Hello everyone, I have been on hiatus for more than a year I know, I'm sorry I didn't notify you. Good news -I will continue this story. Not sure when the next chapter will be uploaded but I didn't abandon this story. Chapter 1-3 had also been revised, I made some small changes nothing that will impact the story but I hope making it more comprehensible and eliminating some grammar mistakes, the rest of the chapters will be revised slowly but surely.

Alright then, on with the next chapter. Enjoy ^.^

"Wooaa!" the pink haired ghost princess shouted in awe, beside her Luffy's eyes widened considerably as he took in the sights with a small "Wao".

They finally got to Sabaody. Bubbles were floating through the air giving the entire place a somehow magical feeling. Perona chuckled as she turned to the small nekomimi with a question on her lips but decided against asking seeing Luffy's expression. The two fluffy nekomimi ears were facing straight-forward with his tail up and if one would look carefully they could see his pupils were dilated. All in all Luffy looked a few seconds away from pouncing on any bubble that got too close to the ship. Perona chuckled slightly. She was curios how long it will take for her captain to give in and do just that, she didn't have to wait for long.

"Lu-" Shanks started but too late the teen was already in his neko form attacking any and every bubbles that was in his reach, popping them and bouncing around almost crazily as he zoomed in a new target. A few crew members smiled at the scene that is before they got run over in the big chase as neko clambered everything in sight. The small cat wasn't above using them as launching pad. The grumpy pirates didn't get to complain though since Luffy managed to get somehow stuck inside a bubble that apparently didn't feel like popping even when pounced on by a little furry menace. The surprised look on his mug was enough to crack the company up. It seemed like poetic justice. Luffy couldn't help but blink once or twice in disbelief before a somehow aggravated expression replaced his previous playful one as the bubble continued to rise seemingly uncaring about his passenger's outrage.

The small feline looked at the 'tough' bubble with not a small amount of annoyance, contemplating if he should try harder and use a bit of claw but decided against it. He was curios how high he could fly. The neko was sure that the view from up above was worth it.

"Is it me… or is the bubble getting further and further away?" Yasopp asked curiously before a loud resounding "Shit!" left the ship.

"Luffy!" Shanks shouted loudly.

Benn just sighed loudly with a small. "Too late."

"Damn it! Why does this keep happening?" The red-headed captain asked seriously vexed.

"It's Luffy." Came the unanimous response.

~ .~

The small cat raised himself to his hinder paws as he looked out from his confinement with an amazed expression as the bubble rose above the forest level. The view from so high up was killer in more ways than one he realized as the bubbles around him started popping. Luffy quickly lunched himself to another bubble that was still ascending then to another and so on until he finally touched the ground. He only realized his mistake after turning around to tell Shanks about the view and facepawed.

…. It was a series of long yowling that let his mouth, in his mind though he used up his big, fancy and colorful vocabulary regarding curses. He peeked up from under his paws carefully after taking a few moments to reorganize his thoughts. Happily there was no one around just an ugly rundown building in front of him. The others couldn't be too far away right? He just had to remember which direction he had originally came from… no use. The neko had been just jumping around and changing directions so many times to get down safely that he couldn't possibly remember which was the right direction.

Maybe he could smell them out? Nope, not working. Obviously Shanks and the gang hadn't yet walked through this parts. Maybe he should just wait for them, nah. Luffy was the best tracker on the ship, thanks not in small amunt to his devil fruit his pride couldn't suffer letting the others find him first. No, the neko decided he was going to find them. Luffy nodded to himself satisfied. He had to stay positive, it wasn't all that bad. The pirate apprentice just needed to be careful and hopefully not get into any trouble. At least until he found a crew mate.

After checking his surroundings he turned into his human form. Making sure that his hoodie covered his face and his weapon he made his way toward a random direction. Of course being lucky enough to land in a lawless zone he managed to attract the attention of quite a few bounty hunters in just a matter of few minutes. They after a small workout happily volunteered to tell him well pretty much everything he wanted to know if just to make him leave. Someone from the crew was bound to pass through the Tourist Zone and supposedly time spent there should be conflict free the nekomimi decided. With a small smile and a happy hum he headed with purpose toward his new destination.

~.~

"Rayleigh-san!" Shanks cried out happily as he made his way inside the bar.

The silver haired man couldn't help but grin back "Brat."

"Shitsurei shimasu(1)" Most of the pirates behind Shanks called out. Shaky chuckled slightly, it was funny how polite they tried to be. No one wanted to anger the famous Silvers Rayleigh and even so it didn't take long for the crew to settle down and start a small party.

"I thought I might be seeing you here soon." The man admitted, the Yonko usually made their home base in the New World. Few actually come back to Paradise and even less would travel to the Four Blues and even when they did , they never left for too long. The balance in the New World was precarious to maintain. But of course Shanks was the exception.

"Ah " the man laughed sheepishly. "Well it was a nice vacation, but it's getting quite boring so we're heading back now."

Rayleigh laughed slightly "Boring says the man who made repeatedly front page in the newspaper for the last few months." all while giving a long glance to the man's bandaged hand.

"I can't believe they wrote that about me" Shanks complained with a pout as he drowned his drink. "I don't mind-wash kids to make them into evil pirates. Besides Luffy is only a pirate Apprentice and he is already 15, even if he's still a midget. " Shanks then started whinning about his apprentice to ilustrate his point he quickly followed up with a story mixed with complains and then another... Rayleigh couldn't help but feel like he stepped on a landmine. It was almost the same as asking Yasopp about his son.

"Can't believe the apprentice has an apprentice..." he finally inserted making the red-haired man smile turn slightly nostalgic. "I can't wait to meet him. Come to think of I haven't seen Benn either..." Rayleigh couldn't help but add making Shanks's slump over his drink with depression muttering something under his breath. "A-are you alright..." Again the man wished he wouldn't had asked that as Shanks turned toward him with big watery eyes.

"Why Rayleigh-san?! It's unfair, on every island-" The man started his complaining once more.

~.~

"Hey, isn't that…" One of the pirate-hunters asked in a low voice looking pointedly in Benn's direction who just entered the dinner and walked straight to the bar. The first mate was seemingly ignoring all the chatter and talked in a hushed voice with the bartender who just shook his head.

The pirate hunters gapped in disbelief. "Impossible… what is a hot-shot like him doing here?" The man wasn't just talking about the island but the bar Benn walked in was a well known pirate hunter hangout.

"Didn't you hear…" the other pirate hunter asked in somehow hushed voice. "the red haired Shanks's crew had been taking a leisure trip through the Blues."

