Zoro and his Assassin

Brook to the rescue

Zoro's POV:

I grit my teeth, trying to block out the ringing in my ears from that banshee-level screech she let out. Right near my fucking ear too. Damn it.

Anya is still scrambling up my back, her nails digging in almost painfully. I've imagined wanting her claw marks on me, but sure as hell not like this.

I glare at Brook, annoyed as hell. I'm glad to see him, but his timing couldn't be worse. At least Anya's covered now, but it's pretty obvious to anyone with half a brain - what we were doing, and I'm not in the mood to be mocked by a bag of bones.

To shut him up before he gets a chance to crack some lame joke, I glare at him and bark, "Brook, what the hell? Didn't know your damn soul could float this far. You're telling me a moving train don't mess you up?"

Brook, as usual, doesn't pay me any mind. His skull floats upward, and in that annoying, over-polite tone, says, "Ah, Anya-san, what a relief it is to see you safe and sound. We were all terribly concerned for your well-being, young lady. Zoro-san did an admirable job finding you. Might I ask if you are quite well?"

I feel Anya peek out from behind me, and instead of another screech of fear, she lets out a shout of excitement. "Brook, Brook, it is you! Oh my God, I was so scared, you stupid rotten bone head. But I'm so happy to see you! I didn't know you had this power. Is this your ghost form? Wow, it's kind of amazing, to be honest."

She steps away from me toward Brook, her curiosity overriding everything else. She reaches out to touch him, but her hand passes right through his glowing head. She laughs in wonder. "How amazing!"

She turns to me, her eyes alight with childlike excitement. "Zoro, if you infused your blade with Haki and cut him, would it hurt Brook in this form?"

I smirk to myself; I love how naturally vicious she is. But instead of letting her know how damn adorable I find her need for brutal experimentation, I fix her with a stern look. We don't have time for distractions.

I turn back to Brook. "What was the commotion outside, Brook?" I ask, getting us back on track.

"Oh, that? Just a few rather unimpressive pirates searching for a short, dark-haired girl who they believe might be hiding on this island," Brook replies in his usual singsong tone, though he keeps a cautious eye on Anya—probably still wary from her comment about cutting his head.

My eyes flick to Anya, and a wave of unease hits me. It hasn't been long, and they're already looking for her. We're running out of time. Her excitement fades as realization dawns, and I see the panic creeping into her eyes.

We need a plan—and fast. We're stuck here until tomorrow, so we're on defense unless she lets me do what I should do and destroy her parents' ship. But she's already made it clear that's not an option.

Brook's head floats closer, nearly in my face. "Zoro-san, I do not know how much longer I can maintain this form. It's a bit taxing, you see, as my body is drifting further away. I came here on command of Nami-san. She asked me to deliver a message."

He clears his throat and, in a high-pitched, mock-Nami voice, says, "If your idiotic, brainless ass does not catch tomorrow's train and reach Achter promptly, I will sell all your swords—curse and all—and then proceed to auction your dead beaten body to the highest-bidding Madame."

I hear Anya snort with laughter and glance at me with pity.

Tch, that damn woman—who does she think she is? I grip my swords a little tighter, a tiny shiver of unease running down my nape.

Brook continues in his regular, almost nonchalant tone after repeating the threat. "I was thinking of how I might be of more help—may I suggest a quick recon from my end? I could float over and see just how many people are after Anya-san and check the enemy ship for any useful information."