The Swordsman's Cat ( Zoro X Reader)

Chapter 36 : Loved Yet Alone

Chapter 36 : Loved Yet Alone

Zoro gradually awoke to the sound of water dripping, the faint echoes reverberating around him. His body ached as he lay in the depths of a shallow pool of water. The liquid seemed to envelop him, its soothing properties gently healing his battered form. With a low groan, he muttered,

"What the fuck happened..?"

Summoning his strength, Zoro sat up, his hand instinctively reaching for his left eye. He traced the newly acquired souvenir on his body, his fingers tracing the scar tissue. As he gingerly tried to adjust his vision, he realized that something had changed.

His eye, though different, was adapting, and his focus slowly became clearer.

Taking in his surroundings, he noticed that he was situated within your mother's hot spring. However, the place had undergone a significant transformation. The old furniture had been cleared away, replaced by a lush field of grass and vibrant flowers that surrounded an altar and the hot spring itself. Tiny black spirit butterflies fluttered about, illuminating the area with their ethereal glow.

Yet, what truly caught Zoro's attention was the unusual feature that encircled the hot spring—a black stream of water. It created a natural boundary, seemingly caging him within the hot spring's confines. Beyond this dark water barrier, he spotted a familiar sight—a swirling circle of black flames.

"Double security?" Zoro muttered, his annoyance evident. He couldn't help but wonder what he had done to deserve such an elaborate containment system.

He turned around, curious to see if he was alone in this peculiar situation.

To his surprise, he heard a faint groan from behind him. Zoro's gaze shifted, and he spotted Mihawk slowly rising from the hot spring's waters, mirroring his own experience.

The two swordsmen exchanged puzzled glances, the events of their recent duel still fresh in their minds.

Zoro couldn't help but wear a smug grin as he addressed Mihawk.

"Can't believe you let her take you down," he taunted, his satisfaction evident in his voice. There was a part of him that relished the fact that you had managed to put your father in his place.

Mihawk shook his head, his usual composure slightly shaken. "Perhaps you need a reminder who brought you down, Roronoa," he growled, unwilling to let Zoro's comment slide without retort.

Ignoring Mihawk's response, Zoro decided to make himself comfortable. With no way out of the magical cage you had created, he figured there was no harm in resting for a bit.

"What happened to this place?" he asked, gesturing toward the field of grass and the ethereal butterflies that surrounded the hot spring.

Mihawk raised an eyebrow at Zoro's question and then glanced at the transformed surroundings.

He couldn't help but chuckle before providing an answer, "That's right, you were banned from using the Hot Spring during your training with us. Gatita, decided to 'spring up' the place whenever she dropped by here for her mother. Hence the...drastic change."

As they sat within the magical confines, Zoro couldn't help but shake his head in amusement. It seemed that even in her absence, your presence had left a significant impact on this serene location.

The atmosphere, once solemn and austere, now exuded an air of vibrancy and life, much like your spirited personality.

Zoro's curiosity got the better of him, and he unfolded his arms, leaning in slightly as he probed further. "So... why did your daughter go Feral and attack us?" he inquired, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion.