Disclaimer: One Piece (and its characters) belongs to Eiichiro Oda-sensei.

Reminder: I have no beta-reader. Any grammatical and spelling errors are solely mine.

Warning: OOC possible. One shot.

Rating: T

Note: A very late Halloween inspired fic, as well as a tumblr prompt request from tali-workshop: Black Out.

Summary: "I think this place is haunted Zoro."


LITTLE BITS AND PIECES OF HEAVEN

16 : Hunt for Haunts


The clock in the middle of the town struck twelve and its chime resounded across the air, the melody resonating along the silent streets.

Twelve times, it rang; each sound more sinister than the last one as if sending a warning of dire tidings to come.

When the last tones finally dissipated, an eerie silence fell all over the town.


"Are you sure this place is livable?"

Usopp stared unconvincingly at the close-to-dilapidated inn in front of them.

Franky studied the building while thoughtfully rubbing his chin. "I think it could use a few suuupeeer repairs here and there…"

"Scratch that," the sniper said with a slight wave of his hand. "It needs an overhaul. A major one."

"Quit complaining!" Nami snarled from behind them. "We are lucky enough to get a place to stay while the log sets." Though she sweat-dropped when her eyes settled on the dejected sight in front of her. True enough the inn looked old and abandoned… and absolutely not inhabitable in her opinion.

"A-are we really going to stay there?" Chopper whispered in a trembling tone while hiding behind Zoro's leg. "It looks really scary."

"Well we have no choice," Sanji answered as he scrutinized the edifice, blowing out a stream of smoke. "It's the only place available that can accommodate all of us."

"Why can't we just stay in the Sunny?" Usopp inquired with a frown. "That should save us some money," he glanced at the inn and shuddered. "And some sanity as well."

Why is that the more he stared at it, the more it seemed… foreboding?

"Hmmm… it does look like most of the dwellings and structures on this island are built to look old and forlorn, if not mysterious or scary." Robin observed as she stared at the other contraptions randomly dotting the downhill road leading to town.

"Yohohoho!" Brook bravely approached the threshold. "It does, doesn't it Robin-san? From what I heard the people of this town live for the spooks and the creeps. They actually love the occult and the macabre; hence the whole dark, eerie and ghastly atmosphere."

"Ok seriously. What kind of island have we docked into?" Usopp groaned.

"Tch," Zoro clicked his tongue against roof of his mouth. "This couldn't get drearier than Kuraigana."

"No one's asking moss-head." Sanji huffed beside him.

"Urusei stupid eyebrows."

"Temee…"

"Shut up!" Nami viciously glared at the two, silencing them.

Zoro scowled at her. "Can we go inside now?" A yawn escaped him. "I want to sleep."

"Is that all you can think about?" Nami gave him a disapproving glance. Talk about downright lazy. Zoro really takes the damn cake.

"Right now yeah," he mumbled, scratching his head.

Nami sighed. She had to admit, she was tired as well. She was already up at the wee hours of dawn with Zoro and Franky; navigating the foggy waters surrounding the island, making sure they don't ram head on into any of the numerous islets scattered everywhere.

A flash of red caught her eye. Luffy just landed right in front of the inn, after taking his sweet time prancing about the whole perimeter and frolicking in the nearby woods.

The rubber man's eyes were twinkling with too much excitement at the prospect of exploring a new place. "Shishishi!" He laughed exuberantly. "I smell adventure!" He pumped his fist into the air. Then he pointed towards the inn. "Let's go minna!"

"Shall we go in and find out if it's… haunted?" Robin queried, winking mischievously at the others.

Luffy's eyes lit up some more at that. "Oooh! Haunted? Maybe we can catch some ghosts!"

"Ghosts?!" Chopper gasped.

"Ghosts?!" Usopp echoed.

"Ghosts?!" Brook choked, his bony hands going to his cheeks… or lack thereof.

Sanji aimed a kick at the stupid skeleton's head… skull…

"Aho! Why don't you look at yourself first?!"

"Yohohoho! But Sanji-san. I am scared of ghosts!"

"Everybody shut up!" Nami shouted. "There are no ghosts there and it's not haunted!" She wrapped her arms around herself at the thought that it could be haunted… given the way the place looks.

"How sure are you Nami?" Robin asked grimly as the navigator flinched.

"Robin!"

"Don't worry my Nami-swan! Your prince will protect you at all costs!" Sanji sang and twirled towards her. "You too my lovely Robin-chwan!"

"Good grief cook don't you ever stop?" Zoro groused as he nonchalantly strode towards the entrance.

