Chapter 6: Don't speak

The door burst open. Chopper dropped what he was holding and turned his head towards the door automatically, like a robot.

"What the hell is going on here?" Zoro yelled grabbing onto his katanas. He froze on the place when his eyes finally managed to grasp the picture. Chopped was standing in front of him, with a small bucket of bloody water next to his legs; all his being made it seem like he was in deep shock. Zoro's gaze fell on the bed; there laid the source of the noise he heard from the outside. Wanda lay on her belly with her face buried in the bed sheets. Her bare back was covered in blood that ran down her sides and stopped when it met the white sheets, soaking them. Her hair was spread all over the pillow. Her body seemed stiff.

"What the hell?" Zoro repeated not grasping what was happening. Chopper didn't reply and started quickly preparing another bucket full of water and herbs that none in the room knew.

Wanda raised her head very slowly, as she clenched the bed sheets in her hands. She turned her head and looked at Zoro with an unseeing sight. Sweat was running down her face past a big scar in place of one of her eyes. Stinging liquid got into her eye; it should have stung but she couldn't feel it. Chopped sat beside her on her bed and started quickly but carefully removing the blood. He rinsed the cloth and placed it over the girl's back. Zoro walked closer. He looked down at Wanda. He couldn't understand what was happening. She was fine just a couple of hours ago. What could possible change on a ship that is safer than heaven? His eyes fell on the girl's hands. She was desperately clenching the bed sheets to the point where her fingers turned white. He couldn't see her face anymore, for it was once again hidden in the crumbled sheets.

"She is in a lot of pain." Chopper said; he was working fast and skilfully. He was a great doctor indeed.

"What's wrong with her?" Zoro asked for the third time, feeling impatient due to the lack of answer.

"Have a look yourself."

Following the invitation he stepped closer to the bed. He leaned in and looked down at Wanda's back. Chopper moved aside slightly, giving him a better view. Zoro's eyes widened at the sight imagine painted in front of his eyes. Deep cuts were quickly appearing on the girl's back, it was as if an invisible knife was cutting into her skin. They were quickly forming into three words "Captain Christoph's property." Wanda breathed faster when a deeper cut was made.

"How the hell is this possible?" Zoro asked. Her wounds were bleeding and Chopper rushed to treat them again.

"I don't know." Chopper replied. "But no matter how much I try to treat them, it doesn't work." Chopper's voice sounded desperate. He was a doctor and being unable to treat his patient was like a crime to him. "The wounds keep re-opening and bleeding."

"Stop..." Wanda's muffled voice said. "...stop staring at me or..." she bit her lower lip. "...would you like a picture?"

Both Chopper and Zoro ignored her words.

*I am surprised she is still alive...* the reindeer thought but decided not to mention it out loud. He felt sorry for the girl. The cuts looked painful; he could almost imagine the feeling of his own flesh being cut open; over and over again. Zoro didn't reply. His eyes were glued to her body that was shaking in agony; he couldn't tell what pain was more unbearable: physical or emotional, it also didn't matter. Zoro place his hand over her head which made her freeze for a moment.

"Cry." He said loudly. "If that's what you feel like, then do it."

She shook harder under his hand when he heard a quiet cry. She finally let out her tears, not just a few droplets but all of them...not holding back, not biting her lips to blood. She sobbed into the sheets, her voice breaking from high pitch to low. Zoro didn't say anything else. He walked away and sat in the furthest corner of the room. He leaned on the wall and closed his eyes; he couldn't fall asleep, so he just rested while listening to her sobs and cries. They were slowly quieting down. Zoro lost track of time. His mind was occupied with what he saw, and none of it was fitting into criteria. At last he heard Chopper fast footsteps. Zoro opened his eyes and looked at the two others in the room. Wanda was quiet. She stopped shaking and seemed as if she fell asleep. Chopped once again carefully wiped her back and took the bloody water away from the bed.

"She fell asleep huh?" Zoro mumbled yawning. He felt tired. It was unusual.

"Yes." Chopper replied wiping his forehead. His all being told Zoro that the Reindeer was exhausted. "The bleeding stopped...just like the last time." Chopper stated to no one in particular.

"What do you mean?" Zoro asked feeling a nudge of curiosity.

