AN: A very big thank you to all my reviewers. I've always tried to answer each and every one of you in the past but due to no internet connection, I am not able to fill that right now. I hope everyone enjoys this chap... and yes there is a small part edited out. But it won't really affect the story so you'll be able to enjoy. I am partly done with ch 12 and will get it up ASAP. after that, i think there is only one chapter left to write.
enjoy!
Leaving It All Behind Chapter 11
Sanji was already awake when he heard the alarm go off in Zoro's room, an amused smile spreading around his first cigarette of the morning when he heard the idiot muttering curses to the clock. It did make him curious though as to why the normally late sleeper would be up at this hour. The shower ran for a few minutes, and then he could hear Zoro muttering again back in the bedroom. Sanji gave up trying to figure out what was going on and pulled back the comforter to slip on a clean pair of shorts and go investigate. He found Zoro struggling to get back out of a suit jacket and testing the seams almost to the point of breakage.
"Whoa, hold on. Let me help you, moron. You'll destroy it if you keep moving like that." Sanji hurried over to take a hold of the black fabric and eased it back off the muscular broad shoulders. "What made you think you could wear this? Look at the pants. They're way too tight, and even an inch short. Shit, when was the last time you even tried it on?"
"Graduation," Zoro grumbled as he allowed the cook to help him out. "From High School. I never had a reason to wear it again. I wore a traditional hakama and haori to my parent's funeral, but I don't think it would be appropriate for today."
Sanji paused in hanging the jacket back on the hanger and turned to look over at Zoro apologetically. "I didn't realize that was today."
Zoro pealed off the trousers and stood there in his black dress shirt and boxers. He tossed the rest of the suit to the cook and let his shoulders fall with the weight of his sadness as he sat down on the bed. "Now what do I wear?"
Sanji studied him for a moment, trying to remember why it seemed he was missing something. The word Armani came to mind and he quickly hurried out of Zoro's bedroom to his own. Sanji threw open the closet door and began searching through the pristine clothes that had been hanging there. He withdrew a zippered bag and peeked inside, nodding in acceptance at what he found. He turned to see Zoro standing in the doorway, a deep frown on the swordsman's face.
"That's my father's suit."
"I know. And being so, it should fit you well enough." Sanji continued to unzip the cover and pulled out the expensive wool. "Try it. It's just for a few hours today."
Apprehensively, Zoro accepted the pants and took a deep breath as he put them on. They fit him well enough and he released the breath slowly, looking up to the blonde for approval. He was startled to see the cook fastening up the slacks he had previously been wearing, the material fitting the slender frame much better than his own. Sanji grinned at him and held out the jacket for Zoro to try on. Glancing in the mirror, Zoro almost swore that his father was looking back at him. He moved slightly and saw the reflection of the blonde behind him putting on a deep gold shirt and tucking it into the slacks.
"What do you think you're doing?" Zoro turned around to see Sanji wrapping a black tie around his neck with amazing speed.
"Showing my respect," Sanji stated matter-of-factly. "And my support."
"To who? You don't think I'm letting you out again, do you?" Zoro squared his shoulders and narrowed his eyes as he remembered the call from Robin thanking him for all of Sanji's help with Chimney at the hospital.
"I'm not a dog, asshole, and everyone already thinks we're a couple. There'd be a lot of questions if I didn't go with you." Sanji mysteriously pulled out another tie and proceeded to lift Zoro's collar to place it on him.
"Questions as to why you're not there would be a hell of a lot easier than questions about why you're with me." Zoro stiffened as Sanji leaned in close, knotting the silken material perfectly and smoothing out the wrinkles in his dress shirt. "You're not going."
"I'll just catch a taxi like before. Look what happened when you went to the hospital without me. The cops brought you home barely conscious." Sanji lifted his head and was startled to see dark eyes studying him so intently. "No one should go through something like this alone, Zoro. Not even someone like you."
"If you're spotted-"
"You'll kick their ass and keep me safe just like promised." Sanji stepped back and took a look at the finished ensemble. He saw the weary look in Zoro's eyes and remembered what he had said in the shower. "You still think you're going to lose me, don't you?"
Zoro looked away, unable to meet the cook's eyes any longer but didn't deny his words. "Fine. Come, but if you're recognized I'm handing you over personally."
-/-/-/-/-/-
The burial had been simple, laying the woman to rest next her husband beneath a beautiful Adam Wood tree on the river side of the cemetery. Sanji looked over the large crowd of people, seeing many of same faces from the hospital and several he recognized as local politicians. Seeing the haunted look on Zoro's face when the casket was lowered, Sanji began to wonder how much more loss the seemingly indestructible swordsman could take before he was broken for good. The cook inconspicuously slipped his hand into Zoro's and gave it a gentle squeeze before releasing him and stepping away. Soon this entire mess with evidence and trials would be over, and with it their time together. But, until then, Sanji swore he would do his part in keeping the green-haired man together. He was supposed to be the cook's protector after all.
Not knowing exactly how to introduce himself Sanji gratefully accepted Mozu and Kiwi's help, along with some assistance from Chimney and Luffy. After the third person was rendered speechless they decided that maybe saying he was Zoro's boyfriend wasn't the best idea. A look over to the irate swordsman confirmed their suspicions and his introduction was amended to friend, but the damage had already been done. Chimney had just stopped in front of Paulie and Nami and introduced the cook as Sanji Roronoa.
Oblivious to the bombshell that had just been dropped, Zoro continued to stand with Robin and a few others as they reminisced. He kept an eye on the blonde despite his constant aggravation with him, but felt confident that no one would dream of attacking in a place like this; especially amidst the vast amount of skilled street thugs and city officials. As the crowd thinned, Zoro wandered back over to stand by the fresh grave, his jaw twitching with the pressure of his clinched teeth. Again, a warm hand slipped into his, and long fingers entwined with Zoro's own. The swordsman tried to pull away, but the grip tightened and Zoro turned his gaze enough to send an evil glare to the person at his side.
"Stop fighting, idiot. This isn't my doing," Sanji spat out as he edged closer to the green-haired man, trying to make it look like they were just speaking softly to each other. "The girls all seem to think we're together, so trying to convince anyone of something different was impossible."
Zoro tilted his head and watched their joined hands as he tried to figure a way out of this lie. "All you had to do was say no. It's that simple."
"It might have been if that little girl of yours wasn't telling everyone that I'm the reason for you cleaning up and we got married so we could live together." Sanji let out a snort of humorless amusement at the blank look he received from Zoro. "At least you were made out as the husband."
A grin finally appeared on Zoro's face as he found humor for the first time that day. "You are pretty girly."
Sanji was about to argue back when his phone began to ring, the pink cell making Zoro chuckle even more. Unfortunately, the name that came up blocked all other train of thought and Sanji held out the feminine phone to his protector.
"It's him," Sanji said, his voice strained with obvious stress. The cell sat innocently in his hand as he stared at it, torn between anger and fear. "He only calls when my location has been compromised."
Zoro snatched the still ringing phone from his hand and poured every ounce of venom he could muster into his voice. "Look, shithead, I hope you have a damn good reason for calling because I'm not in the mood to put up with anyone's bullshit."
