AN: Thank you for the reviews and favorites!

General Warnings: Self-insert OC, Pirate violence, some AU, harsh language from time to time.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece!

"Ne ne, Drazo-nii look!"

I turned my head toward Luffy's voice, fingers twitching when I saw he had put two sticks up his nose while holding them in place with his lower lip. I sighed and brought a hand up toward his forehead, he went slightly cross-eyed as he tried to follow my hand and I made sure to pause dramatically for effect. "Idiot." I gave his head a push, ignoring the surprised squawk that came from him and he tumbled off the pier and into the water.

"Ah! You meanie!"

I rested my chin on the palm of my hand to watch as he swam toward the shallower part of the water, chuckling as he grumbled in annoyance. As a four year old he could swim surprisingly well, but that's to be expected since I already knew how to swim and was able to spend all my time teaching him. "That's what you get for doing such a foolish thing."

"Mou!"

The past two years passed by rather quickly, especially with Luffy as a brother. Makino had taken to teaching us how to read and write, or tried to at least, Luffy couldn't stay still for more than a moment and I already knew it so we weren't the best students for her to teach. I was rather glad that I didn't have to go to school again, the anime never hinted about school so I only assumed that there weren't very many available. Especially for small town boys like Luffy, they had to rely on the adults to teach them the necessities while learning everything else on their own.

"Drazo-nii! Can you tell me about Gold Roger again? Please?" Luffy sat next to me completely soaked but seeming to have forgotten about being pushed into the water. He sent me a wide-eyed, pleading look that he knew worked every time.

"I've already repeated the story ten times." I complained leaning backward until I fell over and stared up at the sky. "But if you insist..." Damn brats and their puppy dog eyes.

He grinned happily and lay down beside me, dark eyes dancing with excitement.

"There was this really strong pirate name Gol D. Roger..."

I had debated on if telling him about Gold Roger was a good idea or not, but really one story couldn't change much. Roger was a good role model for him, as far as pirates went. Since he was going to want to be a pirate in the future him knowing about one of the best out there was rather important. I didn't want him to think being blood thirsty and just pure evil was okay after all.

Sooner or later Shanks would come though, and then that would lead to him constantly yelling about wanting to be the Pirate King. Shanks was a good role model too, being part of Gold Roger's crew and all, plus he wasn't half bad for a pirate. A childish part of me wondered if maybe he would like me as much as he would like Luffy, Luffy was friendly and just impossible to hate. I supposed as long as I didn't do anything too horrible Shanks wouldn't hate me.

"Oi you two, what are you doing?"

Talking about legendary pirates. Luffy and I turned toward Garp. I had heard news from Makino that he took some time off to stop by earlier, yet it was still a surprise he was able to find us so easily.

"Oji-san!"

Luffy ran toward the Marine with a wide smile, the latter chuckling as he ruffled his hair.

"Ne ne guess what?!" Luffy shouted, jumping up and down excitedly.

"What?"

"I'm going to become a pirate just like Gold Roger!"

Silence.

I snapped my head to stare at my brother with wide eyes, say what?!

"You fool! When did you come up with that conclusion?!" Garp shouted, fist slamming into Luffy's scull, making the small boy face plant into the hard wood of the dock. I winced but other wise tried to stay as quiet as possible, I hoped if he didn't notice me I would be saved from the same fate.

Luffy mumbled something from his position, and though I couldn't hear it I had the sudden urge to run away as fast as possible. Maybe if I swam to the next island...

Garp snapped his head toward my direction and I froze mid-step, a shiver rolling down my spine as I felt his gaze locked onto my smaller form.

"Drazo! What did I say about telling Luffy stories about Pirates?!"

I turned around and smiled sheepishly, inwardly cursing Luffy. Didn't he know how to keep secrets? He knew very well how much Garp disliked Pirates, and how he forbid me from telling Luffy anything about them. He was very, very insistent that we became Marines, mostly because he probably didn't want us to be hunted down the rest of our lives and most likely die young as most Pirates did. Not that it would stop Luffy, or me for that matter, I had no intention of becoming a Marine. Near the later episodes their sense of justice had become so twisted that it really wasn't justice at all.

I would much rather be a dirty, hell-raising pirate who was hated by the people then become someone with a messed up sense of honor.

"Not to?" I replied, starting to wonder how dangerous it would be to turn my back to him so I could dive into the water.

"Exactly! Look what you've done! He thinks he's going to be a pirate!"

I wondered how fast I would be killed if I told him I wanted to be one two. Hmm, yeah it probably wasn't a good idea to say anything, I liked living after all.

Luffy pushed himself up from the wood, face dirty and bruised. "Drazo-nii wants to be one two!"

This time it was a deadly silence.

Idiot! I inwardly screamed, eyes widening as a dark aura surrounded Garp's form. Deciding it was worth the risk I quickly turned toward the water, I leaped forward wishing Luffy the best of luck-

"Ack!" I gagged as the back of my shirt was grabbed, flailing as I was slowly brought up and turned around. I gulped when I was brought face to face with a very unhappy Garp. "Ah, Yo?" I waved awkwardly, trying to smile as innocently as possible. Though it probably didn't work since whenever I smiled it usually sent people running the other direction. "Long time no see Oji-san!"

