Well, after that rather quirky, and interesting last chapter-


Random fans: Get on with it!

Plushie: -looks affronted- Well, picky little buggers. Just read the darn chapter. -stalks off-

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Chapter 25: Captured at last

"What the hell are they doing here!?" Zoro growled as he ducked down to the floor, his paranoia setting in. He didn't want anyone seeing here, and whether she had glasses or not, Tashigi had pretty sharp sight. Smoker was worse. And he had come here in person. For him! Luffy blinked down at him and then looked over his shoulder at the window and frowned.

"I wanna see." he said and marched over to it. He tilted his head against the window, and peered out, "Oooo, that white haired guy looks like a weirdo." Zoro snorted from under the table. Luffy grinned down at him. There was a knock on the door and the group looked around.

"Don't answer it." Zoro hissed. Luffy nodded in agreement.

"If we don't, they'll suspect." Nami replied angrily. Zoro frowned.

"Then what the hell do I do?" he asked.

"Why don't you answer the door Nojiko. We'll get marimo out." Sanji said from beside them. Nojiko nodded.

"You can go out the back door. Bye Nami." and she quickly hugged her sister, "Good luck Zoro." and she hurried out. Nami grabbed Zoro's arm and dragged him out from under the table.

"Let's get back to the car. Quick." and she pulled him out the door. Luffy ran after her, followed by Sanji and Usopp. Chopper brought up the rear. Zoro paused and glanced back at the door.

He could see Nojiko leaning in the doorway, blocking the view, and he silently thanked her. For Nami's sister, she was alright. Luffy shoved him forward and Zoro stumbled before continuing. They tread silently after Nami, as she led them through a small door under the stairs, and then through a dark corridor.

"Spider!" Usopp squeaked.

"Shhhhhh." the rest cautioned. Usopp laughed nervously.

"Sorry." he whispered. Luffy bumped into Zoro's back, and wrapped his arms around the swordsman, making him stumble forward.

"Sorry Zoro." Luffy whispered. Zoro shook his head. He didn't dare speak, for Tashigi knew his voice, and he was (though he would never admit it) a little scared.

"Would you two stop flirting?" Sanji hissed.

"Sanji!" Nami snapped. They continued forward in silence and then found a door.

"Now, we're going to have to make a break for the trees behind the house. Everyone ready?" Nami asked as she put a hand on the door. Everyone nodded and she opened the door. Nami bolted, running as fast as she could towards the trees.

Zoro was next, looking around furtively as he ran but then something hit him from the side. Zoro caught a whiff of cigar smoke before he was knocked to the ground. He was lying on his stomach, something sitting on top of him. Something… or someone.

Zoro opened his eyes and twisted his head so he could see who it was. Smoker. Zoro struggled, but Smoker was holding him down, his gun pointed straight at… someone else.

"Let him go!" a voice yelled. Luffy's. Zoro panicked as he realized who the gun was pointed at.

"You have no idea how long I have been chasing this bastard." Smoker growled.

"I don't care! He didn't do anything!" Luffy yelled.

"Luffy!" Sanji's voice came in, and it sounded strained so Zoro assumed that Sanji was hanging onto Luffy.

"He murdered people, kid. Nothing you say is going to change my mind." Smoker responded. Zoro noted that the man's voice had a self satisfied tone to it.

"I don't have to say anything!" and there was a grunt and Sanji was flung to the ground as Luffy dived forward. Before Smoker had the chance to fire his weapon, Luffy had belted him across the face so hard, that the man went rolling.

Zoro was free again. He scrabbled along the ground and was on his feet in seconds, hands on his swords and pulling them out. Luffy was by his side in an instant.

"You okay?" The boy asked. Zoro nodded. He glared at Smoker, who was standing in front of them, and glaring. His gun was by his side, but the hand holding it was as tight as a drum.

"So, you've found yourself a little protector. He doesn't look like he would be able to catch your interest Roronoa. Or maybe you're just planning to kill him…" and Smoker smiled around his cigars before rolling his shoulders. Luffy frowned deeply but stayed by Zoro's side. The swordsman clenched his teeth and closed his eyes, breathing deeply.

He wanted to attack, he wanted to strike out and kill, but, there were two things stopping him. One, the fact that Luffy was by his side, and whatever he did, then the boy would join in and he didn't want Luffy getting shot… again.

Two, the reason he was here. He hadn't killed before, and he wasn't going to start now. If he did, then it would just prove Smoker and Tashigi's point. Zoro frowned, but his hands just wouldn't relax.

"Roronoa, what are you planning? Nothing you do or say will get you out of this." Smoker's voice penetrated his thoughts.

