Hold your breath.

Enjoy~

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Chapter 19

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The rains were starting to roll in with the thick black clouds that turned day into night. The storm was finally reaching the Strawhats where they were seeking shelter within the mountain caves. With it brought the sharp gusts of wind that blew, occasionally whipping around and causing a intermittent mist to enter their safe haven. That meant taking care to make sure all of the things they brought with them stayed safe and dry further in the cave.

The crew settled into work gathering what they would need around the cave. Part of it was to make certain they would be able to make a mad dash should they need to. The rest was to keep busy so they wouldn't have to think too hard on the possibility. Though none of them admitted it, the caves were their last chance at safety from the storms. There was no more higher ground. No other shelter to make a mad dash to. So they worked.

Sanji was working over a stew for everyone to keep them warm as the temperature dropped. He seemed more content after last night. Spending it sharing the horizon with Zoro made him feel.. Freer? 'I don't think that's the right word...' It was a puzzle that he was mildly working on as he focused on his stew. It wasn't in a hurry to solve it. He sort of liked the curious feeling it was causing him.

Luffy was busy with Nami stacking their possessions up on a higher ledge in the cave to prevent it from getting wet in case the rain was blown in. They both had noticed the nearly docile air that was around the cook and the swordsman when they returned into the cave the night before. Nami was still curious as hell on what had happened, but Luffy seemed content. Even happy for his nakama for finally confiding in one another.

Robin was assisting Sanji with the cooking, while being as subtle as she could watching the blond. Setting up a folding table while getting the bowls and silverware ready, she was mulling over how Sanji had reacted to everything. She was holding true to her previous observations, but she knew Sanji was steadily changing with this situation. Instead of that guarded air he always had with all of them, he seemed to be relaxed a bit more. 'Comfortable within his own skin...' She knew it was pointless, but she marveled, perhaps even envied that strength to finally let go and trust.

And out to gather more firewood before the rains soaked everything were Usopp Zoro and Chopper. Nothing seemed amiss with the trio, though Usopp risked more than one disbelieving and skeptical look towards the swordsman for whatever reason.

The clashing of the lightning and rumbling of the thunder was progressively getting closer. Even though it was midday, the sky outside was an ominous black. It was placing everyone on edge, but they pressed through it and focused on their tasks.

"Will this be okay, Cook-san?"

Sanji looked up from the large pot he had suspended over the fire and smiled at the older woman's work. "Yes, Robin-chan. Thank you. Could you pass me th-!"

Sanji's question was cut off when the cave seemed to jolt and shudder all around them. Making them stumble and try desperately to keep everything from toppling over. The rock around them was still trembling when a deafening sound echoed loudly around them. It was like an explosion, making all four of them clutch at their ears from the intensity. For a tense moment, the chaos seemed as if it would never let up, but it steadily lessened until it was quiet again.

When everything was still, Nami lifted her head and glanced around. "Everyone okay..?"

"Yeah... Damn.. That sounded like it was right on top of us..." Luffy muttered with a light whistle. Even he knew when things were getting serious. This storm was not one to take lightly. The captain's eyes settled back on the entrance of the cave. "We better get the others back here." he stated while heading out.

"I'll go with you." Robin said as she took up step behind him.

The two had barely took a step outside in the drizzling rain when a voice screamed out.

"LUFFY!!"

Startled by the desperate cry, Sanji and Nami were quick to join the other two at the cave entrance. The moment they were outside they could see Chopper in his walking point in a flat out run towards them.

The panic clear in the reindeer's voice and pace, everyone knew something was wrong. "Chopper! What happened?!" Luffy called out as he ran out to meet his doctor.

Chopper skidded to a stop on the wet ground only to get behind Luffy and nudge him in the direction that he had came from. "L.. Lightning! Struck the cliff side! Zoro pushed us out of the way! He was tossed in the river! Hurry!"

The moment he understood, Luffy's eyes widened. "Go! Take us there!" the captain ordered quickly, pushing the doctor to lead them.

Chopper didn't hesitate to dash back in the direction of the cliff they had be moving along. Moving as fast as his four legs could carry him, the doctor was trying as hard as he could not to let the panic overwhelm him. Focusing on getting them there as quickly as possible.

