Chapter 2
Zoro sighed as his two old friends danced around.
Yosaku had been on the verge of death until they came past them.
Johnny had seriously tried to rob them of food and money until he saw Zoro.
It made his head hurt as they caught Nami up and hugged her for her brilliance.
Hell, did no one question why he drank?
The kind of alcohol he usually consumed had lemon and lime juice in it.
The company wasn't quite famous, but their recipe was.
He knew it himself, he just didn't have the required talent to use it.
He rubbed his head as he looked down from the upper deck.
All this trouble because Luffy decided to work on the flag this morning.
Two small hands wrapped around him, tucking slightly into his haramaki.
He smiled as he put his left hand over both of hers.
'They will be fine soon. Between Nami's knowledge and my ability to manipulate matter, we'll have them fit to go off again soon.'
"It's not that. Really. Just...I wanted to be able to relax a bit."
'Come sit.' She pulled away and he turned around.
She moved over to where she had stolen the spare flag.
"So what are you doing with this thing?" He asked as he sat down beside her.
She picked it up and he watched her pull out a strand of hair.
It shimmered and he saw it turn white.
She unfolded the flag a little to show him where she had begun filling in the outline she had made before when she had it stretched out earlier.
It was their flag, but instead of being done in paint that would wash off, she was sewing the colored threads of her own hair on it.
"Don't make yourself bald over this. I rather like your hair."
She leaned against him for a moment before starting to work again.
He leaned against the railing, occasionally feeling her tug the fabric over his outstretched legs to see her work.
The thread of her hair reached farther than it should and he frowned.
"Are you extending that single hair?"
'Using carbon particles in the air to make it longer. I had to stop earlier because we aren't going far enough fast enough.'
He sighed.
Not having much wind here on the First Tier was kind of hard.
He heard footsteps coming up to the front deck.
His two friends dropped in front of them.
"So bro, is she why you gave up being a Bounty Hunter?" Yosaku asked.
"I would definitely quit if I found love in one of my bounties." Johnny added.
He watched Gem blush slightly and focus more on her work.
Zoro shook his head.
"Totally off the mark." Zoro laughed. "Yes, she is mine, but I quit being a Hunter because Luffy showed me a path to travel that would actually get me to my goal in life."
"But bro, you're already the best out here." Johnny said.
Zoro gripped Kuina's sword.
"Not the world though. And if I'm going for something, it might as well be the top."
Yosaku nodded. "That's our brother for you."
'Brother?' Gem frowned at him.
He looked at her. "None of us are actually brothers by blood, but we were all Bounty Hunters together for a couple years after I left the dojo."
She nodded.
xXx
Gem looked up as the kitchen door opened.
"Hey everyone. Dinner." Nami called out.
Zoro stood up and helped her fold up the flag and she put it back in the storage room as they headed for the other deck.
She opened the kitchen door again and was greeted by not entirely unpleasant scents, but Nami and Usopp were not cooks.
She sat between Zoro and Johnny on one side of the table as the rest sat to eat.
It was somewhat unusual for the whole crew to eat together.
She was used to Rogers crew where they ate in shifts because the cook couldn't handle so many in his space at once.
This felt...more like family.
Zoro and Johnny helped her get a small plate of food before Luffy could get at everything.
She didn't listen as they talked about how Nami's cooking was better than usual.
She ate a couple bites before feeling full.
She had eaten more than yesterday, but not nearly as much as she once had on Rogers crew.
Being trapped for so long and living off the meager dried rations Mihawk constantly brought had made her unable to handle food anymore.
Johnny looked down at her plate as she stopped.
"Not hungry?" He asked.
Zoro sighed as he took the rest of her plate.
She had explained her lack of eating to him that morning.
"She was starved a bit while being caged before we found her." He said.
"How horrible." Yosaku said from Zoro's other side.
"You know what this crew needs?" Luffy asked out loud.
She was honestly worried about his answer. He had a tendency of being off the wall when it came to his ideas.
Granted, while his art was horrible, his design for the flag was good.
Enough that even after Usopp displayed his skill, the man had repainted Luffy's design onto their flag and sail.
They all paused to look at him, ready to deny an idea that sounded too crazy.
"We need a cook." He said.
Gem thought the rest of the crew was just as shocked as she was.
"Yeah." Johnny said. "Then you guys could have the best food in the world every day."
"If you get a sea cook then that's way better." Yosaku added.
"Come on, where are we going to find a sea cook out here?" Nami frowned.
Gem looked up at Luffy.
He looked proud of himself as he started finishing off the food no one else was eating.
She looked at Zoro as he seemed to think on the idea of finding a sea cook.
"Well, you could try the Baratie." Johnny said. "It's not too far from here. Maybe a day and a half with slow wind."
"You mean, the floating restaurant?" Nami asked.
The two Bounty Hunters nodded.
Gem started to get up, feeling a little sick.
xXx
Zoro agreed with finding a real cook.
He watched Gem get up and head for the door.