"When she came to me before, it was with those bad wounds, I thought she was going to die, but when I almost lost hope, the wounds just healed." Chopper replied. Zoro blinked. Was it too complicated for him t understand?

"It's impossible."

"That's what I thought," Chopper sweet voice was full of sadness and unknown. "But it is true. Those cuts appear at a certain time, and disappear at it as well. While they are open...as a doctor, I can't do anything." He sounded like he was about to cry. Zoro sighed.

"You did all you could." Zoro tried sounding reassuring, but it didn't seem to work, so he decided to change the topic. "Does anyone else know?"

"No," she asked me to keep it a secret. "But now you know...so."

Zoro turned away thinking. A soft sigh came from Chopper's direction. "Go rest." Zoro said as he stood up. "I'll stay here until morning."

Chopper looked at him with brightness in his eyes. "But what if..."

"If anything happens I'll call you." Zoro interrupted him. Chopper nodded and quickly disappeared behind the door, closing it after he exited. Zoro's eyes once again fell upon the girl. Her back was clean, without a sing scar or a sign to indicate what happened earlier. He furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He wasn't a scientist but even so, he could tell that there was no scientific explanation to what happened earlier. He let out a loud sigh and pulled the sheets over the girl. She didn't budge when cold cloth covered her bare back.

He looked around as if searching for something. Another sigh escaped his lips as he sat down next to the bed and leaned on the wall. As soon as he closed his eyes, sleepiness wrapped around his body making all of his body parts feel heavy and without a single hesitation, Zoro fell asleep.

When Zoro woke up, the room was empty. He yawned loudly and got up. All the evidence of previous night was erased. The floor was clean and the bed bloody sheets were replaced with fresh ones. Zoro could hear the sounds of ocean coming from outside and the usual loud laughter of Luffy. He stretched and walked out of the room. The day wasn't as sunny, yet it felt much hotter than the day before. It seemed like the air was still, without a single blow of wind. *It will probably storm...* he thought making his way out.

"Oh, Zoro," It was Luffy. He pounced to the swordsman and grinned. "And I was wondering where you went!"

"Next time you sleep during your damn shift, do it out on the deck, damn marimo." Sanji murmured placing a deliciously looking dessert in front of Nami and Robin, who were sitting on comfortable chairs minding their business. Zoro ignored the blonde.

"Where's that girl?" he asked addressing everyone.

"Wanda." Nami corrected.

"She is in the kitchen with Chopper." Usopp replied as he continued fixing the hole he was working on the previous day.

Zoro marched to the kitchen. He kicked open the door and walked in. "What are you two doing chatting sweetly?" he roared. His voice sounded harsher than he wanted it to be. Wanda dropped a piece of half eaten cake on the plate. Chopper jumped on his seat and transformed back into his original form.

"What's the problem Mr Swordsman?" Wanda asked taking a bite from the cake she dropped. Zoro furrowed his eyebrows and crossed arms on his chest, wondering what exactly he was going to answer, or what bothered him the most that moment? Was it what happened at night or the fact that Wanda was chatting to Chopper as if nothing had happened. Chopped hopped off the chair.

"I going first." He said quickly making his way out. Silence filled the kitchen. Wanda didn't face Zoro and he continued watching her from behind. She munched on the food Sanji prepared quietly. She was waiting.

"Care to explain what happened?" Zoro finally said breaking the silence. *Here it goes.*

"I don't know what you are talking about." Wanda replied coldly. It was a flat lie and she knew it was stupid to say, but something made her blur it out.

"Cut the..." Zoro slammed his hands on the table, but the girl didn't move. He didn't scare her. Oh, no. On the contrary, she found him somewhat amusing. If he thought that was the way to get information out of her, he was deadly mistaken. Besides...*Chopper is the only one who knows.* she thought. *I'll keep it at that.*

"You..." Zoro grabbed her by the collar and brought her up to her feet roughly. She granted him a sarcastic look.

"Are you going to use force on a defenceless girl?" she shook her head in disapproval.

"Defenceless!" Zoro snorted.

"What's going on here?" It was Usopp. He stood at the door looking at them in curiosity and fear. Zoro glared at Usopp and released the girl. He walked out and shut the door with a loud thud. Wanda sighed and looked at Usopp. She smirked slightly feeling an urge to bully the long nosed guy. She quickly approached him, making him jump away and take a nonexistent fight pose.

