Warning: This story isnt a pretty story. It's going to have angst and TRIGGER WARNINGS. So be cautious reading ahead and any other future chapters please. Thank you! And Thank you MyLadayDay for bracing the story line and reading as well XDD
Sanji knew it wasn't Zoro. That dark eye he knew so fondly that once brought him much inner comfort, were not possessed by the man he loved. No, they had been stolen, alongside the Marimo's body by a malevolent spirit the blond was not familiar with. He could only say, for the first time in his life, he feared it, the appearance of his beloved sending trembles through his body.
He'd just escaped, for now, and he could feel the touches of once gentle and precise hands bruised and engraved into his skin. His body unable to shake, he grasped at the front of his shirt in the most useless yet desperate attempt to hide himself from such a cruel gaze. Not like the bastard hadn't already taken what he wanted from Sanji, should the blood that trailed down his leg in a mixture of white or the bleeding carvings on his chest be any indication.
The blond was against a tree now, gathering his balancing and praying to his consciousness to look past the burn that split through him. He needed to focus, he wasn't in the clear, but damn was he an honest fool. Why had he not noticed it before, why had it only come to this for him to realize what had happened? Zoro, the real one, was gone. It was only his body, now in the control of another.
He cringed, watching the body of his once lover as it finally seemed to move out of its stilled state where it lay, cracking it's jaw back into place from a fierce kick. The spirit hadn't been expecting that, he thought he'd had the hold he needed. But no matter, he'd finished the deed he'd wanted to taste and now he was content. Now he could finish the blond off once and for all.
Rising to his feet, he turned, grinning wickedly at the sight of the poor pretty boy. Of course he was using the tree, as it appeared he wasn't as strong as he'd hoped. The break to one of his knees was immobilizing him slightly for now, much like he'd hoped. Though, now that he knew his true desire was to lick Sanji's blood off his blade, he'd only wished he'd been greedy with the second as well.
It was really a joyous occasion and one of his first real reasons to celebrate after gathering a human form once more. Not that the slaughtering of that school house in the earlier hours wasn't delectable enough, he rather liked playing dumb and shell shocked, much like his former master would have done. Still, he began to take steps toward his new prey.
Sanji felt soiled and could feel himself sliding down the bark against his skin, but he braced it, clenching his teeth. He had to think of something, he couldn't just stand back and watch. He was stronger than this, but at the same time he wasn't. He'd already let the other get the best of him mentally, allowed him to expose his body and violate him in ways his subconscious would never forget.
"Stay away from me, asshole, I don't care who you are, I'll kill you," he spat in mild warning, though the constant pounding in his head confirmed it was nothing more than an empty threat, whether he liked it or not.
The real Zoro, maybe, he could stand up against. But this, this was a power he never felt before and it terrified him. It was his swordsman's strength he knew, but it was intensified by an aura he could not identify. His body tensed as a dark chuckle slipped past the other's lips, a shine passing past his vision as the demon, as he would refer to him, adjusted his hold on the katana in his hand.
So he would dirty a sacred blade even more? It was already stained with Sanji's blood, but its tainted sheen made Sanji stomach ill. He could only hope wherever his Zoro was, he could not realize that which had been done to his most precious possessions.
"You and I both know that won't be happening, whore." The demon looked down at the blade, affectionately cuffing his hand around the blade as if admiring it. "I've had my taste of you. You were leverage to my cause."
The cook gritted his teeth. Leverage? Nothing more than a game pawn to some demon bastard? Like hell he was going to let him waltz back to the Sunny impersonating once more. Was that even his plan, to trick and betray them, picking them off one by one? Didn't he understand that if Sanji didn't return things weren't going to fly. Suspicions would only be corrected.
"Cause? What the hell might that be then? Where's Zoro?" he demanded.
