Straight Forward

Chapter 17: A Little Advice

When Zoro awoke the next morning, his sleepy brain tried to convince him that he wasn't disappointed that Shiloh was no longer beside him.

"Bad day?"

Sanji was in such a foul mood that he nearly kicked Shiloh just for sitting next to him. The deck was huge; she could have sat anywhere but no, the nosey redhead just had to pick the spot directly beside him. He slowly and deliberately took a drag of his cigarette, letting the smoke swirl around in his lungs before exhaling. "Go away, Shy."

"I'll take that as a yes."

He probably shouldn't have said anything, but the words tumbled from his mouth before his brain could tell them to stop. "You saw what happened. Nami-swan is never going to speak to me again."

Shiloh gave a small laugh in response that made him glare. Was the girl trying to get his blood boiling? "That's a bit dramatic. She'll get over it in a few days. A week, tops."

"I can't wait another week," he blurted out. "That's why I was trying to approach her in the first place!" Actually, he had spent all day trying. Every attempt had ended with the navigator making some excuse or simply turning her back and walking away from him. He had tried one last time at dinner but he was so on edge by that point that instead of using tact, he just flat out asked, "Nami-swan, are you ever going to talk to me again?"

The orange-haired woman had smacked him right across the face and stormed out. It was so awkward that not even Zoro had dared to laugh at his misfortune. For the first time ever, dinner on The Sunny was eaten in silence.

Sanji grabbed his head and fell backwards, letting a frustrated groan fall from his lips, cigarette clenched between his teeth. He felt Shiloh give his knee a reassuring pat. "There, there." Her voice was sympathetic but even without looking at the redhead Sanji knew an amused smile was on her face. He could feel it. "For what it's worth, I don't think you're wrong in trying to talk to her." From his lowered position, the cook uncovered his face and raised a brow at the girl. "I mean," she continued slowly, "Maybe you're just taking the wrong approach."

He sat up abruptly, immediately suspicious at Shiloh's suggestive tone. "You know something," he accused.

"Well…"

Of course, he realized. Nami must've spoken to Shiloh about him. They were females after all; wasn't it in their nature to share such things? "Shiloh," he said urgently as he grabbed the girl's shoulders, giving her a small shake. "For the love of all things good and holy, if you know something tell me."

The contortionist gave him a searching look before letting out a sigh. "Sorry, Sanji. I can't. Girl code." She must have felt bad for him when he released her and let his own shoulders droop in disappointment because she added carefully, "But you know, I can offer some… advice if you'd like."

Sanji groaned. "Love advice from Zoro's sweetheart. I must be desperate."

Shiloh stuck her tongue out at him before letting out a small laugh. "Nah. Just hopelessly in love." Clearing her throat she continued, "Let me ask you a question, Sanji. What exactly are you and Nami?"

The cook rolled his eyes. "That's a dumb question. We're-" He broke off, eyes going wide. "We're…" What were they? They clearly weren't lovers, not yet, and neither had confirmed if they were indeed a couple. "Shit."

The redhead offered him a knowing smile. "Why don't you figure it out, then let Nami know what you think? She's waiting for you to tell her, you know." Shiloh clamped her hands over her mouth. "Oops. Don't tell her I said that," came the muffled order. "She'd kill me if she knew I told you."

Shaking his head in disbelief, Sanji asked, "Is that really it?"

Shiloh lowered her hands and snorted. "Come on, it's totally understandable. I mean, when I first came you two were just flirting here and there. Then suddenly you're telling her that you love her and talking about relationships and how they change while spying on Zoro and me from the trees and making out in the galley and practically doing it in the library. You went from zero to sixty in nothing flat."

Groaning again, Sanji covered his eyes with one hand. "She told you all of that?"

Smirking, Shiloh sang, "Maybe…"

Putting out his cigarette and sighing, Sanji turned to look at the girl beside him and ruffled her hair, earning him a shocked exclamation and a laugh. "You're surprisingly insightful for someone who fell for Zoro."

"Well, I've had a lot of experience."

