Chapter 5

Zoro rolled his head to try and ease the tightness out of his neck, there was a familiar weariness that embraced his body from an intense work out he had just completed. He walked with Luffy to the main cabin area so that they could form a plan with the others even though Luffy simply preferred to charge in, a full frontal attack. Unfortunately that would put the lives of the villagers in too much danger.

Zoro rubbed his neck as he thought about the situation before them. When there was a chance for so many innocent casualties, you had to be careful. No one wanted any unnecessary death.

He shook his head to try and focus his thoughts.

As he entered the room, now rubbing his aching shoulders, his eyes landed on Sanji, who sat at the other end of the table. His sad face was shadowed by the bangs of his blonde hair. His demeanor was tense; as if he was afraid he would be attacked once more.

Light from the setting sun poured in through the porthole window. Zoro pretended to focus on the porthole window behind Sanji, which would give him an alibi for staring in the cook's direction, he watched as Nami gently placed a hand on the cook's shoulder in an attempt to get a reaction out of him. Normally the cook would gush all over her but at this moment he simply gave her a soft and tired smile, gently patting her hand to assure her that he appreciated the gesture. Deep down Zoro was jealous about how easy it was for everyone else to try and comfort him. Sanji was part of the crew, their nakama, and he needed everyone's support because this wasn't the cook they knew.

At that moment the cook looked up at him, his blue eyes were dark and his face was expressionless in the light of the setting sun. Zoro turned away and scolded himself for letting his mind focus on the cook. They would stop Alvoin, Luffy would have his adventure, Nami could find her treasure, and they can get as far away as possible from the island.

"How is Usopp doing?" Sanji asked as everyone finally gathered around the table.

"He's doing much better," Chopper said as he was mixing some pain medicine to give to Usopp. "In about six weeks time we can take the cast off his leg, assuming there are no complications during the bone's healing process."

Sanji nodded, relieved to hear that Usopp was doing so well. Sanji turned and looked at Zoro for a brief moment before glancing around the table at the rest of his nakama. "Are we going to charge the base or wait until we can-"His question was cut off by the loud sound of a mechanical whirring noise coming from the deck.

Zoro spun around, dodging to the side, rolling across the floor, as Nami grabbed Chopper and dived down to the floor as bullets riddled the cabin. Chopper pulled his hat down over his face.

"Do something Zoro!" she shouted over the machine gunfire. Zoro grabbed the handle of his katana and waited for an opening to launch a counter attack.

"How did they find us here? No one followed us back from the base!" shouted Nami looking to Zoro who wasn't sure how to answer the question. "They're not letting up!" Nami looked over towards the cook who was lying on the ground and belly crawling towards her and Chopper. "Are you ok Sanji-kun? Luffy do something!" shouted Nami.

Luffy stood there, the bullets stretching out his skin as they riddled his rubber body. The sudden attack had taken him by surprise, momentarily stunning him, but that did not last long as he sent the bullets flying back in the direction they came from, towards the machines that fired them. "OW!" he cried. "That startled me!" The Centurions, if it was possible, seemed stunned by Luffy's reaction, momentarily standing there before opening up with a new volley of bullets, as Luffy balled up his fists and charged towards the machines, the bullets doing nothing to his rubber body.

The cook reached out and gently took the navigator's hand.

"I'm alright Nami-swan, but someone needs to check on Usopp. Those things will kill Usopp and he can't get out of bed because of his leg!"

"You're right!"

"I'll go check on him!" Chopper shouted over the gunfire.

Nami turned and looked down at Chopper.

"You guys can't go out there, you'll be shot up!" Nami exclaimed. "You're not like Luffy, bullets can hurt you. They have got to run out of ammunition eventually, don't they?"

"We can't just wait," Zoro said, annoyed with Nami's concern. Though he also knew Nami had a valid point.

Nami reached out and grabbed Zoro's arm, she looked concerned. The air was filled with flying bullets and the ground covered in shattered glass and bullet shells. Sanji crawled towards the door.

