poet_at_heart (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
poet_at_heart) wrote2010-08-23 06:57 pm
poet_at_heart) wrote2010-08-23 06:57 pm
Entry tags:
You could have have gone home~ ;w;
Title: These Familiar Streets
Pairing: Zoro X Sanji
Setting: Modern day Kyoto
Rating: M
Chapter: 2
Summary: After almost three years in Tokyo, Sanji now returns to Kyoto to fight in that war again. Problem is, now he also has to face the lover and the life he left behind.
Thanks to: My beta![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
unseen_daydream
Dedication: Today's birthday-child,slowsunrise whom stayed six hours with me in Lund when she could have taken a bus home and slept instead.
If you go to YouTube and search for 'These familiar streets' as a Playlist, you'll find the Playlist I listen to while writing this story~
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"Oi, thanks for helping me with this shit." Lifting up another box on top of another before he bent his knees into a crouch, the blond man then stands up with the stack held firmly in his arms as he looks over at his friend.
"Ah, it's nothing, Sanji! Since what would you do without the glorious Usopp-sama?" He, too, stood with boxes in his arms. Not as much as the other, but enough to make the moving in part go faster than if Sanji would have to do it on his own.
"I'd use the stairs a couple of more times, but on the other hand I wouldn't have to listen to your bragging." Laughing warmly to take the edge of the words, he nudged the pile up more before walking through the open door, against said stairs. He is chewing on his unlit cigarette, wondering how long it would take for the two of them to get all his stuff up to his apartment on the second floor. Too bad Gin had to work today; he could have been of good use…
But right now he has to be thankful for what he got; with the longnose's help he should be able to get everything in at least before nightfall. Taking slow and cautious steps up on the stair so that he wouldn't trip and break the china in the box, he suddenly hears the theme song from 'Super Smash Bro's Brawl' go of from behind him, accompaniment by Usopp's low swearing.
"Damn, who the heck is it now…?" Shuffling is heard, a soft thud as the stack is placed on the stone floor before he answers in an irritated voice. Leaving him to his buzz, Sanji continues walking. "Hello, Usopp here. Oi, Luffy, I don't have time right now; I'm helping a friend move today. What do you mean 'could have told you earlier', I told you yesterday!"
Chuckling a little at the other's clearly irritated and declared tone; the blond man reaches the top of the stairs and is greeted by the sight of a blackhaired boy talking in his mobile. Ignoring the raven, he walks over to the open door into his new apartment.
"No, you didn't! You said we could go to the bowling hall today! Usopp, you're a liar!" The sound of his friend's name made Sanji turn his head over and take a better look on the young man. He is standing with his back to him, but the cook could see that he wore comfortable and baggy jeans and a bright red hoodie, neither of them a fashionable brand. Another sign on the boy's ignorance for fashion was the straw hat that hung around his neck, resting on top of the big hood. It was a huge difference to Sanji's own black suit and dark blue, striped shirt with a black vest.
"Oi, if you want to talk to the longnose in person, then he's downstairs." Nodding over to the stairs to put emphasis on his words, he watches the other twirl around to search for the source of the voice. Even with a couple of meters between them, the blond now could see the scar beneath his left, brown eye. It stretches over the entire cheekbone, and the wound had apparently needed stitches to heal properly. Wonder how he got that one…
"Huh? Who're you?"
"I'm no a liar! Not about that at least!" Now he could hear Usopp's voice through the speaker and the echo which came up from the foyer. And so could the kid, as he pivoted around once again and shouted down the stairs, all the while ignoring the phone in his hand.
"There you are, Usopp! 'm gonna kick your ass for lying to me!" With that, he was gone, rushing down the stairs towards his friend. Sweatdropping at his antics, Sanji sighs and proceeds into the apartment.
Then something struck him as he heard a faint crashing sound; Usopp was downstairs with his stuff, including other boxes with porcelain and papers which would be a total pain in the ass to gather up if they were spread all over the foyer. With that in mind, he puts the stack in his arms down as fast as he can before he rushes out and took the stairs, three steps at a time.
When he finally makes it down, the sight of that blackhaired kid trying to wrestle Usopp on the floor greets him. Luckily, the boxes weren't destroyed nor knocked over, even if it is uncomfortably close as the longnosed man called on some of his hidden strength to try and throw his offender off him. But that proved to be harder than it seemed, as the other stood his ground and used the momentum to roll them over a whole turn so that he once again is on top of the Usopp.
"Luffy! Let go of me!" Wriggling and shaking his legs and arms in his attempts to get free, the wailing body parts flailed too close to the porcelain box for Sanji's liking. So he decides to put an end to it right then and there, by kicking the new boy in the back of his head so that he flew through the foyer and into the opposite wall.
"Ow! Who the heck did that?"
"I did. And leave my stuff out of your silly little argument, unless you want to buy me new plates and cups for a shitload of cash."
"I don't wanna do that, Usopp can do it," wincing and wrinkling his nose, the boy sits up as he rubs the back of his head and points at the other.
"No I won't!"
"Ara, but who will then?"
