"That was so cool! Kai, how did you move that fast?" Luffy was asking a million questions a second and my head was starting to spin as we walked into town
"Luffy, calm down..." I grunted as I moved Zoro's weight into a more comfortable position on my shoulder. My wounds were opening again and my ribcage hurt like hell.
I wasn't being careful, however, and almost ran into someone. As I stumbled backward I looked up, ready to apologize when I realized I was face to face with the woman I had rescued from Helmeppo. She stared at me in shock, then her gaze shifted to the swordsman on my shoulder, then at the two kids next to me.
"You're alright..." she said, stepping forward a bit. I smiled, but it was tired and weak. I was wearing out fast.
"Kai, you know her?" asked Luffy as a little girl darted out from the crowd.
"Mom! Zoro isn't..." she began, then looked up at me who had Zoro across my shoulder.
"You saved him!" she said brightly to Luffy.
"Come to our house." Lena said, taking my arm. I hissed, unable to stop the sound from escaping and almost dropped the unconscious swordsman.
"Kai!" exclaimed Coby frantically as I tried to steady myself with little success.
"Gonna need help.." I said, swaying on my feet. Lena rushed to support me, and a shop owner took Zoro from me.
Luffy looked concerned as I was helped to stand straight.
"Sorry..." I managed to get out through the throbbing pain. Lena nodded, and was giving directions to the various shop keepers around our group.
"Kai, are you going to be ok?" Luffy asked seriously, and I grinned at him from over my shoulder.
"I'll be fine, Boss. Don't worry about it." I said trying valiantly to keep the strain out of my voice. Luffy nodded, and followed the shopkeeper who was carrying Zoro off, Coby following a second later.
"What happened to you?" asked Lena, unable to keep the worry out of her voice. I was about ready to pass out by the time we reached the an office of some sort.
"Drugged..." I spit out through clenched teeth. Lena sat me down in a chair and walked into the back of the office.
I closed my eyes for just a second.
Just a few more seconds...
I woke up in a small sterile room, lying down on a bed. I tried to sit up immediately, but pain shot through my ribs and I collapsed backwards into the bed. Spots and lights swarm through my vision and I dragged an arm across my eyes.
"Oh, I see you're awake!" said a small gray-haired man from across the room. I moved my head and stared at him a little dazedly, while I clinically noted that my movements were much more sluggish than I would have liked them to be.
"Who...?" I asked, licking my lips.
He nodded, setting down his book and walking over to pour me a glass of water. I examined him as I tried not to panic. I didn't like doctors very much, but Lena wouldn't intentionally try to hurt me, right?
The shopkeeper who had helped me get to the building sprang to his feet and helped me sit up slowly, propping pillows behind me. I scowled, hating feeling fragile, but accepted the water gratefully, and drank it down.
"You're very lucky, you know." said the doctor as I set the glass down, and I barked, a harsh laugh.
"Lucky enough to get drugs jammed in my system that make my skin really sensitive? Yea, every fighter loves that.." I said, and felt like an ass the instant it came out of my mouth.
I coughed and took a breath.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that.." I offered lamely. The doctor simply shrugged, not taking offense to my tone.
"Well, it's really not as bad as it feels." He said, and I gave him a questioning look.
"What do you mean?"
"The drugs in your system should wear off in a few days, just take it easy. And if you have a dizzy spell, sit down until it passes." He responded, pushing his tiny glasses farther up his nose.
I frowned.
"What about my ribs? I know they're bruised up." I pointed out, and he shook his head.
"Nothing I can really do about that. Try not to strain yourself for a few days." He said, peering at me through his spectacles, which had slid down on his nose again.
The shopkeeper helped me slowly stand up and I managed to keep my feet under me this time. "About your arms though, they should heal up in a week or so." He commented lightly with a small smile. I nodded while running a hand over my head, exhausted.
I was escorted back to the house I had left Zoro and Luffy at.
"Kai! Kai!" said Rika, Lena's daughter as she ran up to me and jumped. I caught her with a wince as my ribs ached, but held on.
"Hey." I said, my voice sounding exhausted even to me.
Zoro was sitting at the table inspecting his swords. He took in my arm bandages, fresh from the doctors office, and the stiff way I was moving around but didn't say anything right away. Lena directed me to a chair and I sat, stretching my legs out in front of me.
