Chapter 6: Hunter Becomes The Hunted

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"Twenty..." With a pen, you marked Zoro's twentieth day of imprisonment onto the back of your hand. Cluttered with nineteen other black tick marks.

"That means only ten more days!" Rika exclaimed, packing up a small box with oniguri that she had made earlier today. Rika passed you one on her way out the door.

"Rika is gonna get herself killed..."

"Not exactly," Rika's mother hummed, taking a seat beside you at the table. "If it wasn't for your heroic boyfriend, Rika would be dead."

"Zoro isn't my boyfriend..." You rubbed your temples, gritting teeth with harsh force. "Besides that wasn't what I meant." You couldn't help but frown. Picking up the gift oniguri and stuffing it right into your mouth. "Zoro got himself put into prison because he saved little Rika... Rika sneaking out to feed him will... Will just put his sacrifice to waste."

"Oh... So that's what Rika has been doing lately" her mother shrugged with interest in her uplifting voice.

"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME YOU NEVER KNEW!?" SOME CLUELESS MOTHER YOU ARE!!!

"Rika's doing the right thing. I don't really mind if she's risking her life. Maybe you should take pointers from Rika and your boyfriend" Rika's mother giggled picking up the plate holding the remnants of your oniguri.

"For the last time, me and Zoro are nothing more than master and apprentice. Friends at most." You stood up, insulting this woman within your vulgar mind. Strapping your treasured swords to your hip. Taking an exit to escape this form of unruly torture.

"Oh quit denying it"

"Shut up!!!" Upon leaving, you accidentally broke the doors off their hinges in your sudden outburst of blind rage.

"Luffy, you have to be crazy in order to want Roronoa Zoro as your first mate!" A small, scrawny boy with short cotton candy pink hair pointed out the obvious to another thin and lanky boy wearing a beaten up straw hat. Just the mention of your Sensei's name made every ounce of your interest snap in the direction of the two boys.

"I'm not crazy. Besides you want to become a marine and I'm not calling you crazy," Luffy continued to march forward, swinging his long arms. Adoring the sights of all of the little shops lining the street. Especially the fruit stands, or anything to deal with food.

"Luffy! Don't puke on my dreams!" The pink haired boy snapped, hitting Luffy in the arm.

"Exactly Coby. You don't insult me and I wont insult you." Luffy playfully punched Coby in the arm in return for the first punch. Picking up an apple from a fruit stand. Taking a large bite out of the pearly beauty. "HEY ZORO COME ON OUT!" The boy shouts with his mouth full.

"Here." You handed the shopkeeper a berri to pay for the fruit Luffy had taken before the keeper could say a word. Not once taking your eye off of Luffy, nearly tripping over your own two feet trying to catch up with him.

Nobody has talked about Zoro in weeks. Just bringing him up can get you imprisoned. "Who is this guy?" You blindly spoke in a ghostly whisper. Watching the two teenage boys stroll on by. "Stupid!" You smacked yourself over the head. "Why am I getting my hopes up? Two weaklings like them can't help me," kids and adults alike passing by gave you mixed looks as you spoke to yourself.

"L-Luffy! What are you doing!? You can't just barge into a Marine base!" The second you heard Coby freak out once again, Luffy's arms stretched to take hold of the top of the perimeter wall surrounding the Marine base where Zoro was being held. You didn't question his ability to defy logic, instead you ran the absolute fastest your thin legs could carry you. Drawing your swords to stop the troublesome boys.

"LUFFY!" Coby squealed out of pure dread. Luffy's head shot in your direction, eyes going dark. Propelling himself high up into the air like a rocket as he released his grip on the wall.

"Dumbass! I don't want trouble!" You jumped backwards, bracing yourself for potential attacks. "Gah!" The sharp pain in your shoulder forced a cry from your lips. Falling to your knees, swords slipping from your grasp to clang upon the cement.

"Gum Gum Gatling!" Your blood ran cold to the shower of fists raining down from the sky.

"(Y/n)!" Zoro cried out. Watching you writh in pain below the shower of Luffy's lightning fast fists from the post of the courtyard of the Marine base. The iron bar fence gave him the perfect view to watch your suffering.

How can I call myself Zoro's apprentice if I couldn't even land one hit on this boy? All it took was one hit, and I was done... You bit your lip. Holding back your cries as it was unbecoming of a warrior to be such as yourself. This battle was over before it even started...

Crash

Luffy floated down from the sky, landing beside your head. All attacks were put on hold as he looked down upon your beaten pile of a body. Coated head to toe I'm freshly spilled blood.

"I only ask one thing," one lone tear left your dishonored eyes. Just barely kept open. Everything fading to black.

"Alright, you got it." Luffy squatted down, making a duck face for no apparent reason.

"Just promise me... That you'll save Zoro-"

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