Take You In
Summary: When Sanji's great uncle dies, Sanji is told to empty the house and take what he wants. That's when Sanji finds something not human living inside the mansion.
Pairing: Sanzo Usopp/Kaya Franky/Brooks Ace/Smoker Kid/law
This is my first fanfic. Not sure where this story is heading but hope you enjoy
Disclaimer: All one piece characters belong to Oda
Italic: Character Personal thoughts
Bold: Flashbacks
Sanji wakes up early in the morning, hitting his alarm clock after it rang three times before. He stays there a few minutes before stretching and getting ready to head to work. Even though Sanji is the head chef, he doesn't have to stay in the Baratie all day. He has the privilege of leaving early and arriving late, however, the blonde chef takes pride in what he does and will be there from the time it opens until the time it closes.
The blonde makes his way to the bathroom so he can get ready for the day to come. The other thing he takes extreme pride on is how he looks and presents himself. He makes sure his hair is perfect and his clothes has no wrinkles. He is known to always dress in a black suit. He tries to always smell good for the ladies. One thing he didn't want to do is upset any lady he encounters, that would be the worse.
When the blonde is satisfied with how he looks he heads to work. There is, however, something he has to pass to get there. His annoying, loud mouthed neighbor. The boy is too hyper for his own good, and not to mention his annoying dog would bark at him every morning, sometimes successfully giving him a headache.
As Sanji slowly opens his door and tip-toes into the apartment hallway, he chants to himself "Don't hear me, don't hear me..."
"SANJI!"
Sanji cringe, before turning around with a fake smile. "Hey, Luffy! Up early again I see!"
Luffy is a short kid that lives with his older brother, Ace. He always walks with his dog Chopper, a brown terrier with brown curly fur and a weird blue nose. If it weren't because Luffy is dating the apartment manager he wouldn't even have the dog. This is, after all, a 'no pets' allowed apartment complex. "I always wake up this early!" Luffy screams from across the hall. "I'm hungry SANJI! MEAT!"
"How many times do I have to tell you, if I keep feeding you everyday I'm going to run out of food. And stop screaming across the hall; people are still trying to sleep." Sanji replies, reprimanding the boy for his too big a mouth.
"Come on Sanji, you know I can't live without your cooking! And the neighbors know me already!" Luffy continues pleading, closing the distance between them. That's when Chopper decides to voice his opinion and starts barking at Sanji.
Desperate to get away from the young teen, Sanji complies. "Fine, I'll bring you some food from work… I'll even bring for Ace and Smoker too, happy?" Lifting his hands up in defeat.
A toothy grin is Sanji's only response. Luffy is easy to please as long as he gets food.
With that, Sanji turns on his heel and almost runs away. He goes into the elevator and presses the lobby button. I'm gonna be so late for work…
Sanji steps out onto his floor, the lobby, when the elevator finally stops. His plans were to go straight through the door, but something orange catches his attention, and his body automatically goes towards that direction instead.
"NAMI-SWAN!" Sanji practically floats to her. "My sweet, how has your day started?!"
Nami is a red-head with pale skin, and dark maroon eyes. She is the second in command and the manager when it comes to money, Robin, a tall raven dark skin woman being the owner of the complex.
"You know I already have a boyfriend Sanji... how many times do we have to go over this?" She starts to say, knowing the blondes flirtatious personality too well. Nami indeed is with someone. That person is the scrawny boy the blonde just happen to shake off. He still doesn't get how she chose Luffy over him. Personality wise they contrasted- Nami is level headed, beautiful, wonderful and smart, while Luffy… not so much.
"Sorry Nami-swan, but your beauty always makes me forget… I just wish I was the one you were referring to." Sanji says while bowing to Nami in apology.
Nami rolls her eyes. "Sanji-kun, do you know how many girls you say that to? Anyways, aren't you going to be late?" She asks, trying to get Sanji to leave.
"Yes my dear love, I will be seeing you tonight. Don't wait up on me my sweet!" Sanji runs out the apartment with hearts for eyes.
"Wasn't planning to." She mumbles under her breath, spinning on her chair so she can get back to work.
/
Sanji reaches the Baratie just when his father, Zeff, is turning the key to open the restaurant door. Zeff is a blonde man with a really long mustache, Sanji is about a foot taller than the older man, and he wears a tall hat when he works. Zeff is the man who continued to raise him after his mother died in a car accident five years ago. Zeff had lost one of his legs in the accident and now has a peg leg, but he could still kick ass when he is angry.
"Eggplant, how many times do I have to tell you to stay home longer? You think I want to see your ugly face this early in the morning?" The older man asks-eyeing his son.
"You know I can't let you do everything yourself." Sanji defends, while passing Zeff so he can enter his second home.
