Chapter four: Roronoa Zoro and Sanji the Ero Cook

Wanda stretched and walked into the kitchen. The smell of freshly made cakes and green tea with a hint of ginger made her stomach rumble. As soon as she entered the kitchen Sanji smiled widely greeting her. Wanda smiled back and sat down at the table. The sun wasn't up yet, but the cook was already working. It made her smile wider.

"You are up early." Sanji said placing a cup of her favourite tea in front of her. She cupped the mug with both hands feeling its heat burn her cold hands.

"I couldn't sleep." She replied. Sanji poured some tea for himself and sat opposite her. He watched as he slowly ate a piece of cake he placed on a small plate in front of her. She tasted every bit of it with a happy and nostalgic grin plastered on her face.

"Sanji, you make the best food I've ever had!" she stated making the blonde blush from happiness.

"You are flattering me!" he said holding on his cheeks. *I'm with a beauty queen in the same room, what can be better?* he thoughts his nostrils enlarging visibly. He shook his head and rested his chin on his hand studying her features carefully. Her small but slightly pointy nose, her lips as they moved when she chewed on the cake, the cheeks that stretched into a smile every time she looked up at him, her eyes...her eye. Sanji corrected himself feeling enraged. *That idiotic shitty swordsman.* he thought angrily. *Ruined such a beautiful face...his head started growing grass on itself no wonder he is so damn dim.* the blonde let out a cloud of smoke and looked at the ceiling.

"One eye is really enough?" he asked. He didn't mean to, the words came out on their own. Wanda raised her eyebrows not expecting the question. Her expression softened.

"It's more than enough." She replied placing the spoon on her plate. "Besides," Wanda smiled. "I don't need my eyes to "see", I feel instead."

Sanji furrowed his strange eyebrows.

"But...I love the sight of the ocean..." she said quietly. "So If I can admire its beauty even with one eye, I'm happy." Sanji felt his heart clench. He covered his face with his hand. *Real men don't cry.* he kept repeating in his head when the door creaked open and Zoro walked inside. He yawned scratching the back of his head. He stared at Wanda's back and Sanji who was on the edge of tears and raised his eyebrows. *What the hell is going on?* he thought.

"Oi, ero cook! Where's the sake?" Sanji shot up and glared at Zoro.

"Sake...sake...you goddamn alcoholic!" the blonde yelled picking up a bottle of alcohol and throwing at Zoro aiming for his head. Zoro ditched. The bottle hit the wall and broke. Wanda watched the two wide eyed unsure if she should do or say anything. Sanji continued glaring at the green haired man.

"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?" Zoro yelled back pissed off.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY KITCHEN MARIMO! AND GO DO SOMETHING USEFUL OTHER THAN SLEEP 24/7 AND ACT LIKE YOU ARE BORED OF LIFE!" Sanji yelled back.

"YOU PMSing B..." Zoro started, as he took out his katana in process.

"OKAY! Hold it you two." Wanda found herself between the two her right fist ending up in Sanji's face like her left one found itself in Zoro's.

"Human stupidity is infinite. You are crew members, so act appropriately!" she stated marching out of the kitchen. "Oh and Sanji," she turned around and smiled. 'That cake was great. Thank you." she quickly disappeared behind the door leaving the two men together.

"Gyaaa!" Sanji beamed, "She praised me."

"It's just as she said," Zoro sighed. "Human stupidity is infinite!"

"YOU WANT A FIGHT?" Sanji yelled again throwing a kick at him which Zoro dodged with ease, throwing one at the cook himself.

***

Wanda watched as Zoro lifted heavy weights and counted. "995, 996, 997, 998, 999..."

"1000!" she yelled throwing her arms in the air and jumping on top of the weight. Zoro lost his balance and fell with all the weights on top of him. She laughed loudly as she pushed back her hair. It's been two days since she woke up and she enjoyed them to bits.

"Idiotic woman." Zoro yelled with difficulty as the weights kept on crashing him.

"Hahahaha..." Luffy joined in the laughter while holding onto his stomach.

