Chapter III
On that day 11 years ago

Robin pulled out the last of the many ticks on LC's back with a pair of tweezers and then put some antibacterial over the spot where it was on her back.

"Not the most glamorous of things but at least they didn't do any more serious damage. Three more days and you would have been dead missy" Robin said to LC who was slightly hunched over in the large bath tub in a mass sea of bubbles.

The room smelt of lavender and it was slightly misty from the steam coming from the bath waters heat. Robin sat on the edge on the bath tub with her white polo shirt on and a pair of loose fitting yet fitted pants which had the legs rolled up so they wouldn't get wet. She combed LC's long hair admiring how her highlights were randomly placed and how shiny they were.

Robin combed it one more time and hopped off the bath tub and walked over to a white towel hanging up on a hook "You can use this to dry yourself and then you'll have to put your clothes back on and go up to the deck Zoro has some business with you"

Robin went over to LC who was still in the bath and folded it out, holding it sideways for the girl. LC got out and accepted the towel gratefully and wrapped it around her small torso.

She then went over to where Robin had neatly folded her clothes and underwear and noticed they were clean and dry "You cleaned my clothes?" she asked surprised at how good they smelt.

Robin gave her a strange look and nodded "Of corce can't have you smelling like Chopper now can we?"

"i herd that!" Chopper said out side the door "Hey i need to bandage up some cuts on her arm so let me in!" Chopper called out to Robin banging on the door.

"Hold up a sec Chopper she's just getting dressed" replied Robin speaking through the thick door.

Robin turned and faced the door so LC could put her clothes on in private which she did in a hustle. Soon enough she was dressed and Robin had opened the door and let Chopper in who began pulling out bandages. Chopper was back to his small form but was still was determined than ever to make sure his patient was cared for.

He tightened the bandage on LC's right forearm and cut off the excess bandage and smiled to himself "There ya go all finished!" Chopper said cheerfully.

LC smiled and thanked Chopper for his much appreciated help "Thank you Chopper i feel better already".

Chopper laughed "No worries! Just don't remove it for hmm about a week and it should be fully healed" Chopper said as he packed away all his stuff and walked off towards the door.

He soon turned around with a look as though there was something he had to remember then it came to him like a moth to a light "Oh yeah i almost forgot Zoro said he wants to speak to you, better hurry Zoro doesn't like waiting" And with that Chopper went out the door way and back into the corridor.

LC looked at Robin with slight confusion. i wonder what Zoro could want? Well better go up to the deck and find out.

Robin watched as LC went out of the bathroom and wandered up to the deck where Zoro was waiting for her.

Zoro in the meantime WAS waiting for her and was patiently leaning over the rail of the forecastle deck of the Going Merry. He watched as the waves broke over the front of the bow below him gently. Since LC had been bought onto the ship it had cast off still in the direction of the grand line, there was no way one girl was getting in the way of Luffy's quest for One Piece. And Zoro knew he had to respect that, cos of corce he was going to be the greatest swordsman in the world that too was important. But what was he going to do after acquiring such an honor and such a title? This thought had always stayed in Zoro's head, though he didn't like to admit it. When he was standing around alone he often thought about it. Where would he decide to live? What kind of house would he live in? And would he be alone? He could always move in this Luffy and the others maybe, but he knew they would all go their separate ways after Luffy finds One Piece. That was a saddening thought to Zoro, not that he liked Luffy like that or anything it was just he didn't' like to be alone anymore since he'd gotten so used to having company.

LC went up to the front of the ship and saw Zoro quietly sanding, but leaning on the rail. She noticed his three katanas and that's when she relised she had found him, the pirate hunter turned pirate. LC didn't think it would have been this easy to find such a notorious pirate, but then it hit her like a million waves pounding down on her. This was the Going Merry, the Going Merry that was crewed by none other than…The Straw Hats. Could this be? But she knew this wasn't the right time yet…

She wandered up towards Zoro with her hands held out behind her back "What cha doin?" she said curiously.

Zoro soon snapped out of his D&M with himself and raised an eyebrow and looked over the left of his shoulder to see LC "Ahh just pondering some thoughts about…dinner" Zoro lied through his teeth. That was another thing Zoro didn't like, lieing.

"Ohh really? Yes Sanji is cooking up quiet a storm in that kitchen of his" her sweet voice said in the crisp afternoon's air.

