A Pirate's Heart Chapter 23

Chapter 23:: Final Conclusion. Putting Out Those Fires We Started.

%Narrator%

The fights are coming to the end, as Chopper, Sanji, Zoro, and Nami come out as the winner, while the Vine Pirates fall to their own weaknesses. Usopp and Nami are now facing the final showdown with Saito, while Robin is off doing whatever Robin does in serious situations.
Luffy on the other hand, is still fighting Witch. The battle gets more serious as the fires get closer, the stakes are higher and the anger is more potent.
Will this country finally be free or will Luffy fall to his own anger and let Witch take over? What happened to Robin? Will Princess Amaya finally do her job as next in line for the crown for Tomoni Island? And will Rhythm finally get that puppy she always wanted (JK she wants a cannibalistic duck)?

~Rhythm~

I can still remember the day I made that discovery. I was nine years old, the year before I lost my innocence. There was a mountain range behind the In-Between forest (I never bothered to learn the name) and I loved hiking up there by myself sometimes, to get away from Ace and Luffy and all their mad training, but especially whenever Garp was in town. I ventured into a shallow cave and took a seat by a rock to take a break. Sometimes when I'm sitting I'd start digging around in the dirt, savaging for interesting rocks and what-not. I've always had a weird thing for rocks, especially gemstones. I have a few books on them and all their different properties, beliefs and symbolism. I don't own anything like that, except for some simple pearl earrings Garp gave me for my birthday. Of course, their sitting in our base still in the box. It was nice and all, but pearls aren't really my thing.
Anyway, I was digging in the damp dirt, earth getting clogged in my awkwardly cut fingernails and staining my already dirty skin. My hair stuck out in different angles and I had bandages on my legs, arms, and face, along with some bruises and light scrapes (a giant bruise on my back where Luffy fell on me). My tank top hung off my small frame like an overlarge blanket, and my shorts were ripping at the seams, with the toes of my black ankle boots were worn at the toes and heels and had a fine lair of dirt over the soft fabric. I flinched when I cut my middle finger on a sharp rock, the blood oozing out of the tiny scrape and stinging from the dirt clogging the injury. I dug around to see what caused me to bleed so I could throw it off the cliff side.
When I did, it wasn't what I expected at all. A pale blue gemstone, clogged with dirt but clearly real. I tried wiping away most of the bigger chunks, but most stayed caught on its rough edged. It was really pretty, something I could probably sell and get some good money with it. I examined the pale blue facets, seeing if I could recognize what kind of stone it was.
"I'll ask Makino. She should know." I grinned happily and stood up, brushing my muddy hands on my filthy clothes and started trekking back down the mountain. I paused at the edge of the cave and put the stone into the pouch belted around my left leg. There, the blue (gem)stone rested with  more rocks, some bits of glittering granite, white ivory, a delicate abalone shell, black schorl, and other interesting shaped rocks.
When I returned to Foosha Village, I headed straight to Makino's bar.
"Makino! Do you know what this is?" I yelled out over the hustle of the busy bar.
"Jade, you're a mess!" Makino exclaimed, putting down the glass she was cleaning and attempted to wipe my filthy face.
"Makino! Stop it I'm just going to get dirty again!" I yelled, pushing her away.
"What is it?" She cocked her head to the side as I sat down at the bar, feet dangling from the bar stool and chest barley to the top of the bar.
"What's this? I think it's a gemstone but I don't know." I handed her the precious stone.
She examined it under the bar light, scraping off some bits of dirt I missed. "I don't know. Don't you have a book that tells you?"
"It's back at the base. Where's Luffy and Ace? I could have them go get it."
"They should be here any minute. Do you want some apple juice?"
"Hell yeah- Oh," I saw the look on her face, "Yes please."
When the boys came, I had them off again to the base to get my book. Luffy was totally okay with it, whilst Ace was grumbling as he walked back out of the bar to get my book, saying I should just do it.
When they returned, the book I had them get (which was in a very good condition) was tattered and splattered with mud. I hit them in their filthy heads and yelled at them for not respecting my possessions. They said a mountain bear the three times the size of Dadan tried to eat them.
My eyes widen when I realized what it was.