"Ho-ho-ho, of course. I assume you are the mystery guardian that Detective Smoker has assigned to our Mr. Black, am I correct?" the voice on the other end seemed cheerful and quite happy, a vast contrast to the current mood that day.
"And you're the unknown inside guy. You seem pretty happy to be calling to tell blondie he needs to run for his life again." Zoro rolled his eyes at the crude hand gesture he received.
"No, I assure you, he is safe for the time being. Actually, it is you that I needed to speak with. Unfortunately, my actions are being watched, so I only have a moment. Can you meet me this evening?"
Zoro felt the hand tighten around his, and he looked to see Sanji watching him expectantly. Unsure of what to do, Zoro turned so that they were facing each other and pulled the phone away from his ear slightly so they could both listen easier. This would save him from having to repeat it later anyway. "I'm listening."
The sound of large equipment running in the background started getting louder. "There's a little club called Rumbar Hideout down on Island Avenue. Do you know it?"
"No, but I know the road. It runs down by the docks where Galley La is." Zoro saw Sanji nodding in agreement and knew the blonde was familiar with the place as well.
"Yes! That's the one. Meet me there around ten tonight. Just go to the bar and enjoy a drink. I'll join you then." The background noise began to fade and seagulls could be heard.
Zoro made a mental note of the time and place before realizing he'd forgotten to get an important piece of information. "How will I know you?"
"Yo ho ho ho."
A click, and the line went silent. Zoro closed the pink cell slowly, his mind reeling with possibilities of a setup and what he should do to prepare. His swords would be a little obvious even under a heavy jacket and they were sure to have him check his coat at the door. He could call up Daz and see if he was available to tag along, but more than likely he'd stick out and draw too much attention anyway. Johnny and Yosaku would be a better choice. They could blend into almost any nightclub, unless it was a real classy one. Zoro sighed and decided to go at it alone. If things got really bad, he'd call for backup then, not that he'd ever needed it before. The feeling of someone closing in on him brought him out of his thinking and Zoro refocused on the blonde who had just taken his phone back.
"So, we're meeting him finally, but why would he pick a place like this?" Sanji asked, curiosity lacing his voice when he spoke. "You ever been there?"
Zoro shook his head as he tried to shake loose of the cook's iron grip. "No, I like the place I usually go. And don't get any ideas. You're staying home."
"Like hell I am! This fucker has been leading me by the balls for six months now and it's about time I give him a piece of my mind," Sanji argued as he used his hold to pull Zoro back towards him.
"He just said that he's being watched. What if one of the assassins is there? What then? Let them get in a free shot? You idiot! Do you really not understand the meaning of Witness Protection? How am I supposed to protect you when you won't stay the fuck out of sight?!" Zoro punctuated the last three words by jabbing his finger into Sanji's chest with each one.
Sanji knocked Zoro's hand out of the way and took hold of the black tie to keep him from backing up again. "I can protect myself, dumbass. This bullshit stops now. I'm done with it! Let them come."
"Don't even think of it," Zoro snarled, finally remembering to keep his voice down. "Somehow you're connected with the fuckers who killed my parents, so until I find them, you're life is mine."
"And here I thought you didn't care," Sanji drawled out sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say, sweetheart." Zoro opened his mouth to argue, but Sanji jerked his hand away and held it out to stop him. "You know what? Just do whatever you want. I'm sure that's what you'll do anyway."
Zoro watched him walk away, uncertain about the ease in which the matter was dropped. Even though they had only known each other a few days, nothing ever was easy with the blonde. He watched Sanji pour out the charm when he asked Mozu and Kiwi for a ride back to the apartment building and was shocked at the nasty look he got from the twins. Just what did that shit-cook say to them anyway? One last look to the grave and Zoro bowed deeply.
"I really hope he's not the one you're expecting me to fall in love with, Auntie. It's all I can do to not kill him right now."
The wind picked up and Zoro got the distinct feeling that the old woman was laughing at him from somewhere. He frowned and stood up straight, wondering why even the dead seemed to think he needed that extra headache around.
-/-/-/-/-/-
The clock on the wall was beginning to piss him off, considering he had looked at it five times in the last fifteen minutes. No matter how hard he tried, the damn thing wouldn't move any faster. It was the first time in almost a year that he had been this anxious for the work day to be over with. Sure there were other times that he had just wanted to be anywhere but behind his desk, but today was different. Today, he just wanted to get back home to the hot, sexy, naked man he had left cuffed to his nightstand that morning. True the brat could easily pick the lock, but then Smoker would have to add resisting arrest to the long list of charges he had already started writing down. As of right now, Ace was looking at anything from 3 years to life in prison.
He caught his name amidst the hushed conversation outside his door and looked up to see several worried officers huddled together. The grin on his face faded, and his normal grouchy façade settled into place. Tashigi emerged from the group and hung her head guiltily as she hurried back to her desk. A flash of shoulder length silver hair caught his eye and he watched as Saga greeted several policemen before heading to the detective's office.
"Smoker, it's been a while. How is…?" Saga caught himself too late, the question flying off his tongue without thinking. It was always natural of him to ask about Ace when they would meet before.
"He's fine. You mentioned on the phone that you had information for me." Smoker dismissed the PI's inquiry, falling into old habits as well and dropped the subject as he cleared off an area on his desk to review the folder Saga was holding. Had he looked up into the man's face, Smoker would have realized that he had just given himself away.
Saga tucked away the slip-up making a note to call Zoro and see if the green-haired man knew anything about the rekindled relationship. The investigator closed the door and locked it, making sure that they would not be disturbed during the meeting and pulled a chair over to sit close to the desk. "I had an interesting visit with your witness the other day. I have to say it was a bold move on your part to put him in such a place."
"It seems that a lot of people have seen him recently." Smoker tossed the pen he had been playing with back onto the desk. "Maybe I should kill him myself."
"I think I can change your mind." Saga offered and slid the papers across the desk to the detective. "I took the files you gave me and compared them to the information I had collected four years ago. There are a lot of coincidences."
Smoker's brow furrowed deeply as he began reading, the pieces of the two seemingly separate cases finally connecting. How any of this was missed before he didn't know. It all jumped out at him, crystal clear as he took in what the investigator had discovered. Smoker studied the watermark and a thick brow rose in interest at the name written beside it.
"I have a theory." Saga stated, knowing he had the detective's full attention now. "I remember Mrs. Roronoa working close with Dr. Kureha for a couple years over at Drum Hospital until the doctor's husband died. It was during that time that she seemed to have a breakthrough on whatever she had been doing. All of the threats were demanding her research, so-"
"You're thinking that this is where they targeted her?" Smoker finished for him.
"It seems so." Saga agreed. "And I believe I've found out who Dr H is." Saga pulled out a photo from the stack and set it on top. "His name is Charles Hogback. The man fits the profile perfectly. Born in Austria, kicked out of medical practice for unethical and inhumane work studies, suspected necrophiliac, charged with distribution of narcotic and hallucinogenic drugs, broke out of prison twelve years ago," Saga's voice dropped and took on a more serious tone, "and is now currently believed to be working with Gecko Moria."
Saga watched the information settle in Smoker's face, the dark cloud over the man's head gaining strength with each word he said. "You realize that Zoro's going to find this out soon. The bloodbath he caused before will be nothing compared to what he will do with a name and a face to go after."
