This needs no introduction.
CHAPTER 17.
(Where we left off:)
"DRACULE. MIHAWK." A female voice thundered. The man in question stiffened, and Zoro stared in shock at his father's reaction. Gol D. Roger's eyebrows nearly shot up to his hairline, watching as a woman strode down the stone floor towards them confidently. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TO OUR SON?"
Mihawk turned then, his cape flying out behind him as his eyes widened in disbelief, looking towards the currently terrifying looking woman dressed in skinny black jeans, tall black boots and a green and white checked half-top that tied just over her stomach. A small black and white bandana like scarf tied her hair back into a pony-tail which swished back and forth menacingly as she walked towards them.
"M-M-..." Mihawk tried to say something, but it wasn't coming out.
"Our?" Zoro finally managed to question, glancing between his father and the woman.
Mihawk ignored him and took a deep breath, looking into the woman's onyx eyes. "You were dead." He whispered, his breath shuddering as her hand slowly reached up and brushed his cheek comfortingly.
"I escaped from that fate." She said simply, brushing a stray lock of green hair behind her ear. "A long time ago, thanks to Princess Kaya."
"Kaya?" Mihawk questioned incredulously.
"Wow, you really don't look at the royal housemaids do you." She laughed. "Well at least I know that you don't go around looking at other women." She added dryly, making him splutter indignantly.
"Makino! You never told me. You never even approached me!" He exclaimed angrily. "You-How dare you...I am going to-"
"Save it for the bedroom honey." She winked at him, making him abruptly swallow his words. Roger raised an eyebrow, watching the exchange as a tiny snort sounded out from Zoro's general direction.
Makino turned to the teenager and rolled her eyes, taking a hairpin from her pocket and swiftly unlocking his handcuffs, helping him up. Mihawk started to protest in the background, but he immediately fell silent as she held her palm up towards him, not even bothering to turn around as she did so. Instead, her eyes scrutinized every inch of Zoro.
"You really grew didn't you. Last I saw you properly, you were a little baby in my arms." She whispered fondly, biting her lip. "Now you're all grown up. Handsome, brave, strong...still green-haired." She laughed.
"M-...Mother?" Zoro asked, his voice barely a whisper as tears formed in his eyes.
Makino nodded, her mouth forming a beautiful smile. "Hey sweetie."
"I missed you. B-But hell, I didn't even know what you looked like..." Zoro whispered quietly, his voice straining. "I...We...We thought you were dead. And I prayed every night...Hoping you could hear me, and-"
"I can hear you now." She smiled, using her thumb to gently brush away his tears. "And if you want, I can stay."
Zoro's mouth opened and closed as he found himself having difficulty breathing, even though he was smiling. "Never leave. Promise me...Promise me you'll never leave."
Makino held up her little finger to him, and he stared at her for a second before bringing his own little finger up and locking it around hers. "I promise." She smiled, relaxing her little finger so that it slipped out of his grip. Seconds later he flung his arms around her in a hug, nearly crushing her with his muscles. "Wow, you really did get strong!" She laughed. Then she felt his back and the wetness of the blood that was still slowly running, staining her hands red.
Suddenly she stood and abruptly turned to face Mihawk. "As for you, what the bloody hell do you think you've done to him? I gathered information about the two of you over the years and to think that you've put our son through hell-" She raged.
Mihawk stood there as though he was a statue, listening to her rant.
"-and worse! If you don't apologise to him then I swear to god I am going to kick you into the next century, do you hear me Dracule Mihawk?" She threatened, her eyes darkening.
His yellow eyes met hers and they stared each other down for a moment. "Fine." Mihawk finally stated.
"And if you don't mind, Roger can come out of that cell too. You unjustly locked him up for life. Did you know that he was actually trying to help you? I didn't think so. Really, Dracule, for a man of intelligence, strength and power, you can be a real idiot sometimes." Makino stated insultingly, taking the keys from him and confidently walking over to Roger's cell where he thanked her many times over as she began to release him.
Whereas Mihawk grit his teeth and turned to his son who turned his head to stare at him, his three gold earrings quietly clinking against one another. "Roronoa...I..." Mihawk trailed off a little. "Forgive me. Even though I am not worthy of forgiveness, I ask it of you now. I have not been a father to you as I should have, and for that I apologise. I handled things badly, and you came out the worse for it."