Sanji's heart froze at her words. He hadn't been expecting that. With the intent of lecturing the girl for her unnecessary comment, he opened his mouth but fell silent at the look in her eyes. Shiloh met his gaze unflinchingly, yet her face was soft and kind. "I've had a lot of experience," she repeated quietly, "and learned what not to do. When I worked for Scrawly and men hired me for the night, I had to be what they wanted me to be. I had to cater to their desires and fantasies." She paused, eyes growing dark. "I had to be what they paid for."

As quickly as it came, the storm in her eyes disappeared, replaced with gentle clarity. "Some of those men were horrible, some of them were kind. But all of them were lost. They were trying to find something in me that they couldn't find elsewhere. Even the most disgusting man, I pitied because they were empty and pathetic." A slight blush rose to her cheeks. "Zoro isn't like that. He's passionate and full of ambition and spirit. He isn't looking to find anything in me so there's no need for disguises or gimmicks or lies. I can be myself. I don't have anything to be afraid of." She took a breath and looked towards the sky. "Mama always told me that if you love someone, you should be completely honest with them, so I do my best. I think that's why it's been easy to get along so far."

Sanji reflected on the way Shiloh and Zoro spoke to one another, how natural they were together, and the fact that they were, indeed, very honest. "So," he began, "What you're telling me is that you're in love with Zoro?"

Shiloh's head snapped back down to stare at the cook, eyes wide and face red. "What?!"

Not being able to resist a small laugh, Sanji shook his head. "You just said to be honest with someone you love and that you do your best in regards to Zoro. That means you're in l-"

"Shh!" The redhead was suddenly on her feet, arms waving frantically. "Whoa, time out there, Sanji! That's not what I said!"

"That is exactly what you said." Somehow his mood was improving. He chuckled and questioned, "So, you don't love him?"

He didn't know how it was possible but the contortionist's face got even redder. "I-I didn't say that," she sputtered, "It's just… The 'L' word is a big deal and I just don't think I'm ready for that." As Sanji laughed, Shiloh cleared her throat and tried to change the subject. "Anyway, you should go talk to Nami. And don't start with a question. Just tell her how you feel."

Sanji felt his apprehension return slightly. "She already knows how I feel."

"Then tell her again," Shiloh replied firmly. "And decide together what it is you guys really want."

The blond took in the girl sitting beside him who was giving him an expectant stare with bright eyes and a wide grin. "Alright," he sighed, "I will. Don't tell anyone about this little pep talk you had to give me. I have a reputation, you know." He drew a long breath, feeling a little more at ease and raised a snarky brow at the redhead. "So… the 'L' word, huh?"

As he predicted, Shiloh sputtered, eyes wide and face beginning to redden. "Come on, don't tease me. It's embarrassing!"

Sanji stood and made a grandiose gesture that included throwing his arms out wide and spinning in a circle. Flowers appeared out of nowhere, floating around him. "Ah, but young Shiloh, love cannot be contained! You must shout if from the mountain tops until there is no air left in your lungs!"

"We're in the middle of the ocean!" The redhead made to run away but Sanji grabbed her arm and began spinning her around along with him.

"You must let it wash over you with the force of a tsunami; let it run wild and free like the wild mustangs of the plains! Allow its heat to rush through your veins until the flames of love burst forth from your heart!"

"None of that sounds pleasant at all!"

"Everything is pleasant when you're in love!"

"The hell are you two doing?"

Sanji froze, attitude immediately changing. Trust this specific idiot to ruin his newly found good mood. His face dropped and he gave Zoro an irritated glare. Shiloh groaned and buried her face in her hands. "We are discussing love, Stupid Swordsman, something you'd know nothing about so I suggest you go away."

The green-haired man directed his gaze to Shiloh, who was attempting to pull free from Sanji's grasp. Zoro snorted. "Don't listen to love advice from this perverted cook. He'll fill your head with nonsense." Before Sanji could reply that his love advice was great and would never steer anyone wrong, and that he had indeed steered the idiot marimo himself in the right direction when it came to Shiloh, Zoro pulled something out of a pocket Sanji never even knew the swordsman had and held it out towards Shiloh. "Here. It was tied to the banister near the helm."