His partner couldn't help but gape. "Are you kidding me?!" Similar conversation was taking place at almost every table.

"Heard they even had a run in with one of the Warlords."

Another one nodded along. "I read it in the newspaper too."

"And what are the marines doing?" Another one asked in a hushed voice.

"Donno but it's hard to imagine they would let them set sail just like that."

"Fuck, this place will become a battlefield won't it…"

"Yeah and it's all their fault. Damn Yonko."

Benn walked out shortly after ignoring all the whispers. Most pirate hunters stayed glued to their seats, of course there are always idiots and newbies, because truly what would the world be without them. "Dude… I kind of feel sorry for them." one of them said as he drowned his drink. The ones at his table couldn't help but nod along and stay glued to their chair for just a bit longer.

~.~

Upon reaching said destination and only getting held up two more times he even entertained the idea that maybe this day wasn't going to be that bad and couldn't help but sweat-drop just a few moments later. The nekomimi had just jinxed himself didn't he? Luffy raised an eyebrow at the flyer he had just been handed. Yeah, he did, unless the revolutionary army was giving away personalized flyers with secret safe house/base location to everyone in town. The man with the flyers was of course long gone before he could ask him anything else.

"... sigh, it just keeps getting better and better." The nekomimi said as he was spotted by a marine. He walked toward a darker alley without hurrying his steps, hoping to avoid attracting even more attention. No such luck it would seem as two other marines with raised weapon awaited him in the alley.

"Hands up pirate!" One of them shouted but Luffy never stopped moving instead he speed up. With a small jump he hit the first in the face and while the marine tried to guard himself, the nekomimi was still faster. His buddy was attacking relentlesly afterward as if to avenge his colleague. Luffy avoided each strike easily. In a few moments the teenager managed to get behind the marine with a faint and knock him out with a chop. It all happened in a matter of a few seconds but every second counted, the marines that spotted him caught up.

~.~

Benn took a long drag from his cigar before he kicked one of the pirate-hunters on the ground lightly making the man let out a small whimper. "You are still alive, good." The man said with a small nod. "I still have some questions to ask you after all."

"And to think some say Shanks is hot-headed." Someone said from behind. Benn almost chuckled as he turned to the informant, he studied the man slightly, he looked plain and ordinary with ruffled brown hair and hazel eyes. Almost looked like a civilian, but there was something sharp in his eyes.

"I am not hot-headed." The man complained a bit put off by the accusation. There was a reason he was here looking for Luffy and not Shanks. The man didn't know how to do anything silently. Had he been allowed to search for the pirate apprentice he was terrified to think of what could have happened. He was sure somehow the man would get the marines involved, worse an admiral, and while the nekomimi was getting stronger in leaps he was not ready yet to face an admiral alone, and given the teen's luck. Better not think about that.

"Heard you were searching for something." The man said as he approached him, he stopped at a polite but calculated distance while side-stepping the groaning bounty hunters on the ground. While Shank's crew were knew to be easy going , each pirate had quite a large bounty and they were each justified.

"For someone." Benn said sharply instead making the man raise his hand in a pacifying manner.

"You know on this island that is not a big difference." The informant said somehow amused and yet seemed satisfied with the correction.

"Do you or do you not know where he is." the pirate asked cutting through the chase.

"Well I know there had been an altercation not long ago in the Shopping Distrinct" the man said carefully. "apparently the marines were chasing a boy dressed in black wearing a long hoodie with cat ears." Benn took a long drag from his cigar to calm his nerve. "But you should know, you are not the only one looking for the kid." Now that was a surprising development. "In truth you are the third person to ask me about the Cheshire today."

It was obvious the man wasn't going to say anything unless he got paid so Benn throw him a small bag of berri. "Third."

The man just hmmed in agreement as he pocketed the money not daring to count it before adding. "The first was a revolutionary guy... and the other well, I guess you'd call him a specialist. A slaver."

~.~

"Found you-" The man more like boy shouted as Luffy dodged the gigantic scythe and got pushed into the main street.

Luffy rolled to his feet swiftly, his hand reaching for the katana on his back. The nekomimi boy could barely believe he missed that kind of monstrous presence before. His attacker reeked of blood and violence. Just his luck. He had barely got away from the small skirmish with the marines and escaped via the roof. Luffy had been traveling carefully out of sight ever since and yet somehow the boy still managed to track him down. His attacker jumped after him wasting no time and the scythe meet his long katana midway. The nekomimi studied him for a fraction of second all while the shockwave scarred the buildings around them. He looked a few years older than him with short white hair. He was wearing no shirt only a loose pair of pants with combat boots. The boy's blood colored eyes widened in pleasure as Luffy parried one strike after another.

"Come Cheshire!" The albino shouted as he attacked wildly once more.

The people around them had scattered already and Luffy was sure it won't take long before the marines arrived either. But what was more worrying was the pair of white rabbit ears and deer antlers on the boy's head. Probably another mythical zoan judging by the ice that just happened to materialize around them and a crazy one by the looks of it. What a combination.

"-hehe that's it-" The boy cheered as Luffy dodged in succession all his attacks before retaliating in kind. The nekomimi couldn't believe the boy managed to evade him so easily. His hoodie had long since fallen off and revealing his own fluffy ears. It was quite a fast paced fight. They were moving all the time, wasting no time between switching the roles from attacker to defender. Small wounds ocasionally appearing on both of them after their clashes.

"Who are you?" Luffy asked as he attacked, pressing the advantage he had in close combat to back the boy against a wall but as his sword was coming down the boy rolled out of the way. His sword cut into the wall but unfortunately got struck in the wall so instead of stopping his momentum, and letting himself get cornered Luffy ran up the wall barely avoiding the scythe and then lunched himself backward while dislodging his sword and dropping a kick on the boy. The rabbit maneuvered his weapon in time so his kick meet instead the snath and then tugged on it so the blade would have lodged itself in the nekomimi's back had the boy not blocked with his sword and let himself 'slip' smoothly from the snath, his blade landing perfectly in position to slit the rabbit's neck just as the scythe his from behind.

"Drop your weapons and put your hands up!" The marines shouted as they finally surrounded them. The nekomimi didn't dare take his eyes of his opponent.

"Che... " the white haired boy muttered clearly displeased with the interference.

~.~

Rayleigh smiled amused as he listened yet to another tale about Shanks's apprentice. True to be told it felt somehow like the man was bragging. No one could make him believe otherwise because even with all the complaining the man still wore that fond smile while talking about the brat. True to be told it felt a bit like karma too. Rayleigh couldn't really pity the man Shanks was the cause of so many of his white strands. That's when the door opened and a visibly annoyed Benn walked in.