The demon's eye traced over his pale and exposed flesh, admiring the craftsmanship of his bleeding wounds. They weren't deep, of course, only enough to leave a permanent mark, as otherwise the game would have been no fun. Sanji had been an empty canvas of slaughter for him and to make it even more exciting he'd been willing, going off of pathetic emotions versus gut instinct. It would be his undoing, which was sad considering the demon had hoped for more in whom his master had deemed an appropriate partner.
He only shifted the blade in his hand, still sporting a large and toothy grin as he displayed the sword. Sanji hadn't paid mind to it at first. Fuck, why should he, he'd been assaulted, raped and now his life was clearly in danger and he could not run, from lack of night vision and the damage to one of his legs. But then he saw it clear. He'd watched the real Zoro a million times, at least with his blades, fighting alongside them or even just the usual clean, of course he could pin point a difference.
That being, this sword was not one of Zoro's swords. It looked like it should belong, it had been tucked away in one of the sheaths, but it was not Zoro's. It was dark and black and in the moonlight it reflected back and almost eerie green jagged pattern from tip down. It was nostalgic, but Sanji had never seen it in his life. Why was it his heart raced at its presence?
The stranger lowered the sword then, glaring. Then he charged, aiming his sword for a swing. Sanji reacted fast, using the tree as a base to jump and push himself away, not even sparing a glance back at the tree and those around it that now lay in ruin. He landed quick and swift with a roll, cringing in pain and ignoring the thorny vines around him that plucked and picked at his skin before he jumped once again.
He was on the defense, a very uncomfortable place to be, but with one leg out of commission, the blond only had so many options. He landed on his feet again and watched as the demon had taken a moment to jump and laugh at his cowardly technique. It irked him, but he had no other choice. His eyes still fell to the blade. It had to be something special, there was no other explanation. Otherwise he doubted this son of a bitch would be insane enough to make little comments to it as he moved.
Sanji knew swords apparently had some spirit voodoo shit about them, he'd heard Zoro time and time again talking about the essence of the sword or the curse, but he had never seen it taken so seriously as to actually have a conversation. Not to mention, the disturbing content of the whispers, talking about dirtying him fully with the blood of beloved, to curse him like he'd once been cursed.
It's when he was distracted by this that Sanji finally made his regretful decision. He'd go on offense, this once, he could at least try to fight back before ultimately being taken down after such humiliation. Quickly, his foot was engrossed in fire and bracing any such pains he launched himself forward to kick down at the bastard.
Zoro's body probably had muscle memory though, the way it instantly shifted and his bare foot met with the sharp side of the unusual blade, digging into the middle of his heel in excruciating pain. Of course Sanji had no choice but to retreat, pressing his body weight back and off it and practically throwing himself to the ground in the most pitiful and worst position he could be in.
Already his mind knew what this meant. Had he only made better decisions before instead of trusting such an imposter he wouldn't have lost in such a shameful way, he would have been stronger and more prepared, but now he half wondered if he deserved it. Before he could fully realize his state of conditions, his arm was yanked and he was on his back, growling out as the bastard stepped onto both of his arms at the elbow, keeping them down.
Sanji attempted to thrash but it was no use, his fighting spirit dwindling when the tip of the black and green sword pressed into his throat, coxing his dirtied head back to the ground. Sanji clenched his teeth so hard staring down at it, he could taste his gums as they bled. So this was the end? His last view would be the sight of his possessed Zoro?
He was half tempted to start some cheesy rambling about how he knew he must really be in there, but he didn't, he only turned his face to the side in slight shame. His body had been had and now his mind, all that was left of him was death, so would he receive it?
The demon was much too amused, though, until he seemed to be having difficulties, he snarled, his hand turning white as he urged the blade more forward, finding a great resistance.
"I see…" he muttered under his breath in annoyance, prompting Sanji's eye to shoot back in alarm. "Out of everything, this is what you demand to resist, Roronoa? For a whore?"
Sanji's throat swelled. What was he even supposed to assume from this information? Was it the hand or the sword that was refusing? Was Zoro finally taking control of his body once more, a conversation he couldn't hear going down in his head? Or was it this green sword… Sanji's stomach dropped. A black and green soul, a sword that revealed a soul. His eye trailed down it in panic.
