When Dreams become Reality

Chapter 4

Men screamed in pain. Blood splattered onto the in dust and ash covered ground. Those guys are a pain in the ass, the Strawhat swordsman thought.

While running over the plaza and slicing up those men who thought they could stand up against the former pirate hunter, Zoro had trouble seeing through the smoke. He was able to hear the sounds of his nakama; the foul-mouthed cook while he kicked the men's heads in, as well as Usopps Kuro Kabuto, as the sniper took out enemies from a greater distance. He knew that Nami and Robin were helping the innocent towns people escape, and he had no doubt that their little doctor was already patching them up as best as he could.

What bothered the swordsman though was the lack of his captains voice. Luffy usually was the loudest of them all, always screaming his attacks with every punch he threw at his opponent. But now they were missing.

Zoro randomly chose a direction he thought was right, and sprinted through the thick smoke. He held his green robe over his mouth to breath easier, but it did little help. His eye started to sting, and the farther he ran the more the heat around him grew. Must be near those burning houses, he thought and changed his course to his left, away from the fire.

Suddenly, the sound of a choked cry sliced through the air, and his stomach clenched at the sound. His grip around Kitetsu and Shusui tightened and he made a sharp turn left, slicing up any pirate that dared to come to close to him. The swordsman tried to calm his ragged breathing and his thumping heart, trying not to think about what he might find when he reached his captain.

Zoro jumped over the debris lying around, and came to a stop when he saw the back of the man he and Luffy had encountered before he took off to take care of the other scum. He threw his right leg back, planning on kicking what no doubt lay in front of him.

Zoro's rage built and before he could even think about what he did, Kitetsu already sliced up the still outstretched leg, while Shusui made a clean cut through this bastards right shoulder.

Zoro heard the man scream in surprise and pain, heard his huge body slumping on the ground and groaning in pain, felt Kitetsu singing in his right hand, always thirsty for more blood. But Zoro didn't pay attention to any of this.

As the smoke around them slowly cleared, the young man sheathed his two swords and sprinted the short way over to the small and fragile looking figure that was kneeling on the ground in front of him. His heart stopped at the sight of his captain.

Luffy was kneeling on the ground, but looked like he was barley holding himself upright. His head was thrown back, his mouth agape in what looked like a silent scream. His hands, that were only slightly covered in blood, lay between his legs. Luffy's body was trembling so hard that Zoro feared he might brake when he touched him. But what Zoro saw when he looked into his captains eyes, he stopped moving all together, his heart ached and his stomach churned. Those were not Luffy's eyes.

Those big, round orbs, that always shined with happiness, passion and love, were now wide-eyed, blood-shot and dull. Zoro could see nothing but pain and grief in his captains eyes, and it hurt the swordsman like nothing ever did.

When Luffy made a sound that sounded like a sob or a groan, Zoro was brought back to the here and now, and he let himself fall to his knees on front of the young man. „L-Luffy? Can you hear me, buddy?" He hated to admit it, but his voice was shaking and nothing more than a croaked whisper. He reached out his hand slowly, willing it to stay steady, and lightly touched Luffy's shoulder.

When his hand made contact with cold and damp skin despite the heat still lingering around them, a jolt went through Luffy and he gasped for air as if being too long under water. If possible, he started to tremble even worse, his shaking hands trying to grasp something that wasn't there, and whimpering sounds escaping his mouth.

„No... no... no no NO!" Tears were making their way down his dirt-stained cheeks, but he didn't seem to even notice he was crying. He didn't seem to notice anything that was happening around him.

Zoro began to panic. He tried to steady his friend as best as he could, trying to calm him with his touch, his voice, anything that would reach him and bring him back. He looked around and spotted a flash of blond hair in midst of the slowly calming chaos around them. „Oi, cook!" Zoro yelled, but that curly-bowed ass was too distracted by scaring the last of those filthy pack away.

„SANJI!" Finally, at the unfamiliar cry of his name by that deep voice, the chef turned around and spotted them sitting a few meters away from them. At the sight of his captain and first mate his one visible eye widened, and without averting his gaze he bellowed for Chopper.

Zoro's attention went back to his captain when he felt his body start to spasm and to convulse. The panic inside him rose, but he dared not to look around for the small

reindeer, only hoping that he would be here soon because he had no fucking idea what was happening!

