Broken Only to Heal Again

AN: Sorry for the delay in posting. I completely forgot! Feel free to yell at me... *hangs head in shame*


Chapter 20

The Straw Hat crew had no idea what forces were at work, but the wind that filled their sails seemed almost unnatural. The moment they switched the normal canvas out for the solid black, the skies darkened and rain began to come down in sheets. The Merry made her way through the torrential waters at neck breaking speed with Nami standing calmly at the helm, screaming her orders so that they might be heard over the roar of thunder around them. Usopp shocked everyone by volunteering to stand in the crow’s nest for lookout.

“I’m the best one for the job. I, the Great Captain Usopp with my all seeing goggles, can spot any target in near blackness and see further than anyone on the Grand Line. Besides, Luffy and the others are better off down here where they can be better secured.” Usopp shouted for the others to be able to hear him. He was shaking with fear the entire time, but his thoughts were centered on the small boy that had reminded him so much of his crew back home. He would be brave and do everything in his power to get him back safely.

Zoro watched the long nosed man climb up to the lookout and told himself that he would need to remember to thank the Marksman when this was all done. It was true that Usopp’s sight was the best in the crew, but to have him willingly volunteer was a strange thing for them all to witness. He had truly grown up during his time with Luffy. They all had. Even Chopper had grown a little more accustomed to the compliments and less scared of every human he met. Nami had finally put something else besides gold on the top of her want list. Luffy had matured, but kept his boyish innocence that everyone fell in love with. Robin was the oldest, and therefore had the least need to grow, but even still she had learned to trust her fellow mates and open up to them. Sanji was the one who seemed to have changed the least, and Zoro was glad for that. He was the one constant the swordsman had in his life.

Zoro headed back to the galley to look for a knife. He knew that the old woman said for him to wait as long as possible to take the bandages off, but they were uncomfortable and now completely soaked from the rain. He avoided Sanji’s good meat knives, opting for a pair of poultry shears. He sat down at the table and fumbled with them for a moment before getting a decent hold and began to cut away the white gauze, starting at his wrist on the back of his right hand.

When the material fell away, he could still see a good deal of salve coating the inside of the bandage. Slowly, he turned over his freed hand and gasped in awe. There was only a faint pink line across his palm now, the deep wound completely healed. Quickly, he started to remove the other. Again, the bloody mess from Kuro’s broken swords had been mended, leaving only a small scar as evidence that it had even happened at all. No wonder he had to take an oath to destroy the wrappings and all traces of the medical cream.

Knowing the wet bandages wouldn’t burn, Zoro folded them carefully and hid them in an empty pot that only Sanji used. He could come back for them later after this was all done and keep his promise to the people of Somerton. As long as Chopper didn’t know about it, he could still use the bandages for any other injuries he might incur during this fight. Zoro closed his eyes as he let the hot water from the sink rinse over his healed hands. As long as he didn’t need the medicine for someone else, all would be fine. If that bastard hurt either of them in any way, he would suffer long and hard. Zoro dried off and headed back out onto the deck. The sooner they could spot that Marine ship, the sooner they could get back their nakama and kill the bastards that took them.

****TBB,OTHA****

James, Jack’s brother, watched Saya and her son’s reunion. He was still having a hard time believing that his traitorous brother was willing to let help the resistance, but the kid said he was a good guy, so James gave him a chance. The plan was that their best lookouts would try to somehow signal a truce with the Pirate ship and then try to approach them in a small boat. Then the resistance would go and try to negotiate some kind of alliance so that Fanton and his truly loyal men could be taken out.

Soon the messenger arrived and James ran for the turret. Teki took off after him, excited to be seeing his new nakama again, making Saya chase him, worried for his safety. Hopefully, the Straw Hats would understand the meaning of the flags and be willing to meet. It didn’t take long for the answer.

****TBB,OTHA****

On the Merry, Usopp spotted the battleship and called the others ready for action. He almost fell out of the crow’s nest at what he saw next. The main flag of the ship held the dreaded blood red flag with a white sword, showing it to be the Sanguine Blade. There were four additional flags atop the look-out posts that should have all been marked with the Marine emblem. As the Marksman searched through the pouring rain, he realized that one of the flags was replaced with something he never thought he would see on a Marine ship. It was a pure white flag, a sign of surrender, directly above the Going Merry’s own Jolly Roger.