In Zoro's hand was Shiloh's white bandana. With a delighted shriek, she finally managed to get away from Sanji and bounded towards the swordsman. "That's right! I took it off to spar with Luffy and tied it to the rail so it wouldn't fly away." Throwing her arms around the swordsman's middle, she exclaimed happily, "Thank you, Zoro! You're the best!"

Sanji watched as Zoro blushed and looked away, an embarrassed frown on his face. He didn't pull away, but he didn't reciprocate the gesture either. The cook had noticed that though the swordsman and the contortionist's verbal interactions were easy and simple, their physical interactions, at least in front of the other's consisted mostly of Shiloh being affectionate and Zoro looking awkward. Sanji smiled at the redhead. She had helped him out so he could return the favor. With a dramatic sigh, he gave Zoro a pitying look he knew would make other man angry and shrugged. "How pathetic. Fearless in battle but too cowardly to return a simple hug."

As he expected, Zoro's expression instantly changed into a fierce scowl. "What did you say?"

Sanji smirked. "Don't pretend you didn't hear me. Come on Marimo, look at you. There's a lovely lady right in front of you awaiting your affection and all you do is stand there like a tree stump." Zoro wordlessly turned his gaze from Sanji to Shiloh who was still holding onto him, hiding a smile in his chest, then back to Sanji. "What a shame," the blond continued. "Such great instincts in battle but such poor intuition in matters of the heart."

The swordsman seemed to think on his words before pulling away from the redhead, his hands on her small shoulders. "Are you really 'awaiting my affection'?"

Shiloh snorted. "Oh, with bated breath, honorable swordsman," she teased. "It's fine. You don't have to hug me if-"

Sanji laughed in triumph as Zoro wrapped unsure arms around the much smaller girl. The cook had a feeling the swordsman was being extra careful, as if he could accidently crush the redhead. Actually, Sanji realized, he probably could. The swordsman's blush was rivaled only by Shiloh's, which burned so brightly that Sanji almost expected the girl's head to spontaneously combust.

"Great," he praised the pair. "Now, Shy, profess your love for this sword-swinging fool."

At his words, Zoro started backwards the exact moment Shiloh jumped away, turning wide amber eyes at the cook. They stood motionless for a moment before the contortionist turned on her heel and declared, "I'm going to go take a bath!"

The swordsman also turned and began stalking towards the crow's nest. "I'm going to go train!"

Sanji snickered as the pair walked away in opposite directions. He took a deep breath and clapped his hands together. Alright, now that he had stirred the couple's boat a little, it was time to take care of business. First he would make a special little snack for his beloved navigator, then he would go into the library and make clear to her his intentions.

His palms were so sweaty that the moment he put the tray down he shoved them deep into his pockets. Nami's eyes had watched his every move, sharp and clear with a glint of expectation. Sanji squared his shoulders. Might as well get right to it. "Nami-san," he began with a deep gentlemanly bow, "My apologies for being so tactless earlier. I simply-"

"Cut the crap, Sanji," she broke in suddenly, causing the cook's eyes to widen. "Spare me the civilities. It's not the time in place to be proper." Her eyes softened as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. Sanji had to stop himself from staring at them. "Just tell me what it is you want."

"Nami-san," he started again, this time with more confidence and less of the 'charming' tone he had adapted when speaking to women, "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Sanji waited for what seemed like an eternity as the navigator slowly stood and made her way over to him. The cook swallowed hard. Now was not the time to be appreciating the sway in her hips or the subtly bounce of her breasts. "That depends," Nami murmured, as she pressed her body against his and stuck a hand in his back pocket. "Will you be my lover?"

His heart nearly burst. "Are you saying…?"

With a nod, she leaned in and whispered, "I'm ready." Sanji made to kiss her but she pulled just far enough away that he couldn't reach. "But," she added, "We need to set things straight first."

Sanji swallowed his minute disappointment in not claiming her lips but nodded obediently. "Alright."

"You don't have to constantly keep up the princely act with me," Nami stated. "I mean, I like being waited on and being brought special snacks so don't stop doing that." Sanji chuckled. As long as it made her happy, he'd never stop those things. "But when we're just talking or it's just the two of us, just talk to me normally, like how you talk to Shy."

Sanji raised a brow. "It's a bit uncouth. Are you sure you're fine with that?"

