~Family Love Across the Sea~ (a.One.Piece.story) *Chapter 32*

~Chapter 32: Zoro and Cassandra: The Most Emotional Day For The Two Most Unemotional People?!~
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Meanwhile, as celebrations were going on back at the Kent Music Hall because of Twilight's victory in the music competition, tension was building between two of the most unemotional people on the entire ship of the Going Merry. Zoro, the man who could sleep through a hurricane, couldn't do so now.

"Gah! Why the hell do I care what she said to me back then?!" Zoro suddenly snapped to himself as he sat upright, "She wasn't right about waht she said!......Right?" Zoro questioned himself before rubbing his forhead, "I really hate her.." He mumbled out of frustration.

"Unlike you, he [Sanji] at least has a heart to love..." Zoro repeated to himself, "That's what she said, huh? What does she know anyway?!" Zoro once again snapped. He was obviously frustrated, much to his dislike, that Cassandra's comment, which had happened such a long time ago, had upset him so much, especially the fact it was one of the only things that upset him ever.

(A/N: Go back to the Meat Island arc: Chapter 27...when Cassandra basically dissed Zoro for beaing heartless while they were searching for Cherry.)

However, Zoro was not the only one affected by the negative tension, Cassandra also was rather frustrated as she laid on her bed.

"I dun have to apologize!! Why should I apologize?! I said nothing wrong!!" Cassandra tried to convince herself, "Why do I even care?! It's not like I love him or something! Ha! Me? Loving Zoro? Very funny~" Cassandra said to herself.
"Great...I'm talking to myself...I gotta get away from that idiot...and maybe the rest of the crew..." Cassandra said to herself in a completely serious tone, as if she was seriously considering it; but she quickly shook her head.
"No! Wait! I can't do that! Not after all they have done for me...They saved my life, fought for me and let me stay with them...I can't do that," Cassandra said quickly, "...But then again...What have I done since I've joined? All I've done is cause problems..." Cassandra said, thinking about her time with the crew. She put through them through all the trouble of saving her, when most of the crew did not know her and also put Twilight in an awkward position with Ouga; she was the reason they were one of the most wanted crews in all of the Grand Line; she switched Cherry and Twilight's bodies, which caused alot of trouble alone; she made them worry when she over-used her power while saving Jem; she basically hurt Zoro's feelings, something no one was able to do...over all she caused so much unneccesarry troubles and worries. (A/N: Who remembers every single one of the events?? Been such a long time XD)

"Maybe I should just leave..." Cassandra said with a sigh, before she began to get frustrated over her thoughts; because she most definatly did not want to leave the crew, she felt safe and happy with them, but she also thought things would be better if she left. She could no longer take her frustration any longer, so she jumped out of bed and took a long at her arm, the infection had seemed to go away and her arm seemed alot better and more normal-looking.
"...How long was I thinking?" She blinked at how quickly the infection went away. She began walking to the door, quietly, not wanting Zoro to know she was leaving. She walked out on the deck to see Zoro sleeping in his regular spot and position.
"Ok...You want me gone? I'll leave!" Cassandra whispered to herself as soon as she set eyes on him, mostly half-heartedly. She, however, turned back and took a piece of paper and a pen she found on a desk.
"I'll leave the rest of the crew a note...For the others...They'll understand!" Cassandra reassured herself as she began writing.

Cassandra thought that she would be content when she wrote this and decided to leave the crew but she wasn't, she still felt a pain in her heart and honestly did not know what it was from. (She's really dense.) She decided to ignore it for now as she returned to the deck and began tip-toeing her way off the ship.
"Where are you going?" She heard Zoro's voice. She turned around to face him, he was looking at her with an annoyed face and his voice seemed more gruff and serious then it usually was.
"Um...I'm gonna go around town! My arm is better now! I wanna try and find the others!" Cassandra said quickly. Zoro only stared a bit at her before sighing.
"I dun care...Just..." Zoro paused, "Don't get into trouble..." Zoro finished before closing his eyes again. Cassandra stared at him confused; "What was that in his voice? Concern?" She questioned in her head before shaking the thought out of her head and continuing to leave the ship. Zoro himself was confused as his sudden concern, why would he care?
"But she better come back in one piece..." Zoro mumbled, not knowing that Cassandra had no intention of returning at all...

---

Cassandra wondered through the town, wondering why there were not as many people as she thought there were supposed to be; since she did not know about the music contest, where most people were at the time.

