Chapter 4
Darkness tugged at her mind like a solid weight that couldn't, wouldn't be denied. It was so powerful and it held her body effectively. So strong, and so scary it made her cry out and twitch to try and rid herself of it. Something was in that darkness, something horrible that she didn't want discovered, that she had to keep hidden, but couldn't even seem to figure out what it was herself.
She knew it was dangerous, and she knew it could appear at the most unlikely times, but mainly when she was weak, or asleep, or just couldn't take what was going on around her. Swirling light flashed across her vision, red as blood and then just as suddenly as it had come it went to a flash of blue and then a blurry image leaning over her.
"Hey? Are you okay?" it asked, but she couldn't respond, or, at least she thought she couldn't until the words came unbidden from her mouth.
"Run kid, this isn't the best place for you to stay right now. Don't worry about me, it's just a scratch. Now go!" she cried. The blurry blue figure bolted away and she felt herself standing up and cold steel pressing against her fingers. The coolness of the steel was reassuring even, a comforting weight in her hand that she just simply had to use. Had to swing.
Swing? At what? All there was were blurry images and flashes of random colour that she would never be able to make out had she even bothered to try. It was cold here and she could feel her hair sweeping across her cheek in the breeze. There was a peal of soft laughter from in front of her and she turned, a smile she couldn't control spreading across her lips.
"What are you going to do with those silly knives child? You think you can kill me? You are sadly mistaken." a low, gruff voice echoed around her, making her head scream and her heart pound. She knew that voice. Oh god, she knew that voice! Where?
From where and whom had she heard that honey coated voice coming from. The image in her mind sharpened for a second, giving her a glimpse of a scarred face and a twisted smile and then all faded to black.
Something was poking her. It was annoying at first and then it became painful as it made it's presence well known against her ribs.
"Stoppit." she mumbled and then rolled over slightly. Her eyes opened sleepily and were met with another pair of eyes that she honestly didn't know. They were black, and wide, and shining and innocent and Mystery jumped back with a scream that was echoed by the person staring at her.
He was a boy, tall and skinny. He wore a red sleeveless shirt, blue faded jeans which were rolled up at the bottom and wooden sandals. He had a broad smile plastered on his face, a curved scar, wide eyes, and messy black hair that stuck out at odd angles from underneath his battered straw hat. He looked at her, she looked at him and then he put a hand up behind his head and rubbed it, smiling a little sheepishly.
"Sorry." he said. Mystery gazed at him, still scared beyond reason. She remembered Zolo, but who in the hell was this guy?
"Luffy!" a voice said loudly from the doorway. It was Zolo. Mystery looked towards him, her eyes wide and scared. "I told you not to wake her"
"Sorry Zolo." The boy said. Mystery finally recovered her voice.
"It's ok. It's fine, he just startled me is all." she said and relaxed against the wall. Zolo walked in holding a plate of good looking food and a glass of water.
"Here." he said kindly laying them on the bed in front of her. The boy called Luffy was eyeing it hungrily.
"No Luffy, you just had your dinner damn it." Luffy pouted. Mystery eyed the two as she reached forward and began eating quietly, her eyes looking between the two as they watched her. She only ate half of the food and then offered the rest to the boy, who took it with a smile and…well, there was no other word to describe how he ate the food. He literally inhaled it. Zolo turned away with a slightly disgusted look.
"How do you feel?" Zolo asked. Mystery nodded, staring in shock/horror at Luffy as he ate.
"Alright. Umm, okay I guess. I should go." She said, getting over her amazement enough to begin climbing out of the bed.
"You don't have to. You can stay if you want." Luffy said around a mouthful of food.
"Damn it Luffy, how many times do I have to tell you not to speak with your mouth full!" Zolo cried. Luffy swallowed dramatically, poked his tongue out at Zolo and then looked back at Mystery who was looking at him unsurely.
"Stay?" she asked. Luffy nodded as he licked the plate.
"Told you he'd let you." Zolo said to the girl and nudged her shoulder. Mystery twitched away, not used to the contact. Luffy tilted his head to the side as he watched her.
