Fever

Disclaimer: Don't own it!

Chapter 2: Explanations and The Witch

I wanted to take opportunity in this chapter to thank Digitaldreamer and TreeStar for their reviews of the original fic and letting me know the plot was okay to expand on. Thanks you two!

Luffy's fever got worse as the night wore on and Zoro stayed by his side all through it. Sanji had opted to sleep in the kitchen, due to Luffy's incessant groaning and whimpering. His reasoning had been that he had needed to be up in the morning to cook breakfast, but the crew new that the real reason was because he couldn't stand having to listen to Luffy in so much pain.

Robin was on watch tonight and Usopp found himself unusually envious of her. Anything would be better than just lying there and watching Luffy writhe in pain without being able to do anything to help. The sharpshooter really didn't know how Zoro did it; he sat there and watched every minute of it.

Usopp looked over from his bunk, and his eyes wavered as they rested on the candle, flickering weakly beside the swordsman. Right now Luffy was a lot like that candle. He was their light in the darkness and he showed them the way to follow heir dreams but that candle over there was burning so weakly now, the wax almost all melted. The flame was going to die soon and would have to be replaced with another candle. Maybe if Luffy didn't get better his fire would extinguish soon too. Usopp clenched his eyes closed at the thought and rubbed the wetness away from his eyes with his blanket, hoping that nobody had seen.

"Damn it!" He thought bitterly, clenching his fists "This is Luffy we're talking about here! He's not just someone that can be replaced – he can't die!"

With his resolve strong, he slowly climbed out of his bunk and made his way to where Luffy was resting. His brow creased in concern as he noticed how tired Zoro looked – he couldn't really blame him though, the guy was used to hourly naps and he had been awake now for majority of the day and night.

"...Zoro, I'll do that if you want." Usopp suggested.

Zoro turned to look at him and smiled, eyes weary.

"No … I'll do it … go back to sleep Usopp." the swordsman replied.

Usopp paused and then got up. He padded over and leaned down to look at Luffy, who was gasping as though he had just run a mile, and his hands were clenched on the blanket covering him.

"He's really bad, isn't he?" the long nose asked softly. Zoro sighed.

"Yeah ... I don't know what's wrong with him, Chopper doesn't know and even Ace says it's different than before" Zoo muttered angrily "How are we supposed to cure him, if we can't even identify what he has?"

And then Zoro gave a frustrated groan and tangled his own hands in his hair. Usopp watched him for a moment, eyes searching the older man's face.

"...Luffy said it happened to him before ... maybe the next time he wakes, we can ask him what helped before don't you think?" Usopp asked slowly.

Zoro paused and then untangled his hands from his hair slowly as he turned to face the marksman.

"What if he doesn't wake up?"

"Zoro!" Usopp said forcefully, surprising the swordsman, "When has Luffy ever let us down?"

"...never"

"Exactly. And he won't now. He won't let himself give up." Usopp said before standing up fully, the shadows flickering off his face in a threatening kind of way "After all, he isn't king of the Pirates yet is he?"

Zoro smiled and dropped his eyes back to Luffy's face.

"You're right Usopp." he said. Usopp smiled.

"I think I had better go and check on Chopper. He may be asleep on the deck with his books." Usopp said before walking out.

Zoro watched him leave. Usopp was right, and maybe there was more to the marksman than just lies. He sighed and gave Luffy's forehead another sponge. This would still be a long night, but there was no way he was going to leave the captain's side.

One of his best, and most endearing traits, was his loyalty, and hell be damned if he would let his good loyalty record be tarnished because he left Luffy's side in the time of the captain's need. Hell be damned...

Up on deck, Usopp spotted Chopper still studying under lamplight. The gentle sloshing of the waves against the side of the ship was soothing, and Usopp made his way carefully over to the little reindeer.

"What are you still doing up?" he asked.

Chopper's little head snapped up and bleary, puppy dog like eyes gazed at Usopp for a moment before they went back to the words in front of them.

"Trying to help Luffy." the doctor replied.

Usopp settled himself beside the reindeer and peered at a book.

"Wanna hear a story?" the liar asked.

Chopper paused. The offer was obviously tempting, but the reindeer shook his head.

"No, please Usopp. I'm trying to study." Chopper replied, very serious. Usopp smiled and picked up a book.

"So, what are we trying to find?"

"I … I don't know" Chopper admitted guiltily "Luffy … he's showing symptoms of the flu, but then not"

"So what does that mean?"

"I don't know" the little reindeer whispered "I'm not a good enough doctor"

Usopp released a sigh, knowing full well that the little doctor was going to blame himself from the start. With a small smile and idea formed in his head.