"HAH?!"

"Stop it and just move your asses!" Nami hissed when the two men started glaring daggers at each other.

"Let's go!" Luffy was already at the entrance, yelling. "Let's hunt some ghosts!"

Franky trudged forward as the others slowly followed. "Looks like this is gonna be a fun stay."

"Zoroo…" Chopper leapt up at the swordsman's shoulders. "I'll stay in the room with you."

"Hnnn…"

"Nami-swan! Robin-chwan!" Sanji crooned. "I can stay in the room with—"

"We're good Sanji-kun," Nami said dismissively as Robin giggled. The cat thief is not looking forward to the thought of a pervert hovering over her while she sleeps.

"But…"

"Hey wait!" Usopp raised a hand to get their attention.

"What Usopp?" Zoro asked, quirking an eyebrow at him.

"Are we the only guests staying here?"

They all fell silent at that.

Then Robin looked at him with a grave expression on her face. "And what if we are?" She said with a disturbing smile.

"Uhh… I think I'm coming down with a bad case of cannot-go-inside-a-haunted-inn disease!"


The clock in the middle of the town struck seven and its chime resounded across the air, the melody resonating along the silent streets.

Seven times, it rang; each sound more sinister than the last one as if sending a warning of dire tidings to come.

When the last tones finally dissipated, an eerie silence fell all over the town.

Then all the lights in every house, on every street were simultaneously extinguished.


Zoro opened his eye almost immediately.

It was quiet. Too damn quiet.

He slowly rose from the bed, rubbing a hand on his face in the process. He was alone in the room that they had rented for the night.

What time is it? And where are the others? He blearily looked around, trying to sense any of his friends anywhere.

And why is it dark?

He instantly stood up. Usually he would just shrug this off and go back to sleep but his gut instinct was telling him that something was… off.

Just like Usopp pointed out earlier, they were the only ones who were staying at the inn of nightmare (as the sniper coined it). But contrary to how it looked outside, the innermost area of the place was actually well-kept and tidy even. Robin commented that the inn's façade was just probably to live up with the island's weird ambience.

The moment they were assigned their respective rooms, the swordsman left the others talking to the inn's caretaker. He sleepily made his way upstairs with Nami trailing right behind him, pointing the correct directions to their rooms in a snippy tone.

He was tempted to start a row with her, but decided against it. He knows she was being snarky because she was just as tired as him after that rather challenging sailing and steering to get to this damned island this morning.

He was out cold the moment his back hit the soft bed. And had just woken up when he sensed that something was amiss.

Zoro remained standing in middle of the room, waiting, watching and listening. He had been hearing weird, scratching sounds along the wall as well as dull thuds like someone was banging on it. Heck, he could swear that there was one time he heard someone moaning or groaning. But his haki did not pick up anyone or even anything in the area.

Except… Nami.

Gathering his precious katanas, he decided to step out of the room to check on the navigator.


To his surprised he was met by the sight a cowering mapmaker behind a slightly opened door, peering fearfully at the corridor.

"Nami?"

"Zoro?" She half-whispered, half-asked as she peeked from the slightly ajar door of the girls' rented room.

The whole corridor was in darkness. No, scratch that. The whole inn where they were is in total darkness.

There were a few seconds of silence before the navigator threw the door open with a shriek that almost made Zoro deaf as she launched herself at him.

"Oi!" He grunted when Nami's body abruptly collided with his. "Ouch! Damn it Nami! Watch where you are touching!"

"It's too damn dark! I can't see anything!" Nami retorted, trying to grab whatever part of Zoro she can get her hands on. Their hands tangled and pushed at each other as they both tried to grasp the other—Zoro with the intent to stop her from grabbing while Nami was bent on seizing any available part of the swordsman.

Her elbow knocked on his swords and Zoro growled. "Stay still damn it!" His hands finally managed to wrap around her wrists.

"Zorooo…" she wailed. "Wait! Are you really Zoro?"

"What the hell do you mean by that woman?!"

"I dunno. You could be someone pretending to be Zoro…"

"Are you insane witch?" He hissed. "It's me. What are you gibbering on about?"

There was a pause and a sniffle much to Zoro's astonishment. Then Nami pulled her hands away from his hold to wrap them around his waist in a vice-like grip.

"Zoro! You idiot! I thought I was all alone here!" She cried out; her tone muffled as she buried her face on his chest.

Zoro scratched his head at that. It was clear that Nami was on edge tonight. Well who could blame her? Waking up alone in the midst of darkness while in an unfamiliar territory would definitely shake the shit out of someone.

