The green haired blacksmith was determined now more than ever to find the mystery blonde. Zoro paced in his room. He was restless. He just couldn't stay still as he sat down and fiddled with his swords. If this was how he was acting now there was no way he could wait until the ball to meet the blonde. He didn't even know if the blonde would even be at the ball, plus all he really had to go by was the fact that the blonde was… a blonde. Zoro scratched his head. No use thinking about it. Zoro was more of a hands-on take action kind of guy anyway. He laughed to himself as he remembered the dark haired nobleman.

…That Law was so weird…

Zoro hoped he would at least get to have a drink with the dark haired man before he left the kingdom. Zoro shook his head trying to clear his mind. He decided that he might as well trace his steps back to the sketchy underground market and look for the blonde there. He had rationalized that the blonde must have been a regular at the market or at least a frequent visitor judging by his familiar words and actions and so after psyching himself up, the blacksmith set out once again to find the market place…Easier said than done…

XXXXXXXXXX

'I could have sworn I've already passed this plant?'

Zoro thought as he scratched his head in frustration. No. No. No. He wouldn't admit it. By no means was he lost…okay fine. You could only pass a plant so many times. Zoro silently cursed as he finally accepted the fact that he was definitely lost. The green haired man stopped walking and surveyed his current surroundings for any familiar landmarks…

"Not you plant…" He growled bitterly while staring the poor plant down.

All was silent…seeing as how plants can't talk… or speak… or do anything other than make oxygen…

Zoro sighed and decided to let the plant go for now feeling rather childish for his previous outburst.

"Hello~"He called out. After waiting a while and receiving no response for about the umpteenth time, he decided to continue walking. As long as he was moving he would surly reach somewhere right?

Finally after what had felt like hours, Zoro spotted something moving out of his peripheral vision. He squinted his eyes in order to get a better look and saw a tuft of black hair. Immediately the nobleman's face flashed into his mind. He immediately ran up to the individual.

"Hey!" As the person turned around, Zoro unhappily noted that it wasn't Law but a much smaller man with dark hair and piercing dark eyes.

"Whoa!" The individual exclaimed as a huge grin covered his face. He appeared to be younger than the blacksmith, though not by much.

"You're hair is green!" The young man reached out his hand as if he intended to touch the blacksmith's own. Zoro attempted to retract from the other's proximity, but was just a second too late. In that exact moment the other man had reacted instantly making up the distance between them and successfully his arm connected with the other man's green locks.

"Hehehe~" The man began to move his hand.

"Uh…"Zoro froze; he had no idea what to do in this situation. A stranger had his hand in his hair and was stroking him? Petting him? What should he do? Should he yell? Push him away?

"Wow~ so soft~" The dark haired man practically moaned as he raked his hand through Zoro's hair. Zoro could feel the hairs of his neck standing on end. This was so awkward…

"Is it naturally green?" The man asked ceasing his previous actions. Zoro looked at him; his eyes were wide waiting for his reply. He looked like an eager child. Zoro decided to humor him and answered him truthfully. He felt compelled to; he could lie to such an innocent face, even if its owner had just assaulted his hair without his consent.

"No," He began after clearing his throat, "I dye it every once in a while, that's why my eyebrows are black." Zoro even wiggled his eyebrows for emphasis. The action caused the younger man to double over in laughter.

"Hahaha I like you, you're edgy and funny."

At the statement, Zoro couldn't help to offer a shy smile.

"I'VE GOT IT! YOU SHOULD JOIN MY PLATOON!"

Zoro raised an eyebrow.

His what? Platoon?

The dark haired man immediately grabbed Zoro by the hand and dragged him.

"H-hey!" Zoro howled as his arm was yanked.

"SAAAAAANNNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~! I'VE MADE A NEW FRIEND!"

Zoro watched as the world around him transformed from old worn out buildings to a huge pristine castle wall.

Castle…?

