Chapter 4 – Scars
Asuna
Walking past the door that led outside, I could see that a bout half of the fish men who lived here had gone out with Arlong. Meaning that escape would be possible for Zoro, who was still in the dungeon I was on my way to.
When I reached the door I was looking for, I checked down both ways of the hall, before I unlocked it and went inside. As I closed the door behind me, after leaning his sword up against the wall, I noticed Zoro sitting against the far wall. His observant eyes never left my face, even when I triggered my hidden blade, and began walking towards him.
Cutting the ropes on his legs first, I took a step back so that he could stand. He had to be at least five inches taller than me...
"What? Can't stand to kill a guy unless he's standing?" He mocked, cocking his head to the side.
"I'm not here to kill anyone. I wanted to ask you one question before I give you an opportunity to get out of here." I said, going behind him to cut the ropes from his hand, before putting my hidden blade away.
"What sort of question?" He asked, glancing at me from over his shoulder.
"That wound on your chest, running from your left shoulder to your right side... You got it from Hawk Eye's Mihawk, didn't you?" I asked, knowing full well that he'd have questions.
"How the hell did you know that?" He demanded, turning to face me.
I couldn't stop the dark smile that crossed my lips, as I looked back at him.
"Let's just say I have a hard to learn ability I accidentally learned how to use. It caused me to have a dream about you fighting Hawk Eyes Mihawk. In the last attack thrown at you, I watched as he slashed his sword across you, leaving a wound that would scar right here..." I said, pointing my finger at him, moving it similar to how Hawk Eye had with his sword.
"And the only reason I can think of as to why he would let you live, is that you impressed him some how..." I said, lowering my hand back to my side.
"What makes you so sure of that? He let me live on a whim, so how can you come across and act like you know him so well?" Zoro asked, suspicious.
I stood there debating weather or not I should tell him. In the end, he'd be leaving, so I guess it wouldn't matter.
"Well, his reputation wasn't given to him for nothing... And being my biological father, half of my blood comes from him. Making us similar in a way." I answered, walking around him to go towards the entrance, as a hand on my shoulder stopped me.
"Hold on... If he's your dad, then why didn't you and Nami stay at the Baratie?" He demanded, a serious look in his eyes.
Removing his hand from my shoulder, I kept my expression blank, and I stayed facing the door.
"That is none of your business. At the moment, you need to be getting your ass out of here. Arlong might not be gone for long. If you stay out of sight, and stay silent, you can slip out of here." I said, opening the door and leaving Zoro there to his own decisions.
…...
Zoro
As Asuna left me in my cell, I couldn't help but play her little confession over and over in my head. To say I was shocked, was a damn understatement. Never in a million years would I have thought that a man like Hawk Eye's Mihawk, a man known to be ruthless and cold, to have a kid.
I knew it seemed impossible, but I couldn't deny that Asuna had to be telling the truth. She couldn't be lying, not when her eyes were identical to Hawk Eyes. Earlier, when she had gotten pissed at some of the words that came out of Arlong's mouth, her eyes had narrowed to look just like the bird of prey's would; like her father's...
Even so, my question still remained...
Why didn't she try to get help from her father?
Shaking my head from these thoughts, I walked out of my cell. I knew Asuna had told me to leave while I still could, but I couldn't do that. Luffy wanted me to bring our navigator back, and Asuna to be our blacksmith; so I had to stay... Captain's orders.
Besides, I'd only get lost trying to get out of here anyway...
…...
Asuna
"Calm down Arlong, you don't want to kill her!" one of the fish men trying to hold Arlong back shouted, trying to calm him down. It took a few more minutes, but eventually, Arlong threw his men off, and stood up straight.
"DAMN IT, I WANT THAT LONG NOSED FREAK FOUND! HOW DARE HE THINK HE COULD DEFY US FISH MEN?" He shouted, turning to storm back to Arlong park, his men following behind him, leaving me where I was in the middle of the road.
Damn it, Genzo. All you have to do is wait a little bit longer. Why did you go and do something so stupid as collecting weapons? I thought to myself, as my body throbbed with pain I barely felt. I hated that this had to happen, but at least Genzo was safe. A part of a separate agreement between Arlong and I, is that if I take the place of someone he was about to hurt or kill, then he'd leave them alone...
Turning my thoughts away from what I was currently feeling, I began humming a tune I became fond of while I was away. A few moments passed before the words passed through my lips...
'I've been looking in the mirror for so long,
That I've come to believe my soul's on the other side.
All the little pieces falling,
Shattered.
Shards of me,
Too sharp to put back together.
Too small to matter,
But big enough to cut me into so many little pieces,
If I try to touch her,
And I bleed,
I bleed,
And I breathe,
I breathe no more...'
"Asuna?" I heard Nami ask in shock, as she walked over to me.
'Take a breath and I draw from my spirit's well.
Yet again, you refuse to drink like a stubborn child.
Lie to me,
Convince me that I've been sick forever.
That all this,
Will make sense when I get better.
But I know the difference,
Between myself and my reflection...'
"Asuna..." Nami tried again, sitting on the ground next to me after I had ignored her, and kept singing. This time, however, I turned and looked at Nami...
"I really do wish that the passed eight years was just some fever induced hallucination. But just like in the song, I know my self from a reflection..." I said, staring up at the sky, as the pain in my body became bearable enough to slowly sit up.
"Take it easy Asuna. You're still bleeding ya know." Nami gently scolded, as I took a look down at myself. There were a few cuts and a bruise here and there, but nothing I hadn't had before. Feeling my bottom lip, I could feel dried blood in the right corner. The worst was a gash in my shoulder where Arlong had gotten so angry, that his shark instincts had taken over, and had bitten me; about to rip my throat out. Which is when his men had stepped in.
Turning my gaze to the object Nami had set down next to her, I could see some purple flowers... Bellemere's favorite.
Getting to my feet, much to Nami's protests, I turned to face the village.
