The Other Problem

This fight— Zoro dodges the blade.

Is not quite as— Zoro dodges the blade again.

Fun as he'd— Zoro deflects the downswinging blade with his manacle and uses the split second opening to punch Seven of thirteen into the ceiling…

Imagined… Zoro concludes as numbers Six and Five of thirteen come at him simultaneously. He sweeps up Seven's sword and meets Five's vicious desperate slash only to have both shitty blades shatter with the impact.

"Lovely kiss!" Lady pirate shrieks and Zoro sighs inwardly and takes the time to punch Five in the face with the hilt before he jerks away from Six's lunge and yanks Usopp back from Two's blade which is a mouse whisker's breadth from cutting his head open. Usopp sags and immediately straightens in rigid terror even though the sword has already whistled past him. Zoro's not entirely sure why but is beginning to formulate an idea.

He jerks Usopp behind him again, blocks Six's blade with the jagged hilt and then has to grab his shirt and send him flying into Eleven who has recovered enough to charge. Ten or Three or whoever the hell it is decides to attack from behind which he notices before Usopp says:

"Watch out," and ducks to his side and has just enough time to smash his elbow into whatever number's face before Usopp is jerked away for the fifth or sixth time.

"Lovely kiss!" says Lady Pirate and Zoro sees her lips pressing into Usopp's, the sniper's startled expression turning into something that would make the love-cook proud, and then Two come again with his sword, screaming in determination. Zoro jerks him away just in time, again and Usopp goes rigid again.

"Will you stop that!" the Lady Pirate shrieks.

"You stop it!" Zoro snaps back at her.

"Ahh, I can't take this," Usopp says. "My heart is going to aaah duck!"

Usopp ducks. Zoro moves his head to the side as a sword— a sword—goes whirling past him and buries into the opposite wall, nearly taking off Pirate Lady's head with it. He turns and glares at One who visibly swallows. It's no wonder all their swords were notched and weak. Bastards treated them with no respect at all. On top of that, since the guy now has no weapon, Zoro doesn't feel right just hitting him.

"Why aren't you getting all these guys down?" Usopp says, rising cautiously, and then gritting his teeth as Eight attacks and Zoro spins them both out of the way and smashes his fist into the back of Eight's head sending him stumbling almost into Lady Pirate who squeals and backs out of the way. Over her shoulder, Two is glowering at him.

"I am," Zoro mutters. He feels two come up behind him while One advances from the side with a couple of chain whip flails that he hadn't had before and Zoro jerks Usopp out of the way. One of the chains smacks the two approaching in the face and the third chain is slashing toward him, doesn't look particularly sharp, though so Zoro holds up his arm to block it and feels a slight twinge as the chain wraps around his arm and catches.

"Z…Zoro!" Usopp says, as if it's really a problem. Tch. One even has the gall to smirk as if he's actually scored a point. They have no idea how to fight at all. It's like a gum gum gatling with no direction and half the power. One tugs on Zoro as if to pull him and Zoro yanks back, bringing One over to him so he can punch him in the face—feeling the satisfying crunch of his nose buckling before pulling the guy directly into the line of Nine's attack. Geeze why is he up now? The bastards just won't stay down. It's as if they're running on speed of terror.

"Waah!" Usopp says and Zoro says:

"Try to block it, at least!" As he takes the time to use the chain to wrap One and Nine together and kick them both across the room for a few feet. The damn cook would have had them through the wall.

"Ha!" Usopp says.

"Eek! You almost hurt me!" the Lady Pirate cries.

"Uh…s…sorry I didn't—"

"Lovely—"

Zoro unwinds his arm and jerks Usopp away before she can complete the attack. The Pirate Lady stomps her foot.

"You're really starting to annoy me!" she snaps.

"Shut up! You're more annoying!" He can't even fight properly if he's too busy playing a game of tug-of-Usopp. At least Two, Three, some other number, his face is too bloodied to tell, and Catfish face, who probably should have a number but Zoro can't get the impression out of his head, are the only ones left. They're hanging back, though, not so much giving up, though as planning a different strategy. Zoro spots the Lady Pirate and her bodyguard Two looking at them and almost as one they nod. They're all going to attack at once. Zoro grips the back of Usopp's shirt and tries to wonder how to manage this. He suddenly spots the green slender form of Usopp's kabuto and Usopp's brown lumpy bag through one of the many holes in the wall. This particular hole is wide enough for Usopp to cross through easily but it's also near the lady and if she gets to Usopp before he can reach it, Two can slice him apart pretty easily.

