Swordsman's Treasure
Grownups
It was full sail ahead for three days until the next island came into view. The Straw Hat pirates were ready to spend some of their newly acquired wealth. Thinking about how they were going to spend their share gave everyone little time to think of anything else. Zoro and Kisa quit squabbling and forgot about all other islands except for the one in their path, for the most part anyway. Maybole came into view just after breakfast and the Merry speed toward a busy looking port city. The ship docked and everyone but Chopper went ashore to spend a little.
Nami shopped to expand her wardrobe, Robin spent a considerable amount to expand her book collection and Luffy just expanded his waistline. Ussop walked all over town with Kisa while she looked for the shinobi mark. He kept the lens down over his left eye helping her search the big and bustling city. Ussop had missed crowds. Sanji went for groceries and Zoro wandered from one swords shop to the next until he was completely lost. Nami Robin and Sanji met up with Luffy for dinner. Ussop and Kisa had dinner together at an outdoor café with an ocean view. Zoro found a hot dog stand and a slushie vendor. Everyone had a great day.
When it started to get late everyone headed back to the ship except for Zoro. He was lost again. Sanji served up drinks in the galley and when Zoro didn't arrive after the second round he leaned over Kisa and said, "I think marimo is lost Ka swan. Would you…"
Kisa set her mug down. "I'll go find him. You owe me a drink." She slipped out to go look for Zoro.
Robin smiled at Sanji. "Ka chan go to find Zoro?"
Sanji lit a cigarette. "She has to doesn't she? She can find his dumb ass with her white eyes faster than any of us could." Sanji puffed his cigarette. "If he wasn't such a moron I'd almost say he gets lost on purpose just for those long romantic walks back to the ship with Ka swan"
Robin was being just a bit nosey but, "So Mr. Swordsman and Miss Ninja, have you noticed something Mr. Cook?"
Sanji peered at Robin through a cloud of smoke. "Something?"
She laughed lightly. "Maybe it's just my imagination."
Something…Zoro and Ka swan? "That asshole marimo is pretty good at pissing Ka swan off. He doesn't know when to shut up." Sanji puffed again. "Ka swan would bust Zoro's balls if the idiot put a move on her."
Robin giggled at Sanji's opinion. "She can be pretty hard on him."
"Ka swan is a beautiful lady and a capable fighter but she's downright fucking scary when she gets mad. If marimo is brave enough to chase that tail," Sanji sipped his wine. He thought of how surprised Kisa looked the morning she and Zoro came back to the Merry. "Maybe marimo can see past the scary."
Robin thought Zoro saw a lot when he looked at Kisa. "It's a shame he's so…"
"Stupid," Sanji finished for her. "Like Ka swan would ever settle for that dummy."
"Well," Robin raised her glass. "The grand line is long." She drank with Sanji.
It didn't take her long to find Zoro. They weren't too terribly far from the Merry either. He was wandering near the east dock when Kisa dropped from a rooftop behind him. "Yo Zoro."
Zoro turned around to face her. "Yo yourself." He sighed. "Where's the Merry?"
She smiled. "Not too far. This way." She started walking down the dock and Zoro followed. She was in a good mood tonight. She and Ussop had found a mark before dinner. "Did you spend a ton of money Zoro?"
"Naw, but I did pig out on some junk food." Hot dogs and slushies weren't the only thing Zoro just had to eat. "Carmel candy apple," he drooled.
Kisa rolled her eyes and tried not to laugh. She led them further down the pier. There was some activity down here even this late. People out and about walking around all over the place and the one that was coming up on her right, coming from the other way was…Griffith? Kisa stopped in her tracks watching him come.
Zoro stepped up next to Kisa. For a minute he thought she was being nice for a change and waiting up for him, but the look on her face blew that idea out of the water. He turned his head to see what exactly she was looking at. A guy with a long white ponytail passed beneath a streetlight twenty feet ahead and closing. The guy looked up and saw Kisa and startled. What the hell? Does Kisa know this guy? His hand fell to the hilt of his sword.
"Kisa?" Griffith hurried a few steps forward. It is! It's her! "Kisa!" Griffith ran to her. Kisa stepped forward and into his arms. Griffith hugged her hard. "You're alive! Thank the gods you're alive!"
"Griffith…" she squeezed him hard. It felt like it had been forever since she had seen another shinobi and Griffith was no stranger. "The others? Who's with you?" she felt her heart pounding.
"Judeau, Pippin, Ricket." Griffith lifted his hands to her face. "Kisa, we heard the Konoha sank with all hands aboard. I thought you were…I thought I lost you." He didn't wait a second longer. It had been over half a year since he had seen his love. Griffith pressed his lips to hers and kissed her.
What the fuck? Zoro grit his teeth. The guy was kissing Kisa. "Oi oi," Zoro stepped forward. "What the hell do you think you're doing buddy?"
Griffith pulled away from Kisa and looked over at the guy with green hair and three swords. "And you are?"
Kisa stepped between Zoro and Griffith. "It's okay Zoro, I know him. This is Umino Griffith. He's shinobi. We're from the same village." She turned her attention back to Griffith. "This is Roronoa Zoro; he's one of my nakama."
He's a ninja from Kisa's village! "That how you greet all the guys from your village?" Zoro grumbled mostly under his breath.
Griffith ignored Kisa's idiot friend for the moment. "You must come back to the Rasengan with me. Right now Kisa, this very minute. The others have to see that you're alright. They'll be so happy to see you. Almost as happy as I am." He took her hand and raised it to his lips. "I've missed you so much Kisa."
I'll bet you did asshole. There was no way Zoro was letting Kisa go anywhere with this guy alone. He cut his eyes over to her. Zoro wondered if she was getting pissed at this guy, her cheeks were kind of pink. "Oi Kisa, if you're going someplace with this guy then I'm going too."
Kisa looked at Zoro and then at Griffith. "I'd like for everyone to meet my nakama." She couldn't just ditch Zoro now. He'd get lost again.
Griffith smiled down at Kisa. "Anything you want."
Zoro watched Griffith slip his arm around Kisa's waist and start them towards his ship. That guy…walking with his arm around her. Just who the fuck does he think he is?
The Rasengan wasn't far and Griffith had them there in no time. They boarded and headed to the fore castle. Griffith let Kisa go in first. He heard their excited squeals as he walked in with Kisa's nakama behind him.
"Pippin Ricket Judeau!" Kisa hurried forward to her waiting friends and into their warm group hug.
"Kisa it's really you!" Ricket threw his arms around her waist and hugged her hard.
Griffith stood back watching Kisa reunite with her friends with a smile on his lips. Beside him the swordsman shuffled his feet. Griffith glanced at Zoro sidelong. Roranoa Zoro…why does he seem so familiar? Have I seen him before? Zoro had relaxed his stance, but Griffith could still see he was tense; his left eye twitched slightly every few seconds. Zoro was watching Kisa closely. Protective of her are you pirate? "Kisa is with friends Zoro. We're her people." Griffith shifted his attention back to Kisa and stepped over to his friends.
Her people huh? And just what are you to her pal? Zoro wasn't so sure he liked Griffith; the guy was a little too friendly with Kisa. If Zoro ever tried to walk with his arm around her like that Kisa would probably beat him up. She threw him when he tried to kiss her but Kisa let that guy kiss her. What's so special about him? If he's her friend too then how come he can be all kissy and huggy?
"Mina, this is Roronoa Zoro," Kisa introduced after their greeting. "Zoro this is Ricket Pippin and Judeau. These guys are all from Home too."
Zoro nodded. "Nice ta meet ya." So all of em are Kisa's people huh.
"Did you find an eternal pose?" Ricket bubbled up to Kisa.
She shook her head and Pippin asked. "Is it true the others?" Kisa nodded.
Now that the others backed off Griffith slipped his arm around her shoulders. "It's alright. At least all of us are together again."
"Yes, that's what really matters," Judeau said with a smile to comfort Ricket. "How about a drink to celebrate?"
"Sounds good," Griffith smiled down at Kisa and she nodded. He led her to the table.
Kisa looked back at Zoro. "Come have a drink with us."
Zoro joined them at the table to Kisa's right. Judeau poured out a frothy mug of ale for everyone and Ricket helped pass them out. Zoro sat back with his beer trying not to notice how close to Griffith Kisa was sitting.
Pippin was interested in the guy Kisa had brought with her; curious as to just who he was to Pippin's friend. No way that guy is her boyfriend right? Pippin sipped a drink. "Three swords; you practice santoryu."
"Yeah," Zoro looked up at Pippin. The kid was checking him out.
"So Zoro, so how is it that you know Kisa?"
He grinned a little. Worried about your friend eh? "We're nakama."
Pippin turned to Kisa. "You've joined a new crew? Other shinobi?"