"What's did he do now?" Shanks asked half curiously and with no small amount of exasperation.

"Beside the fact the he somehow managed to make the entire archipelago interested in him or his bounty you mean." Benn asked after greeting the people briefly and ordering a shot of whiskey and drowning it. "I mean like the no name pirates and bounty hunter weren't enough. For some unknown reason the Revolutionary Army is trying to find him and the let's not forget about the slavers who were promised 100 million belly if someone managed to catch him requested by a -private collector. " The man spit out the last words like venom. "Oh and let's not forget about the marines. They run around like headless chicken... well after seeing that" the man said with a serious expression. "I'm not surprised."

"Seeing what?!" Shanks asked in half hysterics."What the hell happened out there in less then a day?"

"A day huh... by the sound of it " Rayleigh said bringing most men's attention to himself. "this had been planned for far longer then just one day. It wouldn't been the first case a private collector would pay a hefty sum for a criminal that cached his eyes. But the sum is worrying and more than that... that wanted poster barely shows any of his feature."

"Ah the picture is dark and full of shadows, someone who doesn't know Luffy wouldn't find anything special about it... which is exactly why this is so worrying. " Shanks couldn't help but glare darkly at the table in front of him and the glass in his hand cracked under the pressure as he understood what his first-mate was implying. "But if it is about being recognized..."

"You think is someone form his past." Rayleigh stated. He could read between the lines and more than that he could read Shanks just as well as he did back in the days. So a kid with a complicated past. No wonder Shanks took the boy under his wing. The man had always been a softy for sob stories. But that was alright, since his apprentice had long since grown into his fame and power as a Yonko. Rayleigh pitied the fool instead that got between him and his charge. As Benn told them the entire story so did Shanks anger raise.

"So let me see if I understood this correctly?" the red haired man asked with a small frown that spoke volume of his displeasure." You actually meet Luffy? In the middle of him fighting a possibly deranged and quite dangerous slaver that had a mythical zoan devil fruit, who had just slaughtered numerous marines and yet you left him there?" Benn's glare should have shut him up but Shanks was too emotional to read the atmosphere. "Why?"

"Because, that idiot apprentice of yours is just as pigheaded as you and" Benn said and the following words felt like he was swallowing glass. "... he might just pull it off."

"Pull it off?" Rayleigh asked. "what are you guys talking about?"

Shanks huffed as he sit back on the chair beside the Dark King. "Rayleigh-san, have I told you about how my stupid apprentice reminds me of the worst people I had the pleasure of meeting? You know even before setting foot on this island, he took a page out right of your playbook. Didn't you think it was strange how even through he got lost only Benn and a few of our crew were actually actively searching for him."

Rayleigh nodded he did think it was strange, but then Shanks started taking about how the teen always end up separated from the crew. He simply assumed that the crew trusted the kid enough to find his way back in one piece. Though given how big of a mother hen the entire crew was and the boy's troubled past... no way that was going to happen unless. "You planned on him getting lost."

"Well no... not on getting lost on the other hand on him getting caught." Shanks said with a sigh.

"Caught by who?" Rayleigh asked.

"Slavers." Benn said coldly. "It was his idea. Everyone was against it... but he somehow managed to talk us into it. "

~Flashback to Shanks and Luffy talking on the ship~

Somehow Luffy seemed to understand the problem all too well for the Yonko's liking. "I got it."

"Somehow that's not too reassuring…" Shanks said making Luffy pout slightly. It's not like it was his fault chaos gravitated around him.

The nekomimi had a somber expression on his face. "I got it... I just don't think I can do it. No that's not entirely truth... I don't want to do it. "The red-haired Yonko gapped in shock as the teen bowed deeply in front of him. "I'm sorry captain but this one thing I won't do." Luffy said still not raising his head."I know I can't possibly help them all but if there is a way I could be of help even if to just one of them... I want to at least try."

"Why?" there was no accusation in the question just curiosity making the nekomimi straighten out. "It would be easier for all parties involved to just let us handle this."

" ... I told you about the time I was a slave." Luffy started.

"Briefly" Again it was not an accusing tone. It was just the truth pain and simple. The nekomimi hadn't exactly gone into great details about the experience and Shanks didn't want to make Luffy remember something that was better left forgotten.

"Do you know what I hated most when I was made into a slave beside the obvious of someone taking my freedom away?" It was a rhetoric question so the Yonko made no move to answer it. "It was that no one, no one lifted a finger to stop it. Dehumanization I believe it is called, the act that undermines 'individuality', I believe is quite fitting. You see we were treated like objects, they were the ones to disavow us in every way possible and yet it was me who could not see them as humans. That's why... I do not wish to turn into one of those things." Luffy smiled. "It may not be a good reason but I guess I am not a good person, so I'll just had to settle for personal satisfaction."

Shanks chuckled slightly "And to think I almost managed, but I guess you can't tell a tiger to change his stripes."

"Captain..." The teen said suddenly in a tight voice realizing that he had been tricked. "What do you mean?"

"You know your dark aura is showing." The Yonko said with a sweat-drop, though his only answer was a narrowing of eyes. "Right answers, well... you have that bad habit of getting in trouble on every damn island. So as any self-respecting captain-" he ignored the scoff he heard "-I had at least try to make you well... not generate so much chaos as usual." He finished lamely. Getting a look that said as much he quickly added "Do you know how hard it is to clean up after the crew when they get twitchy because you go missing?! " in defense. "You should take some responsibility."

"Twitchy?"

"Yes. It's disturbing, Benn was actually smiling charmingly at the ladies."

"So?" The teen asked not really understanding what was the trouble with the first mate getting some.

"No I don't have a problem with that" no need to explain what 'that' meant "but the fact that the girls always end up fighting over him, and ignoring the others and then they sulk an-"

"Stop. I'm sorry I asked."

"Don't be so grumpy, short-"

"Who are you calling so small that even a bird would scoff at the idea of eating so little!"

"Nobody said that!" The nekomimi response was a loud 'grrr'. "Really just how did you get that from what I said." The man asked with a pout. "Anyway we need a plan. If you were to act alone" he shuddered as he remembered the way Luffy ended up last time the kid acted on his own. "nope not happening. Still freeing the slaves... that's going to take some work. We still need to be careful or it could all fall apart faster than a-"

"I've been thinking... " Luffy said bringing the attention of Shanks back from lala-land. "Do we need to do this forcefully."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well they are for 'sale'. We could buy them."

"Good idea." The man said then frowned. "Only no way we could buy all of them. One or two at the most..."

"Well no not with our money."

