*Sword+*

by: WhiteGloves

YAOI

-SanjixZoro pairng-

If you disagree- you're reading the wrong fiction!

Janaa!

Chapter 1: DARKNESS

Zoro was walking along a dark tunnel.

There was nothing to be seen… nothing to be heard except his own footsteps making the tapping sound as it hit the stone cold ground. And no, he wasn't lost nor was he adrift. For the first time in his long years, he knew he was on the right track—right track to find him.

He was looking for their damned cook. That's right— the blond, curly eyebrows and dynamic cook just suddenly disappeared without a trace in the island they docked. It has been four days since then. Their log pose has already set a day ago and still there was no sign of the cook. Naturally the crew has decided not to leave him because he's basically the real thing keeping them all alive and healthy. Everyone has been looking for him ever since. Nonetheless, it was all a futile search.

If he'd be asked—he'd naturally told everyone to go look for another chef. But that wasn't the case. No matter how idiotic curly eyebrow would seem, he was still his nakama. And no one abducts his nakama without having to pay the price.

And so he went on and searched the whole island. He searched high and low. He reached all ends and points of the island. But there was no sign of him.

Everyone was already worried. Even his captain was dying—literally, from the absence of Sanji's food (they lived on the town's market food supply). They were all hot on the cook's trail. They have asked the townsfolk but no one seemed to want and help some pirates. Even Nico Robin had a hard time getting information.

Until the fourth day.

She returned from the pub she was hanging about and was somehow able to get information about bandits. This information didn't come free as Robin had to threaten life in order to get it. The townsfolk were clearly afraid of whoever these bandits were. No matter…

A group of bandits was said to occupy the underground part of the city that leads to the inside of the mountain. It was possible that Sanji was there. Why did they take him? What did he do? Is he still alive? Then why hasn't he returned yet? Those were the questions everyone asked, but the captain could careless as he set about to look for his nakama. The group headed for all possible entrance to the underground.

And Zoro knew he was on the right path. He used the path he saw in the forest. Upon entry, he already knew he was right—in reality he was following two suspicious men whom some townsfolk were eyeing with anxiety. He knew those kinds of looks and knew those kinds of guys. So he went on.

Walk and walk… silently he went on. He couldn't help getting pissed at how lame the cook must be to be captured by half-assed bandits. He could already see the cook's face upon realizing that he, the swordsman, was the one to rescue him. That will be a memory to remember.

Zoro walked on until he saw a light from a distance. With still an impassive look on his face, he continued walking until an opening came to light. A large cave greeted him together with five men drinking loudly outside what looked like a prison cell. Zoro didn't even let the men to look at him as he slashed them unconscious. How could he delay time when he finally had a glimpse of a blond hair inside the prison?

Wrecking the door open, Zoro went inside. It was half dark, but he could perfectly make out the figure of the cook tied on the wall with shackles on his arms and legs.

"Oi, you alive?" Zoro said as he grabbed the nearest torch and set it up high to see the cook clearly to the light, "you've got some nerves making us wait like tha—!"

It was as if lightning struck Zoro. His eyes widened and his blood ran cold at what he saw. Sanji was tied on the wall with his head bleeding and bruises all over his body. His polo was wide open with wounds and gashes on his chest. There were already purple spot forming under his wounds and Zoro knew they must be painful. But that wasn't just it and Zoro found himself suddenly uncertain and afraid. His eyes found Sanji's pants down his toes and that was it. He knew what had happened.

Biting his lower lip, he went over and fixed Sanji's dress before freeing him from his shackles. Sanji fell down on his shoulders and the swordsman was surprised at how light the cook's body was. As gently as he could, for he had never been gentle all his life, he carried Sanji out of the cave.

Questions greeted him upon arrival. Shock and anger from the crew. He didn't tell them about the apparent violation. Chopper, Nami and Brook took over Sanji while Zoro was left to answer Luffy and the others.

"I found their hideout," he told Luffy and there was a murderous glint on his eye.

"Tell me where it is," Luffy answered with the same deadly aura, "they're not going anywhere without paying the price."

"I'll make them pay too," Usopp said and everyone prepared for the attack. Except for Zoro.

"I'm staying."

The others looked at him. Luffy gave him that look.

"Alright, guard the place and take care of Sanji. Let's go—everyone!"

"AYE!"

Zoro headed for the door toward Chopper's room where he was treating Sanji. And there he waited.

An hour later, as he slept on the floor, he felt the doctor stand in front of him. Zoro opened his eyes and saw Chopper looking at him sadly. Zoro's face grew grim.

"How's the cook?" he asked

"He's not well," Chopper responded, "His body is badly beaten, and there's a sign of concussion on his head… I've treated his wounds and bruises but his temperature continues to go up… he's not good."

Zoro kept his silence. Chopper spoke again.

"Ne, Zoro… there's something I don't understand…"

"…"

"There were bite marks on his neck and all over his chest," the doctor hesitated a little, "and claw marks all over his body… I don't understand why a person would torture him that way…"

Zoro remembered what he saw back at the cave that made his blood boil. He clenched his fist and wanted to destroy things… that kind of violation to a man he knew so well…

How did Sanji feel back then? What would he feel now?

Zoro was struck by the question.

"Ne… Zoro… is Sanji going to be okay?" Chopper was already crying.

Zoro looked at him, and then decided to calm down. He raised his right hand and tapped the doctor lightly on the head.

"You're asking me that? You're the doctor, aren't you?"

Chopper sniffed. Zoro's tone became serious.

"Don't worry… he'll be fine… he's not the type of guy to give up on something like this."

But somehow he doubted his own words. Something like this, huh?

Out of the quiet darkness, large explosions were heard next. Zoro and Chopper looked up to see half of the mountain burning and people screaming from both the town and the bandits' site. Zoro's eyes reflected the fire and remembered why he didn't come to avenge his nakama.

"Chopper," he said quietly as they watch the destruction made by the rest of the crew, "do not tell the crew about Sanji's physical condition…"

"Huh?" Chopper gazed at him and blinked, "why?"

"Let's not make them worry too much…" Zoro continued on with fire dancing on his eyes, "they need not know… so I beg you… don't tell anyone."

~To be Continued~

Thanks for Reading!