Fallen Skies

Pairing: ZoSan

All One Piece Character belong to Oda

Winter turned into spring, as spring turned into summer and every year repeating the same cycle. Even after three years after Banchina died, the season kept changing. The numbers of kids declining as some died from the beating, or from trying to escape or infection. Some of them traumatized- were alive but in the inside were dead. However, the number of kids stayed pretty high as the more died, twice more seem to come in. The once large room seemed to get smaller and smaller as more of them were added.

Zoro flinched as Maya finished stitching the last wound Sade had inflicted on him, this time instead of beating him, she decided to stab him with a pair of scissors she had- she seemed frustrated, maybe because Zoro had stopped crying after getting beat repeatedly with her favorite chain whip.

"Keep still Zoro, she got you pretty deep."

Zoro was lying on his stomach, arms folded as Maya stitched right underneath his rib cage, being mind full with his other bruises and scarred back. "I think she is starting to go overboard, she seems to be getting worse as time passes." Zoro just grunted.

"Maya… I think the world would be better without us. I mean, look at us, we are so shameful, and we can't do or say anything right. There is something wrong with each one of us. Why don't they just kil-"

"Zoro!"

Maya's outburst caught Zoro's attention; he moved to be able to look at Maya. The girl had stopped stitching his wound and was now rubbing her eyes as tears ran freely down her red cheeks. "Zoro… when does a scar become a tattoo?"

"What?" He asked, confused about what Maya was saying.

"When do I live?-When will I realize that we are worthless… cause Zoro-kun I… I can't sit here and see you or Saga as worthless. Because even being in here you and Saga has made me laugh, cry from joy and I am happy to have met you."

"So tell me? How can you be worthless… meaningless. HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT? Am I MEANINGLESS ZORO?"

Zoro could feel his own emotion start to stir as he watched the girl next to him want to scream at the top of her lungs that this institution is wrong, that they are not worms but humans, a pain so deep that it's burning her from the inside.

"I sometimes want to scream if this is a dream, that this is not fair-this nightmare, this kind of torture I can't bear! Seeing you and Saga suffer!"

Zoro can see her start to give into her feeling as her body started to tremble with broken sobs. Sitting up, even with his wound digging into him, Zoro wrapped his hands around Maya and hugged her as she finally started to scream, her cries turning into a cry of misery. Zoro just held on tighter, feeling his heart tighten.

Maya's cries were eventually silenced as she fell asleep next to Zoro. The green hair child felt guilty for letting himself think that way. Banchina would have been disappointed in him; Saga would have probably beaten him for even thinking about it, which he did once when he was younger.

His attention went to the cell door when it opened and Saga and two other boys entered, finally returning from their punishment. Saga made his way to the two, bruises decorating his body and with a slight limp.

"You Ok?"

"Yeah, got beat with a pipe this time. Rhegne couldn't find his bat today; I see you got your fair share. Sade couldn't be satisfied with her chain?"

"She wanted me to scream. I think she finally noticed her beating doesn't hurt as bad. My back is so bruised I just don't feel it anymore."

"So she had to stick a knife in-ya?" Zoro just shrugged as he picked up some of the bandages on the floor next to Maya's sleeping body and made his way to Saga to help him dress his deeper wounds.

Saga sat on the floor as the younger of the two lifted his shirt so he could start dressing the wound. Frowning, Saga held on to Zoro's wrist. "I'll tend to myself, today."

Zoro jumped in mild surprise when Saga held on to him, but eased away when Saga loses his wrist. Shrugging, Zoro crawled back to Maya's side and lay down next to her, as the girl instinctively wrapped her arms around him and snuggled closer.

Saga grabbed the bandages Zoro had left, his mind wandering back to just moments ago.

"He looks promising."

Mr.1 nodded his head. "He is easy to manipulate. Rhegne has him wrapped around his finger.

Both Crocodile and Mr.1 stood behind a glass window, looking inside a room where Saga sat tied to a chair.

Saga had a cloth tied around his mouth to prevent him from speaking, his hands and legs tied to the chair, his face bruised because of the pipe Rhegne had on his hand. Rhegne leaned close to his face.

"I won't give up Saga, not until you say yes." The smile on his face unmoving. "You can become part of us. Punish those who need to be punished."

