Chapter Text
Zoro meets Kuina when he’s eight years old.
Calling them instant best friends would be a complete misnomer because, while Zoro might worship the ground she walks on thanks to her skill with a sword, Kuina first looks at him like he’s lower than the dirt beneath her shoes. It’s only when he remains insistent on beating her as his rival, indifferent to the fact that she’s a girl, that she starts to tolerate him.
Over the years their friendship grows until it’s something iron tight, a bond stronger than one forged by blood. Hell, Zoro remarks on more than one occasion that he prefers Kuina’s company to that of his actual sister, never mind the retribution this earns him whenever Perona hears him say it.
Zoro and Kuina are an often inseparable pair as they age - at times being mistaken for a couple when they’re out together - such that Zoro takes to loudly proclaiming his preferences whenever the issue gets commented upon by total strangers.
Luckily, Kuina finds the situation more funny than anything else, and makes no move to stifle his antics. If anything, she encourages them.
Eventually time and distance do set them apart. Fed up with her father’s well meaning yet overbearing views, Kuina flees to the west coast - as far from their little eastern hometown as she can possibly get, while Zoro settles largely in between the two.
They text regularly and call often. Zoro also flagrantly abuses the trust fund Mihawk had set up for him as a child, purchasing plane tickets whenever the mood strikes him to go out and visit in person. He rarely waits to be invited, assuming, correctly as it happens, that he’s welcome at any time.
It’s therefore strange when, shortly after his twenty fourth birthday, Kuina calls him up and tells him he should come visit. He remembers pulling the phone away from his ear, and staring at it with a raised eyebrow, despite the fact that she couldn’t see him.
“You want me to come out in the middle of November?” He asks, after several seconds have ticked by and he’s returned the phone to its proper position. “Why?”
“Do I need a reason?” She asks, her voice sounding oddly grumpy. “Maybe I just want to spend some time with my best friend, did you ever think of that?”
“In the middle of November?” He repeats, his confusion only growing when she replies with a discordant hum. “Is everything alright? You’re not dying, are you?”
For some reason she laughs at this, a ragged gust of noise that bursts out not entirely of her own free will, he suspects. “As it happens,” she says as her snickers fade, “I’m so far from dying it’s not funny. I am, you could even say, the exact opposite of dying.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” He wonders, but Kuina’s apparently done humoring him.
“Are you coming or not, dumbass?” She asks, an edge to her voice that makes him frown. “I kind of need an answer so I know if I need to make up the guest room.”
“I mean, I guess I could swing it.” He replies, his mind having already been made up earlier in the conversation. “But you really swear you’re not dying, right?”
“Do I need to give you a fuckin’ pinky promise?” She grumbles on the other end of the line. “No. I’m not fuckin’ dying, but you’re going to be if you don’t stop asking me stupid questions.”
“Fine, whatever. God, you’re so mean to me,” he laments. “Sometimes I don’t know why we’re even friends.”
“Having said that,” he adds, never one to pass up a chance to get a rise out of her. “If it turns out you’re lying and you are dying, you’d better leave me Wado in your will.”
To his surprise, she lets out another one of those strange laughs.
“I actually have something different in mind,” she says cryptically. “But you need to get your ass out here so I can tell you what it is.”
*****
“I’m pregnant … annnnd that was a brand new rug. Thanks a lot, asshole.”
“I’ll buy you a new one.” Zoro replies without thinking, swiping halfheartedly at his mouth to get at the beer he’s just sprayed halfway across the room. “What the fuck do you mean, you’re fucking pregnant?”
Kuina gives him the exasperated look she’s perfected over the last fifteen years and change. “It’s a pretty clear statement,” she says, gesturing at her stomach area with the glass of water she’s been sipping from. “I am with child.”
“Who even talks like that anymore?” Zoro wonders, reaching for the kind of banal issue his mind can grasp, as opposed to the nuclear warhead Kuina’s just detonated in the middle of their conversation. “You sound like Mihawk.”
“Then I guess you just answered your own question,” she says dryly.
“Fuck, Kuina, cut that shit out.” He says, sitting up straighter in his seat and placing his half empty bottle down on the coffee table. “Are you serious?”
“As the grave,” she admits, dropping her hand and letting her face twist into a more somber expression. “I’m about four months along. Baby’s due around the end of April.”
“Baby.” He echoes still trying to wrap his head around the concept. “You’re gonna have a kid?”
“Yup.” She says, and there’s the mocking smirk he’s so familiar with. “In like five - five and a half months.”
“This is the part where you say congratulations.” She adds, her smirk growing wider when he sputters.
“ Fuck .” Is what he says instead. “I mean, obviously, yeah, congratulations, but also holy fuck . What are you even gonna do with a kid?”
“Raise it.” She replies. “As best as I can on my own.”
“Why on your own?” He demands, his good eye narrowing as he sits up straighter. “Don’t tell me the dad’s some kind of deadbeat loser.”
“The dad’s not in the picture,” she says with a shrug that’s not as casual as he suspects she means for it to be. “We weren’t a serious thing, and I’m not interested in tying him down.”
“Leave it at that.” She concludes when he opens his mouth to question her again. “It’s my choice, Zoro.”
“Okay, fine.” He says, deflating. Years of experience mean he’s well aware there’s no changing her mind once she has it set on something like this. For better or worse, once Kuina makes a serious decision on an issue, there’s no turning back. “So what’s your plan then?”
“I’m still working out all the kinks,” she says, chuckling slightly. “I’m good on the medical side of things, and I’ve already talked to work about it. My training regimen has had to be altered, obviously, but even that I’ve got sorted out. There’s still a lot to do, though.”
“I’ll bet,” he agrees. “Did you tell your dad yet?”
“No,” she confesses. “You’re the first person from back home to find out.”