Had she eaten too much for her body to handle?
Or had he been too rough on her earlier?
He excused himself as his old comrades started to help clear the table to help Nami with finding the place.
He followed Gem outside and saw her leaning on the railing.
"Feeling okay?" He asked.
She didn't respond and he watched her grip the railing.
She lurched forward and he reached to steady her as she threw up what little she had eaten.
He looked down at her neck and saw the glowing runes on her chain necklace.
It wasn't a necklace at all.
He had thought she wore them for show, on her wrists and ankles and neck.
But now he thought back to when she had revealed the scar she now hid with a glamour.
"Is it the chains?" He asked.
She slowly dropped to the deck under his hands.
'The farther I get from the island, the more it hurts.'
"Why didn't you tell me?" He reached for the chain.
'Because you can't break them.' She said. 'Only Mihawk can take them off. It...was his deal with my people.'
"Then we'll hunt him down. I need to find him anyway." Zoro pulled her close.
'He traded my freedom for my life. You can't be mad at him.'
He felt her touch his hands.
He hadn't realized that he was gripping her shirt so hard as he kept her against him.
"Why not? He is causing you pain."
'It was the only way my people would leave me alone. I couldn't go far, and they repress both sides of my blood.' She said. 'I just...wanted to leave that place. See the outside again.'
She balled up.
"Can I do anything?" He asked softly.
'Just...hold me. The pain will go down after a while. It'll never kill me.'
He held her close until she fell asleep in his arms.
Nami came out on deck as he was carrying Gem back towards their room.
"What's wrong with her?" Nami asked.
"Apparently Mihawk put these chains on her to prevent her from leaving the island by causing her pain."
"Then we'll head back."
It was the first sign of real concern he'd seen on her face since she had kicked his blades to him back at Usopp's village.
Their first real fight as Pirates had thrown him off his game and he'd dropped his guard against an opponent he thought was down. He should have known better, but the man looked weak.
His swords got taken and Nami had risked getting hurt to get them back to him, afraid that without them he couldn't fight so well.
She was right of course, but he would work on that.
He shook his head at her words.
"No. I don't want to cage her again either. I'll...find some way to break these chains."
Nami still looked genuinely bothered by Gem's pain.
He carried Gem down to their room and laid her in bed.
He pulled his shirt off and eased her pants back off, knowing she didn't like to sleep in them.
She seemed to greatly relax as he laid beside her and held her.
It was a good half hour before that constant sign of pain went away.
He watched her brow relax and she sighed against his chest.
xXx
Gem could still feel the burning of the chains just under her skin where they touched her.
Usopp had tried cutting them off yesterday, Zoro had chipped his primary sword by trying to break them, and even Nami had no idea what to do.
It was alright. They meant well.
And Zoro had come to care for her, which made her feel better.
She swung her legs from where she was sitting on the railing.
Luffy was getting put to work to pay off the damages he'd caused to the Baratie as they had found it.
A Marine ship had fired on them and Luffy had bounced it away.
Right into the restaurant.
Luckily no one had been hurt and the building was mostly fine except one section of wall.
It had been four days since she'd told Zoro about the chains.
Two since Gin had headed back to his ship.
Luffy had repeatedly tried to get that nice chef to join the crew.
In the past three days, he'd offered her free food at every meal.
She could never finish, but it was helping her build her strength.
"Hey." She heard the voice and looked down.
Sanji stood on the dockside deck of the Baratie holding a tray.
"You never came to dinner." He made a smooth jump up to the deck of the Merry and she turned to face him. "I missed seeing your beauty today. Miss Nami said that you weren't feeling very good."
She nodded.
He set the tray on the railing and pulled the lid off to reveal delicate fish with a caramel colored sauce, browned rice pilaf, and stir-fried vegetables.
She moved to get off the railing and he sat with her on the deck.
"Your captain keeps asking me to join, but I just can't. Doesn't he know how annoying it is?" Sanji grumbled as he held up his lighter to the cigarette he pulled out.
At first, she had questioned through Zoro about his being a cook and smoking.
He'd just laughed it off and offered it to her to fully understand.
Zoro had been hesitant about letting her touch it, but Gem was curious.
As she had taken a drag off it, she realized it wasn't tobacco.
It was a dried herb mix that was rolled into the papers. The smoke from them helped increase concentration and gave him a bit of a looser reflex. It relaxed him, but kept him sharper than normal.
His Vampire blood would have never let tobacco effect him.
She reached for the fork to try the meal he'd brought as he picked up his own fork too.
"What, no marimo guardian tonight?" He asked.
"I'm right here. And Luffy doesn't understand how annoying his actions are sometimes." Zoro said as he came up the stairs with a blanket.
He wrapped it around her as she ate a couple small bites of everything.
He sat on the other side of the tray between herself and Sanji.
When she handed over the fork, Sanji just grumbled.
"Seriously though? Do none of you try to keep him in line? It's like he's not even the captain." Sanji said as Zoro helped him finish off the meal for two.
