+~*~*~*~*~*~+

At some point, the three of us need to get off the roof, and with Zoro's help, I reached the ground first. Then he threw Luffy down, and has been dragging him through the streets of the deserted city ever since. There is probably enough space between us and the tavern, but I am more worried about Zoro's wound.

"Ugh, I can't do anything inside this stupid thing," Luffy groans, gripping and pulling at the cage's bars.

"That Buggy must have a key," I poke Luffy's forehead, so he stops chewing on the bars. "You can't eat through it, goof," I giggle.

"I will do whatever it takes to get out of this cage."

Zoro lets go of the cage, collapsing into the dirt without much of a warning.

"Hey, are you okay!" I squeal, rushing to fall to my knees beside the boy.

"Too much blood loss," Zoro chokes out. "I need to rest."

"Let's get you out of the sun, then," I look around for shade, but my eyes land on a dog a meter away from us. "Whoa, hey puppy, what are you doing out here?" I coo, reaching out to gently touch the dog's head.

"A dog!" Luffy perks up.

"I still need a little help, Akari," Zoro groans.

"Oh, yeah, sorry about that," I pull my hand away from the dog. Then I help Zoro scoot over to lean against a wooden beam that is in the shade.

"I don't think that it is real," Luffy has drug himself over to be in front of the dog.

"He was warm when I touched him, and I felt him breathe, so I am pretty sure he's real," I plop down between the two boys. "He's not bothering anyone, so just let him be."

"Why doesn't he move?"

"It's his business what he does, and I really don't care if he moves or not," Zoro rolls his eyes. "Our business is to get you out of that cage."

"Maybe it's dead," Luffy begins to poke the dog between its eyes.

I'm not surprised when the dog snaps and bites Luffy's hand.

"Dumb dog! Let go of me! Let me go!"

I burst into giggles at the scene.

"Luffy, quit playing around!" Zoro screams.

The dog lets go of Luffy who flops down in his cage as Zoro falls on his back mumbling about his blood loss.

"I really wish that I could patch you up, Zoro, but I have no doctor skills."

"I just need rest," Zoro takes a deep breath.

"Not to be rude, but is the middle of the street really the best hiding place your three brains could come up with?" Nami's sweet voice fills my ears.

I look over to see her big brown eyes scanning over us. "Nami, I wondered where you went."

Now that I have time to really take her in, I would say that we are around the same height and build. Though, there is one part of her that is bigger than mine. She's wearing ankle high black boots, an orange mini skirt with two white rings on both sides, and a white t-shirt with blue strips on the torso. To have another girl on the crew would be truly amazing.

"She's our navigator, so she couldn't have gone far," Luffy grins.

"I never agreed to that!" She screams, but composes herself in mere seconds. "Anyways, the reason I am here is to thank you for saving me," she flings a key down towards Luffy.

"The key!" I clap a few times. "You really are a thief, then."

"Yeah, yeah, I got the stupid key, but I had to leave the map and all the treasure."

"I didn't think that I was ever going to get out of this cage," Luffy chuckles.

"The rescue was a success after all," Zoro says through many shallow breaths as he sits up.

Luffy goes to pick up the key, but the motionless dog is a lot quicker than we thought. He grabs the key in his mouth, and in one motion swallows it whole.

All four of us are in various stages of shock.

"That's not food," Luffy grabs the dog by the neck, shaking him around. "Cough that up! I need that!"

"Luffy, please, don't hurt him," I toss pebbles at the boy. "He didn't know any better."

"Damn whippersnappers!" An older man's voice slices through the air. "Don't pick on poor Chou-Chou!"

"Chou-Chou?" I look at the dog that is now fighting with Luffy.

"Who are you, old timer?" Zoro asks.

"Me?" The old man smiles. "I am Boodle, the mayor of this town."

"Do you think you could help him?" I point at Zoro. "He has a bad wound on his side."

"For sure," Mayor Boodle walks over to Zoro. "Come on, son, I'll take you to get looked at."

