Alabasta Love

Once again I am walking the streets of Rainbase. My city. Everyone knows me here. I'm Akira Crocodile, the "crocodile" also known as Mr. Zero, head of the infamous Baroque company, formerly one of the Seven Samurai of the Seas. After my defeat against this damned straw hat boy, I am no longer one of them, as it revealed my not exactly good intentions. I'll take revenge for that ... But at least I'm still the owner of the laburnum casino. It is Alabasta's largest and most popular casino. At least that's what I've got left with. Something that has retained part of my former identity ...

Oh yes, some special agents and lower-level members of the company have also returned. They want our work to continue underground. I also thought about it every now and then. But with the idiots who are among those who have returned, I have doubts about the success of this project.

After the real plans of the Baroque company became public, I am no longer their folk hero to the residents of Alabastas. No matter.Except for popularity and a little more fame and reputation, it didn't bring me anything. Popularity ... shit word! Does that have anything to do with love at all? It doesn't matter either. I've never really had anything to do with that. I've often thought about starting something like that with Nico Robin, but then I left that. Wouldn't last long. She survived the collapse of the Tomb of the Kings. But only because the straw hat saved her. You and Cobra ...

Speaking of the cobra: over there are two of his ... "servants", the falcon and the jackal, Peruh and Chaka. The next time I want to kill someone, I'll work better. This Chaka apparently did not suffer any major damage ... What a pity, actually ... But what amazes me even more is the fact that Peruh is still alive. All of Alabasta was in awe when news spread that this guy survived the explosion from the bomb that was supposed to blow away half the kingdom.He had just been lucky and found a skilled doctor. A doctor who built his practice in the middle of the desert !!! What bullshit! Well, the world needs a few crazy people ...

Hopefully I can pass them both unnoticed. I really don't feel like having a "nice chat". I'm sure I'll get to hear again that Kobra would like to talk to me again and something ... He trusts me again ... His daughter Vivi too. With her, however, it took a little longer to get there. Now Chaka is probably the only one in the palace who still distrusts me.

It's not my problem that those navy fools gave me a second chance. They will still experience their blue miracle - at some point ... But not too soon and not too conspicuous, otherwise they would book me in and the plan for the rebirth of the Baroque company would be over for good.

“Crocodile!” Shit! You saw me after all ... Keep calm ... "Hello."That was really not impolite. Especially not by my standards. As always, Chaka only gives a brief nod of the head in greeting." Long time not seen! How are you? "The guy with the war paint seems to have planned a longer conversation again ... What the heck ... The courtesy demands ..." Quite good. And even? "Again it is Peruh who answers. As always, Chaka keeps out of our conversations. Never mind. After all, we have nothing to say to each other." Couldn't go better! In the palace everything is going haywire at the moment, because ... "" ... It's Kobra's birthday next week ... ", I finish the sentence. How could I forget that damned day ..." That's right! And I don't have to mention that you're invited again, do I? "Is he happy about it ?! It almost looks like ...

I should really slowly give up hope that one day Kobra forgets to invite me. Sometimes I'm really tired of appearing at the palace at least once a year and pretending that nothing had happened ... Actually, I wanted to think about the invitation, but Peruh's voice brings me back to reality .“You haven't planned on anything, have you?” I wonder why he has to keep joking about something ... But I still tell him that of course I haven't planned anything. He and Kobra are definitely the only ones who are happy about my presence. While I am still thinking about it, the redeeming words come from Peruh: "Well, we have to go on, go shopping and so ..." I assure Peruh again that I will be there next week, then we will say goodbye from each other and our ways finally part again. As so often before, I now ask myself why Kobra invites me every year. Brooding over a reasonable reason, I go back to the casino.

Once there, of course, I'm just as smart as before. I go to the apartment furnished under the laburnum. Everything is as always: Miss MerryChristmas is beating around in the kitchen, Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek are drinking green tea and Nico Robin is in the living room.She is sitting in the armchair in front of the fireplace and reading. Something about archeology again, for sure. I sit across from her in the other armchair. "Hello Akira." If she would at least look up from her book ... And then she doesn't even wait for me to say hello, but just keep talking. “How was your day?” I tell her about my meeting with Peruh and Chaka, about the invitation. She laughs. “Did you expect anything else?” I shake my head. I really didn't ...