Gem watched them, wishing that she could eat more.
Sanji uncovered a bowl on the tray, revealing chocolate pudding.
She sighed as she stared at it.
"Save any room?" He asked.
She nodded. He always delivered on deserts.
Zoro pulled out a bottle he'd brought with the blanket to her.
He set it down and Sanji picked it up to look at it.
"Huh, never would have pegged you as a decent brand drinker."
Zoro scoffed.
The two had a kind of rough relationship forming.
Sanji made snide comments about him being a freak of a Vampire by being so hellbent on a goal that would see him dead.
Zoro retorted back with comments about him being a lovesick cook.
Gem picked up a spoon for a couple small bites of pudding.
"You know, it's not really the crews job to dictate the captain." Zoro said as he took the spoon from her.
Now she was full.
"Still, at least try to get him to see reason. I can't leave this place yet. I've got plenty to still pay back to that ornery old bastard." Sanji said as he took a couple bites of the pudding while Zoro popped open the bottle he had brought.
He offered the bottle to Sanji first and Gem watched the cook take it.
"Only because it's a good brand."
"And you secretly do want to be friends." Zoro grinned after the other Vampire took a drink.
Sanji scoffed as he held the bottle back out.
"In your dreams mutt."
"Oh I don't dream about you, that's for damn sure."
Gem looked at him as he looked down at her.
"Of course not." Sanji said. "Not when you've got a beautiful woman to sleep with."
Zoro glanced at him as Gem wrapped the blanket around herself tighter.
"Jealous?"
xXx
Zoro watched him scoff again.
"Of you? Not hardly."
He watched him glance at Gem.
So that's how he played.
Zoro held the bottle out again.
"No, I've got other things to finish for tonight." Sanji started to get up to leave.
"You're into both sides aren't you?"
Gem frowned as Sanji hesitated in grabbing the tray.
He was right.
But by his actions, he'd have to say Sanji was more one than the other.
"As if. I happen to enjoy a pretty lady on my arm."
Zoro laughed.
"Alright, I'm just yanking your chain."
"That isn't very funny." Sanji jumped over the railing. "Stupid mutt."
Zoro listened to him leave.
'Why do you do that on purpose?'
"It's fun. He's easy to rile. Plus, I think his lovesick cook thing is hilarious."
'You're mean.'
He got up and picked her blanket bundled self up.
"You love me anyway." He started carrying her down towards their room.
He almost stumbled as she snuggled into him.
'I suppose I will still love you even if you are mean.'
Her words hit him like a bullet to the head.
He had to actually concentrate to go down the ladder.
"Well, I guess I'll still love you even if you go insane." He said as he opened the door to their room.
The past six days together had seemed like so much longer.
She was almost finished with the flag, he was honestly half in love with her just between their conversations while she worked and the things they did in his room at night.
He laid her on the bed and she pushed the lighter blanket to the side to pull her pants off.
No, he was pretty much a goner already.
He didn't want to lose her.
She had opened him up to his Vampire nature, allowed him to drink her blood, and seemed to care for him despite his dedication to his training and goal.
She pulled the main blanket back and he quickly stripped off his shirt.
He climbed in beside her and moved to brace himself over her.
Gem looked up at him as he leaned down to kiss her.
He tugged her shirt off.
She wasn't in pain, but he moved gently anyway.
He didn't want to hurt her in any way.
She ran her hands over his sides, moving down to his waist.
"Do you want to?" He asked.
She nodded.
Zoro let her ease his pants down slightly as he reached between them to tease her.
She closed her eyes and her hands trembled as she tried to push his pants far enough to free him.
Hell, just looking down at her body had him hard.
No preparation needed for him.
His actions had her wet and dripping as he felt her on the edge already.
He loved how he could get her just by teasing and playing and whispering to her.
She had that soft flush to her skin and he positioned himself to slide into her as he kissed her.
She was warm and willing as he slowly moved over her.
His breath hissed from him as she raked her nails over his back.
A wound on the back was a swordsman's shame, but he'd bear these marks proudly.
He leaned to kiss her as he drove into her harder.
She angled to meet him as he felt the warm chains on her wrists touch his skin.
She cried out and he froze.
"Does it hurt?" He asked.
She nodded.
He didn't care that he was close himself.
He reached down to tease her enough to distract her from the pain of the chains again and when she came, he pulled out of her.
'What about you?' She asked.
He could hear the pain in her voice in his head.
"I'll be fine. Just let me hold you through this." He sighed as he turned onto his side.
He had really wanted her to not feel it today.
Those chains touched his skin and he could feel their heat.
Under her skin was at least twenty times worse.
xXx
Gem could barely stand the pain this time. The longer and farther she got from the island, the more it hurt.
As much as she wanted to stay with him, she wasn't sure she could withstand this burning.
It was like having her throat torn open all over again, this time with her wrists and ankles thrown in too.
Zoro held her tight and she realized he could feel a fraction of the burning from the chain touching him.