Nami snorted. "Sanji," she said as she brought a hand to his cheek. "It's nice being treated like a prize but it's even better being treated like a person."

Understanding crashed onto him like a ton of bricks. Nami truly did like him, and not just for the gentlemanly gestures, but even for his crass and sarcastic mannerisms that he tried so hard not to show towards her. A gentle warmth gripped his heart, making his entire being tingle. Slowly, he brought his arms up to hold Nami against him and kissed her cheek. "You never cease to amaze me, Nami-san."

She giggled. "Is that an agreement?"

"Yes," he confirmed softly.

Nami pulled back slightly and locked her lips on his. Sanji's eyes closed and he felt the ground shift beneath him and knew it had absolutely nothing to do with them being on a ship. Before he could deepen their kiss, Nami once again drew back and began leading him towards the rounded benches. "So," she began casually. "Does this mean you're never going to look at other women again?" For a second Sanji thought she was serious until he saw the playful smile on her face.

"Well now, Nami-swan," he replied with an explanatory tone, "You can't ask a zebra to change its stripes."

The navigator's smile grew as she sat down and pulled the cook down with her, slinging a leg over his and practically sitting in his lap. Taking his face in her hands she commanded, "Alright then. You can look, but don't touch. As long as you bring your wandering eye back to me then I'll allow it." Sanji nearly died when Nami began loosening his tie.

The cook didn't understand why it was so hard for Shiloh. He took one look at Nami's beautiful face and the words came tumbling out, free and easy as a cloud: "I love you."

Her smile was soft and warm, just like her breath on his neck. "I know."

"We're docking tomorrow," Nami called from the upper deck. "So everyone be ready first thing in the morning!"

Luffy cheered excitedly. "Is it the creepy island?!"

Nami huffed and shouted down, "No, idiot captain. That won't be for another three weeks. We're just stopping for supplies."

He made a loud whiny noise and turned back around to continue his "spar" with Shiloh. Sanji leaned against the banister, watching with only slight interest as Shiloh failed to dodge the long-armed rubbery punch Luffy had sent her way. It hit her in the shoulder and flung her back a good distance before she managed to plant her feet back on the ground and give the captain a disdainful look. "Hey, you said you weren't going to use your Devil Fruit powers!"

Luffy pouted and crossed his arms. "Well I changed my mind so it wouldn't be boring."

The redhead rubbed her shoulder and rotated her arm a few times as she walked towards the captain and the cook. "You didn't have to hit so hard…"

Sanji snuffed his cigarette out on the bottom of his shoe and gestured for the girl to come closer. "Come over her, Shy."

Sighing, the redhead obeyed and asked, "What is it?"

"Think fast." Sanji stuck his leg out and tried to swipe the girl's legs from beneath her but she was quick enough to jump and evade it. However, she didn't manage to get away from his second, rapid-fire attempt and ended up falling onto her backside.

With a groan, Shiloh flopped onto her back and covered her eyes with both arms. "Okay, you guys win. Again. Can we stop now, Luffy?"

Sanji chuckled. The captain had already walked away and taken a seat on the head of The Sunny, arms crossed as he sulked. "He's lost interest," the cook informed the contortionist. From the corner of his eye, Sanji saw Zoro making his way towards them.

The swordsman raised a brow at Shiloh's prone form and snorted. "What are you doing?"

"Getting my ass beat, literally and figuratively."

Zoro shifted his gaze to Sanji who shrugged and nodded. They exchanged smirks before Sanji drew back and Zoro pulled out one of his swords. "I'm going to come at you in three seconds so you better get up, Shy. One." The redhead scrambled to her feet, eyes wide, before placing her feet wider apart and crouching down slightly, anticipating the attack. "Two." Sanji noticed the girl tense up and couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle. "Three."

Zoro made to slash the girl but she managed to duck in time with a surprised squeak. They continued that way, Zoro half-heartedly swishing his sword while Shiloh jumped around like a flea as she tried her best to evade him. "Come on, Shy!" Sanji called. "Fight back!"

"With what?!" Came the incredulous reply.

"Use your resources."

"What resources?!"

Sanji shrugged, knowing the girl was too busy to see it. "Figure it out."

