notes: Wow, it's been a while, huh? Thanks to everyone who's reviewed this silly collection of silliness since last time! Today we revisit a familiar theme: Zoro faces yet another unnamed enemy. Honestly, I should just rename this thing to "The Further Misadventures of Roronoa Zoro" and have done with it.

Language Makes Us Human

"This game grows tiresome," said the man at the other end of the abandoned, ancient courtyard. "It ends now."

Zoro grunted. His opponent, a monster of a man with scars crisscrossing his body, had so far fended off Zoro's attacks with little more than swats from the giant blade connected to his waist by a ten-foot length of chain. Zoro had been obliged to fall back to reconsider his strategy against a foe who had not yet even begun to break a sweat. Zoro grinned, even as he loosed Wadou from its sheaf and raised the hilt to his teeth; this was going to be fun.

"Why the smile, Roronoa Zoro?" his opponent sneered. "Are you really so eager to lay down your life?"

Beneath the bandana wrapped around his head, Zoro's eyes glittered with a dangerous, almost fanatical gleam. "Gnnnunnph," he said, and shifted his feet in preparation for attack.

The man also began to ready for the next exchange of blades. "I see," he said. "So that's how it's going to be."

"Nnnghb."

"Oh? Then you won't mind a demonstration!"

Not bothering to answer him again, Zoro sprang forward at the exact moment that the giant man lunged forth, and the ensuing skirmish left them both breathing heavily.

The man wiped away blood from a cut on his cheek. "So I was right to seek you out, Roronoa Zoro."

"Grnnmnphnngnph," Zoro snarled, and was rewarded by a sword sailing with deadly accuracy toward his gut on the end of a chain; he dug in his heels and deflected the blow, though not without considerable effort.

"You're mad," the man said in an ugly voice. All traces of joviality had gone from his tone.

"Mmnngph."

"And I say you can go to hell!" the man roared. He let his sword fly once more; once more Zoro beat it back. "10,000 Beli is highway robbery and I will not pay!"

"Guh?"

"You heard me!" the man shouted. "Neither you nor your greasy-fingered associates shall touch a hair on my head!"

"Guhh??"

Zoro whipped around, only to find, half-crouched behind a broken pillar, Sanji holding a large placard above his head. Nami and Usopp stooped on either side of the cook. The placard read, "NO ONE WILL PERFORM A CUT AND SHAMPOO FOR LESS"

The swordsman and his crewmates stared at each other for one long moment. Then the trio behind pillar took off, dropping the placard as they ran. With an indistinct yell, Zoro started after them, but it was too late; by the time he reached the pillar there was no trace left of his companions but some a couple of quill pens and a stack of cardboard signs. Now positively seething, Zoro leaned down and picked one of the signs up. "YES I AM RENOWNED FOR MY THREE-SWORD HAIRSTYLING TECHNIQUE," it read.

"Nnngrrmmph!" Zoro all but screamed, his teeth digging dangerously deep into Wadou's hilt in his fury.

His opponent only scratched his head. "Ehhh…sorry, buddy," he said bemusedly. "Can't understand a word you're saying. Maybe if you took that sword out of your mouth," he added helpfully.

And that was when the courtyard became drenched in red.

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notes: You know this is what Sanji, Nami, and Usopp are doing during Zoro's battles. And you further know that while Zoro may "speak from the heart", it doesn't mean anyone understands him from the heart. Please review!