The crew on deck could hear a faint beating sound coming from the opposite direction from where they sat. Being in a state of gloominess and uncaring they waved it off. Thinking it was just some debris floating in the ocean that was knocking up against the side of the ship. It wouldn't have been something uncommon.

Luffy lifted his head up slightly looking up at the bright stars. The entire ocean was engulfed by the luminescent moon light. Cheeks were wet where the expression he wore was vengeful, detached. Just silence.

They all remained in their desolate states. Only their ears continued to perk at what little sounds they heard. That is until the door to the infirmary flew open and slammed against the wall making them all jump. Curious they turned their heads towards the noise behind them and froze. What they saw nearly made their hearts drop.

There, partially standing in the doorway was their assumed-to-be-dead nakama clutching his side, staring off nowhere in particular as he took in very deep breaths. He looked like he was on the verge of passing out. Luffy was first one to get to his feet. Tears were welting up at the sight.

Had his prayers been answered, had his best friend truly come back to him? "ZOOORROOO!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, charging over. The rest of the crew did the same fast as possible. Zoro's legs gave way and gravity took hold.

It took Luffy no time at all to rush over to the wounded, once thought dead, first mate. He noticed the way he clutched his arm around his stomach and the all too familiar blood gushing out from behind it.

He was about to collapse from the pain. With little thought he caught the other and embraced him with a hug. 'He's breathing and bleeding. He's not cold and lifeless anymore. "But how" He couldn't help but make a smirk.

He laid him on the deck on his back and elevated his head. He was far to weak and nauseous to even know what was going on. Yet through his clouded vision he noticed a familiar straw hat and sad eyes looking back at his.

A faint smile grew on his face making him pant a little slower, reassured that his nakama would help him. Luffy gingerly turned Zoro over, careful not to hurt him anymore then he already was; which spoke volumes about their usually reckless captain.

Chopper met him on the other side of the wounded man, medical bag opened and in hand. The others stayed quiet and waited at a distance watching the strange phenomenon. "How is this possible?!" Chopper said with a slightly jittery tone of voice as he arrived next to his captain.

Luffy continued to look over the man and stared at his face. "It's a miracle... Nothing else could explain it.." Zoro lay flat out on his back pain wriggled on his face as sweat dripped down from his temple, arm still tightly clutching his side.

Chopper pulled out various instruments and looked over his friend's condition. "He's in really bad shape.. Huh?" He spotted Zoro's arm haphazardly gripping his side.

The doctor grabbed hold of it and attempted to pry it off.

To his surprised the man still had an exponential amount of strength left to hold it down. "Luffy help me with this." He nodded and pulled while Chopper pried Zoro's fingertips away from his side. As soon as his arm was freed, blood splattered everywhere. Everyone was in shock over what they saw.

Instead of the hole they were expecting, they were met with a major gaping rip in his gut. "Oh my God.." said the doctor. Then his instincts kicked in, he wasn't going to let the same mistake happen again like last time. He couldn't bear to lose him twice he thought as he pulled out a syringe of painkillers and injected it into the man's bloodstream.

"Usopp!" the frantic sharpshooter quickly snapped head up and looked determined at the reindeer. " I need you to go get Sanji from the kitchen, he needs blood.. Bad.." Usopp nodded and wasted no time in dashing towards the kitchen.

"Fanky, I need you to bring me some water and clean towels." The cyborg smiled widely and only replied with a loud "SUUUUPPPEEERR," as he went to retrieve his items faster than you would imagine a man partially made of steel was capable. Chopper frantically cleaned away the blood that saturated the skin from around the wound.

Usopp had always been fast and in a dire situation like this he wasted no time in retrieving Sanji. He busted threw the kitchen door, sending it slamming against the wall and frantically searched for the cook. He looked all around but the blonde man was nowhere to be found.

All he managed to find were bits of plate shards scattered in front of the sink. It was an odd sight to say the least, Sanji had to steadiest and most precise hand out of anyone in the crew. On top of that he loved his cooking wear, whether it with a kitchen knife, a plate or even a common spoon.

It was taken care of and he was always extra careful, even when Luffy had gotten into some serious horseplay and knocked over a tray; he had always managed to save every last utensil from being damaged. "It must of slipped from his hands when he was washing up.." Usopp thought to himself as he looked over at the broken mess of porcelain.

