Thank you for the feedback for chapter five. As always, feedback and comments are welcome along with critique. This is a short chapter but chapter 7 will be along fairly quickly behind it. I'd rather continue to post bite-sized pieces to you than to linger on a longer chapter trying to make a word count.
Dark Truth
Chapter 6: Journey to the Town
Usopp felt a shiver crawl across his body as a chilly gust of wind swept across the beach. In the warmth of their cabins he hadn't thought to dress for the cool night air and quickly regretted his decision to wear a baggy vest with an audible 'brrr!'. Luffy stood beside him silently watching as the remaining crew made their way to land. They had docked a mile or so off the back of the island and made their way inland via the Mini Merry. Since the small boat could hold a maximum of four people however the journey inland had to be made twice.
Initially the crew had planned to dock the Thousand Sunny at the main harbour, though with their current bounties and their crews reputation it could garner a lot of attention. That was the last thing they needed with Luffy in his weakened state. Many a bounty hunter would easily take advantage of such a situation to reap Luffy's bounty and so they had decided to subtly make their way into town from the back of the island. Nami had been the one to suggest leaving the ship a ways out to sea. This island was full of thugs, thieves and outlaws of all kinds. Not one would hesitate to try and steal their grand Thousand Sunny, though the Mini Merry could be hidden.
As the remaining crew climbed out of the Mini Merry Zoro hoisted the boat up onto his shoulder and followed Nami's direction – "No, that's the wrong way, idiot!" – as best he could to its hiding place until they were ready to head back.
"It's cold, ne?"
Luffy startled at the soft voice of his sharpshooter. He'd forgotten Usopp was standing beside him, and at some point Usopp had shifted closer (perhaps hoping to share in Luffy's body heat?). Usopp smiled sheepishly and raised his hands, wiggling his fingers.
"Did I scare ya?" he asked, his voice playful.
Some night ago Luffy would have shied away at such a question, but it was a welcome act of normalcy and so instead he tilted his head gently and the edges of his lips quirked up in a weak smile. Usopp lowered his arms again and grinned back, obviously happy with Luffy's response. It wasn't so long ago his young captain seemed totally lost to them, trapped in his own world of fear and torment.
"I shoulda worn something warmer!" Usopp whined as another breeze swept across the beach. His eyes then widened slightly and he turned to face Luffy, concerned. "Are you warm enough?"
Luffy was taken aback by the sudden question. He blinked in surprise and nodded mutely. Usopp had dug him out a heavy old robe he'd picked up some months back. It served a double purpose, keeping Luffy warm and hiding his battered body from the eyes of anybody who might wish to take advantage of such an opportunity.
"Ah, good!" Usopp said as his smile returned and he turned to watch the rest of the crew conceal the Mini Merry's hiding place.
Luffy watched him for a while, eyes softening as he caught the slight tremor that ran through Usopp's body from the chill in the air. He gingerly took a step closer to Usopp and in a small moment of courage he reached out, shoulder to shoulder with his friend and took his hand. Usopp Turned to face him then, the crew forgotten. His eyes searched Luffy's face before they darted down to their clasped hands and then back again. He smiled widely and turned his attention back to the crew, returning Luffy's grip. Luffy was glad he hadn't made a big deal of the action and when the crew were finished and headed towards them he was glad again as Usopp released him when he pulled away.
"So, what's the plan?" Franky asked. He didn't seem fazed at all by the cold as he stood proudly in his speedo.
"It's not too far into town from here." Sanji answered, and raised an arm to point in the direction they would be going. "We can take the mountain path to get there faster but the path is steep and pretty untouched. We would have to pass through a cave too. There's an easier trail around the mountain, though that would take a couple hours."
The crew shared a silent conversation with their eyes and came to a quick agreement.
"You think you can handle a couple hours walk, Captain?" Zoro asked, his eyes holding a rare, gentle expression.
Luffy didn't give any verbal response as he stared up at the trail. Silently he nodded his consent and without any spoken word they began to walk. Though none of them really seemed to notice, they settled into a formation around Luffy like a human shield. They came to a fork in the trail not five minutes into their walk where the path moved off into the trees that grew at the base of the mountain. The foliage around the trunks was thick and tangled, though Luffy could see they had been recently passed through. This had probably been the route Sanji, Chopper and Franky had taken. With only a moment's hesitation, Luffy turned and walked towards the mountain path.
"O-Oi, Luffy!" Chopper called softly. "That's the wrong way!"
