Author's Note: I think this is the longest chapter I've written for this fic so far! Hope everyone likes the short break from the story. This time, we're just diving into the Other Strawhats' adventures. This is what happened with their East Blue Saga!
Disclaimer: One Piece is not owned by me.
Intermission One: The Other East Blue
Luffy hears rumors of a thief long before he sets sail. A redheaded woman who moves with the grace and sound of a cat. Pirates steal and sneak, so she'll she'll make a good member of his crew. His search brings him to an inn. To a crying little girl and a woman so full of guilt, Luffy can taste it. Brings him to a story. Of a brave and powerful swordsman that took out an entire Marine crew single handedly.
Luffy needs someone like that on his crew.
He makes his way to the Marine base. Finds a green haired man, clinging to life after two weeks with no food and barely any water. Dark eyes crack open when Luffy approaches. Eyes that hold a lot. Pain. Hope. Fear. Courage. The desire for freedom.
"You saved those girls from the Marines?" Luffy asks.
Dark eyes close again. "Hai." The swordsman's voice cracks, weak from lack of use and water.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates. Join my crew!"
"No."
"Eh?"
"My apologizes, Luffy. But I made a promise. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to join you until I complete that promise."
A promise. Luffy respects that. Promises are important after all.
"Yosh! I'll help you finish your promise. Then, you'll be on my crew?"
The swordsman blinks heavily at him. Confusion written across his face. Then, he gives Luffy a weak smile. "Hai. If you help me keep my promise, I'll join your crew."
Luffy cheers.
The two meet Nami a few islands later, stealing a map from Buggy. The cheap captain stabs Zoro in the stomach when he saves Nami. Luffy can't forgive him for that. Once Nami ties up all Buggy's extra parts, Luffy kicks them into the ocean.
Nami joins their crew with a simple request. That twenty-percent of every treasure be sent home to her sister. Luffy accepts.
"So," Nami says, eyes on Zoro as they settle into the small boat they'd taken from Buggy. "You're that sword collector, aren't you?
"Sword collector?" Luffy echoes.
Nami nods. "I've heard about this guy going around, challenging people for valuable swords. They say the Marines can't touch him. Is that you?"
Zoro nods.
He doesn't talk much. Luffy realized that not long after he met Zoro. Unless spoken to, Zoro remains silent. His lips don't even move to smile. A weak upturn to appease Luffy seems to be all they're capable of doing.
His eyes, though. Zoro's eyes never shut up. They tell Luffy a tale of fear. That Zoro desperately wants to get back to something. To someone. But, he can't go yet. He needs something first.
"I'd like to go to Syrup Island." Zoro's soft voice takes Luffy by surprise. "Please."
He sits at the far end of the boat. Eyes glued to the waters ahead of them. Red seeps across his neck and ears. Head bowed and body slumped.
Luffy can't think of a time that Zoro asked him for anything. Normally, the swordsman simply waits to hear the plan.
"Syrup Island?" Nami echoes. "What's on Syrup Island?"
Zoro doesn't look away from the water. "A man."
"Zoro needs to find this man?" For what?
"He has a sword."
There's no sword on Syrup Island. But there is a sniper. Usopp's kind of a coward, but he's fun and his shot is dead on. Somewhere along the way, Luffy will find Usopp some courage.
Zoro thinks he's scary, Luffy realizes not long after they pick Usopp up. The swordsman could be considered scary in battle. He moves like a snake, fast, strikes with precision. Off the battlefield, not so much. Off the battlefield, he's just Zoro.
That doesn't stop him from curling a lip back and snarling. Mostly when he wants to be left alone. Mostly to Usopp. For whatever reason, Nami presence is tolerated. And Luffy treated like he could tell Zoro to go drown and the swordsman would actually do it.
There's just something about Usopp that seems to make Zoro anxious. An anxiety he tries to cover up with glares and snarls. It gives Luffy a funny feeling. And not a good funny feeling.
The sword ends up on an island with a cook. Not a professional chief by any means. But Sanji's food is delicious. His heart is pure. The blond doesn't hesitate to save Nami from a Marine. Doesn't think twice about feeding them when Usopp's stomach growls.
Luffy can't keep the excitement from his chest. Sanji fights as well as he cooks. He chases the same man as Zoro. But for far different reasons.
"I never said I was a good man," Sanji tells them when Zoro stops him from killing the other swordsman. "He's my target. Stand aside, Zoro."
The man they chase cries out some spiel about assassins. Disappears at a dead sprint.
