A/N: it's been a while since ive updated, im sorry for that.

anw without further ado, hope you like this update!

The parade has successfully ended that late-afternoon which marks the start of the Floraleigh festival. Later on, Robin and Chopper made their way to meet Sanji in Baratie's. But as soon as they meet Sanji, Robin eventually told him that she needed to get something first from her shop. Good thing Sanji was obedient enough when it comes to Robin, he headed back inside Baratie's. Now, both Robin and Chopper were heading in the flower shop.

"Robin, what did you forget?" Chopper asked, walking hand in hand with Robin through the streets.

She gave him a shrug, "I honestly felt that I forgot something when Sanji showed up, then now I forgot what it is." She chuckled then, "Maybe I'll remember when we go back to my shop."

Chopper just nodded at her, accepting her reply.

As they head back to the flower shop, Robin halted at her tracks. From the distance, she instantly recognized someone she didn't expect to see was there— The lost swordsman? She was astounded seeing him there, seated on the bench not too far away from her shop. She also took notice that the swordsman was hugging the swords on his chest. She thought that he might be dozing off.

"How did he end up here?" Not moving away her eyes at him, she gazed with a confused look, stilled from where she stood. Meanwhile, Chopper tugged Robin's hands, examining her face, wondering why did they stop instead of going inside the flower shop. Then, the kid followed her gaze, seeing the swordsman on the bench.

"Mr. Swordsman?" Chopper marveled as the swordsman stirred from his nap from the mere calling out of him.

When the man's eyes opened, he was quickly taken aback upon what is in front of him. He can't believe it was them. Earlier, he was looking for the both of them, jumping from boats to boats following that ero-cook from who knows where. But now, Robin and Chopper stood in front of him. Too many questions ran from his mind— Part of him wanted to ask if both of them were okay after the Sabaody incident. Were they fine these days? How were they holding up after being separated with us? Are they both okay? Then he remembered what happened when he was at the market and the parade, some of his friends didn't recognize him. The best he can do is to put his questions aside before asking such trivial things that might confuse Robin and Chopper. He was still in an unfamiliar territory— he wouldn't want to risk losing their trust before asking for help. He was still a stranger to both of them, after all.

"Where am I?" He spoke the first thing that came from his mind.

"You're in the plaza, Mr. Swordsman," Robin answered him, "but may I ask… why are you sleeping here instead of the clinic?" It was Robin's turn to question him. She knew that the swordsman was supposed to stay at the clinic and not loiter around town. Meanwhile, Chopper moved behind her back to hide his body though the kid failed upon doing so.

"Wait, I'm in the plaza?" Zoro thought. He looked around to check if she was telling the truth. Well, she was. The fountain was even there as well as the lanterns from yesterday. The very same shops and people he saw yesterday was here as he moved his eyes to scan the surroundings, "So, I'm here once again, huh?" He slapped his forehead. He thought that this place was just another part of the town and not where he was supposed to go. He remained silent on his seat, still not removing his swords against his chest.

As for Robin, she never left her gaze at the swordsman. She was still curious on how did he end up here, not just beside her shop but also in Rustbay. She even wanted to question him but still remained quiet as well, waiting for the both of them who will speak first.

Chopper looked at them both back and forth, confusion was written on his face. He didn't know why Robin was talking to this swordsman. It was like there is something going on but he can't explain what it was. Curious, a tiny hoof suddenly tugged Robin's skirt from Chopper who was still 'hiding' beside Robin.

"What is it Chopper?" She crouched to listen to his question.

"Do you know the swordsman, Robin?" Chopper whispered as he took a quick glance at the swordsman, then back to Robin.

Robin wasn't sure what to tell on the kid, honestly. Does she know him? Maybe? Maybe not? It was still quite confusing for her. Even if she explained it to Chopper, he might have a hard time understanding what she meant. She too didn't know what she can tell about this swordsman so she just told him something that Chopper would like to hear.

"Let us say that I may not know this swordsman, but judging from his mysterious looks—" She stole a glance at the swordsman then to Chopper, "—I think he's a cool guy." She whispered, giving him a smile. She might be jumping to conclusions but Chopper would be reassured if she said it despite knowing to herself that it was only a hunch.

