A Blade in the Dark

The attack had been completely unexpected. The Millennial Star had anchored down for the night and everyone was fast asleep when Zoro woke to Nami shivering and mumbling beside him in her sleep. Worried, though he would have never said it, he gently shook her awake not expecting her to snap so suddenly into alertness. Before he even had a chance to question her, his redheaded wife was swinging her feet over the side of the bed at the same time she reached for her robe lying across the bedside table.

"Something's wrong," Nami said as she stood, belting her robe tightly around her waist as she went for the door. "The weather is changing erratically, even for the Grand Line."

Knowing better then to question her, Zoro reached down under the bed and pulled out his boots. He never expected her muffled scream to float down through the open door. Dropping his left boot he bolted from the cabin, yanking his swords from their stand at his bedside as he ran. Blood pounded in his ears like thunder as every possible thing that could have happened to his wife replayed over and over in his mind like a broken record.

Door after door slammed open along the hallway but Zoro didn't pay much attention as his captain and nakama joined his sprint towards the upper deck. Luffy quickened his pace until he was running side-by-side with his first-mate.

"What happened?" Luffy questioned without slowing.

"She said somethin' was wrong with the weather," Zoro said before he cursed. "Who the hell decided it was a good thing to have a ship this big!"

Of course the hall wasn't half as long normally as it seemed to be at that moment, but Zoro's wife wasn't normally being threatened by unknown entities so he wasn't sure that really counted. Finally he reached the top of the stairs and threw the door open. He wasn't expecting to see the sickeningly familiar razor toothed smirk of pirate captain Arlong.

"Well, if it isn't the infamous Pirate hunter Roranoa Zoro." Arlong said. "I must admit some curiosity to know why it was your name she screamed."

Zoro wasn't listening to the fishman as he stared down at Nami's still body sprawled out at Arlong's webbed feet. A large purpling bruise was forming on her left cheek and her robe's sleeve had four tears ripped along her upper arm and stained lightly with blood from where Arlong's razor like nails must have cut through to her skin. Cries of outrage and revenge sounded from behind Zoro as the others piled onto the deck facing the invading pirates. Sanji, Usopp, and Franky all made to move forward but Luffy held up a hand cutting them off.

"This is Zoro's fight."

End Blade in the Dark

Kaliea: Yes this will be a two parter. No I don't know when I'll post the second half. Maybe if you're lucky it will be the next short. I doubt it, but you never know.

Review Answers:

iluvkandygrl: I think I can manage that.

randomcat23: I'm glad you like them. In all honesty I wasn't planning on doing this at all, it was just supposed to stay a oneshot. I'm glad I changed my mind.

yuMeNami: I have an 'I love you' chapter in mind but I'm still working out how exactly I'll do it.

Lover of Stories 24: Thanks! The greatest compliment any writer could receive is to know that their work is appreciated.

grim reaper sakura: I might just do that. That's a good idea.

setr: Thanks and I will. I don't know when but the idea has me hooked now.

misshappynewyear: Thank-you.

Kaliea: Thanks for your reviews. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, let me know what you thought! Till next time, ja ne!