Luffy's head tilted forward and the swordsman had just enough time to realize what was happening and to get out of the way, before Luffy emptied the contents of his stomach on the ground in front of him. Zoro supported his friend by slinging his left arm over his chest, Luffy's right shoulder resting in Zoro's palm, and his right hand over his forehead to stabilize his head. When his captain finally stopped throwing up, he carefully let him rest against his chest, holding him in an attempt to warm his shaking body. To be true, he had no idea what he was doing, or if what he was doing was right, but it didn't matter to him. Luffy needed him, and he would not take his eyes off of him until he figured out what was hurting his captain in this cruel way. And only then would he leave his captains side to slice up whoever was responsible for it.

Before the swordsman could lost himself in his desire for revenge, the sound of hooves made him lift his head he hasn't realized he had rested against Luffy's until now, and met with the concerned gaze of their ships doctor. Chopper changed from Walking Point into Brain Point, and stumbled the rest of the way towards the pair still sitting on the ground.

Zoro could see the strain in his young friends face as he tried not to break out in tears. That would do nobody any good. Chopper quickly looked over his captain, than at the swordsman and back to Luffy. He lay his hoof on a spot at Luffy's throat to check his pulse, and nodded sternly after a moment. „We have to bring him back to the Sunny," Chopper said in his doctor-tone. He didn't ask what happened and didn't ask Zoro to explain what he saw, for now, and Zoro was grateful for it. All he wanted to do was bring Luffy back to the ship. Back to safety.

The first mate nodded and slowly stood up, carefully arranging Luffy in his arms so that he was able to walk back fast but without rattling Luffy too much.

By now Sanji and Nami had come over to see what was happening, both wearing the same look of concern mixed with disbelief at the sight of their strong captain. Zoro searched for the cooks eyes. „You take care of the rest and bring everybody home safe." It wasn´t a question; Sanji didn´t even try to argue with the swordsman for giving him orders. He just nodded and turned around to look for the rest of the crew.

„Let's go," said Chopper with an uncharacteristic emotionless voice, already back into Walking Point, and started to make his way to the outside of the plaza, Zoro right on his heels.

Zoro looked down at his unconscious captain in his arms, his heart clenching painfully at the sight of the battered and beaten young man.

"Just- just promise me that you're gonna be careful on that island, okay? I don't know why, but I have a strange feeling in my gut that didn't disappoint me in the last two years. I don't want anything happening to you."

His words from this morning rang in his ears, and he shook his head to clear them out. But the nagging feeling at the back of his mind still didn´t subside the whole way back to the ship.

X

The small group was running at a breakneck pace, Chopper leading the way to the Sunny while keeping an eye on the swordsman to make sure he was still following. Chopper's eyes widened when he noticed that, even with Zoro's attention fully focused on his captain, he not once even made an attempt to turn in the wrong direction.

If the situation wouldn't have been as serious as it was, Chopper would have been laughing. But one look at his captain, and the small reindeer had to bite his lower lip to stop the tears that were gathering in his eyes. 'No,' he reminded himself, turning his head forward again and letting the wind dry his eyes. 'I can worry later. Now I have to bring them back safely so I can treat Luffy.'

Meanwhile, Zoro was clutching the limp body of his captain against his heaving chest. It was not that he was out of breath, but the growing anxiety was constricting his lungs and made it hard to breathe.

While running, Zoro looked Luffy's body over to look for any signs of a deep wound or anything that would explain the state he was in. But if anything, he could only make out a bit of blood, sticking to Luffy's forehead and in his black hair, and a few bruises. Luffy had experienced much worse and would still have been able to battle, especially such a weakling.

Suddenly the unconscious man in his arms stirred, limbs twitching slightly and a pained groan escaping his chapped lips. But he still wouldn't wake up.

"Zoro! We're almost there!" Zoro's head snapped up at hearing Chopper's cry, and indeed, they could already see the proud lion head smiling at them, and even Franky's massive form walking over the deck with a barrel in each hand was visible. Said man turned his head at hearing the sound of hooves running over cobblestone and lifted his sunglasses to his forehead.

"OW! Didn´t expect you guys to return so- What the hell happened to Mugiwara-bro?!" Chopper reached the Sunny first, and was already sprinting over the deck and towards the infirmary. "I'll explain later!" With that he changed mid-running into his Brain Point and vanished into his room to prepare everything he needed to examine his captain.

Franky just stood with his mouth agape when Zoro ran past him, an unconscious Luffy resting in his arms. When he reached the infirmary as well, the young doctor had already prepared an IV bag and had laid gauze, a few cotton balls and disinfectant on his table at the ready.

Zoro laid his captain onto the bed, carefully removing the strawhat, before he let his fingers slide through Luffy's sweaty and dirty hair.

