Archive of Our Own

The sun was warm in the sky as flying fish jumped out of the crystal blue waters. There was barely a cloud in the sky.  

Luffy threw his hands up in the air from his seat on the front of the boat. “This weather is perfect!” He laughed as he got up and ran around the small ship. “So which way is the Grand-Line? You know so much about it Sanri!” He jumped about as he looks all around. “Is it that way? Or maybe this way? That way? Over here? Maybe there? I dunno. Where could it be? I wanna see this place! I wanna see!” 

Sanri shook her head. “You need to sit, Luffy. Gez, you’re starting to bug me.”, Sanri said as she sat sucking her lolly pop with a contented expression on her face, an expression that made Yosaku blush from his position not far for her. 

Luffy apologised before he stopped his antics. “I’m just so excited that we finally got a cook on board. Now we just need Nami. Then nothing will stand between us and the Grand-Line!” 

Sanri cheeks dusted pink in embarrassment. “Do you think Nami will like me? I always try to make friends with women but they end up hating me after we talk. They always tell me to fuck off.” 

Luffy gave her a reassuring grin. “Don’t worry I’m sure Nami won’t do that and if she does, I’ll tell her to apologise. I’m captain after all and you’re really nice Sanri.” 

Sanri giggled warmly. 

Luffy then sat down again facing Yosaku. “So, are we getting close to where Nami is? You know, the island?” 

Yosaku slapped a hand down making Luffy and Sanri blink at him owlishly as he pointed at Luffy. “You’re way too naive and way too young! Don’t you get it?” Yosaku’s eyes turned serious. “Don’t you realise every second that passes brings us closer to the infamous Arlong!?” Yosaku sighed as he took a deep breath to calm himself. “Nami couldn’t stop looking at Arlong’s picture when she saw it. And it wasn’t a normal kind of stare. There was something different about the way she was staring – something focused.” Yosaku’s hands tightened around his knees in fear. “I’m telling you Nami’s planning on taking down Arlong and then collecting the 20 million berry bounty. For all we know, while we just sit here, she’s already making her way through his compound!” 

Luffy just yawned. “That’s nice. Let’s eat.” 

Sanri smiled. “Sounds good!” 

Yosaku cried in frustration. “Don’t tell you’re both so clueless that you have actually never heard of the evil Arlong?!” 

Sanri tilted her head cutely as she tried to remember. “Uh, no? So, who is he?” 

Luffy looked at Yosaku blankly. “Yeah.” 

Yosaku, sweat dropped, starting to feel a little sick as they innocently stared at him. He would have to explain who they would be dealing with. He blew on a whistle to make sure they were listening. “Listen up! Time for your education on the cunning shark that is Arlong!” Yosaku started pacing. (Sanri’s annoyance at him was hidden by her hair, as her vein throbbed in irritation from him blowing a whistle in her face.) “Arlong is a fish-man who used to destroy everything in his path up and down the Grand-Line.” 

Sanri tilted her head. “Fish-man?” 

“That’s cool. I don’t think I’ve ever met one of those before.”, Luffy added. 

Sanri giggled. “Zeff told me that the females on Fish-man Island all have fish tails. I always wished I was like them. I’d be able to swim all over the world! Oh! I wonder if they know anything about All-Blue!?” 

“You’d hate to accidently eat a devil fruit like me.”, Luffy stated as draw a picture before showing to them. “‘Fish man’ sounds weird. Do they look like this?” Sanri laughed at the funny drawing. 

Yosaku screamed frustrated. “Can’t you focus for just one minute, please?!” Yosaku closed his eyes as the laughter faded and he sat down. “Alright, I will start from the very beginning.” He opened them as he stared at them both with sharp eyes. “The reason they call the Grand-Line a pirate graveyard in the first place is because of Arlong and the other two powers like him who rule over it.” The bounty hunter’s face was dark. “The first of the powers are known as ‘The Seven Warlords of the Sea.’” 

“Seven Warlords?”, Luffy asked. 

“The Seven Warlords are pirates authorised by the government.” 

“Seriously?”, Sanri asked as she stared at Yosaku incredulously. “Why would any pirate on the sea want government approval?” 

“For protection.”, Yosaku stated. “The government looks the other way in exchange for a cut of their treasure and their allowed to exist. Course, to other pirates, they’re just government dogs. But they didn’t get to where they are by being weak. These guys are powerful. The man that defeated Zoro, ‘Hawk-eye Mihawk’, is one of these Warlords. And so is Boa Hancock. The most-” Yosaku faulted as he looked at Sanri. “The current captain of the Kuja Pirates. She can turn anyone attracted to her to stone.” 

Luffy slapped his feet together. “That’s so cool! I can’t wait to meet all seven of these guys! They sound awesome!” 

“Yeah? Well, the first among the Warlords, at least first you should know about, is Jinbe, Captain of the Fish-Men. He is dangerous like no-one you’ve ever known, easily causing as much havoc and destruction around the Grand-Line as Arlong.” 

Luffy drew another picture showing it. “Is this closer?” 

Sanri tilted her head. “That looks just like your last picture, just standing up.” 

Yosaku shivered as he wasn’t getting through to them. “Arlong has taken control of over 20 towns since coming to the East-Blue. HIs strength easily surpasses anyone you’ve encountered, including that of Don Krieg’s... He’s devastating!” 

Sanri rolled her lolly over her tongue in thought. “So why do you think Nami would go after this guy all by herself, huh?” 

Yosaku sighed. “I told you already, she wants to collect the bounty on his head.” 

Sanri shook her head. “No. That’s stupid and she’s not a stupid person from what I’ve seen. It’s something else. Something more personal if she’s willing to go after this guy herself. I mean why wouldn’t she tell Luffy she wanted to go after him? Or even Zoro? They’d have helped her. And I’m sure Usopp would have helped as well. They’re her friends.” 

Yosaku shook his head. “Why are you not scared? Have you not heard a single word I’ve said.” 

“Sure! Badass Fish-men, some guy stronger than some other guy – we get it.” Luffy turned his book around. “Bet this is what you’d look like as a mermaid.” 

Sanri burst out laughing. “No way! That’s so ugly! I’ve heard Mermaids are supposed to be some of the most beautiful creatures on the world to behold. If I were a mermaid, I’d be way prettier than I am now!” 

“I don’t think that’s physically possible.”, Yosaku stated before he blushed, realising he said that out loud. 

Sanri smiled. “That’s nice of you but I’m not nearly as attractive as Nami let alone a mermaid.” 

Yosaku sighed. “Regardless. Neither of you get it. You’ve never had to face a fish-man.” 

Luffy just shrugged. “Well, we will when we get there, so don’t worry about it.” 

Sanri stood up. “How about I start on lunch? That will get your mind off whatever is worrying you.” 

Luffy grinned brightly at her. “‘Bout time! Let’s eat!” 

Yosaku blinked at her. “What? Food?” 

Sanri’s eyes looked warm as she smiled. “Yeah, what are you in the mood for?” 

Yosaku cheeks reddened under her gaze. 

“I want meat right off the bone!”, Luffy declared loudly. 

“Okay Luffy. Yosaku? What about you?”, Sanri’s asked again. 

“Bean sprouts. I would like sautéed bean sprouts please.”, Yosaku stuttered out. 

“Okay, meat and sprouts, no problem. Leave it to me!”, Sanri then disappeared into the kitchen.  

Luffy grinned as he started to smell Sanri’s cooking. “Man, having a cook is the best, huh?”  

Yosaku’s face was still burning as he watched Sanri waltz around the kitchen in her element. “It sure is.” 

- 

Zoro was sitting wallowing about failing Luffy. 

He couldn’t tell Usopp that Sanri wasn’t going to be joining the crew. He didn’t best Mihawk after all. There was no way her father would let her go with them now. Luffy was probably devastated.

He had to focus on bringing Nami back, otherwise he really would be a failure of a first-mate. 

Johnny shivered as he looked towards the island. “Alright, we’re here. That’s Arlong Park ahead.” 

“Arlong Park, huh? So, this is the hideout of Arlong, the fish-man pirate from the Grand-Line?!”, Usopp quaked as he just peeked at the gates. He gulped as they headed closer and closer. “I hope Nami is really here.” 

Johnny turned towards Usopp. “Big Sis Nami’s ship was the Going Merry. So, before we do anything stupid, we should quietly check to see if it stopped on this island first.” 

Usopp nodded. “Yeah, good idea.” 

Zoro stood up as he held Wado up readying himself, even slightly unsheathing his sword with sharp eyes. “Let’s attack.” 

A sweat dropped formed on Zoro’s forehead as they both looked at him with horror. 

“But I just said we shouldn’t do anything stupid!”, Johnny exclaimed. 

Usopp shouted at him full of rage. “What?! Attack?! You idiot, we know nothing about this place!” 

“Yeah, these guys are the Fish-Men!”, Johnny agreed. 

“We need some kinda plan to do that!”, Usopp tried to explain. 

But Zoro had already turned his back on them as he focused on the task Luffy gave him. “While the two of you are busy blabbering and wimping out, I’m placing my thoughts on the battle we’re about to face.” Zoro needed to put Sanri out of his head and focus on Nami for now. “Luffy told me to bring her back and I’ll do just that.” He couldn’t see Usopp or Johnny’s expressions. “Let’s go!” 

Zoro was then promptly knocked out but two strong blows from hammers. Straight to the head. 

When the swordsman woke back up, Usopp had found the Going Merry and they’d concluded that Nami was on the island somewhere. 

Oh! And he was tied up so well he thought he was a CHRISTMAS PRESENT! 

“What do you think you’re doing?! Would you idiots untie me?! I AM NOT THE ENEMY!” But nothing. Neither even acknowledged him! Just talked about how it was strange Nami was docked so far from a village named Cocoyashi. “UNTIE ME DAMN IT!!!” 

Finally Usopp came over to him. But he put on a patronizing tone. “Zoro, you’re hurt way too bad to be of any help when we go ashore.” The long-nosed idiot then patted his freshly bandaged wound, making pain shoot all through his chest. “Just sit tight and relax.” Zoro groaned in pain even as Usopp laughed to prove his point. “It’s okay, rest up. You can help next time.”  

Zoro promised himself that one day he was going to skewer the sniper like a piece of meat! 

“Fear not, gentlemen! I shall bring the girl back safely!”, Usopp declared before laughing victoriously. 

“Looks like skipping Arlong Park has sure cheered you up.”, Johnny stated. Though he wasn’t much bothered, he was scared of Arlong himself. 

Zoro couldn’t do anything as they prepared to dock. Nor when both Usopp and Johnny freaked out at seeing fish-men, sailing by them as they hid. And the dock as they did so. Zoro was getting frustrated as he shouted, “Why didn’t we just dock right there?!” He wasn’t afraid of some fish-men. 

He was quickly shushed. “Didn’t you see? There were three fish-men over there. It’s Arlong’s crew. We can’t stop here right now.”, Usopp said as he came close to Zoro. 

Zoro, who had been thinking of Sanri in the back of his mind, took some pointers from the lady cook and kicked Usopp in the face. “Do not yell at me!” 

“If they are fish-men here, this entire area mush be under Arlong’s control. So, what now?”, Johnny asked. 

Usopp moved far away from Zoro as he looked out. “We could just say we couldn’t find her.” 

Zoro wriggled completely fed up with this line of conversation. “Untie me now, morons! Come on!” 

However, his cries got the attention of the fish-men.  

And once again Zoro was left to deal with the mess as they both freaked and jumped ship without untying him first. Leaving him defenceless as two fish-men jumped on board. 

Well, the fish-men were going to take him to Arlong so maybe he’d find Nami after all. 

- 

Sanri plated up the food as Luffy and Yosaku spied on her. Both were drooling at the smell of her food but Luffy had stars in his eyes as he eyed the meat.  

None of them aware that a sea beast lurked, awoken from its slumber by the delicious smell of meat better than her care taker could make. Nor that said beast was heading straight towards them. 

- 

Luffy was scarfing down plateful after plateful of food and Yosaku was no better. Though he did have the decency to thank her for the food, unlike Luffy who thanks came in the form of a happy yell. 

Sanri watched as she had finished her food already as she took less already half full from taste tasting while cooking. She just sat and watched them happily as she sipped her wine, content that they were well fed. 

She wasn’t listening to their conversation as she thought about what Luffy told her about Zoro. She couldn’t believe he would not waste the terrible food that a little girl made him. Even after it was trampled on and thanked her so gratefully. She couldn’t not smile at the thought as even Zeff had complained about the taste of her first attempts at original recipes, even if he didn’t waste a single bite.  

The only person that ever did that for her... was her mother. 

She felt the rattling of her wine bottle as yelled at the boys to stop or they’d make her spill her wine but the rattling didn’t stop as water rose behind her, casting a large shadow. 

- 

“Open the gates! We have a prisoner on board this vessel!” 

Zoro was led to Arlong roughly were he proceeded to interrogate him. 

Zoro was becoming more annoyed with how these people were treating him by the second. He was tied up and injured. Even he saw he wasn’t exactly the most threating of people at the moment. 

“One more time.” Arlong glared at Zoro showing off his teeth. “What was your purpose in coming to this island?” 

Zoro gave him an equally foul look. “Like I said before, I’m looking for a girl you half-fish bastard!” 

Arlong scoffed at his remark. “Wow! For someone I’d consider a good meal, you are either really stupid or you’ve got a lot of guts in there.” The shark man crossed his legs as he spoke words that he believed to be a simple truth. “We Fish-men are simply the next rung up the evolutionary ladder from you pathetic humans. We are incredibly resilient. We can breathe both on land and under water, an ability which clearly establishes our physical superiority over you. I don’t know if this will make any sense to that puny brain of yours but Fish-men are the lords of all creatures and fighting against us is to defy nature.”  

Zoro was getting really sick of the condescending attitudes people had been throwing his way lately. Arlong, was the worst though. He was going to tell him that but then Nami stepped out from the shadows. 

