FIRST MATE

by sdsawant56

This is a story about zoro who is helping luffy to achieve his dream but there is many things that he have to sacrifice in order to achieve that.. and little bit of zoro and nami

2. Chapter Two

Chapter Two: Time has come.

Moon was shining brightly and enlightening the path with it's brightness for them to walk. The atmosphere was chilling due to the fact of creepy environment, perona was freezing but it wasn't much for swordsman to bother. Baboons were hiding in the forest watching the couple bickering with each other in front of them. Baboons know better by now that it is best to avoid fight with the swordsman because he is not what he used to be. He is far agile and stronger than before when he came to the island.

Zoro and Perona were getting late to get back To the castle thanks to the certain green head swordsman, "I can't believe it, how many times do I have to tell you that you just have to just follow me. Is it that much hard for a legendary pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro to do??" Perona said to zoro with hot temper. Zoro was just behind her trying to follow her. "And how many times do I have to tell you that this DAMM forest is shifting to confuse me, so it isn't my fault that we are getting late to get back to the castle. "Zoro said back to perona with cool temper."

Perona was floating to the castle direction, she was shivering due to the fact of cold atmosphere around there. Zoro notice that something is bothering her because he can clearly see the conflict look on her face so in order to distract her, he need to start a conversation with her. "Hey" zoro said nonchalantly, "WHAT??" Perona snap back. Zoro didn't react to her outburst. "What you gonna do after I leave this island?" Perona stop floating to the castle direction and turn around to face swordman. "What do you mean??" Perona ask him with a confused look on her face. "I mean what you gonna do with your life after I leave this island." Zoro said while walking pass her. Perona turn around and start to float to the castle's direction without replying him.

Zoro knew nothing about her ever since he came on this island. Zoro know she doesn't like to talk about her, she never told him about her dreams, she never even told him where she came from. Does she have parents or not?, does she have friends or family like zoro have??. Zoro knew nothing at all about her. She never talk about this kind of things. "Hey, women I asked you something. What you gonna do after I leave this island. "Zoro asked her with irritation in his voice now. "I don't know" Perona answered without emotions. Zoro realise the tone of her and understand the empty feeling within it. "Don't you have any goals or ambition to pursue and achieve it??" Zoro asked while walking to the castle. "I don't know, I don't know what I am gonna do with my life, I don't have any ambition or goals to achieve. I am just trying to survive in this cruel world all my life so I don't have any time to go pursue dreams or ambition." Perona said with emotionless voice. Zoro can clearly see the pained expression on her face which she was trying to hide. "Don't you have any friends or family to go back to them?" Zoro said with little concerne in his voice. "I don't have friends or family to go back" Perona said back with shaky voice like she is about to cry. "What about that moria guy or what about that lion guy or that doctor?? Aren't those guys were your family or friends??" Zoro asked perona without stopping the walk. "Noooo, what made you think that we were family or friends??" Perona asked with a digusted look on her face. "isn't it obvious!! You guys were together when we came to thriller bark and you work with them and even know theirs name so it is hard to assume that you guys are not friends or family." Zoro replied while walking. "No, I never ever consider them my friends or family they were just cruel people who just like to use people for their Experiment, I was just following their orders so I can have place to live and have proper meals so that I don't have to starves for the days."

Zoro was walking and Perona was floating back to the castle, zoro was thinking about the conversation he had few minutes ago with Perona like all she was doing in her life was surviving in this cruel world, "What kiind of life she had? She doesn't even have friends or family to go back to them. What she going to do when I am not around here. Whose gonna protect her if something happened?? Its not like she is a weak women but what if someone who is stronger than her attack her?? Mihawk won't be able to protect her since he frequently go out on the sea's and I not gonna be here to protect her either then whose gonna protect her??" I can't leave her like this, she is my friend after all. She looked after me during these two years, whatever or whoever she is still she is my friend who look after me two years without caring about herself. And now I have to go back to my friends, if I leave this island without her then I would be selfish man who just use her for my own convenience and abandon her. I need to take her along with me to the journy, luffy won't mind recruiting her in his crew right? That way she will have friends and family like I have and I can look after her during the voyage." Zoro thought to himself.

