The island is tiny as the Thousand Sunny slowly makes it way to the dock.
Brook glances at Akito, he hadn't really moved from the bow of the ship just staring out into the distance.
He clears his throat softly before making his way to the young man's side, "Akito, would you care to join me for a stroll on the island? Stretch our legs?"
Akito glances up at Brook, the emerald eyes misty looking from the uncried tears, "...I...guess..."
The sadness evident in his voice only makes Brook feel worse for him.
"Let's see if we can find anything interesting." Brook turns and starts to lead the way to the ramp that leads down to the dock.
Akito follows him at a much slower pace. The only sound reaching his ears being Brook's cane lightly thumping against the deck. What am I supposed to do?
Should I stay here?
Should I leave the ship?
Luffy had stated that he would help me home, but I can't even remember where home is. I definitely know that pirates won't find the answers. Uncle Marco would know but I don't even know how to find him. Youta knows, I think?
Ugh, my head aches.
Akito glances up to see that he had followed Brook off the ship and onto the island. It seemed nice.
There was a market just a ways down from the port, the locals calling out to tourists hoping to sell their goods.
Akito pauses as he watches people move about the streets, most looking like they didn't have a care in the world.
What's it like to feel that way?
"We don't have to walk through the crowd if you're not up to it." Brook speaks, again his voice is at a gentle tone. Akito glances up at Brook, "I don't understand you."
Brook leans on his cane just a bit, "What do you mean?"
"Why do you care...?" His voice cracks and he looks away, almost in shame.
"Do you think you aren't worth the care?" Brook asks and Akito shifts uncomfortably. He wraps his arms around himself to soothe. The question stung. It was raw and it felt like it was jerking at something that Akito didn't want to understand. Or maybe he was just being ignorant.
"...I..." Akito grasps for anything to help him. The words just jumble and his chest tightens. Why can't I just speak? Why can't I just explain? Why is it so hard to be seen? Why is it so hard to care, to feel?
"Akito, I think this might be a side effect of your newfound freedom." Brook fills the thickening silence, "You were desperate for so long and now that you have it, you're struggling."
Akito makes a face.
He felt hot and sticky; anxiety just welling up inside him. Brook might be right but Akito didn't want to hear it. It felt better to just ignore it. But why?
Ignoring it didn't make it go away.
"...is it okay if I walk around?"
Brook's heart sinks; his words, although truthful, seem to drive Akito deeper into himself, "Sure, but be careful."
"...okay." The young man walks away, almost at a hurried pace, like he could outrun every single word that had exposed him.

Akito finds himself aimlessly wandering the market; his gaze never stays on one booth, his mind far too clouded.
Am I that easy to read?
It feels like he can see everything. As if he could cut me apart and read every mark upon my heart, every blemish on my soul. He speaks like he cares. He wouldn't care if they ever discovered what I was. They would turn out just like everyone else. To use me. The tool to bend any one's will. Their battles would come to an end swiftly. Maybe kindness is their way of making people put their guards down. The perfect-...
"Hey! Watch where you're walking!" A booming voice breaks Akito's train of thought before he stumbles backwards.
Before him stands a rather large man, who looks irritated.
"...s-sorry..." Akito whispers, not realizing that he had been so in his head that he walked into someone.
"Sorry? You better pay for my clothes!" The man shouts.
"Clothes...?"
"Yeah!" The man continues to shout, "You bumped by rum all over me!! You better pay for it!"
Akito glances down to see a fresh stain on the man's shirt and he can feel the rush of embarrassment flood his face, "...I...I don't have any money..."
"WHAT!" Now the man is barking, he reaches forward and grabs Akito forcibly by his shirt collar, "You think I'm going to believe that bullshit!"
Akito's breaths start to come in short bursts, "I'm not lying!" He tries to tug away from the brash man, "Let go!"
"I ought to teach you a lesson!" The man growls, pulling back his other fist.
Akito's eyes widened in pure fear, jerking backwards and the shirt rips from the force; he barely dodged the man's fist.
He stumbles.
The man also stumbled from his force before he stands up straight, "When I catch you, I'm going to break you in half!!"
Akito takes off as swiftly as he can, shoving through the crowd that has gathered due to the loud shouting.
The man is not far behind him, yelling all kinds of vulgar insults.
Help help!! Please help!!!
Akito gasps, his legs burning from the sudden sprint. His eyes dance wildly through the crowd, searching for a familiar face.
His eyes land on green hair.
Zoro!
The swordsman was staring absentmindedly at the booth in front of him, the seller animatedly hawking out prices over small items.
Akito stumbles a bit and smacks his face against the uneven cobblestone. He lifts his head up, dazed.
"There you are!!" The man that had been chasing Akito sounds like a giant as he stomps his way towards the much small man. Akito glances back, but now his fear paralyzes him.
Please! Get up!
Please!! Please!!! Get up, get up!!
"You tiny fool-!" The man rears back his fist again.
Akito slams his eyes shut, forcing every ounce of his will to scream "ZORO!!!"
Suddenly the entire market fell silent.
Akito trembles as he opens his eyes, glancing back to see the giant of a man toppled onto the ground; Zoro stands between them, placing his sheathed sword back with his other two.
Zoro grumbles and then turns back to Akito, "Not ten minutes and you already found trouble." His gaze softens slightly at the sight in front of him. The kid was shaking, his face was pale, and his breathing was ragged.
"Zoro! What happened!" It was Nami, followed by Usopp, Luffy, and Brook.
Zoro shrugs one shoulder, "Not much."
The giant man behind him unconscious.
"Akito, are you okay?" Brook bends down to him. Still a bit frightened, Akito jolts away from Brook and over towards Zoro. The swordsman made him feel safe, "I'm okay." His voice strains to get out simple words before glancing up at the swordsman, "...thank you."
Zoro raises a brow but just nods back. He wasn't sure what to think about this kid. The desperate call of his name had made him kick into action without a single thought. It was like something strange had suddenly come over him. Zoro wasn't one to use the sheaths of his swords in a fight; that was highly unusual.
Akito looks at the unconscious man before he turns away from him and steps in pace with the others as they make their way through the crowd back to the Sunny.

