Chapter Twelve

The atmosphere in the ship was warm and cozy. The heat seeped through the white ghosts clothes and warmed her chilled bones. She took a soft breath feeling already relaxed, despite the situation.

Nami and Usopp gently placed Zoro carefully on the kitchen counter that overlooked the dinning and gave way to stand beside him. The white ghost took a time to study the kitchen. Brown and pristine with white cabinets and clean utensils. By the heavens it was perfectly spotless. The light above casted a warm glow to the surrounding making it feel homey, and the air smelt of sweet spices and rice. It brought back pleasant memories, memories she thought she didn't want to recollect.

"Not a bad kitchen...." She commented placing her satchel on the counter.

"This is not the time to admire Sanji's work of art, can we get on with the process." Nami snapped rather impatiently, her arms crossed over her chest, shoulders tensed and lips pressed under her teeth with her feet tapping continuously.

The white ghost spared a quick look at her tense body, cocking a brow in annoyance. "Firstly if I'm going to work, you will not rush me or else the process won't go as smoothly as I intend to do. Extracting the poison is a messy and difficult procedure and I would like to do so in my own comfort. If not, we risk his life. "

" Zoro dies, you follow! "Nami sneered.

" Nami, pipe down okay. "Luffy sighed pulling the tangerine haired girl back a bit.

The white ghost scoffed." I highly doubt I would, Miss Nami. Now if you excuse me" the white ghost snapped her finger, the white tiger, walked in majestically towards her. It walked over to her so she could grab a few materials from the carryon bag in it's back. She laid the materials on the table and took a deep breath." I can only determine how long he can live for if I get a close access to the wound and observe it. Till then, the medicine needed would have to brew."

She turned to Sanji." May I borrow your pot and stove. Don't worry, the herb is clearly healthy."

Sanji gestured his head towards the cabinet over her head. "The pot is in there, take your pick."

She did just as he said, opening the cabinet and grabbing the smallest pot that she could find. It also had a glass lid with just a tiny hole on the top to let steam out. The steam was a great property used in making the antidote, at high temperature it burns out the toxin in the herb and emerges the true ingredient that made the antidote active.

The white ghost began to work. Grabbing a a vial of dark grey sandy coarse powder and a vial of azure liquid. A stash of herbal leaves smelling of mint and clove, a test tube of a dark pinkish essence and a tree bark.

"I'm gonna need a mortar and pistol." The white ghost ordered. " Quickly we don't have much time left."

Sanji moved from his position opening the lower cabinet at the other end of the kitchen and taking out the little mortar and pistol for the white ghost. He slid it towards her and backed away as she took the reins. Everyone watched as she diligently began the preparation of the antidote. Putting the tree bark and herb into the mortar she began smashing it with the pistol just after putting the pot of water mixed with the dark grey carse powder on fire to sizzle at low heat.

"Sanji, do you mind helping me here?" She asked looking straight at the blonde cook." You're the cook here which means that you must have pretty steady hands."

"Of course, what would you like me to do for you." Sanji nodded without hesitation, moving beside her.

"I need you do put one drop of that pink vial into the boiling water. And remember, not more than one drop, if not it's over and this is the last ingredient I have remaining with me."

"Sanji-" Nami begun to say.

"I got it don't worry." He rose a hand to stop her words and quickly moved to grab the vial. Taking a breath he placed his hand over the steaming pot and tilted his finger slightly allowing one drop to fall with a plop that was swallowed by the sound of the sizzle.

He backed off, looking at the white ghost with an expectant eye. She nodded in acknowledge giving him a thumbs up.

After ten minutes of pounding and smashing she poured the contents in the mortar into the pot, and covered ut with the lid.

Letting out another breath she turned towards the crew, her face still hidden under the hood." The antidote usual spends an hour to brew, in the mean time I'll asses his wounds and dictate how long the big guy has to live. "

" Please, go on" Luffy nodded at her with a small smile.

Nodding at him, the white ghost pulled out a small scissors from the tiger's carry-on bag and finally pulled the hood off her head along with the mask.

Luffy gasped, Usopp gaped, Nami blinked, Sanji rose a brow, Zoro stared speechless, but no one spoke up a word. She was extraordinarily stunning.

Her skin was alabaster and smooth without a single blemish to cast any form of imperfection. Eyes were as blue as ice, lips were plum and pink with an alluring symmetrical face. High cheeks bones, pointed nose and eyes shape that was a little slanted. She was inhumane.

"I will now assess the injury." She continued unaware of the unwavering eyes of the Straw Hat pirates. Moving quickly towards Zoro, the white ghost began to skillfully cut the shirt off him. Attempting to take it off him could reopen the wound as it is, she was sure the skin was already weak and rotten enough to be broken with any sharp movements, even the small ones.

After the light layer of clothes had been cut off it was time for the bandages. It was already soiled with black blood and had a pong of rotten smell wafting from it.

"Uh, what is that smell." Usopp gagged pinching his nose down in disgust.

"Must you always be the first to complain" Nami grumble glaring at him

"No but seriously, why does it smell so rotten." Luffy polled.

"It's the poisons effect." The white ghost answered. "Poison from the Kuyutha. It decays the inner flesh and veins, reaching to the heart. The moment the decays touches the heart, it kills it off too.... Slowly and painfully killing the victim. "

Zoro blinked as he both processed the short version of how he would end up if they didn't fix him, and just how stunning the white ghost could be.

The white ghost began to cut the bandages off Zoro, carefully keeping the cold steel of the scissors from touching the decayed skin. It was only worse when they observed him skin.

His skin was a hue of the color of an ugly bruise, and black veins popped out more and harshly in his skin. They were growing bigger and uglier. The cut darkened more too, rotten and smelly.

"Shit this is bad." The white ghost groaned running a hand through snowy hair. "Zoro has got about one hour and thirty minutes to live."

"Wait what!!!!"