~~

The next day I took it to the city, having bathed the night before so I wouldn't look so suspicious. I found a jeweler, nothing fancy, and had him cut the stone. It took a lot of bribing since he really wanted it, and I had barley any money. In the end, we made I deal. I'll give him the money I have now, and I'll pay him the rest when it was done. A week later I returned to collect my prize, paying for the treatment fully with money I stole from Ace's stash.
The blue stone glittered in the afternoon light, the many facets sending little blue sparkles dancing across my skin. I smiled and tucked it safely into my leg compartment, where it remained for the next six years.

~~

I was about to set sail to find my own adventures, taking up the offer Katsu made me three years ago. I was fifteen now, too young for maturity but old enough to take care of myself. Luffy and the rest of the citizens of Foosha Village were waving good bye, Luffy was trying not to cry.
"Oi Luffy, come here." I pulled him aside.
"What?"
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the gemstone, placing it into his hand.
"It's so shiny!" He inspected it closely.
"Luffy, this is an aquamarine. Not only is it my birthstone, but it's also a good luck charm for sailors, for safe passage across stormy seas. I found it six years ago, and I want you to have it. This is to help you on your journey to becoming king of the pirates. Keep it safe, okay?" I was sad that I was departing with this precious item, but I was glad I was giving it to my little brother, the future pirate king.
"I don't need good luck. I will be the pirate king!"
I smiled warmly at him, "take it anyway, a gift from me, okay?" I gripped his hands and pulled him into a hug.
I sailed off from there, off to my own adventures.

~~

$Nami$

"Mirage Tempo!" I yelled out. Ten of me of all different shapes and sizes stood with the fifty Saitos. Usopp launched multiple attacks at once, taking down a good number of them but each one was replaced by yet another Saito.
The Saitos advanced. Five Nami's made Cool Balls while the rest made Heat Balls, and once a giant cloud was formed over their heads, all ten of us threw a Thunder Ball into the cloud, taking down 30 of the Saitos.
But they just kept coming.
"Oi, Nami." Usopp said.
"What?"
"We can't just fire randomly, or we'll never take them down. We need to find the real one and then they'll stop coming."
I nodded, "I know." I started examining their faces, ads though the real Saito would jump out and claim it was him.
Usopp did the same, still aiming at them and firing at them to keep all 50 of them at bay. Each one we took down, a new one would show up.
"Damn," he swore.
Then it hit me. They may be clones, but there was always something wrong with them; each one slightly different from the others. One may have a wider nose, whiter teeth, narrower eyes, or the wrong way of walking, slightly taller or shorter. At first glance, they're all exactly alike, but if you look closely an compare, you could see the differences.
Usopp, as the great marksman he was, noticed too.
"Oi," Usopp muttered.
"I know. It's just a huge game of where's Waldo now."
"That doesn't really help. We hardly know him and now we have to spot him like this? Almost literally a needle in a hay stack, except more like a straw in a needle stack."
"I see you spot the difference." A single Saito yelled, "I can make duplicates of myself and others, but like twins, they can never be the exact copies of each other. I, am the only original and will never look quite like the others. All the fingerprints are different, differenct tweaks in facial features but it doesn't matter! You have a one and fifty shot of hitting the correct me, and I'll just replace everyone you hit with another!"
"Fuck," Usopp swore.
"Well what if we hit all of you at once?" I said slowly.
Pause. "Not if you can catch me!"
They all started running away, laughing and jeering at Usopp and I. We sweat dropped and went after them.
"Think of something that can get them all at once!" I yelled over their taunts.
"I don't know! Uhh . . . Give me a second . . . Oh I got it! What if . . ." he hurriedly told me the plan.
I grinned, "Perfect."
We switched our paths from the running Saitos and headed downstairs, taking two or three at a time. We crashed against the wall, causing Usopp to trip and drag us both down the last flight of stairs. Somehow, they decided to start coming after us again.
We ran full tilt from the cool stone castle out to the burning courtyard.
Wait, burning courtyard?
"How did I not notice the fires?!" We shrieked and ran back inside, a flame licking our heels as we slammed the door shut and ran around another bend.
"That way!" I jerked him from his nose to the right direction, to plan B.
"Clone Walk!" The number multiplied to get to us. We turned another corner and went down a sharp set of spiral staircase. We reached the bottom, more than sort of dizzy and ran full tilt into the large dark room.
The sound of crashing bodies and groans filled the staircase, then all disappeared with a cloud a smoke, followed by only one set of running footsteps.
"You're screwed, pirates. That's a dead end." His single voice rang out.
And right he was.

