Ch. 10
Terrified screams filled the night. Blood splashed onto the alter, coating the bamboo and cook with red, dripping off onto the platform. But it wasn't the Mugiwara's screams. It wasn't Sanji's blood.
Sanji chanced a look.
He opened his eyes just in time to see a headless body fall to the ground, knife clutched tightly in its hands, head dress dropping to the ground. Poor Nefereta's head went rolling off the platform like a loose coin, falling with a sickening splash to the ground.
The Oonkaunawa were in a panic, running off towards the safety their huts, screams trailing behind. Only the braver warriors remained. His nakama were looking around, confused as he was, in the battle stances just in case. No one knew what was happening. Except maybe one person...
He looked up at the sky. It was a cloudless night, the moon and stars getting center stage. He'd seen divine intervention before; a seemingly random lightning bolt had struck just in time and saved Luffy's life from his enemies. Why wouldn't a spontaneous decapitation be under the same category?
Before he could think anymore about it, one of those braver warriors cried out and fell, three long gashes running across her chest. The remaining women began to fidget, but Sanji and the rest of the pirates automatically calmed.
Another warrior went down with a shrill scream, and the rest scattered into oblivion, finally loosing their courage and hope.
"Hey," a familiar voice said in his ear as he watched them run. He turned, not surprised in the least to see Zoro standing behind him, smiling casually. He threw his arms around the swordsman.
"God damn, marimo, I fucking love you right now," he said into the other man's shoulder.
"Love you too, babe," Zoro replied happily, and Sanji liked the way it sounded in his ear. He didn't care that he was soaked with blood or almost naked, he just hugged Zoro tighter, never wanting to let go.
"Uh, guys, they're coming back!" Nami's voice interrupted their moment. "With a lot of lethal looking weapons!"
Zoro turned to her, clearly having more important things on his mind, saw how serious she was, and rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever," he said, stepping away from Sanji but grabbing his hand. "Let's get the hell out of here."
As one, the five started to run. They should've easily been caught; they were slower than the Oonkaunawa, and didn't know the island as well as the warriors. They were slowed down even more by roots, branches, and bushes in their path, fatigue, thorns and vines, animals. But with Zoro's swords slashing away at everything blocking their path, they made quick work of the jungle...but also left a large path for the natives to follow.
About halfway to the beach, darts and arrows started flying through the air towards them, hitting surrounding trees and the ground, but always missing them, even if only by the smallest inch. There were many close calls-an arrow sliced through the brim of Luffy's hat (Sanji was surprised the Oonkaunawa hadn't taken it) a dart soared through Usopp's legs (effectively scaring the poor boy shitless) another arrow hitting a tree exactly where Sanji's head had been second before (Zoro pulled him up to the front after that)-but everyone survived the shower of sharp, pointy objects, and not five minutes later they broke out of the jungle and onto the beach.
The sand felt absolutely wonderful under Sanji's feet and between his toes. They'd gotten pretty beat up in the jungle by thorns and rocks. His hands had also been cut a few times, but there wasn't any long term damage that would affect his cooking, and nothing a band aid couldn't fix. He'd have to get a new pair of those kind of shoes, and he really liked that tie, but otherwise he could replace his clothes once he got back to the Merry. But he had no time to dwell on such matters as he ran down the beach with his nakama, savage women chasing them. He'd worry about the more trivial things once he got saving his ass out of the way.
"There's the ship!" Nami called, pointing to where they'd dropped anchor. It looked ghostly against the moonlight, the jolly Rodger on their sail standing as one prominent black mark across an illuminated canvas, the flag blowing unceremoniously in the wind. The waves pushed at its sides and it rocked back and forth over the frothy water. Sanji could feel the familiar wooden deck already; smell the spices in his kitchen, the gunpowder from the canons, taste the salt water from the occasional spray that got him in the face. He couldn't wait to board, shove off, get as far away from the island as possible.
But the natives had something a little different in mind. Not twenty steps from the boat, a group of warriors jumped out from behind the ship, brandishing weapons just as lethal-looking as Nami had said. The Mugiwara stopped in their tracks, Usopp and Sanji slipping in the loose sand, the rest appraising the women, speculating their odds.
The tallest, strongest and meanest looking stepped forward and said something, dropping her dagger to her side and holding up her other hand. When the group looked at her blankly, she pointed to Sanji and said slowly, "Intawka lo nishee ka Jei-Zo forahn."
