So this one took me a little longer, but I hope you guys enjoy it

Blonde Beauty And The Marimo Beast

Le Dixième En Sequence: And So The End Draws Near

Zeff

"No," the Blonde cried, fighting the hands on him as the others gathered threw their torches at his home. Some simply hit the hard clay and fell to the snow, but others managed to get their through the open windows. In seconds, the inside was a flame. And Zeff, restrained by the Villagers, was helpless to save his burning home.

"How could you," he bellowed at the townsfolk, but they just laughed at him, lighting more torches. Some threw punches at him, some kicked him. He fell to the ground, grimacing as a boot planted itself in his face.

"You murdered him," Mihawk growled from beneath his hat. "You killed Sanji, just so I wouldn't take him from you."

"No," Zeff spat, shaking the boot from his face as the villagers darted in with bonds to keep him permanently shackled. "I told you. He left for the City. It had nothing to do with you nor I."

"Lies," Mihawk proclaimed to the people that were listening. "He murdered his son and now he lies so that he can get away with it. But we know what he really is."

"Murderer," the people shouted, throwing more torches, laughing and cheering as the Cottage collapsed under the heat of the inferno. "And what shall we do with this murderer?" Mihawk laughed, egging the furious villagers on.

"Make the murderer pay," the called in reply, beginning to drag the man back to the village. "And how shall we make him pay?" Mihawk laughed, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"DEATH TO THE MURDERER!"

"You have to let me go!" Sanji begged, grabbing the front of Zoro's coat; wet from the boy's tears that continued to fall down his face. "Please. You have to let me return to my Father. I have to save him! They'll kill him," he begged, his knees buckling, voice breaking on those last words. "Please," he whimpered, feeling helpless.

Zoro was no better. He supported Sanji, keeping him from falling to the floor. It was he who had given the boy the Mirror and now, he had almost watched his Father's execution in it.

"No," the Beast said, pulling the boy into a hug, but he fought him. "But the villagers-"

"Will kill you too," Zoro insisted, not knowing if it was the truth or not, but didn't want to risk it anyway. He didn't want Sanji to go. He didn't want the boy to come to any harm.

"If you go…"

You'll never come back, he finished in his head. He knew Sanji would have no obligation to return. He was Zoro's prisoner after all and if the Beast freed him, why would the boy come back to his Prison, when he could live a free life somewhere else. With people.

"Sanji," Zoro said softly, a finger under the boy's chin to make him look up at him. His fringe was swept back, and Zoro could see both his Blue, Indigo eyes swimming in tears.

"I love you Sanji. Stay here with me."

The boy seemed to freeze, shocked at the Beast's confession. But Zoro continued.
"Forget them," he hushed, trying to calm Sanji with the sound of his voice. "Forget about them. Forget about them all and we can be together. You and I," he smiled, bending down to press his lips against the boy's

But Sanji didn't press back. He left his mouth slack, his eyes, frozen open.

Zoro leaned back, his smile vanishing as fresh tears spilled down on to the Blue Silk dress that Sanji was wearing.

"Please," Sanji whispered, the word barely audible as he begged to be released. It broke Zoro's heart to see him like that. And it broke his heart to answer; "you may go."

He spoke them clearly, his face a mask of stone before he too, began to cry.

Sanji fled, without even a thank you. His mind was a blur, standing from where he was crouched against the Beast, tearing across the Ballroom. He kicked off his shoes in the Dining Room, unaware of the servants that cried out after him, shocked to see him in tears.

Sanji raced barefoot up the stairs, not thinking as he ran into his room, not even hearing Franky's shocked outcry. He saw he clothes on the bed, and in one fluent movement, slipped from the dress into the cotton trousers and button shirt. He hopped into his boots as he ran out of the door, snagging a cloak from the coat stand as he went.

By that time, Chopper and Usopp were at the top of the stairs. Sanji didn't falter as he vaulted over them, taking the stairs three at a time, racing to the Entrance Hall.

Before he knew it, he was out the door, running down the snow-covered steps and across the large courtyard, to the all too familiar wrought-iron gates. But there was someone there, even more familiar.

They were wearing a dark purple cloak, making it hard to see them casually leant against the Ground's Wall. They were waiting patiently, holding the reins of a familiar towards large horse, saddled and ready to be ridden…

Sanji didn't think as he took the reins offered to him, leaping onto the back of the mount. Cheval reared, whinnying loudly as the large gates creaked open and he bolted into the dark of the West Woods.

