He'd been having such a nice nap when the boisterous calls from his Captain woke him up. Zoro cracked open his eyes and a grin slowly etched across his face as he took in the presence of his Nakama. They were celebrating, and the Captain was calling for more meat while the sensible blond brother of his scolded him. The other brother, a brunet like his Captain, laughed and joined in calling for more meat.
The shipwright was at the helm, while off to the port side of the prow was the skeleton playing a lively tune on his violin. Zoro hummed along while he turned his gaze to observe the ship's Doctor and the Sniper coming down from the little garden section on the uppermost deck of the stern area. They both stumbled, but were thankfully caught thanks to the Devil Fruit abilities their resident Archaeologist had. She smiled faintly at them, amused, before turning her gaze back to one of the books she always had.
Standing a small distance from her at the railing of the stern's middeck was their Navigator, who contented herself by watching the ocean around them for signs of weather changes. She was hypersensitive to such things, and though Zoro had monetary issues with her, he would trust her with his life when it came to Navigation.
Out from the kitchen came the blond cook, who danced around and swooned at the two ladies like the fool he was. Once they were served their lighter snacks did the chef begin serving the men of the vessel. Zoro took an offered meat skewer and as the chef passed him by he teasingly traced a hand across the man's ass.
This action alone was well worth it as the blond chef quickly rounded on him, a tirade leaving his lips, while he gave the swordsman a vicious kick to the head, his cheeks flushed a brilliant red.
Zoro was jarred out of his strange dream by a rather forceful shove from Kuina. The slightly older girl of eleven was glaring down at him, her hands on her hips. "What was that for?!" he grumbled, rubbing a bit of drool off of his cheek. His dream, and the details of it, had quickly faded from his mind.
"You had a stupid look on your face and you were supposed to be meditating, not sleeping!" Kuina griped, her glare intensifying.
Zoro yawned in response and got up from where he was supposed to have been meditating, at least according to Kuina. "I can't help it if I fall asleep, besides, what is it hurting?"
Kuina huffed and grabbed her shinai, tucking the bamboo practice sword under her arm before she left the room.
"Must be time to train," Zoro mumbled and picked up the two shinai he used to train with.
-TSoB-
They stood across from one another, covered in bruises and nicks, panting after their first match with real swords. Zoro had still lost, and it was the two thousandth time too! Muttering slightly, he dropped to the ground and rolled onto his back, his swords laying a safe distance away.
Kuina softened her expression and sheathed her family's meito, Wado Ichimonji, before joining Zoro on the ground. "I won't be able to keep winning against you as I get older, Zoro," she said faintly, slightly jealous of the fact that Zoro was a male and she wasn't.
"What do you mean?" Zoro turned his head to look at her, a scowl on his face. For as long as he could remember since he had come to her family's Dojo she had always beaten him. She was just that good.
"It's because when I get older and as my body matures… I won't be able to be as strong as you. Women can't become a proper swordsman." Tears filled her eyes and she rolled on her side to face away from the green haired ten year old. "I can tell the difference already," she whispered low enough that he almost didn't catch it.
"That's a lie!" He near shouted furiously, eyes ablaze as he sat up. "You work twice as hard as I do! How can you say something like-"
"Because it's true! I will always have to train twice as hard and it will never be enough!" She rolled back over to face him and sat up as well. An angry scowl of her own was on her face while tears still streamed down her cheeks. "Once you surpass me, Zoro, I won't ever be able to catch up!"
Zoro opened his mouth to argue but Kuina got up and grabbed the meito before bolting off to the dojo. "Kuina! Wait!" He got up to chase after her, pausing to grab his swords so they wouldn't rust from the dew on the grass.
He followed her into the dojo and to the back of the building, knowing that despite her being upset she would return Wado Ichimonji to its stand. She had started descending the stairs down to where the meito was usually kept when she suddenly stumbled and began to fall. "Kuina!" Zoro shouted and let go of the swords he was carrying to lunge forward and catch her.
-TSoB-
Kuina laid in bed, silent tears tracing down her cheeks while Zoro sat off to the side, bandages wrapped around the entire length of his left arm. He was glowering something fierce and not looking at her while the doctor finished up with his examination.
"I'm afraid you won't be able to walk ever again, young lady. You are paralyzed from the waist down," the doctor concluded, which caused Zoro to abruptly get up and storm out of the room.
Koshiro, who had been worriedly sitting on the other side of Kuina watched as his student got up and left, likely blaming himself for Kuina's accident. He glanced at his daughter who was staring after her best friend, her tears renewed.
"It wasn't his fault," she whispered, her gaze never leaving the door.
"I know that, sweetheart." It was because of Zoro his daughter was still alive. The doctor had already explained as much, and thankfully for the green haired boy, he had only suffering some serious bruising and a sprain.
The meito, Wado Ichimonji was propped up against the wall by Kuina's bed, which Koshiro didn't dare bring up to the girl. She turned her attention to the sword now and swallowed, knowing that she would never be able to use it again. "Please give it to him, daddy."
Koshiro looked taken aback, his own gaze going to the sword that had been the reason his daughter was going down those steps. After a careful study of her now determined expression he gave a slight nod. "I'll talk to him as well."
-TSoB-
"I can't! It's my fault-"
"It is not your fault, Roronoa Zoro," Kuina said sharply from her bed, causing the boy to look at her in shock.
"You saved her life, Zoro-kun," Koshiro added gently, hoping that if the boy heard it from them then he would be less likely to blame himself.
"But she's—"
"Alive because of you, and that is all that matters," Koshiro said in a tone of finality.
"I might not be able to use a sword ever again, and while that thought hurts, a lot, I rather be able to see you become the world's strongest swordsman! And I want you to use her to do it!" Kuina glared at Zoro, determination set into her expression.
"But Kuina…" Zoro was at a loss for words. Why weren't they cursing him and screaming at him. Kuina couldn't use a sword anymore… Instead, here they both were telling him it wasn't his fault and she was wanting him to use Wado Ichimonji. "Is it really okay for me to have her?"
"It's what Kuina wants, Zoro, and I agree with her." Koshiro smiled faintly and once again held out the meito for Zoro to take. "Please fulfill Kuina's desire to become the world's strongest swordsman with this meito."
Zoro stared down at Wado Ichimonji for a long moment, a frown on his face before he glanced up at Kuina. "Okay," he murmured and gently took the sword from Koshiro. "I promise to become the world's strongest swordsman using Wado Ichimonji."