"So . . . are there anything we need a heads up on?" Sanji asked as he backed up a little to get into a better fighting stance.
Zoro placed a sword into his mouth and held out his other two, giving the demons enough warning that he wasn't going to play around with them. He scanned them one by one before he answered the blonde
"That elder demon is a Mole Demon," he said informing everyone. "The one beside her isn't, but his pet is. The other female demon is a Thorn Demon, watch out for her, and this arrogant demon before me . . . he's mine!"
At that Zoro charged the demon. His sword clashed hard with the demon's arms. The demon's power saving him from the impact. Zoro was strong though and instantly pushed the demon back ready for the others to start their assault on other demons.
Sanji came in quickly behind the swordsman. His foot implanted neatly into the unsuspecting Transformation Demon. The man flew right into a tree as Sanji landed on the ground with grace.
"One down," he said looking for his next victim.
Just as he about went after the others he stopped, hearing a moan come from the downed demon. He stopped and turned to see if he was getting back up. After the dust cleared his jaw dropped at seeing none other than his Nami-swan.
"NAMI?!!" he gasped not believing he had mistaken her for that demon.
"Oh," she said touching her face. "How could you do such a thing Sanji-kun?"
"I—I—I'm so—" he started as he came up to her to help her up only to be met by a solid kick across the face.
"Ha, ha!!" Bon Clay laughed as he twirled. "Serves you right!"
"D-Da-- it!" Sanji cursed to himself as he wiped the blood off his split lip and got back up. "I can't be fooled by him again!"
At that Sanji charged. He jumped up and then came down the kick the demon, but saw Nami in the demon's stead. His vision was immediately blinded by hearts—giving the demon the perfect opportunity to kick him away again.
"Is it really this easy?" Bon Clay asked seeing the groaning man on the ground.
"Da-- you!!" cursed Sanji getting back up and charging, only to have the demon change back into Nami and him be an emotional good puppy. "Haaa! So beautiful!!"
"Apparently it is," Bon Clay said as he kicked him once again.
While Bon Clay was busy tricking an idiotic Sanji the other demons attacked the others. The Mole Demon and the human with a demon pet chased after Usopp and Chopper who quickly ran away screaming, while the Thorn Demon came towards the two girls.
"Well, well, looks like my prey's pretty easy," she said with a smile as she placed her hands on her hips and began to walk towards the two.
"Oh no!" gasped Nami as she and Vivi backed away towards Caru.
"Stay away from them!" came Luffy as he kicked her out of the way.
"Haaa, nice going Luffy-kun!" Vivi and Nami cheered.
The Thorn Demon groaned and looked at the place where he had kicked her. She hissed feeling her flesh burning. She growled in anger looking at the young dark-haired teen. Her eyes widened sensing this young boy's power.
"No!" she gasped. "It can't be! I thought you were extinct!"
"Na—what are you talking about?" asked Luffy cocking his head.
Tch, the fool doesn't even know his own power! She inwardly hissed trying to find a way to get around him and towards the weaker ones first—after all—that was rule number one in being an assassin.
She quickly changed her body into a ball of thorns. She then rolled straightforward hoping to scare the boy out of way—and she did. She heard him gasp as he jumped out of the way.
"What the he-- is she?!" gasped Luffy watching her roll on . . . right after the screaming girls. "AH! OH NO! NAMI-CHAN, VIVI-SAMA!!"
Luffy was about to chase after them when he stopped. He groaned out and began to rub his eye violently—something had got in it.
"AAAHHH AAHHHH!!" cried the two boys as they continued to run from the two demons.
"Hold up you little rascals!!" shouted the Mole demon
"," the human called.
"Is there something wrong with that guy?!" asked Chopper as he ran up next to Usopp.
"Yeah, I think he's a little slow!" Usopp said continuing to run as fast as he could.
"No, I mean why would a human be with a demon?!!" asked Chopper. "It makes no sense!"
"The whole world doesn't make any sense Chopper!!" cried Usopp as they picked up pace.
It was then the two noticed a shadow above them. They turned and looked up seeing the elderly demon coming down on them with sharp claws out.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!!" they cried as they quickly dodged and slid away.
"Ah!" cried Usopp looking back to see a large hole where she had hit down. "I'm not qualified to fight demons!"
"I'm not either!" cried Chopper. "I'm just a doctor!"
The two then noticed something off—it was strangely silent. The two turned to look behind them and see . . . nothing? They scanned the area for a minute before looking at each other and shrugging.
"They're gone," Chopper said as he and Usopp stood up and wiped the dirt off of them.
"That's odd," Usopp said still trying to find them.
Both halted upon hearing something. They turn and look to see that human coming out of a hole in the ground, holding a strange looking rod. They blinked in confusion before hearing a bark come behind them. They turn and nearly jump out of their skin upon seeing the demon pet that resembled a dog.
In a flash the thing shoots some kind of a ball out of its mouth towards the human. Usopp and Chopper turn to see the human, who appeared slow, swing his rod in lightning speed shooting the balls right at the two.
"AAAAHHHHH!!!" they screamed as they flew right at them and exploded.
