Heart of the Kitsune

Heart of the Kitsune

Chapter 3

-

After eating his fill, Zoro headed up to his bedroom and mulled over the persistent kitsune that now wheedled his way into his life. "Damn, I asked for peace and yet here I am dealing with a stubborn kitsune. Never thought one would even show itself." he muttered and sighed before he blew out the lantern and went to bed.

Around the same time, when the city was dark and the rowdy ones were making their homes in the taverns, Sanji headed into the city. He looked around before hearing a crow and looked up. A raven sat there, looking back down to him. "There you are, Robin-chwan! I've been waiting for you!" he said and the raven chuckled, shifting into a mortal form and crossed her legs as she looked down to the kitsune.

"I'm sure you have, cook-san. I am quite amazed to see you here tonight. You've been quite aloof and hanging around the forest more than usual." Robin spoke.

Sanji chuckled. "True. I do miss seeing my wonderful angels but I have found someone new that requires my time."

A laugh was heard and he looked down to see an orange tabby cat sitting before him. "Well by Inari's blessing, I thought I would never hear the day when someone interest Sanji so much that he would pursue it! Who's the lucky lady?" the cat asked as she shifted, brown eyes glittering in the darkness. "Ah, Nami-swan, you're beauty is unmatched as always. As for my prey, it isn't a female but a male." he spoke. "Oh-ho, then who's the lucky man?" Nami asked.

"He goes by the name Roronoa Zoro."

"Roronoa Zoro? The legendary swordsman of the city? Such a big goal you're trying to accomplish. Think that it will be possible, cook-san?" Robin questioned from above. "That's where you lovely ladies come in. I need your help. He's such a stubborn mule but if you can follow him and learn of what he likes, it will make charming him easier." he explained. A set of wings sprouted from Robin's back as she flew down to meet them. "I see. Having trouble seducing him unlike the other males and females that you jerk around for fun?" she questioned, an interested gleam in her eyes.

Sanji pouted and nodded. "Yeah. He didn't even show the slightest hint that he was interested in me at all. That made me angry. He shooed me out the house in hopes to get rid of me but I'm not going to let him get rid of me so easily. I want him to be my eternal mate and I don't want to force him but Inari help me I will if he keeps trying to shirk away from me."

"Now, now, Sanji-kun. We don't want you to force him. Zeff wouldn't be happy to know that his pup was abusing his powers for something he desperately wants." Nami said and he huffed. "That old man hasn't been around for 100 years after leaving me to fend for myself once I gained my third tail. If he's watching me then he can come tell me what I should or shouldn't do himself." he mumbled before looking back to the two women before him. "So will you help me learn what I need to claim my dearest marimo?"

"Oh, how cute. You even picked a name out for him." Nami said with a soft chuckle before nodding. "Sure but I would want a little fee for my services." Sanji frowned. "Aw, Nami-swan, can't you do this for me for free?" Nami gave him a look and he sighed. "Alright then. I'll make sure to bring you the finest fish from my neck of the woods to you later." She grinned and nodded.

"Thanks, Sanji-kun! Robin and I will get right on tailing your little lover boy when he comes into town tomorrow." she said and he nodded, smiling softly. "Good. We'll meet here again tomorrow night. If you see that little ape Luffy and that scaredy-cat kappa Usopp, let them in on this too. Might need their help as well." They nodded before watching the kitsune shift and run off.

"Think the effort will be worth it?" Nami questioned as she looked to Robin.

"Swordsman-san is a very strong male. A strong mate is what cook-san needs and if this all works in his favor, then Zeff will definitely be happy to know that someone strong is watching over his pup." Robin explained and Nami nodded before the two shifted back into animal forms. "Guess we'll meet up tomorrow and find Luffy and Usopp to let them in on this and get to work the moment Zoro walks into town." Robin nodded before she flew off and Nami ran off back to her home where she was pampered like a princess from her elderly owner.

