The Princess's Swordsman

Home Again

Chapter 9

Zoro woke up to Shanks shaking him madly, "Zoro! Zoro!" Zoro awoke (it's about time!), looking around, "Where's Robin?" he asked.

"That's what I've come to tell you! I was walking on deck and she wasn't with you, so I checked with the ladies and they haven't seen her either! She's gone!" Zoro's eyes shot open! He grabbed his swords and looked around madly. Then it hit him. She said she had to leave the next morning.

"Shanks!" He twirled around, "It's been great but I won't be sailing with you. Not this time!" He jumped up on the railing of the ship.

"Where are you going?" Pause. The swordsman's voice was deep, and serious.

"I'm going to find her." He dove into the water. Shanks smirked as he stuck a hand under his straw hat to scratch his head, "I wish I had a woman like his."

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The moss head swam all the way to shore. He certainly was strong enough for it! He didn't stop to dry himself off. He darted strait for the woods. He ran, trying hard not to trip. He kept his eyes peeled for a big dress, she most-likely changed back to her own dress before she left.

He spotted something. Was it her? It was! (What else would it be?) She was looking around, with a confused look on her face. She was lost, which is strange because that's Zoro's thing. He watched her. She wasn't confused, or lost really. She knew the way back to Lougetown. But her mind wasn't thinking about the Palace. Her mind was focused on one thing... Roranora Zoro. She couldn't take it anymore. She fell to the ground. His eyes widened as he watched her cry. He made his move. He went up behind her without her hearing. Her face was in her hands. He could hear her sniffing like a little girl.

"Now what's a nice girl like you don't in these woods alone?" She turned her head sharply. There, leaning back on a tree, was a man. A man with green hair and three swords tied to his waste.

"Zoro," she whispered.

"I hear there's a dangerous bounty hunter in these woods." She stood up instantly and ran in his arms.

"Zoro! I'm sorry I left! I wanted to tell you but I didn't know what to say. I'm so glad you found me, I thought you wouldn't come!" She cried into his shoulder. He suddenly slammed her against the tree truck, it didn't hurt her but her eyes were still wide with shock, "Now what makes you think I wouldn't come after you?" She had no time to answer for he started to kiss her madly. He didn't stop at her lips, he moved down to her jaw, to her neck.

"Zoro," she said quietly as he went even lower. She used her hands to pull him away. His eyes were half closed, "Yeah?" he asked.

"We're in the middle of a forest." He chuckled at her comment.

"Yeah, I guess we are." He swung an arm around her shoulder as they walked down the path, "So..." he asked as they walked, "Where were you headed?" She gazed at him with a scared expression on her face. There was fear in her eyes.

Suddenly, the sound of horses and men shouting could be heard. The bounty hunter heard them as well. He acted instantly. He grabbed her by the hand as he pulled her behind a fallen tree, the same tree that she fell off from.

Her heart beat loudly in her chest. Zoro peeked over the tree trunk, before sinking back down, "It's the royal army. What are they doing out here?" She let a tear fell then, "Hey, hey. What's wrong?" She looked at him, with a fake smile on her face.