Hey everyone! Sorry for the wait! I have writers block.

Enjoy!

~Rebecca

Chapter 3, Scars and Food Fight

I woke up with a start, sitting up and looking around. The warm body beside me stirred and groaned. There was something wrong, but I didn't know what, yet. I sat up, grabbing a hair band from my pocket and tying my hair into a ponytail, leaving my bangs to cover my red eye. I nudged Zoro, who was, like me a minute ago, basking in the afterglow of the sunset. He groaned once more and cracked his eye open.

"What?" he asked

"Something's wrong."

He sat up at that, frowning. "What are you talking about, I would have sensed it if anything were wrong," he murmured.

I giggled, finally knowing what was wrong. "I haven't had dinner yet!" I said.

Zoro groaned and lay back against the galley wall. I skipped over him and made my way inside. Sanji was already cooking, I wondered why so late.

"Hey Azai-chan!" Sanji greeted me.

I smiled at him, swiping an apple of the counter and biting into it. "Why you cooking so late? Sanji-kun?" I asked.

Sanji turned to me with a smile and pointed with a ladle. "It wasn't on purpose. I'm sorry if I worried you," he said.

I shook my head and winked at him. He grew heart eyes and I snickered. Then I left the galley, enjoying my apple as I walked to the girls room. I found Nami there, she was moving things around and looking around in her closet.

"Can I help?" I asked.

I hadn't been here long. It had only been two days and everyone already felt comfortable around me. For the first night I had watch, so I hadn't slept all that much yet and I didn't even have a room. Nami turned to me with a startled look.

"Oh," she began. "Sorry, I didn't hear you come in. Yeah, if you can help that would be great. I was planning on shoving things around to fit your bed."

My eyes widened at that. I hadn't slept in a real bed for so long! "Sure."

I then frowned. "You have a normal bed, as does Robin. Can I have one of those bunks the boys have?" I suggested.

Nami raised her brow at that. "Don't you want stability?" she asked.

I shook my head. "No, I enjoy the rocking of the ship when I sleep. It's calming."

Nami smiled at that and nodded her head. "Alright, I'll ask Franky if he can make one for you, sound good?"

I nodded and waved a short goodbye before leaving again. I had planned to spend some time with everyone today, but had fallen asleep with Zoro on the back deck. That sounded wrong... Damn. No not like that. I just fell asleep on his shoulder and he fell asleep against me. That's all. Jeez. Anyway, now that I was awake, I could spend time with everyone for a few short moments. I walked back out and made my way across the grassy deck towards one lying sniper and a fuzzy doctor.

I grinned and squatted down next to them. "Hey guys, what you doing?" I asked.

Ussop jumped in slight fright and stared at me. "You scared the crap out of me! Don't do that!" he accused.

I chuckled and sat cross-legged next to him. "So sorry to scare the great captain Ussop-sama," I teased.

He blushed a bright red and turned back to his game. "We're playing a card game, wanna join?"

I looked over and noted it was a complicated game, looked fun though. I smiled, and shook my head. I didn't want to join just yet. Ussop nodded and went back to the game. I laid down in the grass and peered up at the darkening sky. The stars were lighting and the moon was already bright. I sighed heavily, connecting star by star in my mind. I created a dragon and smiled. It looked kinda wonky. Beside me Chopper yelped as he was loosing the game. I chuckled and closed my eyes. A nap sounded great. Dinner wasn't upon us yet.

"Azai," Zoro grumbled as a foot poked my waist.

"What?" I grumbled.

Zoro sat down next to me. "Tell me about one of your scars. I'll tell you about one of mine."

I opened my eyes and sat up, looking at him. Ussop and Chopper had stood up and were walking away, Ussop telling one of his great lies to Chopper. I sighed and laid back down, crossing my arms under my head. I gazed at the stars again. Zoro was quiet.

"A stray bottle smacked into my face when I was at a bar. A fight had broken out and everyone was throwing things, I was avoiding it. Till a bottle of booze smacked into my face and cut my lip."

