Hi everyone! I'm sorry for the long disappearance. I'm finally back. Hopefully, I would continue to finish this and the other fics that I have in my mind. Anyway, this is my first ZoSan fic. I hope you would like it! Please leave some reviews. :). Thank you very much! Sorry if my characters are some-what OOC! Haha. Rated M for future chapters.

~S~

CHAPTER 1

It was a warm day. I couldn't fathom why my insides kept shivering. I know that I should feel warm and secured because I am finally out of such awful place and situation. I should be overjoyed that finally I would be able to eat at least three times a day again. Furthermore, my old man and I are now safe.

I perfectly know that food should not be wasted nor it should be just stared at. However, I just can't seem to push the chicken teriyaki that my old man cooked. It's as if that every single time that I try to swallow the food, I just feel sick to the pits of my stomach. I know that the problem is not the food because anything made by that old geezer tastes heavenly; it'd be my helpless psychological sickness. I do feel awful and ill because of wasting a perfectly made food.

"Eggplant? What's the matter?" Zeff looked at me with concern.

"N-nothing dad. I-I was trying to eat, but… I'm really sorry."

Zeff chuckled at my childish attempt to be mature. I was quite annoyed with his reaction but I know that I am not allowed to complain because I wasn't able to finish my simple meal. I frowned at such thought and felt guilty. It has been thirteen weeks already and I still can't finish my meal. I do feel pathetic.

"Eggplant. Stop thinking about what happened to us before. Look, you're going to be fine. We're not dying of starvation, okay? And stop thinking about what I've lost," Zeff sighed.

"B-but, if you just let me die, you wouldn't lose your-."

"Silence! Enough of that you little piece of shit! I told you already that I did it because I want to and I won't have your petty excuses anymore!" Zeff cursed angrily.

"I'm sorry dad! I just… SO SORRY!" Those were the last intelligible words that I were able to say before I broke down into sobs.

"It's okay eggplant. Stop crying already. I'm going to make your favorite soup so that your stomach would be able to handle it. Take a rest because you're going to school tomorrow," Zeff said while he patted my head gently that my sobs just turned into sniffs.

"Thanks dad."

"Now get your ass out of my kitchen you shitty eggplant or I would knock your head with all I've got!"

"Tsk. Alright Geezer! I'm going to get out of your way!"

"What did `ya say?!"

"N-nothing. I just said that you are great?"

"MOVE IT!" Zeff shouted and before I stepped out of his kitchen his leg whacked the back of my head. It really hurt!

"Why you?! You want to fight?!" I stood on my stance waiting for another kick from him but all he did was shout at my ears.

"GET OUT! NOW!"

After hearing that old geezer's threat, I immediately went out of his kitchen. If I had lingered around his kitchen any longer, the bump in my head would definitely be doubled. Damn that old man and his ever powerful kicks. I wouldn't be surprised if I got any brain damage from all those kicks. But I am genuinely happy despite those painful blows that I received because my dad could finally use his leg again.

After finishing my favorite mushroom soup at dinner last night, I immediately fell asleep due to physical and mental exhaustion. If not to my father's persistence that he would definitely do whatever it takes to wake me up for my school, I would definitely overslept. It's my first day at school and I'm kind of nervous because I've heard from Patty and Carne that there are a lot of bullies in schools. I just hope that they wouldn't pick on me because I know that I am different. I mean, who the hell would like to cook food when they're just nine years old. And I do know that it's odd.

~Z~

It is the first day of school again and I'm seriously pissed off. I don't see the point why I still need to study when I want to become the world's best swordsman. It's Koshiro-sensei's fault for threatening me that I wouldn't be able to attend afternoon classes in the dojo if I would not attend my classes. I still need to beat Kuina-nee and if I stay any longer in this stupid place, I wouldn't be able to train. Two thousand and one battles and still, I haven't won a single one. Talk about how pathetic I am.

"Roronoa Zoro," a voice suddenly called his attention but it didn't break his concentration. He still continued thinking of the ways he could defeat Kuina.

Zoro was oblivious to his world. He was in deep concentration that he didn't notice the piece of chalk that was thrown directly to his forehead. The intense pain that he experienced woke him up from his daze. His cheeks flared red because he knew that the attention of the class was already at him. Abashed, he tried looking at his sensei inconspicuously but his efforts were futile. The class laughed at him.

"Now that I have everyone's attention, I would like to introduce your new classmate. His name is Sanji Black. And I want everyone to be kind to him. Since Mr. Roronoa has no one to look after yet, I am assigning Sanji under your care. Come here little boy. Say something about yourself."

As his name was called, Sanji walked towards their Sensei. Zoro turned his gaze to the new kid that his sensei mentioned. He has a golden hair which looks so soft that he almost want to ruffle it himself. His blue eyes that were deep like the ocean and that swirls of his eyebrows that made him wonder if that kid curled it himself. Zoro knew that Sanji was different and he didn't hate it. He felt that maybe the new kid would be awesome.

"Uhm… I-I aaamm… S-sanjii B-black. It might s-sound w-weird b-but I like to cook," the kid with the golden hair stammered due to his nervousness.

'What a pathetic way to introduce yourself. These losers would make fun of him. I can now see what my problem would be,' Zoro thought to himself shaking his head with disbelief.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA," the whole class erupted in laughter. And as far as Zoro could see, this one's not going to end pretty.

Zoro attempted to look at the blonde. He could see from his eyes a mixture of fear and shame. He could see that if such mockery continues, any moment by now, this kid would end up crying.

