Author's Note: Yo mina-san~~ Welcome to my very first story on One Piece! I haven't wrote in English for half a decade (yes, half a decade.. now that's a looong time).. This story is leaning towards slightly dark, mystery, and an entire set up that will slowly uncover itself.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from One Piece.. Let me repeat, do not own.. (Oh how I wish I did, my Zoro-sama!) All characters and their related solely belong to Oda-Sensei! The only thing that belongs to the writer, me, is the plot of the story.

Chapter 1

He watched as she kindly collected the final bill from the last customer of the night, cleaned off the coffee cups off the table, and disappeared behind the counter -possibly into the kitchen to finish off the clean up before store closing.

He sank into the backseat of the car, and rested his head on the headrest. While still keeping an eye on the store, he folded one arm in front of his chest, while the other wrapped around his waist, and sighed out of exhaustion. And just then, the lights inside the coffee shop was dimmed, a slim silhouette came out of the front entrance. He kept his position as she walked past the vehicle.

He heard his driver shift in the his seat slightly, and sensed the uncertainty from the man. "Sir? Shall I drive you back home? You don't look so good."

He smirked inside while keeping a neutral expression. He wondered how badly does he look right now. The injury from a knife slash earlier tonight is throbbing in pain, and although it was bandaged up right away, he now can feel a wetness seeping through. His vision is slowing getting blurred, and his head feeling more than slightly heavy. When was the last time he slept?

From the rear-view mirror, he saw her boarding onto the public bus heading towards her residential place. He closed his eyes with fatigue, "Home sounds good."

After helping Robin carrying a half conscious Zoro into the house, Usopp waited in the living room while Robin took care of Zoro's wound.

He stood quietly in the living room. It was half past midnight, all the servants were sent to bed already. The only sound present in the grand Victorian-Era living room was from the old grandfather clock, "tik-tok".

Usopp found himself unconsciously counting the ticking of the clock, until he heard footsteps descending from the winding staircase.

He looked up to see Robin still in her black evening robe, her sleek black hair loosely clipped behind her head.

"Is he asleep?"Robin kindly smiled and nodded while she found herself a place on the couch, and gestured him to have a seat as well.

Usopp took a deep breath, clenching and releasing his fists a couple of times before he gather his voice and spoke, "Miss Robin, it is my deepest apologies that I did not do my job to protect Roronoa Sir from danger tonight. And it is also a shame that I could not convince him to go to a hospital right after."

Robin brushed her bangs away from her eyes, and smiled, "There is no need for an apology, Mr. Usopp. After all, this is Roronoa we are talking about. I would be more worried if one day you were able to convince the man away from his decisions."

She paused, and crossed her right leg on top of left. She lowered her head before continuing, "He went to see her again."

Usopp was not sure if the question… was directed at him, because it sounded more of a statement, as if Robin was talking to herself. Nevertheless, he answered, "Yes, ma'am."

She brought her hand up to bring her hair behind her ear, "How often does he go?"

Usopp tried to read her facial expression, but her bangs shadowed her eyes, and the hand paused in midair and coincidently covered half of her face. He gave the question a quick thought, and answered in a neutral tone, "Every day ma'am."

Usopp thought he heard a sigh, but then he wasn't so sure because it was so light.

Robin looked at Usopp with her big dark eyes, "Thank you, Mr. Usopp."

Usopp looked startled. He once again doesn't know how to respond to such remark. There was nothing he had done today to be thanked for, and very much less so from Robin.

He stood up, and bowed slightly, "It is getting late, Miss Robin." And on that note, he turned, said his goodbye, and got into the car he parked in the wide semi-circular driveway.

After seeing Usopp closing the front door behind him, Robin slowly rose from the couch, and made her way back upstairs to the bedrooms.

She quietly stood outside with her head slightly bowed, and finally reached for the handle, turned and opened the door.

The door opened with a slight creaking sound; the light from the hall way spread into the room and shone onto the figure lying in bed.

He is sleeping on his side with his back against the door. She's able to see the slight rise and of his shoulders along withhis steady breathing.

Robin carefully walked into the room, and stopped at the side of the bed. She studied his sleeping face -unlike when he's awake, which has a face of defense, attack, authority, and danger; right now, he is at peace, and all his facial features relaxed, and calmed… almost, vulnerable.

Robin bent down to place a hand on Zoro's forehead, and only withdrew with relieve when she confirmed he did not have a fever from his injury.

She looked at his sleeping feature one last time, and sighed ever so gently before leaving the room, and closing the door behind her.

Inside.

As soon as the last bit of light was sealed outside of this room, Zoro slowly opened his eyes.

His brows now furrowing.

He took the hand under the blanket out, and a stream of light filled the room. On the lighting screen, he again reads the message he received just before Robin walked in.

"Tonight was my last day at the café."

And that was all she gave him.

Zoro stared at the cell phone screen with a lot of mixed feelings inside him. And finally he turned off the phone screen. The room returned to darkness.

He pressed on the wound on his waist, and sighed helplessly.

He doesn't know how long it has been before he finally drifted off to sleep, but he murmured only one name that night.

"Nami…"

Awesome! You reached the end of the first chapter! Woohoo!
So.. what do you think so far? Drop me a line or two!
Arigatou ne~!