One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda
Kingdom Hearts characters belong to Square Enix and Disney
OCs belong to me.

-Chapter Seventeen-

"You claim not to be a pervert, but then turn around and do stuff like this..." I muttered as I leaned back against Zoro's chest from my spot seated between his legs. While Sanji and Chopper were off gathering supplies for Vivi, that left the rest of us to our own devices. From the corner of my eye, I watched as Nami, Vivi, and Usopp conversed amongst themselves. They were huddled close to one another, speaking in low whispers in conversation I barely had any interest in.

"How am I the pervert when you're the one that opted to sit there in the first place?" Zoro asked, one arm flung around my waist while his chin rested atop my head. "Wouldn't you actually be the pervert by that logic?" he inquired.

"Hey now, let's not get crazy here and start throwing around baseless accusations like that—not my fault you're pretty comfy to lean against" I argued. "Besides, I didn't hear you complain once since I took a seat" I grinned as he lowly grumbled in response. "What? Afraid you'll get cooties or something?" I teasingly asked.

"I mean...," he shrugged, "I don't exactly know where you've been" he grinned.

"First of all, how dare you" I said in mock offense at the implications of his words. "And, second of all, I will not tolerate such slander from the likes of you" I barely made it far in my attempt to stand before feeling the muscles in the arm wrap around me tense and yank me back.

"Nah, you're stuck here with me now" I couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled up my throat as I squirmed, the grin on my face only growing wider upon hearing the swordsman's own laughter as he now wrapped both his arms around me to keep me down. We eventually settled down, comfortably leaning back as we now relaxed and peered up at the cloudless sky above in a peaceful silence...

It was nice.

If I closed my eyes, it almost felt as if nothing had changed between the two of us in the years that we'd been separated. It was almost too easy to fall back into old habits as if we were mere kids again. Such a thought had me hopeful that he was perhaps feeling the same way, and as I opened my mouth...I found it difficult to speak. Part of me knew what I wanted to say...and yet, I didn't know how to say it. It was such a simple question—a simple inquiry, and yet the thought of asking it made my chest grow tight and my throat constrict...

There was a part of me—a small yet loud part of me that greatly feared the slightest possibility that I was wrong to assume he'd ever really remembered me.

I mean...what about me is really worth remembering?

It sounded so ridiculous anytime I'd really sit down and think about it...and yet, I couldn't bring myself to just ignore that tiny little voice and all the things it'd whisper in my ear. Sucking in a shaky breath of air in an attempt to distract myself from the unpleasant thoughts that were now starting to creep their way in, I instantly regretted it the second I felt my nostrils start to burn at the familiar, yet overwhelmingly faint smell of perfume that instantly assaulted my senses.

"What's that smell?" Nami curiously asked, quickly noticing the offending whiff of air that seemed to lazily drift our way from somewhere off in the distance.

"Nanohana is famous for selling perfume, but the perfume itself is made at an oasis" Vivi explained as I sneezed right into my elbow.

"Skylar?" Nami blinked as soon as I sniffed. "Something a matter?" she asked.

"No, I'm good" I groaned, quick to wave away her concern. With another sniff, I looked back at Zoro to see if he had anything to say about this sudden smell before deadpanning when I saw that he had already fallen asleep. Heaving a sigh, I couldn't help but smile at the peaceful look on his face as he leaned back into what little shade there was—his grip on me barely loosening and instead tightening anytime he'd feel me shift...

I'll be honest though, it's rather impressive that he was even able to fall asleep in this heat.

-Everyone's P.O.V-

"Isn't it strange how those two interact with one another?" Nami whispered, side-eying the two sword users that sat not that far from her and the others. To no one's surprise, Zoro had already fallen asleep while Skylar cozily sat between his legs with her tilted back as she mindlessly peered up at the cloudless sky.

"I think it's adorable" Vivi smiled. "It honestly reminds me of old friends or a couple of love birds who haven't seen each other in years" she softly chuckled, finding something sweet about the two's closeness.

"I don't really see Zoro feeling "love" for anyone or anything that isn't his swords or booze—maybe he's sick" Usopp butted in, unable to really see the swordsman develop romantic feelings for anyone.

"No way, I think Vivi's right" Nami quickly disagreed. "I think it'd be cute to see them hook up—maybe then Zoro will stop being such a hardass all the time if they did" she added with a wistful sigh, the idea of swordsman lightening up sounding rather pleasant in her mind.

"I don't know..." Usopp muttered, gaze drifting now drifting towards the two sword users nearby as his brows furrowed. He truly couldn't see a brute like Zoro being capable of thinking about anything outside of training, fighting, and booze. "I just can't see it ever happening" he confessed.

"You want to bet on it?" Nami grinned.

