Leaving - chapter 12 part 3
the last part of the story...
Zoro stood at the foot of the hospital bed looking down on the fragile being that was once his mother. Several tubes and wires came from her body to hook to various monitoring machines. An anonymous file had been sent to the hospital detailing what had been done to her during captivity, making him wish that his father had made the bastards suffer a whole lot more than he did before killing them. If only he could bring them back he’d make sure they suffered a lifetime of hell before letting them cross over to the afterlife.
Below in the morgue, he had been asked to identify the body of his father as Smoker stood at his side. He knew he should hate him for letting everything happen to his mother, but the medical files also had notes about how the ‘other’ had been manipulated to collect false information. Instead, Zoro felt honor as he looked down at the man who had raised him; understanding that what his father did was done with good intent. He whispered his gratitude to the fallen warrior as they pulled the sheet back over his head. Finally, closure was found as they bowed their heads in respect when Ryuuma was slid back into the vault.
No words were said, but the feel of Smoker’s large hand on his shoulder remained even now. Should he need anything, the detective would always be there. Ace had wrapped his arms around him tightly when they exited the cold room; the dark haired man’s never ending warmth spreading through him. Zoro allowed himself to return the embrace and envied his godfather for having someone who meant so much to him.
A small warm hand wove into his and Zoro was startled out of his thoughts. He looked down to see a small blond with tears streaming down her face next to him, bunny clutched tightly to her chest.
“When she heard that your mother was in the hospital, she insisted on coming.” The cook gave him a cocky smile as he leaned against the doorway. “She wasn’t the only one, but she was the most persistent.”
“What are you doing here, shit-cook?” Zoro scowled and tried to cross his arms over his chest but couldn’t seem to get the right one to cooperate. Chimney held tight and leaned against him, the wetness from her tears soaking into his jeans. He was glad he’d had a chance to get cleaned up before she saw him. He could only imagine her reaction to him being covered in blood. Zoro’s anger deflated as the young girl tried to comfort him and he gave in to the little bit of compassion he had in his heart. In one big swoop, he picked her up and closed his eyes as she cried against his shoulder the tears he couldn’t seem to make. “You know she shouldn’t be here.”
“Maybe, but I just couldn’t seem to say no to those big eyes.” Sanji noted the hint of a smile touch Zoro’s lips and began to relax. He walked over to join them as Zoro continued to stand vigilant at his mother’s side. “You were there for her when Kokoro was in the hospital and she wanted to return the favor. You support the people you care about.”
There was silence for several minutes while Sanji watched them, then he heard the rough whisper. “Thank you.”
Zoro opened his eyes just in time to see the cook’s close as Sanji leaned in and kissed him. It was soft and tender and lasted long enough for him to register it for what it was, then the cook was gone. Deep red spread across Zoro’s face as he watched the blond leave without another word. Zoro settled into the plush recliner next to his mother’s bed, adjusting the still clinging bundle so they could both be comfortable. His eyes closed and soon they were both asleep.
“…enough for today.”
“…understand that…”
Voices around him brought him out of his nap and Zoro opened his eyes to look around. He was alone in the chair, but not the room. There were two people in white lab coats and another dressed very inappropriately for her age. The sight of Dr Kureha brought him fully awake and Zoro jumped up out of the chair.
“Good to see you back with us,” the old doctor jeered. “You should be happy. Thanks to someone very special, your mother will be able to recover. There’s even a good chance that she’ll be able to live a normal life.”
Zoro blinked a few times as the words registered and then let his body slump as he leaned back against the wall. Relief filled his soul and he could feel the emptiness beginning to fade. “Then I owe my life to that person.”
Kureha began to laugh as she walked out the room. “Remember you said that, brat.”
Lifting his head to look at the remaining two doctors, Zoro recognized one to be Usopp’s wife Kaya. She smiled at him gently and shook her head before turning to leave. The final doctor turned around and Zoro stumbled back. .
“You? You’re the one who saved her?” There was the teenage looking creation that had been on his mother’s videos
“Shut up asshole! I don’t need your praise!” The doctor ran from the room in a panic, leaving behind his chart.