-

Deeper in the forest, Luffy was wandering, monkey tail wagging as he walked in his mortal form. He was singing as he walked, tapping a twig on his shoulder as he continued walking on before stopping as he heard voices. "After 300 years, we're finally back. And once we get prepared, we'll take care of that blasted kitsune." A dark voice spoke. "But how are going to lure out that fox? You know he's a cunning one." Luffy heard this and went to hide in a nearby tree. "I'm sure by now he has some new interest to paw after. We learn it, find out where it goes, then take it in for ransom for the kitsune's life." the first spoke.

"Still smart as always, aren't you, Lucci?" he second spoke, a smirk upon his face and Luffy gasped but kept his mouth covered as he listened more. "Of course, Jyabura. We may have lost most of CP9 thanks to that old kitsune Zeff, but his runt will pay the price for what he had done." Lucci spoke before they left the area. Luffy frowned before hopping down. "I have to find Sanji and quick! I can't believe Lucci and Jyabura returned to this part of the woods!" he said frantically as he ran off, hoping to find Sanji back at his home.

-

He returned home and sighed as he went to sit on the ornate bed, a gift from a lonely but rich male human that held his attention for a while but was dumped not long after. He sighed, removing his kimono and laid back on the bed. "Zoro...why can't you understand my love for you?" he murmured softly before curling up, his five tails covering him like a makeshift blanket and would've let the exhaustion of the day carry him to sleep but was roused awake by a familiar loud voice calling out his name.

"Saaaaaaaanji!!!!!"

"Ugh...what is it, Luffy!? It's late and I'm not making food for you!"

Luffy skidded into the cave and stopped before Sanji's bed, breathing heavily as he looked to the other with a frightened gaze and Sanji raised his head. The little monkey was never frightened of anything and he learned that little fact from the best. So to see him even the slightest bit scared made the elder kitsune worry. "What's going on, Luffy?" he asked softly. Luffy looked to him and whimpered as he spoke two names he never wanted to hear again. "Jyabura and Lucci....they've returned." he whispered and Sanji's eyes widened. "What..."

"It's true. I heard them deeper in the forest. They're coming for you for revenge on Zeff for driving them away 200 years ago when they first found you. You need to run! Get out of here until Ace or Shanks can come down and take care of them!" Luffy said but Sanji didn't register any of his words except for one.

Run....

I...I can't...I won't...

Run....

"I won't..." he whispered and Luffy looked to him.

"But Sanji..." he started but the other gave him a glare.

"I'm not running away! I'm not going to run away from those bastards while my mate still lives in this forest! I'll be damned if I let someone else swipe Roronoa Zoro from under my nose because I ran to make some living somewhere else!" he hissed and Luffy yelped as he scampered back. Sanji rarely gets angry but it wasn't pleasant to be around.

"Should I try and look for Zeff? He can drive them away." Sanji stood and shook his head. "That old man left me for a reason. I need to start making a living on my own. If Jyabura and Lucci want to take me on, I'll meet their challenge head on. Nothing is stopping me from my goal, not even them." he said and Luffy looked to him, seeing the flare of determination and grinned.

"Then I'm with you all the way, Sanji!"

Sanji smirked. "Good, cause I'll need your help."

-

The next morning, Zoro woke up for his usual morning workout and bath. Once he was done with that, he started heading into the city. From a nearby tree, Robin watched before following behind him. She watched as he ate at one of the booths, keeping a tab on the food he was eating. "Hmm, sea king meat and sake. Not much of a healthy diet but I suppose he works it off so its good enough." she hummed from her perch on the corner of the building nearby. She turned to look over to Luffy who swung himself up to her. "Morning, Luffy. Did you meet up with cook-san at all?" she asked.

"Yeah." he answered, following her gaze. "So that's the guy he's trying to swoon?"

"Yes. I'm learning about his favorite foods now. Simple but I'm sure cook-san can elaborate the meals into his favor easily." she said and Luffy nodded, grinning eagerly. "Who knew Sanji had such a challenge before him?" he said with a chuckle before going silent and looked over to Robin.

