Ok, I'm back earlier then I expected. Just thought I'd post the second chapter to give you something more to judge. I hope you'll understand where the story is going, so far.

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own them. Still working on it.

Chapter 2

Sanji just stood there, frozen, staring at the relaxed figure in the armchair. No way. No freaking way. Never.

Neah was continuing to pack her and Aons things, not bothered by Sanji one bit. Aon was still sitting in the armchair, snoring softly again. Suddenly Neah threw something at Aon.

"Don't you go to sleep - I was on the same stage for two hours!"

"You didn't sing yourself hoarse, trying to earn the money they paid to come to see us!" Aon argued, still relaxed in his armchair.

"And that is your own fault. Nobody forced you on that stage." Neah closed the bags and looked if she hadn't forgotten something.

"Yeah, right! Who would believe this shit? Not me, that's for sure."

Neah looked at Aon and said:

"Give it here. I need to pack it."

Aon sighed and untied his blindfold. His arm stretched out, but not exactly in Neahs direction. It was somewhat to her right. Neah came closer and took the piece of fabric from Aon. She pushed it inside one of the bags and said:

"You can sleep later, get up."

Aon grunted and stood up. Sanji just watched, wide-eyed, as the man turned around and looked somewhere to the cooks left. Without the blindfold, Sanji could tell that it was actually Zoro. The features were the same and the scar on his left eye was where it supposed to be. The cook speechlessly looked up where he was supposed to find a patch of grass-green hair. The hair was black. Sanji blinked and looked again. And again. And again. Still black. Where were the swords? Zoro didn't look complete without his swords. Sanji watched as Neah gave Zoro a long tube, big enough to fit all three swords inside. Similar tube was on Neahs back. She gave Zoro a coat with a hood that he took on and took one bag from Neah.

Neah took on a similar coat and looked expectantly at Sanji. Finally the words that Nami-swan told him before the concert sunk in along with understanding – she knew. She knew who Aon was and she probably knew it for a long time. Suddenly he realized some things, which seemed strange to him, like Usopps wedding and a nameless letter that Usopp gave to Nami. Nami was in touch with Zoro for the whole three and a half years they haven't seen the swordsman. She knew everything, along with Zoros reason for not keeping in touch with the crew. Or was it only him, who was oblivious?

Sanji looked at the swordsman, who stood slightly behind Neah with his left hand on her right shoulder. Zoro still gazed somewhere to Sanjis left.

"Are you going to move anytime soon? Didn't Nami tell you to pick us up?" The way Neah mentioned Nami meant that girls spoke often and were friendly towards each other.

"Y-y-yes, sure…" Sanji mumbled as he turned to go out.

He was walking quickly, totally sure that Zoro, of all people, was able to keep up with him. It came as a total surprise, when Neah shouted:

"Hey, slow down!"

Sanji turned around and was shocked to find the two of them a hundred meters behind. Zoro was still holding on to the girls shoulder and was probably the one that slowed them down. Sanji went back and stared Zoro right in the eye and said:

"Am I walking too fast for you, shitty swordsman?" Sanji couldn't help himself – he was angry at Zoro for shattering his perfect Aon.

"Yes, you are. Now back off!" It was Neah who answered. Sanji saw Zoros hand tense on her shoulder, as the swordsman said in low voice:

"It's fine; don't get worked up about it."

Sanji stared at Zoro. Did he just back out of a fight? A fight with Sanji? Zoro stared back at Sanji, still not in the eyes, but at his right ear. Sanji frowned – it couldn't be Zoro. It was an imposter, maybe that crazed ballerina-okama, who could change faces, but then Zoro wasn't dressed in some weird clothes.

"What's your problem, marimo? Are you a chicken?"

"Is it your business?" the girl asked. "Your task was to get us to the palace. If you are not planning on doing so, we will find the way ourselves."

Sanji realized, in great shock, that he was almost squashing the girl in his attempt to get in Zoros face. He jumped back and bowed.

"I'm sorry, my lady, for my awful manners. Please, ditch this muscle-head; let me make you a dinner to make amends."

Neah sighed and turned her head and walked in a direction of the closest passer-by. She wasn't walking too fast, just a normal speed, but it seemed as though Zoro struggled to keep up with her.

"Excuse me, do you know the way to royal palace?" Neah said politely to a plump woman with a basket full of ingredients.

"Sure I do, dear. Do you want me to walk you there?" the woman was very kind, her round face and curly hair made her look really friendly and approachable.

"That would be very kind of you." This time it was Zoro, who spoke. The woman looked at the swordsman and gasped.

"Oh, my… Poor dear, you are too young for this…"

"How did you know?" Sanji could see a smile on Zoros lips; they started walking slowly to the palace. The woman somehow knew the exact pace for Zoro to not to struggle to keep up.

"Oh, my husband is the same as you. He's older though." The woman laughed heartily. "You are too young to be married!"

"Thank you. Not that I'm planning, anyway."

"Hahaha! You sound just like my husband! 'I'm too young to be spending my days here, take me out!'" she mimicked the way her husband talked. Sanji noticed something odd – the woman's facial expressions didn't change much, as she mimicked. Normally, people would wrinkle their face or something like that, when doing a comical impression of somebody, wouldn't they?

Sanji was walking behind them, as they moved closer to the palace. He had too much to think about. First and foremost – WHERE THE HELL DID THE SWORDSMAN LEARNED TO SING? Secondly, HOW COULD HE PLAY THE GUITARR SO GOOD? And finally, why didn't Nami tell him anything about it? Wasn't Sanji one of her nakama?

The woman was chatting away happily with Neah and Zoro. Or Zoros imposter, because Zoro was never this friendly to strangers. He would never smile that kindly at strangers, he would scowl at them. There was another thing that bothered Sanji. Neah and that woman seemed to know something about Zoro, he didn't know. It was really hard to explain, Sanji just felt that he was left out of some secret.

It was a surprise to see Nami waiting for them on the steps of the palace. She waved at them, to come here. Neah and Zoro thanked politely and said good-bye to the helpful woman, who just looked at Zoro with sadness in her eyes. Sanji still didn't get it. The woman went her way, as the three on them approached Nami.

"You must be Neah! I'm Nami. Pleasure to meet you." Nami said, as they came closer. "Did the idiot behave?"

"Nice to meet you too." Neah answered. "He was ok, I guess."

Nami looked at Sanji and then suddenly punched him hard on the head.

"It's been a long time, Zoro." Nami turned from Sanji to the swordsman.

"It was, yes."

"Come, but be careful, there're stairs."

"Thanks."

Sanji watched, perplexed, as they walked slowly up the stairs. Why should Zoro be careful about stairs? The stairs weren't dangerous… unless you couldn't see them. Sanji felt cold sweat on his back. No way… No freaking way… Zoro couldn't be totally blind… could he? Sanji stared as the swordsman carefully walked up, slow and unsure in his footing.

"You've got to be kidding me…" the cook whispered.

Yup, I did that. Don't worry, it's not lethal. Sorry for my English, if it's too bad.

Please, tell me what you think about it.

Rhe.