Wow, I managed to do another chapter again? Man. This chapter turned out a little differently than I thought it would. But, it leads deeper into my plans for future chapters, so, guess it's not too bad. Hope it turned out alright, and hope it didn't sound rushed because no matter where I type, my fingers are freezing and all I want to do is crawl into my nice warm bed and sleep. So, don't be surprised if it is a little rushed, but, I think I spaced it out pretty well. Anyway, I'll let you judge for yourself.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 16 : Suspicions, and guilt
Zoro's head slipped forward and whacked against the dash in front of him.
"Ow!" he yelled and sat back, rubbing the centre of his forehead. Wincing at the quickly swelling lump in the middle of his forehead, he opened his eyes and looked out the front windscreen.
The morning was a bright one and Zoro smiled slightly at the beautiful sun that was rising in the east. Dark green eyes travelled over glittering landscape until they came to rest on a pair of figures sitting underneath a large tree.
A tiny one beside a taller one. The smaller one was leaning against the taller and Zoro narrowed his eyes. Luffy and Chopper. He wondered what they were talking about.
Probably about me. He privately thought, his jealous and selfish side taking over. Wonder what they're saying about me. Luffy's probably saying how stupid I am. I bet that's what it is, the liar. Quietly opening his door, he put a foot out onto the grass and then paused.
But, what if they're talking about something private? And not about me at all? This thought caused the swordsman to rethink his decision to eavesdrop. He was about to get back in the car when Luffy stood, his lanky frame outlined by the rising sun.
Reaching down, Luffy gave a thumbs up to the little reindeer before walking back towards the car. Zoro hurriedly shut the door and leaned his head against the window.
"What the fuck are you doing Marimo?" a sleepy voice asked and Zoro turned to see Sanji glaring at him from the back seat. He frowned.
"None of your business moron." he responded. Sanji shook his head and pulled his pack of cigarettes from his front jacket pocket and then sliding one out, he lit it. Zoro gave a grouchy sigh.
"You're gonna die from smoking one day." he commented, crossing his arms and looking out the side window. Sanji gave short snort.
"What do you care idiot?" he asked. Zoro shrugged.
"I don't." he replied and then silence reigned through the car. Nami was still asleep against her window, and Usopp was curled up on the seat next to Sanji. He yawned and turned over, stretching his arms and legs in every direction. Sanji shoved the boy's legs away and Usopp fell off the edge onto the floor.
"…ow." the boy said, his voice muffled. Nami jumped up with a start as Usopp began to get up, his head knocking her seat.
"You idiot Usopp! You woke Nami up." and Sanji gave the boy's head a light whack. Nami looked around blearily.
"What's going on?" she asked and rubbed her eyes before stretching.
"Sanji knocked me off the seat." Usopp explained as he finally managed to get back onto said seat.
"You're the one who stuck his feet in my face." Sanji returned. Nami sighed.
"Why did I even ask?" she muttered.
"Thanks for telling me Chopper." Luffy's voice said from beside the car. Chopper grinned.
"It was good to tell someone about it." he replied. Luffy turned and saw Sanji, Nami and Usopp watching him.
"Hi Nami, Usopp, Sanji!" he cried happily, obviously leaving the swordsman out of his morning greetings. Chopper blinked and then smiled at the rest of the group.
"Did you guys have enough sleep?" the doctor asked. Everyone nodded and Chopper smiled.
"Good. Can't expect to be healthy without enough sleep." he said before bouncing into the back seat and then into the back of the car. Luffy got into the car, but didn't close the door.
"Sanji, are we gonna have breakfast? I'm hungry!" the boy cried. Nami looked around at the chef.
"Actually, breakfast sounds good Sanji." she said sweetly. The chef's frown immediately changed to one of pure love and lust for the orange haired woman.
"Of course Nami!" he cried and then jumped out of the car and ran around to the back.
"Are we eating now?" Chopper asked brightly.
"YEAH!" Luffy replied and bounded from the car. Usopp sighed and followed as well. Nami was about to get out when Zoro stopped her.
"Hey," he said. Nami turned and blinked.
"What?" she asked.