Zoro tensed, "wait…Sanji as in Prince Sanji?" Finally what the younger man meant by platoon made sense. Zoro gawked at the man in front of him once more. Shit, and noted that it was in fact Luffy, head of the blonde Prince's personal guard. His smile and boisterous personality was a well known fact in the kingdom.

Zoro let out a string of curses as he desperately struggled in the smaller man's grip, but was unable to free himself from the stone like grip. He wasn't strong enough go figure…

After running and being led (more like hauled) around by the energetic man for about another minute or so, Zoro noticed that they had arrived in some sort of extravagant garden.

The lush foliage covered the garden from head to toe as flowers highlighted ever corner. The blacksmith couldn't help but marvel at the bright green spectacle that lay before him, if fact he was so transfixed; he almost missed the blur of blond that seemed to dart behind a tree.

"Hey!" Zoro called out as he felt his legs begin to move on their own, quickly abandoning his dark haired companion.

"Hey, wait up!" He yelled as he began to chase the blonde.

The figure in front of him stopped and turned around.

"LUFFY WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT RUNNI-"

Zoro thought he had mentally prepared himself, but was he mistaken. Zoro's eyes grew wide and his voice caught in his throat. In front of him stood the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes upon. He was mesmerized as he gazed into her eyes as blue as all blue itself. Her skin was pale and fair except for the soft rosy blush dusted on her cheeks. Her golden blonde hair was tied up into a long flowing ponytail that framed her heart shaped face and she was sporting a loose fitted white dress shirt and tight black dress pants that effectively hugged her curvy frame in all the right places. Zoro's brain was working a mile a minute. He hoped he wasn't drooling. In addition to her breathtaking appearance, the one thing that captivated the green haired man most was a peculiar curled eyebrow.

"Curly brow?" Zoro whispered entranced by the curled brow. It was completely ridiculous and yet somehow seemed to work with the blonde's overall appearance making her all the more lovely.

Unfortunately for the blacksmith the blonde in question did not share his sentiments.

Zoro watched in awe as one of the blonde's lovely legs extended into the air. He watched transfixed as the leg angled sharply….He watched the leg as it SUDDENLY CAME SPEEDING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO HIS HEAD!?

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Zoro cursed as he jumped back barely missing the attack.

The pale dusted cheeks of the blonde woman before him now burned red, her lovely azure orbs now boiling with rage.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY?!" She snarled as she readied her leg for another strike.

Zoro stood dazed, confused, and above all irritated. Had he said something?

The green haired blacksmith held up his hands, "I didn't say anything-"

Once again the blonde attacked with a swift kick, this one aimed for the blacksmith's torso. Zoro reach over to his side, but remembered he had left his swords at home…Damnit…

He tried to evade the incoming attack, but the blonde own reflexes were just too quick. She decked him clean in the stomach and sent his ass sprawling towards the floor where he landed hard with a pained 'oomph'.

His chest burned as he felt all the air in his lungs forced out with the kick. He coughed harshly; "WHAT IS YOUR PROBL-" Zoro huffed rolling out of the way just as the blonde's drop kick missed his head. Clearly trying to reason with the woman was getting him nowhere. He quickly jumped to his feet and increased the distance between them. His fear of women was easily forgotten in the moment. This wasn't a woman…This was a monster with banging legs.

The monster woman glared her blood lust clearly visible on her face. She pointed to her eyebrows.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT THIS!?" She easily closed the distance and once again began her barrage of kicks, "ARE YOU MAKING FUN OF ME...EH MARIMO?!"

Zoro felt his eye twitch, 'Marimo? The fuck…'

Zoro studied the woman in front of him… his opponent.

As the blonde raised her leg up once more to attack, Zoro saw his chance. He had to make sure to match the timing right and grabbed her leg midair.

The blonde's eyes widened as she clearly wasn't expecting such a quick reaction from the blacksmith. She began to struggle in the blacksmiths grip earning a smirk from the said blacksmith.

