Hi everyone,

I'm SO SORRY for being so late, but the school is really hard and it was difficult to find the time to write. But don't worry I won't drop the story, I love it too much to leave it undone. I'll try to get the new chapter done and out as fast as possible.

Anyway thanks for the supportive reviews. I hope you'll continue to review, it gives me motivation. Enjoy the new chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

Chapter 10

As Sehyr looked back at the picture, he frowned deeply, biting his bottom lip.

'Shit! Why now of all times...'

Futashi led them through the giant mushrooms for almost half an hour now. They were probably headed to his base or somewhere near it. He called his men via mini den-den snail and sent them to guard the ship, before guiding the crew and Savannah away.

Robin looked around at the huge shining funguses. 'Hmm... I wonder what these mushrooms are, I did not hear nor do I remember reading about it. It looks old... like it's been here from ancient times. Didn't Navigator-san say this area should be covered by forest?' her eyes went wide as realization struck her. 'Oh! If that's the case...then these are...'

Nami seemed to be wondering about the same thing.

"Paja-san, can I have a question?" after he nodded she continued. "What are these mushrooms? According to the map of the island I was going through we should be in the Norden Forests by now."

The never-dying grin on Futashi's face widened. "Well Nami-chan, we already are in the woods. Norden Forests are made of these luminous things."

Nami gawked at him. "No way! It wasn't on the map, it wasn't even mentioned!"

"AMAZING!!" Luffy, Chopper and Usopp had stars in their eyes, looking around in astonishment.

Zoro just barely registered the chatter around him. His headache was killing him. It felt like having a knife stuck in it. He shivered as a wave of pain rolled over him. He took deep breaths. His lungs felt heavy, stiff and he felt feverish. The heat was almost unbearable...

There! Again! He could swear he felt something move in him. It was coming from his very core, from the depts of his soul.

But the worst thing was how it made him feel.

It was like all the fever and pain was a sand, scattered all throughout his body and the thing was like a water that washed the send away, bringing relieve, but also dullness and nothing at all.

He knew he shouldn't but it was tempting him to leave it be, leave it spread.

The pain subsided ant the thing disappeared to wherever it crawled out of when he felt a hand on his shoulder, pulling him out of it. His head and gaze shot up expecting hot chocolate but was surprised to be met by baby blue.

The cook had a hard but worried look in his eyes.

"Hey, you sure you're okay Moss-head?" asked Sanji, sqeezing his shoulder.

Zoro blinked a few times before shrugging the hand off.

"Yeah, sure Curly, why shouldn't I be?" he barked and continued on, as the group left them a bit behind, not noticing the exchange.

But the piercing gaze in his back never left.

"Here we are!" exclaimed Futashi as they reached a... meadow (?)... and stopped there. In the middle of the mushroomless space was a large horse-drawn carriage from oak and white canvas as a roof, with two large black horses in the front. The canvas was decorated by swirly black ornaments on its eadges and top. On the front side of the carriage were two lanterns, each in one corner.

Nami smiled. "Paja-san, is this the matter we talked about via den-den back then?"

"Yes," Futashi smirked back, "and when you look inside I'm sure you're gonna be pleased as I prepared the instruments too."

Everyone - except those two - stared in confusion.

Instruments??

Zoro had a goosebumps ran over him which had nothing to do with his previous fever.

They came closer to the carriage and peeked inside.

Brook laughed happily at the sight; Luffy, Chopper and Usopp shrieked with stars in their eyes once again; Savannah guffawed heartily; Franky grinned "suuperr"; Robin chuckled and Sanji with Zoro paled as ghosts.

So this is the Great cover Nami planned, huh...

There inside the carriage along with food suplies, blankets and other things needed for traveling was a portable piano, a pair of guitars, violin, three drums of different sizes from huge to small, a lot of strange but simple black clothes and right next to it was one big, very suspiciously lookind bag.

Nami was still grinning from ear to ear as she turned to them and gestured to the instruments. "Well guys, this is my cover plan. We are going to be itinerant musicians!" she stated her smile widening - if that was even possible. "I asked Savannah-chan what is the most common profesion in Amaya, that considers a lot of traveling and no one really pays attention to it. She recomanded me this and some others. I gave it a thought and in the end picked musicians. Yes, it is true that musicians attracts a lot of attention, but that is only when their playing and it's more the music that matters to people then the musicians themselfes. Also there's a lot of itinerant artists, no one will remember us in the end. And besides, isn't it how they say: 'The greatest darkness is usually right under the lamp.' ?"

"Yohohohooo! That's so briliant!" Brook was obviously in heaven seven.

"Briliant indeed Navigator-san." Robin giggled softly.

"Nami-san is just the best!" Sanji swooned, but the paleness hadn't left his face.

Savannah couldn't stop laughting. "Oh god... I wasn't expecting you to pick this one... This is so perfect!" she exclaimed holding her stomach.

"W-...W-w-what part of this is p-perfect !?" Zoro stuttered, paling even more.

"Aw, you surely are not scared, are you Zoro?" Nami was soo~ enjoying this. "Don't tell me you're shy to show your skills."

"Are you mocking me, sea witch!? You know I can't play on any of them!" Zoro's shock changed to anger, gesticulating wildly.

Nami snickered. "Oh don't worry, not all of us will play these. We have only seven instruments and the drums will be used by one person. The others will stay in the carriage or hotel we'll be staying at, or they will go through the town, or whatever."

Zoro - and Sanji - sighed in relieve. So that's how it is. He doesn't need to perform, he can go to the town and resuply or something. Fuh and here he was all worried...

Suddenly he felt chills that interupted his thoughts. Nami's smile hadn't fell one bit. Bad omen.

"Oh, no no no - not so quickly Swodsman-kun." she purred, waving her index finger from side to side as if scolding a child caught in the fridge at 0:30 in the morning. "Yes I know you're helpless with guitar or piano or any other of these. But I somehow had an... opportunity to hear a beautiful~ voice, singing in the crows nest numerous times, and I'm fairly positive the hair in the window were as green as only one of us can have..."

Everyone stared at her greatly surprised. Zoro's eye went as big as a dinner plate and he looked as tho he's going to collapse anytime now, making Chopper freak out. Savannah just laughed hard again, patting him on the back.

As Zoro tried to get the grip of himself, his only thought was : 'What the hell have I gotten myself into...'

As they changed their clothes and got onto the carriage, Franky and Usopp at the front leading the horses, Futashi bit them a farwell, saing he had a lot of work to do. Everyone was sad he was not going with them, but they understood.

"I too am very disappointed that we have to part, especially after meeting the young master Zorodom, but as I said, I have some urgent matters." He came closer and turned to Zoro, his eyes gentle. "It was good meeting you after all these years. It's great how handsome and strong young man you've become over the years." He caressed Zoro's cheek once again.

Zoro smiled genuinely, putting his hand over Futashi's. "You too Naki-san, really great to see you haven't aged a day."

Futashi laughed heartily and took Zoro's hand in his, his gaze turning serious. "Please be careful Zorodom. It's still only a conclusion, but Sehyr might not be the only dangerous guy that will go after you might you get revealed." Before Zoro could ask anything, he continued. "I'll pray for your safety - all of you."

With a kiss on the back of Zoro's hand he backed up, turned 'round and left.

As the carriage moved on and the "musicians" chatted, the only thing on Zoro's mind for the next few hours was '...what the hell did he mean 'Sehyr's not the only one...is there someone else? Or was Naki-san talking about one of Sehyrs guys?...' he looked at the light provided by the mushrooms his sight unfocused. "What the hell's going on..." he whispered quietly.

to be continued...