The Bracelet
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
Summary: Sanji had a traumatic sexual experience during his stay on Momoiro Island, one that he needed to forget if he was to continue living, and to remain the chef of the Thousand Sunny. Ivankov gave Sanji a magical bracelet with the power to absorb and trap painful memories. What will happen when Zoro gets curious about Sanji's bracelet and decides to cut if off? Z/S.
AN: Hi guys, so I was getting impatient waiting for updates for my favorite Z/S stories like Enlightment and Betting and decided to write my own smutty Z/S story. It wasn't supposed to have a plot and Zoro and Sanji were supposed to have hot mansex right away, but for some reason they're acting all shy and this plot came out of nowhere! Whatever, Sanji and Zoro are doing what they want to do in this story but they're definitely going to get it on eventually! Zoro is more of a gentleman than I thought. I hope everyone enjoys it. Feel free to correct me if you see errors since I haven't written fanfiction in a while! A big thank you goes out to all the authors who have written such wonderful stories about Zoro and Sanji - a couple I'm completely obsessed with lately. Memories is a classic one that comes to mind, as well as Engraved.
Chapter 1:
After the Straw Hats had left Punk Hazard…there was more 'peace' onboard the Thousand Sunny. Nami told everyone that the next island would be weeks away.
This was bad news for Sanji. Sanji needed to be incredibly busy the entire day so that at the end of the day he'd pass out and sleep a dreamless sleep. That hectic lifestyle of fighting enemies, fighting marines, fighting Zoro, cooking three meals a day plus snacks, cleaning the kitchen, washing and drying dishes, sharpening his knives, and not to mention his own physical training regime - was actually Sanji's ideal situation.
If Sanji kept busy enough and was worn out enough by the end of the day he could collapse in his hammock and relax knowing he'd be too tired to dream. And if he didn't dream he wouldn't have nightmares…
Sure, Sanji had alluded to his crewmates that his two years away from everyone (on Momoiro Island) had been hell - but it had much much worse than that.
Sanji had a secret.
A new accessory he always wore. An item that without it he wouldn't be able to stay a part of the Straw Hats' crew.
A magical bracelet made somewhere in the New World by a powerful witch. This bracelet made of round beads of black onyx had the power to absorb and trap painful or unwanted memories - memories that one could not live with…
Sanji couldn't remember what had happened to him of course because of the bracelet. But back on Momoiro Island, when he had 'come to' Ivankov was there at his side - a bloody knife in his hand.
A knife that Sanji had tried to use to kill himself with. None of the Straw Hats had noticed the new scars on Sanji's wrists - but since he always wore long-sleeved shirts AND most of the Straw Hats weren't very observant - he figured they never would…
Ivankov explained to Sanji that something horrible had happened to him…and that this experience was more than Sanji could live with.
Ivankov had also explained that he had caught Sanji in the middle of his suicide attempt, and how Sanji had told Ivankov his reasons for wanting to kill himself. Ivankov had used his fighting prowess to knock Sanji out, giving him the time to find the magical bracelet that a witch had once gifted him with and put it on Sanji - trapping all of his painful memories…
Giving Sanji a second chance.
And so, while Sanji was awake the bracelet kept those painful memories at bay.
However, once Sanji slept his subconscious was at the mercy of his memories and Sanji would have terrible nightmares…
He'd wake up crying out in the middle of the night, covered in sweat, and fighting invisible enemies - some who had been wearing hot pink. Don't ask.
After the Straw Hats left Punk Hazard, Sanji's nightmares had gotten worse and he had cried out loudly one night worrying his fellow crewmates. So that wouldn't happen again…Sanji secretly began to gag himself at night before going to bed so that if he cried out in his sleep or screamed - his voice would be muffled.
And no one would hear him.
Sanji was determined that no one would hear his screams…
One night, Sanji awoke from a terrifying nightmare - so terrifying he almost bit right through the gag in his mouth! He shot up in his hammock, covered in sweat and tears, shaking like a leaf, and feeling nauseous.
