Two days later, Zoro left the infirmary. Chopper had pressed a box of medication into his hand as he left the room, instructing him to take a tablet every day for a week. Zoro nodded and made his way out onto the deck, where his crew mates were out relaxing and playing.
"Oi, Zoro!" Luffy shouted, lowering the water gun he was tormenting Usopp with. "How you feeling?"
"Good," Zoro called back. He made his way up the stairs, passing Nami and Robin and he walked by.
"Hello, Swordsman-kun. I'm glad to see you're better." Robin smiled.
"Y-yeah." Zoro frowned at the cake she was eating. "Do you know where the cook is?"
"He's in the kitchen," Nami replied. "Why? Don't you guys hate each other?"
"Uh, well, I just needed to, um, ask him something." He nodded at them both. "Thank you."
Zoro pushed open the door to the kitchen and looked around awkwardly. Sanji stood by the counter, mixing something in a bowl. There didn't seem to be the smell of cigarettes in the air...
"Oh, Zoro. Chopper's finally freed you?" Sanji beamed at him, one arm wrapped round the mixing bowl and the other stirring the mixture.
"Heh, yeah. He kept giving me medicine and advice and he kept scolding me for lifting weights. It was getting annoying," said Zoro.
"You know you're not supposed to train for a while," Sanji said, frowning.
"What? I used lighter weights and only lifted them half the amount I normally would. It's hardly training." Sanji rolled his eyes.
"That doesn't even warrant a response. Anyway, you haven't been drinking, have you?"
"I haven't been able to with Chopper about. What about you? You been smoking?"
"Not since the deal."
"Why do I doubt that?"
"Just ask Brook, you stupid Mosshead. You really think I'd back out of our deal?"
"No... I'm sorry. Just forget I said that." Zoro sighed. "What are you cooking?" He said, nodding at the bowl in Sanji's arm.
"Oh, this? Just a cake." Sanji set the bowl down. "Fetch me those tins, would you?" He signalled to the dinner table.
The kitchen door swung open as Zoro reached for the tins and Brook stepped into the room, clutching his guitar. "Oh, Zoro-san. Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, I feel a lot better now," Zoro said, smiling at Brook as he handed Sanji the tins.
"I'm glad. Sanji-san and I have been talking for the past few days. Is it true that you're giving up alcohol?" Brook made his way over to the dining table, plopping down on a seat and swinging one leg over the other.
"Yeah. Chopper would lose it if I drank this week anyway." Zoro chuckled.
"Yohoho! Oh, yes, Sanji hasn't smoked in two days, Zoro-san."
"It's been shit," Sanji sighed, pouring the mixture into the tins. "But I told you I hadn't smoked, Mosshead!"
"I said I was sorry!"
"Well, whatever, there's no point arguing over it, is there?" When both cake tins were in the oven, Sanji turned and raised an eyebrow at Zoro. "You are allowed to sit down, you know."
"Oh, yeah..." Zoro blushed, pulling out a seat at the table. He turned to Brook. "How have things been with everyone lately?"
"Well, Franky-san has been repairing the ship after the attack-"
"What? What attack?"
"A few days ago, when you and Sanji-san were out collecting food. Some of Smoker's Marines attacked, but it was odd because Smoker himself wasn't there – only that girl with the sword."
"That is weird. Where could he have been?" Zoro mused.
"Uh, Brook," Sanji started, "I failed to mention it when we talked, but we were also attacked by Smoker."
"Huh?" Zoro raised an eyebrow at Sanji.
"You were unconscious, but he wanted to take our bounties. I guess he noticed we weren't at the ship that day and came to look for us, but when he saw how sick you were he just left us. Didn't want to take the bounty of a man who can't even fend for himself, he said. It was weird."
"Ah, well. It doesn't matter now," Brook said. "Would it be okay if I have some milk, Sanji?"
"Sure, there's some in the fridge. Help yourself, but pass me the butter while your at it."
"Ah, thank you Sanji-san. Here you are..." Sanji thanked Brook and began to beat the butter in a bowl, adding in icing sugar and beating it until it was a soft, creamy mixture. He separated some of it and added pink food colouring and then put the two mixtures into two separate piping bags. Icing.
"How come you're making a cake anyway, Love-cook?"
Sanji just smiled at Zoro in response, causing Zoro's heart to flutter. "You'll see."
Zoro tried to ignore the fact that his cheeks were burning.
"Anyway. Both of you, get out of my kitchen. I'll call you when dinner's ready."
