Day 21: I need to feed Zoro again and continue training by myself - just like the last 20 days of this ordeal. But Zoro's a great man. I didn't even know it was possible, but I admire him even more for saving Rika and her family's lives. What a guy.

But seriously, finding ways to spend my day on my own was getting pretty boring. I helped out at the bar and relentlessly trained my sword skills like I've seen him do all the time. When things were really slow, I'd sneak into the Marine's base and drop spiders in Helmeppo's wardrobe. It was nice having a roof over my head every night, but I was so ready to split and go after another bounty. Not to mention the nights were lonely without Zoro.

I was just heading out with a sandwich for the stubborn, but spirited, fool when I saw Rika talking to two boys. The girl was all scuffed up but otherwise fine. She was recalling the series of events which led to Zoro's trial two her audience. It sounded like she had been so nice as to take on the responsibility of sneaking him food so I just followed them back into the bar.

We caught Helmeppo at the end of one of his snooty tirades. "...I guess I could execute Zoro."

My mind raced as I weighed the possibility of slaying the prick where he stood or letting things play out as Zoro had initially instructed. For 20 days I've had to sit by while he dished out earfuls of degrading speeches. Not that Zoro cared or anyone really listened, but he had been stomping all over his (our) reputation as if Zoro was some kind of beast from Hell. But this time, he was playing with Zoro's life. That was something that I could not stand by and watch.

But in the time it took me to weigh my options, someone else took action. One of the boys talking to Rinka rushed the man and gave him one powerful right hook. Purple wine splashed across the wooden floor as Helmeppo's face met the stone wall behind him. The two shouted threats at one another while the other boy held back the one with the straw hat. Helmeppo predictably threatened to unleash the terror of his Marine father but the words were just empty sounds to the enraged boy. I pulled down the bandanna used to keep back my blue hair to my forehead. If a nasty fight broke out with the Marines, I'd be ready to step in.

"I've made up my mind. Today, Zoro joins my crew," he proclaimed.

...

Um what.

I was so stunned by his bold announcement that I missed the scumbag slipping away. Whatever, not important right now.

I pulled up a chair at the table where the two boys had settled. The rest of the bar had cleared out to avoid the scene and they were the only two customers left.

"Excuse me, hi. May I ask, what business do you have with Roronoa Zoro?"

The bold one with the straw hat answered simply, "I decided he's going to join my pirate crew."

Except, we weren't pirates - we hunted them. And that definitely doesn't sound like something Zoro would agree to.

The boy next to him made some sort of shrieking noise so I turned my attention towards him.

"What's that scar on your fa- That blindfold! There's no mistaking it, she must be the blind assassin if she knows Zoro. I heard that the bounty hunter's partner was only a myth. They say he lurks in the shadows and strikes when you least expect it. Only can claim few have seen him but they all agree that he fights blindfolded and is even scarier than Roronoa Zoro himself. I've even heard that he has mystical powers and has collected twice as many bounties as Zoro has!"

"Are you trembling?" I spat at the pink-haired boy, narrowing my grey eyes at him.

I probably came off more intimidating than was necessary but these people had me all confused and I don't appreciate people pointing out the blue scar branded across my face.

"I'm not a him, okay? And you're being rude pointing out blemishes on other people's face. I'm just wearing this bandanna because it pretty much covers the whole thing. Look, I'm not blind and I don't have mystical powers (idiots). But yes, I am with Zoro."

"Good, you can join my crew too," the other boy proclaimed much more calmly.

"Who are you." I mean, besides a weirdo.

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy. And I'm going to become King of the Pirates."

Pirates. He wanted us to become swashbuckling scoundrels of the sea; thieves were another name for them. King of the Pirates. We would set sail in search of the legendary One Piece.

"Okay. We'll join your crew. I'm Crystal, nice to meet you, Luffy. Oh, and don't believe everything that you hear. I'm not even half as strong as Zoro." We shook and made it official.

