One Piece: The Musician
Chapter 5: She Liked It Where She Was
Zoro fell asleep content that night and woke up content that morning. Chopper screamed when he found Zoro lying in a pool of blood on the deck of the Merry Go.
"ZORO!!!!!! WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOURSELF?!?!?!?!?"
"I got into a little duel…"
"WITH WHO?!?!?!?"
All the others woke up with a start and came out to see what the all the commotion was about.
"DEAR GOD!!!!" Nami shrieked.
"Don't worry, Nami. I'm fine…"
"WHO CARES?!?! LOOK WHAT YOU DID TO MY SHIP!!!!!!" Nami pulled Zoro's ear so that he could see the blood stains on the wooden floor.
"THOSE DON'T COME OUT WITH JUST WATER!!!!!!!"
Then she pelted a mop and a bucket at him. Unfortunately, the mop hit him in the gut and the bucket hit him in the shoulder. He fell to the ground, blood gushed forth. With a huff, Nami returned into the cabin. Luffy was laughing like a maniac and Usopp and Sanji just twitched. Chopper took Zoro by the hand.
"Uhh… That's okay Zoro… Let's clean you up first… Then, I'll help you mop the deck up…"
"DON'T YOU DARE HELP HIM CLEAN, CHOPPER!!!!!" Nami yelled from the cabin.
The rest of the day was somewhat uneventful. Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, and Robin all went into town to get supplies. Nami stayed aboard to torture poor Zoro. Chopper stayed to keep an eye on Zoro's condition. When the four returned from town, it was already dusk and everyone was ready for dinner.
Everything had returned to normal for Arina. It was a new day and the duel from last night was really nothing more than a brawl. "Guaranteed a nightly brawl." Arina had come to work a little late that day. A couple of people were outside waiting. They were some regulars and were on first-name terms.
"You're late, Arina! What happened?"
"Oh you know. I went to bed a little late cause I got into a little fight."
The man laughed. "I'm sure it was nothing your powers couldn't handle."
"Of course!"
And the day went on just like that.
Luffy and the crew were stepping towards Arina's tavern as five men flew out the front door, one by one. Then, they heard Arina yell out, "Get out and stay out, you pervs!!!" There were cheers from within the building and the crew rushed in. Arina was smiling.
"Oh, it's nothing. Now everyone, ignore me. I'm just gonna clean up this table. Enjoy your night!"
She pulled a towel out of the back pocket of her jeans and began wiping off the bloodstained table. Just as she was about to get all the stains out, one of the legs broke and the table fell over. It broke the moment it hit the ground.
"Ah, shit. Now I gotta put in an order for a new ta…" Arina bit her lower lip. In her carelessness, she had slammed her hand down on a pile of broken plates. Blood rushed forward. Chopper was at her aid immediately.
"Hi Chopper! What are you doing here?"
"I came for dinner, but let me help you first."
HE whipped out a bottle of alcohol and a bandage. Within seconds, he had her hand in good condition. Arina kissed him on the head.
"Aww, thanks sweetie. It feels great."
Chopper melted to the ground.
"So, Straw-Hat crew. Welcome back. What can I do for you?"
"We come for the food, but we stay for the hot girls," Sanji stated. He was drooling because Arina was wearing a pair of low –cut jeans and (since it was a particularly hot evening) a tank top that bared her midriff. Zoro too was staring. But of course, he and Sanji don't ever see eye to eye, so obviously Zoro was staring for a different reason.
The night before, Zoro had made three clean cuts. From the heart to the right hip. From the right side of the chest to the left hip. And one more from the right part of the rib cage, horizontally across to left side. However, as her stomach clearly showed, there were no bandages. No blood. Not even a scar.
This girl's not even hu…"How are you feeling, Zoro? I didn't cut you too deep did I?" interrupted Arina.
Everyone's face filled with shock.
"You dueled her?!?!!?" yelled Usopp.
"How dare you duel a girl!!! You could have hurt her!!!!" declared Sanji.
"Who won?!??!" asked Luffy.
Arina grinned. "Err, Zoro did."
"You don't have any cuts on you," stated Robin.
"Ah, I chickened out. Zoro's just too intense for me. Hahaha!"
Of course, she was lying, but Zoro remained silent. Arina showed the group to a table near the stage.
"Someone will take you order soon, okay you guys?" Arina left.
Pointless chatter commenced amongst each other. But Zoro was eavesdropping on another table. They were talking about Arina.
"You know that girl?"
"Which one?"
"That girl in the jeans and tank top."
"Yeah. What bout her?"
"She's the daughter of Blackbeard!"
"No! The Blackbeard?"
"Yep, I hear she's quite an interesting person."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know exactly, but hear she's pretty kick-ass."
"Really?"
"Yeah, especially her swordsmanship. She even beat that Dracule "Hawk-Eye" Mihawk!"
Zoro's eyes widened. He had to keep listening!
"No way!!! He's supposed to be the greatest swordsman in the world. How?!??!"
"I don't know. Stories have it that Mihawk came to this very tavern was causing some trouble. She asked him to leave, but he wouldn't and attacked her. Stabbed her straight through the gut."
"Then what happened!??!"
"They say she just smiled. Smiled!!! Mihawk realized that she wasn't even trying. She was fooling around. Then she pulled out her own sword and slashed him across the chest. No one has ever been able to scratch Mihawk!! And this little girl, I think she was sixteen at the time puts a gash right over his heart! Woulda cut him in half if he hadn't pulled back. Ol' Hawk Eyes didn't know what hit him!!!"
"Come on man!!!! Next??!?!?"
"Nothing. Dracule Mihawk ran scared. But he did say that she cheated or something. And all she said was 'There is no right or wrong when it comes to protecting the things I love, including this tavern.'"
"Whoa..."
Zoro was paralyzed with shock.
She beat Hawk-Eyes when she was sixteen!!! How?!!? Then, suddenly, another thought crossed his mind as he felt a pang from his wounds. He remembered how easily she had fought him off with just one hand.
She let me win!!!! She wasn't even trying!!!!
This was the second time Luffy saw Arina on stage. She had chosen a lamenting song today. Her violin was tranquil in her hands. A gentle song with gentle lyrics:
Deep in the stillness, I can hear you speak. You're still an inspiration… Can it be that you are my forever love and you are watching over me from up above…
Fly me up to where you are beyond the distant star. I wish upon tonight to see you smile. If only for a while to know you're there. A breath away's not far to where you are.
The lyrics struck Luffy as difficult to comprehend. He crossed his arms and tilted his head from side to side, hoping that an understanding would slide into his mind. Luffy just didn't get it as he looked at his crewmates. They all seemed so familiar with it, as if Arina had sung their life stories.
Arina struck her last chord and sat there for a moment. There was complete silence in the room for only a few seconds, but those seconds told Luffy everything he needed to know. The look in her eyes said she was in pain. The hunch in her poise said she was withdrawn because she had lost someone important. But the smile on her face said that she was doing just fine. It was then that Luffy knew it was right. She was perfect. She needed him and the Straw-Hat crew.
Luffy eagerly ran up to Arina.
"ARINA!!!! JOIN ME AND MY CREW!!!!! BE OUR MUSICIAN!!!!"
A different smile crossed her face. One of genuine happiness.
"Thank you, Luffy. But I like it where I am."
End.
whoops. nearly forgot to give credit to josh groban who sings this song. It's called "To Where You Are"