Chapter Five

The days seemed to stretch on endlessly. Dance was suspended for four days due to circumstances Hancock wasn't bothered to find out. She went home everyday with her sisters but time just seemed to slow down. She no longer had her outlet. She was really happy to be going back to the dojo on this day even if she had to see that green haired pig.

Zoro had noticed that the dance class was no longer in action and he refused to admit he missed watching it. He really had nothing to do before his sensei arrived and watching the girls' dance was nice. He was a man after all. Hancock knew how to dance and whilst she was doing so it seemed it was the only time he could actually stand her. Zoro made his way down the halls unsure if he wanted to go to the dojo early. He wasn't sure if dance was back on or if any of his friends were there. He decided to go anyway and to his luck there was a big crowd from his dojo and the usual music from dance was playing.

Hancock made her way to her class from the changing rooms happy to be back and give it her all. Her back stung from her fresh wounds from the night before. Her stepfather had been very violent and he had reopened old scabs making her skin feel very tender, even stretching send jabs of pain through her body. Her stepfather felt that she had been very cold to him lately thus he wanted to punish her for this, joining her in her shower even, not allowing her to escape him like she always wanted. Fast music was played as Hancock took her place in the middle of the dojo her feet parting so she stood square, surrounded by her dance mates ready to do her routine. Her long sleeveless coat tied tightly over her hips, with this she was ready to start and give it her all. It felt as if she was surrounded by enemies to fight, each with the face of her stepfather.

Hancock moved around the room seeming more desperate than ever moving her body around fluidly as if a snake ready to make its kill. At points she was synchronized with the rest and at other times she took the centre and did something separate. Zoro stared in awe; he had forgotten how serious this woman was when it came to dancing, was this even the same person? She was getting all the steps perfectly, or so it seemed, doing her usual kicks and spins, grinding her hips in ways he didn't know was possible. Zoro watched as Hancock stretched her arms above her and winced in pain. Next thing he knew, she was lying on her floor clutching her back. The music stopped and she was helped to the side of the room, questions overtook all conversation and everyone seemed to ask what was wrong with her. She refused to say and said she was all right she just needed to rest. She allowed no one to look at her back or even touch it.

Zoro huffed; she was just being attention seeker he thought. The lesson resumed after some more fuss and Hancock sat at the side of the dojo quietly for some time staring longingly at the lesson. Half way through the lesson Hancock got back up from her position at the wall and joined the lesson again. Much to the refusal of everyone she requested the first routine again. She took things easier this time but it was easy to tell her back was bugging her. The second time around however she didn't mess up and the lesson ended with her doing the routine perfectly. She felt otherwise.

Zoro didn't know what to say to that. Hancock seemed so intent on dancing. He couldn't understand why it was so important to her, but if it was anything like how important swordsmanship was to him then he understood her slightly. Jack laughed next to Zoro saying something but Zoro wasn't listening. After a while Zoro was able to piece together what was being said, apparently Hancock looked weak right at that moment and that was very attractive. Zoro didn't think she looked weak at all and it was an insult to her. She clearly was trying to look strong and the fact that Jack said that she looked weak was really diminishing. This pissed Zoro off to no end and he clutched his fists tightly together looking only at Hancock as she brushed her hair back from her face. She was beautiful, which he refused to admit even when she was fighting pain.

Like usual the dance class left to change and go home, the rest of group also left to change. Hancock stayed and stood by the wall, not leaning on it. Zoro made his way over, for what reason he couldn't say.

"Are you alright?" He asked looking down at his hands.

Hancock had pulled out her phone and frowned at whatever she was looking at. She didn't answer for a long time and they both stood in silence. He knew it was weird for him to be talking to her at all. He looked over casually at her and accidentally caught sight of what text she was reading.

Dirty whore.

Zoro frowned but didn't say anything. That clearly was not a friendly message. If he knew her well, which he had to admit he didn't, he would have thought that she would retaliate

"I don't need your pity" Hancock said after a while flipping her phone shut.

Zoro grunted

"I was just being nice, or is it that we really cannot get along?"

Hancock was again very quiet, she was unsure of what to say. She knew that they didn't really know each other but it seemed like they always drove each other up the wall.

"I'm fine… thank you"

Zoro's eyes widened in surprise as she gave him her thanks. He said nothing and made his way to the changing room. He was going to get in trouble for being late.

"Zoro?" Hancock called after him. He turned.

"Don't mess up" Hancock said with a smirk.

Zoro nodded with a smile and left the room.

