The sun shone in the open field, the sound of kids laughing filled the air. All of that was irrelevant to two kids who were way too focused on their argument.
'No way you're stronger than me, I don't need some stupid sticks to help me beat your ass' the blonde shouted at the other.
The two arguing was such a common site that the other kids just carried on playing around them.
'Prove it then' the green haired kid drew his swords and grinned at the blonde.
Sanji flew forward aiming a kick at Zoro's stomach, it was blocked swiftly by the left sword. Zoro took the sword from his right hand and placed it in his mouth before drawing the third.
He could help but think that the kid looked a mixture of ridiculous and manic, it just fired him up more to prove he was better.
Sanji drew his foot back and this time aimed for the right side, as Zoro went to block, he twisted round switching feet as he did and going for the open left side. He put all his strength behind the kick, he had to prove to this stupid plant that he was the better fighter. He felt his kick land and then heard the loud crack of something breaking, he placed his foot down and looked at Zoro's broken bokken.
He sighed this always happened, the fight started and a couple of blows in from either of them and the stupid swords broke.
'See this is why I'm the better fighter moss brain'
'I can still fight with two you know' Zoro had dropped the broken one and had taken the one out his mouth.
Sanji sighed he was sure they had this same conversation every time to.
'They'll all break Marimo and your dad will ground you again'
He watched Zoro staring at the broken sword thinking, he could almost see him weighing up if it was worth getting grounded to keep fighting.
Finally Zoro looked up and grinned at Sanji.
'Next time I'll bring my real swords' he nodded as though agreeing with himself
Sanji stared at him waiting for him to say he was kidding, but nope with one last grin, Zoro ran off to play with Luffy.
Who the hell would let that idiot near live blades?
He sighed to himself probably no one. Knowing Zoro he'd probably just sneak them out.
He lay down on the grass enjoying the beautiful day, eventually Luffy came over and dragged him off to play as well.
Sanji sat on the stairs again, watching the cigarette smoke trailing away again whilst reminiscing. That had been the last time he'd seen Zoro, it had been the summer holidays and he'd been working in the kitchens most of it.
Before the gang could meet up again Zoro had gone missing and Kuina died. The Marines had been round questioning them all; Had they noticed anyone strange around them?, Had Zoro said anything about running away? Had he said anything about any problems at home? None of their answers helped and the marines hit a dead end looking for Zoro.
The gang had next met at Kuina's funeral, she had been in the year above them at school and had sometimes hung around with them. He regretted not spending more time with her and part of him even wished he'd spent more time with Zoro and his friends that summer. Even if he'd just finished that spar with him, maybe if he'd been grounded nothing bad would have happened.
Sanji stopped that chain of thought with a long drag of his cigarette, the end of that summer had been when he'd started smoking. Zoro was gone, their parents suddenly wouldn't let them out alone, so they could only meet at each others houses. Even Zeff in his gruff caring way wouldn't let Sanji out of his sight, suddenly he was needed even more regularly in the kitchen and he even had to train more with Zeff and his weird friend Iva.
He had found it suffocating though and at eighteen, after a big argument with Zeff he had moved out and in with Luffy. It was a huge house that was technically Luffy's dad's but he was never home and had basically given him free reign, much to Luffy's grandad's displeasure. Garp had wanted his son and grandson to follow him into the Marines, instead Dragon was part of some weird save the world group and Luffy had two people that were wanted by the Marines living with him.
Sanji glanced over at Chopper who was doing his best to do a medical check whilst his patient was tied to a chair. He was asking Zoro questions but was met with silence, not the malicious kind Sanji had dealt with earlier, a more relaxed one. This was his one hope, Zoro had always been close to Chopper, really protective of him, so he hoped maybe Chopper could fix him.
He watched as Chopper came towards him, the reindeer's eyes were beginning to water as he walked faster. Sanji stood up and took one last look at their hostage? That didn't feel quite right but you don't usually tie up your guests, so he wasn't that either. He took another drag of his cigarette to try and destroy the twisting guilty feeling in his chest. He followed Chopper upstairs and watched as the poor reindeer finally caved and started crying. Between the sobs he could make out that he was sure it was Zoro, that he seemed physically healthy but that he didn't seem to know who he was. Whilst Robin was busy comforting their in house doctor, Luffy came charging back in announcing that Koshiro was on his way.
Since they hadn't seen him since Kuina's funeral, Robin and Franky went to the bunker that Franky had built under the shed. It gave him somewhere to tinker with his experiments and somewhere for the pair to hide when any Marines came round especially Garp.
He sat down at the table next to his precious Nami-swan and stared at the swords on the table. Were these the swords that Zoro had planned to bring to their next spar? He let his head fall onto his arms on the table has he fought off a dark chuckle. It may have been eight years later but Zoro had finally showed with his real swords not to spar though, he had came to kill him. The twisted irony wasn't lost on him but if they could get their Zoro back it would all be worth it.