Disclaimer:
I don't own One Piece.
The story on hand, 'Like cat and dog' is fan-fiction. I wrote it, because I love to write, but I will not use 'Like cat and dog' in any commercial way.
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Chapter10
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He woke up in Robin's bed.
He moaned, felt the pain again. And when he looked around, he saw new bandages. He took a second look and saw his three swords on a table. And there was Tashigi, sleeping on a chair, next to the bed, with her head and her arms on his pillow. He looked to her, heard her quiet breathing and lay back again. He didn't know if it was heaven or hell to wake next to her, but apart from this question, he could rest another while. This stubborn and clumsy lieutenant would watch over him.
He yawned, closed his eyes and felt warmth, fatigue...
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The next time when he opened his eyes she was awake.
First she stared at him in disbelief, but then she smiled happily and whispered, "Hey, Zoro, how do you feel?"
He gave her a smile too, "Eh, I'm better, I think."
Tashigi relaxed, "Sounds good. Chopper said you will be all right in a few days, but you still need two or three days to rest."
Zoro's eyes flashed, "Two or three days? The reindeer must be mad! I have to train!"
The lieutenant grinned, "You shouldn't argue with Chopper when you're injured, listen to me… and by the way, we didn't ask you. As the patient you have to do what the doctor says."
Zoro grumbled, "That's not fair."
She nodded amusedly, "Yes…. And now be a well-behaved patient and eat your soup."
Tashigi took a plate and held the spoon before his mouth.
Zoro stared at the spoon, "I CAN use my hands, girlie!"
She sighed, "I tell you once again: You aren't in command here! Do what I tell you!"
He looked to her dangerously, but in the next moment he grinned, "Yes, ma'am."
She grinned back; and saw as he took the spoon in his mouth.
Suddenly he pulled a face, "Bah! The soup's cold!"
"Yes. Sanji told me that it's better for you if the soup is cold."
"Damn cook! He will pay!" Zoro murmured.
"Perhaps, but in the next two days you will eat everything he gives you. And be sure that I will punish you if you don't do, what's good for you."
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"Tashigi?"
The blue haired woman turned and saw Nami. It was night and the lieutenant was still awake, stargazing a bit. The boys slept, Robin watched over Zoro and so Nami was the only one next to Tashigi who wasn't sleeping.
Four days ago Zoro had woken up and all of them were relieved to see him healthy… Tashigi really had enjoyed those days: The atmosphere on the ship was carefree and happy and she had to admit that she hadn't ever felt something like this before. The duty on the ships of the marine was fulfilling, but it wasn't such… blithely. There was a part of her heart which hated her for loving the time on the Going-Merry, but after the Straw hats had saved her she had decided to give them a chance. And yes, even Robin was all right.
Tashigi woke from her thoughts, remembering that Nami wanted to talk to her, "Hm, yes?"
"What you're doing here?"
"Oh, stargazing, nothing more," she smiled.
Nami grinned, "So I hope you're really just stargazing and don't plan to jump in the ocean one more time."
"Eh, no! To do it one time is more than enough, believe me."
"Hm, that's good, because tomorrow morning we drop you on 'Falcia'."
Tashigi started. Falcia was an inhabited island and, what was more important for her, the marine had a base there.
Nami gave her a short gaze, "You should be happier. That's what you've wanted all the time: Your times with us, the terrible villains, will end tomorrow."
Tashigi sighed, "You aren't villains."
"Before we saved you on Totolag, we were," Nami grinned.
"No," the lieutenant whispered.
"No?"
Tashigi hesitated, and then she told Nami, "Do you remember Alabasta and the last fight in Arbana?"
"Yes, of course. How could I forget?"
"After you had stopped the Crocodile, I had found you in a street behind the palace's square. You had been sleeping."
Nami stared at the bluenette and felt a lump in her throat, "Eh… why… why…?"
"I couldn't captive you. You'd saved so many lives in Arbana and I had the feeling that it had been unfair and dishonorable to take you as prisoners… So I've forbid my soldiers to do anything against you."
Nami continued staring to the lieutenant and Tashigi kept on talking, "In Arbana I've realized that you're no villains. Sometimes I forget this fact, but it is so."
It took a moment until Nami could say anything, but then the navigator whispered, "If you're tired of the marine one day, you're welcome here."
Tashigi stared down on the planks of the Going-Merry, "I know."
The orange haired woman turned around and wanted to walk away, but suddenly Tashigi said, "There's a part in my soul which doesn't want to go."
Nami smiled and disappeared below the deck.
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-tbc-