His eyebrow twitched. "Ah, far too long. I think it's time we start a little family bonding."

I stared at the dark woods cautiously feeling Luffy shuffle closer to me as an unknown animal roared somewhere in the depths. These woods were surely crawling with animals eager to eat four year old children who were going to be thrown in by their loving grandfather.

"So I'll give you a choice," Garp grumbled with his arms folded across his chest. "You can either go in yourself or I can help you."

"Ehh?" Luffy turned to stare at the older man with wide eyes. "You want us to go in there?! We could get eaten!"

As if to prove his point something squealed in the darkness before it was abruptly cut off, making me wince in sympathy.

"The second choice it is, oldest go first."

I didn't even have time to react before I was once again picked up by the back of my shirt. I made sure to send Garp the dirtiest look I could mange before I was sent flying off into the forest at an impressive speed. I panicked for a moment as branches whipped across my face and the wind rushed wildly through my hair. Eventually I started to descend, the air getting knocked out of me as I landed with a small 'thud' on the hard ground face first.

My face stung as I pushed myself up and groaned as the world spun around me. I wanted to kill Garp, who just threw their own grandchild off into the forest? He must have somehow met a certain perverted toad sage and exchanged training techniques. Such as throw your student toward an obviously dangerous situation.

Something big growled behind me making the hair on my arms stand on end. Slowly I turned, coming face to face with what had to be a Tiger on steroids.

Well this life was nice while it lasted.

I stared it directly in the eyes, seeing only a wild ferociousness that couldn't be reasoned with and decided I only had one option.

Run like Hell.

The ravine below us was deep enough we couldn't even see the bottom, jagged rocks decorated the sides undoubtedly sharp enough to stab us right through the gut. A pitch black darkness was all I could see at the bottom, one where I was sure never to see the light of day again if I were to be thrown in.

Luffy shivered, scratches decorating his face from our recent adventure in the jungle. Though he was a brave little kid he had yet to meet Shanks and start becoming the loud, courageous pirate everyone knew and loved. So things like Garps training was a little much for someone of his mindset. He had only recently started becoming obsessed with pirates since I told him stories about Gold Roger so he wasn't quite motivated to go through something as extreme as this.

I wasn't even ready to get thrown off a seemingly ever ending ravine.

"As men you need to know how to get out of even the most terrible of situations, so climbing this ravine will be good practice for what is to come." Garp informed ignoring our obviously terrified faces. "So, who wants to go first?"

Luffy and I stayed silent, maybe if we played dead he'd leave us alone.

The marine huffed and I felt myself lifted in the air, my heart beat picked up and my face paled as I was hung over the side of the cliff. I turned to look at my grandfather, eyes wide in fear. "W-wait! There has to be some other way!" Normally I was a composed, serious person who wasn't affected by many things. This though, I was pretty sure I was going to die.

Garp grinned. "This is just one more step to becoming a man! Face it with courage and determination and you'll be a Marine in no time!"

I hung my head, of course besides training we were also being punished for even thinking about being pirates. Garps intentions were good and I knew he cared about us a lot but this? It was a little much. How in the world did Luffy survive?!

"There's no way we're going to become Marines old man!" Luffy retorted, eyes narrowed as he stared our grandfather down. "Drazo-nii and I are going to explore the world and find the One Piece so I can become Pirate King!"

"Oh?"

Goosebumps raised along my arms as I felt Garps Haki spike violently, it was like being dipped in ice-cold water and then being set in an air-conditioned room with no clothes on. I didn't understand how Luffy couldn't feel the terrifying aura around the older man, maybe because he was so oblivious? My brother knew though that we were in trouble despite his lack of feeling the Haki and instinctually took a few steps back in fear.

Slowly Garp turned to look at me, eyes shadowed. "So you not only told him about pirates but you also talked him into becoming Pirate King?"

I shook my head desperately. "No! That was his idea!" Maybe I should have waited until Shanks arrived to tell Luffy about pirates. Because of my decision I was going to die before I could even accomplish anything.

Our grandfather sighed. "Honestly, children these days."

Then I was falling and staring up at the receding figures of a horrified Luffy and composed Garp.

Well my life was nice while it lasted.

After screaming nearly all the way down and my heart threatening to explode out of my chest I found myself getting drenched as I fell into water. It was freezing cold from having not been touched by sunlight and as soon as I fought my way back up to the surface my teeth started to chatter.

"That bastard." I uncharacteristically snarled, trying to make out anything in the darkness as I kept myself a float. "What's he trying to do, kill me?"

Thankfully the fall wasn't so far that I broke any bones, but parts of my skin burned despite the cold thanks to my ungraceful entrance.

"Drazo-nii are you still alive?!"

