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The morning of the wedding day has the perfect weather. Flower Capital is bustling with people and the castle is in the last minute chaos you would expect from the biggest wedding in all of Wano. People run around setting the wedding hall and the party hall in order. The kitchen is in chaos, although most of the work is put on the Straw Hat’s cook. Not because the cooks of the castle asked or demanded for it, but rather because Sanji wanted to. Also because he is impossible to get out of there once he’s on full speed. Since the other half of the wedding couple is their swordsman, it’s the least Sanji could do.
As the bride is one of the two last remaining Kozuki’s and the groom is the only direct living descendant of the legendary swordsman Ryuma as well as the right hand of the King of the Pirates, this wedding is not just any wedding. It is the wedding. The one Wano would be talking for years to come. Just imagine the children who could have both families blood running through their veins.
While the groom is being pushed and forced into his wedding montsuki, a process he’s doing his best to avoid, the bride is getting ready in a separated room on the other side of the castle. Just in case she won’t be seen by anyone, not even if the groom ends up getting lost and accidentally finds his way there.
“Haruka,” Hiyori says absent mindlessly while looking out of the window. Her cousin let’s out a hum indicating she is listening. They are alone for now as Osome and some others went to fetch the make-up tools and her hair decorations. “I’m going to run.”
“What?! Hiyori this wedding starts in less than two hours.”
“It’s the only choice I have.”
“No. You have a choice to walk down the isle.” Haruka pulls the last parts of Hiyori’s wedding kimono out to show. “Who do you suggest stands at the altar if not you? Momo?” Hiyori let’s out a small laugh at that.
“He wouldn’t. And he won’t know.”
Haruka pinches the bridge of her nose. “Why would you even run? I thought you liked the groom.”
“I did.” Hiyori smiles gently. “But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve come to the realization that I like him as a friend. Perhaps I liked him as something more when he was the one saving me, but not anymore. Not to mention, he doesn’t like me like that. Never did. We are both being forced into something we know won’t work in the long run. We are not compatible.”
“You could just call of the wedding.”
Hiyori shakes her head. “Too much time, money and energy from everyone has gone into the planning and organizing. It would all go to waste.”
Haruka lets out a very long and heavy sigh. It’s a hassle. “How on earth did you think you could run out of here? There’s guards and people everywhere.”
“Well, we kind of look alike. I could just dress up as you and run,” she suggests. Her cousin gives her a long stare before pulling out a Den Den Mushi.
“Hold a second.”
Despite the fact that Nami was originally supposed to help in the wedding hall, she’s in Zoro’s room ordering the rest of the crew around. They have to wrestle Zoro into the montsuki, he’s doing his best to get off of him.
“Hold him down!” She yells at Usopp and Chopper.
“You think we can hold him down long enough?!” This has been going on for at least an hour. Robin tried using her multiple arms to hold Zoro down long enough for the others to pull the montsuki on.
“I am not doing this!”
“Yes you are! The gift money you’ll receive is this close to my hands.” Nami pinches her fingers together.
“Is my misery really worth the trouble?” Zoro stops trashing around now that he’s gotten Usopp and Chopper off of him.
“Of course. It’s expensive to live in this crew, so if your misery is all it takes to get some pocket money, then I’m all for it.”
“Witch.” There’s a knock on the sliding door and Nami turns her attention to it, while the rest take upon the job of dressing Zoro up.
“Hello.” Lydia, Luffy’s older sister, slides the door open. “Nami, could I talk with you for a moment.” The expression she has doesn’t tell much but Nami walks out of the room anyway.
“What is it about?”
“We have a bit of a situation going on.” The smile doesn’t tell Nami anything. Seeing as the situation inside the room isn’t about to change anytime soon, Luffy makes his way to the hallway to spectate the conversation.
“What situation?”
“The bride run off.” One, two seconds is all it takes for the reality to sink in.
“What?!” Nami slaps her hand on her mouth. Now’s not the good time for outside witnesses to see this. “What?” She asks more quietly.
“Yeah. She said she’s not going to get married and ran.”
