A/N: Hello! It's eury again and welcome back to another irregular update of On Strange Places!

this update is brought to you by my intensive neglect to my back logs xD

Special thanks to my sister who beta read and edited this chapter! She wasnt a One Piece fan but I do always ramble on her about op and zorobin lmao

Not too long after Zoro was brought upon the clinic on the day he was lost, there were ladies already waiting outside the clinic. Upon seeing the ladies outside the window, Dr. Trafalgar's assistant looked at the doctor with wary, "Doctor, what should we do about the ladies?"

Law also saw them, too, then turned away his back at the window, "If we stop them, then they'll riot outside the clinic. I don't want any ruckus inside or outside my clinic so—," Dr. Trafalgar sighed in defeat, he can't do anything about it. "—I guess best we can do… is we let them be. They didn't cause any harm to the swordsman. Just let them do what they want." He said as he massaged his temples as his assistant looked at him with concern.

Honestly, the clinic did a great job on taking care of Zoro despite the swordsman being used to Chopper's capabilities on tending him. The town ladies did their part, too. Along with Dr. Trafalgar's decision, they at least insisted four visitors at a time just to see the swordsman.

And boy, the clinic looked like there's a line for a food ration, but no, the waiting line are just the ladies who wanted to look after the lost swordsman. Even though most of the time they were just there to see him. Some even pretended that they're sick just to go to the clinic then giving Zoro food to eat and even some spare clothes to wear.

The news about the lost swordsman spread like wildfire in all parts of the town. Now, some men in Rustbay envied the swordsman's popularity among the ladies. But they can't do anything about it, it's the ladies' will to help the lost swordsman, not theirs.

But to Zoro, this was nothing.

As much as he wanted to thank them for their good deeds, there is one thing Zoro still can't tell to this good people— It is him being a pirate. That's why he decided to keep it a secret. He's good at keeping secrets, after all. Although a part of him was guilty for not telling the truth, he had no choice, he was all alone here. Hell, there's a small chance that his friends—wait, they don't even recognize me— will help him so the best thing he can do is that to think up of a plan in order to find a way out of this island.

"I will make it out of this island for sure." He told himself.

One of the good things that at least keeps Zoro from the ladies is Bepo. Zoro now knew the assistant of Dr. Trafalgar's name— he keeps him company in the past few days.

Then in the third day, Bepo shared something to him.

"It's not that common for people to get lost here, you know," Bepo started in which Zoro just stared at him, not knowing where this conversation is going.

"And I do know that you're clearly not around here."

Zoro tilted his head, "Why do you think so?"

"It's not that common for swordsmen to have three swords on their hips, you know. This was the first time I saw one, or even heard of someone wield three swords around the City of Grand Line!—"

"Wait," Zoro halted Bepo's ramblings, "People around here really refer Grand Line as a city? I'm really confused. You people who keeps on saying that Grand Line is a city? I thought it should have been a sea not a city?" He told him as confusion etched on his face. Even the first day Zoro got here, he can't understand the ladies telling him that Grand Line is not a sea. Now this was his chance to ask Bepo whether it was a city or not.

"Sea? It's always has been a city or a big island, perhaps. I can even show you a map, Zoro. Wait here." Bepo gave him a smile then left him to rummage on his personal belongings in another room to find the map.

"I don't know why you will think Grand Line as a sea." He shook his head, "Are you from a different dimension?" Bepo chuckled.

He then came back to settle beside Zoro then showed him the map.

Zoro looked at the map with thought. It's clearly different from the maps Nami had shown them from their past voyages. Sure, Zoro was a directional idiot, but still he has his mind to remember that this map and Bepo's map is different from he was used to.

"So, where's the Red Line? The East Blue? The West Blue?" He traced the map, looking for the red line that should have been in the middle of the map. Even traces of East Blue, the one where he came from, wasn't there in the map.