"I don't see anything funny." Usopp mumbled through his teeth. Wanda turned her head towards him. She knew that Usopp didn't particularly like her or want her to be around. His fear was written all over his whole being and she didn't blame him. Usopp caught her gaze and quickly looked away with sweat running down his face. Wanda sighed and looked up at the sky. Not a single cloud.

"Can you get off already?" Zoro hissed under his breath. Wanda blinked and looked down. She was still on top of the weight on top of Zoro.

"Oh," she hopped off lightly and with a swift move of her leg broke all the weight. Small pieces of rocks fell on around the deck and into the sea. Zoro sat up not impressed. He crossed his arms and glared at her. "I used those for training." He stated smacking his forehead. Wanda blinked in realisation.

"Sorry." She mumbled sitting on the edge of the ship with her legs hanging down. She could feel ocean drops on her bare feet. It was refreshing. "If you want," she started, "I can help you train. Unfortunately I cannot copy your techniques as well as I did, but I have a few of my own that might be useful." She didn't turn around to face him. Her gaze was aimed at the ocean. Zoro looked at her back; her pointy shoulders, long black hair with strands of white in them were spread over her shoulders and moved by the wind, he could see her long pale neck slightly reddened by the sun. He didn't rush with his answer.

"What can you do?" his naturally rough voice rung in her ears.

"Mainly martial arts." She replied stretching and almost falling overboard. She let out a sigh of relief as she held onto the wood.

"You can't swim?"

"Not anymore."

Silence fell between them.

"Can you fight using weapons?" he asked.

"Does a kitchen knife count?" she turned her head towards him and smiled. Zoro's eyes widened.

"You sound like that idiotic ero cook."

Wanda chuckled running her fingers through her hair. She pulled on it thinking. "Can you do me a favour?" she asked. Zoro raised his eyebrow.

"I'm not stabbing your other eye." She crossed his arms on his chest and turned away. Wanda couldn't help but laugh.

"Not that, but can you cut..." she started by Zoro interrupted her.

"No, I refuse."

"...my hair." She finished as if ignoring his previous statement.

"Why? It looks fine." He said tilting his head. Zoro never understood women. He wasn't particularly good with them either. Romance and drama were not for him. Most of the time he couldn't understand what they were thinking and all the time he didn't get what they wanted. His general view on women was rather sexist; to Zoro they were weak creatures who made too much fuss and always got in the way. The only way he closely interfered with women was to please his human needs. It was natural for a guy his age, but after everything was over he left without a word; most of the time he didn't even know their names. What for? It wasn't needed. And now another one of those creatures appeared in front of him and connected to him in the most bizarre way. Zoro sighed heavily and wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"I just don't want it." she replied after a minute of silence.

"What?"

"My hair."

Zoro sighed and stood up. He handed one of his katanas to her. "Do it yourself. I don't want to be blamed for doing something to you again."

Wanda took and nodded. "Scared?" she couldn't resist asking.

"LIKE HELL I AM!" he yelled back. Wanda traced her fingers over the blade; it was so sharp and wonderful. She looked at her reflection as if she never saw it before. The person who looked back at her seemed different. With a swift move she grabbed her hair into and pony tail and cut it. She stared at the hair she held in her hands before slowly letting go of it. She felt lighter. As if a part of a heavy burden was lifted off her. She let out a sigh of relief and threw Zoro's katana back to him. The man caught it skilfully. She ran her fingers through her hair which now came down to the beginning of her back.

"I've always hated it." she said as if talking to herself.

"Hm?"

"This hair...this appearance...those eyes."

Zoro stared at her wide eyed. Was she talking to him? If she was, why was she telling him all this? He didn't understand, yet somehow didn't mind it either.

"Why?"

She chuckled darkly. "Because those things...took everything away from me."

Zoro didn't reply; he turned away and started walking into the shade. "Tomorrow." He said. "Training starts tomorrow."

"Got it!" Wanda smiled waving at him but he didn't see it.

