Tournament season is drawing near. Koshiro has been spending a lot of time traveling, trying to coordinate with the other dojo masters and set up a couple of practice matches before the placing matches start in late April.
Despite Zoro being the strongest swordsman working under Koshiro, Teiga is put in charge. A little bit because he has seniority over Zoro, but mostly because Zoro cannot afford to focus all of his time in the dojo. It's the same reason why he doesn't help out with more classes. That, and he's using most of his free time to train for his upcoming battle with Mihawk. He's sure he won't defeat the man, but fighting him will be a good way of knowing how much he still has to advance.
As much as Zoro is working at the dojo, Sanji is working on his restaurant.
The cook spends most of his free time outlining his business plan, sometimes referencing Zeff's work on the Baratie. Zoro doesn't know the details, but from what Sanji has shared with him, he's working on the theme of the restaurant.
They have Sabo's birthday on Thursday—Sanji's offered to provide the food for the party, even though he's busy enough as it is—and then Sanji wants them to go check out the land lot in Rafter on Sunday. They're both busily working towards their goals. Chopper is doing great at New World University, and has his first CLEP Exam scheduled for mid-April, since he's planning on bypassing some of his classes. Work at the Baratie is going great. His sex life is so amazingly mind-blowing, it's unreal.
And yet, Zoro can't help but feel like crap.
He's so out of it, in fact, that he doesn't notice that Johnny is about to let the barbell crush his lungs. Yosaku steps in at the last moment, grabbing the heavy weights before Johnny's arms give out, and Zoro startles.
"Shit, sorry!" he exclaims, taking the weights from Yosaku. "Johnny, man, are you okay?"
"Y-yeah, Zoro-bro," Johnny gasps out, clutching at his chest.
"What's wrong, Zoro-bro? You've spacing out since this morning," Yosaku frowns, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, you didn't even finish your reps before you offered to spot for Johnny," Yosaku nods.
Zoro sighs. He's not one to talk about his problems with others. He usually prefers to cut the source of said problem out of his life, but that doesn't exactly work in this situation. Still, he's not about to go whining like a bitch to Johnny and Yosaku, of all people.
"I'm fine. Didn't sleep well, that's all."
His friends seem to believe the excuse and soon return to their lifting. Zoro crosses his legs and closes his eyes, letting his body fall into deep relaxation. Maybe meditation will help him solve this problem.
Sanji is leaving. That's a fast-approaching fact. Once the restaurant is built, maybe even before that, Sanji will leave for Raftel. Zoro doesn't doubt it for a second. There's no way
Sanji will let another chef command his dream restaurant, let someone else call the shots after he puts in all the work.
And so, Zoro's stuck. Because once Sanji leaves, Zoro will have two options: stay or go.
If he goes with Sanji, he will have to leave the dojo behind. He will have to let Chopper stay in the University dorms. Raftel is a three-day drive away. Zoro would be uprooted from his life, taken out of his comfort zone, where the only familiar face will be Sanji. He will have to put a hold on his dreams and help Sanji's achieve his. He will have to step back and let the cook flourish.
What happens if you look around and realize that after this whole time, you're not a person anymore?
He can always stay. Break it off with Sanji, call it a good day, and go on with his life. Without Sanji. Without sharp insults and even sharper kicks. Without the smell of smoke. Without golden hair to run his finger through or pale skin to caress. Without swaying hips, or bright smiles. If he stays, he will never be allowed to view the captivating image of a bare Sanji, sweaty and flushed, eyes bright and cool, skin bathed in moonlight.
Isn't there a third option?
He rouses from meditation without finding a solution. Maybe he should talk to Sanji about it. He doesn't want to tamper the cook's excitement, but it's better to take care of it now, than later when it came come off as an unpleasant surprise.
Sabo's party arrives faster than Zoro expected, but it provides a nice distraction. It's a small grill party, nothing overly fancy since Sabo doesn't really like that type of stuff.
He invited his brothers of course, as well as Nami, Vivi, Usopp, Kaya, Zoro, Sanji, and not that surprisingly, Franky and Robin.
"That kid of yours is gonna make it big, Zoro," Sabo tells him as he stares at Chopper playing with Luffy and Usopp in the back yard. "You've done a great job with him."
"He practically raised himself," Zoro shrugs. "I just helped him out whenever I can."
"It's great that he gets along with Sanji so well," Ace comments. "Not like Saga."
"The only reason why Sanji even paid attention to me is because of Chopper," Zoro says. "Chopper likes him a lot."
He turns his head to peek at Sanji, who's working in the kitchen. Sanji is working on a new recipe he got from a restaurant in Dressrosa, something about drunken beans. Kaya is making the salad, and Vivi is working on cutting up all of the vegetables that they're going to grill. Outside, Nami and Robin are watching over the heating grill while Usopp and Franky entertain Luffy and Chopper.
"Talking about kids, I wanted to ask you something, Zoro," Sabo says, leaning in closer. He puts his beer down and stares at Zoro seriously. Zoro notices the mood shift and puts down his beer too, giving all of his attention to Sabo. "Koala and I have been thinking a lot about the future of a child, despite how early in her pregnancy we are. With our jobs as Revolutionaries, we know that we don't lead the safest of lives. I'm lucky enough to have two wonderful brothers that I know will give their lives to protect my future child if anything were to happen to me and Koala. But Ace is with Whitebeard, and while Luffy would make a wonderful uncle, he's not ready to take care of a child anywhere in the near future. I know this is asking for much…but would you consider being my child's godfather and legal guardian?"
Zoro blinks, his mouth open. He didn't expect this…yeah, he and Sabo are good friends, but Zoro has always been closest to Luffy. "I…I mean, I would love to, but are you sure? What does Koala think?"
"Koala is fine with it," Sabo shrugs. "We decided we would each pick someone, and I picked you. Koala is going to ask Nami. She was thinking about Robin, but—."
"Robin's in the Army, too," Zoro nods.
"Exactly."
"I guess that's why Robin chose Sanji," Ace murmurs. "Instead of Koala or you."
Sabo snorts. "Sanji is just as dangerous as Koala or me. Robin simply picked her best friend."
"But Sanji isn't in the Army," Zoro frowns.
"No, he isn't," Sabo agrees. "But if he is who I think he is, then he's practically a member already."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know how much work he's done for Robin?"
Zoro frowns, confused. "I guess so? I mean, Sanji told me he used to fight in the rings when he was younger, and he did a couple of odd jobs for Robin, but he got out of there once the Baratie hit it off. He still does the odd favor for Robin, but the last one was like four months ago."
"Yeah, odd job doesn't actually cover it," Sabo snorts. "I mean, I never knew it was Sanji until I met him, but everyone knows of Robin's little helper. She never wanted to reveal his name, though, always calling him Mr. Prince…Dragon didn't push it since Sanji always delivers. He went deep undercover during the battle in Centaurea, his Intel was the advantage we needed to win the war there. And he's the one who gave us the information on Tequila Wolf, where we rescued all of those slaves."
"Wait, did you say Mr. Prince?" Marco asks sharply. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, though I hear he goes by Black Leg here."
"If he really is Mr. Prince, then we've had a couple of run-ins with him, too," Ace murmurs, eyeing Sanji. The blonde is oblivious to their conversation, happily talking to Vivi and Kaya as he moves to season and cut the meat.
"He's a big name underground-yoi," Marco agrees, looking at Zoro. "Not much in East Blue and Paradise—you and Luffy get the fame here. I never actually met him, but he fought against Namur and won."