"Where are you going, Sanji-kun? You can't go out there with those machines or you're going to get yourself killed!" Nami exclaimed, her voice rising to be heard over the fighting.

Zoro agreed completely with Nami and he wanted to demanded what was going through the cooks mind, getting himself killed would solve nothing.

The cook stopped as their captain ran past.

"Gum-Gum Gatling Gun!" Luffy's fists began rapidly flying into the machines with a furious rage.

"Luffy!" Nami exclaimed as she scrambled up to their captain as some of the machines lay broken before them as the remaining machines stood, smoke emanating from their guns. Zoro came to stand by his captain.

"It seems they're bringing the fight to us," the cook said softly. "These machines aren't anything that I could have imagined, even from your description Marimo. Alvoin spoke so casually about his 'toys'."

Zoro could feel tension growing from the crew as they were preparing to fight the remaining few machines that began approaching them. The sound of a terrified shout from the infirmary caused a tightness to form in his stomach as he realized no one could get to Usopp.

"We'll clear a path, Nami you get to Usopp with Chopper and try to get him out!" Luffy shouted his order to her.

"I will help." Sanji said, moving to stand on the other side of Luffy, the three of them forming a barrier to offer Nami and Chopper some protection as they would run to get their wounded nakama to safety.

Chopper scrambled past the machine, which didn't seem to pay any attention to the reindeer. Luffy's fists went flying into the remaining machines as Zoro charged forward, concentrating on slicing through the metal soldiers.

There was the sound of fighting coming from the infirmary room, Chopper's cry of pain and surprise stood out against the sound of bullets and metal clashing against metal. Luffy sent the Centurion he was fighting crashing through the railing and into the water, whirling around to head to the infirmary to lend help when a chilling voice pierced through the air, stopping everyone in their tracks.

"Where did you go kitten?" Zoro felt his stomach tighten in a sickening knot, but Sanji's face is what stood out the most. All the color drained from it as he froze a mix of fear and disgust covered his face as he recognized the voice that had called out, deep down everyone knew who it was, or at least had an idea of who it was.

Chopper came skidding out; quickly and painfully he got back on his feet and looked over his shoulder at his nakama. "There are more machines in there, I'm not sure how they got in there but they have a robot that I swear is fashioned after Zoro and they have Nami and Usopp cornered in there!" Chopper had changed into his human form; his chest was bloody from a sword slash.

"What do you mean a robot fashioned after Zoro?" Sanji repeated as a tall, golden colored humanoid robot with two long blades for hands, emerged.

Chopper tightened his grip on his fur that was covered in blood.

"Had to copy me, eh?" Zoro asked with a sneer as he moved towards it. Nami stood in the doorway, preparing to launch an attack from her Clima-Tact, hoping to short circuit it.

A dark storm cloud formed above the machine as it slowly looked up. A red lens filled the space where the machines face should have been. The Centurion stood slightly taller than Zoro, it was slender and there were patches where a material that resembled skin stretched over the gears in an attempt to hide them. The metal of the machine was shiny and new, as if this was the first night it had been introduced to the world. Steam escaped from its back with a loud hiss as the sound of gears whirling caused the long katana like blades where its hands were suppose to be to spin rapidly. The lens slowly clicked open and shut as lighting crashed down and engulfed the machine. The power behind the lighting sent the others jumping back. As the smoke from the lightning strike cleared, it revealed that the machine to still be standing. The skin that had been stretched over the gears had been charred off, the smell of burning flesh filled the air making Zoro sick to his stomach as he came to the realization that it had been skin, not just some material, that had covered the Centurion, unfortunately the golden metal remained, unmarked, and slowly it turned behind to face where the source of the attack came from.

"Turn and face me!" Zoro yelled as he charged towards the machine that was suppose to mimic him. "Since you feel so compelled to copy me let's see if you can face the real thing!"