He didn't want to admit it, but the Strawhats first mate was worried. Painfully worried. He had seen Luffy bloodied and beaten to the point of unconsciousness more times than he wanted to admit, and it wasn't easy to see him in such a hurt state, but Luffy loosing against this weak bastard, without showing any signs of major damage, was really unnerving.

Zoro shuddered at the as he remembered Luffy's screams. He must have been in so much anguish and pain that it had caused him to vomit. He had never done that before, not like this.

"Zoro?" The swordsman turned around, dispelling his dark musings, at hearing Chopper's soft but professional voice. "Could you wipe of the dirt and sweat from his face? And see if you find any wound I have to treat. I know that it's no use asking you to leave, so you may as well could help me." He was handed a wet cloth which he slowly took from his nakama. "That obvious, huh?" he couldn't help but ask, before carefully sliding the cold material over Luffy's cheek. Chopper only smiled, but it vanished as soon as his eyes locked on his patient.

After working silently side by side for some time, Zoro could hear the rest of the crew arriving. Franky and Brook were bombarding them with questions, their concern audible even through the thick wooden doors of the infirmary.

When Zoro was finished cleaning his captain's face he laid the now dirty cloth on Chopper's table. He opened his mouth to say something, but the small reindeer beat him to it.

"It's okay. I got it from here. Go and tell the others what happened. Luffy's fine now. I'll call you when he wakes up."

"Thanks, Chopper." With one last glance at Luffy and Chopper, who was adjusting the steady flow in the IV currently attached to Luffy's right hand, Zoro reached for the door handle and opened the door to the galley.

As expected, the whole crew was gathered in here. Nami and Robin each holding a steaming cup of coffee or tea in their hands, Sanji smoking behind the counter, and Usopp softly talking to Franky and Brook. At his entrance everyone lifted their heads, looking at him with concerned and questioning eyes.

"He is still unconscious, but other than that we couldn't find any other signs of a crucial wound that could explain his sudden … ," he didn't know how to say what had happened. One moment he was fighting those no-name pirates with the safe knowledge of Luffy taking care this bastard, and the next he heard a piercing scream coming from Luffy and a second later finding him in a heap on the ground, vomiting his guts out.

"Do you know what happened in his fight?" Nami asked cautiously. "No, I was fighting off those other guys just before you arrived. I couldn't see anything from where I stood. He told me he would take care of the big guy and I took off."

Zoro walked over to the fridge, the cook sending him a glare when he reached in to get a beer or whatever alcohol he could get his hands on first, but didn't make any attempt to stop him.

"You guys alright?" the swordsman asked on his way towards the door. They gave a silent nod for answer. "I'm taking watch tonight." With that said, a sake bottle in hand, the first mate left the galley, closing the door behind him. He pondered on whether he should go back to the infirmary, but figured someone will get him when Luffy wakes up.

Before climbing up to the crows nest Zoro turned towards the town, smoke still visible from the towns center, but it had lessened considerably. The sun was still up, it had to be late afternoon by now.

He wondered where the day went?

X

Back in the galley the atmosphere was tense. Nobody really knew how to handle the situation.

First Luffy acted weird in the morning, being last to arrive at breakfast and to top it of not inhaling everything within reach. Though he had tried to hide it, it was obvious to the crew that Luffy was in pain. But he refused to show it to them as usual.

They knew that he sometimes went to Zoro when he needed to talk, especially after reuniting at Sabaody. And it was understandable.

Zoro was the first one to join him, the first nakama he had made on his way to becoming the Pirate King.

But know their strong captain was laying in the infirmary and no one knew why.

Suddenly the door to the infirmary opened softly and Chopper emerged with exhausted eyes. He gave them a small smile which loosened everyone's anxiety slightly.

"How is he doing, Chopper?" Sanji stood behind the counter and filled a glass with freshly squeezed orange juice. He walked over to the young doctor where he sat beside Usopp on the sofa, accepting the cold drink with a grateful smile. "He is still unconscious, but I guess Zoro told you already." Chopper looked around the room for his green-haired nakama, but upon seeing that he had already left continued his report.

"I took a couple of blood samples and ran a few other tests, but as far as I can tell I wasn't able to find anything out of the ordinary." Chopper's ears dropped at having to tell his crew these news. He wanted to be the best doctor that he could be for his crew, but he couldn't even find the cause of his captain's sickness, or whatever it was that was causing his friend to be in so much pain. Usopp put his arm around his smaller friend's shoulders, giving him an encouraging smile. Everyone new how serious Chopper took his job and his position in the crew, and therefore knew how much it upsets their youngest crew member when he didn't how how to help someone.

Especially Luffy.

