he would, and if he didn't he wouldn't.

Luffy was glad to have Zoro as his first mate. He was undoubtedly loyal and dedicated to the crew. When things were difficult and spirits were down, Zoro was a pillar who supported everyone in his strange Zoro way. He understood things most of the others didn't and always supported Luffy's decision, no matter how crazy it was.

(Even if that decision killed them all, left just them as the last two standing. He never left his side, never stopped struggling with him. He always had his back- even if he had to protect it with his own. Even if he took a spear to the back just for his stupid crazy captain-)

He shook his head hard, forced those thoughts back into the deepest depths of his mind. He looked up at the bright blue sky and watched the clouds drift on the wind.

Luffy couldn't wait to see him again.

———

After hours on the sea they finally arrived at the island with no incident. They docked at the port of Shimotsuki Village and Makino took him by the hand to make sure he didn't get lost. Shimotsuki Village was far bigger than Foosha and there were a lot of people wandering around. They were only at the port, too, so there were probably even more people and buildings.

Makino led him to their inn where they'd be staying for the next two days and made sure he remembered the name in case anything happened. He helped her set down their things and explored the nooks and crannies of the room before deciding he was bored. Makino told him that they could look around for the rest of the day since she'd go on her supply run the next day. Luffy cheered in excitement and ran out of the inn to explore.

"Luffy, come back!" She called after him. "This is a big village! I don't want you to get lost!"

Luffy stopped in the middle of the street and pouted before grinning and running back to her, taking her outstretched hand.

They walked around the streets, looking at the different shops and eating snacks from the various food stalls. Luffy's arms were full of street food that Makino bought for him (he didn't ask for too much since he didn't want to waste her money) and some of the vendors even gave him a little extra. Luffy liked the people in this village.

When they reached the outskirts of the village, Luffy's eyes widened in awe at the vast wheat and rice fields he could see at the base of the mountain. There were people working in the fields that looked like ants from the distance and his eyes trailed the river that wound through the fields.

"Uwaa, it's pretty," he said, and Makino chuckled beside him.

"It is, isn't it? We don't have fields like this back at Foosha. It's a refreshing sight."

Luffy nodded, grinning wide and bright. He suddenly had an idea and turned to Makino.

"Ah! Can we go down there and get a closer look?" He asked, practically bouncing in his steps.

Makino smiled. "I don't see why not. Just don't touch the crops, okay?"

Luffy grinned wider. "Okay!"

He ran down the small hill they were on as Makino followed behind him. He made sure not to stray too far to ease her worries, even though he was looking around excitedly and really wanted to spring off and explore. The rice fields looked so cool and the wheat was almost as tall as him! He could see farmers further off in the distance harvesting the crops and even some oxen helping carry stuff around. It was harvest season soon, so they were probably all preparing.

When Makino caught up Luffy continued to wander around. He waved at farm workers as he passed and they waved back with just as much enthusiasm. The people here were really friendly!

Luffy shouted out cool things he saw to Makino who replied to him as she could until he shot another random observation at her. He'd talk about how tasty the crops looked or how different the trees were here than at Foosha or how much he wanted to ride the ox they passed by. It reminded him of Ucy, the bull from the Colosseum in Dressrosa. Aah, that brought back memories. That was a fun tournament. He saw Sabo there for the first time in years, too!

Somehow he ended up telling Makino about his time in Dressrosa, about the tournament for Ace's fruit and all the friends he made. He told her about the tiny people who were (but weren't) fairies and how there were living toys that were actually humans. He told her that they saved everyone by beating up Mingo and his crew. He told her about how he was suddenly given a fleet even though he didn't want it.

He told her about Torao.

Luffy stopped suddenly and turned his head.

(Makino wondered if his neck broke from the whiplash.)

"Luffy?" Makino asked. "What's wrong?"

He was silent for a few moments, eerily so, until the brightest smile Makino had ever seen formed on his face and his eyes shined in pure utter joy. He quickly shoved all his food in Makino's arms and declared,

"Sorry, Makino! I found a friend and I'm gonna see him right now! 'Shimotsuki Inn,' right? By the port? I'll be back before dinner, I swear!"

before running off in a swirl of dust.

He sprinted through the crop fields and ran up to the mountain's base. In the distance he spotted a dojo amongst the trees, and further behind it he could sense Zoro.