"You attacked my compound, and you and your friend's strength impressed me, so of course I had to build Centurions that could match your strength." The voice was eerily human, as if Alvoin himself were standing there in place of the machine.

Zoro stared at the machine the voice spoke from. The thought of something as strong as Luffy and himself was an unsettling idea on its own, but the idea that this guy could build an army so fast was frightening.

The ensuing fight was fast and frantic; the Centurion charged at Zoro, their blades clashing together as it tried to push him back. Gritting his teeth Zoro held his ground, pushing back with just as much strength but it seemed whatever amount of strength he exerted to overpower it, the machine seemed to just go a bit above that. Both of them went skidding backwards when their blades broke connection. Zoro narrowed his eyes, yanking his bandana from his arm and tying it around his head. There was no holding back in this fight if he wanted to win.

Zoro charged forward, concentrating the strength of his blows on the weak points of the machine, where the gears were naturally exposed so the machine was able to bend and move.

Its waist was his best bet if he could land a blow there he could slice through the wires and gears with ease. The machine seemed to know what he was thinking, if that was possible, and blocked each blow that he directed at it. It was thrilling to fight something that posed such a challenge, and if the situation wasn't so serious Zoro might have enjoyed the fight a little more, but as it stood his main goal was winning and survival, and perhaps below that revenge, though he'd never admit the last part out loud. Zoro managed to catch a glimpse of himself in the reflection of the machine. Sweat, blood and oil covered his skin; his dark eyes were focused and determined against the copy machine. What gave Alvoin the right to hurt the cook? He thought as his anger grew.

Zoro sliced down with all his might.

Sparks flew in all directions as their blades furiously clashed against each other. No matter how powerful the machine was he refused to lose. The other machines launched forward in an attempt to rush them. Luffy's strikes helped push the other invaders back

The Centurion, as the machine had called itself, didn't need support. The strength behind its mechanical arms seemed to grow with each sword strike and fist pummel that Luffy delivered, but neither Zoro nor Luffy would give any ground while they still lived.

Zoro looked at the Centurion as a hand grabbed his head from behind; he had been so focused on the fight before him that he hadn't been paying attention. Zoro slammed face first through the bullet riddled cabin as Luffy charged past him.

Zoro groaned as he climbed out of the wreckage. Zoro replaced his katana in his mouth and charge forward, careful not to trip on any of the debris that littered the deck.

Luffy had managed to send the Centurion flying backwards over the railing when Zoro noticed the others were trying to move Usopp off the ship.

"Go!" Zoro said. "Well hold them off!"

"Take the fight off the ship!" Usopp cried as he saw the destruction of his treasured ship. Usopp's face was pale and he was shaking. "If you don't we won't have a ship left."

"We know," Zoro replied as he jumped down to the beach where the Centurion landed. "Get going!"

"Try not to get killed!" Nami called to them, her voice filled with concern.

Zoro just smiled in response and blocked the blade, turning his attention completely back to the fight but the Centurion vanished from sight.

Chopper, despite his own wounds, was trying to move Usopp to safety with Nami's help as the cook cleared the way. Sanji leapt behind his nakama in one elegant move as he lifted his leg to stop the blade in its tracks. He would never allow that blade to slice down Nami or his wounded nakama.

Zoro's steps slowed, this seemed more like the cook and not the broken man that escaped from the ship with him. His hair was both a mess and neat at the same time, Zoro wondered how the swath of blonde hair that covered the one side of Sanji's face remained in place while the rest was a mess from the fight. Sanji's face was shadowed by his hair. He looked handsome and dangerous.

"Zoro, help Sanji-kun!" Nami shouted as she had Usopp's arm around her neck. Zoro knew Usopp was a risk they couldn't have now. Getting Usopp away was important.

"We got it Nami!" Luffy shouted as he moved to stand next to the cook.

