A/N- That Chapter was short, so I wanted to write a second one this week. I hope you enjoy this one, and thank you to anyone who reviewed on the last chapter while I was working on this one. I'll list you on Chapter 5!

Chapter 4: Moss-head it's your move!

The sun had set on the ship as they floated through to the next island, slowly. Almost lazily. Emi had finished dinner and enjoyed watching the large aquarium for a long time. There were large sea monsters like she'd never seen, and beautiful fish with shining scales and designs. When she had finally gotten up, she offered to help with the dishes but Sanji simply wouldn't have it. She decided to at least sit a while, and watch as the man prepped for their next meal. His technique was incredible and so far from her humble dumpling expertise. She felt silly having offered to cook for the crew after tasting what could only be the most incredible meal of her entire life. After Sanji had finished and closed up the kitchen for the night, she climb the stairs up to the deck. She realized then that Zoro hadn't left her side. He sat in the corner of the dining room while she sat with Sanji, and when she made it to a perfect sitting spot in the grass and sat down, she noticed Zoro stroll nonchalantly to the other side of the deck. Leaning against the crow's nest ladder, but not to climbing it.

"This is your room! Chopper's office is down the hall and its far, far away from Sanji! He's kind of a creep." Nami threw the door open to a medium sized cabin, it was fairly empty other than some beautiful furniture. A large four poster bed, seemly carved right out of the room, held intricate engravings of fish and waves as well as sheer curtains that hung from them. There was a similar desk that was also carved from the the wall and a beautiful and comfortable looking chair in the corner. On the walls hung multiple candle holders and empty bookshelves with little wood rods to keep the books in place. And a boudoir that looked like it opened to a very spacious clothing organizer. It was so gorgeous, Emi couldn't believe it was hers.

"Nami, are you sure its okay if I move in here? Its gorgeous!"

"What? Oh yeah, sure! My room is twice this size!"

Emi fell over, but quickly thanked Nami again. Nami waved and walked away, but stopped when she remembered what she was carrying.

"Oh yeah! I brought these for you, they should fit. They're not mine, so don't worry, I'm not charging you!" Nami laughed and handed the clothes to Emi, who was still wearing the medical gown from her father's office. She walked into the room and shut the door, locking it and becoming familiar with her surroundings. There was a mirror above the desk, really making it a large vanity and she used the candle she had brought to light all of them, before setting the one she brought in a cradle on the table next to the bed. Franky had told her the candles were a special wax blend that burned for years, and the ship was coated against fire for 'ultimate safety and comfort," as she had said.

Her hands hugged the soft cotton fabric of the clothes Nami gave her before placing them down on the soft sheets of the bed. She started to strip off her gown, it peeled it from her in some areas, and she relieved to feel the clean air on her body. As it fell to the floor, she heard her door slam open.

Eye to eye with Roronoa Zoro, she froze, blushing wildly. He turned his head quickly when he realized what he had done, a blush reaching his own cheeks. Time stood still and neither pirate moved first, feeling the weight of soggy sand in each of their extremities. Finally snapping back into reality, Zoro slammed the door shut and Emi melted into the floor.

After a few moments, she slowly regained composure, and stood up. Emi found a small bowl of water and a cloth in the corner of the room, surely left by Chopper. She carefully scrubbed the blood from her body and pulled out the stitches that were already unneeded. It hurt for a moment, but the skin melted perfectly together in seconds, telling no stories about her close call with death. She then picked up a purple dress from the bed and inspected it. It had long, tight sleeves with relaxed shoulders and a brown belt that fastened under her bust. After pulling it on and adjusting it, she began to lace the borrowed brown boots up her calves. The dress was incredibly short, standing an inch over the tops of the boots that buckled above her knees.

Gosh, this is a little…well, little… and what about Zoro, what do I do now? Can I hide in here forever? Oh well, I guess I'll just go outside.

Opening her door, she saw him standing there. His eyes down.

"Z..Zoro?" Emi stumbled over his name, unsure of what to do. He turned his head to her and grunted, then pointed down the hallway.

"Dinner is ready."

"Oh, thank you."

"Yeah."

"Thank you for saving my life again, too."

"Yeah."

She giggled to herself at the memory, watching the man pretend not to notice her, and who seemed to almost twitch at the sound of her laughter.

He had been so quiet throughout dinner, and he very ate quickly.