%Narrator%

Nami and Usopp ran through the dark room to put some distance between them and Saitos. The lights suddenly flickered on, illuminating the dark room. It was a large space with concrete walls and floor and large tankards along the walls, twelve in all. They hissed and steamed as the fires above the room heated the ground and made the room even hotter than it was. Knobs and dials welded to the pipes running through the whole place as steam hissed dangerously close as the heat rose.
"There you are!" All fifty plus twenty more cornered Nami and Usopp to the very back. They were up against a wall again. "I'm tired of your games! Die already!"
"Seventy Kurōn  Kōgeki*!"  Seventy knives flew at Name and Usopp, and being unable to move, they were hit. Most of them hit the walls, but the rest went through them, some in their heads and vital organs, others through their limbs and non-vital parts. Eyes wide, their images wavered then disappeared altogether.
"What?!" The Saitos yelled out in shock.
"With the heat rising, the light waves are refracted off the ground and could cause such phenomenoms such as mirages," Nami stood bravely atop one of the boilers, trying not to jump up from the rising heat. She spun two sections of her Clima Tact in her hands, while the third was tucked safely away in her belt. Pale blue and pale red spheres came from each and rose into the air.
"And the sudden release of high pressured water can cause an electrical charge for the upcoming storm!" Usopp was standing by the biggest tank, turning the truck-sized knob to release the water.
"Usopp . . . No." Nami said.
"Storm?" All the Saitos looked around then up, where a formidable black cloud slowly grew above his head. The florescent lights above were blocked, dimming the whole room as the air pressure in the room in dropped as the cloud increased in size. Water spilled across the floor and flooded the large room in a huge rush. Usopp ran from one tank to the next, releasing the water as fast as he could. Soon, the room was filled to the thighs, Saitos and Usopp soaked to the bone.
"Did you know water's a great conductor to electricity?" Nami said, ceasing the spinning sections and taking out the third.
"You can't stop me with some measly power shortage. I can make more of myself!"
"Not if we take you out all at once!" Nami spun the last section expertly and threw her arm into the air, sending a ball of electricity into the powerful clouds with a yell of "Thunder Tempo!" Followed by Usopp with Ginga Pachinko, "Dendo Boshi*!" into the water then ducked for cover.
The effect was instant. Lightning strikes the water a few feet from all 70 Saitos, while Usopp's Boshi hit the middle of the group. The two electrical charges were enhanced as bright electrical lights danced across the water, creating a beautiful light show in the process. All 69 clones, plus the real Saito was shocked to the bone with the enhanced power. All 69 clones dissolved while the final real one (three tanks away from where they stood atop) received the full blow, electricity dancing across his body as he twitched and jerked and yelled out in pain. Finally, he stood their twitching, smoking coming from his mouth and eyes wide and blank, his charred form fell back and hit the water with a splash.
"Oh yeah! Usopp we did it!" Nami turned to give him a high five, but he was also on his back, burned to a crisp.
"Oops." She giggled nervously.

~~

Back at the main entrance of the castle, Robin led the prisoners out through the front door, the king and queen at the mobs lead behind Robin and Nikko holding the pretty dancer, Tsukiakari's, hand and was holding a battered looking middle-aged man with eyes the same beautiful green as the two girls hand with her other. The stopped in their tracks at the burning flames of the forest.
"The forest! It'll reach the zcho no kinei fields if this keeps going!" the battered and worn king yelled. "Get to the rivers and get water! Put out the fire with any means possible!" he ordered. The elderly, children, and injured were escorted to the nearest village to be cared for while the rest were  left to tend to the flames, including the queen and king themselves. Out of all 786 citizens that survived, that left 439 to tend the flames. Woman and men, teens and tweens ran around, bringing water to put out the flames or swiped at the smaller ones with large cloths. Robin helped, using her Devil Fruit power to transport water faster to its destination.
But it was futile, the fires kept rampaging and was slowly spreading towards the fields, where the culture of Tomoni island resides. Without them, the island would fall and they would just be another rock on the sea.

" shizukesa no naka hitotsubu ochita da ke
hirogaru hamon ni nami utsu ido no soko
zawatsuita watashi no kokoro no mori wo yusaburu kogarashi yo
kyouzon dekiru mono nara sono mama de
dare mo ga kono mori de shizuka na koe wo kiite zatsuon ni namida shita"

That's what the Tomonias sang. They pleaded as they sang their island song, some in their native language while others in English.