Shiloh let out a frustrated groan as Zoro nearly caught her in the side. The cook watched the girl's movements closely. It was true; the redhead was no fighter. She was lucky if she landed even one hit on anyone she sparred with, Usopp included. Even the throwing knives she kept on her person never hit their mark, proving to the cook that the time she had nearly impaled Zoro's forehead in the kitchen was a lucky shot. Sanji had often wondered if it were better to simply stop trying to teach her even the basics of combat and just accept that the girl would not be reliable in battle. However, he did see little things that brought a glimmer of hope to his heart. Shiloh was small and fast, able to dodge many of their attacks. There was a certain precision in the way she moved, a natural agility giving her an almost graceful air as she danced around them. He figured it had to do with her contortion training.

Suddenly Zoro lunged forward, his sword aimed towards the girl's ankles. Sanji found himself surprised when instead of jumping away, Shiloh stepped forward, her small foot flat against Zoro's blade. She used it as a sort of spring-board and grabbed onto the swordsman's bicep before flinging the rest of her body up and over, wrapping her legs around Zoro's neck and dangling down. With a loud sigh, she brought up her upper body as if doing a sit up, making her and the swordsman about eye level. "Can we be done now?"

Sanji took a minute to appraise the sight before him. "Hold on," He said as he made to stand directly beside the pair. "You need to finish what you started."

"Huh?"

The cook gestured to Zoro's head. "If this were a real fight, you'd have the perfect opportunity to snap his neck. All you'd have to do is get a firm grip on the sides of the head near the temples and-"

"I know." His eyes widened as Shiloh let her upper half fall back down and plant her hands on the grass. Unwrapping her legs from the surprised swordsman's neck, she stayed in a handstand for a second before bringing her feet back to the ground and righting herself.

Sanji noted the closed off look on the contortionist's face as she dusted herself off. Zoro must have noticed as well but seeing as he lacked manners, he went ahead and asked boldly, "How do you know how to snap someone's neck?"

"I've done it." When neither Sanji nor Zoro responded, the girl asked again with mild annoyance lacing her voice, "Are we done now?" Sensing the unspoken question in their eyes, she rolled hers and sighed. "Scrawly's orders."

"He had you kill for him?"

Shiloh gave them a flat stare. "It'd be easier to tell you the things I hadn't done for him. Seriously guys," she added with an almost pleading tone, "Are we done with this? I really don't want to talk about it right now."

Sanji and Zoro exchanged confused looks. Ever since they had seen Shiloh's memories, the redhead had been open about almost anything and everything they had asked her. Even the things she hadn't wanted to discuss she would gently defer with the promise to revisit the subject when she was ready. This was the first time Sanji had actually seen the girl look so tense and uncomfortable.

Before he could say a word, Brook rounded the corner and started towards the redhead with a delighted sound. "Little Shiloh! Shall we practice before our first performance tomorrow?"

The contortionist's face brightened immediately. "Finally," she breathed. "Something I'm good at." Without another word to Sanji or Zoro, she scurried off with the musician.

"That was different," Sanji stated after a moment of silence.

"Can't really say I'm that surprised," Zoro answered. "I bet there's a bunch of things she hasn't told us about working for that maniac."

"Guess we can't really blame her," the cook agreed as he lit another cigarette.

They stood quietly for a minute before Zoro turned to Sanji with a smirk on his face. The blond raised a brow. He knew that look. It was the snarky, cocky look that told him that the idiot swordsman was about to say or do something to piss him off. "She did tell me something interesting about you and Nami, though."

His heart skipped a beat. There was no way Nami would have told Shiloh all about that, right? No, he trusted the navigator. Sure, she and the redhead were friends but his Nami was classy enough to know when not to kiss and tell. "Yeah, right," he replied sarcastically. "Shiloh's probably just messing with you, gullible marimo."

"Oh, my bad. I guess I'll go tell her that it definitely wasn't you sneaking out of the library last night with your shirt on backwards and hearts flying around your head."

Sanji heard a loud snap in his head before he aimed a kick at the laughing swordsman. "SAY GOOD BYE TO YOUR LIFE YOU GREEN-HEADED MUSCLED BRAINED ASSHOLE!"