"What did the doctor say?" she asked me as she fluttered around the kitchen.
I grinned tiredly as I looked over at Rika.
"Can you go check on Luffy for me?" I asked, rubbing her head. She smiled and took off upstairs.
My look turned dark as I looked at my hands and I took my time answering her question, not wanting to look at Zoro for some reason.
"Apparently the drugs I got shot with were pretty strong. I'm not going to be up to full strength for a few more days, and my arms are going to take even longer to heal. There wasn't much he could do for my ribcage, so I'm just going to have to be careful." I said slowly as I relaxed into the chair, my head falling back as I closed my eyes.
They opened again as Lena hugged me.
"You poor dear.." she murmured. I only smiled as she released me.
"It's not so bad, really." I started to say, but was interrupted by my stomach growling loudly.
I froze, embarrassed.
"Sounds like your stomach wants to eat you, Kai." said Zoro, and my gaze snapped up from the tablecloth to meet his.
"I'd be more worried about your own, Mr. I-didn't-eat-for-nine-days."
"Well at least it's better than fighting in a week-long tournament while drugged up, shitty fighter."
"What did you say, stupid swordsman?"
We eyed each other over the tablecloth in mock anger as Lena laughed.
"Ah...that was great! I'm so full!" Zoro said happily, patting his stomach. "I hadn't eaten in so long, I thought I was gonna die!" he said as he sat back in his chair.
I grinned at that, still working on my plate of food.
"You never would have made it a month!" huffed Luffy, his fork stuck in his mouth.
Zoro leaned over to stare at him in disbelief, then turned to me.
"You're both so scrawny, how can you eat more than me?" He muttered and I smirked at that.
"What, your eyes bigger than your stomach, Zoro?" I teased as I leaned over to steal a piece of food off his plate.
"I never said that!" he exclaimed loudly as he tried to smack my hands away. I was too quick though, and scarfed down the bacon I had snatched with a laugh.
Coby turned to Lena. "Sorry, I ate quite a bit as well.." he was saying, and she just smiled.
"Eat as much as you want, you saved our town!"
Rika had developed a huge case of hero worship for Luffy.
"You're so strong!" she said to him. He grinned, his mouth full of food.
"Yup! And I'm going to get stronger too!" he said around his fork.
"Don't talk with your mouth full!" I snapped good naturedly, downing my water in one enormous gulp.
"Oh, yea...What are your plans now?" asked Zoro, looking thoughtful. He had a nasty scar on the side of his face, but it would heal up eventually.
Luffy swallowed and I grinned.
Fast learner.
"We're going to head to Grand Line!" Luffy said with a huge grin. I smiled as Coby freaked out.
"What? You're talking crazy again! You want to go to Grand Line with just the three of you? Don't you get it? All of the strongest pirates gather at Grand Line!" He shrieked as Luffy calmly watched his antics, munching on some ham.
Zoro grinned and leaned back in his chair. "Well, if we're going for One Piece, we'll be heading there anyway."
"Not you too?" Coby cried in despair and suddenly turned to me, his eyes full of hope.
I shrugged.
"Don't look at me, kid." I said, taking a bite of toast.
"What are you getting so worked up for anyway? It's not like you're going with us." commented Zoro, and Coby slammed his hands into the table.
"Even though I'm not going, I'll still worry! Don't say I can't!" He said with determination.
Zoro looked taken aback.
"Uh..."
"Luffy! Even though we just met, we are friends." said Coby.
Luffy smiled at him, a happy-go-lucky grin that stretched from ear to ear.
"Of course! Even though we part ways here, we'll always be friends." He said.
Coby's eyes lit up and he looked down at the ground for a second.
"I never had any friends growing up...Every time I would be picked on, no one would stand up for me." He said softly, and the three of us looked at him seriously.
The door opened suddenly, and I looked over my shoulder at the marines who had come in the front door.
"Excuse us." The man at the front said politely, and I lifted an eyebrow.
And you want...what?
"We were wondering, are you really pirates?" he asked.
"What kind of stupid question is that?" I muttered as Luffy smiled.
"Yep! I just found my first two crew members, so that makes us pirates now!" I couldn't help but chuckle and the marines looked uncomfortable.
