Author's Note: In case any of you were confused, I changed my author's name to SereneMelodies. I used to be 21onepiecelove21, but that was just too long. And even I kept forgetting it…So yeah, just wanted to clarify. A huge thanks to all those who reviewed/favorited/followed! It's because of your encouragement and support that I am motivated to write *huge smile*
Also: In case it was confusing, in this story, the Straw Hats have not arrived on Sabaody Archipelago yet but have finished with Thriller Bark.
Tangled
Chapter 3: The Unexpected Consequence
"I think we should leave the island without them!" Nami shouted desperately, voicing the thoughts of the five others with her excluding Luffy. "We'll come back for them, I promise. But we can't hold up for much longer!"
The seven Straw Hat members had formed a defensive line around the Sunny, keeping away the enemies that seemed to multiply with every passing minute.
"They're not that strong. We can wait for Zoro and Sanji," Luffy demanded, his voice hard, eyes flashing. "We're not leaving them behind just because we're in a little bit of a fix! They'll come back here. How would you feel if Sunny wasn't there when you needed her to be?"
"Sencho-san, it's not because they're strong. It's just that we're badly outnumbered," Robin said calmly, as if she wasn't breaking the spines of a couple of the men while saying so. "We can spend one or two days out at sea and return. Kenshi-san and Cook-san would never doubt us that way. They would understand."
"You know I can bring us back here easily," Nami persuaded him. "Besides, Sunny is just as much a nakama and she's in danger from these guys. The two idiots wouldn't like it if Sunny was destroyed either."
"They're really going for the ship now," Franky said loudly. "I think it's best if we leave briefly and return quickly."
"What do these guys even want from us?" Usopp muttered.
"They just seem to want to get rid of us. Kick us off this island," Chopper answered.
Brook added, "They're not doing any significant harm at all."
"Well, what do you say, Luffy?" Nami asked tentatively.
Luffy remained silent for a few moments, glancing around at all their tired faces, before finally nodding his head. "We're coming back here after 24 hours. Let's save Sunny first."
[~ * ~]
Some time ago…
The thick clusters of massive trees seemed to block out all sunlight as Sanji skidded to a stop. It was as if the breeze itself was sending out a warning, a menacing aura seemingly emanating from the dark area.
"Is this the right forest?" Sanji muttered, wondering if that man had just been lying to them. "I bet this is some sick joke-"
"No. You're definitely at the right place."
Sanji's eyes widened as he heard the chillingly clear, feminine voice. He couldn't detect where the woman was with all the echoes reverberating from the dense foliage. He glanced around, briefly meeting Zoro's stony gaze which revealed nothing. Instinctively, he stepped closer to the swordsman, not so much for comfort but for stability.
Why did the tone of her voice grate so much on his nerves? It was lovely, almost artificially so, high-pitched, melodious, and authoritative. Sanji felt goosebumps rise on his arms as he called out tentatively, "Miss, do you care to explain what is going on? We're a little confused. I believe we were told that our friends would be here…"
"Oh, you're a polite one." A soft yet humorless giggle filled the air. "That's nice."
"But of course, my lady," Sanji responded, a gut reaction. "I live to serve you and you only."
"Stupid cook," Zoro muttered. "Do you not even know what kind of a situation we're in?"
Sanji shot him a glare, silently commanding him to shut the hell up before they were killed on the spot. How did Zoro expect to fight off an enemy he couldn't even see? It wasn't so much that Sanji thought they were incapable of defending themselves, just that they had no concrete information about the woman. And that lack of knowledge could prove fatal.
Plus, it was a woman. Which probably meant he, and more likely Zoro – in the end, Sanji could end up turning against him – would be very handicapped.
Zoro shrugged, his hands travelling slowly and instinctively to his katanas. Maybe the shitty marimo never realized, but talking could be just an effective a weapon as his swords.
Sanji swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing, despite his dry mouth. This could turn out to be as awful as the time when he had been utterly useless against Kalifa at Enies Lobby and had to depend entirely on Nami to win. He hadn't been able to protect her in the slightest back then…
The same nails-on-a-chalkboard sensation accompanied the woman's subsequent laughter, snapping Sanji out of his turbulent thoughts. He rubbed his arms, feeling antsy.