"Well your pupils are the same size. Have you felt nauseous?" Chopper questions, turning off his little flashlight.
"No." Akito is quiet, his arms wrapped around himself. For some reason he looks guilty and continues to stare at Zoro.
Chopper follows his gaze, "Oh don't worry, that man was way below Zoro's level. He could probably fight him with his pinky."
Akito sighs softly and closes his eyes, "May I be excused?"
"Sure, but if you start to feel sick, please come find me." Chopper says.
Akito nods before he steps away, wandering a wide berth around Zoro.
I can't believe I did that to him.
So desperate for help, I used him.
I'm no better than the Maw.
I should apologize. Wouldn't that sound weird? What if he thinks I'm strange and this only just confirms that? Could I even live with the guilt?

Zoro was getting more irritated. Ever since they returned to the ship, the kid had been staring at him. Chopper had confirmed that Akito wasn't terribly injured in the chase so why did he look so mopey? Chopper makes his way over to Zoro, "You alright?"
It was normal for him to check on everyone involved in a fight, even though it was obviously clear that the beast of a man stood no chance against Zoro.
Zoro frowns a bit as he mulls over his answer. He wasn't harmed in the fight, but the way he had felt when his name was called left him uncomfortable. His hand shifts to rest against his swords before looking back at Chopper, "I'm fine. It was an easy knockout."
"That's good. Maybe you should let Akito know, he seems upset." Chopper says.
"Upset? The poor kid keeps staring as if I'm going to keel over." Zoro grunts, his irritation flaring.
"I noticed." Chopper taps his hooves, "I don't really have any answers. The kid is still a mystery."
"Can you blame him, Zoro?" Robin calls from nearby, making her way over, "He grew up around violence, by now he'd be used to it. I think he genuinely cares about getting you involved."
"If he cares, why is he avoiding me?" Zoro juts his thumb over at Akito, who stood all the way on the other side of the ship, but still staring at Zoro.
"Maybe he doesn't know how to properly express that care." Chopper chimes in, "From his scars on his wrists and neck, I'd have to deduce that he wasn't around others much."
"The kid is weird." Zoro narrows his eye at him but leaves it at that. He didn't feel like dragging the conversation out any longer.