"Well..Even though you are pirates..You saved our base and town, and for that we really are grateful..."
But...
"...But because you are pirates, as marines we can't have you stay here any longer." He said, tugging on his hat.
Zoro and I exchanged a look.
"Please leave town immediately. And as for what happened, we will be reporting it to marine headquarters." the man finished.
"You can't ask them to leave now, not after everything they've done for us!" exclaimed Lena, giving the marine a hostile glare. "Besides that, Kai is seriously inju.." she began to rant, and I cut her off.
"It's fine, Lena. Don't worry about it." I said, dropping my fork onto my plate.
Luffy stood, and Zoro and I followed suit.
"Well, let's go then. Thanks for the food, Ma'am!" the captain said to Lena, and I grinned at her, patting Rika on the head. We walked past Coby without saying a word.
The marine captain turned to Coby as we neared the door.
"Aren't you with them?" he asked him suspiciously.
Luffy glanced over his shoulder at that, and Zoro and I stopped walking to see what our captain would do.
"I'm..I'm not with them!" Coby said, and his voice shook.
Luffy grinned as he continued walking to the door. The Marine captain saw the smile however, and seemed to connect some dots in his head.
"Please wait..." He asked, and Luffy turned to face him.
"Is he telling the truth?" the marine asked. Our captain looked at him for another half second before pointing at Coby.
"I know what this guy used to do. I can't remember where but it was with this fat lady named Alvi..."
"SHUT UP!" yelled Coby as he punched Luffy, who was grinning as he punched right back.
"I'm going to beat you up!"
It quickly degenerated into a brawl of sorts, but very one sided.
I tried very hard not to laugh.
I really did.
"BOTH OF YOU STOP! I WON'T ALLOW ANY MORE FIGHTING IN THIS TOWN!" yelled the captain.
Zoro grabbed the back of Luffy's shirt.
"Hey..You went overboard. Stop it." The swordsman said as Coby lay on the ground, panting.
"I GET IT! HE'S NOT YOUR FRIEND! GET OUT OF HERE!" shouted the Marine.
We walked out and I laughed as Zoro taunted the marines.
"Didn't you want to arrest me?" he smirked, and I smacked him in the arm.
"Cut them some slack. Not their fault that we're stronger than them." I said with a grin.
The marines glared at us and we dissolved into laughter.
We reached the dock and Zoro turned to Luffy.
"Nice act, by the way. Even though he used to be a pirate, they'll let him join now." He complimented, and Luffy grinned like a proud parent.
"He'll get stronger in the future." He said as Luffy grabbed the rope of a dinghy.
"We better leave already. Leaving without saying goodbye is a good way to go."
"Haha! that's so true!"
"LUFFY!"
We turned to face Coby, who was saluting us.
"THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!" He shouted.
I grinned as I turned away.
"Nice words."
"I've never seen a marine saluting a pirate." commented Zoro with a smirk.
"We'll meet again someday Coby." said Luffy with a huge smile.
I got into the boat and stretched my legs out in front of me, closing my eyes.
"ALL MARINES, SALUTE!" I heard the captain of the marines say, and settled down more comfortably. I felt the boat move as Zoro sat next to me, looking pleased as punch. I smirked as Luffy waved back at the marines as we set off.
"WE'RE OFF! GRAND LINE HERE WE COME!" Yelled Luffy. He was wriggling around like a puppy.
"So damn infectious.." I said happily as I relaxed, getting ready for a nap.
Zoro laughed.
A few days later...
"Ugh I'm so hungry..." complained Luffy.
I opened one eye and grunted a bit, sitting up carefully.
"It's funny that you have no navigational skill whatsoever." Zoro said with a slight frown as he leaned on the side of the boat next to me, facing Luffy.
"What? I've always just wandered around. You're the same way, hunting pirates and living off the rewards." Luffy pointed out, and I chuckled.
I examined my arms carefully. They were healing up rather nicely as long as I didn't aggravate them.
"I don't remember saying that." said Zoro casually. "Besides, I was looking for someone, but I don't remember how to get back home. I had no choice but to start hunting pirates for a living, just to get a little money."
"Isn't that the same as being lost?"
"Shut up! You're the one who's lost!"
