It was unexpected. The girl knew that granny was a light sleeper, but she was also well aware of her habits. Every night, she used to go to sleep at nine o'clock in the evening and woke up at six thirty in the morning. Not a single time she happened to be awake till late and for this reason the girl waited until midnight to leave her house.
"Noir..."
The old lady whispered her name with the affection only a mother can understand. But it was wrong. The girl was supposed to leave the place without a living soul noticing her presence, without any of her beloved ones to be in danger because of her presence there. However...
"Granny...were you...waiting for me?", she said trying to ignore the rising pain in her heart.
"Noir, baby, I knew you were alive. Of course I was waiting your return".
With quiet steps the oldster walked to the living room, still warmed up by the ashes in the fire place. "I recognised you right away...the moment you bridged here the food and the wood, it is so typical of you to worry about others"
Noir smiled a little at these words. It was so rare to receive some direct compliments, in pirate's life there were other ways to show affection. And with Sanji being the only one person recalling her existence for time to time, it was even more special to hear this words directly to her and her.
"Thank you granny..."
"Noir, I really appreciated your gesture, and the food you cooked was delicious. You bacame a chef as you used to dream about as a kid"
"Yes! Granny...I am happy you know? I am in a pirate boat, I learned how to cook and I am traveling the world to find the all blue!", Noir revealed trying to share her excitement. She really wanted to make grandma proud and relieved about her well being.
The nanny nodded and got serious again.
"I am glad you are fine and you are surrounded by good people. But then let me ask you something...". The woman sighed deeply and sit on the sofa. Slowly she lit up a cigarette and offered one to the girl, knowing they shared the addiction. "If your life is so good, why are you still hiding, and why are you back on this island?"
\\
"And what the heck is a camouflage device?"
Zoro did not like the idea that the cook left some stupid secret thing in his custody, and he disliked even more the fact that Nico Robin found it out...whatever it was. Obviously he did not promise anything to that idiot, the cook simply left his stuff with him, so no guilt on him. However...it felt not good.
"It is a very rare object used to change the appearance of something or someone", the archaeologist explained. "It is also extremely expensive and dangerous...The most common samples can alter only some features of the person wearing it, but the most sophisticated ones can provide a full disguise. On top of it, some devices are severely cursed, depending on the level of camouflage"
The samurai thought about it for a moment. If the cook used to wear the chain all the time, it meant that there was something he was hiding?
"I know what you are thinking Zoro-San, but it might be something very stupid actually"
"Everything about that asshole is stupid, if you want my opinion!", he snapped.
"What I mean to say is that this device can actually be used just for fun, like Franky is doing"
"Franky?!" First the cook and now Franky, the guys in the crew were definitely beginning to piss him off... "What about him now?!"
"He uses a device like this to change his hair style, his gold chain you know?"
"But he said the nose...whatever!"
Zoro rolled his eyes and almost considered the idea to just throw the belongings of the cook in the trash. Even if curiosity was still stronger.
"Robin, is there any way to find out what is the use for the cook chain?"
The raven girl observed the chain first and then Zoro, evaluating the question.
"Sure there is", she finally stated. "It is enough to try it on, but I am rather scared of the consequences... Sanji-San is quite dirty minded..."
One thing was sure, the cook was a perverted maniac. However, Zoro was quite impressed about how deviated Robin's mind could also be, worrying about dirty stuff while looking at a necklace. He shook this thought out of his head and grabbed back the chain.
"I thought you would be more preoccupied about the curse you were talking about!", he declared. "But if the cook is alive and kicking I will just try it on damn..."
Without wasting more time on speculations, he tossed the chain over his head and waited for the revelation. He already knew there was nothing too strange about the cook, except the silly eyebrows. Oh crap...what if now he was going to grow curly brows as well?!
"Mmh..." The archaeologist studied Zoro up and down, evaluating the effects of the device. "This is weird..."
After a good amount of staring the samurai lost his temper and decided it was about time to know what happened to his body.
"SO?!"
"Well, no apparent change occurred and you didn't feel anything either, right?"
"Nothing! All this fuss about this chain and in the end it has no use?!", he growled. "Camouflage device my ass!"
Taken aback by the unusually harsh reaction, the archaeologist pulled the chain off the samurai's neck and decided to try it on herself. For sure, he was too superficial to notice any minor effect. "I am never wrong on this kind of things, Zoro-San. This is definitely a camouflage device!"
"You saw it for yourself that is useless, what is the point in trying it on again?"
"It can have different effects depending on the characteristics of who is wearing it!", she insisted. "Maybe you do not meet the camouflage criteria and- UGH!"
Suddenly the raven girl fell knees on the ground, embracing herself as if she was going through sudden pain.
"Robin!", Zoro rushed to check on her. "Do I need to call Chopper?!"
The woman simply shook her head and tried to catch her breath. Her suffering was slowly fading away as the camouflage was completing.