"AAAHHHH!!" the two girls screamed as the ball of thorns chased them.
"Vivi-sama! You need to get out of here!" Nami said as she ran next to her.
"What?!" gasped Vivi looking at her dear friend. "N-No! I'm not leaving you!"
"They're after you!" Nami said. "If you can escape then you'll be safe!"
"But Nami-chan!" said Vivi.
"No buts!" she said. "Now get on Caru! I'll try and hold her off as long as I can!"
"Right!" Vivi said with tears in her eyes as she got on Caru and sped off.
Nami scanned her surroundings quick. She looked behind her to see the demon still chasing her. She quickly jumped to the left and grabbed her staff, besides she was an expert in boa staff fighting. Now would be a good time to use it.
Nami quickly jumped back into action and, with all her might, hit the ball of thorns—luckily it was affected and swung into a nearby tree.
"YES!!" cheered Nami with a grin as she scrunched her fist.
Nami then watched the demon morph back into her human form, but it seemed her hair was still stuck into the tree bark. She watched the female demon struggle to get out. Soon her eyes met Nami and Nami gasped, knowing she'd been caught.
"YOU!" she growled, the look of death in her eyes.
"Ah!" Nami squeaked as she quickly turned tail and ran for it.
Before her she heard the tree crack—signifying the demon be free. Nami looked behind her to see the demon chasing her, but this time her fists were stretched out full of thorns ready to strike her.
"Ah!" Nami cried as she quickly dodged to the right to avoid the hit.
Nami gasped upon seeing the demon over her ready to stab her through. Nami rolled away just in time to avoid the hit. She heard the demon hiss as she looked at her. Nami quickly got to her feet and prepared herself for another attack.
"Hm, who do you think you are human?" the Thorn Demon said as she stuck her hip out with a smirk. "Surely you're no match for a demon such a me."
"I may not be, but I'm gonna try," Nami said sticking out her staff.
"Heh, what a fool!" spat the demon as she morphed back into her ball of thorns and charged.
Zoro sliced the demon across the leg, but his swords seemed ineffective. He then slid his swords up to the demon's face and hit him back. The demon flipped and landed on his feet.
"Hm, for a Steel Demon you're not too bad," Zoro said with a smirk.
"That's because every day of my life I dreamt of meeting and fighting you!" he said as he charged him and shot his arms forward, commanding drilling blades to come out.
Zoro stopped him from even touching his body as he crossed his swords before him. The sheer impact nearly bent the trees in half. Zoro glanced around, slightly impressed by the level of this demon—but like he said—he didn't have time to play around.
Zoro instantly pushed the demon back and stood up tall. Zoro's dark eyes only glared at this arrogant demon before him. The demon seemed unimpressed by him though and only sneered.
"I still don't understand why you reside with these humans . . . You know staying in that human form only blocks your true power," he said.
"I know that," Zoro said looking at the demon. "But that's a good thing—for you."
At that Zoro charged the demon and this time managed to draw blood from him, thus making the Steel Demon rethink about calling him weak in that form.
"Chopper, Chopper, hey, you okay?!" asked Usopp shaking the young boy.
"Uh, y-yeah, I'm fine," he said getting up and shaking his head. "What was that?"
"I don't know, but we gotta get out of here if we want to keep our lives!" Usopp said.
"But—but what about the others?" asked Chopper, concerned for them.
"They can take care of themselves," Usopp assured him.
"N-No, I can't abandon them, I'm sorry," Chopper said shaking his head. "I'm a doctor, and Vivi-sama's personal! I can't abandon my duty!"
"But Chopper!" Usopp said. "We're no match for these guys!"
"I know but . . . we've got to try!" he said turning to look at all the holes on the forest floor.
The two scanned the area, but found no one—just the pet demon waiting for its master to surface. Both trembled, but they stood their ground.
"Ah!" Usopp gasped feeling something grab his feet.
He looked down and knew exactly who that clawed hand belonged to.
"Ha, ha, gotcha!" the Mole Demon giggled.
"AH!!" he cried as she quickly pushed him forward. "CHOPPER!!"
"USOPP!!" cried Chopper watching his friend get shot right towards a hole where the human began to surface.
"NO NO NO NO NO!!!" cried Usopp as the man swung his rod and hit him square across the face, flinging him into the trees only to tumble back down through the branches.
"USOPP!!" cried Chopper seeing the unmoving form.
Chopper nearly teared up, but knew he couldn't. Men didn't cry! He then looked at the two laughing people and in rage he looked around to try and do something!
"Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha!" they both laughed.
"You are by far the weakest humans we've ever met!!" laughed the Mole Demon. "You're so weak it's pathetic!! Ah, ha, ha, ha!! I'll tell ya! Once we're done with you two then we'll go off and kill your friends!!"
"N-No!" groaned Usopp trying to move.
Usopp thought about his friends and knew it'd kill him if anyone died. It was then he thought about back when his mother took that slice for him—she did it to protect him, and still he couldn't do a thing. He was weak! But he needed to be stronger! Stronger to protect the ones that he loved the most!!
