Legal stuff: All original One Piece characters, settings and plot belongs to Eiichiro Oda. There was no payment of any kind received by my person for writing this fan fiction. Enjoy Chapter 10!
"Usopp-you're crazy! This plan is insane!" Magina hissed as they snuck closer to the bounty hunter's house.
"It'll work. I make the perfect distraction. They'll be so focused on me that they won't even guess that you're going to flank them," Usopp whispered back.
She shook her head. "Be careful then. You're still injured."
Usopp turned to her seriously. " We need that money back. It's our chance to finally repair Merry. I won't let something small like getting hurt stand in my way."
Magina couldn't say anything at first. Usopp was determined to make his plan work. Her jaw clenched; even a coward could have moments of courage.
"Fine. Just don't die."
Usopp nodded and held his Pachinko ready. Magina waited for the signal. Usopp aimed carefully and shot one of his explosive pellets at the entrance. She sprinted towards the back. She checked the windows first, hoping that she could slip in that way but they were all sealed shut.
She hurried to the back of the house. Boom! Another explosion! Magina turned the corner hastily. There was a back door! She didn't see any handles or knobs. Her heart sank for a moment but she couldn't give up. Usopp was counting on her! She tried to slide the door open and push the door open but nothing worked. Was it just a trick door, or was there another way to open it that she hadn't discovered yet? Magina crouched on the right side of the door and searched for a button or a panel…The door creaked open.
"Pirates can be so troublesome sometimes. Imagine. Trying to take back the money that we rightfully stole! What could they be thinking!"
A tall, masked person stepped out of the double doors, flanked by two nearly identical women. He was holding two briefcases. Magina's eyes widened. That must be the money! They hadn't noticed her yet. Maybe she still had a chance…
Magina took a steadying breath and lunged forward. She elbowed the man in his back and yanked the suitcases free. She smirked with satisfaction at the man's grunt of pain before taking off in a dead run. A bullet whizzed! past her ear.
"Hold it right there, nee-chan," the man called, "If you don't come back, I'll order my family to kill Long Nose Boy."
Magina halted abruptly. She almost heard Usopp's voice in her head. 'Don't worry about me! Just take the money and go!' She trembled. Could she really sacrifice Usopp for the money? It was essential for repairing Merry. Could she doom the ship to save Usopp?
"You must be another one of Straw Hat's henchmen. Any ordinary thief wouldn't care if a pirate died. I'll give you ten seconds to decide whether he lives or dies. One…"
Magina's palms sweated. Merry or Usopp?
"Two…"
She closed her eyes so tight that it was painful. "I'm sorry, Usopp," she whispered before turning on her heels and marching back to the masked man.
"A very smart decision you've made. Now, I'll just take these back…huh?"
Magina clutched the handle so tightly that her knuckles turned white as a fish bone. She'd come with the man, but she wasn't going to let go of the money if she could help it. There was no reason for everything to go this man's way.
"I'd let go, girlie. Or do you really not care what happens to Long Nose Boy?"
The mask almost looked like a sun. Magina glared back at the ice blue eyes attempting to stare her down.
"I wouldn't have come back if I didn't care. The way I look at it, we have no choice but to compromise. You have my nakama and I have the money. I can't leave if you threaten to kill him, but if you kill him, you'll never see this money again."
She spoke confidently. Trying to use her nakama as a bargaining chip; who did this guy think he was?
"I could've ordered my cute followers to dispose of that weakling before we left. You'll have no way of knowing unless you see for yourself," the man answered coldly.
"I believe in my nakama. He won't die that easily."
"At this rate, Aniki," the first twin stated calmly.
"We'll be late for the train," the second twin completed the sentence.
"I don't compromise, but you're interesting. I might listen to what you have to say if it's anything su-uper remarkable."
Magina took a deep breath to ease her nervousness. Very calmly, she held up the two briefcases.