"Damn right I did." Zoro agreed harshly. His tone softened slightly. "But if I hadn't, I wouldn't have become a gang leader. I wouldn't have made the friends I have now, and I wouldn't have met Robin. As much as I hate you for it, I also have a lot to thank you for because of it." He reasoned, running a hand through his short green hair. "So..." Scowling, he turned his head this way and that for a few moments as he tried to get it out. "Yeah, whatever. I forgive you, I guess."
Finally they met each other's gaze, a tiny quirk of the lips on Mihawk's face and the start of a grin on Zoro's. Mihawk extended a hand out to Zoro, who looked at it for a moment and ignored it, instead taking a step forwards and hugging his father. Mihawk was momentarily surprised, and his eyes widened before relaxing and returning the hug, clapping Zoro on the back proudly. Zoro winced and let out a tiny high-pitched groan.
Mihawk frowned and pulled away taking his son's shoulder. "We need to get you cleaned up." He stated.
From over her shoulder as she re-taught Roger how to stand, Makino shouted over to them. "And once you've done that Zoro, go and check up on your gang." Her sharp gaze directed itself at Mihawk, who pursed his lips but made no comment.
"My gang? Why, what about them?" Zoro asked, his face showing his confusion.
Makino sighed. "Evidently your father didn't tell you the other half of your punishment. He had them locked away just after Robin's ceremony. The ones that came to free you were also taken the moment they stepped out of the building."
Zoro turned to Mihawk, his eyes flashing dangerously until Mihawk gave him a small neat card with his beautiful handwritten scrawl written across it in black ink, reading; 'Dracule Mihawk - 7229'.
"Give that to the guard on duty and keep a civil tongue in your head if you want him to give you the keys. You want to head for the lowest cells in Pentonville prison. Give him that card and you should have no questions asked." Mihawk stated, taking a set of bandages from Makino's outstretched hand and carefully but firmly wrapping them around Zoro's torso.
"You sent them to Pentonville?" Zoro questioned in a quiet fury, wincing as the quick-healing bandages were applied and tied off.
"You sent my son and nephew to that place?" Roger's voice asked, anger lacing his worried tone.
Makino rolled her eyes. "Can the three of you stop bickering like old women and get a move on? God...You really do need a woman to do a man's job."
Smirking slightly at the comment, Zoro nodded and bolted up the stairs, racing through the corridors of the MI5 building as fast as he could whilst making sure that he wasn't seen. He quickly headed out towards the stables, running down the stable aisle and letting himself into Balthazar's stall, who let out a welcoming whinny at his master's presence.
"Hey to you too. We've got a mission to save the others. Think 'ya can handle it?" Zoro asked with a grin as he saddled and bridled Balthazar quickly and led him out of the stall, making the black stallion wait for him and count at the floor as Zoro roped the bridles of the horses belonging to his gang together and tied the rope to Balthazar's saddle. Zoro's grin widened as he looked at the line of horses stringing out behind his own. "Now all I'd need is the sleigh and a red nose for you, eh Balthazar?"
Balthazar nudged Zoro hard in between his shoulder blades, making the teen nod and swing up into the saddle. "Well alright then Balthazar, show us the meaning of haste." He dug his heels into the stallion's side so that he started to canter out of the base. But he was soon grinning even more as the slight clip-clop of fast moving hooves turned into a thundering roar as five other sets of hooves joined Balthazar's, echoing down the cobbled streets of London.
...Hours earlier...
"GET OFF OF US!"
"WE WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT! WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE!"
"TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER!"
"SHUT UP USSOP!"
"DAMN IT LET US GO!"
"ZOORRRROOO!"
"SHIT."
In the deepest cells of Pentonville prison, the Mugiwara gang found themselves being cuffed with seastone and shoved into various cells by black figures that altogether didn't seem quite human.
Some cells were already occupied. As Ace was locked into place on the floor of the cell with a groan, watching helplessly as the seastone bars were closed to the side of him. Leaning his still suited back against the prison wall, he sighed in annoyance. Raising ahead of him he looked up to see who he was 'rooming' with, only for his brow to harden into a line of hatred as he met the stare of the man opposite him.
"Ahh hell." Ace muttered.
"Yeah, hey to you too dick." Marco snarled from across the cell.
"GET AWAY FROM ME" Came Tashigi's scream from a cell further down.
