Sakura got on her knees. Chakra-covered hands draped against his damp strands while her healing abilities probed through the bandages and into his skull. The fever was still lingering in his system like an unwelcomed guest, but not as intense as before. Her lips drew into a thin line while she mulled over the warning her shishou had left her with before sending her off onto this journey. 'Do not under any circumstances use chakra while you're there. It could jeopardize the whole mission, Sakura.' Pink brows drew together in the sheen of her chakra's glow. How was she supposed to help him without using it? The cabin offered none of the equipment she would have needed to go about a more traditional examination. Teeth bit into the flesh of her lip while she extinguished whatever was left of the fever in his cells. The crease between her brows deepened as she redirected her chakra toward the wound. Coagulated blood resided on the inside of the skull, she noted, and did her best to attack it with her chakra while praying to whatever God existed that it hadn't caused any serious damage to his brain.
Droplets of sweat broke through the skin underneath her bangs. A quivering hand wiped at her damp forehead in the semi-dark room, before falling onto her thigh. She released a breath- bordering more to a sigh, and leaned her head against the wall while her shoulders and back followed shortly after. The past few days had been tougher than she could have imagined. Lack of sleep and too many healing sessions had left her feeling drained- borderlining toward exhaustion. She needed to rest; to recharge. Digging into her reserves was not an option she wanted to dip into. Not when they were there for a reason. Her eyes fell onto the swordsman. His chest rose and fell with each new breath in the dancing flames. He seemed peaceful. Maybe he would be alright.
'Zoro,' she mused and pulled the comforter up over his clothed chest before brushing her fingers over his forehead, just to make sure the fever was actually gone. A ghost of a smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared on her lips while his soft snores accompanied the crackling from the fire. She leaned herself back against the wall and closed her eyes. Slender fingers moved lazily into his hair, subconsciously twirling the soft strands between her digits while she drifted off into dreamland.
Zoro woke up hours later to the cooling sensation of winter. A stream of light shone in through the kitchen window, painting the otherwise brownish interior in shades of yellow and orange. A yawn forced itself through his lips. It was a quiet morning. He spared the fireplace a glance. Sad flames licked at what was left of the logs. It would probably burn out completely within the hour. Perhaps that woman would fix it if he stayed in bed for a bit longer. The swordsman snuggled his head into the pillow and shut out the world once more with heavy eyelids.
Minutes ticked by while jasmine and vanilla lingered in the air. He absentmindedly registered soft breaths fanning over his neck while the weight against his shoulder became more and more prominent the more he came to. Dark brows furrowed until he turned his face and brushed the tip of his nose against her forehead. He blinked once- twice and lifted his head to see her pressed up against his side; with one arm slung over his left one, while slender fingers rested over his shoulder as she snuggled her chin against them.
"O-oi," he rasped hoarsely while heat spread across his cheeks. "Woman," Dark eyes widened when she subconsciously snuggled further against him while her knee came up to rest over his hip.
Zoro laid back down, swallowed thickly and turned to face her once more.
"Oi," he tried again and felt her fingers splay over his shoulder while she inhaled deeply.
Dark-chocolaty orbs took in her sleeping face. From her pink brows to her dark lashes, slim, straight nose and down to her slightly parted lips. His fist flexed under the covers while his heartbeats quickened.
"Oi, Sakura,"
"Mm," he heard her groan quietly as she snuggled against his shoulder.
He made a futile move to separate himself from her sleeping frame, only to have her seek his body heat and plastered against him once more.
"Sakura," emerald orbs opened halfway before fluttering closed. "Oi, Sak-"
He watched her glazed over, half lidded green irises seek the source of disturbance before she stretched against his side with a mewl. He saw her blink, eyes unfocused in level with his lips. Once- twice, before they trailed up his face and met his wavering stare. A second later they widened while she shrieked.
Chocolaty orbs mimicked hers as her panicked voice nearly busted his eardrums. Two hands landed on his arm, forcefully shoving him toward the edge of the futon with some help from her foot. He felt the mattress disappear from underneath his back, until he collided with the swords on the floor with a groan. The glass she had placed near the bed tipped over; the liquid splashing over his heated face.
