Well well, another chapter. The beggining of this one should be quite exciting. Enjoy! Beware, SanNam-ness approaches! -giggle-

ALSO! I would like to take the time to thank Kohakufire for her fanart of this. Simply go to my profile page, and you should find it there! Lieju as well! The fairy that Lieju drew is quite interesting and though it's not my vision, it's a pretty awesome picture! Once again, check out my profile page for that! -nods-

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Night Vigil

by WishingforaZoroplushie

Chapter 11: Discoveries

"…what?" Zoro asked, staring at the tube in disbelief. Luffy chuckled.

"We have to slide down it. It's the only way to get out of this place now. What with the stupid sun up and all." Luffy seemed to be recovering by the second. Zoro blinked at him and then sighed. If it was the only way… and he didn't want Luffy to get burnt to a crisp, or blown up, or whatever by the sun if they went out the door. So, he resigned himself to going down the tube.

"Fine, whatever. Let's go." Zoro replied. Luffy gave a short nod and flicking a hand, he made the door shut behind them. Zoro blinked in amazement before smiling as Luffy clapped his hands together.

"I've been practising that for ages and it's never worked before." he said. Zoro smiled.

"Well done." he congratulated. Luffy beamed and Zoro found that just congratulating this kid was a reward in itself.

"Okay, so, when we slide, all you have to do is keep your legs straight and lay flat… or you'll hit your head. K?" Luffy explained, his face bright like it was an every day thing, and that there really wasn't a worry to be had.

"…right." Zoro replied, not feeling confident about this at all.

"I'll go first!" and Luffy leapt into the tube, gripping it's sides before grinning back at Zoro, "And don't worry, it won't rub your butt off!" and then he shoved himself, sliding along the tube at a solid speed. Zoro watched him and then gasped when Luffy suddenly disappeared. A loud cheer was heard and Zoro sighed. The tube must have gone straight down. Well fuck… that was going to wreak havoc with his stomach now wasn't it.

Don't be such a goddamned coward. Zoro berated himself and the swordsman took a deep breath, slid his sword into it's sheath and then lowered himself into the tube. This didn't look safe… what if he flew out!? Zoro pushed himself off and found that the slide wasn't so bad… until he dropped straight down. He let out an unwilling yell and then blinked as he twisted and turned. There was no chance of him flying out now, the whole thing was like a proper tube, low stone over his head was smooth as well and he gave a small laugh of relief.

Ahead, he could hear Luffy whooping and crying out as he slid along. Zoro suddenly felt an incredible rush of adrenaline at the trip and he gave a loud cry of enjoyment. The wind was stinging his eyes and making the short hairs on his head blow back. He had to stay flat otherwise (as Luffy had said) he would lose his head.

Literally.

Another yell escaped his lips and he found himself laughing and then he saw his swords, swinging dangerously around. Shit, if they got caught then he didn't even want to think about what would happen. Grabbing them, he pulled them into his lap and sighed, clamping one arm over them to hold them still. The slide took a dramatic twist and Zoro found himself sliding up the wall and then back into the tube again.

"How much further, Luffy!?" he cried, by no means as a way of saying he wanted out.

"Another minute or so! It takes a really good drop heerrreee!" and Luffy's voice trailed off as he gave a loud shriek of joy. Uh oh. Another drop? Clamping his arm around the swords tighter, Zoro came into a well lit cavern and the slide slowed for a second before he was speeding up again as the slide slanted slowly downwards. There was nothing but black before him now, and with a yell he flew down into a long, forty five degree angle drop. His stomach was left behind and he felt as though his heart had jumped into the back of his throat and was performing a rather complicated tap dance.

His speed increased as he dropped, and he became a little worried when he couldn't hear Luffy crying out anymore. What if the boy had hit his head? Or something had happened? And then he was thrown into a hairpin corner, into the air over a bump and then shot out the end of the tube. He skidded along the smooth stone floor before coming to a stop just before hitting the opposite wall.

"Have fun?" a voice asked and then Luffy's face leaned over him, wide grin in place and cheeks slightly flushed with the excitement and thrill of it all. Zoro blinked and then smirked.

"Yeah!" he responded as he got to his feet. Now that it was over, Zoro had a chance to think and he realized that had been the best damn ride he had ever been on! Damn... when did that do that again!? He was up for it! Luffy chuckled approvingly before looking around.

