V: Alright, here is the prologue. Sorry about the crappy poem... but it is a necessary evil I'm afraid. I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE!!! Now that, that's out of the way... enjoy the show.

The Games We Play

Prologue

To succeed in one, but to fail in the rest

This is the price of becoming the best.

Should you attempt to take beyond what's agreed

You will have shattered the rules of this creed

The punishment is to loose the extra gained

But to keep the goal, as well as the pain

So with drowning hands, grasp the day

Because this, young one, is the game we play

A childish wind wailed its way through the heartless grey landscape, crying in anguish at the movement it failed to inspire. There existed not a single blade of grass, dead leaf, or free cloud of dust to answer the wind's invisible cry. The ground, indeed, was flat and plain, adapting such a bland shade of gray that there existed no thought or emotion that could be called to describe it. Not even light could accent the flat tone, as any inspirational rays were caged behind an unmoving blanket of steel.

What saved the landscape form utter blandness were the petrified flames that stood in solemn rows until the horizon swallowed them whole. Once alive and outspoken, the flames had once dared to defy their monochromatic prison, only to be claimed by it in the end. Each quieted blaze now stood in silent mourning, waiting, in a hellish anticipation, to see who would next join their ranks.

A shadow flickered, and the wind changed its tone. The wail died in mid-screech to change to a quiet whisper. The dark silhouette danced over the stony flames as it moved with a steely purpose, finally coming to rest at a tomb only he could distinguish. A hand reached out to caress the name that had been carved into the ground so many years ago.

"Kuina." was the whisper that blossomed from his lips, only to be swept away by the hungry wind that now teased green hair.

Zoro ran his fingers lovingly across her name, as if simply touching it could bring her back. But the fluid movement of the letters was halted by a malicious scratch. It gave the impression of something being crossed off a to do list.

"What was it that he told you..." said a female voice behind him, in a tone of mocking contemplation.

Zoro spun round and found him looking into the coldest shad of blue he had ever seen. The woman was sitting on one of the petrified flames, legs crossed, and a look of mocking deep thought dressed her face. However nothing beyond gender and mood could be determined as colors of black and white ran of her form in a fine mist, blurring the lines of where she ended and began. But, it made the sharp ice of her eyes stand out all the more.

"Oh yes..." she smiled. "People are fragile beings Zoro." She pouted, her voice taking a tone of an unhappy child, but her eyes betraying a cold humor. "But we know better. Don't we love..." It was not a question.

Something of a growl rumbled in Zoro's throat as he got to his feet and reached for his katana. A surge of near terror shot through him upon realizing that they were not there.

The woman gave a wry chuckle. "Oh really now," she stood up and closed the distance between them in three quick strides, her eyes now shooting arrows of ice straight into his. "We both know it wouldn't work any way..." She laughed again.

Zoro's eyes narrowed. This was why Kuina had never had the chance to accomplish her goal. The stairs had never been the cause, only the believable excuse. This woman, no, this thing was the reason Kuina lay cold in the ground. And why Zoro now had to carry two dreams, alone. It was all her fault.

The woman laughed again, "Now you're just being petty love. I was only playing by the rules of the game." she teased, now pulling back to survey Kuina's name. She turned back to him. "Rules you willingly agreed to... so if you're looking for someone to blame, I suggest looking in a mirror, little one."

"She was never part of the deal!" It was all the retaliation he could come up with.

The woman gave an exasperated sigh, "Everyone who has the misfortune to cross paths with you is part of the deal child. You know that perfectly well."

"Then why the hell are you here!?!" Zoro's reserve finally snapping.

"To give you fair warning love." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "You are coming into possession of something you can not have. Unless you take decisive action soon..." She walked passed him, turning after she had managed to get several empty feet between them. "And you had better," she looked pointedly at Kuina's grave, "Because no one can afford the cost of your love." This last sentiment barely had time to reach the air before the wind picked up, and the woman dissipated.

Then the world shifted from gray to black, and Zoro was falling. Limbs shot out in an attempt to hamper his decent, only to be greeted by the rush of wind.

'Shit!" was the only coherent thought he could muster. 'Shitshitshitshitshit!!"

And then it was if sound suddenly snapped into focus.

"Oi, Zoro. Lunch is ready."

It was a welcome sound...

"Oi, Miramo, get the hell up already!"

Yet highly annoying...

V: Okay, it now becomes very simple. If I get reviews that suggest I should, I will continue the story. And if I don't ... then I won't... Like I said, it's simple.