Chopper's eyes sparkled upon hearing what she said.

"Yeah, he really looks so cool, Robin!" Chopper cheerily blurted out but eventually covered his mouth, not wanting the swordsman to hear him. Robin just chuckled at Chopper, patting his soft head as the swordsman smiled as well.

"I heard you, kid." The swordsman smirked, making Chopper flinched then quickly hugging Robin's legs.

"I think the lost swordsman is a good man." She said as she caressed his soft fur, reassuring him.

"He is?" The little reindeer's eyes beamed upon hearing what Robin just told him.

"Well, he might be." She shrugged as Chopper fixed his eyes at the swordsman.

"How can you be so sure, Robin?" He whispered, still not removing his eyes to the swordsman who was also looking at him with steel eyes which made Chopper hug Robin tightly, almost quivering in fear just by staring at his eyes.

"He kinda resembled that swordsman from the urban legends I have told you. You remember that?" Chopper slowly nodded, slightly relieved, accepting Robin's point but remained cling to Robin's legs. He then formed incoherent words on his breath, probably directing it to the swordsman, in which it is too inaudible for the swordsman to hear.

The swordsman looked at him with perturbed face, but then the kid breathed a sigh, briefly composing himself and uttered: "Y-your swords look so cool, too…" The kid faltered on his words as he averted his gaze and fidgeted his tiny hooves behind his back.

"You think?" The swordsman smirked as Chopper gave him a slow nod and gave him a sheepish smile

"Guess Chopper hasn't changed after all," the swordsman told himself, gazing at Chopper with a bolstered feeling inside his chest but then Robin cleared her throat, startling from his thoughts and prompting him to look up at her.

"Before we forget everything else, aside from your swords Mr. Swordsman, you haven't actually answered my question earlier." She folded her arms to her chest.

"Oh, shit. She's right. I haven't told anything. Damn Chopper distracted me." He thought to himself, diverting his gaze at the archeologist, no, she was a florist, he should already tell her that he needed her help because he's here to ask for help. Good thing, him being lost, had coincidentally brought him here in front of her. Now he was here, she was the only person that is one of his safe bets to help him figure out how to get back from where he came from.

Here's to taking that risk.

His gaze softened as he stared at her azure eyes— Wait, when's the time it felt at ease looking at her eyes? He perished the thought and firmly said, "I was looking for you, Robin."

"What?" She's astounded and confused— she can't believe that he was actually looking for her. She shrugged off the part where he mentioned her name, she didn't even need to question that, the doctor might have told the swordsman her name but what made Robin taken aback was that: Of all people, he was looking for her, but why would he need her help? She didn't do anything related for swordsmen for all of her life.

"I need your help—"

"No, no, I heard it loud and clear, Mr. Swordsman," she stared at him, "Why would you look for me? Why would a swordsman need a help from a florist like me? There's more useful people who can help you, you know." She asked him, briefly analyzing his face, waiting for his answer.

The swordsman remained silent for a while.

Now that Robin was here, he guessed this was the right time to tell her that doesn't know where he can stay and the doctor pointed out that she might have one, "For fucks sake, what is it that I'm going to tell her?"

He avoided Robin and Chopper's waiting gaze, "Honestly, earlier I was about to say I needed your help because…" He hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "I don't know where to stay." He told her, but leaving the details on his main reason: going back from Kuragaina. He might tell Robin later… if he got slightly acquainted with her and fully trusted him— that would actually take a long shot, he thought.

She looked at him for a moment, then, "Oh, yeah, you might die if you haven't found a place to stay," she told him, unabashed.

"Robin!"

"I know, I know!" She chuckled. She didn't want to worry Chopper but she was not oblivious on what the swordsman was implying. "Sure, you can stay in one of the rooms at my home." She smiled at him in which Chopper and the swordsman looked surprised.

"That fast?" Chopper gazed up at Robin.

Meanwhile, the swordsman can't believe she just agreed on what she just said even if they just met.

(Well to Zoro, he formed an assumption that Robin and Chopper wouldn't recognize him just like his other friends. It still remains a mystery to him on how does it happened aside from him being here in the island.)

"Since you've been on the doctor's clinic, I knew Law was the one who mentioned you that I have a spare room, yes?"

