CHAPTER THIRTEEN UPDATED

Sorry it took so long. I already did this once but when I sent the file, it was corrupt and wouldn't let me open it, so I had to redo it :(

I do not speak Japanese (albeit a little) so I used several translating web pages, including Google. If there is anything wrong to those that do speak Japanese, please let me know through PM so that I can amend my mistake and learn what was wrong.

Thank you in advance :)

The Lives That Bind Us

Chapter Thirteen: Zoro's Family

Sanji

Sanji did as Zoro asked and remained in the car. He watched through the rain-slick window, as the Marimo disappeared in the haze. He was acting odd.

Or maybe it was just Sanji. Of course he was on edge. He had seen a familiar face in the hospital.
Not one to which he could put a name, but a familiar face all the same. He had seen him plenty of times. As a frequent diner at "The Baratie," or sometimes in the Café in Alabaster Road, and "Nanohana Casino."

They were watching him.
Closely.

And he had failed. Sanji had been there, in the hospital, barely arms reach from the little brat on Mr. 0's hit list. A step closer and he could've wrapped his hands around the boys neck. Choked him. Snapped his spinal cord. Pumped his blood with deadly poisons or an overdose of medicine, all within reach, in the hospital. He had the perfect chance….
And he had failed.

Sanji rolled down the window of his car slightly, so that the rain wouldn't come in, and pulled out a cigarette. He wasn't in the mood for one but he needed something to occupy his finger for the time being. And hopefully his mind as well.
Twisted and tangled with fearful thoughts of the future. He didn't dare think of the consequences. This wasn't the first time he had failed to assassinate his target. Last time, agents were sent to rough up his family. Things got out of hand, and the damn punks set "The Baratie" on fire. After nearly loosing Zeff, Sanji had never let it happen. But it was happening. Now, as he sat here, his punishment was already being decided-

A sharp rap on the door made Sanji jump. He almost dropped his cigarette, but it was only Zoro, returned from the dorms. His clothes had changed into a plain black suit, creased in places from poor care. Sanji made to comment, but caught himself at the tight lipped expression behind unfocused eyes. If Sanji didn't know better, it looked like the man was going to cry…
"Hey, open the boot," Zoro said, in the same quiet voice as before. Sanji nodded silently and clicked the button, watching as Zoro unloaded two more bags into the boot, just as Nami, Usopp and Luffy settled themselves into the back seats. Everyone had changed. Now, they too, wore black clothing, and black hearts. There were no smiles, or warm words. Like they were heading to their own funerals. Or anticipating Sanji's.
It was unnerving.

The mood was sour like the weather as Sanji pulled out from the university gates. "Where to?" he asked, not daring to ask anything further. He felt claustrophobic as it was, without the needed pressure of unwanted conversation. "Shimotsuki Village," Nami said from the back, taking Sanji's sight off Zoro and onto her through the rear view mirror. She had her hair pulled back, and wore simple make-up. Sanji wanted to compliment her, but it wasn't appropriate too.

"It's a little ways away. Just head East out of the city on the main road and…." Nami continued to give directions, only when needed as the car drove. Slowly, the city melted away to lush hills and little woods that grew and spread over the countryside, giving colour to the drab, rain filled world. They passed into a tunnel of green; branches of oak and bay that enveloped them and blocked out the rain.
Sanji let the car glide down the snake-like road, his thoughts once again resurfacing-

"It's the next left," Zoro spoke from his seat. He had been watching the road, brows furrowed as they crawled closer and closer to the place he feared to go. Why? What was at the end of this road?

Sanji almost missed the turning. Hidden under a blanket of dropped leaves, the grey tarmac seemed to merge with browns and greens of the fallen canopy. It was a driveway, long and winding through the sea of trees, clouding the destination from view.

And suddenly, they had arrived. A giant wall loomed before them, blocking their path. It crept from trees on both sides, with no visible pass. Except, there was. In the centre, a circle archway, lined by plants and a stone path, bridging the tarmac drive and the stone slab paving leading further inward. Too small for a car.

