12:: Good-Bye Marines! Hello Deserted Island Can Bring Us To Our Doom!

"Hey Sano! How was the make out!" a Marine officer called when we returned.

"Great! Did you now Rhythm has a bar on her-"

"They don't need to know." I smacked him in the back and laughed.

"Did you really?" Nami asked.

"Nah I'm no slut. We just talked. Caught up on things and . . . stuff." I twirled a lock of hair around my finger.

"To think that such an act took place without me! Why betray me, my beloved Rhythm-dono! <3" Sanji grabbed my hands, hearts for eyes. "I will be here for you, no matter how many oceans I have to cross, every foul monster that lays before me! Your soft skin and lucious beauty brings a smile to even those blind! The seas-"

I just spaced out. This had nothing to do with anything. Damn I'm tired.

"Che. Stupid cook." Zoro said, sitting down and stretching.

Before I knew it, Nami was shaking my shoulders and Sano was snapping in my ear.

"Wha-oh hey." My mouth felt wet, like I just drooled.

"You fell asleep." Nami said.

"I did?" I wiped my mouth. Yup. Drool.

"Standing up even. Now that's skill!" Sano high-fived me.

"How much of my life did I miss?"

"Just a couple minutes," Robin said.

"Oh okay. Go on with all your tea parties and what-not. I'm tired," I yawned, "You guys woke me up-" i counted on my fingers, "5 hours to early."

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The Marines had to go. They were traveling to an importamt location, and with this stop, they were off schedual. With a final kiss, a wave good bye, and teasing remarks, the Marines were off again.

"Okay, now we also have to set sail," Nami said tappping her Log Pose.

"Aye aye, Nami-san!<3" Sanji skipped.

Zoro pulled up the anchor, and we set sail. The Going Merry glided through the ocean waves, tranquility reached with ease. Sanji was in the kitchen, cooking up lunch (since breakfast was with the Marines. A sentence I never thought I'd say), Nami was drawing her maps, while Usopp and Chopper fished off the side of the ship, yawning in the warming sunlight. Luffy sat at the top of the bow of the ship while Zoro lifted weights behind him, shirt off and drenched with sweat (AN *virtual nosebleed*). Robin reclined in a beach chair under an umbrella, a book at hand.

"Hey," I said sitting on the deck next to her. "That's The Princess Bride. You didn't strike me as a romance fan."

She looked up and smiled, "Yes, not really but this is different. I love the idea for the death machine."

"Really? I thought it was terrible when Westly was put through that. Where are you now?"

"Inigo, Westly and Fezzik are breaking into the castle."

"Ooh! That's a good part!" I smiled.

"You seem to like this book." She bookmarked her page and set it down on her lap.

"It's my absolute favorite!" I said happily. Zoro looked over then went back to lifting a ton of steel (literally. a ton). Robin and I then went off on different book, suggesting others and discussing plots of others. I admit it, I was a dork when it came to books. When Sanji called us for lunch (hearts and all), we adjourned our conversation and went to eat. Lunch was lively, especially with the incedent when Luffy accidentally swallowed a plate whole and Chopper falling into the soup.

Peace at mind is a sound body and sound soul. I was carefree and joyous, with the nakama of Luffy and expanding ocean. Possibilities were endless here in the Grand Line, where dreams and reality clashed in a mighty eruption.

I smiled as i sat on the railing next to Zoro at the back of the ship, as he did push-ups. Then I got an idea. I stood up on the railing then jumped down onto his back.

"Ow, oi! What the hell are you doing?!" he exclaimed, shuttering under the sudden weight.

“Oh don’t wuss out on me. It’s just an extra 123 pounds. I think you can handle it, Mr. I’m-So-Strong.”  I sat down and crossed my legs, “And be grateful that I decided to walk around barefoot.”

“Why are you sitting me, is my question.” He growled.

“Think of this as extra training. And it’s ‘cause I have nothing else to do.”

He continued doing his push –ups, “keep track for me.  And what about Robin?  You two were getting along fine earlier.”

“Yeah. Think of this as a change of scenery. 10, 11, 12.” I continued to count.

“Che. I don’t understand you sometimes, Rhythm.”

“That’s my whole purpose. Hey Zoro, I think I may start working out with you. I noticed yesterday I have some fat hanging over my belt. Not much but I sort of want to keep a flat stomach so I can pull off certain clothes and still be as flexible as hell.” I poked at the small flab that had formed. It wasn’t much, but it was going to annoy me.

“Sure. I don’t mind.” He said. “What number?”

“34, 35, 36, 37.” I counted.

“Okay good.” Silence.

It was sort of nice just sitting on his back and relaxing. I could feel the movement of his shoulders, tense and bend as he went down and up. His back was completely un-marred and completely hard. Smooth and tan with no marking of any sort. I heard that a scar on the back is a swordsman’s shame. So technically, I was at shame. Weird, but not really. 57, 58, 59, 60.

I started humming to myself, randomly at first, then somehow got to the tune I learned as a child. A folksong from a traveler I met when I was 6. A gorgeous yet simple song.  I forgot most of the words, but the tune I still remember. And before I knew it, I lost track.

“Shit. Sorry, Zoro. I lost track.” I rubbed the back of my neck.

“It’s okay. I’m on 83.” He paused.

“Trust issues? It’s okay, I would’ve done the same.”  He started again, this time with only his left hand. His right hand up. Since I was occupying his back, he held it straight out. I spotted something on his hand, so I gently reached over and grabbed his wrist, “Lemme see your hand. “ I said. He complied and bent his arm back so I could see the top of his hand. I traced an oddly shaped scar on his skin just below the thumb.

