Chapter Twenty

Luffy trailed along behind Zoro, not glancing behind as Sanji, Usopp and Nami made their way into the kitchen while lightly chatting as if to get their minds off the situation. When the two reached the room, he let Zoro lead the way in and closed the door behind them, curious what exactly he had to say. It made sense that Zoro wanted to be alone, since they were clearly about to talk about something he didn't want a lot of people overhearing, but at the same time it was a little strange.

He had been alone with Zoro many times, but never with the foreknowledge that they were going to discuss something related to Zoro himself, who Luffy had recently realized he was more and more interested in. The situation ended up feeling somehow different than he thought it might have even just a week earlier.

His face seemingly frozen into a soft frown, Zoro settled down onto one of the mats, his legs neatly folded in front of him. The swordsman looked up at the prince, as if expecting him to do the same.

Taking the cue, Luffy stepped away from the door and sat on a mat facing Zoro, also crossing his legs though he leaned back on his hands. He sat far enough away to give Zoro plenty of space, though truth be told part of that was for him as well. He could see Zoro better and somehow he wasn't as aware of the fact that they were alone discussing his bodyguard's secrets if he didn't sit too close. Saying nothing, Luffy just watched Zoro idly as he waited for him to speak.

"As you've probably figured out, the Kurska are the people who adopted me when I was a baby," Zoro muttered. "I think I might have said something about them before a long time ago."

Luffy nodded. "Yeah, you said you were found by some tribe or something."

Nodding grimly, Zoro folded his arms over his chest. "Well, we're a prideful people who heavily base ourselves on a life of honor and tradition. The Kurska have been roaming these lands for generations. Probably for centuries, even. Most of them don't take too well to outsiders, except for people of the Lanshi. The Lanshi are considered our close brothers because we provide them with much of their meat for the winter, and they help us make and maintain our weapons." He paused. "Especially our swords."

Luffy nodded again, and shifted his legs and arms just a little to be more comfortable. This would probably be a long story.

"But, I guess that's beside the point now," he muttered. "You've already figured out that they really don't like you all that much, especially Kuina."

Smiling a bit wryly, Luffy said, "Yeah, I sort of noticed."

"Thing is..." Zoro paused and lightly rubbed the back of his head. He averted his eyes a little, apparently bothered by whatever he was about to say. "I used to be engaged to her."

Luffy blinked then just stared at Zoro. That was completely not what he was expecting to hear and it took a second for him to work that knowledge into his recent encounter with Kuina. "Oh," he said after a moment, pausing thoughtfully. "You must have been engaged fairly young, huh?"

"Yeah, the arrangements were made when I was about nine, and she was eleven or twelve," Zoro said with a shrug. "The Elders thought we'd make a good match because I was the best boy at sword-fighting, and she was the chief's daughter."

Unable to help a slight snicker at the logic entailed, Luffy paused then said, "But... if they don't like outsiders, and you're not technically born into the Kurska, how did you get trusted enough to be engaged to the chief's daughter? It was really just being good with a sword?"

Frowning, Zoro gave Luffy a careful stare. "Once you have been adopted by the Kurska, they treat you as their own. I was never regarded as an outsider back then, especially since they took me in at such a young age. Trust wasn't an issue." He shrugged. "It was important her husband be really strong because he was going to be the next chief."

"Hmm." Luffy considered this, nodding after a moment. "That makes sense. They must have liked you too, then. They wouldn't want a chief who was strong but they hated, right?"

"They liked me because I worked hard," Zoro said simply. "In the Kurska, marriage is primarily centered around the ability to keep a commitment to another person. Love was a factor, but it wasn't necessary. You just had to be willing to stick by that person for the rest of your life."

Luffy frowned. "That sort of makes sense, but I don't like it," he said bluntly.

"I'm not asking for your opinion on how my people live," Zoro replied simply.

Luffy paused, not quite sure if he had offended Zoro, then carefully shrugged. "If it helps, I don't like the marriage system my country has either. For royalty, at least. At least the Kurska's makes more sense." He smiled a little as an apology. "So you were engaged?"

Zoro nodded, his gaze watching the prince carefully. He vaguely wondered if Luffy's parents had betrothed him to some girl. "For several years, at least. Then, when we started making the preparations for the marriage, Kuina's father, the Chief, decided to give me Wadou Ichimonji." He gestured to the special sword that hung at his hip. "It had been in their family for generations, and it's probably one of the first swords forged under the Lanshi-Kurska alliance. It's one of the clan's treasures."

Pausing, Zoro frowned, his eyebrows furrowing. "Evidently he thought the man in the family should use it instead of the woman, even though I'd yet to actually defeat Kuina in a duel." He gave a bitter smile. "She was furious, and she immediately appealed to the Elders to call off the wedding. Whatever she told them must have been a pretty damn convincing argument, because they canceled it the next day."

Luffy raised his eyebrows, several reactions clambering in his mind. Thinking a woman was unable to hold the sword seemed stupid to him, but he wasn't going to tell Zoro that. He probably didn't care about Luffy's opinion on any of this right now; he just wanted him to know so he understood the situation. If he were in Kuina's place, he would have been furious too, but he wasn't sure what he thought about the arrangement being called off. That also seemed stupid.

What if Zoro had loved her, and was looking forward to the marriage? Ignoring the strange twist in Luffy's stomach at the thought, he couldn't help feeling like Kuina was punishing Zoro for something that was completely not his fault. It didn't sound like Zoro had asked for the sword. And what had she said to Zoro earlier, when they were arguing? Zoro said the sword was a gift, and she said they both knew it was a mistake that he'd gotten it. That seemed a cruel thing to say, given the circumstances, and Luffy could not help feeling irritated with her for that.

