As Zoro's lips began to close in on him, it dawned on Sanji what the swordsman was about to do.

"Shit!"

Using all of his strength, Sanji kicked his knee upwards, and landed a perfectly aimed blow into Zoro's stomach, knocking him backwards, and releasing Sanji from the embrace.

"Oi, cook.." Zoro began, recovering from the blow easily.

But Sanji was already gone, running away at full speed, away from an oddly smug swordsman.

End of flashback

All of this replayed itself in Sanji's mind over and over, as he lent calmly at the counter in the kitchen, pondering quite what to do. It definitely wasn't normal. It certainly wasn't like Zoro. Was it a joke? Would Zoro really go as far as to try to kiss him?!

Sanji shook his head. But the biggest problem...yes. The biggest problem was that Sanji, for a split second, as his crew mate had lent in to kiss him, was about to kiss him back.

"Did I...want to...kiss...ZORO?"

Sanji sighed. As he left the kitchen, he couldn't help but wonder.

"Ok! Everyone, we're going to keep this short and sweet," Nami announced, having taken center stage at the prow of the Merry, in order to instruct her nakama as to their next move, " It looks like this is a pretty ordinary trading town...and we need supplies. Robin, you take Luffy to find some clothes. Chopper! Go with them, and watch Luffy like a hawk! Oh, and keep away from any food stores! Usopp..."

Nami simply gestured towards the many holes in the Merry.

"Gotcha. I'll find some tools to fix the ship."

Nami nodded.

"And Zoro, there's a list in the galley of all the additional stuff we need to stock up on. Basically, to keep it simple - you'll be wanting a general store."

Zoro just grunted, and walked away towards the galley.

"What about me, Nami-san?" Sanji sang. "Will I have the pleasure of escorting you to your destination?"

"No. I'll stay on Merry, and keep watch. You'd better go with Zoro - y'know what his sense of direction is like, and with a Captain like Luffy, we need all the food we can buy."

Sanji's heart sank. As all the others descended from the ship in their respective groups, the only 3 left on board were Nami, Sanji and Zoro.

Nami returned into the galley as Zoro came out, list in hand. He looked up at Sanji, who was glaring at him from the deck.

"What?" He asked, frowning.

"Any slower, shitty marimo, and that list is gonna make it to the store before you. Now hurry up."

As Sanji hopped down from the ship, Zoro just grinned.

"At last..." he thought.

"One more thing..." Zoro said, his face hidden from behind the giant paper bag he was carrying, full of food. The busy street buzzed around them, people bustling to and fro like cattle.

"What now?" Sanji asked impatiently. From the moment he had left the ship, Sanji had been determined that he would just act normal. Nothing had ever happened. Nothing.

"You need some new shirts and ties."

"How the hell do you know what I need, bastard?"

"Oh,well I had to cut them up."

Sanji stopped. He just looked at Zoro, whose face was the picture of innocence.

"I'm not even gonna ask. One of these days, I'm going to kick your ass all the way round the Grand Line and back again..."

Zoro grinned salaciously.

"If you want my ass that badly, cook, it's yours to take..."

To say that Sanji blushed is an understatement. His cheeks burned, his heart raced, and, most of all, his 'fool-proof' exterior had been destroyed. He paused for a second as they continued to walk slowly along the busy street, then snapped back.

"Is that lewd shit all you can ever come up with, Marimo?"

Zoro moved closer to Sanji and grinned again.

"If it's you I'm talking to, yeah."

"GOD DAMN IT!"

Sanji could barely stay composed, but, thanks to the approach of a store selling the suits he now needed, he had the opportunity of disappearing into the shop and down the aisles, away from his harasser. Finally able to calm down slightly, the cook perused the shirts hanging up all around the store, feeling a little safer.

But not for long. Having draped multiple shirts, jackets and ties over his arm, Sanji headed for the dressing rooms, followed closely behind by Zoro.

Shit. Don't tell me that pervert swordsman is gonna follow me in...

