-Dominoes-

A fanfic by Digitaldreamer

Chapter Six: Defiance

Wow…this is strange. I'm updating...in less than a month? What's wrong with me? (Dunno, but it's scaring the beta reader)

It seems I'm actually…seriously enjoying writing this. It's been awhile since I honestly enjoyed writing anything, for the past few months it's felt like I'm just puttering along to appease all the TW readers, working my tired muses beyond their capacity. But now…I look forward to writing this. It isn't a chore, it's something I honestly enjoy doing.

It's nice to have that feeling back.

I write fanfiction. It's just something I do, some way to get all the adventures my mind plays out for someone else's creations out of my head. I take pride in knowing I can take someone's characters and keep them fairly IC, I take pride in knowing people read my work and honestly enjoy it in spite of how crappy I insist it is.

Unfortunately, the knowledge that I have readers gives me a sense of responsibility as well. I feel like I have to write to make you all happy, even when I don't feel like it and I'd rather do something else. Of course, this responsibility does little to help me actually write, when I don't feel like writing it just makes me feel very stressed.

But that stress is gone now. I'm writing for myself again, and I'm enjoying doing it. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't mind feedback. On the contrary, I appreciate you all even more for giving me words of encouragement, praise, and critique, thank you all so much!

Right…so it's 2006! Whoo! Let's hope for a good year of One Piece, writing, and yaoi for all!

---

"Ugh…that's the last house. Should we check the shops?"

"No, Sanji and Robin have that area…"

"Ah…let's try the docks, then?"

"No, Zoro and Chopper have that area."

"Damnit Usopp, you're not helping!"

Usopp gulped, backing away a few paces from the clearly frustrated Nami. "I-I was just saying…maybe we should check the other side of town again, maybe there's an empty house we haven't checked yet!" he said nervously.

Nami sighed, shaking her head. "I doubt he's there…we've been searching for hours and we haven't found a single trace of him," she murmured. The navigator leaned against one of the empty buildings below one of the streetlights, sighing. "Where could they have taken him? It's not even that big of an island!" she exclaimed, grabbing fistfuls of her orange hair and pulling at it.

"W-well it's not that big of an island…so maybe the others will find him! Yeah! I'm sure they will!" Usopp said, placing his hands on his hips. "Yup! In fact, I bet they've already found him and brought him back to the ship! Zoro probably tore that Kuro guy limb from limb! Now Luffy's probably just fine, sitting there whining about how hungry he is and laughing because he's been miraculously cured of that stupid virus! He'll be sitting there whining and saying 'Sanji, feed me! I want meeeaaaat!' and then he'll laugh and…" He trailed off, looking over at Nami.

Nami gazed at Usopp for a moment before smiling softly and standing again. "Thanks, Usopp. But you don't have to tell stories for me," she said, shaking her head.

Usopp's face fell. "But it's not a story, it's a true one! It will be true, anyway!" he declared.

The navigator sighed, shaking her head. "Come on Pinnocho, let's go. I think I can see your nose growing the more you talk," she said, grabbing the sharpshooter's wrist and pulling him along.

Thank you Usopp…I just hope your little story will be a true one...

---

"Sorry madam, I haven't seen him."

Robin's cerulean eyes darkened for a moment before she smiled and bowed her head. "That's all right. Thank you anyway, Shopkeeper-san. Have a good night." With that, she turned and swept out of the shop.

Just as she exited Sanji came stepping out of the alleyway, the street lights casting shadows over his face. Robin turned her head to see him coming before speaking.

"I take it you've found nothing, Cook-san?"

"Nope. Same thing on every street, the most I found was a few garbage cans. No sign of any kind of hide-away, no sign of those damn pirates, no Luffy, no anything," Sanji muttered, his face suddenly thrown into detail as he flicked on his lighter. A few moments later the flame vanished and all the remained was a small glowing circle of orange that marked the end of his new cigarette.

Robin frowned. "Perhaps I should-"

"No, Robin-chan. A lady like yourself shouldn't be wandering through alleyways and slums," Sanji said with a shake of his head.

"Questioning the shopkeeper's did not reveal anything of use, Cook-san. Perhaps if we both searched your areas, we could find something. It would be in Captain-san's best interest, if he were there," Robin said pointedly.

Sanji gazed at her for a long moment before sighing. "Robin-chan is so very wise and thoughtful!" he gushed before turning. "All right then, follow me. If anyone attacks us, I'll protect my lovely lady."