"You're letting him go?" the Enchantress asked softly, stood beside Zoro who was staring at the image of the fleeting figure. Sanji's blonde hair flashed in the moonlight before it disappeared from the gate and out of Zoro's life forever.
"You knew I would have to," Zoro murmured softly, ignoring the wet fur on his cheeks. "I can't keep him prisoner here forever."

The Enchantress smiled, a hand on the Prince's shoulder, smiling a sympathetic smile.

"I fell in love with him, like you said I would. I fixed him, like you asked me to."
"Yes you did," the woman said, needing no more words.

Zoro didn't either. He stood taller, a hand on each door as he began to close the doors. And this time, he would lock them, so no one else could trespass…

"Master?" It was Luffy. He hopped closer, taking up the space that the Enchantress had been, although she had disappeared. "Where has Sanji gone?"
"Home," Zoro answered sullenly, putting strength behind his arms as the doors began to close.

"But why?" the Candle Stick asked. "I thought you loved him. So why did you let him leave."
"It's because I love him that I let him go," Zoro answered again, sighing.

"But if you love him, won't don't you just go with him?"

Zoro paused. He turned to Luffy, as if the boy was mad. "But the people in the Village. They'll be scared of me."
"But you don't love the people in the village," Luffy said. "You love Sanji. So you should be with Sanji."

Zoro looked form the boy, to the small gap bewtween the front doors, and beyond the iron gates that stood a jar. He hadn't left the castle in all the years he had been cursed. Could he really leave now to follow the Blonde?

Yes. He could.
Because he loved Sanji.

Zoro barged through the Entrance Doors, racing out into the night as the heaven's showered down upon him. The rain poured like a dam had broke, flooding the ground, washing away the Winter snow, drenching him before he had reached the Iron Gates. But that didn't stop him.
He only had his mind on Sanji, who could be in trouble. Who he had simply left to defend his Father by himself.

His mind was full of Sanji.

And not at all of the Enchanted Rose, waiting in his tower.
Where another petal fell.

Faster, faster, Sanji urged his mount, one hand on the reins, the other on his hood that whipped and flapped in the strong gust that came with the storm. It had appeared so suddenly, or maybe it had been there all along and he had just missed it as he raced towards the Village.
He trusted the horse to know the way, doing all he could not to fall off as the horse flew through the narrow trees, twisting and turning, finding the shortest route back to the edge of the forest.

And before he knew it, Sanji was there. With no shelter from the rain or wind, the storm was worse than ever, but not strong enough to kill the fire that still swallowed the cottage. He could see it already, with flames leaping high into the air and the long stretching shadows of villagers still celebrating around it.

Sanji charged forward, barely pulling on the reins as his horse skidded to a stop. The people cried out in shock, darting away to avoid the stampede of hooves.

"WHERE IS MY FATHER?" Sanji bellowed, eyes streaming with tears that mixed with the rain. A gust of wind wrenched his hood from his face and the crowd gasped in shock as they recognised the thin and limber Blonde to be Sanji; the very boy they accused Zeff of killing.

"Sanji? But how?"
"He's meant to be dead!"
"Mihawk told us-"

"WHERE IS HE?" Sanji demanded, his horse rearing and screaming, as if he too wanted to know where the boy's Father had been taken.

But Sanji was answered by the sounds of more laughter, brought to him by the raging winds. He could hear their repeated chants of "murderer, murderer, murderer…" and it made his blood run cold.
The only reason they would've taken him to the village was;

The gallows!

Sanji didn't bother to wait, to listen to the tales of the shocked villagers. He pulled his reins tight and the horse screamed in outrage, bolting towards the village. Sanji urged the Beast to go faster, screaming for idle townsfolk to move aside as he raced after the chanting crowd to the gallows in the centre of the village.
He feared he would be too late, listening to the clatter of hooves on cobblestone as he took the familiar path away from the shops, towards Mihawk's manor. And there, knelt on the stage, bound by ropes and tethers like a mere creature, was the boy's Father. He bore new wounds, his face and body bloody, his clothes ripped as he was poorly treated.

Mihawk stood beside him, calling to the people, spinning lies and deceit of how Zeff had killed Sanji, just like he had killed the Boy's mother. How Zeff had locked Sanji away until he had tried to run, where he had chased him down and killed him.

