I'm so sorry the next chapter came so late! A series of time wasting events built up to steer me away from writing... But I have got myself together and have the next chapter ready~
Unfortunately, I only got one review on the last chapter (from a guest nonetheless...) but I will remain positive and hope for more feedback in tbis chapter!
I don't want to make this too long, so let's begin! Hope you enjoy!
xxxxx
Chapter 2: Blood-stained Ghost
The team of Luffy, Zoro, Robin, and Chopper made their way into the little town. Although the sky was darkening, the market was just as bright as the day; lights illuminating each and every stall, customers still livening the area.
None of the other crew members would admit to Zoro's lack of directional sense, however, if they wanted to get to their destination, they may have to rely on the swordsman. Chopper voiced this to Robin. "Robin, will we ever get there if we ask Zoro to lead us? He only got there coincidentally..."
The purple haired woman whispered back, "I think it would be better if we asked someone in the town how to get there." Chopper nodded, as the two told Luffy and Zoro to wait for a second, saying they saw something that caught their eye in the herb stall on their left.
The two went to the stall, to see an older lady and a younger man, presumably her son, running the stall. "Excuse me." Robin got their attention. "We're looking for the forest in this―"
Her words were cut off by the elderly woman's gasp. "The haunted forest is no place to go for young 'uns! You may think it's fun, but that ghost child in there will curse you for eternity, even slash you, you hear? She will never leave that forest... no matter what! Just if someone could get rid of her so we can get―"
The younger man sighed, running a hand through his brown hair. "It's okay, Mama." he began. "I would warn you against going in there, but if you would really like to go, take a right at the..." His voice faded for a second. "You know what, I'll take you halfway."
"Basil!" The mother yelled. She frowned, sighed, and told her son, the reindeer, and the blue-eyed woman to be careful.
The two thanked them, and returned with Basil to where their other crewmates were waiting for them.
"Did you find what you needed... Wait, who is this?" the captain asked, spotting the new figure.
"O-oh, no, it wasn't what I thought, and uh, he is going to show us half of the way.." Chopper answered.
"Uh, hello, I am Basil." He gave a short smile before turning and motioning for them to follow.
Zoro raised an eyebrow, wondering if they questioned his ability to take them there, but made no comment, allowing the new member to lead.
Taking various turns, the guide began talking. "You guys seem like visitors. May I know why you want to go into the forest?"
The captain began his gushing. "We want to meet this ghost in the forest!"
The brown haired man, not fazed by the black haired man's excitement, let out a sigh. "It's not worth it. She's very... aggressive. Nobody has ever stayed in the forest for a minute and came out unscathed."
"Except I got in there today, and saw the little kid, and got out without a scratch." Zoro mentioned. He didn't add that there was an extra unwanted visitor that probably caught the ghost by surprise, but he decided that would be fine to omit.
Basil stopped, and his green eyes opened in surprise. "What?"
"It's true." The swordsman said, in a nonchalant voice.
Basil continued walking, back facing the crew yet again. "Maybe you guys can do something... You seem like good people."
"Something about what?" The reindeer asked.
Basil hasitated, contemplating about whether he should tell these strangers about this issue, but the group seemed to give such a nice and happy aura... He decided to do it. "The ghost in the forest is hated by the people here. She never actually does anything unless you enter the forest, but the people here want to destroy the forest for... various reasons."
Robin frowned. "For any reason, any person would be upset if their home was destroyed, ghost or not."
Zero just recalled that small voice, and felt a bad feeling. He shook off the feelings as quickly as they came, spotting a flicker of red. "Yeah, I think this is where I got in." The swordsman said, going up to the torii gate once again.
"Wow~ It looks so scary! Let's go!" Luffy said excitedly.
Chopper, on the other hand was scared, but not as scared as he was before. He remembered the way the old woman was talking at the stall. "Could a little girl, even in the form of a ghost be so bad?" He mumbled to himself.
Basil laughed. "She isn't. She's just a nice girl if you can get to her."
"Do you possibly... Know her?" Robin said slowly.
"When I was a child, I stumbled in there, and spent some time with her. That was when she had her brother."
Not wanting to ask any more, but curiosity overcoming him, Chopper asked, "What happened to this brother?"
Basil gave a sad smile. "Not sure... But now, she does not even allow me in."
Luffy's smile was sincere. "We'll make sure to become her friend!"
Basil laughed, "Good luck! I'll be going back now, or else my mother will get worried. Take care!" The green haired boy turned and walked away.
The group turned to pass through the torii gate. Zoro lead the group up the stone stairs he previously used earlier that day, until they stopped.
"Leave." The same high-pitched voice from before called.
Zoro heard it from a farther away place from before. The silver glint of a blade came flying at them, aiming for the green haired swordsman. Zoro unsheathed a single katana, and the blades clashed, sending a loud ringing within the forest.
"What did you come here for?!" The girl's voice shouted. "Leave, and I'll let you unscathed."
"Unfortunately, that's not going to happen." Zoro laughed.
"Wait! Can't we see you? We just want to talk." Chopper asked.
"We aren't here to hurt you or anything," Robin added.
The captain, giddy with glee at seeing the invisible sword-holder took this chance to talk. "Hey! Are you really a ghost?"
"Sure. Now leav―." the voice began coughing hard.
The reindeer doctor was worried, and recalled what Zoro asked him before. That cough sounded like coughing blood.
Zoro could also hear it. He activated his haki, to find the figure high up relatively deeper in the forest.
Zoro flashed a look to his companions. "In the forest, ahead!"
The three remaining delved into the forest, but stopped upon hearing noise.