“I’m really sick of listening to your big ideas, Arlong.” 

“Why are you always so serious Nami? You know that I wasn’t talking about you.” Arlong stated with a tone as close to affection as he could make towards a human. “You are a very special human, our greatest navigator and valued member of this crew. You always have been.” 

Nami’s eyes held no emotion as she stood by Arlong’s right-hand side. “Say what you will, but I’m a lot smarter than any of you, that’s for sure.” 

 Zoro couldn’t believe it. Nami was Arlong’s navigator? When they met she claimed to hate all pirates with a vile passion. What was she playing at? He was literally shaking in his anger since he knew there was more going on but he wasn’t smart enough to figure out what. But he knew Nami wasn’t any fan of Arlong. He could see it in her eyes. “Why did he call you his navigator, Nami? You can’t honestly expect me to believe you’d work for him.” 

Arlong smirked, “Hold on, is this guy a friend of yours, Nami?” 

“Don’t be ridiculous. This is just another fool who thought I wasn’t going to steal all of his treasure right out from under his nose.” Nami walked over and stood in front of Zoro, towering over him. “To think he actually followed me here without knowing that shows how stupid he is.” 

Nami put on a smile as she kneeled in front of him. 

“So, this is the person you really are. Thought you couldn’t stand pirates.” Zoro verbally gabbed trying to test her.  

“You thought wrong. It was all an act. And you bought the whole show.” Nami leaned closer and showed off her tattooed shoulder, marking her as part of Arlong’s crew. “I’m a pirate – plain and simple. And a navigator for Arlong. I guess you finally get it. I just used you guys to get what I wanted. You were skilled enough to serve my needs, but boy, were you guys a bunch of suckers.” But even as she chuckled Zoro noticed her eyes looking over his bandaged form, assessing how hurt Zoro was. 

She was a good actress that was for sure. But she wasn’t as cold-hearted as she was trying to play up. 

Arlong laughed cruelly on his throne. “She had you guys completely fooled! She’s really cold-blooded. She even betrayed her family for money, so you really shouldn’t feel too bad. If I were you, I'd just admit defeat and forget you met her.” 

Zoro felt secure in his assessment when Arlong’s words made Nami’s eyes take on a darkness that came from seeing something traumatising.  

So, Zoro closed his eyes and smirked. If this was the game Nami wanted to play, fine. “I don’t need to because I never saw anything in her to be trusted in the first place. If she turned out to be a serial killer, I wouldn’t be surprised.” 

Zoro could see that, despite her previous statements, Nami was angry with his words. “Fine! Then why don’t you just get the hell out of here? I’m tired of your face!” 

Zoro smirked as he chuckled. And did just as she asked. 

By launching himself backwards into the deep waters behind him. 

And just as he suspected she would, Nami dove right in to save him, dragging him back up onto the edge.  

She panted hard as she glared at Zoro in annoyance. “What do you think you’re doing?” 

“No, what do you think YOU’RE doing?” Zoro coughed up some water as Nami did take longer than he thought she would. He turned his head to the side as he looked her in the eyes, smirk in place from being proved right. “You’re really just a nice girl who can’t watch one guy die. Why don’t you quit pretending? And you might want to jump in a little quicker next time – I thought I was dead.” Her eyes became like slits.  

Nami stood up and stomped on his back, probably reopening his wound a little. Did no-one else know that you weren’t meant to aggravate an injured person’s wounds? “You bastard! Try that again and I’ll make sure you die!” 

“Really?”, Zoro said chuckling through the pain. 

Nami raised her eyebrow. “That’s a lot of bandages. You must have been hurt pretty bad.” 

“Actually, I forgot my shirt. Grabbed these to cover up so you wouldn’t get distracted.” Zoro climbed onto his feet. 

“Save the bad pick up lines for that blonde cook, or a woman actually into men!”, Nami said as she punched Zoro in the gut, making him fall to his knees with a groan. 

She walked away picking up her shoes she’d kicked off to save Zoro. As she passed Arlong, the shark-man spoke gruffly. “Tell me, what should we do with this guy?” 

Nami didn’t even stop or turn back towards him. “Lock him up. I’ll take care of him when I have the time.” 

She only stopped when one of the crew came up declaring that Zoro didn’t come alone and that a long-nosed man, that was obviously Usopp, had got away. Zoro could see Nami was gritting her teeth. Zoro was too. Not only did Usopp leave him for dead but he also got spotted anyway. The sniper really deserved to get skewered. 

Nami’s face became hostile when Arlong looked straight at her with a slimy smile after the fish-man stated he thought Usopp escaped to a village called Cocoyashi. “Cocoyashi, huh? That’s perfect. Now, I’ve got two reasons to go. It’s time to have some fun.” 

- 

Zoro didn’t have to wait long in the dark and dreary cell he was thrown in before the door creaked open, revealing Nami. She was holding a knife in her hand, with no emotion on her face once more. 

But all she did was cut the binds trapping him before turning her back to him once more. She only paused at the door. “Get out of here quick. Arlong’s gonna be back soon.” 

She threw down his sword and left him there, with the door to the cell wide open. 

- 

Zoro sat down on Arlong’s throne with a new blue shirt he took off for one of the fish-men he beat up as it reminded him of the blue of Sanri’s eyes, arms behind his head.  

“She tells me to run, but I’ve got nowhere else to go but here. Besides, I promised Luffy I’d bring her back with me.” 

He sat thinking about Sanri, wondering what she was doing on the Baratie. He smiled to himself, “Maybe after I become the world’s greatest swordsman, I can go look for her again? Nah, she’d probably have someone way better than me by then. But it’s nice to dream.” 

- 

Yosaku screamed as a massive sea monster was staring down at them. From the corner of his eye, he could see Sanri shaking, from what he could only suspect was fear as her back was too him and her hair covered her eyes. 

Luffy as always seemed unfazed as he continued eating. “What the hell is that? A cow?” 

“No, cows don’t swim! But whatever it is, you can tell it’s from the Grand-Line! What is it doing all the way out here in the East Blue?!”, Yosaku questioned. 

Luffy tilted his head. “Why is he staring at us?” 

Yosaku followed the monsters eye line finding it led straight to the food. “He wants the food! Quick give it to him before he sinks the ship!” While he was talking he could hear a muttering coming from Sanri. 

“What?!” Before anyone could stop him, Luffy reared back an arm and set a punch to the creature’s face. “Bad sea-cow! Stay awa-”  

He was cut off as Sanri kicked him hard. She had steam coming from her nose. “Dumbass! Don’t hurt them!” 

The creature seemed to stare at her as it came out of the water. She practically had hearts in her eyes as she cooed at the creature, blush on her cheeks. “Aw, aren’t you just a cutie! You must just be a baby that got separated from its Mama, huh?” The sea-cow cautiously inched closer as Sanri beckoned it. When it was in arms reach, she gently began petting them making the giant creature melt into her touch. Her hands felt like heaven.  

The creature rubbed it’s face into Sanri’s and Yosaku couldn’t take it as he passed out from bloodloss. It didn’t matter that Sanri was insane, the image was so beautiful and cute it would make anyone attracted to her swoon. 

Luffy however was annoyed. “But they want to steal our food!” 

Sanri didn’t take her eyes off the sea-cow or stop petting them. “That doesn’t mean you punch a poor defenceless and hungry cutie-pie now, does it? She probably can’t catch food for herself yet. Isn’t that right, darling?” Sanri nuzzled her nose against the creature and the sea-cow responded in kind.  

They liked the blonde lady. They were nice. 

Sanri held out a plate of food. “Here you go, open up!” The creature opened its mouth obediently and carefully took the food the blonde fed her. “There you go! Awe you are the sweetest little thing, aren’t you?! I’ll go make you some more food darling! Luffy! Take care of Darling until I get back and if I find out you’ve hurt her again, I’ll kick you into the sea and let you drown!” 

- 

That was how Momoo, or Darling as the blonde lady called her, ended up becoming the temporary steed of the ship for the Straw-hats happily. Getting fed the most delicious meat and getting soft scratches and belly-rubs willed with love for the first time in her life. 

The Sea-cow never felt so happy as when the nice blonde lady cuddled her when she gave her snacks.  

But unfortunately, their time together came to an end as Momoo saw Arlong Park ahead. 

- 

Zoro crossed his legs as he waited for Arlong to return. Or at least Nami. “What’s taking so long?” 

He’d already beat up every fish-man that stayed behind in Arlong Park and he didn’t want to keep thinking of Sanri and on things that couldn’t be.  

Now he was just annoyed as Luffy was taking so long to get here. He was about to keel over in boredom if he had to wait much longer. 

It was then that he heard a small commotion from the other side of a wall, seeing fishing rods moving as they caught something. It got Zoro’s attention. 

“Incredible! What are you?!”, a voice said in shock. “Some kind of super-fish?! Not even the mighty Hatchan, octopus leader of the Arlong Pirates can pull you from the ocean! What an epic battle! I don’t know who you are, but you’re the gutsiest fish in the East-Blue!” Zoro watched surprised as the fish-man could be seen over the wall as he caught himself. “Hey? What the... It was me all along?!”  

Zoro walked over and climbed the wall to see the character in question. He didn’t want to fight him if he could avoid it. The man seemed like he needed all the brain cells he could get. 

The octopus man looked up at him. “Hold on, that’s weird.” 

Zoro just stared down at the octo-man intrigued. “It sure is.” 

Octo-man shouted, “Hey! Who are you?! Speak up, now!” Zoro watched as two of his arms pointed at himself and the man seemed to look confused at them. “Who me? Well, I’m Hatchan, but all my friends call me Hatchi.”, Hatchan stated proudly. 

“You a fish-man too?”, Zoro already could tell but he was quiet enjoy the reprieve from his boredom and the man was rather entertaining. 

“Of course, of course. I’m an amazing octopus fish-man.” Hatchan did a little dance with his arms showing off. “It looks to me like you’re just a human.” 

Zoro leaned into his hand. “Uh, yeah.” It was the second time he was called that. Just human. It was really getting on his nerves when he thought about it.  

“A Marine? Or possibly a guest?”, Hatchan asked. 

“A guest?” Zoro looked over his shoulder to the unconscious fish-men behind the wall that were out of Hatchan’s line of sight. He didn’t think Hatchan would think of him as a guest if he saw. But it was technically true, he was brought to here by fish-men, willingly. Even if he was tied up. “You could say that.” 

“Arlong isn’t here, is he?”, Hatchan asked from where he was till dancing. 

“No. I thought you might know where he is.”, Zoro asked the octo-man calmly maybe he could get a time for when they would be back. 

Hatchan returned to his fishing. “Apparently, there’s some long-nosed guy running around causing trouble. So Arlong locked up long-nose's friend here, then went to Cocoyashi village to hunt down the troublemaker himself.” 

Usopp sounded like he was in real trouble he’d have to go there and save him. He jumped down to stand beside Hatchan as he fished. “This Cocoyashi village. How do I get there?” 

Hatchan pointed at the pot in the water. “Get in. You’re a guest. Hop in. I’ll take you swordsman.” His face seemed full of pride that Zoro felt a little bad for deceiving him.  

If they had left when they did Arlong would have caught them and he was already in a foul mood. 

As it was Hatchan took him as close to Cocoyashi as he could and unknowingly in the opposite direction from Usopp’s current location. 

It didn’t take him long to find out though and started to run back to where he thought Arlong Park was. 

(It was the wrong direction. But his intentions were good.) 

- 

Momoo shook her head as she approached Arlong Park’s gates.  

No! She would not let the nice lady get hurt! She didn’t want the mean fish-men to hurt her after all the nice petting and snacks she’d given Momoo. 

Momoo took a hard right to avoid the gates wresting with the ropes on her horns, that were a make-shift harness, as Luffy told her off for going the wrong way and tried to fight her. 

The fighting for control made Momoo crash into a big rock, giving her a massive bump on her head. The collision also sent the ship flying through the air on over the island. 

Momoo watched on in horror. She cried in pain as well as the thought that the nice lady would die and it would all be her fault! 

- 

Luffy yelled out in glee as the wind whipped past them. “It’s almost like we’re flying!” 

Yosaku cried out in fear as he held on for dear life. “Almost?! We ARE flying you moron!” 

“No, we’re falling!”, Sanri told them as she braced herself for impact. 

- 

Zoro stopped running as he heard a rumble behind him. 

He turned around to see what it was to see Luffy’s stupid smiling face as he stood at the front of a small ship that was moving towards him at high speed. 

He heard a cry of his name but it was too late as he face-planted with the ship and the force it was moving at took him along for the ride, until it crashed into a cliff face, stopping the boat permanently as it became nothing more than rubble. 

When the dust settled, Zoro heard Luffy’s cheerful voice aggravating him even more. “Awesome. We’re here, guys!” 

Zoro grunted as the wound from Mihawk hurt even more from the crash, as he crawled out of the wreckage. Seriously, his own crew was him hurting more than Mihawk did at this point. “What the hell were you doing?!” His eyes then fell to Sanri that sat on a box beside Luffy, her eyes bright and hair all over the place. “What is she doing here?! Did you kidnap her from her father?!” 

Sanri pouted at Zoro as he glared annoyed at Luffy. 

Luffy looked at him blankly. “What? I would never do that! Pops convinced her to join our crew for me. And what do ya mean? We’re here to pick up Nami. Duh! How come you haven’t found her yet? Oh yeah! And what about Usopp and Johnny?” 

Zoro wanted to grin. They impressed them. Impressed Mihawk. And impressed Zeff. He wasn’t a complete failure as a first-mate!  

Then remembered what he was doing before Luffy arrived. “Usopp! Oh no! C’mon, we have to hurry!” Zoro rushed to his feet. 

“Why, what’s wrong?” 

“That dumbass has been caught by Arlong! We got to hurry before they kill him!”, Zoro stated. 

“He’s already dead!” Johnny approached them but fell to his knees as grief filled every fibre of his body. Tears fell from his eyes. “We’re too late! Big Bro Usopp is dead!” Johnny sobbed as he punched the ground in frustration before looking up at the remaining Straw-hat pirates. “Nami murdered him!” 

