The metal caught him harshly across the jaw, but as he fell hard onto the ground Sanji made no effort to get up. He was already sporting bruises all over his arms and his face, and he felt a warm stream of blood trickle past his chin as her heel pressed deep into his spine. Hearing something crack and feeling a jolt of sharp pain, Sanji let out an involuntary yell of pain.
"Pathetic." She said, shaking her head as she pressed the end of the twisted metal bed-frame against the back of the model's head with sharp jabs, "Astoundingly pathetic."
"Nami-san," Sanji managed to say, but was interrupted by her piercing laugh. It was echoed by chortles from the surrounding crowd, who were obviously delighted to see someone who had been so strong before be beaten down by this girl.
Finally getting the sore muscles in his legs to kick-start, Sanji flipped himself out of the way of a swing aimed to his skull, landing with an unsteady stagger that instigated another round of laughter.
He desperately looked at her. Her eyes were the same hazel-brown, but they held none of the quality that could melt his heart but instead glittered with a cruel satisfaction. Her hair was still orange, still long, but the single lock of hair that Nami usually failed to tuck behind an ear was swept back. And her lips were not in its usual line of exasperation or even in its occasional smirk of rich enthusiasm, but pulled back in a wholly unfamiliar smirk that pronounced arrogance and vindictive pleasure.
This-- isn't the weird lost soul thing Kale was going on about, is it? Sanji thought, disblievingly staring at her, and steeled himself to demand, though his tones sank from forceful to pleading,
"Where's-- where's Nami-san?"
"Killing herself somewhere in me," She replied, giving a small shrug, "I honestly don't know."
Sanji tried to understand this. Nami-san is gone. This isn't her, but it's... it's her body. So I can't hurt her, no matter what. But-- but how do I bring her back?
"Sanji-kun." Sanji's head snapped up, his eyes widening, but his heart plummeted as he saw her mocking eyes and smirk before she laughed and sent him rolling onto the ground again with the bed-frame.
"Nami-san," Sanji called again, and she let out an ear-piercing screech of laughter.
"Give it up, pretty-boy! She's gone!"
With a cutting blow to his shoulder, Sanji felt it dislocate with an unpleasantly fleshy-sounding crack. The motorcyclers cheered as she kicked him unceremoniously, and Sanji bit his lip down hard to keep the pain from rising up his throat.
"She's not gone," He rasped, staring at her straight in the eyes and searching frantically, but she only laughed with that unrecognisable pitch once more.
Nami-san's not gone. I know it. Sanji fought hard to keep himself from crumbling; pain was exploding in every nerve in his shoulder, and he felt as though he was going to collapse from all the pain. But he couldn't allow himself to do that; not until he got her back again. Because you're all I have.
Because in this world, I only have two sources of true comfort. This life, my first years were painful. I was a runaway. I didn't belong anywhere. I felt I didn't have a place anywhere or for anything. But when I took up a job cooking... that was my only comfort. Because it felt... it felt right. And after so much of feeling like I was in the wrong place, I finally felt I found a home. Even if it was just cooking, it was something I felt in line with.
But I still felt a constant unhappiness.. something that told me that despite cooking, there was still something wrong. Something didn't fit. I would wake up from dreams I couldn't remember, and always feel something just out of reach. It was infuriating, painful... draining. I didn't know what it was, and I thought I'd never know. So my only form of comfort became cooking, see. Because it was only when I was cooking when I felt closest to that something.
And then I became a model. I had a desire to go to university, so I was willing to get the money to go to one. But what I didn't realise was that it would mean the sacrifice of my only contentment. Once I became a model, I couldn't cook in kitchens with white tiles, delicious scents or crisp white aprons. All of these things became impossible once I became famous.
I hate that word now. Because of fame, I confined myself to cooking at the dorm. But it was never the same. I could never reach that same level, that same closeness to fulfilling the indefinable emptiness in me. I thought all was lost; that I wouldn't be able to find what I was missing, to find what it was I was looking for.
And then, I saw you. I don't know if you remember, Nami-san, but I was looking for a book to write an analysis for Literature in the GLU library. I sat down with a random one, opened it, and looked across the table and saw you. And though it was only for an instant, I felt completely at peace, at ease. There was just something so-- so warming about the way you were smiling with Vivi-chan, and I couldn't stop staring. Not only are you beautiful, see, but you radiate something so wonderful I can't describe just how fulfilled and satisfied I feel when I just look at you.