Confused, Zoro looked down to the bed to see his mother staring back at him smiling. She opened her mouth to speak but only strangled sounds escaped.
“Shhh. Don’t try to talk. There’s plenty of time for that later.” Zoro hurried to her side and sat on the edge of the bed. He took the hand that weakly reached for him and held it as though it would break.
“Nii-san.” The word was barely audible and he almost didn’t catch it. When it finally registered he looked away and tried to deny what he’d heard. But… he never could lie to his mother very well.
“Hai, kasan.” Zoro hung his head, knowing what she was referring to but not wanting to accept. “I saw the video. I know that’s supposed to be my brother, but it was because of it that you are like this. They did this to you in order to find out how you made it. How do you expect me to accept when you’ve suffered so much? If it weren’t for that thing, you’d be… you’d…”
He made the mistake of looking back at her face. There was a knowing look in her eye that spoke loudly. It was silence for a moment before Zoro nodded in defeat. “You’d be dead and I would be talking to a headstone again. I get it.”
There was a light squeeze from the hand in his and he looked up to meet her eyes. She smiled and closed her eyes, falling back asleep as he kept watch. He stayed with her until Kaya came to check her vitals again and assured him she was doing well.
His stomach growled and he suddenly was curious as to where the cook had ended up. Wandering around would get him nowhere so he stopped at the nurse’s desk to ask if anyone had seen him. A young Candy Striper led him to the cafeteria where he found the ragged blond sitting by himself and talking on the phone.
“…few more days then I’ll be home. Look shitty geezer, I said I’d be back and now I’m coming back! I know you can’t get that place back up and running without me.” Sanji leaned back over the top of the chair and sagged like a rag doll. He heaved a heavy sigh and groaned. “Well it’s a little late for that now. Just shut your trap and get some rest old man.”
Sanji snapped the phone shut and tossed it onto the table. “How’s she doing? Your mother.” He looked over his shoulder to gaze tiredly at Zoro.
“Resting. Your father?” Zoro pulled out a chair and sat at the table behind him.
“Not. He’s already checked himself out of the hospital and is trying to help with the reconstruction of the restaurant. Of course he’s blaming it all on me.” Sanji turned around so he could look at the other man without straining his neck. “Have you had a chance to meet him yet?”
“Who, your old man?” His head already hurt from the hunger in his gut, making him try to think was only making it worse. When an answer didn’t come, Zoro opened his eyes to see what could possibly keep the cook’s mouth shut. He could see the blonde walking back from the counter with a tray of food.
“It’s not the best but it’s edible. I’ll get you something better when we get back to the apartment.”
Zoro looked at the food a moment before his stomach let out a loud growl he couldn’t ignore. He accepted the tray with a nod and dug in. The cook was right, it wasn’t anything like his cooking but at least it would fill him and keep him going for now. An uncomfortable silence fell between them, and Zoro began to think about the conversation he had walked up on. “You’re finally able to go home now. So get your shit out of my place and leave already.”
The curled brow rose above a shocked blue eye as a look of amusement passed quickly over Sanji’s face. “Yah, yah. And leave you alone in that big bed of yours. That’d be too easy.” There was another minute of silence as Sanji waited for the argument that never came. Realizing that the trauma of what had happened was probably blocking all other thoughts, he didn’t press the issue and instead changed the subject. “Will you let him move in with you?” Realizing the idiot still didn’t get who he was referring to, Sanji explained a little further. “Chopper, your little brother. The one your mom made for you. Will you take him home with you?”
The swordsman froze and stared at the last bite of bread that was midway to his mouth. Home. He hadn’t given it a thought yet. It had been hard enough letting the cook come into his life, although he had never eaten better in his life. The diner might lose his business for good if… The thought of the diner brought back memories of his father and suddenly Zoro wasn’t hungry anymore. He put down the food and pushed the tray away. “What business is it of yours?”
“Well as your wife, I’d like to know how many people we’re going to be taking care of. The girls I’m sure will have questions and that nosey landlord, not to mention we need to know how to care for him. I don’t know the first thing about….”
The words never reached Zoro’s ears as he thought of the teenager tending to his mother and remembered the pleading look she gave him as she tried to speak. If it was her wish, he’d try but calling that thing brother was out of the question. First was the problem of even getting close enough to talk to it.
