Chapter 2 - A Big Fish
"This is your fault, you good for nothing cook!" Zoro snapped as he and Sanji helped Rei back up the stairs.
"WHAT?!" Sanji yelled indignantly over Rei's head, "What did I do?"
"I can get up the stairs just fine, you guys," Rei interjected, "I can do this by myself."
Zoro ignored her and kicked open the bedroom door. "You let her run out of your kitchen like that. You know she can't do anything too intensive right now, Curly Brow!"
"Uh...Zoro?," came a gentle voice from the top deck.
"What?!" Zoro snarled and glared up at Robin, who was peering over the banister at them.
"That's your room. Our room is the other way," she said calmly.
Zoro could feel the heat rise up his neck and a vein throbbed in his temple. Without realizing, he gripped Rei's waist tighter out of frustration. To Rei's credit, she didn't react even though it was slightly uncomfortable. Zoro did a sharp 180 turn and marched out of his room with the nagging chef following closely behind.
"Chopper!" he shouted down at the reindeer, who squeaked in fright, "Are you sure you stitched her up tightly this time?!"
"The bandage and everything was tight last time too," Chopper whined as he clutched his medical bag, "She just can't move that much right now! This is all my fault. I shouldn't have screamed about the poison."
"It's not your fault, Dr. Reindeer." Rei said as loudly as she could.
"Get back to bed, Know It All, and stay there," Zoro growled at her.
Rei shook her head sadly. "I'm going to miss the cherry blossoms."
"They've stopped already, Rei-chan," Sanji replied gently. He then glanced up and looked at the little particles that were coming down, "In fact...i think it might be snowing."
"Is it snowing?!" Clearly, the captain had noticed the same thing.
"This is volcanic ash," Nami called down at them.
"Volcanic ash?!' the Straw Hats shouted in unison.
"I don't recall any active volcanic islands around here," Rei said in alarm, "At least none of the maps I know of say there are any. How can there be volcanic ash? This could mean danger. I think-"
"Oy, Know It All," Zoro interrupted as he pulled her forward into the girls' room. He lifted her onto her bed and dropped her with a small bounce from her springy mattress. "Stop thinking, more resting. Let the Navigator worry about the weather and where we are."
"But.."
"He's right, Rei-chan. You should take it easy," Sanji said, "Now stay in here. I'll go make you another plate of food."
"Can you at least give me a block of wood or something?" Rei asked.
"Huh? A block of wood? What do you need that for, Know It All?"
"If I can't train or move around right now, I can at least hone my knife skills," Rei said, "Whittling helps train my wrist movement and blade control. "
She pulled out a little wooden chess piece from her utility belt. She held it out between her thumb and index finger for Zoro and Sanji to see. It was shaped like a knight. "King Tannenbay taught me a long time ago. This was the first thing I ever made. I've made entire chess sets before."
"Whooo, Rei-chan," Sanji marvelled, "You are full of surprises. Such a delicate thing from such a delicate-"
"I'll see if Franky has anything to spare," Zoro growled as he practically dragged Sanji out by the collar. The two men left the room and he shut the door behind them. Zoro leaned against the doorway and looked up at the drifting volcanic ash. Yes, the weather was not his problem. Rei, on the other hand…
"This wasn't anyone's fault," Sanji muttered under his breath to the swordsman so Rei wouldn't overhear. He puffed on his cigarette and leaned against the railing."Not Rei's. Not Chopper's. Not mine and certainly not yours."
Zoro's head snapped down and he glared at the cook. "I know that," he hissed.
"Do you?" Sanji asked with a pointed look before walking back down the stairs.
Zoro watched the blonde romantic head down the stairs to his kitchen. Then he sighed and slid down the door. He propped his arm against a bent knee and began to inspect his swords. Maintaining his swords helped him clear his head and gain some perspective. Yes, she almost died trying to save me but I gave her some of my Haki. So we're even, right?! I owe her nothing. So...why do I still feel a sense of responsibility to her?
"I smell adventure!" Luffy hollered from the helm.
"Wait, Luffy! You didn't listen correctly-" Usopp started to correct but Zoro could tell, even without looking at them, that Luffy wasn't listening.
"Hey, you guys! Our route has been decided!" Luffy shouted, proving Zoro was right, "Get ready!"
Zoro could hear the doorknob turn and he gave a short pound on the door with his fist. "Rest, Know It All," he ordered.