Zoro sighed in annoyance. How was it that every single island they docked at had shifting buildings and roads? It was such a pain in the ass that everyone except him got lost, and now they had gotten separated after Nami had specifically instructed him and the pervert cook to stay together and gather the things on her stupid list. He had a feeling the greedy woman paired him and the cook together just to make him suffer.

The two of them had been walking around the town, stopping at random vendors looking for the boring items on Nami's list like wheat for bread and soap for laundry. Since it was a fairly small island with a small town, the people were friendly enough and didn't care if they were selling to pirates or presidents. They were just trying to make a simple living.

As he passed large fountain that he swore he had already seen once before, Zoro crossed his arms and let out another huff. At least in such a quiet place, the possibility of an attack from other pirates or the Marines was slim to none. However, he wasn't entirely sure if that was a good or bad thing. It had been a long time since his swords had been drawn in battle and they were beginning to burn for a fight.

He supposed he could have fought Curly-Brow but they had already argued about Nami's stupid list and directions and everything else to the point where they were both so fed up that they had simply walked away form each other. It didn't matter anyway, he realized. The cook had the list so fine; he could do Nami's bidding all on his own. He'd probably want to brag about it to her later anyway.

Spotting a bench, he sat down and pulled Wado Ichimonji out of its sheath and inspected the blade. Out of all his swords, he made sure to keep that one the cleanest. Kitetsu and Shusui could remain dirty for an entire day and it wouldn't matter, but he couldn't stomach any sort of grime or blood on Wado for more than a few hours. He cleaned it more than be bathed. A sense of pride and a little bit of warmth entered his heart as the sun glinted off the blade.

"That's a nice sword, Young Man." Zoro turned his head lazily to find a small elderly man grinning at him. He gestured to the empty spot on the bench. "Mind if I take a seat?"

Zoro shrugged and put Wado back in its sheath. "Go ahead." The man nodded in thanks and took a seat beside the swordsman. With a sideways glance at the stranger, Zoro noted that the old man wasn't like the Rayleigh type of old man, but more of the 'someone's kindly grandpa' type. He looked friendly enough and Zoro wasn't getting a sense of anything strange about him. "You know about swords?"

The grandpa chuckled. "Oh, not really. I'm just a simple man, after all." Zoro raised a brow. "But I used to be a merchant and I know a good product when I see one, even if my sight isn't as good as it used to be!"

Somehow, Zoro was reminded a little of Brook. Vaguely, he wondered how Brook and Shiloh's performance was going. "It's a good sword," he confirmed casually.

Taking a long relaxed breath, the man asked conversationally, "What's a young man like you doing at sleepy town like this?"

"Stocking up on supplies." Actually, he realized, he was just sitting there. "The others are anyway," he added with a yawn.

"Others, huh? Your family?"

Zoro paused and cracked the tiniest of smiles. "You could say that." The swordsman prided himself in his ability to determine right away if someone was sketchy or not and this old man definitely wasn't sketchy. He was just a kind old guy. So because of that, he decided it was fine to chat with him. He had nothing better to do anyway.

The man hmm'd thoughtfully before asking, "Are you married?"

"No."

"Huh." Turning his head, the grandpa seemed to look over Zoro before adding, "You're a fairly good looking fellow. Surely you have a special someone at least?"

Zoro found himself unable to answer right away. That was what Shiloh was, right? A special someone? He wondered about those words. What did 'special' really mean? Did the word have intention behind it? Then again, he realized, Shiloh had already set him straight about that. She had told him that they would simply see where thing's went. Still, there were certain things he supposed that could be considered 'special,' like the quick kisses she would give him at breakfast and right before she went to bed and the fact that she had spent a night (more or less) in his bed. The swordsman certainly wouldn't let anyone else do such things without getting cut or at least threatened. He frowned. Did he do anything special towards the redhead? Was he supposed to?

The old man beside him laughed a bit. "That look on your face is enough of an answer." He jerked his head towards a small bakery across from them that Zoro hadn't even noticed. "My wife is in there buying a cake. It's our 62nd anniversary."