"You could just stop fighting…?" Sweatdropping at the two, Sanji really wished he could light the cigarette between his lips to let the nicotine help him cool down. But before he took a break, he was going to get the boxes in the lorry into his new home. Thank the Gods that he had gotten help with the furniture by the men who drove his stuff here from Tokyo, or he wouldn't get this done before the next dawn.
"Hmm, yeah that's a good idea." Nodding seriously, he sat cross-legged on the tiled floor while rubbing his chin, not bothered by how a passing old woman looked a bit strangely at him.
"Anyway, if you two shitheads ha-"
"Oi! What the hell have you done with my super wall!" Twitching at the loud voice and slipping into fighting stance the moment he heard it, Sanji pivots around and lifts his right foot, ready to defend himself if the person decided to get violent, or if he just acts in a rude/irritating way.
"Gah, Franky! Listen, it wasn't my fault! Luffy didn't stop so Sanji got pissed, I swear I tr-"
"Cut the crap, Longnose, I know you can't have done this. So that leaves only you, Blondie. Who the heck are you and why are you crashing the walls, huh?" The tall, muscular man pushes his sunglasses up on his forehead as he stares down at the cook, who finally took up a lighter and lit his goddamn cigarette, taking a deep drag of the smoke to calm down. If he remembered right, this Franky-guy must be one of his landlords, the other being said man's wife who he had met yesterday.
"Sorry for the damage, but as Usopp said, that idiot wouldn't listen and I didn't want my things to be crushed in their wrestling match." Standing relaxed with his feet firmly on the ground, he extends his left arm and points at the raven-haired boy with his cigarette, who now had stood up and brushed off his clothes, "So I did what I could to stop them, unfortunately the wall got in the way. Oh, and I'm the new tenant in apartment number 5, Nonohara Sanji."
As he finished speaking and put the cig back between his lips again, the others stood there quiet, the younger males awaiting a reaction from the huge rockabilly dude. The reaction… wasn't quite the one they had expected, as he starts to laugh aloud and then laughs some more at their facial expressions. The sound jumps around in the room, bouncing off the walls and travels up the stairs as an echo; the entire house probably heard him.
Still grinning, he puts his glasses back in place after eyeing the blond man with newly found respect. Sanji feels a little uneasy before this seemingly unstable man, the eyes behind those glasses tickling his skin. But there are no threats in his body language; his shoulders are relaxed just as is his posture, the angry wrinkle between his blue brows now gone.
"I like your style, kiddo! But don't break any walls around here, or you'll have to pay up for it!"
"No worries, it isn't my favorite way of dealing with idiots. Just a successful one," smiling easily as the final trace of threat disappeared into the air, Sanji takes a new drag on his cig while wondering how the heck to continue with this conversation. He needs to get his stuff up, after all. But then, Franky solved that little trouble for him.
"Ah, I didn't introduce myself! 'm Seitz Frank and today I'm feeling super! But ya' can call me Franky or aniki if ya feel like it." He bends his knees and brings his left fist up to his forehead and puts the right one at the small of his back, striking a pose. Luffy grins at him, but Usopp and his blond friend sweatdrop at the older man's behavior.
"Nice to meet you and I don't think so… Now, if you'll excuse me, I have boxes I need o get inside before night falls."
"Oh! I'll help ya' out, buddy. Oi, Straw hat, come help you to."
"Ah, but Usopp and I were going to-"
"If you help Blondie out, Longnose will be finished sooner."
"Yosh! Let's throw some boxes!" He throws his arms up in the air, determination set on his face before Sanji kicks him in the head with his heel.
"Don't throw 'em! I got porcelain in some of those." Pointing at the stack at the door with his thumb, he couldn't help but wonder if this was such a good idea…
"Thank God they didn't break anything…" He mutters to himself, chewing on his cigarette as he took forth some plates and glasses, placing them on the marble counter. Rice is boiling in the white machine to his left; the fish will soon be thaw enough to be sliced into thin pieces and served. But before he could do that, he has to make sure Usopp gets back with the ponzu from the corner store.
Straightening his back, he was looking around the room, taking in all the boxes and furniture. Some would be moved to the soon to be living room, others to his bedroom or the bathroom. Anyway, everything is finally here, ready to be set in any order he wants it to be in, he won't have to care about what anyone else says. Not a master, a partner or a teacher, he was finally totally free to do whatever he wants with his space. And it is an amazing feeling.
"I'm back!"
"Welcome back. Did you find everything?" Walking past the counter, he meets his friend half way through the little corridor, taking the bag offered to him.
"Yeah, ponzu* and some beer, all what you ordered."
"Great," grinning, they walked back to the kitchen part. As the longnose took a seat at the counter, Sanji took forth the ingredients, salmon, shrimp and some octopus before slicing it all very thinly. He feels the other's eyes on him, but pays it no attention as his skilled hands work their way through the seafood with a sharp blade. He's also ignoring how the reflection of the lamp's light on the polished metal makes him think about someone else who used to watch him as he prepared a meal, watching with sharp eyes which never let a single movement escape his memory.
"By the way Sanji, did you know that Nami and Nojiko live nearby?"