We talk a little longer, then I retire to my room. I don't know what else to do in the early evening, so I decide to go to sleep. The tiredness will come by itself ... I doubt that, however, when I am still wide awake after a few hours. I notice that I think all the time about why Peruh always seems to be in such a good mood when we meet. Today he had at least one reason to do so, but otherwise ... It's definitely not my fault ... In the end I am satisfied with the reason that he is always like that.But even more, I wonder why I think of him in the first place. That's enough now, I want to sleep!

~~~ NEXT MORNING ~~~

When I wake up the next morning, I am so tired that I can hardly believe I was asleep. It was only a few hours. And now it's noon ... I remember that in the few hours of sleep I had dreamed of admittedly damn beautiful eyes. Brown eyes that seemed to smile at me in a friendly way ... I knew in a dream that I knew them, but even now I don't know where from ... I have to take a shower first. Fortunately, I don't run into anyone on the way to the bathroom. I've never had much time for a chat shortly after getting up.

Those eyes ... I can't get them out of my head in the freezing shower either. The warm terry towel doesn't change anything ... I get dressed and go into the kitchen to have breakfast first. Maybe that will help ... The eyes from the dream only leave my memory when I hear Mr. 2's boisterous croaking.In addition, the shrill, hectic voice of Miss MerryChristmas. Why do the two have to quarrel again and again ...? I think I'll have breakfast in a restaurant. Nobody can stand it here!

Outside, like every afternoon, all hell is going on. Quite a few people cram the streets. Looks like the sellers are making good profits again today. I quickly find a restaurant where I can settle down. It's good that "breakfast menus" are offered here all day. I opt for a couple of sandwiches and a strong coffee. Delicious...

Then I'll go for a little walk. Sometime between 8:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. I am back in the apartment under the laburnum. I wonder if there is anything left to do here. ... Apparently not. So i go to sleep. What else should I do ...

~~~ NEXT WEEK ~~~

Again one of the days when I only wake up around noon. Good thing, then I have less time to waste thoughts on the daily routine.Today is the day I would love to cross off the calendar: Cobra's birthday ... I really wonder why I go there every year. Probably to keep the peace ... Anyway ... A cold shower, a hearty breakfast ... and I still have an endless amount of time ... I could develop plans for the company that long. After thinking about it, I decide to read a book instead. When I look at the clock after a while, I notice that the time wasn't so endless after all. So I'm slowly on my way. Kobra has not wanted material gifts for a long time, he says. It is enough for him when his closest friends - that is, the whole palace ... - are there. And then why does he invite me too ?! I think he's getting old ...

When I arrive at the palace, the "party" seems to be in full swing - and that already in the early evening ... I find my "old friend" Kobra quickly. Just as quickly I just wanted to congratulate, thank you for the invitation and then look for something else to do here, but of course Kobra still has to stuff me with the usual stuff: It's nice to see me again, it's been so long here, blah, blah, blah ... After a while he fortunately decides to talk to Mr. 8, I mean Igaram.He and Vivi, known in the company as Miss Wednesday, have really come in handy every now and then. But that's over now.

I mingle with the people. The kitchen staff pulled out all the stops, how it looks. I grab something to eat and go to a corner where I won't be seen so quickly. The food could also be a reason that makes me accept the invitation every year. It's just delicious. And free ... not that I couldn't afford to go to an expensive restaurant, but when you get the chance ...

I let my gaze wander over the crowd. Then suddenly they are there again, the eyes from my dream. Not again ... It takes a moment before I realize that they are not just buzzing around in my mind, but that I am looking straight into them! I shake my head briefly to be sure that it wasn't my imagination, but when I look again, nothing more is to be seen of them ... Instead I discover something else: Peruh and Chaka again, this time in the company of Vivi.They seem to be having a great time. I think for a moment whether I should go somewhere else so they don't see me and maybe just talk, but then I'll leave it. I continue to watch the other guests and wonder which woman could have such gorgeous