Sanji panicked. He quickly removed the gag from his mouth and fled the boy's bunkroom - he couldn't let anyone see him in such a weak and pathetic state! Especially Zoro, who was somewhere sleeping in the male bunkroom. Sanji considered Zoro to be his rival and never wanted to show Zoro any weakness. It was hard enough keeping his skill level up so that he could spar against Zoro and his three menacing swords. It was taking all Sanji had not to be left behind by Zoro. And now with his emotional traumas Sanji feared that Zoro would truly leave him behind.
Sanji ran out on deck. The night air was cool and crisp. The sky overhead was pitch-black with millions of stars visible and a bright full moon overhead. But Sanji hardly noticed the perfect weather and beautiful night as he ran over to the rail and began to puke his guts out.
What Sanji didn't know was that Ussop had asked Zoro to take night watch duty that night and so Zoro - resident swordsman of the Thousand Sunny was currently fighting off sleep in the crow's nest.
Zoro's POV
Zoro was just nodding off when a loud 'bam' sound snapped him completely awake! The sound of a door slam.
Zoro stood up and looked down at the deck of the Thousand Sunny curiously to see who could possibly be up at this ungodly hour.
Zoro saw Sanji rush out of the door that led to the boy's bunkroom and rush for the rail only to start puking his guts out.
Zoro's eyes widened because there were just too many things wrong with the visual image of Sanji Blackleg puking overboard.
1. Sanji was a seaman, practically raised living on the sea. He would never get 'seasick'.
2. Sanji was the chef/cook of the Thousand Sunny and so no one EVER got food poisoning or sick because of Sanji's food.
Something was really wrong.
And Zoro always looked out for his nakama and so he slowly and silently descended down the ladder of the crow's nest. Keeping to the shadows he made his way as closely as possible towards the 'love cook'.
Zoro watched Sanji continuing to throw up over the side until he began to cough up bile and then dry heave, spasms wracking Sanji's lithe frame. Zoro winced, having sympathy pains since it looked quite painful. Eventually Sanji sunk to his knees out of exhaustion.
A moonbeam illuminated Sanji's sorry state - Sanji was trembling, tears streaming down his face. He was practically hyperventilating…
Zoro had never before seen the cook look so…broken.
Sanji was wearing a look that Zoro had NEVER seen the strong man wear: one of fear.
Zoro's chest felt tight as he looked at the cook. He had the inexplicable urge to run over and hug Sanji. Zoro shook his head. That thought was mad! For all intent and purposes…Sanji and Zoro still hated each other's guts. They still fought each other and got on each other's nerves. Even after two years nothing had changed between them…
Or at least, that's how it appeared on the outside. But something had changed, at least for Zoro it had. When Zoro had been ready to sacrifice himself for Luffy, the crew, and his nakama on Thriller Bark…Sanji had stood up in front of him, ready and willing to give his life so that Zoro could continue to pursue his dream of becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman.
Sanji had been willing to give up his life for him…he had never really realized it until that moment but the cook didn't hate him, far from it, and it was obvious that the cook cared about him too - as a friend perhaps, nakama for certain. At that moment, Zoro had felt like such a bonehead. How had he not realized that the cook didn't hate him for so long?
And then when Zoro was in a half-dead state at Sabaody Archipelago…he couldn't remember much but…he had this feeling that Sanji had once again gone to risk life and limb to help him…and then they had all been separated.
But Zoro wasn't the kind of person to forget a debt. He was an honorable warrior. Sanji had saved him. Sanji didn't hate him. These were the facts. Because of this, Zoro now considered Sanji a friend even if he couldn't voice this revelation aloud…
Before Zoro realized what he was doing he emerged from the shadows and casually approached Sanji.
Sanji had his arms wrapped around his legs and was trembling in fear and terror.
"Oi shit-cook, what's wrong?" Zoro drawled.
Sanji's head snapped up and he gave Zoro a horrified look, one that quickly turned to one of embarrassment and shame. That Zoro saw him in this sorry state…!
