Chapter 3
The next morning, Chopper volunteered to stay on the ship again, like he had done the day before. He wanted to help find Luffy and Zolo, but he felt it would be better if he stayed with the ship. Sanji, Nami and Usopp set off, walking at a fair pace as they were trying to reach the site Usopp had told them about as quickly as possible. Usopp walked in front, all fear banished to the back of his mind for the sake of his friends.
Hey, even he could be brave when his friends were in danger. Nami came behind him, not really paying much attention to her surroundings. The town was as quiet as the grave as they walked through it.
Not a sound was heard, and it kind of freaked the three straw hat crew member's out. Usopp quickened his pace as they walked through. The other side of the town was no different to the side that the ship was on.
Sea stretched beside them, and green paddocks were on the other side of the road. Usopp paused, getting his bearings before setting off again. The track wound it's way inland, and up a slight slope to the top of a hill. Looking down from the hill, you could see a large glittering lake.
It wasn't really that big, but, it was big enough to be called a lake. Usopp pointed towards a twisted and burnt tree at the top of the grassy knoll beside them.
"That has to be it." Nami muttered as she walked forward. Sanji followed, eyes flicking back and forth for any sign of Luffy, Zolo or danger. Nami peered at the tree and then looked back to see Usopp watching them. She rolled her eyes.
"Come on Usopp, the villager was telling us a myth." she said. Usopp stood tall and proud, for all of five seconds before he became a quivering lump of liar. "Fine, stay down there." she muttered as she turned back towards the tree. There was no entrance to a cave, there were no holes even. She searched one side, while Sanji searched the other. Nothing.
"But, how do we get them out?" Nami muttered, running a hand over the rough bark of the tree and wincing at how ugly it was.
"How do we even know they're in there?" Sanji asked. "There's no evidence they even went in there." Nami looked up.
"Then where did they go?" she replied, a little darkly. Sanji shrugged.
"I don't know." he said sadly. Nami sighed.
"Those two make me waste way too much of my time. Come on, let's have a look down y the lake. Maybe Luffy fell in." she said, trying to make it sound like a joke, but it wasn't. Actually, it was very plausible and that's why three pairs of feet hurried down the slope of the hill towards the lake.
Zolo kicked his legs, Luffy now completely useless to him. He had the rubber boy pressed to his chest as he swam through the hole. The breath he was holding was beginning to burn a little, but he didn't let go.
Kicking his legs harder, he managed to work through the tunnel and out into the open lake. The water above him was still very dark. Tiny streams of bubbles were issuing from Luffy's mouth. He had to hurry. But there was no way he would make it in time!
Luffy would drown.
Making a split second decision, he bent over Luffy's face, tilting the lolling head towards his own and pressing his lips to Luffy's, he breathed into Luffy's mouth, pinching the boy's nose as he did so. It might not have been much, but when he leaned back, Luffy at least looked a little less pale.
Kicking his legs viciously, and using his free hand to propel himself through the water, he made a bid for the slowly lightening water above him.
That and the air that awaited him on the other side of the surface. His lungs burned and spots began to dance in front of his eyes, but he kept kicking, determined to reach the surface in time. Cold air hit him like a slap in the face as his head breached the surface. Finally. Heaving a deep lungful of the air, he lifted Luffy beside him. The boy was still unconscious.
Zolo gave him a worried look, and still breathing rather deeply, he swam to the shore. Pushing Luffy up in front of him, he climbed onto the warm dirt, the sun shining on them as if nothing had happened.
Once again, Zolo bent over Luffy's inert form, and pressed his mouth to the younger boy's, trying to make those rubber lungs work. Finally, after what seemed like a millennia but was really only a minute, Luffy coughed and sputtered, spitting out water as Zolo rolled him onto his side.
"You okay buddy?" he asked, patting Luffy's back. There was a weak nod as an answer and then Luffy rolled back over onto his back. He smiled up at the sun.
"It's warm out here." he said. Zolo smiled as well.
"Better than that damn cave." he replied.
"There you are!" a snappy voice called. Zolo and Luffy looked around to see Nami marching towards them, hands on her hips and her eyes seemingly alight with anger. Sanji hurried behind her, hands in his pockets and a cigarette in his mouth. Usopp was last, the only one who seemed just plain happy to see them.
"What have you been doing? We thought you went into that cave and got trapped or something." she said when she had reached them. Luffy grinned.
"We did. But Zolo got us out." he replied. Nami paused.
"Oh," she said. "Well, we were due to set sail yesterday so we are already behind because of you two, now let's go!" and she marched off.
"Ah, Nami is so wonderful when she is angry!" Sanji crooned as he followed her. Usopp watched them go, then turned back to Luffy.
"Are you guys okay?" he inquired. Luffy and Zolo nodded.
"What's their problem?" Luffy asked. Usopp shrugged.
"I think they were worried," he replied. Luffy got to his feet, sopping wet. Zolo was no better.
"At least we won't need baths tonight." Luffy said happily. Zolo chuckled and gave Luffy a light shove. Always look on the bright side.
As punishment for letting Luffy go somewhere he wasn't supposed to, Nami had sent Zolo up to do that night's watch. They had sailed out as soon as the two were back aboard the ship.
Chopper had greeted them enthusiastically and when Zolo had said thankyou and that he was glad someone cared, the little reindeer had squealed, yelling that those comments didn't make him feel good at all, and then run down to his lab.
Zolo sighed as he looked out to sea. Something was missing, but he just couldn't put his finger on what it was. There was a soft pitter patter and he looked around to see Luffy standing beside him, hands intertwining as if he were nervous about something.
"What's up captain?" Zolo asked. Luffy shrugged.
"Nothing, I was just, lying in my hammock and it was kind of cold, so could I…?" he trailed off, looking hopefully at the swordsman. Zolo blinked and then smiled, opening his arms. Luffy gave a squeak and jumped down in front of him, snuggling against the swordsman's chest.
"You're so warm Zolo." Luffy mumbled against his chest. Zolo smiled, and hugged his captain tight. "It's warmer when we're together." Zolo paused. Together. That sounded nice.
"I love you Luffy." the words tumbled unbidden from his mouth. It should have surprised him, but somehow, it seemed as if he had known it all along. Luffy leaned back a little to look up at the swordsman again. His eyes weren't wide and innocent this time, this time, Zolo could see the love he felt for his captain reflected in those shining orbs of dark onyx. Leaning down, he gently kissed Luffy on the forehead.
"Yeah, I love you too Zolo." Luffy replied before leaning back in close and snuggling against Zolo's chest with a contented sigh. "Love you too."
End
So, what did you think Clarobell? Did you enjoy it? Was it a good birthday present? Hope it was. And the rest of my friendly readers, what did you think? Reviews are man's, or in my case, girl's best friend! XD Hint hint, nudge oh never mind, someone had better hit me with a giant random ham. XP I stayed up until 2 at night finishing this fic, damn inspiration.
-kicks inspiration in the head- I need to stop having coffee early in the morning.