"I told you to keep your hands to yourself," she accused with her croaky morning voice while he tried to wiggle out of the covers without much success. "You, you-"
He flung the covers aside and sat abruptly while she scooted herself backwards. "Oi, woman,"
"Don't woman me, pervert,"
"You came onto me," he growled and watched as her pink cheeks darkened into crimson before his pillow was chucked in his direction. He caught it easily with one hand and gritted his teeth, feeling droplets of water sliding down his soaked neckline. Agitated breaths escaped while he fought against his spinning head. A dark chocolaty glare her way was returned with as much displeasure as he had offered.
"I was sleeping,"
"On me,"
Her lips pursed into a thin line, cheeks darkening even further. "I was cold,"
"Tch,"
"You could have woken me up,"
"I did," he retorted darkly and brought his sleeve to dry his soaked neck with a snarl.
A groan left the pinkette while she tried hiding her flushing face in her hands. Zoro threw the comforter over the woman and stomped into the bathroom.
"Shitty doctor," he grumbled as he slammed the door shut.
Sakura ran her fingers through her hair with another groan. Today could not have begun in a worse way. She heard the shower-curtain being pulled, followed by the sound of the pipes rattling beneath the cabin before a steady stream of water drummed against the porcelain tub.
"There are towels on the shelf," she called out and let herself fall back onto the futon. Her cheeks burned and she was sure her face resembled the same shade as a tomato. A sleeved arm covered her eyes before she kicked her feet in frustration. Another groan escaped her as she lifted her arm and pulled at the fabric. She even smelled like him.
Minutes ticked by before she swung her feet onto the floor and padded toward the fireplace. Cool fingers rubbed at her eyes before she focused on the sporadic trails of smoke from the burnt out firewood. A yawn broke through her lips while she squatted before the dying charcoal. Teeth bit into her cheek as her gaze landed on the decreasing woodpile. They would make it through half the night at most with what was left. Messy locks of pink brushed over her shoulder as she glanced at the bathroom door. Was he fit enough to move around? She still needed to find Dr. Kureha. Maybe she could bring him with her for a second opinion regarding his condition. Distracted by her thoughts, she absentmindedly loaded the fireplace with more firewood while trying to come up with a plan. She would probably have to redo the bandages, give him a checkup and-
A crash from the bathroom brought her out of her thoughts.
"Zoro?" she called and got up on her feet. "Are you okay?"
He cursed under his breath, tangled in the shower-curtain while water kept spraying him straight in the face. A muscular arm rose to shield his vision from the never ending onslaught of droplets as he laid on his back with one foot slung over the edge of the tub.
"Fucking fuck," he grumbled and felt himself gliding further toward the drain due to her shitty jasmine and vanilla scented shampoo.
"Do you need help?" he heard her voice through the door and slid onto his side while the friction between his skin and the tub gave off an unmanly squeak.
"No," he felt his insides twist while his cheeks burned. He would rather die than be found like this.
Shampoo trailed down his face, stinging his eyes, while he desperately fought off the clingy shower-curtain.
"Are you sure?"
Calloused fingers gripped onto the half-loosened shower curtain rod hanging diagonally by his side and ripped it from the wall. Screws rained onto the tiles before he chucked it toward the door. The soaked fabric tightened around his ankle in the process. He let out a frustrated growl and ripped it off. It landed on the floor with a wet smack.
"Yes," he seethed through gritted teeth. All he had wanted was a calm morning, a hot shower, food and silence.
He slid back onto his ass with another squeak and rubbed the shampoo from his eyes, certain this day couldn't possibly get any worse.
Sakura stirred through the leftover soup while glancing at the deep snow outside of the kitchen window. Frost had spread around the edges of the square glass during the night, framing it like one of those christmas cards she had seen in the stores back home. A shiver tingled along her spine while the hairs on her arms awakened in the process. Getting into the village would probably take longer with the swordsman by her side. Teeth pressed into her bottom lip with increasing pressure. She only had one cloak. And while the weather was somewhat sunny, she still dreaded the slow walk there through the cold. Her attention was brought back to the soup. It was ready.
