Summary

They do not really understand anything about Zoro's swords. All they know is that the guy is good at using them. The swords are his important tools to become the best swordsman in the world. So how come, after their last adventure, he came back without them..? And instead..

Disclaimer

I do not own One Piece. All of the crazy "Gomu Gomu no Fuusen", "Oni Giri", "Mirage Tempo", "Usoppu Superu", "Diable Jambe", "Ranburu Boru", "Cies Fleur", "Coup de Vent", and "Yahazu Giri" are copyrights of Eiichiro Oda.


Chapter 2: Charge to the Light Tower! Zoro Is in Trouble!

"What the fuck?", Zoro couldn't believe his eyes. There is just no way that people walk around headless. Unless this island is a ghost island, then there is no way - wait!

They don't even know what island this is!

Zoro immediately jumped off-board and stealthily ran towards his captain. The light house is still far-off so he does not have to worry about being heard. And besides, it would be a miracle if these headless people does not even know they were there considering that the bonfire is still lit!

"Luffy, wake up!", he kneeled at his sleeping captain and shook him. He proceeded in waking up the other boys.

"Mmmm.. What is it, Zoro?", Luffy asked. There is drool dropping from his mouth, but he preferred to rub his eyes to keep himself awake.

The other boys also woke up, but Zoro can see that they were still sleepy. At least, they were making a commotion already so it won't be difficult to fully wake them up.

"The adventure you were waiting for since this morning is here.", Zoro grinned dangerously. Although he feels that there is something wrong with the place, he can't turn his back from adventure and danger after all. And he know his captain is the same. Besides, he is quite confident that his nakama-tachi were all strong as well. They can fend off for themselves. And if they can't, they can still help each other out.

Luffy's eyes twinkled at the mention of adventure.

"Adventure?", Luffy seemed to be fully awake now. So are the others.

"What? What? What is it?" He heard Usopp say.

"Look at the light tower.", Zoro stood up.

The remaining boys looked at where Zoro indicated. Surely enough, a group of headless people are still visible from where they were standing.

"H-H-H-Headless people?", the boys chorused with their jaws dropped. Luffy's eyes turned into twinkles as he felt excitement for the impending adventure that they will face. Chopper and Usopp, on the other hand, only had the whites of their eyes remaining because of fear. Brook looked the same minus the eyes. After all, he has no eyes since he is all bones - skull joke! Franky's look was more of disbelief than fear.

"Yaro domo!", Luffy shouted. "Let's go!"

Luffy started running towards the light tower but he was stopped by Zoro by the cheek. Luffy's cheek just stretched, though.

"Wait, Luffy!", Zoro called off the excitement from his captain. "We have to decide first who will stay here to tell the others."

"Just decide it then. Hurry!", Luffy jogged in place. Zoro remained on holding on to his captain's cheeks just in case he really ran off first and stir trouble for the rest.

"Let's get some sticks, then.", Zoro suggested.

"No!". Chopper, Usopp, and Brook shouted.

"Jankenpon?"

"No!"

"Then, who will stay here then?", Zoro screeched while an obvious vein was popping in his temple out of irritation.

"That's not the issue here!", Usopp slapped him. "The question should be who would want to go with you monsters!"

"Ohoh," Zoro went into his teasing mode, "Is the Brave Warrior of the Sea getting the I-can't-enter-the-light-tower disease?"

"I-I have been c-cure of that d-disease f-for a long time n-now!", Usopp bravely declared.

"Cool!", Chopper looked up to the liar with amazement.

"Then, you will be coming too?"

"O-Of course!" Usopp exclaimed. His face turned pale after that. He really can't believe he is an idiot, being easily gauded into something scary such as going after headless people!

"T-Then, I'm c-coming too!", Chopper gulped down his fear. He must show his worth. He will do all he can.

"Yo-ho-ho-ho!", Brook broke into his trademark laugh. "Then, I am coming as well."

"That means you will be the one left behind, Franky.", Zoro stated. The other man just nodded.

"You guys, be careful.", Franky told them off.

Zoro released his hold on the captain and the latter man dashed off at full speed. He ran after his captain and the others followed, as well.

- o 0 o -

They did not see anyone when they arrived at the front gate of the light tower. Luffy was standing mighty proud while surveying the place. Zoro just stood beside him, his arms folded across his chest. Chopper and Usopp were hiding behind a rock. Brook was squatting right beside the rock where the two men were hiding.

"Oi! Luffy!", Usopp called out. "There's no one here anymore. It would be better to go back to the Sunny-go."

"No!", Luffy declined. "Let's have some fun first. Let's go!"

Luffy charged towards the tower while Zoro just followed behind him. Soon enough, they were joined by the other three. When they entered, there was no one inside the tower. The only thing they can see is a long winding staircase which both leads upward and downward.

"So?", Zoro asked. "Where do you want to go, Captain?"

