Still Continuing New Year Gift~ Part B of You Raise Me Up! ^___^
Sorry for making you wait~, here's the PART B of the story~ XDDD
You Raise Me Up (B)
By the time Sanji could calm his temper, he had made an extra food for dinner, forgetting that the marimo had been sent out. He sighed to his pathetic bratty attitude. And here he thought he was the older one, the grown up one, yet he had let the heat of moment got into his head like a fucking teenager.
Zoro’s words had fucking hurt him in a way it shouldn’t have and it pissed him off because he didn’t know why. It was true Sanji was no one to him, but could he at least count on the time they passed together? It was fucking two months for God’s sake. Did that mean really nothing to the boy? Well, yeah, he still couldn’t get any information about the boy aside him being an ex-leader of a gang, but that was just because he wanted Zoro to tell him. He knew Zoro didn’t like him intruding his personal matter, so he had waited, but he never let anything slip out. Why would it be so hard for him to understand that he cared…!?
Sanji widened his eyes at the revelation of his own feeling. Is that it? Is that because I care…? It freaking hurts because I have grown to care about that brat? The blond let out a frustrated sigh and slammed his head down on the table. Great… Just fucking great, Mr. Prince… Way to go to the awkward feeling…
Sanji had never good at this. Of course, he had no problem sweet-talking the ladies and he was proud of that, but building a relationship was another thing. He wouldn’t say he didn’t care for them; oh he loved ladies for acquaintances and friends, but to actually care for the extent of having long relationship as more… he couldn’t even think about that. One night stand was okay, but something like relationship needed more stability and conviction in both parties and of course, responsibility as well.
And right now, he had begun to feel it. Stability… he’d settled these two months when he was with the marimo, no more antics and plays. Conviction… he’d determined to let the boy rely on him fully, wanting him to open up and share things. Responsibility… and he felt responsible of his well being, their well being, together.
Family…
These two months… he was feeling the warmth of family again… for the first time after Zeff died.
Sanji got up after looking at the clock, 1 a.m. he noted, and walked to the living room. He winced at seeing the damaged door, but something distracted him more. The room was eerier and colder than it should be. He looked outside the door and saw the snow. No wonder it was really cold…. Sanji remembered his time when he had to survive a harsh snowy night, hungry and cold. He shook his head as a thought came to him.
That brat… doesn’t bring any coat, does he?
An unsettling ominous feeling was churning in Sanji’s stomach. He didn’t want to admit, but he was worried. Despite their fight and Zoro’s hurtful words… “Damn it!” Sanji stomped to his room, took a coat and wore it himself before he took another one and then left the house.
OoooZxSoooO
Zoro had just finished his fight. He looked at the bodies laying around him, beaten up and groaning. Those fucking gangsters still sniffed him around after two months. Couldn’t get over their leader leaving them apparently. “I told you I don’t want to be your leader anymore. Just accept it, damn it.”
It was cold and freezing. The damn snow didn’t help either. Zoro panted slightly and he could see his own breaths turned into white puffs. He shouldered his white sheathed katana and walked away. Not even a single scratch on his body. He was stronger right now… because he had something to protect aside his own life and his dream.
Zoro walked aimlessly on the street, not minding his shivering body because of the cold weather. After the third turn and he fucking came back to the scene, he gave up.
Zoro sat down on a rock near those bodies and looked at the sky. It was pitch black like a black sheet with crystal snows decorating here and there. It was pretty beautiful…. He chuckled slightly at the thought. It might have been because of Sanji’s sentimental thought. Whenever the blond cook said something completely ridiculous about something romantic, Zoro would normally scoff and they would fight after that before realizing how stupid that was. But now he wondered if Sanji’s thought was contagious.
He found everything more alive and beautiful after he lived around Sanji. He wondered why….
No, he already knew the answer. It’s because he… towards Sanji….
“Zoro!”
Zoro snapped as he heard the voice. He looked aside and found the blond cook run to his direction. Zoro widened his eyes at the sight and gaped as Sanji practically jumped and kicked him down… on his head, hard.
Zoro kissed the ground at the impact. “What the FUCK-!?” he was about to yell and lash out as suddenly a warm coat was draped on his shoulder. He looked in widened eyes at the coat, completely puzzled before suddenly he was hugged by the guy in front of him. At this point, Zoro was confused as hell.
“Stupid asshole! Don’t go around with those fucking clothes in the middle of winter. You’ll catch a cold!” Sanji scolded, tightening his hug at the cold body in his arms.
“W-what…!” Zoro was completely bewildered at the treatment. He didn’t understand.
“This is fucking annoying! I forgot you’ve gone and made extra food and now I don’t know what to do to the food, so you’d better eat that when we come home,” Sanji continued as he stroked Zoro’s hair and forced him to stand up with him still holding the boy closely.
“W-wait a-,” Zoro stuttered. “Let-, let go! What are you doing?” The boy could feel the warmth around him, contaminating his face and body as his heart thumped faster as well; tears started to gather in his eyes even though he tried to blink it away furiously.
