A/N: Bet you're wondering why did Athenus say, "I hate you, Zoro."? All will be revealed (with that little sentence, anyway) this chapter, and mebbe the next. Just don't flame me about what happens ... I did it for a reason! Don't kill me! On a sadder note, I have just finished Cursed Idiot, and now I'm starting on the sequel that follows the Straw Hats at sea! Oh yeah, and I have a new pen name! -sigh- I couldn't leave you just hanging there ... so I'm posting another chapter ahead of schedule - now I'll post every 1/2 days ... keep tuned!

Disclaimer: Athenus: -sob-Athe-san has ruined my life … -sob- but she's allowed to, since I'm her creation … -sob- but since Zoro isn't her creation … -sob- but Oda-sensei's … -sob- she can't really change him that much … -stops sobbing- but she can still ruin his life!

RR: Reviewers Response

Woah! I had an overwhelming of 10 reviews since chapter 4!

Sanji-luver: Your beloved Sanji-kun starts to have fun from this chapter ... -laughs- And he gets more fun than he can handle ...

Thomas Drovin: Yeah, Zoro has to make it up somehow ... but can he? -chuckles evilly- This gets real fun.

Hemlock: Thanks for all the kind words! By the way, it's not love at first sight ... if you were thinking that in the first place. oO She's watched OP before, so she kinda fell in love a while ago ...

crepes: No, it made sense. And I agree, it is a lot funner to read! But this chappie might shock you, I don't really know ...

-Recap-

"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. She knew exactly who I was. And she was the one who spoke first, crushing my heart into many pieces.

"I hate you, Zoro."

-End Recap-

(ATHENUS' POV)

The damage was done. I saw Zoro jerk back, obviously hurt. This time Nami's lie was truth. And all because of him. I had loved him, and probably still did, and this was how he treated me?

"I detest you, Zoro-san. I never want to lay eyes on you again."

I fled from the alley, and from the grief-stricken Zoro, leaving a few tear stains on the ground. I weaved my way through the crowd back to my pub, up to the room that Zoro had destroyed, but at the sight of the broken door, it was too much. I rushed downstairs again, and poured myself a beer, and sat as far away as possible from the Straw Hats, whom had made a mockery of my life. But ever since I had come here from Reality, things were going wrong.

I had found love, and cast it away. Now I wanted love again, but I knew I could never receive it from him. But I knew I could receive it from someone else. And I wanted that someone, to come over to where I was sitting more than anything I had wanted in my life.

Speak of the devil. He did.

"Athie-chwan, what's wrong?" he asked sympathetically, taking hold of my shoulders. I started bawling my eyes out, and he drew me in for a hug, patting my black hair comfortingly.

I couldn't believe I had treated Sanji so bad. I was so attracted to Zoro, I forgot about simple gratitude. I stomped on his face, punched him in the head, and here he was, hugging me and I cried my eyes out.

"Thank … thank you … Sanji-kun …" I whispered into the cook's ear, clogged with tears. Sanji drew me back to get a good look at me.

"Mellorine, you look terrible," he told me, pity in his eyes, and strength and comfort in his arms. "Who did this to you?" he asked quietly. "You don't have to tell me if you don't worry."

There was a bang at the door of the pub, and Sanji's eyes flicked to the door, as mine stayed fixed on the table, unseeing.

"That stupid swordsman," he growled, and he noticed that Zoro didn't want to talk to Nami, whom who had approached him, and went into a secluded corner like I had. He also took note that I had started crying my eyes out even more.

"Wait … Athie-swan … he did this to you?" Sanji asked me, amazed, as I nodded slowly, tears pouring out of my eyes like a flood. He let go of my body, and looked at Zoro with pure hostility.

"Sanji-kun … don't do this … please," I weakly protested.

"No, mellorine. Normally I would accede to a beautiful" – at this I smiled a watery smile – "woman's wishes, but this time Mosshead has gone too far. I have to do something about this."

"Well, Sanji-san … good luck," I whispered, before pulling his tie, and planting a kiss on his lips. I watched his eye turn into a heart, and his heart pop out at my kiss, but he just kissed me back thoroughly. I didn't even taste the cigarette smoke.

"Go, my knight, with my blessings," I proclaimed, as Sanji left me in the corner to go and confront the Black Knight, Zoro.

(ZORO'S POV – FROM WHERE HE COMES INTO THE PUB)

I stormed into the building, slamming the building and getting a lot of stares from patrons of the tavern. The first thing my eyes did, unbidden, was look for my Athie-kun … whom I guess is no longer mine, since she hates me so much.

But guess who was with her? That stupid love-cook. Fire boiled up inside of me, and I stormed to one of the corner tables, brushing off attempts by Nami to talk to her. As far as I'm concerned, she's the one who started all this. She and her stupid plan. But, I knew, deep inside my heart, that I wasn't to blame Nami for this. I was to primarily blame myself.

Occasionally, I stole glances at Athenus and that crappy cook talking, touching, and lastly … kissing. I turned my head away in digust. But when I heard footsteps approaching my table, I couldn't ignore who was there. Since he forcibly towed me out the door.

"It's time, Algaehead." Sanji blew a draft of smoke from his cigarette. "It comes down to this."

"Yes, love-cook," I agreed. "It comes down to this." I drew my three katanas, and placed Wado in my mouth. Sanji, in response, rolled his eyes.

He leapt. I leapt. We fought.

Panting, we talked about why we were fighting. "How could you do this to such a beautiful mellorine?" Sanji asked, breathing deeply.

"I didn't think it up!" I protested, trying to get as much breath as possible.

Sanji rolled his eyes, as he aimed a kick to my head. "That's right, crappy swordsman, shift the blow onto someone else!"

I chopped at Sanji, infuriated. "Don't say anymore, love-cook!"

He dodged the blows, and kicked the back of my head, sending me sprawling. "From what I understand, Mosshead, you broke a lady's heart. With a cruel trick you did this to yourself. It's your entire fault."

With that, Sanji left me still sprawled in the street. But I was thinking. Why should I shift the blame? I asked myself. Sanji's words repeated themselves in my head. "It's your entire fault."

It was my entire fault, yes, I know that now. But I also know I can win this. I can get Athie-kun's heart back. I still love her. I just want to know if she still loves me.

Next time on Cursed Idiot …

The Going Merry is about to sail for their next challenge - but will the Straw Hats act as a team, considering Athenus and Sanji are on one side, and Zoro another? Will a common threat bring the two together again? And finally find out what Athenus' position is (this has been delayed for a while ...)!

On Cursed Idiot …