-Dominoes-
A One Piece Fanfic by Digitaldreamer
Chapter Nine: …And Into the Fire
Well, here we are, yet another chapter of Dominos. I'm kind of sad about this chapter, not because of how it came out, but because of how I had to write it.
You see, the power cell in my computer, Nanasawa, died on Thursday, and with it went her. Fortunately I was able to salvage most of my files, but poor Nanasawa is gone, and I'm unsure as to when she'll be fixed. Let us all mourn her passing.
Right, so this chapter was typed on my mom's computer. I'm not used to this keyboard at all, so I apologize for any spelling mistakes.
Other than that, I'm pretty proud of this chapter. I noticed I focus a bit too much on only Zoro and Luffy's mindset in my fics, so I decided to challenge myself and focus more on the other crewmembers. Hopefully I did alright...
Right, so no Luffy torture this chapter, lucky you. It's still really depressing however, so if you're looking for a pick-me up and some yummy Zoro/Luffy interaction after this; go read a fic my friend Charlett is writing for me, The Bards Song. It's very cute and she has a lot of witty humor in there, as well as lots of lovely character interaction. It really deserves more recognition than it's getting, so if you could drop by and leave a review it'd make me happy.
Right, on with the fic!
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11:58 PM
The streets of Vendetta Island were so different at night from what they were during the day. While in the sunlight the place was a bustling port town, filled with people shuffling through their everyday lives, at night it was a chilling, dead place. The wind howled through the empty streets, giving the entire place a hollow sort of feel. It blew the bare limbs of trees together, making their branches look like twisted limbs of shadow reaching for the sky above. The drizzle from earlier had cleared, leaving puddles here and there on the cobblestone, soaking piles of dead leaves and caking them together.
The town square in particular was quiet, save for the constant sound of water trickling from the angels upon the marble fountain like several small water falls. The sound of the water rushing filled the square, the liquid reflection of the streetlights glistening on the surface of the shallow pool.
It was quiet. Cold, quiet, and terribly lonely. She didn't like it.
"Y-You're sure this is where we're supposed to meet them?" Usopp stuttered from his spot in the middle of the square, looking rather awkward standing there with his knees quaking, a bag heavy with belli slung over his shoulder.
Nami nodded from her spot a few feet away on the edge of the fountain, the wind blowing her hair from her face. "They'll be here at midnight." She said calmly, patting her own sack.
Once again, things lapsed into silence again.
But things didn't seem silent. She swore she could hear the seconds ticking away in ears, echoing throughout the square, even though the great clock tower was silent as the minutes crept on.
Although they'd only been there a few minutes, it felt as if she and Usopp had been waiting for ages, as if every second took several minutes to pass. She would gaze up at that great stone clock tower for what felt like hours, and the minute hand wouldn't budge. Was the clock broken? No, that couldn't be right, it had moved…but it felt so slow…
11:59 PM
One minute to go.
She gazed up at the stone leaves that decorated it, made to look as if they slowly grew as they went down the clock, and they died as they went up it. It was an appropriate vision, the slow workings of time and how there was only so much of it. Nami wondered how far they were around that circle. How much more sand remained in the hour glass?
Was there enough time for her to rescue her nakama? Just how well was Luffy doing? He really hadn't looked good on the video…just how high was his fever?
Though she usually acted like the boy annoyed her, she was quite worried.
After all that he had done, Monkey D. Luffy could not die here. Not after all he had done for her. Her plan would make sure of that.
Her hands clenched into fists as she mentally counted down the seconds.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
The clock tower struck midnight. There was a loud chiming throughout the city as a bell in the tower chorused the hour, ringing once.
Usopp stared up at the clock tower, gulping as his knees knocked together.
Twice.
Nami stood from her spot upon the edge of the fountain.
Three times.
A harsh wind blew through the square.
Four times.
Dead leaves flew across the cobblestone streets, getting caught in puddles.
Five times.
Usopp's fingers tightened into a fist around the handle of his slingshot.
Six times.
Nami straightened her skirt to feel the slight bumps of the pieces of the Clima Tact strapped to her upper thigh beneath it, ensuring it was there.
