Hi there,

me babling once again. (Idk if someone even reads these, but still...)

Thank you Monkey, for the nice review, made me work faster.

This can be a bit boring story so far, but do not worry, there will be an action soon. Also I have a great twist planned so...

Anyway, here's the new chapter, enjoy reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.

Chapter 11

"What the hell's going on..." he whispered quietly.

Sanji didn't like it.

And what?

Well, obviously, the baka-marimo, though not in the usual way. The idiot was obviously sick.

Back then on the way to the... meadow (?)... he was walking slightly behind the algae and noticed him trembling - and do not misunderstand, it's not like he would ever admit to observing the marimo long enough to notice that! Well anyway...He called out to him, but the baka wouldn't even recognize Sanji until he touched his shoulder and when he did, Marimo flinched as though something hot touched him instead.

And come on, maybe some stranger would be decieved by his excuses, but Sanji was not a stranger. Zoro was his rival, his nakama, his brother. They could be always fighting over every little thing, but the swordsman was the one Sanji was the closest with, and he would be damned if he couldn't even recognize when his brother was suffering.

No, Sanji didn't like it.

They were on their way through the huge shining mushrooms - Sanji was curious if he could cook them - to the town Nami-san mentioned - Koluka. Everyone agreed that Brook was the best one to decide about all their abilities regarding the instruments. He was currently allocating them.

"First of all," he began enthusiastically, "I would like to play the piano. Though I could play on anything, I prefer it this way if you do not mind."

After they shook their heads, he laughed and continued.

"Yohoho! Great! And then I would like to ask Yoru-san. Can you play on an instrument?"

She blushed a little, but smiled and nodded. "I can play on violin and piano."

Brooks bony sneer pulled up into a smile. "Yohohohoho! Awesome! You'll take the violin then milady." With her blushed nod as an approval sign he went on.

"I know Franky-san can play the guitar along with Usopp-san so I leave those to you."

"Suuuperrr leave it on me!"

"Sure thing."

Brook laughed. "Yohoho! My heart's fluttering with excitement! Oh, but I have no heart. Yohohohohoooo!"

No one really cared at this point.

"And last but not least, the drums. It would be wonderful if they are played by a lady so Robin-san I would like to leave that on you."

Robin smiled and nodded. "I'd be happy to do so. I've played on drums before and I'll try to do my best." she added remembering the occasion.

"How wonderfull of Robin-chan, you truly are an angel. I'm sure you're going to be outstanding with the bongos." Sanji swooned, but even tho Robin smiled at him thanking him, she internally frowned. Sanji's response wasn't as enthusiastic as usual, with much less amount of tiny hearts. He seemed to be lost in thoughts, shooting occasional glances to the slender figure sitting at the back of the carriage, it's legs hanging over the edge, the green hair hid in black hood of a coat, equally in his own world. Something was off, and Robin had a bad feeling about it.

The day ran by quickly. The group made a few stops to take a break and eat something. Sanji made fire with the tools from Futashi and made simple meals for everyone and a dessert for the ladies.

All throughout the breaks Zoro stayed mostly quiet, sitting on the ground, looking ahead dumbly lost in his own world, almost not talking at all. From time to time he looked like he was in pain, trembling slightly, sqeezing his bowl, but as he closed his eyes shut and took deep breaths, after a few seconds it has gone as fast as it came. Chopper seemed to notice, as he came to Zoro a few minutes ago to examine him, but the Marimo-baka made an excuse and sent the reindeer away - tho gently as not to insult the doctor.

Sanji sqeezed his own bowl of food, it was unnerving him. He put the bowl down, and was about to stand up and go over to the Green headed idiot when someone got ahead of him.

He watched as Savannah-chan sat down beside Zoro, took his hand sqeezing it and smiled kindly. As Marimo looked back and smiled a small smile too, Sanji settled down, picking up his bowl, proceeding to eat.

Though he didn't mean to snoop, Sanji glanced at the two a few times. They looked serious as they talked. In the end Savannah-chan seemed to have grabbed something from her pocked and gave it to Zoro, and with a few final words stood up, and returned to her previous spot beside Nami. Zoro looked into his hand for a minute before shoving it into his own pocket and eating once again. Despite looking a bit better, his tremble still didn't stop. Sanji frowned.

He definitely didn't like it.

After they finished eating they tried the instruments out, each of the "musicians" playing a few tones and then a song Brook gave them.

"You're wonderful with the violin, Savannah-chwaan. You really are an angel. And Robin-chwan too, spectacular." Sanji noodle-danced from one beautiful lady to the other.

