Bound by Blood and Sea || Sanji || Zoro

Caught in the Tempest

Definition:
On a ship, a yard is a horizontal pole attached to the mast. It holds and spreads out the sails, helping the ship catch the wind to move.

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It was another warm evening on the Going Merry. All of the Straw Hat pirates were assembled on deck as we drifted through the calm waters of the Grand Line. The sun began to set, painting the sky a beautiful orange and casting a warm glow over the ship. A gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the sea, mingling with the aroma of Sanji's latest creation wafting from the kitchen. My gaze swept across the deck, taking in every movement of my friends.

Luffy was sitting cross-legged on the figurehead, grinning widely as he stretched his arms out, pretending to be a seagull. "Caw, caw!" he called out, much to my amusement.

Usopp was nearby, recounting a tale about a mythical sea monster he claimed to have seen just beyond the horizon. Chopper listened intently, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and fascination.

Zoro leaned against the mast with his arms crossed, seemingly dozing off, but his hand never strayed far from his swords. 

Nami was perched on the railing, her gaze fixed on the map spread out before her as she calculated the ship's course. Robin sat nearby with a book in hand, though her attention seemed more on the crew than the pages.

Sanji emerged from the galley with a tray full of dishes, his eyes immediately finding mine. "Dinner's ready, my dear Aileen!" he announced.

"Thanks, Sanji!" I replied with a smile, getting up from the floor I was sitting on, to join the others around the table. We all gathered to eat and soon cheerful chatter filled the air.

I looked around, a grin spreading across my face. It had already been a few months since I first joined the crew and we just grew closer and closer each day. They still came occasionally, but whenever they did, there was always someone there to comfort me. Being surrounded by the warmth and laughter of the Straw Hat crew had really helped me heal.

As the stars began to appear in the darkening sky, we continued to enjoy each other's company, remaining sat around the table and chuckling at each other's words. That was until a loud crack tore through the air, shattering the peaceful moment. 

The rumble of thunder echoed across the whole deck and we all momentarily froze in our movements. Nami was the first to break the silence. "Quick! Sanji, Usopp, take the dishes inside. Robin, Zoro, secure anything loose on the ship. Luffy, lower the sail, and Aileen, bring in the oars. I'll steer us out of this storm. Chopper, you're with me!"

Without missing a beat, everyone sprang into action. Sanji and Usopp hurried to the galley, grabbing the dishes and stowing them away. Robin and Zoro moved swiftly to secure anything that might get tossed around by the storm.

Nami and Chopper made their way to the helm, with her voice cutting through the chaos. "Chopper, help me push the pole starboard!"

Luffy rushed towards the sail, his excitement evident even in the face of the approaching thunderstorm. He deftly began lowering it, his usual carefree attitude making the task look almost effortless. I began pulling in the oars and stowing them securely, working with equal urgency.

As the storm clouds rolled in and the first raindrops began to fall, the wind picked up, making it harder to move forward. The ship started rocking heavily as the storm approached, but everyone remained focused on their task.

I hurried to follow Nami's instructions, pulling in the last of the oars and securing them. The rain intensified, mixing with the strong wind to create an unrelenting downpour. A sudden gust of wind hurled me against the wall, and I struggled to regain my balance. I raised a hand to shield my eyes, but the heavy rain made it almost impossible to see anything clearly.

Looking up at the mast, my eyes widened in shock. That idiot! Couldn't he use his brain just once? "Luffy! Get the hell down here! This is dangerous!" I yelled against the wind, but my words didn't seem to reach him. 

Lightning flashed across the sky. Shit, I needed to get my brother down here before the storm got any worse. What was he thinking, sitting up there on the yard, during a thunderstorm? Walking over to the mast, I craned my neck, before shouting his name. 

"Luffy! Get down here now!"

The captain looked down, his grin still in place despite the storm. "Hey! I was just—"

"No time for that! Climb down now!" I yelled over the howling wind.

To my horror, instead of climbing down, he grabbed the yard with both hands. My eyes widened in fear. Please tell me he wasn't planning on jumping. I sent out a silent prayer, but only moments later, my fear was realized. Luffy leapt, swinging through the air with only his hands gripping the wood. He laughed, his excitement evident as he prepared to let go and land on the deck.

But just as he was about to release, the wind howled fiercely, whipping around him with such force that it was clear he would be swept off into the ocean if he let go. His grin faltered slightly as he struggled to hold on, his eyes widening with a mix of thrill and panic.

"Hang on there, Luffy!" I shouted, my voice nearly lost in the storm. "Don't let go! I'm coming up to get you!"

I scrambled up the mast, my fingers gripping the rope ladder as I fought against the fierce wind and driving rain. Each step felt like a battle as the storm battered me from all sides. When I finally reached Luffy, I grabbed his arm tightly, struggling to stabilize both of us amidst the chaotic gusts.

"Luffy, hold on!" I shouted, trying to pull him up. But as I strained against the storm, another, violent gust of wind slammed into us. My footing slipped on the wet wood, and I lost my balance. In an instant, I was thrown off the mast, my grip on Luffy's arm the only thing keeping me from falling entirely.

We swung wildly through the air, the storm's intensity making it nearly impossible to stay steady. One by one, his fingers slipped from their grip on the yard, the weather working against us. The wind yanked us both violently, and despite the captain's attempts to hold on, the storm proved too powerful.

In a chaotic whirl of motion, we were hurled toward the stormy ocean below. Luffy slipped from my grasp, and the fierce wind tossed me away from him. As I fell, my head struck the side of the ship, and darkness began to close in on my vision. My body plunged into the icy water, and I felt myself sinking slowly towards the ocean's depths as I lost consciousness completely.