Thanks for the reviews everyone. Only a couple more chapters till this story is over :) I think 5 is the number :0. Hope there are still some readers out there who are still reading this despite the long breaks :(
~The morning after~
"Do I have to" Greycie whined. Zoro dropped her onto the infirmary bed without a word but Greycie took that as an answer. She sighed and stared at Zoro and Chopper with red puffy eyes. She hated to admit but she was feeling horrible right now. This morning had been terrible too. Greycie woke up that morning coughing her lungs out and sneezing up a storm. The doctor on the ship immediately went to her and after a quick few tests he determined that she was sick. The whole crew could have guessed that already but Chopper quietly told them that he didn't want to say anything in front of Greycie. No one wanted to scare her if it was just a fever. They all thought it was best if she stayed in the infirmary for the time being which led them here to a refusing Greycie.
"How long" Greycie whined. She laid down on the bed but quickly sat back up. She began patting the bed and looked up at Zoro and Chopper with a strange expression on he face.
"Whats wrong"Chopper asked his voice worried that something was wrong with the child. He and Zoro watched in silence as child got up and start patting the bed. Chopper noticed that Zoro too was acting strange now. The man had on a grim expression and he looked like he wanted to tell the child to stop what she was doing. Finally the child stopped patting the bed and looked up at the two and said in a solemn voice "There's something under the bed"
"No theres not" Zoro replied a little to fast. He stared at the child and tried to tell her to be quiet with a fierce glare but the child wasnt paying attention and was instead patting a certain spot of the bed. She turned to Chopper and with a nod of her head said "Its right here"
"Its just your imagination Grey" Zoro growled through his teeth. Chopper now sure that something was up walked to the bed and patted the place where Greycie was pointing. He didn't feel anything at first but with a look from Greycie he decided to push the mattress a little deeper. That's when he felt it. There was something underneath the bed, it was small but it was definitely there. Placing the child on the floor he picked up the mattress and saw something glint in response to the light that was being shined underneath the mattress. Chopper reached underneath and grabbed the mysterious object. Right when he felt he knew what it was. He also knew exactly who it belonged to since the suspect was now giving Greycie a look of betrayal. The poor child could only whisper an apology, which wiped the annoyed look off the swordmans face. It however didn't wipe off the furious expression on Choppers face. He turned to the swordsman and held the object in the air. He stared at Zoro dead in the eye and yelled "A FLASK Zoro! You hid alcohol in MY infirmary bed"
The swordsman didn't say anything but knowing he was going to get a lecture decided to make himself comfortable. He sat down on the floor and watched as Chopper started to investigate the room for other prohibited items. A few minutes later Zoro felt something brush his arm. Looking down he saw that Greycie was now sitting next to him and leaning against his arm. Making sure she didn't notice Zoro glanced at her and noticed her cheeks were getting kinda red. He nudged her and waited for her to look at him. He couldn't help but notice her late reaction.
"I'm cold" She murmured. She wrapped her arms around herself and hugged herself in a futile attempt to gather any body warmth. She was starting to get chills when a arm swung around her and pushed her against a warm body. She looked up and gave a small smile to Zoro before leaning on him again. She suddenly felt tired again and a few minutes later she was fast asleep.
"Chopper there's some weights behind that blue book and that's the last thing" Zoro suddenly announced. He got up and carried the small child to the bed that was currently on the floor from Chopper's crazy search. He easily picked it up with his one free hand and placed it back where it belonged. He placed the small cold child on the floor and a frown came to his face. He turned around and saw that Chopper was already getting more blankets. He gave him a nod before leaving the infirmary room.
Greycie was confined in the infirmary room for the next two days. Chopper had told the crew that the sickness wasn't contagious so Greycie was never alone for a long time. The crew stopped by regularly . Nami was the first one in the morning and declared that she would teach Greycie a life lesson. She didn't tell the crew what it was but after two hours the crews curiosity got the best of them. When Luffy busted through the door exclaiming he wanted to know what the life lesson was the entire crew minus Zoro and Robin quickly looked inside the room. Their jaws dropped when they say what this life lesson was.
Robin chuckled after hearing the navigator yell at the crew for interrupting their lesson. She turned to the swordsman and watched him lift the inhumanly weights. She recalled when she had eavesdropped on the navigator and child with a little help of her devil fruit.
"The greatest lesson in life is money but a even greater lesson is how you get it" Nami declared.