"Asuna, you shouldn't be moving around so much yet!" She scolded again.
"I'm fine. I'll just stop in the village to let the doctor take a look at me, then we can go visit Bellemere's grave together." I suggested, heading off.
"If you're sure..." Nami caved in, catching up to me, in case I should pass out or something...
…...
Zoro
Sitting in the white chair that belongs to Arlong, I couldn't help but think of how easily it was to take all of the fish men here down. It was funny really, how they keep going on and on about how humans are weak, only to get their asses kicked by one...
"Damn, this is taking too long... Luffy where the hell are you? Five more minutes of this and I'll keel over from boredom..." I muttered, leaning my head back on the chair... "Or fall asleep..."
However, my plans for a nap was interrupted by a voice coming from the other side of the wall. Looking in the general direction, I spotted three fishing rods. Curious, I got up and started walking over.
"What are you? Some kind of super fish? Not even the mighty Hachan, octopus leader of the Arlong Pirates can pull you from the ocean! What an epic battle. You're the most gutsy fish in the East Blue!" the voice said, as a moment later, one of the fishing poles pulled something up; which happened to be the ass of the octopus man speaking.
"What the-? It was me all along?" it said again, once they realized who it was. Then a moment later, the line snapped, dropping the octopus back to the ground.
Reaching the wall, I climbed up on it to see the octopus pulling himself back to his feet, using the same wall to do so.
"That was weird..." He said, looking at the three fishing poles on the ground.
"Sure is..." I agreed, catching his attention.
"HEY! Who are you? Speak up now!" He demanded, before pointing to himself. "Who? Me? Well, I'm Hachan, but my friends call me Hachi."
Raising an eyebrow, I decided to play along with Hachi's denseness.
"You a fish man too?" I asked, acting like I was interested.
"Of course. I'm an amazing octopus fish man. It looks to me like you're just a human." He said, waving his multiple arms around.
"Uh... Yeah." I replied.
"A marine, or possibly a guest..." He trailed off, as if asking which one I was.
"A guest..." I said, glancing over my shoulder at the guys I had beat as I thought about it. "I guess you could say that..."
Yeah, probably best to stick with that. Lucky for him, he was out here instead of inside when I walked out of the building...
"Arlong isn't here is he?" Hachi asked, picking up his fishing poles again, and casting them out.
"No... I thought you might know where he is." I said, hoping he would tell me. After my little episode with Asuna in front of Arlong earlier, another fish man had walked in; saying something about a long nosed human they suspected was a friend of mine causing trouble. Which reminded me that I probably needed to go save him. Even though he left me for dead...
"Apparently, there's a long nosed trouble maker running around causing problems. So Arlong locked his friend up here, and went to Coco Yashi village to deal with him." the octopus replied.
Sighing heavily, I jumped over the wall. I just hoped that Ussop could hold out until I could find him...
"This Coco Yashi Village... Which way is it?" I asked him, hoping my horrible sense of direction didn't kick in.
"Hop in." Hachi said, pointing to a pot.
I could only blink at it a couple of times before blinking back over at him. If this was a trick to cook me, then he'd regret thinking that...
At my silence, Hachi looked up at me from where he was sitting.
"You're a guest. So hop in, I'll take you... Swordsman..." He said, glancing down at my sword.
"Okay..."
…...
Asuna
When we got to the village, it was easy to spot the upturned building in the street. As Nami and I passed it, I silently prayed that no body had been hurt when it had happened.
Reaching the center of the road, we spotted the doctor treating some minor injuries on Genzo. The people around him were demanded to know why he had stopped them from getting Arlong back for hurting him; to which he replied that their waiting would be for nothing if they had.
"Hello everyone!" Nami called out, catching their attention.
At the sight of us, everyone save three familiar faces, went home. It was a reaction Nami and I got every time we went home. Which was why we normally went around the village whenever we went to Bellemere's grave.
"Nami... Asuna..." Our eldest sister said, shocked to see us in town.
"Hey Nojiko..." I said, glancing over my shoulder at the building again.
"I see Arlong went a little crazy again. No one was hurt were they?" Nami asked, glancing at the building for a moment.
"No one except Genzo..." Nojiko began, only to be cut off by Genzo himself.
"I'm fine you three. However, I can see that you need to be looked at Asuna. I just hope you didn't take Arlong's wrath on my behalf." Genzo said, looking my injuries over.
"It's nothing you did Genzo. Besides, it's nothing I haven't had before." I said, pushing his worry off of me, as the doctor walked up to me.
"Weather you've had this before or not, just let me bandage your wounds." He said, grabbing me by the arm, and dragging me over to sit where Genzo had been.
"Any way, it's rare to see you two walking through the village anymore. So, what are you two doing here?" Nojiko asked, glancing at us both.
"We're going to see Bellemere's grave. It's been a while." Nami answered, looking down at the flowers in her hand again. A sad smile on her face.
A few moments later, my nasty shoulder wound had been bandaged, and the small cuts and bruises had been disinfected. Standing to my feet, I walked off, leaving Nami and Nojiko to catch up. It took me about a five minute walk to reach where I was going.
When I got there, I sat next to the cross sticking up out of the dirt.
"We're almost there Bellemere." I whispered to her grave, watching the clouds in the sky as I sat there. A few moments passed before Nami appeared, placed the flowers on the grave, spoke a few words, and then we left to head back to Arlong park.
Just as we reached it, and were about to walk through the gate; Nami and I happened to catch the conversation between the fish men, and a guy with an awfully familiar, shaky, cowardly voice.
"Look! If you kill me, Zoro will kill you!" He shouted in fear.
"Oh really, if you die, then Zoro will come?" Arlong asked, a familiar tone to his voice.
"THATS NOT WHAT I MEAN! If you kill me, then he won't come!" the familiar voice lied.
"It's pointless to lie. You defied Arlong, so you will die either way." one of the fish men, named Chu said.
