Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or the song "Just Here To The Left Of You."

Title: Just Here To The Left Of You

Rating: PG-13

Pairing(s): All mild, but…and bear with me here while I go through this list…ZoroxSanji, ZoroxKuina, UsoppxKaya, LuffyxUsopp, SanjixUsopp, LuffyxNami, SanjixNami, Merryshipping. Wow. What a list.

Warnings: I wrote a fic with entirely NO DIALOGUE. GO, ME! (I am the queen of too much dialogue…)

Spoilers: Just up to Enies this time around

Word Count: 2588

Just Here To The Left Of You

Hit back, it won't hurt you

Lean in, no inertia

Bold is the love that I fight to save

You remember it from when you were young, the first time that Shanks took you out on a boat and you stood at the bowsprit, arms spread wide as you fought against the wind and laughed, and he shook his head and smiled at you. You couldn't tell at your young five years of age, but there was undeniable pride in his eyes as he watched you: he knew you were going to become something great.

You remember your brother, always egging you on to fight him. You knew you could never beat him, because he was bigger and stronger, but he taught you that no matter what the obstacle in front of you was you had to break through it, and even if you couldn't you had to try.

You remember eating that spiral fruit, forgetting that you couldn't swim, and almost being eaten. You remember the blood staining the water, the scream that you let out. You remember that Shanks smiled through all of it, and then he gave you his hat, and you promised to do great things.

You remember making the same promises to Ace, when you still couldn't beat him even though you had special powers and he didn't. You remember his grin, and this time you saw how proud he was of you as he ruffled you hair and called you 'kid.' You'd always be 'kid' to him, even though you're seventeen now and you're not a kid. You remember the people you care about, the ones you'd protect with your life, and you smile, and this time there is pride in your eyes as you think about them.

Head on, no collision

Confusion, indecision

I don't believe I'm too far to be saved

You remember being scared more than anything else. You remember the noise, the fire, the explosions, the tears streaming from your clear blue eyes as you sobbed, the sobs of a child who didn't understand what was happening; only knew that something was wrong. You still don't understand, not really, because why was knowledge a reason for an entire island to be destroyed? You know that there are corrupt people in the government, but it still seems barbaric to you.

You remember running, running from town to town, island to island, and crew to crew. Never setting up permanent relationships, never letting your walls down entirely, because to do that would spell death. You let your reputation speak for you, and you believed fiercely that on the day your luck ran out, that would be it.

You remember when it happened, twenty years after you'd started running, when you tried to outsmart a man smarter than you. You remember that boy, blood streaming down his arms as he saved you despite your protests. You remember feeling, for a long time afterward, that you didn't deserve to be saved.

You remember that time not too long ago, the time on the top of that building, where you admitted you wanted to live, and remember the smiles on their faces. You remember how simple everything seemed after that; you laughed freely for the first time and felt no shadow of doubt hanging over you, only the warm sunlight and the cool ocean breeze on your face, and you were, also for the first time, content, because you knew you were loved.

Twist and turn me, bait and burn me

Smile and send me to oblivion

You remember the rain. It was raining the day that she died, and it was raining the day of her funeral. It should have been snowing, that's how cold it felt, but instead rain fell in icy torrents, soaking through your clothes and soaking your hair and masking the tears flowing down your face. You remember being wary of stairs, still are wary of stairs, watching them and anyone coming down them too closely.

You remember the pain in her father's voice as he entrusted you with the white katana. You remember the lines etched prematurely on his face and around his eyes, lines of stress caused by a resolute desire to keep the tears in check even when he told you there was no shame in crying.

You remember that you can count the number of times in your life that you've cried, outside of anything surrounding her, on one hand. And there are times when you think of her and all you can see is her funeral, and you force yourself to think of her smile.

You remember her smile, because she was always laughing, always putting up a front around the other students. You remember that around you she became serious, knowing deep in her heart that she could never have what she most dreamed of. You remember, being young, you didn't understand, but you promised her what she wanted you to.

You remember her smile after you said those words, because she was crying that time, and yet it was the sweetest smile you've ever seen.

