The Connector

Fandom: One Piece

Rating: T/15+

Genre: Mystery-Horror-Drama

Pairing/Characters: eventual ZoSan (but more to a really close friendship rather than romance)/possibly all will come up in later chapters (only Zoro in this chapter-and he's the main character)

Disclaimer: One Piece is Odachi's

Warning: AU, major horror-supernatural occurrences, eventual shounen ai, possibly oOC-ness, graphic horrible/sadistic images

Summary: He can see things most people can't see, and they come to him with various purposes: purely torturing his mind, passing messages, or seeking his help for their unfinished business. How can he help them and who will help him ease them?

Chapter 1: Escaping the Death

It was a stupid serious blunder.

Roronoa Zoro was definitely dead when a gigantic sword of his opponent, Dracule Mihawk, slashed his chest diagonally from his right shoulder blade to his left abdomen, nearing the hip.

Blood, his very own crimson liquid of life, was splashing, running out his veins or arteries or even both, and pooling on the stage of underground fight he was having a match right now...or this entire month. Oh, he was so dead. If Zoro didn't die now, his father would definitely kill him for this stupid macho showdown. Either way, the young 17 year old boy with green hair and tanned skin and a toned oh-so-gorgeous body—if he was not bleeding to death right now—was having a serious big trouble, a near-death situational trouble.

Zoro was still conscious as he was lifted and brought to ER. He didn't know who brought him, couldn't really see because his sight was blurring. He also couldn't hear really well, didn't catch what people around him were saying. Well, they obviously looked panicked. He felt cold and the pain in his chest was killing him or numbing his five senses, Zoro wasn't sure. He couldn't move and he was as sure as hell that he was going to die.

Now he felt delirious. He could feel just now that someone had stuck something on his right hand or was that an injection? An IV maybe? Anesthetic?—Again, the dying young man wasn't sure. Anyway, everything around him began to be very white or bright and he really wanted to close his eyelids; they felt really heavy. He was losing his awareness…or worse, losing his life.

At the verge of losing consciousness, Zoro heard something. A voice; and it was hell familiar to him. He didn't remember when he heard that or who owned the voice, but it was familiar and a moment later, he could only see darkness.

When he opened his eyes, he was in a very dark place.

ZORO—RORONOA—ZORO

"I can't believe this! How could you be this stupid, young man?" A green haired man in his forty with strong jaw and masculine line of face, wearing a traditional old green hakama and a white upper kimono, glared deadly at the source of his anger and his frustration before him.

"Dad, it was a small mistake," the younger one with the same hair color and similar piercing eyes, could only make excuse quietly as he stayed still on the bed of hospital, head bent down, staring at the white sheet between his clenched hands, face pale, full of shame and disgrace.

A vein popped up on the older one's forehead. "A small mistake-huh? It was a miracle that you even woke up! You're dead there on the operation table, Roronoa Zoro! Doctor said your heart stopped! And you're waiting for our claim at the cadaver unit for an hour before you suddenly woke up again and walked around, freaking the hell out of the residents and the nurses! And you call it A SMALL MISTAKE!?" The older man was enraged at his son's unbelievable moronic answer.

Roronoa Alan was usually a very calm man. Hell he was like…the synonym of tranquilizer. However, this time seriously, he could kill his eldest son right here and now. Oh, if Zoro hadn't just escaped the death, he would have strangled him the moment Alan saw him. He couldn't believe Zoro would make him worried to this extent.

"Underground fight, for god sake! Not only you violated our nation's law, you could get yourself killed for real! Oh no, you got killed some hours ago, at least you really stopped breathing and was considered dead! How do you think your mother were feeling when she heard the news!?" Alan continued yelling loudly at his son, and he would be definitely banished from that hospital if he wasn't in a Super VIP Room and the owner of that private health facility.

Zoro flinched at the mention of his mother. Well, he might respect his father so much and felt like crap for disgracing him like this, but his mother was something else. He would die for her gladly if he had to. His father knew this, and mentioning her to make him feel guilty… Zoro was in worse trouble than dying now.

Zoro shut his eyes, hearing his father's yelling until the older was satisfied and exhausted. Alan sat on the chair beside the bed, covering his pale face, panting.