"There is a rumor that he infiltrated one of the big-name gangs in Little Garden a couple of years ago, though. It dissolved within five months."
"You mean the Red Dots?" Marco asks, and Ace nods. "Over in the Red Line?"
"Red Dots? They were involved with the Tequila Wolf slavery ring," Sabo frowns. "They dealt in the trafficking. Brought in the most numbers, mostly women."
Marco whistles, and even Ace looks impressed. "You got yourself a dangerous one, there-yoi," Marco tells Zoro. "He plays in the big leagues."
"He didn't go into much detail when he talked about it," Zoro murmurs, staring at Sanji. He's impressed. Fuck yeah, Whitebeard's number one and two, not to mention Dragon's number one, have just called Sanji impressive.
He realizes in that moment that he's still nowhere near the cook's level.
"Haven't heard any news about him lately, though," Sabo says.
"Yeah, the last I heard of him was last May," Ace says. "He leaked out some really private information about Marineford to the Four Emperors."
"That was a while ago, maybe even before we met," Zoro murmurs. "Robin probably gave him the information."
"I never thought I'd get to meet him. My respects," Sabo says.
Zoro smirks. "Don't tell him that; he'll get a huge head—it's bad enough everyone talks like his food is heavenly."
"It is heavenly!" Ace exclaims. "Don't even pretend it isn't!"
"Oi, you guys get off your fat-asses and help these lovely ladies carry the food outside. I'm about to start grilling the meat," Sanji calls from the kitchen.
"Sanji, did you make me a fancy cake like the one you did Chopper?" Sabo asks, jumping to his feet to go bother the cook. "Did you?"
"Yes, it's in the fridge—don't look! Koala wants it to be surprise," Sanji says, smacking Sabo's hand away from the fridge with a foot. "Get those platters of ribs out. Ace, you think you can keep Luffy away from the meat, at least until I cook it?"
"Might need help. Marco, baby, wanna help?" Ace grins, looking down at his boyfriend.
"If he starts biting my fingers again, I'm just turning into a phoenix and letting him burn-yoi," Marco warns, but follows Ace.
Zoro stands up to grab another beer from the fridge. Vivi grabs a couple of bowls containing guacamole, mashed potatoes, and grilled onions and takes them outside. Kaya is preparing a salad.
"Marimo, come taste this," Sanji says, stirring the beans he has cooking on low. "Tell me what you think."
Zoro accepts the spoonful Sanji offers, groaning a little in pleasure when the taste of simmered beans and bacon cooked in beer touches his tongue. "I like them. Could do with a little more beer, though."
"Everyone but you would get drunk, then," Sanji snorts. "They're just about ready. We can snack on these while the meat and vegetables grill. Take it outside? And be careful, 'cause it's hot."
"I got it, mom," Zoro says, rolling his eyes. Sanji kicks his shin, and moves to start preparing drinks.
The simmered beans are a hit, and Koala makes Sanji promise he will make them again as soon as she and Robin can drink alcohol. There's an abundance of beer and—thanks to Luffy—Sanji doesn't run out of meat to cook.
"Luffy, will you stop stuffing your mouth?" Nami yells, trying to protect her chicken leg from the rubber boy.
"But Nami—!"
"Stop!"
"You think if Luffy hadn't eaten the Gum Gum Fruit, he would still eat as much?" Chopper wonders, watching the boy stretch out of Nami's clutches to try and steal Vivi's food.
"Have you seen Ace eat?" Marco snorts, nodding to the sleeping narcoleptic.
"Is Sabo the only one who doesn't stuff his mouth?" Franky asks, and the others nod.
A new song starts, and this one is one Zoro recognizes from Zeff's location. It's one of Sanji's favorites, the only one he admits to liking out loud.
"I love this song!" Sanji exclaims from the grill. "Kaya, would you like to dance with me? Franky, come man the grill."
Kaya giggles and accepts Sanji's outstretched hand. The cook leads her to the open floor, and as they start to dance, Sanji starts to sing.
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby, kiss me
Sanji's voice is soft, but it carries. He has wonderful voice, Zoro thinks as he watches the cook slow dance with Kaya. They're both graceful, gliding across the floor with elegance and poise.
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you
"I should probably cut in before Kaya ends up falling in love with Sanji," Usopp jokes as the music takes over the song. He gets up from the table and cuts in the dance.
Franky grabs Robin's hand and leads her forward. Koala drags Sabo, giggling as the blonde trips over his feet. Nami and Vivi both rise with grace, and since Ace is still asleep, Luffy drags Marco forward. Chopper jumps to his feet and joins Sanji, giggling when the blonde twirls him around.
Zoro opens another beer and watches them with a small smile. Despite the difference in height, Sanji still manages to move with grace while he dances with Chopper, still singing along with the song.
Fill my heart with song
Let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true
In other words, In other words,
I love you
Sanji slows down as the song ends, but another one starts and Chopper starts dancing again. Sanji simply smiles and twirls him around again.
He has a future with Sanji. Saga was wrong. Looking at him right now, dancing around with Chopper, Zoro can see how easy it would be to fall in love with Sanji. All he needs to do is be around the cook a little more, and he's sure to fall.
Sanji's restaurant will only take around a year to be built. And there are dojos in Raftel as well. Zoro doesn't have to put his training on hold. They don't have to move until the restaurant is under construction, and Sanji doesn't even have the theme yet.
He doesn't know why he was so worried. He doesn't have to choose at all. His friends can still visit him. Zoro is sure any of his friends would be more than glad to let Chopper stay with them—and the boy can always come up to Raftel during school breaks.
Zoro smiles and downs the rest of his beer. He's staying with Sanji.
On Saturday, they leave for Raftel around three, and arrive at their hotel in time to go to bed.
They wake up before sunrise—at least, Sanji does and manages to convince Zoro out of bed with the promise a quickie in the shower. Needless to say, Sanji feels refreshed and ready to take on the world once they get out, and Zoro is left in a good moon.
"So what's the plan?" Zoro asks as they take the elevators down to the lobby.
"We're scouting," Sanji explains. "I need to check the location. There are many important factors to a successful restaurant, and one of the biggest is location. What kind of people shop there? What's my competition? Do I need to leave a space open for parking? What kind of businesses do I have around me? How big is the lot? How's the view? There are many factors that go into the success of a business."
"Did you guys do all of this for the Baratie?" Zoro asks curiously.
"We didn't plan as well as we could have," Sanji admits. "I think that's one of the reasons why it took so long for the Baratie to kick off."
"But you're a great chef. Once people eat your food, they'll be begging for more."
Sanji smiles and takes Zoro's hand. "People won't know the quality of food just by looking, mossy. And that's another thing; I need to build a reputation for myself. At the Baratie, everyone knows Zeff. Critiques mention the other cooks, but the name that goes on newspapers is Zeff's. Raftel is very big in reputation; if I come in big, it'll be easier for me."
"Hmm."
Raftel isn't only the food capital of the world. It's also the top leader in technology, entertainment, and culture. Its fashion industry leads the way for the rest of the world. There is nothing you cannot find in Raftel—for a price, of course.
Another lustrous industry in Raftel are their hotels. With the amount of tourists the city gets a year, you can find a hotel at every street. Sanji is able to find one a couple of blocks from the lot, so it's not a very long walk.
"I thought Raftel bordered All Blue," Zoro murmurs as they make their way down the streets.
"That's towards the north," Sanji explains, nodding in the correct direction.
Raftel is kind of a culture shock for most people, mainly because the city has slowly transformed into a potful of diversity. The part where they're at right now reminds Sanji a lot of his time in Dressrosa, with its stone houses, narrow streets, and picturesque views.