Luffy's swordsman clashes with the cook. Both full of power and promise. The two fight into exhaustion. Luffy leaves them to it. Chases after the man they both want.
A slippery little thing with a squeaky voice but a powerful swing of the blade. But Luffy leaves him unconscious and takes the large sword with him. When he returns to Sanji and Zoro, the swordsman leans over the cook. Speaking more than Luffy's ever heard.
"Luffy can help you," Zoro offers softly. "I know he can."
Sanji's chest heaves as he stares up at Zoro. Bloody and defeated.
"You said you don't want to do this anymore," Zoro says. "Is there someone back home they'll hurt?"
"Just me," Sanji admits.
"Then why not take a chance?"
"If I like you, they'll hurt you."
"We're pirates. Someone's going to hurt us for something, no matter what. I'd rather be hurt for someone I care about than by chance."
Luffy's heart sits a little lighter in his chest. Zoro might not say much, but he knows what nakama means.
Zoro waits until the others sleep peacefully to lower Merry's emergency boat into the water. He leans his head against Merry's side. His fingers linger on the wood.
"Take care of them Merry," he whispers. "They're good."
Good people. Good nakama. Zoro wishes he could go with them. Wishes he could just run away. But he can't. His katana sit heavy on his hip. His promise, heavy on his heart.
One day, he tells himself. One day, when Zoro knows what freedom is, he'll sail with Luffy. For now, he settles into the boat and follows Mihawk's viver card home.
"Luffy! Luffy, wake up!" Nami screeches.
Luffy moans and bats her hands away as she shakes him. It's too early to get up.
"Luffy, Zoro's gone!"
Gone? Luffy shoots up straight. "What?"
"You're late," Mihawk drawls as Zoro's led into his throne room.
There isn't a better word for it, no matter what the others call it. It's a single room with nothing but a large chair for him to sit in.
"Hai," Zoro agrees as he shuffles forward. "My apologies, Mihawk-sama."
"Apologies mean little, Zoro. If you were truly sorry, you wouldn't have done it in the first place."
Zoro doesn't bother to tell him that he can't be sorry unless he's done something wrong. "Hai, Mihawk-sama."
"Did you bring my prize?"
Zoro offers him the sword, head bowed to avoid eye contact. Mihawk lets out an awed breath.
"I suppose," Mihawk says, "You deserve a small reward. This was no easy task."
"It's my pleasure, Mihawk-sama."
"Such a good boy." Mihawk's fingers twist in Zoro's hair as he stands. "I assume, you'd like to see her."
Zoro can't contain his excitement. His eyes shoot up to Mihawk, breath in his chest. "Please?"
Yellow eyes scan him. "A short lesson first, I think. You can't be late, Zoro. Then we will go see Kuina."
"He just left us," Usopp growls. "Why are we chasing after him?"
"Because he's nakama," Luffy answers shortly.
"Because he didn't leave by his own choice." Sanji's words send shivers down their spines. "I know the look in his eyes. Someone's telling Zoro what to do. And he might not like it, but he's not going to disobey them."
"Why?" Nami asks. "It's Zoro. He's strong."
"Because it's not Zoro they're threatening."
Kuina looks heartbroken when Zoro kneels down in front her cell. Her hand moves through the bars, presses against his cheek as she examines the bruises.
"I was late," he answers the unspoken question.
"Oh, Zoro," she whispers. Her thumb strokes his cheek and he leans into the touch. Soft and sweet.
You shouldn't have come back, she wants to say. Zoro can see it in her eyes. But she doesn't want to have this fight again. Neither does Zoro. So they don't. Kuina strokes his cheek.
"Kuina?"
"Hmm."
"I know what I want to do. When I get us out of this."
She raises an eyebrow. Genuine curiosity crosses her face.
"I met some people. They're good. Nice. Luffy's going to be the King of the Pirates. And, when we get to leave, if he still wants me, I'm going to sail with him. I'll be his swordsman."
She smiles. "The Greatest Swordsman," she tells him. The whisper of a promise made so long ago.
Zoro shakes his head. "No," he says. "That will be you."
When I get you out of here. You'll be the best.
Kunia guides his head forward. Manages to place a kiss to his cheek from between the bars. "You look tired. You should to see Papa. Get some rest."
"I will." Zoro doesn't promise. He knows its it's a promise he can't keep. Part of his punishment for being late is only being able to see one of them. Sensei will have to wait. "But, can I stay with you for a bit?"