"I'm nowhere near you, you blithering idiot!" Thatch replied indignantly, his voice echoing into the other cells as the other Mugiwara's were in the process of being installed into their new 'rooms'.
"Hey! I hate clowns!" Sabo's voice protested.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT MY NOSE BEING RED?!"
"Buggy, shut up."
"Yeah! At least you're not in a cell where the guy opposite you does nothing but sit and glare at you!"
"Kid, that's because Law hates you..."
"I KNOW. I HATE HIM TOO."
Chopper sniffled slightly as he was chained opposite Franky, calling out for Ussop to help him as his friend in the cell adjacent was chained in Brook's cell.
"At least you're not sat here with this blithering idiot." Came Vivi's voice as she jerked her head awkwardly in Helmeppo's direction, who sat up indignantly and argued back, only to shrink back against the wall with rivers of tears comically running down his face as she screamed abuse back at him.
At that moment there was a slight kerfuffle. Before Luffy could be placed in a cell with an unknown criminal, he dived over into Nami's partner-less cell just as she was being chained up, the black figures struggling to keep a hold on him and chaining him down roughly opposite Nami, who stared at Luffy in shock as he winked at her whilst being chained down, grinning that insane grin of his.
Once the Mugiwara gang was left to their own devices in their cells, it got a little bit louder.
Sabo was having no end of an amusing time as he stared across the cell at Buggy, grinning his gap less toothed grin. "Hey, hey big nose."
"WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT MY BIG NOSE?!"
"Hey, hey, clown-face."
"DON'T CALL ME CLOWN FACE EITHER."
"Hey, clown face, why is your hair blue?"
Buggy glared at him witheringly, making Sabo giggle a little. "Oh my god kid, you can't just ask people why their hair is blue."
Meanwhile in Chopper's cell, the little reindeer quietly cried to himself in fear. "Z-Zoroooo...Where are you? Please Zoro, y-you said you'd look after us..."
Franky's voice startled the Chopper into snapping his head up to show his watery eyes. "Oi, oi, racoon...Don't cry."
"I'M NOT A RACOON. I'M A REINDEER." Chopper yelled half-angrily, his tears making it hard for him to feel the anger through his fear and sadness.
"Same thing." Franky shrugged apologetically. "But dude, you gotta stop crying. Think your boss would cry if he was in a cell like this?"
Chopper shook his head. No...Zoro wouldn't cry. He would take it like a man!
"Exactly."
"But it's dark...and I don't like it when I'm alone in the dark."
There was a momentary silence. "Oi, reindeer-"
"Chopper."
"Chopper. Y'know I'm a suuuuuper cyborg, right?"
The reindeer's eyes lit up slightly. "Wh-What, like a robot?" He asked somewhat excitedly.
"Yeahh! I have a light system on me that will make it not so dark!"
"COOOOOOOOL!" Chopper squealed.
Franky grinned for the first time in what felt like years, his triangular sunglasses adding to his cool-dude look. "Ready? Frrrrranky...NIPPLE LIGHT!" The small cell lit up with a bright light that made Chopper blink before laughing hysterically at the two powerful little lights that were emitted from the nipples on Franky's chest.
In the cell a little further down, Luffy heard Chopper's laugh and laughed himself a little. "Shishishishi..."
Nami looked up at the laugh and narrowed her eyes. "What the hell are you laughing at Luffy? There's nothing to be laughing about. We're in a cell. and Zoro isn't around."
The rubber boy shrugged. "Chopper's laugh made me laugh."
Sighing, Nami closed her eyes and scowled. "Jeez..." Opening them she glanced at Luffy again only to see that he'd fallen asleep. Instead of yelling at him like she wanted to, she sighed again and shivered with cold. "You're such an idiot...but at least you're a loveable idiot. Honestly, how the hell do we put up with you? If you were awake and could be bothered, we might have broken out by now. Or if you'd had a decent brain you wouldn't have got caught with us and you'd be telling Zoro to break us out instead. Idiot. I wish you-"
She cut herself off with another shiver and frowned. "Yikes it's c-cold in here..."
"Yeah, kind of is." Vivi's voice from the cell opposite said quietly.
Nami jumped in surprise before squinting in the dim light to look at the light-blue haired girl. "What d'you want?"
"You guys can really talk to one another can't you...what...what's it like? Having a friendship like that?" Vivi asked hesitantly, her gaze never leaving Nami's face as the mikan-haired girl's mouth opened and closed a few times, her mind whirring at the thought that maybe the other girl had never had that kind of friendship.
