I know it's later than usual (by over a week!) but at least it's here!!

WARNING FOR VIOLENCE AND POTTY MOUTH!

I'm tired…

The sweat trickling down his body was torture in itself. When it met an open wound it stung like crazy. Another bout of pain wracked his body and he thrashed uncontrollably. Even to his pain addled mind he could tell there was slightly more give in the shackles around his ankles… maybe he could break them…

I'm too tired to even try.

Yoru and Goran had been more busy with each other than with Sanji. It seemed they only needed him to scream in pain to satisfy whatever freaky kinks they had. Between the doses of pain he actually caught himself thinking about the time he'd tied Zoro to the weights rack… now that kind of "tied up" was much more fun. Suddenly a very vivid picture of Zoro sat laughing on the deck of the Thousand Sunny consumed Sanji's mind.

If you want to see that sight again you need to fight!

Fight? Fight shitty cook? How? I'm chained… injured… bleeding…and most of all… surrounded.

Zoro flashed into his mind again, even as Goran subjected the cook to more excruciating pain Zoro's image was strong. This time Sanji could see him fighting Mihawk, then Hachi and Arlong …

He never gives in… what gives you the right to him if you can't fight?

Sanji smiled bitterly, now even his inner voice was taunting him.

Fight you coward!

Sanji was half tempted to tell himself to fuck off when it hit him… a sudden image of the crew without him. Not only would his ladies miss out on the delicacies he so carefully and lovingly prepared, the rest of the crew would go back to their terrible eating habits

… and Zoro…

Yes… Zoro.

What would Zoro be like? Wouldn't he just get on with his life?

Yeah…sure he would. Isn't one moment of heart break enough? Selfish shitty cook…

Selfish? He supposed it was quite selfish of him to give in, Zoro would fight to get out… so would Luffy…

Another dose of pain, this time Sanji focused the thrashing to just his legs, he was sure he could feel the chain beginning to give somewhere.

Zoro was running strongly, his pace even, breathing steady and body temperature average… for him. Goodthought Chopper sitting on the swordsman's shoulders. The extra half an hour they had decided to take as break had obviously done him some good. Chopper had been worried about the agitated way in which Zoro had woken up.

Zoro was busy thinking… something he often tried to avoid because that meant making more effort to push them to the back of his mind afterwards. This time, he couldn't stop. He'd suddenly thought about the possibility that he could well lose the cook…

Don't be a fucking idiot, he told himself, curly brow wouldn't die… would he? What if he did? What then? The crew would be devastated. Luffy would have lost his cook, Nami and Robin would no longer be waited on hand and foot, Chopper would eat far to much candy, Brook would be left un-hassled when he commented about the ladies underwear behind their backs, Franky and Usopp would have to get used to having a bog standard meal at sea… not something they'd experienced before and… me… what would I do?

Being so deep in thought Zoro had to be gently hit on the head by Chopper, then clouted and had his head forcibly turned to the right before he noticed the disembodied hand directing them to a small but dense patch of trees. Confused eh followed the directions.

"Weren't you going on ahead?" he asked when he got to Brook, Robin and a very impatient looking Luffy.

"We were but we have a problem at the top of the hill over there."

"Brotherhood." Chopper said sniffing the air. He'd recognise their scent for the rest of his life - old dried blood and lifelessness.

"Yes." Robin answered, "There were nine of them, now eight."

"Now eight? Did one of you get one?" Zoro asked.

"No five of them are… not normal. They tore one of their comrades apart."

"What?!" yelped Chopper.

"Some of them are being controlled by two of the Brotherhood. Yoru and Goran I think they said. Those being controlled were driven out of their minds by the things that pair did to them."

"Yoru… and Goran?" Zoro repeated closing his eyes and visibly tensing.

"Yes, why swordsman-san? Do you know of them?"

"They were the ones who took ero-cook."

"Then we need to hurry, according to what I heard cook-san may not have the luxury of time."

"Nowcan we kick their asses?" Luffy asked getting to his feet

"Wait," Zoro stalled Luffy and looked directly at Robin his eyes dark and piercing, "What do you mean?"

Seeing that Zoro wasn't willing to move until she'd explained Robin told him about the conversation she'd witnessed well over two hours previously. They watched Zoro carefully as the news settled in.

"Not happening." he growled as he broke into a sprint towards the hill.

The rest of the group scrambled to follow, his sudden movement catching them unawares.

Zoro saw nothing clearly as he pounded towards the hill, everything was a blur of red hot anger. If they did that to his cook he would slaughter them all then follow them to hell and do it all over again.