"And it would seem that long nose isn't the only trouble maker around here." another fish men, a sting ray called Kurobi said, dropping something on the ground. "It would seem that someone has betrayed us. Someone let Zoro the Pirate Hunter escape. I'm willing to bet that it's either Nami or Asuna; but I think its more than likely Asuna. Sure, both of them have been acting weird, but Asuna's been acting the strangest. She did save him earlier after all..." He trailed off.
"He does have a point. Look at how many times Asuna tried to kill Arlong. She probably hired Zoro to take his head since she couldn't do it." Chu said, agreeing with Kurobi.
Hearing enough of this, I walked into Arlong park, with Nami close at my heels.
"Now why would I go and do something as stupid as hiring a bounty hunter, when you have not only the life of my sister, but the lives of my entire village over my head? I might be human, but I'm not that stupid." I snapped, stopping in front of Arlong.
"Then if it wasn't you, then perhaps it was Nami." Kurobi said, looking over at Nami, who glared back.
"Asuna and I are almost at the amount of Beris Arlong agreed to; so why screw it up now? Besides, did I not seal my loyalty to this crew with this tattoo?" Nami demanded, walking up next to me, holding her hand over the tattoo on her left arm.
"I'm afraid they both have a point Kurobi. Neither of them, even Asuna, would go that far when they are close to reaching their goal. It's nothing to worry about though, for Zoro will be back to get his friend." Arlong said, throwing a glance down at Ussop lying on the ground beside him.
However, the second Arlong looked away, I spotted Ussop reaching into his bag for something; and by the look on his face, it had to be a weapon of some sort. Knowing that allowing him to go through with what he was about to do would only get him killed, I stomped on his hand, making him scream in pain. Reaching down, I grabbed the object that was in his hand, a slingshot, and tossed it over my shoulder as I kicked the shit out of him. Watching as he slid over to the water, I got an idea.
"Asuna! What the hell!?" Ussop shouted, rubbing the spot I had kicked.
"You're in deep enough shit as it is. By getting in the way, you're only digging your grave deeper and deeper." I said, turning to face Nami. In her eyes, I could see an idea forming as she was looking at where Ussop was sitting. Probably the same one I was getting.
"I don't understand this you two!" Ussop said, glaring at us both.
"Actually Asuna, he's already dug his grave. He's gotten in the way one time to many now." Nami said, walking up to me, grabbing my right hand, and triggering my hidden blade. Removing it from it's mechanism, she turned to look at Ussop.
"It's time to say good bye..." She said in a low voice, making Ussop flinch.
"Do you even know how to kill with that thing Nami?" I asked. For this plan to work, then it would be best if I pretended to show her how.
Turning around and giving me a confused look, I in turn, threw her a look that said to trust me. Which, she thankfully got.
"Now that I think about it... Could you show me how?" Nami said, acting like she was interested in learning. "After all, you've killed before..."
Shrugging my shoulders, I began walking towards Nami before Ussop did something else that only helped our plan out more.
"SMOKE STAR!" He shouted before throwing a weird ball at us, creating a smoke screen.
As it took effect, I raced forward, grabbed Nami's hand that held the blade, and dragged her around Ussop, who was trying to sneak away.
"Make it look like I'm showing you..." I whispered into her ear, as Ussop spotted us and froze. Giving me a chance to put my hand on Ussop's side, before using my other hand holding Nami's two hands, to stab my hand; covering our hands in my blood, as well as Ussop's side.
"Get out of here Ussop. This isn't any of your business. And don't show your face around the village." I whispered to him, low enough that no one but him and Nami could hear me.
When the smoke cleared, I could see the shocked look on Arlong's and Kurobi's faces, as I helped Nami pull my dagger from my hand; while to the fish men, it looked like it was coming out of Ussop.
"Now just kill over..." Nami said, before we stood back away from him, as we watched Ussop take two steps forward, and fall into the water of the docks.
Watching as he sunk, I glanced over to where his sling shot had landed when I had tossed it to the side. Knowing that he'd probably need it for later, I walked over and picked it up to throw it in the water behind him.
"Looks like you got your wish. To die at sea with your precious weapon..." I muttered, as Nami handed me back my dagger. Cleaning the blood from it, I replaced it back in the mechanism on my arm, and triggered it to hide once more.
"Well I'll be damned... It looks like you two became real pirates while you both were gone..." Arlong said, an amused grin on his face.
"Forgive me of suspecting you..." Kurobi said, a creeped out look on his face.
Nami remained silent, as I turned to head back into the building behind them.
"Whatever..." I said, walking inside. However, before I could get inside good, I spotted someone spying on everything through a hole in the gate leading into Arlong Park from the island.
Just as I was about to turn my head to keep Arlong's men from getting suspicious, I spotted Nami heading for the gate. At this, I got a feeling that I needed to follow her. Running inside to my room, I grabbed an object I thought I'd never reach for again. If it weren't for this bad feeling I was having, then I would leave it; but it wasn't going away, so I'd better be safe than sorry. I just hoped that I wouldn't have to use it...
Securing it to my back, I followed after my sister.
…...
Zoro
"FISH MEN TOOK HIM TO ARLONG PARK!" I shouted, shocked and annoyed that Ussop had gotten his ass caught.
First I had to deal with a dense Octopus Fish Man, and now a cowardly guy who couldn't stay out of trouble.
"Yeah... They took him not too long ago..." The guy I had pinned against a wall said on shaky feet.
"Damn it..." I muttered as I let the guy go, and took off out of the village. If I hurried, then I might be able to make it before anything happens to him. However, I might already be too late, especially after I killed every fish man present when I escaped...
Running as fast as I could, I made it about half way through some wet lands before I spotted my crazy assed captain flying towards me in a freaking boat. Yosaku and the new cook behind him holding on for dear life.