"How do you get it" Greycie asked innocently
"Debt is a beautiful thing Greycie" Nami replied a catlike smile donning her face.
"Oh" Greycie replied her mouth going in a complete O.
"If you give out money, even a tiny bit, and you charge alot of interest you can have them owing you for life"
"Oh like Zoro and you" Greycie said with a smile. She giggled at the memories of the navigator yelling at the swordsmen and always threatening to raise a "debt"
After Nami the rest of the crew visited her until Robin was the only one visited her carrying a large bag with her. Before she went inside she sent a look to the crew that they all understood that they wouldn't bother the two. After five hours in there Sanji knocked on the door to tell them worriedly that dinner was waiting. Robin merely just opened the door slightly and told him to bring it and leave it outside the door. The cook obliged and it was three hours later that Robin finally allowed someone to enter. The first person was Zoro who carefully came inside and studied the room. It was littered with books mostly history that Robin was probably reading. He looked for the historian and found her sitting on the bed with Greycie's head in her lap. Zoro noted that the child's eyes were red and so was her nose. He looked at Robin and asked "What were you guys doing for eight hours"
"I promised Greycie that would remain between us. You know how strong promises are, don't you" Robin replied with a twinkle in her her eye.
Zoro just grunted, he always hated when the historian would say something creepily truthful. He turned around and walked outside giving the child one last look.
On the third day Greycie was like a sad puppy. Especially when she sat crosslegged on the bed and stared at the door with a sad longing look on her face. Nami couldnt pass the infirmary room anymore because she couldnt stand it when she passed the door. Every time she did so Greycie would pop out on the door widow and wave excitingly at her. Nami would just smile back and feel horrible for the next hour.
In that afternoon Chopper found Greycie lying down on the bed a pained expression on her face. She said that her body was hurting her. When he asked where she pointed to her legs and arms. The doctor thought that it could probably be that her limbs were sore from lack of use. A day out on the island they were currently docked at would do her some good. Nami was the first one to act when Chopper announced Greycie's approval outing. She brought out a scarf, jacket, mittens and the works. By the time Greycie was allowed outside her face was barely seen from the heavy layered clothing.
After her and Brook left the ship she immediately took off the unnecessary clothing Nami had donned on her. After she was ten pounds lighter from her clothes her and Brook went walking through the town. They talked and laughed, an effort for Greycie since her head was beginning to ache. They also found a music shop where they browsed for music sheets, a task for her also since her vision would blur at random moments. The day was going great, in Brooks view, and the duo stopped by to get some lunch. Takoyaki was the special of the island and the man who sold it told them said that it was best when eaten with someone.
With the takoyaki in her hands the duo walked off to the nearest bench which they found by the woods. When they were about to sit down a huge shaking hit the island. Earthquake people began to panic and Brook had to hold Greycie above his head for fear of her being stomped. Another attack on the island happened and Brook feared for Greycie and the other village children. Expertly moving through the crowd Brook went to the edge of the woods and placed Greycie down.
Her fearful expression on her face made Brook doubt his plan but when he heard a mother cry for her lost child he knew he had to act. He quickly told Greycie that he was going to he help the villagers but she must stay in the woods, and to find a clearing within it. The child nodded immediately and quickly ran to the thick part of the woods. She understood the seriousness of the situation and hoped that whatever was making the ground shake would stop. All she had to do was find a good safe spot.
Greycie ran through the woods takoyaki still in her hands. She repeated what Brook had said and found herself venturing deeper into the woods. She noticed the trees were now getting taller and the roots were getting bigger. By the time she was in the middle of the woods she had to jump over the roots. It was actually kinda fun. The child was laughing by herself in the woods just because she was finally able to move around. Forgetting her aching limbs she jumped higher and ran faster at each root.
She made a game out of it and every time she jumped over a rather large root she turned to it and smiled triumphantly at her victory. She did this until she saw a high small black root and decided she would sprint and jump over it. Backing up a couple of steps she crouched down and counted back to three. 3..2..1 GO! She sprinted and forgot all about the takoyaki as she pumped her arms. Just a couple inches away from the root she bent her legs to jump. She was about to lift herself off the ground when for some unknown reason the roots MOVED! Greycie tried to stop herself but only succeeded in tripping over her own moving feet. She felt her breath hitched and outstretched her hands in effort to catch herself.
