I do not own One Piece; that is in the hands of Eiichiro Oda

Chapter 7- A Helping Hand

Hunter saw Zoro standing in the centre of the battlefield he was coated in blood and several, what looked like hybrids and their owners spread across the floor, the swordsman seemed to have a few injuries but when she inspected closer saw most of the blood belonged to the enemies around her.

Hunter's head throbbed, the sight of this much blood got her excited, but she tried desperately to hold back so she wouldn't go mad. She shook her head but no matter what she did, she was unable to stop the throbbing, as she dropped to the floor Zoro approached her.

"GO AWAY!" Hunter pushed him aside but he didn't seem to understand that she could become dangerous any time soon. She heard a voice in her head, it was familiar but she hadn't heard it in years. 'Looks like I finally got a hold of you little brat, did you think you could run away forever.' It was Moriah, and it seemed that he was working on how to control her and it was finally happening.

Hunter was always thrilled by the sight of blood and lusted for it, but never had she craved it so much so suddenly, it was as though she wanted to devour her enemies, to not only see their blood but to taste it. 'Good you seem to be going crazy, I haven't got much time, but might as well have some fun while it lasts ne? Gihihihih.'

How Hunter hated that laugh, she despised everything about that man, but that laugh was what she hated the most, it was the one he used as he killed her sister, how it drove her insane. But what did he mean by fun. Before Hunter could think anything through she put her hood on leaving her mask and lunged towards Zoro, sadistic smile on her face.

'That's right brat, you're mine now.' Hunter couldn't control what was happening and just prayed Zoro could block her attacks.

"What are you doing?" He asked he seemed to be remaining calm.

Hunter opened her mouth and tried to speak but no words would come out, It seemed that Moriah was preventing her from speaking. She closed her eyes as she attacked, hoping Zoro would get the message that she didn't want to do this.

Hunter knew Zoro could be smart at times, but she didn't expect him this smart. In the next few moments Zoro held Hunter in a defenceless position and began to shout.

"YOU BASTARD, YOU BETTER WATCH OUT. NOBODY MESSES WITH MY CREW AND GETS AWAY WITH IT YOU HEAR ME?" Zoro seemed to be shouting at Moriah, when he was done Hunter still felt like she was under Moriah's control so she tried to hint Zoro to get away. But instead he walked closer. He put his arm on Hunter's shoulder and whispered to her.

"Lower your weapon." Hunter froze up, she was stuck between attacking him and putting her knife down, she knew that much longer under Moriah's control and she wouldn't be able to hold back from strong attacks. "I know you can do it Hunter." Zoro spoke again. 'He believes in you Hunter, come on you can do it.' He was able to regain her own thoughts and soon dropped her dagger to the floor, she felt her slim form following but Zoro caught her in time.

He lifted her off the ground and picked up the dagger, walking her back to the direction in which he thought the ship was. Only to wind up lost several times, Hunter had at one point fallen asleep; eventually he came across Nami who had apparently been looking for the two of them since dawn.

"Where have you been?" She asked.

"Walking." The swordsman replied bluntly.

"So why are you covered in blood? And why is Hunter sleeping in your arms?"

"Felt like it."

Nami went to hit Zoro but stopped herself when she realised Hunter would wake up. "Idiot." She muttered. "Just what have you two been up to?"

"That's our business." Zoro replied.

"Oh really?"

Zoro paused for a moment and realised what he had said probably came out wrong. "Dammit Nami, we were just walking and ran into trouble that's all."

"Whatever." She replied and walked them back to the ship.

When they arrived a very eager to leave this island captain was yelling out muffled words with his mouth full of food. Luffy swallowed what he was eating and shouted out. "OI ZORO, HURRY UP I WANT TO GET TO MORE ISLANDS!"

Zoro just rolled his eyes and jumped onto the ship, with a greeting from everyone and a lecture from Sanji on how it's his fault Hunter probably got hurt, Zoro ignored what he was saying and went to place Hunter on her bed. He gently put her onto the mattress and was about to leave when he felt a tugging on his hand, he hadn't realised until now but Hunter had at one point grabbed his hand and there was no way she was letting go easily.

Zoro took a deep breath, "I wish I could stay but the other will get the wrong idea, I'll see you when you wake up okay?"

Hunter's grip loosened and he slipped his hand out of hers and headed from the dining hall, he felt a strange feeling in his chest but just assumed that he was hungry seeing as he hadn't eaten since the party at the bar. He went to train I the crow's nest after his meal but the feeling was still their he dismissed it as nothing and begun to train.

Hunter woke up in what seemed to be the afternoon, she must have been exhausted after Moriah gained control over her and fell asleep. 'I wonder how I got here then.' Hunter's only logical reason would be that the swordsman brought her here, but that meant the he would have picked her up, Hunter felt uncomfortable after thinking about that. Normally anyone who touched her when she didn't want them to would end up dead, she would have to pay the swordsman back later, maybe in a less morbid way though. She actually liked this crew and didn't want them to discard of her any time soon.

Hunter was hungry, no that was an understatement Hunter was starving , she walked into the kitchen and told Sanji to prepare her a feast. He laughed and Hunter glared at him, he quickly cooked the meal and gave it to her. By the time she was done, most of the crew, excluding Robin, Nami and Zoro, stood behind her with their jaws dropped.

"What..?" She asked.

"Can girls normally eat like that?" They all asked in unision.

Alright, I know it's a bad place to end, but I am currently supposed to be studying, so I wrote as much I could, guess you'll just have to wait for the rest of the conversation.

Please Review

Until next time

Alyssa(My name, in case I forgot to mention that)