"Can I have a look at the map? I wanna see how much longer we have to go."
"Uh…" Nami paused and then shook her head, "It's a few more days yet. After all, you've been on the run for how long. But, don't worry, it won't be much longer." and she hurried out of the car, the map in her back pocket.
Zoro blinked and then frowned. Was everyone conspiring against him today? With a loud sigh, he got out of the car and pushed his hands into his pockets. It was a little strange that Tashigi hadn't shown up yet.
Usually she was on his tail again, barely a day after he had escaped. To tell the truth, he had gotten a little used to it. But, he couldn't deny that it was a nice change. Nami was hovering around Sanji, watching as he cooked.
The chef didn't seem to mind though. He was having a little trouble with the gas stove, but every time Luffy tried to 'assist', well, Usopp ended up having to forcibly pull Luffy away from the cooking meat.
Zoro caught himself watching Luffy, even though he was mad at the boy for insulting him about his sense of direction.
Luffy also found himself turning to catch stray glimpses of Zoro when the man wasn't looking, even though he was angry at Zoro for insulting his choice of direction. But, was the fight really about that?
It didn't seem that way to Luffy, in fact, it seemed as if Zoro was nit picking. Luffy shook his head and looked back at Usopp, who was retelling his story of the bunyip he had met in the river.
There was no river near by, so, it was plainly obvious that the silly boy was lying. Actually, everything Usopp said was usually a lie. But, he was a good friend and a handy marksman. Chopper gave an exclamation of how cool he thought Usopp was, and Luffy joined in, but, his heart wasn't in it. He was thinking about someone else.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breakfast was a little quieter than usual and when it came to Luffy looking for more food, he totally ignored Zoro, and moved onto Sanji's plate.
"No way ya little bastard." Sanji said, pulling his plate back towards him. Luffy pouted.
"But Sanjiiii." the boy whined, "I'm still hungrily."
"Too bad. We have a limited supply of food and we can't afford to waste it." Sanji returned.
"But, I won't be wasting it. I'm eating it. That's what food is for, isn't it?"
"You know, that's a valid point Sanji." Usopp added. Sanji glared at the boy and Usopp shrugged, bent his head over his plate and continued to eat. Chopper gave a short giggle as Luffy continued to pout and gaze at people's plates.
He didn't get anymore, and this was a big change for Luffy because he had always received food from someone. Zoro to be exact. But Luffy wasn't even gonna go there. Zoro was in the doghouse as far as he was concerned.
So, Luffy suffered in a martyr's silence.
He stood from the little area, and then stomped to the car, and just to piss Zoro off even more, he sat in the front passenger seat.
Zoro saw this and his eyes narrowed. Friend's in the middle of a fight or not, he wasn't going to let the little punk steal his seat. Come on, there was no way he wasgoing to sit in the back of the car with smokey and the liar.
It wasn't really that, he supposed, it was more the principal of the matter. So, Zoro got up, brushed his pants off and walked over to the car. Luffy was sitting in the front seat, his hat pulled down over his eyes. He looked up with a smile before he saw who it was, and then smile went upside down.
"Zoro…" Luffy said and then turned to face the road again, "Not talking to you."
"Kid, get out of my seat." Zoro responded, ignoring the comment.
"Your seat. I was in this seat from when we left Chopper's. You took it over after you blamed me for getting us lost." Luffy responded and then crossed his arms over his chest.
"Move."
"No."
"Luffy…"
"What?"
"Damn you! Get out of my flaming seat!"
"NO! Not your seat!"
"For god's sake!" Zoro yelled and then his lip twitched.
"No."
"Shut up."
"NO! Stop telling me what to do!" Luffy yelled back. Over at the little campsite, Sanji looked over at Nami.
"Should we maybe, stop them?" he asked. Nami shook her head.
"No. They need to get rid of some of their tension. It's a pity this is the only way they can do it, but, twenty bucks Luffy gets the front seat." she said. Sanji blinked, bit down on his cigarette and then nodded.
"You're on." he replied. After all, who was he to deny his wonderful Nami her betting games?
"I'm not telling you what to do!" Zoro returned, completely oblivious to the conversation that the other members of the group were having.
