Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.

Warning: Unintended OOC-ness and minor grammatical errors. Also, this chapter is a bit sappy and melodramatic.

Author's Note: Writing this chapter wasn't supposed to be as long as intended, but I had some minor complications with real life that prevented me from actually uploading it. Anyway, back to regular updates. Longer note at the bottom!

This is a continuation of the last chapter.

Flashacks are in italics.

That Evening...

Zoro laid on the bed, staring at the stucco ceiling. His body hurt, but mostly his back. It was a bad decision to hug Robin for the second time, especially after she had already refused him. Pushed him away and said no.

It was his own fault.

Though he really didn't expect her to gather him in a death clutch and maim him until he passed out. He was admittedly impressed, even if the blinding pain overcame his senses.

He placed his arm over his eyes, shielding them from the bright lights. She had checked him in a hotel, far from her own home, and left him without a word. Gave him ramen though, packed in a thermos that she left unceremoniously on the table. Just like how she left him on the bed.

The bed was soft, and the pillows and blankets smelt fresh, but he longed for her scent.

He remembered the nights, passionate and sometimes drunken, remembered how she used to let him hold her.

No wonder she was mad.

He ground his teeth in frustration.

How could he have missed it?

The navigator blatantly showing off how she and the captain were in love, announcing to the world that they were a couple, irked Zoro. Nakama. It was slowly falling apart. He told her not to do it, discouraged both of them separately, tried to make them think of the implications of both of them getting together, before Luffy was even Pirate King.

"Are you jealous, Zoro?" Nami had asked him, with that smirk.

He was. She was breaking up his family.

Women were only a distraction, love was nothing but a contrived idea, why can't Luffy understand that? Why can't Nami be selfless for once? They were already a family, why ruin it?

"You know it's a bad decision." He said "Why are you even doing this?"

Nami glared back at him, hurt in her eyes. "Just because you think that love is such a waste of time, doesn't mean that Luffy can't be happy with loving me."

"You aren't thinking straight, Nami."

She shook her head "If love isn't for you, then fine. I accept that. You're not someone who wants to start a family or to stay in one place, I learned that years ago."

"And what makes you think Luffy would settle down in one place?"

"He's a pirate, of course he won't. But he loves me."

"You're not thinking straight."

"And you're being stupid."

Nami turned to leave, but turned again, the fury in her eyes gone, replaced by a soft look "Love isn't a weakness, Zoro. Stop trying to block it." And she gave him a good whack on the back of his head before turning to leave.

Zoro sat down by the mast. Love. He knew the word, and he felt it for his nakama, but he knew the love she meant. The following day, their talk seemed to not faze the two, instead reveling in the life on the Sunny. Three days after, they announced to their nakama that they were in love and would be together. A sort of quiet acceptance passed through him, and various other reactions from his nakama.

But Robin remained stoic and smiling, as if she knew something, like she usually did.

He was happy for them, he really was.

But that was the night when things started falling.

He felt a cool breeze come in from the window, and instantly recognized the presence of an annoying companion.

"I told you not to follow me, Perona."

The ghost princess ignored him and sat down on the chair by the table. She opened the thermos and sniffed the contents. "It smells good" She said "If you're not hungry, I'll eat it."

"Tch. Go away."

"It's been sad in the castle, all Mihawk do is mope around."

"That's not my problem."

Perona frowned at him, and sent a negative ghost to him, but even in this battered state, he was able to block it.

"You're no fun ever since you learned haki." She said puffing out her cheeks.

"What are you doing here?"

"I told you, Mihawk just mopes around." She looked back at the thermos "And she did ask me to look for you."

Zoro stayed silent, keeping his eyes on the ceiling. He didn't want to go back to her, even if he had an obligation being shoved down his throat. He wanted Robin, even if she hates him at the moment. To be a stupid man, yet one of the most powerful.

He was right, love was nothing but a great big distraction.

"I don't care."

"You love the demon woman, don't you" Perona said, a matter of factly. "Isn't she why you've been running away all this time."

"I haven't been running away, idiot."

Perona stood up and walked up to him. She had her hands on her waist and glared down at him "Yes you have, you've been running away and trying to avoid something. Why don't you just admit, Zoro, you're in love. It's not just some infatuation you had for this woman."

"I told you to leave me."

"You keep on wandering like an idiot, thinking that getting lost would be the best thing for you, but you always end up with a reminder of her, and now" she pointed an accusing finger at him "You actually end where she is and you still can't man up."

"Leave. Now."

She sighed dejectedly, letting her hands fall to her side. "You're stubborn, it's very un-cute."

But nonetheless, Perona walked to the window. Before she stepped out, she looked back at him "You're hurting, but they're hurting more. Especially her."

And Zoro knew that her meant Robin.

"Do you love her?"

Zoro tensed at the question. He hadn't expected it, nor did he think she'd ever think of it. But then again, Robin was perceptive. And had the habit of observing everyone. He had hoped that he would never ask her such a question.

Did he love her? He cared for her deeply, like a brother would a sister.

But with her, with Robin.

It was different.

Yes, but he could never tell her. He could never help her in fulfilling her dreams, can never help her reach the dream she had ever since she was a child.