You remember thinking that, if love gave you butterflies in your stomach, that's what this was. And now, you know you've seen it again: it's her smile, and just because it's on a fair-haired man instead of a dark-haired girl doesn't mean your stomach isn't doing those same flip-flops. However, you're pretty sure you've got a snowball's chance in a very warm place of ever getting anywhere with this. You're pretty sure he's rabidly straight.

You remember that the first time you kiss, he tries to kick you, but you manage to hold his leg and eventually you realize that he wasn't trying to kick you, only hook his leg around your back. He pulls back and smiles that same smile, her smile, and this time you understand, and you return it.

Breathe and bathe me, just be and save me

Know I'm just here to the left of you

You remember the island. It's hard not to, since it was obviously the single most traumatizing moment of your life. You used to think, being apprenticed to chefs, that you'd never run short on food. You know now that you were wrong, and you've also seen first-hand how, even when it looks like there is no hope, something will appear that gives it back, and it may not be pleasant, and it may not be ideal, but at least it's something.

You remember the infection, and the pain. You remember how, even though you'd always styled it that way, you consciously grew the fringe on the left side of your face long to hide the defect, because who wanted to look at an eye where the iris was so pale as to almost be called white? Besides, it's not like you could see out of it, and by the time they finally got you to shore it was too late.

You remember the work, how hard you tried in the kitchen and on deck, sparring with the old geezer, and how he took advantage of your weakness. You protested vehemently, using words that no child should know, and he told you that you have to learn to work with your disability because otherwise you'll be dead. You shut up, then, but it didn't stop you from hating every time he tried to literally blind-side you.

You remember the first time the crew found out…the first time he found out. You'd been fighting, like usual, when you'd gotten your foot caught in some netting Usopp had left out and fell backward, smacking your head painfully on the deck, and blinking fuzzily when he leant over you, rare concern in his eyes before he froze.

You remember freaking out, thinking you had a concussion or worse, when you realized that your hair had shifted and he saw your eyes. Plural. You remember him cupping your cheek and pulling you up for a closer look, and you let him, even as he helped you back to the galley to sit and wait for the dizziness to pass.

You remember that he never spoke of it to the crew, but it also remained unspoken that in any battle you fought, he stuck close, if not directly at your back then just a little to your left, making sure that neither enemies nor your friends knew about your weakness.

You remember not liking that he knew your secret, and yet it was hardly something that could be taken back. But he never teased you about it, and he never asked you how it happened (just like you never asked about that sword of his). You were tempted to tell him some nights when you could safely lay together, but every time you opened your mouth he would shake his head and kiss you instead.

You remember thinking that, if he was going to be so stubborn about it, he didn't deserve to know. And really, that was okay, because you were warm and happy and safe and full and as far away from that spit of rock, both physically and mentally, as you ever could be.

Dream on, fill me up now

I bet you know just how

Loud I can scream, don't you let me go

You remember the tree, because it was right outside of her room, and you could climb up any time you wished and she would be there, because she was too ill to leave in those days, pale and blonde and skinny and awkward and beautiful, and you just wanted to help her in any way that you could, because it made you feel like you were worth something.

You remember her laugh, bright clear chimes of sound that cut through even the gloomiest days, and how she would smile and call you silly when you told her of your adventures, but she never said outright that she doubted you, and at the time that was the sweetest gift anybody could give you.

You remember Merry, and how she gave the ship to you, and you took her hand and kissed her cheek and she blushed beet red, staring at the ground and scuffling her feet as you promised you'd be back someday. She smiled, and your heart swelled, and she returned the chaste kiss before stepping back and waving goodbye to the little caravel and its little crew.

You remember fighting for Merry, and how you felt betrayed that nobody else would back you up when you voiced this. You ran, which you're fairly good at doing, only to come back dressed like the hero you always wanted to be. You were nervous, because you knew your disguise wouldn't fool many (Luffy and Chopper not included), but you felt better that the first ones to have to put up with you were Sanji and Franky. Franky didn't know you well enough, and Sanji…Sanji just gets you, and when you got a spare moment on the train and he crushed you to him in a hug, a very un-Sanji-ish way of affection (for a guy, anyway) you thanked him for warning you about Aqua Laguna and he just gave a rather broken laugh and said he was glad you were alright.

