DISCLAIMER:
One Piece is the property of Eiichi Oda and Shonen Jump, I'm just one of many stowaways.
CHAPTER VII
A week passed and soon they had made port in a fishing village known simply as Ceyville. However this just wasn't any ordinary town, this was the town that the object of Usopp's affection, Kaya, settled in after seeing the New World. The anchor of the ship groaned and hit the water with a mighty splash.
Cat looked at her appearance in Nami's body length mirror. She wore a red short-sleeved shirt that hugged her breasts snugly and a short miniskirt that reached to mid-thigh, showcasing her long lovely legs. "Um... Nami." She tugged at the skirt.
Nami, who stood in front of her wall mirror brushing her short red locks, smiled at the mirror and checked her teeth. "Yeah?"
"I don't like to wear skirts. They make me feel...exposed." She kept tugging at the skirt, secretly hoping that it would miraculously turn into a pair of pants.
Nami examined Cat's body. "Don't worry. It's good to show a little skin sometimes and drive the guys wild." She draped an arm around Cat's shoulders.
She gave a crooked grin. "I don't need to show skin to drive men wild. Believe me." She thought back to a rather fond memory that she had obtained two years ago.
Nami raised an eyebrow and then chuckled. "Whatever you say Cat. Basically though, all I have are skirts, so tough cookie. You're wearing that."
She groaned and pulled her ankle length boots onto her feet. "Fine." She bent and slung her belt that held her sword around her slender waist.
Usopp stood on the upperdeck fussing with his curly hair. He was attired in the only three piece suit and nice pair of shoes in his possession. "Stupid unruly hair." He struggled to get the brush through his tangled mess of curls. "Dammit!"
Zolo chuckled at his friend's misfortune. "That's why I keep my hair short. All I gotta do is run my fingers through it and I'm ready for the day."
He scowled at Zolo. "But Sanji's hair is to his chin and it doesn't get all tangled like mine."
Sanji, who leaned against the foremast cleaning his nails out, looked up at the mention of his name. "Yeah but..." He flipped his golden hair. "My hair is golden perfection, not a jumbled jungle of curls."
Luffy laughed from his place on the figurehead. "Haha! Yeah Usopp your hair is like cobwebs."
Usopp stuck his tongue out at them angrily and continued trying to release the brush from his hair. "Get out!" Everything needed to be perfect for his date with Kaya. He couldn't go with a brush stuck in his hair.
"We're ready!" Nami announced when the three of them strode onto deck.
"It's about time." Zolo griped. He almost swallowed his tongue when he laid eyes upon Cat. She was a vision of loveliness. Greedily, he let his green eyes slide past her slender shoulders, her round perky breasts that seemed to scream for his touch, curvy hips, and shapely legs that seemed to go on forever. He fought the blush that threatened to spread over his cheeks. Lord give me strength. He gripped the hilt of his sword and turned his head quickly.
Sanji squeezed the stick of his lollipop so hard that it snapped in two. "Damn girl."
Her cheeks flushed. "Thanks Sanji." She smiled at Usopp. "Wow Usopp you clean up good."
He blushed. "Thanks," he said bashfully.
"Yeah but let's just hope Kaya's hand doesn't get lost in that jungle of hair on his head." Luffy joked.
"Shut up." He said with a pout.
"Leave Usopp alone you guys." Cat wrapped her arms around him and hugged him close, pulling his head to her chest.
Sanji's jaw almost dropped to the floor when he saw how Cat's supple breasts cradled Usopp's head.
"He's sensitive you guys."
"Eeep." Usopp's face turned read and he melted to the floor.
"I'm sensitive." Sanji remarked and then reached for her. An unknown object flew through the air and connected with the back of his head. "Oww!" He fell to the floorboards, face down, and looked back to see Zolo striding down the gangplank.
She glanced down at Sanji for a brief moment. "Hey Zolo wait up!" Cat ran to his side.
A few hours passed and Nami and Cat were left alone after Robin ditched them for a bookstore. They found a bar aptly named Tooth and Nail and sauntered in, ignoring the whistles and cat calls made by the unsavory looking patrons. "Yo, barkeep."
The barkeep, a rugged looking man with a thick red beard and eyepatch, walked to them. "What's yer poison, ladies?" He said in a rough voice.
Cat leaned on the bar top. "Shandygaff. Cold no ice." Cat ordered.
"Ale on the rocks."