Yes, he loved her. He grew to love her. But love was nothing but a weakness. A great big distraction.

He left without answering, no apologies this time.

He didn't go straight back to the boy's quarters, instead went up to the deck. The air was cold, but the horizon was already reddening with dawn.

He found Nami on the deck, wrapped in a blanket sitting by her orange trees, a bottle of sake beside her. She was looking at the sky, stars slowly disappearing. He sat down beside her, taking a swig out of the bottle, ignoring her glare.

"Well?" She asked, cocking her eyebrow.

He stared up at the horizon "You're a bitch."

"And you're a dumbass."

"Captain's whore."

"Gigolo."

"Witch."

"Marimo."

"Greedy pig."

"Idiot."

"I'm not good enough for her." He took another drink, a longer swallow, while she looked on questioningly.

"Because you always get lost?" A tinge of humor in her voice.

His face reddened, and not because of the alcohol "Things just keep moving around, damnit!"

They sat in silence as he finished the bottle dry. She had taken an orange from her tree, and was casually eating it, the citrusy smell adding to the slowly warming day. The sun was higher now, morning so near.

"You know" She said absentmindedly "No one really knows where all the poneglyphs are. It might be best if she gets lost in a while." She smiled cheekily at him "Or you can just pay me to teach you some navigational skills."

Zoro remained silent.

"You know it would have been easier if you had just loved me when I confessed back in Sabody." Nami said quietly.

Zoro scoffed "That would be like falling in love with Kuina."

She hit him on the upside of his head, and they glared at each other.

"Gold digger."

"Bastard."

They both glared at each other, then a chuckle broke in between them.

"You love Luffy right?"

"Of course" She said proudly, head held high "I am going to be the Pirate Queen!"

Zoro scoffed "Well then remember this, your highness" he pointed at her "If you hurt him, I'll end you. Threat goes to him too."

Nami smiled "Of course."

And the two of them watched the sun, as Brook started playing his morning wake up call.

Zoro didn't know how long he had been laying on the bed. His body didn't feel so numb anymore, and felt no more pain when he moved his limbs. He stood up, stretching up his arms, loosening his muscles. Whatever techniques Robin had been learning was really quite effective on him. He sat on the chair by the table, the ramen was cold, but he didn't care. It was still good.

"Purupurupuru." The distinct sound of the den den mushi startled him.

"Perona" he muttered under his breath. And indeed, by the window sill was a denden.

He picked it up before it called again "What?" he shouted angrily.

A soft timid voice answered "I'm sorry!"

He was taken aback, then remembered that Perona had mentioned that she was looking for him.

"I thought it was Perona." he said, sitting down on the floor "I'm sorry."

"I'm glad she found you." she said, still apologetic.

"What do you want?" Unlike his swords, he was blunt. But she never minded his bluntness.

"Uhm" she started, but faltered.

He sighed loudly, closing his eyes and massaging his temple.

"I'm in Water 7."

He didn't answer.

"Perona says you're in a nice island. Do you want me to come there?"

"No." Blunt and harsh. "I've told you many times, Tashigi, I'm not going to become a Shichibukai."

"Not about that. The other thing." A bit of frustration in her voice now. "Koshiro-sensei is with me. We can come over there."

Zoro kept his eyes closed "No." He had told them time and again no, but somehow his old swords master never listens. "Tell him he's a stubborn as his daughter. I'll come there tomorrow."

And he hung up before she could answer.

Perona was right. Fifteen years, it was about time to face the inevitable.

End Part 7.

Author's Note: Many apologies for the really late update, and the sappiness. However, it has to be tackled some time. Next chapter is going to be a bit more light hearted :)

Have any of your read the latest chapter? I haven't, but I heard it was awesome! I still have about 100 chapters to go to actually catch up on the series, but I'm getting there. Now to the thank yous!

Thank you so much to the anon Guest, Seis Fleur, , Majin no tamashi and to Pentastic!

And to Gren-sama The conclusion is still a long ways ahead, this is going to be a long ride :) The thing about Robin and Zoro meeting early in this story doesn't really change the actual chronological order of the story. Just to explain things, Kuzan died, a year after Saul left, Two weeks after Saul left Zoro and Robin met again, and then after months of traveling Saul meets Sanji. A bit jumbled, but yeah .
And about the Kuzan chapter, it's meant to be understood that she grew to think him more like a father, than a big bad marine who just wants to kill her or a someone she lives with. I'm actually thinking about uploading another story, focusing on the lives of Robin, Kuzan and Saul, but that would have to wait until this one is done :)
Luffy! Yes, Luffy chapter is coming up. I actually hope that this chapter has some sort of insight to the dynamic between Zoro and Nami, that would also affect the Luffy chapter. Usopp chapter has a lot of explanations, so hopefully that would be up soon .
And yes, don't worry Robin is going to make it really hard for Zoro. I found the two of them to be the quietest in their group, and even if they are both perceptive, wrong conclusions are still easy to draw out. Thank you so much for the review :) I'll keep in mind my writing style to make things easier to understand!

Thank you everyone! Feedback is greatly accepted!