Undisclosed Desire
II
The morning light, although muted by the persistent rain outside, still filtered through the shoji doors, casting a soft, grayish glow across the tatami mat where Zoro and Nami lay entwined. They had moved to the second floor of Zoro's dojo in search of a more comfortable night's rest, and the decision had proven to be a wise one, especially on a rainy morning like this.
Zoro stirred from his peaceful slumber. He blinked his single steel-colored eye open and a contented smile graced his lips as he felt the warm weight of Nami nestled against him, her head resting on his chest.
His thoughts drifted to the events of the previous night, the passion they had shared, the unspoken desires that had finally found their voice.
Zoro had always known that Nami had feelings for him. Her subtle hints, the stolen glances, and the way her gaze lingered a little longer when she thought he wasn't looking—all of it had told him the truth. But he had never acted on it, never allowed himself to explore the possibility of a deeper connection with her.
In his mind, Zoro had always been the swordsman of the crew, dedicated to his training and his dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman. He couldn't see himself in a relationship, too focused on his own path to allow someone into his heart.
His mind drifted back to their time at sea, years ago, when the unspoken attraction between them had been almost unbearable. The nights on the Thousand Sunny had been torturous, the desire to touch her, to kiss her, to give in to the undeniable chemistry between them nearly overwhelming.
Zoro remembered the countless times he had caught himself stealing glances at her, admiring the way the moonlight danced in her hair, the way her laughter filled the air, and the way her eyes sparkled with mischief. It had been a constant battle to keep his emotions in check, to maintain the facade of indifference that had become his shield.
He had held back, fearing that his desires would jeopardize the camaraderie of the crew. The line between nakama and something more had always been a delicate one, and he had been determined not to cross it.
Now, as he lay with Nami in his arms, he realized that the line had blurred, and he couldn't be happier for it.
Zoro leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the top of Nami's head, his heart filled with warmth and contentment. He knew that they had taken a step into uncharted territory, and he wasn't entirely sure where it would lead. But one thing was certain—Nami had found a place in his heart that he hadn't known existed, and he was ready to explore it, no matter where it might take them.
Just as Zoro was lost in his thoughts, Nami began to mumble in her sleep, her voice soft and dreamy. "Adjust the sails...starboard...we need to catch the current...set a course for the Grand Line..."
Zoro couldn't help but chuckle at Nami's sleep-induced navigation orders. She was bossy even in her dreams.
"Nami," he whispered, gently shaking her shoulder. "Wake up, navigator."
Nami's eyes fluttered open, and she blinked up at him in confusion for a moment before realizing where she was. "Zoro?" She sat up, rubbing her eyes and stretching. "What time is it?"
Zoro glanced at a nearby clock. "Early morning. The rain hasn't let up yet."
Nami yawned and stretched again, her hair mussed from sleep. "Well, at least we got a good night's rest." She paused, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. "And I see I was still giving orders even in my dreams."
Zoro chuckled and pulled her closer, his arms wrapped around her. "You can't help it, can you? Bossy navigator, even in your sleep."
Nami leaned against him, her head on his chest once more. "It's a tough job, you know. Someone has to keep the crew on course."
He tightened his hold on her, savoring the feeling of her in his arms. Then, his expression turned thoughtful. "Do you miss sailing?"
Zoro's question hung in the air for a moment before Nami answered, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "Every day."
He nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I miss it too."
Nami's eyes turned curious as she propped herself up on one elbow. "Have you ever thought about going to the sea again?"
Zoro paused for a moment, considering her question. Before he could answer, their conversation was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. Both of them turned their attention to it, surprised.
Otama's sweet voice came from the other side of the door. "Zorojuro, why is the door locked? You never lock it. Is everything okay?"
"Yes, Otama. Everything's fine." He said loudly so the girl could hear.
"Do you know where Onami is? Momo wants to have breakfast with her, but I can't fin her anywhere!" She sounded concerned.
Zoro exchanged a surprised glance with Nami. Otama's mention of Nami's name was unexpected, and he hadn't anticipated having to explain her presence. Nami leaned closer, whispering to him, "What should we do?"
Zoro whispered back, "I'll handle it." Then, he raised his voice so Otama could hear him clearly. "Otama, Nami's with me. She's fine. We'll be ready for breakfast soon."
There was a moment of silence on the other side of the door before Otama's voice came again, tinged with curiosity. "Oh, okay. But why is the door locked?"
Zoro glanced at Nami, and they exchanged another bemused look. "We were just...sparring," he replied with a hint of awkwardness in his voice. "Didn't want anyone to interrupt."
Nami suppressed a laugh, and Zoro could feel her shaking with silent amusement. Otama, on the other side of the door, seemed to buy the explanation.
"Alright, Zorojuro. Sorry for bothering you," Otama said with a tone of understanding.
"No problem, Otama. We'll be there soon," Zoro assured her.
As they heard Otama's footsteps receding, Zoro and Nami released a collective breath they hadn't realized they were holding. Zoro turned back to Nami with an amused smirk. "Well, that was close."
Nami chuckled softly. "I can't believe you came up with 'sparring' as an excuse."
With the interruption resolved, they reluctantly untangled themselves from each other's embrace and began to get up from the tatami mat. Zoro stretched his arms, feeling the satisfying ache from last night's activities, while Nami playfully swatted his chest before standing.
As they dressed for breakfast, Zoro couldn't help but steal occasional glances at Nami. His eyes traced the gentle curves of her body, from the elegant slope of her neck down to her slender waist and the swell of her hips. Nami's body was a work of art, he thought, with every line and contour hinting sensuality. Her presence had always demanded attention, but now, with the added intimacy between them, Zoro found himself captivated by her in a whole new way.
Nami caught him looking and raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Like what you see, swordsman?"
