Chapter 1: Zoro

DON'T

I'm not lost; I'm exactly where I need to be.

The discovery was one of the most monumental in history, and the monument was just over a meter in diameter. Found by accident, it would have been completely destroyed if the excavator hadn't malfunctioned. Said machine was sitting at the edge of the dig site, casting a shadow over a group of local high school students watching the archeologists slowly remove dirt from around the grave. On a nearby table under a large party tent sat a variety of dirt encrusted items that had already been excavated. The school's resident appraiser was helping another scientist with the cleaning and reconstruction of the artifacts. A translator and his intern were pouring over several letters and old books that had been found in a box.

A junior analyst approached the table and frowned at the ship replica that was in the process of being pieced together. Her eyes darted from one item to the next; a shell, an old amulet, a rusty paring knife, a worn top hat and goggles, ancient sakusaki cups, a straw hat, a compass needle in a glass ball. All of the items were on a cloth and under a glass box to keep the elements from destroying them further.

"Do you see any correlation?" The analyst looked up at the soft voice of the appraiser.

"No," She huffed. "I don't see any connection. I mean, all of these items are significant, but…" She sighed, "But I don't see who they could've belonged to."

"You'll figure it out," The appraiser said with a laugh. "I'm Rachel," Rachel reached over the table and offered her a hand.

"Nicole," Nicole shook the offered hand, ignoring the dirt. "What are you working on right now?"

Rachel gestured to the reconstruction process, the other scientist bent over the port side of the model with tweezers, "We think this ship is a model of the one he sailed on. That's the only explanation we are able to come up with at this point in time. Felix seems enthusiastic about the idea, so that's what we're running with so far."

Nicole nodded and leaned down to get a better look. "You seem to be putting it together rather quickly. How many hours have you put in so far?"

"About thirty," Rachel replied. "We managed to get permission to keep the items here instead of transporting them back to Sabaody University, so we're taking advantage of that time to do our research."

Nicole nodded, "That's great. I'll let you get back to work."

"Please, don't hesitate to ask us if you have any more questions. I'm sure once Felix comes out of his zone he'll be full of fun facts." Rachel smiled as Nicole turned away and walked back to the excavation site.

"Hey Seth," She greeted one of the diggers. "Have you got anything?"

Seth looked up, blinking a few times, and then grinned, "Ah! Nicole! As it just so happens, I have found something. It'll take a few hours to uncover the rest of it, but I think it's a sword sheath."

"A sword?" Nicole said. "If you're right, we might be able to identify it! That's great! Keep digging."

"Anything you say!" Seth picked up a trowel and started digging with a renewed vigour.

Nicole wandered back over to the tent, stepping around the translators, and took a seat. The gravesite had been discovered only a couple of weeks earlier, on a nondescript island in the East Blue. Normally, a grave that old would be overlooked and removed when the city decided to expand, but the name on this particular grave changed everything.

Monkey D. Luffy was the second and last pirate king to ever sail the waters of the Grand Line. Having been crowned at just twenty years of age, he tore the world to pieces during his reign and his death was one of the biggest mysteries of that era. He wasn't executed, but there's no way we would have settled down to die of old age. And the fact his grave was found in the weakest sea also brought forward more questions than they had answers for.

Nicole rubbed her temples and grimaced.

"You alright?"

Nicole looked up to see the translator's intern standing over her and holding an unopened water bottle. He held it out to her, and she took it gratefully. "I'm just thinking about the amount of work I still have to do," She told him.

The intern grinned, "I don't envy your position."

"Really? I would have thought that your job was harder. You've got to translate the old tongue."

"It's not that hard. My boss says I've got a knack for it. Of course, after a few years of study, I'm completely fluent!" He straightened up and crossed his arms, "I could be dropped in the middle of the Great Pirate Era and make my way fine. I'd probably have found the One Piece in a year, tops."

"Stop lying and leave her alone!" The translator shouted from the other side of the tent.

Nicole laughed at the intern's crestfallen expression, "He's right, you wouldn't have made Pirate King. Maybe an Emperor, tops," She told him with a grin. "My name is Nicole, who're you?"

"Eugene," He said, matching her smile. "I need to get back, but it was nice talking to you."

Nicole nodded, and when he left she grabbed her laptop and started typing up a preliminary log for the day. Just after lunch the item Seth was working on was completely unearthed and brought to the tent. His initial identification of a sword was correct. The blade had rusted to the inside of the sheath, making it impossible to remove, but the hilt and sheath were enough to identify it, and one of the diggers who also specialized in ancient weaponry was the one who uttered its name with reverence.

"The Wado Ichimonji," Zack stared with awe at the white blade. "One of Roronoa Zoro's swords. He used it alongside Yubashiri, Sandai Kitetsu, and Shusui."

Both Rachel and Felix were staring at the young man with hopeful shock. "Are you positive?" Rachel asked.

Zack nodded, "I was raised by a sword appraiser. I've studied the weapons of the Great Pirate Era extensively. There's no way that's not it."

"It makes sense," Eugene murmured, and eeped when everyone turned to him.

"Explain," Rachel said, the request edging on a demand. Her hands fluttered above the sword, almost afraid to touch it.

"Ah, well, I mean… He was the first mate of the Strawhat Pirates, right? And, and this… it's his captain's grave. So if he outlived his captain he might've left behind a keepsake or something… Right?"

"That does makes sense," Felix said. "That makes a lot of sense. If we apply that logic to the rest of the stuff we've dug up–"

"–Everything here belonged to someone who was connected to Strawhat Luffy!" Rachel finished. She turned back to the table, the seemingly random assortment of artifacts laying innocently before them. "This discovery… If we can connect the pieces we may just be able to determine what happened during his reign! You," She grabbed Eugene's wrist, "Are now my assistant. Sorry Henry, I'm stealing your intern for the time being."

Eugene was dragged away as he looked over his shoulder at his boss, who just stood there and laughed. Nicole bit her lip and stared at the sword. The ship being put together, and now the sword. This was going to be an interesting month. A couple days later Rachel called a meeting with the ones who unearthed the blade, as well as a young Ph.D. student named Carter who had arrived on the island the day before.

"We've started piecing together the footsteps of Roronoa Zoro during his time as a pirate," Rachel said, once everyone was present. "Carter brought some old archives from the university when he arrived, and they've helped immensely when comparing dates and actions."

"There's something really strange surrounding the Strawhat Pirates," Eugene took over for Rachel. "Reports that don't add up, sightings that are falsely reported. It doesn't help that the information we're working with is over a thousand years old and may be subject to bias, but this is what we've got so far." He tossed a folder full of photocopies and printouts onto the table, and Rachel began to speak.

The day had started out with a light drizzle, but by mid-morning it had cleared up. A black haired young man with a sword on his hip and a pack on his back wandered through the streets of a small fishing town. He couldn't remember the name of the island, but he really didn't care to learn it. As long as he could find the harbour and hitch a ride further into the Grand Line, he'd be happy.

But first, he had to find the goddamn harbour.

Zoro stopped in the middle of the street and narrowed his eyes at the inn he had stayed at the night before. Why they insisted on moving the stupid place was a mystery to him, but it was getting annoying. This was the third time he had passed the building that morning. He needed to get to the harbour before the ships left port, or he'd have to wait another day to leave the island.

Where the hell was it? He could see the ships from his window! Finally, he grabbed a nearby fisherman from the crowd and asked for directions. The directions made no sense, but the fisherman was heading there anyway so he just followed the old man.

