Disclaimer: All the characters herein, with the exception of some random extras, are the intellectual property of Eiichiro Oda and all the companies involved with publishing and production of the One Piece manga and anime. I just twisted 'em a bit.
Spoilers/Warnings: This story will eventually encompass the entire first season of the anime, which is up to about halfway through volume 11 of the manga, just so you know. This is an AU, so many things have been changed/altered/warped to suit my needs. Also, there is some language and violence.
Pairing: None. However, I like subtext, so you can probably find hints of just about anything, if you look for it.
Dedication: To the OP at the fanforall at LJ, for requesting a cowboy AU and spawning this in my brain. Many thanks to Dandy Wonderous for beta-ing.
A/N: Name order for all characters has been westernized. Don't like it? Tough cookies! I do not claim to be an expert on anything involving gun fighting, the old west, or the cavalry. I did some very basic research for some of this, but I probably got lots of stuff wrong. Humor me!
Part 18- Revelations
Arlong was rather severely unimpressed by the green-haired gunman upon first inspection. He was barely more than a boy, and no gunman of his supposed caliber should have been captured so easily and without a fight. On top of all that, the boy looked like you could knock him over with a feather at the moment. It was not until he locked eyes with the gunman that Arlong dismissed his first impression.
Zoro Roronoa had the eyes of a killer.
That dark gaze triggered Arlong's adrenaline, even though the gunman was in no position to do anything. His hands were tied securely behind his back, and his guns had been taken from him anyway.
To prevent him from trying to escape, a noose had been looped around his neck and over an overhanging tree limb. The tips of his toes rested on a precariously balanced stool that had one pesky short leg. So long as he held perfectly still, the rope remained loose, but, if he were to make any sudden movements, he'd find himself hanging.
"So," Arlong sneered, "you're the Devil's Gunman. What brings you all the way out to my little corner of the world?"
"I'm looking for somebody."
"Do tell. Not me, I hope?" It wouldn't be the first time some young gun had come looking for the infamous Arlong.
"No," Zoro managed to equal Arlong's level of scorn, "not you. There was a woman traveling with my... group. She took off with our wagon, and I told a friend I'd bring her back."
"A woman with a wagon, you say?" Arlong grinned wickedly. "Red hair? Sharp wits and a sharper tongue?"
"Sounds like you've met her," Zoro deadpanned, face still set in a stony glare. "If you'll just tell me which way she went, I'll hurry on out of your 'little corner.'"
"I've got some good news and some bad news, Roronoa. On the one hand," Arlong chuckled, eyes twinkling maliciously, "your search is over. Look no further! The woman you're seeking is right here. On the other hand, I'm afraid she won't be leaving with you."
"What are you talking about?" Zoro's stoic mask changed to a confused frown.
"What he's saying," a familiar voice answered Zoro's question, "is that I work for him." Nami stepped into view.
"Nami?!"
***
A short distance away, in the small kitchen of Nojiko's home, Usopp was receiving the very same shocking information.
"She's what?!"
"Nami's been working for Arlong for years," Nojiko repeated casually.
"She never said anything about this..." Usopp was gaping like a fish out of water. He looked so ridiculous that Nojiko couldn't help a smile, despite the serious nature of their conversation.
"I don't expect she would. Nami's not much on personal sharing. Also, if you haven't figured it out by now," Nojiko rolled her eyes, "Nami is a thief, first and foremost. She took what she wanted from you, and you'll probably never see it again."
"How is it that you know so much about Nami, if she doesn't like to share?" Usopp wondered.
"We grew up together," Nojiko informed him. "You see, Nami's my younger sister."
"She's what?!"
"Not by blood, mind you, but she's my sister just the same."
"But, if she's working for Arlong," Usopp mumbled, face suddenly going pale, "Zoro's really in trouble!"
"Don't go trying to play hero," Nojiko chided in a no nonsense tone. "Like I told you before, there's really nothing you can do."
Out in the foyer, a grandfather clock chimed six o'clock. Nojiko stood from the table and pulled Usopp over to a window that looked out from the small hill on which the house was located and out over the town.
"Take a look out there and see what sort of a madman you'd be up against."
