Chapter 13: Welcome to Paradise! Where The Waters Cool, The Sands Warm, an- O SHITINCOMING!
Usopp dived into the water, followed by Luffy (in 2 donuts and arm floaties) and Chopper (just one donut). Nami and Robin lay side by side in revealing bikinis (Nami's pale blue with prange trim, Robin's a deep violet one piece that had no back, and cut so low, all the way to her hips). Sanji was setting up a grill, dressed out in his swim trunks, sandles and unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, while Zoro just slept under a tree. I came out of the cabin, dressed in my bikini, solid black except for the blue stripe running horizontilly, cut-off dark jean shorts, and white sunglasses. I held a donut in on arm and a good 80 feet of thick, fishing line in the other.
"Rhythm-dono3! You look absolutely beautiful!" Sanji cried happily.
I flashed a smile, "Thanks Sanji!"
I stopping in front of Zoro, casting a slim shadown down on him. He opened one eye, "What do you want?"
I laughed, kneeling down and getting the fishing line off my arm. I got the end and wrapped it around his big toe, tying it into a not.
"Hey wait, what are you doing?" he opened both eyes and started to get up.
"It's so I don't float out to sea. Stay here and sleep. I'll try not to tug on it to hard." I got up and ran out towards the waves, until I was knee deep. The cool water splashed my lags, while the sands squealched between my toes. I threw down my donut, and tied the line through a little nob on it, then sat back and relaxed in it, butt and feet in water, while my body got the full force of the sun.
"Nami-swan 3! Robin-chwan3! Rhythm-dwono3!" Sanji was a blurring tornado of hearts, sort of like a ballerina with a beard. "I have refreshing island fruit martinis for you." He gave one to Nami, then one to Robin. Then he splashed out to the water to me and handed me one.
"Thank you Sanji," I blew him a kiss, making him float away in glee.
"Perv." I muttered.
I floated aimlessly through the water, only held by that thin, mighty string to Zoro. The waves rocked my like a babe in a cradle, singling softly into my ears and revibrating through my soul. I finished the deliciously beautiful drink and sighed. The hot rays beat down on my bare skin, while the salty waves washed the heat away, making me so comfortably warm and relaxed, that a nap wouldn't hurt. So I closed my eyes, layed back, and fell asleep.
Zoro
The tugging on my big toe was getting annoying now. At first it was just like a fly buzzing around my head, now its a cat battering at my feet, claws sharpened and ready. But the weight at the end told me Rhythm was still there and well.
I had woken up from my nap, sitting up, yawning and thirsty for some sake. I looked out at the sees, to see Rhythm floating a good 70 feet out, arms and legs splaid over her donut, head dropped back and mouth gaping slightly. If I listened closely, I could hear her light snores.
I stood up and stretched. My back cracked from the sudden movement, making me groan in pleasure.
This place is too nice to be a deserted island. Too calm to just be paradise. Something was wrong. I started walking towards the ship to retrieve some sake, but I almost tripped from the fishing line attached to my toe. Why couldn't she have attached it to a rock or tree? Or Sanji 's toe? He definatly wouldn't mind.
I looked up into the trees. It was strange. The island didn't make a sound, completely silent. It seemed to hold its breathe. No birds chirped, no restless animals, and hardly a breeze batted the shore. Like how animals fled when before some natural disaster happened. It sent chills down my spine.
"Oi! Marimo! Are you just going to stand there and stare off into space, or are you going to eat dinner?" Sanji yelled.
I jumped back into reality, "Shut up, ero-cook. Don't order me around."
"Rhythm-dwono3!" Sanji whisper yelled, not wanting to wake her, "Diiiinnner!"
The sun was setting, casting a fire-y tinge to the white beach. Rhythm's silhouette rocked gently in the waves, not stirring the slightest.
"Maybe she's dead," Usopp said, sitting down around the bonfire next to Luffy.