"I'm really tempted to take you too. Alas, I cannot. Perhaps I should just bend my rules for you. Make an exception."
"Is that so? I'm honored beyond measure. Well, mademoiselle, I had a question for you. Do you by chance happen to know what happened to our friends?" Sanji asked more calmly than he felt. Take me? Where? Why?
His figure was tense with wariness despite his easygoing chatter. "One of our friends happens to be very immature and scrawny, with an old straw hat-"
"Monkey D. Luffy? 300 million bounty...I'm assuming that is him. And you are referring to the Straw Hat Pirates in general, then. Well, they are safe…for now, I suppose, though I'm not sure what's happening to them at the moment. You see, I am here, and they are there, so I don't actually know."
Shit. Where was she talking from?
"Should I be surprised you know him?" Sanji asked, changing the subject and trying to locate her with the only clue he had: the sound of her voice. Her vague answer worried him.
"I think not. He is infamous for his deeds after all. It's too bad he's a little…young for my tastes. Ah, the Straw Hats. Known for their ridiculous habit of overdoing things and making the World Government as well as the Marines infinitely angry…"
In the blink of an eye, two figures appeared, sitting down on low branches of a tree in the center. They were both cloaked, hoods covering facial features. Sanji took one defensive step backwards at the sight.
"What do you want," Zoro said flatly. The woman tittered again, and Sanji fought the urge not to shiver.
"You."
Without really thinking, Sanji spluttered, "WHAT? The marimo?"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Zoro protested, addressing both of them.
"Is it so surprising?" The same voice came from one of the hooded figures. After chortling at Sanji's shock, she sighed. "It really is too boring up here. I might as well introduce myself."
The woman jumped off easily, landing so slowly that she seemed to defy gravity. She appeared to float in the air effortlessly. The hood fell backwards as her violet mane was freed, the cascade of waves falling gently over her shoulders perfectly into a styled position. Her beauty was vicious in its intensity, purple eyes flashing with cold amusement. The robe did nothing to conceal her stunning, hourglass figure.
The second figure stayed as still as a rock on the branch, as the purple-haired woman took a step forward.
"Mademoiselle, I believe you've captured my heart," Sanji murmured, glad she had come out into the open. Zoro mumbled incoherent things behind him and Sanji struggled not to argue with him.
It was true she was unbelievably gorgeous but all Sanji could feel was an uneasiness he couldn't comprehend. Only habit forced him to speak and act the way he did. Zoro could think what he liked, but…
Something feels wrong here.
"Flattery will get you nowhere…though it is always appreciated," she chuckled, approaching the two men slowly. "I really do like you, Blond-san. Hm…how do I start my story-"
"Save it," Zoro said, sliding one of his katana out and holding it out defensively. "Just what do you want?"
"I believe I've already answered that question," she replied, her singsong voice causing further irritation. "Unless you want me to repeat myself, in which case, I will. I want you."
"Don't interrupt a lady," Sanji warned, flinging a halfhearted kick at the marimo, who blocked effortlessly. Zoro, just let her talk already…what the hell does she want with you? Or me, for that matter?
The swordsman seemed to understand and didn't say anything, his eyebrow twitching as a vein popped in his forehead.
"Do you wish to fight me?" she asked gleefully, her hands coming together to drum her fingertips off each other.
"Of course not," Sanji replied smoothly, cutting Zoro off and directing the conversation towards himself. "Please, by all means, speak. I'm – I mean, we're – all ears."
The woman tucked her hair behind her ear in a coy fashion, making Sanji feel even more uncomfortable. Nothing was innocent about that usually shy and feminine gesture. There was a strange vibe coming from her, a horrifically strong aura that seemed to wrap itself around her entire being.
"While I don't know you, I do know Roronoa Zoro. So-called first mate of the Straw Hat crew. Defeated little Kaku at Enies Lobby. An impressive feat for average standards. I believe you do know my friends, the Cipher Pol 9 members."
As understanding dawned on both of them, the purple-haired beauty paced around in front of them slowly, watching their faces. She seemed delighted at the sight of their disbelief and shock.
