Disclaimer: I do NOT own One Piece. I wasn't Eiichiro Oda the last time I checked.
A/N: Welcome! This is my first fanfiction, so I'm actually very nervous. I apologize if there are cases of awkward phrasing, mistakes of any kind or other strange things that escaped my attention.
I hope you'll enjoy reading. Shall we begin?
...
What Was in the Blood
Chapter 1.
When the World Crumbled
...
This morning could have been called "normal," with a slight exception. At first glance, everything was as it was supposed to be. The new day was slowly but surely welcoming the Straw Hats who were tending to their business.
Nami and Robin were in the library. The navigator was concentrating at the desk, putting finishing touches to her newest map. Besides her, Robin was studying a thick, difficult-looking book. It was a relaxing part of the day, one that both women loved and treasured.
Other Straw Hats were up as well. Brook was standing on the upper deck, producing soft tunes with his violin. There were also muffled sounds of a hammer from Franky's workplace and not-so-quiet cursing from the swordsman who, apparently, was failing to find a bathroom.
Sanji was already calling for breakfast. The rest of boys could be heard dragging themselves out of beds, shuffling their feet and yawning.
But something was not heard. Or rather – someone.
Nami frowned. The lack of Luffy's yelling was strangely unnerving. It seemed that their captain irritated her both when he was his normal boisterous-self and when he refused to be so and make a ruckus! The navigator stood up with a huff. She angrily stomped outside, while Robin followed her with a smile.
It was a beautiful day. Nami breathed in the fresh air and took a look around. Her gaze rested on the slouched form of Usopp in the company of Chopper. They must have noticed something unusual in the ocean. They were jumping in place and searching the waters with sparkling eyes, barely containing excitement.
"Look!" Usopp shouted. His index finger pointed downwards, where a dark shape moved by Sunny. "I told you! And you dared to doubt the great, outstanding Usopp-sama! I said that they would take this bait, did I not?"
"Whoa! This is so amazing!" Chopper agreed with stars in his orbits.
Nami walked to them slowly. She risked a look over the railing, her forehead more and more wrinkled from progressive frowning.
It seemed that someone – probably the sniper, if his boasting was any indication – tied some green material by a string and connected it with a stake in the paling. It was thrown into the water and currently followed by mysterious shapes, hidden by the foam.
"Are these... boxers?" the navigator wondered.
She quickly shook her head. She was taught by experience to never question small oddities among the Straw Hats. What seemed more interesting was not the strange use of the underwear, but rather... what was trying to grab it with large, down-turned beaks. And were those horns, growing out of thick, scale-covered heads?
"Hmm. These are fine looking turtles you managed to gather, Usopp" Robin complimented.
Usopp, not one to ignore praise, stood a little taller.
"Well, of course. I summoned them for food supply. I could have called even bigger ones," he assured, "but..."
"You decided that Zoro may not appreciate your efforts?" Robin cut in with fake innocence.
Nami sweat-dropped. Both Usopp and Chopper exchanged fearful glances.
"This is Zoro's underwear, is it not?" Robin clarified with amusement.
Usopp swallowed thickly. He quickly looked around, as if checking that Zoro wasn't lurking by the corners.
"If anyone asks, this was not my doing," he stated skittishly. He all but rushed to the galley, not sparing another second.
"Ah! Wait for me!" Chopper screamed. He hurriedly followed his example.
Nami, now fully in possession of her usual morning-headache, shook her head.
"Oh, Robin. Are they morons by nature or are they trying to drive me crazy?"
"Well, they sure are lovely, Nami," Robin answered. Her smile was warm with fondness.
"Yohohoho! If there is anyone lovely in this beautiful world, it would be you, my dear ladies!" Brook exclaimed. He jumped from the stairs and bowed to the females, sweeping floor with his hat. "Please do excuse my rudeness, but... While the day is so very nice, the air is fresh and Zoro-san unwillingly inspired me to ask this question..." He looked up with a glint in his eye socket. "Can I please see your panties?"
"NO, YOU PERVERT!" roared the navigator. She cracked her fist against Brook's ribcage.
"Oh? Per~vert? Was someone calling me, maybe~?" came a hopeful cry from Franky.
His broad frame squeezed through the hatch to his workplace. He was smudged with grime and carried a large, perfectly round spot of soot around his left eye. It was making him resemble a not very cute and rather square panda.
"I heard you from my place. This morning enthusiasm is SUUU~~PER!" He proudly struck a pose.
Nami stared. She didn't spare a comment besides another round of sighing.
"Let's go to the kitchen," she offered. "I don't want the biggest idiot on this ship to come running and stamp on me in the process."
"Speaking of which," Robin engaged. "I wonder where he is. It's not like Luffy to be late for breakfast."
Before anyone could make another remark, the door to the galley suddenly opened. Sanji flew pass them and rushed to the females, twirling like a noodle.
