Horo Horo Samurai

Chapter 4:Orange Bliss in the Mist

Zoro yawned loudly, what Perona at first thought was an animal's cry, as he crossed the opened gate of the castle, squinting once he walked out from the shadows from the first beam of sunlight he had felt in days. This morning was unusually bright, he didn't mind but a dimmer world was his preference, at least a few clouds in the sky to curtain away the shine. "Hmm," he pleasantly grunted. "I'm beginning to sound like that woman."

A thick mist swam through the air, scattered with large clear gaps every few yards, it was soothing, like a scentless incense. He continued down the gate, reaching his arms over his head and cracking his knuckles. A small shot of pain felt like it had burst into his hands but he needed to oil up his joints after such a long period of bed rest. As his arms fell back down he checked for any leaking blood from his hand but was glad to see just dry bandages, new bandages wrapped on by his caretaker just half an hour ago before breakfast.

He recalled the scene quite easily, sitting on the side of the bed with Perona busily apply the new coverings around his chest with a slow paced, gentle mindfulness towards the lingering soreness. He watched her pale fingers curling and uncurling at every grip and edge of the paper. It became an opportunity to satisfy that subconscious intrigue within him to examine her, knowing full well if he was caught he'd had to suffer showing her a few shades of red across his face along with whatever stupid words would fly out of his mouth.

Fortunately she never noticed. Her fingers moved carefully like a harp player however her eyes paid no heed to their actions, bouncing and swinging about at Zoro's form with a youthful excitement. Temptation to touch throbbed at the tip of her fingers and she had to pull back her bottom lip to stiffened her hands into a calm. "I'm such an idiot," she thought to herself. "This situation is bad."

She couldn't explain why this moment was different from the first, when she mummified him in wrappings when he crashed onto the island. Perhaps it was the panic and disappointment she felt at seeing the first mate of the Straw Hats crew on her island, she didn't pay much focus to him, the only plan in her head being to get him into bed and hide his swords. Now, only inches away and openly welcomed to his body, she felt a warm, trembling sensation that seemed so rare and unfamiliar to her.

Suddenly she hurried up the pace and began to wrap and squeeze her work tightly. Zoro let out a pained grunt but it failed to reach her ears. "He's just a muscle headed monkey. As a lady I need to maintain myself no matter how good he looks. Besides..." Those puppet-like eyes glided upwards with her head. She looked at his face and unusual green hair. "He has the face of a graceless shark." A mental giggle went through her. "Sort of cute."

"Damnit...can't you pay attention?!" he moaned out, holding his ribs.

"Pay attention to what? You're all fixed up now so stop your whining. You have supplies to collect for me. It's time to start earning your keep around here." Perona began to pick up the medical kit next to her and stood up, relieved she distanced herself from him. The physical influence he unwittingly held no longer affected her. "Good, I keep my distance and I keep my senses."

"Who would want to pay for this kind of treatment anyway?" the swordsman fussed.

Perona pointed her finger at him, holding her hip with one hand and ordered, "No complaints allowed. Get to work!" His shirt was tossed to him from the dresser, it was still filthy with blood stains but at least the dirt was off. Nailed to it was a large bag. "That's for supplies. I nailed it so you wouldn't forget so you have no excuse." She quickly left afterwards, no doubt headed to her room for what Zoro believed would be a day of relaxation now that he could move again.

Putting the memory behind him now, he felt blades of grass bending beneath his shoe. "I don't get her." He pulled out his map and noticed a hamburger drawn childishly over a patch of grass. Clearly this is where food must be on this island he figured as he continued to adjust himself to his guide, something he felt was more suited to an amusement park than a survival map to a lone island that seemed to reach on endlessly. There were even pictures of beer bottles where he could collect water and beavers where he would find wood. "What the hell am I reading? She can't identify resources with this kind of crap! If anyone else was reading this they'd think there were giant beavers, beer bottles growing out of the ground and titanic hamburgers waiting to be eaten."

