ok, so thanx for reviewing again. but i only got one review! sniff! ok, anyways, i'll continue on though cuz im about 3 chapters ahead of myself. i've already got the ending written up so I'll post the rest now. with of course no more messages. except this one, hope you enjoy!

Chapter Ten

"So…" Luffy broke the silence, "Guess we're never going back there again, huh!"

He laughed and nervously scratched the back of his head as Nami sighed and laid her head on his shoulder, "That was frightening!"

He sighed, "Yeah it was."

Sanji leaned against the side of the ship and stared with hatred towards Luffy. Mimiyoki loved Zolo and Nami loved Luffy…so who could be his own gal?

Suddenly, as if by magic, Nami stood up and slapped Luffy in the face, "YOU MORON! Is that what love is to you! Just get a girl in bed, that's what love is to you! You DISGUST me!"

Luffy whimpered, "But I only want one night with you Nami! I love you!"

She walked away, screaming, "You don't LOVE me, you just wanna get into my PANTS! Don't speak to me again!"

She sat down by Sanji and sighed, "You men don't even like me for my personality, do you? Don't deny it, Sanji, even you don't like me for me."

He suddenly pulled her into a hug, "Nami, I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on and no, I won't deny it. I don't like you for you. I LOVE you for you."

Tears sprang to her eyes and she looked up at him, "Y-you really mean that, Sanji?"

He nodded and held her in his arms. They stayed like that all night when the others went to bed.

♦ ♦ ♦

Mimiyoki awoke on the blanket that she and Zolo had shared. He was gone, nowhere to be seen. She sat up quickly and looked around. Men, of all shapes and sizes, were pointing various blades at her.

She cautiously backed towards the wall as a man with a dark red cape stepped forward, "Hello, Mimiyoki. I'm the head of the Nesinake clan. May I help you up?"

She took his outstretched hand cautiously as he hauled her to her feet, "W-where's Zolo?"

He smiled mischievously down at her, "Resting, my dear, resting!"

She looked at him disbelievingly, "Resting…what do you mean?"

He put his arm on her shoulder and stepped to her right, pointing to a corner, where Zolo lay, unconscious.

She screamed, "Omigod! Let him go!"

The man laughed, "Oh no, Mimiyoki, I'm sorry but we can't do that!"

Her frightened look changed to an angry one within a few seconds. She kicked him in the nuts and then in the head when he was on the floor. He grabbed her ankle and pulled her to the ground. Immediately, he jumped for her throat, "You little WENCH! You're going to die by MY hand!"

She grabbed his arms and twisted them and then swung her legs around his neck. She jerked them to the side, breaking his neck. (A/N: This technique is used by Sonya in Mortal Kombat. Just thought I'd let you know.)

He fell limply to the ground and she braced herself for another attack. She grabbed the man's blade from its sheath and she blocked the oncoming attackers. She swung the sword in a circle, instantly killing five enemies in one swing. She glanced over her shoulder as a man attempted to sneak up on her but she ducked as he jumped and she slashed her sword across his stomach as he soared over her head. He kicked her chest and she screamed as a knife, previously hidden in his shoe, dug into her chest. He fell limply to the ground and she scrambled to get away from the vast number of attacking men.

The attackers were too fast. One grabbed her arms and another grabbed her legs as she screamed, "LET ME GO YOU…YOU JERKS! ZOLLLOOOOOOO!"

Zolo slowly opened his eyes and gasped, "Mimiyoki! Hey, let her go!"

He broke ropes that bound him and grabbed a nearby dead guy's sword, attacking her captors. He pulled her close to him as he blocked oncoming attacks, "Mimiyoki, I'm sorry. I don't know where they came from. Are you alright?"

She nodded but it was in vain for she clutched her chest and whimpered. He killed the last of the men and knelt down beside her, "Not again, Mimiyoki. Tell me what happened."

She screamed in pain as the blade drove deeper into her chest, "It's…not…a normal…knife…it…goes…de-deep."

He cursed, "Shoot, what happened to your power to heal! We got to get you to a doctor and we gotta get you there fast!"

He picked her up and jumped off the ship, into the water. He yelled for her to hear him, "Hold on tight, Mimiyoki!"

He swam through the fierce waves, holding her close to his body. Just then, a black shape loomed in the distance. It was too dark to see what kind of ship it was so Zolo went with his first instinct and swam behind some jagged rocks. As the ship got closer, he saw a man standing on deck, with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a cigarette. Zolo's eyes lit up with relief, "S-SANJI! HELP!"

The man looked down for a second and then swept around swiftly, calling, "Luffy, Nami, Usopp, CHOPPER! Come quick! Oh and lay anchor!"

The four came running and looked to the jagged rocks. They exclaimed at once, "ZOLO!"

Luffy extended his arms and grabbed Mimiyoki, hauling her on deck. Zolo coughed as saltwater slapped his face, "Hey! (cough) How am I supposed to get up there!"

Luffy laughed, "Oh, right! Sorry, Zolo!" He again extended his arms and hauled Zolo out of the water.

♦ ♦ ♦

Chopper shook his head as he finished bandaging Mimiyoki, "These wounds of hers are very serious. You should've taken her to a doctor sooner!"

Zolo gritted his teeth, "I trriieeeddd…"