"Then who's?"

"Ahm- pirates here. When do we actually pay for anything with our money?" Luffy asked curiously the Yonko who had the gall to a least look sheepish. "Beside isn't it obvious, if there are going to be slaves there are going to be lots of money."

"I knew it, you're going to do it again."

"Do what?"

"Cause lots and lots of chaos!" the man said with a resigned sigh that turned into a toothy grin. "I'm so pound of you!"

~.~

"That still doesn't explain why he got captured." Rayleigh added.

Benn nodded. "Well he wanted to snoop out the place. We planned a pincer attack from both inside and outside." the first-mate explained briefly.

"And you agreed?" The dark king asked as he turned back to Shanks.

"Yes" Shanks said simply before trying to explain their reasoning. " The plans relays on him sneaking away once inside and with his devil fruit, he can do it... plus 'she' is covering him."

"She?" Shaky asked now. Rayleigh thanked her silently, happy to know he wasn't the only one who felt he was missing pieces from this conversation.

"Ah, she. Although those revolutionaries could cause some trouble. I do hope they won't interfere too much" The red-haired man didn't get to finish the sentence as his first-mate once again cut in.

"Come on Shanks this is Luffy we're talking about. Try to be a realist. Besides if noting else at least Lucky and Yasopp will have a great time."

Shaky smiled hearing that. "Oh, so that's where they are."

~.~

Perona's rest was well not all that restful. She knew that the entire plan relied on her ability to locate Luffy. Her Devil Fruit was unparalleled when it came to information gathering. That said when she was operating with such a great number of hallows she couldn't actually split her attention evenly without being unconscious. The ghost princess hopped in the future with enough training she would surpass that limitation.

A small smile appeared on the pink haired sleeping girl's face. "Captain! I found finally you" all the ghost that had until then searched for Luffy dissipated in a small fading lights with the exception of the one who found her wayward captain. It remained with her captain coverig his back meanwhile her astral projection rose gently from her body. "Just hang on a bit Captain I'm coming right now-" she declared. It didn't take long for her to fly at the nekomimi's location. Being intangible had it's perks.

"Unhand my captain you filthy mongrel!" She shouted making everyone present, including Luffy freeze if only for a second at the loud sound.

"Perona?" the nekomimi asked somehow surprised.

The pink haired girl quickly flew over to his side ignoring everyone else. "Captain! Are you alright, did any of this despicable animals hurt you. Do you want me to kill them-"

Luffy couldn't help but sweat-drop hearing that. He was happy she worried for him but she was sometimes just too extreme. "T-that's fine. They didn't hurt me." He tried to explain with a small reassuring smile.

"Then what happened, you're all beat up?" The boy looked like he had been put through the grinder true to be told. He had cuts probably made from what had to be a large weapon with quite a sharp blade, and his clothes though black had quite a few suspicious wet spots.

"Had an unlucky encounter." the boy said simply leaving out any specific detail. She knew that it was just a way of him telling her that he didn't trust the people in front of them to give away such information.

"Oh." She said simply.

"If you're finished, we still have some business to settle." The large man interrupted the two's reunion making Perona glare at him heatedly. How dare the pig interrupt them.

"Actually I think we are quite finished." Luffy said stepping forward seeing the dark aura gather around his nakama.

"Are you going to ignore his order?! And after we saved your life!" the man shouted in outrage. He was obviously not used to be ignored or worse denied.

"Order?" Luffy asked his eyes flashing golden behind his ragged hoodie. " You have me mistaken" the boy said with what appeared controlled anger behind his words. "I am a pirate not a soldier. I don't take orders from the revolutionary army, gofer or leader . There is only one person in the world who's order I'd listen to and that person is not him. And saved my life how pretentious?! What you did was to destroy quite a bit of meticulous planning."

"What are you talking about?! First of all he's your-"

"I forfeit my name and any other connection I had to him the day I become the Cheshire." Luffy interrupted the man's words. "If He" the nekomimi said slowly "wants something from me, after all this time, then He will have to come here and ask me himself."

"You brat just who do you think you are! Our leader isn't someone who canter on a child's selfish wish-"

The little boy couldn't help but chuckle. "It's funny isn't it, you asking me that.. but all that is irrelevant. Any meeting between the two us will be a meeting taking place between a pirate and a revolutionary army member. As such isn't it obvious the one who wants something from the other, and I assure you that is him, actually do come to meet me in person and asks?"

Perona although had no idea what, no more like who they were talking about still nodded along. It seemed logical to her. If the man whoever he was wanted to meet Luffy and ask him something he had to come to Luffy not the other way around or worse listen to these idiotic goons. Plus she wouldn't use the word order, the ghost princess knew the man no matter who he was,leader or not would never be able to actually order the nekomimi around. To start with part of the revolutionary army or not who the hell did they think they were, trying to order her captain around?

Seeing that Perona was thinking about ways to dismember every person present 'side him Luffy decided it was safe to put an end to this ridiculous charade that had gone on for far too long. "Seeing as we are done, we'll take our leave." The nekomimi said as he turned around, he ignored the shouting that turned into depressed mutterings and simply walked away. It was obvious the dumbass tried to stop him and Perona acted upon it using her hollows. There was a reason he had turned his back to them. Obviously it wasn't because he trusted them not to put a knife in it but because she was here.

~.~

"You're a cruel and evil man Luffy." Yasopp said as he and Lucky walked up to the nekomimi.

"What do you mean?" the person in question asked tilting his head to the side cutely.

"Don't act all innocent. Letting Perona loose on them... when did you become a sadist?"

The teen still looked lost. "She's not going to kill them." He clarified hoping to ease their worries.

"No, that's not the point." the sniper said with a sigh.

"Though I think some may prefer that." Lucky added unhelpfully.

"... I still don't get it."

"Don't get what?" Perona asked cutely from beside him.

"Donno they're being weird."

"So what now?" Yasopp asked curiously. Since the original plan fell to tiny pieces he was sure Benn was sulking at Shaky's right now. Shanks being the mother hen he actually was would not let Luffy try something like this again and true to be told he wasn't perfectly fine and happy with that decision. From the start they only agreed to try this because Luffy somehow managed to convince Benn that he was the perfect candidate, with his devil fruit and all to go undercover. Plus the nekomimi agreed to get out of there if things turned sour.

They were here to ensure an escape if needed and because nobody really trusted Luffy's judgement when it came to danger, more specifically danger regarding his well being. The kid had the no self-preservative instinct to speak off and together with the fact that he had no planning skill whatsoever made quite a lousy and destructive combination. If all this wasn't enough he was on top of it all a D. Yasopp wasn't sure what that meant but he had the feeling someone long ago blessed that bloodline saying 'May you and your family live in interesting times' in a painfully ironical way.

