Zorobin: Zoro's Last Regret

Zoro's Final Regret

He couldn't think anymore. Luffy held him in his arms, stroking his hair. "Shhh, Zoro. It'll all be okay, I promise." What did it matter anymore? The only person he could be himself around was gone. The only person he loved. She had said it herself. She wasn't coming back, ever. Nami poked her head into the room, asking "Hey guys, need anything?" Luffy didn't even turn his head, just kept petting Zoro's spiky hair.

"Yeah, Nami, can you go get Chopper real quick?" Nami's face clouded with concern, "Is everything ok, Luffy?" He sniffled, and repeated "Nami, please go get Chopper." His tears quietly dropped off of his chin to splatter on his best friend's forehead.

"Yeah, I'll be right back, ok?" Nami ducked out from the doorway, and went looking for the small boy.

"Please... no... Luffy..." Zoro breathed, chest rising up and down. "Please stop talking Zoro. That's an order." Luffy choked out, his voice cracking. "Please... I don't... Don't want him to see..."

Zoro had tears in his eyes as he stared into the pitch black of his second ever friend's eyes. The room was dark, and Zoro could swear that the ceiling was spinning.

"Luffy... Listen..." Luffy shook his head, the hair escaping his hat bouncing from left to right. "Shut up Zoro. Don't talk." Zoro grimaced as Luffy's shaking head sent tremors into his body.

"Become the pirate king, Luffy... Make yourself famous... So I can hear your name... I'm sorry..." Zoro trailed off, head leaning to the side. Luffy let his head down as gently as his trembling hands would let him. He hugged his arms around his legs, and let the tears stream down his face.

Nami's hand was an inch away from the doorknob, when she heard a whimper from inside. She hesitated, Chopper holding her other hand. She decided to knock on the door, her slender knuckles tapping gently against the rough oak of the door.

Luffy's voice came from the inside of the room, fragile and wavering, "Come in." She pushed the door open carefully, and her hand went to her mouth, blocking a silent gasp.

Luffy was rocking himself, arms around his knees. His head was buried in his legs, straw hat in his bloody hands. His tears mingled with the slowly growing pool of blood that was leaking from Zoro's unmoving form.

His torso lied in tatters, a large gash mirroring his scar. It extended to a cut over his stomach, and Zoro's knife stuck out of his abdomen, like a splinter in a thumb. His eyes were filled with tears, and a small smile lightened his features. A small trickle of blood trailed out of the corner of his mouth.

Chopper ran to his side, shaking him. "Zoro! Zoro! Wake up! Wake up, Zoro!" Nami's legs gave out on her, she slumped to her knees. "Zoro! Please! Wake up!" His voice was filled with tears, pleading with the man to get up. Luffy shook with silent tears, his sniffles sometimes quiet, at other times he whimpered. Chopper had given up on trying to wake him, and just sobbed, hugging Zoro's arm. Nami managed to stand up, and pulled Chopper off of his arm and around her. He tried to push her away and go back to Zoro, but his arms wouldn't let him. She wiped a tear that was making its way down her cheek, and put her arm around Chopper.

"Luffy, let's go." He made no attempt to respond, but got up from off the floor. He kneeled down next to Zoro, his body blocking Nami from seeing what he was doing. He kissed Zoro on the forehead, and closed his eyes, fingertips wet from Zoro's tears.

He stood back up, and offered a hand to Nami. "Let's go find Usopp and Robin, and never let them go again." Nami accepted his hand, squeezing it tightly. He led her out of the room, out of the hotel, and into the wet streets of Water 7.