"Yo! Zoro! How's it- holy shit, what happened to you? You're bleeding man!"

"I'm fine Usopp, I jus-"

"Zoro got in another fight!" Luffy announced proudly from behind where Zoro stood.

"He WHAT?! Zoro! If you keep doing that you're going to get expelled!" Nami shrieked where she stood next to Usopp. Usopp and Nami were two of the many people that Luffy, much like he had attempted with the blond guy outside, convinced into being friends. Usopp was a darker skinned guy, born in Africa and moved to the country when he was young. He had pretty full lips for a guy, and weird ass eyelashes to go with them, but they weren't even his most distinct feature. That would be his nose. Usopp had an incredibly long nose, long enough you could wrap your whole hand around it. Today he was wearing his usual oil and paint stained jeans with a loose tee on top. He had on a thick, green sweater and his long, curly, black hair was tied into a ponytail at the end. It looked kind of like a ball of cotton candy. His goggles, which he always had on him for some damn reason, sat just at his hairline.

Nami, the witch, was standing next to him. She was slightly tanned but not by much, you couldn't really be too tan during the winter unless it was fake anyway, and she didn't do that spray on stuff. Her long, orange, wavy hair flowed loosely past her shoulders and just above the middle of her back. She was wearing a tank top and one of those long, shoulder bearing sweaters on top, making the tattoo on her left shoulder visible. She had on a pair of strappy platforms and skinny jeans that left little to the imagination, but she wouldn't have it any other way. She pushed her glasses further up her face before continuing her rant on Zoro.

"What were you even fighting about?!"

"I DON'T KNOW! The guy just pissed me off. Where's Chopper?"

"Where do you think, he's at his desk, studying." Usopp pointed to the back corner of the classroom where the group of them all sat together. There he was. Big, brown eyes focused on the work in front of him, which looked to be biology homework. The kid had skipped two years of school and was now studying whatever classes he though would help him to get into med-school. Thick brown locks of hair fell into his face where and he blew them away every once in a while.

*BRRRRRRRRRRR*

The bell went and Zoro shrugged at Nami, smirking at the way she fumed at her conversation being cut off. But she couldn't argue. Class was class. Zoro walked over and sat down at his desk which was placed directly behind Usopp's, and next to an empty seat.

Zoro stared out the window of his homeroom, watching the trees rustling softly in the chilly wind of early spring, late winter. He sat at the back of the class because, well, firstly, because usually nobody caught him sleeping back there. Secondly, because nobody bothered him except for his small group of friends. Nobody sat to the right of him, nobody dared to. After all, he's "Classroom Demon Roronoa Zoro". Every other chair in the classroom was taken before the one next to him was. Apparently though, that would change today.

"Okay class! I'd like to introduce you all to a new transfer student we have!" , their homeroom teacher, or 'Red-Haired Shanks' as they all called him, looked over to the doorway and, using his one arm, motioned the kid standing there to come inside. Yes, one arm, he'd been in a nasty wildlife accident a while back. Zoro continued to stare out the window, not the least bit interested until he heard that same low, almost raspy voice he had heard yelling at him just a half hour ago.

"The name's Sanji. Sanji Prince. It's a pleasure to meet you all." Zoro whipped his head around to stare at the blond man, noticing that he was also staring back. He looked disappointed. Zoro almost felt bad for the guy because the last free seat in the class room was the one right next to him. And the kid that sat in the seat in front of that one? Luffy. There would be absolutely no way for "Sanji" to avoid Luffy's friendship now. The blond seemed to realize this as he looked around the classroom, scanning for somewhere else to sit and sullenly settling on the chair right next to Zoro.

"So, Sanji, it looks like you'll be sitting next to-"

"NO! , if he sits there, he'll block my perfect view of Zoro~!" Zoro winced at the shrill voice that came from the seat just on the other side of the empty one next to him. Perona… Usopp had been enough of a threat to keep her from sitting right next to him, but it was like the damn girl was obsessed with him. Always following him around at school, trying to dress him up like… like a damn teddy bear!