Well… except him. He's used to waking up by himself almost anywhere in the middle of anything.

But Nami, he reminded himself, was different from him.

He patted her head awkwardly. "I'm here," he grunted.

In the dark he felt her tilt her head up to look at him, arms still locked around his waist without any intent of letting go.

"Where are the others?" She asked in a hushed tone.

Zoro shrugged. "I dunno. I just woke up."

"Can you try finding them using your haki?"

"I already did."

"And?"

He shook his head before he remembered that she won't be able to see the gesture. "Nothing."

He can hear Nami gulped nervously. "So we are alone here?!"

"Looks like it."

She was silent for a few seconds. Then her embrace on him tightened as she whispered, "I think this place is haunted Zoro."

Zoro's face scrunched into a frown at that. "What?"

"I think this place is haunted."

The tall lad scoffed. "Don't be such a scaredy-cat Nami. Ghosts aren't real."

"You don't know that!"

"We have a freaking skeleton on the ship with us!" Zoro pointed out. "And you are drawing the line with ghosts?"

Nami did not answer.

"Besides the only close to ghosts I've seen so far is Perona's negative hollows. And that even comes from her devil fruit power."

"Then how can you explain the sounds I'm hearing earlier?" The orange-haired girl retorted, grasping his shirt firmly. "Didn't you hear it too Zoro?" She tentatively asked, biting her lower lip.

Maybe it was wrong to ask the stoic swordsman. Knowing him—if he indeed heard the same things she did—he would just shrugged it off as nuisances and would go back to sleep.

"You mean those—"

THUD!

They both stopped at the sound. Zoro swore he can feel the way Nami stiffened against him. How her grip on his shirt tightened and how she pressed herself closer to him.

THUD!

"I know you hear that Zoro!" Nami hissed, daring him to go and disagree with her.

"Tch. I do."

She squirmed against him. "What do you think it is?"

He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away a bit. He pricked his ears up, trying to listen to the sound again. But there was nothing.

Nami was looking at him uneasily. "Zoro…"

"It came from upstairs," Zoro said as his hand slid to the hilt of his red sword. A shark-like grin suddenly appeared on his face. "Well… only one way to find out."

Nami's eyes widened. No. He can't mean…

"Come on," he took a step forward. "Let's look for what's causing that damned sound."

"WHAT?!" The cat burglar finally managed to blurt out.

"You've been hearing the same weird sounds right?" Zoro inquired with a huff.

"Yeah…" Nami affirmed. "That's what woke me up. I heard that same thudding and then some strange sound like someone was groaning or moaning."

The former pirate hunter nodded. "I heard the same. That's why we need to see what's causing it."

"No we don't!" The navigator all but screeched. "I absolutely refuse! No. Nuh-uh. You can't make me."

"I'm not forcing you to!" Zoro growled lowly. "You can just stay in your room!"

"Fine I will!"

"Who knows what you might see or hear —"

"ZORO! YOU ASSHOLE!" Nami shrieked as she started hitting him with her fist.

"Hey! Aww! Stop hitting me Nami!"

"Why would you fucking say that?!"

Zoro restrained both of her wrists with one hand, pulling her towards him. "Listen here woman. Either you come with me or you lock yourself inside that room and wait for me to come back!"

Nami looked absolutely horrified at that. Not that he can see it. Wait for him to come back? Seriously? "No!" She snapped at him. "With your sense of direction? You'll get lost in this darkness and you will never make it back to me!"

"My sense of direction is fine witch!"

"No! No! No! No!" She shook her head vehemently making her long hair bounced around at the force. "I'm coming with you!" Nami gazed at the long, dark corridor weakly. "Even if there are things in the dark…"

Zoro snorted.

Nami shot him a sharp look. Their eyes have finally adjusted in the darkness that they can now faintly make out each other's features.

He gently released her hands from his grip. "It's much safer for you if you are with me Nami."

Her breath hitched at that. There was something with the way he said it that makes her heart thump wildly against her chest.

"Let's go."

Nami reached out and clutched his hand. "Zoro it's too dark," she stated. She know how easily he can get lost in three steps and she's afraid that she'll be left alone in the dark trying to find her way.

Zoro studied her for a few good seconds then nodded. "I won't let go alright."

She managed to smile. "Don't get lost Zoro. Don't leave me here alone in the dark or I swear you'll be looting for treasures to pay me for the rest of your life."

"Fine." The green-haired lad tugged at her hand so they could start moving. "Weren't you supposed to be a cat burglar or something? Shouldn't you be at home with the darkness?"

