A/N: Lance - Of course Zoro is so gonna kick his ass, hehe.


Sanji's words still echoed in his head as he frowned to let them sink in. One of his eyebrows rose up when he realised how serious the situation was.

"Why?" asked Zoro, half worried and half perplexed at the same time.

"I don't know," confessed the blond. "I just know that he wants to kill me and he is the reason why Mama and I had to leave our own home!"

"But how come he's here?!"

"How the hell will I know?!" Sanji shouted back. His throat was hurting him and his vision was getting blurry by the tears welling up in his eyes.

"Okay, okay. Calm down! We need to think about this." Zoro said peacefully. "First, let's not go home-"

"But my Mama is there!" Sanji protested. "Look, just go to your kendo lessons and I'll go back home-"

"What the hell are you saying?!" Zoro argued in anger. "I can't leave you alone!"

"But he'll know about you! I don't want you to be in danger because of me!"

"I can protect myself!"

"We are just children! How can two children like us fight against an insane adult?!"

"Of course we can!"

Sanji just stared at the green haired in disbelief.

"I will protect you too, Sanji! It's a promise!"

Sanji could not be more caught off guard by his words. He felt choked up with the lots of different feelings and emotions he was feeling at the same time: not really being able to grasp what he was really feeling.

But trying to briefly describe it, it would be more like Sanji felt relieved at first and his tensed shoulders slumped down, then happy and embarrassed as he slowly became red, while at the same time, sad and worried as he brooded next.

"You don't know what you are saying, Zoro."

"I do! I just want to protect you!"

"…I-I-I don't..need your…protection!" Sanji faltered stubbornly, embarrassed in fact.

"It's a promise!" Zoro exhaled a sharp breath and seized the blonde's right pinkie finger to entwine it with his.

"I promise to protect you, Sanji." Zoro said again in a firm voice and with a determined and unwavering expression.

"…Then…I will protect you too, Zoro. It's a promise!" Sanji's pinkie curled tighter around the green haired's.

Both boys gazed into each other's eyes as they smiled. However, their intimate moment was too soon interrupted by the subject of their conversation a few minutes earlier.

Zoro let go of Sanji's hand and pushed him behind him protectively while his other hand pulled out his bamboo stick which was strapped to his back. He stood shoulder's width apart and slightly squatted down in a firm stance with his stick firmly held in front of him.

Great thing I know kendo!

Zoro gritted his teeth while he watched the man who wanted to harm the one behind him, approached him slowly but in large steps.

Zoro took in his features which he did not have the chance to do so earlier as he was suddenly pulled and dragged along by Sanji in a fast run powered by the blond's fear.

The man was tall and muscular even though he looked rather thin. Surely, he didn't have a proper meal these last few days. His hair was gray with a slight hint of purple and it was long and wild. His attire looked like those of rags, all worn out and dirty. Zoro did not even dare to sniff the air as he scrunched up his nose, holding his breath as he did not want to be hit by a horrible stench of smell hanging in the air because the man looked like he had not taken a bath for days. For months even!

"Well, well, quite a nice friend you have made here, Sanji." His name rolled off his tongue.

The blond shuddered on hearing his name being called out in such an intimidating voice. Zoro noticed his friend's reaction and advanced one step, still keeping his firm stance.

"Who are you?" Zoro growled.

"Oh. Didn't you know that you have to introduce yourself first before asking someone else's name? It's basic etiquette, little boy." The man sneered.

"Tch." Zoro clicked his tongue but stood straighter to slam his palm on his chest. "My name is Roronoa Zoro, Dracule Mihawk's son, the one who will become the greatest swordsman of all times and I'm also the one WHO'S GONNA BEAT UP YOUR SORRY ASS!" he shouted at the top of his voice, catching the two by surprise.

Sanji's heart swelled in admiration for his courage and pride for being friends with such a strong witted guy.

"Hahahaha… Oh my fucking god!" The large man held his stomach as he went into another fit of laughter.

"Why are you laughing?!" Zoro snapped.

"I think this is fate. For me to meet the brats of the men who ruined my life!" he glared.

"W-what are you saying?"

Meanwhile, Sanji's heart almost stopped.

Is Zoro involved in this too? How? Why? Is he targeted too? Does that mean it's not a coincidence that his father helped us?

No wait. Mama already knew his father and asked him to help us. A promise he was talking about. What was it? Why did he say that we ruined his life? Is that the reason for all his doings?

Countless of questions flooded Sanji's mind.

"I don't know what you are talking about. But if my father had beaten your ass before then he must have had a good reason for it-"

Sanji's eyes widened in shock as time seemed to have slowed down. He watched as the green haired was sent flying and landed on the road a good few meters away from where they were standing.

Sanji slowly turned his head to face the brutal man looming over him. He could not help but trembled as he brought down one of his large hands to seize him by the neck again. Sanji panicked.

No. No. No. Not again! He screamed but no sound came from his mouth. He gasped as he felt the man's hand around his neck, lifting him off the ground.

"You will be the first to die. Then that boy. I will also take a pleasure in torturing your-" He leaned in closer to Sanji's face. "Mama." Sanji felt nauseous at his words and horrid breath.

"Don't-y-you…da-dare-touch…them!" The grasp around his neck became tighter and his vision distorted. Sanji was on the verge of losing consciousness.

"YAAAAAAAAAH!" Zoro screamed like he was in a battlefield while he charged at the gray haired man. "TAKE THIS!" Zoro hit his stretched out arm with all his force. His grip on Sanji loosened and the boy fell down on his butt, coughing and gasping for air.

But without losing a second after he was freed, he jumped up and aimed a good kick at the larger man's family jewels. "TAKE THIS TOO!" Sanji shouted and retreated to Zoro's side, panting to regain his breath.

"YOU BRATS!" The man roared in anger while he held his crotch, face contorted in pain.

"Let's run for it!"

"Yeah!" Zoro agreed.

But the man stretched out his hand and grabbed a fistful of Sanji's blond hair, yanking him back. Zoro stopped when he heard him cried out in pain. Anger overtook him as he charged again at the man while Sanji writhed in the air to try to free himself.

"Let GO OF HIM!" Zoro brought down his bamboo stick again but the larger man quickly dodged and grabbed his wooden weapon, snapping it into two.

Zoro clenched his jaw, not letting his fear overcome him. He lunged forward again and latched onto the arm which was holding Sanji by his hair. He opened his mouth wide and bit down hard, drawing blood and the man yelled in pain. He hit him on his head and Zoro's grip loosened but the green haired would not admit defeat and bit down harder again.

"Zoro!" Sanji cried out. "Let go of him!" He sobbed.

"No way." He panted, eyes shut tight.

"Just let go of me, you big brute!" Sanji clawed at the hand keeping him prisoner. He shook his head, not caring about the pain he was inflicting upon himself.

"Don Krieg," The said man froze. "I didn't know you have fallen so low as to fight with two children," said someone. Sanji paused in his attempts to free himself while he searched around who had spoken. "Zoro, you can let him go now."

The green haired complied and felt relieved on hearing this particular voice. His eyebrows bumped together again in anger when he saw that the blond was still dangling in the air. He did as Sanji had done before, that is, a good kick in his groin. The man cried out again and Sanji was released.

Zoro helped him up and they both ran to their rescuer.


Dun Dun Dun! Just who is their rescuer? Hehe, you will have to read to find out!

Happy New Year!