I was so shocked to see something like that so suddenly, I missed my chance to move out of the way, as the boat barreled into me, then kept flying towards cliff to crash into a million pieces...
Shoving what little bit of debris that fell on top of me, I threw Luffy a death glare the second I spotted him.
"LUFFY! WHAT THE HELL?" I snarled, about ready to use my only sword left to cut him into a million pieces.
"Oh, hey Zoro! Where's Nami, haven't you found her yet? And where's Ussop and Johnny?" He asked innocently, as if he hadn't gotten me crushed between a cliff and a land sliding boat. I was about to jump over a strangle him, when his question suddenly reminded me why I was in such a hurry running through these wet lands to start with...
"Oh crap! Hurry up, we've gotta go!" I said, busting out of the rest of the debris.
"Why?" Luffy asked, as the cook and Yosaku looked at me in confusion.
"Ussop's in trouble. We've gotta get moving before he gets his ass killed..." I said, turning to continue on running when another voice spoke up.
"It's too late..." Johnny said, walking slowly towards us.
"What?" I said, my grip on my Wadou Ichimonji tightening slightly.
"It's too late... Big Bro Ussop was murdered when Big Sis Asuna used him as a dummy to show Big Sis Nami how to kill!" He sobbed, falling to his knees. "I saw it... They killed him!"
…...
Asuna
As Nami took the road that ran towards the village, I stayed hidden in the line of bushes and trees as I followed her. I didn't know where she was going, but I knew that if I was patient, then I'd soon find out.
When we reached the wet lands, I had my answer.
A good ways up the road were what looked like a boat torn to pieces, as Zoro, and the newly arrived Johnny, Yosaku, Luffy, and Sanji, were all sitting in the middle of it. Save for Zoro who was standing up, facing Johnny with a shocked look on his face. It wasn't until I followed Nami closer, that I could hear what they were saying.
"Are you sure?" Yosaku asked, looking over a Johnny.
"Yeah... Nami's been a traitor this whole time, and Asuna's no different. They've been winning the favor of Arlong so they could get some sort of treasure in Cocoyashi village all to themselves..." He said, punching the ground. "One was a cold blooded killer from the start, and she taught the other how to become one... And they won't stop until they get what they're after... God, we've been fool-"
He was cut off then, when Luffy jumped forward, and grabbed Johnny by the front of the shirt.
"SHUT UP! Say another word and you'll regret it!" He shouted at him, shaking him slightly.
"Easy Luffy... Johnny has nothing to do with this..." Zoro warned, taking a few steps towards them in case he would have to get his captain off of his friend.
"Go on, believe what you want... I know what I saw! Nami and Asuna killed Big Bro Ussop!" Johnny shouted, not caring what Luffy did to him.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH! NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS WOULD NAMI OR ASUNA KILL USSOP. NAMI WOULDN'T KILL ONE OF HER FRIENDS, AND ASUNA WAS GETTING ALONG WITH HIM TOO WELL TO KILL HIM EITHER!" Luffy shouted, throwing Johnny away from him, pissed...
"What was that about friends Luffy?" Nami asked, making her presence known. When every one turned to face her, I felt my hand go to the weapon I had strapped to my back. If any of them were to attack her, then I'd need to be ready to make sure nothing happened to her. I couldn't protect Bellemere, and I'll be damned before I couldn't protect Nami...
"Nami?" Luffy said, turning to face her, surprised that she was even there.
"What are you doing here?" Nami demanded.
"That's obvious! We're here to get you and Asuna..." He replied, a child like innocence in his eyes.
"Huh... You're so pathetic..." Nami muttered out loud, fiddling with her sectioned bow staff as she watched them.
At Luffy's confused look, Nami continued...
"You guys are so pathetic, you deserve each other." Nami began, as I got an odd impulse to deny that they were pathetic. When we left the Baratie, Luffy was facing Don Kreig; and if those bandages on Zoro's chest, and my dream were anything to go by, then Zoro had faced my father in a sword fight. And not just anyone could walk away from that alive...
"DAMN YOU! You killed him! I watched ya do it! And now, Big Bro Ussop is dead!" Johnny shouted, running up from behind Luffy, pointing a finger at Nami.
"Yep... That's right..." Nami confirmed, a fake smile on her face. "So go on... Kill me in return for it."
This made Johnny pause, confusion on his face.
"Oh, and a word from the wise... The actions of your friend, have caused Arlong to want to hunt down and kill Zoro and the entire crew he's with. I don't care how monstrously strong you guys think you are, but you're nothing compared to the real thing." Nami said, looking at each of them... "And if you stay here, you'll be killed. Leaving you with a choice. Leave and live, or stay and die..."
Everyone stayed silent for a long moment, letting her words sink in. All but Sanji, who was spouting a lot of lovey dovey shit again.
"Can it Romeo, this isn't the time or place for that..." Zoro snarled at him. I had to admit, he was right...
"Excuse me, but love is like a hurricane-" Sanji began, only to realize he was being ignored as Zoro turned to look directly at Nami. "HEY, DON'T IGNORE ME!"
"Nami, where's Ussop?" Zoro demanded, his tone indicating that there shouldn't be any bullshit in her answer.
"He's sleeping with the fishes..." Nami said.
"Why you..." Zoro said, placing it opposite hand on his sword, and charged at Nami. However, just as he got close enough to her, and made to draw his sword and slash at her; I was there, my own sword drawn, and blocked his sword with mine. Steel meeting steel with a loud clang...
"Asuna!" Nami shouted in worry and surprise. Everyone else was still, all in a shocked silence as Zoro and me faced off for the first time.
"What the hell? So you're here too, huh?" Zoro said, glaring down at me, as I kept my expression blank as I looked back up at him. "And I thought you made an oath never to pick up a sword again..." he trailed off, taking a good look at the weapon I was using.
"It was stupid of me to make an oath like that, but I couldn't bring myself to break it with out a damn good reason. Keeping you from killing my sister seemed like one." I retorted, narrowing my eyes at him.
