A/N: Thank you AngelFallenDemon for your kind comment, it keeps me motivated :) Here's the next chapter..

Zoro found himself aimlessly drifting but remained unconcerned. As long as he had sake he was good, he thought. But after endless sword and haki drills even drinking could do little to curb his boredom. He could barely sleep, he took short naps but even those were fitful. His patience was running thin on this small boat and he really missed his brothers. He couldn't believe he forgot to call them. He actually screwed the whole plan, he thought belatedly as he looked up into the sky.

He was supposed to wait on the island until Luffy picked him up. But he couldn't. He couldn't bear to stay on the island, especially since he already learned everything he needed to know. The dojo was a reminder of Kuina. And sensei, despite his coldness, was just as affected by her death. He saw it in the way he gave him Wado, it was a family heirloom and Kyoshiro could barely stand to look at it, much less touch it enough to hand it over to Zoro. Zoro remembered how painful and awkward the moment was. He was thankful he came into the past after that day. Now all he could think about was what came next.

Zoro needed to get back to his Captain. He needed to be at his Captain's side and protect him. If he couldn't protect Luffy and make him the Pirate King then his title of World's Best Swordsman would be meaningless. He took another gulp of his sake and looked over to his stash to realize there was just one bottle left. Damn, that's a problem. It helped lull him to sleep or as close to it. At the back of his mind was also the concern that he hadn't spotted any land and was potentially lost but the constant stream of sake relaxed those thoughts. Ah what the hell, I'll finish off the last bottle and try to sleep, he thought.

The Next Day

"Oi, Chef Zeff, I think he's dead," yelled a boy as he hopped onto the boat. "He probably drunk himself to death under the sun, what an idiot, why he looks my age!" he exclaimed. As the boy got closer, Zoro leaped into the air and swung his sword, nearly cutting the kid's head off, had it not been intercepted by the Chef's leg. It all happened so quickly that the boy didn't even realize what happened until the Chef pushed the boy back, "Sanji, step back," he said.

"Oi, we mean you no harm. You seem strong boy, much too strong to be from around these waters?" the old man questioned, looking at him warily.

Zoro was stuck staring at the blonde boy with curly eyebrows. His body was attuned to attack at the hint of danger. So he moved unconsciously when he attacked Sanji, Sanji, what were the odds? He had been trapped in a dark dream when his body moved of its own accord. His young body was still not sensitive enough to haki to differentiate between people yet. And this version of Sanji was still really weak. He needed to train harder because this mistake was too big to make again. He closed his eyes again and breathed out. Though now that he locked in on Sanji, he wouldn't mistake him for an enemy again.

Completely out of character for Zoro, he bowed, "My sincerest apologies, thank you for saving him. I've been attacked many times in my sleep before, my body just reacts," Zoro said.

"Hmpf, I guess I'll take it since you seem so sincere, cabbage head," the Chef said gruffly, still with his guard up which Zoro respected.

"Oi, leave my hair out of it," Zoro yelled, annoyed though hints of fondness came through which confused the duo. Guess he learned it from somewhere, he thought, smirking internally.

Though, Zoro was feeling out of sorts. It was a heady mix of joy and excitement that had Zoro so happy to see Sanji again. An odd thought before Wano but now... he shuddered to think further on the thought and another emotion began bubbling up. He wanted to see Luffy. Luffy would know what to do. It was too soon. Too much. Zoro reached for a bottle of sake, but belatedly realized it was empty just like the feeling that was festering within him. He stepped forward and stumbled. "Oi, you, ok.." Zoro heard the old man say but as he tried to take another step, Zoro lost consciousness completely mid step.

A/N: mentions of alcohol abuse. Zoro is always shown as a heavy drinker in canon but it looks worse here because of his young age, so the people around him will definitely see it as a problem and to a certain extent it is (besides the obvious age issue). More to come, I will have a longer chapter next time. Thanks for the follows, favs, and comments :)