"I...I am the Legendary Fighter Usopp!" he yelled stuttering. Wanda leaned closer to his face and blew air on his nose. Usopp jumped up. She chuckled and walked past him. Usopp heard the door opening and sighed in relief when a sudden "BOO" rung next to his ear. He screamed like a girl and turned around abruptly. Wanda laughed loudly making his glare at her in annoyance and fear.

"Later." She waved and finally walked out of the kitchen leaving him alone. Usopp sighed once again holding onto his chest.

"I'm going to have a heart attack if things will continue this way." He mumbled under his breath as he tried to remember what it was that he wanted to get from the kitchen.

Wanda didn't need long to search for him. He was always somewhere on a visible place either sleeping or training, but most of the time still sleeping. She eyed his face. Even when he was asleep his eyebrows were furrowed. The girl looked around. It was strange that most of the time when she was with the green haired man; they turned out to be alone either on the deck, or in a room, anywhere...just the two of them. Was it a sign?

"No!" she told herself shaking her head and fixing the eye patch.

"No what?" It was Zoro. He opened one eye and stared at her.

"Is it some kind of karma that every time I am close to you, we turn out to be alone?" she asked.

"Are you complaining?"

She shrugged. "Not really."

They were silent for a couple of minutes.

"So what is the reason you were looking for me?" he asked.

"I was not looking for you!" she retorted emphasizing "not".

Zoro made a clicking noise with his tongue.

"And seriously?"

"Fine," she sighed in defeat. "Maybe I was, looking for you."

"What do you want?" he pressured. Wanda sent him an annoyed look. How much more boring could this man possibly get?

"About last night..."

"The night you know nothing about..." he interrupted. Wanda clenched her hands. He was annoying her to bits.

"Stop clutching onto my words." She hissed under her breath. She rubbed her temples. Sometimes it was difficult to speak to him. Actually, it was better not to speak to him at all. Fighting was the only kind of "talk" he understood best. "Anyway, don't tell anyone about what you saw last night." she said. "That's all."

Wanda turned her back to him and started walking away. "And the magic word?"

She froze twitching. "Please!" she stormed off fuming. *Damn marimo!* she thought walking into the room she sometimes shared with Nami and Robin when she didn't sleep in the infirmary or on the deck.

"What's up with you?" Nami asked turning her head from her maps. Wanda sighed and sat down on the floor next to the ginger girl. She didn't know why but she wanted comfort. She wanted someone to put their hand on her head and stroke her hair, to pat her or mess her hair like a father would do to a child. She crawled closer to Nami and put her arms and head on the girl's lap. Wanda closed her eyes. Even for a little bit, to stay that way; it made her happy. Nami was taken aback. Name placed her hand on Wanda's head, feeling her soft hair rub against her hand.

"So," she started, as she stroked Wanda's head. "What's between you and Zoro?"

Wanda froze. "Nothing!" she replied quietly not liking the subject of their conversation.

"But you like him, don't you?' Nami continued. Wanda shook her head. She understood that she was acting childish but she couldn't help it.

"You do!" Nami chuckled. Wanda pushed herself away from the girl.

"I certainly do not." She replied coldly. "And besides," she continued. "Isn't it too soon to like anyone at all?"

Nami smiled. "Love is blind."

"I don't love him." Wanda retorted and stood up. "I'll be sleeping on the deck tonight. It's too hot." Nami laughed when the door closed. "Love is blind indeed." She repeated returning to her maps.

Wanda yawned and stretched. Her back didn't seem to ache and gave no signs of further disruption. *Perhaps...not today.* she thought as she slowly walked to the furthest corner from the rooms. Wanda pushed the strands of her hair behind her ears and sighed. It was late and everyone already descended to their room. She looked around. Everything was clear. *Maybe I can hope for a good night sleep tonight. It's surprising that no one else found out about...* her thoughts were interrupted when she suddenly tripped over somebody's legs. She didn't need to look at who it was. She already knew.

"You!" she almost hissed under her breath. "The hell are you doing here?"

"That's my line." Zoro replied.

Silence fell between them as they glared at each other with intensity that could kill. The pressure between them was rising. Wanda's eye twitched as Zoro raised his eyebrow. She took a step closer and he didn't hesitate to stand up.

"You want a fight?" he asked touching his katanas with his fingertips.

"Yes, in fact I do."