Life and Trials of a Former Assassin

Chapter 9

"Get out of there Marimo." Sanji ordered.

"Two more minutes." Zoro replied.

Sanji closed the short door and watched the second hand pass on the clock attached to a pillar. They had gone to a Korean spa in the northern suburbs of Chicago called King Spa for the first time. Sanji had seen it advertised and thought it would be a nice change. The main room consisted of ten saunas with varying temperatures, a theater and food court. Upstairs had an oxygen room, infrared room and overly plush arm chairs for naps.

The sauna Zoro was trying to cook himself in was 240 degrees. Sanji didn't even try going in that one but Zoro took it as a challenge to his endurance. Sanji watched the clock as the second hand sailed around and after two minutes opened the door. "Now."

Zoro came out drenched in sweat wiping his head off with a towel. His gray uniform hung from him. Smiling he told Sanji, "We should do this again."

With an unimpressed raised eyebrow Sanji replied, "You're steaming and eww dripping everywhere. I don't want cooked Marimo."

Zoro just laughed and smacked Sanji's ass with the towel. "Come on Curly let's go to the baths."

They had to be completely naked to go in the wet area so once in the locker room they stripped and made their way in. On one wall were stand up showers and on the other were sit down showers. In the middle were four Jacuzzi baths of different temperatures from bath water warm to almost scalding hot and on one side a regular pool. They showered first then relaxed in the bath water warmth.

As Sanji rested back and enjoyed the calm he reflected on his current life. His friends were amazing and a bunch of misfits but perfect together. His old man calmed down and relaxed as his son did bringing the stress of running a massive restaurant to a better level.

Zoro had been patient and loving, sparing with him in the morning then mind numbing sex at night. They fought in the underground twice a month and he was at every one of Zoro's legal matches cheering him on. When he tested out new recipes Zoro would sit patiently and taste as many concoctions that he would come up with even if it was sweets. It was a supportive and caring relationship.

Sanji had never felt so happy and at peace. He felt like everything was going great. He was even thinking of him and Zoro marrying one day. The crazy man brought his life all he needed.

As the two men walked out of the spa Zoro started complaining. "I'm tired I'm overdue for a nap."

Sanji looked around the parking lot looking for their car. "Yeah yeah if you didn't try to cook yourself you wouldn't feel so drained. You need to drink a lot when we get home and eat." He heard Zoro laugh. "Not alcohol."

"Fine." Zoro said.

They heard a feminine voice call "Sanji" in a sing song voice. Both looked up seeing a man and a woman walking to them. Zoro had to do a double take they looked so much like Sanji. The woman had soft features but no mistaking that curly eyebrow. The man looked almost identical to Sanji with just a few changes. He had his hair slicked back and it was green but otherwise there was no denying they were related.

Zoro saw Sanji freeze then grab his hand trying to pull him in the opposite direction of the approaching people. It didn't help as in the midst of Zoro's confusion and shock the two caught up to them. The woman was smiling though it was out of place with the rest of her. The way she was standing was almost in a fighting stance ready to defend and attack if necessary. The man had his arms crossed sneering at them in open disgust. "Who are they?" Zoro asked.

"Marimo we have to go." Sanji tried to pull Zoro away but he stubbornly stayed.

"Sanji what's going on?" Zoro tried to get Sanji to look at him but he was looking down and pulling on Zoro's hand. The pull lacked the strength he usually had and he could feel his partner's hand shaking slightly.