Sanji tried not to stare at her. Is she a secret member or something? What the hell is going on?
"Don't worry. The World Government has absolutely no control over me like they do over the seven official members of CP9," she scoffed lightly. "After all, it's not like they can send Lucci after me or anything. All of this…this is for my personal enjoyment, nothing more."
The metallic ching! of the katana could be heard as Zoro adjusted his hold. He glared at her, stating bluntly, "So you're saying that you're an unofficial member of CP9 and you're out to hunt us for the fun of it."
"Something like that." She smiled, baring her teeth. "My name is Hideko. Nice to meet you two. I'm guessing Mr. Blond is either a new member or just an acquaintance."
As much as Sanji wanted to say that he was the one and only Black-Leg Sanji (how did she not know this by now? Oh wait, he had that monstrosity of a wanted poster…), he tamped down his impatience. It's better that she doesn't know me.
"Cut the formalities," Zoro said apathetically, "and just get on with it. Explain yourself."
"Ah, if you insist. You see, I have a habit – hobby, more like – that the World Government does not dare interfere with. You'll remember that the CP9 members truly consisted of Lucci, Kaku, Jabra, Blueno, Kumadori, Fukuro, and Kalifa. It would be idiotic indeed if CP9 didn't have 9 members. So I am counted as one, and my dear Haruka over there is counted as the last. Though really, we do as we please. They can't stop us," she explained slowly as if talking to a child. "It just so turns out that…I am the one who developed Rokushiki."
"Rokushiki?" Sanji frowned. "You can't possibly be referring to…"
"Kami-e, Geppo, Rankyaku, Shigan, Soru, Tekkai. The kids took the moves I taught them and adopted Rokushiki to fit their personal fighting styles," Hideko chuckled softly. "I'm assuming you remember some of them. They're quite unforgettable, if a little cookie-cutter like."
"Rankyaku…the move that Kaku used to slice the building," Zoro recalled, his eyes narrowing dangerously, his left hand reaching for another katana to unsheathe. "So you're worse than all of them. Perhaps all of them combined."
"Now, now, don't get defensive. The World Government insisted I teach some of my tricks. That was all." Hideko fluttered her eyelashes in a deceptively demure manner. "Lucci, I admit, I was quite proud of. He mastered Rokuogan with little problem. Rokushiki is really just the basics anyway."
Just the basics?
She turned to face Zoro completely. "You defeated Kaku, who had a doriki of 2200. Lucci had 4000. And you see…they are my pupils and have yet to surpass me. Doriki shows your power level, as you well know. Just how did you manage to beat him as a swordsman? It's so interesting that my blood begins to boil. Could you have faced Lucci yourself and emerged a victor-"
"Get on with it," Zoro snapped, repeating himself harshly.
"I really do like you. Well, I ate the Henshin Henshin no Mi. I turn people into different things. But I'm only interested in unique, powerful people, for my collection must be, is, and will be the best. Remarkable people turn into remarkable things. Take Trafalgar Law, for example. He's a martial eagle. Quite magnificent," Hideko said lightly, while her stance stiffened and her hands stilled. Her eyes glowed with satisfaction, confidence, and something like greed. "I have a virtual zoo! And I'm determined to find out what you'll turn into."
As the last word was being said, Zoro quickly took his swords and attacked, muttering, "Nanajuni Pound Ho."
Sanji couldn't stop himself from yelling, "Oi! Don't hurt a lady!", instinctively sending a kick in the direction of the moss ball. A tree fell somewhere in the nearby vicinity.
"I just counteracted her attack is all. I didn't hurt her," Zoro said, matter-of-factly, his gaze steady as he tried to concentrate.
Sanji knew that too. He had also just briefly seen her hands send out some sort of beam-like force before the swordsman had naturally reacted to defend himself. He still couldn't help himself from taking the lady's side, however. Dammit.
"Impressive. Sort of." The woman had clearly dodged with some variation of Soru.
Sanji fought his instincts to launch himself at Zoro completely and start fighting him. After all, he had been raised to protect ladies regardless of the situation. He clenched his jaw, hearing something pop.