"Only if he gets to them first." Fury, the likes of which Saga had only seen on his best friend, filled Smoker's aura as he studied the picture further. The detective pushed away from the desk and grabbed his coat, tucking the photo of Hogback into his breast pocket. "I have my own debt to settle with these monsters."
-/-/-/-/-/-
A quarter after ten, Zoro pulled into the packed parking lot of the Rumbar Hideout and wedged his beast into a spot near the back fence. The place was crowded to say the least, and he had to squeeze between several people to be able to get to the bar, but somehow he managed to find an open seat. Zoro took it without second thought and immediately ordered up a shot, hoping to take the edge off of the irritation he felt building. The band playing was decent and rather energetic, making the swordsman think of his goofy dark headed friends. Usopp and Luffy would like this place for sure and Franky would probably be up there playing with other musicians. Maybe when this was over, he'd bring the guys here. Zoro sat his glass down and signaled for the bartended to bring another.
Several minutes, drinks, and denied women later, Zoro debated getting up and leaving. True, he had been late to begin with, but he couldn't take much more of this jovial atmosphere before he suffocated with it. A warm body came up from behind and leaned against him as they signaled for the server. Out of the edge of his eye, Zoro noticed the Flyers jersey and swore under his breath for forgetting about the game tonight. If the asshole didn't hurry up and back off soon though, he'd take that shirt and shove it down the man's throat.
"Hey, how did the game turn out? It's been so busy here I haven't been able to check on it since first period." The bartender handed over a drink and waved off payment, apparently eager to know the score.
"Rangers had their asses handed to them. 6 to 1, and that one was bullshit," the familiar voice replied. Zoro's drink paused mid air when the man bent down and whispered in his ear. "Hello, sweetheart, miss me?"
The glass in Zoro's hand cracked under the pressure of his grip, but fortunately remained intact. He turned his head slowly to look up at the unwelcome guest and gritted his teeth to keep from screaming at him. Admittedly, the black bandanna tied around his head quite effectively hid the distinct blonde hair, and the edges came down to help cover the curl of his eyebrows, but what truly pissed Zoro off was the uncanny habit the cook had of picking out Zoro's favorite clothes to wear. The signed hockey jersey was three sizes too big for Sanji, and hung on the man's slender frame, making him seem even more delicate.
"If you're expecting me to spontaneously combust, it might take a while." The cook was pissed, and refused to look directly at Zoro though he continued to press up against his back.
"You're really-" Zoro began, stopping when someone bumped into him on the other side and spilled a little of the drink he had left in his glass.
"Yo ho ho ho ho! A cup of tea, if you will, George. Ah, good evening miss. Would you mind letting me see your panties?"
The slap that followed was met with laughter all around, and toasts to the injured man. Apparently it was a very common occurrence for them and the incident was quickly dismissed. Zoro temporarily put aside the lecture he was about to give in lieu of finding out the identity of the perverted man. He could feel Sanji stiffen behind him, and the hand that was still resting on his shoulder tighten. That was the only confirmation Zoro needed to know this was the person he was supposed to meet.
The informant was a tall man to begin with, but the oversized afro and top hat added to the height, making him tower over everyone in the bar. The outdated hat, cane, and tailored suit gave him appearance of an old English aristocrat, and his manner of speech was refined, though the topics weren't necessarily. Tiny black glasses sat perched on his nose as he spoke animatedly with those around him. Zoro recognized him as one of the members of the band and was about to grab the man by his ruffled blue necktie when he abruptly turned and smiled down at Zoro.
"Good evening, gentlemen. Mr. Black, good to see you again. Care to join me for a drink?" The tall man accepted his teacup gracefully and headed for the dimly lit booths, gesturing for them to follow.
Zoro stood and was about to head after the afro man when he noticed the blonde heading in that direction as well.
"Stay your ass here, shit-cook. Leave this business to me."
"In case it slipped your notice, moron, that guy just called me by name. He's the one who got me into this mess in the first place by giving me that damn box." Sanji knew he made his point when Zoro's eyes widened slightly before narrowing in irritation again. "I'm here, just deal with it. If you're so worried why don't you go stand guard or something."
Zoro glared after the blonde, refusing to admit defeat but made no further attempts to stop him. He took another long look around, searching the crowd for any recognizable or suspicious faces and came up empty. There were both advantages and disadvantages to being in a large gathering of people. You could blend in easier, but escaping once found would prove troublesome. Zoro tossed a large bill on the bar absentmindedly before hurrying after the other men.
Sanji was already seated across from the musician when Zoro got to the booth, leaving only one logical option. The swordsman slid into the seat next to the blonde and wondered if anything would ever go as planned when the pain in the ass was involved.
Brook studied Zoro hard for several minutes in silence, making the tension grow to suffocating proportions. Zoro could feel the cook shifting uneasily beside him as they both waited for the man to finally come to a decision and speak.
"Do I know you?" the musician finally asked.
Zoro furrowed his brow in concentration as he tried to recall anywhere he might have seen the bony man before. Finding nothing, he shook his head. "No, that sword of yours is something I would have remembered."
Sanji looked around confused as Brook began laughing. The purple cane was laid gently on the table, and Brook bowed his head politely towards Zoro. "You have a keen eye, Mr…"
"Roronoa. Zoro Roronoa."
Brook's face fell and the man went pale as his jaw hung open in obvious surprise. He began rubbing his temple and muttering under his breath, "It can't be. No, no, this is bad. There has to be another explanation."
"So it's true." Zoro fisted his hands atop the table as he leveled a look at the perplexed man. "My parents are connected to this somehow. Your so-called boss was after my mother's research."
The musician swallowed hard and looked back and forth between then equally angry faces of the men across from him. "I've seen pictures of your mother, but the accident was before I came to work with them. I hear her name often when they speak of the research Doctor Hogback is doing."
"Hogback? So that's the name of the man behind all of this." Sanji sat back in his seat and crushed out his spent cigarette. "Makes sense. Everything was always under Dr. H when they dined at Baratie."
"Not entirely. Hogback isn't working alone. In fact, he isn't even the boss." Brook stirred his tea absently as he tried to decide what to divulge.
"Absalom and that other pink haired wench spoke of someone called Master." Zoro eyed the man closely, watching for any action that spoke of deception.
"Geko-"
"Moria!" Zoro all but shouted.
"Yes, I see you know him." Brook picked up his tea and traced the rim with a long boney finger. "I've heard that you met Absalom and Perona as well. Much thanks to your officer friend in taking her down by the way."
"It seems you have a lot of information about us; too much for my taste. Tell me why I shouldn't just kill you here and now." Zoro loosened his fist and splayed his hand flat on the table, shifting his feet so he could spring on the informant in an instant if the answer wasn't to his liking.
Brook took a sip of his tea, not realizing the tension his silent pause was creating. "Because you'll never know the truth about your parents if you do."
"I don't respond well to threats." Zoro started to rise from his seat, stopping only when Sanji took a hold of his arm and pulled him down.