"Oi. You wouldn't know of any ships that are setting sail, would you?"

"Hmm, there are a couple that are carrying stock. I'm sure if you asked they wouldn't mind a few extra hands aboard. They're down at the end of the dock," The old man pointed towards several ships flying the dark blue flag of a cargo ship.

"Thanks," Zoro said, and kept his eye on the flag until he stood in front of the ship.

He found the owner of the ship on the gangway, supervising the loading. He was glad to accommodate Zoro in exchange for work, so he dropped off his bag in the barracks and started loading cargo. The ship set sail just after noon, set for an island chain about a month away. After the departure, there wasn't much for the crew to do, besides occasionally adjusting the sails. Several younger members on board were at the bow, staring at the waves and chattering excitedly amongst themselves (of course, most of them were the same age as him, but he refused to admit that those immature brats were on the same level as him). Zoro hung back, sitting against the railing and wishing he had some booze.

"You not excited about setting sail?" A shadow crossed over Zoro's face and he looked up at the captain of the ship.

"Not exactly," Zoro said. "I've been sailing for a while. After a while, this kind of thing gets boring."

The captain laughed, "Figured. You knew what you were doing up in the rigging. Any chance you'd consider becoming a regular member of my crew?"

"Sorry old man, I've got other obligations."

"Ship hopping is dangerous you know," The captain warned.

"I can defend myself," Zoro replied, his hand lowering to rest on the hilt of his sword.

The captain raised an eyebrow, "You're only dangerous to others if you know how to use it. Otherwise you'd just get yourself killed."

"Don't underestimate me," Zoro said.

The captain shrugged, "So what's your name."

Zoro hesitated for a moment. He couldn't give his own name, that would be a dead giveaway, and he didn't know if he could trust this old man just yet. "It's… Zeke."

"Well, Zeke, I'm Dustin. Please refrain from killing anyone who pisses you off, and I think we'll get along just fine." He left Zoro to his nap and approached the crowd at the bow.

...

Meals were the busiest time on the ship, apart from unloading and unloading at port. Chores were divvied up among the new additions on the ship. Zoro avoided meal prep the best he could, preferring to wash dishes and help with the cleanup. Since it was easier to peel potatoes than scrub grease he normally had no trouble trading. But sometimes he didn't get so lucky.

Zoro fumbled with the knife for the third time, and he cursed loudly. A couple of other crewmembers laughed at him. "Wow, so is that sword you carry around just for show?"

"Screw off, curl… Nevermind. Shut up." Zoro repositioned the knife and managed to remove a section of potato skin.

"I'm leaning how to use a sword," The kid continued. "It's rather daunting work, isn't it. I'd love to get my hands on a named blade. Hey, is it true that if you kill another swordsman you can take their blade?"

Zoro's hand tightened on the knife. "No."

"What, really? That sucks! Well, I'm sure a lot of people do it anyway, I mean, the guy is dead. He won't care."

"People who do that have no honour for themselves and no respect for their opponent," Zoro said. "It's not acceptable, and if another swordsman found you, they'd cut you down where you stood."

The three others in the room were looking on curiously now. "That's actually kinda interesting," A blond boy said. "Where'd you learn that?"

"A teacher," Zoro said shortly, not raising his eyes from his potato.

"Can you tell us more?" The same blond kid asked. "How long have you been practicing?"

"Nearly my whole life," Zoro answered truthfully. "I was raised at a dojo."

"Cool," the blond kid said cheerfully.

"Do you practice?" Zoro asked, and the kid shook his head.

"Nope. Kinda wish I learned though. There's so much going on in the world, it would let me sleep a little easier if I could defend myself."

"You for hire?" The earlier boy commented.

"What's your name?" Zoro asked.

"Uh… Why?"

"I like to know the names of the people who piss me off," Zoro said. "Makes tracking them down later much easier."

The kid snorted, looking a little wary, but he answered anyway. "Jasper. You're Zeke, right?"

Zoro didn't confirm it, but he turned to the blond kid, "And what's your name?"

"Vinny."

Zoro nodded. "Good to meet you."

That night, Zoro crept away from the crowd and stood at the railing by the stern of the ship. He listened to the general noise from the galley, flicked on the golden lighter he stole from the cook (because pissing him off one last time was hilarious), and tried to imagine that he was back on the Thousand Sunny. The warm wind was comforting, and welcoming. When he closed his eyes, he could imagine them all together again. It had been less than a year since him and the rest of the crew parted ways, and just over a year since – he shook his head violently, trying to dispel the thoughts before they could form.

Footsteps brought him out of his thoughts. Usually he would be annoyed at having his solitude interrupted, but it was welcome right now. He shoved the lighter back in his pocket and turned to meet the person approaching.

"I'm surprised you're out here by yourself," Dustin said.

"Too many people," Zoro said simply.

"Oh? I would've thought that an experienced sailor like yourself would be used to this kind of setup."

"I've only ever sailed on one ship before this," Zoro said, tilting his head back to look up at the moon. "And there were only nine of us. I'll admit we could get pretty loud, especially with the shitty captain shouting for meat or the sea-witch yelling at him and the shitty cook."

"Sounds like an interesting group of people. I'm curious, though, you seem to have plenty of sailing experience, but you don't seem to be a merchant or marine."

"That's right."

"You were a pirate then?"

"Is that going to change anything?"

Dustin laughed, "No, lad. I figured that's what you were. A few of my senior sailors used to be pirates as well. I've also got a couple retired marines."

Zoro turned to look at the old man. His silver hair and bushy beard moved with the breeze, and his kind brown eyes watched Zoro patiently. "What are you waiting for?"

He shrugged, "Anything. I'm surprised you didn't react to me mentioning marines. You're young, so you would've had to have left your crew just recently, right?"

Zoro sighed, "Not even a year yet."

"I see. That must have been hard."

"Course it was hard. Fuck, I wouldn't even mind running into the shitty cook right now. Just… I miss seeing their faces. They were familiar. You aren't. No offence."

"None taken. I take it you want to be left alone?"

"Yeah."

"I'll leave you to it then." He turned to leave, and paused just before turning a corner, "But if you ever do want to talk, I'm very good at keeping secrets."

...

"Maybe I'll become a pirate," Jasper said. Him and several others were on the forward deck, taking advantage of the good weather after a storm the night before. "Think I could pull it off?" He struck a pose, one hand on his hip and the other pointed to the air. Zoro, lounging against the outer galley wall, snorted into his drink and started laughing. Jasper narrowed his eyes at him, "What, you think you could do better?"

"Fuck yeah." Zoro wiped his chin. "You have a long way to go before you even have an inkling of a chance."

"And you can do better?!" Jasper glared at Zoro. "What, are you a pirate? Is that why you think you can do better than me? Unless you have a bounty, you can't say shit. And I ain't ever heard of a pirate calling himself Zeke!"

"I never said Zeke was my real name," Zoro said, taking a swig of sake.

That brought Jasper up short. "Zeke's not your name? Then what is it?"

"None of your business," Zoro said.

"I'm sure the captain would love to know that he has a pirate aboard his ship. Especially one who lies about his name."

Zoro raised an eyebrow, "You think I'm the only one on this ship? I'll admit that I am the youngest, but I'm hardly the only."

"And, I already know who he is." Dustin appeared beside Zoro, and stood in the galley doorway. "And a friendly warning, those who exist around pirates and tattle often don't have long to live." Jasper paled significantly and started stammering excuses. Dustin ignored him and addressed the rest of the crew, "We're approaching the Nuiss Chain. Get ready to dock."

