Yo everyone. If I made you wait a lot, I'm very very sorry. Actually somethings happened, worst of all, my beta LadySpring had some personal issues and she suggested that i find someone else to beta my stories :(
But luckily I've found another awesome beta YAY! Now then, First of all let me make one thing clear that may be confusing my readers a bit. Zoro's injuries. It's left wrist and right ankle. Got it? Let me repeat, left wrist and right ankle. Ok, I guess you understand now.
Thanks for reading and reviewing in advance. And another Huge Credit for Santoryou3, my new beta...
Chapter 7: Exceptions
In the library, sitting at her mapping desk, resting her head on her palm, Nami was doodling on a blank piece of paper. Thoughts of recent events regarding her and Zoro were storming her brain. Did he really hate her? For what reason? Well…speaking of reasons, there were a lot.
Sighing once, Nami lowered her hand rested her head on the desk, trying to calm her chaotic mind but was interrupted by a commotion outside her door. Nami tried really hard to ignore it but as the time passed it became even more irritating. Finally giving up, Nami stood up, slamming her hands on the desk angrily. Closing the library's door, she treaded her way to the lawn.
"Those idiots, can't they even read the mood, I'm going to give them a good lesson no-" Nami angrily cursed under her breath but upon reaching at the lawn words got stuck in her throat when she witnessed something unexpected.
Luffy, Usopp, Brook and Franky were gathered around Zoro cheering him in their own way while Sanji standing a few feet away smoking casually. He didn't seem all that phased about Zoro's return, but Nami detected a slight smile curling the cook's lips.
"That's enough Luffy, stop it." Zoro said, his voice clearly defining him as irked, while Luffy kept patting his back completely ignoring his warning.
"Come on Zoro, don't be so stingy. I knew you won't be down just by that."
"Zoro?" Nami was looking at him with wide eyes. He looked completely different than what he had some time ago. He looked… relatively normal; the same high eyebrows and permanent scowl, his green coat and three katana strapped to his haramaki. Everyone's eyes averted to Nami when they heard her voice.
"Hey Nami, Zoro is perfectly fine now," Luffy exclaimed joyfully. "I told you he would be ok. Chopper is the best doctor in the world after all!"
"Y-yeah, he looks…better now." Nami softly said. Zoro was staring blankly at her. By now, Robin had come out of the aquarium as well and had the same reaction as Nami, though her expression was more intrigued than surprised.
After staring at Robin for a moment longer than at Nami, Zoro gently moved Luffy's hand away, advanced forward and started climbing the stairs to where Nami was standing. Upon standing a few steps down from where she stood, he paused and stared up at her. "Nami." He bluntly said.
"…"
Exhaling once, Zoro closed his eyes for a few moments and then opened them again. "Sorry."
"Huh?" Nami was dumbfounded by the word she heard just now. Did he say 'Sorry'? Zoro never apologizes. It just wasn't in his nature to see the wrongness of his actions. Had their swordsman been replaced by a robot? She tried to clarify it in her mind when some more unexpected words landed on her eardrums.
"The way I acted back then was just…stupid. I'm sorry about that."
Nami was just staring at him with shock eyes, which made him slightly nervous. Then a faint smile crept on Nami's lips. "As long as you realize it, everything's fine." She happily said, smacking Zoro's shoulder.
"D-don't do that." Zoro clenched his teeth as he felt a strange uneasiness by her action.
"What?" Nami asked. She didn't understand what he really meant by that.
"Nothing, just forget it." Rolling his eyes, Zoro turned around and began walking to the stairs.
"Zoro." Nami softly called him and he stopped upon hearing her voice.
Zoro turned his eyes to look at her over his shoulder. "What?"
"It's good to have you back." Clutching her hands behind her back she said with a big smile on her face.
Surprised by her odd out-of-character actions, Zoro stared blankly at her for a few moments then turned his head in front.
"It's good to be back." He answered with a small smile of his own and then descended down the stairs to the lawn just to be stormed by his male crew-mates again.
Robin was staring at the group in amazement, especially Zoro. She never even imagined that things would be normal so soon. Did she really do such a tremendous job? No, it wasn't because of her, unless the person himself doesn't decide to take action nothing can happen. It's definitely because of Zoro's resolve that despite all the physical and mental damage, he was still standing among them.