Usopp groaned as he struggled to stand back up on his wobbly legs. Both looked at him and wondered how he was still moving.
"Hm, you're still alive?" she asked. "Well then, I guess we'll have to kill you again!"
At that she dove into a hole. Chopper gasped and looked at Usopp as he cried—
"Usopp! You have to get out of here!"
"I can't Chopper," he said shaking his head. "I won't run and abandon my friends."
"But Usopp," Chopper said, once again tearing up.
"Uh!" gasped Usopp feeling the demon grab his feet again.
"NO!!" cried Chopper seeing him be shot right towards the human, again.
Chopper quickly looked around for any weakness—ANY!! He then gasped seeing it. In an instant he quickly ran to the pet demon and shoved dirt on it. The demon coughed and coughed before it coughed up a ball right towards where Usopp and the Mole Demon were.
"USOPP!! JUMP AWAY!!" he cried.
Usopp quickly detached himself from his shoes right in time to avoid the hit the Mole Woman took. Usopp quickly took action and shot a pebble right at the human, it burst and shot out a smoke screen.
Now both Usopp and Chopper watched as the man hit his partner right across the face. Chopper then turned to Usopp and said—
"Usopp, hurry! Hit those trees!" he said pointing above the two.
"Right!" Usopp said with a nod as he did just that and shot the trees where they came falling on the demon and her partner.
"YES!!" they both cheered—well, before Usopp fell over motionless.
"AAHH!!" cried Chopper. "Usopp, Usopp say something!! A doctor! Someone call a doctor!!"
"That's you!" Usopp said in a moment before he fainted once again.
"Oh," Chopper said with a blink.
"Ah gah!" cried Sanji holding his abused ribcage.
"Naaah haaa!" Bon Clay laughed as he danced around him. "You weak pathetic human!"
Sanji growled trying once more to get a kick at him, but he only changed back into Nami to make him fall away and admire her. Bon Clay, once again, kicked him and danced around.
"You old fool!" he laughed. "You're too easy!"
"Really?" Sanji said looking up at him.
Sanji tried one more time, he jumped up and tried to kick him, but Bon Clay changed once more.
"You won't hit me would you?" he said in that feminine voice Sanji loved so much.
"Oi, what's that on your cheek?" Sanji asked looking at his face.
"Hm, what?" asked Bon Clay as he touched it and changed back into his normal form so Sanji could kick him to the ground. "UGH!!"
Sanji smirked seeing that demon face of the ground. Bon Clay groaned as he got up and growled at the blonde. Sanji sighed and said—
"Just shut up and accept defeat."
At that he kicked him three times, one in the face, one in the torso, and one in the abdomen. This sent Bon Clay flying right into a tree. Sanji watched him slide down to the ground and lay there. Once he made sure he wasn't getting up he turned and headed to find where everyone else had gone.
Nami seemed to scream the whole way as the demon chased her. She had to zigzag the whole way to avoid being run over by the spikes. She was growing weary of this, but she knew her strategy would work as long as this stupid demon continued to fall for it.
Just as Nami saw a stream she quickly leapt over it and turned to catch her breath. She looked at the demon who stood still, still in her ball form.
"Ha, and just what do you think—I can't cross water or something?" the demon laughed.
"Not really," Nami said shaking her head. "But uh—you might what to watch out above."
"What?" she said glancing up to see the tree that she had damaged with her continuous hits; begin to fall down upon her.
Nami grinned hearing her scream as they all came toppling on her. Yep, jumping from tree to tree worked. She knew they'd get weak by her attacks and eventually fall on her, making sure she'd stay down for quite some time.
"Now I have to get back to the others!" she said as she ran off.
"Ha, ha, is that all you got Steel Demon?" Zoro asked with a smirk seeing the demon become more weary. "I thought you said you were the strongest of your people."
"I know . . ." he said between gasps. "It is a sin to even touch you, and those that do are damned to an eternity of torture, but I have no other choice."
Zoro raised a brow wondering just what this demon was going to do. In a flash the demon charged. Zoro remained still thinking he would not touch him—but that was not the case—this demon was serious and he proved it by shoving his bladed hand into Zoro's shoulder and knocking him down to the ground.
Zoro groaned out, feeling pain again in years. He grasp his shoulder and looked at his hand that was covered in his own blood—he hadn't seen that in ages. This demon dared, and now he'd pay for it! Zoro growled and stood up looking at the stupid demon who had his back turned to him.
"Don't you know it is a shame to turn your back to your opponent!" Zoro growled out, his voice becoming deeper by the second.
"I know this," the demon said as he turned to him slowly and looked at him with doomed eyes. "Do what you must."
It was then his eyes met Zoro's. The Steel Demon froze in fear seeing those blood-red eyes of the swordsman. Those eyes he's heard in legend, exclaiming that if you see them—you will surely die.
The atmosphere darkened and a force was pushed from Zoro hitting the demon. He backed up a little, but stood tall—accepting his destined fate. Zoro then came to one of his swords he had dropped, due to the demon striking him, took it and then came up to the other.
He stood before him and ran two fingers along the steel of the blade, sending his energy into the sword making it burn a purple fire. He then pulled it back looking at the demon before him.
