Chapter Text
10 Years of Painful Love
Chapter 1 — The Island That Revealed Secrets
The sea was peaceful.
Almost suspiciously peaceful.
After everything they had endured in Wano, the calmness felt unfamiliar. The Thousand Sunny sailed smoothly across the ocean, the sound of waves replacing the sounds of battle that had followed them for so long.
For once, nobody was running from an enemy.
Nobody was fighting for survival.
They were simply living.
Luffy was stretched across the lion figurehead, staring ahead with wide eyes.
"LAND!"
Everyone on the deck looked up.
"Where?" Usopp asked.
"There!"
Luffy pointed dramatically at a small island appearing in the distance.
Nami checked the Log Pose.
"Interesting... this island isn't marked on our current route."
Robin looked up from her book.
"An unrecorded island?"
"Sounds like an adventure!" Luffy grinned.
"Sounds like trouble," Nami corrected.
Sanji walked out from the kitchen carrying a tray of drinks.
"Trouble or not, the ladies deserve a relaxing island visit."
Nami immediately took the drink.
"Thank you, Sanji."
Robin accepted hers with a smile.
"How thoughtful."
Sanji practically sparkled.
"Anything for my beautiful angels."
A sword handle suddenly hit him on the head.
"Stop being annoying."
Sanji turned slowly.
"Marimo."
Zoro sat against the mast, eyes closed.
"What?"
"You hit me."
"You were being stupid."
"You breathe and it becomes my problem."
"At least I breathe. You look dead when you sleep."
The two stared at each other.
The entire crew ignored them.
"They're starting again," Chopper sighed.
"They never stopped," Franky laughed.
The Thousand Sunny finally reached the island.
The moment they stepped onto the wooden dock, everyone noticed something strange.
The island was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Flowers grew along the pathways despite the rocky terrain. Ancient stone buildings were covered with vines, and a strange purple mist floated between the trees.
Robin walked closer to a stone monument near the harbour.
"Interesting."
Everyone gathered around her.
"What is it?" Chopper asked.
Robin brushed away some moss.
An old warning had been carved into the stone.
"Visitors of Briarveil Island must surrender false forms.
The island reveals what nature has hidden.
Alphas and Omegas shall return to their original state."
The crew stared.
"..."
Usopp slowly stepped backward.
"I don't like that."
"You don't like anything involving mysterious islands," Nami said.
"Because mysterious islands usually involve monsters!"
Robin continued reading.
"There is also mention of ancient magic."
"Magic?" Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"Witches," Brook added.
Everyone froze.
"WITCHES?!" Usopp screamed.
Robin smiled.
"It seems this island was once home to a group of witches who studied nature and instincts."
Sanji frowned.
"Meaning?"
Nami looked at the symbol carved beside the warning.
"It means suppressants and blockers probably won't work here."
Everyone became quiet.
The island suddenly felt different.
The crew agreed to stay together.
They needed supplies, and the island's marketplace seemed like the best place to gather information.
Sanji stood at the Sunny's kitchen table, writing carefully.
"Vegetables... meat... coffee beans... spices..."
He tapped the pen against the paper.
"Can't forget dessert ingredients."
Zoro walked past.
Sanji immediately grabbed him.
"You."
Zoro looked down.
"No."
"You don't even know what I'm asking."
"You're asking me to do something annoying."
"Carry the groceries."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Zoro opened one eye.
"You have two legs."
"And you have two arms."
"I also have swords."
"Congratulations. They can stay at your side while you carry bags."
"I'd rather fight Kaido again."
Sanji smiled.
"Good. Then carrying groceries should be easy."
Zoro's eyebrow twitched.
"I hate you."
"Feeling is mutual."
The marketplace was full of life.
The smell of spices filled the air. Vendors called out from every direction, selling fruits, seafood, clothing, and strange island-made products.
Sanji moved confidently through the crowd.
Zoro followed behind with several bags.
"This is too much."
"You lifted a building."
"I also threw you through a wall."
"Because you're violent."
"Because you're annoying."
Sanji ignored him.
They continued arguing like always.
Anyone watching would think they were enemies.
And technically...
They were.
At least, that was what they told themselves.
Years of insults.
Years of fighting.
Years of pretending they didn't understand each other.
Sanji knew exactly when Zoro was tired.
Zoro knew exactly when Sanji was hiding pain.
Neither of them admitted it.
After buying the final ingredients, Sanji turned toward the vendor.
"Thank you, beautiful lady."
The vendor laughed.