"Sorry Perona! Looks like that's the only seat left! Of course, you and Sanji could always switch." The pink-haired punky looking girl smiled brightly and looked over to Zoro, who flinched away but relaxed when he saw Usopp turn to wave at her, a shit eating grin plastered on his face.

"Hi Perona~!" Usopp wiggled his fingers as he waved at her and she immediately retracted her request, shaking her head and turning her attention back to her own desk. Perona had been afraid of Usopp since he put a handful of toy cockroaches down her shirt in middle school and wouldn't go near him since. Zoro still remembers how much she cried when she just couldn't get the one last cockroach that crawled all over her and eluded her fingers.

"Yo! Sanji! I guess you get to sit with us! Shishishishishi!" Luffy laughed as he motioned to the blond. Zoro heard him groan slightly but he walked over to his newly appointed desk and sat down. Zoro turned to look back out the window and tried to ignore the entire situation. Sanji was still sporting that bruise from their fight that morning, he would be for a while with how hard Zoro had hit him. He had covered it up well with his hair but it was still fairly visible. Luffy turned around in his chair to face him, smile ever present on his face.

"So, you're joining us for lunch today, right?" Shit, that's right. I didn't have the chance to pack a lunch today because I was in such a panic to get to school. I didn't even have time to grab my wallet. He probably had enough time to walk back home and get it before school started, but Kuina was right… unfortunately, he didn't have time to get lost today.

"I thought I already told you, no."

"And I told you that I didn't accept that answer. You're eyebrows are cool and you're strong so I want you to eat with us." Zoro groaned internally. Luffy the more you try and explain the less sense you make! Just let this one go. But nope, that was too much to ask and Zoro knew that. Once Luffy had his mind set, it would happen. Even that guy, Law, cracked after about a month of pestering and now sits on the other side of Luffy.

"So you're the guy that got in a fight with Zoro, huh?" Nami asked as she leaned over Luffy's desk.

"Whoa! Nami, how could you tell?!" Luffy laughed happily as he looked over at Zoro, looking for some sort of response that Zoro was not about to give.

"Well hello mademoiselle~! Unfortunately, yes, I was the one to take on the brute moss-head." Zoro's jaw clenched and he turned to glare at the cocky blond. Sanji kept his attention on Nami, only glancing over in Zoro's direction through his thick, blond bangs and shooting him a short glare.

"I don't believe we've had the pleasure of being introduced my love~."

"Nami. Nami Apelsin. So, what did you do to piss him off?" Nami continued her interrogation, reaching her hand out to him for a handshake that had hearts practically pouring out of the guys ears. What is up with this guy? Every word she says is practically turning this guy to jelly.

"And I am the great Captain Usopp! That's right, the great Usopp Vegter!"

"I didn't ask your name, now did I shithead? I asked for hers." Sanji pointed his thumb in Nami's direction while he glared at Usopp.

"You ass! You're going to be having lunch with us so I just thought you should know all our names! Anyway, the guy that sits in front of me is Chopper! He's only thirteen and he's practically already a doctor!" Sanji looked genuinely interested as he glanced over to child still studying furiously at his desk.

"Oh shut up Usopp! You know complimenting me like that never makes me happy or anything~!" Chopper turned around to introduce himself and immediately saw the way that both boys were bruised and cut up.

"GAH! What happened to you two?!"

"I was JUST talking about it! They got in a fight and now he's having lunch with us, isn't that right, Sanji~?" Nami fluttered her eyelashes and gave one her prettiest smiles. The kind of smile that could never work on Zoro no matter how hard she tried. It never ceased to piss her off that she couldn't convince the swordsman to go along with her whims.

"Why are you trying to convince him to eat with us anyway? Luffy was the one who invite him!"

"Because captain's orders that's why!" Luffy laughed to himself as he bounced in his chair.

"Oh, so we're a pirate crew now are we?" Zoro chuckled as he rummaged through his bag, looking for any spare change he could find to buy himself lunch. Mission unsuccessful.

