Title: Reminiscing

Theme: Set 2 - #1: 100

Claim: Zoro

Words: 824

Rating: PG-13 to be safe… Nothing too bad, just a few curses from Zoro. (Because he's a very cussy fellow XP)

Warnings: … Nakamaship? It's not really a warning at all, but I just kinda wanted to mention that it's the general theme of this ficlet. ^^'

Disclaimer: I do not now, nor will I ever, own One Piece. All rights go to the amazing Oda-san.

Zoro leaned back against the mast of the Going Merry with his arms behind his head, in mid-nap. The sun was just beginning to set, and the gentle breeze outside accommodated his perfect nap temperature. (Of course, he could sleep in any conditions, but nights like these were his favorites)

It hadn't been a particularly stressful day. There hadn't been any islands in sight for a day or two, which naturally made some of the crew (mostly Luffy) anxious, but it didn't bother Zoro in the slightest. Sailing all day just meant more training and sleep opportunities for him.

The swordsman was jarred from his sleep when he heard the familiar sound of sandals clapping against the deck, coming closer to him. He didn't open his eyes as the rubber Captain crouched down beside him.

"Hey, Zoro!"

"Hm?"

"Nami just told me something really cool!"

"Yeah?"

"Uh-huh! She said that today's our anniversary!"

Zoro opened an eye at the awkward statement, "Excuse me?"

Luffy was smiling happily, not sharing his First Mate's confusion and awkwardness at all, "Yeah! Our 100th anniversary!"

Zoro grunted as he sat up, opening both eyes and glancing at the rubber boy with a cocked brow, "What the hell are you talking about? 100th anniversary for what?"

"For us becoming Nakama!"

Zoro's expression lightened a little, "Huh? You mean since-"

"Since you became the first member of this crew! Today's the 100th day that our crew's been sailing!" The boy's smile grew as a happy laugh came over him, "Pretty cool, huh?"

Zoro looked up at the red sky with a smirk, "Heh. Yeah, I guess so…" He thought for a moment, then looked back down to see Luffy moving from his side to the Special Seat atop the Merry's figurehead. The swordsman shook his head with a chuckle. He had the most random Captain ever, he was sure. He hoisted himself up to his feet then walked over by Luffy, leaning on the railing and staring at the mix of colors in front of them.

"It's really been that long, huh?" He asked.

Luffy nodded, staring out into the glistening horizon as well, "Yup," He suddenly turned to his swordsman with a laugh in his eyes, "Do you remember when we met at that Marine Base?"

"Keh," Zoro scoffed good-humoredly, "How could I forget? You made more of a ruckus than I'm sure anyone else ever had in that town."

Luffy laughed, "Man, it sure was a close call, huh? If I hadn't broken out of that window in time, you and Coby would've been killed!"

Zoro rolled his eyes, "Yeah… I guess we have weird luck like that," He looked thoughtful for a second, "Like back at Little Garden," He smirked, "If you hadn't shown up when you did, I would've cut my legs all the way off."

Luffy laughed harder, "That's right! You did try and cut 'em off, didn't you? Wow, it was a good thing I showed up!"

"It was a good thing Usopp got the idea to set that wax thing on fire too. You weren't exactly making any progress trying to free us."

"That's right; that weird painter chick kept on distracting me! But then you guys were okay, I kicked the wax guy's ass, and Sanji found an Eternal Pose to Alabasta! It all worked out!"

Zoro shook his head, thinking back to the cook just spontaneously pulling an Eternal Pose out of his pocket. He chuckled, "Not to mention the time we somehow escaped from that Marine Base after coming back from Skypiea. Don't know how we pulled that one off."

Luffy rocked back a little as another bout of short laughter took over, "Oh yeah! That was really fun! 'Cept you and Usopp got captured and Sanji and I had to go and get you out."

"Don't know how you did that either. You were surrounded by Marines on both sides."

"But we did!"

Zoro nodded, "Yeah… You did. Like always."

Luffy grinned at the setting sun anxiously, "100 days…"

"With many more to come…" Zoro said quietly, shifting his weight to his right foot. They had all been through so much together, and he found that he'd rather be with no one else than his Nakama; especially his goof of a Captain. People always said that seeing Zoro- a stern and serious man –traveling with Luffy- a carefree idiot –was a little odd. But Zoro never minded the talk.

By his Captain's side is where he started, and by his Captain's side is where he'd stay.

He knew that was how Luffy felt too.

"Hey, Zoro?"

"Hm?"

"Let's take our time traveling the Grand Line. I want to be able to have 100 more adventures to talk about when we reach 200 days," He smiled down at his friend, "That okay with you, First Mate?"

Zoro's smirk stretched into a smile, "Wouldn't have it any other way, Captain."

~OWARI~

…

Oh, the fluff! XP But honestly, I felt good about this as my starter. It gave me warm fuzzies while writing it. Plus, I love the Zoro/Luffy friendship. It's so amazingly awesome! And, for the record, I don't actually know that it was exactly 100 days after the crew became, but for the sake of the story, let's just go with it. XP Oh, and about Luffy's end line… You never hear him actually call Zoro his 'First Mate', but I've always wanted him to... So, there we go! Hope everyone enjoys this!