"It's not a threat, Mr Roronoa, it's purely a statement of fact. If you kill either Mr Black or myself, you will never be able to solve the puzzle. With all of us together, we can each get what we want. Mr. Black can go back to his life of a master chef, you can find the men responsible for the plane crash and make them pay, and I can regain the life they stole from me. Of course let's not forget that our dear detective will be able to extract justice from this as well. I know he has been hunting for a reason to bring Moria down for years now." Brook sipped the last of his tea and sat the cup daintily back on the saucer.
Zoro considered everything he had just heard, but the most important question to him still remained unanswered. "Which one is responsible for my parents?"
Brook shook his head and looked up at Zoro sorrowfully. "I'm afraid I do not know for sure. As I said before, I wasn't there at that time. We can only hope that when they fall, someone is willing to talk."
"And just how do you plan on doing that?" Zoro could feel the cook tense up beside him and knew he had been wondering exactly the same thing.
"Ah, there's the trick. First you must stay alive, and that will not be easy. You see, I am afraid that when you were contracted to kill our friend here, the man you bumped out of line for the hit became quite disgruntled. I want to warn you not to underestimate him. Absalom is best known for his stealth, and can disappear into thin air, so to speak. They are also putting in a safeguard; a man of whom I only know by reputation. They call him the King. You do not stand a chance against this monster. I do not know what motivates him to fight, but he will continue even on the brink of death." Brooke folded his hands together and placed his elbows on the table, looking pointedly at Zoro. "His mission is to kill you once you have completed your assignment."
Zoro crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in the seat, mulling over in the new information as debated the truth in the words. He could see Sanji processing it as well, taking in account the added threat to his own life and now Zoro's. "He'll be waiting a while."
Sanji shot him a nasty look at the insinuation that he would still be killed, just not immediately. "That still doesn't explain the how."
"Yes, you are right. I have finally gained the trust of a troubled young woman inside, and with her help I hope to attain the needed information to prove what horrible acts Moria and his men are up to. That, combined with the item in your possession and your testimony should be exactly what the police need to make the arrest. All other evidence will be within the factory."
"What do you need from us?"
"Keep Mr Black safe and retrieve the box I gave him. I will call you when I have what we need on my end." Brook gathered his things and rose from the booth. He hesitated a moment before turning back towards them slightly. "Prepare yourself, Mr. Roronoa. Your enemy hides many dark secrets, some of which even you might not be able to face."
They sat there a moment, each deep in their own thoughts until a young waitress came over and placed two drinks in front of the men, giving them a big smile. "I was told by Brook to give you these and to tell you they're from that weird blonde guy over there with the white hat."
Zoro nodded his thanks to her and waited for her to move out of his line of sight so he could see this man the girl was referring to. Zoro cursed under his breath as he caught sight of the familiar blue and white ball atop a blonde's head. Absalom was gawking over some scantily clad women on the dance floor, at the moment unaware of their presence. The throng of people joyously dancing around, laughing and drinking flickered into a bloody mess of bullet ridden chaos and Zoro knew he needed to avoid fighting in here at all costs. Beside him, Sanji was glaring hard at the assassin and his body twitched as if about to spring forth and attack.
"We need to get out of here." Zoro slipped out of the seat, keeping an eye on Absalom as he waited for Sanji to join him. "Hurry up."
"I'm not leaving." Sanji flicked his lighter and lit up another cigarette. "I won't run anymore. Besides, it's just one guy."
"That one guy is packing more than you can handle, shit-cook." Zoro grabbed him and began pulling him out of the booth. "You start attacking him here and innocent people are going to die."
Sanji kicked him in the chest just enough to cause Zoro to release him and stood on his own, his heated glare increasing as the cook got up in his protector's face. "I'm not afraid to die."
"I could care less about your scrawny ass right now. It's them I'm worried about." Zoro shot back and nodded towards the crowd, never breaking eye contact with the blonde. The band chose that time to come back on stage, the cheering of their fans drowning out anything that the swordsman was trying to say.
Sanji took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he waited for the noise to die down, not bothering to let the green-haired man know he couldn't hear a word being said. In his mind, all Sanji could think about was the lives that had been ruined due to a man named Hogback and his supposed Master. He never noticed that Zoro had asked him a question, or that the man had closed in on him and was now invading his space. Sanji blinked and let his eyes refocus, never flinching at the flood of anger that washed over him. They stood there nose to nose, hatred oozing from them as both men refused to back down. No one came near them as they faced off, each having their own reasoning for acting so stubborn.
The music changed to something soft and slow, changing the atmosphere in the bar and bringing out the couples to the dance floor. More people began to wander over to the tables, all eying the two men as they searched for somewhere to sit and relax a spell. Sanji reached up to pull off the black bandanna before shoving it into Zoro's chest letting his hair fall naturally across his face. With all of the cook's distinguishing features now visible, Zoro was forced to realize his mistake. His single mission to protect the man who would lead him to his parent's murder had failed. Zoro gritted his teeth as Sanji shook his head and walked off, both of them completely unaware of the second pair of eyes that followed the cook's departure.
-/-/-/-/-/-
The green hair wasn't hard to recognize in the crowd, and it drew the assassin's attention immediately. A young girl passed by him, distracting the man for a moment, but the pull to extract revenge was stronger than his lust right now. He'd have to get rid of that guy his enemy was talking to, but that shouldn't be a problem. Absalom grinned evilly as he skirted the dance floor and headed for the arguing pair. Maybe with luck, it would be a lover or close friend. He would love to see the look on the swordsman's face when he took away another of his precious people. It was a pity that he didn't have a chance to get to that old woman before she croaked on her own, so he'd have to settle for this inadequate creature instead. Either way, it wouldn't have been challenge to take them out. How much trouble could a skinny little blonde cause?
Absalom paused and looked at them again. The man arguing with Roronoa had just taken off the black cloth on his head to reveal a façade all too familiar to the assassin. Here was the elusive Sanji Black. The man that Master had been hunting for months, and the man that the green-haired swordsman had been contracted to kill; or was it bring in alive? Absalom no longer cared about the details, instead changing his target and heading to the exit the witness had just taken. First, he'd secure the long lost cook, gaining favor in Master's eye finally, and then he would take care of the insurgent samurai that had betrayed them. Mouth curved into a sinister grin, the catlike man slipped silently into the alley behind the bar.
-/-/-/-/-
Sanji kicked the dumpster and watched in satisfaction as the metal container flew several yards down the alley. The crater that was now imprinted in its side wasn't the best he could do, but considering the lack of proper, his, footwear the cook was content with the damage done. The only thing that would have pleased him more would have been if a certain green head had intercepted the kick rather than an inanimate object. Just the thought of his protector renewed his anger and Sanji lashed out again, this time sending a crate flying into the night. Destruction of property never solved anything, but damn it sure helped to kick the shit out of something. Sanji heard a door open behind him and hoped to every god there was that the person was prepared for the beating of their life.
"You've got shitty timing, whoever the hell you are." The cook pulled out a cigarette and took his time lighting it, giving the unfortunate soul just enough time to rethink their ideas of challenging him. When they made no move to retreat, he looked back over his shoulder to see if it would even be worth his time. The moonlight glinted off the barrel of gun though the wielder remained in the shadows, but the weapon was unique and easily recognizable. Sanji gave an amused huff as he turned to face his fate fully. Karma sure was a bitch today. "Of all of the men to have finally found me, it had to be you. I think I'd rather that shitty little vampire guy try to hump my leg again."
