Pride: This story is a tribute to Cardboard Pixie, an amazing friend, confidante and sister-figure who passed away on October the 9th. She dedicated her last moments to writing fanfiction, which she truly loved. I hope her hardwork and dedication is recognized, because she truly deserves it. Thanks for the great memories and times we had, and no matter what, we won't forget you.
Updated: 4/1/2015
They all knew that it was not a match made in heaven. But it was a match made in hell, and that was just fine too.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own One Piece or any of its characters.
Narrator's Perspective
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
"Attacks/Raised Voices"
Settings- Place and Time
Dreams
A Match Made In Hell
An One Piece original fanfiction
Recollection 6: Scars and Souvenirs
With a great yawn, Zoro reluctantly pushed himself off the hard but sleep-friendly wooden planks, moving into a sitting position. He rubbed at his eyes, trying to clear the sleep out of them. He couldn't be falling asleep halfway through lifting his weights, like he did halfway through Nami's rants.
He frowned. Zoro never liked it when he was woken up from his sleep. Even if it was by himself.
But it had to be done. If there was anything more important than his sleep, it was training.
Groaning in protest, he stood up and stomped over to his training equipment, pointedly ignoring Sanji's accusatory looks that clearly said, 'Now you wake up as though nothing happened, useless swordsman'.
Hm? Did something happen while he was asleep? Oh well, didn't concern him. At least they finally understood that nothing was worth interrupting his sleep. Again I say, except training.
He stretched, hearing the gratifying pop of his joints moving into place and let out a low sigh that bordered on a growl.
Hearing it, Robin glanced up from her book and looked at Zoro.
"Kenshi-san, that was pretty loud. Are you sure your joints are alright? I doubt it's normal, for all we know you could have a bone disease. You might want to see Chopper about it."
Zoro narrowed his eyes at her, detecting the subtle teasing tone behind it, and the slight concern it hid.
That was probably the longest he'd heard Robin speak, and his lips quirked upwards at that.
"Maybe after training. If I were to go to him now, I assure you I won't be able to get any training done for the rest of today."
He then proceeded to peel his shirt off his body and toss it carelessly to the side.
He turned a little to face Robin while picking up a small ball made of gravite, a stone that was particularly affected by the gravitational pull of the earth and was hence heavier than other things its size.
Robin let her eyes rove over his chiseled form, acting uncharacteristically and much like a pre-pubescent schoolgirl.
Who could blame her though?
Amidst her musings, she noticed the long jagged scar on Zoro's chest that so very often caught her attention. The scar reached from his left shoulder to his right hip, a mark of his incredible determination and will to survive.
Robin wondered where he had gotten it from, as she always did. She never asked him about it, though, knowing that he would probably try and evade the question.
But she could always ask the other crewmembers about it.
Setting her book down on her chair and frowning at it, she stalked off to find Nami.
Finding her tending to her tangerine plants, Robin approached her.
"Nami-san."
"Ah, Robin. In case you're unaware, you currently have that look on your face. The look that says you have a question you're going to go to great lengths to find the answer to. Shoot away!"
"That long scar on Zoro's chest…I want to know how he got it," she cut to the chase.
Nami frowned. Now that was something she knew not the answer to.
'Why's Robin so curious about that all of a sudden?' Nami thought to herself.
"Unfortunately, I don't know. But he probably did something stupid to get it. Maybe being the directionally challenged idiot he is, he walked straight into a chainsaw and…," Nami theorized.
Robin left mid-sentence.
"ROBIN-CHWANNNNNNN! What brings you to my humble abode? Would you like a chocolate mousse? I'll be honoured to whip one right up for youuuu!" Sanji danced (in his opinion) charmingly.
"No thank you, Cook-san," she refused politely.
"Rather, I am here to ask you a question. The scar on Zoro's chest…do you know how he got it?"
Immediately, Sanji took on a more serious demeanor.
"That…is not within my rights to tell you. However, it was a mark. A mark that the marimo was too stubborn, hard-headed and perhaps even determined to run away even with death flashing before his eyes. Don't tell him I said that though!" he said hurriedly, puffing on his cigarette.
Robin heard, for the first time, a more familiar tone in Sanji's voice, along with a little – dare she say it? – admiration and slight fondness. Perhaps, the cook considered it an honour to be the swordsman's rival and vice versa?
She merely smiled and left the kitchen while the cook was busy reminiscing over the past.
"Hello, Robin? Where are you going?" asked Chopper, who was seated on Franky's head.
"Good morning, Robin-sis! I know the day is SUPER, but it's probably not that good for a casual stroll, is it?" Franky greeted her.
"Hello there Chopper and Franky-san. I was going to look for Usopp-san to ask him something about Zoro-san. Speaking of which, do you know how Kenshi-san got the scar over his chest?" she returned the greeting.