"You are so! You told me to get out of your seat and then you told me to shut up! You're such a mean person Zoro!" Luffy yelled back, still sitting stubbornly in the seat that he was now claiming as his own.
"I wouldn't be so damn mean if you would just get out of my damn seat!"
"No! I'm staying right here!" and Luffy put his feet on the dash and braced himself, tightening his grip on the edges of the seat under him. He had grabbed it instinctively sometime at the beginning of the fight. Zoro growled in frustration and then slammed his palm down on the roof of the car, leaving a large indent.
"Don't destroy the car Zoro." came Nami's teasing voice. Zoro could have grabbed her and strangled her, but that wasn't possible with the love cook around. Instead, his fingernails dug into the metal of the roof of the car.
"Get. Out. Of. My. Seat." Zoro said in the most dangerous voice he cold muster. Luffy shook his head.
"No." he replied and Zoro nearly grabbed the kid and throttled him. Why was Luffy being so damn stubborn? Wouldn't he much prefer to sit in the back with Usopp anyway? And not to mention Chopper. Speaking of.
"Guys, can't you resolve this without fighting?" the little reindeer asked, twisting his hooves together nervously. Zoro and Luffy turned to look at the doctor.
"No." Zoro responded a little harshly.
"Don't be so mean Zoro! No wonder those people think you're a fugitive." and too late, Luffy slapped a hand over his own mouth, eyes wide with horror at what he had just said. Zoro blinked at him, his face one of shock and hurt before he frowned.
"Fine." he said in a low and dangerous voice, a voice that Luffy had never heard directed at him, but more like directed at Tashigi, or the person who had framed Zoro. Zoro barely gave him a last glance as he moved around to the opposite side of the car, and got into the back.
Chopper looked at Luffy, but the boy's face was tipped forward so his hat shaded his eyes well and truly.
"Get in the back Chopper." Luffy said and reached out a hand to get the door and shut it. Chopper didn't know what to say. He was a doctor, but even doctor's couldn't mend broken hearts.
Nami looked at Sanji, her mouth open at what Luffy had just said.
"He's right you know." Sanji said quietly, "But, he shouldn't have said it."
"No. I wouldn't have expected Luffy to say something like that." Nami replied.
"He was angry, he couldn't help it." Usopp added, "You know how Luffy gets angry pretty easily sometimes. It's the way he is."
"Yeah, but, I don't know whose side we should take." Nami said as she watched Chopper climb into the back seat opposite of Zoro, and then jump into the back part of the car.
"No one's. They both have to sort it out themselves." Sanji said and began packing up his cooking gear, something he could have done while Luffy and Zoro were arguing, but, at that stage it had been rather entertaining.
"Sanji?" Nami asked sweetly. The chef turned to her, love hearts and sparkles seemingly dancing around him.
"Yes my love?"
"I bet you Luffy would get the front seat?" she reminded him. Sanji blinked and he inwardly began panicking. He didn't have twenty dollars! But, he couldn't disappoint his wonderful Nami!
"Uh, how about I cook you a wonderful meal at the next place we stop?" Sanji asked a little pleadingly. Nami considered this a moment.
"You don't have twenty bucks, do you Sanji?" she asked and then sighed, "I guess a wonderful meal will have to do." Sanji beamed.
"It will be the best you have ever had my beautiful swan!" he cried. Nami gave a slight nod.
"It had better." she warned and then walked over to the car.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once Sanji had packed up all their gear, they were back on the road again. Luffy was as silent as the grave, his head resting limply against the window and his hat pulled down so far over his eyes, that it nearly covered his whole face. It looked like he was trying to hold back tears.
I didn't mean to say that. I shouldn't have said that! Why did I say it? Why did it have to slip out? I hadn't meant for that to be said. It was soooo mean. Poor Zoro, I should have just given him the seat. He probably hates my guts now. Ohhh, why do I have to be so stupid? I hate it! Zoro, I'm so sorry. Luffy thought as he gazed at the road through the window. It was the only bit he could really see from under his hat.