Luffy stopped and looked back and Chopper, then to his crew before he faced front and started to walk again. Zoro was the first to react as he jogged to catch up with Luffy, a smirk on his face, his feeling evident as he walked proudly beside his captain. The rest of the crew quickly followed suit.
Thought the path was steep, the foliage wasn't a problem as Luffy's crew demolished every branch or root that dared to block his path. By the time they reached the cave however, Luffy had broken out in a sweat and was obviously exhausted from the travel. They paused at the cave mouth and he leaned heavily against the cragged wall to catch his breath. They had only been walking twenty minutes but with Luffy's body still badly injured it had been an arduous journey for him, though he tried not to show it.
The crew were quick to occupy themselves with frivolous tasks and another time Luffy might have been embarrassed by their silent support. A captain should be backed by his crew, but never pulled along by them. He should always be leading the pack. Luffy however was too exhausted by his short exertion to muster the effort to worry of what his crew would think of him as he eased himself down onto a jagged boulder that rested beside the caves mouth.
"Luffy-san?"
Leaning back against the cave wall as he was Luffy had almost drifted into a light slumber. As he dragged his eyes open again he was grateful to see after a quick glance that none of the crew seemed to have noticed. He returned his gaze to the one that had disturbed his rest. Brook stood before him, his tall form silhouetted by the moon.
"Would you like a drink, Luffy-san?" Brook pressed, and held out a small flask.
Luffy warily watched the skeleton. In a way Brook had been both the hardest and the easiest to deal with since this whole thing started. He hadn't been with them long and the trust between them had been freshly weaved. Like a threadbare net, when Luffy fell against Brook their bond was fragile and tentative and so the heavier Luffy fell the easier it tore. Luffy knew Brook must have felt out of place since that night. He was Brook's new captain, the man who was supposed to lead him to his dreams along with the rest of the crew. For Brook though, Luffy imagined it was like stumbling around in the pitch black, not sure how to place each foot in front of the other lest he might fall or cause damage; and so he stayed still. Their fragile bond stayed that way and though Luffy felt bad about it, he also felt a small prick of relief. The strongest nets in his crew still bore his weight and it hurt him to watch them strain as the burden grew heavier and took its toll. Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Usopp and Chopper; his first five. Their bond was set in steel and hard as diamond. He trusted all his crew the same, but time strengthens bonds like nothing else and as he watched Brook's expressionless face as the skeleton offered him his flask he had to fight back the tremor in his hand as he moved to accept it.
"I'm very proud of you, Luffy-san." Brook said suddenly, his voice hushed so as not to attract the attention of his crewmates. His tone was unusually serious as he stood before Luffy. "You still have my faith and I'm sure the rest of the crew feel the same. I don't regret my decision to join this crew."
Luffy swallowed down a mouthful of water past the lump in his throat that had swelled with Brook's words. He blinked rapidly as his eyes stung with unshed tears and wished he could tell his musician just how much that meant to him. Instead he offered his newest crewmate a shaky nod and moved to stand. Brook resisted the urge the try and help as Luffy's limbs trembled with fatigue. He neither wanted to startle his young captain by invading his space nor insult him by thwarting his attempt at putting up a strong front for his crew's sake.
As Luffy stood, the crews hushed conversations stilled and once again as he made his way into the blackness of the cave they fell into step behind him; as their pace settled into an easy walk the conversation picked up once more. Luffy could hear Brooks gentle humming behind him to his left and the clink of Zoro's katana behind and to the right. Directly behind him Usopp whispered tales of terror into Chopper's ears about cave beasts that enjoyed reindeer meat (much to Chopper's horror. Usopp hesitated briefly in his tale and Luffy could feel his tanned friend' eyes on him before he continued. Luffy was grateful that Usopp hadn't stopped on his behalf. The story didn't frighten him. He had bigger demons haunting his thoughts. Unfortunately chopper didn't share his opinion and with a small shriek of terror as Usopp's story peaked the furry doctor leap onto a stony faced Zoro's head. Zoro huffed quietly but didn't bother to protest as Chopper settled on his shoulders. A little further behind he could hear Nami and Robin talking quietly flanked on either side by Sanji and Franky.
Their journey through the cave though awkward and clumsy hindered by the darkness, was brief and uneventful. Chopper glanced worriedly Luffy's way as he coughed wetly. The air in the cave was damp and heavy with dust and grime. Luffy though trying hard to appear strong was still in a weakened state. Though Chopper felt a bubble of pride at Luffy's strength he also felt an uncomfortable churn of concern as the doctor part of his brain listed all the complications that could arise from their journey inland for Luffy. If he had his way he would be in walking point with Luffy on his back but that would only squash Luffy's valiant attempt to reclaim his role as their captain and so with a heavy sigh he focussed on preparing a mental to-do list for when they returned to the ship. Luffy's bandages were definitely the top of the list as though protected by the robe draped around his skinny frame he didn't doubt the damp air would moisten them.