"LIES!" Sanji rushed forward, astride his mount, silencing Hawkeye where he stood. "I'm not dead," he growled over the roar of the storm, although that wasn't needed with the boy standing there to easily dispute every tale Mihawk had told the simple minded villagers.
"It's Sanji," they cried, some obviously happy to see the boy well. Other's weren't so sure, but they were ignored as Sanji slipped from the back of the horse, barging his way thorugh the crowd. He pulled himself up onto the soaked wood of the gallows, kneeling beside his Father, who watched him, wideyed and crying himself. "Sanji," he breathed, obviously relieved. "Where have you been?" he whispered as he wrapped his arms around his son.
"It doesn't matter," Sanji whispered back, nestling his head into the crook of the man's neck. "I'm home now. I'm sorry I've been gone so long."

Behind them, the crowd roared in outrage. They had been expecting a hanging, only to find the murderer was not what he was accused to be. And Mihawk, standing gobsmacked, could do nothing to appease the angry mob. But then he got an idea.

"How dare you side with a murderer," he growled to Sanji, much to the boy, (and everyone else's) confusion. "That man killed your Mother. He is still a murderer," Mihawk accused, slapping Sanji away with the back of his hand. It knocked him away from Zeff, who could not move for the bindings on his feet.
Suddenly, more hands grabbed at him as Ramu and Mihawk's faithful followers pulled him to the side of the gallows, unable to help his Father, who was still to be executed. "NO! You can't," Sanji screamed as Mihawk took the noose, placing it around the Older Blonde's neck. "He hasn't done anything wrong!"

Sanji wished the Beast was with him. He, with his mighty claws could slay Mihawk and save his Father, where he had failed. It was then that he realised that he hadn't said goodbye. He hadn't told Zoro he would come back. He would save his Father and go back to him…

"I love you Sanji. Stay here with me."

The rain and his tears stung his eyes and they rolled down the Blonde's cheeks. Sanji lowered his head as he realised the grave mistake he had made…

"There is something you can do," came the slithery, deceitful voice of the Sword master. He was beside Sanji now, their faces almost touching. The Blonde had to resist the urge to head butt the man knowing it would only spur him to pull the lever and hang Zeff. He needed to delay. To stall.
"I'll let him live, if you promise to me now, that you'll marry me."

Sanji's mouth went slack, his mouth dry. He was desperate to agree, to save his Father. But something made him pause. A certain green-furred Beast, with rude table manners and a stubborn attitude. A love for books and literature. A warm kindness, and a soft heart.

He was sure he imagined the sound of the Beast roaring from far away in his castle…

Zoro pounded the rain-soaked earth with his paws, willing himself to go faster. He couldn't help it, letting a roar rip from between his lips. The wind whipped his fur, pushing him from behind. He felt the caress of their hands, as if it was the Enchantress guiding him along, showing him the shortest route.

Zoro let loose, feeling his body fall into a fast-paced rhythm, his body rocking back and forth as he plunged forward on all fours. He could feel the beat of his heart keeping in time to the sound of his thudding paws scrape at the mud and earth that tore up in his wake.

Zoro roared again, focusing only on his thoughts of Sanji. He forced himself to go faster, racing the wind through the West Woods, following the path that flowed across the ground like a gentle river. It grew wider and larger as he broke through the trees, listening to the wind howl at him. It pushed him East, where he could see in the far distance, a flickering light.
Without clearly seeing it, Zoro knew it was Sanji's old dwelling.

The sight of the still-roaring inferno spurred the Beast faster. He didn't stop as he reached the shell of the former house, speeding past as he headed towards a small village further. He could hear the cries of angry people and the unmistakable scream of his beloved Sanji, somewhere in their midst.

"SANJI!" the Beast roared, passing houses and dawdling townsmen, who screamed and shrieked at the sight of the Monster. But Zoro ignored them, his mind on Sanji and only Sanji. He had stopped shouting, so he couldn't listen for him, but it was clear that he was with the other crowd, stood in front of a large oak at the far end of the cobblestone street. And there, between the crowd and the tree, was a raised stage. A man knelt in the middle, beaten and brusied as he waited for death from the rope that coiled around his neck. Beside him were more men; two crouched together…

Zoro saw the flash of gold and his heart soared.

"SANJI!"

Every head turned to the sound of the monstrous roar. Men, women and children screamed at the sight of the Monster, fleeing from the street to the shelter of buildings, pushing and shoving in hopes not to be caught in the sight of the creature that hunted them. Only the men on the stage remained where they were, frozen in fear, but for two: Sanji, and a man cloaked in black.
"By my beard," he gasped, seemingly unafraid as Zoro charged closer, eyes only on Sanji, who was being held down by the villagers.