I looked up toward Luffy's voice, wincing as it bounced off the walls. "Somehow!" I snorted and started to swim forward deciding I'd end up at a wall eventually. "It's truly a miracle." I guess I was special enough to survive falling down a ravine, hurrah.

Now to figure out how to climb up with my bare hands.

Monkeys, I realized, really hated us even if part of our name had Monkey in it. That or Garp was still using his Jedi mind powers to make the animals be extra rough on us, because there was no way a normal monkey could be so violent.

Or strong for that matter.

"Ouch!"

I flinched as Luffy was once again sent flying by one of the primates fists, my own face throbbing from the fresh bruises I had been given just minutes before. It seemed that since I was the oldest I was always doomed to go first, allowing Luffy to watch in horror as I was tortured by whatever crazy plan Garp made up next.

Honestly going second was probably worse since you knew what was going to happen to you, especially in this situation.

Beside me Garp watched, a wide grin on his features as his Grandson was tossed around and beaten unmercifully. I narrowed my eyes at him but decided to not comment, I knew better then to speak against his training methods. I had more then enough 'Fists of Love' to learn that it was better just to stay quiet around the older man.

He wasn't a bad person, just rather extreme.

Luffy was sent flying our direction by a particularly harsh hit, sending his small body skidding forward, face first, until he reached where Garp was sitting. I instantly trotted to my brother and helped him up, scowling as I spotted the numerous wounds and dirt stains covering my brothers face.

Already used to my mothering Luffy allowed me to do as I pleased and looked up at our Grandfather.

"Oji-san! Why do you want us to fight with these guys?"

Garp leaned down so he was closer to Luffy's height. "It's your training."

"Training? It just makes me hungry and I don't want to get hit anymore."

I held back a snort and stepped back from the small child, after being pummeled by the monkeys on crack Luffy was surprisingly still intact and active. Not that I was surprised by the fact, my brother could be hit by a train and still get up from it with a smile on his face.

"Don't be such a baby!" Garp retorted loudly. "You two have to become the strongest Navy soldiers!"

Luffy's eyebrows furrowed and he glared at the older man without fear. "We're going to become Pirates, not Navy soldiers!"

I stiffened when I felt Garp's eyes focus on me and hesitantly peeked at him from the corner of my eye. Thanks to my brilliant idea of entertaining Luffy with tales of Pirates and the open sea Garp saw it as my fault that my brother wanted to be a pirate. Of course no one knew that Luffy was going to end up wanting to be one sooner then later, I just happened to speed up the process.

Which I was deeply regretting with all of my heart and soul.

"You both are fools!"

We collied to the ground as soon as Garp's large fist hit the top of our heads, Luffy, as loud as he was, yelping in pain while I just grunted and then proceeded to fume.

One day I wouldn't have to constantly worry about kissing the ground whenever Luffy so much as mentioned pirates.

One day.

..

..

.

I couldn't wait for Garp to leave.

Thankfully Garp had to leave due to some Marine business which finally allowed Luffy and I to relax.

I knew that our Grandfather truly cared for us, he didn't want to watch another person he cared about die because of a simple decision. The fact that Luffy and I were his Grandchildren only motivated him further to try and talk us into becoming Marines so he wouldn't have to worry about us.

Even if his methods were tough I respected him, the man had been through a lot during his life. It only made sense that he'd want to see us live to an old age and not constantly be on the run like most pirates.

I also knew that Garp never forced Luffy to join the Marines, though he was rather forceful about it at first he could have been much worse. Heck he could have dragged Luffy down to the Marine base and made him sign up but he never did. Instead he accepted his decision though never to the extent that he was going to be happy with it.

Beside me Luffy sighed and snuggled closer, his small hand gripping onto my shirt with surprising strength. I allowed a small smile to form on my face and ignored the way I couldn't feel my arm thanks to his head.

Being so small Luffy was very hard not to adore, his optimistic personality only drew me to him even more. Really the kid was never depressed, he did cry a lot, but he was always eager to venture outside and see what the world held for him. And if he was then undoubtedly I would get dragged along to join in on whatever mischief he planned on starting that day. I didn't mind though, that's what older brother were for, right? I knew I wasn't actually his brother, I was a stranger who had taken over what should have been his brother, but I still couldn't help but feel connected to the small child.

It had started as the simple feelings of a devoted fan, then slowly evolved as the years passed into something far more strong and protective. He wasn't just Monkey D. Luffy to me anymore, he was my little brother who always got us into trouble and whom I cherished with all of my being.

Was this what it felt like to have a younger sibling? Did everyone feel that they would step in front of a man made of magma without hesitation to save their brother?

Closing my eyes I pushed my face into Luffy's dark locks and allowed myself to drift off.

(Finally after being alone in his past life and dying with only his thoughts as company, he found someone he could protect.)

AN: Finally updated this story lol, sorry for the wait. Anyways I hope you liked the chapter and sorry for any mistakes. Tell me what you think of a possible pairing, I was thinking maybe Law or perhaps even Ace. But if there is a pairing this story isn't going to be romanced based, much like the anime.