A/N: I love all you reviewers! SOME structured criticism! I love it! Okay, I hope this chapter is up to your expectations, cause I've made this chapter longer…. the length, just to keep all you guys happy.… anyway… You might even want to keep a dictionary handy for this chapter…
Zoro: You're insane. You're going to end up killing yourself if you continue like this.
Hisoka B: And what does it mean to you? (twitching eyebrows)
Zoro: ………………………………
Hisoka B: Ahaha! The little one cares:)
Zoro: You fool, I care about what happens to this story, not about you in general.
Hisoka B: You know if I owned you………
Zoro: Sorry to stamp on your dreams, but you don' t own me. Back to reality you go! (Sly smirk.)
Keep in mind: "speaking" and thinking
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Blood Money
Chapter 4: Wild Weather
By Hisoka B
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The waters of the Grand Line were surprisingly comforting… even if Zoro had grabbed Nami when he had flung the duo overboard. Nami shook with bewilderment as the cold water hit her as she released herself from Zoro's grip. This shouldn't be happening, she told herself repeatedly as she watched Zoro swim towards her. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her demeanour before grabbing her arm from under the water.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Nami spluttered, tense from the warmth and close touch of his hand.
"I'm making sure you won't get picked up again by that asexual bastard," was his simple yet unenthusiastic answer as Nami continued and struggled to get him to release his grip on her.
"Well thanks for considering that, but I'm not weak," she growled, "Let me go!"
Zoro released her arm without an argument. He realised if he had continued the situation, Nami would have victory, for he would be the one accused of being perverse. A title he could not allow himself to have, even if he found Nami's squirming amusing.
That can't happen. Zoro thought as he turned his head hastily away from Nami to face the Simply Clear.
Captain Llydian and his crew were ferociously raising their sails, determined to make a quick getaway. Zoro smirked inwardly. It was almost shameful that such a weak and gutless crew had caused him so much trouble in rescuing Nami. Wait, he thought, better change 'rescue' into 'retrieve'. The word 'rescue' almost made him identify himself with the fact that he was Nami's hero, a title a bit more accurately suited to Sanji…
A sharp sting came from his right arm as Zoro realised the blood flow from the slash he had received from Llydian earlier had not stopped. The sea water will do that some good. Zoro decided to tend to wound later.
"Great…" Nami complained through gritted teeth, busily trying to steady herself afloat in the undulating blue waves. Nowhere close did she sound glad or thankful Zoro had just disrupted her experience of being aboard a ship run by a mad transvestite, but only because her thoughts were too crowded with confusion to allow any other emotion to dominate. "Just GREAT." She repeated again, this time rather loudly and directed straight at the green-hair coloured man struggling to stay afloat beside her.
"What?" Was Zoro's stern and almost irritated reply, Nami just didn't seem even close to being grateful…and somehow, it bothered him. "Is it because it's me coming to retrieve you, and not your beloved Love Cook that's making you so whiny?" Zoro paused after his words escaped his mouth… he had almost sounded jealous. The bad realisation was… he was taunting her for an answer of gratitude.
He didn't get one. Nami's face was unreadable before she growled even more.
"You moron! Who would care or think about that? I'm wondering how we are going to get back to the Going Merry!" Nami half lied. True, she was thinking about a way to return back to the Going Merry, but she was also thinking secretly about Zoro's 'rescue.'
Zoro sighed, "My raft should be around here somewhere…" He was beginning to worry about his katanas. Surely, being soaked in seawater would not be ideal for them. The sheaths could only protect them for a short while before the water would start creeping in.
"By saying 'raft', do you mean those pieces of wreckage over there?" Nami vaguely pointed to what was left of their getaway as Zoro nearly freaked.
"How!" Zoro demanded angrily. The maniacal and shrill laughter carried over the sea from the Simply Clear was the answer. "THAT WOMANLY FREAK!" Zoro snarled, certain that Llydian had ordered the pirate ship to deliberately plough its way through the raft while they the fools were fervently running away.
"Zoro, stop…" Nami found her way to the raging Zoro, as she tried to calm him down. "Chill out! We can still grab onto the remains of the wreck…"
He glanced at her edgily but accepted her idea as he started swimming hastily towards what is left of Sanji's original 'love boat.' "Hey wait!" Nami cried out behind him. Had he not realised he left her behind? Typical male. She thought crossly as she trailed after him.
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Vivi stared at the rapid movement of the waves quickly brushing against the sides of the Going Merry. Zoro had been gone for three days now, and still no sign of his return or a hopefully lovesick Nami by his side. Maybe I expected too much when I asked him to be the one who would go? The girl thought inwardly as she glanced at the other members of the Crew.