"Yes, yes we are! And I'm the captain and the captain says that Sanji is eating with us!"

*BRRRRRRRRRRR*

Thank fuck! Zoro pulled his school bag over his shoulder and made his way to the door, turning left only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"What do you want, witch?" Zoro spat as he turned his head slightly to look at Nami.

"You're going the wrong way."

"You don't know that! What if I usually go this route to my classes, huh?"

"You don't. We have the same history class together first block and right now, you're heading in the direction of the science classrooms and a dead end. So just follow me you dumbass." Zoro murmured curses under his breath but followed behind as he was instructed until they reached their class room.

'History 11 with .' Zoro hated these kinds of classes. Writing and learning about people who have been dead for years always bored him out of his mind. The only reason he was actually passing the class was because he sits next to Nami and the witch would never give him a damn break. Every time he would finally manage to doze off she'd hit him so hard in the head that he could feel his brain rattling around in his skull. At least he had strength and conditioning second block or he would go crazy before he even made it to lunch time.

"Good morning . It looks like you've had quite an eventful morning." Chimed the beautiful history teacher. Zoro wasn't much into girls but he knew when one was pretty. For instance, he knew Nami was pretty, her friend that sits at the front of homeroom Vivi was fairly pretty (Her boyfriend Kohza certainly thinks so), and was also pretty. That's probably the only reason why most people in the classroom are actually passing the class.

"Yeah, morning ." Zoro dragged himself to his seat and pulled out his history book. He forced himself awake for most of the class and practically ran out when he heard the bell go off. He was stopped however when he heard 's silky voice call from behind him.

" . I suggest you get that lip of yours looked at. I could write you a note excusing you from your next class for the first half if you would like?" She pulled out a pen and paper, giving Zoro a look that, even though Zoro knew it was a question, it came out much more like a demand. Zoro nodded his head and slowly walked over to her desk.

"Get your side looked at too. I can see the way you wince when you turn." She smiled as she handed him the note and he nodded again, feeling slightly disappointed for having to miss the first half of gym for a damn checkup. Zoro walked back out the classroom door and made his way to the nurse's office.

"Zoro-ya, I knew you'd be in here at some point today, I saw what happened, sit down and shirt off." Zoro grunted as he made his way to the medical bed and sat down. He shrugged his sweater off and pulled his shirt over his heading, cringing at the way his side hurt as he stretched his arms over his head.

"So, Law, how's the hands on training going?" Law rolled up the sleeves on his button up shirt, revealing tribal tattoos that patterned each one, D.E.A.T.H. tattooed on the knuckles of the fingers on each hand, people had learned not to question his tattoos early on. It wasn't that Law would become violent, he would answer truthfully, which was actually the worst part. Zoro watched as Law walked around him to place his stethoscope to his back.

"Well, it all depends on how you view things. Breathe in. Because I'm still only in high school, it's not really legal for me to do anything outside of putting a Band-Aid on cuts and scrapes, but sometimes I am able to convince to look the other way, such as, for instance, right now. Breathe out… Good. Because I already completed all of my academic courses over the summertime and began my studies on medical science when I was around six, I was able to convince them to give me a few free blocks to 'play doctor' with the other students. Breathe in." Zoro tried his hardest not to cough or flinch away from the pain in his ribs when he took in too deep a breath.

"Your 'friend' comes in here more often than not with brand new cuts and bruises, he gives me plenty of study material. One more time, breathe out. Sometimes I think he does it on purpose just so he can visit me and ask me to join his… what is he calling it now? His 'crew'. Now does it hurt when I do…this?" Law poked at one of the purpling bruises on Zoro's side.

"Gah… yeah, a little. That's Luffy for you though, isn't it? There are probably hundreds of people in this school who would like to be his friend but he'll only really accept the few people who actually don't want it. Just you wait though, you're going to get into some sort of pinch, possibly – Shit! Right there… possibly life threatening and he'll be there for you. He'll save the day, like he always does."