Aloud, Luffy only said, "I had no idea the sword had such a history. No wonder it's so important." He paused, looking down at his lap thoughtfully as another part of the story caught his attention. He didn't want to annoy Zoro, but as someone who had grown up with politics attached to nearly every facet of his life, he couldn't help noting something aloud. "Calling off the wedding," he said carefully, "is... quite the statement in that case. Politically."

Another careful pause, and he refused to look up from his lap. "Unless the Kurska have different views. But... in Anchor, if someone did that, it would be a matter of dishonor for the person scorned. At least in the eyes of the court and nobility. For anyone lower who may care to pay attention, it would probably be a scandal they could gossip about."

"Mm..." Zoro took in what Luffy said in silence before he managed a bitter smile. "Let's just say that after she called it off, no one was eager to get hitched to me anymore." He shrugged a little, as if giving the appearance that it hadn't bothered him too much. "Pretty much went from hero to zero overnight, which shows just how easy it is to piss these people off sometimes. Anyway, I offered the damn sword to her since we weren't getting married anymore, but she refused to take it. Said she had something called pride, and she wasn't about to take Wadou back because 'I felt sorry for her' or whatever. I personally thought it was a shitty thing for her father to do, giving her most prized possession to me because she's a girl and everything. But I didn't realize that had been the case until after she'd called the wedding off, elsewise I wouldn't have taken the damn thing to begin with."

Looking back up somewhere within Zoro's explanation, Luffy frowned and nodded. "He should have explained it. There was no reason for you to know, and," he paused, deciding to go ahead with it anyway, "..and I can see why she was angry, but it wasn't your fault so she shouldn't have taken it out on you. Didn't the Chief tell her why? Maybe then she would have understood."

Zoro shrugged. "It's over now. She's determined to get the sword from me one way or another, but I have a thing called pride, too. She's already ruined my good standing here, and I offered to give it back to her. If she's going to make this into some competition, I'm not going to give in so easy just because I think this whole thing is pretty stupid to begin with."

Luffy frowned, considering this. "The Chief is the leader of the Kurska, right? So what he says represents the will of the Kurska?"

"Basically, yeah," Zoro replied. "Why?"

For the moment, Luffy ignored Zoro's question as he made sure he understood the situation. "And he never asked for the sword back, even after the wedding was called off?"

Zoro shook his head. "No. He never did."

"With gift-giving for the Kurska, is there anything that states in spoken or unspoken rules, or dealing with pride or honor, that the gift-giver can't ask for a gift such as that back if he no longer thinks he should have given it? Keeping in mind that this is such a treasure for the Kurska, and that it was given before an engagement that was later called off."

"I don't know," Zoro admitted truthfully. "He never asked for it, but it might have been because it would have looked bad for both of us. But, then, there is the possibility that he honestly wanted me to have it."

Luffy thought about that for a bit. "It's true that it may have looked bad, but you already were having troubles, weren't you? No one, looking at the situation, would have blamed the Chief for rescinding a gift, such an important treasure of the Kurska, after the reason for giving it was gone. If the Chief is the strongest, and part of that strength is based on sword-fighting, then I would assume that the sword has traditionally remained in the hands of the Chiefs alone. And if that's the case, then it would have seemed only natural for him to take it back once it was obvious you would no longer be Chief."

Luffy paused, looking pointedly at Zoro. "But he didn't. Which makes me think that there was more reason for him giving it to you than just that Kuina's a girl. He must have seen something in you that he thought truly represented the spirit of the Kurska, so much so that even after the wedding was canceled, it did not change your right to hold that sword."

Sitting up straight, Luffy crossed his arms. "As far as I'm concerned, with or without your or Kuina's pride involved, that sword is yours. The person who has the right to give it is the only one who has the right to take it away. And if Kuina didn't want it before because she felt too stung by something that was not your fault, then she has even less reason to have it now. She's taking her anger out on the wrong person, and for that reason alone I would have protected it from her. But now I also think that the Chief would have a reason for not taking it back. And," Luffy added firmly, "it's your sword and your treasure too, right?

"It means so much to the Lanshi and Kurska, but they're fully formed as an alliance now. They can make more swords. This one is symbolic, but doesn't it ultimately mean unity and strength? Between two different people who have become one in thought, belief, or at least common goals? Maybe in some way it's fate. The man who inherited the sword that represents unity between two clans who both distrust outsiders, was born an outsider himself, and ended up leaving the country to help other outsiders. But you still represent the Kurska and Lanshi with it. So, really, in a way, you are in a far better position to uphold the spirit of the sword, by promoting unity between the clans and outsiders now, than Kuina would be, stuck with the Kurska, using it as a prop for her hurt ego. So I won't let them take it from you."

He stopped, realizing how much he said, though he didn't particularly care. It was true, it was what he thought, and if Zoro was going to tell him this story than he probably needed to hear the opinion of someone fairly objective.

Zoro seemed clearly startled by Luffy's sudden outburst. He'd never entirely looked at it that way. It was true he felt like the sword was rightfully his because the Chief had given it to him as a gift and never asked for it back, but he'd never thought about how it might look to outsiders who were unfamiliar with the isolated Kurska. In a way, he'd thought this explanation might serve to make Luffy less willing to put his life on the line for Wadou. Instead, it only sealed his determination.

Luffy was clearly a man who stuck to his goals. The swordsman couldn't help but admire that.

"If you pass the test, you'll become an honorary Kurska," Zoro reminded him. "You're okay with that?"

Luffy smiled, abruptly and sincerely, softening his entire expression. "The Kurska sound like very honorable people, and if you're anything to judge, very good people, too. Why would I have a problem with that? I'd be honored that I had the chance to be involved in such an ancient, proud clan."