"Oh!" Nami exclaimed, punching her palm. She held up her index finger and started muttering to herself. "Let's see...Lo is yellow, Jei-Zo is White Devil...Uh...Intawka is surrender..."
"Surrender the yellow-haired White Devil?" Usopp suggested.
"No way!" everyone else said. Nami stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Naya poloa," she said. "No deal."
The female warrior fumed, her hair rising around her face in a gust of wind like a dramatic ebony halo. Her cronies advanced on the pirates, obviously looking forward to ripping them to pieces. They all moved back instinctively, not wanting to be the center of a circle of Oonkaunawa. Zoro had put away his swords when they'd reached the beach, but now he drew them again, looking just as eager as the women for a fight. Luffy stretched out beside his first mate, stiff from being tied up so long. Nami stepped up beside her friends and took out her staff, clicking the different pieces into place. Usopp didn't have his slingshot, or any ammunition, but he also joined his nakama, raising two tightly balled fists in challenge. Sanji smiled, moving to take his place in line.
He hadn't counted on Zoro holding out his arm in front of him, keeping him from the fight.
"What the hell?" he demanded, trying to step around the swordsman without success.
"Just stay back."
"Why the hell should I?"
"You don't have your shoes."
"So? Usopp doesn't have his sling shot, but he still gets to fight," the cook argued.
"That's not the point, no one loves Usopp."
"Hey," Usopp miffed, falling out of his stance to stare at the swordsman.
"I love you," Luffy grinned.
"Me too, in that you're-my-nakama kinda way," Nami added, smiling at the sniper.
"Same here," Sanji threw in.
Zoro closed his eyes for a moment. "Okay, uh, no one is fucking Usopp when this is over," he rephrased.
Nami gave a catcall. Sanji blushed and looked up defiantly at the swordsman. "And who says we're fucking after this?" he asked slowly, raising a curled eyebrow.
"I do."
The Oonkaunawa warrior cleared her throat.
Everyone jumped back into position, but Zoro pushed Sanji farther away. "Listen, you can't hit a chick. So stay out of this."
"Yeah, but that doesn't matter to me now!" Sanji retorted, seriously considering kicking the marimo bastard unconscious again. "I want to fight wi-"
Zoro cut him off with a kiss, deepening it for a moment while Sanji's mouth was still open in surprise. He pulled away, staying bent at the knees to look Sanji in the eye. "Just stay out of this."
Sanji was about to argue again, but stopped when he got a good look at Zoro's face. He wasn't worried about Sanji maintaining his honor as a gentleman, or his kicks not being powerful enough without his heavy shoes, but it was concern for Sanji, just Sanji. The blonde nodded slightly, and Zoro pecked his lips again before joining the fight that had started up while they'd been kissing. Zoro was actually worried about him. He smiled. That was so sweet. But damn if it wasn't annoying as hell.
He watched the fight from a safe distance, wanting so much to join in and kick ass with everyone else, hating just standing there on the sidelines. But he wouldn't tell Zoro he'd stay out of the fight and then jump right in the second he turned his back. Not when there was genuine concern in the equation.
It wasn't until one Oonkaunawa fell, dead or wounded he didn't know, did he remind himself that Zoro was still under the potion's spell, words and actions being controlled. The real Zoro wouldn't give a shit is his chivalry was jeopardized, if his life was in danger. That made him a little mopey and upset for a while, but then the fight drew back his attention.
Luffy had gotten careless for a second and had taken a hit to his bicep, but since he was fighting three women no points were deducted from his over all score. Nami had locked staffs with another staff-wielding woman and seemed to have the upper hand. Usopp also had his hands full with only one warrior, going hand to hand with shortest, girliest one. She looked like a teenager. Zoro held three off with his trio of blades, their bone and rock swords worthless against Wado, Kitstsu and Yubashiri. Sanji estimated it would take five minutes, six at the most.
What he wouldn't give for a smoke.
There was a soft splash from the shallows behind him. It was probably totally innocent, a small wave splashing against a rock, a fish flipping into the air, a bird dropping the load. But he immediately assumed the worst, that they'd set up an ambush, and stilled his breathing to listen closely. There were no more splashes, but there was a soft shifting sound, presumably as feet came down on the wet sand.
He really needed that smoke.
