A/N: Hope you enjoyed the story~ :)


"That's just what I'm saying," Usopp said desperately, walking backwards beside Nami as she made her way swiftly across the deck. "I dreamed that weird dream, and next thing I know, I'm waking up in the middle of the woods naked. And since YOU guys were the last ones to see me-"

"We've been over this, Usopp, and I don't know what to tell you. Yes, it's probably my fault you were delirious last night, but you had it coming. I also told you Luffy and I weren't even around the woods after you disappeared." Nami stopped momentarily in her entrance into the kitchen to move aside for Robin, who was holding her fourth cup of coffee that morning.

"I can vouch for them," the archaeologist said pleasantly, taking a sip and eyeing Nami. "They were definitely too preoccupied to play that kind of prank on you, Long Nose-kun." She smirked at Nami's ridiculous blush. Usopp glared suspiciously, then shrugged and headed towards the table and sat down.

"Good morning my beautiful rose," Sanji greeted Nami with his usual dopey grin, maybe a little more subdued than usual thanks to the lack of sleep they'd all had. "What can I make you for breakfast?"

"Actually Sanji-kun, I just need you to tell me where Zoro is." She cringed thinking about where he might be and was hoping someone could confirm he wasn't sleeping somewhere awkward with…a certain someone else. Not to mention the weird vibe she was getting from Robin… "I'm really not all that hungry this morning."

"What's up?" Zoro appeared through the door and Nami and Sanji both turned to look at him. He was shirtless and sweating profusely, normally a sign he'd just gotten done with his morning work out. Nami wasn't quite sure what that entailed this morning, though.

"I've already told you not to come in here when you smell like that," Sanji sneered. He was too tired to do anything about it though, so he went back to cooking.

"I need you to man the helm," Nami said, crossing to exit the kitchen now that she'd found what she was looking for. "Salome came back. The Kuja's will be here to pick up Hancock-san in a few hours. And since everyone else is sleeping, you're all I've got to work with."

Usopp glanced away from his food to see if Zoro would have a reaction to that news. He didn't appear to be affected. His face still looked like the world was a constant annoyance to him. The sniper watched him reach into the fruit bowl and grab an apple and a banana, silently moving past Nami who had stayed for the same reason.

"Yeah. Just gimme a minute to change."

"And take a shower," Sanji called as the door closed behind him. Nami and Usopp exchanged looks and shrugged. Maybe things weren't as weird as they thought they were.

Zoro headed up to the library, taking a bite out of the apple as he neared the last rung of the ladder. His head popped through the opening and he lifted himself up quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping body over by a book shelf. He needn't have worried though, since her eyes fluttered open to watch him walk over anyway.

"Salome's back," he said shortly, taking another bite and sitting in the chair at the desk. "You should get dressed."

Hancock grunted and lifted herself from the blankets.

"Do you know when Marigold and Sandersonia will arrive, then?"

"Nami didn't say much. Just asked me to man the helm."

"Then what are you doing here. Go do your job."

He shrugged and threw the banana at her. She caught it and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"I told her I was getting dressed. And the cook wants me to shower," he offered, resting his head on the desk.

"But you're doing neither of those things."

"Aye."

She shook her head in confusion and stood up, peeling the banana as she did. She was about to take a bite when she felt his eyes on her.

"Go take a shower," she said, narrowing her own eyes.

"Don't feel like it."

"Then at least go put different clothes on."

"That takes too much time."

"And yet," she reasoned, giving the fruit a seductive lick, "you have time to sit there and watch me eat."

He didn't say anything. Just stared.

"And I suppose it was mere coincidence that you picked this one for me to eat," she continued.

"Just eat it."

Hancock knew better, but she liked giving him a hard time. He was starting his withdrawal process. He wouldn't let himself touch her from now on. And she was lucky he'd even bothered coming back up to see her. She smiled at the banana, realizing it was probably just him wanting one more little in-between before they had to go back to pretending.

Alright, swordsman. Eat your heart out.

So Hancock ate her banana. And Zoro watched.

And by the time she had put her clothes back on, he was gone.


"Luffy~ I don't want to leave you~" Hancock whined, crushing him in a hug as tears ran down her face. "I'll be so lonely~" Nami's eyebrow twitched in annoyance.

"HANCOCK-SWAN~! I HOPE YOUR STAY WITH US WAS PLEASANT!" Sanji was currently busy throwing flower petals across the deck, tears of adoration spilling down his face. Usopp and Franky rolled their eyes, knowing they'd be tears of depression in a few minutes. Brook started to ask if he could see her panties before she left, so they both clapped hands over his mouth.

Hancock nodded, then frowned as she finally got a look at Luffy's face.

"Luffy, you don't look so good. Are you feeling alright?" She placed a hand to his forehead.

"Massage," he mumbled, blinking in delirium and smiling up at Hancock. Nami grabbed him by his shirt and dragged him away, muttering about how embarrassing he was.

"Well, I'll be off now," Hancock said, turning so her coat fluttered behind her. Robin looked around.

"Hancock-san, did you already say goodbye to Swordsman-san?"

Franky rubbed his chin. "I haven't seen Zoro-aniki for awhile now."

"What makes you think I'd care to bid that arrogant bastard a farewell," she spat, climbing onto the yuda's head and letting it set her on the deck of her own ship. She was immediately greeted enthusiastically by the other members of her crew.

"Wow. I guess that settles that," Franky said, blinking behind his sunglasses. "Those two really wouldn't make much of a match. I bet he forgot she was leaving this morning." Robin smiled sadly.

"I don't know. Maybe you're right. It's hard to think differently if they hate each other so much."

Hancock dismissed the Amazon's surrounding her and swept across the deck, focused on not letting anyone see the pitiful face she was making. Marigold and Sandersonia barked orders as they turned the ship around. It was just as well. The tears were starting to blur her vision anyway. She marched with her head bowed until she was standing on the upper deck of the stern. She stared at the Thousand Sunny and brushed tears from her eyes, feeling sorry for herself because she'd fallen for such a stupid man.

And then, as if he had materialized out of nowhere, she realized she was looking right at him. There he sat on top of the observation room, staring after her with a look of pained longing.

It gets harder, he thought to himself, watching her disappear on the horizon. It gets harder every time.

He turned the bottle in his hand, sloshing its contents. He smiled sadly.

I guess it's just you and me now, old friend.


End.