Zoro froze at the implications. Sanri looked on blankly as Luffy had told her about Nami and it didn’t seem to fit the picture she had in her head.  

“She was a traitor all along. She’s been winning Arlong’s favour so she could have the treasure buried in Cocoyashi Village all to herself!” Johnny sat down angrily. “That woman is just a cold-blooded killer. She won’t stop until she gets what she wants.” Johnny stated. “Nami had us fooled the entire-” 

Luffy grabbed Johnny and picked him up by his front. His face was deadly. “Quiet!” His hat even fell from his head. “Say another word and you’ll regret it!” 

“Easy, Luffy. This has nothing to do with Johnny.”, Zoro reasoned with his captain. 

Johnny turned away as he cried. “Go on, believe whatever you want. But I know what I saw! Nami killed Big Bro Usopp!” 

Luffy shook Johnny roughly. “Shut your mouth! Never in a million years would Nami kill Usopp! She wouldn’t do that to her friends!” His eyes were unnerving in his faith towards Nami and her character as he stared down Johnny. 

“But - but I saw it!”, Johnny begged trying to make Luffy believe him. 

Zoro and Sanri felt as someone approached looked up behind Luffy to see Nami watching them.  

“What was that about friends, Luffy?”, Nami asked, annoyance lacing her words. 

“Nami!” Luffy dropped Johnny to turn to look at his navigator. 

“What are you doing here?”, she asked eyes staring at the Straw-hat captain. 

“What are we doing here? You’re our friend! We came to get you.”, Luffy stated simply as he picked up his hat and put it back on. 

“What a pest. Friends huh? Don’t make me laugh. You’ve just pathetic enough to deserve each other.”  

Nami’s eyes were vacant. Sanri looked at them to avoid her words. She thought they looked like hers did at one point. When she was trapped in a cell in Germa and had that metal helmet locked around her head. Sanri’s eyes drifted to her gloved hand and the bandage poking out of it. 

“Damn you!”, Johnny stated as he stood up and pointed at her. “You killed him! I watched you do it!” He turned his head as he sobbed. “And now Big Bro Usopp is gone!” 

“Yeah, that’s right.”, Nami stated easily, not denying the accusation. “So why don’t you kill me and get your revenge?” 

Johnny stepped back confused. “What?” 

Nami played with her staff as she spoke. “Word to the wise. Because of your ‘friend’s’ stupidity, Arlong is preparing to kill Zoro along with his entire crew. And I don’t care how monstrously strong you think you are. You’re no match for the real monsters.” Sanri couldn’t help but think of the real monsters that still scared her and haunted her nightmares. “I promise you, if you stay on this island, you will die.” Nami closed her eyes as she took on a condescending air. “So, you have a choice to make between life and death.” 

Zoro grunted in annoyance at her attitude until he heard Sanri speak. 

“How’d you kill him? Usopp?”, Sanri asked emotionlessly. She stared at Nami with eyes that matched her own, making the navigator freeze. “I mean it takes a lot to kill someone you know. Someone you’ve shared your dreams with. You have to be a real psychopath.” The breeze rustled Sanri’s hair as she spoke impassively. “And I know from personal experience; you don’t fit the bill.” 

Zoro eyes glanced to Sanri quickly before returning his gaze to Nami, remembering that she jumped in to save him. He was of the same idea that Nami couldn’t kill the sniper. “Nami, where is Usopp?” 

But Nami wouldn’t budge from her stance. “With the fishes.” 

Zoro placed his hand on Wado to calm himself but he still couldn’t help but raise his voice. “Damn it, cut the crap!” 

Sanri giggled, eyes never leaving Nami. “How’s your hand? Must have been a pretty deep cut to be bandaged like that.” 

Nami clenched her hand into a fist as she hid her gloved hand under her armpit more effectively. “Shut up. Just leave while you have the chance. You outsiders have no right to butt into this island’s affairs.” She raised her head up high. “The only reason I got close to you idiots was so that I could rob you of everything you had. But now that you’re broke, it looks like the dream is dead. So go, take your ship. Go on. Find a navigator dumb enough to join you and go to the Grand-Line. Continue on your quest to find the one piece or whatever.” She pointed her staff at the group in emphasise. “Just leave here! You’re an eyesore! Goodbye now.”  

Nami was about to turn and leave but froze when the next words were spoken. 

“Aw~ you must really care about us.”, Sanri said with a smile. 

Zoro smiled as well having pieced together some idea of what really happened with Usopp from Sanri’s breadcrumbs and Nami’s reactions. He may not fully get what was happening but he didn’t have to, to know Nami was trying to pull a fast one again. “I never really understood acting. It seems so tiresome.” 

Yosaku and Johnny looked at them in shocked confusion. “What do you mean?”, Johnny asked. “Yeah, why aren’t you angry?!”, Yosaku agreed. 

Zoro and Sanri weren’t surprised when Luffy lay on the ground and put his hands under his head. Their captain was quite perceptive when he wanted to be and he seemed to have also caught on to Nami’s ruse. He just stated he was sleep. When questioned he shut his eyes and got as comfortable as possible. “Well, I’m pretty tired. I’m not gonna butt into their affairs. I’m not interested. But I’m not leaving either. Night.” 

Yosaku gasped and Johnny was left stuttering. “Er, Big Bro?” 

Zoro let his head fall into his hand. Luffy could have a least fell asleep on the side of the road and not in the middle of it. Sanri shook her head in exasperation as she wondered if Luffy would always be so goofy. 

Nami turned her head away to hide her eyes. “Fine.” When she turned back to them, she screamed loudly, making birds nearby fly off. “Whatever! Just go ahead and die!” She turned and ran off. 

Sanri wanted to call out to her but thought it was probably best to leave her be of now. It wasn’t like they would be going anywhere anytime soon. Luffy was pretty clear on that. 

She went and sat under the shade of a tree and Zoro, surprisingly sat beside her, arms behind his head as he leaned against the tree trunk. 

“Hey! Big Bro Zoro! What on earth are you thinking?! C’mon!”, Johnny had sweat gathering on his brow. 

“Did you forget that Arlong is out to kill us? We should be running away!”, Yosaku reminded. 

“Now that we know what Nami’s really like, there isn’t a single good reason why we should stay on this island.”, Johnny stated serenity.  

Zoro opened an eye as he wriggled to get comfy. “My reason to stay is currently lying in the middle of the road. If Luffy stays, I stay. That’s the deal.” 

Sanri grinned. “Yup! Plus, don’t forget, we have to find Usopp. He’s got to be around here somewhere.” 

Both bounty hunters were getting increasingly irritated. “Don’t be stupid, Big Bro! Big Sis! Usopp is dead! Are you saying you want to bring her back too?” 

“Yes.” “What I want has nothing to do with it.” Sanri and Zoro looked at each other both frowning at the other for their answer. 

“We don’t decide who the navigator is, he does.”, Zoro said as he turned to Johnny and Yosaku and away from Sanri’s pouting. 

They looked at Zoro with new eyes at his loyalty for Luffy. And at his dumb behaviour. “Right. Understood. You’re not leaving. Sorry to cut our reunion short, but I won’t stay. My role as guide, ends here.” “Yeah, I’m with him. I don’t want to deliberately get myself killed.” 

Zoro closed his eye again as a small friendly smile took over his face. “Fine. I’ll see you around.” 

The two bounty hunters walked away after saying goodbye, leaving Sanri and Zoro alone as Luffy slept. 

Sanri turned to Zoro, not good with awkward silences. “I thought Nami was your friend. How can you not want her back safely? She was crying.” 

Zoro opened his eye to see Sanri staring at him. “Was she crying? I didn’t see.” Her question eyes didn’t leave his, making him sigh. “It’s not that I don’t care. It’s just not up to me. Luffy’s the captain. He gets the final say. And while she’s annoying, Nami isn’t the worst person to have around.” Zoro frowned as he looked at Sanri. “What about you? Why do you want her back? You barely know her?” 

Sanri hugged her legs to her chest as she rested her head on her knees avoiding his gaze as her right hand resting on her left arm bracer. “She’s trapped here. By Arlong. I’m sure of it. And I know what that feels like.” 

“Was that when you were trapped on that island you mentioned before at the Baratie?”, Zoro asked softly. 

“No. Before.”, Sanri put on a big smiled to hide behind. “But that’s not all that important. I barely remember it honestly – just bits and pieces.” 

“You remember it enough though.”, Zoro pointed out. “Enough to see the similarities with Nami.” 

Sanri went silent as her face fell to a blank mask as her right hands grip tightened around leather. “If you’ve met one psychopath, you’ve met them all.” She then shook her head of the bad thoughts. “But I was serious. I don’t have many memories before Zeff and the Baratie.” Sanri grinned. “I mainly want Nami to be my friend!” 

Zoro smirked, “Yeah? You really have a bad choice in friends.” 

Sanri puffed up her cheeks as she fumed. “That’s not true! Luffy’s nice! He's my friend! And I made friends with a cute little sea-cow before we met up with you!” Sanri then remembered the crash and her anger simmered down as worry took over her. “I wonder if Darling is okay? She must have hurt herself when she hit the rock!” 

“I’m sure ... Darling was it?”, Sanri nodded in reply. “I’m sure Darling will be just fine.” Zoro consoled as Sanri worried her lip. 

“But she’s just a little baby! She can’t even hunt on her own!”, Sanri cried. 

“She’ll be fine. Even if she can’t hunt, there’s like... sea plants and things, right?” 

Sanri nodded, “Yeah, many seaweed varieties are considered edible.” 

“See. Then your cow will be fine.” Zoro said with a grin. “I’d be more worried about Usopp.” 

Sanri laughed. “Really? You think Nami killed him too?” 

“Nah. Not if you stated it. You seem pretty smart to me.”, Zoro complimented. “I’m more concerned he’s going to hurt himself on his way to look for us.” 

As he said that he could hear his name being called and turned around just to see Usopp making his way towards him. 

Zoro grinned at Usopp. “Would you look at who rose from the dead?” Zoro then glared at Usopp, not forgiving the sniper for when he left him for dead. “I’ll make sure you stay that way next time.” 

Usopp was scared as Zoro attacked him as Sanri looked between them confused. Not understanding why Zoro was so angry. Didn’t they want Usopp to be alive? 

When she finally woke Luffy up, Zoro was already finished beating up Usopp.  

Luffy held the sniper in his arms worried. “Usopp! Did Nami do all this to you?!” 

Zoro was about to lie and say yes but Sanri was already innocently pointing towards him. “Nah. Zoro worked him over for some reason.” 

“Don’t tell him that!”, Zoro said earning Sanri’s confused head tilt and an angry look from Luffy. He sighed. “He deserved it, alright. Let’s leave it at that. He’ll heal!”, Zoro claimed grudgingly. 

Usopp coughed as he opened his eyes to see Luffy. “You’re here, now!” 

Sanri smiled cutely and waved at Usopp cutely. “I’m here too! Remember me?!” 

Usopp blinked at her before smiling dopily at her as he jumped up happy. “Sanri! With you we’re totally stronger now!” 

Sanri batted his shoulder as she smiled brightly. “Aw, thanks! You even made a full recovery already!” 

Zoro tutted as he crossed his arms. “Shame.” 

Usopp glowered at him. “One of these day’s I’ll kill you!” 

“Be my guest. Give it your best shot, long-nose.”, Zoro chimed back making Usopp shiver in both fear and irritation. “But before you do, mind explaining why we were told you were killed by Nami of all people?” 

Usopp anger faded at his word, confusion setting in. 

Luffy fumed. “Stupid Johnny! He was shouting nonsense the entire time!” 

“Well, actually, in a way, it is the truth.”, Usopp said as he looked at the blood stain on his clothes that the sea water didn’t remove. The other looked at him with interest wanting to hear the truth. “But I’m alive because of Nami. She actually saved my life.” 

Usopp explained to Luffy and Zoro what Sanri had already figured out: that Nami stabbed her own hand, cutting the major veins, to create the illusion of her fatally stabbing Usopp, making him about to escape Arlong Park. 

“It looks to me like she has some kind of hidden motive for hanging out with a bunch of renegade fish-men.”, Usopp stated. 

“Obviously.” Sanri replied rolling her eyes at Usopp’s defunct statement. “She’s got to be doing it for that village. Johnny said she wanted it.” 

Zoro shrugged showing he didn’t care much for Nami’s reasons. “Fine. What’s next? We gonna destroy Arlong Park?”, he asked simply, ready for the fight to just be over with so he could rest properly and fully recover. 

Usopp gestured for them both to relax. “Whoa! Hang on just a second! Don’t you think we better find out what’s going on with Nami first?” 

“Arlong’s mean. That it. Plain and simple from what I can see.”, Sanri stated what she’d pieced together. “That’s enough reason to kick his ass.”, Sanri shrugged. 

“Yeah. He’s a right piece of work from what I know from bounty hunting. And the personal conversation I had with him just proved it.”, Zoro agreed. 

Usopp looked at them in horror even as Luffy remained silent. 

Then a voice came from behind them.  

“It’s no use either way.”, the woman said as she came towards the group. “No matter what you do, Arlong’s rule won’t come to an end.” 

Usopp seemed to know the woman as he called out her name. “Nojiko.” 

“Who’s she?”, Luffy asked him. 

“Nami’s big sister.”, Usopp stated. 

Sanri looked Nojiko over cautiously as she stepped behind Zoro to watch the woman nervously. A weak memory made its way through her mind of pink hair soft hands but also cruel laughter. She couldn't latch onto any details but it made her subconsciously warily for Nojiko as she made herself as unnoticeable as possible. It didn’t go unnoticed by Zoro but he didn’t really mind Sanri’s quirks so much. 

“What do you mean that ‘it’s no use’?”, Zoro asked as he crossed his arms protectively. 