“Shut up and come home with me, shit head. You have to repair the door. The living room is fucking freezing because you broke it,” Sanji then released Zoro a bit to look at his dark emerald eyes sternly with his baby blue. Zoro could see it in his visible eye, the longing and the concern.
There was silence following after that before Zoro’s choked voice broke it. “Why…?” he whispered slightly, closing his eyes in pained look. “Why would you look for me…? Why would you want me back…?” After what he had said to him, why would he…?
Sanji looked at the boy and lowered his gaze before he closed them as well. “Isn’t it obvious? It’s weird if you’re not around. I can’t get used to it,” Sanji brought Zoro down to bury his face on the crook of his neck and the boy sniffed lightly. He held the boy’s head and embraced him tightly on his chest. “Come on, let’s go home, Marimo.” Sanji smiled as he felt the warm wetness on his neck. He kissed the tip of Zoro’s hair and he felt the warm feeling once again seeping into his heart.
OoooZxSoooO
“So… what’s that pile of bodies?” Sanji asked after both were back on his living room. The front door had been momentarily shut with piles of thick blankets; at least they were enough to cover the room from the wind and the snow assault.
Zoro looked at Sanji for a moment before sighing. “You will not give up, huh?”
“Of course not, I am a stubborn person,” Sanji said proudly.
“Hell yeah,” Zoro chuckled a bit at that and Sanji was surprised to see the boy actually let him see the rare occasion. Zoro settled for a moment before he started speaking. “I guess, you already know a bit about my background, right? I am the first son of San to Ryuu Group, and was the heir, the ex-leader. Three months ago, my family was massacred by our allies, leaving no family members of San to Ryuu-” Sanji widened his eyes at the revelation, but kept silent as Zoro continued “-But they let me live because I have qualification to become the leader. They made me a next puppet leader of Neo San to Ryuu group. However, two months ago I rebelled and beat the shit out of them before running away; and you found me on the street.”
He paused slight, looking at Sanji for any reaction. Sanji kept his impassive look at Zoro, nodding and urging him to continue. Zoro nodded. “In short, I betrayed my family out of revenge because they killed my previous family. I didn’t kill them though… that would make me the same as them. They seek me out to be brought back, that’s why I am in constant danger and if I am around you, you’ll be in danger as well. Your restaurant will be in danger. Everyone around me will be in danger,” Zoro made a pained face. “I don’t want to feel like that ever again… losing everything… I don’t want it… I am scared…! I am so scared to trust anyone… when I think that someday something like that would happen again… when I think I might lose everything again… I… don’t want to have anything. I don’t want to be attached to anything. I…!?”
Zoro was surprised when Sanji had already moved beside him and hugged him again. “I know… I understand….”
Zoro narrowed his eyes. “Then why are you doing this?” he struggled, trying to break free. “When I said I don’t want to be attached to something, I mean this!” but somehow, Sanji’s hug on him didn’t even loosen. “Don’t be so kind to me! Don’t be so freaking caring about me! I’ll get… to you…!” he closed his eyes, unable to contain the tears again as they forced themselves out of his eyes. “I hate you…! I hate you, stupid-dartbrow cook!” Zoro once again buried his face on Sanji’s chest now, hands clenched on Sanji’s sweater strongly.
Ah… this was this marimo’s kid’s side… Sanji realized and tightened his hold even more. It was his vulnerable side Zoro was trying to hide so badly because of the fear and the anxiety of losing something important. And Sanji was breaking that barrier that kept it safe. But it was okay… because now they would make something stronger in return that could hold them together.
A bond…
That barrier would melt into a bond and that would be stronger to keep the fear and anxiety… no; to create a reassurance and comfort, warmth and love, and strength. No matter how harsh their life would be after this, as long as they had that bond, they would be able to face it strongly.
Zoro was sound asleep after he tired himself out, crying on Sanji’s hold. Sanji smiled slightly as he saw the boy’s content face. He kissed the boy’s forehead and whispered in his ear, “I’ll always be by your side from now on. Good night, Zoro....”
OoooZxSoooO
When the next morning came, Zoro felt exceptionally warm and comfortable in his sleep. It was a very nice feeling and he smelled something wonderful around him. It was as if he were embraced by warm spring weather…. It might be because of the blanket… Zoro thought absentmindedly as he stirred slightly, not bothering to open his eyes. Only when he felt something move beside him and felt a steady breath on his face, Zoro blinked open his eyes.
Zoro widened his eyes in a horror and gaped in a freaked shocked look as he found Sanji’s sleeping face so close in front of his, arms tangling on his back and waist and he would have screamed if he wasn’t Zoro Roronoa.
W-w-wait a sec-! What the-, what’s going-, what’s with this-!?
Zoro’s mind couldn’t even process a coherent thought. He was too shocked, too confused to comprehend this situation. Why was he asleep beside the blonde!? Why did they embrace each other like that!? He was still using his clothes, right!?
In a panicked state, Zoro peered slightly under the blanket and felt relief washed over him when he saw that they indeed were still in their respectable clothes, but that didn’t live long as last night event suddenly crashed back into his head and he couldn’t help blushing madly at that.