The doorknob stopped moving and he heard the faint sound of springs creaking. He waited for a few seconds until he could hear no more movement. He sighed and got back up to his feet, making his way up to the helm. He rejoined the rest of the crew, who have all gathered at the helm. Luffy was sitting at his usual place, on top of Sunny's head.
"Luffy!" Usopp whined but Nami placed a hand on his arm and shook her head at him. There was no point in arguing with the captain.
"Don't worry. I'm the navigator," Nami said with confidence, "If we decide to go, I can take you anywhere."
"Are you sure?" Usopp asked worriedly, "In the New World, the path we choose can cost us our life!"
"Franky, turn 20 degrees to port," Nami instructed.
"Hey, are you not listening to me either?!" Usopp asked exasperatedly.
"We don't know what might happen so prepare yourselves," Nami said back to him and then looked up towards Luffy's direction, "We can't do anything. He is our captain after all. But Luffy, try not to get us into any trou-"
"Hey! There's a body out there!" Luffy shouted.
Nami slapped her palm against her face and Usopp started to scream bloody murder while the rest of the Straw Hats rushed to look over the edge.
"Ugh! I knew it. We're already in danger," Usopp shrieked.
An unconscious man was floating towards them on a small plank. He wore a dark jacket that hung over his shoulders but he was too far away for them to see much else.
"It's a castaway! We need to retrieve it!" Luffy exclaimed.
"To the docking room!" Franky called out as he ran to the lawn deck. He opened up the hatch to the docking system below and jumped down first before Luffy and Chopper followed suit.
"Oy, you guys, whatever happens, we need to keep the Know It All out of it," Zoro said as he remained on the upper deck.
"Agreed," Sanji said as he folded his arms and looked solemnly towards the ladies' room, "If Rei-chan can't even run without re-opening her wound, then we can't involve her if things get dicey."
"That's a lot of if's," Robin mused, "But I also agree. Let her rest."
Suddenly, Chopper's head popped up from the hatch. "You guys! Come help! Luffy grabbed the guy but he can't pull him in. I think it has something to do with the sea!"
As Sanji and Usopp pulled the castaway in, by using Luffy's extended rubber arms as the rope, the rest of the crew gathered behind their captain in the docking room. Although they were all concerned about the dangers of this man, they were secretly excited as well.
When they pulled him in, Sanji and Usopp propped him against the ladder and they took a good look at him. The man wore sunglasses and had spiky purple hair. He looked old but his physique was that of a strong fighter. He was a big guy and his left arm was replaced with a large robotic one, resembling a cannon.
"I hope we didn't get someone troublesome. He's covered in bruises," Nami said as she tapped his metal arm with her finger, "And this business with his left arm. Anyone can tell this is not to be taken lightly just by looking at it."
Robin touched the arm too and immediately withdrew her hand in shock. "His arm...It's made of Sea Prism Stone."
"I get it! That's why Luffy lost his strength when he touched it," Chopper cried.
Nami's eyebrows furrowed and she frowned. "Another weapon made out of Sea Prism Stone...But this one's different from Rei's. This one is bigger and it looks like it could do some serious damage."
"Awesome!" Chopper, Usopp, and Luffy marveled at the robotic arm with stars in their eyes.
Nami bared her teeth. "That's not how you should be reacting!"
"Nami-swan is right," Sanji said as he flipped his lighter open to light up a cigarette, "Rei's weapon was made to capture and subdue Devil Fruit users...but this one, at this caliber, means it was made to destroy Devil Fruit users."
"He might be an enemy," Nami added, "And we can't lower our guard in the New World."
"If you're worried, then throw him overboard," Zoro suggested.
"Idiot! We can't do that," Usopp shouted.
Chopper jumped in front of the unconscious man, blocking anyone from attempting to touch him. "I don't want to!"
"He might kill you as soon as you heal him," Zoro said.
Chopper gasped at the thought but then he quickly shook his head. "Even so, I'm a doctor. I can't just abandon him."
"What's the problem?" Luffy asked with a grin on his face, "Chopper, heal him. If he's an enemy, I'll finish him off."
"Thank you, Luffy," Chopper gratefully exclaimed.
Luffy laughed as Zoro and Sanji both gave a confident grin.
"Damn, they are so carefree," Nami muttered to a chuckling Robin, "I have a really bad feeling about this."
They carried the castaway into Chopper's medical bay for treatment. Luffy stayed inside the room with Chopper, while Zoro and Sanji waited outside on the deck. The rest of the crew went about their business, busying themselves with chores and ship duties but every member of the crew was waiting for the castaway to awaken.