Kuina smiles. "Hai. Of course."
"It's rare we have visitors on the island."
The only person to show them hospitality is an older man with round glasses and a sad face. He shows them to his home and puts tea on. The rest of the town either glares or ignores them.
"Is it?" Sanji muses. "I assumed you'd see Marines here quite often."
"Oh?" The man looks up in surprise. "May I ask why that is?"
"Revolutionaries were once known to hide on this island."
The man's body goes rigid. Luffy gives it no more attention. Lets his gaze wander through the room instead. Revolutionaries aren't what they're looking for. They're looking for -
"Zoro." Nami breathes.
Luffy's head snaps around. He finds his navigator standing in front of a table, holding a small picture frame. The man turns to her as well. Does a poor job of hiding the unnerved shock he must be feeling.
"You know my son?"
"Son?"
Mihawk comes to get him after two hours with Kuina. Zoro's chest aches at the sight of his captain. It means leaving Kuina. Her body goes rigid. Her rage swirls through the air. The feisty spark and anger that only Kuina can hold. All long since tamed. Like Zoro, Kuina learned through the years that she never pays the price of evoking Mihawk's rage.
"Come, Zoro," Mihawk orders.
No explanation. No question.
"Hai, Mihawk-sama." Zoro kisses the hand lingering on his cheek before he scrambles up and after his captain. Kuina's fingers brush his hand, as though to stop him. But fall away quickly. By now, they've both learned better.
"Zoro wandered into my dojo twelve years ago," Zoro's father tells them. "He was barely seven. Alone. Starving. But proud. The proudest young boy I've ever had the pleasure of knowing."
Luffy listens. Not because he cares. Where Zoro came from. What Zoro has done. None of that matters. What matters is the promise. Zoro can't come with Luffy until he completes his promise. And Luffy can't help him complete that promise until he knows what it is.
His father tells them of Zoro's growth. His rivalry with Kuina, the young girl who had become his sister. Then he tells of Mihawk. One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"Under the protection of the Marines, he's allowed to do as he pleases."
"Even enslave an entire island?" Sanji demands.
Zoro's father nods. "As far as the Marines are concerned, he's squashing the revolutionary hideout on this island."
"There's a hideout on this island?" Usopp asks.
"Not for many years. Long before Zoro came."
"You're one of them?"
He doesn't answer. Which is the same as a yes.
"Why not ask them for help then?" Nami asks.
"Kuina," Sanji answers before anyone else can. All eyes turn to him. "They have her, right? That's why you didn't just leave. Why they trust Zoro to come back every time. Why we haven't seen her here."
"Mihawk took her soon after he arrived on this island. He's the World's Greatest Swordsman. No one could beat him."
"But that didn't stop Zoro," Luffy says.
Zoro, Luffy knows, would do anything for someone he loves.
"Six times. He challenged Mihawk six times. Each time, dealt a blow that should kill him. But my son is a determined one. He always pulled through. Finally, Mihawk made Zoro a deal. Should Zoro be able to bring him all twelve of the Saijo O Wazamono blades, Kuina will be free to go. Until he manages that, Zoro is a member of Mihawk's crew. I begged him not to. I didn't want to lose both of my children. But, once Zoro makes up his mind, there's no talking him out of it. At ten years old, he looked at me and he said "Sensei, I'm going to save Kuina, no matter what. I'm going to free her. I promise". He's traveled through the four blues. Found two of the swords. But I fear he'll never find them all."
"That's Zoro's promise?" Luffy asks. "To save Kuina?"
His father nods.
Luffy grins. He can work with that.
Zoro sits on his knees beside Mihawk's throne and listens. Or, half listens. He has no interest in what the scout has to say unless it brings him to another sword. Zoro just wants some sleep.
The room trembles. Once. Twice. A third time. Then the brick wall explodes. Through the smoke, Zoro makes out the image. Feels his heart drop.
No. No.
"Oi!" Luffy shouts. "Which one of you is Mihawk?"
"Are you Kuina?" Nami asks as she and Usopp stop in front of the cell.
The girl inside looks a few years older than her, long black hair tied in a knot away from her eyes. Hard, dark eyes that glare up at Nami.
"What's it to you?"
"My name is Nami. I'm-"
"Nami? The navigator?"
Nami blinks. Kuina presses against the bars.
"You can pick locks? Yeah?" she shakes the bars. "You can get me out of here?"
