Through Time.

Chapter 1

Maki held the hilt of his sword before dashing past the bandits and swinging his sword. The movement so fast and sudden, nobody could see him move, they only saw the massive sword slice on each of the bandits, as they collapsed to the ground.

Luffy let out a laugh before looking dead at Maki. "Join my crew. Maki." Maki stared him dead in the eyes before speaking up. "I'm not sure I'm fit to be on your crew..." He said quietly. Luffy raised his eyebrows confused. Nami and Usopp also looked confused before the long nosed boy decided to speak up "W-why not? Y-you're incredible Maki!" He exclaimed. Maki silently stared and then looked back at Luffy. "Would you accept me, no matter what?" He asked. Seriousness in his voice. Luffy went serious as well, although playful and energetic. He knew when to be serious as a captain. "Your past doesn't matter to me. I want you on my crew." Luffy stated. Maki stared and then gently turned around, lifting the back of his shirt. The three were confused but they saw a strange red circle tattoo on his back. Nami was the first to speak up "A tattoo?" Maki immediately cut her off "It's the mark of a slave." The mood instantly was killed and the three stopped speaking, only stared. Maki silently pulled his shirt down and faced in front of them. "My goal... Is to seek my own personal revenge. Against the ones who enslaved me. I don't plan on ever changing that. And I will do anything to accomplish it. If you're still willing to have me..." Luffy just smiled "I already said your past doesn't matter to me. Welcome to the crew, Maki."

*

The four walked back to the Going Merry. Nami and Maki walked together. Speaking with ease. In truth. Nami was overjoyed to have someone with competence with her, Maki actually had a brain unlike Zoro and Luffy. Luffy suddenly interrupted their conversation and grinned at Maki. "Man! Another swordsman! You and Zoro are gonna get along great." Maki looked surprised. "I thought you just knew him... He's actually on your crew? The Pirate Hunter?" Maki had assumed the man dubbed "Pirate Hunter" wouldn't ever join a Pirate's crew, especially an unnamed one. Where none of its members had bounties. He looked at his now captain in a little bit of admiration. "He must be quite the guy," He thought. Nami nudged his shoulder. "Don't be too shocked. Zoro has as much brain power as Luffy does." Maki slightly chuckled and finally they had reached the ship. He smiled faintly. It had been a while since he was on a pirate ship.

"Oi. Luffy, who's this?" Zoro asked yawning loudly, standing up and approaching. Luffy just grinned. "This is Maki! Our newest crewmate!" Zoro inspected Maki and smirked, "A sword? You a swordsman too?" He asked to which Maki nodded, "I am." Zoro chuckled "Maki right? I have a feeling we're gonna get a long just fine." He held out his hand and Maki shook it. Zoro then glanced at Luffy. "Oi Luffy! It's good and all we got a new crewmate but we're still missing some vital positions on the crew." Luffy nodded and had a serious expression on his face. "Yep! We need a cook and a musician!" The crew just deadpanned. Usopp spoke up, "A musician?" He asked, Luffy gave him a very serious look "Yep! Pirates sing you know?" The crew just silently stared. "Is he... sane?" Maki spoke up. Just voicing everyone's thoughts. Zoro pat him on the shoulder. "You've joined one hell of a crew, my friend."

Baratie Arc

Maki was sitting on the railing of the ship, staring out into the ocean. Suddenly a loud bang broke him out of his trance and he glanced over, it was Luffy carrying a crate.

"Whew, that's heavy!" Luffy said resting his arms as he looked over the crate, Maki leaned up to see what was inside. "Cannon balls...?" He muttered.

"W-what is that?!" Nami asked putting the book she was reading on her lap. "I found it in the storeroom!" Luffy gave her a grin. "We finally got a cannon, so I thought I'd do some practice." Luffy said pointing to the cannon on the other side of the deck.

"Then just leave it to me!" Usopp grinned. Maki glanced over at him. He seemed quite confident for once, for the limited time Maki has known him. The boy didn't seem to have much confidence in anything. Usopp cut him out of his thoughts when he stated "I believe it was when I was three that I jumped on a cannonball." He said rubbing his chin smirking. Luffy just ignored him asking how the cannon worked. Maki also got uninterested and turned back towards the sea.