It sounded absurd, no, it was absurd as much as a demon possessing Zoro, but something inside Sanji knew it to be the truth. He didn't know exactly why, but just as how he could sense the evil presence in the man's eyes as he stared into that eye, he felt he was staring right at him, exposed.
"Zoro…?" His breathless whimper of a question hardly passed on the bastard's radar.
The demon seemed even more infuriated at the lack of cooperation, swiftly swinging the resistant sword to the side and glowering down its length. He snarled out in his frustration until finally coming to an abrupt decision. He had no use for incompetence; this sword was nothing more than a shell that had carried his soul for years, imprisoning it. It was just as disposable as Sanji, should he want to waste his time.
But he didn't. No, he'd make this fast and painful for each party, but in a way that pleased his curiosity. He tilted his head back and looked down at Sanji's face.
"Recognize him now?" he teased.
Sanji, his neck no longer in danger, growled out at him, a deeper anger raging through him. This whole time, this bastard had been using Zoro to do unforgivable things? Holding him captive as his own device? He thrashed in resistance, ignoring yet again his own limitations and pain.
"Give him back, you shitty bastard!"
The demon practically yawned, loosening his grip on the katana before his eyes trailed to the side a few feet away. "Fetch," he demanded and Sanji reacted quickly, his arm jerking to follow and reach out in an instinctual attempt to reach for the sword as it was launched to the side.
He cried out in agony, the blade clashing with his hand and cutting the top halves of his fingers clean off before meeting right into the dirt. His whole body curled inward, the demon stepping off his body.
Sanji's eyes were so wide, staring at the almost unrealistic image of his mutilated hand. But he couldn't forget his main adjective. He wasn't going to let that bastard have Zoro, not after he realized now what he'd done with the real him, that that sword held his very being. He immediately went back to reaching with his palm at least to grab at it, turning onto his knees to propel him forward when the second worst thing that could ever happen, happened.
Fucking swordsmen and their ability to land a blow moments after the swipe. He yelled out, his arm squirming back against his chest tight and his eyes closing so tight, the feeling past his wrist gone, the second slash cleaning his hand right off. It hurt, so bad his head was throbbing and his mind was beginning to haze, but he couldn't look away now. He forced his eyes back open and back on his objection. Whatever torture, he had to get Zoro, he couldn't let the bastard pick him back up. He had to take him back to everyone, they had to be reunited.
His hand gone though, he made a desperate attempt to still gather it. With his other hand, he reached out and closed the gap, grabbing the blade barehanded and practically rolling onto his back as he held it unbearably close. He tried hard to ignore the feeling of blood soaking him.
The demon in Zoro's body just watched almost disappointedly. It was sad and not in a sappy way at the display of loyalty, but more so at the desperation. The blond truly was an idiot. His grin returned and he pulled the empty sheath from his side and threw it out beside the whore, who undoubtedly would succumb to blood loss soon enough.
"Keep him warm, yeah?" he joked, before spinning on his heel and leaving the clearing, not even moving to retrieve any of the clothes he'd shed from himself in their earlier altercations.
Sanji braced his brave face a little longer until the realization he was finally alone set in, then he wailed out in a terrible pain, shooting up where he sat and dropped the sword to let it fall to the side and looking at what was left of his left arm. It was a clean cut, right at the hand, which he didn't even dare try to look for, knowing it to be in pieces and useless even if he wanted to try and bring it back to Chopper for reattachment.
His only luck came in the form of shock, that allowed him enough sanity to act fast. He quickly ripped off the shirt he'd so desperately tried to keep on before off, quickly wrapping it around the stubbed limb in an awful attempt to halt the bleeding. It had been soaked enough on its own from the damage to his chest, but now it was becoming drench. Next he crawled on his elbow and knees a few feet where his jacket and pants were, grabbing the sword only then to toss it ahead towards the pile of clothing.