"Huh? The princesses live in this complex too?" Feeling his heart beat faster at the thought of the orange haired princess from Genbu, the blond man turns to the rice boiler. He hadn't seen her in quite a while now, having put a distance between himself and her after that one horrible night when she had come on a visit to Tokyo.
"No, they live a few blocks away. But she comes here sometimes, says hello."
"Mhm… Now that you mention it, does anyone else I know live here?"
"Don't think so. There are a couple of other odd folks living here, like Luffy and his big bro, but otherwise it's mostly just normal people."
"Okay." Hopefully no 'normal' people from before… Scooping up the rice into two bowls, he nods to the beer bottles standing on the counter. "Open those for us will ya?"
"Ah, sure!" As he looks back down into the boiler, he feels a pain in his chest, an uneasy feeling only growing stronger and stronger. But he forces it away, puts a smile on his face and serves his friend his rice. There was no point in him sulking, he is moving on, after all. And surely he has done the same…
The black sky is full of twinkling stars and a full yellow moon, shining down on a sleeping night air he breathes in is crisp on the roof he crouches on, as if winter is attempting a final yet futile attempt to hold onto the land before the spring arrives at last. And then only summer remains before fall…
Standing up from his crouch, Zoro unsheathes the white sword, which hung on his right side, the Wadō Ichimonji. Looking down at his reflection in the polished blade, he can almost surmise the shadow of the sword's former master behind him.
Suppressing the urge to whip around and look behind him with the lingering thought of 'maybe' on his mind, as was the case many times before, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Allowing the calm to flow through him, he feels the sword in his hand resonate with his soul; his will flowing out to the very tip of the blade. When he opens his eyes, he knows who is behind him.
"You're late."
"Sorry, Luffy was having troubles with his homework."
"…" He can feel the vein on his forehead throbbing; sometimes these brothers were just too much.
"So, shall we get going then? Since I'm late, there's no reason to sit here the whole night and slack off."
"Ah." As he sheaths Wadō and rises up to his full height, the wind picking up and blowing a cold gust into his face, ruffling his short green hair and makes his earrings bump against each other, creating a chiming sound. Reaching down into his pocket and picking up his black bandana before tying it around his head, the cloth shadowing his eyes, he hears Ace step up next to him to gaze at the view.
The old city stretches out before their eyes, creating a carpet of lights and shadows on which they could find their foothold easily. As they take that first jump, both know exactly where they will land, what tiles on the roof are safe to step on and which are not.
Breaking into a run at the precise moment their feet connect with the roof, they begin a hunt more ancient than one could believe. It is a hunt that has transcended over time, land and sea, going on even when the "normal" world is thrown into chaos.
Their prey of choice is not humans, nor is it some fool's hunt like killing demons or gods. They hunt their own kind and are hunted in kind, by people blessed by the gods, gods that are not their own. Once again leaping towards another roof, Zoro stops to take a peak down at the street bellow, sniffing the air. Still, neither his sensitive sense of smell nor hearing can pick the familiar traces of enemy magic, so they continue their hunt over another rooftop.
As they move swiftly towards the edge, a sudden movement and glint of light within a shadow farther away catches the Byakko's attention. Spinning around, he feels Ace stop as well to look in the direction of the suspicious occurrence.
"So that's where you're hiding…" He can hear the playful tone in the other's low voice, knowing that he was grinning at the thought of a fight. But he himself, on the other hand, feels no real joy. The thrill of fighting an enemy had lost its edge when he lost one of the most important people in this world to those damn lizards and turtles.
Then, their target charged forward, making Zoro draw Sandai Kitetsu with his left hand to block a tonfa aiming for his head. The clang of metal clashing against metal echoes in the night, unheard by normal humans, but for their kind, it is a cry for war.
"Seiryuu." As the sound rings in his ears, he can also hear his swords howl for blood, their killing intent flowing into him. He watches his opponent start grinning at him, a similar kind of madness shining through his eyes.
"Byakko's demon." He hears Ace run off the roof to track down the Seiryuu's partner, but as soon as he had noted it, he had once again focused everything on the man before him.
As he feels the man increase the pressure on his swords, he unsheathes Shūsui and swipes for his belly with the heavy blade. The attack is blocked by another tonfa, yet he can feel the strength holding them budge. This would soon be over…
"Raaah!" Pushing his opponent back, green markings begin to shimmer on his cheeks and shirt-covered arms as he uses the strength his god had blessed him with. When the other takes a quick jump backwards to try and avoid his assault, he just rushes after, pushing him even further against the edge of the roof.
Delivering fast and powerful attacks with the two swords, he doesn't try to hold back his strength nor the violent streak in his technique, a cold anger and feeling of betrayal burning within his chest. It doesn't matter if it is against his principles to fight for revenge; he knows that these feelings will never give in. So he continues allowing the battle cry from his swords echo within him, as he draws the first blood of the night from his opponent with Sandai.
Blocking a crushing swing with Shūsui, the huge ball of steel at the end of the tonfa just an inch away from his face, he can hear a cry of pain from a nearby roof. Apparently Ace has found the Genbu providing backup for this one. Grinning, he slices Sandai against the black haired man's ribcage.
