Chapter 3 - Promises

A few years later, Sanji has just turned eight years old, and Zeff has already got him working in the kitchen at the Baratie. Zeff mainly has the little blond peeling and washing vegetables or cleaning the dishes since he's too young for any serious cooking. For now, Sanji is able to make salads and prepare vegetables for other dishes when Zeff and the other chefs are too busy to do it themselves. Zeff was planning on leaving it another few years at least until he got Sanji to help out in the Baratie kitchen, but after the recent events he thought it would be best to teach Sanji the value of food, not just for others but for himself too. He's always taught Sanji the value of food, but it seems that some of it went over the boy's head as he started skipping out on meals. This is why Zeff found it important to re-teach it to him, and to show him that if he wanted to lose weight (even though he didn't need to) that there are safer ways to do so. Zeff's only regret about all of this is that he never noticed that his own son was skipping meals and starving himself. It all started 8 months ago…

Sanji grinned as he finally escaped the stuffy classroom, and headed for the school hall for lunch, carrying his lunch box. On his way to the hall, the blond was stopped by four older boys who were about three years older than him and were in their last year of primary school, Year 6. Before he was able to defend himself, he was dragged to the back of the building where there weren't any teachers around, and his lunch box was yanked out of his grip almost instantly.

"Oi give it back!"

The boys laughed as two of them held him back while the others took the food out of the box, and started to eat it.

"You're right, his food is so much better than our crap school dinners."

"See I told you! His dad is that Baratie restaurant owner, so he's bound to get the best food."

"That's my food give it back!" Sanji tried kicking them, but he couldn't reach as he was still being held back. The ones who held him down used more than enough force and he knew bruises were going to form. Tears began to fall without Sanji being able to hold them back any longer, only causing the older boys to tease him more.

"You don't need this food anyway, you're fat enough already~."

"Yeah~ I bet you stuff cakes an all in that gob of yours when you get home~," one of the boys said as he pinched Sanji's cheeks, "and you probably eat all~ of the Baratie's leftovers, chubby~."

"Get off me! I'm telling my teacher!"

"Eh? You don't want to do that~," one of them said as they pinned Sanji against the wall, "we'll just come after you again~ Hey guys. I have a good idea~, let's take his lunch every day since he doesn't need it with that fat stomach of his anyway~," the boy grinned as his friends agreed, and finally released Sanji, letting the little blond fall down to the floor, "who are they going to believe anyway, a little blond brat or us year sixes? It's four against one, kid. See you tomorrow~."

Sanji's lunch box was thrown beside him as the boys walked away, and he rubbed at his eyes as he stayed behind the school building until lunch time was over.

The same boys continued taking Sanji's lunch every school day, and sometimes he fought back but he was beaten up for his efforts. When he got home and saw Zeff, he would lie and say that he got into another fight with Zoro in order to explain his cuts and bruises.

The name calling and the words the boys constantly said to him were starting to get him, and as well as not having lunch on school days, Sanji started eating less of his food at dinner, and started skipping his breakfast some mornings. The blond was hiding it very well from everyone else, but unbeknownst to him, Zoro could always tell that there was something wrong with him as he'd hardly speak in school and they weren't getting into their usual fights.

This went on for months, until one day, Zoro saw the year 6 boys taking Sanji behind the back of the school. Out of curiosity, he followed and his eyes widened when he saw Sanji just standing there and letting the older boys eat his lunch.

"Oi, what's going on?"

"Z-Zoro?!"

"Ahah, look, one of his little friends have come to help to him~."

The older boys' laughter died out as Zoro attacked them, hitting and kicking them until they ran away.

Zoro tried to catch his breath and looked to Sanji, "how long have they been taking your lunch?"

"…"

"Wait here," Zoro said, then left the blond on his own, coming back a short time later with food he'd stolen from the school hall, "here, eat this. I'd let you have mine but I've eaten it already…"

Sanji nodded his thanks and Zoro sat beside him as he ate the food he was given, "t-thank you….I'll bring you lunch tomorrow..."

