Chapter 7: Safe with Them
The three of them gawked at the large town sitting at the edge of the island. Even from as far as they were, the mountain on the center of the island was enormous.
"SUUUGOOOOII!" Luffy immediately commented, impressed by the island already. Upon hearing their captain, Usopp and Chopper ran to the top deck to investigate. They looked past the lion's mane, glimpsing at the island.
Within ten minutes, they were close enough to see partying pirates, dancing and drinking in the streets. Zoro grinned, desiring to join in the liquor consumption. Luffy's eyes glowed in excitement, having seen a large quantity of meat.
"This is quite the bustling port, isn't it?" Tashigi commented, observing the people on the docks.
"I hope that they have some fresh produce, I'd like some cabbage for the stew."
"I must insist that we get some tea. It's been dreadful without it."
Tashigi turned around, curious to whose voice it could be. Her jaw dropped, trying to form a single word. Her eyes landed on the skeleton that was Brook.
"Oh my, what a beautiful young lady."
Tashigi shrieked, falling over in attempt to run away. She quickly crawled away behind Nami, who was giving him a rather terrifying glare.
"Ah, pale green to match the lace of your dress. Wonderful! My heart just fluttered, but I am a skeleton, I don't have a heart! Yohoho!" Brook commented.
Before Nami could hit him, Zoro punched the skeleton. "Behave you dumb ero-skeleton." Zoro growled, trying not to be too mad, for he was guilty of the same thing.
"W-where d-did he c-co-come f-from?" Tashigi stumbled over her words, surprised she was able to make a sentence.
"Ah, good question. Since your arrival I stayed below deck as not to frighten you, but I desired to get out, and it was evident that we eventually meet. I am Brook, how do you do?" He bowed politely to her.
"Nami, why can he talk, he's a skeleton, and he is not supposed to be able talk. He's dead isn't he, I don't understand it, and you're going to have to explain this. Because skeletons don't just walk around every day, drinking tea and such, and-." Tashigi's hysterical rambling came to a halt as Zoro put his hand over her mouth.
"Calm down. We can explain everything, it's quite simple." He spoke, meeting her eyes. She nodded in understanding. He took his hand away, and got her to stand up. Everyone watched how well Zoro was able to work him her, how kind he was with her. He was so tender with her.
"I ate the yomi yomi no mi." Brook started; Tashigi shook her head in understanding, not as frightened as before. "But since I took too long time and got lost on my way to returning to my body, it decayed before I got there." She nodded in understanding.
"I'm Tashigi." She bravely but her hand forward, wishing to shake hands. He grasped her hand and they shook briefly. She looked at Zoro incredulously. The whole situation had become completely unusual.
The boat lurched, signaling their arrival to the port. It was already decided that Brook, Chopper, Usopp, Franky and Robin would stay. Nami and Sanji set off separately from Luffy, Zoro and Tashigi. Tashigi was ordered by Nami to hold on to the boys' money, seeing as they would be the most likely to lose it.
It only took 10.9 seconds for Luffy to vanish, and an astonishing 5.6 seconds for Zoro to get lost. Tashigi yanked on his ear, and dragged him away from the docks. "Zoro, don't get lost. I thought you were joking about getting lost in a paper bag."
"Why are you leaving the ship anyway?" Zoro asked, following her around.
"Since Nami is getting the provisions with Sanji, she said I could spend a little. I wanted to get something comfortable to train in seeing as she only owns one pair of shorts."
'Great, I get to go shopping…' Zoro grumbled, following closely behind her. 'I can't believe that I'm actually following her. I better get booze.'
They browsed through the street, going into weapon shops and clothing shops here and there. Tashigi was frequently harassed by drunken pirates, and frequently, Zoro would have to calm her down. After eventually obtaining a few pairs of shorts and capris, they headed to a not so lively bar for a drink. Zoro insisted on it.
Zoro downed his first round in a matter of seconds, Tashigi staring in shock. "Are you sure you should consume so such alcohol? What if someone picks a fight with you?" She asked, scrupulously stared at him, not believing his actions.
"I can hold way more liquor than any man in this bar. I never get drunk, it's disgraceful." He commented, grinning at the sergeant major. "What about you?"