"It's...well...uhh. Yeah, yeah we can. We're like a family that just kinda...looks out for each other I guess. It's good, good to know that you have friends that you can count on and love." Nami told her, a smile gracing her cheeks for the first time that day. "Why, you never felt that?"
Vivi's cheeks coloured in what seemed to be embarrassment. "N-No. Never. I'm...I have to admit I'm jealous. I'd have given anything to be able to have real friends, but I got caught up in the wrong crowd and being a part of the Kali gang...you couldn't back out of it. Sanji would kill you, or have someone else kill you. Or if you were an exceptionally pretty lady he'd probably have imprisoned you and just left you there."
"Vivi...If I get out of here, I'm going to help you. I'm going to help you have real friends." Nami declared, her eyes locked firmly on Vivi's, whose own eyes widened in shock.
"Y-You mean that? After everything I've done to y-"
"Of course I mean that. Besides it's all in the past. It doesn't matter so much now, especially since I can imagine the situation you must've been in."
Tears of gratefulness leaked out of Vivi's eyes and coursed down her cheeks slowly. "Th-Thank you, Nami."
Nami winked in response, leaning back against the wall and closing her eyes so as to follow Luffy's example and get some rest to the sound of a voice quietly singing a slightly haunting version of Bink's no Sake.
In Ussop's cell, the long-nosed sniper opened his eyes a crack but maintained the image of still being asleep as he too listened to the haunting song that emanated from the other end of his cell.
"Yohohoho, yohohoho, yohohoho, yohohoho...Binkusu no sake wo, todoke ni yuku kimakase namimakase. Shio no mukou de, yuuhi mo sawagu. Sora nya wa wo kaku, tori no uta..."
Recognising the song from having heard it since childhood, Ussop found his own voice rising slightly in volume to join the skeleton's voice that echoed throughout the lower level of the prison. "Sayonara minato, tsumugi no sato yo. Don to icchou utao, funade no uta. Kinpa-ginpa mo shibuki ni kaete, oretacha yuku zo, umi no kagiri..."
Ussop watched as Brook's head slowly rose, the eyeless sockets looking up at him hauntingly from the other end of the cell.
"Yohohohohoho..." The skeleton laughed quietly, "The only other who would sing that with me would have been Franky...you like music?"
"Everyone likes a bit of music." Ussop shrugged. "But you're pretty good yourself."
"Ah! Though I be but bones, the feel of a violin in my hands allows me to sing and see the happiness of others at my music...however...I haven't any eyes...Yohohohoho~! Skull joke!" Brook cried, a humorous side that Ussop had never seen the skeleton display before, peeking out of his personality.
Ussop laughed, listening with enthusiasm as the skeleton began to open up to him whilst the others mostly slept in their cells, tiredness overcoming them all. 'Maybe these guys were only bad because of Sanji...I mean...Brook is just...radiant with life.' Ussop mentally sweatdropped. 'Even though he's dead.'
Zoro's troupe finally entered the gates of Pentonville prison. Leaving Balthazar and the other horses faithfully waiting by the solid iron gates, he chose the quick way in and scaled the tough iron bars hissing as he cut his fleshy palm at the sharp edges on the top before sliding down again the other side.
Once inside the building, he walked straight up to the main desk to see a man holding a bible in one arm, wearing a black jacket with a large white design of a target cross-hair over his chest with paw prints lining the lower lem of the jacket and white trousers covered with various brown spots. On his head a white hat sported a pair of rounded, almost bear-like ears which added to the impression of the impassive man facing Zoro.
Not to say that Zoro was scared of the man, but he could definitely admit that he felt slightly intimidated by the 22'6" giant stood in front of him. The man that he automatically knew the name of just by one look.
"Bartholomew Kuma." He stated.
Kuma turned his head and stared at Zoro, what seemed to be glasses covering his eyes and preventing any expression. "Roronoa Zoro. What business have you here?" He paused momentarily. "Are you sent to join those who have sinned?"
Refusing the temptation to swallow, Zoro spoke once more, also trying to remain impassive. "No. I have been sent to retrieve people, for which I will need the keys." He replied.
"I will need evidence of that, Roronoa." Kuma said.
