"Can you tell where they are from here, Chopper?", asked the archaeologist as her and the chef approached the reindeer.
"Yeah, Zoro and Usopp are in the middle of the village, Eastward I think, but Nami's scent is really far to the South. She's probably inside a building, so can't track her as easily without getting closer.", said Chopper, his nose twitching in the air.
"So Nami-swan is inside one of the South buildings?", asked Sanji seriously.
"As far as I can tell, yes."
"Okay then, we'll split up here. I'll go rescue Nami-swan, and you go with Robin-chwan to find Marimo and Usopp."
"But what if you run into some Kuja who don't know you're a Straw Hat, you can't fight them?", asked the doctor worriedly. He had seen how much damage Sanji took at Enies Lobby when he wouldn't fight against that secretary lady, and after two years of training the chef seemed to have an even bigger weakness for the ladies.
"Don't worry, Chopper. I'll get Nami-swan back, no matter what."
"But Sanj-"
"No matter what. Now hurry, go find that stray moss before he does something else stupid.", said the chef before heading south of the palace, leaving his crew mates behind.
"Sanji-san will be fine Chopper, you know how capable he is.", comforted Robin as she noticed the worried look in her tiny companion's face. "Now let's go find Zoro and Usopp, shall we?"
"You're right, Robin. Let's go find our friends."
"Lead the way, Doctor Chopper."
"That doesn't make me happy, you big jerkface.", said the reindeer as he ran beside the woman, his face a noticeable shade of pink.
Zoro and Usopp
"Ah, they're still gaining on us!", screamed the sniper, wiggling to avoid the projectiles the ladies were throwing their way. "Do something, Zoro!"
"I could put you down and fight them.", suggested the swordsman as he hung another left.
"No, no, no, what if you don't take them out all at once and I die because you left poor defenseless me on the ground.", cried the sniper exaggeratedly.
"I found my swords in one of those buildings we ran through, I can just slice through all of them now."
"Or you could end up ticking them off more, and then what am I suppose to do after you get shot through with arrows or bleed to death from one of those rocks hitting you big green head of a target.
"Then keep your mouth shut until you come up with an actual solution.", huffed Zoro, jumping over some crates to get into an alley for them to hopefully escape the angry Kujas. Zoro landed easily in the dark space letting the sniper's head smack against one of the stone walls because of the 'big green head of a target' comment.
"Ow, Zoro, you big meanie!", cried Usopp in pain. "You did that on purpose!"
"Maybe you should keep your mouth shut more.", said the swordsman unapologetic.
"Say you're so-"
"Shush, before they notice we turned here.", whispered Zoro harshly as made his way towards the opposite end of the dark side street. However, the swordsman's face fell as he noticed the solid stone that blocked their pathway. He couldn't scale the wall and carry Usopp, who didn't have a chance of making it off the ground with his hands and feet bound, and the Kuja would already be on them before he could backtrack out of the dead end or cut the wall down. They were trapped and he would have to fight, that was the only option.
"It seems you men were as disgusting and deceitful as we presumed. Now, why don't you come back to your cage where you belong and we won't kill you...for now.", asked Kikyo with a smirk.
I really don't like that one. Gah, this is why I don't like women. Why can't they all just be like Robin, she's way better than these weirdos that have been chasing up all day. "That doesn't seem like a fair trade.", said the swordsman, playing at a confidence he wasn't feeling at the moment. Come on think Zoro, there has to be a way out. I could use Dragon Twister, no if Usopp's on the ground he might get crushed by the debris. What about just cutting the buildings down on the sides, then I could run away with Usopp while these stupid women as dodging the stones? Usopp would probably freak out if I did that though, and then I'd have to deal with him panicking while I try and escape. I'll have to use small attacks that won't hurt the buildings, but will keep them at bay long enough for me to take all of them out without Usopp having to fight.
"I'd say it is. You gain another few days to your pathetic life, that should satisfy even a brute like you."
