"You're seriously going along with this?" Zoro asked, his voice as deep and gruffed as usual, with closed eyes, deep within his thoughts.

Water gushed from the tap, slapping the metallic sink as it flooded rapidly. Rue placed her arms into the liquid flow on her injury, watching the blood drain away. The lights above the sink gave a good view of her arm glistening with cherry, pieces of glass wedged into cuts of her skin stainted in red.

"Even if I didn't," Rue replied while crouching and outstretched an arm to the first-aid kit. She lifted herself back up and placed it on the small wooden table, "He would have kept asking me either way."

Zoro peeked an eye open as she took a seat. Both were on opposing sides of the seating areas. The swordsman lounged on a large creamy couch in the corner. He leaned an arm on a grey pillow. His eyes surveyed her take items from the kit, slowly removing the necessities to clean her injured arm. Without a flinch and steady fingers, she carefully tugged on each shattered piece on her arm with a tweezer while discarding them on a small white sheet. His dark eyes roamed her figure like a hawk to not miss a beat of her movement.

From her silver curls to her brown skin, she seemed like a vulnerable woman at sea with a child. Anyone who would take a good look at her would have said the same thing. Yet, apart of him kept telling, no, screaming at him that she was more than meets the eye.

He lifted his gaze elsewhere; most importantly, the style of her boat further raised his alarms of distrust. For the most part, from the outside, it seemed simple. A wooden deck with a few seats on it and the starting wheel in all its glory in the middle.

However, the inside resembled nothing he had experienced. Though small, yet it was elegant and a bit fancy in design. The door with simple steps brought one down to taste a bit of luxury. A modest taste, yet with a touch of a rich yellow, adorned the walls with stripes of grey. Cabinets decked in a dark brown with metallic silver handles attached. Between the large cabinets displayed a bed; its comfort looked inviting, from its large white and black-striped covers to its fluffy grey pillows, while a window brimmed down the sun rays from above it.

To his left, a fridge seemed big enough to fit food for more than two people, where he placed his three swords. Now that he thought about it, it made sense since her kid could eat a meal for five by herself.

He sank further into the creamy-leathered couch as his thoughts processed it all, and his brows furrowed. It was clear to him that whatever career choice this woman had, she could afford such a boat.

Not only that...She allowed strangers into her home without caution, not only one, but three men into her boat and around her child. To anyone, her actions would be absurd and practically reckless, as this situation could be a recipe for danger.

His eyes landed back on the woman. He watched her slightly wince as she applied drops of alcohol while she struggled slightly to wrap her arm. He frowned further, getting up and grabbing the tape from her hand; he gestured a hand. "Give me your arm."

Rue paid no mind to his actions and only gave him a polite smile, "Thank you, but I have troubled you enough already." As she continued treating her wounds, to her surprise, the swordsman took the tape from her hands, placed her arms in his and slowly began to wrap the tape around it. The woman stood still as she allowed him to do his work.

Silence drained the room, only leaving the faint voices of Aisha and Ayame squealing as they played on the upper deck with the duo swordsmen with steady waves of the ocean.

Zoro patiently kept a firm, yet tender grip on her arm. There was not too much pressure, but a hold kept the tape steady. He couldn't help his mind from wandering as he did his work. The woman before him hadn't revealed any hostility and showed them endless kindness. However, his mind wouldn't rest as something was amiss.

A normal encounter between them, an offer of free food and now...This.

Looking back at it all, something didn't seem right. Not her kindness per say, but the woman's peculiar attitude towards previous events. She yielded to the marine captain's demands so quickly, so easily, as if the captain's demanding words were thrown out the window.

As if they were never said in the first place, what person would ever sit still after being diminished in such a matter? Certainly not him.

The way the woman reacted at the mere mention of her child's father, though seeming typical to others, something still didn't feel right to him. He couldn't explain nor put his finger on the case at hand, but something about this woman was sent warnings. Yet, another part of him wondered if he was just wrong about it all; however, his gut has never led him a stray thus far.

He could only conclude that this woman was being too kind for her good, or...unless...