“Aww, Kui.” He says, giving her his best smarmy grin, and fully expecting the hit to the head she gives him with a couch pillow. “I always knew I was your favorite.”
“What you are is my oldest friend,” she says, thumping him again. “And also the person I trust most in the world. Although, fuck knows what that says about the state of my life.”
“Hey!” He says, mock offended. “That hurt.”
“Yeah, well, if it helps, I’m about to ask you something that could very easily go to your head.” She grumbles. “And I need you to think about it seriously before you answer.”
Zoro sobers, her tone telling him that this is no longer the time for jokes. “What is it?” He wants to know. “Is everything okay with the kid?”
“As far as the doctor’s can tell, everything’s fine.” Kuina replies with a wave of her hand. “My question has nothing to do with that side of things.”
“ … okay.” He says, once the silence has stretched on long enough that it’s clear she’s waiting for a response. “What’s the question then?”
Kuina takes a deep breath. “So, remember how we’ve already established the fact that the baby’s dad isn’t going to be around? And also the fact that I trust you with my life?”
“You mean, was I here for the last five minutes of this conversation?” Zoro asks, snickering when she smacks him on the shoulder. “Pretty sure I got all that, yeah.”
“Fuck, you’re the worst,” Kuina grumbles, smacking him a second time for good measure. “ Okay . Well. Because there’s no other parent, it’s been suggested to me that I should have a legal guardian lined up for the baby. Just in case something happens to me.”
Zoro’s pretty sure he stops breathing for a second. “A legal guardian as in - ?” He points at himself, blanching when she nods. “Me?! You want me to raise your kid if for some reason you can’t? Are you insane ?! Our whole lives you’ve told me you wouldn’t trust me to look after a houseplant!”
“A houseplant can’t communicate when it needs something from you.” She replies with a slight flick of her fingers. “A baby can.”
“Uh, no .” He disagrees. “They absolutely fucking can’t. Not being able to talk is like a classic trait of a baby.”
“ Zoro .” She sighs, exasperated. “Would you please calm down? It’s really not that big of a deal. It’s one hundred percent a worst case scenario situation. I’m not asking you to raise my kid with me, only if I can’t for some reason.”
“What about your dad?” He asks, even though he suspects he already knows the answer. “Why not ask him?”
The look she gives him all but confirms exactly what he’d been thinking. “Not an option.” She says primly. “And you’re my only other family.”
“Low blow, Kui. Low fuckin’ blow.”
“Only if it doesn’t work.” She replies cheekily. “So, what do you say? It’s okay if you want some time to think about it. I get it, honestly.”
“Tch! You already know I’m going to say yes.” He grunts, taking a swig from his beer bottle and then setting it down on the coffee table. “Though if you actually stick me with the kid at some point, I’m kicking your ass in the afterlife.”
“You can’t even kick my ass now.” She scoffs, and Zoro insists it’s only the thought of her current delicate condition that stops him from starting a brawl in the middle of her living room.
*****
He gets a message on a blustery spring day that Shimotsuki Sakura has made her entrance into the world effective earlier that morning. It’s quickly followed by a picture of a red faced bundle that looks like it’d rather be doing anything else, and another text telling him to get his ass out west to come meet his goddaughter.
Kuina’s home from the hospital by the time he makes it there, and she opens the door sporting stained clothes and the kind of bags under her eyes that a person could get lost in.
“Don’t say it.” She says, raising a hand in warning when he opens his mouth. “In fact, don’t say anything at all. She’s just gone down for a nap, and if you wake her up, I’ll kill you.”
Feeling suitably cowed - there hadn’t been a single ounce of a joke in her tone - he nods and steps cautiously into her apartment. A quick glance around tells him it looks like a bomb containing baby supplies has gone off, but common sense keeps that thought safely in his head.
“You’re going to have to sleep on the couch.” Kuina informs him as they wander further into the apartment. “For obvious reasons, my spare room now belongs to someone else.”
“S’fine.” Zoro murmurs, keeping his voice low lest he be responsible for waking the baby and wind up summarily murdered as a result. “You know I can sleep anywhere.”
“A fact I envy you for right now.” She says grimly. “You can make it up to me by keeping an eye on things for a minute while I go grab a shower.”
“Say what?” Zoro blurts, a little louder than permitted if the scathing look Kuina shoots his way is anything to go by. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means stay here while I go shower, and go check on the baby if she wakes up.” Kuina says firmly. “It’s also not up for debate.”
Feeling the skin prickle between his shoulder blades, Zoro risks a glance at the closed door beyond which lies the sleeping baby. “Be fast,” he tells Kuina. “Or I’m coming in after you.”
“Try it and I’ll break your face.” She says, already striding towards her own bedroom. “I haven’t had a real shower in days. I’m going to enjoy this one.”
“Glad to see you too.” Zoro tells her retreating form, albeit not so loud that she might hear him.
He spends the next couple minutes clearing a space for himself on the couch, during which he hears the bathroom door open and close, followed by the sound of the shower kicking in. Taking a deep breath, he sits down in the spot available, afraid to move in the event he somehow disturb the baby from all the way out here.
Messing around on his phone keeps his attention for the first few minutes, during which he confirms his arrival to a few people and, more importantly, sends a middle finger emoji to Perona’s message telling him not to get lost. He then leans back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling as he contemplates what else he can do that’ll fit within Kuina’s stated parameters.
A thin, plaintive wail traveling from behind the closed bedroom door and out into the living room jerks him out of his reverie. Twisting his neck around, he glares at the door accusingly, all too aware of the fact that the shower is still going in the bathroom.
Roughly a minute passes, and the only change in the situation is that the baby’s cries have gotten more pointed. It’s clear she wants attention immediately, and equally clear that it’s going to be up to him to provide it.
