The Greatest (Zoro x Tashigi)

5: The Plan

Tashigi POV:

I pull myself over the rail, and flop onto the soft grass- choking on water I swallowed during the short swim to the Sunny. The sod deck squelches under my soaked clothes as I roll onto my hands and knees, gasping for air as salt water streams down my face and drips from the ends of my loose hair.

"Oh that hurt so much more than I thought it would." I whisper, then immediately fight back a coughing spree. The bickering with Roronoa- this whole messed up night- seems ages ago after just a short swim. "hello adrenaline fatigue."

it occurs to me, while I'm coughing my intestines out, that for the first time in nearly 12 hours I am.. safe.

"on a pirate ship of all places." I mumble. No more wailing sirens or over bearing commanders. Just, a chance to save my home.

If I can convince the Straw Hats to sail me.

"Haa.." I crawl over to the main mast, propping myself up against the bench that circles the magnificent wood beam. We're really going for this, huh?

Oh the irony.

Forget the fact I feel safe with pirates. How did I get to a place in life where I'm asking them for help.

a corrupt system.

"not tonight." I whisper. Don't think about the marines tonight. 

With a hopeless huff I close my eyes, listening to the ship creak in the wind. The ropes and rigging binding against each other. Waves lapping gently against the hull. Far above, the moon glows softly.

What if they all hate me? or worse, they're trying to sail in the opposite direction? What if they call me a cheap distraction and throw me overboard? 

What if this doesn't work?

My eyes snap open as I sit straighter and try to shake away the sleepiness settling over me like a blanket. "No time to rest," I grunt. "I need a plan! I need a clear list of compelling reasons to take me, a prepared rebuttal to all their reasons to NOT take me-"

I grunt, grabbing the top of the rail as I pull myself up to standing again. Wincing at the movement.

"Nothing to keep you awake like good old fashion agony." I mumble, rubbing my forehead as I grasp for unorganized, spinning thoughts. "First, compelling reasons." I bite my lip and drop my hand.

"Ok! money. $200,000 is a decent pay out. Money, and, uh-...- ummm," I stutter off.

a cricket chirps.

I glare at the bug sitting 2 feet away on the rail.

it chirps again.

"oh shush." I scold, then purse my lips. "money, and, aaaaand-"

I stare intently at the main mast rising in front of me.

the cricket chirps a third time.

"shit." I whisper. "all I got is money."

I face palm.

"Who would sail their mortal enemy to a mortal enemy base all for $200,000 belli?! There are a million more reasons NOT to take me!" I throw my hands up in the air, and spin to collapse over the rail with a dramatic groan.

followed promptly by an agonized groan.

"Reasons to not take me- I've arrested them. Half of them maybe hate me. It interferes with pirate king plans. They won't know why they are sailing towards a navy base- hold on."

My head pops up and I raise a quizzical eyebrow.

"Strawhats like adventure. I could tell them why. That would be a pro beside the money."