Authors Note: Shorter chapters, but quicker updates. About every month if I can keep it up with school. 7 AP classes and two varsity sports… It's going to be crazy. And 3, sort of 4, stories to update. My Teen wolf fan fiction has literally blown up. Over 80 reviews and 130 alerts! This story has only 30 reviews and 25 alerts, but none the less this story will always hold a special place in my heart. If you like Teen Wolf check it out, it's got a little bit of the theme of this story where the darker bad guy draws every bodies favorite character to his side... Check it out!

Just caught up on the manga and I heard Doflamingos name… Finally we get to learn more about him! My theory is he is two different people… one that is calm and collected and another that is a bit of crazy one… If it turns out to be like that I'll try to adjust my story. But it's just a theory.

Zoro took a deep breath trying to gather his thoughts. "I promised Kuina I would be the world's greatest swordsman. That has always been my dream, my life's sole goal. Not to make friends, not to spend time loitering on islands helping people. And that promise is the worth of my existence"

0-0-0

0-0-0-

0-0-0

Zoro had already slumped into a soft realm of unconsciousness mixed with sleep by the time Chopper entered the room. The little reindeer couldn't help but be relieved, the thought of talking to Zoro or looking into those emerald eyes and asking what happened, or worse wait in silence, seemed horrifying. So he entered with his doctor's kit and set to work on Zoro's wounds. His needle patched and stitched up a multitude of wounds. He closed them and wrapped nearly every inch of Zoro's body tightly with gauze. At the end, Zoro began to look slightly like a mummy, coddled and wrapped between pieces of bloodied tissue.

Chopper stared at his swordsman as he was about to leave, his eyes lingering over each wound that was gushing blood moments before. It was a wonder the swordsman could survive every battle. He had lost nearly all the blood in his body, he had knocked on deaths door so many times that he may very well have the key to the door. By all means, Zoro should be dead. But he wasn't. How much longer can he keep this up? Chopper thought sadly as he gently shut the door behind him, leaving the swordsman still slumbering against the wall.

0-0-0-

0-0-0-

0-0-

Days passed in an awkward silence. The crew had prepared to leave the island and set sail for next direction of the log pose. Usopp and Franky had constantly tried to lighten the mood, causing their normal ruckus and loud noises in hopes of bringing a sense of normality to the crew. Nami was buried in her books plotting the course to the next island, with Brooke peeping in on her, trying to make her smile. Sanjii had become grossly overprotecting of Nami and Robin. He checked in on Robin nearly every hour. She had stabilized but remained in the medical room, reading her books or staring out the window overlooking the sea.

Every time Sanjii entered it was obvious the subject of Zoro was burning on his tongue. But Robin beat him to the punch and repeatedly defended her swordsman, telling Sanjii it was "an accident." Nothing but an accident.

But in those moments were Sanjii left to cook or to flounce about Nami, Robin couldn't help but see Zoro's face burning in her mind.

The look of pure rage when she interrupted his attack. It wasn't insanity; it was concentrated will to destroy. That look that he shot her as he swung his sword into her breast almost hurt more than the wound itself. In that moment he hated her. There was no way to look into his face and see anything else but hatred and angst. At first she thought it was for Dalburn, but slowly she realized it was for her. For the crew. All she could feel was hatred burning off of him.

And it frightened her to the core. His eyes looked sick, his muscles looked repulsive, and every move he made replayed in her mind with a burning desire to kill.

"Just an accident…" Robin said drearily as she gazed out onto the crashing waves. I was just in the way…

0-0-0

-0-0-0

0-0-0

Nobody talked about Zoro, mentioned his name. They all knew what happened but silence held tight to their tongues on the subject of his name. All except for Sanjii. After that night, Sanjii had tried to talk to Luffy over a thousand times. He wanted Zoro to be punished, he wanted Robin to be okay, he wanted Zoro to be okay, and he wanted Luffy to do something! But after several hours of pressuring, Luffy snapped and whipped up his hand, pressing Sanjii against the wall.

"Listen to me." The straw hat said darkly. "Drop it. I am the captain and I will deal with it when the time comes."

You're afraid of him. Sanjii thought after that event. You're afraid to deal with your perfect crew falling apart. You're afraid he might leave, you're afraid he might hate you. You're not afraid of his strength, like the rest of us, but you're afraid of what he might do. You're afraid he'll leave.