"Only one grain fell in silence
Spread ripples rippling to the bottom of the well
I wintry wind shake the forest of my mind abustle
Is as if you can co-exist
Cried the noise in the woods listening to the quiet voice that everyone in this"

~~

"Die Freaky Plant Guy!" Luffy hissed as his fist connected with sharp thorns, blood discharge from his knuckles and fingers.
"I'm not a freaky plant guy!" he hissed.
Luffy's fist swung out and went through Witch's skull, rebounding off the half-charred tree trunk instead. The vines that Witch's head was made of wrapped around Luffy's arm and started tugging him in.
"That is the creepiest thing I have ever seen, and I have seen lots of weird things." Rhythm commented, blanching at the sight. Amaya nodded in agreement. They sat together a few branches up in a non-burning tree, somewhat safe from the fight.
Witch's Hair shot from the ground again and tangled itself in Luffy's legs, making him instantly nauseous. He swayed at the spot as Witch had vines wrap around his fist, making it into a giant green glove and punched Luffy right in the face. He flew back, Witch's Hair still around his legs and broke down a tree, putting out a few of the surrounding fires and starting more.
"I think we should get out of here while we still have a chance Miss . . ." Amaya said, turning to me.
"Rhythm D. Jade's the name. Call me Rhythm."
"Miss Rhythm," she nodded.
"Pft fine. I think Monkey here will be alright anyway." I wrapped my arms around her waist, "Hold on tight." She wrapped her own delicate arms around my neck and I jumped down and took off running through the burning forest back towards the castle, weaving between the smallest nooks and crannies at the speed of sound.
Luffy, on the other hand, was stuck trying to get the Witch's Hair off of him.  Hand-shaped plants shot from the ground and held him there while Witch started pummeling him with his gloved hand, each shot sending impressions of pain in him.
"Before you ask, this is a thing called Haki. Something someone like you would never be able to comprehend, let alone learn."  Witch laughed.
Luffy grabbed one fist, then the other and squeezed. "Stop." He growled. "Stop this and GOT TO HELL!" He flipped Witch's body over and watches him land painfully in the dirt. Luffy struggled to his feet, breathing hard from the sudden loss of energy. Witch struggled to his feet and coughed up blood, "You-"
"Gomu-Gomu no~Gatling!" His fists hurtled at every direction. Witch's eyes went blank as he was pounded over and over by the blunt rubber fists with sheer force. Eyes blank and dreadlocks flailing like lively snakes, he slowly fell back when Luffy retracted his arms as far back as he could.
Then the finishing move, "Gomu-Gomu no~ BAZOOKA!" Captain Witch of the Vine Pirates went flying into the air, a thin trail of blood left in his wake as it fell to the earth and burned in the fire below.
Heaving heavily, Luffy fell to his knee and slammed his fist to the ground to hold him steady, out of energy, his body aching, and too hungry for words.
His stomach growled like a beast needed to be tamed, and he knew just the person to tame it.
"Oi~! Sanji! Make me some meat!" Luffy whined. Nothing but  the burning forest reached my ears. Then something else did.
Shouts and yells, commands really. And singing.
" shizukesa no naka hitotsubu ochita da ke
hirogaru hamon ni nami utsu ido no soko
zawatsuita watashi no kokoro no mori wo yusaburu kogarashi yo
kyouzon dekiru mono nara sono mama de
dare mo ga kono mori de shizuka na koe wo kiite zatsuon ni namida shita"
That was just part of it. He blasted himself through the forest towards the sound. There, he found everyone.
The Tomonians were passing buckets and batting at the fire, shouting commands and singing the song, the princess was embraced in a battered middle aged coupe. His crew was there, too.
Zoro was helping the Tomonias carry a larger bucket full of water towards the flame, taking care not to spill yet still being fast. Nami was ordering around some slow moving helpers, with Usopp directing water currents from the castle door to the rising flames. Sanji was taking work from the women, insisting it was the proper thing to do, while Chopper was treating those who were burned by the flames. Robin was still passing buckets of both empty and full of water to and from the river nearby. Rhythm had taken off her white vest and was beating away some smaller flames.
"WITCH IS GONE! I BEAT HIM UUUP~!" I shouted out in joy. Everyone cheered; throwing hats in the air and celebrated on the spot. But it was short lived as they had to quickly go back and stifle the flames.
Then Rhythm had an idea.
"Oi Zoro." She smacked him on the back, her now blackened vest forgotten. "Wanna go fishing?"
He gave her the "are you insane?" look. "What?"
"You're going fishing, Zoro!" she slapped her fedora atop his spikey green hair and ran off towards the river.
"Oi wait! What are you planning?!" he ran after her, holding the hat to his head.
Sound around her disappeared, or more like was sucked into some vacuum. People who saw her stopped and gaped at what they saw.
A beautiful girl with inky black hair and scars encased in a tattooed tree on her back ran faster than a normal human towards the river, no sound was presence as it was sucked into her. A strange lavender light emanated off her moving limbs, giving off the effect she has lights tied to her limbs, leaving pale trails in her wake. Then she grinned happily and laughed, or looked like she laughed since there was the sound waves were sucked into her.
Then she jumped into the river.
She yelled something before she did, and when she yelled that something, the sound came back on with a huge BOOM~!
Before her lithe form connected with the running water, the powerful sound waves she collected created a sonic blast that sent water flying in all directions, drenching the forest in a shower of fresh water and fish. The fires hissed and died down, leaving a few smaller ones that were easy to take care of.
The sheer force of the blast sent whoever was in a 50 foot radius to the ground, and that included Zoro and a few poor Tomonias who were now temporarily deaf.
Zoro got to his feet and ran after her again, the water churning like a sea storm from the sudden impact. If he didn't get her soon, she'll die.

