Sanji sat on his horse staring ahead at Zoro whose horse was now back to following Nami, he sighed and tried to stretch again. His muscles were killing him, he'd woken up with a face full of canvas because Luffy had somehow managed to lie in a way that took up most of the tent.
When he'd woke up he'd been surprised that he was alone in the tent with Luffy, he'd left the tent and found Zoro sitting next to the burned out fire carefully sharpening his swords with items from the wooden box he'd carefully packed. If it hadn't been for the other early risers nearby he would have tried to talk to Zoro again, instead as the morning had worn on he'd worked out that he was being ignored by the swordsman.
His arm clicked painfully and he lowered his them back down, he was riding just back from Zoro who was currently fast asleep in his saddle, the raven had perched on the side bags for now. No one appeared to be surprised by this so he figured it must be a regular enough occurrence. He decided it was pointless to worry, if Zoro wanted to ignore him let him. He looked around trying to find someone to talk with, he saw Brook uncomfortably squashed on a horse to small for him but he was busy chatting away with Robin.
Usopp was busy talking with Franky and Nami was talking to Luffy who had stopped riding ahead for now. He relaxed into his saddle and decided to enjoy the scenery, they were currently traveling through farmland but in the distance he could see they were heading towards another forest. He guessed that they would probably be far into it by nightfall, it was would probably be where they would make camp.
'Lunchtime!' Luffy's booming voice startled him out of his thoughts.
As everyone stopped he noticed that Zoro was still asleep. He moved his horse close enough and kicked towards the swordsman's leg, before it could hit a sword blocked him. He grinned up at the other man as he opened his eye, the look lazy but challenging.
'I still owe you a spar' he grinned back in challenge.
Zoro said nothing but he couldn't hide the feral smile on his face.
'If you two are going to fight you'll do it tonight, if you two screw up my schedule there'll be hell to pay' Nami's voice made him jump.
'Of course my Nami-swan, I wouldn't want to inconvenience one as beautiful as you' he swooned at the red head
'Moron' Zoro was finally talking to him, he choose to ignore the glare that was sent his way though.
'Asshole' he snapped back but grinned back.
'Just eat your lunch so we can go' Nami sighed as she got of her horse.
He grinned as he slid of his horse, half a day and he'd won; He'd got the damn stubborn bastard to talk to him.
Cold meat from last night's dinner was handed round, he could hear Luffy complaining at the portion size; He got the feeling that the teens life revolved around his meals and he'd agreed to cook for this bottomless pit.
He ate quickly, a habit he had picked up since Luffy's return. Everyone was enjoying a bit of time out of the saddle, he glanced round his eyes quickly finding Zoro. The other man was sitting talking to Luffy and swigging from a bottle of sake, he must have a stash on his horse.
'Still not fixed things little bro' Franky sat down next to him.
'No thanks to you' he muttered back
Franky laughed 'You would have spent the whole trip worrying about it now you can get your answer'
He couldn't put all the blame at Franky, he had avoided talking about it but maybe Franky could have you know been more subtle. He looked up at the giant of a man with his vivid blue hair and distinct lack of clothing, no subtle and Franky didn't go together.
'Thanks I guess' he smiled at the older man, he'd only been trying to help.
'Right breaks over let's go' Nami shouted.
Everyone got up and stretched, even Brook, what exactly the skeleton was stretching was anyone's guess.
He mounted up next to Zoro, he stayed next to him even as they all began moving again. The raven landed dropping a small stone, Zoro caught it glanced at the bird and threw the stone up, the bird caught it before returning it. Sanji watched as they played, Zoro increasing the distance but the bird always returning the stone.
Deciding to quit whilst he was ahead he moved forward to Nami, Luffy had ridden off ahead again leaving the beautiful lady all alone.
'How are we doing my sweet? Are we still on schedule?' he smiled broadly at the navigator.
'We're currently ahead of schedule, if we keep this up we can get there a day early' she glanced ahead 'Don't tell Luffy, he'll take that as he can have a party when we stop'
'You seem to be in control of everything' it was true from travel plans to when and how they camped all seemed to be at her word.
'Luffy knows his strengths and his weaknesses, he surrounded himself with people who balance out his weaknesses' she smiled towards the king 'Not many Kings would take orders off others the way he does, we're not servants or staff, we're his friends'
He nodded, he'd been surprised at first the way she'd treated Luffy but now he saw that this was more of a family than a King and his staff.
It was a similar feeling to the one he had at home, the kitchen was full of big burly chefs who insulted the hell out of each other, especially himself but that was his family and he wouldn't change it for the world.
Though looking at it that way it may explain the way he always found a kind of affection in his fights with Zoro, goddammit Zeff had managed to screw him up big time.
'He must be a good person to have such amazingly talented ladies following him' he allowed himself to flirt just a little.
Nami laughed sweetly 'He's saved pretty much everyone here so he's earned our loyalty but you better watch your flirting or he may get the wrong impression' she had said the last part quietly.
He glanced back and instantly understood why, he'd gotten so wrapped up talking to the beautiful Nami-swan that he had forgotten that the moss heads horse was following hers.
The other man's was watching him closely his face betraying no emotion, he grinned broadly at Zoro and was pleased to see his face change to a bemused look. He cheered silently in his mind suave Sanji was finally managing to come through to help him.
He nodded and quickly muttered his thanks to Nami and let his horse fall back slightly.
'Something wrong mossy?' his grin still in place.
'I really don't get you' the swordsman looked sullen.
'I guess I'm just too amazing for your poor plant brain to process' his grin still firmly in place.
'Bandits!' the cry come from Usopp at the back of the line.
In almost perfect synch he and Zoro jumped off their horses and ran back towards the incoming group. Usopp had sped his horse forward, towards everyone else who had stopped to gather the horses together.
Thanks to his running speed he made it to the back easily before the bandits reached the convoy.
The group of bandits stopped in front of him, one got off their horse and began walking towards hims him.
The group was dressed in worn brown leather tunics and breeches, their weapons were mainly old battered swords but he did notice a couple of bows. The one walking towards him was clearly the leader the chain mail over his leather tunic giving away his higher standing, the large two handed mace on his back making him stand out all the more.
'Alright pretty boy just hand everything over and no one needs to get hurt' the bandit leader sneered.
He took a quick head count, twenty-four they clearly thought this fight would go in their favour.
He glanced back at the his group, they were looking over grinning at him. Clearly they had decided that he could handle this, he felt a warm glow that came from knowing they weren't underestimating him and that they trusted him to handle it.
One thing was bugging him though, he glanced around himself to make sure he hadn't made a mistake. Where the hell was that god-damned swordsman? The idiot had gotten of his horse at the same time as him, he looked over at the woods just past the group, he had the bad feeling that he would be searching them soon because the raven was currently perched on Chopper's hat.
He looked back at the leering bandit, his men standing behind him trying their best to look menacing. He almost felt sorry for them, they clearly had no clue who they had stopped.
'Look boys I'm going to have to wrap this up quickly, I'm afraid my moss balls wandered off' he stretched his legs still slightly stiff from riding.