He ogled them for a minute. "You got it." He turned and began mixing up their drinks and then sat two glass mugs in front of them.
Cat licked the froth of the beverage and then took a swig of the drink. She sighed contentedly. "Nothing beats beer and ginger ale mixed together."
Nami held the mug and looked out of the corner of her eye. A brawny man that stood at least six feet nine inches lumbered towards them. She rolled her golden brown eyes. "Don''t look now, but here comes Gorilla Fist." She mumbled with her lips to her mug.
"Just ignore him." She sipped her drink.
He put a hand on the bar and put his weight on his right foot. "Yo, baby."
They kept drinking their beverages.
Undaunted, he continued to speak. "The name's Jo. My comrades and I were wonderin' what's two superhot babes like yourselves doin' in a joint like this?"
They glanced at each other. Was this guy serious? That line was so played out. They didn't reply, but kept drinking as if he were invisible.
He ran a salami-sized fist over his shaved head and glared down at them with beady eyes. "Hey! I'm talkin' to you." He growled out.
Cat looked at his heavily muscled chest and then at his face. "I'm sorry, I don't speak ape." Her voice dripped with acid.
He laughed boomingly and then cut it short curtly. "You're funny. I like that. Now like I was sayin.' How about you two come with me and my comrades to a nice place and give us a little taste of good lovin'. We don't bite... unless ya want us to." He stared down at them lecherously.
Cat's eyebrow jerked with quelled anger. She let out a shaky breath and regarded him for a moment. "If I give you a banana, will you piss off?"
His eyes tightened into tiny slits and he leaned down to her until their faces were level. "I don't like yer smart mouth wench."
She curled her lip when his foul breath met her nose. "Well, we're even because I don't like your funky breath!"
Nami almost choked on her drink.
He put his hand over his mouth and shot the other men a look that silenced their laughter. "Maybe I oughtta knock those pretty teeth outta your mouth." He threatened.
Cat drained her mug of its contents and stood up, barely reaching to the man's waist. "Come get some Kong."
Nami's eyes widened. "But Cat he's like twice your size."
"Yeah I know." She rolled her shoulder. She would be fine as long as she protected her left side.
He grit his teeth and swung one enormous fist at her.
She avoided the assault, literally feeling the wind from the force behind his swing whiz past her nose. She drew her fist back and punched him right between the legs as hard as she could.
He yelped and tears came from his eyes.
She sprung up and head-butted him right in the nose.
He alternated between holding his nose and his private area as he staggered backwards.
"Come on Nami, let's go." She paid the tab and walked towards the door.
Four men barred the way. "Where do ya think you're going?" One of them asked with an evil glint.
"Get outta the way." Nami commanded.
Jo finally regained the will to fight and charged her like a seriously pissed off bear. "You're mine!"
Cat turned and held her fists up, readying herself for his onslaught. It never came, because a well executed kick by Sanji stopped him cold.
Jo's nose shattered beneath Sanji's boot and then his body sailed through the air until it crashed through the wall.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Wow Sanji!" She didn't know the thin cook could be so lethal.
He looked back at them. "You two okay?"
"Yeah." They chorused.
Sanji flipped over their heads and landed lithely on the floor. "You guys wanna leave my lady friends alone?"
They made fists.
He shrugged and grinned ferally. He floored all four men at one time with a single roundhouse kick. He stepped aside and held his hand out towards the door. "Ladies first."
Zolo sat on the bench on the dock overlooking the bay. He licked his vanilla ice cream cone happily, but stopped when he saw Sanji, Nami, and Cat coming towards them. An eyebrow arched jealously when he saw the way Cat had her arms looped around Sanji's arm. What the hell? Why was she looking up at the cook like that? His ice cream suddenly lost its pleasure. Stupid Sanji. He leaned back on the bench and averted his eyes to the people passing by until they reached him. "Where've you guys been?" He said cooly.
"We got in a fight," Cat answered casually.
"Why am I not surprised?"
"But it's okay. Sanji saved us. Zolo you should've seen how great he was..."
He drowned her out as she raved about how Sanji came to their rescue. It was not fair. She nearly bit his head off when he saved her from certain death, but Sanji saves her from a barroom brawl and she turns into a kittenish damsel. So...unfair. He and Sanji needed to have a talk.