Absalom hummed, the sound akin to a purr as he stepped out into the shadow, second gun joining the first. "We've come for the information."
This time the cook laughed fully, a sardonic smile playing on his lips as he removed the cigarette from between them. "You're shit out of luck."
There was a loud click as the hammers were pulled back and Absalom advanced a few steps. "Then maybe that swordsman would be a better one to ask. Have you even told him what it is that you're hiding?"
Sanji stiffened, a touch of concern filtering through his calm expression as he thought about what his guard might say when he found out. It wasn't like the cook had exactly been withholding information from him. There wasn't any true evidence that the item held any connection to Zoro anyway. Sanji took a long drag and studied the cattish man, watching for any little tell that might be used to his advantage. A shift to the left suggested he might have weak point on his right so Sanji decided maybe he should start there. After all, he did just say he was tired of running. "You'd be better off if he was the one standing here right now."
"And just why is that?" The guns were lowered slightly as the assassin cocked his head to the side in interest. It was just the opening Sanji had been waiting for and the cook jumped on it.
Pivoting on his left foot, Sanji spun with amazing speed kicking the guns from Absalom's hands and sending them flying. The feline howled in anger and used his momentum to follow around and slam the back of his fist across Sanji's face, forcing the cook to stumble from the impact. Sanji recovered quickly and dodged the powerful swings that would have easily done damage to his slighter frame. His body protested as he bent backwards, reminding him of how much he had neglected his training, but the cook pushed through it and placed his hands on the filthy road. As expected Absalom had followed the motion of his body and Sanji brought up both feet, toes of shoes connecting with the underjaw and chin hard enough to lift the man off the ground.
Absalom stumbled when he hit the ground and held onto a drain spout to steady himself as his vision cleared. Immediately, the skinny man appeared in front of him and he turned to brace himself for the impact. The assassin's eyes widened at the power behind the attack and began to reassess the skill of the opponent in front of him. Legs only had a limited range, so all he had to do was put distance between them. The cook's biggest weakness be assuming that Absalom only carried one set of guns.
"It doesn't matter to us if which one of you we face first. You'll both die soon. If not by me, then by another." Absalom grinned at the increase of anger that came over Sanji and used his hesitation as a chance to put some distance between them.
"You really think that Zoro will let any of you live now that he knows the truth?" Sanji wiped his hands off on his pants. "He knows your master killed his parents."
A surprised look appeared on the cattish face for a moment before Absalom laughed sinisterly. "He's wrong. Master didn't kill them. In fact, no one did. But I do know who brought down the plane." In a smooth motion, Absalom withdrew his second set of pistols and began firing.
Sanji dove behind a mountain of garbage, muttering every filthy name he could think of as bullets embedded in the bags behind him. How he could have made such a mistake as to not consider more guns was beyond him. He listened hard for the sounds of his attacker, but only heard the city, making the feeling of unease begin to rise. Sanji chanced looking over the top of his barrier and was met with emptiness. The gunman was nowhere to be seen. A soft sound, almost like a drop of water falling into a puddle sounded behind him and Sanji dove to the side just in time to avoid two bullets to the head. He secured himself behind a dumpster this time and wondered if maybe he should have heeded Zoro's warning a bit more. Again he peeked out and saw no one.
This time he heard the click of the hammer close enough behind him to make his heart almost stop. Sanji dove and rolled into the middle of the alley as another shot rang out. He stood and looked to where he had thought the gunman was and saw nothing. It was a rash choice, but instead of hiding this time, he stood in the open and closed his eyes, reaching out with every other sense he had to find where the next attack would come from. The air shifted and Sanji took the chance, springing forward to his hands again and lashing out in a pinwheel barrage of kicks. Satisfaction filled him when he connected with solid mass and he felt the body beneath his foot cave in slightly. Opening his eyes, Sanji pushed up and vaulted to his feet again, preparing to continue the onslaught.
Absalom was slightly hunched over, trying to catch his breath though he still managed to pull off another round in Sanji's direction. Pain shot through his hand as the pistol was again knocked away and he howled in anger as his remaining weapon failed to fire at near pointblank range into the cook's face. On instinct, Absalom crossed both arms over his head and blocked another heavy blow that could have easily knocked him out. Before the leg could be retracted, he grabbed on and used his hold to swing the cook against the wall next to him. Absalom began wailing on the dazed man, trying to break through Sanji's defense and laughing with every blow that connected with tender flesh. He was surprised with the amount that had been deflected, and how many the cook had taken, yet still stood. Smug satisfaction filled him as he continued to show that he wasn't completely dependent on weapons alone.
The assassin shifted to his left and suddenly a blinding pain erupted in his right knee. He looked down to see the cook's foot retreating and the joint bent backwards. In vain he tried to move, but the mutilated leg no longer supported his weight and he stumbled. He raised his arms to block as many of the hits as possible, but with his movements limited, Absalom was clearly at a disadvantage. A foot connected with his abdomen, knocking the wind from him again and he hunched over in pain. His precious hat was knocked off his head as the cook grabbed his hair and the world exploded as a knee was slammed into Absalom's face. The assassin fell to the ground, furious, disoriented and in pain.
Fighting against losing consciousness, Absalom reached into his boot and pulled out a small derringer, ashamed that he has to resort to such a weak ploy to win his battle. But before he could even lift it, Sanji slammed his heel into the assassin's hand, crushing the bone and making it useless. Absalom cried out in pain as the cook chuckled maliciously.
"I can see why the shitty swordsman gets such a thrill out of shit like this." Sanji twisted his foot once more before lifting it off the man's hand and kicking the tiny gun away.
"You stupid idiot! We will see that you pay for what you have done to us," Absalom spat out.
"Yah, yah. I've heard all that shit before." Sanji's breathing was labored, but a quick assessment said that he'd received much worse at his father's hands. He ignored the pain in his back and instead focused on the man hunched over at his feet. Three guns had already been produced from hidden spots, and it was more than likely that there would be others. The cook watched him carefully as he pulled a crushed pack of cigarettes from his pocket and felt for one that wasn't too badly broken.
"Master will only send others. You're a dead man, Sanji Black. Just like your father." Absalom lifted his head and smirked triumphantly at the look of horror that filled the cook's face.
"Not if I can help it."
Movement to the side caught his eye and Absalom looked over just in time to see a large fist slam into him. As darkness took over, Absalom thought how familiar the look of hatred on Zoro's face was, and he wondered why. Just where had he seen that exact same face before?
"What the fuck, Asshole!" Sanji lashed out and landed a blow directly to Zoro's chest, wincing and hissing in pain as his back screamed in protest.
"Hey, cook, you okay?" Zoro grabbed the blonde and held him steady. He released the breath he had been holding when Sanji shook him off, shocked at the concern that had taken hold of him when he thought the blonde had been wounded. Zoro dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell, pressing speed dial for Smoker quickly. He continued to keep an eye on the cook just in case as he waited for the detective to pick up. A thin brow rose high on his forehead at the unexpected voice on the other end.
"Hey Zoro, what's up?"
"Ace? What…" Recovering from his surprise quickly, Zoro began to chuckle. "It's about damn time you pulled the stick out of his ass. Put my Godfather on the phone."
