OKAY Peoples! I present to you; Clarbell's chapters of What Does Your Stomach Tell You. Please be kind and give her some really good "squee" s and good reviews. Ne?
Disclaimer: I should seriously start using these... oh well. One Piece does not belong to me. One Piece belongs to Oda-Sensei.
What Does Your Stomach Tell You?
by
Shiruji-chan & Clarobell
Chapter 3 – Of snow and fish
Zoro curled in on himself as he tried to save what little heat was left in him. There wasn't even a damn cave to shelter in and the snow was starting to get deep. He felt his eyelids drooping and shook it off sparing a glance to his left where his unconscious captain lay. Luffy wasn't in good shape.
With a tired groan he moved to sit beside the boy, pulling him into his arms so that he was in a sitting position, with the boy's back pressed firmly against his own chest in a futile attempt to keep him warm. Another harsh shiver ran through his body and his teeth started to chatter as the sun sank lower and lower. Soon it would be night and they would be stuck with no shelter from the cold of the snow. The small fire the swordsman had managed to start was also dying.
Another glance down at his captain caused Zoro to whisper a few choice curses under his breath. The boy's breathing was shallow and he was practically blue. He tightened his arms around his torso, offering whatever warmth he could. Though he was sure their soaked clothes were not helping, they were the only thing separating them from the icy winds of the winter island.
When Zoro had finally emerged, gasping from the murky waters, Merry was nowhere in sight, he had frantically swam as his captain lay weak and unconscious in his arms. After around an hour he finally spotted an island in the distance and using the last of his strength had dragged he and Luffy onto its shores. By then they were both freezing and Zoro could no longer feel his body. He almost wished he hadn't thrown that coat down before diving in after the boy.
After around half an hour it started to snow and Zoro groaned knowing he would have to get up and look for shelter, and wouldn't you believe it, there was none. He didn't even have his swords with him, having discarded them as usual when he dived in after his clumsy captain. They were alone and vulnerable on an uninhabited winter island, with no food and no shelter.
Slowly he had made his way back to the beach, his numb body protesting all the way. Luffy was where he had left him the prolonged exposure to the seawater weakening his body drastically. He piled the sticks he had collected on the way back and swiped two together sighing as finally they sparked to life in a fire. Pulling the boy close by all he could do was wait.
And so there they were, Luffy in Zoro's arms as the boy shivered against his first mate and his teeth chattered.
"C-C'mon captain" Zoro stuttered through his own chattering teeth "Y-You're tougher than th-this … h-hold on"
The first thing that registered in Luffy's head was the familiar arms around his waist. He couldn't mistake these arms for anybody else's; they'd pulled him from the water more times than he could remember.
"Zoro…?" he whispered uncertainly
The arms jerked a little, obviously surprised he was awake. The boy struggled for a few seconds before finally they released him. When Luffy turned back to the swordsman he wasn't too surprised to find him shirtless; Zoro always trained shirtless after all. Taking a quick look around, he took in the scenery and looked back at Zoro. He looked so cold – why didn't he pout his shirt back on? He sat up fully and was about to ask when he felt a foreign texture on his shoulders. Looking down he found he was wearing Zoro's shirt. Glancing back up at his swordsman who was now shivering due to the loss of Luffy's body heat his eyes widened as it all came back to him. He fell off the ship and Zoro must have dived in to save him. This was his fault.
With frantic movements he quickly attempted to pull the garment off so that Zoro could have it back. Zoro tried to protest, telling him to keep it, but his movements were sluggish and weak. He also looked tired. Soon he held the shirt out for Zoro to take, but the swordsman merely shook his head and pushed Luffy's arms back.
"You need it more" he mumbled
"No Zoro" Luffy spoke seriously, none of his usual laughter in his voice "I'm the captain and I order you to put your shirt on.
With a shaky defeated sigh, Zoro took the shirt and slipped it over his head to cover his shaking body. His eyes moved to scan Luffy again as the boy did the same.
"Get some sleep" Luffy ordered, smiling "I'll get some food"
"There are no animals or edible plants" Zoro muttered tiredly as he lay back, close to the almost extinguished fire "I checked last night"
"I'll catch some fish then" Luffy grinned back "Get some rest"
"Sure thing captain" Zoro muttered as he lay down against the snow. He hadn't slept a wink last night, holding watch over his captain. It was good to know Luffy would be okay
Luffy sighed as he looked down on the 7 fish he'd caught. They were small; too small to feed both of them. He'd been fishing for hours and this was all he could catch, he guessed it was just too cold for the fish. A whine escaped his lips as his stomach rumbled and he looked back in the distance where Zoro was sleeping. Zoro had saved him and stayed up all night to watch him. Luffy was sure of that. That made Zoro weak and tired because Zoro had given Luffy his shirt so that he could stay warm which left Zoro cold. He had to make it up to him.
With a determined nod, the boy skewered his catch on a stick he'd found by the waters edge and headed back to where Zoro was laying, picking up more sticks as he went to replenish the fire.
Zoro woke feeling much better than he had a few hours ago. The smell of cooking fish hit him and he blinked his eyes open, turning his head to the side to see Luffy poking the fish as they cooked on a makeshift spit made of some sturdy tree branches. The boy was drooling, though obviously controlling himself from gobbling the meal.
"That our dinner?" Zoro asked gruffly, his voice rough from sleep
Luffy jumped slightly, not having noticed the swordsman was awake. He grinned at the man before nodding.
"It's your dinner" he laughed "I already ate!"
Zoro eyed the seven small fish. They were very small in fact. He glared lightly at his captain. The boy had probably eaten all of the big ones he caught before he'd woken up. At least he'd eaten well and saved some for him.
Luffy handed the cooked fish to his first mate and watched with hungry eyes as the man ate every bite. When he was finished Zoro looked to the sky and his eyes widened as he saw how dark it was. Had he really been asleep that long?
"Come on Luffy" he called as he settled down again holding his arm up "Come and lie next to me and we'll keep each other warm"
Luffy nodded and moved to lie next to Zoro as his first mate wrapped his arms around him. Zoro really didn't care how they looked right now. What mattered was surviving and if this is what it took, then this is what he'd do. Neither of them was going to die before they achieved their dreams. It would only be so long before merry found them … they hoped.
To be continued! Whahah. Um yeah.
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