(He said he wouldn't go looking for them purposely, but he never said he'd hold back if he found them by chance.)

———

Water crashed down hard over his head as Zoro sat completely still under the waterfall. He was meditating to clear his mind of any thoughts of losing to Kuina for the 1,984th time and how he still had yet to get a single clean hit on her. (Well there was that one time but that was a fluke so it didn't count.)

He felt closer to beating her, though.

Slightly.

Maybe.

Either way he vowed to win next time. His swordsman pride wouldn't have it any other way.

So he sat there for maybe an hour or two, he couldn't really tell, he'd lost track of time. The only thing in existence was him and the water. The only thing he could hear was the waterfall crashing onto him and into the pond below. The only thing he could feel was the numb coldness that bit at his skin and the energy flowing through his body.

There was nothing beyond that.

Until something came crashing into him.

It was like it ran into him full force, like what he'd seen when the oxen fought sometimes. Instead of flailing legs or sharp hooves to the gut, though, he felt arms wrap around him as he went tumbling back out of the waterfall and into the pond below. Water got lodged in his throat as he kicked to break the surface with the extra weight on him.

Zoro coughed until it felt like his throat was closing up and turned to see what the hell decided to torpedo into his side while he was meditating. Looking down the only thing he saw was a head of jet black hair and small tan shoulders. Realizing it was a kid who interrupted his training, he scowled.

"Oi, you! Who the hell are you? And why the hell did you ruin my training?!"

The words were filled with as much anger and malice he could put in them but it mustn't have been very effective since the kid only looked up at him (it was a boy, Zoro noticed, though a really squishy looking boy) and smiled widely. Zoro narrowed his eyes.

"That was training?" The kid said, an air of carefree happiness surrounding him. "All you were doing was sitting under water. That's not training."

Zoro kicked at the water as he tried to bring them both to shore. "That was training! Very important training! Meditating let's me become one with my surroundings and find inner peace! That way I can use my swords to the best of my ability! All swordsmen should do it!"

The kid didn't say anything for a bit, staying silent as Zoro swam, but when they reached the shore he opened his mouth and said,

"That sounds stupid."

Zoro threw him off him.

He pouted as he hit the ground and crossed his arms, looking disappointed that he couldn't cling onto Zoro longer.

Zoro glared. "Who are you?"

The kid kept pouting, though he looked more thoughtful as he looked at him and Zoro couldn't help but feel like those dark eyes were staring into his soul.

Then the boy blinked and said, "You're short."

Zoro stilled before flushing—he was shorter than most his age and while he wasn't really bothered by it it was still embarrassing when someone brought it up.

"Like you can say anything! You look like you're four, idiot!" He shouted, pointing a finger at the weird kid while he turned his head to hide the red on his face.

The kid hummed. "No. I'm 21."

Zoro turned back and stared.

The kid—seeming to have caught on to his 'the-hell-you-talking-about' look—stilled and rambled, "Five! I mean five! I'm five years old! Not four! Sometimes I forget that."

"That you're not four years old?" He asked.

"That I'm not 21."

Zoro stared.

Maybe he hit his head too hard on his rock hard abs. That would explain why the kid was so damn weird.

"So," Zoro said, "you gonna answer my question or what?"

The brat grinned. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy and you're gonna be my first mate!"

Zoro stared at the dumbass- ah, Luffy, like he'd grown a second head for the third time in the last three minutes.

"What?"

"We're gonna be pirates and travel through the Grand Line and find One Piece with the rest of our crew! I'll be the Pirate King and you'll be the World's Greatest Swordsman!"

Zoro blinked and glared at Luffy accusingly. "How'd you know I wanna be the World's Greatest Swordsman?"

Luffy only laughed. "Silly Zoro! You told me!"

"When? And how'd you know my name?!"

Now Luffy looked confused. "I've always known?"

"Always known-?!" Zoro choked on his words, mildly horrified. "Are you a stalker or something?! Who the hell are you, weirdo?!"

Luffy seemed offended. "I'm not a stalker! And I already told you, I'm Luffy! I'm gonna be the Pirate King!"

"There's no way a brat like you could be the Pirate King!" Zoro declared, still off put by the kid.

"Sure I can!" Luffy said with the tone of someone who was annoyed at being told that same thing so many times. "Just like you can be the World's Greatest Swordsman!"