"Nah," Luffy ripped of a huge chunk off meat with his teeth, "It'll take a lot more to kill her. She's really strong. Stronger than me."
"Like Ace?"
"Yup! She's. . . hmmm. . . nom. . mmmurm. . . tie with Ace." Luffy then let out a huge belch.
"Luffy!" Nami smacked him.
"You know, I've never really seen Rhythm fight before, besides that match when we first met her. Even then, I doubt that's what she can really do." Robin mused.
I sat down and started eating, only to get kicked in the back of my head.
"Oi, shitty Marimo!" Sanji said, "Wait until Rhythm gets here so we can all eat. AND YOU TOO!" he added to Luffy.
"Not a chance," Chopper said.
The sun was almost completely set, making the bonfire glow brighter. Rhythm still bobbed silently at the shore, at ease and sleep bubble protruding from her nose.
I decided to pull her in. I untied the fishing line from my toe and started pulling her in, gently.
"What are you doing, Zoro?" Chopper asked.
"Rhythm tied her donut to my toe so she wouldn't float off. I'm bringing her in before she freezes her ass off," I stated.
"Aw how sweet Zoro!" Usopp said, "concerned for Luffy's older sister like that, how thoughtful!"
"And what's that supposed to mean?" I growled.
"It means you liiiiiiike heeeeeeer!" Usopp teased.
"What? No! Not in the way you're thinking!" I tensed, turning away. Why did my face feel warm?
"Ho ho Zoro! Are you blushing?" Nami leaned in, a sly grin on her face.
"Shut up!" I said, getting angry. (AN: Im so devious XD)
"You better not, shitty swordsman. I won't let a dumbass like you love my dear Rhythm-dono." Sanji growled, getting in my face.
"You can't tell me what to do, you dartboard-brow." I snarled.
The waves pulled back, taking Rhythm with it. The fishing line started slipping through my hands, so I wrapped it a couple times around my hand, cutting off some circulation. The waves reared, then coming in harder and faster. It reached all the way to where Chopper sat, closer to the shore. He jumped away yelling.
"What's wrong?" Usopp cried.
"There's a change in the pressure. Like a tsunami. Everyone, get as far away from the shore as you can," Nami said.
"Wait, Rhythm!" Luffy said.
The waves reared, as though a bigger, much stronger wave was approaching.
"How? How can this happen? It was fine a minute ago!" Chopper yelled, running as fast as he could from the shore.
"There was probably and undersea earthquake somewhere, causing a tsunami. But the further it goes, the bigger and faster it gets." Nami said, running inland.
"But Rhythm! She can't swim!" Luffy yelled.
"Don't worry, I'll bring her back." I said.
"You better, Marimo." Sanji yelled over the pounding waves. The turned to Nami and Robin, "I'll protect you with my life, Nami-swan and Robin-chwan 3!"
They all disappeared into the forest, leaving me knee deep in sea water, trying to draw Rhythm in against the harsh waves. And through all the yelling and waves, she still hasn't woken up.
"Dammit, Rhythm! Wake up!" I yelled. Wait, if she did, then she'd probably freak out and fall out.
I continued to pull her in, proving to be a somewhat difficult task since the strong waves of the sea kept yanking her back. Shit. How was I ever going to be the strongest swordsman id I can't beat Mother Nature? I Grinded my teeth and started backing inland, reeling the fishing line in. A large wave came, bringing the water to my waist. I dug my feet into the sand as the wave pulled back, trying to swallow me along with Rhythm.
The tide went back, so far back that the Going Merry was on land, lying helplessly. If anything happened to that ship, Usopp would be upset. Rhythm was also, on the wet, sandy land, snoring softly in her donut.
I ran towards her, untwining the line from my hand. "Wake up, dammit! We have to get out of here!" I smacked her across her face, left, right, left, right, then left again. She stretched a bit then went limp again.
"Che," I scooped her up from the donut, just as a tsunami the size of. . . well it was massively huge, that's all I could say.