Luffy and Brook pulled level with the first mate as he attacked the shocked members of the Brotherhood. They'd been lazy on watch, Zoro shouldn't have been arriving for another half hour or so.

Zoro only drew Wadou, he wanted to make this last. Zoro slashed at the first mans legs before he could defend himself. He fell to his knees and Zoro drove his sword downwards into the mans shoulder, continuing to force the sword down through flesh, muscle and bone to pull it roughly from the body he'd almost rend in two.

Without hesitation the swordsman turned on his next victim. Although he was more prepared for the attack he only managed to block two attacks from the angered first mate. The third attack opened a large wound from one hip to the other, they dying man impotently clutching at his open gut.

Again Zoro sought out another target, his rage far from quelled, his mind consumed by the thought of Sanji being tortured.

Luffy had taken care of the other member of the Brotherhood on this side of the hill. Now they paused looking at the unmoving group sat a few feet away.

"They're the other ones." Brook said.

Luffy stretched an arm smacking one of them in the back of the head. His target crumpled forwards, then slowly sat back up making no move to retaliate.

"Why don't they move?" Luffy asked cocking his head in confusion.

"They apparently only attack if they are approached." Robin said about to suggest that they just moved on when Zoro started towards the group.

Zoro could only hear the rushing of blood and pounding of his pulse. Whatever Luffy and Robin had been saying was muffled, he decided that since nobody was moving to get rid of the remaining Brotherhood he'd do it his damn-well self!

Chopper and Brook shouted for Zoro to stop but, it fell on deaf ears.

They all deserve to die.

"Captains orders Zoro, Stop!" Luffy shouted. He was all for fighting but, he was worried about Sanji and the children. He'd promised Emiko he'd bring the children back alive, and he wanted his nakama back now. He'd also witnessed how savage Zoro was being… almost cruel. Something was wrong.

"Didn't he hear you?" Brook asked sounding apprehensive.

"Something is wrong." Robin stated.

"I think it's the blood curse." Chopper began to rummage through his pack for more medicine.

"Too late for that Chopper, they've noticed him." Brook said seeing one of the outcast's heads swivel in Zoro's direction.

The thundering of his blood was all Zoro could hear. He knew somewhere in the back of his mind that indulging the blood curse rage was wrong… but right now… he didn't care.

Why wont they attack?!

The nearest outcast stood up slowly, mechanically, yet didn't approach. Zoro's blood-lust had become so strong that he threw himself forwards.

If they won't come to me I'll take the fight to them.

He slashed at the closest target… and missed. The outcast was a hell of a lot quicker than Zoro had anticipated. He turned swinging the sword tot the left, it bit deeply into the outcasts side but it didn't flinch, nor did it stop advancing. By now the other outcasts were moving, eyes blank, movements like a sleep walker until Zoro lashed out at them.

Seeing himself being surrounded Zoro growled and placed Wadou between his teeth drawing his other katana. He knew he'd wounded two of them severely… but they carried on as if they couldn't feel it.

When Brook tried to assist the first mate he was snarled at to back off, hesitantly he backed off when Luffy nodded.

The outcasts attacked as a pack closing in and moving too quickly for Zoro to land any heavy blows. Hands grasped at him, clawing and pulling off balance. Zoro could feel their breath on hi face they were getting that close.

Calm down and fight properly for fucks sake!

Zoro shook his head trying to clear it enough to analyse his opponents . They didn't move like normal people.. Didn't move like people… they moved more like animals - no rational thought, just instinctual movements.

He cleared some space and backed off a little. This was definitely more like being attacked by a pack of wolves, unlike most fighters these people went for the kill with every attack no matter how injured they became.

Two of them rushed him head on, Zoro managed to deeply slice the first ones chest, it ran forwards a few paces then collapsed in a bleeding heap. The second continued seemingly not noticing his fallen comrade. It leapt into the air baring down on the swordsman. Zoro arced his swords upwards cutting his attacker in two from groin to shoulder.

Chopper turned away as Zoro was showered in his opponents blood. He'd seen Zoro fight many times, every fight was bloody… but never like this.

The three remaining Brotherhood outcasts were now advancing on the first mate. Two, again, from the front and one…

Shit, where's the other one?!

Zoro was left with no time to find out as the two he could see attacked together. While one went for his face as expected, the other went for his ankles making him unbalanced. He hacked haphazardly at the first attacker as he tried to regain his footing, which was almost impossible with an outcast wrapped around his legs. The outcast reached up and pulled savagely at Zoro's sword sheaths, for a second time his attack was thrown off target. He stabbed down with as much force as possible. His blade plunged into the outcasts' side and the grip loosened allowing him to kick it away slightly.