Groaning heavily, Zoro climbs to his feet and trudges towards the bedroom much like a man heading to the gallows would. He then pauses outside the door before taking a deep breath and shoving it open.
He’s seen pictures of the nursery already, thanks to Kuina having sent him shots of various work-in-progress stages. It’s different in person, however, and he’s impressed with the level of homeliness Kuina’s managed to infuse into the finished project.
Sadly, he’s not given much time to appreciate the job well done. Upon realizing someone’s finally entered the room, Sakura’s cries ratchet up even further in decibel, such that he beelines for the crib to try and figure out what to do next.
Exactly like the nursery itself, pictures of Sakura don’t do justice to the real thing. Despite the fact that her face is scrunched up unhappily as she cries, the baby’s eyes snap open the second he leans over the edge of the railing, and he finds himself ensnared in a dark eyed gaze as the two of them stare at each other.
“Um. Hey there?” He tries weakly, stretching out his arm until his hand is hovering mere millimeters above her. Marveling at the way it spans almost her entire body length, he jerks when Sakura makes a grab for his pointer finger, her tiny fist barely managing to fully encircle the digit.
“Well, damn.” He muses, fighting down a sudden urge to smile dopily. “You’ve got a half decent grip on you, kid. Not bad for someone who’s barely two weeks old.”
Her cries having petered off for the moment, Sakura keeps her hold of his finger, babbling quietly to herself and kicking her tiny legs in the air as he watches her.
“Look.” He says finally, after they’ve been squared off like this for at least a full minute. “If I’m being honest, I’ve got no idea what you want, but it’s probably something your mom is better off giving you. So, if you’ll agree to hold off on the screaming again until she gets back, I promise not to move. Sound good?”
“God, you’re such a dork.”
Kuina’s voice coming out of nowhere like it does, startles the hell out of him. He jerks forward, slamming his elbow into the edge of the crib with a harsh cracking sound that sets Sakura crying again. Feeling more than a little panicked, he jerks around to look at her mother.
“Well?” He tries when all Kuina does is stare back at him. “Aren’t you gonna come get her?”
“I need to get dressed first.” She replies, and it’s only after she jerks her chin pointedly downwards that he realizes she’s only wearing a towel. “I might even put on clean clothes for the first time in a week.”
“But the baby.” Zoro says, nodding at Sakura where she’s still fussing in her crib.
Kuina gives him an unimpressed look. “You’ve got two hands, don’t you?” She says flatly. “Pick her up.”
“Come again?”
Her expression morphing into one that’s almost pitying, Kuina mimes how to hold an infant. “One hand under her butt, the other under her head, and hold her close to your chest once you’ve got her up. It won’t take me long to get dressed, but she’s probably hungry so I’ll need to get a bottle ready. You can keep her distracted while I do that.”
“You’re not, uhh - ?” Feeling ridiculous, he flaps a hand towards his own chest, figuring she gets what he means when she laughs.
“I’m doing both,” she clarifies. “And actually, you better hope she doesn’t get confused when you pick her up. Pretty sure your tits are still bigger than mine these days.”
“Damn, you’re the worst.”
“Uh huh. Don’t swear in front of my kid, and hurry and grab her, will you?” Kuina suggests, turning on one heel and marching back out into the hallway. “She wants the attention.”
Glaring at her retreating back, Zoro watches until she’s out of sight, and then returns his gaze to Sakura. “Okay,” he says, leaning down when the baby stares right back at him. “Here goes nothing.”
*****
Zoro’s in the middle of scarfing down an extremely late dinner when his phone starts buzzing on the coffee table. A quick glance tells him it’s Kuina calling, so he flicks the accept button with his pinky finger, while the rest of his hands remain occupied with stuffing rice into his mouth.
He realizes only belatedly that it’s a video call and not one strictly by phone when Sakura’s face appears, the camera held too close to her nose like usual.
“ Zee !” She shrieks, giving him an excellent view of the space where one of her baby teeth had recently fallen out. “HI! Can you see me?!”
“Hey, Sak. And, yeah, I can see you.” He confirms. “What’s up?”
“I had school today!” She enthuses, as if he hadn’t known that already. “My first day ever!”
“Did you now?” He asks, playing dumb because he knows she always finds that funny - a fact that’s further proven correct when she giggles in delight. “How’d you like it?”
“Good,” she replies, with only slightly less enthusiasm than before. “My class has a bunny. He’s all black and has a scar on one ear.”
“Oh wow,” he says, doing his best to look suitably concerned. “How’d that happen?”
“Dunno.” She says, fussing with the pink band that’s currently working to keep her hair out of her eyes. “He’s called Jurgis, though. Isn’t that a silly name?”
“Very.” He agrees, although privately he doesn’t think ‘silly’ does it justice. If it were only adults present he’d have started at ‘dumb as fuck’ and worked his way up from there. “Did anything else exciting happen at school?”
“Nah,” she says, her priorities plain. “D’you wanna talk to Mama now?”
“Sure.” He says, used to the way the phone can never hold her attention for long. “Put her on for me.”
“‘Kay.” She says, turning around to look at something off camera. “MAMA! ZEE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!”
“Sakura, I’m three feet away from you, you don’t have to yell.” Kuina says, sliding into view. “You’re going to scare the neighbors.”
“At that volume, she’s gonna scare my neighbors.” Zoro snorts, shoving another hunk of rice in his mouth as the phone transfers hands. “Sup with you?”
“Oh you know,” Kuina replies breezily. “Just contemplating how increasingly senile and frail I’m getting now that I have a kid old enough to be in school. Seriously, who let that happen?”
