A/N: Enjoyed the Zoro/Athie moment? Knew ya would … XP Naughty Nomi. I'm going to try to post a chapter every 2/3 days now ... if I don't rest assured I'm writing one.

Disclaimer: Athenus -panting-: TheFeminist-sensei owns everything in this story Oda-sensei does not. Got that? Now I gotta run before Zoro-kun finds me … too late! -runs off-

Zoro: Come back here, Athie-kun! Right now! -runs after Athenus-

Me: Umm … okay. Right then. On with the story, then.

RR: Review Response

A big thank you to all the people who have put me on their favourites and alerts! Also a big thanks to my reviewers for last chapter: NekoRanma, crepes and Sanji-luver! Please review again! This chapter's a real shocker. XP

(ZORO'S POV – FROM WHEN HE INTRUDES ON ATHENUS)

"I'm coming in!" I yelled, and smashed the door I suspected the young woman, Athenus was behind.

She was yelling something at the time I didn't hear, but as silence fell I replayed in my head. "Zoro! Stop! I'm … changing … in here …"

For the first time I saw how pretty Athenus really was. Okay, I always thought she was pretty, but this? Woah. Then I saw the eyes. She was giving me the evil eye. Great.

"You. Are. So. Dead. Roronoa," the enraged Athenus grated.

I have no idea why I picked her up. Maybe I was flustered; maybe I was just teasing her. But anyway, I hoisted her onto my back, as she yelled something. Whatever it was, I stood, immobilized, and let the arm that was holding her slide to my side. And Athenus slid off my shoulder as well.

She gave me a cutesy smile, as she waved with a smirk, "Ta ta, Mosshead." And she ran off. I had no idea how long I stood there, unable to move, but when my brain started working again, the first thing I yelled was, "Where did that little brat go?"

I heard her voice from below, out on the street. I ran to the window, and saw her, standing there in her brown tank top and leather pants. She had screamed, "Down here, Mosshead!" and smirked just like I do. Wait a second, that's my smirk! Grrr … I should get it copyrighted … anyway, back to the story.

I was truly amazed. How could Athie-san get down there? So I asked her. And she gave me an insulting reply: "Oh, it's nothing. If you had practice, you would be able to do it too." I saw red. Athenus was going down.

So I went down – down to the first floor of the pub. I needed to talk to Usopp. Maybe he could help me.

(ATHENUS' POV – AT THE MARKET)

I ran through the streets to the local market, which, luckily for me, was packed with people. I dodged toddlers, and evaded kids playing pranks on each other. Finally I reached my destination: the city hall.

The city hall was marble, and I rested on its grand steps. I needed to work something out, so I grappled it. I knew the problem, I just didn't know the answer.

The problem was I was falling in love with Zoro. I had no idea it happened until it was too late. First the siding against Sanji – that was flirting on a small scale – and now the chasing, teasing, and devil fruit using – that was flirting on a major scale. For gods sake, Zoro saw me half-naked! I wonder if he'd like to see me … I shook my head to rid myself of that thought, which was truly disgusting.

I mean, okay, he was cute and funny, and I just wanted to muss that green hair of his that contrasted so well with his tanned body. I just wanted to flick his piercings, and plant my lips onto his well-rounded, seductive ones … I just wanted him, and what made him him. More than anything, I wanted to pour my heart out to him. I guess … I loved him.

So occupied I was in my thinking, I didn't notice Nami and Zoro twenty or so metres away, discussing something and giggling like crazy. I didn't notice Zoro running off to don some black clothing, or Nami head towards me. I didn't notice Zoro looking at me with his eyes melted, but his face wearing his smirk that I loved so much. All I noticed was Zoro, in my heart and in my head. Pictures from the One Piece series I had watched at home spiralled around in my head, and I caught myself sighing as I relived all Zoro's triumphs. I just needed him.

"Athie-chan! Come quickly!" Nami fussed, flustered. I jerked back at looked at Nami.

"What?" I asked, wondering what the hell she was doing there.

"Zoro-san's been hurt!" she squeaked, playing the part of frantic mother very well.

"Where is he?" I wondered, fire in my breast at whoever had done this to my beloved Mosshead.

"Come this way!" Nami shrilled, and darted off into the crowds, leaving me in the dust of her shoes. I sighed, but I wouldn't give up, so I started running after her.

"Nami-san!" I yelled. "Nami-san, where are you!"

A man behind me, dressed in black growled, "Shut your trap," and covered my mouth in one hand. He dragged me off, but I had plenty of time to analyse that voice, that stance and way of walking … I knew who it was from the time he had spoken. Zoro.

He took me into a secluded alley, where he turned me around, to see that I was unafraid. Of him. But afraid of what he could do to me with three simple words. I wasn't afraid. I knew I could say it.

(ZORO'S POV – WHEN HE TALKS WITH NAMI)

"You sure we can pull this off, Nami-san?" I asked the orange-haired navigator.

"Sure." She giggled. "I can do it – it's just up to you."

I split off from the thief, and donned my black outfit which Nami had found for me … somewhere. I preferred not to ask. I looked at the sixteen year old girl on the marble steps. She was so beautiful!

You love her, an inner voice told me.

I do not!

Then how can you explain all of this? You love her, Zoro, go get her.

"I can only try," I murmured to myself. I could only try.

In the distance, I saw Nami come up to Athenus, and told her the tragic tale. I remember – I had argued.

-Flashback-

"Zoro-san, to get her to come, I'm going to tell her you've been hurt," Nami said.

"Why me?" I complained.

"Because she loves you, Zoro-san. Because she loves you."

"Pfft. No way."

Nami smiled, a mysterious smile that left me guessing. "You might be surprised, Zoro-kun."

-End Flashback-

I was surprised. I saw concern written all over Athie-kun's face. I felt bad at deceiving her, but then, she had deceived me. But this was a lot more serious. Nami filtered off into the crowds, and it was my turn, as Athenus looked around for her friend, then ventured out into the crowd. By chance, she stepped right in front of me, I smirked slightly, and did the required for the 'mock-kidnapping'.

"Shut your trap," I growled, as her eyes widened, and a dragged her to the nearest alley, and spun her around. She wasn't afraid. I could tell through her sunglasses. She knew exactly who I was. And she was the one who spoke first, crushing my heart into many pieces.

"I hate you, Zoro."

Next time on Cursed Idiot …

Why did Athenus say, "I hate you?"
Will Athenus and Zoro repair the hurt the incident had caused?
Will Zoro's plan work?
Will the two admit their love for each other?

All on Cursed Idiot …