The Blind Brawler [ Roronoa Zoro X OC]

Chapter 45: Reaching the Capitol

We all gathered on the shore of the Sandora River around the Super Sonic Duck Squadron. Everyone was making their final preparations for the next, and possibly last, part of our journey to the desert kingdom's capital.

Nami walked around and handed each of us a fresh, white cloak that she found in the duck's saddlebags. As she began to change into one herself, she gave the group a quick nod, "Be sure to keep your hood up the entire way. If they slip before we're ready to face Baroque Works, they'll know we're not Vivi right away."

The blue-haired woman sheepishly tucked her long ponytail into her tunic. She cast a glance at Kaori to see she was struggling to turn the cloak on the right way, "Here. Allow me," The princess gently tugged the fabric around the white-haired woman's shoulders until the hood faced forward. The blind woman offered her a small smile and nodded in return.

As I flung the cloak over my shoulders, Sanji began to make his rounds to everyone with the rations he found in the saddlebags. I had just finished fastening the new cloak on when the cook unceremoniously handed me my portion.

My lip curled into a frown as I looked down at the handful of dried fruit and meager strips of jerky, "That's it?"

"What were you expecting? A three-course meal?" The cook took a drag on his cigarette and answered me without looking my way, "These are emergency rations for war refugees. It's meant to help people survive, not fill their stomachs. Not to mention it's gotta keep for a long time. Fresh fruit and meat would rot, making it inedible and draw in hungry animals from the smell," He cast me a sideways glance out of his eye, "Just be thankful we have enough for everyone to get this much."

He turned and walked over to one of the ducks to put on his cloak. My brow furrowed as I watched him pocket all but one strip of jerky from his ration, "Is he saving it for later? Who knows if we'll have another chance to eat before we get to Alubarna," I glanced down at my own portion and stuck half of my jerky into my pocket as well before eating the rest.

I looked around at the others to see they were all eating almost ravenously. The girls were hurriedly munching away while Usopp and Chopper were chomping each bite. Sanji only managed to find two water flasks and we were passing them around.

Vivi spoke with a reluctant tone, "Alubarna sits on a plateau with five sets of stairs leading up to the city's gates. There's the Eastern Gate, Southern Gate, and Western Gate as well as two more gates at the South-West and South-East."

"Since we're approaching from the west," Nami continued, "Our best option is to split into three teams of two and hit the West, South-West, and South gate. We can hash out who will be going to which gate when we get closer and can see our options."

The long-nosed man turned and spoke as he ate, "So how are we pairing up anyway?"

The copper-haired woman answered him with a dismissive wave, "You'll go with Chopper, I'll go with Sanji, and Kaori will go with Zoro."

Kaori suddenly went into a coughing fit and thumped the flat of her fist against her sternum. Vivi turned to the blind woman with a panicked voice, "Are you alright?!"

The white-haired woman waved her off as she cleared her throat, "Y-yeah, just swallowed too fast," The princess handed her one of the water flasks and she nodded in thanks.

Usopp pouted at the navigator, "What, so two of our strongest are grouped up together while you have Sanji protect you? What about poor Chopper and me?!"

The little reindeer looked worried as well as he jumped up and down, "Yeah, what about us!"

The perverted cook merely shrugged as he grinned at the copper-haired woman with a coo, "I'm perfectly happy being your partner, Nami-dearest," He turned to lean over to the blind woman, "Unless you'd rather have me as a partner than that oaf of a swordsman, Angel."