"This is your doom—Daz Bones," Zoro said his full name.
"Forgive me . . . Asura," he said closing his eyes, prepared for the end.
Zoro then thrust the dark blade deep into the demon's chest. The dark fire igniting his insides—burning him up form the inside out. Zoro remained where he stood watching the ash fall to the ground. Once done he straightened and cleaned his sword and sheathed it.
"Hm, foolish," he growled.
Not a second too soon after an ear-piercing scream flooded the air. Zoro looked up knowing whose it belonged to. He darted away quickly to find Vivi wondering what trouble she was in now.
Once he reached the place where everyone split up he froze. His eyes widened seeing a Demon Lord standing before Princess Vivi.
"Crocodile?" Zoro said not expecting to see him there.
He saw how frightened she was; he could expect that—it was a Demon Lord after al . . . Zoro froze yet again as the smirking man turned to him revealing the true horror of Vivi's. There . . . skewered to his golden hook lay Luffy.
"Luffy!" he gasped seeing the young unmoving teen with a hook through his belly, blood running down his mouth and nose.
"Oh, Roronoa—glad to see you," Crocodile said turning fully to the man.
"What the he-- are you doing here?!" Zoro growled, a hand flying to a sword.
"Why—isn't it obvious?" Crocodile asked holding out his arm, with Luffy's body numbly attached to it. "Taking care of your problem."
"Da-- it! Put him down!" Zoro demanded.
"Oh, why are you so concerned for this D.?" asked Crocodile. "Surely you don't care what happens to him."
"Listen to ME!!" Zoro demanded, making the atmosphere thicken with his essence.
"Oh my—did you want to finish him off?" asked Crocodile looking at Zoro like he was no threat to him.
"I don't want him dead!" Zoro said with a growl.
"Have you lost your mind?" asked Crocodile, frowning at the swordsman. "You do know who he is right?"
"I know EXACTLY who he is! And now is not his time to die!" spat Zoro. "Now PUT. HIM. DOWN!!"
"No, I don't think I will," Crocodile said as he stretched his arm full of sand around the Princess, bringing her to him.
"AAAAHHH!" she cried trying to get free. "Let me go!!'
"After your father has paid your ransom Princess, I assure you," he whispered to her ear as he chuckled. "See you around Roronoa."
At that a violent sandstorm blinded the swordsman. He cursed knowing Crocodile was making his escape. Once the sand left he looked around to find them gone—only Caru whining for his master.
"DA-- IT!!" he cursed sending out a force that bent the tree back and away from him.
"What was that?" came Nami, rubbing her eyes. "How'd a sandstorm come out of nowhere?! And in the middle of a forest?!!"
"Nami-swaaan!" came Sanji as he danced up next to her. "I hope that terrible sandstorm didn't hurt you. Oi, just what was that da-- swordsman?!"
"Is everyone alright?" came Chopper, dragging a bandaged Usopp on a makeshift cot behind him. "There was a sandstorm and I . . . what's wrong?"
"A Demon Lord has taken Luffy and the Princess," Zoro growled out as he began to scan the area for any signs of which direction the demon took.
"A Demon Lord?!" everyone gasped.
"Are you sure?!" asked Nami. "Oh wait, why am I asking? You seem to know every demon in these parts."
"Which one?!" asked Sanji.
"There's more?!" gasped Chopper with wide eyes.
"Yeah, I heard there's at least seven," Sanji said. "I heard there's a Shadow Demon named Gecko Moria, a Sand Demon named Crocodile, a Snake Demon named Boa Hancock, a Puppet Demon named Donquixote Donflamingo, a Sea Demon named Jimbei, a Blade Demon named Dracule Mihawk, and a Paw Demon named Bartholomew Kuma."
"They sound dangerous," Chopper said.
"Oh, if you think they're dangerous wait 'till you hear about the four—" started Sanji.
"It was Crocodile," Zoro said, cutting Sanji off.
"Huh?" everyone said turning to him.
"You asked which one, and I said it was the Sand Demon, Crocodile," Zoro said.
"Do you know where he is?!" asked Sanji. "We have to save them!"
"No, only I can," Zoro said holding up his hand to them.
"You can't be serious!" said Sanji looking at the swordsman as if he was insane.
"I am," Zoro said with a nod. "You all stay here, I'll return with them."
At that he turned and darted off. Sanji tried to go after him, but Nami stopped him and told him they had to trust Roronoa—for now.
"Kuso!" cursed Sanji as he kicked the side of a tree and brung it down.
Zoro followed the small sand particles in the air. For humans it would be thought impossible to see demon sand, but he could. This was one of the easiest ways to track down demons such as these—these Logia type. Zoro just hoped that Luffy was still alive.
"There," Crocodile said as he flung the young boy into the pit with the Princess.
"Luffy!" cried Vivi coming up to the boy who was now feeling the pain and aching.
Vivi was glad that, at least, he was still alive, but by the look of that wound he might not last too long.
"Aaahhh! Agh!!" he cried slamming his head back against the ground.