Speaking of which, the occasional smile, he gave to Franky and laughing at Brook, Ussop and Luffy's silly antics was something almost unexpected and new. Before he would always and very easily get irritated by their constant horseplay, but now he seemed to be enjoying everyone's presence.
Just as things started to get a bit crazy, Chopper came out of his room rubbing his eyes sleepily. "What is going on, it's so noisy. Let me get some sleep in piec-" Sleepiness disappeared in a moment. Jaw dropped and eyes almost bulged out of sockets when Chopper noticed his severely injured patient carelessly standing in the middle of the lawn.
"ZORO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? YOU SHOULD BE RESTING IN THE SICK BAY. HOW ARE YOU EVEN STANDING HERE SO CARELESSLY?"
"Oh, hey, Chopper. You don't have to yell so much. I was getting a bit uncomfortable, so I came out to have some fresh air." Zoro said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He looked at his injured hand, closing and opening it a few times. "Besides, your medicine worked quite well, it isn't as painful now."
Medicine? What medicine is he talking about? I just gave some first aid and sedatives to relieve the pain. I haven't operated on him yet. For the few moments, Chopper kept staring at him with wide eyes and dropped jaw. Then shaking his head while clearing the thoughts he jumped on the wooden railing on the stairs and leapt on the back of the swordsman, morphing into Heavy Point. Zoro grunted as he hit the deck, pinned beneath a massive ball of fur.
"HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Zoro yelled. Chopper ignored and straddled him, quickly grabbing his right hand and starting to examine it.
"It's this one." Zoro said while lifting his left hand before Chopper's eyes.
"…!...oh" He let the right hand go and quickly grabbed left one.
W-what is the…meaning if this? Chopper couldn't understand anything. There was no swelling and no fractures at all; the only thing wrong with it was thinness of muscles due to weakness. Letting go of his hand Chopper turned around quickly. Taking the shoe on his right foot off, he started examining it as well.
"It's this one" Zoro said slightly lifting his right foot up in the air.
"…!...Oh" Letting go of the left one he grabbed the other one and started examining Zoro's right ankle. Same situation, nothing as serious as it was some hours ago, it was all too confusing. Chopper stared at Zoro's ankle for few moments then took few deep breaths to ease his mind a bit. After a minute, Chopper climbed off his patient and grabbed his arm, pulling Zoro's body over his shoulders. "You're coming with me. I have to examine you properly."
"OI! LET ME DOWN! I CAN WALK ON MY OWN." Zoro yelled angrily, but it had no effect on Chopper.
"You don't have to strain yourself so much. Just relax." Chopper calmly said and left to the infirmary, holding an angry cursing Zoro on his shoulder.
"What's with Chopper?" Franky asked while scratching his head.
"Yeah, he was acting strangely." Usopp threw in.
"I don't think so." Everyone's eyes landed on Brook, who was somewhat silent for all this time.
"What do you mean?" Nami asked.
"Ah…I'll surely answer…If you let me see your panties." Brook received one of Nami's heels on his skull resulting into a bump and fell flat on the lawn.
"He means that Zoro's injuries were not normal." Ignoring the meaningless commotion, Robin joined her crewmates on the lawn and continued. "These kinds of injuries never heal so quickly no matter how good a medicine or how strong a person is."
"Well that's because it's Zoro." Luffy exclaimed happily with a wide grin.
"No" Brook stood up adjusting his clothes "I'm not a doctor but the least I know is that…" Brook said intensely while pointing his left index to the wrist of his other hand "…injuries concerning tendons have nothing to do with one's strength…ah…I have no tendons to begin with."
"WE ALREADY KNOW THAT." Usopp backhanded Brook.
"I think we are over thinking this." Sanji stepped forward, taking a drag of his cigarette. "If it's that muscle freak, then this kind of thing is not impossible."
"Sanji is right, and besides, why are we worrying about it so much? Now that everything is getting back to normal…" Luffy lifted his hand up and shouted "KANPAAAAIIII!"
"Should have guessed" Nami shook her head and let out a sigh.
"Not a bad idea" Franky smirked lifting his glasses up.
"Sanji, prepare the food hurry up, hurry up."
"I knew you would say that, but…" Sanji started spinning on one foot with heart eyes "~Only if Nami-san and Robin-chan say so!~"
And so the party started.
