I procrastinated for a long ass time, didn't I? I consider this a new record. Wehehehe. I mean, it's mostly because I was working on art stuff as well and drawing doujins and stuff. I also have exams ongoing, but we ain't talking about that.

P is for Pride.

"Pride is the sin from which all others arise."

The words that seemingly have no significant meaning were uttered one afternoon after training. The figure of Kyoshiro as gentle as ever, eyes looking out distantly over the horizon of Shimotsuki village, reminiscing about bygone days.

Zoro didn't understand why he chose to make a rather pointless statement abruptly, or why he should give it any significance. After all, swordsmen are prideful by nature. Whether or not it gives rise to sin is of no consequence to him.

Humans have a habit of dwelling on the past, regretting the present, fearing the future. Zoro doesn't care about any of that. He has a goal that needs to be accomplished, and mulling over regrets and what could have happened won't help anyone. Living a life free of sin would not help his ambition in the slightest.

After all, suffering is preferred on the path to asura.

So what if he values his pride higher than his life? Zoro is a swordsman, and swordsmen always keep their promises. Maybe it was fuelled by a touch of bitterness towards Kuina for failing to keep her promise. Maybe.

She was like his sister. She should have been his rival.

She should have kept her promise.

If his pride allows him to reach the top, living a life of sin is of little significance. Swordsmen are prideful by nature.

Fight, bleed, train, rest. Fight, bleed, train, rest. Zoro doesn't have any qualms with such a routine. Even if it got a bit hectic with Johnny and yosaku. But people are of little importance compared to honing his craft.

Little by little. Little by little. Pouring in all his blood and sweat. To reach the top. Fight, bleed, train, rest. His promise won't allow any less.

His Pride won't allow any less.

Asura jeers, clearly amused at the severe training. Zoro pays no heed. He doesn't need worldly attachments. Humans are sinful by nature. A little more sin won't make it any worse.

He leaves Johnny and yosaku after a while. It's not like he didn't like them, in fact he grew quite attached to them. But bonds are just a weakness to be severed. You must let go of everything to reach the top.

It doesn't even matter if he's alone again. Just like when he was 11, before he reached shimotsuki.

Suffering is preferred on the path to asura.

"The strongest swordsman in the east", they call him. "The demon of the east blue". "The pirate hunter" And various other nonsensical names that resemble what a kid would conjure up if they were asked to choose aliases for a villain. Zoro doesn't mind. The infamy will help him to reach the top, to reach Dracule Mihawk. So what if the names help ruffle his feathers a bit?

He fights for himself after all. He will always fight for himself.

Alone.

Or so he thought.

Who knew that a random encounter with a rubbery brat with all the cheer and energy of the sun, and a will power that matches zoro's own would change everything in such a drastic way.

Who knew that a kid who blackmailed zoro into joining his crew would be the one he throws away all his pride for.

Not once but twice.

Sacrificing everything for the idiot he called his captain.

Luffy's pain, Luffy's burden, all his fatigue, everything Zoro absorbed. Cause Luffy is the man who would become the pirate king. Kuma showed him hell, and he took it all.

Because Zoro's pride would not allow the man he calls his captain to fall. But even that couldn't compare to this.

Asking his damn rival, the one who is called The greatest swordsman to train him. On his hands and knees, begging to get stronger.

Cause he wasn't there when Luffy needed him, he couldn't help Luffy, he wasn't there, he wasn't there, he was too weak, he couldn't help his captain, he was injured in sabaody, spirited away at the feet of kizaru by the man who gave him luffy's pain.

He still wasn't strong enough.

Even after cruising with Luffy, with the strawhats, his family , he couldn't be there when they needed him.

Luffy needed him.

His pride could go to hell, it didn't matter anymore.

Even if he values his pride above his life, he would throw it all away for the strawhat brat with all the cheer and energy of the sun. Because it's zoro's captain. And zoro is the first mate.

His pride does not matter when it comes to the crew.

"When a man like you swallows his pride, it's always for someone else."

His crew is his pride.

Well, another chapter finished! Finally!!! I know I took way too long, so forgive me for that lol. I love the pride of the swordsmen aspect so much omg.

Also I realised mihawk has a very weird habit of calling zoro a rabbit but we'll ignore that.