By AstroKender
Warnings: Some cursing, blood, and violence. Par for the course, really.
Notes: Ugh. Sometimes scenes just take over and refuse to let go. I expected to get through a lot more of the storyline but I guess it wasn't in the cards. My apologies to Luffy and Sanji, who I didn't get the chance to get to. Oh, and Carue, who is still out of commission for and unknown amount of time.
Feedback: there is an annoying button at the bottom of the screen just begging to be punched.
Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Eichiro Oda, 4kids and various other affiliates. I don't own em, I don't make money off em, I just play with them.
On to the Zoro-y goodness! (mmm....)
Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
He had given up…
"Zoro…." The swordsman's sharp hearing caught his name fall from Chopper's lips in a soft sigh. The doctor would surely be angry later for disobeying his orders to stay below deck.
He really had given up.
"Mr. Bushido…."
He had been content to just lie there peacefully on that damn uncomfortable table-- to sleep until death finally reached out with its icy grip and claimed him. He would've left this world peacefully, accepting that no matter how strong he was, he couldn't fight against fate and win….
"I'm saved!"
So why, why mind you, did stupid shit like this have to happen?
"Zoro!"
The only light came from the dim moon and a handful of dingy oil lamps, but it was more than adequate illumination for the casual observer to get a firm handle on the situation unveiling on the main deck of the Going Merry. Though, right now, Zoro was anything but casual.
Zoro's narrowed eyes regarded his crewmates. People who had battled defiantly against the evil tyrant Arlong. People who had stood before giants and fought against the irritating trickery of Baroque Works' higher agents. People who had braved storms and sea monsters and anything else that came their way.
People that were currently allowing themselves to be captured by a bunch of middle aged village folk from some island that time forgot.
Zoro sighed as he stepped forward, wondering if it was really worth the trouble to rescue these idiots.
The Straw Hat Crew's reactions upon the sudden appearance of their comrade ranged from shock to dismay to absolute tear-spilling joy (for not having to be the one to take all these deranged men on.) Nami, herself, seemed to be quite pleased as she jumped to her feet and shot Usopp --who had completely forgotten he was supposed to be unconscious-- a haughty look, as if it were she that had summoned Zoro from the deep belly of the ship.
"Finally! Someone that can at least pull off a decent rescue." The redhead waved her arms in Zoro's direction in emphasis. In fact, if Zoro didn't rescue them, Nami would certainly make sure his life was a living hell. It was a simple matter to put some of Usopp's itching powder in a certain swordsman's clothing.
Usopp gave an irritated twitch and flopped back onto the deck with sulking pout bowing under his long nose. Turning his head he let out an indignant sniff.
"I didn't see you saving us." He muttered defensively.
By now it was high time that the village mob had gathered their wits about them enough to finally react to Zoro's presence. Ominous muttering and cries of outrage rose in pitch as, like a single entity, the crowd charged forward. But by that time the green-haired swordsman was already on the move.
Bare feet pounded across the deck like a one-man stampede as Zoro left the shadow of the doorway and sped towards those unfortunate enough to interrupt his sleep. Sweat dampened palms struggled to keep a firm grip on his katanas as eyes that just wouldn't seem to focus properly laboriously latched onto his nearest target.
'I'm not just going to roll over and die.' Zoro decided as he slashed at his first opponent --the one holding Chopper at gunpoint-- creating a deep gash down the man's arm that forced him to drop his pistol or loose his hand to the pirate's downward stroke. One bash to the man's head with the hilt of Zoro's sword and he ceased to be an obstacle.
Zoro's attention then latched on to the two men pointing their own cheaply made swords at his comrades. Two swords against two swords seemed fair enough, even though fairness at this point was the last thing on Zoro's mind. The green-haired man quickly darted forward in a low cross cut that easily disposed of both enemies simultaneously.
'I will fight against fate and create my own destiny.'
Zoro shut his eyes as this new resolution settled with in him. He was always too stubborn to give up before; why start now? Ignoring the pain sending warning flares across his body, Zoro opened his eyes and raised his swords once more as he twisted around to dispatch some foolhardy soul that had tried to sneak up behind him. Sparing his companions the briefest of glances, he managed to push enough air past his unbearably dry throat to form a single question.
