"Hurry up everybody! We can't win this... not this time! We'll meet at the Sunny in 3 days!"

Luffy's voice echoed over Grove 12 while our crew scattered and ran for safety. Never in my life had I seen such a force that Luffy would admit defeat and retreat. But of course he was right - we all knew it. Not letting go of Zoro's hand I quickened my pace again, trying to bring as much distance between us and the Pacifistas. I could hear his heavy breathing behind me, knowing that it didn't come from running. As soon as he had laid eyes on what we thought was Kuma he had acted differently - I could see how much effort every movement took, how every draw of breath pained him to the core. "Not so faaaast! Zoro, hold up - you gotta protect me, remember?", Usopp shouted from behind us, promptly jumping onto Zoro's back & wrapping his legs around him in blind panic. "Usopp, you idiot! Let go of me!", Zoro growled, "I'm in enough pain as it is!"

​

"Do not worry!", Brook interrupted, catching up with us, before Usopp could continue his whining. "I happened to witness you selfless act back at Thriller Bark, when you were willing to sacrifice your life for our captain. I can't even imagine how your wounds are faring - but fear not! I will do everything in my power to protect you, fellow swordsman!" "Thank you...", Zoro replied in a soft tone. 

Without another word of warning he stopped, pulled me back and shoved me behind him, drawing his swords. The sudded stop caused Usopp to fall to the ground, who immediately complained with a loud "What the hell Zoro?!" The swordsman replied 

 

​

As I ran towards Zoro I nearly toppled over a root, loosing my momentum for a second, and my heart almost stopped as I stumbled forward. Catching my balance my pace quickened again as I noticed that Zoro blankly stared in my direction and his eyes slowly glazed over. I knew this expression only too well - it was the same one he had after the incident with Kuma, before he fell into a coma for three days. The one he had after his lost duel with Mihawk, all this time back. It was the expression of a man using every fiber of his being to stay alive, conscious even. His physical wounds had just about healed and I didn't dare to guess how his psychological scars were holding up. His hand slipped off the wet grass and he was about to collapse again. I reached him just before Brook did, who had a huge crack covering his face. I fell to my knees in front of the swordsman and grabbed the collar of his shirt, bringing my body under his before he fell and drew him towards me. His frame slumped against my chest, his head lolled to the side onto my shoulder and his weight almost made me go down completely as well. Wedging my hands into his armpits I managed to get him in an upright position, putting all my strenght towards Zoro in a vain attempt to get him back on his feet. Brook charged past us with a bloodcurdling scream and whoever he met there sent him flying for a couple of yards, where he collided violently with a pile of rubble and disappeared in a cloud of dust. Usopp shouted something inaudible in our direction, Luffy screamed at us to get away and meet at the "Thousand Sunnies" - all drowned out by the words that Zoro mumbled, barely loud enough for me to hear. "Kuma!"

 

Only then I realized that something was blocking out the afternoon sun. It felt like an eternity before my head obeyed the order to look at the figure in front of me. Slowly but surely a huge black frame came into view and as my gaze pended upwards more and more details got clear: black gloves covering massive hands, the right of which was holding a Bible, a mop of curled, black hair under a chequered hat. 

​

"I would advice you to let go. I would not like to hurt you more than I must."

Kuma's voice sounded fainter than I remembered, it almost had a soft tone to it. The hair on Zoros neck stood up nevertheless. I didn't move an inch.

​

"I recommend you leave."

​

Finally being able to respond I only shook my head.

​

"Very well...", Kuma sighed.

​

"I am pleased to see you that you survived, Roronoa Zoro.", he continued. "Surprised, but pleased."

I felt Zoro stir in my arms and helped him turn sideways to face Kuma as well. His body was shaking and the desperate grip of his cold fingers dug into my arm.