"ZORO BACK OFF! This isn't the time for a fight!" Luffy shouted in a serious voice I wouldn't have thought him capable of. I honestly didn't expect Zoro to back down at his captain's order, and it surprised me when he did. Zoro looked to me like the kind of guy who didn't let anyone order him around...
"Luffy's right Asuna. Just let them leave while they still can." Nami said, agreeing with Luffy before turning back to them. "You outsiders don't have any business jumping into this islands affairs. The only reason I got close to you idiots was to steal what money you had, but now you're broke, and I no longer have a use for you. You can even have your ship back. Now you can go and find a navigator stupid enough to join you on your quest for the One Piece. I don't care, so long as you get off this island; you all are an eyesore!" Nami said, finishing up her little speech, waiting to see what they would say.
Shrugging his shoulders as if to say oh well, Luffy closed his eyes, and fell flat on his back in the middle of the road; as every one threw him confused looks.
"Big Bro Luffy!" Johnny said in worry, rushing over to him.
"Sleepy..." Was all he said, as he moved his hands behind his head, after pushing his hat up to cover his eyes.
"Sleep? At a time like this?" Yosaku questioned, looking down the road in both directions.
"Yosaku's right! Arlong's after us, it's suicide to be taking a nap right now like this." Johnny agreed.
"Sorry, but I'm tired. I'm not leaving either, so throw that idea out of your skull. Nor am I going to butt into their affairs... So, goodnight..." He explained, before falling asleep in all of a second.
"FINE! JUST GO A HEAD AND DIE!" I heard Nami all of a sudden explode from behind me, before running off.
"Nami." I called, trying to get her to slow down. However, before I could get very far, I felt something stick into the back of my shoulder. Glancing down at it, I spotted a needle protruding from my shoulder; attached to a familiar tanned hand, which was attached to the blue tattooed arm of my older sister.
"Nojiko?" I said in confusion, just as I went out like a light...
…...
Zoro
I could only blink as the second person of the day, popped out of the bushes to attack another person. Only, this time, it was a tan woman, with blue hair Asuna had called Nojiko.
"What the hell?" I said, shocked as I watched Asuna fall to the ground unconcious.
"WOW! SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!" I heard the Love – Cook shout, as I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Why couldn't he be serious with a woman around for a single second? Really... Was it that hard?
"What did you do to her?" Luffy asked, sitting up from where he was laying in the middle of the road.
"I didn't hurt her. I just knocked her unconcious." the woman said. "And I'm Nojiko, by the way."
"Why did you knock Asuna out?" I asked her, skipping straight to the point. More or less to get this weird feeling in my chest to go away.
What is it with that woman making me feel these funny feelings? I thought to myself, trying to figure it out.
"I did it because there's something I wanted to see, and to clear some things about my younger sisters with you." Nojiko said, rolling Asuna over from where she had landed on her stomach.
"Wow! You're the older sister of Nami and Asuna! That's so cool!" Luffy said, stars in his eyes again.
Ignoring him, I turned my attention back to Nojiko as she grabbed Asuna's right hand, which had been wrapped up in bandages, just now being stained with blood. It was then, that I noticed a bandage around her shoulder, and various other places. I couldn't help but feel impressed that she had been able to stop my attack while injured like that.
Then again, I was injured myself, and more seriously than her.
Unwrapping the bandage around her hand, Nojiko revealed a fresh stab wound that bled still.
"Just as I thought..." Nojiko muttered to herself.
Swallowing, I found myself worried about her for some reason.
"What happened to her?" Yosaku asked, beating everyone else to it.
"You with the sunglasses... You said you saw Asuna using your friend to teach Nami how to kill, correct?" She asked, looking over at Johnny, who nodded his response.
"Well, it's safe to say that there's a really good chance that he's still alive..." Nojiko trailed off, looking at each of us.
"B-but, how can that be? I watched them! There was even blood!" Johnny protested, walking closer to Asuna and Nojiko to see what she was talking about.
"See this wound on her hand. It's not quite an hour old. That being said, I think Nami and Asuna created a ruse to make it look like they killed your friend to fool Arlong. The blood you saw, must have been Asuna's." She explained, pulling a fresh bandage out of her pocket, and re-bandaged it, before placing Asuna's injured hand back down beside her. "If we wait here, I'm sure he'll turn up soon."
Shrugging my shoulders, I turned and sat in the road by Luffy, as Sanji walked over to a tree, and sat in the shade to get away from the sun.
"Big Bro? We're leaving after Big Bro Ussop gets back, right?" Johnny asked, walking up next to me.
"Yeah... It wouldn't be good to stay much longer after that..." Yosaku agreed, standing beside me as well.
"There's no reason to be staying here once Ussop gets back." Johnny said, trying to persuade me.
"My reason for staying is there." I said, nodding my head towards Luffy, who had laid back down and gone back to sleep. "I don't leave until he leaves."
"Wait, so you wanna bring Nami back, and get Asuna on the crew too?" Yosaku said, waving his arms around.
"It's not about what I want, but what my captain wants." I said, with a note of finality.
Sighing heavily, Johnny turned towards the village I had come from a few minutes ago, after learning that Ussop was in trouble.
"Alright, but we're not sticking around. Until we meet again Big Bro!" He said, walking off.
"Take care you guys!" Yosaku said, waving at us before running to catch up with Johnny.
"You too!" I shouted back, as I watched their forms retreat into the distance.
A few moments of silence passed before the Love Cook asked me why I thought Nami was crying in her heart. To which I replied that I didn't know why a small town thief would be crying in her heart; only to have the idiot try to kick me. Only for me to block it with my sheathed Wadou Ichimonji.
However, before his foot and my sword could make contact, something got stuck between us. Looking down, he spotted Ussop.
"He's alive..." Sanji said, as we held the knocked out Ussop in place.
