Chapter 13: The Pirate King and his Swordsman
Luffy couldn't contain his lips from splitting into a huge grin. So that's what his swordsman looked like.
He was drawn from his musings by a scared cry beside him. Luffy glanced at Coby who had also climbed the wall and was now staring at the pirate hunter with wide eyes full of terror.
"Th-th-that black bandana… Green haramaki… Three earrings… I-it's him! It's Roronoa Zoro!"
Luffy rolled his eyes. "Well, duh." He was sure that no one else could have such an impressive presence in this island. The hatted teen smiled again. "He's my first nakama."
"S-stop joking!" the pinkette paled. "You know nothing about this guy! How can you decide that from one glance?! If you free him, he could kill you!"
"Why would he do that? He's a bounty hunter, right? I still don't have a bounty," Luffy pouted. "Besides, I'm strong too."
Coby let out an exasperated sigh. What the hell was wrong with this guy?
"Oi, you!" Zoro shouted with a hoarse voice and lifted his head to glare at the two kids. "This isn't a zoo! Piss off!"
His glare made Coby's hair stand on end, but Luffy only grinned.
Suddenly his attention was drawn to a young girl who was struggling to squeeze through the gap in the gates on the left side of the execution yard. The pirate curiously watched as a dark brown-haired girl eventually stumbled inside, cautiously looked around, and then sprinted to the tied up prisoner. Luffy noted her tightly bandaged arm, a small bundle of cloth was safely tucked between the straps.
"AHHHH! What are you doing, girl?!" Coby shrieked in total panic. "Luffy-san, she'll get herself killed!"
"Oi, oi, oi!" swordsman also yelled at the same time, there was worry in his voice. "What are you doing here, shorty?! Did you forget what happened yesterday? GO AWAY!" He looked at the two boys on the wall and shouted in their direction, "Get her out of here, you damn brats!"
"But, onii-chan, you haven't eaten anything for more than two weeks. I made some new rice balls for you," she unfolded the bundle, revealing two neatly done rice balls, and smiled proudly. "This time I made them with salt!"
"I'm not hungry, dammit! Go away, before you get hurt again!"
"Well, well, well," the smug voice startled them both. "I thought I heard voices in the yard. Aren't you the same pipsqueak from yesterday?"
The girl froze, all color drained from her face. Zoro growled angrily at the young blonde man who was walking slowly towards them, smirking cockily. Two marine bodyguards trailed behind him. They stopped right in front of the heavily shaking child. The rice balls dropped on the ground, and the girl took a step back.
"Again with these disgusting rice balls?" he screwed up his face in disdain. "I already warned you, and my daddy also said to kill you," he grinned and glanced at one of his lackeys. "You do it."
"B-but, Helmeppo-sama…" the marine stammered.
"Are you trying to disobey me and my daddy, EH?!"
"No, sir! Right away, sir…"
Marine lifted his rifle with trembling hands and pointed it at the girl.
Zoro gritted his teeth. He struggled helplessly against his bindings. "You son of a bitch!" he roared. "STOP! She's just a kid!"
"Oi." A cold voice suddenly pierced through the silence, and they all whipped their heads to look at the straw hatted teen, still comfortably sitting on the wall. "Don't touch that girl."
Helmeppo gulped under the icy glare of the stranger. "W-w-who are you?"
"Name's Monkey D. Luffy," he introduced. His eyes flickered to the petrified child and he smiled warmly at her. "Come here, we'll see you home."
She scurried to him without a second thought. Luffy picked her up gently and moved her to the other side of the fence.
"Coby, lead her home, I'll come in a moment."
"O-okay," the pinkette complied, jumping down from his spot and rushing to the girl who was still deeply shaken.
Luffy turned to the people in the yard again. The marines were still gaping at him, but Zoro had a small, relieved smile on his face.
Luffy scowled. These marines reminded him of the ones he met in that place. No regards or sympathy towards other human beings. He already hated this island, it made him lose his good mood and remember things he'd long since buried.
"S-sir? This kid…"
"Yeah, what about him, lieutenant?"
"He has a slave brand on his back."
"What?! So he's one of those pieces of trash? Tch. No wonder he looks so beaten up. Oi, you, where is your master?"
"He said his name was–"
"Slaves don't have names, lieutenant. Contact the base and tell them to send a message to the Celestial Dragons that one of their runaway pets is here."
"He also has this strange collar around his neck."
"Isn't that collar supposed to blow up when they run away?"
"I think it's made from sea stone, sir."
"A Devil Fruit user, huh? Well, whatever. A slave is a slave."