"Great...I make my great escape from the Marimo...and no one is here to witness it nor congradulate me...This makes it totally pointless.." Cassandra sighed as she continued to walk before stopping.
"Wait...Why do I keep thinking about Zoro?! I dun care! I left cause he pissed me off! Besides he is the only one I DO NOT miss!! I miss everyone else!" Cassandra snapped to herself, "I miss Luffy's fooling around, and Cherry yelling at him and acting like a real captain! And Sanji's cooking and Twilight's music! And Usopp's stories and Chopper actually believeing him.." Cassandra began listing before she began talking in an almost dreamy voice, "And Zoro's green hair and eyes...and the fact he has a nice body and a really nice bu-WAIT! What am I saying?!!" Cassandra quickly shook her head and felt her face feel warm, "NA?! Why do I think about this NOW?! Stop Cassy! You hate him~ That's right you hate him!" She continuted to snap at herself outloud.

"Um...Cassy?" She heard a boy's voice say, a familiar voice too. She turned aroundto see a boy around her age but seemed to look a bit younger then her; he had spikey, blonde hair, amber eys and rather cute features:

"J-Jake?!" Cassandra said somewhat surprised.

"It is you, Cassy! I should have known from the fact your were arguing with yourself!" Jake snapped, laughing.
"Shut up!" Cassandra glared at him, "I met you for like 2 seconds and I already dislike you with great intensity!"

"Sorry, sorry," Jake chuckled, "What are you doing here? I haven't seen you since the crew split up," Jake blinked. Indeed, Jake was a temporary part of the Cassandra and Jem's old crew, the Governmental Pirates, and rather close friend of Jem and stayed with them until the crew decided to go their seperate ways.
"Oh, I'm with my-" Cassandra cut herself off before she said that she was with a new crew, because as of now she no longer was and she did not want to explain to Jake, or any one for that matter, about her situation; it was hard enough to actually leave the crew, let alone having to explain it over and over again.

"Um...I'm just stopping by...I actually have no where to go...Um...Since my little boat got messed up," Cassandra lied, scratching the back of her head.

"Why don't you come with me?" Jake suddenly asked, "I mean, I know about your bounty...It was mixed with the bounties of these pirates, the Straw Hats...Must have been a mistake," Jake shrugged as he took out a piece of paper, which was Cassandra's bounty poster.

"I actually forgot I had one...", Cassandra thought to herself with a sweatdrop.
"Umm..Yeah...Must have got mixed in," Cassandra blinked.
"So you wanna come with me?" Jake asked.
"Huh?!" Cassandra blinked.
"You still as clueless as ever. Do you wanna travel around with me? Instead, of staying on this island and waiting till you get a new boat," Jake said. Cassandra blinked at him before she bgean thinking.
'Well I haven't really thought about what I was gonnna AFTER I left. I could go with Jake...he is a great kid and a former crew member...I guess it would be good until I figure out what I want.' Cassandra thought.
"Cassy? You still alive?" Jake blinked.
"Huh?! Yeah!" Cassandra nodded quickly, "And yes, I could travle with you...It's not like I have anywhere to go or anyone to be with.." Cassandra said, and felt, once again, a sudden pain in her heart, but she ignored it.
"Alright, cool. We will be leaving probably at night, ok?" Jake said and Cassandra nodded. She knew Jake would probably want to know that Jem was on the island, but she decided not to tell him, because that way she would have to come face-to-face with the crew again which would be pretty bad since she wanted to leave. And besides, deep down, she knew that if she saw the crew again, she would have rejoined in an instant...

---

"Oh yeah! Twilight won! Twilight won!" All of the Straw Hats cheered as they made their way back to the Going Merry followed by Jem and Ace. Twilight was being carried by Luffy and Sanji while holding her trophy high and the little Odin ferret on her shoulder. They had celebrated all day and had just returned soemtime late at night.
"Yeah~ Yeah~ I'm pretty awesome and amazing~" Twilight sang.

"And pretty modest," Robin chuckled. They had finally made it to the ship and climbed on as Luffy and Sanji put Twilight down.
"Oi! Zoro! Look Twilight won a music contest!" Tai said. Zoro opened his eyes lazily and looked at everyone, at set his eyes on Twilight's trophy.

"Oh," He simply said.

"CONGRADGULATE HER, JERK!!!" Luffy and Sanji snapped at him.

"Um...Where is Cassy?" Chopper asked after he looked inside the ship and saw her not there.

"Wait...Wasn't she with you?!" Zoro suddenly snapped.

"No," Cherry blinked. Chopper suddenly let out a shout.

"Sh-She left the crew!!" Chopper snapped.

"WHAT?!" Everyone snapped.

"Hunny Bunny is gone!!" Zoro suddenly snapped and everyone froze.

"Hunny..." Cherry started.