"Shut up. He's planning a way to kick your butt." Luffy growled, his voice sounding strangely distant. Pictures began to flash in front of Zoro's eyes as memories worked their way to the top of his subconscious. Pictures of Luffy bleeding, and Luffy laughing. Of everyone who had joined him on this journey.

"Moss head!" Sanji yelled.

"Zoro!" Nami's voice echoed from somewhere. That was it. Zoro had made his decision. He dropped both swords to the ground and opened his eyes. Slowly, as if his hands didn't want to co-operate, he brought his arms up. Smoker smiled, Luffy gasped.

"I surrender." Zoro said quietly as Wadau fell from his mouth, and landed with a soft thump in the ground before his feet. This was what he had to do. For everyone's sake. Luffy gazed up at him, his eyes watery and his hands clenched.

"Zoro…" he said softly. The swordsman looked down at him and smiled softly.

"It's okay Luffy. Take good care of my swords for me." he instructed, and his heart thumped painfully as Luffy gazed back at him. Behind Luffy's wide and innocent eyes, the boy's world was crashing. Zoro couldn't leave him. Not like everyone else. He had been left alone too many times before.

"But, Zoro… can't go. You can't!" Luffy cried, his voice rising from a whisper to a yell.

"Oh yes he can. I was hoping he would try to escape so I could kill him, but, this works." Smoker commented. Zoro and Luffy didn't even glance at the policeman.

"Luffy will look after Zoro's swords but, who will look after… me?" Luffy asked softly. Zoro smiled and tilted his head, summoning up all the courage he had to make it through this.

"Sanji, Nami. Usopp and Chopper. They'll look after you." he replied, his voice wavering despite how hard he was trying not to cry. Luffy pouted and his eyes hardened.

"No, no, no, no! Luffy wants Zoro!" he cried. Zoro bit his lip. Luffy's word games. They got the point through so much better than if Luffy had simply said 'I' or 'me'. It was almost like, it made him more aware of who they were… and what they were responsible for. Themselves.

"Luffy," and he paused, considering whether he should use Luffy's own game on him, "Zoro has to do this." he replied, obviously deciding on doing so.

"Why?" Luffy asked.

"Because… Zoro has hurt Luffy already. He doesn't want to hurt Luffy anymore… or anyone else. You, and Usopp, Chopper and Nami and Sanji all need to live your own lives. You aren't meant to run after me all the time, and get me out of situations that I cause myself."

"But-" Luffy began but Zoro shook his head.

"No. No buts, I am going."

"Oh spare me." Smoker growled in the background.

"Let them speak you asshole." Sanji's voice returned.

"Shut up the pair of you!" Nami yelled and Smoker did in fact quieten down. Nami's power obviously worked on him as well. Luffy stared at Zoro for a moment before wrapping his arms around the man and hugging him close.

"I like running after you." he whispered, "And I am going to save you. I swear."

"Luffy-" Zoro began but Luffy shook his head this time, silencing Zoro's response.

"No buts, I'm going to save you. And then we're going to go away and be happy." Luffy continued. Zoro bit his lip, knowing that what Luffy was saying could never happen. He was going to be put to death. He knew it.

But, he didn't want to say that aloud, for saying it aloud, meant that it would become a reality. If he just kept it inside, maybe… just maybe, it wouldn't happen and what Luffy had said would come true. Zoro wrapped his arms around Luffy and hugged him tight.

"I'll miss you kid." he whispered, his voice wavering so badly that he had to gulp midway through his sentence.

"That's enough of this soppy shit!" Smoker growled and Zoro felt a gloved hand take a hold of his shoulder and pull him away. He growled and struggled, pulling away from Smoker's grip but the policeman had a strong hold and he wasn't going anywhere.

Luffy followed after him until Sanji caught him around the waist and held him back. Nami hurried out from her spot and held Luffy's shoulders, Usopp and Chopper coming out and adding to the strength. Zoro didn't want to go. He couldn't! What had he done!?

Luffy was crying! Oh god how he wanted to hold him now. Smoker dragged him around the side of the house and… Luffy was gone. That was it. He was now separated from Luffy… forever if Smoker had his way. Tashigi came trotting out from somewhere or rather and her face became serious upon seeing Zoro being pulled roughly behind Smoker.

"Not so cocky now, are you Roronoa?" she asked. Zoro didn't respond, in fact… he didn't even hear her. He didn't feel anything as Smoker pushed him up against the car and handcuffed him… or when his head hit the roof of the car as he was roughly pushed into the car.

"Is he alright boss?" Tashigi inquired, peering over the top of her seat to glare at Zoro. Smoker just grunted as a response. He didn't see or feel anything as he was driven through an old and familiar town and then pulled from the car and shoved roughly behind bars.