"With you? No way am I that stupid" Usopp sweat dropped.

-Skylar's P.O.V-

"Hey" I called out, gaze now drifting down from the clear sky and towards the huddled-up trio who instantly flinched and started to nervously look around like a bunch of children caught doing something they shouldn't have. "What are you guys whispering about over there?" I asked, an eyebrow raised in curiosity as their constant whispering was finally starting to pique my interest now that my only other source of entertainment was knocked out cold.

"Oh, nothing" Nami nervously smiled as she waved me off. "You know, just wondering when Sanji and Chopper will be back is all."

"That so?" I hummed before eventually shrugging my shoulders and lifting my gaze once more skyward. "Well, hopefully, they'll be back soon—this perfume is starting to give me a headache..." I grumbled, never once noticing the way they all sighed in relief before huddling close to one another once more.

-Later-

"Wow! These are beautiful!" Nami praised in awe as she admired the outfits Sanji had brought back for us women to wear. "Hey, Skylar, come on out—I want to see how it looks on you" she smiled.

"Uh...do I have to?" I asked from behind the wall that I had taken shelter behind in order to change.

"Yes."

"But do I really have to?"

"Skylar" she firmly spoke, her tone sharp and leaving no room for argument. Slowly peeking out from behind the wall, I silently stared straight back at her—the brown of her eyes clashing with the blue of mine.

"Nami" I wildly smiled only to flinch and quickly draw back the second she started to advance forward. "Alright, alright, I get the picture" I held my hands up in defense before finally stepping out from behind the wall. If I'm being honest...the clothes were embarrassing—they were nothing more than a small belly shirt that barely supported my chest, a thin piece of cloth draped over my shoulders, and an extremely long skirt that reached down to the ground. "I hate it" I bluntly admitted, arms flopping to my side as I gave a reluctantly spin for the ginger.

"Really? Because I think you look lovely in it" Nami grinned, her gaze flickering up and down before finally looking elsewhere. "Don't you agree, Zoro?" she suddenly asked, grin only growing larger as my face erupted with color.

"D-don't bring him into this!" I sputtered out.

"Huh? Yeah, she looks adorable" Zoro agreed, a wide grin of his own now spreading across his face as his gaze flickered.

"You can agree, just don't be a pervert about it! You're giving Sanji a run for his money!" I embarrassingly snapped, quick to raise my hands in a vain attempt to cover myself. Though, despite my embarrassment, I couldn't help the way my lips tugged up into a wide smile when I saw just how irritated he became upon hearing those words...

There's something rather fun about messing with him every now and then.

"Hm, although...," Nami suddenly hummed as she wandered over, "I think you should put your hair up—would probably help with the heat" she said, grabbing and lightly yanking on the long strands of my hair. I only grunted, part of me knowing that she wasn't wrong in her suggestion yet not liking the idea of further exposing my face to the desert air.

"Well, I know I asked you to pick out some clothes for us, but these are meant for dancer girls" Vivi weakly smiled as she spoke with Sanji over his...odd choice in clothing for the women of the group. It was clear that she was trying her best to stay calm instead of just outright scolding the blond for his mistake.

"Oh, Vivi, you're a vision" Sanji cooed, clearly not hearing a word she said.

"But commoners wouldn't wear this" she desperately argued.

"I'm pretty sure that only dancers actually wear this, commoner or noble..." I mumbled as I pulled at the thin piece of cloth that was draped across my shoulders. Watching as it lightly fluttered about with my movements...yeah, this wasn't going to do jack shit to protect me from the sun.

"But aren't dancers common?" Sanji questioned.

"We're crossing a desert!" Vivi cried out.

"Don't worry, if you get tired, I'll just carry you" he laughed, sounding as if he was a love-struck puppy that psychically wasn't capable of picking up on its owner's distress.

"Still think I'm putting the cook for a run of his money?" Zoro asked as I wandered over to stand beside his seated form.

"You may be right, but you're close" I teased, before wincing the moment I heard my stomach growl. Casting a quick side glance down at the piece of meat the swordsman beside me was currently eating, I subconsciously licked my lips as my stomach growled once again. "Hey, look over there!"

"Huh?" he frowned, head turning in the direction I was pointing as I quickly grabbed hold of his wrist and lifted the hand holding the meat. "Wha—?" I took two large bites before letting his wrist go.

"Thanks" I grinned, swiping the back of my hand over my mouth after swallowing the food in my mouth. Just as I was ready to walk away, I yelped upon having my wrist snatched up and my arm yanked on until I was forced to bend right over and our noses were touching.

"You know, you could have just asked if you wanted a bite" he huffed.