The swordsman gave a small smile of his own, clearly pleased with this. "Just making sure. This kind of thing doesn't happen very often, you know."

"Sounds like it," Luffy said with a laugh. "I guess that makes sense. If they don't deal with outsiders much, then there can't be many times that they need to make someone an honorary clansman." He paused, looking at Zoro curiously. "Why do they distrust outsiders so much, anyway?"

"We've had some pretty bad experiences with them during the Old Wars," Zoro replied simply. "Because of that, they're pretty distrustful of anyone who isn't a Lanshi or a Kurska, unless they're a young child. Then, they're taken in and raised as their own. It's not unusual for orphans from the city to wind up here."

"Hmm." Luffy smiled again, though it seemed more somber. "Well, I'm glad they take the children in." He paused, the smile falling as his tone became more pensive. "War does that, though at least the Kurska and Lanshi are smart enough to trust themselves and each other. Better than the civil wars that Arabasta used to have, or Merriana, where the factions are tearing everything apart and will destroy the country in the process. All this trust and distrust... it kills so many more than it saves."

"I guess that's true," Zoro muttered, averting his gaze some.

Zoro's reaction seemed a little strange. "What's wrong?" Luffy asked curiously.

"Nothing." He shrugged some before returning his gaze back to the prince. "I guess that's all I had to say."

Luffy nodded. "Well, thanks for letting me know. At least now I know why she was so mad, and what exactly the sword means."

"Nothing to thank me for," Zoro said gruffly.

"That's only because you never seem to want thanks," Luffy said with a teasing smile, but his tone turned a little more serious and respectful when he continued. "You could have let me run around without knowing the history, though, so I appreciate that you trusted me enough to tell me that much about your life."

"I didn't want you to blindly go into this," Zoro said simply, his gaze looking up to meet Luffy's smile.

"And that's why you got a thank you," Luffy said with a nod, the smile returning. He stared at Zoro, a few other questions lingering, though he wondered if he really wanted to ask them, and why he hesitated in the first place. Maybe he just felt like it was too personal. Like if Zoro suddenly asked why he wore a straw hat, or what Shanks meant to him anyway. He would tell him, but not everyone... it was personal.

"I guess I'm a pretty lousy bodyguard for letting you do this," Zoro muttered. "But, I've learned not to treat you like a dessert that needs to be put on the highest shelf."

Luffy laughed at the food analogy, sounding truly delighted. When he spoke, although he was serious about what he said, there was still a hint of laughter in his tone. "My life isn't mine to lose anymore, you don't have to worry. This is important enough that I wouldn't care if I died trying to help, but with the prophecy and my parents unable to have any more children, I can't die until I do whatever it takes to protect my people back home. And anything less than death doesn't matter. So, it's fine."

Zoro watched him carefully, almost allowing himself to listen to Luffy's nonchalant voice and become completely relaxed with the situation. The prince-no, Luffy spoke with such conviction and strength that the swordsman wanted to believe that the man would pass the test no matter what horrible task Kuina pitted against him. It was a trait that was very admirable among the Kurska, something that many sought for in a spouse. "If you're accepted, don't be surprised if you get a marriage offer," Zoro snorted.

Luffy's grin was a little tricky, though in truth it was in part to hide a mild, strange sense of embarrassment he had at Zoro's comment. "Jealous, are you?" he teased lightly, not letting his brief embarrassment show. "Don't worry, I'm all yours."

The swordsman's cheeks deeply flushed, and he visibly jerked back at the comment. "Wh-what?"

Grin widening, Luffy said casually, "I'll tell them I can't, because I already have things I'm doing, and anyway I already promised you I'd hang around for awhile. Can't go back on that, can I? Where would the Pirate King be without the greatest swordsman?"

Zoro blinked some before relaxing some. "Oh. Okay, I see what you're saying."

But his own comment brought up one of the main questions Luffy wanted to ask before, and he couldn't help himself this time. He looked past Zoro to stare at the window, though he could still clearly see the swordsman's expressions in his peripheral vision. "Zoro?" he asked hesitantly, his tone serious again. "Can I ask – Are you-? I mean, did you... love Kuina?"

He glanced at Zoro, continuing faster, "I mean, because when I win, you'll be accepted here again, and if you'd rather stay - I have Sanji, Usopp and Nami, so we could probably get by. Or else, if you wanted to leave right away after you get me to Shanks', you could get back here within just a few months, I bet... Enough time for wedding plans in the background..."

Zoro rapidly blinked at the sudden onslaught of questions before he suddenly laughed, humorless and short. "Kuina's a good person and a strong fighter, but we'll always piss each other off. We always have to some degree, even when we were betrothed. There won't be any wedding plans, not by a long shot. You don't have to worry." He paused, giving Luffy an even look. "As far as my status here goes, this is always how I've been treated since Kuina called the wedding off. I don't know if it'll change if-when-you pass the test. But, I've already told you I'll stay with you for as long as you need me around. Coming back here doesn't change that."

Feeling intensely relieved, Luffy grinned brilliantly. "Okay," he said happily. "Good. Remember you told me that when I come back a hero and they're falling all over you again." It was more out of happy teasing than anything that he said that; he didn't doubt Zoro's word, and knew he meant it when he said he would be around.

He knew since the near-drowning that Zoro meant a lot to him, that somehow he became so important to him that his presence was as necessary as breathing, but hearing about Zoro's past life had made him wonder, briefly, what Zoro felt about it all. They had only known each other a very brief time; what hold could Luffy possibly have on someone with so much history and potential? It was not that Luffy doubted his worth or Zoro's word... he had just wondered, for a few moments, if maybe Zoro had wanted his old life back instead of the new one he'd planned with Luffy when he thought he would never see his people again. It was good to know that Zoro still planned to choose him and Luffy couldn't help feeling incredibly pleased.