"Yohohohoho, how mean of you, Sanji-san."
"I don't have to cook for you, you know!" Sanji said as he opened the door. "Now, out!"
Zoro made his way up to his personal gym, intending to take a nap in peace. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper were causing a ruckus on the deck, fishing or something and Nami was talking loudly with Robin. It would be quieter up in the gym. He lay down on the floor, resting his head on his arms and closed his eyes. What was that cook up to? Why was he making him a cake? Sanji knew he wasn't that keen on cake, so why?
"I'll never understand that guy," Zoro mumbled and he yawned. "Whatever," he said sleepily, allowing himself to fall into the clutches of sleep.
"Oi, Mosshead, wake up." Zoro groaned as a pair of slender hands shook him awake. "Dinner's ready."
"Already? I must've been sleeping for ages..."
"I cooked sushi," Sanji said, smiling.
"Good." Zoro grinned back. "Honestly, sushi is your best dish." Zoro looked to side as he felt his cheeks burning.
"You like it?" Sanji beamed. "I'm glad. It's one of my favourite dishes to cook. Oh, but I have a surprise for you! Let's go down and see it!" Sanji grabbed Zoro's forearm, dragging him out of the gym and down to the deck. "C'mon, you'll like it!" Zoro winced, a hint of guilt stabbing his chest as he recalled the cake. The pair strode across the deck, seagulls squawking above them and the waves lapping at the sides of the ship. They had long since left the snow island and all of the snow and ice on deck had melted away under the burning sun. Sanji looked back at Zoro one last time and smiled, hand on the dining room doorknob. He pushed the door open and dragged Zoro in.
"SURPRISE!"
There, on the table, lay not only sushi, but Zoro's favourite meal: sea king meat with white rice and an array of lavish sauces. Furthermore, a bowl full of bread; plates stacked high with delicately roasted meat and vegetables; the cake, extravagantly decorated, sat in the centre of the table, surrounded by all of the other dishes. All the Strawhats sat at the table patiently, waiting for Zoro. Even Luffy hadn't started chomping on the meat in his hand yet.
Sanji slapped Zoro on the back. "Luffy wanted to have a feast because you got better, so I cooked your favourite foods and I baked a cake for dessert. I know you're not so keen on cake, so Usopp and I made sure to have a sea king fished up for you instead..."
Zoro opened his mouth to talk but could only emit a pitiful squeak. He stared with widened eyes at all the food before him that had been cooked in his honour. "Y-you didn't have to," he croaked.
"But he did," said Usopp, grinning. "Come sit down and eat!"
Sanji made his way to his seat and sat down. "C'mon, Mosshead. Stop gawking and just sit down. I made it to eat, not to stare at."
"Th-thank you, guys," Zoro said as he sat down at his seat, staring down at his plate piled high with rice, sushi and sea king meat.
"Try this on it. I made it especially to enhance the flavour of the meat," Sanji said, pressing a jug into Zoro's hand. It was filled with a rich brown sauce.
"Ah, Zoro-san. What would you like to drink?"
"Just water," Zoro said, scooping up a mouthful of food. His eyes widened as he shoved it into his mouth. He'd never tasted anything so good in his life. "Sanji..."
"What?"
"This is incredible. Thank you." Zoro ignored the other crewmembers gawking at him and looked straight into the cook's eyes, not caring that his cheeks were so red his hair contrasted with them. "And not just for the food. Thank you for helping me these past few days and looking out for me when I was sick."
"You don't need to thank me. I was just doing what any one of us would do-"
"You don't need to be so modest. You've gone above and beyond for me. And for that, thank you. Thank you so much."
"Zoro-" Sanji was interrupted.
"YOU'RE JUST SO KIND TO EACH OTHER," Franky shouted, wiping his nose and eyes in his arm. Tears were pooling up on the table below him and he sniffed. "IT'S SO MOVING!"
"Franky, why are you crying?" Asked Luffy.
"I'm not crying you idiot!" Tears streamed down Franky's face. "Don't look!"
Nami shook her head and sighed, flabbergasted. "Shouldn't we have a toast and get eating, then?" She asked, lifting up her wine.
"KAMPAI!" Luffy shouted, the others following suit, immediately digging into the food. Sanji looked to Zoro, grinning.
"Meet me in your gym after this," he mouthed.
The next chapter will be the last for this story. I'll be writing more fanfiction when I get the time though. Sorry if there are any mistakes in this or if it seemed rushed, but I hope you enjoyed! :)