The Blind Brawler [ Roronoa Zoro X OC]

Chapter 89: We have hostages?

Kaori

~*^<:>^*~

I should have realised it sooner. It was way too easy to get through the base and reach the dock with our ship. Now, here we were, standing surrounded by an entire docking bay full of soldiers, arms to the teeth.

I sensed Zoro grasp one of his swords. Sanji shifted his weight and put his hands in his pockets. I widened my stance and raised my fists loosely in front of my face. Usopp cowered behind us. Luffy stood in front of us, seeming more surprised than concerned.

Sanji grumbled darkly, "We're busted."

Zoro scowled as he muttered in frustration, "I knew it was an ambush."

I frowned as I spoke low, "What do we do now?"

Before any of my crewmates could respond, Lieutenant Drake called out, "Sniper team 7 to the front! Shooters take aim!"

Usopp shrieked as I sensed him throw his hands up, "No! Don't aim!"

"Gomu gomu no..." Luffy started.

"Fire!" Drake ordered. Zoro, Sanji, and I all started to rush forward to try to dodge the gunmen's aim. However, our rubber-brained captain had other plans.

"Fusen!" He shouted as he sucked in air, blowing himself up to block the bullets and bounce them back. While he succeeded in defending us all from the Marines' attack, he failed in giving any of us proper warning.

Zoro was knocked to the left, Sanji was thrown to the right, and I was bounced backwards. The ricochet of the bullets being returned to their senders was short-lived before all three of us got back to our feet and turned on our captain with murderous rage, "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Cannon Team 12, to the front!" Lieutenant Drake ordered.

I could hear the scowl in my boyfriend's voice as he spoke, "Great. Bazookas."

"Fire!" Drake shouted.

I threw an arm up over my face to shield myself from the incoming blast as I heard three cannons go off. The rounds clattered to the ground in front of us, still thrumming with explosive energy. Luffy seemed puzzled when they did not blow up immediately, "Duds?" He then let out a shriek as they went off.

To my surprise, however, the blast was minor. It was loud, and there was a rush of air, but there was very little power behind them. For a moment, I wondered if they were duds after all, but then my throat started to burn, and Sanji started coughing.

"Ah, my eyes!" The chef shouted in pain, "What is this?!"

Luffy wailed, "The burning, oh, the burning!"

I coughed as I tasted the bitter smoke in the air, and Usopp cried out from behind us, "Those were flash bombs!"

"Sword Unit, to the front! Attack!" Drake commanded.

I sensed four men charge towards us from the front, heading right for my blinded crewmates. I sneered, "Well, isn't this a funny situation?"

Sanji was still doubled over and rubbing his eyes as one of the swordsmen took a swing at him. I lunged forward, grabbing the chef's shoulder and making him duck while I simultaneously kicked the Marine's arm to send his sword clattering to the ground. A second soldier attempted to attack me directly, but I braced my shoulder against Sanji's and rolled myself over his back to dodge the blade entirely.

Sanji snapped up with a snarl, "Bastards!" He spun and kicked them both hard, knocking them flat onto their backs. He stood and straightened up his jacket with a huff, "Only the lowest kind of scum would attack a woman like that," He then turned his head towards me with an appreciative nod, "Thanks for the save, Kaori."