Nami stands up. "Quickly, take the book you want and let's leave before anyone sees us." Nami untructs. Sanji helps Zoro with the other books for Chopper and Usopp while Nami, Robin and Usopp ran over to their pile of books.
After everything is collected they ran out the room and down the hallway. "Split up?" Robin suggests.
Nami nods, "yup. See you at the Sunny." Nami says running in a different direction with Usopp, Robin in a different direction, and Sanji in another.
He stops when he sees that Zoro isn't by his side. He looks around but doesn't see her. He turns to the Sunny that's just a head of him. Then down at his hands with the books Zoro found. He took all of them from Zoro's hand when it seems she was having trouble. He can't risk going to look for her. She should be fine, she's not carrying a lot of stolen books like the others are.
Yeah, she'll be fine. This is Zoro. He's got nothing to worry about but he'll be anxious about it as he waits for her return.
Zoro ran and ran. How does Nami run in these things? It also didn't help that Zoro felt like she wasn't getting anywhere. She couldn't find herself out of the mansion. She knew it was big but even by then she would have found herself outside and looking for the Sunny.
Zoro quickly ran down the stairs hoping the exit will be found soon. As she got down the last step she felt her ankle twist and she fell with a shout. The family album she took fell out of her hands. "Ow." Zoro voices. She had learned how to wear heels that day so she knew something like this was bound to happen but she didn't know it would hurt as bad as it did. Where's Sanji when she needs him?
That thought made her pause in her attempt to stand up. Why is she thinking about him all of a sudden? But he does always seem to be there when she needs its. Or when it's convenient. She starts to blush. This is new.
"Do you need help?" Zoro looks up to see the old man that asked her to dance holding his hand out.
"Thank you." Zoro says taking it. He helps her stand up. She winces as she puts weight on her foot.
"Let me get you a doctor. That couldn't have been a pleasant fall." He says. Zoro looks around for the book but to the old man it look like a shake of her head. "What are you still doing here?" He asks, this makes Zoro flinch.
"I got lost." Zoro says her blush getting deeper. She would never admit it to one of the crew but the truth is better than lying, especially in this instance. The man just nods with a smile.
He leads her to a room where a doctor looks over her ankle. The shocked faces when they see her scar on her ankle made her wince. Man, they are really going to think something. No normal girl has a scar that bad on her ankle. "I found this on the floor the young lady fell around." A man dress in a penguin suit says, most likely the butler. He hands the book over to the old man.
"A family album." The old man says shocked. Zoro frowns, damn.
"Tha-" Zoro starts mind racing to come up with a reason.
"Why do you have my family album." The old man says. Family album?
"Your family album?" Zoro asks. The old man nods.
"Why do you have it?" He asks.
Without thinking Zoro answers, "I took it from the library." Zoro covers her mouth.
"It's just a sprained ankle be more careful when going down stairs in those." He says to Zoro who just slightly nods.
"Tell me you story." The old man says. It wasn't in a commanding tone but rather interest.
"I see. I thought that was it." He says. Zoro raises her head in shock.
"What?"
"Follow me. I think I might have something to help." Zoro stands and follows the old man through the confusing and same looking hallways to a door. They go in and Zoro sees it's a study. One big desk in the middle and in front of a big window. Books lined both sides of the wall. There are chairs and couches to make it more comfortable. Zoro stands there as she watch the old man walk behind the desk. He takes a key out from his pocket and unlocks one of the drawers of the desk. He takes out a big box and unlocks that with a different key. He takes out a book and hands it to her. "Here, maybe this will help." Zoro takes it and looks down at it.
"What is it?"
"I don't know. I can't read it but when my father retired he gave me these keys and a note saying that if someone comes with these two katanas," he shows Zoro a picture of Forte Cuore and Sterkur Hagarfur, "that I needed to give them this. And if I never do to make sure the next of head of the household knows too." He says. Zoro just stares at the book.
"Thank you." Zoro couldn't help but smile. So many people have been willing to help, which is unusual for a group of pirates but she still couldn't help but feel thankful.
"Here." He says handing her some more pictures that were in the box and other things too.
After that he escorts her back to her ship as a gentleman would do.
Sanji paced back and forth. He was worried about two things, the first is Zoro. So many things could happen when she's left by herself. And two is Nami, the longer they wait the more she gets agitated and angry.
Usopp and Chopper sat around the pile of books they stole looking through them while Robin sat, her and Nami already change into something more casual, with her own pile of books.
"Zoro!" Luffy shouts. Sanji stops and looks over to where Luffy is pointing. They all stand and go to the railing to see Zoro walking with her arm around an old man, in her other hand two books with papers sticking out. They seemed to be talking.
"Isn't that the man that asked her to dance?" Nami asks. Usopp and Sanji nod.
"Zoro danced?" Franky asks surprised.
They stopped a few feet away from the Sunny. Zoro turned to face the old man. "Thank you." Zoro said again.
"It's okay. I saw you while I was in town with the swords and I didn't know for sure if what the letter told me to was true. I honestly didn't think I would see them. And I had wondered how to bring it up so I didn't seem like a crazy old man." He explains. "Oh right before I forget. Here." He hands her an eternal log pose. But it had no writing on it to indicate the name of the island that it points to. "It was the last thing in the box and with you already carrying so much I thought I'd give it to you when we get closer to your ship." Zoro takes it. He then hands her another book, the last one from the box. She couldn't stop herself. She bowed.
"Thank you." She said for the millionth time that day.
"It's the least I could do." He says with a smile.
Zoro smiled her self. Then he saw her smile change it got more soft and caring. "My little brother raised his kids so well." Zoro says with a change in tone. The old man stared shocked. What she has just said. Zoro face chances again, more confident and a little rough looking. "Make sure to protect those you care for. I wasn't able to fully." Zoro looks away sadly.
"I will." He nods with a smile. He can't believe this is them. The lovers, the story that has been past down the family. Then he remembered the scar on her ankle. "Is that why you both took a liking to her? The scars?" He asks. Zoro smiles.
"Yes. The scars she has are the resolve she has, that she would be willing to do anything to protect the ones she loves. And she has at the own cost of her well being and almost life." Zoro explains with her free hand on her chest just over her scar.
"I'll do the same." He says. Zoro smiles at him.
They part ways. The old man feeling stronger than before. He had the urge to see his family and give them a big hug and lots of kisses.
Zoro landed feet first on the grass of the Sunny then she fell to her knees. Walking in heels is tiring.
"What happened?"
"Who was that?" Nami asks. Zoro only looks at them with a smile.
"That was the owner of the mansion. Nina's brothers descendant." Zoro explains. Zoro ramages through her pockets and takes out the log pose he gave her. "This is the next location. I don't know what we need to find on the next island." Zoro says. "But he said that these will help me." Zoro shows them the books.
"Alright. Sanji, Franky, Chopper do we have all we need or do we need to do a supply run?" Nami asks.
"No."
"No."
"I might need extra food." Sanji says.
"Get them in the morning. Immediately after we're leaving." Nami instructs.
Zoro smiled as she looked down at the books. She let out a breath. So this wasn't all a waste of time.