Kisa took a generous swallow of beer. All eyes were on her. "I'm the only shinobi aboard the Going Merry Go. There are two other girls aboard, three other guys besides Zoro and a reindeer."
Griffith blinked at Kisa. Four guys and a wha? "Did you say reindeer?"
"Chopper is our ships doctor," Zoro informed leaning closer to the table for a good look at Griffith's face. The guy didn't look happy.
Griffith looked at Kisa confused. "An animal is your doctor?"
"Chopper ate the huma huma fruit," Kisa explained.
"And Luffy and Robin ate devils fruit too." Zoro sipped his beer unaware that Kisa was willing him to shut up.
"Luffy?" Griffith frowned. "You don't mean Straw Hat rubber Luffy and his pirate crew? That's the crew you've joined?"
Kisa rested a hand on Griffith's arm. Clearly he did not approve. Shut the fuck up Zoro! "They aren't who you think they are Griffith really."
Griffith stood up and shifted his eyes over to Zoro. "Roranoa Zoro huh? Now I recognize you. I've seen your wanted poster. You're a criminal."
"Griffith," Kisa got to her feet between him and Zoro. "You don't understand, let me explaine."
"Explaine what exactly?" Griffith was more then just a little aggravated that Kisa was keeping such scummy company. "That your nakama are wanted criminals? Pirates?"
"Griffith! The Luffy pirates saved me; they're my friends. They aren't the bad guys you think they are. Zoro and the others are all good people."
Griffith took a deep breath. "How long have you been with these people?"
"About six months," Zoro answered for her and drank.
"Oi Griffith," Judeau tried to sooth. "Let's have a drink and hear Kisa out."
Reluctantly, Griffith agreed. He and Kisa sat back down together. Two big beers later she had explained a lot. The sinking of the Rasengan; Kisa joining up with the Luffy pirates. Zoro interjected something stupid once in a while, but he did say a few things that weighed on Griffith's mind. She's good in a fight, killed that bounty hunter, Kisa's tough. She handled that fall off the cliff pretty good, Kisa and I train together all the time.
Griffith didn't like it, for too many reasons. It sounded like the pirates had put her in peril repeatedly and for no reason then to save their own asses. Griffith wasn't real thrilled that the swordsman who trained with her all the time had also come to her rescue. He let his mates fill Kisa in on their travels as they worked their way through the third round. Griffith waited until Zoro looked moderately comfortable engaged in conversation with Judeau and Pippin about ninjutsu and reached down for Kisa's hand. "Come with me for a minute."
Zoro saw Kisa get up and Griffith led her out to the deck. He wondered if that guy was going to yell at Kisa about being with pirates again. Fuck it man, it's her problem. Zoro passed off his empty mug to Ricket. "Hit me again kid."
Griffith and Kisa stood at the rail to port looking at the lights of Maybole. He let a lot of what she and the swordsman had said about their travels run through his mind again. I can't let her go with those pirates. "Kisa," Griffith stepped forward and took her hands in his own. He couldn't help but smile at her; Griffith had missed her terribly. He was beyond overjoyed to have found her alive and well. "I want you to come with us," Griffith started.
"Come aboard the Rasengan?"
"Yes, before we set sail Kisa. I can have a room ready for you tonight." Griffith's smile turned devious. "Unless you're ready to share my room with me."
She stared at him in the dim light. There was a familiar look in his eyes. "Griffith, I'm fine aboard the Merry Go really."
Griffith put his arms around Kisa and hugged her to him. "You are shinobi Kisa, you belong with us. With me."
Kisa could feel her cheeks heating up. "We… we aren't together anymore Griffith."
Griffith raised a hand to her cheek. "I mourned you. I though you were dead Kisa." He shook his head. "I have never felt so empty."
It stabbed at her heart to see the hurt in is voice and the relief in his eyes. "Griffith, I'm sorry. I never thought about word of the Konoha's sinking reaching you before…"
He laid a finger across her lips. "It's alright now. We're together again and that's what counts. I never want to let you go again. Marry me Kisa. Be my wife."
His wife? She was trying to figure out how to say no, but she didn't have the chance. Griffith closed his mouth over hers and kissed her longingly. Griffith… It had been long since Kisa had been with Griffith, but her mouth remembered his kiss just the same. For just a moment she let herself go and kissed him back. It felt like forever since she had been held by him. Griffith was the only man she had ever Stop it! Kisa pulled away and took a step back. "Griffith…I…"
It took him a moment to catch his breath. Griffith had missed kissing Kisa. "It's alright if you want to take some time to think about it our wedding, but at least say that you'll sail with us. The shinobi belong together, you know we do."
Kisa tried to cool her burning cheeks. "I… I'll think about it Griffith. I have nakama to sail with now."
"We should all go Home together," Griffith pressed. He didn't want her sailing off with the pirate scum again. A crew of wanted criminals was no place for the woman Griffith wanted marry and have his sons. "Are they taking you to Home?"
"I'll get there."
Griffith frowned a little. "You shouldn't be playing pirate Kisa. You should be serving the shinobi nation. Kisa, we are your people you belong with us." Griffith took her hand and stepped closer. "You belong with me."
Kisa swallowed hard."Griffith, listen."
He shook his head. "No Kisa, I don't need to hear anymore about your nakama. I can already see that they've left a mark on you; they're your friends and that's fine." He stared down into her eyes. "Kisa, I've missed you. Now that your team and your ship are gone, you it is better for you to come with us..."
"We're all heading headed the same way Griffith." She wanted to cut this conversation short right here. If she didn't he'd start going on about her duty to her people. Kisa backed up toward the door. "I shouldn't leave Zoro sitting in there by himself."
Griffith hid frown with his hair. Zoro huh? Nakama is it? "We'll be in port for a few more days. I will await your favorable reply."
Kisa turned and hurried back into the galley not even bothering to hold the door for Griffith. She took a deep breath and went back to her seat. Pippin passed her a fresh mug of beer. "Here ya go Kisa," he said with a grin.
Zoro watched Kisa lift her mug and guzzle some down. When she lowered her mug he saw how red her face was. "Jeez Kisa breath."
"Huh?" she looked at Zoro confused and wondered if he was a little tipsy already.
"You're face is all red," Zoro teased. On the other side of the table Pippin and Judeau chuckled as Kisa's cheeks turned darker.
She cut her eyes away from Zoro to her giggling friends. "You can stow it."
"Looks like you were as happy to see Griffith as he is to see you," Judeau wiggled his eyebrows at Kisa over his mug of beer.
Kisa knew what Judeau was getting at. "We were just talking."
"Sure ya were." Judeau sipped his drink. "So will you be staying the night Kisa? Or maybe you and Griffith are going to find a more private place ashore?" the look on Kisa's face was priceless and Judeau busted up laughing. Beside him Pippin also cracked up.
A private place ashore… Zoro pondered as he sipped his beer. He looked from Kisa's laughing friends to the pretty blush in her cheeks. Hey, wait a minute. The light went on in his brain. Stay the night? Happy to see him? Private place ashore? Zoro almost choked on his beer. "That guy… He's your boyfriend!"
Her friends laughed even harder and even Ricket had joined in. Kisa shook her head. "Shut up you guys," she growled at the shinobi.
Griffith came in just as the scowling pirate said to Kisa, "Oi, you never said you had a boyfriend." Zoro looked shocked and maybe a little angry.
"What's going on in here? Looks like I missed the fun." Griffith grinned satisfied. He knew exactly what was going on. He had let Kisa go in ahead of him just for this sort of reaction. He went back to his seat beside Kisa.
"Sorry Griffith, just couldn't resist pickin on Kisa a little," Judeau chortled. "We can see how much you've missed each other." He dropped the couple a wink.
Pippin sipped his beer. "We're just glad to see the two of you together again."
Griffith laughed a little. He looked at Kisa. "So am I."
Zoro slouched in his seat some watching Kisa blush at the shinobi. Keh! She never said nothing about this guy what the fuck! He finished his beer and stood up. Kisa turned and looked up at him.
"Zoro?" Kisa wondered what he was doing.
He wasn't sure he wanted to leave Kisa alone with Griffith the love ninja, but there were others in the room so it should be alright. "Gotta take a piss."
Ricket pointed. "Bathroom is that way."
"Eh it's okay. I'll just go hang it over the rail." Zoro nodded and stepped outside.
Her friends broke up laughing again and Griffith's sigh seemed to say loser. Kisa lifted her mug and downed a good volume of her drink. She decided that this would be her last with them tonight. She was already feeling a little buzzed, certainly her inhibitions were down. "It's getting late. The others will be wondering where we are."
Griffith had a question. "What were you and Zoro doing away from your nakama Kisa?" he didn't think she was messing around with such a knuckle dragger, but Griffith did have his reasons to be suspicious. They seem quite close; certainly he's protective of her. They've been nakama for months but Kisa never told him about us ne?
