Fanfic- Expectant Time Chapter 7
I wasn't going to put this one out until I finished the next chapter but I'm going to out of town for a week... not sure if I'll finish it then but I probably won't be posting while I'm gone.
Title: Expectant Time Chapter 7
Rating: T
Category: Drama/Romance
Pairing: Tashigi/Zoro, Tashigi/Smoker (sort of)
Summary: Tashigi faces the consequences of some actions. She does not face them alone.
Spoilers: Mentions of many things before the time-skip.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. I'm not making any money. Please don't sue.
Month 16 part 3
Tashigi quickly changed in to her uniform jacket. Then, she woke her baby dendenmushi and called the communications center giving instructions for the patrols that had located members of the Strawhat crew to politely ask them to return to their ship. After informing them that she would escort the first officer herself, she disconnected. She grabbed a bag and sling and walked back out the back door.
She heard Suzume giggling as she walked out and looked around to see the baby standing on Zoro's lap tapping his shoulder with an old pie tin. Zoro was holding Suzume by the waist to keep her steady and talking to her in a low voice as she giggled. Tashigi wanted to stand there and watch longer but forced herself to interrupt.
"It's time to go," she announced as she began wrapping the baby sling around her. Suzume almost fell as she jumped off of Zoro, rushing to her mommy.
"Mommy! Up, up, up!"
Tashigi picked her up and adjusted her into a piggyback position, tightening the fabric to keep the wiggly girl close to her body.
"I could carry her," Zoro offered as Tashigi settled Suzume against her back. Suzume cuddled her shoulder and grabbed a handful of hair as she snuggled in.
Tashigi didn't look up from adjusting her sword-belt as she replied, "That would look suspect in public. I've informed Communications that I'm escorting you so we can walk together but people will wonder if I let a pirate carry my child." When she looked up, he was scowling. "I'm sorry… I'd like you to otherwise."
He waited for her to lead them out of the yard and walked with her out to the street.
"We could kidnap you. Then you wouldn't have to do this."
Tashigi looked at him incredulously. "I don't want to be kidnapped. I like being a Marine. And… it would be selfish to take Suzume into that kind of life."
"I don't know… this life isn't too bad."
"Maybe for someone older. But, what happens when the ship goes in to battle? There are so many ways a baby could be hurt. And, I don't want to get killed and leave her by herself. I don't even go out with the fleet anymore. She needs me with her."
"You don't go out on your ship anymore? How can you pursue your Justice that way?"
Tashigi sighed. "I still pursue it here, just like I did in Loguetown. It was just easier to do when we were traveling."
"Hmph…"
"I still want a real duel with you sometime."
Zoro wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Are you still after my swords?"
"Maybe. I'll decide after we duel for real. Until then, I'll just keep after you."
Zoro snorted. "That doesn't give me much motivation to duel you."
Tashigi blushed and didn't respond. They continued walking until they neared the dock. Tashigi nodded to the Marines standing guard. Zoro waited as she talked to them, keeping an eye on Suzume who had fallen asleep in the sling during the walk. After a few minutes, Tashigi came back to where he was standing.
"It looks like everyone is here but your captain. He's… eating."
Zoro snorted. "We'll be waiting a while then."
That's when they heard a voice calling from the Sunny. "Oi, Marimo! You made it back!"
Tashigi looked up at the ship and saw a blond man leaning against the railing near the gangplank. When he saw her, she could almost see hearts forming in his eyes.
"And who is this vision of loveliness that led you here? Please madam, come aboard and allow me to show you the hospitality that the Thousand Sunny is capable of."
Tashigi stared at him and felt her eyebrow twitch.
"Shut it, Ero-cook!" Zoro yelled. Then he looked at Tashigi and said in a low voice, "You should come aboard for a while anyway."
"I'll stay here, if that's alright."
Zoro stared at her for a moment. "I guess I'll just go take a walk then."
"What!"
"It'll be boring until Luffy gets back… I'll need to entertain myself."
Tashigi started at him hard as he looked back toward town. Feeling her annoyance rise, she glared. "Fine. I'll visit your ship until your captain gets back."
She walked back to the Marines who had been watching the conversation with interest and explained she would be boarding the ship to ensure none of the crew left. Zoro watched them protest and Tashigi reassure them before she turned back to him with another glare. "Let's go."
Zoro followed her up the gangplank where Sanji was noodle-dancing by the time they had climbed on board. Sanji continued to gush in Tashigi's direction as they walked toward the lawn deck where Chopper and Usopp were laying in the sun. Zoro ignored him until he heard Sanji exclaim, "And who is this little one that you are carrying?"
