Reject 02
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''What?'' he asked
'' We'll extract her heart'' Chopper said. ''She had a card donor''
''...''
''Zoro? Are you listening? ''
''yeah '' he said shaking hid head to clear the memory away
We need to operate soon, if we want the heart''.
And you need to rest, after all these emotions ...''
_*_*_*_*_*_
The of an alarm clock going off with grating volume. Stretching like a cat, he worked out the kinks in his muscles before rolling over with a small groan and fumbling for the blasted thing on his nightstand. Finally his questing fingers found the alarm and his fist fell heavilyon the snooze button. Blessed silence reigned. He snuggled back under the warm blankets and sighed contentedly.
A hazy voice in the back of his head gave protest when he remembered the small detail that he didn't actually have an alarm clock.
''...Oro... Zoro?''
He opened tired eyes, and the blurred image of his room appeared. He blinked once, twice. He turned on the other side of his bed, groping around for the form of Kuina's slim form snuggled against his back. It was empty
The reality crashed upon him, suffocating him as he realize that she wasn't there anymore.
A broken whimper of distress escape his lips, and the beginning of sobs was forming within him.
Slowly, he counted to ten, trying to repress the the feeling that where threatening to burst out of him. He focused on the counting; if he let go of his concentration, he would go and never come back. But he needed to be here, with his daughter.
He sat on his bed and so his best friend staring at him.
'' Will it be okay? ''
Zoro only response was a nod. And then it will be over. It had been a sad routine since his wife's death, four month ago. Everyday, he would wake thinking it was a Kuina's was still with hem, everyday he would realize she was dead. He would need several minute to adjust to the reality, his friends would and understand and life would go and Yosaku had moved in, claiming that he absolutely need to be around people. They helped with Tashigi, when Zoro was sometimes – it was rare but it happened- overwhelmed by grieve and needed sometimes alone.
But other than that, they just kept him company. Zoro was far from being the social type before the latest events, and after what happened they feared that he would close up to his friend and eventually be totally be isolated from them.
''Was it my phone? '' He asked to Johnny, referring to the strident sound that wake him.
The other man acquiesced. The green-haired man took the brutally treated cellphone. He glanced at the screen of the device. It was 11pm. And it was Smoker, from the Police Station. Zoro's heart raced suddenly, as he thought about the possible reason of the Detective's call. 'Maybe they finally found something.' He thought hopeful.
But immediately after pain clenched his heart tight because the investigation was related to Kuina.
He called back.
As if the circumstances of her death weren't terrible enough, Fate persisted on hurting her corpse.
Kuina has always been a gentle person, So the day she came to Zoro all happy and all about her card of Organ Donor, he wasn't even surprise. After her death, Chopper told him that they would take her heart and her kidneys.
The heart has been immediately requited for a transplant some days later. On a way to the hospital where the operation would take place, the ambulance was attacked and the heart was stolen and the paramedics were killed. The case has been placed in the hands of the police but the investigation has revealed nothing. According to Medical records they hadn't been any official heart transplant in Rough Tell or in the closest towns. So the heart has either been illegally transplant or not used.
The former was more likely than the later,according to the Police, but nothing had been confirmed.
Zoro asked to his Friend Smoker, who was in charge of the case, to keep him up to date about it.
And today, after four month of hopelessness , they're something akin to a lead.
''Hey Smoker, it me'' The green-haired man greeted. ''You found something''
'' We have located a suspicious heart transplant at the St-Sakura Clinic'' There were no greetings. This was expected from the gruffy ex-marine, So Zoro just shrugged. '' The heart transplant hadn't been operated to the clinic but the patient had been brought unconscious and already been transplanted. It happened four month ago.''
At the detective last sentence the swordman took a sudden intake of air
''Why did it take so long before it was reported?'' he asked.
''Sakura's Clinic is a very private Clininc, run by very a dubious-looking doctor, the doctor Hiluluk. Thus the Clinic accessible to the Police with serious difficulty. Incidentally, it happen to be the clinic were the famous people and the gangsters of Rough Tell go to. As I said , nearly innacessible to outsiders and the police. But, since we haven't any evidences of him being linked to any incident and due to the clinic privacy, we can't investigate more'' The detective replied.
''Who?'' Zoro merely asked.
''Sanji Blackleg, 24, ex-cook at the notorious restaurant the Baratie. He became the owner of said restaurant after the death of his foster father, Zeff Blackleg, two month ago. It seems that he have been involved in several underground battles: the Davy Back Fight and have rather close ties the right arm of Don Krieg. Their relationship is unclear.''
''Don Krieg? The mob?'' Zoro inquired, frowning.
''Yeah.'' Smoker confirmed''Last year, he'd been involved in a accident,where he fell into circumstances are unclear again. We suspect that it is related to the Davy back; someone may have attempted to get rid off him'' Last year, he'd been involved in a accident,where he fell into circumstances are unclear again. We suspect that it is related to the Davy back; someone may have attempted to get rid off him''.
''Give me the address '' Zoo
''You idiot'' Smoker sighed heavily. Zoro clearly picture him massaging his forehead in annoyance. ''You didn't listened a word to what I said, do you know what ''innacessible'' means?''
''Yeah, but you know I won't stand here when I know that we probably found the person who stole my wife's heart''
''What do you think you'll do exactly?'' The other calmly said '' the guy is linked to Don Krieg, if you piss him off, you might as well pack you suitcase for the other world, Do I need to remind you of Tashigi's existence, you punk?''
Zoro momentarily stayed silent, then talked again.'' I won't stay, and do nothing''
'' Fortunately, I manage to find you a free pass for the Clinic, that go by the name of Luffy Monkey from the D Family.''
''No way, Luffy knows him''.
''Yeah, that ridiculously friend of you happen to be a close friend of Blackleg, they attend to the same school and university. Since he's my boss' grandson I-unfortunately for me- know him pretty
well. The Clinic has been under surveillance for the last week, and Monkey seems to go visit Blackleg everyday with a lot of his friend. I'm pretty sure that if you ask that idiot he'll take you to blondie.''
''Thanks Smoker, good jood''
''I know'' He hang up.
No goodbye either, but it wasn't exactly what Zoro was caring about. He needed to call Robin, he needed to shared the news. Then he need to ask to call Luffy for some explanations.