Chapter 10 - Food Poisoning

Body*Squeals* I had so much fun on saturday! I went to an anime convention at the mall near me. It was so wonderful to be surrounded by my crazy otaku peers!! I dressed as Hinata from Naruto. It made me so incredibly happy when people would shout 'Hinata!' at me and take my picture. I got hugged by a Sasuke and groped by a Sanji. Well, the Sanji was my friend, but she still did it, the little freak. The best part of my whole day was kissing Zoro. Yeah, that's right. I. Kissed. Zoro. My life is now complete. But then again... It wasn't really in the way that might sound. The Zoro was a very adorable five-year-old. I got to kiss him on the cheek and I even got a picture of it!! I'll have to put all the photos online. I got lots of pics of all the pretty cosplayers! I can't believe how much fun I had!*Remembers what she's supposed to be typing* Oh yeah... The fic. ^^;Well, I promise to try and make this chapter cute and snuggly. Well, at cute and snuggly as Zoro would allow. It all depends on what my fingers decide to type, though. I'll try and persuade.I doesn't own Da Piece..-o-Chapter Ten-o-"Stupid Love Cook!!" Zoro swore for the hundredth time.Earlier that morning, Nami had announced that they would be reaching land that afternoon. It had been decided that they'd stay the night at the island to rest and gather supplies. Not even Zoro could deny that this was a perfect opportunity. If he could get his captain alone, he'd finally be able to put an end to this whole affair. Or at least that's what he continuously told himself. The only problem was that he was feeling quite nauseous. Zoro, who never got sick, immediately blamed it on Sanji's cooking. The fact that no one else who had eaten was feeling sick didn't even begin to change his mind about the matter. After all, it's not like he had butterflies or anything. Zoro never got butterflies.Aside from his case of "food poisoning" Zoro couldn't help but recall the last plan he had that was similar to this one. It was hard to forget the day he spend wandering around town searching for his idiotic friend. He really wasn't too keen on repeating that experience, either. Fortunately for him, Chopper had come up with a plan.<Storage room, the previous evening>"Why don't you just follow him?" Chopper sat on a crate, dangling his feet."I was thinking about that, but Luffy's good at disappearing in a crowd when you don't want him to.""Well, you could always try asking him to eat with you like you planned to last time. This time ask him before we dock, so he can't get away.""I would, but..." Zoro trailed off. He didn't want Nami to see him leaving with Luffy. He couldn't risk the woman following them and ruining everything."But what?"Zoro considered telling Chopper about Nami. He knew he could trust the reindeer not to tell, but that wasn't what kept him quiet. Even if the woman wasn't his favorite person, he still considered her one of his nakama. He wouldn't mind strangling her in her sleep, but he couldn't expose her secret. This was between him and her."I'd rather meet up with him after we leave the ship."Chopper just rolled his eyes. Zoro didn't say so, but the gesture was extremely cute when performed by the tiny doctor. "No one will think anything of you two leaving the ship together, you know.""It's called being cautious," The swordsman replied."Whatever you say..."Zoro shifted uncomfortably. He felt a touch guilty for hiding the truth from Chopper. The little fuzz-ball had dug a spot for himself in Zoro's heart. The swordsman could barely keep from spilling his guts. Tony had a way of doing that to people. Especially Roronoa."Do you have any other ideas?""Well... I do have one.""What is it?""What if I leave with Luffy?" Chopper suggested. "We can pick someplace to 'accidentally' bump into you. Then I'll find an excuse to leave and you'll have Luffy all to yourself!" Zoro didn't appreciate the emphasis on the last three words, but he couldn't say the plan wasn't a good one. "That's perfect, Chopper," Zoro said with a grin.The reindeer beamed at his friend, obviously proud of himself."But where will we meet up? We've never even been to this island before.""Uhhh..." The doctor hadn't considered that part of the plan yet."Well, it doesn't matter," Zoro added quickly, seeing the look on Chopper's face. "We can figure that out when we get a look at the island."<End of flashback>"I see it! I can see the island!!" Usopp shouted eagerly from the crows nest.Zoro and Chopper immediately ran to get a good look. At first the island was hardly a pinprick on the horizon, but as they got closer, the shapes of hills and buildings could be seen. Zoro looked for the most noticeable landmark he could spot. He tapped Chopper on the shoulder as soon as he found what he was looking for."See that tower?" The man asked."The one with the red roof?""Yeah, that one. Do you think you could meet me there?""Okay." Chopper nodded.The two were visibly excited. Their plan was beginning to come together. All they needed to do now was-"Zoro!"The green-haired pirate nearly yelped when Luffy suddenly appeared behind him, grabbing him by the arm."Let's explore the island together, okay?" Luffy was practically hopping with enthusiasm."Uh.. Y-yeah," Zoro's nausea from the 'food poisoning' was beginning to worsen."Yay! Nami gave me some money. We can get food! Doesn't that sound great?""Yeah..." The pirate looked a shade pinker than usual. Of course, Zoro would later blame it on his feverish state due to Sanji's cooking.The 'ailing' swordsman wasn't really surprised to see that Chopper was nowhere to be found. The reindeer had picked of the habit of doing that whenever Luffy and Zoro were together for even a brief moment. Zoro looked at his captain who was chanting 'meat' to himself repeatedly. You could have sworn the boy hadn't just eaten his own weight in bacon that very morning. ((AN: *Gags*))"Luffy.." Zoro began."Huh?" The boy wiped some drool from his lips. "What?"Zoro had the sudden urge to hug his friend. When he realized what he was thinking, he quickly averted his eyes from Luffy."Nothing. Forget