Ok everyone, things are gonna happen and things are gonna be revealed so everyone GET READY TO FREAK OUT YEE.

(also early upload this week cuz i have time now and wont later so enjoy this early dose of you know... um... well youll find out :P)

Truths

Brook couldn't believe his eyes (not that he had any, yohohohoho), this giant mass of something was coming towards them, and it set his hair on end. They gave off a very hostile and foreboding presence, and he felt shaken down to the bone (though that's all he is, so he supposed that was a given, yohoho). Anyway, skull jokes aside, the most important question was why they were chanting Zoro-san's name. And speaking of Zoro-San, what in the world has befallen him? He remembered the last time something this bad happened, he had witnessed it, witnessed the bravery and self-sacrifice that the swordsman had exhibited on the island of zombies. He saw Kuma extract Luffy's pain, saw Zoro plunge into it, and the aftermath… he liked to not think about that.

This time… what could have possibly caused the swordsman so much pain? After two years, he knew that Zoro-San had gotten much, much stronger than before, who could have… The first one to come to mind is Dracule Mihawk, but he had trained Zoro-san, even someone that cold wouldn't hurt his pupil. This was unthinkable, and curiosity was about to make him explode, but the look Robin-San gave him earlier asked that he not prod into the matter, so he won't, and he won't tell anyone either.

Bringing his mind back to the crisis at hand, Brook turned back to the tidal wave of somethings crashing towards them. He could just make out the silhouettes of the individuals that make up the mob, they greatly resembled the monster that Zoro-San had cut down earlier, except much, much smaller. They also walked in a very strange fashion, almost looking like they're going to do a face plant before taking a gigantic step at the last moment.

"Ro-ro-no-a! Ro-ro-no-a! Ro-ro-no-a!"

Brook couldn't help the shudder that raced through his body, the continuous chanting was making him nervous, and he can't imagine what it must be like for Zoro-San, who seemed to be the target for these strange, strange beings.

Zoro's three swords were out, the sheaths hanging limply at his side. His eye was fixed on the incoming creatures, ready to send them all flying if they showcase any sign of aggression. A glance behind him told him that Robin and Brook are ready to do the same. Robin had her hands crossed, and Brook had his shikomizue drawn and ready for combat. As Zoro's eye trailed back to the enemy, he caught sight of Robin's now shredded bandages, small streams of blood making their way over her slender waist, down her legs, and onto the grass underfoot.

A strange feeling came over him, he wanted to get her far away from here, to have Chopper look at her injuries, to keep her safe and not let her fight before that thing is completely healed.

"RO-RO-NO-A! RO-RO-NO-A! RO-RO-NO-A!"

The chanting brought him back, and when he faced the mob, they were right in front of him, rows upon rows of mini versions of that monster, all glaring up at him with hateful eyes. Silence fell all too suddenly when a slightly taller one at the front slammed a twig on the ground, though Zoro supposed that it was designed to serve the purpose of a staff.

Spinning his blade around, Zoro left the point inches away from the leader's head, all he had to do was drop his arm, and the katana would slice clean through the thing. "What do you want?"

"Are you Roronoa?" The creature questioned in return, completely disregarding Zoro's inquiry. It didn't seem to notice the giant, sharp thing that can kill it situated above its head, or if it did, it didn't seem to care.

"So what if I am?"

As soon as the confirmation escaped his lips, the creatures stampeded towards him, the closer ones clinging onto his legs and starting to clamber up to his torso and then shoulders. Though slightly caught off guard by their curious ways of assault, Zoro didn't hesitate a moment before raising his katanas. He could hear Robin's and Brook's furious attacks raining down on the unfortunate creatures, and patches of them dropped dead with every passing moment. In just seconds, the two had taken out around half of them.

Now it's his turn.

Creatures have pretty much covered him, and he assumed they were attempting to make him lose his footing so that they may commence whatever else they do. Yah, like it's going to be that easy.

"Rengoku…"

His katanas were raised, the air rippling with the raw power pouring from the blades.

"Oni Giri!"

The shockwave threw all the creatures off him and tossed them into the air, their shapes limp as they took the blunt of the attack. The ones who were further away were then caught in the aftershock of the attack and also felled by the singular slice. An annoyed expression played on Zoro's features, and his eye gleamed with the savagery of an animal. "You're pitiful."

