Happens before AND after the events of "Hey dad, do you not remember me?" (Story now called Of Father and Son). The son of Zoro has many stories to tell. His journey, his life, his meaning, his future, all will be defined in this saga Zeke Roronoa.
You will not understand half or most of this if you have not read "Hey Dad, do you not Remember me?" warning you now.
Episode 0: Prologue
"YOU'RE GOING TO LEAN SWORDSMANSHIP AND YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE IT!!!"
Perona Roronoa, Age- 26
"Hell no!"
Zeke Roronoa, Age- 8.
*WHACK!*
"DON'T YOU DARE CUSE AT ME BOY!!!" Perona had grown very mature in the years of motherhood. Her bratty personality long gone, her childish face now more adult (like Robin's if you can imagine that, not in features but in age) Her body had matured too, not just perversely, but just into womanhood. She usually wore a black shirt and jeans with boots or high heels.
"MOM STOP!!!" Zeke ran as his mother chased after him, flailing a sword sheath at him.
Z~X~ 6 months later ~Z~X
Zeke collapsed to the ground panting heavily.
Perona walked over to him with a plate full of food and a glass. "300 kendo swings?" she asked with a raised brow of suspicion.
Zeke nodded, "Yes... *pant*"
"200 weightless squats?"
"Yes... *pant*"
"100 punches?"
"Yes ma'am..."
She smiled proudly, "Good." she placed the food and glass down beside him and kissed his forehead, "Love you son," and walked back to the house. Zeke sprung up when she left, ate his food, and then continued to train, without his mother even telling him to.
Z~X~ 1 1/2 years later ~Z~X (Zeke- age 10)
Zeke walks down a foggy, shallow river bank, "Frank?" The 14 year-old 'fractioned' giant (meaning not fully or even half giant) emerged from his hiding spot. Zeke looked back to see his mother finally catching up with him, "See." he pointed at Frank. Frank became spooked and tried hiding, "Frank wait! It's ok, it's my mom, she'll help you." Perona smiled at Frank, "Hi, I'm Perona, you don't have to be scared, I'll help you sweetie." She got close enough to touch his hand, he shuttered at first. She smiled more, "It's going to be ok, come on, you can live with us." Perona, Zeke and Frank walked back to THEIR home.
Z~X~ 1 year later ~Z~X (Zeke- age 11)
"My dad's a swordsman too." Zeke looked up from his set of 400 pushups, to see a young girl looking at him. She had to have been about 10. Zeke got up and sat in front of her. "Hi, who are you?" The little girl smiled, "I'm Rika! I've seen you work a lot! Why?" Zeke stood up to get his towel to wipe of his sweat, "I'm training to be like my father." "You mean Zoro? That's your father right?"
"Yeah."
"Why not just be like a normal kid?"
"Because....." he had to think for a moment, "...I don't think.... I'm supposed to be...."
Rika thought hard on his words. "You'll be some one great?"
Zeke thought of it more, ".... Maybe.... You said your dad is a swordsman."
Rika frowned, "....USED to be."
He looked at her, "Oh... I'm sorry."
She smiled, trying to hid her sadness, "It's ok! Just promise me.... I can be with you when you go off to be some one great?"
She tiptoed up and kissed him on the lips. Zeke had never thought of such feelings as he was experiencing now, and was confused, surprised, and flustered. Red herself, Rika giggled and ran off, leaving an embarrassed young Zeke behind.
Z~X~ 4 years later ~Z~X (Zeke- age 15)
Rika crying in Zeke's lap. "Mom..." Zeke looked at Perona, "She HAS to stay. There's nowhere for her to go." Perona looked around the house, then at Frank, then outside, to Rika's mother's newly formed grave. She looked back at her son, "Of course Zeke." He smiled, "Thanks mom." Then Perona smirked, "But she gets your room and you bunk with Frank." Zeke and Frank looked at each other, both disappointed by this, Zeke a little more.
Z~X~ When Zeke was 12 ~Z~X
"DAMN IT BOY!" Zeke returned from the 'errand' she sent him on, bloody and swollen. "Those guys are WORSE than amateurs! And they beat you!? Did you learn nothing in 4 years of training!? UGH! I have to do everything...."
Later~
A man falls to the ground, burses all over his body, as Perona had just DEFEATED him. Other men too lay before her, defeated. The villagers looked on in amazement, as did the young Zeke. Perona walked over to her son and kneeled down to him, "That was the Dragon Twister, that was one of the first REAL attacks your father taught me. It took him till he was 19 to master it," she smiled gently at him, "I'm hoping you can get it at age 12 Zeke. Because I want you to be one of the best, not to follow in his footsteps, but for your own self, to help find your way."
Z~X~ Present Day ~Z~X
Zeke (19) and Frank (23) hanging out outside a large store. "So... Zeke-san...." Frank looked at him, "Was he what you expected?" Zeke got up and walked to the middle of the street, "Na.... He was MUCH better. I'm glad my mother loves him so much, he's probably worth it." Rika came out of the store, carrying bags of new clothes. "Good! You're still here! If you weren't, the next time I found you.... I would cut you balls off!" Zeke went white for a second, "Come on Rika, I thought we were through this. Besides...." he got closer to her, all seductive like, an whispered in her ear, "I think the paper I gave my dad to give to you, the one with the location of that island.... and what we did there made up for it all." Rika blushed and shivered at the memory. "Ok..." she coyly whispered back, then quickly smirked, "But it WON'T happen again... right?" Zeke grinned wide, "Right! We're in this together babe!" he looked at his loyal friend Frank, "All of us." They all walked of smiling, waiting for what was next.
End Prologue
~After Prologue
1 year after present day.
A 22 year old with an all black ensemble of clothes, and bright, copper/rust colored hair walked up to a frightened white haired young woman. Blood dripping from his sword intensely, as if it was the one bleeding, the man picked up the woman, "You're so fragile Mie, I HATE having to save you. You don't deserve such distress when I'M supposed to be protecting you." She nuzzled at his neck, tears forming, and not for the first time that day. The boy stepped over the fallen bloody bodies. "I'm sorry..." she said, nuzzling further, "But I'm happy you love me so much.... Tatum."