"Nah, stealing it enhances the flavor" I chuckled, poking my tongue out as I twirled and plopped myself down right beside him. "But if you're wanting to share then I won't argue" I said, already taking hold of his wrist and stealing another bite.

"Of course" he rolled his eyes before grinning.

"Now, let's look at you guys—compared to the lovely ladies, you look like sloppy bandits" Sanji spat the second he looked towards the rest of the men before scowling the second his gaze flickered over towards Zoro and me as if displeased by how close we were seated next to each other.

"You might want to look in a mirror" Zoro retorted back at the blond.

"Ooo, you got him good with that one" I grinned, lightly bumping my shoulder against the swordsman who softly snorted.

"Hey, Chopper, what are you doing?" Usopp asked the moment he noticed the way the reindeer covered their nose. It was then that I noticed just how much stronger the smell of perfume compared to earlier was as my nostrils began to burn to the point that my eyes started to water.

"Wha..." I was cut off by a sneeze that was quickly followed by another and another.

"It's that smell" Chopper whined as I desperately tried to cover my nose in an attempt to get the sneeze attack I was currently suffering under control.

"Hey, you alright?" Zoro frowned as I could only shake my head while turning to look the other way, the sneezing still going.

"Oh, yeah—where did you run off to?" Sanji suddenly asked as he looked to Chopper, now curious about something that probably had happened earlier while they were out shopping.

"Just somewhere..." the reindeer weakly moaned.

"Is he not feeling well?" Nami worriedly questioned.

"I don't think Skylar's feeling well either" Zoro added, hand soothingly rubbing my back as I loudly sniffed.

"Fuck..." I muttered, mindlessly swiping at my now redden nose as I sucked in a few deep breaths of air through my mouth in an attempt to avoid inhaling any more perfume and triggering another sneeze attack.

"Yeah, it's just the perfume" Sanji assured us. "Chopper can't stand it—what about you Skylar? Are you alright?" he worriedly asked, obviously feeling far more concerned for my sake than the reindeer's.

"I guess you could say that, just like Chopper, the perfume is getting to me as well" I sniffed. "I'm allergic to strong smells, large amounts of anything like that absolutely kills me" I stuffily explained with another sniff.

"Perfume?" Nami blinked.

"Oh yeah, Tony has a very sensitive nose" Vivi realized. "It seems that Skylar does as well" she said, shooting a sympathetic smile my way.

"Yeah, no kidding..." I muttered as the beginnings of a headache were already starting to form.

"This stuff?" Nami questioned as she took a tentative sniff of herself...had she put some on earlier without me noticing? Probably. I wouldn't doubt the possibility that Sanji had bought back some perfume for Nami and the rest of us ladies as a gift.

"Some of that stuff has a really strong smell" Vivi explained as I sneezed again, my face flushing in embarrassment this time upon suddenly hearing Zoro's hearty laugh.

"I didn't realize how cute of a sneeze you had" he teasingly grinned. "Like a little mouse."

"S-shut up!" I embarrassingly cried out, angrily swatting at his shoulder as he continued to laugh.

"Oh" Nami slyly grinned before she started to spray even more perfume on herself. This only made the scent stronger, resulting in my sneezing getting worst as Chopper began to freak out at the sudden attack being dealt to his senses.

"Stop it!" I snapped at the ginger who in return only gave a low, devious chuckle.

"You smell like a field of fresh flowers!" Sanji happily praised in admiration for the navigator.

"You're an idiot..." Zoro grumbled, taking a swig from his alcohol as the blond growled in annoyance—quickly responding to the swordsman's insult.

"At any rate, at least we managed to gather all the supplies that we're going to need to cross the desert" Usopp quickly intervened before a fight could break out between the two.

"Yeah" Vivi agreed.

"This oasis, you said it was called Yuba, right?" Nami asked, wanting to confirm the name of the oasis she and Vivi had been talking about earlier.

"Yes, that's correct—but first, we'll have to travel through the desert" Vivi nodded. "That trip will most likely be a lot more difficult than any of you can begin to imagine, there's no telling what might happen out there. One wrong step at any moment in a desert land like this one...there's no guarantee that we'll all survive—I'm still a little reluctant about asking you guys to follow me to such a dangerous place" she confessed. "But, more than anything, I want to bring peace back to the Alabasta Kingdom. So I guess...I guess I really don't have any other choice but to ask...

"Help me! Please help me bring peace back to my country—please help!" she seemed to almost beg as if afraid we'd turn her away.

"Well, you finally said it—it's about time" Nami smiled with a wink.

"Yeah, that's for sure" I said, standing and stretching. "I was wondering when she was finally going to ask" I brightly smiled as I rest my hands atop my hips.

"There's no telling what might happen on the sea, but we're used to it—am I right?" Sanji asked with a grin of his own.

A/N: Enjoy

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