Since now the quick preview does not recognize my separation for chapters, I have reuploaded the chapter for that. Now i have to replace all my other stories!
My Flower: Lilly
By: Kuroi Neko-kun
Summary: His own crew does not know his past but what if a part of it comes to them, with a secret that she tries to keep from the straw-hat boy?
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Wish I did. I DO own a Shanks figurine, which I treasure dearly.
Author's Note: This happens after the Arlong Arc. I mean we've seen everyone's past by now, why can't we see more of the hero's?
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Chapter 5: Sleeping Pills and Waking Skills
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Lunch was going to be great. Luffy had wondered how good Lilly could cook. After all his future Queen must be able to satisfy his belly. He waited at the table with the rest of the crew as the brunette came out with a tray of several bowls of noodles.
"It's been awhile since I made these so I hope you all don't die from it," Lilly said, laughing nervously. Titters of laughter ensued except from Zoro, of course. After knowing her plan, the green haired swordsman did not know whether he could still trust her or not. She winked at him as she placed a bowl in front of him. Everyone ate heartily, giving comments on the food. Lilly acted normally around them and somehow that irked the boy slightly. He ate silently, joined in some conversation for a bit. He could not look suspicious to his crew. And so they ate. And he watched them slowly enter deep sleep.
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"Did it bother you, Zoro-san?" Lilly asked as she placed Luffy's hat beside him. It cannot fly about while he was asleep. Zoro gave her a look before turning away.
"I'm about to lose all the trust they had of me," he said, sighing," It does bother me a little." She began stroking the sleeping boy's head, looking sadly at him.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled before turning to Zoro. She strapped her guns. "Let's go."
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They rowed a small dinghy to shore. Upon landing on the sandy shores, Lilly could not help but look back at the Going Merry and sighed. Her regrets were coming back to her and her guilt of involving Zoro was making it harder for her. But she knew there was no turning back.
"So what do we do now?"
"The cove is where they made headquarters. The only access unseen is through this jungle." Zoro did not question her knowledge of the island. He just followed as they walked into the jungle. After a few minutes, the two reached a small spring. Zoro washed his face before taking a deep drink from it but the sweet water could not comfort him as much as he wanted it to.
"Where to now?" he muttered.
"A bit more… There's a mount. Then, you can see their ship…" Zoro heard the familiar click of a gun. He turned to see the barrel of one of her smaller guns pointed at him. "You're not going to see it though," she muttered before shooting his leg. The swordsman grabbed his wound, gritting his teeth to bear the pain.
"Why did you do that?" Smirking, she holstered the gun.
"Because there can be only one death in all of this. Mine or that bastard's."
"Don't be stupid, Lilly…"
"I'm not. Luffy-kun wouldn't understand all of this… Right now, all I want is the taste of my own revenge…"
"That's where you're wrong!" Zoro shouted," you only want a peace of mind! Those guns protect you but knowing that man is loose still scares you to bits! Killing him would bring the greatest cure for it but you're afraid of losing Luffy…" He clutched the wound tight. "Lilly, a death is not the answer for this equation." Despite the reality of it all, Lilly smiled. She kissed Zoro full on the lips. "Don't do this," he whispered as they parted away.
"I thought the only man who cared about me was Luffy… Then Shanks saved me and you tried to. I'm unfit to be Luffy-kun's Queen," she said, hugging the swordsman," so tell him the truth once I'm gone…"
"What makes you think I'll let you go?" The smile turned to a smirk once more. Zoro felt his consciousness slip from him. Everything was blurring. "Lilly… That kiss…" He realized that she had slipped a sleeping pill into his mouth with the kiss.
"I'm sorry, Zoro-san. But you're the only person who can take care of him now." As Zoro dropped into the realm of unconsciousness, Lilly walked away.
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The act was over as the blonde opened his eyes. He pretended to eat, even though wasting food was not all the rage for him. But if this girl was about to go gallivanting around fighting mean pirates and killing them for the sake of revenge, she should have the man she really loves by her side for her sanity's sake. He kicked at the rubber boy who just rolled over. Sanji sighed. Why did he bother again? He shook the boy awake.
"Eh?" Luffy muttered," is dinner ready?" Sanji hit the back of his captain's head.
"Come on, we're going," he muttered, dragging Luffy along. He did not want to wake the others. This was something between Lilly and Luffy. Sanji was acting mediator and he sure hoped Zoro was too.
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Explaining to Luffy was hard for Sanji. The boy had the attention span and the mind of a five-year-old. So he kept the bits about Lilly's recent history out and told him that she was going to kill some pirates. Somehow the boy understood and was rowing faster. He knew that Lilly would be in danger if they did not hurry. Sanji bit his lip, wondering whether it was a good idea to leave Zoro's part out of the story as well. Luffy did not like being betrayed, even if the reasons were good. Like it was, Luffy had the mind of a kid. Betrayal meant being bad. So, they rowed. Sanji knew that he had to improvise when they crossed that bridge.
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Upon spotting the small boat, Luffy rowed faster, stopping once they reached shore. They followed the footsteps, knowing it was the only way to find Lilly… only to find that they had to enter the jungle. Great, just great… Sanji thought, taking a long drag from his cigarette. He looked around for some clue to which direction they had gone.
"Zoro…" Luffy muttered," Zoro followed her." Sanji realized that he was pointing to the ground. Zoro's boots caused a deeper and larger print in the jungle soil than Lilly's shoes.
"Yeah, you're right…" the cook muttered, not able to make anything else out from it. They followed the footsteps in the jungle.
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"Zoro!" Luffy shouted as he shook at the unconscious form of the swordsman. Slowly, he opened his eyes, wondering for a moment what had happened. Then he remembered.
"Lilly…" he mumbled.
"You got shot?" Sanji asked, pointing to the wound. The bleeding had stopped but the pain was still there. Zoro ignored him and gripped the rubber boy's shoulder.
"Luffy, go that way, once you see a mount, climb it and you'll see the ship… Lilly is planning to kill the captain of that ship. She might die." Understanding, the rubber boy got up and ran off the direction that Zoro gave, leaving the older men alone. Watching him go, the swordsman's vision blurred again. Zoro realized that the dosage Lilly gave him was a bit more than the one she gave to them. It could only meant that she planned on shooting Zoro. He clenched his fist, angry for being stupid and gullible. Sanji, brandishing a small knife, knelt down beside his injured leg and tore a piece of his sleeve.
"What are you doing?" Sanji ignored the question and tied a tight knot above the wound. He then heated the tip of the knife.
"Grit your teeth." He plunged the knife into the gunshot wound, hitting the bullet dead on. The knife came out, with the bullet stuck at the tip. Quickly, Sanji pressed the wound again as blood poured from it. He tore another part of his sleeve and tied a tighter knot on the wound. "Hold," he instructed as he got up. He washed his bloodied hands in the spring before turning to Zoro. He passed the swordsman a wet cloth.
"Aren't you going to ask me anything?" Zoro looked at the cook who lit another cigarette.
"There's no need to. I know why."
"You heard us," Zoro muttered before smirking.
"All you have to worry now is what to tell your captain. He thinks you followed her."
"I'll tell him what Lilly wanted me to tell him." Sanji looked at the swordsman," the truth."
"You think they need our help?" the blonde asked breaking a small silence. Zoro smirked.
"Give me a minute."
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