Hi All! All original plot, characters, and settings. belongs to Eiichiro Oda. Enjoy Chapter 18!
They clambered aboard Rocketman, with Sanji leading the way. She swallowed; even the ginger root didn't stop her heart from dropping to the pit of her stomach or the pressure building steadily in her head. Magina lurched as Rocketman built up speed. She wasn't used to being so off-balance on a vessel. A strong hand grasped her arm and kept her upright.
"Are you alright, Magina-kun?"
She looked steadily at masked Usopp. Something was going on that made him don that mask. What could possibly force him to hide his face?
"Thank you. I just need to get used to the train. Hey, before we go back, can you tell me what's going on, Usopp?"
His hand twitched on her elbow.
"Magina-kun, the only thing we should concentrate on now is saving Robin-kun. By the way, my name is Sogeking. Usopp-kun is safe elsewhere."
"But Usopp…" Magina tried to say.
His clutch tightened painfully. "Magina!"
The desperation from his song emphasized his sharp tone. "Please…the name is Sogeking."
His hold on her arm didn't falter. Magina found herself shaking.
"Ah, right. Sorry about that… Sogeking…" she managed to finally say.
Sogeking nodded and his grip loosened. "As long as you understand, Magina-kun, then I am at ease. Let us join the rest of our comrades!"
Sogeking strode ahead. Magina just stared after him for a moment. She didn't understand; that's why she asked! Just what was going on?
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
"I am Sogeking from Sniper Island!"
The siren followed the masked marksman, quietly heading to his side. A perplexed frown creased her forehead. Zoro had no real doubt about who was standing in front of them, dazzling Luffy and Chopper but he felt like he needed to ask anyway.
"Magina, isn't that—,"
She tugged on his sleeve, her expression darkening.
"I think so? There's something strange going on."
Usopp lowered his voice and donned cape and mask but his nose was unmistakable, and yet Magina seemed confused. Zoro glanced down at the siren. He was relieved that she had her color back.
"You look better, siren," he commented.
Her glare softened as she smiled at him. "Yeah, I can't believe that I actually got sick on a sea craft. But now I have a remedy so I guess it worked out."
'Sogeking' was teaching Luffy and Chopper a song about his backstory when Love Cook interrupted.
"Nami-san, and all of the idiots besides Magina-san and Nami-san, listen to me for a bit. There's something you need to know before we rescue Robin-chan."
Zoro was slightly irritated that he was called an idiot but this wasn't exactly the time to trade quips. More than Sanji's serious face, the fact that Usopp immediately went silent told him that the situation was graver than he realized. He folded his arms and kept his peace. He'd kick dart-brow's ass later.
Sanji kept his explanation brief. "CP9 is a secret organization of the World Government. The man I fought only told me that they used Robin-chan's fear against her. The bastards will do it again if they get a chance. CP9 is somehow controlling Robin-chan. I'm not making any excuses for not being able to retrieve her. Though she may not accept our help even when we rescue her."
Nami's frown was nearly as deep as Magina's.
"I won't forgive her! That Robin!" Luffy shouted angrily to the sky.
Nami punched him in the head. "Aren't you getting angry at the wrong person? Why are you mad at Robin?"
"Why should we rescue her if she doesn't want to be saved?" Luffy demanded, just as upset as Nami.
"Idiot! Robin is worried about what will happen to us after we rescue her!" Nami yelled back.
"Like I care about that! Robin doesn't want to die so we are going to save her! Nothing else matters!"
Nami was about to interject but he stopped the argument. Fighting with Luffy was a waste of time and energy.
"Stop it. This doesn't change what we have to do. We'll save her no matter what."
The exasperation on Nami's face morphed into determination. From the corner of his vision, Zoro could see Magina nodding her head in agreement.
"Hey, guys! Come over here for a second. I drew a map of Enies Lobby from memory," Paulie called everyone closer.
Zoro glanced at the map. He figured that he only needed a quick look. Zambei outlined a very simple plan.
"We'll go as far forward as we can. We want you to follow us in five minutes. You guys are the only real hope of stopping CP9," Zambei said.
Luffy nodded seriously, "Okay, I got it!"
Nami pushed a bundle of cloth at him.
"Now, that we've discussed the plan, tell Magina to change into these. Her clothes look more like rags right now. If they get torn any more than we'll have to start charging money for the free show everyone is getting! Though, that's not such a bad idea…"
Zoro growled. Like hell he was going to let that happen! Nami grinned mischievously. Swallowing his retort, he glanced over at the siren. Magina's shirt was looking ragged. He shot Nami a glare when she chuckled.
"Oi, Magina! Here are some clothes to change into," Zoro strode across the train car.
Magina smiled warmly at him. "Thanks, Zoro. I'll be right back."
She went behind the curtains. It wasn't very long before she yelped.
"Nami! I can't fight in this!" Magina called from behind the curtain.
"Can't fight in what?" Nami asked innocently.
Magina stuck her head through the curtains. Zoro never saw the siren so embarrassed before. Every inch of her face was beet red, even the tips of her ears. What did Nami bring for her to wear? Nami smiled sweetly.
"Those were the only option, Magina. They're the only extra clothes I brought."
Magina clutched tighter at the curtain. "Liar. You're clearly teasing me right now. Your song is…laughing…" she trailed off and her face paled. "Oh, no."
"Hey, where's Luffy?" Chopper asked.
Nami turned her head. "He was here just a minute ago…"
Zoro swallowed his gut reaction. He glanced at Usopp as sweat trickled down his forehead. The rising awareness that his captain already rushed ahead of them only showed in his incredulous expression. Magina sighed heavily.
"Yep, he left already."
"What the hell is he doing on his own?!" Paulie yelled.
"He didn't understand the plan at all!" Zambei shouted just as loudly.