The dark-haired woman gave a small smile before following the cook into the alley.

"It may not be me whom you have to protect…"

---

"Zoro! Zoro!"

Zoro stalked along the paths of concrete between the warehouses that lined the dock, hand resting upon the katana at his side. Eagle-like eyes glanced this way and that, alert, searching.

"Zoro, please slow down!"

Luffy had to be here somewhere. He just had to be! Zoro could just sense it somehow, he knew he was close.

"ZORO!"

The swordsman's eyes narrowed and he spun around. "What?" he snapped. His gaze then settled upon Chopper, whom was several paces behind him. The reindeer stared at him with wide eyes, panting for breath.

Zoro's gaze softened and he sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. He hadn't meant to snap at the doctor, he was just so frustrated. "Sorry. What is it, Chopper?" he asked, gentler this time.

"C-can we rest for a minute? We've been searching for hours…can we please just rest for a little bit?" the reindeer pleaded.

The swordsman opened his mouth to reply, to say no. They needed to look for Luffy, they didn't have time to rest! But one look at his exhausted crewmate and the swordsman found he couldn't bring himself to do so.

Yes, he needed to find his captain, but he had a responsibility to the rest of his nakama as well.

"All right…let's take a break," Zoro said, walking over to Chopper. The reindeer gave a sigh of relief and immediately plopped to the ground, propping himself up against the nearby wall of one of the warehouses.

Zoro leaned against the wall next to the reindeer, silently gazing out at the ocean. It was very dark out that night, as it was a new moon. Even so, the dim light from the town reflected off of the cool, dark water. Distantly Zoro could see the outline of a lighthouse out on the farthest dock, its light shining though the night.

There was a peaceful silence for a few moments, filled with nothing but the sounds of the waves rhythmically crashing against the docks. In spite of the relaxing feel of it, however, Zoro was restless. He really wanted to keep moving...

"…It's all so big," Chopper murmured, his voice filled with awe.

Zoro blinked in confusion. "What is?"

"The sky," the reindeer said simply.

The swordsman blinked again, gazing up at the sky. It was indeed incredibly large, like a great big, endless blanket of darkness that spread over the entire world. Millions of sparkling stars dotted it, going as far as the eye could see. Millions upon millions of tiny pin points of light upon a great black sky that seemed to stretch on forever and ever.

"Yeah…it is pretty big," Zoro said, fingers tracing along Wadou's hilt absently.

"…Kinda makes you feel really small, doesn't it? We're just on one little island underneath all that," Chopper said.

"Yeah…" Zoro trailed off, eyes gazing up at the stars. Kuina was somewhere up there…Mihawk was somewhere out underneath that vast blanket of darkness.

Luffy was out there somewhere.

"Zoro….we'll find Luffy, right?" Chopper spoke up after a few minutes of silence, his voice shaking a bit.

The swordsman's fist clenched around the katana hilt, his eyes narrowing. "Yes. We'll find him."

"But…we've searched everywhere. Every warehouse…we haven't found anything. Nothing to show Luffy's been anywhere…it's like he just disappeared," Chopper muttered. "What if we don't find him? What if he…" The reindeer trailed off, unable to voice the words.

Zoro stared out at the sea, unable to answer for awhile. What if Kuro had taken Luffy off of the island? If he had, the possibilities of where the boy had been taken grew the longer he was gone.

But somehow, the swordsman knew Luffy was on this island. There was no exclamation for how, he just knew. There was a constant tugging at his heart, like a string tied to it that tried to beckon him closer.

The swordsman suddenly stood up fully, pushing himself away from the wall. "He's here. I know he is. We can't afford to be unsure of ourselves. No more 'what if's'. We will find him."

Chopper looked up at Zoro for a moment in awe before standing and brushing himself off. "You're sure?"

"Yes. We can't afford to doubt ourselves. We will find him. I'll search the entire damn island if I have to. I will find him, I swore I would," the swordsman said.

He wasn't entirely sure when his thoughts evolved from the entire crew finding Luffy to simply he, himself finding Luffy, but it had. He felt it was his duty, his promise, his burden.

That was a first mate's job, right?