Meanwhile, inside the infirmary
"Everything…seems to be normal." Chopper said reluctantly.
"Oi, oi, don't say it like you're not happy with it." Zoro narrowed his eyes.
"It's not that I'm not happy. It's just…Zoro"
"What"
"Have you felt anything strange lately?"
Zoro's voice died down and thoughts of that weird thing from before started flowing in his mind. For one moment, he thought of telling Chopper about it, but then again, he thought that telling him something unscientific like this is completely pointless. Maybe it was only because of his pathetic way of thinking that he experienced something illogical like that.
"No." Zoro said calmly.
"Oh," Chopper seemed slightly disappointed. "Then, I guess everything is fine. You can go."
"Okay then." Zoro stood up and putting his coat on advanced to leave.
"Zoro"
He stopped and looked back at Chopper "What now?"
"You're still not healed properly so try not to strain yourself."
"I know, after all I know my limits the best." Zoro proudly acclaimed.
"No you don't." Chopper said half closing his eyes, which caused some veins to pop on Zoro's forehead.
"Whatever" Zoro left the infirmary to join others in party.
I will not give up. There should be a proper explanation for this. Chopper lifted a test tube up to his eye level and stared at it for a while. For now, I'll test Zoro's blood to see if I can find anything from it.
Time passed, as always some crazy stuff happened, mostly involving Franky challenging Brook to a drinking contest and Luffy performing his usual nostril-chopstick-basket dance, and finally. The party died down. Everyone went to sleep except Zoro, who has slept a lot lately decided to take first watch. Furthermore, this time he wanted to be under the open sky more than ever. Zoro walked up on the deck, stretching his muscles and cracking his neck.
"Damn, that was…tiring. I've really lost a lot of strength." Zoro muttered and crossed his arms, staring at the full moon.
Full moon, clear sky, not even smallest of the cloud could be seen anywhere. The black blanket above him was riddled with uncountable stars shinning like jewels accompanied by the big bad ass 'Mr. Moon'. All were showering their brilliance down to the unusually calm ocean which in return reflected everything the same as it received. Instead of floating on water Sunny seemed to be stranded in space filled with stars and moon. This kind of atmosphere was almost impossible in New World. For some reason, even Zoro found this night to be…fairly amazing.
"If you don't mind, may I accompany you?"
Zoro was pulled out of his thoughts after hearing a soft familiar voice. Averting his eyes to the source, he noticed Robin walking up to the deck through stairs wearing the same mysterious smile she always has.
"Yeah, sure…I don't think there is a reason to mind." Zoro said calmly and turned his gaze back to the sky. Walking closer to him, Robin stopped a few feet away and looked at the beautiful sky as well.
Earlier, she decided to have a casual conversation with him, but unfortunately, it didn't go as planned. However, now that things were fine; this was a good chance to talk a little A rare conversation with Zoro had its own importance for Robin. After all, they were the only two calm minded and sane members of the crew.
One would doubt the word 'sane', both were pretty outrageous in their own way, so 'mature' would be better suited word. Few moments passed in silence then Robin decided to take the initial step.
"Night is very beautiful, isn't it?" Her eyes were still to the sky.
Beautiful? Well…Zoro didn't know anything about that because only beauty he could recognize was beauty of resolve, skills and swords. 'Beauty' of any other object never bothered Zoro. Maybe it was…beautiful. After few moments, Zoro responded with a grunt.
Now, that was the problem. Sometimes it was so hard to start a conversation with him. No matter what you say he would respond with just 'hmm' or 'yeah'. Sometimes, even Robin got irritated by him. The archaeologist didn't say anything else for time being and continued enjoying the view when suddenly she was slightly startled when she heard a low chuckle from Zoro.
"What is it?" Robin curiously asked turning her gaze to him.
"Ah…no…nothing"
"You can talk to me. That was my intention from the beginning after all."
"Really?" Zoro asked, seemingly surprised by her statement. Robin replied with a nod.
"Actually, I was just thinking about the recent events. In that dark room, for once I actually thought that, that was it. That was the end for me. However, thinking now…it feels kind of…funny."
Zoro glanced at Robin and noticed her staring at him with an unknown expression which looked like a mixture of surprise and amusement or something like that. "I'm acting weird, right?" He said, half closing his eyes.