Before the attack is blocked by the second tonfa, more blood stains the cold metal and blood drips down on the dark tiles. Pressing on, he feels the edge slowly cutting through the magical barrier protecting the Seiryuu's body, the taste of victory on his tongue.
The full moon shines down on the sleeping city, uncaring of what it has witnessed, as it was something ancient, something that has occurred under the watchful eye of the moon for centuries now. Something you really shouldn't interrupt if you wish to keep your head attached to your neck.
"Do not drip blood all over the floor. If you do, you'll be cleaning it up."
Flinching a little at the voice of his Master, Zoro proceeds to enter the room, opening the sliding door with a swift motion. The older man is sitting behind a low desk on the floor, going through papers and signing them with his stamp. It is the work of an Emperor, one the green haired man didn't envy. Stepping inside and closing the door behind him, he walks barefoot over the tatami mats before he kneels in front of the desk, placing his swords to his left.
Minutes pass by as he sits like this, not speaking a word as Mihawk finishes his work. Instead he focuses on his breathing, on calming down his racing heart which still beats hard after the hunt and the proceeding fight, pumping adrenaline through his veins instead of blood.
"So…How did today go?"
"We tracked down a team and attacked them, but before we could finish them, they got reinforcement from Genbu. Ace was unable to burn all the arrows so we had to retreat as we were too far away from our own men." Delivering the rapport without hesitation, he readies himself for a reprimand or lecture, whatever the older man might throw at him now.
"… At least you don't attack without thinking anymore." The man heaves out a sigh before continuing, "It was unfortunate that you had to withdraw, but it seems that you at least wounded your opponents badly in kind."
"Severe bleeding from ribs, arm and thighs, plus a couple of broken bones. He was skilled with his tonfas and wore a sweatband, so I'm sure it was Gin."
"Very good." A small smile tugs at his Master's mouth; the thought of Krieg's second in command being nearly being beaten by his adoptive son pleasing him. "So, you're heading back to your apartment or do you want to stay here tonight?"
"I'd rather stay here."
"So be it. Now, go wash all that blood of yourself, would you?"
"Ah. Good night, Master." As he bows his head before grabbing his swords and stands up, Zoro glances toward the spot where he had knelt. There is blood on the mat. "Cold water for getting blood out of things."
Walking through the old house, he hears febrile activity even if though the clock is well past midnight. Not caring to look behind him as he hears the soft footfalls of a woman, he continues walking toward the bathing area with Yuuki following behind.
"Zoro-dono, do you want me to wash and repair your clothes before tomorrow?"
"Yeah." Before he has the chance to move his hand, the small woman had opened the door to the bath for him, waiting for him to step inside. Doing so, he begins to remove his hood before she had shut the door behind him. Piling all his clothes on the floor, knowing that she will pick them up and leave a clean yukata for him to sleep in afterward, he places his swords in a cupboard which he locks and keeps the key on hand.
Proceeding to the washing area, he repeats the night's fight over and over within his mind, breaking it down into parts he can analyze so that he can pinpoint any mistakes he has made. While scrubbing his body clean from sweat and blood, both his and the Seiryuu's, he examines it in search of damages.
His under arms had taken some beating but doesn't appear to be broken, in flesh or bone, nor does his ribs. The wound from an arrow to his left shoulder is closing nicely, but he is careful as he washes the area.
As he rinses himself with cold water, his mind is as focused and sharp as his blades. Ignoring the pain from his screaming muscles and acching bones, he walks into the bathing area where the steaming bathtub layed.
The tub is square and made of wood, the size showing of the wealth of this house, and with its twelwe square metres, it is the smallest one.
Stepping into the hot water and sinking himself down slowly, his scarred body breaks the water's surface and sends small ripples through the fluid. Surrounded by the naearly burning heat, he feels his muscles and tendons relax, his mind begins to drift off. Through a small window, he can see the stars twinkling in the night sky. Weariness and fatigue seep into his mind and numbness replaces the hurt in his flesh.
On the brink of sleep, he can almost hear the words from that fated night once again, even if he had damned them from his mind. Does the stars decide our fate, or are we free to do as we like?
"I don't know anymore, I really don't know…" Murmuring the words to no one in particular, he just wants to sleep, just wants to be rid of the stench of blood coating his body. So he closes his eyes and allows sleep to carry him away, trying to escape from what seemed like a never healing wound.
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Ponzu: is a citrus-based sauce commonly used in Japanese cuisine. It is tart, with a thin, watery consistency and a light yellow color.
Pairing: Zoro X Sanji
Setting: Modern day Kyoto
Rating: M
Chapter: 2
Summary: After almost three years in Tokyo, Sanji now returns to Kyoto to fight in that war again. Problem is, now he also has to face the lover and the life he left behind.
Thanks to: My beta
unseen_daydream Dedication: Today's birthday-child,
slowsunrise whom stayed six hours with me in Lund when she could have taken a bus home and slept instead.If you go to YouTube and search for 'These familiar streets' as a Playlist, you'll find the Playlist I listen to while writing this story~
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"Time heals what reason cannot." - Seneca
Chapter 2
"Oi, thanks for helping me with this shit." Lifting up another box on top of another before he bent his knees into a crouch, the blond man then stands up with the stack held firmly in his arms as he looks over at his friend.