"He was lost; I was taking him back to the ship."
"Lost?" Ricket was the only one still too young to drink alcohol but he was getting a sugar high from the three cokes he had downed.
Kisa nodded and smiled at the boy. He was a year older then Brodey. "Yes, Zoro gets lost. He's got no sense of direction."
Griffith chuckled. "Not the sharpest tack in the box eh?" His mates laughed but Kisa sighed annoyed. "Sorry," Griffith played at surrender. "I won't pick on your nakama."
"He's not stupid," Kisa grumbled.
Judeau smiled at Kisa. "It's okay Kisa; Zoro seems like a nice guy."
"My nakama are all nice people. You would like them."
"Maybe we can meet them?" Ricket proposed excited.
Griffith smiled at his team. "Mina, I've asked Kisa to come aboard and sail with us."
"Really!"
"Really," Griffith laughed. The others would help him pressure her to get away from the pirates and come join them aboard Rasengan.
Judeau and Pippin were excited too. "It would be wonderful to have you with us Kisa," Judeau assured her.
She smiled at him. "Thanks Judeau."
"We all miss you ya know," Pippin chimed in. "Almost as much as Griffith."
"I miss you guys too." Kisa sipped her drink. She heard the door open behind her and Zoro came back in.
"Another beer Zoro?" Pippin offered.
Zoro reclaimed his seat. "You bet. Thanks Pippin."
Crap. Kisa didn't want to stay for another round. Shoulda known Zoro wouldn't turn down free booze. She finished her beer in a long gulp. "Hit me once more too Pippin."
Pippin took her mug too. "You got it." Pippin moved to pour their drinks.
Judeau propped his elbows on the table and leaned closer to Kisa. "So how about it sis, you coming with us or what?"
Zoro's eyes shifted from Pippin to Judeau. Go where? "You hittin the bar?"
Ricket giggled. "No drunkie, oaniki asked Kisa to sail with us."
"Oaniki wants to take Kisa and sail off into the night ne?" Pippin teased pouring beer.
Griffith laughed a little and Judeau grinned. "We all already know that," Judeau joined in shifting his eyes to Pippin.
Pippin turned around with the beers and looked at Griffith. He was willing to bet Griffith had proposed to her too. "Oaniki knows what's best." He handed Zoro and Kisa their mugs and lifted a brow at Kisa. "Don't you think so too Kisa?"
"You should marry him," Judeau said casually. "Who knows how many more shinobi there are anymore. We should keep the bloodlines as strong and as pure as we can." He leaned back and sipped his beer. "It may be the only way we can truly serve the shinobi nation is to procreate. We will need strong clans when we return to Home."
Griffith nodded. "We have to consider that we out here at sea may be all that remain of the shinobi of Home." He drank from his mug watching Kisa from the corner of his eye. That's right Kisa, you need a strong man a strong shinobi, me.
Kisa took her drink and downed a big gulp. "I'm sure we'll return Home to flourishing shinobi villages."
"You bet we will!" Ricket lifted his glass of soda. "Kanpai!"
Zoro's eyes swept the room while they all drank. What the fuck is all a this shit. These guys wanna take Kisa with them and he looked over at Griffith. And that guy wants to marry her. Kisa never even mentioned Griffith. He swallowed a big gulp of ale. He thought finishing their drink and getting Kisa out of here was a good idea. Sure they were her people but they wanted to take her away and give her to that Griffith guy. It sounded like these ninja wanted Kisa and Griffith to get married and start a family. It also sounded like they already knew each other rather intimately; Griffith had kissed her like none of the other ninja. Zoro was pretty sure that Griffith was Kisa's lover. What the fuck! She never told me about him!
Kisa had about half of her beer left. She turned to Zoro. "We should probably go after this drink."
Zoro looked Kisa in the eye. There was something there that made him agree. "Yeah, the others will be wondering what's keeping us."
"We'll get together tomorrow then? Meet the rest of your nakama?" Pippin planned.
Kisa smiled. "Sure." She took another generous swallow. She wanted to finish her drink and get gone. "I'll come by in the morning."
Griffith slid a little closer to Kisa. "You're more then welcome to stay the night here," he offered bringing his face closer to hers.
Zoro frowned a little. "Sorry pal but Kisa has to get me back to the ship." He took a big swig of his beer. He would have it gone in no time.
Griffith smiled patronizingly at the pirate. "That's right, you get lost don't you."
"Sometimes," Zoro grunted and drank more beer. Griffith was beginning to piss Zoro off. You tryin to say I'm stupid huh asshole?
He nodded at the pirate and returned his attention to Kisa. Griffith took her free hand and kissed it. He smiled at her. "I would love it if you would make this place your home Kisa. It would be so good to have you with us." He reached up and stroked her cheek. "To have you at my side again…"
Zoro slammed what was left of his beer and belched loudly. All eyes went to him and he stood up. "Come on Kisa lets go. Luffy's waiting." He adjusted his swords and looked at Kisa's friends gathered around the table. "Nice meeting ya all."
Kisa abandon her beer and retrieved her hand. She stood up and stepped back with Zoro. "See you tomorrow."
Griffith stood up and hugged Kisa. "I'll be waiting." He kissed her softly on the lips and let her go. Griffith's eyes told her how sorry he was she wasn't staying the night.
Zoro was to the door in three strides. "Kisa," he pulled the door open ready to run from here; it was that or smack that Griffith guy in the head. He heard her say her good by's and then she was behind him. Zoro and Kisa stepped out into the night and he hurried them off the ship. He let Kisa take the lead as they started back to the Merry.
Her thoughts were heavy as Kisa walked back to the Going Merry Go. She didn't want to jump ship. Kisa was happy with her nakama. They took her in and became her friends. Sailing with them gave her the opportunity to point more of their lost people home and there was always a chance she could find an eternal pose. Judeau's words rang in her ears. The shinobi bloodline had to be preserved. When the time came for Kisa to marry and have a family it would have to be with a man strong enough for her bloodline and its limit to be passed on. Of course Griffith was the perfect candidate, he had his own bloodline limit and Kisa had already been with him. Their relationship had been brief, six months or so. When they parted ways Kisa fell out of love. When she was with Griffith she had thought it was love; enough to give him her virginity and become lovers. In her case though absence didn't make the heart grow fonder. She realized it had been a passing infatuation. Shit now what?
Zoro kept up with Kisa on her left. She looked like she was thinking about something, maybe joining up with her buddies. "You never said you had a boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend." Kisa didn't have time for Zoro's slow wit right now. She had a problem to sort through.
Zoro frowned at her a little. Then why was he all over you? How come he got to kiss you ne Kisa? "You never mentioned that guy."
"Sure I did. I talked to Robin about a lot of shinobi."
"You never told me you had a lover."
Kisa brought a hand up and rubbed at her temple. "It isn't like that. I Griffith him we're not together."
Zoro grunted, "Humph." Not together huh? That guy's pretty touchy feely for someone that was dumped. "What did he say when you told him you weren't together ne?"
"He asked me to marry him."
"N-nani?" So they were all serious about her marring that guy? Zoro stopped in his tracks and took Kisa's arm. "Griffith asked you to marry him!"
Kisa was halted when Zoro grabbed her. She turned her head and looked at him. "So what?" Kisa pulled her arm back.
"So are you going to marry him dumbass? You gonna ditch your nakama and go sailing off with your shinobi buddies? You found your friends so it's just fuck the Luffy pirates right?" Zoro was agitated. "Griffith was all over you. Holding your hand and kissing you." The more he spoke, the more aggravated her got. "Did you kiss him when the two of you were out on deck alone huh Kisa?"
Kisa frowned at Zoro. The swordsman was pissed. "I never said fuck the Luffy pirates. It is good to see other shinobi on their way home but…"
"Yeah I bet its real good to see Griffith. You sure you don't wanna go back to him? I'm sure he'd share his bunk with you." That guy… Griffith!
"Shut up asshole," Kisa growled. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure I do. Your boyfriend's back."
"He's not my boyfriend!" Kisa raised her voice and stepped threateningly toward Zoro. "Yes, I will have to marry Griffith so that neither of our bloodlines will not be lost; but not today." Kisa glared at Zoro. "Right now I'm a Luffy pirate!" Kisa had enough of Zoro's stupid nagging for one night. She turned and headed back to the Merry. Fuck you Zoro. You don't understand anything!