Just like with this, he wasn't entirely sure when that duty, that burden as the boy's first mate, had evolved to become nearly as important as his dream, but it had and that was all that mattered. A new purpose had emerged, a fierce loyalty, a wish to protect the captain he followed. A wish to keep the boy at his side, to be with him as long as he could, to support him.

And now he had failed at that duty. He would not rest until he found Luffy. If he could not keep this promise to himself, then how could he keep all the others he'd made?

"Zoro?" Chopper's voice jolted the swordsman from his thoughts, the reindeer having placed a small hoof on his arm. "I'm okay now. You're right, let's keep looking. We'll find him, I know we will," he said with a smile.

The swordsman glanced at Chopper before nodding and beginning to walk once more.

"Yeah. Let's keep looking."

---

Cold. It was cold, so cold. Wherever he was, it was freezing.

"He has several broken ribs, several of which seem to have caused internal bleeding. The broken fingers don't seem to have done anything horrible, but your incisions have caused him to lose massive amounts of blood."

Luffy shivered, a stab of pain shooting through him from the movement. Why did it hurt so much?

"Some people would have died from blood loss by now, sir. But that isn't the entire point…by not bothering to clean those wounds, they've been left to become infected."

In spite of how cold he was, he was coated in sweat. For a few moments the boy found this to be strange, but then everything became cloudy again and he wondered why he had found it strange. What had he found strange?

"Your point?"

It felt as if he was floating, drifting through the clouds that fogged his mind. Just floating along with no care or thought, though he somehow felt that he should care about something, that something was seriously wrong.

"…He's dying, sir. The bacteria from the infection has started to mutate the virus beyond what it was, making it far more dangerous than before. That combined with the blood loss…by all means, he should already be dead."

His entire body tensed as he let out a harsh, barking cough, which brought something warm from his throat. He promptly spit it out and paid it no heed after that, as the simple tensing of muscles awoke the horrible pain upon his back once again, as if he were stretching a great wound.

"Then you'd better make it so he's not dying, now shouldn't you? That is your job, after all. I want him dead, yes, but not until my vengeance is complete, so you'd better ensure he stays alive."

But no, it didn't just hurt…it itched too, because it was covered in something. Caked with dried blood, far too much of it.

"I'm leaving for a few hours. If I don't come back and find him in good enough condition to continue our little 'games', I'll use you as a substitute!"

Of course, it didn't really matter. He was already drifting once again, drifting into the darkness, floating along in the chilly surf of the cool water…

Suddenly, everything was warm and bright. The sound of waves crashing upon a shore filled his ears, their slow, rhythmic sounds soothing to the boy's ears. Palm trees swayed in the wind, gulls called to each other in the sunset. Luffy was no longer tied up; instead he lay upon a great white beach, stretched out in the warm white sand. His pain, the chill, all of it seemed to have left his body, leaving him feeling relaxed and refreshed, if a bit drowsy.

"About time you woke up, I was getting worried."

"Zoro?" Luffy mumbled, recognizing the swordsman's voice. He blinked, trying to sit up and find the source of it. However, even with all his pain gone, the pirate captain couldn't seem to summon any strength. After a few moments of struggling he collapsed back into the sand, panting.

He then felt someone heavier than him sink into the sand behind him, which was followed by a pair of strong, rough, calloused hands gently wrapping around him and lifting him up. Luffy was then deposited into the swordsman's lap, his head resting just beneath Zoro's chin.

Luffy blinked, confused. "Zoro…why are we-"

"Shh. No more talking. Just sit still and relax for awhile, okay?" the swordsman murmured into the boy's ear. He ruffled his hand through Luffy's hair affectionately. The younger of the two leaned back against Zoro and the swordsman wrapped his arms around the boy, holding him close.

And so they stayed there for awhile, just the two of them, no words being shared. They didn't need them. There was the sky, the sea, the warm sand, and the two of them, and for that moment that was all that mattered. Just the sound of the waves, the gulls overhead, and their breathing.

They had their dreams, somewhere along that vast sea. They were both solely focused upon those dreams, willing to let nothing stand in their way. There was a kinship there, a connection they shared, two souls that fought and bled for their dream and to protect their nakama, side by side. Both were strong on their own…but together there was a sense of completeness there, a sense of wholeness.

And as Luffy listened to Zoro's breathing, felt the swordsman's heart beating with his, he felt that. And for that moment, just for this moment, that was all that mattered.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, Luffy spoke again. "What are we doing here, Zoro?"

