Justice and Piracy (a Zoro love story)

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

Chapter Six,
"Thousand Sunny."

The ocean before us was unrelenting and furious, as the ship left the Isle we fell mercy to a tempest and the grey clouds stirred angrily overheard. A fine send off for sure, it sent my heart thundering. I stood before the wheel and its spokes were locked in the tight grip of my hands, the wind took us and my ship sailed through the murky water, cutting through its waves like a sharp knife.

"To sea!" Luffy commanded through the deafening crash of tides. His arms were wrapped around the figurehead several times and anchored him in place.

"Luffy! Get down from there!" Called Zoro, though his footing was no better and I watched him slide side to side from over my shoulder.

A sudden wave hit the ship, a head-on collision and Luffy was swallowed by the water, his head emerging seconds later gasping and gurgling an amused laugh. The same wave rolled over the deck and Zoro slipped out from under his feet, I felt him hit the glass through my bare soles. I didn't budge an inch.

Lightning lit up the sea and it was clear that we'd sailed almost halfway from the Island's border, the ocean was pulling us outwards and threatened to beat my glass ship upon jagged rocks that dotted the water's ever moving surface. My swift hands swam upon the helm and we turned in circles between the outcroppings, the ship moved in odd angles and we rode upwards as the last of the islands waves was upon us. Beyond us lie the nigh infinite whirlpools that drew ships toward a dark and final grave. I heard two deep cries of surprise as the ocean opened wider and invited us to the depths.

I released the helm and the boat caught and lifted up underneath us. The force was enough to bring me to my knees and with my free arm I caught Zoro in a tight embrace, the deck was almost vertical now, and he held tight before he fell into the dark sea. The ship rose ever higher and I saw through the clear deck to the storm below. My gut twisted as I anticipated the fall and we soared higher until we ripped free of the black clouds.

They gave way to blinding light and plumed across the ship's gloss body like smoke, the water and glass reflected brightly and above was a clear blue sky, the likes I had rarely seen.

Luffy yelled in delight, and Zoro sat upright in my grasp as we began the inevitable plummet. Gravity pulled us downward again and I joined in a chorus of screams, our voices the only thing audible for the storm rumbled distant and quietly now. My eyes closed tightly and I felt strong arms wrap around my waist and pull my head low into the hollow of a broad chest.

The ship shuddered as it hit the water and I felt pain in my shins and injured arm as the pressure in my bones threatened to knock me unconscious. My face was buried so deeply that my lungs burnt with the lack of air. I pushed my palms against Zoro and raised my head from his hold, a gasp left my lips and I stared dazed toward his face.

He looked down upon me and with sudden surprise loosened his arms from around me. I tried to focus on the dark green of his soaked hair as the haze of my vision blurred around the edges.

"Ah!" Luffy yelled, jumping down beside us, I saw the frill of his shorts as they brushed against Zoro's shoulder, "You crushed her!"

His accusation was met with Zoro's deep voiced swearing and he held me at arms length. I gained control of my limbs and pulled myself together, sitting up and running my fingers through the fringe of my damp hair and away from my face.

"I'm fine" I reassured, I felt my cheeks colour red as I flushed.

"Ohh!" yelled Luffy and his back was turned away from me, "The Sunny! Oi! Mina (everyone)! We're over here! Oi!"

Zoro still had me by the tops of my arms as we stood and only when he was sure I wouldn't topple over did he let me go and look toward Luffy and his calling. I appraised the wet cloth of his shirt as it clung to the muscle of his back and flushed again, I was glad I wore my black jacket; underneath, my top would be as soaked as his.

The hull of a large ship came into view and from over the heads of the two men I could see the starboard of a large Pirate ship flying it's white sails, aboard I saw the few faces of her crew. They called out and I went to the helm to bring us to it's side. Luffy shot himself aboard seconds later and a rope net descended over the edge, splashing into the ocean. I wasn't going anywhere with a hole in my shoulder. I sighed and readied to throw myself over with my glass abilities but before I got the chance an arm grabbed my sore wrist. It stretched far from over the ship and I could feel the elastic tension in his arm.

Zoro had already started to climb and shot me a quick horrified look before my feet parted with the glass vessel in sudden speed and I was thrown head first into a grassy deck. I shattered on impact and tiny pieces of my glittery body spread far across its green plain. Zoro jumped aboard then and went to stand with Luffy as I painstakingly pulled the shards of myself back into place with the high-pitched snapping and cracking that was breaking glass.

Around me I saw the surprised faces of the crew, a few of them appeared scared, one woman with raven dark hair like mine was whimsical. As soon as colour bled back into my body and I was flesh and blood I felt the now familiar slap of Luffy's hand against my back. Did he do that on purpose? It didn't matter, at least now I didn't have to go through the charade of explaining my ability.

"Oi! Luffy! What is this?! She's a marine!" Yelled a woman who's hair was less redhead and more, tangerine? She stuck her finger out toward me as she spoke.

"This is Yuki!" He announced proudly, "She helped us escape!"

I couldn't help but feel he had that wrong. I guess I got them off the island but they were never truly trapped. Not like how I had been. Luffy draped his arm over my shoulders, he looked determined somehow. More serious again. Zoro rubbed his head and moved forwards as if to explain.

"And you!" The girl quickly interrupted whatever he was going to say, "You were supposed to wait, but you just swam off!"

He ducked his head as she threatened to swipe at him. Oh, so they're all insane. That explains a lot.