Her hands never touched the floor but she found herself leaning in a 90 degree angle facing the floor. She felt something holding on her hoodie the only thing stopping her from dropping to the floor. Turning her head to see what grasped her, she saw that it was a man who grabbed her. The man was sitting down leaning on a tree trunk and she realized that the black roots were actually his boots. She waited for a couple seconds for him to let her go but the man didn't make a move. Instead he just lifted his head and revealed his face that was hidden by his hat. He still didnt open his eyes but instead said very calmly "Do you know what happens to people who interrupt me when I'm sleeping"
Greycie tilted her head and answered his question with one of hers "Why are you sleeping its daytime" Greycie turned her head and pointed her hand to the sky where the sun was seen. "See that's the sun, Right there" The child shook her hand at the man as if pitying him for not knowing that it was daytime. She didn't take noticed the hand that was holding her hoodie now bunched up in a fist. She continued by asking the man "Are you a lazy bastard" She now felt herself being raised up as the man now stood up. He finally opened his eyes and glared at the child, he stood up and brought the child up with him. Raising her high enough so they were now face to face he asked "Do you know who I am"
Greycie stared long at the man and then squinted her eyes as if that would make her know who the man was. She shook her head and said "Nope but if you are a lazy bastard thats ok because Zoro is one too and when ever Sanji tells him that he always yells back that he would rather be a lazy bastard then a stupid love cook" Greycie took a deep breath after her long ramble and then continued "So when I grow up Im going to be a lazy bastard too like Zoro"
The man just stared at her his face expressionless but now he lowered her to the ground and again sat down. He stared at the child and then asked in a non caring voice "Is this Zoro you speak of the swordsman Roronoa Zoro"
The man stared at the child trying to use a small amount of his aura to scare her to give him the answers quickly. With a slight frown to his face he found out that his threatening aura had no affect on the small child. He stared at her again and found that she too was staring at him. After a couple of more seconds of looking at the man Greycie asked him crossing her arms in the process "Are you part of the marines"
The man remain unfazed by the question and answered no. He then repeated the question and waited for the child to answer. He could tell she was debating in her head wheather or not to answer but after one last look at him did she finally answer. "Yeah its the same Zoro"
Now it was time for the man to scan the girl with his all knowing his eyes. She had no resemblance of the young Roronoa Zoro but she could resemble the mother by chance. He didn't remember a child or a woman when he battled Roronoa. How was this little girl related to Roronoa, the man pondered. The girl right now was opening a box and he saw it was takoyaki. He felt his stomach begin to rumble but he quickly toned his stomach. The rumbling stopped immediately but the child looked at him with one eyebrow raised.
"Would you like some" She asked. She gestured to the takoyaki and continued "The man who sold it to us said its best when its eaten with someone" She took one of them and popped it into her mouth. A smile stretched across her smile face and she stretched the box to the man.
"I'm not hungry" The man replied while looking away from the box of food.
"I didn't ask if you were I just asked if you wanted some" The child answered smartly back.
The man said nothing but instead removed a necklace that was around his neck and saw in the corner of her eye that the child was watching his every move. He slid the small knife out of the sheath and said calmly when he saw the child tense "I'm not going to hurt you" The child watched with wide eyes as he took the small knife and stabbed a takoyaki with it. He ate it quickly but saw that the child was still watching his every move. He was going to tell her something to her but she opened her mouth first. "You haven't stabbed anyone with that knife have you" She asked her face showing her disgust at the thought. The man thought of all the men he had defeated with this small sword one including Roronoa.
"No" He lied as he stabbed another takoyaki.
The child nodded and then stared at the man's eyes. She looked dazed as she stared at his yellow eyes. He ignored the gaze and kept eating but the gaze didn't faze after a while. He turned to the child and gave her a deathly glare. It did the trick. She looked away and instead started to rub her eyes. The man just continued to eat the takoyaki.
"Are those your real eyes" the child asked almost timidly. He just answered with a sharp nod. The child bit her lip and began to play with a string that was going lose on her coat.
"Do people make fun of your eyes cause they are so different" she whispered. She stared at the man's eyes and waited for an answer.
"No, I was given the name Hawkeyes Mihawk for them" Mihawk finally replied.
"Oh, me too. I was given the name Greycie cause of my eyes" Greycie stopped to look at Mihawk. "Because my eyes are grey, thats why they call me Greycie, do you get it"
"I understand" Mihawk replied with a hint of annoyance.