"I just need rest," Zoro huffs as he stands up, letting the old man help him walk off somewhere.

"So, Chou-Chou, what is your story." I crouch by the dog, scratching under his chin.

"Watch out, Akari, that dog is out for blood," Luffy grabs my arm.

"No he's not," I coo as he licks my hand. "You just made him mad, Luffy. Dogs are gentle creatures."

"Whatever," Luffy grumbles.

"If you are a rubber man, why can't you just stretch yourself thin to get out through the bars?" Nami questions.

"Doesn't work like that," I giggle, sitting back against Luffy's cage.

"The gap is just too little," Luffy lets go of my arm and wraps that arm around my middle.

"What about inflating like a balloon?" Nami places her hands on her hips.

"I don't even think that Luffy knows how to do that," I turn my head to look at Luffy. "That would be cool, though."

"I'm sure that I will always be coming up with new techniques," Luffy says.

"I guess you'll just have to wait until Chou-Chou passes the key," Nami looks away.

"That young man is something else," Boodle says as he returns. "I took him to my house which is close because he assured me that all he needed was to rest. With all the blood that he has lost, I couldn't believe it. I told him a doctor was available in the refugee camp that we have set up, but he wasn't having it."

"How come Chou-Chou is the only one in town?" Luffy asks.

"Why, he's guarding the shop!" Boodle grins. "I come every day to feed him," he sets a bowl of food in front of the dog.

"A guard dog then, what a good boy," I smile.

"For a pet shop?" Nami furrows her eyebrows.

"A good friend of mine was the owner of this store close to ten years ago," Boodle reminiscently smiles. "He and Chou-Chou opened this little pet food store. They made so many good memories here, and so did I. The wounds that you see on him are because of the pirates. He's protecting the store."

"I understand that this store means a lot to his master, but that is just cruel to leave him all alone out here," Nami shakes her head. "Is he at the refugee camp? Is he too scared to be here?"

"No, no he's not," Boodle sighs. "He got sick not too long ago and passed on."

"Poor Chou-Chou," I pout. "Does he not know that his master isn't going to come back?"

"Everybody thinks that he is waiting for his master, but I don't think that is why he stays here. Chou-Chou is smart, and I think he knows his master is dead."

"Then he is guarding the store because of what it meant to his owner," I sigh as Luffy gives me a small squeeze.

"That is what I believe," Boodle begins to smoke on a pipe. "This store is his treasure. I think that Chou-Chou continues to guard the store because it's all that's left of his beloved master. I've been trying to get him to come back with me to the camp, but he refuses to move from that spot. I guess he'd rather starve then leave the post."

Before anyone can say more, the roar of a lion echoes through the air. But it doesn't sound like a normal sized lion.

"What was that?" Nami squeals.

"That could only be Mohji, the Lion Tamer!" Boodle screams.

Nami and Boodle rush off down the street away from the roar.

"Are you going to run, Akari?" Luffy pulls his arm away from me.

"I won't go far, in case you need me," I wink at Luffy, standing up and jogging off down the road.

A lot of commotion happens in the time that I dart off into an alleyway and then look back at where Luffy was. A man with a haircut that makes him look like a teddy bear sits atop a large lion that looks as muscular as the rider. The lion lunges at Luffy for some reason, and the cage breaks like it was made of sticks.

"Finally! I am free!" Luffy jumps up, stretching out his legs.

His happiness doesn't last long as the lion kicks him into a building nearby.

"Guess he taunted them a little too much," I giggle.

The lion growls at little Chou-Chou who guards the pet food store. There is no way he stands a chance.

"Luffy should be nearby, and he can help Chou-Chou," I nod, turning away to jog towards Luffy.

"Kid, you're alive," Boodle exclaims. "How is that even possible? No one should be able to survive that!"

"Eh, no big deal," Luffy shrugs as I step into the street. "Hey, Akari, didn't run too far away, I see."

