The Blind Brawler [ Roronoa Zoro X OC]

Chapter 97: Round #1 - The Donut Race

Kaori

~*^<:>^*~

The water swelled behind our makeshift boat, pushing us forward unsteadily. Chopper yelped as he grabbed hold of his handrail to keep his balance. Zoro steadied the rudder to keep us from capsizing. I held fast to the edge of the barrel, grimacing as I felt it tilt and sway on the uneven waves.

Sanji spoke up, bewildered and wary, "Huh? What's with the barrels?"

"Barrels?" I asked.

"There's dozens of barrels in the water around us now," Chopper explained.

Usopp groaned, "Oh, no! We didn't get far enough!"

"What's the big deal?" Nami questioned him, "It's just a barrel."

Usopp suddenly shrieked, "No! Nami, don't!"

There was suddenly a loud explosion, and the waves grew violent for a second. I felt the blood drain from my face in dread as I cried out, "Usopp! Nami! Robin!"

"And they've been released!" Itomizu declared, "Look at that! Kaboom! The old barrel mines. The Coaster's trump card!"

There was a loud splash as I sensed my crewmates and their ship land back in the water. I grimaced, "Are you guys okay?!"

Usopp groaned in pain as he answered, "Been better."

Chopper was nervously yelping as more of the barrel mines floated around us, "Go away!"

"Dumb bombs. I'll knock them all back," Luffy said firmly, "Now, Gomu Gomu no-"

Sanji stopped him before he could follow through, "Cut it out, Luffy."

Chopper caught on to his plan as well and panicked, "Stop! Are you trying to blow us out of the water?!"

"Calm down!" The captain responded, "We gotta do something."

"Yeah, but that something can't involve touching them," Zoro reminded him.

I frowned as I tried to think of a solution, "Think we can push them away by using the water?"

My boyfriend hummed, "Maybe, but I have another idea," He held his arm out towards the others, "Luffy, pass that oar over here," The rubberman stretched his arm out to hand the oar to Zoro. The swordsman then stood up with a wide stance, facing the back of the ship as he held the oar out to his side.

Chopper seemed worried, "What're you doing, Zoro?"

"Stand back and watch," He told him confidently. He carefully moved me behind him with his free arm before he started to spin the oar. I felt the boat bobbing unsteadily as he built up speed. The paddle of the oar was actually catching wind and starting to stir the water around us. With a firm swing of his arm, he swiped the oar in front of him, causing a rush of wind that blew the barrels back. It also caused the boat under us to tilt and pitch on the waves. I yelped as I grabbed hold of his waist to keep from falling overboard.

It was perfect timing, though, because in that moment, the mine barrels collided with each other and created a shockwave that shot all our boats forward at high speed. Water sprayed up through the gaps in the treadmill barrel part of our boat, dousing Zoro and me while leaving Chopper untouched.

The doctor shrieked, "This is terrifying!"

Zoro merely grunted as he tried to block the sea spray from hitting his face, "Man, that's cold."

I grimaced as I felt the swell of the wave crest and ease out. My death grip around my boyfriend's waist loosened as the boat slowed to a far more manageable pace. We both dropped down to sit on either side of the rudder with a pair of groans. I muttered in frustration, "That could've been real bad. What a pain."