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“COME BACK HERE, YOU LITTLE BRAT!”Patty’s voice thundered across the room. Sanji thought it was even louder than the usual. The little child stopped and turned around, only to stick his tongue out for the large man to see it. The cook’s furious eyes twitched at that sight and he was about to move towards the child to catch him, but Sanji was faster and ran out of the restaurant.“YOU GOTTA FINISH TO DO THE DISHES! YOU HEARD ME?! ARGHH!”Once he was outside, Sanji didn’t stop. He ran towards the wood, far away from those bossy and annoying cooks. He knew it was part of his duty as a chef to wash the dishes and he didn’t want to disappoint Zeff by leaving his work undone. However, he didn’t understand why he had to do it alone. All the cooks prepared the food, but only some of them helped with the dishes sometimes. He loved cooking, but since he was the youngest and so the less experienced (according to them, but Sanji wasn’t sure about it), they felt like they had all the authority to tell him what to do. And Sanji didn’t always like to obey.He didn’t know how much he had already run, but at some point he stopped. The little cook tried to catch his breath, taking in the surroundings. A blossoming tree towered over him, beyond a small stream. On the other side of it, Sanji noticed there was someone. A child, probably around his age, who seemed to be extremely focused. Curious, Sanji stepped closer to take a better look. And his eyes widened. That boy had…… green hair?He was also holding one– no, two, three long bamboo sticks and he waved them in the air as if he were fighting against some flies.Sanji’s heart sank to his stomach. His whole body turned into a statue and he couldn’t move it even though he wanted.A few moments passed before the green-haired boy became aware of Sanji’s presence and turned towards him, interrupting his training. He tilted his head as he observed the other child, as if trying to decide whether he was an enemy or some kind of threat. Eventually, he put two of his sticks down but kept one with himself as he approached the blond kid. He stopped just before the stream, where the water was flowing.“Who are you?”Sanji almost jumped when he heard the green-haired child’s voice. He hadn’t managed to move a muscle yet.“Uh… my name is Sanji. I work at the Baratie restaurant.” He summoned all his courage and tried to hold the boy’s dark gaze. “And you?”The child’s expression didn’t change as he replied. “I’m Roronoa Zoro. I train at the Isshin Dojo.”The name of that place wasn’t unfamiliar. Sanji had heard some costumers mentioning it and he knew it wasn’t far from the Baratie.“Are you scared of something?”The sudden question made Sanji frown and he glared at the other boy – Zoro, apparently. “What did you say?!”“Hey, don’t yell at me! It’s not my fault if you look like you’ve just seen a ghost or something.”“Well, I’m not scared!” He had to make that point clear.A small smirk began to spread on Zoro’s previously inexpressive face. “Are you sure? Why don’t you come on this side of the stream, then?”Sanji paused. What was that? Had the little green-haired guy just challenged him? If that was the case, Sanji wasn’t going to back off.“Don’t provoke me!”With a determined, rapid movement, the blond child jumped above the water and landed right next to the other boy.“Woah. I’m really impressed.” The green-haired kid’s voice dripped with sarcasm.“Shut up!” Sanji wasn’t looking at him. He was still thinking about the green hair. He hadn’t seen someone with it since…He shook his head. It wasn’t a good idea to remember that.“What, now? Can’t look at me? Don’t tell me you’re seriously scared.”“I told you to shut up, you… you…” If only he could find something else to link that stupid green colour to.“You… MARIMO!”The boy’s smirk vanished all of a sudden and he blinked. “Wha– WHAT?!”“Yes. A marimo. Yes, that’s what you are.”“HOW DARE YOU?!”Sanji burst into laughter and his mind rejoiced at Zoro’s indignant reaction. It felt like a victory. “What? Don’t tell me you can’t even take a joke… grumpy marimo.”“SHUT UP! You… you stupid eyebrow!”Instantly, Sanji stopped laughing and frowned. “What did you just call me?!”“Stupid eyebrow! Yes, I mean… have you ever looked at that spiral eyebrow of yours? It’s so weird.”“You have no right to say that when your head is the same colour as grass!”“I’m gonna fight you, annoying eyebrow!”