"Oy, crappy cook," Zoro said.
Sanji tapped his cigarette against the railing to discard the loose ashes. "Shut up, you shitty marimo. I know."
Zoro grinned as he stared down the door with his good eye. He pushed his Shusui up from it's scabbard with his thumb and the blade reflected the sunlight. "We caught a big fish."
"Are you sure it's not a shark?"
Zoro and Sanji jumped a foot in the air. They turned to their side and saw Rei rounding the corner of the deck with her mask and cloak on.
"Oy, you're supposed to be resting!" Zoro snapped at her.
Sanji held up a hand to stop Zoro from charging at Rei. "Stop, you stupid moss head. We all felt it with our Haki. Don't tell me you could rest knowing what kind of man we have on board." He then turned to Rei, "Rei-chan, we don't know if he's a friend or an enemy. He's not awake yet."
"I want to see him," Rei said. She stepped forward but Zoro leapt in front of the door, blocking her way. "Zoro, let me through."
"This is not your problem. We can handle him if he proves to be dangerous. Even with his funky arm," he growled.
"What about his arm?"
"Idiot! You shouldn't worry Rei-chan," Sanji snapped from behind.
Zoro roughly grabbed Rei's shoulders and pushed her back. She slammed against the banister. She gasped at the pain when her back connected against the railing. Her hands gripped the sides to steady herself as her legs gave out and she looked at Zoro in surprise.
Sanji immediately rushed to Rei's side and helped her stand. "Oy! You stupid seaweed. How dare you lay a finger on-"
"You're in no shape to fight if you can't even take a minor force like that," Zoro said, ignoring the cook, "Go to bed."
"I'm more than just a fighter," Rei retorted, "I'm a genius. I can still help."
"We'll tell you everything, Rei-chan," Sanji said as he left an arm around her waist just in case, "Just promise us you won't fight."
"Take your hands off of her, you pervert" Zoro barked, "And Know It All, go back to bed! This does not concern you."
"Am I or am I not part of the crew?!" Rei demanded, "If this endangers the ship, how is it not my concern? However I can help, I'll do it! If that means I can't fight, then fine."
She unclipped her utility belt and threw it at Zoro. It bounced off his chest, catching him off guard, but he caught it right before it hit the ground.
"I won't fight," Rei said in a calm, even tone, "So just tell me about this man. What's unusual about his arm?"
Zoro glared at her for second. He gripped her utility belt, mimicking the force he would use to strangle her neck if he had that option. "Fine," he conceded as he whirled around to stare at the porthole in the door. He was done with this conversation, "Ero-Cook, you tell her."
"His left arm is made of metal, like a cyborg," Sanji said, "But what's really unusual is that it's made out of Sea Prism Stone."
Rei's head jerked up and her eyes went wide. She stared up at Sanji. "Are you absolutely sure?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes. Luffy lost his strength when he touched it and Robin checked it as well when he came on board. What's wrong, Rei-chan?"
Rei plowed right into the small of Zoro's back in an attempt to knock him out of the way.
"OOF!" he grunted before turning around and gripping her by the shoulders, "What is your deal, Know It All?"
"Sea Prism Stone!" she said frantically, trying her hardest to pry his hands off of her, "They are not something you can just get anywhere. You have to get it from the Navy. There's only a handful of people, myself included, who were authorized to get specialized Sea Prism Stone weapons. And only one man that I know who was able to get it built over his entire left arm."
"But he wasn't wearing the marine symbol and he certainly wasn't in uniform," Sanji argued, stunned at how Rei was reacting. She was practically clawing at Zoro like a wild animal.
"Get him off the ship. He's not a friend!" Rei shouted through the door, hoping Luffy would hear her, "He's extremely dangerous!"
A sudden crash from the other side of the door stopped the discussion. Sanji and Zoro shared a look. Zoro released his grip on Rei.
"Stay here," Zoro growled as he flung her utility belt over his shoulder to show that he was keeping it with him, "Remember your promise."
Rei gulped. "I gave you my word."
Zoro dashed through the door and he left it wide open so Rei could see that Luffy had bursted through the wall of the infirmary and into the dining hall. Nami, Usopp, and Brook were already in the room when Luffy came barreling through. He had landed by their feet with Chopper rushing behind him. Standing over them at the hole Luffy had created with his body was a large man with purple hair and a mechanical arm. She wished she hadn't agreed not to fight as it was clear a battle was now imminent.