Sorry guys, I took the weekend off lol. I know I'm selfish. Sorry. Also, once again this turned out more romantic then I meant it. Sigh, maybe I should just call it a ship and get it over with. This is a dedication to the Zo/ro shippers, such as ItIsMeJesse.

I just laid there. I didn't have any motivation whatsoever to do anything. Let me just relax for a second. However, someone had other plans.

"Rose? Rose!"

I crack open an eye and groan as Zoro rolls me over onto my back. My burned back flared with pain and I wince. Zoro froze, like he didn't know what to do.

"Oi, are you ok?"

I grab his wrist, gripping hard against the pain, taking deep breaths and I whisper, more for me then him.

"I'm ok. I'm ok. I'm all right. I'm going to be fine."

Zoro sighed.

"You are doing your thing again."

It's true. My coping mechanism with anything is telling myself I would be ok and fine, because if I told myself I was, then I truly was. It had helped me in my world and in this one. I breathed in deep and the pain subsided.

"Yeah, I know. Sorry to worry you."

Ok, now it is time for me to stop being a major baby and actually get up and do something. I tense and was about to sit up when Zoro places his hands underneath my neck and knees, lifting me gently.

"Easy Rose."

He carries me over to the wall and sits down, cross legged. he sits me on the floor next to him, using the wall to support my back. I lean against him gratefully, snuggling comfortably into his arm.

"Thank you."

"You didn't answer my question."

I open my eyes.

"Yeah I did, I said I was ok."

"You were coping. That means you aren't all right."

I chuckled faintly.

"I truly am though."

And I was. I was mentally just as strong, I just had a relapse is all. As for physical, I got stabbed through the arm, whipped, my face bashed in, and as soon as this antidote wears off and my fingers stop tingling, I am all right. Zoro glanced at me and back to the cell door.

"You were scared."

I winced. I forgot Zoro could feel my panic. I sigh.

"You weren't supposed to feel that idiot."

"What happened?"

Should I tell him? Yes, because I don't want Magellan to use it on anybody else.

"Nothing, just a poison that made me hallucinate things is all. I hallucinated Sadi-chan killing you."

I shudder and Zoro takes a deep breath.

"That wasn't all, was it?"

I glanced at my hands. Gosh, the pain is still present. I knew it was fake, why didn't I listen to my instincts. They are always right, but I listened to pain instead.

"She cut off your fingers."

The way Zoro says it makes it seem stupid that I should fear that. I sighed bowing my head.

"Yes. I had almost made it to the time limit, and I had convinced myself that you weren't dead when she... I was so overcome with pain that I forgot it wasn't real. I was stupid."

Zoro shook his head, wincing as he moved.

"No, you did well. Nothing worse then stuff your mind makes up."

I lean up against him.

"What about your face?"

The words, usually used with a mocking manner, are gentle, and dare I say concerned. I frowned, fingering my broken nose. Not like I haven't had one, but one from my own weapon was such a cruel move.

"I got hit, what do you expect?"

Zoro raised his eyebrows. Oops, let my inner bitterness out. My bad. I sighed.

"Sorry, she used my own weapon."

Zoro stiffened, and I felt pure malice leaking from his form. He gritted.

"She hit you with your own weapon?"

I nod, also fingering the cut in my arm. The malice grew thicker.

"Your sword too?"

I didn't have to answer that one. He growled, his demon aura leaking out and almost forming Asura.

"That bitch, I am going to kill her the next time I see her. How dare she-?"

I patted his arm.

"Relax, it's fine."

Zoro gave me a look and I returned it, my own demon smirk in place.

"If anyone is getting her, it's gonna be me."

Zoro shook his head.

"Fine, but if you don't kill her I will."

He shifted again and I saw the grimace of pain. Right, I forgot he is injured. What am I doing, worrying about myself when Zoro is injured, and the injury is supposed to be mine anyway. Oh yeah. I straighten, anger making my posture perfectly straight.

"Speaking of injuries Zoro, what the heck is wrong with you?"

Zoro looked confused. I poke gently at his chest.

"What the heck were you thinking, jumping in front of a bullet like that?"

Zoro immediately looked bored. He closed his eyes and looked like he was about to sleep. Oh no, I have full intention of scolding him for that.

"No Zoro, you will listen to me."

He sighed loudly, almost dramatically.

"Look Rose, I'm fine."

I wave my hands frantically, because he has to understand.

"You died Zoro!"

He stiffened and his eye popped open. I continued, moving directly in front of him.

"In what way is that perfectly fine? You have no idea."

I gripped his shirt, and buried my face into his chest.

"I almost lost you. Never in my life have I felt anything like that. I was so scared, so weak. It took everything to keep going. Zoro, please."

Zoro tensed slightly before I felt him ask, a deep rumble in his chest.

"I died?"

I nod.

"Yes. It took Chopper, Law, and me everything to bring you back."

That was by far the most scary moment in my life. All other fights, all other experiences, even the scare I had five minutes ago was nothing in comparison to yesterday.

"I was supposed to protect you remember? I was the one to keep you alive, not the other way around. Do you know how guilty I would have felt, how horrible that you had died because you had taken a shot meant for me?"

Zoro sighed, and I felt him deflate.