"They might be idiots but I doubt they would fall for the same thing twice."

Yasopp decided not to argue and just stated "No way we're doing this again."

"Alright then before we go back-" Luffy said with a grin. "There is a place I'd like to visit."

~.~

"Shitsurei shimasu(1)"

"Took you long enough." Shank grumbled as Luffy and the extraction team came in.

The ones who came in with Luffy grinned mysteriously. "Got a bit side tracked."

"Shaky-san nice to see you!" the pirates greeted the owner cheerfully.

"Hello boys, good to see you, who are the two cuties?"

"They are our newbies. Luffy is Shanks apprentice and Perona is his nakama so she is our nakama by default."

"Nice to meet you ma'am." The two said at once.

"None of that, just call me Shaky. What would you like to drink?"

After the crew settled down a bit, Shanks reminded them they still didn't answer his question. Luffy and the extraction team shared what happen with the others in a brief manner. There was not much to say that the others didn't already know thanks to Benn. Luffy after all didn't really get to do anything but get attacked by a few bounty hunters before he made it to the plaza. Benn's story started from that battle. He and the rest of the extraction crew were after all searching for the nekomimi. Imagine their surprise when he just showed up right in front of them from out of the blue. They shadowed him from there on, since they saw no reason to interfer in the battle.

The fight between the two devil fruit users was brief thanks to the marines interference. The slaver made quick work on the marines who tried to intervene. The fight between the two devil fruit users heated up after that. Luffy wasn't kind enough to take revenge for his enemy still seeing them getting slaughtered like that left a bad taste in his mouth. The fight escalated quickly and Luffy almost won, though he suffered quite a few wounds but the marines showed up once more so the two fighters ended up getting separated.

His wounds while not life threatening were still enough to make Benn want to cancel the mission. Luffy refused and somehow managed to convince the stern first-mate to continue. Which was the main reason for the first-mate's sulking. Then after wandering around a bit he let himself get captured by a bounty hunter who quickly took him to the place where his exclusive buyer was staying. They barely made it inside before Luffy was ussured to another room. The nekomimi was sure it was the moment he'd have to fight his way out and was prepared to do so but imagine his surprise when he was led outside and handed to a revolutionary who told him to follow. They made it to the strange abandoned building in front of which he landed, talk about coincidences, a bit later Perona showed up.

"And then we had to pick up Perona's body and let Doc fuss over me." The nekomimi added and making the first mate raise an eyebrow. They were not lying perse but he could tell there was something they were hiding. Something that put Yasopp and Lucky in incredibly good mood and made Perona thoughtful.

"Luffy Perona come here, there is someone I'd like you to formally introduce you to." Shanks spoke fast ignoring the fact that they didn't really answer his question. He was just too excited. "Luffy meet Silvers Rayleigh also known as the 'Dark King' first mate and right hand of the pirate king. Rayleigh-san this is my apprentice Cheshire D. Luffy and his nakama Perona."

The teen was speechless. Nothing seemed out of ordinary or wrong, Rayleigh looked like your normal everyday old man in admittedly great shape. He was also wearing simple clothing, plain t-shirt, shorts and sandals with a large silver colored hooded cloak. Again nothing out of ordinary but the man's presence was enough to make his fur puff up. The man just had an air around him. Luffy felt just like back in the days when he stupidly walked into a bigger and more dangerous predator's territory. The man's aura was scary in itself and the man hadn't done anything threatening yet. Quite the opposite, he had been quite friendly. This was worrying, somehow his instinct and this 'feelings' seemed to become stronger and stronger for some time now. He was just hoping it didn't mean that his bakeneko side was overpowering his human one. He did not want to become like that man.

"Luffy?! did you hear me?"

"Ah!" Luffy said realizing he must have been so immersed in analyzing the man he forgot his manners. That won't do. "S-sorry, nice to meet you Rayleigh-san." Perona mimicked Luffy's action and bowed with a quick nice to meet you.

"Nice to meet you too. Now I hear you had quite an interesting adventure after debarking."

"About that... sorry Benn-san, those idiots from the Revolutionary army messed up our plan." the nekomimi said with a sigh.

The first mate just sighed and ruffled the teen's hair. "It's fine, we can make a new one. What is important is that you are fine." The nekomimi blushed in embarrassment slightly making Perona cry out 'Kawai' and Shanks frown.

"I still don't get what's so good about Benn." The man said pouting.

Yasopp looked up hearing that. "Huh? what are you talking about captain."

"The obvious difference between the way Luffy reacts to us. I mean should have I said that the chibi would have flipped out."

"Of course." the nekomimi cut in before anyone could try to deny and pacify the red-head.

"You see!" The man accused."I just don't get why? And to think he used to be such a cute kid..."

"Are you stupid?" the teen asked like it was the most obvious thing in the world."It's about the intention."

"What?"

"Because you say it with the intention of pissing me off."

"That's not true!" He denied quickly before adding "Right?!"

The nekomimi raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner. "Are you saying or asking me that?"

"Saying?" the red head asked making Luffy want to sigh in exasperation.

"How about a demonstration then?" Shanks nodded along furiously determined to find out the reason for the differential treatment. "Benn-san could you please help me out with this demonstration." The man looked up from his drink unsure of what he should do. "Just repeat everything Shanks says." Luffy explained before he motioned toward the Yonko to start.

"What am I supposed to say again?" the captain asked making the crew fall over.

"Just tell me what Benn said."

The red head nodded before he smiled. " It's good to see you're fine Luffy."

The nekomimi's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Benn-san please then."

"It's good to see you're fine, Luffy."

"You see." Luffy asked making the crowd nod in agreement.

"Yeah, when captain says it... it makes me want to punch him."

"Eh?"

"Ah, it's like I can't believe he's such an asshole."

"Ehhh?"

"It's not just the tone... I mean even that smile, it just pisses me off."

"Yeah, yeah"

"You guys are the assholes!" Shanks pouted.

"And then when Benn says it..."

"is like, what a great guy."

"I can't believe he worried about me."

"Yeah, it makes me feel happy he cares so much."

"W-what!" Shanks shouted infuriated. "I can't believe you shitheads! Rayleigh-san say something."

"I had to agree with them." the man said with a smile.

"Even you Rayleigh-san."

"Ah come on captain, we're just kidding." Yasopp said making Shanks smile happily all while muttering a small- "Bastards."

