Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.

"Here's the phone number and address. The biggest room is the living room…it's right down this hall. The kitchen's straight through to the left. If you go right, there's another hallway, there's the empty room. My room's is the same thing except on the opposite direction. The bathroom's…right next to my room."

Sanji quickly took off his shoes and stepped into the living room. The living room was triple the size of his bedroom. The room walls were a pale color and the floor was wood except the bedrooms. The living room was quite empty except for two long black leather couches. Sanji looked at the other rooms, but almost everything was empty. The two second largest rooms which Zoro named them 'bedrooms' had only a bed and a few piles of his clothes in the walking closet.

It didn't sound much, but the apartment Zoro has was one of the biggest mansions in the city. When Zoro told him the address so the cook can take him there instead (Sanji thought this was weird), Sanji's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. The Sora no Shima Mansion's outlier was dark blue and was about ten stories high. It stood out more than the other two mansions next to it. Sanji gritted his teeth together, Man, his family must be rich.

Sanji came back to the living room where Zoro was lounging on one of the couches. Zoro shrugged, "Dad only bought the things I asked."

"You don't even have pots or pans-how are you going to cook!?"

Zoro scratched his head, "I'll eat some convenience store lunch boxes until I get enough allowance to buy some stuff." Zoro moved his head just in time as Sanji's foot crashed into the headrest, tearing the fabric a little. "…do you know how hard it was to tell dad to buy this!?"

Sanji crossed his arms, "Don't you ever say the word near me ever again."

"Why?"

Sanji threw his hand up, "Dude, convenient store lunch boxes looks delicious, but if you eat for consecutive days, you're going to get unhealthy!"

"I don't have anything to cook with! Are you telling me to die!?"

"I'm saying...while you're getting your own pots and pans; I'll come over and cook for you!"

Sanji saw Zoro's eyes widened for a second, "...You sure?"

"Sure! I'm a cook, that's what I do."

Zoro grinned, "Thanks Sanji. That'll help me a lot."

Zoro offered a seat and Sanji sat in the couch across from his. Sanji stared at Zoro who was searching for the source of the rip.

Sanji realized he knew nothing of him. How did he get an apartment this luxurious, yet no preparations to live in comfortably? Zoro's style and attitude didn't match the status of this apartment-how was he raised? He didn't even tell him how he got the apartment at the oddest time of the year-unless it was his birthday. What does his father do or his mother? Do they love him which is the reason how he easily got the expensive apartment? And, if he was this rich, why did they only buy what he told him instead what is actually needed? This is what happens when having a friend who doesn't tell anything. There were so many questions he needed to know. Sanji gazed at the room once more and he began talking.

"How did you get the apartment?"

Zoro frowned, "…I was kicked out."

This was an unexpected answer. This erased some of the many questions he hypothesized, "Why?"

Zoro ran his hand across his shirt, "…dad and I got into a fight."

"-but you got this amazing apartment, after you were kicked out? That's...weird."

Zoro laughed, "Isn't it?"

The room became silent again. Sanji frowned. By the looks of Zoro, he didn't look like he was going to talk anymore. The blond thought of another question-this time a question that would force Zoro to talk again and asked. "D-did your mom disagree with your dad?"

Zoro barked, "Keh, she agreed with him, that bitch."

"Hey, don't call your mom that."

Sanji noticed a change in Zoro's eyes. His eyes grew into hate, but it had a flutter of sadness to be in complete hatred. "She did something that I can't…I can't forgive…"

The blond shifted his body, "Do you hate your parents that much?"

"…I hate both, but mom the most."

"Won't they be lonely without you?"

Zoro laughed out loud, "They don't care! Besides, they have my brother to worry abou-" He abruptly stopped laughing and shut his mouth. His clicked his tongue as if he was punishing himself.

Sanji's eyes widened, "You have a brother!?"

Zoro scratched his head, "…y-…yeah."

"You should introduce me to him someday! Is he like you!?"

Zoro stared at him blankly, and then burst into laughter, "HELL NO! I would die if I'm like him!"

The blond sweat dropped, "…if he's not like you…what's he like?"

