Author's Note: THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all those who read and reviewed the original story!!! I hope you like this version, too! (And, sorry guys! I know I should be working on the other two open stories...however, things kind of went really nuts with the beginning of summer. I'll try to get to them ASAP, and hopefully I'll also have some time to read and review some of the other stories out there, too!)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH to:
HogwartShinobi: They have to love each other, or they would kill each other. LOL!
Littlepinkangel: I'll definitely try!
Eileen-san: I'll definitely try...but it depends on which versions of the characters talk first! LOL!
Sacred Sakura: Nami does make Sanji tick! (And Zoro too...but mainly just his eye... LOL!)
Norikio Na No Da: I aim to please!
MoonSythe: Hm. Definitely something to ponder...
ShiKamiKa: Thank you!
Kami Takai: I don't think it's a bit of information that Zoro would want to willing divulge, either. LOL!
Santoryuu-zoro: Thank you!!! And, here it is!!!...

I'd like to send a special THANK YOU to Santoryuu-zoro!!! You're comment inspired this version of the story! I hope you like it!

WARNING: AHOY!!! FOUL LANGUAGE AHEAD!!! (You have thus been warned...)

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Breathing Lessons: Zoro's Turn

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"Oi! Marimo! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"You frickin' coward!" Smirked the Swordsman as he drew all three of his swords. "I should have killed you when I had the chance, you backstabbing bastard! You and your fricking dog!!!"

"What dog?...Wait! Are you calling me a coward, you Shitty Swordsman?!" Sanji's eyes darkened at the thought of being belittled by the green-haired Marimo.

"You went back on your deal! Then you tried to have me executed, eh? I'll gut you right where you are."

"Whether you remember me or not, I'll knock some sense into you...If it's the last thing I do."

"It will be..."

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It was rapidly approaching the time that the Mugiwara's navigator had asked the crew to return to the ship, and so far the green-haired swordsman was still not to be found.

"Baka!" Growled the blonde cook as he ducked into various establishments that sold or served liquor. "That Shitty Swordsman has to be trying to get drunk somewhere!"

As Sanji slipped into the pub, his eyes scanned the faces of the customers, until his blue-eye settled on a familiar green-haired covered head.

"Oi, Marimo. Time to return to the ship..."

"I'll come when I'm ready..."

"No. You'll get lost when you're ready, and Nami will kill us both. You for not coming back on time, and me for allowing you to be late!"

"'Allowing me?'" Hissed the green-haired marimo. "I do what I like! I don't have to listen to Nami!"

Just then the waiter came to the table, carrying a newly opened bottle of rum. Neither man noticed the unsure side-glance that the waiter gave to the pub owner behind the bar, who merely shrugged.

Already seething from Zoro's last defiance of Nami's wishes, Sanji grabbed for the bottle, but was not fast enough to stop Zoro from reaching the bottle first.

Downing a couple of large swallows of rum, the swordsman suddenly stopped and spewed what would have been the third large swig into the face of the cook.

"Bastard!" Shouted Sanji as he wiped the stinging liquid out of his eyes.

Ignoring the angry blonde's curses, and the hastily sent kick that almost struck the dodging swordsman's head. Zoro looked around the room, until his glare settled on the waiter who now seemed to be trying to melt into the walls.

"You!" Shouted Zoro, as he stood up and advanced on the cowering man. "What did you do?"

"Oi, Marimo!" Angrily yelled Sanji as he stormed after the swordsman, "What are you doing?"

"It wasn't my fault!" Screamed the man as he was yanked forward by the throat. "They wanted the bounty on you!"

"What did you do?" Repeated Zoro, beginning to close his grip on the waiter's throat.

"The marines...coming...been called..."

"WHAT DID YOU DO?!?" Shouted Zoro, now unsheathing a katana with his free hand.

"...knockout...drug...strong..."

"Nani..." whispered Sanji as he began to realize what the conversation had been about.

Letting the waiter fall to the ground, Zoro grabbed the sleeve of the cook and pulled the stunned man towards the exit. "We have to go...NOW!"

Weaving through the village streets, Sanji noticed as his face began to grow numb, that he and the swordsman were making slower progress than before.

Finding a small hotel, the blonde pushed the swordsman into the establishment, hoping that they would be safe there for the night.

ooooo

Hazy.

Out of all the words that he knew, that was the one word that perfectly described the world that he was seeing...Hazy.

Where was he? Was he captured by the marines? Thought the swordsman as his eyes searched the room. And why did he feel like someone had run over him with a cart, backed up over him, and run him over again?

