"Zoro... we might have a problem..." Luffy murmured under his breath after a moment of silence, knowing he was about to get into trouble.
Zoro looked at his companion with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Luffy. We haven't even reached the island... What problem could we possibly have?" he said seriously.
Luffy swallowed and cautiously replied to his terrifying-looking friend, "I don't think I'll be back for a while..."
Zoro was afraid to ask, but he had no choice: "How long is a while?" However, the moment he spoke the words, he realized that he actually hoped it wouldn't be a short while. He hated to admit it, but he needed time. Time to put his world in order, a world that had just been turned upside down less than two weeks ago.
"Well... the last time I heard him like that, he left for..." the younger boy began, counting on his fingers. "Uhhh... You know what? Let's just say it was for a while, because... I don't really remember..." Luffy ducked down and covered his head with his hands, waiting for Zoro to get angry.
The verdet just looked at the boy who would be his future captain: "Don't play dumb, we could probably leave this island in a couple of weeks if we wanted… You just don't know if I'll be staying to look after your friend, the sea monster." Realistically, the two of them could earn enough money to feed themselves for another trip in a month, at most. They already had the boat; they just needed more supplies. Without Levi around, they would certainly go slower, but they could row perfectly well, and he was sure the small vessel was in good enough condition to sail to the next island.
"But we have to wait for him! He's my friend! Besides, we wouldn't know where we were going! Your sense of direction is terrible and you probably don't even know how to read a compass!" Luffy pouted, taking his hands off his head and looking at Zoro with childish indignation on his face.
"IDIOT! MY DIRECTIONS ARE CORRECT! THEY TAKE ME WHERE I NEED TO GO!" Zoro shouted loudly. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "At least listen to me," he began, and Luffy instantly stood up straight, hope shining in his eyes. "I don't mind staying, not at all. However, I have one condition."
Luffy was curious, however, he let the green-haired swordsman continue without interrupting him.
"I want to be alone... For our entire stay on this island," Zoro said, watching his companion for his reaction.
"...What the hell am I supposed to do then?!" Luffy groaned, falling backward and stretching out on the ground.
"I don't know. But can you blame me for needing some time alone?" the swordsman asked seriously. "The conversation we had a while back made me realize this world is more than I thought," he explained. "You say we all have power. You even showed it to me. And now I want to find it. I want to figure it out on my own, and you telling me Levi will be gone for a while gives me the time to do it." He looked Luffy in the eye. "There's something here I need to learn. I can feel it," he concluded, turning his gaze toward the shore.
The teenager in the straw hat saw his friend's glare and knew he couldn't argue. "Fine, I guess I'll have to find something to do." He sighed and lowered his head again. What was he supposed to do all alone?... Well, he'd figure that out later; right now, he was too excited about the new island. A laugh rose in his throat, and he jumped to his feet. Finally, he'd do something fun that wasn't swimming. Well, at least when he found something. "I don't care, Zoro, I'll think of something!" he said, leaping onto the older boy's back and breaking the swordsman's fixed gaze toward the shore.
"Get off me!" he yelled, slapping a grinning Luffy who was hanging off his shoulders. After receiving several blows to the face, the young man let go of the swordsman and grabbed an oar, followed by Zoro.
Still far from the beach, Zoro noticed something interesting. They seemed to be getting closer to the water... It was strange... They couldn't be sinking... Could they? He lowered his gaze and could only sigh, saying nothing as he stopped rowing and crossed his arms in resignation.
On the other side of the boat, Luffy rowed like a madman. He was ready to see the island. The closer they got, the clearer it became where he wanted to go. The trees seemed like a straight line marking the edge of the city, and he understood why. Toward the western edge of the city rose what looked like a vast forest. It had to be. The trees he saw were enormous. Yet, from the distance, he only saw pale gray trunks rising to dark green treetops that hung high above the ground.
Gazing at such a concentration of nature, Luffy couldn't help but remember how much fun it was to hunt and explore the forest back home. He and his brothers had explored everything there was to explore in the mountains when they were children. So, seeing the trees, the teenager was thrilled. Big trees meant big forests, and big forests meant big animals. He loved big animals. Hunting them and making friends with them.
So captivated by the view, Luffy didn't notice the boat slowing considerably. Snapping out of his thoughts, he turned to look at Zoro. "Why the hell aren't you rowing? We'll get there faster if you just…" The straw-hatted teenager trailed off, noticing something odd. His sandals were a little wet. He looked down and sighed, just like his companion.
The boat that had brought them there hadn't survived the journey unscathed. The speed with which Levi had pulled the small vessel had practically destroyed the entire hull. It was a miracle they were still afloat. The water was visible through the bottom of the boat. How neither of them noticed until now, perhaps the world will never know.
Luffy stopped rowing as his trusty boat sank into the water, and once they were both completely submerged, he turned and addressed his friend. "Well, I won't wait for you since you're slow and want to be alone," he said, sticking his tongue out mischievously. Neither of them was going to mention the fact that their boat had just sunk. "But I'll see you in a bit, Zoro! I'll definitely know when Levi gets back!" the younger man exclaimed with his characteristic grin.
Just as the black-haired boy was about to head to the island, Zoro spoke. "I'll be stronger the next time we meet," the swordsman declared, staring intently at his future captain.
It was a statement that made Luffy smile. And that's exactly what it was... a statement. He could sense the conviction in his friend's voice. The straw-hatted teenager smiled to himself. He firmly believed his words. "Well, I'll get stronger too!" he replied. "Next time we meet, let's leave this island and find someone strong to fight! It's been way too long since I fought someone with all my might!"
"I couldn't agree more," Zoro smiled, watching the boy turn towards his destination, "You'd better still be able to beat me when we meet again."
Luffy, however, didn't hear her reply. He had already shot off toward the island.
The swordsman sighed one last time. It was time for the long swim to port.
.
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