“Bring it on, stupid marimo!”Zoro raised his brows, as if he were surprised that Sanji was willing to fight him. However, he didn’t waste time and tightened his grip on the bamboo sword and attacked. Neither of them wanted to hurt the other, no matter how irritating they seemed. But it was a challenge and they both loved challenges. What Zoro didn’t expect, though, was that the blond kid could block his attack with his foot.Sanji grinned as he noticed the impressed look on the little swordsman’s face. Then, he lowered his leg and Zoro did the same with his own weapon.“Not bad… for a cook.”“Thanks. You too aren’t so bad… even if you’re a marimo.”“Tch. Stop calling me like that.”“No, it’s funny. Plus, what should I call you? Grumpy swordsman?”“NO!” Zoro yelled at him and then gritted his teeth, growling. “I’m not just any swordsman.”Sanji raised his visible eyebrow at him. “What do you mean?”A new, strong-willed, proud aura appeared around the green-haired boy.“I’m the world’s future greatest swordsman.”
***
Again, the following day, Sanji ran out of the restaurant before all the dishes were done. Actually, he sneaked out of there without being noticed. He went to the same place where he found himself the day before. Either because he was curious to see the marimo boy again or just because he had liked that place, Sanji didn't know. It was a very nice spot indeed. And that tree had already given him a couple of ideas for new recipes. He wanted to pick some oranges from it so he could try to make a delicious jam with them. When he arrived, the green-haired child was already there. He was lifting a giant rock that was almost bigger than himself. Sanji jumped on the other side of the stream and walked towards the orange tree.Zoro looked at him but didn’t say anything and remained focused on his workout. Nevertheless, he continued to glance at the little cook every now and then. That boy with weird eyebrows was picking oranges from a tree. Zoro didn’t want to admit it, but he was curious. Why did the boy need so many oranges? What did he want to do with them? Maybe he wanted to cook something since he had said that he worked at a restaurant. Is that where he had learnt to fight so well?At some point, unable to concentrate anymore, Zoro put the huge rock down and walked closer to the little blond.Sanji paused what he was doing and turned to look at him.“Oi, what’re you doing here?” Zoro didn’t want to be rude. That was the way he talked most of the time.In a restaurant full of yelling, swearing men, Sanji was pretty much used to hear that way of talking himself. He didn’t reply directly. Instead, he stretched his arm towards the little swordsman and offered him one of the oranges he had picked.Zoro raised a brow at that gesture, but eventually took it and ate some of the fruit.“How is it?”“Hm? It’s just an orange. Good… I guess.”“It’ll become much better in the cake I’ll prepare with it.” A confident grin spread across Sanji’s face.“Oh, really? I don’t like sweet stuff.”“You’ll like mine.”“You’re really sure of yourself.”“Not much different from you.”“Huh?”“The world’s future greatest swordsman, wasn’t that so?”“Of course.” Zoro couldn’t help smirking. So, the little cook remembered it.They sat down under the orange tree together. The little swordsman finished his orange while Sanji was counting those he had picked.“And what’s your dream?”Sanji stopped and blinked at the green-haired child next to him. “Do you really want to know?”Zoro shrugged and replied simply. “I told you mine, so you should tell me yours now.”“Well, I…” Sanji’s gaze shifted to the sky above them. There was no cloud. It was beautifully clear and sunny. He could watch and admire the infinite blue of the sky all day.The blue.“I want to find the All Blue. Do you know what it is?”Zoro had somehow felt that whatever the little cook would mention, it was really important to him. He believed in it like Zoro believed in his own dream. In the end, the little swordsman just shook his head and waited for the other child to explain.“It’s a legendary sea where you can find all the varieties of fish from all over the world. It’s the dream of every chef.”Sanji’s eyes sparkled and his whole face lit up while he talked.Zoro didn’t know why, but a warm, pleasant and tender feeling made its way into his chest as he listened to the blond.One thing was certain. They both had great ambitions.