Throughout docking and unloading the shipment, Jasper kept well away from Zoro. The pirate didn't care; it made for a less stressful departure. Dustin had confirmed that he was going to be heading back toward the Twin Capes. Zoro didn't want to head back. He needed to keep moving forward.

"I don't suppose there's any way I could convince you to stay aboard, is there?" Dustin asked, when he approached Zoro with his pay.

"Sorry, old man. Like I said before, I have other obligations. I still have a duty to my captain."

Dustin sighed, but nodded. "I understand." He handed Zoro the envelope. "Well, I have to admit I knew I had little chance of actually convincing you to stay. A pirate of your calibre wouldn't want to spend the rest of his life on a cargo ship. Especially when he's reached Raftel." Zoro jerked his head up, eyes narrowed and mouth pulled into a tight scowl. "Relax, my boy, I told you I'm good at keeping secrets."

Zoro slowly slid out of the defensive stance, but his frame was still tense. "What gave it away?"

Dustin grinned, "My granddaughter has a massive crush on a certain pirate. She has all of his wanted posters hung up on her walls. I see those posters whenever I visit home, and she'll talk my ear off about him if she gets the chance. I'd probably insult her if I didn't recognize you, even if you did change your hair colour."

Zoro sighed, tucked the envelope into his hakamari, and ran a hand through his hair, "It's the best I could do on short notice."

"Don't forget to dye your eyebrows, too, then. Green eyebrows would give it away too, especially with that scar on your eye."

Zoro looked embarrassed, but he did nod at the suggestion. "I – thanks, old man."

"Keep in touch," Dustin said. "I've had my adventures, it'd be nice to hear about someone else's. Besides, you put up with those idiots badgering you all the time; I thought you'd like to talk to someone a little more experienced. I was actually waiting for you to snap and reveal yourself to them."

"Nah," Zoro waved his hand dismissively. "As much as I'd like to see them shit their pants in fear, I can't. Wasn't even gonna tell you, old man. Besides, I'm a lot more patient than people assume. I've had a lot of practice dealing with the people on my crew."

"Well, I am glad my granddaughter chose a good role model. She admires everyone in your crew."

The unspoken question hung in the air, and Zoro chose not to answer it. Instead, he said, "I'm sure they would appreciate the compliment."

Dustin didn't press any further, to Zoro's relief. "It was an honour to meet you," he held out a hand.

"I'm a pirate. Infamous, not famous." Zoro took the hand anyway.

"That doesn't mean I don't respect you. Less people are oblivious to your deeds than they'll have you believe. Remember that."

Zoro winced slightly, his hand coming down to rest on the hilt of the Wado Ichimonji. "I will. Thank you. That means a lot."

Dustin nodded once, and then they parted.

...

The Nuiss Chain had two main islands that were connected by a large bridge, and a series of smaller islands trailing towards the east, much like the tail of a comet. Only the two main islands were inhabited; the rest were barren and rocky or covered in scraggly trees. It would be a perfect place to continue his training.

He already knew he wasn't strong enough yet. The fact burned in his chest, along with the shame of hiding. If he had his way, he wouldn't be in this position right now. Of course, if he had his way, his captain wouldn't be dead either. The sting of loss burned through his body, a sharp, raw sensation that left him feeling vulnerable and defeated. He hated this feeling. He dug his fingers into his left forearm, fingernails pressing down on an x shaped scar that hadn't been given an opportunity to heal yet.

Blood dripped down his fingers, and he was glad he was alone. But at the same time, he really wished he wasn't. He wanted to see them all again, but he didn't deserve to. He wasn't strong enough to save his friend. He had failed in his duty as first mate to save his captain.

Zoro swore quietly, gnawing on his bottom lip. He shouldn't be thinking like that. He knew Luffy would have been disappointed to know what Zoro was thinking. No. He had to keep moving forward. Away from the past. That couldn't be changed. But right now he had the chance to shape his future.

He bought a small fishing boat once he made it to the secondary docks on the eastern edge of the island (he wasn't going to admit how long it took him to get there), and picked one of the islands in the chain. It was close enough to the islands for him to see it, but far enough not to be disturbed.

And then he trained.

It took a while, but he fell into a routine. He spent most of his time on the rock that could barely pass for an island. He would paddle to the mainland when he ran out of food to restock. And then he got a job at a local dojo when he ran out of money.

It was after he got the job that his routine started to change. He kept his hair black, to keep off of the radar (he gave up on trying to dye his eyebrows when his last attempt ended with his face covered in stains that didn't come off for a week). He was invited out for drinks one night by the owner of the dojo and a couple other teachers. Then he began to make friends with the parents of the kids he taught.

This new life he had fallen into was pleasant and quiet, and he could see who someone would be content staying in one place for so long. He'd even admit to himself that he enjoyed it as well. He had never considered this kind of life before, his stubbornness and his promise to Kuina getting in the way. And then he met Luffy, which tore apart any semblance of normalcy.

Despite this, he kept up with his strict training, and he never forgot about his crew or his captain. But it was getting easier to think about them without feeling sad. His scar was finally given a chance to scar over, leaving permanent red lines on his skin, his one connection to his captain and crew.

As the months turned into years, his training continued to improve his skills. He earned his confidence back. His strikes were precise, and no longer held any hesitation. He was Roronoa Zoro. First mate to the pirate king. He couldn't be an embarrassment.

His coworkers surprised him with a party on his twenty-fifth birthday. Zoro was sufficiently surprised, since the last time he had celebrated his birthday was three years ago when he turned twenty-two, back on the Thousand Sunny.

His students, five of them, led him to the table set up in the main lobby of the dojo. "Do you like the cake?" His oldest student, Jin, asked. Her grin was threatening to split her face, and her cheeks were red.

"We all helped decorate it!" Jin's brother, Haru, piped up.

Zoro took a second to look at the cake. 'Happy Birthday Zeke' was written on the top with icing, in barely legible scrawl. Beneath it there was a bunch of green and black icing, and it was only after years of deciphering Luffy's drawings that he was able to figure out what it was supposed to be.

"Is… Is that supposed to be me… As Roronoa Zoro?"

His students all lit up and shouted 'YEAH!"

Tate tugged on his sleeve, "It's because you're just as good as him!"

A couple of the parents laughed, and Zoro had to smile. "Thank you."

"So you think that after Strawhat died, Roronoa went into hiding?" Zack said. "I don't know, that doesn't sound like something a swordsman would do."

"Well, that's what makes the most sense," Eugene argued back. "He would have been hunted. At this point, I doubt he's taken down Mihawk, so he hasn't become the best swordsman in the world."

"So don't hide, wait out in the open for Mihawk to come to him!"

"Dude, I doubt Mihawk would take the effort to go find him. Mihawk is already the best swordsman in the world; he had no reason to go after people who are weaker than him." Zack bristled, but Eugene ignored him and continued on. "Besides, do you think Roronoa would have been ready? Even if he was physically strong enough, would he have been strong enough mentally? Come on, he just lost his captain. That would put strain on anyone."

"He has a point," Rachel said. "We've been comparing old records that detailed his movements, and this seems like the most likely outcome. There is a rather large stretch of years where he was unheard from, before re-emerging. He hid himself while he trained and got stronger. And then he went after Mihawk's title."

Zack muttered under his breath as the others around the table seemed to accept the explanation.