But you took one look at me, and you immediately had this-- this look of pain, of guilt. And you avoided me in corridors, in the library, at the kiosk and canteen. Just getting to know your name was hard enough. I didn't know why you were so determined to not look at me, but I was determined to know you. Because being near you was enough to make me gratified.
There's just something about you, Nami-san... and you became someone just so much more important than cooking, or modelling, or even living. It was like this even before in our past life, remember? That was why I died in your place. You were, and are that important to me.
Once I discovered others that felt the way I did, my emptiness filled. But there is still an emptiness. It probably has to do with not being in the dimension we belong in, but I also know it has to do with you, Nami-san. All the times you pushed me away, I would always try and run back to you. And when I couldn't help you, I'd feel torn and helpless. So this emptiness I still sense deep in me-- it has to be you, Nami-san.
Because... I-- I feel so selfish and narrow-minded to admit this, but truth be told, I realised what I was still missing. It was you. I realise now that being near you, simply being able to see you-- it just isn't enough. I want to be able to help you, and I want you to know that I care for you. And if I can't have that-- I think I might go crazy.
I was scared, Nami-san. I was scared I wouldn't be enough, scared I might do something wrong. But now, I realise I don't care. And I shouldn't have to care, because even-- even if my entire life isn't enough for you... I care too much to not do anything at all.
I'm not asking for you to care for me too. I just want you to know you're not alone. I'm just as lost as you are, and I want you to know that not just me, but everybody is here for you, so you can't feel alone. You don't deserve to feel alone.
So you see, Nami-san, you can't be gone.
Gritting his teeth, Sanji gripped his shoulder tightly. He shut his eyes tightly, and with a stifled grunt of pain, he twisted his shoulder back into its socket. Everyone let out a sharp inhalement of surprise, but the model was concentrating on her. She was looking at him indifferently, now wearing less of a smirk but more of a merely bored look.
Nami-san, if you were truly gone, it's-- it's just... it wouldn't be fair. At all.
Sanji's eyes flashed with pure determination as he strode over to her, and caught her wrist as she tried to land a sharp blow to the head. She let out a cry of pain as he twisted the metal out of her hand with a sharp jerk.
It wouldn't be fair to neither you or me.
"Get out of her." Sanji growled. She looked up at him in a mixture of anger and defiance.
"This is my body now!" She shrieked, trying to twist herself out of his grip, but he grabbed her shoulders and shouted, demanding,
"GET OUT OF HER!!"
She opened her mouth angrily, her eyes blazing, obviously prepared to scream something else, when something stopped her. Something in her jolted, and she let out a short cry of shock before letting out a screech of searing pain.
Sanji was looking at her, startled, when she opened her eyes. And the moment he looked into them, their eyes locked. The crowd of motorcyclers stared as the blonde held onto the girl tightly, staring into her blank eyes with empty eyes of his own.
"Look, I'm not a liar!" Zoro said exasperatedly, "I'm a swordsman, not a kung-fu or karate or whatever guy!"
"Sure," Tashigi said sarcastically, "First you say you're no swordsman after beating the crap out of a bunch of people like one. Then you say you're no martial artist after beating the crap out of another bunch of people like one."
Zoro looked like he was about to explode from the mixture of pure irritation, exasperation and frustration in his expression. Tashigi couldn't help but notice that despite her accusations, it did seem like Zoro was telling the truth.
His strength was unfathomable, and Tashigi wasn't sure whether or not to continue questioning it. He didn't look at all tired from his ordeal with Arlong, but she was still smarting painfully not just from the black-haired guy, but from Jenna's group, too. Her wrists hurt and her entire body ached, but she was forcing herself to follow Zoro's pace.
How could he keep running so fast? She was extremely curious as to what Zoro Roronoah was truly capable of, as she had been in her previous life, too. Did he have any flaws? Well, he's strong, Tashigi mused to herself, but he's no genius in emotional quotient or people skills... Noticing he'd been silent for quite a while, Tashigi repeated, "Liar."
Letting out a noise of frustration he snapped, "That wasn't martial arts!"
"Then what was it?" Tashigi asked, scowling, and as he turned a corner before her, he replied,
"It was random beat-the-crap-out!"
"What the heck is random beat-the-crap-out?!!" Tashigi began to exclaim, when she smacked into Zoro's back for the second time that day as she turned the corner.