She tried to pull it all away, but he tangled his legs with hers and held her hands against him anyway.
"Don't pull away from me Gem. I'm not weak. I wish I could take this for you, I really do." He said.
She didn't doubt that for a second.
It was several minutes before the pain faded away again.
"Better?" He asked.
She took a breath back into her abused throat.
'Yes.' She said. 'I'm sorry for this. I tried to ignore it.'
"Baby it's nothing to ignore. I don't like you being in pain."
He turned to his back to pull her over him.
She settled herself against him and he slid back into her.
She braced her hands on his chest to give herself some leverage.
He groaned as she moved on him.
This position felt different than when they took a bath together several days ago.
It hit points that she had never felt before.
So far, no time with him had been the same. Or bad.
He was good.
He had said it before, that she seemed made for him.
She joked that because she was older, it was the other way around.
And he was indeed made for her.
As he reached to tease her, she held her wrist to him as he turned his head.
He bit into her wrist and the three sensations together completely drove away the pain from her chains.
She pulled away her hand and collapsed over him as he gripped her hips and shuddered as he spilled into her.
He didn't pull away like normal.
"I will find a way to get you free. I won't let you go back there unless we have no choice. And I'll stay with you this time."
She put her head against his heart.
'This pain is nothing compared to so long without love.' She said.
He held her as he kicked his pants completely off and pulled the blanket up to cover them completely.
xXx
Zoro woke to her gone.
He started to panic a little as he yanked his pants on and stumbled out into the hall.
He pulled the rest of his clothes on before he reached the ladder.
He sighed as he saw Nami and Gem both being escorted back to the Merry by Sanji.
The restaurant was closed in the early morning, but he had been making them breakfast anyway.
Nami laughed at something he said and Gem smiled.
No, he wasn't into guys. Zoro just liked teasing him because he really did get riled easy.
He wasn't lying about that.
Sanji was amusing.
Plus, he was the first full blooded Vampire he'd ever met.
Johnny and Yosaku were already up and on the deck cleaning.
Anything to pay for everything the crew had done for them.
Zoro moved down to greet his girl at the dock.
"Ah, about time you got up mossball." Sanji said as he saw him.
Zoro flipped him off.
Sanji just laughed at him.
Gem came to him.
"Did you get something good?"
"Absolutely. Sanji made the best spread this morning." Nami said.
The cook blushed slightly.
"Only for you two my dear. Nothing but the best."
Zoro scoffed.
Gem looked happy though, so he couldn't complain.
"She ate a little more today. I'd say it'll be another week before she's back to normal meal sizes again." Sanji sounded more professional and Zoro looked at him.
"Thanks."
Gem held up a napkin bag.
Zoro took it as Nami led Gem up to the deck of the Merry.
"I said no, but you know those cute round eyes are really hard to deny." Sanji said.
Zoro unfolded the napkin to see a pancake bowl with fresh fruit.
At least the cook had some good taste.
He held it carefully as he leaned on the railing of the dock.
"You do make some good food though." Zoro admitted.
He took a bite and looked at the glow starting to settle into full day.
"Of course. Best chef on the northern half of the First Tier." Sanji put his back to the Merry and leaned a couple feet from him on the other side of the gangplank.
"If there comes any time for you to really consider joining this crew, just remember that my girl needs proper food. Nami too. Honestly, both of them are a bit thin. Gem hasn't eaten well in two decades and I'd say Nami hasn't most of her life either." Zoro said before taking another large bite of his breakfast.
Sanji snorted. "Way to guilt a man."
"Seriously, your talent is wasted down here. We're headed up." Zoro said.
"I've got my own dreams too you know."
"Like what?" Zoro almost finished the bowl off.
"I'm going to find All Blue."
Zoro laughed.
"Hey, it exists."
"I'm sure it does, but not down here." Zoro finished the bowl and dusted off the otherwise clean fabric napkin.
"So, I'll get out and find it."
Zoro dropped the cloth over his head.
"Not sitting down here. Cooking for a place that doesn't go anywhere."
Sanji glared at him as he started to get back onto the Merry.
But he saw the slight hint of acceptance in those dark honey eyes too.
He knew he needed to jump on a ship headed up.
Chances were high that the sea holding every fish was on the Seventh Tier.
Zoro went to go find Gem again.
xXx
Gem followed Nami into the room she drew up her maps in.
So far, she had created a very accurate map of the First Tier.
Probably the most complete ever.
"So, I know you and Zoro have this thing going on, but please keep this a secret from them." Nami said.
Gem frowned but nodded.
The navigator took a deep breath.
"I am already a part of another crew. Arlong's crew."
Gem sighed.
She'd heard of the fishman from Mihawk.
The Shark was dangerous for this low level area. Most pirates were.
But strong pirates were especially dangerous.
He came from Third Tier and was far worse off than some in Second Tier.
"I really do love sailing with these guys though. Luffy is funny, Zoro can be aggravating but kind, and Usopp has a big heart but not much courage in it. These guys make me feel at home here, really." Nami said. "I'm so very close to one of my goals and then I'll be free to sail with them again. Do you think they'd forgive me for stealing the Merry?"