Seven times.
The water in the fountain stopped trickling.
Eight times.
The streetlights flickered.
Nine times.
Usopp bit his lip in an attempt to stop his teeth from chattering.
Ten times.
Nami sucked in a breath, feeling the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
Eleven times.
The wind blew again, caressing their faces with icy fingers.
Twelve times.
A tall woman in a tight, black leather trench coat came stepping out of the shadows, the ends flapping out from behind her like a cape. She stepped through one of the puddles, barely wetting the soles of her combat boots. Short silver hair shined in the light, her frigid blue eyes seeming to glow in the night.
She came to a stop before them, the cat ears atop her head easily recognizable.
"Good evening."
---
They didn't even bother trying to make their entrance quiet.
With the song of steel slicing through steel the thick metal door of the lighthouse clattered to the floor in three separate pieces, a wave of fire in its wake that forced the guards back. They shielded their faces from the flames, confusion written all over their faces as they came back to swirl around three forms in the doorway.
Chopper stood in his man beast form, fists clenched at his sides, muscles rippling under bristling fur as he stomped in, eyes narrowed from beneath the brim of his hat. His teeth were pulled into a snarl, easily resembling the monster he had come to be known as back home.
Ace stood beside him as the flames swirled around them at his command, a living inferno. The flickering orange light tinted his face, giving his eyes a maniacal sort of gleam.
Zoro rounded off their trio, a dark, grim figure standing at the end of the line. His fists were clenched around the hilt of his katana, the blades reflecting the light from Ace's flames. His eyes were narrowed from beneath the edge of his black bandanna, the eyes of a demon.
"It's-It's Roronoa Zoro!" Someone finally cried, voice shaking with fear.
That was the only thing he managed to get out before chaos erupted.
The steel crates that filled the room were sent flying as the three men charged. Flames erupted throughout the room, devouring storage boxes, melting railings on the stairs, scorching flesh. Furry fists slammed into faces, the sound of bones cracking and an animalistic roar filled the air. Three bladed death whirling through the room like a tornado, sending spurts of blood and screams into the air as the owner of the katana moved faster than the human eye could see.
Five seconds later, the chaos stopped. The final Kuroneko pirate dropped to the floor with a groan. Zoro, Ace, and Chopper stood in the middle of what was now a completely destroyed room. Broken glass littered the floor, melted storage crates strewn here and there like pieces of collapsed buildings. There had been about twenty guards in all, but they were all laying on the concrete floor now, clutching at their wounds and writhing in pain.
"Did we get them all?" Chopper finally spoke.
"I think so. Doesn't really matter, it's not like these small fry can do anything. They're not what we're here for." Ace said with a shrug, blowing out the last of a flickering flame from his index finger.
Zoro gazed down at the guard at his feet before kicking him with his boot. The guard gave a groan of pain. The swordsman watched him for a moment, then lowered the blade of Yubashiri to the man's throat.
"P-Please don't kill me! I-I was only d-doin' what Captain Kuro told me to do! Please, I have kids!" The man whimpered, blood dribbling down his chin.
The swordsman's upper lip curled a bit. He hated it when they begged. "I don't care. If you want to live, you'll tell me what I want to know."
"I-I'll do whatever you say, please just don't kill me!"
"Shut the hell up," Zoro hissed, eyes flashing dangerously. "And just tell me where my captain is."
---
Yumi didn't bother with making any sort of conversation. She was very short, quick, and to the point, her curt way of speaking having a way of putting you on edge.
"Did you bring the money?"
Usopp glanced at Nami, hazel eyes wide and panicked. He was quivering where he stood, teeth chattering quite audibly. Damnit, he hated this. Why did he have to be so scared? Why couldn't he even just act brave, just this once? He always told all these stories about how brave he was, but when it came down to it he just couldn't bring himself to act how he always said he would.
Even now, he found himself thinking of those stories he told. Someday, when he went back to Syrup Village and Kaya, he'd tell them true stories about his adventures. He wasn't so sure if he was going to tell them this one.
Even if he did, he wouldn't tell them that he was scared.
