Heart of the Kitsune

Heart of the Kitsune

Chapter 5

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The next day, Sanji made his way to Zoro's home, watching as the other left out the door with a set of clothes slung over his shoulder as he prepared for his daily morning bath. "Oi, marimo!" he called and the other turned in his direction. "Didn't I tell you to stop bothering me already?" Zoro muttered and Sanji pouted. "Why should I? By now you should've warm up to me at least a little. Stop being an ass and at least accept me as a little acquaintance." he said and Zoro could only groan.

"Fine. Do whatever the hell you want, just don't get in my way." he said finally and Sanji did a mental cheer as he watched the other leave for the waterfall and smirked. "Want someone to wash your back?" he questioned slyly as he went to follow the male into the forest. "Not bloody likely, shit-fox. Go away." he growled.

"Hey, I'm not going to miss this chance, marimo."

"You're breaching my privacy!"

"And why should you care what I do!? You don't care as long as I'm not in your way!"

"This is getting in the way of my privacy!"

The two continued to argue as they walked and from the branches, Ace could only laugh his feathers off. "Those two. Such polar opposites but both are hotheaded enough to be a good pair." he murmured before taking off.

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When Zoro entered the city later on in the day, Sanji stayed home, claiming he will have him a nice meal prepared for him when he got back. He still hadn't figured out why the fox was so determined to come to him in search of a mate. "If there are any other kitsunes in that forest, why couldn't he stick with them." he muttered to himself as he headed into the blacksmith. There he saw one of his good friends that he met back during his soldier days. Franky was a good shipwright that made the town's ships on the shore. It was a good couple of miles but his ships were so good that people were willing to walk the distance for their paid ships.

"Hey Franky." he greeted as he went to step beside the other male. Franky turned to him and grinned. "Well, Zoro! I haven't seen you in a while! How the forest living for ya?" he questioned as he picked up his repaired tools. "It's good. Nothing bad happened there so far. Animals leave me be..." Except for that damn fox. "And I pretty much like the peace. How about you?" he asked as he looked over to the shipwright, handing Wadou to the swordsmith. He started his check over of the blade. "Still the same old thing. Making ships and fighting with Iceberg over trivial things. But we're still bros so nothing wrong with that." Franky spoke with a chuckle. Zoro laughed a little as well before he was handed Wadou back.

"Well, it’s good to know that you and Iceberg are doing well. Maybe I'll come by to visit at some point." he said. "You should, bro! It would be supaa if you came by and maybe lend a hand." Franky said with a hearty laugh before collecting his repaired tools and left, giving Zoro a wave as he left.

He chuckled a little as he waved back to him before having his other two blades checked over before leaving and decided to visit another little friend of his. He entered the clinic and a small boy peeked out through the doorway and smiled. "Zoro!" The boy cried as he ran over and hugged him. "It's been so long! You should stop by and visit some more."

"I know, Chopper. I was just enjoying my solitude life a little too much." he said as he petted the boy's chocolate tresses. Chopper laughed before moving away. "Tell me what has been going on?" he said as he took Zoro's hand and led him into the back. Zoro told Chopper some stories of what he has been doing, leaving out the fact that he was dealing with an amorous kitsune that doesn't know the meaning of no yet. They heard a crash and a yelp and Chopper sighed. "Sounds like Usopp made Doctorine mad again." Chopper murmured as he hopped off the stool.

"Usopp?"

"Usopp!!!" A voice roared and soon, a blur ran through the room and hid under the nearest table as Dr. Kureha stomped into the room and growled. "Where is that damn kappa?! He broke another one of my medicine bottles!" she growled, taking another swig of her rum. "Even now, that woman still scares me." Zoro murmured and Chopper chuckled. The shivering kappa was making his home underneath the table but yelped as his leg was grabbed and was dragged out from underneath.

"You're lucky I can't hang you from your toes but you break another bottle and I will!" she growled and Usopp squeaked as he frantically apologized. He was a very unique kappa, one of few that were born this way. Instead of the bowl filled with water from the river he came from, he had a dome where the bowl would be which gave him a little leeway from being outwitted by humans.* But as the gullible creature he was, he was swayed with free board and medical knowledge by becoming a helper to Dr. Kureha's research.

"Ok! Ok! I won't do anything like that again! Just don't hang me from my toes or my right thousand men will swarm this clinic!" Usopp shrieked. "Uso!!! Enough of your lies! Now get in there and clean up your mess!" Usopp nodded quickly and once he was released, he darted back into the other room. "So, you have a kappa now? How'd that happen?" Zoro questioned.

"Doctorine found him. He was hurt and would've gotten captured by the locals if she didn't come around when she did. She healed him and stuff and he, in return, became another helper since kappas are naturally known for the medical know-how but he wanted to get more experience here just like me." Chopper explained and he nodded. "I see." 'Hopefully no ties with that fox or I'll be in for some trouble the next time I visit Chopper.' he thought to himself before getting up. "Well, it's getting late. I better get home."

"Aw! You're leaving so soon?" Chopper murmured and he patted the boy's head once more. "Don't worry. I'll come by more often to see you." he said, smiling a bit at Chopper big grin and nodded. "You better promise!" he said and Zoro nodded as he headed for the door. "Alright, I'll see you soon, Chopper." he called before leaving out. Chopper ran to the door and waved back to him before jumping as Dr. Kureha called him back inside. He closed the door before running back over to her.

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When he returned back, a meal awaited him once more from the fox. Said fox was sitting at the table, arms crossed as he looked to him. "About time you've returned, marimo. Hope you weren't seeing anyone behind my back cause no matter how much you push me away, you're mine." Sanji murmured.