Dinnertime came and Zoro had made his way to get food last. Akito was standing near the counter, carefully placing bits and pieces onto his plate.
Still a bit irritated, Zoro moves around Akito to grab his own plate.
Startled, Akito drops the plate but Zoro is faster, catching it with ease. He hands it back to him, "Be more careful."
Akito swallows and just nods.
Zoro narrows his eye again but they remain quiet; Akito takes his plate and moves away from the loud table the crew sat at.
Franky, laughing loudly at something that Luffy had done, scoots his chair backwards.
"Ah-!"
Akito had dropped his plate but Franky had missed Akito due to Zoro's swift action, jerking the kid back by his shirt.
"Franky, watch out." The swordsman grunts.
Franky turns to look at Zoro, noticing Akito sort of dangling in Zoro's strong grasp. He isn't sure what to say other than a quiet apology.
Zoro sets Akito back on his feet, "Be careful."
Akito blinks a few times; confusion written all over his face.
Since when does he care about what happens to me? The moment I got here, he wanted nothing more than for me to be someone to fight.
"Uh, thanks...?"
Zoro just grunts a bit and then makes his way over to his usual spot to eat. Akito glances at him but tries to shake off the feeling. Maybe he had a change of heart? He makes his way back to the food to fix a new plate after dropping his first plate.

Morning greeted everyone with a beautiful sunrise.
The crew excited about their next adventure split into separate groups.
Luffy, Sanji, Nami, Chopper, and Usopp would make their way around the island.
Akito, Zoro, Brook, and Franky would stay on the Sunny and just go about their day.
Brook had quietly asked Akito to help him rearrange the storage rooms so they could be prepared for the supplies that the others brought back. Franky had busied himself in his workshop, working on a new project. And Zoro was sitting on the deck, soaking in the sun, and tending to his swords.
It was shaping up to be a quiet day.
Zoro narrows his eye as he stares at his swords, thinking about the other day.
Why did he fight with his sword sheathed? He never does that.
He holds it up and examines it.
No sign of damage.
He picked up the sword, nothing looked different. He holds it up, shifting his grip around in his hand before he notices that there was a bit of a weight difference between the fight and now.
The sword felt strange and sort of unnatural in his hand. He stands and gracefully shifts into his normal training sessions.
But something was wrong.
Zoro felt different.
Normally his blades are one with himself as they are merely extensions of his own being, but now the swords felt awkward.
Zoro grumbles to himself, glaring at the blade as if it was toying with him. He wasn't accustomed to blades resisting him.
He holds it close, examining it again.
Sharp, clean, no bend in the steel.
The way his blades have always been.
Still, there was an unnatural, unexplainable weight.
He stabs the sword into a wood plank of the deck and takes a step back, staring.
The sword was normal.
Did that mean there was something wrong with Zoro? He crosses his arms over his chest as he tries to think about the other day leading up to the fight.
He had gotten off the Sunny and followed everyone into the market like normal. He paused here and there at booths, nothing really catching his eye. He has always been hyper aware of his surroundings recalling that he knew exactly where each member of the crew was in the market, except for Akito.
He knew that he was with Brook when they got off the Sunny.
Maybe something in the booth had made him feel strange? He thinks about it.
He hadn't touched a single item, the booth attendant talking his ear off about prices. But when Akito had called his name, he knew exactly where Akito was. His body had responded faster than his mind had a chance to keep up with.
The fight itself was blurry, like the memory was concealed from Zoro's own mind; leaving the swordsman utterly frustrated.
He picks the sword up and places it back into the sheath.
"Zoro, would you like some lunch??" Brook calls from the gallery.
Akito and Franky come up from below the deck as Zoro turns to face them.
"I'm afraid it's just simple sandwiches as Sanji is still on the island." Brook comes out with a platter of sandwiches.
"Sounds good to me!" Franky is quick to take a couple of sandwiches, immediately stuffing his face.
Akito glances at Zoro, before grabbing a couple of sandwiches. He, very quietly, makes his way to the swordsman and holds out one sandwich.
Zoro reaches to take the sandwich, muttering a thanks under his breath. He didn't want anyone to suspect something was off about him. He could figure it out for himself.
Akito nods his head before wandering away from the others, heading to the figurehead. He felt utterly exhausted.
His body was aching in so many places.
He stares at the sandwich that Brook had made. It was a simple gesture but it felt heavy. Akito wasn't blind. He knew Brook was trying his hardest to reach him. He closes his eyes and just lays down to soak up the sun. The warmth takes the edge off his misery.
Zoro had finished his food and glanced around the ship. Franky had wandered back downstairs and Brook was cleaning the kitchen. He takes notice of the kid resting on the figurehead. He furrows his brows and starts to make his way over.
He didn't speak but just rested his back against the bottom of the figurehead. He crosses his arms and shifts a bit to get comfortable before closing his eye.
The ship was silent other than Brook's tune that would drift in and out as the skeleton moved around the ship, just cleaning up. The waves very gently caresses the bottom of the ship, making the Sunny bounce just enough to lull anyone to sleep.
Brook watches from afar, studying Zoro resting under the figurehead. He hadn't expected the swordsman to suddenly feel the need to quietly support Akito, especially since he wasn't the friendliest Straw Hat.