Gem frowned. She nodded.
They would once they caught up with her and helped her.
Whatever demons Nami faced, she just hadn't accepted that she didn't have to face them alone.
This crew would help. Usopp had already regaled about how the three of them saved his village even though they could have up and left them all to die.
No, Gem couldn't see these guys doing that to Nami, who fought beside them already.
"Thank you." Nami hugged her.
For a moment she didn't know if she should hug her back, but she did anyway.
"And when were were talking about losing people, I do know how that feels. I lost my mother when I was little, before all this mess started. Arlong promised that as long as I made maps for him, he wouldn't hurt anyone else in my family. So I agreed and made a deal with him. A hundred million for my town and he'd leave. I'm so close. I probably don't have much left to go after these guys helped me."
Nami looked at the window.
"Please, don't tell them. Not until I'm so far you can't see me anymore."
Gem nodded.
She couldn't tell anyone but Zoro anyway.
xXx
Zoro looked up from their table as Gin carried Krieg in.
He felt Gem tighten against his arm at the sight of the hulking man.
He kept a hand on his swords as Sanji brought out food.
He almost drew as the man put Sanji to the floor.
Hell, even he would never do that to someone who helped him.
The shaking from Gem was the only thing keeping him from attacking on Sanji's behalf.
The man might not be a part of their crew, but he had helped Gem recover so much faster with the healthy dishes.
Krieg ordered the cooks to hand over food and an all out fight started.
Zoro moved Gem behind him as the guns went off in Kriegs armor.
The hell was that man thinking?
Several cooks were shot, but no one was dead.
Zeff brought out a bag and Krieg actually paled at his name.
So this man had sailed up to Seventh Tier and came back down alive and well?
The older cook shooed Krieg off the Baratie and the customers left all fled.
Luffy started to get pumped up for a fight.
"No way, you're going to go out to your deaths. Don't you idiots care?" Sanji asked.
"Sure, but I gave up a lease on life when I decided to go for my dream. If I'm not strong enough to fight for that dream, I don't need a life." Zoro said. "And the only one who can call me an idiot is me." He looked at Gem.
And her.
But she had already said she would support him.
He didn't need to worry about his life. He just needed to be strong enough to keep it and her.
He started to head for the door.
She tagged along with him.
Luffy headed for the door as well and Usopp followed him.
Zoro was just hearing the shouting of revived men when an ear shattering splitting of wood came.
He watched the huge ship in front of him break apart as some of the charging pirates jumped to the Baratie for safety.
Zeff gave out commands like a captain and Zoro felt Gem leave his side.
He reached for her as the huge galleon started sinking.
She slipped past him and nimbly jumped to the other ship.
He came out and heard his friends calling.
He went to help them up onto the Baratie as Luffy came out as well.
"What happened to the Merry?"
And Nami.
If they sank, then their adventure was over.
No way could they sail without a navigator.
Not him and Luffy.
"She stole it bro." Johnny said.
"Right out from under us." Yosaku added.
"And your boat?" Zoro frowned.
He paused as he saw a small boat with green burning candles.
"Right there."
"I see the Merry." Luffy pointed it out.
Zoro couldn't care as he saw the man he had been hunting for.
The one he now needed to beat sense into and get the chains removed for Gem.
xXx
Gem watched a Pirate shoot at Mihawk.
She had caught his scent from inside the restaurant and needed to see him.
He had followed this huge ship just to finish wrecking it?
He turned to look at her.
No, he had come for her. The ship was a bonus to keep his skills and techniques sharp.
She hurried out as the Pirate was whining over Mihawk deflecting his shots.
She jumped from the galleon to Mihawk's boat.
"Are you ready to go back?" He asked.
'No, I found my other half. I want to be with him. Please take off these chains Mihawk.' She held out her wrists.
She heard Zoro shout from the galleon and glanced at him.
He held up his sword in a challege.
"That is your man?" Mihawk huffed a laugh.
'He's not always smart, but he means well and he cares for me. A lot. Please don't hurt him. I...I can't lose him.'
He sighed and patted her shoulder.
"Let me test him and see if he's worthy of you though."
She nodded and watched the fluid grace as he jumped from his boat onto the flat and wider surface of the tilted galleon deck.
"Alright young pup. A real swordsman would know the difference between us by sight alone." Mihawk said.
"I know you'd kick my ass a hundred times over normally, but I don't have time to lose." He said as he looked at her.
"Yes...I suppose you don't." Mihawk shrugged. "What is your name pup?"
"Roronoa Zoro."
"Alright young Zoro. I suppose I shall accept your challenge."
Gem watched Mihawk pull the dagger from around his neck and hold it up.
"Are you screwing with me?" Zoro actually sounded angry.
"No, I'm just not the kind of man who uses a cannon to hunt rabbits."
Zoro held all three of his swords for the first time Gem could remember.