But as they get closer to their destination, the low, stone buildings start to transform into tall skyscrapers. This looks more like West Blue. And even though everything seems to be crowded together, Sanji doesn't get a cramped feeling.
"Well, I've only seen a couple of cars since we stepped out of the hotel. Most people prefer just to walk," Zoro says.
"We're getting closer," Sanji says, glancing down at the address Zeff gave him. "Look at that."
As they keep walking, the buildings open up to reveal a square plaza, and in the center, what looks like a farmer's market. The place is crowded, with people leisurely walking from stall to stall. Sanji can see stands selling fruits, grains, nuts, and more. Everywhere they look, it's clear that these people are used the high life. The standard of living in Raftel is way higher than in any other city, which is the reason why the Marines heavily control who gets to live there.
"Wow, this is neat," Sanji murmurs, looking around.
"Sir, try our fresh Fuji apples. Sweetest apples in the market!" a man exclaims, raising a red apple for Zoro to see. "Only twelve Beri the pot!"
"Try our carp! Fresh out of the sea!" another vendor says, almost placing the fish under Sanji's nose. "Better than those sour apples!"
"Eh? Shut up, Larson! Everyone knows to go down to the fish market for fish, you idiot!" the apple guy snaps, pushing Larson away. "You wanna try good fish? Go down to the market on the Valley. Wanna try good apples? Buy from me."
"So this isn't the only market?" Sanji asks curiously.
"Ah, tourists," Larson says knowledgeably and shares a strangely friendly smile with the guy he just insulted "How long have you guys been here?"
"We got here yesterday night," Zoro says. "And we leave tomorrow morning."
"And you're coming down to the produce market?" the apple vendor snorts. "Look, kids. There are a couple of markets in Raftel. You got your produce, which is here. Everything you can grow from the ground, you can find here. Then over at All Blue Valley, you got your meats: fishes, your birds, your grass-eaters…you can even find a couple of man-eaters. You can visit Little World, where you will find all those new gadgets young people are getting these days. Or you can head west and visit Upper Mil, where you'll get all those fancy shops that sell clothes and shoes and whatnot. And if you cross Arbil Bridge, you'll get to Nighton. It's a stand-alone island, but since the Marines build the bridge connecting it to Raftel, it's considered part of the city. That's where all the youngsters live, since most of the schools are up there. Real lively place."
"What about this address?" Sanji asks, showing him the piece of paper Zeff gave him. "What can you tell me about this place?"
"Oh, that's the Hilltop. It used to be a bunch of trees up there," Larson says, nodding up north. "But it was right smack in the middle of Raftel so them Marines decided to clear it up. They flattened it down a little to make it easier for people to climb up, then sold the land to a bunch of people. There's still a couple of empty lots, but a bunch of new shops just opened up."
"It's a nice place," the apple vendors adds. "Since it's right in the middle of Raftel, it has become a hubbub. There's this nice Dressrosa-themed restaurant up there, you guys
should try it."
"Thanks for the info," Sanji says, taking out a couple of Beris to hand to the vendors.
"Thank you, blondie," Larson grins, pocketing the bills. "And trust me, La Perla is the finest restaurant you'll find up there!"
"So you got competition," Zoro says, waving back half-heartedly to the vendors. "You worried?"
"Not yet," Sanji shrugs. "You wanna go try their breakfast?"
"Sure."
Just like the vendors said, Hilltop is right in the middle of Raftel, connecting all the other neighborhoods. And just like the name implies, it used to be a hill top, but the Marines made it smaller. It's still kind of tall, but the steps surrounding the hill have become a type of meet-up place for the locals and tourist, so people don't seem to mind the small trek up.
Hilltop feels like a city of its own. There are museums, shops, cafes, apartments, banks, bars, clubs, hotels, and restaurants, making it Raftel's entertainment, nightlife, and commercial district. There are a couple of empty lots, but most of them are small, too small to build anything but a small stand.
"Can we stop to eat before checking out the lot?" Zoro asks as his stomach grumbles. "I'm pretty hungry."
"Yeah, sure," Sanji says, extending his hand out for Zoro to take. Not only does it stop the marimo from getting lost, but it feels nice to hold hands.
La Perla is one of the three restaurants in Hilltop. Like the vendors from before mentioned, it's a Dressrosa-themed restaurant, though the design is a bit more modern. They are greeted at the door and immediately seated, which gives them serious brownie points in Sanji's book.
"Do you guys take reservations?" Sanji asks the hostess.
"We do," she nods politely. "But we're still relatively new, so we don't get filled up. Most reservations are made in the second floor, though."
"Thank you," Sanji says and accepts the menu she hands out.
"Second floor? That sounds cool," Zoro mentions as they look over the menu.
"In theory, it is," Sanji shrugs. "But it causes too many problems. The biggest is food delivery. Do you build a kitchen in the second floor, or do you just have the one and send your waiters through the stairs? Having a bunch of waiters walking up and down the stairs causes traffic problems, which causes people to drop stuff, which causes customers to leave. And then you have the whole first-time customer mentality. When you go inside a new restaurant, you want to feel comfortable. If you don't, then you want to leave discreetly. But if you get put in the second floor, then there's no way to do that. Then you get customers that are demanding to be seated in the first floor, so you get full in the first floor while your second floor is empty."
"Huh…you could've just said they suck, but hey," Zoro shrugs and laughs when Sanji kicks at his ankle. "So you know what's good here?"
"Well, all the dishes are traditional Dressrosa recipes," Sanji says, reading over his menu. "They have those drunken beans I made for Sabo's birthday, but they don't put beer in them in the mornings."
"What's the point, then? Let me just get these egg-looking thing."
"You mean the omelette?"
"Why do I feel judged?"
"You're going for the omelette?" Sanji repeats, glaring. "Why not try the scrambled eggs with bread and chorizo?"
"What the hell is chorizo?"
"Just—you know what, you don't get to order. I'm ordering for you. I don't even know why I gave you the option," Sanji sighs, snatching the menu from Zoro's hand. "And check this out…we've been here for several minutes—no waiter!"
"Maybe they're waiting for us to decide on the meal…give us a little thinking time," Zoro shrugs.
"The first thing a good waiter should do is introduce himself," Sanji says. "Even if it is just to say hi, you should meet your waiter as soon as you get seated. Then they step back and give the customer time. That's what you do at the Baratie, right?"
"Yeah, otherwise Rebecca snaps at me," Zoro rolls his eyes. "And look, there's your waiter."
A man that looks to be around their age approaches them. He seems friendly enough and when he greets them, he makes sure to talk to both of them, not just focusing on Sanji or Zoro.
"Are you ready to order?" he asks, without introducing himself.
Sanji keeps his smile in place. This isn't his restaurant, he isn't going to chide their employees. "Yes. I'll have the scrambled eggs with sausage and simmered beans. He'll have the scrambled eggs with bread and chorizo, and coffee for both of us."
"Right away, sir." At least the waiter is polite and friendly. Just a little untrained, then.
The food doesn't take too long to arrive, another good point for the restaurant. The atmosphere is nice, friendly, and it reminds Sanji a lot of his visit to Dressrosa. Even the food, when Sanji bites into it, takes him back to those couple of weeks.
"This is really good," Zoro says, biting into his eggs enthusiastically. "Why haven't you made these for me before? Shit, they're really good."
"Everything in here seems good," Sanji agrees. "But…aren't you a bit disappointed?"
"What do you mean?" Zoro asks, confused.