"Ah, it's nothing, Sanji! Since what would you do without the glorious Usopp-sama?" He, too, stood with boxes in his arms. Not as much as the other, but enough to make the moving in part go faster than if Sanji would have to do it on his own.
"I'd use the stairs a couple of more times, but on the other hand I wouldn't have to listen to your bragging." Laughing warmly to take the edge of the words, he nudged the pile up more before walking through the open door, against said stairs. He is chewing on his unlit cigarette, wondering how long it would take for the two of them to get all his stuff up to his apartment on the second floor. Too bad Gin had to work today; he could have been of good use…
But right now he has to be thankful for what he got; with the longnose's help he should be able to get everything in at least before nightfall. Taking slow and cautious steps up on the stair so that he wouldn't trip and break the china in the box, he suddenly hears the theme song from 'Super Smash Bro's Brawl' go of from behind him, accompaniment by Usopp's low swearing.
"Damn, who the heck is it now…?" Shuffling is heard, a soft thud as the stack is placed on the stone floor before he answers in an irritated voice. Leaving him to his buzz, Sanji continues walking. "Hello, Usopp here. Oi, Luffy, I don't have time right now; I'm helping a friend move today. What do you mean 'could have told you earlier', I told you yesterday!"
Chuckling a little at the other's clearly irritated and declared tone; the blond man reaches the top of the stairs and is greeted by the sight of a blackhaired boy talking in his mobile. Ignoring the raven, he walks over to the open door into his new apartment.
"No, you didn't! You said we could go to the bowling hall today! Usopp, you're a liar!" The sound of his friend's name made Sanji turn his head over and take a better look on the young man. He is standing with his back to him, but the cook could see that he wore comfortable and baggy jeans and a bright red hoodie, neither of them a fashionable brand. Another sign on the boy's ignorance for fashion was the straw hat that hung around his neck, resting on top of the big hood. It was a huge difference to Sanji's own black suit and dark blue, striped shirt with a black vest.
"Oi, if you want to talk to the longnose in person, then he's downstairs." Nodding over to the stairs to put emphasis on his words, he watches the other twirl around to search for the source of the voice. Even with a couple of meters between them, the blond now could see the scar beneath his left, brown eye. It stretches over the entire cheekbone, and the wound had apparently needed stitches to heal properly. Wonder how he got that one…
"Huh? Who're you?"
"I'm no a liar! Not about that at least!" Now he could hear Usopp's voice through the speaker and the echo which came up from the foyer. And so could the kid, as he pivoted around once again and shouted down the stairs, all the while ignoring the phone in his hand.
"There you are, Usopp! 'm gonna kick your ass for lying to me!" With that, he was gone, rushing down the stairs towards his friend. Sweatdropping at his antics, Sanji sighs and proceeds into the apartment.
Then something struck him as he heard a faint crashing sound; Usopp was downstairs with his stuff, including other boxes with porcelain and papers which would be a total pain in the ass to gather up if they were spread all over the foyer. With that in mind, he puts the stack in his arms down as fast as he can before he rushes out and took the stairs, three steps at a time.
When he finally makes it down, the sight of that blackhaired kid trying to wrestle Usopp on the floor greets him. Luckily, the boxes weren't destroyed nor knocked over, even if it is uncomfortably close as the longnosed man called on some of his hidden strength to try and throw his offender off him. But that proved to be harder than it seemed, as the other stood his ground and used the momentum to roll them over a whole turn so that he once again is on top of the Usopp.
"Luffy! Let go of me!" Wriggling and shaking his legs and arms in his attempts to get free, the wailing body parts flailed too close to the porcelain box for Sanji's liking. So he decides to put an end to it right then and there, by kicking the new boy in the back of his head so that he flew through the foyer and into the opposite wall.
"Ow! Who the heck did that?"
"I did. And leave my stuff out of your silly little argument, unless you want to buy me new plates and cups for a shitload of cash."
"I don't wanna do that, Usopp can do it," wincing and wrinkling his nose, the boy sits up as he rubs the back of his head and points at the other.
"No I won't!"
"Ara, but who will then?"
"You could just stop fighting…?" Sweatdropping at the two, Sanji really wished he could light the cigarette between his lips to let the nicotine help him cool down. But before he took a break, he was going to get the boxes in the lorry into his new home. Thank the Gods that he had gotten help with the furniture by the men who drove his stuff here from Tokyo, or he wouldn't get this done before the next dawn.
"Hmm, yeah that's a good idea." Nodding seriously, he sat cross-legged on the tiled floor while rubbing his chin, not bothered by how a passing old woman looked a bit strangely at him.
"Anyway, if you two shitheads ha-"
"Oi! What the hell have you done with my super wall!" Twitching at the loud voice and slipping into fighting stance the moment he heard it, Sanji pivots around and lifts his right foot, ready to defend himself if the person decided to get violent, or if he just acts in a rude/irritating way.