But then Bepo looked at him with a confused face, "Huh? What are you talking about, Zoro?" He also tried to find what Zoro is looking for, then shook his head, "You made me look for something that didn't exist, Zoro."

"You sure you're fine?" Bepo asked him with a worried look.

Zoro stayed silent. There's no heading with this conversation if Bepo keep on answering like that. All of the townspeople keep telling him that, for fuck's sake.

Bepo just looked at him, then sighed as he retrieved the map from him, "I don't know about you, but I think you still don't have a clue where you can go." He changed the subject to ease the tension.

Zoro just slowly nodded at him.

"Then why not stay for a little bit in Rustbay? I'm pretty sure you're still looking for the archeologist, right? Besides it's already the third day, I'm sure Law will now allow you to go out." Bepo gave him an earnest smile.

Now that Bepo had mention it, it was the perfect time to roam around the town.

"Sure, I guess?"

Zoro can't wait to meet them again.

Since it was already the third day, as the doctor promised, Zoro was allowed to freely roam around the town after resting at the clinic. That's why as soon as Dr. Trafalgar agreed he can go, he told Zoro he can go wherever he wanted but he can always come back at the clinic if he needed something.

He thanked them and then left the clinic to walk around town.

Zoro had already set in his mind that he wanted to get out here, but how? He still hasn't had a clue on how and why he was here in the first place. His memories were still a bit hazy even though he already rested for almost three days at the clinic.

I need to go back. But where the hell should I start? How can I get out of here if I don't know a thing or two about this place? The only thing I knew was that at first, I'm lost and second, my mind's still a piece of shit for not remembering anything. Maybe asking Robin or the others will help me. But how can I do it if all of them won't trust me, at all? Will they ever trust the lost swordsman from an island who came from who knows where?

One of the ladies mentioned once that this island was two islands away from city of Grand Line. But, City of Grand Line? Even Bepo showed him a map to prove that Grand Line was a city, but that doesn't make sense? Grand Line was a massive ocean not just a city?

He groaned to himself as he put his hands on his pockets, "Shit, I guess I'm stuck here then?"

His feet suddenly moved by themselves and he started walking aimlessly. His mind still thinks of a plan to go out of this island. He looked at the buildings as he walked by. Most residents are putting some kind of lanterns and decorations on the lamp posts and buildings. Zoro remembered when he was still resting at the clinic, one of the ladies mentioned about a festival when she asked him something about it.

"Mr. Swordsman, will you go with me with Floraleigh?" The lady asked him with a smile when he was still in the clinic. Meanwhile, her friend looked at them expectantly behind the door.

"Wow, this lady is sure bold to ask," Zoro thought to himself, then sighed, shaking his head, "I'm sorry I will be leaving in a few days. I'm not here for a vacation." He told her in a polite manner.

The lady's smile faded as soon as she heard his response, then abruptly excused herself as she exited the room. From the way she looked, she was slumped in sadness as she approached her friend.

Poor lady.

As he walked around town, most residents gave him a warm smile as they saw him roaming. He hasn't yet seen some of his friends again, maybe they weren't interested for some stranger like him. "Well, it makes sense, they can't even recognize me," he mumbled to himself. Good thing the ladies aren't following him, if they did, then he won't found himself at the plaza?

"Why am I here?" He muttered to himself. Looking around, the people already saw him after all, they were somehow familiar with the lost swordsman in Rustbay.

He then walked towards the nearby fountain where he was found by the ladies the first day he was here. He stared at it.

His head feels a little bit of light headed, slowly clutching his head, "What the hell?" He thought groggily, still not moving his gaze away at the fountain.

Then, as he blinks his good eye, his vision slowly darkened.

He heard something.

Someone was screaming his name.

He can't fully understand it but all of a sudden.

"Zoro! Grab my hand!" A desperate voice shouted at him.

He can't fully grasp who it was. His voice can't even reach out the stranger.

What's happening?

Shit?

