This is the final part of my series. I am really sorry if it's only short, plus it took time for me to even finish this chapter. I do hope that you liked it. Thank you Reballeader1011 for letting me use Rose. For all those that reviewed it, thank you very much for taking your time to read.

The trade was a success. Well, there wasn't any trade to begin with. Our captain wouldn't just sit tight and let us do all the work, and with Rose's strategic skill, we were able to point what the problem was and what would be the proper way of disposing the bandits. It was a small battle, but it was able to rekindle the fire in us. Almost a week without any adversaries was boring; this gave us enjoyment again.

I got to find me some beer in one of the barrels near the kitchen; I just had to slip past the ero-cook before he could bite my head off. As usual, the drinks really relax me; it makes me feel like brand new, elevating as most people would say. I could still remember my first drink, but there's no need for me to talk about that anyway.

I sat by the cabin; the mug of drink by my side. Luffy and the others were laughing about nonsense and I laugh along them though I wasn't able to catch what the funny part was. I've been with this crew for a long time already, and they make my troubles seem smaller than it was before. Here I was, trying to become that better of a swordsman, yet I don't have the power to save the crew with my swords. I wasn't even able to fight Mihawk without getting my eye cut, but I can't help but say that I enjoyed it.

I survived that bloody hell of Thriller Bark; I know I can survive everything in an open fire now. I looked around and I saw her. I caught her sitting just behind Franky. She wasn't doing anything except gulping that pathetic excuse for a drink; an orange juice, I gather. That was enough for me to take my drink and stand up, and walk towards to where she was. I couldn't just let her stay there and ponder about things such as her leaving and going back to her world now, could I?

We don't know anything about her world, and we might never know anything specific, but at least we got to know her. She's beautiful under the moonlight. Wait, did I just say that she's beautiful? I heaved a deep breath as I went. I took a swig from my drink as I sat close beside her. She's quiet, and I could understand her like an open book. Her smile was big, but her eyes were saying differently. She's sad, and they couldn't even see it.

"Don't smile if you're not that happy."

"What are you talking about?" She was caught off guard. She even jumped at my voice.

"Do you miss your world?"

I need to be strong. I have to be strong. I just can't let anyone become the best swordsman. That's my dream, and I have to fulfill that dream. This crew has their own dreams to fulfill, that's why we're staying together. When Rose became a part of the crew, she told us that her dream was to make us all happy. That she wanted our dreams to come true. That was her dream, she said. I found it vague and funny to begin with, but she was in no doubt about it so we couldn't just say no, right?

"You know that I don't miss my world that much."

Yeah, she said that. She also talked about her cousin, and her marathons. She can't have them both here in this world. Still, she seemed at home here; at ease even. I can help her improve those skills that she have. I glanced at her and she was staring at nowhere again. That look in her eyes could tell a lot of different stories, but I could see the real story. She's really taken out the pages of my own book.

Her caliber's almost like all of us collected, even her strategic skills are awesome. I didn't even know that there's someone like her out there. I only knew that there's the kind like Kuina and there's the others. I didn't have any understanding about girls, and having Nami and Robin around didn't change that thought. Looking at her, you wouldn't even know that she's strong unless you get to know her.

"Then, what's bugging you?"

"W-what's bugging me? Nothing."

"You're thinking too much. What are you thinking?"

"I'm not thinking about anything, Zoro."

I can't just let her solo her thoughts. It's not easy to understand what's running in her thoughts; even for me. I cocked my head to one side and grinned at her. "If you're not thinking of anything, then why's your glass tilted, and the contents are pouring down on your clothes?"

That caught her attention. She looked like she was going to cry, though I knew she wouldn't, because she'd soiled her clothes. I was about to console her, even if I didn't really know how, before Nami and the stupid cook kicked and smacked me. She didn't know that the two would suddenly come up to me and beat me half to death, so by the time she already realized it, I was already bleeding and a large bump was forming on my head.

I hate not having to use my swords with these two, but I couldn't really do anything that would kill them. That would be a shame for Luffy, and it would be totally complicated to get a new navigator, and a cook that would suit Luffy's taste for food. Everything matters to the captain, and I just can't ignore that fact. I'm just here to follow his orders whenever they're needed. I'm a swordsman and I value the promises that I give.

"What's the problem with you, Zoro?!"

"How dare you make a woman cry, Marimo!"

"He didn't do anything, Nami," protested Rose before turning to the cook, "Sanji."

When the two stopped trying to bleed and beat me to death, I thanked Rose quietly. I went upstairs to my crow's nest to keep myself from getting hurt, just because they think of Rose as a girl. I hate that kind of stuff, especially when Rose tries her best to show that she's capable of handling herself. Then it hit me, she is a girl; Rose is a girl. That's the reason why I… Wait, she is the reason why I what? I was so hung up with my own thoughts that I didn't notice her sit by my side until she spoke:

"Sorry about earlier. I wasn't able to stop them immediately."

I glanced at her and noticed that her eyes were downcast. This time, I admit that I didn't know what to say then. What was troubling her, I didn't know. I have troubles of my own and adding her up into my bucket list was something that I didn't want to do, but she's already like a fragment in my own life that I couldn't just dismiss. "It's alright." I replied her with the most stupid answer of all time.

We were silent for a moment or two before she spoke that almost made my heart stop. "I like you." Maybe I could have sworn that it went into my throat making me want to throw up. I stared at her for so long before I was able to make my tongue move, "What did you just-?"

She shrugged as if it was normal for her to confess. "I said that I like you, Zoro."

She looked angelic with her innocent face. I was about to speak when I saw her shaking. No, I could sense that she was shaking. What am I supposed to tell her? She just confessed to me, but I haven't had any experience in that area. I'm not exactly the dating type of a guy. I put my palm into my face and buried it there for what seemed like ages.

It takes courage and bravery to stand up to our enemies, but a confession from a girl, let alone your crewmate needs more than the amount of strength that I use when fighting. 'I like you' aren't the words that you usually hear from your crewmate, right? I dropped my hand and held hers. My calloused hands didn't even revolt her, not to mention that these hands have killed, if not thousands, hundreds of marines and pirates alike.

Pushing my resolve, I sighed dismissively and said, "I have to be honest. I like you, too. Ever since you set foot into the ship, after saving Luffy, I swore to myself that I have to protect you, even it would cost my life."

Her brown eyes looked deep, almost purplish because of the light emitted by the clouds and the waning sun. "You don't have to sacrifice your life. Being with me would mean the world to me. And besides, Luffy would kill me if you died because of me." She smirked at me with those lips of hers. Witty and smarty pants as always, I just had to grin.

"Alright. I'll be always behind you to keep your back safe." I guess confessing isn't so bad after all. Even though it means that I have to suffer the cook's envious looks every now and then.