A/n: Late update, warui! Alright, I'm trying as much as possible to fit in angst, but right now I'm riding the suspense wave so~

Also, there's going to be a ton of unanswered questions from here on out. Things will start slowly falling into place as they chapters go on, but remember the information got is in three different sets [as of now, it'll become more groups the second the crew splits up] so there will be times when things might get repeated and/or there will be confusion amidst Zoro, Sanji and the crew because all of them aren't finding out the same things. Uh I hope that made sense. I just thought I ought to warn you before hand if explanations get repeated or left out because it's based on what each of them know.

And! One of the reviews asked if Joker would appear in this story, so Imma just say Joker isn't the only one who'll make an appearance. Ufufufufufu ;D

That's all! Thank you all for reading!

Review, Favorite and Follow!

Love~

Chapter 10

Sanji watched as Amelia slept, her chest rising and falling as she breathed quietly. The Chamomile tea he'd made her had instantly calmed her down and adding the fact that she was sloshed, it wasn't long before she was knocked out. The blonde winced as a sudden prick of pain caused him to look down at his hands. He'd been playing with his skin absentmindedly and had peeled it without noticing. He watched a thin vein of blood run down his pale skin and stain the carpet. Sighing, he stuck the finger into his mouth and stood up. He wrote a hasty letter addressed to the doctor saying he was leaving and exited the building.

It was well past dusk and he could hear the steadily growing clamor emanating from the red-light district. He licked his lips as a chill settled within him. He didn't exactly have any particularly fond memories of the place after all. He rummaged in his pockets for one of the many lollipops he now carried all the time, loathing the fact that they could never soothe him the way his cigarettes did. He turned on his heels and made his way back to the manor. He sensed the men following him and bit back a sigh. Zeher was being more cautious than usual. Did he suspect something from his earlier visit to the factory?

Just as Sanji turned a corner, he was roughly pushed to the ground and before he could so much as yelp, something was thrown over him and a shadowy figure brought a metal pipe down on his head.

The last thing he remembered was the sharp cracking of his skull and the needles of pain that shot through him. And then everything was black.

Zoro fiddled with his gloves distractedly as he squinted at the dials and what not in front of him. The tall, lanky man next to him was explaining what each of the many buttons and switches did and Zoro's mind was drifting.

He found himself thinking – once again – of the argument he had had with the blonde earlier that day.

"Then what is this shitty swordsman? What exactly is this?"

Bloody emo wanna be cook who couldn't keep his mouth or legs shut and he wanted to lecture him?! Zoro growled under his breath and suddenly noticed something was different. He raised his head and realized the man had stopped talking and was looking at him warily.

"There's really no need to get so upset… it's mind boggling to even the most experienced of us…" The man said and smiled encouragingly. Though his pale face and clenched hands didn't quite match what he was saying. Zoro looked at him for a good long moment and sighed. He ruffled his un-spiky hair and nodded at the man as a sign of an apology.

"Ah this really isn't my forte. I lost you after the power button." He shrugged sheepishly and gestured to the mass of color on the control board. The man chuckled and Zoro noted that it was a good expression on him, especially the way the skin around his eyes crinkled and a slight dimple appeared on his right cheek. He could tell he was a kind, honest man. Not at all one suited for the shady, life threatening work he was involved in. The man bent over the board to mess with a few buttons and switches and a locket fell out of his loose overall. As the small oval shaped object swung helplessly, Zoro's sharp eye caught sight of a picture of a pretty brunette and a tiny girl clinging to her. Both of them had radiant smiles on their faces as they looked back at Zoro from the pendant.

Zoro's gut tightened and he found himself shaking the man's hand as he introduced himself as Joshua. The swordsman decided once and for all, he was taking all the fuckers who were playing with the lives of people like Joshua and Amelia and even Freddy, to hell with him. He smiled tightly and let Joshua ramble on for a few moments.

It wasn't just about Sanji and him anymore.

"Luffy wait… you can't just attack them without hearing them out first…" Nami whispered quietly to her raging captain. Luffy twitched beside her and she could feel the muscles pull taut in his arm where she held him, as he balled up his fists.

They had just about run out of ideas on how to deal with the force field, when a convoy of five large ships had appeared from the mist that now surrounded the island. Three of the leading vessels were pirate ships and the other two had a large black dot with red splatters on their mast and flags. Usopp was the first to spot them and Nami had decided immediately that they just might be their ticket into the island. But the seven men who stood at the front of the lead ship, adjacent to Sunny, with sneers and smirks on their faces, were obviously going to be a pain to deal with. But it was either now or never and Nami wasn't one to let chances slip by. She put on her best lost-confused-damsel-in-distress smile and walked up to the Sunny's side.

"Perfect timing! We were lost and were wondering if you could help us?"