Remembering the card that Mihawk had given him, he fished it out of his pocket and offered it to the giant who took it from him and examined it as Zoro explained. "Head agent of MI5, Hawk-Eye Mihawk has asked me to retrieve a few of these people for reasons unknown to me."
"And how long will these people be...retrieved for?" Kuma asked, handing the small card back to Zoro, who put it in his pocket once more.
"They will not be coming back here." Zoro answered, his eyes set hard.
"I see." Kuma nodded slowly, disappearing into the office for a moment before returning with a set of keys. "I trust Hawk-Eyes told you where to find these people?"
"Yes sir." Zoro replied, mindful of being respectful.
"Good. I haven't time to waste showing around visitors." Kuma stated as he handed the keys over, heading back into his office. "But make no wrong moves Roronoa. I will be watching."
Zoro nodded even though the giant of a man had closed the door to his office. Resting a hand on his three katanas, he headed off down the corridor at a run and began to descend into the lower levels of the prison, ignoring the tortured screams and infuriated yells of the prisoners that he passed who were either left to decay or were being punished for their sins.
Some prisoners he passed were knelt on the floors of their cells, staring at him as he walked and asking for forgiveness. Others shouted abuse at him, evidently the new recruits that were either hardened people or had not yet been broken into the tough regime of the hell prison known as Pentonville.
As he progressed through the lower levels, he quickly trained his gaze to stay looking ahead, having glimpsed the few bedraggled prisoners with their flesh all but cloven from them, hanging off in meaty strips. Some were screaming in agony as they were put through the horrendous process of it by wraith-like guards that didn't even spare Zoro a glance as he walked by.
Finally he came to a set of deep steps which had a sign reading that they descended to the lowest level of the prison. Worried slightly, he narrowed his eyes and quickly made the descent, silently coming to the few, almost pitch black cells. Taking a breath, he swallowed.
"State your names. Starting with the closest cells." He called out gruffly, his hand tightening around the set of keys with a slight metallic clink.
"Trafalgar Law."
"Eustass Kidd."
"Sabo."
"Buggy."
"Vivi."
"H-Helmeppo."
"Tashigi."
"Thatch."
"Monkey. D. Luffy."
"Nami."
"T-Tony-Tony Chopper."
"Ffffffranky!"
"Marco."
"Portgas D. Ace."
"Brook."
"U-U-Ussop."
Zoro nearly fell over with relief. "Thank fuck for that." He muttered, rushing forward and start to unlock his gang from their cells and seastone handcuffs. Immediately relieved, happy cries went up from them all.
"ZORO!"
"ZORO-KUN!"
"Man are we glad to see you..."
As they walked free of their cells, they rubbed their wrists ruefully, the seastone having cut into them slightly during their stay. Grinning, Zoro turned to lead them all out and started to ascend the steps.
"Come on, we've got to get out of here quick bec-"
"Zoro..." Nami called, her voice slightly hesitant.
The Mugiwara gang leader paused and turned back to them. "What?" He asked, trying not to sound concerned.
"We need to take a few people with us." She stated.
"Nami, we don't have time-"
"We can make time!" She responded, blinking as Ace clicked his fingers on both hands beside her to create small flames, allowing everyone to see each other more clearly.
Zoro ran his tongue over his teeth and glanced at Thatch, who shrugged at him in response as if to say 'why not?'. Sighing in resignation, Zoro took the keys out once more. "How many and who?" He questioned.
"One." Nami smiled, happy to be getting her way. "Vivi."
"Two." Ussop butted in quickly. "Brook."
"Wait! Wait! Three! Don't forget Franky!" Chopper cried out, jumping up and down with a hoof raised in the air.
Zoro raised an eyebrow on his otherwise emotionless face. "Why?"
"They're not all bad...it was only because of Sanji." Luffy said, helping the persuasion and surprising people with how serious he sounded. "I think they should be our new nakama!"
Sweatdropping, Zoro knew it was a lost case if he tried to argue. Once Luffy dubbed someone 'new nakama', it was damned near impossible to change his mind. It was only lucky that he hadn't tried to name someone stupid their nakama, otherwise...Zoro shuddered thinking about it.
"Fine, fine...hold on." He gave in, signalling Ace to give him so light as he unlocked the three in question. He glanced at them, who stared back at him in shock as they thanked him over and over. "Oi." He silenced them. "If you join our gang, you join it properly. We are nothing like the Kali gang, and we don't kill people for fun. We protect them in exchange for owning our part of London. Get it?"