XZoroX

"Rhythm!" I striped off my shirt and kicked off my boots then dived in after her. The cold water stabbed into my heated flesh when my body hit the water. I was confused on which way was up, the turmoiling water tumbling me around like I was just another dead fish. I kept my eyes wide as I tumbled around in the icy black water. I finally regained my strength and started searching for her. I found which way was north (it was to the west of me, the water a paler blue with a touch of gold where the setting sun reflected off its surface).
I swiveled around, looking for a hint of anything. Inky hair, flashes of a silver studded belt, the sheen of a leather boot, hell the deep red of the scarf wrapped around her torso. I swam deeper, ignoring the fact I haven't breathed for some time now. Blood from my wound floated above me and dissipated in the darkening water. My heart raced as I started to panic.
A glinting ruby crescent moon caught the corner of my eye. I whipped around to find Rhythm floating lifelessly in the water several feet to my left and a bit further down. My head started to spin from the lack of new oxygen, my body signaling me to breathe. I ignored that and swam towards her.
Even though she looked sort of dead, Rhythm was like a goddess in a twisted way.
Her deep inky hair clouded around her paling perfect face, smooth to the touch as locks slipped between my fingers like silk. Her pink lips were parted slightly, a small stream of bubbles emanating from her mouth as her dark eyes were half laden and blank. Her chest was suspended in the water while the rest of her was slouched back as though an invisible line held her chest up. Her curved body seemed to glow in the soft light, her tight jeans hugging her strong legs. The scarf around her rounded breasts had slipped from the pins she had holding it up in the back, the crimson fabric trailing above her like a stream of blood while the rest still covered her. I don't know how many times that scarf was wrapped around her, and some part of me wanted to find out.
My vision swam as her already blurred for doubled as the oxygen supply from my brain was decreasing. I grabbed her smaller hand and pulled her lean form into mine, the compact muscles pressed to my bulky frame as I made a powerful kick up towards the surface. Our heads broke the cold layer of water and touched the cooling air. I was gasping for fresh oxygen, while Rhythm was limp in my arms, mouth wide like a fish and eyes blank as water sleeked down her mattered hair.
(AN: that took me way longer than it should have to describe Rhythm drowning. It's Charles Dickinson all over again . . .)
I dragged Rhythm to the shore and plopped her onto the warm earth, unmoving and eyes to reflective.
"Oi Chopper! I think she killed herself!" I yelled out. Chopper ran to our aid, followed closely by Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Sanji and Robin.
When they got here, they gathered around us in a tight circle, eyes wide. I sleeked back my hair and wiped my nose and mouth where water was dripping down.
Chopper checked her pulsed then screamed, "Her heart's not beating! Someone get a doctor!" My heart skipped a beat.
"You're the doctor!" Everyone yelled, getting real panicked now. After a few attempts at both CPR's (the whole pumping the chest and plugging her nose while her blew air into her mouth) she finally came around hacking water from her lungs.
"F-F-Fudge bunnies! I felt  so cool until I hit the water! Fuck!" she coughed, slamming her fist into her chest to get out the remaining water. Her top slipped some more, just to the top of her nipples. That alone sent Sanji reeling with a nosebleed. She noticed and tugged it up and tucked the end in.
Luffy, Usopp, Nami and Chopper cheered at the sight of their living musician and the defeat of the Vine Pirates. Sanji joined them with blood dripping down his chin and Robin smiled and chuckled.
Zoro on the other hand hit Rhythm on the back of her head. That stopped the celebration.
"Oi Marimo!" Sanji hissed.
"Don't ever do that again, Rizumu. You scared me." I stated.
She blinked a couple times then smiled that happy lopsided smile that's really hard not to adore. "Sorry. Just saving the island is all." Then she leaned in and hugged me tight. I stiffened when her ropey arms wrapped around my waist and squeezed me, her wet head rested against my chest. I hesitantly wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her back. Usopp, Chopper, Luffy and Nami awed while Robin smiled and Sanji retrieved into an emo corner under a tree, muttering, "she doesn't hug me like that."
"I watch you while you sleep," she whispered. I stiffened again, eyes wide at the sudden news.
She burst out laughing as she pulled back, everyone else did at the look plastered on my face.
"Oh crap that's funny!" Usopp said, pounding the tree next to him.
Our spirits where high as were the hearts of the now freed Tomonians. I grinned and joined in the laughter as it sang through the air, catching the winds wings and spiraling higher, past the clouds, past Skypiea and beyond the heavans.

