Sanji caught himself doing a double take when Zoro came out of the bathroom, he looked completely different. His hair was now a smart black even his eyebrows had been done. To be extra safe it looked as though she had slipped in contacts as his usually brown eyes were now a green and blue mixture.
Luffy had gotten bored waiting and left to go and check on his own hammock.
'Robin-chwan you amaze me I almost didn't recognize him' he said as he got of the bed.
'Thank you Sanji' she smiled at him 'Now Nami has added extra funds to your card, go have fun and don't come back too late'
'Of course Robin-chwan' he crooned in response.
He saw Zoro scowling at him again, dammit he'd rather be going shopping with either of his lovely ladies than the moody swordsman.
'Right let's go' he motioned for Zoro to follow him.
He grabbed his keys on the way out the front door along with his wallet. His car was a deep ocean blue with fold down back seats so that he could fit in all the food shopping he normally had to do.
He got in and started it up as Zoro slid in the other side. He left the radio on a random station as they drove into the city centre, Zoro just gazing silently out the window.
He found some parking and they walked into the high street, the other man showed no signs that he hadn't been here before. He supposed if he was an assassin, looking like he belonged was important.
He reached the shop he had been heading for, it sold a wide range of different clothes, he got the feeling that Zoro wasn't a suit and tie type.
Shopping with a guy was boring, he got to go shopping with Nami sometimes mainly when she wanted someone to carry her bags. That was fun, this was not after picking out some plain white tops and some black trousers, he'd thrown in a few spares of everything as Zoro seemed to think one of everything was enough. They had found a dark green jacket, it had a dark gold trim at the bottom. Although still quiet he could tell the swordsman liked it so he tossed it with the rest of the shopping. After grabbing the last few things he would need they headed to the cash desk.
The girl at the cash desk was glancing between the two of them. He realised they must look odd together especially with Zoro underdressed for the chilly day.
'He didn't pack for the weather here' he gave her his best charming smile.
'Not my fault I didn't think I would be staying did I?' Zoro jumped in.
'He can get changed in the changing rooms when your done if you like' the girl blushed a bit.
Then it clicked what she must be thinking he was out buying clothes for a guy he had gotten to stay.
He wanted to object but he couldn't draw too much attention to themselves, dammit.
The girl set some of the clothes aside and handed them to Zoro, whilst he paid. He led the directionless moron to the changing rooms and waited. Hopefully when he looked normal he wouldn't wreck Sanji's flirting attempts.
When he came out he had a long sleeved white top on with black trousers, and his black boots he looked like a cleaner warmer version of basement Zoro.
He handed him the jacket, it suited the swordsman but would look better when his hair was back to its natural colour.
They went back to the car, he didn't need to pick anything else up. Instead of going back home he thought he'd try taking Zoro to some places that might help him remember anything.
He knew exactly where to start and it wasn't long before he pulled into a dirt track and found somewhere to park.
He saw Zoro looking around in confusion.
'I've not brought you to kill you if that's what you're thinking' it did seem a little suspicious, like in the movies when they take a person into the woods and make them dig their own grave.
'As if you could' Zoro sounded cocky even without his sword.
Sanji laughed 'Without your stupid sticks you don't stand a chance but that's not why we're here. We used to come here as kids thought it might help'
He followed a dirt path down to the open field they had played in as kids, it was conveniently close to where they had lived as kids. Back then Luffy had lived with his grandad, he had moved to his dad's house when he was sixteen.
The field looked almost the same as all those years ago, the edges were a little overgrown and the trees had gotten bigger.
Zoro looked around his eyes locking on the largest tree near the end of the field.
'I remember that from my dream, were we taken from here?' Zoro asked
'Maybe. You two did come here on your own' Sanji wished he knew more his answers just never seemed enough.
Zoro glanced around before starting to walk off, Sanji decided to just follow and see where he went.
After about five minutes of walking Sanji had a good idea where they were going and just under fifteen minutes later he was standing outside Koshiro's dojo.
'This place is familiar' Zoro said as he walked closer to the door.
They must have been overhead because the door was slid open by Koshiro.
'I thought my class had arrived early' he looked at the pair of them and smiled 'Why don't you come in for a bit?'
Sanji looked to Zoro on how to handle this, he just nodded and walked in past his dad. Stopping automatically to take his shoes off and placing them at the side, Sanji followed suit giving an awkward smile to the older man.
They walked straight through the practice room, into the main part of the house and into the kitchen.
Koshiro offered them drinks, Sanji accepted some water but Zoro was just standing staring awkwardly.
'Can I have a look around?' Zoro finally asked
'Sure, do you want company?' Koshiro responded.
Zoro shook his head and wandered off to explore the house, leaving Sanji alone with Koshiro.
'I'll admit I never expected you to be the one spending all their time with him' Koshiro smiled at him 'You two always argued as kids and of course there was that fight you guys had. You two hadn't long gotten back to normal when he disappeared'
Sanji stared at his water, that fight, he'd almost forgotten. No he hadn't forgotten he'd just repressed it when his friend went missing, so he didn't have to keep going over it.
It wasn't a spar to see who was stronger, they had knocked lumps out of each other. They probably would never have put it behind them if Kuina hadn't sorted it out for them. He sighed and shoved the memories away.
'Don't worry I don't mean ill by it. It's good to know his friends are looking after him. Robin has been keeping me up to date on everything.' Koshiro glanced at the door Zoro had left through.
'He found his way here from the field we always played in but then it was the only route he never got lost on' he laughed lightly
With the kitchen now quiet he noticed just how quiet the rest of the house was.
'Should we maybe go check on him?'
It wasn't so much that he was worried that Zoro had left but the reaction to the first memories was still fresh in his mind.
Koshiro nodded and they left the kitchen. They found him in the dojo leaning against the wall, he was staring at the ceiling but with a vacant look that suggested he wasn't there.
'Remeber anything new?' he asked as he sat down next to Zoro.
'Just little pieces. If I try to focus on them they stop. It's weird I don't really know how to explain it' he sighed 'I know we trained here together, I found our rooms and I just knew which was mine. I know that I never beat her, she was the better fighter' he glared at the floor 'but if I try to recall the fights I can't or I only get little bits is frustrating'
This is where Sanji felt helpless, he knew nothing about memory or how the hell the brain worked. He was really just a tour guide, showing Zoro places in hopes of triggering; and here on your left is your family home, the famous Shimotsuki Dojo. He felt the mental itch, he really needed a smoke maybe he could make this work in his favor.
'Look Zoro I'm going for a smoke why don't you talk to your dad for a bit. We're going to need to head before his class arrives anyway'
He didn't bother waiting for a response, if Zoro didn't want to talk he wouldn't get to smoke in peace.
Once outside he leaned against the fence and lit up, enjoying the fact that he was all alone.