"Gah, Franky! Listen, it wasn't my fault! Luffy didn't stop so Sanji got pissed, I swear I tr-"
"Cut the crap, Longnose, I know you can't have done this. So that leaves only you, Blondie. Who the heck are you and why are you crashing the walls, huh?" The tall, muscular man pushes his sunglasses up on his forehead as he stares down at the cook, who finally took up a lighter and lit his goddamn cigarette, taking a deep drag of the smoke to calm down. If he remembered right, this Franky-guy must be one of his landlords, the other being said man's wife who he had met yesterday.
"Sorry for the damage, but as Usopp said, that idiot wouldn't listen and I didn't want my things to be crushed in their wrestling match." Standing relaxed with his feet firmly on the ground, he extends his left arm and points at the raven-haired boy with his cigarette, who now had stood up and brushed off his clothes, "So I did what I could to stop them, unfortunately the wall got in the way. Oh, and I'm the new tenant in apartment number 5, Nonohara Sanji."
As he finished speaking and put the cig back between his lips again, the others stood there quiet, the younger males awaiting a reaction from the huge rockabilly dude. The reaction… wasn't quite the one they had expected, as he starts to laugh aloud and then laughs some more at their facial expressions. The sound jumps around in the room, bouncing off the walls and travels up the stairs as an echo; the entire house probably heard him.
Still grinning, he puts his glasses back in place after eyeing the blond man with newly found respect. Sanji feels a little uneasy before this seemingly unstable man, the eyes behind those glasses tickling his skin. But there are no threats in his body language; his shoulders are relaxed just as is his posture, the angry wrinkle between his blue brows now gone.
"I like your style, kiddo! But don't break any walls around here, or you'll have to pay up for it!"
"No worries, it isn't my favorite way of dealing with idiots. Just a successful one," smiling easily as the final trace of threat disappeared into the air, Sanji takes a new drag on his cig while wondering how the heck to continue with this conversation. He needs to get his stuff up, after all. But then, Franky solved that little trouble for him.
"Ah, I didn't introduce myself! 'm Seitz Frank and today I'm feeling super! But ya' can call me Franky or aniki if ya feel like it." He bends his knees and brings his left fist up to his forehead and puts the right one at the small of his back, striking a pose. Luffy grins at him, but Usopp and his blond friend sweatdrop at the older man's behavior.
"Nice to meet you and I don't think so… Now, if you'll excuse me, I have boxes I need o get inside before night falls."
"Oh! I'll help ya' out, buddy. Oi, Straw hat, come help you to."
"Ah, but Usopp and I were going to-"
"If you help Blondie out, Longnose will be finished sooner."
"Yosh! Let's throw some boxes!" He throws his arms up in the air, determination set on his face before Sanji kicks him in the head with his heel.
"Don't throw 'em! I got porcelain in some of those." Pointing at the stack at the door with his thumb, he couldn't help but wonder if this was such a good idea…
~(TFS)~
"Thank God they didn't break anything…" He mutters to himself, chewing on his cigarette as he took forth some plates and glasses, placing them on the marble counter. Rice is boiling in the white machine to his left; the fish will soon be thaw enough to be sliced into thin pieces and served. But before he could do that, he has to make sure Usopp gets back with the ponzu from the corner store.
Straightening his back, he was looking around the room, taking in all the boxes and furniture. Some would be moved to the soon to be living room, others to his bedroom or the bathroom. Anyway, everything is finally here, ready to be set in any order he wants it to be in, he won't have to care about what anyone else says. Not a master, a partner or a teacher, he was finally totally free to do whatever he wants with his space. And it is an amazing feeling.
"I'm back!"
"Welcome back. Did you find everything?" Walking past the counter, he meets his friend half way through the little corridor, taking the bag offered to him.
"Yeah, ponzu* and some beer, all what you ordered."
"Great," grinning, they walked back to the kitchen part. As the longnose took a seat at the counter, Sanji took forth the ingredients, salmon, shrimp and some octopus before slicing it all very thinly. He feels the other's eyes on him, but pays it no attention as his skilled hands work their way through the seafood with a sharp blade. He's also ignoring how the reflection of the lamp's light on the polished metal makes him think about someone else who used to watch him as he prepared a meal, watching with sharp eyes which never let a single movement escape his memory.
"By the way Sanji, did you know that Nami and Nojiko live nearby?"
"Huh? The princesses live in this complex too?" Feeling his heart beat faster at the thought of the orange haired princess from Genbu, the blond man turns to the rice boiler. He hadn't seen her in quite a while now, having put a distance between himself and her after that one horrible night when she had come on a visit to Tokyo.
"No, they live a few blocks away. But she comes here sometimes, says hello."
"Mhm… Now that you mention it, does anyone else I know live here?"
"Don't think so. There are a couple of other odd folks living here, like Luffy and his big bro, but otherwise it's mostly just normal people."
"Okay." Hopefully no 'normal' people from before… Scooping up the rice into two bowls, he nods to the beer bottles standing on the counter. "Open those for us will ya?"
