Becoming One

Finding Shelter

They walk for what seems like forever, cold and hungry, slightly tired. Sanji became worried they will get hyperthermia if they don't find a place to warm up. 

The worst part is, from the clouds above them, a blizzard is coming, or maybe a small storm but whatever it is the weather is going to take a turn for the worst and if that's the case then they desperately need to get somewhere out of the open and safe. 

Sanji and Zoro are holding themselves, walking slowly as they make their way forward. Sanji's arm bumps into Zoro's who stopped walking. Sanji looks at the marimo, he's about to ask him why he stopped and why is he staring like he's gone crazy, but before Sanji can ask what's he staring at Zoro shouts and runs forward, "a hut!" Sanji turns to where Zoro is heading towards. And just like he said there, hidden by the snow is a wooden hut. 

As they get closer they see it's more than just a hut but a small house. They rush inside as the weather turns for the worst. They sigh in relief as the moderately warm air. 

They take a moment to look around. It wasn't large but it wasn't tiny either. Near the door is an area to leave their shoes so they both take their time taking their shoes off while looking around. The kitchen is to the right, with a window to let air flow, tiles for easy clean up. The rest of the room is tatami mats with a kotatsu in the middle, near a window. This area just seems to be the first room, there is a door near the kitchen and another in front of the kotatsu. 

With their shoes off they walk in, Sanji to look around the kitchen. There are cutlery and utensils, so someone must have been living here at one point, getting a closer look at them all, it must have been recently because everything is polished. Sanji goes to the door near the kitchen, looking inside he finds a pantry with a freezer that uses the weather as a way to keep it cold. Sanji looks at what the jars are holding. Maybe he can make something warm for them to eat while they wait out this weather. 

Zoro goes straight to the door in front of the kotatsu, and all he finds is a room. A bedroom with one futon on the floor, with one pillow and duvet. He looks through the closet to find an extra pillow and duvet. He takes them out and sets them aside, he's got a feeling he's going to need the extra. He looks around more for an extra futon but doesn't find one. He does find crates of extra clothes. For both men and woman, also for any age and size. He found some clothes for infants, babies, toddlers, and young children. Was there a family living here? Zoro takes out some clothes for himself. With that done he looks around to find another door that leads to a bathroom. A large one, but smaller than the one on Sunny. In the corner there is a small room with a toilet, with a sliding door. There is a sink and mirror for washing their face. And cupboards. There is even an area for them to wash the clothes. Further in there is a sliding door that opens to a tiled room. A shower head in one spot with a small round wooden bucket, and wooden seat, with a wooden tub in the back. Zoro sets his clothes down, looking through the cupboards for a towel. He finds one easily enough. He goes towards the tub, turning the faucet on, cold water came out. He quickly turns it off. He'll need to figure out how to get hot water out. 

Sanji makes a basic noodle soup. There was no meat or fish but there are plenty of reserved vegetables and fruits. He'll have to see if Zoro will be willing to go out hunting, if not he'll have to do it. They need meat if they want a more balanced meal. Since they just got here though, this will have to do. When the weather gets better he'll have to explore the area so he knows how far things are, how far this cottage is from the shore Zoro found them at. Sanji finds two bowls and two spoons, he pours them soup. It wasn't the best meal, he knew he could make a meal that's better, but this is is all that he's got. He'll have to do some work later since they don't know how long they'll be here. It could be for months so he's got to think about the long run. 

Sanji turns with the bowls in hand to pause as he sees Zoro sitting at the kotatsu, steam coming off him from a warm shower and bath, he's in different clothes that look warm with a towel around his neck and he's reading a book. Where did he take a shower? Find clothes? Find a book? 

"Where'd you take a shower?" Sanji asks setting a bowl down for Zoro. He looks up, sliding the bowl from the blonde to be in front of himself. 

"In the bathroom. It's in the room." Zoro points to the room with his thumb, the door still open. From his spot he could see one futon on the floor. 

"Clothes?" Sanji asks, starting to eat. 

"Closet."

"The book?"

"It was on the table." Zoro answers as he sets the bowl aside to eat. 

They eat in silence, not saying a word until they finish. Zoro collects the bowls and stands up. "What are you doing?" Sanji asks watching Zoro.

"I'm cleaning up. You should take a shower and bath to warm up." Zoro says, well more like orders. Sanji decides not to argue. He is cold and while the soup warmed him up from the inside, it would be better and safer to warm up and change clothes.  

As he sat in the tub of warm water he couldn't help but think about how Zoro got warm water. But either way he can't complain, he's got warm clothes and they ate. Now they have a roof over their head safe from the natural elements. He should count themselves lucky. If push come to shove Zoro would have need to cut up some trees so they could build a hut themselves. 

Wait a minute, what is he doing sitting around, he should be using this opportunity to talk to Zoro. Sanji hurries to get dressed and out of the room but all he finds when he gets out is Zoro on one half of the futon already asleep. Sanji sighs, he'll just join Zoro.