"You can get what you want, when you want it." The man looked into Saga's determined eyes. "You can show these little trashes you are the leader and they have to follow you. You can have power over them."

Saga shifted in his seat. This wasn't the first time they have asked him to join their sadistic ways. Saga didn't want to betray them, but he won't lie, he has been tempted to not get beat but to beat. It would have been better; he could get what he wanted. His way of freedom…

"Saga do what you have to do to escape… to get what you want. Don't be scared to beat them, to manipulate them. They are not human; they are trash, worthless worms. You can help them become better."

The man could see Saga's resolve start to waver. So many months trying to make him get on their side. And it looked like it was finally paying off.

Crocodile turned around. "I don't want anyone to hurt him from now on. Make sure every staff knows Mr.1. We have too many orphans as it is, and low staff. We need more of them, and who better than Saga."

Nodding the darker man also left the room.

Saga could feel guilt start to eat at him. But it was a way to get free from the beating… He could get his freedom. Escape from the beating.

His heart clenched when he glanced at both Maya and Zoro.

What should I do?

/

"OK, you little brats, today we have a special something for some of you. It has gotten a little crowded." A tall staff announced from standing by the doorway, a bat in hand. The item they used when one of them tried to make a run for it. "So Crocodile decided to do something about it."

Maya sat up, Zoro does the same when the staff entered, confused on what was going on.

"You" He pointed at a girl. "Has been here a while, come with me." The girl stood up and went to stand next to the man, head hung low. The staff continued to call kids who have been in the institution for at least one to two years. Until he finally called on Maya.

Saga jumped up, going in front of both Maya and Zoro. "You are not taking her!" He snarled, his hands outstretched.

"Oh, really?" The staff took a few steps closer, a smile on his face. "And who is going to stop me? You?"

Gripping the bat in his hand tighter, the man tried to hit Saga across the face, but missed when Saga made a dive and body slammed the man to the floor. Taking the same bat in hand, Saga started beating the man underneath him. Blood starting to fly every which way.

It wasn't until another staff, who was not too far away, came and pulled Saga off him, taking the bat away from the crazy child.

The man sat up, blood dripping from his mouth and head. "How dare you. You piece of trash touch me!? I'm gonna send you to hell, where you belong!"

"I don't give a shit what you do to me! You can beat me, KILL me. Just don't touch them!"

The room stayed silent as the staff stared at Saga. Another staff entered after hearing the commotion. The man ran to the other bleeding staff and whispered something in his ear. Slowly, a grin started to form over his lips.

"Don't touch them you say?" Looking back, the bleeding staff gestured with his head towards Maya and Zoro who were standing next to each other, clearly a little shaken at what just happened.

Saga glared at the man in front of him, as he tried pulling his hands free from the man still holding him.

"Tell them to add one more name. Add that small child with the green hair."

Doing as the staff ordered, they grabbed the protesting kids and dragged them out as they screamed for Saga to do something.

"They are going to die because of you." He whispered as the other staff released Saga forcefully, hard enough to make the boy fall on all four.

The staff who was holding Saga continued calling the other children that were to go with them. In the end they called about twenty-seven of them.

The group was all chained and dragged to the back of the building. Zoro walked close to Maya. "What is going to happen to us?"

Maya frowned. "I don't know. I just hope Saga is ok."

The room they were led to was huge, it was white and many staff were their standing or sitting on the sides. But the most unnerving thing in the room is the huge pool in the middle.

The staff lined up every one of them in front of the pool, hands and feet still chained together. All eyes went to Crocodile who was at the corner sitting; only making himself known after the last kid was aligned along the pool.

"Oh, such nice looking kids, I do hope you know why you all are here. It would break my heart to tell you if you don't know." None of the kids answered, knowing answering would only make things worse for them. Seeming to see the confused looks on the children's faces', Crocodile smiles.

"The staffs were complaining about the overgrowing population, so I decided to do something about it. You all were chosen to die today."

A few mummers and gasp could be heard throughout the room, but nothing more. "Please see this as a convenience, you are going to help the other children dress better, eat, and sleep in better conditions. I mean, look at some of you. Skinny, ill fitted clothes and lack of sleep. Do you want the other children to also be in the same condition? If we get rid of some of you, hopefully most, and lucky if all, we can buy clothes, food and there will be more space."