Zeff follows right behind with a scowl on his face. "You know what I mean. If you stay ALL day here, " He emphasizes the word 'all'- "how are you going to make your own life?" The older man limps to a stool next to the counter. "You stay here morning until night... get a hobby, do something with your life."
Sanji grins at his father while pulling an apron over his head. "Come on old man, you do the same. Plus, I'm not ready to settle down." Sanji is used to this conversation already. This is something his father always brings up. He knows his father means well, but it is starting to get repetitive.
Zeff sighs, starting to lose hope in his son. "Eggplant, you are 20... when are you going to start looking for the one?" He looks up at Sanji, as if remembering something, making the blonde forrow his eyebrow. "That girl you brought once... the red-head, Nomi, whatever her name is, she looks nice." He suggest, still on the same topic.
"Taken... and her name is Nami."
"What about the one with black hair and freckles?"
"Ace?" Sanji laughs. "Come on old man you know he's taken."
One thing Sanji loves about his father is that he accepts Sanji fully. Gender doesn't matter to Zeff. All his old man wants is for his son to be happy.
Sanji hears his father sigh again. "Sanji... you only got like this after he dumped you..."
Sanji raises a hand to stop his father from talking. "That was a long time ago... I'm over him already." The blonde clinches his fist tightly when an image of his former lover flashes in his mind. That relationship ended badly, but he can't blame it on that. That isn't the reason he isn't in a relationship, and if he is honest with himself, he doesn't know why he isn't in one. Maybe because he hasn't found the one yet...
Before Zeff could say anything more to his son, there is a knock on the door. Both blondes look up to see a young mailman by the door. He's standing there awkwardly, fist still raised to the door, and one hand around his messenger bag.
"Usopp! What's up? We got mail?" Sanji asks, while walking to greet his friend, who also lives on the same floor as him. It is odd to receive mail at the Baratie, since Usopp lives in the same apartment building with his girlfriend Kaya, Usopp would bring his mail after the long nose finished work.
Usopp is dark skin, has curly black hair and a really long nose, probably due to all the lies he tells. "Yeah, you got some mail. I was passing by and decided to drop your mail off, along with Zeffs'. Kill two birds with one stone, right?"
Usopp hands the mail to Sanji. "See you, I have to finish my route." Both blondes wave goodbye.
When Usopp disappears, Zeff speaks up again. "Anything other than bills Eggplant?"
Sanji quickly skims through the stack of mail. "Nope just bills, bills, bills…" Sanji stops skimming abruptly. "What's this?" Sanji pulls out a small blue envelope.
"What are you waiting for Eggplant? Open it!" Sanji hears his father command from behind him.
Sanji slides his finger into the flap of the envelope and slowly opens it. Inside there is a letter. Sanji unfolds it and starts reading out loud so Zeff can also hear.
Dear: Otayo
He pauses and looks at his father, his mouth in a thin line. It's been a long time since he heard that name. Otayo was his mother's maiden name, the one before she got married and changed it to Blackleg. Zeff made a gesture with his hand for Sanji to keep reading, his expression stern and serious. Nodding once, he continues.
This letter is for Sanji Otayo. I am aware that Lina Otayo has passed away and Sanji is her only offspring. I am Roronoa, Lina's older brother. If you are reading this, it is because I have passed away as well. I have left all of my belongings to Sanji Balckleg, and he may do what he wants with my belongings. I advice to go quickly, I have further information in my house. Address: Netrare Street house 43. You may not accept everything that is in there, but make sure to keep him safe.
Sincerely, Your Uncle
Sanji looks up at his father with a puzzle look. Keep him? What did that mean? Sanji pounders.
"What do I do?" Sanji is confuse; this random letter stating he has an uncle he has no idea about. And to go to this address to pick up things that he has no idea who it belonged to…
"Well Eggplant, I say you go and find out..." Zeff stands up and pulls the apron off of Sanji. "I'll be waiting for you to get back."
Sanji looks at the letter again, now noticing the small letters at the end, October 5... this letter was written almost a month and a half ago.
/
Sanji arrives at the address after a few cooks arrived to help his father at the restaurant. The house is located in a neighborhood, however the houses is extremely separated from other houses, allowing the house have its own lawn, pool, and extra space. The entrance of the house is lined with many trees making a beautiful entrance. It wasn't big, but not too small either. From the outside a person can clearly see there is an attic, and at least five bedrooms.
Sanji closes the door of his car and slowly makes his way to the entrance, hearing his dress shoes crunch under dead leaves. Sanji finally reaches the entrance and climbs the three old steps. Finally noticing his predicament, Sanji scowls. He didn't have the keys to the house. Should I just kick down the door? It's not like anyone is supposed to be here… he thinks, starting to feel annoyed.