Zoro could hear murmured talking followed by a sharp bark of orders and a yelp. The detective had a slight edge to his voice when he spoke. "This had better be good Roronoa."
"I need a pickup and a medic over-"
"I don't need a fucking doctor, Marimo," Sanji interrupted.
"-behind a place called Rumbar Hideout." Zoro ignored the glare he received from the cook. "You know it?" He received an affirmative grunt and listened to the movement on the other end of the phone. "You'd better hurry before he wakes up. His guns are around here somewhere."
"Don't do anything stupid Roronoa," Smoker warned.
"You're always welcome to join me." Zoro waited only a moment for an answer and when he didn't receive one he hung up, knowing that his Godfather was thinking hard.
Zoro pocketed his phone and started walking away, not surprised at all when the cook somewhat fell in step with him. He slowed his pace slightly to accommodate the blonde's slowing pace, grateful that he didn't ask any questions. Zoro had gone to the bar after Sanji stormed out, trying to drink away the guilt of having failed, but when all he could see at the bottom of the glass was his father's disappointed face
Together they headed for Zoro's GTO, Sanji's gait leveling out as they walked. "You gonna live?"
"Fuck you. I can still kick your shitty ass anytime." Sanji sighed heavily as he searched for salvageable cigarette. "Bastard crushed my smokes."
"I'll buy you new ones." Zoro unlocked the passenger door and opened it, waiting for the blonde to get in.
When Sanji just stood there and looked at him blankly, Zoro sighed and left the door standing open as he walked around to get in his own side. Everything he had learned that evening faded into the background when he heard the shots, the image of another dead body filling his mind. His heart stopped each time he heard the gun fire again and Zoro swore that he wouldn't lose another person. By the time he had gotten to the alley, Sanji had finally gotten the upper hand and had drawn the assassin in. Zoro remembered the scene vividly. The fear he had felt when the gun clicked so close to the cook's face, the crack of the bone as Sanji's foot immobilized the assassin, the relief when he knew the man was ok, and the anger that took over when Absalom made threats against Sanji's father. It took everything he had not to strip the cook right then and there to check for injuries, to make sure there were no bullet holes concealed beneath the mud covered jersey.
Zoro continued to keep an eye on the man during the drive back to the apartment and stayed at his side with every step into the building. He began to realize his actions when he almost followed Sanji into the bathroom to make sure he wouldn't fall over while trying to take a piss. Overprotective didn't even begin to cover it. He ended up standing at the window in the spare bedroom, watching the clouds moving in with the promise of a nasty storm. Zoro felt the cook behind him and closed his eyes as he breathed in the smoke of the freshly lit cigarette. The shitty bastard must have had an extra pack stashed somewhere.
"You know, the more I think about it I think the evidence I'm holding doesn't belong to Moria." Sanji's voice seemed a little hesitant, a little out of place for the usually sure man. Zoro tried to blame it on the fight they had just gotten out of, but knew somehow this was due to something else.
Zoro could hear him shuffling around in something, curiosity getting the better of him and he turned around to see what the cook was looking for. He was surprised to see the blonde rifling through the meager bag he had brought with him, wondering what in the world could be of importance in there. Zoro had gone through the bag when the blonde had first arrived. As far as he could remember, there wasn't anything in there that could be considered evidence in any way. He watched the blonde pull out the leather case holding the assortment of knives and stepped closer for a better view. The cutlery came out one by one, each laid gently on the bed and soon the left side of the case was empty. Sanji pulled out the padded form to reveal a small silver object beneath. He lifted it up and held it out for Zoro to take.
"What is it?" Zoro took the flat piece of metal and plastic and turned it over looking for any indication as to what significance it might have toward him.
Sanji stepped around him and pushed the button to turn on the computers. "It's called a flash drive, moron. You can store a shitload of information on one. I tried to hook it up to a computer once, but I could never get it to load. Since I had gotten it from Brook, I thought it was information on Mas-… this Moria fucker. I'm beginning to wonder-"
"If it's my mother's missing research instead," Zoro filled in. He looked back at the laptops, wondering if he should even try to see what was on it. All the computers had brought him was more heartache so far. What good would it do him anyway? It wasn't as if he even knew where to plug it in. The drive was taken from his hand and he watched the blonde stick the slender device into a slot in the side of the laptop. Again, the faded red background with an X came on the screen. "I don't think I want to know what's on there."
"She said it's supposed to be your present. You could at least find out what she got you before you decide to throw it away." Sanji turned up the volume and adjusted the screen so that Zoro could see it clearly.
Voice recognition accepted Zoro's voice again and the image bled into a video of a young teenager running around a lab, laughing as he worked with different beakers and vials. The scene changed and showed the same boy sitting at a desk surrounded by medical text books, studying a large volume very intently. Doctor Kureha came over to him to ask a question regarding an in depth procedure and smiled as she patted the boy on the head when he answered correctly. Again the scene changed, this time showing the teen with Sarah. He was sitting next to her on a worn couch looking through a photo album and pointing at various pictures, eagerly taking in everything as she explained who the different people were. Their voices were a bit distorted, but Zoro heard his name clearly and couldn't miss the sparkle in those big brown eyes as the teen looked up at his mother. It was pure adoration and love that radiated from him as Sarah leaned over and moved the light brown curls aside so she could place a kiss on his forehead. A jealous rage began to fill him until he heard Sarah speak again.
"Don't worry, Chopper, he'll love you just as much as I do. Zoro's your big brother after all."
Time froze. The images moved in slow motion as he continued to watch his new brother talk to his mother. Finally the boy was gone and Sarah was settling down in a chair directly in front of the video camera. She fidgeted with the lab coat for a moment before smiling sheepishly at the camera and taking a deep breath.
"My name is Sarah Roronoa. I am currently working with Doctor Magnus Kureha in the field of applied medical science and robotics. In addition to finalizing the materials used in synthetic flesh for skin grafts, we have also made great progress with our project in cybernetics and artificial intelligence. The young boy you saw in the beginning of this video is proof of that. His name is Tony Toni Chopper, and by all accounts he is my son."
Sarah continued to speak about her advancements in nano-something-or-other, and more things that Zoro couldn't begin to understand. But all of it faded to white noise as watched his mother glow with happiness as she spoke about her work. He reached out and touched her face on the screen gently before taking a hold of the laptop and shutting it, ending her presentation.
Moria had taken his parents away. No matter what that feline assassin had said, Zoro knew that the man was behind it in more ways than one. Even if he didn't pull the trigger, so to speak, he gave the order or at least had knowledge of it. And now, Zoro held in his possession the information that the bastard was after. He would use it as bait, and lure them out so he could take their heads himself. He looked over his shoulder and was surprised to see the cook had left the room. Soon he wouldn't see the blonde at all. The case would be over and the idiot could return to his family to enjoy the life he had previously held. Zoro felt his chest tighten at the thought of not having someone around again. It seemed that even in death Moria would still be taking things from him.
Disheartened both by the idea of having a non human brother, and not having his cook any longer, Zoro left the room and headed for the kitchen. He went to the fridge and took out the last beer, reminding himself that he needed to help make a grocery list so that they could go shopping soon. The bottle paused a few inches from his lips as he remembered the blonde would be leaving soon and there was no need to buy a lot of food. He didn't know how to cook, and there was no use wasting it.