"Zoro?" she called out while making her way back to the living room. "Breakfast is ready,"
Silence greeted her. She moved across the creaky floorboards and knocked softly on the door. "Zoro?"
Water dripped down his neck and rolled down his naked back as he pulled on his pants while muttering to himself. A white towel hung haphazardly over one shoulder. He grabbed it and rubbed it aggressively over his face and hair with a hiss, followed by a curse.
"Fucking great," calloused fingers dabbed at the wound before he checked them for blood. Nothing.
The shower curtain rod rasped and clanked as he grabbed onto it and sidestepped the attached soaked fabric sliding across the floor. He dropped it into the tub with a shake of his head. With the towel slung over his neck; he brought a hand through his hair and reached for the handle, only to find it locked. He rattled it ruthlessly, feeling his patience wearing thin.
"For fucks sake,"
"What hap-?" he heard before the rattling became more and more intense by each passing second. He threw his head back, teeth gritting painfully while his fist tightened by his side. "I think you're locked in,"
"You think?" he growled back.
"I'll see if uh-… I think you slammed it too hard. It must have deadlocked," he heard her muffled voice through the door.
He turned from one side to the other before deadpanning. If he had his katana he'd make it out in no time.
"Get away from the door," he told her before rattling the handle once more.
"What? Why?"
His shoulder rammed into the wood while a sickening crackle stretched across the frame and echoed throughout the bathroom. Her protests from the other room fell on deaf ears. He repeated the notion once more and brought a hand to his head while shutting his eyes tightly to stop the room from spinning.
"Zoro, stop! We can figure this out," she pleaded on the other side of the door, but he'd had enough.
He took a step back and kicked. The door flew off the hinges with a deafening creak. A streak of pink registered before a blinding flash ripped through his head while his ears started ringing. Blurry black legs, followed by a black, button up blazer and yellow hair appeared in his mind.
Sakura threw herself in front of the swordsman. An arm snaked around his shoulder as he crashed against her chest and brought her down with him. Emerald widened when the door-frame whined angrily above their heads until it finally escaped the rusty nail and came falling straight for them. It chipped into the flesh of her outstretched arm and dragged out a pained hiss, before she redirected it to fall behind them with a loud clank. Dusty clouds whirled up around them while her heart beat frantically in her chest. She brushed a hand over the back of his head while using her other to cup his face while silently searching his features for any injuries.
Chocolate met emerald. Her breath hitched in her throat as she watched his eyes widening a fraction. An unreadable emotion flickered in his orbs but disappeared by the next time she blinked.
"Are you okay?" she asked leisurely.
He stared back with a blank expression.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" worry laced her voice while she skimmed a hand down his shoulder and arm and felt her cheeks heating up. Warmth spread over her lower back underneath the hand he had rested there to support her from the fall.
Sakura swallowed as she traced her fingertips back up over his goosey arm and leaned over to check his other side while avoiding his eyes.
"You're bleeding,"
"What?" she stiffened when his fingers clasped around her wrist and brought her arm in between them.
He leaned back and pulled her sleeve up to inspect the wound. She dared a quick glance at his face while her skin burned underneath his touch.
"It's nothing," she stilled, teeth biting down on her bottom lip as he dragged a finger around the torn flesh.
He met her stare for a second, but said nothing as the dust cleared around them. He got up on wobbly legs. She followed the view of his bare back as he brushed past her. Stray droplets of water dripped from his damp hair and followed the curve of his spine. Heat spread across her cheeks as she marveled at his built physique. He returned a short moment after and knelt down in front of her with the first-aid kit in his hand.
She peered at him through her lashes when he took a hold of her wrist once more. Wincing against the pain; she watched in silence as he pulled the embedded splinters from her flesh while blood oozed from the penetrated tissue. Pink hair fell over her face as she reached for his shoulder with her free hand. The muscles in his arm rippled when she traced her fingers over the raw and rugged skin with a feather light touch.