"Good. Now, we have to travel through these tunnels… only thing is, umm, Shanks never told me which way to go." and he grinned sheepishly, brushing at the back of his head. Zoro blinked.

"He… then how the hell do we get out of here!?" Zoro panicked, all traces of an adrenaline rush having disappeared from his system. Luffy waved his hands at him, trying to calm him down.

"It's okay! All we have to do is follow the smell of fresh air! There's a small outlet in a big cavern like, some where near here." and Luffy blinked as he looked around again. Zoro stared at him and one thought kept running through his head as he watched Luffy inspect the walls.

We're SO doomed...

---

Nami watched as Robin gently wrapped a piece of cloth around Sanji's injured shoulder.

"Is he alright?" Nami asked, concern on her face. Robin gave her a small, amused smile.

"Why the concern all of a sudden? Indeed, I remember you telling me that you were having a lot of trouble with him, yes?" and she chuckled as Nami stiffened and glared.

"I don't want him hurt." she responded angrily. Robin smiled lightly.

"Neither do I navigator-san. It's lucky he passed out you know." and Nami flushed further when she realized that she hadn't even checked to see if Sanji was indeed passed out. Robin chuckled again and Nami sighed.

"Poor guy." she murmured. Robin tilted her head slightly, the smile still upon her face and then slowly, so slowly, a tear began to roll down her cheek. Nami blinked at her.

"Elder Robin? What's wrong?" she asked. Robin blew out a breath, more out of reaction than to actually exhale as she turned her face away and glared at the floor, wiping an angry hand over her face.

"Elder-san…" she replied softly, "is dead." Nami felt as though she had been struck by lightning.

"Dead?" she asked in disbelief. Robin nodded, her eyes watering slightly as she rocked back onto her heels and away from Sanji. Nami shook her head slowly before her own eyes began to water.

"…dead." and she let her eyes slide closed, not wanting to see, or think, or wonder why. Because she knew the reason why. Kuro. Robin nodded as though reading her mind.

"Yes, Kuro killed him." Robin replied, not bothering to use the nickname he had been granted while he had been one their elders. Nami frowned deeply and opened her eyes, a light glow beginning to appear around them.

"Where is he?" she asked, despite the tears that were rolling down her face, Nami wanted to kill Kuro for what he had done.

"He ran for it, after Smoker-san and Pyro-san killed the last of the Fairy army." Robin replied, her own face now cold as stone, and her eyes clear.

"Then we'll find the bastard. We'll kill him!" Nami snarled, getting to her feet and searching for the broken pieces of her clima-tact. Robin shook her head.

"No, Nami. It is not our business to kill him now." she muttered. Nami blinked down at her and was about to ask what she meant when realization hit her like a slap to the face.

"But… Luffy can't do that! He'll be killed as well!" Nami yelled, causing the sleeping Ace (who had collapsed after battle in a narcoleptic fit) to wake and Smoker to look around at her.

"Navigator-san… cap-... Luffy, is much stronger than what you appear to think." Robin responded, a touch of ice in her voice. Shaking her head, Nami kneeled down again.

"What do you mean?" she asked softly. Robin stood and turned to look at Smoker with sad eyes, but the Elder was staring determinedly at the wall across from him, a stony expression on his face. It was then that Nami noticed the man's jacket was missing, and was in fact laying a few feet away… over a cloaked figure's body. She jerked her eyes away, hurt rising in her again as tears welled in her eyes.

"Captain-san is more than what everyone in here thinks. Even you Pyro-san." Robin commented, staring at Ace gently. The older D brother raised an eyebrow.

"He's my little bro, he has rubber powers, he can beat any obstacle that's put in his way… and he marches to the beat of his own drum." Ace replied with a smirk. Robin smiled at the interpretation of Luffy's individuality.

"Yes, but he is something else apart from that. Another being on top of that. A dangerous being."

"Get on with it." Smoker growled under his breath. Robin gave him a slightly reproachful glare before turning back to Nami.

"The fact of the matter navigator-san is… Luffy's the legend." and she fell quiet for a moment while Nami blinked at her in confusion.

"The legend? You mean that weird, scary red eyes, long teeth and nails thing he does when he gets hungry?"

"Yes. It is why he doesn't drink human blood."

"But, most of us don't."

"Because Luffy has made you not."

"True…" and there was a soft groan from Sanji, but he stayed still.

"So he's the Rune huh?" Ace muttered and then smirked, "Always knew there was something special bout my little bro." and he chuckled. Smoker raised an eyebrow at him and Ace raised one back.