The swordsman was silent for a moment. "…You were sick. Very sick. You've been asleep for days."

"Oh…then was everything else just a dream?" Luffy inquired.

"Everything else?" Zoro repeated, raising an eyebrow as he ran his fingers through the boy's short, soft hair.

"…never mind." the boy said with a smile. "Dreams…are nice. But I prefer the real thing."

"Really?" Zoro said, hand moving from Luffy's hair to his neck, slowly tracing towards his back. "Then…wake up!" With that, the swordsman suddenly slammed his palm against Luffy's shoulder blades.

Luffy's eyes suddenly snapped open and he let out a scream, throwing his head back as he writhed in agony. His face twisted in agony as his entire body jerked, his unbroken fingers twitching as they tried to find something to grip onto, anything to give him some form of release from the pain coursing through him. But no, they were tied once again, and he was back in the small, dark room.

"Doctor, what's going on?"

"One of the attacks from the virus. It's a strange sort of thing…first it somehow draws forth memories that trigger the chemical that brings forth pleasure, and once the infected person is weakened by these, it attacks. It should pass in a few minutes."

"…Interesting. Thank you doctor, that will be all."

The pirate captain only just barely registered the sounds of a door closing as someone walked out. It didn't really matter, however, as the boy continued to thrash, using up any energy he had gained during his few hours of reprieve. It hurt…it hurt so much. It felt like the pain was some sort of pressure, slowly crushing him inward, slowly crushing bones and organs to dust.

A high-pitched noise was ringing in his ears as his heart thumped wildly, body shaking as he tried to curl up into a ball, to get away from the pain though it was inside of him. He wanted to go back to the dream, for he knew it was only a dream now, the one where Zoro was there and he was happy…but he couldn't. No, he was trapped here in harsh reality, where nothing but pain seemed to be there to greet him.

After what seemed like hours, though it had only been a few minutes, the pain finally subsided. Luffy slumped forward in his bonds, muscles twitching involuntarily as he hyperventilated.

The sound of clapping filled his ears, though Luffy could not seem to summon the energy to turn his head to find the source of the sound.

"Wonderful show...yet another interesting side-effect of that virus of yours. It certainly looks painful. Of course, this may have to do with my….handiwork." Cold fingers brushed over the shining, red skin around the wings carved into the boys back. Luffy let out an involuntary hiss of pain as those fingers traced around the wound, going over his now clean back.

"I must admit, these aren't quite as pretty with all the blood gone. They looked much better before…such a shame we had to clean it or you'd die too soon." The fingers traced along Luffy's spine, going over one little hill after the other, causing the boy to shudder.

"Do you know why they hurt so much?" Kuro inquired a grin on his face. "The dear doctor told me his theory on the matter, would you like to hear?"

Luffy was silent, his shoulders heaving as he struggled to breath.

"Hikemeia is a special kind of virus, well, in a way it's more of a parasite than a virus. It takes hold on the body and incubates a few days before manifesting itself, gathering near the shoulder blades. That's why the marks appear, because as the bacteria multiply, there's so many below the skin that it actually becomes visible from outside the body. The virus then proceeds to trigger chemicals that allow its victim pleasure, allowing them to see their greatest desires. This weakens the body so the virus can swarm through it, eating away at your system," Kuro explained as his finger tips trailed back up to the reddened skin around the wounds.

"That pain that you feel is beyond physical pain. Any normal human could not stand it, the feeling of individual molecules slowly being eaten away. Scratching at the marks or simply applying a tiny bit of pressure..." At this he suddenly pressed his finger upon the edge of one of the wounds, not even upon the actual wings themselves.

"AUUUGGGGGGGHHHH!" Luffy let out a strangled cry, his voice coming out hoarse from previous screams. He bucked, fingernails digging into the tender flesh of his palms as he threw back his head. As he twitched and shuddered uncontrollably, Kuro continued to speak.

"As I said, applying pressure causes the bacteria to run wild and flood through your system. Painful enough by itself…but it seems my handiwork has done something I did not anticipate." Kuro removed his finger, wiping it upon Luffy's back as if he'd touched something dirty.

"Ordinarily, the virus's maximum strength is not enough to kill a victim. Eventually the victim's cells adapt to fight the virus off and exterminate it on it's own. However, by opening the marks and exposing them, the wounds have become infected. Doing so seems to have strengthened the virus. It could not kill you before, but it could now. Interesting, hm?" Luffy's captor finally stepped around to face him, dark eyes watching him with cruel amusement twinkling within them.