***
When he went there the following morning, the other boy was sitting in the same spot where they had sat the day before. He also had something with him. Zoro walked towards the orange tree and the blond child welcomed him with a sweet smile. The little swordsman sat next to him and pointed at the basket in little cook’s lap. “What do you have there?”“Something I helped cooking in the restaurant earlier.” Sanji explained. “This is leftover and since I hate to waste food… I thought I’d bring it to you, if you want to try it. Don’t worry, it’s nothing sweet.” He untied the fabric wrapped around the basket to show him.Zoro’s curious eyes looked closely. “What’s that?”“These are rice balls. They are wrapped in dried seaweed and shaped into triangles by hand and there’s also salmon inside. They’re called onigiri.”“I’ll try it.” The little swordsman declared. His mouth was already watering after the explanation about the food. He grabbed one of the two rice balls and took a bite, tasting the seaweed and the rice. Then, he took another one and found the salmon. And another again. And again.Sanji watched him and waited patiently until the boy devoured the rice ball completely. His heart was beating anxiously in his chest like it did every time someone tried one of his dishes for the first time.“So… how was it?”“It’s…”Zoro was at a loss for words. It was very simple food. Still, it tasted amazing and was very practical because you could eat it everywhere and at any time. It suited him well. He might have tried something similar in the past, but this time it was different in more than one way. It wasn’t just the flavour. He didn’t understand clearly, but maybe it had something to do with the fact that the little blond cook had personally prepared and given it to him.“It’s… perfect.”Sanji grinned happily. “I knew it! I’m a great chef!”“Wait… did you cook this? I thought it was leftover.”“Ah, well, yes. Yes, of course, it is. I prepared a lot of those today and these are the only ones that haven't been eaten.” Sanji looked away from the other boy and tried to fight the blush that was spreading on his cheeks.Zoro was too busy with the last rice ball to notice. When he finished eating it too, he stood up and turned to the blond child with a resolute expression on his face.“I have decided.” He announced.Sanji frowned and gave him a confused look.“Hm? What?”“The name of one of my future attacks with three swords.” The little swordsman closed his eyes, visualising it in his mind. “I’m gonna call it… ONIGIRI!”Sanji stared at him, almost shocked. Then, a soft chuckle escaped from his mouth and he nodded in agreement.“It’s a nice name!”
***
It became a routine to meet each other every day, always in the same place. The two children also started training or, better, sparring together.Zoro, holding his bamboo swords, and Sanji, with his kicks, were enjoying one of their usual fights. It had been interesting for Zoro to find out Sanji’s technique. He had never met anyone who could fight like that.The sun was beginning to set when they stopped. They were panting, both exhausted but satisfied. Then, Sanji noticed something while looking at the green-haired child.“Hm? Why are you looking at me like that?”“Is that blood there?”“Huh? Where– oh… nah, it’s nothing, I just fell while I was training this morning.”“But now the injury reopened. Hold on a sec.” Sanji took a white cotton hanky from the pocket of his apron and went near the stream to wet it a little. Zoro watched him and raised his eyebrows in surprise, especially when the blond kid bent down in front of him and gently rubbed his injured knee with the hanky.“Wha– ?! Wait, you… you don’t have to…”“Be quiet. And don’t tell me what to do.”Zoro grumbled something under his breath, but he stayed still and Sanji paid him no mind. He cleaned the boy’s knee from the blood and then tied his hanky around it carefully.“Done. It should be fine like this, for now.”The little swordsman wasn’t looking at him. He was trying to ignore the way his face was burning as if he had eaten something too hot. Sanji smiled and if he noticed, he didn’t say anything about that. Then, he looked up at the sky.“It’s already late. I gotta go back to the Baratie.”“Wait!” Zoro stopped him before he could move.“Hm?”“I… I was just wondering if… maybe, you’d like to see the dojo.”“Oh. Of course! But not now, because I really have to go back. Those old bastards will need help with cooking.”“Then, maybe… you can come here tonight and… and I’ll take you there and if you want, you can sleep at the dojo with me and all the others.” Zoro rubbed the back of his neck as he explained. “There’s a lot of space.”Sanji gaped at the kid. He was speechless. His new friend – the only one he had ever had, who was also the same age as his – had just invited him to sleep at his place. It meant the marimo really wanted to spend more time with him. Sanji couldn’t believe it.“I– I… sure. I can come here after dinner is over.”Zoro was still avoiding the blond child’s gaze. “Good.”Sanji grinned as his chest swelled with happiness. “See ya later, then!”And he ran back to the restaurant.
