Ch 22

Zoro looked at Sanji, speechless. It was a nice feeling to know that he was wanted this badly but it was weird to hear it from the cook.

"Look Sanji, we don't have to talk about this. I get it,really, I do." Zoro said, reaching across the table for the glass of liquor.

Sanji picked the cup up and finished the contents before Zoro could get to it. Placing it back on the table, and away from Zoro, Sanji responded calmly. "No, Zoro. We need to talk about this. I need to make you understand."

"Yeah, you said that already. "Zoro looked at the door for a moment before looking back at Sanji. "But this conversation probably won't change anything." Zoro knew this was lie. He didn't want to have this conversation because he didn't want his heart to ache for the Cook more than it already did.

"We won't know until we try, right." Sanji said.

Zoro closed his eyes and sat back. He focused on slowing down his nerves before opening his eyes again. "Okay Cook. You win."

Sanji gave a half-hearted smirk as he stared into the glass. He tipped the contents back and shut his eyes as the liquid burned his throat. He slammed the cup back down and looked towards Zoro. Zoro stared at the glass, looking as though he wanted to take away the alcoholic beverage. Looking back at the glass, Sanji spoke.

"Just let me have this, Zoro." Sanji saw Zoro's head tilt from his peripheral vision. Meeting Zoro's eyes, Sanji continued. "I'm in the process of quitting cigarettes but I really need something right now. I promise I wont get drunk...just a little tipsy."

Zoro folded his arms and scrunched up his face. "You quit?"

"Mostly." was the shortened answer he received in return.

Both members sat in silence for a few minutes until Sanji interrupted it by speaking quietly.

"When I was 17, I dated the girl you saw, Iz-"

"Sanji -"

Sanji interrupted Zoro."Zoro this is a critical part of my history. You need to understand why she was here and why I was with her."

Zoro heaved a sigh and motioned for Sanji to continue.

"Her name is Izzy Makrosa. Her family came to eat at the Baratie and they were kind to the staff. The old man was quite fond of them too. He would invite them every time he made a new recipe and they came every time. Sometimes he would just call her father over to have a few drinks."

Zoro stared at Sanji when he paused. He saw a mixture of emotions swim across his face before he settled on one. Sadness.

"A few weeks after meeting them the ship was attacked. Of course we handled the problem but the ship was a wreck. We were forced to dock at an island for a while. The closest one was the one we just left, Summer Island. We found out that the island was owned by Izzy's Father."

"Huh?"

Sanji glanced at Zoro and saw the questioning gaze.

"Her father owns it? What is he?"

"A very rich navy general. "Sanji replied in a dry voice. "Though he just passes everything off to the lieutenants"

"I'm sorry," Zoro said as he sat forward with a humorless chuckle. "A navy general? So you mean to tell me that you cheated with the general's daughter? And here I thought you had some common sense."

"Zoro-"

"I mean did you even think about the fact that we're pirates. Do you know what she could've done to us if yo-"

"SHE'S NOT LIKE THAT!" Sanji screamed as shot up and slammed his hands on the table. Zoro flinched form the unexpected response before recovering.

"Now your defending her?" Zoro asked slowly in an incredulous tone.

"It's not like that." Sanji replied. He sat back down and put his head in his hands before setting them on the table. Looking into Zoro's shaky eyes, he continued. "It's not like that at all Zoro. Can't you just listen to me for once?"

Zoro scowled and turned away.

"Everytime I try to tell you something that's important to me about my past you overlook it. You don't even care how that makes me feel." Sanji said softly.

Zoro's head whipped around and he stared at Sanji. "When have I ever done that to you?"

"I told your about my father and I and you said it didn't matter. Now I'm trying to tell you why she was there and you won't listen." Sanji's voice came out desperate.

"Those stories go together Sanji. You were with her for the sake of your father right? So why should I have to li-"

"That was not the intention at first Zoro. But, I admit that I was trying to confirm that I didn't have feelings for women anymore, particularly her ." Sanji spoke fast trying to get Zoro to listen.

"You loved her and now you expect me to keep listening. This conversation is over Sanji." Zoro spoke as he stood up and went towards the door. He heard a chair fall but kept going.

Sanji stood up and yelled out to Zoro. "I was going to ask her to protect us!"

Zoro stopped at the door. Turning towards Sanji, he tilted his head. "What?'