"Don't move." Zoro commanded as he plucked a thorn out of Robin's back, uncharacteristically gentle despite his usual personality. With every spike, he would urge it out slowly, taking extreme care to cause her as little pain as possible, his own hands were battered and bleeding, the blood staining the thorns that were already slippery with Robin's. He didn't seem to mind very much.

Robin didn't move, letting the spikes slide out of her body and distracting herself with the feeling of Zoro's rough and calloused hands on her back. They felt surprisingly calming, on the opposite end of the scale as the swordsman himself. At the thought, she let out a small giggle, since when had she fallen for someone so distant and cold?

"Stop moving!" Zoro demanded again, annoyance creeping into his voice, the giggle having shaken her shoulders and interrupted his process. A hand landed on her head, pressing down as if trying to keep her from doing any more moving. Oh Zoro, did he really think this was going to stop her? Well, she'll let him have it this time. A smile quirked her lips, but Robin did what Zoro asked and did no more moving.

The three walked back to the Sunny in silence, Zoro somehow recovered from his persistent injuries and striding in front of the other two. Observing from behind, Robin silently shook her head. 'He's hopeless. The day he learns how to take care of himself is the day Luffy gives up on meat.'

She herself was quite bloodied up, the injury that the Wind Cutter had given her had opened again in all the confusion, and was giving her considerable trouble. The spikes that had embedded themselves in her back, courtesy of that beautiful bush, had drawn quite some blood, and it was making her slightly dizzy. Truly, Robin wondered how many people it has shredded before her.

Brook seemed to have taken the least damage, only a few cracks here and there on his body. He sported a serious expression with some traces of curiosity mingled within. She knows that he is probably wondering about Zoro's condition, but to tell the truth, she didn't know either. That day, he had merely shown her what was happening to him, he never told her why.

Distracted by the desire to know what had been the cause of Zoro's wounds and his refusal of treatment, Robin didn't notice the tree root poking out from the ground until she promptly tripped on it. With a small squeal, Robin almost got a taste of the forest dirt when something caught her around the waist. Immediately afterwards, Robin felt herself being lifted into the air, spun around, and cradled into something strangely comfortable. On her right side was what she discovered to be a hard wall of muscle, and when she put her head on it, she could hear the steady beating of a strong, defiant heart.

A flush slowly crept up her neck, and she placed a slender hand on his chest, attempting to push herself away, trying to convince him to set her down. He either didn't get the message or just didn't want to comply. It turned out to be the latter.

His arms tightened around her, though not enough to hurt, and his breath ruffled her hair as quiet, teasing words sounded in her ear.

"If you want to do this, woman, we do it my way."

There it is, "woman". It's what he had called her when she had first arrived on the ship and joined the Strawhat Pirates. When he had finally started calling her Robin, she had been so glad, she had loved the sound of her name on his lips, loved the way he said it: harsh, dominating, but with the whisper of gentleness that he takes on when addressing a nakama. Well, maybe with the exception of Sanji, but that's a different story. This time… this time, the word "woman" coming from his mouth… He may as well have said "Robin". She loved it. She loved this dominating air that he possesses, one that he sustains with such little effort. Most importantly, this told her the truth, this showed her the truth. The truth that he did indeed love her.

And so she yielded, she did it his way. Laying her head on his sturdy chest, she remembered feeling something that unsettled her, but the gentle swaying of his steps soon carry her off the land of dreams, and she dismissed it as paranoia.

She would only realize later that his chest had still been very, very warm.

Robin woke to the sound of a scuffle apparently taking place on the deck of the Sunny outside the small room that is the clinic. She had a fair idea about who were involved and what it was about, but it was amusing nevertheless to listen to the marimo and curly brows throwing insults at each other.

"You braindead idiot marimo, how could you let Robin-Chan get hurt?!"

"For your information, Mr. Nosebleed, I didn't even get there until after she was hurt! If you're so mad about her injuries, why don't you protect her yourself?"

"Well, bastard, I was a bit preoccupied with our captain! ("Are?") If you hadn't gotten lost-" Well, of course he did. Why did Robin ever think that he didn't.

"Shut it!"

"Make me!"

Sounds of punches and kicks and sword slashes could then be heard from outside, along with Chopper's panicked pleads for them to keep quiet and Nami's outraged yells for them to shut up and give her some peace. Robin chuckled to herself, allowing a few more moments of peace and quiet before she sat up.

