Hello everyone!
Ok, I'm back, and we finally were able to get our house back. It was under crazy repairs that left us homeless for over a month, but now we were given the go ahead to move back now that it is no longer dangerous to live here.
To the guest reviewer who called me a liar about my housing situation, it's called a laptop and McDonald's wifi genius. You can still have a computer and not have a home. Next time try using your brain before posting a comment, deal?
ON WITH THE SHOW!
Zoro ducked under a line of low hanging laundry, Chopper giggling as it swept over his face "Hey!"
"What?" the swordsman replied innocently "Would you prefer I not ducked at all and the line catch you in the throat?"
Chopper shook his head, a fond gleam in his eyes as he merely stuck his tongue out at the man "Fine, I accept your logic but I still got hit in the face with underwear!"
"You know some people on our crew would consider that an honor," Zoro replied drily.
"Why?" the reindeer looked genuinely confused.
"Was it men's or women's underwear?"
"I think it was a woman's," Chopper shrugged.
"Then I rest my case," Zoro chuckled.
The small physician's face blanked as he went into deep thought trying to understand Zoro's statement before he suddenly gave a violent shake of his head "I don't get it, you're not making any sense!"
The swordsman threw back his head with a rare laugh full of merriment "Trust me squirt, I don't understand it either, but for some reason they get a kick out of it."
Chopper sighed, flopping over mossy green hair "I still don't understand what you're talking about."
Zoro reached up and ruffled velvety soft ears "And I hope you never will,"
"You're weird Zoro,"
"I know,"
…
Rosso watched as his men scurried into position, each one holding a custom made weapon designed specifically for use against Devil Fruit users. This battle would be short and hopefully his specimen would make it out relatively unharmed, Rosso couldn't bear the thought of his precious experiment being damaged, that could possibly change the outcome of his results and that was not to be born. He wanted each result as pure and true as possible without any outside hindrances.
Bringing the com link sewn into his collar close to his lips, Rosso whispered "Begin phase one of our plan,"
…
"LOOK!" Chopper squealed in delight at the veritable array of sweets lain out on picnic tables "There are so many yummy things to eat!"'
Zoro's stomach growled, reminding him that he was nearing his scheduled third meal of the day, but the tiger hybrid merely shook it off. Something wasn't right, his keen sense of smell alerted him to strange scents that sent alarm bells ringing through his brain "Chopper, I don't think this is a good idea,"
"Why not?" two gleaming eyes begged the swordsman to stay "Look at all this food, and no one is eating it!"
"Exactly," Zoro growled fighting back a nervous hiss as his ears flattened and the hair rose on the back of his neck "no one is eating it, nor is anyone else in this alley."
Chopper took a good look around, noticing for the first time just how isolated they were and noting the fact that he couldn't even hear the sounds from the market "Uh…suddenly I don't feel so good,"
Zoro took a slow step backwards, every sense on high alert as he watched for enemies "No matter what happens," he hissed "don't let go of me,"
"I can fight too," Chopper whined ducking his head low as survival instincts took over.
"I know you can," the man growled his tail twitching as he continued his cautious exit "but I am going to try and make sure you don't have to. Escape first and fight later if we absolutely must."
Chopper nodded "Right,"
"Good,"
With that Zoro turned, gripping the ground with the toes of his boots as he prepared to make a high speed getaway, unfortunately that was not to be.
Just as he had whirled around for his escape, a large metal net dropped sealing off their exit, Zoro didn't even have to touch it to know it was sea stone, he could already feel its effects from only five feet away. Zoro's hands instinctively went to his hip, but growled when he remembered that he had given Sanji his blades to safeguard until he felt worthy to pick them up. The man cursed himself for his weakness that now cost them a valuable asset to aid in their escape. So with an angry hiss the man faced another alley hoping for another route, but was forced to face the same obstacle. Soon every mode of escape was cut off, and the two crewmates were trapped within a circle of sea stone. Ladders were thrown down from countless rooftops, Marines sliding down with ease only to face the Straw Hats bearing strange looking guns with glowing bullet chambers.
