Thank you for your patience, as I'm sure you all know, with it being the holidays right now I have very little time to sit in front of my laptop and write. I am determined to keep my promise of one chapter per week though!

A roaring battle cry echoed down the hall as Chopper lowered his head and charged the man responsible for all their pain. Rosso merely smirked, stepping to the side, expecting the reindeer to simply pass him by in its blind rage but none of his calculations included said animal suddenly exploding in a billow of smoke. Chopper knew that such a simple plan of attack wouldn't work, and he had expected Rosso's ego, and thus with the opening he just created for himself the doctor shifted unto Kung Fu point whirling in midair to land a solid kick across the scientist's jaw. The impact of his attack sent Rosso flying into a nearby wall, a lovely dent memorializing the battle taking place.

Rosso staggered to his feet, barely diving out of the way when Chopper swooped in for another hit "You freak," he spat "what makes you think you can defeat me, the man who's been taking Devil Fruit users captive for years?! There's nothing you can do, all I have to do is analyze your attacks and I'll win!"

Chopper gave a dark chuckle, one that would probably scare even Zoro, "Whatever makes you feel better, but I have no reason to fear you because I can honestly say I've never seen you fight."

"What?!" came the indignant response "How do you think I took your precious crewmate down?"

"Your men did the dirty work," Chopper retorted "in both instances actually. True you came up with the plan, you laid the groundwork and organized the traps, but when it came to getting your hands dirty you always stood back and watched as your men laid their lives down for your sick ambition. You're nothing to be afraid of, you're just a fraud."

"A fraud, eh?" Rosso hissed, his forehead pulsing with irritation "I'll show you what I'm capable of!"

Turning around the man darted away, his face turned towards his lab and the tools he so desperately wanted to get a hold of but it was all for naught. Four slender cloven hooves slammed into his back, digging into pressure points along his spine rendering him immobile. The scientist screeched in pain as Chopper shifted from Horn Point to Heavy Point, his muscles barely bulging as he picked up his opponent by the throat.

"I don't think we're quite done yet," the doctor growled.

Rosso dug frantically through his pocket with one trembling hand, the other gripping the thick wrist of the reindeer. The scientist grit his teeth, watching as Chopper reared back one fist until finally his fingers closed around a sea stone scalpel. The man released a demented grin, slashing his opponent's arm with the small knife, a chuckle issuing out from between bared teeth at the cry of pain the reindeer gave. Chopper held his arm against his chest, brown eyes wary and calculating as he assessed the man standing before him. Rosso gripped his weapon in desperate fingers, his breathing labored as he too kept an eye on his current dance partner. Understanding lit in the gaze of both, Rosso knew he could not reach his lab to get the tools he designed specifically to fight devil fruit users while Chopper acknowledged that he shouldn't underestimate the man holding a sea stone scalpel. Their fight would be waged and won right in that hallway.

Wordlessly, the two sunk into a fighting stance, Rosso brandishing his knife while Chopper tossed his head now adorned with sharp horns. Scraping one hoof along the metal floor, the reindeer once again charged his opponent, the scientist responding in kind. With determined shouts Rosso and Chopper collided as their mortal struggle continued.

…..

"Tora! Tora, answer me?!"

Zoro had long since scrambled to the Tiger's side, his eye misty as he fought against the grief welling up in his throat. Muscular hands caressed the silky fur along the still muzzle, before reaching up to wrap around the large neck. The swordsman stifled the strangled sobs convulsing in the bottom of his throat as he hugged the tiger, burying his now wet face into black stripes. Stroking the strong shoulder Zoro whispered to the bloody cat, pleading him to open his eyes, to speak to do something to show he was ok.

"Come on, Tora," the swordsman begged softly "don't give up, just open your eyes. You can do it."

Kaze watched this with a sneer of disdain, her lavender eyes dark with contempt for the tiger "Just give up," she spat "the stupid housecat gave all of his strength to protect you. From shielding your life energy from my power all the way to numbing the pain during the experiments with Rosso, Tora gave more and more of himself so that you wouldn't have to suffer. Which left him with the pittance he used to face me. No wonder he's practically dead."

Zoro's ears pricked up as his attention was captured by one word "Practically," he rasped, hopes rising as he latched on to Kaze's statement "he's not dead?"

"Oh trust me, he will be soon, proceeded by you," the wind spirit sniffed "you're so close to death yourself, it will be easy to kill you both and be done with this wretched arrangement."

"I can save him though," the swordsman queried, the light slowly returning to his gaze as new strength flooded his limbs "if I defeat you?"

Kaze shrugged carelessly, "It's possible, defeating me would render him sole custody over you, thus your life force would bring him back from the very edge of death. You would be in agonizing pain not to mention bedridden for weeks afterwards until you've both recovered, but really the chances of you making it that far are infinitesimal. Just face it child, you're going to die here, by my hand!"