"I am sorry… Please forgive me, father," Zoro said slowly, sincerely, trying to act tough even though he was feeling like running away or burying himself alive if there were holes anywhere near him right now.

Zoro still closed his eyes. He knew how bad this situation was. His father would disown him and he couldn't even blame him for that. Zoro was in fault after all. He indeed had betrayed his expectations and hopes the moment Alan knew what he had been doing outside his house all these times. He lied about group-studying outside at night. He lied about cram-school. He even lied about his part time job. Those all were excuses Zoro made whenever he had those matches. Of course his father would be furious that his son. His eldest son, who would succeed him someday, did something illegal and lied to him about it, and worse, almost got himself killed there.

Zoro realized how idiot he was. He had just wanted to seek fun in fighting. He was a kendo athlete and he wasn't satisfied with the official matches. He couldn't pull out his full power to fight those amateur-like opponents there after all, and underground match, he thought, was a right place to satisfy his lust to test out his true ability and power by using real swords.

And his opponent last night…'The Hawk Eye' Dracule Mihawk, had been the sole champion of Japanese underground fight for ten years in row. He was unbeatable and Zoro was sure he could defeat him. In fact, he just overestimated his own power and worse, he was so arrogant of that. Even his father had taught him that arrogance could blind their eyes and heart that they would not be able to see their own flaws. Zoro was so shameful now not only because he had forgotten about his father's teaching but also because of what happened the night before. He was like an ant fighting an elephant. He was still so far away from Mihawk. He couldn't even land a single hit.

It was definitely a disgraceful sight. It was so ugly that Zoro thought it might have been better if he stayed dead rather than having to face the reality.

Alan uncovered his face again. He felt really tired and old suddenly. He set his gaze at his son again. Zoro was regretting his every action right now. Alan could see that. He looked so small and so…depressed. Alan might have been overreacting for mentioning his wife while knowing it was Zoro's weakness. He had never done that before, but this time was a one-life-time experience for him too. He was so shocked when the hospital called him that his son died because of an illegal activity.

His beloved son died…for a moment Alan wanted to die himself at the thought. When he told his wife, she cried hysterically before she collapsed and lost consciousness. He almost had an accident himself because of an emotional crisis as he drove like a mad man to the hospital. He had not lost control in a long time and that night was like an apocalypse in his almost 45 years of life.

Alan sighed in a defeated look as he looked at the ceiling, leaning his back on the chair back. Where had he been wrong in raising his eldest son? Did he have too much faith and expectation for him that stressed him? Or was it just because he was too easy-going or even too strict? Alan didn't understand and had no idea.

The older man once again looked at Zoro. The young swordsman still closed his eyes and stayed still even with that deadly wound on his chest. Zoro's physical power was indeed miraculously scary. Or he just pushed himself to look like that. Either way, he was recovering and Alan didn't help him by shouting, yelling or making the boy feel guilty. He was still seventeen and Alan had ever been young before. He knew that Zoro's thinking pattern still had no boundary. He was strong, fearless, full of dreams, and he could still even become better and better.

Like Zoro said, it was one of the mistakes that could happen in his journey to reach adulthood, a seriously dumb deadly mistake, not a small one though.

Alan sighed again and reached his hand at his son's head. "It's okay, Zoro," he said slowly, now having been calm enough to think and not to lash out like before. He stroked Zoro's short hair gently. "I was wrong too for yelling like that. I am sorry." He even apologized after he realized what kind of horrible words he had thrown at his sons previously.

"No, father, you've done nothing wrong. I deserve a serious punishment for this mistake," Zoro shook his head at that; really surprised that his father had reverted to his usual self in a short time. His old man's control was a serious wonder to Zoro. If Zoro were in his shoes, he would definitely disown his son.

"Okay, a punishment, indeed; I have to think one later. Now I am just glad that you're alive, son. I thought my heart stopped as well when I heard you died," Alan said while massaging his temple now. He was really giddy and tired from the emotional crisis and the rage. Now he just wanted to sleep.

Zoro felt really guilty when he heard that. His father was really freaked out and worried apparently. Well, he should have known, he was Alan's son after all. "I am sorry for worrying you as well," Zoro whispered lowly while peering at his father's worn-out figure.