The moment Sanji heard Zoro's name his heart nearly stopped. His mind tried to shift through a million different things that could have happened. Each notion more horrific than the last, but he pushed them all aside as followed Chopper with Luffy and the girls. Ignoring the strain the fast motions were putting on his still healing back. Ignoring the rainwater that was soaking through his clothes and bandages. 'You better be okay, you fuckin shitty ass marimo!' his mind growled, focusing on being angry so there would be no room for fear.

Though it felt like an agonizing eternity, it took less than half a minute before Chopper led them to were Usopp was looking over the cliff at the river banks.

"Usopp! Any sign of him?!" Luffy called out to his sniper before skidding to a stop next to him.

Usopp looked back with a panicked expression on his face. "I can't find him! This is where he fell, but a lot of rocks fell with him! I can't tell if he's still here or if he was swept down river!"

Luffy's eyes narrowed and he gritted he teeth. "I'm going in!"

"Luffy, stop!" Nami was quick to grab hold of his captain before he jumped. "You can't swim, idiot! You'll both drown!"

"I gotta do something, dammit!" Luffy snapped as he struggled a bit against the navigator's hold.

Robin was already using her own power to place eyes all along the cliff side to look for the swordsman, but she was distracted when a blue floral print shirt was tossed to the ground. She looked up and was startled when it looked as if Sanji was about to jump in. "Cook-san!"

All eyes were on Sanji and Chopper immediately shifted into heavy point to grab Sanji's arm. "Sanji! What do you think you're doing?!"

Sanji leveled a steady glare on Chopper as he pulled his arm away roughly. "I'm the only one that can go down there, Chopper!" His eyes quickly shifted to Luffy. Looking at his captain with a beseeching gaze. "Let me go."

The serious gleam in the blue eyes told Luffy all he needed to know. "Chopper, hold onto me."

Though Chopper hesitated a second, he was soon wrapping his large arms around Luffy securely.

Once he was held down, Luffy then held out his hand to Sanji. "Bring him back."

Sanji didn't think twice once he was given permission. He took hold of Luffy's hand only to turn and leap off the cliff side. He ignored the cries of his nakama's voices as he fell, his captain's stretching arm slowing his decent to the rushing river below. When he was certain he was moving at a safer speed to dive into the rushing water, Sanji released his captain's hand. Diving head first into the churning river.

The water was cold and instantly seized his recovering body, but he shoved it all out of his head. He fought against the strong currents that tried to push and pull him down river. Searching the murky water for where the rocks had fallen. It was hard to see, but Sanji could still make out colors and shapes within the shifting blur that surrounded him.

'Where are you.. Dammit where are you?!' Before he started to panic, he caught a glimpse of green and swam towards it with everything he had.

Lungs burning and head spinning, Zoro struggled to get out from under the rubble that pinned him at the bottom of the river. The entire thing had happened so fast. He had felt the electricity in the air just an instant before the lightning had struck the cliff. Zoro only had enough time to shove Usopp and Chopper out of the way before the rocks crumbled and swept him over the side. The fact he had the presence of mind to take a breath before he hit the water was a miracle in itself.

Now his situation was becoming increasingly dire. His arms were trapped to his sides. The water along with the weight of the rocks made it impossible to gain the proper leverage to free himself. He was running out of air, and the weight was slowly crushing him. Making his air run out that much faster. If something didn't happen soon..

'Dammit.. Not like this...'

His vision was starting to blur in and out as the seconds ticked away. He wasn't sure if he was seeing things when something appeared to be swimming towards him. 'I... I can't.. Hold...'

His eyes slid shut only to snap open when he felt a felt a familiar touch on his face. His eyes managed to focus through the moving water in order to see blond hair and pale skin in front of him. '.. Sanji..'

Sanji felt his heart pound when he found Zoro trapped under the pile of rubble. The fear he was restraining tightly came close to ripping free when the dark eyes were closed. But on touching the tan face he was instantly relieved when Zoro opened his eyes. He could see the swordsman was barely clinging on to consciousness.

One glance at the large rocks piled atop his nakama told Sanji it was going to take several kicks to get them away without hurting him. Zoro wouldn't be able to hold his breath long enough. He had to make a snap decision.

He looked to Zoro's eyes and gave a reassuring caress to his cheek. 'Hold on.. Please hold on..'

Pulling away, Sanji kicked his feet off the river bottom and swam up to the surface. Pushing his weakening body past his limits, he broke through the water's surface gasping for breath.

"Sanji!" The others all called out to him from above. Their fears and anticipation almost tangible from how they cried out his name.