Zoro stood where he was for a minute stunned. She's…gonna marry that guy? He frowned and started after Kisa. Zoro wondered how long Kisa would stay with him. She wasn't going to join Griffith just yet. He didn't want her to go to that guy at all. There was just something about him Zoro hated. His frown deepened as his mind worked. But right now she's with us, a Luffy pirate. So long as she's with us we won't have to worry about that guy. Then all I gotta do is keep Kisa away from Griffith. If Kisa left them he'd be out his more then just training partner and his guide. His dream would be over. No way am I giving Kisa up to that guy.
It didn't take long to get back to the ship and Zoro followed Kisa aboard. She led them to the galley where the others were waiting. "Hey guys," Luffy greeted.
"Boy Zoro, you must have been really lost. You guys have been gone for hours. Chopper is already passed out." Ussop was having a drink of his own with his crew mates. He sipped his rum and smiled.
"We ran into some shinobi Kisa knows," Zoro started folding his arms across his chest.
"Wow really?" Luffy leaned forward looking at Kisa.
Kisa smiled a little. "Yes. If it's alright I'd like to bring Griffith Judeau Pippin and Ricket by to meet everyone tomorrow."
"Are they your ninja friends?" Luffy asked excitedly.
"Humph," Zoro grunted and frowned. "Griffith asked Kisa to marry him."
Robin had been watching the pair since they came in. Zoro seemed agitated now she knew why. "A proposal?"
Nami got to her feet. "Where's the ring? Show me the ring!"
Kisa squirmed a little. "No ring Nami."
"What? You can't marry a guy that doesn't put a big fat diamond on your finger." She pounded a fist into her hand. "No ring, no engagement."
For the first time in hours Zoro grinned. You tell her Nami. "He asked Kisa to leave us and join his crew."
"Ka swan, you aren't going to leave us are you?" Sanji was distressed.
"No Sanji I'm not going anywhere just yet."
"So then you're considering Griffith's proposal?" Robin asked. Kisa had mentioned Griffith to her before. He was a strong shinobi and the only man Kisa had ever been in an intimate relationship with. She sipped her drink observing Kisa and Zoro both carefully.
Kisa tucked a loose slip of hair behind her ear. Marry Griffith? Shit. "I told him I would think about it."
Robin nodded in understanding. It made perfect sense for Kisa to pair off with another shinobi; she had a bloodline to protect. She needed a strong mate. "I see." Her eyes floated back to the swordsman. He was looking at Kisa sidelong and pouting.
"Gonna marry that guy eventually right?" Zoro nearly growled. Now that he was in comfortable and familiar surroundings he had no trouble holding his grievances back.
He's jealous of Griffith. Robin sipped her drink. "Makes sense."
Zoro turned his frown on Robin. "Oh yeah?"
Robin smiled. Does he even realize he's this annoyed because he's jealous? "Of course, Kisa needs a strong partner to carry on her bloodline."
"Keh!" Zoro's left hand instinctively dropped to Wadou Ichimonji's hilt. "I'll bet ya five beri I'm way stronger then that jerk."
Luffy grinned at Zoro. "You gonna fight him Zoro?"
Zoro shrugged at Luffy. "If he wants to go at it I'm ready."
Sanji smiled at Kisa. "I'll fight for you Ka swan"
Kisa put up a hand. "Guys, no fighting. It's not necessary. I'll talk to Griffith and the others and make them understand that I'm sailing with you. It's okay really."
Zoro had to agree with the love cook. "If you can't make Griffith understand then I will."
Luffy nodded. "That's right. Zoro needs Kisa to keep from getting lost. What would he do without you Kisa?"
"Right," Ussop agreed. "It would suck if you left Kisa. You're one of us now."
"Of course she is," Sanji said lighting up a cigarette.
Robin's curiosity was almost satisfied. "Did you have a good time with your friends Kisa? It must be good to see some of your people."
Zoro answered for her. He was home now so he let it all hang out. He rested his elbow on his sword and itched at his chin. "That Griffith guy was all over her. Asked her to spend the night with him and everything."
"What?" Sanji bit down on the end of his cigarette.
Kisa frowned at Zoro. "It wasn't like that."
"Bullshit," Zoro retorted. He found himself getting aggravated again thinking about Griffith. "He was practically sitting on top of you all holding your hand and kissing on you and shit." He cut his eyes over to Sanji. Zoro had his share of fights with the cook but at least on this they were on the same page. Sanji didn't want Kisa going anywhere either.
Sanji blew smoke through his teeth. "Oi oi what's this shit? That guy didn't act like a gentleman to Ka swan?"
"Griffith was fine," Kisa defended. She could see what Zoro was up to trying to sway Sanji his way.
Zoro lifted an eyebrow and looked at Kisa sidelong. "You call that fine? If me or Sanji tried that crap with you we'd get beat. I guess Griffith is special huh? Cuz he's your boyfriend." Man I really hate that guy.
Asshole. Kisa sighed annoyed. "He's not my boyfriend Zoro I already told you that."
Zoro frowned. "Right. You're just gonna marry him and have his kids." He folded his arms across his chest again annoyed.
"But not now," Robin tried to smooth things over. She could see how threatened and jealous Zoro was but Kisa was likely thinking he was just being a jerk. Zoro had no talent at expressing his feelings. It was possible he didn't even realize that what he was feeling was jealousy, Zoro was simple minded.
Luffy laughed. "And that's the only part that matters!"
Kisa nodded at Luffy. "Right." She was ready to get away from Zoro for tonight and she had to go see her friends in the morning. She would talk to Griffith then. "Well guys I'm passing out." They said their good nights and Kisa headed off to bed.
"Drink Zoro?" Sanji offered. He would liquor the swordsman up and find out about this Griffith guy.
"Sure." Zoro took the empty seat between Sanji and Luffy while Sanji fetched a glass.
Nami leaned back with her drink studying Zoro. "So spill it Zoro, what's up with this Griffith guy?"
Sanji slid a fresh glass of whiskey across the table to Zoro. "What's the deal?"
Zoro took a big gulp of the whiskey. It burned all the way down and he blew out a hot breath. "That guy and his buddies all want Kisa to marry Griffith pretty bad. She and Griffith had a thing."
Robin cleared her throat and got their attention. "Kisa told me about Griffith a while ago. They're from different clans in the same village. She's known Griffith all of her life." She could see why Zoro was jealous, but Robin could also guess why Kisa had run off to bed.
Zoro rolled his eyes. "Big fuckin deal." He picked up his glass and took another shot.
Robin told the tale. "When Home was invaded the shinobi overtook the ships in the harbor. Kisa and Griffith were aboard the same ship for many years before they split into smaller groups. After that occasionally the ship she was on would run with the one Griffith was on. They developed a close relationship over time and were together as a couple for a while." Robin sipped her drink. All eyes were on her.
"So he is her old boyfriend," Nami mused. She looked over at Zoro. "Is he good looking?"
"Keh! You're asking me?" Zoro snapped.
Nami ignored Zoro's outburst and turned to Robin. "Is he?"
Robin nodded. "Kisa has said he is strong and handsome."
Zoro whipped his head around and looked at Robin. Kisa said "Say what?"
Robin eyed Zoro calmly. "Kisa has talked to me a lot about the shinobi. You know that. You've eavesdropped on half of our conversations."
"Oh really? Then how come I aint never heard her talk about Griffith?"
"You probably did you just don't remember."
Bullshit. His sense of direction was flawed not his memory. "I'd remember if Kisa said she had boyfriend."
"Kisa never referred to Griffith as her boyfriend." Robin sipped her drink watching Zoro thoughtfully. "She broke things off with Griffith a few months before her ship sank and she joined with us."
"That so?" Zoro grumbled and gulped more booze. That fuckin guy, Griffith.
Zoro was provoking Sanji. Sanji puffed on his cigarette. "So what's this shit that guy was all over Ka swan eh Zoro?"
Zoro looked at Sanji's disgusted snarl. Alright brother I can relate. "He sat all up close to her, hangin on her the whole time. He was all touchy feely telling her to spend the night and when Griffith first saw her and then when we left he kissed her on the lips."
Sanji lifted a brow. "Did he slip her the tongue?"
"I don't think so."
Nami had to intercede before the stupidity got out of control. She cleared her throat loudly. "Ahem? I don't think that's any of your business ya slobs."
Zoro frowned over at Nami. "Fuck that shit. If me or one of the guys," he waved a hand around the table, "if we tried that shit with Kisa we'd get pounded. It's that asshole Griffith that's the slob."
"For once I agree with Zoro," Sanji puffed. "Maybe we should keep an eye on him."
Nami frowned. "Don't go getting your drawers in a knot you idiots. You better be nice to Kisa's friends tomorrow and that includes Griffith."
Luffy had been sitting back sipping his drink taking it all in. "Griffith wont take Kisa away. She's a Luffy pirate now. We're gonna sail to the end of the grand line and find Home someday."
Zoro and Sanji looked at their captain. He didn't seem worried at all. "Right Luffy," Zoro nodded at him and sipped his drink.