Zoro just nodded in response, still a little in his own world but he soon snapped out of it.

There was a slight moment of silence between the two and then LC remembered something "Oh that's right you wanted to see me"

Zoro looked to his left at LC "Yeah, um, i need to tell you something" he's deep but serious tone added as he looked back out to the sea.

She cocked her head slightly and gave him the 'i'm listening' look.

"You do relise this IS a pirate ship? And that i have to tie you up to the foreboom. You know the large post that holds up the mainmast" he explained as he kept looking out at the sea.

LC gave a nervous look of worry "Excuse me? Oh right so i'm like a captive?" she looked away from Zoro slightly confused.

Zoro looked down at her "it's cos no one can really trust you at the moment, plus i found you with a sniper rifle and two katanas. Done take it personally, i just have to see if you're a danger to this crew" this time he didn't turn back.

LC nodded and flashed Zoro a small grin "i understand, it's ok really"

Zoro laughed at LC's response "You like being tied up aye" Zoro said in a sarcastic tone and a sly wink.

He watched as the girls face dropped and went slightly red of embarrassment that he even bought up such a thing, and that look on her face made Zoro laugh even harder.

LC folded her arms and tried to glare at him but she wasn't doing a good job, she seemed to be just screwing up her face and making an ugly face.

Zoro pushed her and laughed "Come on that's not fair i have to let you and that foreboom get acquainted or i'm going to get in trouble by that shitty-cook"

Zoro and LC went over to the large foreboom and Zoro knew this was going to be hard having her see how he did the knots but he figured that she wouldn't be able to get out anyway.

Zoro felt slightly bad but it was much easier for him to tie her up knowing that she was maybe a Marine. As he wove, twisted, knotted and pulled the rope around LC's small torso he was thinking of some questions to ask her, you know like an interrogation except without the anger and the light in her face. He pulled the last knot around her back extra tight so there was no way of it getting loose in anyway.

"You do them pretty tight huh?" LC commented as Zoro yanked on the rope tightening it even more.

Zoro looked up and then let go of the rope "Well i have to you know, can't have you running away on me"

Sanji banged on one of his frying pans with a ladle and called out at the top of his voice "Grubs up!"

Zoro turned around and walked off slowly.

"Hey!" LC shouted out to him.

Zoro turned around "What's the matter now? The rope to tight for your stick-like arms?"

She shook her head "No, it's just when do i get to have dinner? i'm pretty hungry after three days without food…and my arms are not like sticks thank you very much"

Zoro nodded his head lazily "Ohh yeah forgot about that…well i'll bring you something after"

LC nodded "Yeah for sure, thanks"

Zoro walked off and went down to join the others at the dinner table where as usual everyone was stuffing themselves. Luffy was getting stuck into the meat like always and his attention drew from his food for once and onto Zoro as he entered the room.

"Hey…Zoro…meat…good yeah" Luffy said with a mouth full of chicken.

Zoro gave Luffy a blank look as Robin poured him a mug of sake' "Yes Luffy i know, how bout passing me some i'm friggen hungry"

Sanji yawed and looked to Robin "Hey Robin-chan how bout some of that sake' over Mr. Prince's way my dear"

Robin smiled and poured Sanji some sake' into his mug "Mr. Prince? Sanji that is so lame"

Nami laughed "Oh come on Sanji we aren't in Alabasta anymore!" she pointed out.

Sanji put his mug down about to have a sip "That doesn't matter, i'm prince material and you Nami will be my princess" Sanji's eyes turned into love hearts.

Robin rolled her eyes "That's stupid cook-san, your not a real Prince to beguin with so it's not possible for Nami to become a princess"

Luffy scratched his head "Whaatt? Hmm give me more meat!" he demanded.

"Give me more sake'" Zoro said slamming his mug on the table.

"Calm down you drunk you'll get it" Usopp said glaring at Zoro.

Zoro leered over the table at glared at Usopp "Shut you face you big nose prick! You want me to come over there and beat the crap out of you!"

Sanji smirked and swung on his chair "Shut up shitty-swordsman you couldn't beat up a pirate with scurvy if you tried, my Nami-swan could beat you easily"

Zoro soon was glaring at Sanji "Fuck up you ero-cook! I'll slice you into a thousand pieces!" Zoro stood up out of his seat bearing his teeth with anger.

