Title : One Piece At A Time

Rating : M

Pairing : Luffy/F?

Timeline : Episode One

Summary : Luffy eats the Kuro Kuro fruit as a
small child, changing the course of his pirate
career, and the way he'll handle his search for
freedom.

Disclaimer: I wish they did belong to me, but
they don't.

00000
Prologue
00000

Garp glared heatedly at his old friend and boss.
The goat loving Fleet Admiral was interefering
with his spending time with his cute little
grandson. Time better spent training him to be
an iron hard marine.

He'd been trapped on his ship for the last five
months putting up with whiny grunts who couldn't
wipe their own noses. Now, finally, his leave
was starting. Except the stupid seagull wearing
Buddha had dragged him into his office for some
assignment someone else could do it.

" DID YOU NOT HEAR ME? " Sengoku yelled, slamming
the small treasure chest shaped box onto the
desk. " We finally located the Yami Yami fruits
twin fruit the Koru Koru fruit. The one fruit
capable of battling against the Yami fruits
powers! With this fruit the Marines will
rise in their fight in Absolute Justice! I want
you to take this to the Inaguaration Ceremony
in Logue town immediately. "

" NO! I'M ON LEAVE! " Garp roared. " Get that
lazy bastard Ka... ! "

" GARP! " Sengoku's eyes went white, tossing
his desk into the wall.

Garp growled back and prepared to fight. He had
a grandson waiting for him.

00000

Luffy sat cross legged next to a wall outside
Party's Bar, his arms crossed, and a large
pout on his face. Ji-chan had dragged him out
of bed at three in the morning for training.
Not letting him eat, or use the bathroom.

His stomach groaned in protest, drawing a
sigh. The boys eyes scanned the small chest
next to him. Ji-chan had left it with him.
All the man had said was for him to protect
it.

A loud roar came from his stomach again.
Maybe it was some sort of super secret food.
After all, Ji-chan and the Marines he brought
with him always had food of some kind. Plus,
Ji-chan had been in the bar for forever, and
ever.

Nodding to himself, he lifted the lid. Drops
of drool fell at the sight of a small kiwi
sized fruit. It was covered in drop like shapes
of different colors, and sizes.

Luffy quickly popped it into his mouth and
swallowed it whole.

" Ugh. " He stuck his tongue out, then
sighed. " It was barely a bite. "

" Ahhhh! "

He glanced up absently at his screaming Ji-chan.
The man turning purple in fury as his face
screwed up at the sight of the empty box.

" You baka! " Garp bellowed. " YOU ATE THE
KURO KURO FRUIT! "

Luffy blinked at the fists of his Ji-Chan and
took off down the dirt road as fast as his
short legs would take him. " Not the fist of
Love, Ji-Chan! "

00000

" Luffy? " An older voice cried out. "Monkey
D. Luffy? "

Luffy paused mid-bite, lowering the baked potato
back to his plate. He lifted his head to study
the man curiously. The boy had no idea what age
the man was, but he seemed to be in his middle
ages. Dressed for fishing, or diving work.

" Yeah. "

" Are the rumors true? " The man trembled.
" You ate the Kuro Fruit? "

" Ah. " Luffy nodded once. Ji-Chan had been
both furious, and proud. Furious because of
the trouble he was in for letting Luffy near
the fruit in the first place. Proud because
of the kind of Marine the fruit could make
Luffy.

Though, Luffy was going to be a pirate.

" Please, I beg you. " The man bowed. " Use
it on me. "

" You're Aki. " Makino placed a glass she was
cleaning up. " You're a fisherman. "

" I was, specializing in diving. " He explained.
" However, two months ago, I accidentally ate
the Hyou Hyou fruit. Therefore I can no longer
continue my career, or support my family. "

Luffy would help him, but he was also curious.

" Hyou? " He slid off the bar stool and approached
the man.

" The pocket fruit. " Aki kneeled down to him.
" I can create infinte pockets, make the pockets
on my clothes as deep as I want, or connect them
to other peoples pockets. "

" Sugoi! " Luffy got stars in his eyes.

" Will you help me? " Aki asked.

" Hai. " Luffy laid his hand on Aki's arm.

He scrunched up his face in concentration, and
activated his powers. The Absorbtion fruit pulled
the Hyou into his body easily but pain rolled
through his skin as he backed away. Sweat slowly
beaded it's way to the surface, running faster
and faster.

Falling to his knees he let the Hyou explode
throughout his body as it tried to combine.
But despite how dull he could be, something told
him, it wouldn't be easy.

00000

Luffy happily raced through town. One of the
town dogs on his heels. His Ji-chan was far
away which meant no Fist of Love for a while,
or being thrown into the darkest parts of the
islands forest, or off bottomless cliffs, or...

"...help... "

The small boy slowed down beside the harbor and
cocked his head at the strange looking man. His
skin was orange and stripped. Webbing covered
his hands and feet. There were gills on his neck.

Oh, and he was really beat up.

" Yo, Ji-san, you're not looking so hot. " He
casually picked his nose.

" Please, help me. " The man seemed to hate
asking.

