Hey, just so you know, I feel very obligated to finish this story, I will. I do promise that. It just won't be in the timeliest manner. This fanfic means a lot to me.

Chapter 17 –Dancing with Them

Tashigi squirmed in her seat as Robin pinned her down and Nami plucked the swordswoman's eye brows. She groaned in annoyance as Robin's arms multiplied to strengthen their grasp on her body. The other two women had already groomed and painted themselves for tonight's festivities.

Only a few days before their arrival of the Marine outpost, they encountered a pirate crew known as the Fancy Pirates. Captain Whitman and his crew traveled far and wide raiding wealthy cruise ships, and dressing up in extravagant apparel from where ever they could find it. Tailored suits, gilded accessories, capes and more were standard among the crew members. They were apparently so very pleased to meet Luffy and Mugiwaras that they wanted to host a ball in honor of their meeting. The captains agreed, and everything was to be decorated in celebration.

"Why are we doing this? What is the point?" Tashigi rubbed her eye brows, cringing when she found that they stung a little from Nami's unrelenting efforts. She turned to eye Robin who was adjusting her dress in front of the mirror. The Fancy crew had far less women than men, so in return had an overabundance in glamorous dresses. The women had the opportunity to raid their over-sized closet.

Robin adjusted the cuff of her sleeve, untwisting the delicate white lace of her pale blue gown. It hung just off of her shoulder, held on with a white cord laced up her back like a corset. The waistline of the dress dropped low on her hips and swished lightly with her every movement. It had a sweetheart neckline, and reminded her much of styles of old. She smiled at Nami who was struggling with her own dress. Robin tugged the waistline of dress over Nami's hips and left with a smirk.

"She needn't be so dang rough," Nami grumbled, lacing up the back of the gown. Tashigi watched her figure it out, and looked down at her own lap sighing. The orange hair woman eyed the other woman, "This is supposed to be a fun event, just people meeting and being happy."

"I'm…not…" Tashigi mumbled the rest of her sentence, and blushed.

"Your what?" Nami stopped what she was doing, and nearly hit Tashigi with her shoe, "Did you just say you aren't pretty enough to wear this dress?" Nami tugged on the swordwoman's arm and held a blank expression. "Shut up!"

"Look at me Nami! I'm not graceful like Robin! I'm not sexy like you! I'm clumsy and boyish, and I accepted that a long time ago." Tashigi looked away, ashamed that she let a tear run down her face, "even Hina has some level of attractiveness."

"Shut up!" Nami yelled at her again, "you have wide hips, large firm thighs, plump breasts and big doe eyes! This dress isn't even doing you justice!" Nami hit the dress to emphasize her statement. It was a plain yellow dress that was a halter style and matching elbow length gloves. "That's it…"

With no more words, Nami grabbed Tashigi's elbow tightly, and lead the underwear clad woman out of the room and across the deck to the platform linking the ships to open storeroom-made-closet. Tashigi wanted to scream and fuss against Nami, but realized that would only draw attention. Nami started going through the trunks and hangers all over again, and Tashigi realized that she would not stop till they found a new dress.

"I don't even know how I let you leave this place with such a plain dress."

Tashigi laughed a little, hiccupping from a previously held in sob, "not to be mean, but are quite self-absorbed."

Nami burst out into laughter, "I know."

Tashigi gasped, almost choking on the sudden inhale of air, "this dress…" she pulled it out of the trunk, and held it up.

"That's what you're wearing tonight."

The evening came, and the sun left the sky, replaced with the soft glow of lanterns and candles on the decks. The men of the ships awaited the arrival of the women who showed up one by one. The cook of the Fancy Pirates and Sanji got along quite handsomely, for the Fancy Pirates' cook was a beautiful plum-hair woman. They cooked together all afternoon, and talked non-stop about recipes. They even matched in their outfits this evening wearing gold and white dress and suit.

Spread out on the tables was fruit cobblers, sea king sashimi, pasta and vegetables, meat pies, and too many desserts for such a small amount of people. Showing off their wealth, the Fancy Pirates had decorated the tables with jewels and dubloons.

The captains stood together, talking about their ships and crews. Captain Whitman was envious of the beautiful lawn on the Sunny, while Luffy "ooed" and "awed" at the beautiful crown moldings and trims accenting the Fancy ship. Luffy looked up from where he was, toying with the sleeve of his suit, checking to see if Nami was ready yet. She had been in the room all day, or so he thought, and never known her to take this long. As if sensing her though, she left her room finally. She stepped out in a teal empire waistline accented with an over skirt of shimmering smooth satin embroidered with white blossoms. It had no sleeves, but has a matching shawl to keep away the evening chill. Her long orange locks were put up intricately and revealed her long neck. Captain Whitman chuckled, knocking his elbow into the stunned youth, "your navigator is quite a beautiful woman."