-/-/-/-/-/-
Chopper smiled happily as he checked Sarah’s vitals again. Now that the sedatives were almost out of her system she was able to communicate a little more. She had told him her injuries had taken a long time to heal, but she had been able to move and walk for the last three years. Doctor Hogback had needed her coherent in order to discuss her work so the only times he had drugged her were when Ryuuma was around. Many times she had tried to tell her husband she was ok, but he had been blinded by the exaggerated lies of their captors. Physically, Sarah would be able to recover, but her mental state would require a very tender touch. Chopper made it his mission to see that she had everything she needed to make that possible.
After an hour of searching, Chopper decided that this man was either a mastermind at not being caught or he was able to duplicate himself into several copies. The man’s scent was everywhere! He had tried to follow it out of the hospital room and ended up on the roof. Then he picked it back up in the neonatal ward and followed it to the ER. Again he picked it up going to the morgue and lost it somewhere around the cardiac wing. When he was about to give up, he stumbled upon a fresh trail leading to the cafeteria. There in the back corner he found the man he was searching for fast asleep.
There were so many things he wanted to ask his big brother. All of the stories Sarah had told him though didn’t prepare him for the real thing. The guy was intimidating. Still, momma had promised him that Zoro would like him so he trusted in that and approached the table.
“Zoro?” Chopper poked him in the shoulder and jumped back. When the sleeping man didn’t move, Chopper moved in to poke him again.
Zoro’s eyes opened just a slit. “Oi.”
“Aaahh!” Chopper screamed and ran behind one of the large columns.
As Zoro had previously seen, the doctor appeared to be hiding the wrong way. His brow rose in question over one eye as he tried to make sense of it. “Aren’t you doing that backwards? You do know I can still see you.”
Chopper scurried to right himself and peeked out around the column. “I’m not afraid of you!”
The swordsman let out a small laugh and shook his head. “I think mom needs to do some more work on you.”
“Momma won’t be able to work for a while. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with me! She said so herself.” Chopper stepped out and shook his fist threateningly. They stared at each other in open curiosity, each studying every detail of the other. “You don’t look like her very much.”
“Neither do you. But that’s to be expected.” Zoro narrowed his eyes at the little guy and pointed at the chair across the table. “We need to talk.”
It amazed Zoro at how lifelike the creature seamed. Oz was machine wrapped in human parts, a monster in every possible way. But this thing sitting across from him was different. Zoro could feel the heat from its body and see the rise and fall of its chest. This machine was eons beyond any other technology the world had ever seen.
“Mom said that you were a birthday present for me.” The only response Zoro got was a nod. “Why?”
Chopper blinked several times, clearly confused. “Because you were lonely. She said that she saved me so that I could-“
“Saved you?” Now it was Zoro’s turn to be caught off guard. “What are you?”
“Mostly I’m human, but she had to replace several parts because of the extensive injuries. She put in a microchip processer to help with brain function and the bones in my arms and legs had to be replaced as well. I lost part of my intestines, but she said what I had left would be enough if I ate correctly. One of my eyes is artificial and my kidneys and lungs aren’t organic but my heart…” Chopper’s eyes filled with emotion. “My heart is definitely human.”
“You’re real? And she did all this for me?” Zoro tried to understand what would make his mother do something so extensive just for him. True her research would end up saving millions of lives, but to test it out on a kid and give him as a present? Zoro slumped back in his chair in bewilderment.
“She loves you.” Chopper moved to the seat next to Zoro and studied him with a very serious look. “All of the other doctors said I would die because of my injuries. After they left I was scared and crying, and she happened to be passing by. When I told her what they said she tried to comfort me. When I told her I didn’t have a family she told me about hers. She talked to me for hours each day. I learned all about you.
With no family the state had to make a decision about what would happen to me. The only relative I had was a distant cousin who wanted nothing to do with me. I begged Momma to save me so that I could have a brother like you. So she got him to sign over custody and adopted me. After that there were several surgeries and a lot of rehabilitation but here I am. The brother she always wanted to give to you but never could.”