"Hey Chopper" he called "Have you ever heard of the wishing cure?"

"W-Wishing cure?"

"Of course!" the marksman shouted, before realising the late hour and quietening his voice "Its work for the Great Captain Usopp on numerous occasions!"

"Really?"

"And it's known to cure many things!"

"Do you think it could help Luffy?"

"Definitely!"

With a determined look on his face, the little reindeer demanded to know how to carry out this wishing cure.

"Okay" Usopp started "You close your eyes and take deep breaths"

Chopper did as instructed, sitting beside Usopp as the liar had instructed to.

"You imagine the sickness…" Usopp continued noting how Chopper frowned "…and then imagine it being cured…" his frown lessened

Usopp watched as Choppers breaths started to even out and eventually the little doctor slumped to the side, leaning on the sniper as soft sores escaped his lips. Usopp grinned at how well his plan had worked and gently scooped up his friend, carrying him down to the boys cabin and making sure to extinguish the lamp he had been using.

In truth he hadn't really lied to Chopper, as the little reindeer had asked him if his cure would help Luffy, and in actual fact it would. Chopper was the one who would really help Luffy and if he didn't sleep, he couldn't help properly, so by getting him to sleep, in the long run he was helping to cure Luffy.

Zoro looked up from his Captain as the liar made his way down the ladder and gently placed his reindeer friend in his own hammock before turning to face him. Usopp's eyes widened as they fell on where his captain had been lying and Zoro quickly turned around to see Luffy was gone!

"Where is he?" Zoro cried, looking around frantically.

Chopper sat up in his hammock and Usopp seriously considering whacking Zoro over the back of the head right now.

"Where's who?" Chopper asked sleepily and then spotted the empty couch. "Luffy!" he cried.

"Usopp, go check down the corridor, I'll go up top. Chopper you go to the storage room. We have to find him!" Zoro instructed and then hurried up the ladder and out onto the deck.

There was silence for a moment and the gentle sloshing of the waves made him even more conscious of the disturbing gurgling sounds he began hearing. With speed he never knew he had, Zoro dashed to the edge of the ship and peered over into the murky oceans, sighing in relief when he saw the gurgling noise coming from a passing sea-creature. His relief was short lived though as his attention was caught by a very familiar silhouette against the moonlight, leaning precariously over the edge of the ship.

Zoro inched closer to his captain, but as he got closer, it seemed Luffy leaned further over the edge.

"She's … calling to me" Luffy whispered deliriously "I have to go or…"

Before another word could be said he toppled over the edge and Zoro pitched forward, barely managing to grab the now unconscious boy's hand. What the hell was going on with Luffy!

With a grunt he pulled him back to the deck and called for Usopp and Chopper, who had also been searching the ship. The rest of the crew were still sleeping, totally unaware of what was going on.

With a shaky sigh of relief, Zoro hefted Luffy into his arms and carried him princess-style into the kitchen. As he entered he spotted Sanji dozing over by the fridge and turned to Usopp asking him to retrieve the cloth and water he had been using to sponge Luffy up so that he could pour some new water. Usopp complied and was gone in less than a second, banging the door behind him and effectively waking the cook.

"Mm?" Sanji mumbled as he saw Chopper and Zoro in the kitchen "What's going on? We under attack?"

"Go back to sleep shitty-cook" Zoro replied gruffly "Nothing to worry about here"

Sanji blinked once and then twice before noticing the lump that was Luffy in Zoro's grip as the swordsman gently lay him on the table.

"Oi! Oi!" the cook protested "What's e doing up here? He should be in bed!"

"Don't you think I know that?" Zoro hissed "The kid can hardly breathe and the airs clearer up here so he's staying here for a while"

"Did Chopper say you could bring him up here?" the worry was evident now

"Nobody said he could come up" Chopper replied timidly "He was delirious and nearly fell off the ship"

"Shit" Sanji mumbled leaning over to get a better look at his captain "He alright?"

"He's fine" Zoro replied

The room lapsed into silence, save for Luffy's ragged breathing until finally Usopp returned with the bowl of water and cloth.

"I'll get that" stated Sanji as he took them from the marksman, refilled the bowl and handed it to Zoro

"Thanks" Zoro muttered as he took the bowl and proceeded to wipe the sweat away from the boys body.