“Oi, Luffy! Zoro!” Usopp cried out as he tried to hurry down the mast. Unfortunately, he lost his grip about halfway down and fell to the deck in a heap, barely missing poor Chopper. When Zoro pulled him up he started rambling about what he had seen.

“Something’s going on over there! When I was looking at the flags I noticed one of them has been changed. Someone is flying our flag on that ship! Do you think it might be Sanji?”

“What?” Zoro ran to the bow of the ship and looked out into the storm, trying to make out something in the dark shadows that would make sense. Nami ran up beside him with a set of binoculars and searched as well jumping up and down happily when she was able to confirm what Usopp had seen.

“I think it would be best if Luffy took Usopp and Zoro with him and went to check this out. Then Usopp could send us back a signal letting us know what is going on.” Nami had gathered everyone back in the galley so they could talk a little easier.

“What? Why me? I can’t go over there! Agh, Chopper, I think I’m sick. My I-can’t-board-that-ship-because-its-too-scary-flu has come back!” Usopp pretended to fall over in a faint. Chopper was about to check on his fellow mate when Zoro put a hand out to stop him.

“Zoro! Your hands! Why did you take off the bandages? You’ll never heal if you…“ Chopper gasped as he looked over Zoro’s palms. “How?” The rest of the crew gathered around as well to inspect the miracle.

“I heal fast.” The tone of Zoro’s voice left no room for argument. He looked over at Robin, “My swords.”

The Archeologist nodded and walked over to the oven, opening it and pulled out a large bundle. Zoro’s swords emerged from the dark cloth and he inspected each one meticulously, apparently pleased, before he placed them on his hip. Zoro still wore his blue shirt from Skypiea instead of his normal white Henley, and his black bandanna was securely tied to his upper arm but his haramaki was sadly still MIA. Zoro’s determination was reflected in each member of the crew as they prepared. It wouldn’t be long before the men on the Sanguine would be able to see them. Now they needed to hurry and determine what the flag changes meant.

“Let’s get going.” Luffy led the way followed closely by Zoro and Usopp. Nami came running up behind them and wrapped her arms around the Captain.

“Please, be careful.” She whispered into his neck.

Luffy turned in her arms returning the embrace and kissed her passionately. Zoro turned his head away from the loving scene, his heart aching to be able to be on the receiving end of a kiss such as that. He scowled realizing that he still hadn’t been able to taste that shitty-cook’s lips. If he made it out of this alive, he would definitely have to change that.

Luffy would have to catapult the three of them over to the ship, and in this weather, it was going to prove difficult to aim correctly. But the Captain had his First Mate and Marksman there to help get him to safety if he missed.

“OK! You guys hurry up and we’ll see you there.” Usopp and Zoro grabbed onto Luffy as he stood at the aft of the ship and shot his arms out. “Gomu Gomu no Rocket!”

They sailed through the air on a perfect course and crashed through the cabin wall, snickering at the surprised looks on the faces of the four Marines as they landed in the room under the pole carrying their flag’s likeness. Six more came from the outside to investigate the crash. Upon seeing that the Pirates had arrived, four were sent to cover up the intrusion and the rest joined them inside the room, out of the pouring rain. One of the Marines stumbled forward and dropped to his knees.

“Strawhat-san, please hear us out.”

Usopp hid behind Zoro, who had his hands on the hilts of his swords while Luffy tried to decide what to do. The amused Captain of the Going Merry cocked his head to the side and studied the Marine prostrated before him. He was curious and that was enough for him to sit right down and listen.

“OK. Where’s my Cook? And where’s Teki?”

Everyone in the room relaxed and the Marines began to fill them in on what was going on.

“There are a decent number of us stationed throughout the ship that are against Fanton and his tyrannous rule. One of them brought young Muteki to us instead of delivering him to Fanton’s chambers to act as his Cabin Boy.” The poor man shuddered at the vicious growl that was emitted by the Swordsman. “As for the other prisoner, he was taken to the brig and is being guarded by men that are loyal to Fanton. We can show you where that is if you like.”