Luffy punches Mihawk square in the face. Battle erupts around them as the captain flies into the wall. Sanji joins the fray soon after. Shouts. Cries. The crash of bodies hitting the brick. Zoro can't move. Just sits on his knees and stares at the scene before him. The crew came here.
Why did the crew come here?
Long, rough fingers wrap around his hair. Slam him to the ground. He feels the blood pool around the cut on his head.
"What." Mihawk's angry growl drags a whimper from Zoro's chest. "Is this?"
"I-I don't. I don't know," he lies.
"Don't lie to me, Zoro."
"Oi!" Luffy screams again. "Get your ugly hands off my nakama!"
Again, Mihawk is thrown away from him. Zoro doesn't move. Not even as Luffy rushes over. Pulls him up. He just stares at the rubber man with wide eyes.
"Luffy, what did you do?"
"I'm helping Zoro keep his promise," Luffy replies.
In the blink of an eye, the future pirate king is gone again. Clashing in battle with Mihawk. And Zoro can't move. Too shocked to do anything.
Kuina moves with grace. The moment she picks up a sword, Nami and Usopp watch her slice through each opponent with ease. The white sword in her hands move as though it's an extra limb.
Blood coats her shirt and pants as she struts through the halls. Eyes focused on the door that will bring her to Mihawk.
Luffy is losing. Badly. As fast as the rubber man is, Mihawk proves to be faster. Zoro watches cut after cut appear on Luffy's body. Feels the pain as though it's his own. After everything, Luffy came for him.
Zoro can't let him die now.
Mihawk thrusts his new blade toward Luffy. Unwilling to taint Yoru with a non-swordsman's blood. A strike that will pierce Luffy's heart. Kill him. End his dream.
Zoro throws himself forward. Let's Mihawk's blade sink into his skin. He's taller than Luffy. The blade doesn't strike his heart.
Luffy screams in despair.
In the back of his mind, Zoro thinks he might hear Kuina cry out in agony.
None of that matters. Zoro's captain stares at him in mute shock. Captivated by the fire in Zoro's eyes.
Enough is enough. Zoro can die, but only Zoro. Kuina. Luffy. They deserve to live. They deserve their dreams.
His right hand moves over Mihawk's. Drags the sword further into his body and pulls Mihawk along with it. His left hand pulls the hidden parrying dagger from Mihawk's side.
"You seem awfully invested in this boy for not knowing why he's attacking my crew," Mihawk growls. "Are they your nakama, Zoro? Do you think they'll want you once they know? A pathetic little boy who cowers instead of fights. That's all you'll ever be. Without me, you are nothing."
"Then I'm nothing." Zoro slams the blade into Mihawk's jugular. Watches blood pour from the man's neck. The light fade from shocked eyes. "I'm okay with nothing."
His legs give out as Mihawk falls. Black clouds over his eyes. For the first time in ages, Zoro sleeps.
"I want Zoro to come with me," Luffy tells Kuina and Koshiro.
Zoro sleeps soundly. Kuina sits at his bedside, beside an open window. Occasionally, she slips out the window and sits in the grass. Smiles up at the sky. Enjoys every moment of the freedom granted to her.
Taking out those loyal to Mihawk was simple once the captain fell. Kuina did most of the work. With a roar of rage, the young woman tore through any in her way to reach her brother's side. Sanji and Luffy took care of the rest soon after.
"Are you asking our permission?" Koshiro asks.
Luffy shakes his head. "Zoro gets to decide if he wants to come. I just wanted you to know. Zoro's my nakama. I want him to come with me."
Kuina and Zoro duel as soon as Zoro can stand on his own two feet. He doesn't want Mihawk's title. Hasn't wanted it for years. But that doesn't mean he'll go easy on her. And she doesn't go easy on him. As always, she respects the code of honor. Takes no cheap shots. Leaves his wounds untouched.
But she takes the victory anyway. As Zoro always knew she would.
They sit after the duel. Watch the sunset.
"You're leaving." No question floats through her voice.
"Hai."
Kuina smiles. Kisses his cheek. "Good. It's time for you to be free."
The door creaks open not long after Sanji turns the stove on. Streaks of light have yet to appear in the sky. Four o'clock has barely come. He glances over his shoulder as Zoro stumbles in, rubbing the exhaustion from his eyes.
"Zoro. What are you doing up?"
Sanji hasn't yet spent a morning with the swordsman. He'd disappeared the night he'd convinced Sanji to join the crew. Most of the last few mornings he spent in a bed, covered in bandages. Perhaps four in the morning is his normal routine. Though, somehow, Sanji doubts it.