"You should go with them Luffy," Sanji suggested as he tapped his foot on the ground, the Centurion prepared to launch another attack on them. "They will need someone to make sure they get somewhere safe, there's got to be more of those mechanical bastards around here to try and prevent escape."

Luffy stared at him long and hard before nodding and following their wounded nakama.

Zoro watched as Usopp and the others tried to escape to safety. He knew that Luffy would do anything to keep them safe. Why did it hurt even now to watch Luffy and Nami together? Usopp might have been their main concern but they were still both concerned for what had happened to each other during the fight.

Swallowing nervously, Zoro moved to stand beside Sanji as a barrier to offer their nakama time and safety to escape from the ship.

"We can't fight them like this," the cook said in a low voice.

"What do you mean love-cook? What are you saying we should do?" He took a step forward but was stopped by the cook's hand on his arm.

"To stop those machines we have to go to the source that's creating them."

"My, my kitten are you going to show your claws to me now?" the voice asked from the speaker on the Centurion's chest.

In a flurry of kicks from the cook, who was panicked and enraged by the sound of the voice emitting from the speaker on the Centurion's chest. Although the cook had said they couldn't fight here the voice had sparked the will to fight the Centurion here and now from Sanji. Of course couldn't that be expected? This was the man that had attacked Sanji, who had violated the cook and had wounded him far more than any other enemy would ever be able to. Anger swelled even more in Zoro's chest.

The Centurion's blades slowly stopped spinning, only for a brief moment as it considered who it should attack first, once it had made its decision they began spinning furiously again. Zoro blinked and braced himself for the force behind the whirling blades.

The swords clashed as Zoro felt the Centurion pushing him back. What metal is this machine made of? Why couldn't he cut through them? He could cut through cannon balls with ease, but this metal, whatever it was, blocked his blades from slicing through and it frustrated him. Zoro wanted to cut through and reach the voice on the other side. This man hurt the cook in a way no one should be hurt, in a way that the swordsman wanted to make the voice regret ever crossing them.

Zoro's attention had waivered and a sharp pain raced through his body. Hot, searing pain raced from his stomach as the spinning blade's pierced through him and his blood spilled onto the sand below him.

The Centurion's red lens face stared down at him, but there seemed to be a sick enjoyment coming from whoever was behind the machine, there was a dark miasma emanating from the Centurion, almost as if it was human. Zoro sank to his knees as blood spilled out of his mouth, coughing. He had to gather his strength; he couldn't let himself fall in this place and certainly not to something that wasn't even human at that!

The next few moments it seemed like time was moving slow as Zoro forced himself to stand up, the blood poured from the wound in his stomach but he ignored the pain. In that split moment Zoro watched as a streak of blonde and black raced in front of him, long slender legs swinging through the air as Sanji landed a powerful blow against the chest of the Centurion. The sound of metal bending echoed through the stillness of the night as the machine stumbled backwards, its gleaming and new chest was now scuffed and dented at the top near where the neck wires and gears were exposed. The force behind Sanji's blow had been incredible. The blow caused the machine to hesitate, if that was possible, or maybe the voice on the other end hesitated, being taken by surprise by Sanji's defense of Zoro.

"You are strong and determined a rare thing in this age for certain," the voice said with an impressed tone.

The Centurion raised its blade and it began to spin again, preparing to deliver a fierce blow to Sanji when the voice spoke to the cook.

"What is your choice?"

"What do you mean?" the cook demanded. There was concern in his voice.

"It's simple, chose between keeping your feelings inside and letting him die, or admitting them before this very man and laying yourself bare and open for attack…if you wait too long I will take it as you have made a third choice, that the night we shared together is something you want to experience again, if so I will kill him and take you back to my ship."

"Those are no choices, but I will protect him!"

"You'll protect him?" the Centurion asked. "Then why not tell him you love him?"

"Yes, is that what you want me to admit? I love Zoro with all my heart!"

The voice from the Centurion's chest burst into furious laughter as it turned to Zoro, trying to tilt its head to the side in an almost curious manner, but the damage to the wires and gears caused it to violently twitch and jerk as it looked at Zoro.