His eyes can't clearly see where he was, even his body felt that he was in an unfamiliar territory.

Suddenly, an extended hand reached for him, then a series of fluttering phantom hands grabbed him next. He felt his torso yanked from a swirling water. Where did it come from? This wasn't here earlier. Where the hell did this come from? The swirling water below him wasn't helping at all as the little hands were still there to pull him up. It is almost like Zoro was being sucked by the water below him.

"Shit! This is making lose my strength!" Zoro heard the voice grunt from Zoro's weight.

All of a sudden, the hands pulled free from his body.

"Zoro!"

That's the last thing he heard from the voice.

Nothing more.

He blinked. His heart was pounding so fast as he looked around him. The people were still busy decorating the town's plaza. But for him it felt like it took him an hour. In reality, it was just a blink of an eye.

Everything's blurry, it felt like he was really there but he's still standing from where he was earlier. Unable to process his words, he thought to himself, is it a memory? Is it real? Is that the reason he was here?

Zoro wasn't still sure of it but that just makes him eager to find out how the hell he got here and that's the first step.

Zoro went back when it's almost night. He might have lost his way around but thanks to the ladies, they told him where the clinic is. He really owes those ladies in Rustbay, honestly.

The doctor looked up from what he was reading as he saw Zoro enter back to the clinic. "Oh, you're back? The ladies left again some food for you," Trafalgar told him, "You already found the archeologist?" He asked him.

Damn, that fountain really distracted me.

"I forgot..." He mumbled, dropping his gaze to the floor.

Law just shook his head as he sighed, "It's already night, swordsman. Tomorrow, Bepo will help you go there."

Bepo looked from the other room as he heard his name, "Roger, doctor!"

Zoro felt relieved that at least he had found people who never hesitates to help him in this island. Maybe he can really stay for a while, just like Bepo told him? He might at least enjoy the festival they've been so eager to celebrate.

Maybe.

That same day, Robin remembered that Nami invited her to eat at Sanji's restaurant in the mid-afternoon. She can't refuse on Nami, after all, she was still preoccupied on some matters such as preparing for Floraleigh festival and of course, the lost swordsman. Three days may have passed but it was still bugging her. The way she felt something when she saw that swordsman. It's like it wasn't the first time she met him.

"This will help me not think about the swordsman, right?" She muttered to herself wanting to clear her thoughts. Sighing, she then braced herself to meet her friends again. She guessed meeting them would put off her mind for the mean time.

Nami was already there with Sanji, and as soon as she saw Robin entering the restaurant, she waved at her friend with glee, "Robin!" Nami grinned at her.

Then, Sanji's face lit up as soon as he heard Robin's name, "Ms. Robin!" he greeted her with a grin. Robin returned the smile from the cook's enthusiastic face as she sat with Nami who was busy drinking her orange juice prepared by Sanji.

Sanji, then, excused himself to entertain and serve the other customers.

"Here you go, ladies. Enjoy!" Sanji gave them a welcoming smile, serving them their food.

"Oh, thank you, Mr. Cook!" the lady smiled at him, then turning at her friend she said, "I can't believe it's almost that month again! They were already putting the flower lanterns around!"

"The month of bloom," one lady swooned, "I can't wait to dance under the flower lanterns with someone! Just imagine that…"

"So true," she sighed dreamily at her friend as Sanji placed the last dish on their table, giving them his signature smile before he left the ladies' table.

Nami scoffed at what she overheard, "Ugh, can't they stop, we all know it's already Floraleigh, duh," she silently rolled her eyes at the ladies.

She turned to Robin again, "So, have you heard about that swordsman? Ladies around here surely loves him. He's now the main attraction of Law's clinic for the past few days." Nami shook her head, then a bright idea came to her mind, grinning, "What if we go ask Law to monetize that swordsman? Damn, imagine the possibilities!" Nami smiled, as Robin just absentmindedly nodded, still distracted by her thoughts.