Zoro snorted. "Yeah, sure, okay. I'll keep that in mind." Then, he paused, suddenly looking a little thoughtful. "If anyone gives you any trouble, lemme know."

"Trouble?" Luffy echoed, confused. "Like what?"

"You know how people are about outsiders," Zoro simply said.

"Oh." Luffy shrugged. "It'll be fine."

"I'm sure you will be, too," Zoro replied. "Just letting you know, though."

Luffy smiled. "Thanks. I will."

The conversation fell to a comfortable lull, and for a moment the two were left just looking at each other. For some reason, Luffy found that made him smile a little wider. Before anything new could be discussed, however, there was a sudden knock on the door and Nami yelled for them to get downstairs. Laki could be heard distantly talking to the others about some sights in the area, at which point Usopp loudly proclaimed he had once been somewhere similar and Sanji's even louder yell cut him off. Luffy laughed, pushed himself up, and clapped Zoro on the shoulder on his way out the room. Zoro was close behind him.

Despite knowing that later he would learn what this supposedly impossible task would be, Luffy found that the day passed relatively quickly and happily. Each of them found something to do that interested them.

Sanji cooked an especially brilliant dinner ("As a small token of my gratitude for allowing us the chance to spend time with such a beautiful woman," was his excuse to Laki) and asked for local recipes and where to get native herbs and plants. Usopp discovered to his delight that some of the weapons and tools the Kurska created had really intriguing designs. He managed to find a younger warrior who was just fascinated enough by outsiders to risk sitting and talking to him about how this bow was created, or what they did with that instrument.

Nami wandered off a few times to tour the area on her own and chat with some of the local women about what exactly the Lanshi and Kurska did. The Lanshi were a little more polite and approachable than the Kurska, and while they seemed a bit more open to speaking about themselves after it was clear that Luffy was willing to risk his life to become an honorary Kurska, Usopp, Sanji and Nami kept running into points in the conversation where their informant suddenly stopped explaining something, or became very suspicious of a simple question.

Luffy was content to just wander around, sometimes watching his friends talk excitedly to a local, sometimes just sitting around watching the day pass quietly. He felt no particular urgency to be doing anything, but took great pleasure and strength from knowing that Zoro was always standing or sitting near him. Luffy joked about some stories he had overheard from sailors when he was younger, and even drew a short-lived, startled laugh out of Zoro at one point that caused Luffy to grin in smug satisfaction for a good five minutes afterwards.

The sun bore relentlessly down until it moved lower in the sky, and as the shadows were lengthening and they were all just finishing the dessert Sanji made that was inspired by a local plant, their day of relative lightheartedness was brought to an abrupt end. Laughter had broken out over something inane, but it fell to an awkward silence when Kamakiri appeared in the kitchen doorway, looking immediately at Luffy.

"She is ready for you in the Sacred Hall," he said, ignoring the quiet and the many glances suddenly cast between him and Luffy. After a pause, Kamakiri added, "Zoro is allowed entrance if he wishes, but it is otherwise a private audience."

Luffy nodded calmly, shoved a handful of food in his mouth for the road, and managed a grin around it all as he stood. He said something that was intensely muffled, but seemed to be a question.

"I will show you," Kamakiri said, assuming Luffy asked where they were going. He pivoted and strode away, expression serious and neutral, not even glancing over his shoulder to make sure he was being followed.

Luffy fell into a light trot behind him, also just assuming Zoro would come with.

Zoro didn't waste any time finishing off his food or even nodding to his comrades as he left. His gaze was focused on Kamakiri, and he was intent on staying close to Luffy's side. In all honesty, he'd expected Kuina to hold a public meeting about the task in an attempt to humiliate and possibly intimidate the prince out of going through with it. The fact that she'd requested a private meeting hinted that there wouldn't be any of that, though it still unnerved the swordsman a little. By doing this, Kuina was fully demonstrating that she was the one in charge and that he should never let himself forget it.

It took the three of them just under five minutes to reach their destination, a simple building set off the side of the main walkway. Luffy had passed it on their way to training the other day without ever giving it a second glance, as he had assumed it was just another home. For something called 'the Sacred Hall,' he had assumed it would be grand and impossible to mistake for anything but an official building.

He changed his mind as they stepped inside. Though the ceiling was relatively low-lying, and it was dark with the coming of the night, there were so many candles scattered around it was like standing in a plane of stars. There were no seats, just a large, empty room that was covered in woven mats. The walls were constructed of a wood that shone beautifully in the flickering light, enough that he almost felt he could see his reflection surrounding him.

Sitting regally on the ground at the far end of the room was Kuina, wearing a dress that Luffy somehow knew was official. It was in the simple cut of the fabric, as if the chief's daughter had so much power that she need not display it crassly in her clothing. She watched them with dark, unreadable eyes half hidden beneath her hair and a simple headdress.

Kuina said nothing, but Kamakiri stepped back and closed the door behind him as if commanded, leaving the three completely alone. Luffy found himself standing when he didn't know the protocol, and wondered briefly if that was intentional; he could be unwittingly insulting her right now, and she could use that later for justification for making the task more difficult. He glanced at Zoro, silently asking with his expression what they were supposed to do.

Zoro could see Luffy's curious gaze from the corner of his eye, but he made sure to keep his eyes carefully trained on Kuina's face. He stepped further into the room and nodded his head to acknowledge. With that done, he simply sat on one of the muted-colored mats that rested across from Kuina.