Thoughts kept colliding in Zoro’s head as he tried to wrap his mind around everything. A mother that had been presumed dead for four years. A father that had basically committed seppuku because of his own shame. A brother that was half human, half his mother’s technology. A blonde cook that had invaded his house and his mind. Cyborgs, assassins, intruders, lovers. This had been the week from hell. Zoro rubbed his temples and groaned.
“Are you ok, brother?” Small hands began probing at his head and chest to check for the reason for his pain. “You weren’t hurt bad were you? I thought they checked you over really good. I know Sanji tried to hide his injuries but I could tell.”
“He’s hurt? How bad?” Zoro sat up straight and alert, the ache in his head pushed back for the moment.
“A few stitches on the bottom of his left foot. The cut in his abdomen didn’t require stitches, but he’ll need to take it easy for a week or so. Otherwise he’s fine.” Chopper cocked his head to the side. “He seems to care about you a lot.”
“He’s just a shitty cook. But… I owe him. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t have found her. Or you I guess.” Zoro crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at the teen. “Just where have you been hiding?”
“Hiding? I haven’t been hiding? I’ve been living in your apartment building for over a year now with Dr Kureha. I’ve been in the elevator with you a time or two. We shop at the same grocery store. I even sat behind you at the diner once.”
“What the fuck!” Zoro threw his hands up, frustrated. A strange sound caught his ears and he looked to see his new little brother covering his mouth with both hands, trying to stifle his laughter. “Glad you’re amused.”
That sent Chopper into a fit of laughter and the more Zoro tried to quiet him down and argue, the harder the little doctor laughed to the point of tears rolling down his cheeks. It didn’t take long for the cafeteria workers to come and ask them to leave. Together they walked back to Sarah’s room, Chopper talking the entire time as Zoro nodded and grunted. It would take some getting used to, but knowing that at least most of his little brother was real helped greatly in his acceptance. Zoro stood in the doorway as he watched the teen talk animatedly with his mother, telling her all about their talk and how they were getting along. Her smiling face sealed his decision and Zoro wondered if he would need to buy a new place since all the rooms were filled at the apartment.
Zoro stood at the foot of the hospital bed looking down on the fragile being that was once his mother. Several tubes and wires came from her body to hook to various monitoring machines. An anonymous file had been sent to the hospital detailing what had been done to her during captivity, making him wish that his father had made the bastards suffer a whole lot more than he did before killing them. If only he could bring them back he’d make sure they suffered a lifetime of hell before letting them cross over to the afterlife.
Below in the morgue, he had been asked to identify the body of his father as Smoker stood at his side. He knew he should hate him for letting everything happen to his mother, but the medical files also had notes about how the ‘other’ had been manipulated to collect false information. Instead, Zoro felt honor as he looked down at the man who had raised him; understanding that what his father did was done with good intent. He whispered his gratitude to the fallen warrior as they pulled the sheet back over his head. Finally, closure was found as they bowed their heads in respect when Ryuuma was slid back into the vault.
No words were said, but the feel of Smoker’s large hand on his shoulder remained even now. Should he need anything, the detective would always be there. Ace had wrapped his arms around him tightly when they exited the cold room; the dark haired man’s never ending warmth spreading through him. Zoro allowed himself to return the embrace and envied his godfather for having someone who meant so much to him.
A small warm hand wove into his and Zoro was startled out of his thoughts. He looked down to see a small blond with tears streaming down her face next to him, bunny clutched tightly to her chest.
“When she heard that your mother was in the hospital, she insisted on coming.” The cook gave him a cocky smile as he leaned against the doorway. “She wasn’t the only one, but she was the most persistent.”
“What are you doing here, shit-cook?” Zoro scowled and tried to cross his arms over his chest but couldn’t seem to get the right one to cooperate. Chimney held tight and leaned against him, the wetness from her tears soaking into his jeans. He was glad he’d had a chance to get cleaned up before she saw him. He could only imagine her reaction to him being covered in blood. Zoro’s anger deflated as the young girl tried to comfort him and he gave in to the little bit of compassion he had in his heart. In one big swoop, he picked her up and closed his eyes as she cried against his shoulder the tears he couldn’t seem to make. “You know she shouldn’t be here.”