Nami huffed. "Only if I'm stealing. Haunted inns are a different thing!"

"For the last time this place is not haunted," Zoro groaned. "Come on let's go."

They barely made it a few steps when one of the doors ahead suddenly opened. The two pirates halted and stared at it, waiting.

"What the hell?!" They both shouted in unison as something crawled out of the open room.

It was dressed in what looked like a tattered robe streaked with blood. Its black hair looked molting and greasy and was covering its whole face. Whatever it was, it seems like it was not crawling as they initially thought… but slithering out of the room.

All of a sudden, whatever-that-thing-is, lifted its head and looked at them.

Then it let out the most awful, terrifying moan Nami ever heard in her entire life.

"KYAAAHHHH!" She screamed at the same time, absolutely horrified. She let go of Zoro's hand and turned to run towards the other direction.

"Nami!"

Suddenly something dropped from the ceiling right in front of the already terrified girl, cutting her escape.

Nami blinked. And froze. She was face to face with a severed head—all skinned and bloodied—gawking at her even in death.

She let out a bloodcurdling scream.

"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Zoro moved fast, grabbing her immediately and almost shoving her face on his chest to stop her from looking at the hideous sight as he ran past it. "Damn it," he muttered, cradling the bawling navigator against him.

He sprinted towards the other end of the corridor, not even bothering to look back.

What the hell was THAT?

He turned around the corner and leaned against the wall, catching his breath. Nami was still trembling in his arms.

"What the hell was that?" She managed to choke out after a minute.

"I don't know!"

She buried her face back into his chest. "I told you this place is haunted!" She whimpered, clutching the front of his shirt. "This is so much worse than Thriller Bark!"

"I'll say," Zoro breathed out as he looked down at the top of her head. "Though I really doubt that those are ghosts."

"I don't care what they are. Let's just get out of here Zoro!"

Before he can even answer, the sound of all the doors opening at the corridor they just vacated filled the air.

"What the fuck?" They both whispered and Nami pushed herself closer to him as possible.

There was the thudding sound again and this time it came from almost all around them, accompanied by unearthly moans that sounded like someone was in agony.

"Zoro!"

"Move Nami," he ordered as he pulled her towards the dark hallway to their left. They covered a few good feet before a random door burst open and something rammed itself against Nami's legs almost making her stumbled forward.

"Aaaaaah! Zoro get it off! Get it off!" She shrieked when she felt a cold, clammy hand closed around her ankle. She kicked at it wildly, the heel of her shoe meeting something solid.

When she felt it release her, she automatically threw herself at Zoro, who promptly caught her while glaring at the thing on the floor.

"Zoro! Zoro!" Nami gazed at him pleadingly. "Get us out of here!" She wrapped her arms around his neck with a wail. "It's not a request. It's a demand!"

Zoro's eye left the figure he was scrutinizing and raised an eyebrow at her.

Nami grabbed both of his cheeks so that they were eye to eye with each other. "I'll knock off some belis from your last debt and buy you whatever booze you want!"

How he was able to smirk while they are in this predicament is beyond her. "Heh! Now we are talking."

"Just get us out of here!"


They managed get down the first floor and turn around a corner that was luckily devoid of any weird occurrences. By now the whole inn seemed to come alive with thudding sounds, opening and closing doors, creaking floors and some moaning and groaning here and there.

His eyes rested on Nami who was looking worse for wear. She was catching her breath, chest heaving in a frenzied manner as she struggled to fill her lungs with air. Between all that running and screaming, he was surprised she didn't pass out. Well to be honest, they've been through worse than this before.

Their navigator was really something.

He had to admit. A scared Nami is a damn cute one. Not to mention the way she was clinging on him like he was her lifeline was kinda... nice.

When she's like that, it can't help but bring to surface a whirlwind of feelings he doesn't really know he can handle or wants to deal with.

"Zoro!" Nami pushed herself on him again. In the dim light trickling from a window, he was able to see that there were remnants of tears glinting at the corner of her eyes. "Let's just get out of here! This place is going to drive me nuts."

He stared at the orange-haired girl for a few seconds. Nami rested her head against his chest exhausted. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and basking in the moment that he can actually touch her like this.

This damned inn and all its spooks have it merits after all.

"Zoroo..." she bemoaned looking up at him beseechingly. "Let's go."

"Alright," he sighed flicking one last glance at her. And before he can stop himself, he bent down and softly pecked her lips.

Nami stiffened at the contact. And so did he; head snapping back sharply and stepping away from her.