"You don't have to."

"I want to," Sanji says with a light blush on his cheeks, "I'll make you school lunch every day from now on."

"Eh? Really, you promise?" Zoro grinned.

Sanji grinned back and nodded, "I promise."

After that lunch time, the two boys got called into the headmaster's office, as Zoro had told one of the teachers what had happened, and their fathers got called into the school. That was when they all found out about Sanji's lunches being stolen, and about the blond skipping meals. When Zeff started bringing Sanji into work with him to cook in the kitchen, he also started teaching him self-defence and savate, and it was around that same time that Koshiro had started bringing Zoro along to his kendo classes after school.

Both Zoro and Kuina have been improving greatly since then, though Kuina is still more skilled than Zoro and has already beaten him in over 1000 matches. Every day he challenges her to another match or two and every day he loses. He loves his sister, of course, but more than anything he wants to beat her in a match and become stronger, that is his ambition.

Therefore, once again they are having another match in the dojo. The rest of their classmates are there and so is Koshiro. It is the last day of the summer holidays, and during the holidays, the classes at the dojo were moved to earlier in the day instead of late afternoon after school, and everyday Zeff would turn up to bring Koshiro his lunch. Today he has brought along Sanji, instead of leaving the blond in the care of the others chefs at the Baratie, who is carrying lunches for Zoro and Kuina. Both he and Zeff get drawn into watching the match between the two siblings, and are unsurprised to see that Kuina ends up winning once more.

"Kuina wins! And Zoro, who used two swords, loses! Kuina is in the lead with 2000 wins to zero!"

The rest of the class gather around as the two siblings recover from their match, Kuina deliberately goading Zoro to get a rise out of him, as she secretly loves these matches as much as he does, though she often plays it off as a pain.

"Hmph, how pitiful, a boy…. And so useless …"

"Hey! Zoro isn't weak!"

"Yeah, Zoro is the best!"

"Even when sparring with the adults he is still very good!"

Their classmates back up Zoro but Kuina ignores them and heads over to Zeff and Sanji to get her lunch, "is that so? Still, he is weaker than me, even if he uses two swords he is still useless. Zoro, you should admit defeat, since you've lost."

"Lost again? What a pity, Zoro," Koshiro comments as he makes his way over.

"Sensei!" the other kids cry, "you've been secretly training her because she is your daughter, right?"

"Yeah, don't lie to us!"

"No, no, I've done no such thing. That wouldn't be fair to you or to Zoro as he is my child as well."

"Damn it!" Zoro cries out in frustration, "why can't I defeat her?! I want to travel and become the world's number one swordsman! I won't lose to anyone ever again!"

As Zoro grabs a bottle of water, Koshiro leads Zeff to the backroom so they can have their lunch while the class has their break.

Kuina grins as she eats her lunch, then heads towards the backroom to see Zeff. As she nears the door, she hears her father and Zeff talking. Before going in, she hears her name, and decides to listen in, so she hides out of sight beside the doorway.

"That was a great a great match. Kuina is definitely your top student."

"Yeah, that may be so, but eventually the boys will become stronger than her. It's only a matter of time."

"What do you mean? Weren't you saying just the other day that she would be the best person to pass on this dojo to in the future?"

"I did, but she's a girl of course. When she grows up she will just become weaker, while the boys get stronger. I'll probably give this place to Zoro when I'm gone, or too old to run it."

Upset, with tears in her eyes, Kuina quietly and quickly runs away to the bathroom, not wanting to listen to anymore of the conversation. She had always known that as she'd grow up it would become harder for her to compete with men, and so she covered her hesitation and fear with cockiness, acting confident to convince others and to prove to her father that she can be strong and could become the world's greatest swordsman. But to actually hear her father say those things about her behind her back was more upsetting than the truth. I was right. It's impossible for me….Will I never be able to become stronger….?