"Hai, Zoro-san!" Brook nodded.
"Yeaaahhh, Zoro-bro." Franky agreed, sounding happy and relieved.
"A-Aa." Vivi nodded, tears flowing down her face. "Th-Thank you..."
Nodding, Zoro motioned for the newly expanded gang to follow him, the ten of them running through the prison at high speed, eager to be out of it. Their rapid footsteps somehow did not stir Bartholomew Kuma out of his office as they sped past it carefully, Zoro leaving the keys behind the desk as the others ran out into the daylight.
Pelting after them, he used Wado to swiftly slice through the ropes holding the horses together and followed their example by swinging into the saddle. Raising a hand to them, he dug his heels into Balthazar's black haired side to start the ride back to MI5 headquarters, the hooves clattering on the flagstones of London's streets.
'We can't stay at MI5 much longer...' Zoro thought to himself, glancing back at his gang. 'I'll have to talk to him about it at some point. And soon.'
Stood in Mihawk's office, Zoro ran a hand through his green hair as his father eyed him silently with his piercing yellow eyes. "Look, you have many other great agents. You don't need to keep us here any more." Zoro argued.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again Roronoa, I will not allow you to roam the streets and cause havoc for us." Mihawk replied, his gaze taking on a steely look.
Zoro threw his hands up in the air and let them fall heavily to his sides. "For fuck sakes, we-"
"Refrain from using such language in front of me, boy." Mihawk intervened harshly. "Now get out. We have nothing more to discuss."
There was a pause before Zoro drew breath. "Mum would-"
"Out." Mihawk repeated in finality, not even sparing a glance for his son.
Holding back an outburst of anger, Zoro turned on his heels and headed for the kitchens, determined now to have his way. Upon entering the kitchens and dodging a well-thrown butcher knife that embedded itself in the door, Zoro saw the dark green hair that was so familiar now to him, after only having seen it for just over four months.
Leaning against the door comfortably and giving Thatch two fingers in response to having been nearly skewered by the butcher knife, Zoro cleared his throat to attract Makino's attention. "Ahem...Mother?"
At once the dark green pony-tail swung round, Makino's face lighting up in a delighted smile. "Zoro! What can I do for you sweetie?"
Thatched guffawed from where he was chopping onions, but a blushing Zoro accurately returned the butcher knife.
Right on the onion in Thatch's hand.
"I need your help with something-" Zoro started.
"WHAT'S ON THE MENUUUUUUU~?" A loud voice yelled as they barged through the door, a shock of red hair flying into view as they entered the kitchen, nearly knocking Zoro over.
"SHANKS, SHUT UP." Zoro roared, grabbing the red-head by his hair and slamming him to the floor beside Thatch's feet.
Shanks sat up and rubbed his bruised face with a wince. "Oi, oi! Just because I'm third in command now doesn't mean you can do that to me! S'disrespectful! I helped train you remember?"
"Ahhhh, shut it. Besides, you have to answer to both of my parents now." Zoro grinned.
Shanks grinned back. "Aa, not that I mind. Your mother's got all that paperwork now, ne Makino?"
Rolling her eyes Makino nodded. "Only because you're too lazy to do it yourself."
After an initial splutter, Shanks chuckled. "True that. Never did like the paperwork side of things. Not to mention you were always better at it than I was."
Smiling, Makino turned back to Zoro as Shanks stood and started to pester Thatch about dinner. "So, you were saying?" She prompted, her kind eyes sparkling with a happy gleam.
Zoro blinked and then nodded, trying to remember as to why he had sought her out. "Eh? O-Oh, yeah. I wanted to know if you could help me."
"Regarding?"
"Dad." Zoro stated reluctantly.
Makino giggled, tucking a strand of stray green hair behind her ear. "Consider it done sweetie. Your father is so easy to wrap around my little finger. Say what you need doing and I'll have it done."
Grinning a little, Zoro wet his lips. "I need to prove to him that I don't need to follow his orders. I'm the leader of a gang mum...I don't belong here in MI5."
"I'm pleased to hear it." Makino nodded, surprising Zoro. "You shouldn't have been press ganged into something you didn't want to do...you need to follow your heart, not your orders. And speaking of matters of the heart and following your dreams, I think there's one other person you need to be thinking of saving...am I right?"