"Who pissed on your parade?" Sanji had come into the kitchen to see Zoro frozen in the middle of the room with a depressed look on his face. "What? Are you pissed that you didn't get to kick the pussy's ass?"
Zoro grinned a little at the pun and finally brought the bottle to his lips. He had drank about half when it was jerked from his grasp, a little of the precious liquid spilling down his chin. He used his sleeve to wipe it away and glared at the cook who was finishing off the drink. Zoro grabbed for the bottle, hoping to save at least a little but came up empty with a handful of air.
Sanji let the rest of the alcohol fill his mouth and looked triumphantly over to his watcher. He kept the beer in his mouth and lowered the bottle, intending to tease the man a little more before swallowing but was suddenly shoved against the refrigerator door. Zoro's mouth covered his and a tongue forced his lips apart, allowing the cold drink to escape and be consumed by a hungry swordsman. The feel of Zoro's hands on his chest, along with the man's lips on his own, was just enough of a catalyst to send Sanji over the edge. Before Zoro could pull away, Sanji wrapped his arms around Zoro's neck and turned the exchange into a deep kiss as their tongues swept across each other.
He felt Zoro stiffen, but when the man didn't pull away, Sanji took it as permission to continue. Slowly, Sanji urged Zoro's lips to move with his. He coaxed Zoro's mouth open again and moaned softly when his tongue was met immediately by another. Hands moved down his chest to rest on sharp hipbones and Sanji pulled Zoro closer to him. Their bodies closed in on each other as they kissed, residual adrenaline from the fight rising to the surface and with it Sanji's need. With the fingers of one hand woven tightly into short green hair, he brought the other hand down to grab Zoro's ass and pull their lower bodies flush against each other. Sanji was already hard and he rolled his hips forward to grind his arousal into Zoro, sighing happily as he felt the mirroring hardness. Their lips finally parted and Sanji guardedly opened his eyes to look at Zoro. Confusion and embarrassment mixed with desperation stared back at him.
"We've lived in the same city for several years and yet never met so you can look at this two ways Marimo." Sanji moved his hand from the firm muscle of Zoro's ass to begin untucking the swordsman's t-shirt. "We can go back to our old lives when this is over and pretend we have no idea the other exists, or move my things in after the trial. Either way, I'll still be around." His hand finally slipped under the fabric to run across heated skin as Sanji waited impatiently for Zoro to make his decision.
It came in a rush starting with Zoro almost ripping the oversized shirt off of the cook's body and throwing it behind him. Sanji took the cue and began working with the fastenings of both of their pants at the same time. Zoro tugged his own shirt off and stumbled with his pants around his knees as Sanji began guiding him towards the bedroom. Sanji chucked as Zoro fought to kick his boots off, earning him a nasty look laced with the promise of payback. The cook's own shoes were kicked off easily and he reached out to steady the other man as Zoro pulled his pants the rest of the way off. As soon as Zoro stood, Sanji closed in and kissed him deeply, shimmying out of his borrowed jeans as his hands explored the muscles of Zoro's back and shoulders. With only Zoro's boxers between them now, they fell to the bed, breaking the seal of their lips long enough to settle on the mattress.
Zoro kept his eyes closed, imagining he was in a dream rather than reality. His hands moved on their own, caressing every expanse of pale skin they could reach as he fought for some grasp of dominance. It was nothing like he had imagined, not even the feel of rough stubble as it scratched his face when they moved. He managed to get the man beneath him, only to have calloused hands slide under his boxers and began edging them off his hips, taking away the last barrier between their bodies and leaving him completely exposed. Zoro's breath hitched as he was taken in hand and squeezed gently. He gripped the sheets as the agonizingly slow strokes continued, praying the cook would hurry up and at the same time that the torture would never end.
Tentatively, he released one hold on the bed and let his hand trail down Sanji's side to rest on his hip. He buried his face in the crook of Sanji's neck, telling himself he was only doing it to keep them in close contact and that he was not in fact hiding. The breathy plea barely whispered into his ear gave him the push he needed to move again. The sighs and gasps coming from the blonde gave him confidence, and he nuzzled into the pale neck. Zoro let his teeth graze across the thrumming pulse as blunt nails bit into his back and Sanji spread his legs apart, letting Zoro settle comfortably between them.
"Don't think, shithead," Sanji said as he shifted to move further up the bed. and the heels of the blonde's feet dug into his back as Sanji lifted himself up off the bed. "Just… don't… think…"
Zoro watched the pain on Sanji's face bleed into a look of pure bliss as he slipped past the tight ring of muscle to the warmth within. A triumphant moan mixed in with pleasure filled gasps as he sank deeper and any thought he had of stopping vanished. Blunt nails dug into shoulders and back, slipping in the perspiration that gathered and leaving red welts in their wake. Long deep strokes began to shorten as the speed of his thrusts increased and Zoro watched his newfound lover writhe in pleasure beneath him. Zoro sat up on his knees, bringing Sanji with him and watched in fascination as the blonde took back control; lifting himself up and down and crying out in pleasure.
Sinewy arms tightened around his neck and swollen lips met his again as Zoro took hold of Sanji's hips and slowed the blonde's pace. He could feel the pressure building and wasn't ready for this to be over quite yet no matter how hard it would be to deal with after. The feel of another's hands on his body, genuine words of need whispered and cried out to him, the heat he was buried in, the unusual strength that flowed through the muscles twitching in his hold… He wanted to remember it, because for some reason, Zoro had a feeling he would never have it again.
Zoro threw his head back and cried out as his orgasm took over. The force of emotion threatened to stop the beating of his heart as he fought to gasp for air. His body gave and they fell back to the bed in a tangle of limbs, Zoro's hands seemingly unable to release their hold on Sanji's hips. Sanji's legs unwrapped and they shifted enough to keep any of their extremities from going numb as both men fell asleep; a dark hand still holding onto a pale hip and long fingers entwined in sweat dampened hair.
-/-/-/-/-/-
It was still dark outside, the first indication that something was amidst. The second was the fact that he had an extraordinarily heavy object holding him in place. Lightning flashed behind the drawn curtains as loud thunder began to rumble. The first few splatters of rain could be heard as they hit the window and soon the steady pelting drowned out even the steady breathing next to him. Green hair ticked his nose when he turned his head, and strong arms tightened as the man sprawled atop him nuzzled into Sanji's neck. The cook chuckled, earning him a displeased grunt from his bedmate.
"'G bak t' sleep."
Sanji fully laughed this time and patted Zoro on the ass as he tried to disentangle himself so he could get out of bed. "Nature calls, Marimo."
"Fuck nature."
Zoro lifted his head enough to narrowly glare at the cook before his features fell and dark eyes began to widen. Sanji gave him a quick peck on the lips before slipping out of the now loose hold. "That's all you're getting till you brush your teeth."
Sanji stood from the bed and stretched, amazed at how good his body felt after the rough treatment it received last night. Zoro was definitely well endowed, that was for sure. He turned around to look at the man and almost burst out laughing at the panicked look on the swordsman's face. Knowing it would only ruin the residual high he felt, Sanji opted to keep his mouth shut and not point out the obvious. Yes they had slept together. Yes it had been one of the best fucks Sanji had ever had. Yes Zoro did cuddle in his sleep. Yes Sanji did have every intention of doing this again. No he would not keep his mouth shut forever. The blonde grabbed the sweats off the dresser and slipped them on, now fully awake and extremely hungry.