"Help," Zoro says around a yawn.
"Help?" Sanji echoes.
Zoro nods. "I help feed the crew."
"Oh." Sanji feels words die before they reach his brain. Unsure of what to say. "That's alright. You can go back to bed, Zoro."
Zoro shakes his head, eyes still half closed. "Mihawk-sama says I have to help. 'S my job."
"Mihawk isn't your captain. No one expects you to get up at four in the morning, Zoro. That's insane."
"You do it."
Sanji blinks. This argument, he isn't going to win. Pick your battles, his mother once told him. So he nods and gestures toward the table.
"Sit down. I'll make you some coffee."
"Coffee?"
"Mmm hmm. It helps wake you up."
Zoro falls asleep at the table before Sanji even pushes the brew button.
"Nami?"
Nami jumps at the soft call of her name. She looks away from her map and toward the door to find Zoro lingering.
"Zoro." She lets out a breath of relief. "Did you need something?"
"Um." He rocks on the balls of his feet. "Can I help you with anything?"
"Oh, I don't think so. I'm just working on my maps."
She doesn't miss the disappointed expression that pulls at his lips. His eyes linger on the ground.
"Is something wrong?"
"Hm? Oh. No, Nami. Sorry to disturb you."
"Zoro," she calls before he can disappear. "You weren't disturbing me. Do you want to talk about it?"
Again, he shifts from foot to foot. "It's nothing to bother you with."
Nami sets down her pen and waves him in. "It's not nothing. You're nakama."
Zoro takes a few hesitant steps forward. Stares at his feet.
"Zoro," she prods gently.
"I don't know what Luffy wants me to do," he mutters. "I always fall asleep before I can help Sanji cook. And Usopp doesn't need me to help build things. And you don't need me either. I don't know what he wants me to do."
"What do you normally do with your free time?" Nami asks.
"Whatever Mihawk-sama tells me to do."
Nami frowns. "Well, what do you like to do?"
Zoro stares at her. Confusion clear in his face.
"When you're bored. What do you do?"
"I sleep."
Nami hums softly. "We need to find you a hobby."
"What do you like to do?" Usopp asks.
Zoro shrugs.
The crew sits around the kitchen table, all deep in thought. Apart from Zoro. He shifts in his seat. Eyes moving from crewmate to crewmate.
"What do you want to do?" Sanji asks.
Again, Zoro shrugs.
"What's Zoro's dream?" Luffy leans a bit closer.
Zoro stares at Luffy for a long moment. "I just wanted to be free," he whispers.
Luffy nods. "So we need to find Zoro a new dream. We can do that!"
"You have better things to do," Zoro protests.
"Nuh-uh! Zoro's nakama. Nakama come before anything else."
They don't find Zoro a dream. But they do help him find a routine. He gets up at four with Sanji most mornings. Drinks a cup of coffee to keep the cook company until the rest of the crew stumble up. Then he and Usopp play a handful of games with Luffy to keep the captain from disturbing Nami as she works on her maps. At eleven, he sits with Sanji to have a cup of tea while the cook makes lunch. Followed by a nap with Luffy. Another cup of tea while Sanji makes dinner. And a final game before bed.
It doesn't solve his hobby crisis. But it seems to calm him.
They reach the Red Line some weeks later. Excitement seeps into everyone's bones. Their quiet swordsman yips and cheers along with them at the sight. Helps Sanji roll the barrel to them as they approach.
"To be the Pirate King!" Luffy cries, putting his foot on the barrel.
Nami follows his example. "To finish a map of the whole world."
Usopp goes next. "To become a brave warrior of the sea."
The barrell trembles a bit as Sanji places his foot on it. "To become a real chief."
Zoro hesitates. Thinks of his purpose. His wants. He places his foot between Luffy and Sanji's. "To find a dream."
Luffy beams at him, clearly pleased with the answer.
Adventure lies at their doorstep. The chance to do anything. Go anywhere. The Grand Line may take them to strange places but not a drop of worry stays in Luffy's chest. He has his crew. A powerful crew that will watch each others' back with no hesitation.
He wouldn't have it any other way.
Ending Note: Hope you all enjoyed the peak into the Other Strawhats' adventures! Look for Part Two: The Monster Siblings, coming to a fan site near you soon. I do have a few other fics I'd like to get up here over the next couple of days, so an update for this one may come a bit slower. Hope you'll all stick around anyway! See you for Part Two :)