Some were in a pile, and the others that have yet to be collected were shuffled into random places. "Sanji.." Usopp continued his search for the missing cook. He stepped over the ceramic pieces and made his way to the pantry. As he approached the door he heard something. It sounded like sniffling.

He investigated further and opened the door slowly, letting the light into the dark space. A dark figure was slumped over in the corner of the room, sitting in the dark with a bottle of sake in between his crossed legs. "Oi.. S.. Sanji?"

The man looked up and cracked open his mouth, "What.. Bastard." his voice was crackly and it was obvious that he'd been crying. "Sanji you need to come with me. It.. It's Zoro." Sanji's face became hysterical, "Stop lying you idiot or I might have to kick your ass!" He said in a venomous tone of voice.

"Zoro's dead.. His blood was all over.. It soaked in my clothes.. I listened to his heart slowly stop beating.. I watched him die in my arms..." He continued as tears were free flowing from his eyes down his cheeks. He tried to take another sip from the half bottle of booze in his lap. Bringing the bottle up to his lips, his hand shook and he just about dropped it.

Usopp looked worried, "Look Sanji I can't imagine how that was like.. But.." Sanji shot him another menacing glare. "What do you mean but?!" Usopp's eyes widened with some fear of the drunken man but his purpose for being there managed to help him stand his ground against the sorrowful cook.

"Zoro's alive!" Sanji's sadden eyes looked puzzled. "I don't know how.. But he's alive.. And he'll bleed out and die a second time if you don't pull yourself together and help!" Sanji squeezed the cork on his bottle and set it to the side. "You're cruel.." He replied, Usopp knew he had to hurry it up before it was too late.

He came closer to the cook and wrapped his arm around his shoulder and hoisted him to his feet whether he was willing to or not and started towards the light source. "Oi oi what are doing you idiot!" He retorted at the sniper but with to depressed to actually put up a fight. "We're saving Zoro!" He said threw gritted teeth as he lugged the skinny man out of the closed room into the kitchen. Then headed for the door that would. Being then closer to their nakama.

Zoro had been conscious throughout the ordeal but was completely taken aback by the sleep that was gnawing in the back of his mind. "C.. Captain.." he said in a hoarse voice. Luffy was trying to fight back the tears but they came out anyway. They weren't so much sad tears; they were more like tears of happiness. He smiled and replied. "Yes Zoro.."

Zoro was glad he wasn't dreaming. He hated dying, he couldn't imagine what Luffy and the lot did when he passed. They arrived too late only to come across a most tragic outcome, with no explanation. To watch as one of the closest people in your life is taken from you.

Then to have to carry his corpse all the way back to the ship that was docked on the far side of the island. Having to live with the image sewn in their memory's. 'No more.. I hate this feeling.. Guilt.' "I'm not.. Going anywhere.. Anytime soon. So.. Be Strong!" A wide grin grew on the man's face as his eyes veered up at the moon, glistening with something Luffy knew all too well. His strong willpower.

Just then Usopp walked out of the kitchen with a depressed Sanji leaning on his shoulder. As soon as they got close enough to see the unconscious man's distinct green locks, Sanji realized Usopp might not actually be lying after all. He slid off of his friends shoulder and rushed over to where to his friend.

Chopper was dabbing away fresh blood. "H.. How.. Can he?" Sanji said. "We don't know Sanji, but he needs blood.. Bad." Sanji knew what he was hinting and nodded. He needed a blood transfusion and Sanji's blood, luckily was just the type they needed.

As Chopper hooked the transfusion mechanism on Sanji's arm he looked over the barely breathing man. He watched the only person he cared about most in the world die in his arms. Yet there he was breathing again and bleeding all over just like last time.

Except this time it was different, he had not been too late and there was an actual chance to save him. 'It's always blood with him' and sad smile formed on Sanji's lips as he watched the revived man struggle to stay awake. "Oi.. Love cook.."

Sanji shot a glance toward the injured man who looked over at him. With a worried look on his face. "Stop cryin.. Ya fool.." Sanji felt his cheek with his free hand. It was wet with tears, he wiped them away not even caring anymore about how childish he looked. "Only if you stop dyin." He replied.

Zoro smiled a weak smile. He couldn't fight his eyelids much longer, Luffy noticed this and a sincere look appeared on his face. "Go ahead Zoro.. You're home.. You can rest now..." He obliged, relaxed his breathing and passed out.