He shifted his head ever so slightly, so he could see Zoro out of the corner of his eye. What he saw made his heart feel even heavier. Zoro was leaning against the window, his forehead resting against it and his eyes dull and devoid of any life.
His hands were limp on his lap and whenever they went around a corner, Usopp would rock into his shoulder, but the swordsman was still. About all he did, was put a hand down to make sure his swords were alright.
A slack frown was on his face and his lips were sealed tight. Luffy closed his eyes and looked away. He had pretty much defeated his best friend, his partner… his saviour.
Nami watched Luffy out of the corner of her eye as she drove. He sighed all the time, and didn't seem to want to do anything other than stare out at the black gravel they were driving over. Once in a while, a car would catch his attention, but it never caught it for long.
Nami's mouth twisted and she looked in the rear view mirror to see Zoro pretty much dead on the back seat, except for the rise and fall of his chest. Now her guilt was deepening. She was leading him away from his goal, all because of a selfish quest she had to fulfil. But, if she didn't get that money to Arlong, then, her town…
"Okay!" she said brightly, causing Sanji, Usopp, Chopper and Luffy to jump. Zoro lifted his head slightly, but his eyes remained unfocused. "How about, we play a game?"
"What game?" Usopp and Chopper asked at the same time. Nami thought a moment. She would play I spy, but, Luffy, Zoro and herself had already played that. Boy, that seemed like such a long time ago.
"Well, we could play… hmm, oh, how about this. You think of an animal, an inanimate object or a type of natural thing. We have to ask questions, and the person who is it, can only answer yes or no. How about that?"
"Hmm, sounds a little boring." Usopp commented. Sanji glared, "But, I guess we could try!"
"Ok, Sanji, you're first." Nami instructed, trying to lighten the mood in the car, and take her mind off of other things.
"Hmmm." Sanji thought, "Ok, got it."
"It is animal?" Nami asked.
"Yes."
"Does it start with L?" Usopp asked.
"No."
"R?"
"No."
"Does it have four legs?" Chopper asked.
"Yes."
"Is it big?" Nami asked.
"No."
"Does it have sharp teeth?" Usopp asked.
"No."
"Is it unique?" Nami asked.
"Yes."
"Does it start with C?" Usopp asked.
"Is it furry?" Chopper asked.
"Yes and Yes."
"I know!" Usopp called brightly, "Chopper!"
"Gah!" Chopper cried and looked at Sanji.
"Yes." the chef replied and then smiled at the doctor. Chopper blinked and then shrugged.
"I guess that works." he muttered.
"Alright, Usopp, your turn and no fake animals." Nami warned. Usopp's mouth twisted.
"Ok." he said.
"Is it Natural?" Chopper asked.
"No." and so they continued. Luffy and Zoro both tuned them out, more focused on their thoughts than anything else.
Am I really that mean? Was Luffy right? He seemed so, mean about saying it, but, it hurt so much. Luffy, why did you have to say that? I don't want us to stop being friends. But, like it or not, I'm a fugitive, and the others are only here for the ride. Sorry Luffy, I didn't mean to make you think I was mean. Zoro thought as his eyes slid shut.
A single, warm tear slid down his cheek on the window side of his face. It soon dried on his warm skin and left no trace that it had ever been there, and by the time it had dried, Zoro was fast asleep. He hoped tomorrow would bode better for him, and if it didn't, well, it was just another day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, what did you think of that? A bit of a deeper guilt for our fav pair, and I believe that if Zoro feels strongly about something, eg 'the fact that he is a fugitive because he murdered someone' then I also believe it will hurt him quite deeply. I don't know if this was OOC, but, I really wanted these two to have a fight like this, to a) build on their last little 'lover's' spat, and b) to set the ground work for a later chapter.
If you don't know what a Bunyip is, it is an Australian mythological creature that is said to exist in damns and rivers. I'm not gonna go into detail, because if I did, I would take up half the page with blather and boredom, so, yeah. But, it's an Australian thing, so, yeah.
Well, hope it was long enough, and if it was a bit OOC, tell me, because I want to fix that in the next chapter, even though I am rather happy with this one. It has served to give me a little more inspiration for my next chapter. Leave a review if you have the time please.