A/N: hello again! i guess this will be the last regular update since college was about to start in a few weeks but i hope you still stick around with this fic despite slow updates ; - ; anw without further ado, i hope you all like this chap!

A few hours have passed after Robin left, Zoro just woke up from his sleep after the drink fest last night. He slowly blinked his eyes but he clutched his head. He couldn't yet sit up straight but from where he was sleeping, it's only him and Usopp, who was really enjoying his sleep while he snores— he didn't notice Sanji and Nami were missing.

But as much as Zoro didn't want to wake up, and enjoy the floor, he moved his body all the way to the kitchen to fetch himself a drinking water. Still groggy, he looked for a mug from the cupboard but then something behind him was making a noise. He thought it was a rat so he turned his back to shoo it away. Wait no, it's not just any ordinary rat. His eyes couldn't believe what he just witnessed: Sanji and Nami were making out on Robin's dining table. Zoro stilled for a moment, processing what was happening in front of him. He didn't even realize that he dropped the mug on the floor, making Sanji and Nami flinch at the noise Zoro made.

"Shit." Nami quickly pushed Sanji away from her, dropping Sanji on the floor, as she fixed herself from its disheveled state, and combed her hair to its rightful place.

"Uh… Sanji just removed the stain from my face." Nami huffed as she was still prepping her hair while Sanji just sheepishly grinned and nodded, pretending that nothing had happened between him and Nami.

Zoro raised a brow, as if he would believe that shitty excuse.

"Yeah, sure. Tell that to the mug on the floor. " He pointed out the shattered mug that was dropped. Sanji immediately cleaned it up and threw it into the garbage can, then a forced smile curled up from the cook after he finished.

Nami pleaded, "Zoro—"

"I didn't know there's something happening between you two but don't worry I won't tell Robin."

Nami and Sanji sighed in relief, but Nami began continued on, "It was a spur of the moment, I—"

"Like I said, I'm not telling Robin until the both of you two should explain what happened to that mug."

After that, there's a silent agreement between them that they don't talk about what happened between Sanji and Nami. With that, Sanji began cooking breakfast, and Nami and Zoro were seated as if nothing had happened on the dining table— Zoro even got a new mug. After Usopp emerged from the kitchen while rubbing his eyes— probably he just woke up, "I heard something crash in the kitchen. What happened?"

"Yeah, what happened?" Luffy said.

Zoro looked confused when Luffy showed up behind Usopp. Luffy wasn't in the drink fest, right?

"By the way, I just let Luffy inside, if you don't mind. So, what happened?" Usopp said.

Oh, that's why, Zoro thought after Usopp had explained, then, "It was just a rat. Stupid cook was even afraid of it." Sanji quickly turned his head, and glared at Zoro but the swordsman just raised a brow, reminding him that he can still tell what actually happened to Usopp. Sanji scoffed, then went back on cooking their breakfast.

Usopp nodded, and seated at the empty seat beside Zoro, then Luffy spoke, "Oooh! Sanji, what are you cooking? Looks tasty! I'm starving!"

"Sit your ass there and I'm gonna cook for all of you." Sanji grumbled.

Luffy shrugged it off and eventually sat with his friends.

Zoro couldn't help but reminisce his days with nakama— seeing Luffy waiting expectantly for the stupid cook to finish his cooking, Usopp telling stories to Nami as she was busy counting her money— oh, wait… before he forgot, Nami still owes him his prize money from yesterday.

"You still owe me my prize money, Nami." Zoro smirked, nudging her sides.

Nami rolled her eyes, then sighed, stopping on counting her money, "I will give it to you but promise me you won't tell, Robin, understand?"

"Yeah, yeah." That was the first time he had just intimidated Nami when it came to money— This town does really change people.

After Sanji had cooked breakfast, Luffy began digging in even before Sanji had served the others food. But really, where the hell was Luffy yesterday? Wasn't he fond of parties? Meanwhile, Nami hadn't yet asked about Zoro's life around here. So, she had to think of a plan to backfire Zoro's blackmail on her whether it was happening to her and the cook so to rebut. Somehow, Robin was okay with him living with him, thinking about it, she asked him something that he would definitely be embarrassed about.

