I DO NOT OWN ONE PIECE AND AM BORROWING FOR AMUSEMENT

Humor, OOC, TWT

A/N: Hi. I saw a picture on the Internet. It had Zoro and Sanji. I was re-inspired to finish what I'd started.

:What Kind Of Man:

It had been two years since Zoro Roronoa walked away. Two years since he decided that he wasn't "man enough", and that he needed to make himself into a "better man". It truly was a lot better than it sounded. After sleepless nights of staring at the ceiling, Zoro had started to feel the anxiety creeping in. Usually, he was a pretty stoic guy – he liked to sit back and wait for others to make decisions either for him, or because of him. But this time was different.

This time, Sanji was talking about a relationship. That scruffy-faced cook – best friend since forever! – decided that he liked men. So, after a brief romance with a real live pirate – Zoro still had a grudge for that skinny, dock-shoes wearing Krieg demon – Sanji started focusing his attention on Zoro. Being the man of sound mind that he is, Zoro decided that whatever Sanji deemed best, it fit them both. Plus, it helped that Zoro was able to see why the hell he was so jealous in the first place. But he absolutely could not relax into the situation Sanji wanted – Zoro still ran away whenever it was physically possible, he slept on the couch, and he found it painful that Sanji was starting to feel rejected, because it made things awkward AF.

The kids were suddenly too reliant on the pair of them being together. There was too much of a future with both of them accomplishing dreams that were ingrained into them since, well, forever, and Zoro started to question whether or not that was truly what he'd wanted. His future was now a little smudged, thanks to this stark realization that perhaps their affection was a too much, too fast, and suddenly Zoro realized that he wasn't "man enough".

So he left. He didn't tell Sanji about his plans, he didn't feel that he was adequate enough to verbalize what feelings he had swirling inside of him, and he couldn't bear the kids' display of horror over his leaving. Sanji had gone on to class, the kids had taken off to high school, and Zoro packed his backpack and left behind a note. He paid Johnny and Yosaku some change to help him along, and the three of them had set sail for the Grand Line (not really – a riptide had taken over their craft, and they were pretty much bullied into the mysterious ocean beyond Roguetown, forcing them to survive the best way that they were able).

During those years, Zoro found himself. He suffered trial and tribulations with choices, with his feelings, with his thinking, with the broken hearts of those he practiced on. Oh, yes, Zoro woo-ed. He woo-ed, he courted, he learned words and physical expression that he'd never imagined himself doing with the man that helped him realize who he truly was. At the end of his journey, Zoro felt pretty confident that he'd made the right choice. If he'd stayed, he wouldn't have turned out to be the man he was returning to Roguetown. He wouldn't have had the adventures he did that forced him to question himself, that made him fight for what he believed in, and he would never have felt the way he did about Sanji, now.

Zoro was a changed man – he was a proud, confident and changed man. He couldn't wait to show it off in front of the others. Surely, they'd appreciate him as he was, now, rather than the man he was back then.

Because Real Men change themselves for the better.

: :

As he strolled through Roguetown, taking in the sights and fondly reflecting on the things that had happened there, he saw that it had grown larger. The harbor stretched for miles – additional buildings were crammed into the cliffsides, sprawling out where streets would have been. The smells were different, stronger, and there were more people than before. As happy as everyone seemed, going through their business like nothing troubled them, Zoro felt wary.

He was wearing his favorite maroon yukuta, swords gathered at his back, socks with geta sandals – atop of his green hair was a floppy hat. His scars were on display, the summer's air allowing a refreshing breeze to flutter the lapels of his robe. He figured the reason why people quickly scrambled out of his way were because they'd heard of him, they'd known of his reputation that he'd accomplished on the Grand Line.

He made his way to the college campus – he figured he'd find everyone there. He was rather excited to see them again. The kids, Sanji – especially Sanji. There had been many lonely nights where he'd just sat and drank and thought about the guy that had inspired him to be where he was. Zoro couldn't wait to revel in all his adventures with them, to regale all the tales he'd heard, to share everything that he'd experienced with those he was closest to. To finally tell Sanji, "It's okay. I'm a man. I got this."

It was especially important that Sanji know that, considering how disastrous Sanji handled things. Maybe now that Zoro had more confidence than before, Sanji could feel comfortable relying on him.

The college campus was bigger – grander, and it was obviously still the site of ongoing battles between classes. As a riot occurred on the main lawn, engineers flying, ninjas popping up from flower bushes and muscled meatheads grappled with each other in full costume, Zoro strolled as close to the sidewalk as possible to avoid confrontation. He bypassed a few bodies splayed over the concrete, and avoided the curious murmur of students milling around until he heard his name shrieked from halfway across campus. He looked over in time to see Luffy and Ussop careening their way, via Luffy Sling Shottm.

He avoided serious injury by sidestepping Ussop's outstretched arms, and allowing the rest of Luffy's body to catch up. The brick wall caught Ussop, Luffy managing a careful steadying step as he frowned up at Zoro. The kid had grown a few inches, his black hair long and stringy – he still wear those ugly gladiator sandals, a rock-n'roll tee and vest combination, but with ugly black haram pants. His favored straw hat clung to the top of his head, clearly repaired a few times over. Zoro felt happy seeing him, but Luffy's usual smile was missing.

"Hey, Luffy," he greeted casually, folding his arms inside the comfortable open folds of his yukuta. "You guys saw me coming?"