Sanji face palm, "I shouldn't have come in the first place. This has to be some kind of prank or something." Sanji glances at the letter again while pivoting on his heel to head back to his car.
Dear: Otayo
He starts to read again.
This letter is for Sanji Otayo. I am aware that Lina Otayo has passed away and Sanji is her only offspring. I am Roronoa, Lina's older brother. If you are reading this it is because I have passed away. I have left all my belongings to Sanji Balckleg, and he may do what he wants with that. I advice to go quickly, I have further information in my house. Address: Netrare street house 43. You may not accept everything that is in there but make sure to keep him safe.
Sincerely, Your Uncle
Sanji's one blue eye widenes, now noticing that almost each sentence had an underlined letter. Off, older, to, what, further, sure\
"F, L, O, W, E, R?" Sanji spells out, stopping in his tracks. "Flower?" The blonde turns around to look at the house again. Right in front of the door, to the left there is a flower pot. Should I really go back? I could just go home and leave this be... He contemplates. Having nothing to lose, Sanji makes up his mind.
Sighing, Sanji returns to the door, stops in front of the flower pot, and lifts it up. Right underneath the pot there are two keys. One is silver and the other green, both attached. Sanji pics them both up, looking at them for a second before he turns to face the door and jams the silver key into the door. Hearing a satisfying click, the blonde pushes the wooden door open.
The house is dark inside- only being able to see from what the outside light provides. Sanji steps inside and slowly makes his way along the wall, passing his hand trying to find a light switch. The blonde's hand grace a switch and with an "Aha!," the blonde flips it. He has to shield his eyes for a second before his eyes adjust to the now lit room.
The room is full of books and old articles scattered on the floor, and desk. The house has a few furniture, no television, and a huge rug in the center, which is mostly covered by misplaced paper. Sanji makes his way inside and starts skimming through drawers, cabinets, and doors. Nothing interesting catches the blondes attention, just old dirty things. Nothing looked valuable…
The blonde reaches the end of the house, effectively finding nothing of interest. He takes out his phone after lighting himself a cigarette and placing it between his lips. "Yeah, Zeff..." He says once he hears the blonde man's voice through his phone. "There is nothing here."
"Nothing at all? Money, electronics, kitchenware?" Sanji can hear his father ask in disbelief.
"Nothing, Nada" Sanji answers lazily, taking a long drag. "I'm going back now. I'll take a picture of the house and send it to you. Maybe the house is worth something nice."
"Alright Eggplant, I'll see you soon."
Sanji hears when the line goes dead. "Let's see if I can get something from you old house." He comments, looking up at the ceiling.
Sanji is about to head outside, when he remembers that he hasn't checked the attic. He was going to leave it for another day, but he guesses that checking won't make a difference. He might actually find something.
Sanji pulls the attic string, letting the stairs come down. The blonde walks up the stairs carefully, not knowing how old the house is. When he reaches, he finds the light string hanging above and turns it on. It's hard to see anything at first, the light bulb swinging from side to side, but he can see that the attic is full of endless boxes, practically pushed to the back of the cramped room. Sanji is able to read some of the labels from where he is standing, like books, clothes, computers, and many more stuff.
"So this is where everything is… kitchen stuff." Sanji reads a label. I will have to come back with Zeff. The blonde picks up the box named 'kitchen' and is about to head downstairs when a noise behind him catches his attention.
Sanji turns around and scans the attic with his one blue eye. Not seeing anything and thinking he imagined it, he continues to walk downstairs.
(RATTLE)
Now I know I'm not going crazy. Did that sound like a chain? Sanji thinks, as he looks over his shoulder.
"Hello, is anyone there?" He says lowly, not expecting anyone to be here- the house seemed like no one was living in it for quite some time. The blonde chef places down the box and heads to the corner, where he thought he heard the chain. Sanji pushes the boxes aside until he sees the chain he was hearing.
Following the chain with his eyes, he spots a tail? "WAH!?" Sanji falls back on his ass. Is there an animal living here? His mind is thinking of big animals, a tiger, a lion? Which is making it worse. He didn't get a good look at it, since his instinctive reaction was to flee.
Swallowing, Sanji gets on his knees and crawls to the boxes that is hiding the animal behind it. Slowly, he pushes the boxes, arms stretched out fearing whatever it was might attack him. Creeping closer, Sanji gets closer and looks at whatever is there.
Sanji is able to see what is behind the boxes. The blonde has a hard time getting his mind to register what he is seeing. It is a teenage boy. He has tan skin and is chained by the neck. But what makes Sanji not believe what he is seeing is that this boy, animal... thing, has green hair, and if that isn't enough, it has a long green tail and big fluffy green cat-like ears.
This has to be a dream...