"I mean…we're in Raftel. It's the freaking End of the World! But right here, it feels like I'm in Dressrosa. Like I'm going to step out and see a bull fight or something."
"But isn't that the point?" Zoro frowns. "Here in Raftel, you get culture from every part of the world. It's the place where you can eat food from Dressrosa, then turn around and visit a museum on West Blue culture. It's the world, all balled up."
Sanji wrinkles his brow. Zoro is right, but Sanji can't help but feel like something is missing. This…this isn't what he wants people to feel when eating in his restaurant.
They finish up and take their leave, living a good tip for the waiter. They take their time getting to the empty lot, taking in the types of businesses in the area. There are coffee shops, movie theaters, opera houses, museums, parks, clubs, bars, bowling alleys…shit, there's everything.
"This really is like a city of its own," Zoro mumbles. "And we're getting closer to the edge."
"Yeah…this side faces the All Blue," Sanji says. "I guess the Marines didn't even out the land, because we've been on incline for a while, and this side is higher."
"Well, that looks like your lot, doesn't it?"
Sanji follows Zoro line of sight and nods. It's big. Bigger than the lots they have seen so far. It's about three times the size of the Baratie's lot, wider than it is long. It's right at the edge of the hilltop, with a bank on the right and a museum on the left. The area is well trafficked, with the Barrio Square across the street, with the city's largest fountain, the Ronion Castle Fountain in the center. A couple of the business owners tell them that during the night, the fountain is lighted with multiple-colored lights, creating a light show for the tourists. Because of the size of the square, along with the multiple gardens, museums, and galleries around the area, the square often becomes the gathering place for cultural shows.
"This is perfect," Sanji breathes out. "The location…You know how much traffic we're gonna get? And the size…I can make it twice as big as the Baratie!"
"Let's check out the view," Zoro says, tugging on his hand.
The lot is closed off with blue tarps, a big sign stating that it's private property covering the front gates. Sanji takes out the keys Zeff gave him and opens the big padlock locking the gates. He grabs Zoro's hand as they get closer to hill's edge, gasping.
Holy shit.
The view is magnificent. They are higher than the rest of Hilltop, facing All Blue. But even if the ocean water—so blue that it looks like a mirror to the sky—weren't there, the view would be impressive.
Right in front of them, underneath them, there is a valley, cut in half by a long, winding street filled with pedestrians. on either side, cliffs taller than the hilltop enclose the area, ending at the shore. But the people of Raftel have taken advantage of the hills, building their roads, homes, and business on the side of them. It looks as if the land itself has grown into beautiful gardens, long shopping streets, adobe homes and more. There are five bridges connecting the two hills, three of them thin and just wide enough for a couple of people to pass through. The other two are wider, big enough for businesses to settle there and have enough space for pedestrians to walk through. The bridges are far enough from each other not to block the city view, and low enough not to block the ocean.
"Look, you can see the Palace Road from here," Zoro says, pointing over to the wide road carved into the hill where the elite of the Raftel live.
"And the Mercato Nuevo," Sanji adds, pointing to the open-air loggia teeming with souvenir stands.
"And that street is so packed…must be a popular shopping strand," Zoro says. "And that park…man, the view must be amazing from there! It's right at the edge of the cliff!"
"What about that tower? The top is higher than the bridges…I wonder what's inside?"
"Looks fancy and expensive as shit."
"And look...don't those temples look like East Blue?"
"You're right, it's the same architecture. They're bigger and better taken care of, but it's the same thatched roofs, elevated floors, wooden structures…"
Sanji stares at the view, taking it all in. Being in Raftel…looking at the All Blue out there…he never wants to forget this. It's so goddamn beautiful. Now he can see why so many people visit the city, why it's so famous.
"Zoro…when people eat at my restaurant, I want them to know they're in Raftel," Sanji murmurs. "I don't want them to forget they're here, in this gorgeous city. Back at that other place, I felt as if I had been taken back to Dressrosa…but I want the opposite to happen here. I want people to feel as if their homes are being brought here. I want them to think holy shit, I just ate Abzhorka in Raftel! Do you get it?"
"Ab—what?"
"It's a meal native to some countries in the Red Line," Sanji explains, waving his hand to show it's not important. "But do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"Uh…kind of," Zoro shrugs, mouth twisting as he tries to think. "So…you want a Raftel-themed restaurant."
Sanji's mouth falls open. "You just…you just put it into words! Yes! A Raftel-themed restaurant! And I'm gonna name it…In Fine."
"What's that mean?"
"It means 'at the end' in the Ancient Tongue," Sanji murmurs. "Because that's where we are…at the end."
"It's gonna be hard," Zoro warns him, his gaze thoughtful as the stares out into the city.
Sanji raises an eyebrow and glares at his boyfriend. "Do you doubt me?"
Zoro grins and glances at him. "Never."
Sanji moves to lean against him. "Now comes the hard part."
"This was the easy part?"
"Of course! Now comes the business plan. I have to do a market analysis, check out how well the competition is doing, start on marketing, figure out what my business operation is going to be like, and check out my finances. After all the paperwork, I have to design the restaurant—the inside and out. Then I have to get all the permits and licenses in place before I can start building. Then I have to plan the menu, stock the place, hire the staff…it's gonna take me months!"
"You know you're going to have help, right?" Zoro says, wrapping Sanji's arms around his waist and leaning back against his chest. It seems he's finally figured out that he can't hug the cook from behind when he's the shorter of the two. "Franky said he was going to help you with the construction—I'm sure he'll help you with the design as well. And Nami is like a genius with all that business jargon or whatever. Vivi and Kaya, and I bet Robin, too, have a lot of connections up here—I mean, Vivi is a princess. And I'll help out whenever I can. You're not doing this alone, Sanji. I'm right here."
"Thank you," Sanji murmurs, planting a soft kiss to Zoro's temple.
"You're welcome, but I'm getting hungry, so let's go."
"Ooh, we can try the other restaurant up here. I think it's mostly West Blue cuisine. Best beer in the world."
"My kind of place."
Zoro wishes they can stay longer, but they leave early Monday morning because Zoro has his first practice match on Wednesday. They arrive just in time to check in with Zeff, and on Tuesday Zoro goes to visit Chopper while Sanji goes to talk to Robin. He needs her help handling the finer details of the business plan, plus Sanji wants to take Franky to Raftel sometime in the next month so they can start brainstorming designs for the restaurant. Sanji's goal is to start construction by the first of June.
On Wednesday, Zoro switches shifts with Rebecca since the practice match start at four. Koshiro decides to keep practices inside East Blue, and their first match is in Orange Town.
Zoro doesn't participate in the matches, but he still goes to oversee his students, and is happy to see that they are much better than their challengers. Practice matches will run until the second week of April, and the Placing Matches will start two weeks later.
Sanji wishes he could go to Zoro's matches, though the swordsman assures him that he isn't getting much action. Still, Zoro is being such a great help with the restaurant, and Sanji wants to show him that he's interested in whatever Zoro likes.
He manages to make it to a couple of practice matches, but since Zoro still can't find a challenger, Sanji is more than happy to spar with him. They do draw a crowd, and most of the time they get told off by Koshiro, but it helps Zoro train, and Sanji is glad to be of help.
Just like Zoro said, Robin and Nami are just the help Sanji needs to expedite the process of building the restaurant's business plan. Both women are terrifying, but together, they're downright lethal.
Fortunately, since Robin and Nami are taking care of all of the legal crap, that leaves time for Sanji to take them and Frankie to Raftel a couple of days before the placing matches start.