"What I don't understand is the timeline," Rachel continued. "If these dates are correct, that would mean that Strawhat Luffy died rather young. Between nineteen and twenty-three years of age."

Eugene reached for the letterbox and picked out the top letter. "This is a letter to Luffy from Zoro," He told the group. "It's dated February nineteenth, fifteen-thirty-two. If my translations are correct, it details his fight against Mihawk, his regret for Luffy's death, and his plans to travel to Skypia to raise a family. Strawhat Luffy would have been twenty-six at this point. That means he died before that. The dates match, and Roronoa Zoro's grave was found on Slypia. The continuity is nearly impossible to deny. The pirate king died young."

There's a long silence as they process the new information given to them. "How old exactly?"

"I don't know yet." Eugene admits, shuffling through some of the copies of the letters he had. "I'll find out, though. I will."

"Alright," Nicole said, taking back charge of the meeting. "So this fight, what happened after that?"

The birthday party was a wakeup call. Zoro had fallen into his identity as Zeke by continuously telling himself that he wasn't ready to face Mihawk yet. But that wasn't true. Zoro had been ready for a long time. He just didn't want to leave. Once he fulfilled his promise to Luffy, he wouldn't have that connection anymore. Their dreams are what kept them all together. If he completed his… What would he do next?

He had imagined, once, that when he defeated Mihawk he would stay aboard the Thousand Sunny and travel with the crew until everyone had completed their dreams. He knew it would take a lifetime, because Nami wanted to draw a map of the entire world, and that wouldn't be just a side trip.

In the end, the decision to leave was made for him. His regular correspondence to Dustin had stopped, and he doubted it was a coincidence that the old man mentioned he was getting sick in his last letter. He couldn't write to him and ask for advice, or ask for an excuse. He handed in his resignation letter just after his twenty seventh birthday, once his students had graduated and moved on to the next level.

Shiroda took the letter, read the first line, and lowered it again. The owner of the dojo looked mildly disappointed as he asked why.

"I made a promise a long time ago, and I can't fulfill it here."

"I see," Shiroda said. "The kids are going to miss you."

"I'll miss them, too," Zoro admitted. After over four years on the island, they had grown on him. Before his time on the island, he had limited contact with children, as long as you didn't count Luffy and Chopper.

"When you complete your promise, will you return?"

"I don't know. There's a chance I won't survive."

Shiroda's eyes widened, more at the calm tone Zoro was using than the actual content. "What will you be doing that you'd risk your life?"

Zoro chuckled, "Heh, following the ambitions of any overconfident swordsman."

"Go after Dracule Mihawk, you mean," Shiroda deadpanned.

"Yes."

Shiroda tapped his fingers against the wood of his desk, "And who is so important that you would agree to this suicide mission to keep a promise?"

Zoro hesitated, and Shiroda raised an expectant eyebrow.

"He died for us."

"I doubt he would want you to kill yourself to repay his sacrifice."

Zoro shook his head, "It's not that simple."

"Mihawk is a monster. The rumors say that not even Roronoa Zoro can defeat him."

"I bet the rumors don't say that they've only ever dueled once," Zoro muttered.

"Excuse me?"

Zoro was silent for a moment, and then he reached into his sword case. He withdrew a single sheathed blade and placed it in front of Shiroda. The man took one look at the sword and his jaw dropped. "This… Do you know what this is? Where did you get it?"

"It's been mine since I was nine."

"This is the Wado Ichimonji! This sword belongs to–" He cut himself off. "Roronoa Zoro. This is your blade. I assume that is your name?"

Zoro simply nodded.

Shiroda met Zoro's one eyed gaze, brown against green. "You've been keeping a very big secret from us."

"It was for protection."

"Ours? Or yours?"

"Both."

"I understand."

"I'm leaving next week."

...

He left the same way he arrived. He even ran into Jasper on the ship that he boarded. "Still haven't become a pirate?"

"Shut up!"

Five weeks at sea presented him with the news that Dracule Mihawk had given up his status as a Warlord, and he was a wanted man again. After hearing the news, Zoro followed the papers with a near religious determination. This brought teasing from the others on the ship. Most of the time he ignored it. They weren't as annoying as the cook and there was no way anyone would win in a fight against him.

In a moment of nostalgia he remembered the last time he and curly-brow had gotten into a fight. It was more than six years ago now, and over the stupidest thing. He'd never admit it out loud, but he missed the cook. He missed the stupid fights that always ended in Nami yelling at them. He even missed the food. What wouldn't he give to have everything back the way it was? Or even to have just one more night together.

Sanji at the stove, preparing a snack or drink for the girls. Nami writing in the log book, occasionally looking up to ask a question or offer a comment about the day. Robin in the corner reading, with that mysterious smile on her face. Franky working on something, either his own body, or a project, or blueprints, with parts spread out on the floor after Sanji yelled at him for getting grease on the table. Usopp would be between Luffy and Chopper, telling some wold story with loud voices and exaggerated hand gestures. Chopper would be listening with rapt attention. Luffy would be laughing as he listened, even offering his own ideas. Brook would be playing his violin, or bugging Franky about getting a piano for the ship. And him. He would be sitting to the side with a bottle of warm sake, eyes closed, but still very much aware of what was going on around him.

He would have given anything to get those days back. But that was impossible. So he would do the next best thing. Keep his captain's dream alive.

...

More sightings of Mihawk showed up in papers, and in rumors. Once the other members of the crew realized he was serious about fighting Mihawk (after witnessing him bench-pressing a fuckton of crates in the storage hold) they started helping him determine Mihawk's location using a map and his supposed sightings.

It's not that much later that Zoro feels a familiar presence in the direction of an uninhabited island just on the horizon. And Zoro knew it was time. He had the chance right now, to tell the captain of the ship to turn tail and run. And he did, but he didn't go with them. They don't believe him at first. They laugh, and he takes his bandana off and pulls out his three swords. His hair has grown out again, no longer black but back to its original green. Hair dye was hard to come by at sea and his bandana works well enough when he has an excuse to wear it. They shut up pretty quickly after that and finally listen to him when he tells them to get the fuck out of here.

He takes a longboat and follows the constant thrumming of Mihawk's haki. He knows the fight is waiting for him just on the edge of the horizon.

Mihawk isn't on the beach when he arrives. He shows up the next morning as the sun is rising. It's given Zoro enough time to prepare. When Mihawk steps out of the underbrush, Zoro greets him with his bandana on and swords out. His sheaths are under the longboat he pulled up the beach, safely on the edge of the forest and out of the way of the fight.

They don't say anything. Mihawk just nods once, acknowledging his drive to fight, and starts moving. Zoro moves too, and the two men start circling each other. Mihawk struck first, a simple blow to test the waters, and Zoro parried. Several more, Zoro initiating the next one, and Mihawk striking a third time an drawing first blood.

And then the real right began.

Their fight lasted for the better part of four days, both of them struggling against each other tirelessly, but slowly decreasing in strength. Exhaustion and dehydration were setting in, to go along with the myriad of cuts, gashes, and bruises. Their clothing and hair was soaked through with sweat and blood, and blood covered the sand, making it sticky and slippery. Keeping upright became a challenge.

Zoro grunted as he was forced back and he shifted his grip on Sandai Kitetsu, hearing the blade sing as it slashed through skin and blood. He ground his teeth, wearing into the hilt of his Wado Ichimonji. He stared critically at Mihawk, who stared back impassively. He knew their fight was coming to an end. He only had the strength left for one more attack. This would be it. One more strike would determine a winner. If Mihawk won, he would keep the title of world's best swordsman and Zoro would die.