"Yes, that seems to be what he does." Law chuckled to himself as he pulled away from Zoro's sides and went to examine his lip. Zoro opened his mouth, giving Law a better view of the damage. Law fingered the split gingerly and nodded once he was finished with his examination. Law walked over to the medicine cabinet and pulled out a bottle of pills, shaking two into his hands. He filled up a plastic cup with water from the sink and passed them both to Zoro.

"There doesn't look to be any internal bleeding, so that is good, nothing is broken either. Your lip has swelled slightly but there doesn't seem to be an infection. The best I can prescribe for you is some pain killers and I would ask you to stay here and skip gym class but somehow I know that that isn't going to work out. You'll sneak out on me the second I turn my back so do try not to hurt yourself further."

"Thanks doc." Zoro threw the pills into his mouth and chugged down his cup of water. He pulled back on his shirt, flung his school bag back onto his shoulders and made for the door.

"Oh, and Zoro-ya. Once again, what I just did was slightly illegal so if we can keep it on the down low?" Zoro laughed and nodded, looking back to see the permanent smirk still dancing across Law's face.

"No problem, see you in homeroom." Zoro jogged down to the gym, making his way out the side doors and going straight for the men's locker. Once he was dressed in his gym clothes, he ran outside to meet with everybody at the track. They were all already doing laps and Zoro still needed to hand in his note, so he went straight for the teacher.

"Ah! Zoro, you made it! I thought you were skipping out on me."

"Nah, I'd never miss this class, I was just in the medical room getting checked out for some minor injuries, here's my note." Zoro handed the teacher his note and watched him read it over.

"Injuries? And you're still going to put yourself through my harsh training? Zoro, you need to value your life more, it's a precious thing and you only ever get one of it, to sacrifice such a thing would be-"

"Mr.T-Bone, I'm fine. Seriously, it's no big deal." Zoro assured the large, odd-looking man. His complexion was somewhat… greyish, and he's missing one of his teeth. Mr.T-Bone certainly was one of the odder looking teachers. His face kind of reminded him of that of a skeleton, no, a zombie, hollow looking eyes and prominent teeth.

"Well… if you say so all I can do is trust you. Now go run laps with the rest of the students! And make them as square as possible. I don't like how curved that damned track is…" He muttered that last bit to himself as he went about with his own business, checking up on the students in the lower classes who were currently in the middle of a series of push-ups.

Zoro joined the other students in their laps and let his mind wander as he ran. First thing on his mind was lunch, it was going to happen in about 45 minutes and he didn't have anything to eat. After the day he was having, he was sure he'd be pretty hungry by the time lunch rolled around, but it's not like he had much of a choice other than to wait until after school. He didn't have enough time to go home and make anything and by the time he came back with his wallet the cafeteria would be closed. He could ask for a loan from Nami, she always carried around money but… nope. He still owed her from the last time he borrowed money for her and that just kept collecting more and more interest. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Zoro knew she would never actually try to collect on the outrageous sum he's owed her since middle school.

The second thing on his mind was, well, it still kind of counted as lunch, it was that blond kid. He would be joining them today to eat, that, Zoro was sure of. If Luffy is sure of it, it's going to happen. What is with that guy anyway? He's got a real fucking attitude towards me and the rest of the guys but the second Nami bats an eyelash, he turns to jelly. PLEASE don't tell me he's one of those perverts…

Strength class went by almost flawlessly, Zoro's side was still sore but the pain meds that Law gave him must have been pretty strong because he only really felt the pain when he stretched his arms especially far. That and he was feeling the slightest buzz of happiness that came with the best kind of pain meds.

*BRRRRRRRRRRR*

Zoro went back to the men's locker and changed into his jeans and shirt, ignoring the looks he got from the other guys when they saw the bruise that seemed to have finally stopped growing since the last time he looked at it. He was more than used to looks in the change room though with the scar on his chest. He then made his way to the homeroom, the room that he and the rest of his 'crew' sat in every lunch.