Forgive me for not updating my other fics, but I'm emotionally distraught right now, and while seeking solace on youtube, I found a wonderfully sweet slide show of fanart that inspired this, and I had to write it!

Jakotsu: Since Otulia's still gone and Bankotsu's suffering from a minor concussion, I'm taking their places! Kinkatia doesn't own One Piece! If she did, there would be aliens and ninjas in it!

Coming Together

"Oh, Zoro," Nami sighed sadly. "I'm so sorry."

She watched him closely, waiting for any sign of improvement. He hadn't awoken yet. It had been more than a day. He had never been out for so long. But that last battle…he'd been hurt so badly. They had been guarding the ship while the others went for supplies, just the two of them, when someone had come out of nowhere, trying to kill her. Someone from her past, who she'd thought was gone for good.

His chest heaved up and down with each breath. He had to be in so much pain, that it brought tears to Nami's eyes just to think about it.

She had never known that her brother was still alive. She had believed him to be dead for so long now, that she'd nearly forgotten about him. After all, one does not remember those they never loved. But somehow, he had survived, and during those years had become a skillful swordsman. Like Zoro, he, too, fought with three blades.

Zoro groaned in his sleep, his face momentarily showing his pain before he grew still again. Nami blinked back tears. "This is all my fault," she whispered. "It wasn't your fight."

Her brother had come to take her life. There was no mistaking the malice in his burning eyes. He had come to settle their score. She would have fled, tried to lose him on land, but…Zoro had jumped in between them. He had calmly assured her that he would protect her, that he wouldn't let this bastard harm her. And then they fought.

"I'm so useless," Nami choked out, staring at her hands. "I can't even protect myself. You got hurt because of me."

The memory returned to her, vivid as when it had occurred.

Metal clashed on metal, and three swords flew through the air to clatter harmlessly to the deck. Her brother fell, unconscious, bleeding heavily from his wounds. "Tie him up, hurry," Zoro panted, barely able to keep his feet. "He's far from dying, and I don't want to fight him again."

Nami did as he instructed, shaking the whole while. Not until she was finished did she dare look at Zoro.

Only to see him fall. To see the blood starting to pool around him.

"ZORO!!!!!"

Tears escaped her eyes at the memory. She'd somehow managed to clean and bandage his wounds, praying all the while he'd live. He'd lost so much blood, and his injuries were so severe. All because of her.

She turned her back to him, unable to take it anymore. She couldn't hold it back any longer. "I can't do anything!" she cried. "I'm just a burden to everyone!"

She froze as she heard movement behind her, and gasped as two strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her backward onto the bed. "Don't talk like that," Zoro admonished quietly, resting his head on her shoulder and breathing heavily.

"Zoro…" She couldn't think as a surge of relief washed over her. He was awake. He would survive.

"He would have killed me, if it weren't for you. I had to keep you safe," he whispered.

He was obviously in a lot of pain. He was deathly pale, and could barely keep himself in a sitting position. "Zoro, you're hurt. You need to rest…" She closed her eyes, tears leaking out from under her closed lids. "It wasn't your fight," she whispered. "Why?"

"I couldn't stand by and let him kill you, Nami." There was something unidentifiable in his voice that made her turn around in his grasp to look at him.

Their eyes met; hers, filled with fear and guilt, and his, glazed over with fever. He pulled her closer, and she felt an unfamiliar sense of fright passing through her. Gently placing her hands on his shoulders, she looked up at him. He lowered his head toward hers until their foreheads touched, caressing the back of her head with one hand.

"Z-Zoro," she stammered, wide-eyed and confused.

"Don't talk, please," he asked so quietly she could barely hear him.

She froze as his face slowly came closer to hers. For the second time, she found she couldn't think.

Their lips met; Nami stiffened in surprise, her eyes widening a fraction more. She involuntarily pulled away with a squeak, her face flushed.

Zoro dropped his hand and turned his head. "I'm sorry," he said softly, his voice strained. He leaned back against the cabin wall, closing his eyes, sadness radiating from him.

"Zoro!" She latched onto him suddenly, sobbing. He winced, and she pulled away, hastily apologizing, only to have him pull her right back, despite the pain it caused him.

He held her close, as if he would never let her go, willing his arms to cease their shaking in his weakened state. She leaned against him, her head on his shoulder, and let out everything she'd been holding back. "Don't cry," he said, knowing it would do no good. She'd keep on crying until she ran out of tears.

"Th-thank you…f-for pr-protect-ing me."

"Anytime."

Is it okay? I'm not overstepping boundaries or making them too OOC? And…is it just me, or do I sense a bigger story in here? Should I make it its own fic, or leave it here in Drabbles!? Tell me what you think, please!!!