Zoro snickered and counted down the insults with his fingers, "He's an asshole. He lies all the time and make him sound like the good guy. He brags about anything and always makes fun of my asthma-god I hate that."

Sanji sneered, "I can see your parents having trouble taking care of him."

Zoro blinked and turned to him, "Trouble?"

"Well, you just said, your parents having a brother to worry about."

"Oh." Zoro's voice lowered, "Dad and mom…love my brother. They spoil that ass and ignore me. I told you already…they hate me."

Something popped in Sanji's nerves, sending violent waves throughout his body. He could tell his voice was shaking in anger, "Can they do that? Neglect their own child for another!?"

Zoro sighed, "…I guess."

Sanji didn't notice he was standing out of his seat, so he sat back down and moved toward Zoro. "T-they can't do that! I'm surprised that you're alive-some children can die from neglect! I don't want to meet your mom, dad, or your brother-they all sound like assholes!"

Zoro laughed but his eyes reflected no humor, "…You don't know my family." Suddenly, when Zoro shot a glance at Sanji, his paled a little. Sanji assumed it was just the asthma again because right after his face paled, the hand that was on his shirt clenched. Zoro glanced at the time on Sanji's arm, "…You should go. Didn't Koune get angry at you for not rooting for him at the game last time?"

Sanji looked at his watch too, "Ah yeah…I should go." How did he…? "Um, thanks for the address...hey, do you want to go?"

Zoro waved a hand, "No thanks. I'll rather play."

"I'll tell you how the game went." The blond grinned, and closed the door. Zoro rolled over so his whole body was on the couch. The heartbeat that rang through his ears finally dulled a little. He closed his eyes, ready to fall asleep. Will he keep his promise? How long will their so-called friendship last? This was a terrible risk and he prayed he took the right choice. "If this goes wrong-god…Jii-san…help me."

-.-.-

Sanji made it in time to see Koune's game before the seats were filled. He miraculously found Nami , Luffy, Sachiko, and Usopp sitting together and a space for him to sit near them. Sanji asked, "Who's Koune playing with?" Even though he and Koune meet every single day, they don't exchange information about sports these days, so Sanji didn't know anything about whose visitor or where the team is playing at. This time, he got the news from Usopp.

"Today, they're fighting against the Merman High School. They're a tough bunch." Nami replied.

Luffy cheered, "This is going to be a fun match!"

Usopp leaned in toward Sanji, "I heard that the Merman high school has gorgeous cheerleaders! Nice bare legs! Super miniskirts where you could see their panties! Nice round busts and the cheerleaders at that school jump and move a lot so you'll see a lot of action on the top-if you get my drift!" Just the mental thought of it made Sanji's mouth water. He searched the whole field to try to find the sexy cheerleaders, but a painful tug on his ear reminded him he had a girlfriend.

After the game, all of the spectators were thrilled with the game. Usopp was feeling mighty good because he was able to scribble and note almost every single detail of the game in minutes. Luffy cheered and made a lot of racket in the first quarter, but by the end of the game, he lost all of his energy and was sleeping on Nami's lap. The lack of energy was because the school prohibited food and snacks in the bleachers.

Sanji, Nami, Usopp, and Luffy waited at the opening of the stadium and when they saw Koune they ran and embraced him onto the floor. Koune got some slaps on the back, a handful of hair messers, and some nice tight squeezes. Sanji grinned, "Good job Koune! You were awesome!"

Usopp showed Koune his notebook, "This week's newsletter's going to be all about you and the team members! I'm going to add your amazing fire-blazing scores too!"

"You beat the Mermans! The game was cool!" Luffy screamed.

"-even though you slept most of the time." Nami added.

"I know!" Sanji muttered, gritting his teeth. "I can't believe Nami-san let Luffy do that."

"Thanks you guys!" Koune chuckled. He looked at Sanji, and smirked, "You look like you want to tell me something…"

Sanji twitched. Koune wasn't as keen as Robin, but he could sense stuff fast too. "Uh…I'll tell you after the party."

"Sure."