"Ouch," She muttered, and Zoro said in a light voice,
"We've got company."
It was gradual. Bit by bit, the darkness was swallowing her. Soon, it would dissolve her into nothing, and Nami knew she was quite prepared to welcome non-existence. The inky blackness felt cool and assuring, and she was ready to meld into it.
Forget her pain and suffering and all the rest of it. She didn't want it anymore. She'd never been strong enough for this kind of thing, and she wanted to get rid of it. Her soul was somewhere close, and she thought she could distantly listen to its soft sobs, but she didn't care.
This is why I didn't want to let Sanji know me, She thought briefly with an empty smile, I didn't want him to know this selfish side of me...
She felt herself sink lower into nothingness, and felt it swirl around her, grab at her with icy fingers. She was about to let go of thought altogether, when she heard him.
GET OUT OF HER!!
A pain proliferated and infiltrated the cold darkness, and a fire of pain exploded from deep within her. The enveloping of the darkness shuddered to a halt as she let out a sharp cry, and she heard quite plainly her own soul call out desperately, Sanji-kun!!
Alvida's ear-piercing, pained scream practically shattered Nami's nerves; she forced herself to open her eyes, and saw Alvida's soul staggering towards her, wading through the darkness on her short stubby legs.
You gave yourself to me! What are you doing?! She shrieked, her small piggy eyes ablaze with anger. Nami's soul let out a snort of indignance.
You're the one who took advantage of my confusion. Once I can fully accept who I am, I'm out of this stupid darkness. You can forget taking this body, you fatso!
Quivering with rage, Alvida stumbled over. Her rage seemed to be solidifying the gloom, and Nami found it no long just darkness, but an ice-cold liquid that seeped into her bones, choking her.
NO ONE DEFIES ME, AND NO MEASLY LITTLE GIRL'S SOUL WILL, EITHER!! She screamed, her eyes positively bulging, and Nami's soul screamed back,
Well, this soul WILL!!
Then another voice echoed through the darkness.
Nami-san!! Where are you?!
She instinctively turned, and her eyes rounded in surprise. Sanji was wading through the murkiness, looking desperately for her. He looked straight at her, but he didn't seem to be able to see her.
Nami-san?!
I'm here! Nami shouted, anger edging her voice, What are you doing here? Get out! Sanji made no reaction whatsoever, his eyes searching through the gloom.
Nami-san?!! He called out again, and Nami's voice sounded, but this time, this was of her soul's voice.
Sanji-kun, I'm here! I'm over here! To Nami's immense shock, Sanji immediately turned to the voice and saw her soul.
Nami-san! Hold on, I'll get you out! What was going on?! Nami stared as the blonde tumulted through the black, squinting at her soul. Why on earth couldn't he see her?!
The darkness grew raucous as Alvida let out a wretched screech, and giving a scared look, Nami's soul was devoured by the inky black. NO!! Sanji yelled, and dived down into the dark. Alvida began to laugh horribly, watching with glee, and Nami stared at where Sanji had dived. Then she slid into the murkiness after him.
She could see her soul, sinking deeper into the depths of the darkness. However, she was starting to fade out of sight. Nami knew immediately it was because her soul was far too weak to withstand the high pressure the darkness was giving. The gloom was ready to properly dissolve her away, and her soul was fighting a losing battle. Nami, however, had the strength to kick down.
She saw the blonde look desperately around for her soul, and catching sight of her fading colour he kicked hard after her. But he saw her luminance ebbing away, and he let out a desperate, muffled shout.
NAMI-SAN! Nami swam close to Sanji, right into his vision, but he saw right past her.
Why can't he see me?! She thought confusedly, and he swam right through her, as though she were air. Wha--?!
Then it hit her. He can't see me because he only sees my soul! Of course. Because she's the one he knows.
I'm the one who doesn't understand everything, the one that is denying everything. I'm the strength my soul needs, but because of my denial, my soul hasn't got it. My soul knows what the suffering is for, what it's like. I was scared... too afraid to find what this was all for. It was so strange, so empowering... the sudden twist of logic and reality completely overthrew me. Maybe because that's who I am. I'm the stability of the Going Merry, after all...
This thought stunned Nami for a split second. Deep down, I know who I am.
She watched Sanji fight back despair as her soul began to flicker out of sight. Nami-san!!