Others had been parked to the side, some behind a line of trees, where an area of drive was designated for cars to park. Was this some posh hotel or resort? There certainly hadn't been any signs indicating this was here…

Zoro directed Sanji closer, just as three strangers appeared through the circle arch. A man and two women, dressed in dressing gowns. The man approached the car, and once stopped, opened that door for Zoro, before moving to open Nami's.

"Okaerinasai, Wakai masutā ," the man said, bowing his head. Zoro nodded back with a simple, "Tadaima." There was pain in his voice; strained and quiet, yet the man did not show empathy as he spoke. And this time, in words Sanji understood.
"Everyone is inside. We are waiting."

Sanji remained silent, watching the exchange. Zoro spoke, but Sanji didn't understand. He was speaking Japanese. Was this someone Zoro knew from Japan? Or family? They certainly didn't treat him like family-

The conversation was over. The man shut the door, with Zoro remaining in the car. Nami and the others had stepped out and were being escorted through the hole in the wall, with only glances over their shoulders.

Sanji watched until they had disappeared entirely, before his gaze fell upon Zoro. "Are you-"
"Just give me a moment," he said, voice just as tight as before. They sat there, just listening to the rain and the sounds of deep breaths. Deep, long sighs that spoke volumes of heavy pain. Chains that bound Zoro to this pain, and barred him from mending the wound that brought him so much… pain.

"Zoro. Where are we?"
He needed that push. That little shove from behind to get him walking in the right direction. One step closer to being whole again. And if Zoro wasn't going to start, Sanji was going to do it for him.

"We're quite far from the city," the Blonde continued, hoping his spiel might get a rise out of the silent man next to him. "It was a nice drive. I'd like to explore around here sometime. I bet it would be a nice place for a picnic."

"It is." There was a flicker of movement at the corners of his mouth. "But that gardens are beautiful too. You should come see them." Zoro was smiling. "C'mon. We'll go together."
He led the way, leaving the car parked to one side, with only a slight gesture to Sanji that it would be okay there. Instead, he slipped his hand down to his side and scooped up Sanji's his thumb working circles on the back of his palm, his fingers drawing of the scars from working in the kitchen. He liked to do it, it seemed to calm him down. It calmed Sanji too, as they passed through the looming arch of the grey stone wall.

They were in a garden. Stone paved paths snakes through sand beds, past beds of flowers and bushes. Cherry blossom trees lined the path. Pink petals fell with the rain, sticking to the path that lead to a house, grand yet quaint on the far side of the garden.
"Where are we?" Sanji asked again, leading and being led up the path. He had an arm raised, shielding himself from the gentle veil of petals and rain, trying to keep the wind from blowing his fringe in his eyes, both settled on Zoro's face.

"My house."
A simple answer.

"Oh."
A simple response.

Yet Sanji was bursting with questions. Zoro's home? Why were they here? Now of all times?
Though Sanji knew the answer. Of course he knew. He just didn't want to admit it to himself. The reason why Zoro was hurting, why he was so worried about going home. Because here, he had lost someone…

"Are you going in?"

They had stopped steps away from the door. Unconsciously? Or was Zoro having second thoughts?
"I don't think I can face my family," the man admitted, his form rigid, voice quiet. "I… I think… What Sensei would say?" he whispered. His lips began to tremble, his resolve washing away with the rain. "I ran away from home. I left him, left them… What will he say?"

The words trailed off into a silence Sanji couldn't fill. It left him lost for words and a way to comfort the man he loved and cared for. Slowly, he pulled on his hand, leading the pair up the steps of the house. "Come on. The outcome is not going to change, no matter how much you worry. But I do say it's best to get it over and done with before you start losing sleep over it." He probably had. Worrying and worrying under the mask he had put on because Sanji had blabbed about his own problems without realising Zoro was copying with the loss of his own loved one. Mother? Father? It didn't matter. Zoro had to face them neither less.

The house was bigger up close. There was almost an aura around it. Sanji had to fight the temptation to turn on his heel. Zoro too, as he squeezed the Blonde's hand tighter.

Before they could knock, the door began to open, revealing the face of the man who had escorted Luffy and the others indoors. "Wakai masutā. Karera wa anata o matteimasu," he said.