Sanji calmly smoked a cigarette. "He said that he understood, right?"
Usopp waved it off. "Waiting five minutes was pretty impossible for him."
Zoro heartily agreed. "Yeah. It looks like it."
Luffy was too impatient to wait. Magina nodded, still hiding behind the curtain. There was a flurry of activity as the Franky Family and the Galley La shipwrights assembled by the King Bulls. Silence crashed on the train. Waiting five minutes was going to be torturous. He glanced over at the curtain. It looked like Nami brought the siren another outfit. These clothes were met with obvious approval since it wasn't long before Magina stood at his side. She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. Her cheeks were tinted a light pink.
"Geez, that Nami! I wish she wouldn't tease me so much!"
Curiosity warred with Zoro's better sense to drop the subject. Though knowing the answer couldn't be as distracting as what he was already imagining so he asked anyway.
"What did she bring you?"
There was a grand pause and Magina's face turned a shade brighter.
"She brought me a swimsuit."
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Magina didn't think that it was possible to stun Zoro. His every motion locked as he stared. The burning in her cheeks intensified as she realized that he was imagining her in a swimsuit. A slow, satisfied smile spread across Zoro's face. If anything, that only made the growing heat worse.
"I want to see that sometime, siren."
His low voice caused her to shiver in anticipation. Magina couldn't stop blushing furiously. She said the first thing that came to her mind to try and cover up her embarrassment.
"Maybe someday, but don't get your hopes up."
Zoro chuckled before turning to 'Sogeking'.
"How are your wounds?"
"I'm alright already," he hesitated a few heartbeats before continuing, "because I'm Sogeking!"
Magina knew that he just said that for the benefit of playing the 'hero' role. Chopper looked up to him in unabashed adoration. Now that Usopp began this act, he couldn't drop it. She watched silently, observing the reactions of the rest of the crew.
Obviously, Chopper and even Luffy believed that Usopp was Sogeking. Usopp's disguise hadn't fooled anyone else. From what she heard from his song, there was great relief. It didn't matter if the rest of the crew recognized him or not. Magina couldn't imagine a reason that Usopp had to hide from Chopper. That only left their captain as an option for why he became Sogeking. She sighed just as the intercom crackled to life.
"Are you guys ready? Only four minutes left!" Cocoro-san called.
Magina let her arms drop to her side. Zoro looked out of the window intently. She frowned. He was planning something.
"What are you thinking of doing?" Magina asked in alarm.
Zoro stared through the window a few more seconds before turning her way.
"No need to be so suspicious, siren. Eventually, I'll climb on top of the train. I won't be able to do anything about that fence inside."
"Oh. I guess that makes sense. For a moment, it sounded like you might be thinking about doing something crazy."
There wasn't any real reason why Magina felt that way. Zoro had a phrase or two of his song that sounded like intense concentration and mindful meditation. She heard his song the clearest and the longest of anyone on the crew. When his song sounded like that, it meant he was preparing himself. Zoro grinned suddenly. Magina's heart beat wildly.
"I won't do anything too crazy so you don't have to look so worried. Besides, I've always been lucky. We'll get through this."
Magina, almost reassured, smiled wanly back. She tilted her head and quickly gave him a peck on the cheek.
"When you say it like that, Zoro, I believe you. Still, a good luck kiss can't hurt our chances any."
Zoro's grin remained as he began climbing out the window. She shook her head, a serene smile in place. From what she heard of his song, Zoro was back to his concentrated meditation. He was focusing every bit of his energy for the next task. Magina sighed and walked back to the main train car.
"Sogeking…I have a question about my new Clima Tact. How does it work?" Nami asked.
Usopp's song returned fully for just a moment.
"Oh, here, let me see it. You just…I mean, don't ask me! Usopp-kun made this, not me!"
Nami bonked him on the head.
"It's not like he left me any instructions on how to use it. I want to be ready to fight like everyone else!"
"I wonder if everybody's alright," Chopper said quietly amidst Nami and Usopp's squabbling.
She didn't know everyone's songs in the Franky Family but she heard Tetsu pretty clearly. Magina meant to reassure him but Sanji spoke first.
"Have patience, Chopper," Sanji replied. "It's bad enough that our captain has no concept on what that word means…"
Magina stifled a giggle as she sat down on one of the benches. Sanji's leg tapped methodically, belaying his calm words. Everyone was on edge, waiting to finally be allowed into the fray. Very dimly, she heard Cocoro-san tell Zoro that it was time. A moment later, the intercom crackled to life.
"Oi, Samurai-man says to hold on to something!"
Magina grabbed a window ledge just as a terrible screech of metal on metal began. The train fought and leapt against the iron-wrought fence and finally jumped free. The train sailed through the air. Sanji leaned his head out a window.
"Marimo! What the hell are we going to do now?"
She could hear his song as clearly as the words he spoke.
"Just leave it…"
The rest of the crew 'ooh'-ed in anticipation of Zoro saying something cool but Magina just grimly gripped the ledge tighter.
"…to luck."
The building awe turned instantly into cries of despair and chaos. 'Besides, I've always been lucky.' She closed her eyes and mumbled a brief prayer. If Zoro's luck held and they survived this, she might have to kill him.
I realize it's been a few years since I've posted last. I'd like to apologize for leaving so many of you hanging. Life can be unpredictable sometimes but I guess my general reaction isn't. I'm changing how I'm doing things since the old way obviously wasn't working.
I will be posting a new chapter on the first of the month. I will also be writing a chapter and editing a chapter each month so that I don't fall behind again. I'm ahead of the game right now (which is where I want to be).
A big thank you to everyone who stuck with this story so far, I can only hope that I won't disappoint you again. We'll get to the ending, one way or another!