Chapter 10 – Nightmare's End

Asuna

I couldn't help but smile as I made my way through the crowded street of Cocoyashi village. Something I thought I'd never be able to do again. Everyone was celebrating the end of Arlong's terrifying reign. I would have joined in the festivities, but I was on my way to the village doctor to have my wounds from the fight against Arlong treated.

As I walked, I wondered what the others were doing right about this moment. Luffy was probably eating. Sanji, flirting with random women. Ussop, spinning some wild tale. Zoro...

Now that I thought about it, I wondered if Zoro was somewhere napping, or if he had even bothered to go and see the doctor. I really hoped that he had before taking a nap. As I got closer, I spotted him napping out side of the doctor's place. The same blue unbuttoned, bloody shirt on.

Sighing in aggravation, I walked over to him, and nudged him with my foot. Cracking one eye open, he yawned, and gave me a sour look.

"What do you want?" He asked in a sleepy voice.

"Why haven't you gone to get stitched up yet?" I demanded, my arms crossed over my chest.

Closing his eye again, he took a deep breath.

"It's nothing a nap can't cure." He said, before snoring loudly a second later.

"A nap huh..." I muttered, before I reached over with both hands, grabbed him by the front of the open shirt, hauled his ass up, and dragged him into the doctor's office.

"What the hell? Asuna!" He nearly shouted, being forcefully woken up and taken to see the doctor.

"Getting your dumb ass stitched up! Now shut up and take it like a man!" I shouted back, as I continued to drag him over to the doctor, who was treating Johnny and Yosaku. Looking up, he spotted us.

"Oh there you are. I was wondering when you or the swordsman was going to show up." the doctor said, as he turned his attention to Zoro. "That wound's going to need restitching... Take him over there Asuna, and I'll get started on him... Unless..." He began, after I did as he asked.

"I'll start stitching this big idiot while you work on them. My wounds can wait a bit. They're not that bad." I said, knowing that he was about to ask me to do it. Looking back at Zoro to drag him over to an empty bed, I could see why.

Zoro had a dark scary look on his face. Lucky for me, it has no effect.

"Stop pouting Zoro, I know what I'm doing... Now go over there and get rid of that bloody shirt." I ordered him, as I gently pushed him in that direction.

Muttering under his breath, he did as I said before laying down on the bed. Smiling at his stubbornness, I went to the cabinet the doctor kept all of his medical supplies. Grabbing a bowl, I poured some rubbing alcohol into it. When the bowl had a decent amount, I grabbed the right kind of needle and thread and tossed it in. Then, reaching into another cabinet, I grabbed some fresh bandages.

Now that I had everything that I needed, I walked over to where Zoro was, and placed it on the bedside table. Getting the stool in the corner, I placed it next to the bed, and turned to face Zoro.

Picking the needle and thread out of the alcohol, I threaded the needle, and turned towards Zoro; who cringed and glared at the needle. Muttering something about how he hated stitches and needles in general.

"Ha ha ha ha... Don't tell me that Roronoa Zoro, the infamous pirate hunter is scared of needles." I laughed out loud at his screwed up face.

Hearing what I said, he turned his sour glare towards me and muttered something about me being an evil person.

"Well, try being afraid of needles, and then being forced to get a tattoo." I retorted, as the back of my shoulder gave a ghost of a dull throb. The gunshot wound was nearly healed up, and soon I'd be able to have it changed over. I already had the design drawn up for it too.

Shoving that memory from my mind, I started making the first stitch in Zoro's chest. If only I'd have known that for the next hour, Zoro was gonna scream in pain every time the needle pierced his skin. Then again, if I thought about it, it didn't seem like Zoro's body had much, if any; fat in it. So it made since that it would hurt him like it was.

When I was done with it, the doctor then treated my wounds before turning to finish treating Zoro. Smiling my thanks, I turned and left. There was somewhere I had to go...

…...

Zoro

I held my breath as Asuna made the last stitch in my wound, before getting treatment for herself, and leaving. When she was gone, I turned to look at the doctor examining her work.

"She did really good on stitching you up. However, do you realize how much of a dumb ass you are. I hope you didn't think that it would have healed enough on its own to continue a life with the sword. Honestly, you're lucky Asuna dragged your sorry ass in like she did. Seriously, pirates are supposed to be smarter than this. Don't you guys have a ship's doctor?" He demanded, as he began to wrap bandages around me.