You remember how hard it was to apologize; how the words wouldn't form. How when they did, you thought your heart would burst because not only did the crew, your friends, forgive you, but Luffy, wonderful Luffy who was always smiling and always ready to play games with you and always ready to give you an encouraging word when you needed it, forgave you. You remember promising that you'd never fight with him that way again, and that Kaya would be proud of you because a true hero isn't afraid to admit his mistakes.

You remember that you kept that old Sogeking mask, just to remind you of what you were capable of, how brave you could be, and also because without it maybe you wouldn't have had the courage to do what you did; to say the things you said when Luffy was laying paralyzed on that rooftop.

You remember that, in the end, it was you who did all that, and maybe next time you'll just have to see if you can do it without the mask.

Feed on infatuation

Swallow, just one taste of

All that I am, all I have to show

You remember how you were always 'the girl.'

You remember how Nojiko was an absolute tomboy, and if she wanted to run around in a baggy t-shirt and shorts nobody would look at her any different, but if you ever left the house without a dress the whispers would follow you all across town. It didn't make sense; you were much more of a tomboy than she'd ever be, and yet it was only acceptable for her to dress that way!

You remember feeling special through the pain, special because you were the only one who could free your village from Arlong. You tried as hard as you could, and stole and betrayed and blackmailed and did every other stereotypical thing you could think of that you'd heard of pirates doing in the past. You remember how proud Nojiko and Genzo and the villagers were of you when you realized that they knew you weren't betraying them, and you remember how bad you felt when you finally betrayed the people you came to care about, Luffy and the others.

You remember the tears, the helplessness in your voice, and his hand, so gentle on your hair before he placed that special hat on your head and promised to help you; called you a friend.

You remember thinking that you weren't sure you ever had a friend before.

You remember how, sometimes, you still think the crew treats you like a girl, when you can fight, have fought, and fought strong opponents, too. You know they'd never patronize Robin the way they do you, because Robin's a mature, beautiful woman and you're just a skinny awkward girl, still coming into her body and who she wants to be, still a little rough around the edges and a little less than tactful.

You remember, often, that they protect you because they love you. You're the best navigator on the Grand Line, you believe that and you're sure they do, too, because they've never questioned you, skinny girl or not. You know that all of them would put themselves before you, even Zoro, no matter how indifferent and snippy he tends to get when you tease him.

You remember one night in particular, under the stars, when it was still just the five of you: you'd all fallen asleep in a pile on the deck, and Sanji and Zoro were just kind-of-sort-of figuring out where they stood with each other. You were laying with your head on Luffy's stomach and his head was on Usopp's, and you looked up and met Sanji's…eye, you supposed, because it was all you could ever see. For once he didn't say anything stupid, just smiled the sweetest smile at you and you couldn't help but smile back before you fell asleep, knowing instinctively that it was going to be a beautiful day tomorrow.

I know I'm standin' to the left of you

When there's only the dark I can still see the light

When there's only the dark, you are always the light

In my eyes

I apologize for not doing a Chopper section since I did the rest of the original seven, but no parts of the song really related to him for me…I love Chopper, he's adorable, but that's the main reason why…

Anyhow, strange story about the guy who sings the song I chose. Personally, I'm in love with his voice (plus I've seen him live), and my mom knows it. So when I burned a new mix CD, she asked me "how many Roger songs do you have on there?" and when I told her there was only one she didn't believe me. However, upon reaching that song it had barely been playing for five seconds before she knew who it was. Hmm, closet fan, perhaps? Anyway, his name's not actually Roger, it's Adam Pascal, but he's most famous for doing a role on Broadway (where his character's name is Roger). The song's kind of obscure if you're not already a fan, so I've put it up on rapidshare so you can listen to it (it can be downloaded at rapidshare(dot)com/files/255573735/Adam_Pascal_-_Just_Here_to_the_Left_of_You(dot)mp3(dot)html. (maybe I should do that with all the songs for this series…it does help if you hear the music…)

Anyway, fangirling over Adam aside, I hope you enjoyed, and drop me a review :D