Love Exists

Chapter 1

Nami couldn't say for sure when it happened. She honestly, still couldn't even believe the revelation she’d had upon leaving Thriller Bark. Something had happened to Zoro, something he wasn't telling anyone. He had been so badly injured that she’d found herself the next night in her bunk hugging her pillow tight as sobs racked her body. Where had this come from? At least Robin was on watch, there is no way she could have been silent during that.

The next day she acted like it never happened. Clearly it was some freak mental.. thing? Yes. That had to have been it. All that stress from the fight got to her. She saw Zoro walking out of Chopper’s room and stormed towards him. Worry tightened her chest at the sight. She wanted to run to him, throw her arms around him and beg him to...woah. No. Just no. She, Nami, did not beg. She instantly  I covered it up with cold indifference. “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? GET BACK IN THAT BED OR I WILL UP YOUR INTEREST.”

He growled with a grimace and turned back to the room grumbling under his breath. She let out the breath she hadn't even realized she had been holding. Chopper thanked her for her help and followed her in? She was not attracted to him, she did not care about him, she did not….oh God. LOVE HIM!? No no no no. Clearly this was a brain fog, yes, brought on by heat stroke. Yes. That was it. The pressure changed, a storm was coming. “Oh come on!” She threw her hands up in frustration. She couldn't even have a modicum of denial. She wanted to wallow in her denial
dammit.

She pulled her thoughts from that and ran to the railing shouting orders to the crew in preparation for the weather change that was about to hit them. They were almost to their next destination.

Sabaody Archipelago
Battle with Kuma

Her heart sank, her chest tightening. The scream that wrenched from her was unlike anything she had ever felt. No. Don't cry, don't cry. She couldn't do it again. She couldn't lose someone she loved again. Funny how watching the one loved at death’s door made you suddenly pull your head out of your ass and stop wallowing in denial. She couldn't believe that he had fought as he had, still injured badly from the fight on Thriller Bark. Why, why was he such a fool?! She asked herself running towards him.

She hugged him and checked his pulse. They didn't have much time. Usopp came over. She whisper against Zoro’s ear. “Please don't leave me. I can't lose another. Please, I promise, I will tell you everything. I’ll stop lying, to you and myself. Just stay, please just..stay.” Her voice cracked near the end as a sob wrenched from her. She didn't know what she would so. She didn't. There had been no time, Usopp picked him up and ran. She took off as well, Luffy had told them to run. It was the smartest thing and then it happened. Her worst nightmare, the knife through her chest.

She watch as Kuma's hand came towards Zoro. Everything seemed to slow as if  I suddenly the world moved in  I slow motion. She watched in horror all while knowing there was nothing  I they could do. She was expecting the worse, expecting to see him be killed before her very eyes. What happened, seemed far more horrible than that. He disappeared! He was taken from her. She wanted to fall to her knees and cry. But she needed to keep going.

She wished with everything she could attack Kuma. She wanted to so bad. She simply wasn't powerful enough to take him though, truth was, none of them were. If it was one thing Nami was it was greedy. You did not take what she coveted. It was so strange to realize that there were now two things she coveted, money, and, Zoro. Probably even more so than money which shocked even her. She had no idea when it happened, but in this moment, finally admitting it to herself, she didn't care. Apparently that old adage about realizing how much you love someone after you lost them was true. She hated when painful things were true.

A/N: I look forward to knowing what you think and any criticism is welcome as well. Always good to know what needs to be worked on. This is my first One Piece fanfiction so a bit nervous. Shoot, this is my first story published here.