“I’ll go get Sanji and Usopp will go get Teki. Zoro you go find Sanguine-ossan. We’ll meet up with you after the others are free.” Luffy stood up and dusted himself off.

Sounds of running footsteps could be heard coming down the halls. Zoro kicked out his swords an inch and readied himself, but nothing he did could have ever prepared him for what came around the corner.

“Saya,” he whispered.

She stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of him, unsure of just what to do. A small figure ran by her and leapt into the stunned pirate’s arms and hugged him with all his strength.

“Tousan, I was so scared. Now that you’re here, you can make it all better.” Teki worried for a moment when he didn’t get a reaction out of Zoro, other than his initial catch to keep them both upright. Slowly, his father’s arms tightened around him and he felt his hot breath on his head as the man held him close and calmed his rapid heart.

“I’m here. It’s over. We just need to get that ero-cook and get out of here now.” Had Zoro been any other man, he probably would have broke down and cried with the joy of having his son back in his arms. Instead, he pulled Teki back a bit to look him over. The bruise on the side of Teki’s face had swollen his eye and face slightly, but mostly it appeared to be discoloration in his skin.

“Did Fanton do this?” Zoro pushed his hair back so he could study the damage completely. Slowly Teki nodded yes, and buried his face back in his father’s shoulder. Zoro held him tight and closed his eyes willing that he not find Sanji in the same condition. No amount of pain he could think of would suffice if both of them were hurt. He was already livid that the man had the audacity to touch his son. Not to mention, he had another difficulty to deal with at the moment.

“Zoro?” Saya held back as she tried to decide if it was safe to approach him. “I…”

“Stop.” Zoro continued to hold his son close and kept his eyes closed. “Tell me why I should not just kill you where you stand for what you have done to me?”

He felt Muteki stiffen in his hold and regretted his words immediately. He opened his eyes and searched deep into her dulled blue eyes filled with tears. Try as he might, he could not hold back the edge of hatred to his voice. The Marines in the room began reaching for their weapons, unsure of how to react to this new development. They needed the cooperation of the Straw Hats, but felt an immediate obligation to protect their Lady, too. Saya hung her head in shame as she tried to salvage what little chance she might have left to regain her ex-lover’s trust.

“He threatened to kill you if I didn’t agree to marry him, and if I tried to warn you of it, he would kill Otousan as well. I had to do it. I had no choice. Please, believe me, Zoro-san. I beg of you!” Saya threw herself at the swordsman’s feet and touched her head to his boots, tears running freely down her face.

After witnessing Saya’s confession, the six Marines present backed off slightly to give Zoro and Saya some privacy. Their numbers were nowhere near enough to stand against these legendary pirates. They watched silently as Zoro gently passed his son to Usopp before fisting his hands to keep himself from striking out the sobbing woman.

“So what? You just blindly followed him? I didn’t work that hard just to be thrown aside by the ones I’ve vowed to protect. I could have kept you safe if you had given me the chance. But you didn’t.”

Usopp and Luffy both threw angry glares at the woman. So this is the reason that she left him. Did she not realize that he would have much rather died protecting her than to be stabbed in the back like she had done? Luffy stood up beside his First Mate, his physical presence showing his support for his friend’s anger. Usopp continued to hold the worried child as he watched his parents fight for the first time in his life. Teki had been warned by his mother that his father would be mad at her, but seeing it in real life was very scary.

“And my son? Why did you not tell me of him?”

“I wanted to, but I was afraid of what you would think. That maybe, you wouldn’t believe me.” She stood and faced him, cringing as he began shouting again.

“Damn it, Saya! I fucking had a right to know! Besides, how could I deny him? He’s my exact image! Instead, you let that bastard act as his father. That’s just bullshit!” Zoro yelled at her. He threw his fist against the table beside him, crushing it and sending all the assorted items on it flying. “I wasn’t there for the birth of my first son! I haven’t been able to provide for him, or teach him. Tell me what I was fucking supposed to think!” Zoro was fuming. “I swore that I would defend you against anything. Did you have so little faith in me?”

