Ch. 6- Blizzard Bites Back…and Luffy Remembers?

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard and Malcolm © Me

Zoro tried his hardest to push Blizzard back, but he found himself struggling under the huge wolf-dog's strength. He had forgotten how much stronger the canine had gotten over the past two years. Still, that wasn't going to stop him.

However, he wasn't about to lose to some mutt, even if he is a part of the crew.

"C'mon, Mutt!" Zoro barked. "I know you can do better than this!"

RAAAAAAWWWRR! Blizzard roared in the swordsman's face.

Just then, Zoro pushed Blizzard away, sending him backwards for a moment before the vampire hound came charging back at him.

"Here he comes, again!" Sanji warned.

"Will you relax?" Zoro questioned. "I may be one-eyed, now, but that doesn't mean I'm blind! He's right in front of me!"

As Blizzard was charging, Zoro dashed forward, as well, preparing to attack.

SLISH! Zoro cut Blizzard in the side with his swords, drawing blood as he did.

Blizzard turned to face Zoro, again, red liquid seeping from the gashes in his side, but it didn't seem to affect him, at all. However, it did seem to make him angrier.

Zoro raised his now blood-ridden swords.

"Three-Swords Style…"

WOOSH! The wings for his Tengu costume seemed to come to life. They began to flap, and Zoro instantaneously took flight, swords pointed at Blizzard, who was charging right back at him.

"Wings of BLOOD!"

SLASH! Zoro swung his swords, cutting Blizzard once again in the face, shoulder, and hip. The resulting slash took the shape of a wing.

KRASH! Blizzard landed behind the swordsman in a crumpled heap, defeated…for the moment, at least.

"Not bad," Sanji said, "for a hack."

"I'm just gonna pretend I didn't hear you," Zoro said. "Anyway, he won't stay down for long. We better hurry and get outta here before he decides to get back up, again."

For once, Sanji agreed with Zoro, and the two Straw Hats prepared to make their exit.

Blizzard, on the other hand, was just beginning to stand up, perhaps a bit too soon. Vampire or not, the wolf-dog had crazy resilience and was able to heal faster than normal, so it should be no surprise that he should be able to stand after taking a slashing from Zoro like that.

Blizzard growled and hissed at the same time, alerting Zoro and Sanji that he wasn't done, yet.

"Damn it," Zoro said. "Of course the mutt would get right back up! He's a vampire!"

"Forget that!" Sanji said. "Let's just run!"

Not needing to be told twice, Zoro made a run for it, and Sanji soon followed. Blizzard gave chase after them, growling and hissing.

XXX

Somewhere else in the house, Usopp and Brook were looking in another room. This room must've been one of the guest rooms, judging by the dusty old cot that had been set out.

While Usopp searched closet, Brook was looking in one of the drawers of the dresser (hoping to find some…lingerie inside). So far, they've found nothing to help Malcolm pass on to the other world.

"This is pointless," Usopp said. "We've searched three rooms, and we haven't found one damn clue that'll help us!"

"And I haven't found any panties," said a sulking Brook.

"Forget about the underwear for a minute!" Usopp barked. "Listen, this is no time to be checking out women's lingerie, okay? We have to find a way to get that ghost kid to pass on, as well as turn Luffy and Blizzard back to normal! If we don't, who knows what's gonna happen?"

CREEEAAK! KACRASH! The ceiling suddenly gave way, and three figures came falling from the hole that had formed.

It was Zoro and Sanji…and they had dragged Blizzard down with him!

"GAAAAAAAAHH!" Brook screamed.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?" Usopp cried. "WHY DID YOU BRING BLIZZARD DOWN WITH YOU?"

Zoro and Sanji quickly jumped to their feet and backed away from Blizzard as he stood up, growling and hissing.

"Be careful!" Sanji warned. "Don't let him get at you, no matter what!"

Blizzard looked at the four men (well, three men and a skeleton in Brook's case), trying to decide on who should be his prey.

The four Straw Hats all got into fighting stances, prepared to fight off the vampire dog. Crew member or not, he was threatening them, and for right now, they had to fight for their lives.

Blizzard lunged for Sanji who quickly rolled out of the way, and POW! He delivered a snapping kick to his stomach!

"Certain Death…HOLY WATER STAR!" Usopp cried.

TWANG! SPLOOSH! Usopp shot a vial of holy water at Blizzard, who dropped to the ground, yowling in agony as the holy water began to burn his body.