He looked at Nami and saw her expression waver for a moment before putting on a confident smile. If she could do it so easily, why couldn't he?
Probably because he was so aware of what a risk they were taking. He'd found himself thinking of it several times over, of how insane this all was. Zoro couldn't stop this woman from taking Luffy, what could they do against this woman? He and Nami weren't monsters like Luffy or Zoro or Sanji, they were just regular people! He wasn't strong or fast or brave or skilled or anything that he said he was! If they screwed up, he and Nami would undoubtly die!
And if he died, he wouldn't be able to tell Kaya about how he wasn't scared.
But in spite of these possibilities, he would have to act like he was supposed to, act confident and brave even when he didn't feel that way. So he did.
"You bet we do! We have it right here, all one hundred million!" Nami finally declared, patting the heavy sack she had at her side.
Usopp gave a sigh of relief, glad he didn't have to be the one to say it. That was all there was to it, right? Now he just had to hope things went according to plan. That he actually sounded confident, as opposed to how he felt.
Yumi stared at them for a moment before speaking. "Very well, then. Bring them here."
"Hold it. If we give you this money, will we get our captain back?" Nami spoke up, a dubious expression on her face.
"We shall discuss it once the ransom has been paid." Yumi said calmly. "Now hand it to me." She held out her hands, leather-clad palms up.
Nami glanced at Usopp and nodded. The boy swallowed, and together the two stepped towards the tall woman in black.
The distance seemed so much farther than it should have been. Their footsteps seemed to echo in the night as they drew closer and closer, boots clicking against the cobblestone. But as they drew nearer, Usopp felt the desire to turn tail and run grow stronger.
What if they screwed up? What if something went wrong? What if this didn't work, what if they got killed? What if the plan fell through and Luffy died too?
He didn't want to be here. He wanted so much to be back on the Going Merry, sitting the guy's cabin with a cup of hot chocolate, telling yet another tall tale as Luffy and Chopper listened with wide eyes. Maybe, someday, he'd tell them about this.
But he wouldn't tell them that he was scared.
At last they got close enough and Usopp pulled the heavy sack off of his back, listening to its contents shuffle inside it. He placed it in Yumi's hand, feeling goosebumps prickle upon his skin at the close vicinity. The air around the woman seemed colder, somehow.
The moment Usopp handed her his half he scuttled backwards, hands clenched into fists at his sides to keep from rubbing his arms. Nami fell into step beside him, holding her breath.
How long would she buy it?
Yumi held up the sacks for a few moments, then tentatively opened one. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Construction paper?" She hissed, turning over the sack and dumping it out. Sure enough, several hundred wads of multicolored paper cut into the shape of bills fell to the puddle-covered ground below with a splash! She dumped out the other sack, letting more multicolored "bills" flutter to the ground.
The silver-haired woman tossed the now empty sacks aside, frigid blue eyes now fixated on them. Usopp flinched, feeling his entire body shake uncontrollably as his wide, terrified eyes met those bloodthirsty ones.
Why did they have to do this? That woman was going to kill them! He was going to die here and he'd never be a Great Pirate of the Sea and he'd never get to tell Kaya all his amazing stories or anything! Why had they done this in the first place?
"That's right! It's all fake." Nami spoke up with a smirk. Usopp glanced at her, eyes wide. What was she doing? "You know why? You don't hold all the cards anymore! We don't need to pay your stupid ransom, because we already know where Luffy is! You're not the ones in control here!"
Yumi's eyes flashed. "You!" She hissed before suddenly springing towards Nami, claws aimed to tear out the navigator's throat. Usopp let out a cry, jumping backwards…
"COLLIER SHOOT!" Sanji's voice suddenly rang through the air as a streak of black slammed into Yumi, knocking her away and sending her flying into a wall.
Usopp watched with wide eyes as Sanji landed in front of Nami, flicking a few ashes from his cigarette. "Normally I wouldn't hit a lady, but attacking Nami-san is simply unacceptable." He drawled before looking to Nami. "Are you hurt at all, Nami-san?"