Chopper whimpered, hugging Zoro's head "I'm scared,"
Me too, the swordsman thought but he wouldn't dare voice it, Chopper needed him to be strong, so that was what Zoro was going to do "Don't worry, we'll get out of this."
"How?" Chopper pleaded "You don't have your swords, and I stopped making rumble balls because I needed the ingredients for…"
The reindeer came to an abrupt halt, the sentence unfinished simply because he didn't want to make Zoro feel any guiltier, however the swordsman understood exactly what the miniature doctor was about to say "For me," Zoro finished "you needed the ingredients you usually use for your rumble balls to keep me alive."
Chopper nodded miserably, and once again the swordsman felt a pang in his heart. How many times must he face this unbearable weakness? How many times must he put his crew in danger simply because he wasn't strong enough? Zoro let out a silent growl, he was so sick and tired of failing at the one mission he had chosen, his duty he had accepted long ago as a privilege and an honor, the job of protecting his crew at any cost. The moss headed man clenched a fist till crimson flowed between his fingers and dripped to the ground. Wave upon wave of Marine soldiers surrounded them, encasing them in a circle of metal and bodies, determination painted on the faces adorned with the white and blue hats signifying their trade. Their very presence only made Zoro's frustration grow.
"I'm done," he snarled.
Chopper cocked his head, even his advanced hearing barely catching the quiet statement "What?"
"I said," Zoro repeated his steel eye going feral as a feline slit sliced through it and fur sprouting across his shoulders and down his arms "I'M DONE BEING WEAK!"
Chopper gasped as the swordsman began to grow in size and his features grew more animalistic "No! Zoro, what are you doing?!"
"My job!" the swordsman bit back baring his bigger, sharper fangs.
"Stop Young One!" Tora bellowed "You are not ready for a transformation of this magnitude, you'll die!"
"Maybe," Zoro nodded rolling his shoulders as his muscles grew larger and his legs bent backwards to a more feline curve "maybe I might die, but I've been faced with that same decision hundreds of times before and I've never backed down once from protecting my family, and I refuse to let today be the first time I do. We're getting out of here, regardless of the consequences, so I suggest you stop yapping and help me take these punks down!"
Tora paused before an approving grin crossed his muzzle "Right," he rumbled, pumping his shoulders in preparation to pounce "Then you'll need these,"
Three razor sharp claws burst from between Zoro's knuckles on both hands, splitting the skin but the man didn't feel the pain, he may not have his swords, but these would work just as well "Thanks Tora," Zoro smirked "now let's take out the trash!"
Opening his mouth to give a bellowing roar, Zoro leapt at his opponents, tearing into them allowing his catlike reflexes to dodge the sea stone infused bullets. Chopper was still hanging from between Zoro's shoulders, but let go as he wanted to be of use in this battle too. Switching to kung-fu point, the reindeer clobbered his own pile of Marines, satisfaction burning in his heart that he was not being a burden to his dear friend and adopted older brother.
Zoro ducked dodged and weaved, leaving a trail of blood spray in his wake. A maniacal grin adorned his normally stoic features as he felt the pleasurable pull of his muscles long weakened from disuse stretch and loosen with the heat of battle. He hadn't fought in so long, he had missed this, the up close and personal battle style that he preferred. The screams of agony followed by the tugging of torn flesh under his blades (now claws) was veritable music to his ears, a laugh bubbled up in his throat as indescribable euphoria took over. He had forgotten how fun it was to do battle and come out the strongest, so encased was he in his own personal pity party that he had almost discarded the very thing that had proven to be his greatest asset as a swordsman. The joy found in a good fight.
Soon the duo found they had defeated most of their opponents, leaving only a dozen or so trembling remnants gripping their guns in terror at the brutal efficiency with which their comrades had been taken out. Zoro straightened up, his back popping as his spine realigned itself, and casually cracked his neck.
"So," he growled in a rumbling baritone riding on a sinister hiss "who's next?"
"Kitten, we may have a problem."