"Bunny...? Twilight repeated as the entire crew stared at Zoro's strange outburst and actually took a step back. (A/N: How many of you thought I would actually make Zoro say something like that? XDDD The whole crew is scared now.)
"Cassy is your 'Hunny Bunny'...." Jem blinked.

"Ok...Who the fu*k are you and what have you done with Marimo?" Sanji blinked.

"WHAT YOU CALL ME, CURLY-COOK?!" Zoro snapped.

"Yep! It's our Zoro!!" Everyone suddenly nodded in agreement.

"Wow...You really scared us...Calling Cassy 'Hunny Bunny'..." Luffy chuckled.
"Guys? Um...Cassy? Leaveing the crew? Remember?!" Nami suddenly snapped.

"Oh yeah.." The crew blinked, "WAIT....WHAT?! CASSY LEFT!!"

"It says so on this note!" Usopp said taking the note from Chopper as he read it outloud:
Cassy's Note:

I'm really sorry about all the trouble I've caused since you guys saved me, and I'm grateful for everything.

But, I have decided to leave. I'm sorry. Please don't forget me.

Take care. And Sanji, don't hurt Cherry, or else.

...Goodbye guys.

~Cassandra Anderson Van Teal~

"Why the hell does everyone assume I'm gonna hurt Cherry?" Sanji said with fake tears, while sulking.

"Cause you will.." Twilight said and Cherry hit her.

"Don't talk to him like that!" Cherry snapped. (A/N: Not enough Cherry and Sanji moments...I know...It will change soon XD)

"OW!" Twilight snapped, "DON'T HIT THE MUSICAL CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!!"

"REAH!!" Odin defended Twilight while hugging her chest.

"What are you? A perverted ferret?" Luffy glared at it.

"THAT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM NOW!!" Nami snapped at all of them.

"Why would she leave the crew?!!" Tai snapped everyone back to the intial problem.

"I have an idea..." Cherry glared at Zoro.
"ME?!" Zoro suddenly snapped.
"You have been giving her the cold shoulder and you sure as hell haven't been all warm and welcoming ever since she joined!" Nami pointed out.

"You As-" Twilight started before Sanji glared at her for trying to curse, "If she really left cause of you, I'm gonna fu-" She stopped herself, btu everyone got the point.

"She was the one who insulted me!" Zoro snapped.
"AND SINCE WHEN DO YOU CARE?! YOU'RE AS HEARTLESS AS A CLAM!" Nearly everyone snapped.

"WELL I DO CARE!!" Zoro snapped back.

"Wow...Zoro....I'm impressed..." Cherry blinked and Zoro stared at her in confusion, "You actually have a heart...Could it be?!" Cherry suddenly snapped.

"Wha-" Zoro blinked.
"HAVE YOU FALLEN IN LOVE WITH CASSY?!!!" Cherry gasped.
"NANI?! ZORO?! YOU WHAT?!" The entire snapped with surprise. (Yes...This time including Robin...It's that much of a deal...XD)
"WHAT?! LOVE CASSY?!" Zoro snapped, with a slight blush on his face, "No! I am not in love with her!!"

"No wonder she left...She probably didn't love him back, and she didn't want to hurt him..." Sanji shook his head, "I didn't think you were a man of unrequited love...For that, I respect you..."

"And he pities you...I mean, You are not as good as Sanji...No wonder she didn't love you back~" Cherry simply said and Zoro glared at her.
"AM I THAT GOOD?~" Sanji sang to Cherry and hugged her when she nodded; Zoro just stared at them.

"Well it is decided!" Luffy suddenly said, "This time, Zoro and ONLY ZORO, will go to bring back Cassy and win her heart back!" Luffy said.
"WHAT?!" Zoro snapped.

"YOU MUST ZORO!!" Usopp, Sanji and Luffy, "IT IS EVERY MAN'S ROMANCE TO GO TO HIS LOVE'S DISTRESS AND ACT AS HER NIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR!!" The three said together with fake tears of determination.

"ROMANCE!! ROMANCE!!" Odin jumped up and down, agreeing with the men.

"What is this? A romantic comedy?" Jem blinked at everyone.

"It is so true...A true man's romance.." Ace himself had fake tears and tried to sniff them back.

"NOT YOU TOO!" Jem snapped at him.

"I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH CASSY! SHE INSULTED ME!!" Zoro snapped, "LISTEN TO ME!!" he snapped as the men continued to rant on about a man's "romance".
"Oh..There is a 'P.S'.." Robin blinked as she held Cassandra's note and read the P.S, "P.S. Zoro, I'm sorry I insulted you...I didn't mean it really..."