"N-n-none of your business, Marimo. Leave me the hell alone." Sanji managed to stutter out as he began to try and calm his nerves and pull himself together.
Zoro could tell Sanji was mortified that Zoro had seen him looking like that. He wouldn't want Sanji to even see him looking so pathetic either, and so Zoro sauntered over to the railing and looked out at sea and didn't look at Sanji.
He had to help Sanji…because Sanji was nakama.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Zoro asked casually.
Sanji sucked in a breath.
Zoro shrugged. "That's no big deal you know. With everything we've been through it would be unusual not to have the occasional nightmare. I have them too…sometimes…" Zoro admitted softly.
Sanji looked up at Zoro in awe. Was Zoro actually trying to comfort him?! No way! Sanji found himself nodding but realized Zoro couldn't see this and so he responded: "Yea."
Zoro let out a breath of relief. Now they were getting somewhere…now Zoro just had to find out what had caused the cook his nightmare and he could 'kick its ass' and everything could go back to 'normal' on the Thousand Sunny. "What was the nightmare about?"
Sanji gripped his head as he tried to remember…but he simply could not. Ivankov had warned him this might happen…his memories would prey on his subconscious in the form of a nightmare - something that was inescapable. The nightmare had Sanji in its dark cold clutches…a prisoner…
Sanji looked down at his bracelet. If he took the bracelet off he would probably know what was causing him the nightmares…but…if he took the bracelet off…
Sanji's hand twitched as it head for the black onyx bracelet and Zoro noticed this move out of the corner of his eye. The swordsman's eyes widened because he had never noticed that piece of jewelry on Sanji before and wondered briefly where he might have gotten it.
Sanji looked at the scars on his wrists. He might try and kill himself again. Sanji swallowed thickly. No…he had to help Luffy become King of the Pirates first and then he'd take the bracelet off and deal with his own inner pain…
Sanji shook his head. "I can't remember."
Zoro spun around and gave Sanji a skeptical look. "You can't remember what scared you so much? Was it a dream about a giant spider?"
"Oi! Stupid marimo…what makes you think I'd be afraid of a pathetic spider?!" Sanji leapt to his feet, his trembling and tears ceased.
Zoro smirked. "I saw you on Jaya…you were acting like a scared little brat just because of those little bugs! HA."
"Why you…who's a scared little brat!" Sanji sent his foot flying at Zoro's head.
Zoro chuckled, smirk still on his face. "Ooo someone's being a little defensive…look over there! It's a tarantula!" Zoro's eyes widened and he pointed behind Sanji.
"What? Where! Where's the tarantula!" Sanji squealed leaping to his feet and jumping around frantically and somehow he ended up in Zoro's arms, clutching at the swordsman out of fear.
The two of them crashed to the deck with Sanji on top of Zoro. Sanji's eyes widened like saucers as he looked down at Zoro, and Zoro could feel that Sanji's heart was beating a mile a minute. Zoro raised his eyebrow at that. That was…odd. It's not like he was a girl or anything for Sanji to act so nervous.
But if Zoro was honest with himself his heart was probably beating just as fast. Zoro frowned. That was also…odd. Zoro looked at his hands and saw that he had put his hands on Sanji's upper arms to steady the cook. When had his hands gone there? And why were they touching the cook? Zoro was giving his hands a baffled look…
Sanji's face was turning red from embarrassment.
"Look who's not scared of spiders," Zoro teased with a chuckle. "You threw yourself into my arms like you're a scared woman or something."
That did it. Sanji scowled and leapt off of Zoro quickly. He stood straight, looked off to the side awkwardly, and put his hands behind his back. "Bastard…"
Zoro rubbed his eyes - were the moonbeams playing tricks on him or was Sanji blushing? Zoro stood up slowly and stared at Sanji intently. Was he drunk? He was thinking something along the lines of 'he looks cute'. Zoro shook his head. Sanji would kick his ass if he ever said something like that aloud…that thought sobered Zoro quickly.