"Luffy please don't move," Vivi said taking off some of her robe and tying it around him to try and stop the bleeding. "Please stay still—I'm going to need to apply pressure if we want the bleeding to stop."
Vivi pressed down on his wound making Luffy cry out in pain. His aching cries made her heart nearly break. Just seeing him in this kind of state was worse enough. She felt his hands fly to hers to try and push them off.
"I-Its hurts!" he cried as he looked at her with red eyes.
"Please, I have to," she said struggling to keep her hands on his belly, the blood making it easy to slip off.
"Don't waste your time," Crocodile said as he looked down at the two. "He'll be dead shortly."
"I thought you said you killed him," came a woman.
"Ah, Robin," Crocodile grinned. "As you can see he's nearing it soon."
Robin then looked down at the two. She saw the Princess looking up at her and she could only smile.
"My, when you told me you were going out to kill a priest, you didn't tell me you were going to capture the Princess," the girl in white said with a smile.
"Always reach higher is what I say," Crocodile said with a smirk as he turned and left.
Robin stayed and watched the two. She listened to the painful cries of the young teen as the Princess tried to administer her amateur doctor skills.
"V-Vivi!" Luffy groaned as he looked at her. "I—I don't want to die!"
"I know that," Vivi said pressing down a little harder. "I don't want you to die either, please hold on for a little longer. I'm sure our friends are coming for us."
"Hm, you really think so?" asked Robin as she crouched down to look at the two, placing her chin on her palm.
"YES—I do!" she said without a shadow of doubt.
"Hmm, you seem so sure," the older woman smiled. "Are your friends those type?"
"Of course they are!" spat Vivi. "I wouldn't expect a demon to know what friendship is!!"
"You act as if we're heartless," Robin said with a smile. "Well—that's partly true, but being a half demon like me, I still retain some human emotions."
"You're a half demon?!" gasped Vivi. "I've never—"
"Yes, I am Princess, and yes—they exist," she said with a smile. "As you can see I'm living proof."
"But why are you working with a Demon Lord then?" Vivi asked.
"I have my reasons," the half demon said as she stood up. "I am none of your concern, but I still wonder about your little group."
"Huh?" said Vivi looking at the woman.
"That boy right there," Robin said pointing to the groaning teen. "He's a D. right?"
"Uuuhhh, what is that supposed to mean?" she asked in confusion.
"Hm, I see daddy hasn't told you yet," Robin said with a small chuckle. "Well I'll let you in on a little secret—that boy, and his family, are the humans' secret weapon against us demons—I wouldn't let him die if I were you."
At that she walked away, leaving the two alone in the dark pit. Vivi was trying to decipher what that woman meant when she felt Luffy's body trembling. She looked to see him straining himself to lift his head and look at her more clearly.
"W-What did she m-mean by that?" Luffy groaned out as he coughed up more blood.
"I don't know Luffy, just lay down and stay still," she said, gently pushing his head back to the ground.
Luffy just laid there and gazed into the darkness, a little far above the pit some light resided, but very little. He felt his body start relaxing—or getting wearier. His eyes became unbelievably heavy, he wanted to close them and get some rest, but knew if he did then he'd never open them again.
He couldn't die . . . he couldn't . . . he had to see his brother Ace . . . it's been ten years since he's last seen him and now he had finally gotten the chance to see him after so long . . . no . . . he couldn't die.
Zoro now cut his way through the vegetation; the trees and bushes were just getting in the way. These sand particles seemed to be everywhere! But they still lead in one direction, and he followed them. Soon he came to, what seemed like, a normal home. He looked around it and found this to be the resting place of the sand—Crocodile was here.
He walked up to the building and placed his hand on the walls. He closed his eyes and scanned the layout of the place with his very spirit. He opened them and looked down—this house was only a distraction from what lay beneath it. It seemed to be like an endless maze underneath.
"So I have to go down," Zoro said to himself as he took out one of his katanas and sliced the wall through.
He entered the house and looked for the entrance to go down. He saw the passage way and so took it. It was a steep ladder that seemed to climb into the very deeps of darkness.
Zoro inwardly sighed as he descended downward. After he reached the bottom of this ladder he knew he'd have to find the two before he sought out Crocodile—he knew Luffy was gravely wounded and probably wouldn't last for long if something wasn't done.
Zoro touched the ground and looked around in the darkness. It was very dark with hardly any light. He looked up to see some of the light coming from windows in the ceiling. It was enough to light the dark tunnel-like halls for him to walk down.
Zoro started his way down to the left knowing this was where the pits were where Crocodile usually kept his prisoners. On his way there though he felt as if he was being watched. He looked around the dark tunnels, but saw nothing. He hadn't noticed the hands attached to the walls with eyes on their palms. He frankly could care less if someone was watching him, knowing they wouldn't do anything about his descent towards the prisons.
He eventually reached a door where the prisons laid. He pulled on the handle, but there seemed to be a lock on it. Zoro released his grip on the handle and just gazed at the dark lit rusted door. He took out one of his katanas and with one single slice cut the door down.
He sheathed his katana and then walked into the room. Once he set a foot in that dark place he could hear the sound of soft crying. That crying belonged to the Princess. He looked in the direction where it came from and soon found the pit.