"Sweet dreams," he said in a quiet voice looking up at the little doctor. Chopper was busy hooking the other end of tubing and connected it to Zoro's arm. Almost immediately blood went from a trickle to a steady flow.

Sanji didn't pay attention to it, he was lost in thought. He was baffled to see the man who'd died right before his eyes, resurrected. Now quietly snoring on the deck again; granted the situation was dire but he slept like normal. Luffy continued to wear a smile on his face. Somehow he knew things were going to be alright.

Franky had come back with the water and towels awhile ago. He and Brook watched the whole touching moment between the two and were so deeply moved. "Yo ho ho, you're going to make me ball my eyes out, though I have no eyes." The comedic skeleton chuckled. Tears welded up in the cyborgs eyes. "Yao Zoro-bro is so strong! He died.. But then came back! He fought against death and won!"

Something curious was going on inside of the swordsman's body. As his once dead heart pulsated with a lively beat, the small puncher holes made by the strange man, suddenly started to ooze black liquid. It acted like a catalyst kicking in and from the inside out all the damage done to his body and began to heal at a rapid pace.

Chopper cleared the majority of blood away, though ever since Zoro had lost consciousness the bleeding seemed to slow and just about stop. Considering he already bled out once before and somehow has been ripped open even more since then... It was difficult imagining how somebody could even be breathing with a body this butchered.

"It's a wonder he hasn't dried up from loosing so much blood..." Chopper whispered under his breath. "But I'm glad you didn't!" He said in a sightly more forceful tone as a he held in the tears. He kicked into doctor mode and it was apparent in his big bold eyes. Luffy looked up from his swordsman to the doctor and smiled at his determination.

Pulling out his hook and needle and began to stitch Zoro's stomach back together. He thought it would be more troublesome then it had been. He figured it would be trivial, stitching chunks of flesh back together to look normal as possible.

In some way it seemed like his skin was stretching back into place and was actually healing. He narrowed his eyebrows at the phenomenon but just waved it off. He concentrated solely on patching up his friend and he didn't care about the petty little details. The sooner he got him bandaged up and into a bed the better.

Sanji watched from emotionalist and watery eyes. He usually tried to contain his emotions like the other level headed crew mates but by this time he really didn't care about his appearance anymore. 'Don't leave me alone again.. You idiot..' he grinned lightly at the thought of being able to berate his Baka-Marimo again.

He winced at his rapidly he was donating blood, it made him light headed a little, but he didn't care. "Hey, Sanji.. Are you ok? You look more drained then you should be.." Chopper said to the cook as he gingerly ushered his little hooves around the paler than usual man. "What are you talking about Chopper, I'm fine. Worry about him for now." He said ushering to the unconscious man he was stitching back together.

Chopper look puzzled as he checked his pulse. "Your blood pressure has dropped way too quickly! But why?" He inquired to no one in particular. Luffy and Sanji looked at the reindeer confused. "What does that mean Chopper?"

"I don't particularly know... But we need to disconnect you, or else you'll be in even worst shape. I don't know how you lost so much blood so quickly... But it's like.. It's being leeched from you.." The little doctor said in an unsure tone as he disconnected the tube from Sanji's forearm, then from Zoro's.

Sanji looked at him confused. 'Leeched, as in like a parasite?'

"But doesn't Zoro need it?" Luffy interjected before Sanji could. "It would help, but considering that the bleeding has stopped, it's not crucial at the moment. Right now we just need patch him up and get him to the infirmary so he can rest.

"Oi Chopper, what do you mean by its being leeched?" Sanji asked concerned. He couldn't literally be taking that much blood from him at one time; could he? He shook off the thought and focused on the little reindeer as he searched for the right words for putting his answer together.

"I don't know how to explain it.. But there is defiantly something unnatural going on with him." Chopper replied with a sincere look aimed at the swordsman. He finished the last stitch and cut away the excess thread. Luffy frowned a little and then looked over at Zoro again. His skin was so much darker then it had been, he didn't look like a corpse anymore, he had much more color now.

He glanced over to the once horrible wound all neatly stitched back into place. It's amazing how good of a doctor they have, he may be young but he's brilliant. He managed to sew chunks of skin back together with such precision that it didn't look as bad as it actually was. "Hey Chopper, what's that black stuff?" He said as he pointed out the spot on his arm where a needle had pierced his vain.