Mimicking his bodyguard, Luffy nodded and sat as well, this time not looking away from Kuina again.

Kuina watched the two, her expression unreadable but somehow foreboding. After a drawn-out, borderline uncomfortable moment, she straightened her back. "I will not keep you long." Her voice seemed abrupt in the heavy silence, and did not echo the way Luffy had expected it to in the empty room. She turned her attention to Luffy.

"This," she said, "in the Sacred Hall, is for tradition and to honor our ancestors. I have deliberated and know exactly what your quest will be. According to tradition, you have one last chance to change your mind; before you hear the task and the consequences of failure, I ask you, do you truly wish to do this? If you say yes, you are bound to all requirements and consequences. You cannot change your mind after you hear what I have to say, or even after you start the task. If you say no, there is no penalty, but what was discussed earlier will come about; Zoro will no longer be welcome among the tribesmen and Wadou will be left in this room, right now. Tomorrow, you will have to leave our territory as well, if you say no." She narrowed her eyes, staring at him intensely, her voice low and heavy with gravity. "What say you? Will you be participating in this quest, or do you wish to rescind? You have no time to consider; you will answer immediately. The Kurska will waste no time on the indecisive."

Luffy met her stare evenly, and said firmly, "Yes. I will participate."

Kuina's stare was so intent it was almost a glare, but she nodded. Turning her stare to Zoro, she continued in the same heavy voice. "You have been included in the meeting according to tradition. You as well have one chance to voice your objections. If you do not wish to be represented by this person after all, if you do not think him worthy of your trust or honor, then say so now. If you do not trust him, then the quest will be called off, and the same will happen as if he had said no. If you approve of his representation, then you are prohibited from offering him any advice or help after the task has been learned and until he returns, whether he succeeds or not. Remember, your pride and honor rest on this decision. It is not to be taken lightly, but you have no time for deliberation. Answer immediately, in the eyes of your ancestors and the Sacred Hall of our brethren the Lanshi, do you wish for this to continue? Yes or no."

Zoro watched Kuina carefully, his dark eyes narrowing a little. He knew that she was looking for any traces of hesitance or uncertainty in his face. She would find none of that in him, however, and he squared his broad shoulders, meeting her icy stare head on.

"Yes," he growled, almost defiantly.

She frowned in irritation at his response, but it was gone so swiftly that it almost seemed a trick of the light. "Very well."

Kuina turned back to Luffy, watching Zoro only out of the corner of her eye so she could gauge his expression. "You are allowed one full week, seven sun and moonrises, starting at dawn tomorrow for your quest. You will be led to the edge of the forest where you will spend the next week alone, but there will be no conversation. Everything must be conducted in silence, so if you wish to say your goodbyes, do so tonight. This is part of the tradition, and to ensure that you will be given no coded advice or help before you enter the forest."

There was a brief pause, and it took Luffy a moment to realize she was waiting for him to acknowledge that requirement. He nodded, but before he could say anything, she spoke again.

Kuina continued to stare at Luffy, but watch Zoro obliquely. This was the part she was interested in his reaction to. He seemed so certain of himself before, but even two years with foreigners could not lead him to forget the area she would speak of, or how difficult the task would be.

"There is an exceedingly rare flower that can be found only on Infinity Mountain, named so because it is so tall that it seems to rise forever. You will find your way to the mountain from the forest, and hike up the mountain until you find the scattered caves that sound of water echoing from their depths, but have none that you can see even if you walk inside for days. Inside one of these caves is an entrance to an underground cavern that you must follow for twenty-four hours straight until it rises abruptly and levels out. There, you will see a hidden forest and field with grass as tall as your chest.

"Somewhere in that field there will grow a small flower with three triangular petals, of the most beautiful blue color you will ever see in your life. You will retrieve the entire flower, including its roots, which you will not break but must clean entirely of dirt clumps, and you will bring it back alive, completely intact, and unwilted, to our camp. If you can present it to me before the sun rises on the eighth day, you will have completed your task."

As Kuina spoke, the swordsman's face faintly grew dark, and his jaw gave a subtle clench. "The Kurska have never asked an outsider to perform a task of this magnitude before," Zoro said lowly, careful to keep his tone neutral.

Kuina met Zoro's eyes with a poorly concealed smug, vindictive look. "And no outsider has had the audacity to demand so much from the chief's daughter before. Did you not hear his own words? He requested something challenging, so it is provided." She smiled coldly. "Are you doubting your trust so soon, Zoro? It has not even been five minutes; how will you ever last eight days?"

The swordsman didn't like the sound of her voice, neither the cold look in her eyes. "No Kurska has ever completed such a challenge before," Zoro reminded her. "He is only supposed to prove that he is capable of joining our clan."

"Perhaps the Kurska have become stronger since you left," she said coolly.

"Who has managed to find a Choola flower in seven days?" Zoro asked with a hard gaze, though he managed to keep his voice even.

Kuina did not look away. "We are not here to discuss anyone else; we are here to talk of what he needs to do."

Luffy looked between the two, feeling rather lost in the argument. "I don't understand," he said before it got any further from his comprehension. "It seems like it will be difficult, but why would seven days be a short time? I just need to find the mountain and get the flower, right?"

"Zoro is upset," Kuina said, with only the barest hint of scorn in her tone, "because you will need an incredible amount of luck. Infinity Mountain is several days away, and even when you find it, you will need to know exactly which cave to enter. There are many that seem similar, but only one harbors the flower. You will not know that you chose wrongly until after you walk twenty-four hours in one and do not find the field. The Choola flower is also a very delicate plant, which would be lucky to survive for twenty-four hours once taken from the ground. And it is difficult to find in the field."

