Chapter 55" Okay...I know... I'm sorry... I don't even know if people read this anymore...If you do leave me a review, I want to start it back up but if no one reads it I don't think there is a point really. I did this all in one go and it's pretty late so there might be some spelling mistakes and what not, so sorry in advance! Thanks to all who continue to read and I'm so sorry! Please enjoy!

Past Chapter Reviews:

14thmusican: Ah look at you, you smart little cookie haha, of course she wont be going to the same island haha, I'm thinking of getting it to a good closing point there and then starting another story of her training and the second half of the grandline, what do you think? And thanks! I'm trying really hard to keep this fun and good since it's a made up ark itll all in my imagination haha, i want to make sure its perfect. Haha thank you for your review, enjoy!

Girl-luvs-manga: haha that's alright and I know i really love that past chapter one of my favorites, I've been thinking of writing a spin off story of her mother but that will have to wait till a long while after haha. Thanks and enjoy!

Pokemonjkl: Thank you so much! I really hope you like this! The ark is gunna start heating up right fast now!

cat: Thank you very much, that means a lot. I really want the characters that I didn't make as close to the originals as possible while still bending them to my story haha. I really hope you enjoy this, thank you.


"He wasn't my dad."

Zoro looked over to the girl, she was smiling down at the new bracelet she had gotten. Gently rubbing her thumb over the glass sphere.

"No? Got the house wrong?"

He didn't understand why she was smiling, wouldn't she be embarrassed if she went to the wrong house or even a little bit disappointed? And what was with that piece of jewelry? Did some random guy give that to her?

"No...it's hard to explain..." Her voice brought him back to the real world, "Everyone on the island thinks he is my dad,but my real dad is a pirate."

"Well, that's different. Apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it?" Zoro chuckled, leaning back onto his hands.

Her bed was so much more comfier then the ones they had been given, she also got her own room as well.

" Haha, didn't think of it like that. Guess that's true, I hope he's...a 'good' pirate." Kuki muttered, falling down on the bed beside Zoro, so caught up in her own world of thought that she hadn't realized the position the both of them were in.

Well, she didn't notice...but he did.

She had found him, prosumingly lost, strolling around town on her way back. She wanted to talk to him about what she had found out, but since it was a secret back then she decided to try and keep it that way. So she began towing the Swordsman behind her to the most private place she knew, her bedroom.

"Um..."

His face was reddening, he could feel it. Her golden hair was shinning in the mid afternoon light, spread out in long waves along the top of the bed. He reached out and started to play with the pieces closest to him. Instantly that not so far off memory popped into his head. The one on that ghostly boat island...where they shared a kiss. They hadn't talked about that yet...they hadn't had any time too...

"Zoro?" Kuki looked up at the first-mate, watching his eyes move from the hair he was playing with to her lips then up to fixate on her own eyes.

That moment was so...she couldn't explain. Her whole body seemed to jump into over-drive. The swordsman watched her face go from her usual paleness to bright red.

"Ya?"

His voice was so nonchalant, like this wasn't effecting him at all, making her feel like such a little child.

"I ugh..."

God her voice sent shivers down his spine, for being an expert swordsman she could crack his resolve in a second.

They were just there...frozen in place, so close together, yet too far apart.

"Ah!"

Finally Zoro made his move, wrapping his strong arm around the nape of her neck and bringing her face in. He paused, second guessing himself. Her face was so close, noses touching. What was he doing? Who was this unfamiliar guy moving his body?

"..."

Kuki seemed to see him questioning himself, his actions. And, being very out of character, she was the one to take that last step. Their lips touched and even though it was careful and a little stiff, there was that fire again. It wasn't as blazing as the last time, but then again they weren't in fear of dieing. But sure enough, that heat was felt threw the awkward clumsiness. After a few moments Kuki's body relaxed, finally just relishing in the moment. Zoro took this as a sign, he pushed her back onto the bed, his inner spirit finally breaking threw. The fire grew, flames licking at her skin where his hand's slid across. Instantly the heat raised, the seemingly innocent kiss Kuki had insinuated had turned into to the hunger Zoro had. It was messy, feverish, but hot and needed. He took over, pinning her down with his weight, feverishly kissing her while his hands explored. She was lost in her own head, didn't understand what was going on. All that mattered was the flames on his finger tips, the heat following his movements, the cold everywhere he wasn't touching, the sparks every time their mouths connected and the molten lava at her core. Suddenly his hand slid up her shirt and her eyes flew open. She grabbed onto his trespassing wrist, pushing it out. Zoro growled in defiance, forcing her to come back to her senses. With a final grumble, the First mate pulled back, turning to sit away from her at the end of her bed.

"I...Zoro I'm..." Kuki tried to say, panting and warm.

He was out of breath slightly, running his hand threw his hair trying to calm down. His face was red and he was obviously hot and bothered.

"I'm sorry I just..."

He sighed and stood up, " Don't apologies." and with that he was out the door, shutting it behind him and leaving her alone to her own thoughts.


"Dammit!"