Usopp squinted out into the fast fading light. At first, he could discern nothing unusual. He was about to ask for what exactly he should be looking, when a light caught his eye.
About a mile outside of town were the foothills of a nearby mountain range. A small group of what must be lanterns seemingly appeared out of nowhere on the mountainside and then travelled toward town in single file. The line passed a short ways from Nojiko's home on it's way into Coco. The lanterns illuminated haggard faces of all ages, from the elderly to young children. Faces were streaked with dirt, and they all shuffled forward with weary steps. Usopp directed a puzzled glance toward Nojiko.
"There's a mine up in those mountains." Nojiko absently rubbed the shoulder of her injured arm. "Arlong's got the whole town working there every other day. The only ones who don't have to work are infants and the injured. He keeps everything we find and charges us a 'protection' tax, as well. It's true that we haven't had any trouble from any other outlaws, but I think some of us would prefer an attack from the outside."
"Hasn't anyone tried to stand up to him?" Usopp thought back to his own stand against Kuro. "Surely you outnumber Arlong and his men?"
"They have all the weapons," Nojiko's voice suddenly took on a sad lilt, "and they aren't shy about using them. Bellemere, my and Nami's adopted mother, tried standing up to Arlong, when he first came here."
Usopp almost wanted to ask what happened, but the look on the young woman's face told him he probably didn't really want to know. He had his suspicions, though, seeing as the woman wasn't here now.
"Knowing all of this, how could Nami willingly work for that monster?" Usopp could scarcely fathom it.
"That," Nojiko stated briskly, pulling the curtains closed sharply, "is a story for another time, I think. Follow me, and I'll show you where you can spend the night, if you like."
Nojiko bustled from the room, without further preamble. Usopp spared one last backward glance at the now curtained window before following his hostess.
***
Back at Arlong's, during the same span of time, Zoro was gaping at a smirking Nami. She walked up to him and cocked her head to one side, examining him like a bug under glass.
"You idiots really thought I was one of your silly little 'gang,' didn't you?" She snickered scornfully. "I told you from the beginning that I was only using you boys as an escort. Then, when we got closer to here and the opportunity presented itself at the Baratie, I took my chance and made off with that lovely little wagon."
"Do you honestly expect me to believe that your time with us meant nothing to you?" Zoro scoffed.
"Believe what you want," Nami sniffed in disdain, "but I couldn't care less what happens to you. Any of you."
They traded glares for a few tense moments before Zoro smirked and did the completely unexpected: he kicked the stool away.
The drop didn't have sufficient force to snap the gunman's neck, but the noose was very effectively cutting off his air. Zoro never even struggled, simply maintaining eye contact with Nami, his face growing ever redder and in danger of approaching purple. It was one thing to say you didn't care what happened to someone, but it was quite another to watch them strangle while staring you right in the face. Finally unable to stand the situation any longer, Nami stooped, pulled a small knife from her boot, and sawed at the rope just above the knot on the tree trunk. The blade frayed the rope enough for Zoro's weight to finish the job of snapping the line.
Zoro hit the ground heavily on his right side, unable to catch himself with his hands bound as they were. He was twitching slightly and making an odd, wheezing sound. Nami was almost concerned until she realized the noise was Zoro laughing with limited air, through a bruised throat.
"So," he panted, trapping Nami's eyes with his own again, "if you... don't... care, how come... you couldn't... watch me... die?"
Nami fumed and refused to answer. Instead, she planted a sharp kick in Zoro's gut. He doubled over, hissing in agony. Odd... She hadn't kicked all that hard, had she? She turned her attention to Arlong.
"You can do whatever you'd like with this scum, but he's strong, so it seems a pity to kill him. He might also have some useful information you could squeeze out of him." With that parting remark, she hurried on her way.
"You heard the lady, boys," Arlong smirked. "Lock this poor fool up in the cellar. We'll just have to continue our little 'discussion' tomorrow."
End Notes:
I just can't seem to let poor Zoro catch a break... (I feel like l should feel worse for kind of enjoying putting my favorite character through trauma.)
My substitution for the "Zoro throws himself in the water with his hands and feet tied so Nami will have to save him" scene is a little overly elaborate, but I kind of like it. I love the original scene, too!