Luffy smiled at Zoro wondering when Zoro would fight Griffith for Kisa. Zoro wasn't going to let anyone take his eyes and ears anywhere. He laughed a little. "Right Zoro." Luffy drank too.
The next morning Kisa poked at her breakfast a little and then headed over to get Griffith and the others. They had just finished breakfast themselves and Ricket was doing up the dishes. Griffith poured out coffee for him and Kisa and they took their cups out on deck for some morning air. "Sleep well Kisa?" he asked.
"Sure." No not really. Kisa had lay awake thinking about Griffith's proposal for a long time last night. When she finally got to sleep she dreamed of Zoro."You?"
"Yeah." He thought Kisa looked a little tired.
"Everyone is looking forward to meeting you guys." Well maybe not Sanji…
Griffith was very curious about the nakama Kisa had made. Wanted criminals with devils fruit powers. "Us too." He sipped his coffee. "Have you decided to sail with us Kisa?"
"I'm going to continue to sail with the Luffy pirates for now Griffith." She sipped her coffee and looked over at him. "It's not as if you're that far behind us."
"And my marriage proposal Kisa? Are you just going to reject that too?"
"Griffith, there is no need to get married right now. We haven't even found Home yet."
He turned and faced Kisa. "Listen to me Kisa. In six years neither of us have run into anyone else from your clan. You very well could be the last."
"Or they could just be living in our village."
Griffith sighed tiredly. "You could be the last person alive with the Byakugan. That puts a heavy burden on your shoulders Kisa. It's up to you to continue the bloodline. I will share that responsibility with you. It is up to all of us to perpetuate the shinobi."
"When the time comes I will okay?" she sipped at her coffee but it seemed to have lost all of its flavor.
"Kisa, you're too old to be playing silly games. You need to show some responsibility and serve your people."
She frowned at Griffith. "What do you want me to do Griffith? Give up my life and start a family right now with Home not even in sight? No, I won't do it."
"You should be having my sons."
"It doesn't have to happen right now," she argued.
He reached over and took Kisa's free hand. "Then when Kisa? You know our children will have one kekkei genkai or the other."
"Griffith," Kisa looked down into coffee.
"Kisa, I love you. How much longer will you make me wait?"
She shook her head. "I'm not ready for this Griffith." Kisa pulled her hand back and took a step back toward the door. "Come on, let's get the others."
Griffith stepped between Kisa and the door. "At least spend some time with me? Today, tonight?" he smiled sheepishly at her. "I was disappointed you didn't stay last night."
Her cheeks darkened a little. Stop it already Griffith. "I have my own bunk to go to."
"That's too bad for me. I miss you in my bed." He stepped close and looked down into her eyes. "I've been waiting for you Kisa."
Yeah well you can just keep waiting. She nodded and moved away from Griffith. Kisa hurried back into the galley.
He watched Kisa go. She had never run from him quite like this before. She was doing more then just playing hard to get. Just how attached are you to your nakama Kisa? Griffith decided today he would find out.
Griffith finished his coffee before he went into the galley. The others looked ready and it looked like Kisa had relaxed a little. Griffith smiled. "Let's go meet your nakama."
Kisa led her excited friends back to the Going Merry Go. She prayed quietly that everyone would be on their best behavior. Robin had hinted to her this morning that Zoro had got Sanji pretty agitated last night. As they walked along Griffith reached over and took her hand. He laced their fingers together and Kisa peeked at him. Griffith smiled and shrugged at her.
They reached the ship and Kisa stopped. "Here it is, the Going Merry Go."
"Eight of you on that thing?" Pippin marveled.
Kisa smiled. "Guys in one room gals in the other." It was a tight fit and sometimes when they were at sea for a long stretch it felt like they were crawling all over each other. Kisa giggled at the silly mental picture that sprang to mind. "Come on I'll introduce you."
Luffy was waiting on deck with Ussop when Kisa brought the shinobi aboard. "Oi Kisa and ninja guys!"
"Hey Luffy." Kisa waited until her friends surrounded her. "Luffy, Ussop; this is Griffith, Judeau and Pippin and the squirt is Ricket. "Mina, this is Luffy and Ussop."
Luffy stepped forward smiling and extending his hand so Ussop did the same. Luffy looked into Griffith's eyes as he shook his hand. "Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Going Merry Go."
Luffy's hand felt soft and weird but there was a gleam as strong as steel in his eyes. Griffith shook his hand evaluating him. "Umino Griffith. It's nice to meet you Luffy."
Luffy laughed and put his hands on his hips. "So you're a real ninja too huh?"
Griffith nodded. "Just like Kisa."
"Ka chan is awesome," Luffy grinned.
"Pirates and ninja's hanging out together," Ussop pondered aloud. "How cool is that!"
Luffy laughed again. "How bout we get Sanji to whip us up a drink?"
"Ooh something fruity," Ussop agreed.
"Come on you guys," Luffy invited them all as he headed for the galley.
They followed Luffy into the galley. Sanji was finishing dishes; Robin and Chopper were sitting at the table. "Hey guys," Chopper greeted nervously.
Ricket broke to the front of the pack and stood at Luffy's elbow. "Wow cool you can talk!"
"That's Chopper," Luffy informed the boy. "This is Robin and the guy doing dishes is Sanji." Robin nodded at him.
Kisa took over introductions as her nakama's eyes fell on her shinobi friends. "Ricket Pippin Judeau and Griffith."
Sanji paused long enough to see which one was Griffith. He checked to make sure he wasn't hanging on Kisa, nodded and went back to dishes. "I'll be with you in just a minute. Please make yourselves comfortable."
"Have a seat," Robin offered with a smile. Ricket hurried to sit between her and Chopper. The boy was staring at him with a huge grin on his face. She thought he was cute. She looked up at the others. Robin could tell immediately that Griffith was going to be some tough competition. He was good looking, likely quite strong and his eyes practically screamed his feelings for Kisa. Uh oh, he's in love with her.
The others moved to sit around the table, Kisa sat between Luffy and Griffith. He sat close to her so Judeau could sit beside him. Pippin sat beside Ussop on Choppers other side. Griffith settled resting his arm behind Kisa. He looked over to Robin. "Kisa tells us you're an archeologist."
Robin smiled. "Yes that's right."
"That's cool," Judeau flirted just a little. "Can you read ancient languages?"
Judeau was almost as handsome as Griffith. "A few."
Ricket blinked at Chopper. "You're really a doctor?"
Chopper felt himself getting embarrassed. "Of course I am ass-" Robin cut him off with tickles. Ricket jumped away from the disembodied arms and Robin tickled him too until they were both giggling wildly.
Robin laughed a little. "Ka chan told you Luffy and I have the devils fruit power?"
Judeau looked down the table at Luffy. "You're a rubber man right?"
Luffy smiled. He hooked a finger in the corner of his mouth and stretched his cheek out. "Yep!" he let his face snap back into place and laughed.
Sanji dried his hands and lit a cigarette. He turned to the table. "What can I get you?" Sanji noticed how close to Kisa Griffith was. Granted they were all tight around the table but that guy has got his arm around Ka swan.
"Drink Sanji drink!" Luffy chanted.
Sanji frowned a little. "Of course I'll whip up something delicious for our guests." He let go of his frown and smiled at the ladies. "And I'll make something extra special for you Ka swan Robin chwan" Sanji turned to the task trying not to think about that guys arm around Kisa. Where the fuck is Zoro? He ought to get a load of this shit.
"Us too Sanji!" Luffy nearly begged.
The door to the galley popped open and Zoro stepped in. Kisa was sitting between Luffy and Griffith and that guy is on her again already! "Hey," he grunted.
"You want a drink Zoro?" Sanji asked pulling out ingredients from the cold box.
Zoro cut his eyes over to Sanji and the cook frowned and nodded Kisa's was. Yeah I see it too Sanji. Zoro frowned. "You gonna put booze in it?"
Sanji shrugged. It wasn't even noon yet but what the fuck. "I'll spike it if you want."
Zoro nodded and Sanji went back to fixing drinks. Zoro shuffled a little closer to the table so that he was almost behind Judeau. He looked down at Kisa. "Guess we aint gonna train today."
Griffith leaned a little closer to Kisa. "I'll spar with you later if you want."
Zoro's brows knitted together and he glared down at Griffith. Kisa was looking at the guy. Their faces were close too fuckin close. "Kisa and I train with weapons in the afternoon," Zoro grumbled.
Griffith looked up at Zoro and smiled. He was pretty sure that this nakama of Kisa's didn't like him very much. Of course not, the idiot realizes I'm taking Kisa with me. "I'll spar with you if you'd like Zoro. I'm sure Kisa would let me borrow her sai." Griffith turned his smile back down on Kisa. "Wouldn't you?"