At dinner, Robin and Nami quietly asked Emi about her home, and about what she remembered of her mother. Luffy ate so much he never had time to question, just passively listen. She smiled as she spoke of her mother, her father and Mamoru. Emi explained the restaurant and family practice and how she was raised, and taught medicine and dumpling making by her father. No one from her village really asked about her devil fruit, or really even knew about it, and she was thankful. It was amazing to now be surrounded by other people who had powers.

She let memories of her father wash over her in happiness, knowing he wouldn't want her to suffer. Emi hoped to see Mamoru again as he hadn't been at the restaurant when it burned, and she knew he had an escape plan in case his pirate past came knocking. Her eyes fell to the grass as she realized how upset he would be at her acceptance of Luffy's offer, but it wasn't as if she had any other choices.

Emi brought her mind back to the present, and shifted her eyes toward her savior, letting her confidence speak again.

"Zoro?"

"Yeah?"

"Why did you follow me up here?"

"I didn't. I just wanted to come out here."

"Okay."

His eyes avoided hers, and the unconvincing lie he told made her giggle. She stood up and walked closer to him, much to his chagrin. For some reason this man made Emi feel so safe. Even flirtatious. Her feet closed the space between them, and she looked up, inches from him. Her tall, slender body was almost short compared to his height, even as he slouched against the mast.

"Zoro?"

"Yeah?"

He avoided her gaze and he held out as long as he could. His jaw was clenched, his knuckles were white, and a vein pounded from his forehead.

"Did you like what you saw?"

He lost it. Blood erupted from his nose as backed into the pole and hit his head hard against the wooden pole. She laughed when he fell to the deck, squatting down next to him and placing her hand on his head.

"Don't use your devil ju ju on me, witch." Zoro snapped, and Emi laughed again.

"Ju Ju? Besides! I wouldn't use it on something so insignificant."

"Who are you calling insignificant?"

Emi laughed even harder still, "The hit was insignificant, not you!"

"Oh."

Emi rubbed his arm as he continued to avoid her eyes, she trailed her fingers up his chin and held his face as she lightly feathered a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you, Zoro. Goodnight."

He watched as she walked away, his cheeks tingling and warm where her lips had touched.

"Hey Zoro! Go tell Emi and Nami dinner is ready!" Luffy sang as he sat down at a large, beautifully engraved table, surrounded by a deep blue aquarium with a lot of nervous looking fish.

Zoro grunted. He wasn't sure why all the sudden it seemed harder for him to speak. It was uncharacteristic of himself and it made him angry. He exited the large room and continued down a candle lit hallway, Nami came toward him and as he gave her his message, she pointed him in the direction of their new cremate.

"Her room is three down on the right, but first you'll want to take a left at my room." Nami called over her shoulder, a sort of snicker on her face.

Zoro twitched again.

Stupid navigation woman with her impossible to follow instructions. Might as well have left me out in the middle of the desert, why do we even have so many rooms?

Coming to the door Nami described, Zoro knocked deliberately and waited. And waited. He knocked again, this time yelling her name.

Nothing.

Getting angry Zoro flung the door open and scanned the room, it was empty. Zoro groaned and kept moving, finally pushing open every door he came to. Zoro stopped and scanned the very last of the doors; light escaped from the cracks around the furtherest one.

Why did they put her so far away from everything?

Zoro approached the door and threw it open with a frustrated SMACK. His eyes scanned the room and locked with those of a very terrified, and very naked woman. Cemented in place, he struggled to maintain eye contact as his brain went through every possible scenario. When the swordsman finally regained control of his body, he slammed the door shut and flung his back against the wall next to the door.

Shit. Shitshitshit.

Unsure of what to do next, Zoro continued to lean against the wall. His thoughts drifted back to the woman he had walked in on. He tried his best to keep his eyes locked on hers, but very briefly allowed his vision to trace over her skin. It was milky white, almost perfect, with few little brown freckles over her stomach and legs. She was shorter than him, but her body was long, and her chocolatey brown hair feathered half way down the front of her body. Her brown eyes, big with the shock of it all, twinkled even then.

Zoro twitched from the memory. Well, some part of him did.

Zoro kept watching as Emi walked away. Her hair tangled, and a little wild from the days events, swayed with each step and it was then he decided there was something about this woman.

Emi entered her room and shut the door, she took a step toward her bed then turned around. Her fingers twisted the cold lock on the knob with experience, shuttering at the idea of Zoro walking in on her changing again. But then she stopped.

Would it be that bad if he did?

She turned around and unlocked the knob with a little giggle.

Well, Moss-man, your move.