Hancock sunk down to a seated position careful of her scabs. She for the first time ever watched the whole class and actually watched. She saw that Zoro was completely serious and she felt he looked attractive when he concentrated. Hancock blushed and looked away fidgeting with her phone in her hands.

Hancock checked the time. Unconsciously she had stayed the whole lesson. Hancock got up to leave. It wasn't really a problem; she was the only girl so she would be alone in the changing room. There weren't any girls in the dojo. Hancock knew there had been in the past but the girl had gotten into a car accident and died. Since then girls were not accepted into the dojo. Not for sexist reasons but it was just easier this way. A separate class for female swordsman could be made however there really wasn't any interest in it.

The lesson was dismissed and Zoro noticed Hancock had only left a few seconds before them.

"Hey! Stop lusting after her!" Some guy in his group yelled at Zoro. He noticed he was staring at the door.

He huffed and said nothing. It didn't matter what he would say. If he stood up for himself they would think they were right. If he didn't they were less likely to think they were onto something. He didn't lust after her; he didn't like her at all. The only thing slightly desirable about her was her focus on dancing. Besides that she got everything handed to her on a plate. She probably never felt actual grief or made an effort for anything. She probably thought nothing bad could ever happen to her.

They made their way to the changing rooms, the door right next to the one for the girls. Jack grabbed Zoro's wrist and in an attempt to jerk his hand free he got pushed into the girls changing room. The door locked behind him.

In front of Zoro stood Hancock. Her sleeveless sweater discarded on the floor and her top right next to it, with bloodstains he couldn't place. She wasn't facing him, one would think that was a good thing, in Hancock's case it was the worst thing that could possibly ever happen. Zoro saw her. He saw the big circular burn right in the middle of her back, around it were scars, some healed some weren't. Suddenly he understood why Hancock had been in pain earlier. It was a horrible sight and not to mention slightly gruesome sight. Her back was mutilated beyond the capacity of anything that could be an accident. Long scars stretching from top to bottom were over lapped by smaller scars and vice versa. Zoro saw her back and was in genuine shock. He never would have expected it from her, Hancock being such a self assured bitch… Her scars were all he could see. Time seemed to stop as he eyed each scar and scab. Some ragged and short, some straight and long.

Time started again and before he knew it he was pressed up against the lockers his windpipe squeezed shut. He was caught off guard. The woman was strong but he was not weak either. His shock kept him stuck there for a second, the woman pressed up against him to what his mind interpreted differently then he should. She was trying to kill him! He pushed her off roughly.

"What the hell?" Zoro gasped keeping distance from the woman who had pulled her shirt back on quickly.

Hancock merely glared at Zoro trying to figure out what to do. He couldn't say anything, or her sisters…. Well that was something she had to avoid at all costs but she really wasn't someone who could kill.

"Did you see?" She demanded after some time. Staring at Zoro with as much intensity as she could muster but really she was just tired, of everything. This wasn't something she needed. If her stepfather heard about this…. Then she may be banned from dance; she would not be able to deal with that.

Zoro didn't say anything and looked at the floor. He nodded after some time and looked back at Hancock. He wasn't sure what expression to expect but that was not it. She smiled sadly and sat down quietly brushing hair back from her face.

"I need you to… I know you don't really have a reason to but… I need you to either forget you saw anything, or to never tell anyone!"

Hancock looked up pleadingly at Zoro. She really didn't want her escape to stop right then and there. Her voice seemed to shake as she did the only thing she could. She would not resort to selling her body to him.

Zoro nodded again surprised with what she was asking. He now saw her completely differently than before. She hadn't cared at all about him seeing her naked. It was the fact that he saw her back.

"You are still beautiful" Zoro said despite himself to fill the awkward silence. He ran his hand through his hair in an awkward manner acutely aware of the sound of dripping in the changing room. Every time Zoro closed his eyes he saw vividly Hancock's scarred back with the large burn mark. He still didn't understand Hancock at all but at least now he understood her a little better.

Hancock looked up with a start and stared at him, after a while her sad smile came back. She hadn't expected that to be said. She guessed he knew her a little better than she had originally thought. Her beauty was important to her. It got things done but it was also a curse, the very reason all that shit had happened to her. She watched him as he awkwardly stood there and decided he was being honest and not mocking her.

"Thank you" She said after a while.

Dun dun dun! Enjoy! So even though he knows… doesn't mean anything is going to happen yet! I hope you like it. To be honest Zoro wouldn't try anything… . so we shall see. Hold on tight boys and girls. I hope you enjoy the story : D