“Maybe, but I just couldn’t seem to say no to those big eyes.” Sanji noted the hint of a smile touch Zoro’s lips and began to relax. He walked over to join them as Zoro continued to stand vigilant at his mother’s side. “You were there for her when Kokoro was in the hospital and she wanted to return the favor. You support the people you care about.”
There was silence for several minutes while Sanji watched them, then he heard the rough whisper. “Thank you.”
Zoro opened his eyes just in time to see the cook’s close as Sanji leaned in and kissed him. It was soft and tender and lasted long enough for him to register it for what it was, then the cook was gone. Deep red spread across Zoro’s face as he watched the blond leave without another word. Zoro settled into the plush recliner next to his mother’s bed, adjusting the still clinging bundle so they could both be comfortable. His eyes closed and soon they were both asleep.
“…enough for today.”
“…understand that…”
Voices around him brought him out of his nap and Zoro opened his eyes to look around. He was alone in the chair, but not the room. There were two people in white lab coats and another dressed very inappropriately for her age. The sight of Dr Kureha brought him fully awake and Zoro jumped up out of the chair.
“Good to see you back with us,” the old doctor jeered. “You should be happy. Thanks to someone very special, your mother will be able to recover. There’s even a good chance that she’ll be able to live a normal life.”
Zoro blinked a few times as the words registered and then let his body slump as he leaned back against the wall. Relief filled his soul and he could feel the emptiness beginning to fade. “Then I owe my life to that person.”
Kureha began to laugh as she walked out the room. “Remember you said that, brat.”
Lifting his head to look at the remaining two doctors, Zoro recognized one to be Usopp’s wife Kaya. She smiled at him gently and shook her head before turning to leave. The final doctor turned around and Zoro stumbled back. .
“You? You’re the one who saved her?” There was the teenage looking creation that had been on his mother’s videos
“Shut up asshole! I don’t need your praise!” The doctor ran from the room in a panic, leaving behind his chart.
Confused, Zoro looked down to the bed to see his mother staring back at him smiling. She opened her mouth to speak but only strangled sounds escaped.
“Shhh. Don’t try to talk. There’s plenty of time for that later.” Zoro hurried to her side and sat on the edge of the bed. He took the hand that weakly reached for him and held it as though it would break.
“Nii-san.” The word was barely audible and he almost didn’t catch it. When it finally registered he looked away and tried to deny what he’d heard. But… he never could lie to his mother very well.
“Hai, kasan.” Zoro hung his head, knowing what she was referring to but not wanting to accept. “I saw the video. I know that’s supposed to be my brother, but it was because of it that you are like this. They did this to you in order to find out how you made it. How do you expect me to accept when you’ve suffered so much? If it weren’t for that thing, you’d be… you’d…”
He made the mistake of looking back at her face. There was a knowing look in her eye that spoke loudly. It was silence for a moment before Zoro nodded in defeat. “You’d be dead and I would be talking to a headstone again. I get it.”
There was a light squeeze from the hand in his and he looked up to meet her eyes. She smiled and closed her eyes, falling back asleep as he kept watch. He stayed with her until Kaya came to check her vitals again and assured him she was doing well.
His stomach growled and he suddenly was curious as to where the cook had ended up. Wandering around would get him nowhere so he stopped at the nurse’s desk to ask if anyone had seen him. A young Candy Striper led him to the cafeteria where he found the ragged blond sitting by himself and talking on the phone.
“…few more days then I’ll be home. Look shitty geezer, I said I’d be back and now I’m coming back! I know you can’t get that place back up and running without me.” Sanji leaned back over the top of the chair and sagged like a rag doll. He heaved a heavy sigh and groaned. “Well it’s a little late for that now. Just shut your trap and get some rest old man.”
Sanji snapped the phone shut and tossed it onto the table. “How’s she doing? Your mother.” He looked over his shoulder to gaze tiredly at Zoro.
“Resting. Your father?” Zoro pulled out a chair and sat at the table behind him.