Questioning the horrible legend for the map, a fear arose in the back of his head. This was the Grand Line after all, there very well could be giant beavers, naturally grown beer and titanic hamburgers walking around. He braced his body for possible battle and marched forth.

Perona watched him begin his new work from her tower window, chin in palm, hoping he wouldn't get himself injured later on and returning to an immobile state. "Well Batsy, while he's off to work we have our own chores to keep us busy. Let's see if this place has a library, a good book to read should keep me entertain for a while." Batsy was picked up off her bed and locked into her arms as she glided out of the room. "Some horror would be nice but I think a princess story would do tonight. Maybe I could embarrass that swordsman and make him read it to me! Horo horo horo! I wonder if he can even read!"

Zoro sneezed without grace, letting everything shoot out with a DON! It took him a few minutes but he reached the supposed lair of the titanic hamburgers, chuckling to himself as he found it to be nothing more but a grassy opening with some noticeable herbs and plants growing in abundance among the tall blades. The endless forest's wall of gray trees stood strong nearby, the canopy creating unholy halls of darkness. He pulled out the nail from the back of his shirt and grabbed the bag, bending down to pick and store away any plants that looked lively. As he filled the bag he noticed an enormous, round shadow from the trees. Zoro cut his eyes, attempting to see through the mist.

"What the...no!" He quickly crouched down, his heart racing. The situation was completely absurd. "There really are titanic hamburgers!"

Sneaking closer, Zoro picked up a long, sharp stick and hid beneath the blanket of fog. Silently, he stepped into the forest and lunged for the round shadow. The stick snap apart instantly! "This hamburger monster...is as hard as rock!"

The mist cleared, revealing a boulder. "Oh...it is a rock. Damn it, she's making me lose my mind here."

But it reminded him that he really needed to retrieve his swords, at least one would suffice. Who knew what dwelt on this island and he doubt only two people inhabited it. "I'll ask Perona where they are when I return."

He turned his head and eyed his surroundings. Despite the haunting atmosphere oozing from it, there was life coming from the forest with its grayed trees and a fruity scent that hung in the air. Zoro decided to follow it, not realizing this was territory yet to be explored by Perona and therefore not on the map.

"Everything's working out so well," Perona told Batsy as she washed her night gown in the sink of what she guessed was the laundry room the maids used to work in. Against her expectations, it was quite oversized and even had a large window built in high above. There was a dinner table with a dusty clothe and vase with dead flowers, which Perona thought was a nice touch. Living flowers are for smelling and cooking, the dead ones are for good interior design.

Once she scrubbed her patched up clothing she took it out and placed it in a basket with Batsy on top. Leaving the room took her into what could be the servants' break room, placed near the laundry and the storage as if to eternally remind them that there really is no break time for them. The sight of the other room reminded her about Zoro's swords, the ones she took and tossed all over the castle before returning to drag him into his, now, new bed. One was stored in the storage room and she planned to keep it there, afraid of what he might do if he ever got his hands on one.

Perona continued gliding through the caslte until she found a room in the east wing halls with a embroidery sign hanging on it saying "Perona's Fluff and Stuff Room". She always loved coming into here at least once a day and she pretty much had to with only two pairs of clothing that needed daily washing, Zoro's shirt soon to be counted into the pile. Gleefully reaching for the knob with a child's Christmas morning smile of expectation, she squealed at the sight of all the fabric, blankets, torn dolls, fluff and various knick knacks stacked, tossed, hung and scattered about the place. She gripped onto the basket and jumped onto a large pile of blankets, landing on her back with Batsy falling onto her chest.

The room was originally one of the dozens of bedrooms located in the castle but she moved all the furniture into another room with plans of eventually converting that room into a sewing room. Of course there'd be an embroidery sign that would say "Perona's Elegant and Lovely Fashion and Doll Factory" hanging from the door, probably with black yarn and pink flowers made of paper. "I can't wait when I finally get everything settled. Soon I'll have all my old dolls remade and in my bedroom with my every night! Though they won't be the same...you can't just remake a doll you lost. It doesn't feel right Batsy. I'll make new ones then! With new designs and little clothes to wear."