***
Zeff, like probably a few other chefs, had noticed it. Something about Sanji had recently changed. The little kid had always worked hard, but in the latest days he was particularly busy. His attitude, according to Zeff, became somehow better than the usual and he also spent less time at the restaurant.That night, after the Baratie closed, Sanji washed almost all the dishes alone without complaining. And he did it fast. The head chef had been surprised when the little eggplant told him he was going to spend the night somewhere else. He obviously wouldn’t admit it, but Zeff was a bit worried. It was the first time Sanji did something like that since they had opened the Baratie restaurant. Somehow, he managed to make the kid tell him at least where he was going. And that reassured the old chef. He had heard about the Isshin Dojo and had also met its owner before. He let Sanji go. Not that he’d manage to stop him anyway, because the little brat was really stubborn.When Sanji arrived, Zoro was already there. They began to walk together, but it was so dark that it became difficult to see the path. They could easily stumble and fall. Maybe, that was the reason why Zoro, at some point, took the little cook’s hand in his own. A gesture which made Sanji blushed softly, but fortunately the little swordsman couldn’t see him. They held each other’s hands until they finally reached at the dojo. “Here we are.” “Are you sure we won’t disturb anyone? It’s so late right now.”“Nah, don’t worry about it. Come on, I’ll show you where you’re gonna sleep.”Sanji nodded and followed the green-haired kid.Zoro led them in a room where other children – who were all students of the dojo – were sleeping. “Why are they sleeping on the floor?” The blond boy whispered to him.“That’s how our beds are. They’re called futon.”Sanji had never seen them before, but he had slept in far more uncomfortable places, so he didn’t complain.“Here. This is my futon. You can sleep in the one next to mine.” Zoro was pointing at two futon, near one another.They both lay down and Sanji immediately put the blanket on himself and nuzzled against the smooth mattress.“So… do you like it?”“Yes! It’s so soft.”“Good.”“I guess we should sleep now.”Zoro nodded and mumbled. “Goodnight.”Sanji smiled and closed his eyes. “Night.”