"Nope, but I'm sure it proves that Zoro-bro's SUPER strong and indestructible! He must be harder than my metal if he survived a wound of that scale!" Franky did his super-pose.
"I don't know either, but I agree with Franky that it shows Zoro is invincible. I've never heard of someone surviving with such an injury. He's a medical miracle!" Chopper exclaimed.
"Thank you," Robin nodded, and continued on her way.
"Captain-san, Sniper-san," she greeted with a smile.
"Oh, it's Robin! Want some meat?" he offered, taking a large bite out of a giant roasted leg of…something. Who knows, the guy eats anything that moves.
Robin shook her head, kindly declining the offer.
"Good, 'cause I'm not giving you any!" he laughed merrily, his gales of merriment punctuated by Usopp slapping a hand to his forehead.
"Is there something you wanted?" Usopp asked curiously; it wasn't everyday that Robin approached the crew for something. The woman was a mystery, and always got whatever she needed herself, so it was rare and welcome when she actually decided to ask the rest of the crew for help.
"So there is. I was just curious about…Kenshi-san's scar. How did he get it?"
Usopp paled, and began muttering words that sounded suspiciously like 'monster', 'lucky', 'not me' and 'big sword'.
Luffy, on the other hand, turned serious.
"You should ask Zoro. He'll tell you if he wants to. If he doesn't want to, then just wait until he does."
It was during these rare moments that Robin saw Luffy as truly worthy of his title as 'captain' and believed with all her being, that if anyone was to become Pirate King, it would be him.
And of course, as the one who raised a crew so admirable, even cold, Miss All-Sunday had seen fit to seek a home with them.
"Zoro."
Said green-haired swordsman turned around, realizing who was calling him, and knowing that she surely had something important on her mind. Something that she wasn't going to leave without getting the answers to. Because she didn't always call him by his name, but this time she had opted to.
He cocked a green eyebrow at her, a questioning gesture.
"Can you…Do you mind telling me how you got that scar?" she pointed at said scar, looking apprehensive that he might choose not to answer or even worse, lash out at her.
"If you had asked me this when you first joined this crew, or at any point in time before Enies Lobby, I would surely have told you to mind your business. If you had asked me before we were separated at Sabaody, I might've evaded the question. But you ask me now, I think you deserve to know and I shall answer."
"Because you trust me more now?" Robin shot, hoping for the best.
"Because I'm in a good mood," he said irritably, mock-glaring at her.
'Lies,' Robin thought with a smirk.
"Anyways…we met Mihawk a little off from Baratie. Nami had run away, and Sanji had yet to join, so it was just Luffy, Usopp and myself. Being foolish and hot-headed, I decided to fight Mihawk-"
"AND GOT YOUR ASS HANDED TO YOU BY A POCKET KNIFE! BWAHAHAHAHA," came a loud cackling voice that sounded suspiciously like it belonged to someone with blonde hair.
"Shut it, Dartbrow!"
"Ugh…where was I? Oh, yeah. When he thought I was finally worthy of it, he drew his own sword, Yoru, and taught me the difference in our strengths as well as how far I had left to go. My honour didn't allow me to turn my back on the blade, so I just stood and let him rip me apart. I don't regret that decision, till this day, because I'd rather have this scar on my chest than on my back. Besides, it isn't a scar; it's a souvenir, as far as I'm concerned. That fulfil your curiosity, Onna?"
"Yes…But I think it was a bad idea to lay down your life for the sake of honor. Or that could just be my opinion, since I was willing to do anything to survive after escaping Ohara."
'Strange, she doesn't ever talk about her past…Ah, guess I'll consider it fair exchange for the bit of my own past I shared with her…,' Zoro thought to himself, mildly surprised.
"But why didn't you tell us about this before, Kenshi-san?"
"Not like I was making any particular effort to hide it."
Robin frowned.
"Well, you didn't make any particular effort to let us know either."
"You never asked."
"You know what I mean."
Seeing the look on Robin's face, Zoro decided to just opt for a more straightforward answer.
"Relax, I just thought it wasn't appropriate to reminisce about the past with the one – I mean, the ones I want to start a new life with."
His slight slip of the tongue hadn't gone unnoticed by Robin.
Her lips curled slightly upwards in response.
Zoro noticed the slight pinkness around her ears, and smirked. An accident it may have been, but that didn't mean he couldn't be proud of his accomplishment. Making Robin blush was no easy task, after all.
End
Shlone, and wassaaaap everyone! Hope you enjoyed this chapter (Though it's not my best by far I guess). I dunno if the name "Scars and Souvenirs" was suitable for this chapter. And I also thought this chapter was a little disorganized, 'cause I typed it over the course of a few days. So…your thoughts?
Anyways, glad to be back in the habit of writing.
Seeya, and a belated Happy New Year to you all!
May good fortune rule over you
Peace live in your heart, and
May the stars watch over you
- Yours truly, Pride