"What do you think of that?"

"You don't have to answer," the cook said quickly. "We need to get you away from here and have Chopper tend to that wound immediately, I'll finish this fight, and you just stand there and try not to lose anymore blood!"

"Why shouldn't the swordsman answer?"

Zoro gripped the handles of his katana, biting down hard on Wadō Ichimonji as he answered.

"This has nothing to do with our fight." Zoro felt the cook's eyes on him and it made him feel like he was being backed into a corner he couldn't escape from.

"Oh, but it does," the voice replied as the tension seemed to grow. "Your wounds are great, you might not live to see tomorrow then."

Zoro was confident he wouldn't die, he had a promise to fulfill, and that wasn't the only reason he couldn't die. His chest ached but it wasn't from the wound, but he wouldn't give the voice the satisfaction of an answer.

"Playing the strong, silent type for my little kitten, are we now?" the Centurion asked.

"I'm not playing anything and stop calling him a kitten; he's got a danm name!" Zoro shouted at the Centurion, growing tired of that man's game.

"Does my pet name agitate you?"

Zoro glared at him.

"I'm agitated that you don't treat him like a person!"

"Like a person?" the Centurions blades resumed their furious spinning. "Is that how you treat his feelings? It seems you ignore them. Of course, you seem to only be focused on fighting," the Centurions voice grew serious. "You pirates are all the same, I am too in a sense, you have one track minds and that goal is the only thing that matters," the voice said coldly.

"I am a swordsman, being the greatest is my only goal!" Zoro said, almost defensively.

"Why don't you think about that while you are rotting in hell?!" the voice shouted over the whirling of the blades. The Centurion thrust its sword forward.

"That's enough!" the cook leapt in front, spreading his arms out to shield Zoro. "I won't let you hurt him or anyone else here! Not if I can prevent it!"

The Centurion's spinning blade stopped inches from Sanji's chest and Zoro stared at the cook in surprise. He could feel the weariness of blood loss beginning to have an effect on him. The edges of his vision began to grow fuzzy but he was determined to push past it, he couldn't stop here.

He gave his head a shake. If he didn't do something he would collapse. The cook turned and placed both hands on Zoro's shoulders.

"Don't strain yourself, baka Marimo."

The warmth of his fingers sent a shudder through his body, whether it was from the loss of blood or something much deeper, Zoro wasn't sure. Zoro knew he should pull away but his body wouldn't listen to his commands.

"I'm not straining myself…and I'm not letting you do that to yourself."

"You had no complaints about it last time kitten, is that why you want to go back?" the voice sneered.

"I'm not letting you go, I would never forgive myself." Zoro said as he glared at the Centurion. "We went through enough trouble to get you back the last time."

"You only care about the trouble he caused?" the voice laughed. Zoro immediately regretted those words leaving his mouth.

The cook's expression was sad as he turned completely to the Centurion.

"I don't want to be a burden to my nakama, but it seems to be my talent."

"You are a burden to them, and it's obvious that the swordsman doesn't care about you." The Centurion's powerful mechanical arms thrust a blade between the cook and Zoro.

"I see that," the cook replied, straightening.

"And what are you going to do with that wound?" the voice asked Zoro, taunting him. Zoro looked at the cook, who would not turn and face him now.

"If going with you means that Zoro can get medical treatment faster, that's all that matters," Sanji said softly. "Be arrogant now, but that won't last long." Sanji spoke with more confidence as he rubbed his neck. "People like you, shitty bastard, never remain in control long."

"If that's the case, why do I control this island and my Centurion's continue to decimate you and your 'nakama'?"

"Just because you're ahead now, means nothing." He said dryly as he smirked at the Centurion. "Once our captain get's his wind back, you and your 'army' won't stand a danm chance, you've seen what he can do and he will tear through you without a second thought."