~~

That joy was short lived when we learned the Marines were closing in.
"They're coming to help us, and we can't let them find out you're here." The battered king explained. "We'll hide your ship for you, but for now, go! There's a route along the river that leads to Mariposa Lake. There you can stay the night. I apologize dearly, but this is to make sure they don't take away our heros. We'll send someone to get you tomorrow when the Marines depart, and then we'll celebrate until the Log Pose sets."
"But I'm hungry!" Luffy complained.
"Luffy shut it!" Nami snapped then turned to the king, "Thank you so much for the trouble, but might we ask for some supplies? We're really tired and need something to replenish our energy from the fight."
"Indeed." He nodded at some men and they scrambled to the ruined castle to get some supplies for our camping trip.
When they returned with bags of food, medical supplies, and sleeping bags along with some pots and pans and anything else needed to cook the food along with plates and silverware.
"Follow the currents and fast! They're almost here!" The king shooed us towards the river with our stuff and waved good bye, along with the rest of the Tomonians. Large grins were plastered on their faces from the newfound freedom.

~~

#Robin#

The sun was almost set when we reached the lake. It was a large, beautiful expanse that glittered in the golden light. Along the shores it was a crystal blue as it lapped gently across the sandy shore. Buzzing sound filled the air as bugs were coming out, and tiny lights started appearing within the trees.
Tomoni's nightlife started awakening, the day sounds dispersing as the night took over.
We all walked in a line, Nami leading the way, followed by Chopper, Usopp, Luffy, Rhythm, Zoro, Sanji then I. Luffy complained about being hungry whilst Rhythm and Usopp sang a victory song they made up along the way. They were annoying lyrics, but had a catchy tune.
"Witch's gone!
We beat him dead!
Let's shout and sing 'Hooray!'
We broke their noses,
Ripped their hair,
And bit their arms and legs!
We made them scream,
Made them cry,
And raise the bright white flag!
We are the Straw Hats!
We are the Straw Hats!
We are the Straw Hats!
And we'll sing this all day long!"
Chopper and Luffy soon joined in, finally annoying Nami enough to hit them all in the head.
"Over there looks like a good place to camp." Nami pointed to a large, beach-like area of the lake with a few bonfire pits where previous people had thought it was a great idea too.
"Hey Usopp, don't you love camping? I'm just waiting for a tiger three times the size of the Going Merry to jump out and attack us. Shishishishi," Luffy snickered.
Usopp stopped in his tracks, legs shaking. That caused Luffy to run into him.  "D-don't say shit like that!"
Luffy just laughed and went around him.
"A new side of Luffy . . ." Chopper muttered.
We were almost to the campsite when Rhythm stopped in her tracks, Zoro bumping into her and then Sanji bumping into him.
"Oi shithead!" Sanji yelled.
"It was Rhythm!" he pointed.
"What's wrong?" Nami stopped and turned around.
Rhythm was squinting into the lake water, as though trying to use the Force or something. Her brow was furrowed and she was poking her tongue around the inside of her cheeks, deep in thought. She got off the trail and climbed down the small rocky slope into the lake. She stopped at the edge and took off her boots.
"Hey it's no time to go swimming! Last time you drowned and had Zoro go get you!" Nami yelled, getting irritated.
"No it's not that. There's something in the water." She waded thigh deep into the icy water, stumbling slightly from the effect it had on her. She bent down and started rummaging around the water, looking for something. Her pink tongue stick out with her eyebrows furrowed. I looked over to see Zoro biting his lip.