"Don't I know it…" Luffy gulped and went to Nami, embraced her while dipping her low and kissing her. She smiled brightly at him, and fanned herself when she was returned to the upright position.

"I should be charging you for an action like that."

"Let me pay you back then… when we're alone," they both laughed quietly together, and noticed Zoro leaving the men's quarter. They approached him together, "Zoro, there might not be as much ale as you like, but there is a man on the Fancy Clancy making special mystery drinks and pouring wine."

He gave a smug grin, "better than nothing," he straightened his outfit out a bit.

"Looking a little traditional are we?" Nami chided, and smiled, "it suits you."

Zoro wore midnight blue gi with gold trim and matching satin capris. He ran his fingers through his hair, nervous from her compliment. "Thanks…uh, I picked it up a while back."

Sanji walked up behind Zoro, and wrapped his arm around the man unexpectedly, "You look pretty good, what a surprise." The swordsman attempted to elbow the man, but he simply dodged and smiled at his crew members, "everyone enjoying themselves?"

"Yes, quite so, and someone seems to be in a much better mood. I wouldn't have to do with a certain female chef, would it?" Nami teased, and Sanji genuinely blushed.

"It could be love," the man exhaled a stream of smoke, and looked forlornly out to the sea. "She is everything and more than I would ever desire in a woman."

Nami and Zoro simultaneously rolled their eyes at the ranting and raving of the chef. Zoro suddenly felt his breath leave him. His eyes found what they had so eagerly searched for, and in doing so lost all track of his surroundings. There was not enough water in the ocean to quench the thirst that he so suddenly had. There was not enough air in the entire atmosphere to fill his lungs. Zoro thought that his heart might leave his chest from how hard it beat against his rib cage.

Tashigi stood several feet away at the base of the staircase talking to a crew member of the Fancy crew. The dress was made almost entirely out of black floral lace, and had Zoro not known better, he would have thought that was all she was wearing. It was quarter length sleeves, and tightly hugged her figure. Her hair was done up in a messy bun, and hidden beneath her tresses were silver set sapphires adorning her ears. She turned to wave at Robin revealing that the dress came together just above her shoulder blades, and then bared her back completely all the way down to the small of her back.

Zoro grunted as Sanji's elbow met with his ribs, "go to her" a subtle smile lay on his lips.

"I—I can't, not with her like… that!" He turned away finally, and hunched over attempting to catch his breath. He recalled earlier that day Sanji and Franky cornered him in the galley, trying to convince him to at least tell Tashigi how he felt. Zoro pushed Sanji away and ran towards the side of deck, afraid of throwing up.

His face flushed with embarrassment, recalling the past week and a half. Obsessively he watched the woman, unintentionally he told himself, and followed her at a distance. He must have lied to himself over a hundred times about why he so eagerly sought out her company. "I'm turning into the ero-cook the more she's around. I've got to get away." He growled to himself words of encouragement; unfortunately it went back and forth between confronting the woman and leaping off the bow of the ship. Pacing and looking at his feet, he failed to notice the crowd he was gathering. Women from the Fancy Clancy idly watched him, squees and giggles escaping their lips. Brook attempted to get a glimpse of their panties, but without a proper wingman it became a lost cause.

Tashigi was among the women of the crowd, bemused as the other women. After a few failed attempts on behalf of the other women, Tashigi approached Zoro. Having been looking down at the ground he nearly collided with the woman. His eyes grew wide with anticipation and fear as she smiled at him and placed a hand on his shoulder. She seemed petite and lady like compared to her normal appearance. "Zoro, is something the matter?"

He quickly sent a glance out to the crowd search for an excuse to leave, and caught the dinner table. A forced strangled chuckle escaped him as he brought his hand to the back of his head to scratch his scalp, "ah, nothing. I'm hungry and thirsty, so if you would excuse me..." and before she could protest, he stepped away briskly. At a loss of words, and not sure what else could be done, she shrugged it off for now, and went to retrieve a drink herself.

The first mate of the Fancy Clancy was named Fredrick. He was the kind, handsome, and charming son of the captain. He soft brown hair cut short and gentle blue eyes, and wore a red lord's jacket to the event. He stood idly waiting for a woman alone to walk by, and Tashigi happened to be the only one around. "Pardon me, Tashigi correct?" He spoke closely to her, and blush lit up her cheeks.

"Well yes, do you need something?" She looked up at him, and gave a simple smile unsure of the man's intentions.