The man watched the crew or more precisely the teen interact with the others. The nekomimi seemed like an interesting person to say at least. He was younger than Rayleigh would have liked him to be. With long shiny black hair, dark eyes sparkling from all the curiosity they contained and an almost unhealthy pale complexion. All in all he looked like a cute little thing and not at all like a hardened pirate. True to be told even the girl seemed to have more spunk than him. The boy just seemed so delicate, almost like a kitten left out in a dark cold windy autumn day. The poor thing was shivering and pulling at your heart strings. With weak mewling sounds that made it even more endearing if possible. It was impossible to ignore or dislike him. It had been really long since someone awakened such strong emotions in him and given the short time he knew him that was saying something. The boy just made the ones around him want to protect him, himself included, Rayleigh realized. It was no manipulation, pretense or disguise, it was just him being himself. The teen was quite something even if he looked like a, what was that word ah yes - a sissy boy.

"You just called me something rude." Luffy accused him with a unthreatening glare. Even if the man was dangerous, it would be rude for him to act anyhow but normal. Rayleigh-san was an ally so he will act like it.

The silverhaired man chuckled not denying the statement or apologizing."How did you know?"

"Just a feeling." The teen said as he asked for another drink. "Or more like instinct... " the nekomimi shrugged.

"You based your accusation on a feeling." he might need to rethink the boy not having any spunk. To think Luffy called him out on it based on feeling or instinct.

"Luffy's instinct is never wrong." Perona argued.

"It's almost like a sixth sense." Benn added.

If Benn wouldn't have injected that bit he might have thought Perona was exaggerating. "Is that so?"

Luffy shrugged "When it works at least. If I could actually use it..."

"Hmm, maybe a survival type of training." Benn said already making plans for the future, the two teens shivering and turning blue was completely overlooked by him but not Rayleigh who just seemed more and more amused with the situation.

~.~

The survival type of training had to wait the crew together with Perona instead took time to learn or in Luffy's case perfect his skills in thievery. Benn didn't know if he should be proud of them or not. Luffy was very good at it, obviously time away from Goa didn't mean he let his skills get shadier. When asked out of curiosity what he did with all the money he pick pocketed the teen just shrugged and replied with a vague "stuff".

Rayleigh-san was quite adept of getting out of shackles of all kind. Even kiroseki which in turn made both Luffy and Perona beg him shamelessly to teach them. Seeing no reason to deny their request and knowing Shanks and Benn won't mind he happily agreed. The silver-haired man was a hard task master but the two didn't mind. They were both already used to it. Both Luffy and Perona picked up the trick to it pretty fast.

Their skills in thivery were quickly put to good use."Target just left the building"

"Good, team b mission is a go. You have 14 minutes till the guard comes back. "

"Roger-" Luffy responded. He slipped down from the roof. A quick knife work and the window was opened. He slipped in careful in case there was a surveillance den den mushi here but as always Perona's information was on spot. He made quick work opening the safe, it was easy since he knew the code. "Bingo." the teen said with a smirk. The Horo horo no mi's ability was on a level on it's own when it came to spying .

~.~

There was something about Luffy that seemed to bug him, Rayleigh just couldn't tell what exactly. Maybe it was just that the boy seemed all too good. Leaving aside his looks, the boy always seemed just a bit too nice, a bit too caring , a bit too humble and if that wasn't bad enough he was honest about it too. All in all Luffy was way too good of a person to be a pirate even if he was a good thief. Which Rayleigh was sure in no little part could be thanked to his devil fruit. Plus the teen had a poker face that he hated to admit beat maybe even his all in all he seemed to good to be true or to be a pirate. It wasn't until then, when he saw that cold mask of indifference that the boy wore like a shield crumble to dust, he realized just how jaded, how damaged, how angry correction more like furious and how much of a bleeding heart the nekomimi truly was.

It was not unlike any other day in Sabaody, sunny and just perfect for a walk or a day at the Amusement Park as it may be. A nice reward for the brats and yes Shanks included for the hard work they did in the last few days. The incident was unfortunately not one he hadn't saw repeat time and time again. The two brats- Shanks and Perona were chatting, cough-cough, arguing, happily away. He, Benn and Luffy were walking just a bit behind them wearing either an amused, Rayleigh, or a resigned expression Benn. In the excitement the two ignored most passerby present, but not Luffy. The teen wore caution like one would a coat. His ears picked up the sound of a small commotion down the street. Rayleigh stopped just in time to see the boy freeze in his tracks and turning sharply to the right.

People were either pushed aside or tried to keep their distance once they saw a slave running among their midst with an activated ticking bomb collar. She was a young women, a bit older than Perona. The moment Luffy laid eyes on her his ice-cold expression melted away. There was anger shimmering inside his eyes but more importantly protectiveness and worry.

3-

He took off faster than the man ever saw him run. No doubt the kid was using Soru. Shanks was right behind him not missing a step.

2-

The slaves eyes caught Luffy's and understatement seemed to pass between them.

1-

Both their effort to reach the other faster redoubled if possible.

0-

Shanks caught Luffy by his midsection just in time as the bomb activated. The two were just one more step away. Rayleigh thought somberly. The teen was close enough that his extended fingertips got slightly singed. Luffy felt like his breath was stuck, frozen. He tried to move to help, to do something but a strong grip kept him still. His eyes were not able to move from her lifeless form.

"It's too late." Shanks said with a hard voice. His words seemed to snap Luffy back to reality and before the nekomimi could tell he was already hugged close by the red-haired pirate. "I'm sorry." Shanks said and Luffy clenched his hand in the man's shirt in frustration, injustice and tears.

"Not another one!" One of the man said in annoyance, soon though more murmurs joined his. Rayleigh prepared himself let loose a small amount of Haki but the teen beat him to it.

"I'm sure she's sorry she disturbed all your mundane routine! You fucking asshole! She just died! A human, like you like me, had just been blown to pieces and the only thing you can think about is what a drag!?" The teen asked incredulously. "What is wrong with you people!"

"A kid shouldn't talk about things you don't understand!" A gutsy listener shouted despite Rayleigh hovering shadow. "If we tried to help we would share their fate. We'd die too." The crowd stated whispering in agreement. "They should just stop trying to escape."

"I understand…" The teen said with a tight voice. "I understand more than you ever will. You are all ruled by fear; you fear grown so much that you all had become slaves to it." The man reeled back as if struck by the words. "You just keep inside your nicely constructed comfortable cage and never even try to be free." Luffy said his dark abyss eyes glowing poison green under his hoodies. "You all make me sick!"

