Hey everyone! Well, I finished my schoolwork earlier than expected and I just checked on your reviews and gave me the energy to do this.
Robin: Is it another onslaught?
Depends, but most likely.
Robin: (smiles) Sounds good.
So, who's first?
Robin: (grabs first review) It's a new one, Uzun Nan-Nan…
Thank you, but I'm afraid I can't tell you that info so early in the story.
Robin: But it is apparent. (grabs another) From Pira-chan…
(smiles) Thanks. I'm going to have a few reviews of that.
Robin: Most likely. (grabs another) From Pria-chan again…
(bows) Thank you, it lets me know I caught the emotion there. I was a bit worried that I might've messed that up.
Robin: You've been doing this for sometime, I doubt you could be worse. (grabs another) Another new reviewer, strawhat-alchemist…
(opens box with cookie) Thank you! And I'm not dead, just busy! (breaks cookie in half) Here you go Robin.
Robin: Thank you (grabs another review) From MissChabre, and we have three reviews from her…
Okay, first off, I wanted to include these two because, well, they haven't appeared much in the other fics. Second, yeah I was on a OP movie marathon run on YT. And lastly… (hears door being slammed open)
Zoro: Sho-ai!
Huh? Zoro? What brings you-
Zoro: One of your crazy readers hit me with a newspaper!
… How can you be sure that's one of my readers?
Zoro: Does the mention of running to Luffy's aid mean anything?
(sighs) You know well that I don't have any control over my readers. In fact, I don't have any control on anything other than this fic.
Zoro: Whatever, just tell your readers to stop bugging me!
Pray tell where you were hit?
Zoro: I was taking a nap, minding my own business and I woke up with some crazy person with a newspaper and ran off.
Then stay in bed with Luffy.
Zoro: (blushes) THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUISNESS!!
I'm going to call Luffy if you don't walk out now, oh wait you have to thank Zero-Tsume for the new camera you didn't have to buy.
Zoro: Thanks for keeping me off of more debt than I'm already am.
Good, now get out.
Zoro: Crazy girl with crazy readers…
(grins) I'll take that as a complement.
Robin: Well that was interesting. (grabs another) From Kami-san…
(puts disc in) … (looks a little ticked and packs a safe with a note: 'Something to put Kyubi's treasured stuff in when he misbehaves' and sends it)
Robin: Mind if I drop in for a visit?
Nah, he hasn't hurt my feelings that much, but if he's still misbehaving then you have free rein.
Robin: (smiles and grabs another) From Ookami-san…
(puts disc in) (shocked) …
Robin: That was a scary review, was it not?
(in corner) Scary… Scary… Scary…
Zoro: Damn…
Robin: Zoro-san?
Zoro: Couldn't find the door to get out.
(still in the corner)
Zoro: Oi! Pull yourself together!
(still in the corner)
Zoro: I'm going to take over if you-
DON'T YOU DARE TAKE OVER MY 'REVIEWER'S REPLY CORNER!'
Zoro: Welcome back… (leaves)
I hate it when he does that!
Robin: (giggles and picks up another) From Kira-chan…
(giggles) Thanks.
Robin: (grabs another) From twilightserius…
Don't worry, he'll be okay.
Robin: (grabs last one) From Suguri-chan…
You're just gonna find out!
Robin: Well, shall we start the new chapter, or chapters?
You bet! Enjoy!
I hate feeling like this, I'm so tired of trying to fight this
I'm asleep and all I dream of is waking to you
Tell me that you will listen, your touch is what I'm missing
And the more I hide, I realize I'm slowly losing you
)Comatose
I'll never wake up without an overdose
Of you
I don't wanna live, I don't wanna breathe
Unless I feel you next to me
You take the pain I feel
Waking up to you never felt so real
I don't wanna sleep, I don't wanna dream
'Cause my dreams don't comfort me
The way you make me feel
Waking up to you never felt so real(
I hate living without you, dead wrong to ever doubt you
But my demon lay in waiting, tempting me away
Oh, how I adore you
Oh, how I thrist for you
Oh, how I need you
)(
Breathing life, waking up
My eyes open up – Skillet
Chapter 35: Head Out!
The next day Chopper resupplied and Zoro explained the situation to his guests and handed the responsibility to Shuraiya, who was really good at fighting the last few times they did mock sparring, and explained the dos and don'ts. After the whole day of preparing, Zoro, Chopper, and Usopp went onto the train.
"Kick ass! Captain!" The three boys called.
"Come back in one piece!" Mika called out, the young girl.
"Go find your lover!" Called out Adelle.
"I'll kill you once I get back!" Zoro called as the girl just laughed.
"Bye! Bye! Everyone!" Usopp called as the train started to move, leaving the station.
Once they couldn't see their city any more, Zoro, Usopp and Chopper sat in silence.
"We only have one stop and we have to get there by foot? And that takes two days?" Zoro asked.
Chopper nodded. "Yeah, but most of the roads are crawling with Nighthunters and Ware-types." He explained.
"Usopp…"
"Yeah?"
"Got your 'holy' pellets?"
"Yep! Red for the Nighthunters and silver for the Ware-types."
"Got enough for a possible ambush?"
Usopp lifted his bag up. "Worked for a week, but I couldn't find a good test subject."
"We'll worry on getting there later… for now we should rest up, who knows what's going to happen once we're there."