Zoro nodded, leading Sanji inside the house. It was just as magnificent on the inside as the out, with polished wood flooring running the length of the corridor. Doors led off from either side, spaced between side tables, cabinets and the odd shelf that held trinkets and photographs. Here, in the opening was a lowered level, tiled and lined with shoes of varying size, although all black and all smart.

Zoro took off his own and Sanji followed suit, handing them to the man waiting. He continued in his foreign tongue, speaking too fast for Sanji to pick up on any of the words. He just let himself be awed by the size of the house, and not blush as Zoro squeezed his hand tighter.
The man, Sanji deemed Butler, scowled down his nose, without his master seeing. Sanji saw, and saw the dark glare the Butler gave him before turning on his toe to lead them through the house.

Sanji's shoulders sagged. He didn't want to be embarrassed, but this was the Marimo's home. His family was here. Would they be opposed to this relationship. From the house and the atmosphere, it was clear they were traditionalists…

The Cook didn't have anymore time to think about it, as Zoro followed the man, his grip on Sanji's hand tighter than before. They walked in silence, but every now and then, Zoro would look over his shoulder to see if Sanji was okay. And every time he did, Sanji gave him a supportive smile, still not really knowing what to say. The Butler said nothing either, leading on until he stopped, gesturing to a pair of doors.

Inside, the Cook could hear a voice speaking. Slowly, the Butler slid open one of the doors, bowing to Zoro who simply brushed past him, into the second room. Sanji followed hesitantly. Inside was a large group of people, some Sanji vaguely recognised and others he didn't. They were all facing the front where a casket lay, on which sat a picture of a young pretty girl. She had dark black hair, blue streaks on the left side, that folded into a braid. She was wearing a boastful, yet sweet smile. Her picture and casket was surrounded by flowers and candles.

Oh. Zoro's sister.

They looked nothing alike, except for that smug grin that Zoro pulled when he would pin Sanji under him, or when he'd say something and be right, much to Sanji's chagrin.

Zoro hesitated at the back of the room. He ignored the looks sent his way, eyes only for the casket and the man at the front of the room. He was the closest to the girl, knelt near her feet as a man continued with his speech.
Zoro's father. He was dressed in a formal black Japanese robe, matching his dark hair, combed back neatly. He had his back facing them, so Sanji was unable to see his face. But from his drooping shoulders and bowed head, it was clear he was crying.

Around the room, many others were holding back tears. Sanji saw Luffy holding his hat over his chest, his smile tucked away for his friends sake. Nami was beside him, her face hidden under her hands, her shoulders shaking slightly. Usopp was looking at the ceiling, fighting gravity that threatened to pull the tears from his eyes.

Among the faces, Sanji felt surprised at others. A pink haired boy he had seen in the Canteen at university. A man with a leather biker jacket and unlit cigars stuck between his lips. He looked angry, as if he had been forced to come here. But the corners of his eyes were red, and when his eyes landed on the girls picture, he had to pull them away before he began to well up.

The priest at the front finished speaking. He bowed and moved a side, letting Zoro's father approach. He placed incense sticks before the casket, bowing again, speaking quietly for her ears only. Someone near the front stood from her seat. They gave prayer to the girl, one to the father, and left through a door to the left; one Sanji's hadn't noticed.

One by one, the other guests did the same until everyone had offered a prayer, and left the room.
When it was empty, Zoro stepped forward from the back of the room. He let Sanji's hand slip from his grasp, as if asking him not to come with.

Zoro lit three sticks of incense and placed them in the bowl also, kneeling down formally beside the man that had not moved. For a while he sat there, saying nothing, doing nothing. Neither Sanji, nor Zoro's father did anything either.

Hours seemed to pass. Or minutes.
Sanji wanted to ask about the girl. He wanted to offer words of comfort, but nothing came to mind. Instead, he approached also. He knelt beside Zoro, taking incense, placing them in the bowl beside Zoro's, and offered a small prayer for a girl he never knew.

"Rest in peace. I shall look out for your brother, so you don't have to worry."

"Her name is Kuina. She is my little sister." Zoro's voice was tort. Even without looking, Sanji could tell he was crying. He gave him his hand and squeezed it, like Zoro had done before.