Alan smiled at his son and once again ruffled his hair. "You should lay down, Zoro. Your wound is no kidding. How could you stay alive with that? Well, when I saw you walk around after I identified your corpse, I was freaked out myself," he said jokingly. "Miracle does happen sometimes, huh?"

Zoro was silent for a moment. Miracle… Well, it might be a miracle, but if Kuina wasn't there, it wouldn't happen.

Zoro still remembered what he experienced when he…died? Or let say…when he was in the border of life and death. He was in a dark tunnel. A long dark tunnel without light and voice. How could he knew it was a tunnel, he had no idea. He just knew. And there…far in front of him was a white light. It was so small he could only see it as a tiny little dot.

Following his instinct, Zoro tried to go there. He was in a panicked situation because when he realized, he couldn't even feel anything in that tunnel. He couldn't even distinct if he was talking or thinking. He was almost engulfed by nothingness and it scared the hell out of him. That dot of light became the only hope he had.

However, after forever running to the light, at the end of the tunnel he saw his best friend. Kuina…the girl that died nine years ago because of a sickness, she was there and shouted at him to go back. She said something like it hadn't been his time and he should go back. Actually, Zoro didn't want to go back, but then…the promise…. He remembered about that promise he made with her before she died.

To become the best swordsman in the world…

Respecting her wish, in the end Zoro ran back to the darkness, fighting his fear of became nothing inside that dark tunnel. He remembered running and running until he saw the same dot light at the other end and when he opened his eyes again, he had been in a cadaver box in cadaver unit room.

Zoro was seriously freaked out as he opened the container. Then, when he walked out the room, a resident and some nurses saw him and it was uproar after that.

Well, anyway, Zoro was still alive and was thankful to his dumb luck and Kuina. She had saved him from dying after all, even thought it was just her spirit…or anything like that. Zoro actually didn't believe of something unrealistic or supernatural, but he couldn't deny what he could see, could he?

"Zoro?" Alan called the teen back from his train of thought.

"Oh, yeah," Zoro responded in a surprise. "Father, you should sleep too. You look really tired," Zoro said.

"I will. You rest well, son and recover soon," Alan stood, once again ruffling his son's hair gently with a reassuring smile as Zoro laid himself down on his bed.

"Okay…," Zoro smiled back and was ready to sleep when suddenly he caught a glimpse of someone else in the corner of the room.

Long…dark hair… A woman?—Zoro stared at the strange figure for a moment.

A pale woman, probably in her thirty judging from her face, she wore a worn-out long sleeved white-brown garment with a long dark skirt. There were black ring circling her eyes and she looked untidy and very sick. And her skin…it looked…very weird. There was a tint of blue in her pale color. And she also stared at him with those hollowed black eyes too. It was extremely creepy.

"Father," Zoro called his father as Alan was about to turn his back and leave. He set his eyes on his son again, raising one of his eyebrows. "Who's there at the corner of the room? A new maid?" he asked out of curiosity and for confirmation. She might be a lost patient or something.

Now Alan raised both his eyebrows at his son in a strange look. He then put his hand on Zoro's forehead and put the other one on his own.

"Father, what are you doing?" Zoro asked, sweat dropping.

"Odd, you don't have a fever," Alan said wonderingly.

"You're being weird, father. I asked about a woman standing at the corner of the room. How come it became I had a fever?" the green haired teen asked ridiculously. His father might have been too tired.

"What are you saying, son? There's no one in this room except us," Alan said, looking at his boy oddly as well.

"Eh…?" Zoro was surprised at that. "But—!" He glanced back at the corner of the room, at his left side. She was still standing there, not doing anything, just staying still and staring at him creepily. "But she's there, father," Zoro protested a bit while pointing at the woman.

"Son…it might be because of the drugs. You're seeing things," Alan smiled again in understanding.

"But—!"

Zoro was about to protest hard now when his father put his hand on his hair again to silence him. "I'll be with you, so just sleep for now."

There was a hint of order in Zoro's father's caring voice. His father was tired, he was tired, and Zoro didn't want to inconvenience him more than this, so Zoro nodded slowly, obliging him. He glanced again at the woman though. He was sure she was there. He wasn't seeing things.