"Yeah…" The long-nosed teen said as he tried to get comfortable.
Chopper was already asleep.
Somewhere in the empty city
Ben quietly ran down the back alleys to one building, looked around before entering. He walked down to a door, which was a broom closet, bent down to open a trapdoor, and entered by going down the stairs. Once down he ran down a makeshift hallway and turned a corner to see a curtain that was in place of a door, lifted it up to see the large, mole rat like room.
From there he saw only Franky and Robin, who looked like she was taking a nap on the stolen beanbag couch they found.
Franky did a small wave to recognize the other coming in.
"Any thing good happen while I was gone?"
"Nah, Ben-bro, still the same for almost a week now…" Franky said sadly.
"Have the other's returned?"
"Sanji-bro and Nami-sis just came in a bit before you did."
"Anything new?"
"Nah, not a thing."
"Damn! We've spent a couple of weeks in this city, we've should've moved on by now."
"Ben…"
Both heads looked up to see Shanks coming out of the room with a white curtain.
"Keep your voice down a little…"
"Sorry, but this thing that Luffy has… it should be gone by now… and with his birthday coming up…"
"Aye… I know…" Shanks whispered. "Don't worry yourself just yet, I bet Chopper has found the one person that could help Luffy now."
"Who?"
"Come now, Ben, don't you know?"
Before Ben could say anything, they heard yet another person come in.
"If that lad does indeed bring back your son from his mental trauma, then he could not be truly human."
"Mihawk-san…" Ben said as the mentioned man went up to Franky.
"Found this near the old inn that has a good basement still intacked." He handed the other an old scroll. "Thought Robin-san would like to take a look after she's rested.
Franky nodded his thanks.
In the room behind the white curtains, Ace, Sanji, Nami, Kaya, and Brook were around the bed that Luffy occupied on.
Luffy was covered in bandages around his chest, neck, arms, and a few band-aids on his face. He looked like he was dead if not for his chest rising and falling.
"He's stable, right?" Ace asked as he rubbed his bandaged upper arm.
"Yes…" Kaya said. "At least for now…"
"Damn it… why did he have to go after the NighthunterLord? He didn't have the chance…"
"He did…" Brook said. "But it was too late when he realized it."
"Will he ever get better?" Nami said as she looked at her cousin, though twiced removed he's still her family.
Sanji saw the distress in her actions and wrapped an arm around her, gently holding her.
"Z… Zoro…" Luffy said quietly.
"He's mentioning him a lot…" Brook said.
"He didn't say a word of him leaving…" Kaya said. "Like I did with Usopp… The guilt he must've felt when he stepped on the train…"
Sanji sighed. "He wouldn't touch the breakfast sandwiches I made…"
Nami looked at the crate that was used as a desk and saw the broken pieces of the armlet that Zoro gave to the teen on Christmas.
Train
"We're almost there." Chopper said.
"Ready?" Zoro said and was responded with the two nodding.
When the train stopped and exited, they saw the village, quiet as ever.
"Follow me!" Chopper said as he led them up the mountain.
About three hours later…
They made it to the palace and Chopper lead them to the fairly new looking shed that served as a garage. Luckily there was a car that could fit all of them.
"Okay, I'll drive," Zoro said, because he's the only likeable candidate. "Chopper, you navigate, and Usopp you'll be in shotgun."
"Who died and made you leader?" Usopp said.
"Don't like it?" Zoro said, putting up a good imitation aura.
"No, it's cool. But why do I have to be in shot gun?"
"Let me think, I'm a swordsman, Chopper's a doctor, and you're a sniper!"
Usopp clutched his stomach. "Uh… I think I'm getting the 'we-probably-"
"What about Kaya?" Zoro said indifferently. "You'd go to the ends of the world for her, wouldn't you?"
"O-Of course, you bastard!"
"Then quit sounding like a was and get your ass in!" He said as he got into the driver's side.
The teen sighed and got in 'shotgun'.
Chopper was in the back seat and they were off.
'Hang on Luffy, I'm coming.' He thought as he turned the headlights on and drove out towards the forest.
"Now make a right… I said right not left!"
"If only I didn't forget to bring my driver's license…" Usopp said with a sigh.
Baptized with a perfect name
The doubting one by heart
Alone without himself
War between him and the day
Need someone to blame
In the end, little he can do alone
You believe but what you see
You receive but what you give
Caress the one, the Never Fading
Rain in your heart the tears of
Snow white sorrow
Caress the one, the hiding amaranth
In the land of the daybreak
Apart of the wandering pack
In this brief flight of time we reach
For the ones, whoever dare
You believe but what you see
You receive but what you give
Caress the one, the Never Fading
Rain in your heart the tears of
Snow white sorrow
Caress the one, the hiding amaranth
In the land of the daybreak
Caress the one, the Never Fading
Rain in your heart the tears of
Snow white sorrow
Caress the one, the hiding amaranth
In the land of the daybreak
Reaching, searching for something untouched
Hearing voices of the Never Fading calling (calling…)
Caress the one, the Never Fading
Rain in your heart the tears of
Snow white sorrow
Caress the one, the hiding amaranth
In the land of the daybreak
Caress the one, the Never Fading
Rain (Rain…) in your heart the tears of
Snow white sorrow
Caress the one, the hiding amaranth (the Rain!)
In the land of the daybreak (daybreak!) – Nightwish
Enjoy the next one!