Author's note: Yup, another multi-chaptered story to explore the friendship between Zoro and Sanji. And it's my first attempt (though I fear it'll be a poor attempt) at incorporating some "action/adventure" elements into a story because what's OP without action/adventure right? Hope it'll turn out alright and everyone can at least get some enjoyment out of it.
Oh yeah, incidentally, this story was inspired by that movie with the same name…Heh, let the hunt begin!
Disclaimer: One Piece and all characters mentioned are created by Eiichiro Oda.
A Startling Discovery
Zoro really needed to go.
Consequently, he was the first one to discover the stowaway hiding in the bathroom, huddled under the sink with knees drawn up, and grimy black hair almost the same colour as the shadows that fell upon the inconspicuous form, he almost missed it.
Now, Zoro was the sort of man with very few beliefs but those that he had, he held on to them with the utmost resolve.
And one of them was that a man like him who is constantly embroiled in life-threatening battles, risking insanity by being in the same living space with crackpot Luffy and his idiot cook for extended periods of time, deserves a little personal space, some uninterrupted moments to let his guard down and indulge in private things. In his humble opinion, the bathroom was precisely one such place the universe set aside for him to be alone, relax and go about some very private business.
So to find this small simple request he had of life denied, it was just…just…just unacceptable!
Thus, he let out a manly roar of indignation, which Sanji later insisted sounded more like a distinctly unmanly shriek of horror and surprise, and sent his crewmates running to the bathroom.
Crowding in the doorway, they followed the line of Zoro's affronted outstretched finger to look at the small figure tucked between the sink and bathtub.
Luffy put his head to the side, then righted it with a smile and a cheery "Yo!"
The girls exchanged a puzzled glance before turning back to the stowaway, an uncertain look on Nami's face and a vaguely amused one on Robin's.
He didn't even need to look to know the pathetic cook had a huge vapid lovesick grin on his stupid face, his eyes unfocused and aglow with adoration.
Usopp and Chopper did not even look, holding onto each other for moral support as they cowered trembling behind Luffy, because anything that could make Zoro shout like that really did not need to be looked at.
Then everyone turned to Zoro, as if expecting an introduction or something.
Zoro took a deep breath, calmly lowered his arm and opened his mouth to say the one thing he could in this situation.
"Out!"
With that, he pulled the girl up by the wrist, pushed her out towards his startled crewmates and slammed the door.
Because he really needed to go.
"So, let me get this straight." Zoro said, his voice low and menacing, as he narrowed his eyes at the stowaway across the table. "You think you can just slip onto our ship, trespass into our bathroom and merrily expect us to give you a ride to your home island."
"Er…well I…that is…I…I mean…" The girl quailed, shrinking under his wrathful gaze.
"Oh never mind him, Aiko-chan." Sanji beamed as he set a bowl of steaming noodles in front of the frightened girl with a flourish, casually moving the tall water jug so that it blocked her from Zoro's direct and very angry line of sight. "He's a social retard with manners worse than an ape. I wouldn't bother with him if I were you."
"Besides," The cook took her hand and gazed down at her lovingly. "any gentleman would consider it his duty and his honor to be able to escort a beautiful lady such as yourself home."
The water sloshed violently in the jug as Zoro shoved the water jug aside and slammed his hands onto the table. "Look here, you shitty cook." He growled, the suffocating sensation of pure frustration whenever he tried to talk to the cook was building fast and not helping his mood one bit.
It had been a trying day, with pesky Marines who insisted on trying to capture them at the last port. The small battle that resulted might have been considered a perk, if they didn't have to cut short the very satisfying fight to rush back to the Going Merry because they would miss the evening tide if they did not cast off soon. What's worse was that it had seemed as if they were running away! Zoro gritted his teeth. He still seethed inside when he thought about it.
And out of nowhere popped this girl who expected them to send her home, as if it was the most natural thing for pirates to do to stowaways.
People who expect this sort of behavior from pirates were either very stupid, or have something up their sleeves. And Zoro wasn't ready to bet their stowaway didn't belong to the latter category.
"We don't know who she is, we can't trust her, and we definitely can't just pick up random people like that and change our course just so she can get home!" At this, he looked around at the others sitting at the table, chewing on their dinners as they watched the exchange like it was some fascinating puppet show.
"Aww…I think the little marimo is getting a wee bit paranoid…" Sanji mocked in a sing-song voice as he leaned his hip against the sink, lazily lighting up a cigarette.
His hand flew to a sword hilt. "I'll show you paranoid, you bastard!"
"Zoro's right." Nami announced suddenly, breaking up the fight before it began. Zoro looked at her in surprise, never expecting that woman would actually take his side on something.
"We barely know her…we can't just go off course like that-" She set her chopsticks down beside her bowl daintily and gave Aiko a dark, meaningful smile. "-for free."
Chopper yelped and hid behind Usopp at the navigator's creepy expression and disturbing tone of voice. Sanji burst out a plaintive "But Nami-san!" and Luffy took the chance to steal pieces of fried pork from everyone's bowls.
Over the din of the cook's valiant efforts to protect the ladies' dinner, the wailing of the diminutive reindeer and sounds of desperate mastication from their captain, Aiko spoke.
"I'm sorry." Everyone paused and looked at her. The kitchen fell silent.
"I'm so sorry everyone." Her head bowed, her black hair straggly with sweat and dirt hung over her shoulders and shadowed her face. "I had money, I really did. I was going to take a ferry home and prepared enough for a ticket." Her voice turned tearful, her thin shoulders sagged as she folded her small hands in her lap in distress. "But I was robbed…I tried to find work to get some money but couldn't…and…and I really want to go home…"
She looked up at them with pleading eyes, her hands searching through the pockets of the tattered brown dress she wore. "Please! All I have is the Eternal Pose for home and a few coins." She said desperately, producing the items and placing them on the table.