***
A swordsman should always keep his guard on. He always had to be able to sense the danger and Zoro had been training himself to do it. However, it was different when the danger wasn’t exactly real.Zoro hadn’t sensed the little cook shivering or mumbling repeatedly no, no, no… stop… please, don’t hurt me… stop…He woke up like the other children did when they suddenly heard a terrified scream.Zoro jumped to his feet in an instant, ready to fight anyone or anything that would dare threat him or the others. He looked around to identify the enemy, only to find out that there was nothing. But the cook…The cook was crying loudly and pulling at his own hair but before someone could stop him, he quickly opened the wooden sliding door and ran out, faster than anything Zoro had ever seen.“WAIT!”He tried to call him, but Sanji was already too far. So, the little swordsman ran after him, like all his instincts were screaming at him to do. The night was still dark and he fell down a couple of times, tripping on some roots. But Zoro didn’t let that stop him. He only had an idea of where the blond kid was going and he hoped it was the right one.It was.Finally, Zoro arrived in their usual place and found the little cook under the orange tree.Sanji sat with his arms around his knees and his head buried in them, hiding his face.The green-haired boy walked closer to him slowly and then bent down.“Hey.”Sanji sobbed and shook his head, without changing his position.“Hey, it’s okay, cook… it’s me. Did you… have a nightmare?”Again, the blond only shivered and didn’t reply.Zoro sighed softly. “Do you… do you want me to leave?”Sanji paused and then shook his head slightly.“Alright.” The little swordsman sat down next to him. Silence fell between them, broken just by the light breeze that made the leaves rustle. Then, Zoro tried to talk with him again.“Sanji,” He began, “can I touch you?”The little cook didn’t move. Zoro took it as a yes. Carefully, to avoid startling him, he brought his hand on the child’s back and gently placed his arm around Sanji’s shoulders.Zoro knew the other kid was probably still crying. His nightmare couldn’t have been only a bad dream. There was clearly something the little cook wasn’t telling him, so Zoro didn’t insist. He just stayed there, making sure to keep Sanji close as to let him know that he was neither alone nor in danger.Sanji slowly started to relax and finally fell asleep again. He had no more nightmares that night.
***
When he woke up, he felt a bit confused. The young blond looked up, only to find out that he had been sleeping with his head resting on the marimo’s shoulder, while they were both leaning against the orange tree. The little swordsman also had one arm wrapped around him.Then, Sanji remembered what happened. He remembered the nightmare, as well. But he wasn’t afraid anymore. He knew he didn’t have to fight all alone against the shadows and the painful memories of his past.A few moments later, Zoro opened his eyes, which widened as soon as he met the little cook’s deep blue gaze. He also realised he had fallen asleep while holding the other boy. And he was still doing it.“Good morning, marimo.”“Uh… morning. How do you feel, swirly brow?”“Fine… I guess.”“That’s good.”“Were you worried about me?”“What– as if.”Sanji laughed softly and pulled away from the little swordsman, who stood up.The blond kid did the same. He was really glad the marimo was with him the other night. He wasn’t ready to tell him about his nightmares, but Sanji knew the green-haired boy wouldn’t ask him anything. It was like he knew Sanji needed time. Maybe, the little swordsman had struggled with something similar, so he understood it.During the recent days, Sanji felt that they could understand each other almost perfectly. He didn’t know it was possible to have that sort of connection with someone. Until he met him.Sanji walked closer to the other boy.Zoro raised a brow at him. “Oi, cook, what…”The little blonde was in front of him and there were only a few inches between them. Sanji tilted his head and with a quick, but gentle and innocent movement he planted a sweet kiss on the young swordsman’s cheek.“Wha–!”Zoro froze. His heart hammered against his ribcage and he blushed deeply, especially when the curly-browed boy pulled away and gave him the brightest, fondest, most wonderful smile he had ever seen.“Thanks for everything, Zoro!”His poor heart did another weird thing at that sight and Zoro thought it had stopped for a moment.“Mmh… I–I… I don’t know what’re you talking about! I didn’t do anything!”Sanji chuckled. “You should see yourself right now. You’re as red as a tomato!”“Tch. Shut up!”Zoro turned around so the little cook wouldn’t see his flustered expression.“Oh, come on! Don’t tell me you got offended.”“Shut your mouth, annoying cook!”Sanji sighed. It couldn’t be helped. The marimo was so stubborn and grumpy sometimes.All of a sudden, there was a blast of air. The wind blew some of the flowers off the orange tree.“Will I see you again, in the afternoon?”Zoro finally turned to look at the other child again and had to remember how to breathe.His blond hair was ruffled by the wind and beautiful petals were floating everywhere, as if they were dancing around them.“Ye– yeah.”
***