"I found him!" Sanji called out quickly. He took a few fast and deep breaths before filling up his lungs to full capacity. It placed a strain on his chest and back, but he pushed on and dove under the water once more.

His muscles were burning and his back was screaming. His wounds more than likely bleeding again, but it didn't matter. None of that mattered. He fought his way against the current. It seemed to be stronger than before. He knew that his weakening body wasn't going to last much longer against it. Still he pushed on. Forcing his legs and arms to propel him back to where Zoro was trapped. Heart pounding, he reached the swordsman and took hold of Zoro's face. Then moving in close, he pressed their lips together tightly. 'Stay with me... Stay with me, you mossy ass bastard!'

Zoro could feel himself slipping away. The darkness that tinged the edges of his vision was growing. Closing in on him. It briefly made his slowing mind recall when he had been encased in wax at little garden. That feeling of being trapped. Running out of time.

But he didn't panic then. He knew his nakama would save him.

And now...

'...He'll come...'

A moment later he felt those familiar hands again cupping his face, and those lips pressing against his own. He didn't resist when a persistent tongue pried his mouth open. The moment his mouth was opened a rush of air forced its way into him. His eyes opened wider when the burning of his lungs was soothed by the air he needed so desperately.

For a tense moment they stayed locked like that. Mouths pressed tight together as they shared the limited air. Sanji breathed out. Zoro breathed in.

In...

...Out...

...In...

...Out...

Only when he was satisfied that Zoro would be okay did Sanji pull back. He placed his hand over Zoro's mouth, making sure the swordsman closed his lips. Feeling them close firmly against his palm, Sanji pulled away to focus on the rocks he had to deal with to finish this.

All he needed to do was clear away enough so Zoro could move out from under the rest. His body was already past its limits as the soaked bandages started unraveling from around him. Exposing his healing wounds that covered his back. Still Sanji fought the water pushing against him. Surging forward, he began slamming his feet into rock after rock. Kicking them aside and lessening the crushing weight on his nakama.

Nothing else was registering. Not the burn of his muscles. Not the searing pain pulling at his back. The brutal impact of his bare feet against the jagged rocks. The numbing cold that was seeping into his strung out body. None of it mattered. He wasn't going to give in until Zoro was free.

Zoro watched with rapt attention as Sanji moved relentlessly to free him. The moment that passed between them before made so many things click inside his head. He had no doubt in his mind Sanji would succeed. He trusted his nakama completely. Now he was no longer concerned of getting free. His only thoughts now that he had the oxygen to focus was grabbing hold of Sanji and getting to the surface. They were going to make it.

He waited for the muffled rumbling sounds of Sanji digging him out before he tried struggling again. He could feel the weight shift off of him steadily. The rocks were kicked aside, and bit by bit he was able to wriggle his arms loose. Once one larger chunk of rock shifted off the pile, Zoro managed to wrench his arms free. He was quick to claw his way out, shifting and writhing before the pile settled on top of him again.

Finally free in the water, Zoro turned and reached out for Sanji. 'Sanji!'

He saw Zoro free himself, which sent a wave of relief wash over Sanji. But that last rock had taken what energy was left from Sanji's body. The pain and exhaustion was making his head spin. He tried to reach out for his nakama's hand, but the unrelenting current was too much for him. Arm outstretched, straining to reach, but he started to slip further away. 'Zoro..'

Zoro's eyes widened when Sanji was being taken away by the river. 'No!' He stopped fighting the move of the water and tried to move with it. Trying with everything he had to close the gap between them before it was too late. 'Don't give in now, you curly bastard!'

It was then he caught a glimpse of something. It was one of Sanji's bandages floating by trailing behind the cook. Without bothering to think, Zoro grabbed hold of it and his luck was rewarded when the other end was still wrapped around the blond's torso. Stopping Sanji from getting sucked away by the undercurrents.

Using the bandage like a rope, he pulled them closer quickly while it still held together. The moment Sanji was within his grasp he locked his arms around him tight. He then used all of his remaining strength to get them to the surface. It seemed like they would never reach as the water kept twisting and pulling at them.

But the way Sanji clung to him spurred Zoro to keep going.

Sanji knew he could do it.

That he would do it.

Sanji held on as tight as he could so they wouldn't be ripped apart again.

Things seemed to slow when they finally managed to erupt on the surface of the dark waters. Hearts pounding, both gasping raggedly for air. Clinging to one another as the water tried to bring them back down.