"But don't worry, we will try to revive you, see how generous we are being- even though you don't deserve it?"

Zoro shifted slightly, he's been wearing the same pants and shirt for almost a year now, and they were starting to get a little too small for him. And the room was pretty cramped; it was hard to sleep with so many limbs all over the place, not to mention the portion of food. It got even smaller this week.

Maybe if they did die, they could help others…? Zoro glanced to his side, noticing the other kid's expression. Zoro saw hope in their eyes, and seeing this made Zoro realised something. Something he was overlooking-something great. If they die… they could escape this hell. They could die and not have to suffer here. In other words, be free...

Looking down at the water, Zoro closed his eyes, imagining how it would be like to be away from here. To not be whipped anymore, burned by a hot blade, or stabbed. This wasn't punishment… it was freedom.

Maya, who was next to him, grabbed his hands tightly. "Zoro?"

Zoro bit his bottom lip; Maya knew what he was thinking. "Maya, if we give up... we can finally be free. No more pain, no more sorrow… I just don't want this anymore."

The older girl's lips quivered, as she looked down at the kid next to her. Her eyes going over his small frame, the way his ribs would show as breathe, his skin full of scars- some still healing, and the burn marks decorating his body.

"Zoro, you can't. What about me?… Saga? You can't just leave us. Zoro I need you."

His eyes snapped to look up at Maya as she continued. "Promise me Zoro, you won't give up, you won't back down, you are strong… and if you give up, you will be what they have been calling you this whole time. Zoro PROMISE ME you won't give up, you'll fight!"

Shaking his head, Zoro tore his gaze from her to look down at his feet where one of the staff was adding another chain to it. Following the chain with his eyes, they landed on a cinder block.

Everything to Zoro became mute as he saw Crocodile start to yell orders and start his countdown. Zoro looked at Maya. "Don't give up either."

"5…4"

She smiled down at Zoro and nodded. "Yes Zoro-kun, at least if we go down, we would have fought for our lives. We shouldn't give them what they want…"

All they heard was "1" as the staff lifted their legs and pushed the heavy block into the water, the chain following- pulling whoever was attached to it down with it.

Zoro looked at Maya, before he felt his feet fly from underneath him as he hit the floor underneath him hard, knocking all oxygen from him, not being able to stop his fall with his hands as they were tied to his back. He was then dragged into the cold water. Zoro didn't have time to take a mouth full of air- as the block did its work and dragged him until he was underwater.

Opening his eyes, all Zoro could see was millions of bubbles; he wasn't sure if it was coming from him or the many kids trying to breathe. Zoro couldn't hear anything, the water muting even his scream, no one being able to hear him, as his lungs started to burn for the need of oxygen.

His body was starting to feel numb… his vision blurring. Maybe dying wouldn't be so bad? Maya would understand, he could just let his body go. No one would care. Saga and Maya had each other, he wouldn't be missed. Banchina wouldn't be angry, he's been trying until now, why not take this as an escape, as freedom. I'm sorry Banchina… I'm sorry Saga… and Maya, I'm sorry...

Zoro close his eyes, letting the remaining of his oxygen escape his lungs. "WE ARE WORTHLESS. WE SERVE NO PURPOSE IN LIFE. WE ARE WORST THAN THE WORMS UNDER THE EARTH, AND WE SHOULD BE LUCKY TO EVEN BE HERE. WE ARE FORGOTTEN BECAUSE WE ARE NOT NEEDED. THE WORLD WOULD BE BETTER WITHOUT US. WE DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO US BECAUSE WE ARE TO BLAME. BECAUSE WE ARE TRASH, WORTHLESS AND LUCKY TO EVEN BE CALLED HUMAN BEINGS."

A smile formed on Zoro's lips, his body starting to feel numb and his mind shutting down from the lack of oxygen. I have no purpose, my death would be nothing. The world would be better without me… I'm just doing them a favor.

An image of Banchina came to him- she was smiling… why was she smiling? Oh! I remember now, it was mother's day and I made her a card. Now that I think about it, it was ugly; but Banchina said she loved it… Another image 'this time of Saga and Maya, they were happy just being with him...