"I'll hand over a suitcase once you can't threaten my nakama anymore. If that happens to be before we reach the train station then that's fine."
"And the other one?"
"I figure that we can play a game. You try to take my suitcase, I try to take yours. We need this money too so I can't give it away so easily. The train station will mark the end of the game. Does that sound interesting enough?" Magina grinned.
The glare in the man's eyes faded and she got a feeling that he smiled underneath the mask.
"Fine. Then, let's go."
Magina swallowed anxiously. For now, she held the money. She'd look for a way to escape before they boarded the train. She only hoped that Usopp would stay safe. She was going to do her best to keep the money by her. She didn't want to disappoint her nakama.
…
Zoro sheathed his katana and unwrapped the black bandana from his head. The Franky House lay in ruins behind him. He growled under his breath. The opportunity to hand those guys' asses back to them was gratifying but the fact that Magina was missing weighed heavily on his mind. What was that baka girl doing?
"Oi! Guys! I've treated Usopp! We can move him back to the ship. Come and help me with him!" Chopper called.
Zoro walked to where the doctor was diligently wrapping and rewrapping the bandages that encompassed Usopp from head to toe. Sanji went to check on Luffy. Responsibility for the Captain was a heavy burden. Zoro helped when he could but Luffy still bore the brunt of it.
Luffy and Sanji eventually joined them. The Love Cook looked shocked. "Chopper, Zoro, I've decided. We'll say goodbye to Merry here. If she was able to keep sailing, then we'd manage somehow. But she's going to s-sink if we stay on her."
He didn't think he was shocked to hear his Captain's decision. Zoro nodded seriously. Tears welled up in Chopper's eyes but he managed to stay focused at the task of bringing Usopp back.
"Zoro…"
Luffy's quiet and conflicted voice held him back from helping the others right away. Zoro sighed silently.
"A swordsman is never afraid of change, Luffy. Sometimes it's sad and painful but those experiences make one stronger. Merry's-Merry was the best home for us when we started. She was a true nakama and kept us traveling as far as she could take us. Now that she's reached her limit, we have no choice but to say goodbye. Your decision, Captain, is the only path forward to fulfill our dreams."
Luffy didn't reply at first. He looked up with a tight smile. "Yeah, you're right. Well, let's head back. Wait. Where's Magina? Didn't you say that she was with Usopp?"
"She was. I don't know where she is now," Zoro growled. Luffy frowned. Sanji practically burst into hysterics.
"First Robin-chan and now Magina-san? Now I only have one precious bloom to shower my tender care on! Why are all my beautiful flowers being taken away from me?"
"Your flowers?" Zoro barked angrily.
Sanji glanced at him smugly. Zoro was just about to punch his head in when Chopper broke in between them. "Usopp still needs treatment, but I need to go back to Merry for the rest of it. Stop arguing and let's go!" Grumbling, both men helped their Captain and the diminutive doctor carry Usopp back to the Going Merry.
…
Jotaro stared glumly across the room He couldn't believe that this was what Mimi had in mind! She was busy getting ready for her 'meeting' with the Straw Hat's swordsman. He already tried to talk her out of it, but once Mimi made a decision, she didn't change it easily.
"Jotaro? I need some help zipping this up. Can you..?" Mimi asked, stepping out from behind the changing divider. She was in an elegant scarlet evening dress. Her burnished gold hair set in curls was piled high on her head. All hearing, thought and sound abruptly halted as she approached him.
"…taro! Jotaro! What's the mater with you? Are you going to help me with this dress or not?"
"Huh? I-I mean, I'm fine. Turn around." She narrowed her eyes and bent to take a closer look at his face. His cheeks flushed. What was she doing so close?
"Are you sure you're feeling all right? You look really red, maybe you have a fever. Let me check…"
Jotaro gently pushed her away. "I'm really okay. Where's the zipper?"
"Well, if you're sure. It's on the side."