Still, what is she doing there? Why is she staring at me like that?—Zoro wondered uneasily, but the biggest question he had right now was… Why can't father see her?

Zoro didn't get the answer because suddenly he felt really sleepy. Now it was the drug taking effect on his system. In his delirious state, he still could see the strange figure, but now she wasn't at the corner of the room, but right beside his bed, bending her head, showing him her sickly sad face.

What…?

Zoro could see her opening her mouth, seeming saying something, but he couldn't hear her. Slowly but steadily he closed his eyes and went to the darkness of slumber.

ZORO—RORONOA—ZORO

It was hot.

His body was burning. He couldn't breathe.

Zoro opened his eyes slightly. He could see the red engulfing flame burning everywhere. He wanted to yell and asked for help. He was panicked, desperately gasping and panting for air, but what came inside his lungs were smokes and dirt.

No…it's hot…! I am burning…! I am burning alive—! Help…somebody…anybody…!—Zoro looked at his melting burning flesh. He could smell the sickening feeling and he was in pain. He was really scared. Help…help…HELP ME!

Zoro opened his eyes only to be faced by a face of a burnt woman with dark hair, with blowing and melting eyeballs, scrapped skull and facial's skin and rotten flesh. Zoro widened his eyes and, "AAAAARGH!" he screamed bloody murder.

"Zoro!"

Zoro was brought back to reality with a gasp as he woke up from his nightmare. He was panting like crazy, eyes widening and pupil dilating at the memory of horrible images. His face was really pale and sweats broke out his entire skin.

Zoro couldn't breathe properly. The scent of burnt melting flesh and the smokes were still so clear in his senses. He had difficulty in distinguishing dream and reality. He could still see part of the nightmare and vaguely he also heard someone call his name.

"Zoro, calm down! Breathe, son! Take a deep breath!" Alan tried to calm Zoro down by stroking and soothing his chest, carefully not to touch the wound while he was also panicked himself at Zoro's state.

The young man had been restless in his sleep and Alan was about to wake him up when suddenly Zoro opened his eyes widely and began to scream in horror. He didn't know what kind of nightmare his son had, but his voice was so loud and bloodcurdling that Alan became panicked as well.

"Zoro, please calm down! Calm down!" Alan shouted, trying to catch Zoro's attention by winning out his scream.

Zoro was still panting and gasping for air for moments before tears started pooling on his widened eyes. Sometimes later then, his sense of reality began to wake up and he could see no longer the trace of his nightmare. He could hear his father's voice and began to be able to breathe properly as well. His eyes then softened as he took a deep breath and released it slowly three times while closing his eyes to calm himself down.

"Son…," Alan looked at Zoro's finally calm state with a concern mixed with a relief in his expression. "Zoro, are you okay?" Alan asked again to make sure Zoro was alright.

Zoro opened his eyes slowly and looked at his father. There were still the traces of tears on his cheeks, but he was breathing steadily now, not gasping and panting like before. "Father…," Zoro's voice was hoarse and heavy. He looked sick and his hospital garments were wet because of the cold sweats.

"Zoro, what happened?" Alan stroked his son's damp hair. His forehead skin was as cold as ice. He should call the doctor to check on him.

"Nightmare…," Zoro whispered weakly. He was more worn-out than before he was asleep. The images were so vivid it was sickening. He was nauseous so much that he wanted to vomit. He began to have a headache as well, and it was pounding his head like a ton hammer.

Zoro groaned painfully as he crouched further on his damp cold blanket. He was shivering now. Then he opened his eyes and was met with a view of that strange woman at the corner of the room.

She again…why is she still there?—Zoro thought really uneasy now. She still stared at him with those hollow creepy black eyes.

"Father…, please make her go away," Zoro said suddenly. He really didn't want to see her in this state. It was beginning to scare him.

"Son…," Alan began to get worried even more. His son was saying something strange again. There was no one except them in the room. Who was this woman he was talking about since before he slept?

"Please, father, remove her from this room. She is staring at me like…like…!" Zoro couldn't finish his words. He widened his eyes and froze as suddenly the woman was beside his bed. She bent down and lowered her face at his. Her long hair…was touching his cold face.

Zoro couldn't speak. Once again he couldn't breathe. The chill ran down on his spine as he could only stare at her sickening solemn look.