"We haven't asked you about this Zoro, so how's living here in Rustbay?" Nami asked.

"It's fine, I thank Robin for that."

Nami smirked, then Usopp gave her a knowing look, and hid his laugh— he already understood what Nami was onto, but then Zoro never got their knowing looks meant, ignoring them, he continued eating his breakfast.

"So, what do you think of Robin?" Nami put a hand under her chin.

Zoro almost choked on his food, then Usopp patted his back and handed him a glass of water, "Yeah, Zoro, what do you think of Robin?" Usopp added.

"Enough with the school girl antics…" he averted his gaze, while drinking his water. He felt his heart beat had skipped a beat— what even is happening to him? They just asked him about Robin, nothing else.

"Zoro didn't answer the question but he was blushing." Sanji joined in teasing the swordsman while Usopp and Nami hid their laughs.

"Wha— I'm not! Shut up you stupid cook!" Zoro seemed couldn't retort on that, but really, even a little kid would notice that he was flustered.

"Yeah, Zoro, I wanted to know as well!" Luffy joined in as well despite his mouth full.

Zoro exhaled a sigh. Why was he stuck with these idiots first thing in the morning? He should remain silent at this time, but his lips seemed to act on its own— "She's great… She was very understanding of my situation. I like her for that, happy?" Zoro replied, he shouldn't be embarrassed at all, yet he couldn't understand why he would be flustered all of a sudden when Robin's name was mentioned. Stupid Zoro…

Nami might not be satisfied with his answer, but what does she know? Maybe Zoro was hiding something or probably he was just an idiot.

"That's all?" Luffy asked the question Nami should have asked.

Laughs erupted among her friends, and Zoro just averted his gaze, and continued eating in silence, not wanting to answer that question anymore— if he did, then probably he would regret what he was about to say.

Later that day, Robin came back and to her surprise, her friends weren't there anymore. Maybe they already left? Then, she heard voices coming from her dining room, she followed it and there her friends, along with Zoro were playing a game— even Luffy was there despite not being present at the drinkfest last night.

"Oh, you guys, I thought you already left?" Robin asked them, making her friends turn their heads as they heard Robin's voice. Happy faces greeted her and seeing Zoro bond with them put a smile on her face.

"So, have you already done what you had to do, Robin?" Nami looked up, stopping the game between their friends— they were unaware that Robin had gone out, only Nami knew about what she had done that morning.

"Yes," Robin smiled at Nami, then turned her gaze at Zoro, "Zoro, you're coming with me."

"Huh? Where are we going?" The others remained silent for a while, but the others observed the two and gave Zoro a smirking look— he just remembered what they just said earlier about Robin and no, Robin was just a friend . Geez, these people.

"We're going to the cliffs." Robin continued on.

Zoro just stared at her, confused on why they would be going to the cliffs.

"Come on." Robin was about to leave the room, but Nami called her out and said, "You should eat first, Robin."

Robin just exhaled a sigh, then took a seat beside Sanji.

They just sat there and talked as they waited for Robin to finish eating. Robin remained silent and never told yet what she had done— her friends respected that. But Zoro was still intrigued why bin would ask him to go with her to the cliffs. Then after Robin had finished, she left her friends in her home again and she and Zoro headed to the cliffs. Zoro didn't ask or talk during the ride, they just sat there in silence while listening to the laps of the waves. Being in the car once again, that time in the car with Ben was really awful, he never wanted to be stuck with him again. But this time with Robin, no wonder this silence makes him feel at ease.

Gazing at the window, he saw the seaside from the road— still blue like he always remembers, he almost felt the seas as if it was calling him. He truly misses the seas…The adventure, the freedom, the booze, his nakama… if only he can come back once again…

"You like the sea?" Robin began to speak, her eyes focused on the road.

