A/N: Sorry for the extreme delay on this chapter guys, writers block sucks majorly . . but here finally is chapter seven I hope you all enjoy it, let me know what you think.
Chapter 7:
At midnight Usopp sat high in the crow's nest, on guard for night watch, thinking over what Zoro had told them during the day. It was almost too much to believe, most of it sounding more fanciful then his stories. His mind kept wandering to the questions that Zoro hadn't answered, and wondering why one of the Greater Fae would basically abandon their children to a stranger in order to survive.
In his lab Chopper patiently revised his medical file on Zoro, with the new information many more things were making sense to him as well as making him glad for the lock on his little cabinet he stored the files in. If his half human half reindeer status was a problem he could only imagine how badly people would react to a half elf who lived amongst them for years. Only a couple questions floated around in Choppers mind while he worked, he wondered if Zoro would be willing to be fully examined once he was back to normal, and how much farther Kira's spell would make the swordsman regress before it was done.
Nami had long since gone to bed, curled around the newest member of the crew, a soft smile playing across her lips as Saya's hands gently clutched the shirt Nami was wearing. While down in the men's quarters Luffy lay in his hammock snoring loudly mumbling about food in his sleep. Zoro's hammock was empty being too high for his childlike body to get into, instead he'd been put down on the small couch near the door to the room.
The soft tink tink tink of knives in the galley could still be heard this late, as Sanji worked out his frustration with the world on the food he prepared. The remaining information that Zoro had told them was sketchy at best, having been cut off shortly after he told them what Saya is, by her waking up and searching for her new family. Sanji had quickly whipped up a nice dinner mostly of soft foods and soups, things that are quick to make but healthy and hearty.
As he worked preparing extra cold meals for the next day, Sanji wondered about what lay behind the comments Zoro had made but never explained. Such as who was Tachi, and why Zoro never wanted to go back to Avondale, as well as if that was why he was afraid of his mother's family. The conversations of the day wearing on his heart and soul, as he realized just how quickly he had slipped from a masculine role to a sentimental paternal figure. Somehow the role he had taken felt right, as though it was where he had always been meant to be.
"Caring for them, makes me feel content in a way… like when I cook." Sanji mused to himself as he placed trays of sliced meat into the refrigerator, "Do I just want to think that though, because I want to be a good father unlike my own?"
"You humans think too much about things." Hikaru murmur in his mind was flavored with cherries this time as he chuckled. "It's completely normal for any being to want to protect their young, or young in their care. Its not something you learn its an instinct. Although I have to admit you seem to be a little more in tuned then others I've seen."
Sanji smiled softly before he thought back at the lesser fae, "I thought you were supposed to be guarding Zoro Hikaru. But since you're here would you mind answering a few questions for me…like why I taste things when you talk in my head, and I have a feeling you know more then Zoro does about most of this."
"You taste things? Huh, Zoro sees my mind voice in colors, I guess its different for every person how they understand my emotions in their heads." Hikaru replied with an odd juxtaposed tastes of salt and chocolate, which wasn't a bad combination Sanji noted mentally, "As for filling you in, yes I know much more, but I think it would be better to Show you. I can tell you some things to expect, and give you hints from time to time, but he what I can tell you isn't much, what I can show you though … you may wish you'd never have seen. Zoro doesn't have many Happy memories in his past…"
"Sorry didn't mean to step on a sore spot." Sanji replied as he chopped onions, peppers and potatoes which he tossed into a pot of water on the stove that would be a stew by dinnertime tomorrow. "What do you mean things to expect? And how would you Show me things you can't tell me?"
"Zoro's age now is at the point where things will surface again… things that were better left in the past."Hikaru replied gently as a soft clicking sound past Sanji's ears. The taste of lemons filled his mouth as Hikaru continued, "He's most likely going to start having nightmares again, only this time I can't help him. I'm still too weak to materialize And shift shapes so I can't comfort him, you'll have to do that. I'm not sure If he will remember why he has the nightmares or not… but unless he does its better for you not to know. I can show you in a similar way to how I talk to you, I can put some of Zoro's or my memories into your head for you to see them. You just have to look into my eyes to do so."