She looked away as she heard him rush Mihawk.
She didn't want to see him get hurt.
It was bad enough listening to every clang as Mihawk stopped him every time.
She sat in the boat as the chains burned again.
But even the pain couldn't distract her as she heard the other Pirates gasp.
She turned to see Mihawk stabbing the tiny dagger into Zoro's chest.
"Why don't you step back?"
"Because I can't. If I step back, I lose. And I refuse to lose her. I'll never get back to this point in my life again if I step back even once."
Mihawk smiled as he pulled the tiny blade free.
Zoro stumbled, but he picked up Kuina's sword again and she watched him go into a stance.
Mihawk laughed as he tossed the little dagger and sheath to her.
She caught them as he pulled his infamous black blade out.
"I suppose I'll finish with this. A sword to match your spirit in greatness." Mihawk said.
'No please. Don't hurt me like this.' Gem begged him.
He sighed as Zoro moved.
'I won't.'
She heard him reply as he broke the two cheap blades Zoro was dealing with.
Zoro sheathed Kuina's and turned back to face Mihawk.
"You are a brave kid." Mihawk said.
"Well, wounds on the back are a swordsman's shame."
"Yes, quite honorable." Mihawk said as she watched him grip the sword differently than normal.
'I need him Mihawk. Please.' Gem said as the pain burned hotter.
Her blood ran cold as he swung and blood sprayed.
Zoro's chest was cut and he stumbled towards the water.
Mihawk turned back to face her.
'That young Vampire is more than dedicated, but he'd better damn well show that same level of dedication to you.' Mihawk glared at her.
She felt the tears well up as she couldn't move.
She heard his friends jump into the water to save him as Luffy launched at Mihawk.
'He did. Why Mihawk?'
"Don't be so hasty now young one. Your friend is still alive. I made a promise after all." Mihawk said as he dodged Luffy.
Usopp and Yosaku pulled Zoro onto the boat Johnny and Yosaku used.
"He's still alive." Usopp's cheer was genuine.
Gem moved to jump to the boat and she found the black sword in the side of the tiny rowboat Mihawk sailed in, blocking her from jumping.
'Stay.' He ordered. "Boy." He called out. "Come find me again when you grow stronger. I'll be waiting for you."
He jumped to his ship as she saw Zoro raised the sheathed sword from where he was laying on the deck.
She gripped the edge of Mihawk's boat as Zoro spoke.
"I'll accept that. And Luffy, I promise that I will never fail again. The future King of the Pirates deserves no less than the best Swordsman in the World right?"
She glanced at Luffy.
The captain grinned. "Yep. Now go on."
Mihawk smiled as he used the current to push away from the wreckage.
As soon as they were out of sight of the Baratie, he pulled alongside the other little boat.
Gem went to jump up, but he snagged her wrist.
"You've endured enough pain." Mihawk pulled out a rose from the small chest behind his seat and put the stem through a link on the chain around her neck.
She expected it to snap, but the metal chain did instead.
He repeated the quick maneuver on the other four and the chains fell to the floor.
She felt the power rise in her and reached for her link to Zoro.
Mihawk collected the chains and took her hand.
"You should keep these in case." He said. He tucked the rose in her ponytail. "And I think you're finally ready for that as well."
She nodded.
He braced his boot on the side of his boat and grabbed the higher side of theirs.
"Go on." He said. "I'll let your parents know when I visit them again here shortly that you're ready."
She nodded and moved to hug him.
He showed his softer side as he hugged her back.
She put her foot on the side of his boat next to hers and he held her hand as she climbed up, using his thigh to step up to the other edge.
'Thank you Mihawk. For understanding and protecting me.'
"Always Little Gem." He smiled as she leaned down over the edge and kissed his cheek. "Please stay out of trouble."
She laughed in his head as he pushed away from them.
'Never.'
He smiled as he drifted away.
She turned back to face Zoro.
His breathing was shallow and he looked like he was in so much pain.
xXx
Zoro swore in his head as he felt her push a thread of her hair through his skin to stitch his wound shut.
He put his hand on her thigh as she sat beside him, occasionally squeezing when the pain hit harder.
He could hear Yosaku and Johnny being fretful, but it was strangely Usopp who was keeping calm through this.
He expected the man to be crying out that he was going to die and stuff.
It stung as she took another strand of her hair and formed a thick piece of gauze.
She instructed Usopp to hold it down as she used yet another of those long silky strands to make a bandage wrap.
As they passed it around him, he could feel that she was using more of her power than she should to keep him off the deck.
She kept the roll tight as she and Usopp worked to patch him up.
When she was done, he felt her set him back down.
'Rest now.' She spoke to him as she kissed him. 'Let my healing energy work on you.'
He sighed as she turned to lay beside him.
He eased his arm up enough for her to put her head on his good shoulder and her hand over the gash over his heart.
It hurt a little, but the bandaging she'd wrapped him in was warm. Soothing.
His pain eased away enough for him to sleep while they followed the direction the Merry had gone.
xXx
Gem was going to kill them.