I... guess I'm just afraid to accept the fact that I... I really had all these people. Who all care about me. Especially Sanji-kun... I don't believe I deserve to be liked this much. I really don't... especially if it's because of who I used to be... and in my last life, I was alone for so long, I always just took Sanji for granted... and when he died for me... I don't believe I'm worth his life.
Because maybe... just maybe... this emptiness still within me has nothing to do with disgust or hatred at Sanji-kun or the fact I have another life to go back to. Maybe it's the fear that I'm not worth anything at all... so I'm not worthy to be living.
But maybe... just maybe... I'm supposed to live up to what other people. Maybe I should try to start being someone worthwhile saving, someone actually worth liking... because people believe I deserve to be someone like that. But even so, what I can't?
Perhaps that's what the fear is... that I won't be able to do what others expect of me. Luffy wanted me to stand up and be strong. Zoro wanted me to be someone trustworthy. Usopp wanted me to be someone he could depend on as a friend, and Sanji-kun just... just wants me to be me. But I didn't succeed in any of those things, did I? I became weak. I crumbled when everyone needed me. And now I'm not even myself because of my denial.
So is this fear... a part of me that afraid to face everyone because I've failed to live up to their expectations? Nami stopped kicking after Sanji, staring at her soul in shock. Then why is my soul so determined to return? What does my soul understand that I don't? How did my soul survive after that ordeal with Arlong, when I betrayed everyone?
Her soul disappeared from sight, and Sanji let out a choked cry. Nami saw, to her immense shock, tears fall from his eyes. Don't give up!! He yelled, his voice breaking as he searched for her desperately, Please don't give up! I'm not giving up, so come back, Nami-san, please--
He roughly wiped away at his eyes before shouting, You can't be gone! It doesn't make sense if you're gone!! Sanji stopped swimming, floating in the darkness as he stared after the gloom, and his expression grew listless. He gave a dry sob. Nami-san.
Sanji-kun, I'm right next to you! Nami called out frantically, but Sanji put his head in his hands. There seemed to be a powerful grief that was overwhelming him as he whispered,
Nami-san...
Nami stared at him, unsure of what to do. What was she supposed to do? She couldn't let Sanji stay. She saw the darkness was rather attracted to Sanji's grief, and felt a rising panic in her as she realised Sanji's soul might be devoured if he didn't do something quick.
Sanji-kun!! She screamed, but he made no move. Instead, he began to mumble.
You can't be gone, damn it. I didn't get to tell you anything. I didn't get to make you know, make you understand... He shook his head sharply as he said angrily, I didn't get to tell you that even if you-- if you're unsure, or you're afraid-- or even-- even if you fail, or you disappoint-- it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter, damn it! Because you're not alone!
He suddenly gnashed his teeth together as he shouted into the darkness, We're here for you no matter what! Remember you're our partner, and we're not letting you go no matter what stupid mistakes you make! We don't care because you're Nami, don't you get it?!
Nami stared at him, her mouth slightly open. He didn't use a suffix.
Nami... He looked at the blackness, despaired, but Nami had heard what she had needed to hear. And she swam through, kicking powerful past the darkness, and groping through the murkiness she found her soul's arm, and yanked it towards her.
I'm ready to become myself again! I know who I am now, okay?! Nami cried out, and her soul's eyes opened before smiling at Nami.
I took long enough. And taking Nami's hand, there was a sharp flash of light and Nami was her soul again. Determined, Nami looked up through the gloom, and saw to her horror the darkness extending its inky tendrils towards Sanji, who was now staring listlessly into space.
SANJI-KUN!! Nami screamed. His head jerked as he looked around, looking confused, and she kicked up, escaping the icy hands of the gloom. He saw her, and his eyes widened as he looked overjoyed.
Nami-san!! He exclaimed, and she grabbed his outstretched hand.
Rendel skid to a stop before a derelict building, panting heavily.
That's strange... the Angel Vibes are so strong now, but this place is completely empty...
Then she heard an excited shout, and a bunch of fearful cries of pain somewhere above. Jerking her eyes upwards, she noticed a commotion on the rooftop of the building beside the warehouse. The Angel Vibes were strongest there.
"Kale, what are you doing up there...?" She muttered as she entered the building, and kicking the fire escape entrance open, she began to ascend the staircase leading to the roof.
Sanji opened his eyes as Nami did, and she immediately stumbled away from his lack grip, clutching at her head.