"I'll be fine, Sanji," Zoro reassures when Sanji starts worrying about missing Zoro's match. "Besides, the important ones are the Finals, and you'll definitely go to those, right?"
"Right," Sanji promises.
Franky, Nami, Robin, and Sanji leave for Raftel that Friday, and Sanji rents out two rooms in the same hotel he and Zoro stayed at. In the morning, Sanji takes them to his lot. Just like Zoro and Sanji, the others are awed by the view.
"Wow, this is amazing," Nami sighs, staring out into the city. "I mean, people will come here just for this view!"
"I think nice, wide windows will do this place good," Franky adds.
"And we're right at the edge. It's very possible for people to fall and die," Robin adds, smiling softly.
Already used to Robin's morbid side, Sanji shrugs off the comment. "You see the buildings on the sides of the cliffs? And the older structures we saw back in the lower floor? How they just rise up as if the ground itself made them?"
"Yeah…" Franky says, studying the buildings Sanji points out.
"Those are oldest buildings in Raftel. The ruins in the cliffs have been turned into museums and parks, and the ones in the lower floor are mostly community spaces. These are the first buildings built in Raftel. They represent the true architecture of Raftel…I want my restaurant to look like them. The main materials should be wood and stone…the main feature, this view."
"I think I can work with that," Franky murmurs. "We're gonna have a lot of rough drafts, but I promise you we won't stop until we get the perfect building."
"I think it will work best if we visit all of the older buildings," Nami hums thoughtfully. "Raftel's soul is diversity, right? Yeah, it's fancy and high class, but everyone we've met is surprisingly down-to-earth. They're accepting, there's unity. I think the best way to represent the soul of Raftel would be for your restaurant to broadcast that unity. The main frame can be pure Raftel in structure, but the inside…cherry trees from East Blue, art from North Blue, cool and calming colors, like the coasts of South Blue."
"That sounds lovely," Sanji breathes. "Maybe a rustic feel, like West Blue, but fancier décor, like New World." The restaurant is slowly taking shape inside Sanji's. It's hazy, and it's not perfect, but he now has a rough idea they can work with.
"You know…I don't know why they call this a hill…hills have slopes," Nami frowns, looking over the edge. "This isn't a slope, it's a fall."
"Well, the slope is so steep it looks like a cliff from this side," Robin shrugs. "But the north starts with a shallower slope."
"The Marines cut this all off," Sanji explains. "I don't know why…I guess, for some reason, they wanted to block in the valley. I mean, the place is surrounded by cliff walls."
"I guess they didn't want to make it easy to get to All Blue," Franky shrugs. "How do you get down there, anyway?"
"They have bridges connecting the Hilltop to the other two cliffs," Sanji explains. "The one on the west is called Upper Mil and the one on the east is called Little World. Down there is All Blue Valley, and our hotel is the in the South Quad. If you keep going southwest, there's another bridge connecting Raftel to a small island called Nighton. Those are basically all the neighborhoods in the city."
"Why don't we go eat something, then we can explore the rest of the city?" Robin suggests. "Don't forget, you also have to start finding the businesses that are going to stock your restaurant, Sanji."
Sanji takes them to the third restaurant in Hilltop, the one he and Zoro didn't visit. It's a more laidback place, so they find mostly college students inside. After that, they separate.
Franky and Sanji go study the architecture on Upper Mil and Little World, while Robin and Nami go back to the Marine base on the South Quad to get started on all of the permits and licenses Sanji has to complete.
They don't have to return home until Sunday evening, so they spent the weekend researching.
Raftel is a pretty united city. There's diversity, there's culture, there's tradition, there's hospitality, and an amazing nightlife. It's also one of the richest cities in the world, so everything is high class. It's a strange contrasts, but not one that Sanji dislikes.
Upper Mil reminds him of North Blue. It's the center of high fashion and art, with distinct traditional touches that remind the cook of his life beforeThe Orbit. Little World, however, stands at the complete opposition, a mecca of technology and innovation. Everything there is new and exciting, constantly striving to move into the future…it's New World, at its essence.
The South Quad is more of a residential area, a family friendly neighborhood where you can walk outside and start a deep and meaningful conversation with a complete stranger. Then there's Nighton. Aptly named, the whole island is like a haven for the city's youth. There's never a moment that is boring in Nighton, from musical plays performed out in the courtyards, to concerts that take on the whole night. And finally, there's All Blue Valley. There are no residential buildings in the area, since they are outlawed by the Marines. Instead, the whole valley is just one huge strand of shopping centers, markets, museums, parks…it's where most of the city congregates, and the most beautiful place in the entire city.
It's a place Sanji sees himself calling home. He can imagine himself looking for a new place, picking it out with Zoro so it suits both their tastes. He can see Chopper staying with them during school break, then moving to Raftel to enroll in medical school. He can picture himself down at the beach with Zoro and Chopper, happy and relaxed.
This is their future home.
Zoro's placing match starts on that last Monday of April, and due to some complications with the paperwork at the Marine's base, Sanji doesn't make it back home until Wednesday.
He's upset that he missed the match, but Zoro assures him that it doesn't matter
"I told you, just don't miss the Finals," Zoro says, echoing Franky's words. "That's where I'm gonna go against Mihawk. As the World's Greatest, he doesn't have to participate in the Tournament to prove his worth, but most of the time he goes to fight any challengers."
Sanji doesn't say anything. If he's being completely honest with himself, Sanji doesn't think Zoro will be able to defeat Mihawk. He feels horrible just thinking it, but Zoro isn't even strong enough to defeat him, how can he hope to stand up to the older swordsman? But Sanji knows that this is something Zoro has to do, and he also knows that he has to give Zoro his full support. This is Zoro's dream, this is Zoro's All Blue…Sanji can't keep him from going through with this.
"Will you be at my fight against him, Sanji?" Zoro asks quietly, his touch soft as he runs his fingers up the cook's arm
"Of course," Sanji replies, his voice firm. He hugs Zoro tighter, and doesn't say the three words he wants to say.
Vivi's birthday is that Friday and Luffy's is right around the corner on Monday, so they celebrate them together at Vivi's home on that Sunday. Zoro has another match that Friday, but he easily defeats the other man. Sanji and Chopper cheer loudly from the sidelines, and Sanji starts catcalling and wolf-whistling when he notices how deeply Zoro blushes when he does.
The third rounds won't start until the first of June, and that's still three weeks away. So Zoro spends every morning training. Since they're in the middle of the Tournament, classes at the dojo are put on hold, and that gives Zoro more time.
Sanji, too, works overtime.
Every morning, when Zoro leaves for the dojo, Sanji leaves for Galley-La. He and Franky work nonstop trying to draw the perfect restaurant, but it's never good enough. He knows he wants to have most of the tables facing the Valley, but then that leaves the kitchen to be in the front of the restaurant, which is weird. Or if he puts the kitchen on the side, then he needs to put the bathrooms near the front. And then they have to think about the waiting area, and the waiter's stations, and the bar…every single layout is just fucking wrong, and no matter how hard he tries, Sanji can't find the right layout.
It's already the last week of May, and Sanji only has a couple of half-formed designs ready. He and Franky decide to cut that day short, since tempers start to run high.
But Franky is a goddamn genius and he quickly comes up with a solution a few days later.
"Shit, this is amazing, Franky!" Sanji praises as he stares at the designs the cyborg presented him. "Using the same reinforced glass you used in my penthouse to extend the floor…imagine how amazing that would be!"
