Buried

Hey all! I can\'t believe I haven\'t update this in such a long time.

And now without further ado, chapter 4. Please no flaming or I will set you ablaze.
--Yaoi Lady

Buried
Chapter 4

Chopper flipped through the pages of his examination trying to hold back his tears. A broken arm, two days without food or water, and…..

He put a hand to his face. He couldn’t believe it. Forcing his tears away he rubbed his eyes, gulping down the giant lump in his throat.

Luffy had been raped.

It shocked him so much when he saw the blood leaking down his leg. He had tried not to cry, he had tried to continue working, he had tried to keep focus. While letting his tears fall he had cleaned his captain, peeled off his putrid clothing, bound his wounds and covered him with warm white sheets.

That had been the night before. The sun was rising and it peeked it’s way through the hotel windows. Chopper blinked as the sun hit his dreary eyes. He had not slept at all that night. Hopping off his chair, he dropped his examination into his medical bag and snapped it closed. Instantly the elk decided he would tell the rest of the crew of the physical wounds….except for the one. He would not tell anyone about Luffy’s abuse without his consent.

Chopper jumped slightly when a knock rang at the door.

“Chopper?”

He let out a soft sigh, recognizing the blonde’s voice immediately.

“Hai, Sanji-san?”

Sanji peeked his head in before entering entirely. He held a tray in his hands, carrying two steaming bowls of oatmeal.

“I brought you some breakfast.”

“Arigatou, Sanji-san….”

The blonde chef set the tray down on a nearby table, proceeding to sit himself down next to the Going Merry’s physician.

“How is he?”

Chopper shook his head.

“No change.”

Both of them just stared at the prone body in the bed for a few moments, not saying a word to one another. Luffy eventually had to wake up, but Chopper didn’t think he would for a while due to the trauma he had faced.

“Does he have any major injuries?”

Chopper was silent for a moment. He reminded himself about his decision.

“A broken arm, lack of nutrition, dehydration, and not to mention the emotional trauma he was put through.”
Sanji listened intently to the small elk’s words. He snuffed out his cigarette and stood up.

“Just in case he does wake up, I brought up an extra bowl of oatmeal.”

He excused himself and closed the door behind him as he made his way back down to the bar and dining area.

Chopper sighed and leaned back in his chair, at last allowing himself to try and get a few hours of sleep. He knew that he would need it.


***

Sanji stepped down the stairs while lighting up another cigarette. The sounds of chairs scraping and people murmuring hit his ears, but chose to ignore it. Focusing on the now of things he made his way to the kitchen to start the morning meal.

He rubbed his eyes, letting out a heavy sigh. Yesterday everything had been so fine. Who knew that literally overnight things could change so drastically.

He pulled out another cigarette and lit it up. Rolling up his sleeves he started hacking away at the mornings meal, trying to put the bad thoughts out of his head.

***

The breeze kissed his muscle toned skin as he stared into the sky. The roof tiles cutting into his back bringing about strains of annoyances to him. Taking another long swig of alcohol, Zoro stared up again.

He hadn’t slept. He wouldn’t allow himself that privilege. He had been careless. Stupid. Selfish. He kept telling himself that everything was alright when Luffy was down below, screaming and crying for someone to help him.

Why hadn’t he tried to find him earlier?

Why had he let him go through that?

This whole situation was his fault.

Zoro downed the rest of the bottle, throwing it off the roof and into the horizon.

It wasn’t fair. Luffy had been hurt and traumatized all because of him. And he knew he would never forgive himself.

***

Chopper watched the swordsman on the roof and sighed. Delicately maneuvering himself on the tiles, he made his way to the drunkard.

“A penny for your thoughts.”

Zoro snuffed.

With a frown, the Chibi elk plopped himself down.

“What’s up?”
It seemed like forever until Zoro finally answered him.

“Why does it have to be like this?”

Chopper laid his head against Zoro’s forearm.