"You really should give up," says Lady Pirate, cocking her hip to the side. "The moment you let your guard down I'm going to Lovely Kiss him until his lips fall off."

"That is such a cheap attack," Zoro grumbles.

"Who are you calling cheap, you moss-headed jerk!" She snaps, clenching her hands into fists. "That's it! No more playing around. No man has ever escaped the lovely kiss of the Lovely Lady Pirate, Chapstick!"

"You have to use the fan, stupid!" the servant girl snaps. Zoro glances at her, still tied up in the corner of the room.

"Shut up, brat!" Catfish face snarls at her, snatching out like he's going to grab her. She lunges out to meet him and catches his sausage finger between her impressive teeth. Catfish face howls and tries to shake her off and finally does but not without bleeding. Zoro smirks. He likes that kid. What the hell does she mean by use the fan, though? To defeat the guards? He pulls it out of his obi belt. It's too light to be any kind of weapon. Maybe they're afraid of drunk pigs? Might as well test it out. He flicks his wrist, snapping open the fan on the second try, feeling pleased with himself, he grins, holding it up to Two, Three, Whoever, and Catfish face.

They stare at him. He stares at them. A small wind blows. Okay, what the hell?! How does that damn thing happen indoors? Forget it. Maybe Zoro just has to try harder.

"Oi, idiots, are you paying attention?" he asks, flipping the fan over and waving it at them to see if that will work. They stare at him. He stares at them. Another wind. He is going to kick that wind's ass.

"Uh, Zoro?" Usopp says as if he, too, wonders what the hell Zoro is doing. Finally Three moves, leaning over to whisper loudly in Whoever's ear.

"D'you think Roronoa is actually a bit…"and he wiggles his hand side to side. Zoro feels his face heat.

"What the hell do you mean by that?! I'll kick your ass, you bastard!" he yells. And then to the servant girl. "What the hell kind of idiot thing are you making me do?!"

"You're not doing it right!" the girl snaps back.

"Don't just ignore me!" the Lady Pirate snaps. "Lovely Lady Break!" and she's suddenly rushing them, Two right behind her. Usopp yelps and scrambles back and the lady smirks. Zoro sees she's going to change direction a second before she does. He has to throw up an arm to guard Two's strike, the sword ringing on the iron manacle, just as the lady grabs him and stretches up a hell of a lot quicker than Zoro anticipated. He grimaces and lurches back, shielding his face with the fan and blinks in surprise as she ends up with her lips against the cloth part.

Oh.

"Curses," she says and jumps back. Zoro takes the time to move his wrist from blocking the blade, and then taking advantage of the huge opening to punch Two in the face and send him crashing next to the hole and making it a little bigger. Zoro stares at the hole, then at the kabuto on the wall behind it. The lady is still a problem but the hole looks just big enough…

"Yahoo!" the servant girl is cheering. "I knew you wouldn't be kissed by the ugly Cheapstick!"

"It's Chapstick, you brat!"Lady Pirate snaps.

"Cheap! Cheap! Nyaaa!"

"Shut her up, Troutman!" Lady Pirate says, then narrows her eyes. "Permanently."

The servant girl shrieks and Zoro curses as Catfish Face grabs for her. She starts scooting away but he is raising his sword. Shit! He slaps the open fan into Usopp's hands.

"Hold this," he says.

"Okay, but Zoro…," Usopp says but cuts off when Zoro twists his hand into the front of Usopp's shirt and starts running toward Catfish face, pulling the Sniper behind him

"Eh…Zoro, Zoro wh…what are you even thinking of doing?!" Usopp yelps.

"Throwing you through the wall," Zoro says. He has to stop right about… "Don't miss."

"Wait, what?!"

Here. Zoro throws him, then keeps on going, knocking away Three who has charged in his way and keeping an ear on Usopp's continuous scream. It's almost impressive he can hold the same note for so long. Catfish Face's sword is slashing down. Zoro curses again, picks up his speed and gets in front of it just in time and catching it. The notched blade carves into his hands. It's blade is too dull to make him do anything more than bleed a little. Whoever cackles and Zoro can see the man running toward him just as Catfish Face grins and leans down and makes Zoro bleed a little more than he wanted. If he lets go he might get back just in time before the blade can open his chest and just get a gash which, given the rust on the sword, might get infected but that's what Chopper is for, right? And then he can Tatsu Maki Whoever and Catfish in opposite directions if he times it just right.