Finally, Zoro mused, he had the upper hand.

"Marimo?" He repeated allowed. The blonde huffed as she continued to struggle in the green haired man's vice like grip.

"Yea, you heard me… LET ME GO YOU FUCKING MARIMO!"

Zoro shrugged but decided to abide by her pleas and released her leg.

The surprised blonde had not accounted for this action and fell to the floor.

"OUCH!" Even from her position she glared daggers up at the blacksmith.

Zoro's irritation was growing by the minute, "I wasn't making fun of you," He growled while folding his arms.

The blonde scoffed, but after taking a good look at the blacksmith's composure she saw he meant the words he had just spoken.

Zoro took the silence as a queue to continue, "I-If anyone should be angry it should be me seeing how you attacked me out of the blue."

The blacksmith's words seemed to finally sink in.

The blond woman looked down as if pondering her next move. She fiddled with her fingers.

Zoro impatiently tapped his foot.

Aw fuck it…

Forgetting his fears once more, he extended his hand towards the blonde, a slight blush ever so apparent.

"Get up."

The blonde looked at the hand for a moment before taking it. The blacksmith's hand was strong…a man's hand.

Once on her feet, she dusted herself up, making sure to avoid looking the man in his eyes.

"I'm sorry," She said quietly.

Zoro felt the tension melting away and felt embarrassment creeping in from the depths of his soul.

"I-It's fine," He stuttered, blushing ten shades darker.

The woman laughed, but caught herself, "I tend to get pretty hot blooded when my eyebrows are concerned." She scratched her neck nervously.

Zoro wanted to say no kidding, but felt it would be better to hold his tongue. He couldn't really trust himself at the moment so he nodded instead.

The blonde looked at him, "What's this?" She said eyeing the green haired man, "You were pretty vocal a minute ago?"

Zoro watched to disappear. His face now burned with embarrassment and he couldn't breathe. He also realized that he was still holding her hand and released it.

"S-sorry, I'm n-not good around beautiful women."

The blonde snorted at his response and Zoro wanted to die. Why had he opened his mouth?

The blonde's mouth formed an 'O' but she didn't say anything else. Zoro could sense something hidden behind those blue orbs, but he decided not to question it.

"-well it's a good thing Sanji isn't a woman, hehehe~"

Zoro jumped as the dark haired guard suddenly appeared. He had completely forgotten him.

The blonde didn't seem too surprised by the new addition and in fact looked rather irritated.

"Luffy," She growled dangerously. The smaller man shrunk back and hid behind the still dazed blacksmith.

"Hehehe~"

Zoro looked at the dark haired man and then to the blonde. From what he could tell the blonde in front of him was most definitely a girl.

"Umm… Am I missing something here or?"

The blonde sensed his confusion and interjected, "Don't mind him," She said as she pulled the blacksmith away from the dark haired man effectively disrupting the shorter's balance.

She turned back to Zoro, "He was referring to my brother Prince Sanji."

Zoro could have sworn he saw something flash through the blond's face at the mention of the Prince, but once again decided to ignore it; it wasn't his place to pry.

The blonde woman extended her hand, "I'm Princess Sofia, Sanji's sister."

Zoro gawked at the extended hand for a good minute.

"Uh…O-Oh!" Zoro took the smaller hand in his and high fived it.

XXXXXXXXXX

Sanji couldn't contain his amusement, this marimo was something else. He cleared his throat, "Umm… you were supposed to kiss it."

Zoro blushed, "W-What?!"

Sanji sighed, "Never mind…"

Sanji brushed past the blacksmith taking note of how tensed he was. He chuckled. He then grabbed Luffy by the collar (the other had retreated behind a nearby tree) and dragged him into the open.

"Sanji nooooo~!" The younger man cried.

The blonde bopped his friend on the head. "The name's Sofia," He whispered, "Just play along you idiot."