A faint smile formed on Robin's lips, and she turned her gaze back to the sky. "Not really. There are times when no matter how hard one try but cannot control the overflowing emotions."
"Hmm…I guess you're right."
"Zoro" He glanced at her in response "Have you ever faced a situation when you wanted to put on a façade and tried desperately to hide overwhelming grief in your heart. Neverthless, despite all the effort tears force their way out showing everyone that internally how weak and insecure you are."
Now Zoro was staring at her with wide eyes. Robin noticed his surprise. "Oh sorry, now I'm acting weird." she said smiling softly and brushing her fingers through her hair.
Zoro knew what might be going in her mind. Hearing what she said just now she may be thinking about Enies Lobby. That was just a guess, who knows how many times she may have faced such a condition. But Zoro remembered the exact kind of situation happening to him.
"No, not at all" Zoro crossed his arms and looked at the sky once again. "I have faced the exact same situation before."
"Really?"
Zoro nodded in approval.
"Was it a long time ago?" Curiosity was taking over Robin slowly and steadily now.
"Once when I was kid and second time…soon after I joined with Luffy." Zoro's face was calm as always as he answered.
Robin was getting even more curious now. She had heard about all their adventures before she joined the crew. Most of them from Nami, but never heard that there was a time when even Zoro shed tears. Even when they were bidding farewell with Merry, everyone was pretty much crying including herself. Even Sanji's eyes were somewhat wet even though he controlled it. But Zoro's eyes were completely dry, not even a single drop of liquid appeared in his eyes as he sternly stared at the burning figure of their beloved nakama. But the look in his eyes showed that he was proud at Merry and had no regrets.
Robin wanted to ask him about the occasion when the unexpected event took place, but then decided to let it go for the moment. But much to her surprise, Zoro answered her question himself.
"It was when I was defeated by Mihawk. I trained so hard for so many years, but he defeated me effortlessly. Such utter defeat, I was almost broken down to the core." His tone turned a bit embarrassed. "Yeah, I cried a bit but, thanks to his words I wasn't a complete wreck."
"His?"
"Mihawk's, he said something that made me somewhat happy as well."
"Oh."
"But that time I vowed to Luffy that I would never lose again. And I vowed to myself that I'll never let tears fill my eyes…ever again. I decided to throw away my emotions. If I had to become an emotionless demon to defeat him, I'll do it as well. But…"
Zoro paused for few moments and lowered his gaze.
"But?" Robin asked curiously and few moments later he continued.
"I have finally realized that no matter how hard a human try to hide or discard his emotions, in the end it's all in vain. One way or the other, fate or destiny or just life itself breaks the artificial demonic shell and reveals the weak human inside, which can't do anything alone."
Silence followed and for a considerably longer period it remained quiet. Then Zoro softly spoke again. "Robin." She turned a bit to face him, giving a questioning look. "Thank you."
"…!...I said it's ok. I just repaid the-" Robin's sentence cut off in middle and her eyes widened as she found herself wrapped in Zoro's arms. This was completely unexpected. He was hugging her. She felt heat rising to her cheeks at such close contact with him for the first time. She had been never in this kind of situation with Zoro before. In fact, she had never seen Zoro this close to anyone, unless he was being forced in some childish games.
But yet, there was something different. He wasn't as close to her, despite his arms being wrapped around her shoulders, small but there was a gap between their bodies. And on top of that his hands were slightly shaking.
"Zoro"
"I'm sorry. It's…it's just that…I wanted to say thanks and…"
"And?"
"…Robin…to you, it may not be something big, but for me, it is. I don't know how I can repay you."
"You don't know how to repay me…so…you are hugging me?"
"Eh?" Zoro paused for few moments and then quickly backed away from her "Sorry. I really didn't mean to…you know…" Zoro tried to clarify himself while smiling awkwardly.
"That's fine. I understand." Robin let out a soft chuckle and quickly turned her back to him to hide a slight blush on her face.
"O-oh." Crossing his arms Zoro turned his attention back to sky once again.
"So…does that mean you don't hate women anymore?" Robin asked crossing her arms and lifting her eyes to the stars above. After a brief pause, Zoro answered.