The first thing she noticed was the new layers of bandages that wrapped around her torso, winding their way under her attires like a white snake. Her wounds didn't hurt much anymore, and she only vaguely remember small stings as Chopper's needles wove in and out of her back and abdomen. She also remembered small flashes of green: hair, robe, haramaki… Zoro was here. An unfamiliar warmth shrouded her, and she couldn't help a small giggle. Was this how it felt to be in love?

Standing, Robin eased open the wooden door and made herself comfortable leaning against the door frame watching the fight currently taking place before her, insults still flying in the air.

"Baka marimo!"

"Shitty cook!"

"Little lost swordsies!"

"Perverted bastard!"

Another small chuckle from Robin stopped the two dead in their tracks.

"Robin-Chan!" Sanji had the first reaction. "How are you feeling? Are you ok? Did the marimo do anything to you?" He was rewarded with a withering glare for the last question, which he gladly returned with a scowl of his own.

"Yes, Cook-San, I'm fine." Robin replied, an amused smile still dancing on her lips. "In fact, I feel quite well." As she conversed with the cook, Robin had her eyes locked onto Zoro, who was observing the conversation with a slightly… is that protectiveness she sees in his eye? Well, she found his gaze, and flicked her eyes to the study, hoping he'll get the message, her talk with Sanji never ceasing.

A skeptical look overcame his features, and Zoro quietly slipped away, the slight creak of a door's hinges reaching her ears a moment later. Making an excuse of her own, Robin padded over to the door and pulled it open, shut it behind her, and turned to face the swordsman. "No more secrets, Zoro. The truth. The whole truth."

His expression didn't budge, the unwillingness to let her in on the secret written plainly on his face.

"He's already coming after me," she gestured to the bandages covering her abdomen, and he noticeably winced. "What's the entire truth going to do? I already agreed to risk my life when I first asked, and that hasn't changed. Like I said, there are some burdens one cannot bear alone, and that includes you. So, Kenshi-San, spill it."

His remaining eye narrowed, contemplation whirling in the green depth. Several moments of stillness ensued, and finally, that iron will of his bent.

"Sit."

He knows that it's probably a bad idea to tell her the rest of the story, about his defeat, about the deal, but she was right, maybe there are some burdens that he just can't handle on his own. And so he told her, he told her everything.

"Sit." She did.

The vivre card led Zoro in the direction of the sunset, and he hasn't been drifting for three minutes before the card went wild, straining… downwards. He frowned, downwards? But that's under… water.

"Shit." Saga was a Devil Fruit user, if this card is correct, then he would be completely immobile and helpless as of this moment and probably had been for who knows how long. "Shit." Tucking the vivre card into his red sash, Zoro dove off the small raft and into the glimmering ocean depths.

He swam down, down, down, until a sudden depletion of water and appearance of air had him falling from about 30 meters up. Reflexes from years of training took over, and Zoro nimbly twisted in midair, landing flawlessly on his feet. Giving his surroundings a quick scan, Zoro soon spotted someone whom he had wanted to forget, wanted so hard to forget. Straightening, Zoro faced the demon from his childhood, the incarnation of envy and hatred that had haunted and taunted him throughout his life at the dojo.

"Hello, Roronoa." Wakazumi Noroi said. "Long time no see."

"Wakazumi." Zoro's eye narrowed, caution and paranoia flaring in his heart, soul, and mind. "Where are they?"

"Who? Them?" Noroi stepped aside to reveal two limp figures, both seemingly unconscious and cuffed with sea stone. "Devil Fruit users, they can be such a pain." His voice was made up solely of mockery, and he placed a foot on one of the slumped bodies, a female, mid back length hair, purple dress… Robin! Zoro's protective nature exploded as he saw the archaeologist at the mercy of one who hates him to the moon and back.

"What are you doing." The swordsman growled, a low rumble in his throat, more feral than anything.

"They should have the luxury of enjoying a bath, don't you think?" Noroi's lips curled into a smile consisting of nothing but endless cruelty. One kick, and Robin sailed through the air and broke through into the sea water, leaving a trail of bubbles behind as her body struggled to breathe.

"No! Sto-" Saga soared into the unforgiving depths after Robin.

"Bastard." Zoro snarled, taking a running start and about to dive after the two when a blade came at the small of his back.

"A scar on the back is a swordsman's humiliation"

Shusui broke out of its sheath and clashed with the assaulting blade. Immediately, Zoro felt the demonic essence that the sword sported, one that he was familiar with. "A Kitetsu?"

