A/N: So, apparently here I am again. I am so awful for leaving this story for such a long time, but I sincerely hope you guys find the determination in yourself to check it out, even if you hate me. Here it goes! Hope you enjoy! Your comments and thoughts are always appreciated! :)

Chapter 10: Coincidence is Another Word for Fate

The bell rang signalling the end of the history class. Nami had not paid any attention to the raven-haired beauty as she was talking. She was fixated on Zoro, who was fixated on the woman. The woman who turned out to be their teacher. Nami didn't have a good feeling about her. And it was not only due to the fact she was jealous of how Zoro looked at her. He looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Like he was under some kind of spell. Of course, she was intoxicating, Nami could acknowledge it. However, it didn't make her feel that nice that the person she cared for most in the world would give someone else the attention she craved.

As the other people inside the classroom started making their way out of there, Nami turned to Zoro. He was still gazing at the woman. "Hey, baka. Let's go. We have to get to lunch before Luffy devours all the cafeteria food" Nami said bluntly. Zoro didn't respond making her grow even more annoyed than before. "I'M TALKING TO YOU" she practically screamed. Zoro seemed to snap out of daydreaming.

"For fuck's sake, stop screaming. I am right beside you, witch" he responded angrily. He started gathering his stuff so they could leave. While he was doing so, the raven-haired woman escaped the classroom.

"If you listened to me the first time, I wouldn't have to scream. But you are an idiot" Nami spat back at him. She was hurt. Zoro picked up on the change in her tone from before they came into the classroom. He looked at her trying to find her eyes, but she wouldn't look at him. He touched her forearm gently, motioning her to turn and look at him. When she did, he found the opportunity to address her.

His voice was gentle and caring. "Hey, what's wrong with you?" he said as he looked deeply into her eyes. He could make out the annoyance in her eyes. But there was another thing. One he could not exactly pinpoint. He could only realise that her eyes looked sad. Nami let out a big sigh. She turned around completely, so her whole body faced his.

"You really think I am that stupid?" she said. "I can tell you know that woman from somewhere. I can feel it. I just don't see the reason you would lie to me about it" she said and Zoro realised what was wrong. She was hurt. She was hurt that he didn't trust her. Or at least that was what his male mind made out of it. Could she be jealous? Nah, this is Nami we are talking about. Why would she be jealous? We are friends. Despite these thoughts, part of him wanted for this to be the case. He shrugged this feeling off. The last thing he wanted right now was to let his mind wander off to that subject. Now was no time to complicate things. He just found Nami again. He couldn't lose her because he wanted her to be more than his friend. She was his person. But he wanted more.

He wanted to be the person who made her smile for no specific reason. He wanted to touch her like no man ever has. He wanted to kiss her soft lips. He wanted to be the one with whom she'd share a lifetime. He wanted all of her and he would give her all of him.

But he couldn't. They both had matters to resolve. He couldn't be distracted. He had to find out who was responsible for his mother's death. He would hun the bastard down and make them pay. He had to concentrate on his mission. No other things could get in the way of him getting the justice his family deserved. He -

"Zoro?" Nami called him. He realised he had zoned out. Again. He also decided that he could trust Nami, even for a matter so trivial as the one of Nico Robin.

"It's not that I don't trust you, Nami. You have to understand that. I am just in shock after seeing Robin again" he confessed to Nami.

"Why are you in shock?" Nami was even more curious than before now. Zoro took a deep breath and continued.

"Well, after I left Cocoyashi, my mother and I relocated to Shimotsuki. Boring town, nothing much to do. I didn't have any friends after I left you. And I didn't want to bond with anyone ever again after the pain I endured when I left you" Zoro said. Nami could tell that he meant every word of what he said. She felt tears forming in her eyes, remembering the times she felt more lost and alone than ever again. She fought them back and gestured Zoro to continue. "While I stayed there, the only things I did was going to the gym and training and attending school. You know how I am, I don't study much. I don't really care about school. Problem was the school I attended assigned me a personal tutor because I was failing most classes. My tutor was Robin. At first, all the tutorials were boring. But, as she was the only person I talked to apart from my mother we bonded. And then, it turned a bit weird" he said, trying to be as clear as possible. He really didn't want to repeat any of this.

"What do you mean weird?" Nami inquired.

"I fell for Robin" he stated matter-of-factly. Nami felt a pain in her chest. Like she couldn't breathe. She realised how much more than a friend Zoro was to her. If he was just a friend, she shouldn't feel like she couldn't breath. If he was just a friend, she shouldn't feel on the verge of crying. If he was just a friend, she should be happy for him for finding a person to be with. "We were a couple in secret for a few months. I felt like I was in love, but she was older than me and she was my teacher. Someone from the school found out and she almost lost her job. She loves her job more than anything. So, when she was asked to choose between me and her job, guess what she chose" he laughed, but there was a hint of pain. "Anyway, what happened is in the past now. There's no need to talk about it. I didn't tell you, because I didn't think it was important".

Nami was no longer looking at him, but her sight was focused on the whiteboard in front of her. When she spoke, she didn't turn to face him. "Are you still in love with her?" she asked with no emotion in her voice. Her heart was beating fast. His answer would determine everything even if he lied just for her sake. But why would he do that? They were just friends.

"No" he answered. No hesitation, no struggle. "I am not". She felt her whole being relax at his response. But she had to be sure.

"Do you really mean that?" she asked again. Now, she turned to look at him in the eye.

"Right now, I have no feelings for Robin. Everything went away the moment she made her choice. I was just very shocked to see her here of all places" he said truthfully. The Robin chapter was over for him long ago. And even if it wasn't back then, it ended when he set his eyes upon Nami again. There was no other woman for him other than the one sitting beside him at that moment.

Nami was still not convinced. "If she told you that she wanted you back, you wouldn't go back to her?" she was testing him now, she knew it, but she had the need to hear Zoro say it. She had the need for Zoro to reassure her. Zoro took her hand in his.

"The only thing that is important to me right now, apart from finding out what I need to know about my mother, is you. Nothing else matters" he said. He was looking inside her eyes the whole time he was talking. Nami let a small sigh escape her lips now. A weight had lifted from her shoulders. Her heart was beating so fast while Zoro was speaking, and only at this moment it started going back to its normal tempo. Without thinking, she jumped at Zoro and hugged him tightly. She was so afraid he might be in love with another woman. Sure, it was selfish. But she couldn't imagine how her life would be knowing Zoro loved another. She was relieved now and the only thing she wanted was to feel his skin on hers. To feel safe and happy.

Zoro put his arms around her hugging her petite frame to his huge one. His body moved on its own anchor, instinctively. He brought her near and put his chin on the top of her head. He inhaled her tangerine smell and started drawing circles on her back with his palm. He couldn't understand why she seemed so distressed by her revelation and all he wanted to do was soothe her. "Come on, witch. Don't be so sentimental. People will think you are into me" he joked trying to ease up the mood. All he achieved was getting a fist to his forehead.

Nami detangled herself from Zoro. "Don't be stupid. The only thing people might think is that you are bullying me into being your friend" she retorted. She turned to look at Zoro and pulled out her tongue to mock him. Zoro smiled and was glad that everything was back to normal. He knew that Nami didn't want to get sentimental in front of him, even it was something that happened more often than not.

They both rose from their seats and left the classroom in the hopes of finding Vivi and Luffy before their break ended.

Okay, I know it's short, but I just got back to writing, so please don't be too cruel with me. I promise I will update ASAP. Love you all!

-T