“Not. He’s already checked himself out of the hospital and is trying to help with the reconstruction of the restaurant. Of course he’s blaming it all on me.” Sanji turned around so he could look at the other man without straining his neck. “Have you had a chance to meet him yet?”
“Who, your old man?” His head already hurt from the hunger in his gut, making him try to think was only making it worse. When an answer didn’t come, Zoro opened his eyes to see what could possibly keep the cook’s mouth shut. He could see the blonde walking back from the counter with a tray of food.
“It’s not the best but it’s edible. I’ll get you something better when we get back to the apartment.”
Zoro looked at the food a moment before his stomach let out a loud growl he couldn’t ignore. He accepted the tray with a nod and dug in. The cook was right, it wasn’t anything like his cooking but at least it would fill him and keep him going for now. An uncomfortable silence fell between them, and Zoro began to think about the conversation he had walked up on. “You’re finally able to go home now. So get your shit out of my place and leave already.”
The curled brow rose above a shocked blue eye as a look of amusement passed quickly over Sanji’s face. “Yah, yah. And leave you alone in that big bed of yours. That’d be too easy.” There was another minute of silence as Sanji waited for the argument that never came. Realizing that the trauma of what had happened was probably blocking all other thoughts, he didn’t press the issue and instead changed the subject. “Will you let him move in with you?” Realizing the idiot still didn’t get who he was referring to, Sanji explained a little further. “Chopper, your little brother. The one your mom made for you. Will you take him home with you?”
The swordsman froze and stared at the last bite of bread that was midway to his mouth. Home. He hadn’t given it a thought yet. It had been hard enough letting the cook come into his life, although he had never eaten better in his life. The diner might lose his business for good if… The thought of the diner brought back memories of his father and suddenly Zoro wasn’t hungry anymore. He put down the food and pushed the tray away. “What business is it of yours?”
“Well as your wife, I’d like to know how many people we’re going to be taking care of. The girls I’m sure will have questions and that nosey landlord, not to mention we need to know how to care for him. I don’t know the first thing about….”
The words never reached Zoro’s ears as he thought of the teenager tending to his mother and remembered the pleading look she gave him as she tried to speak. If it was her wish, he’d try but calling that thing brother was out of the question. First was the problem of even getting close enough to talk to it.
-/-/-/-/-/-
Chopper smiled happily as he checked Sarah’s vitals again. Now that the sedatives were almost out of her system she was able to communicate a little more. She had told him her injuries had taken a long time to heal, but she had been able to move and walk for the last three years. Doctor Hogback had needed her coherent in order to discuss her work so the only times he had drugged her were when Ryuuma was around. Many times she had tried to tell her husband she was ok, but he had been blinded by the exaggerated lies of their captors. Physically, Sarah would be able to recover, but her mental state would require a very tender touch. Chopper made it his mission to see that she had everything she needed to make that possible.
After an hour of searching, Chopper decided that this man was either a mastermind at not being caught or he was able to duplicate himself into several copies. The man’s scent was everywhere! He had tried to follow it out of the hospital room and ended up on the roof. Then he picked it back up in the neonatal ward and followed it to the ER. Again he picked it up going to the morgue and lost it somewhere around the cardiac wing. When he was about to give up, he stumbled upon a fresh trail leading to the cafeteria. There in the back corner he found the man he was searching for fast asleep.
There were so many things he wanted to ask his big brother. All of the stories Sarah had told him though didn’t prepare him for the real thing. The guy was intimidating. Still, momma had promised him that Zoro would like him so he trusted in that and approached the table.
“Zoro?” Chopper poked him in the shoulder and jumped back. When the sleeping man didn’t move, Chopper moved in to poke him again.
Zoro’s eyes opened just a slit. “Oi.”
“Aaahh!” Chopper screamed and ran behind one of the large columns.
As Zoro had previously seen, the doctor appeared to be hiding the wrong way. His brow rose in question over one eye as he tried to make sense of it. “Aren’t you doing that backwards? You do know I can still see you.”
Chopper scurried to right himself and peeked out around the column. “I’m not afraid of you!”
The swordsman let out a small laugh and shook his head. “I think mom needs to do some more work on you.”
