I know I said I would have ZoNa in this chapter. But I desided developing plot was more important!

Chapter 6. Thorn in the Paw

"SANJI, BREAKFAST!" Guh. Could Luffy be any louder? Nami pulled her head sleepily from the pillows. Robin was already up and out and Scritcher was combing herself laboriously in the mirror, a small towel wrapped around her body. Qwerk however was still asleep, not even Luffy's megaphone voice could wake him. He had a few scratches from the previous day, and a few patches of missing feathers, but he seamed fine enough. It brought back memories of the wild fight though.

"I didn't think he could be so brutal..." Scritcher turned slightly, reaching for a small white shirt and blue shorts.

"He's a warrior. Just like me, just like Luffy-san. The rebellion has been going on for decades, and leadership of it has been passed down through generations, ever since my great, great grandfather. It's in our blood." Scritcher's voice was tinged with sadness. Lightly she traced the edges of her two swords.

"Ah well, time for breakfast!" she said suddenly brightening up, pulling her dress on over her shirt. Nami smiled. Slowly she got out of bed and walked over to the en suite shower Franky had been so diligent to include. Scritcher shoved her hat down over her large ears.

"If you dress that cute, someone's going to think you like someone!" Nami whispered in her ear.

"Like you can talk." Kid didn't miss a beat.

"And what exactly do you mean by that, missy?" Nami pinched her cheeks. Scritcher winced a little.

"You talk in your sleep, did you know that, Nami-san?" Oh good god, I was dreaming about Zoro last night. The dream she had had was rather disturbing. For a start it involved her, Zoro and very little clothing. And for some reason a watermelon.

"Just admit it, you have a crush on Zoro-san!" That cat-like grin leered up at her. Then Nami hit Scritcher over the head.

At about mid-morning the full-bowl shape of Bakuso appeared over the horizon. Luffy instantly became excited and began running about yelling "Island island! We're approaching an Island!" until Ace bashed him over the head. Zoro was allowed up after his long isolation, and was in a rather bad mood, pretty much as he usually was. Another thing that was annoying him and therefore Nami, was the amount of time he spent tripping over stuff, causing Nami to order a thorough clean up of the ship. It became fairly obvious that the amount of stuff possessed by 12 people could amount to something alarming. Usopp found his old drum kit and began making a racket, with Luffy in tow. Robin's hands and eyes were everywhere, packing things into cupboards and boxes, and rapping slackers over the head. Sanji however, was set to work in the kitchen making bento boxes. The only other crewmate who couldn't help was Zoro, still adjusting to being blind. His bandages were mostly off again, revealing freshly healed wounds. His eyes flickered around randomly, making him seem nervous and even scared. He also seamed to be getting clingy. Whenever Nami looked over her shoulder he was standing there, trying to help. After about half an hour of watching him struggle to help Luffy stack cola barrels Nami called him outside to "help with the orange trees".

Up in the grove, Nami turned to the swordsman.

"Are you really okay?" she asked. Zoro crossed his arms over his chest. His frown deepened.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nami rolled her eyes. Typical Zoro to take a well meant enquiry towards his comfort as an insult.

"You're acting a little strange. Normally you stay away from the rest of us. If anything you should be resting. Not hauling barrels around." Though with his muscles they probably didn't feel like much. Zoro shifted his weight slightly and rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't say anything. She really didn't want to point it out to him, but taking the direct route may be the only way.

"It's because you're blind isn't it." Zoro looked up. Before he could protest, she put a finger to his lips.

"I'm not saying you're weak. Knowing you, you'll have found a way to fight without your eyes within a week. In fact, if you aren't fully independent by the time we reach Himezo, you're not the Zoro I know." At that he smiled. He liked a challenge. Just then Luffy decided to break the moment by running to the lion's head to see how close they were to Bakuso. Zoro used the opportunity to go talk to his captain, thus depriving her of a chance to ask what she really wanted to. Nami smiled though, watching her two longest friends talking to each other. Luffy made Zoro grin in an uninhibited manner. Half of her wished she could too.

"So you think we should go about in pairs?" Luffy had his head on one side, watching Robin sip her tea on deck. Finally they had docked in the bizarre underground harbour of Bakuso! It had been an exciting ride in, surviving a second Kotsubetsu attack thanks to Usopp and his sharp shooting skills, sailing through the crystal encrusted tunnel and eventually emerging into a giant cavern filled with fireflies.

"It would be safer, especially for Zoro-san." Luffy grinned. Robin was so smart!