Whoever raises his sword, Catfish Face cuts down.

"Himawari Boshi!" Usopp calls. There are two small explosions and Whoever falls forward, eyes rolled up as two spots on the back of his head smoke. Two more explode on the side of Catfish Face's face, knocking him to the side and a third flashes just past Zoro's nose and embeds in the wall. Zoro smirks and punches Catfish Face down the rest of the way. Then he turns and crouches to help the little servant girl who is staring up at him with wide eyes. There is rope around her small ankles instead of chains and he can see pink marks and spots underneath it where its rubbed her skin raw. Zoro frowns and sits crosslegged to pick out the knots. Bastards. He can't even trust the swords scattered around to do this. They would probably break out of spite.

"Wa ha haaa, looks like I saved the day!" Usopp says, stepping through the hole and putting his hands on hips.

"Looks like you did," Zoro says. Took a hell of a lot of talent to take two guys down like that and not hit Zoro at all. Usopp is still a moment, then sinks to his knees.

"Oh my god, I did!"

Zoro doesn't know why he is so surprised. Usopp has gotten stronger, just like all of them. Zoro picks at the knots some more. Though they are small and his fingers aren't exactly made for this and anyway he keeps bleeding over them. Damnit.

"Fools!" says Lady Pirate and Zoro glances at her, mildly surprised. He almost forgot she was here. "Have you really forgotten about me?" He watches her sidle over to Usopp, staring down at him. Usopp stares up at her. Zoro waits. There is nothing. Damn wind. In a sudden movement like a snake striking, Lady Pirate swoops down but Usopp snaps the fan open like he was born to do it and manages to get it over his lips which is pretty impressive maneuvering considering the length of his nose. Lady Pirate snaps upright again and stomps her foot.

"Don't feel bad, young miss," Usopp says, closing his eyes and holding out his hand as if he's telling her to stop. "Not even the wisest can contend with the intelligence of the great Captain Usopp. Not even lightning can match his quick reflexes…"

He'll be fine. Zoro continues to work at the knots.

"I have defeated countless enemies merely by my good looks alone and…"

"Can you defeat this?" Lady Pirate says in so sharp a voice that Zoro has to look over again. She's holding out a bottle of the perfume stuff. Not that Zoro knows where the hell she keeps it because she's not particularly…round…enough to keep anything too well in…what..women seem to keep things in. In any case the perfume is a big problem. Usopp's eyes bulge for a second, then he looks down again, coughing into his hand, or Zoro is sure that's the effect he's going for but it's ruined by the fan in the way.

"I wouldn't do that you see, my…my skin reacts like a certain toad's and, when attacked by perfumes, exudes a poison that will certainly kill you."

"Well," says the Lady Pirate, leaning down and smirking. "Good think I'm not going to touch you."

Zoro starts to rise.

"It also smells!" Usopp says, holding up his hand to shield himself. "Really bad. Like a thousand unwashed socks. Like a skunk trapped under your bed for a week. The smell gets on everything won't come off for years and years if at all." And then, stronger. "Here, I'll show you. Stink star!" He flicks his fingers and red splatters all over the underside of Lady Pirate's fingers. She shrieks and drops the bottle which Usopp catches and tucks away in his bag so fast Zoro doubts the lady even sees. Zoro sits back down again.

"This is ketchup! You~! You lying little~! Oooh!" she stomps again and stalks through the hole in the wall.

"He's pretty funny," says the servant girl but she sounds more startled than amused. Zoro grunts. These knots are taking too damn long and he still has to find Luffy and the others.

"No one can outwit the great captain!"Usopp says. "My cunning is my ultimate technique!" He snaps the fan closed with gusto and poses with it. The servant girl laughs in a sort of breathy way.

"Get your cunning over here and help with these knots," Zoro says.

"Oh, sure," Usopp says, pausing to pick up his kabuto before coming over and sitting behind the girl to work on her hands.

"You guys are the weirdest pirates I've ever seen," the girl says. "You act really nice but mama says you're supposed to be really strong."

"The strongest in the Grand Line," Usopp says which isn't entirely true. Not yet anyway. Zoro gets one knot undone and starts on the other. How many damn knots did they tie her up with?

"I'm really glad you came to help," the girl says, lowering her eyes. "Mama always says they're going to bleed us dry…"

"About that," Usopp says. "What is going on here?"