Sanji scoffed out loud muttering, "How can I look into your eyes when I can't even see you?"
"Look behind you Human." a voice growled behind him.
A shiver ran up Sanji's spine as he carefully placed his knife on the counter, before slowly turning around. Once again he had the dubious pleasure of being shocked into silence as his eyes widened taking in the form before him. His hands shaking, Sanji slowly lit a cigarette using the movement to try to mask his shaking hands
Standing as tall as most jungle cats was a vaguely wolf-like being, its fur a soft white shade that seemed to sparkle as though filled with starlight, yellow eyes regarded him with interest as they gazed back into his own with satisfaction and humor. Two small horns protruded from its skull one above each eye. Its paws flexed in an almost catlike motion, while its claws, which were as long as small daggers, sheathed and unsheathed themselves with the gesture.
"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't refer to me as an IT, I am a male." Hikaru's voice grumbled in Sanji's mind, tasting of cinnamon again, "While I can speak in this form, its still much easier to talk mind to mind, my mouth isn't exactly designed to use human speech."
"What the hell are you?" Sanji blurted suddenly, then slapped his hands over his mouth before stammering, "I mean… its just… this is the real you?"
"My race is called the Kre'thor. A more simple explanation for you would be a demon wolf, but that's not completely accurate. This is my natural form, although I'm a bit of an anomaly amongst my kind." Hikaru replied stiffly, as he padded over to the bench where he then lay down. "We are part of the lesser fae because we are base of animal form, while elves are base humanoid. While I can shift to a humanlike form when I have enough power, its much like your little doctor's small form. Not exactly something that can pass easily amongst humans."
"Well this is a ship full of strange people and oddities so, you'll fit right in, but how do you suggest I explain to the crew that a giant wolf got onto our ship in the middle of the night?" Sanji muttered exasperated as he plopped down into a nearby chair, "You may as well show me what you think I need to know, otherwise I'll be working blind."
Hikaru huffed out a breath as he turned to face the chef before simply stating, "You'll feel like something is pressing into your head, and in a way it will be. Most of the memories will be mine, but a few will be ones that I've gotten from Zoro's nightmares. I can't be sure how your body will take this, but if you lay down on the other bench then at least you won't get hurt if you pass out."
Sanji nodded as he stood up quickly putting away the food that he had been preparing before Hikaru's sudden appearance. With deft movements he washed and put away all the utensils he used before he sat on the edge of the bench trepidation biting at his heart. His hands shaking nervously Sanji quickly reached up to untie the tie from his neck which he lay gently on the table before looking back at Hikaru.
"Whatever your going to do Hikaru, you had better do quickly before I lose my nerve." Sanji whispered as he lay back across the bench.
The Kre'thor nodded in silent response as his yellow eyes looked down into Sanji's blue. The strange sensation in his mind became overwhelming as he watched Hikaru's eyes start to glow golden, before everything went black. The sudden darkness that enveloped him was strange, Sanji felt no fear as he gazed into the inky blackness.
Gradually colors started to return, first soft subtle greens beneath his feet, then gentle blues above his head. The colors weren't as vivid as what he normally saw and oddly there were no sounds, but there were a strange plethora of scents he'd never smelled before. It didn't take long for Sanji to realize that he was seeing, smelling and feeling what Hikaru had felt during his memories.
Small glimpses of memories flashed by barely registering before the next took its place. A kaleidoscope of faces spinning past, seeming to be hundreds of people, until Sanji realized that they were all of the same woman as she grew. Her hair was a dark forest green, a much deeper shad then her son's, although her eyes were the same piercing shade as Zoro's own.
Abruptly the aging stopped as he gazed on the ruined visage of the once beautiful face, the bruises he saw made his own face ache. Yet even with the cut lip and blue-black bruising around her neck her eyes still held fire and determination. Again the scene shifted this time showing two people clearly arguing, the green haired beauty who's bruises had faded her belly rounded just enough to be noticed, and a man whom Sanji assumed to be her father.