"Not now Tora," Zoro snarled quietly "I'm trying to fight here,"
"I'm aware of that, but it really is urgent,"
"Trust me, it can wait,"
"No it really can't, or should I say, won't,"
"Wait, what?"
No sooner had Zoro posed his query when suddenly his body was engulfed in smoke and the man found himself shrinking at an astonishing rate. Within the space of a second, the formerly towering monster was reduced to a green tiger cub even smaller than Chopper. Zoro squeaked, which came out as a plaintive mew, his steel grey eye assessing the now glaring size difference between him and his foes.
"Aw, crap."
"I told you,"
….
Sanji strolled through the market, Usopp by his side as they lugged yet another pile of groceries back to the ship before returning so to buy the last of their goods needed for the pantry. The blond was well aware of Usopp staring at him, or his back to be more precise, but had chosen not to acknowledge it, at least not until Usopp brought it up himself.
"I've been meaning to ask," the raven haired man began "why do you carry Zoro's swords around all the time? I mean, I know it's between you and him, but you started carrying them around out of nowhere and now I rarely see you without them, even when you're cooking."
Sanji merely shrugged. He didn't really want to tell Usopp that Zoro had entrusted his dream to him, and that he was guarding the blades until said moss head felt worthy enough to wield them again. Granted it had felt manly and heroic at the time when the cook had accepted the request, much like a knight carrying a burden for some form of greater good. However saying it out loud made the whole agreement feel mushy and sappy, two words which should never apply to his and the moss head's relationship. He still felt like it was an honor, and carrying the stupid things had done wonders for his upper and lower body strength, who knew that carrying around three incredibly heavy katana could tone your thighs and shoulders? Sanji took the request seriously, and would allow no harm to befall the physical representation of his brother's dream, however that was not something he would ever, EVER admit out loud.
"Call it," Sanji drawled taking a deep draw of his cigarette before blowing a stream of smoke into the air "a promise between men, and leave it at that."
Usopp gazed in awe at the blond before shaking his head and giving a fond chuckle "You two sure are amazing,"
The chef raised an eyebrow "What makes you say that?"
"Out of everyone in our crew, you and Zoro are the two I admire most," Usopp replied honestly "you don't have any devil fruit, or at least Zoro didn't before he was forced to eat them, but you still were the strongest out of all of us besides Luffy. Even now with Zoro as a Devil Fruit user, he's trying to find a way to get rid of his powers so he can pick up his dream again, and you're standing in his place as protector of the crew until he can do that. You're so cool and masculine, I can't help but respect you guys."
Sanji was speechless at Usopp's speech, gratitude and love for his crew members swelling in his heart before the blond shook his head of any moisture creeping up in his eyes and laughed "I don't have an answer for that, but…thanks."
Usopp smiled, content to leave it and switched the topic to something else "So where do you think Luffy took off to?"
"Who knows," Sanji groaned "that guy gets in trouble quicker than the moss head-"
Suddenly the chef stopped as a strange sensation halted him in his tracks. The three blades resting across his back were vibrating in their harness, each one pulling and tugging at their restraints as of being called by their master. Sanji furrowed his brows, reaching behind him to lay a hand on the nearest blade, which happened to be the white one, when an overwhelming presence invaded his mind as a feminine voice bellowed;
"ZORO'S IN DANGER!"
Sanji reeled from the force of the emotion being put out by the blade, jerking back as if slapped, and Usopp barely had enough time to catch the man by the arm "What's wrong, are you ok?"
The blond chef panted as indescribable dread filled his stomach making his insides curl "Yeah, I'm fine, but I don't think Zoro is."
Usopp's keen gaze roved over the suddenly pale features of their cook before giving a firm nod "Let's go,"
As one the duo dropped their grocery bags and took off towards where they had seen their swordsman last, and as Sanji sprinted down the crowded streets the blades thrumming louder and louder with every step, he found himself saying a soft prayer under his breath for the safety of his crewmate and the assurance that they would get there in time.
FIRST OF ALL…yes, I totally copied off Wolverine, but don't you think he'd really rock those things? I mean, come on?!
At any rate, please REVIEW! I love hearing your opinions and ideas!