Late that night Zolo walked down the hallway. He looked at the wall clock . 12:30am. This was the time when Sanji usually cooked himself up a late night snack. The door creaked open and he strode into the kitchen. A delightful odor tantalized his nostrils. No one cooked like Sanji.
Sanji stood over the hot stove stirring the soup in the small boiler. He glanced at Zolo and then reached in the cabinet above for a can of salt. "Somethin' wrong Zolo?" He seasoned the soup with various herbs and spices.
Zolo leaned against the wall near the door. "Yeah. It's about Cat." He stuffed his hands in his pockets.
Sanji stirred the soup and looked at the texture and color. It was coming along nicely. "What about her?" He continued stirring the soup.
He took his hands out of his pockets and folded his arms. "Could ya kinda back off her a little?" He was asking as polite as was possible for him.
Sanji smiled inwardly. So, he was jealous. This was going to be fun. "Why? You haven't staked any claims on her. So as far as I'm concerned... she's fair game."
He pinched his lips. Sanji was talking about Cat like she was one of his many conquests. "Don't talk about her like that." He warned dangerously.
"Like what?"
"Like she's a piece of meat. Because she's not."
Sanji put the wooden spoon on the stove and cut it off. He put on an oven mitten and transferred the boiler to the back eye. He leaned a hand on the stove and turned to his shipmate. He stared at Zolo for a single moment. "Oh I see what's goin' on here."
"What?" Oh no, had Sanji figured it out like the others? He switched his weight to his left foot.
Sanji stared at him with a crooked grin. "You're scared she'll end up in the sack with me before you."
A few seconds after he had uttered those words, Zolo grabbed the lithe cook by the collar and was staring down at him murderously. "Don't ever...say that again." He said through clenched teeth.
Sanji nonchalantly reached in his pocket for a lollipop but found none. "Shit." He gazed into Zolo's eyes. "Why?"
"Because I don't like it."
He shrugged and ran a hand through his blonde hair. "I don't care what you do or don't like. But if you tell me the real reason, I'll back off." Come on. Say it.
He breathed in and out deeply. He couldn't do it. He couldn't admit it aloud. "I—" He looked away but kept his grip on the chef's collar.
"Just say it. Tell me why Zolo." His voice came out soft and pleading.
He grit his teeth, as if trying to keep the words from spilling forth. Why was it so hard?
Sanji narrowed his eyes. "When you get your balls back then come and tell me to back off."
Zolo pulled Sanji closer and tightened his grip. He wanted to smash his fist into the cook's face repeatedly, but he couldn't beat him up for telling the truth. Shit. He let him go and left the room in a huff.
Sanji smoothed down his shirt and fixed his collar. A heavy sigh escaped him. He only wanted his friend to be happy.
One week later they docked at another port city. Zolo stared at the city and chewed his lip. He dropped the anchor into the water. He had been keeping especially busy lately, because when he was preoccupied he didn't think about her as often. Constantly he thought about her. She was everywhere, in his dreams, in his waking thoughts, and when she was near him he ached for her to be in his arms. She both tempted and tortured him at the same time. His own personal siren. He didn't know what he would do anymore.
"You're up early," she said when she walked onto deck.
A tiny breath left him when he looked at her. She was breathtakingly beautiful like a goddess in all her glory. He swallowed when she took her place next to him. "Yeah, couldn't sleep last night."
"Really?" She had been noticing that he hadn't been sleeping well, lately. Was he sick? She touched his forehead.
A jolt went through him. "What're doin'?"
"Checking you for fever. You could be sick."
"I'm fine. Just got a lot on my mind." He grasped her wrist gently. He would have seen the shiver that snaked through her had he not kept his eyes on the rising sun.
She clasped her hands in front of her and turned her attention to the sunrise. "I just worry about you sometimes... You're important to me."
Did he dare tell her? Hell could he even get the nerve to tell her? "Cat?"
"Yeah?"
"I need to tell you something." He swallowed spastically and dug his nails into his palms.
"What is it?"
He turned to her and gazed into those bewitching sky blue eyes. "Cat I..."
She stared at him with a questioning countenance.
His heart palpitated wildly in his chest and his stomach knotted itself. "Cat I..." He looked at her gorgeous face that seemed to urge him. He lost all nerve. "...need a drink." Shit! Shit! Shit!
"Oh. Dammit Zolo, I thought you were gonna say something important." She shoved him playfully.
"Good morning all!" Usopp stepped onto the deck. He skipped to them and gave an elated grin.