He looked down through the darkness into the pit to see two figures. One was looking down at the other who was laying on the ground. As he set his foot near the edge he heard the one gasp and saw them look up at him.
"Who's there?!!" gasped Vivi looking up at the dark figure, thinking it could be Crocodile.
"It's me," Zoro said, knowing she'd recognize his voice.
"Zoro!" she gasped with wide eyes. "Oh thank Kami you're here!"
"Is Luffy with you?" Zoro asked glancing at the other figure laying on the floor.
"Yeah," she said with a sniff as she wiped her eyes. "B-But he's gone to sleep."
"Then wake him up!" Zoro said knowing that couldn't be good.
"I've tried!" she cried, breaking out into sobs. "But he's not waking up!"
Kuso! Zoro inwardly cursed as he glanced around before jumping down into the pit with them, landing next to Vivi.
Zoro placed two fingers on Luffy's neck. The first thing he felt was how cold he was getting—probably due to the loss of blood, and the other thing was how weak his pulse was . . . he was about ready to die.
"Kuso!" Zoro cursed as he looked around and noticed the pool of blood he lay in. "Have you been trying to stop the bleeding all this time?!"
"Yeah," Vivi said with a nod, as she rubbed her watery eyes. "But I'm no doctor and the bleeding just won't stop!"
"It lets you know he's still alive," Zoro said scanning him up and down. "But if we don't get him to Chopper soon, he'll die."
"Actually . . . it's a little too late for that," came the sound of a woman's voice.
Both looked up to see a dark-haired, dark-skinned, woman in white just looking down at them with a curious smile.
"It's you!" gasped Vivi.
"You believe he is ready to die," Zoro said glaring up at her.
"Oh I know he is," Robin said with a smile.
"Who are you?" Zoro asked looking up at her. "I've never seen you around here before."
"That's because I'm somewhat new," she said with a smile. "My name's Nico Robin—it's a pleasure to meet the infamous Roronoa Zoro."
"Hm, so you're that half demon I've heard so much about," Zoro said with a slight smirk, as he gazed up at her.
"Oh, I'm so glad you've heard about me," she said with a smile.
"If you wish to fight I tell you I have no time," Zoro said standing up and grasping his katanas.
"Oh, I have no desire to die, like my partner does," she said with a roll of the shoulders. "I've just come here to see how you shall save this young lad."
Zoro growled as he looked back down at the dying teen. There wasn't much that could be done for him now—so a miracle was needed in order to save his life.
"It seems there's no way for him to survive," Zoro said looking down at him.
"No!" Vivi gasped as she covered her mouth and shook her head.
"It's true you know," Robin with a nod. "Well, partially."
"What does she mean by that?" Vivi asked Zoro in desperation.
Zoro only sneered at the half demon looking down upon them. He knew what she was suggesting, but what she was suggesting was against the very laws of nature.
"You know what I mean, don't you Roronoa," she said with a smirk as she looked down at the green-haired swordsman.
"You—you know how to save him?!" asked Vivi looking up at him. "Then please, please save him!"
"Yes Roronoa, please save this D." Robin said with a smile wondering if he'd do such a thing.
"Please!" begged Vivi, grasping onto Zoro's clothing. "He's too young to die! Plus he told me he didn't want to die before he got the chance to see his brother again!"
Zoro looked down at the boy who was ready to give up the ghost. There wasn't much to be done . . . but one thing. He glanced up at the half demon who still waited, wondering if he was going to do anything.
"If you do not wish to save him," she said taking out a vile filled with some kind of liquid. "I suppose I could—it'd be more fun with him alive in the world than him not."
She was about ready to toss the vile down to them, but she saw the swordsman look up at her and sneer.
"Your blood will not taint him!" he protested, making he halt her actions.
"Very well," she said placing the vile back into her pocket. "Besides—I guess I'm not enough demon to bring out his healing ability anyways. I suppose it'd only give him a few more hours to live, than have him heal fully."
"W-What is she saying?" asked Vivi as she watched the swordsman bend down and lean over the young raven-haired teen. "Bushido-san?"
Zoro closed his eyes and inhaled. He knew this was a sin and that he had promised her he'd never do such a thing . . . but it was to save his life.
"Forgive me . . . Kiyoko," he whispered as he opened his eyes and gazed at the perishing teen.
He then took out a dagger he held and sliced his hand. Vivi watched him as he opened Luffy's mouth and let his blood fall in. After about a minute or so of doing this he closed Luffy's mouth and then took her hand and placed it on Luffy's chin.
"Make sure this stays closed," he said as he then moved his cut hand towards Luffy's wound, placing it on it.
Zoro then pressed down and in an instant the reaction started. Zoro felt his palm begin to burn. It wasn't as bad at first, but the fire just continued to grow. Soon Luffy began to thrash.
Vivi gasped feeling this and so held down his arms with her other arm. Her hand just upon his jaw as he tried to cry out. His head thrashed around to get away from her, but her hand remained on him and wouldn't be move.