Usopp, Luffy and Chopper were still ferociously trying to beat each other in cards, and it was only Sanji who seemed to mention Zoro's endeavour. Not that any of the cook's musings were in a favourable light of Zoro, it was strange no one else seemed to mention Zoro and Nami's departure at all.
"I wonder if Zoro's rescued her yet?" She asked the group of three playing cards.
"Eh?" Luffy spoke, eyes having not riveted away from his hand. "Yeah yeah, maybe." Terrific answer. No one else could have put it better.
"Zoro's probably taking his time," Usopp added, "Luffy, do you remember when you sent him to rescue her before?"
"Ye, that time in Arlong Park."
Vivi's eyes widened, "WHAT? Zoro did WHAT?"
"He didn't do the best job of it though…" Usopp added as he remembered the events. But then again… I didn't do a better one either…Usopp started laughing nervously at his cowardliness… I can never admit it!
"He TRICKED Nami-san!" Sanji walked in with a plate of snacks. "Even though poor Nami-san was on Arlong's side at the time, he purposely flung himself in the water, just so Nami-san could rescue him! How low!" Sanji clenched his fists.
"Yeah that may be so," Usopp spoke softly as he shuffled the cards, "But he knew Nami enough to risk his life on it. That's what I call trust."
"All nakama trust each other." Chopper spoke reflectively.
"Of course." Luffy butted in.
"Argh," Sanji scowled as he placed his palms together, "just imagine, what if he's doing this-and-that to dear Nami-san now!" he spoke horrifically, "OH NAMI-SAN!"
Vivi could only sigh.
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"Why is this happening?" Nami wailed for the umpteenth time. She watched Zoro place one of his katanas on a piece of drift wood as he clung onto it protectively. Nami herself reached for a piece of wreckage, glad it was large enough to allow her to haul half of her body onto it. At least she was better off than Zoro, whose whole body was in still in the ocean water.
"You should worry about yourself more than that katana." Nami spoke softly. She had noticed the swelling gash in his right arm when he had raised his katana out of the water. Zoro pretended to ignore her. The last thing he needed was the woman worrying about him. Too late.
"Were you listening to me?" She hissed as he eyed her.
"Yes." The straightforward answer from Zoro was not designed to fuel Nami's irritation further, nor had it intended to make her more worried. However…
"Then DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT YOU IDIOT," she glared, not realising she was sounding very worried.
"Later." Zoro had picked up the concern in her voice, yet his main priority now was making sure Kuina's katana had not been damaged. As he attempted to unsheathe the sword to check its condition, Nami let out a roar as she flung herself into the sea and swam hastily towards Zoro.
"What the hell are you doing?" He gasped disbelievingly as he felt Nami pulling his bandana from the top of his left arm to cover the wound. She cursed as she tightened it around his arm and over his wound.
"It's a miracle you haven't passed out yet from the loss of blood." Nami spoke in a frustrated tone, confused with her own actions.
"Yeah, but since it was your idea," Zoro grinned "I'm not washing that bandana out later."
Nami couldn't believe the guy. "Lots of appreciation you have there," she stammered, a little anxious as she drew herself back to her large piece of drift wood. Being too close to him made her stomach do flip-flops and her head shake in worry. Is that normal? She asked herself. But it is only natural to worry about your nakama… Then her mind instantly remembered the fortune teller's words. No. Nami tried to convince herself, The fortune teller was a fake. FAKE. FAKE. FAKE.
"You alright?" Zoro asked as he watched Nami's strange behaviour.
"What?" Oh no, did I say 'FAKE FAKE FAKE' out loud? She worried herself.
"You're acting strange. If you worry that much, you'll grow warts." He smirked to himself as Nami glowered at him.
"Zoro, first of all, it's WRINKLES, not warts, and I AM alright." No I'm not. Nami hugged herself unconsciously. Zoro's attention turned away from her and back to his katana.
Nami eyed the sole katana on Zoro's drift wood. "That's Kuina's, isn't it?" The words expectedly came from her mouth. Zoro did not answer her, but produced a ludicrous grin, a grin which was interpreted by Nami that Zoro was proud… proud to have Kuina's sword. A sharp stab of jealously struck her, and she found herself wishing almost that…
"That's your most prized possession isn't it?" Her words came out a lot quicker than she had expected. He looked at her confusingly, unable to read her emotions.
"I thought that was obvious." He answered as the little wound jealously made in Nami seemed to grow. She had to restrain it, but it was beginning to become evident with her tone.