"Didn't you guys even try to put up a fight?" his words came out amidst a combination of a snarl and a cough. The others had the decency to look appropriately guilty and Zoro shook his head in disgust.
A sudden fit of wracking coughs prevented Zoro from berating them further. Zoro's lips clamped down stubbornly as he fought to keep control over his body as the muffled coughs threatened to send him spilling over the deck. But the coughs were harsh and deep, causing his tongue to slide back against his throat, gagging him. When the spell finally passed, Zoro found himself fighting to keep his footing on legs that felt like jelly. Irritated at his own weakness, Zoro shot a shaky glare towards his companions, silently warning them to wipe the expressions of concern from their faces.
A low rumble vibrated across the deck and Zoro shifted his attention to finally focus on the half a dozen men that were currently rushing towards him in a unanimous sort of rage as they held their weapons aloft. The green-haired man allowed a sickly grin to creep over his face as he forced a small breath into his battered lungs.
"What? You want some too?" he rasped out a humorless laugh as he slid his two swords together like oversized carving knives.
'I refuse to give up with out a fight. I'm not going to just give up and die, damn it.' Zoro's mind repeated the empowering phrases of self-encouragement as the swordsman swung out his katanas in a wide arc.
"Come on then!" he taunted as his swords slashed forward.
"Stop!" A feminine voice screamed.
Surprised, Zoro only barely pulled his swords back in time to prevent himself from slicing Vivi clean in two. His heart pounded wildly in his chest as he fought down the one second of pure terror that had frozen his blood. Zoro gave a small shudder and his body seemed to physically droop as the mental backlash of his brief panic blanketed him.
His momentum lost, the swordsman's injuries proceeded in making themselves blatantly known. Pain crawled through every nerve in his body, making even his hair hurt, and it was all Zoro could do not to drop to his knees then and there. As it was, his weakened grip loosened even more, causing Yubashiri to fall to the ship's deck with a deafening clatter.
Chest heaving, the swordsman grabbed the blue-haired girl's arm in a harsh grip as the others looked on in shock.
"What do you think you're doing?" Zoro snarled.
"You can't fight them, Mr. Bushido!" Vivi spoke quickly; imploringly. "They're just confused villagers!"
"So that gives them the right to kill us?" Zoro shoved the princess aside as he blocked the downward slash of an iron shovel aimed straight at Vivi's head.
The swordsman held on to Sandai Kitetsu two handed, like a lifeline, as he sliced through the shovel's handle to sink the cursed blade deeply into Vivi's attacker. Wrenching his weapon free with a wicked squelch of blood, Zoro turned to swipe at his next opponent before the first man had even fallen to prone the deck.
"You have to stop!" Clawing fingernails bit into his flesh as Vivi scrabbled for a grip on Zoro's bare skin. Growling, the green-haired man tried to shake her off, but Alabasta's princess would not yield.
"Vivi, let him be." Nami called out. Vivi just shook her head frantically as she tightened her death grip on Zoro's arm.
"Please," she begged the swordsman. "If we just talk to them…"
"I don't have time for pointless talk." Zoro said, his eyes dark and unforgiving. "If these guys are stupid enough to want to die then let them."
It may have been because of the poison, or perhaps because of his wounds, but Zoro actually fell backwards a step as Vivi's palm slammed into his cheek. The swordsman hadn't even seen the hand that had struck him until the sharp sting registered in his brain. The slap succeeded in shocking Zoro out of his battle-haze and he found himself staring blankly at the girl, completely dumbfounded.
Vivi stared back at him with angry blue eyes. "What gives you the right to decide who lives or dies?" she demanded, her voice low with repressed emotion. "All these men are trying to do is protect something! Even if their actions are misplaced, does that give you the right to punish them for it?"
Zoro stared down at the princess, unable or unwilling to reply.
"Zoro! Look Out!" Chopper's high-pitched warning cut through the heavy silence like a bolt of lightning.
Zoro spun around just in time to see a giant steel hammer swing through the air towards him. Unable to react in time, he was completely off guard as the mallet, originally intended for his skull, crashed into his left shoulder and across part of his upper arm. Zoro's last remaining katana went skittering across the deck as the swordsman himself was flung backwards.