Nami gave a sigh of relief. "No, I'm fine. You were right on cue, Sanji-kun, thank you."
Sanji grinned, sticking the cigarette back into his mouth as he turned towards Yumi, whom was standing. She scowled before crouching down, making as if to jump again, her forearms crossed before her.
"Nadeln des-"
"Tres Fleur!"
Yumi let out a gasp as three long, tanned arms sprouted themselves from her body, grabbing her own arms and tugging them back as a third snatched onto her ankle and kept her rooted to the ground.
"I'm afraid you're a bit outnumbered this time, Kuroneko-san." Robin spoke as she stepped out from an alleyway, arms crossed before her, sapphire eyes narrowed.
Yumi stared at them with wide eyes, silver hair falling into her face as she struggled against Robin's grip.
"Like I said, you're not the one with all the cards this time." Nami said with a smirk, whipping out her Clima Tact and snapping it together.
Usopp watched this all silently, eyes wide. How could they all be so confident? But he wasn't quire sure why he was wondering. He knew why. Their nakama was in danger, and after all that he had done for them, they would do anything to get him back.
Smiling, he reached for his sling shot with a shaking hand.
Yes, he was still scared. Yes, he still knew they could die, but he didn't care.
Luffy was somewhere out there, dying because of what he had done to help Usopp save his village. This, of all things, was his battle, but he couldn't fight it alone. That was okay, because he didn't need to.
His nakama were there to help. He couldn't do much, but he would do what he could.
He owed it to his captain.
"Yeah, that's right! When you mess with one of the Luffy Pirates, you mess with all of us!" Usopp declared, even as his knees shook and his heart raced wildly; sweat coating his palm and nearly making his slingshot slip from it.
Maybe someday, when this was all over, he'd tell Luffy about the great battle that took place in the effort to save him.
He wouldn't tell Luffy that he was scared, and maybe by the end of it he wouldn't be lying.
---
Chopper was getting so sick of stairs. They seemed to go on and on in a downward spiral, the lights on the concrete walls hardly doing anything to light their way. The wooden steps creaked with their weight as he, Zoro, and Ace continued their way down the stairs as fast as they could.
The Kuroneko pirate had been quick to explain about the hidden door in one of the walls, and how it led to some stairs that lead deep below the lighthouse. They spiraled down and down, deep below the concrete block which the lighthouse had been forged upon, to a hidden room deep beneath the surface of the sea. It had been made as a hiding place for a rich family's gold, but it had a crueler purpose now.
It would be the perfect place for torturing someone. No one, regardless of how close they were, even if they were in the lighthouse, would hear the victim's screams.
No wonder Kuro had chosen this place as his hideaway.
The reindeer's hands clenched into fists as he thought of this, new energy surging through his limbs. He had experienced much cruelty in life, but this was new.
How could someone do something like that? Completely tear another human being apart like that? When they were sick no less?
It brought to mind the memory of when Doctrine had healed Dalton shortly after Wapol had turned tail and ran. He hadn't let her heal everything completely, saying the scars would serve as a reminder. Remember the past and take a step towards the future, so no one else would have to suffer again.
Chopper was damn well going to heal Luffy's scars. All of them.
But they would have to get to him first.
At long last, the stairs finally ended and Chopper's bare feet hit cold concrete. There before them was the door, just a tall thing made of plain, cold steel. The only thing separating them from rescuing Luffy.
Ace glanced at Zoro, then nodded. He didn't need to, as Zoro was already falling into his stance..
With a single slash the door collapsed as if it had been made of paper and not steel. The two halves fell to the floor with a noisy CLANG!
And that was it. They were in.
The room was rather small; it's thick walls concrete like the floor, and barely furnished. A single lightbulb hung overhead, swinging back and forth thanks to the shock Zoro's destruction of the door had caused. A long, thick metal chain hung from the ceiling, a sort of crank that made it so the chain could be lowered or pulled higher just barely visible in the shadows. It was a bit creepy, in it's bareness.
But other than these things, the room was empty. No Luffy, no Captain Kuro, no one.