Uh oh… "My sai?"
Griffith's smile never faltered. "It's the weapons he's used to sparring with right?" Griffith laughed and cast a glance at Zoro. "I think you'll find me more challenging then Kisa. Is that alright Zoro?"
This asshole is challenging me. He noticed Luffy look up at him. Zoro smiled. "That's fine Griffith. I won't have to worry about being too rough."
Kisa tried not to frown. Too rough ne? "Actually Griffith I was thinking of spending the afternoon over on The Rasengan with you guys."
Griffith turned his attention back to Kisa. "That would be great Kisa."
Zoro didn't like being blown off anymore then he liked Kisa spending her afternoon with the love ninja. "Yeah, well some other time Griffith."
"Sure," Griffith replied without ever taking his eyes from Kisa's face.
Luffy dropped his eyes from Zoro to Griffith. "You got a big ship Griffith?"
Griffith tore his eyes away from Kisa and favored Luffy with a smile. "She's a little bigger then yours. Would you like to see it Luffy?" Griffith was making sure that he was more then accommodating to Kisa's idiot friends.
Luffy grinned. "Party at your place later?"
Griffith laughed. "Sure why not. All of you come over tonight if you'd like."
Aint you Mr. Nice Guy. Zoro straightened. He was going to go anyway but he decided to check, "You gonna have booze?"
Judeau cracked his neck. "Sure thing. I'll toss a few back with you Zoro."
Sanji was quick to serve up drinks. As promised he spiked Zoro's and also his own. With everyone served he stood back with his drink and his smoke to observe. Griffith looked very into Kisa. The ninja barely took his eyes off of her. Zoro watched the pair from behind Judeau. Marimo looked miserable.
"Kisa said you asked her to sail with you," Luffy directed at Griffith and then sipped his drink. "Said you asked her to marry you too."
Griffith smiled at the rubber captain pleased Kisa had told them she was soon to wed. "Yes I did." He turned his eyes back to Kisa and took her hand. "I love Kisa very much, she knows that."
Luffy heard Zoro's teeth grind together and Sanji exhale a puff of smoke aggravated. "I see."
Judeau swirled the fruit in his glass. So her nakama are protective of her. "Griffith and Kisa have always belonged together. Had the shinobi never left home Griffith and Kisa would have ended up together anyway. They were just meant to be."
"Destined to be together," Griffith smiled at her.
"Keh sounds like a load a crap to me." Zoro grumbled and downed his drink.
Judeau and Ussop chuckled and Luffy blinked at Kisa. "Ka chan, you think you belong with this guy?"
Kisa looked from Griffith to Luffy. She felt her cheeks turning red. Shut up idiot! "Luffy," Kisa warned.
"What?" Luffy sipped his beer. "I think you belong with us Ka chan, with your nakama don't you? I think Zoro will get lost without you."
"Shut up Luffy," Zoro grunted. "I don't need some mean bitch to keep me from getting lost." Zoro frowned at Kisa. "Go on I don't need ya. Don't stick around on my account."
"Yo Zoro," Sanji bit down on the end of his cigarette. "Shut the fuck up. Unlike you I happen to need Ka swan very much." Sanji looked at Kisa pleadingly. "You wont leave us will you Ka swan"
Her nakama are idiots. Griffith shifted his eyes back to Luffy. But that guy…"No need to worry. Kisa and I have decided to think things over for now." Griffith squeezed Kisa's hand and looked down at her again. Stealing her away from her nakama wouldn't be that hard to do. We're your people Kisa and you belong with us. "Perhaps when next we meet we will celebrate our wedding."
Fuck this guy. Zoro set his empty glass down in front of Judeau. "See ya. I got training to do." He stepped back away from the table and headed out on deck.
Robin and Sanji watched Zoro go. So did Judeau. The ninja finished his fruity drink and chewed the orange slice at the bottom. "That was good Sanji."
Sanji nodded at Judeau. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Ussop was closest so Pippin asked him, "How bout a tour of the ship?"
"Sure," Ussop got to his feet. He loved to show off the Merry. "You wouldn't believe some of the shit that the poor Merry has been through," he puffed with pride.
Pippin stood up. "Really? You'll just have to tell me all about it." He followed Ussop out to the deck.
Sanji finished his drink and stepped back toward the bottle of gin on the counter. "Would you like a drink with some kick to it Judeau? He offered.
Judeau smiled. "Sure why not."
The rest of the morning passed by smoothly. Ricket was positively entranced by Chopper Robin and Luffy. Pippin wandered the Merry checking out the crew. Ussop introduced him to Nami and they hung out at the bow making small talk. Eventually Sanji and Judeau wandered out on deck. Sanji lit a smoke as they headed to the port rail. Zoro was lifting weights to starboard.
Judeau looked from Zoro to Sanji. "Does that guy always lift such a ridiculous amount of weight?" or is he getting cocky in front of Griffith?
Sanji turned his head and exhaled with the wind. "Marimo trains like that all the time."
"Zoro trains with Kisa a lot?" Judeau rested against the rail and turned his face into the warm wind.
"Just about every day."
Judeau smiled. "Has he beaten her?"
"Not yet but I'm sure he's trying." Sanji had slipped his sunglasses on and he watched the ninja from behind them.
I'm sure he is. "The only one that has ever been able to beat Kisa is Griffith."
Sanji puffed his cigarette. "Is that so?" He wasn't about to mention the ass kicking Zoro and Kisa took against the bounty hunters but then again…
"They make a formidable team in battle."
"Ka sawn has teamed up with marimo. They make a dangerous pair. They know each others moves," Sanji took a long satisfying drag off his smoke. "They've learned things from each other."
Judeau shifted his eyes back over to Sanji. "Kisa has learned santoryu?"
Sanji shrugged his shoulders. "She can dodge most of Zoro's best attacks, a smart girl like her has probably learned a lot by now."
He liked the idea of sister learning a sword art but, "Has Kisa been teaching Zoro how to mold chakra?"
"I don't pretend to know how that hocus pocus shit works but Ka swan has been trying to help marimo get strong like her."
"I see," Judeau sighed and looked over at Zoro. If he knew how to mold chakra there would be no need to lift those big ass weights. He didn't have Kisa's eyes to see the flow of chakra but Zoro was quite strong and likely had a ridiculous amount of stamina as well. There's no way that idiot could ever beat Kisa is there? No, she's way too smart.
Through the smoke streaming off his cigarette Sanji watched Judeau. "It's alright for Ka swan to be training Zoro isn't it? It's not against any ninja rules is it?"
He returned his to Sanji. "It's fine to take on students. In fact, Kisa probably should have a few genin under her. Of course it's preferable that she be training other shinobi." Judeau looked over the rail at the blue water. "You see Sanji; there are things that Kisa could be doing to serve the shinobi that she….She's running away from her responsibilities."
"Ka swan doesn't run away from anything." Sanji bit down on the end of his cigarette.
"She should be sailing Home with shinobi. She should be training genin. She should be married to Griffith already with a child on the way."
Sanji was getting irritated, but he was also getting a knot in his stomach. "Why does she have to do all of that now? Isn't it up to Ka swan to decide when she's ready to settle down?"
Judeau shook his head and looked at the cook. "You just don't get it Sanji." Judeau straightened. "Twelve years ago fifteen ships left Home each carrying about two hundred shinobi. Within the first year, six of those ships were sunk outright and all souls aboard were lost. We broke up into smaller groups and over time we've been picked off on the sea. It's likely that there are no more shinobi waiting for us in Home. Our villages were probably burned and everyone that stayed behind slaughtered."
Sanji swallowed hard. "There aren't many of you left."
"The ships carrying someone with a bloodline limit have been hunted. Kisa's eyes could be sold on the black market for a lot of money." Judeau swept his hair back. "Not all of the shinobi that escaped Home had a kekkei genkai. Kisa and Griffith are the only two I've seen in years. We are encountering other shinobi less and less. We're dieing out. The only way to counter our own extinction is to build strong clans."
He was beginning to see why Kisa had never talked about these guys much. They were just full of great news. The responsibility of the shinobi. Sanji remembered that the bounty hunter Kisa had fought was also into slave trade. "So Ka swan is supposed to hurry up and have babies with Griffith ne?"
"It's for the best. Kisa is strong enough to bear Griffith a child that will have one kekkei genkai or the other."
Kisa is… "Does it have to be Griffith for Ka swan's heritage to be passed on?"
Judeau hated think of thinning the shinobi line. "Maybe not, but the guy would have to be incredibly strong. He would have to be stronger then her. Only Griffith has defeated Kisa, only Griffith has had her."