Before long, the boys decided to head back to the cabin, Sanji included, and were seated around the still boy in silence. Before long they had all drifted into an uneasy sleep, all but one that is. His sharp eyes continued to watch his captain for the rest of the night; after all, that was a first mates job

The next morning came around and it seemed to Zoro as if Luffy was getting worse with every passing minute. He had awoken now, but he wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink, wouldn't do anything except stare at the ceiling and mutter about some witch and some curse. Zoro never managed to find out about what it was though. Every time he asked, Luffy would shy away and not answer or give him a look that clearly said he didn't know what the swordsman was talking about.

"Come on Zoro" Chopper wheedled, standing by Zoro who was watching over Luffy like a fox "You haven't had any sleep in two days – you need to rest!"

"No. I turned away for barely a second last night, and he was gone." and Zoro looked at the little reindeer, his hand firmly clasped in Luffy's as the boy weakly gripped it through his spasms of pain "I won't let that happen again."

Chopper left and Zoro turned back to face Luffy, only to see him gazing at him, sweat beading on the boy's forehead.

"Zoro ... cares?" Luffy rasped.

Zoro smiled and squeezed Luffy's hand.

"Of course I do captain. Why wouldn't I?" Zoro replied.

Chopper watched the two for a moment and then sighed. It was heartbreaking to see Luffy go through so much pain, and it was even more so when Luffy tried to act normal although it was plainly obvious he was anything but normal.

Chopper had begun taking a journal. Whatever Luffy did, whatever Luffy mumbled, he took it down. There wasn't a thing Luffy did that Chopper didn't know about. Sanji brought down food, and no matter how much the chef tried to deny it, he was worried as well; same with Nami.

"Zoro ... cares" Luffy said again and then his eyes slipped shut again and a smile seemed to grace his face and the sweat on his forehead stopped for a while.

Something in the way Luffy had thought about Zoro's caring, had triggered a short relaxant in Luffy's body. Zoro smiled. Inside, he was screaming. He had no means to help his friend, and it was tearing him apart. Seeing Luffy deteriorate like this was something none of the crew should have been made to witness, least of all the first mate. Zoro brushed a strand of Luffy's hair away from the boy's eyes.

"Get better soon buddy" he muttered "It's hell without you"

An entire week passed with no improvement in Luffy's condition. That morning Chopper had given them the news that none of them had ever wanted to hear.

If Luffy didn't improve in any way soon, he was going to die.

None of the crew really wanted to believe it, but they could all see it with their own eyes. The boy that had once been their strong and unbeatable captain … was dying.

They sat around him as he gasped for breath and weakly squeezed Zoro's and Nami's hand in either of his. His eyes were glazed over and he was delirious.

"Luffy" Zoro begged "Please … please … don't die…"

The rest of the crew stayed silent, all agreeing with the swordsman. A slight thump was heard above deck, but nobody paid attention to it, afraid that should they turn away, their captain's eyes may close and … they didn't even want to think about it.

Zoro couldn't help but think that he was being selfish. Luffy was in so much pain and yet … he was begging him to stay with him … to endure the pain, just so that he could feel better. He knew it was stupid, bt he couldn't help feeling that way, besides, Luffy would never let him give up if the roles were reversed … would he?

No. Never.

They all had dreams to achieve and damn it they would! With his strengthened resolve, Zoro stared intensely at his captain.

"If you die I'll never forgive you"

He didn't voice it out loud, but he had a feeling Luffy knew.

A light knock on the door finally drew their attention from the choking boy on the couch and all eyes widened as Ace walked casually through the door.

"Hey guys!" he greeted happily not able to see his brother through the other crew members "I was just passing though and saw your ship so … what's wrong? You look like somebody died"

Nobody moved or said a thing. Ace scanned the room and his eyes widened a little noticing the lack of his energetic little brother.

"Where's Luffy?" he asked.

This was too much for poor little Chopper, and the reindeer bolted from the room. Ace watched the reindeer and turned back to the group. The crew slowly parted, leaving Luffy open to his eyes. The pale boy looked skinnier than ever and Ace's bag dropped from his shoulder.

"It can't be." he whispered, "Luffy overcame this."

"Overcame what?" Usopp asked sadly, his eyes never leaving Luffy's face.

Ace walked forward, ignoring the marksman as he knelt by Luffy's side. Zoro was beside him, red rimmed eyes gazing at Luffy carefully, his lips seemingly set in a permanent look of remorse.

