Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
Happy Belated Birthday acidiceffect! I inscribed your birthday on stone, so next year I won't forget to say 'happy birthday.'
One quiet morning, before the spring flowers came to bloom, Sanji broke up with his girlfriend. It was sudden, quick even. The two noticed their existence three weeks ago, talked and found similar interests two weeks ago, asked out and dated a week ago, and it was over. From the day they decided to break up, their eyes never met upon walking in the same hallway.
Sanji's form of love erupted at the most spontaneous times, but it burned out faster than a match. The fire of love burned frequently upon a sight of a pretty girl-any girl really-and he would find a way to talk to her (it always succeeded). The guy was a woman's symbol of a perfect man. He was nice, he was chivalrous, and he was open about everything and forgave quickly. He stood out in the crowd because of shining blond hair, tall and well-built figure, and sparkling sapphire eyes. But, even his perfection didn't satisfy the women, so the rapture moment broke, and they became nobodies.
It was a habit of Zoro to count the days Sanji went out with somebody. He felt like a wildlife scientist who observed a wild animal's life and behavior. Zoro didn't understand why Sanji went out with so many women, even though his friend didn't like them at all.
Well, Sanji never told him that, but Zoro had a hunch.
After hearing the news about the breakup, Zoro headed to the top floor of their middle school building. He knew from heart that Sanji was going to be there because it was their favorite spot.
He pushed open the heavy metal door to find Sanji standing at the edge of the rails, with his body learning forward. The blond wasn't stupid to commit suicide from a mere breakup; if he was that type, he would've been dead years ago. It was Sanji's favorite thing to do when he was on the top floor; it was Zoro's favorite spot too.
His friend caught his presence, so he looked over his shoulder. His expression was cool and relaxed. He looked better after breaking up.
"Hey."
"Hey," Zoro answered, "I heard the news."
"About me and Yuriko?"
"Yeah. You sad?"
Sanji shrugged his head, "Nah, she was getting on my nerves." That was how Sanji always answered. It wasn't a condolence for his broken heart. The way he said it sounded like a reassurance to Zoro. Maybe he was thinking too much.
"You know Sanji, you never let me meet your girlfriends."
"Yeah I do."
"No you don't. You talk about it, but you never introduce me to any of them."
"Talking is the same thing."
"No it's not."
"If I find someone new, do you want me to introduce you to her?"
"Yeah, so I know what type you like." Zoro asked him this a few times, but Sanji never executed them. Introducing him or not, Zoro would never know what woman Sanji loved and wanted because none of them was the one. It was a definite fact because Zoro knew who Sanji liked. But, Sanji never took the opportunity to ask the special one out. Neither had Zoro questioned Sanji about who he liked. He could be wrong, but he didn't want to ask to see it he was right.
Zoro leaned over to see where Sanji was looking at. It was recess time so a group of boys, from either Sanji's class or his, were playing soccer. Nearby, a smaller group of girls clustered around, glancing back at the boys.
"Is there someone you're into?"
"Huh?"
"Those girls. You've been staring at them."
Sanji chuckled, "Nah, they're taken."
"Do you like any of them?"
Sanji shrugged, "I don't know, but they're cute." For a second, Sanji flashed Zoro a look. It was blank one, the one Zoro could never read, but he understood what it meant. Zoro turned away from the gaze and back at the talking girls.
"Zoro," Sanji started, "Are you interested in anyone in your class?"
"No." Zoro answered before Sanji could finish his sentence, "I'm not interested." Sanji never asked him if he was interested in anyone in the school, then Zoro would've answered with a 'yes.' But, Sanji never did, so Zoro never pushed the topic further.
Sanji peered down to read the time on the gigantic school clock. He let out a low grumble.
"Third period is going to start soon. I want to ditch."
"I thought you liked English."
"Smo-yan," Sanji peered up with a scowl, "Whenever he teaches, he sounds like he's yelling at you. It gets on my nerves."
"I have history class next."
"You mean nap time."
Zoro smirked and slapped Sanji on the shoulder, "Come on Sanji. Don't ditch. You need that grade to get into Grand Line High."
"I know, I know." Sanji groaned and dropped his forehead on his arms. "I won't ditch." Zoro took Sanji by the arm and dragged him away from the railing. His friend eventually walked with him down the stairs before the school bell rang. They exchanged a farewell greeting, and Sanji went to his class and Zoro went to his. The classes dragged on: couples threw love notes while the teacher's back was turned, some slept, and some listened but didn't understand a word. When school ended, Sanji was on his bicycle, waiting for Zoro. Other bike riders had their girlfriends sitting on the back seat, but Sanji had Zoro. It was strange, but everyone was so used to seeing Zoro on that seat, it was natural.
Zoro had a bicycle, but he never used it. He could never get to his destination, so he was always late. Also, he liked sitting in the back seat, leaning his shoulder on Sanji's warm back while holding his and Sanji's school bag.
"Hey, are you open this weekend?" Sanji asked.
"I think so. Why?"
"Luffy, Usopp, Nami, Chopper, and Vivi want to meet at the mall. Just to hang out, you know. Do you want to come?"
Zoro wasn't the type to make tons of friends (unlike Sanji), so he only hung out with small crowds. Thankfully, Sanji knew who Zoro liked because his friend included the five of Zoro's close friends. They weren't as close to him as Sanji though.
"Yeah, I want to go."
"Cool, I'll tell everyone. We're going to be at the food court around noon. Don't forget to text us if you're late...or lost."
"I won't be lost." Zoro snapped, and his friend laughed. A few minutes of quiet traveling, Sanji dropped Zoro off in front of his house. They gave a quick wave and Sanji watched his friend close the door before heading home..
