30 ZoLu One Shots

A/N: Hello everyone. Sorry I haven't been updating recently. I had everything planned out, but everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked...Joking. XD Avatar: The Last Airbender reference if any of you have never seen the show. Truthfully, I've had a billion things to do lately and I've also been dealing with joint pain due to a practice-gone-bad incident thing during Judo class earlier this year for the past several months, which really does affect my thinking. :P Anyways, since it is now New Years Day, I'm going to write not one, but two chapters and it will be a two-part chapter thing, or whatever you call it, in two point of views: first Luffy, then Zoro. XD

Anyways, I wish everyone a good New Years. Be safe, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE (sorry, had to put that out there), have fun, and enjoy. And Happy New Years, Minna. And Happy Birthday to Ace. :D

Chapter 8

Title: New Years Without You Part 1: Luffy
Paring: Mentions ZoLu and LuffyxSHP nakamaship
Theme: New Years
Rating: K+

Arc: Post-War Arc, Pre-Time Skip
Warning: Slight Chater 1 reference and maybe a bit of angst
Disclaimer(s): I do not own One Piece

It was half an hour 'til midnight in Ruskaina, and til the start of the new year, and both Luffy and Rayleigh were doing a bit more training before they got to relax and enjoy the last few moments of the year. It has been several months since the training has started and Luffy has been doing extraordinarily well, though he still needed to work on his haki a little bit. Otherwise, he was learning a bit more faster than the Dark King had expected.

"Well, I guess now's the best time to take a break," Rayleigh said as he stopped to look at his pocket watch, seeing that it was already five 'til.

"Finally," Luffy sighed in relief as he took his blindfold off, letting it settle around his neck. Knowing Rayleigh, they might continue training sometime after the clock strikes twelve.

The former first mate then took out a bottle of sake and two cups from his coat and placed it on a nearby trunk. "Hey, Rayleigh. Where did you get the bottle of sake from?" Luffy asked. Not once had he seen his mentor leave the island, not even temporarily and he knew that the Kujas aren't allowed on the island at all times during the duration of the training. So it just made the straw hat-wearing pirate wonder.

"None of your business," Rayleigh answered, making the other stick his tounge out at him childishly, but had let it slide, "so," the Dark King continued, "anything in the past year that happened?" This just made Luffy stare at him. "Mmm. Let me rephrase that: Anything good that happened this year that is worth remembering?"

It didn't take too long for Luffy to think about it. "Setting out to sea for the first time and becoming a pirate," he started, "officially becoming Captain the second Zoro agreed to be part of my crew, the first night I had spent with Zoro, when I kicked Arlong's ass for making Nami cry, getting my first bounty, entering the Grand Line, meeting Vivi, the princess of Alabasta, seeing Ace for the first time in three years in Alabasta, kicking Crocodile's ass to save Vivi's country, going to Skypiea, kicking the "Kami", Eneru's, ass for quite a few reasons, getting the Sunny, finally recruited our musician, Brook, learning that I have feelings for Zoro, you know, more than just nakama, and that he feels the same way for me...I guess that's it."

Rayleigh just chuckled. "That's quite a bit," he said, " especially with all the ass-kicking and the time spent with Roronoa. You must really care for him especially."

"Well, I always treat my nakama as equals, so I don't choose favorites," Luffy said, "Zoro is just special." He then looked down, wearing a slightly pained look, "but sadly I don't get to spend the last minutes of the year with them."

The older pirate gave a small smile and then went up to the younger and ruffled his hair a bit. "Not spending these last few moments of the year with your nakama doesn't mean it's the end of the world," he said, "same thing for next year. You just got to hang onto those memories that you have made with them and treasure them. And if that doesn't help, then just imagine them being here with you at this moment. Always remember that no matter how far apart you are, they will always be here." Rayleigh then pointed at Luffy's chest, "same goes for your brothers, as well."

Luffy then smiled, already feeling cheered up.

Now as the last minute started ticking, Rayleigh went ahead and poured the drinks, then gave a cup to Luffy. "Here's for a new year and many more to come," he toasted.

"KAMPAI!" they both then cheered, tapping their glasses together as the clock struck midnight.

Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Luffy thought, and Ace and Sabo. I promise you that this coming year that I will become even stronger. Just you wait. I won't let anything that happened months ago ever happen again. And that's a promise I WILL keep. And, for my crew, I hope you can keep that promise, as well. That way we can go to the New World and achieve our dreams together. Happy New Year, Minna.

A/N: And that is it for part one. A bit short, but it's alright, I guess. I will post part two the moment I get done with it. Anyways, here's a question I'd to ask everyone: What is your New Year's Resolution?

You don't have to answer the question, but I'm just a little curious. Mine...well, I've already accomplished it, though a little earlier than expected. It was to work harder in Judo so I could get promoted, but I already got promoted from white belt to green belt, if you haven't checked my status in my profile recently. Maybe I could change my resolution to getting promoted from green belt to brown belt. :D

And where Rayleigh actually got the sake bottle from: the world may never know. XD And all of what Luffy said about his past adventures were just things that came from the top of my head, so sorry if I missed any epic scenes. And another question: What is your most favorite part(s) that happened in One Piece so far? And what is your least favorite?

My answer for the first question is the Straw Hats reunion is my most favorite of all...for now, if you know what I mean. And my least...well care to take a guess at it, anyone? There is quite a few other than the obvious.