Chapter 1

A/N:All characters belong to Oda, (as you should know). Story belongs to me, (duh). Please, enjoy the show...

Zoro woke up to see the sun in his face. Groaning, he placed his arm over his eyes to block it out, wanting to go back to sleep. He never got the chance though, because someone shook his shoulder.

"Hey mister, we're almost there." It was a man dressed in full armor hovering above him. Zoro groaned again as he sat up, remembering where he was. He was on a wagon to the palace. His whole life he was trained as an assassin. And recently was assigned to be a body guard for one of the members of the royal family. He had no clue who he was supposed to "guard", he didn't care really. All he cared about was getting paid, and getting paid meant money, and money meant boos, (his favorite thing).

Soon, or at least sooner than he hoped, Zoro found himself at the entrance of the palace. He wasn't the only one to being assigned that day. There were several other guards standing beside him, waiting for the palace gates to be opened. Once all the paper work and identification was taken care of, the gates finally opened. Zoro and the others were led inside. Then the man they were following stopped, "You will have to wait here for the king to see you. You are welcome to venture into the gardens while you wait." The man gestured to his left, where, indeed, the gardens were. The man disappeared into the palace.

Zoro was the only one to take the man's advice and journeyed to the gardens, all the other men were decided to rest up before their long day, something he was smart enough to do an the way there, as you know. So he went alone. And before he knew it... he was lost, (me: Duh, this is Zoro we're talking about). He was always getting lost in fact, though he denied that he ever did. It seems to those around him that getting lost was the only thing he did without trying vary hard. He scratched the back of his head, "Ugh... damn." He turned another corner, then another, then another, "If I don't get back soon I'll..." His voice trailed off when he spotted something. More like, someone. He drew closer. The person's back was facing him. He couldn't tell whether it was a man or a woman because of clothing and the hair, which was blond and rolled up into a bun on their head. They were standing by the edge of a pound, they seemed to be throwing something into the water. Zoro decided to advance, "E-excuse me..." The person lifted their head, then... Slowly they turned around. Zoro was a little taken back at what he saw. The person was in fact a man, a young man, who was taken back as well. They said nothing for a moment. Till finally Zoro spoke up again, "I don't mean to bother you. But I have to get to the main courtyard in time. I'm being assigned today see? And I don't wanna miss it."

"Are you one of the new guards?" asked the young man. Zoro was surprised by how soft and soothing the man's voice was, it was as if he had never raised his voice a day in his life.

"Yes," he replied.

"Well then," the blond man sat down on a bench nearby, "If I may recall the ceremony isn't for another half hour. If you like you could wait a while, and I'd be happy to show you the way."

"Uh... that would be good... I guess," said Zoro, not really paying attention to what he was saying. He was to mesmerized by the way the young man looked. His skin looked smooth as well, it was flawless. His golden hair was like silk. And he sat up right and strait.

"Would you like to sit and wait for now?"

"Huh? Oh, sure." He sat down at the other end of the bench, as far away as he could.

"So. You must be very good at what you do to be assigned to the palace," the man said with a small, calm smile. But Zoro sighed.

"Ugh, I don't know. Personally... No, I shouldn't say."

"By all means, I'll tell no one." Zoro was hesitent at first but continued.

"Well, personally I didn't want to be assigned to this place. I wanted to be a free roamer. Out in the world doing what I please. To be perfectly honest, a part of me felt like quitting when they told us we'd be assigned here."

"Do you know where you will be assigned?" the man asked.

"Huh, they told me that there's a high chance I could be assigned as the royal body guard to the prince. I think..." They young man's eyebrows rose but Zoro didn't notice.

"That's quite the honor, to guard the prince. I'm sure you'll be paid very well."

"It's bad enough that I have this job. I didn't train to babysit some spoiled brat of a prince." The other man looked to the ground, still, with that small calm smile on his face.

"Have you met this prince before?"

"Tsh, no. But they're all the same. I just want to get outta here as soon as possible."

"I see. Well, we should get you back there then." The man stood to his feet as Zoro did the same, "To make it back to the courtyard, you head strait then take a left turn, then two rights." He smiled.

Just as Zoro was about to leave the pond area the man said, "I... do hope you enjoy it here. Who knows, you may find the prince isn't such a brat after all." Zoro nodded but didn't really believe it. He took a few steps back into the maze. He remembered he didn't thank the man, but as he turned to do so, the young man had vanished without a sound, leaving Zoro with only the sound of the pond.

"There you are!" another guard exclaimed as Zoro finally made it out of the maze.

"I got lost."

"Why am I not surprised? Come on, the ceremony is about to start!"

Zoro found himself standing in a strait perfect line in the Emperor's courtroom. The head Samari stood above them all, along side the Emperor himself, who sat upon his throne. Beside it was another throne, yet it was slightly smaller. But most of all... it was empty.

"Everyone of you will be assigned to his post and will leave to it immediately!" The head Samari spoke.

It was a long tedious wait as Zoro awaited what felt like his execution. Until finally, is name was called, "Roranora Zoro." He swallowed hard, "You are given the honor of becoming the Royal Bodyguard of the Prince of Grand Japang. Please step forward." Zoro's heart sunk, yet he stepped forward. He looked up at the towering walls of the palace before him as the head Samari placed a small metal on his chest, indicating his rank and job.

Suddenly, the sound of doors opening could be heard, but Zoro didn't bother looking. He didn't care anymore.

"All bow before the prince!" Everyone, including Zoro, bowed.

"Sanji, what took you so long. You've nearly missed half of the orientation!" the Emperor scolded the prince lightly.

"I do apologize Uncle. I... got lost..." someone said with soft soothing voice. Zoro's attention was caught. Lifting his eyes slowly he could see the bottom of a familiar kimono. He quickly lifted his head. His eyed widened as he saw it was the same young man from he garden...

A/N:YAY! This is my first Zosan fanfiction. Hope you found it captivating, lemme know if you like it or not. Thanks for reading! :)