"Thank goodness," said Brook. "I really hated the thought of having to fight Mister Blizzard, especially in his current form!"

"Well, now's our chance to get outta here while we can!" Sanji said. "Let's go and regroup with the others! I hope Luffy hasn't found them."

As the quartet ran to leave, Blizzard staggered to his paws, suddenly overcome by an incredible bloodlust. The holy water had weakened him, and now, he really needed blood, or else he could end up in a catatonic state.

He focused his attention on the last Straw Hat to leave the room: Usopp.

With his decision made, Blizzard gathered whatever strength he could muster and jumped at from behind, mouth agape and fangs exposed.

GRRRRAAAAAOOORR! The wolf-dog roared.

Zoro turned upon hearing that roar and turned around just in time to see Blizzard about to sink his fangs into the sniper's neck.

"USOPP!" Zoro yelled. "BEHIND YOU!"

Usopp whirled around, but it was too late to stop Blizzard from attacking him…or so it seemed.

BAM! A dark green blur rammed into Usopp, pushing him to the floor.

"NO!" Sanji cried.

"GOOD HEAVENS!" Brook added.

Usopp gasped, and his eyes went wide with horror.

Zoro, out of desperation, pushed Usopp out of Blizzard's way, but in doing so…he had become the wolf-dog vampire's victim. Blizzard's fangs had dug deep into the swordsman's jugular vein and was now sucking his blood.

Zoro struggled to get away, but he found his very strength being sapped right out of him.

Blizzard let go of Zoro, and the man fell to the floor on his hands and knees.

There was a pause.

"Uh…Zoro?" Usopp called. "You okay, man?"

Just then, Zoro stood up, and at first, Usopp, Sanji, and Brook thought that the bite did nothing…but as the swordsman turned to them, they soon saw that they couldn't have been more wrong.

Zoro's good eye was now glowing bloody red, and as he opened his mouth, he let out a hissing noise, revealing a pair of elongated canines.

"Great," said Sanji. "Now we have to deal with a ghost and THREE vampires!"

XXX

Meanwhile, with Nami and Chopper, they were exploring a room on the third corridor of the mansion. Chopper was trying so hard not to get his fear get the better of him, but he still couldn't help but hold Nami's hand. Nami didn't really mind. After all, she was scared, as well, but she felt better knowing she wasn't alone.

As the two kept walking down the corridor, they saw something up ahead and stopped.

"What's that?" Nami asked. "Up ahead. Do you see it?"

"Yeah, I think so," Chopper said.

What the two Straw Hats saw appeared to be a pair of glowing red orbs. At first, they didn't really think much of it, but then, they heard a hissing noise that made their skin crawl.

"Oh, no…!" Nami gasped as she picked up Chopper and pulled him close to her bosom. "Not again!"

"Let's get outta here!" Chopper declared.

With that, Nami turned tail and run, and the moment, Luffy jumped out of the shadows and chased after her.

"I want your BLO~OD!" Luffy roared.

"Faster, Nami!" Chopper exclaimed. "He's gaining on us!"

Nami didn't dare to look back as she kept running. Somehow, she had to get some distance between from Chopper and herself and Luffy. He must've found some way to overcome the garlic, so that probably wouldn't work.

As Nami continued to run, she felt something grab her by the ankle.

THUD! The navigator was pulled down to the floor, dropping Chopper in the process. Looking back, she saw that Luffy had stretched his arm and was now slowly pulling her towards him.

"Oh, no!" Nami cried. "Chopper, help me!"

"Nami!" cried Chopper. "Oh, what should I do? What should I DO?"

Luffy laughed in an evil, demonic manner as he pulled Nami closer.

"Your blood will be mine!" he declared.

At this point, Nami had tears forming in her eyes. The thought of her beloved captain feasting on her blood just plain horrified her…as well as saddened her.

If only there was someway she could snap him out of it.

"Luffy!" Nami called. "Listen to me! I know you're in there! You have to fight Malcolm's hold on you! I know that deep down inside, you don't wanna do this!"

Nami's pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears, for Luffy was still pulling her in.

"Luffy, you can't!" cried Nami. "Please! I love you, remember?"

As those words were spoken, something inside Luffy snapped, and his evil expression was replaced with one of confusion.

I was given the idea of Zoro's attack from a helpful friend from deviantART: SamuraiPoet, whom I thank.

Review, please!