"LET GO OF HIM!" Zoro ordered furiously, leaping to the stage in one ginormous bound. He knocked the men away, standing over the top of Sanji as he turned to the remaining enemy.
The man in black didn't seem deterred by the show of fierceness, instead seemingly in awe.

"Aren't you fearsome," he marvelled, reaching into his cloak to pull forth a sword. "Ramu," he called, addressing the dazed man underneath the gallows. "Fetch my prize. I may have to use that on a Beauty such as this one."
Ramu seemed far too happy to be sent away from the town square, disappearing to the black-walled manor.

But Zoro didn't give him a second thought, instead, lowering his body, curling around Sanji. He lifted him to his feet with one hand, holding him close as he looked him over for bruises or cuts. "Are you okay?" he asked, worry clear in his voice. "I'm fine," Sanji replied, his own voice shaking. But Zoro could hear the relief, and feel it from the tight hug as Sanji embraced him. "I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye," he whispered, crying once more as Zoro stood to his full height, holding Sanji against his broad chest.
But not once did he forget about the Sword Master, that took that moment to move closer. He swung at Zoro, forcing the Beast to twist sharply, grabbing Sanji so he didn't get caught in the swing of the sword that slammed into the wooden plank at their feet. It splintered as Mihawk pulled his blade clean, darting in with a jab that caught Zoro's forearm as he pushed Sanji out of range.
"Free your Father," he ordered, focusing on the man he had to battle.

The storm seemed to quieten, as if it was holding its breath. Dimly aware of the hush that had befallen, each faced his opponent and froze, waiting to see who would move first.

"Behind you! Zoro!" Sanji's shout carried over the quiet.
The Beast saw them then. Silent as beetles; two men scuttled towards him in the cover of the fog, from the moving shadow of the tree branches.
More followed, slipping from doorways and corners. Their steps masked by the wind and rain, the pack stalked in, converging from every direction. More melted away from the crowds, armed with weapons in hopes to defend their homes. Each was nervous, close to running; clear from the hesitant, slow steps they took as they prowled closer. They carried knives and clubs and chains.

They moved as one, spreading out to surround the Gallows, blocking every exit, deterring the Beast from any ideas he may have had about fleeing. But that was far from mind as Zoro crouched lower, preparing to fight.

He picked a target; one in front, where his allies would see him fall, and jumped.
The bully collapsed with a blood-bubbling neck wound. The familiar stench of death rose in the stormy night.

Zoro aimed for his second target.

The thugs hesitated, fingering blade and cudgel as if they would bring some sort of cold comfort. They sent nervous glances back and forth. Attack or retreat. If they were to decide, it would be now.

Then, it was the cloaked man's turn. To the shocked cries of onlookers still yet to flee, he darted forward. His blade turned in the air, flashing in the light of the burning torches.
But it wasn't towards Zoro that the blade flew. But to the Blonde's crouched close by, stock-still on the gallows.

"Sanji," Zoro cried out.
He was fast; cat like and nimble, he darted into the space that his sword would not pass, his foot kicking the blade to cut the rest of the older man's bonds.
Mihawk, hoping that Zoro would've leapt to the boy's rescue, was caught off guard by the action, his grip slackened enough so that the second kick knocked the blade clean form his hand, landing in the mud. In the same movement, Sanji rolled to the floor, hands replacing his feet as they swung in a wide circle, catching the man in the centre of his chest.
Hawkeye was sent clean off his feet, tumbling in a flail of limbs, rolling to the cobblestone below.

Zoro sent Sanji an approving grin, then was distracted once more, striking out as two enemies had tried to creep closer to him. One dead. One wounded. That would've been two if his claws hadn't hit badly and glanced off the second's collar blade. But with a swipe of his paw, another body joined the count.

The Beast forced his mind to the others, ignoring the squirming corpses that tried to fight the hold of death. He looked for the pattern; the hunting movements that they performed, still trying to spot an opening to catch the Beast unaware.
A chain whistled past. Zoro grabbed it and jerked the man off balance, dragging him closer, to drive his claws through a gap in the leather waistcoat, up under the bones, to the heart.
For an instant he stood locked, face-to-face with his killer. Outrage, disbelief and regret surged in his eyes, then simply drained away. His eyes rolled back.
Dead.