Zoro stilled at that, because no one ever truly believed in his dream. Most times it was just adults telling him to "do his best" for a childish dream. Some even tried to convince him to find a more realistic dream, not believing he could actually get anywhere near that goal. And really, how could they? He couldn't even beat Kuina once out of the 1,984 times he challenged her. He looked down at Luffy pensively. "What makes you think I'll actually be able to do it?"

"Hah?" Luffy looked up at him, his annoyance visible on his face. Zoro really wanted to punch him. "What makes you think you won't?"

"The fact that I can't even beat my rival yet? I've challenged her almost two thousand times now and I still can't touch her." Zoro grumbled. He wasn't planning on giving up, but sometimes it seemed hard to continue, knowing defeat was the only thing he was ever going to get out of their spars. It was damn frustrating. "I've been going to the damn dojo for years now and I've got nothing to show for it."

"Ah," Luffy said a beat later. "Right. You're weak-Zoro now. I forgot."

Zoro scowled. "I'm not weak! Kuina's just too strong!"

The younger kept going, unfazed by the outburst. "Well if you keep losing just try again next time. You've already been doing that, so there's not much else you have to do. I know how hard it is to lose, though, so I guess I get that."

Zoro's voice made a strangled sound. "Yeah! I've been doing that! But nothing's happening! What's the point of trying again if nothing changes?"

Luffy blinked. "Then get stronger."

Zoro immediately felt like pulling out his hair. Why was he telling him this?

"Why am I telling you this?!"

Luffy grinned. "Because we're nakama and nakama help each other out!"

"We're not nakama! I'm not gonna be a pirate!"

Somehow, his grin got wider.

"Too bad! You already are!"

"I never agreed to that!"

———

Somehow, after Zoro decided he was fed up, he stopped training and went back to the dojo to take a long deserved nap. He wanted to sleep away his annoyance and frustration that came in the form of Luffy (and though that was usually done through training, the brat wasn't letting him do any of that. Sleeping was the only alternative).

Of course, Zoro didn't think he was going to get any sleep either—not with the cause of his frustration following behind him.

"Go away!" He shouted, throwing a glare over his shoulder.

"Don't wanna." Luffy quipped.

Zoro grumbled and trudged on, deciding to keep quiet and hoping the boy would leave when he got bored.

A few seconds later something crawled onto his back.

"You! Get off me!"

"Shishishi!" The crazy thing laughed as he found his way onto Zoro's shoulders.

The older boy stumbled at the sudden weight and growled as he tried to upright himself. Luffy was about only up to his shoulders but it was still big enough for his weight to be considered heavy to Zoro. He'd lifted plenty of heavy boulders before, heavier than Luffy, but the kid crawled up him like a tree so fast that the weight was unexpected.

Zoro grabbed him by his ankles and tried to push him off his shoulders. The attempt was in vain, however, because Luffy held on with an iron grip. He tried again, putting more effort into the push, and Luffy's hands shifted from around his neck to his ears. He yanked at Zoro's ears as Zoro tried to push him off and the swordsman-in-training yelped.

"Ow, hey! Fine, you can stay up there! Just let go of my ears!"

Luffy did as he was told and happily moved his arms back around Zoro's neck. He laughed his weird laugh again as Zoro resigned to his fate and kept walking, hands still around the kid's ankles to make sure he didn't fall off.

Moments later Luffy started rocking in place and kicking his feet out. He sang a weird song about southern and northern islands and idiots and Zoro was distracted enough by the movement that he almost tripped over a stray tree root.

"Dammit Luffy, stay still or I'm gonna run you into a tree!" He hissed, tightening his grip on the ankles and making sure they stayed in place.

"Haha! That won't work on me! I won't feel a- oh wait, right I'm not rubber anymore. Please don't do that."

"Then stay still."

Zoro felt Luffy nod and huffed as the boy continued singing his song, though the kicking and rocking stopped. He still felt like running him into a tree regardless but held back and kept walking.

There was still some ways to go before they made it back to the dojo and Luffy suddenly stopped singing. Instead, he opened his mouth to say,

"Hey Zoro, do you have parents?"

Zoro blinked at the random question and shrugged, Luffy bouncing on his shoulders with the movement. "Dunno. Maybe? I'm an orphan so I wouldn't know. What about you? Got parents?"

