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5 seconds.
5 seconds in which Robin got kidnapped by Admiral Kizaru while she and her crew were escaping from an island.
Nami saw how the Admiral took advantage of Robin's tumble upon a stone that was in the way and it made her fall. Going to save her at that moment would have been worse, for it meant a bigger damage to the crew, and Nami knew that, so she kept running with the others until they reached the Sunny and were able to escape from the Marine. In all this time, Nami couldn't stop crying, anxiety and blame clouding her mind. The first person who noticed her was Sanji. Ever since she reached the boat, he knew it wasn't just because she was scared and made her linden blossom tea to calm her a bit. But of course, Luffy also knew one crew member was missing, and Nami's cries just confirmed it. He got serious and walked up to the navigator, still undaring to look up with the cup Sanji made her between her hands.
"Nami, where is Robin?" said the Captain. Nami shook her head, hiccuping. "Nami, where is Robin? Answer your Captain right now" Luffy was angry, as impatient as he was. "Luffy, don't push Nami-san, she's still shocked" The cook intervened, standing now between his Captain and his Nami-san. "NAMI, I'M TELLING YOU, WHERE IS ROBIN?" Now every member of the crew directed their attention to Luffy, confirming that, indeed, Robin wasn't aboard.
Nami flinched, his captain's voice taking her by surprise. A headache starting to build up from just thinking about Luffy's reaction at Robin's kidnapping. Nami sighed, and looked at his captain's eyes. "Luffy, listen carefully, please- tears started forming on her eyes again, but somehow she kept them at bay. She had to inform Luffy- Robin, she...she was captured-" "BY WHO?" " A-Admiral Kizaru. She fell and he was so fast and it was like witnessing Shabadoy again and I couldn't even save her. I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry Luffy" Nami started crying again, guilt invading her. But a warm hand wiped her tears and embraced her. "I understand, it wasn't your fault, Nami. Now we have to go and bring her back" His captain wasn't smiling. Not at that moment and neither all the way to the Marine Headquarters. The crew was his family, and if someone dared touch them, they would fear the rage of an Emperor of the Sea.
The tension on board was evident, but inevitable as Robin was a very dear member of the crew. Chopper, like Nami, cried at the news the navigator told a few hours ago. Brook and Franky were still in shock, already missing Robin's weird comments and facts. Usopp was trembling in fear just thinking about to where they were going and against who they would be fighting. Jimbei wasn't scared, but somehow shared the same worries as Usopp, for it was a big deal engaging in battle with the Marine's highests ranks. And then, there was Zoro. Zoro hadn't said a single word since he had overheard Nami informing about Robin's disappearing. He looked calm and as dead faced as always, not even his quarrels with Sanji were any different, but on the inside, Zoro could only think about killing, torturing and chopping every body part from that Admiral and every individual who got in his way. He would let them know the consequences of taking away one of his reasons to live.
He was anxious, desperate for arriving at their destiny as he couldn't bear thinking about Robin being kept in some dark room, tortured if she didn't accept their requests and very likely cuffed with kairoseki to retain her from doing anything. Her soft, rosy skin disgraced by bruises, cuts or even burns. Her beautiful hands that he so liked when she caressed his hair in his sleep. Her laugh, he still could hear it. But all of her was gone, and he couldn't do anything.
If only he could go back in time.
If only he had went with her or at least kept an eye on her like always. He saved her many times, why couldn't he do it this time?
Those thoughs weren't going to let him sleep in the slightest, so he took out his sake bottles and began drinking, thinking that maybe the alcohol would lessen the burden of his thoughts as he knew that overthinking and blaming himself wasn't going to bring her back. Unfortunately, the only thing he achieved by drinking five sake bottles was remembering more moments with her, a film displaying on his head from the first day they met, when she still was "Miss All Sunday", to him wondering about her mysterious aura, her unique smile on the day they saved her from Ennies Lobby-maybe he had already fallen for her at that time- , their first kiss the night after the crew's reencounter and all the intimate moments between them up until now. Until yesterday when he told her to be careful on her battle, at which she chuckled and nodded, returning the wish to her lover. His heart and head ached, tears wanted to go out but there was just a lump on his throat, frustating him. If it was going to be like that, he would rather have cried, but no.
Drunk and exuding thirst of blood, he stood up from the floor and went to Usopp's factory, where he had his sharpening tools for his swords. Stumbling on his way, he reached the door and sat on the floor again, by the moonlight, and began sharpening Wado. Each stroke he made with the stone that was used to sharpen katanas, a new way of destroying Kizaru crossed his mind. Slashing his neck? No; Cutting his filthy hands? Not painful enough. He repeated this action with each sword, and when he finished, his grin reflected on Enma. He looked outside and the sun was begginning to rise. He also heard some rustling coming from the kitchen, "That must be the shitty cook", he thought, and for the first time since he knew the curly pervert, he voluntarily went to seek his company and tell him about the plan he had been thinking all night.
