Chapter 7: Why don't you stay? Exit... Emi?

"How far did you think you were gonna get with that huge thing?" Zoro said, reaching out to lift Emi from her collapsed place on the sand. She had only made it three miles before her legs gave out. You would think a woman with the ability to heal would have endless endurance but her abilities only ever seemed to weaken her more.

"How'd you find me?" Emi lowered her eyes, unwilling to see his expression.

"You left footprints."

"How did you know I left?"

"Because I felt you."

Emi's eyes widened, "Y-you felt me leave? What does that even mean?"

Zoro leaned forward into her, running his hands over her back and pulling her into him. "Why would you leave?"

"I caused so many problems. I killed my father, I destroyed your ship. I couldn't bare to see anyone's face. They must all hate me." Emi said, feeling a little ridiculous for being so ashamed, but not being able to help it.

"Shut up." And with that, Zoro took her into his arms and threw all of his emotion, the feelings he didn't understand and pushed his lips to hers clumsily. Emi's eyes shot open with the intensity but closed when she threw in her own feelings. They stood there for what seemed like hours, lips locked and completely engulfed in one another. They only parted when a shout came from the distance.

"COME ON GUYS! IT'S DIIIIIIIIIINNER TIME!" Luffy yelled from a mile off, excited to eat after such a battle, completely aloof to his crew members making out on the beach.

"See? That idiot could care less, no one blames you, not even your father. Now come on, witch woman." Zoro tossed her suitcase up on his shoulder, and in a sense of poetic justice Emi followed slightly behind, admiring him. Watching the way his body moved, unsure of what would come next.

"Emi! There you are! We've been looking for you all day! The clinic didn't sustain any damage!" Chopper told his own apprentice the good news, as weird as it felt for him to have an apprentice. The others simply ate hurriedly, with large smiles on their faces. Robin sat a little down the bench from the others, smiling knowingly at the young nurse. Emi relaxed, fully and completely as she sat; her own smile growing uncontrollably.

"I'm so glad, Chopper!" She excitedly chattered as Sanji set a plate in front of her. Emi thanked him and filled her mouth, immediately glad to be home. Home. It was her home now, she had no guilt, no questions. This was her home, and THIS was her family. Emi was suddenly aware of the man who had sat so close to her, all while practically ignoring her while he ate.

She would sneak glances at him all dinner, wondering if he realized when he would graze her leg with his own. If he did, he never let on, just kept eating without saying anything at all. When he finished, he stood and announced, "We're going to bed." Pand pulled a blushing Emi, powerless to stop him in her flustered state, right behind him. The crew waved them on, not interested in the least.

When they entered the quiet hallway toward Zoro's room, Emi's blush didn't fade. She was nervous, did he mean he wanted to sleep with her? It wasn't like she didn't want it, but this was a little rushed, a little awkward. Especially with the whole crew knowing? She walked quietly, and so did he. Soon they reached his door and her palms were soaked. She had always wondered what Zoro's room looked like and was pretty excited to see it, despite her nerves.

The room was plain, like she figured it would be. He had a hammock, no desk and little to no belongings. His closet door was open and appeared to have clothing in it, but not much. It smelled of him, the energy of the room felt of him. To her, the room was full of little reminders and… was that her kimono? Her blush reappeared, and he caught her glance.

"I-I found it in the bathroom. I meant to return it to you, but you were gone." He explained, nervously.

"Will you keep it?" She asked, "I know that's we-" He stopped her with a small kiss, gracious he didn't have to return the damaged frock. It was a reminder to him, what they had gone through, all they had experienced together. A growth in himself, and in their relationship that he didn't want to part ways with. She accepted the kiss reservedly, and felt a few more butterflies take off in her stomach.

Zoro pushed her away, "Hold on a second."

"Uhm, Okay?" She responded, nervously wringing her hands over her yellow skirt as she watched the man throw clothes around looking for something. Suddenly he pulled a haphazardly wrapped gift from under a sock. Emi sweat dropped but eagerly accepted the slightly smelly gift. Her shaky fingers opened the present slowly, revealing a black box. When she opened it, she gasped, a beautiful necklace was hugged in a velvet pillow. Her eyes darted to his, and back at the necklace.

It was a gold necklace with a delicate chain, and in the middle was a something she didn't quite recognize, it looked like a small shell. It was beautiful though, and she didn't understand where it had come from. "What is this?"

"Its a necklace."

…

"Where did it come from?"

"I got it on sky island."

…

"No I'm serious, where did you get this?"

"Me too. We got it on an island in the sky before we came to your island. Its a called a Vision Dial. It records images." His fingers picked up the delicate shell and pushed a button, at that moment a flash emitted from the shell and the next action almost caused Emi to drop it. A full size image of the two of them shown before her, as clear as if she was watching a Den Den Mushi.

"Th-this.. is incredible! How does it work?" She smiled and pulled Zoro close to her, pressing the button and getting a more flattering picture. It flashed in front of her and gave her a fit of giggles. Zoro was blushing and adverting his eyes from the picture. It was perfect.

"I don't know how the hell it works. Ask Ussop." He pulled away and grabbed the box from her hand, clicking the button and turning off the image. His large fingers pulled the chain from the box and he stepped behind Emi, clasping the chain around her neck.

"It's amazing, Zoro! I love it, but you don't have to give it to me. Its unbelievable, you should keep it for yourself!"

"I don't want it. It's stupid." He muttered, blushing again as he studied the way it rested over her chest. He noticed her tight t-shirt and skirt, the way her body curved in the light of his room. Oh my God, I told the crew 'We' were going to bed. I meant me, ME.He sighed, too late to change it now, assuming that's why Emi had been so quiet on the trip to his room.

"Go away." He said, turning from her, unsure of what to do now. Zoro didn't want her to go, but he also didn't want her to think he had brought her here to have his way with her. Though the thought didn't exactly repulse him. Emi smiled tenderly, getting the message, and placed her hand on his shoulder, pulling him toward her a bit.

Emi stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek, "Thank you." Her fingers brushed the small shell as she left the room. Stopping to rest her back against the side of his door, a huge grin practically splitting her face in half.

He's so… wonderful.

Emi walked back toward her room, happy and guilt free. The crew didn't blame her, and she finally let herself off the hook. But as she entered her room and saw the still packed suitcase on her bed, all she could think of was her mother.

I must find her. I must tell her how my father loved her until his final breath and I have to find One Piece.

Author's Note!
Hey guys, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! It was short, but I didn't want to leave you hanging like last time. Please review!

I'd love some requests as to what you'd like to see from now on, if I pick your idea I'll make the chapter name your Pen name!

Thank you!