She stopped. "Holy. Crap." Her eyes widen.
"What is it? What'd ya find?!" Luffy took off his sandals and waded in after her, followed by Usopp and Chopper in Heavy Point.
"I found Zoro's family!" she howled with laughter as she held up a-
"MARIMO!" Sanji doubled over with laughter. It was a dark green ball of algae about the size of her head, the green plant slicked down from its damped body.
"Look! Look!" she laughed, "here's Uncle Albert!" she pulled out a slightly bigger one, "And this one's Great Aunt JoAnne! And this is Grandma Nora! Oh oh!" She yanked out one that was roughly the size of a bean bag chair, the soaked skin dripping water all down Rhythms front, "This is Grandpa Stevens! And this-" she put Grandpa Stevens down and pulled out a really small one that fit in her hand perfectly, "-is baby Stephanie!"
The entire Straw Hat crew was howling with laughter (especially Sanji) whilst Zoro stood firm, his mouth pressed in a thin line and is eyes shooting daggers at her while his cheeks grew redder with every marimo she pulled out.
Sanji yanked off his shoes and rolled up his pants and joined them in the lake, pulling out marimos himself along with Luffy, Usopp, Chopper and Rhythm.
"Aw they're kinda cute!" Nami said.
"And squishy!" Luffy tossed his in the air.
Rhythm had this hilarious look on her face, a cross between constipation and pervertedness as she squeezed the cannon ball sized Marimo in her hands.
"Oi shut up this is retarded!" Zoro snapped.
"Says the biggest Marimo of them all." Sanji muttered.
"What'd you say?" Zoro hissed. "Say it to my face instead."
"Retard Kuso-Baka Marimo Shithead." Sanji emphasized.
"Oh that's it!" Zoro tugged off his boots and splashed into the water, drawing Wado. In defense, Sanji threw the Marimo he was holding at Zoro and yelled, "MARIMO! I CHOOSE YOU!"
The green ball smacked Zoro right in the face, then Rhythm yelled, "MARIMO FIGHT~!"
Everyone joined in. Nami went in too while I made hands appear on other nakama to pick marimo from them and throw it at someone. The fight raged on, all of us getting wet in the process and getting a stitch in our sides from laughter.
"Hey Riceball," Rhythm grabbed Zoro's arms as she stumbled over to him, the water really starting to affect her now. "Got hit Luffy."
"It's a marimo fight." He said.
"Yeah I know. Now go hit Luffy." She pointed out Luffy for him. He gave her one of the best "Are-you-kidding-me?" faces ever.
She just laughed and literally rubbed a marimo ball into his face, making him cough and grab her wrists to both pull her away and stop her from falling.
When the fighting ceased, they all stood panting in the water (except Luffy, Chopper and Rhythm. They eventually drowned and were dragged to shore). We rested for a bit and dried off, passing remarks and giggling a bit at what just happened. Finally, Nami had us set up camp, roll out the sleeping bags and start a fire.
When dinner was done cooking, we sat around on logs and ate the delicious stew Sanji made with bread and jugs of water, apple juice (much to Rhythm's pleasure), and orange juice.
"It's a D thing." I stated to Nami. She looked over at me confused. I nodded my head at Rhythm and Luffy, who were both happily eating away and laughing with the rest; even Zoro had cracked a smile. "Those two. No matter the situation, they both manage to bring smiles to others around them; a natural charism. It's most likely a D thing, but I haven't known a lot of D's to know if it's true or not."
Nami looked over to the pair, both laughing at something Luffy said, grins painted on their almost identical faces, until Rhythm makes the mistake of drinking some apple juice right when Usopp, Chopper and Luffy decided to show her their crazy basket and chopstick party dance, making her shoot apple juice from her nose and mouth. That only made the six of them laugh harder.