"Mr. Bushido!" Zoro heard Vivi scream.
Wincing, the green-haired man tried to move his injured arm as he fought to regain his feet. But both gestures were hopeless, as his left arm hung lifeless from where it dangled from a newly dislocated shoulder and his equilibrium had been shot to hell by the bone crushing impact against the solid wooden deck.
A feeling of warmth ran down Zoro's back and he could feel his bandages loosen a bit as the fabric was slowly soaked with blood. A couple tentative shifts allowed the swordsman to make a rough estimate that at least two of his gunshot wounds had been ripped open by the force of his fall.
Great. Just great.
Zoro once again tried to stand and had to swallow a mouth full of bile as a wave of dizziness rushed through him. He really had lost too much blood when he let himself get shot like that before. Zoro was sure to send his captain a mental curse for his current handicap as the swordsman finally settled on a wobbly crouch on the blood-smeared deck.
"Not a step further ladies." Zoro heard the man with the hammer warn. The injured swordsman looked up blearily to where Vivi and Nami had rushed forward in order to assist him.
It was probably for the best that the man stopped them, Zoro thought, past the sound of buzzing bees that had taken residence in his skull. Nami probably would have charged for any little bit of help she gave. Two hundred beli for a hand up, maybe…and an additional thousand beli for the chipped fingernail she'd get in the process….
Zoro sucked in a painful snort as he belatedly realized that the fever must have made him delirious.
The man with the hammer had turned to the handful of his remaining men. "One of you signal to the shore for back up." He ordered. "Someone else, go below deck and see if any of our men are still alive. If the pirates continue to resist we shall take them back by any means necessary." He shot Vivi a grim look. "Even dead, if we must."
"No…" Vivi moaned, her head dropping in defeat. Nami rested a comforting hand on her shoulder as she sent the man a defiant glare.
The self-appointed leader walked cautiously over towards Zoro, like one would approach an injured beast. "You," he pointed. "You're the one Hana was talking about, aren't you? The one that was running around killing people while looking for armor."
Zoro made no move to confirm or deny this statement.
"I knew you were bad news as soon as you entered my shop." The smithy said as he swung his hammer up off his shoulder with practiced skill. Taking the cumbersome smithy tool in a two handed grip, the older man carefully shifted his stance for and easier attack. "You're a devil to this island, and for that reason I can't allow you to live."
Zoro broke down into a harsh coughing laugh that made the hair raise on his companion's necks with the wave of black emotions that accompanied it. "Tedu, wasn't it? And what do you think you can do to me that hasn't already been done?" He asked between irregular breaths. "Your looking at a dead man walking here, I'm just trying to take a few more wretched souls with me on my way to hell."
Usopp shot Chopper a look of alarm as the others looked on in confusion. The sharpshooter's eyes were hard behind the glare of his goggles as he silently demanded that the little reindeer refute Zoro's last statement. Zoro didn't really mean what he said, right?
Chopper cast his eyes away, refusing to answer.
But as the doctor watched the steel hammer raise up above Zoro's head, a great wave of rage swept through him. Chopper was sick and tired of feeling helpless… of being a burden to those around him… He was sick of being stupid and useless and cowardly.
He was a pirate, damn it! It was about time he acted like one!
A mighty roar tore everyone's attention to the small reindeer as Chopper burst into his humanoid form. Flexing his giant arms he let out a scream that held all of his anger and sadness and frustration at the meekness in which he had greeted the smallest of obstacles that had hindered his path. The doctor let out all his pent-up emotions in that one, ear-ringing yell before charging forward towards Zoro's attacker.
Two ham-sized fists enclosed around the head of the smithy's giant hammer, stopping its downward arc. With a low growl only truly mastered by an animal, Chopper shot the man a disapproving glare before yanking on the hammer and pulling the man holding it completely off the ground.
Chopper's momentum didn't halt there, however, as he began to spin in place like a human axle, causing the man, who didn't dare release his grip now, to fly through the air in increasingly widening circles.
"I'll ask you nicely…" Chopper's voice warbled through the Doppler field, trailing off after each ever-quickening rotation.
"Please…leave…my…friends…ALONE!" the last word was shouted out as the reindeer finally released his grip, causing both man and hammer to sail through the air and over the water before both finally plunged into the deeper section of the bay.