“Momma won’t be able to work for a while. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with me! She said so herself.” Chopper stepped out and shook his fist threateningly. They stared at each other in open curiosity, each studying every detail of the other. “You don’t look like her very much.”
“Neither do you. But that’s to be expected.” Zoro narrowed his eyes at the little guy and pointed at the chair across the table. “We need to talk.”
It amazed Zoro at how lifelike the creature seamed. Oz was machine wrapped in human parts, a monster in every possible way. But this thing sitting across from him was different. Zoro could feel the heat from its body and see the rise and fall of its chest. This machine was eons beyond any other technology the world had ever seen.
“Mom said that you were a birthday present for me.” The only response Zoro got was a nod. “Why?”
Chopper blinked several times, clearly confused. “Because you were lonely. She said that she saved me so that I could-“
“Saved you?” Now it was Zoro’s turn to be caught off guard. “What are you?”
“Mostly I’m human, but she had to replace several parts because of the extensive injuries. She put in a microchip processer to help with brain function and the bones in my arms and legs had to be replaced as well. I lost part of my intestines, but she said what I had left would be enough if I ate correctly. One of my eyes is artificial and my kidneys and lungs aren’t organic but my heart…” Chopper’s eyes filled with emotion. “My heart is definitely human.”
“You’re real? And she did all this for me?” Zoro tried to understand what would make his mother do something so extensive just for him. True her research would end up saving millions of lives, but to test it out on a kid and give him as a present? Zoro slumped back in his chair in bewilderment.
“She loves you.” Chopper moved to the seat next to Zoro and studied him with a very serious look. “All of the other doctors said I would die because of my injuries. After they left I was scared and crying, and she happened to be passing by. When I told her what they said she tried to comfort me. When I told her I didn’t have a family she told me about hers. She talked to me for hours each day. I learned all about you.
With no family the state had to make a decision about what would happen to me. The only relative I had was a distant cousin who wanted nothing to do with me. I begged Momma to save me so that I could have a brother like you. So she got him to sign over custody and adopted me. After that there were several surgeries and a lot of rehabilitation but here I am. The brother she always wanted to give to you but never could.”
Thoughts kept colliding in Zoro’s head as he tried to wrap his mind around everything. A mother that had been presumed dead for four years. A father that had basically committed seppuku because of his own shame. A brother that was half human, half his mother’s technology. A blonde cook that had invaded his house and his mind. Cyborgs, assassins, intruders, lovers. This had been the week from hell. Zoro rubbed his temples and groaned.
“Are you ok, brother?” Small hands began probing at his head and chest to check for the reason for his pain. “You weren’t hurt bad were you? I thought they checked you over really good. I know Sanji tried to hide his injuries but I could tell.”
“He’s hurt? How bad?” Zoro sat up straight and alert, the ache in his head pushed back for the moment.
“A few stitches on the bottom of his left foot. The cut in his abdomen didn’t require stitches, but he’ll need to take it easy for a week or so. Otherwise he’s fine.” Chopper cocked his head to the side. “He seems to care about you a lot.”
“He’s just a shitty cook. But… I owe him. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t have found her. Or you I guess.” Zoro crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at the teen. “Just where have you been hiding?”
“Hiding? I haven’t been hiding? I’ve been living in your apartment building for over a year now with Dr Kureha. I’ve been in the elevator with you a time or two. We shop at the same grocery store. I even sat behind you at the diner once.”
“What the fuck!” Zoro threw his hands up, frustrated. A strange sound caught his ears and he looked to see his new little brother covering his mouth with both hands, trying to stifle his laughter. “Glad you’re amused.”
That sent Chopper into a fit of laughter and the more Zoro tried to quiet him down and argue, the harder the little doctor laughed to the point of tears rolling down his cheeks. It didn’t take long for the cafeteria workers to come and ask them to leave. Together they walked back to Sarah’s room, Chopper talking the entire time as Zoro nodded and grunted. It would take some getting used to, but knowing that at least most of his little brother was real helped greatly in his acceptance. Zoro stood in the doorway as he watched the teen talk animatedly with his mother, telling her all about their talk and how they were getting along. Her smiling face sealed his decision and Zoro wondered if he would need to buy a new place since all the rooms were filled at the apartment.