"I knew you would be ok. I knew you were strong enough to handle it."

I shake my head.

"But I wasn't Zoro. I couldn't. I almost shut down completely."

I feel him tense in curiousity.

"Almost?"

I gripped his shirt tighter in my fingers.

"I almost froze, but I...I kept moving because I needed to save you."

I felt his smile.

"You have grown Rose. I told you you would never freeze when one of us was in danger."

I frown. No, I had not grown stronger. Yesterday had shown me that I was still weak. I wasn't as strong as I am meant to be. I wouldn't have gotten into such a perilous position in the first place. I sighed.

"Sorry, I was selfish. I pulled you back when I needed you. I was only thinking of me."

Zoro slowly picked up his hand and petted my hair and I slowly relaxed.

"You call, I will be there, swords or no swords."

I could hear the darned smirk in his voice, and I couldn't help but smile. I guess that must have been the thing that called him back. Zoro speaking jerked me out of my thoughts.

"I just thought I went to sleep. I saw her too."

I stiffen.

"Kuina?"

He nodded, I felt his chin against my scalp.

"Yeah. I thought I was dreaming. Now her words make sense."

I sit up straight, really confused.

"What did she say?"

Zoro smirked.

"She said someone really wanted me back, and that someone begged her to leave me, and that this person would fight her for me."

Zoro's smirk grew into a grin.

"Hmm, I wonder who that could be?"

I ducked my head down embarrassedly.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. Heat of the moment and all that. I was just spewing whatever I could think of."

I groan.

"Man, I didn't expect her to hear all of that. Now she probably thinks I'm a big old meanie. I didn't really want to challenge her to a fight, I was just scared of losing you."

Zoro patted me head again, chuckling.

"No, I think she thinks you care."

I sit back down next to the swordsman. Well I'm glad I thanked her now. I would hate for her to hate me. Kuina was an amazing character, and an inspiration to me to become the best girl in the world.

"So, about escaping."

I chuckled.

"Yes, I was just getting to that."

Zoro stretched.

"When are you leaving?"

Ugh, that reminder shot my internal clock to the forefront of my mind. I had twenty two and a half hours left, give or take. I fight back the sadness in my voice.

"Tomorrow."

Zoro nodded, not looking at all concerned.

"All right I will leave you to strategizing then, Miss Stratagizer."

I lean back and yawn.

"Well then, let me prioritize. Wake me up in ten minutes or so."

Zoro snorted.

"You are just going to nap in the most dangerous prison in the world?"

I nudged him with my elbow.

"Didn't stop you. Besides, this antidote hasn't worn off yet, and I think better with naps."

Zoro chuckled as I leaned up against his arm, already falling asleep.

"Fine, I will."

I didn't truly fall asleep. I fell into a semi conscious stage where I could still tell what was going on. I put my mind into thinker mode. Ok, step one, out of cell. Step two, get off this floor. Step three, out of the prison. Easy enough right?

Now, how was I going to do this? Could I pretend that either Zoro and I were dying? No, they wouldn't care if notorious criminals like us were killed, at least they wouldn't show concern. Hmm, what to do?

My mind was whirling with ideas when I felt Zoro shift. In fact he leaned me back against the wall to get me to stop from leaning on him. My ears woke up, trying to listen without opening my eyes.

"Careful, I don't want to wake dear Rose-chan. She has already had a long day."

Sadi-chan, back so soon? Gosh darn it. Looks like my escape plan just moved up a little. I heard Zoro growl.

"No, let's leave her out of this. I would like you all to myself."

Sadi-chan moaned.

"Hmm, oh Roronoa Zoro, I can't wait to hear your screams."

This is going to be the quickest change of speed I have ever had, and I can't even prepare my body for it. The probability of this working is slim, but I can't let her have Zoro. I can never let her touch anybody else. I listen carefully and almost smile when I hear the sound I wanted to hear, the sound of the key in the lock.

The sound of the door cranking open.

I bolt upright, scaring the torturess apparently because she jumped, but didn't shut the door. Idiot, she should have trained better. I sprinted and dove forward out the cell, Zoro right on my heels.

I tackle the she-devil head over heels, with me ending up on top, despite me being smaller then her. She opens her mouth to scream but I shove my hand over it and I pin her. I am shaking with anger. For years, I had allowed the fear of this woman to hang over me, and what she did yesterday is unforgivable. I whisper in her ear.

"Let me hear your screams, Sadi-chan."

I draw back my elbow and shove it hard into her jaw, and she screamed in pain into my hand. I grope her thigh, trying to to find my weapon. I saw her put it there didn't I? I grab something famliar and I grin, drawing out my weapon.

"Yes."

I whisper, snapping the pieces together with practiced ease. I twirl it over my head, building up force.

"I will never be afraid of you again Sadi-chan. It is time for me to break you."

I ignore her look of pain and fear as I swing the quarterstaff down with an audible crack on Sadi-chan's face. Yep, revenge is so sweet. I feel her fall limp beneath me. Man I knocked her out with one hit? What a weakling.

I stand, throwing the torturess into our old cell, locking the door with a statisfatory click. I turn to Zoro who is smirking.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side."

I take a deep breath and let it out. Step one, get out of cell, complete. Step two, get off of this floor commencing.