“I was barely more than a child! I didn’t know any better. I should have, yes, but I didn’t, and I’ve paid the price every day since.” Saya gathered her hair up and untied the sash holding her dress closed.

Saya turned her back to Zoro as the gown slipped off her shoulders, down to her waist, revealing a massive amount of scars littering her back. She kept an arm across her chest, holding up the fabric to give her a bit of modesty. Gasps were heard from all in the room, Marines and Pirates alike. Angry words were exchanged between the uniformed men as they spoke of things they would like to see done to their commanding officer. The shaken woman slipped her dress back up on her shoulders and tied it shut. Slowly, she stood and brought her head up to meet their shocked faces. Her watery blue eyes met with Zoro’s hard black ones.
Her lack of faith had hurt him more than her betrayal, and there was nothing she could do to deny that. She honestly believed that he would fail against Fanton, or she would have run to him immediately. She knew in her heart that he would die if he drew his sword that day.

“I have battled against Kami and his henchmen, yet I still stand. I even went up against Mihawk himself, knowing that I might die.” Zoro lifted his shirt to show the wide scar running across his torso and let it fall back to his waist. “Do you really think that I would have lost against that son of a bitch? I’ve trained my entire life to be the best, and what you did made me look like a coward.”

Saya’s eyes went wide with shock. She had never called him a coward, ever. “Zoro, I was trying to protect you. I did it because I loved you, and I wanted you safe. I knew that in time you would be able to beat him, yes, but at that moment you just weren’t ready.”

“How would I know unless I tried?!” His voice resounded off the walls and in her chest.

“And if you did try and failed, I would have lost you, my father and still have been forced to marry him!” She screamed back at him. “At least that way I could keep you safe until you had more time to train. I couldn’t lose you!” Saya buried her face in her hands and willed the tears to stop.

Zoro struggled to accept her words, a part of him in the back of his mind silently acknowledging that she was right. There was a chance that he could have been beat. On some level her logic made sense, but to his honor and his pride, they were just empty words. Zoro knew that one day he would forgive her, but he first needed time to sort out his emotions. He studied her for a moment, trying to find the right words.

“What is it you want from me?”

Saya sighed in relief. He was still very angry, but at least now, he would listen. “I’m not asking for you to love me again, I know I don’t deserve that. Just take our son, and keep him away from that monster. I will stay here and complete my penance.”

“No! Kasan!” Teki struggled out of Usopp’s hold and ran to her. She scooped him up in her arms and held him tight. “Don’t leave us. I miss you.”

“I know, my little ryu, I miss you too. But I can’t risk losing you. You’ll be safer with your new okasan and your real otousan.” Her eyes were filled with sadness as she sought out the swordsman again. A sad smile graced her lips as the crease in the Swordsman’s forehead deepened. “Sanji-kun is a good man. Your otousan made a good choice with him. He loves you both very much and has much to teach you.”

“You can come with us.” Luffy offered. Zoro nodded in his agreement to the offer.

“When this is over, we will take you somewhere safe. I will leave it up to Teki if he wishes to come with me or not.” She could not stay with them, but he could at least make sure she got back to somewhere she could be safe. Maybe he could even take her back to Somerton.
The Marines sighed in relief, knowing that if Saya did go with the Straw Hats, she would be safe. They wanted her to finally be free of the abuse she had lived with all these years. They had feared that the irate Swordsman was going to attack her at first and were unsure of how they would have handled it. They needed to defend her, but in doing so they would have definitely lost their lives. That this had ended without violence, aside from a broken table, was a huge relief as well.

“No. Thank you, but I need to finish this. Fanton must be stopped.”

Shouts from down the hall brought everyone to attention. The door burst open and an injured Marine fell into the room. The heavy set Marine that had entered with Saya rushed to his aide. The bruised man was seated in a chair before they started the barrage of questions.

“Ni-san, what happened? Did Fanton do this? Where is he now? Did you find out where they are holding the other prisoner?”

Zoro walked up and grabbed Jack by his shirt and yanked him up to eye level. “You’d better tell me what you know you piece of shit, and make it fast.”