"…Where is he?" Chopper finally spoke as he shrunk to his regular size and looked around, face scrunched up. His blue nose twitched…something about this room smelled really weird…familiar, but weird. "I thought this was the place? Were we wrong?"
"Nah, we weren't wrong. This is definitely the place." Ace said grimly as he stepped around the room, studying the walls a bit closer. He ran his fingers lightly over the rough concrete. "You see this? It's dried blood."
Chopper's eyes widened as he glanced at the walls. It was indeed quite true, there were several smears that covered the walls, as if someone had been thrown against them and slid to the floor. Blood caked various spots on the concrete floor, stuck to it in dried, crusty puddles of reddish brown.
Well, that explained the smell. It was blood.
"M-maybe it's not Luffy's…" Chopper stuttered as he covered his mouth. He felt sort of sick to his stomach now. "Could be someone else's…"
But even as he spoke, he knew it wasn't true. The coppery smell was recent, hardly even a few hours old. There was also the smell of sea salt, tinted with the scent of meat and straw.
Luffy. He could never misplace that scent.
Then there was one that he couldn't place, the scent of leather, some sort of oil….and blood. Lots of it.
Probably that Kuro man.
"They were probably here up until a few hours ago, then they left. You smell it, right Chopper?" Ace asked, glancing at the reindeer, who nodded quickly. The Whitebeard pirate turned to Zoro, whom was crouched to the floor at the center of the room, just below the dangling lightbulb and chain. "They knew."
"Yeah." Zoro murmured as he ran his hand over the floor. While other places were dotted with bits of dried blood, this area was covered in it, textured with bumps where the crimson liquid had pooled and hardened.
That was Luffy's blood that had been spilled.
He stood once again and turned to face his companions, holding two objects in his hands.
A battered straw hat and a black Video Den Den Mushi with the Kuroneko insignia.
"They knew we were coming." Zoro said, his fist clenching around the tattered brim of the straw hat, feeling the rough woven straw poke into his palms. "They knew we were coming, and they took him again." His jaw clenched into a grimace, eagle-like eyes glaring at the Video Den Den Mushi in his palm.
And then the Den Den Mushi's eyes suddenly snapped open. Light from them shined onto the nearest wall, once again forming a picture on the wall.
There was Kuro, standing in a large room. A soft, sea-greenish light shined upon his tall, thin form, reflecting off of his glasses from a window. He pushed them up with a palm, a smirk upon his face.
"Good Evening, Straw Hats. I'm sure you'll appreciate the fact that this is a live transmission from in town."
Zoro's eyes narrowed, his fist clenching around the Den Den Mushi hard enough to nearly break it as he watched screen. Chopper gave a small squeak of surprise, while Ace turned from his observations of the room to watch.
"I suppose by now you'll have noticed that your Captain is no longer in the lighthouse. Terribly sorry that he couldn't be there to greet you, but he's a bit tied up at the moment. Don't worry though, he is alive for the moment." Kuro said, his smirk twisting into a cruel grin.
"I just wanted to make sure that you saw this…" He made a gesture and the camera turned towards the window, which showed a glassy view of the town square. The streetlights flickered, the light reflecting off of the calm waters of the fountain in the center of the square.
And there was Sanji, getting thrown against a brick wall with a loud CRACK! He slid to the ground, looking dazed.
Nami, Usopp, and Robin were standing around Yumi, whom was standing with her forearms crossed before her, silver hair flaring around her.
"Seis Fleur!" Robin called out, six arms appearing from Yumi and grabbing her.
"Lightning Tempo!" Nami cried, holding up her Clima Tact as lightning sparked from the newly made clouds and towards Yumi.
"Kayaku Boshi!" Usopp yelled, shooting one of his gunpower-filled punchiko towards the silver-haired woman.
Things seem to slow for a few moments as Yumi watched the attacks come, then smirked.
"Verschwinden Sie!" She suddenly sunk down into the shadows cast by the flickering street lamps, completely vanishing as Nami and Usopp's attacks completely missed her.
Robin let out a sudden cry of pain, uncrossing her arms as welts appeared upon them. She glanced around, eyes narrowed. "Where did she go?"