"Sensei! Why is that kid weird? His hair is blonde. Does he know any joke about blondes?" One of the bullies asked.

"His eyes look dead. It's as if he has the eyes of a zombie!" Another mischievous kid suggested.

"Plus a guy who cooks? Really? Is he a girl or what? Only girls do that!" Toshi stated and the class roared in laughter again.

"Enough! Toshi, Aikawa and Kakeru, the three of you would clean the bathroom for your unruly behavior. I won't tolerate bullying in this class and if I hear that you're going to pick on Sanji. I'm going to give you three the ultimate punishment that you deserve!" Takashi sensei threatened the three unruly boys.

"We're sorry sensei but we just pointed the truth," the three replied in chorus.

"Enough! You should be ashamed of yourselves. Apologize to Sanji NOW!"

"Sorry Sanji-kun," the three boys expressed without any guilt at all.

"Uhmm. I-it's okay. I didn't take it to the heart anyway."

"Now. Since the matter it already settled, you would sit beside Roronoa-kun. He's the one in-charge of you and if you have any questions, you may direct it at him. He's a good kid. He would help you."

Takashi-sensei smiled brightly at Sanji and the blonde believed him. As for Zoro, he could perfectly hear the sarcasms behind Takashi-sensei's kind statements and if he wouldn't comply with his sensei's wishes. He's going to have an ultimate punishment. Zoro shuddered at that thought. He hopes that the blonde is easy to get along with. After all, he knows how hard it is for the blonde to fit in with this scum kids.

~S~

Sanji was hesitant at first. He doesn't know how to approach the kid with the bright green hair. If he could remember correctly, this kid was the only kid who didn't laugh at the jokes of those three scums. What did his sensei called this green kid again? Was it Roronoa?

Sanji continued walking towards his seat. He didn't bother to look at this marimo kid because he might think that he's ogling him. Just when he's about to take a seat, he noticed that the eyes of his classmate is fixated on him. Filled with curiosity and wonder, he attempted to look at him. Coincidentally, their eyes met and his heart skipped a beat. Maybe it's due to fear but he's not so sure about that.

Sanji sulkily sits beside the marimo. He acknowledges Zoro with a faint nod. He thought that if he asked Zoro for something that he wants to know, he might just bother him. However, oblivious to Sanji, Zoro had enough of his sulky attitude so he tried to get Sanji's attention in the most annoying way that he could ever imagine.

"Hey. Curly!" Zoro whispered.

Shocked at what he has heard, Sanji took a second to process his thoughts and made an intelligible reply, "What did 'ya call me?"

Zoro shrugged innocently and replied, "I said curly brows?"

Sanji was really pissed. He thought that this marimo is different from all his goofish classmates. However, his impression was proven to be wrong. He's also a bastard like them. Due to his immense anger that has accumulated since their class started, he felt that his eyes began to water. He's now trying his hard not to let his tears fall.

"Tch. Sensei!" Zoro calls for the attention of their teacher.

"I am in the middle of fixing your class activities. Is something the matter Roronoa-kun?"

"Since Sanji is a transferee student and since you put me in charge of taking care of him, may I show him around?"

His teacher showed a dumbstruck expression at first but then, he chuckled. "Okay. If that's what you want. At least you're already trying to be nice."

Sanji was rattled. He couldn't believe that this kid is going to take care of him. A while ago he was calling him curly-brows and now, he wants to show him around the campus. Unbelievable.

'A while ago he's making fun of me. And now, he's trying to be nice. Well, unfortunately I don't want your help mari-' Sanji wasn't able to finish his thoughts because Zoro grabbed his hand and he held it gently.

Their classmates couldn't believe what they are seeing. They know that Roronoa was a lone wolf and he's very strong so he shouldn't be messed with. But seeing him hold Sanji's hand make him look like a kid who likes the new student.

"Awww. Zoro has a crush on blondie!" One of their classmates teased him and they all pitched in.

Zoro was infuriated and embarrassed at the same time. He didn't notice his cheeks flushed violently. Sanji was taken a back as well. Zoro glared at his classmates evilly before going out of their room.

~Z~

Zoro had completely forgotten that he was still holding Sanji's left hand. He's really annoyed at his classmates inappropriate teasing. He was so focused on looking for the cafeteria that he didn't notice that they were going around in circles. Just when he's about to give up, he sees it and brings Sanji inside.

Sanji finally cries. He couldn't hold his tears back anymore and when their classmates teased them he saw how furious Zoro was. He thought that maybe he wouldn't be able to make any good friends in his school now. He doesn't care if Zoro sees him crying. It's also his fault for being such a jerk.

'Shit. Look what I've done. I made another mess. Tch. How do I fix this? Ugh.' Zoro cursed himself mentally while looking at the cafeteria's surroundings. His emerald green eyes wavered from left to right until he finally found what he's looking for.

'That's it! It definitely would work out. Let's see if curly doesn't stop crying when he sees what I am about to do.' Zoro chimed triumphantly and left Sanji in order to buy his favorite ice cream.

"Hey curly, stop crying. They're gonna bully you more if you show your weakness," Zoro stated while handling the peppermint ice cream that he bought for Sanji.

"A-are you giving this to me?" Sanji was surprised.

"Yes. I thought you might like it," Zoro muttered shyly while his cheeks formed a faint blush.

Sanji was dumfounded. He wasn't expecting that this kid who doesn't really care about him would actually do something nice. Sanji stopped crying.

"Thank you Marimo-kun," Sanji smiled whole-heartedly and Zoro felt that his heart jumped a little.

(to be continued…)