Something heavy slammed into Zoro's back making him lose his grip on the sword embedded in the outcast at his feet. Strong arms wrapped around the swordsman's throat strangling the life out of him. The other outcast lunged at Zoro from the front again, stumbling Zoro slashed at the outcast, nowhere near hitting it but buying himself some time. Using his empty hand he grabbed the outcast on his back by the hair. Movement in the corner of his eye told him that the outcast at his feet was still alive and in the process of getting back to its feet. Zoro kicked it's hand from under it, causing the outcast to land on the hilt of the sword, with a sickening sound the sword blade pieced through the other side. Zoro put his foot on the downed outcast's neck and jerked forwards suddenly, bending over as he did pulling and flipping the outcast on his back off him and onto the exposed blade. A strangled yelp issued from the outcast as it was impaled and joined its comrade in death.

Having no time to retrieve his sword Zoro transferred Wadou to his hand. He seemed more able to think clearly now. Could it be because I'm not holding Sandai Kitetsu? Could that cursed blade be strengthening the curse? Zoro glanced back at the sword for a second. This would require more thought… at a more appropriate time.

With a clearer mind Zoro killed the remaining outcast quickly and cleanly. He retrieved Kitetsu from the corpses it was driven through. The second he touched the cursed blades hilt he felt the anger begin to cloud his mind once again. Quickly he sheathed it, why this hadn't crossed his mind before he didn't know. What he did know was that as a swordsman it had taken far too long for him to realise that the blood thirsty sword was in it's element when his blood-lust was at it's strongest, therefore it was bound to react to the blood curse. He took Sandai Kitetsu from his haramaki and threw it to Robin who was approaching with Luffy, Brook and Chopper.

"Keep that safe. I'm not going to be able to use it until this is over." If Zoro had anything else to say it had to wait because Chopper pretty much rammed the vial of medicine down his throat.

"Injuries?" Chopper asked once Zoro had swallowed his medicine.

"Just scratches, nothing serious."

"The cursed blade reacts to cursed blood?" Brook enquired looking at the sword Robin now held.

"Yeah… I should have realised earlier." Zoro heaved a sigh, and looked at the sky, the first stars were beginning to show. "Lets go." a hand on Zoro's shoulder stopped the first mate in his tracks.

"Are you ok now? You disobeyed captains orders." Luffy's brow was creased with concern.

"I did?" Zoro reached up and scratched the back of his head, "Sorry Luffy."

"It doesn't matter. Just don't do it again." Luffy looked at the mess of bodies around them. It was a complete massacre, "You weren't yourself, but, Sanji needs you to be … you… when you get to the temple." Luffy lead the group off.

Zoro was thoroughly ashamed of himself. Not only had he given in to the curse because he'd felt like it at the time, he'd disobeyed Luffy… not something he could say he was particularly proud of.

If the mention of Sanji being tortured and turned into one of those things can make me lose it like that… what the hell am I going to do if he's not ok? I can't risk losing it like that… shit… what a complete fuck up.

Sanji

had had a reprieve, or so it seemed. Something was wrong with Yoru and Goran didn't look too hot either. They were muttering about some followers as far as he could tell. He strained his senses trying to catch a snippet of the conversation.

"He's earlier than we expected… and the dogs didn't keep him busy for as long as I thought they would. He'll make it here on time if he keeps it up."

"It doesn't matter Yoru, he will still be at a disadvantage. Don't forget not only will he have ran all the way from the ship, he's also been cursed by that fuck-up archer."

"I guess so, shit I'm tired, losing those five in quick succession took it out of me. He'll only be at as much of a disadvantage if we can keep that archer alive, he's still too young in the blood to be able to sustain two curses, especially considering the strength of one of his victims."

"Again, it doesn't matter, we're not the ones who'll be fighting, and if the archer dies who cares? He's just another one to use as a run-around really - no potential at all. I hope you're not too tired to continue our… little game…"

Yoru chuckled, "Of course not."

It went quiet as Goran and Yoru continued whatever they'd been doing. Sanji was eternally grateful he couldn't see.

He… is He Zoro? It must be. If that shit gets himself killed… I'm getting Chopper to bring him back so I can kill him again!

Nami

, Franky and Usopp had checked that the explosives were ready for the third time and were getting ready to move them when a snapping twig caught their attention. They all froze to listen. They spun round as the noise repeated again, this time a little closer.

"Brotherhood?" Usopp dared to ask in a shaky voice.

"How are we supposed to know?! You can see just as much as we can!" Nami hissed angrily.

