𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 || ᴏɴᴇ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ

𝕰𝖆𝖘𝖙 𝕭𝖑𝖚𝖊 𝕾𝖆𝖌𝖆 | ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 𝟻

UPON ARRIVING, Koby tied down the boat as Riona and Luffy got off, stepping onto the small harbor. A smile graced their lips, as they looked at the island in front of them.

"We finally made it!" Luffy threw his hand in the air, his fingering curling into his palm as he walks off. "The navy base city! C'mon, let's go!"

"Calm down, Lu!" Riona murmured, following him close behind. "This Zoro guy is not going anywhere, unless, well, they're killing him, then he's going to the afterlife."

"Rina, how can you say that so calmly?" Koby asked her with a concern expression, a hint of worry lingering in his eyes.

"What? I'm just saying." She glanced at him, an innocent smile gracing her lips as they walked through Shells Town. "No need to be so spooked about it."

"Whether he's dead or not, there's only one way to find out." Luffy smiled, taking a hold of an apple that was on top of a wooden table with various fruits, next to it, the vender was standing there, smiling as she waits for him to pay.

"Seriously, Luffy-san!" Koby snapped, getting slightly annoyed by the pirate's persistence. "You're crazy to want him to join you!"

"I still haven't decided yet." Luffy told him, shoving his hands into his shorts pocket to pay. "Just wanna see if he's a good guy." He finished, taking a bite out of the red apple and turned to Riona when he realized that he doesn't have any money on him.

Knowing that, she let out a sigh and unclasped the small light pink coin purse from the layered chain belt around her waist. She took out a coin and threw it at the seller, who caught it.

"Hey, lady!" Luffy looks at the woman, who is the seller and continues talking. "Do you know if Zoro's at the base?" Once he asked that, everyone around them panicked and stepped away from the trio.

Riona, Luffy and Koby halted their steps, staring at the people with a confuse look. Then, Koby whispered in their ears, "It would seem the name Zoro is taboo here..."

"Is he really that intimidating?" The young woman with raven hair scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she resumed walking. "I'm starting to believe otherwise."

"Roronoa Zoro is a demon disguised as a human." Koby told her, a hint of fear lingered
in his eyes. "No one is exaggerating that fact."

"We'll see about that." She pressed her lips together in a thin line, giving him a look of suspicion, then glanced away with a sigh.

"Even if he's scary looking," Luffy chimed in, walking ahead of them while smiling. "We're still gonna check out the base, besides," He glanced down at the pink haired boy. "You're gonna be a marine, right?"

"Yes..." Koby stuttered out, following close behind. "But I'm not ready yet." He lift up a brow, continuing. "Rumor has it... a guy named
Captain Morgan is at this base, and-"

He cut himself off as the same thing happened when he mentioned the pirate hunter. Luffy laughed, finding all this entertaining. "What a funny town!"

"It's strange," Koby began, quickly moving next to Luffy. "I understand Zoro, but why are they afraid of a navy captain's name? I suddenly feel uneasy about this..."

"You sure they didn't jump just for fun?" An idiot questioned, diving his hands into his pockets, leaving them there.

Annoyed, Riona's brows furrowed upon hearing Luffy's comment. "Lu, who would do such a thing? That's just plain stupid."

"I was about to say the same thing." Koby added in, standing in front of a huge door, Marine written on it. "No one would do that."

A big grin was brought to Luffy's face as he place both hands on his hips, staring down the door. "Alright! This is the place!"

Koby smiled, tears welling in his eyes, getting ready to run down his face. "I'm finally here!" He cried softly, his arm over his glasses. "I guess this is where we part ways, luffy-san, Rina."

"It was only for a short time, but..." He continued with his rant, as Luffy and Riona climbed up
the brick wall, completely ignoring Koby, who noticed this.

"What in the work are you guys doing?!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air as the two cousins gripped the brick without climbing over.

"Now where's this demon?!" Luffy asked, placing his hand over his eyes to cover the sun from hitting his eyesight.

Riona glanced around the area, as Koby began to talk, replying to Luffy's question. "He wouldn't
be out here, I'm sure he's in a prison cell or something..."

"Then, who the hell is that guy?" Riona question, lifting up her right brow as she points to the pirate hunter that was tied up to a tall, wooden post. "That must be the so called Demon."

"What?" Koby quickly went up the wall, holding onto it. He looks ahead, and noticed that the guy is indeed the infamous Roronoa Zoro.

Her eyes narrowed, feeling an unknown an anger as she stared at him. For some reason, Riona doesn't seem too happy about him joining the crew, she's having second thoughts about it.

But then again, her choice is invalid because, in the end of the day, it's all Luffy. Her cousin is the one that decides who joins or not, and he's pretty stubborn.

~•~