After spending a few minutes shutting her eyes and embracing the cotton feel beneath her, she realized she had almost dozed off and rose from the pile. The purpose of actually being in this room flew back into her head like a bullet as she blink rapidly in confusion. Grabbing the basket and dropping Batsy on top, she stepped over her treasure hoard of materials and opening the large windows at the end of the room. The ripped but dusted veils flew about as a gust of wind blew by the balcony. It was here that Perona set up a clothes line, it also made a good look out spot during her trips around the castle, giving a view of the ocean, the forest, the mountains in the distance and reminding her exactly how far away from home she was.

After hanging the clothes to dry she rested her elbows on top of the rail and watched the unusually clear morning shine across the island. She found the curly tipped hills adorable and managed to put on a smile of amusement despite feeling so blue. "I'm never going back home am I? It hasn't been a month yet but I'm beginning to find it hard to believe I'll ever leave this rock and return to Thriller Bark."

"Oh well," She said, giving herself a push off the railing. "I've got chores to do and lunch to serve in an hour. Hopefully that big necked monster will come back with something good to eat."

An hour had passed quickly when one had to work for all of it but still there was no sign of Zoro. Perona had pulled up a chair at the entrance, waiting for him as she sipped on bitter tea from a cracked cup on a cracked plate. A clock was conveniently placed at the sides of the entrance so she knew he was late. "If he doesn't have any food I'm going to eat all the grass on his head!"

Ten minutes later she finished her tea, leaving her with nothing to do as she patiently awaited his return. She began to cross her arms and tap her boots against the tiled ground. Hunger had snuck up on her since the laundry was hung up and with this tight limitation on resources this was one of the few times she could eat during the day. Perona sucked her teeth. "Where is he?"

Five minutes crawled along. She slammed the table, breaking the olden, rusted piece of furniture. "Oh no! Look what that bastard made me do! He's going to pay for this!"

Five more minutes. "Where is he?! Where is he?! Where is he?!" she fussed, raising her arms into the air like a cheering audience at a stadium but the only thing that she had to look forward to was beating the life out of an late, injured swordsman because know she was boiling mad. "I swear, if he tried to escape and decided to leave me here...I'll kill him. I'll make him so depressed he'll cry himself dry!" The chair couldn't take anymore rage and rocking. It collapsed midst her fury, pulling her towards the ground as an act of vengeance. "Aaaahhh!!!" she screamed out before landing on her bottom. "That's it! He's even gone and broken my furniture! I'll get him and drag him back in a coffin!"

Perona flew off, leaving Batsy to guard the castle while she went hunting, pulling out her map and going to each destination where all the resources were. "How could he get lost? I made it very clear where everything was on my map! And it shouldn't take all morning to get supplies. What an idiot!" Her rage only sped her up but the extra energy came from somewhere else. She was panicking, her heart couldn't stop racing and every possible ending to this event went by in her head. To keep herself sane she had to stay angry.

After flying for twenty minutes over the mist rich island, stopping to walk on foot and search and calling out for him, her hunger began to choke her stomach and send her to her knees. "That's it...just kill me now. Take me to a better place where the bears are cute and the food is tasty. I just can't do this anymore. No! That swordsman is trying to do this as revenge for all the times I blasted him with ghosts! What a clever fool he is to make me depressed like this!" She returned to the air and began searching above the forest with a new determination, a dream now. To find Zoro and make him regret everything!

Traveling a mile or two in all directions, she noticed a few birds flying from the trees' canopy. "There's birds here?" Anything disturbing them must have been Zoro so she headed to the spot right away and carefully sinked into the depths of the forest. Sending her ghosts to search for him, she was surprised at the amount of life hanging from the trees and growing from the ground in such a dreary, dying forest. There was very little of anything good to eat and most of it was scattered about but compared to the leaf brownies and bitter tea it was like a buffet.