"No! Stop it, stop it-- don't eject me, this is now my body, I--" She shook her head roughly, before she suddenly said loudly and clearly, "My soul's back now, so GET OUT OF ME!!"
Sanji saw the motorcyclers stare at each other, clearly confused, and took the chance to take them out as Nami began to regain control of her body. The multitude of bruises he had were not helping, but he felt energised. He easily kicked them into each other, swiftly dodging knives and batons, and slammed most of them into the ground, rendering them to an unconcious state.
He had just round-housed the last of them out of the way, when he turned around to see how Nami was doing, He gasped. Buggy's eyesbrow was twitching as he advanced at Nami with a long bladed knife in his hand, tightly clutching the handle in his gloved fingers. Hoping he wasn't too late, Sanji began to run towards them.
"GET OUT!!" Nami shouted, and with a cold, icy chill she finally got rid the darkness that had been plaguing her moments before, and extricated the snivelling soul completely. Nami gave a short shudder before opening her eyes, feeling refreshed.
"Sanji-kun, I'm back!" She sang out cheerfully, turning around, and then stopped short as she saw Buggy's large red nose looming towards her, a dangerous smile at his lips as the blade glinted.
"Welcome back, bitch," He hissed, and Nami's eyes darted to Sanji. Their eyes met, and without thinking twice, Nami ducked. Sanji called out,
"Oy, big fat red nose!!"
Buggy turned around angrily, opening his mouth to demand who had called him such a thing, and instead for a mouthful of Sanji's shoe heel. Buggy was thrown over Nami with enough force for him to hit the garage wall ten metres away.
"Nami-san, are you okay?!" Sanji asked worriedly, extending a hand, and Nami took it easily. Standing up properly, Nami smiled.
"Yeah, I'm back."
"Oh, what a relief! For a moment I thought you were going to go away or something. Really stupid of me, isn't it?" He gave her a sweet smile as he gave a nervous sort of chuckle. She looked at him thoughtfully, and struck by the unfamiliar, searching gaze her eyes held, Sanji went on, "That is, er, when I saw all that black goop, I thought you were really going to get sucked into it or something! So it's not you who I was worried about, it was the black stuff!"
He grinned at her, then frowned. "No, wait, that sounds wrong. I mean, I was worried about you, but I wasn't worried about whether or not you'd come back, I mean, I was, but it was the black stuff--"
He looked at where she'd been standing, and blinked to find she was gone.
"Nami-san?!" He shouted, and she grabbed his ear from behind. He let out a cry of agony as she yelled angrily,
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME I WAS WEARING LEATHER?!!"
"Er-- you look very sexy in it?" He tried hopefully. Glaring at him, she twisted his ear before walking off down the pavement. Sanji managed to blink the stars clouding his vision away before hurrying after her.
"Nami-saaaan, don't leave me alone!" He whined, and she rolled her eyes.
"Like you wouldn't follow me. So how'd you know where I was?"
Sanji's eyes brightened as he started to explain, when he stopped short, remembering a start. "Nami-san, I nearly forgot! Kale is missing."
Nami stopped walking to stare at him. "Luffy?!"
"Yeah, and I don't know where he went. He got kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?!! But-- but who would--?!"
"I don't know, Nami-san, honestly! Might have been those motorcyclers though... uhm, for revenge and everything. They're the ones who crashed the dinner-dance. Zoro is looking for him too, and some angel is looking as well, so..."
Nami raised an eyebrow before sighing.
"I guess we have no choice but to head back to GLU, then, huh?"
"Yeah."
They lapsed into a short silence before Nami suddenly slid her hand into Sanji's. He nearly stopped walking, his eyes widening as his breathing system seemed to malfunction. Her fingers tightened warmly around Sanji's, and she asked casually, "So tell me how you knew where I was."
"Oh, er, uhm..." Sanji swallowed, loosening his collar with his other hand, and steeled himself to pretend he was not holding Nami's hand as he began to speak in a ridiculous squeak. It was a while before he was speaking in his usual chatter.
Occupied in trying to hide the fact he was so nervous, he didn't notice Nami blush pleasantly, giggling silently at his extreme shyness.
A crowd of people were pooling from alleyways into the pavement Zoro and Tashigi were on. The two turned, only to find they were completely surrounded.