Behind his shades Franky rolled his eyes. As far as he could make out there was only one person in the undergrowth. He waited until he heard the sound again, the footsteps sounded clumsy… almost staggered. He waited until he was sure where the noise was coming from and shot out his right hand, grabbing whoever it was by the shoulder and dragging them back.

"What the hell!?" Franky said as a young boy landed at his feet. The boy was badly beaten and wearing a Brotherhood uniform.

"What are you doing out here?" Nami asked. Torn between concern and suspicion. When the boy turned to her she gasped.

"Trying to run away."

"But you're walking towards the shrine." Usopp pointed out frowning at Nami when she shook her head in despair.

"That's likely to happen when you're blind and lost dumb ass." the boy turned his head towards the sound of Usopp's voice. His eyes were a light grey, the pupils clouded and clearly sightless.

"Why are you running?" Nami asked moving closer to the boy.

"Would you stay in a place where someone blinded you for fun?"

"For fun!?" Usopp and Franky said in unison.

"They need someone to test their new techniques on. When there isn't someone from the village handy it's the youngest blood member who gets to step in as guinea pig."

"Didn't you know how cruel they were before you decided to join kid?" Franky asked.

"It wasn't by choice. All the first born sons of the wealthier families are to be trained by the Brotherhood. That's the law the village elder set a few years back. I wouldn't have joined if I'd had a choice."

"There is always a choice. You could have run." Usopp said.

"You don't know anything do you? Would you run if they threatened to kill your family?"

Usopp stammered his apologies, Nami pummelled him for good measure.

"What are you doing here?" the boy asked deciding he wasn't in danger and sitting on the floor wearily.

"We're here to rescue our friends."

"The four they brought in today?"

"Yes! Do you know where they're keeping them?" Nami asked eagerly.

"Yeah, the kids are in the lower cells. They should still be fine. The usual treatment for kids is to starve them until they're desperate and offer them food and water in return for becoming a member. Even the most well meaning kids give in eventually. Starving to death is not a nice way to go."

"What about Sanji?"

"The guy who kicks?" the boy sniggered "He made quite a mess of one of the guards faces apparently. Yoru and Goran have taken a shine to him… I wouldn't expect to find him in such a great condition… if you find him alive that is. Those two are as sick as they come."

The three of them swallowed nervously. "What do you mean?" Nami was pretty sure she didn't want to know, but, they needed to be prepared. Knowledge was power and this boy was their ticket to getting a slight advantage.

By the time Nami had heard everything the boy had to say about Yoru and Goran she was in a cold sweat. The boy was right… they were sick.

"Could you tell us how to reach the lower cells?" Usopp asked, "That way I can make sure that there are no explosives that will cause structural damage to the path down there."

"So you really think you'll be able to do this? Is Roronoa Zoro really back?"

"Yes…and yes. Do you know Zoro?"

"Nah, my dad did. He sounds pretty cool… only I don't think he'll come out of this one, sorry and all that… but the high priest really wants him dead… he tends to get what he wants…"

The boy moved over to Usopp and began to describe the way to the lower cells in a way that allowed Usopp to plot it on the plans they'd drawn up on the Thousand Sunny.

Nami and Franky looked at each other uneasily… how would this end?

Sanji's reprieve had lasted half an hour. At some point the must have dozed off, the loss of blood and sudden cease in torture combined had probably done it. His eyes shot open when he heard the sound of metal on stone.

"Awake sleeping beauty?" Goran asked sneering and tapping the tip of a blade on the altar next to Sanji's head.

"Fuck off you sick piece of shit." Sanji snapped hoarsely, the screaming had made his throat raw.

"You flatter me… although if you think we're sick now… I wonder what you'll think of us after we've finished with you."

"Goran, you know most of them don't think at all after we've finished with them… some do drool though." Yoru laughed cruelly.

"What do you mean?" Sanji asked keeping his voice even.

Goran clicked his fingers and two low ranking members of the Brotherhood brought in two chained people. One of them was as docile as a lamb, almost lifeless, the other thrashed and snarled trying to tear into the man holding him.

"These," Yoru said strolling over to them, "are what you could end up as. You have a fifty- fifty percent chance. When we're done we're hoping you're more like this one." Yoru indicated the animal like… thing. "That way we can watch you tear your own crew apart."

Sanji's eyes widened.

What?! You can fuck that! I'm not ending up either way. I've got to get out of here!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TO BE CONTINUED~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll try to update by Sunday (my usual update day) but bare with me, I have a very busy couple of weeks coming up :/

Hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget R/R It really does make sitting at my computer until the early hours worth it XD

Bye for now!