He shifted to the left, and spared a second of the stalemate to glimpse the x on his left arm. His link to his crew. It was mostly hidden beneath a stream of blood, but he knew it was there.

He didn't want to die, Zoro realized. Zoro didn't want to die. He wanted to win, and become the world's best swordsman. He wanted to win, and live. He wanted adventure again, and he also wanted to settle down and open a dojo. He had so many options. He could see Dustin telling him about his granddaughter looking up to him. He could see Jin's and Haru's and Tate's faces looking up at him in excitement when he showed them a new kata or move. He could see Kuina's face, her laughing and saying 'go get him, Zoro'. He could see Luffy smiling at him, letting him know that everything was going to be okay.

Zoro would die if he lost. And if he was dead, he would never be able to achieve anything else. So he wouldn't die. He shifted again, held up his sword, and struck.

"This is all so interesting," Carter exclaimed, shuffling through the old sightings and pulling out a recreation of Mihawk's wanted poster from beneath a photocopy of a newspaper.

"Hold up, Roronoa Zoro used three swords, right?" Seth asked. "How the hell did he hold the third one?"

"His mouth," Zack answered.

"That's just a stupid legend; I was asking the lovely Rachel. Shut your trap and let her speak."

"Well, him holding his third sword in his mouth is a popular legend. It is also rumored that he only used two at a time. That seems the likelier scenario. I don't see how his jaw muscles would have kept under the constant stress and weight of the blade, and any force above fifty pounds can break it. Any fight would have been delivering blows much above that." Rachel sighed, "I'd love to get my hands on his remains to examine his jaw, because he must have been training since he was very young to be able to withstand that pressure. It's a shame the Shandorians won't let us onto their sacred ground where he's buried."

"There are teeth marks on the hilt of the blade we found," Zack pointed out.

"I found," Seth muttered.

"Shut it."

"You shut it!"

"Stop it, both of you," Nami sighed.

"There are, but that is little proof. Those may have been put there by any number of factors. Holding the blade in one's mouth while sheathing the other two, or while switching swords. Or they may have been put there post mortem to encourage that rumor."

"Either way, he used three swords and was in possession of three named swords and a cursed blade in his lifetime." Rachel said. "We can confirm the rumors later with better evidence."

Mihawk coughed out a mouthful of blood. His sword hit the sand with a muffled thump, and he went slack against Zoro, the hilt of Sandai Kitetsu the only thing keeping him up.

Zoro slowly lowered the man to the ground, and knelt next to him when his legs refused to continue supporting him. Blood, warm and wet, began dripping across Zoro's hand. Mihawk coughed again, a wet rattling sound, and he managed a grin that looked more like a grimace.

"Well, kid, you finally did it."

"I had a promise to keep," Zoro said.

"Of course you did," Mihawk wheezed. "You're the one with friends. I'm glad you won. You've got a future ahead of you. Not me."

"I do."

"I bet your captain is proud."

"I hope so."

"If you see Perona, give her my regards."

"And give Luffy mine."

Mihawk coughed again, weaker this time, and managed a startled look. "So that is why… You have my word, Roronoa Zoro. I will." He grapsed the hilt of Zoro's blade, still in his chest, and pulled it out. Blood gushed from the wound, a red waterfall, and he bled out in seconds. His body fell away from Zoro, and he ended up sprawled on the sand in a halo of red. His already pale features became even more so, and his eyes stared blankly at the sky.

Dawn was approaching, Zoro realized. The sun, just peeking over the horizon now shone red against the sand. Or was that just blood. Maybe it was both. Zoro stared blankly at the body for a long time. He won. He defeated the world's best swordsman. And that title now belonged to him. He didn't feel victorious. He had always imagined at this point, the rest of the crew would show up. Chopper fussing over his injuries, Sanji making a scathing comment, Robin talking about historical significance, and Luffy… And Luffy would have just smiled at him, in his own special way, and say "good job, Zoro. I knew you would do it."

He would be happy, he realized, even if he died today. And then suddenly it was all worth it.

But they weren't there. He was tired. Zoro reached out, moving slowly and automatically at this point. He arranged Mihawk's body, straightening it, placing his sword on his chest and folding his hands over the hilt, and closing his eyes. Then, he turned away from the body. Firewood. He needed firewood.

He dragged what driftwood he could find down to the scene of the fight, and built a pyre. Then he used Sanji's lighter to set the pyre ablaze. Mihawk was a worthy opponent. He deserved a proper send-off.

As it burned, he turned and walked away from the bloody sand. He walked until he could feel the warm sand beneath his feet, clean of their fight. And that's where he collapsed, face down. It was warm. The sun washed over him, he could hear the waves and the rustling of wind through the trees. This would be a good place to die.

...

"Hey, you need to check this out!"

"You found the source of the disturbance?"

"Yeah. And you're not going to believe what it is!"

"What are you going to do with him? Is he even still alive?"

"Barely. Looks like he fought someone. Who?"

"Mihawk's ship was found on the other side of the island."

"Is that's whose body was in the pyre?"

"Shut up, Roronoa is going to die if he doesn't get treated soon."

"Get those cuts stitched up now!"

"Why the hell are we patching up this guy? He's the Pirate King's first mate!"

"Who the hell knows, orders are orders."

"What's going to happen to him after this, I wonder…"

...

When Zoro finally stayed conscious for more than a few moments, it took him a minute to realize he as still alive. He took stock of his injuries, wiggling his fingers and toes, shifting his arms and legs, and trying to sit up. Bandages covered most of his body, blood still leaking from underneath the stark white in a few places. The cot he was on was lumpy, and a thin blanket was pulled up to his torso. He glanced around the room he was in and noted the bars. HE was in a cell. Zoro snorted; marines then.

The room seemed to be moving, which meant he was on a ship. The cell was more than likely locked and he could barely move at the moment. Escape seemed near impossible at the moment so he didn't even waste the brainpower trying to think of an escape plan. He closed his eyes and napped for a bit.

He was woken by loud footsteps approaching the door outside of the cell. He opened is eye and watched the door as it creaked open and a slim figure walked in. He recognized her, he realized with a start. Tashigi. Oh, great.

She was carrying medical supplies, and he continued watching as she moved about outside the cell, gathering a bowl, bandages, and other medical supplies. When she finally moved towards the cell and caught Zoro staring at her, she squeaked and dropped the bowl. It hit the wooden floor with a loud thud and the bandages spilled out of it.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON DOWN THERE TASHIGI?!" Zoro recognized Smoker's voice as it echoed down the stairwell and through the still open door.

"Nothing!" Tashigi called back. "I just dropped a bowl."

"Be more careful!" Was the response.

Tashigi closed the door and looked back at Zoro. "You're awake."

Zoro raised an eyebrow at the obvious statement. Tashigi flushed and bent down to gather the fallen materials. She tossed the bandages in a bin and retrieved new ones, before slowly walking over to the cell door. Her face was still a bright red as she said, "I need to change your bandages." It was phrased like a question, as if she were asking permission. When Zoro nodded minutely she bustled forward and began unwinding the bandages around his left arm.

She worked in silence for a few moments, occasionally glancing up at Zoro's face before jerking her eyes back to her task. Finally, Zoro broke the awkward silence by asking a question, "Why am I alive?"

Tashigi bit her lip, "I can't tell you."