There was something peculiar about these people, however. They looked like the gang Zoro had just beaten up back at the building and from the park, but whereas some looked devillishly alert and bright, other people had eyes that looked empty, their mouths all sagging open and their movements slightly sluggish.
What was the main problem, however, was that every step they took seemed to make the ground vibrate, some of them causing cracks in the concrete. Tashigi licked her lips nervously.
"What's going on?"
"How am I supposed to know?! They looked hypnotised by the looks of it," Zoro muttered, thinking back to the incident in Usopp's village, and he realised they were closing in.
Clammy hands clamped onto his hands, twisting them back with enormous strength; he head-butted the one who had grabbed him, but another hand grabbed him, and another, and another... Their hands were horribly cold, their breath icy and shuddering. Some of them were smiling almost derangedly, many of them starting to giggle in a hiccupy sort of manner, their eyes rolling and their hands grappling blindly.
Thoroughly creeped out, Zoro tried to throw them off, struggling, and they began to let out piercing wails and shrieks. They sounded frighteningly excited, and the green-head let out a cross between a gurgle and a yell as they began to tear at him. He heard his shirt rip, and trying to see through the sallow-skinned people, he caught sight of Tashigi trying to fight them off.
Several of them had their hands clutching her throat; she was choking and kicking as hard as she could to no avail.
"Tashigi!!" Zoro managed to shout, and she tried to look at him, but she was completely distracted as someone tore her jacket off. Zoro angrily jabbed at someone's face; he felt teeth crack and managed to get out of their grip long enough to see Tashigi be completely swallowed by a bunch of people grabbing at her.
"HEY!!" Zoro yelled, "Get off her!!" Their faces turned to him, and Zoro noticed how terribly pale they all looked, some of them chewing their tongues and some of them smiling twistedly, some laughing in weird pitches and others simply staring at him gormlessly. Are they all zombies or something?!!
"Tashigi!!" He shouted again, and he tore through the mob of people, recklessly jabbing aimlessly as their cold and clammy hands grabbed at him. Finally, Zoro reached where he had seen Tashigi disappear, and threw the person strangling Tashigi off her. She let out a wheezy gasp as Zoro pulled her up, but he was suddenly pulled back with a powerful, pincer-like force at the small of his back. Twisting around, Zoro found three of them grabbing at him, their eyes haunting and empty as they gripped at his shirt.
He heard Tashigi scream before it was suddenly stifled, and turning sharply to look, his eyes widened, his jaw dropped. A person had grabbed Tashigi and his hand was plunged into her heart. There was no blood, however; it was as though she were made out of water, and he was simply reaching a hand into her. Tashigi began to struggle, making painful gasping noises as she tried to get away from the hand, but other cold hands were all over her arms and legs, twisting them out of the way.
Zoro stared as the hand suddenly wrenched something invisible out of her. She looked completely unscathed, the only thing torn being her shirt, but her eyes were expressionless. Blood was rapidly draining out of her face, and without warning, her eyes rolled back before she slumped over. The people seemed to be getting excited all over again, and screeching and laughing they grabbed at Zoro's arms and legs.
"What the hell?!" Zoro yelled, struggling mightily, but someone was standing before him, brandishing a hand and smiling eerily.
Suddenly, all the people began screaming. Letting go of Zoro, they clutched and clawed at themselves, shrieking in agony, before crumpling to the ground in unison. One of them was still stumbling about, however, panting heavily. It let out a long shriek, and Zoro thought he heard something like glass breaking; it let out another drawn-out screech before turning abruptly and bounding off. Stunned, it took Zoro a few seconds to realise the person was clutching a torn half of Tashigi's jacket. He's the one who stuck his hand in her.
Before he could properly process this information, he sensed presence behind him. Scrambling to his feet, he jerked himself round to find two people standing, both breathing heavily as they made their way towards Zoro.
"You okay?" One of them asked, panting slightly as he brushed sandy hair off his forehead.
"Er... yeah." Zoro asked, raising an eyebrow. The other one had a long braid of sky blue, and she was inspecting Tashigi as she spoke, not addressing her companion but Zoro.
"Demons got cut loose from the dimension Valandi Kriquelleif got banished to. Possessed a load of people here."
Zoro looked at them blankly before letting the light dawn on him. "You're angels?" He asked, and the other two nodded.
"Archangels. Dispatched from God Himself." They replied. The sandy-haired one was now heading towards Tashigi, and Zoro followed, trudging through the sea of people with slight difficulty as he asked,
"So what were they trying to do to us? Make us demon-posessed too?"
