Chapter 5- Captured!

ZORO

Leaving Robin in Sanji's care was safe; he would not let anything harm her. He needed to push Robin out of his mind for right now and focus on the fact that he was, soon going to be surrounded by marines and unable to escape. He began to fight off marines, carefully making sure that he did not get surrounded, but they just kept coming, and before he knew it he was surrounded. He spun in a circle trying to find a way to get out and jump to the ship, but he could not. Scowling darkly he raised his swords again ready to fight to the death, although he knew that they would want him for a prisoner, and for bait. As he prepared to strike, against the few marines who were either very, very, brave or extremely stupid enough to approach him, he felt a sharp pain in his back. Gasping with immense pain he fell forward dropping the two swords that were in his hands and Kuina's sword fell out of his mouth.

" What the hell?" he whispered in pain, " who…what?" turning around he saw, Supreme Admiral Aokiji, standing there with an ice saber, that had his blood on it. The Admiral smiled evilly and turned away. For one fleeting, stupid moment Zoro actually thought that he was going to let him go reaching down and grabbing his swords, he sheathed all of them, so the three were at his side again.

" Chain him up and put him on the ship," came Aokiji's cold voice, " and don't worry about the others, they will come for him to rescue him…. or so they think, but we will have a trap." Laughing coldly he turned and started to walk back to the marine ship that was on a dock a ways away. Zoro scowled in anger and in pain, he had been caught, and now Luffy and the others would get caught too in that jerks trap. Sighing deeply he looked up at the sky, watching the clouds for a moment as it could be his last chance he stayed that way until, he felt the coldness of steel touch his wrists. Looking around coldly he saw Tashigi putting the cold chains on him, with a somber expression on her face. His cold expression suddenly softened upon seeing her face, smiling at nothing he glanced up one more time. He had known that if he stayed to protect the others, that he would not reach the ship in time to escape, but he also knew that if he did not stay and fight then the marines would have overtaken the ship and they would all of been captured. He chose to save his nakama and sacrifice himself, but it was futile, they would be caught in Aokiji's trap and Zoro had sacrificed himself for no reason. Forcing himself to look away from the clouds he watched as Tashigi turned away from him looking miserable.

" Take him back to the ship and lock him up," Tashigi barked at two marines, who saluted and grabbed Zoro's arms, " don't undo his chains, or he will escape."

" Yes ma'm!" barked one marine, saluting immediately, " and what will we do with his weapons?"

Tashigi stared at the three swords that were strapped at his side as usual, he voice softened, " I will take care of them" she said looking directly into Zoro's eyes as she said this. She reached down and took his swords from him one by one, she took Kuina's sword last, and Zoro felt something jump inside of him as the sword was pulled from him. Kuina's soul had just left, and he hated that feeling, glaring at Tashigi darkly he turned and with the two marines holding his arms he walked back silently to the marine ship.

TASHIGI

Tashigi took a deep breath as she put the chains around Zoro's wrists feeling electricity shoot up her arm from touching him her hand trembled. She knew that she would have to do this, as soon as Admiral Aokiji had taken Zoro down. She also knew that she would have to confiscate his swords, and that he would be very mad at her. Looking up at him she saw him simply staring up at the clouds, he looked so calm and peaceful. She wondered if he really understood the seriousness of the situation. He had a large bounty on his head, and when they caught the rest of the straw-hat crew, he would no longer be of any use to the marines. They would execute Zoro, or put him in prison or Enies Lobby. Shivering at the thought of Enies' Lobby, she finished putting the chains around his wrist, she turned away from him with sorrow on her face, and she was going to lose him.

" Take him back to the ship and lock him up," she heard herself speaking but it didn't register with her, " don't undo his chains, or he will escape." She heard one of the marines ask her about his swords, she knew what she had to do but she dreaded doing it.

Looking deeply into his eyes, hoping that he would believe her, " I will take care of them" she saw something flicker behind his eyes, but it was gone a second later when she took his first two swords. Looking down she realized that his white sword, the Wadochi, his most prized sword, he would not be happy about her taking this sword and she was right. Her fingers gripped the sword and she could see his body tense up, pulling it away from him was hard because she could see that it was hurting him, closing her eyes she just took it. She looked up at him, moving back slightly as she did, he was glaring at her darkly like he would like nothing better than to rip her hands off his sword. He turned and walked away, she watched him until he disappeared onto the ship, and then she looked down at the white sword.