Luffy hummed, resting his chin on top of Zoro's head. "I have a dad but I've never seen him before. Don't know about a mom, but Makino's close to one I guess- she raised me after all. Gramps takes care of me sometimes and "trains" me but I swear it's just an excuse to beat me up. I also have brothers! They're really cool and strong and smart! Ah, they don't know I'm their brother yet but I'm working on that!"

Luffy talked about his family and the things they did and Zoro listened. It was kind of interesting in a childish way and he found it funny how the kid didn't stop talking, always finding something new to talk about. He rambled on for minutes and Zoro was barely able to follow but somehow found the mindless blabbering comforting.

"Oh! And Zoro's family too, of course!"

Zoro blinked at that as he tried to make sense of the sentence. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Zoro's nakama and nakama is family! So you're family, stupid Zoro!" Luffy said, adding an extra "idiot" for good measure.

"Oi, I'm no idiot! Nakama just doesn't make you family. What type of pirate even thinks like that?" Zoro said. "Ah, I didn't agree to be your nakama, either!"

Luffy ignored the last statement and frowned. "All pirates should think like that! Shanks told me that anyway and he's a pirate so he'd know! Well, he didn't tell me yet but whatever. I'm also a pirate, though, so I'd know, too!"

Zoro rolled his eyes. "What do you mean by "he didn't tell me yet" if he already told you?"

"It means he didn't tell me yet but he also already did!"

"And that means?"

"I time traveled!"

Zoro deadpanned. "Uh huh. Yeah okay there's no way you're gonna be the Pirate King."

"I will! And you'll be on my crew!"

"I already told you I won't!"

After minutes of arguing, Zoro finally spotted the dojo in the distance. He sprinted to the front gate and stopped just outside it, forcing Luffy off his shoulders and onto the ground.

"Alright," he said, putting his hands on his hips in what he thought was an authoritative pose. Adults used it on him all the time so it probably worked, even if it didn't on him. "This is my home and I'm going to take a nap. You can go home and do whatever it is you do in your free time that isn't bothering me. Bye."

He turned on his heel to walk away but stopped when Luffy said, "I don't know how to get back."

Zoro looked at him. "You're kidding me."

The crazy brat had the audacity to grin. "Nope!"

Zoro was just about to take him by the shoulders and shake the hell out of him when he heard footsteps approaching and turned. Kuina stood there with her bamboo sword over her shoulder and that ever-present frown she always seemed to have (at least when she was looking at him). She raised a brow when she saw Luffy and asked, "What's going on?"

Zoro opened his mouth to respond when Luffy shouted, "AH! It's Smokey's sword lady friend! What are you doing here?"

Kuina looked at him oddly and Zoro turned to his self-proclaimed rival. "What, you know him?"

The girl shook her head. "No. I've never seen him before."

Zoro sighed, writing it off as another one of Luffy's weird quirks, and jabbed a thumb in the boy's direction. "Well, this brat's been following me around and doesn't even know how to get home!"

"I'm not a brat!" Said brat whined. "You're only two years older than me!"

"You even know how old I am?!"

"You told me!"

"No I didn't!"

"Shut up," Kuina said, hitting Zoro on the back of his head with her sword. She turned to Luffy. "Do you know where your home is?"

"I live in Foosha Village. We're visiting so Makino can restock the pub and we'll go back after tomorrow. We're staying at an inn by the port right now." He told her.

"Do you know what it's called?"

"Shimotsuki Inn!"

Kuina hummed, recognizing the name, and turned to Zoro. "Take him back."

"What?" Zoro said intelligently.

"I said take him back. You should know how to get there—all you have to do is stick to the path. Even that should be easy enough for you."

"Why do I have to-" "You're really overestimating him," Luffy interrupted.

Zoro turned on him. "Hah?!"

"Zoro would definitely get lost on the way," the boy said, "He gets lost on straight paths. There's no way he could make a trip down the mountain by himself."

"Oi! I don't get lost that easily!" Zoro was not directionally challenged! He could totally make it to town! "Fine! I'll take you! Just shut up and stop ruining my good name," he grumbled.

Zoro walked off down the path, not giving them any chance to say anything. Behind him he could hear Kuina speaking to Luffy.