Leaving a defenseless man to fend for himself against fishmen.
Kuina's sword was quite securely tied to his hip, but his injuries were too severe.
She burned with anger from her position as the necklace around his neck.
The worst part was that while the pendant allowed her to see through the jewel eyes, she couldn't hear.
They brought him to the base of the fishmen.
She could feel him speaking, but things changed as Nami showed up.
She wanted to jump free, but Zoro had made her promise to stay hidden.
Mihawk had said to stay out of trouble and Zoro was going to ensure she did.
Nami spoke a little and she watched the girls face.
xXx
Zoro looked up at Nami.
"Cold blooded witch isn't she?" Arlong laughed.
Nami's face momentarily reflected the pain in her eyes.
So that's how it was?
He was basically holding her prisoner here.
Zoro thought on his feet for a moment as they spoke.
"Just go away already." Nami scowled.
"Fine by me." Zoro pushed himself back, ignoring the pain.
The water splashed as he fell in and he felt the slight burning as Gem was pissed.
He looked up to see Nami dive in after him.
She looked at him for a moment, begging with her eyes.
Begging him to help.
He nodded and she grabbed his bound arm and pulled him up.
It must gave taken a good amount of strength as she got him up onto the stone again.
His wound felt like it was tearing open again.
"You idiot. Who said you could just die?"
"Some cold blooded killer." He grinned.
She kicked him.
"Throw him in the cell, I'll take care of him personally." He watched her storm off, dripping wet. "Stupid god damn Pirate thinking he can just do whatever on my watch."
The fishmen laughed at her outburst, but Arlong had them throw him, quite literally, into a metal doored cell.
He winced at the pain in his chest, but as he pushed himself to sit up, he felt Gem slip from his neck.
"Just check my wound and then go back around my neck." He whispered.
She looked sad and a little scared as she nodded.
Her tiny, cold hands touched the damp bandage and she dried him off.
Her chill seeped through the bandaging and he shivered as she pulled away.
'It's still pretty bad. You shouldn't do so much.' She said.
He leaned forward and kissed her gently.
She returned it fully as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He felt her heat surround him as she changed back into the dragon pendant necklace.
It was several hours before Nami came in.
Her hand was bandaged.
"Usopp is also out there somewhere. I tried to help him while he helped me." She spoke quietly. She moved behind him and cut his ropes.
She leaned her head on his good shoulder from behind.
"Please, I know Luffy is still coming, so just take the Merry and leave. All of you."
"You know we can't." Zoro said softly. "You're part of our crew. Our screwed up, strange little family of Pirates, not these guys."
He felt tears.
"But how much can you guys do? You're injured, Luffy is likely injured if he stayed back to fight Krieg, I know Usopp won't fight to the death like you two...just what can you guys do to help?"
He leaned his head against hers and reached up to ruffle her hair.
"Just put a little faith in us. We'll free you and this island or die trying. And I have an Enigma who won't let me die."
He felt her warm against his collarbone.
Nami sat back.
"But..." He used his own blade to cut the ropes on his ankles.
"No but Nami, just trust us." He said.
She nodded.
He heard one of the fishmen through the door.
"You alright in there?"
"I'm fine." Nami called back.
Zoro actually made an audible sound of pain when she hit his bad shoulder.
She repeated it a couple more times before he held his hands behind his back and fell over again.
He winked at her as she stood up.
She looked unsure as she knocked on the door, but straightened as it opened.
He watched her leave, pretending to barely breathe.
It wasn't too hard of a feat.
Gem's bandaging dulled the pain, not the wound.
He waited until things outside got quiet again.
Then he pushed himself up and drew his sword.
xXx
Gem couldn't believe he did all that.
He beat all of them after she deliberately told him to take it easy.
She glared at him after he finally allowed her to come free again after they had all met back up with each other.
He reached to hold her.
"I'm sorry I didn't listen, but it had to be done." Zoro said.
He stood up and turned to where the others were waiting.
"Stay here with Nami."
'But you could get even more hurt.'
"I'll be alright. I've got you after all."
He smiled and walked away.
She stood by Nami until the girl decided to stand.
"We have to go help them."
Gem nodded.
Her stupid swordsman was going to get himself killed.
They made their way to Arlong Park and the crowd moved to let them see.
Johnny and Yosaku both stopped Gem from entering.
"Let them handle this."
She stared as Zoro defeated Hachi fairly easily.
She turned away.
He was fine.
She closed her eyes and began to focus power into the bandaging as things went a little worse for them.
She ignored everything else, trying to ensure Zoro would live.
She opened her eyes again as Nami grabbed her wrist.
Gem turned to see Zoro held by his throat.
When had that happened?
How long had she been transed?
She watched in fear and pain as Arlong laughed at his captive.
"Ready to die?"
"You can't kill me." Zoro scoffed.
"Seems like something already tried. Lets let everyone see what's under that bandage. A tiny scratch no doubt?"