Nojiko’s stare didn’t faulter. “Just trust me. Don’t get yourselves involved in what’s going on here.” Her stare hardened fractionally. “And leave poor Nami alone. I’ll explain the situation.” 

“Situation?”, Sanri asked as she peeked out from behind Zoro as despite her distrust she still wanted to understand what was happening on the island and with Nami. 

“Do you mean that you can tell us why she joined up with Arlong’s group?”, Usopp asked curiously. 

“Yeah.”, Nojiko stated harshly. “And if that doesn’t get you to leave, I don’t know what will.” 

Luffy started to walk towards her before he walked right on passed her. “I’ll pass. I don’t care about her past.” 

“Hey wait!", Usopp said as he tried to stop him. 

Sanri didn’t bother but was curious. “Where you going, Luffy?” She leaned over, tilting her whole body in her curious interest. 

But Luffy didn’t turn back around. “For a walk.” Sanri supposed that made sense if he wasn’t interested. 

Usopp however didn’t see it that way. He cried out in surprised confusion. “A walk? Do you mean you’re not gonna listen to this?!” 

“Nope.”, was all Luffy said and walked off. 

Nojiko stared after him. “Who’s he?” 

Zoro started to walk back to the nice shaded tree he was sitting at before and Sanri followed close beside him, seemingly uncomfortable with Nojiko’s presence and finding comfort in his. “Don’t mind him. That’s just how he is.” Zoro sat down and his lips quirked as Sanri sat close to him getting comfortable herself. “We’ll hear you out. Though I can tell you right now, I don’t think it’s gonna change anything.” He closed his eyes peacefully as he felt no real danger close by and he could smell sweet pear in the air making him sleepy. 

Usopp’s eyes looked determined. “Well, I’ll listen. It might help me make sense of everything going on here.” 

“Me too! I wanna know more about Nami! She’s gonna be my first real female friend! I wanna know everything about her!”, Sanri grinned as she wrapped her arms around her knees. 

But from her close position to Zoro, she could hear when his breathing evened out as he fell asleep. She wasn’t the only one to notice either.  

“Now, he’s asleep.”, Nojiko pointed out. 

Usopp shouted angrily. “Hey! You said you’d hear her out!” 

Sanri however shushed the sniper. “Did you forget he is still recovering? Let him rest moron, or do you want me to finish what he started, huh?” 

Usopp shivered at Sanri’s glare before bowing his apology. “No, ma’am! Please don’t kick me!”, he apologised in a loud whisper. 

Nojiko’s eyes turned soft as their bickering. “I see. This is why it was hard for her.” 

Nojiko then began the tale of their lives, of how Bellemere found them and became their mother, of their struggles with money that led Nami to steal things from villagers. She told them of the villagers that helped to raise them and how they knew know she was stealing but they didn’t mind and just told Genzo, their father figure, who bought it for her anyway even as he told her off for stealing. Of Nami’s love of navigation that Bellemere fostered, of Nami’s careless words that hurt Bellemere and most importantly of the day Arlong arrived. The day when Nami was forced to watch her own mother be murdered by Arlong in front of her very eyes.  

Of how a child of 10 struck a deal to buy her village back at an extremely high value just to save what she held dear. 

Sanri puffed her cheeks out at the end of the tale. “I’m going to kick their asses. They’re going to hear from me that for sure.” 

Nojiko started to walk over but saw as Sanri made a small, unconscious flinch towards Zoro, waking him up. The swordsman stared at Nojiko threateningly with a hint of annoyance. Nojiko just sighed as she stopped her advance but took a mental note of Sanri's behaviour. “Look... I’m telling you to stay out of it. If you go around saying that she’s your friend, they’re going to become suspicious of her. Then her 8 long years of suffering will have been for nothing.”, She explained. “Don’t make it harder than it already is. She has to fight alone. Knowing there are people who call her ‘friend’ only makes it worse.” 

Nojiko stormed away leaving them to think about what she said. 

None of them were aware that Johnny and Yosaku had come back to help them in the end and were listening to every word either. Both of them were moved to tears by the story and felt bad for ever doubting Nami. 

- 

None of them were aware that Arlong had broken his word to Nami already and set corrupt Marines after Nami’s money.  

After all, if she didn’t have the money to buy the village, she couldn’t leave his crew. That way she couldn’t give him the money. 

- 

“Alright! Let’s go meet up with Luffy as soon as possible.”, Usopp said standing up but he was confused when the other two didn’t get up, just smiled to themself. “What are you guys doing?” 

Sanri smiled at him and Usopp turned red, not yet used to her appearance. “Appreciating happiness.” 

Usopp was confused. “What are you talking about?” 

Zoro looked at the peaceful sky as from his position and could see Sanri was doing something similar. “What she means is that Nami has had to live with way more suffering than any normal person.” 

Sanri put a new lolly in her mouth. “Yup. I’m making a lot of good vibes and sending them her way.” 

Zoro grinned at Usopp. “Yeah. Isn’t everything great?” 

Usopp put his hands on his hips as he smirked in Zoro’s direction as he shifted his eyes between Zoro and Sanri. “I bet that’s not all your thinking about though, is it Zoro?” 

“Quit your yammering!” Zoro gritted his teeth angrily as he grabbed Wado and stood up, pushing down his urge to skewer Usopp once more. 

He held a hand out for Sanri to help her up, which she took gratefully, making her miss Usopp’s suggestive eyebrows he sent Zoro’s way. 

Zoro turned and started to lead the way to search for Luffy. 

... 

Until Usopp told him he went the other way and he tried to ignore his crewmates giggles. 

- 

When they finally found him, he was with Nami. 

Sanri gasped quietly as Nami repetitively stabbed her arm in a blind rage, right hand flying to her bracer with a death grip as nails pierced the leather around her inner forearm. Zoro gently held her wrist as he slowly pried her fingers away from her forearm. And when she looked up Luffy had stopped Nami from hurting herself.  

Even as Nami broke down, Luffy remained calm.  

Zoro let go of her wrist making her turn to him. “Luffy’s going to fix it. And we’re going to help.” 

Zoro went to sit down as Sanri turned back to the scene seeing Luffy place his hat on Nami’s head before turning around and shouting as loud as he could. “HE’S GONNA PAY!!!” 

Sanri giggled as she made eye contact with Zoro. 

The swordsman grin was wide. “What did I tell ya? We’ll make things right in no time.” 

Usopp sat down angry. “Yeah. We’ll kick these fish-men right out of their own park.” 

Luffy walked towards them, face serious. “Let’s go.” 

And they all followed, with revenge on their minds. 

- 

Yosaku and Johnny sat in front of Arlong Park’s gates. Blocking the villagers’ path. 

They told them all to wait. 

Because the muscle was coming.  

And they were mad. 

They stood up when they saw four figures approaching from the distance. “There!”  

The villagers turned to see that it was the Straw-hat pirates looking just as they said they’d be: mad. They all held a focused gaze on Arlong Park as they approached. 

When they came closer. Their captain told them to step aside. And the villagers did as they were told. Genzo and Nojiko watched as they pass confused. Why would they try to save their village? Was it just for Nami? Did they care about her that much?  

- 

Luffy punched down the gates with ease, clearing the path as he marched inside the compound. 

Arlong’s eyes were bloodshot as he sat on his throne, staring at the hole he made. 

Luffy was fierce. “Now, which one of you is Arlong?” He looked over the gathered fish-men tense, ready for a fight, before focusing on the one talking. 

“Arlong? That just so happens to be my name.”, Arlong stated not moving from we’re he sat. 

“Good. You can call me Luffy.”, Luffy just continued his march. 

“Luffy? What are you supposed to be?”, Arlong asked furious at the impudence of this mere human. 

“A pirate.”, Luffy said, not taking his eyes off his target. 

Hatchi even recognised Luffy as the guy he saw taking a walk as two fish-men stepped forward and blocked Luffy’s path, laughing as they asked where he thought he was going. 

Luffy grabbed their heads and bashed them together with a toothy frown. “Move it!” 

Arlong’s eye twitched slightly at Luffy hurting his fellow fish-men, while his crew looked shocked at Luffy’s casual display of strength. The shark-man's eyes went dark as Luffy approached the side of his throne. “So, what does a pirate want with me?” 

Luffy frown grew as he reared back his arm before throwing a punch so strong at Arlong’s face, it made the shark-man fly out of his seat and into the opposite wall of his compound, breaking it with force. 

Luffy’s voice had a growling note to it as steam left his nose as a vicious glare settled on his face. “That’s for making our navigator cry!” 

The fish-men became enraged that some had hurt their captain and went to attack, weapons in hand. 

But were quickly beaten by a few powerful kicks by Sanri. “Back off! You’re out of your league!” She then walked calmly over to Luffy and leaned on his shoulder as she played with her lolly with her tongue. “Geez. Did you have to run on ahead by yourself?” 

Luffy didn’t stop glaring at Arlong. “Don’t worry. I can handle these bozos on my own.” 

Sanri shook her head as she laughed. “You fool. I never said anything about being worried for you. I just didn’t want you hoggin’ all the action.” Her hooded eyes cast over the fish-men still able to fight and not unconscious by her kicks or from whatever had them fainting, with blood trickling from their noses. 

“Oh.”, Luffy turned to her. “Sorry.” 

Usopp walked up arms crossed over his chest. “Well, I just want to let you guys know that, I don’t mind if you hog it all.” 

Zoro came up to Luffy’s other side as he passed Usopp. “I see you’re raring to go, as usual.” 

Hatchan pointed at the group, but more specifically Zoro. “That’s him! That was the unknown swordsman I was telling you about!” 

Another fish-man with fins on his arms nodded in understanding. “Roronoa Zoro.” 

“I thought so! That bastard tricked me!” Hatchan cried. “I can’t believe I fell for it: look, sine and yanker!” Hatchan paused as he thought about what he just said. “Wait. Hook, line and sinker.” His friend just grimaced at Hatchan’s stupidity. 

Another fish-man pointed out Usopp was there as well. 

Hatchan shouted in fright. “Whaa??! But he’s dead! We saw Nami kill him!” 

Another fish-man with big lips stood by Hatchan. “Oh, he’s alive. Which means-” 

The fish-man with fins on his arms huffed. “That Nami was a traitor all along just as I suspected.” 

- 

The villagers watched on mesmerised by their strength and some took a step forward to join them. But Johnny and Yosaku blocked them again, telling them they’d just get in their way. 

Genzo and Nojiko most of all. 

“But why? What reason do they have to fight?” 

“Reason?”, Yosaku asked rhetorically. 

“Big Sis Nami was crying.”, Johnny stated. 

“Do they need any more reason than that to put their lives on the line?”, Yosaku asked, eye sharp, matching Johnny’s hidden ones. 

- 

Arlong chuckled as he stared at Luffy and his gang. “A pirate? Of course.” He smiled as he pieced it together as he sat in the rubble. “This is all starting to make sense now. You’ve been after Nami this whole time.” Arlong then threw his head back in maniacal laughter. “But the girl is mine and I’m not giving her up!”  

The Straw-hat pirates' glares hardened. 

Hatchan laughed as he walked up to them in confrontation. “A bunch of idiots like you aren’t worth Arlong’s time! We know how to deal with you!” Hatchan then turned around and used his mouth as a trumpet. 

The villagers in the distance gasped and screamed while the Straw-hats just looked confused as the rubbling started. 

Sanri however thought it felt familiar. 

Usopp started to freak out though. “What is going on here guys!?” 

Sanri saw the water rising in the distance and horns poking out the water, even as Hatchan laughed. “Every single one of you are about to become fish-food! Momoo! Rise!” 

But she only ran closer to the water despite Zoro’s calls to her the wait and Usopp’s cries of fear. She pushed the Octopus man out of the way as the creature started to come out the water and barrel right for Sanri. 

“It’s a Monster! That’s the beast from the Grand-Line that attacked the town of Goza!” Usopp terror was replaced with confusion when he heard Sanri’s happy voice. 

“Darling!!!!!!” The large sea-cow rubbed her face against Sanri, crying at seeing the nice lady from before. Sanri mirrored her affectionately. “Oh, I was so worried about you. You hit your head really hard. Let me have a look at you. Oh, baby, you’re okay!”  

The villager’s and fish-men's jaws dropped. Many of the fish-men wondering if the blonde woman was part-mermaid. 

Zoro was right with them. “That’s your ‘Little Darling’?! They’re massive!” 

Sanri was busy giving the sea-cow a belly rub. “Yeah! She’s just a little baby. She can’t take care of herself at all.” Her eyes became slits as she stared at Hatchan. “Which I’m very interested in why that is.” Hatchan flinched as the blonde woman placed her foot on his chest to keep him in place where he landed without taking her hands off the sea-cow. She looked at him murderous. “What are you? Some kind of poacher?! Killing animals for food is one thing but I will kill anyone that hurts animals for no good reason!” 

Hatchan waved his arms around frantically. “No, no! We killed her mother for food. When Momoo came looking for her. We’d already eaten her. I’ve been taking care of her. I’d never hurt Momoo!” 

Sanri eyes turned back to her darling, holding none of her previous hostility. “They gave you a travesty of a name, isn’t that right, my Darling?” Hatchan watched as Momoo happily nuzzled into the blonde woman. Sanri pet her once more before stepping back. “You go and rest up that injury while I teach these fish-men why you treat animals with love and affection.” 

‘Darling’ nodded and started to leave. 

Arlong however stopped the sea-cow from leaving from his presence alone as he stood by the gate. “Leaving? Now, now, isn’t hat a shame? But, I suppose if you really want to go then who am I to stop you?” 

Momoo froze terrified. 

Arlong glared at Momoo with a pointy toothed grin. “Well, then?” 

Sanri growled as Momoo turned back towards them crying as they began towards them with a forced battle cry. 

Usopp waved his arms in panic even as Sanri shook with rage at Arlong’s treatment of the sweet baby sea-cow and how scared they seemed to be of the shark. 

Luffy stood forward and punched his fists together. “Don’t worry, Sanri. I’ll handle getting the cow out of the fight.” 