it, Luffy.""Zorrroo~!!" Luffy shook his friend's arm and whined. "You better not act weird again today. I want us to have fun!" He ended his statement with a grin.Zoro's face turned bright red. Luffy frowned at Zoro's silence."Zoro-" Luffy was interrupted when his friend grabbed him around the neck and gave him a noogie. Hell, if I can't hug him, I'll just do the next best thing. Zoro refused to admit how much he was enjoying the close contact with the boy."Owowowow~!!"The swordsman stopped grinding his knuckle into Luffy's scalp and laughed. "Of course we'll have fun, stupid."Luffy grabbed Zoro's arm - which was still wrapped around his neck - and threw his friend over his shoulder in front of him."Yeah, we will." Luffy grinned down at his friend who was now lying on the deck, face up.Zoro couldn't help but laugh. Luffy joined in immediately. All thoughts of his former plan were forgotten as Luffy reached out a helping hand. Gladly accepting the gesture, Zoro took it and pulled himself up once more. I don't care if Nami sees us. It wont be too hard to hide away in a big city like that anyway. Zoro turned to look at the island again. Something's going to happen today. I'll make sure of that. Today he would tell Luffy. What would come of his confession, he didn't know, but the possibilities were racing through his mind. "Zoro?""...Hmm?""What are you looking at?" Luffy was staring at the island with his head cocked to one side."Nothing.""Are you looking at that restarant?"The pirate scowled. Restaurant? How can he make out what any of those buildings are? Zoro wouldn't have doubted that the boyish captain had smelled the restaurant rather than seen it. "No, Luffy. I wasn't looking at any restaurants.""Oh?"Zoro could see that his friend wasn't paying attention now that he had somehow spotted a food establishment. He couldn't help but ruffle his captain's hair as he walked away."You had better not take off without me."Luffy smiled. "Don't worry, I wont."Roronoa couldn't wipe his own smile from his face as he left the boy to gaze at their destination. Things had turned out a bit unexpected, but he could work with this situation. It had seemed to turn out the way he had planned before. Only this time, it was Luffy who invited him. He could only hope that things would continue to go as smoothly.-o-o-o-o-o-o-It seemed as though they'd sailed an eternity to reach the dock. When they finally made it, Zoro and Luffy had disappeared before the rest of the crew had even finished with preparations."I swear!" Nami sighed. "I expect this from Luffy, but Zoro too?" "Nami-san~!" Sanji sang. "Don't worry about those idiots. Let's just get started with our shopping, shall we?""You're right, Sanji-kun," The cook's chest swelled at the words. "I'm better off not thinking about those two. If I'm not careful, I'll start to wrinkle young because of them...""It would be impossible even for those two to mar your perfect face, Nami-san," Sanji assured his crush. He could see more than just usual irritation in her eyes and wanted desperately to help. Unfortunately for him, showering her in compliments was all the woman would allow him to do."Thank you, Sanji-kun," Nami said with a smile, that despite the emptiness Sanji could clearly see, melted the cook's heart.-o-o-o-o-o-o-"So, where do you want to eat, Luffy?""Uhhh..." Luffy was looking all around, searching for the perfect restaurant. "I don't know... You can pick," he said indecisively. "But pick some place that serves meat." Ha added quickly."What, do you think I'd choose some vegetarian restaurant?""I dunno... You're weird, Zoro."Roronoa laughed at the statement. "You're calling me weird?""Yeah," Luffy answered, failing to catch the playful insult.Zoro meant to sigh, but it ended in a chuckle. He couldn't help it. Being alone with Luffy was making him unusually giddy. Actually, he was beginning to sicken himself."Hey," Zoro pointed out a building. "How 'bout we eat there?""Okay!" Luffy quickened his pace, wanting to eat as soon as possible."Slow down! It's not like the food will run away."Luffy grinned. "It might not be cooked yet.""I doubt they have livestock running around in there just waiting to be killed and eaten."Luffy laughed. "That would be weird!""Just like you. A restaurant like that would be perfect for you.""I'm not weird!""Are you kidding..?""...Yes."The two of them entered the restaurant laughing. A few or the employees eyed them as they made their way to a table."Oh no... We've got loud customers again," One waitress said to another. Her friend eyed Zoro's weapons. "Loud customers with swords..."-o-Chapter End-o-Yay! I've been good, right? I didn't leave you all hanging for weeks like I've done before. I guess I can't help but want to write. It's finally getting closer and closer to that time we've all been waiting for! I know I've been dragging things along a bit, but I can't help it. My favorite kind of romance is the kind that's long, painful, and drawn out. I figure Zoro would probably do it this way. He's got a lot of pride. If he was going to put it all on the line like that and tell Luffy what he feels, of course he'd draw it out. That's a big risk, you know?Anyway, I want to know what you guys think! Tell me what you're expecting to happen, what you hope will happen, and what you don't want to happen. You know, all that lovely stuff. If I get any good suggestions, I wont hesitate to use them. Keep in mind though: I wont write anything too... adult going on between them. Their union is too innocent in my mind for that. I will promise, however, that in the end there will be enough kittens and fluffiness to choke a donkey. I just have to work my way up to it.Oh, and by the way, I really want to apologize for any Nami fans that may have been offended by my portrayal or our lovely redhead. I really do love Nami. You just have to understand that I needed to make her this way to keep my idea going. Everything will be spiffy in the end though, just bear with me a little while longer. Just don't dis' Nami-swan, 'cause I love her, okay?Review if you like kittens!! *heart*

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