I do not own One Piece

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3RD POV

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Once again the crew was back together, mostly. The amount of relief the straw hats were feeling as they were all together again was short lived as Zoro was the first to notice the lack of red hair in the room. A frown grew on his face as he looked around, expecting the female to run out and make some outrageous statement.

"Oi, Luffy." Zoro called out, crossing his arms as he looked up towards his Captain. "Where's Katsu?" The female's name brought a frown to Luffy's grinning face as if he had just remembered her. Zoro's eyes snapped over towards Law, who looked upset at the mention of the female as well.

"They've got her." Luffy answered, making the rest of the straw hats grow silent as they heard Luffy.

"Eh?" Zoro scowled, "She let herself get caught?" He didn't pay attention to the scowls sent towards him from Robin or Franky. Instead he let out a big sigh of annoyance, "I guess I'll just have to go find the damn woman."

Hearing Zoro's announcement sent some relief to Luffy. He had promised to keep her away from the doctor, and not only had he failed but he also needed to capture Caesar as well. With Zoro taking on that he was well assured that their artist would be safe soon, and they would also have the other doctor in their hands as well.

"Zoro." Robin added, "She won't be conscious. The doctor started to do experiments." Her eyebrows raised when he didn't respond to her and she felt annoyance growing. "Zoro-"

"All I hear is that I have someone to slice up and someone to carry." Zoro responded.

"If we could get Katsu back that may help us in the long run." Law answered, catching the attention of the Straw Hats. "She is able to manipulate the air, so she likely can stop the poisonous gas that is approaching."

Was Law openly going to admit to anyone else that he was actually concerned for the safety of Katsu? Absolutely not. Even if it would prove to piss off her crew mates.

"Eh?! That's all you're concerned about?!" Sanji growled, glaring up at the doctor. "Using her-"

"Yes. She would prove to be vital in this type of situation." Law answered, which technically wasn't a lie. It did actually put a push on getting everyone to help save the female as well, as his point was going to be proven. "It is likely she can get rid of the poisonous air that is going to kill all of us at this rate." Then he looked down at Zoro. "Also, we need that other doctor alive as well. So as much as you may want to kill him, refrain from doing so."

Hearing orders from someone who wasn't his Captain drew a scowl on Zoro's face and he used his pinky to clean out his ear. "Eh? What was that? I thought I heard a fake Captain trying to give orders to me?"

Law clenched his jaw in annoyance and let out a breath. He should have known working with Katsu's crew would just be problematic and difficult in the long run. His head turned to look at Luffy, who blinked at him. "Luffy."

"Oh." Luffy mumbled, a finger shoved in his nose as he looked over at Zoro. "You can kick his ass, Zoro. But I also wanna kick his ass, so don't kill him and bring him along alive."

Zoro sent a smirk towards Law, who rolled his eyes. "Sure thing, Captain."

"I'm gonna get Caesar then!" Luffy announced loudly.

Usopp looked towards Zoro as he began to run off as each crew member began to rush towards their own nonverbal assignment. "Zoro! You can't go alone!" He announced, running after Zoro as he barreled his way in search of their missing artist.

Though Zoro had promised to help find the Samurai's kid, this was something that came first. He needed to find Katsu, since his Captain had a more important matter in terms of having to kidnap the scientist, as first mate he would find their artist. Of course it would also give him the opportunity to slice up some psycho doctor as well. Besides, he had promised to help keep her safe.

For Usopp, the whole idea of kidnapping a crazy doctor which was likely to want to experiment on him sent chills up his spine and made him want to curl into a fetal position. However, he couldn't trust that Zoro would not get lost, and at this point that was the last thing they needed. So yes, he was joining Zoro to ensure they make it without getting lost, but he also wanted to help Katsu.

Some part of him also wanted to partake in the doctor's suffering. Enough that he didn't feel as scared as he normally did.

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Numbing pain crawled over her body. All the strength Katsu could muster was to barely open her eyes and stare up at the brightly lit ceiling. All her energy felt drained from the sea stone cuffs that were holding her to the metal table, though she suspected some of her drained feeling could be from her overall situation.

She wondered why Luffy had yet to show. Her Captain wasn't one to leave empty promises. Either she wasn't going to be saved, or he was in trouble as well.

Neither thought left a good feeling.

Another though came to her head. Arisu had always told her to never rely on others. Not just because they weren't reliable, but because there will be moments where you just had to save yourself. It was why she made her train so hard, and why she also was constantly performing sneak attacks. Yes, it improved her haki, but it was also to make her be more prone to saving herself.

"I..." She murmured quietly, "need to save myself."

She has spent all this time crying out for others, but she needs to do it herself this time. For all she knows, they might need her help.

Katsu looked down at the cuffs holding her down and weakened her. Again she felt her will escaping her and all she wanted to do was give up. Her body was beginning to completely numb itself now, so while the pain wasn't there she also couldn't feel anything.

As she was starting to give in once more, Arisu's voice began echoing in her head. Demanding better of her. Demanding that she beat the person who did this to her. Demanding that she save her own self.

So, with her resolve building back up once more, and with her body completely numb, Katsu started pulling at the sea stone bindings on her wrists first. Her arms shook with the effort she was placing behind them to get it to break.

Her training with Sato began to replay in her head this time. She needed to focus.

With her grinding her teeth, she pulled up with all of the strength she could muster. Satisfaction and utter shock filled her when the bindings not only let her free, but crumbled under her strength. For a moment she sat in bewilderment as she held her arms up to look at them. Sure, she had gotten what she was aiming to do, though she didn't expect it to actually work.

Sitting up, she reached down to start to pull at the bindings at her ankles but paused when her gaze landed on her stomach. Katsu's heart dropped at the sight of the stitches and fresh cuts along her stomach. Not only were they on top of her previous scars, which had been made by the same person, but now there were fresh cuts. She was likely going to end up with more scars.