Time skipped again, past the birth of Zoro to when he as a child stood face to face with some other young elves. His ears slightly less pointed then the other boys, as he struggled to keep up with their running and antics. Sanji felt his heart breaking as he watched one of the other boys turn to taunt and throw stones at Zoro's larger yet more clumsy form.
Every scene that followed was more of the same, Zoro struggling to fit in, trying to find a place where everyone would welcome him. Each time that he failed he would stumble his way back to his mother who would bathe his wounds and cradle him close showing love as only a mother can. Sanji wasn't sure how many years had passed before things changed, when Zoro met a young white haired boy, with silver eyes.
For a while this new child was just as put upon as Zoro, until they teamed up and stood against the older children, the combined effect of Zoro's larger form with the white haired boy's chilling gaze caused most of the other children to avoid the two all together. Time passed more quickly for a while, showing scenes where both boys smiled and played, with Zoro talking to the other with his hands as he had done for Saya on the ship.
When the memories slowed again, Sanji knew that things were taking a turn for the worst, as he watched three adults wander out of the forest near a river where the two boys played. The next scene was almost too hard for him to look upon, as Zoro was beaten bloody and his friend was tossed into the rushing waters. As the men's attacks grew more brutal Sanji felt helpless, until out of the river arose a monstrous vision.
Standing easily over eight feet tall was a devilish creature with skin the color of old leather, black bat like wings sprouting from his back beneath his shoulder blades, and twin horns sprouted from the white hair adorning his head, each one easily a foot long in itself. At the end of each finger was a wickedly long sharp talons similar to a knife blade, a grim smile played across his face showing the tips of tiny fangs between his lips as his eyes glowed red-orange like the very fires of hell. Somehow Sanji knew that this being was the same little boy who had played with Zoro before.
Before the men had a chance to notice the being behind them he attacked just as Zoro seemed to lose consciousness. With vicious and deliberate movements the creature inflicted pain while immobilizing the men. It took a long time for the men to die, the creature's attacks had been meant to cause pain, until he finally seemed to take pity on them, tearing out one's throat as he tore the other two into pieces.
With bloodstained hands, he gently picked up Zoro's unconscious form before flapping his wings and taking off over the hills towards a castle Sanji just noticed in the distance. As the flying man drew closer to the castle a commotion grew in the streets, armed guards pouring out of doors putting arrows up to the nock's on their bows. As he went to land a volley of arrows flew towards him most of them missing their mark as though they were meant as a warning, but one pierced his wing.
The red-orange eyes which had been gentled as he carried Zoro's tiny form away from the carnage of the previous fight suddenly turned angry. Without noticed the flying form changed direction and with sweeping movements flew to the docks where he placed the still unconscious boy into the safety of a small lifeboat. With gentle motions he covered Zoro's inert form with blankets and then turned back to where he had been attacked.
Suddenly his view changed, the scents leaving as the colors brightened, although the color's were brighter he was having trouble seeing out of his left eye. Sanji guessed that Hikaru was now showing him a memory from Zoro, as he watched his friend who didn't look the same anymore take out guards and destroy half of the city that had been his hometown.
With fire swirling around the winged form as he threw back his head in a soundless howl before an explosion. Through Zoro's eyes Sanji watched the ground shake and buildings fall. The shaking of the island pushed the little boat that he was in away from the land, as fires burned and the island grew smaller Zoro watched as soldiers attacked the tiny winged formed looking like a strange pin cushion.
A wordless cry tore from his throat as Sanji bolted upright from the bench, dripping with a cold sweat as though waking from a nightmare. Hikaru sat on the floor nearby his gaze not leaving the chefs shoes as Sanji's breathing slowed from the rapid pace it had been. Once he was more under control Sanji turned to the wolf like creature his mind so ablaze with questions that he couldn't form a single phrase.
"SANJI!! FOOD!!" Luffy cried out into the morning.
At that sound Sanji jerked his head to look out of the window noticing the sun rising. With deft movements Sanji quickly pulled together a quick breakfast not worrying about his new guest. For a moment he completely forgot that the crew didn't know about the Kre-thor until his captain stumbled into the galley.
"Ne Sanji… where did the dog come from?" Luffy asked quietly as he tilted his head to look at the white furred creature.