He lost his fucking hand for this bastard and his dignity he wasn't going to lose him now and sword care wasn't exactly at the top of his list. Wrapping what he could of the jacket around it, he winced and whimpered, unable to stop the waterworks at his eyes from the sheer pain spreading across his whole body. He needed Chopper and fast. But how was he even supposed to get there now? He could barely walk and he was down a hand.
Was he a fool for trying to put his dress pants on in this state? Probably. But he didn't fucking care. If he was going to die, he wasn't going to be found with his ass a bleeding mess and his family jewels for all to see. He would have some respect. Or even if he did make it to the crew, he wasn't going to humiliate himself in front of his comrades in such an exposed state.
He glared over at the sword to the side, covered in dirt now where it had clung to the blood from before. He didn't know anything about talking to fucking swords, but he could feel it, the guilty and watchful eyes on him.
"Shut up!" he screamed out, most likely to disguise another scream of pain, his shoulder's folding him inward as he brought his arm close.
He was fully ready to unload a whole ship full of shit on the swordsman if he was really there and give him the blame, but he just couldn't. It wouldn't make him feel any better in that moment even if his mind told him to do it anyway. Instead, he reached out and grabbed it again, holding it to his chest tightly, his grasp trembling.
Sanji wanted to get up now, to start his walking and find the ship or any help at all, but his body was so exhausted, alongside his whole mind. He'd been tricked by a man impersonating his lover and raped in the most humiliating way. Had Zoro seen that too? He must've, having been used as the very tool to mark his flesh. Then nearly killed, escaping only with a hand loss but the gain of a sword he magically believed to be Zoro?
"Bastard…" he cried softly, pressing his forehead forward against the metal in his grasp. He painfully shut his eyes again. He had to be close to bleeding out now if things were becoming numb. That or at least the shock and impending loss of consciousness were very close now. "Are you even in here?"
He heaved in his breathing, having not been able to calmly breathe this whole time and turned his head slightly to the side, his eye opening once more in a direction of forest he knew the ship to be in.
"I'm finally so close to bringing the real you back and…" He let out a hysterically sad laugh. "I can't even take you back to the ship… What are we going to do now, Marimo?"
As if he even expected a real answer from a sword, even if it was his stupid sword Marimo. Still, he pleadingly stared at the forest a moment longer, feeling a chill on his skin. He turned back to glance at the swords texture, willing to have any sort of connection or understanding.
"Hey… Zoro…" he spoke again to break the silence. "You know that stupid trick you do when you swing these things...where you fuck up the whole forest…?"
He bit into his bottom lip. No reply again of course, but still he was polite enough to willingly give enough time just in case before continuing. "Do you think you can do that for me? Cut us a way home?"
It was no use. The light from the stars and moon just faltered on the swords surface. Sanji held his breath. It was at least worth a try to hope that if Zoro was this sword he wouldn't be stubborn and would work for him, even though he'd never used a sword in his life. Were they even that similar to blades? Still, using Zoro slightly to get to his feet and stumbling a bit to find balance and not to just fall back on his ass again, he lifted the sword up in the direction of the trees.
"Just this way Marimo and we can't go wrong… here we go…"
He swallowed thickly, raising the sword. He couldn't believe he was going to do this and if Zoro was here and would see this he'd laugh at him, but he sliced at the air then, much like bringing one of his knives down and his eyes widened with the backlash of air as something amazing happened and jolt of power left the edge of the blade and surged forward.
It sent the blond back to the ground, having been unstable enough to stand and deliver such a blow, but he groaned out in relief. It would be his last effort to be seen, but surely it did the trick if whoever was on watch on Sunny looked in the right direction, the surges of energy having practically thrown trees into the sky. Unfortunately, Sanji didn't get to admire his handy work, his exhaustion taking away his consciousness.
Author's Note: Reviews and comments welcome! I hope something like this hasn't been done before XD surely not in this way but yeah. I was nervous about posting this dkjfshbksd I have no idea what I am doing