I laughed. “It looks like a teddy bear! Have you named him?”

“Named him? Why would I name a scar?” he said, sounding surprised.

(AN believe it or not, this is FORESHADOWING!)

“Well yeah, when you have a scar shaped like something, you should name it.”

He paused, “And why would I want to do that?”

“Because it’s fun! I have a scar shaped like a pretzel on my left ankle, so his names Twister. Creative, huh?”  I laughed.

“Then what should I name him?” he started again on his push-ups.

“It could be a she.”

“I’ll think about it.” He pulled his hand away and switched, right hand holding his weight while his left was held straight out.

<Zoro>

I’ve never had anyone sit on my like this before. Well, a first for everything right?

Especially Rhythm. She was a strange girl with an odd aura to her, one of danger and mystery, dabbled with beauty. There was something about her that just . . . I don’t know. That’s the thing. I didn’t feel any threat, yet something about her kept me on guard. Like an unknown danger that might affect me differently. I can still feel the ghost of her calloused fingertips on my hand, tracing the outline of my scar over and over. What was weird, was how her fingertips and knuckles were calloused while the rest of her hand wasn’t.  I wanted to know. So I did the sensible thing.

I asked.

“Strange question,” she mused.

“Says the monkey on my back blurting random shit!” I said (angry mark XD) angrily.

“Well, I’m a musician. Strings. So my fingers got calloused from years of skimming over steel  and fibery. . . stuff. My knuckles are because I punch so much.  Simple as that.” She then used those very graceful fingers to trace a pattern on my shoulder blades. It was a strange feeling that sent shivers down my spine.

“125, 126, 127.” She counted, still tracing the pattern.

I scream came from the front of the ship, instantly alarming Chopper into falling into the sea.

“Chopper!” Luffy yelled and jumped in after him.

Rhythm rolled off and landed in a crouch next to me, as I got to my feet and quickly jumped in after the two idiots.

When I pulled them out,  Usopp was gaping and shaking as he pointed to something at the horizon.

~Rhythm~

(AN: I accidentally started writing in Rhythms POV without even realizing it, and I don’t feel like fixing it. So here’s your crappily split story. I love making new words XD)

“What is it?” Nami asked.

“A-a centaur was running across the waves! I swear! He had his bow drawn and aimed right at us!”

“A centaur? You mean the horse-man?” Robin asked.

“Yeah! It’s not possible! Something bads gonna happen! I know it!”

“A centaur? Like this?” Luffy had come around and held a sketch book and some crayons. He was finishing up a drawing, he turned it around to show us.

“Luffy, that looks nothing like a centaur. More like an octopus with shitty Marimo’s head attached,” Sanji said.

“You wanna fight dartboard-brow?” Zoro reached for his sword.

“Hold it you two,” Nami hit them across the heads.

“Anything for you Nami-swan! <3” Sanji said happily, fight forgotten.

“Wait, Luffy, a centuars more like this.” I took the sketch book and flipped to the next page and started drawing. When I was done I blinked and realized that what I drew was far from a centaur.

“It’s like they’re staring into my soul,” I stated.

“’They’re’?” Zoro asked and looked over my shoulder then laughed. “That is defiantly not a centaur!”

“Shut up! At least you can tell what it is!” I frowned, hitting Zoro with the sketch book.

“What is it? I wanna see! I wanna see!” Chopper hopped up and down to try and get a look. I turned the book so they can see. Luffy laughed and Nami, Chopper and Usopp gawked, while Robin chuckled.

The drawing was of 5 little chibi pandas in a wooden hot tub, floating around and looking cute. Two of which had a towel on their head. But the way I drew their faces, made it seem like they were staring into my very soul, so creepy yet so adorable.

“In my defense, I have no idea how that happened.” I held my hands up in surrender.

“I think Rhythm-dono’s drawing's wonderful! An artistic talent is amazing!<3” (you guessed it) Sanji said happily.

“How about you try drawing 5 creepy pandas in a hot tub and you’ll get a centaur,” Zoro suggested.

I did. Instead I got the Mad Hatter having tea with Charlie Sheen.

“Forget it. Okay you saw a centaur, aaaaand~?” I asked.

“And I freaked out.”

“It is weird. Maybe it was a mirage or a trick of the light.” Nami said.

“Or you’re going crazy,” I piped in.

“Oi, not helping,” Usopp said.

"That's what I specialize in." I crossed my arms.

"Look, let's just forget about the incedent. Usopp's just going crazy," Nami said.

"Oi, Oi." Usopp waved his hand.

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"LAND HOOOOOO!" Luffy yelled.

"Finally. My heads starting to spin from the lack of solid ground." I hopped down from Zoro's back and went to the front next to Luffy.

"Wow. It's beautiful."  Nami sighed, looking out.

Indeed it was. The beach sparkled with the silvery white sand, sooking so soft and warm. The tropical trees were such a pure green, swaying gently in the sea breeze, dotted with bright tropical flowers. The water here was so clear, I could see the fish swimming lazily from under our ship, all brightly colored and oddly shaped. The golden sun rays glanced gently off the beach, completing the perfect paradise.

"It's amazing!" Chopper said.

"Those fish look pretty interesting to cook." Sanji said, lighting a cigarette.

"The sand looks so warm," Usopp added.

"And the water so refreshing. It's a perfect vacation spot," I said.

"All right!" Luffy yelled, "Drop the anchor! We're going to have fun here!"

No one could disagree. It was to beautiful.