So that's why he was asking about Ka swan and marimo. If Zoro were stronger then Ka swan the poor slob might actually stand a chance against these ninja guys. Sanji pitched his cigarette and leaned on the rail beside Judeau. "Sounds to me like its Griffith that needs Ka swan to pass on his lineage."
"Yes, his bloodline limit is…" fuckin scary. "It's quite powerful. Griffith needs a woman with excellent chakra control, that's Kisa."
"Does he love Ka swan or does he just need her?"
Judeau watched a small sailing vessel leave the dock. "It's both. It doesn't matter anyway. Kisa is going to have to face up to her responsibilities. The shinobi nation needs her. Griffith will let her play pirate a little while longer, he's always been very patient with Kisa; spoiled her really. He even let her break up with him." Judeau laughed. "He's let her think she's free to do as she pleases for far too long already. Now that the Konoha is gone and she's not with other shinobi," he shrugged his shoulders.
"I happen to think Ka swan is perfectly free to do what she wants with her life." Sanji frowned a little. "I know she's devoted to her people but you guys are a little demanding aren't you? You've already got the rest of her life planned out for her. Ever stop and wonder if that is what Ka swan wants?"
He stared at Sanji. "Yes I do. But it doesn't matter what I think. Griffith makes the decisions; the right ones, the hard ones. That's why he is our leader." Judeau stepped away from the rail and headed to the bow to join Pippin.
Sanji looked out over the docks letting what the ninja said sink in. He sighed heavily and reached for a fresh smoke. Regardless of what Griffith ordered the Straw Hat pirates would defend Ka swan's right to choose but if she chooses to go with Griffith and… "Kuso," he lit up. He wondered what Kisa was going to do.
That evening the crew of the Merry headed over to the Rasengan for a few after dinner drinks. There was a tour of the ship and a party in the galley. Sanji was keeping an eye on Kisa and Griffith all night. Many times he took her hand, hugged her to him with one arm around her, smiled at her as he stared down into her eyes. The way Griffith looked at Kisa made Sanji understand two things; Griffith really did love her and he wasn't going to wait much longer to have her.
As promised Judeau had more then a few drinks with Zoro, in fact the two of them and Luffy were getting quite drunk. Zoro tried not to look Griffith's way. The guy was always touching Kisa. When it started to get late the party moved out to the deck and most everyone headed to port for a look at the city at night. A few drinks later Chopper and Nami headed back to the Merry and Ricket went off to bed. Griffith found an opportunity to get Kisa alone and pulled her to starboard side. They disappeared behind the aft castle.
"Griffith, I really shouldn't leave the others," Kisa dragged her feet some. He's going to nag me some more.
As soon as they were out of sight from the others Griffith pulled Kisa to him and hugged her. "What do I have to do to get you to come with me Kisa? I'll do anything for you, anything." Griffith stared down into Kisa's eyes. "I want you with me Kisa. We belong together."
Sanji noticed Ka swan wasn't behind him anymore. "Oi Zoro, where's Ka swan?"
Zoro had been listening to one of Luffy's wild tales. He looked around. Shit where did she… "I dunno."
Sanji frowned. "I'll go find her."
Zoro stepped past Sanji. "No I'll do it." I feel like yelling at her anyway. He started to starboard making his way aft of the Rasengan.
"Griffith listen, things are…" Shit godamnit shit! "Things have changed for me since my ship was lost."
"You should sail with us Kisa. It makes sense doesn't it?" Griffith turned them pinning Kisa to the wall with his body. "Stay with me Kisa. I want you." Griffith closed his mouth over hers and kissed Kisa the way he had been wanting to all night.
Zoro almost rounded the corner, but he didn't have too to find Kisa. He stopped in his tracks seeing that jerk Griffith kissing with tongue! and he's touching her boob! pawing at Kisa. His left hand twitched over his sword for a brief second as his teeth gnashed together and then Zoro turned away. He didn't bother returning to the party, he made his way off the Rasengan and just kept walking.
Sanji saw Zoro go. What the fuck are you dong marimo? Where's Ka swan you idiot? He turned to his right and looked around for Kisa. A minute later Sanji saw her come around the aft castle followed by Griffith. Sanji didn't trust the grin on Griffith's face. What the hell is this all about?
Kisa and Griffith rejoined the others. Griffith stood behind her hugging her around the waist. Sanji thought Ka sawn looked flustered. He glared at Griffith through the cloud of smoke that whirled in front of his face. Griffith looked a little too happy. He wondered what Zoro had seen. Whatever it was it had made him pissed enough to leave a party with free booze. You being a sleaze to Ka swan ne Griffith you bastard.
Two rounds later and it was time for the crew of the Going Merry to go. They said their farewells. Once again Griffith was disappointed Kisa wouldn't stay the night with him. He kissed her good night and the Straw Hat pirates headed home. When they arrived back at the Merry Zoro wasn't aboard. Nami said he hadn't returned yet and before Sanji could open his mouth Robin was asking, "Ka chan, be a dear and go find Zoro wont you?" Kisa was gone before Sanji could even offer to go with her.
Zoro had bought himself a bottle of rum and took it out to the end of the pier with him. He sat on a crate watching the dark sea. His mind was full of thoughts that Zoro was trying to kill with booze. He still couldn't believe that Kisa and Griffith… Zoro heard familiar footsteps behind him. It's her. He tipped his bottle for another big swig.
Kisa walked up behind Zoro. He didn't acknowledge her, drank his rum and went on staring out at the dark sea. "Yo Zoro."
"What are you doing here?"
"You're lost aren't you?"
"Keh! Why aren't you with Griffith," he sneered the other man's name.
Kisa frowned at Zoro's back as he drank from his bottle of booze. "We returned to the Merry and you weren't back yet."
"Oh? You went back to the Merry huh?" Zoro hit the bottle again. "I thought you'd stay the night with Griffith!"
He was starting to piss her off. "Zoro," Kisa warned.
He turned a little and glared at her from the corner of his eye. "I saw you and Griffith. I saw the way he kissed you. That guy was all over you."
Kisa straightened. Zoro had disappeared from the party while Griffith had Kisa to starboard. He saw…what? "It's none of your damn business."
"Yeah right." Zoro got to his feet and adjusted his swords.
"What the hell is your problem?" She was probably venting some frustration on Zoro, but why not. He was in a crappy mood too. If he didn't want to pick the fight she would.
"My problem is them!" he gestured with his bottle in the direction of the Rasengan. "They keep filling your head with bullshit you belong with them and you don't!" Zoro took a step toward Kisa. "You belong with us now. We can find Home and more ninja!"
Kisa sighed aggravated. "I've told Griffith that."
"You wanna tell Griffith something?" Zoro pointed his bottle at her. "How about telling him to keep his godamn hands off of you!"
Her mouth fell open. Is he…? No way…is Zoro…jealous? "Huh?" Kisa started to sweat.
"You aint his bitch and that is exactly how he's treating you. Like he's got dibbs, like you're his lover. You fuckin that guy again Kisa?"
His bitch what! "What! No!"
Zoro took another step closer and frowned down at Kisa. "Then stop leading him on."
Kisa grit her teeth. You asshole. You don't understand anything. "It isn't like that. You don't understand how things are for me and Griffith."
What Zoro could understand was that Griffith was all over Kisa and she just lets him. Bitch. Zoro set his bottle on the crate and slipped an arm around Kisa's waist. "Oh yeah?" He pulled them hip to hip. "I don't understand huh?" he wrapped his other arm around Kisa and pulled her to him.
"Zoro?" he was hugging her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"It's okay for Griffith to grab you and hold you whenever and however the hell he wants but the rest of us can just fuck off and die is that it Kisa?"
Kisa looked up into Zoro's angry eyes. "What the hell…is wrong with you?"
"You don't belong to Griffith. You haven't accepted his proposal yet."
She frowned a little. "I don't belong to anybody."
"Then tell him that Kisa. So help me, if I see that guy disrespecting you again!"
Kisa leaned away from his boozy breath. "It isn't like that Zoro."
Zoro grabbed her arms and squeezed a little. "I'm gonna fuck that guy up Kisa! I mean it! I'll knock his teeth down his throat!"
Kisa brought her hands up to push Zoro away. He was drunk and being a total posturing idiot. "That's enough Zoro," she warned.
Zoro didn't stop, he kept his eyes fixed on her frown. "I've had enough of Griffith!" He was furious of that he was sure, but the larger reasons why still sort of eluded him. That damn guy! "You tell him to stop touching you or I'll pound him!"
"It's none of your business Zoro," it felt like she has started screaming inside.
Griffith that bastard. Zoro grit his teeth. "Is that what you want Kisa? A guy like that; some cocky bastard that just grabs you whenever he feels like it huh?" Zoro let go of her arm and grabbed her boob. "So how do you like me now ne Kisa?"
