Zoro's POV
It was quiet, really quiet.
Not that i was complaining, i like the quiet. Listening to the waves lap against the side of the ship as i keep watch, squinting as moonlight glinted off the blade of my Katana and illuminating the room like a light. I liked watching the stars.
The silence was broken by a weird sound escaping Luffy's throat, a sort of sound a frog would make from being compressed under two elephants. I had only seen him once before like this, at water 7 after his and Usopp's duel.
His head was bowed and the shadow of his hat masked his eyes, his muscles were tense and his shoulders shook as he struggled to maintain his composure. He wasn't doing to well, he looked like a lost child, helpless in a huge world surrounded by strangers and not knowing where to find his mother, but trying to be a man about it.
"Zoro" he finally spoke, his voice cracked as he said my name!
I couldn't bring myself to look at his face. I didn't like seeing my nakama cry. I hate to admit it but Luffy is like a little brother to me i guess. And i don't know any big brother who can watch their younger one cry, even if they're not blood related.
"I don't believe you're dead" Luffy continued, not bothering to wipe away the silent tears now sliding down his cheek. "I won't accept it."
His face brightened. " I'll give you some of my meat if you wake up."
That sounds really inviting Luffy! But thanks you keep it. I said.
When nothing happened, Luffy shrank back into his depressed self. " I don't want to continue to Raftel without you, we're nakama, and nakama don't leave anyone behind. We stick by each other no matter what, and now... i can't figure out if i want to go on." He smiled weakly." but i know you would probably kick my ass if i didn't continue."
Damn straight, i want you to continue your journey on the Grand line, if this legend turns out to be nothing but a load of bullshit and i stay dead forever, i sure as hell do not want to have died only for you to give up Luffy! i said loudly but he couldn't hear me...
Luffy took his time, talking about how stupid i was and laughing half heartedly at all the memories we made. " Remember whisky peak when i tried to kill you for slaughtering the people there? that was fun." He recalled when we first met back in the east blue, and wondered aloud how Coby was doing.
At one point, Luffy leaned over my face and pulled apart one of my eyelids as if cheking for the millionth time to see if i really was sleeping. It was an eerie sight, looking at my own dead eyes. No sign of life glowed in my dilated pupils, staring up at nothing. Luffy sighed and sat back again, my eyelid sliding closed.
I moved to sit on a bench directly across my lamenting captain, looking out the window and watched the other crew members gathered in a small circle on the lawn, picking at the grass and talking. Robin however was distant from everyone sitting on a chair with her head down, her eyes were filled with sadness! every time i look at her in that state, i hate myself more for doing this to Robin. How could i do this to her? what if the legend was just a lie and i didn't come back to life? what would happen to Robin then?
I was deep in thought when i heard a sound, i turned around to see but i froze! my invisible face an inch away from Luffy's. Without my noticing he had snuck up on me and had leaned across the bench to get right in my face. I knew i shouldn't be worried. The worst that could happen is that i would overshadow him, and it would be broken once he moved away, but the rubber man's eyes were locked on mine like he could actually see me and it sent shiver down my spine!
Moving slowly, i skirted around him until i had maneuvered my way completely around him and was standing behind him, breathing unnecessarily hard. Luffy's eyes had followed me, but he stayed put, turning to face me like he really could see me. His eyes narrowed, and he opened his mouth to speak.
"Is that-?"
"Oi Luffy!" a voice yelled, and someone banged on the door. "we need to talk about something." Luffy opened the door and Usopp was revealed through the hatch, his eyes bloodshot from tears.
"We've been talking and there's things we need to discuss". Said the sniper.
"What about?" asked the captain.
"I don't know, Nami sent me to get you"
Luffy noded, casting one forlorn look back at me, which really creeped me out, he followed Usopp down the ladder.
After a moment i followed and joined the rest of the crew. There was a brief silence and during that silence i noticed that Robin was looking at me just like Luffy before! I don't know why and how that is possible but for some reason it appears Luffy and Robin can't quite see me but they can sense my presence! But how? I was wondering to myself when a voice suddenly broke the silence.
"We have been thinking about this tale about the Resurrection ceremony" Said Nami. "In order for this to work Zoro-bro had to die in the honor of someone else. so who?" asked the cyborg.
Silence filled the place, Sanji looked uncomfortable, his eyes unreadable. Brook looked really weird too, staring at the ero cook like he was sympathetic. Everyone else was ultimately confused.
Sanji broke the silence, "I think i'll go say my words now"
After receiving a nod from everyone, Sanji ascended to the crow's nest and i followed. He started out much like Luffy, just sitting and staring. His eyes were distant but really pissed off, and i smirked. The guy looked so pitiful, if i ever get resurrected, i'm so going to hold it against him.
"You asshole!" was the first thing he said, and i was expecting that. "You just had to go and die didn't you? you had to be the hero, sacrificing yourself for all our shitty sakes."
