There he was with the sun setting quickly over the horizon. People were going home to enjoy their dinners and family time and he had long ago lost complete sight of his friend. With a bit of dejected sigh he stopped and found himself Sitting on the ground as he racked his brain to figure out where she'd be… Looking around at the homes that begun to light up he then smiled his trademark smile to himself upon finding the smallest house in the distance lit up. Why hadn't he thought of it before….
"So you're all his crew?" She looked around at the various personality types strung across her home. Who knew Luffy could attract such an odd crowd.
"Careful…. Too long and it'll burn." The cook all but pushed her out of the way to snatch the pan from her hand and flipped the scallops she had in her pan.
"Sorry, usually I cook for just me so if it burns well I'm the only one to suffer." She apologized but the cook was in a world all his own with no chance of returning or allowing her to return to the stove anytime soon. With a final sigh she sat at the table.
"So, How do you know Luffy, Diamond?" The red head of the group spoke up, as of yet she'd been the most chatty of the group.
"We…" She paused and gave a wistful smile. "We got into trouble together… a lot."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, Luffy was a bit of a loser. He was too chicken to do anything for the longest time and I was the most adventurous, all in the name of Science mind you. Then the story of Gold Roger made its way to us here and Luffy started his dream and from there a rift sort of grew between us." She traced circled into the wooden table. "We had a date to go do something once. He never showed… it was then I knew he'd gone on without me."
"A date? Luffy doesn't act like the dating type." Nami was desperately trying her hardest to lift the spirits in the room.
"He isn't, but I tried anyway, I never thought he'd actually leave and make a name for himself. But enough of me look at this crew he managed to establish. With such diversity no wonder he'd manage to achieve his dream." She smiled and glanced out the window.
"Idiot you don't go touching other people's things!!!" The voice recognized most as Zoro screamed making everyone look in his direction, then the sound of broken glass followed.
"Oops…"
"What broke?" Diamond stood up and looked at the fallen beaker with green ooze just sliding about on the floor. With a crest fallen look crossing her face her head bowed before she lifted it suddenly and began picking the mess up. "I needed this… I'll have to make a new batch…" Upon getting up to retrieve a rag.
"So uhmm, Diamond, Luffy says you're going to be a doctor." Nami uncomfortably sat in her chair unsure if she were to move and help her pick up the broken glass or not."
"Oh not me." She jumped and hissed looking at a bead of blood rise to the surface of her skin. "Blood and I do not go hand in hand." She brought her finger to her mouth sucking on the bead as the atmosphere suddenly shifted from awkward to… eerie. "Luffy's here… someone open the door before I hurt him for breaking it…" As the words left her mouth the door was kicked in followed by his trademark giggle.
"Luffy." She barely flinched when the door was kicked in making all movements seemingly cease. She stood and turned. "Did you just kick in my door?!?" She turned to him as he only smiled. She looked at him grabbed a candlestick holder as she made her way toward him and raised her hand above her head to hit him. Almost expecting him to take the hit everyone tensed for him but he moved grabbed her hand first. With an outraged cry her left hand came around and hit clear across his face. His rubber grasp loosened and she kicked his knee having it bounce back at her. "MONKEY D. LUFFY I SHOULD KILL YOU!" She all but yelled through her gritted teeth.
"Foods ready." Sanji finally announced as the crew noticed the set dinner table… albeit one candlestick holder.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!?" Luffy recovered from the minor hits.
"THE SLAP WAS FOR KICKING IN MY DOOR AND THE KICK WAS FOR LEAVING-" She paused and pursed in her lips. "Just get inside, your friends are all waiting." She turned away from him as he put the broken door back in it place to at least keep some decency.
"It was sheer luck…." a hand reached out with a small bag in hand.
"No… just stupid, he's got only his brother and a lady friend. His heart was bound to return him to her." Another hand came out receiving the bag having the sound of coins resonate from inside. The second hand tossed the bag into the air and heard them clang once more. "This is lighter than what is owed." Eyes turned to the comrade who merely waved him off nonchalantly. The movement in all its carelessness sparked annoyance as the wind captured the silky black locks in a trail behind him. Even though his partner's back was to him he was almost positive that those determined green eyes were fixated upon the moon.
"I'll give it to you later… right now… we've got a task on hand" The raven haired man finally stood, proud of his tall and lanky frame. His white shirt and black pants tenderly clung to the man's flesh so delicately that the gun on his hip looked out of place.
" We are trying to do what many has failed to do… the bounty on his head didn't steadily increase over time for nothing." His voice came out once more, lest not be caught eyeing his partner so freely. A carefree chuckle came as his response and the male turned with a smile, looking more childish than someone who should be feared.
" So you're chickening out on me?"
"No way…"
"Listen to me Vlad, the age of pirates has reached its pinnacle, its got nothing else to do but fall. The winds have changed again… the age of Pirate Hunters and Bounty Hunters alike has begun to rise once more."
"Is Vlad being a baby again, DiMarco?" A female entered the scene. Her tanned flesh made the honey color of her short hair cut pop. Glasses gave her a scholarly look while the rest of her screamed sex kitten with curves to distract anything thing with male hormones, and the white shirt dress she wore did nothing to hide that simple fact.
"Lei, you finally decided to show." Vlad let his eyes freely roam over her body as well.
" Your eyes have a mind of their own." She glared at Vlad's muscle bound form. He only smirked turning his head allowing the moon to reflect off the smooth dome called his head.
"I was right…" Vlad turned his head to look at the home of Fuchsia Town outsider Diamond. " A man wishing to prove his self worth to a woman he cares for always returns."
"You're too much of a romantic…" She walked herself to the edge of the building and looked into the window watching the group eat and talk and laugh so carelessly…"I hate pirates…"