DESPERATION

( I want to thank everyone who reviewed. It really helps to know that someone is actually reading it and enjoying it. Well, this is the next chapter. All my chapters after the first are going to be shorter, even though I did end up cutting this one in half. It was becoming too long, and I think I lost direction a bit. If I did, please let me know, I take both helpful comments as well as criticism well.)

You never realize what you have ...

Until it's gone

That was never true for us.

Maybe, that is why, we miss it all the more.

The first to rouse was Zoro, he had only pass out thanks to the hit. He had a reason to struggle back to the world of the living, and the determination to drag himself through hell and back again. He would rouse, because he had a purpose ..and the moment the darkness faded ...he would move. His eyes popping open as he reached for his swords.

"BASTARD."

Urgency.

Everything hurt, everything burn, the wound on the side of his face made his vision blur. It made everything swim, and it slowed him down as he rolls over and press one hand to his face. The three swords were still at his side, but none of that matter, he wanted to look for him ...to search for him. He had remembered from the moment he had rouse, and as his vision settles ...his eyes immediately going towards his captain. Still sleeping, and not a hair on his head hurt, but he had been move ...recently ...a few meters/inches. He would then search for something more and he see nothing but rubble around him with out the telltale signs of big splotches of blood and a decapitated body. They had moved. He hoped, the stupid chef had stall for time, that there was still hope. Though there was one big problem, he always knew even though he denials it, he couldn't go more than a few steps without getting lost? Is that why he moved away, so, he couldn't go and find him? So, he couldn't stop him?

"Stupid, shitty, Dartboard brow, no talent ...ero-cook."

How much time had pass?

He would get up slowly, still holding his side. He needed to find him and now, but how? He walked aimlessly for a few minutes. His foot would touch on something soft, as he looked down to see he had literally step on the body of his crew doctor. A reindeer with a sensitive nose, Chopper, ...as a idea bloom in his eyes, and then wilted at the same time. His understanding and anger would war with each other in that moment, and his temper got the better of him as he moved his foot off of the deer.

Still out cold.

He would hit the rock by the head of the ship's Doctor.

Blood would splatter the ground from the force of his blow, and a cut would open up on his hand, but nothing ...nothing help.

Chopper, he needed him to wake up, but he didn't want him to wake up.

He knew if he found him, and there was nothing but a body ...Chopper was the last one he wanted to see. But, he also knew, that he was the only one who would know where to go. His nose could find him, so, he needed him to wake up, but he didn't want him to wake up if it was too late.

How much time had pass?

He was running out of time ...if there was any time left. He would reach down for Chopper, dropping to his knees beside the deer. He was going to try and shake him awake, but before his hands could grab those small shoulders.

A voice would stop him.

"Samurai-sama."

It would make his head snap up, and he would see them. Two of the pirates that had been reduced to ghost by Moria only moments before. Those whom had gotten back their lives from the struggles of his crew. The nameless, but at that moment twin rays of ...hope.

"We saw everything."

One was crying.

"You two were so brave and noble."

The other continue with snot running down his face along side the tears.

Zoro didn't realize the emotions that ran across his face. The fear, the surprise, elation, and horror at their words again, but neither did they, so maybe, it never surface despite the feelings. They knew, they had seen...and they could lead him to him. He would stand up then, and grab the one closest in both hands. His hands were clamp on his shoulders so that the man had no chance of running away. A pursuit is the one thing, he knew, he would be unsuccessful of if he let things get too far. He wasn't completely in control at this moment, so the face he shown must have been scary from the reaction of the one in his grip.

Thus, he was surprised that the other one hadn't run. Though it didn't matter, He only needs one, but it never hurt to have two.

"Where did they go?"

"Where did the ...paw man take him?"

The man would stop his ranting then. He would look fully into the eyes of one who was afraid for his nakama, and he would point with one finger into the distance.

"We were playing dead, so we didn't see exactly but they went that way."

"Good, take me ..."

That part would surprise the man in his grip. He was sure, that he would immediately take off in that direction, especially when he said he wasn't exactly sure where to go. Afterall, he could only give him a direction, not actually find him.

Though the grip didn't slack as he waited for a answer.

Time was wasting.

Zoro never wanted to admit it, but he was desperate. He needed to help him ...now. That meant, he needed this man's help now.

"I get lost easily. I need you to lead me in the direction you pointed, otherwise, I won't ...be able to find him."

The men looked at each other, and for a moment surprise was there. But, then they would nod.

Pride was nothing, they were his friends, they were his family.

He would risk his life for them, so what was pride? His nakama, that would protect each other to the death ... what was pride compared to that?

Zoro told himself that ...as the man would nod and start to lead him.

There was a sense of urgency in their steps, and there was a question on his lips.

How long? Though he couldn't ask it. How long had he lay there while his nakama was dying? How long had he been laying there, when he died?

When?

How?

He didn't want to know, and though he was impatience. They couldn't go any faster ...unless he carried them, and he knew, that would take more time ...then he was willing to give. When he ran at full speed, he can sometimes over shoot his objective, especially when they called out directions too slow.

This was for the best.

Straight ahead, maybe, he hadn't wanted to hide as much as he had thought. The course never vary, so, only he would have had trouble following. As they got closer, he smells it thickly before they come upon it. They were going in the right direction, and his impatiences takes over then. Blood ..old, fresh, he couldn't tell, but thick ... the scent...and there was enough that the entire area smelled of death and sickness.

He ran past them, but he didn't burst upon the scene.

His memory wasn't in tatters, he knew, he couldn't take the bear man.

But, that didn't matter, he would not let one of his nakama die. No matter the danger, pain, or his own sacrifice, and thus, he drew his swords first and then he step forward. Everything bottom out then...the world ...reasoning...understanding.

And the man that held onto his swords even in the grip of death would drop them ...then.

The swordman that could cut a ship in two ...trembled and drop to his knees.

It was never his death that he feared as the two behind him came upon the scene. Their mouths would drop open, and their eyes would bulge out. For the scene in front of them should have been impossible, but reality ...has always found a way to make things that seem impossible possible.

The entire area ...from tree to stone...

it was drench red ..

...blood ...

everywhere.

He was too late.

"...Sanji..."

It was the first time ...that he called the chef by name.