After few minutes she was finally able to stand up again and both her and Zoro were speechless after seeing what happened to her body.
Robin could hardly restrain herself from screaming and rip the necklace off herself, but Zoro was not moving an inch. This was ridiculous.
When he finally was over the initial shock, he decided that no one else should come to know about this craziness until he had a word with the cook. All after all the chain had no effect on him.
"Robin, take off that thing. We have to find that imbecile cook and have him spit the truth out of his mouth!".
The archaeologist shook her head quickly to clear her mind.
"Zoro...do you think that Sanji-san is...is he..."
"I do not think anything! And just take off that thing, it is creepy!"
Robin removed the chain from her neck and decided to agree with the samurai, for once.
"I suggest we do not speak about this to any one until Sanji is giving us his version"
"-Do not speak about what?!"
Zoro and Robin stared at each other and then turned towards the voice interrupting them.
"NAMI?!"
\\
Noir steadily marched in direction of the palace, her short golden hair waving in the cold winter breeze. She was wearing a long black coat that failed to cover her bare legs properly because of the wind. Despite that she was not feeling cold. Thin flames were rising from her feet, giving the impression she was about to catch fire.
The overall image was both stunning and scary at the same time. The few villagers she met in the streets stopped and turned their heads in her direction, to observe the new visitor in town. Some of them were fascinated by her figure, some of them were scared and ran away, to hide inside their homes, behind safe doors and closed windows. Maybe some of them realised who she actually was...?
It didn't really matter.
The girl sucked deeply into her cigarette and observed the pale smoke swirling quietly behind her as she proceeded. She wondered if, after what she was about to do, she was ever going to go back to the Straw Hats.
It didn't take long before she was standing in front of the white ominous building towering over the island.
A guard stopped her at the door a gave her a mistrustful glare.
"Introduce yourself!"
"Tsk...you know who I am, the whole city is looking for me"
"W-what...wait!"
"COLLIER STRIKE!"
Without hesitation, the girl kicked the guard out of her way. It was just a small fish, but it was good to test her body. The man fell unconscious straight away, but a second guard was hiding behind him.
"I fount the traitor! She is at gate one! Repeat: traitor is at-OGH!"
Noir kicked the second man and quickly ran inside the palace.
"Stop where you are Noir!"
The girl had to freeze when a group of marines stopped her way. Apparently they where really infesting the whole place, and the alarm from the guard was received all too well.
"Surrender now and you will have the chance to speak to your father", said a masculine man with a deep rauche voice. "He said he is interested in listening your version so be a nice kid and come with us"
"Ahahah!"
"You find it funny?"
"Sure I do!", the girl laughed again. "You need to force the words out of my mouth before I speak to that bastard"
In a flash the girl took down two of the closest marines and then aimed for the commander.
"You foolish little rat!"
The man avoided easily the first kick, but got slammed to the wall with the second attack. By the time he got back to his feet three more of his men were knocked out.
"You are not bad for a woman", he smirked. "I like tempered chicks"
"You disgusting trash of man...FLANCHET STRIKE!"
"Iron barrel!"
Noir kicked with all her strength the stomach of the marine.
And time suddenly slowed down.
As her feet hit the chest of the man, her leg was traversed by a striking pain. Unexpectedly the marine slammed his fist on her back and Noir was incredibly thrown on the other side of the room.
"UGH! Ah...A...devil fruit?!"
"Smart babe. Yes, I ate the iron iron fruit. My whole body made of iron"
Noir assessed her leg. Despite her training and her busou-shoku it was drenched in her own blood.
"...damn..."
"Ahahah! You did not last long uh?", the commander laughed whole heartedly, getting closer and closer in a sickening slow way. "Now, let's have some some fun before you go to the pike..."
\\
"I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT SANJI IS DOING!", Nami screamed furious. "TELL ME RIGHT NOW WHAT IS GOING ON!"
"Shut the hell up you air head!"
Zoro finally snapped. It was impossible to get rid of the silly navigator after that she overheard the conversation between him and Robin. He was ok with her helping them to find the cook, but he was not about ready to explain what the chain he found in Sanji's bag did to Robin. All this, all together with the fact that they woke up to find the old lady crying in her room, repeating that her child was going to die that day.
"We are in the middle of the government grounds! Just try to get a hold of yourself!"
Nami gave a plateal exhale and shook her head.
"Nobody is going to recognise us, Zoro! How would think the Straw Hat pirates are so stupid to infiltrate a government residence with all this marines around the island?", she declared pointing out her sexy maid outfit.
"You whine so much about the ero cook, but I got the impression you actually enjoy teasing him..."
"Shut up you stupid housekeeper!"
In a blink of an eye a broom hit Zoro's forehead leaving a nice bulge.
"Ahahah! Nami-San, you should not be so mean to a person saying nothing but the truth!"
Robin laughed at the scene, it was just typical of Nami to react this way.
"Robin we are friends, but just try to not tease me ok?!"
