Chapter Text
It's an old Wano tradition, held especially sacred in Ringo, that a bride brings a katana to her marriage to give to her new husband, so he can protect their new family with it.
In fact, historically, the only thing needed for a marriage was the gifting of a blade and a night spent in the same bed, symbolizing leaving her family's protection and home for that of her new husband.
Or, how Zoro accidentally married Hiyori.
He doesn't think anything of it at the time. While he definitely wants Shusui back, he understands by now the importance of the blade to Wano Country.
And being offered a suitable replacement blade by a beautiful woman? A meito of equal grade that had cut Kaido, wielded by Oden, one of the greatest samurai Wano had ever produced? Yeah. He can go along with that.
Hiyori's beauty and commanding presence didn't hurt either. He doesn't know if he finds her more attractive when she is beaming at him in joy, or when she assumes the mantel of princess and confidently bargains with a foreign pirate for the return of her homeland's national treasure.
(And, shock of the situation aside, he had very much enjoyed her face as she awoke from slumber, sultry eyes half lidded, and full lips pulled into a soft pout at being disturbed. That is an image that will haunt him.)
Typically he doesn't care if a woman is beautiful, after all, any of his romantic encounters required only mutual attraction, mutual gratification, and zero actual romance. They were also one night affairs that didn't linger the way he can still feel the phantom press of Hiyori's body against his, warm even through the layers of silk.
He didn't think he was the type to be so affected by a beautiful woman. But he can admit to himself that Hiyori's beauty is compelling, entrancing even.
He also paid no mind to Kawamatsu's exclamations of shock at the exchange. Of course the fishman would protest at his princess bartering her inheritance, a meito of immense power and significance, to an unknown stranger.
But the sword is Hiyori's to keep or give as she pleases. And even through his excitement over the potential it represents he respects and admires her sacrifice.
She is willing to part with a gift from her beloved father so that Wano could have Shusui back... Blue eyes set with determination, face calm and regal with her slender frame standing firm, she looks every bit the princess Kawamatsu refers to her as.
When he accepts the offered exchange, with the provision of being allowed to visit Ryuma's grave as a stipulation her face lights up with another of her radiant smiles and rosy blushes.
The fluttering feeling in his stomach and warmth at the top of his ears which he's sure are pink from a blush, are a good indicator that he needs to remove himself from the attractive distraction of Hiyori as soon as he can. In fact once he reunites her with Momo maybe he should go do some solo training.
But before he can finish the thought she is bidding them fair well. Even kneeling on the snow looks regal when she does it.
Kawamatsu's protestations are white noise compared to the bold command of her voice cutting through the muted atmosphere of Ringo's endless winter. Save Wano, somehow, someway.
Suddenly Zoro is torn between relief that he could again focus of the mission and his Captain's goals and concern about leaving Hiyori to fend for herself.
She's proven that she isn't a combatant, and while she is clearly clever enough to survive for 20 years in a hostile environment, the danger to her remains very real. Surely she is going to find a safe, quiet place out of harms way to hide herself until the battle was over and the dust has settled. He reassures himself that this is definitely what she will do.
With that thought he is able to fully commit to leaving her behind to follow the still suspicious Kawamatsu through the falling snow towards their allies in Kuri.
The pace of their journey is swift and steady, but hardly the mad dash of escaping danger the last few days had been.
Since parting ways with Hiyori Kawamatsu began treating him strangely. It is an odd mixture of deference and suspicion. The latter he was fairly used to, the former? Less so.
He even changes up the way he addresses Zoro, opting for a more respectful -dono as opposed to his original address of -san.
His crew mates might tease him for not having social skills, but clearly this is proof he is capable of forming new alliances he thinks to himself.
And overall the kappa is a pleasant enough traveling companion, though certainly a downgrade from his previous company Zoro considers wryly.
It is an uneventful trek now that there are no ninjas chasing them down (he spares another thought to Hiyori, hopefully safely out of danger) and while he would never tell anyone, between the princess and the fishman he has managed not to get lost for the past few days. Which may be a record for him.
Not that he would admit that under pain of death.
He prefers Hiyori's teasing directions to Kawamatsu's silent leading however.
As they walk he is treated to a long history lesson on the different regions of Wano, their different cultures, clans, and politics.
When discussing Ringo the Shimotsuki clan comes up and Zoro resolutely keeps his mouth shut. The likelihood of his village and sensei being completely unrelated to the sword bearing nobles of Wano, some of whom sailed off 50 years ago, seems null. Especially given his home village had been founded 50 years ago. He doesn't have to be brilliant to understand the obvious connection.
But no, no. Nothing to see here and certainly nothing to share.
He doesn't have enough information to fully understand how everything fits together and he isn't prone to talking without purpose anyway.
Fortunately the fishman doesn't seem to require a response and despite the distraction of his thoughts on the upcoming fight and the lingering idea of soft, pale hands he finds himself learning about the history of Wano. This is definitely more Robin's territory.
And when they arrive in Kuri and met up with everyone else Zoro really, really wants a drink but knows that unfortunately this one won't be poured by or shared with a blue haired beauty.
First, and most importantly however, he has a sword to collect.