Setting the sharpshooter at his feet, Zoro began unsheathing Kitetsu. The cursed blade had a mind of its own, and it still fought against him sometimes in battle, the times when he wasn't shedding enough blood, but now was the perfect time. Now he could let the red katana slice through as many Kuja as it desired. They deserved to bleed a little after all the trouble they had caused him today. "Sorry to tell you, but I still have things to do before I die."
"So you're refusing to come back?", asked Kikyo.
"Let's see if you can bring me back.", said Zoro with a cocky smirk.
"Very well, attack lad-", ordered Kikyo, only to have her voice cut off as something pressed into her windpipe.
"What's going on?", called another before her voice was silenced as well, as the Kuja continued to fall pray to an unseen enemy.
"Is it the men?"
"Hel-", choked out another before collapsing to the cold ground.
The alleyway didn't let in a lot of sunlight so it was already difficult to see in the dimly lit street. Zoro could only make out the silhouettes of the fallen pirates at the moment, but he knew exactly what was happening. "You know I could of handled them, Robin."
"Yes, but it's nice to get to protect you every once in awhile.", replied the historian as her and Chopper entered the alley, careful to avoid stepping on the unconscious Kuja as they approached the men.
"Oh thank goodness, I thought some invisible monster was attacking people. You just about gave me a heart attack, Robin.", sighed Usopp. "Hey, Chopper come chew through these ropes.
"My apologies, Usopp.", said the historian as she approached Zoro, watching as the swordsman sheathed Kitetsu so that he could wrap his arms around her waist.
"I'm not some wild animal!", exclaimed Chopper at the sharpshooter's request.
"So I assume docking didn't go as smoothly as planned.", said Robin, slipping her arms around the swordsman's neck.
"Yeah, long story, but I'll tell you later. Right now, I just want to find a nice place to sleep with my head in your lap.", sighed Zoro.
"That can be arranged." Robin leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the lips only to have Zoro's hands move to cup her cheeks holding her mouth against his.
"Mm, I missed that.", said Zoro, pulling back to look into the archaeologist's slightly dazed eyes.
"You were only missing for a couple hours.", teased Robin, able to poke fun at the swordsman even while her mind was clouded over from kissing him.
"Don't act like that didn't blow your mind."
"You've done better."
" I guess I'll just have practice some more.", said Zoro, leaning in for another kiss as he lifted Robin into his arms and heading out of the dank side street.
"Wait Zoro, cut these ropes!", yelled Usopp, wiggling after the oblivious couple.
"I'm kinda busy right now, maybe later.", called the swordsman, not bothering to look back.
"You're doing this on purpose aren't you? Get back here and free me!"
"I don't think he's coming back.", said Chopper hesitantly.
"Stupid swordsman, and his stupid face, kissing stupid Robin, and not helping me.", muttered Usopp.
"I bet I could carry you on my back, then we could go to the palace.", suggested the reindeer, transforming into his natural animal form.
"Fine, just be careful."
Chopper used his nose to lift the sniper onto his head, letting the curly-haired man roll down his neck before coming to rest in the center of his back, hunched over at the waist.
"Okay, let's go!", said the doctor excitedly,carefully trotting his way through the maze of unconscious ladies while Usopp was swung around at the doctor's mercy.
"Hey, be car-Oof"
"Oh, sorry Usopp.", said Chopper noticing that he had smacked the sniper's head against a wall and hurriedly backing in the opposite direction. Usopp cringed as his legs were bent awkwardly against the stone wall Chopper was pressing them up against.
"Chop-", tried Usopp as the doctor leaped into the air, making the sharpshooter rack in ribs against the reindeer's hard spine.
"Whew, we're out now. Did you say something Usopp?", asked Chopper, peeking over his shoulder.
"No, nothing.", choked out Usopp, the wind still knocked out of him. I'm gonna punch that stupid Zoro when I get these ropes off...or at least put some tabasco in his drink at dinner.