Sanji sighed and looked at the ground. "I just...I wanted Dai and Kai to be safe while we were traveling for a while. I thought that I could just get her to tell her father to take the focus off of us. I was going to ask her but once I found out why she kissed me when you were there….."

Zoro stared at Sanji in disbelief. "Are you serious right now?"

Sanji felt tears coming to his eyes. "I know that I did everything wrong. I wanted to confirm that I didn't love her anymore. Even if I did, I was still going to ask her to keep the navy away for a while. For the kids. I know she doesn't seem like it but she's a sweet girl. If I would have explained the situation she would've spoken to her father about it but I never got the chance. Once I found out why she kissed me outside the hotel….." Sanji trailed off and Zoro saw his jaw tense for a moment.

Zoro stared at Sanji for a moment, thinking. What the hell was he supposed to do? Sanji wanted to protect the kids so he met her. But he still kissed her and spent the night with her. He still loved her. Zoro turned away and began rubbing his temples.

Sanji saw the movement and broke from his own trance. Looking over, he started to step towards Zoro.

"Are you okay? Do you nee-"

Zoro raised his hand, signaling Sanji to stop. Taking a deep breathe, Zoro turned towards Sanji.

"So….you stayed with her to confirm you feelings and you intended to ask her to keep the Navy from us so the kids could grow up without much violence. That's what you're saying, right?

Sanji nodded his head slowly. He was trying to figure out where this was going.

Zoro took a pause and continued speaking "So am I supposed to be okay with this? Should I just say that's great Sanji and let everything go?"

"Absolutely not."

Zoro turned his head so fast he swore he heard a crack. "Huh?"

"I did wrong Zoro. I admit to that. I should've laid things out for you. I shouldn't have seen her behind your back. And I shouldn't have made you question my love for you."

"Your Love for me?"

Sanji bit his lip and looked off to the side. "What I'm saying is that I want to deal with this situation properly, so that we burn the bridge, so that we can move on. I want you to actually believe me when I say I love you."

"So, what then?" Zoro asked. "What are you going to do?"

Sanji didn't say anything. He took a deep breath and walked towards Zoro. Zoro watched silently but began to back up when Sanji got really close. Soon his back hit the wall and Sanji stayed in front of him.

"Why.."Zoro started "are you this close?" Using his finger, Zoro gestured between himself and Sanji, hoping to make the cook back up by doing so.

"Zoro." Sanji spoke the name with such a soft voice that Zoro started to blush.

Clearing his throat, Zoro turned his head to the side. "W-what?"

Sanji remained quiet and instead softly grabbed Zoro's face and turned it towards him. Leaning closer slightly, Sanji stared into the gold orbs that were Zoro's eyes.

"I will give you what you want from now on. I will shower you with love. I will beg you for forgiveness every chance I get. I will get on your good side and stay there. I will mend things before we meet my father. When I see him, I hope that I can introduce you as my boyfriend, if not my bride."

"B-bride?" Zoro whispered softly, feeling his face heat up with each word that slipped from the blondes mouth. He knew he shouldn't be falling for this, but the situation was a bit of a turn on to him.

"Who else do you want to be?" Sanji asked before continuing. "The groom? Should there be two grooms?"

Zoro's mouth opened and closed. He had no response. Internally, he was cursing himself for enjoying this and being speechless. Sanji, on the other hand, wanted to kiss Zoro but thought better of it. Instead, he stepped back and stared at Zoro in a daze.

"To think I used to chase all those girls to find that special something when you had it all along."

Sanji smiled and opened his mouth to talk. "Zoro, I really lo'"

Zoro took the chance to run out the door. He felt a few eyes on him but decided to act as natural as he could. Clearing his throat, he made his way to Luffy and the Kids.

"Look who's here." Luffy cooed to the babies. "It's your Mom-"

Zoro punched Luffy on the head, making the kids erupt with laughter. "Stop telling them I'm their mother. Im their father Luffy. I'm a Dad."

"But Zoro, you had them so that makes you the mother." Luffy said while holding his head. This time he dodged Zoro, laughing.

When they were done chasing each other, Zoro and Luffy sat and played with the babies.

"How was your talk with Sanji?" Luffy asked as he wrapped his arm around Dai.

Zoro snorted. "The idiot shouldn't drink."

Luffy cocked his head. "Huh?"

"Nothing" was the response that Zoro gave. "Let's not talk about it."

Luffy waited a moment. "Okay." Then he was back to playing with the babies.

Zoro was glad that he turned his attention away. Just thinking about the conversation made chills go down his spine.