Sanji laughed "Calm down Zoro"

Chopper just sat there eating and really couldn't be bothered getting into this argument, as was the same with Robin.

Zoro took another mouthful of sake' and sighed "This is going nowhere why do i even bother" he complained.

Nami leaned back in her chair "it's about time you shut up i thought i was going to have to make you"

Zoro humphed to himself "Yeah right" Zoro never did have much tolerance for Nami though he'd never admit it; she was a bitch to him most of the time and it's not like he could get up her or anything. He needed company who didn't scream and yell or have PMS at his very moment. He looked at all the left over food and grabbed a plate.

Piling a mountain of food on the plate he then walked out the room and up to the deck to feed his captive Marine, well he thought she was a Marine anyways. He was a bit surprised that no one had said anything about him taking the food but he spose they knew what he was doing. As he walked over to the tied up girl he noticed she was looking up at the sky in a daze.

She yawned and then soon noticed the smell of the plate of food "Mmm that smells good" she said noticing that Zoro was standing before her.

He bought the plate over and a fork too and held it out in front of LC.

"Say since i can't use my hands you're going to have to feed me you know" she said giggling.

Zoro rolled his eyes "What? Come on i'm not your slave you know" he said in protest.

"No one said you were its just you're going to have to do it…unless…" LC carried on.

"No i'm not untying you. Don't even think for a moment that's going to happen" Zoro raised an eyebrow.

LC shook her head "No no no…well you could i won't run away" she gave him a small smile.

Zoro came over towards her "Forget it, now eat your food" he said putting the fork into some fried rice and putting it to her mouth which she didn't hesitate to take.

By the time LC had finished the plate had nothing left on it and she let out a huge burp in satisfaction "Ahh that was soo good!" she grinned "Send my thanks to Sanji"

Zoro laughed "No worries. Well it's getting dark better go off to bed i spose…unless…damn it" Zoro said rubbing his eyes.

LC giggled and smiled to herself Aww poor guy he looks so tired.

He scratched his mossy green hair and looked up at LC "Hmm well i'm on night duty tonight i just remembered so you'll have some company tonight"

"Oh i see, just in case anyone decides to attack the ship right?" LC said pointing out the obvious.

Zoro went away and grabbed his weights but soon came back "i hope you don't mind but i'm going to do my weights"

Zoro began to do his weights on the quarter deck and LC was growing tired and began to nod off but found it hard since she was standing up. The ropes where beginning to chaff on her wrists and arms making her slightly uncomfortable. She moved her wrists around trying to loosen it slightly but it wouldn't budge the slightest bit. Yawing, LC knew she should get some rest and so with that thought on her mind she closed her eyes and soon she was fast asleep.

Zoro came down from the quarter deck wiping the sweat from his face with a black towel he had thrown over his bare shoulders. He looked at LC who had fallen into a deep slumber. Zoro laughed to himself as falling asleep tied up wasn't easy, he knew that fact from when he was tied up for three weeks. He decided to leave her be, she was exhausted after all. Zoro grabbed his three katanas and climbed up to the crow's-nest, where he placed his katanas inside the lookout and climbed into the small rounded area. The cold nights wind blew gently and went through his mossy hair as he leaned on the lookouts side. Zoro couldn't see much of the horizon but the moonlight lit up the deck of the Going Merry making it look somewhat pretty. It was rather quiet tonight and Zoro decided that he would stay awake all night just incase anyone came along.

LC opened her eyes slowly and let out a…

YAAWWNNN

LC looked about to see it was still very dark. She looked around her to see if anyone was awake but no one seemed to be around. Figuring it was early morning she didn't think anyone would be up anyway. The wind had died down and it was very still and not a thing stirred except for the occasional creaking of the timber deck.

Zoro woke up suddenly letting out a big…

YAAAWWWNNN!

Zoro's yawns were always big and loud. He stretched his arms above his head and scratched his belly screwing up his face as he did so. It was time to have a look around the deck to make sure everything was all sweet so he grabbed his katanas and jumped down from the crow's-nest. He walked over to where LC was tied up and noticed she was wide awake.

"You're awake?" he asked sleepily.

She nodded "Yup" her short reply to Zoro.

Zoro walked over in front of her and stretched some more, making him feel more flexible.

"Wish i could stretch" she said quietly.