Zoro was having a war of emotion within him, he wasn't able to determine what should he do with his friend?? Should he take her along with him to the crew or should he leave her on her own?? Zoro was so lost in thought that he doesn't even realise that Perona was crying but she was trying to suppress the crying that she was failing at it miserably. Soon zoro comes to his sense and heard the crying that Perona was trying to hide, zoro groans in irritation since he was not so good at handling the crying girls.

Zoro grabs Perona leg and yank it down on the ground on her legs. Perona starle by the sudden movement which caused perona to get furious and start to yell at green moss head. "WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM BRUTE" Perona yell at him while hastily trying to wipe tears that were on her Cheek's. Zoro looks at her with concerns in his eye. "Why are you crying?" Zoro asked without looking away. "NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS" Perona replied coldly. Zoro can see that she was avoiding to look at him directly, she was still hiding her face by looking down. "And why is this none of my business?" Zoro asked with cool temper. "What is it to you anyway, I am not your friend or something, am I?" Perona said back with little calmer tone. "If I am not your friend then who am I to you?" Zoro replied to Perona with a question. Perona slowly rise her face to see swordsman's face, his face has a stoic expression. "But you always get irritated and angry whenever I try to talk to you or get friendly with you" Perona asked with little hope in her eyes. Zoro start to scratch his back of the head cause he was not good at this kind of thing.

"I never said that I hate you, did I?" Zoro asked bluntly. Perona nod her head in agreement. "So that's what I am saying, I am that kind of guy who gets easily irritated if you tease me or abuse me and your that kind of girl who like to abuse me and tease me. But that doesn't means that I hate you because this kind of things happened between friends". Zoro said with a genuine smile on his face not the evil smirk when he fight against an opponent, he said it with a genuine smile on his face. Perona was speechless, she was standing in front of a person who used to be a monster, ruthless, bloodthirsty demon but now she is a looking at a person who is totally different like he never used to be a demon that she heard rumours of. She always thought that this guy never like her, that this guy will kill her if he gets the chance, that this guy will get away from her if he get the chance but she was wrong. This guy consider her as a friend, she never had a friend before and now she has one. Even though she is living with this guy for two years, this proves that how little she knows about the swordsman.

Perona was looking at a swordsman with a watery eyes, she was having a hard time to restrain her water works. "Now, tell me why were you crying before?" Zoro asked with a serious expression on his face. Perona rub her eyes with the back of the hand and try to steady herself, She was shivering because of the cool climate. "Its nothing" Perona replied slowly. "Perona you can tell me, I am your friend" zoro said. "Its really nothing idiot!" Perona said back embarrassingly. "Are you sure that you were crying over nothing?" Zoro asked while removing his T-shirt. "I can't tell you what I was crying over, its really embarrassing and why are you removing your T-shirt??" Perona asked with a questioning look on her face. "Its okay if you don't want to tell me, I won't force you but if something is bothering you feel free to tell me I'll take care of it and I am removed my T-shirt so you can wear it because I can clearly see that you are shivering." Zoro raise his hand holding his T-shirt toward Perona. Small blush crept on Perona's face, she looked away to hide her face but it was futile attempt against Roronoa zoro. "I don't want it idiot, I am okay. I am not feeling cold or anything." Perona said it while trying to hide her face. "Tkc" zoro groans irritatedly. "What" Perona asked with irritate look. "We both know that you are shivering because of the cold atmosphere so stop being a kid and wear this T-shirt." Zoro said it with a scowl on his face. Perona was pondering over whether to take his T-shirt or not. Zoro was waiting for her to take his T-shirt from his hand but that movement never came, zoro got tired of her and thrust his T-shirt in her hands. Perona startled by sudden movement but didn't say anything.

Now Perona was holding his T-shirt in her hands, she was looking intently at the T-shirt that she was holding in her hands. Zoro was watching her but didn't say anything, he was confused why she was looking at his T-shirt like it is something new to her. "Oi" zoro said with his usual calm and gruf voice. Perona snapped out of her thought, "huh". "You have to wear that T-shirt" zoro said with a gesture. Perona nod in yes without any resistance. Zoro just response with "hmm" and turn around to walk.