Shanks hand guided the kid gently back towards the bar, Perona followed them close while Benn choose to stay behind while giving a small nod to Rayleigh. It was easy to see now what had been bothering him the silver haired man mussed in silence. He must have felt the darkness the kid hid away. Getting to know the kid it bothered him, that he couldn't see the entire picture. That rage was a deep and dark abyss, but then again so were their dark side. No human was made up from just good things.

~.~

"So let me see if I understand" the man said with not small amount of annoyance. He was in his mid 20, tall and strong looking with a big broad sword on his back, with orange hair and dark armor. "You basically messed up their operation and then tried to strong arm him into doing what you want." The man asked looking at them like they were idiots. It wasn't far from the truth. "It's no wonder he didn't listen. "

"We're sorry, we thought... " one of them started.

"He is just a brat causing trouble."The leader of their stellar plan cut into the other's words.

"You!" The orange haired man shouted.

"Enough." The voice commanded.

"But Dragon-san..."

"It's fine Leo. "the man said with a shake of his head. "It's true, he is a brat." through the intonation in his voice didn't change, the orange haired man couldn't help but feel the pride in it. "I'll meet with him even if I have no doubt that his answer will remain the same."

"But then why..."

"Because looking out for his best is my responsibility" -As his father- was not said but Leo heard it all the same.

~.~

After burying the nameless woman Rayleigh overheard something truly amusing. Something that made him decide to throw in his support. Maybe, just maybe if it was Luffy, he could do it.

"One day I will become the freest man in the world. Nothing, not even fear will stop us." the teen spoke and then turned to his companion. "On an adventure to become the Pirate King, Perona you'll come with me right?!"

The ghost Princess smile was brightest Rayleigh had ever seen. "Yes captain!"

~.~

Almost three weeks had passed since they arrived to Sabaody, and Luffy throw himself into training since that incident. The final date was nearing, the coating was almost done and the rest of the crew were itching to finally do something. Even Rayleigh-san decided to throw in his support and help out. Just like now Rayleigh-san was helping Shanks train him in Haki and a bit of swordsmanship.

It was quite a pleasant surprise to find out his sharpened instincts could be attributed to the fact that he had already awoken his Observation Haki and it wasn't thanks to the influence of the bakeneko. Admittedly his devil fruit more precisely his animal instincts might have aided him get there. There still was place for improvement, of course. In the beginning he couldn't even activate it willingly. It was more like forcing it out 3 times out of 5 tries, all of course while being under duress. Now he managed to activate it 5 times out of 5 willingly but barely keeping it up longer than a few seconds. Rayleigh-San and Shanks said it was huge but he felt like it just wasn't good enough. Not after honing his instincts for years now.

And there was Armament Haki, which he was even worse at. The nekomimi had quite a bit of trouble even awakening it. Of course he got the main idea, the theory was easy. He had experience with powers that were related to will. The basics of his flame manipulation being the perfect example of it but still, weaponizing his will in a different manner was hard. He tended to instinctually create a protective barrier instead. Ever since he first turned into the Bakeneko's two tailed form his shield had been active and protecting him against everything his brain perceived as a threat. If he concentrated he could disable it but then he couldn't concentrated on using his Armament Haki at the same time.

As for Conqueror Haki at this stage it was impossible to tell if he had it or not, ignoring the weird look Rayleigh and Shanks got when he brought it up. There had been no signs besides that one time with the Cerberus and that could have been just killer intent spooking the dog. Somehow though he couldn't help but feel like he was failing instead of advancing. Like he just wasn't good enough. Of course Shanks and Rayleigh-san told him that it would take years for people to master it but he just felt that after receiving so much support from not one but two practically living legends he should have been better at it. Like he was somehow letting them down, so he pushed himself more. What else could he do?

"You should go and rest some." The silver haired man said fondly as he put away his sword.

"H-hai" Luffy said from where he was currently sprawled on the ground while panting slightly.

Rayleigh sighed slightly as he looked at teen who was trying to stand up with not much success. "You're overworking yourself."

"Bad habit of mine." The teen replied with a troubled smile. "Not one I'm willing to drop though." Luffy admitted.

"Why not?" The Pirate King's first mate asked as he offered a hand. Luffy took it with a toothy yet somehow shy smile.

"…I suppose because I'm stubborn... I'm not a genius everyone thinks I am." The silver haired man looked like he wanted to refute his words but the teen continued speaking, as his gaze wondered toward the sky. "I'm not a prodigy who sees a sword move and can imitate it perfectly, or read a book and recite it from memory." The nekomimi's eyes found Rayleigh's once more. "I only know this way… I work hard and harder and then even harder and just hope that is enough. That I won't fail them, that I'm strong enough to protect what's important to me. That I can become an existence they can rely on one day. I don't… I won't ever lose my nakama. Never again. I don't want fear to become a chain that holds me back, I want to live freely, that's why, even though it clumsy and ungraceful… this is the only way I know." The boy said withou looking away once. Anyone could tell just by looking into his eyes that he was deadly serious about it. "It's selfish I know I worry them, but then again I'm a pirate, being selfish is a must!" The teenager added half jokingly.

"Being selfish is a must huh…" Rayleigh couldn't and didn't even want to stop the smile he gained hearing those words. "well I think you will be just fine then. Still I hope you're conservative enough not to give them have a heart-attack."

"What's conservative?" Luffy asked back innocently with just a bit of mischief shining through his eyes making the man fall over anime style.

"Shanks hair is going to turn white long before Benn's." Rayleigh said with a chuckle.

The nekomimi smiled cheekily. "I donno about white but you should have seen the amount that keeps falling out." The teen joked as they started walking back to Shaky's bar when they got slightly side tracked.

"Hmm..." the nekomimi said as he stopped and scented the air. "You can come out now."

"You're good." The figure dressed in a long cloak comented at both Luffy and Rayleigh who somehow got behind him. He was cornered between the two and had no idea how it happened.

"Why are you follwing us?" Luffy asked curiosly.

"My name's Leo. I work for the Revolutionary Army." The man said with a small bow. "Nice to meet you."

"I'm unsure if the same can be said for me." Luffy said in a monotone voice making the speaker chuckle a bit and the nekomimi raise a curios eyebrow.

"Ah sorry" Leo said quickly before Luffy could take offence. "it's just... you remind me of him." The nekomimi wasn't sure how to react to that.

"Still you have yet to answer his question. What does the illostruous Golden Lion want with us?" Rayleigh asked pleasently.

"Actually, I wanted to ask Luffy-kun if he'd agree to meet Dragon-san. "

"I'm not opposed to the idea but" the nekomimi said with a soft sigh. "only if my captain agrees."