“So is there going to be a wedding?” Luffy asks.
“That’s what I’m here for. This wedding is not something we can just cancel. There are too many reporters and people who are expecting this to go on.”
“So, what do we do? Do we tell Zoro?” Luffy looks back at the sliding door. Lydia shakes her head.
“Lydia, what’s the alternative?” Nami knows what the next expression she wears means.
“I know the perfect person for it.” She knows. Nami knows. They all know who.
Those two have been dancing around each other for a very long time. Practically since Baratie. Nami and Usopp were the ones who walked after Zoro through those doors back then and could pretty much immediately tell something clicked in him. A blonde holding a marine captain up by his neck with one hand. Yeah, that was the start. On Zoro’s side. They are not sure when it started on Sanji’s part but it was very clear that something changed after their two year separation and the Whole Cake incident.
It’s been a couple years since. Those two keep on giving secret glances when they think the other won’t see. Every time they fight, it seems to be an excuse to stay close to each other. When they have their foreheads pressed together, it’s almost like their way of kissing. The way they are concerned if the other gets hurt in a battlefield. Yes, Sanji treats the ladies like goddesses, but those affections are served for Zoro as well. Not as compliments but as extra portions for snacks right after his training and free sake now and then. When they hit land, Zoro automatically follows Sanji to the towns and cities and without complaining, carries everything they purchase. The Straw Hats are not blind.
“He won’t agree to it.” Nami sighs.
“Not if me or Luffy ask. But if you do, he might as well just do it. That’s what I need you to do. Get Sanji out of the kitchen and into the bride’s dressing room.” Lydia pushes Nami towards the hallway that leads to the kitchen. “Hurry now, there’s just about an hour before the wedding is set to start.”
“What do I do?” Luffy asks.
“Make sure Zoro is at the altar in sixty minutes. And don’t tell him.”
“Why shouldn’t we tell him?” Nami turns around.
“Because. It’s a fun surprise.”
“Sanji.” The man spins around when Nami enters the kitchen.
“Nami-swan! What can I help you with?”
“I wanted to talk to you. Zoro is giving us trouble so I wanted some fresh air.”
“That stupid mossball. Let me finish this up and I’ll come with you to kick some manners into him.”
“No need. There’s actually something else I need you for. Could you come with me?” Nami puts on her best face and act that she knows has Sanji falling into doing whatever she wants.
“Of course Nami-swan. Let me just get this done. Everything else it pretty much finished.” Nami takes a hold of his right arm.
“I’m sure the other cooks are more than happy to finish the job.”
“But-”
“Come now.” Nami pulls him off the work and out to the hallway. Sanji has just about that much time to tell the others what to do.
“Where are we going?”
“The bride’s room. She has asked for you.”
Sanji feels something pang inside him. He knows what it is but decides to stay quiet. It’s ugly after all. To be jealous of a beautiful and lucky lady like Hiyori. He will go through this day, smiling happy and keeping himself busy with the food. As long as he has his hands full of serving drinks and food and getting more of the both, he will be fine. Just fine. After that, he doesn’t know what he will do.
It will hurt for a very, very long time. Maybe in time he will learn to live with it. With the fact, reality that the man he wants, would never and will never be his. That is just a day dream. To think Zoro would ever look at him like he looks at him. They are nothing more than crew mates.
Nami leads him down the halls while he’s creating a storm in his head. A dark, ugly storm that hurts him. By the time they reach the sliding door to the bride’s room, he buries those thoughts and puts on a bright smile.
“Hiyori-san, we are coming in.” He’s the first to step into the room. The door closes behind him.
“Lock the door! Get him!” Five women jump him while another locks the door. “Make sure he has no way out.”
“Lydia?”
“Hello.”
“Where’s Hiyori?” She’s not in the room now that he has time to scan it.
“She run.”
“We don’t have much time.” Nami walks up to stand before him. “Let get the bride dressed and ready.”
The situation slowly sinks in when they start pulling the blue yukata off and then move him behind a folding screen. Hiyori run off. The wedding must go on. The culprit of why he’s not being dressed into the wedding kimono is in the room. The brunette who was with him when the crew was separated for the two years. The one who he told a whole lot more than necessary about his life.