"I uh… I was thinking we should head into the village," she started and bit into the corner of a sealed sanitary wipe before ripping the pack open. "There's not enough firewood left, and even if we-" she trailed off and dabbed the soaked wipe over his scratched skin, "I need to find someone,"
Her fingers flexed when he started bandaging her wounded arm in silence.
"I know you're still… still healing, and you shouldn't move around because of the concussion, but-" her eyes landed on her bandaged arm as he lowered it to rest on her thigh. A ghost of a smile stretched across her lips. 'Not half bad.' "But I'll keep an eye on you,"
Her cheeks burned when her eyes met his once again in a fleeting moment before she finished cleaning his shoulder.
"I mean, uh- Maybe we can find some clues regarding your past?" she finished and dropped the used wipe on top of the splinters and trash from their medical treatment.
"There was a man,"
She glanced up at him. His gaze was set on something behind her. "A man with a hat?"
"No. Just a man."
"Was it someone you know?"
A shrug of the shoulder was all she got as a reply before he rose to his feet. She followed suit and brushed the dust from her pants while trying to ignore the view of his toned muscles in front of her. She glanced behind him as she straightened. A pink brow arched as she finally saw the mess he had created.
"What happened?"
"Nothing happened," he muttered darkly.
"I don't know if I'd call that nothing,"
"Tch," a hand went to his head while he squeezed his eyes shut.
"Did you have to trash the whole room though?" she asked and got on her tiptoes while steadying herself against his chest and replaced his hand with her own.
"Technically, it wouldn't have happened if your shampoo wasn't so fucking slippery,"
"Ah," she grinned sheepishly and glanced at him before sending a jolt of chakra into his skull to dull the pain. "No wonder you smell good,"
"Tch, I smell like a fucking girl," he growled and sent her a glare. The cooling sensation he had felt disappeared immediately.
Her eyes glittered with mirth. He felt his own soften while an unknown emotion seemed to pull him into her emerald depths. Tingles spread from the way her fingers skimmed over his neck while she slowly sank back down onto her feet without breaking eye-contact. A soft blush clad her cheeks; the contrast made her green orbs stand out even more.
"Is that so bad?" she inquired with a hint of hope and tilted her head to the side.
He felt his heartbeat accelerate as he lowered himself to her level and heard her suck in a breath. Her pink hair tickled against his cheek.
"You burned the food,"
"What?" she questioned while confusion crossed her features. Her lips formed an o as his words finally registered. "Ah, fuck," she exclaimed and twirled around in a rush and slammed her toes against the forgotten door laying on the floor. "Motherfucker," she wailed and limped into the kitchen to pull the pot from the stove.
The burnt smell wafted against her while she moved herself to the sink with the pot in her hand. A cloud of steam rose from it when she filled it with cold water. Warmth seeped into her back while her eyes widened. Frozen to the spot, she watched his arm snaked past her as he reached for a glass from the cupboard while his body molded against her back in all the right places. Her breathing ceased to exist when his breaths fanned over her neck while he filled the glass in what seemed like slow motion. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped onto the pot.
He removed himself from the pinkette, drank the icy water and placed the glass on the counter. A hand brushed through the back of his hair while he sauntered back to the bed with a growling stomach.
Sakura let out a shaky breath and kept her gaze on the overflowing pot while her back tingled delightfully.
Three people sat around a rounded table in a dimly lit room. The redhead of the group lifted the porcelain cup of sake she had fingered for the past couple of minutes. She brought it to her lips and downed the liquid in one go while studying the elderly woman across from her. The blond at her side sat quietly with a cigarette resting in between his lips; his face passive and void of any emotion as he stared straight ahead, at nothing in particular. Off-white bandages were visible around his chest, underneath the unbuttoned upper-part of his shirt. A gauze was taped to his left cheek where it shielded a cut from the dirty outer world.
"That shitty marimo must have gotten lost," he grumbled quietly and took a slow drag of his cigarette. Smoke spiraled out from his lips before it disappeared into the warm atmosphere of the room. "He always gets lost, that shitty no-sense-of-direction idiot,"
Nami, the redhead, downed another mouthful of sake before slamming the porcelain cup onto the table. "Unless he didn't make it,"
The woman across from her sipped on her plum sake while quietly listening to her guests conversation. The blond arched a curly brow while regarding the redhead.