The two sprang apart, Zoro now wielding both Shusui and the Sandai Kitetsu, the cursed blade shaking slightly with the anticipation of bloodshed and the sudden encounter of its predecessor. Neither of the two touched the floor for a second before they pushed off again, one blade clashing against two. Zoro had his swords crossed, the overlapping situated so that the tip of Noroi's blade ran full force into it, stopping his attack.

"You've gotten better." The Ittoryuu swordsman mocked. "But not good enough." He sprang again, the cursed blade a blur in the deserted space of the bubble, the air itself seeming to part for the katana. Zoro's blades matched the speed pace for pace, and another clash sent the two sprinting backwards again, Zoro sliding back a few centimeters more. To someone who is untrained in the ways of the sword, it would seem like a draw, but to any master swordsman, it is evident that Zoro has lost.

Silence rippled in the air, and the two swordsman circled each other like predators seeking the weakness in their prey. Zoro had felt something familiar about the fighting style of this long lasting rival, something that went beyond the familiarity of the cursed blade. As his mind whirled with possibilities, the two swordsman clashed three more times, Noroi gaining the upper hand every single time. A few more clashes, and Zoro had blood running down the side of his cheek. Still he did not wield the Wado Ichimonji.

"Wield it!" Noroi roared, another fierce assault soaring towards Zoro. "Wield her katana!" The sheer force of the attack stole the air from Zoro's lungs, and the parry and counterattack were slightly sluggish. "WIELD IT!" Zoro didn't.

"You are not good enough." Zoro growled. "I made the promise, I will fulfill her dream and mine." Noroi's features twisted, rage and hatred darkening his eyes.

"You are the scum that is unworthy of carrying Kuina's hopes and dreams! YOU are the magot that now possesses her katana against her will!" The blade slashed through the air, the movement so fast even Zoro lost sight of the blow. Taking a risk, Zoro dodged to the opposite direction of the last place he had seen the blade. Pain raced through his veins, and the hilt of the infamous Shodai Kitetsu now protruded from his shoulder, the blind dodge having saved him from a cursed blade in the heart.

The pain soon turned demonic, the curse doing its work on his body, his blood. Forcefully swallowing a cry, Zoro looked up at the man opposite himself, at the one at the other end of the sword. Noroi had a wild light in his eyes, the thrill of one who had just won the duel that they had wanted to have for so long. However, accompanying that thrill was dissatisfaction. It's the darkness that an assassin gains when they fail to kill a victim. In this case, Zoro knew, he was the victim.

There was no turmoil in his forest green eye, and finally, finally, Zoro drew the Wado Ichimonji.

There it is. Noroi's heart was set aflame as he recognized the prized blade of the girl he had adored. The Wado Ichimonji. It's out.

He had the Kitetsu buried deep in Roronoa's shoulder, and he planned to keep it there. He will drag it through his body, he will cut him in half. Just thinking about the blood that will spill, the blood of his sworn enemy, it excited Noroi. Filtering strength into his right hand, he prepared to carry out his plan when the Ichimonji came at the space right between his eyes.

Reflexes carried him back and away from the incoming blade, but the injuries received from Hawk Eyes slowed him down, and blood soon trickled from a small cut on his forehead. He just lost.

Fury boiled in his soul, charring it further, and it was only when he had regained his footing that he realized that Shodai Kitetsu was still stuck in Roronoa's shoulder. Before the Wind Cutter's eyes, the other swordsman firmly grasped the hilt of the cursed blade, and with a sudden burst of strength, wrenched it out of his shoulder, now more red than purple. Not bothering to turn fully towards him, Roronoa threw him a mocking glare before sheathing all three swords, taking a deep breath, and diving into the ocean after the two hostages.

Not five minutes have passed.

Letting a frustrated growl escape him, Noroi settled down on a rock and waited for Roronoa to resurface. He was a Devil Fruit user, or else he would have went after Roronoa himself. After around two minutes, Robin and Saga burst through the bubble, landing on the dried up land with wet "plop"s. Roronoa came seconds later, soaked to the bone.

"You lost."

"I know."

"Torture sure sounds nice, doesn't it?"

"Do not mess with my nakama ever again."

"Yes, yes. Now, about that torture-"

"Swear it."

"Fine! I swear, now-"

"Not on the back."