"How the hell do you know about that?" Smoker asked. Ace grinned mischievously.

"I might have found out a few things from certain people." and Smoker stared at him until Ace sighed, "I read it in a book, ok?"

"You can read?" Smoker inquired with a mixture of surprise and teasing. Ace glared daggers at him before smirking.

"Better than you can Mr Illiterate." Ace responded and Smoker sputtered for a moment before crossing his arms and staring back at the wall again. Chuckling lightly, Ace stood and moved over to Robin and Nami.

"The Rune?" Nami asked softly, trying to distract her mind still. She knew she would have to deal with the grief of losing someone who had been like a father to them all soon enough, but, right now it was just too much for her to handle.

"Yes…" Robin affirmed.

"Robin-kun, I read that the Rune… was the key to destroying your enemy."

"That is true Pyro-san. The Rune is used as a weapon, but we never intended to do that with Luffy until he was much, much older. We were trying to keep the war on a quiet scale for all those years, so when it came time for the Rune to be revealed, then everything would be over in an instant." Robin explained. Ace nodded and then frowned.

"I also read something else." he said. Robin gazed at him and a grimace crossed her face.

"Yes, what you read is true. That will happen too." and she bowed her head. Nami looked between them, understanding crashing down on top of her already aching mind.

"But… Robin…" and then she put a hand over her mouth and closed her eyes, "Oh Luffy." Quietness reigned in the hall, no one moved and no one spoke. It was just… silence.

"Shanks didn't want this to happen to Luffy. He wanted captain-san to have a good life. But, then the war got worse, and Kuro began to rebel and hurt Luffy. Shanks became worried that Kuro might kill Luffy because of what he was… or make Luffy turn into the Rune before the proper time." Robin explained, using names instead of nicknames for the purpose of making everything seem as bad as it was. She shifted back to the nicknames when she continued though, because her heart was paining deeply.

She had tried to prevent all this, had tried to stop it all from crashing down on her friends… her family. And for all her efforts, Luffy was out there… alone, with a deranged Elder and an army of Fairies looking for him. How she hoped Luffy got away, that the boy never figured out his heritage. And that he never came back here… and learned the awful truth about his adopted father. She honestly hoped that Luffy never returned… ever again. Sanji groaned behind them again, and began to sit up, reaching up a hand and laying it against his head as it throbbed with the motion.

"Sanji!" Nami cried, spinning around and kneeling in front of him. He blinked at her and then closed his eyes again, trying to clear the blurriness from them.

"N-Nami-san… are you alright?" he asked, looking her over quickly. Nami smiled.

"I'm fine thankyou Sanji-kun." She replied softly as she ran a hand down the side of his face. Sanji smiled goofily as she gently stroked his cheek.

"Beautiful Nami-swaaan." he murmured until she took her hand away and then he looked around again, taking in the damage, "Did we win?"

"Yeah, we won." Nami replied sadly. Sanji gazed at her in confusion. If they had won, why was she so sad about it?

"But at a great cost." Robin added softly. Ace bowed his head. Sanji blinked up at them, not understanding.

"Elder-san is dead." Robin finally spoke again. Sanji blinked and then bowed his head as well. He didn't know Shanks that well, or hadn't, because he had spent most of his time around Nami. But it was strange to think that just this morning, he had been talking to the red haired man and now he was… dead. That was what hit Sanji most. It made him begin to realize, that life is shorter than what you expect it to be.

Despite the fact that Shanks had been around for centuries and had been pretty much the founder of the vampires, it was still sad that he had died. Nami began to cry softly, her sadness finally getting through. Sanji looked up as the woman he admired began to sob and he stood and tentatively wrapped an arm around her. To his surprise, Nami didn't push him away and instead, pressed against his chest, hiding her face in the material of his shirt. Sanji held her softly, letting her cry and let it all out. Robin had turned her face away, and her face was shadowed. It was until Ace wrapped an arm around her as well, and she looked up at him with a smile.

"Thankyou Pyro-san, but, I'm okay." and she gently pulled out of his embrace. Ace nodded and looked over to Smoker, who had lit another two cigars already. Sighing, Ace walked over to him and sat down beside him. Sanji felt Nami leaning back and he loosened his hold on her, mustering up a smile as she looked up at him.

"Thankyou Sanji-kun." She said as she stepped away and dried her eyes with a handkerchief from her pocket. Sanji inclined his head lightly.