“I’m not one to say this, but life does suck. There are good parts and there are bad parts. A lot of times we get dealt a bad hand. And when we do, most of the time we don’t know what to do….but that’s why we have others to rely on.”

Zoro continued to stare off into the distance, letting the smaller one’s words sink in.

“I feel like this is all my fault.”

“If you say that again I will hit you.”

“Seriously. I should have looked harder. I should had known something was wrong. And now because of my incompetence Luffy was hurt!”

Zoro bucked forward when Chopper whopped him upside his head.

“None of us could have known what had happened!!! None of us are psychic or omnipotent! None of us have higher powers and certainly none of us could have foreseen this!! So don’t you dare go blaming yourself!!”

Zoro rubbed his head as Chopper dealt into him. Suddenly his boots became very interesting to watch.

Chopper sighed again and took Zoro’s hand in his own, grabbing the first-mate’s attention.

“You may think that this is your fault, but your wrong. Like I said, none of us could have foreseen this. You couldn’t have stopped what happened. But what you can do is be there for him when he wakes up. Take care of him, and bring him back to us.”

Zoro nodded.

“And don’t forget to love him.”

He snapped his head to the side. His eyes widened as Chopper chuckled.

“Oh, come on! It’s so obvious.”

Zoro snuffed once more and turned his head to the side. Chopper nudged him.

“Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed!”

“Urusei!!”

Chopper continued to laugh while Zoro continued to deny and hide his ever growing blush.

***

It was black.

There was no light.

It was suffocating.

He wanted out.

He reached out, trying to find an exit. A way of escape; anything.

He finally found his footing as he landed hard. It looked to be an old inn; a bar or saloon of some type. He whipped his head around at the deathly silence, looking to see if there was anyone.

His heart stopped when the soft sound of fingers on keys fell through the air.

{That sound…..that song…}

He quietly stepped into another room. A man was sitting at a piano, dressed in black.

{It’s…..so familiar!}

The man continued to play as he came up behind him. His voice caught in his throat when the man turned slightly.

“You know what to do.”

“I don’t understand,” he answered him, “Who are you?”

He didn’t know how to respond when the man chuckled.

“You always know how to make me laugh, lovely. You always did have a knack for forgetting names, Luffy.”

He bit his lip as the man turned around. The black hair falling down his face that matched his eyes. The flawless skin that held up a pair of spectacles. The broad shoulders encased in a dark suit. He turned and resumed playing. He stopped momentarily as he looked back at Luffy.

“Aren’t you ready?”

Luffy didn’t know until it was going on until it was happening. The words flew off of his lips, accompanying the piano in a soft, sad lullaby.

-You’re eyes see but my shadow
My heart is overflowing

There’s so much you could come to love
You’ve got my heart glowing

Tenderly

You could see

My soul-

The piano died away as Luffy’s voice went to a decrescendo. He let out a sigh as the last syllable left his tongue.

“Who are you?”

The man looked concerned as he looked over his gold rimmed glasses at the younger brunette.

“Are you alright, my love?”

“What is your name?” he asked once more, without batting an eyelash.

“Oh, my love, if it will humor you…”

Luffy felt goose bumps crawl over his skin as the man’s glare seemed to pierce his soul.

“…does the name Erik Butler ring a bell?”

Luffy’s eyes bolted open. He clutched the white sheets that covered him. He tried to sit up but pain shot through him. In the midst of his struggling he fell to the floor, tangled about.

He suddenly froze.

What had happened. The graveyard. Cabaji. And..Erik……Erik? Who was Erik Butler? He remembered the man from somewhere. When he was young.

Luffy’s eyes shot open. Memories hit him like a maelstrom.

The shock hit him so hard he fell backwards and hit his head on the night table, knocking him out instantly, bringing him back to the world of and memories he had hid away for all these years of the mysterious Erik Butler.


TBC


If anyone knows the two references to the name Erik Butler will get a nice juicy reward. Just email me and if you get it right you’ll win sumpting! If you do get it, then you must likely be a genius cause it is a tricky riddle. ^^!! Clue, it\'s the song, dudes.