One of the ghosts returned and reported Zoro's location, causing Perona to run in that direction and the frenzy in her chest to settle. Now her anger could take over and dish out the sorrow. Going over a few roots and bushes, she heard a grunt come from the distance. "You!" she yelled out, pointing at the baffled swordsman as he looked back at her. "You retard! Where have you been?! It's lunch time and I'm hungry! Are you trying to kill me?!"

"I got into the forest and lost my way."

"You suck so much! Why are your hands bleeding like that?! Now I have to bandage those up again." Perona fussed, scolding him with the urge to suddenly scream just to let her frustrations out. Zoro just looked back with offense, as if he were too innocent to be blamed. "What are you even doing here?! All you had to do was follow my map!"

"My hands are fine." He played off the pain. "But this map sucks! It looks like some kid drew this."

"No complaining! You just shut up and take your punishment idiot! Negative Hollow!"

Zoro just sighed heavily, there was no point in replying or attempting to dodge. He was going to get it and get it good. "I wish...I was reborn a lobster so I can know true pain."

"You're damn right you wish!" Perona screamed out, feeling her eyes water up. Her legs trembled and she didn't know what to do or why she didn't know. All she wanted to do was yell at him. "I'm so hungry and tired and there's still a lot left to do today. And...and I was afraid you idiot!"

"I'm no good. I'm the opposite of good, I'm anti-good. All the world can blame me for its sins, I'm the lowest of the low, the scum that scum craps out."

"Stupid moron...first day of the job and you make me upset. Your apologies won't work on me." Perona wiped her eyes dry, not wanting to let a single tear escape. "Hurry up and follow me back to the castle. I have to cook us lunch and don't you dare begin to think of taking it slowly!"

"Whatever...it's not like I deserve food. That's reserved for animals and real men, not specks of dust like me."

"Well, you're lucky I'm a nice person or I'd let you starve to death out here. Horo horo horo!"

Using her ghosts and occasionally flying above the roof of trees, she was able to guide the both of them out, Zoro recovering from his attack with every few trees they passed. It wasn't until they returned to the castle that he felt his emotions sinking back in and the misery crumbling into nothing. Perona and him crossed the gate, tossing the broken table and chair into the deep, empty moat below. Entering the castle, Perona checked the time and sucked her teeth again. It was an hour past lunch time and they were just reaching the kitchen.

Perona flicked on the switch, Zoro stepped in after as she headed towards the sink, placing his bag on the kitchen table. She turned around, snatching it and bringing it to the counter where she planned to make some sort of crunchy grass and weed pasta. All he could do was sit down and endure her silent fury played through her movements and refusal to look back at him as she gathered the rusty utensils, no one saying a word to anyone.

He made her mad and he knew it, it was entirely his fault and although he wanted to apologized he hesitated. Things could easily break out into an argument at this point and he was bound to say something wrong and make things worst. When it came to pleasant words he was a novice. "I'm man, I should at least say something. If she fusses back I won't say anything back."

"Um...Hey."

Perona didn't answer, wiping down the counter with a rag before getting the pots and cutting board gathered. There was something to this anger, something much deeper. Was she really upset that he was late to lunch and made her hungry? That sounded like her but Zoro's senses couldn't agree completely with that. Nothing left to do but say how he feels. His words can't say it all but he can try. "I just wanted to say...that I'm sorry."

He met silence. He felt an annoyance flick in his eyebrows but decided to let it pass, he was the wrong one after all and he would make things right. "I won't enter the forest until it's mapped. I swear on my honor."

"Hmph. Stupid monkey. As my servant you better not." she said. There was a brief pause between the two, letting an invisible breeze finish it's duty. "After lunch...I'll give you new bandages for your hands."

Zoro smiled and coughed up a chuckled. "Yeah, don't worry. I'll stick to your map and I'll be cautious of getting hurt again."

"Why did you even go into the forest anyway? Reminds you of whatever jungle you must have been born in? Horo horo horo!" She opened up the supplies bag and let the food inside fall out. Her heart jolted. "W-w-what is this?!"
Zoro's eyes lit up as he saw the small object, he quickly hid his hands under the table and looked away as he heard a gasp of surprise rise out of Perona's throat. "Would you stop staring at it?" he fussed. "It is what it is."