She could hear Luffy's kept in cries and she knew if she released his jaw it'd be horrible to hear. She bit her bottom lip as she watched Zoro. She looked down at his palm and saw the blood actually boiling! She gasped and widened her eyes at this, but remained silent and only questioned it inwardly.
The fire he felt scorching up his hand had grown greatly now. Zoro groaned inwardly, but made no sound. This was a good sign—for Luffy, it meant his body was fighting off the blood he was just given. The tainted blood was forcing his ability to come out in its fullest and fight it off—because of this it was also making it notice the wound Luffy had and so activate his healing ability.
"MMMM!!! MMMM!!!" Luffy's inward cries were starting to come out.
Vivi tried holding his jaw shut, but the blood on her hands made them slip off, thus letting Luffy cry out to the world.
"AAAHHH!! AAHH!!" he cried tossing his head back and forth.
Vivi gasp and was about ready to come and shut his mouth when she watched two arms spring forth from the ground and cover the teen's mouth. Vivi's eyes widened at this strange happening. She looked up to see that the half demon had caused this, the woman only smiled down at them making Vivi wonder just what she was up to.
"What?" Robin said with a shrug as if she was completely innocent. "We don't want Crocodile hearing now do we?"
Vivi decided to ignore the woman as she looked back to see Zoro's hand burning—she even smelt the burning flesh as the more he continued to press on Luffy's wound.
"Zoro, you're hurting yourself!" she said trying to pull his hand off Luffy.
"Stay away!" he ordered out with a grunt.
Vivi froze and did as she was told. She looked at Zoro's face and saw the pain clearly written all over it. She couldn't understand why this was happening—why his hand was burning, or why Zoro was freely taking on this strange pain. Vivi covered her mouth and nose from the smell and continued to watch as Zoro gritted his teeth and continued to take on the burning.
Robin continued to watch with curiosity as the swordsman did this act. She looked at the struggling teen who seemed to be in more pain than the swordsman. She knew what was going on inside the young boy's body—him crying out because of the pain was a good thing . . . it was letting them know the 'treatment' was working.
After about five minutes the young boy began to glow. Vivi had noticed this and gasped in awe. She had never seen such a thing, but as she was admiring this strange happening a loud cry and blinding flash of light spewed forth from the dark-haired boy, blinding everyone in the room.
Vivi gasped and darted back with her eyes shielded. She remained that way until she thought it safe to open them. Once she opened her soft blue eyes she looked to see Zoro sitting back from him, his hand away. Vivi gasped seeing his hand continuing to burn from the other's blood that remained on it.
She was about to say something when the swordsman quickly wiped it off his hand and tied a cloth around it, but his arm continued to shake from the searing pain. She looked at him in concern, but her attention was quickly taken off him as she turned to see Luffy laying on the ground peacefully, the arm sprouts gone from him. His very being was engulfed in a soft glow and there—on his belly lay no wound!
Vivi gasped wondering what kind of magic this was. She had no time to look back at Robin who only continued to watch this unfold with curiosity. The half demon watched the young boy's body emit the soft glow—signifying that his healing factor was working well.
Hmm, so this is the power of a D. Robin thought to herself, having seen it once before—but a very long time ago.
She was quite impressed his spiritual level was this high—for being one so young and new to these powers. She had remembered seeing these powers once before, but it was with a more experienced D.—this one still had some ways to go if he was to mature that raw power.
Robin was pulled out of her thoughts seeing the young teen open his eyes. She gasped slightly not thinking he would heal this fast and regain consciousness. She leaned more towards them as she closely watched him look around him, as if in a dream state.
She watched his eyes meet the swordsman's form. His eyes seemed to stay on him. She hadn't known why, but soon she watched his arm stretch towards him.
"Zoro . . ." he said in a small voice that was yet back to its full strength. "You're hurt."
At that he placed his hand on Zoro's wounded shoulder. Robin gasped knowing the boy'd only hurt him, Zoro did the same thing as he turned to the boy. Zoro looked at the boy knowing he did not know what he was doing and so was about to push his hand off him, but never got the chance as Luffy's hand fell from his wounded shoulder to reveal the wound . . . completely healed.
Robin covered her mouth slightly and gasped. Never in her life had she seen someone like him do something like that! She saw the shocked look on Zoro's face as he scanned his shoulder. She watched as his eyes fell from his shoulder to the boy who only nodded with a smile before closing his eyes and resting—the light fading.
"W-What just happened?" Vivi asked seeing all this.
"Amazing," Robin gasped out as she slowly shook her head.
Zoro just glanced at Vivi, and then the half demon above them. He decided to push the thought away as he came near Luffy again and picked him up. He stood up and looked at Vivi saying—
"Come on, we're getting out of here."
"Uh h-hai," she said with a nod as she got up and grabbed a hold of the swordsman.
In one single leap they were out of the pit. Robin still staring at them. Vivi let go of the swordsman and looked at the woman.
"Why are you not telling your master we've escaped?!" she asked knowing not to trust this woman.
"Hm, he is not my master," Robin said with a shake of her head. "And besides, I'm a very curious woman—I'd like to see just what your little group does on your adventure. Of course you'll have to be alive to do that."
