Disclaimer on Chapter One

~#OP#~

How many days had he been here? Or was it weeks now? If it was, then surely it was nearly a month now, right?

Despite his weary and malnourished state, Zoro actually managed a wry grin. Come a few more days give or take, he will have kept his end of the bargain with that idiot son of a hero and would soon be able to walk free once again. Until that day, all he had to do was endure being tied to this crucifix just a little longer. Having come this far already, several more days under the hot sun would not be much of a hassle.

Resigned to his fate, Zoro figured he could catch a little more shut eye until then.

"So… You're the one they call the 'Pirate Hunter' huh?"

Eyes snapping open, Zoro was amazed to see a girl perhaps a few years younger than he was standing before him.

"What are you doing here, woman?" He croaked uncounted days of unused vocals adding a dark depth to his tone.

He was half expecting her to back away when he glared at his, his ragged appearance surely to add to his imitation. And yet, she showed no since of fear or nervousness probably thinking that being tied up made him not so tough. Boy, he would show her if so much as freed one of his arms!

"Oh, don't be like that" The girl pouted. "And here I was thinking of freeing you after what you did for that girl"

So, she knew how he had ended up strapped to this post. But so what? That did not mean that he would now bend to her beck and call just because she knew that he was, as much as he hated to admit it, weak when it came to children in need.

"What makes you think I want to be free?" Zoro asked coldly. He was going to be released soon anyway so why should he bother?

"Well, I figured a man who goes around killing pirates like you would rather be free and bringing in big challenging bounties" The girl shrugged. "So long as I'm given a fair cut of the reward money- I might even be generous enough to give you say thirty percent of the profit"

"Forget it!" Zoro snapped he was not going to follow her and besides… "Even if you did free me, I won't be joining you"

"Not even if I gave you these?" The girl inquired unravelling the bundle she previously slung over her shoulders.

The pain Zoro felt when his eyes and mouth widened beyond their limits was barely registered as he stared at the three sheathed swords now lying at his feet. How did she get them?

"Maybe I should just give up on you and sell these weapons off somewhere. I'm sure I could fetch a decent price for this white one" The girl chuckled picking up the white sword smirking almost evilly when she noticed how his gaze seemed glued to it.

"You…You witch!" Zoro growled through gritted teeth. He could care little for the two black ones, but the white one was important to him- to the both of them and the promise they had made that he swore he would make happen.

"Well?" This girl- no, witch- inquired no doubt thinking that she now had the fearsome Pirate Hunter wrapped around her little finger.

Caught at a crossroad, Zoro could hardly believe he was at the mercy of a slip of a thief. Unable to come up with an answer, all Zoro could do was glare and growl harmlessly at the girl who merely looked at him with such a confident look on her face. He did not believe in such things as 'Gods' but, at this moment in time, he was almost thinking of praying for this 'God', if 'He' ever existed, to do something to wipe that look of her face.

A snap like a thunderclap echoed and suddenly the girl found herself being flung backwards as if something had struck her hard on the shoulder. Hitting the ground hard, the girl finally screamed out in pain as she clutched her shoulder attempting to stem the flow of crimson that slipped between her fingers.

"Hey!" Zoro called out to her not needing to crane his neck around to see the Marine sharpshooter on the roof of the tower behind him. "Listen to me! If you can move, get out of here quickly before they get here!"

"N-No!" The girl groaned managing to sit up while still clasping her wounded shoulder. "I'm not leaving here without you!"

"You idiot! Do you want to die or something?!" Zoro snapped at her. Why would she still want to linger when Marine troops undoubtedly made their way towards their location. "Just get out of here! They'll be letting me go soon anyways!"

"Soon's not good enough for me!" The girl replied and Zoro noticed a new emotion flash across her eyes an emotion.

"Hey…" He called out to her. "Give me one of my swords"

Blinking in surprise, the despair in the girl's eyes quickly gave way to hope. Grabbing the sword nearest to her, the girl tossed the weapon at Zoro's hand praying he had enough strength to catch it.

Effortlessly grabbing the sword by the handle, Zoro made quick work of the ropes binding him. Sheathing and returning all three swords to their place at his side, Zoro scooped up the injured girl in his arms and dashed off in the direction of the harbour much to the surprise of the girl who clearly thought he would have been too weak to stand let alone run off with her in his arms.

"So, you got a name, witch?" Zoro asked as he ran.

"My name is Nami- and you're going the wrong way, Baka!" The girl snapped pointing in the direction of the harbour with her uninjured arm.

Skidding to a halt, Zoro cursed the island town for rearranging its structure while he was imprisoned as he took off in the direction the witch pointed in. Sighing in frustration, Nami allowed herself to get comfy in Zoro's arms the small candle of hope in her heart burning ever brighter now that she had found the great bounty hunter.

~#OP#~

Another path fate may have taken

Review if possible & until next time

Watch this space & peace out!