Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.

This story continues because of reviews. Thank you very much for the readers who wanted the story to go on.

Everyone secretly likes a trait that could make one fall head over heels the moment one saw it. The trait was extremely special and could only be found in a pinch of a large population. But once it was found, the person would fall deeply in love (it was a lucky bonus if the person was attractive).

Zoro didn't have any specific expectations for a romantic other, but he knew he would swoon if his partner knew how to cook. It was a special trait, especially in the generation when foods were already made and packaged in convenience stores or fast food restaurants. If someone asked if he was hungry and actually put on an apron and created a sophisticated dish from scratch (meaning that the person actually used a knife to cut vegetables without pulling out a precut frozen vegetables, and not dumping random pieces of raw vegetables and call it 'homemade salad') Zoro's heart would soar from delight.

He always thought people who cooked were really cool. Zoro liked to watch food related shows because he liked how talented the chefs were: cooking and talking at the same time. He believed that if he married someone who cooked homemade meals, he would never leave her side.

It was a disappointing realization that most of the women preferred to buy premade stuff than remain in the kitchen for two hours or more to cook a healthy meal. Zoro glanced at the cafeteria to find that his girl classmates ate school lunch. Some didn't even eat but snacked on a small bag of chips and a bottle of soda. If they considered chewing on a small bag of baby carrots as a healthy diet, Zoro wondered what they ate for dinner. At least this was a way Zoro could cross out the girls who he would never go out with. The guys were just as worse; eating was never on their list of things to do.

Strangely, he found this rare, special trait not in a woman, but in a man. He was right under his nose: his best friend, Sanji.

Zoro was ten years old when he saw his most favorite trait go into action. Sanji invited Zoro to come over to his house to play. When Zoro plopped his bottom on the couch, he noticed that his friend didn't sit down.

"Do you want to eat something?" Sanji asked.

Zoro didn't think of it because he assumed it was going to be chips. "Yeah." He did assume that since it was going to be chips, it was only going to take a few seconds. So, Zoro sat still and waited. But, after waiting a minute, Sanji didn't come into the living room. Thirty seconds later, Zoro couldn't stand it any longer, so he stood up.

"Sanji, what are you doing?"

"Wait! I'm almost done!"

A sharp whistle of the kettle interrupted what Zoro wanted to say next. What was Sanji doing? Zoro decided to sit back down and wait a few more seconds.

Sanji finally walked into the room with a tray that was way too big for his short arms. Zoro hastily got off the couch to help him. He grabbed one side of the tray, so Sanji could comfortably carry it on the other side. When they set it on the coffee table, Zoro got to see what was in it. Inside the fancy, heavy, white tray were two cups of tea and a large platter of shortbread cookies. Zoro was really surprised that his eyes remained wide and he didn't say a word.

He turned to Sanji, and his friend beamed, "I made them!"

"Y-You did?" Zoro stammered.

"Yeah, but Dad put the cookies in the oven for me."

Upon this, Zoro was struck by the lightning bolt of love. It was strong and swift, crashing down on the little ten year old boy. Then, his body melted down into a puddle of goo. His face grew very hot and bright red because this made him feel so happy.

What made it better was the cookies: it was delicious. He took a tentative bite of the cookie, and a gentle sweet taste filled his mouth. There was a hint of a salty flavor, brightening his pallet to explore more. The cookies were soft but light enough to eat as many it could fill Zoro's stomach.

"This tastes great!" Zoro grinned, grabbing a couple of cookies and stuffing it into his mouth. "You're good at cooking!"

Sanji frowned and shrugged, "It's not something to brag about. Everyone says I'm weird because I'm a boy, and boys don't cook."

"That's stupid!" Zoro yelled, and startled Sanji, "I think it's cool that you can cook! You can make anything!"

"You think so? I-I'm cool?"

"Yeah!" Zoro saw Sanji's face slowly turn into a red color.

Sanji fumbled with his hands, "I-I want to grow up to be a cook...do you think I can do it?"

"You can because these cookies are the best!" Zoro grinned and Sanji's red face got a shade darker.

So, Zoro loved people who cook, so he fell in love with Sanji.

Soon, Zoro fell into a dilemma. Sanji was a boy and his best friend. The first part, he overcame it by realizing that he liked guys. He just couldn't go past the best friend part. He didn't know what Sanji would say or react if he confessed. And, he liked their current relationship. The apparent difference between best friends and boyfriends was the touching. Did he want to sacrifice the peace of being best friends and cross the line? What lay ahead was doubt and suspicion. Sanji was a flirter, so he liked to glance at girls and mutter out a short compliment. Would that annoy Zoro if they went out? Would he start a fight because it made him jealous? Right now, as best friends, it didn't bother him at all.

Zoro liked to fight, but he didn't like the mushy, dramatic fights he saw in relationships.

Besides, Sanji made food for him even at the best friend status. Zoro told him he didn't need to, but Sanji made him lunch to eat at school. When Zoro went to Sanji's house, Sanji had homemade snacks or treats ready to eat while working on homework. Zoro wasn't going to leave this seat any time soon.

Zoro summed it up that there was no one else but Sanji.

A/N: I think my 'Instant KO in Love' trait will be someone who will eat anything and will eat more than me. Because I don't see that often. If it's an anime/manga, it's always the guys who are silent, stoic, and stolid.