Zoro had lapsed into a resigned sort of silence, and he gave Kuina a heavy stare. Difficult? More like impossible. He'd known that the task was going to be difficult all right, that had been a given. Traditionally, potential clan members would be asked to climb a dangerously high mountain or engage in some act of warfare in behalf of the Kurska. But he hadn't expected Kuina to come up with such an unusually harsh trial for Luffy to accomplish.

She wants Wadou, he realized darkly. And she's willing to forfeit his life for it.

The thought sickened him, but there wasn't anything left to do. He and Luffy had already agreed to the terms.

Luffy glanced between the two again, noting Zoro's serious expression and Kuina's coldly smug look. He felt as though something a little deeper was happening than he realized; like they were fighting not over him, but with him in the middle. Bewildered bait.

It didn't change his future, however, and certainly didn't bother him. He just found it odd, and decided to think on it more later, or ask Zoro, who looked as though Kuina had asked Luffy to pull the moon from the sky without even a ladder.

"I see," Luffy said, for lack of anything better. He paused a moment, thinking. "Is there anything else I can know ahead of time? Something that may be knowledge every Kurska knows but I don't, such as how to keep the Choola flower alive once I've picked it?"

"No," Kuina said with a shake of her head, watching him evenly. "I have already given you too much help. Normally, you would not know beforehand the extent of the danger in the task. Be thankful I am so kind."

Upon hearing this, Zoro's eyes narrowed. This wasn't any sort of kindness, as far as he was concerned. "Is there anything else you need to say?" he asked at length.

She nodded, glancing at Zoro with a mild expression, the cold smugness gone. "The consequences, of course." Kuina watched them both equally as she spoke unemotionally. "If you should bring back the flower, intact, alive, and within the time frame, Zoro will remain Kurska. He will have good standing, better than what he has now, and Wadou will be his to do with as he wishes, with no one able to challenge him for it short of my father the Chief, who initially gave it to him." There was only the slightest hint of bitterness in her voice at that. "You, Luffy, will become an honorary clansman, which grants you good favor in the eyes of the Kurska, and your friends will be granted sanctuary if they are ever in our territory while either of you remain clansmen in good standing."

Kuina paused, letting the words sink in before she continued. "If, however, you do not find the flower, if you lose it, if you bring it back dead or destroyed, or if you are outside of the time limit even by a minute, your friends will be escorted out of our territory and not allowed back in, Zoro will lose Wadou and not be allowed to challenge for it again. He will no longer be welcome back as Kurska and will also have to leave our land. And you will be executed."

Luffy blinked in surprise. Executed? Everyone else would be denied reentry, but he was actually facing death, even if he managed to evade it for a week in unfamiliar land? That seemed rather... harsh. He did not look away from her eyes, though; he merely nodded and decided to ask Zoro about that later, as well.

As Kuina spoke, Zoro firmly clenched his jaw, as if willing himself not to say something completely disrespectful. The more he heard about this task, the less he liked it. How could he, as a bodyguard, allow Luffy to walk off into such a dangerous situation? There was only a marginal chance of success, at best.

Silence stretched out after her announcement, and Kuina just watched them both calmly. When they said nothing, she nodded. "That is all that need be said now." She turned to Luffy. "You should sleep. It's possible you won't get much out there, not knowing properly the dangers of the forest. As I said before, I recommend you do not go into the dawn with regrets; say your goodbyes tonight, while you are still allowed to speak. We will meet you in the morning, when there will be no words. You are dismissed, unless you have any questions."

"Ah," Luffy said, still feeling a little shocked by the consequences. "I don't have any." He paused, trying to get his mind back on task, and added politely, "Thank you." Even though the task seemed very difficult and it would not be surprising if he failed, he did not want to disrespect her at this point and risk more consequences added. Or worse, not even giving him the chance to succeed at all.

Zoro stood up, brushing his clothes off. "We'll be leaving, then," he said gruffly.

Kuina nodded, but did not bother to stand herself. She turned from them, regarding some candles near her and ignored them.

Luffy stood and, with a glance at Zoro, walked out of the building and back into the night air. It seemed strangely dark outside after how light it had been with all the candles, and he was somehow relieved to see that Kamakiri had disappeared. At least they could walk back to Laki's house without a guard watching their every word. He wondered if, despite the difficult task Kuina set him, she had ordered they be given a little time on their own that night. Even if Zoro could, conceivably, give him as much advice as he wanted before the morning when silence would be mandated.

"Well," he said lightly, feeling a little bemused. "At least that's over with."

Zoro only frowned, his dark gaze staring straight ahead.

Luffy glanced at him sidelong, staying silent for a few steps. For some reason, he really just wanted to have a conversation with Zoro after such dire news, so he tried again. "I can't imagine," he mused thoughtfully, "there've ever been many honorary clansmen running around if all the tasks are so difficult. It's like applying to a very exclusive social club."

"This hasn't happened for two hundred years," Zoro admitted quietly. "It's rare."

Luffy nodded to himself. "Very exclusive," he said softly.

Zoro shrugged before turning to meet Luffy's gaze for the first time since Kuina told them the task. "It's not something that's taken lightly."

"I gathered that," Luffy said wryly, though he was happy that Zoro was finally looking at him. His pleasure showed in a sincere smile even as his voice softened slightly. "I'm lucky, then, that I'm given this chance."

"I would have abandoned my clan for you," Zoro said suddenly. "You didn't need to do this."

