A/N: I'm procrastinating so here's the latest chapter. Spoilers to those who haven't read passed the Marineford Arc.

Timeline: Marineford Arc. Post-battle (Vol. 58, ~Chapter 594)

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Cryptic Message

The wavelengths just weren't connecting like they usually did. Zoro just stared and stared at the newspaper held before him as he laid on the ground thinking.

"Hey!" Perona snapped. "Aren't you through yet? My arms are tired!"

"Just a little longer…!" Zoro said. He ignored the pain from resting his head on the stone rubble, because he was just plain puzzled. "I know there's something here."

The swordsman squinted at the black and white photo of Luffy spread across the front page – his captain had his head bowed, his hat held in hand to his chest. It didn't seem to matter how long he looked at Luffy because he just couldn't understand what he wanted to be able to understand. He was the captain's first mate for crying out loud! Since when had he become so out of tuned with the rubber boy?

Just half an hour ago, Zoro was ready to head back to his captain no matter what the method and despite his injuries. But this...Luffy's manner only threw him into a loop.

"This isn't like Luffy…the fact that Rayleigh's with him must mean he put him up to it…there must be something…!" Zoro muttered. He clenched his fists and felt as lost as he was out in the wilderness.

The puzzled man traced the outline of Luffy's body amongst the ruins of Marineford. He had never seen his captain look so resolute. He was battered, worn, yet he stood bowed with an air of dignity. Zoro wanted to return to Luffy, to his crew, to reunite, to be there for Luffy, to fight alongside him, to protect – but, why was the captain himself stopping him now?

If I was there, Zoro thought with frustration, I would be able to…And that was when it dawned on Zoro… he wouldn't be able to do anything. Not with the way he was now and definitely not with his skill level. Sabaody Archipelago proved just how small he was in the world. He simply wasn't ready for the New World. Hell, if he wasn't, the crew wouldn't be either and Luffy knew that. That's right, Luffy above all would know his own limitations, but that didn't mean he was going to accept it. Luffy's bow went beyond mourning. He was making a promise.

Zoro blinked once then twice.

Taking the newspaper into his hand, Zoro scanned Luffy's figure once more. As he looked at the boy's tattooed arm, Zoro realized that becoming the man he wanted to be wasn't going to happen in a fort night, let alone two days…

Suddenly feeling confident, Zoro smirked and stood up, "So two years it is then, Luffy."

To become stronger…Now that he understood.