"Well... He was..." I said in worry that we might have just killed him...
Putting him down on the ground, we woke up Luffy, who began freaking out until Ussop woke up shouting something about killing Sanji later.
"Wow, you just made a full recovery!" Sanji responded, a look of feigned innocence on his face.
"Oh and by the way... We heard you were dead. That Nami, and Asuna over there, had killed you." I interrupted, catching Ussop's attention.
"STUPID JOHNNY! WHY'D HE GO AND MAKE SOMETHING UP LIKE THAT?" Luffy suddenly shouted, sprouting up in the middle of us.
"Well, actually... For a while I was technically dead. Asuna made it look like she was showing her how to kill me. And when they stabbed me, it was actually Asuna's hand instead." He said, confirming everything Nojiko had said earlier.
"Just like I had suspected." Nojiko said, getting up from beside Asuna, and walking over to us.
"Nojiko?" Ussop said in shock, surprised to see her here with us.
"Hold on, you already knew her?" Luffy asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Well yeah. She's the older adopted sister of Nami and Asuna." Ussop said, having us look back over at Nojiko, then the unconcious form of Asuna. "Hey, is she alright?" He then asked, once he noticed her.
"She's fine. I just gave her a sleeping drug, so she'll be out for a few hours. Though I must say that I'm surprised when she blocked Zoro's attack, that she didn't loose it like all the other times..." Nojiko trailed off, glancing back at her sister.
"Loose it?" I asked, interested to know why that was.
Taking a deep breath, Nojiko turned back to us.
"Alright. Nami was right about you guys needing to get off this island before Arlong finds you. If it helps, I'll explain why everything is the way it is; but only if you guys leave." She offered, placing her hands on her hips, waiting to see what our answer would be.
"I'll pass." Luffy said, walking passed her.
"Wait Luffy! Are you sure you don't want to hear this?" Ussop shouted after him, to which Luffy replied saying that he didn't care what Nami's or Asuna's pasts were, and that he was going for a walk.
"Who is he?" Nojiko asked, once Luffy had gotten out of sight.
"Don't mind him. That's just how our captain is... I don't mind hearing you out, but I'm gonna warn you; it's most likely not going to change anything." I said, walking over to the shade tree Sanji had been sitting under, sat down, leaned back against the trunk, and made it look like I fell asleep. This way, I could hear what was being said, while technically not. A little loop hole in Nojiko's agreement. The only reason I was doing this, was so that I could learn more about Asuna. Other than the fact that she was the daughter of the man I'll someday beat...
"Okay... I guess it's just you two then." Nojiko began, sighing heavily before beginning her story.
Sixteen Years Ago (Account of Nojiko)
"It all began for the three of us sixteen years ago, the night our foster mother, Bellemere, had found us. It had been after a battle between pirates and marines. A battle that tore the village we had been living in apart.
I was five at the time. Asuna was three, and Nami was only a yearling; and Bellemere had been one of the marines fighting in the battle. She was teetering between life and death when she spotted me carrying Nami in my arms, and Asuna holding on the skirt of the dress I was wearing. It was a miracle any of us kids survived.
In seeing the three of us, Bellemere was able to find the will and strength to live again...
After that, she got a boat, and brought us to her home town, Cocoyashi Village. When we arrived, Nami, Asuna, and I had all gotten really sick; and Bellemere had a bad infection in her wounds. Once we were taken care of, she then adopted us, much to the protests of the villagers.
She gave Nami her name, seeing as we didn't know what it originally was; and technically being Bellemere's niece, she already knew what Asuna's name was. Bellemere actually recognized her the moment she saw her when we were first found.
Anyway, it was from that day, to eight years ago that we lived with Bellemere. The four of us were really happy as a family, even though we were really pour; and Nami resorted to stealing at a young age to get what she felt like she needed. We were close, and nothing could separate us. Whenever people saw us, we had bright smile on our faces. Especially Asuna, who use to smile the brightest out of the four of us.
It was also during this time that Nami realized her dream of drawing a map of the entire world; and Asuna dreamed of forging the world's greatest, strongest sword, and finding her father... All I wanted, was to keep the tangerine orange farm we lived on...
In the end, we were all happy. Up until that stormy morning eight years ago. Nami and I had gotten into a fight over something silly; and she had gotten so mad, that she had shouted something about how she, Asuna, and me weren't real sisters. This got Bellemere really angry. So angry that she moved to slap Nami in the mouth for saying something so horrible. However, seeing that Bellemere was about to do it out of anger, Asuna knocked Nami out of the way, and took the blow...
We were shocked that Asuna would do something like that. Especially since she hated fights between us as children. She hated them so much, that normally she would go into another room to wait it out.
When it was done, Asuna looked over at Nami, and said: We may not be related by blood, but in my heart, we'll always be sisters. From what I just did for you proves it, because I wouldn't take a blow for anybody else but a sister...
Seeing this only shocked Nami, and scared her. She actually yelled at Asuna, saying that she had only done that to try and prove a point before running out into the rain towards Cocoyashi Village. After she had run off, Bellemere spent the next thirty minutes looking at the hand she had struck with, shame and sadness in her eyes.
She had actually complemented Asuna and me on keeping calm and a cool head when she had blown up. Then she sent us after Nami, while she made us a special supper that night.
It didn't take us long to find Nami. She had run off to Genzo, who I guess you could call the mayor of Cocoyashi. After we had retrieved Nami, Asuna suggested making Bellemere a present out of some metal she had found. We went to the blacksmith she had been learning under to see if we could go into the forge to work on it.
The blacksmith agreed, so long as he was in there with us. We then spent the rest of that morning and noon forging this small piece of metal into a necklace for Bellemere. When we were done, we played around the village for a while.
But, as we were about to head home, they showed up...
The Arlong pirates had just come out of the Grand Line after breaking their alliance with one of the seven warlords; and Arlong took over all of the villages on this island. If that wasn't bad enough, he then began charging money out of families, making us by our lives. However, if someone couldn't pay, they were executed in public...