"Tsk tsk, beggars can't be choosers, Roronoa."

"Do not put scars on my back, and I do not allow treatment to anything else you do."

"Hmm."

Maybe his Devil Fruit could help…

The Blood Blood Fruit. It allows him to manipulate blood at will. He can make it visible or invisible whenever and wherever he wants. He can track someone's blood. He can even change the temperature of the blood of people whom he had touched before. But. But, there is a price. With the change of temperature in the victim's blood, Noroi himself suffers the same consequences. If they burn, his blood boils with them, if they freeze, his own temperatures drop below 0. However, it has nothing to do with the hell that he plans to make this swordsman go through. If this plan works out, he can make Roronoa's blood invisible, and treatment would go out the window.

Torture. Yes, it does sound fun.

"Deal."

It's not over.

This match isn't over yet.

He lost this round, but he hasn't lost the duel.

The moment Noroi had decided to spare Zoro's life, he lost.

Because the next time they meet, Noroi will die, even if Zoro has to give his own life to ensure it.

Because Zoro has figured out the familiarity in Noroi's swordplay.

Because Noroi's skills are near identical to that of Mihawk's.

Roronoa was a heap on the ground, blood turning the ground around him crimson, his back heaving with every breath.

That was fun.

Like he promised, Noroi didn't touch his back, but with his torso, well, Noroi took his time. Squatting, he grabbed Roronoa's chin, forcing eye contact between the two. "How does it feel?"

"I've been through worse."

"Stubborn." Once again, the Kitetsu connected with flesh.

"I won't take it just yet." Noroi caressed the Ichimonji's white sheath. It was beautiful, inside it held the soul of the most wonderful girl the world had given life to, and oh, how he longed to take it, to hold it, to carry on her dreams with it. But not now. Roronoa isn't dead yet. Once the time comes, the Ichimonji will switch hands.

Right now, Noroi whispered an apology to Kuina up in the heavens, and letter by letter, he burned a message into the gleaming metal: I told Roronoa to come alone, seems like he listened.

His Observation Haki showing him all he needed to know, he threw the Ichimonji, aiming it at the stupid cook who intended to interfere.

Swimming back up to the surface while lugging two Devil Fruit users behind him had been agonizing. The salt water magnified the pain tenfold, and by the time he finally made it out of the water, he was within an inch of losing his sanity and consciousness. After throwing the two hostages onto the raft, Zoro climbed on himself, shaking from head to toe and gulping down air like he hasn't felt it in years.

A disturbance told him that one of the two have woken up, turning, Zoro saw Saga sit up, coughing sea water onto the boat, his arm now free of sea stone, courtesy of Noroi. Looking up, Zoro's friend locked eyes with him, and then turned in a certain direction, took up the oar, and started rowing, his arm bent at an awkward angle, Zoro didn't have the strength to question it.

"He left to an island some half an hour away, and by some quirk of fate, we made it back to the Sunny. The rest, you know."

"I'm assuming his Devil Fruit contributed to him finding the Sunny."

"Akainu's blood. When I cut him, the blood landed on the deck, and Noroi tracked it."

"Why not use yours?"

"He likes toying with his prey."

Robin inwardly shuddered, how does one achieve such levels of cruelty and heartlessness?

"There was something else."

"I'm listening."

"The last I saw of him, Noroi was riding on some iron armored horse with a fish tail. Don't know why, it felt important."

An … current in the … lead

… history on an iron clad steed

"Yes, yes! Zoro, yes! That was important! Oh thank you!" Robin's mind whirled. Ironclad steed. Ironclad steed. "It might have something to do with the void century!" Her eyes glittered with excitement, and Robin was sucked away into her personal thinking space, her mind going a thousand miles an hour and deciphering the possible meaning behind the words she had discovered on the strange rock.

Zoro watched Robin adopt that far away look, and he knew that whatever he says now, she won't be listening anymore. Smiling quietly to himself, Zoro leaned against the wall and closed his eye, the fever still making him hot as hell, maybe a nap will help.

Sleep wasn't that hard to come by, and Zoro was soon snoring away, his right hand wrapped around the hilt of the Wado Ichimonji.

Enjoy that? I mean, I enjoyed writing it (not sure why I did and I'm pretty sure people think I'm crazy cuz ya know who doesn't like torturing their favorite character am I right -_-). Honestly I don't even get myself.

Leave a review look forward to more dark stuff give me love bye.