He waited two more seconds, then threw himself right just as a spear tried to slice up his left side. He spun around and kicked his attacker's feet out from under them, ripping the spear from their hands as they fell. He twirled it like a baton, pointed it at his enemy's throat and would've proceeded savoring the look of fear and defeat on their face. But he couldn't. Because there wasn't any fear, no defeat...Just a smug smile and arrogantly raised eyebrows.
"Ahwakei!" he exclaimed when he recognized the girl. Her smile widened.
"What, you not think I choose your people over my own, do you?"
"But you helped us."
Ahwakei shook her head. "I help sister Nami. But now she has betrayed tribe, must be hunted like man."
"Why not just let us all go?"
"Because, I must succeed where my mother failed."
Sanji took a half step back in surprise. The spear almost slipped from his hands, but he grabbed it at the last second and kept the tip and inch from the woman's jugular. "Nefereta was your mother," he stated more than asked, anger rising in his gut. Ahwakei nodded. "And now I am chief of Oonkaunawa. If I kill you and the other White Devils, the tribe accept me as their leader with no fear of change."
He'd been so focused on Ahwakei and his anger he hadn't heard the sneak up behind him, but now the warriors made themselves known, grabbing him from behind. He tried to fight them, get a good kick in, but before he knew what was happening, the spear was back in Ahwakei's possession, he was on his knees in front of her, and the guards had each arm pulled up behind him in a painful position. He couldn't move an inch any way he tried.
"Ah, shit," he cursed when he realized struggling did nothing. He glared up at Ahwakei, putting al the hate he could ever possibly put into it.
"What's with the look?" the new chief inquired sadly, feigning gloom. "If you're worried you'll go to hell, don't worry—that's where I'm sending you, you devil!" With a laugh that sounded to gleeful for the scene, Ahwakei raised her spear, pointing the head at Sanji for the killing blow.
He flinched into his shoulder, wondering if this was it, ii he would finally die.
The spear flashed towards him.
He held his breath.
There was a short, pained gasp.
Sanji opened his eyes slowly, almost afraid of what he would find when he looked. His eyes focused.
Ahwakei still stood before him, spear raised in her hands, sinister gleam in her eyes. The only difference now was the sword blade sticking out of her chest at an 85 degree angle. He looked down at the blade, as if only wondering where it had come from, and her eyes grew wide. She coughed up blood once, twice, tried to take a step towards Sanji, but finally went limp and hung from the from the sword like a ragdoll. The sword tipped down and Ahwakei slid off with a sickening squelching sound, slumping to the ground like all the bones in her body had dissolved.
The warriors that held him down had let go when their chief had been stabbed, but they'd recovered their wits since then and had drawn their weapons, pointing them threateningly at their leader's killer. Sanji looked up.
"Zoro!" he exclaimed, but he wasn't at all surprised. The sword had given him away.
"How many times am I gonna have to save your ass tonight?" Zoro asked casually, putting away two of his three swords. The oonkaunawa warriors looked at each other, then at their own weapons.
"Until we're out of the clear."
"Well, everyone else just got done over there, so let me kill these two and then we can leave."
"Don't kill them."
Zoro smiled. "I'll try not to." He jumped towards them, swinging Kitetsu over his head and down again. The women didn't know what had happened, but figured if they weren't dead yet, they'd be able to win. One took a step forward. Her knife fell apart.
It took them both a moment to realize what had happened, but as they looked from the broken knife to the swordsman, something clicked. Stumbling over each other to be the first to get away, they turned around and ran into the trees with their tails between their legs.
Zoro smirked, sheathing his sword., He turned and looked down at Sanji. "We're in the clear," he said, offering his hand.
Sanji smiled, taking it and was slowly pulled to his feet and into Zoro's arms. It was a cold night, but Zoro was warm, heart pounding fast against Sanji's palm from all the exertion. He could honestly say he had missed this, missed the swordsman, his body, his smiles, and just everything else about him.
"So how about a reward for your savior?" Zoro inquired, making random patterns on Sanji's uncovered back with the tips of his fingers. The cook made a big show of rolling and sighing in a disgrunted manner, but then he smiled deviously up at the swordsman.
"What the hell?" he laughed, shrugging loosely. "You deserve it."