“The ever moving passage of time?” Zoro suggests, snickering when Kuina rolls her eyes at him. “It is pretty crazy, I’ll give you that. Feels like just yesterday she was small enough for me to hold in one hand.”
“You were always too scared of dropping her to do that.” Kuina reminds him. “Which is a good thing because I’d have killed you stone dead if I’d ever caught you trying it.”
Humming to himself, Zoro raises his chopsticks in a kind of touché gesture. It’s an act that doesn’t go unnoticed by Kuina, who frowns.
“Don’t tell me you’re only eating super now.” She says, using the same tone on him that she does when she has to scold Sakura. “Zoro, it’s almost nine o’clock where you are.”
“I can tell time, thanks.” He retorts. “I got tied up at work and didn’t have a chance to get back before it was my slot at the gym. It’s all good. I’m getting it sorted.”
“You’re a disaster.” She says tiredly. “I can’t believe I willingly let my kid associate with you.”
“Sak loves me.” He reminds her, as smug as can be. “I’m a good influence.”
“You’re a terrible influence.” She corrects. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten the time she smuggled that toy sword you gave her into daycare and traumatized half the staff.”
“She’s a Shimotsuki .” He protests, unashamed. “Swords are in her blood. And speaking of,” he says, wanting to distract her before she can chew him out further. “Don’t you have a competition coming up soon?”
“The day after tomorrow, yeah.” Kuina confirms. “Though I’ll be stopping by the venue beforehand to make sure everything looks good.”
He’s half tempted to roll his good eye at this level of attention to detail, but doesn’t because they both know it’s just as bad when he’s the one heading into the ring. “You gonna kick all their asses like usual?” He asks instead.
“That’s the plan.” She replies with a simple nod. “From what I’ve seen from scoping the other participants out there’s no one here really in my league, but I know better than to get cocky.”
“Says the woman who’s been able to beat pretty much anyone who isn’t Mihawk since she was twelve.” Zoro scoffs. “You’ve got this in the bag, and you know it.”
“We’ll see.” She replies. “Whatever happens, I’ll make sure you get sent the recording so we can break it down after.”
“Awesome.” He says. “You know how much I love pointing out all the places you go wrong in your matches.”
“Says the man who’s never been able to beat Mihawk or me in his entire life.” She mutters with a roll of her eyes. “You sure talk a big game for a guy in your circumstances.”
“I’m two years younger than you.” He points out, exactly the way he always does when she reminds him of that fact - which is often. “I’ve got more ground to make up.”
“Yeah, see, the problem with that logic is you’re always going to be two years younger than me.” Kuina notes. “That’s how aging works, dumbass.”
“Oi, bad word, bad word!” He crows, pointing a finger at the screen triumphantly. “I hope Sak’s not still around. Otherwise it’s a dollar in the sweat jar.”
“Hell, you really are the annoying little brother I neither need nor want.”
Grinning smugly, Zoro leans back in his seat and takes another bite of rice.
*****
His phone rings again at almost the exact same time the next day. Luckily, he’d gotten home at a more reasonable hour this evening, meaning that his supper is long since finished when he holds it up to look at the screen.
Unlike the night before, he doesn’t recognize this number, but the area code is the same for where Kuina lives. Frowning, he thumbs the accept button, and brings the phone to his ear.
“That you, Kui?” He asks before the person on the other end of the line can say anything. “You get a new number or something?”
There’s a pause, quickly followed by the sound of someone whose voice he doesn’t recognize clearing their throat. “I’m sorry, am I speaking to Mr. Zoro Roronoa?”
“Other way around.” He corrects on autopilot. “Roronoa’s the last name, but you say it first.”
“My apologies.” The voice says after a moment. “Regardless, Mr. Roronoa do you have a moment? I’m calling from Child Protective Services, and I’m afraid it’s quite important.”
“You’re calling from where ?” Zoro demands, all other thoughts flying out of his head as he sits up ramrod straight on his couch. “Did something happened to Sak? Shimotsuki Sakura, I mean. Is she okay ?”
The voice pauses a second time, something he’s moments away from telling it is extremely annoying, and to cut that shit out right now. “Sakura is fine.” The woman says finally. “Physically, anyway. She was taken into our care earlier today when no other relatives could be located in the city.”
“She was what ? Why ?” Zoro barks, both his knees slamming into the edge of his coffee table as he jerks forward in surprise. Oddly enough, he barely registers the stinging sensation from the impact. “Where the hell is her mother? Where’s Kuina ?”
The voice goes quiet a third time, and it’s all he can do not to reach through the phone and strangle the woman on the other end.
“Mr. Roronoa, I’m very sorry to have to tell you this, but I’m afraid there’s been an accident.”
*****
He boards a plane the following day in a daze and feels no different when he disembarks several hours later. It’s been a whirlwind thirty six hours for him, but at the moment there’s only one thing on his mind.
Sakura’s been stuck sitting in a group home since she’d been picked up from school almost two days ago. The fact that he hasn’t slept since receiving the call from the social worker managing her case pales in comparison, and he needs to get to her as fast as he can.
His phone rings while he’s waiting for a cab to take him away from the airport, immediately jolting him back to when he’d first heard from the social worker - Marlene, he thinks her name is. Bile rising in his throat, he grabs for the phone, thumbing it on without looking just to make it stop.
“ What .” He barks, not caring who’s calling, since he has far more important things on his mind.
“Zoro.” Says frankly the last voice he’d expected to hear. “I just learned about Kuina. I’m terribly sorry.”
Every once in a while Zoro gets an abrupt reminder that the man who’d raised him is actually human after all, and not an emotionless robot like so many of his friends had claimed while he was growing up. “Thanks, Mihawk.” He says tiredly, and then falls silent because he doesn’t know what else to add.
“I assume there will be a memorial service.” Mihawk says, apparently willing to fill in the gap for once. “Do you happen to know if it will be here, or in the city where she’s been living?”