Zoro huffed and Gem felt his pain through their link as Arlong tore off bandaging and stitching with it.
The wound bled freely.
She clenched her fists as Zoro glared down at Arlong.
"What is this?" Arlong muttered. "How can you still be standing?"
"What? Going to admit a human is stronger than you?" Zoro taunted.
Gem was just about to go in and make Arlong release him when Luffy shot out of the water and reached to grab Zoro.
She wasn't sure who she wanted to kill as he yanked Zoro roughly out of the fishman's hand.
She settled for saving Zoro as she used her Draconian wings and speed to go over the water.
xXx
Zoro was hovering on the edge of consciousness as he fell towards the water.
He saw a flash of black and opened his eyes again.
Suddenly Gem was there, in her full Draconian form.
A graceful cut of her wings had her under him, with him laid out on her back.
He shifted slightly to brace his hands against her wing joints as he settled along her back.
She dropped towards the water and he heard the sound of her claws skimming the water.
"Thanks."
'I told you you'd get hurt.' She snapped. 'You didn't listen. You never listen to anyone.'
He heard the words, but heard the fear too.
As she let herself glide back to shore, he closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry." He brushed his hand along her wing to feel the tight muscle under his fingers.
'I...I promised I wouldn't get in your way, but I won't watch you do this again either.'
"I know, and I'm sorry. I really thought I could handle it since your power was dulling the pain."
She came to a smooth stop and he groaned at the feel of her walking.
The shifting of her shoulder set his wound off again.
He looked up as the building in Arlong park came down with a cloud of dust and a rumble to wake the dead.
She turned her head as he saw Sanji coming closer.
"Great job." Zoro said.
"Yeah, thanks for being a decoy." The cook said.
He looked at Gem.
"This is..."
"Gem, yes. Didn't you know? She's Draconian and Enigma." Zoro said.
"Ah. I figured it was her. No Dragon could really look that beautiful."
She rumbled loud enough to draw a couple people's attention from the crowd.
Luffy was being cheered, but as he saw Zoro, he came to her side.
She growled as he reached out.
"I think she gets the idea that I'm kind of hurt captain." Zoro winced as her shifting on her feet made him move again.
He turned his head enough to see the doctor coming through the crowd, being pulled along by Nami.
"Is there anything you can do?" She asked him, motioning to Zoro.
He sighed.
"A bit, but not here. Take him to my house."
Zoro held back his noise as Gem carefully walked to the village with Nami beside her.
He felt Nami touch his hand.
"Thank you Zoro, really."
He turned enough to see a genuine smile on her face as she squeezed his hand.
"No problem." He mumbled.
"No, thanks to you guys, I'm finally free. We are free." She said.
"Yeah, I guess you are." He faced the clouds above him again and closed his eyes.
xXx
Gem held his hand as she used her healing power to keep this as painless as possible for him.
She could tell by how tight he held her hand that it wasn't entirely helping.
The doctor put in the last stitch, even and tight with the rest and she lifted Zoro from the bed enough for the older man to begin wrapping the bandaging she had prepared around his wounds.
"Alright, this is the best I can offer. We have nothing for Vampires for pain. Everyone here is human."
She shook her head as she laid Zoro down again.
"I'll be fine after some rest." He said.
The doctor nodded and started to leave.
"I'll send one of your friends in with some food later when it's all here."
Gem nodded.
She helped Zoro move over enough for her to climb up on the bed and lay beside him.
He sighed as she carefully put her head on his good shoulder.
She sank her healing power into him as she laid her hand over his heart.
He winced before relaxing at the warmth.
xXx
Zoro woke to much less pain than usual.
He started to sit up, leaving Gem on the bed beside him.
"She hasn't left your side you know." He heard Sanji from the side of the room.
The other Vampire was sitting on another bed.
"I figured." Zoro nodded.
"She even fed you while you were fever delirious this morning. I swore you would fight it, but it didn't take much for her to convince your Vampire mindset to bite her. And she got you to drink the soup I brought you."
"Thanks." Zoro sighed as he looked at the blond man.
"Don't thank me, she ordered me to. I'm simply unable to resist a woman's tears."
Sanji slid from the bed and headed for the door.
"You know, you should consider how your actions are going to affect her."
Zoro groaned as he stood up. "I know. I'm irresponsible and headstrong."
"Your words." Sanji shrugged as he left.
Zoro turned to face Gem.
She looked so soft and sweet laying there.
He leaned over her slightly and tilted her face to kiss her.
She made a mewling noise as she reached across the bed.
When she didn't touch him, she opened her eyes.
"Hey baby." He looked down at her.
She gave him a soft look until she reached to check his bandaging.
She sighed and he moved back to let her sit up.
'Are you alright? Does it hurt?'
He titled his head to the side.
"Not really. I feel pretty good for someone so beat up."
She frowned at him as she slid from the bed.
'It seems pretty good so far.' She said.
He nodded as he collected his sword and tucked it into place.
He started for the door and she followed on his heels.