A Long Lost Roronoa [One Piece]

05: Why Are You on the Grand Line?

After the nutritious breakfast, Luffy was on the floor rubbing his bulging stomach, and Usopp belched with his head hanging over the chair. Mei chuckled at their behavior and Franky asked her what she was doing on the island.

Usopp leaned forward, “Yeah, this place is so far uninhabited.”

“It’s because of my work,” Mei replied, picking up some dishes to take to the sink, “I prefer a quiet environment so I won’t have any interruptions.”

“What kind of work do you do?” Chopper gleefully wondered.

Smiling she announced, “I’m a smith. I excel as weapon-smith.”

“Is that the same as a blacksmith?” the musician wondered.

Shaking her head, “No, they’re completely different.”

Nami’s mind suddenly flashed back to the house with the drawings of weapons, “Do you live in a small wooden house in the forest?”

Surprised the smith questioned, “You saw it?”

“Yup,” Luffy interjected, “There was also a huge wolf.”

Mei’s eyes widened and she leaned forward, both hands flat on the table, “Really?! He’s still there?!”

“Yup,” the captain repeated.

With a relieved smile, Mei exhaled, “That’s good to hear.”

From the kitchen, Sanji turned half his body around and asked, “You know him Mei?”

“Yeah, I’ve raised him since he was a pup. I didn’t expect him to stay at the house so patiently.”

With a sweat drop, Usopp thought, ‘Don’t tell me…’

Mei continued, “Usually he accompanies me outside of the illusion, but I think it was a few weeks ago when I left to stock up food supplies and I thought he was behind me. But when I looked back he wasn’t there.”

Sweat drops appeared on the rest of the crew, except Luffy and Zoro, as they thought, ‘I knew it…’

“At first I thought he was lost so I searched for him, but after a couple of hours I didn’t know where I was. I’m directionally challenged and it didn’t help that my own illusion tricked me.”

Luffy laughed uncontrollably, “Just like Zoro!”

In response to Luffy’s laughter, the swordsman glared.

“Except the marimo doesn’t admit it,” Sanji said.

“Shut up!” he snapped.

Mei joined in with Luffy’s laughter, but was soon interrupted by three objects sailing in the air towards her. Catching them she was surprised to see that she held her brother’s swords.  Looking at him the female Roronoa saw his arms crossed and stared in the opposite direction.

“Since you’re a smith, why don’t you do your job?”

Flabbergasted, she stuttered, “Really?”

He grunted with a slight nod.

Mei’s eyes glowed and a smile grew on her face. Holding the three Meito’s close to her chest, “Nii-san! Arigatou~”

A light blush crept up Zoro’s cheeks.

“Mei-sis,” the cyborg said, pointing his finger downwards, “You can use my tools in the workshop if you like.”

“You can also use my USOPP Factory,” the long nosed man added, emphasizing his name.

Mei thanked them and rushed to her brother to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before she darted outside.