"Luffy what are you going on about." Chopper said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. He whipped his little head around and immediately noticed what Luffy why pointing out, widening his eyelids and narrowed his brows. 'What in the world?' The doctor glared dumbfounded at the strange substance leaking from the man's arm.

He picked up a small towel that wasn't completely soaked in blood and wiped away the liquid. "Maybe it's just some mud or something," Luffy inquired. Chopper looked at the substance that stained the towel, it looked as if it was blood that was tainted. He glanced back down at the incision and noticed that the little hole had completely sealed itself.

"Maybe.." Chopper answered after a moment of silently thinking to himself. Yet again he waved off his suspicion and set the towel aside. He stitched up thick scratches around his abdomen and arms. After applying one of his herbal creams on the wounds he wrapped them thickly in cotton. Once he finished placing the bandages it looked like a makeshift vest with matching arm bands.

His face even had small bandages stuck to it, along with a strip of gauze going around his head; from where he managed to crack his skull open a little bit. Luckily the bleeding stopped, making it really easy to bind his wounds. He looked almost like a mummy, being all wrapped up like that. 'Finally we can transport him.' Chopper thought, wiping the sweat from his temple.

"Luffy give me a hand with transporting him. Be very delicate." The young boy nodded at his doctor and watched him morph into his bigger form. "Sanji, you should rest for awhile to let your body replace the blood you've lost."
Sanji did feel a bit faint but I didn't bother him. It couldn't possibly be compared to how his head had felt earlier. He was feeling a lot better since then. He looked down at his palms, even the shaking in his hands subsided. The two boys slowly worked their arms underneath their unconscious friend. They hoisted his up as carefully as possible and carried him back to the infirmary.

"Hey, Usopp.. Franky.." The two crew mates that have been watching idly from the side lines, were now looking up at the cook as he pulled out a pack of smokes. They watched him light up the stick of tobacco, take in a long drag and exhale. "Can you guys go fill in the girls. I'm sure they'll be thrilled with the circumstances." A weak smile spread across his pale lips, "I'd accompany the lovely lady's myself.. But I'm a little under the weather at the moment." The two looked sincerely at the man and without another word left to inform the girls.

Upon walking through the door they were met with complete darkness. Flipping the switch the room flooded with light. The first and most prominent thing they noticed was a thick trail of blood that lead up to a table that looked like it was straight out of a horror movie. Avoiding the frightening liquid, they hurried to the bed on the far side.

They laid him down on the previously rummaged bed and pulled the single blanket that remained over sleeping man. Luffy fluffed the two identical pillows to ensure that his friend is comfortable as possible to ensure a fast recovery. Chopper let out a huff up anxiety while he wiped whatever sweat remained on his brow. Zoro never ceases to amaze the two, they wore a slightly uplifted smile as they looked of the peacefully sleeping man once more.

The pair decided to leave the man to rest and inform the others about the fantastic news. They turned to face the door and took a good long look around the now lit room. Blood splatters coated the walls running down the wood grain. Thick puddles coated the floor and trailed to the door, spreading out wider and wider.

"What happened here?!" Luffy exclaimed frantically. He's seen Zoro's blood on more than a few occasions. Fatal wounds that would of no doubtably killed any normal man. Zoro was, in a way to Luffy almost like a role model. He was strong, of course Luffy was extremely powerful as it was, having a devil fruit after all exceeds the humans' limitations. But that's the thing he was human, a human with one of the strongest wills he's ever come across. Sure he was the captain and Zoro has always proved his loyalty and devotion to him and the crew.

But this... this is as if a bloody murder had taken place. Chopper refused to look at the scene longer then he has to. "I don't want to let this happen ever again. Even though somehow, some way Zoro managed to come back. It's a miracle and yet I never want anyone to be in this situation and suffer like this again."

The little doctor said in an emotional tone sitting on the chair adjacent to the bed a grin of relief was painted on his short muzzle. He averted his eyes from the injured man to his captain who was lost in thought. "It's a mystery" he finally answered.

"You don't suppose he remembers what went on in here do you?" Luffy asked raising an eyebrow and occasionally stealing glances between his calm first mate and the blood splatters decorating the walls and floor.

"Whose jacket is this?"