"Hey, you want something to eat? I'm gonna see what there is to scrounge up for a midnight snack."
Zoro blinked a couple times before nodding slowly. Sanji shook his head and rolled his eyes as he headed for the bathroom. As he washed his hands he could hear Zoro snoring faintly over the storm, probably having fallen back asleep the instant he left. Waking him again would be useless, and Sanji knew the idiot would be up at the smell of food, something he seemed to share in common with his dark haired friends. Sanji dried his hands and sighed. Life had finally taken a turn for the better, though the cook would have never guessed that the catalyst would have been a grouchy, green haired swordsman who was about as close to Sanji's opposite as they come. Still… Sanji couldn't help but smile as he went in search for his cigarettes.
He dug around the kitchen counter where he had left his lighter and was about to turn on the lights when his fingers hit the cool metal of the Zippo. Cigarette between his lips he flicked the lighter and came face to face with the image of death itself. Sunken eyes peered at him from between strips of white fabric wrapped around the man's head, whether as a mask or bandage he didn't know. White hair was pulled up high on the back of the man's head in a fashion that gnawed at Sanji's memory. Lightning flashed again, illuminating the intruder's silhouette and the sword that hung at his side. Before the cook could utter a sound, a heavy fist backhanded him across the face, sending him flying across the dark room. Thunder rolled again, covering the scuffle and Sanji hit the stove hard, knocking the teapot off to shatter on the floor.
The shards of porcelain bit into his feet as Sanji sidestepped to dodge his attacker's next move. Flashes from the storm made it difficult to keep his eye on the man; his eyes having to readjust constantly to the difference in light. Pots and pans were knocked aside as they wrestled in the small space, neither able to fight well in the confined quarters. Sanji's eyes went wide as he watched the blade of the sword emerge from its sheath. Before he could even blink, the blade had made its first swipe, removing part of the curtain of hair that covered half his face.
"You fucking bastard," Sanji growled, all apprehension finally gone leaving only fiery hatred in its wake.
A bare foot, dripping blood from a shallow cut flew with impressive speed toward the assassin's head, only to have the leg blocked by the flat edge of the sword. Again and again, the cook continued to attack, only to have his attempts parried and tossed away. Still, a small grin began to appear on the blonde's lips. Only a few more feet and they would be out into the open space of the living area and he could attack more freely. Unfortunately, so could the swordsman. The timing had to be perfect. With a grunt of satisfaction, Sanji gave one last kick at the man's chest, sending him back just far enough for the cook to flip to his hands and deliver a barrage of attacks to the unprepared assassin. As soon as he was back on his feet, Sanji realized his mistake. Breaking through the assassin's defense had only succeeded in pissing the man off.
"FUCK!" Sanji yelled as he sprang back, missing the blade by centimeters. He managed to flip to his hands and tried to catch the attacker under the chin, just as he had done to the cat freak earlier that night. When his feet finished their arc without contact, Sanji knew without a doubt that this must be the King Brook had warned them about. The musician was right when he said this assassin was on a totally different level than all the rest. His revelation came too late though and he felt the sting of the blade bite into his abdomen as he failed to move fast enough. He opened his mouth to scream at the man and the world shifted s he was tackled from the side and thrown out of the way before the assassin could do any more damage. In a blur of movement, Zoro had managed to get him to safety and withdraw two swords from his case.
Sparks flew in the darkness as the blades collided with each other, the older man easily knocking aside both of Zoro's weapons with his one. Still, the wooden sandals made almost no sound as they danced around the room, matching each other's movements effortlessly. It was as if they had choreographed and rehearsed everything a million times just so they could get it right and not land a hit on the other man. Only the most skilled fighters could accomplish such a feat.
Zoro crouched down and crossed his swords in front of him as he prepared to lunge. He watched the attacker settle the tip of his blade on the floor and cock his head to the side. The casual nonchalance irked him and Zoro used the next flash of light as his cue to attack. The assassin met his charge with equal force and used Zoro's momentum against him. The table shattered as Zoro was thrown back, and the assassin started for his initial target again.
Sanji readied himself and kept a hand pressing against his wound, though he was fairly sure the bleeding had slowed enough. He would be the first to admit that this fight wouldn't be won easily, but somehow they would win. They had to, because losing meant death. The cook shifted on his feet, eager to pay the assassin back for spilling first blood. Thunder rolled again, a little further in the distance this time as Sanji started forward.
"Oi, bastard…" Zoro emerged from the ruined wood and reached into the sword case one more time. "He may not look like much, but he's mine." The third sword was placed between his teeth and he slowly drew himself up to full height as several streaks of lightning fully illuminated the room and Zoro's deadly face.
Sanji stopped at the stricken look on the assassin's face and watched as the tip of his blade fell to the floor with a loud chink. Slowly the man turned and stared at Zoro in shock as wary recognition filled his eyes; the grip on his sword so loose he barely held it in his hand. Too many shadows filled the room to see either of them clearly, putting everyone at a disadvantage, and mounting the tension to suffocating proportions. The cook kept his eye on them as he backed up towards the light switch and felt for it blindly. The second the light flooded the room, three more swords hit the floor; completely falling out of the younger swordsman's grasp. Both men stood slack jawed, mirroring each other in stance as they continued to gawk at each other.
The assassin wore a long white robe with black markings around the tattered edges and wooden sandals, which should have made much more noise than they did. His almost stark white hair was pulled back into a topknot under the bandages wrapped around his head haphazardly; though they appeared to cover his facial characteristics more than any wound he might have encountered. He moved with a grace that obviously belied his age, but it looked as if he had seen better days, for an air of death hung around him.
Zoro wore only a pair of pajama pants, allowing his bare torso to show off the scar on his chest proudly. His green hair seemed to stand out even more against his tanned skin, giving no doubt to his identity. His slack body trembled visibly as shock and fear washed over his face. Never seeing the green haired man so uncomposed, Sanji began to feel panic set in as well. Even that night in the shower Zoro seemed to have at least some grasp on his self control. The cook edged around the room to stand slightly behind Zoro, confused and wary as he tried to make a connection between the two men. Not knowing enough about Zoro's past, Sanji could only make wild speculations though none of them answered why the skilled swordsman was afraid. He watched as Zoro swallowed hard and opened his mouth a few times with no sound coming out, unable to take his eyes off the man in front of him. Sanji put a hand on Zoro's arm to get the young man's attention and the assassin's eyes flickered to the action. In a flutter of fabric, the killer spun around and headed for the window.
Ryuuma, the King, the hired hand of Doctor Hogback and Geko Moria, slipped out onto the fire escape and disappeared up the ladder under the cover of the storm. The fierce hammering of his heart threatened to break his chest open as tears of anger and frustration poured down his face. The rain soaked through the bandages on his face and he tore them off, throwing the scraps of material everywhere. His scarred face, clear to the world now, twisted in pain and anguish as Ryuuma Roronoa stood on the rooftop and screamed into the sky.
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