"But I have money at home and I promise I'll pay you for your trouble when we get to my village." Her green eyes were starting to glisten with tears but she held her head high and proud. "I swear upon my honor I'll pay you back. Please, I beg all of you, please help me!"
It was impossible to read Robin's typical reaction of detached interest but Zoro looked at the uncertainty in Usopp's face, the way Chopper's nose was twitching in sympathy, the compassion in the cook's face, the sudden softness in Nami's expression-and most importantly-the grim look of determination in Luffy's eyes even as he munched on a drumstick, and Zoro knew he had lost his case.
He narrowed his eyes at the girl, even as Luffy swallowed his mouthful of meat to proclaim loudly that it'll be fun to go see what this 'Baydrop Island' is all about and Nami grousing half-heartedly in the background reminding Aiko that she'll have to pay them when she got home. She smiled, shyly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, nodding earnestly and thanking everyone profusely.
What an expert manipulator, he thought sourly, watching the girl. She was probably around Nami's age, with an unremarkable face and black hair cut in an unflattering style. But the simple country innocence and honesty in her features certainly helped endear her to his crewmates.
Zoro snorted, he would not be fooled so easily. Something felt off about this whole situation but he just couldn't pin-point what.
Unable to convince his crewmates, unable to allay his own uneasiness, Zoro knew he could do little else. "As always, the decision lies with the captain." He said shortly, giving Luffy a nod to show his respect for the decision, even though not his support. Then, he stood up and stormed out of the galley. Aiko looked up at him as he stormed past and their eyes met, and she quickly averted her gaze. Zoro clenched his fist and slammed the door on the way out.
Outside, the sun had set and the day was rapidly cooling towards night. He stood against the railings on the aft deck and leaned into the salt-laced breeze, enjoying the way it rippled through his short hair and tugged playfully at his clothes. The chatter of his crewmates mingled with muted clinks of cutlery floated up to him on the evening air. He stood like that for a long time, trying to figure out why he was uncomfortable with the whole idea of sending Aiko home. It wasn't as if they hadn't helped a few people sail home before. He stood thinking, listening, until the noise faded and everyone dispersed to their duties before settling down for the night.
A soft step behind him made him spin around, his hand on his sword before he recognized who it was that had joined him.
"Cook-san said it's a sin to waste food." Robin smiled and held up one hand in greeting, her other hand held his half-eaten bowl of noodles and a pair of chopsticks. "Your dinner."
Zoro nodded grudgingly, accepting the meal. The noodles were hot, with steam rising visibly in the cool night air. Sanji had taken the trouble to re-heat it.
That idiot. Zoro sneered, half-mocking and half-amazed, but grateful for the consideration nonetheless.
Sitting himself down on the deck, he began tucking in, suddenly realizing how hungry he was when the wonderful aroma made his stomach growl. He raised an eyebrow when Robin sat down beside him, folding her legs under her with casual grace. She smiled faintly, seeming amused by the expression on his face, but remained silent, turning away to gaze absently into the distance. Zoro ignored her and continued eating.
Presently, she spoke. "You do not think our unexpected passenger is telling the truth?"
He gave her a sidelong glance and paused in his chewing. "I don't trust her." He said flatly after swallowing his mouthful of noodles.
"Hmm." The historian laced her fingers together thoughtfully. "But Baydrop Island does exist, and she has also produced an Eternal Pose for the island."
"From what I know," She mused and Zoro listened as he went on with his dinner. "The island is surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs; the only approach is by a bay, hence its name. Such unique geographical conditions hindered travels so the islanders are self-sufficient, most engaged in agricultural activities." She glanced at Zoro and shrugged. "Aiko-san has sun-browned skin and wore simple garbs which would suggest such rustic origins. Her naïve ways are evident in her speech and her distress is real."
She pursed her lips as she considered the problem further, then shook her head. "She appears to be who she claims to be. I could discern no deceit."
Under that placid, harmless-looking façade, Zoro knew his crewmate was a highly competent assassin, with powerful skills of observations that was crucial to her trade. But her analysis of their situation did nothing to dispel the uncomfortable feeling he had, so he rolled his eyes grouchily and gave a careless wave with his chopsticks to dismiss her words.
"Che! Who knows? It could all be an act, you know."
There was a mirthful glint in her dark eyes as she exhaled with a quiet laugh. "Ah, swordsman-san…you couldn't still be cross that she'd almost outraged your modesty, could you?
"Hmph." He snorted sourly, sounding a little petulant even to his own ears. "I just don't trust her."
"The way you didn't-and still don't-trust me?"
He stared at her for a long moment, taken aback by her bold question. Then he turned away abruptly, suddenly intent on looking into the soupy remains of his meal at the bottom of the bowl. "It's different." He growled quietly.
"Hn." Robin made a small thoughtful noise at the back of her throat, too vague to make anything out of it but he thought she sounded pleased.
"Well," She went on mildly. "Baydrop is famous for its craftsmanship. They reap sizable revenue when they venture out to sell their wares once or twice a year, so the village must be prosperous. If Aiko-san is genuine, she'll make good her promise on our payment. Navigator-san will be most delighted."
"If she is genuine." He muttered darkly.
They shared a glance and she acknowledged him with a slight incline of her head, a silent consent that she'll be on her guard as well.
And the Going Merry glided silently through the dark waters, bringing them all closer and closer, towards Baydrop Island.