"I dunno much, only what I've heard but…" the girl wiggles her feet a little as the ropes start to give. "We used to be really peaceful town. We didn't have fights or criminals or anything. Cuz we're so small, you know, we don't attract that kinda stuff. But then Lady Labal and her Lovely Lady pirates came and they…they took over. They're way too strong for us to fight. And it was okay at first but…then they started taking people away. Not only us but visitors on ships sometimes and no one ever comes back."

"Why not call for help?" Usopp says. "Even though you're small the marines would probably help…"

"Well Lady Labal says we're in it just as much as her," the girl says, frowning fiercely and Zoro can tell she's trying not to cry. "And we'll get in trouble, too. Mama doesn't want to do anything about it."

"Done," Usopp says and the girl rubs her wrists gingerly, which are also pink and red and then clenches them into small fists in her lap.

"She says its best to wait until they get bored. But…" the girl ducks her head and grits her teeth. "They never will!"

"No we won't." Lady Pirate's voice floats over to them. He glances up at the woman who is now carrying two pistols, one pointed at him, the other pointed at Usopp. This is going to be a pain in the ass.

"We're going to suck your pathetic little town dry and there is nothing you can do about it."

"Oi, Usopp," Zoro says in a low voice, looking over the girl's head at his nakama. "Do you think you can survive getting shot?"

"No, I don't think I can survive getting shot!" Usopp hisses, chopping his hand in the air. "Are you crazy?!"

"It's not like you're getting slashed or anything," Zoro says as he keeps picking at the knot. "It's just going to be a small wound and if it explodes out your back you'll probably get a cool scar."

"I don't want a cool scar! I want to live!" Usopp snaps.

"No, listen, you won't die," Zoro says, feeling as if he's said this before. "We just have to find Chopper and—"

"Hope we don't bleed out," Usopp says. Zoro shrugs.

"A little blood loss has never hurt anyone. Anyway, even if you only have a drop left your determination will keep you going." So it's been for him, anyway. And Luffy too, come to think of it. Probably not Sanji, though. He seems to fussy to want to bleed too much.

"I keep telling you there is nobody in this world that works like that!" Usopp snaps.

"My, my," Lady Pirate says. "If you gentleman will kindly stop ignoring me I will get to blowing your brains out!"

Usopp looks at her. The lady glowers back at him. A small wind starts, then stops, then starts up again. Zoro is getting weirdly used to it. The girl is clenching her hands an glaring at the lady. Then the girl looks at Zoro, biting her lower lip, her eyes gleaming with hard tears. She wants to do something, Zoro knows. Fight for her town. Zoro dips his chin slightly in acknowledgment and flicks out his fingers to tell her to wait. He can't see any way to cover her. There are no swords close enough to grab. No way of deflecting the bullets then. Maybe he can with his manacles.

"Zoro, lets ignore her with all our hearts," Usopp is saying. Zoro ignores him.

"Three," he murmurs, looking into the girl's eyes, trying to tell her with a gaze that he can't promise she will live but will avenge her death if she doesn't. Her eyes harden and she nods. He gestures 'two' with his fingers and shifts her weight.

"So it's a nice day. Nice spring weather," Usopp says. "I bet we can catch some great fish with weather like this, right? Right?"

"Now!" Zoro says and surges to her feet. Lady Pirate shrieks and fires both guns at him like he thought she would, just as the girl dashes forward. Zoro manages to deflect one bullet and the other thuds harmlessly into his shoulder where it doesn't hurt at all. Then Lady Pirate spots the girl and cocks the hammers on the pistols but the girl throws herself forward and screams:

"Chakra Dance Leg Point! Ten minute special!" while punching her thumb three times against the lady's leg. The lady shrieks and falls, the pistols going off and punching and hitting the ceiling, making plaster rain down like snow. Without hesitating, the girl grabs the pistols from the lady's hands and points both of them back at her.

"This is my island!" the girl yells. "Do you hear me! Mine! And I'm not going to let you take it from me anymore!"

"What are you going to do, you little brat. Kill me?"

"Get out," the girl says. The woman smirks and the girl cocks back the hammers. "I said, get out!" Lady Pirate pales.

"You'll pay for this!" she snaps, pushing herself up and stumbling toward the door, dragging her limp leg behind her. Zoro watches her leave. Good kid. The first burst of spirit he's seen on this island. The girl is trembling now and Zoro hears suspicious sniffing sounds.