The moment zoro turn around to go in the direction of castle Perona quickly wear zoro's T-shirt effortlessly but it was quite big for her size. She smell his T-shirt it were steel and alcohol odours coming from his T-shirt which were both favourite things of zoro. She don't know why but she was feeling safe and warm wearing his T-shirt as if he is gonna protect her with his life.

Soon perona come to her sense and realised what she was doing. Small blush crept on her face, perona shake her face so she can get rid of these feelings. Perona steady herself and start float to in the direction of castle but as usual zoro was going in the wrong direction. "Oi idiot, you are going in the wrong direction. Castle is this way" Zoro whole body stiffened when he heard those words from the women. "I Know Where I Am Going, it just thi--" zoro was cut of before he can complete his usual line.

"ya ya I know that this forest is shifting to confuse you." Perona said back mockingly. Zoro turn around furiously and start to follow with a usual scowl on his face and cursing the women in front of him. "I don't know how you gonna be a world's strongest swordsman with that kind of direction, you would be old by the time you find mihawk and challenge him for the title Horohorohoro" Perona laugh with a High pitch voice. Zoro was now fuming with anger, "DAMM YOU WOMEN, AS IF THAT KIND OF THING GOANNA PREVENT ME FROM BECOMING WORLD'S STRONGEST SWORDSMAN" Zoro was ready to pound on her and give her little piece of him but before he can do that she float higher in order get out of reach. "GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE WOMEN AND I WILL YOU LET KNOW HOW I GONNA BE A WORLD'S STRONGEST SWORDSMAN." Zoro was literally dancing with anger and Perona was laughing with her high pitched voice. Perona knew that this is the last time she ever can see him and she wants to cherish every moments that she have with this moss head because he is the only one who ever consider her as a friend.

After a few minutes they both were walking in the direction of castle, both were bickering with each other as usual. "Oi" zoro call Perona while walking. "What?" Perona replied. "Where are you from?" zoro asked nonchalantly. Perona hands automatically start to rub her arms when she heard those words and it didn't go unseen by zoro's one good eye. Perona realised what he was asking, he was asking about her past which she doesn't want to share with anyone and specially not with him yet. She doesn't want him to judge her, she doesn't want to ruin her friendship by telling him about her past.

Zoro realised that she doesn't want to share her past with him since he can clearly see how weirdly she behaving after hearing those words. "I need to distract her from her relentless thought of train" zoro thought to himself. Zoro suddenly unsheathe his wado ichimanjo and attack the nearest boulder with a slash attack."BOOM" Perona snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the noise of the destruction. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, YOU FREAK!!" Perona yelled. "What?" Zoro ask while sheathing his wado ichimanjo. "WHAT YOU MEAN WHAT? DON'T BEHAVE LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. WHY DID YOU DO THAT FOR??" Perona yelled again. "Oh that, well I thought there was someone behind that boulder." Zoro replied coolly. Before Perona can complaint about the incident that he caused zoro start to walk to the castle leaving her behind, soon Perona rush to the swordsman and start bickering with each other.

After about 10 minutes they were standing in front of the castle's gate. The appearance of the castle was creepy as hell, as if castle itself have some kind of demonic aura or possessed spirit. The castle was in good condition like someone must be taking care of this castle but the surrounding is spooky like any moment zombie will emerge from the ground and come to eat. Any normal person would stay away from this castle as much as possible but this kind of things doesn't matter to our swordsman and Perona.

"Let's go in you idiot, and don't get lost!!" Perona said while floating. "As if I would" zoro said while walking. Zoro opens the gate and enter meanwhile perona float over the gate. Both of them were now standing in front of castle's door, zoro can feel the intimidating aura that is coming from the door. He know that mihawk is in there waiting for them. Zoro put his hand on the door and start to open door slowly, zoro can now see the inside of the castle it was enough to have a football match. The castle was clean and beautiful it was nothing like creepy castle would be. Zoro and Perona got inside of the castle and close the door. Zoro can clearly see the men that he want to defeat seating in front of him on the dinning table with a glass of wine in his hand twirling around. Zoro can feel his glare on him as if he can defeat only with his look and that is true, any normal person would shit his pants if he fall under the mihawk's gaze. He is not a world's strongest swordsman for nothing.

