Disclaimer: Don't own One Piece, don't make a profit off of it.
A/N: Uhm…..Hi? So this came out of nowhere. A tissue may or may not be needed. IDK… General housekeeping, I will be adding a chapter 2 to my ZoSan X-Mas exchange fic from last year, just so y'all know. Hopefully I remember and upload it on the same day! xD
He should have known this day would come….. When hope turned to ashes and love was lost. The sand beneath his boots felt distance, as if it were just barely out of reach.
He took a step forward, leaving behind his left boot.
Another step forward, and the loss of his right boot.
Another step saw him shedding his haramaki.
His shirt followed with the next step.
Until finally, standing ankle deep in the ocean waters, he left behind his pants, keeping the swords on their belt at his waist. He couldn't bear to part with them, it was too painful to leave them.
He'd thought he could be strong, that he could fight for his dream and keep the more personal wish, a hope, close to his heart. He couldn't.
Two months ago, he'd confessed to Sanji. He'd known it was an unrequited love, had accepted it even. But what he couldn't accept was that the very next day after his confession, Sanji had shown up, a gorgeous woman name Meryl on his arm, announcing that they were in love, and that somehow or another, they planned to be married. She was beautiful, and Zoro, heart breaking into a million pieces, was happy. Sanji had found someone to love him, finally, the male was going to get what he wanted.
Two months later, yesterday in fact, Sanji, with hearts in his eyes, and a glowing Meryl on his arm, had announced that Meryl was pregnant. Everyone had been happy, but Zoro, he just….couldn't. He died inside. They'd come to this tropical island to throw a party and celebrate. Yet here he was, alone, facing the setting sun, broken. He was pathetic and weak.
But, the heart wants what it wants, and it wanted Sanji.
Maybe this was selfish of him, but anything had to be better than the pain of this broken heart. Gripping the hilt reassuringly from Wado, he took a step forward, and then another.
Soon, the water was up to his waist, and then his neck, and finally, he found himself submerged beneath the ocean waves. He managed to get a few feet further and he came to a stop.
The ocean water here was warm, clear and blue. Staring up at the sky from the depths of the warm ocean, he slowly let a stream of air escape his mouth, the bubbles floating to the surface. He hoped Sanji would be happy, that their child was as beautiful as Meryl, as strong as Sanji, and was everything Sanji hoped for him.
Black spots danced along his vision, and he slowly closed his eyes. The last thought he had before the darkness completely overtook him was a sad, almost wistful:
I loved him more than I realized, and that made me weak. Forgive me, Kuina, I wasn't strong enough.