A Pirate's Heart (One Piece fanfic) [EDITING]

27:: Finding More

The island was called Rozentuin*. It was small, but had huge docks were ships of all sizes were bobbing silently on the waves. The port itself was crowded with pedestrian, traders and tourists, bustling through to get what they needed done done.

The streets were crammed with people and venders, trying to sell us stuff we really don’t need (Luffy insisted that we defiantly need a pet turtle- ‘scuse me tortoise- that could do a backflip). Even with the crowds, the place had a certain charm to it. Cobblestone roads with gas lanterns, three story buildings crammed next to each other with the occasional ally, the smell of food and spices wafted to the air,. Mixing with the salty sea breeze and the roses the island was also famous for.

We had five days here, so we decided to just relax once more before we had to go. But when Nami found out there was also a Marine base stationed here, she decided to have us get the supplies first so if we are found out before the Log sets then all we have to do is go into hiding and not worrying about being spot while repacking. She also found out we’ll defiantly need to stock up since the next island, Water 7 was a good month’s away.

“We can finally get the ship repaired!” Usopp yelled happily. This island didn’t have very good shipwrights.

“We can get a shipwright even!” Luffy exclaimed through a mouthful of meat.

“Yeah! We can have another crew member!” Chopper smiled.

“We’ll have nine then. Oi Luffy, you said you wanted ten, right?” I asked as I sipped my apple juice.

The eight of us were crowded at a table in a small, but highly rated restaurant. It was one of those family businesses with its own personal charm, one that attracted customers not only for the food but for the atmosphere in all.

“Uh-huh. Ten.” He gnawed on the tender meat.

“Then two more and your crew will be complete.”

~~

We split into groups after that. The idiot trio wanted to go together, Sanji was using Zoro as a pack mule and Nami and Robin wanted to go . . . girly shopping. They offered me to come along but I declined. I have some business I wanted to get to.

Four days. If Sabo left right when the Log Pose set then I was four days too late. Yet it never hurt to check. I went to different inns, asking about a boy-no, man- with blonde hair and a top hat with a missing tooth.  Each time they shook their head. I asked some local fisherman, busy vendors, small shops and barkeepers. I tried drawing a picture of him but it turned out as a banana with a top hat and cane having tea with Charlie Sheen. Not exactly what my brother looks like . . .

Finally, I got a lead.

“Yeah I saw him. Round eyes and missing tooth, right? He also had a coat with tails, the sleeves rolled up and all,” a bar tender said, scrubbing the polished wood with a filthy rag.

“Oh you did! When did you see him?” my back straightened and my heavy head left my palm.

“He came in here three days ago for a drink. He ordered the strongest sake here and just drank silently in that stool over there.” He pointed to an empty stool at the end of the bar, its leathery seat cracked and worn.

“Did he say anything?”

“Yeah. He told me that he was headed to St Poplar for a mission from his boss.”

“Boss?” I asked.

“He didn’t really tell me much about himself, but I do know he’s a great fighter and handles money well.”