Desperation to flee revamped her will to save herself. Now she knew she has the strength to find a way to break free, so she wasn't going to let it stop her now. With the same strength she had used before, she began to pull at the last bit of sea stone at her ankles. Sure enough they gave away under her strength as well.

Though she was happy with the results, Katsu couldn't ignore the exhaustion and the sweat that was beginning to drip down her face. If she was being honest with herself, she didn't feel good. Nausea was crawling up the back of her throat and she just wanted to give in and sleep everything away. Black dots swam in her vision, but she focused around them.

She needed to get away.

She needed to find her crew. They needed her...  maybe.

More importantly, she needed them, desperately.

Rolling off the metal table, Katsu managed to somewhat catch herself from falling face first against the cold flooring. She has learned to walk with her feet numb, but this was appearing far more difficult as everything was numb and she felt like passing out.

"Bag..." She muttered, looking up at the counter by the door. Her bag she had carried laid over there, her sketchbook out and open. The fact that the deranged  doctor had looked at her sketchbook angered her immensely, he has no right to go through something so personal of hers. Yet, at the same time, Katsu knew, deep down, that she still lacked the courage to be able to fight the doctor let alone look towards him.

She was sure if she ended up running into him all her fears would build back up and she'd end up giving up once more. So, the most important thing was to avoid seeing the man. Then, and only then, might she be able to save herself.

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"So, we can't kill him." Zoro murmured, his eyes darting down the hall as he tried to determine which way he wanted to go.

"No, we can't." Usopp agreed, frowning as Zoro hummed and turned left. "Oi, we already went down there, this way!"

"Ah, other left." Zoro answered, following Usopp's directions.

The sniper sighed and shook his head, but remained quiet. Neither Katsu or Zoro could find north if the answer was staring them in the face, and yet they always listened to the other when it came to learning about directions. At this point, Usopp decided, it was hopeless to try and explain left and right to them. At the very least, they can somewhat understand there is a left and a right, even if they don't call it right.

Both came to a stop at the sight in front of them. Both of them eyes narrowing in on the bloody doctor jacket, the brief case and clipboard with notes on a 'Subject 0791'. Their eyes zoomed in on the transponder snail in the man's hand, which looked identical to the one they know Sato had given Katsu. Zoro noticed the man's finger which seemed to have been made of emerald and he wondered if Nami would want to have him sever it to sell and make money from it.

Maybe the man could have some use other than being a complete waste of existence.

Both their attention went back to the bloody lap coat, the blood still fresh. Anger filled them and they both glared at the doctor, who looked at them passively.

"Oh, it's the crew." Omasu remarked,  "Do be careful, I have blood samples I need to get tested." A grin pulled at his face as he looked up tauntingly. "And I'd really hate to have to go and get more samples. Though I'm sure your friend would hate it more, what's her name again?-"

Before he could continue further, Zoro had the man pinned to the ground with his sword at his neck. The doctor didn't seem fazed. Zoro leaned down, his glare sending a shiver down the doctor's back though he tried to hide it as he felt some sweat form on his forehead.

"You so much as utter her name and I'll be cutting your lips off of your face, then I'll rip out those vocal cords you have." Zoro stated, a sneer forming on his face. Typically he found it easy to follow orders, yet for some reason all he wanted to do was kill the doctor. Slowly, to ensure he suffers.

Usopp could feel the bloodlust coming from Zoro, and though he agreed with it completely, he also knew they couldn't kill the man. For whatever reason, he was needed alive.

A thud at the end of the hallway drew their attention. Usopp shrieked out in fright at the first sight, which he at first processed as a bloodied red haired demon crawling towards them. However when Zoro stood back up and kicked the doctor towards Usopp, he looked again to realize what had happened.

It was indeed not a bloodied demon coming to take revenge on them. Instead, it was their artist, bloodied and looking completely out of it as she tried to stand back up having fallen over.

Zoro could suppress his anger for the moment as he approached Katsu. Never before had he seen her in such a bad condition. Both physically and mentally she looked beaten. Her typically bright blue eyes were dulled beyond imagination, sweat dripped down her face as she squinted her eyes as if she was trying to focus. All across her stomach she was lined with new stitches and cuts. Her wrist and ankles were marked with ugly purple bruises which only proved to anger the swordsman. Lying beside her was her bag, which held her other items, and Zoro assumed her sketchbook was safely inside given how she was trying to grab the bag.

He kneeled down, frowning as she looked upward with a worried look on her face. She took a moment to study him, then a small sigh escaped her as she relaxed. Zoro reacted quickly, catching her before she could fall as her body tried to give out.

"Ah... Mr. Hottie." She muttered, a breath leaving her as if she was trying to discretely catch her breath. "I was trying to save myself."

"Not bad," Zoro remarked, "Though next time try to do it before you get cut up."

"H-How?!"

Zoro frowned and looked down as Katsu tensed up immediately upon the doctor's voice. He could feel her shiver and when he looked down he was sure she looked near passing out.

"How did you get out of the sea stone shackles?!"

"Usopp." Zoro ordered, standing up while he picked up the female which was starting to lose consciousness. "Shut that man up now. We'll deal with him once we get back with the others." Zoro knew that if he tried to do anything now it would only end up with him severing the man's head from his body.

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End of Chapter 96!

I did promise some Zoro moments for ya'll, so here you go! It's not too much, but I think it fits better given the situation. Yes, unfortunately the crazy doctor is going to stay for a while, so that is a bit of a draw back, but you'll get to see how everyone deals with that.

Is there anything ya'll are wanting to see in upcoming chapters? I'm always open to suggestions!

This is not edited.