He didn't seem like such a bad guy. I admired the way he didn't think twice about defending Zoro no matter who he faced. Unlike my indecision.

"However," I warned, "Zoro won't be so easy to convince. You should probably go find his swords or something and hold them as ransom - just be really careful with them. They're in Helmeppo's room."

"Great! Let's go tell Zoro," he cheered.

And we were off to the Marine base to talk to Zoro. More like inform Zoro - it was two against one so he didn't really have a choice. On the way, Coby told me about his dream to become a Marine and I wished him the best of luck. Because that scrawny kid would need it. But hey, I wasn't much buffer than he was and I was going to be the (second) greatest swordsman in the world. I didn't have the type of ambition Zoro had to aim for the top so second suited me just fine. I also learned that the "crew" consisted of Luffy and a dinky little ship. And now Zoro and me.

But he promised me that we would go on adventures with the friends we gathered for our crew. He mentioned things like giant goldfish, islands made of ice cream, bronze statues and giants. Luffy got my imagination running wild with romantics and I caught the hype of being a pirate. What a surprise, I didn't imagine become a pirate when I woke up this morning.

"Wha- what the hell is this guy?"

Yet another surprise today, Luffy's arms could stretch like rubber.

"That would be our new captain. And it seems that he has devil fruit powers too."

I fed Zoro the sandwiches I had prepared earlier and wiped the dirt and sweat from his face. There were some bluish bruises around his cheeks where Helmeppo had abused him. It was nothing the great swordsman couldn't handle but it still made me writhe with anger.

"Are we really joining up with that fool?" he sighed.

Luffy had entered the base in hopes of retrieving Zoro's swords leaving just us two in the yard.

"You bet! We're going to become pirates. I get the feeling that he's going to bring your sentence to an end today. Ever since he got here, like earlier today, things have been heating up. You should probably prepare yourself for a fight."

"Noted. You know, if we become pirates, it's going to be difficult to stay out of trouble. You're probably going to just end up being the ship's chore boy," he laughed in light mockery.

"Hey! I'm a lot stronger, you know. I can fight too; I'll slice down anyone who stands between us and the treasure!"

Because that's what pirates do, right? We look for treasure?

"Do you really want to slice people down?" he asked, raising a knowing eyebrow.

"... not really," I admitted. I wanted to prove to him how strong I've become since he started training me about two years ago. But I only liked to use my weapon to protect, not to unnecessarily harm.

"A pirate ship is no place for a pacifist," he warned. What a paradox.

It was a sweltering hot day and he was tied up under the direct sunlight. I brought him water as often as I could but he was still baking out there in the sun and losing so much of it to sweat. Every time I'd wipe it away, beads of perspiration would reappear in an instant. The hunger wouldn't kill him and neither would Helmeppo's swipes. I just feared what the heat would zap all of his strength.

"He's going to pay for his," I muttered burying my face in Zoro's sweat-soaked shirt. "I will make him pay for every day he's hung you out here."

If his limbs weren't tied down, I know he'd probably wrap his arms around me. At least, that's what I imagined him doing. But he craned his neck just enough to nuzzle my hair.

"I'm sure you will," he smirked, effectively giving me permission to enact his revenge.

I looked up at him, sliding my nose from his jaw line up to his cheekbone. The sweet smell of his sweat tickled my nose and reminded me of all the time we would spend sparring together. The more sweat I could draw from him, the more accomplished I felt. But right now, I just wish it would stop. We weren't doing physical labor, we weren't out training . It was a sign of the cursed heat, not a badge of hard work.

I lightly kissed his cheek and gazed into his strong eyes. The fire that was lit on the first day of the trial was still there. It had not withered away or died in the heat. That was his spirit and it would never back down.