"Oi, don't cry," he says, planting a light knuckle on her head. "You're a warrior of this island. You have to be strong."

"I'm…" the girl sniffs. "I'm just…" she looks up at him, a brilliant smile on her face, even as strong tears streaked down it. "I'm just so glad I kicked her butt!"

"You could have been shot!" Usopp says. They both turn to look at him and the girl blinks.

"It would only be a little hole," she says. Zoro nods. Exactly. She gets it. He doesn't see why the concept is so hard for others.

"I give up, you're both crazy." Usopp wipes a hand across his forehead. "I really thought I was going to die that time." Zoro snorts. If Usopp can survive a desert war, an out of control lightning freak, an entire damned marine base and those CP9 guys, then why does he still think that a little thing like a bullet will end up killing him. The girl turns back to smile at Zoro.

"By the way, I'm Dolche Sundae." She says and bows politely, pistols still in hand. "Pleased to meet you."

"Roronoa Zoro," he says, mildly amused as he bows his.

"Usopp, pleased to meet you," Usopp says, bowing as well, then straightening and picking up his kabuto. "We should get out of here before that crazy lady comes back."

"She won't," Zoro says. "And we have to look for Luffy."

"Oh. Right,"Usopp's hand tightens over the kabuto. He's gearing himself up to go ahead. Zoro lets him be.

"I'll come with you," Sundae says, gripping the pistols. "I'm ready."

"You go defend your town," Zoro says. "Or you really will be helping pirates." And they are not really the kind of pirates anyone should want to be helping right now.

"But you saved me!" Sundae says, thrusting her chin out. "I owe you a debt!" That's true. He doesn't want to demean her to say she can't repay it but on the other hand she could get her town in a lot more serious trouble.

"Well you can tell us how this building is laid out, if you know it," Usopp says.

"That's too easy," the Sundae says with a pout.

"Hmm, oh," Usopp snaps his fist into his palm. "You can get Zoro's swords. There should be three of them hidden in the ditch by that freaky looking twisty tree."

"Oh, you mean the Mushi Tree?" Sundae nods, still frowning. "I guess I can get them. But…"

"We have faith in you, Sundae-chan!" Usopp says. "Even though it cost you your life you'll get those swords back to us!"

"Right!" Sundae says, bracing her legs wide. "With my life! Alright, listen up, you bozos," Sundae says. "That way is the way the Lovely Lady pirates sitting room! They are strong but I know you can beat them!" She points in one direction and then jabs her finger the way they came in. "That way is the way out. You will go through three rooms and make a left, but not a right because that's the coat closet but it looks like a front door. I know cuz I locked myself in there once. It was embarrassing," she finishes, in the same commanding voice.

"Got it!" Usopp says, saluting. "You go your way and we'll go ours and we'll meet in the middle, Sundae-chan!"

"Until we meet again, Usopp-san!" Sundae says, saluting back, then marching out like a soldier. Cute kid. A little weird though. Zoro shakes his head. Now to get Luffy and everyone else. He starts toward the Lovely Lady's sitting room since it is better to go forward first before going back.

"Oi, oi," Usopp says, sounding tired. "This way." Zoro turns to see him standing by a door. Well a door would make more sense than the hole he was trying to go through. Though that might have been a short cut. Probably better to stick together for now though.

"She was pointing right here," Usopp mutters as he pushes open the door, coughs a little, some kind of smoke seems to curl out around his feet but is gone before Zoro can see. Usopp goes into a narrow hall and Zoro follows him. The air is thicker here. Stinging almost. There is a weird smell and something is burning in the back of his eyes and tickling the back of his throat. He coughs, feeling it coat his tongue. It's disgusting. It's poison. He realizes suddenly in a sudden sharp stab to his gut.

"Zo…Zoro, I think…" Usopp says, and leans against the wall, coughing into his hand.

"We have to check," Zoro says, trying to force the coughs inside. He has to check. Even if he is wrong. Usopp nods and, hand trembling, reaches out for the door. Then he yanks his hand back then stiffens and pushes it forward again, turns the knob and throws open the door. A cloud of thick green smoke rolls out and hits them in the face.