"I'm going to have to admit that I can't drink much. I'm already clumsy as it is." Tashigi commented, looking behind her, having noticed that someone decided to take a seat there. She looked back at Zoro and took another sip. "Though, my limit is about three tankards."
Zoro looked over the rim of his, noticing that he had already drank four. He laughed, setting his tankard down. "Well, it's probably more than some men can handle. Though, I personally can do about 30 without too much problem. I seem to have been born with a natural ability to handle it." He laughed again, Tashigi once again looking at him in disbelief. "So, how did you end up in the water in the first place?" He asked, referring to them finding her two weeks prior to their current events.
"Ah, well you see the funny thing about that is…" Tashigi looked away, embarrassed by her own clumsiness. "We were going through a bit of fog, and I seemed to have tripped backwards into a life boat, and fallen unconscious. Something along those lines, I sort of don't remember. But I think I was hanging upside down for awhile on a rope, because I'm pretty sure I remember having a headache. It'd be a good enough explanation to why my ankle was sprained." Zoro's mouth fell open in laughter, he hit his head on the bar, laughing so hard from her ridiculous story.
Tashigi suddenly gasped, causing Zoro to look at her. The voice behind her spoke, "Miss Sergeant Major Tashigi, y'know you're a wanted Marine among us pirates?" He ruefully laughed in her ear, quickly wrapping his arm around her waist. "Sorreh tah steal your lady friend, but 45 million beri is pretty appealing at this point. I've been out of money fer quite awhile now."
Zoro's hand immediately reached for Wadô Ichimonji, glaring at the man. Tashigi followed suit, her hand falling onto Shigure. She elbowed him, unsuccessful in getting him to release her. She gasped, feeling the cold steel of Zoro's meitou against her cheek. Zoro had its tip at the man's throat.
"Release her, or lose your life."
"Like some rookie could scare me." The man smart talked; attention all around the bar now on them. Murmuring voices whispered all around them. He clicked the pistol in his right hand, pointing it at him.
"What in the world is that man thinking, that's Roronoa Zoro, he doesn't stand a chance!"
"He must be really drunk to pull such a stupid stunt."
"Isn't Zoro's captain Monkey D. Luffy, he's got 300 million beri on his head! That guys committing suicide just messing with Zoro!"
The drunken captor seemed to have tuned into all of the conversation, his eyes widening in realization that the man that stood before him was indeed a great threat. He released the gun, and loosened his grip around Tashigi's waist. She stood up straight, and stood beside Zoro. Zoro sheathed his sword, and finished chugging the rest of his tankard. He set the cup down, and looked at the man, whom still stood there dumbfounded. Zoro punched the man full into the face, sending him across the bar.
"Let's go." He ordered, Tashigi followed, noticing that everyone's eyes were following them. They briskly entered the streets, heading in no particular direction.
"It's going to be twilight soon" Tashigi commented, noticing that the sun was behind the trees, but not quite set into the horizon. "Do you want to head back to the ship?"
"I thought we were going back to the ship." He said, tilting his head slightly at her.
"It's the other way."
"But it's where the sun is."
"No, it's where the sun was. The sun is setting, the ship is east."
"The sun sets in the east, doesn't it…?" He asked, quite confused with her logic.
"Zoro, you are more directionally impaired than I ever thought someone could be." She observed, turning back towards the ship. He shrugged, following her.
They walked quietly again, nothing important needing to be said. Tashigi glanced out of the corner of her eye, noticing that Zoro was a bit on edge. He casually glanced around, but she couldn't help but feel he was looking for something.
"Is something wrong Zoro?" Tashigi asked, still looking forward.
"I believe we are being watched, you specifically. You are probably safe to for the time being, try not to get separated." Tashigi walked closer to him, causing Zoro to pay closer attention to her.
"ZOOOROOOOO-KUN! " An unfamiliar voice called from behind them. Zoro stiffened, putting his hand on Tashigi's shoulder, halting her. He turned his head in curiosity. A strawberry-blond hair colored woman was running towards them. She wore a white dress hugging her rather womanly curves, and her hair was back in a pony-tail. She more or less had a very Vivi-appearance.
"Oh please no." He mumbled. Grabbing Tashigi's arm, he walked quickly, dragging her along.
"What's wrong, who is she?"