She grinned at him. "Hi Usopp." She put an arm around his shoulders. "You ready for your big date with Kaya?"
He smoothed down his suit and slicked back hair. "Yep."
"She had better be here this time because I don't wanna be told that 'she's helpin' a friend out at the next port' again." He grumbled.
"Nope I'm sure."
Cat groaned when she sat down at the table. Nami, an avid shopper, had run her and Robin all over the shopping district since dawn and then back to the ship. Now, thank god, they were sitting in a classy eatery. "Ooh my feet are killing me." She reached down and rubbed her feet which were still strapped into four inch heels.
"So are mine." Robin leaned back in the chair.
"You two are such babies." Nami picked up the menu. "I mean jeez Cat you fight in heels."
She slouched in her chair. "Whoa Red. I fight in boots. There's a colossal difference." She surveyed the well dressed people sitting at the ornate, cherry wood dining tables and cushioned chairs. All of them looked fairly wealthy. Her fingertips tingled. She felt like a kid in a candy store. Who should she relieve of their goodies first?
"Cat are you listening?" Nami slapped the table, trying to get her attention.
Cat looked at her. "Yeah." She crossed her legs.
"As I was saying, there is not such a big difference between boots and heels. They're both made to make women look hot."
"Yeah but heels make it harder for you to run away." Robin said flatly.
She looked back when the door opened and she smiled.
A rather handsome young man entered the establishment and walked towards the bar.
She followed him with her eyes, noting every detail about him. First she examined his appearance: neatly trimmed hair, smooth skin, and fingers devoid of calluses. He hadn't worked a day in his life. Second she noted his clothes: well kept shirt tucked into impeccably pressed pants, polished brown boots, and a cape made of expensive fabric draped around his shoulders. He obviously had the money to buy expensive clothes. Thirdly she ran her eyes down to his waist and a pleasurable breath escaped her lips. His money purse was quite large and nearly bursting at the seams with coins. Mmm. She bit her bottom lip and her eyes took on a predatory look. She had found her target. Nami and Robin's voices became like background music, vague and an afterthought. She ran her tongue over her rosebud lips naughtily and scooted the chair back.
"Where are you going?" Nami asked.
She didn't answer, but simply walked towards the bar. She sat next to him on the barstool.
Nami's eyes widened when she saw Cat sit next to the handsome man at the bar. "What the hell?" What was Cat doing?
"Hi." She said warmly to him.
"Hi." He swallowed nervously.
She looked at his face. He was quite handsome with golden brown hair, turquoise eyes, and a goatee. She grinned inwardly. He was young probably nineteen, maybe twenty. "I've never been here before so is there any type of drink that you would recommend?"
He couldn't stop staring at her. She was so beautiful. "Um, yeah the red wine is quite delectable."
"Yeah? Then I guess I'll order that. Hey barkeep. Red wine please." She smiled when she saw the nervousness in his eyes. She leaned forward. "Soo what's your name?"
"Mateo." He nearly stammered. He fidgeted with his wine glass.
"I'm Cat." She offered her hand for him to shake it.
He took it and they shook hands slowly. Her hands were so soft, like the silk of his cape. "Nice to meet you." His cheeks reddened.
"You too." She took the wine glass when the bartender set it in front of her. She noticed that his eyes were on her breasts when she returned her gaze to him. "Are you looking at my breasts?"
He looked away quickly. "I'm sorry. If I offended you I didn't mean to. You're just so beautiful. It won't happen again," he said sincerely.
She grinned and turned in her stool to him. "Oh aren't you sweet." She leaned over and lightly brushed her hand against his.
He grit his teeth and clenched the glass in his hand almost to the breaking point. Oh god.
"I don't mind if you look, it's when you touch that bothers me." She ran her foot gingerly up his leg and watched the small shiver that ran through him with much satisfaction. He was hers. She took a sip of her wine. "I'm only here a few days, do you think you could show me around a little bit?" She cracked a lopsided grin and gave him an alluring gaze that reduced him to a brainless puppet.
"Okay." He said, all too eagerly.
"Great." She winked at him. "Pay my tab?"
"Of course."
Dance puppet, dance. She thought to herself. She couldn't wait to separate him from that magnificently large bag of coins hanging from his belt. This would be an easy score.
