A One Piece Twist (ZoSan)

A One Piece Twist: Chapter Four

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

A One Piece Twist

Chapter 4

Sanji and Shanks made their way back to the patio and found their group of friends and family all together. With them was a tall, dark haired guy Sanji assumed was Ace, Luffy's older brother. Beside him was a beautiful girl that Ussop was talking to.

Sanji bounded over to her and took her hand, brushing his lips over her knuckles.

"Mellorine!~" He cried, delighted to have seen such a pretty face.

Ussop sputtered and the blonde angel in front of him blushed, the party lights casting soft shadows over her face. "Hello," she greeted softly, "You must be Sanji. I am Kaya Sweet. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine my dear, and may i say what a lovely name you have!" Sanji gushed.

Feeling Usopp's glare, he let go of Kaya's soft hand and took a few steps back.

Despite his energetic outburst, Sanji covered his mouth as he yawned. "I am so sorry, but I hope you all forgive me. I think I'm going to start cleaning up the food and then head to bed. I think I might have had a little too much to drink."

With that he excused himself and started to pick up the empty food trays. He and the waiters made quick work of picking up the used dishes and bringing them to the kitchen. When everything but the refreshments were brought in he started on the dishes, and thanks to the industrial dishwashers,it didn't take too long. Soon everything but the pans that were soaking overnight were done.

Sanji yawned deeply and stretched his arms above his head. The blonde grabbed the pack of smokes out of his pocket and made for the door, heading outside. He headed toward the gazebo on the front lawn, the moonlight casting his shadow across the dark grass as he walked toward the white building.

He stepped through the archway as he stuck the cigarette in his mouth and lit it with his lighter. For a few moments everything was quiet, and Sanji relaxed as he listened to the crickets and the owls. Lightning bugs light up the air with their occasional flashes, making Sanji think of little souls floating through the air.

He sighed tiredly, but content, as he took a long drag of his cigarette, the end of lighting up like one of the lightning bugs. As he let out the smoke from his lungs he became aware of another presence.

"I've been waiting for you," a deep voice said, and despite knowing who it was, it made Sanji shiver.

"What do you want marimo?" Sanji asked, not turning around, as he tapped the ash off of his smoke.

"I wanted to apologize for earlier," Zoro said sincerly and awkwardly, surprising Sanji. "I didn't realize that the bottle was something special to you. Shanks explained that it is for some one special to you."

The blonde chef felt like an ass. Of course Zoro didn't know the importance of the wine. No one outside of Sky Island's family, besides a few individuals, did. "Well, I suppose I can forgive you this one time," Sanji said in mock reproachfulness.

He was tired and he wanted to have this last smoke before he went to bed, but despite his feelings, Sanji found himself trying to make small talk.

"So, how long were you in Europe?" He asked a little timidly before taking another drag.

He didn't see the swordsman, but he heard him lean against one of the pillars in the archway as he said, "For just two years. I actually was born in Japan, but moved here as a child. I've lived here since then and only recently decided I wanted to explore the world."