Justice and Piracy (a Zoro love story)

Justice and Piracy (a Zoro love story) : Chapter Four

Chaper Four,
"Unlocked."

The wind picked up and pulled the smoke into thick ashen plumes that brought tears to my eyes making them feel heavy and bloodshot, by my side I could hear Luffy coughing and with a swift motion of the blade Zoro cut the smoke aside and it parted centrally like two tsunamis slowly drifting in opposite directions. The crackling fire behind us projected our shadows, long and flickering over the broken boards of the marine harbour.

Rear-Admiral Tunmus gave a brilliant smile, "I see you've made some dangerous friends there, Umino Yuki."

I smiled a crooked smile, my nerves tightening in my stomach like I'd been punched in the gut. Luffy touched my good shoulder in passing and went to stand in front of me. His stance more calm than before.

"That's right!" Luffy announced, "We're going to sea, so don't try to stop us!"

The responding laugh was cut of any humour, it sounded forced as he spoke, "To sea? With her? Don't make me laugh, she's not worth it, better to have her locked up where she belongs, where you belong!"

"Why?! She's supposed to be your Nakama (crew)!" Luffy growled, angrily now.

"Nakama? Is that what you think she is? Ha!" Tunmus chuckled, amused, "She's talented, I'll give her that, but a caged beast all the same. You give her freedom and you'll regret it."

They did not respond, just kept their stoney expressions in place as they stood between the wave of marine soldiers and myself. The ships were beginning to sink into the harbour, great pieces of lumber fell upon the dock and collapsed into the bay. We lost our means of escape, the only thing that I hoped for was survival. As if reading my mind Zoro returned the white hilted blade to me, he pressed it into my hands and his eyes met with mine.

"Don't loose it." He warned.

I nodded my head in response, unable to thank him for my jaw would not unlock. I would keep the soldiers from them, that was the best I could do. I hardened my resolve and for the first time my legs felt strong beneath me, my seastone shackles felt lighter, as if the fighting had weakened their effect. I prayed it would last.

The sea of white decended onto the dock brandishing blades for bullets did not harm my two-man guard. I was the first to move, my instinct to fight, sword in hand too much to bare. It was too familiar, too much like a time I once knew, I felt fury, the burn in my shoulder nothing compared to the overwhelming tide that expanded in my chest. I cut them down without a thought, it was alarming how well I moved, how the act of running head first into possible death made everything blur into black, white, and red. I became aware I heard nothing but my own laboured breathing, my sword moved swiftly, close to my torso as I struck out around me, I could feel the clang of steel against the edge of my blade.

I dodged swiftly and when I felt bodies press too close around me I lashed out, unafraid. My injured arm was strong enough to throw a punch or two and with each stride I felt my legs carry me further, faster. I stood alone, no one left within my grasp. I gasped, my eyes a wide blank stare as I focused, really focused upon the scene before me, the beating of my heart like the drums of war. There was a clear circle around me where no one dared tread, the remaining marines wavered a far fifteen feet in all directions and I could taste their fear. I felt, calm. My momentary peace was broken by Luffy as his fighting with the Rear-Admiral interrupted my space, Zoro landed beside him a second later and I had my hearing back.

The roar in my head was replaced by the sound of the storm clouds above and the beating of harsh wind across the island. I pressed my hand against my chest and felt the drumming of my heart slow to a calmer thrum.

Luffy dodged a deathly blow from Tunmus' fist, I could see the muscle flex under the strain of fabric that threatened to tear. Zoro moved forwards, his twin swords gleaming as he tore across the Rear-Admiral's outstretched forearm. A low snarl fell from his lips and Tunmus struck Zoro with the backhand of his other arm, he flew past me, his boots slid across the waterlogged wood. Luffy exchanged a number of kicks and punches and I charged, rolling beneath them and landing a cut long and thin over his waist, the cream of his shirt ripped wide. I felt Zoro hit my shoulders as he pushed me out of the way of a retaliating kick, I slipped and fell on my side, the ground struck me hard and I pulled myself onto my knees, blade in hand. I groaned, now soaked in sea water from head to toe, my strength leaving me. This was not good.

I watched in awe of the strength of Luffy's punches, each hit sent a shockwave through the air and I felt it in the hollow of my chest. I tried my legs but I fell again and ended up sat down, my knees propped up in front of me. Luffy took a hit and I saw him skid over the dock, his arms waving as he struggled to keep upright and then, to my horror, fell into the large opening in the boards and into the waist-deep water.

"Luffy!" I called out, it was the first time I'd used his name and it felt alien to my tongue.

"You got him?!" Zoro shouted from over his shoulder, holding Tunmus back.

I forced myself toward him in time to watch as his arms flail and sink below the waters surface. I threw myself against the rough broken wood and reached out with both my arms, searching for him. His hands shot up and I grunted in surprise, his weight much more than I had expected and his grasp tight with his need to breathe. I pulled with what little strength I had left and his head resurfaced with a spluttering and raspy noise.

"I got him!" I called, hoping Zoro would hear me.

"I'm drowning!" Luffy wailed in response, his voice a gurgle.

"Pull yourself out!" I ordered and he started to climb over me. We fell about the floor in a mass of limbs, both soaked through and breathing hard.

"Arigato (thanks)~" He managed in a strange slur.

Once again I managed my seated position to see how Zoro was doing, he fought in a flurry of strikes and his blows soared across the sky, cutting all before them but the great Rear-Admiral would not topple. I watched eagerly, ignoring Luffy as he flopped like a fish out of water by my side. He was terribly distracting. What if he fell in again? I quickly decided he would be on his own, I wasn't going back in there after him. Zoro feined left and dropped his blade onto the floor to catch something in his hand, he tore it from Tunmus and I heard the tumbling of something as it scattered upon the ground. In doing so he received a sickening strike to the head and he fell after his blade a second later. I took a sharp intake of air and it stuck in my throat.

"Ha!" Yelled Tunmus, triumphantly, his beaten look and tattered clothes did not portray his superior look well.

Zoro picked himself from the ground and held his hand upwards, a glint of silver was visible between his fingers like a becon and his smirk stretched far across his face. The Rear-Admiral knew before I could understand; the key hanging from a small chain necklace was the key to my freedom. Tunmus yelled angrily now and he used his weight as he ran and pressed against the smirking swordsman, his fists against his stomach.

I leaped, scooping low to pick my blade from the ground as the key came flying toward me, I caught it in my outstretched palm and twisted it in the lock of my seastone cuff. The cuff hit the ground with a resounding boom and I saw the pale skin of my red-sore wrist for the first time in two years. I hurried to my second but the Rear-Admiral came to charge me, I defended with the blade of my unshackled hand. I took the key in my mouth and brought the cuff to my face, it blocked my view and he fought harder than before, I could feel myself slide back upon bare feet as he pressed upon me.

Zoro jumped before me, his shirt now soaked and his two blades in hand. It broke my concentration, the key fell from my lips, and a second later, another dull boom of stone upon the earth; I was unlocked.