"Ok, I won't tell Zoro that you like our cook"
"ROBIN YOU...-!"
"Ahahaha! Oh come on why? He knows already!"
Zoro shook his head and gave up trying to be quiet. Women were just plain crazy...but all after all Nami was right. Since they infiltrated the fort dressed up like servants the whole conversation would sound like a boring gossiping between servitude. There was no big risk to be boosted. Even if...why the hell did they need to infiltrate the white, huge, over protected, useless, mazy government building?!
"All right girls...can we go back to business? I saw no ero cook around, let's get out of here and take off this ridiculous clothes!"
"Zoro you are just lost...", interrupted the archaeologist. "Anyway I believe that...if my conclusions are correct...Sanji is here, and he might be in peril"
"WHAT?!"
"Nami, please do not worry. We just need to clean my doubts. Most likely Sanji is doing some grocery shopping around the island"
Nami was not at all convinced by the raven's words. It was far from usual for Robin to be wrong. That was one of her main strength and the navigator was not sure if she should be happy about it or what.
"Can you two just keep moving?!", Zoro snapped once again. "I any case we should clear this building as soon as poss-"
"AAAAAAAH!"
A scream broke the quiet in the palace. Zoro and Robin exchanged an understanding look. It was time to know the truth.
"Let's split!"
\\
Noir knew what was her faith the moment she came back to this island.
She was going to die.
But one last wish, one last goal was in her mind.
She wanted to fight back, taking down as many celestial dragons she could.
For the first time in her life she wanted to prove that she was in control of her own faith, her own choices.
If she had to die, she wanted to die proudly, fighting her way through.
She was the ready to give her own life to this cause but everything was just lost, even before she could give it a try.
"So why are you crying you stupid girl?", the marine said. "At least you should have realised your time had come the moment you stepped back to this island"
Noir screamed again as another blow hit her.
She was not scared. Humiliated, yes maybe. But mostly she was angry, more then she ever been in her life.
No matter how strong she tried to become, she still was nothing more than a weak girl, fighting against something bigger than her. All the time she spent studying combat was wasted, completely wasted. All she was left with was some amazing techniques, but every single strike of hers was useless against the opponent. Moreover, the counter effect on her body was greater than any damage she could deliver to her enemy. She fought as hard as she could, up until she was unable to move anymore. She could hear Sanji screaming her to run, to wake up, stand straight and run for dear life since she was silly enough to leave the necklace with Zoro, she could at least find the resolve to not give up.
But it was hard.
Noir was not feeling her legs anymore, and even her upper body was not in a good shape.
"Now, what a nice body you got here...it is good that finally you are staying still enough to let me enjoy it"
Noir felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks, while stranger hands were on her. The only thought of the disgusting man touching her, made her throat filling with hatred and rage.
"PLEASE JUST KILL ME!", she screamed, knowing that her prayer was eventually vane. "LET ME JUST DIE!"
The man abruptly muffled her screams placing a wide hand on her mouth, suffocating the girl.
She was going to die like that.
That was the only clear thought that crossed her mind in that moment.
She was dying covered in blood, abused by some nameless marine she was too weak to fight back...
"TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF HER!"
Noir perceived a commotion, while air was finally returning to her deprived lungs. Someone came to her rescue...but who would...
"You, girl! Get the hell out of here!"
As her brain started to work properly once again, Noir immediately recognised the voice.
Shaking from tip to toe she looked at her saviour and felt her own blood freeze in her veins.
"Zoro..."
The samurai gave her a quick inquisitive glance and then ignored her all together, fighting the marine who was about to kill her just a moment before. Noir felt even more weak, observing the samurai attacking the military while she felt her consciousness leaving her.
\\
"Interesting...it felt like cutting iron bars...", Zoro stated. "I will have to make sure the rotten meat of this did not ruin my katanas"
It was not a easy fight. Not only because of the iron built opponent. What really bothered Zoro was the girl. During all the fight his mind was spacing away, his eyes going back to her.
She called him by his first name. As if they met before.
Trying to clear up his confusion he turned around to face the unconscious woman he just saved.
She was soaked in blood and covered by bruises and cuts.
It was obvious that she tried to defend herself from the man he just took down, but she was not strong enough.
The samurai felt his throat getting dry, staring at the unconscious girl in front of him.
What to do? There was this stranger feeling inside of his chest telling him that indeed he knew this woman...but that was impossible! He refused to believe that this girl could be...him! Why would that be anyway?!
And all after all...why not to chase away his doubts?
This was the one and only chance to do it. He kneeled next to the blond and pulled her up, so to place the cook's necklace around her neck and then he closed his eyes, waiting for the truth.
Hi all, I apologise if there is already any character using the iron iron fruit or something of the sort. I liked the idea and simply decided to go for it. If someone with that fruit is already around pls let me know and I might add the character if fits the story. Thanks for reading so far 😘