"...Sh-She's sorry?" Zoro blinked before he cursed under his breath at himself, "That idiot.." as he ran off the ship to find Cassandra.

"YES! ZORO! GO TO HER!!" Usopp and Luffy snapped.
"FIND YOUR ROMANCE!" Sanji snapped. (Yes...Even Sanji is rooting Zoro on...It's in the name of love...He isn't called the 'Love-Cook' for nothing XD)
"I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH HER!!" Zoro snapped back before vanishing.
"Um...There is a "P.S.S" on the back.." Tai pointed out. Cherry took the note and read it.
"P.S.S. Actually, I'm not sorry...You're still a stupid jerk..." Cherry read.
"Um...Let's not tell him about that part..." Twilight said and everyone nodded...

---

"Jake? Where are we going?" Cassandra blinked around since it was dark and she could barely see. They had been walking around all day gathering supplies and items and decided to set out when most people were asleep (Cassandra's idea...she didn't want the crew to have a chance to see her leaving..)

"We are at the dock. I need to get my ship ready." Jake said, "Oh, by the way, watch out for the pia-" Jake started before a "Thud".

"Piano.." Jake blinked.
"OW! WHY IS THERE A FREAKIN' RANDOM PIANO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD?!!" Cassandra snapped as she rubbed her stomach.

"I dun know. They were supposed to move it to some rich person's house, but I guess they didn't yet." Jake said.

"That's smart! Leave a freakin' piano in the middle of the street in the dark!" Cassandra snapped.

"Calm down Cassy.." Jake sweatdropped, "I need to go get my boat ready and I'll bring it around...So stay here, or you might trip on your own feet and like...die.." Jake chuckled.

"Haha. Very funny!" Cassandra said as she felt something wet hit her head and looked up to see white flakes falling down, "Snow? That's odd...Oh well.." She noticed Jake was no longer with her. She found a small wood stool at the piano so she sat at it. She stared at the piano in front of her.
"Ok...This piano being in the middle of the road still pisses me off.." Cassandra mumbled before she stared at the keys and shrugged before playing a few keys. She thought of the crew, and of Zoro.
"I wonder what he is doing...Probably sleeping..." She sighed and thought of the fact of her leaving the crew was unforgivable. She looked around to see a full coat of snow on the ground and that the moon was the only light around and she guessed it was about 2 A.M right now. It suddenly reminded her of a song she and Twilight wrote a while ago and she decided to play it:

(Originally preformed by Alexz Johnson/Jude Harrison from Instant Star)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NPGAliw96mA

Cassandra felt sudden tears fill her eyes and she tried to wipe them away. Her heart hurt much mroe than it ever had, and she was finally begining to understand why.
"I...Don't...Wanna Leave.." Cassandra choked up.
"Hey! Was that you playing?" she heard a oddly familiar voice behind her. She turned her head to see someone familiar sitting down, but he looked at her as if he did not know her:

)"Zoro?! Is that you?!" Cassandra choked through her tears when she recognized as she stood up and ran up to him.
"Zoro? No...I am not-" He was cut off by Cassandra suddenly jumping to him and huggin him tightly.
"I'm sorry! I...missed you guys! All of you!" Cassandra said through her tears, "I missed you, I really did..." Cassandra said looking at him.

"You got me mis-" "Zoro" was once again cut off when Cassandra suddenly kissed him.

"Cassy?" she heard another familair, and quite the same from the first, say in an almost hurt voice. She stopped and truned around to see another person who looks like Zoro behind her only this one had three swords attached to his side.

"T-Two Zoros?" Cassandra mumbled suddenly feeling dizzy with a "@_@".

"I was trying to say my name is not Zoro, it's Zalph..." The man, who looked like Zoro but was apparently named Zalph, said.

"So you left the crew for this?" Zoro suddenly said, finally registering what just happened, "Don't worry...I'll deal with what to tell Luffy and the others.." Zoro said coldy, more coldly than he had ever spoken before he turned around and began walking away, clenching the hilt of sword very tightly.

"Z-Zoro?!" Cassandra snapped as she tried to get up, only this Zalph person was holding her.

"Hey!" Cassandra snapped.

"Do you really wanna chase after that guy? I mean, we already kissed," The Zalph person smirked and Cassandra glared at him.

"You have two seconds to let go of me before your head will be 10 feet away fromt he rest of your body!" Cassandra snapped at him with an almost killing intent. Zalph let go of her and let out a chuckle.
"No need to tell me twice.." Zalph laughed, a laugh familiar to Zoro's.