~~

~Rhythm~

The night had settled over the beautiful lake. I volunteered for first watch, since my injuries were pretty minor (a head wound, sword ran through my shoulder, cuts and bruises . . . yeah I'm pretty good). Chopper had taken care of the crews injuries, fussing over how rough Luffy, Zoro and Sanji fight and tsking at Usopp's burn wounds. Robin and Nami we're in pretty good condition, aside from the few scrapes and bruises they were perfectly fine but dirty.
I sat at my post, back to the camp and facing the river. I shivered and pulled the blanket tighter around me. I was a bit annoyed that I didn't have a jacket with me, or even my zip-up. The rock I was sitting on didn't really help. The cold stone soaked through my pants and went to my butt. Fuck I'm cold.
I felt a really heavy blanket plop onto my shoulders. I jumped and looked up to find Zoro.
"I know how much you hate the cold. Why are you even on shift?"
"'Cause I thought you guys needed a good night's sleep more than I do." I stated.
He indicated to the rock I was sitting on, "May I join you?"
I nodded and scooted over, getting used to the warmth that MY sleeping bag provided. Haha, it's purple. I held up the edge of my blankets and he took them, wrapping the large cover around his shoulders. We huddled together on the rock, our body heats warming us up significantly. The stars above us twinkled brightly, decorating the sky around the half moon. Fireflies flew lazily along the shore of the lake, too low to count and too high to get in the water. The firelight of the camp fire was fading to glowing embers, the small fire cackled as though laughing at our suffering as the dying embers glowed like the ruby eyes of a demon, hot like hell but too small to matter.
He sighed, "Not much of a vacation, huh?"
"Heh yeah." I smiled slightly. His warmth dominated the small space, instantly chasing away the cold from my flesh. "But we'll get one. Hell, we're gonna have a party, that's a vacation for me." I looked up at the stars. He followed suit, gazing into the heavens with me. I felt his large calloused hand brush against mine. Unconsciously, my own hand leaned into that hand and he squeezed it. I didn't bother pulling back, welcoming the warmth since the cold grazed my face like sharp teeth.
Luffy was cuddling with Chopper behind me, molding both their sleeping bags together for extra warmth. Usopp's small frame was shivering under his sleeping bag with Nami sleeping at ease with the biggest, fluffiest sleeping bag there was. Sanji was spread eagle, bare feet twitching as he muttered "Mellorine" and Robin was sleeping just as well as Nami, having the second biggest one. Her back was too us but that didn't mean she wasn't awake and listening in.
"Hey did you feel that earthquake earlier?" I asked.
He nodded, "yeah it was short but it was under the castle. That's probably one of the reason the whole place started crashing in."
"That was me." I grinned cheekily, smugness in my voice and my eyes shut from the force of the smile.
He rolled his dark eyes. "Of course."
We chuckled together, keeping it down and defiantly trying not to wake the others.I noticed a duck swimming silently across the lake surface, its glossy feathers glistening in the moon light.

"I find a duck's opinion of me very much influenced by whether or not I have bread," I said, pointing out the duck.

Out of nowhere, he reached up and cupped my face, a look a never thought I'd see on his face. His face came closer to my own. I was frozen stiff, unable to move from the approaching lips.
"St-stop." I unlaced my hand from his own and pushed him away. He did and turned away.
"Sorry," He muttered.
"No biggie," I ran my hand through my hair, pushing my long bangs out of my face.
"Things aren't going to be awkward between us, right?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
I stood up, taking my sleeping bag with me. "Only if you want it too. I don't get how stuff like that affects a relationship a person has with another."
"I don't either." He nodded. "Where are you going?"
"To bed. I'm getting tired now and you said you came to relieve me. So I'm relieved now. 'Night." I stretched and yawned, taking his place between Sanji and Robin to curl up and sleep.
"'Night, Rizumu."
I drifted off to sleep with a small smile on my lips.


AN: do you know how much I hate the word suddenly?