"Not need per say, but I wondered if you might interested in dancing" he held out is arm in invitation, and smiled more broadly at her.

"I can't dance, I'm awful at it, and on top of that I am quite clumsy as well. I'm afraid I'll have to decline."

"Nonsense, on the contrary, you seem most graceful."

"Graceful is the last word I'd use to describe myself."

"Perhaps it is time to add a few more words to your vocabulary then?"

Tashigi became scarlet with modesty, but she played coy "whatever could you mean?" What do I mean? she thought idly for a fleeting moment before she was taken away to the grassy dance floor.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and lead her to the lawn for dancing, "I could tell them to you as we dance."

Glass clattered on the deck for the seventh time that evening as Zoro obsessively watched Tashigi and Fredrick dancing. Her laughter was clear as a solo among the chatter of the party, and it only fueled Zoro's anger further. His crew mates attempted several times to sway him from watching her, and tried to distract him with other guest but he remained undeterred. His grip on the hand railing became so tight that his knuckles became white and wood began to snap under his strength.

"Zoro if you're so damn bent up about Tashigi and the first mate of the other ship go ask to dance with her." Franky suggests, cringing as he watches the man damaging the railing of their ship. Zoro releases his grip though, to Franky's relief, and started down the stairs. He pushed his way through the crowd and gulped just before reaching the two he sought. Tashigi stumbled backwards into Zoro, but before she could realize who was behind her, he captured her and glared at the first mate. Fredrick rose a brow, but did not say anything simply vanishing into the crowd. Zoro spun the woman around and lead her in a dance, and said nothing to her.

"Just what do you think you are doing, just-just-just-" her words failed her as she looked at his stern expression. He held her close, and looked away from her. "Zoro, what is eating you? It's unlike you to be jittery and quiet." He furthered the truth of her statement by looking everywhere but her and said nothing. "Is it so hard to talk to me about what is on your mind?"

The swordsman pulled the woman tightly against his own, and slowed their dance to match the mood of the music. Tashigi sighed, giving up the pursuit of the conversation. "I've never attended a dance before. This has been quite lovely. The first mate of the Fancy Clancy is quite amiable. He has been informing about formal get togethers."

"There is something strange about him."

"Well he seemed quite fine to me. Honestly I would have never suspected him to be a pirate."

"You never suspected me as well. Where'd that get you?"

"You're a good man."

"He might not be though."

"I think I can handle that."

"What if you can't?

"I don't think that there will be a problem to worry about."

"You never know" he almost growled in her ear, her skin prickled with anticipation. Her breath felt heavy in her own throat as she felt his breath on her ear. "Do you trust me?"

"I do," Tashigi felt her words resonate in a whisper.

He pressed his cheek to hers "please, stay away from him. I want you still be weary of their crew. They seem friendly, but that could be a trap." She nodded in agreement, and rested her forehead on his shoulder as they continued to dance. The music was soft, and lighting was gentle. Tashigi felt the breeze against her back aside the heat of Zoro's hand on her lower back. Even though she had to be weary of the actions of the Fancy crew, her security in Zoro's arms outweighed any necessity to watch them currently.

He felt his heart hammer against his chest as he felt the woman he cared for deeply press her skin against his barely. Even with soft skin, silky hair, and a very feminine dress, she still smells of steel and salt. He inhaled deeply almost tasting her scent "you are so breathtaking, no matter what you wear, I am constantly finding you more and more beautiful," Zoro pressed her closer, a gasp escaping her lips, "I could watch you all day and all night, and still not know everything about you. Not only could I watch you, I want to watch you. I want to taste you. Feel every inch of your skin with my fingers. Hear your voice while I do these things to you."

Tashigi let go of her hold of the man, and stepped away "Zoro...you can't..." he released her as well, accepting whatever she may do. Her hands lingered as they slipped down his arm, and she walked away. Just like that she disappeared into the small crowd. Zoro left into the soft glow of the aquarium room. He drank from an abandoned wine glass while watching a mischievous octopus. He felt his eyes go in and out of focus as the lighting lulled him into a sleeping state. He could not find sleep though as he sat there alone. He dozed in and out of consciousness while listening to conversations outside the doors.

"So he picked of these Mugiwara girls?"

"Yes, their newest addition. The one with the blue hair."

"I see, she did seem the most naive out of the three-" The man hardly had a chance to finish his sentence when he found Zoro's hand around his throat.

His voice harsher and so quiet, only the man he spoke to could hear him "Where is Tashigi?"