"Well, we still need to check if we're allowed to build in the air," Franky warns him. "And you might have to buy the air rights to build in there, but if they let you, then I think this design will work."
"I don't care if it costs a million Beris, this is perfect," Sanji says happily. "I'm gonna have a lot of extra cash once I sell all of my cars and the penthouse."
"When are you planning on moving to Raftel?" Franky asks curiously.
"Maybe not until after the restaurant is built," Sanji shrugs. "I want to give Zoro time to think about it, you know. I really want him to come with me, but he has a lot more tying him here than I do. I wouldn't want him to regret anything."
"I understand. I'm sure he's not going to mind," Franky shrugs. "It's not like Raftel is all the way across the world. How is he doing, anyway? Robin told me he was participating in the Grand Line Tournament."
"The third rounds started yesterday, but Zoro won't compete until Wednesday," Sanji says. "You should come see him. I can get you tickets."
"I would love to, but I'm taking Robin to the obstetrician on Wednesday," Franky says.
"Wait, what? What's wrong with Robin?" Sanji asks hurriedly.
"Nothing, calm down, Sanji," Franky laughs. "It's just that her symptoms don't seem to be matching what the doctor said would happen. She seems to be much farther along than just twenty-one weeks, so we might have the date of conception wrong. We just want to double check."
"Oh thank god," Sanji sighs, relieved. "You'll let me know if anything happens, though, right?"
"Of course," Franky promises. "You're the godfather, after all."
Sanji beams. "Fuck yeah, I am. But hey, I'll get you tickets to the second rounds, alright?"
"Sure thing, Sanji. Wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Good. I'm gonna go and talk to Nami, see if she can help me get the permits necessary to start construction, but I love this design. I don't think we need to do any changes."
"Great. Let me know what she says."
He calls Nami to meet up with her, and she invites him over to her apartment. Kaya always plans an end of the year party for her students, and she has asked everyone to pitch in an help. Sanji, of course, is put in charge of the meal.
When he got to Nami's house, he's happy to see everyone there, including Zoro.
"Koshiro still isn't letting you practice?" Sanji asks him after he greets everyone and takes the seat next to him.
"Yeah. He even got Chopper in on it, so now I feel guilty every time I look at a weight," Zoro pouts.
"Aw, poor baby," Sanji smirks. "Well, I have good news. But I need to talk to Nami first."
"Eh? Why can't you tell me first?"
"Because if Nami says I can't do what I'm planning on doing, then it's not good news, now is it?"
"Tch. She's in the kitchen, with Kaya and Vivi."
"Thanks, marimo."
"Hello, Sanji," Nami greets. "Is the budget I gave you for the meal okay?"
"It's perfect, Nami," Sanji says, smiling softly. "I actually wanted to talk to you about the restaurant. Franky figured out a way to expand the seating floor, but it requires using the reinforced glass I have at home as a floor over the cliff. You know, like an invisible floor? We are just wondering if we would need a permit for that or something."
"Oh, that actually sounds really cool!" Vivi exclaims, beaming.
"The view from there would be amazing," Nami agrees. "I can definitely look into it. Give me a couple of days, and I'll let you know."
"Of course, Nami-swan!"
Nami gives him the good news on Kaya's party that he's allowed to build in the air space outside of his lot. He just simply has to buy the area as if it were actual land and let the Marines inspect it as soon as construction is finished to make sure it's safe. There's a lot of paperwork that has to be done, and Franky has to do a lot of finishing touches to the design before they can start construction, but the cyborg promises that they can start construction in July.
Monday arrives, and with it, the second rounds.
Zoro is scheduled to three fights. One opponent is a Marine from Enies Lobby, the other is a Shandian warrior from Skypiea, and the third is from New World.
"So if Zoro-ya wins, he'll go the finals and fight against Mihawk-ya?" Law questions.
Everybody except Kid and Bonney, who are working, is seated in the row of seats Zoro saved for them. Luffy invited Law, and Sanji suspects they're dating now, though neither man has confirmed it.
"Yes," Ace answers, since he's the one that knows the most about these types of competitions. "It's been a while since Mihawk has taken any challengers, but he accepted Zoro's."
"That's because Dad is super strong," Chopper pipes in excitedly.
"Your Dad is gonna kick ass," Sanji grins, patting Chopper's head. "Just watch him."
"Go Zoro!" Luffy yells out suddenly
"He's not out there yet, Luffy," Sabo chides. "His fight starts in twenty minutes."
"Aw."
"I can't believe I'm paying good money to see this," Nami sighs. "I already know how everything is going to play out. Zoro is gonna cut up some guys, then he'll get an even bigger head."
"You're totally right, Nami-swan!" Sanji exclaims happily.
"Ah! I forgot, we have super good news!" Franky exclaims suddenly, getting their attention. "Do you want to do the honors, babe?"
"I thought we were going to wait for Zoro," Robin says.
"Nah, I'm too excited! We can tell him after his fight!"
"What is it?" Koala asks excitedly, turning around to look up at the couple. "Do you know if it's going to be a girl or a boy already?"
"Please let it be a girl!" Sanji pleas.
"It's going to be a boy," Robin says, smiling.
"And a boy," Franky adds.
"Wait…what?"
"We're having twins!" Franky yells, catching the attention of most of the stadium. "I'm gonna be a father of twins!"
"Oh my god!"
"Robin!"
"Congratulations!"
Everyone erupts in cheers, including the strangers that heard Franky's yell. Franky starts crying and thanking them deeply, hugging Robin to himself and yelling about how much he loves her.
"I'm gonna have two godsons?" Sanji gaps, staring imploringly at Robin.
"Actually…we were thinking of making Zoro and Koala the godparents of our other boy," Robin says, looking at her friend. "Since you and Iceburg will already be the godparents of our firstborn."
"I would love to!" Koala exclaims excitedly. "Robin, thank you!"
"I'm gonna have a brother?!" Chopper squeals. "Yay!"
"A godbrother," Sanji corrects.
"And you're going to have two," Koala adds, pointing to her own, swollen belly.
"Yes! I'm gonna be the greatest older brother ever!"
"Hey, I'm the greatest oldest brother ever," Ace exclaims, insulted. "Right, Luffy?"
"Yes!"
"Nah-uh! I'm gonna be!"
"No, I am!"
"Ace, stop fighting with Chopper," Marco admonishes.
"He started!"
Sanji rolls his eyes as the argument escalates when Sabo jumps in. A strange feeling courses through him, and he frowns. Slowly, he extends the edges of his conscious, feeling around him until he reaches the force that is making his body go into flight-or-fight mode. His eyes snap open, and he lets out a slow breath.
Mihawk is here.
Zoro is feeling pretty confident. His first fight against the Marine was a total win with Zoro defeating the other man with ease. He could hear Sanji and Chopper cheering for him from the sidelines, right along with the others that had come out to see him. He was feeling on top of the world, and not even the sight of Saga could psyche him out.
And then he meets with Mihawk.
The man has not changed much in appearance since Zoro last saw him, almost six years ago. Just a few age lines that mark his age and slightly longer hair. But those yellow eyes are still the same sharp, all-too-seeing eyes of a hawk, and Zoro can't help but feel nervous when he meets them.
"Roronoa Zoro. I did not expect to see you here."
"I told you my dream," Zoro answers firmly, a hand falling on top of Wado on his waist. I will defeat you and my name will be heard even in the heavens. "I'm going to defeat you."
"I thought I told you I don't fight every bug that comes my way."
Zoro's eyes narrow and he growls. "I am not a bug. I may have lost our first fight, but I've grown stronger since then."