Adults are 100,000 Beris, and children are 50,000 Beris.
Everyone in Cocoyashi village was able to pay Arlong's price, and no had been killed yet. I can remember Nami, Asuna, and I praying that they wouldn't come across our small house. We were lucky that it couldn't be seen from the village or the road. However, that luck ran out when chimney smoke could be seen over the tree line, from Bellemere cooking super.
Knowing what would happen should Arlong reach Bellemere before we did, the three of us ran for home as fast as we could. We knew that we had to warn Bellemere, because she didn't have the 250,000 Beris needed to pay for us. All she had at home was 150,000 Beris...
We were almost there, when we were grabbed by the village doctor, and dragged into the woods. When he let us go, he told us to stay quiet, and to stay hidden because Arlong had gotten there before anybody else could.
It was from the edge of the woods, that we watched Bellemere take a gun to Arlong, who only bit in half, and knocked Bellemere off of him. Knocking her to the ground, where he kicked her three times on her left arm, twice in the side, and once in the head to keep her dazed.
In all, Arlong gave her seven blows before Genzo showed up to try and help her. From there, he tried to play it off as Bellemere not having any kids; that the table set for three in our house, was for him and a friend. It also helped that the registry didn't show her as being married, or ever giving birth. The only relations it had to her in it was her sister Annabelle. The woman who Hawk Eyes Mihawk fell for, who had died eight years prior.
Paying the 150,000 Beris, Bellemere was left wounded, but alive as Arlong and his crew started to leave. However, she stopped them, and said: Hold up, who said that money I paid you was for me? It's for my three daughters. But I can't pay you. I'll let you kill me so they can live, I just ask that you give me a moment to tell them goodbye...
She said it loud enough that the three of us heard her, and we all ran to her. I can still remember how scared we were. We didn't want to loose her. Hell, we were lucky that we even got a few extra minutes when the villagers tried to save us, only to be defeated by the fish men...
Once the villagers were beaten, Arlong walked over to us, saying something about making Bellemere an example.
That was when Bellemere threw us away from her. She managed to push Nami and me into the house, but Asuna managed to stay outside. The necklace she had been holding to give to Bellemere, flew from her hand when that happened. It was then, in front of our young eyes, that Arlong pulled out a gun, and shot Bellemere through the chest...
Killing her...
I had managed to hide Nami's eyes from it, but I was too far away to cover Asuna's. She was so close to Bellemere, that the gunshot blast into Bellemere, caused our mother's blood to spatter all over her face. To this very day, Asuna unconsciously wipes at her face, as if she can still feel it on her skin...
However, our nightmare didn't end there.
One of Arlong's fish men noticed a piece of paper in Bellemere's pocket, and pulled it out. Opening it, he discovered Nami's map. Nami had demanded they give it back, but the fish man ignored her, and showed it to Arlong, who compared it to the map they had. They were shocked to find that a young girl had drawn a very accurate map of the island. They even spotted some things that matched the landscape with Nami's map, that wasn't even on the one they had acquired.
Taking an interest in Nami's map making skills, he grabbed Nami by the back of her dress, and turned to take her with them. It was then, as they turned to leave,that another fish men spotted the necklace we had helped Asuna make. Fearing that they would try to take Asuna as well, I did what I could to make her look away from it; but I had moved too late.
The fish man who had picked it up, noticed the look on Asuna's face, and immediately started questioning us about it. It took a threat to Nami's well being before Asuna had fessed up that she had made it. Catching Arlong's interest again, he took one look at the craftsman ship of it, and had one of his men grab Asuna.
Genzo tried to stop them from taking them, but the second Arlong pulled out a weapon to kill him, Asuna and Nami both shouted that they'd willingly go with him so long as no body else was killed.
It wasn't until a week later, that I saw Nami and Asuna again...
The village had a rally going, trying to decide what to do about Arlong settling on the island, when I spotted them walking towards us. Running to meet them, I placed my hand on Nami's shoulder, and my hand on one of Asuna's arms. I could tell that Nami was physically fine, yet her eyes seemed distant... When I glanced over at Asuna, she was covered in bruises, and her eyes looked dead. Looking down at the arm I held, I saw bandages going up it...
It was then, that Nami said that they were joining Arlong's crew, as she showed us the money she had made drawing maps for them. She even mentioned them paying Asuna for forging weapons, and things needed to build a place called Arlong Park.
Then Genzo stepped forward, pulling Nami to him. He asked her if they had been threatened to doing what they were being paid for. When Nami refused to answer, Genzo asked Asuna. When they didn't answer, he started to ask again, when Nami jerked away from him, and exposed the tattoo on her left shoulder...
However, before she could gain her footing, she tripped. However, before she could hit the ground, Asuna had jerked away from me, inadvertently tearing the bandages on her arm a she did so; and stopped Nami from falling. At the angle she turned when she reacted, I spied a similar tattoo to Nami's on the back of her left shoulder; and I counted seven cuts on her arm.
I was so angry, that I jumped on the both. Nami struggled, trying to get me off of her, but Asuna just laid there, allowing me to do whatever I wanted with her. My sister's had been broken at the ages of eight, and eleven. In my anger, I swore to never forgive them...
Before they left, I saw Genzo handing a note to Asuna, telling her to read it.
It wasn't until later that night, that Genzo and the village doctor sat me down, and explained some things to me. Apparently, they were able to get some information out of Asuna. She had told them about their agreement with Arlong to buy back our freedom and our village, at 100,000,000 Beris.
They also explained to me about the seven cuts on Asuna's arm. The doctor explained to me that she had admitted that each cut was self inflicted. One cut for every blow Arlong had given Bellemere. It was clear that she blamed herself for Bellemere's death. She felt guilty that she wasn't fast or strong enough to save Bellemere that day. To this day, she still does, and those seven scars are still there on her arm.