"Sh-she's in the t-top c-cabin of our ship." As swiftly as he had appeared he disappeared in his search for Tashigi. He sped to the cabin as the man described, and found himself before the door. He forced the door, but found it resisted his strength. Again he forced his shoulder against the door, but it would not budge. He listened to the of the cabin, and heard muffles and a single voice.

"This dress came from our closet yes? Very beautiful, very beautiful indeed. It suits you perfectly. It's modest, yet flattering to your figure. Ah, you'll find it very hard to kick me if you are tied up, though I suppose you are more than welcome to try."

Zoro drew his sword and no matter what the door was made of, it was no match for the wrath of his blade. He found the first mate unperturbed by his actions, sitting beside Tashigi tied to the bed. "If you want to avoid conflict between our crews, I would suggest sheathing your blade. A woman is hardly a reason to feud."

"Calling her a woman hardly covers the basis of her abilities. Untie her now before I slit your throat where you sit" he growled at the man and stepped closer. All that was heard were Tashigi's breathes, as she stared at Zoro with a sense relief.

Fredrick chuckled and grinned at him as he began to untie Tashigi, "surely the two first mates of these fine vessels can come to an agreement? If I had known that the women of your ship were so coveted-"

"Untie her, and we leave. Our ships will never cross again."

The other man nodded and backed away Tashigi as she stood up. She left the room, and several moments later Zoro let go his glare at the other man and left. By the time Zoro reached the deck, Luffy had a stern expression on his face as he spoke to the other captain. They shook hands and said grim farewells. A horrible silence fell over the crews as they returned to their respecting ships. The last two to part were Sanji and the plum hair chef. She was in tears, and Sanji had released the cigarette in favor of a kiss. They whispered to each other, and departed minutes later.

Zoro hid away in the crows nest watching the other ship leaving his crew members to themselves. He watched the Fancy Clancy slip away into the darkness, and saw that the horizon still remained vacant. Down below on the deck Tashigi sat silently watching the waves crest in the moon light. Luffy sat nearby at the table, and the rest of the crew slipped away. He hummed lightly of a tune played by the small quartet of the Fancy crew, and tapped the table in beat catching Tashigi's attention.

She sighed deeply, as if she had been holding her breath since Zoro had burst through door of Fredrick's quarters. "It's so easy to forget while with this crew that other pirates may not be as well intentioned," she slouched in her seat disappointed that she was enjoying such a lovely evening, and it ended so suddenly.

"One bad apple can spoil the bunch," Luffy spoke almost poetically. He leaned back and tilted the chair on the back two legs, "I can't imagine you've changed your mind?"

A bitter-sweet smile spread on her lips, "I have to go back for my own reasons. We'll see each other again though." Tashigi stood up, and kicked her sandals off into the grass, and climbed up the crow's nest ladder without speaking. Luffy got up from his own seat, and retreated to the kitchen for the evening spent with Sanji, Brook, and Nami. Tashigi knew that Usopp retreated to his workshop and Chopper wanted to turn in early, but Robins and Franky's whereabouts eluded her. she swung the floor hatch open, Zoro seemed unperturbed by her arrival, but if he cared it was not apparent. She adjusted her dress, and admired that it remained in tact.

"That dress looks like it was sewn on you," he said while his eyes never left the window. She could not tell what he was looking at, but she could only assume that he stared out at the water. She shifted her footing, unsure of how to feel about his flattering words. He had hardly spoke a word to her in the last two weeks, and when she saw him, he would be staring at her unabashedly. His hand twitched catching Tashigi's eye. Guiltily her eyes went up his arm and took in his gi and hakama. It was a flattering and almost heroic appearance for him, and she very much enjoyed it. A small laugh escaped her, and she looked out the opposite windows.

"I thought I told you to stay away from them?" Zoro grunted, only loud enough for her to here it as a whisper.

"I did, I was ambushed awhile I was alone."

"Well then you should not have been alone. What if he had gotten his way?"

"Well then maybe you shouldn't have confessed your attraction to me?"

"How was I suppose to know that should scare you off?"

"You've hardly said a word to me the last two weeks, and suddenly you spout off words of affection and flattery?"

"I'm sorry that I am not exactly the most skilled at my words with women. Perhaps you would like it better if I behaved more like Sanji?" Zoro became snarky with his last statement, and turned to face the woman head-on.

"You're so stupid. I know who you are Zoro. I know how you behave. You don't need to sap about because of this horrible crush on me. I'm a woman, not some young thing that needs to be courted as such." Tashigi stared into his eyes defiantly, "I know you love me, and I don't need you to tell it to me when you look at me as such. I love you and hell, I love your entire damn crew." She turned about to march down the ladder back to her bed, away from his horrible prying eyes that caused her to feel a distinct hot flush go through her body. He grabbed her and spun her around to face him, and planted a simple chaste kiss on her lips.