"You have trained well," Mihawk agrees. "But you are not the man I fought anymore. I did not think it took such a small wound to break your spirit. What a pity."
"Hey, where are you going?" Zoro yells as Mihawk walks away as soon as he's finished speaking. What the fuck is he even talking about? Zoro's spirit isn't broken! He's here, isn't
he? He's here to challenge Mihawk, and he's smarter now. He knows he's not strong enough to defeat the other man, so he will fight smart. He will show that bastard just how strong his will is.
With an angry huff Zoro turns away from the retreating form of the other swordsman and comes face to face with Saga.
"He really is the best," Saga murmurs, his eyes on Mihawk. "He saw it within seconds. And it took me weeks to see."
"Shut the fuck up," Zoro growls. "Both of you are wrong." He pushes past the other man, maybe hitting his shoulder a bit harder than strictly necessary. He doesn't have time to waste on Saga. His next fight is coming up.
Zoro is able to calm down once he enters the fighting ring. He can hear the others cheering—well, Nami is yelling at Luffy, but when is she ever not?—and he smiles as his next opponent comes up.
The man is wearing protective clothing, like the ones students use during practice. The large mask covers his face, and a padded shield covers his chest. The man is larger than Zoro, about a foot taller. He carries a simple sword in his hand, the blade shining dully and cracked in a few places.
This man made it to the finals? What the hell?
Zoro snorts and takes out only Yubashiri as he steps to face his opponent. Another easy win. Hopefully, the Shandian will be more of a challenge.
The referee starts the match, and they move simultaneously.
With the first strike, Zoro knows he underestimated the man. His weapon is poor, but the man is strong and skilled. Zoro fights for the upper hand within the first exchange of blows, but is quickly put in the defensive. Not only is the man on par with Zoro's technique, he's also just as physically strong.
The man strikes at Zoro's shoulder, the blunt edge of the sword hitting the collar bone and sending sparks of pain shooting down Zoro's arm. He quickly jumps away before the man can get to his neck, and moves Yubashiri to his right arm. He moves again before he can fall further in the defensive, using a quick bit of footwork that he learned from the few times he and Sanji sparred. He doesn't pull it off as well as the blonde, but it's enough to knock the other man a few steps back.
Zoro doesn't let up, following the first attack with a series of quick strikes that the other man barely manages to block. Zoro strikes forward, moving to unsheathed Kitetsu, but the sound of a blade shattering stops him. For just one moment, he's frozen as he stares at the pieces of Yubashiri's blade fall to the ground.
His sword is broken.
Zoro looks at the other man, eyes widened when he sees that he has discarded his cracked blade. Instead, the man's entire armed has formed a wide and wicked blade, the edge shining razor sharp.
Zoro has seen that ability before, and his mouth opens to say the man's name, but before he can do so, pain explodes in his chest and he's knocked back.
A splatter of board. A shrill scream. Extreme pain.
It all happens in seconds, but to Zoro it seems like hours.
"Law!"
"Room! Shambles!"
Zoro feels something tug in his stomach, and then he's no longer splayed in the mat, bleeding out from the wound Mihawk gave him and Bones just reopened. Instead, he's sitting next to Law, who is trying to push him back and stop the bleeding. He can see Chopper crying in Nami's arms, Franky holding back Sabo, Marco holding up Ace, and Robin, Vivi, and Kaya trying to hold back Luffy.
But his eyes are on Sanji. Sanji, who replaced his place in the mat and is staring up at Daz Bones with hatred in his eyes. Sanji, whose body looks locked with anger, his hands fisted at his sides, his mouth twisted in a scowl. Sanji, whose body is literally aflame, the heat of his fire reaching Zoro.
Zoro blinks, and Sanji moves.
Sanji twists, coiling his body, then springs forward, his leg ablaze. He's too fast for Bones, and his leg hits squarely. The sound of bones breaking is loud, but Sanji doesn't stop there and lands back on his feet to deliver a roundhouse kick that hits the Devil's Fruit user in the stomach. The large man caves in and the cooks pushes through until the man lands on his back.
Everything darkens for a moment, and when Zoro is able to focus again, Law is in his field of vision.
"Zoro-ya, the wound isn't deep, but you've lost a lot of blood. I need to take you to the hospital and give you a transfusion."
"Sanji…."
"Sanji will be fine, Zoro," Law says. "He will defeat Bones for you."
Zoro loses consciousness before he can say anything else.
Zoro wakes up to the sound of voices.
"…Robin will take care of it…they never do anything right….arrested, but he won't stay…he will be upset..."
The voices slowly fade as Franky, Nami, and Kaya walk away.
Zoro stares up at the ceiling, listening to the slow murmurs of machines all around him as he tries to gather his thoughts.
He fought Bones. And lost. The man who ruined his life, the man Zoro hates more than anyone else in the world—and Zoro wasn't able to defeat him. Instead, Sanji took over and did it for him. He doesn't doubt it for one second. Sanji was terrifying in his anger.
It's the first time Zoro has seen him fighting seriously.
He will defeat Bones for you.
Sanji stepped in only because Zoro wasn't strong enough to defeat Bones. With just one strike, the other man paralyzed him. He reopened Mihawk's wound and Zoro froze.
It didn't even fucking hurt as bad as when Mihawk attacked him. It's just a flesh wound, the stitched skin ripped apart—the wound isn't as deep, or as precise as the one Mihawk delivered. So why died it freeze him like that?
Why did it make his mind shut down in fear?
I did not think it took such a small wound to break your spirit.
"Fuck," Zoro curses, closing his eyes as shame floods his senses.
You're not gonna be able to use Chopper as an excuse forever, Zoro!
How could he have let this happen? How could he have been such a coward?
Saga is totally right.
Zoro is using Chopper as an excuse. Not because he's afraid of Mihawk, but because he's afraid he doesn't have what it takes to defeat the man. Zoro had been full of confidence, childish and stupid as he faced the greater man, and he had paid for it. The wound had almost killed him. It was painful and ugly and it ripped him apart. It made him feel small and insignificant, a small fish in the ocean. It made him realize just how weak he really was, how much he still had to achieve.
And instead of training to get better, of hitting the mats again and working to get better until he' was sweating blood and pain…he hid behind Chopper.
Alice told him about Chopper weeks after his fight with Mihawk. He was already healing, his naturally fast-healing working to make him better, get him ready again. He told himself he would fight Mihawk again, but when Chopper arrived, Zoro easily gave up his dreams.
And part of it was because he loves Chopper and would do anything for the young boy. But Zoro was the one who closed all the doors for himself. Because Saga had never been jealous of Chopper. Saga had never wanted to stand between Zoro and his son.
Saga simply wanted to encourage him to get back to training. He offered solutions to problems Zoro didn't want solved. He offered his support and was willing to shoulder half the responsibility so that Zoro could go back to fighting for his dreams.
And Zoro couldn't have that. Zoro was content pretending that he was simply putting his life on hold until Chopper grew old enough to take care of himself. He broke up with Saga, realizing the man was expendable. He pushed his friends away, knowing that their help would make things easier. He buried himself under his pride and pretended that life simply was hard for a single father trying to feed his child. When it was only his own stupid pride and fear that kept him in poverty and hunger.
And then he met Sanji. A man that could offer a solution to every problem he ever had. A man Zoro wanted to touch since the first moment he saw. Sanji was just like Saga, offering his support every step of the way. Taking Zoro's responsibilities for himself. Breaking down every barrier Zoro put up.