"Congratulations," Zoro replied with a nod. 62 years? Damn, that was a long time to be with someone. Vaguely he wondered if he would even live that many years. Being a swordsman wasn't without risk; he knew he could easily die in battle, hell, he nearly had. Many times.

"Why thank you," the man chuckled. "I feel very lucky to have found someone like her. She's a good woman."

Zoro shifted where he sat because Kitetsu's hilt had dug into his side the wrong way. Once in a while, the sword seemed to want to remind him that he carried the blade's curse around with him always. He adjusted the hilt and absently gave it a pat before bringing his gaze towards the puffy clouds above. Luck, huh? Was it simply luck that Shiloh had spotted them in that restaurant those many months ago, or was that fate? Raising a brow at his own thinking, he shook his head. He didn't believe in fate.

"You're making a strange face again," the grandpa noted with a smile. "You must be thinking of that special someone, huh?"

Zoro took a moment to answer. "I guess… you could say that."

Nodding, the old stranger asked, "Mind if this ancient man gives you a word of advice?" Zoro snorted and shook his head. "You seem like a very ambitious young man. Strong, driven, going places, you know? But," he added gently, "Don't forget to enjoy your youth a little. It's not something you get back." Kuina's face flashed in his mind and Zoro had to swallow the bit of sadness that had suddenly risen from chest. "Just like a good sword, life is all about balance." The old man looked up thoughtfully. "So is love, actually," he murmured more to himself than to Zoro.

The swordsman tilted his head to the side. "I thought you said you didn't know anything about swords?"

A glint lit up the old man's dim eyes before disappearing as quickly as it came. "I don't. But I also said I know a good product when I see one." The man gave Zoro a sharp look and a quiet grin that hit him right in his core. "It's a pity when such things aren't found by the person they're meant for." With a small groan, he stood and waved to a woman with long white hair who had stepped out of the bakery. She sent him a lovely smile. He began to walk towards her but stopped just long enough to turn his head and say, "I don't think you have anything to worry about though. Seems to me like the right person has already found you."

With one last smile and a tiny wave, he walked away, leaving Zoro's heart thundering with an unfamiliar warmth as the image of deep red hair and the smell of jasmine and magnolia overtook him.

…

After separating from Zoro and not giving a crap where the directionally impaired man ended up, Sanji had finished getting the things on Nami's list and began searching for the others.

When thundering applause met his ears, Sanji could only assume he was nearing where Nami, Brook, and Shiloh had set up their performance. The navigator had sent him and the stupid swordsman out to buy supplies because she herself was busy managing the crowd that she knew would come in to see Soul King play. She was also collecting the viewing fee. The clever orange haired woman had explained to a curious Sanji that she would charge people to see Brook, but not Shiloh since this was her "debut" and her worth would dependent on her reputation which still needed to be established. Therefore, Shiloh's performance would be a free one. Nami had called it "good marketing." However, Sanji knew she wouldn't let a single spectator get away without a donation.

As he got nearer to the crowd, he indeed saw Brook's afro above the many heads. That meant he must have missed Shiloh's dance, since Nami had assigned her to be the musician's opening act. Oh well. Considering Nami's plan, he was sure he'd catch it some other time on some other island. He spotted the navigator's bright smile as she collected the coin from people's outstretched hands and chuckled. Scanning the crowd, he noticed that more than half were clapping and cheering for Soul King, but another third, mostly consisting of men, were turned the opposite direction. Curious, Sanji walked a little closer and realized they were clapping and calling at Shiloh, who simply laughed and waved them off. Sanji sighed, as they began to dissipate, a small smile on his face. Everyone looked happy enough, despite the spectacle they made. Brook with his orange boa and skeletal face and Shiloh with her deep red hair and sparkly blue two-piece dance outfit certainly stuck out enough to draw any passing eyes towards them.

Sanji was about to call out to Nami when he saw a young man with a scruffy beard lean down and whisper something in Shiloh's ear. Immediately suspicious, the cook narrowed his eyes and crept a little closer. The redhead's smile fell, but her eyes remained sharp and untroubled. She turned and nodded to the stranger.

The cook's jaw nearly dropped when Shiloh gestured for the smirking man to follow her into the nearest alleyway.

A/N

Uh-oh.

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