And so he did. After being allowed to pass by the guard at the entrance, the two men edged their way up the narrow corridor of the men's changing rooms, until they reached the very end. It was quiet there, and Sanji chose the very end cubicle, away from prying eyes and other people.

Stepping inside, Sanji glanced at Zoro out of the corner of his eye. He had taken up a sitting position a few centimeters away from the cubicle, on the floor.

"Good enough..." Sanji thought, yanking the curtain closed behind him.

Shirt after shirt, tie after tie and jacket after jacket were tried on, over and over in varying combinations. Sanji wasn't vain, but for the sake of his beloved Nami-san and Robin-chan, he wanted to look smart and well-groomed every day.

After a while, conscious of the length of time he was taking, he stuck his head out to make sure Zoro was still there, and not lost. There was no Zoro. Only three swords, placed carefully under Sanji's cubicle curtain.

Sanji felt his heart warm slightly at the thought that Zoro was confident in leaving his beloved swords with Sanji, without even asking. And, although Sanji would deny it, he would protect Zoro's katana with his life.

"Shitty swordsman trusts me more than I trust him...bastard."

Just then, Zoro returned carrying a crisp, black shirt and a silky,blue tie. He smiled at Sanji, who was standing with his head craning round the curtain.

"How cute..."

"Oi, Zoro. Don't go wandering off like that, you'll get los-".

"Here," Zoro said, holding up the combination in his hand." Better than the shit you brought."

Sanji just nodded (he couldn't help but agree). He held out his hand to take the clothes, but instead of giving the items to Sanji, Zoro opened the curtain wide, stepped in, and closed the curtain again behind him. He turned to look at Sanji (who looked a little worried), and stood behind him in the tiny changing room.

Putting the clothes he'd brought down to one side, he slowly reached up to Sanji's shoulders, and removed his jacket. Sanji didn't move. He couldn't think past the boiling mixture of excitement, fear and confusion burning in his stomach. He heard the jacket fall to the floor, and Zoro's arms reached around Sanji, slowly unbuttoning the thin, white shirt he had on. One by one, the buttons opened, and when Zoro slowly pulled the shirt from Sanji's body, every little touch the swordsman placed on Sanji made him shiver. He swallowed.

Zoro's eyes ran eagerly over every centimeter of naked flesh on Sanji's upper-half, from his neck, round his back, and down over his toned stomach. He felt himself starting to heat up. He stood right in front of the cook. Zoro's eyes flashed.

Suddenly, he flew at Sanji,and slammed him against the changing room wall violently.

"Ouch! Oi, bastard, why do you have to be so bloody violent...?!" Sanji didn't bother to struggle (much), as Zoro had his legs planted firmly against Sanji's. The cook couldn't move him an inch - and he didn't really want to. The swordsman's hands were pressed up against the wall, on either side of Sanji's face.

Zoro chuckled.

"Oi, cook. Let's play a game."

Sanji glared.

"What are you, a child?!"

"No...but I've got a new toy."

Before Sanji had a chance to reply, Zoro had already pressed his lips against his. Sanji gasped suddenly, and this seemed to encourage the swordsman even more, and he moved closer into the cook so that their entire bodies were touching. Despite himself, Sanji kissed back. Tenderly at first, and then more passionately. He wanted Zoro to stop kissing him so urgently, to slow down and let him feel the swordsman's lips, savour his mouth and taste his flavour. Their tongues battled for dominance, but Zoro seemed almost feral - he devoured Sanji's lips, his mouth, and began to kiss down along his neck, and then up again along the cook's jawline. Sanji shuddered and let out a slight, muffled groan.

All of a sudden, Zoro stopped kissing him, and instead looked into the cook's eyes.

"So. Here are my conditions. If I win..."

Zoro slid his hands down towards Sanji's stomach.

"...your body's mine." He growled, drawing his fingertips across Sanji's hips.

The cook swallowed.

"And if you lose?"

"Then I'm at your mercy."