"Understandable." the blond nodded. "Well when you're ready come to the wearhouse under grove 23."

"It's not-"

"Anytime." the man said interupting the nekomimi with a bright smile making Luffy's eyebrow twitch.

"Whatever." The pirate apprentice said with resignation as he turned to walk away. Ryleigh offered the Leo a small smile that turned more amused he joined the annoyed nekomimi.

"That was nice of you, though a bit out of character."

"No it wasn't it. I did it just so I can avoid another headache... his kind, you can't argue with."

"Oh and how do you know that?"

"Let's just say he remindes me of someone."

"And who would that someone be?"

The nekomimi's eyebrow twitched once more in annoyance as he addmited."Myself."

~.~

The two cloaked figures stopped a few paces away from each other, both sides of the room was quiet, the two out of four people present in the room were sizing up each other up. Leo and Benn stood back letting the two have a small privacy but close enough to jump in should they need to. Shanks had to stay back, for obvious reasons, they didn't want to started a pissing contest with the Revolutionary Army's leader because their captain couldn't control his temper and having here Rayleigh could be considered a war declaration.

"I guess it was too much to expect you to come alone Luffy." The taller cloaked figure said somehow sounding resigned.

"… that would have been foolish. I am a pirate after all. If you are who you pretend to be I'd like you to prove it."

"Very well but in exchange I'd like you to do the same." The man said before taking off his cloak. Luffy easily recognized the man from the wanted poster Benn showed him, the black spiky hair was somehow similar to his and the tattoo on the left side of his face. The possibility of it all being a trick was still high but his gut was telling him that the man wasn't lying. The nekomimi mimicked the action and damasked himself. If Dragon was surprised he didn't show it.

"So you're a pirate." He continued.

"Yes."

"I admit I was surprised when I found out you joined one of the Yonko's crew, I'm not sure they are a good influence." Benn raised an eyebrow but didn't comment while Luffy suddenly had the urge to scoff but stopped himself before he could.

"Just get to the point."

The man frowned slightly. "I admit this in not how I imagined this conversation would go." Dragon started not sure how to actually proceed. The first conversation with his son and he already felt out of his depht. "You are more rebellious than I thought you would be, a lot younger too… " That seemed to be the wrong thing to say.

Luffy's eyes narrowed and though one could practically feel his annoyance in his words, his face remained masked of indiference. "Is that why you wanted to meet? To tell me I'm rebellious and young? If yes then I have better things to do."

"It would be wrong to deny." Dragon stated. "I had indeed come here because I feel this is a precarious place for you to be. I'd advise you just stop and turn around now. You are not ready for the New World yet, there are worst monsters out there than you could imagine. It would be in your and the red-haired pirates best interest for you to disappear or so to say unless you want to become a hindrance for them." Benn did sigh and Leo actually felt sorry for Dragon. The man was fumbling hopelessly, the more he talked the more he seemed to mess up. It wasn't what he said, that was wrong, no it was more like the way he said it.

"Is that all you want to say?" Luffy asked with a neutral voice.

"Obviously I am worried. You are my son-" Benn was sure this won't end pretty. He wasn't wrong.

"Stop the fuck right there." The fury in the nekomimi's voice was explosive. "You got some guts pulling a father card like that out of nowhere."

"What do you mean out of nowhere-" The man asked somehow stunned. Weren't they past the whole 'are you who you say you are' business?

"Let me make this clear. I don't know you don't want to know you, sure as hell don't trust you, nor do I consider you my father." The teen said with a slight agitation in his voice. "As far as I am concerned I have a family and you are not part of it. We might be genetically related but that's doesn't make you family, we have no real connection beyond a mere blood-tie and I don't care for that."

"That's a bit cold but I understand if you hold some resentment."

"No you don't. I think it might have been easier if I hated you but I don't hate you and I surely don't like you. I might slightly dislike you for earlier comment, but you're not the first person to try and put me down, insult me or discourage me. You see I hold no resentment toward you. No attachment, nothing. For me you're the same as the rest of people I might pass on the street. "

"If that's true than why are you here."

"Two reasons. One curiosity. I admit it I wanted to know what you have to say to me and I was curious if it changed anything about how I feel. It didn't by the way. Reason number Two – business."

"What business could a pirate have with me?" Dragon asked tilting his head to the side slightly.

"Gramps said you're apparently are some big shoot in the Revolutionary Army."

The man nodded. "You could say that."

"Good. Because I have information that might interest you." Luffy said giving an inviting look toward Benn who walked closer and started explaining their plan regarding slaves.

AN: it was a hard chapter to write, I had rewrote it many times until I felt satisfied. I hope it does answer some questions you guys had, particularly if Luffy knows who his father is or how he knows. I'd like to add that I don't hate Dragon but I'm not a fan of his either. I tried to write him not as a bad guy but as someone who has no idea how to interact with his own teenager son. Because of this he treats him similar to how he'd treat a subordinate, it doesn't win him many points.

As for the other questions:

- Garp does know Luffy is with Shanks. I believe Garp is stationed in the New World so they had no way of meeting him since they had been sailing in the Blues and just recently returned to the Grandline.

-About the nightmares, yes he still has them. But he knows a way to ward them off. I won't tell how though.

-Raw fish is a no unless we are talking about Sushi. He is a human and while quite in a synch with his bakeneko he is a rational being. I'm think he would eat it raw only if it was a matter of survival. Even in ch 2 at the time he was stranded on the island Kaze died he tried to prepare food- fish or any game he caught mostly out of habit. He was-is used to eating meat prepared for human consumption. Also I don't think eating raw fish would influence him in the same way it would a normal cat. The chefs on the ship make sure the crew has a balanced diet, so he shouldn't be influenced by thiamine deficiency.

-About the nobles that kept Luffy, I have something planned for them. Yes they will show up, not now though.

-He won't be using Kaze in fights. He tries not to use him for anything unless absolutely necessary. Kaze is an undead because his soul is trapped by Luffy's powers he can't refuse any of his orders which could translate as Luffy taking away his freedom of choice. Something the nekomimi couldn't bring himself to do. This is a part of his powers he absolutely detests.

-Buggy won't show up for a long time and I'm not sure if I want him in Luffy's crew. I plan on at least one more person joining his crew before he starts pirating on his own, but I won't tell who.

-About Sabo I'm sorry he won't be joining the Revolutionary Army. In the canon he was saved by Dragon, in my fic the circumstances are different for him, plus I don't think Sabo would like Dragon very much.

-He will meet Whitebeard, the when and how are secret.

- No pairings sorry.

If something is still unclear please drop me a review I'll try to answer them as best as I can.