Zoro gave a snort as he moved to the table. "You wish but my answer stays solid. I'm not going to be your mate, fox." he said as he started eating the meal left for him. Sanji sighed, arms resting on the table. "Why do you have to be so mean? You humans would do anything to bed a kitsune so why are you playing the tough act? Just let loose for once and I'll make it worth your while in return for you becoming my mate."

"No."

"And why not?" Sanji growled, fur bristling. "You of all people should know that, being a lore creature and all but you're thinking with the wrong head. Once you learn, you'll know why I'm not going with you commitment." Zoro muttered as he continued to eat. Sanji sighed as he stood and walked over to him, wrapping his arms around his neck. "But you don't know why I've been through alone. Ever since my stepfather left me to fend for myself, I got myself into such terrible trouble." he murmured.

"Trouble how? Then again, cunning foxes get themselves into trouble if they're not careful." Zoro pointed out.

"That's not the point!" Sanji hissed before calming. "It's just...I want a strong man to always be there to protect and watch over me. And you fit those qualities so nicely. I mean, the townspeople won't lie about your grand power even though I was never around to witness it myself." he purred, resting his head upon his shoulder. "They do but I don't brag." he said and Sanji sighed again.

"Please, at least hear me out. I can't tell you much so you don't get your firm ass involved but there are two lore creatures out there to get me and I can't afford them to find me before I can get plans set for those conniving bastards. I know you tell me constantly you don't want a fox in your home but for my safety, will you let me share your home. And I really don't want to put my den in jeopardy." he pleaded. "And you'll get three square meals a day of my cuisine plus snacks if you ask."

Zoro pondered over the thought. He was getting hell from this idea already but he guessed if Sanji takes care of his problems, he'll finally leave him be and maybe he'll move somewhere to assure the fox wouldn't come searching for him again. And he really couldn't deny that he truly like the meals he was getting ever since the fox showed. "Fine, but no funny business. You take care of your problems and then you're gone." he said finally and Sanji smiled. "Oh thank you, marimo. You won't regret it." he said, hugging him.

"Unwanted physical contact."

"Sorry." he murmured as he released the swordsman with a pout. The kitsune took his seat once more and started on his meal as well and the two ate in complete silence. After Zoro was done, Sanji shooed him off as he took care of the dishes and once the other male was asleep later on that night, he headed out, shifting into his fox form and darted off to his den. There, he spotted Luffy and nodded. "Good. Just the monkey I wanted to see. I finally got through that thick skull of the swordsman so I'm staying at his home now."

"Oh wow! Really!?" Luffy chirped and he nodded. "Yes, so any further help I need from you, Nami-swan or Robin-chwan, I'll meet you in town for. Tell them that the next time you see them and that coward Usopp." he said and Luffy nodded. "Repeat to me what I just said to make sure."

"Tell Nami, Robin and Usopp that if you need our help we'll meet you in town."

"Where in town?"

"The usual spot!"

"Good. Here's a cracker." he said, heading into his den and grabbed a cracker from his things and handed it to Luffy who chattered eagerly as he ate the treat. "Now get moving. And if you see that brother of yours, tell him to do me a kind favor and do a sky search about the location of those bastards so I'll know just how much time I have to execute plans." Luffy nodded before dashing off.

Sanji watched him leave before gathering things he needed such as leaves, herbs and spices that he had along with a few choice treasures to try and sway his potential mate before he returned back to his home, placing an illusion over the den so it wouldn't be ransacked while he was gone.

When he returned, he made sure there wasn't a trail left from him as he went back and forth between homes and assured that nothing will bring Jyabura and Lucci to him, he gave a satisfied nod and slipped in through the window. He closed it and went to place his things away before looking up to the staircase where Zoro was sleeping at the moment.

He gave a pout at the prospect of sleeping beside the other male but knew that he would be shooed out before he could make himself comfortable and decided to change forms and make himself comfortable on a cushion somewhere downstairs. "Did I really choose a troublesome male to be my mate? Oh Inari why, I love him too much to give him up but what if I have to? Father...old man...where are you when I really need you?" he whimpered and curled up, tails providing as his blanket.

Late in the night, Zoro came down from his room to get himself a midnight drink when he spotted the kitsune on the small cushion that barely fitted him, bundled up tight within his own tails. If he was anyone else, he would've felt sympathy for the small creature but after everything the two spat at one another, sympathy was the last thing on his mind.

But he did fell a little bad for not giving the fox better sleeping conditions. "He better not take this the wrong way." he muttered, disappearing into the kitchen to grab his drink before coming back and went over to where Sanji slept. He picked him up into his one arm before ascending the stairs and into his room, setting the fox onto the extra pillow on the bed.

Finishing the sake in a few quick gulps and setting the bottle off onto the stand by the bed, he settled back down for sleep. He was out like a light and Sanji was the next to rouse awake, finding himself in a warmer setting than earlier. Looking around, he found himself in Zoro's bed and looked to the other male in surprise.

"Does he care?" he wondered softly to himself before giving a shrug. 'I would hope so but guess I can only leave that to time.' he thought, moving closer to the other and curled up beside him, purring at the heat radiating from Zoro's body before falling asleep comfortably in the presence of his dream mate.

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Zypher: And another chapter done. I'm still happy for all the support that you readers have been giving me. I might make this a more common thing and grant us more Zoro/Sanji fiction to read. Already plotting now but we'll see what happens once this story is done. But for now, I'll see you all later with a new chapter.