"A ships doctor... Great idea." Came a familiar voice from the window above my head. Looking up, I spotted Luffy with a piece of meat in his hand.

"Luffy..." I greeted, as he continued to look at the doctor beside me.

"But we need to get a musician first, right?" he said, as he glanced down at me.

"Why's that?" I asked.

"Because pirates really love to sing..." He said, as if it were obvious or something.

"That's true... But why a musician before a doctor?"

Leaving my question be, Luffy then turned back to the doctor.

"Hey doctor... Where's Nami and Asuna?" he asked, pointing his food at him.

"Asuna, you just missed. And Nami, if she's not in the village, then there's only one place she'd go. If Asuna's not around either, or in the forge down the road, then she's with Nami... If you go to the end of the road, there's a small trail on your right. Follow it all the way to the end, and you'll find a grave. It's where their foster mother is buried." He said, before Luffy took off once again.

After a few more minutes, the doctor was done.

"There... You're done. Now be careful not to open them up again. Then again if you ask Asuna nicely, she might help you out if it comes to that again. That girl has the potential to become a doctor, but she decided she wanted to be a sword smith instead." He said, chuckling softly, before he frowned slightly... "At least I wont have to worry if she'll be killed due to not have the medical supplies she needed if those fish men were to hurt her anymore."

"If you don't mind telling me... Why that is?" I asked him, wanting to get a better understanding of what Asuna was put through.

"I probably shouldn't, but it might be best to tell you anyway. Seeing as she happened to open up to you more than she has with anyone... As you probably know, Asuna use to let the fish men beat her to protect all of us. At first, it was a daily occurrence. However, we didn't know it at the time. The first clue was that my medical supplies started disappearing. It wasn't until I caught her stealing it that I finally understood why. After that, whenever she was around, I gave her some supplies. A little extra even, should she be hurt when I saw her. It's how she learned to give someone stitches, all from having to practice on herself...

Things for them were horrible there, make no mistake of that. When they got older, and hit puberty, I even started both her and Nami on birth control should one of the fish men try to rape them or something..."

As he said this, I found myself clenching my teeth in anger at the very thought of someone, regardless of species, forcing that on either Asuna or Nami; hell anyone for that matter. I had seen what kind of effect rape had on someone. Especially if a child were to be a result of it.

In fact, before I forgot how to get back to my village, I learned from one of the villagers that I had been born as a result of my mother being rapped. She had never told me this, or that it was the reason why she never could look me in the face. However, she still loved me as a mother would...

"And I think it was a good idea too, seeing as Asuna had a really close call one night..." He continued to say, before looking me square in the eye. "One of Arlong's men tried to rape Asuna one night, after she had come back to the island after traveling. He didn't get very far though. Most he did was grab her from behind, and tell her what he was going to do; before she twisted away from him, and broke his neck all in one go... What really baffled me was how she kept Arlong from finding out about it though... Either way, that's in the past now..." He finished, as he moved to go check on Johnny and Yosaku one more time.

As he left my side, I thought back over what he had told me. I didn't understand why, but my heart ached some for Asuna and Nami. Instead of letting Arlong be taken by the marines, I should have cut him to pieces for daring to hurt either of them that way...

At least he couldn't do it to them anymore.

Grabbing the blue shirt I had, I put it back on. The next time I'm back at the ship, I'll have to get another one. Thankfully though, I wouldn't have to, seeing as Ussop walked in to see how I was doing while bringing one to me. Slipping it on, I walked outside to where I could smell the food and sake.

Getting a sake, I walked over to an empty porch and sat down to sip it. It was good, even though it wasn't really strong.

…...

Three Days Later...

Asuna

I couldn't help but smile to myself as I got everything I needed moved onto the Going Mary. It had taken the passed few days, but I had got it done. Taking a deep breath, I sat down on my bed that had been set up in the girls room, right next to Nami's.

Grasping Bellemere's necklace, I gazed down at it in my palm. I couldn't help but wonder what Bellemere would say if she were still alive, and knew that Nami and I were leaving to pursue a life of a pirate. Hell, she'd more than likely tell us to get our asses off the island and go. Simply because we would leave even if she had said no.