“Lydia. Nami help!”
“No can do. This is the best choice we have.” Nami helps the others in choosing the decorations for his head. “We need a thick veil to hide his face and hair.”
“We have one.”
“Why are you here?” Sanji asks once he’s allowed to step out of the dressing spot. He’s now in the kimono. The sash tightly wrapped around him.
“Because, my dear friend’s cousin was supposed to get married. We came to support her but now we can support you.”
“Does Luffy know?”
“Yup. She filled him in on what is happening. Zoro doesn’t know.” Nami takes him to walk closer to the vanity.
“He doesn’t know?” He can feel his face loose it’s color. This is a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. “This won’t work.”
“Why not? You like him.” Nami crosses her arms. The other women in the room take action in painting his face with make-up and styling his hair.
“Correction, he loves him.” Lydia calls from where she is opening and giving a last check to the veil. “Should we give him hair extensions? The original bride did have long hair that could be styled.”
“It doesn’t matter when he doesn’t.” Sanji answers to Nami. “I’m nothing like Hiyori. That’s the whole starting reason we can’t pull this off. Shouldn’t her cousin take over if she herself won’t?”
“Nope. I’m not a Kozuki.” Haruka takes a hold of his chin. “Sorry, we have to shave your face. Who has the razor.”
“They can still tell. I’m a man and my hands are way different from Hiyori’s.”
“Nami, put your hand next to his,” Lydia says. Nami shakes her head but still takes Sanji’s hand next to hers. “See, your hand is not that different from a woman’s. He won’t even notice. The veil!” Once his face is done, they place the veil on his head and secure it tightly. This way the people won’t realize the bride has changed.
“My voice will give it out.”
“Not if you talk with a much higher and softer voice,” Nami suggests. Lastly Sanji steps into the shoes. They have roughly ten minutes before he needs to be walking down the isle. The nerves are settling in.
“This feels wrong. Hiyori will blame me for taking her place.”
“She won’t. She already knows. And she also has admitted, she and Zoro are not a match.” Haruka looks at him. “She said neither of them would be happy together. Not even in the long run.”
He looks down to his lap. Nami says she’s going to take a look at the groom and see if he’s even near ready or if she has to strangle him into walking out dressed up. His mind takes control as usual. That’s what over thinkers do.
Hiyori doesn’t want to get married as they are incompatible. But what about Zoro? When he finds out he was practically forced to marry Sanji, what is he going to do? He’s going to be angry for sure. Is he going to hate Sanji for the rest of their lives? Maybe they can get a marriage annulment the moment they leave Wano again. All those dark thoughts swell in his head.
“You are thinking something stupid again.” Sanji awakens back into reality when he feels a finger on his forehead. “Do I need to get Luffy?”
“What is he gonna do?”
“Probably say the same things I will. He’s my brother after all.” Lydia grabs his shoulders. “It’s going to be alright. You are going to be alright. I don’t have a doubt in my body that this wedding is going to go wrong.”
“You mean you don’t have a doubt this wedding won’t go wrong?”
“Yeah.”
“Of course.”
“Come on. How many times do people need to tell you he likes you? He won’t be angry with you, he won’t hate you. Hell, he’s the one who doesn’t even want this wedding to happen in the first place.”
“Exactly.” The door opens and Osome walks in.
“It’s time for the bride to go.”
“Remember keep your voice higher and softer and keep calm. Haruka will walk you to the wedding hall and then you’ll be walked down by Momonosuke. Good luck.”
“That’s what I need.”
He meets Nami again before the wedding hall comes close. He’s been left alone for now.
“You alright?”
“Not really. No.”
“Well. If it helps you feel any better, you look better than Zoro. We had to have both Franky and Jinbei hold him in place while the rest got him ready. He looks like an angry mess in there.”
“Sanji!” Luffy gets hit by Nami when he gets close enough.
“You idiot! They don’t know who is under this veil. You are going to blow his cover.”
“Sorry.” He laughs. “You look great Sanji!”
Sanji gives him an awkward and concerned smile behind the veil. Not that they could see his expression.
“Don’t worry about the ceremony.” Luffy pats him on his shoulders. “I don’t have a doubt this wedding is going to go wrong.”
“You mean it won’t!” Nami screeches. “Sorry Sanji. This is the second wedding in your life against your will. But at least this time it’s not with someone you wouldn’t want to be with.”
“But when he finds out, what is going to happen? The life on Sunny won’t be the same.” He can feel his eyes get glossy. “Should I jump off the next island we come across?”
“No!” Luffy’s voice is louder than Nami’s. “We still haven’t found the All Blue!”
“Won’t finding it be awful if two of your crew mates can’t be in the same room anymore?”
“What are you talking about? Of course you won’t be awkward with each other. You are Zoro and Sanji. You love each other.”
“He doesn’t love me.”
“Sanji,” Nami interrupts. “With all the love I have for you, I need to ask you this. Are you blind?”
“Wha-”
“Everyone around you two can clearly see how much you care and love each other. It’s almost scary you two aren’t together already. The only thing between the two of you that is missing, is a long conversation with proper communication.”
“Having that conversation won’t be easy,” Sanji admits and looks down at where his feet are under the layers of the kimono.
“You need a therapist kind of person for it?”
“No thank you,” he says, perhaps a little too quickly. “I think if we need to sit down and talk, we can do that alone.”
“Good.”
The wedding hasn’t officially started yet and Zoro was over with the whole thing a very long time ago. The only ray of sunshine in the day is they let him keep his swords. Everything else, sucked. If he were to actually get married, it would be in his terms with the person he wants to. The person that holed himself into the castle’s kitchens the moment they arrived. He wanted to sit down with Sanji and talk things out. About how he doesn’t want to marry Hiyori. She’s a friend at best. And about how he loves him and wants to spent the rest of their days together. And then wrestle everything he’s told Sanji into the blonde’s head so he would understand Zoro meant every word he has said. Because he knows he would have to do that. Every single time they have come close to having a similar conversation, the blonde backs off. Zoro has enough experience with Sanji to know how lowly he thinks of himself. But at the same time won’t let anyone make him believe otherwise.
He sighs and turns to stare at the back. That’s where Hiyori is supposed to walk in through in any minute now. Just as Brook starts the music along with the musicians of Wano. The whole spectacle feels too much. If he were to decide, this ordeal would be simple and with just their crew and close family.
And he would wear something that didn’t make his neck itch. Something normal. Although, if he showed up to his and Sanji’s wedding in an everyday clothing, he would probably have to swim to the next island or worse.
The other silver lining in this day is the booze he was promised after this. That’s what the witch said. If he went through with this, got the money presents and didn’t complain, they would stay silent about his alcohol intake of the day. As much as he wanted.
The music starts and Momonosuke walks in through the doors with Hiyori on his right side.
Great.
Sanji keeps his eyes on the floor most of the walk. He would love to turn around and run just like the original bride but they have come this far already. Too late for that now.
“I’m sorry.”
Sanji raises his eyes off the floor and turns his head just slightly to where Momo is.
“I know you are still angry with me for not putting a stop to this. Once they found out Roronoa’s background, they wouldn’t give up.”
Sanji musters the best female voice out of him as he could when he whispers back. “It’s alright.”
It seems that has been an ongoing conversation behind the closed doors. It does make him feel slightly better knowing if the truth behind the veil comes to light, Momo won’t skin him alive.
They have reached the end of the isle. Sanji takes the last steps alone to stand next to Zoro. He then bends his knees to appear slightly shorter. Once everything quiets down, the ceremony begins.
For most of that time Sanji gets to stand quiet. It isn’t until the rings are brought out that the nerves take over. What if they won’t fit to his fingers? Zoro takes his hand and the boredom and unwillingness radiate out of him. The ring slides onto his finger like it was modeled for him. That comment about him having feminine hands plays in his head and Sanji would be lying if he said that it didn’t bother him even the slightest. He was given similar comments back in Momoiro. That was after they convinced him to at least try the manicure. It’s hand care they said.
‘Focus Sanji.’
He takes the other ring and slides it on Zoro’s finger. He’s ready to finish this ceremony and walk out.
“You can now kiss the bride.” Sanji stills. He forgot about that. The veil begins to lift and he quickly takes a hold of Zoro’s hand.
“What do you think you are doing?” He hisses. He then realizes his mistake in voice and coughs. “I mean,” he starts with much softer and higher voice. “I would appreciate if the veil wasn’t lifted too high up. I’m feeling a bit shy.”
“Right, of course.” The veil stays below Sanji’s eye level, the tip of his nose showing. And then comes the awkward moment where both of them stand still. Should he move first? Zoro isn’t moving.
‘It’s just a quick peck on the lips.’ So he leans first. And closes his eyes tight. When Zoro doesn’t really do anything, probably going through his options in his head, Sanji has to act quick before the whispers in the hall begin. He leans forward even more for a quick kiss that in wedding tradition lasts for a few seconds. When the hall erupts with cheers, he backs off.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
‘I’m dead if he finds out.’
Right from the beginning Zoro has been making it known he doesn’t want to get married. Thanks to Robin’s curiosity over everyone’s family history, they dug into it and found out a much longer family line on Zoro’s part than what he was aware of. And since they had to go to Wano for more information, this was the ending of it all.
Walking down the isle with Hiyori, now his wife he doesn’t want, out of the wedding hall for a moment of private silence. One could only imagine his surprise and confusion when he slides open the door to the private room only to find Kozuki Hiyori standing in the room wearing a shrine maiden uniform. Very typical to Wano’s priestess’.
Once the fact that Hiyori is standing in front of him, he quickly turns to the frozen person next to him.
“Let me explain.” Hiyori holds her hand up before Zoro gets a word out.
“What the hell is happening here?” He turns back to Hiyori. “If you are there then who the fuck is this?”
“Calm down. This was my idea.” Hiyori takes a seat on one of the chairs in the room. “We don’t want to marry each other. There’s no such relationship between the two of us. Not to forget, you love someone else. But because you are the type of person to not go out of your way to hurt someone’s feelings, especially if that someone is a friend, I decided to do something about it.”
“So you ran. Why did you come back then?” Zoro lowers himself to sit on the floor and the person next to him, follows the action. This is likely going to be a long conversation.
Hiyori gives him a nervous laugh before giving the answer. “Well, it turns out I need a lot more than just the clothes to run for the time being. Also because I promised to return these eventually when I have a plan.”
“Nevertheless, I do apologize. I didn’t want you to know in the first place. I did make sure your crew would know what was happening but the other’s are just as in the dark as you are.”
“No wonder the witch was grinning. So you had me marry a random?”
“Not quite.” She stands up and walks up to the third person in the room. “Thank you for taking my place. I’m sorry for the distress I’ve caused you. When the whole wedding talking began, this seemed to be the only way to make the two of you sit down and actually talk things through.” She then takes a hold of the veil and gently lifts it over the person’s head.
Sanji’s blonde hair by now is so familiar to Zoro that he could recognize it in the mist of millions of others. Even when it’s styled differently from the usual. The man is whiter than the kimono he’s wearing. Trembling, Sanji turns to look at him. Not in the eyes, and when he’s facing Zoro, he lowers his head. Blonde strands of hair covering his face once again.
“I’m so, so sorry! I wanted to let you know when Nami came to get me from the kitchen and even back there, in the hall. I wanted to but I was scared. Scared of what might happen. What you would say or do and I know you didn’t want this. Least of all with me. Maybe if the person sitting on my spot was the person you loved, this would all be okay.”
The room stays silent for a good minute.
“Hiyori, could you leave us alone for a while?” Zoro asks, not turning his eye from the blonde slowly closing in on himself.
“Sure. I’ll be close by just in case.” The sliding door closes behind her. From the sounds of it, she’s not the only one who stays behind the door. Or close by.
“I could leave too if it makes you feel better.” Sanji’s voice is much quieter than usual.