"No. I still hate women..." Robin looked at him over her shoulder, hearing the trail at the end of the statement, suggesting that he was going to continue. "But…" Another smile appeared on his face "There are always exceptions."
Robin turned her eyes to front, and she was blushing again.
"Zoro" She gained his attention and said while facing away hiding her slightly flushed face. "Thank you, for coming back to us."
"No. Thank you for bringing me back." Zoro bluntly said while emphasizing on the word 'you', and unintentionally he made Robin a bit nervous. As Robin felt a strange unknown feeling arising in herself, she decided to take her leave now.
"I think I should get some rest now."
"Hmm? Yeah sure, you must be tired."
With this Robin walked down the stairs and entered her and Nami's room. Before going to bed, she tried very hard to figure something about the strange feeling she was having. A feeling she had never felt before. After half an hour of failure, she decided to ignore it and take a good night sleep. Maybe it was only because she was tired. Yes…it should be that.
Inside the castle which was destroyed by one side after Straw Hat pirates' assault. Inside Mikumo's room...
Wearing an extremely angered expression, covering her bandaged stomach with left arm she was almost moping internally on her loss, when suddenly she heard some screams from outside the room. Surprised by sudden commotion she walked to leave the room, but before she could reach the door it was smashed to pieces with a kick from outside. When smoke cleared a tall man appeared holding a few dead bodies of Mikumo's underlings by their legs. That man sauntered into the room dragging the lifeless bodies behind him.
The man appeared to be few inches taller than her. Black hair completely brushed back. He was wearing a black vest, black pants and black long coat and a black colored katana on his left hip. His skin, however, was white, contrasting with his black garments.
"What are you doing?" Mikumo asked.
"Taking out worthless trash, what else." He answered with a sinister smirk on his face.
"Not that. I'm asking why are you here?"
"Heh, think you can question me?" He lifted the dead bodies slightly up in air and threw them quite some feet away into a corner of the room.
"After I gave you such a big opportunity and to top that I planted those explosives…" The smirk disappeared, and he directed a deadly glare to her. "You went ahead and lost him so easily."
Her breath was taken away as she felt that glare pierce right through her heart, and an overwhelming fear started taking over her whole body. However, suddenly that man calmed down.
It's not like it was a failure. It was a huge success. Now that things have finally started, I have to give it one more push. He calmly walked closer to her and murmured. "I'll give you another chance."
"Another chance?" She asked surprise evident in her voice.
"Yes, another chance to be with your beloved, plus, I'll give you a very important piece of advice as well. That woman Nico Robin, it's because of her that he won't accept you. Kill her. Kill her before Roronoa Zoro's very eyes. Only then he will truly understand where he belongs."
Her eyes widened. "I knew it. It was her after all." She angrily stated with a frown.
"Yes, it's good that you understand. But remember, you have to kill her before his eyes. Otherwise it will be meaningless."
"Yes, I understand."
"Good."
He turned around and got ready to leave.
"Wait!" Mikumo shouted, and he stopped and glared at her over his shoulder.
"What now?" He asked apathetically.
"I need to ask you something. That sword 'Sandai Katetsu'…it isn't just a regular cursed sword, is it?" She asked narrowing her eyes. That man turned slightly to face her sideward.
"Is it a-" She was interrupted as she felt his right index finger on her lips and saw his face dangerously close to hers wearing a deadly sinister grin.
"You don't need to know." He hushed in a very gruff tone which scared even her. She scrambled away from him. Eyes dilated in horror. Chuckling to himself, he turned and with a flash exited the castle.
Applying some force under his feet he jumped on a tree branch outside the castle. He made himself comfortable on the branch and glared at nothing.
Now, with that she will use all of her force to kill Nico Robin. What pathetic creature humans are, she didn't even think that it could be a lie.
"Worthless, worthless, worthless" He started laughing maniacally while covering his eyes with his left palm. After laughing madly for a minute, the sound died. Lowering his hand, he peeked through his fingers, and another sinister grin appeared on his face.
"Soon, very soon, I'll be the one to welcome chaos."
Phew! As always, that was tough. This is the toughest story to write so far. Reason? Because I'm trying to make less mistakes an put more intensity in. So far all positive reviews except the ones pointing out grammar/spelling mistakes (They were very helpful). For this chapter? I can't tell unless i get reviews, so...DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW :)