My two cents on the reunion of Luffy, Zoro and Sanji after their two years. I'll divide it into 3 parts, the first for Zoro, the second for Sanji and the third for... well, smut. Duh. ;)
(For those who don't know, Wadou Ichimonji is the name of Zoro's white katana)
Into Faith And Thought
01 – Zoro
Chink. Chink.
The stone slid over his white katana at a steady pace, sharpening the blade back to perfection. It was relaxing work, one of the few times Zoro felt completely at ease with the world and himself, when only his swords were important.
Chink. Chink.
However today was different. Today his movements were sharper, almost mechanic because his mind refused to sink into a meditative state, thoughts keeping him on edge. It was strange how much he had changed in that aspect. No so long ago he wouldn't have let his worries get to him so much, but now... He was almost doubtful.
Chink. Chink.
Two years had passed since that day when he'd found out about his captain's fate, sitting miles away in the castle of his rival. It had been like a knife to the chest, seeing that newspaper picture. But actually hearing what had happened from someone who had been right there had been infinitely worse. He could still see it clear as day, remember every word of that dreadful conversation.
He had not wanted to believe it.
"What did you say?", he had asked, staring at Mihawk, uncomprehending.
"That's how it is", the master swordsman had clarified in his usual detached manner. "No one knows where Strawhat went. Or if he's even alive."
Zoro had blanched at that. "Wait, he- What did you see? Tell me everything!", he had exclaimed, worry making him forget about his pride as he pleaded. "I need to know!"
Mihawk had eyed him levelly for a while before crossing his arms as he looked out the window, remembering. "After Fire Fist died your captain lost consciousness and got taken away by Jimbei, a former Shichibukai."
Lost consciousness? "He must've been in so much pain", Zoro had muttered, not quite realizing he had spoken aloud until his rival replied.
"I guess so. He lost his brother right after he thought he'd brought him back from the brink of death." Even then he had still sounded aloof, that bastard. "Most unfortunate."
"He..." Zoro had swallowed heavily as that particular info sunk in, settling in his stomach with the weight of a boulder. "He watched... Ace die?"
Mihawk had turned towards him then, not a single shred of pity in his face. "He didn't just watch. Portgas died in your captain's arms after protecting him from a fatal blow, using his own body as a shield."
Zoro might as well have been hit with a sledgehammer. "He... How- What..."
"Speak in full sentences." Oh, if only he could have killed that man right then and there.
Instead Zoro had forcefully calmed himself enough to continue their conversation, dreading the outcome of it. "...How did Luffy react?"
Mihawk looked into the distance, his brow slightly furrowing. "Well, I wasn't close enough to see everything, but your captain probably had a severe breakdown. He must have passed out as soon as Portgas collapsed though. I didn't hear him scream anymore after that." Leaving that statement hanging in the air like poison set to suffocate Zoro the world's greatest swordsman had left the room. "That's all I know."
Zoro had not even reacted anymore, staring at the floor with his fists clenched, teeth grinding so hard against each other that it actually hurt. Not that he'd felt it back then.
'Luffy...', he'd thought. 'You were all alone in this... Even though you always help everyone through their hardships, saving them, protecting everything they treasure... The one time you were in more pain than any of us...'
The tears had weighed on his cheeks like bullets, reminding him of his own uselessness, of his weakness, his-
His failure.
And Zoro had screamed, a howl of pain and rage and that desperate wish for his captain to hear him. To know-
"DAMN IT! WHAT KIND OF NAKAMA AM I?"
Chink. Chink. Chii-
Zoro halted mid-stroke and clutched Wadou with a tight frown, feeling its weight heavy with a promise to his captain as he remembered that specific moment of weakness.
Never again, he swore to himself, looking out at the ocean towards the lights of the Archipelago he could just make out on the horizon, guiding him home. This time I won't fail you. Luffy.
TBC