"It's alright Nami-san, it was a pleasure to comfort you…" he said and then his eyes ballooned into hearts and he began noodling around, "Because it was a pleasure to have you pressed up against me! Lovely Nami-swaaaaaan!" he cooed, dancing around. Nami shook her head and smiled.

"Excuse me Navigator-san, but, have you seen long nose-san anywhere?" Robin asked, looking around. Nami paused and then shook her head, fear gripping her once more.

"No!" and she began to search the floor frantically in search of the marksman's face.

"He is not here." Robin said as Sanji noodled past in the background. Nami threw the chef an annoyed look.

"Hey! Sanji, get over here and help us look for Usopp!" She snapped. Ace and Smoker looked around before standing and looking as well.

"We should split up." Sanji commented, back to his normal self again.

"No." Robin denied him, "There could be more Fairies roving around, and if we're alone, we would surely die. We'll have to search as a group." and she beckoned them towards the corridor where the battle had originally begun.

---

Luffy had finally found the door into the corridor that would lead them to the first set of turns. The boy was currently marching along in front of Zoro, pleased with himself. Zoro was looking around at the disgustingly slimy walls and the small, bright stones that were placed to make a bigger picture. Luffy paused when he noticed Zoro wasn't following him and looked around. The swordsman was tilting his head at the wall, trying to make out the picture the stones were depicting.

"Whatcha lookin' at?" Luffy inquired as he approached the swordsman again. Zoro shook his head.

"Just this picture. What is it?" he asked. Luffy shrugged.

"Some sort of sun and moon thingy." he replied. Zoro leaned a little closer. It did look like the sun and the moon, and they were in an eclipse stage. Frowning, Zoro looked down at Luffy, who was humming to himself. Shrugging, Zoro turned down the corridor again, Luffy turning to lead the way.

"Hey Luffy," Zoro suddenly asked. Luffy tilted his head and looked over his shoulder so he could see Zoro and listen at the same time. The passageway ahead was pretty boring to look at anyway. Just a straight line. Boring really.

"Do you miss being human?" and Luffy stopped before smiling.

"Not really. I don't remember it, so it doesn't matter." he replied, avoiding the answer he wanted to give. Truth was, Luffy did miss being a human. He missed it a lot! To be able to go out in the day, and not have to worry about being destroyed by the UV rays. To be able to real food instead of drinking blood. He loved his rubber powers, but, they didn't compare to being able to walk freely at anytime of the day that he wanted, and to be able to have a heart beat.

That was something, for some reason, that he missed the most. He missed the sound of a heartbeat. True, blood still flowed through his veins, but that was only because he drank the stuff. His heart had stopped beating long ago. And so, as Zoro watched him, thinking upon another question, Luffy found himself envying Zoro his ability to do all those things that a human could do, and a vampire could not.

"What's it like to be a vampire?" Zoro asked softly as they continued walking, Luffy with his head slightly bowed so Hat covered his eyes. Luffy shrugged.

"S'okay I guess." he replied, "Kinda fun. You can command inanimate objects to do what you want. Like the door closing when I flicked my hand. But it takes a long time before you can make anything like that do what you want. I can only do it sometimes. Watch." and Luffy gestured towards a small rock. He did that weird flick with his wrist again, but nothing happened and he shrugged.

"See?"

"Why?"

"Eh?"

"Why can you only do it sometimes?" Zoro asked, making Luffy shrug again.

"Just need more practice I guess." he replied. Zoro nodded. Luffy thought back to that morning, and a strange feeling settled over him as he remembered what Shanks had told him.

"Zoro… what would you do if you became a vampire?" Luffy asked, trying to sound conversational. Zoro shrugged, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Probably wouldn't care I guess. I don't think I'd know until I actually became one." Zoro shrugged again.

"Oh…"

"Why? Gonna make me one are ya?' he said jokingly. Luffy chuckled.

"No. Just wondering." Luffy replied, smiling. They stood together like that for a while, just watching each other until a squeak nearby made them jump and look away. A rat scuttled past, squeaking to itself (probably about the invading creatures it was currently waddling past) and Luffy laughed. Zoro rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. What the hell had that been about? One minute they'd been talking and the next… he had felt the almost irresistible urge to kiss Luffy. Whoa, whoa, WHOA! Kiss!? Fuck that! He edged away from Luffy, trying to look like he wasn't doing anything of a sort.