"Another Zoro.." Cassandra blinked before realization hit her, "Gah! Zoro!!" Cassandra said as she ran off.
"Watch out for the pi-" Zalph started a bit too late before he heard another 'Thud'.

"Piano.." Zalph blinked.
"WHAT THE FU*K IS THIS PIANO'S PROBLEM?!!" Cassandra snapped as she rubbed her stomach and continued to run after Zoro.

---

"That dumb, stupid, trampy, freakin' little slut.." Zoro cursed under his breath, "She left the crew to screw around with some guy!" Zoro snapped, he obviously did not notice that Zalph happened to look alot like him.
"Ugh...Why do I care so much about her? Why the hell am I getting so frustrated?!" Zoro snapped before he stopped in his tracks. He was lost (No surprise there..) and he was apparently in the middle of a large park with trees and such. He rubbed his forehead, he apparently gotten quite a headache over the past few hours. Suddenly the crew's words were ringing in his heads:

"No wonder she left...She probably didn't love him back, and she didn't want to hurt him..."

"This time, Zoro and ONLY ZORO, will go to bring back Cassy and win her heart back!"

"IT IS EVERY MAN'S ROMANCE TO GO TO HIS LOVE'S DISTRESS AND ACT AS HER NIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR!!"

"Shining armor my ass! She doesn't want to be saved...Saved from what anyway!" Zoro snapped, "I don't like her...Do I? God...I dun know who is denser..." Zoro suddenly felt confused and even more frustrated.

"Zoro?" He heard a girl's voice say, he turned to Cassandra in all her cluseless glory.
"What?" Zoro said coldly. He didn't mean to be that cold, but it was almost as a defence mechnaism at this point. He looked at her and noticed that she had been crying from her slightly swollen eyes.

"Ok...You're mad...I get it...But I don't know what has gotten over me...I just felt like I was causing too many problems, so leaving the crew would be the right thing...And I totally regreted it so I got sad...and then the whole kiss with the guy, I guess I just wanted to feel like I was welcomed somewhere and-" Cassandra couldn't continue rambling because Zoro had pressed his lips against hers which surprised her. A moment later, Zoro pulled away, and Cassandra was blushing all shades of red while Zoro himself had a slight blush on his face.

"You didn't have to leave...As much as I hate to say it, It....was weird with you gone.." Zoro stuttered a nit.
"Wow...You gettin' soft Roronoa Zoro," Cassandra blinked, "Could it be you've fallen in love with me?" Cassandra chuckled.
"What?! Why does everyone keep saying th-" Zoro started but this time was cut off by Cassandra wraping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

"C-Cassy?" Zoro blinked, his turn to be surprised this time.
"Who gave you the right to call me 'Cassy'? It's Cassandra!" Cassandra said and Zoro just stared at her.
"BUT! Oh whatever...I give up.." Zoro sighed in defeat...

---

Meanwhile, the Straw Hats were gathered around the kitchen table still celebrating Twilight's win (Yes...at 2 A.M in the morning.)
"Oh my!" Jem suddenly jumped.
"What?!" Everyone snapped.
"Zoro completed this 'Romance'!" Jem blinked.

"How do you know?" Cherry blinked.

"My Best Friend sences are tingling..." Jem nodded,

"You have those?!' usopp snapped.
"THAT'S SO COOL!!" Chopper, Luffy and Tai snapped.
"What are you? Spider-man!" Twilight stared at him.
"Wow...Mr. Swordsman actually completed his Romance.." Robin chuckled.

"And for a while I never thought he'd have one..." Nami rolled her eyes...

---

"Straw Hat Pirates now?" An elderly voice was heard, "Well I guess a reunion is needed.." the voice chuckled...

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~To Be Continued...~

(A/N: A few things...I know I didn't really explain where on earth Jake came from...I will soon...maybe. Anyway, I know Cassy and Zoro PROBABLY were a bit out of character, but i don't care...I love of both of them either way. And if any of you expected Zoro to call Cassy "Hunny Bunny" OR that there would be a Zoro-Look-Alike, then message me and tell me; cause if you did I would have failed my purose as a writer by not surprising you guys with twists and plot turns. Oh...And who is that "elderly voice' well....YOU SHALL FIND OUT~ Probably in the next two chapters~ Mwahaha~
Anyway~ I would like to say something, Alez Johnson who plays Jude Harrison on Instant Star is AMAZING! (The one who orignally sang the song Cassy sang in thsi cahpter...Wow that was a tongue tiwser @_@) I watched it over the summer and loved it and I love Alexz Johnson and her singing. So I have made it offical~ Twilight's voice is like Alexz Johnson and she sings just like her! Isn't is great?! =D Anyway that's all for now!)