It was late evening by the time the other group had returned from the busy adventure on the island.
Akito awakened by the loud chatter shifts into a sitting position before letting out a soft breath. Maybe I should try to lend a hand. He slips silently off the figurehead and follows Sanji into the noisy kitchen, "...do you need any help?"
Sanji gives Akito a quick glance and then nods, "Sure, could you take these boxes to the storage rooms??" He gestures to the boxes that sat off to the side. They looked kind of heavy but Akito felt determined to try; his nap in the sun recharged his energy.
He makes his way to a box and makes an effort to pick it up, yet it is far too heavy. He nibbles at his lip, trying to figure out how to get it to the storage room without bothering the already swamped cook.
"Outta the way."
The deep voice makes Akito jump and he shifts to the side as Zoro steps in and picks up the boxes with little effort. He huffs a bit, "Don't strain yourself."
Akito steps back, a bit of shame creeps up his neck. His eyes follow Zoro's retreating form.
The creaks from the Sunny becomes far too loud and Akito makes a slight face and he takes a shallow breath.
It feels like his throat closes as the heavy weight of smoke settles into his lungs.

~Flashback~
"Akito! Come on!"
"Wait! Wait for me!"
He stumbles, his short legs burning from the strain of trying to catch up.
"Don't leave me behind!"
"Akito! Akito! Hurry!!"
"Wait! Please-!"
He reaches out in front of him, trying to grasp the person in front of him.
The ground shakes violently behind him and he trips over a crack that had formed across the rocky surface.
Pain flares throughout his body and his vision hazes, "...w-wait...please..."
~Flash-~

"Akito, you alright?"
Akito bristles, eyes widen as his surroundings come back into the edge of his view. Brook was kneeling in front of him; a blurry face full of concern. Akito takes in a sharp breath. There's a lingering scent of burning grass that fills his nostrils.
"Should I get Chopper?" Brook's voice sounds distant and distorted.
Akito blinks a few times.
"Akito?"

~-back~
"AKITO!!"
"SON! WHERE ARE YOU!!!"
"...M...m-mom...ma..." He clenches his tiny fists, trying to pull his arms against his body and push himself up.
His limbs are as heavy as lead.
His head spins as he shifts his body until he can sit up.
"AKITO!!!"
His name seems to bounce around from all directions, making it impossible to determine where the sound is coming from. Something grasps the back of his shirt collar and jerks him off the ground violently! The burning woods start to move past him at an alarming rate, a bunch of shouting and screaming grates his ears.
"Akito!"
Someone is rushing through the woods after him, their figure is drowned out by the cracking fire that surrounds them.
"Let him go! Akito!!"
He starts to thrash around in the grip, "Let go!!"
"AKITO ! GRAB MY HAND!"
Automatically his reaches out as far as he can, but they are too far away.
"AKITO!!"
~end flashback~

Suddenly, Akito was jolted awake, the shift so abrupt that it felt like he was still trapped in that terrible place. His eyes blinked rapidly, disoriented, his breath ragged as he tried to piece together the fragments of reality. The sterile scent of the infirmary hit him next, grounding him in the present, but his body remained tense, as if the memory still clung to him.
The sound of his stomach turning was the only thing that broke through the fog of confusion. Akito’s hand flew to his mouth in a futile attempt to stop it, but the stress of the memory had taken its toll. He doubled over, throwing up onto the floor beside the cot. The burn of bile in his throat made everything feel worse, the physical reaction, an echo of the internal chaos that still raged within him.
Brook, who had been kneeling beside him in the infirmary, hurried to get a cloth, his voice a quiet comfort. “It’s okay, Akito. You’re safe now. You’re here with us.”
But the words felt hollow to Akito, his body still trembling. The reality of his past was too raw, too painful, and no amount of comfort seemed to erase the burning memory that clung to him.