Sanri relaxed at that but she soon lived to regret it as Luffy stuck his feet into the concrete. Zoro had managed to grab her and get her out the way before the chaos he felt brewing was unleashed by Luffy. The rubber man twisted his body around before grabbing onto the sea-cow's horns. Momoo was forced to be spun around like a ragdoll, hitting all the fish-men that went for the attack, before throwing the baby sea-cow out to sea beyond where Sanri could see.  

She fumed. “What does he think he’s doing? She’ll be hurt!” 

Zoro just shook his head. “What did you think he was gonna do?” 

Luffy panted as it was over. “Alright, that’s it Arlong! I’m done playing games with you! I didn’t come here to beat down all your cronies or set your pet free! I came to teach you a lesson!” Luffy turned to Arlong and pointed angry. “So, step up!” 

Arlong veins popped out as his teeth seemed to grow sharper. “Oh, I will. Don’t worry.” He opened his eyes. “Actually, I was just thinking about how painfully I’ll end your life.” 

Sanri ignored the shark’s jabbering as she kicked Luffy in the head. “What the hell was that?! You said you’d get Momoo out of the fight not throw her back to the Grand-Line!” Her teeth became points as she yelled at her captain. “Didn’t you hear a word I said! She can’t take care of herself!” 

“That’s not all! Were you trying to kill all of us too?!”, Usopp screamed with her. 

Luffy didn’t even acknowledge them as he looked at his feet. “Uh-oh. I’m stuck.” He rocked back and forth but couldn’t get unstuck. 

Unfortunately, Hatchan didn’t give them time to free their captain. He had tears in his eyes as he held one of the fallen fish-men. “How dare you hurt our brother!” 

Fin-arms-man was with him. “Very well. It seems that we must now join the fight.” 

The fish-man with big lips also stepped forward. “Now you’ll get an education in the inferiority of your species. Choo.” 

“Oh, really? I’d like to see that.”, Zoro called out to them with a smirk. 

Sanri tilted her head as she stood not too far behind the green-haired swordsman, assessing the enemy as they spoke with Arlong. Hatchan screaming about killing them and Arlong telling them that they could handle them. “Are all the people we’ll be fighting going to be this dramatic? Or is this just an off week for you?” 

Zoro smirk didn’t faulter as he looked at Sanri from the corner of his eye, giving her a shrug. “Nah, only the ones that think they’re gonna win without a doubt.” 

Sanri sighed and pouted. “I’ll set my expectations accordingly then.” 

Zoro’s eyes feel to the Octo-man as his body puffed up. “What the hell’s that octopus doing?” 

Sanri shrugged but sent Zoro a smirk that caught his eye. “Octopus is best when it’s cut thin and salted. Add a bit of olive oil and paprika and it makes the perfect snack while drinking.” 

Luffy butted in before Zoro could reply. “I’m kinda in a bit of trouble here, guys. Or did you forget? I’m stuck.” 

Hatchan cried, “Take this! Zero Vision! Hachi Ink Jet!” And just as he stated ink launched from his mouth.  

Sanri and Zoro jumped out of the way and the jet hit Luffy, covering him in ink as he was unable to dodge. 

Luffy panicked as the ink covered his eyes. “Ah! I can’t see squat!” 

Hatchan then picked up a broken pillar and lifted it over his head. “Now to finish you off! One Hatchi ink jet served on the rocks!” 

Hatchi watched as his attack landed but was shocked as Sanri’s foot kicked up and broke the concrete in two, protecting Luffy from the blow. 

“You know this feels like it's going to became a regular occurrence. What a pain.”, Sanri stated cooly. 

Luffy threw his arms in the air, having managed to remove the ink in time to see what Sanri had done. “Sanri, that was so totally awesomely awesome!” 

Sanri smiled. “I’ve really picked one hell of an idiot to be my captain.” 

Zoro tutted. “We all did.” 

“Luffy’s great! Hey!”, Usopp complained from where he was hiding. 

“But the truth is that our idiot Captain is far better than a gang that would prey on a little girl and force an animal to become a weapon.”, Sanri stated as she eyed the fish-men, deciding who she was going to fight. 

“You’d rush to certain death for Nami and that lousy sea-cow? I think that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard!” 

Sanri’s mouth thinned as she glared at the Fin-armed fish-man, “‘Lousy sea-cow’?” She took her finished lolly out of her mouth and threw the stick on the ground. “If you insult Momoo one more time, I can promise you that you’ll go from fish-man to fish sticks. Got that?” 

The fish-man's stance didn’t change. “Your skills are quite exceptional for a human, and a female at that, but I must admit that compassion from a pirate seems just a little fake.” 

Sanri crossed her arms angrily. “There’s nothing fake about it! Animals are far better than people and I’ll always defend them from people like you.” 

The fish-man cracked his knuckles. “Looks like I’ll be acquainting you with the true superiority of the fish-man species.” 

Sanri tutted as she prepared herself for attack. “Yeah?” 

“Maybe no-one told you that the penalty for playing around in Arlong Park is death!” Hatchi picked up another piece of rubble to attack Luffy again as Usopp tried to save him. “Come here!” 

“Hey octopus!” Zoro stopped him though as he pointed a sheathed Wado at Hatchi’s chest. “They’re a little but busy at the moment. Why don’t you take me on?” 

Hatchi looked down and fumed as he remembered. “Oh! You’re Zoro! I forgot!” Hatchi threw the rubble at Zoro who jumped to avoid it. “You can’t get away with tricking me! And how dare you mercilessly slaughter so many of my brothers!” 

Zoro turned to face Hatchi. “That stuff’s old news, octopus man. I personally don’t care what reasons you have for wanting to kill me. The situation has changed. You see the tables have turned.” Zoro grin was feral as he unsheathed Wado. “You’re not the hunter’s anymore. Understand? Now it’s you who are being hunted!” 

Sanri laughed from where she stood against her enemy. “Guess you’re matching their energy?”  

Zoro grin grew. “If you can’t beat them, join them, am I right? It’s the only way to keep a shred of sanity.” 

Usopp accidently let go of Luffy when he was muttered, “This is so not the time Zoro.” And Usopp freaked as Luffy was launched into the big mouthed fish-man, that captured him before springing back to where he was, feet still trapped. 

“Oh, you’re dead.”, the big-mouthed fish-man stated as he sat up, eyes fixed on Usopp. “I get it now. You must actually want me to kill you.” 

Usopp cried softly in terror. “Aw, crap.” The sniper then ran away as fast as he could as the fish-man followed him away from Arlong Park, hitting the fish-man with an exploding star to get him to ignore the villagers standing outside the gates. 

Arlong got up and started to walk over. “You morons are a pathetic sight to behold. I’m sick of watching this. Now get out of my way.” 

“But sir, there’s no reason to go on a rampage. Think of Arlong Park.”, Fin-arms said. 

“Don’t worry I won’t. I just thought of a fun game that’s all.”, Arlong said as he stopped near Luffy. 

“Game, huh?”, Hatchi asked. 

“Now you’re going down!” Luffy set a rubber arm at Arlong’s face but the skark-man dodged and grabbed his wrist. 

“Do you honestly think your sad little group can defeat us?”, Arlong asked. Sanri gritted her teeth as she saw Arlong’s eyes were the same as what she remembered of the Vinsmoke kids. 

“So, what if we do?”, Sanri glared at him as her old anger flared. 

“Yeah, so what if we do, huh?”, Luffy repeated with just as much anger as he pulled on his arm. “Now, let go!” 

“Got something to say to us?”, Zoro asked rudely as he readied has sword. 

However, Arlong knelt down and without releasing Luffy’s wrist, broke the concrete under Luffy without releasing him from its confines. 

Zoro stopped Sanri from going to free Luffy with a hand on her wrist as Arlong picked Luffy up. He had a gleam in his eye that Zoro didn’t like and he didn’t want Sanri going near Arlong when it was there. 

“Did you know that those with devil fruit powers can’t swim? But honestly, anyone in this situation would sink right to the bottom.” Arlong’s laugh was crazed. 

“The sea?! No!”, Zoro said. 

Luffy didn’t go down without a fight as he went to hit him but Arlong bit his arm. “Ouchie!” 

“You fool.”, Arlong stated around the rubbed limb. But he was soon crying in pain as Luffy bit his arm too, releasing Luffy’s arm.  

Arlong threw Luffy into the sea quickly after that. 

“Luffy!”, Zoro cried out worried. 

Sanri glared at Arlong hatefully. “Damn you!” 

Arlong laughed once more, maniacal as he raised his hands in victory. 

Sanri moved to run to the sea but Zoro was still holding her wrist. “Don’t be stupid. Those fish-men can’t wait for us to jump in the water after him. They’d have an obvious advantage in an underwater fight.” Sanri’s bowed her head in irritation at her lack of judgement. “There’s only one way to save Luffy. We’re got to take these guys out at the same time, then go in the water.” 

“Fine! Let’s make this quick.”, Sanri turned to face the enemy. 

Arlong sat down once more like he was watching a game show and he was the host. “How long can he hold out, huh? Time is ticking. I can’t wait to see who dies first: you or that rubber man.” 

“You take the fish.”, Zoro told her, taking the slightly weaker opponent this once as his wound was starting to hurt again and he was in no shape to go in the water. That would mean He’d have to hold off Arlong when Sanri went for Luffy. 

“You slice and trim the Octopus. Just keep him alive. I want at least one of them to go make sure my darling, Momoo, is okay and Arlong terrifies her. The Octopus seems like the only one that isn’t going to treat her badly.”, Sanri said as she ground her teeth, wishing she hadn’t eaten the last of her candy. Arlong laughter hurt her head with its volume and the sweet taste would’ve distracted her from it. 

“Yeah, I’ll do that for ya.” 

“They can’t even breathe underwater! Humans are such pitiful creatures, aren’t they?” 

Zoro called out to Hatchi, who was chuckling as he repeatedly shouted game. “Hey, Calamari! Let’s go!” Zoro ran towards him. “I’ll kick your ass in 5 seconds flat!” 

“We don’t have more than 3!”, Sanri called from where she was running to her opponent. 

“Hey! What’s the rush?”, the fish-man asked with his arms crossed. “You’re both running headlong into death. None of you will leave this place alive.”  

Sanri’s distraction from Arlong’s laughter and her bad head space, let the fish-man get a hit in, punching her in the face but she caught herself and used the punch to add momentum to her kick as she planted her hands on the ground and spun, sending her heel into is gut before he could block with his finned forearms. But her attention latched onto Zoro as his breathing became shaky. He wasn’t looking too good as he fought the Octopus fish-man. His injury must be reopening again.  

“Lose focus and you lose your life.”, She dodged her opponent by leaning back. 

“I bet you taste good... with butter!” She said, before kicking him between the legs. The fish-man went crossed eyed as the pain racked over his body. 

Even the village men winced as they saw the hit. 

Arlong even flinch at the sight. 

“That’s playing dirty.” The fish-man winced as he pushed her away from him before readying his stance once more. “But if they’s the way you want to fight, then let's go.” 

Sanri smirked. “Yeah, yeah shut your trap. I’m not afraid to exploit an obvious weak spot like that, you bastard fish-man! I just bet that that area of your biology was the same!” 

- 

Zoro was sweating as the pain from his chest worsened and the stupid octopus was wasting time doing stupid things like sticking to the pillar of the main compound building.  

Hatchi tilted his head as he looked down at Zoro. “Hey, I have a question that I’ve been meaning to ask you, Zoro. You’re famous for your three-sword technique, so why are you only using one?” 

Zoro’s grunted past his laboured breath. “You’re running scared with 1, why would I need 3?” 

Hatchi didn’t like his response as he raised his voice. “Shut up! I’ve only been playing around with you. Actually, humans can’t defeat me. I could tell you why but I think it’d be more fun to show you.” Hatchi smiled as he thought out loud to himself. “Yeah, show. I like that. I think you’re really going to enjoy it a lot too.” 

Zoro tried to just focus a bit longer as his fever got worse. He wasn’t going to be able to walk it off. He almost fell over with the pain but caught himself before he went down. 

Sanri called over from her fight. “Crap, I thought you looked like you were getting worse! Your wounds probably getting infected!” 

“Shut up. I can handle it.”, Zoro panted out a reply. 

“I’m not stupid. Falling for the old injured animal routine? That’s for children!”, Hatchi stated as he climbed up the building. “It’s time for you to see what my true skills really are.” When he returned, he was holding 6 swords. “Now you may tremble in fear at Hatchi’s way of the 6 blades!!!”  

Zoro collapsed as the fever took over him. 

“Hey! You’re not supposed to die yet! I haven’t even killed you!” 

Sanri rushed over and placed her hands on Zoro’s forehead finding that he was burning up. “You stupid idiot! Walking around like it was nothing after such a horrible fight.” She helped turn him over so he wasn’t irritating his wounds with his weight. 

In doing so Zoro saw in high definition as Sanri got punched in the gut as she was getting up to go back to fighting. His eyes widened in horror as he heard her gasp in pain before she was sent through the compound wall from the force of it.  

“I told you to play attention to me, you dumb blonde bimbo! I’m a 40th dan in Fish-man karate.” The fish-man turned back to Arlong. “They’re taken care of Arlong. What would you like us to do with Zoro?” 

Arlong closed his eyes. “What a waste of time. Just toss him in the sea. Hardly entertaining.” 

Hatchi sighed disappointed. “That’s all?” 

“Well, they did manage to make a bit of a mess.”, the fish-man said as he looked around. 

Arlong waved his hand. “No big deal. As long as Arlong Park is still standing.” 

The fish-man smirked. “True.” 

Hatchi growled and stopped his feet like a child having a tantrum. “No fair! He killed himself. I never got the chance to show him how great of a swordsman I am. If he could have died on one of my 6 blades, I could have stolen his fame!” Hatchi swung his swords about wildly. “Well, it’s no matter. There isn’t a human alive that can compare to my Way of 6 blades! Behold the superior power that only a six-armed master swordsman can obtain!!!” 

