A Cook, A Doctor, A Ghost and A Ronin.

Friend or Foe?

"What are you doing here, Isurugi?" Zoro called the vendor by his name. The vendor just scoffs at him. The vendor smiled softly at him.

"What, can't I visit my friend? Plus, it's been a while since we'd met each other right?" Isurugi said. He honestly wanted to visit his friend. They've been in quite the pickle in the last four months.

"Nah, I just didn't expect you to be here." He wasn't expecting Isurugi at all. He was shocked the moment he heard Isurugi's voice. He knew that Isurugi would come to talk to him sooner or later, but not this early.

"How's your work? I heard that you become a demon slayer or something." Isurugi wanted to know the progress that Zoro had done. Zoro wasn't shocked by how Isurugi knew this. Isurugi knows his ways around.

"Meh, not too bad. We recently took down an Upper Rank Six." Zoro answered as he shared his recent accomplishment they've made. 

"That's great! You better use that momentum and took down Muzan." Isurugi cheered for Zoro and pray for his success. Zoro raised his eyebrows. 

"How much do you know?" Zoro inquires Isurugi about how much info he knew about things they'd done.

"Pretty much everything, although there isn't much that piqued my interest." Isurugi shrugs. Zoro sighed. He didn't know where did Isurugi knew about this, but he's sure as hell good at it.

"What are you making again?" Zoro wanted to know what Isurugi is preparing for him. 

"I'm making a light dessert for you." He replied. Really? Making a dessert inside a ramen stand? How's that even possible. Zoro wonders how Isurugi do it. Zoro looks uncomfortable.

"Dessert? You know that I-

"Don't worry. I knew that you hated chocolates, so I didn't do any chocolate-based dessert." Zoro gave Isurugi a thumbs up. Isurugi knows his preference.

"Although, which one do you prefer? Sorbet, Panna Cotta or just some old-fashioned yogurt?" Isurugi gave Zoro three choices to choose from

"I'll take anything as long as it's not your coffee." Zoro is okay with anything, as long as it's not Isurugi's coffee. It tastes like shit. Zoro wonders if it's even edible.

"Hey!" That went deep inside Isurugi's heart. It offended him. It pierced his chest and emotion. Up to this day, he still unable to make a decent coffee even though he owns a café. 

"Well, here you go!" Isurugi served Zoro vanilla yogurt with strawberries. It is topped with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of fresh mint.

"Well thanks, I guess." Zoro digs in. It was delicious.

"What's with the long face?" Isurugi ask why Zoro looks annoyed. He already knew the answer to that question. 

"What is it?" Zoro stares Isurugi down. Isurugi looks confused.

"There's no point of beating around the bush anymore." Zoro already knew the true reason why Isurugi is here. Isurugi's expression changed. His soft smile turned to a grin. 

"Well, it's good that you realized it." Isurugi takes off his apron and hangs it. He then sit on a stool that's opposite to where Zoro is sitting.

"What do you want?" Zoro ask what do Isurugi truly want from him. Isurugi's smile turned to a smirk. Isurugi sit on a stool next to Zoro.

"The position is still vacant. Join me and leave them, I could guarantee that you could become stronger than you ever be right now." Isurugi offered Zoro to join him.

"You could be stronger than Doflamingo, Luffy and even Kaido himself! What do you have to say about that?" Isurugi guarantees that he could take Zoro to the next level if Zoro joins him. 

"Leave your crew and join me, I could see your potential. I could help you overcome your limits. Although I can't guarantee you could become stronger than the Caped Baldy." Zoro tilted his head in confusion. Who's Caped Baldy?

"So...what do you think?" Isurugi wanted an answer.

"I refuse." Zoro refused. His loyalty stays with his one and only captain, Luffy the dumb rubber idiot. Isurugi stand up.

"So, what're you going to do? Kill me?" Zoro wondered. He might've died here, but he won't go down without any fight. He'll fight till his last breath.

"Seriously, you think I'm a scumbag? Yeah I am, but I have standards. I'm not going to kill you or use anyone close to you as a bargaining chip." Zoro raised his eyebrows. Did he think of doing that?

" I respect your decision. Besides, I prefer if you join me voluntarily. If that's your answer, I'm fine with that.  Although, the offer still stands. If you wanted to change your mind, you know where to turn to." He slap Zoro on the back. Zoro is confused.

 He was hostile with Isurugi as he didn't knew what Isurugi is going to do if he refuse. He could tell that the barista wasn't lying. How could the barista just let him go that easily? Although Zoro could tell that it's hard to understand what is the barista is thinking about. Most people weren't going to be happy with a refusal. Yet, he just accepts it. 

"But I forgot to ask you a question. What are you doing here at the first place?" Now it was Isurugi's turn to ask him a question.

"Well, I'm here because the dem- oh shit!" How can I forgot what I'm doing here? To kill demons! I forgot about that shit! Zoro was carried away by Isurugi that's been distracting him.

"I got to go, I forgot something important." Zoro stands up and he was about to leave, until Isurugi stopped him.

"What are you doing?" Zoro wanted Isurugi to get out from his way. He wanted to take care of unattended business.

"Don't worry, I'll get it covered in....." Isurugi assured that he'll take care of this matter as he pulls out a clock from his pocket. According to his calculations, it'll happen in a brief moment.

"Right....now!!" Isurugi exclaimed as he look down the street, waiting for something to happen. He pocketed his clock. He looks excited. Zoro also curious about what is he waiting for.