Hello everyone.
Luffy: Hi, hi!
Well, I got most of my work done, finally!
Luffy: Yay!
So reviews.
Luffy: There isn't a lot.
So?
Luffy: (grabs one) From Tori-san!
I know, I know, you mentioned it more times than anyone else. I'm glad it explained a lot, and about the after fic note... Yeah... that was an awkward moment...
Luffy: What was that?
What's the next one?
Luffy: (grabs the last two) Both from Mimi-chan!
I added more than one chapter on this... and you'll find out why. And Franky was trapped there because if anyone were to find out about the city, the government would be on their asses and ruin everything that the city was suppose to be.
Luffy: That's it. I told you it wasn't a lot.
It's still something. Enjoy the chapter everyone!
I lie here paralytic
Inside this soul
Screaming for you till my throat is numb
I wanna break out
I need a way out
I don't believe that it's gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this womb I'm suffocating
*Feel your presence filling up my lungs with oxygen
I take you in
I've died
Rebirthing now
I wanna live for love wanna live for you and me
(Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow)
Rebirthing now
I Wanna live my life wanna give you everything
(Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow) *
Right now
Right now
I lie here lifeless
In this cocoon
Shedding my skin cause
I'm ready to
I wanna break out
I found a way out
I don't believe that it's gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this womb I'm suffocating
**
((Bridge))
Tell me when I'm gonna live again
Tell me when I'm gonna breathe you in
Tell me when I'm gonna feel inside
Tell me when I'm gonna feel alive
Tell me when I'm gonna live again
Tell me when this fear will end
Tell me when I'm gonna feel inside
Tell me when I'll feel alive
... - Skillet
Chapter 37: True Nakama
After bringing Luffy to the warehouse that Chopper said that everyone was currently taking refuge, I handed him to this old lady doctor, who then went into a small, clinic-like room.
"Ah! Swordsman-san!" Brook said. "You finally joined us."
"Aniki!" Rika called as she ran up, jumped and practically tackled me.
"Hey Rika." I said.
"I can't believe this beast is that cute kid's Aniki." Said some blonde jerk.
"Sanji! Be nice!" Said an orange-ginger haired girl.
"Where's Luffy?" Rika asked.
"He's with a doctor at the moment."
"Must've been a horrible fight for him to get hurt."
"Some fights aren't always physical."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll tell you later, I'm a bit tired right now."
"Okay." She said as she looked at my scar. "When did you get this?"
"Before Luffy saved my ass from being the Big Baddies you proudly call them."
"He's amazing isn't he?"
"One of a kind." I looked around the room to see a couple girls around Rika's age staring at me.
"These are my new friends, as well as those three boys over there." She pointed out the boys as well, who were behind a guy with a long nose. "That's their Aniki, Usopp and his partner is Sanji, and he makes a great sandwich."
"From what we could fix up at least." He said.
"But you did manage to feed a full house." Robin said.
"I don't believe anyone has to be denied food when it's there."
"Good to know." I said as I put Rika down. "I'm just going to rest a bit and you could tell me your little adventure."
"If you tell me yours first!"
"Right."
She smiled as she ran up to a blonde girl with a stuff dragon doll and a short, dark brunette girl with a strange cap as they huddled like girls would when they just have to talk.
"There's a free bunk here." Said a young woman with light blue hair. "I'm Vivi, and welcome."
"Thanks. I don't really remember my name. Sorry."
"That's fine, I'm sure it will come back soon."
"Maybe with some sleep. Been one crazy day for me."
She nodded. "If you need anything, just ask."
I nodded as I took the lower bunk of the bunk beds.
The place isn't great, being underground and all, but it has a good atmosphere. And despite the noise around, I fell to a fitful sleep.
***
Memories started coming back, starting from the moment I saw the ashes of my foster father, Sensei, and my foster sister, Kuina, were sent out to the ocean, and I slipped away from everyone's sight, deciding to live on my own.
I've spent my days alone for about two years before meeting Luffy.
Flashes of the memorable moments came to my mind like a reel of film as the moment came where I have to let Luffy go and I stayed to make sure he will never be found by Lucci or anyone connected to him. I never wanted to let him go, but I rather see him live a better life then try to die so that he won't continue the life that was set for him.
Ever since then I was on top of the list, next to Robin, of knowing the operation.
Then the New Year that changed all that.
Instead of killing me, they made sure my memory was lost. Well, they only completed the task of hiding it from my knowledge. I don't think they even realized who I was, otherwise it would've been different.
***
I woke up, and saw that everyone has calmed down for the moment when the hag doctor came out of the clinic room, and headed towards me.
"The brat wants to talk to you." She said.
I nodded, got up, and went to the clinic to see him, and, when he said my name, I knew he remembered.
We talked a bit of the past before he admitted how he felt about me, and wanted to know how I felt.
For awhile, I just looked at that unsure, hurt, and almost scared face. I didn't like it. I wanted to see the confident, compassionate, and determined face, but I understood why I'm not seeing this.
I must've stalled too long, because he broke away our eye contact and looked at the floor.
"Sorry… I'm being selfish. And I have made things worse by letting myself be used. I'm no better than anyone."
I didn't want to hear this anymore, so I grabbed his shoulders, pinned him down on the bed, and my face was close to his.
"Don't you fucking say that to me."
He looked shocked, but not afraid. Good.
"You're selfish, so what? It's that selfish feeling that made all of us feel attracted to you, give us a reason to see the unseen future, much less tomorrow, that you brought with you. And you're better than Crocodile, Lucci, even Dragon. They never bother to make anything better. You did by freeing the fear and hurt we've had and bring the hope of actually doing something to get back what we should've had from the start! So what if you were used and now we got another power hungry nutcase to deal with, so what? He's just another asshole to be put in his place."
I looked at him as he eyes started to water and roll down the sides, but I could tell he needed to hear that more than anything. I wiped the tears away until he gripped my arms and I pulled him close and let him cry freely.
Zoro's POV: End
***
Luffy's POV
When he didn't answer, I figured he didn't feel the same and thought about what I've done that led to this. But I didn't expect that he would pin me down and be angry about it. But what he said… I needed to hear that what I did actually did some good.
I don't know how long I cried, but when I was done I didn't want to let Zoro go.
"You know what to do?" He asked, his breath felt really good on my neck.
"I don't know where to go."
"Well…" He said as he got up so I could see his face, a grin on his features. "Then there's no way in hell I'm letting you go off alone."
I laughed a bit.
"And there's no way the rest of us is going to leave you two alone."
We looked to see Nami, Vivi, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, and Brook.
"Guys?" I said.
"We're in this together." Usopp said.
"You risked a lot for us." Vivi said.
"So what better way to repay you?" Robin said.
"By helping you get through this and find this shit cure for your head." Sanji said.
"And we owe you for giving us a second chance, why not you as well?" Chopper said.
"We may not have known each other long, but I would be honored to help." Brook said.
"Same goes to me as well, Luffy-Bro!" Franky said.
I didn't know what to say as Zoro sat up.
"Looks like we're going, and we're not taking no for an answer." He said as I sat up as well and saw that I'm the luckiest guy in this part of the world and lifetime.
I couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
"Those better be tears of joy." Zoro said, which I playfully kicked him.
"I just realized something…" I said, making everyone look at me. "I have the greatest nakama in the whole world."
All of us laughed and to into a group hug, suggested by Franky. Even though in my mind isn't completely free from whatever crap the scientists put in, but I know that whatever happens, I have my nakama to be there to make sure we make it through this.
This time I wonder what it feels like
To find the one in this life
The one we all dream of
But dreams just aren't enough
So I'll be waiting for the real thing.
I'll know it by the feeling.
The moment when we're meeting
Will play out like a scene straight off the silver screen
So I'll be holding my breath
Right up to the end
Until that moment when
I find the one that I spend forever with
*Cause nobody wants to be the last one there.
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares.
Someone to love with my life in their hands.
There's gotta be somebody for me like that.
Cause nobody wants to go it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone.
Somebody else that feels the same somewhere.
There's gotta be somebody for me out there.*
Tonight out on the street out in the moonlight
And damn it this feels too right
It's just like Déjà Vu
Me standing here with you
So I'll be hold in my breath
Could this be the end?
Is it that moment when
I find the one that I spend forever with?
**
Ooooooh,
You can't give up!
Lookin' for that diamond in the rough
Because you never know when it shows up
Make sure you're holdin' on
Cause it could be the one,
the one you're waiting on
Cause nobody wants to be the last one there.
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares.
Someone to love with my life in their hands.
There has gotta be somebody for me
Ohhhhhh.
Nobody wants to go it on their own
And everyone wants to know they're not alone.
Is there somebody else that feels the same somewhere?
There's gotta be somebody for me out there.
Nobody wants to be the last one there
And everyone wants to feel like someone cares.
Is there somebody else that feels the same somewhere?
There has gotta be somebody for me out there - Nickelback