"Zoro named me" Greycie said rather herself with a smile on her face. "I love being with him and everyone else"
"You are on the ship with them" Mihawk asked his voice uncaring, he traced the small knife over several takoyaki before picking one. A nod from the child answered his question. Mihawk continued to eat and ignored the child for a couple minutes. It wasn't until a whimper was heard that he turned to face the child. He stared at the child and for a moment he thought she was choking. This was proven false when she ran behind a tree and spat out the tayotaki she had just put into her mouth. After wiping her mouth she turned to Mihawk and gave him a glare.
"Your a liar"She yelled at him her face furious. Seeing no reaction from the man Greycie continued "You said you never stabbed someone with that"
"How do you know that I stabbed someone" He asked. He now stood up stepping closer to Greycie.
"I tasted the blood" The child mumbled as she covered her body behind the tree. With the man getting closer Greycie backed up and tried to further herself away from him. She was getting scared of the man now. She regretted that she once again talked to a stranger.
"You cant be with that crew you know that" Mihawk said his eyes glaring at her. He took two strides and was breaking the gap between them. "Where they are going death is everywhere, no place for a child" Mihawk now threatened. He knew he was breaking the child but Roronoa couldn't be distracted by a child.
"They will protect me though" Greycie cried back. Mihawk had stopped walking and instead he brought out the small knife in a fast motion and swung it up in one fast graceful move. If he couldnt tell her the dangers that laid ahead he would just show her. Greycie tried to back up but a large wave of air bursted around her and she heard the tearing of cloth around her. The ground shook as it did before and Greycie connected the shaking with the man. It wasn't an earthquake, it was this man who made did this terrifying shaking. Once the wind subsided she fell to her knees and stared at the man in front of her. She was badly shaking from fear and tears were already falling down her face.
The man approached her and she cowered away from him. He was unfazed by the feared child but did put away the sword. " Again I will say that you do not belong there, you are endangering everyone on that crew"
Greycie was quiet except for the sobs that were shaking her body. Mihawk watched the child cry guiltily but knew that the child must know the truth. He heard someone approaching and heard the oncoming stranger call out for someone named "Greycie". Giving the child one last look, he left her and walked away.
Greycie didn't notice his leave because she was to busy crying her eyes out and feeling her head pound in sync with her heart. She saw a large afro before she blacked out.
Zoro felt his heart pound when Brook alerted him that something was wrong with Greycie. He immediately left the bar he was at and ran to the ship. He pushed open the infirmary door and he felt a sick feeling course through his body. Greycie was on the bed lying still with a cloth over her eyes in a pitch black a split moment Zoro saw Kuina lying there and his heart stopped. He shook his head and Kuina's corpse disappeared and a still breathing Greycie replaced her.
"She was saying that the light was hurting her eyes, so I put a cloth to cover them" Chopper's voice rang behind him.
Zoro just nodded and closed the door to not disturb her. He needed some strong alcohol right now. While on his way to the kitchen Nami warned him that tonight was going to be a strong storm. He just grunted in return. He looked up towards the sky and could see where the dark clouds were gathering, unfortunately right where they were headed. He hoped the storm wouldn't bring any problems.
Greycie was huddled in the corner of the bed trying to not fall over as the ship rocked dangerously. She wanted to call Chopper because she felt heart was hurting really badly again. She tried to meditate like Zoro had taught her and she actually relaxed for a moment. Unfortunately at that moment a strong wave attacked the ship and Greycie was thrown across the bed. She landed on the floor and her head cracked angrily against the adam wood. She let out a whimper when she felt something warm go down the side of her face. Thankfully the infirmary door opened and she saw a nose poke in. There was only with one person with that nose. With a weak smile she waited for the sharpshooter to step inside. What she didn't expect was Usopp to fall unconscious on the floor.
She looked at the sharpshooter with a horrified expression but she saw that someone was coming inside the room. She looked up to look at the stranger and she tried to get up to flee. She barely got on her shaky legs before her vision went hazy and she felt herself falling down. A pair of her arms caught her and she heard the man mutter about how horrible pirates are. She felt something being pressed against her head and the man was now walking out of the room. She tried to call out for help but the smell of smoke made her throat burned.
This chapter was kinda sketchy because I just needed this ch to set up the next one. I promise the next one is going to be great :) hope you guys will continue reading this story