His powerful swings created a whirlwind that was powerful enough to pick up large chunks of rubble. 

The fish-man that hit Sanri yelled at Hatchi. “Enough, Hatchi. I understand how you must feel, but if you continue your little demonstration, you’ll destroy Arlong Park.” 

Hatchi stopped his arms. “I’m sorry. I forgot I could destroy stuff.”, the octo-man said sadly. 

“Way of Six blades?... What a loser." Zoro got to his feet shaking from his pain and anger and guilt. Sanri was just trying to help him and she was hurt because of it. And this stupid Octopus was playing with swords, joking about how strong he was with the idiot that hurt her, without understanding anything. He’d deal with him quickly and then go make sure Sanri was okay. 

“You’re not dead!”, Hatchi cried surprised. 

Zoro breathed through his nose to centre himself. “Let me make this clear for you, you sorry excuse of a swordsman. There is a certain man I have to face and until I do-” Zoro eyes darkened as he focused on Hatchi. “Death himself cannot touch me.” Zoro took of his bandana from his arm and tied it around his head determined as he put Wado in his mouth. 

Hatchi looked Zoro over as the green-haired man still had shaky legs. “What’s wrong with you, Zoro? You look like you’re having a really bad day or something. I’ve already demonstrated my Way of the 6 blades to these pathetic humans and there is no way you can hope to defeat me in that condition.” 

“Oh, shut up already!” Zoro’s eyes were focused. “I’ll show you. Three sword style.” He turned his sharp eyes to Yosaku and Johnny. “Lend me your swords!” The two bounty hunters agreed and Zoro prepared catch their swords. He had to fight on for as long as he could. He’ll have to not pull his punches. Just finish as quickly as possible. 

Hatchi went to attack. 

And Zoro caught the swords just in time to cut Hatchi up. He thought of Sanri when he did and that if he had just finished the fight sooner then she’d be fine. He wouldn’t need to attack Hatchi again after this. Even his swords were destroyed.  

Blood sprayed from Hatchi’s wounds as he fell to the ground, not dead, but close to it. 

“Now you know the weight of my swords carry.” Zoro’s eyes then fixed on the fish-man that punched Sanri. “Your next.” His eyes held murderous intent. 

“Oh? Was the bitch important to you or something?” 

Zoro shook as he growled. 

Hot air rushed past him. All he could see was a leg alit with flames. 

“Don’t ever...” It was Sanri. Her right eye was... Beautiful as it held cool anger, like the unforgiving, tempestuous, raging sea. She kicked the fish-man in the neck with her burning leg creating a blinding light. “Call me...” She kicked him all over his body in vital points, light erupting from each blow. And all Zoro had to do was watch. “A DUMB! BLONDE! BIMBO!!!” Her final kick was to his face and Zoro watched as it sent the dumb fool of a fish-man crashing through all the building of Arlong Park, leaving a rather comical fish-man shaped hole in his wake and flying out of sight. 

Sanri’s leg was had sizzled out as she caught her breath. 

“He’s done.” She bared her teeth. “He won’t be back. Calling me dumb when he’s the fish that picked a fight with a cook.” She was panting from the adrenaline when she noticed that she had ruined another pair of trousers. “I’ve got to start wearing shorts.” 

Sanri looked at Zoro to see him staring at her, with an unreadable expression.  

“What?”, She asked confused. “Are you just going to stand around acting like Marimo or what? Cause we still have to save Luffy.” She stated matter-of-fact, already taking off her boots and striping out of her bodice to prepare to jump in the water as soon as the fight was over. “But I don’t think Arlong’s going to make that easy.”  

Zoro turned his head away as brandished his swords, hiding his blushing face from her view as he grinned. “Yeah. Sorry I forgot you weren’t a damsel in distress for a moment there.” 

Arlong stood up as he looked to the hole. “Kuroobi...” His eyes then landed on Hatchi’s cut up body. “Hatchi...” He clenched his hands so hard they shook. “You’ve killed my brother one after the other.”  

Sanri rolled her eyes. “Oh please, he’s probably fine. He’s paralyzed from the neck down but he’s alive...” Sanri looked at the hole in thought. “And a little cooked.” 

“Yeah, and the octopus is still breathing.” Zoro flicked his eyes to Sanri. “Your darling Momoo will still have someone to take care of her.” Sanri’s smile brightened as it was directed at him. 

Arlong closed his eyes to collect himself. When he opened them again, they were bloodshot and held nothing but contempt. “Regardless, I’m afraid I’ve let you get too carried away!” 

- 

Sanri was spit out blood as she fell to the ground. 

Zoro was in similar shape, where he was on laying on his back. 

Sanri shakily stood up again, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as Arlong stood before her with a cruel smile as he held water in his hand. 

“I don’t even have to touch you. You humans are so fragile that I can kill you just by playing around with some water.” He looked down at them, smug. “That’s the difference between you and me.” 

“Shut up!” Sanri raised her leg to kick the shark-faced bastard in the face, but Arlong stepped out of the way before throwing the water in his hand at her. It was like bullets hitting her chest. She felt as if her ribs had cracked from the pin-point pressure the water pellet dealt. Sanri wrapped her arms around her middle from a pain she hadn’t felt since the Vinsmokes’ beat her. She could see why the shark was king of the fish-men. He was completely different from rest of them. On a whole other level. She didn’t look at Zoro when she spoke but she knew he was awake as she could hear his wheezing breath. “Damn it. I’ll be considered a damsel in distress at this rate.” 

Zoro coughed up a laugh. “I’ll not exactly a knight in shining armour at the moment myself.” 

“You should just die.”, Arlong stated and Sanri know that if she looked up, she’d eyes that showed their owner thought they were beneath them. That Zoro and her held no value at all because they were weak. “Your lives are not worth that much. There’s no-one who will miss you when you’re gone.” Sanri gritted her teeth. She didn’t need to be reminded of those thoughts! Zeff told her to stop thinking that way so she had to try for him! This shark knew nothing of her worth. Not to her father.  

Zoro thought similar thoughts as he lay there. Kuina dead, father dead, mother dead. He knew he was alone. That he was the only Roronoa left in the world: but that didn’t make him worthless. He still had his promises that he had to keep. And there was still- 

“Arlong!” 

Zoro and Sanri’s eyes snapped open at Nami’s call, turning their heads to see her standing in front of the crowd of villagers with her staff in hand, wearing Luffy’s straw-hat. 

Arlong smiled at Nami’s arrival, looking down his nose at her. “Hey, Nami. I was just teaching one final lesson to these pathetic little pirates. What are you doing here?” 

“I’m here to kill you.”, Nami said, eyes hard. 

“Me? You want to kill me?”, Arlong laughed louder than any time before. “Haven’t you learnt you lesson yet? How many times have you tried to kill me in these last eight years?” Nami gritted her teeth as the villagers gasped. Sanri looked at her with understanding though. “You’ve tried assassination, poison, sneak attacks. You must be aware that you mere humans can’t kill me.” Arlong smirked at Nami as he looked at her sharply. “Now, listen. I won’t put you in the ground, Nami. But you can’t leave. You will remain here with us as our surveyor forever.” Nami’s eyes went large as she realised Arlong truly never planned to let her go. “But as you know, I’m quite good-natured. If possible, I’d like you to be our surveyor of your own free will.” Arlong raised his hand as he held up a finger. “I’m giving you a choice. I will not take pause in having my fish-men kill every living creature on this island, except for you.” Nami bit her lip. “But that’s only if you refuse to come back to the Arlong pirates and draw sea charts as one of our own. And if you decided to come back with us, I’ll be kind and spare the villagers their lives.” The villages tensed at that. “But I can’t let these ingrates live.” Arlong kicked Sanri again so that she was now on her side beside Zoro, Zoro tightened his hand around his sword instinctively but didn’t have the strength to move. “They must be made an example of. So there’s only one question. Will you come with me and save the people of Cocoyashi Village or be foolish and refuse my request by fighting alongside them? It’s your choice. With them you will be hopeless. With them you will die. Nami, will you come and stand by my side or not?” Arlong bared all his sharp pointed teeth at Nami. “The decision is yours.” 

Sanri coughed as she could see Nami’s injured hand shake from here she was clenching it, reopening her wound. It wasn’t a fair choice she was given and Sanri wouldn’t blame her for whatever she chose to do.  

The villagers however raged at the options Nami was given shouting about the unfairness of it all. 

Sanri gritted her teeth as she fought through the pain until she was on her knees once more. “Nami!!!” 

Nami’s eyes shot to her and Zoro’s reopened as well.  

“You can’t truest a word he says! He’d break every vow he’d make! People like him will keep you lock up in a cage and keep the key to beat you down even more!” Sanri’s eye bored into Nami’s as she smiled at her savagely. “He’d kill them for fun, Nami!” Sanri was panting at the end of her speech and Nami held onto Luffy’s hat for support as Arlong kicked Sanri once more to shut her up. 

But it had done enough. 

Nami turned her back to them as she addressed the villagers. “Alright, everyone, we’ll fight to the death! Got it?” 

“Yeah!!!”, the villagers shouted in joyful rebellion as Arlong look on in silent shock at her decision. 

Then Sanri heard the rushing of water and a sound that seemed completely Luffy. She turned her head to see water jetting up into the sky. She smirked. “Seems we got a bit of help with Luffy, but I doubt they managed to remove the leg weight.” 

“I see what you mean.”, Zoro said as he grunted turning over before climbing to his feet, using his swords to help him balance. “30 seconds.” He then put Wado in his mouth as he stared at Arlong, preparing for battle. “That’s all I got.” 

Sanri got to her knees before sprinting to the water. “That’ll be enough!” She then dived into the water hoping Luffy would be ready fight again because he was the only one that would be capable of fighting and beating Arlong at the moment. 

Zoro got a moment reprieve when Usopp arrived and distracted Arlong. It was long enough for him to clear his mind of the sensation of his skin ripping apart and the delirium that the fever of infection was causing. But it was not long before he was swinging his swords to block Arlong’s way after Usopp’s rubber band trick he attacked. 

“All I want is a piece of that proud nose!” He swung but his strength wasn’t strong enough in his weakened form to even scratch Arlong’s nose, let along cut it. 

“You fool!” Along looked down at him by his nose, not moving an inch. “It’s a proud nose because it’s unbreakable.” 

The shark then started to use his nose like a sword as he pushed Zoro back. The swordsman gripped his swords with more strength as he held firm. If Arlong got to the water, Sanri would be done for. Not only would he have the upper hand but the blonde wouldn’t be focusing on defending herself and wouldn’t see it coming. “I won’t let you touch them.” 

But then the octopus got back up and after he showed off his lack of brain cells by falling for Usopp’s rubber ban trick he shook his fists angrily. “We’re not done, Zoro! You may have put me down but it wasn’t for good.” The octo-man started to head for the water. “Cos’ I’m still alive and now I’m going to finish off your girlfriend!” 

“She’s not my girlfriend!” Zoro grit his teeth on Wado’s hilt. He should have just killed the damn braggart of an octopus when he had the chance. But no. The stupid sea-cow needed a stupid baby-sitter. And he just had to show off! 

Arlong chuckled, “No need to be concerned seeing as you will all be dead anyway.” The shark-man then attack and Zoro had no more strength left to defend himself as his muscles finally gave out. 

- 

Sanri swam down and saw that Nami’s sister, Nojiko was trying to free Luffy. She signalled for Nojiko to move out the way so she wouldn’t get hurt when Sanri kicked the rock attached to Luffy’s feet to dust. 

But Nojiko began to swim towards her. Then past her. 

Sanri stopped and turned around just to see Nojiko preparing to use herself as a human shield to protect her and give her time to save Luffy. Sanri was so shocked that she let some of the precious air in her mouth out. 

She couldn’t take her eyes off her as the Octopus prepared to attack. 

- 

Zoro grunted as he held in the air by his neck. Arlong looking up at him with a shit-eating grin. “So, that’s it, huh? Way to easy.” Arlong looked at his bandages and Zoro feared what he was going to do. “What’s with all these bandages? Did you have a good fall?” 

He was right to do so. Zoro eyes bulged and he screamed as Arlong shredded the bandages off his body. The motion causing his wound, which was already starting to reopen, to grow larger, making it so he’d have a permanent scar marring his chest, if he wasn’t going to already. Zoro knew his blood splattered to the ground but he couldn’t hear it over the ringing from pain and blood loss in his head. 

Nami put her hand to her mouth in shock and the village doctor looked at him with anger that he was fighting in his condition. 

Arlong even looked horrified at the state of his chest before preparing to hit him. 

Zoro however couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony. “If a person stays put their wounds won’t open up.” 

“Is that right? Do you find your situation amusing?”, Arlong asked, hands covered in the blood from the swordsman's reopened wound. 

“I’m not talking about me.”, Zoro smiled as blood dripped down his face. “I’m talking about the Octo-man.” 

“What?!”, Arlong asked as he tightened his grip on Zoro’s neck.  

“I thought we told you. We’ll win this game!” 

Zoro’s eyes held victory in them. 

- 

Sanri watched as the Octopus man held his stomach, stopping his attack on Nojiko. Blood exploded from his wounds, turning the water red with blood. It was too close for Sanri’s liking but there was nothing she could do about it now. 

She raised her leg high in the water before doing what she came to do. 

Free Luffy. 

The rubber-man body was then launched out the water and into the air because of the kinetic energy stored in his stretched neck.  

Sanri berated her captain in her head for making everything complicated as she began to swim back to the surface with Nojiko. 

- 

“That rubber bastard.”, Arlong stated as he looked at Luffy in the air as he cheered about being free. 

Zoro looked up at his now falling captain as he called weakly, “You’re a bit late.” 

Luffy chuckled at him as he stretched his arms towards him, grabbing his shirt. “Zoro!” 