"Shishishi!" Luffy smiled childishly. "We're going down!"

- o 0 o -

They have been running down the staircase for a while now but they can't find any room or even the end of it. The only thing that's surrounding them is a wall of bricks.

When they reached the bottom of the steps, Zoro smiled wickedly. The headless people that they were looking for were all down at the basement, waiting in queue to in front of a huge door. There were bulky guards at the door who seemed to be checking the wrists of the 'headless' people.

Looking at them closely, they don't seem to be headless. In the darkness of the night, they look as if they have lost their heads since they have a black garb over their head. Now, Zoro can see the trick since they are in a brightly lit room.

"Intruders!", shouted one guard. A couple more guards assumed position. All the 'headless' people dispersed closer to the door. "Be quick in checking the remaining indwellers! They will be safe inside the room."

'Indwellers?', Zoro's mind was working non-stop. He had heard what the guard had said. It did not escapes his eyes that the said indwellers were not even fazed by their presence. As if they do not care whether Zoro and the rest were there.

The guards charged forward. The men were pointing their spears at them with utter bravery. Zoro just smiled wickedly while wrapping his bandana on his head and tugging it into a tight knot. Luffy has already started his own rampage, doing his Gomu Gomu no Muchi right off the bat. He took out almost a quarter of the men who were attacking them. Brook, Chopper, and Usopp had their own group of adversaries to take care of.

"Oi, Luffy. Don't take out all the fun.", Zoro called out to his captain.

"Shishishishi.", the black-haired brat just laughed it all off.

Zoro brought out his three swords for the fight. He blocked off the advances of six men at once. The six men who have attacked him did not even draw out at least 1% of his swordsmanship.

"Tatsu", he chanted one of his signature moves. "Maki!"

The twister move hauled the men up on the air. Even with the seemingly one-sided strength of the fight, Zoro felt strange. Again, his swords were having their unusual 'temper'. The same one that he has felt when they landed on the island. It was as if there was a tingling feeling with them. Oddly enough, it was even stronger than what it was the last time he felt it.

"You can feel it, right?", one of the guards talked to him in the midst of the fight.

"Feel what?", Zoro smirked. Not minding the guy who talked, he fended off the others who were attacking him. On his left, Luffy was rampaging with his Gomu Gomu no Gatling. Usopp is fending himself with his Kabuto while Brook is happily sparring with the guards who are half-scared of him because he is just all-bones. Chopper was on his horn point.

"Your swords." the man continued. Everything went still. The guards seem to stop at their attacks but nevertheless were still pointing their weapons at him. "As a swordsman, you can feel your swords, right? And you know that there is something wrong with them. That something wrong will happen. I suggest you throw them out into the sea before you regret it."

Zoro gritted his teeth and gripped his swords tighter. He can feel the tension around him going up a notch. Luffy had his serious face as well. Brook, as a swordsman himself, seemed to understand their conversation. Usopp was seriously waiting in defense position.

The standstill was broken when the door behind the guards creaked shut. The guards attacked them again. This time, the guards who were busy checking the 'indwellers' also joined in the battle.

There were ten men who went after Zoro. It seemed that there were more people who came after him and Brook than after Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp. He was about to defend himself when he felt the weight of the sword messing up his rhythm. A spear grazed his right shoulder and seem to hit a nerve. His grip on the sword on the right loosened and he slightly went off-balance. Despite that, he still managed to block and deflect the attacks of the spears.

The men they faced off were not particularly strong to defeat them. However, it was the lack of killer intent in the battle that made it difficult for the Strawhats to go all out. It seemed that the guards were only protecting something - that it was just an attempt to scare them off - and they were not really trying to kill them.

It was moments later that Zoro felt his eyelids becoming heavy.

'Shit!', he thought to himself. The spears are spiked!

"It's taking effect.", the guard who spoke to him a while ago spoke. "Men! Stay on your ground!"

He deflected, blocked, and attacked for a little longer. He was too strong to be beaten down by a poisoned spear! He wouldn't back down even if it means his death.

He looked at his nakama. He was shocked to see that Usopp had already fallen and Chopper was doing his best to defend the guy and himself. Luffy is at the same condition as him but was still more than capable to fight. It seems that his two nakamas were also hit by the drugged spears. Brook was still fighting off his attackers and like him was worried about his nakama.

Then, smoke enveloped them. It has a weird smell which made Zoro nauseous.

'Sleeping gas?', Zoro retaliated in his head. Despite covering his nose and stopping his breath, he was getting sleepy.

And then he fell.


Author's Note

Okay. So, the next chappie's out although thirty minutes late than my expected update date. Reviews, anyone? Please, please, please.. I beg of you. Bash me up, criticize me, I don't care! Just, give me a review!

Hehehe. :3

Kidding aside, leave a review or read my other stories. Either way, they help me.

Preview

Chapter 3: The Secret of the Island! Where is Zoro?