He slowly nodded, "You're so quick to trust. Are you sure that I won't kill you in your sleep?" He deadpanned, in which Robin just chuckled at him.

Then Robin just shrugged, "I really don't trust you… yet. I heard from the ladies that they were still wary of you, so I might as well. I should be wary just like them. I don't want to be dead by the hands of a lost swordsman, you know." She calmly told him, "Besides, if you happen to kill me, I will be the first one to slowly dismember your limbs and properly hand it to the doctor so that he will take care of your dead body." She gave him a warm smile despite her morbid words.

"Robin!" Chopper was horrified once again while the swordsman only scoffed at her remark. Guess Robin didn't change just like his friends here, he thought, to which at least there's something to remember that at least he wasn't alone here.

A brief moment of silence embraced them but then, Chopper's tummy rumbled all of a sudden. Chopper was embarrassed and looked away at both adults which made Robin giggled and the swordsman smiled, surprisingly. She almost forgot that they were supposed to go to Baratie's.

"I almost forgot. We need to go back to Baratie's." Robin said, patting Chopper's head.

"But I thought we're gonna go get something from your shop? I thought you'll remember it when we got here?" Chopper pouted at her, but his tummy rumbled again.

She ruffled his head, "I think I'll go do something about it later, your tummy rumbled Chopper. We don't want you skipping meals."

Chopper gave her a nod, "Then if we don't need anything, can the swordsman join us?" He lowered his voice, not wanting the swordsman hear what he just said, but the swordsman still heard him.

"It's only if it's okay with you, Robin…"

"Sure." With her mere approval, Chopper lifted his head as his face beamed, grateful on Robin's decision. He quickly hugged her legs. Chopper then quickly sat beside the swordsman on the bench and extended his hand.

"I'm Chopper, Mr. Swordsman!" he said cheerily as the swordsman just blinked at him. "I apologize for that earlier, Mr. Swordsman. Robin is sometimes like that." He timidly smiled.

The swordsman nodded— he knew that Robin was like that, the way she always adored dark humor, he was no stranger to her, but perhaps in this place, he was.

"Anyways, what's your name?" Chopper spoke, snapping from his thoughts, as his smile never left his face, waiting expectantly to hear his name.

The swordsman blinked at him, then slowly shook his small hoof, "Zoro."

Robin stepped closer and held out her hand to him, "I also didn't formally introduce myself, I'm Nico Robin, Mr. Swordsman."

Zoro looked at her extended hand, then looking up to gaze at her face, examining her features up close. She was still the same as ever— Wait what am I thinking? He perished the thought from the back of his mind, and eventually introduced himself.

"Roronoa Zoro, just call me Zoro." He said, shaking her hand, gently feeling her hands in his, but Robin quickly pulled back her hand when she heard his name.

"Oh! Roronoa? Just like the swordsman from the book!" She looked awestruck.

"Who?" Zoro looked at her with a quizzical face.

"Ah, I guess in case you haven't yet known, Roronoa was also a famous swordsman from urban legends!" Chopper gleefully told him.

"Does he also wield three swords?" He raised a brow at them, crossing his arms to his chest. Honestly, this was the first time he heard of this urban legend or whatever it is. Robin didn't mention anything of a swordsman of sorts back in Sunny. The only one he knew about was the warlord and the proclaimed greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. If there would be someone like Mihawk or looked like Mihawk, would they be up for a duel in swordsmanship? Well, Zoro may never know, unless he would meet that 'famous swordsman' in person.

Both Robin and Chopper shook their heads, unable to know what's he onto, "What for?" Robin asked him with a perturbed face.

"Then he's not worth my time." He deadpanned as Robin looked amused on his reaction while Chopper just chuckled at what he said.

"You're funny, Mr. Swordsman— I mean Zoro!"

Zoro just shrugged, "I guess," he said, not wanting to argue with the Chopper.

"By the way, Robin and I were about to go at Baratie's. Will you join us? We will have plenty of food to eat there!" Chopper jumped giddily on his seat, and already telling his favorite cotton candy that was reserved and made special just for him.