"DAMNIT!" Zoro exploded, and Tashigi jumped. "I fully expected to die there, and you marines bring be back. I deserve an explanation."

Tashigi looked up at the closed door, as if expecting someone to jump out, and then sighed. "They still need you alive."

"Why?" Zoro demanded."

"I don't know!" Tashigi exclaimed. "Really, I don't. The only person aboard this ship who knows is Smoker.

Zoro glared at the door angrily, and Tashigi returned to changing bandages. She worked quickly and silently, tidying up and leaving, returning an hour later with food. A tray of vegetable broth, water, and bread was placed on his lap.

"They really do want me alive," Zoro grumbled, and started eating.

"Well, you are the Pirate King's first mate." Tashigi pointed out. "I don't know why they want you alive, but they're probably going to give you a public execution to draw out your captain. Just like they did with Fire Fist and Whitebeard.

Zoro narrowed his eyes, "Cowards."

"I know," Tashigi agreed, and looked away when Zoro jerked his head to look at her. "I don't agree with these methods. It's cowardly. But, why aren't you with Luffy? I'm surprised he even let it get this far. We've nearly tripled watches and haven't seen a thing."

"Like I'd tell a marine," Zoro growled.

Tashigi huffed and grabbed the empty tray, stomping out of the room angrily. Zoro stared after her, confused.

...

The same pattern continued. Tashigi would bring him his meals and try to get information out of him. Zoro would answer her questions as confusingly as possible just to frustrate her and most of the time she would leave angry.

"I just want to know!" She shouted at him one day. "Is that too difficult to understand? I'm not going to tell Smoker!"

"Right, because trusting the second in command of a marine ship that I am currently held captive on is the best thing to do in my position!" Zoro shot back.

Tashigi stood up, knocking her chair back. "For fucks sake, this isn't about him, or this! You seem depressed, and I was just trying to help!"

"I don't want help from some damn marine who wants me dead!"

Tashigi just stared at him for a long moment, tears gathering in her eyes. She whirled around and stormed away, slamming the door behind her.

...

It was a few days later that Zoro was able to take off his bandages for good. The cuts were still scabbed over but there was no more risk of him tearing them open again. That was also the day Tashigi brought him some interesting news.

"I discovered why they want you alive," She told him in a hushed voice.

"It's to try and draw out Luffy, right?" Zoro said, offhandedly. "I can assure you, he won't come."

"They're going to offer you the chance to become a Warlord. They want you to take Mihawk's place."

Zoro stared at her with an unreadable expression. "They're out of their minds if they think I'll even consider it."

"The full offer is that if you turn over your captain they'll offer you a place within the Seven Warlords. And if you refuse they'll execute you."

"No," Zoro shook his head and sat down on the cot. "Never. I'd never do that."

Tashigi crossed her arms. "Then you don't mind dying?"

"Not anymore. Besides, I'm sure that if my execution got out there would be another war. Our allies are extremely loyal to Luffy and aren't people you want to mess with." Zoro said. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I wanted to prove to you that I'm not just another marine," Tashigi said. "I… I don't want to have to rely on cowardice to bring about justice. It's insulting everything I stand for as a marine. I'd… I'd rather be an honest outlaw than a deceitful marine."

"In this age, that's all there is." Zoro sighed, resting his head on his hands. "Even if I did want to take the offer, it would be impossible to bring Luffy in."

"Why?" Tashigi pulled her chair over and sat in front of him.

"Luffy died a long time ago."

Tashigi drew in a sharp breath, "He's… gone? When?!"

"Almost seven years ago," Zoro said. "He… It was the April of fifteen twenty-six."

"That long ago?" Tashigi whispered. "But… That was before he found the One Piece! That was before he became the Pirate King! Are you telling me that–"

"Luffy never set foot on Raftel," Zoro admitted aloud for the first time. "He died before we reached the island. The crew… We continued on for him because we knew he would have wanted to see this adventure through. He would have been disappointed to know that we gave up just because he was gone. So we made it there in his place. We found the One Piece for him, and we made sure the world recognized him as the Pirate King. And with our allies, it was easy to spread the word. No one else knows what happened."

"I don't know what to sat, Tashigi said, staring down at her hands. "That thought, it never occurred to us. He always seemed so invincible.

"We thought so too."

...

That night, alone in her cabin, Tashigi scoured through old newspapers, searching for any mention of the Strawhat Pirates. She found the article indicating his defeat of Buggy, of Don Krieg, of Arlong. Drum Island was mentioned, and she knew that he was the one to take down Crocodile, and his crew took down the rest of Baroque Works.

She had heard the rumours concerning Enies Lobby, and the shenanigans they got up to at Water 7. She knew about Gekko Moria's defeat (having a high ranking superior always helped), and she knew about the events that unfolded at Sabaody Archipelago. Strawhat's invasion of Impel Down and his involvement in the Paramount War was nearly legendary.

Then there was two years of nothing. But soon enough reports started trickling in, the Strawhats re-emerging at the archipelago. Meeting them again on Punk Hazard. Dressrosa, and Doflamingo's defeat. That wasn't covered up. Everyone knew that it had been Strawhat to defeat the Warlord. And then dealing with the Vinsmoke family, and then taking down two Emperors nearly one after the other!

Tashigi sat back in her chair. She had been told that the Strawhat Pirates were nefarious people who needed to be taken down. And she believed that. She had believed that they had only helped Princess Vivi because they were getting something out of it. She had believed that their actions at Enies Lobby were selfish. She believed that at Punk Hazard they had had some ulterior motive.

But she was wrong. She had no proof, but after talking to Zoro these past couple of weeks, her accusations didn't seem as deserved. And… Zoro was willing to die to keep his captain's legacy alive. That didn't seem like the actions of an ordinary pirate.

Each battle the Strawhats participated in was significant. They didn't rush into things without a reason. They defeated pirates, Warlords, Emperors, and marines alike. They exposed corrupt government operations. They helped people and freed kingdoms, even if it wasn't their intent. And they never asked for anything in return.

People flocked behind Luffy. Not because he was a powerful pirate, but because he gave them a reason to look up to him. He gave them a reason to stand beside him.

She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes as the picture slowly started to take shape in her mind. They weren't the bad guys. They may not have been all that good, but they weren't evil. They didn't deserve the government hounding them at every turn. If anything, the world should thank them for helping clear out the scum.

Tashigi looked to the side, where Zoro's swords were leaning against the wall. And then she made a decision.

...

Zoro didn't see Tashigi all day. It was a terrified chore boy who delivered his meals. It wasn't until a few hours before dawn that she showed up, dressed in plain black slacks and a sweater instead of her marine uniform. She had a bundle tucked under one arm, and she used her free hand to unlock the cell. "Here," She tossed the bundle at him, and Zoro caught it with no small amount of confusion. "Get dressed. Something warm. We're leaving."

"Wha-?" Zoro unrolled the bundle and found his swords tangled in a woollen long sleeved shirt.

"Hurry!" Tashigi hissed. Zoro complied, pulling the shirt over his head and shoving his swords into the belt loops on his pants. He followed her out of the cell and up the stairs, creeping quietly across the pitch black deck and came to a stop in front of the longboats.

"You're helping me escape?" Zoro finally realized, reaching out to grab Tashigi's arm and turn her to face him.

"What else would I be doing?" She asked.

"But-"

She shushed him, "I was always mad at you and your decision to become a pirate, after we met in Loguetown. I was taught that people choose to be pirates to become outlaws and be… well, evil. But after hearing you talk about your crew, and how you considered them your friends, I started looking up some of your exploits. Looking at them in a different light, I realized that you're not all bad people. You don't deserve to be executed."

