Chapter 9

It has been three days since then and Zoro finally got everyone of the fighters in the warehouse to be 'invited' to a secret dinner with the organization boss the next evening. He told Smoker this and was congratulated for it. He slept a little easier that night and woke up in time to see the teen sticking his head in the water, making a funny puffed up face before breaking to the surface.

"Are you sure you're okay Zoro? You've been sleeping a lot and you got those bruises." Luffy asked.

"Like I told you, I had a tough run-in with those damn female sharks. It's that time of year you know."

"Yeah… but…"

"Luffy…" He said as he held the other's hands in his. "I'm fine, I'm still here and not found out."

Luffy didn't seem too sure, but nodded as he held the hands that were holding his. "Okay… I trust you… Whatever is going on, you seem to be handling it…" He said as he thought. 'But I wish you can be honest with me like before…'

Luffy walked to the dance studio early, letting his friend rest, and saw Usopp and Sanji.

"Oi!" He called, gaining their attention.

"Hey Luffy!" Sanji said.

"Oi! Luffy!" Usopp said as he waved.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"You didn't hear?" Sanji said.

"Hear what?"

"They're moving the date of the dance competition to a few months early!"

"No way!"

"Way!"

Then Bon Clay came out, wearing his hula girl attire. "I see you heard the news! Luffy-chan!"

"Bon-chan! Why didn't you tell me!?"

"I wanted to surprise you when you come here!" Bon Clay said as he spun in place.

Luffy laughed as the other two just nervously chuckled.

After practice, he went back to the cove and saw that the other was sun bathing. He carefully crawled up to the sleeping sharkman and just stared at the sleeping face. He saw the rising and lowering of the other's chest as he breathed and the muscles that slightly twitch from a reflex or a dream.

He always liked to watch the other as he slept, he rarely gets to see it, but when he does, he just wants to rest his head on the other's chest. But he couldn't for some reason.

He couldn't explain it and he couldn't tell the other about it. He could tell him about everything, just not about his curiosity towards the other. Why would he not tell? He wasn't sure. Just the thought about it made him a bit nervous.

But he knew the other well enough that he wouldn't shove him away. But he couldn't take that risk.

With all these thoughts going around his mind, his gaze fell on the parted lips as soft snores were coming out, signaling that he was in a deep sleep. He just stared at those lips, seeing the slight chappiness when the other stays out of the water for a certain time.

To him, it almost looks too inviting as he wondered what the lips would feel and taste like. Of course he would have to try to shake those ideas out of his head. He blames it on the chick flicks he was forced by his brother as he laid his head on his crossed arms, not breaking his stare of the sleeping man before him before he fell asleep as well.

When Zoro woke up, he felt a little better, sore but better. He looked to see Luffy was fast asleep next to him. He smiled as he let the other sleep. He didn't have to go to that dinner thing until later and Smoker would be there when it ended. He just hopes the dinner thing is a good thing and not the opposite. The last thing he wants is to be caught by these people, the pill wearing off and exposing his true form to them.

Then he thought of the worst possibilities if that were to happen, which he had to crush for the time being as he looked at Luffy's sleeping face.

He looked to see that the teen's hair was in the said other's face and he made a motion to brush them away, only to stare at the forehead. He remembered all the times the teen has kissed him on the forehead. It was the only contact he has with the other's smooth, soft lips.

'I guess this once wouldn't hurt.' He thought as he took a quick, deep breath and let it out slowly as he leaned forward to that forehead and felt his chapped lips on the smooth skin with a thin sheet of sweat.

He backed up slightly, run his tongue over his lips to taste the salty sweat and thought about going in again, only to come to his senses and backed up a bit.

'Idiot! What were you doing!?' He thought as he watched the teen mumble something in his sleep as he waited until he knew he had to wake him up. But for now, he will just watched the teen sleep.