But unlike Saga, Sanji wasn't expendable. Zoro couldn't keep away from him. Every time he tried to push the blonde away, treated him coldly and shut the door in his face, Sanji came back. And Zoro started looking forward to that.
And soon enough, his longing for the other man was stronger than his fear. And he fell for Sanji. Let Sanji break down most of his barriers and push him forward to face Mihawk.
All the while, letting resentment fester. Telling himself that he resented Sanji's wealth, when he had never cared about such things before. Ignoring the feelings of inadequacy that arose every time he realized how big the gap in strength was between himself and Sanji. When he had found something wrong with the man, the first thing that wasn't perfect about the blonde, he gripped it tight and attacked. But Sanji's confession had robbed him of that excuse. He couldn't force himself to hate Sanji for being born a Celestial Dragon. He couldn't push Sanji away and pretend he didn't care for him.
Then Sanji received the opportunity to fulfill his dream, and Zoro had the perfect excuse to put his own on hold again. How could he deny Sanji's All Blue after all that Sanji had done for him? He told himself he didn't care if he put his dream on hold one more time. What was a year, after all?
It's all just fucking excuses.
But he's done making excuses. He's done pretending to not know. He's done hiding. He's done being afraid. Because he's Roronoa-fucking-Zoro and he doesn't do fear.
He loves Sanji. He's known it for a while now. He felt it when he saw the blonde cry for the first time. He knew it when he looked at the way Robin looks at Franky and realized it was the same look he gives the blonde. He ignored the feeling when Chopper found that perfect cologne that made him ache for Sanji, and he ignored it when he bought the All Blue orb that he knew Sanji would love.
And it's so fucked up that he's finally admitting it now that he has decided to drop all pretenses. It's so fucking unfair.
Zoro will become the greatest swordsman in the world. And if he has to die for that title…then so be it.
He gets up off the bed and slips out of the room. He pushes past the people walking around until he can find the exit. His feet touch concrete and he starts running. He runs until the streets stop moving, until he can admit that he's seriously lost, until his breath is coming out in dry heaves.
He runs until he gets to where he needs to be. Because no matter how much people say he's always getting lost, Zoro knows his feet always take him to where he's supposed to be.
He knocks on the plain door and waits until it opens.
"Roronoa."
"Mihawk."
And where he needs to be is right here.
Luffy is the only one who doesn't ask him to reconsider. He only looks at Zoro from under his straw hat and listens as he finishes his explanation.
"But Dad, you can't!" Chopper exclaims tearfully.
"That's right! You can't do this to Sanji!" Nami says angrily.
"He's in jail right now for helping you!" Usopp bravely adds. "You can't give him news like this!"
"That's enough," Luffy cuts in quietly. He and Zoro haven't broken eye contact, and the swordsman knows that his friend can read the determination in his eyes. "I'm glad to see that fire in your eyes again, Zoro."
Zoro smirks and nods. "It took a while to get it to burn again."
Luffy smiles too, that wide grin that always makes Zoro think things are going to be okay. "Yosh! We'll take care of Chopper and Sanji for you, Zoro! You don't have to worry at all."
"Luffy!"
"Thank you, Luffy," Zoro says, ignoring Nami and getting to his feet.
"Where are you going?" Usopp asks, confused.
"I need to speak to Sanji," Zoro says. "Before I leave."
They don't try to stop him. They know his mind is made up. Mihawk only gave him a few hours to say goodbye, and he spent most of the time trying to find his way to Luffy's apartment.
He gets to Sanji with only twenty minutes to spare.
The man is seated in the concrete bar behind bars, leaning back against the hard wall and smoking a cigarette. He looks completely relaxed, without a care in the world.
"Hey, cook."
Sanji glances at him and smiles. "Hey, marimo. How are you feeling?"
Zoro makes a face at the reminder of his feinting spell. "I'm fine," he mutters. He notices the angry red marks around Sanji's wrists and frowns. "How are your hands?"
"They're fine," Sanji says, covering the marks with his jacket. "And how's Chopper?
"Chopper? He's fine," Zoro says, confused by the line of questioning.
"Really? That's good," Sanji sighs. "I didn't want him to see me beating up Bones, but I kind of lost my temper."
"He's seen me fight plenty of times," Zoro says. "Unfortunately, he's used to seeing things like that."
"Still, I left Bones pretty messed up."
Zoro makes a noncommittal sound. "What about your record? Doesn't it have to be clean to be able to stay in Raftel?"
"Robin took care of that," Sanji assures him. "The Marines are glad I put Crocodile's second in the hospital, where they can wait until he wakes up to send him to Impel Down."
"Good," Zoro says, and silence falls between them. Zoro doesn't know how to bring up his upcoming departure, but he can tell that Sanji senses something's wrong. He hides it
well, but Zoro knows how to read him.
"Sanji…I asked Mihawk if he could train me. And he said yes."
Sanji's eyes widen, then smiles brightly. "Really? That's awesome! Holy shit, Zoro!"
"Yeah," Zoro murmurs. "You know, the first time he fought me, he defeated me using a blade the size of his pinky. There I was, with my three swords in all of my glorious stupidity…and Mihawk fucking takes out a tiny as fuck blade—and defeats me."
Sanji frowns and stares at him curiously. He doesn't say anything, no words of comfort or pity. He just stays silent and waits for Zoro to speak. Sanji has always been perfect like that.
"I cannot defeat Mihawk in the level I am now. I got on my knees and I put away my pride to ask him to train me. You put Crocodile away. Chopper is going to move in with Usopp so he can continue going to school. The others have assured me that they will take care of him while I'm...while I'm gone."
"While you're gone?" Sanji repeats, his voice small. His curiosity turns to confusion. "You're…leaving?"
"This is my dream, Sanji," Zoro says softly. "I've been running away from it for far too long. And the longer I stay here, the farther away it gets."
"The longer you stay here with me, you mean," Sanji says, his voice empty.
"I cannot follow you when my dream leads me the other way," Zoro finally answers. Sanji makes a small wounded noise, and Zoro resist the urge to touch his hair. "This is isn't something you can help me with. I need to do this alone."
"So you're breaking up with me?" Sanji hisses angrily, gripping the cell bars tightly. They're made out of Seastone so they don't crumple under his grip.
Zoro ignores the question. He doesn't want to answer it. He doesn't want to break what he and Sanji have.
"I will be gone for years, Sanji," he says carefully. "I have a lot of work to do. Mihawk lives in some shit island halfway across the world, and I don't know when I'm coming back. Sanji, you cannot ask me to stay with you."
Sanji laughs hollowly and the fights seems to leave him, leaving him with sagging shoulders. "Yeah, I know," he says. "And even if I asked, you would still say no."
"I'm sorry," Zoro says, knowing the word isn't enough. Sanji doesn't say anything but simply takes another drag of his cigarette. The smell of it is strong, and Zoro finds himself thinking of how much he's going to miss the acrid smell.
There's nothing else to say, so he turns his back and walks way.
Before the doors close completely behind him, he hears Sanji speak.
"You know, if in the future you're ever nearby, you should stop and check out the restaurant."
Zoro smiles, but doesn't reply.
The doors slam close behind him, and Zoro leaves Sanji behind.
A/N: Ah, so I'm finally done with this story! Yeah. So...if you don't like the ending, there's good news for you! There's a second part. Actually, there's three :) The second part is seven chapters, but I'll be posting it all at once. To all the people who left reviews, I thank you so much. I read and loved each one but I didn't reply because I'm a nervous wreck who couldn't figure out what to write. That, and I'm still not used to FFNet :( Anyway, I love you guys and thanks for giving this story a chance!