Then, Nami noticed that she was spacing out, "Robin, you're doing it again."

Robin flinched, "Wha—"

"Robin." Nami frowned at Robin, "Is something wrong?"

Robin just waved her hand dismissively, "Nami, really, I am fine, there's nothing wrong." She gave her a tired smile, but Nami was her friend and she knows something's wrong.

"Robin, look, I know you. That's the face you do when you're deep in thought especially when you spend time on your books," she said, "Look, if there's something wrong, you can tell me. I'm willing to listen." She gave a sympathetic smile as Nami reached for her hand across the table.

Robin slowly shook her head. "I'm really okay, Nami. If something was wrong, I would gladly talk about it. But right now, what stresses me out is…" she considered her words, she doesn't want Nami to worry so she needs to come up with a lie, well not really, the preparation for Floraleigh bothers her.

"Floraleigh stresses me out."

Nami heaved a sigh of relief, "Oh, I thought it's a big one. But really, Robin, I'm willing to help you if ever you have problems. But since it's Floraleigh, I'm also willing to assist you at your shop!"

Robin gave her a thin smile. She didn't want Nami to worry about her especially if the thing that occupies her mind right now is the lost swordsman in Rustbay. Now she was slightly guilty that she never told Nami about what really bothers her.

I should tell her right now—

"I thought the three of us gonna eat?" Sanji asked them as soon as he went back to their table, holding a tray of food on his hands.

Robin let out a relieved sigh, good thing that Sanji came right on time, or else, she might tell Nami without thinking rationally towards her actions. She really needs to clear her head of that swordsman.

It was nice to clear her head. Thanks to Nami and Sanji, they were there to catch up on— even small gossips really eased Robin's mind for the mean time.

When Robin was walking home, she saw the lanterns being hanged at the lamp posts. She can't help but feel excited now that the month of Floraleigh is approaching. It will be a month-long celebration for them to enjoy.

As she walked by the plaza, she smiled when the children stared at the fountain with awe. The fountain was decorated with ornate handmade flower arrangements made by their shop's hard work.

She also stood with the children to admire the fountain as one of her patrons, an old lady named, Marina, approached them with a smile.

"Robin! It was nice to you. Are you on your way home?" The old lady's face lit up as she saw Robin.

Robin just nodded at the old lady, then focused her gaze at the fountain. It captured her sight, not just because of its decorative arrangements, but she felt something unusual in that fountain.

"Strange," she thought to herself.

"I might see the orders the next few days, Robin." She heard the old lady speak but Robin absentmindedly nodded at her. Her eyes remained fixed at the fountain. Robin didn't seem to mind the Marina beside her.

It never tugger her mind from the past several months, but lately, she never felt like this when she passes by the fountain. She remained at thought when she was staring at the fountain, then a hand tapped her shoulder, startling Robin from her thoughts.

"What's wrong, Robin?" Ms. Marina asked her, concern filled her face. "You seemed out of place, dear?" Woe never left the old lady's voice.

Robin shook her head as she feigned a smile, "It's nothing. It's just the flowers appear to fit the fountain, isn't it?" Robin told Marina. This was the second time someone asked that question to Robin and the second time she evaded their question.

"Oh! It sure is. Your shop really outdid yourselves, kudos to all of you." Marina smile at her.

Robin nodded at old lady Marina, "It's all thanks to Erin and the others, they were really doing their best especially for this month." She let out a wearied sigh, standing around the fountain makes her tired.

"Anyways, it's nice catching up with you, Ms. Marina. I'm gonna go head home now. We'll make sure your orders will be ready in a few days." She told her with a faint smile on her face, already turning her back at the old lady.

"Don't tire yourselves, dear." Marina said

"We won't." Robin gave her a reassuring smile before she left her at the fountain.

end notes: welp they havent met yet... anw if you have some comments pls do not hesitate to comment down below!