"Where the hell have you been, Zoro?" Luffy asked, instead. "And don't tell me you got lost on your way to the grocery store, because I know for sure you left the entire island, instead!"

"I get that you're angry, Luffy. That's cool."

"I'm glad you're back!" Ussop managed to say, peeling himself off the wall. He was taller, too – his hair long, wildly curly – he wore a ponytail, his nose just as long as ever. But he also wore his bandanna around his neck, with a blue cargo shorts combination with a muscle tee that showed off scarred arms. "It's been awhile, buddy!"

"Did you try chasing after Gin, again?" Luffy asked, crossing his arms stiffly over his chest as Ussop hugged Zoro from the side. "That must be it, because there's no other reason!"

"You're built even bigger than before!" Ussop exclaimed, wiping happy tears from his eyes. "It's like hugging a yak! Smells the same, too!"

"Thanks, Ussop. No, Luffy, I wasn't chasing after Gin. This was something I had to do," Zoro explained patiently. "For all of us."

"It didn't benefit me in any way, Zoro," Luffy snapped. "Do you know how long it took us to accept that you'd run away? A pretty long time! How could you do that, Zoro, and not even tell us? You made us all feel like we did something horrible!"

Zoro winced, clutching the handles of his blades. "I'm sorry, Luffy. You're right, I should have said something. At least sent a letter."

"Damn right, you should have! And you think waltzing right up to us is going to change our views just like that?" Luffy demanded, snapping his fingers. "Well, no! It had better be a damn good excuse why you left us!"

Zoro exhaled heavily. "You're right again, buddy. I should have. I guess my reasoning won't be acceptable for any of you, but I had to do it at the time. It was important."

"Real Men don't run away from their responsibilities, Zoro!"

"It was because of that that I left, Luffy. Because I wasn't as much of a Real Man as I should have been," Zoro answered gravely. "I left because I was inadequate. I had to go out there and find out what it meant to be a Real Man. I had to stop talking about it, and just do it."

"Yeah, well, I hope you don't think it'll be that easy coming back," Luffy said, scowling at him. "A lot of stuff happened, and for you to stroll in like we'll forgive you easily, well, you were stabbed harder than it looks."

"Luffy, calm down. He came back, and he's very sorry for leaving as he did," Ussop said, gesturing at Zoro. "If he didn't care…he wouldn't have come back."

"Well, I'm mad. I'm still mad about it. You told us all these things, Zoro, and you left us," Luffy snapped, crossing his arms again. "You left us, and you left Sanji."

Zoro nodded in agreement, lips pressed hard. "You've every right to be angry, Luffy. I'd feel better that you did. I had a lot to think about. I couldn't do it here. But I'm back, and I'm better. I won't leave you guys, again, and that's a promise."

"He promised, Luffy! C'mon, let's not be mad, right now. This is a great day! He came back! He came back just in time!" Ussop exclaimed, reaching out to pat his best friend's back. Luffy 'humphed', turning his back to them, scowling at the battle still in action beyond them. Ussop looked back at Zoro with a grimace. "Sorry, Zoro, give him fifteen minutes, he'll be fine."

"He can have all the time he needs," Zoro said with a nod. "Where's Rolling Pin?"

"Ah, yeah…about that…"

"Sanji quit school because of you!" Luffy said, turning back to face.

Zoro started feeling bad. He started feeling worse as he looked back at the school. "Why?"

"Because! Gah, Zoro, you messed up everything!" Luffy shouted, turning and running off, leaving them looking after him with shock.

Zoro felt sweaty. Ussop looked up at him with a cringe.

"Sorry, Zoro. But he's kinda right."

Exhaling once more, Zoro looked down at his sandals. He shifted only slightly to avoid the flying body of an engineer that nearly swiped Ussop on his way down to the pavement. Ussop shrieked and ducked clumsily.

"I expected as much. Well…point me in the direction Sanji is," he said tightly. "I need to get this over with."

"Well, he's at work, Zoro. He hates when we interrupt him. If we're not dying, then we're not allowed to bother him."

"It's okay this time, Ussop. It's time I talk with him."

"Well, uh…I don't know, Zoro. It's kind of complicated," Ussop said with a wince. Zoro looked at him sharply. But before he could say anything, a gladiator sandal hit him in the back of the head. He looked back and up with bewilderment, removing his hat to see better. Luffy stared at him from the open window of the second floor nearby, scowling at him. Then he pulled the window closed with a spectacular bang!, causing glass to shatter. Then he opened it again.

"Can you throw that back to me? I actually need it," he then called, gesturing at his shoe.

Ussop tossed it back to him, Zoro replacing his hat. Luffy stuck his tongue out and pulled his lower lashline down before shutting the broken window once more.

Zoro sighed once more. "Damn. I wasn't expecting this to happen this way."

"What were you expecting?" Ussop asked with surprise. "You left Sanji a note that said, 'BRB, rice, turkey, TP', and that said nothing about you leaving to 'find yourself'!"

"I was positive – well, it doesn't matter. Show me where Sanji works, Ussop. It'd be better that way."

"Well, okay, but…don't say I didn't warn ya," Ussop said reluctantly, twiddling his thumbs before turning and leading the way off campus.

After looking back at the window Luffy had been looking at them from, Zoro replaced his hat and followed with a stoic expression, feeling a tiny bit apprehensive about coming face to face with the man that had changed his entire world, for him.