I decided to torture myself by re-watching the Strawhat's seperation because what the hell why not.
Also, it's been a while, huh? It's nice to get back into the swing of this, hopefully people are still reading my stories and will like the ones I'll write in the future.
Side note: It looks like Kuma wears goggles, doesnt it? Or is that just me? Maybe someone can clarify.
This was bound to happen.
But even so, none are prepared. How could they be? But the sudden attack on Soboady leaves them breathless with panic and hyped with adrenaline. There is a smothering pressure in the air, mingling with the horrid fear each Strawhat exudes when the world flashes white with another blast that rocks the earth, and with it, their hearts. Smoke billows in the air, small rocks are kicked up and the trees overhead shake like mad in a frenzy of wind.
Monkey D. Luffy watches the world end.
There is something in his throat, something hard and raw and burning. A contraction of nerves that freezes his blood, his heart is melting in his chest, his brain is sinking in a depth of cold water and the world is ending.
Luffy wants to get up and fight, but one minute Zoro is struggling to stand and the next minute he's gone and its enough to send Luffy to his knees. Then Sanji goes right after, and Usopp, and Brook, and the whine in his throat sounds like that of a dying animal. The pain is equivalent to that of a severed limb, as though Kuma himself had ripped the boys arm off, or broken all his bones.
Why can't he do anything?
He tries to stand and stop the tremors in his hands, to summon up enough energy to ball them into fists and defeat enemies like he always did. But this time his hits don't work, and if that's the case than what else is there? There's nothing else he can do, he can't. do. anything.
He can barely process Chopper's inhuman yells, the monster roars are similar to the one in Luffy's gut, it preens and scrapes and scratches at the inside of his ribs. It eats him from the inside out.
Kuma goes sauntering forth, like a statue immortalized in black and white, eyes hidden, and Luffy thinks that if he took off those goggles it would reveal the eyes of a demon.
Only a demon would do this.
"Luffy!"
His eyes flicker to Nami.
Oh God, Nami...
There's a hitch in her throat, Luffy can see it from far away, and he can see her chest heaving, heart thrumming like a hummingbird, and the need to protect and save comes kick starting in his stomach. He has to save her. He has to save at least one. It'll be okay just as long as one-
Kuma is quicker than him, and Luffy feels the horrible urge to vomit when Kuma reaches out a gloved hand.
No no no-
Her eyes are wide, two round glass mirrors with tears that glimmer like pearls around the rims. She has an arm outstretched, fingers grasping at air, and for a moment, Luffy envisions his hand catching her wrist, pulling her away, pulling her close. She'll shake and whimper and her words will get small like they always do whenever she's scared, and she'll bite her lip but she'll be safe and that's all that matters.
Almost there.
Close, close, closer...
Those next words are like an avalanche of pain, a simmering, scorching pool of agony.
"Help me-!"
There's an empty space where she should be.
"NAMI!"
Luffy watches the world end.