Tightening his right arm around Sanji's waist, Zoro shot his left hand up towards the cliffs above them. "LUFFY!"

Up above Robin was the first to spot them. Within a second she had a series of arms sprouting from the riverbanks to grab hold of them both to keep them from being swept down the river. "Luffy! To the right! Hurry!" she called out to her captain as she strained to keep her hold on them.

"Yosh! Chopper! Hold on!" Luffy shouted out to the doctor again before getting close to the cliff edge. He nearly would have jumped off if it hadn't been for Chopper grabbing hold of him as he shot his hand down to the pair.

An instant later he caught hold of Zoro's hand and grabbed it tight. Wasting no time in quickly pulling them up towards the cliff.

"Robin! Usopp! Help catch them!" Chopper called out before they made a crash landing against the jagged land around them.

Robin was ready with one of her arm nets to stop them from flying into the rocks, and Usopp was there to catch them after their sudden stop. "Zoro! Sanji! Are you okay?!" Usopp asked quickly as he steadied the both of them.

Zoro couldn't respond at first when Sanji collapsed from exhaustion next to him. He readily caught the cook, and gathered the trembling body in his arms. "Chopper! Sanji needs help!" he called out quickly, carrying the blond to the doctor.

Chopper was there in an instant. Checking over the cook promptly, he frowned deeply and motioned for Zoro to move towards the cave. "We need to get him dry and warm. Part of his wounds have opened up again. We need to get you both back to the cave now! Nami! Run ahead and gather what you can to get them dry, and gather up all the blankets!"

"Got it!" Nami ran off through the rain, grateful for being able to move after being frozen stiff with worry. But now everything that Robin had told her the day before finally made sense to instant she saw Zoro gather Sanji into his arms. 'They do need each other..'

Zoro readily went along with the doctor. Ignoring his burning muscles and the cold that was making it hard to breathe, he carried Sanji back to the cave. Clutching the far too pale body close to his chest in a weak attempt to warm him. Though he knew he was just as freezing as Sanji was.

Relief soon came when he was inside the cave that was warmed from the fire. It nearly burned as the pinpricks of heat nipped along his skin, but it was a welcomed change from the numbness that was starting to settle in. He moved towards where Nami was spreading out the towels and blankets, but was reluctant to let Sanji go.

His hesitation must have showed. "Zoro, get out of those wet clothes and sit next to the fire to get warm. I'll look after Sanji." Chopper told the swordsman as gently as he could.

In other words, get out of the way. Zoro knew it, but there was nothing he could do now. He gently placed Sanji on the towels that were layered up on the ground and stepped aside. As Chopper moved in to treat the cook, Zoro began peeling out of his wet clothes and took the offered blanket Nami was holding out to him.

"Are you okay..?" Nami asked quietly.

"I'm fine.." Zoro mumbled as he wrapped himself up in the blanket. In truth his mind was a bit frayed from everything that happened so quickly. It seemed like a choppy dream now that it was over. He almost lost himself to his thoughts when he then felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He glanced back to see Luffy looking at him. "Luffy.."

A soft smile was on Luffy's lips as he held Zoro's shoulder a bit tighter. "I'm proud of both of you.." he said quietly. His smile twitched a bit wider into a grin. "Everything will be okay."

Hearing those words from his captain made Zoro sudden feel a bit easier. He gave a weak smile in return before slumping his shoulders forward a bit. Showing his own exhaustion settling in. "Thanks..."

"Come on. Let's get you by the fire." Usopp suddenly cut in, wrapping another blanket around Zoro's shoulders and nudging him to move.

As he was led towards the fire where Robin was returning to the stew that had been abandoned, Zoro glanced back to where Sanji was being looked after. That thin trembling body that was being wrapped up in blankets to fight off the chill. At first he thought Sanji was out cold, but blue eyes cracked open and focused on him.

A faint smile ghosted across Sanji's pale lips. It was warm. Gentle. 'Stupid marimo' Sanji mouthed out silently before letting his eyes slide shut again. That smile still on his lips.

That gesture left Zoro staring, but after a moment he was smiling as well. It would be alright. Sanji would be fine. '.. We'll be fine...'

With that thought in mind, Zoro settled down where Usopp sat him near the fire. Finally allowing himself to rest.

Their nakama would take care of everything.

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TBC

Let it out slowly.

Later~