"Sorugeppo." The bone-chilling voice came from above. Instead of bouncing around like the CP9 members had, she was floating in the air with little effort, as if she were walking on the air. Then she smiled. "Fast, but not quite fast enough. Strong, but not strong enough. I wonder what you'll turn out to be. Your green hair is also intriguing. I doubt you'll turn into a marimo, like Blond-san says. Maybe some type of crocodile-like thing? A lizard? A dragon? Or will the green-hair not make a difference…but it should…"
"Are you saying you don't know?" Sanji asked, unsure of what to do other than to keep the conversation going. "That is a very strange Devil's Fruit that you ate."
"You just randomly choose people to keep as some kind of pet?" Zoro spat indignantly. "Why?"
"My ability doesn't allow me to change the predestined being of a person. Which is why you, Roronoa Zoro, are so fascinating. I can't guess at all! And what's better than having people serve you, kept in cages like animals…because that is what they truly are!" Hideko said brightly, laughing. "But enough about that. We might as well fight until I get tired. This is simply too amusing to give up. Both of you…bring it on."
Her eyes turned into slits as she cackled. "Shigan!"
Before either of them could really understand what was happening, Sanji felt something like a bullet pierce through his shoulder and pull back out, but nothing was there except for a clean hole which began oozing blood. He barely managed to dodge the others, clutching at his wound with his right hand. He panted for breath and began feeling lightheaded from excess oxygen.
Dammit, my left arm is completely useless right now.
"Sanji!" Zoro yelled, having deflected the finger-sized air bullets with his katana just in time to avoid getting hit.
It was as if Hideko were shooting a gun at them with invisible ammunition.
"Ha…" Sanji tried to breathe and ignore the pain. The trees were starting to spin together, and he wiped the cold sweat from his brow. "I'm fine, marimo. Don't get distracted."
Save yourself…
"Sanji…"
"He's right, you know, Zoro dear. Rankyaku!"
This isn't like the normal CP9 attacks. She's doing everything with less effort. More strength. Deadly accuracy. It took our entire crew minus Brook to take down CP9 but she's even more powerful than them all combined, if what she says is true. She even used Shigan without touching us physically. There's no way we'll be able to take her down, with Zoro the way he is and with my fucked up hand…so what can we do?
Sanji jumped again, dodging with as much speed as he could muster, as Zoro blocked the rapid, destructive slashes.
We're doomed.
"Nigiri…hirameki!"
She was gone instantaneously, appearing right before them in the next second. Her smile became demonic as she licked her lips. "Dodging you is too easy, my dear Zoro. Your skills are too unrestrained. Brute strength does not make you powerful. Shigan!"
After deflecting the "bullets", Zoro grabbed Wado and stuck it in his mouth quickly. "Don't lecture me, woman! Hyakuhachi Pound Ho!"
She skipped around in the air using Geppo, her laughter trailing after her. "Strong but so slow! Haven't you been paying any attention to what I've been saying? 2 swords, 3 swords…the same move won't work twice, especially if it didn't work the first time! Though I have to say, santoryu is quite amazing…and what about you, Mr. Blond? Why so quiet? Rankyaku!"
He couldn't even muster the self-will to use Diable Jambe as he jumped to the side to avoid her attack. Her slash grazed his arm, leaving a little cut.
"Why don't you put up a bigger fight?" she demanded. "You're making me bored. And that is not good for you."
"Zoro, I can't fight her," he muttered desperately, unable to face her directly. "I can't hurt her. She's a lady."
"What?" she cackled, her voice incredulous. "You can't possibly be serious! Oh, you are just too funny! Are you really so chivalrous?"
Sanji didn't respond, almost hating that he couldn't participate in the fight properly.
"Just don't get in my way then, ero-cook." Zoro grinned grimly, his look of understanding worse than Hideko's mockery. "Keep yourself alive."
Sanji's fist clenched. So in the end, he couldn't do anything. There was nothing he could do to help. And Zoro was going to have to do everything. Protect him.
He was useless.
You just can't compare to someone like Luffy…What can you protect?
Every muscle in his body froze. Dear God, he did not need this right now. But it was already too late. His feet rooted to the spot, eyes becoming unfocused.