Zoro sighed, "I just wish everyone could see that." He thought back to Dustin's words, "Less people are oblivious to your deeds than they'll have you believe. The people who do know are the ones who deserve to know."

"And, call us even. Your captain saved Smoker's life in Alabasta. I'm saving your life now."

"You're going to get in trouble for this."

"I know. That's why I'm going with you."

"Why?" Zoro was getting tired of using that word.

Her response wasn't verbal. Instead she grabbed the front of Zoro's shirt and yanked him down to her level, kissing him firmly. Zoro nearly squawked in surprise, and she pulled away a moment later. "Let's go."

He went.

...

The paddled for the rest of the night and into the early morning, aiming for an island Tashigi picked out. They were silent for most of the journey, both lost in their own thoughts. Zoro was thinking about the kiss, and he was glad it had been dark when she kissed him. He really didn't want her seeing his blush.

He had never kissed anyone before. When he was young, he thought about kissing Kuina a few times, but after she died his life was spent training. After that it was bounty hunting, and then he became a pirate. After the crew disbanded, he spent years training again, and then searching for Mihawk. He never had a reason to think about a future like this.

Finally, they reached the island Tashigi picked. It was a bustling city with a small marine presence. Buildings were crowded in any available space and winding paved roads snaked between them. Most of the city people were pleasant, renting them a room in a hotel without any fuss or questions, even though Zoro wasn't wearing any disguise. They must be used to pirates, he mused. They also must have assumed they were a couple, because there was only one bed in the room. It didn't bother Zoro, but Tashigi was staring at it with trepidation.

"We'll have to use it to avoid suspicion," Tashigi said at last. "They probably know we're gone by now."

"What are you going to do?" Zoro asked. "They're going to know you helped me."

"I don't know," She said, placing her sword against the nightstand. Zoro copied her, leaving his own swords against the nightstand on the other side of the bed.

"Do you want to come with me?" Zoro offered.

She looked up with a faintly hopeful look, "You're offering? I was only planning to escape…"

He shrugged, "You've risked this much for me. I… And I haven't thanked you yet. Um…"

"I'd like to stay with you," Tashigi interrupted, and then looked down at her feet as her face turned red.

"I – okay."

Their relationship was very awkward at first, both of them spending a lot of time blushing, stammering, and avoiding the topic for a few days. It was finally when Zoro asked what she had told Smoker about Luffy that the ice finally broke.

"I didn't tell him." Tashigi said.

"Why not?"

"Because it would have broken him." Tashigi said. "Smoker always admired Luffy's ambition, even if he was a pirate. It started when Luffy ordered you to save him that it all started. He admires you too, for not questioning his orders, even when he told you to save the enemy." She looked out the window. "He's been after your crew for the past none years. It's his life now. I didn't want to hurt him."

"The truth is probably going to come out sooner or later," Zoro sighed. "He'll find out then."

"I guess."

"And… Why did you kiss me?"

Tashigi blushed furiously at that, but kept her head up. "I've always admired you. Your loyalty, and your swordsmanship. I knew that you were strong. And you helped people, even if I thought you were doing it for money. It's… It's just that for the longest time I thought you were a bad person, and I used my feelings to just hate you more. When I found out you weren't all that bad…" She trailed off, her face going even redder. "And I think it's cute that you get lost easily." She shoved her glasses up her nose and looked down at her lap.

Zoro coughed at the last comment, and then he laughed. The sound was brighter than she had ever heard from him before. And then he smiled at her. A genuine smile, not a triumphant expression or his trademark shit-eating grin. A real one. She smiled back, pushed him down onto the bed and kissed him.

...

After two weeks they started renting a house instead of living out of the hotel. When they started making friends, they all assumed the two of them were married and they went along with it. Tashigi was a little disappointed that they couldn't have a real wedding, lest they draw unwanted attention to themselves, so Zoro bought her a ring and they had their own celebration.

After a year they decided to leave, emptying their house and selling anything that they couldn't take with them. They made their way back to East Blue the same way Zoro left East Blue, jumping onto cargo ships and working for their passage. They stopped once on the Nuiss Chain to let Shiroda know he was alive, and to greet his former students (who were all flabbergasted to have been taught by the legendary Roronoa Zoro) one last time before heading home. He let Tashigi handle the directions.

They finally reached East Blue. Tashigi insisted they stop at Loguetown (and Zoro made sure to find the shopkeeper who gave him Yubashiri and apologize for losing her) and then they moved on to Shimotsuki Village on Crescent Moon Island.

The island was very quiet and full of grasslands and rice paddies. Tashigi was reminded of the village she grew up in, as she followed Zoro (who actually seemed to know where he was going for once) up a path to a dojo. He knocked on the door a few times before sliding it open, calling out "Sensei Koshiro?"

There was a faint shuffling from inside the house, and then a very surprised middle-aged man appeared in the front hall. "Zoro?" Koshiro questioned in a soft voice, "I wasn't expecting to see you back here."

"I was in the area," Zoro said with a slight shrug. Koshiro shuffled to the side, allowing Zoro and Tashigi to enter the dojo. Tashigi looked around in appreciation before following the two men into a back room, which turned out to be a kitchen.

"Please, sit," Koshiro offered, putting the kettle on to boil. "I heard about Mihawk's defeat. Congratulations. You have finally achieved your ambition."

Zoro nodded, glancing over to a photograph hanging on a nearby wall. "Kuina and I made a pact when we were kids. One of us was going to become the best."

"I see. I am very glad you kept her sword in good condition." He eyed the Wadoo Ichimonji at Zoro's hip. "Although, I suppose it is your sword now. That blade will never allow anyone else to wield it. At least, not with the same trust you do."

"That was her sword?" Tashigi asked quietly.

Zoro nodded, and Koshiro explained, "I allowed him to have it after my daughter's death. And I must say, you look strikingly similar to her."

"Really?" She looked over at the picture on the wall. "I suppose we do… Is that why you insulted me back when we first met?"

Zoro flushed and ducked his head. "That wasn't supposed to be an insult. I was just surprised."

Koshiro laughed heartily at that and coaxed the story out of them as they drank their tea. They spend the night in the guest room, and Zoro visited Kuina's grave at sunset. While he was outside, Koshiro spoke with Tashigi, "You really do look like her. I had hoped that the two of them would marry one day. Seeing you and him together, I know that they would have if she lived."

Tashigi wasn't sure if she should be insulted or take it as a compliment. "I'm happy with him."

Koshiro smiled, "Are the two of you planning to have any children? It would be hard, with both of you being wanted by the marines."

"Maybe…" The thought surprised her. But before she could say anything else Zoro returned and the conversation shifted to stories about Zoro's childhood. Tashigi listened and laughed with rapt attention, but Koshiro's comment never left her mind. They set off the next day.

As they travelled towards the Goa Kingdom, as Zoro said their destination was, Tashigi brought up her concerns. "Hey, Zoro?"

"Hm?"

"Have you ever… Have you ever wanted a family?" The words were forced out in a rush. She clutched Shigure with her right hand, fingers playing with the tassels.

She heard Zoro move from the bed of the cheap passenger ship they were on, and then she felt his arms wrap around her. "Do you want a family? Children?"

"Yes. I do. But we're both wanted criminals. Any child of ours will be targeted from the moment they're born! We're not safe anywhere! No land will be able to hide us, and we'll be chased at sea!"