Sanjii couldn't bring himself to drop it. He kept his eyes out for Zoro. He would have snuck into his room, but Chopper had given strict orders that Zoro was literally on his last legs and he needed rest. Chopper didn't drug him, he had learned from that mistake, but he knew Zoro wouldn't leave the room. Zoro wasn't a coward, but nobody would ever want to face the darkened looks of confusion and sadness that the crew would present him with.

It didn't matter to Sanjii; he wanted to talk to Zoro. To yell, to fight, to make sure he was okay. So many emotions swirled around about that moss haired moron. And Sanjii knew they'd come out eventually.

0-0-0

0-0-0

0-0

Sanjii had often thought about the night where he fought with Zoro. They didn't really fight about anything; it was nothing more than a spit on the floor or waking him up for dinner. Sanjii still cringed thinking about how their friendly spats had transitioned into this deadly and fierce battle. What changed? The cook thought, but eventually shook the thought out of his head.

Tonight was the night, he told himself. Luffy wouldn't do anything. The rest of the crew just wanted to go back to normal, to pretend everything never happened. But Sanjii couldn't let go of it, the attack on Robin struck a special nerve with him and the poor reactions and effort from the crew only added to that frustration.

Tonight is the night, he said again. He left the kitchen with something fruity simmering over a boiling pot of water and a scorching oven. Zoro's room was only down the hallway.

Tonight is the night, Sanjii thought with confidence as his knuckles tapped against the worn wooden door of Zoro's room. There was no response. Next, Sanjii banged, slamming his entire fist into the door severely times. Nothing stirred inside the room. Maybe he's sleeping… Well I guess this won't be the first time I've woken up the unhappy shit head.

"Oiy," Sanjii shouted into the door, "Open the door or I'm coming in."

At first there was silence, but eventually footsteps echoed inside the room and Zoro creaked open the door.

He looked like he hadn't slept in days. Dark bags loomed under his eyes and his eyelids drooped over top of bland eyes. His hair was coarse from lack of a shower and even his muscles looked dull from days without working out.

"What do you want?" Zoro said bluntly. His eyes seemed to gaze right past Sanjii.

"We need to talk." Sanjii replied with a hard swallow.

"We're talking now." Zoro shot back sharply. "What do you want?"

Sanjii bit the edge of his lip and took a deep breath. "About Robin. Was it really an accident?"

Zoro stood there in silence. He leaned up against the door with his arms crossed against his chest. He had debated that question in his head for days and nights. "Yes."

Sanjii honestly expected more than just a one word answer. Part of him thought Zoro would deny it, but it looked like the feisty nature had fled over the last few days. Are you sure? How could you hurt her? We watched… that was no accident. She was trying to stop you. Why were you attacking him so furiously? Sanjii thought of a thousand responses, but eventually he realized it wouldn't change anything.

"Don't you ever have a damn accident like that again." Sanjii said with as much of a threatening tone that he could muster.

Sanjii thought he heard the swordsman mutter "No promises" under his breath. Zoro turned to shut the door in Sanjii's face, but the chef quickly stuck his foot in the doorway.

I'm not done with you yet. He thought, but remembered the power of those words and the reaction they stirred in Zoro about a week ago.

"And what of the dream and nakama situation?" Sanjii asked again. It was a broad question, but he wanted something more than what Zoro gave him and Luffy.

"It was just a hypothetical question. Let it go." Zoro said darkly.

"I can't." Sanjii said. "And neither can Luffy." He's your captain. How can you not see how much that hurt him?

Zoro's eye twitched up and avoided looking anywhere but at Sanjii. "I already explained myself to you two." Which I shouldn't have to.

After Robin… After Luffy… Is that really all you can say? Sanjii thought desperately.

"You would choose everything over us! You attacked one of your own and you don't even have the balls to apologize to her." Sanjii felt his voice escalate.

"I don't need to! I saved your asses in case you forgot about that."

"Nobody on the crew can even mention your name! Nami tears up and Luffy just stops. Stops breathing, stops functioning, all because of your damn actions." Sanjii yelled, gesturing wild motions with his hands.

Zoro remained silent.

"You're tearing this crew apart and you won't even do anything to save it!" Sanjii prodded his finger into Zoro's chest.

Is it even worth saving? Zoro thought.

Are you even worth saving anymore? Sanjii thought.

"You're a coward." Sanjii mocked. "A traitor."