Deme! Kisa's hand flew through the air and connected with the side of Zoro's face. She glared at him furious. Zoro moved his hand off her chest and turned his eyes on her. He looked miserable. "Kusoga!" Kisa huffed.
There was a line but Zoro had crossed it about five minutes ago. "The world must look different when you're Umino Griffith."
This time Kisa didn't slap him, she knocked his hands off her arms and punched him in the jaw. "Aho!"
Zoro's head rocked back. He was lucky Kisa hadn't busted his jaw. He tasted blood in his mouth; she had mashed his bottom lip into his teeth pretty good. "You gonna make baby shinobi with that guy Kisa? Gonna perpetuate your people with him?" Rage churned his stomach. Zoro ground his teeth together. It hurt his jaw but he didn't care. "Dillon wasn't good enough for you?"
Dillon, he had the Byakugan... She hadn't expected him to mention their phantom son, and it hurt. We were all so happy… Kisa tried to swallow the lump in her throat but couldn't. "Fuck you," she choked. Kisa turned on her heel and hurried back up the dock.
What am I… Zoro caught his breath as he watched Kisa go. What am I thinking? He was thinking about the boy from their dream, the cute little guy that had Zoro's smile and Kisa's eyes. Damnit Kisa mean bitch! Doesn't she ever think about Dillon…or Aeris…or us? He retrieved his bottle and started down the dock after her before he lost sight of her. He wouldn't talk to her again tonight he'd just follow her back to the Merry. Zoro had said more then enough but he was pretty sure Kisa got the point. She might be mad at him for a while but it was worth it if it meant Griffith the love ninja would keep his hands and his lips that asshole to himself. For tonight, the battle was over.
The next morning Zoro slept in with a hangover. The crew decided to set sail that afternoon. Kisa happily skipped out to say good by to her ninja friends. She loved her people but was dieing to get away from them. Sanji was almost done with dishes when Zoro finally made his way into the galley.
Sanji looked at Zoro. His bottom lip was discolored. He poured out a glass of juice for him. "What happened to your face Zoro?" Sanji asked setting a glass of orange juice in front of the swordsman.
Zoro rubbed at his jaw. "Kisa hit me. Last night." He picked up his juice and drank some. Their argument was a bit of a blur.
Sanji frowned. "What did you do to Ka swan to deserve it?"
He stared down into his orange juice. "I saw Griffith all over Kisa last night. Kissing her, touching her." Zoro frowned.
"Kissing her? Oi what's this shit?" Sanji plucked a fresh cigarette from his pack and lit it annoyed. "Griffith kissed Ka swan?"
"Yeah. I saw them." Zoro drank more orange juice. He had managed to get himself pretty drunk last night after he saw them together.
"Did you beat that guy up Zoro? What the hell happened last night?"
He rolled his eyes up to Sanji. "I told Kisa I was gonna pound that guy. I warned her. I told her to tell that love ninja to keep his damn hands off of her." Zoro was trying to stay calm. "She wouldn't listen to me."
Sanji took a fat drag off of his cigarette. "Were you being a drunk asshole marimo? You pick a fight with Ka sawn aho?"
"No," Zoro defended. "I grabbed her boob."
"N-nani?" Sanji bit down on his cigarette and glared at Zoro.
Zoro straightened a little. "I was proving a point. She lets that Griffith fuck grab her and touch her whenever he wants. He's treating her like she belongs to him."
"And you couldn't have just said that? You had to cop a feel?" As if.
"I tried to tell her Sanji and she wouldn't listen to me."
Sanji tapped the ashes off his cigarette into the ashtray at his elbow. "That why she hit you? Because you grabbed her?"
"She slapped me when I did that. She punched me when I told her Griffith could get away with it."
He brought his cigarette to his lips watching Zoro through the smoke. "You think Griffith could get away with grabbing Ka swan like that?"
"After what I saw, I know he does." Zoro lifted his glass and sipped his drink.
Sanji didn't like the sounds of that at all. He didn't like the idea of that ninja all over Ka swan. He remembered Griffith's happy smile last night. "That guy."
"I don't want him around her anymore. He's too friendly."
"He professed his love for Ka swan in front of everyone."
"What a load of horse shit." Zoro finished juice. "That guy wants just one thing from Kisa and it aint her hand in marriage."
"He wants Kisa to have his children." Sanji puffed.
Zoro stood up. Yeah well... The orange juice turned in his sour stomach. "Griffith just wants to get in her pants." Zoro adjusted his swords. "I shoulda thumped that guy last night."
He watched the swordsman as he smoked. Zoro looked miserable this morning and there were storm clouds in his eyes. He's pissed. "I talked with Judeau. He told me that it doesn't have to be Griffith that Ka swan has baby shinobi with, but her partner does have to be stronger then her; someone capable of beating her. Only Griffith has been able to conquer Ka swan."
Zoro shook his head. Hind sight was always 20/20. He could remember her telling him at the binning of their training that only one person had been able to beat Kisa was Umino Griffith. "That why he can hang all over her? She's his conquest? Is that how the shinobi do it? Keh!" Zoro hissed through his teeth.
Sanji took a drag off his smoke and tapped the ashes into the ashtray. "Maybe someone needs to prove to Ka swan that there are plenty of strong guys that aren't shinobi."
"I'll fight Griffith."
"As would I but that's not what I'm getting at marimo." Zoro looked curious so Sanji went on. "Perhaps it's not Griffith that needs to have his ass handed to him, I hate to say this, but I think its Ka swan."
Zoro blinked at Sanji. "What you mean fight Kisa for real? All hardcore and shit?"
Sanji crushed out his cigarette. "If Ka swan will only listen to someone stronger then her, then maybe we should just all get stronger then she is. She needs to see that Griffith is not her only path."
Zoro chuckled. "Idiot, you couldn't fight Kisa you'd never be able to hit her. Besides, I've fought her a lot. She's so strong it's stupid. Even I can't beat Kisa yet."
"There's the magic word marimo. Yet."
"Yeah well even if I could beat her it's not like she'd put me in the pool of prospective husbands." Zoro frowned knowing Kisa was probably still mad at him this morning.
Sanji rolled his eyes. "Aho. If you beat her she will see that us guys can be just as tough as those ninja buddies of hers. Then all I gotta do is kick your ass and Ka swan will be all mine. Ka swan"
There was some logic to what Sanji was saying. "Prove to her we're just as strong as the shinobi ne?"
Sanji smiled. "All you've got to do is beat Ka swan marimo."
"She puts chakra in her sai. Her strength is…"
"If you don't win a battle against her before we see Griffith again Zoro, he's going to take her whether she wants to go or not. Ka swan is running out of time. Are you going to give her the option of staying with the Luffy pirates or not?"
The cook was drop dead serious. Zoro felt his stomach fall. If I can't beat Kisa before she sees Griffith again… "I'll do it. I'll beat Kisa."
"You better marimo. We're all counting on you."
Kisa had coffee with her friends while breaking the news that the Going Merry Go was setting sail this afternoon. The shinobi were sad to part with her. Griffith wanted to speak with her privately once more before Kisa sailed away. After coffee he led her to his room so they could be alone before she went running off with the pirates for one last adventure.
Griffith hugged her and held her tight. "I'm going to miss you Kisa."
"You aren't far behind Griffith. I'm sure we'll meet again soon."
He pulled her in front of him and looked down at her. "When next we meet we'll never part again. I can't bear it," he pressed his lips to hers and kissed her.
Griffith moved them a step closer to his bed and Kisa broke away. "I have to go. Securing the hold is my and Sanji's job."
"Kisa," this is the last time you'll ever walk away from me. "Take care. I love you."
She smiled. "You too Griffith." Kisa hurried back to the galley and got good by hugs from her friends. She left the Rasengan and ran most of the way back to the Merry.
With her ship in sight Kisa stopped to catch her breath. Griffith knows the Merry and all of my nakama now. He can find us again easily. Kisa sighed and looked down at her hands. They were shaking a little. I'll have to leave them, my nakama Her eyes fixed on the ring Zoro gave her what seemed like very long ago. She was so used to it most of the time she forgot it was there. Zoro… Kisa remembered how belligerent he had been last night; pissy drunk and protective, jealous, hurt…? Kisa shook the thoughts away. Zoro's attitude was the least of her worries.
For now the best thing to do would be to figure out a way to stay ahead of Griffith. She may even have to detour away from the path Home. Even as Kisa started walking back to the Merry she felt her hopes sinking. There was no way to run away from her people, her duty to her people or Umino Griffith.
The Merry pulled out of port two hours later. Griffith and Judeau stood at Rasengan's bow watching the smaller ship go. "You sure this is okay?" Judeau finally asked.
Griffith smiled. "Consider this last voyage with her nakama my wedding gift to Kisa. Next time we meet she's coming with us."
