ZORO

Captain Morgan's son was laughing hysterically. "You are just so intent on staying alive!"

I spat at the ground. "Yeah, that's right. I'm going to make it forty days without a problem, got it?"

"Don't sound so suuurrreee!" he squealed out through his laughter. "You still have ten days left!"

The shithead then proceeded to leave the courtyard, leaving me with my thoughts.

Ten days left. That was all I had. I would get out of there and everything would be fine. After the first few days, the hunger didn't even bother me much anymore. There had been enough rain to keep me hydrated, which was my biggest concern. I was going to get out of there, and then I could go back to training and bounty hunting, helping me to ultimately become the greatest swordsman. I would not falter.

I heard footsteps shuffle in front of me and snapped my head upward. If it was that stupid Helmeppo come to taunt me, again…

I was relieved to find that it was not Helmeppo, who had stormed out after having the little girl thrown out. I was, however, incredibly annoyed to see the scrawny kid who had been spying by the wall. Who the hell was this guy, anyway? This idiot walked around like he owned the place. What really got me was the straw hat. Did he expect anyone to take him seriously with that on his head?

"So. I've heard you're a bad guy," he said bluntly. I felt myself trying to fight a smile. There was something enjoyable about his voice. Maybe it was the scratchiness, or maybe it was the warmth in it despite his brutal honesty.

Wait, bad guy?!

I raised an eyebrow, choosing my words wisely. I didn't want anyone in this court with me. They didn't deserve to suffer. Besides, people were so aggravating. Forcing myself to sound like a dick once more, I replied, "You're still here? Leave!"

He didn't even flinch and instead walked towards me. "You're strung up here for the world to see, humiliated, and it doesn't even look like you've tried to get away. Are you really even that strong?"

I felt my face flush. How dare he question the strength of the future greatest swordsman! "Mind your own damn business!" I spat.

He smiled. I felt myself longing to smile with him. The kid's smile stretched from ear-to-ear, and it was so genuine and playful. Honest, yes. Mean, never.

"I don't know how you've done it. I would starve in three days out here," he commented, smiling down at me. He was shorter than me, that I could already tell, but the way I was tied forced me to slouch against the pole. It irked me- the last thing this kid needed was an ego boost, even if it was only caused by height.

I looked back at him to see him smiling admirably at me. I felt myself smile slightly as I threw my own defenses at him. "I've got more spirit than you could ever have! I'll get through this… ordeal. This I swear," I declared triumphantly.

The kid gave a short laugh, and declared, just as triumphantly, "What a weirdo!"

Weirdo? Me? He was one to talk! I was about to tell him just how idiotic he was when I realized he was walking away. I quick looked down at the rice balls. I hated begging like this, but I had to survive. I had too much to live for. My purpose wasn't fulfilled.

"Wait!" I called, hearing my voice soften.

The kid turned, waiting expectantly.

"Could… uh… you pick that up for me?" I asked sheepishly, gazing at the crushed rice ball.

The kid gave me a horrified look, but bent down, anyway. He picked it up and played with it in his hands. "You're really gonna eat this? Because it's mostly mud."

"SHUT UP! Just give it to me! NOW!" I barked out, making sure he knew this wasn't the time for joking. This idiot probably never took anything seriously, not even a starving man who knew a muddy rice ball was better than death.

The kid's eyes widened. Although he didn't look hurt by my snippiness, I still felt a little bad. I didn't mean to be so harsh. I just didn't have the time to deal with annoying idiots, even if they were just cute teenagers. Now hear me out, when I say cute, I don't mean attractive or desirable. He was probably seventeen or eighteen, MAYBE nineteen at the most, and there was something just kind of adorable about his honesty and scratchy, pubescent voice, like in a brotherly way. BUT! In no way would I develop a soft spot for a dimwitted idiot like that. I just felt bad for yelling at him when it was clear he was too ignorant to realize the extent of my hunger.

The kid didn't seem to be bothered by me, though, because he gave a quick look of disgust at the rice ball, and then proceeded to feed it to me. He was careful to try to pick out as much mud as possible and delicately put it in my mouth, extra careful not to get his hands in my mouth by mistake. But by that point, I didn't care. I probably would have licked rice off of his hands if I had to.

I was taken aback by how muddy the rice balls actually were. It hadn't rained for at least a day, leaving the ground to be mostly dry. That being said, I thought he was just exaggerating about the muddiness. It couldn't be MUDDY. Dirty, maybe, but muddy? No. So I thought.

I began to cough as the mud and rice got stuck in my throat. Finally I was able to swallow it all. My stomach rumbled, letting me know it wasn't fulfilled, but I knew that small bit would be all I needed to push through the last ten days. I would make it out of here.

The kid smirked. "Should've listened to me!"

I quietly said, "It was good… Thanks for the, uh, food."

I honestly was thankful, though. Although I didn't want to admit it to this cocky bastard, it really was very kind of him to feed me that. I was already grateful to the little girl for bringing it to me, even though it killed me to see her get thrown out of there after my attempts at being an asshole to get her to leave. But for that kid to stay there and feed it to me even though he knew what could happen to him? That was true kindness.

The kid looked at me long and hard. Slowly a small, knowing, almost mischievous smile rose to his lips. What the hell was that about?!

Without another word, he left the courtyard, leaving me to myself once more.

Not going to lie, I kind of was sad to see him go. His company was refreshing.