"I'm going back up to the crow's nest. You seem okay now." Zoro declared as he turned around and headed towards the crow's nest.
Sanji paused and touched his face - he had stopped crying and had stopped trembling…damned Marimo probably would never let him live this down. "Zoro…you better not tell anyone about this or else…I'll kill you." Sanji growled.
Zoro paused. "Oi, if you remember what your nightmare was about…let me know."
"What? Why?"
"So I can chop whatever it is that gave you a nightmare into tiny little pieces." Zoro declared with a savage grin, moving the hilt of his sword Wado Ichimonji up to reveal part of the gleaming white blade with a clinking sound.
Sanji's POV….
Sanji watched Zoro go - stunned. He allowed himself a smile. Leave it to Zoro to want to cut something with his swords. He was such a muscle head. Zoro had in his own way offered to help but…Sanji frowned and looked down at the bracelet…
Sanji knew that Zoro was dependable and looked after his nakama…but normally if Sanji had an 'enemy' he couldn't face on his own he knew he could count on Zoro for backup. However, this time that had not been the case. This 'enemy' that Sanji had was one that Zoro could not defeat or else Sanji would not have decided to kill himself, not if there had been any hope…
Sanji put his hand over the black onyx bracelet. An enemy Zoro cannot defeat? Sanji shuddered. Now that was indeed a scary thought…
Sanji went back to bed, and fell into a restless sleep. The next day, Sanji got up early to make breakfast for everyone and as he went to the bathroom first to splash his face with some water in order to wake himself up he noticed that there were dark circles under his eyes. He frowned at his reflection. He usually considered himself a handsome man but now…he looked pale and drawn. Sanji slapped the sides of his face with his hands to add a little color to his cheeks. That would have to do it. Sanji made his way to the galley and started chopping up some fruit to make fruit plates for the ladies.
"Land ho!" Came Zoro's unexpected call that roused the entire crew, and got them up on deck earlier that they would have liked. Luffy, Nami, Franky, Robin, Ussop, Chopper and Brooke all gathered on the deck at the bow of the ship to see the island that was ahead of them while still yawning and rubbing sleep from their eyes.
It was a spooky looking island, shrouded in mist and with a large skull shaped mountain. Most of the island was forested with extremely tall pine trees. And in the center of the island was an impressive walled city. Within the city tall buildings could be seen as well as towers and a temple. The wall separated the city from the dark forest…and probably with good reason.
Luffy hopped up on the lion head and looked at the island excitedly. His blood was thrumming in his veins. "Hey! That mountain looks like a skull! Neat!"
Nami looked at the creepy island and shivered. "That place looks worse than Thriller Bark…"
"Those tall pine trees look like good lumber for the Sunny-go! Ow! They could be Norfolk Pines…those have been known to be used for making the masts of ships since they grow so tall and straight." Franky explained.
"A mountain shaped like a skull…" Robin tapped her chin in thought. "I do believe I've read about this island. If I am correct it's a rather famous one in the New World called Magick Island. It has a magical academy, a famous religious temple with a mysterious legend concerning a lost holy place, and a host tower where the most powerful witches and warlocks reside.
"The best warlocks and witches in the New World live there…it's recommended to find a witch or warlock to join our crew before we continue our way in the New World because without a witch or warlock on our crew we will be vulnerable to magical attacks."
"Magic…" Sanji muttered darkly to himself and unconsciously put a hand over his black onyx bracelet.
"Ooo~ a new crewmate! I want to find us a powerful warlock!" Luffy burst out.
"Magick! Cool!" Chopper agreed bouncing up next to Luffy.
"No Chopper - magic is not cool. It's scary." Ussop shuddered and looked over at the cook and wondered if it was too early in the game to get a nice place somewhere behind Sanji to hide.
"You should try and find a beautiful sorceress, Luffy." Sanji put in, puffing smoke shaped hearts into the air as he smoked his morning cigarette.