Had he been tricked by them?

Surely he had to be tricked to have been captured...But how?

Lied to. Definitely. Whoever had him, had to have lied to have captured him.

Reaching for his katana, the swordsman realized that they were no longer on his hip.

"Shit," growled the swordsman as he tried to look around the room from his place on a flat surface--possibly a bed? His eyes finally settled on the swords that were sitting on a nearby chair. Smirking, Zoro slowly stood up and returned the swords to their rightful place at his side.

Idiots couldn't hide them well enough.

As a door creaked open, Zoro spun around to see something to be emerging from a smoke filled room. Still unable to focus properly, the swordsman's eyes could definitely see a slender form with long blonde hair.

Slender frame. Blonde hair. Lies to take prisoners. Hiding his swords...

"Stupid Swordsman! You had to spit that shit in my face, didn't you?!"

Rude words. And, slightly slurred speech? He must have gotten a few good licks in.

Eyes narrowing as only one conclusion came to his mind, the swordsman punched the blonde man full force in the stomach...

Helmeppo!!!

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Sword blow after sword blow. Kick after kick.

While Sanji had only absorbed some of the potent drug through his skin, he was at a greater disadvantage while fighting the furious swordsman. He knew that Zoro was his nakama...but apparently, the swordsman didn't know who the hell he was.

"Stupid Swordsman, if we keep fighting the hotel will call the authorities!"

"You actually think that I'm that stupid," laughed Zoro as his swords were deflected by the blonde's well placed kicks. "You already told them I'm here!"

"Nani?" Hissed the cook as he tried to knock the swordsman down with a kick to the chest. "Open you fricking eyes, Marimo! It's me, SANJI!"

Blocking the blow with his swords, the swordsman sent the cook flying back into the hotel room wall.

"Lies! I know your tricks, Helmeppo! You coward!"

Rising to his feet, Sanji's eyes darkened once more. "I'm no coward, you Shitty Swordsman."

Slowly walking forward, the cook did not hesitate as the swordsman brought a katana up with it's blade directly pointed at his abdomen.

Fists clenched shut, face held in a pain-filled grimace, the blonde didn't stop as he felt the sharp blade slicing into him. "Wake...the f--- up...you...stupid...Marimo...," his words and breathes coming out in short pants.

As the face of the blonde grew nearer, the features slowly began to grow sharper to the swordsman's eyes...including one particular feature...

"Dartboard Eyebrow?"

"Stupid...Asshole..."

As recognition was slowly replaced by the sobering horror that his blade was embedded in one of his nakama, the swordsman lowered his eyes.

"Sanji...I have to..."

"Just...do it..."

Pulling the sword out in one swift movement, the swordsman watched as the cook stood still in his spot.

A hand shakily reached into a pocket, as the blonde retrieved a cigarette and a lighter. Bringing the cigarette up to his lips, the cook's hands tried to ignite the lighter before his body nervelessly collapsed forward.

Catching the blonde before he could hit the floor, the swordsman laid him out on the bed. Using a sheet, Zoro tore it apart to bandage up the cook's wounds.

Sanji was strong, Zoro had reasoned as he succumbed to an exhausted sleep in a nearby chair, he'll be okay...he has to be...

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As the sun rose, the green haired swordsman slowly woke as he felt the warmth of the sun's rays caressing his face. Slowly stretching his aching muscles, tight from sleeping on a hard, uncomfortable chair, Zoro opened his eyes.

"Definitely not the Thousand Sunny," he thought to himself as he squinted against the bright light peering in through a nearby window.

As the room came into focus, Zoro glanced to his left. A bed? And, why wasn't HE sleeping in it?

Then he noticed the lump lying beneath the bed sheets in the bed.

"Oh, SHIT!!!" Yelled Zoro as he jumped to his feet and leaned over the body in the bed. "Oi, Cook, wake up," he whispered, trying to see if the man was alive...or...

Slowly the blonde began to stir, groaning in pain until he caught sight of the green-haired face hovering over him. Features rapidly going from a grimace into an angry scowl, Sanji glared at the swordsman as, out of reflex, he brought his foot up striking the back of the green-head.

"Yes, he definitely will be okay," growled Zoro in his brief thoughts, as fell forward onto Sanji.

As both men groaned in pain, a sudden glaring fact hit both of them.

This pain would be nothing compared to what Nami definitely had in store for them when they returned...

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Author's Notes: I hoped you all enjoyed this!!! Thank you for reading and/or reviewing!!! And, thank you to Santoryuu-zoro, who inspired me to write this version! Mahalo and Aloha!