“I know that you snore when you’re on your back and that the blonde drools on your chest when he sleeps.” Jack let out a yelp when Zoro’s fist slammed into his face, sending him across the room and knocking out a few teeth. He spat out the broken pieces of bone along with the blood and turned to look at the angry pirates. “You’d better hurry. Fanton is playing with him right now.” Zoro’s advance stopped as Saya caught his arm before he could cross the room and finish the kidnapper off.

“No!” Saya called out in fear and surprise. “Zoro you have to hurry. This is bad. Fanton will…” she looked to her son, still held in her arms, trying to find the right words to say what she needed without saying it outright. “He plays rough with pretty boys.”

Zoro and Usopp’s eyes widened in understanding, while Luffy just nodded like he knew what was going on. Faster than should be humanly possible, Zoro had pulled Jack back up and had pulled out his sword.

“Tousan, no! He saved me!” Teki shouted from Saya’s arms. He wiggled out of his mother’s hold and he ran across the room to stand between the two tall men. “He was told to bring me to Otousan’s room, but he didn’t. He took me som-”.

“Never,” Zoro’s voice was low and harsh, “ever call him that again. You are MY son.” He glared at Jack hard before continuing. “If you’re on our side, then why take them in the first place.”

“I thought they were bait to lure you here. They weren’t supposed to be harmed. Just a payback for someone named Hiro, a guy in his past I think. He wanted you to suffer so what better way than to take your lover and your son.” Jack couldn’t keep the cynical grin off his face.

Luffy started laughing and Usopp shouted in disbelief. “What, you mean you two really were together?”

“Haha, you owe Nami 500 beli!” Luffy held his stomach and slapped his leg in pure amusement.

“I didn’t accept the bet! She just said it!” The two started bickering between themselves as the Marines shook their heads. It was really hard to believe that this goofy kid was one of the strongest men in the Grand Line.

Zoro ignored them, instead focusing his mind to search for any reference to the name Hiro. Finding none, he turned to Saya to see if she could shed some light on the subject. “Do you know who Hiro is?” When she shook her head no, he let the man go and Jack dropped to a heap on the ground.

Teki waited for him to sheath his sword before he reached out and took one of Zoro’s hands and examined it in awe. He looked up to question the swordsman but refrained from speaking as he noticed his parents caught in an intense staring contest.

Zoro tried to decide just how he felt about his ex. She was the mother of his son, but not the one who currently held his heart. He could tell that she still held affection for him, but didn’t know if she would expect it in return. She had even spoken highly of Sanji earlier. Sanji. Shit, he needed to hurry.

Jack had just gotten to his feet and leaned against the wall for support. He was sure there was internal bleeding, but he couldn’t stop now. “So, if you want to be his first, you need to hurry. Back down this hall to the second corridor and turn right. Then…”

Zoro finished tying his bandanna around his head and grabbed Jack by his collar, dragging him through the doorway. “Just fucking show me. I don’t have time for this shit. Usopp, take Saya and Teki back to the ship. Luffy, lets go.”

“Yosh!” Luffy threw his fist in the air, excited to finally be getting down to business.

“Zoro!” Saya ran after him. He stopped and turned as she grabbed his head, pulling him down, “I believe in you, this time” and crushed their lips together. Zoro allowed her to move her lips against his for a moment before pushing her away.

“But I believe in him, always.” Zoro jerked on Jack’s shirt and started moving again. “Let’s find this son of a bitch”

Jack chanced looking back over his shoulder to the Lady of the ship. She deserved the broken hearted aura she had about her, he thought. She had deceived this man and left him for another, not to mention kept his son away from him. Any anger the Swordsman felt for her was justified in his book.

Saya stood still, letting the pain wash over her, surrounding her like a suffocating blanket of ice. Mixed emotions played across the faces of the Marines in the room. They were torn between their duty to protect her, and their feelings about how she had betrayed the Pirate. In the end duty won, and they approached Usopp, ready to assist in their return to their ship.