Zoro and Perona nervously move forward to the dining table without uttering a single word, mihawk watch them as they getting close to the dining table. Now zoro and Perona were standing beside the table and mihawk was just looking at them with his keen eyes which he is famous for.

"What you want mihawk?" zoro said with his gruff voice. Mihawk didn't said anything instead he took a sip of the wine which he was holding in his hand. "What you want old men?" This time he asked him with his threatening voice but it was futile against world's strongest swordsman. "Took you long enough to get here Roronoa" mihawk reply with his cool temper. "Tkc" zoro replied with his irritated gesture. "Is it there anything you want to talk with me, if it isn't then I am leaving" zoro said while standing beside table. "Yes, i have something that i need no discuss with you but before that why are you naked? And how come Perona is wearing your t-shirt? I assume that you guys are now much more intimate than before" Mihawk asked with a amused smile on his face. Both Perona and Zoro realised what he was talking about they turned bit root both of them were blushing furiously. "IT IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK" both of them yelled at Mihawk simultaneously. Mihawk laugh slowly after watching their reaction. It was first time for zoro and perona to ever see Mihawk laugh like this. After seeing Mihawk laughing both Perona and Zoro joined in Loughing it was contagious. After several minutes Mihawk compose himself and again asked "Well Roronoa, you are leaving tomorrow morning, am I right?" Zoro said it back without a second."Yes."

Mihawk put his wine glass on the dining table and get up from the chair, he walk to the stairs but before he start to ascende the stairs he look back and gesture him to follow him. Zoro understood the gesture and start to follow him without any word. Soon both of them were in the mihawk's room, zoro notice everything were clean and neat. It was a big luxurious room and it was well organised, "Roronoa" mihawk call him in order to get his attention. Zoro snap out his thought, "hmm" zoro acknowledged him. "There is something I want to give you as a teacher" mihawk said with his calm attitude. "You don't have to get anything for me" zoro reply bluntly. Mihawk walk to the nearest cupboard ignoring him and open it, he took out a dark green yukata along with black pants and red robe. He close the cupboard and walk back to the zoro where he was standing, "here, this is for you as a parting gift roronoa". Mihawk said to him while holding his gift. "You got this for me" zoro asked with a confused looked since both of them don't like each other. "Its not me who bought this, its Perona who made me to buy this. It is a farewell gift from us, me and Perona to you." Mihawk told him while gesturing him to take the clothes.

Zoro took the clothes from mihawk and start check the clothes, it was good quality of clothes since he can tell the quality of material which was quite soft yet stretchable and strong. Zoro like the colour of the clothes it was dark green which was his favourite colour since he has green colour hair, soon Zoro realised that he was naked since he had given his T-shirt to Perona. "Thanks" zoro said back with his gruf voice. "I am glad that you like it" mihawk reply. 'So what you want to talk about" zoro asked with calm temper. Mihawk look at him with a concern in his eyes which zoro was not appreciating since he wants to defeat him and claim the title of world's greatest swordsman. Mihawk walk over to the chair and sit elegantly on it, "I have a favour to ask" Mihawk said with intimidating aura. "Is he asking for favour or ordering me?" Zoro thought himself.

"What" zoro replied, "I want you to take Perona along with you to your crew." Mihawk replied. "And why is that?" Zoro said back with confused look on his face as he want to take Perona with her but why this old men want to get rid of her, it is not like she is causing any problems or anything to him so why? Mihawk look at him for a while and get up and went over to the window and look outside at the moon. "As you know she doesn't have anyone in this world that she can truly call a family" at this words mihawk got full attention of the swordsman. "But there is a exception with that zoro, she consider us me and you zoro her family."