Stop—! Stop! What are you doing!? Stay away! Stay away from me!—Zoro's mind screamed in panicked state even though outside he was freezing and couldn't move.

However then, as Zoro was about to shut his eyes, he caught a glimpse of the woman opening her mouth as if she wanted to say something. She looked so sickeningly desperate as well that Zoro began to feel pity even though it was really terrifying.

What…again…? Does she want to say something?—Zoro's panicky began to subdue a bit. Although he was still nauseous and the headache was still pounding, he paid much closer attention to the woman's mouth, trying to make out her silent words.

Zoro groaned again fighting the pain more to the one in his head rather than the one on his chest. The painkiller seemed still numbing him, but the headache was killing him. He tried to concentrate more, ignoring his father's concerned words.

"Damn it, what the hell are they doing, those nurses!? I'll go get the doctor myself! Wait here, son!"

Zoro could hear his father yell something, and the older man then left the room while running in a panicked look.

Now the room was quiet, and even though Zoro was fighting the nausea and the headache, he could concentrate more to the woman in front of him.

What are you trying to say? What do you want from me?—Zoro was still not able to talk, so he spoke with his mind. He knew it was ridiculous, but he couldn't think properly now with that headache. And this situation was indeed bizarre for him.

Zoro was talking to a woman through his mind, damn it. What was it if it was not an outrageous bizarre idea?

Anyway, as he was concentrating more, finally he could hear the voice. It was really low, really dry like the rustles of dry leaves and almost inaudible, but he somehow managed to transcript the voice.

"H-help… son… can't…athe…"

Wha-what? What's son? Whose son? Can't what?—Zoro groaned more as the pounding in his head increased tenfold. He felt like passing out now.

"My son… dying… can't… breathe…"

Your son? Your son is it? Can't breathe and dying? Where is he?—Zoro crouched more and now covered his forehead with two hands while moaning painfully. The world around him seemed spinning and he could see white stars here and there.

"3…0…1…"

"Ugh…301, huh?" Zoro then slammed his forehead to the iron part of the bed to calm his aching and pounding head. It bled of course, but he didn't care. Now he could speak and move and he would do anything to stop this painful experience.

Zoro then tried to sit. A wave of nausea washed over him. He hurriedly covered his mouth before he could vomit. He pushed himself to stand, out of the bed. His feet could feel the coldness of the floor, but the numbing sense made him unaffected. Zoro tried to walk even though he was wobbly. Then he was stopped because of the IV tube hanging beside his bed that restrained his arm. He took out the IV tube and brought it with him as he walked out the room shakily.

When he was out of the room, Zoro had no idea where the room 301 was. "Lead…the way…," he asked no one in particular, but then the woman from before appeared out of nowhere in front of him.

Quickly… please quick…

Zoro could feel that he had to hurry. Whatever was in front of him right now, even though it seemed unreal and ridiculous, Zoro's mind and every instinct told him to do it. Just do it; and he would free form this pain.

Zoro gasped and panted heavily as he walked. He had almost tripped his own feet a couple of times, but he could manage to walk while leaning on the wall. He followed the woman. The sight was very strange. He swore the woman didn't move her feet, but she could walk really fast, almost flowing if he could see better.

Down stairs, to the right, turn left twice and there was the room 301. With his will power Zoro tried not to pass out, he used his strength left in his body and opened the room. It was a rather spacious room with four occupants and beds. As he came inside, the woman was in the corner of the room at his left side. There was a patient there on the bed beside the woman, a boy, and he was convulsing, really badly.

Shit—! Zoro tried to walk faster to the bed. He saw the other patients just stared at the convulsing boy and did nothing about it.

"God damn it! Why didn't all of you do something!? The kid's dying!" Zoro shouted angrily because the pain in his head was unbearable as well. It was buzzing and with his last power, he pounded the calling bell repeatedly to call the nurses and the doctors until he passed out, now on the floor.

When Zoro woke up the second time, he had been back to his own room. Zoro groaned out loud the moment he woke up.

"Son!" Alan reached Zoro's hand and held it strongly.

"Fa…ther…," Zoro blinked several times as he recognized his father's feature. The headache was still there, but it was not as bad as the previous one and the nauseating feeling was gone.

