OP: AFTTD

One Piece: A Fight to the Death

Summary: Roronoa Zoro gets critically injured in a fight against Ohm and Satori. One-shot. AU. Set during the Skypiea Arc. Character death, dark!fic. ZoNa!siblings.

Format: Angst. One-shot. No pairings except ZoNa!siblings.

Rating: T for blood and language.

Disclaimer: ZORO NEEDS WHUMP! I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER THAT!

A Fight to the Death

Zoro breathed heavily. Looking around, he could see the others fighting for their lives. Luffy was staggering, his eyes nearly shutting tight and his legs close to giving up. Nami was cradling a broken arm, dragging herself to her staff. Usopp was lying in a puddle of what Zoro hoped was a ketchup star. Sanji was feebly kicking a sphere away, his eyes barely staying open. Robin was lying still beside Chopper, both surrounded by a growing pool of blood. Zoro himself was covered in blood, his body screaming at him to stop and rest. Zoro glared at Ohm in determination, placing Wado Ichimonji in his mouth. He started running towards the man, who whipped his sword out.

"One-hundred and eight..." Zoro growled as he ran. "Caliber PHOENIX!"

"Whispering blades of Eneru... I call upon you to destroy this man's organs and heart as I attack. One attack shall fell... One attack shall fell!" Ohm chanted. "Whispering blade organ massacre!" The blade of Ohm's sword silently snaked out and plunged into Zoro's abdomen, then twisted and spun, effectively destroying all of his organs from the inside. Zoro gasped and began to cough. Blood sprayed everywhere; the blades doing their assigned task with ease. Zoro knew that with his promise to Kuina he couldn't retreat. Not one step. He stood his ground as his organs were torn to shreds and blood coated the floor below his feet. Luffy and the other crew members had all defeated Satori, and were all staring in shock.

"No! Zoro!" Nami screamed in horror.

"Step back! Retreat, you crap-idiot!" Sanji roared. "C'mon, you'll die!"

"Zoro!" Luffy and Usopp both yelled in shock. "ZORO!"

"I can't retreat." Zoro spoke around the hilt of Wado Ichimonji. "My promise to Kuina-"

"Is less important than your life! Break the promise and step back!" Nami cried tearfully. "Zoro, your life is worth more than a promise! If you step back you can still become the world's greatest swordsman! We all have faith in you... We all need you on the crew! Please!"

"I'm sorry, Nami. Everyone. But I can't break this promise." Zoro bowed his head. "I vowed to Kuina that one of us would be the greatest swordsman. She hasn't got that chance anymore, so it's up to me to fulfill that promise."

"WE NEED YOU! HOW MUCH MORE DO WE HAVE TO BEG?!" Nami shouted. "COME BACK TO US!"

"Shut your mouth, girl." Ohm snarled. He waved his sword and pulled it from Zoro, who collapsed into a growing pool of blood. "Whispering blade... Eneru's wrath!" A bolt of lightning shot down the blade at Zoro, who couldn't do anything about the impending attack. Zoro writhed in agony as he was electrocuted by the blade piercing his heart. Gasping, Nami ran forwards and cradled the swordsman's head. The man wasn't breathing. Nami frantically felt for a heartbeat as the others ran forwards to protect her from Ohm. When Ohm fell, they turned to Nami.

"He's dead." The words cut the crew's hearts like Ohm's blade had cut Zoro's heart. "I couldn't do anything." Nami's legs gave out and she fell onto her side. She stared at Zoro's still form. He was facing her. His face was unusually calm, and although his body was soaked in blood and burns from lightning, he looked more peaceful than he ever had before. And now Nami knew, after all he'd ever been through, that the one thing to cure him of his burdens and suffering was death. And now he was dead. He was finally free.