"No person that comes in here is willing to talk! You just want the things in the fore― Aaah!" . They heard men yelling battle cries in the forest ahead. Her blade against Zoro fell to the ground.
Zoro took this as a chance to catch up, grabbing his opponent's sword, and dashing. "This was like this morning!" He said, while running.
"This morning?" Robin asked, also running.
"There was some dude that attacked the ghost, but left 'cause he got scared." Zoro replied. "Seems like he's brought some friends this time."
The four reached what seemed like a small abode above in the trees- a little tree house, that was currently being attacked.
"Get out of there, you cursed child! We're taking this forest, and you first!" one of the attackers yelled.
"Nobody should attack a little girl like that, ghost or not." Robin said, sadness flashing her eyes.
"I think we are together on this," the captain roared. "We're helping her!"
The four moved out to counter the attackers. The villagers were armed with only swords and guns, ans the occasional shield- just as much as a typical marine foot soldier. These small-fry were no match for the captain, who blew away most of them using a single attack. However in the rear, there were archers that were sending arrows. Chopper smelled something wrong. "Watch out, there's poison in the arrows!"
Zoro broke away from the fighting hearing the comment, and recalling the previous events today. "If she got hit today, she must be in a bad condition!" He thought. He grabbed Chopper, and climbed up the tree, easily deflecting the incoming arrows. Robin and Luffy were just about finishing up below, catching up.
There were remnants of the attackers, screaming curses, and a faint "We'll be back for you!" were heard.
The four made it to the top to see a wooden door. The group seemed to be keen to get in, but hesitated.
"Please... leave." A small voice croaked, and coughed. "Do not involve yourselves further than this, pirates."
Chopper instinctively burst the door open, not heeding the warning, but upon opening, the door shut once more, itself.
"Please..." The voice began crying.
For some reason he could not comprehend, the quiet cries of the small girl caused a pang in his heart. The swordsman tried once more to break down the door this time, but there was something pushing it, or at least trying. Luffy also gave a hand, and eventually, what they assumed was the "ghost" pushing, gave up, and the door opened.
The eyes of the four led to a small figure in the room. A small orange haired girl, in a blood-soaked one piece dress sat in a corner, eyes closed, tears falling.
"Why? WHY?" The girl faced to turn them and her sky blue eyes turned to look at them. "Why does everyone... want...to...hurt...the..." She began coughing yet again, each one seeming to take more and more life out of the small girl.
Luffy flashed his signature grin. "We aren't here to hurt you! We came to meet a ghost... But.. Well, I guess if I can see you, you kinda aren't one, are you?" He laughed, and scratched his head.
Robin and Chopper took the chance to try and get closer to examine the girl's wound. She was slowly moving back, with whatever strength she had left.
Zoro clearly got annoyed watching her look scared, and considered nothing but wasting time and energy would result if something was not done. He raised a brow, seeing that the girl was trying to get up, and get past him to the door. "Is she crazy?" He thought, watching her struggle with every step.
The swordsman lost control when she began yet another coughing fit. He picked her by the stomach, and pulled her up on his shoulder. The girl struggled, kicking and punching what she could reach on her captor's body. However, unaffected, Zero turned to the doctor. "Hey Chopper, what should I do?"
The reindeer, surprised at Zoro's actions hesitated. "Uh... I can do first aid here, but we would have to go to the ship to get this-"
"YOU ARE NOT TAKING ME OUT OF HERE!" The girl yelled from above Zoro's shoulder.
Robin attempted to help. "You are gravely hurt. At least let him look at it."
"...And then you'll go?" The girl stopped flailing and asked.
The crew gave each other looks. Zoro answered immediately, without looking her in the eye. "Sure."
He put her down and the doctor began his work.
Zoro and Luffy were ordered to leave as the girl had to move the dress.
In the room, Chopper and Robin had tried to loosen her up as Chopper worked.
"My name is Chopper... I'm a doctor who is also a reindeer, but ate a devil fruit to be able to speak."
The girl laughed a little.
Robin felt happier that they were gaining the trust of the girl. "I'm Nico Robin, a historian who ate a devil fruit that..."
"That?" The orange haired girl cocked her head.
"Does this!" Robin summoned hands to tickle the small girl's feet.
The girl laughed a little harder, but invoked the doctor's scolding.
The doctor finished the last bandage. "Well, I'm done, but what's your name?"
The girl was about to answer as the two boys walked in. She gave Zoro a deathly glare.
"Sounds like you're about done?" The swordsman questioned.
"Well..." The doctor trailed off.
The girl was about to talk, as the swordsman moved quickly towards girl got up to take a defensive stance but immediately stumbled. Before she fell, the green haired man caught her and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Her blue eyes opened in surprise, but before she could act, Zoro had struck a nerve to make her unconscious.
"Chopper, let's hurry before the poison does more damage."
The others were still in shock before agreeing.
"Wait, I'll stay behind to watch the place." The violet haired woman mentioned.
The captain said okay. "I'll send someone else once we get to the ship!" The three headed off, with the girl in Zoro's hands.
xxxxx
So, the ghost shows up, but Zoro (the dummy who can't read the situation) walked in at the wrong time, so we don't know her name (or ability?) yet...! I feel like the characters kind of went out of character... Oh well~!
Hopefully I'll get the next chapter out a little faster as well!
Reviews would be appreciated! Also, I want to ask suggestions for other possible ships within crew that you would like included?
Ah~ I want to say more but my fingers hurt from typing so I'll take my leave!
Thanks for reading!
Sachiko Sora (Sachi)