Luffy hung there for a few moments, his body still shaking from remembered agony, though his face was twisted into one of defiance as his chest rose and fell. Finally, after a few moments he seemed to find his voice. "Not really."

Kuro rose an eyebrow. "You don't think so? Don't you care about what's happening to your body? I suppose it'd be good to know what's going to kill you. Good to at least know what you fear."

"But I'm not afraid, because it's not going to kill me. Chopper will heal me," Luffy said simply.

The Kuroneko captain's eyes narrowed. "Is that so? You think you're going to survive this ordeal, do you?"

The boy nodded before letting out another barking cough. "Yup. I don't care what you say, I don't care what you do. I'm not scared, and I'm not going to lose to you," he said with a fierce grin.

Kuro smirked. "It isn't a matter of winning or losing. You've already lost. This is a matter of how long it takes that spirit of yours to break, how long it will take before you're wishing for that virus to kill you and end it all."

"But that'll never happen. I told you, I won't break, I won't lose, and I won't die. I can't, not until I achieve my goal."

The dark-haired man's smirk fell. Then, slowly, he reached behind his back, picking something up…

And quite suddenly he was behind the boy, the frigid edge of his claws pressed against the boys throat, though not with enough pressure to draw blood.

"Who do you think I am? I am Captain Kuro of the Thousand Plans, feared throughout the Grand Line! The fact that you defeated me once was a mere fluke!" he hissed, pressing his claws down just enough to draw a line of blood. "There will not be a second time. I am going to destroy you, torture you to the point where what little bit of a mind that you happen to possess is completely shattered!"

"If you're trying to scare me, it's not working." Luffy said calmly, interrupting Kuro's rant.

Kuro's face remained stony. He slowly began to trace his claws lightly over the boys chest. "Not frightened? Either you're bluffing, or you're a fool. I am in complete control here. Regardless of how long it takes you, you cannot last forever. Here I control your life, and if I so choose, your death." As he spoke, Kuro slowly began to apply pressure upon the blades, drawing a thin line of crimson over the boy's stomach.

Luffy winced as warm blood trickled from this new wound, but otherwise gave no hint that he even felt the cut. "I told you, I'm not scared. Death isn't that scary."

"Tsk. Fool," Kuro murmured. "Then again, by the time I'm through with you, you'll be begging for death anyway." As he spoke he continued to trace thin gashes over the boy's abdomen, like an artist creating his guidelines for a detailed painting.

The boy's breath hitched as the cold air hit the new wounds, but other than that he still gave no reaction. It really was nothing; the rope that tore at his aching wrists was far more painful. "I won't beg," he said simply.

"Oh really?" Kuro rose an eyebrow before tugging off one glove, then without warning suddenly jammed his finger into one of the still healing wounds on Luffy's back.

Luffy's eyes widened and he let out a strangled noise, however, this time he did not scream. Instead, he clamped his mouth shut, teeth grinding together as he fought to keep himself from screaming. He wasn't going to scream anymore! He refused to give Kuro that pleasure, refused to show that weakness.

It was so hard though. His entire body jerked helplessly, lost within throes of pain as he tried to keep control of the cries welling up from within him. His back arched, trying to struggle away from the source of the agony, but nothing seemed to stop it.

Kuro's eyes narrowed. "Trying to keep silent won't save you. You'll break in the end." With that he slowly began to drag his finger through the wound, fresh blood and an odd gunk that would have become a scab beginning to coat it as he continued along the horrid trail.

The rubber pirate's eyes squeezed shut as his body shook, face twisted with agony. His legs kicking weakly at the air involuntarily, as if the movement would propel him away from the source of torment. His fists twitched, he wanted so badly to grip onto something, bash his head against something, anything to distract him from the fire coursing through his veins, but there was nothing!

But he still did not utter a single scream. No sound came from his throat, save for the involuntary whimpers that he could not have prevented, and even these were muffled by tight lips.

Oh, how he wished to scream! Those fingers were digging into still nearly fresh wounds, the pain that was woken by these actions nearly as bad, perhaps worse, than the agony from hardly hours before. Though it would not stop the pain, screaming would be some form of release. But he had sworn not to beg, and so he wouldn't. It was as if the cries were fighting to be released, his frame shaking not only from pain but from the wails of agony that he was keeping bottled up.