Zoro was stood for too long. A club cracked down on his back, made evil with nail heads driven through at all angles. They caught his cape, his robes and ripped through his fur to the skin beneath. Another crack and Zoro dropped to his knees. He dodged another blow, rolling away, his legs taking the attacker down.

Sanji cried out.

Up.
Zoro had to get up.

He was on all fours, shaking his head, trying to see through the wind and the rain, the fog that circled around them. Sanji was stretched between two men, who yelled abuse as they dragged him back, insulting him with slurs and harsh words. "You're on the Beast's side," they cursed him, brutally dragging him from the gallows to the darkness of the climbing hill, towards the dark manor.
Zeff tried to reach from him, but from the abuse of boots and punches, he had no energy to save his son.

Zoro was barely back onto two feet before another blade cleaved down towards his head. He simply grabbed it in his giant paws, stopping it in it's track, snapping it as if it were carved from wood.
The Beast had no time to kill the man; chasing down those that were taking Sanji from him. He hunted them down, throwing them to the shadows, lifting Sanji into his arms. He held him there, protected from anyone else that would bring him harm.

But Zoro could not fight and defend at the same time.

The remaining men knew this. More picked up arms, outraged at the deaths of their fellow fighters. The dozen remaining thugs turned into a mob once more. Sharp swords, pitch forks, clubs and torches that burnt defiantly against the still-howling winds.

"We have to get out of here," Sanji said desperately. "Get my Father and run."
He turned in a circle, looking for a hole in the net closing around them.

Two moved at once.

Zoro jerked back, aside. The spear meant for his neck whizzed by in a blur. The Beast twisted in time; only the tip of the blade scratching Sanji's arm, the rest having pierced his protective layers of clothing. But concern for Sanji caused him to be slow in reacting to the club that drew from his blindside. He ducked this time, feeling his fur ruffle with the force of it.

Sanji tumbled from his grip, unable to place his feet beneath him as he met the ground with a hard thud. Zoro couldn't spare him a hand, instead shoving him roughly, putting himself between the Blonde and the pack-like mob.

Zoro dropped to all fours, Beast like. He let loose a guttural roar that shock the ground as thunder boomed and lightening crashed. His eyes flared with challenging fury, his fur bristling to make himself look larger. He scratched the stone with his claws, causing sparks to fly.

The two that attacked shrunk back to the crowd, catching their breath, waiting their turn once more as others answered the call for blood, stepping forward. Four this time, although they waited, thinking, assessing before they moved.

The closest charged for a shrike of defiance. Zoro sidestepped his blade; held at point. Lance -like as it jabbed at him. His opponent lunged. The Beast whirled to face him. He avoided one sharp jab, only to step in line of another.
The blow glanced off his ribcage, a sharp sting fading fast. In front of him, two foul attackers leered at him, grinning before a third, to the right, jabbed at his midsection.
It glanced off Zoro's claws and suddenly the Beast went on the offensive. He swept his arm wide, taking out half a dozen with it.

But one man proved effective at defence, and Zoro's sharpened claws met with a equally sharp sword. Larger than any the Beast had ever seen, held with ease up high, it was the cloaked man once more. The same that hurt Sanji's Father. The same that had struck for the boy himself.

Fury fuelled the Beast's roar and he struck again. Claw met blade once more. Both Beast and Man were equally matched. With every strike, the other deflected or blocked it. It was a power battle. A test of speed but also stamina.
Zoro had brute strength behind him, but he had been fighting many whilst the black-cloaked man had waited for his servant to fetch his weapon. He had waited for the mob to tire the Beast, rather than fight him straight on. But Mihawk was also at a slight disadvantage. He hunted Beasts like Zoro, but none as big nor powerful, and certainly none with the man's intelligence.
Arrogant and proud, he didn't think of this as he stepped into Zoro's right-hand swipe, his large sword brought up in an arch. Zoro threw himself back to avoid the fangs of the monstrous sword. It moved swiftly and freely as if the sword itself was alive.

Behind, the rumbled of laughter grew from the crowd. They had been wanting the Beast's death since he first killed one of their own.
And now, Mihawk would give it to them.

One, baited by the promise of blood, grew impatient. He charged forward, yelling as he did, only to impale himself on Zoro's claws, sharper than talons. His body fell, becoming just another corpse without a face.

The death spiked rage amongst the gathered crowd. They raised their make-shift weapons, shouting abuse and death threats. "Monster!"
"Animal," they cried in chorus. "Death to the Beast."