Smiling to myself, I dropped the necklace to hang from my neck once again. Going over to my trunk of clothes, I changed into a black shirt that shows off my shoulders, and my upper back, and a pair of long black pants.

When I had them on, I walked over to the full length mirror Nami had insisted on taking with us, I checked to see if my new tattoo was visible. Seeing the image clearly, I couldn't help but allow my smile turn into a full toothy grin.

Nothing hid the amber eyed, red tailed hawk that hovered over a sword, with its wings spanned out for all to see.

Satisfied, I grabbed my sword, and left the ship all together. Looking up at the starry sky as I made my way to Bellemere's grave, I found myself thinking back over the years the four of us had together. It wasn't long, but it was enough...

Right before I was to reach my destination, I heard two familiar voices. One belonged to Genzo, and it sounded like he was talking to Luffy. I wasn't sure because the voice sounded slightly distorted. Like he had food in his mouth or something.

Hiding in the thin line of trees, I crept closer to them. When they got in sight, I saw Genzo staring down at Bellemere's grave with an empty bottle of sake in his hand; and Luffy with a few pieces of meat in each of his hands.

"It's "My deepest condolences."" I heard Genzo correct him.

"Oh right... Thanks!" Luffy said, swallowing his food.

A few seconds of silence passed between the two of them before Genzo spoke again.

"Listen boy... I know that Nami and Asuna are both going away with you and your crew... They have their minds set on becoming pirates, and that's a dangerous business to get into... One many go into, but don't come out of... Either way, none of it can be helped, so I'm fine with it... But...

If Nami, epsecially Asuna, end up either hurt or dead... I'll kill you and your entire crew..." Genzo said, the tone of a protective father entering his voice.

"We're not gonna hurt them!" Luffy nearly shouted, sounding offended that Genzo would think that he or his crew would do such a thing.

"ARE YOU SURE!?" Genzo shouted at him, before calming himself a bit. "You had better be... After their mother died, I did my best to be like a father figure to them. Not that it did much good..."

"I'm sure." Luffy said, sounding confidant of himself.

"Good..." He said, as Luffy turned an left. Muttering something about finding a raw ham melon.

When he was out of sight, I left my hiding spot and walked up to Genzo.

"How much of that did you hear?" he asked, glancing down at me.

"Enough to say that as a father figure, you did great Genzo. And I say that because you tried to come through for Nami and me. The whole village did..." I said, as I moved to stand before my foster mother's grave.

"She would be proud of you, were she here now, Asuna. In fact, you're just like her, and Annabelle. The same determination and fiery spirit. Both of them passed with intentions of allowing your life ahead of you come to pass. The most you can do now, is grant their wish." Genzo said, as he placed a hand on my shoulder for a moment, before turning to leave himself.

When he was gone, I sat down.

"Well Bellemere... I'm about to head off to chase my dream. I just wish you were here to see us off..." I said, as I felt tears well up in my eyes. "Wouldn't it have been great? To see each other one more time before we set off... I'll be striving towards forging the world's strongest sword; and Nami, a map of the entire world... Nojiko... She's still Nojiko... I miss you a lot Bellemere, and the stories of my mother you use to tell me..." I whispered as the tears freely fell, one after another.

I sat there, and just let the tears silently go. This was my official goodbye I never got to give to Bellemere eight years ago. Smothered by the fish men for so long, that it's slightly painful to let it out.

I froze in place when I suddenly heard a familiar haunting melody. Looking behind me, I spotted a music box, and it was playing the lullaby Bellemere use to sing. Whenever we were sad, scared, or hurt, she would sing it to us, and make us feel must have left it there behind me. I don't know how he had gotten a hold of it though. The fish men had caught me with it once, and crushed it in front of me. Somehow, he must have gathered all of the pieces together and rebuilt it. Did he know that I would one day need to hear that lullaby to be able to move forward once I finally got to say my goodbyes to Bellemere? If so, then it was the greatest gift anyone could give me at this point.

It was a song about an ice princess who was looked down on, kicked around, and weighted down by her fears and desires; and how she longed to let them all go...

The ice princess who at one point in time, was just like me those years I was trapped with the fish men. As it played, I felt my sadness beginning to melt away. And like her, I have to move forward instead of living in the past.