He met my gaze without fear and sheltered me from the sun with his shadow. There was that magnetic draw to his lips. I wanted more than anything to press against him and taste his sweet lips. We craved intimacy that the public sentence denied us. I had never been caught sneaking into the yard or even around the base. But still, we couldn't afford to get lost in the moment and let our guard down. As far as we knew, the marines still weren't sure if I even existed. And besides, the pining made his release all the more sweet.

Our moment was interrupted by an inconceivable amount of stone falling from the top of the base. It crashed in the yard and was reduced to a pile of ruble. If the rock had been of any importance, surely now it was indiscernible. Moments after the fall, a great caterwauling rose from the place where the thing had fallen.

"Better get going. Looks like you were right, I guess we are going to see a little action today," Zoro warned me.

I made a break for it to camp out just on the other side of the stone wall that closed off the yard. I passed Coby running the opposite way, right into the commotion. He was immediately spotted (of course) and within minutes, they were surrounded by marines. Even the feared captain, Ax-hand Morgan, made an appearance. Things sure were heating up fast.

I skirted around the edge of the yard to make a play from behind. I couldn't see over the wall but my sensitive ears picked up their banter and yelling. That was all I needed to pinpoint their location and get in position to strike. Without warning, I heard the deadly signal.

"Take aim, FIRE!"

I wasn't in the position I wanted but it didn't matter; I was too late anyways. Zoro is so strong but he's still human and I've seen how bullets rip lives away. The marines don't even realize it, but if those bullets pierce through his heart, then they've got mine too. It's a two for the price of one deal.

I hopped to the top of the wall in time to see Luffy land right in the line of fire. The bullets caught his rubbery skin and stretched it to its limit. I had to hide behind the wall to avoid the spray when they bounced back. So guns can't hurt a rubber man. Lucky.

"You wanna just tell me who the hell you are?" Zoro shouted after the strange display of power.

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy," he laughed, "and I'm going to be King of the Pirates!"

"You're going to be king of the pirates? Right, you must be out of your rubbery mind. Do you have any idea what that means?"

My goodness, Zoro could be so cynical sometimes.

"King of the Pirates means King of the Pirates. How could it mean anything else?" he answered simply. Very simply.

I took advantage of the ensuing confusion to get closer to Zoro. A bunch of marines backed by Ax Hand Morgan? His skills would definitely come in handy which means he'd need to be freed from crucifixion.

"So you're finally going to join my crew! This is the best thing ever!" Luffy shouted.

Finally, we were going to become pirates! I knew Zoro would come around (or be coerced into it).

"Would you quit celebrating already and get these ropes off me?!"

That was my cue. In the dialogue between Zoro and Luffy, no one, not even the Marines, seemed to notice me running across the yard. Just as they were getting their wits together, I unsheathed my wide blade and sliced the restraining ropes. It would have taken too long to try to untie them and several Marines were advancing with weapons in hand. Nothing Zoro couldn't handle by himself.

"Hey that's funny, they just fell off," Luffy wondered just standing there.

"Just give me my damn swords now!" Zoro commanded.

The marines were essentially on top of Coby and Luffy was still baffled by the ropes. Zoro took the initiative to equip himself if our captain was just going to stand around. His three swords covered a long range and they stopped each and every Marine as they barred down on us.

"Make one move and you die," he threatened through gritted teeth. "Today I officially become a criminal, having fought the marines. So I'll become a pirate. But I want you to know one thing: while I'm with you, I dedicate myself to is fulfilling my ambition. To be nothing less than the world's greatest swordsman. If somewhere along the way I have to give that up, then I want you to accept the responsibility." His eyes narrowed in all seriousness. "After which, you get to apologize to me."

I remember when he gave me the same speech as we left Shimotsuki Village. First he told me that we were leaving (didn't ask if I wanted to come), then put conditions on my joining him. I could only come if I didn't interfere with his ambition. Psh, it's not like he could tell meaty game from slight prey, a poisonous herb from a healing herb, or even left from right. He'd be lost without me.