"Thank god!" Alan shouted in relief. "Oh, Zoro, what are you doing, walking around in that state?" his father continued, not understanding his son's action.

"Oh yeah, the boy! How is he?" Zoro then remembered about the convulsing boy he approached before, and woke to sit up; and of course immediately regretted his action as pain shot him on his chest and head. He cursed lightly at that, about crying if he could.

"He's okay, Mr. Roronoa," suddenly a light shooting voice came out behind Alan.

"Dr. Rein," Alan turned his back at the owner of the voice, greeted and shook his hand.

"Who?" Zoro had to narrow his eyes to look at the young doctor properly. Well, judging from his light high tenor voice, Zoro thought he was probably still young.

"How are you Mr. Roronoa Junior?" the doctor with white long sleeved coat came closer to the sick boy so he could greet Zoro as well. A name tag stuck on the coat front pocket saying the name: Dr. Rein Heart.

Zoro then could see the doctor's feature properly now. Like he thought, the doctor was young, a man with long wavy brown almost blond hair. He had amber colored eyes and wore round small glasses, sticking lowly on his nose, like a scientist. He looked really friendly and his voice was cooling and shooting. In an instant Zoro thought the doctor's job suited him so well.

"I'm feeling like crap," Zoro said while groaning.

"Mind your language, young man!" Alan scolded Zoro instantly.

Zoro groaned more. He forgot that his father was a bit strict about manner. Zoro muttered a plain apology and Dr. Rein chuckled at that. "I don't mind. It means that he is fine now if he can say something like that," the young doctor said with a smile.

"It thanks to your immediate and precise treatment, Dr. Rein. I don't know what would happen to Zoro if you didn't move faster than anyone else as he woke up from his dead state," Alan said, really grateful at the doctor's service.

"That's a doctor's job. More importantly, Mr. Roronoa, you hadn't slept since Roronoa Junior passed out last night. You should take a rest or you will double my job if after this it's your turn to pass out and is bedridden for pushing yourself too much," Rein said all of the words in a breath.

Alan and Zoro were stunned at that, surprised. However then, Alan chuckled. "Okay, I'll follow the doctor's instruction so as not to inconvenience him further." He laughed and shook his head at the humor.

"Oh, and you can choose whichever room you want. It's your hospital after all," Rein grinned good-naturedly at Alan and the older man laughed harder.

"Alright, I'll be in the room next door then," Alan said as he exited the room and then closed the door. Now Zoro was alone with Dr. Rein in the room.

"How are you feeling now, Mr. Roronoa Junior?" Rein started the conversation again.

Zoro felt a bit off with the name. "Just call me Zoro, please," he said while sighing and closing his eyes.

"Alright, Zoro, how are you feeling again?" Rein repeated his question now addressing Zoro's name properly with an amused look.

"Like I said, feeling like crap," Zoro also repeated his answer several minutes ago, now opening his eyes again and looking at the doctor in his eyes.

"Oh, I see. Still feeling dizzy? Like headache maybe or nausea?" Rein furthered his anamnesis.

"The headache; the nausea is not anymore…well, feels better than before though. Before, the headache was killing me. I thought my brain had melted," Zoro complained.

"Okay, any pain in other areas?" Rein asked again.

"Uh…the chest still hurts, but not as much. You stitched that wound too?" Zoro asked.

"Yes. Hope it will come out fine, huh?" Rein said while smiling again. Zoro smiled back at him and nodded.

"Oh yeah, Doc," suddenly Zoro remembered something, "You said before that the boy was okay?" he asked further.

"Ah, that boy, Kei…. Yep, his life is no longer in danger," Rein said. "Still, it was so close. If you hadn't found him and called us with the bell immediately Zoro, he would have been dead for sure. Your night-walking was a dumb luck, huh?" Rein continued while joking slightly.

"What happened to him?" Zoro asked then. Curiosity won him over the urge to mutter that he was not taking that walk because he wanted to, but he had to.

"It's an allergic attack. The edemas and swellings came out as a result of specific chemical objects effect, constricting his respiratory tract so the air could not pass. As a result of the dropping oxygen supply, the shock occurred and convulsing happened; and if we didn't inject him with anti-histamine and adrenalin fast enough…poof, gone was his life," Rein explained.