I ran as fast and hard as I can inland, into the dense, leafy forest, Rhythm lying limp in my arms. It was sort of nice, how her slim body fit perfectly on the crook of my arms, while her skin seemed to glow softly in the dark.
The waves crashed against the shore, as I hoped beyond hope that Going Merry was okay. The waves barreled through the trees, chasing me, hoping to grab me by my legs and drag me down its depths.
I ran faster, jostling the sleeping Rhythm. Her slightly damp hair swung wildly as I jumped over a fallen tree and wavered through the dense forest, getting as far away as I could.
I looked down a second, checking to see if she was okay. Besides the few twigs in her hair and the fact she was SLEEPING at a time like this, she was unharmed. I looked up again, only to see the wave s coming toward me from in front.
"What the hell?" I stopped and ran the other way, having no wave behind me. How did the wave get in front of me? Was this island really that weird (AN no Zoro, your just so stupid as to unconsciously turn around right into a tsunami). My bare feet pounded against the hard-packed earth, getting scraped from the loose rocks and twigs. A tree branch cut my ankle, just as the waves rolled closer and closer.
If I can't finish this simple task, then I'm not strong enough to beat Mihawk was all I thought as the wave overcame us and swallowed me into darkness, all the while the sweet song filled my ears, over and over.
"Only one grain fell in silence
Spread ripples rippling to the bottom of the well
I wintry wind shake the forest of my mind abustle
Is as if you can co-exist
Cried the noise in the woods listening to the quiet voice that everyone in this"
My face was press into something warm and soft, beating softly under my ear. A warn, milky sent filled my nostrils, along with seawater and dirt. I felt light and intoxicated, like just waking after a long night of dreamless sleep, with my head resting on the softest pillow. That warm pillow suddenly shuttered, the beat jumping slightly. I snuggled deeper, pressing my face into its relaxing depths. My body, on the other hand, was lying not as comfortable over a weird form. A rock? No. Too soft. I don't know, nor did I want too.
But then I remembered. The tsunami. Carrying Rhythm as she slept in my arms.
My eyes snapped open. I looked up, only to have most of my sight obscured by soft, round flesh. A light snore came from the other side of that hilly. . .thing.
I sat up a bit and realized what that fleshy thing was.
Rhythm lay, snoring softly, soaked in sea water under me. And that pillow? Was her breasts.
I quickly started to get up, only for her to wrap her ropey arms around me and pulling me back to her, pressing my face into her breasts. She rolled over, smacking her lips a bit and muttered something about apples. I could barely see over the top of her breasts. I knew I should wake her, but I just couldn't bring myself too.
I slowly, gently, pulled her hand away from my head, letting it flop back onto the muddy ground. The other, was tangled with my soaked shirt, nails digging slightly into my back. I lifted myself up slightly, reaching behind and softly untangling her hand from my shirt. When I finally managed the task, I lay her hand gently next to her. I got up, checked to make sure my swords were still here (all 3 babies, check) and then checked my surroundings.
We were at the roots of a giant oak tree, which was surrounded by many other trees. The place looked sturdy, like no tsunami had hit it. Instead, more like a rainstorm just passed over. The leaves dripped steadily the salty sea water, while the moonlight cast a silvery glow down on the place.
I looked down at Rhythm. She laid there at peace, eyes fluttering softly as her chest rose and fell with her breathing. She must be tired, to sleep through so much. Her skin had a slight silvery hue to it in the moonlight, since she was almost completely naked. Full, rounded breasts, as her waist cut thinly in then flared out at her hips, molding into her long, lean legs. Her bikini top was askew, and like that, one wrong move could just knock the entire top off. And I certainly didn't want that happening.
So I kneeled down, awkward at first, not wanting to touch her wrong. But before that, I checked her ankle, and sure enough, was a thin, white scar shaped like a pretzal. I chuckled softly to myself as I pinched the strings that held the whole top up and gently tugged it up, then moved down to tug the rest of it up too.
