Theme: Pen and Paper

Rated: M

Words: 952

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. The great Oda does, please don't sue.

Chapter 26

Nami's pen flew over the paper as she wrote.

Tears threatened to blur her vision on many occasions and she stubbornly blinked them back, pushing on. She had to get it all out, on paper.

The little sloop they'd stolen was sailing like a dream but would they be able to find the others? Were Liloquois and his men after them? There were so many questions and none of the answers. She didn't have her log pose, she had no charts and absolutely no idea where they were. They could be days away from where they'd been taken. The crew would search for them but for how long?

She couldn't help but feel down, pessimistic. There had to be a ray of hope somewhere, but in case there wasn't, she continued to write.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been writing by the time she finished, re-reading over the words by the light of the candle.

She'd poured her thoughts, her heart into the letter and she just hoped that it would get to where it was supposed to.

Her eyes threatened to well again as she finished it and quickly signed her name to it.

The sound of something being placed at her elbow startled her momentarily but she calmed quickly, looking to the only other person on the ship with her.

He'd raided the galley it seemed and had placed the meager offerings on the table and taken a seat next to her.

"There's not much, I'm not sure this ship has been used lately. Lines and the deck are in disrepair but the hull's sound." Zoro said with a sigh.

Nami glanced at an assortment of what looked like crackers and pre-packed energy bars, reaching for one quickly. A single rum bottle and a bottle of water also graced the table.

"Eat slowly or you'll get sick." Zoro warned her, reaching for one of the bars as well as Nami eagerly tore hers open, taking a bite.

"Tastes like sawdust but it's so good..." Nami said, closing her eyes in bliss as she chewed, earning a chuckle from the swordsman.

"At least we can have a toast, to getting out of that place..." He said, almost cheerfully. "We need to take it easy on the water though, that's the only bottle we've got."

"There's bound to be rain. The air around here is moist, plenty of cloud systems in the area." Nami said, looking up as she finished off the bar. So far, the night was clear but she could see wisps of clouds streaking the sky and feel the moisture in the wind.

She glanced to Zoro, who seemed quiet, even for him.

"Are you alright?" She asked, feeling as if something she couldn't quite place was off.

"I'm fine." He assured her, offering a packet of the crackers, taking one for himself. Opening them, he took a bite, making a face. "Food could use an improvement."

"There aren't any supplies in the galley?" She asked, curiously. She'd only gotten a look around the deck really.

"There's not much of a galley to speak of. Not even a stove or a fridge." Zoro muttered. "No non perishables either in the store room."

"We'll have to figure something out..." Nami sighed, "Maybe there's a town or something, somewhere." Her tone was far from hopeful.

"We'll figure it out. Isn't the first time we've been in a tight spot." Zoro pointed out, leaning back in his chair and kicking his boots up onto the table. His gaze was on the papers in front of her, watching the corners of them flutter in the wind.

"What'd you write?" He asked, uncorking the bottle of rum. He was about to take a drink, hesitated and handed the bottle to her first. Nami took the bottle with a trace of a smile as she picked up the letter she'd written, handing it to him.

"I figured we could seal it in a bottle, tie it to the next buoy we saw and hope it gets to him..."

Zoro had taken the letter and he glanced up, nodding. "That's a good idea, there's a few empty bottles down in the galley..."

Nami watched as Zoro read the letter in front of him, his face stoic as he read. She sipped the rum, heart pounding even as she tried to calm down and relax. She supposed she was worried it wouldn't meet his approval. After a couple minutes though she could see him swallow, the only sign he gave that the letter had effected him at all.

He set the papers carefully under the water bottle to keep them in place and looked to Nami as she handed him the rum bottle. The simple nod he gave her, the look in his eyes was all she needed to know the letter had moved him deeply.

"We'll tie it to the next buoy we get to." He said quietly. He took a drink, a deep draw from the rum bottle, swallowing and then beginning to cough.

Nami leaned over and patted his back as the fit went on.

"Wrong pipe?" She asked, smiling.

"Something like that..." Zoro said wiping his eyes and face. He took a couple deep breaths, leaning back in his chair.

Her smile faded as she watched him. She knew better than to ask him if he was fine. Something was definitely off.

His dark eyes met hers and he kept her gaze, as if daring her to call him out. Instead, she took a sip of the rum and held it out as a peace offering.

"To freedom," She said.

He nodded, taking a careful drink.

"To freedom and finding the crew."