"Ah, sure!" As he looks back down into the boiler, he feels a pain in his chest, an uneasy feeling only growing stronger and stronger. But he forces it away, puts a smile on his face and serves his friend his rice. There was no point in him sulking, he is moving on, after all. And surely he has done the same…
~(TFS)~
The black sky is full of twinkling stars and a full yellow moon, shining down on a sleeping night air he breathes in is crisp on the roof he crouches on, as if winter is attempting a final yet futile attempt to hold onto the land before the spring arrives at last. And then only summer remains before fall…
Standing up from his crouch, Zoro unsheathes the white sword, which hung on his right side, the Wadō Ichimonji. Looking down at his reflection in the polished blade, he can almost surmise the shadow of the sword's former master behind him.
Suppressing the urge to whip around and look behind him with the lingering thought of 'maybe' on his mind, as was the case many times before, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Allowing the calm to flow through him, he feels the sword in his hand resonate with his soul; his will flowing out to the very tip of the blade. When he opens his eyes, he knows who is behind him.
"You're late."
"Sorry, Luffy was having troubles with his homework."
"…" He can feel the vein on his forehead throbbing; sometimes these brothers were just too much.
"So, shall we get going then? Since I'm late, there's no reason to sit here the whole night and slack off."
"Ah." As he sheaths Wadō and rises up to his full height, the wind picking up and blowing a cold gust into his face, ruffling his short green hair and makes his earrings bump against each other, creating a chiming sound. Reaching down into his pocket and picking up his black bandana before tying it around his head, the cloth shadowing his eyes, he hears Ace step up next to him to gaze at the view.
The old city stretches out before their eyes, creating a carpet of lights and shadows on which they could find their foothold easily. As they take that first jump, both know exactly where they will land, what tiles on the roof are safe to step on and which are not.
Breaking into a run at the precise moment their feet connect with the roof, they begin a hunt more ancient than one could believe. It is a hunt that has transcended over time, land and sea, going on even when the "normal" world is thrown into chaos.
Their prey of choice is not humans, nor is it some fool's hunt like killing demons or gods. They hunt their own kind and are hunted in kind, by people blessed by the gods, gods that are not their own. Once again leaping towards another roof, Zoro stops to take a peak down at the street bellow, sniffing the air. Still, neither his sensitive sense of smell nor hearing can pick the familiar traces of enemy magic, so they continue their hunt over another rooftop.
As they move swiftly towards the edge, a sudden movement and glint of light within a shadow farther away catches the Byakko's attention. Spinning around, he feels Ace stop as well to look in the direction of the suspicious occurrence.
"So that's where you're hiding…" He can hear the playful tone in the other's low voice, knowing that he was grinning at the thought of a fight. But he himself, on the other hand, feels no real joy. The thrill of fighting an enemy had lost its edge when he lost one of the most important people in this world to those damn lizards and turtles.
Then, their target charged forward, making Zoro draw Sandai Kitetsu with his left hand to block a tonfa aiming for his head. The clang of metal clashing against metal echoes in the night, unheard by normal humans, but for their kind, it is a cry for war.
"Seiryuu." As the sound rings in his ears, he can also hear his swords howl for blood, their killing intent flowing into him. He watches his opponent start grinning at him, a similar kind of madness shining through his eyes.
"Byakko's demon." He hears Ace run off the roof to track down the Seiryuu's partner, but as soon as he had noted it, he had once again focused everything on the man before him.
As he feels the man increase the pressure on his swords, he unsheathes Shūsui and swipes for his belly with the heavy blade. The attack is blocked by another tonfa, yet he can feel the strength holding them budge. This would soon be over…
"Raaah!" Pushing his opponent back, green markings begin to shimmer on his cheeks and shirt-covered arms as he uses the strength his god had blessed him with. When the other takes a quick jump backwards to try and avoid his assault, he just rushes after, pushing him even further against the edge of the roof.
Delivering fast and powerful attacks with the two swords, he doesn't try to hold back his strength nor the violent streak in his technique, a cold anger and feeling of betrayal burning within his chest. It doesn't matter if it is against his principles to fight for revenge; he knows that these feelings will never give in. So he continues allowing the battle cry from his swords echo within him, as he draws the first blood of the night from his opponent with Sandai.
Blocking a crushing swing with Shūsui, the huge ball of steel at the end of the tonfa just an inch away from his face, he can hear a cry of pain from a nearby roof. Apparently Ace has found the Genbu providing backup for this one. Grinning, he slices Sandai against the black haired man's ribcage.
Before the attack is blocked by the second tonfa, more blood stains the cold metal and blood drips down on the dark tiles. Pressing on, he feels the edge slowly cutting through the magical barrier protecting the Seiryuu's body, the taste of victory on his tongue.
The full moon shines down on the sleeping city, uncaring of what it has witnessed, as it was something ancient, something that has occurred under the watchful eye of the moon for centuries now. Something you really shouldn't interrupt if you wish to keep your head attached to your neck.
~(TFS)~
"Do not drip blood all over the floor. If you do, you'll be cleaning it up."