It was dark out Tashigi was silent as she walked out to the deck of the ship, hoping that no one would hear her. She was carrying her sword, Shizure and Zoro's white sword Wadochi, she would often wake up early to go train, but this was more like three in the morning she hadn't even gotten to sleep. Every time that she started to doze off she would see Zoro walking away from her, to be executed. Knowing that she wouldn't sleep tonight she went out to train and took Zoro's sword with her. Looking down at the white sword again. He is very protective over his swords, but he would rather die than let anything happen to this one, I wonder why he cares for it so. What if someone he loves gave him this sword, like a promise to return or something! What if he is married! What if he has kids! Who, easy there…. slow down, you're getting out of control, Zoro is not married and does not have kids. And it is highly doubtful that he would have promised someone to return, because he might not. Tashigi tore her gaze from the white sword and looked up at the stars. After a few minutes she looked down and pulled the white sword out of it's sheath, after examining it, she found something close to the handle. Engraved into the sword was a name, squinting through her glasses to make it out, she read the name softly out loud.

" Kuina…" she immediately sat down, she knew that name, it was the name of that girl that Zoro loves. But she was dead, so he just kept the sword to remind himself of her. Running her finger over the word, she hit the hilt of the sword there was something small sticking out of it. Looking down and examining the bump she realized that it was a button, pressing it she saw the very top of the hilt pop open. Looking inside it she saw a very old piece of paper. Looking around her to make sure that there was no one else up here she pulled it out delicately. It came out just fine and she laid it in front of her and then looked up again. Should I read this? It is probably meant for Zoro, but it looks like he never found it. I should read it and then give it to him. But what if it contains something that I don't want to hear…. still I should see what it says. Taking a deep breath she looked down and began to read.

Zoro,

I do not know if you will ever get this note. If I can pull up the courage to give it to you maybe you will. There are some things that you need to know and I want to tell you them in a letter rather than in person. I know that we are rivals, and that you want to become the world's greatest swordsman, just so that you can beat me. The promise that we made tonight will stay with me forever, and I will do my best to keep it. I know that you will too. But I need to tell you something that could change everything.

Zoro to me you are more than a rival, I do want to be your friend and I know that we are. You can always make me laugh, whether it is by me beating you or you just looking at me funny. Over the years I have come to realize something that scares me. Zoro, I love you. I don't know how you feel about me because you're always so guarded, but last night you comforted me when I was crying. And that made me feel as though you do love me. I hope in my heart that you do, even if it is just a dream it makes me feel happy. I will give this to you the next time that I see you, because I need to know how you feel. For now I will hide it in my sword. I truly love you Zoro and I will never leave you.

Love always and forever,

Kuina

A tear hit the paper, picking it up she folded the paper and put it back in the sword. Dropping the sword immediately, she looked up to the sky with tears running down her face. She loved him…. he loves her…. they should be together…. but she's dead. And he can't get over her he still loves her. He truly deeply loves her, with that kind of love that never leaves and nothing can stop it or hurt it. I wonder if he could ever feel that way about me…. Tashigi couldn't stop thinking about it, and wondering if he truly did love her. Looking down at the sword again she knew what she had to do, even if she didn't want to. Picking up the sword she walked down past all the marine quarters and down into the bowels of the ship. Stopping in front of a door, she took a deep breath and pulled out her keys, unlocking it she stepped in a locked it again. Looking around she remembered that he was the only one down here. Sighing softly, she walked to the cell at the end of the row. Stopping in front of it she saw his legs sprawled on the floor, his back against the wall.

Taking another deep breath, and trying to stop her tears, she spoke his name softly, " Zoro….?"

Ooooo it's getting interesting.:D Sorry about taking so long, but I had major writers block... so if this chapter isn't that good I hope that you'll bear with me. By the way, I know that there isn't an opening on the sword, but it seemed like a good idea. Well, review review review, I won't post anymore until I get a lot of reviews, sorry but I like them. Reveiw!