"Does he care about her and if he care about her then why he is telling me to take her with me" zoro thought himself. Mihawk turn around and look at zoro with again with intimidating aura, "Roronoa you may not consider her and me family but to her we are her family" mihawk said calmly. "If you care about her that much then why are you asking me to take her with me" zoro asked bluntly. "Well Roronoa I won't be able stay with her forever and I may care about her but if she stay with me i might put her life in denger thats why I am asking you to take her along with you and look after her." Mihawk said back calmly. "Whats make you think that my captain will accept her?" Zoro asked with curious look. At this statement mihawk smirk, "I know your captain Monkey. D. Luffy he will accept anyone with a good heart and if you are the one is suggesting then he will accept no matter what, I know how close you guys are." Mihawk replied with a smile on his face. Zoro was stunned because he never saw this guy ever smiling but now he is smiling. "But if you know my captain that well then you also know that how reckless he is if I take her along with me it also mean I am putting her life in danger so why would you want me take her along with me?" Zoro said back with a question. "Well I have faith in your captain that he will protect his nakama no matter what." Mihawk said with determination. "And how would you know that?" Zoro replied. "Well Roronoa you and your crew are infamous for always going against world government an-" And before mihawk could complete his sentence zoro cut him with "and what is that thing have to do with Perona?" "Do you remember what your crew did when your archeologist was taken away by world government?" Mihawk asked. "Yeah, we brought her back to us to crew." Zoro said it. "Was it your idea to rescue your archeologist?" Mihawk replied. "No" zoro said it bluntly. "Was it your captain's idea to save her?" Mihawk asked with determined looked. "Yes, so what's that thing have to do anything with perona?" Zoro asked confusedly. "Well you see Roronoa that your captain will go any length to save his nakama even against the world and i am pretty sure if Perona join your crew she will be in a good hands." Mihawk reply while standing beside window.

Zoro know what he was saying is right, no matter what Luffy will not leave his friend behind. For several minutes both of them didn't talk to each other, zoro was just looking at Mihawk who was just having his wine while gazing outside the window at the luminous moon. Mihawk finish his wine and put down the glass on the table which was beside the window and turn around and find zoro's gaze on him, both of them now looking at each other as if it was like do or die situations. "So? Will you take her along with you" Mihawk broke the akward silence. "Ok, i will take her along with me but what if she doesn't want to come with me?" Zoro asked. "No need to worry about that i will convince her to go with you." Mihawk replied.

With the discussion being done Mihawk started to walk towards the door and leave the room leaving zoro alone in the room. Zoro was blank for the moment he know what he was doing he know that one more responsibility has been given on his shoulder. Zoro close his eye, took a long breath and after several seconds he let it out. Zoro open his one good eye "I hope Luffy will accept her, if don't, i don't know what am i gonna do." Zoro glare at the gift that is given by Mihawk and perona which he was holding in his his hands, a genuine smile spread across his face. Few minutes later zoro left the room and proceed to go to his room, while he was going he saw both Mihawk and perona were having conversations about something in the hallway in which zoro can clearly can see that Perona was mad over something and Mihawk was as nonchalant as usual. Zoro knew what they were talking about, while watching them zoro realised that Perona rather than giving death glare to Mihawk she is actually giving death glare to him which zoro was not appreciating to be honest he was little scared. Before things gets ugly it is best to get away from here with that zoro ignore their quarrel and continue his way to the bed room.

As soon as he enter his room and see his bed he went to sleep without wasting any time cause he has to wake up early tomorrow in order to begin his new journey to reunite with his friends.

"ZOOROOOOO" it was a painful screech that caused zoro to open his eye "LUFFY" Zoro yelled. Zoro was sweating, sweating profusely his eye was wide open as if it was gonna pop out. He look frantically around himself to find luffy but he soon realised where he was, he was on the thousand sunny.

"Zoro" Zoro again heard the sound and move towards the direction it is coming from immediately but there was no one standing. Zoro was standing on the middle of the ship on lawn deck. "Zoro" This time someone else was calling him and he know who was calling him, "Sanji" Zoro whisper to himself knowing that no one is standing on the other side where sound is coming from, when he turn around there was nobody standing over there. "ZOOROOO" This time it was piercing cry which caused zoro shiver and he know who is calling him, Zoro turn around as soon as possible and find chopper at the end of the lawn deck sitting and lying his back on the railing in the pond of blood. When zoro saw that his heart stopped for the moment after some moments he dash over to chopper and took his whole body in his arms realising that chopper has been shoot on his back three times "Shit, not this again" zoro cursed. Chopper was smiling when he saw their swordsman was about to cry, "he--he" chopper laugh somehow. "What are you laughing for idiot" zoro said it while holding his tears.