He finished up with a final wrap, with a smile, Rue thanked him though he didn't seem to react to her words as it seemed like the man was staring into space."Roronoa?" Zoro lifted his gaze, meeting curious specks of blue," Is something wrong?"

He placed the tape back into the box and other supplies she had used earlier, "What is it that you're after?"

"What I'm after..." Rue trailed off as she returned the kit to its original spot. She raised herself and leaned her lower back on the sink, "Whatever do you mean."

He furrowed his brows as his dark eyes studied her expression. Her words didn't sound like a question, but a statement and nothing more, as if she challenged him to press her further, challenging him to dig deeper, making him crave answers. Her calm demeanour only deepened his frown as she wasn't intimidated by his presence.

Unfazed by his words, Rue only stared back as her usual smile etched on her face.

Zoro almost let out a huff. Does all this woman ever do was smile?

The pause in the atmosphere only lasted seconds. Moments later, Aisha came rushing down the steps, her shoes tapping at the small stairs. She jumped into her mother's arms, and Rue caught her without a problem while Ayame and the duo swordsmen followed suit.

Aisha beamed, "Mommy, Junny and Yosusu have a lot of funny stories."

Rue chuckled at how her daughter mispronounced their names as she quickly glanced at their flushed cheeks, "Junny and Yosusu? Sweety, it's Johnny and Yosaku." She finished as she placed more emphasis on each syllable.

Johnny and Yosaku almost swooned while their cheeks reddened and burned brighter as their names rolled off her tongue. Her melodic giggle made them want to make her laugh just to harken her the tuneful melody of it.

"That's what I said," Aisha pouted at her mother, cheeks round and big as though she stuffed food in her mouth.

Ayame giggled and lifted her gaze to the horizon outside. She whipped her head back to Rue, "I have to go before my mother gets worried."

The light in the skies dimmed, the horizons aqua meshed with tinges of orange forming a pink hue. While the clouds slowly cuddle, concealing the gleam.

Rue placed Aisha down while Aisha pouted once more and overheard her friend's departure. "It's I can't let you walk, I'll come with you since I am going out anyway."

The duo swordsmen facepalmed themselves, completely forgetting about the mess. Though his shades blocked his specks, Johnny's features formed into a pitiful expression, "Are you sure this is ok?"

"How about we just leave this island instead? You won't have to go on a date if you aren't here, and we won't be captured." Yosaku voiced out with a pleading face, eyes droopy and brows raised as high as wherever his hairline was placed. Rue imagined dog ears on the bold-headed, which almost made her chuckle.

Instead, Rue gave them her usual smile, "That wouldn't be the best solution given his temperament; plus, he is a marine. He would put bounties on you all for something as small as this."

Zoro groaned in agreement, knowing Rue's words rang some truths. Given the situation, even if they did leave, it would still be a problem for everyone and would get in the way of his ambitions.

And Zoro wanted nothing in the way to reach his goal.

"Besides," Rue continued, her gaze shifting to Zoro; both held their eyes on one another, unmoving. Zoro frowned at her actions, but soon, it clicked in his mind, "I have something I must do here."

The silvered-haired woman's eyes fell on her daughter, "And for you." She lifted her daughter in her arms and placed her on the bed, "Time for you to get ready to sleep."

Aisha frowned and let out a long sigh, "OK.." Her eyes fell on Ayame, and she waved, "Night, Yame." Ayame's lips graced a smile as she did the same, soon, taking her exit out the door.

Rue shifted her focus on the men on the boat, "You guys can stay here if you would like, though I believe that would be the best option."

The duo swordsmen beamed at her kindness. First, it was a delicious meal that filled their growling stomachs and now a comfy boat to stay in; what luck!

"No thanks, we can take care of ourselves."

An audible crack filled Johnny and Yosaku's ears as if the sonorous beats of their hearts ceased at Zoro's foul words. They glared, eyes white and teeth as sharp as a knife, at his words while they pointed at him accusingly, "Speak for yourself!"