Chopper suddenly felt a calloused hand on his back and glanced down at Zoro's head. Zoro didn't say a word though offered the small doctor silent reassurance with a few firm pats to the back before he lowered his arm again the rest against the hilt of his katana. Chopper understood the message loud and clear. They had to have faith in Luffy now without question. Chopper honestly didn't know how Zoro kept his faith so strong in times like these, but he hoped he could draw strength from the man's own. Resolutely he steeled himself to brace the rest of night without fussing over his injured captain.
Before long the moonlight illuminated the small exit at the other end. Luffy resisted the urge to breathe a sigh of relief. Soon they would be in town and though the prospect of being surrounded by thugs and thieves didn't thrill him in his current state he couldn't deny that his body would be grateful to rest. Gingerly, Luffy crouched and crawled through the small cave exit. As he climbed to his feet again his legs shuddered with exhaustion and he quickly locating a cragged outcropping of stone to rest on before they gave out. Under the glow of the moonlight his skin glistened with sweat revealing just how much the short trek had taken from him. He watched tiredly as one by one his crew squeezed out from the cave. That was until it was Franky's turn. Try as he might the cyborg couldn't seem to force his bulky body through the small passage and as he attempted to reverse his way out feet first he only ended up wedging himself tight enough to get stuck as he blocked up the exit like a corked bottle.
Nami huffed as she watched Franky's leg's flail around like wild animated noodles in an attempt to free himself and was about the bark out an order for Sanji to kick the rock in when a rusty cackle interrupted her thoughts.
All heads twisted to the foreign laughter and body's tensed as more than two dozen men emerged from the trees between the town and cave. Under normal circumstances this sort of situation would be considered play for the straw hats but with Luffy to precariously defenceless all ideas of contest and games of who could beat down more of their enemies evaporated. Unconsciously the crew moved protectively in front of Luffy. It was an action unmissed by their foes.
"Well, well lads. What 'ave we 'ere?" the bandit drawled obnoxiously. "Never thought I'd see the like o' yours in these parts, Straw'ats."
"What's it to you?" Sanji spat back as he chewed the butt of an unlit cigarette and subtly tapped the tip of his shoes against the ground, preparing to fend off any sudden attacks. With the recent increase in their bounties he'd expected people to recognise them, but he hadn't anticipated that they would encounter anybody before they reached the town.
"Your 'eads are up for a pretty penny don't'cha know!" the bandit drawled, stepping close enough for them to see the grimy yellow of his teeth as he grinned. "Pickin' up a bounty of any one of ya would fetch a good time, but..." he trailed off here, his eyes wandering to Luffy as his slimy grin stretched across his face. "The 'ead of your captain would set us all up pretty good."
Nami chanced a quick glance Luffy's way and resisted the urge to curse. It was obvious to any onlooker right now that Luffy wasn't right. His body trembled with fatigue and dark circles stood out painfully against the pallor of his skin. The sweat on his face was beginning to dry but if the pink tinge to his cheeks was anything to go by, his exertion might just have welcomed back the fever he'd been fighting on and off the past few weeks. He looked awful physically, but to Nami's surprise his face didn't show any of the terror she'd been expecting to see. If anything Luffy looked somewhat annoyed, his eyebrows creasing together as he panted softly, trying to regain composure.
"Straw'at Luffy, eh?" the bandit breathed, his voice rattling. You could almost see the beli in his eyes as he stared fixatedly at Luffy. "Heh, 'e don't look so tough now."
Zoro side-stepped into the line of sight between the bandit and Luffy, effectively blocking his captain from sight. Fury blazed in the swordsman's eyes at the blatant threat this fool was making. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his katana and his eyes narrowed in a silent threat.
"O-Oi!" Usopp called suddenly. "We're surrounded!"
Luffy looked around wearily as more shadows seemed to melt from the trees another dozen at least. A cold wind rushed through the air, rustling the trees and chilling his sweaty body.
"Get 'em, boys!"
That was the only warning Luffy had before his eyes widened as a hulk of a man charged from the trees behind him with a warbling battle cry, spiked club held high before he thrust it forward with all his might towards Luffy's head.
C...Cliffhanger? Teehee... did I do that?
