Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece

Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. Oda sensei does!

The Wilted Flower

You're creating a path of tears," Dragon remarked. Suta tried to stifle her sniffs to look less weak. There was an awkward silence as Dragon walked along the dirt path. Suta was still on top of his shoulder as they were walking for about 30 minutes now. Suta's stomach felt sick because of the bobbling caused by the movement when Dragon walked. She gave it no thought though. Suta tried to think it was all a dream but the realism of Luffy dieing haunted her thoughts. Suta's face felt stiff from the tears. Her eyes must be dehydrated because she couldn't cry anymore. Suta decided to let her mind wander and started looking at the scenery. On one side a forest covered the landscape on the other a cliff stood high and firm towering above them. Suta hadn't seen much land because Emperor Weather never let her off the ship. When she was little she thought the whole world was one big sea. Now that she thinks about it she realizes how silly that sounds. She had always liked the smell of pine but it could never fill the emptiness she felt.

"You hate me," he said randomly. Suta couldn't help but feel guilty. She had never really been able to keep a grudge. Suta forgave Emperor Weather but she NEVER wanted to see his face again. Suta thought Emperor Weather was the worst guy in the world, but Dragon gave her a new perspective. Suta didn't have one thought of forgiveness in her mind now though. She couldn't ever EVER forgive someone who killed the first person who truly loved her and ripping her away from her nakama.

"Well, what else would you expect??" she snapped.

"I'm not sure."

"Shows how smart you are!"

"He and I are clones so I don't have half a brain as well."

"Were..."

"Well I couldn't help but fall in love with you."

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LOVE?!"

"I met you didn't i?"

"Yea then you killed me."

"I did? How did I do that??"

"You were right."

"Right about what?? What??"

"I do hate you," Suta said bluntly. She swore she could hear his heart sink. Sink out of position hanging by the threads of his veins. He was quiet once again. Suta felt guilty but he deserved it. She felt anger swell in her heart and it felt about to burst along with herself. Burst into millions of tears representing pure misery. But she stayed whole although against her wishes. Now she was back to where she was again. It seemed to be her fate, her destiny. To be in pain and suffering.

"What must I do to get you to love me?" he asked.

"Go kill yourself!" Suta boldly stated. Once again he was silent. After fighting herself to decide what to say she said,

"Where are we going anyway?"

"I've been planning this for sometime and I had a cabin built on this island because I knew you would come. It was the quack who lured Luffy here. Then he copied him and created me. I decided to take things into my own hands and betrayed him then killed him. Then I used Luffy to get you here. But I missed you while I took a potty break and had to change things a little. And so soon we'll be at the cabin as planned."

"Did you ever spy on us??"

"A little, just before I busted in."

"Humph! But you didn't have a plan how to get me to fall in love with you?"

"Well I did. I was supposed to throw Luffy overboard and place myself as captain. You would think I was Luffy and Wah-la!"

"But if you were spying on me for a few minutes then you knew I would be in there so why didn't you just wait?"

"Good point! I don't have a clue."

"Of course you don't."

"But enough with this stupid maple stuff! I'll get you to love me one way or another!! And if not I still have your body!!"

"UGHH!! YOU SICKO!! YOU'LL NEVER GET ME INTO BED WITH YOU!!"

"I'm stronger than you and you know it!!"

"Don't under estimate me!!"

"I'm not!!"

"AH! YOU LITTLE-!!" Suta started to flail her arms and legs but like he said she was too weak. Especially since she had been crying her eyes out. She felt limp and he grasped her tighter like she was merely a rag doll. She didn't give in physically but inwardly she knew it was hopeless. After the great struggle she only thrashed a little at random times. As they passed the young trees on the side of the road they heard a branch crack. Dragon's head snapped in its direction and stopped. She froze. A roar sounded as a tree fell close by. Then out from the covering of the trees a black bear charged. Dragon dodged the strike and the bear struck into the cliff. It fell to the ground and moaned but started to get up. You could see all the clumps in its fur and its wretched smell was overwhelming. It must not have been able to find any other food but them. Dragon leaped to the nearest tree that was also the sturdiest. He put her up as high as the tree would allow without its branch breaking.

"Stay there while I beat up our dinner!!" Dragon ordered her. He faced the bear and they had a stand off for a moment. Then the bear charged once again but stopped before hitting a tree. They faced each other and Suta finally figured how to control one of the bird devil fruits. Suta then made her arms into a feathery pattern of wings and flew off. Dragon looked up and shouted,

"GET BACK HERE SUTA!!"

"YEAH RIGHT!" Then Dragon was tackled by the bear against the cliff. The bear gave a grunt of success. But then Dragon latched his hands onto the bear and stretched out his neck.