The man beside them flinched when Zoro spoke. His eyes were tight shut under spectacle glasses. He looked older than Sanji imagined. Or was it how weak he look that aged him.
For Zoro, he looked younger. A boy struck with a tragedy he would never overcome. A lost child forever looking for his best friend.

It was too much for the older, standing and following the guests from the room. Sanji saw the butler bow to the master of the house, closing the door after him.

They were alone.

"It's my fault she died," Zoro whispered, ignoring the tide break as tears flooded forth. "If I had just stayed with her, or at least taken her home-"
"Don't say that," Sanji said quickly, unable to hear the heartbreak. Zoro was beating himself up over this. That's what had left him bleeding in the back alley in the first place.
Sanji turned, facing his boyfriend. Someone who, he now realised, he knew less about than he actually thought.

"What could you have-"

Zoro's smile stopped Sanji short. Tears in his eyes, quivering lips and a hatred for himself that could only grow stronger… "She jumped into a fight she couldn't win, and they killed her. If I had been there, I could've saved her. If I had been there, maybe at best, I could've died and Kuina would've lived."
Sanji felt his chest tighten at the fought of the Marimo dead; lying bruised and battered in some back street alley with the young blue-haired girl crying as she lay over his cold body.

"Don't say that," he said, feeling his voice constrict. "What if you had both died?" The cook didn't know for sure, but it was all he could think to say. "And how could you say it was your fault? You said you weren't even there-"
"We met up in the morning. We watched a movie together after my shift at work. She said she could get home by herself. If I had gone with her-"
"Stop it," Sanji said, feeling himself getting angry. "It's done, she's dead and blaming yourself like this will not bring her back."

Sanji knew it was harsh but it seemed Zoro needed a kick back to reality. Zoro could hate him, get angry, fight with him, but at least he would be feeling something different than this hopeless regret.

The trick worked. Slightly.
Zoro's eyes widened in shock, still sore looking from the tears. He looked hurt at Sanji's words, but there was something there also.

The Blonde continued. "If we blamed ourselves for everything there would be no way we could get stronger. We would make ourselves feel weak and in turn become weak. Instead, use this as your strength. Just like you did with your village, with Mihawk." At the man's name, Zoro's eyes burned with hatred for a split second.

"Use Kuina's death as your strength. If you want to give up, remember you're doing this for her. Use her as the reason you get back up, no matter how many times you fall down. She's not here to help others so you do it for her."
Sanji placed one hand over Zoro's heart, his voice becoming soft once more. "The ones you love are here. Kuina is here. When you fight, it will be like she is fighting beside you.

If you weren't strong enough last time, then make sure you are next time."

Sanji didn't want to argue about it. He didn't think Zoro would, but the man needed to think about it before anything else. So Sanji left him there, in front of the casket, so he could think.

On the other side of the door, Sanji felt relief from the pressure that had been building up inside. Tears welled in the corner of his eyes. He rubbed them away before they could track lines down his cheeks-

"Sanji-san?"

The Blonde looked up at his name, and the unusual way he had been addressed. The Butler was stood there, looking a little concerned. "Watashi o yurushite. Luffy-dono informed me that it is you who is looking after Zoro whilst he has been absent from this house. For that, Arigatōgozaimasu."
Sanji didn't know Japanese, but he was sure the man was thanking him.

"Before you join the others, Koshiro-sama has asked to speak with you. If you would, please follow me."
And without even waiting the small butler turned on his toes and quickly began to walk down the corridor. Sanji had no choice but to follow. He had wanted to wait for Zoro, but that didn't seem to be the plan as he was summoned elsewhere.

Deeper and deeper Sanji was led into the house. He wondered just how back it went, before the Butler diverted, leading up a pair of stairs. Each creaked, as if it wasn't used to holding people's weight, but held out nonetheless.

"Here," the Butler said, stopping outside one of many doors. "Koshiro-sama? I have brought Sanji-san as you have asked." The man spoke through the door, waiting for a reply. "Kare o misete."
The butler slid open one of the doors, gesturing for Sanji to enter. Inside was the man with black robes. He was knelt on a cushion of sorts. There were more near him. Sanji followed suit, taking up the nearest one, bowing his head lower than the mans, hoping he wouldn't offend the man for not knowing any Japanese customs.

"My name is Koshiro. I am Zoro's father."