Zoro watched the back and forth between the two of them. The cook had the over confident bastards attention, even with his wounds he could strike at the exposed gears and tubes at the stomach that allowed for the Centurion's motion. Gathering his strength and focus, he clutched his katanas tightly and launched forward, slicing through the stomach.

Sparks and oil flew in every direction. He was grateful for the cook's distraction or he wouldn't have had such an easy opening to strike.

"What are you doing, Marimo?! You're going to make the wound even worse with such fast movements!" The cook exclaimed as he grabbed hold of Zoro, as if he was going to try and force him to stop moving, as if Zoro going completely still would stop the damage already done.

"You gave me the opening," Zoro replied as he sheathed his katanas and sank to his own knees. He could feel a warm flush to his cheeks but he credited it to the blood loss.

A light breeze carried the smell of the ocean around them as a gull called out.

Zoro collapsed backwards in the sand.

"I'll just sleep this off and I'll be good as new," he said hoping this would raise the somber mood.

"You can't just nap it away." Sanji's voice was straining to remain in control, but the shaky undertone could be heard. When he turned and stared at Zoro, Sanji's eyes were filled with fear and tears as he was trying to remain in control and not burst out crying.

"I've done it before."

"I hope Nami-swan is ok."

Zoro shrugged.

"I'm sure they're ok; Luffy should be coming back soon anyway to check on the situation. So it's better if we wait here."

"Let me try and stop the bleeding."

"Chopper is the doctor," Zoro looked away. "But Chopper is wounded so he might not be able to be as good a doctor as normal, so I guess you can."

"You don't have a choice," the cook's voice was quiet and comforting but Zoro wouldn't give into the gentleness.

"I guess not." He took a deep breath as the cook removed the remains of Zoro's shirt and hurried onto the ship to look for supplies. "What are you, a secret doctor?"

"You need a lot of talents on the ocean…"

"I guess that's true, you're not just a cook," Zoro laughed slightly, although he was certain that Sanji didn't hear his comment, perhaps it would help a little to lighten the mood with himself, or at least distract himself.

"I guess I'm not." Was all he said as Sanji said as he returned from the ship, kneeling down next to Zoro as he carefully cleaned the sand from the stomach wound with clean water and soap he had gotten from the kitchen. Sanji then took gauzes and pressed them firmly on the wound to stop the bleeding, grabbing medical tape he used it to tightly secure the gauzes he had backed on Zoro's front and back in an attempt to stop the bleeding. The cook was focused on the task at hand, but Zoro refused to let the cook's closeness intimidate him into acting foolish.

Zoro forced himself to sit up; he was beginning to feel stiff.

Sanji rubbed his eyes, as if he was trying to ease away a headache.

"Are you hurt?" Zoro asked.

"No, I'm not hurt anymore than I already was. Alvoin will come back for me, and his obsession will give us the opening to free the village for Elise-Chan and Maria-san. I wanted to be their prince, but that didn't happen. I guess I'm weaker than I thought. I'm a pretty useless pirate and hero." He laughed weakly at his self-loathing comment. "And I made the mistake of admitting my feelings and leaving myself open like that."

"It was the stress of the situation, right?"

"You really think it was the stress of the situation? You hate love, it's a weak emotion and I completely understand that now. I shouldn't have been so selfish."

Zoro frowned.

"I never said I hated it."

"It's a waste of time," the cook repeated Zoro's words to him as Sanji ran a hand through his own hair. "And now I can see why, especially how it hurts." Those words pierced sharper than any blade the Centurion had wielded. Although Zoro was trying to shut out his own feelings, he caused Sanji pain and right now, with himself already bared so much to Zoro and with the stress of fighting Alvoin, or at least his voice, Sanji obviously no longer had the strength to keep his emotions in check and this time, Zoro could see how much pain racked through Sanji as Zoro continued to push away the cooks love, and deep down Zoro was cursing himself for being selfish, but even with that he still couldn't bring himself to say what he was afraid to say.

