He washed the dinner dishes, listening in on the conversation going on at the table.
'He's legally dead there's no reason to involve the Marines'
'But he's not dead Nami' Luffy sounded confused 'He's right there'
He glanced over his shoulder, Zoro was napping on the couch. He didn't really seem as concerned as everyone else was about his return.
'Then we have to decide what we'll tell the Marines' Robin answered 'That is if you want to be alive Zoro, you could always stay dead'
'Alive, tired of pretending I don't exist' Zoro murmured from the couch, so not asleep then.
He grabbed the dish towel and threw it across the room, smacking the swordsman clearly on the face.
He turned back to the dishes and kept washing as he heard footsteps coming up behind him quickly. He felt the towel smack him on the back of the head and turned to face the angry man.
'So nice of you to volunteer to dry the dishes mosshead' he turned back to the dish water.
He half expected Zoro to return to the couch but he moved over and started dry the increasing pile of dishes.
He lost himself in the almost meditative action of washing the dishes, with his equally silent partner. The conversation seemed to be wrapping up by the time he was done and wandered over to the table.
'Right Sanji, when we get back you go with Zoro and Law to the hospital. We'll call Garp and Koshiro to work out how to handle the Marines' Nami stood up from the table looking tired.
'Of course Nami-swan' he smiled at her as he dug in his pocket for his cigarettes.
'Goodnight guys, remember to show Zoro where the bedroom is' she stretched and left with Robin who said goodnight quickly before getting into another deep conversation with the navigator.
The guys followed suit each saying goodnight and heading for the door, he lit up as he noticed Zoro about to go with them.
'Wait a minute moss head I'll show you in a bit' there was one thing he needed to do now that everything had settled down.
He stood up and stretched, his body was tired and the dull ache from the wound on his arm was annoying him.
He nodded for the swordsman to follow him and thankfully he didn't argue and following along peacefully.
He walked across the deck, pulling open the door and headed down the ladder going directly to the storage room.
He paused at the door checking that the directionless idiot hadn't gotten lost. He was still behind him but was looking a mixture of puzzled and wary. He opened the door and walked into the room that he had helped pack before their journey. He took one last deep draw on his cigarette before stubbing it out in the pocket ashtray that Franky had given him to stop him littering his ship.
He blew the smoke out as he walked over to the same chest that had been in the basement. He was so thankful that Nami hadn't found and sold it in the time it had taken them to prepare for the trip. He flipped open the lid and sitting perfectly at the top was the white sword, waiting to be reunited with its owner. He heard a sharp intake of breath behind him, he looked round and was surprised at the look of pain on Zoro's face. That wasn't what he was expecting, the confusion must have shown on his face as Zoro quickly went back to his normal stoic look.
He picked up the sword and held the hilt towards Zoro waiting for him to take it.
The sword felt heavier than it should, Sanji nudged it forward hoping that Zoro would hurry up and take it. It felt as wrong as using another chef's knives, maybe more so as this blade had the weight of multiple past owners.
'God dammit, take the sword already' he saw that look in the swordsman's eyes again 'Why did you leave it in the first place?' he wasn't going to get anywhere if he didn't know why he was hesitating.
He wasn't sure why he was going out of his way, the old them pretty much hated each other. Maybe it was thinking he was dead for so long or maybe just the years apart, he just couldn't stop trying to help.
The silence dragged on, with the discomfort from holding the sword he turned round to place it back in the chest.
'I killed her, I couldn't face taking Wado with me knowing that' Zoro's voice was quiet, the raw pain clear.
His chest tightened, threatening panic. Kuinas face flashed in his mind forever the young happy girl he'd known. How could…..no there was no way. He'd always wished he'd had a sibling just because of how Kuina and Zoro were. No way could Zoro hurt Kuina he adored her, looked up to her. Hell the fight they'd got into just because he'd made her cry. Even now guilt twisted in his gut.
'There's no way you would have hurt her, it was an accident right?' he fought to keep his voice level as he turned back to the swordsman.
Zoro's head snapped up his eyes dark and cold, reminding him swiftly that he was more than capable of killing.
'I aimed a gun at her head and pulled the fucking trigger it was no god damned accident' his voice rose with anger.
'But why?' his voice sounded weak and confused, as angry as Zoro was he couldn't accept it.
'I…' The anger seemed to fade and Zoro slid down the wall, letting his face fall into his arms 'I couldn't stop myself'
He still couldn't understand what the hell he meant, he moved over to Zoro letting himself slide down next to him.
He sat there not knowing what to do, what could he even say. He looked at the sword, still in his hand. Finally it clicked.
'Look, I don't know what happened but there's no way you would have hurt her if you had any control' control why was that bugging him, god dammit focus 'No way would Kuina want anyone else but you to have this' he placed the sword next to the ones still attached to the swordsman's side, feeling the heaviness leave him 'I'm sure your dad will say the same but you'll see him again soon'
Control….why…..
Something was stirring in his over tired mind. He took a cigarette out holding it but not lighting it and tapped it trying to work out what it was that he was trying to remember.
Finally it came through the haze, Luffy had been talking loudly to Law whilst Chopper had worked on his arm.
He'd complained that Mingo's ability was cheating, making the king kill his own people. Law had tried to explain how it worked to Luffy but had realised he was fighting a losing battle.
He pushed himself back up and grabbed Zoro, dragging him up an out of the storage room. He followed quietly, to wrapped up in the past to care about what he was up to.
He knocked the door and waited, it didn't take long for the medical bay door to be opened by an exhausted looking Law.
'Cook-ya?'
'Law I need to ask you about Doflamingo can we come in?'
Zoro's head snapped up suddenly back in the present.
Law ran a hand over his face, the circles under his eyes darker than normal.
'Sure, who needs sleep anyway' Law stepped back leaving the door open for the pair to follow.