"Morning, cook" At his raspy voice, Sanji turned back, confused at Zoro's presence at that hour, smelling like alcohol and clearly sleep deprived. He sighed, "of course he wasn't okay" the cook tought. Zoro was sitting in his usual spot, looking drowsily at Robin's book, which was on the table, closed and with a bookmark he gifted her because she kept looking at it at some market. Sanji interrupted his thoughts placing a glass of water and a painkiller in front of the swordsman. "Morning, mosshead. Take this and go take a shower, you smell like an ape" Zoro knew Sanji was trying to distract him. Idiot love cook, he could see through everybody, but Zoro didn't have the strenght to retort to him, and just clicked his tongue. "Listen, shitty cook, I have a plan and you are helping me wether you like it or not" Sanji sighed, "Okay, let's listen to what that brain of yours has" He took out a cigarette from its package and lightened it.
"Are you insane, green-haired idiot? Ugh, why do I even BOTHER listening to you" Sanji groaned in frustration, he just not heard Zoro tell him to have his back while he commits multiple assasination, including the Admiral, and take Robin with him until he's finished or he dies on the attempt. Zoro looked at him, not understanding which part of the plan the cook didn't like. "But are you doing it or not?" "Of course not! I see your point, and believe me, I would also die for Robin-chan, but do you think she would like that? And what about Luffy? You are the first person in here who knows what he would do if he hears something about this! Common sense doesn't have room in that head of yours or is it too full of Robin-chan and swords?" Zoro looked at him, surprised, like the cook had guessed exactly what he was thinking and Sanji noticed it, which made him grunt and smoke another cigarette. "I do know what would happen if Luffy heard, that's why I want it to be between you and me" "But Zoro-" "It's like the promise we made in Wano if you were to loose your mind, Sanji. I accepted to kill you, and now you must agree to save my woman, whatever it happens to me" Zoro said Sanji's name, meaning he was dead serious. He had a point and that was it. Sanji exhaled the fume he was containing, and muttered a " ' guess you win, mosshead" before his captain opened the door demanding breakfast.
" Marine's Headquarters at 6 o'clock!" Jimbei announced. Everyone tensed up, watching as they came closer and closer to the enemy building, ready to follow the plan they had made a few hours ago in the kitchen. Luffy wanted to raid the HQ, but it would waste a lot of time, so they went with an infiltration, and by groups they would search for Robin. Zoro looked at Sanji, who nodded, accomplice of the secret plan.
Like that, they decked the Thousand Sunny on a desert island a few miles from the HQ and infiltrated succesfully. Now the problem was not drawing the marines' attention-which was diffcicult, not just for their overalls looks, but because they were an Emperor of the Sea's tripulation, they were well known, specially in a place full of marines-, which failed as expected, as soon as a marine recognized Brook, and they engaged in battle. Zoro, Nami and Sanji opted to go downstairs, to the underground floors, because if they had some secret rooms, they had to be there. And they were: laboratories, metal doors and every weird room you could expect from the Marine, it was there. Nami suggested finding the vigilance camera room and take a peek at the cameras to find out if Robin was in there, and then break down the system. Sanji insisted on going with her, but she refused, alleging that she must go alone and use her persuasion tactics to achieve her goal. She was right, and whatsmore, he had to back Zoro up-and supervise him so the green-haired man didn't get lost- as promised. He gave her a den-den mushi anyway, to call him if something happens, and they parted ways.
A good ten minutes had passed, and it looked like Nami had achieved her objective, because a loud thunder was heard some minutes ago and the vigilance cameras indicated they were shut off. Zoro and him had been passing halls nonstop, without a clue of where could be Robin. If they encountered some marine, a look from Zoro was sufficient to win due to his Conqueror's Haki. Zoro was losing his patience from keeping to see white halls with white doors, it didn't matter the floor they were in, it had the same disposition and the same everything. Zoro sighed, "I don't think she's in here, and if I see another white hall and I keep being with you, I'm going berserk" Sanji enarched his visible brow and let it slide, while he descended another floor. "What if they have her upstairs, curly? What if they are torturing her in that bastard's office because she doesn't want to read the Poneglyphs for them? I swear to god, I'm going to make them repent their actions" Sanji looked at him and remained silent, getting furious just thinking about Robin in that situation. And in that momentaneous silence, a muffled voice could be heard, followed by some buzzing. Zoro's expression got serious, attentive like a predator that has heard his prey move. The thirst of blood came, and so did his grin, but not in the good sense. If Sanji weren't his ally, he knew he wouldn't be alive.
They kept in silence, slowly approaching the noise's source, until they reached a double door, made from iron, with two little rectangular windows. Zoro's heart was beating like crazy, his grip on Wado even tighter, ready to cut those stupid doors the moment he heard Robin breath.
"So you choose death over collaborating with us, Demon Child of Ohara, Nico Robin?" A voice said, they didn't seem Admiral Kizaru.
"Did you think you could escape from the World Government so easily? Just because Monkey D Luffy went to save you. He only wants you for your knowledge" Another voice said, still not the Admiral. Or it was?
