A New Journey

Chapter 8: Silence

"So, any of you have a plan?" You ask.

Everyone was gathered around the fire, relishing in its warmth.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat, (Y/n)?" Nami asks with masked concern. The last time she saw you eat was when Ace was still in Alabasta.

"I'm fine."

"Oh!" Usopp jumps from his sitting position and searches for something in his bag. With a blue tape in his hand, he asks you to hold your arm out.

"What's that?" You quiz, watching as he places a strip of tape diagonally on your arm then peeling it off, the blue pigment sticking to your skin. He repeats the action, the two lines intersecting to make a cross mark.

"It's to avoid getting tricked by that Mr. 2. He hasn't seen your face, but better safe than sorry." Usopp shrugs, "Huh?"

You glance at the part of your arm that caught the sniper's attention: A patch of skin that was paler than the rest.

After staring at it for a few more seconds, he clears his throat, "A-Alright! We should get some sleep!" He announces, jumping over to a pile of Zoro and Chopper, an audible grunt escaping the swordsman's lungs.

"I'll keep watch." You say.

"But (Y/n)-san—" You cut the Princess off by giving her a small smile.

"It's alright, Princess. Don't worry about me."

Vivi falters in her approach to you, slowly returning your smile. She nods, returning to Nami's side.

Not too long after, the straw hats were asleep.

You sigh, glancing at their sleeping bodies, a warm orange bouncing of their relaxed countenances. Zoro, Usopp, and Chopper bundled together; Nami and Vivi beneath the cover of Sanji's suit, who was at a comfortable distance away from them.

Sitting next to a dozing Chopper, you take off the hood of the new cloak that Nami gave you and stare off into the cosmos. Maybe because it's a desert, but there were barely any clouds around. It only made the stars seem brighter than they already are.

Everything was so, quiet.

So, so, so, quiet.

"Live, (Y/n).

Take care of him, alright?

I love you."

The stars blurred as the words echoed in your mind.

You twitched as a headache hit you, clutching your hair at the pulsing throb in your head. Squeezing your eyes shut, you gnawed at your bottom lip, a short, sharp breath slipping past your lips when a scream of agony bounced off of your emptied thoughts. Followed by another. And another. And another. And another. And anothe—

"Oi."

You snap, eyes bloodshot and alert.

There was nothing. Everything was a complete blur.

In one quick move, your scythe was out to whoever was in front of you, "Who are you?"

-

The swordsman gazed at her open, but distant eyes. Barely an inch away from his face, the female's blade remained still despite the quiver of her hands.

For once, Zoro felt no need to sheath his sword despite being faced with a weapon. She felt more vulnerable than threatening. Her gaze was faraway and unfocused. As though she didn't recognize him. Her eyes weren't just empty. They looked... lost. Hollowed out. Like she had forgotten how to blink.