"Hey, Robin...you don't think this would end up like his other conquests, do you?" he asked softly. The karasu-tengu shook her head. "No...not at all. I believe this time, cook-san is serious in his search for a mate. I've never seen him so determined before so I'm sure he's serious about this one." she said but then rested her head onto her palm.

"But then again, when you take into consideration that he had to work considerably harder to charm this one, you never know. He does mention making swordsman-san into his mate but sometimes, you can't second guess his thinking." she murmured. Luffy sighed, knowing that Robin can be right about some of her inquiries.

He just hoped that Sanji really meant in claiming the swordsman for a mate and not just leading him around with fake promises. After he finished eating, Zoro was up and headed out to do what he usually does during the day. "Come on, Robin!" Luffy chittered as he started following after Zoro. Robin chuckled softly before she followed behind the eccentric simian.

-

Zoro yawned as he left the town, wondering if he was just an animal magnet. Everywhere he looked, he either saw the monkey that usually terrorizes people for food or some odd black raven that wasn't even supposed to be in the area. 'If they are animal spirits, I'm gonna kill that fox.' he thought to himself as he made his way back home. He heard rustling in the grass and pulled out Shuusui from its saya and pointed it over in the vicinity of the sound. "Sharp. I like that." a voice purred and Zoro sighed. "What do you want now, shitty fox?"

Sanji stepped out from the foliage, smirking softly. "Came to see if you changed your mind about me, marimo."

"Not in the slightest."

Sanji pouted and moved closer, sitting beside the other man once the sword threat was gone. "Why not, marimo? You have a genuine lore animal wanting you and you brush it off like it's nothing. Any person would be jumping at this chance. Why you have to be so different?" he questioned. Zoro looked over to him and huffed.

"Well, shitty fox, if I were to be anything to you, it will not only put you in danger but me as well. I asked for a peaceful life and I'm not going to get it with you hanging around. Now go away and find someone else to charm and dump." he murmured, waving the other away. Sanji growled, ears flattened against his skull. "What will it take to make you believe, hmm? A blood oath perhaps? Or maybe the most important thing to every kitsune." he whispered, lifting a tail to hover before Zoro's face, the glowing hoshi no tama rested precariously on the tip.

"If you know your legends well, you know that this is the most important thing to a kitsune. Steal one and I would grant you a favor for its return. I could promise you anything, even the truth if you so desire to hear it. Just take it and return it to me, marimo. That's all it takes to get all the answers you need to know from me." he purred as he watched the other male.

Zoro looked to the hoshi no tama and reached up. Sanji waited, knowing that no human could resist the powerful orb but was completely floored when Zoro pushed his tail away and stood. "I don't have time for you, shitty fox. Go back home and stop bugging me already." he said before walking off. Sanji hopped up as well and followed.

"You get back here right now, idiot swordsman! I'm gonna get you one way or another!"

"Get lost, you damn fox!"

"Never!"

-

It took the entirety of that night before to break himself out of the illusion he was caught up in and when he returned home, he was a very pissy man. "I can't believe I fell for that kitsune's tricks! He's much more cunning than I thought he would be. But I won't fail this time. That fox will be mine and I'll get rich selling him off. Maybe I could make a more hefty sum selling him off to a brothel. Get fifty percent for the money he'll be pulling in since any man or woman would want a night with a kitsune. Yeah, I'll do that instead. This will be perfect." Spandam spoke, grinning to himself.

"I won't fail this time. That fox will be mine and will be my meal ticket for life." he whispered before laughing at his ingenious plan.

-

Somewhere in the forest, Sanji's fur bristled at the thought of impending danger. "If it's that foolish human again, I'll give him something to be proud about." he muttered.

-

Zypher: And there you have it. Another chapter for all you wonderful readers that are following me with this story so far. You are very much loved cause you're the ones giving me hope that this story is as good as I was hoping for. So here we are with Spandam up to new tricks, Lucci and Jyabura making an appearance and Sanji still pestering Zoro. Also introductions of Robin and Nami into the mix and more are still to come so stick with me even longer to see what will happen to our troublesome duo.