He stood and began pacing the room, chomping on his cigarette. After a minute, all the sudden anger rage subsided and he stared forlornly at my body. "I'm not going to tell anyone, About the whole thing i mean. You have your own honor to uphold even in death." he said then he looked out the window. "Imagine what the rest of them would say and do if they ever found out. Even though i don't know exactly what happened, exactly how it went down, but i do know that it's not worth sharing when your pride is on the line." he then continued " You just piss me off so much. The first time i met you i just hated your guts and i had no idea why, but now that i think about it, i think it was because you decided to fight Mihawk. You were prepared to die for your dream, but in the contract i was ready to die for Zeff's, defending the Baratie. You just paid attention to your own motives and didn't account for the other people you would leave behind if you died. So self centered. So get back so i can kick your ass officially."
"And how dare you leave the ladies? especially Robin! i hate to admit it but she loved you very much! and now that your gone she isn't the same person anymore, her beautiful smile is gone and she never will be the same Robin if this legend turns out to be bullcrap and you stay dead!
Luffy is an idiot, Usopp is a coward, Chopper is a reindeer, Franky is a pervert and Brook is literally an old skeleton! That leaves only me to protect them and tend to their needs. Even though you didn't even realize it you made each day interestingly boring."
Sanj's expression changed and revealed him as humiliated."I see you as... a brother i never had!"
I cocked my head, confusion exploding in my mind. A brother? since when? i hate his guts and we fought all the time! Though we annoyed each other we worked well as a team... i guess. And we do have the same basic ideals even if our methods are different. And now that he has promised not to reveal my cause of death, i feel a bit indebted to him. I hate this feeling so i'll have to find a way to repay him if i get back.
There was a suddenly a soft rap at the door and Sanji answered it. It was Brook who appeared on the other side. "May i enter, Sanji san?" he asked and the cook noded in response. The two men sat crossed legged on either side of my immobile form.
"I just want to say that i saw your valiant act," Brook said after a minute of silence." It truly affected me, and i believe it to be very honorable."
Sanji didn't say anything, but let out a puff of smoke." It wasn't honorable, i was just trying to save a useless marimo." he said.
brook shook his head." I disagree, you may not realize it, but you and Zoro are very much alike in your stubbornness and loyalty. Both of you were willing to throw away your lives for the sake of your captain, and i find that says a lot about Luffy himself. Looks like he has a knack for knowing the best people to have on his crew."
"Brook what happened while i was unconscious?" Asked the cook and Brook complied and talked about how he had gained consciousness as i had launched my Shi Shi Son Son on the shichibukai. he talked in admiration at my first request to replace my head for Luffy's. Sanji entered the picture then offering his own life. And then the skeleton took a more weary tone as he described the effects of the giant ball of pain i had endured, which eventually claimed my life.
Sanji didn't interrupt through the entire story and i was amazed at how detailed the musician was. When the story was over the cook breathed a ring of smoke." That explains why Luffy is lively as ever, and Zoro is dead" he said " i had assumed that Zoro would be taken prisoner for public execution, but this..."
Brook smiled sadly" Loyalty is a man's best quality," he said." i can only imagine the vast amount the straw hat crew must possess in order to be part of Luffy's life."
Sanji grunted out a laugh." I suppose" he said," but that says a lot about you, too. Luffy's been hell bent on a musician since we hit the grand line, and you must be something if you're the chosen one."
"I'm just a bag of old bones." said the musician.
"And that's part of it" sanji smiled," A half naked cyborg, a reindeer, four people with devil fruits, a man with freakishly long nose, me with curly eyebrows and a green headed guy, all crazy enough to break into Enies lobby for one nakama and Nami swan and Robin chwan are just perfect! you'll fit right in"
"Yohohoho thank you Sanji san" said brook Softly.
Robin's POV
Earlier when Luffy came down from crow's nest after having his moment with Zoro. Shortly after him something else also came down, a very weak green like color light! I first saw that very faint light when sanji carried Zoro's body in thriller bark, but at that moment i was so chocked and afraid that i didn't pay attention to it but now i have seen that light for the second time! I don't know why but i feel like i know this light! I was deep in thought when i was suddenly snapped out of it as Franky talked about the riddle and about how Zoro had to die for another man's honor in order for the Resurrection ceremony to work!
When that came up everyone was thinking about who could it be except Sanj and Brook who had a very strange look on their faces as if they knew something and didn't want the rest on the crew to know! I noticed that!
So when sanji went to the crow's nest and Brook followed him after a few minutes, I was really curious so i flowered an ear in the crow's nest and listened to their conversation and then i heard Brook tell the story about what Zoro did and how he died!
Alright guys this is it for chapter 4! I hope you are enjoying the story so far! If you are please let me know :)