Zoro searched for Robin's expression for a sign of disapproval on her face but, he failed. He guessed that he should accept their invite. As much as he didn't want to admit, he was already starving. He just realized he haven't yet eaten anything since he and Bepo spent their time gawking at the parade, and afterwards, Zoro even followed that damn cook since he was going to Robin. He really didn't anticipate that this day would be like this. What would go wrong if he accepted his invitation? It wasn't like it will turn out a disaster if he will just barge in. Well, not really— if he came in there with Robin and Chopper, they'll know that he's not trespassing their dinner. He guessed that wouldn't look awkward for him just marching in the restaurant without Robin and Chopper.

"Are you sure there would be sake?" If there wouldn't be sake, he wouldn't be interested.

"Yes, I think Sanji would get sake for you." Robin said.

"Then, sure. I will go." He grinned as he saw Robin curled up a mellow smile hearing his response to Chopper.

"Let's go!" Chopper raised his arms with exuberance, hopping off the bench.

Even though Robin might have forgotten what she was supposed to get at her home, Chopper at least made a new friend. From the looks of the little reindeer, he was thrilled to see him, despite at first seeing him up close made him frightened. But eventually, he made the swordsman his acquaintance. Robin then stole a glance at the swordsman as she silently beamed at the thought that it might be the swordsman that she was supposed to get and nothing else.

"Probably."

And so, the three of them depart from the flower shop as they made their way to Baratie's.

While walking through the streets, as always, Chopper was holding Robin's hand. Then, he thought of something… It's not a silly thing to ask for the swordsman's hand, right? He gazed up at the swordsman who had pocketed his hands as he walked with them.

"Zoro… can I hold your hand, too?" He mumbled, ready to face his rejection but Zoro just hummed and held his tiny hoof as they walked. The little reindeer felt delighted holding his hand.

It was a silent walk through the streets of central part of the town. As they walk, some of the Robin's flower shop patrons waved at Robin and Chopper. The other townspeople might have shrugged off the swordsman's presence there, but two ladies took notice of the swordsman—

The lady said, "That's the swordsman who was in Dr. Trafalgar's clinic, right?"

The other bobbed her head, "Who would have thought? Ms. Nico knew him all along?" Still, not removing her intent gaze at the three.

(The same ladies were also the ones who found the swordsman lying at the fountain. They were faster than lightning when it comes to their great sense of gossip. It also wouldn't be shocking that there would be another buzzing news for the ladies around Rustbay— the gossip spreads around so fast even for normal folks who weren't used to gossiping, would know about that.)

"Where did you come from Mr. Swordsman?" Chopper asked. He knew they were almost near Baratie's, that's why he thought of asking Zoro. He might not have the opportunity to ask him later in the dinner.

"Uhh..." He considered his words for a moment. He didn't actually want to lie to Chopper but then since he might at least tell something that wasn't a lie.

"I wasn't exactly not born there, but, I'm from Kuraigana." He told the truth. Well, half of it. He wasn't really from Kuraigana, he just happened to be there because Bartholemew Kuma transported him there with his Devil Fruit powers. Then after almost a year, while he was out with Perona and the humandrills, he got here in Rustbay all of a sudden, not knowing how the hell he got here. Shit's still bothering him on why is he here in the first place.

Chopper examined his face innocently, considering his words, "Ooh, never heard of that island. Did you Robin?"

She slowly shook her head, but still in thought. Considering that she may not know where did he came from, part of her remembers him but from where? She wanted to ask more of that about the swordsman to clarify her uncertainties. But maybe not today. She put a mental note in the back of her mind that she will definitely ask him if she wanted to know who he was as well as why does she remembers him despite meeting him for the first time in her life.

Now they were in front of Baratie's, Robin looked at Zoro, "I think my friends will be delighted if you happen to meet them." She smiled at him to which for Zoro, he can't resist but curled up a small smile and simply nodded.

"Yeah, I think so, too…" He told her. He thought it would be coincidental but he had a hunch that probably Luffy and his friends would be there. He will find out later.

Robin opened the door, looking back at him, "Let's go?"

Chopper was already nowhere to be seen as he was the first one who entered the restaurant— he was already excited for the cotton candy he was about to get.

Zoro just nodded. He prepared himself for anything, Kuma's trial back in Thriller Bark as well as the separation of his friends in Sabaody. What could go wrong with dinner?

end notes: see you next update!