"Su-sumanai..."

Nami brought a hand on her lips as Zoro turned red. What possessed him to do that?

"I-it was just a spur of the moment thing," he stuttered, embarrassed and thankful that the darkness was able to hide his blushing face. "Let's just get out of here." He pronounced, clearing his throat.

This is what happens when you let your guard down Zoro. He chastised himself. Just one damn situation like this, where all the defenses are down, had him showering the mapmaker with even just a sliver of his real affection for her.

He sidestepped and was about move forward when Nami's arm shot up and hooked around his waist.

"Nam-?"

Any other words stopped short in his mouth when he felt her pressed her own lips against his.

There in the midst of all the spookiness and ghastliness, while everything is dark and eerie... they kissed each other.

Zoro brought a hand to cup her face, pushing her closer as he deepened the kiss. Nami didn't seem to mind it as she returned the kiss with enough fervor to make him realize that there will be no turning back from this.

Her hand closed on the wrist of the one that was holding her face as the other gripped on his shirt tightly. He barely noticed his arm snaking around her slim waist, almost lifting her off the ground so that he can delve into her taste deeper.

They exchanged soft quick kisses, trying to savor the sensation, before finally stopping to catch their breaths as they both gazed at each other.

The corners of Nami's lips quirked into a smile. He returned it with a smirk of his own.

"Get us out of here Zoro," she murmured albeit cheekily. Gone was the scaredy-cat witch from earlier who was shrieking and screeching non-stop.

He nodded. His grey eye still locked onto her brown ones. It seems to be telling him that a reward was due once he gets them out of there.

Suddenly a door on the far right banged opened and there was a terrifying moan as a figure shuffled out slowly.

And just like that the somehow dreamy atmosphere dissipated, plunging them back into reality.

"Zorooooo!" Nami squealed and flung herself at him again for the umpteenth time that night. "I don't want to be here anymore!"

Zoro caught her effortlessly, wrapping an arm around her waist, a bit peeved at the intrusion.

Something slammed on the window on their left and Nami let out a bloodcurdling scream as a face twisted in what can only be defined as torment peered at them from the outside.

Zoro winced as her voice hit a pitch high enough to shatter his eardrums.

"Get us out of here now!" Nami demanded arms locked tight around his neck and face buried against the crook of his neck. "Now!"

Zoro sighed and muttered an affirmative. Only one way out. He should've done it from the start.

"Tatsu maki!"


The clock in the middle of the town struck eight and its chime resounded across the air, the melody resonating along the streets.

Eight times, it rang; each sound more sinister than the last one as if sending a warning of dire tidings to come.

Before the last tones finally dissipated, it was interrupted by a sound of explosion coming from the outskirts of the town where an old, creepy inn was situated.


"Hey," Usopp called out as he traipsed along the cobblestone street along with Luffy and Chopper. "Did anyone inform Zoro or Nami that there will be something like a scare fest for the town's festival tonight?"

"Uhm… I'm not really sure," Franky answered, peering from behind the nine pumpkins he acquired from one of the market stalls. "I think Robin did?"

"I mentioned it to Nami," Robin said as she fell into the step beside the shipwright. She just came out of the bookstore that they passed by with Sanji in tow. "But I doubt she heard it from all that yapping at Zoro about rooms and directions."

"The scare fest wouldn't be until midnight tonight," Brook hummed. "We still have time to tell them."

"Don't mind it," Luffy waved their concern off like the carefree captain that he is. "They'll both be fine."

"Can we still walk around the town before we head back?" Chopper asked. "I still want to buy some of that candy corn we saw earlier."

"Ooh! And some of those pumpkin-shaped cookies that really smells wonderful!" Luffy agreed his mouth watering at the thought of the treats.

"Go ahead," Sanji told them. "I'll head back first and drop off this books Robin-chwan brought. Then I'll inform Nami-swan and that stupid moss-head about the—"

BOOM!

An explosion came from the location of the inn where they were staying.

The Straw Hats watched, perplexed, as the remainder of what could only be Zoro's tatsu maki whirled into nothingness followed by a loud clap of thunder and a huge flash of lightning from Nami's thundercloud homie, Zeus.

The townspeople pointed at what could possibly be a sign of an incoming storm.

Shouts and applause exploded from the crowd of onlookers as they cheered at the wondrous display of nature which would definitely add an ominous mood to their festival.

"Right," Usopp deadpanned as he observed the destruction from afar. "Looks like somebody DID inform them..."


The End –


I just wasn't able to make it in time for Halloween. But better late than never right?

R and R please.