“I have to get back to the others now. We need to spread the word of our cooperation with the Straw Hats so that no one will be needlessly harmed. We have a small boat ready to head over to your ship. We didn’t expect you to come over here like that, though I guess we should have. These men can take you back as soon as you’re ready.” James stepped forward to address Usopp.

“What? Oh, yah. Teki lets get you back home. I know I need to get out of here soon. I bet Nami is about to explode with worry, wondering if we’re ok. Besides, we could use Robin’s help over here, and Chopper might be needed for Sanji if he’s hurt.” Usopp held his hand out for the boy and waited for him to come over. “Saya-san? We need to go now.”

Saya kept her back to them and shook her head no. “Gomen, Usopp-san, but I have some things I need to get from my quarters before I can leave. No Marine on this ship will harm me, be they loyal to Fanton or not. I will return here and wait for the others when I am done.” With that said she took off into the corridor and disappeared from sight.

“Saya-san!”

“Kasan!”

“You two follow her and keep her safe,” James ordered. Two of the larger Marines in the room took off after her. “Don’t worry, she’s right. The men aboard this ship love her dearly, and will not attack her. I’ll have men waiting here for her to get back, and send her over to you immediately.”

Usopp was torn between his responsibility to keep Teki safe, and his word to take both of them to the ship. Remembering the way the men were ready to defend her against Zoro, he decided that she would probably be fine with those two Marines going after her. He scooped up Teki and followed the remaining men out the door to the small boat waiting to take them back to Merry.

Saya continued running, skirting around clusters of men and spreading the word about the mutiny. Blue cloths were pulled from hidden pockets and affixed to their arms to signify them as rebels. Her path was cleared quickly as she continued to her room, praying that Zoro would be safe and return to them unharmed.

The fighting hadn’t reached the section where Saya and Fanton’s quarters were in yet, but she could hear the battle going on inside the private quarters of the Vice-Admiral. Sanji must be a powerful fighter to get him riled up enough to last this long. For Sanji’s sake, at least the shouts were in anger still and not in pain.

She locked her door behind her and made her way to the armoire to retrieve her possessions. She let her gown fall to the floor and began dressing in the fitted black leather. It was still stiff, but fortunately she had not gained much in size since she bought it. She had snatched an old belt from one of the less observant Marines to use to hang low on her hip and hold her swords. Sanji’s screams pierced the walls and caused her to freeze. She had to do something, anything, to help him. Her son needed the man, and she owed it to him to at least try. Quickly she began lacing up her clothes and reached for the boots...

****TBB,OTHA****

“Turn right up there…. No! Right, dumbass!” Jack yelled as Zoro took off left. He was rewarded by the angry man slamming his head into the wall a few times as they turned around.

Jack stumbled as he was shoved along the corridor. Most of the marines were in combat against each other, only knowing who was on opposite sides by the bright blue bandanna tied to the upper arm of the mutineers. They met with little resistance on their way, finding most men were happy to see them there to take on the Vice Admiral. The few that did resist met with the sharp side of Zoro’s blade, or the blunt force of Luffy’s fist.

Zoro kept Jack in one hand and his sword in the other, cutting down any opposition that was stupid enough to not step aside. Two more wrong turns later, accompanied by several curses and Jack’s impacts with hard surfaces, they came to the corridor with Fanton’s quarters. When they rounded the last corner they met with a large group advancing from behind.

A faint voice could be heard yelling above the sounds of fighting.

“… every Kami out there that I will kill you! Shit! Get the fuck off me Asshole!”

“Go! Find him. I’ll take care of these guys!” Luffy faced the armed men with a determined stance. Shouts of “Gomu Gomu no Pistole” were heard as Zoro left Jack behind and sprinted towards the familiar voice, letting panic set in when Sanji started to scream.

“The black doors, not the red ones. He’s behind the black doors.” The battered man on the floor called out, his message barely making it through Zoro’s mind.

He burst through a doors and could see his nakama chained to the bed, half naked with a huge black man between his legs, a look of pure ecstasy on the maniac’s face as he tightened his grip in the pale hips below him. The Swordsman took in the fear and pain clearly plastered on the Cook’s face and felt the world close in around them. All that was left was the enemy and the desire to annihilate it.