They were happy…

Zoro opened his eyes and closed them again when a blinding light assaulted his pupils. "This one his coming to!" Zoro started to open his eyes again, his body rebelled against him as someone turned him over and water started to hack out of his open mouth. Why… why I'm I still alive? When I decided to give up… to die. So why?

His body was trembling and his lungs burn as if he ate dry sand. "He's up, sir." Zoro could feel his hearing coming back, the person next to him starting to sound closer and clearer. He could feel someone patting his back as more water exited his lungs. "Ma…Maya…where is Maya?"

Zoro lifted his head to be able to look around. His gaze landed on the person he was looking for. Her body was at an uncomfortable angle as if carelessly thrown to the side. Zoro's heart tightens painfully and his breath hitched. "Maya?"

Ignoring the man behind him, Zoro stood up as he stumbled on weak legs, but not stopping his advance towards her body- as he crawled, forcing his legs and hands to hold his aching body.

Zoro dropped beside her motionless body, eyes scanning her, looking for anything that could tell him she was alive. "Maya? Come on, you have to get up." He held on to her hand, the same way she had held onto his. "Maya?" He lowered his head when he felt how cold she was. "You promised me… Maya?" With the same hand he was holding on to Zoro tighten his grip and broth her hand to his face. His tears starting to mix with her wet hand.

"Please, don't leave me." Zoro dropped her hand as it fell lifelessly next to her body, landing limply on the floor. He slowly laid his head on her stomach as he closed his eyes and tears started to fall over, rolling until falling on Maya. "Take me with you… please Maya. Take me with you." Zoro repeated. His voice breaking as sobs started to shake his body. "You can't leave me here…"

A hand wrapped around Zoro's chest and stomach, one of the staff lifting him off Maya's body. "Let go of me!" Zoro screamed at the top of his lungs. "Maya! Please get up, show them you're alive!"

But even with his pained screams the girl did not move.

"She's dead! You're the only one who made it!" The man behind him snarled, still struggling with Zoro, but his words doing the effect he wanted to the green hair boy. Zoro stopped moving, his hands and legs falling limply to his side.

It was then that he noticed the other motionless bodies scattered around the place. Zoro pushed his wet bangs out of his eyes and looked down at Maya, his eyes widen when he saw the slight smile on her face. She…

She knew she was going to die… and she's free…and happy.

The man carried him back to his shared cell. When Zoro saw Saga sitting there, his heart clenched again, tears falling down his cheeks freely… how was he going to tell Saga Maya… was dead.

The man carelessly dropped him on the floor, and instantly Saga was next to him, asking the question he didn't want to answer…

"Zoro, where is Maya?"

Tears started to form in Saga's eyes, as he watched Zoro shield his eyes with his outgrown bangs. "Zoro please… tell me."

Zoro's breath hitched, he clenched his hand has he trembled. "She's… she's dead."

"What…" Saga sat back. "How could you let her die Zoro?!"

"I didn't! I couldn't do anything!" Zoro defended himself, tears now running freely down his cheeks, his lips quivering. "I couldn't do anything… I was so weak…"

Zoro could feel the guilt eat at him, as Saga watched him with eyes of betrayal. "I'm sorry Saga…"

/

"If you want me to stop, I will."

Bonney watched as Sanji trembled. She knew the feeling. It couldn't be explain, but it hurt so badly, as if someone was gripping your heart physically and trying to tear it out.

"How could they do this? Kill innocent children?" Sanji clenched his hands as his body trembled from both sadness and anger. He couldn't believe Zoro had to live through something like that. He wouldn't have been able to. Zoro is a strong person, but even someone like him could break under this…

Sanji looked at Zoro's sleeping form. Who says he didn't already break?

"Sanji, this world is full of hate… people wanting others to suffer and finding joy in it. It's just the way things are." Noticing Sanji's still trembling form, Bonney decided that she had said enough.

"Why don't we stop for today?"

The blonde shook his head. "No, please Bonney if you stop, knowing only half will eat me from the inside. How did Zoro get out of a place like that?"

Sanji noticed Bonney's eyes sadden.

"Please don't tell me it gets worse?"

"I suggested stopping, but if you truly want, then I will tell you."