Zoro’s face fell as he had a bad feeling about what was going to happen as he felt the strong pull of Luffy’s arms. “Hey! Hold on. What’re you-?” He never got to finish his question as he was pulled out of Arlong’s hold and thrown into the air.  

Luffy just laughed. “Let’s switch!” 

Zoro screamed at the absurdity of it all. Were all his crew trying to kill him? 

Sanri had just resurfaced to see Zoro’s form flying through the air as Luffy began to attack Arlong. “That rubber moron.” 

Nojiko had resurfaced beside her seeing how Sanri’s eyes followed Zoro’s form. “Go. He’ll need your help. But before you go, thank you. You were amazing.” And at Nojiko's praise Sanri's unconscious fear of Nami's sister melted away.

Nojiko watched Sanri swim off to find and help Zoro with a warm smile, happy that Sanri was finally relaxed with her. 

- 

Zoro landed in the water with a splash not far outside of Arlong Park, the saltwater stinging his wounds. He promised as he resurfaced and began to swim to land that he’d kill Usopp and Nami but most of all, Luffy! Rubber bastard! 

He crawled through the water, until he heard Sanri cry. “Zoro!” Zoro saw her swimming towards him and taking his weight off him as she started to drag him to land as gently as she could after seeing his chest. “Stupid Marimo! Stupid Luffy! Stupid Men! Every last one of you! Morons!” She pulled him up onto a rock and pulled her shirt off to use as a make shift bandage as she ripped it into long strips, leaving her in just a bra, making Zoro blush. “I’m going to have to buy a new shirt now too!” 

Zoro wheezed as she tied the bandage tightly around his lungs. “You can have mine, Curls. Stole it off a fish-man anyway.” 

Sanri huffed at Zoro. “No, thank you. It smells and is covered in blood. It’ll be too big anyway. Just focus on not making your wound re-open. Again.” 

Zoro racked his eyes over Sanri’s body, looking over her wounds. Arlong had not gone easy on her for being a woman. He placed his hand on the enormous bruise forming on her stomach. “Sorry.” 

Sanri took his bandana off his head and used it to wipe away the blood on his face. “It’s not your fault. It’s Arlong’s and it’s not like you were in any shape to stop him.” She turned her head to listen to Luffy and Arlong’s fight that was out of view. “Luffy’s fighting Arlong now. If he loses, then we’ll all die.” 

Zoro coughed as he gave her a roguish smirk from where his head was on her lap. “Don’t be so pessimistic. Luffy might be a goof ball but he’s strong. And too determined to let Arlong win. Not when Nami’s freedom is on the line.” Zoro took his bandana out of Sanri’s hand and retied it around his arm for safe keeping. “Luffy will win.” Zoro smirked as he stares into Sanri's bright blue eyes. “And if he dies, I’ll kill him.” 

Sanri laughed brightly at the absurdity, leaning back on her hands carefully, trying not to aggravate Zoro's or her own wounds . “Got it.” 

- 

Sanri listened to Luffy’s fight with Arlong with interest and as Zoro said he won. She smiled down at the dosing swordsman as Arlong Park became nothing more than rubble. 

Zoro woke up at Luffy’s declaration towards Nami and smirked up at her. “What I tell you?” 

Sanri tutted at him, hiding her smiled as she helped him to his feet. “Yeah, yeah, Marimo. You were right. Now let’s get you to a doctor before your wounds get any worse.” 

Zoro wrapped an arm around Sanri’s shoulder and gave her some of his weight as an excuse to get to stay close to her.  

The only one that didn’t hurt his wound freaking all day. 

- 

They walked back to Arlong Park just in time to see the crowd throwing Luffy in the air and chanting his name. 

Sanri giggled at the sight and Zoro smiled at the sound. The blonde cook picked up her bodice and put it on to wear as a makeshift top. Zoro glared at the men that attempted to look her way while she put it on before they both came behind a cheering Usopp. 

“Good job, Luffy! You almost did as good as me! Let’s face it, I’m pretty much the star, but I’ll cheer for you anyway because I’m super modest and I don’t want to steal your thunder!”, Usopp called. 

Zoro just rolled his eyes at the liar, making eye contact with Sanri who just smirked at him in understanding. Sanri called out to Luffy, not dropping her smile. “You really had us going there, Luffy. Start dealing with the bad guys quicker. I almost had a heart attack, you big rubber jerk!”  

Nami walked over to Luffy who fell on the ground and gave him his hat back before giving his a high five. 

Sanri pulled on Zoro’s shirt and started to led him over to the doctor. Zoro went with her willingly, even chuckling. He didn’t mind Sanri leading him around.  

But the Marines had to ruin it. 

Like always. 

“Okay! Hold it right there!” Zoro growled as a rat-faced marine and his government cronies passed them to stare down Luffy and the crowd. “What a lucky day today is! Very nice! I saw the entire fight and I must say, good job!” Zoro’s muscles tensed. The marines could have helped and did nothing. Sanri got hurt because they were too corrupt to help this island and its people. “I can only assume that your victory here was some sort of bizarre accident. I never thought that the fish-men would loss to riff-raff like you and your crew. However, now that Arlong is out of the picture, I’ll be taking all the money I was supposed to give to him in addition to all the treasure in Arlong Park.” Sanri watched as Zoro’s eyes became slits as his arm fell from her shoulders and started to march up to the marine. “Now drop your weapons! Colonel Nezumi of Branch 16 gets all the cred-” 

Zoro grabbed the rat bastard by the collar of his jacket making him squeal in fear. “I see you’re trying to rain on these people’s parade. Now that’s just plain rude.” The colonel didn’t stand a chance against Zoro, focused on making him pay. Sanri kicked some of the marines that tried to help the colonel and Usopp, Nami and Luffy joined in pissed at their treatment of the villagers. 

When it was over the marines were in a messy groaning pile on the floor. 

But Nezumi still muttered, “Go on, you scum. Just try it. You’ll be sorry! I’ll promise you that!” It came out tired and empty. 

Sanri scratched her head annoyed. “He’s still talking? How annoying.” 

Nami walked up slowly to the rat man before kicked his ass for shooting her sister and destroying her mother’s tangerine orchard. She then gripped his whisker like mustache and pulled on them hard telling him what he was actually going to do. 

Which was: clean up after the fish-men, except Hatchan, by Sanri’s request who still wanted Momoo to be taken care of; help rebuild the town of Gosa; not lay a finger on the treasure in Arlong Park as it was the island’s money now and give her back her money. 

Sanri thought it was very impressive. 

- 

Zoro groaned as the doctor stitched up his wound. “You dumbass! Did you think this would heal on its own?” 

Sanri helped to hold him down crunching on her lolly. “Of course he did, Doctor! Zoro stay still! Wiggling will just make it harder and you can’t get anything more for the pain!” 

Zoro gritted his teeth as he glared at her. “I’m sorry?! You try getting stitched back together after nearly being cut in half!” 

Sanri glared at him harder. “I wouldn’t be dumb enough to willingly get cut in half!” 

The doctor shook his head at their bickering and Zoro's stupidity. “Seriously, pirates are supposed to be smarter than this.” 

“Don’t worry sir. I think this one happens to be an exception.”, Sanri stated. 

Zoro eyes focused on her. “It’s was about my honour as a swordsman.” 

Sanri sighed annoyed. “Yeah well, your honour nearly killed you, so I'm not a big fan of it at the moment.” 

Zoro groaned as the doctor finished a stitch harshly. “Don’t you have a ship’s doctor?” 

“Doctor? Never thought of that. Good idea.”, Luffy said, meat in hand as he stood outside the window, leaning in as he checked in on Zoro. 

Zoro looked at his captain who was looking down at him in interest. “Luffy?” 

“But we need to get a musician first, right?”, Luffy said. 

Sanri looked at him puzzled but it was Zoro who spoke again, voice coming out gruffly “Why’s that?” 

“Because pirates really like to sing.”, Luffy said as if it was obvious. 

Sanri sighed even as she smiled just like Zoro at their captain’s antics. “That’s certainly true, Luffy, but why is that first? I think if we don’t get a doctor soon Zoro will end up getting himself killed with his stupidity.” 

Zoro frowned at her. “Hey, stop calling me stupid!” 

“I will when you stop being stupid, stupid!”, Sanri said childishly as she set down on a chair beside his bed. 

Luffy laughed at them. “You’re both really funny together. I can’t wait till we set sail again now.” Luffy then left them after finding out Nami was at her mother’s grave deciding it would be best to just re-join the celebrations and leave her alone for now. 

The doctor finished wrapped Zoro up with a sigh wiping his forehead tiredly. He turned to Sanri. “Right. Now, it’s your turn, missy.” 

Sanri blinked at the old doctor, but smiled at him reassuringly. “Oh, I’m fine. I’m not even hurting that much anymore and I heal fast anyway.” 

The doctor however wasn’t having it as he stood up determined. “I saw how hard Arlong kicked you. You might have internal bleeding young lady and I’m not going to let you out of this room until I make sure you’re not slowly dying.” 

“I don’t like doctors. It’s best if I handle my own wounds.”, Sanri stated flatly as she gripped her forearm. 

Zoro grunted in pain as he looked into her guarded eye, forcing himself to sit up. “You need to be checked over. I’ll hold you down, if need be. But he’s right. That bruise on your stomach was massive. Your ribs might be cracked as well. I at least let a doctor look at me. If I’m stupid, what are you?” 

Sanri glared annoyed as Zoro got back up most likely aggravating his wounds again. She pushed Zoro back down onto the bed as gently as she could. “Fine. I’ll let the doctor look me over but you only get up if I lose my shit.” 

Zoro placed his hands behind his head and got himself comfy. “Fine, but I hope you know you’ll have to remove your shirt in front of me.” 

Sanri just pulled it off quickly, the doctor kneeling in front of her, uncaring. “Already did that once. You own me a new shirt by the way.” Sanri saw as Zoro racked his eyes over her with a worried expression as the doctor worked on her silently. “Don’t look you perv.” 

“You told me to make sure you don’t lose it. How am I to tell, if I’m not looking at you?” Zoro asked pointedly with a smirk before he frowned looking at the large bruise on her stomach that was half the size it was when he last saw it just a few hours ago. “That’s not nearly as bad as it was before.” 

Sanri’s expression was a blank mask. “I told you, I heal fast.” 

The doctor sighed and got bandages out. “You people! You know, you are worse than Bellemere and Genzo were at the end.” The doctor then started to apply ointment over her stomach. “Well from what I can tell, you don’t have any extreme internal bleeding but your lower ribs are bruised, if not cracked. I’ll bandage you up loosely so the ointment doesn’t rub off onto your clothes and then I’ll leave you be.”  

“Give them to me, I’ll do it myself.”, The doctor sighed but handed the items to her. seeing as she looked like she was about to snap. He stayed just long enough to make sure she bandaged herself correctly before he left quickly, leaving Sanri and Zoro alone. 

“You heal quickly, what does that even mean?”, Zoro asked. 

Sanri was stiff as she pulled her borrowed shirt back on. “It means what it means.” She stood up and made her way to the door. “Don’t give the doctor any trouble before you join the party.” 

Zoro lay back down with a frown on his face. Whatever the reason was for Sanri’s quick healing she wasn’t all that happy about it if the look on her face was anything to go by. It looked like... 

It looked like Nami’s did when Arlong said she betrayed her family for money. 

- 

Three days of partying later and Zoro had more booze than any normal man should be able to consume. And because of his wound, he was feeling the effects for once.  

The only thing that would make it better was if he could find Sanri.  

“Boy, am I stuffed. It’s nice not to have to cook for a change.” Speak of the devil and they shall appear.  

Sanri sat opposite him, sitting on the ground, with a lolly dangling from her mouth. She had changed back into new trousers and an old-looking baby blue jumper that had 3 large bronze safety pins on the shoulder, seemingly as a memento of something, as her hair curled in soft ringlets out of her high ponytail and over her right shoulder, fringe still covering her left eye. Zoro thought it made her look soft and fluffy and cute. 

Zoro had had either too much or not enough to drink so he put his mug down so he didn’t drink anymore until he assessed himself. He didn’t want to do something stupid after all. 

“So, how’re you feeling Zoro? Better?”, Sanri asked as she smiled at the people partying. 

Zoro shrugged. “I’ll be okay. I just need to rest is all.” 

Sanri sucked on her lolly happily as she pet a cat that had found its way to her lap. “That’s good.” 

Zoro turned his head towards the people and away from the cute sight. “Seriously, how much longer can they keep this up?”, Zoro asked offhandedly as the partying hadn’t really stopped at all since Arlong was defeated. “It’s been three days now.” 

Sanri smirked up at him as the cat purred. “Nothing wrong with that. They’re finally free.” 

“Hey, Sanri, where’d you get that melon you had? I want to give it a try.”, Luffy asked loudly scaring the cat off her lap. 

“Luffy!”, Sanri pouted up at her captain. 

“Sorry Sanri... But the melon?”, Luffy apologised around the piece of meat in his mouth. 

Zoro frowned at Luffy. “It isn’t polite to talk with your mouth full.” Luffy didn’t acknowledge Zoro as his eyes stayed locked on Sanri. 

She sighed and shook her head fondly at her captain. “I don’t know, Luffy. It was raw ham melon with raw ham on top.” 

“Raw ham melon?! Show me where you found it!”, Luffy demanded. 

Sanri just shook her head. “I can’t.” She smiled at the villagers. “The whole town is basically one giant buffet. Good luck in finding it though.” When she looked up Luffy had already disappeared. 

“He ran off.”, Zoro said with an embarrassed grimace. 

“Three days of stuffing his face and he’s still not done. He’s going to run me ragged I can tell.” Despite her words, a small warm smile was on her face. 

Zoro looked her over. “Why are you over here then? Don’t you want to dance or something?” 

Sanri frowned. “I tried but the girls I tried to befriend told me to leave. I don’t know what I said wrong.” 

Zoro lifted an eyebrow in interest. “What did you say?” 

