Dear Reader, The main pairing is Zoro/Sanji, but there will be hints of other pairings and One Piece characters in general. This fic is rated M for a reason so read at your own discretion. Please leave a review if you like what you read. I am also looking for a beta so if anyone is interested let me know!

This fic is set in 1971 (for now), and each chapter will start with a song from that year!

With that said enjoy!

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train

And I's feelin' near as faded as my jeans

Bobby thumbed a diesel down, just before it rained

It rode us all the way to New Orleans

I pulled my harpoon out of my dirty red bandanna

I was playin' soft while Bobby sang the blues, yeah

Windshield wipers slappin' time, I was holdin' Bobby's hand in mine

We sang every song that driver knew

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose

Nothin', don't mean nothin' hon' if it ain't free, no no

And, feelin' good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues

You know, feelin' good was good enough for me

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee

- Janis Joplin, 1971

April 1971 - Chisai Shima Middle School and High School - Gymnasium

The Gymnasium of Chisai Shima's only middle school and high school was full on this first day on the new semester, and while it was only the beginning of April, the room was already starting to feel stuffy. The quiet chatter of the students ceased as the principle of the school, an older man in his sixties, shuffled to the podium, fiddling with the microphone briefly before sucking in a breath and starting his new semester speech. After several minutes the principle introduced the faculty to the new middle school students just out of primary school who were shiny eyed and nervous while their upperclassmen smiled amongst themselves knowingly.

"Finally, after the retirement of Mr. Tanaka, let me present Chisai Shima Gaako's new Physical Education Teacher and Student Counsellor, Mr. Roronoa Zoro." the old man coughed before designating the new teacher who at this point had remained relatively unnoticed from his seat at the edge of the stage.

Vinsmoke Sanji who was sitting with his colleagues on the opposite side of the stage in the uncomfortable folding plastic chair was the school Home Ec teacher, and while he was himself less than ordinary looking being of half French and Japanese descent, the man that stood and strode towards the microphone was positively unique. Sanji watched as the students' eyes widened and some jaws dropped as the new Phys Ed teacher took the microphone from the diminutive principle. Sanji's view of the new teacher was blocked by his colleague Miss Nami who was craning forward in her seat, fingers curled under the edge of her chair, just as captivated by the new teacher as the students were. The only real clue Sanji had about this man was the deep booming voice that passed through the microphone and speakers, a startling contrast to the principle's quiet reedy voice.

"Thank you for the introduction Principle Hayashida." the voice said, and the microphone screeched with feedback.

Sanji gave up on trying to see past Miss Nami and instead looked out into the crowd. Most of the students were listening to Mr. Roronoa's speech with rapt attention, nodding along, bug-eyed, and jaws dropped. Some of the older girls in the crowd were giggling under the breaths, while the school's few delinquents with dyed hair and piercings were either frowning or looking down at their feet. Next turning his attention to the rest of the school faculty, Sanji noticed his colleagues were just as intrigued with Roronoa Zoro as the students were. Miss Nico Robin had a small but curious smile on her lips, while the ever-present substitute teacher Monkey D Luffy had the most enormous grin ever plastered across his face making the 27-year-old seem much younger than he was.

Miss Nami finally leaned back in her seat and Sanji was finally able to see some of what all the fuss was about. Although Roronoa Zoro had his back to the staff, it was clear that he was very tall and very muscular. The suit he wore seemed to tight in the shoulders and arm for him, and the pants were a little too short. Surprisingly he wasn't wearing the current fashion as most did, there were no patterns, loud colours, or bell bottoms, but rather a straight cut black suit and crisp white shirt. The new Phys Ed teacher seemed thoroughly uncomfortable in these clothes, even from behind. It occurred briefly to Sanji that Roronoa Zoro probably didn't dress like this often.

"I hope we all have a good semester and keep in mind I will be posting counselling hours within a week." Roronoa Zoro finished, returning to his seat, all eyes still firmly fixed on him.

In his quick retreat to his seat, Sanji finally was able to see what had caused the students to look so awestruck. The man had a substantial muscular build, a shock of short messy green hair, tanned skin and a ruggedly handsome face marred only by a scar starting above his left eyebrow going down over a shut eye to his cheek, his one open eye dark and smouldering. No wonder the girls had been giggling while the delinquents had cowered in front of a superior specimen of strong and scary.

After a few more minutes the assembly came to a close, and the students' lively chatter and shoes squeaking on the freshly waxed gym floor slowly faded away, the faculty remaining behind on the stage for a few last words from Principle Hayashida.

"Well, I hope everyone has a good semester, and again it's great to have you with us, Mr. Tanaka spoke very fondly of you," Hayashida said looking up to address the stern-faced Zoro. "I'm sure your new colleagues will make sure you get settled okay."

"Thank you, Principle Hayashida," Zoro replied.

With that, the small principle shuffled off the stage in much the same manner he had shuffled on, and the small staff of teachers were left to their own devices until the start of class.

Miss Nami was the first to introduce herself, sticking out her hand to shake Zoro's her frame absolutely tiny next to the green-haired man who towered over her.

"I'm Nami; I teach English. Nice to meet you." she was very straightforward, and the newcomer grasping this, replied in kind.

"Zoro. I'll be teaching Phys Ed and doing counselling. Nice to meet you too." he grinned.

After this many of the teachers who up until that point had been more than a little scared of Roronoa Zoro, after Miss Nami's feat of bravery, introduced themselves. After introduction were made they departed alone, in pairs, or in small groups towards their classes, until the only two people left in the gymnasium were Sanji and Zoro.

Sanji laughed nervously, and like Nami stuck his hand out to introduce himself.

"I'm Sanji, Vinsmoke. I teach home economics. Nice to meet you !"

