Sorry to update this late, the school was hard and all... REALLY SORRY!!!

I didn't get any review either, made me a little sad. PLEASE review, it helps me write faster and it makes me happy.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.


Chapter 12


"Besides," he whispered, chuckling, "this cute little eye-candy won't be in a very good shape when I get there, will he..."


The sun was already up in the sky, though not for long as it was still slightly chilly. First rays of sun found their way through the gap in the white curtains at the back of the carriage, casting light on a handsome face of the man gently sleeping behind it.

Zoro slowly awakened, his eye fluttering open. He sat up a bit and stretched, blinking the sleep away. Taking in a deep breath he imediately coughed.

He didn't even need to look around to know what it was.

The Baka-Cook changed into a steam locomotive recently, smoking a more packs of the damn cancer sticks then usual - honestly, Zoro was surprised he was still this healthy and energic after all those cigaretes. He looked unnerved - and it was pretty obvious why to the moss-man. Zoro wasn't dense, he knew very well Sanji saw that something is off with him. He was just grateful the blond decided to leave it be for now.

Zoro smiled to himself. He felt a lot better then the day before. His hand found his pocket, feeling the small wooden rose inside. Yesterday Savan came to him, giving him the amulet saying it was from Joaquin-san's storage. It was made from the wood of a tree from depths of Kaemon's jungles. I was made long ago by one of Yoru-family's monks to supress pullswhen The Recieve couldn't be done right away. Of course it didn't work forever, but it was better then nothing.

Then as he moved his hand, he felt something else beside the amulet. Frowning he pulled it out and inspected. It was a folded paper with some text on it. On closer inspection it probably were songs. Most likely from Brook for him to learn. Oh dear lord, I really will have to sing to an audience. Just great!

Looking up he saw that occasionally there were hints of greenery and trees in the mushroom forest. They were close.


The village was middle-sized, stone-wooden buildings in the middle of the Nordern Forest, no soldiers guarding it fortunately. There was the lively half of the town with all the hotels (mostly for traveling artists or merchants), taverns and bars and then a residential area where all the towns-people lived in family-houses with 1-3 floors, some with gardend, animals and decorations, others just plain and simple with a chair outside of it, old men and ladies sitting in it, doing whatever they wanted to do.

The musician grup booked few hotel rooms - Nami managing to get 60% discount - and then they had few hours to themselfes. Zoro stayed in his room for a while, relaxing, feeling tired from long traveling.

The moss headed man frowned. He was weak lately. His stamina was all fucked up. His work outs were getting shorter and shorter. His mind seed to be somehow clouded all the time. All too soon his muscles started trembling and spasming from exhaustion. It was the pulls, no doubt. Yes, thanks to the amulet it didn't hurt so much anymore, but... it was draining him, taking away his strength.

The swordsman clenched his hands in fists in flustration, dark thoughts entering his mind. He hated to admit it, but he was getting painfuly weak. If it continues to progress like this, by the time they got to the capital he would already be too weak to defeat Sehyr - fuck he could already be d-

*knock knock*

"Zoro? May I come in?"

Zoro flinches at the thin voice. His heart sunk. 'What the actual fuck did I just think?'

He blinked the dread and shock away. "Yeah, Chopper."

The little reindeer checked him up, taking his puls, examining his reflexes and so on. He smiled a sad smile. "Seems you're feeling better then yesterday, regarding the pain." Zoro nodded. "But you lost weight and your reflexes are slower then the average." With a sad face Chopper took Zoro's hands in his sqeezing them and looked up at him with big worried eyes. "The "pulls" are draining you more then I expected. Please Zoro...be careful. Don't cause unnecessary fights, don't strain yourself... and please... don't drink too much."

Zoro grimaced; he knew the last thing won't be easy - near impossible - but he'll try. "Don't worry Chopper, I'll be careful."


It was late in the evening and the sun was long gone, but Koluka was just as lively as it was at the daylight. The restaurants and pubs smelled of good food, sweat and alcohol, the shops all had exposed the most beautiful merchandise in front of the front door and the night clubs and bars were full to burst - didn't help there were so few of them.

Sanji was happily strolling down the street. He had restocked the food suplies and now he was free to walk around the city, swoon over the ladies, look around the shops and bars and so on. Perfect.

As he was lost in thoughts, he unconsciously wandered to the seedy poorer part of the town. The walls were dirty and wet, the houses run-down, unstable, the windows boarded up. The streets were narrow and shabby, almost empty as if people avoided going out of their homes and those outside were in horrible conditions - pale, sick-looking and malnourished. It broke Sanji's heart.

"Whats such a pretty lad doin' in this ugly place?" an older sickly woman asked, a bright, genuine smile on her dirty face.

"I just...somehow ended up here." Sanji said forcing a smile of his own. "Can I ask madam, what happened here? Why is this place so..."

"Miserable?" the old lady added what Sanji didn't have the heart to. She chuckled bitterly. "Ya must be new here. This's where families that work in da mines live."

Sanji's eyes widdened in shock."What? Whole families are working in the mines!? Even the women!? "

Old lady's eyes saddened, but there was an angry flame there too. "Men, women, children, young, old - doesn't metter. If ya're poor, or if ya rebel against da king or offence or annoy da soldiers in any way all yar possessions are confiscated and ya go straight to live here and in mines. That's how it works in this kingdom." She sighed a long, heavy sigh. "Before it was different. Before Sehyr betrayed his brother, king Keishin ruled this land rightfully. He was a wise and strong warrior, but also a loving and kindhearted man. Amaya flourished. But then it all changed with da king's death. Dark soldiers came and plundered and burned, took everything they wanned. It was all different from then on."

Sanji frowned, eyes narrowing. "Bastard. To do this to an innocent..."

Old lady's eyes sparkled. She looked around and scooted closer to him, now talking quieter. "But we have a hope."

Sanji stared at her with interest. Her eyes, before so gentle were now burning with passion. "Da lion king might be gone, but da cub didn't go down so easily. It's run and run and now it's all grown up. It'll come back, strong and ready to roar once again. That's all we have left to keep fightin', to keep on livin'." Then the flame was gone. She backed away and smiled again. "Now go away lad. Ya look like a good man. Go and have some fun, do not stay in such a miserable place."

Sanji watched her walk away. His heart was beating with emotions, the old woman's words echoing in his head, the sight of the poor, miserable place repeating in his mind even as he was long gone.


By the time he was able to think about something else again he was back in the livelier part of Koluka, looking around for some good looking bar.

"Ah! Cook-san! How lovely to meet you here."

Sanji brightened. "Robin-chwan! Lovely indeed."

Robin smiled her usual sweet smile. "May I ask what you are doing?"

"Ah, nothing much, just walking around, exploring. What about you my dearest?"

"Oh. If so, may I invite you to come and have a drink with me?"

Sanji melted. "Of course Robin-chwan, you're an angel! I would absolutly love to!"

The archeologist giggled. "Great! I'm happy you agreed. I believe this evening will be quite interesting."

The cook tilted his head curiously. "How so, my love?"

She grinned in her usual mischievous way. "Because erlier in the day, Nami-chan succeeded to arrange us an evening performance in the bar I'm taking you to." She chuckled. "And Kenshi-san is going to sing."


to be continued...