"Forgive me, but I have my orders. You aren't included in them, Nico Robin. Nadeln des Schattens!" Yumi's voice suddenly cried out, and the archeologist let out a cry of pain as thousands of dark needles slammed into her, embedding themselves into her back. A steel-toed boot caught her in the back, sending her stumbling foreword.
"As you can see, your crewmates aren't doing very well. Given how weak they are, you wouldn't mind if I took a few, would you?" Kuro's voice came from behind the camera, dripping with malice.
Usopp and Nami remained standing, back to back as they glanced around for their enemy, whom had vanished into the shadows again. The streetlights flickered, the wind blew once more.
Zoro's eyes widened. Luffy was bad enough as it was, she wasn't going to-
"Umhang der Schatten!"
The entire town square was suddenly plunged into darkness, making seeing anything completely impossible. There came the sound of Usopp's loud cry and Nami's high-pitched scream, then silence.
The darkness ebbed away like water draining from a sink, revealing the light from the streetlights once again.
But the square was empty. Nami and Usopp were gone.
Sanji got to his feet, blood trickling from a wound on his head as he looked around. . "Nami-san? Nami-san?" He cried, eyes widening. He glanced this way and that, frantic.
"It's no use. They're gone." Robin spoke up, getting to her feet. "I don't think we were the only one's with some sort of plan tonight."
The cook didn't seem to be listening as he continued to call Nami's name, stumbling a bit as he walked through the square. However. After a few minutes he finally stopped, breathing heavily.
"Nami-san…"
The camera panned away from the window to Kuro once again. The man was silent for a moment, letting things sink in.
"Did you really think that plan of yours was going to work? Did you truly think you could outsmart me? Did you really think I wouldn't know that in that video I let you see where I was hiding? I let you see, so you could come here and witness this. Know that I've outsmarted you all yet again. Know that you failed." He smirked.
"Bastard." Ace hissed, sparks jumping from his muscular frame as his hands clenched into fists.
"I remember each of you who were involved in the mess at Syrup Village. I remember you all. Did you think only your captain would get his just desserts? No, I had a plan for each of you. The liar, the thief…and the swordsman. Right, Roronoa?"
Zoro tensed, his eyes flashing as his fist clenched around the hilt of his katana. That sick bastard was speaking to him, directly?
"I'm going to tear your Sniper and Navigator apart for opposing me. I think it will do good for my little toy, to watch his nakama die before he meets his fate. However, I don't think any sort of physical pain would leave the right impression on you. But that's fine, because I know how you are with your loyalty. The others will die, but you, on the other hand, will live. The others will suffer and never be able to realize their dreams, while you on the other hand will continue to pursue yours by yourself, knowing that they can't do the same because you failed." Kuro's smirk again became a sadistic grin, his eyes gleaming as he chuckled.
The swordsman glared at the man, his teeth clenching so hard he felt they might break. He wanted so badly to just reach into that damn screen and wipe that stupid grin off of his enemy's face, but he knew that was impossible. He wanted so badly to tear him limb from limb for laughing at all of this, for deceiving them, for taking his nakama, for hurting Luffy, for everything.
But he couldn't do anything. All he could do was watch and silently fume.
The worst part was knowing how right Kuro was. If his plan went as Kuro said, it would effect Zoro so much worse than any sort of physical pain could have. Before meeting Luffy he wouldn't have cared, but now…the thought of his nakama dying and him being unable to do anything to prevent it…to go on without them, without Luffy by his side, hurt so much more than physical pain.
If they died, if he died, a part of him would die with them. Something that had developed over the long time spent on that ship, whether he had wanted it or not.
That was all there was to it.
"Well, I do believe that is all. I need to go greet the new arrivals and all. Don't even bother trying to find them, you won't." He turned and began walking away.
"Your nakama will die. Your captain will die. Hear those words and know the despair that fills your heart with the fact that I have finally won."
The Video Den Den Mushi shut off, and once again the room was silent.
---
To Be Continued…
Ah I know, that was horribly depressing! I'm sorry! Feel free to throw rocks at me when you review, alright?