"GOMU GOMU NO--!! KANE!! (bell)" The bear was knocked out and probably had brain damage. Dragon could see Suta in the distance. He scanned the forest for two good trees close to each other. Once he spotted the couple of trees he ran and stretched his arms grasping the trees. Then he flung himself into the air screaming,

"GOMU GOMU NO ROCKET!!" Suta Looked back to see the distance she had made but to her surprise she saw him soaring toward her like a missile. Suta tried to fly faster but Dragon was already too close. He grabbed around her waist and from the extra weight they started descending to the forest.

"GET OFFA ME!!" Suta cried out.

"NEVA !!" Dragon yelled playfully like it was a game. They glided down until Suta changed back to human form. Then they plummeted, gaining speed as they fell. Dragon forced Suta closer and then they plunged into the earth and bedrock causing an effect of a meteor. Suta leapt off of Dragon and through the smoke. But because of the haze she tripped. Suta got up quickly and noticed she had skinned her knee. Blood trickled down to her ankle as she ran. She went the opposite direction hoping to get back to the Going Merry, hoping they hadn't left yet. Dragon scurried up and saw her heading the opposite way down the dirt road. He ran but not catching much distance. Suta stumbled often but always regained her footing. Suta turned a corner and saw the shore. And the Going Merry.

"MINNNNNNAAAAAAAAA!!" Suta shouted hoarsely. Dragon shifted to second gear and was a few feet ahead of Suta. Suta rammed into Dragon and then Dragon grabbed her and darted out of sight. Robin looked up from tending to her crew who were laid carefully across the tattered deck.

"Suta-san??" After no answer Robin guessed it was only her imagination.

"I told you to stay put!!" Dragon shouted angrily. Suta was silent. Then Dragon struck Suta. From the impact Suta's head turned sideways. She still did not speak.

"I don't wanna be mean but you make me!! You will obey me and my rules!!" Dragon strictly stated. Suta looked at the ground and did not reply. Dragon became excessively angry. He grabbed Suta's cheeks with one hand and then yelled,

"LOOK AT ME WHEN I TALK TO YOU!!" Suta sucked in her lip and looked him in the eye. She saw Luffy and started crying.

"Great." Dragon hauled her up again and strolled off again. Suta some how stopped the stream. Soon they passed the bear then a forked road.

"Left ,left. Gotta remember left." As they moved onwards she saw a tall stone. It looked like a statue. If so it must be very old because it had chunks missing and vines twisting around it. Not much afterwards they passed another statue but this one was carved into the cliff. And it was a much bigger one. It towered all the way too the tip of the summit. Her face was cut out and the missing parts could not be found. Soon Suta fell asleep of exhaustion.

"uh..." She groaned. Her stomach ached even more from the bobbing.

"Ah, you're awake!" Dragon said with a smile.

"AND HERE WE ARE!! THE CABIN OF LOVE!!"

"How long was I asleep?!"

"About--2 hours."

"WHA-?? No way!! Its really that far??"

"Now we can go rest in bed!!"

"I DON'T THINK SO!!" Suta acted quickly and kicked Dragon hard where the sun don't shine with her renewed strength. Dragon dropped her in the effort to crouch in pain. He fell to his knees and clenched his teeth. He glanced up and noticed Suta was gone.

"... curse... you- Suta... I swear... I'll hurt you... ten fold!" he vowed while trembling in pain. Suta ran and each tree whizzed by and the grass faded. She came into a clearing with a field of flowers. The flowers swayed in the breeze. The stems were strangely long but it looked remarkable. She envied the flowers. They were free. She was sorta like one. A wilted flower. She flopped down and watched the clouds. She wished to have their freedom and pass on from this life onto the next. She wished she could remember who told her a tale about the clouds. She muttered them and let her mind cloud.

See the clouds

Seeing you

They know, they care

No peace

No serenity

No love

They're hearts cried

And now it is empty

As empty as the air

And the air not caring

Not for a moment

Without

Love

Peace

Serenity.

during life

The universe promised

Promised for it in the next

And so they roll along

Along with time

Hoping for

the love they never received

and their sorrow still lingers.

lingers in the rain.

She closed her eyes and imagined that the flowers covered her completely and so if he did walk by he would never ever find her. But he was wrong. He had more brain than Luffy; he just didn't use it very often. In that case she knew he would find her. Plus she didn't have a clear knowing of a route to freedom or nakama to help her.

"That was a wonderful poem!" Suta sat up in alarm and searched around her. She didn't know where he was, but she knew it was Dragon. But would Dragon say that? No. Not after that kick. Someone else is on the island.