In the blink of an eye, the doors fell to the floor, a signal Zoro had cut them down and was now selecting who would be his first blood in that room full of scientifics, which made them take some kind of stretcher into another room and called for reinforcements and some name Sanji didn't heard beacause Zoro had started his massacre and the people in the room started screaming from pain. Not much later, a whole body of sargeants and high-ranks appeared before Sanji. The blonde chuckled and started fighting at the same time as he avoided Zoro being hit from the back. It was a question of minutes they finished with everyone, but they knew more were coming, and in the meantime, they approached the door at the end of the room and Zoro cut it down, again, now revealing Robin hand and foot-cuffed in a bed, very likely to be made of kairoseki by her tired -almost dead- expression, guarded by two Vice-Admirals. "Look Nico Robin, your crew has come for you again" one of them said while putting out his sword and position himself before Zoro. Robin, eyes half-lidded, smiled from having taken a glimpse of green hair, but her strength was nowhere to be found. "Who do we have here? Black Leg Sanji and you must be Pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro. What an honour, the wings of Monkey D Luffy before my eyes" "Shut your crap, enjoy your last breaths" And with that, Zoro also positioned himself, haramaki undone and his three swords on his usual spots, meaning one thing: "Santoryuu" And the Vice-Admiral defended himself. Sanji went to the other Vice-Admiral, maybe twp meters taller than him, but with his observation haki, it wasn't hard for him to defeat him. The same went to Zoro, now cleaning his enemy's blood from his sword.
"Robin-chan, we are here" announced Sanji while walking up to the bed. He observed if some button were the one that deactivated the cuffs, or how to break them without hurting Robin. Zoro couldn't think anymore and cut the cuffs, taking Robin in his arms. She was cold, extremely cold, and his breath almost unnoticeable. Her eyes opened for a moment, reacting to the heat she was sensing. But as soon as she was about to say something, a familiar voice entered the room. "Just when we were about to kill her... you don't know when to give up, Strawhats" It was Kizaru. Fearing the worst, Zoro handed Robin to Sanji, who took her delicately. "Go, cook. Before it's too late" Sanji nodded and kicking the wall, he opened himself a path, running before Kizaru could reach him. Thankfully, Brook was in one of the halls, so he backed Sanji up, first priority taking Robin to the Sunny.
Kizaru could have easily gone behind Judge's son, but decided not to, as he was a prideful man who could not oversee the bloodshed that was the experimentation room where he was. His shoes stained with his subordinates' blood. Nico Robin was at the verge of dying anyway, so there he was, facing Roronoa Zoro, Monkey D Luffy's right hand and Mihawk's apprentice, with his face spluttered with blood and a killer look on it. He was saner than ever, adrenaline running through his veins as he saw the man who took away Robin and the fate he would face.
"I'll make you pay for taking what it's mine" The Admiral laughed, amused at the man's determination and rage. Did he really think he could take down an Admiral? It seemed like that, because Zoro was attacking him without letting him contratack. Eventually, the Admiral could inflict damage on Zoro, but he wouldn't stop trying to cut him, to damage him in any way posible with the most insane smirk the Admiral had ever seen on a pirate. Maybe he had understimated Zoro. He knew the swordsman couldn't win as he was "made" of lighting, but he didn't expect such strenght and power coming from a non fruit eater. The fight didn't come to an end because Kizaru knew what would mean to initiate a bigger conflict with an Emperor, and surely Sakazuki didn't want that; moreover, he was growing tired, which made it easier for Zoro to slash some of the Admiral's skin. He decided on not killing him, he didn't want bigger trouble for the crew, but he did want to leave a scar that would remain in Kizaru's memories until the end of his days. And with that in mind, he cut his chest in diagonal, leaving him bleeding profusely, but smiling. "Well done, Roronoa Zoro" he said before falling unconscious.
Zoro wasn't satisfied, but looked at his surroundings and saw red. The walls, the floor, his clothes: everything was red. Kizaru's suit was also red. He smiled and made his way to the Sunny, wearing red from head to toe.
Once in the Sunny, he went into the infirmary. To his surprise, Robin wasn't there. "She is in her bed, Mr. boyfriend" Nami's annoying voice came from behind, and he blushed profusely. "Go shower first, I'm not letting you go into my room covered in blood". He clicked his tongue, slightly annoyed, but she was right-maybe- and did as she said. After that, he went to the girl's room. He was nervous, as if he hadn't been living with her two years. But this time, it was different. She was back from a forced leaving and she almost died. He knocked and waited for Nami's " Come in, Zoro". He opened the door, slower than he wanted, but he didn't want to disturb Robin. When he looked up, there she was, beautiful as always, with a smile plastered on her face while reading the book that was placed that morning on the kitchen. She looked at him with so much love, he couldn't help but blush. Nami laughed at him, and stood from the edge of Robin's bed. "I'll leave you two alone now" and Nami exited the room, leaving Zoro looking at Robin, petrified, not knowing what to do now. "Hi, Zoro" At the hearing of her voice, Zoro went up to her and hugged her, careful not to put a lot of strength. The tears he was holding yesterday, were coming out now. Robin rubbed his back and touched his short, green hair. "I'm sorry, Robin, for not being able to protect you, I'm sorry" She smiled, happy for being his safe place. She let him cry until he calmed down, and then she wiped away the tears that were left. He, on the other hand, didn't let go of her embrace, thinking about how to thankful he was for having her again.