"A delicious orange...something tasty has finally appeared!" she cried out, picking up the orange and rubbing it against her face. "Fruit! Actual fruit! Real food! Where did you find this?!"

"On a tree in the forest. I smelled something so I went towards it and found it on top."

She rose it into the air with both hands, worshiping it with her eyes. Something like this was more precious than gold on this island, a slimmer of light in this cesspool of darkness and she could actually enjoy it with no sacrifice. It was an orb of happiness in her hands. "I can't believe this! I can actually taste something sweet and delicious! What should I do with it? Put it in a tea or make a salad with the herbs and grass? Sandwiches would be nice but no bread. It's good even by itself but it'd be a shame to not enjoy this completely and I..." A clicking occurred in her thoughts, a realization snapped together and she stopped talking. There was nothing but silence for a minute and all she did was stare aimlessly past the orange but never any further, into some invisible horizon. Zoro turned and looked at her.

"Is something wrong?" he asked. "Just so you know, you can have that. I'm okay with whatever you're making...wait, unless it's leaf brownies!"

"You're giving this to me? All of it? Don't you want any?" she asked.

"I'm a man. I can handle not having fruit for a while. I'm sure there's more in the forest."

"How did you get this? Is this the reason your hands are bleeding?"

Zoro remained silent and kept his hands hidden. He didn't enjoy self promotion and considered it dishonorable but what he did enjoy was the fact that even if his words weren't right, his actions always were. "Just be quiet and eat it."

Perona felt herself stiffen up and her legs and hands tremble. Getting lost, bleeding from his hands and suffering from a punishment he'd knew was coming just to give her an orange? Was this guy really a lunatic, Perona asked herself. He must have lost his mind to go that far out of his way, even to pay her back but what really made her words impossible to breath out was how warm and fuzzy she felt, moreso than ducking into a pile of blankets and fabric or snuggling up with Batsy at night. "It's just an orange..." she said. Perhaps she was a lunatic for enjoying a piece of fruit this much.

"Hmm?"

"All it is is just an stinkin orange." Perona softly said, almost motherly. "There's millions of them and people eat them everyday." She lowered her head and began peeling the skin off, keeping her back to Zoro. He wondered what she was going to say next, it didn't matter if she couldn't appreciate it. He wouldn't be comfortable with praise and celebration over something he did as long as he knew she enjoyed it to some extent. "But how come this orange feels so warm and sweet....when I haven't even bitten it yet?"she asked herself.

"Thank you." Perona said. "I'm...sorry for sending a hollow at you again."

"Hmm?"

"Idiot!" she yelled out, stomping her foot because she meant it. "I'm not saying it again! Appreciate what you get!"

Zoro looked at her dumbstruck for a second, smiling with amusement and an unusual warmth in his chest, not the heat he felt earlier when she treated his this morning and not the warmth he felt knowing what the orange would mean to her. It was indescribable. Instinctively he would try to ignore it but for a few seconds he kept that sensation and embraced, smiling as he watched Perona finish their lunch. She brought two plates, both with orange slices and the weed and grass pasta.

When Zoro grabbed his fork and looked at his food, he saw the orange slices arranged like a smiley face. Perona stared at him from across the table, her pink bangs cutting off the top of her eyes. When he looked back she flinched-if it were a sound it would be a mouse's squeak-and turned her attention to the food before her. It was minutes into lunch that she decided to talk again. "So...do you think there's a chance there's other fruits growing in the forest?"

"Sure, why not."

"Maybe you should head into the forests from now on."

"Doesn't that contradict half of what you said earlier?! It's not even on the map!"

"Who cares about that? I'll just find you again and if you don't have anything delicious I'll make you feel so down your pants will drop!"

"I do something nice and you threaten me?!"

"Sounds like someone doesn't want any bandages for their bloody hands."

"You bitch!"

AN: Why do almost all of my chapters end with horrible depression and fighting? Do you think I enjoy writing arguments and grown men acting depressed?! Yes, yes I do.