"The world's greatest swordsman, sounds pretty good. The King of the Pirates wouldn't have any less than the best on his crew." Luffy agreed.

"Big talker. From this point on, no matter if I'm a criminal or not, I will spread the name Zoro throughout the world!"

Not going to lie, his ambitious speech melted my heart a bit.

What a guy. And same can be said for Luffy, the man who ate the Gom Gom Fruit. (I mean, he didn't make me swoon like Zoro does). He went straight from Captain Morgan who had enough power to split fissures in the ground. It didn't seem to matter though, Luffy was able to dodge every one of this attacks and even bring the Marine to the ground.

"Straw Hat! Stop right there!" Helmeppo wailed. "Look what I got!"

Luffy wasn't listening. But I was.

"Are you stupid or something? I said stop!"

The prick was holding a gun up to Coby's head but I doubt he even knew how to use it. He blinked and there I was, standing in front of him, hell-bent on revenge.

I wish that I didn't have to wear the blindfold. I wish that he could stare into my cold, grey eyes and know how dead serious I was about returning all of the shit he gave Zoro over the past 21 days. Hell, I'd even return in ten-fold. I would unleash 210 days of torture on him because that's exactly what he deserved. 210 days of heat, starvation, abuse, and loneliness.

My blade doesn't fail me because I command it. One clean sweep and I tore the flesh from his waist up to his shoulder. I could smell the blood seeping from the wound and it made me nauseous. I didn't think I could handle any more of that. The cut wasn't deep - hardly enough to leave a scar - but at least his prissy purple suit was in shambles. Ass hole.

He fell to the ground and I lunged at him. I let loose a barrage of punches to his squirrly face just as Luffy had done to his father. Two hits for every one he gave to defenseless Zoro. Not that I expected shit from this man or this family, but there was no honor in taunting a man tied up and helpless. There was nothing redeeming about executing a man you promised to set free. He was among the scum of the earth; he would never understand honor. Unless maybe I could beat it into him.

"Crystal, that's enough," Zoro barked.

He grabbed the back of my t-shirt and lifted me off of the bruised and bloodied mess.

"The battle's over so you can stop now, you little monster," he teased.

It wasn't funny. I lifted the blindfold to see the wreckage left behind in the wake of my disastrous rage. Helmeppo was unrecognizable beneath the mounds of swollen, black flesh and smeared blood. His nose was pointed at an unnatural angle and his eyes could barely open more than a slit. He just lay there, unable to move. He looked dead because of what I did.

My hand flew to my mouth in horror to cover a gasp. I inhaled the salty taste of blood and looked at my hands. They were covered in the havoc of my assault. Helmeppo's blood mixed with dirt covered my pinkish flesh, sore from the relentless force of my punches. It - no I - was disgusting,

"Just wipe it off on my shirt - ugh or puke on my shoes, whatever. It's okay, they were covered in filth anyways..."

The heat, the starvation, the battle with the Marines - they were taking a toll on him and he collapsed to the ground right after I hurled.

"Zoro! Are you okay?" Coby wailed.

Obviously not, he just fell over...

"Just.. hungry," he panted.

There were more important things than facing my monstrosity so I just shoved the thought in the closet. Coby helped me drag Zoro back to the bar for a proper meal while Luffy ran on ahead.

"I can't believe you're finished, lightweight," Luffy criticized after Zoro polished off 5 heaping helpings food.

"How can you have a bigger appetite than a guy who hasn't eaten in weeks?"

Then there was me who ate a dainty one and a half plates of food. I offered the rest to Zoro, but he was too full so he handed it off to Luffy. He emptied the remaining food in one giant gulp.

"So, how many others have you gathered for your crew besides us?"

It was an inevitable exchange and Zoro responded with just as much dismay as I had expected.

"I think I need a shower," Zoro yawned. A lot of food made him groggy and he usually took a nap after a meal.