Zoro nodded and smiled to himself, never removing his gaze at the sea by the window— Zoro didn't even realize that he was slowly opening up to Robin — "Well, perhaps, I was used to it. At First, I was just a lone wolf, some would say, then I found this guy one time he said, 'Join my crew,' so I did, then as time had gone by, we were something of a rowdy group— a glutton, a thief, a stupid cook, a liar, a reindeer, a gloomy woman, a robot and a skeleton— We may have different dreams, but one thing we wanted to see was that, my friend, to achieve his dream."

"Oh… You believe in your friend, then?"

Zoro nodded his head, "Yeah, definitely. I have strong faith in him…" He almost wanted to say that it was Luffy, but he knew Robin would be shocked. And yet, part of him wanted to tell that he was a pirate— no, now's not the time— time will tell when he can say to Robin that he was a pirate.

"Here we are…" Robin announced.

Zoro just noticed that they just arrived at the cliffs when the car had stopped— maybe his opening up had been too long, but oh well — They left the car on the far side, and headed out to the stairs leading all the way up to the cliffs. But really, why would Robin even make him go all the way there if she would just tell something important? She can just tell it to him back in her home, right?

"Honestly, if this was something you had in your mind, why didn't you just tell me upfront at your home? Did you just ask me out?" Zoro scoffed— he didn't realize what his words meant, not until he heard Robin's words.

"Then if you think that this was a date, why did you agree to go out with me?" Robin said, without looking back, as she continued her walk.

Zoro gaped at her and stopped on his steps— pretending he didn't get flustered on that, his heart seemed to betray him as it started pounding rapidly. Good thing Robin wasn't facing him, he sure still felt his cheeks heat from what she just said. Idiot, she was only teasing me! That's what she is, why am I even acting like this? He shook his head and continued on walking.

"Well, as if I have a choice…" He muttered eventually, making the woman chuckle.

She turned her head to give him a smile, "Then come on now, the cliffs were up ahead."

Zoro ignored her sweet smile and averted her gaze.

"This woman…"

The cliff was good enough for someone to view the seas, Zoro presumed. It compelled Zoro to take a seat and relax and enjoy the sea breeze tingling his skin. Then, not too far away from them, he noticed that there was a bench near the edge of the cliffs. Beside those benches, there were two tall trees settled on each side. He walked towards it, and traced its bark, and Robin began to speak behind him.

"Those trees were planted by an old lady, Marina. One of our patrons in the shop, you already met her. She told me that she and her late husband planted those to remember their memories here on this island."

"Including this bench?" Zoro asked.

"Yeah, her late husband had built that because this was their favorite spot." She nodded, encouraging him to take a seat, which he followed.

"That lady told you about this place, then?"

"Yes, in one of her stories about her life and her husband, Manuel." She felt sadness for a while which led them to bask in the silence between them. Only the wind was gentle that day, the sea as well, the waves lashing below the cliffside had been the tune to their ears.

Robin heaved a sigh— she guessed this was the best time to tell him about what she had gathered earlier— "I already got the information which can connect to our— I mean to your situation," Robin started.

"That's why you left this morning?"

Robin nudged her head, and continued, "The ladies even said that you are sent from heaven because no one really saw you here before in Rustbay. But there's this one old man who said you're not from here… as in literally— Not from this world, Zoro. " Her words seemed serious but Zoro was spacing out, staring at the horizon, but when he realized her words, eventually, it dawned on him.

"What? You're not kidding, right?" He turned his head to look at her, he even almost wanted to laugh it off. But, really? All this time he wasn't from this world? Honestly, Zoro didn't even think of that. Well, if that's the case, then somehow that makes sense— Maybe that's why the last thing he remembered was that he was still in Kuraigana when that runt, Perona and the humandrills were trailing behind him… Wait, so that means his dream from a few days ago was real all along?

"So… I'm not from here, then?" He muttered slowly— it felt like this was the first time he got lost in another world— oh wow, did he just admit that he had a lost sense of direction? As if, he was still not stubborn enough to tell that he was a directional idiot.

"You believe that old man?" Robin asked him.