"Sure you can stay? Can you play a musical instrument?" Luffy asked. Mystery's brow furrowed and then she shook her head.
"No. Sorry. But if you want me to I can learn to play one!" she cried, desperate to please.
"No, that's not necessary." Zolo said cutting off Luffy's approving nod. Mystery looked at him, and then bowed her head.
"Sorry." she murmured. Zolo put a hand to his head. This girl had no self confidence what so ever.
"Ok. I think we should introduce you to the rest of the crew." Luffy cried. Zolo glared darkly at Luffy. No matter how much he loved his captain, and he loved his captain, he just couldn't get over how stupid he really was. Sure he could be smart sometimes, but, that was really only when he was fighting, or dealing with a problem you had that was really getting you down. Mystery rubbed her eyes.
"Whatever you say, I'll do." she said and yawned.
"Really?" Luffy squealed. Zolo's glare deepened but Luffy ignored it. Mystery nodded, on sleepy alert as Luffy thought for a moment.
"Pat the top of your head and rub your stomach." Mystery did as she was asked.
"Luffy, you little runt, why don't you go and tell the crew she's awake?" Zolo asked as he got up, ready to smack the kid senseless. Of course, the most he would actually would do would be to smack the captain upside the back of his head or give him the world's biggest noogie. "So are you sure you're okay? Are you ready to meet the rest of the crew"
"Umm, I think so. Yeah." Mystery replied. Zolo nodded. Mystery looked to the side, trying to hide the look of concern from her face, but she didn't succeed, so, she tried to hide it with interest, and asked a little question that was just a tad out of both her's and Zolo's comfort zone's. "Umm, Roronoa? Do you, do you like Luffy?"
"Of course I do, he's my captain, and best friend." Zolo replied. Mystery gave him a look and Zolo flushed. "I-I uh, well, maybe, sort of, perhaps, possibly." He replied, trying to avoid the answer that was sitting on the tip of his tongue.
"Oh, I asked something rude, I am so sorry." she said and bowed her head. Zolo shook his head.
"No, it's okay. But, you have to keep this a secret. Ok?" Zolo asked. Mystery nodded, her green hair falling across her eyes. Zolo smiled.
The girl really was a little sweetie, and Zolo found himself having a soft spot for her, much like he had a soft spot for Chopper. That little reindeer was the cutest thing since fluffy chickens.
"I, do like Luffy. I like him a lot. But, I could never let him know that, other wise he'd think I was a freak, and wouldn't want to be my friend, and, I just can't imagine what my life would be like without him." Mystery gave him a stunned look.
"I…know I don't know you or Luffy very well, but, Luffy seems to like you a lot as well. But, it's none of my business and I will keep my word and will not tell anyone what you have told me." Mystery replied with a slight bow of her head. Zolo smiled. First he rescues her, then he tells her his deepest darkest secret? What the heck is going on? There is something about this kid, something special. Zolo had yet to figure out what it was. At that moment, there was a slight bang as the door was pushed open and the crew came in. Luffy, then Chopper, followed by Nami, Sanji was right behind her and then came Usopp, last of all. Mystery gazed at them all, tempted to hide under her blankets, but keeping her cool.
"Awwww, she's so cute!" Nami cried rushing over. Mystery flinched away as Nami went to pat her hair and gave her a scared look.
"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. What a unique colour your hair is." Nami said sitting on the bed beside the frightened girl. Chopper hurried over and peeked up over the bed.
"Hi, my name's Chopper. What's yours?" he asked happily, his little blue nose twitching. Mystery glanced at Zolo and then looked back down and gave a weak smile.
"M-mystery." she replied.
"Cooooool!" Luffy cried from across the room, startling her. He was sitting on the chair and rocking back and forwards, obviously having the time of his little life. "Your name is so cool!" Luffy cried and gave her a grin. Mystery smiled weakly back.
"I'm Nami." Nami introduced herself as she braided Mystery's hair. Mystery smiled at her a little uncertainly. Zolo snorted.
"She doesn't even know you and she's scared of you, I guess she's smart and like's to save time." he said crossing his arms and glaring at the orange haired woman.