“No, it won’t make it better.” It’s just Zoro’s luck to fall for someone with serious insecurities and self-hating issues. The crew has been working on those for years and yet, when it comes to it, it hasn’t helped. “From my understanding, there are people along with Hiyori pulling the strings behind your back. I’m not blaming you for this.”
“You should.”
“Why?” Zoro keeps his voice gentle.
“Because.. When I was told she ran I was happy. I did panic when they told me I would take the place of the bride and yet I..,” Sanji swallows before continuing. “I liked it.”
“Even when I knew this would end and you wouldn’t like it, I did. I’m sorry.” Finally he lifts his head to look at Zoro in the face. “We can cancel this. We can find the person you love and you can go through this all with them. But please don’t let this take you away from the crew. I’ll do it. I’ll leave! I’ll leave and you and the crew continue on the journey. They need you more and.. I can be replaced.” He’s speed of talking fastens and the expression turns panicked. “If that’s what you need I’ll do it. Anything. Please just let me make this up to you.”
And then Sanji is on his hands and knees.
“Since when have you liked me?”
“Since.. probably Thriller Bark. I guess that’s when I first realized it and later got bullet proof confirmation in Kamabakka.”
“Right. Can you sit up for me?” Zoro waits until Sanji slowly rises himself up. He doesn’t let the other say a word. Instead Zoro takes a hold of Sanji’s shoulders and roughly places his lips on Sanji’s. The blonde let’s out a surprised noise. Zoro keeps them still for a moment before moving one of his hands behind Sanji’s head for support and deepening the kiss. Once the support is there, he leans Sanji back all the way until his back is on the floor.
“You idiot! Over my dead body are you leaving this crew!” After finally breaking the kiss, Zoro speaks. “I have loved you since the beginning! Don’t you dare even entertain ideas of leaving. Had I known from the start you would be under that veil, I would have gone through that ceremony with more enthusiasm than people have seen before.”
Sanji has tears running down towards his ears.
“I don’t care how, where or when I get married as long as it’s you I marry.”
“So,” Sanji swallows. “You are not mad?”
“The only thing I’m mad about is not being told the bride changed.” Zoro sighs and then pushes himself to sit before pulling Sanji up with him.”What is done, is done.”
“We could have a better and more private ceremony later,” Sanji suggests carefully. “That is if you’d want one. Not that we’d have to! I totally understand. We can even get an annulment if that’s what you want.”
“I just said I want to marry you, to spent the rest of our days together! No annulment is going to happen.”
“Right. That’s… Are we now-”
“We were pronounced husband and wife, although we still need to sight the marriage certificate. Even so, you are now my wife.” Zoro grins.
“Wife?! No way. I want to be a husband.”
“You give off more wife qualities.”
“Like hell I do, marimo.”
“Accept it curls, you are the wife.”
“Moss I swear.” The sliding door opens and Luffy strides in. He’s waving a paper in his hand.
“Sanji! Zoro! You gotta sign this. Nami said so.” Zoro takes the offered paper. The certificate. “You gotta hurry! We can’t start the celebration without you!”
“Yeah, yeah. We’ll be there in a minute.” Sanji waves his hand.
“Ready to sign your name? Roronoa Sanji. Sounds perfect.”
“It sounds right.” Although, it is going to take Sanji a moment to get used to the name, it has sounded right since day one. But he just needs to be sure. “You sure about this?”
“Curly you either write your name down on it or I will.”
Once their names are on the paper they stand up to leave the room. Right by the door, Sanji takes a hold of Zoro’s hand.
“Is everything okay?”
“I just.. I want to do this right this time.” Sanji moves his hands to take a hold of Zoro’s cheeks and brings their lips together. To a longer kiss than the one in the wedding hall. “There. Now we can go.”
Sanji gives Zoro the brightest smile he has and the other goes red.
“Do we have to go?”
“Come on, now. They are all waiting for us.” Sanji takes Zoro’s, his husband’s hand into his and starts leading them to the wedding hall. They would have time to be private after that and then have a private celebration with just the crew later. Now it is time to celebrate the newlyweds.