Days passed in quiet comfort. Waves gently rocked the ship, sailing orders were lazily called out above the sweet summer breezes.
Each enjoyed their own past times, both alone and together. Tsulle often felt drawn to the black haired woman (she'd soon learned her name was Robin), and would read alongside her, pouring over books and imaging worlds she'd never seen. Tsulle also relished her time with Franky, the metal man. Tinkering with machines brought a satisfaction Tsulle had never known, and when she'd first proposed building something she'd imagined herself, out of her own mind, Franky had been delighted to help her get started and lend a hand whenever she needed. Her "invention" was less original than she'd thought; apparently periscopes to see around corners were not uncommon, but Franky consoled her. "It doesn't matter if somebody else made it too. You invented it without knowing about that, so it still counts; it's still yours, and it's still totally SUPER!" He'd tousled her hair playfully. "You're something else, kid. I'm glad you're here." Tsulle glowed in his compliments.
At time went on, though, Tsulle began to think more and more of the family she'd left behind when she'd run away so long ago. She sat on the deck of the Sunny, legs drawn up under her skirt, hands clasped around her knees, blonde hair waving lightly in the sea air. She thought, considered, and dreamed. The wondered if her mother was worried; she wondered if her father would take her back. She wondered if her young brothers and sisters would remember her. She wiped her nose on her sleeve as the worries compounded and fears of rejection began to take hold in her heart.
"Something you want to talk about?" Zoro asked. Tsulle jumped; she thought he'd been asleep, napping.
"I don't know. Family."
"Ah. That can be a tricky one."
"Yes…"
"You've never talked about them," Zoro invited.
Tsulle got up, walked a few steps, and sat back down next to him. "They…well, they were wonderful. I just didn't know it at the time." Zoro smiled. "My father…I thought he was too strict. I thought he didn't want me to explore the world because he wanted me to do chores instead, and I thought he didn't understand because he wanted me to go to school in the village, and I wanted to see the city." Tsulle looked down at her hands. "He was trying to protect me, and I just threw it in his face. I wonder if he'll ever forgive me…"
Zoro reached a hand around her shoulders, pulling her closer. "It sounds to me like he loves you an awful lot."
"Loved, anyway. Do you think he still does?"
Zoro rubbed her arm, consolingly. "That kind of love doesn't just go away. It's always there, even if people screw up. Even after time, and mistakes, and angry feelings. He still loves you."
Tsulle was quiet a few moments. "My mother always seemed like she was distracted by the younger ones. I wanted to have more time with her, to talk to her and be with her, but all her attention was on the babies. I…I could have helped more. I could've been there more for her, too. I was just…selfish." Tsulle covered her face with her hands. "My little sister—what if she does like I did? What if she runs away too? What if she—oh gods. My brothers probably don't even remember me. They were so young and it was so long ago…" At that, silent tears began to fall down Tsulle's cheeks, gathering in her hands. She turned and pressed her face to Zoro's chest.
He shifted his hand to the back of her head, stroking her hair and holding her close with his other arm. "Family isn't always what people think it is, you know. It can be blood kin, but not necessarily. Family are the people you fight for, the people you care about. They're the ones you think of when times are tough. Is that how it is for you with your parents and brothers and sister?"
Tsulle nodded, still tucked against Zoro's chest.
"Then nothing will break those bonds. They're your nakama; that's stronger than anything else. There's no mistake in the world that could change that. There's nothing you could do to make them not love you." Tsulle felt the truth in his words. She stayed nestled in his arms for a little longer, this unexpected friend.
"Zoro…I want to go home."
Zoro planted a kiss on the top of her head. "Okay. I'll talk to Luffy. We'll start in that direction at sunrise."
"Can we…can we start that way now?"
The swordsman chuckled. "I don't see why not. I'll make sure we've got the all clear." Zoro stood up. "I'm proud of you, kid. Your family will be too."
Tsulle smiled her appreciation. She hoped he was right. She turned her face back into the oncoming breeze. Hope was a light; bright inside her, and warm. She was a person again, at last…and she was going home.