Having spent a good chunk of the morning on the phone with Kuina’s father, Zoro does actually know the answer to that question. “It’s going to be back home. Koshiro’s making arrangements to - to have her body moved back, and she’s going to be buried in the Shimotsuki family plot.”
“Ah, of course.” Mihawk says, and Zoro can easily picture the way he’s no doubt minutely inclining his head at this reasonable plan. “Would you like me to arrange a flight for you to come home for the funeral?”
“Not yet, thanks.” Zoro replies absently, half his attention on keeping an eye out for his missing taxi. “I won’t know when I’m heading back until I’ve got Sakura sorted out.”
“Sakura?” Mihawk echoes. “You mean Kuina’s … ?”
“Kuina’s daughter, yeah.” Zoro notes. “You’ve seen pictures before.”
“Yes, I have.” Mihawk agrees. “But I’m at a loss as to why you would be sorting anything out for the poor child. I’m aware there’s no father in the picture, but I assume the job would fall to Koshiro as her next of kin.”
“Not according to Kuina’s will.” Zoro says, shifting agitatedly from foot to foot. “She named me as Sak’s legal guardian back when she was still pregnant, so it’s actually one hundred percent my job to figure out the next steps for her.”
The sudden silence on the other end of the line is so complete that for a moment he half thinks the call has dropped. Then comes the sound of Mihawk clearing his throat, and, somewhat raggedly, the man asks, “Were you aware of Kuina’s plans where the child is concerned?”
“No, she set it up this way for shits and giggles,” Zoro grunts. “Of course I knew. Not even Kuina would’ve been ballsy enough to do something like this without asking.”
“I … see.” Mihawk says awkwardly. “So, you agreed to it then?”
“Uh huh.” Zoro replies. “Which is why I’m standing outside of an airport, waiting for the world’s slowest cab to get its ass over here. Social Services, or whatever the fuck you call them, picked up Sakura after the accident. They’ve got her stuck in a group home somewhere, and I’ve got to go get her out. Now .”
“Of course.” Mihawk agrees, much more firmly this time. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Despite his frazzled state, Zoro takes a moment to seriously consider the offer. “Honestly?” He says finally. “You could keep a couple of your fancy lawyers on standby. The woman I talked to yesterday was less than helpful, and I’m not above playing the spoiled rich kid card if it comes down to it.”
“Consider it done.” Mihawk replies. “As you know, I quite enjoy bullying government officials into submission, and it might be somewhat therapeutic to have an outlet to take out my frustrations on.”
“I’m so glad I could help.” Zoro says sarcastically.
“I’d ask you not to be rude, but I’m well aware that’s the grief talking.” Mihawk says, as infuriatingly calm as ever. “Please keep me updated on the situation, and once you’ve obtained the girl, I will help make arrangements to fly you both back home. Also, let me know if there is anything else I can do.”
“Can you make this fucking car show up any faster?” Zoro wonders, glancing around for the cab for the umpteenth time.
“I could perhaps look into hiring you a private driver for the duration of your stay?”
“I wasn’t serious.” Zoro says tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This is why everyone who knows you thinks you’re weird.”
“I’m not weird, merely practical to a fault and wealthy enough to pull that off.” Mihawk replies primly. “However, if that’s all I can do for now, I shall leave you be.”
“I will be checking in later, though.” He warns ominously. “I recognize you’re likely to be stubborn about it, but I’ve no intention of leaving you alone to grieve your friend. Especially not when it seems there’s to be a child in the mix.”
“I’d say thank you, but I’ve got more important things to deal with.” Zoro informs him. “Also, my ride’s here. I’ll text you once I’m done with Social Services. Or sooner if I need to sic you on them.”
“I shall await your message with baited breath.”
Rolling his eyes, Zoro shoves his phone back in his pocket and yanks open the door to his cab.
*****
Maybe Marlene takes one look at him when he steps into her office, and visibly recoils. Unimpressed - surely someone in her line of work should have a better poker face? - Zoro crosses his arms over his chest and stares her down. “You’re the social worker who’s dealing with Sak then?”
Making an obvious attempt to gather her wits about her, Maybe Marlene paws at a stack of files on her desk, pulling one from near the very top of the mess. “If you’re referring to Shimotsuki Sakura, then yes, that’s my case.” She says, her voice easily recognizable as the one that had broken the news to him about Kuina’s death. “Mr. Roronoa, I presume?”
“That’s me.” Zoro confirms with a nod. “Where’s Sak?”
“She and the other children should be just finishing up their supper.” The woman replies. “I’ll take you to her as soon as we’ve sorted out a few key details.”
“No.” Zoro says flatly, indifferent to the way Maybe Marlene’s shoulders stiffen. “You’re going to take me to her now, and I’ll fill out whatever dumbass paperwork you need from me after that.”
“That wasn’t a request.” He adds when her mouth tightens in obvious annoyance. “You people have had her for almost two straight days, but I’ve known that kid since she was born. She’s not good with strangers at the best of times, and you’ve just told her she’s never going to see her mother again. So from where I’m standing, you can either let her see a familiar face, or I’m going to start making some phone calls that will really ruin your day.”
Giving him a flat look, Maybe Marlene shoves her glasses further up the bridge of her nose and taps her fingers against the ridge of her desk. “Mr. Roronoa,” she says icily. “I’ll have you know that I’ve been doing this job for a long time, and have faced all sorts of unpleasantness over the years. If you think you can frighten me into doing what you want, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“I never said anything about scaring you,” Zoro replies, feeling a brief spark of amusement when she blinks in confusion. “But I’ll damn well cost you your job if you don’t get out of my way.”