Luffy looked at the blonde and then his eyes traveled over to the blushing blacksmith and then back to the blond a knowing smirk formed on his lips.

"Oooohhh~ Okay got it," Luffy winked, "Sofia~"

Sanji willed himself not to kick the younger and released him.

Once released Luffy bowed, "Adios Princess Sofia…" He ran up towards Zoro, "Adios Marimo-kun, until next time." With that he left the two.

"Marimo-kun? What the hell! I keep getting weird nicknames…" The blacksmith grumbled.

Sanji laughed as he watched the man's face twist into disgust, "I'm sorry," He said wiping his eyes, "I didn't know your name and," He pointed to the blacksmith's hair, "your hair is just so green it reminded me of a marimo…you know the algae."

Zoro's eye twitched, "Yea, I know of it."

Sanji couldn't help, but snort at his reaction. He was like a child, a muscular green haired child.

"Again sorry about that," He said as he watched the other relax ever so slightly, "What's your name?"

"M-my name is Zoro Roronoa…I'm an apprentice blacksmith…"

"Hmm…nice…" Sanji was genuinely surprised had he heard right? "WAIT!" He exclaimed as suddenly something clicked into place, "You are THE Zoro as in the famed one and only apprentice of Dracule Mihawk."

Zoro blushed as he nodded, "Yea…"

The blonde threw up his (her) hands, "THAT'S AMAZING!"

Zoro began to fidget nervously, "Umm…"He reached into his pocket and pulled out something red, "I believe this is yours or your brothers," he said as he handed over the red pouch.

Sanji stared at the pouch in his hands as if it was going to grow legs and walk away. Well isn't he just full of surprises… The blonde thought to himself as he noted that the blacksmith had also made sure to repay him for the sake purchase. The genuineness of the green haired man's actions made him feel bad for wanting to mess with him. The other man's fear of women was no joke. Even though he had engaged Sofia with banter just moments ago it was clear that the atmosphere was changing. Poor guy was alone with a woman and he looked as if he wanted the earth to open up and swallow him.

"Hey…" Sanji was still surprised at how feminine his voice sounded. He watched as the other man jumped three feet in the air.

"W-what?"

'Ahh there it was,' Sanji thought to himself, 'That blasted stutter'

"I was wondering…Are you were going to the ball?"

The other man nodded surprising the blonde. How the hell was he going to a ball filled with ladies when he could even carry on a normal conversation?

"I've got it!" Sanji grabbed the blacksmith's hands and held them in his own, "I'll help you get over your fear of women as payment for returning my pouch."

Zoro's eyes grew wide, "W-who said I was afraid of w-women?"

Sanji gave him a look of disbelief that immediately shut the green haired man up.

"Anyway~ meet me here in the garden tomorrow at 10. We'll start the lessons."

Zoro opened his mouth as if to retort, but the blonde help up a finger to his lips.

"No buts, 10 on the dot. Don't be late." With that Sanji then escorted the blushing blacksmith out of the garden.

"Luffy," He calls out and the dark haired guard soon reappears, "Please make sure Zoro finds his way back home." Luffy nods and takes Zoro's hand and leads (more like drags) the other man away.

Now alone in the garden Sanji slumps into a nearby chair

"Oh boy," He thinks to himself as he loosens his ponytail, "This is going to be fun."

XXXXXXXXXX

A/N: Oooohhh boy, I decided to make a side story where instead of the main story with our blonde protagonist and marimo blacksmith, the other will take a rather interesting turn and our blond protagonist will somehow fall head over heels in love with a certain dark haired prince. *wink wink* just a heads up to all the lawxsanji shippers. Your cries have been heard.

I also might have oneshots planned for some of the other pairings in the fic, including FrankyxRobin (probably before they were king and queen) and of course LuffyxNami. Stay tuned (hopefully I won't forget /sweats/).

If you have any requests, review and PM me ^~^

~/SoiArt/~