Zoro smirked, his gaze meeting hers. "A lot."
Zoro and Nami arrived at the Kozuki castle, the sound of raindrops falling on their shared umbrella the only thing breaking the morning's quietude. As they approached the door, they couldn't help but notice the amused glances exchanged by their friends who were already gathered in the dining area.
Hiyori, Kiku, Kanjuro, Kin'emon, Otama, Otoko, and Momo were seated around a low table, sipping tea and awaiting breakfast. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity and amusement as they watched Zoro and Nami enter together, sharing the umbrella.
Kin'emon, with his traditional sense of humor, couldn't resist teasing them. He wore a sly grin as he spoke up, "Ah, Zorojuro, Nami-san, I see you two are enjoying a romantic stroll in the rain this morning."
Nami glanced at Zoro, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks as she realized the implication of their gesture. "Romantic?" she muttered under her breath, not quite aware of the cultural significance.
Zoro leaned in to whisper to her, "It's a custom here. Sharing an umbrella is considered a romantic act."
Nami's eyes widened in realization, and she blushed even deeper, casting an embarrassed look at their friends.
As they joined the others at the table, Zoro noticed Hiyori's reaction. Her usually composed demeanor seemed slightly disrupted, her gaze briefly faltering before she quickly composed herself. He suspected that Hiyori still harbored feelings for him, and their arrival together likely stirred some emotions.
Despite the teasing and Hiyori's unease, the group shared a hearty breakfast.
Zoro couldn't help but observe the dynamics at play, particularly Momo's interaction with Nami. The young samurai-in-training seemed determined to monopolize Nami's attention, even disputing it with Otama.
Momo's childish jealousy stirred a subtle sense of irritation and jealousy within himself. He watched as Momo vied for Nami's focus, tugging at her sleeve to show her something or engaging her in conversation with an eagerness that bordered on possessiveness.
He knew that the children adored Nami, and it was no surprise given her warm and caring nature. Still, a part of Zoro couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as he observed Momo's attempts to have Nami all to himself with his adult physique.
Nami, for her part, handled the situation with grace and patience, giving each child the attention they sought while maintaining a friendly demeanor. She had always been adept at connecting with people, and it was no different with the youngsters of Wano.
However, the pleasant atmosphere took an unexpected turn when Otama, perhaps unaware of the implications, innocently mentioned, "Zorojuro and Nami-san were sparring with the door locked."
The statement hung in the air like an ominous cloud, causing the table to fall into a silent stillness. Zoro felt a sudden rush of heat to his cheeks, and he exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Nami.
The awkward silence that followed Otama's innocent revelation was finally broken by Kin'emon, who wore an impish grin and raised an eyebrow in Zoro's direction.
"Ah, Zorojuro, I see you were training your one-sword style with Nami-san, behind closed doors."
Zoro's face flushed even redder, and he opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. Nami, on the other hand, stifled a nervous giggle, trying her best to maintain her composure.
The others at the table exchanged knowing glances, and some couldn't help but chuckle at Kin'emon's teasing. It appeared that their friends had decided to take the revelation in stride, choosing to make light of the situation rather than dwelling on it.
Zoro couldn't escape the good-natured ribbing from their friends. Kiku chimed in with a mischievous glint in her eye, "I must say, Zorojuro, sparring with Onami seems to have quite the...benefits."
Zoro sighed inwardly, realizing that there was no escaping the friendly banter. He shot a resigned look at Nami, who shrugged with an apologetic smile. It seemed that their secret was out, and there was no going back.
Just as the jokes were starting to die down, Momo, with the innocence of a child, chimed in with wide-eyed curiosity. "I want to spar with Onami too!"
Zoro's eyes widened, and he nearly choked on his tea at the unexpected request. He quickly set his cup down and turned to Momo, shaking his head vigorously. "No way, brat. That's not gonna happen."
Momo looked crestfallen, and Zoro quickly added, "It's too dangerous, and you're not ready for it."
Nami chimed in with a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, Momo. You'll learn plenty of useful things from Zoro, but sparring with me might be a bit much for now."
Their friends continued to make light-hearted comments and jokes, their laughter filling the room. Despite the initial awkwardness, the atmosphere lightened, and Zoro found himself joining in on the laughter.
However, amidst the jokes and laughter, Zoro saw a change in Hiyori's expression. At first, she appeared visibly annoyed by the situation, her brows furrowed and lips pressed into a thin line. But as the teasing continued, her anger seemed to give way to a profound sadness that she couldn't hide.
Zoro watched as Hiyori's eyes briefly met Nami's, and in that moment, a complex array of emotions played across Hiyori's face—anger, hurt, longing. It was clear to Zoro that she had not fully moved on from her feelings for him, and their arrival together had stirred up unresolved emotions.
Zoro exchanged a meaningful glance with Nami, silently conveying his understanding of the situation. It wasn't easy for Hiyori, and he couldn't blame her for her feelings.
There were no easy answers, and the passage of time hadn't fully healed the wounds of the past.
Finally, as if the heavens themselves had sensed the need for a change in atmosphere, the rain outside began to taper off. With a sigh, Hiyori rose from the table. Without saying a word, she took her leave from the gathering, and Zoro watched her retreating figure with a sense of melancholy.
Under the table, Nami's hand found his, and she gave it a gentle squeeze, her eyes never leaving Hiyori's departing form. Zoro returned the squeeze, silently acknowledging the complexity of the situation and the emotions it had brought to the surface.
The swordsman and the navigator decided it was time to leave as well. They bid their friends at the table goodbye and made their way back to Zoro's dojo, their footsteps echoing softly on the wet streets of Wano. The tatami mat of the dojo and the memories of the night before were awaiting them.
A/N: I'm really impressed about how much you guys liked this one, so I'll extend it!
Thank you for all the comments 3