This… was where he was going to spend the rest of his life? However short the rest of his life might be. He wondered how Luffy was doing. He wondered how Luffy was doing some more. And then the lights were turned off and there was only the moonlight streaming through the window to keep him company.

Zoro let his forehead rest against the cold bars. This place was the pits. Others were yelling, screaming in horror at their own nightmares. Some were cat calling to him, yelling random swear words about how he was a new guy and they could help him. Zoro ignored it all in favour of turning around and looking into his cell.

"Hey buddy." a voice said from the top bunk. Zoro looked up and tilted his head as a freckled face looked down at him. Zoro frowned and moved towards the bottom of the bunk, "Not talkin' huh? That's cool. Most people don't. My last cell mate died a few months ago. He was rather… boring actually."

"Uh huh." Zoro muttered, not listening. The man's voice was sleepy, tired and a bit… unenthusiastic. But he sounded alright. Zoro looked over just as the man's face swung down in front of him, black hair going upside down. The swordsman jumped and moved away… but that face. It looked… vaguely familiar. It reminded him of someone. Someone… important.

"So, what's your name anyway?" the guy asked. Zoro raised an eyebrow.

"Err… Zoro, Roronoa Zoro." he replied.

"Heh, cool name."

"What's yours?" hey, if he had to spend the next… however long he would be here with this guy, then, he should at least know his name.

"Ace," he announced proudly, "Portgas D Ace." and he grinned. Zoro's eyes widened.

---

Luffy's head was resting against the window, his breath fogging it over and over again as the sun set quietly outside.

"Where's that damn map?" Nami cursed as she walked into the room. Luffy watched her out of the corner of his eye. He honestly didn't care what she was looking for a map for, so, he turned back to the outside.

Sanji walked up to him and placed a plate of specially cooked meat in front of the boy. Luffy glanced at it and then turned his head right away and looked out the window, his forehead now resting against the window. Sanji sighed behind him.

"C'mon Luffy. We're leaving tonight. You have to eat." the chef wheedled. Luffy ignored him.

"Leave him be Sanji." Nami muttered, "If he doesn't want to eat, you can't force him." and then she hurried out again. Sanji watched her go. Nami was stressed to the max and he was beginning to worry. She had been hurrying around ever since Zoro had gone. Sanji's thoughts turned dark as they came to rest on the swordsman.

Damn that bastard for doing this to them. It would have been better if they had all just fought and run away. But noooo, Zoro had to go and be all noble and surrender to save their skins. Damn him then! Damn him to hell!

Sanji stormed away from the miserable Luffy and back to the kitchen where he grabbed up a knife and began slicing up vegetables… but, his hands were shaking too badly for him to hold the knife steady and he had to stop. He knew why his hands were shaking. Because he was angry at Zoro… and worried about him. As much as he hated to admit it, he was worried about that Marimo-headed bastard.

"Luffy! Usopp wants to tell you a story!" Chopper suddenly squeaked and Sanji looked over. Luffy ignored them. Usopp stood nervously nearby and twirled his hands. Chopper placed his hoofs on Luffy's arm and the boy looked around and then smiled, his eyes dull.

"No thanks Usopp. I don't feel like a story right now." Luffy replied softly. Chopper tilted his head and then climbed into Luffy's lap. Luffy laid a hand on the little reindeer's back and gave it a scratch. Usopp sat down on the floor.

"It'll be okay Luffy. All stories have a happy ending." Usopp reassured the boy. Luffy turned back to the window.

"AHA!" came Nami's voice and she ran back in again and slapped down a large piece of paper on the table. Everyone looked over at her.

"What is it Nami?" Usopp asked.

"The map! I know where we need to go!" she replied, an almost maniacal grin on her face.

"Where we need to go for what?" Sanji asked suspiciously. Nami frowned.

"Idiot. To find Zoro of course." she growled. Luffy's head snapped up and he jumped to his feet, Chopper falling to the ground with a thump and a squeak. He ran over to Nami and gazed at her, the light returning to his eyes one again.

"Really? We're going to find Zoro?" he asked.

"Of course! Did you think we were just going to sit here and let him die?"

"Nami!" and Luffy threw his arms around her. Nami blinked in shock and then gingerly patted Luffy on the back. Luffy let go of her and began dancing about the room.

"We're going to save Zoro, we're going to save Zoro! Just like I told him!" and he skipped into the air. The rest of the group smiled.

"Let's get started then." Nami said and bent over the map.

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Aha! A twist... and a new adventure to embark upon! Sorry the chappie is so short... my brain was on the fritz... again. -kicks brain- owie...