Late that night, Kuina is woken up by Zoro who tells her to go to the nearest park and that he will meet her there, and that their dad must never find out. Intrigued, she does as asked, and goes to the park which is a 5 minute walk from their house. It takes longer for Zoro to get there, but when he turns up, he is carrying two of their father's katana, including the one which Koshiro recently gave to Kuina.

"Kuina! Duel with me with a katana, I've brought real ones!"

Kuina is hesitant at first, as the katana are their father's, but she eventually agrees. Their fight is extremely close and dangerous, and in the end, Kuina manages to knock Zoro's katana out of his hand and call her 2001st victory.

"Damn! I don't believe this!" Zoro cries.

"Actually, the one who should feel upset is me."

"Eh?!"

"When a girl grows up, she will lose out to boys in physical strength…. I'm going to fall behind you and the others soon…. Don't you always say that you want to become the world's number one swordsman? Dad says that girls can't become number one," Kuina starts tearing up as she talks, looking Zoro straight in the eyes, "It's good that you're a guy. I want to become the world's best too!... But my chest has started to develop…. If only I were a boy…"

Zoro's eyes widen at Kuina's confession and he becomes angry at her words, "You're telling me all this crap after you beat me?! That's unfair! To become like you has always been my ambition!"

"Zoro…?"

"Does this mean that if I beat you someday that it is not because of my strength?! Doesn't this make me who has been training really hard to beat you look like an idiot?! Kuina, let's make a promise! One of us must become the world's number one swordsman! Let's see who can reach that goal first!"

Kuina sniffles and wipes the tears away from her eyes, "stupid…You are a person who lost to me… I promise!" she says with a smile.

The next day, Zoro doesn't turn up for school, which as it is the first time this has happened, it is unusual, and Sanji didn't know what to do during the day. Although most of the time in school he is around the girls in his class, Zoro would always be close by and they'd end up fighting, Zoro would also end up being his partner when the class required pairing work. And so today, although he wouldn't admit it, Sanji felt bored without Zoro around and he couldn't wait to get home and see why the other boy didn't go in to school. And that is exactly what he does as soon as he gets home.

Instead of going to his place, Sanji goes straight next door, and knocks loudly on the front door.

"Marimo, why did you stay at home?!"

When no one answers, the little blond keeps knocking on the door and calling out for Zoro.

"Moss-head?! … Ma~ri~mo~?! ….. Oi?!"

Still no answer, but he keeps trying, and peers through the letterbox. He only stops shouting when a large hand is placed on his shoulder and he looks up to see his father, Zeff.

"Eggplant, come inside."

"No. I need to see Zoro…. I have his homework…"

"He's not in. Now come inside."

"Where is he then?"

Zeff doesn't reply and gently takes Sanji into their home. Once they are in the living room, he tells his son to sit on the sofa, and then he proceeds to run his fingers through his hair.

"Oi, old man, what's going on?"

"….It's Kuina. She had an accident early this morning…..and she passed away…."

Sanji's eyes widen and he holds back his tears. He learned long ago about life and death, Zeff never felt the need to sugar-coat it and told Sanji about his mother's death from an early age.

"W-Where's Zoro?"

"He's with Koshiro at the dojo."

"Can I go and see him?"

"Best not to right now, eggplant, maybe tomorrow…."

In a matter of weeks, Kuina was buried and Zoro begged Koshiro to allow him to keep her sword. He allows Zoro to keep it, no questions asked, and Zoro declares that he will become stronger, that he will become the world's best swordsman, and that he will become so famous that even the heavens will hear of his name, for both him and Kuina. The little girl's room was left untouched since no one was ready to clear it out just yet, and Zoro refuses to look into Kuina's room as it reminds him of the sister he just lost. No one would think that Zoro blames himself for Kuina's death, but he does and for years it eats away at him on the inside.