"I think you need a lot more than that, Zoro. You've been sitting in your own filth for 21 days and you smell so bad that everyone left the bar!"

Rather, they were observing the town heroes by peering through the windows - a safe distance from the dangerous and smelly pirates.

"Fine then come make sure I get all of it off."

I led him to the basement where Rika's family was letting me stay. It was a quaint little guest room with a bed and private bath. I had put the room back together in preparation for Zoro's release and our subsequent departure. The summery blue sheets were cleaned and the twin bed was made with the decorative quilt neatly covering the surface. There was a fresh set of clothes waiting for Zoro so I could immediately discard the soiled ones.

"Don't you dare throw those away," he warned as he saw me gingerly scooping them into a bag. Whatever, sentimental weirdo.

It was only seconds after the water started running I heard him mutter something like "Huh, this is going to be harder than I thought" followed by "Crystal, I need your help!"

Upwards of an hour later, he was finally cleaned off. That's how long it took both of us to gingerly scrub his sunburnt skin until all the filth and grime had been washed away. Not to mention, I wouldn't let him get out until he smelled descent.

When we had finished, the floor was soaking wet and so were my clothes. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't just take them off; I was half in the shower with him anyways. Towards the end, the drain began to clog and the water pooling around our ankles splashed out of the rim of the slowly receding water left behind a trail of black dirt. At least it was in the tub and not on his body any more.

We left the bathroom in a wretched state but I guess that's just the way of pirates. Rather than clean it up myself, I'd just leave them a little money as my "cleaning fee". I mean, it wasn't very pirate-esque but neither was I. Not yet anyways.

"So, how do I look?" Zoro stood in the middle of the room in his white, fluffy towel and with his hands on his hips.

His face and arms were shades darker than they had been before he was baking out in the sun. The dark skin stood out considerably from his sun-bleached green hair. Some of his muscle mass seemed to have melted away - I could expect him on the weights 24/7 until he had made it up twice over now. He wore a weary look on his face but that wasn't anything a good nap couldn't wash away.

"Like a new man," I laughed. Nothing about his bright, shining smile had changed. "I bet you feel a lot better after being rubbed raw like that."

His smiled darkened and it reminded me of that wicked grin he wore when his swords were unsheathed.

"You're clothes are soaking wet," he hummed in a dangerously sweet voice. "You better take them off."

His movements were quick and sudden. My shirt was pulled over my head and he had spun me around. I somehow ended up falling back onto the bed and the creaking springs caught me with a groan. He picked up my legs and dragged them over the quilt so I was lying across the bed. The sly swordsman jumped on top of me, pinning me beneath him. The springs creaked again as then rocked us under his weight.

"You know, there's something something else I've been starved of," he purred in my ear.

My willpower was crumbling fast as he kissed and nibbled at my neck. His natural scent could finally break through the layers of filth and I had forgotten how powerfully it overwhelms my senses. It was intoxicating at such close proximity. I breathed him in. All I could see was tanned skin stretched tight over trained muscles. His hands ran all over my body, exciting places that hadn't gotten any attention in weeks. He had me ensnared in his lusty hold.

"Won't the others be waiting for us," I managed to gasp through his touch.

"Crys, it's been three weeks. This won't take long."

So much for the clean sheets.


A/N: Hello! Thank you for reading the first chapter. If you have the time and heart, please leave a review. It helps me know if the story is going well, where to improve, how to make it interesting, etc. Thank you in advanced! Hopefully I will be getting more chapters posted in the near future. No promises though as to when (so give it a follow to know when they're posted?). This story will be sporadically updated because it takes longer to write. I have to go back and watch the episode/read the manga and pull quotes and scenes directly from One Piece and it takes a while. Thanks all~

In my profile, you can check out a longer description of the story as well as my (so far just two) other ZoroxCrystal stories!

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

(as much as I'd love to own Roronoa Zoro)