"Who did this to you chopper? Tell me!! I swear to god i will torture him so bad that he wants to kill himself" zoro told him while holding chopper in his arms. "Zo-" "Where were you all this zoro" before chopper could say anything someone else exclaimed. "I don't remember anything luffy" Zoro recognize the voice with in seconds and said it back without hesitation. Luffy walk over to them and sit beside them, before luffy can say anything thing zoro was on his knees in a begging position "I AM SORRY CAPTAIN, I FAILED, FAILED TO PROTECT OUR FRIENDS. AS A FIRST MATE OF THE STRAWHAT PIRATES IT WAS MY TO DUTY TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE ENEMYS, I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING, ANYTHING AT ALL I AM SORRY CAPTAIN." Zoro said it all of this while crying and keep his head on the floor. Luffy didn't say anything he was just looking at him with emotionless eyes. After several moments all of the crew members come together except nami and stand beside Luffy. Luffy got up and pick chopper up and start to leave with his crew, "where are you guys going?" Zoro asked while getting up. Luffy and his crew stop and turn around to see their swordsman, "LIAR" everyone said it simultaneously. Zoro shocked when he heard what they said, "No i am no--" "SHUT UP!!!" Zoro was cut off before he can complete his sentence by luffy. Zoro was trembling, trembling with despair. Every strawhat were looking at zoro with disgusted looks as if zoro comitted a heinous crime. "Because of you my whole crew is dead, because of you they weren't able to achieve their goals, because of you chopper has to die at so young age because you betrayed us!!" "No not again! Not this i have never betrayed anyone in my life" zoro thought to himself. Zoro never saw Luffy like this before, "LIAR, LIAR, LIAR" everyone relentlessly repeating the same word making zoro to drop on his knees banging his face on the floor while trying to cover his ears to prevent from the words which hurts like daggers pushing through his heart. "NO, NO, NO, NO" Zoro was trembling and yelling, yelling like person who will do anything in order prove his innocence but the torture was not coming to an end.

Out of nowhere zoro feels hand on his back which make him to stop trembling, it was a soothing feeling as if cotton was rubbing on his back. Zoro realised that the voices of his friends were not there, zoro raised his head to see if anyone was there or not but to his surprise no was there except his navigator Nami who was sitting beside him. Zoro relaxed when he saw her, zoro was coming to his sense when he saw her. The only thing he could say was "Sorry" while tears running down on his cheeks. "Apologizing, this is all i can do" zoro thought to himself.

Nami raised her hand and and cupped his cheek wiping the tears with the thumb and smile brightly. Seeing this zoro closed his eye and once again about to start crying knowing nami forgive him he felt another hand cupping his another cheek to see what she was doing he open his eye slowly to see that she was shaking her head saying not to cry. Watching this zoro somehow manage himself to stop cry and try to smile a little, witnessing this struggle nami start to laugh more openly. Soon zoro joined nami and they laugh together delightfully for sometime, after while nami was still cupping zoro cheeks in her hands looking intently. Poor thing has to suffer so much, his eye was all red from crying she still can see all the tear stains under his eye. Nami pulled his face closure to her and she kissed lightly on his forehead, small blush crept on their cheeks.

Both of them were blushing furiously and even don't have a courage to look at each other, as the moment pass zoro come to know that nami still cupping his face. "Thank you Nami!!!" Zoro said while yawning a little, noticing how tired zoro is nami simply smile and lay his face on her laps. Before zoro can realise what was happening he find his face buried on Nami's laps which was smooth, the skin complexion was white as milk and soft as cotton. The moment he lay his head on hers laps all the tension and anxiety were gone from his body, Nami was slowly patting his head with hers small soft and delicate hands. The sensation beneath his head and of hers hand was incredible he could fall asleep in a minute watching this nami felt incredibly happy that he was relaxed in her presence. As the blissfully moments were passing "thank you nami, you always been there for me whenever i need you thank you." Zoro said it before he fall asleep on hers laps. Listening this a smile came across on her face and she lean a little close to his ear and said "No need to thank me i am not gonna leave you alone until you pay me everything you owe me." A small smile came on zoro face "i guess this witch is not gonna leave me forever." Zoro thought to himself.

TO BE CONTINUE

PS

Not gonna promise for constant update and i apologize for that, please do leave comments below and tell me if there is error and correction are needed in future.

Stay Safe.