***

A soft knock on Nami's door made her shiver slightly. She looked up and stood up. She quickly approached the door and opened it to be greeted by Wanda's cheerful smile. "Hey," Nami said with a small smile of her own. She stood aside allowing the girl to come in. Wanda stalked in looking around. Nami's room was tidy and neat. Mountains of maps were piled up on the floor against the wall.

"It's a bit uncomfortable." Wanda started. "But..." she fell silent for a moment.

"What is it? Is something the matter?" Nami asked gently touching Wanda's shoulder. Wanda shook her head.

"Can I borrow some of your clothes." She blurred out feeling somewhat embarrassed. Nami looked at her in amusement. She smacked her forehead and laughed.

"Sorry," she said. "It's just..." she continued laughing. Wanda giggled along.

"Phew," Nami finally stopped. She took a step backwards and looked at Wanda's figure with serious look on her face; like a designer looked at his models.

"We are approximately the same size." She finally said. "Come on, I'll show you what I have."

Wanda walked behind the girl. Nami opened a large wardrobe. Wanda gasped at the sight of all the clothes that fit in there.

"What kind of thing do you prefer?" Nami asked. Wanda scratched her head.

"I don't really know. Something comfortable?"

Nami shook her head. "That's not the way a woman should treat her beauty." She stated with a hint of experience. Wanda's eye twitched slightly. *I hope she isn't planning on...* she thought when Nami grabbed her hand and pushed on a chair. "Now lets see what we can do with you." she said as she started quickly roaming through the clothes and throwing on the chair nearby the items she wanted Wanda to try. After a good hour of picking and dressing the girl Nami looked at her pleased. "Now go look at yourself in the mirror." She said feeling proud, like a painter in front of its creation. Wanda walked to a large mirror and gasped in horror. Short tight dress, along with see through tights, shoes that could kill and make up that could scare a vampire.

"I look like a local prostitute." She stated in a matter of fact way. Nami gasped in horror.

"You look wonderful."

Wanda laughed.

"Can I just choose something on my own? Please!" she looked begging with her eye. Nami sighed in defeat.

"Of course."

It didn't take long for Wanda to finish. Her choice stopped on a plain olive green tank top, white baggy t-shirt and tight black trousers.

"What kind of boring clothes do you wear?" Nami asked resting her cheek on her hand.

'Those are your clothes." Wanda winked quickly running out of the room before an ink bottle could smack her on the back of her head.

"Psht..." Nami sighed. "Women."

***

The night was silent. It seemed that even the wind decided to rest elsewhere. Zoro lay on the deck with his hands behind his head. His eyes were closed yet he wasn't asleep. He listened trying to catch even a hint of noise that would give out an enemy. His thoughts travelled to events happened not long ago. Was it a wise choice to take the girl on their ship? Now the whole Nirvana pirate's crew were after them...not to mention the Marines. Zoro snickered quietly. The marines were always after them so it made no difference. *Why the hell did she want to escape from there to begin with?* this questioned never left his mind. It drilled his brain on and on to the point where swordsman couldn't take it anymore. *Now that I think about her...her attitude changed as well. I would have never thought she was so carefree...*

Soft sounds of bare feet on the wood made his body tense. The feet quickly yet quietly made their way in his direction. They stopped next to him and he could swear that the person was looking at him. It didn't take a long time for them to start moving again into the direction of infirmary. Zoro opened his eyes and eyed the person, yet the one disappeared behind the closed door. Zoro didn't even need to look at that person. He could never mistake that scent of wild flowers. It was Wanda. *But why did she go to the infirmary?* he thought. *and at night...*

***

Chopper turned around when he heard the door open and close behind him. He felt a shiver run down his spine. Wanda stood at the door with her hands behind her back. She looked down on the floor, preventing him from seeing her face.

"Wha...what is it?" he asked. She didn't answer. Wanda slowly approached the infirmary bed and down without a word. She turned around so her back faced the reindeer. Chopper felt another chill ran down her spine as she slowly pulled off her t-shirt and then the tank top. His eyes fell upon her back. He felt a lump stuck in his throat and the only words that helped him recover were:

"Please...help me."