Sanji's hand lingered in the space between the two men, the blonde man frowning once he realized that Zoro was not reaching out to shake it. Instead, he looked up to find the man's one good eye staring at his face with uncomfortable intensity. Sanji withdrew his hand quickly.

Sanji wondered why the new teacher was being cold to him when he had been friendly with everyone else. Sanji decided it was better to give the large man the benefit of the doubt.

"So listen I can show you around the school if you like. And since you are new to Chisai Shima, I can show you around the Island." Sanji offered, still receiving no answer from Zoro. "Or if you need help with anything else..." he trailed off.

"I'm okay thanks. Bye." Roronoa Zoro said gruffly before departing, his shoes tapping on the gymnasium floor.

Sanji stood alone on the stage feeling utterly foolish and snubbed. He suddenly felt very small and alone in the large gymnasium, beams filled with dust particles streaming in through the windows. He huffed to himself with indignation, trying to clear the moment he had just had from his mind. He left the gym and made his way towards the kitchens where he taught home economics.

The first day of the new semester had gone well, and Sanji was in a markedly better mood than he had been after his encounter with Zoro. Unluckily for him, his good mood vanished just as soon as it had appeared.

Roronoa Zoro, wearing tracksuit pants, and a white muscle tank was very slightly stooping through his classroom doorway holding a bloodied gym shirt with the name Yuuji Miyamoto on it.

"Hey, sorry to bother you. One of the kids had a little nosebleed, and he wanted to clean up his shirt. I figured since there are sinks in here..." he said, ushering said kid behind him. The small boy was wearing Zoro's track jacket and was snivelling a little. A piece of tissue was stuck up his nose. Zoro patted Yuuji Miyamoto on the back in reassurance.

"This is Mr. Vinsmoke Sanji. He teaches home ec." Zoro ushered the 12-year-old further into the room. "Mr. Miyamoto is new to Chisai Chima Gaako just like me. Isn't that right ?" Zoro smiled.

The twelve-year-old boy nodded his head furiously.

"Hello Mr. Miyamoto," Sanji said with a smile. "Is your nose okay ?" he asked.

Yuuji nodded, his bangs covering his eyes a little.

"Why don't I help you with your shirt then. That way it won't stain." Sanji continued.

Yuuji nodded shyly again.

"Would you mind, I still have half a class left to teach ?" Zorro said pointing out the window to the field where sneaker-clad middle schoolers were chatting away and tossing a ball amongst each other.

"Of course." Sanji smiled. Maybe Roronoa Zoro wasn't that bad. How could he be when he clearly cared about his students.

Zoro mouthed a thank you to Sanji before ducking out to return to his awaiting class.

After Sanji had helped the overwhelmed Yuuji be on his way and taught his last class for the day, he realized he still had Zoro's black track jacket. Sanji looked at the big jacket and sighed. He grabbed it and went to look for Roronoa Zoro. The school bell had just rung out signifying the end of the first day.

Sanji made a beeline for the faculty room, but Zoro was not there. He then attempted the gymnasium and even the unused nurse's office which was earmarked as the new counselling office. One would think with his towering frame, scarred face and green hair he would be easy to find, but it was not the case. Only once he exited the school building did he finally spot him, and only thanks to the giggling of a couple of high school senior girls that had been pointing to the school roof. Indeed Zoro's green-haired head could be seen by the edge of the roof, facing towards the sea which was not all that far from the school. Sanji sighed again, and after climbing one too many flights of stairs, made it to the roof. He pushed open the double doors and feeling the cool ocean breeze on his face made his way towards Roronoa Zoro who was now lying down and languidly watching the cloud roll by against the blue sky.

Stopping by his feet, slightly out breath Sanji tossed the jacked onto Zoro's face.

"Your jacket... you forgot it in my class," Sanji said as he pulled a cigarette from the pack he kept in his jacket pocket.

"Thanks," Zoro said eyes still facing the sky.

Sanji lit up, taking a well-deserved puff. Zoro coughed.

"Could you not smoke that please," he said with a grimace on his face.

At this point Sanji had had enough is Zoro's sullen mood and ill-mannered behaviour.

"Fine you ungrateful Marimo, last time I do anything for you." Sanji huffed, stomping on the cigarette butt and heading towards the door.

Before Zoro had a chance to reply, the now thoroughly irritated Sanji was already gone. He stomped off school grounds, pulling another cigarette from his pack and lighting up as he walked towards the town centre where his second job was.

What an irritating prick! Sanji thought to himself, puffing away. How pretentious is that guy! Telling me not to smoke! The nerve!

Sanji spent the rest of his afternoon and evening in a most prickly mood, muttering to himself this and that about the scarred man till he was pulling off his shoes at his front door late that night. Lighting up yet another cigarette Sanji made his way through his tiny dark apartment till he found his bed, really just a mattress covered with sheets and a duvet on the floor. He sank onto the mattress, still puffing away as he pulled at the tie around his neck. The cigarette now void of its purpose was smashed into the nearly overflowing ashtray Sanji kept by his bed. Sanji rubbed his eyes for a minute before pulling off his shirt and trousers and lying down. He was disappointed with how his colleague had turned out to be. Sanji, with his blonde hair and blue eyes, being half French had always felt out of place, and seeing the many oddities that composed Roronoa Zoro, from his odd hair, enormous frame that almost didn't fit through doors, to his scared eye, he figured there might be some kinship there, but it seemed he was wrong.

Sanji decided to simply put the whole incident out of his mind. If he ran into Zoro he would be civil, but no more than that. Finally, Sanji turned towards the faded photograph on his windowsill as he did every night, saying a silent goodnight to the face of the beautiful woman forever captured and frozen on film.