"You're right, though. When he was first here he used to get lost around the dojo. When he tried to go to the training room he'd end up in the courtyard. It's why he prefers to train outside. The only place he ever could get to by himself without getting lost was the kitchen."

"Shishishi! That sounds like him!"

"Hey! Get over here already, dammit!" Zoro shouted, absolutely not blushing in embarrassment.

———

Two hours later, with the sun already setting over the ocean, they finally made it to the entrance of the village.

Luffy, who had found his way back onto Zoro's shoulders, laughed. "I told you you'd get lost! I knew it! Hahaha!"

"Stop laughing! The village was moving around!" Zoro shouted, because really, it wasn't his fault the damn thing was avoiding him! He even followed the path but it disappeared under his feet! It was fine though, because he didn't need the stupid thing anyway. He could find Shimotsuki Village himself. And he did—two hours later but he found it nonetheless. "We're here so it's fine isn't it?!"

The brat kept laughing and Zoro grumbled insults at him under his breath, stepping into the town. He barely visited the village, opting to stay at the base of the mountain at the dojo and train his swords. The only time he ever really left was to run some errands, but that was mostly around the first month when he started training at the dojo. They stopped giving him errands when he kept getting "lost" (their words not his).

There weren't many people out now since the sun was setting and people were going home, so the streets were mostly empty. The village was pretty big and there were a lot of winding streets and confusing signs. Lots of things looked the same and he swore he was seeing the same bench.

"Are you lost again?" Luffy asked, tugging lightly on Zoro's hair. Zoro swatted at the hand distractedly but it didn't stop playing with his hair. "I think you're going in circles."

"I'm not, dammit! I just can't find the inn!" He shouted, looking around. That tree looked familiar. So did that food stand. He turned to the boy on his shoulders. "What's the place you're staying at called again?"

"Shimotsuki Inn! By the port!"

Zoro hummed. "By the port, huh?" That would mean the inn would be wherever the air smelled salty, wouldn't it? He sniffed the air and grinned. "Got it!" He exclaimed before running towards the smell.

A few minutes later they were standing in front of a fish market.

"You got lost," Luffy said. It wasn't a question.

Zoro didn't say anything and glared at a dead fish. The damn thing looked like it was laughing at him. Zoro hoped it got fried in oil.

"Oi, kid! Why're you starin' at my fish like it insulted yer mother or somethin'?" Zoro looked up at the man who owned the stand. "If yer gonna buy somethin' ya better make it fast, pipsqueak. Shop's closin'."

"We're not buying anything." Zoro said. A beat. "Wai- hey! I'm not that short!"

The man laughed. "Bwahaha! Sure ya ain't, kiddo!"

Zoro scowled, his cheeks burning.

"Ossan, ossan!" Luffy suddenly shouted, causing both the man and Zoro to look at him. "Zoro keeps getting lost! Do you know where Shimotsuki Inn is?"

"Oi!"

The man rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Shimotsuki Inn, hah? You not from here, squirt?"

Luffy shook his head. "Nope! I'm visiting with Makino so we can get some sake for the pub! She said you can't get it anywhere else!"

The fishmonger grinned wide. "Ain't that the truth! Our sake's some of the best in this Blue! I'd reckon in all the Blues, even!"

"Ooh, is it really?" Luffy asked, sounding awed. Then he grimaced. "Sake tastes nasty, though. I don't like it."

"Bwahaha! Of course ya wouldn't, squirt! Just wait till ya grow big and then you'll see like the rest of us adults!"

"But I was an adult!" Luffy pouted. "It still tasted horrible!"

The fishmonger only laughed harder. "Yer funny, kid!"

Zoro watched the odd exchange with a considering look. Luffy hadn't even met the guy and they were already chatting it up like old friends. He huffed. Guess it was another odd quirk about him, being able to befriend others so easily. Even Kuina didn't seem to dislike him, and she didn't like anyone.

The man calmed down a bit and spoke. "So, directions, right? Well, go down that road there and take a right. You should see the inn some buildings down."

He pointed in the direction he was talking about and Luffy nodded, smiling bright. "Thanks, Fish-ossan! I'll come by with Makino tomorrow and see if we can get anything!"

The man smiled. "That so, hah? Well I'll see ya tomorrow then, squirt!"