Zoro shrugged, "Well, what's the weird thing that had happened here aside from a cute talking reindeer and a polar bear working as a nurse at Trafalgar's? Apparently, they looked normalized here so… why would I even be surprised? I think what the old man had told you would make sense."

She agreed to the swordsman… but what about his memories?

"How about your memories? Did you have anything that you remembered before you got here? The ladies told me that a swordsman like you never entered the docks." Robin asked.

"Oh. That.. . I don't know but I did remember a thing or two… a few days ago I stood in front of the fountain and something weird happened— it was the day before I met you." He said.

The fountain… Right, she also had sensed something eerie coming from the fountain. Maybe it has something to do with their memories all along. "Wait, I think it's the fountain, Zoro. Did you actually feel it?" She turned to look at him.

"The what?"

"The hazy memories when you're standing in front of the fountain? I felt something when I stood there, yet nothing happened aside from remembering you. It's just… I don't know, it seemed like the fountain could do something when you were standing there. But for me, that was the first time it happened. I always pass by that fountain, and normally I wouldn't get anything strange, not until the day you came here."

For Robin, when she stood in front of the fountain, nothing seemed to appear in her vision except on the part where she just recognizes Zoro, nothing else.

"Did that happen to you as well?" Robin asked him.

Zoro slowly nodded his head. It was days ago when Zoro stood in front of the fountain as well as Robin. While Zoro had memories flooding in about him falling into a whirlpool. He even had heard a woman's voice— it was probably Perona who was screaming his name that time. Phantom hands even appeared pulling him out of the water below him, then all of a sudden, his vision had turned black that time.

"That's why I've decided to bring you with me to Ohara." She said, making Zoro tilted his head, curious on why she would ask him of that— "The old man said that the ruins would hold the answer to our questions, he said that he will give his logs to us, but then the map to ruins…"

"Was in Ohara?" He finished her sentence. Where did he hear of Ohara? Ohara was strangely familiar to him— he was sure that he already had heard of it but he had already forgotten where.

Robin just nodded at him, then her gaze focused at the horizon, watching the sun almost setting.

Zoro looked at her with interest, "I just don't understand it, Robin. Why are you willing to take a risk? You barely even know me?" He wanted to know. If the old man was right, then right now, the woman in front of him wasn't the Robin he knew. But, gazing at her, she does resemble the Robin he knew— her selfless acts, her willingness to help those in need, that's the Robin he knew. She was fairly kind to him, even if Zoro thought that he didn't deserve her kindness. So, why? Why would she even help him?

Silence embraced the two of them as Zoro's question lingered— only the laps of the ocean waves below the cliffside were the only thing resonating them, as well as the squawking of the seagulls above the skies— And yet, their silence had never erased comfort between them as if it only encouraged them to feel closer.

They never left their seats for a while as they sat together watching the sun set.

Nevertheless, Robin never spoke as well, for now, which got her thinking— Why would she do all of this? Was it for her own satisfaction? Her willingness to help someone in need? She couldn't quite explain it even to herself— even from the start, she never knew Zoro in the first place, but when he arrived here in Rustbay it felt like she knew him for years— heck, she even thought that somehow, he was a friend. Was that strange? Someone who had just arrived a few days ago was now your friend? There's even this weird feeling she feels when she was with Zoro which she couldn't explain what it was…

Well, those thoughts aside, she sighed, and looked at him, "I wanted to know as well, Zoro, and that's why, it's better to take a risk than regret all the things that you've never done."

Zoro moved his eyes, gazing at hers. She was smiling when he looked at her face— He couldn't shake away the feeling that he never wanted to wipe away that smile from her face as he was staring at her azure eyes. Was that relief? Was that peace? Was it just him or there's something in Robin's eyes that never wanted him to lift his gaze off?

She then broke their silence by heaving a tired sigh, then, "So, are you coming with me to Ohara?"

Zoro blinked from his mulling, "Yeah…" He said mindlessly, and slowly directed his gaze at the seas, pretending that the ocean's hues didn't remind him of Robin's eyes.

end notes: i dont know when will i update again maybe next year jk anw thanks for reading and see you next update