Flinching a little at the voice of his Master, Zoro proceeds to enter the room, opening the sliding door with a swift motion. The older man is sitting behind a low desk on the floor, going through papers and signing them with his stamp. It is the work of an Emperor, one the green haired man didn't envy. Stepping inside and closing the door behind him, he walks barefoot over the tatami mats before he kneels in front of the desk, placing his swords to his left.
Minutes pass by as he sits like this, not speaking a word as Mihawk finishes his work. Instead he focuses on his breathing, on calming down his racing heart which still beats hard after the hunt and the proceeding fight, pumping adrenaline through his veins instead of blood.
"So…How did today go?"
"We tracked down a team and attacked them, but before we could finish them, they got reinforcement from Genbu. Ace was unable to burn all the arrows so we had to retreat as we were too far away from our own men." Delivering the rapport without hesitation, he readies himself for a reprimand or lecture, whatever the older man might throw at him now.
"… At least you don't attack without thinking anymore." The man heaves out a sigh before continuing, "It was unfortunate that you had to withdraw, but it seems that you at least wounded your opponents badly in kind."
"Severe bleeding from ribs, arm and thighs, plus a couple of broken bones. He was skilled with his tonfas and wore a sweatband, so I'm sure it was Gin."
"Very good." A small smile tugs at his Master's mouth; the thought of Krieg's second in command being nearly being beaten by his adoptive son pleasing him. "So, you're heading back to your apartment or do you want to stay here tonight?"
"I'd rather stay here."
"So be it. Now, go wash all that blood of yourself, would you?"
"Ah. Good night, Master." As he bows his head before grabbing his swords and stands up, Zoro glances toward the spot where he had knelt. There is blood on the mat. "Cold water for getting blood out of things."
Walking through the old house, he hears febrile activity even if though the clock is well past midnight. Not caring to look behind him as he hears the soft footfalls of a woman, he continues walking toward the bathing area with Yuuki following behind.
"Zoro-dono, do you want me to wash and repair your clothes before tomorrow?"
"Yeah." Before he has the chance to move his hand, the small woman had opened the door to the bath for him, waiting for him to step inside. Doing so, he begins to remove his hood before she had shut the door behind him. Piling all his clothes on the floor, knowing that she will pick them up and leave a clean yukata for him to sleep in afterward, he places his swords in a cupboard which he locks and keeps the key on hand.
Proceeding to the washing area, he repeats the night's fight over and over within his mind, breaking it down into parts he can analyze so that he can pinpoint any mistakes he has made. While scrubbing his body clean from sweat and blood, both his and the Seiryuu's, he examines it in search of damages.
His under arms had taken some beating but doesn't appear to be broken, in flesh or bone, nor does his ribs. The wound from an arrow to his left shoulder is closing nicely, but he is careful as he washes the area.
As he rinses himself with cold water, his mind is as focused and sharp as his blades. Ignoring the pain from his screaming muscles and acching bones, he walks into the bathing area where the steaming bathtub layed.
The tub is square and made of wood, the size showing of the wealth of this house, and with its twelwe square metres, it is the smallest one.
Stepping into the hot water and sinking himself down slowly, his scarred body breaks the water's surface and sends small ripples through the fluid. Surrounded by the naearly burning heat, he feels his muscles and tendons relax, his mind begins to drift off. Through a small window, he can see the stars twinkling in the night sky. Weariness and fatigue seep into his mind and numbness replaces the hurt in his flesh.
On the brink of sleep, he can almost hear the words from that fated night once again, even if he had damned them from his mind. Does the stars decide our fate, or are we free to do as we like?
"I don't know anymore, I really don't know…" Murmuring the words to no one in particular, he just wants to sleep, just wants to be rid of the stench of blood coating his body. So he closes his eyes and allows sleep to carry him away, trying to escape from what seemed like a never healing wound.
-
I air this chapter so soon as a thank you to SlowSunrise who stayed in Lund with me even when I fucked up totally, we had to wait there in six hours. As I've said on my Live Journal, she should have 'AMAZING FRIEND' tattooed on her forehead!
But now you'll have to wait for the following chapters, I want to have time to write and let my beta do her job~
Please tell me what you think of this chapter!
But now you'll have to wait for the following chapters, I want to have time to write and let my beta do her job~
Please tell me what you think of this chapter!
Ponzu: is a citrus-based sauce commonly used in Japanese cuisine. It is tart, with a thin, watery consistency and a light yellow color.
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About the rest and more explanations, you'll have to wait for the future chapters. Glad you enjoyed this one!
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No, I'll be nice ^^ Thank you for your reviews, makes me happy to know people like it!
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And thank you~ The next chapter will be uploaded in about two week ^^
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Oh, and you're Swedish? Do you also go to cons like slowsunrise? It's always nice with ZoSan fans that live a bit closer to you~ 8D
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And why yes, I am! The first time I actually met slowsunrise in person was at a con XD But otherwise, we live about half a country from each other... Though I was at her place this summer X3
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Tjena mittbena ^^
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Du då~?
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Och dude, vart tror du att jag bor? Jag bor i mitten av Sverige! Det är SlowSunrise som bor nära Göteborg X3