-.-.-
Zoro and Sanji became friends in fourth grade, and grew to be close best friends. They didn't have many similar interests, but they stuck together like peas in a pod. Maybe this was the yin and yang theory, about opposites attracting. They did like playing video games and play in the park. They liked to hang out at cafes and play with the puppies in the pet store. They trusted each other to whisper secrets that 'just friends' didn't know.
Well, Zoro didn't have many of those 'just friends' so keeping secrets was easy.
Sanji was the type to make tons of friends, girlfriends also. He had never seen Zoro ask anyone out before. His friend preferred to be alone, with peace and quiet. Yet, Zoro liked to hang out with Sanji. If he asked Zoro to come over to play at his house, Zoro always came. Sometimes, Zoro called on his phone or leave short text messages about random thoughts that crossed his mind. When this happened, their conversation lasted hours on that random topic.
When it came to romance, Sanji was the one who blabbered. He talked to Zoro about his newest crush and the mushy adjectives of her. He told him the tale of how he asked her out, by phone or text. When he succeeded in asking her out, he texted Zoro about how their relationship was going, from good to bad. Zoro answered with "Oh cool," "Do your best," and "Well, that sucks,"
Zoro had noticed, but Sanji never showed him any of his girlfriends. Between the years he and Zoro became friends, Sanji went out with more than a dozen of girls. Yet, not once, he introduced her to him. He knew why he didn't, but he didn't want to say to Zoro.
Deep in his heart, there was a boiling emotion he couldn't describe. The 'what ifs' floated around his head whenever he started a relationship. He was afraid to introduce Zoro to a girlfriend because he didn't want to know what expression Zoro would make.
If Zoro showed no emotion, he would break into pieces.
If Zoro smiled, it would break his heart.
If Zoro showed any signs of jealousy, Sanji knew he couldn't take it any longer.
He didn't know what Zoro was thinking, but somehow he knew. He knew Zoro had the same boiling feeling in his heart that was tormenting Sanji's as well.
So, what was wrong with it: both didn't want to cross the line.
The line between friendship and romantic relationship was thin, very very thin. There were several stories of friends, of a boy and a girl, who thought their strong friendship could go much further. They try, something happens-one loved but the other wanted to remain friends, and everything shattered. All the trust, and the long, cherished memories of when they were friends were forced to be forgotten. It was worse than strangers killing love because once the friends break up, they would never be friends again.
Zoro and Sanji didn't want to end their friendship. Their friendship took years to form and it was as sturdy as a mighty ship. They didn't dare to destroy it by an arrow of love. Love was beautiful, but it could also be very cruel.
Sanji experienced love by going out with many girls, and he had seen the affects of breakup. No more phone calls, text messages, or a greeting. Some girls sent angry comments to him, saying he sucked as a boyfriend and complained that he never kissed her. The meaner ones spread rumors on how he was bad in bed, even though Sanji hadn't laid a finger on her (only Zoro knew that Sanji was still a virgin). If he and Zoro went out and ended up breaking up, would Zoro do the same? Zoro wasn't the type to, but it could happen.
Sanji loved Zoro very much. That was why he was not stepping over the line.
-.-.-
It was a bad day to wake up to a high fever. Sanji moaned miserably when he checked his temperature for the second time. It was 38 degrees Celsius. No way was he in good shape to meet his friends at the mall. This was a great disappointment because he was actually looking forward to it.
He grabbed his cell phone and texted to Luffy, Usopp, Vivi, and Nami that he got a cold and he wouldn't make it. Lastly, he texted Zoro the same message and waited for their replies.
Luffy and Nami were disappointed, but their messages were short and brief.
Vivi was concerned. She told him to rest well, eat if he could, and remain in bed.
Usopp was the longest. It had the list of the things Sanji was going to miss and lists of ways Sanji could get better (it was similar to Vivi's). He also reassured Sanji that if he got better, Usopp was going to tell him what happened at the mall. Sanji texted him a short thank you and closed the phone.
Soon, Usopp texted back and the message surprised him.
'I guess Zoro is not going either.'
Sanji raised a tired eye. Why wasn't Zoro going? Right when he thought this, the phone rang. It was a text message from Zoro.
'Hey, I read your message. Decided not to go.'
Sanji quickly ran his thumbs over the small keypad, 'Why?'
'Because you're not going.'
His heart skipped a beat, and a wave of heat splashed on his face, but Sanji blamed it on the fever, 'I can't go because I'm sick. Are you sick?'
'No.'
'Then, there's no reason not to go.'
Zoro's reply came a little later. 'It's not fun without you.'
Sanji tried not to smile, 'That's stupid. Luffy's there. Usopp too. You can talk to those guys.'
If Zoro was here, he was probably shaking his head, 'I'm not going. It's final.'
Sanji sighed and closed the phone. Soon, the phone rang again, and he flipped it open.
'Can I come over?'
'Zoro, I'm sick.'
'I know that. I'll make you something.'
Sanji stared at the screen as his mind was buzzing. He couldn't say 'no' because whenever Zoro was sick, Sanji came over to make food too. Did friends usually do this or was this something a couple would do? He couldn't come up with an answer since his mind was fogged up.
'Sure. I hope you won't burn the kitchen.'
'That was only once.'
'I'll see you soon.'
'Yeah.'
Sanji snickered and closed his cell phone and set it aside. He pulled covers over his face to hide a sloppy smile. All of a sudden, he felt glad that he got a cold.
A/N: I won't add 'The End' or 'To Be Continued' because I don't know if this is the end, or I might add new chapters.