"Doctor-san, I know this question goes against your doctor patient confidentiality, but I couldn't help but notice that our captain-san went to go see you just before we explored the town. Is there anything he told you that could help him now?" Robin asked. Her voice was gentle but also strict, indicating that she wouldn't accept a refusal.

Chopper wrung his hooves. This went against the rule that he was taught by Doctor Kureha, but he had to tell them. Surely Luffy would understand. Right?

"Well... Luffy came to me this morning complaining about a headache that got worse the more he moved around. I gave him something to dull the pain and a special herb that gives a body more energy, for example when experiencing a bad hangover," Chopper explained, the scene from this morning playing in his mind.

"And did you notice anything different when he talked to you in private?" pressed Robin, already standing up with her empty mug in hand.

The young doctor contemplated that for seconds. "I noticed that he had small shadows under his eyes, as if he didn't have a good nights sleep for the last few nights. And he kind of seemed, I don't know how to describe it, gaunt? As if he lost some of his strength in the past days."

Robin nodded to herself. "Cook-san? Could you make me another cup of coffee, please?" she asked with a small smile. Sanji's eyes turned into hearts, but even he lacked the usual enthusiasm in his movements when treating the women on the ship. "I will be in the library doing more research on the island. I have a bad feeling, but let's hope that it does not come true."

She turned to Chopper and petted the little reindeer on his head, making him smile. "Thank you, Chopper. I'll let you know if I find anything that could help our captain-san." With that Robin walked towards the door and went outside.

"Ah, Chopper-san?" Brook, who hadn't said a word in this small conversation, faced the young doctor. "If there is anything I can do to help, I will gladly assist you in any way possible."

"You can count on me too, little bro!" Franky said, striking a smaller version of his usual pose.

Chopper's smile grew. Of course his nakama, his family, would support him. Nobody was being let down. "Arigatou, minna! I'll go back to Luffy and see how he's doing. I'll let you know when he wakes up."

He jumped down from the sofa and, downing the rest of his orange juice, walked towards the infirmary, closing the wooden door softly behind him.

"Oi, Franky, Brook. Help me with the groceries. I left them on the deck and I don't want them to go to waste," Sanji said, sucking on the rest of his cigarette before throwing it away. ID

Franky and Brook gave him a thumbs up before leaving the galley as well, Franky talking about putting away the barrels of cola he brought to the ship shortly before Chopper, Zoro and Luffy arrived.

When the two had left Usopp stood up as well, muttering about needing to fill his bag with new ammunition after today's fight.

The only two remaining now were Nami and Sanji.

"Nami-san, are you okay?" Sanji said it without the usual swooning, and for that Nami was grateful.

"Of course I'm not, Sanji-kun. Did you see Luffy? I haven't seen him this exhausted since Fishman Island when he had lost so much blood! But now he has barely a scratch on him and he is still unconscious for almost three hours now!" Nami's voice grew with every sentence, her worry getting the best of her and Sanji being the only one now she could let it out at.

But Sanji knew it wasn't personal. Nami was very passionate in everything she did, especially about things concerning her nakama.

"I'm sorry, Nami-swan. That was a dumb question to ask." Sanji took a seat beside his beloved navigator and studied her expression.

He could see all kinds of different emotions play across her beautiful face. From concern to anger, to realization and to shame and back to the worried expression the whole crew had when Chopper told them about Luffy's condition.

"I'm sorry, Sanji-kun. It's just that I'm so worried. And I can't do anything about it. Zoro must feel even worse." Nami let out a deep sigh and let herself slump against the cook's strong body. At first Sanji tensed, he wasn't expecting that at all, but then he let himself relax. He smiled softly and rested his arm over Nami's shoulders, drawing small circles on her upper arm.

"Moss-head up there will be fine. You know he doesn't like to let people see his emotional side. But even with his mossy brain he knows that he has nakama who will help him.

Luffy isn't dying, and whatever it is that is causing him so much pain, you know that we all will go all out to make sure that nothing and nobody will hurt anything or anyone ever again when we're through with it."

The Strawhats navigator only nodded, relishing in the confidence in Sanji's voice and the deep rumble in his chest.

Both sat there, each one deep in thought but taking strength out of the others presence, when suddenly the door to the infirmary opened revealing a smiling doctor.

"Nami, Sanji! Luffy just woke up!"

To be continued …

X

I'm back! Sorry I took so long to update my story, life and other stuff happened (again...).

Please leave me a review and tell me what you think or you´re welcome to leave me some inspirations for the next chapters! I´m already working on them so it shouldn't be too long before the next one comes up.

Thank you all for reading!

'Till next time!