You don't belong in this crew.
His brain refused to give his body the commands he needed to move, shutting down and letting his fears take over his consciousness. What he saw physically was no longer registering properly in his warped mind, his surroundings changing to fit the images he had seen in his nightmare. The trees disappeared, shapes shifting to turn into the waves of the ocean. Chains that only he could see tied him down to the ground.
Snap out of it! You're stronger than this!
We don't need you…
A powerful force collided into his side, shoving him to the ground so harshly that he skidded across the dirt floor of the forest. His vision cleared as he tried to sit up, awakened from the trance. A heavy weight was draped across him.
"What the hell...what the hell?" Sanji shouted as he struggled to understand what had happened. Zoro was sprawled out, his limbs holding him up just enough so he that he managed to pick himself back up.
"Oi…take care of yourself. Didn't I warn you?" Zoro wheezed as blood began seeping out of his side. A particularly bad wound received at Thriller Bark also opened up, making the damage appear even worse. "What were you doing, just standing there and staring off into space?"
"I wonder…are you two lovers? Please explain this strange atmosphere," she giggled. "Mr. Blond, Roronoa Zoro seems to be looking out for you an awful lot, considering he just took my Rankyaku straight on to protect you."
Sanji felt his facial muscles contort into a frown out of horror
"Ignore her," Zoro muttered, getting himself together. "Just keep yourself safe."
He had gotten hurt…because of me? Sanji's eyes widened, refusing to accept it. That…that's not what rivals do! You asshole! Don't take the blows intended for me!
"That's not very nice. How could you ignore someone like me? Henshin Henshin beam~!" she trilled.
Reflexively, Sanji dragged Zoro's arm across his shoulder and jumped backwards, narrowly missing the beam's range.
"Let go of me, stupid cook," Zoro rasped. "It'll be a little harder for her to aim for both of us if we're separated."
"So now it's a game of cat-and-mouse, is it? I chase you…until you lose. Until I win. Until both of you are in your alternate forms and within in my personal collection," Hideko laughed. "That sounds fun. Very fun, indeed…not. Come on, you two. I expected more from members of the Straw Hat crew!"
"Let me get this straight, Hideko-chan. You want this moss ball in your zoo collection?" Sanji babbled, desperate to keep her distracted. "Out of all the people in the world, you want this guy? You have a strange taste in people."
Zoro readjusted Wado in his mouth, jumping away from Sanji with a leap.
"How often do you see a green-haired man?" She raised her shoulders in what would usually be an adorable way. But her malevolently glowing violet eyes offset the gesture. "To me, it is utterly enthralling. A relatively strong man with a high bounty and green hair who is feisty to boot! Not to mention that he happens to have a polite, lovely friend. Henshin Henshin beam~!"
The beam was directed at Sanji, who managed to dodge, but it hit a large rock, which suddenly transformed into a mouse. How had he not noticed this before?
"Holy shit," Sanji breathed, not in awe but in horror as he observed the genetic changes slowly. The half-rat twitched as if in pain, the alteration so excruciatingly slow that Sanji was forced to look away. "This is what you do to people?"
"Indeed," she answered with a smirk. "Shigan! Rankyaku!"
Faster than Sanji could possibly register, the flying attacks made their marks on his body as he fell to the ground on his hands and knees. He coughed up blood as he realized she had hit some areas that were too unnervingly close to the vital organs. "Shit."
"Oi, I told you to watch out!" Zoro shouted angrily from the other side, sending another attack in Hideko's direction, only to have her kick it back at him easily, despite being barefoot. Zoro jumped backwards to avoid his own slash, losing his balance and falling down on one knee.
How was that possible?
"Haruka, I'm getting very bored. They're not putting up a very good fight," Hideko said suddenly, turning towards her still silent and stiff partner on the tree. Her attitude changed so quickly that she seemed like a different person. "Grab Zoro, will you? I want to just finish this."
The second figure swooped down in a motion so fast that she seemed to fly, hood falling to reveal a shocking pixie cut of electric blue. The most bizarre thing was that it was difficult to tell if she was female or male from the slim figure or the face.