“I fail to see how - ”
“Kuraigana Enterprises.” Zoro says before she can finish her sentence. “You’ve heard of it?”
“Have I heard of one of the largest produce corporations in the country?” Maybe Marlene asks dryly. “I’m familiar with it, yes.”
“Cool.” Zoro says, flashing her a grin that’s made opposing swordsmen wet themselves on more than one occasion. “My old man owns it.”
“That’s - I mean, congratulations?” She says, clearly confused. “But I have no idea what that has to do with anything.”
“Let me put it this way,” Zoro tries. “If the CEO of an international monolith has a bunch of his minions call up your boss and complain about how you’re essentially impeding access to a member of his family, exactly who do you think is going to take the fall for that?”
“One phone call.” He says as her face pales. “I’ll bet you solid money that’s all it’ll take me. I don’t care if you’re just doing your job and I’m technically committing an abuse of power. You can either let me see Sakura, or we’re going to have a problem.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“I’m not,” Zoro replies. “But I really don’t give a crap if you want to find out. It’s no skin off my back.”
He sees the indecision on her face, well aware that he is in fact definitely committing an abuse of power here. Maybe he’ll even feel bad about that someday, but today is not that day.
Their standoff lasts a few moments longer, and then the social worker clears her throat, climbing to her feet at the same time.
“If you’ll kindly follow me.” She says, and gestures towards her office door. “I’ll page someone to bring Sakura to one of our meeting rooms so you can see her.”
“Great.” Zoro says in a voice that’s rife with false cheer. “I really appreciate it.”
He watches her fiddle with a cellphone for a minute, only half listening as she murmurs her instructions to someone. Then he gives her a pointed look when she hangs up, all too willing to follow her as she motions him out into the hallway.
“It’s a bit of a hike.” She mutters as they start walking, Zoro easily keeping pace with her just behind her shoulder. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not so long as Sak’s wherever we’re going.” He replies, nodding at a passing worker. “She’s all I care about right now.”
“Yes. Well.” Maybe Marlene makes an uncomfortable noise. “I hope you realize that our policies are in place for a reason. We don’t implement them simply to make things difficult for people. I can only imagine what you and Sakura are both going through right now.”
“Then you should understand why I need to see her and vice versa.” He says, able to see the way she flushes thanks to the fact that she’s on his right side. “Honestly, it’s just common sense.”
Her mouth goes pinched, suggesting she’s biting back something nasty she wants to say, but whatever it is, she holds herself in check. In fact, she falls silent altogether, and neither of them says a word until they’ve reached a closed door where another staff member is standing outside.
“This is Mr. Roronoa.” Maybe Marlene announces once they’re within earshot. “He’s the one with the paperwork saying he’s Sakura’s legal guardian.”
“Right.” The newcomer says, and thankfully this one has the wherewithal to get the hell out of his way. “She’s waiting for you inside. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see someone she knows.”
Zoro honestly has no idea how Sakura’s going to feel about seeing him. What he does know, is that if there’s any chance he might be able to help her right now, he’s going to take it. Giving the second social worker a curt nod, he yanks the door open and steps inside.
The room’s cheerily decorated with a woodland forest motif, and there are a bunch of toys and games scattered about the room that are probably meant to be used by visiting families. Zoro barely registers any of that, however, all his attention locked on the tiny figure that’s sitting huddled in one of the chairs.
“Sak.” He calls softly, and Sakura’s head jerks up like she’s been shocked.
“ ZEE !” She shrieks, scrambling down off the chair and bolting towards him with her arms outstretched and tears flooding down her cheeks. “Zee Zee Zee!”
He drops to the ground without thinking, his knees absorbing the worst of the impact as Sakura thuds into his chest. Her tiny body is shuddering as she sobs, and he wraps her up in a bear hug as she flings her arms around his neck.
“Zee, Mama got hurt!” She wails, her voice barely muffled where she has her face shoved into his neck, her tears now spilling onto him and soaking the collar of his shirt. “I keep asking them to let me see her, but they won’t! A lady said she’s - that she’s not coming home again. Why isn’t she coming home again?”
“Oh, Sak.” Zoro flinches, holding her tightly. “It’s not because she wouldn’t want to, trust me. Your mom would never leave you if she could help it.”
“But the lady said she’s gone,” Sakura whimpers. “Why is she gone?”
Zoro shudders, wishing he had even a halfway decent answer for her. “I - it’s complicated,” he says weakly. “It’s like the lady said, your mom had a really bad accident. The doctors tried to make her better, but there just wasn’t anything they could do.”
“But why not?” She sobs. “And what’s gonna happen to me? If I don’t have Mama then I’m all alone.”
“Oh no, baby.” Zoro says firmly, because that much at least he can deal with. “You’re not alone, I promise.”
“As long as I’m breathing, you’ll never be alone.”
*****
He lets Sakura cry for as long as she needs to, and only painfully makes his way out of the crouch he’s been contorted into once she sags limply against his side. Keeping her held safely in his arms, he stretches back to his full height, pressing a kiss to her hair when she murmurs sleepily against him.
“S’okay, baby.” He murmurs softly, making his way carefully over to the door. “I’ve got you.”
Well aware that the social workers have been monitoring their entire encounter, he doesn’t bother adjusting his hold so he can try and grab the door handle. Instead, he kicks the base of the door lightly, unsurprised when it’s quickly hauled open and both women are still standing there.
Ignoring the second woman, he eyes Maybe Marlene over the top of Sakura’s head. “I think you’ve got some paperwork you need me to fill out?” He says. “Or something like that anyway.”
She eyes him right back, but as her gaze shifts to where Sakura’s resting slumped in his arms, it softens slightly. “Yes.” She says finally. “If you’ll come with me back to my office, we can get started.”
