Luffy's face contorted. I looked down at him with fury in my eyes. Tears welled up in his eyes and suddenly, my fury wavered. What did I just do?
We stayed there for a moment in pure silence. Luffy was on his knees, my scarf in one hand and my bracelet in the other, tears brimming in his eyes, threatening to fall. I swallowed, all my hostility draining as if the blood was draining from my face.
"If that's what you really want..." Luffy forced out, breaking the silence. My lips parted. Say something. I took in a breath.
"Luffy I —"
*BOOM*
"Shit" We both muttered. That came from up top. We both immediately started running for the deck.
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They started running. Luffy carefully folded up the scarf in his hand as they ran, stopping for just a moment to set it and the bracelet down before continuing to run to the deck. Marines. This would be a piece of cake.
They were opening fire. Misaki grabbed her sword and deflected a bullet alongside Zoro. Franky was firing off some rounds and well, everybody was doing something. But luffy... well, Luffy was a little more listless than normal. Sure, he was bouncing back cannonballs and taking some people out, but his heart just wasn't in it. It wasn't like they even had to try that hard. Sure there were a lot of marines, but nobody really that notable. It's not like they were in any real danger.
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This was so frustrating. I messed up. We would have been done with this fight in an instant if I hadn't hurt Luffy the way I did. Now he was barely even trying out there.
"Oi! Luffy! Get your shit together!" I yelled. He looked at me listlessly.
"Oh.... Yeah... I will." Luffy said weakly. You've got to be kidding me. I sliced another bullet in half. Damn, my reflexes have gotten fast. Thank you for the training, Zoro. Brook. I could tell they were proud as I held my own out there. But my small victories were sullied by the shell of a man fighting alongside us.
"Luffy, come on! Get your head in the game!" He looked at me as he used his gum gum pistol and then I realized. Someone had snatched his wrist, pulling him off the deck, and then let go, sending Luffy into the ocean. Fuck. People with devil fruit powers can't swim!
Without a second thought, I dove in after him. Shots continued to ring out until I hit the water. Everything was muffled as I continued to dive further down, forcing my eyes open. There. I frantically swam toward him, snatching him and pulling him back toward the top. I gasped for air as I breached the surface. The frigid water was making it harder to breathe than I thought it would. I looked up for a way to get back on the Sunny.
"Sorry M'." Luffy said groggily.
"Don't worry about it. We will figure this out." I panted. Damn, it's so hard to breathe.
Just then, the rope ladder was unfurled. Up at the top was Franky. Hell yes. I started pulling us up the ladder but Luffy was so damn heavy. I started wondering why I thought it would be smart to be the one to jump in after him. Cannonballs and bullets were still flying. I couldn't keep pulling him up. It actually was hurting to try. Carrying the deadweight was a lot harder than I thought it would be.
"Franky!....Pull... Us... UP!" I gasped. I can't freaking breathe. Franky started pulling us up and Jimbei and Usopp ran over to help. Jimbei took the chance to me for jumping in when he could have had an easier time. When we got to the top, I heaved Luffy onto the deck. I stood there for a second as Luffy pulled himself together. "You're a... pain..." I wheezed, bending over and placing my hands on my knees.
Luffy stood up and scratched the back of his head apologetically. He went to say something before he froze. I straightened up and looked at him, confused.
"Misaki. You..." He whispered, breathless.
I looked down, confused as Luffy pointed at me, gawking. I went pale. Blood. A lot of it. I had at least four shots. One in my neck, one in my abdomen, and two in my chest.
I looked back up at Luffy, my vision blurring. My knees buckled as a bloodcurdling scream rang out over the seas.
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"Misakiiiiii" Luffy screamed, lunging forward to break her fall and settle her on her back. Her breathing was shallow and rapid, and she was coughing up blood. "CHOPPER! I NEED CHOPPER! GET ME CHOPPER!"
Luffy felt her hand grasp his sleeve. She's awake. Luffy's heart ached. He wished she wasn't conscious. It reminded him of something he didn't want to think about. Of his brother. He looked at her. She looked scared.
"It's ok, Misaki. You are going to be ok." He said desperately. "Damn it — CHOPPER!"
"I'm here! I'm here!" Chopper ran over. Shots still fired around them. "Oh no, this is really bad. Luffy, I'm going to need you to go grab a stretcher. We gotta bring her to the infirmary and take her into surgery ASAP."
"I... I can't." Luffy said, unwilling to break eye contact with Misaki.
"What do you mean, you can't?!"