Nami clenched her fork in her hand. "How the hell could she do this Zolo?" She roared stridently. She looked at the patrons at the table next to them. "What in the hell are you looking at? You keep your noses in the business at your table. Not ours. You got me?" She gestured angrily. She so wanted to kick Cat's ass at the moment. Maybe a good shot to the ribs would bring her back to her senses.
Robin just shook her head. She knew what Cat was doing. Poor boy probably thought he was going to get laid.
Cat looped her arm around Mateo's and let him escort her out of the eatery.
The sun turned the sky brilliant shades of pink and orange as it started to sink behind the horizon. Zolo lay sprawled out on the deck floor catnapping. He listened closely when he heard Nami and Robin walk on deck. He opened an eye when he realized Cat was not with them. Damn. She was probably in trouble. "Where's Cat?"
"I don't wanna talk about her!" Nami stomped past him and below deck.
"What the hell got stuffed up her ass?" He asked Robin.
Robin gave a prankish grin. "She's mad 'cause Cat left with some rich guy."
He blinked once. "What?"
"Yeah." She stared down at him with a slight grin. "That bother you?"
He rested his hands behind his head. "Nope. She's probably gonna rob him blind."
Robin shrugged. "I don't know, she looked pretty into him. Who knows, maybe she really does like him. Lord knows you're moving like cold molasses."
He stuck his foot out when she walked past.
She fell to the floor.
He laughed.
She drew upon the power of the cursed fruit and slapped him with a hand she made appear out of thin air.
He turned his head and from the lick and growled at her.
Cat walked with a spring in her step towards the gangplank of the Merry Go Two. The large bag jingled as she threw it up in the air happily. She couldn't wait to count the money. She walked up the gangplank, humming a cheerful tune. It was turning out to be such a good day.
"Where'd you get that?" Zolo asked sternly.
She stopped. Shit! She thought he would still be at the tavern. "Um, I hustled some poor soul outta his money."
He folded his arms and gave her a piercing stare. "You robbed that guy didn't you?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"No." She lied again.
"Take it back."
"I ain't takin' shit back!"
"You're takin' it back."
"I don't hafta take anything back. I stole it fair and square! You're not the boss of me!" She said childishly.
Zolo stared at her for what seemed like an eternity with those penetrating eyes. "Okay." He kept his arms folded and started down the gangplank.
She looked at him as he walked down the gangplank. Dammit! How did he always manage to dig up the small bit of conscience that she possessed. She groaned angrily and stamped her foot, just shy of an all out tantrum. "Fine!" She followed him, mumbling peevishly all the while. Why did she always want to please him?
They asked around town and learned that Mateo lived four miles out of the city in his family mansion. It was dusk by the time they arrived at the mansion. Cat's eyes widened when she saw the manor. It was five stories with white bricks contrasted against a brilliant red roof. "Dang. He wasn't lying when he said he was rich."
"Come on." He led her down the cobbled lantern lit path and to the double doors. He knocked hard on the door.
Moments later the door opened. An older man dressed in a three piece black suit and tie looked at them suspiciously. "May I help you?" He looked at the three swords on Zolo's belt with composed fear.
"Yeah, my name's Cat a—"
He brightened. "Ah yes Miss Cat. The master has been raving about you all day long. He was right... You are rather beautiful."
"Why thank you." She said girlishly.
Zolo rolled his eyes.
He stepped aside. "Please come in."
They walked into the lavish sitting room.
"Please have a seat. I'll go tell the master you're here." He hurried away.
Cat sat down on the cream colored couch and crossed her legs. "Wow this is a nice place right." She looked at the various portraits hanging on the wall. "A girl could get used to staying in a place like this."
Zolo slouched in the couch and sat with gapped legs. "Yeah whatever." Jeez why did his house have to be so goddamned nice? Maybe Cat did like him. She did like money and Mateo was rich. Wait a minute. He had his share from the treasure of One Piece. He was rich too. "If you like that sort of thing."
She rolled her eyes. Why was he in such a bad mood lately. "What—"
"The master will be down shortly." He walked into the sitting room. "Forgive me because I seem to have lost my manners. I am Lysandre.."
"Well you know me. This is Zolo." She nodded her head towards said swordsman.
Zolo merely grunted.
"Not a very talkative fellow is he?"
"He talks when he's in the mood." She didn't like it when people assumed he was a certain way just because of his attitude.
"Very well ma'am. Would you like some tea and crumpets? Miss Cat?"
"I'd love some."
"Sir?"