"I insist," Rue followed Ayame at the exit, " There are extra pillows and blankets in the coverts. If you get hungry, I have apples in the fridge."

Johnny and Yosaku couldn't help themselves; they graced her with a deep bow in thanks for the overflow of kindness Rue displayed. Tears streamed down their cheeks as they lifted their gaze like a flowing river. "Big Sis Rue, you're so nice."

The silvered-haired woman answered with a simple smile. A tanned hand held the handle as she was about to shut the door behind her. Giving him space, Zoro let himself out also.

"Oh? Did you want to tag along?" Rue asked with brows raised in surprise.

With his katanas strapped on his waist, Zoro crossed his arms as he walked forward a few feet ahead of them. "Anything could happen at night; besides, it's stuffy in there."

Ayame rose brow at the man's actions, but soon, her lips twisted into a slight smirk to Zoro's annoyance. Ideas swirled in mind at the many occasions the green swordsman tried to get closer to the woman yet didn't seem to pick up that their reasoning differed.

Rue gave him a simple nod at his response. The three got off the boat and docked near an isolated beach surrounded by lush green nature. Under the setting horizon, the life of nature dimmed, darkness ready to envelop the skies.

Soon, they arrived back in the streets of Gastonia. Compared to its rich scent of flavours of colours, shop owners prepared themselves for the oncoming night. Other townsfolk strolled around nearby nightly bars or restaurants. The atmosphere filled with bustled of laughter and chatters as they walked by. While they continued strolling throughout town, Zoro thought of Rue's words amid the silence. Her words held reassurance, as if she was signalling to him that all would be fine.

Zoro scoffed; he may not know what Rue was getting at, but whatever it was, his gut was telling him it couldn't be anything good.

And he always trusted his gut.

"There you are!"

Zoro tightened his hold on the hem of his katana, almost unsheathing it. The voice already made him want to slice, to rid away with the man's vocals. Of course, not to their surprise, the marine captain stood a few distance away from them, arms crossed on his chest while grinning from ear to ear.

Alex garnished himself in a dark suit, his dark hair gelled down, the product brimming under small streetlights.

"And here I thought you tried to leave the island." Alex sauntered in Rue's direction as he kept his gaze on her; he grabbed Rue's hand to press a kiss on it. "Are you ready for our date?"

Ayame gagged at his actions; her body shook as her eyes twitched. Someone like him seemed all the way wrong for her friend's mother. The brunette didn't like him one bit; he was just too weird in her opinion. The young girl took a peek at her side; she flinched at Zoro's gaze glaring holes at the captain.

"They-"Alex pointed a finger at Zoro and Ayame, "aren't coming with us, right?"

Rue caught the threat behind the tone of his voice, though it wasn't something the captain could hide either, "No, it will be just us as planned." She answered smoothly; she turned back to look at Ayame, "I was dropping Ayame off."

"Your boy toy will handle it," Alex waved his hand dismissively, grabbing her hand, then halted and observed Rue's attire. A frown etched on his features as his eyes roamed her. "You're going on our date dressed like that?"

Rue played with her sleeves, "My apologies, I don't have proper attire for the evening." She looked away in slight shame, "I'm a bit short on money."

Zoro's eyes twitched as his glaring eyes aimed at the marine captain; Ayame had to place herself before him to prevent him from doing anything reckless. She grasped his tanned hand, practically dragging him away from the scene to Zoro's shouts of protest.

"What the─"

"I have to get home!"

Zoro grumbled, his brows furrowed in vexation. He didn't fight it this time, but allowed the child to drag him along. He gave Rue one last glance; the silvered-haired woman smiled, assuring him that she got things handled on her end.

Yet, Zoro couldn't help the slight uncertainty crawl up his mind.

"Don't let go, or you'll get lost," Ayama teased, a wide grin on her features.

A vein appeared on Zoro's forehead, "I know where I'm going."

Their voices echoed, fading away in the winds. Rue kept her gaze on the trail her companions left on. Her mind went at ease as they were out of the way.

Now, her plan can go into motion.

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Thank you for reading!

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