But back to the story... Asuna had also made an additional deal to the first one. She swore that she'd make any blade Arlong wanted, but only if he swore not to have a single drop of Nami's blood to spill, nor was he to beat Nami. If he needed to do so, then to do it to her in Nami's place. In the beginning, Arlong would beat Asuna a lot. Especially if he ever caught either her or Nami doing something he didn't like.
For the first year, he would keep them locked in separate rooms, and only allow them out to go to Cocoyashi village once a week. After that, he started allowing Nami to go out and gain experience as a Navigator, and to get new material to draw for her sea charts and land maps. It was also during these travels, as you proabably already know, that she put her thieving skills to use; and she would go and steal money and treasure from pirates to get to her 100,000,000 Beri goal.
It was a while after he started letting Nami out, with a leave allowance of six months, that he started letting Asuna go out to refine her forging skills. It was also during this time, that she started forging swords to sell at the different islands she visited on her travels. She also started looking for ways to make strong swords. By chance, she run across one sword making technique that could only be found in the Grand Line... A technique that hadn't been used in centuries. A technique that sword smiths used long ago, to create the strongest swords out there. An elemental sword.
I can remember the day she came back home after finding out about it. There was a bit of life back in her amber eyes when she told us about it, and swore that one day, she'd forge the best sword in the world, and use it to rid the world of Arlong.
That vow was ruined, the day some marines had heard about Nami hording treasure on our island. They had come to our house, looking for it. The one in charge said that they weren't going to arrest Nami, since it was stolen from pirates, but that they'd have to confiscate it anyway. Looking around the house, they couldn't find it.
When we thought that they would leave empty handed, one of the marines found out about our mother's grave, and suggested that we must have buried it there somewhere.
Hearing this pissed Asuna off...
So much that the night they went to our mother's grave with shovels, Asuna met them with the sword she carries on her back. It was in this sword fight, that the marines said something about Bellemere being an idiot for not abandoning us to save herself, that Asuna lost it; and she killed every single one of the marines in that unit, including their captain...
When Genzo and I found her, she was covered head to toe in blood, and it was like another Asuna was in place of the normal one... She almost went crazy a second time, but thankfully, we had gotten the village doctor to her in time for him to drug her with a sedative. It knocked her out for a while, and when she woke up, she was alright.
Hearing what she had did, she swore never to pick up a sword again...
(Present Time Zoro's Point of View)
Cracking one of my eyes open, I glanced over at Nojiko, who had picked up Asuna's arm, and was looking down at the seven white lines she had mentioned in her story. Deciding that I've pretended to nap enough, I opened my eyes, gave a yawn for effect, and paid attention to whatever else Nojiko had to say...
"They've been fighting for eight years now... A lot of weight placed on their shoulders when they were so young. Asuna's even pulled some of Nami's weight onto herself, trying to protect her from what could drive her insane... Which is why you all need to leave and let them finish what they've started. They are so close to finishing it, that if you were to step in, it would tear everything down." Nojiko said, finishing her story, looking at us with desperation in her eyes.
She looked over at Ussop, then Sanji, and finally me.
"I'm sorry, but Luffy won't leave without Nami as his navigator, and I wouldn't put it passed him to try and get Asuna as the blacksmith for the crew. However, knowing our captain, he'll give them a chance to get out of it themselves." I said, standing to my feet, and walking over to where Nojiko sat beside a sleeping Asuna. "But if they so much as look like they need help, Luffy won't hesitate to step in; and neither would I."
"I wish you guys would leave for her sake, but I can't force you. However, if Asuna feels that you are jeopardizing her and Nami's deal with Arlong, just know that she won't hesitate to kill you..." Nojiko said, trailing off, as Asuna started showing signs of life.
Sitting up, Asuna glared up at Nojiko.
"Why in God's Name did you do that for?" She demanded, slowly getting to her feet.
"I needed to see something..." Nojiko said, looking away from her sister.
"Whatever..." She sighed in annoyance, before storming off into the woods behind us. Leaving Nojiko behind.
"Just remember what I said..." She warned, before she too, turned and left, heading for Cocoyashi village.
Looking off in the direction I could see Asuna's retreating back, I couldn't help but think about how strong she'd have to be to endure the shit she's been taking for eight long years without snapping beyond ever coming back. Not to mention, that I knew what it felt to blame yourself for the passing of a loved one...
When Kuina died, I felt like I was responsible for making her want to become closer with a sword, and the swordsman way. There were even some days as a kid, that I wondered if the girl I loved like an older sister, would have still been alive had we not fought that night, or made that promise.
Lucky for me, my mentor noticed this, and told me that I didn't kill Kuina, but an accident had. He told me that I had gave her determination not to be beat by a boy, and that I had begun to open her eyes to what being a swordsman really was about. He also told me, that as long as I kept our promise to her alive, then Kuina's spirit, wasn't truly dead; and I had nothing to blame myself for...
As this though ran through my mind, I wondered if I should pass my teacher's wisdom on to her. Yet the question remained as to how I would accomplish such a thing when Asuna was constantly hiding behind her mental, and physical scars?
Some how, I'd have to find a way to show her, that those scars; the ones inside and out, were the story of how she survived to keep not only her dream alive, but Bellemere's spirit as well...
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Next Chapter – Chapter 5 – Money Confiscated; The Deal is Broken
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Just a heads up, the little tune Asuna was singing while lying in the road, is actually some of the lyrics from the song:
Breathe No More by Evanescence.
It's a really great song, and the particular lyrics I have her singing to herself, sounded about how my OC character is. At least, the first part of that song reminded me of her...
Any way, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter.
I don't own anything...
Also, as you've probably noticed, it's following the anime pretty closely with a few changes here and there, based on how I think my character Asuna would react, and how the situation could be different.
Thanks for reading, and reviewing!
Bugg18.