Too Far Gone (Zoro-centric) COMPLETE

Just Laugh, Because we are Together Again.

It was just them here.

Zoro breathed out, stilly shaky. But his voice didn't waver as he asked about what he had asked and denied himself for five years. With foolish hope in his eyes and soul, he spoke.

"Can I sail with you again?"

xxxxx||===============>

"Zoro...are you an idiot?"

Luffy asked, his eyes shadowed by his worn straw hat. Zoro winced slightly averting his eyes. There was a long silence, and when Zoro had the courage to look up, Luffy was trembling, looking down. Zoro bit his lip, and took a step back.

"I-It's fine if you--"

"UWAAAAAH!!!"

Stunned, Zoro found himself on the ground as Luffy pounced on him, and as he felt something drop and wet his bandages, along with the sound of hiccups and sobs matching the trembling, Zoro realized that Luffy was crying. He felt himself tear up as well, for the third time in his life, and hugged Luffy back. Luffy looked up at the swordsman, who's bond was equal to that of his brothers'.

"Baka...you never left...!"

The crew burst out of the galley, joining the "Nakama Mountain" as Usopp called it later on. All Zoro could do, unseen at the bottom of such a heavy pile, was smile in relief.

They all fell asleep there, unfortunately. Robin was the only one who hadn't joined in, and chuckled as she kept the ship on course.

(Afterwards)

It was breakfast, and the galley was noticeably quieter than usual. This was their first normal day after Luffy became Pirate King. Zoro was back! But what now? Everyone wanted someone to do something. Even Luffy was less boisterous as usual.

Chopper coughed.

"Um...after that fight, I'm worried about everyone...so...can everyone take these pills for me?" None of the crew could refuse, and they each took one and swallowed. They resumed eating like before. Soon enough, dinner had ended. Nami stood up in the way everyone knew she was going to announce something.

"So, who's going to...EEEEH?!" It was silent as everyone stared at the navigator in surprise.

"My VOICE!!"

--was at an incredibly high pitch, and Zoro's unscarred eye was wide. After a few seconds of silence, Usopp patted Nami on the back.

"Woah woah- calm dow--AHH! ME TOO?!"

"DONT TOUCH NAMI-SWA--the hell?!"

"What's--hey! What happened to my SUPER voice?!"

"Yohohohohohoho! It seems I can finally reach the high notes! Though I'm quite tall already!"

Robin chuckled, revealing she was affected as well. "Fufu. Chopper, why have you given us the helium pills?"

Chopper blushed, and looked over at the swordsman. The crew followed his gaze. Zoro was shaking, head down and hand covering his mouth. His free hand held the uneaten pill. At first the crew was worried, until they heard a few chuckles escaping.

Sanji realized that Zoro was trying desperately to conceal his snickers at the scene, and a weight was lifted off his chest.

'Just this time.' Sanji would let it pass. Drawing his face as close to Zoro's as he dared, the chef let a heavy scowl adorn his face. Zoro noticed the approach and glanced up at the blonde. Sanji stared the swordsman eye-to-eye.

"And what the hell do YOU think is so funny, HUH?!?!"

Any other time, Zoro would have sent back an insult, but, the statement, added with the unimpressed expression and incredibly high voice, Zoro snorted, clamping his mouth shut at one last attempt to be silent, to no avail.

"You think this is funny, moss-head?!"

That did it, and the swordsman's face suddenly became so much younger as he howled in laughter, not noticing the crew's blatant staring.

"Pfft...*barely restrained laughter*! Oh, god, Love-cook! You-Pft---! *uncontrollable snorts and chuckles* Oh, Man if only I could record this...!"

The crew watched their swordsman's mirth, his rare genuine grin that they hadn't seen in so long was so incredibly contagious, and they laughed along with him. The swordsman laughed--cackled, even--holding his stomach, and his other hand on the table. The chef's grin widened as he realized the swordsman used his nickname for him. It was somehow depressing how Zoro had called him by his first name ever since he was recovered back on Dragon's ship.

"HAHA--ow, my stomach hurts, but still--"

Zoro couldn't stop as all the heavy stress and guilt vanished and he laughed until he could no more, relieved that it was undoubtedly, over. The family drew coloser, centering around the swordsman in a hug, relieved and happy, overjoyed and in mirth.

It was over.

They got their swordsman back.

Their first mate.

Their nakama.

Their family.

A brother.

Too far gone...and back again.