Luffy looked a little startled by something so sincere and sentimental coming from his usually stoic bodyguard. He blushed very lightly before he could stop himself, then wanted to look away out of embarrassment at his reaction, but felt that would only make it worse. He shook his head. "I wouldn't ask that of you. And then you would have lost Wadou, and that's really important to you. There's no reason you should have to lose it. Especially not on my account."

"I should have known this would happen when I agreed to be your bodyguard," Zoro muttered, bowing his head some.

Luffy could not help laughing shortly, amused. "That we would end up here, on another continent, and run into your former fiancée, who would challenge you in front of me, and I would agree to an ancient tradition that is almost never used anymore? Are you really that psychic?"

Zoro scratched his head some, looking a little embarrassed. "No. I'm not."

Shaking his head, Luffy stopped walking abruptly and put a hand up on Zoro's shoulder, smiling at him confidently. "You had no way of knowing. Neither of us did. Even if you knew ahead of time that we would come here, there are lots of reasons this may not have happened. Maybe we never got along, and I wouldn't care. Remember, you thought I would be a spoiled, annoying brat?"

Luffy considered that, shrugging lightly. "I guess maybe I am. I don't want anyone stealing the precious treasures of my friends." He paused, adding under his breath, "Especially not yours." He raised his voice back to normal speaking volume. "So... don't worry about it. This is good practice for the future Pirate King, right? And anyway, I'll just be going into a forest for a week. It'll be fine."

Zoro was quiet a moment, as if contemplating Luffy's words. "You know," he muttered, "you're brave enough to be a good king. That alone should be enough to let you into the clan."

Luffy smiled, feeling honestly flattered. "Thank you, Zoro," he said sincerely. "But they don't know me. Even if I am brave on my own and were myself around them, they would probably think it was an act."

"The Kurska have an eye for true bravery," Zoro reminded him simply.

"Then there's even less to worry about," Luffy said with total confidence. He paused, considering. "It's strange that I'm being tested on how good I am in unfamiliar territory, though, and not on my character. Is it because the Kurska are nomadic, and they have to be ready for anything, so an honorary clansman should be too?"

Zoro shrugged a little, resuming his slow walk. "I don't really know. It's just an old tradition. I guess they feel like a person's true character shows when he goes through something hard."

"Hmm." Luffy considered that and shrugged himself, falling in step at Zoro's side. He watched the houses they passed, most of the Lanshi inside with dinner or slowly preparing for sleep.

Although he wanted to see the others, it suddenly occurred to Luffy that when they reached Laki's, they would be surrounded by friends and noise. The night was beautiful, and Luffy wanted a chance to just relax in peace. For some reason, he also didn't want to lose possibly his last chance to be alone with Zoro. "Hey, we should stop somewhere else first where it's quieter," he said suddenly, looking over at Zoro with a smile. "Maybe the training grounds?"

Pausing, Zoro glanced at Luffy. He shrugged a little, as if it didn't really matter one way or the other to him. "That sounds okay." And with that, he turned and headed toward the empty training grounds.

Silence stretched while Luffy followed, though it wasn't awkward. Distracted by the stars, Luffy noticed a certain constellation. He smiled and chuckled suddenly, feeling fond and warm and not afraid like he probably should be considering the task looming before him.

"The Warrior Constellation," Luffy said softly, pointing while he walked. "Do you remember? From the desert?"

"Yeah," Zoro replied gruffly, though he had a slight grin. "I remember. I never really got the hang of all that star stuff."

"It's not all that hard," Luffy said, shrugging one shoulder with a smile. They walked up the hill leading to the training grounds, trees appearing around them before blocking the view of the village behind them. "It's mostly another way to tell stories. And to navigate."

"You can't navigate any better than I can," Zoro pointedly reminded him.

Luffy laughed. "That's because I only listen to the stories. I don't really know how you use them to navigate, just that people do. Shanks said you can figure out where you are even lost at sea with no compass or map if you know what to look for in the stars." A pause, and another chuckle. "I'd have to look for a big arrow pointing down to wherever I'm going... that'd be the only thing that would help me."

Zoro snorted. "Yeah, most of the Kurska use the stars to navigate," he said quietly.

"Really?" Luffy grinned trickily as they arrived at the empty training grounds. "But you can't use them either, huh?" He snickered. "We don't make a very good pirate and nomad combination."

"No, we don't," Zoro agreed. "We make a dangerous one."

"Only to ourselves," Luffy said with a laugh.

"And to the people with us," the swordsman added.

Luffy considered that for a moment, dropping onto the ground to lean back and idly watch the stars peeking between the circle of trees. "I don't know... Usopp, Nami, Sanji, they seem pretty fine, don't they? We just lean on them when we need it, and they lean on us when they need it... It works out in the end. Where's the danger in that?" He sounded honestly curious.

Snorting a little, Zoro paused beneath the long, willowy branches of a tree. He laughed a little in spite of himself. "I know."

Watching the stars made him think about navigation, and getting lost. Luffy laughed suddenly. "I thought it was bad enough that one time, I got lost in my own palace for a whole day. But I can't beat you at wandering off a whole continent and not making it back."

"Hey," the swordsman said suddenly. "It's actually pretty easy to leave your continent if you just keep walking for long enough." Snorting, he looked over at Luffy. "You actually got lost in your own home, though?"

"Did you walk around Anchor?" Luffy asked with amused indignation. "The hallways all look the same! And it just gets worse the lower you go, because then it's out of view. One time, I tried to escape Coby by going through some hidden passages into the servant quarters and I couldn't get back out. And it's not like there's windows down there to tell me what area I'm in." He paused, reminiscing. "I thought I was gonna die!"

Zoro suddenly laughed, settling down onto a soft blanket of grass. "I think it'd be pretty hard to die in a palace. Someone would have gone after you eventually."