"Twice in my life have I been drunk. Twice. And one of those times, I unfairly met this woman." Zoro nearly growled, his quick walking having turned into a jog. "She a…" Zoro trailed, not really wanting to complete the sentence.
"What's wrong?"
"She thinks that I'm going to marry her."
"Marry? Just how much did you have to drink for that to hap-?" Zoro stopped, realizing that he wasn't going to be able to outrun the rather fast woman.
"Can I borrow you for a second? 'Kay, thanks." Zoro finished, ignoring Tashigi's clear complaints on being 'used'.
"Zoro-kuun! My darling, how are you? You must be doing well, that you've become a pirate like me! I saw that you're worth 120 million."
"The poster is old."
"Oh well, who cares, since we've found each other again after that terrible happening of you accidentally getting on that boat, we can get married!" She squealed. "And I see that you have a Marine to turn in, I've heard of her, Tashigi is just a pain, isn't she?" She carried on, abruptly getting cut off by Zoro.
"Funny thing, I forgot about you…Marli?"
"It's Maria! How could you forget me! That's terrible! I haven't forgotten you once since our wonderful meeting in that bar in the East Blue!"
"Well Maria, I'm not turning in 'this Marine'," He emphasized, wrapping his arm around Tashigi's waist, "she's my soon-to-be bride." Tashigi had a slight expression of shock, but tried her best not give away his façade.
"Zoro, you're a joker, you can't have two fiancés, that's not right!" She took on a look of disbelief, starting to glare at Tashigi.
"I know I can't have two, I only have one." His firm voice did not faze the over-excited woman though to his displeasure.
"Oh, you're so funny! You must have just been kidding. Let's turn her in and go get married!"
"Maria, I'm not marrying you. I've already said that."
"Prove that you don't love me then Zoro! How could you just do this to me?" Tears started to form in her eyes. "I love you!"
"No you don't, we met in a bar and got so drunk that I started saying stupid jokes."
"Fine, if you truly don't love me, tell me it!"
"I don't love you." Zoro bluntly stated, hoping to get rid of the helpless woman.
"I don't believe you."
'Boy is she hopeless, she obviously can't take no. This lets me add another reason why pirates are evil. Well, kind of.' Tashigi thought, desiring for the woman to leave just as much as Zoro.
"He says he doesn't love you, why won't you just leave it at that?" Tashigi stepped in.
Maria ignored Tashigi's comment, continuing to plead with Zoro. "Zoro, I love you so much, I came all the way to the Grand Line to find you! You can't just leave me again!"
"We'd have to have been together for me to have left you in the first place Maria."
"But what abo-?" Maria dropped her sentence, watching something she couldn't believe.
Zoro grabbed Tashigi's cheek and brought her mouth to his. He roughly kissed her. Tashigi didn't kiss back, too surprised by the sudden intrusion of privacy. He pressed only a little harder, triggering her to respond. She inadvertently drove her fingers through his hair, kissing him back. He suddenly softened the kiss, tasting her a little with his tongue. 'She tastes like she smells, like steel and salt.' He thought to himself, not considering it at all to be weird.
She parted from him, trying to restrain the smile that wanted to form. 'He didn't mean it.' She refused to let him know that she had enjoyed it thoroughly. He stared into her eyes for a long time, breathing heavily on her lips still. His mind wouldn't let him release her.
"I ah, I ah, I-." Zoro stuttered, unable to reach an end to his sentence.
"You don't have to say anything." Tashigi told him, "The girl needed to know you weren't interested. She'd probably continued to stalk you if she didn't get the picture." Tashigi moved away from him, leaving a fiery trail where her fingers left down his cheeks. "We need to get back to the ship, they are probably wondering where we are."
Tashigi ignored the heat that had settled deep within her. Her cheeks betrayed her façade, but as long as he could not see her face, she could pretend.
"Right," Zoro followed her closely behind. 'She is probably mad at me.' He sighed, dissatisfied. 'Though, anything between us out of the question, because I'm pretty sure she'd like to remain a Marine. She'll probably stay distant.' He grinned rather broadly. 'Good thing I didn't tell her I was sorry, because I'm not sorry at all about it.'
Zoro was going to learn the painful words 'romantic love' momentarily.