Panting slightly, Chopper looked around at his awestruck comrades as he popped back into his normal disarming form. "What?"
"Chopper…" Zoro breathed.
"That was amazing!" Nami grinned wildly as she raised her fist into the air in excitement. "I didn't know you had it in you, Tony."
Chopper blushed and fidgeted about. "Shut up. It's not like I care about your praise. Jerk." He muttered while dancing in place. "Stupid asshole… your words mean nothing to me…"
More prancing followed.
"Yes, yes…" Usopp nodded sagely. "Very heroic, our young Chopper. But it was nothing compared to the speedily way in which I would have dispatched our enemy…." He boasted.
"Then," Nami grinned slyly. "Would you care to take on those guys?" she pointed off to the sharpshooter's right.
Usopp paled considerably as he spotted the three angry men rushing towards them. Biting back a fearful yelp, the long-nosed boy quickly darted behind Nami's back.
"Zoro, save me!" he called out to the fallen swordsman.
Nami swiftly punched Usopp over the head. "Grow some back bone, will ya?"
The two blinked in surprise as the three men ran blindly past them and towards the ship's rail. Shouting parting curses at the befuddled pirates, the men quickly jumped ship. The Going Merry was now devoid of any conscious intruders.
"What do you think that was about?" Vivi wondered.
Chopper shook his head in ignorance while Nami opened her mouth to reply, but a cracking sound in the distance halted he words. The navigator's eyes widened as something flew past her head, so close that it took with it a few precious strands of hair.
Usopp hurriedly yanked her towards the deck as more shots were heard. "Gunfire! Everyone, get down!" he shouted. As Zoro was already kneeling and the fact that, with Chopper's height, the reindeer was technically already down, only Vivi obeyed Usopp's sharp command. Multiple small, nearly invisible objects made whistling noises as they shot over head.
"Where did all those guns come from?" Usopp asked no one in particular. "They sure weren't sitting in that weapon's shop."
"Look! You can see lights from the beach!" Vivi pointed forward a bit awkwardly, careful not to enter the line of fire. Indeed, there seemed to be a line of torches stringing the sandy dune that rose above the wave-swept shore. And below those torches, dozens and dozens of black shadows could be seen—a veritable militia of gun-wielding attackers.
"Every person on the island must be on that hill!" Chopper exclaimed before giving a frightened yelp as a stray bullet scraped past one of his antlers. The reindeer dropped to the deck like a brick, too frightened to even breathe.
Nami gazed out into the darkness, biting her lip as she worked through this logistical disaster. Right now they were sitting ducks sitting out here on the water. But, there was no way any of them would be able to rush the beach before getting shot down. Their only hope was to follow their attacker's lead and parry with their own long ranged attack.
"Usopp, do you think you can reach them with your slingshot?"
"Are you kidding?" Usopp's eyebrows disappeared beneath his bandanna as he stared at the redhead incredulously. "At this angle I'd be lucky to even hit the island!"
"Then what do you suggest, genius?" Nami snapped. "That we just lie here and hope they'll go away?"
"Maybe they'll run out of bullets…." Usopp suggested timidly.
"Where the hell are Luffy and Sanji?" Nami moaned as she beat her forehead against the ship's deck in despair. "They'd take care of this bunch in no time."
"Like I need some shitty cook to save my ass…" Nami stopped her self-inflicted abuse, uncertain whether she had imagined the comment. "Leave it to me…" The voice spoke again, followed by a sound of a sickening crack. "I'll handle it."
The others looked back to where Zoro now stood, carefully rotating his arm after he had popped it back into its socket. Zoro's face was paper-white and tinted a sickly green around the lips. The man looked as if he would pass out any minute and could only be standing there on willpower alone. But for Zoro, that was all that was needed as his eyes shone with that typical look of determination that only appeared when he was about to do something incredibly stupid and self-mutilating.
The swordsman paid no heed to the bullets flying past him as he cast his eyes about for his missing swords. A bullet hit the mast about two centimeters from Zoro's chest, sending a spray of splinters to imbed themselves into Zoro's bare flesh like miniature arrows. The green-haired man showed no sign of even noticing, however, as his eyes latched onto a shining length of metal.