"Er, not exactly. They tried to kill you by sucking out your souls. Since Valandi Kriquelleif wants to destroy God's plans, he's after all the souls that were sent to different planets and dimensions. You know, all the souls from the worlds he managed to destroy before God banished him."
"Solare, I think they took this one."
There was something a bit too serious and ominous about the way she said it, and Zoro felt as though she'd pronounced sleeping was now a sin. Solare, the sandy-haired one, jerked as though he'd been electrocuted. "Are you serious, Luce?"
"Yeah," She said quietly, looking up sadly, "they took her soul."
"Wait a minute. What're you talking about?" Zoro asked, feeling a sense of some unexplainable dread creep up his spine, and both Archangels surveyed at him with irritatingly pitying looks.
"One of the demons took her soul out." Luce said sympathetically, "She's living, but she's empty. There's nothing in her. She can only sustain herself for a couple of minutes or so physically-- as in, she'll physically die soon from the lack of a soul." Zoro tried to understand this as Luce set a sympathetic hand against his shoulder, saying softly, "I express my sincere condolen--"
"Hang on." Zoro shoved the girl's hand off as his eyes narrowed, and he demanded, "Are you saying there's nothing you can do to get her soul back?" And though he hated himself for it, he instantly thought, God, don't do this to me again.
"It's sort of complicated," Luce said hesitantly, "Demons have this ability to remove souls from any body - human or not. Some Demons have vortexes where humans might have stomachs - vortexes that drag souls to places Hellish or just plain Empty."
Zoro sank down next to Tashigi, peering at her pale features and shallow breathing as he said quietly, "You mean a Demon just snatched her soul away? Whisked it to Never Never land, just like that?"
Solare huffed out his sandy fringe loudly, distracting the swordsman temporarily. God, give me patience! Solare prayed before looking disapprovingly at Zoro. "You're a mighty cheerful one, aren't you? Some Demons don't have vortexes residing in their stomachs. Those things only develop when they're old enough."
"What took this human's soul was a low-level Demon," Luce said softly, pressing her hand over Tashigi's forehead. She let out a low sigh as she whispered, "And even if we Archangels were blessed with Godspeed, - which I'm afraid we aren't - we have other missions to accomplish in the short time we're here."
The two Archangels rose to their feet and looked sorrowfully at Tashigi's fallen form before turning gravely to Zoro with the simple words, "We're sorry." Both Archangels started to turn around, and Zoro could see the translucent glow of powdery-white wings spreading from their back. A sudden urgency gripped him, and he called out - not recognising the desperacy tainting his voice -
"Wait! Is that it? Is there nothing you can do?!"
The Archangels glanced at him. Luce quietly stated, "I am serious when I tell you we haven't time to spare. Please don't keep us any longer... people die all the time. We have to go to prevent more of these deaths. Besides, death is simply another step mortals need to take."
"Yeah, but I'd rather this girl take that step when she's ready for it!!" Zoro snapped, but feeling himself flush unnaturally, he paused to check himself before continuing in a slightly calmer voice: "Besides, I don't mean you angels have to go. I'll go get her soul back. Just tell me how." Luce blinked in surprise, then looked at Solare for help. Solare scratched his head, sighing inwardly.
Some humans just don't know when to give up... but I guess that's what God loves about them. He suppressed a grimace as he thought, I suppose stubbornness is another attribute God considers blessed. Bracing himself, Solare decided to cut the chase and tell it bluntly.
"Listen. She's an empty vessel, and empty vessels don't last without an occupier. Human bodies just can't last that long with a soul to fill themselves; this girl's only got a few minutes before she dies! It's not like you could retrieve her soul from the Demon within the next five minutes. Even if you had the rest of the day I doubt ordinary mortal strength could match that of a high-level Demon's."
Zoro frowned. "I thought you said the Demon was a low-level one."
"Well, yes - but that low-level Demon's gone off to find a high-level one with a vortex for a stomach. If the Demon can't do it itself, it has to go get another one to do it, you see. Especially now, since they're under Valandi Kriquelleif's command to take all souls down to hell."
"High or low level Demon, I don't give a damn, to tell you the truth. I'm no ordinary human."