"That still doesn't—!" started Vivi, but Zoro held up his hand before her signaling her to silence.
Zoro just looked at the woman who continued to smile. As she inclined her head to him he turned and decided to leave. Vivi spared one last glance at the woman, but found she was no longer there. She shrugged it off and continued her way with Zoro.
As they neared the exit though Vivi stopped and began to rub her eyes. Zoro noticed her halt in steps and so turned to her.
"What's wrong?"
"My eyes," she groaned. "I have something in them."
Zoro's eyes widened slightly as he turned and looked to see the exit being blocked by hoards of sand. He backed up and stood near Vivi as they were surrounded. Zoro growled upon hearing that familiar laugh—he had really come to despise that demon.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" came Crocodile's voice as his body was formed in the sand, him now standing before them. "Roronoa-san, and the Princess? Tsk, tsk, what are you doing out of your pit?"
"Crocodile!" Vivi growled, scrunching up her hands into fists.
"And the D.?" Crocodile said seeing him resting peacefully in the swordsman's arms. "He's still alive? How can that be?!"
He then looked at Vivi with angered eyes. He growled knowing it must have been her. She must have done something to heal him—but what could a human have done?!
"You!" he growled, making the Princess jump. "What have you done?!"
"She's done nothing Crocodile!" Zoro said pushing her behind him to guard her.
"Then don't tell me it was you!" he said looking at the swordsman.
Zoro remained silent, knowing he didn't have to answer this Demon Lord if he didn't wish to. Crocodile growled at his unanswered question, but he too remained silent—trying to contemplate on what happened.
"Uh," Luffy let out a grown in his rest, and his face held the look of pain for a slight moment.
Crocodile caught this and then looked to see his wound completely healed. He then looked to see one of Zoro's hands wrapped in a cloth from an injury. Suddenly, the conclusion struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"No!" he gasped, his eyes widening by the second at the realization. "You didn't!"
Zoro gripped onto Luffy tighter, knowing the demon had figured it out. He pushed Vivi back a little more and prepared himself to jump out of the way if he threw an attack at them. The look on Crocodile's face was that of shock, disbelief, disgust, and rage.
"Da-- you!" he cursed, his very being shaking. "How dare you save his life and disgrace your family name!! How shameful can you get?!!"
"I told you it was not his time to die!" Zoro bit back.
"It is time for ANY D. to die!" growled Crocodile. "What shame have you wrought upon your people!"
"A shame I am willing to bear," Zoro said, standing up tall.
"How noble of you," came Robin, standing right next to Crocodile. "Since when did that happen?"
"Nico, did you watch this sinful act?!" Crocodile asked looking down at her.
"I was there, yes," she said with a nod.
"And WHY didn't you STOP him?!!" Crocodile growled at his partner.
"I cannot stop that man," she said shaking her head. "Like neither can you. I offered to bear the sin myself, but he refused to let me."
"What be you . . . taking on such a sin?!" Crocodile asked looking at the swordsman.
"I can do what I want—in both Demon, and Human Worlds," Zoro said tilting his head up a little higher like a noble.
"You may think that, but you are just a young arrogant—!!" started Crocodile, but Robin stopped him by touching the sleeve of his arm.
"Oh, not around the humans," she said with a smile as she watched Vivi listen to the argument with curiosity.
"Heh, I see," Crocodile said with a smirk as he looked at the Princess. "I'm sure you'd love to know what is going on, don't you Princess? Well I'm afraid you will not. We can't have you running back to daddy and telling him."
"What is going on Bushido-san?!" Vivi asked, ever confused.
Zoro did not answer her though. He just held his hand protectively over her, his other holding onto Luffy tightly. He backed up yet again and Crocodile only looked more disgusted.
"How dare you lower yourself to these humans' standards," Crocodile hissed not liking the swordsman's actions. "Humans should be eradicated from the face of the earth!"
"You shall not harm them!" Zoro ordered.
"Boy—I knew your father . . . you are a little too young to be ordering me around," Crocodile smirked.
"Gomen, Roronoa-san," Robin said with a shrug. "He's one of the few demons not afraid of you, but you do know Mr. 0, that it is a sin to harm him."
"Oh I'm not going to harm him—it's those two who I'm gonna harm," he said motioning towards Vivi and Luffy.
"Hm, this shall be interesting," Robin said as she crossed her arms and stepped back to view.
Zoro growled, finding himself in a situation like this. He glanced around for any way around this. He did not want to fight a Demon Lord while protecting these two. He knew they were vulnerable to a demon's strength and he'd get either one of them if they fought.
"Now," Crocodile said pointing his hook out towards the three. "Which one shall I kill first? Tell me, for it shall be I to redeem you of your sins!"
Hot Shot's girl: Yep, uncovering a little more about demons and humans, more shall be revealed soon. Especially next chp 'cause that's when they meet Whitebeard and Ace XD (I miss 'im TT TT) Whitebeard being one of the oldest demons will share quite a bit about their past--and then some ;D Well I hope you're enjoying this as much as I am writing it :D until next chp, bye ;D