"Nami-swan," he wailed with a hint of a warning evident in his voice. "He wouldn't die. Not to them at least,"
A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips. "Sanji," she gave his hand a thankful squeeze and heard a bed creak behind her.
A dark haired male, with an unusually long and currently bandaged nose, turned his head as best as he could toward his crew-mates from a bed in the corner of the room. Bandages clad him from top to toe. An uncertain and scared expression covered his features while he let out a whimper.
"The marines will not find us here, will they?" he questioned with a hint of trepidation.
The blond and the redhead turned to face him with pitiful looks on their faces. Usopp was the sniper of the crew, and their biggest scaredy-cat.
"We should be safe," Nami reassured with a lopsided smile.
Creaking from the other occupied bed made them all turn while a small smile spread across the redhead's lips when she realized their captain was finally awake.
"Ah, that was such a good nap!" the slender male exclaimed and stretched slightly.
"Luffy!" Nami beamed before a scold settled on her features. "Don't move around too much. You were seriously hurt,"
"Huh? I feel great," Luffy started and stretched for the straw hat which had been resting by the foot of his bed. He plopped it over his unruly hair and looked around the room before standing up as if he hadn't been bedridden for the past couple of days. "Where's Zoro?" he added.
Nami's eyes darkened while the blond let out another puff of smoke.
"He didn't make it," Nami answered just above a whisper.
Luffy tilted his head to the side while picking his nose. "What do you mean?"
Nami's eyes darkened. "You weren't even listening, were you?" she questioned as she rose from her seat, went over to the lanky teenager and smacked him over the back of his head.
Big black eyes stared at the redhead with a pout. "Nami?"
"Idiot! We were worried. You've been out of it for four days!" she pulled him in for a hug before she let him go and took a step back.
The captain's expression softened as he regarded his nakama and a wide, reassuring grin spread over his lips. Lifting his hand and pointing his thumb at himself, he gladly shared what always kept him going. "I'm going to be the king of the pirates! There's nothing that will stop me! But where is he?"
Sanji rose from his seat and slowly made his way over to the window next to Luffy. Taking another drag of his cigarette, he let the smoke escape through the gap between his lips and leaned his hip lazily against the windowsill.
"That shitty swordsman fought the marines while trying to save you. You nearly drowned after the attack but we got you ashore. We were too busy fending them off and never realized he was gone until this lady was kind enough to bring us here on her sleigh,"
Luffy remained quiet while the chef spoke, a trait not often shown by the overly active rubber man. A shadow fell over his eyes while he lowered his head; lips set in a serious frown- a complete contrast to the otherwise cheerful smile he wore most of the time.
"Sanji," the captain said. "Zoro is strong. He must be alive and out there somewhere. I am sure of it,"
The chef's eyes widened at that and the corner of his lips quirked slightly upward in a half-hearted smirk. Of course Luffy wouldn't lose hope in one of his crew-members.
"We will find him," the captain added with a determined look in his eyes.
"Luffy…" Nami awed quietly. Her eyes mirrored the warm, appreciative feeling she got whenever her captain spoke about his strong bond to his crew.
"I have decided, we will not leave this island before we find Zoro," the rubber man stated and turned toward Sanji. "But first, I need meat! Lots and lots of meat!"
His eyes then went to the elder woman. His eyes narrowed a fraction while he took her appearance in with a tilt of his head. She was slim. Her hair, a pale yellow shade which cascaded down her back, all the way down to her slim waist. Her wrinkly face held a pair of chocolate-colored eyes, a large, hawk-like nose protruded from the middle of her face and stretched far enough to shield the middle part of her upper lip. Her lips were thin and held a sly smirk while she regarded him in return. A large, pointy chin adorned the lower part of her face and he thought he could make out at least two bristles of beard on it.
"Who are you?"