"See you!" He laughed in his high voice before patting Zoro's head. "Let's go, Zoro!"

Underneath him, Zoro grumbled. "Yeah, yeah, I got it."

He walked down the road the man directed them to, watching the other shops and stalls beginning to close up. Luffy hummed some odd tune as he bounced lightly on Zoro's shoulders, not hard enough for Zoro to be annoyed so he didn't stop him. When the road split, he took a right, earning a rough tug on his hair from Luffy.

"Zoro! He said right, not left! Right's this way!" Luffy pointed to the opposite direction and Zoro frowned.

"I am going right, idiot. It's this way," he said, continuing down the path.

"Aaaah, Zoro, you're so stubborn!" Luffy said as he climbed off his shoulders. Zoro wanted to argue, because really, if anyone was stubborn it was him. Besides, that fishmonger was facing them when he told them to take a right, so naturally his right would be their left.

The smaller boy took him by the hand and pulled him the other way, laughing. "You're hopeless!"

Zoro raised a brow at that, thinking it sounded more fond than insulting. He really didn't know why this kid was following him everywhere—though he was dragging him now—even though they just met. They weren't exactly friends, maybe acquaintances, but they'd only known each other for a little over two hours. He didn't know what he did to earn that look of admiration and fondness from the boy and he didn't know why he would get this weird look in his eyes with an emotion he couldn't name. Zoro didn't know why he noticed, and he didn't know why he cared. Luffy was friendly and easy to get along with, that much was obvious, but he made an effort to befriend Zoro and stuck to him like glue (though he couldn't say he minded much). The weird little brat wouldn't leave when he told him to and the swordsman-in-training has somehow found himself leading the kid home. Zoro had only met him that day, though, so maybe he was just thinking too hard about it—the kid probably did that with other people, too.

Still, Zoro got the feeling that Luffy was hiding something, and he had no idea what.

The sudden pull on his hand almost made him trip when Luffy decided to pick up speed and sprinted forward. Zoro stumbled a few times (He's fast!) before finding his balance and sprinting to keep up. He hissed.

"Luffy! What the hell?!"

His outburst was met with giggles.

"Look! It's the inn! I want you to meet Makino!"

Zoro looked ahead and saw the inn further ahead, a large sign over the front with 'Shimotsuki Inn' in large bold letters. Huh. So maybe the brat got lucky. The weird fishmonger guy probably gave them faulty directions.

"You're gonna love her!" Luffy said giddily, springing with each step. "Makino's nice and kind and so cool! She's amazing!"

Zoro nodded absently, wondering how the hell someone could be in Luffy's presence for so long and not feel like running up a wall past the first five minutes of interaction. He said this Makino was like a mom to him, hadn't he? She had to have a lot of patience to deal with this energetic ball of Luffy.

When they reached the front of the inn, Luffy burst through the doors without preamble. Zoro almost shouted at him when the door almost hit him in the face but stopped when he saw a woman coming up to them. Luffy looked at her and grinned.

"Makino! Hi!" He laughed, waving at her.

Zoro took one good look at her before recoiling and stepping back. She was petite and pretty, with her wide eyes and dark green hair with a bandana around her head. She seemed kind and unassuming, but Zoro couldn't ignore the dark aura that came off her in waves, his senses screaming threat in his mind. There was a terrifying smile on her face and a glint in her eyes that promised pain.

She was pissed.

Everyone in the room seemed to know that, too, since everyone was sliding away from her and the person at the front desk seemed to be shitting himself.

Everyone but Luffy, that is.

"Makino, I made a friend! Look, this is Zoro! He likes swords!" The dumbass laughed, his idiotic smile wide and ignorant. Makino's eyes slid over to Zoro and he felt a chill crawl up his spine. Her eyes lingered only for a second before looking back at Luffy and he let out the breath that had been caught in his throat. That was scary as shit.

"Luffy," Makino said in a simple tone that didn't give away her obvious anger but carried the same intensity all the same. The temperature in the room dropped to subzero.

With that one word, Luffy seemed to finally tune into the mood of the room and froze, shrinking back a bit. Zoro noted the sheen of sweat that suddenly covered his face and how the boy's grip on his hand tightened.

"Uh," he said after a moment, the sound coming out choked. "Yes..?"