"Zoro always gets lost, but Nami's a Navigator, so they should go together! I want to go with Usopp, and Ace too!" Luffy instantly began making plans for who should be partnered with who, while Robin wrote them down. The groups were as follows:

Nami + Zoro

Luffy + Usopp + Ace

Chopper + Scritcher + Qwerk

Robin + Franky

Brooke + Sanji

The List was shown to the crew and recieved mixed reactions. Chopper seemed happy to be going with the other non humans, Sanji and Brooke mourned not going with one of the ladies, Franky and Robin merely carried on doing whatever they were doing, Usopp and Luffy began gabbling about what they wanted to do, laughed at by Ace, but Zoro and Nami just about exploded.

"WHY DO I HAVE TO GO WITH HER?"

"WHY DO I HAVE TO LOOK AFTER MR COULDN'TFINDHISWAYOUTOFTHEBATHROOM?" Both were very red in the face and looked ready to kill Luffy.

"'cause Zoro always gets lost and Nami's a navigator!" he said as though it made all the sense in the world. "And no switching places! Zoro and Nami are going together and that's a captain's order!" Robin sighed. He could at least try to be subtle.

"Stay with your partners. If ever you get seperated, rendevous at the ship." She ordered. Then they disembarked, and headed up the steep path to Bakuso's villages.

Emerging from the crude lamp-lit tunnels, the Strawhats were met with a rather alarming sight. Several ranks of masked, red/black diamond-suited soldiers were curled around the exit in a semi circle. Each wore a white emotionless mask with red and black feathers and carried a javelin, that was currently pointed at each strawhat. Behind them growled at least twenty Kotsubetsu.

"Wow, looks like they sent the whole outpost after us!" Scritcher breathed. One, wearing a uniform more elaborate then the others, stepped forwards.

"Strawhat Luffy, we have come to understand that you have a pair of dangerous criminals in your midst (as if Qwerk could hide!). Hand over the rebels and I will not order the guards to attack." Luffy blinked.

"No way." Scritcher tugged on his jeans lightly.

"Are you sure?" Luffy grinned.

"We're friends remember? Friends look after each other!"

"Anyway these guys don't look too special." Sanji stubbed out his cigerrette on his shoe. "I won't forgive anyone who points a weapon at Nami-san or Robin-chan!"

"Do you refuse to co-operate?" Luffy pulled his fist back and declared a "Gomu Gomu no Pistole!" that smacked the leader full in the face.

Well this couldn't be more awkward! Nami thought, walking along the high street of the Port Town, hand in hand with Zoro. It made her feel like they were a couple, at least for the day, and though it scared her, she liked it. Though he was holding her hand specifically for the purpose of guiding him, it wasn't like he was pulling away. Glancing around at the shops, she tried to find one decent to go into. Bakuso was a poor island. Not many businesses had come to it. A bakery, a few basic clothes shops, a cafe and a vegetable stand, was all that serviced the particular village they had come to. There were a few small villages dotted about the islands. Each party had been assigned a village to visit and collect as much information as possible, because according to Robin the more knowledge the had about the situation in hand, the better prepared they were. And Robin was nearly always right. Still, Zoro wasn't exactly being good company.

"I don't get why I have to go about with you..." he mumbled for the fifteenth time.

"In case you haven't noticed, you're blind! You won't use a stick so someone has to guide you or you'll get lost or embarrass yourself!" she snapped back.

"I don't need a nurse! And that's not what I meant! I could have gone with Brooke or one of the other guys!" Nami felt her brow twitch. She was beginning to feel like a babysitter.

"I never said you did! It was Luffy and Robin who made the decisions not me! And anyway..." She raised their clasped hands.

"This way is less obvious if you don't want people to know..." He said quietly. That was really the only reason Robin would pair her with Zoro (no way would Luffy think like that). With a girl it looked simply like they were a love/hate couple, rather then a blind man with a guide. If only he would stop moaning. The two fell into sparking silence. If someone were to stand between them they would be electrocuted.

The locals obviously did not get many visitors to their island. According to information sourced from a terrified shop-keeper, that looked suspiciously like a terrier on its hind legs, docking on any island controlled by Yamishima was illegal. Robin rejoined her fiance, waiting solemnly under the large sycamore tree in the town square. His brow was crooked in a questioning expression, large forearms crossed infront of his chest.