Zoro kicked the wall in the boy's room. All of them were out, leaving him to be by himself for now. The boys were rambling about going out for food somewhere, they had invited him to go with them but he rightly declined. How was he supposed to face the rest of the crew, especially the two witch women, after all that had happened? Robin would instantly know something was up and Nami would press for answers. Sanji would most defiantly try to kill him, try, and the skeleton and Franky would probably get a good kick out of it. All in all...he did not want to deal with that, he wanted to nap, but the silence was killing him. How could he do that? Put her in that situation? It was surprising enough that she had kissed him, but why did he have to push her to that limit? She was a prisoner for her entire life, he wouldn't be surprised if he was her first kiss...

...

Then again she was his first kiss. What was he getting on with? He was supposed to be 'Zoro! The Pirate Hunter!' and yet he couldn't even keep his...cool... He lost control, plain as day. Swordsman don't lose control, at least their not supposed to, let alone to some stupid girl! It wasn't him, he never thought of a female in this way...Never wanted to... Something about that girl...he hated it, and yet he couldn't stay away from her. She made him feel like...not him. Zoro shook his head and then suddenly froze.

"I'm like...that baka-cook..."

His whole body shivered, hell no, he was nothing like him. But...he did just leave her like that. Since he couldn't sleep he might as well go check on her, just to make sure she's okay...


Kuki was laying face down in her mountain of pillows. She had just finished screaming into the various objects. What had happened?! Why did she have to be like that?! She was the one who started it...whatever 'it' was...

"Ugh!"

What did she mean 'what ever it was'?! It was a kiss! She kissed him! The thought of it made her cheeks over heat. How could she do that?! And then stop him...after he...after he tried...

"Kill me now..." Kuki muttered, rolling over to stair up, pursing her lips and blowing the hair out of her face in frustration.

It was her own fault, why would she kiss him if she didn't want it to...get to that level. Why did she have to be like such a little girl!? Zoro probably thought she was either playing with him or too much of a kid...she was eighteen for god sake! She needed to grow up! The Helmsman paused, letting all of what happened just seep in for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts.

"What do I want...?"

Knock Knock

Kuki sat up, was it the First mate?

"Hello?"

"Princess?"

Oh no... it was the prince. She really didn't want to deal with this right now...this was the last thing.

"Come in." she mumbled, patting her hair down from it's 'laying in bed for hours screaming' mess.

The well groomed royal walked in, wearing more 'casual' clothes then what she had seen him wear. A pair of black dress pants and a loose fitting white blouse like shirt. It was unbuttoned a bit to see his well defined chest and the jet black hair on top of his head, which was usually perfectly in place, was now a bit messy.

"Fencing practice." He replied, catching her taking in his appearance.

In all honestly she wished for him to leave her alone, today had been a long day and she desperately want to go to sleep to make it end.

"I see..." Kuki mumbled.

The Prince walked over to the bed, the aura around him not as 'charming' as usual.

"Have you thought upon what we spoke of the other night?"

The Helmsman's throat ran dry, why couldn't he just take no as an answer and leave her alone? She hated saying no to people normally, let alone decline the same guy twice for marriage!

"I..." she started to say, looking into his icy eyes, "already told you. I can't. I'm sorry."

The man sighed, standing up and facing the painting on the wall. The one of a younger him and his late mother. He brushed his fingers over the hair of the painted Queen and then dropped his hand to his side.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want it to come to this..." the Prince muttered, clenching his fist. " But I promised my mother to keep to tradition."

Kuki's heart sped sped...something was wrong. What did he mean?

"Memoria no memoria memory retake!"


"Kuki." Zoro called out, knocking on her door.

Hopefully she wasn't asleep, it was getting pretty late. Then the door opened, the petite framed girl was standing there, in a soft pink night gown that framed her body well. The First mate gawked at her, that was not appropriate sleep wear.

"Um, yes?" Kuki asked, her eyebrow up in annoyance.

Was she mad at him? She might have had a reason to be but it wasn't really in her personality to be so.

"I just wanted...to..." this was so weird.

What was going on. He felt like he was talking to a stranger.

"What? Wanted to apologies for waking up a Princess?" her voice had a tint of anger to it but was calm and collected, "or about how inappropriate it is to be visiting me late into the night without my fiance present?"

"Your Fiance?! What are you talking about?" Zoro was appalled.

The girl's face grimaced, "What could you possibly mean? Are you drunk or something?"

Kuki watched the First mate as if waiting for a reply, but there was no way he could. Was he dreaming? Who was this? Was he at the wrong door? Was this Kuki's twin? Was he in a different universe?

"Is this because of what I did when we were kissing?!" he screamed, going out of his mind.

This...person didn't even talk like the Helmsman.

"Oh my goodness!" her face was in utter shock, " How dare you say such things to me! You really are a drunk! Get out of here before I call for the guards!"

She went to slam the door when Zoro slid his foot in the way just at the right second.

"What is wrong with you?!"

"What do you mean pirate!? I thank you and the rest of your crew for saving me and bringing me home but I can only stretch my understanding so far. I am to be married in a couple of days and I do not need drunken pirates knocking at my door in the middle of the night screaming about made up kisses!"

He was so shocked, in fact, that Kuki easily tapped his foot out from her door and then glared into his eyes to say one last " Now Good Night." before slamming it shut in his face.