I pointed at the scar on the left side of my lip, split in two as I opened my mouth. My eyes were closed again, not that I cared, darkness was fine. A soft touch to my lips made me flinch. Zoro's rough finger traced over my lip and it felt weirdly sensual. I shuddered. His eyes lingered on my lips, I could feel his stare. His eyes traveled over my body and he tapped my collarbone.

"How about this one?" he asked.

The scar that ran from the right side of my neck to my left shoulder, over my collarbone. It was a nasty memory. I wasn't ready yet. I shook my head. His finger disappeared.

"Sorry," he said.

I smiled. "Not your fault. My turn. What's with the scar on your eye? Did you tell the crew?" I asked, sitting up and looking at him.

He grinned. "No, I didn't. But you can probably tell that, with that weird ability of yours."

I nodded and traced my finger over his closed eye. I could feel the pain from his memory, but also the victory he felt.

"You won, didn't you."

He nodded slowly.

"Then why stay?" I asked.

"This is my home. If I'm the greatest swordsman or not, it doesn't matter if my family isn't here."

I smiled, very poetic. "You're a good person, Zoro. I like you."

His face tinted red and he smiled a bit. "Thanks."

I smiled in return. "You want them to see you win, right? You told him it didn't count?"

Zoro nodded and grabbed my hand. His hand trailed up my right arm towards the spiraling scar. It went from halfway above my wrist spiraling to my shoulder. His fingers traced the bunched up skin and his eyes racked over the whole thing as he turned my arm.

"You have so many," he said in wonder.

"Yeah, but not all have good memories."

He dropped my arm. I looked up at him and he looked slightly guilty. A frown crossed my features and I scooted closer to him. I didn't do it often, but when I did, someone needed it. I hugged Zoro softly. He flinched at first, but relaxed and hugged me in return. It was a weird sight really. I was practically sitting in his lap. He laid his head on my shoulder and breathed in deeply.

"Thanks," he said.

I nodded slowly and released him. "Let's go, dinner will be ready soon."

He agreed and we both stood to retrieve everyone for dinner so Sanji didn't have to.

Dinner was, chaotic.

That was the right word. I had no trouble defending my food and managed to stab Luffy's arm to the table once. He whined about it for a second, before snatching Ussop's meat and chowing down on it. The sniper growled and yelled that Luffy had to keep his rubbery limbs to himself. I smirked and scratched at my collarbone, the scar itched. Chopper noticed this quickly and looked at me.

"Does it hurt?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No, Chopper-chan. It doesn't hurt. It just itched."

Chopper nodded his head. "I can make something to relieve the itching, if you want?"

I smiled gratefully. "That would be great. Thank you."

Chopper smiled and went back to eating his food. I returned to it as well and saw another hand in my food. I growled and stabbed my knife in Luffy's hand. He yelped and retracted it.

"Azai is mean~" he exclaimed.

I grinned. "I am, keep your hands of my food. Or do you want to lose a limb, Captain?"

Luffy gulped and shook his head. "No," he said quickly.

I smiled then. Zoro began laughing and Sanji kicked him under the table. Another fight broke out and I watched with bemused interest.

"A lively bunch, aren't they?" Robin said.

"Yes, indeed Robin-san. They are," I said.

She smiled at me and returned to her food. I did as well, eating in amusement from the show put on. That was, until Luffy began throwing things and started a food fight. I sighed and ducked out of the way, a pastry flying past my head and hitting Zoro. He growled and I tried to, but failed to stifle my laugh. It came out loudly and I doubled over as I saw his creamed face. He glared at me, but then laughed as well. I only realized to late why, for he smacked a bit of cream into my collar and under my shirt. I screamed and whacked him, giving him payback. Zoro celebrated, I had joined the fight.

I gave up. This crew was going to be the death of me. But, it would be an amazing death and I would probably die laughing my ass off. I smiled, finally feeling at home after all those years.

Luffy flung another pastry. It hit me. I glared at him.

He fled.