"What did you find out?" he asked, looking away from a gaggle of small Hikithen, staring up at them with scared wide eyes. The population was varied. Fat, fluffy Persian-Nyathen accompanied sleek, tall Siamese-Nyathen. Tiny squirrel-like and rabbit creatures rode on the backs of what looked like a small brown deer headbutting a wingless sparrow-hawk. From time to time a Alsatian wearing a police uniform and wielding a radio would nod to the pedestrians. Robin's face was impassive as usual, blue eyes calm and collected.

"As well as the guard towers on each island, there is a special deployment taskforce that can kill without ever announcing themselves. There is an Sairentoshi loose on this island." Franky nodded.

"Re-group the crew?"

"At lunch we are all meeting back at the ship. We should inform them then. We have half an hour."

With a soft clank the mouse-person placed his screwdriver down. He was sat on his stall, constructing what looked like a tiny steam engine, reminisent of the Puffing Tom of Water Seven. Usopp watched with large eyes as he screwed a funnel into it's top. The Chithen payed him no heed, to focused on his work. Usopp had been watching the construction of the engine since the engineer started placing the parts together. His tiny paws worked at a speed similar to Sanji chopping vegetables. In total he had gawped for about ten minutes. Tearing his attention away from the construction, Usopp turned to the display. It was a gaily painted assortment of clockwork and steampowered toys. Shiny engines, figurines of Nyathen, Wanthen, and others in beautiful clothes, a Toragi hear and there (one looked alot like Qwerk), small colourful boats, and pride of place, a tall flagship. But it was a small caravel that caught his attention. Usopp glanced at the shop-keeper. He had finished the engine and was tottering across the table top to a selection of paints. Beady eyes locked with his.

"Don't get many pirates round these parts, specially laddies like yer." For a mouse the voice was deeper then expected. Like Scritcher talked with a mewl, the Chithen's voice had a piping quality. Usopp didn't quite no who to respond.

"I ser yer bonnie ship coming in. Made me want to crack out the Jumly from under the dresser there and then it did. Oh feel free to look mere closely. I can see yer hands itching to fiddle wi' tha' auld caravel." Usopp blinked. The old mouse picked up a brush and bottle of green paint.

"Th-thankyou!" Usopp stammered. Delicately he lifted the small ship off its velvet cushion. It was light, but heavy at the same time. Stamped on the railing was a metal plaque bearing the name, Barnet. It had a lable on the base saying HAND-MADE. There was a small hatch in the hull. Using his fingernails he flicked it open and peered inside. The technology made by the miniture mechanics was truely incredible. The gears were tiny, sparkling little suns, that caught every beam as it came in. A small diamond set into the center of each gear blazed with white blue light.

"Take her if you want. I made that ship years ago and nobody wants her. Anyway you're bringing Blackjack back to Yamishima aren't you?" Usopp almost dropped the ship.

"How'd you know about Scritcher?" Barnet chuckled.

"That wee rogue is a thorn in the paw of the World Government. Did you know she has a bounty?" Usopp shook his head.

"12million belli, a million for each year of her life! Her partner though... 18 million! And a bird too!" Barnet almost sloshed green down his front from laughing.

"HEY USOPP! CHECK THESE OUT!" Luffy's loud voice invaded Usopps thoughts. His canonball-captain almost slammed into him. He was holding a pair of bug-eye goggles. Then he noticed Barnet's hysterics.

"Oh! Nezumi-ossan, whatcha laughing at?" The mouse wiped his eyes with his paw.

"Kekekeke~, Oh if only auld Growler could see this! He'd be drinking himself silly in celebration!" Luffy blinked.

"Heh? What is it?"

"His great-grandaughter leading a rebellion with the largest damn thorn in the curs'd foot o' the world government since Gauld Roger!" Luffy still looked perplexed but grinned as Gold Roger was mentioned. Ace wandered up behind them, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Oi Luffy, it's getting close to one! Robin said to meet back at the ship for lunch." Luffy's stomache grumbled.

"LUUNNCH!~" he yelled and took off in a random direction.

"OI LUF- ah that idiot doesn't even know the way! Thankyou for the ship, Barnet-san!" Usopp said quickly, slipping the little caravel into her box and into his bag. Barnet was still in fits.

"I'll be making something special for yer laddies, consider her interest! Ah the Jumly'll pour tonight!" The sharpshooter grinned and took off after his captains. Ace sighed and raised his arm to get the late autumn sun out of his eyes. Vaguely he saw a flash of red-check peek in and out of an upstairs window. He frowned. There was blades involved in that uniform.

Jumly is an alcoholic drink made from raspberries and syrup.

Growler is going to become very important, as well as the introduction to the technology of Yamishima.

Next chapter. Sairentoshi attack Zoro and Nami.