Luffy glanced up at the gathering crowd. There
was some hesitation in there faces. Thankfully
Makino was there, and pushed forward.

" I'll get Doctor Mao. " She volunteered,
running off.

The others remained quiet, staring at the strange
guy.

' Huh. ' He squated next to him, and touched
his arm. The orange dude's breathing was fading
off fast.

Luffy activated his powers for the second time
in his life. Slowly absorbing the Ji-san's
injuries into his own body.

" You idiot, stop! " The Mayor yelled. " It's
just a Fishman. "

But he didn't stop, not even when he started to
black out.

00000

Tomo blinked awake. The Tiger Shark Fishman
slowly examined his surroundings caustiously.
The room seemed to be a small human hospital
room. The door was cracked open, so he knew
it wasn't locked.

Strangly, he wasn't hurting, or bandaged. The
young boy who helped him was sprawled out on
his chest, however. The four year old thickly
wrapped with bloody gauze.

" He refused to leave you. " A young woman spoke
up from the corner.

He eyed her wearily.

" I'm Makino. I take care of Luffy when Garp-San
is gone. " She smiled brightly, moving to the
chair by the bed.

" What happened? " He demanded.

" Luffy ate the Kuro Kuro Fruit. " The green
haired woman explained. " He can absorb devil
fruit powers and injuries. "

He nodded absently. " But why help a fishman? "

" He thinks you're the coolest person ever. "
Makino giggled.

Tomo's eye's widened in shock. He was an escaped
slave. Someone who hated asking humans for help.
Now here was two humans who'd saved his life. One
a four year old who was clinging to him and thought
he was awesome.

How was he supposed to react to that?

A loud yawn came from the child in question.

Tomo reluctantly glanced down and watched black
eyes land on him. Those eyes began to sparkle
in wonder.

" You're awake! " Luffy yelped happily. " Can
you really breath under water? Are you fast in
water? Can I become a Fishman too? What's your
name? Be my friend! "

The poor Fishman froze as Luffy scrambled up
his chest and latched onto his neck. Somehow
he got the feeling he would never, ever get
rid of the little guy again.

And all the while Makino was giggling hysterically.

" By the way, I'm afraid Luffy got into your
bag and ate the food in it. He has the metabolism
of the D. family. " Makino sighed.

Tomo rolled his eyes up to the ceiling but a
small smile tugged at his lips as the boy nattered
on in his ear. The only food in his bag was an
expermental devil fruit he'd stolen from the
Celestral Dragons, particularly Joker. Making
sure to destroy their research on it.

The only successful one to grant the ability to
swim. A Zoan fruit. Uojin Uojin no Mi, Model
Wobbegong Shark.

' Guess I'll have to stick around and teach him
how to be a proper fishman. '

11111
Chapter One
11111

Luffy munched happily on another apple as Coby
navigated the eight person short range boat to
Shells town. Beside him Tomo was telling Coby
about the Celestrial Dragons, and the Marines
role to them. Something Luffy already had drilled
into his head.

Coby was turning green in the face at what Tomo
was saying. " But... "

The Fishman turned and lifted the back of his
shirt, showing the brand on his back. Ama Kakeru
Ryu no Hizume. Hoof of the Flying Dragon.

" The Marines work for the Celestrial Dragons? "
Coby weakly asked.

" Ji-chan said so. " Luffy grabbed another apple.

" His Ji-san is Garp the Fist. " Tomo answered
the boy before he could ask.

" His punches hurt. " Luffy absently stated,
swallowing the apple whole. He snatched up a
third apple.

" I wanted to be a Marine so I could save
people. " Coby slumped bonelessly. " I wanted
to stop Pirates, and protect civilians. "

" You still can. " Tomo gently ruffled the
boys hair. " This moron here, has some weird
romantized idea about what being a Pirate is. "

" What idea? " Coby perked up.

" He thinks Pirates are basically explorers
who roam the world looking for adventure,
treasure, and beating up bad guys. " Tomo
dryly explained.

Coby's face went deadpanned with a massive
sweatdrop on the back.

" Don't forget the parties and drinking. "
Luffy took two more apples. " We really
should get a Musician for the crew next.
Assuming this Zoro guy works out. "

" See? " Tomo smirked.

" If it doesn't work out... " Coby nervouly.

" You can leave at anytime. " Tomo assured.

" Thank you, Tomo-san. " Coby bowed. " What
position on the crew will I fill? "

" Luffy? " Tomo poked him.

Luffy smiled at Tomo. Despite how dull he was
the Fishman had forcibly educated him over the
years about anything he might need to know as
a Pirate Captain. In the end, he'd made Tomo
his Quartermaster in revenge.

" Assisstant Quartermaster, but we'll let
you apprentice under different members of our
crew. After you get strong enough, you can
take on a job of your own. " Luffy nudged
his straw hat down at Coby's beaming face.

" Luffy-san! " The boy tearfully bowed
deeper. " Thank you. "

" Ah. No problem. Shishishishi. " Luffy waved
off.

He leaned back and munched on the last apple.

-
To Be Continued