A/N: I hope you like my new story :)

It was a normal and peaceful day on the Sunny, or at least as normal and peaceful as it could get with the Straw Hats. However the incoming news coo changed the calm atmosphere rather quickly for a certain swordsman.

Zoro was training on deck, fully focused on the heavy weight that he kept swinging over his head. Of course did he notice the arrival of the news coo from the corner of his eye, but the bird normally just brought the newspaper for Nami. Considering that, he was quite surprised when he hear a female voice next to him announce that the news coo had brought a letter for him. Setting his weight down and turning to Nami, he took the small letter from her and sat cross-legged down on the deck to read it.

The navigator was just as surprised about the letter for Zoro as the swordsman himself, so she watched his reaction closely. The swordsman's eye widened and Nami was more than curious now who had sent him a letter. Zoro never let anything about his past slip and the only people Nami knew from his past were Johnny and Yosaku, so she couldn't help but wonder. However when she saw Zoro frown deeply her curiosity vanished into concern. She always had a soft spot for him and after she had seen him for the first time after their two years apart something had changed between them.

Just when she had finally gathered enough courage to ask him if everything was alright Zoro stood up and walked over to Luffy, who was arguing with Sanji about food.

"Let's talk in the crow's nest." It was clearly a command and even though Luffy looked confused for a moment he nodded.

"Are you sure you won't get lost on the way up?" Sanji's usual insult was no surprise, Zoro's reaction however was.

Normally Zoro would start arguing with Sanji the moment he insulted him, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Right now there were more important things to worry about. His sensei was a proud man and he wouldn't ask for help if it wasn't an emergency. Even though the message that he had received from his sensei was short, it was enough for the swordsman to realize that whoever challenged the dojo was serious. If he wouldn't go home and fight this someone his sensei could lose his dojo, the same dojo that held so many memories of Kuina, not only for his sensei but for him as well. Considering all that, he ignored Sanji and went up to the crow's nest, sure that Luffy would follow him.

"Captain, I need to go home." Were the first words Zoro spoke to Luffy when they arrived in the crow's nest. He was never a man of many words, so he got right to the point.

Most of the time Luffy was carefree about every situation, but the tone of Zoro's voice let no doubt about the seriousness of the situation, so Luffy's usual bright smile vanished in a serious expression. Zoro was not only his first mate, but his best friend as well and seeing him so concerned worried the captain.

"Alright, I'll go with you." There was no hesitation in Luffy's voice.

"No." Zoro said immediately. "I have to go alone. We're in the New World and you need to stay here in case we're under attack. The stupid cook can't handle this alone." There was a light smirk at the end of his statement and at that Luffy smiled slightly again.

When the two came back down a certain navigator eyed them with a mixture of curiosity and worry and Zoro's next words only intensified these feelings.

"I'm going home for a while."

The normally loud and busy ship was quiet in the matter of seconds and everyone seemed to take a moment to take in Zoro's words. However not a minute later the silence was broken by the most unlikely person, at least that was what everyone thought.

"I'll go with you." Nami blurted out. For a moment she had stopped thinking completely and just spoke the words from her heart. The worried look in Zoro's eye that he tried to hide and his tense demeanor, told Nami how serious the situation was. All she wanted to do right now was to be by his side and help him with whatever was bothering him. However she couldn't tell him that, so she quickly made up an excuse. "Well I mean with his sense of direction he won't find his way home."

"But Nami-swan how can you even consider going with this idiot."

Before another argumentation could break out, Robin intervened. She was probably the only one who was aware of the feelings the navigator held for Zoro. However considering that she had her eyes and ears everywhere, quite literally, it wasn't all that surprising,

"I think Nami is right. It would make sense that she accompanys Mr. Swordsman, wouldn't it captain?"

"Sure." Luffy smiled brightly at the idea that Zoro didn't have to go alone after all.

"You can take my new invention, it's super." Franky suddenly announced. "It's even faster than the mini merry, so you should make it to your destination in no time."

Zoro's only reaction was a small nod, his eye resting on a certain navigator, who Frank was explaining the mechanics of his new invention to. If he was honest with himself, the swordsman was quite okay with Nami coming with him. Not that he wouldn't find his way on his own, he had a great sense of direction after all, but the thought of having Nami with him was calming. Somehow their relationship was changing.

The rest of the day was a blur to the navigator and swordsman and a few hours later they were in the middle of the ocean on their way to their destination. Still deep in thoughts Zoro thought back on what his sensei had written in his letter. Someone wanted to fight the strongest student of the dojo, so he could take over the dojo. This reminded him so much of the time when he came across this dojo. Until then he had been able to defeat the strongest and he had been sure that he could beat the strongest in this dojo as well, that was until Kuina. The thought of his childhood friend let a small smile appear on his face. However the next moment it was gone. The memory of her was still painful and this situation was serious. His sensei had written that so far no one had been able to beat this mysterious swordsman and that this person would take over the dojo if he wouldn't fight him. Loosing the dojo was not an option.

Nami watched Zoro from her place behind the rudder. He hadn't said a word about the letter that he had received and he seemed to be really worried if the expression in his eye was anything to judge by. Nami didn't know when she had started to pay so close attention to Zoro's eye, but she could read every small emotion that flickered through it. The concern and even small signs of sadness made her feel useless and all she wanted to do was help him somehow. Sure, she was coming with him on this journey and she navigated the ship so they would actually reach their destination, but that didn't seem enough to her. Taking a deep breath she stopped the ship and went over to where Zoro sat. She kneeled down next to him and gently lay a hand on his arm. The small contact made her heart race, but she tried her best to ignore it.

"If you want to talk about the letter or why you need to go home." She took a deep breath before continuing. "I-I just want to let you know that I'm here."

This were probably not the most reassuring words, but with her heart beating so fast and with Zoro so close to her it was the best she could come up with.

For a moment it seemed like he was debating with himself if he should tell her, but then he spoke up, his voice heavy and the expression in his eye worried.

"The letter is from my sensei." That was more information than he had been willing to share with anyone, but Nami's gentle gesture and the honesty and concern in her eyes let these words flow freely from Zoro's mouth. "There is a swordsman who wants to take over my sensei's dojo if he defeats the strongest student of the dojo, so my sensei asked me to come home."

It was only a short explanation, but considering that it was Zoro who was telling her that it meant a lot. The swordsman never talked about the people of his past and for him to share this with her was huge.

"Thanks for telling me." She whispered, to not break the moment of utmost trust between them. "I'm sure you will win this fight just like every other one." Every word was spoken with honesty and for the first time since their journey had started Zoro felt himself calm down a little.

A day later when they arrived and Zoro stepped foot on the island that he called his home for the first time in years, with Nami right by his side, he smile slightly. It wasn't the place where he grew up, but here lay his most valuable memories. This was the place where he had met her and learned what it really meant to have a dream. His hand automatically went to the white sword.

'I'm back home.'

A/N: Please review and tell me what you think :)