Sanji struggled not to stare at him…her…it...
The androgynous person used Soru just as efficiently as Hideko had, instantaneously appearing a few inches away from Zoro's face. He took his katana and sliced through Haruka's body, swiping cleanly through. Normally, it would have killed a person without question.
To his shock, however, only the cloak was in pieces, revealing the watery body of the person beneath. There was no blood on his sword. No blood, no skin, no bones, nothing.
"You…" Zoro gawked.
"Mizu Mizu no Mi," Haruka answered, her genderless voice even more sinister than Hideko's. "Logia. You could never cut me with mere katanas."
"How is that even possible…" Sanji murmured, coughing up more blood. Shit, this isn't looking so good.
Haruka easily took the swords away from Zoro in her aqueous grip and stabbed him with an unbelievable speed, pinning him down to the ground by the shoulders and the abdomen.
"ZORO!" Sanji yelled, feeling all his muscles rebel against the action. Is this all we were capable of? Is that all I was capable of?
Do we…end here?
The swordsman managed to yank the katanas out, bleeding heavily. He struggled to sit up, unable to clutch at any of the wounds to stop the blood from flowing out.
"This is…nothing…" Zoro coughed. "Nothing…compared to…"
"Stop talking, you idiot!" Sanji shouted, shocked at the wetness at his eyes.
"Run…Sanji…" Zoro panted. "Get…back…to…Luffy…Tell him…I'm sorry…"
"Yes, please do. You no longer interest me," Hideko said, her voice going flat, the sound worse than her previous chatter. "It appears you and Zoro are on different levels when it comes to fighting. Besides, I really am getting tired. Especially tired of this nakama-sacrifice ordeal. Ah…I would kill for a nice glass of poitin."
The lady was crazy. Bipolar. Manic. Psychotic. Words were insufficient in fully describing her nature.
"Henshin Henshin beam!"
And before he knew what he was doing, Sanji urged himself up, raced in front of Zoro and jumped, taking the beam instead. He tumbled to the ground, feeling as if he'd been hit by lightning, the pain immediately sinking in.
"SANJI!"
You should have been the one to sacrifice yourself…then they would finally care about you…once you were dead and gone…At least you would have been some use to them...prove yourself a nakama...
How about now?
[~ * ~]
It was excruciating.
As if his skull was being torn apart. As if every bone was being crushed. As if every muscle was being ripped into pieces and re-stitched. As if every cell in his body was imploding.
Nauseating. Horrendous. The feeling of wanting to burst out of your skin to escape the terrifying torment.
Sanji felt the skin on his head stretch and tear as his features began rearranging themselves. His face was on fire, or so it seemed, the intense pain threatening to make him lose consciousness. He couldn't see a single thing, the blinding, white-hot agony preventing him from doing anything but twitch on the ground.
His spine seemed to snap under the pressure of the transformation.
Every sinew, every structural part in his feet was shrinking. But nothing compared to the torture that his legs were going through. His longer-than-average limbs felt as though it were being sawed off at a million different places.
An ear-splitting scream, inhuman in its atrocity, reached his ears.
Something was growing near his hip and ass, beginning to protrude through the skin.
There was the scream again.
Beyond the indescribable pain, he could feel the gazes on him, his skin sensitized and beginning to grow hair. In profusion. It was as if all fighting, all arguing, had stopped so they could observe him.
Faintly, very faintly, he heard a woman's voice.
"Oh that is just too bad. I was actually a little curious about how you'd turn out. You're just a common-"
A final flash of pain, and he lost his battle to stay awake, to stay conscious.
"SANJI!"
[~ * ~]
Author's Note: I finally got to the "unexpected consequence"! Let the fluffiness begin…just kidding. But yeah, most of the plot stuff is out of the way for now. So expect some Zoro/Sanji lovin'!
By the way: I kept the names of the attacks in Japanese. It just doesn't sound right in English, you know?
And: I looked up Japanese names for Hideko & Haruka. Just in case you were curious, Hideko means "splendid child" and Haruka means "faraway, distant". I could be pitifully wrong, but this was the result of my research :D
Any questions, comments, concerns, others? XD (Guess what Sanji has turned into!)