Kuro suddenly dug the index finger upon his other hand into the other wing, causing Luffy's breath to hitch with shock and now intensified agony. The boy's mouth opened on reflex and a choked sound came from his mouth. He quickly jammed his mouth shut onto his lower lip, the sharp pain of alabaster teeth digging into his skin a wondrous distraction. He felt a warm liquid, blood, dribble over his chin, but he was only barely conscious of it.

The high-pitched ringing was ringing in his ears again, he was writhing, hot tears coming to his eyes and blurring his vision before he squeezed the blood-shot orbs shut and forced them away.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He opened his mouth, teeth coming away from his body lip, and screamed to the heavens.

"I WON'T GIVE IN TO YOU!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing through the chamber.

Kuro's eyes widened as he pulled his fingers from Luffy's wounds, dropping to his sides. "What did you say?" he hissed. How…he wasn't able to resist before...

Luffy hung there, panting, his entire body twitching. A sheen of sweat and blood covered his shaking form, reflecting in the light from the single bulb above him. "I-I said…I won't give in to you. My nakama will save me. How can I expect them to follow me if I don't be strong, for their sake? I won't break, and they will save me."

His captor stood there, silent for a moment. Then, wordlessly, he wiped his blood-soaked fingers upon the boys back and stepped around him again. Once again the light was reflecting off of the lenses of his glasses, preventing Luffy from seeing his expression.

Suddenly, without warning, his palm shot out and connected with the boy's face with a harsh SLAP!

There was silence for a moment as Luffy recoiled from the blow, a red mark burning upon his cheek as Kuro sneered up at him.

"You think your nakama will save you? You're wrong. They won't get here in time. You'll break, and then I'll let them find you, just so I can see the expressions on your precious crew's face when they set eyes upon the lifeless husk that you've become. How do you suppose they'll react? Do you suppose that poor navigator of yours will cry? What about your little doctor? Or your archeologist? Would she even care? She hardly knew you at any rate, so things may be easier for her. Your cook may care as well, but he seems to prefer the ladies anyway. Do you suppose that pathetic liar of yours will be scared and beg for a quick death as opposed to how yours went? Oh…and what about your swordsman? I-"

Kuro's speech, his promise of triumph, was interrupted by Luffy's spit hitting him in the face.

"Will you ever be quiet? It doesn't matter what you say or do, my nakama will save me!" he declared, defiance shining in his eyes like a burning flame.

The Kuroneko Captain stared at Luffy with smoldering eyes, fists clenching as his face twisted into one of rage, of complete and utter hatred and malice…

And suddenly, his face was completely calm.

Then, without a word, he walked past the boy, back into the dark. There was the sound of his footsteps, followed by the sound of a zipper being opened and something being drawn out of it. Then came the sound of something heavy uncoiling, the tip falling to the floor almost silently.

"While it is entertaining to watch your torment while hardly having to do anything, it seems to be beginning to become rather ineffective and a bit dull. I think it's time for something new, don't you agree?" Kuro's eyes gleamed beneath the lenses of his glasses as he rolled up his sleeves.

He wouldn't want them to become stained.

There was the sound of something like a rope whistling as it cut through the air, followed by a loud, resounding CRACK just above Luffy's head. The boy cringed, back tensing.

He recognized that sound, but he'd only heard it directed at the horses on the ranch on the outskirts of his home town. Never at him. Never meant for his back.

"Lets see…how about we start with seven lashes, for each of your incompetent crew members? After that, we can go for one for every awful day I've had to suffer through since your fluke of a victory?" Kuro drawled, fingers brushing over the smooth leather strap of the whip in his hands.

He then pulled back his arm, preparing this time to actually strike. "I will enjoy breaking that streak of defiance from you. Don't bother with thoughts of being rescued, go ahead and scream if you want."

"After all, no one can hear you here."

---

To Be Continued…

Well, there we go. The sixth chapter of Dominoes is complete, with lots of Luffy torture. I do hope I haven't killed off all my readers with this horror.

Anyway, I seem to have kidnapped the next Dominoes chapter, and the only way I will relinquish it is when I'm given a healthy ransom in reviews.

You'd better hurry and pitch in, it's shaping up to be a good one.

Next Chapter: We know Luffy can't swim with his powers, but can he now? Kuro seems to wish to find out…