"You'll be fine in time."

Sanji sighed and looked at him.

"Right and I'm sorry I burdened you at the ship and here. The Marimo didn't need to see that. That's a part of my life that I never wanted to experience again. I might as well go and see if I can find the others and bring them back. Usopp is going to be really upset when he sees the condition of the ship. I still think she can sail, but she'll need a lot of repair." Sanji reached out and gently touched Zoro's hair and forehead. In the light of the moon his eyes seemed to carry a deep sadness that made Zoro shiver.

"At least I got to pretend for a little while." He dropped his hand and lowered his head. "I can't just stop them, can I?"

"I guess not."

"Can you stand?" Zoro nodded.

"We should get you off the beach."

"Well, sand is already probably in the wound."

"Well, let's keep more from getting in."

"Don't worry about it." Zoro said as he placed a hand over the bandaged wound, feeling vulnerable while they were sitting there, alone together.

"I want you to trust me, Zoro."

"I trust no one so readily." He said quickly, feeling uncomfortable under Sanji's intense gaze. He looked down at the blood soaked sand. "Change the topic."

"Right," the cook said as he stood up and helped Zoro to his feet and helped him walk up the plank and carefully stepped over the debris. "At least the night is nice," he said, changing the subject as requested. "The stars are beautiful tonight, maybe the villagers can hold on a little longer." He pushed open the door to the infirmary, not wanting to try and carry Zoro through the hole in the wall. The cook laid Zoro down in the bed. "We've cleaved through most of his army now."

Zoro bit his lip; he wasn't too sure where the conversation was going, so he figured that it was best if he remained silent at this time because if he opened his mouth now he would spill out the feelings that were desperately clawing to the top. They had gained more ground over time, and this fight and Sanji's declaration had given them strength, but despite the blood loss and threat of death he couldn't move past the fear of what laying himself bare would mean. Zoro would never say it out loud, but Sanji was stronger than him in that respect, it was a strength Zoro wished he had, wished he could confide so readily to Sanji his own secrets, but he couldn't and that left Zoro feeling painfully twisted inside.

Sanji ignored his silence.

"He can't make an army overnight."

"Are you suggesting a raid?" Zoro asked.

Sanji looked at him and nodded.

"We tried that before, the main compound was well guarded then," said Zoro thoughtfully nodding his head in agreement.

"You destroyed a bunch there too, right?" Sanji asked softly.

"Now might be the best time to strike."

Sanji gently lifted Zoro's hand; Zoro wasn't sure what was going on. Casual touches were not something he was use to between them.

"With those wounds you need to rest for at least a little while," Sanji said. "Your hand is covered in calluses, I noticed." His fingers gently traced over Zoro's hand.

"What are you doing?" Zoro could barely get the words out past the tightness in his throat. He tried to pull his hand away but the cook held firm. Sanji bent over, his soft lips brushing against Zoro's palm. The warmth of Sanji's lips rushed through Zoro's body at a rapid pace.

Zoro's heart slammed in his chest and he yanked his hand away, his cheeks burning.

"I wanted to give up," Sanji whispered. "But maybe I'm just too stupid to quit." With that, he turned and left to go and retrieve the others.

Zoro was unable to keep his eyes off the cook's retreating form; his tall and slender body disappearing down the gang plank and after a few moments Zoro was finally able to look away from where the cook had been.

He uncurled his hand; he was staring at it as if he expected it to have a mark on it where Sanji had kissed it. There was no such mark, just some dirt and grime from fighting and the very calluses Sanji had spoke of. What was the cook trying to do to him? Sanji was confusing him more and more. Zoro lay back in the bed and stared at the ceiling. Sanji seemed broken at one time and confident next about his emotions.

Zoro closed his eyes and gritted his teeth in frustration.

Though with his eyes closed he could only think of blonde hair that covered beautiful blue eyes. He could still feel the warmth of Sanji's lips. He was losing this fight, and that frightened him more than anything.