"N-no! Nami's nice, I like her. I like all of you!" Mystery said and then bit her lip when she realised she had just had an outburst. Nami poked her tongue out at Zolo and continued braiding Mystery's hair.
"I'm the great Captain Usopp!" Usopp cried. Mystery smiled and then bowed her head to him.
"You're the captain of the crew then?" she asked timidly. Usopp laughed striking a manly pose that somehow, just didn't seem to make him look manly at all. More like a scared chicken than anything else.
"Usopp, stop lying!" Nami yelled at the curly haired man.
"W-who is the captain then?" Mystery asked. Luffy put two fingers up in a peace symbol and grinned his head off.
"Me! Monkey D Luffy! That's me!" he cried happily. Zolo chuckled.
"The captain is filled with an enormous amount of energy." he said. Mystery nodded as Luffy decided he was going to try and twist his arms into a pretzel shape. Sanji was the last to come forward, and he did so suavely at that.
"Name's Sanji. I'm the cook on this ship." he said and held out his hand. As soon as Mystery put her hand out to shake his, he grabbed it and gave it a kiss. Zolo made a fake retching sound and Sanji glared at him. "It's called chivalry, maybe you should try it and then you would get a girlfriend." he said angrily. Zolo snorted.
"What if I don't want a girlfriend love cook?" Zolo responded.
"Then get a boyfriend." Sanji said, a sneer on his face. Mystery glanced at him and then at Luffy, who was currently staring out the window. A seagull seemed to have caught his attention.
"Are you implying I'm gay?" Zolo asked, his eyes narrowing.
"No. I'm saying you're not straight"
"That's the same as gay moron"
"You just can't accept the fact that you like boys instead of girls, like Nami and Mystery"
"Maybe I do like girls and I just don't act like a total idiot in front of them like you! Besides, you don't have a girlfriend either"
"Who says I don't?"
"Well where is she shitty cook?"
"Nami's my girlfriend. She's a girl and she's a friend." Sanji replied smugly. Zolo raised an eyebrow.
"That… was really lame. What's wrong?"
"None of your business."
"Alright stop!" Nami cried. Sanji and Zolo looked up. "That has gone on long enough!"
"Yes my sweet, gorgeous Nami!" Sanji cried. Zolo crossed his arms and turned to where he was unconsciously staring at Luffy. Mystery was watching all this, a little lost and confused as to what was going on. So, apparently, Zolo and Sanji didn't like each other, Sanji liked Nami, but Nami didn't like Sanji, Zolo liked Luffy, and she wasn't sure if Luffy liked Zolo, and Usopp was calling himself the captain, but he wasn't. Oh, how utterly and annoyingly confusing. Her head hurt.
"Everyone out!" a voice suddenly called. It was Zolo.
"What's wrong Zolo? Want her all to yourself?" Nami asked teasingly. Zolo gave her a quick glare and then shooed them out. He had noticed that Mystery was getting a little tense and thought that perhaps she needed some time alone. Zolo followed everyone else out and then Nami turned to him while they were alone in the hallway.
"Alright Zolo. What's going on?" she asked. Zolo glared at her.
"What the hell are you on about?" Zolo responded. Nami gave him a quick, evil smile.
"I know you're gay. You're about as straight as Chopper's curly straws." she said. Zolo felt his cheeks grow warm. "What are you doing protecting this girl and not going after the one you love… namely Luffy?"
"That is none of your business." Zolo replied as he pushed past. Nami grabbed his shirt and Zolo's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Listen sister, I don't need to answer anything you ask. I the first mate, which means I have a higher rank than you. If we got into a fight, Luffy, more importantly, the captain, would be on my side so back off!" Zolo said dangerously.
Nami let go of the back of his shirt with a little squeak that Zolo was sure was a slight slip up of fear. He smiled and walked up on deck, one hand resting on the hilts of his swords. This might end up being an alright day after all.
Ok, more chappies to come yet. from the next chapter on it sort of gets a little weird, but, I'll try and fix it. It'll get goo, I promise! Zolo plushies for reviewers and me! he he