Nami took that moment to smash her fist against the top of his head, sending the rubber man straight to the floor. "Idiot! Don't talk to Dr. Kureha like that,"
"Namiii," he whined as he rose to his feet. "Old lady, do you have any meat?" he questioned and watched as her grin widened.
The woman propped her elbow onto the table and waved him over with her index finger. Luffy stepped closer and leaned over the table until his face was mere inches away from hers.
"Let me tell you about the secret of my youth," she started, and before he had time to reflect on what was happening, she threw a punch right in his face and sent him flying across the room until he crashed headfirst into the nearest wall.
"O-oi," Sanji choked out with the cigarette still in between his lips. "That's..-" he stopped himself when meeting the elderly's glare.
Usopp, the sniper, shuddered from his position on the other bed. "So scary!" he wailed in a high-pitched voice.
An uncertain laugh escaped Nami's lips while she scratched the back of her head. she took a moment to calm herself before continuing. "I have to agree though, we could use some food."
Sanji's ears perked up at that and he instantly turned to face the redhead. "Nami-swan, I will prepare the best meal, full of my love for you~"
The redhead sweat-dropped at his sudden change in mood, but gave a swift nod of agreement.
Sakura pushed her kunai into the holster and tightened the cloak around her neck.
"This is stupid," the swordsman growled out agitatedly while grasping onto the wool blanket thrown over his shoulders.
Sakura sent him an irritated glare. "You refused to wear the cloak and I refuse to let you out there in nothing but a shirt,"
"Tch, I'll be fine,"
"After nearly freezing to death?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. "I don't think so,"
A tattered sling bag was pulled over one shoulder and rested against her hip while she stepped into her boots.
He stashed the katanas into the green sash around his waist and scratched at the wound on his head.
"Leave it alone," she muttered. "It could get infected,"
His lips drew into a scorn. "The only thing infecting my life right now is you,"
"Touché,"
"Tch,"
Smoke fleeted from her lips while she breathed and gave a final once-over of the cabin. The fire had been extinguished, her belongings rested in her bag and the idiot seemed ready to leave. She shifted from one foot to the other while her brows furrowed.
"What?"
She glanced at the front door while bringing one hand into the air as a signal to shut him up while she listened. Everything felt wrong. Her eyes widened and she quickly stepped into the bathroom and saw him pull out two of his katanas while hiding by the extinguished fireplace.
Bullets pierced the wooden front door before it was kicked to the ground and men clad in white coats entered their safe place.
'Fuck,' Sakura pressed herself against the bathroom wall and pulled her kunai from the holster. It slid into the first marine's neck while blood spewed onto her face from the lacerated flesh.
Zoro's katana sliced the head off another marine before he could enter the living room while shots rang through the hallway.
Her heartbeats quickened as she hid in the shadows of the bathroom while her eyes locked on the swordsman. A wicked grin clad his features while his eyes glistened in excitement. A shudder traveled down her spine. 'What did I save?'
She watched as he sliced another marine in half, blood splattering everywhere; on the walls, on the floor and on her.
A white figure slid past the bathroom door before a gunshot echoed in the cabin. Green orbs widened while darkness spread along the swordsman's shirt. She forced her limbs into motion and sprinted out of the bathroom. Her shoulder crashed into the marine's face and had him fall against the wall while Zoro sliced another head off before thrusting his katana into another body. She wrung her hands around the marine's head, snapped his neck and felt him fall limp against her.
"I-I surrender," a young boy's voice sounded from the doorway while he left his weapon on the snow-clad ground.
Zoro stepped into the hallway as if nothing in the world intimidated him. Blood dripped onto the floor from his katanas while he licked his lips and raised an arm to slice through the youngster's neck.
Sakura's eys widened before she sprinted into action and wrapped her arms around his torso.
"Don't," she pleaded while the youngster fell onto his ass while shielding his face with his arms.
Zoro looked over his shoulder at the pink hair pressing against his back and lowered his katanas. The youngster took that moment to scramble himself together and pointed his rifle toward the hallway. The gunshot echoed throughout the bare forest. Sakura breathed heavily. Blood seeped from her side while she collapsed on top of the marine. A shake of understanding coursed through her. She was still too weak.