"I guessed," wasn't really a polite answer, so Sanji nodded and remained quiet. Koshiro simply smiled. "I'm sorry for summoning you like this, but I wanted to talk."
Sanji nodded again.

"I know that Zoro is not ready to return home. Forgive me for being so blunt, but please allow my son to continue living with you, until he is ready to return home."

Sanji hadn't been expecting that. Well, he wasn't sure what he had been expecting but it certainly wasn't… "How did you know we were living together? As far as I knew, Zoro didn't contact anyone on his whereabouts except-" Koshiro smiled. "Luffy-kun told me." Of course.
But what else had Luffy said. The boy knew of the pair's relationship but was Zoro's father okay with the blonde turning his previously straight son.
Well, it wasn't that Zoro had told him he was straight. But this traditional house and formal atmosphere told Sanji being different wasn't appreciated, nor tolerated.

"I'm glad Zoro has found someone he can trust," Yoshiro said. "That boy has endured more suffering than most grown men, due to trust and other's selfish choices."
Sanji didn't really know what to say. He felt happy at the thought that Zoro trusted him, but somewhere deep down he felt guilty.
Zoro trusted him wholeheartedly yet Sanji hadn't told him everything. Sanji's phone seemed to grow heavy in his pocket.

"Thank you," he said, wishing he had something more to offer. "But…"

Sanji hesitated, wondering if he was being rude. He was stepping over a line that shouldn't. But maybe, if he didn't, then Zoro would never heal. It wasn't just his sister who he had lost after all.

"But wouldn't it be better if Zoro came home?"
Yoshiro drew back. "Ah. Yes. If you do not wish for him to stay-"
"That's not the case," Sanji interrupted, and regretted. He shouldn't be so damned rude, but he wanted to help. Giving Zoro a place to hide could only do so much.

"If Zoro stays, then isn't he just running away from this. He needs to face them, or things will only continue on like they have, and nothing will change."

Yoshiro looked bewildered, but he didn't look angry. "I see. I never thought of it like that." The man frowned, looking to the carpet as if that would hold the answers. He was thinking, but that still didn't hold Sanji's tongue.
"Umm, is there a reason that you don't want Zoro to come home?"

Yoshiro looked up. He remained confused, as if he didn't understand what Sanji meant.
"Zoro hasn't tried to come home. Or more like, he's not allowed to.." Sanji whispered the last part. He didn't want to accuse this man of barring Zoro from the household, as if he too blamed the Marimo for Kuina's death.

"You think that?" Yoshiro sounded angry.
Sanji couldn't meet the man's eyes. He bowed his head lower, trying to snatch back the words.

"B-but… I thought Zoro blamed me. That's why he didn't return home. I thought that he…" The man stumbled over his words, trying to explain to an outsider that it wasn't the case. They were blaming each other?

"You're wrong," Sanji all but shouted. He was on his feet, looking down at the man. "Zoro blames himself. He thinks that you're ashamed of him and that you blame him for Kuina's death."

Suddenly the door slid open. Both Sanji and Yoshiro turned to see none other than Zoro in the doorway. His eyes were slightly red, and puffy from tears.

Yoshiro stood up also, looking over his son. "Zoro I-"

"Sensei I'm sorry!"

The green-haired man dropped to the ground on his knees, bowing low, pushing his body into the ground in hopes he might melt into the carpet. He tucked his body tighter under himself, cringing away from his father. He hid his head and refused to look up…
Sanji just watched as Yoshiro approached, fresh tears in his eyes.

"Silly Child. This man is right. We cannot keep blaming ourselves, nor each other for what has happened. What's done is done. All we can do now is honour her memory and move on." He bent down, lifting Zoro by his shoulders and hugging him quickly. "Okaerinasai, Shin'ainaru-ko."
Zoro smiled slightly. "Tadaima."

.

Again sorry it's so short. Bare with me people.

Translations

Okaerinasai - "Welcome Home"

Wakai masutā - "Young Master"

Tadaima - "I'm Home"

Kare o misete - "Show him in"

Shin'ainaru-ko - "Dearest Child"

(I threw them back through the translators but what came back wasn't exactly the same, however they roughly follow the same lines.)