I laughed as Zoro turned away, a vein in his head pulsing. "Never heard of pirates who can't navigate. How do you think we're going to get to Grand Line?" he asked caustically, and I nodded in agreement.
He has a point.
"That's true. We should find a navigator."
"And someone who knows how to cook, and someone who knows how to sing..." said Luffy, ticking off things on his fingers.
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING ON ABOUT?" yelled Zoro.
They both fell backwards with a sigh.
"Soooo hungry..."
I leaned against the side of the boat and just relaxed, feeling peaceful as the breeze swept over. We continued that way in silence for a while, before Zoro made a small sound in his throat.
"A bird..." He muttered.
I opened my eyes to look at it.
"Looks pretty tasty." commented Luffy, and I chuckled at that.
"You think everything looks good to eat, captain." I said.
"I'm going to catch it!" said Luffy, sitting up suddenly.
Zoro lifted his head to fix Luffy with a stare.
"What? How will you eat it?" He asked, getting to the heart of the problem immediately.
Luffy stood and stretched his arms to grab the sails. "I'll go get it! Watch my specialty!" He said, giving us a huge smile.
I felt my stomach drop as I got the feeling he was going to do something stupid.
"Wait a minu..." I began.
"RUBBER ROCKET!" He yelled, flying into the air.
Zoro shaded his eyes with his hand, and my jaw had hit the bottom of the boat.
I was also pretty sure my eyelid was twitching.
"I can't believe he thought of that.." muttered Zoro.
"That's not what I would be impressed with.." I said faintly.
Luffy started flailing, and we both noticed that the bird was trying to eat him.
"HEELLLPPP!" yelled Luffy.
"AAAAAHHH!"
"YOU IDIOT!" Zoro screamed as he scrambled for the oars."WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"
I worked my way to the prow of the boat, and tried to keep the bird in sight. Honestly though, I was impressed with Zoro's stamina. For someone who had gone for 9 days without food and water and had only a single meal before leaving town, he was doing EXTREMELY well in that department...
"Kai! Get your ass over here and help me row!"
...Maybe not.
"There's no way in hell I could keep up with that crazy pace." I muttered as shaded my eyes with my hand.
"Hey! Stop the boat! Let us on!" yelled a voice.
I spied three figures swimming towards us.
"Zoro! Man overboard, dead ahead!"
"What? There are people over there too?" He sounded annoyed.
"We don't have time to stop! Get on by yourselves!" he yelled at them as he plowed through the waters. The three people in the water faltered as they saw he was being serious, and just barely managed to grab onto the sides of the boat as we flew past.
"Your climbing skills aren't bad." He said with a smirk as they collapsed onto the deck, and I laughed.
"It's to make up for their swimming skills." I said humorously.
"Hey." said one of the people we had just picked up from behind me. "Stop the boat. This is Captain Buggy's territory."
"What?"
I glanced over at Zoro, who was going for his swords.
I would not want to be on the receiving end of that look.
"We're so sorry! We didn't realize you were Roronoa Zoro!" they said, rowing the boat along.
Zoro had one mean punch when it came down to it, and I didn't think these three would be giving us any problems anytime soon.
"You idiots made me loose track of my friend. Row harder, put some backbone into it. If I can't find him, you three are in deep trouble." he snarled at them, pissed.
"Why were you idiots even in the middle of the ocean?" I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest as Zoro gave me a look that clearly said, what does that have to do with anything?
"It was that girl! She tricked us!"
"She acted sick and stole our boat and all our treasure!"
"And then she predicted a storm and sank our boat!"
"It's terrible!"
Zoro looked mildly interested. "Ha, so she can predict the weather? That's an interesting skill." He said as I nodded my head in agreement.
"I wonder if she'd join us.."
The pirate idiot trio continued talking,
"If I find her, I'm gonna kill her!"
"First we gotta get our treasure back or Buggy will be pissed..."
Zoro perked up at the unfamiliar name.
"Who's Buggy?" He asked.
The three pirates stared at him like he was an idiot. "He's our pirate leader. You haven't ever heard of Buggy the clown? He's dangerous..He ate a Devil's Fruit." said the leader of the little group.
"A Devil's Fruit huh?" said Zoro with a tiny frown.
I wish I was psychic.