Zoro Roronoa had been fucking crying on Sanji Black’s chest and acting completely like a brat throwing a fit. He could die in embarrassment now. If there were a hole somewhere near, he would like to be swallowed and buried, hiding himself there for the rest of his life! His face was still crimson red and he didn’t want Sanji to see him like that. No, not a chance.
Don’t wake up please…
Zoro prayed silently. He stayed still for more moments after he got over his embarrassment. Then he studied Sanji’s feature. Last night… the cook didn’t say anything to him when he was crying. No assuring words or anything like that. He just said he understood and let Zoro cry out his heart content. And then… Zoro didn’t know if that was a dream or not, but…
Zoro closed his eyes. He could still hear that tiny soft voice that whispered to him.
I’ll always be by your side from now on…
The warmth and the comfort he felt after that… was that because of Sanji…?
When Zoro opened his eyes again, Sanji stirred slightly and his eyes began to flutter open. Zoro was panicked and couldn’t do anything except gape and widen his eyes again. The cook blinked slightly as he saw Zoro’s dreadful look and chuckled. “Nice expression to show in the morning, Zoro.” And he kissed the top of Zoro’s nose
The use of his normal name and the gesture that followed after made Zoro choked. “D-did you just-!?” he couldn’t believe his ear and his eyes and even this reality. Sanji black couldn’t have kissed him on his nose. That was freaking bizarre.
“What? That’s how I show my love,” Sanji smirked and Zoro’s face faltered. “Or might be, it’s too soon for a brat like you?” he taunted.
Zoro’s face exploded in red crimson at that. “P-perverted bastard!” he shouted in anger and embarrassment at the same time while trying to get away from the blond cook, but the hand on his waist and back didn’t let him. “What’s with this, stupid cook!? You can’t just-!” Zoro was in a panicky, confused as well of the sudden shower of affection.
“Hmm? I already said it last night. ‘I’ll always be by your side from now on.’ This is the follow up,” Sanji grinned.
“Wait a-! I didn’t think it would be something like this! Let go! Hey-!”
But Sanji shut Zoro’s protest with a light kiss on the boy’s lips. Sanji then looked at the boy’s shocked red embarrassed expression. “First time?” he asked knowingly.
“Bastard!” Zoro struggled more, still blushing, but now more of anger and annoyance that the cook got the upper hand. “Let me say this, if you’re serious about this, fine, I can comply, but don’t expect me to be your bitch!” he shouted frankly and blatantly in determined voice.
“Who says I want a bitch? Sometimes being dominated isn’t that bad,” Sanji smirked teasingly at the boy.
“I-I am still underage,” Zoro retaliated lamely.
Sanji laughed at the forced excuse. “And here you’re always bitching about wanting to drink sake.”
“Shut up!” Zoro grinded his teeth and stuck a tongue out at Sanji, acting just like a child.
Sanji smiled seeing so many expressions (mostly anger and embarrassment though) surfaced on Zoro’s face. He ruffled the boy’s hair and put his forehead on him while closing his eyes contently. “Just like this… it’s fine for a bit longer….”
Zoro gradually calmed down and then looked at Sanji’s gentle expression for sometimes before Sanji opened his eyes and stared back at him in fond of gaze. “W-would you make onigiri later?” Zoro asked slowly, trying to come up with something that would annoy the blond.
“Sure,” Sanji said as he was getting up. “But you have to repair the door first and do the dishes later,” Sanji smirked at him superiorly. Zoro groaned at that and grumbled insult at Sanji. “I heard that, so you do something to those blankets as well.”
Zoro cursed at that now.
Well, family or not, he still needed to beat some senses into that boy’s head first anyway. Then slowly… they would make a wonderful family, filled with love and comfort.
As long as they’re together… they could stand strong and face every test life would give them later.
Life is wonderful.
XxXxOoooZxSoooOxXxX
Omake~~~
Later…
“Hey, Zoro, why do you know so many things about me?” The blond asked while peeling a potato. “It’s infuriating that you know everything about me but I don’t.”
“Oh… that. I guess you already forgot, huh?” Zoro replied absently from the dining table.
“What is it?”
“You helped me once when I was lost… four or five years ago, maybe. Since then I’ve always watched you from afar.”
… There was a brief silence before “Creepy bastard, you’ve stalked me since you’re ten?” Sanji shook his head.
Zoro fell from his chair. “I have not! What the hell-!?” he protested in red face.
“Well, it’s not like I mind though…, perverted marimo,” Sanji snickered playfully.
“You’re the pervert here, idiot-cook,” Zoro huffed.
“Patch of green moss.”
“Ero-cook.”
“One celled algae.”
“Stupid dart-brow.”
“Love you.”
“… -too”
Indeed, life is good~.
The End
Note:
1)San to Ryuu: Three and Dragon (you know, with different kanji and stuffs, like how to spell it, it’s different from Santōryu or ‘Three Swords Style” even though it’s pronounced almost the same).
A/N: *Sighs* Stupid fucking computer and internet... I actually wanted to post it yesterday, but of well... Once again HAPPY NEW YEAR for all of you! XD I wouldn’t mind a bit of comment… what do you think of this piece? The omake? I couldn’t resist *hearts*
The previous part: Part A