"Oh, thank you Sanji-san."

"You're too kind Cook-san."

"The kind ones are you my goddesses, you bring light into this world." Sanji sang, his whole body making wavy movements.

Zoro watched him with despite. "Calm down Ero-Cook. Are you an algae? Besides, I'm pretty sure the light comes from the mushrooms, Curlicue." he muttered, pulling one eyebrow up.

The dartboard of a brow twitched in irritation. The Cook turned to him with fire in his eyes. "Who's an algae here, huh!? Sorry Marimo, but even if I wanted to have it, the title is inevitably yours by nature."

Zoro growled and touched Wado's hilt his body tensing, the pain from fever long forgotten as the Cook lifted his leg.

And they would've started another of their fights, if it wasn't for the fist hitting the backs of their heads.

"Now, now idiots." Nami said annoyed. "Calm down, we have a long way ahead of us and I'd like to be in Koluka by tomorow morning, so stop wasting time and pack up our things."

"Yes Nami-swan, as you wish!" swooned Sanji hearts all around him.

Zoro just looked to the side pouting, murmuring something about "sea-witches" and "helpless ero-curlies".

When everything was packed they set off once again. Zoro sat on his spot at the back of the carriage, away from the others. He was feeling tired, phisicaly and mentaly. His eye ached as he fought to keep it opened, failing eventualy. It's eyelid slowly closed, the swordsman's mind drifting off to sleep.

"Kenshi-san, Brook-san told me to give you this for you to-" Robin stoped in the middle of her speach with a paper in her hand, noticing the man's snores.

Robin smiled a small smile. She put the paper in his pocked carefuly. Then she lifted a blanket and came over to the sleeping beauty, covering him up.

The others observed it and grinned fondly too. Zoro could think or say whatever he wanted, he was just so cute while asleep.

Uno stood at a clearing after listening to a report from one of her spies, going through several pictures spread out on a stump in front of her. Apparently, the ship disappeared and the group they were after was headin' to Koluka. It was true their main target was the damn long lost prince, but his company was too dangerous to let be. They need to be eliminated. And Uno would bet milion berry they were headed to the capital, given who was traveling with them.

And come on now, these were The Strawhat Pirates they were talking about, she knew the moment they sent her a picture of the ship's jolly-roger. The guys did this "save the kingdom" thing a few times before. So if they were headed to the capital, in the end, if they weren't stupid they would end up going through Tiger Claws. And that was were she would go and wait for them.

But there were just too many 'ifs'. If she didn't guess right and they would escape her, or even worst, fall to the hands of Jabari she would be in deep shit.

That's why her squad will separate in two. The first group, led by her partner Taki will go to Koluka as fast as they can and observe the pirates, possibly try to catch the main target if she was wrong.The other, bigger group led by her will be headed to Tiger Claws and will set the trap.

Uno smirked contently. 'Yes, this is what we'll do.' Then a disturbing thought hit her. 'Fuck... as I myself said a second ago, this are Stawhats we're talking about, they're strong. Taki is indeed strong too, but will he be able to beat them all if it comes to it? Will we be able to?...hahaha, what a stupid question. What am I so nervous about? We will be able to, but it'd be better of we did so together. Together we're stronger, unstopable, so..."

She turned around and looked at her squad, murmuring. "Should I go with them and end it quickly? We can just-"

"That won't be unnecessary, Uno."

Uno gazed up at the man she just had in mind.'Talk about the devil...' "And what gives you the confidence, Taki?" she asked doubtfully, puting her hands on her hips.

Taki smirked demonly, his eyes glowing red. Uno shivered. Yes, they were partners, but that was just the function. In the matter of strength, he might have been even stronger. Plus, he was there longer then her - when she came to Sehyr, Taki was already working for him. He saw and knew things she didn't. She didn't like him. Even though he didn't look like it, his mind was twisted in a wrong way. He was unpredictable.

He came closer, lookin at the stump full of photos. "You are rarely wrong Uno-chan so there's a huge chance my going there won't even be unnecessary. And even if it was, you do not have to worry. I need just the 'heir ', not the rest. I have my ways of sepparating him from the others."

He took one of the pictures she was looking at - one with the green headed young man they were supposed to catch. Taki's grin widened. He caressed the man on the picture licking his lips, something perverse glowing in his eyes.Goosebumps ran over Uno's skin once again.

"Besides," he whispered, chuckling, "this cute little eye-candy won't be in a very good shape when I get there, will he..."

to be continued...