"He ... when he was little, Luffy was prone to getting angry at the wrong people, such as the bandit that insulted Luffy's idol, Shanks" Ace explained "Well, Luffy disappeared for a while, and no matter where Makino or I looked, we couldn't find him. It was a scary experience – I mean, we thought for sure that he'd picked a fight with the wrong type of guy and was dead"

"Where did you find him?" Nami asked

"That's the thing – we didn't" Ace continued "It had been just over a week when Luffy re-appeared, on the edge of town without a cut, scrape, bruise or anything. He was sick, like he had the flu, but, not – that's what the doctor said anyway"

Zoro turned. This was what Chopper had said. The flu ... but not.

"What happened?" Zoro croaked.

Nami looked up. They hadn't heard the swordsman speak in over a day. Ace blinked and then touched Luffy's cheek.

"He nearly died." Ace said simply. "He was like this. The town doctor had given up hope, and we didn't think he would survive the night but then this strange old woman showed up at our door. She dropped a bottle of some liquid on our doorstep, left specific instructions to give it to Luffy immediately and we did and ... he was fine; recovered the next day like nothing had ever been wrong." Ace finished.

"So, what was actually wrong?" Nami asked softly. Ace shrugged.

"I don't know. But, if that old woman doesn't turn up again, then..." and he trailed off, gazing at Luffy sadly. "I don't even know what was in that bottle, I mean he didn't remember anything"

"He keeps mumbling about a witch" Usopp offered

"That's what I told him … I thought the old woman was a witch that had made a magic potion to heal Luffy" Ace explained "He must think that there really is a witch that can help him"

"But there isn't?" Nami asked

"No" Ace replied miserably "And if we don't hel him … he'll…"

"That can't be true" Zoro spoke again, wincing as his voice cracked slightly whe he had eant for it to be firm "He can't just … die … I won't let him!"

"No more shouting…" a weak voice pleaded from the couch and all eyes turned to the now conscious Luffy as he struggled to smile having noticed his brother "A-Ace"

"I'm here Luffy" Ace replied running a hand through his sick brother's hair

"A-Are you going to make me b-better l-like before?" Luffy asked hopefully

"I…" Ace wanted to tell his brother he was going to be okay, but he just couldn't. They had always been truthful to one another so he wasn't about to start lying now "Luffy" he ground out "You're dying"

"Dying... but, I haven't become king of the pirates yet." Luffy replied and then coughed.

There was a crash on deck, and Sanji turned before hurrying up the ladder to check it out.

"Yeah, I know. You will." Ace said softly, feeling the corners of his eyes prickle as he continued to run a hand through Luffy's hair.

"But, you just said..." and Luffy trailed off with a sigh.

"You will, because I'm not going to let you die." Zoro said forcefully. Luffy's bloodshot eyes came to rest on Zoro's face again and he smiled.

"It doesn't matter Zoro. I'll be alright. You guys can go and follow your own dreams this way." Luffy rasped.

Zoro's lip trembled, but he bit it to stop from crying. This wasn't the time to cry. Same old Luffy, being so damn brave, understanding and accepting, even when it was him that was dying; caring more about his crews dreams than his own life.

"Luffy, the only reason we have come this far is because of you. Your dream carried us this far." Zoro explained and Luffy grinned, and this time, it wasn't forced. It was a genuine, true smile. "There. That's the Luffy I've missed." and Luffy gave a weak chuckle and Zoro smiled.

"Thanks Zoro." and Luffy seemed to brighten a little, even regain a little of his energy.

Ace paused and then glanced at Zoro. Something was happening to his brother. Something that hadn't happened last time and Ace thought he could pick up on what it was. He let a small smile slip over his face. There was a gasp and Ace's eyes snapped back to Luffy as the boy arched his back, as if in pain. Zoro blinked and then his breathing quickened.

"What's happening? Did this happen last time?" Zoro asked, panicking slightly.

"No. It didn't" Ace replied as Luffy twisted and then fell back against the couch, his breathing shallow and quick "His sickness was just that, a sickness, there ws no real pain involved"

"Nami..." Sanji's voice said from the ladder. The orange haired woman paused and then turned to look at the blonde.

"What is it Sanji?" she asked.

The chef beckoned to her with a finger and she got up to hurry over. Sanji held out a small piece of paper to her and Nami took it rather sceptically.

As her eyes skimmed the words written on the paper she gasped and ran to Ace, handing it to him. Ace quickly read the words and his eyes widened as he noticed the emblem marked in the corner of the paper.

"It's her" he whispered pointing at the emblem "That's her sign – it was on the last note she left"

The crew eyed the paper warily scanning the words with bated breath. This could be their last chance. On the paper were three simple sentences that meant worlds to the crew.

Tonight at seven

Your ship

I'll be there

Well, there's the new and improved chapter 2! Hope you enjoyed it! Don't forget to review!