"I don't even know what crumpets are and I don't drink tea unless I'm sick." He answered rather harshly.
Cat rolled her eyes and shot him a knife-edged gaze. "He loves ale, if you have any."
"We have plenty. The master doesn't drink it, but I am rather fond of it. Excuse me." He exited the room quickly.
Cat pinched his leg and twisted mercilessly. "What the hell is your problem Zolo? Why are you being such a jackass?"
He flinched from the sensation of pain but kept his arms folded. "Nothing."
"What did you get your period all of a sudden?"
His green eyes expanded and then narrowed almost into nothing. If looks could kill. "Don't–"
"Here's your ale Mister Zolo." He handed Zolo a bottle of ale. "The tea is heating on the stove Miss Cat."
Zolo took the bottle and grumbled angrily. He put the top to his lips and took a swig.
"I hope Lysandre isn't telling you about any of my embarrassing moments as a child." Mateo walked into the room wearing lavish clothing and an adoring smile.
"Hadn't started yet sir." He said jokingly.
Zolo sized Mateo up in one look. The sword on the young man's hip was just for show. Pansy ass.
Cat smiled sweetly at Mateo and they embraced when she stood. "Hi again."
"It is good to see you again." He patted her back. He noticed Zolo who still sat with bottle in hand and a pinched look on his face. "Who's your companion?"
She turned to Zolo. "This is Zolo. My friend."
He let her go and walked to Zolo. "Hi I'm Mateo." He held his hand out to Zolo.
Zolo looked at Mateo's hand and then at Cat who gave him a pleading glance. He shook his hand, fighting the urge to break it in an iron like grip. "Hey."
"I need to talk with you Mateo." She said softly.
Zolo took this as the cue to excuse himself. "I'll be on the porch." He stood and departed the room.
Lysandre did the same as Zolo and exited the area.
The two of them sat down on the couch, facing each other. She handed him the bag she had tied on her belt. "Here. I'm sorry I took this from you." She chewed her lip. "Guess you know what I am now right?"
He looked down at the bag of money, sat it on the table, and smiled kindly at her. "I knew what you were when you asked me to show you around the city."
She raised an eyebrow. "How?"
He chuckled. "Because I know that a woman as beautiful as you wouldn't want to really spend time with me because of my personality. I know I'm loaded, but it just felt good being with you."
She put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't sell yourself short, Mateo. You're a great guy. You're not a colossal asshole like most rich guys I've met." She wanted to kick herself when she realized she had cursed in front of a rich guy. The only thing her foster parents had ever cared to teach her was not to curse in front of aristocrats. " Sorry about that word."
He gave a small simper. "It's alright."
She tilted her head to the side and gave him a quizzical glance. "How come you didn't call the authorities on me?" She could barely stand the loving gaze that he kept upon her. Oh god was he love with her?
"Isn't it obvious?" He touched her cheek lightly, and traced her eyebrows with a finger. "I love you Cat, from the moment that I saw you." He locked his bluish-green eyes with hers, as if trying to make her understand. "I want you in my life."
"Mateo—" She wanted to stop him before he said anymore, but he interrupted her.
He put a hand over her lips and grasped her hand with the other. "Please hear me out. I have plenty of money and I could take good care of you. You can have whatever your heart desires. I know I'm younger than you, but I would spend all my days treating you like a queen. Ask for it and I will give it to you." He professed passionately.
"What are you saying?" Please god no. God don't let him do it. She didn't want to break his heart.
He produced an exquisite ring from his pocket. "I would like for you to be my wife."
His words struck her like a well aimed missile. Then she looked down at the diamond sparkling on the band. Shit! That wasn't a rock it was a friggin' continent! She felt like saying yes just to get the ring, but that would be wrong. Plus what would Zolo think of her if she performed such a terrible misdeed? "Oh Mateo. I—" She let out a sigh. She was speechless. "I– You live in high society Mateo. That's a cage to me I can't be trapped. I must be free."
He held both of her hands now, clinging desperately. "You could come and go as you please. I would not hold you here always."
She shook her head. "I'm a thief. Marrying me would scar your family name. What would your aristocratic peers think?"
He shook his head. "Let them think what they will."
Tears welled up in her eyes. He was willing to scar his family name for her. This was too much. "Mateo..."
He let her hands go and stared down sadly. "Just say it. You don't have to spare my feelings."
She wet her parched throat. "I don't love you, Mateo." She said as soft as she could, but she knew the softness of her voice did not dull the bite of her words.