"Zoro! Get down!" Nami yelled out.
"You'll get shot!" Vivi added.
"Wouldn't be the first time…." Zoro muttered to himself as he bent over to pick up Sandai Kitetsu.
About five bullets whistled through the air directly above Zoro's stooped form and Nami thought that she might tear her hair out with apprehension as she looked on with the frightened expectation of the swordsman going down in a flurry of gunfire. Nami's wide eyes caught sight of Zoro's second katana just as the green-haired man straightened from his stooped position. Thinking quickly, Nami grabbed the blade and dangled it like bait.
"Here's your stupid sword Zoro. Now just get crawl over here and you can have it." She explained in watch she felt was a reasonable tone. But Zoro just looked at her like she had just asked him to light himself on fire.
"Does it look like I can crawl, woman?" Zoro griped as he strode calmly towards her. Watching him, Nami's patience snapped.
"Will you get down, you idiot? You're their fricken target practice standing up like that!" Nami growled as she yanked hard on Zoro's leg. The swordsman, already off balance, fell to the deck with a muffled curse coupled with a grunt of pain.
"Serves you right, damn it. Now, get some sense. There is no way you can fight all those guys in your condition. You'd probably drown before you'd even reach the beach!" Nami growled as she shoved Yubashiri into Zoro's open palm. The sword dropped before his hand could get a proper grip on it and Zoro was forced to pick it up once more.
"I'm fine." Zoro insisted as his fumbling fingers finally curled around the katana's hilt.
"Are you kidding?" the navigator exclaimed. "Look at you, you can't even keep a grip on your swords!"
"Then tie them on, damn it!" Zoro roared.
Nami fell backwards, stunned. "What?"
"You heard me." Zoro spoke a bit more calmly as he raised Yubashiri to his chest. One swift downward stroke and Zoro's bandages fell away to float to the deck in red and white ribbons. He looked at Nami expectantly.
"I--I…" Nami stuttered as she fought for some way to rationalize with the green-haired man. Zoro couldn't expect them to actually go along with this crazy plan. It was suicide!
"Do it." Zoro ordered, his gaze unwavering. He made a small motion towards Usopp, who had been crouching on Nami's other side. "You too." He waved the long-nosed boy forward.
Usopp slowly crawled to Zoro's side, uncharacteristically silent. Wordlessly, the dark-haired boy picked up a handful of discarded bandages and started to wrap them around the swordsman's hand, which was still holding one of his katana.
"Wait." Zoro interrupted quickly. "Turn it around. Yeah, like that."
Nami stared incredulously as Usopp tied the blade in place backwards, with the edge pointing towards Zoro. Shaking her head, the navigator scooted backwards.
"You're plum crazy, do you know that, Zoro? How are you going to cut anything like that?"
Zoro stared at the wooden deck as he slowly scratched his nose with his free hand. "It's like Vivi said, these idiots don't know what the hell they're doing. It's not their fault that Uragi is manipulating them."
Hearing these words as she sat shielding Carue's unconscious form, Vivi's lips curled up into a small smile. "Thank you…" she whispered, too soft for anyone to hear.
Usopp make short work of binding Zoro's other hand. "This is the tightest knot I know how to do," the sharpshooter finally spoke and his eyes met Zoro's own. "They shouldn't come loose."
Zoro stood, giving Usopp a friendly nudge on his way up. "Then you better hope I don't have to go to the bathroom…." He said in a deadpan voice that brought a chuckle to even Nami's lips.
Chopper jumped up quickly as Zoro made his way to the rail. The little reindeer grabbed a hold of Zoro's pants like a child pleading for their parent not to leave. "Zoro, don't push yourself like this! You won't last!"
Zoro looked down at Chopper, his eyes resolute. "This is my choice, Chopper. To me, it's better than the alternative."
Chopper's hooves loosened their hold and Zoro leapt nimbly onto the rail, feeling new strength invading his limbs. He cast his gaze back at his solemn-faced friends. The eyes that stared back at him were each filled with some different mix of emotion. Zoro was certain to acknowledge each one in turn before his lips widened into his usual sardonic grin.
"Well…I'm off." He said and then he was gone, lost in the dark waves of the sea.
VVOOOVV