"That's what I said," I huff.

"Your body went straight through that building, demolished it, and you walked away without a scratch!" Nami frantically points at the destroyed building. "Do you know how crazy that is?"

"Crazy is good," Luffy adjusts his hat.

"Rubber man," I walk up to Luffy, stretching his ear just a tad.

"Why did any of you come to this town anyways?" Boodle asks. "Why take on these pirates?"

"I just figured out why I'm here," Luffy grins. "I am after a map of the Grand Line, and a navigator."

"We should probably go find Zoro before that guy and lion find him," I tug on Luffy's vest.

"That sounds like a good idea," Luffy nods.

"Are you two crazy!?" Boodle is hysterical. "That lion will eat you the next chance it gets."

"Well, it isn't going to have a chance," I wave at Nami and Boodle as Luffy and I walk back in the direction of the Pet Store.

As we get closer to the store, Chou-Chou's barks of anger fill my ears. It's like he is trying to get something to stop, but there's nothing he can really do.

It takes us just a little longer to reach the street, and when I do, I wish that I was dreaming.

"Those bastards," I growl as the Pet Store is engulfed in flames.

Luffy silently walks up to stand near Chou-Chou, shoving his fists into the pocket of his shorts and staring at the fire with no expression on his face.

The fire is too large now to do much else but watch it turn to ash. It breaks my heart that Chou-Chou's treasure is being taken from him after watching over it for so many years. Those pirates that have taken over this town are despicable.

"I'm going to go kick his ass, Akari," Luffy speaks up after a moment of silence. "Stay with the dog, and make sure he isn't too hurt."

"Whatever you say, Captain," I nod, too entranced by the fire to even think of walking away.

Luffy turns and walks away. The anger in him building.

I stand in silence as Chou-Chou stops barking, and we watch the building collapse. It takes quite some time, but the fire putters out eventually and leaves a smoldering pile of rubble.

"Pirates, they're all the same!" Nami's voice slices the silence. "They take away what's most precious and laugh."

"I know a few pirates that would never do that," I glance at Nami before kneeling before Chou-Chou to check out his wounds. "Nothing hurts too bad, does it boy?"

Chou-Chou lets out a fairly positive bark.

"Oh, you are still alive?" Nami scoffs.

I look to see Luffy has returned.

"I was hoping that the lion would eat you!" She glares, and then makes a move to rush Luffy.

Boodle is right there to grab her arms and hold her back.

"I ought to kill you right now!" Nami screams. "Before you can assemble a crew and pillage some town."

I stand up, brushing off my knees.

"You don't stand a chance against me," Luffy sticks his tongue out at Nami as he passes by her.

"Let's have it out right here, then!" She struggles against Boodles hold.

It's then that I notice that Luffy is holding a bag in his hand. A bag of dog food.

"That's all I could save, boy," Luffy sets the bag down in front of Chou-Chou, plopping down next to the dog. "You did good and fought well. I didn't even get to see you in action, but I know you did good."

"You're a hero, Chou-Chou," I smile.

Chou-Chou grabs the bag of dog food with his mouth, trotting away in the direction that must be the refugee camp. He stops just a few meters away, turning back to let out a few barks at us.

"Good luck to you too!" Luffy calls back to him.

Chou-Chou grabs the food once again, and walks off out of our view.

"So, you beat up that lion and the weird guy riding him?" I place my hand on Luffy's shoulder.

"Clobbered them into the ground," Luffy flashes a smile. "After I saw what they did to the Pet Store, I couldn't let them walk away. That was his treasure."

"Hey," Nami carefully approaches us. "Sorry that I yelled earlier."

"That's okay," Luffy stands up, brushing dirt off his jeans and then lifting my hand off his shoulder. "I know that you lost someone to pirates. I understand your anger. I don't need details or anything to get your pain."

"Ugh!" Boodle explodes. "I can't take this anymore! I can't stand by anymore and let their cruel bullying continue. Not after the way Chou-Chou and this kid fought back so bravely! What kind of mayor stands by and watches his town be destroyed?"