Zoro rolled his eyes at the ero-cook. But at least he was acting 'normal' well, 'normal' for that ero-kappa at least. Zoro snickered to himself. Zoro thought about the Straw Hats getting a new crewmember…he pictured a powerful sorcerer…who got along with Sanji and they'd become best buds. Zoro frowned. He pictured a beautiful sorceress…that Sanji would be drooling all over…one that didn't seem to mind Sanji's over-the-top way of flirting and just liked his handsome face and so gave him the time of day. Zoro slapped a hand to his forehead. If having two females on the ship wasn't bad enough. The Straw Hats could end up with yet another troublesome girl. "Oi, Robin, is it really necessary for us to get a warlock or a witch? Isn't there a way to not get one?"
"Oi shithead stop ruining my dream of Luffy choosing a beautiful sorceress to join the crew!" Sanji complained and swung his foot lazily at Zoro's head. "Luffy may have bad taste when it comes to choosing men…but he definitely seems to have good taste when it comes to women if Nami-swan and Robin-chwan are anything to go by." Sanji gushed as he looked at the two young women. "They're so beautiful and perfect."
"Fucking pervert…is pussy all you think about 24-7? You make me sick." Zoro drawled.
"What did you just call me?!" Sanji roared and attacked Zoro. "And watch your mouth! There are ladies present! I should wash your mouth out with soap for that last comment, you oaf!"
Zoro unsheathed his three swords in one fluid motion, and grinned shark-like. He readily attacked the ero-cook.
This was normal for Zoro and Sanji. This was how they communicated.
"Actually, yes Swordsman-san, there are devices on Magick Island to test if one has the ability to perform magic. If one of us has the ability then we could just get some spell books while we're there and have our crewmate learn some protective spells."
"Oi you're saying one of us could be a warlock or a witch?" Zoro raised his eyebrow at the archeologist.
"Yes and no. Those who have consumed the Devil's Fruit are unlikely to have this ability since the Devil's Fruit would have already made the power manifest itself somehow. So that leaves…Cook-san, Swordsman-san, Franky-kun, and Longnose-kun."
"AW MAN!" Luffy complained loudly. "I wanna be a warlock!"
"Thank God you can't be a warlock!" Nami declared, bonking Luffy on the head with her fist.
Zoro looked over at Sanji out of the corner of his eye. A warlock? Sanji had already exhibited strange abilities for a normal human…like being able to set his leg on fire…and even doing that 'skywalk' thing…that was almost like Sanji could fly. Could Sanji be a warlock? Zoro frowned at the possibility. If so the crew would make Sanji learn protective spells and this would add to Sanji's already long list of responsibilities. He'd have to be not only the ship's cook but also the ship's warlock. It just didn't seem fair.
There was something about that idea that didn't sit well with Zoro. But Sanji was a man. He could handle himself. And he respected Sanji as a man.
Zoro was distracted in his thoughts about Sanji and Sanji managed to kick him in the gut - sending him skidding across the deck. Nami got pissed and hit Zoro and Sanji over the head. "No more fighting, you two! Sanji make us a light lunch so we can eat before we disembark! We'll be needing to stock up on a lot of supplies while we're here."
"Hai~ Nami-san, your wish is my command, beautiful lady~" Sanji quickly declared and rushed off to the galley to prepare a light lunch for everyone.
"Dumbass…" Zoro grunted. The chef had just left him in the middle of a fight - it only took one word from Nami and the cook was a slobbering obedient dog! "Tch." It disgusted Zoro how the cook let the girls treat him…it totally pissed him off…because…because…?
Zoro shook his head. It was beginning to hurt. Thinking had never really been his forte.
TBC…!
AN: I have the next chapter almost done but I need to edit it first. I know this one has errors but I wanted to put it up and get some feedback and see if you all like it so far lol. What does Robin call Franky? I just had her call him Franky-kun and what is the place where all the boys sleep on the Thousand Sunny…is it called the men's bunkroom? I can't remember! Thanks!
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