Zoro smiled and bent him backwards, supporting him with a hand at the small of his back as the other grabbed the inside of his knee, directing his leg up over his hip. Sanji wrapped his arms around Zoro's neck as the marimo claimed his lips with his own, cradling the back of his head with his hands. His tongue swiped across Sanji's bottom lip, and the blonde eagerly opened his mouth to him, making a small, needy sound as his tongue invaded. The kiss was long and hard, Zoro massaging the cook's tongue with strong slides and fleeting pulls, mapping out the inside of his mouth as if he'd never venture it again...which, if things went the way both men wanted it to, that wouldn't be a problem.
"Hey, guys, you coming or what?"
They parted reluctantly, looking with glares to their captain. The rest of their nakama was on the ship, and they'd raised the anchor and let loose the sail, but now there was nothing else to do except get the pair's asses on board.
"Oh well," Sanji sighed as Zoro released him. He wiped his mouth with his wrist. "To be continued?"
Zoro bent and wrapped and arm around his waist, lifting up over his shoulder. "Very, very soon," the swordsman growled as he stood straight again, and Sanji laughed.
"Careful there, Romeo. Drop me and I'll kill you."
Zoro let him slip far enough down his arm to make him squeak. The swordsman laughed sadistically, but Sanji scowled, slapping him. "Don't do that," he said, and Zoro laughed again, getting a reassuringly better grip on him. They started towards the Going Merry, and Sanji watched the line of foot prints that trailed behind them until his eyes were drawn elsewhere. Interesting. From here he had a great view of Zoro's butt. It was the perfect kind of ass that was extremely grabable, the kind of perky male butt that most girls drooled over. When had Zoro gotten such a cute butt? And why hadn't he noticed until now? He tried not to stare, but it was so damn hard to keep his eyes off it, the way the dark green fabric of his pants stretched across it as he moved, one cheek going up, one down, with each step.
It wasn't until the sand disappeared did he tear his gaze away (with much difficulty). They were onboard the ship, Luffy and Usopp pulling up the ramp. Had he been staring that long? A rose blush forced on his cheeks. What was he becoming? He let his eyes slip back to Zoro's butt. Well, it wasn't his fault. It was a nice butt!
Zoro kneeled, and Sanji slipped off his shoulder, fixing his hair before looking up. His grass skirt thingy had obviously seen better days, as most blades were bent, ripped or missing. He pulled it off and threw it over board, then looked down at the rest of him. Most of the blood and paint had worn off, but here and there it remained, dried and peeling. He made a face, deciding he would have to shower before changing. The underwear thing had been soaked in blood, so he'd throw that away, but he figured he'd keep the bone jewelry. It looked pretty good on him, and would probably look good on Zoro, too. With a leash. And dog ears.
Speak of the devil, as Sanji turned away to bathe (thinking of all the different kinds of outfits he'd put Zoro in), the marimo grabbed his arm and pulled him back, laying an urgent kiss onto his already bruised lips. Sanji didn't fight, but he tried not to get that into it so he'd be able to walk away and freshen up.
Zoro looked confused when they broke apart and smoothed his hands down the cook's arms. "Something wrong?"
Sanji shook his head. "Just gonna go take a shower. Give me about fifteen minutes." He shot up on his tiptoes and pecked Zoro's cheek. "Get the couch ready for us, kay?"
Satisfied with the nod Zoro gave him, Sanji turned, and walked away.
Whoo, I'm so evil. So not my most dramatic, cliff-hangery ending...Actually, it really sucks...I wanted to end it where Sanji said, To be continued, caz, ya know, he would be talking about the story, too...But then I noticed it was too short so I added some more.
And who'd like to see Zoro in dogs ears and tied to a leash? : D : D;;;? ...Fine, I'm the only one with that fetish, okay...
Anyway, that make out session should hold you for a while...Caz I haven't even started chapter 11 yet Sorry... (Editor Friend: A HUNDRED PAGES BY NEXT WEEK!. Me: nooooo! *falls into SR abyss*
There might be an actual wait between this chapter and the next. I might be getting sick-I was coughing up blood in PE today...And since we don't know if it was my poor health, the over exersion or the air outside, we'll get some doctor's help. I might get pulled out of PE, wish me luck! : D
But thanks so much for reading Rapt, thanks for supporting and sticking with it this far. I'll try not to dissapoint you all! I swear, I'm planning epic things out here! I am : D Oh, and don't forget to tell me if I have any mistakes so I can go back and check it. Kk, thankies! See you next time ^^
Wow, sorry, long A/c...