"That's nice." She forced herself to say.
"Huh?" Zoro was not used to this, at least not 'nice' words from his debt collector.
"I SAID, That's NICE, NICE that you actually treasure something." She tried to speak without raising her voice. A hopeless attempt.
"Hnh."
The two were silent for a while, as Nami tried to reorganise her thoughts. Eventually, a grumble from Nami's stomach awoke their silence. "Sorry, I haven't eaten for a few days." She smiled weakly, realising how physically weak she probably was.
"I've been without food for longer," Zoro replied as he eyed her frustrated face. "We should try and find an island."
"Don't state the obvious." Nami glanced at her log pose. It read North. "This is bad, Arabasta is in the North east direction, but my log pose says the nearest island is-"
"Arabasta won't run away, but my stomach…"
"I know, I know. We'll become weaker too. If we can find food on the nearest island, we should also be able to find transport to Arabasta." Nami stated calmly, although her inner thoughts were nowhere near composed.
"That's a good idea, but what do you suggest us to do now? In our current, wonderful situation?" Zoro asked crudely, being aware that he found himself wanting to let go from the drift wood. His arms were getting tired, and his wounded arm no less. "In case you've forgotten, I should remind you that what was our only current form of transport is now no more than small pieces of wrecked wood."
Nami was about to answer when she unexpectedly sensed a change in the air. The clouds seemed to be assembling together as Nami's eyes widened. She did not like what she had read. "How about we prepare ourselves…" she glanced at the quickly gathering clouds. IF ONLY… IF ONLY the Grand Line was more predictable and less capricious. The clouds were darker now as a thunderclap was heard.
Zoro looked at her almost wickedly, "I think things just got a bit interesting."
"How the hell can you say that?" Nami growled as the waves quickly started to become more turbulent. "There's going to be a THUNDERSTORM, and WE'RE IN THE SEA YOU MORON!"
"Then we better get ourselves out of it," Zoro stated simply as they both hung tightly onto their pieces of drift wood. The wicked grin never left his face.
"AND WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL SMILING?" She found herself shouting as she realised the waves had started to carry her away from him. This is bad.
Then the heavy rain started to fall.
Now it's worse. Nami thought desperately as she realised she currently couldn't see Zoro. The drift wood was then suddenly ripped out of her reach as a massive wave toppled over her. She didn't even have time to scream as she found herself desperately trying to swim to the surface, screaming out "ZORO! ZORO!" when she reached it.
"I'M BEHIND YOU IDIOT!" she heard a voice from behind her, but her vision was disrupted by the heavy raindrops that fell on her face.
"TRY NOT TO MOVE," he called as his voice seemed to rise in volume.
Zoro? Nami tried to stay afloat deliriously, at the present wishing for nothing more than to grab onto him.
Strong arms found their way around Nami's waist as the waves rocked them. Zoro was holding onto her now, as he shoved Kuina's katana into Nami's face.
"HOLD ONTO IT." He spoke darkly as Nami's fingers nearly trembled as she grabbed onto Zoro's precious katana. When he was assured that she did, he increased his grip around her waist as the waves started to crash into them. If they were separated now, he would also be separated from his katana. That won't happen. His mind was working overtime. I can't let go. He ignored the sharp stinging pains from his wound, but his priority now was not tending to himself.
"HOW… COULD THIS HAPPEN… TO ME?" He heard Nami wail between spluttered gasps for breath. The waters were getting wilder. Nami closed her eyes tightly, as she unexpectedly found herself thankful that in this situation, at least Zoro was beside her. At least he offered some warmth against the cold waves that battered against them.
Heavens help us… Nami found herself praying inside her mind as the waters started to carry them off into the distance. Where would the waters take them? If they were separated… Yet for Nami and Zoro to escape a thunderstorm unharmed? If god was willing… for a miracle to happen… Too many thoughts currently raced through Nami's perturbed mind.
"Don't let go of me," Nami trembled as she hugged onto Zoro's sword tightly. She had not expected him to hear her, but Zoro, who was not as terrified as Nami, found himself managing to whisper into her ear. "I won't."
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A/N: (Wipes away sweat from her brow) That was an extremely difficult chapter to write. So much description. MORE TO COME, so NEVER FEAR. Yes, this chapter is longer than all the rest by approximately 700 words. Sorry, I couldn't do anymore than that, but I'm trying my best. Hopefully, my writing has become a lot more descriptive… but anyway, in advance, I would like to thank all those to review this story. Your criticism, ideas and the nice compliments are all greatly appreciated. I cannot stress that enough :)