But that was the moment that Rhythm decided to wake up.
She coughed up some water, her chest heaving slightly from the sudden cold air and change in atmosphere. Rhythm's eyes fluttered open, long lashes like butterfly wings, and looked straight at me.
~Rhythm~
I felt light headed and heavy. The ground under me was defiantly not the ocean rocking me in my striped Criminal donut. But. . . muddy. . . earthy. . . ground.
I felt someone touching my top, pulling it up, softly. As though they were trying not to wake me up. I coughed up some water out from my lungs, feeling the heavy weight dispersing with every cough. It hurt a bit, and I was thirsty, but other than that (and the hand groping me) I was fine.
I opened my eyes, to see Zoro leaning over me with his hands on my shirt. He looked surprised and slightly . . . frightened?
I grabbed his hand and thrust it back at him. "if I want-*cough cough* a boob massage, I'll ask a professional. But thanks for the offer." I said sitting up.
"W-wait wait! It's not like that! You bikini was-" his strong cheeks seemed to turn pink in the moonlight.
"To damn sexy? Yeah I get that." I stated. Wait, moonlight?
I looked at my surroundings. I was in a murky, wet forest. The moon was shining over head, casting rays of cool light down on us.
"Did you drag me out here, rape me in my sleep, then as you attempted to put my bathing suit back on so you could sneak me back like nothing happened, I woke up?" I asked.
"And why would I do that?" he yelled, vein throbbing.
"Worst case scenario." I stated. Then shivered. "Damn I'm freezing! I hate the cold! How did we get out here anyway?" I asked.
"A tsunami hit. I stayed behind to reel you in, but you wouldn't wake up no matter how hard I tried. So I just carried you away as fast as I could." He rubbed that back of his neck awkwardly.
"Wow. I really do sleep like a log." I said, grabbing my hair and started wringing the salt water out.
Zoro stood up, taking off his soaked shirt and wringing out that too. Water droplets clung to his short green hair, making it look like dew on grass in the morning. I watched the arms on his muscles contracted and pulled, like ripples. It was strangely fascinating to watch. He slipped on the button up shirt with the solid black stripe running vertically downward on the damp solid white.
"Well come on, we gotta find the others," he said, resting his hand on his swords.
I stood up, "'Kay."
I was freezing! Imagine, being out in the cold night with nothing but wet skin and a cold, wet bikini. And the fact I was never built for the cold. I sneezed once, twice three times, sending jostles of cold waves through my body.
"I'm so c-c-c-old-d-d!" I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself.
"Come on, it's nothing. You have to take it like a man," he said. I noticed his hands shook slightly from the cold.
"Well I'm c-c-clearly n-not a man-n-n!" I sneezed, "At least you hav-v-ve clothes-s-s on!"
"Oh quite complaining. I'm starting to think I liked you better asleep." He grumbled.
We started walking. Every tree looked just like the last, making it incredibly hard to navigate through. I knew perfectly well Zoro had no sense of direction, and yet I wasn't any better. So we were just wandering aimlessly though the night.
The chit-chat was idle. Only small talk and nothing more. It was preferred to be left in silence. It wasn't awkward, more like peaceful. At one point, where I was shivering so much he could easily here my teeth chattering, he took off his now dry shirt and handed it to me to wear.
"Thanks. I guess you do have a soft side," I said, slipping the shirt on.
"Che. It's only 'cause I can't stand your teeth chattering anymore." He said.
The shirt was thin, yet it was a little better than just walking around mostly naked in some 50 degrees weather. With a breeze.
We trekked onward, not knowing where we'll reach, or where everyone was. The moon rose higher, as the temperatures dropped, making it harder to walk. I couldn't think straight, and I was fighting off sleep. Zoro was too, how the way his strides got slower, his face more lax, and yawns got wider.
We needed to stop and sleep, to get warmth, but we had to find out nakama first, over everything.
But sometimes, the human needs are way more important than our captain freaking out.