"NO!"

It was Sanji who cried out in protest, appearing as if from nowhere. He stood, arms outstretched, using his own body to shield Zoro. He wouldn't stand idly by whilst the Prince fought to defend him. He would fight as well.

"Sanji, get away, it's not safe," Zoro hissed, his eyes unmoving from his opponent. But Hawkeye was distracted as well, his piercing eyes on the Golden Haired Boy that grew angry at the villagers for wanting to harm this Beast…

Why?

"Sanji, go!" Zoro ordered with more ferocity, grabbing the boy by the waist, moving him away from the angry mob. Anything to keep him from the danger.
They shared a look. Of deep affection and fear for the other.

Mihawk saw. And understood.
He took his chance, darting forward with his blade level. It arched across Zoro's chest, cutting a deep wound from shoulder to stomach. The Beast roared in pain, staggering back. Sanji cried out, but he was helpless to watch as the blade point dove into the Beast's chest.

Zoro obliged in kind, pain consuming more of his mind than he wished. The blow was weak, barely a scratch to the Sword Master that pressed him again.

Zoro's footing was weak, earlier injuries having sapped his strength. His wounds stung in the cold air. Fatigue drew on his tired mind.

Sword and Claw met, clashing together over and over between dodges and feints.

It wasn't a wound that took Zoro to his knees. It was exhaustion.
His head lolled forward slightly, his arms slack at his side, barely able listening to Sanji's panick stricken voice, calling him from somewhere to his right. He looked, to offer him a small smile, to tell him it was all alright…

He was just catching his breath.

"ZORO!" Sanji screamed. He thrashed against the arms that trapped him; villagers that had snuck up on him, realising that he was the Beast's one weakness. He bit and kicked at them, but was unable to throw them, still screaming the Prince's name over and over.

The Green Beast tried to get up from the rain-slick cobblestone, but it was hard. He was out of breath, his wounds affecting him more than he wished to admit. His strength had been sapped in the fight; most of his energy wasted on anger.
Anger he now directed at himself. He had charged here to save his precious Sanji, only to fall to the blade of the man that had hurt him…

Mihawk took a satisfying step forward, his sword; no longer needed, held limp at his side. "I just can't decide if I should skin you, or mount your head upon my wall," the man laughed maliciously, glancing to the Blonde to see the distress it brought to hear such a threat.

"No, Mihawk. Please, I beg you," Sanji sobbed, fearing for the Beast who still hadn't moved in his own defence.

"Beg me what?" the black-cloaked man sneered, lifting a boot to kick the Beast down. He didn't fight it, letting his body slump back to the wet ground.

"Don't hurt him," Sanji pleaded, still trying to shake his retainers.

Mihawk just laughed, stepping to the Beast's side. He lay the blade point just over Zoro's heart, laughing as Sanji cried out again. "Stop it Mihawk! Don't hurt him."
"And why should I?" the man asked, amused by the turn of events.

"Because if you spare him… I'll marry you."

Silence drew across the night.
Mihawk fixed the Blonde with a beady eye, seeing the firm truth in the boy's one eye. They were red from crying, his own face dirty from grime and blood as he had taken his own share of damage as he fought the villagers.

"For him?" Mihawk growled in disbelief, looking back to the Monster that lay defeated on the floor. He wasn't listening to the conversation around him, just looking up to the sky. Rain pattered on his face, but he continued to stare upwards.

It's finally raining…

"For him!" Mihawk growled in rage, realising that the prize he wanted the most had already been stolen by this misshapen, ugly freak of nature. He looked down to the creature that had been fighting relentlessly, recalling how had had fought for Sanji, defended Sanji.

He had come.

For Sanji.

"Let him go Mihawk." Sanji warned the man, his voice calm. "Let him go and I promise I will marry you."

The man looked to the Blonde. His anger grew from humiliation as he realised the truth, even without either speaking it out loud.

"You'll marry me either way," he declared, lifting his blade.

And to the strangled cries of the broken-hearted Blonde, the black-cloaked Sword Master drove his blade deep into the heart of the Beast.

Far to the North, in an abandoned tower, stood a single rose.
Once proud and grand, now it curled upon itself, wilting to become nothing more than a memory on the surface of a stone pedestal, protected by a small glass dome.

Someone please tell me what you think of this chapter becuase I'm really proud of it, but I want to know if I've met your expectations or not.