the forgotten and the forsaken

by fanficguuuuurl

"Be careful, Luffy," Makino would chide, fearing for him every time he stared into the sea too long. Her hands would shake as she dried the seawater from his skin and wiped the sand from his feet, "If you aren't careful, the sea gods will take you." a series of au drabbles/oneshots that will be updated sporadically and in no particular order

3. the price of calling on demons

Back once more! This is actually a double update since the next chapter is unbearably short. Again, I do not own One Piece.

The demon writhes just beneath his breastbone like a confined serpent. He can feel it slither just beneath his skin, searching for some way out. Demons were not meant to be caged like he is, strung up to die like some sideshow for the marines. Three weeks and he can taste death, can feel it on his tongue. I'm not going to last, he thinks and the demon twists in his gut. It squirms below the surface, readying to release itself as he inches closer and closer to the void. It will free itself before he dies, will absorb whatever trace of life his husk of a body has left before ripping him apart and departing for the spirit world to await some other poor soul desperate enough to call upon it.

After so many years, Asura is fond of him, but the demon will not hesitate to destroy him when it comes down to it. That is the price of calling on demons, of calling on gods or mystic powers. They don't care for their host, only the skin they wear. If they don't find the body they inhabit suitable, then it becomes an easy meal. The other things feast on human flesh. Zoro will be no different. Asura will tear him apart and swallow him whole to satisfy their deal. He was weak, was unable to achieve his ambition even with the help of a goddamn devil inside of him. He would be eaten and all that was once Zoro, who had dreamed of being great, would falter and fall.

Zoro would be forgotten and dust.

He spares a thought to Kuina, an unspoken apology for not fulfilling his promise. He'd dedicated his life to his swords. His wounds had dribbled blood and his body had poured sweat for that promise. He'd never thought to move on, to drop that dream they had shared in the secrecy of the dark. He'd given his life for it. He'd given his soul. He had stood firm and tall as Asura had scraped away at himself until there was just enough room for it to weasel in.

He hangs his head in silent shame for a lost (sister/life/demon) goal. And as the sun beams down to burn him, to dry his throat, he notices he has visitors. He commands them to scram, but as they continue to defy him, he locks eyes with the dark haired one.

He smells the salt in the air and tastes the sea in his throat and thinks of deals with devils.

Well there you have it, chapter three in the bag! Hope you liked it and there is more to come.