His shoulders sagged. "I understand."
She tilted his chin up. "Please don't be sad Mateo. When you go to bed tonight and think about it, you'll realize that you didn't love me. You were just in love with being in love with a beautiful woman."
He sniffed back his tears. "But I do. And I'll never meet another woman like you."
She grinned at him. "Of course not. I'm one of a kind honey." She patted his shoulder. "But you'll make some woman a great husband one day. And she'll love you so very much."
He gave a grateful smile but then it faltered. "I wish you could love me."
She smiled kindly at him. "I know honey, but--"
"I'm not your type."
"Yeah."
"Then who is?"
Zolo opened the door and peeked in. "It's getting dark, time to wrap it up!"
"Okay!" She yelled over her shoulder.
He shut the door.
"Him?"
She stared at him dumbfounded. How the hell did he get so perceptive? Did everybody know she was in love with him? Was she that transparent? "Yeah." She spoke, voice barely audible. She got to her feet. "I gotta go before he blows his top."
"I'll escort you out." They walked outside to an empty porch.
She gasped when she saw him walking in the distance. She turned to Mateo. "Now be careful when a woman comes up to you. You'll know if she's a thief right off. Don't go anywhere with her. Because some women have partners that will kill you." She admonished him.
"Okay." He nodded obediently.
"And I wanna see you married to a respectable girl whenever I come back through. And don't let her treat you like a doormat. You're a friggin good catch. Never forget that."
"I won't."
Zolo turned and kicked up some dust when he saw them embracing. Shit. He felt his heart fall when she kissed Mateo's cheek. Was it over? "I'm gettin' old here!"
She drew away form Mateo. "And learn to use that sword. Bye." She ran towards Zolo.
"Bye!"
"Zolo you ass!" She hit his shoulder when she stopped at his side.
He put his hands in his pockets and didn't speak.
She looked at him strangely. Usually, he would have came back with a smart remark, but this time there was none.
"Didn't know you were into softies." He mumbled.
"Who said I was." She looked at him strangely. What was he jealous of? "He asked me to marry him."
SHIT! He had only known her for like ten hours and already he wanted to commit to her? Damn. The guy moved fast. "Yeah." His voice came out small and pained.
"I said no."
He fought back the grin that started at the corners of his mouth. "How'd he take it?"
"He'll be okay." She shrugged and smiled smugly. "I told him he wasn't my type."
"Oh yeah?" Their boots thunked against the dirt path. Yes!
"Yeah." She folded her arms but then unfolded them to knock away a mosquito. "He was so nice though. He said he loved me from the first time he saw me."
"Wow." They walked in silence for a while with only the night sounds for company. "Do you believe in that love at first sight stuff?"
She bristled. "Hell no! I ain't a hopeless romantic."
"Really? I thought all women believed in that."
She snorted. "Yeah the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ones that ain't got nothing but rainbows and unicorns in between their ears."
He chuckled lightly. "Touched a nerve did I?"
"Don't get me wrong I believe love is what makes the world go round, but to me love at first sight doesn't exist. I mean how can you call someone your soulmate when you've only known them for like ten seconds? To me that's like claiming to be a master thief before ever pulling off a score. It just doesn't work."
He swatted at a bug as it buzzed by his ear. "I think it's a strong attraction ya know. Like lust or something. It's like you see a desirable person and that ain't love you feel, it's wanting to jump that person's bones. At least that's how it is for me."
She stared at him and blushed when she saw the rising moon reflecting in his green eyes. "To me love is like a flower. A flower doesn't grow overnight, out of thin air. You gotta plant the seed and give it what it needs to survive and flourish. Then after all your work a flower emerges."
"It doesn't bloom?"
"The flower only blooms when two people tell each other how they feel. They could love each other more than the stars love the moon, but if they don't say it...the flower can never bloom. And soon it may even wither and die." She blinked back the tears that stung her eyes.
He averted his gaze to the trees surrounding the path. He couldn't bear to look at her.
The gurgling of water reached her ears. "I hear water!" She grabbed his hand. "C'mon."
"Cat! What the hell?"
She grinned back at him. "Don't worry Zolo, we won't get lost, I'm leading." She led him off the path, through trees and bushes, and to a large lake. She slid down the bank and picked up a handful of rocks. She threw a rock across the lake. The rock skipped five times over the water. "Ha! Five times beat that Zolo!" She threw him a rock.