"As a woman, you deserve to be told occasionally how much you are appreciated. And don't say you don't want to hear it. It's a lie you women have." Zoro grinned at her and rose a brow, she gave a similar expression, and gave into giving him a hug. He smelled of steel and sweat, but Tashigi did not mind. "Now how about we find more suitable clothing, and stay up here tonight, together. "

"When did you become so convincing and sweet?"

"Would you like to bicker? And need I remind you, you are usually the one who starts the fights."

"We don't have to, but I would at least like a sign that the other Zoro is in there."

Without any further warning the man spun her around again, and this time it was to pin her against the wall exposing her back to him. He gripped either side of her hips and started to kiss and nip at the exposed skin of her back. Her breath slipped out in heavy sighs of enjoyment from the rough and gentle attention. His lips approached her ear as she were a sweet dessert, and then whispered "how do you take this dress off, I'm so tempted to rip it off you, but personally I like it a lot."

Tashigi could not help her self from giggling at the comment, and she unzipped the hidden side zipper. After a few minutes of struggling and patients she was out of the dress, and found her self pressed flush against Zoro. She looked a little unnerved and cautious being so revealed. Nami had lent her some exquisite under garments consisting of a complete matching set of bra, panties, garter belt and stockings. It was black lace all around, and contrasted highly with her pale skin. Zoro crouched slightly and pressed his face into her cleavage, and groaned from satisfaction "these are magnificent." She leaned back into the wall to brace herself from the weight of Zoro pressing his body into hers.

With much distraction Tashigi slid her hands across Zoro's exposed chest to his shoulders to be hidden within his gi. Her fingers drank in the distinct contrasts of smooth and raised skin marred with scars, and bit her lip in excitement wanting to touch other parts of him. His own fingers traveled quickly over her skin, his urgency very clear. This wasn't a time to drink her image and feel. It was a time to enjoy her company, and convince her to stay with him. If she stayed, then he would have plenty of time later to memorize her body, in fact he planned to do so every morning, afternoon, and evening. He squeezed her waistline tightly, in return she groaned.

"I don't know how you talked me into this, we shouldn't..." she mumbled, unsure if her words were lost or not.

"Why shouldn't we? I l-" before he could finish her lips ghosted over his own.

"Don't say it. I don't want to hear it. It's cliche. I have other obligations, and tonight if we fulfill this lustful moment, then when we arrive at the Marine base I might not have the will power to leave." Gently she leaned into him, closing her eyes as she rested against him.

Zoro pursed his lips, not pleased with her reply, but he wanted to respect her wishes. He released her and went to sit down. She pouted a little, her bottom lip pushed forward planting her hands on her hips. He looked at her intrigued, wondering what her game was. Should I have not walked away? Crossing his arms over his chest, his brow rose with interest getting a good look at her exposed nature. "If we are not going to have relations, what are we going to do?"

A sense of strange modesty rung through her again becoming very aware of Zoro's open gaze. "Maybe I should just go, we're too excited, and well just look at us. Your tent could house the whole crew, and where do I come off just prancing around the crows nest wearing nothing but my knickers?" Zoro stood up and paced for a moment, and shot up his gaze when Tashigi gave a yawn. She turned away facing the water while she knelt on the cushions, wearing her heels still. Her knees were apart, and her hair was starting to escape it's up-do. He stood directly behind her finding that the moon light glowed against her skin, but he felt wicked as he 'accidentally' pressed his erection against her inner thigh. Her hands pressed against the back of the seat and her fore head met the glass and gasp escaped her lips.

"Quit teasing me and lets go."

Okay, so yes, I know I didn't post for another year. Please, do not hate me. I love you guys. I will finish, even if its the last thing I do, (though hopefully it won't be.) I have ONE LAST CHAPTER PLANNED, DUN DUN DUN.

Shironami - Look, I am afraid of out growing something. I do have to admit though, I grew out of most anime. But fanfiction is still something special.

Evercold - You just say all the right things to get me all riled up ;D Your reviews give me a lot to think about, and I will always respect what you have to say. With the uh, lemon scenes I guess?, I am trying to make it that way. I want it to build tension and make the read feel, well, somewhat insatiable. Time and time again, your review assure me that someone out there is understanding the message I want people to see: the friendship and love with not only one crew member, but the entire crew.

saveme57 - eee, you touched something I was hoping others would ignore: Luffy's OOC. I don't want it to come off as OOC, but more of a matured Luffy...I'm sorry if I'm eff'ing it up horribly.

Rago - I feel honored...I can be the same way with stories...3

Mia-san, in and out!