It feels like claws are scraping the inside of Zoro's lungs, his burns his eyes so much that he can barely see but he has to see. He can't leave them behind. Just a little poison. He coughs a few times, a few more, realizes he can't stop and then holds his breath, trying not to breathe at all as he stumbles further into the room. It's hard to see but he does make out three shapes in the dim green gloom. He recognizes the curve of antlers. How long have they been in here? How much have they breathed? It doesn't matter. They'll be fine. He just…just has to get them out…

Zoro stumbles over to him, his ears ringing from holding his breath and he lets it out finally and tries to suck in smaller breaths that prod daggers into his lungs. He picks up Chopper first, setting a strap of the reindeer's backpack between his teeth. Ha! He can't cough now. If he does he will drop Chopper and that is not acceptable. Then he picks up Luffy, grunting as the straw hat falls from his head and onto Franky's lap. Did that idiot forget to tie it on? Stupid. Can't be helped. He maneuvers Luffy over his shoulder, wincing a little as it stings unexpectedly, then remembering the bullet that doesn't hurt and picks up the hat, jamming it onto his head. Then he realizes he's going to have a hell of an awkward time lifting Franky and positioning him without losing anyone else, so offers a silent apology to the shipwright and grabs the back of his shirt, dragging him ..and then realizing the room has gotten so smokey he has no idea where the damn door is.

He wants to cough. He wants to throw up. He won't do either. A hand grabs his arm and he starts and realizes it's Usopp who is coughing so hard he can barely stand straight. Usopp pulls at him and Zoro follows, the green cloud follows them, too. It had filled up the hallway and now the fighting chamber. Usopp is walking as quickly as he can but it's not quickly enough. He keeps having to stop and hack his lungs out, tremble. Zoro wants to cough too, his lungs burn with it. Everything burns with it. Usopp doubles over, clutching at his kabuto to keep himself upright. Zoro stops. He can't go on without him. He can't leave without him and he doesn't think he can find his way out in all this damn smoke either. But Usopp will recover. Usopp will pull through. Zoro glares at his back and sends all the will and strength he can into the other man. Keep going. Keep going. Just a little further.

Usopp starts again, still bent a bit but walking, a little swifter now. Into the dark room they'd been kept in the air is a little easier to breathe here but not by much. Then another room Zoro can't see. There is a little noise and he realizes Chopper is starting to cough, too. Good, that means he's still alive. Zoro's legs tremble but no they don't because his legs are not going to give out on him now. That is forbidden.

Finally they reach a long hallway, dim and starting to get dimmer with creeping smoke. At the end of the long hall looks like the door out. Zoro starts toward it but Usopp grabs his sleeve again.

"This…this way," he croaks. A few more steps and a door opens and Zoro sees the starlit sky, the distant moon, the faint flickering of torches against the ground and feels a breath of fresh breeze wash over his skin. It is better than the finest tasting rum in the world. Usopp moves out first and Zoro follows, wanting to breathe in the fresh air but knowing he will cough and he is still holding Chopper.

"Well well," says a familiar. "Someone is feisty." She's standing just a few paces down the hill, a bunch of her leather masks towering around her. They are armed with staffs, swords in various shapes of disrepair and torches and he's sure he sees the glint of a pistol. In the silhouettes of Lady Agnes herself, backlit by torches, he can see the hilts of Hansel and Gretal peeking over her shoulders. Shit.

Zoro drags Franky as far as he can away from the door, keeping an eye on Lady Agnes, then puts down Luffy beside him before taking Chopper's backpack out of his mouth. Lady Agnes doesn't move. Zoro stands in front of his nakama, allowing himself to cough a few times, but only a few. It won't be so bad. He can attack straight on and Usopp can—

"Robin!" Usopp says. "R…Robin might still be—" he coughs a few times. It sounds wet."I…I have to l…look." He's shaking. Zoro can practically hear his knees knocking. Usopp will go. Zoro knows he will. But there isn't time for Usopp to be afraid right now. Usopp coughs and then grinds out:

"Yosh," before dashing back into the house. Lady Agnes watches him go, mildly.

"Don't worry about sending him to his death," Lady Agnes says. "Since you're all going to die here. It's probably kinder for him." She pulls Hansel and Gretal from their sheathes. Her stance is one who is at least familiar with nitoryuu.

"You were right, by the way," she says. "Swords that won't taste blood won't defend anything. But I'd rather it be the blood of pirates than the blood of my people." She shifts back, preparing for an attack. "Sorry about this."

Zoro wants to cough. His eyes are still blurry. He has nothing but his fists with unconscious nakama to defend and two more who may be close to dying when they get out. This…is going to be a pain in the ass.