He snatched it out of mid air. "If you insist." He slid down to her and threw the rock. It skipped over the water eight times. He smiled smugly at her.
She pinched her lip and began throwing rock after rock, trying to beat his score. "Gadammit how in the hell did you do that?"
He smiled. "Because I'm just that good."
She sighed and picked up another handful of rocks and continued her quest.
He chuckled as he watched her throwing rocks and then swearing when the rock fell short of his score. They were going to be here all night. But that is what he admired, no, loved about her. She never quit, no matter how hard it got, she would keep coming back for more with a different angle each and every time. She would keep it up until she just couldn't go any further. She was the apple of his eye and he couldn't hold it in any longer. So, he ripped his chest open, exposing his heart and all the feelings within, and from the pit of his soul he drudged up the three words that had been haunting him for weeks. "I love you Cat." He said softly. There, he had said it. Now all that was left to do was to pray that the feeling was mutual.
His words left her speechless. Did he just—? She dropped the rock and folded her arms. "Before I met you Zolo I was like a boat with no set course. I was just drifting along going wherever the waves carried me. I didn't have any stability. But when I met you it changed. You were like a tree ya know, firmly rooted. You were always so sure of yourself of who you are and what course you wanted to take, and when I became your friend that trickled down to me. You became my anchor." She began to quiver as she looked down at the lake water shimmering in the moonlight. "When we separated I lost my anchor and I didn't know what course to take anymore. I got lost for a while."
Her poignant words struck him hard. He never knew she felt that way. He touched her shoulder and turned her to him. "You never told me that."
"I know." She wiped her tears and then blushed. "I depend on you too much I know. But I guess it's because I love you too."
He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her to him, snuggling his nose in her hair. "You don't depend on me too much Kitty." He had never in his life felt like he felt now. He had laid his heart on the line and now he knew that she loved him too. He felt like singing and screaming to the world that he loved Cat. She had but ask and he would do all in his power to give it to her.
She snuggled her nose in his chest and sighed. Finally, that hole inside her that she had been seeking to fill was complete. The scars and hardships she had encountered felt so small. "Yes I do."
He tilted her chin up and smiled lovingly down at her. "I need you too." He ran his hands through her silky black hair gently and traced her soft jawline with his thumb.
Her lip trembled and tears fell forth. She couldn't speak. She didn't want to ruin this tender moment with anymore words. She parted her lips slightly.
He tenderly wiped the tears from her cheeks and leaned forward. He glanced at her once, as if asking permission. God he wanted to see how those rosebud lips of hers tasted.
She looked up at his handsome face noting every feature, even the three earrings glinting in his ear. A shaky breath escaped her when he rubbed his nose against hers. Her legs turned to jelly.
"Zolo! Cat! Where are you!" Luffy's voice wafted to them.
Zolo jerked and looked back. "Are you shittin' me?" He had went through hell within himself just to get those three words out and when he was just about to kiss her, Goofy Luffy and the rest of the crew were searching for them? It was so unfair.
"Zolo! Cat!" Luffy called again. The bushes rustled as Luffy walked towards the lake.
He reluctantly released her. He gave her another smile and they both came to a silent agreement that they would keep this between themselves for now.
"Zolo! Ca—!" He appeared out of the bushes. "Hey there you two are! Hey you guys I found them!"
The rest of the crew entered the area. Nami hit Chopper hard. "I thought you were supposed to have a good nose or something. You couldn't even pick up their scent!"
"Oww!"
"Why the hell did you guys decide to stay so long? We got worried." Sanji said lightly.
"Sorry you guys. We started skimming rocks and lost track of time." She explained.
"Yeah whatever. Let's just go already, these bugs are eating me alive." Nami growled.
They brought up the rear of the group, listening in and out as Usopp raved about his date with Kaya. She smiled up at him and he winked at her smoothly. They took a step closer to each other, and if the remainder of the crew hadn't been watching Nami and Usopp argue they would have saw the two at the back holding hands.
I'm finally done with this chapter. Yay! It was hard though I had to stay on the computer until 12:30am with my mom and sister telling me to get off, but anyway I did it. Thanks for all the reviews and I had ya going there for a second didn't I.(bwahahaha!) Anyhow the next chapter is kinda bittersweet so please don't hate me when it's over. Read and Review please. Merci beaucoup. Tickle. Tickle.
Love ya.