"Calm down, mayor," I hold my hands up. "No one is blaming you."

"But sometimes a man needs to do what a man has to do! Isn't that right, son?" He looks at Luffy.

"That's right," Luffy grins. "You said it, pops."

"Don't encourage him!" Nami snaps at Luffy.

"Forty years of hard work!" Boodle continues his rant. "This town was a wilderness when we got here, and we knew it was perfect. It started as just a few houses, but slowly the number grew. We worked hard clearing the land. Over time people came and opened shops. Now look at us! We're a thriving port! Old timers like me built this time for nothing! It's our life's work! This town and its citizens are my treasure. I would be a sorry excuse for a mayor if I didn't attempt to protect them. I'm going to fight!"

As if to signal the start of a fight, a cannon ball blasts right through a nearby house, leaving nothing but a large pile of broken wood.

"My house!" Boodle cries out. "They just ruined my house!"

"Zoro was in there!" I place my hands on the top of my head.

"Could he have survived that?"

"Zoro! Are you alive!" Luffy shouts.

Out of the rubble rises the green-haired swordsman holding his head. "That was one hell of an alarm clock.

"Thank goodness," I let my hands fall.

"How does anyone live through that?" Nami mutters in utter disbelief.

"That tears it!" Boodle slaps his armor covered chest. "I can't take this anymore. I won't lose a second town to those sea rats! Those pirates show up thinking they can do whatever they please, but I won't let them wreck forty years of work. I am the mayor! I will not take this sitting down!"

"Mayor, wait!" Nami and I lunge to grab at the mayor.

"Let go of me girls," he swats at our hands.

"Going and getting yourself kills isn't going to fix anything," I say.

"Yeah, you're just being reckless," Nami adds in.

"I know I'm being reckless!" Boodle bellows, spinning to rip out of our grips. Tears are spilling out of his eyes.

I stand in shock at the outburst of the mayor who up to this point has been fairly levelheaded (unless directed at Luffy). This town is his pride and joy.

"Buggy the Clown!!" He turns and rushes off. "Prepare to face me, the mayor!"

"He was crying," Nami's voice comes out quieter than normal.

"It didn't look that way to me," Luffy looks down for a moment.

"Things are finally getting fun," Zoro smiles.

Luffy chuckles, "Yeah, they are."

"We are going to kick some ass," I grin.

"This is no laughing matter!" Nami is back to her normal self.

"Don't worry, I am not going to let that old man get killed," Luffy smiles.

"How can you just stand there grinning? What are you going to get out of this?"

"Well, we are headed for the Grand Line," Luffy tips his hat back. "We will steal that map back, and then we can go there together!"

"That's right!" I giggle. "We all have dreams, and we are going to reach them by sailing the seas together."

"Join up with us," Luffy holds up his hand. "You do want that map and all the treasure, right?"

"I will not become a pirate," Nami's faces flickers with anger. "How about we just say we are joining forces for now. We'll work together for a common goal," she slaps Luffy's hand.

"The tavern was their base, so I say we go there," I pull out some shurikens from my bag.

"Sounds good," Zoro pulls his bandana off his arm.

"You're coming? What about your wounds?" Nami looks at Zoro with wide eyes.

"They're fine now," Zoro waves her off.

"Impossible!"

"I'm more worried about my reputation than my guts at this very moment," he ties his bandana on his head. "I have a score to settle with those bastards. Let's do this."

"I can't wait," Luffy smirks as he cracks his knuckles.

"You three are out of your minds," Nami places the bottom of her hand to her forehead.

The four of us head off in the direction that the mayor darted. I only know that we are going in the right direction because the yelling from the Buggy Pirates increases as we get closer. If we don't get there in time, the mayor might be done for.

"Keep out of the way of bullets, Akari," Luffy glances at me.

I flash a smirk at the boy, "I think this time will go a lot