Luffy was thinking something similar. He wasn't stupid, he knew what his feelings were… sometimes. Okay, so he had a little trouble deciphering anger from happiness sometimes, big whoop! He knew what he was feeling right now and that's all that mattered. And as he looked up at Zoro, he saw the taller man was fighting a little blush. Smirking, Luffy turned away.

"Come on, Zoro, we've got a long way to go yet." and he continued down the tunnel, feeling just a little happier than before. He knew there was something he had liked about Zoro from the moment he had first met him, and then there was the fact that Zoro was the first human not to run a mile when they saw him coming. Although… Zoro had punched him, but then, Luffy had to admit. If he had come up to himself in that manner, he would have punched himself too… wait… that hadn't sounded right.

Oh well, didn't matter. Luffy turned a corner and paused as he saw a large, flooded cavern before him. This was the only direction they could go… but Luffy didn't like the idea of swimming across the very wide, very deep and murky water before him. It was a massively frightening concept. Zoro moved into the cavern after him and smiled.

"A swim! Great!" he commented, thinking that it would be nice to feel water wash away that damned dirt again. Luffy gave him an 'are you nuts!?' look and Zoro blinked.

"I'm not swimming." Luffy grouched, crossing his arms and sticking his nose in the air. Zoro raised an eyebrow.

"Whatever. Stay here then, but, I haven't had a bath in god knows how long, and truthfully, I would really like to." and with that, Zoro made for the river.

"Z-Zoro! What about your swords?" Luffy asked. Zoro blinked and looked down at his hip before turning back to Luffy.

"Good point." and he slipped off the belt they were strapped to and held them above his head before wading into the water and then leaning forward and kicking his way across to the other side where he gently placed them on the bank and then swam back out a little way. He dived under the water and then came back up, green hair plastered to the sides of his head before springing back up again as the locks dried.

Short hair didn't stick down for long. Luffy blinked at him, not understanding how Zoro could do that. He supposed it was because of the fact that Zoro didn't have a strand of the S Clan blood. Huffing, Luffy settled himself on the bank, not willing to go anywhere near the water. Zoro bobbed to the surface for a second time and grinned at Luffy.

"Come on!" he called, his voice echoing slightly. Luffy frowned.

"Don't you remember, Zoro? I can't swim because I'm an S clanner!" he growled before muttering a few choice curses. He wasn't very happy about the fact that Zoro could swim… and he could not. It was kinda unfair. Not to mention Zoro had forgotten about his problem! Stupid bastard... Zoro blinked and then bowed his head.

"Sorry." he apologised. Luffy shook his head.

"Can't swim, won't swim, can't get across." he stated with a shrug. Zoro nodded.

"Ok, ok. What about…" and he thought for a moment before a thought struck him in a momentary flash of brilliance (of which would probably only happen ever once in his lifetime) and he grinned, "Can you stretch yourself across? I could get up on the bank, and hang onto your hand so you could stretch across, eh?" Luffy blinked at the suggestion and then a large smile spread across his face.

"Yeah! Yeah, that would work! Okay!" and he stretched an arm across once Zoro had gotten onto the bank again. Zoro clasped his hand and Luffy told him to hang on tightly while the rubber man flung himself over to the other side. Unfortunately for poor Zoro, he was exactly in the way now, and Luffy smacked straight into him, sending the two of them rolling along the ground until they came to a stop.

"Ha! It did work! Yay Zoro!" Luffy cried, sitting up and punching a fist into the air before he paused, "Zoro? Zoroooo?"

"Get offa me!" a voice yelled and Luffy was flipped over suddenly, coming to rest on the back of his neck, both legs hanging around his face as he blinked in an upside down way at the swordsman.

"There you are!" Luffy announced happily, as though he had just found the best treasure in the world. Zoro frowned a little angrily as he rolled his shoulders and neck, trying to get rid of the pain that was lingering there.

"Well done rubber brains." Zoro commented and Luffy grinned.

"At least we're across the river." he cried happily. Zoro glared at him, rolling his shoulders again. Well, looked like Zoro didn't particularly like the whole idea of Luffy flinging himself around anymore like a bizarre slingshot. But Luffy had had the time of his life, and he was planning on using that technique again sometime! It had been awesome!

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Well, Luffy's now got his rocketing ability. -grin- Poor Zoro... -sniggers in the background- and a touch of SanNam and ZoLu in that chappie. Feh, their feelings will get stronger, trust me. Dun forget to leave me a pretty little review! -cute eyes-