"Luffy! Stop! Are you trying to pick a fight with the entire navy!?” Koby grabbed Luffy’s shoulders, trying to pull him back.
“That bastard…how dare he lie to him!?” Luffy shouted at Helmeppo. His fists clenched in anger.
“Y-you hit me!” Helmeppo whimpered. ”Not even daddy hits me! I'm gonna tell him what you did!!” He stormed off, protected by his bodyguards.
“Don't go crying to papa! Face me yourself, coward!” Luffy yelled, his voice echoing down the street.
“Luffy, calm down. He’s not worth your time.” Ryomen stepped forward, placing a hand on Luffy’s shoulder. “We’ve got more important things to do than picking fights with idiots like him.”
“Yeah, you're right…He's not even worth hitting.” Luffy said, relaxing his stance.
A little girl approached them with wide, grateful eyes. “You were amazing, big brother! I feel a lot better now!”
“That so? Shishishi. Maybe I should have punched him more then.” Luffy grinned.
At that moment, an older woman looking extremely similar to the little girl, came.
“Rika! Get over here!” She said.” You shouldn't be talking to those people.”
“But mommy…he's a good man just like Zoro!” Rika protested.
The woman sighed in frustration. “This again? Come inside, now.”
The little girl gave one last wave before being ushered into the house
Ryomen turned to Luffy. “So, what now?”
“I need to talk to Zoro.” Luffy said resolutely.
…
After a few minutes, they returned to where Zoro was tied up.
“Hey.” Luffy called out.
Zoro glanced at him. “You again...I told you, no.”
“I'm Luffy. If I untie you, will you join my crew?”
Zoro’s expression remained cold. “I’ve got my own mission. It doesn’t involve being a pirate.”
“But you're a bounty hunter. And everyone thinks you're a demon.”
“I don't care what they think…I live by my own code. I've never done anything I regret, and I don't intend to in the future. Which is why I'll never be a pirate!”
“Too bad! I’ve already decided you’re gonna join my crew!”
“I don't care what you've decided!!”
Ryomen stepped forward, arms crossed. “We heard you use swords.”
Zoro eyed him suspiciously. “That’s right.”
“Where are they now?”
“Taken by the captain’s son. Next to my life, those swords are my treasures.”
“That so? Too bad they took em…” Luffy chimed in. “Ahh! I know I'll get your swords back! But you have to join my crew!”
“You little rat!” Zoro shouted in irritation.
Luffy turned, ready to go after Helmeppo, but Ryomen stopped him.
“Luffy, wait. You’re a captain now. You can’t go charging off alone all the time. You’ve got me to rely on now.”
Zoro smirked. “Hmph. Gotta agree with the kid.”
Ryomen shot him a glare. “Not a kid. I’m probably older than you.”
YOU ARE READING
Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides
FanfictionRyomen lived a life of imprisonment. After finally tasting freedom, he decides to join Luffy on his quest to become the Pirate King. Will he fulfill his own dream, or will he give up on his thirst for revenge in exchange for the people he now sees a...