As Tashigi responded with Suzume's name, Zoro could see Sanji looking from Tashigi's face to Suzume's sleeping scowl and then back to Tashigi.
"Oi, Cook. Lay off her."
Sanji then looked at Zoro's face and Zoro could see the blond connecting pieces in that twisted brain of his. Shock bloomed on Sanji's face as he aimed a kick at Zoro's head. "You shitty~!"
"Don't," Zoro cut him off, blocking with the back of his sword. "Don't say anything."
"But!"
"And don't fight with the kid nearby."
Tashigi watched as a fight started and stopped right in front of her in only a few seconds. It took her a moment to process all that happened. Then she started to panic. "Oh my god. You know. How? How'd you figure out so fast?"
Zoro tried to calm her ineffectively. "It's not like he's going to tell anyone."
"That's not going to help her idiot!" Sanji yelled at him and then tried a different tactic. "It's really nothing, Mellorine! While her beauty matches yours, her sleeping face is one that anyone on this crew would recognize. Really, Marimo, I can't believe that something that resembles you can be as beautiful as this young girl."
Tashigi kept herself from hyperventilating and allowed the blond cook to guide her. "Please allow me to escort you to the lounge chairs. They're in the shade so you may rest and I will bring you some delicious refreshment. I'm sure Nami-san will be much better company than this idiot."
Already lounging was Cat Burglar Nami who opened her eyes at the approach. Sanji left with a happy frolic toward what Tashigi assumed was the kitchen.
"Visitors?" Nami sat up and shook out her long hair. "You're that Marine girl."
Tashigi nodded as she set her bag down and began to shift the baby sling. "Lieutenant Tashigi. This is my daughter Suzume," she said making introductions again. She sat down and brought Suzume around to her front so she could undo the sling. Suzume started to make unhappy waking noises as the movement disturbed her sleep.
"What brings you here?"
Tashigi looked back at Zoro hovering over her shoulder. "Your swordsman was being difficult about staying on ship unless I came too."
Nami raised an eyebrow.
As Tashigi brought the baby out of the sling, Suzume blinked sleepily and looked around. Looking up at Zoro, she smiled and giggled. Tashigi sighed and gave in to what Zoro had been wanting since they left her house. Turning, she reached out with the baby. "Here, you can hold her now."
Zoro took her with a smile and was immediately mobbed by other crew members that Tashigi didn't bother to recognize. She lay back and waited for her delicious refreshment.
…..
A couple of hours later, Tashigi did not see the Strawhat Captain coming when he returned. That's to be expected since he fell from the sky.
"Hey! Everyone's already here! Are we ready to go?"
"The log pose is set and the sails are ready so we can go anytime," Nami answered.
"Then I'll be going," Tashigi said walking towards the stairs to the lawn deck where Suzume was playing.
"Hey! You're Smokey's Marine girl! What are you doing here?" Luffy brought his face to hers, examining her.
"Oi, Luffy! We should kidnap her for a while," called Zoro as he walked up to the two.
"Okay! We haven't kidnapped anyone before."
"What the hell!" Tashigi yelled. "I don't want to be kidnapped! Let me off this boat!"
"Shishishi~! That's it! You're coming with us! Let's go!"
At Luffy's order, preparations already made, the anchor was brought up.
"No! A pirate ship is not place for a baby! Let us go!" Tashigi was feeling the return of the twitch she hadn't had since Garp left.
"Oh, hey! There's a baby down with Chopper! Is it coming too?"
"Of course," replied Zoro.
"Great! It'll be an adventure!"
"I don't want an adventure! I want to take my baby home!" She weighed her options. She was on the foredeck. Suzume was playing with the reindeer doctor down below on the grass. There was no way that she would be able to get her baby and jump ship before getting caught. She could see the dock with her panicking soldiers receding as the ship began to catch wind. Some were running to commandeer a nearby ship. They would never make it.
The Strawhats not involved in the conversation were shaking their heads at the futility of arguing with Luffy when he had made up his mind. Then, Zoro piped in again.
"We'll just keep you until the next island. How far away is that?"
"About a week," Nami called from across the deck.
"Okay. We'll give you back in about a week when Smoker comes after us. We'll negotiate safe passage for your return and no one will suspect a thing. Think of it as a vacation." Zoro looked very pleased with himself, as if he had solved some puzzle.
"I don't want a vacation!" Tashigi felt old anger welling up and clenched her jaw. "Why are you doing this?" she ground out, glaring at Zoro.
He looked at her almost softly. "I'm being selfish."
…
Author's Notes: I was planning on ending this chapter very differently. But, it wasn't shaping up and this idea occurred to me on the way to work and kept growing. I hope I can sustain it…