Zoro gave his head a violent shake, refusing to allow her any more power over him "No, no I'm not!"

Drawing his swords from their sheath in one swift motion Zoro rushed Kaze slicing through her protective shield before swirling in a graceful arc bringing his blades down around her. Kaze gapedas the boy went through a startling transformation, what once was three blades now was nine as four extra arms and two heads sprouted out of nowhere. If she remembered correctly Zoro had spoken of this technique, calling it Asura. The wind spirit noted glumly as the blades finally reached her porclein flesh that she may have underestimated the child's power. A tornado, kicked up by Zoro's attack, shrieked around her as a portal to the outside world opened forcing her out in one swift motion. Kaze screeched as she was sucked out, her last glimpse of the boy who defeated her being his cocky grin and a twinkle of fingers as he waved good-bye.

"NO! NOOOO!"

"Sanji! I found him!"

The cook slid to a stop beside the cyborg, relief showing on his features before they quickly morphed to horror.

Zoro sat in what Sanji knew to be one of his meditation poses, though for what purpose he hadn't the slightest clue. The swordsman's body was covered in blood, particularly from what looked like fresh gashes all over his body. Honestly the guy looked like he got in a fight with a wood chipper. His neck was bruised and also weeping blood from what looked like, nail marks? Sanji shook his head, maybe the swordsman already fought against the scientist? He saw the results from the experimentation judging by what Nami had told him, but that wouldn't explain the odd markings that appeared oddly recent.

Suddenly the swordsman tensed, his teeth bared as he seemed to brace against an invisible attack when an explosion of blood flowed from his mouth. Zoro shook with what the duo grimly acknowledged as a seizure, the crimson substance still leaking from his mouth and eyes. Sanji and Franky gasped in unison as they watched, however as quickly as it began, all became still. Zoro froze, his body so motionless it was unnerving. The two nakama leaned in close, both listening for any sign of breath but instead they heard a tortured whisper leak from between clenched teeth.

"Tora,"

That one word carried an ocean's worth of emotion, though it was murmured so softly they barely heard, this accompanied by one solitary tear streaming down the tan cheek shook the pirates to their core. Grief, sheer undeniable pain accompanied by a deep sorrow. For what they weren't sure but it was obvious that whatever it was, Zoro felt very strongly about it strong enough to weep for its loss. Sanji bit his bottom lip as apprehension stole over his frame, could it be the tiger spirit that Zoro had told them about? He had admitted that the tiger had somewhat adopted him as its cub, could something have happened?

"Isn't that the name of the tiger," Franky asked, his mind clearly on the same track as the chef's "you don't think Kaze decided to make Zoro fight the duel while he's weak, do you?"

The cook winced "It would make sense if she did, she's been wanting to take over his body for weeks now."

"I got a bad feeling then, because Zoro-bro doesn't cry over just anything,"

Sanji nodded in agreement with the cyborg's statement "What should we-?"

A bright light broke off Sanji's question causing both men to jump back with a startled yelp. A violent gale of wind surged into the hallway as a screaming wind spirit was forcibly pushed out of Zoro's body and sent careening down the path. Sanji and Franky had just barely managed to get out of her way watching with twin stunned expressions until she disappeared. The hall grew still as the wind died down leaving the ruffled nakama in its wake. Franky and Sanji stared after the retreating spirit, both frozen from the odd occurrence before a raspy croak broke them from their reverie.

"Hey, about time you got here, either of you two idiots got any food on you? I'm starving."

.

Chopper panted, his shoulders heaving as his dark gaze watched Rosso carefully. Both had sustained a lot of damage and neither were ready to give in just yet. Although, Chopper wearily noted, he could feel his legs trembling with every heartbeat and he knew he needed to end this now. Bracing himself for another attack the reindeer drew in a deep breath, but he soon discovered that their fight was about to be interrupted.

A bright light from down the hall shot past Chopper before burying itself inside of Rosso. The man fell flat on his back, his eyes wide as the changes took over his body forcing him to drop the scalpel as he felt his energy seep into its mystical properties. "Wha-What's happening to me?!"

"Shut up and stop fighting me, you imbecile!"

Rosso gasped as the strange voice crashed through his mind "Who are you?"

"Strange," the voice murmured "it appears my connection with the green haired brat has allowed me the ability to speak to all my users."

"Green haired…Zoro!" Rosso shot up into a sitting position, ignoring the reindeer currently hiding (backwards?) around the corner "You're one of his spirits! The wind spirit!"

"Yes, now as my user are you going to help me take him and his idiotic crew down, or do I have to force you?"

Rosso slowly stood to his feet, a dark chuckle growing into a loud maniacal laugh "Oh I'll help you my dear, why with this power…I could RULE THE WORLD!"

"Finally, someone I can agree with,"

Chopper watched the cackling man with wide terrified eyes "This…can't be good…"

Whew…Wrote that in the space of three hours!

Hope you enjoyed and please REVIEW!