Zoro grinned fully. "Thanks ma'. Knew you were awesome."
Makino winked in response. "You didn't think you got it from your father...did you?"
"I won't do it." Robin's voice stated stubbornly.
Smoker puffed cigarette smoke into her face, making her slap it out of his hand in annoyance and use her ability to produce another hand which put the cigarette out on the floor.
Her royal maid, Perona, hissed under breath at him from where she was floating nearby. "That. Is. Mahogany."
"Robin. You're bound by law, you have to make a list of your suitors. Mother wants the list in three days time or else she has asked me to tell you that she will make the choice for you." Smoker said emotionlessly, his expression akin to boredom.
"Get out Smoker. Your presence is not appreciated." Robin snapped, her voice commanding and slightly harsh.
In response, Smoker glared at his elder sister, turning on his heel and leaving swiftly. Robin had a sudden desire to be alone. Turning to her maids, she gestured to the door. "Out please. I wish to be alone with my thoughts."
Bowing their heads, they did as bidden, leaving Robin completely alone save for the two agents situated outside of the large ornate doors. Sighing, she sat on the grand four-poster bed with her head in her hands, using her abilities to close the curtains of the huge full-length windows and plunge the room into darkness.
Slivers of light streamed in small lines from the cracks at the edges of the curtain, illuminating parts of the floor in an odd pattern. As she sat there, she heard one of the agents talk to someone who had approached the doors.
"Ma'am, I'm afraid you can't go in there."
The response was too quiet for Robin to make out.
"O-Oh, of course ma'am. M'very sorry, I-"
"It's ok...only doing...duty..." Robin managed to make out, concentrating hard.
She lifted her head as the doors opened and a shadowy, obviously female, figure stepped inside gracefully. Somewhat resignedly, Robin pointed a delicate hand towards the door. "Out...please."
"It's bad for your royal highness to live in darkness if she is to stand for all that is good and light."
Robin frowned, trying to place the familiar voice as she began to lose her patience. "Did you not hear me?"
"I have a message." Came the reply.
"I will hear it another time."
"It bears important news."
"I could not care less at the moment."
"Even for news from your knight?"
Robin froze for a second before slowly rising to her feet. "And who the messenger who brings me this message?" She enquired curiously.
The woman stepped into the light so that she could be seen more clearly, making Robin's eyes widen in recognition. "Mikoto?" She questioned confusedly.
"Close, but no. I'm afraid I gave you a false name in my employment in your services. Makino, at your service your highness."
Robin smiled. "Makino...Zoro once told me that Makino was the name of hi-"
"His mother." Makino finished for her.
Robin blinked. "Yes, how did you know?"
Makino's mouth gave way to a slight grin. "It was only recently that I have been able to get in contact with my son."
For a few moments, Robin stood there in complete stunned silence. Laughing, Makino walked over and pressed an envelope into Robin's hand. The royal looked down at it in surprise as she felt the texture of a wax seal. "He has his own seal?" Robin asked, raising an eyebrow.
Makino smiled in return. "Indeed. The family crest." She explained.
There was a ripping of paper as Robin used one of the royal letter openers on her desk to break the wax that was sealing the envelope, carefully withdrawing the letter from within and reading it with a breath she did not know she was holding.
The few lines written in Zoro's scrawl were enough to make her laugh out loud and sit to write a reply as she listened to Makino's account of what had recently happened and how she was alive thanks to Princess Kaya.
Reading it through quickly, Robin folded her reply and placed it in the envelope that Zoro had sent his own message in, sealing it with the royal wax crest and giving the envelope to Makino who nodded and took her leave.
Smiling to herself, she chewed her lip gently, resisting the urge to laugh out of happiness as she thought back to the the short message. "My knight...I knew you would find me again."
Quaglino's - 19:30 this evening.
So you're a Queen and I'm a normal guy.
Let's have dinner.
_
For anyone that didn't get it:
Cell pairings:
-Luffy with Nami.
-Sabo with Buggy.
-Tashigi with Thatch.
-Chopper with Franky.
-Ussop with Brook.
-Eustass Kidd with Law.
-Vivi with Helmeppo.
S'gonna get, s'gonna get, s'gonna get STRONGER. ;D
Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Chaos arose and sued..And I updated as quickly as I could just to let you all know that I'M NOT DEAD.
...Yet. ^^"
Kai XxxXxxX