A/N:: I know, I know, "about time" right? Okay so I have finally thought some things up since stupid me before decided not to leave any notes on what to do. So I kind of been brain storming with this story and trying to organize my plot bunnies! I know they are short, I'm so sorry, my hunnies! But this is still new genre territory for me! So please forgive any mistakes or pace! Love you all~! *swoon*

I hope you enjoy!

*POOF*

Battle Royale

Suffering

"Forty, huh?"

"Maybe less now…"

My arms were supporting my head as I lay back along the ground with a look up at the sky through the trees. Saga and I found a tree with a small cove in it and decided to use it as a hideaway spot. We even thought ahead and tore a piece of bark off another tree a bit away from us to cover the entrance. It was temporary since you shouldn't stay in one place for long, but it worked for now, especially since my shoulder was still sore from that time.

Yeah, it's been a couple days since we ran into Kohza and this air floated around us. We knew that there was a slim chance of him still being alive since we noticed some people climb up into his spot. Though, it wasn't completely our fault if he did get killed, we told him to stay calm. He wasn't being rational and was completely about to lose it with his father involved with something and then Vivi added on. I had to tell him about Vivi since I saw him already gone from helping us and Saga even agreed that it was the right choice at the time.

Last night the red flare soared through the air and lit up the sky with its glow and it signaled another ten of us gone. It had me wondering if Luffy was alright and making through it alright since I knew this whole thing is not even close to being a joke. At the same time, I don't know how I would feel if I had to choose between Saga and Luffy. In a way, I would like to be with Luffy and actually commit to those feelings I have since I have never felt like that for anyone else but him. But… Saga has been my best friend since we were younger and I could never betray him. Wow, am I seriously kind of thinking the way that Kohza would with Vivi?

"Movement." The hushed tone made me move quietly around to the tree and we shifted into the spot before holding the makeshift handle on the backside of the bark. Footsteps grew louder as I took a peek along a cracked area with my head pushed back so it wouldn't gleam in any of the evening light.

"We lost him, Kai!" One person growled out as they shifted around the area and began approaching the tree. "He is good at hiding and climbing." We heard him lean against the tree and I assume look up into it.

"Forget it, Benthor. Let's just go find some others that are trying to group together. He will eventually have to come out and fight when we are the last three standing." The man mentioned as he shifted towards some brush and moved into it noisily. "Keep up!"

"Agh! Wait up!" The other followed with a slight jog as the two began to argue lightly whilst moving farther away from us. We were about to get out, but a soft thump was made before the tree and I heard light patters. A hand began pushing against me as I notice Saga trying to get something important out. My view scurried to see what was important before I caught a glimpse of the lean body crouched near the brush the other two left through. Then, without a minute to spare, he moved another direction with grace and made barely a sound.

Luffy… I'm glad you're still alive.

The fruit hit my taste buds as we found an old abandoned shack and disarmed the traps and few people crowding it. They tried to kill us and luckily had no noisy weapons so we were able to rest to eat. My mouth watered as I took in the sweet taste of the fruit some more before drinking a bit of water to chase it. I sat on the floor with my back against a wall as I tried to keep my eyes away from the two bodies in here and the other rested outside.

"So good!" The words had me gaze over as Saga soon shook a bottle to me with a grin. "Just like when we stole from Father's stash!" This chuckle left me as we had a small fire going as the day is cloudy and hard to see the smoke, though there wasn't much of it anyways.

"Except my father had the best stashed away." We both grinned in agreeance before I finished the food and leaned back with a sigh out.

"I wonder if my parents know." The whisper had me give sad eyes over and he gave me a serious look.

"They do."

"Figures…" This sigh left him as he soon shifted to have arms around his legs and he stared to the fire. "I hope they can't see any of this."

"I don't know." I spoke truthfully as I knew he was implying for me to answer with only facts and Mihawk never said. Of course, I never asked and—truthfully—I kind of wish I knew more. Though, I knew it was a touchy subject for him as he somehow survived with a man named Shanks.

Mihawk had always been a loner in school and the obnoxious man would try and be on good terms with him. My father didn't mind since he finally made it clear to the redhead that he needed to settle his ecstatic expressions and to lay off a bit. Shanks seemed to respect my father and made sure to stay on the better side, no matter how much the man would annoy him. During the Royale for him, Shanks saved his life when he found himself almost dying by the ocean. It was merely coincidence that the redheaded man was holed up near the area and took my father. Of course by that point, Mihawk allowed it since he figured he was dead anyways. The man saved him and they vowed to stick together to get out of it. According to Mihawk, by the time they got down to the last five, one guy killed two people and they merely had to kill him.

The thing that worries me, though, is that Shanks used to be a lot happier person by what father said. Since I have met the redhead on occasion and he always seemed so chipper. The Royale changed him a bit as the man was innocent and never saw himself to killing anyone except only a few people, Mihawk spoke out saying he did it most the time because he couldn't stand the other after killing someone. I felt like that with Luffy, I worried on what happened to my go-happy boy that would run up with a hug that I fretted over and he merely chuckled with a greeting.

I didn't want to lose that Luffy.

I wonder if he has killed anyone yet.

"I hope we don't have to kill him." The words left me without a thought and I felt eyes on me. Saga shifted to come over to me and an arm was around my front to grip my shoulder and pull me into him.

"If it came down to it, I would do it." Surprise found me as I looked to the other and I cringed. I had a hand find my face as I gritted teeth and squeezed eyes shut.

"I'd rather have you kill me than him." The words only seethed with truth as he soon held onto me tightly.

"Zoro, I couldn't…"

"I know, I'm sorry. I couldn't kill either of you, not even if someone threatened me." A choked breath left Saga as I soon shifted so we held each other tightly and I was shaking. "Saga…"

"Me too." My face rubbed into his neck as I couldn't handle the stress any longer and I hoped that I wouldn't be faced with either ones death.

I'd rather die for them both. They are the two most important people to me and in a way I was happy that it was only two people I really cared for now in this stupid Royale. I didn't want any of them to die, hell! I didn't want anyone to die for this stupid amusement people found!

"Promise me." I harshly spoke out with a grip onto him and this whimper left him before pressing his head against mine.

"I-I promise that I would kill you over him." The trembles left him as we both became a quiet, hot mess. "Just promise… that you will-ngh, stay with me-crr, 'til the end!" The words came out through sobs and I gripped him as we rocked each other and I shifted to have legs around his waist as we kept a strong embrace.

"Of course!" Our voices were only harsh whispers as we trembled violently together with tears soaking our faces.

Neither wanted us to die, neither wanted to think about having to kill the other for any reason, and neither of us wanted to kill people. We swallowed our pride and killed those so we could survive, but it was awful to do so. There were so many bodies we have passed that I wish I never saw. Ripped apart, open, and that wasn't even the worse of them. Giant splits in the head like an axe was set there and then the scorched makeshift camp we had noticed below when we found a cliff.

Why?

Why this year?

I want to go home!