"A traitor?" Zoro snapped back, emotion finally filling his face.

Sanjii swallowed hard, immediately wanting to reach in the past and pull the word back into his lips.

"How many times have I almost died for this crew? How many times have I put everything on the line? How dare you call me a traitor?" Zoro's eyes began to burn, not from salty tears, but from anger welling up.

"How dare you choose everything over us! Over your friends!" Sanjii yelled. "You can take your damn dream and shove it up your ass." If that's the only reason you're with us, then you need to check yourself.

"Right, because going to catch some fish and cook them is a really admirable dream!" Zoro shouted back in a mocking tone.

"More so than a stupid promise you made to a stupid girl when you were nothing but a stupid boy who didn't know anything!"

Within a moment, Zoro's sword was pressed against Sanjii's throat.

A little droplet of blood hung at the edge of Sanjii's neck by the sharpened edge of the blade. Sanjii's eyes grew wide at the touch.

Sanjii could feel the anger bubble up inside of him. Everything was wrong.

"You take that back." Zoro whispered.

"You take back attacking Robin."

Zoro's eyes flinched slightly. "Don't mock my dream."

"It's stupid. It's selfish. It won't bring your dead friend back!" Sanjii shouted. He knew that was the reason for Zoro's dream. He felt bringing that glory would signify Kuinas death. It would bring her back, even if for a moment.

"Shut up!"

"She's dead and beating some man won't bring her back! You're killing yourself and hurting others, for what? Some promise?" Sanjii said with every ounce of seriousness he could muster.

"Enough!"

"No! I won't stand for you believing a promise to a dead girl is more important than the present friends you have." If you even consider us friends.

"Sanjii, shut up!" Zoro pressed his sword harder into Sanjii and the cook backed up a step, but continued to look the swordsman harshly in the eye.

"No. You don't need to live your life for this stupid dream." I'm doing this for you. Live your life for us. No, live it for you.

"I will live my life however I damn well please."

With a sudden spin Sanjii gripped the hilt of Zoro's sword and yanked it away from his throat.

Sanjii felt as thought he had nothing left to say to Zoro, he was tired of his answers, and he began to walk away with a sharp look at Zoro.

"Where the hell are you going?"

Sanjii wasn't quite sure why he felt so angry. He looked at the sword, burning hatred in Zoro's hands. He wanted Zoro to stop, to give up his dream. No, never give it up. But put it in perspective- To realize how in the scheme of life, how little it meant to everyone around. He couldn't choose it over them, and he wanted Zoro to realize that so bad. Not over him, not over every tear Nami has shed, not over every fight they had, not over every beer he had downed watching Luffy steal food. Not over them.

Sanjii walked back towards the kitchen, his head shaking dismally as he stormed away from Zoro. The swordsman bounded after him, sheathing is sword at his side.

Sanjii retreated into the comfort of the kitchen, where scents hung around the air and the pots and pans glistened, hanging up on a polished wall.

Zoro stood in the doorway of the kitchen glaring at Sanjii who paid him no mind, throwing spices into a pot filled with slimy ingredients.

My dream. He dares to mock my dream.

Zoro leapt at Sanjii and shoved him against the stove. His face was flushed with anger and his eyes lost all pupils. Both of the mens breathing became heavy as their eyes locked, faces barely inches from the other.

He gripped onto the skinny white wrists of the cook and look around. He eyed the pot bubbling on the stove; the water was boiling on top. Zoro took Sanjii's hands and shoved them into the boiling water that was sizzling on the top of the stove.

The cook let out a harsh scream, wrenching his hand from Zoro's grip and pulling it out of the water. But it was too late.

He looked down at his perfectly taken care of hands, not manicured, but protected for the sake of the cooking. They were swollen and bright red, with splotches of black and skin peeling off already. He could see the blood coarse around his hands from the burns. His hands began to sting after the shock had dismissed. His fingers would not move, they were burned and skin began to bubble up in sickening patches.

Sanjii shot Zoro a look of pure surprise.

His hands- The tools for cooking, the most precious thing to Sanjii, burnt and shriveled from scorching water.

"Don't you ever talk against another's dream." Zoro shouted as he walked out of the kitchen.

0-0-0

0-0-0

-0-0

Authors Note:

I can't help but feel that Sanjii and Zoro were a little OOC… Oh well, at least it's an update!