"There are stories, though!" Luffy was warming to the topic and leaned toward Zoro conspiratorially. "I heard someone killed themselves down there, and his ghost haunts the palace forever now. At night, you can hear the thumping of his shoes as he forever replays the last day of his life. I could've been led astray... or... Or eaten by a monster. Or something."

Shaking his head lightly, Zoro looked at the prince incredulously. "You don't believe in ghosts, do you?"

Luffy laughed. "Don't you?"

Leaning back against the tree, Zoro snorted. "Of course not."

Zoro's stalwart response only amused Luffy further. "Why not? If someone has a strong enough desire or dream but dies early, is it so strange to think their willpower lingers on?"

"I don't know about spirits, or ghosts, or God or whatever," Zoro said simply. "I guess it's possible, but I won't believe it until I see it."

"Maybe you need to believe in order to see," Luffy said serenely with a little smile.

"Then it's just your eyes playing tricks on you," Zoro said with a soft frown.

Shrugging, Luffy's smile slowly faded. "I don't know about God either, and I don't really care. But ghosts are something else; they're just people, who stayed even though they died. I've never seen one, don't know if I ever will... but I guess I don't really need to see to believe it. Maybe it's more that I don't disbelieve in ghosts."

Luffy paused, thoughtful, and looked over with dark eyes. "Hasn't there ever been anything in your life you couldn't explain or didn't expect? You've never just had to believe in something or someone even though you don't know for sure what will happen; don't have anything to go by but your instinct and trust?"

Zoro looked over at Luffy with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah," he said quietly. "I guess there're some things I can't really explain."

"Then it's settled." Luffy grinned, watching Zoro as he said playfully. "Just to be sure, whenever I die, I'll stay around as a ghost and haunt you until you see me. I bet I could open your eyes, no matter how stubborn you want to be."

"Maybe," Zoro said with a tiny smirk. "But I've just about decided that you're a rare breed, Luffy."

"Just about?" Luffy echoed, laughing again. "Not quite sure yet?"

"Well... I guess we'll see how you handle this task," Zoro said, his tone turning serious. "If you can earn a place with the Kurska, then there's no doubt that you can do anything you put your mind to."

"Prepare to call me an official rare breed then," Luffy said with a confident grin. "A week from now, you won't have any doubts left."

Zoro gave a tiny grin. "I'll hold you to that."

"Don't worry! Even after I kick that forest's ass, I'll still have plenty of tricks up my sleeve!" He grinned widely, his eyes sparking mischievously.

Zoro almost laughed, but he kept a straight face. "Oh, really?"

Instead of answering, Luffy's grin just grew wickedly. He didn't break eye contact, but just suddenly jumped at Zoro, his arms splayed out like a cat pouncing. Grabbing Zoro by the shoulders, he pushed him on his back and tried to pin him. "Bet I can hold you down," he teased.

Actually thrown off guard, Zoro raised his eyebrows with surprise. "Hey-!" he said suddenly, his voice colored with a faint laugh. "What're you doing?"

"I'm surprising you," Luffy said rather smugly.

Reaching up and gripping Luffy's shoulders, Zoro tried to gain the upper hand. "Maybe I've got a few surprises of my own," he said gruffly.

"I doubt it," Luffy teased, and tensed in case Zoro tried to flip him. He knew Zoro would win in strength, but maybe if he accounted for it, he could still win.

Zoro did try to flip him, but it was in an almost playful way, just enough to try and get the rubberman off of him. "You can't overpower a bodyguard," he warned. "Especially your own."

"What am I doing now, then?" Luffy asked, laughing. He braced his knees on either side of Zoro's thighs for better stability.

"Preparing to be defeated," Zoro shot back, roughly grabbing Luffy's shoulders.

Before he realized it, they had taken to rolling across the moist grass together, bits of soil flying up in the air when Zoro's boot scraped into the ground. Between their amused snorts, breathless jibes and nudging elbows and knees, they waged a small war of who could keep this strange game going on the longest. It all seemed so ridiculous and childish to the swordsman, yet it was exhilarating because Zoro didn't think he'd ever just wrestled with someone for fun, not even as a boy.

It was like coming alive again, but not in the way the heat of battle or the stains of spilled blood were. This wasn't necessarily purer, but it was lighter and happier.

Luffy didn't think he had ever seen Zoro look so carefree and happy, and that alone made it impossible for him to stop grinning. They rolled near a tree, Luffy's back and Zoro's arm nearly getting pinned. The air was warm but it felt cool against the sweat forming on their skin. Someone pushed against the ground and the momentum pulled them closer to the center of the clearing. One would triumph, pinning the other, only to be usurped and thrown on his back.

Between the exertion and the laughter, Luffy felt his heart pounding and could barely draw a full breath. He never expected to get Zoro to actually play around with him, but now he could think of nothing he'd rather do with his time.

Hearing him laugh so happily made something in his stomach leap and squirm, and if he weren't so distracted with trying to pin Zoro down, he may have noticed how the feeling only intensified each time his fingers brushed bare skin, or he had a clearer view of Zoro's unguarded eyes.

[...]

Author's note: Are you going to kill me when I tell you that's as far as we had written? …Yes, I thought you might. The fact that it leaves off in such an evil spot was part of the reason I think we didn't post for a long time, thinking MAYBE we'd end up writing more, MAYBE we'd finish this scene…

Unfortunately, while I thought we had notes somewhere saying how the story was supposed to end, I can't find them. If I find them in the future I'll post it as the last chapter. For now, if you want you can go to the next chapter – which begins the (also unfinished) 'epilogue'/sequel we for some reason started writing parallel to this.

Fair warning: it's probably not safe for work.