The glint in her eyes intensified and Zoro found himself looking anywhere but at her, keeping his eyes on Luffy and watching as he broke out into a sweat that could fill a pool.

"Why did you run off?" Makino said, the words coming out simply, like she was truly curious.

"Um, well..." Luffy muttered softly, squirming around under her intense gaze.  "Because, uh..."

Makino's foot tapped against the floor and the sound seemed to echo off the walls. "You do remember what you promised me, don't you? How you wouldn't run off anymore without telling me? I was very worried, you know?"

"I did tell you, though! Right before I left! I told you I was going!" Luffy bursted out, before slapping a hand over his traitorous mouth.

"Hmm?" Makino hummed, and Zoro was immediately reminded of a snake hissing. "Yes, I suppose you did. But you don't run off after telling me that."

Luffy shook and, in a flurry of movement, bowed down on the floor in a dogeza.

"I'M SORRY!" He shouted from the floor. Zoro looked at him like he was crazy, but it was probably the only way he could save himself.

Makino stared at him for a few moments before sighing. "Alright, I forgive you. Now get off the floor, it's dirty."

Luffy gladly did so, jumping up in place with a wide grin on his face. The tension of the room finally dissipated and Zoro found himself heaving out a sigh of relief.

Makino patted the dirt off the boy's shorts and said in a motherly tone, "But Luffy, don't ever do that again. This is the first time you've ever been here and you could get lost."

Luffy nodded, his head slightly bowed in shame. "Sorry, Makino. I promise I won't." He then picked up his head, smiling reassuringly. "I won't get lost, though! I'll always find you!"

Makino frowned before sighing and resigning with a soft smile. She ruffled Luffy's hair before turning to Zoro with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry about before. You're Luffy's friend?"

Zoro was about to say that no, they weren't, but the happy look on the smaller boy's face made him rethink and shrug. Why not? It's not like anything bad could happen.

(Oh how he would want to take those words and shove them back down his throat.)

He nodded, looking at her briefly before turning away. While she wasn't angry anymore, she still creeped him out after the whole sudden change in demeanor.

Luffy hopped over and jumped on him, clinging tightly with arms wrapped around his chest and legs around his waist. Zoro grumbled under his breath, pulling his arms out of the hold and refusing to hold him up. He didn't push him off, though—he'd tried enough times before to know that it was a wasted effort.

Apparently his annoyance was showing on his face because Makino laughed, light and with a hand covering her mouth. She took it off a few moments later and smiled at him. Zoro relaxed somewhat.

"Zoro, was it?" She asked, and he nodded in return. "I'm Makino."

Zoro nodded again as Luffy shuffled around and crawled up him like a lizard, finally settling on his shoulders, apparently now his favorite place. "Nice to meet you."

"He's my nakama!" Luffy shouted, happily hugging Zoro's head. Zoro huffed, mumbled that again, no he wasn't, and moved the arms away from his eyes. "He's gonna be on my crew and we're gonna sail out and be Pirate King!"

"You can be Pirate King. I'm gonna be the World's Greatest Swordsman," Zoro said, straightening his back and adjusting the bamboo swords that were still at his waist.

Makino chuckled. "Is that so? Well I wish you both luck." Then she turned to look at Luffy. "It's getting late, now. Get off of Zoro so he can go back home."

Luffy whined. "Whaat? But I want to stay with Zoro! Besides, he won't be able to find his way back!"

"Oi, I can go back just fine!"

Makino shook her head softly, looking at both boys with something akin to both amusement and fondness. "You can see him tomorrow, alright? We're here for another day, after all."

After more coaxing, Luffy finally pouted and slid off Zoro's shoulders and onto the floor. He ran over to Makino and stood beside her, easily slipping his hand into hers. He grinned at Zoro, wide and bright with a hint of reluctance.

"See you tomorrow, Zoro!"

Zoro nodded, giving a small wave as he turned and left the inn.

The sun was setting over the sea and casted dark shadows over the village. The light reflected over the waters in a way that seemed alluring, beckoning to him and resonating within him in a way that he never felt before.

"Sailing out to sea, huh?"

It was quiet as he walked, and he couldn't help thinking he missed that annoying brat already.

Sorry it took so long to finally get this up! I ended up writing a longer chapter, so I hope you enjoyed it!

Join my discord server! https://discord.gg/B8YnWU4