I don't know why I did. Maybe it was the heat of the moment but when he pulled away I kissed him again.

My cheeks were flushed when we pulled away the second time.

"Luffy," I began bowing my head.

He stood up quickly moving away from me.

"Dinner will be ready soon, you should go downstairs."

The burning in my cheeks had somewhat subdued but my heart was now aching. Why did his words hurt so much?

"Luffy?" I said standing up and walking up to him.

He moved away from me again. I wanted to call out to him. Tell him these feelings weren't one I loved him because right then I thought it for the first time.

~Zoro's POV

After dropping Ryu off at Robin's and Franky's I headed to Sanji's restaurant. He was serving at the bar as usual and despite the place being crowded seeing the pained look on my face took off his apron and came to sit next to me.

"Izumi!" Sanji called. "Vodka please, have a few rounds ready."

She nodded as she began to prepare the drinks.

"I don't suppose you're paying Zoro," she said handing me the drink.

I chuckled, "You know he always ends up paying anyway."

She smiled moving away to serve the other customers.

"So what happened?" Sanji asked clinking his glass against mine before pouring it down his throat.

He coughed a bit before finally putting the glass down.

I couldn't talk to him like this. I tipped my head and poured the glorious liquor down my throat. I set the glass back down on the table hardly fazed by the alcohol. I'd always been able to hold my drink better than he had and he knew it. I was about to speak when Sanji held up his hand.

"Call Robin ask if Ryu can stay at theirs. You're going to have to get drunk before you tell me anything at this rate."

I set down my fourth glass on the table. The liquor had by now begun to affect me and was slowly subduing my worry. Sanji hadn't even had his second round yet. He just had it sat in front of him most likely waiting for me to loosen up.

I sighed before ordering another round for myself.

"Zoro what happened to Ryu?" Sanji asked.

My shot glass was placed in front of me but I refrained from bringing it to my lips.

"She had a panic attack and collapsed," I answered staring into the glass.

I knew that wouldn't satisfy him but he said nothing as he waited for me to continue.

"Luffy found out about her attempted suicide. I mean that boy's in love with her and she likes him too whether she knows it or not," I sighed again.

I felt like I hadn't been of any help to Ryu since Nami left. I hated feeling so useless.

"But I can't do anything to help her," Sanji was the one to sigh.

"You don't get it do you. You are the most important person in Ryu's life. You know how she felt after Nami rejected her last year!?" he paused, looking for my reaction. "She felt worthless because even her own mother didn't want her. She felt like she hadn't made you proud. It has always been you that she's done everything for."

I looked at Sanji. God, I hated how truthful he was when given alcohol.