Zoro laughed "What a shame you're bit tied up at the moment" he smirked at his own joke.

LC rolled her eyes "Ha ha very funny moss head"

"You pick that up from that crappy ero-cook?" Zoro said sitting up.

LC shrugged her shoulders "Maybe"

Zoro stood up slowly, still partly sleepy but in all awake "How bout i cut that rope"

LC's eyes lit up like a full moon hitting water "Really? i mean ok!" her excited voice flowed over to Zoro.

"Just don't call me moss head again, or i'll have to demon slice you" he said smirking.

LC nodded with excitement and anguish to get out of the tight ropes.

Zoro drew out one of his katanas and in a flash with just one swift movement cut the rope into a thousand pieces. LC stood astonished at what just happened, though she had herd about Zoro's great strength she felt privileged to have seen it now. She rubbed her wrists that were red raw and slightly cut.

Zoro withdrew his katana and slid it back into its scabbard. He went over to LC and saw her wrists and leaned on the foreboom. "Sorry about that, didn't relise it was so tight"

LC smiled slightly trying not to think about the burning sensation coming from her wrists "No worries, it was nice of you to let me go" she walked around the foreboom to where Zoro was.

He wasn't really in the mood for talking but it was better than silence he had to admit and LC must have had a pretty good story behind the washing up on the beach and those weapons she'd been carrying. So he just had to ask "So what's your story?" he said blankly.

LC looked at Zoro though the corner of her eyes "Hmm? Oh you mean before you found me right?" her clueless-ness shone in front of swordsman.

"Yeah that" he said not caring.

LC thought to herself and then spoke, clearing her throat "Well what can i say? i came from a small village where my father abandoned my mother for the Grand Line when i was only a child. i think i was 6 at the time. Not long after that a huge pirate ship loaded with pirates poured out into our peaceful little village and burnt down everything. i remember that day pretty well" LC sat down on the timber deck and leaned back on her arms.

Zoro soon joined her on the deck and lay on his side, propping his mossy green head of hair on his hand "Go on".

LC nodded "Me and my mum went into our house and she told me to hide under the bed, and she waited in the kitchen. They caught my mum and she said she was the only one here…but they searched anyway. And even though they couldn't find me they torched the house you know, just in case"

Zoro kept listening "How did you get out?"

LC smiled slightly "There was a trap door on the floor under the bed that went under the house and onto the ground. My mum said it would be useful one day…i guess she was right. i ran out the back and watched as my village burnt to the ground in a mass of red flames and charcoal coloured smoke"

"Where did you go after that?" Zoro asked beginning to get interested in LC's story.

She thought of a moment "Well i ran for a few days and i guess you can say i came across a big group of people who took me in and cared for me. They where like my family from then on, they bought me up taught me heaps of stuff and loved me even".

LC looked away knowing that last part was a lie, though she couldn't tell Zoro that.

Zoro grunted "And how did you end up on that island?"

LC looked back at him and then into the dark sky "i was on a ship when it ran a corce on a damn sand bar would you believe that, it capsized and everyone fell over board. i wonder if everyone's alright if they survived, i wonder…" that too was also a lie but she knew if she told Zoro the truth she would be asking for trouble.

She didn't want to think about what she had to do, but if she didn't she would be sentencing herself to death. But she was afraid of getting cold feet and pulling out and the last moment, that was not allowed but still if her opinion changed on a certain 'thing' she knew that's what she'd do no dought about it.

Zoro noticed LC's slight smile had turned into a worried face of concern making him slightly suspicious. He didn't see any sign of a ship when his crew sailed onto the island. There would have at least been some debris like food barrels or loose items floating on the top of the water but there wasn't anything. Zoro wasn't sure and decided he was just worrying about nothing as usual but just incase he wasn't going to forget those words…

OK that's chapter III done! So what did everyone think? i hope it was ok. So know we know a little about this El Cross! Yay! lOl And our smart lil Zoro thinks something isn't right…plz review and I'll put up the 4th chapter soon!

Oh yes and here are some of the meanings for some of the stupid words i put in:

-FORECASTLE DECK – the front of the ship

-D&M -deep and meaningful sorri guys.

-FOREBOOM – it's the large post that the mainmast's sail is on. You know the big one in the middle lOl

-QUARTER DECK – the back of the ship