Wiping the tears away, I stood to my feet, and walked over to the music box. Picking it up, I closed it, and tossed it over the cliff and into the sea.

Feeling much better, I turned and began making my way back to the village. Only, as I moved to take the first step, I felt someone shove me from behind. Startled, I whirled around to look behind me. All that met my sight was Bellemere's grave.

"Alright Bellemere... I'm off now... Love you Mama..." I said, smiling as I started back down the path.

…...

Zoro

Just watching the people around me was making me even more tired than what I originally felt. For the passed three days, the entire village had been partying non stop. Either way, I was just happy that the sake hadn't run out yet.

Drinking more of my sake, I paused when I noticed the love cook walking by.

"Boy am I stuffed... It's nice to not have to cook for a change... So, how are you feeling Zoro?" Sanji asked as he sat in front of a white post on the ground in front of me.

"I'm okay. I think all I need is a bit of rest." I said, as I went back to drinking.

"That's good." Sanji replied, as he pulled out a cigaret.

"Seriously though, how much longer can these people keep going? It's been what, three days..." I said, returning to my earlier thought.

"Nothing wrong with that... Smoke 'em if ya got 'em..." Sanji said, lighting the cigaret in his mouth as Luffy suddenly showed up with a piece of meat in his mouth, and two in each hand.

"Sanji! Tell me where you found that melon you had! I still want to try it!" he said around it.

"It's not polite to talk with your mouth full..." I scolded, sipping my sake.

"It's called raw ham melon, and I can't tell you exactly where it is. Like I said once before, the towns a huge buffet. You'll just have to look for it." Sanji said, as he scanned the many different tables with food on it.

"He's already gone." I said, as Sanji was about to say something else to him.

Shrugging his shoulders, Sanji put the cigarette out before jumping up and running off to dance with a huge group of women. Shaking my head at the love cooks idiocy, I went to drink more sake, only to find it gone.

"Why is the sake always gone?" I muttered out loud in annoyance, as I sat the empty mug beside me, and leaned back to watch events that were going on around me.

"Around here we call the answer 'Alcoholics'." I heard a familiar voice say from the tree above me.

Glancing up, I spotted Asuna sitting on a tree branch, a bottle of something in her hand.

"Says the one holding Sake." I retorted, as I looked back to the crowd of people in the town square.

"Says the one with the empty mug of weak sake." She tossed back at me, causing me to raise my eyebrows at her.

"Oh really, this island has stronger sake?" I said, daring her to prove me wrong. They guy I had gotten my sake from had said that it was the strongest they had.

Instead of answering me, Asuna reached behind her for something before throwing it at me. Catching it easily, I was shocked to find a bottle in my hands. It looked identical to the bottle in Asuna's hands. Who was also looking at me, daring me to try it.

Not one to let a challenge passe me up, I popped the bottle open and took a swig of it. The second it went down my throat, I immediately felt the tingle of good alcohol hit my system. Meaning that the damn guy at the sake table had lied to me.

"If your upset about Jo lying to you then don't be. The village doctor threatened to give him a painful flu shot the next time the flu season strikes if he gave you something stronger than that." Asuna explained as she caught my sudden sour expression, after taking a sip of the sake in her hand.

"Why are you up there instead of down here?" I asked, curious as to why I haven't seen her or her sister since the fall of Arlong park.

"I'm staying out of the sight of the villagers... They'll want to thank me and all that shit, and I'm not comfortable with that. I'm too use to their cold looks and cold shoulders. And now that they know who my father is, they'll be wary around me. I wouldn't be able to handle it." She explained, as she finished off the sake in her hand.

Nodding my head in understanding, I turned to look back out in the crowd. When my thoughts returned to what the doctor had told me, I turned to ask her if any of it were true, only to find that she had already left.

…...

Thanks for reading, and thanks to those of you who have reviewed/favored/followed this story so far! I hope you continue to enjoy it.

I'm sorry that it has taken a while to update, and I'll try to get chapter 11 out as soon as I can. And for those of you who have watched Pirates of the Caribbean, I hope you could make a connection to when Zoro said Why is the sake always gone? To the phrase Jack Sparrow says "Why is the rum always gone?" from which ever of the movies he says that.

Anyway, Thanks for reading and/or reviewing!

Bugg18

…...Next Chapter – Chapter 11 – The Next Adventure.