Zoro's arms tightened around her, and she turned to press her forehead to his chest. "Nowhere on land or sea," He said. "What about the sky?"

"The sky?" Tashigi looked up at him, sceptical.

"Sky Island, Zoro confirmed. "My crew, we've been there and we're always welcome. We could live up there and start a family. There are no marines, and there are no pirates. It's the perfect place."

"Do you think it's possible?" Tashigi tried to keep the excitement out of her voice and failed miserably. A smile spread across her face. "We can have a family and live safely?"

"Definitely."

...

A couple of weeks later they were docking in High Town, and a fisherman agreed to take them to Windmill Village. They arrived in the peaceful village, and Zoro was greeted happily by a dark haired woman in an apron, carrying a net full of fish.

"Zoro!" She exclaimed. "I'm so glad to see you!"

Zoro tipped his head respectfully. "Hello Makino. I've come to say goodbye to him."

"Ah," The happy smile Makino wore flickered slightly. As Zoro and Tashigi thanked the fisherman, Makino reached out and snagged the collar of a young boy running past her. "Young man, I thought I told you to clean your room not fifteen minutes ago. There's no way you've finished in that time."

"But Mom!" The boy complained. "Theo's dad said I could go fishing with them today, and they're leaving right now!"

Makino sighed and shook her head with a smile. "Then you had better brink home a big fish for dinner. And then you're going to finish cleaning when you get home. Is that clear, Ace?"

"Yes, Mom."

"Go on then." With a cheer, Ace ran down the docks.

"He's cute," Tashigi commented.

"Thank you," Makino smiled. "Are you Zoro's girlfriend?"

Tashigi nodded, and she and Zoro followed Makino into a nearby building with a sign proclaiming it to be 'Party's Bar'. They sat down at the counter while Makino walked behind it. "Would you like anything to eat? Everything is on the house."

They both ordered dinner, Tashigi feeling guilty about eating food for free from a woman she didn't know. Zoro seemed to know her rather well, and they got along great. When she leaned over to ask Zoro if she was his previous girlfriend, he nearly choked on his food as she started laughing.

"No, no," He said finally, when she stopped coughing. "This is the village Luffy grew up in. I'm here to visit his grave and say goodbye." That made sense. "Makino helped raise Luffy and his brothers."

"Oh," Tashigi smiled a little more warmly at Makino after that.

...

They rose early the next morning to begin hiking up the mountain, despite Zoro staying awake most of the night to write a letter. He left it with Makino when they went for breakfast, and she placed it in a metal box on a shelf behind her. Zoro surprised her with his ability to find what he was looking for, and soon enough they reached a small grassy clearing with a single headstone and memorabilia scattered at its base. A familiar straw hat sat on top, weighed down by a shell and a golden amulet.

As Zoro approached the grave, Tashigi stayed back. It was strange seeing the grave of Smoker's greatest rival. She remembered all the times she came face to face with the crew, and remembered the young man's smiling face. Did he die with a smile, like his brother and his predecessor? She hoped so.

Zoro was silent, too. He approached the grave with a waver in his step and a vulnerability he would never show anyone else. He stood in front of the stone and was unnervingly still. She wished she could see his face. One of the things she had learned about him was that he communicated a lot through expression. She knew he was saying a lot right now, just looking and not having uttered a word.

Eventually, Zoro unhooked the Wado Ichimonji from his side and unsheathed it. She stared at the blade for a long time, and then ran a finger down the edge. Bright red blood welled up against the blade, and then Zoro sheathed it, impaling the sheath into the ground. "Protect my captain." He said. "Goodbye, Luffy. I hope you're proud." He reached for the amulet on the old straw hat, and opened it. He stared at that for a moment, closed it, and set it back down.

He turned away, then, his eyes red and tears dripping down his cheeks. She pulled him into a hug, and they stood there for a long minute. Eventually they broke apart and began their journey down the mountain. Zoro slipped his hand into Tashigi's. "Thank you."

She didn't know if his words were meant for her or for his captain, and she didn't ask. She squeezed his hand, and they walked back to Windmill village in silence.

...

They bid Makino farewell the next morning, and they set off. They stopped briefly for a meal at the Baratie, where Zoro snuck off with the Assistant Head Chef Carne. Tashigi couldn't see very much of what they were talking about, but something small and golden exchanged hands. Carne laughed loudly at whatever Zoro handed him, and then told them that their meal was on the house.

When they reached the Twin Capes they started plotting a route to Jaya. Tashigi counted herself lucky for knowing the way. They arrived on the far side of the island, and Montblonk Cricket, who had just returned from a trip the week before, was more than happy to assist him in getting to Skypia. They only had to wait for an ambitious crew to show up, and that happened a month later.

The Little Island pirates seemed mystified at meeting the infamous Roronoa Zoro, and they were all too willing to bring them aboard for their journey.

Cricket and the monkey brothers decked out their ship in the appropriate regalia and Zoro helped the captain, Bennett, by explaining the techniques Nami used to get them to the sky the first time. When the Knock-Up stream finally erupted, they were waiting and successfully reached the White-White Sea.

Naturally, everyone who hadn't been on the Knock-Up stream before were astounded at the journey, and Zoro could've sworn he heard several members of the crew cursing Usopp's name.

Amazon, the little old lady at the gate, took one look at Zoro and ushered them through with no hassle.

Tashigi's first views of the legendary island were breathtaking, and she explored as much of the island as she could in as little time as possible. The residents were very welcoming to a member of Luffy's crew, and Tashigi struck up an immediate friendship with Conis.

Gan Fall and the elders were saddened to learn of Luffy's fate, and they offered to carve his name into the Golden Bell, to show their thanks.

A week later, the Little Island pirates left, while Zoro and Tashigi remained. The two of them opened their own dojo, Zoro never forgetting what it was like to be a teacher, and Tashigi eagerly assisted him. They built a pleasant life for themselves in the sky, finally having their family, a girl they named Kuina and a boy they named Dustin, and enjoyed a life neither of them thought was possible.

"And he lived happily ever after?" Seth snorted. "Doesn't seem like the type of ending a pirate usually gets."

"Basically," Eugene said. "I mean, he had his two kids with that marine captain girl… Uh, Tashigi? I hope I'm pronouncing that right, and lived on Skypia for the rest of his life. There's no documentation that would indicate other activities past this point. And… weren't his kids discovered with two of his swords? Ah, what's his face had Shusui, and his daughter had the cursed one."

"Sandai Kitetsu," Zack said. "Roronoa Kuina wielded that one and his son, Roronoa Dustin, wielded Shusui."

"I heard the CEO of Phoenix Industries got his hands on that about twenty years ago, after buying it from Dustin's descendant and donated it to Skypia's museum," Rachel said. "And the cursed blade was lost with Roronoa Kuina after her death at the hands of Admiral Kiva."

Eugene folded the photocopy of the letter back up and placed it in his notebook. "Well, that's Roronoa Zoro's life."

"I still can't believe this all came from that stupid sword." Seth muttered.

"It's not a stupid sword," Zack glared at Seth, who sneered back.

"Stop it," Nicole said, shoving the two of them apart. "Alright, back to work. Let's see what else we can dig up."

"YES NICOLE!" Seth abandoned his tussle with Zack to spring up and grab a trowel.

"Pansy," Zack muttered.

"WHAT WAS THAT?"

Rachel laughed, Eugene rolled his eyes, and Nicole face-palmed.