"Ugh…sounds really bad…," Zoro paled slightly at that. "Well, at least he made it." He shrugged then. "What about his mother? She should just call you herself if she was there, but she had to come here and got me to do it for her. Is she a mammoth of technology or what?" He couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed at that.

Rein didn't say anything and he just stared at him oddly, as if he was an alien dancing pineapple samba or something. "What?" Zoro asked, feeling uncomfortable with the weird stare.

"You said something strange, Zoro. He had no mother, you know; at least not anymore," Rein said.

"Huh?" Zoro frowned at that, confused. "But she was here last night. She came to me and asked for my help. That's why I was able to come to him in time," Zoro reasoned.

"That's impossible. His mother died in a fire a year ago. She died here and I was the one who treated her wounds before her life slipped away," Rein said with a puzzled look.

Eh?—Zoro was extremely surprised at that. He then remembered about the dream of him burning alive and the horrible face he saw after that. Was that a coincidence?

Zoro then widened his eyes when he glanced at the corner of the room and saw the woman again, but now she was more…in color? There were no black rings surrounding her eyes and her sight was more…alive. Her skin was still pale, but it didn't look sick anymore and she was smiling at him.

She opened her mouth and said "Thank you…" before her figure disappeared in the glimmering light.

Eh…!?—Now Zoro was seriously freaked out at that. It can't be…! That woman was a spirit!?

"What's wrong, Zoro? Your face is pale. Are you feeling sick?" Rein asked in concern as Zoro's face began to turn white, and the sweats prickled out his face.

"Eh!? Uh…no, it's nothing! Nothing!" Zoro panicked a bit as he answered. He didn't know how to cope up with this. He had just seen a ghost tanking him and last night he talked to it.

What the hell—!?

"But surely, miracles do happen around you, huh? First, you came back alive after you're officially considered dead and then you saved a kid's life just because you decided to take a walk at night? You're seriously a lucky boy," Rein said again, sighing and looking at Zoro in awe and wonder.

"That's why I tell you, I was there not because I wanted to," Zoro protested again, now while frowning even though he was still a bit freaked out. "Anyway, what's with the other patients in that room? They saw the kid's dying and they didn't even lift a finger to help him! What a bunch of cold blooded bastards," Zoro cursed slightly, trying to change the topic.

Again, Rein stared at Zoro oddly, now he looked a bit concerned at him. "Zoro…you said something strange again. There's no other patient in that room except the kid," Rein said again.

What—!?

"Are you seeing things or something? The drug must take too much effect on you. I will try to change the brand…"

Then Rein's voice was slowly fading as Zoro turned and set his gaze at the corner of his room again. At the spot of that ghost woman was standing before, now three guys with the same hollow eyes and sickening pale skins were standing there, staring at him.

You've gotta be kidding me—!

Zoro widened his eyes as they met their gazes and then those three unidentified things smirked at him creepily.

Now Zoro's face turned from white to blue and he passed out again with a loud thud on his bed. Rein was surprised and tried to nurse him back to his consciousness, but Zoro didn't want to wake up anymore. He had had enough with this creepy experience and he sure as hell didn't want to get involved further.

However…reality never happened as planned.

Roronoa Zoro, 17 year old boy, died once and escaped from death and back to life with the help of his friend's spirit. He was thankful that he got a second chance to live, but it seemed he had to pay a high price for this chance. He had brought back a present from the land of the dead. His sixth sense was awakened and now he could see the dead around the living ones…

End of Chapter 1

Tbc…

A/N: I should treat this as a prologue, but well…just make it a first chapter, the beginning of a big adventure filled with mystery and horrors XD. How do you think, the idea of this story? Did I make it creepy enough? It's been long time since I want to write a horror story. I planned to make this multiple chapters with a lot of characters appearing and lots of kind of spirits and supernatural events (I have to research some of it first though), but the plot will circle around Zoro. There will be a little romance ZoSan too, but it's just a spice for this main plot. Anyway, I need your opinion on this. Well, I enjoyed making this though. Hope you like this as much as I do ^__^ Saa, let's meet again in next chapter. Love you all XD

With Love,

Lunaryu~~~