The men exchanged curious looks and eyed her skeptically. Nami thanked Usopp's presence of mind, or extreme state of fear, for suggesting that they pull up the masts and tie up the flags to avoid unnecessary problems. Though their hasty disguises might just as easily give them away. She batted her eyelids and tilted her head, flashing them her million-beri smile. "You see, we thought we could get to that island there since it's the closest one and we're running short on supplies, but that weird glass like thing won't let us in! We've been doing everything we can, but it's no use!" She pouted and was satisfied when a couple of them looked embarrassed and seemingly convinced.

There was a loud crack as the end of a metal staff was brought down hard and everyone turned to the man who stood at the head. He was a hefty man, with a thick beard and gaudy, expensive looking jewelry who had blood shot eyes and missing teeth. When he spoke, his voice immediately pissed off everyone who was listening.

"You lot look maity suspeeshuss to mee. Why shoulda wee help you aahn? What wee get in return aahn?"

Nami prayed that Luffy didn't lose it, as she herself was itching to stab the man in the throat just to get him to shut up. She laughed nervously and twirled a strand of carrot-coloured hair as she twisted from side to side. "W-Well, we don't really have much to offer other than ourselves so…"

Nami immediately regretted her words, because the instant they left her mouth, the men started grinning to each other and jeering down at her. The fat man in front played with a giant ring on his meaty finger.

"Heh. Nothin' but yohselves aahn? Goodeenuf! Less go ahn!?"

And the Strawhats watched as the men disappeared back into the interior of this ship. Nami relaxed and let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. She turned around and exclaimed as happily as she could, "Looks like that went well! And now we can go looking for those two idiots!"

The responses from her Nakama were all but reassuring. Chopper looked terrified. Brook and Usopp had grave expressions on their faces. Robin and Franky were brooding over things Nami feared she didn't want to know. And Luffy was all but furious.

Her captain spun on his heel and marched away to some corner, like he had been doing since the past two days. Usopp just sat down wherever he was and started contemplating with Franky which weapons were best to carry with them and which would be left to guard Sunny. Brook was comforting a crying Chopper and Nami watched as Robin slowly made her way towards her.

The unease she'd been feeling had settled as a boulder sized lump in her stomach and the look on Robin's face didn't do anything to make the navigator feel better.

"Nami… I think… It's best if we stayed away from the island…" The archeologist glanced at her Nakama to make sure no one could hear their conversation and continued with a low voice, "You saw how they reacted to what you said. Besides, it's been bothering me for awhile now…" Robin motioned to the two ships at the back of the convoy. "You see those markings on them? I'm quite sure I've seen similar insignia somewhere else. I'm not able to place where exactly, but my memory tells me that we should steer clear of them."

"But Robin! Zoro and Sanji might be on that island! And if whatever is worrying you is as bad, then those two might be in just as much trouble!"

"Nami." Robin's voice was low and strained, like a thin string stretched to its limit. One more tug and it would snap in two. "Zoro and Sanji are better off than the rest of us. If you don't include Luffy, and maybe even Usopp, the rest of are still in danger."

"Eh? What-" Nami was cut off by the sudden gasp and aghast expression on Robin's face. The redhead watched as the older woman brought a trembling hand to her mouth and held it there, like she was a second away from breaking down.

"R-Robin?"

"Oi Robin. Come here for a sec."

Nami and Robin looked at Franky for a second, before Robin nodded and followed the cyborg below deck. The carrot haired navigator frowned after them and turned to look at the symbol again. Considering her shrewd and cunning mind, it wasn't hard for her to reach several possible conclusions.

One, considering how the men had reacted, the island definitely was associated with the underworld.

Two, slavery and prostitution might be two of the innumerable activities taking place there.

Three, Robin who had such a horrific past, surely knew about the organization enough to believe it was a major threat.

Four, Franky who was associated with the underworld himself, clearly knew about them too, meaning they were some big ass organization even in the underworld.

Five, slaves and prostitutes were definitely not the only things/people sold in the black market.

Six, if this organization was as big as Franky and Robin were making it out to be, there might be direct links to extremely dangerous people like Joker or Kaido.

Seven, if they were to get caught in the folds and layers of the underworld, the World Government and the marines were going to be the least of their problems.

Eight, Robin's mention of 'If you don't include Luffy, and maybe even Usopp, the rest of are still in danger.' Suggested that Cyborg, a skeleton musician, a reindeer who ate a devil's fruit and is as good as a human and two extremely gorgeous women would do fairly well in the slave trade.

Nine, not to mention they were all but defenseless and two of their crew might already be in the grasps of the evils of the underworld.

Ten, the fact that they were the infamous Strawhats didn't improve their chances one bit. In fact it made matter all the worse.

'Shit... Why the hell is it always us who get into complicated and excessively dangerous nonsense all the time?!'

A/n: Sorry for the short chapter and lack of ZoSan. Will make sure to add their conflicting emotions towards each other in the next chapter ^^

For now, LET THE MYSTERIES UNFOLD! -maniacal laughter-

Review, Follow and Favorite!

Love~