Jotaro swallowed nervously and fumbled with the zipper. He clasped the hook after the fourth attempt, sighing in relief when he finished. "There, you're all set."
Mimi turned to face him, an excited grin lighting up her eyes so that they sparkled. "Thanks, Jotaro! So, how do I look, Mr. Navigator?" She twirled around in a tight circle. The golden ringlets hanging past her ears bounced while the red dress swirled gently around her ankles.
"You…you look very b-beautiful tonight, Princess." Jotaro couldn't get his mouth to work properly.
"Hmm, yes. I think you're right. I look perfect! Now, change your clothes and come with me. There's still lots to do!"
Jotaro knew he should protest. What Mimi planned for the swordsman wasn't exactly ethical, but something about her enthusiastic smile made it impossible for Jotaro to stop her. For now, he'd just have to go along with it and protect her until she finally gave up on this ridiculous plan.
…
Zoro leaned against the railing of the roof and stared at the night sky. The marksman had officially left them. Magina and Robin were still missing. Love Cook had disappeared, muttering that he had to go somewhere. And despite the interrupted naps he managed to catch that afternoon, sleep eluded him. He glanced at his Captain. Luffy sat on a rooftop nearby staring across the city of Water 7. He hadn't spoken a word since they rented a room.
Zoro sighed, things just didn't feel right without the siren there. Magina might have found a way to keep everybody calm. She…Zoro suddenly sat up straight. He heard her! She was calling him! He scrambled to his feet and silently made his way through the streets of Water 7. Hold on, Magina. I'm coming!
….
Mimi was getting tired of waiting. She called Zoro-sama nearly two hours ago! She paced. Why wasn't he here yet?
"Excuse me, madam, but it doesn't look like your date will arrive anytime soon. I'm afraid that we'll have to close our restaurant shortly if you don't order anything," a waiter approached her politely.
"Mimi, why don't we just go back. I'm a little hungry after waiting this long," Jotaro whispered to her.
She sighed. "Well, let's just eat something here if you're hungry. We've got plenty of money."
"I'll bring menus right away for you and your companion. I wouldn't worry about your other guest. The streets of Water 7 are very confusing in the dark. He probably just got lost," the waiter bowed and left.
Mimi could smack herself. She can't believe that she forgot about a detail as important as that! "Jotaro? Nii-chan said something earlier about Zoro-sama's sense of direction, didn't he?"
Jotaro thought about it briefly before nodding. "He wasn't sure he ever saw anybody capable of getting lost like Zoro-san. Even the other Straw Hats said that the only time he didn't get lost was if Magina-san was with him."
"I'll have to come up with another plan then," Mimi stated calmly before looking at the menus the waiter delivered.
…
Zoro was confused. How did the hotel manage to move while he was on it? He thought he was trying to rest on the hotel roof since the room felt too stuffy. Where was he? He glanced around and saw a bulletin board. A piece of paper was tacked to it.
"Train schedule? I must be at the station then. How did I get all the way out here?"
Zoro shrugged and then started walking back to the hotel, assuming that they hadn't relocated the building again. He wanted to have a talk with the hotel manager in the morning….
So, as I stated in the author's note last chapter (I think it was last chapter anyway…) this might be the last chapter posted for a while. My laptop will hopefully be fixed and back in action before the month is over but that all depends on how bad it is. I'll still work on the story during this forced break. A big thanks for everyone who sticks with me. Review this chapter if you enjoyed it. Your reviews make my day and keep me going when my naughty muse abandons me randomly. *Wink* I'll update whenever I have the chance to!
Nakama-best friend, companion, comrade, a combination of all three.
Baka-idiot or stupid
Nii-chan- older brother
Aniki-brother or older brother, more informal
SoraLover987142: I'm sorry, that's a surprise. But I promise this first attempt Mimi makes to mess with Zoro and Magina is not the last. *Evil Grin* You'll just have to look forward to what Mimi's going to do next! Heehee.