"I can't! I can't leave her! Not for a second!" Luffy said, still looking into Misaki's eyes. "Why is she breathing like that?!"
"She has a collapsed lung and a severed artery Luffy! I really need to get her to the infirmary!"
"Do what you can here first! Then get the stretcher! I won't leave her!"
"Fine!" Chopper said, rummaging through his bag. He pulled out something that looked like a sharpened straw. "I am going to have to stab this into her to re-inflate her lung."
Luffy flinched, then smiled at Misaki, placing his forehead against hers. "Ok, this is gonna hurt, ok?" Misaki didn't respond, still gasping and breathing rapidly, her other hand grasped desperately at his collar. Chopper stabbed her in the chest. A scream ripped through her throat, making Luffy's heart hurt. "It's ok it's ok. Breathe. Breathe slow and steady." A hiss escaped through the tube. Slowly but surely, her breathing got less erratic. Misaki started taking deeper breaths, only to start coughing up more blood. "I'm here."
Luffy tore his eyes away from hers just long enough to look pleadingly at Chopper.
"Here, put your finger right here and do NOT move!"
"Why's that?"
"She severed an artery here. If you move your finger, she will bleed out and die."
A chill went up Luffy's spine and he broke into a cold sweat. He looked at Misaki. She was still watching him. He feigned a smile to try and reassure her. Her grasp on his sleeve tightened.
"I'm here" Luffy muttered.
"Take your other hand and press down here on her abdomen. Hard." He followed Chopper's instructions, forcing a bloodcurdling scream from Misaki.
"I know I know. Try not to move, Misaki." Luffy murmured. Chopper ran to get the stretcher as the fighting began to die down. Luffy was certain his crew could handle this on their own. They had to.
"Luffy, I'm sorry." She struggled to say.
"You have nothing to be sorry about"
"Yes... I do."
"Save your strength, Misaki."
"I didn't... mean any of it."
"You shouldn't be talking."
"I haven't made a decision... About going... home."
"M' please stop talking."
"I have to get this out." She gasped, trying to find the breath to continue. "I only said that... cause... I was... hurt..."
"You can tell me this later."
"Cause it hurt when you said... you didn't love me. I know it's not... been long, but.... I... I love you... Monkey D. Luffy." She smiled weakly at him. "You're the reason... I can't.... Decide..."
Luffy gulped. Tears welled up in his eyes.
"I'm so in love with you... it hurts..." she cried.
"Misaki... I..."
Just then, Chopper showed back up. They got her to the infirmary, where Luffy still refused to leave her side.
"I hate to do this to you, Misaki, but you are too weak to put under anesthesia. I'm going to start with repairing your artery so you can't make it worse by thrashing around. You have to be still, ok?"
Misaki nodded weakly. Luffy could feel himself trembling. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop. When she moaned in pain, he gritted his teeth. Why? Why did she have to be put through this? If only he had been on his A game. He put her in this position. Maybe she really is better off going home. She would be safe at least.
Chopper finished with the artery and moved on to removing the bullets. She screamed as he made his first incision, her muscles tensing before she slammed herself back down on the table, biting her lip. She was trying so hard to stay still, despite the pain.
"I'm here, Misaki. I'm right here." Luffy repeated. She gritted her teeth, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment. Her breathing got sharper and Luffy pressed his forehead against hers. "I'm here. I'm here."
"Another one down. Luffy, you have to move your hand now." Chopper stated.
Luffy moved his hand, reaching up to her face and holding her with both hands now, accidentally smearing blood on her cheek. Misaki screamed through her teeth, eventually petering out into a whine. Luffy's heart was in pieces. Shattered more than ever before. He kissed her on the nose, then pressed his lips to her forehead as she whimpered. Don't die. He is almost done.
Then it was time for the last one. All chopper had to do now was stitch up on more bullet hole. This one went straight through. So there would be no bullet to find. It did, however, mean that they were going to have to roll her over.
When it was time to, chopper opted to only have her roll on her side. He checked to make sure he didn't need to cauterize anymore bleeds and then sewed her up.
It was over. At least, the hardest part.
"Is she going to make it?" Luffy asked Chopper.
"Honestly, it's all dependent on her Will. She sustained a lot of damage. The most important thing she needs now is rest."
"You hear that, Misaki? You need to rest now. I won't leave your side. I promise."
Misaki held Luffy's gaze for a moment, hoping to have the strength to say one more thing. But her vision blurred, and her eyes fluttered shut as she unwillingly fell asleep.