"And there you have it ladies and gentlemen! Mr Prince and the Demon of team cyan have come out the victors! Please, make all medics come through and all contestants leave the stage."

"Hey Zoro!" Sanji made after the swordsman. Zoro ignored him, continuing down the kitchen, across the stage and into the dim tunnels leading to the weaponry room. "Hey, wait!" Sanji grabbed Zoro's arm.

"You!" Zoro grabbed a fistful of Sanji's shirt and slammed him against the wall. The chef's cigarette toppled to the floor.

"What's your problem? At least let me get my cigarette." Sanji narrowed his eyes.

"I trusted you and look what you did! You left my sword lying around for the fucking enemy to take it!"

"I can't fight with a sword on me!" Sanji yelled. "I left it so I wouldn't damage myself or it! I was being fucking logical here. It's just bad luck someone took it for a while!"

"A sword might just be a piece of metal for you but for me it's something important! Someone important! It can't be replaced or stolen! Ever!" Zoro screamed. His hands trembled, with rage or fear, he didn't know. "It'd be the same as kidnapping a person!"

"Well I'm fucking sorry okay?" Sanji shouted. "I can't fight with swords! Cutting someone with a blade is fucking insanity for me!"

"Then why did you ask for it?"

"Because I needed something to cut myself free! If I stayed like that, I'd be a goner!"

"Why did you ask for it?" Zoro bellowed louder.

"Because, you idiot! Listen! I needed something to cut myself free!"

"Why did you ask me?"

"His knives were poisoned!" Sanji spat, scowling contemptuously.

"So what?" Zoro questioned. The blonde didn't answer and Zoro shook him. "So what? Why? Why would you ask something so important from me to fucking cut noodles? You could've touched those yourself, with your shirt or something!" Sanji refused to make eye contact. "Tell me!"

"Because," Sanji said, "my hands would have been damaged."

"Your fucking hands would have been out for what? A few days? Big fucking deal princess!" Sanji glared at Zoro.

"It's a big deal because my hands are precious to me! They represent everything a chef is! They represent me, my work and my food! You don't understand because you're a reckless musclehead who just brushes off everything!"

"So? Your hands are as important to you as that sword to me! She represents my dream and who I am! My promise!"

"She?" Sanji blinked. Blood drained out of Zoro's face. He released Sanji's collar and took a few steps back.

"Forget I said that." He turned and ran, melting into the darkness.

"Hey! Wait!" Sanji tried to follow the fast disappearing man but soon all that greeted him was the sounds of his own footsteps. "Shit."

Fuck that swordsman and his sense of direction.

"Luffy! Did you see Zoro?" Sanji grasped the rubberman.

"Hi Sanji! Good fight!" Luffy grinned. "Isn't Zoro with you?"

"No, he got lost somewhere."

"Nope, haven't seen him."

"Shit." Sanji turned to continue looking.

"Why are you looking for him?" Luffy called after him.

"Don't worry." Sanji waved. Luffy stuck out his bottom lip as he stared after the retreating blonde, frowning.

Zoro pounded down the footpath, letting his feet lead him. He cursed under his breath. He let someone in. Anyone would think it'd be crazy to refer to swords as 'he' or 'she' and hold them extremely close. They were blades of metal, so technically it was impossible to hear voices. Things were things. Not people. He hasn't been able to ask anyone else about this but he felt it wasn't unusual. He definitely was sane.

Hopefully.

Sanji didn't cast him a judgemental look. It was curious, slightly surprised but the cook has chased after him to find more answers. Was Sanji just as insane as Zoro himself?

"Zoro?"

Such luck. Maybe he should get this over with.

"Hey," he spoke to empty space in front, back to Sanji.

"Geez, you were only gone for like a few minutes but you ended up here?" Sanji whined, stamping his feet. "You could at least get lost logically."

"Shut up," Zoro huffed.

"Hey at least turn to face this way. It's rude you know."

"Don't lecture me, stupid prince." The swordsman rolled his eyes and turned lazily, crossing his arms.

"Shut up and listen." Sanji patted his pockets, picking out a fresh cigarette and lighting it. He sucked in, holding it before exhaling. He paused. Zoro resisted the urge to knock it out of his hands. Hurry it up already! "I heard her."

Zoro blinked.

What.

"What?"

"Is your head full of kelp? I heard her."

"Her?" Sanji snorted.

"Her. The sword. I thought it was crazy for hearing a voice inside my head but you hear her too right?" Zoro remained silent for a while.

"When?"

"Pretty soon after I held the sword."

"What did she say?"

"She said hello and asked me how I got the sword in my hands. She wondered about what you did." Sanji shrugged. "Gave me a few tips on how to use a sword. She was cheerful."

"Really?"

"But she only stayed for a short while. I don't know where she disappeared." Zoro grunted. "So, you haven't told me anything about this mysterious woman."

"I never thought she'd stay after all this time." Zoro sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Let me in on your dirty secrets," Sanji grinned, waggling his eyebrow.

"It's not as interesting as you'd think." Zoro glared at the blonde.

"Alright. I'm serious now." Sanji maintained a neutral expression.

"She was a childhood friend."

"Was?"

"You think of the rest." Zoro deadpanned, waiting for Sanji.

"Oh." The chef furrowed his eyebrows slightly. He exhaled, lifted the cigarette from his lips and tipped off some ash. He placed it back in his mouth, turning to admire the night sky.

He didn't say a word.

Zoro had been expecting the ordinary. The sudden realisation and the gushing. The gushing of apologies and offerings of condolences. Words that were lost as soon as they were spoken. Empty, meaningless babble. He's seen it happen to others and desperatelywished it would never happen to himself. Sanji's reaction had been the same as Luffy's. Silent but understanding. They were offering comfort with their own presence, reminding him that they were still there. Alive. Safe. The tense coil in Zoro's gut started to unwind. The stiff shoulders began to slump and resume their normal position.

"I get it." He heard a mutter. "I get the feeling when someone important… gets hurt. It sucks. But people have told me that there are others that fill the hole inside." Sanji snorted. "I'm sprouting love crap but it's true." Zoro grunted. "You know what's even better? When you feel the delicate touch of lady's pampered hand…" Zoro stuck his fingers in his ears.

"I'll see you later," he said, turning back and showing off his obvious fuck-you-I'm-not-listening-to-your-crap pose.

"Don't block your fucking ears!"

"Really Luffy, is that what you meant by 'I think they'll get along well?'" Ace shook his head as he drove the van.

"Yeah!" Luffy enthused. Ace spared Luffy a sceptical glance before snapping his eyes back to the road.

"Are you sure they won't kill each other?"

"They won't."

"Because I heard one of the chicks who works at the fighting ring complain about two guys arguing." Luffy laughed.

"They do that all the time!"

"She was thought they were going to kill each other."

"They won't. They might get close though!" Ace frowned.

"Why do you sound so happy about that?"

"Because!" The rubberman grinned. "Zoro has a rival."

"Don't you guys fight?"

"I prefer to play. Fighting is fun but… watching their fights are fun!" Ace kept silent. He didn't really know what Luffy intended. What was best was just to trust his brother's instincts. And well... if Luffy was wrong, he would just have to step in and clean up his brother's mess.

Like usual.