“I’m not leaving her here.” He notes, his voice picking up a slight growl when the second woman steps forward with her arms held out. “She’s staying with me.”
“Of course.” Maybe Marlene says, shooing the other woman away with a flap of her hand. “I’m sure we can accommodate that.”
Sakura sleeps for the remainder of the meeting. Her tiny body the picture of exhaustion, she stays slumped in his arms while he reads through and signs what feels like an entire library’s worth of documents, oblivious to words like ‘guardianship’ and ‘background checks’ as they’re tossed around above her head.
Finally, they’re as far through the process as they can get for the day, and Maybe Marlene informs him they’re ready to place Sakura in his custody. She also informs him her name is Maureen , but he honestly couldn’t care less about that.
He does perk up slightly, however, when she leaves briefly and returns with a bag of Sakura’s things that had been packed up for her when she’d been removed from her home. Included in the mess are Kuina’s spare keys, which had been obtained from her landlord and will make getting into her apartment considerably easier.
“Thanks.” He says as she hands them over, and this time he genuinely means it.
“You’re welcome,” Maureen replies with a nod. “And … good luck. There’s still a lot more to go in the legal process here, not to mention dealing with the child’s trauma.”
“I’m aware.” He replies, saluting her with the keys. “But step number one is going to be getting her home and into her own bed for some real sleep. I’m sure we’ll be talking again soon.”
“No doubt.” She replies, followed by, “let me call you a cab.”
Said cab arrives a little while later, and Zoro hands over Kuina’s address by rote. Sakura’s still asleep as he buckles her into the booster seat that’s been supplied, although she starts to stir right as they’re pulling up in front of her building.
“Hey, Squirt.” He says, slinging both their bags over his shoulder and lifting her carefully out of her seat. “Are you back with me?”
“Uh huh,” she mumbles, scrubbing at her eyes with tired fists. “What’s goin’ on?”
“What’s it look like?” He asks as he closes the door to the cab and waves the driver off. “I figured you’d probably feel better sleeping in your own bed tonight, and in proper pajamas while you’re at it.”
Sakura yawns, but nods as she snuggles up to him again. “Will you be there too?”
“Course.” He replies, shifting her slightly so he can get the security door with the fob on Kuina’s key ring. “I have to stay with my best girl now, don’t I?”
Sakura nods again, but starts sniffling as they duck inside the building’s elevator. “Mama won’t be there though.” She says miserably, and Zoro feels his heart clench.
“No, sweetheart.” He says sadly. “She won’t be, and I’m so sorry about that.”
“I know.” She replies. “You loved Mama too.”
“I did.” He agrees, stepping off the elevator and moving slowly down the hall until he reaches the correct unit. “Very much so. She was one of my very best friends.”
“I miss her,” Sakura sniffles. “And I don’t want her to be gone. Why did she have to leave?”
Privately Zoro wonders how many more times he’s going to get asked questions he’ll never be able to give a satisfactory answer to, while out loud he does his best to respond. He nevertheless feels useless in doing so, and soon moves to try and distract her by helping her get ready for bed.
He stays with her until she falls asleep again, sitting in an uncomfortable slump on the floor next to her bed as he watches her eyes slide shut. Only once he’s certain she’s down for the count does he risk daring to move.
There are dozens of unanswered texts and a handful of missed call notifications when he pulls his phone from his pocket to look at it. Most of them are condolences from people who’ve heard the news about Kuina, but others pertain to Sakura.
I’ve got her . He says in response to the neither one or two but three messages from Mihawk asking for a status update. Zoro doesn’t think he’s ever been able to sense nervousness from the man in his life, and he feels unsure of what to do with this blatant indication of affection.
Good . He gets back almost immediately, a further indication of the older man’s worry considering it’s well past 1:00am where he is. Please get some rest, and let me know when you expect to be returning home. I will make flight arrangements for you and the child.
Thx , Zoro replies, waiting a few seconds to see if the usual acerbic comments about proper grammar will follow. When they don’t, he takes a deep breath and turns his attention to the next person on his list.
Despite the late hour, he figures this one will require more than a simple next message. Besides, he doubts the intended recipient is having better luck sleeping than he is at the moment.
Case in point, Koshiro picks up after only the first ring. “Zoro,” he says, and Zoro winces at how utterly haggard the man sounds. “Please tell me you have some good news?”
“I’ve got Sak.” Zoro replies without preamble. “She’s, well, the word distraught doesn’t even start to do it justice, but she’s safe, and I’m pretty sure she was happy to see me.”
“Of course she was.” Korshiro says, as if there’d never been any doubt. “I’m so glad you were able to get to her so quickly.”
“Wasn’t quick enough.” Zoro says, scowling as he drops onto the living room couch. There’s no way in hell he can bring himself to take Kuina’s bed, so it looks like he’ll be crashing here until he can figure out his next steps. “She was almost two days in that group home. It looked like a prison.”
“I’m sure they do the best with what they have,” Koshiro tries, always one to give people the benefit of the doubt. “Where are you now?”
“Kuina’s apartment,” Zoro admits. “I was able to get the keys, and it seemed like the best option for Sak under the circumstances. She’s asleep right now, but I’ll make sure you can talk to her soon.”
“I appreciate that,” Koshiro says gratefully. “I can’t tell you how much of a relief it’s been, knowing that you’re taking care of her under the circumstances. It’s been one less thing to worry about among so many others.”
“Pfft, taking care of her,” Zoro echoes, scoffing. “Koshiro, I got her back, but I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. I know Kuina had me lined up for this if it ever became necessary, but I never seriously expected it to happen. How the hell am I supposed to look after her? And are you really okay with it?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Koshiro asks, sounding honestly curious. “Zoro, you’ve been in Sakura’s life since she was born. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the best choice Kuina could have made.”