The Archangels exchanged glances that clearly stated, is this boy bananas? Zoro wondered for a second if he was bananas; sure, he liked a challenge, but even he had his doubts on whether it was wise to try to physically pound what could be classified as the meta-physical. But Zoro knew also that he prized his relationships with other people more than himself most of the time, especially when it came to protecting.
Because he had failed to protect someone before... he just couldn't afford to lose another one again. Especially another her. Knocking himself mentally for that last thought, he steeled himself to continue talking.
"Can't you let her live a little longer? Stall for time?"
"If-- well, if one of us is compatible with her, we can sustain her for an hour or two." Luce said hesitantly. One shot out of a million.
"Could you check it out?" Zoro asked, and Solare sighed.
"Fine, let's see what we can do here. Every mortal life does count."
Luce was already kneeling next to Tashigi. Taking her hand and closing her eyes, she shone a radiant white glow before dropping Tashigi's hand and heaving a sad sigh. "No where near compatible," Luce said, though Zoro noted there wasn't an ounce of surprise in her voice. Solare sat down across Luce and took Tashigi's other hand. He too, shone brightly for a short moment before opening his eyes to meet Zoro's.
Zoro's hope was shot down as Solare said in a sincere voice, "I'm sorry. I'm not compatible either."
"Is there no way, then?" Zoro asked quietly. Both Luce and Solare gave Zoro understanding looks.
"Look, the only way we could sustain her is if we could find a compatible soul or Angel within vicinity in the next... what... three minutes or so." Solare said, shaking his head. "This sort of thing... just sort of happens, I guess. Loss happens all the time."
"You'd better go find Kale." Luce said softly, and with that, the two Archangels began to spread their wings once more. Zoro stared after them for a moment, then brought himself to sit down beside Tashigi.
She looked so pale. Zoro bit his lip, looking at her breathing shallowly. He tried to ignore the fact the centre of her shirt had been torn open, and spying the other half of her torn jacket nearby, he slid it out of the person's loose grasp and draped it over her chest. Zoro noticed her glasses were severely cracked, and he slid them off, setting it next to her head.
Geez. Just moments ago, she'd been so bloody alive-- running aside him and snapping accusation, fighting against Kuroobi, crashing into him back at the staircase... Zoro tried not to think about the particular moment; scene-- whatever you wanted to call it. Zoro swallowed, looking at her. She looked so vunerable, it wasn't funny.
Damn it... Zoro gripped his hair with his hands, squeezing his eyes shut. I was just starting to understand her... she was just starting to be more confident in herself... so why...? His eyes flickered across her features, and he swallowed again. She looks so much like Kuina, too... and I swear that isn't helping anything...
Loss happens all the time... it's not like I don't know that. Losing someone once is bad enough, though, isn't it? To meet someone -- even if she is an insult to my promises -- to meet someone aspiring to the same goals Kuina couldn't accomplish... only to lose her again. God, are you some sort of sadist?
But that train of thought grinded to a halt before a warp of endless and pointless angsting, so Zoro backed up and tried to think practically. But everything met dead ends.
Letting out a frustrated growl, Zoro scruffed his hair up with his fingers. Damn it! Even if I catch up to that Demon with the other half of her jacket, those angels said I'd never make it back in time to give the body back its soul. So the problem here is time... wait... what if my soul is compatible with hers? No that doesn't work, I can't give her my soul because then I couldn't move, damn it, damn it, damn it!! There has to be a way-- Then his jaw dropped open. Of course!! Why didn't I think of this earlier?!
Bolting up, Zoro sprinted around the corner, and felt relief sweep through him as he spotted the sky-blue plait and sandy hair amidst the beating pairs of white wings. "Wait! Archangels!! Wait up!!"
Luce and Solare spun around, surprised, as Zoro yelled up at them, "Come back down!!"
"What is it?" Solare asked, looking concerned as he sank back down to the ground.
"I have a soul in me!" Zoro shouted. Luce had just followed suit of Solare when he said this, and she raised a brow sceptically.
"Uhm, we know that." She began, when Zoro interrupted irritably,
"No, no, that's not what I mean!" Taking a deep breath, Zoro said slowly and clearly, "I have another soul in me. As in, there are two souls in my body." This time, the glances Luce and Solare gave each other were looks of surprise and curiousity.
As their eyes drew back to Zoro's panting form, he stated, "This other soul in me-- she's definitely compatible with Tashigi."
A/N: Ano... uhm... do you all hate me? ;_;