"You're quite charming."
"Only when speaking to someone deserving."
Behind him, Zoro rolled his eyes.
"Disgusting."
Sanji turned.
"Did the moss on your head finally grow ears?"
"I said disgusting."
"And I heard you. Unfortunately."
The vendor laughed harder.
Then Sanji noticed something.
Silence.
Too much silence.
He looked behind him.
The bags were there.
The swords were there.
But Zoro wasn't.
Sanji blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"..."
A dangerous smile appeared.
"Marimo."
No response.
"Mosshead."
Still nothing.
His eyebrow twitched.
"That idiot actually got lost."
The first street.
Nothing.
The second street.
Nothing.
The third street.
Still nothing.
Sanji's irritation slowly changed.
He refused to admit what it was.
Concern.
No.
Impossible.
It was only because Zoro was annoying.
That was all.
"He better not have gotten himself killed."
Sanji turned another corner.
Then stopped.
The wind changed.
A scent reached him.
Sweet.
Warm.
Earthy.
Like matcha folded together with cream and delicate layers of cake.
A strange floral note followed.
It was comforting.
Familiar.
But impossible.
Sanji's expression changed.
An Omega.
The scent was unmistakable.
And it was coming from nearby.
His instincts reacted immediately.
Someone was in danger.
Without hesitation, he ran.
The scent led him into a narrow alley.
Four Alphas surrounded someone.
"Come on."
"You don't have to hide."
"Such a strong scent..."
Sanji's expression darkened.
He hated people like this.
"Move."
The Alphas turned.
One laughed.
"And who are you?"
"Someone giving you a chance to leave."
The Alpha stepped forward.
Sanji sighed.
"Wrong answer."
The fight ended quickly.
A kick.
A strike.
A movement too fast for them to follow.
Within moments, the four men were unconscious.
Sanji adjusted his suit.
"Pathetic."
Then he turned.
And froze.
No.
That couldn't be right.
The person hiding against the wall...
The green hair.
The three swords.
The familiar annoyed expression.
"...Marimo?"
Zoro was crouched there.
His hands were tightly gripping his clothes, his breathing uneven.
Sanji stared.
Everything he thought he knew shattered.
Zoro.
The man who fought monsters.
The man who challenged emperors.
The man who never backed down.
An Omega?
Impossible.
He had always believed Zoro was an Alpha.
Everything about him screamed strength.
Power.
Pride.
Yet the scent surrounding him was undeniable.
Zoro slowly raised his head.
Their eyes met.
For once, there was no insult.
No argument.
No hatred.
Just exhaustion.
"...Sanji?"
The swordsman's voice was quieter than usual.
The scent grew stronger.
Sanji froze.
Not because of fear.
Because suddenly he realized something.
He had never seen Zoro look vulnerable before.
Not once.
And somehow...
That bothered him more than any battle.
More footsteps echoed from the street.
Sanji immediately reacted.
They couldn't stay.
Too many people would notice.
Too many would come.
Without thinking, he removed his jacket and wrapped it around Zoro.
"Don't argue."
Zoro frowned weakly.
"I wasn't going to."
That answer surprised Sanji.
Usually, Zoro would already be insulting him.
Sanji carefully helped him stand.
"You're heavier than you look."
"You're weaker than you think."
"There you are."
A tiny hint of their usual rivalry returned.
Good.
That felt normal.
Sanji carried him through the streets toward the nearest inn.
The receptionist immediately noticed Zoro's condition.
"Is he alright?"
"Just needs a room."
Her expression softened.
She quickly handed him a key.
"Third floor."
"Thank you."
Sanji rushed upstairs.
Inside the room, he carefully placed Zoro on the bed.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Zoro shifted.
Searching for comfort.
Slowly, his tense expression relaxed.
Sanji watched silently.
This was strange.
The same person who annoyed him every day.
The same idiot who stole his food and challenged him constantly.
Looked completely different now.
And Sanji hated that he noticed.
"Idiot..."
Zoro opened one eye.
"Calling yourself that?"
Sanji almost smiled.
Almost.
Then the island's strange magic filled the room again.
The air felt heavier.
Different.
Sanji felt his instincts pulling at his attention.
Not controlling him.
Warning him.
Something about this island was revealing things that had been hidden.
Secrets.
Truths.
Things neither of them wanted to face.
Sanji stepped back.
"What the hell is this island doing?"
His vision blurred slightly.
The last thing he saw was Zoro reaching toward him.
"Sanji..."
And then darkness took him.