"AH, MY FAIREST ANGELS!" he exclaimed. "You make my humble self proud to have such flawless creatures descend for my cooking!" He irritably glanced at the rest of the crew. "And you, uneducated bastards! When will you drag your lazy asses up, huh?"
"I apologize, Sanji. We were admiring turtles that Usopp summoned," Robin explained.
"Robin-chwan, Nami-swan! I could never get angry with you!"
They walked to the galley and occupied seats by the table, with Sanji fawning over the females. They started talking and bantering in their usual manner. When Zoro came in after a short while, however, his forehead creased in confusion.
"Eh? Where is Luffy?" he asked. He immediately noticed the absence of his captain.
"You are right." Usopp frowned, now that it became so very blatant. "Why is he missing?"
"That's weird," Nami agreed. "I didn't hear him rampaging this morning."
"Where might he be?" Brook got genuinely worried.
"Not to point out the obvious, but it's not like him to skip breakfast," pointed out the obvious Franky.
"Now that I think about it... I didn't need to defend food for the ladies," Sanji mused. He looked at the ceiling with furrowed swirls of eyebrows.
Zoro's scowl deepened. He was unnerved by this mysterious disappearance.
"Whatever" he grunted. "He probably got tangled in sheets and couldn't get out of his bed. Not like it would be the first time it happened," he added with a sigh. "I'll go and get him."
"Good luck. And please never come back, Marimo," Sanji bid him farewell. After a pointed look from the swordsman, he deftly ignored him and turned to the ladies. "Now, my sweetest. Would you like some tea or would you rather have milk with honey, my honey~?"
In the meantime, Zoro got lost twice and found the boy's room on the third try. By now a tad bit irritated, he pushed the door open and noticed Luffy laying in his hammock. He couldn't see his face, as the boy was still under blankets, but it was enough to make Zoro cringe. The captain apparently decided to sleep in. To make the swordsman search for his skinny ass while he had fun in dreamland!
Well. As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.
The green-haired man grinned. He walked to the bell, which was hanging on the wall, and attacked the clapper. The ruckus that followed was truly fearsome. It was so loud it could wake up a deaf person and it seemed to last for eternity, but Luffy refused to budge.
Just how stubborn was he?
"Oi! Luffy!" Zoro growled. His ears were ringing... Certainly Luffy was affected by the noise as well. So why didn't he come flying out of hammock? "Luffy! Do you plan to go for breakfast any time today? Or maybe I should eat your share?" the man added with a smirk.
But the smirk disappeared as fast as it came. Zoro took a long look at his captain. His mischievousness left him when the boy remained perfectly still.
"Luffy?" he repeated.
"Zoro..." There was a small, tired voice coming from beneath the blankets. The older man walked closer and touched them gently.
"Hey, Luffy. What's the matter?" he asked. He rubbed circles on the bony shoulder he felt under sheets. "You doing okay?"
"Hurts... Zoro, it hurts," the boy moaned. His form curled into an even smaller ball. The obvious weakness scared the fearless swordsman, even though he did not admit it.
"Easy, buddy, I'm here with you. What's hurting?"
"Don't know... Everything..."
Zoro's heart missed a beat. The voice of his captain was weak and pleading. It was begging to make it stop, to take the pain away, to help...
"What do you mean, Luffy? Surely not everything...?" the bigger man asked.
"I don't know! It hurts, Zoro... It hurts...!"
The boy squirmed some more and a pair of big, glassy eyes looked at his friend for the first time this morning.
The man gasped.
Those eyes were screaming at the swordsman. Bloodshot and tired, they belonged more to a sick teenager than their unwavering captain. But the worst was a silent message they carried: message that Luffy couldn't deal with it, that Luffy was failing. He needed a doctor now.
Bordering on panic, the bigger man placed his hands under the small boy. He lifted him with no effort and cradled him to his chest. The raven felt hot even through the blankets. He seemed to be shivering as well, what became obvious as Zoro held Luffy close.
"Easy, Luffy. I've got you," the swordsman promised. "Hang on."
Zoro did what he knew to be best. Protecting his friend from tremors during his hasty running, he took him straight to the galley. He didn't get lost even once, didn't sidetrack even a little. And when he kicked the door to the galley, Luffy was limp in his arms.
"CHOPPER!"
Luffy's hand, which fell from underneath the blanket, was shaking. It was covered in a vicious net of fiery lines and he was gasping for breath.
Everyone stiffened, drinking in the terrible sight.
Luffy made a tortured sound. The Straw Hats' hearts forgot to beat and their world trembled, and then turned into crumbs.
...
A/N: If you have time, please let me know what you think. I'll be very glad to hear your opinion. I greatly appreciate all the feedback, both praise and criticism.
Have a great day. Till the next time!
LK