“I’m not family,” Zoro says flatly. “You’re her only blood relative left.”
“I’m also fifty eight years old,” Koshiro counters. “Never mind how it would be against Kuina’s wishes since she chose you , I’m too old to be starting over raising a child again. Not to say that I wouldn’t if no one else was available, of course I would. Sakura is my grandchild and I adore her, but I genuinely feel that you’re the better option in this instance.”
“Then you’re insane,” Zoro retorts, arguably the harshest he’s ever spoken to the man. “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do here.”
“You can learn.” Koshiro replies, refusing to humor his sulking. “Unless you’re saying you’re not willing to keep Sakura, in which case I’ll need to know right away.”
“I’m not saying that!” Zoro barks, immediately wincing out of concern he might wake Sakura. Glancing guiltily at her closed door, he sighs in relief when he doesn’t hear anything from inside.
“I’m not saying that.” He repeats more quietly this time. “I’d never say that. I’m all in on this, Koshiro. I swear.”
“Good.” Koshiro says, and Zoro doesn’t think he’s imagining the relieved note in the older man’s voice. “For the record, any help I can give you is yours. I recognize the distance between our homes may make that help minimal, but the offer is there.”
“Thanks, Korshiro.” Zoro says tiredly. “I guess right now I need to focus on getting Sakura back for the memorial, and probably packing up Kuina’s … her stuff.”
“The latter can be dealt with by a moving company,” Koshiro says, making Zoro think he’s already got something in the works. “As for the service, I’m still working on those arrangements, but we’ve got time. Nothing will happen until you’re both here, I promise you that.”
“Okay,” Zoro says, unable to think of another response. “I guess that’s something.”
“Mhm,” Koshiro agrees. “For now, though, I think you should try and get some rest, Zoro. We unfortunately have a very dark time ahead of us, and exhaustion will only make it more difficult.”
“Take your own advice, Sensei.” Zoro suggests, earning himself a faint chuckle from Koshiro.
“I probably should,” the man says sadly, “but I suspect sleep will be a long time coming, yet again.”
*****
It turns out Koshiro’s not the only one who has trouble sleeping. Normally someone who can pass out in the harshest of circumstances, Zoro finds himself lying awake on the living room couch for the next several hours, tossing back and forth in frustration.
And nor is he alone in this for that matter. Having temporarily given up on trying to sleep, Zoro’s futzing around on his phone - the clock accusingly telling him that it’s 3:17am - when he hears the sound of Sakura’s door opening.
Thinking for a moment that maybe she’s just getting up to go to the bathroom, he shuts his phone off, not wanting to alert her to the fact that he’s still awake if that’s all she’s after. Then he hears a quiet sniffle, and bites down an urge to groan.
“Zee?” Sakura’s voice warbles in the dark, closer to the living room than she’d been before. “Are you there?”
“Yeah, Sak, I’m here.” He says, sitting up in his tangle of blankets and pawing around for the lamp he knows is nearby. His fingers find the switch on instinct, so he flicks it with his thumb to get some light in the room. “Do you need something?”
“I want Mama.” She says, slowly padding into view. Her hair is a mess and her eyes are glassy, while in her hands she’s clutching the stuffed tiger she’s had since she was a baby - a fact he knows because he’d been the one to give it to her. “But Mama’s gone.”
“I know,” he wheezes, painfully. “Is there any way I can help?”
Sakura shrugs, her lower lip wobbling as she comes closer to the couch. “I don’t want to be alone,” she mumbles, swiping at her damp eyes. “Can I stay with you?”
“Of course you can,” Zoro tells her. Kicking away his blankets, he swings his feet off the couch and onto the floor, holding out his arms expectantly. “C’mere.”
Not needing to be told twice, Sakura scurries over to him, where she lets him scoop her up and settle her in his lap, stuffed tiger and all.
“Is that better?” He asks, tucking her head beneath his chin. “Or can I get you something else?”
“ … no, nothing else.” She says tiredly.
“You just don’t want to be alone, right.” He confirms, shifting her slightly. “That’s fine. You can stay here as long as you need to. Unless,” he pauses then, figuring that the couch, which is already too small for him, might not be the best place for her to sleep. “Maybe we can both go back to your room where there’s more space?”
She’s quiet for a second, clearly thinking it over, before pulling back to look at him, her expression solemn. “Will you still stay if I fall asleep?” She asks. “I don’t want to wake up by myself again.”
“I can do that.” He promises, figuring that he won’t fit any worse on her bed than he does on the couch. “If that’s what you want.”
Sakura nods, and he climbs laboriously to his feet with her still held securely in his arms. They make a brief stop in the bathroom, and then the next thing he knows he’s helping her under the covers and lying down beside her.
“How’s this?” He asks after he’s shut her nightlight off. “Do you think you can go back to sleep for a bit?”
“Maybe.” She says, but her words are already slurring, a sure sign that she’s about to nod off.
“Hey, Zee?” She says a few minutes later, surprising him since he’d assumed she was once again down for the count.
“Yeah, Squirt?” He asks, his own eyelids feeling heavy.
“Thanks for coming to get me.” She mumbles, effectively making a grab right for his heart without meaning to. “That place was really scary.”
Trying desperately to think of something to say that won’t make matters worse, he buys himself some time by leaning forward and pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “You don’t have to thank me,” he says, finally. “I know it won’t be the same as what you’re used to, but I’m here no matter what, Sak. Okay?”
“‘Kay.” She agrees, and it’s not long before her breathing evens out in a way that signals she’s gone back to sleep. Of note, she’s now passed out on top of his arm, but whether or not that’s comfortable for her, she doesn’t seem to care.
Resigned to staying like this for the rest of the night, Zoro closes his eyes and hopes for sleep to take him too.