They congratulated Koune by taking him to his favorite eating-place and ordered his favorite food for him. Koune grinned as his mouth almost watered over the dishes. Ironically, even though all of the food was meant to be for Koune, Luffy ate nonstop and he cleaned the plates more than him. After their small party was over, one by one they left and finally Sanji and Koune were the only ones sitting eating the dessert the restaurant offered last. Koune smiled like a child, "I love the ice cream here!" he took another bite of the dessert, "Thanks a bunch!"

Sanji swallowed the melted ice cream down and laughed, "You always loved ice cream," He looked at Koune and grinned, "Dude, you have ice cream all over your mouth-god, you'll never change."

Koune quickly cleaned his face his a napkin. He glanced at Sanji and said in a quiet tone, "So…what did you want to tell me?"

"I just wanted to tell this to you straight." Sanji also cleaned his face and turned to Koune, "I just wanted to tell you that...well, before I tell you this…please promise to not be angry."

"-it's about Zoro isn't it?"

Sanji slumped his shoulders. Why does the word angry quickly refers to Zoro? He sighed, "-yeah. It's about him. Well, he and I-or he's now our friend." He saw Koune tense a little, "Koune…I know you're afraid of him, but if you hang around with him more, you'll like him…well, like me."

Koune shot him a glare that sent a shiver down his back. What the hell was that? The look was gone, and Koune frowned, "I…I'm afraid that he might hurt you. You can't trust him Sanji! I don't know…but I can feel it. Something's not right about Zoro. You shouldn't be near him."

"-but Koune-"

Koune lifted his head, and a smile tugged at his lips, "-but then again. You're right. Maybe we should talk to him more and get him to be friendly…" he smiled, "-that's what friends are for right?"

Sanji grinned, "Now you're getting it Koune. Now…no more fighting with him okay?"

"-but it would help afterwards..." Koune muttered under his breath.

"W-what?"

Koune looked up and grinned again, "-I meant that he might like to fight. You know, fighting relieves stress."

Sanji sweat dropped, "Sometimes Koune…sometimes."

When he and Koune parted, Sanji individually called everyone that Koune finally gave in and accepted Zoro into the group. Everyone was relived; if they saw the deadly aura whenever they met every single time, they thought they wouldn't live longer. He saved Zoro for the last call because for some reason he thought he and Zoro might talk for a long time.

Right in the middle of the second ring, Sanji heard Zoro picked the phone and answered in a monotone, "Hello, this is Roronoa, who is this?"

Sanji smiled to the voice, "It's Sanji, what's up?"

"Hey Sanji…what's up?" Zoro sounded surprised.

"I just wanted to tell you, you are officially our friend now."

There was a silence on the phone and a grumble came afterwards, "Weren't we already friends?"

Sanji silently laughed to himself because he heard the same phrase before. "Uh, yeah… Koune's your friend now too."

This time he heard a weird noise and then a howl crashed into Sanji's ear, "What!? He!? W-why!?"

"I persuaded him." Sanji felt proud all of a sudden.

"…you didn't need to." The voice on the other side didn't sound all pleased, "I mean…why? Why would you do something so…"

"So?"

"Barbaric."

Sanji gaped, "Bar-I did this for you! I didn't want to see you guys always fighting every single day!"

"I'll avoid him."

"Wasn't that what you were doing for the past years of your life? You didn't get friends that way, remember?" there was a grunt, "Just accept him as your friend. All you have to do is not glare at each other and we'll be all fine."

"-awhile…"

"What? Wait, I didn't hear you."

"Huh?...oh, nothing. Talking to myself."

"Dude, this is a phone. Talk to yourself afterwards. Hey, do you want to hear about the game today?"

"Sure."

The conversation lasted for a long time, mostly Sanji did most of the talking. He would pause time to time to hear Zoro grunt or acknowledge some sign he's still there. Sometimes Zoro interrupted and asked some questions about who the Merman were. Sanji's plan was to make Zoro talk a little about his life, but for some reason it didn't work. He would try talking about his own past life and ask questions like 'what about you?' or 'what did you do around this age?' but Zoro replied as if he never heard the questions at all. The conversation ended around just an hour and a half later when Zoro said he was tired and wanted to go to sleep.

Sanji and he both exchanged good-byes and hung the phone. The blond rolled over on his bed and frowned. He didn't learn anything about him. This was going to be harder than he thought.

To Be Continued