Sanri leaned her head on her knees. “Just that I don’t wear make-up. I never really had anyone to teach me and it didn’t seem practical to wear in the kitchen anyway.” Zoro laughed loudly, making her pout. “What is it? What did I do wrong?” 

Zoro wiped his eyes. “Nothing. Sorry. You did nothing wrong, really.” Zoro smiled at her brightly. “They're just jealous is all. Don’t worry about it.” 

Sanri looked at him puzzled. “Why? They were much prettier than me.” 

Zoro grin faltered at her truly confused expression. “You’re pulling my leg right?” Sanri’s expression didn’t change much, though her brows scrunched up more. “You...do know what you look like?” 

“Uh... normal?”, Sanri asked with frown. “Why does that matter? Is it because those girls were prettier than me? I could tell all the men were starting at them.” 

Zoro blinked at her so confused on how she didn’t understand. The men were probably looking at her. 

Zoro was about to tell her as such when a drunk and blushing man stumped up to them. 

“Hey~ Do you want to dance with me lady? ~” The man then lowered his voice an octave. “I’m sure I can show you a good time.” 

Sanri smiled up at the man confused at what the man wanted to show her. His phrasing was terrible. “I’m sorry, what?”, Sanri asked kindly. 

Zoro frowned at her while the man repeated what he said again before he remembered what Carne told him: She’s not really good at seeing through perverts either, unless they try to touch her.  

Sanri was surprised when Zoro used his sheathed sword to block the man’s way towards her.  

The man became angry. “What the hell m-” 

Sanri saw Zoro’s eyes that focused on the man. They were like a tiger’s as they stared down their prey. “Leave. Now.” The man seemed to pale as he nodded and ran off. 

“What was that for? He just wanted to show me something.” Sanri pouted at Zoro annoyed at his behaviour towards the man. 

“Sanri... You’re not so good at noticing other people's intentions towards you, are you?”, Zoro asked her as his eyes bore into hers.  

Sanri blushed annoyed that Zoro had figured that out so quickly. “So?” 

“So, I’m pretty sure that guy would have tried something. I’m also sure your dad would kill me if I let him get anywhere near you. Luffy told me Zeff wanted us to keep you safe. I’m not interest in Red-Leg Zeff hunting me down because some guy slipped his daughter a roofy, thank you very much.”, Zoro said as he attached his sword to his waist again standing up, offering his hand for Sanri to take. “Come on. I’ll dance with you. That way I can keep an eye out and you can still have your fun.” 

Sanri didn’t take it right away. “But I thought you needed to rest?” 

Zoro huffed out a laugh. “I do. But my life and Luffy’s are on the line here. I'd be a pretty shit first-mate if I didn't save my captain. Plus, I’m not too tired yet. I’ll tell you when I need to rest.” 

Sanri took his hand and pulled herself up with ease as Zoro walked with her to where people were dancing, when a thought hit her. “What’s a roofy?” 

Zoro just took her hand and wrapped his other around her moving to the music. “A drug. It’s bad. Makes you pass out.” 

“Why do you know what it is?”, Sanri asked as she let Zoro lead her around the make-shift dance floor. 

“Drunk one by accident at a bar a couple islands before I met Luffy. Got my drink confused with some girl.” Zoro explained as he spun Sanri under his arm to the music. “She was actually pretty grateful and the bartender let me sleep it off. But it was a close call for the girl. She wasn’t like you. She couldn’t kick a man, like you do.” 

Sanri started to let herself relax to the music and swayed with Zoro easily. She grinned at Zoro as she moved the lolly in her mouth. “No-one can. Blackleg style of martial arts isn’t exactly a common thing. And I’ve got some tricks even my dad doesn’t.” 

Zoro smirked at her. “Like the flaming leg?” 

Sanri grin seemed to grow bigger. “Like the flaming legs.” 

Zoro dipped Sanri making her giggle before pulling her back up. “What do you call it?” 

“Call it?” Sanri asked puzzled as she swayed. “I don’t call it anything.” 

“You need to call it something. All great fighters name their finishing moves!” Zoro told her stunned as he let his hands fall to either side of her waist. Not stopping, just slowing down a bit as he though suggestions. “How about something that's powerful something that strikes fear into our enemies? Something related to light and fire.” 

“Really? You think it needs a name?”, Sanri asked as her arms rested on his shoulders. When Zoro nodded, she looked towards the lights hanging overhead as she tried to come up with something swaying gently to the music. “How about Light Explosion?” 

Zoro tilted his head from side to side. “Nah too long. Also, it seems like something Usopp would use.” 

Sanri frowned in thought. “Death leg?” 

Zoro recoiled with a grimace. “Too harsh. Not really good for you. Maybe something nicer but that can still be harsh and unforgiving.” 

Sanri looked back to the lights as the distant memory of her mother's soft voice drifted through her mind. “Lightbringer... How about Diable Jambe? It’s French for Devil’s Leg and the devil’s a fallen angel after all.” 

Zoro grinned as he looked down the few inches he had on her. “Mmm - yeah. Passionate... Spiteful... Tempting... Fits you.” 

Sanri smiled at him around her lolly. “Okay. Then Diable Jambe it is.” 

- 

Zoro and Sanri danced and laughed through various songs until the music was shut off and they practically fell onto the ground in a heap.

Sanri laughed as she leaned into Zoro’s side. “That was fun.” 

“Yeah, but I might have over done it a bit.”, Zoro grinned at her as her breathing started to slow down. It fell though as he remembered the bruise on her stomach and her face. And what she said to Nami after Arlong’s unfair choice. Zoro nudged her, making Sanri rub her eyes to stay awake to hear what he wanted to say. “Sanri...you don’t have to tell me why you heal the way you do... but is it something that hurt you? Something like how Arlong hurt Nami?” 

Sanri froze and Zoro couldn’t see her eyes because of the angle her fringe was at. “No. But it was similar enough... I was an experiment.” Sanri then relax as she brushed her long fringe out the way, hooking in behind her ear in way that still hid her left eye. As she smiled brightly through the few traumatic memories she remembered. “But I escaped. And found Zeff. So, I’m okay now.” 

Zoro grit his teeth and used his arm to pull her into a one-armed hug onto his chest. He growled out as he remembered a bit of information. “You met Zeff when you were 5.” 

Sanri wriggled in his hold against him but ultimately slumped in defeat as Zoro seemed like he was too mad to let go. “It is what it is. And if it’s any constellation, I’m like 98.72 percent sure they won’t come to find me. They think I’m dead.” Sanri giggled as her tiredness went to her head. “I’m a ghost.” 

Zoro huffed. “You’re a pirate. One that with Luffy as a captain. We’ll have bounties in no time.” 

“Hence the 1.28 percent. Though I’m sure they won’t bother.” Sanri’s voice was sad. “I’m a failure.” 

“You’re not a failure.”, Zoro said as he closed his eyes and let fatigue consume him. “You’re the opposite of a failure. What’s the opposite of a failure again?” 

“I don’t know.”, Sanri said as her breathing started to slow. 

“Whatever it is, it’s a good thing.”, Zoro’s speech started to slur. “And strong.” Zoro yawned and he didn’t notice that Sanri was already asleep. “Like Kuina but in your own way.” 

He fell asleep. Dreaming of dancing cooks, that needed to be saved from evil men, by an old man in a big hat and a green swordsman, while a rubber man broke stuff all around them, claiming he was helping, a sniper cowered behind them and a thief stole all the evil mens’ money. 

It was a weird dream. 

- 

Sanri watched as Zoro climbed on board with the last box of supplies. 

“We got everything?”, Luffy asked. 

“Yup!”, Usopp called as Zoro pasted him the box before walking over to stand by Luffy and her. 

Sanri marked off her checklist as she played with her lolly with her tongue to occupy her. “Alright. We’re stocked with everything we need. I think we’re good to go.” 

“You know we’ve only been on this little island a few days but it feels more like a lifetime.”, Usopp stated as he wiped his brow of sweat after securing the last box. 

Luffy smiled brightly as he kicked his legs on his seat on a supply box. “Yeah!” 

Sanri smiled but looked around as she thought something was missing. “Huh?” That’s when she remembered the two bounty hunters and Nami weren’t on the ship. 

The bounty hunters were on the port and explained they couldn’t go with them. Sanri was out of their line-of-sight but Zoro became less tense as the three said their goodbyes. 

Usopp seemed excited then. “Yeah, now it’s time for us to get going!” 

“Forgot someone Usopp?”, Sanri asked as she put the supply list down. Staring with a raised eyebrow at the long-nosed sniper only for him to look at her blankly. She rolled her eyes. “Nami. We gotta wait for Nami, silly. We can’t leave without her.” 

Zoro leaned against the side of a railing but his posture failed to relax. “Well, maybe she’s not coming.” 

Sanri pouted angrily at herself. “But what...why not? I didn’t do anything this time. I made sure to avoid her so I wouldn’t scare her off.” 

Zoro chuckled. “I don’t think you’d scare Nami off.” 

Sanri stomped up to him. “Well, how would you know? I’m very scary.” 

“Yeah... scary. That’s not really the word I’d use personally but I’m sure it would work for others.”, Zoro replied as he rubbed his neck awkwardly as she came right into his personal space. 

Sanri blinked at him innocently. “What word would you use?”, she asked politely. 

Zoro was about to tell her when they were snapped out of their bubble as they heard a cry that had them whipping their heads around. 

“Set the sails!”, Nami cried as she started running towards the boat as fast as she could. 

Usopp came beside them puzzled. “I don’t get it. Why’s she running?” 

Luffy had his hat covering his eyes. “She said to set sail.” 

“What?”, Usopp asked even more confused. 

Sanri could understand as she heard Genzo put it together. “She’s planning on leaving without any of us thank her or say goodbye.” Sanri could imagine that it would be overwhelming for Nami after all the years she spent suffering in silence. So, when Luffy gave the order to set sail once more she ran to help out, unfurling the sail as Zoro rose the anchor and Usopp took control of the rudder as Luffy took the helm. 

Nami waved through the crowd. Left and right. Left and right. Though there was something off about it when Sanri looked at her. Something in the way her hands moved. However, Nami jumped onto the boat with one final leap before she could figure it out.  

But she didn’t have to wait long to find out. 

Nami lifted her shirt just enough to let the hundreds of wallets she had pickpocketed from the crowd fall to the ground, creating a small mountain at her feet. The villagers at the port all cried out about their wallets but Nami just kissed a bank note with a smirk before addressing the crowd. 

“Thanks a bunch!” 

Usopp crossed his arms as he frowned. “Great... She hasn’t changed a bit.” 

Zoro had a similar face as he nudged Sanri’s arm. “I’d watch my back.” 

Sanri couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all as their farewells almost became more sincere with the annoyance added to the mix. Sanri smiled brightly as she laughed with Luffy. “Nah, I think she’s great!” 

Zoro just shook his head at her. “I think I’m going to be protecting you from people taking advantage of you a lot.” 

Sanri frowned at him with an annoyed pout. “You don’t know that!” 

“I do. I can just tell.”, Zoro said with a smirk. 

He was about to say more but Nami then latched herself onto Sanri and the blonde turned to the redhead with a smile. Nami smiled brightly at her. “Sanri! I know you and I are going to be great friends. I’ll finally get to have some decent conversations now that another girl is on board.” 

Sanri threw her arms around Nami’s neck happily. “I’m glad. Luffy said you’d be my friend.” 

Nami’s eyes flicked to Zoro with an evil smirk. “Let me show you to our room.” 

Zoro’s eyes widened as he remembered what she said in Arlong Park. 

Shit. 

- 

Nami tucked into bed as Sanri did the same. 

“Nami, are all girl friendships as touchy?”, Sanri asked confused as she got herself comfy. “I’ve never had one so I’m not sure what the protocol is as it were.” 

Nami chuckled. “Some can be. Ours is only so touchy because I like messing with Zoro.” The navigator sighed as she stared at the ceiling. “But I do think we’ll make good friends. We have similar pasts, am I right?” Nami turned her head to Sanri who’s blue eyes turned to hers in return. 

“Mmm... a little. Before Zeff it was... bad probably isn’t a good enough word. Your not only only one with a tattoo but at least yours was more than numbers. Being a lab-rat wasn't exactually fun.”, Sanri said quietly as she gripped her forearm. “I don’t really remember much now though. It’s only flashes here and there, a few words and sentations. I mean I remember who they are but it was so long ago I don’t really remember the details of everything. I don’t even remember my mother’s face.” Sanri closed her eyes so she couldn’t see the pity. 

“I get that. Well not the lab-rat thing but... I don’t remember my birth mother either. All I’d ever own was Bellemere.” Nami said in a whisper making  snap open. “I wish I appreciated her more when she was here.” 

“What was it like having a mother?”, Sanri asked. 

“It was...good. Nice. She always was ready with a warm hug.” 

“Zeff was like that too.”, Sanri smiled sleepily. “He would have carried me everywhere if he could’ve. I used to pull on his moustache to get him to pick me up.” 

Nami laughed softly. “You sound like such a daddy’s girl.” 

“Yup! I’m Zeff’s through and through. My sperm donor can suck it. I have the best dad in the world!” Sanri rolled onto her back. “And I’m going to find All-Blue so that I can take him to see it.” 

Nami let sleep start to drag her down. “I’ll help you. That’s what a navigator is for right?” 

Sanri smiled at her with a nod before her eyes settled on Nami's new tattoo of a tangerine and a pinwheel combined, replacing Arlong's mark. "I like your new tattoo. Do you think..." She clutched her bracer under her blanket.

Nami looked at her gently. "Yes Sanri?"

Sanri avoid looking at Nami. "Do you think you could help me design one for my arm? For when I'm ready to hide what's left?"

Nami looked at Sanri with understanding. "Not to hide it, no. But when your ready to move on... sure. I'll help you design a tattoo to honour that." 

Sanri considered Nami perspective and point before she nodded her agreement to the deal as her eyes fell heavy with exhaustion.

She forgot to ask what Nami meant by wanting to mess with Zoro.