"The Vinsmokes are a family of assassins…"

Silence fell over the room, the entire crew (minus Sanji) has wandered into the room to see what was going on and frankly, not a one had expected this. Sure the cook was secretive and had never shared a thing about his past aside from the occasional story about the Baratie crew but this? Assassins. Royal assassins at that. No that's a story not even Ussop could have come up with.

Not that it changed anything, Sanji was Sanji and he was by far the most loyal of the crew, the bright ray of sun that shone through their trials, the helping hands that never failed to be there for each one of them. He was the same as always and just because they'd learned this new bit of information didn't change who he was. It did make them curious though.

Where did their cook really come from? And more importantly…

…what could make him need to leave at such a crucial time for them?

Heaven would quake and Hell itself freeze over before Sanji would leave them to face a danger alone, but then, maybe that was why the empty space he left behind felt so cold to them.

Luffy wasn't too concerned, Sanji said he'd be coming back so he was coming back. He was more concerned with how long it might take though, rushing things along might be a good idea.

Zoro wasn't concerned either but for different reasons, the stupid love cook could take care of himself and was smart enough to ask for help if he needed it. No, Zoro was more pissed than anything. The curly bastard knew what they were up against and as much as Zoro hated to admit it the guy was strong, their strongest next to him and they really needed all the fire power they could get for their upcoming battles. For the cook to leave now… fucking idiot.

Robin was intrigued by this new information they had learned about their resident cook but was more concerned with what the future held for the remaing crew here, knowing the cook could take care of himself.

Franky wasn't too sure what exactly was going on other than that it sounded like cook-bro might have gotten himself into some trouble and that they themselves definitely were in some deep shit here.

Brooke was worried. He knew the situation at hand but he couldn't stop thinking about Sanji and that name, the Vinsmokes, it had been so long since he'd heard that name and it struck fear in his bones like nothing had in years. Fear for his nakama.

Chopper was so concerned he thought he might start finding clumps of fur falling off his coat soon from the stress. Sanji had still had injuries not fully healed and that look on his face. The others hadn't see him, they couldn't know this desperate feeling that had nestled deep within Chopper's heart. That smile Sanji had sent them, it was remorseful, apologetic, almost resigned and the little reindeer hated to think of it and what it might have really meant for Sanji to let himself be taken away to a place where they couldn't reach.

Nami was pissed and concerned and honestly a bit desperate to get Sanji back. This was all wrong, that look on his face had been all wrong. They were all supposed to be together now but instead one of their strongest and definitely most reliable was off who knows where doing who knows what. They should be going after him, something was wrong and she didn't want to admit it but Sanji he… he said those things, told them he'd be back but then smiled so brittle and false and…

"I'm going to go get him!" Luffy exclaimed.

"Huh?" The entire crew started at there captain.

Luffy pounded a fist into his other hand, face set and determined.

"I'm going to go get Sanji and bring him back."

"No."

Everyone looked at Zoro who had crossed his arms over his chest and was glaring, eyes narrowed, at a space on the floor, not looking at Luffy.

"We can't afford to split up right now there's too much going on and too big a threat over our heads to go galavanting after the damn cook and getting tangled up with another Yonko. The cook is going to have to deal with his mess on his own."

Luffy frowned and knuckles creaked in a tightening fist.

"But…"

Zoro's eyes shifted to meet Luffy's.

"Do you not trust him? He promised didn't he?"

Luffy was still for a moment before he deflated.

"Yea, I know, I just don't want him to take too long."

"He knows what we're up against. Bastard better not take forever."

Zoro sighed, he saw the looks on all of their faces but they couldn't afford to deal with the shitty cook's shit right now. He turned and walked out of the roo. Looking up at the dark sky above all he could do was tsk.

He was going to give the idiot the beating of his life for doing this when he got back. Nothing could have been more important than his crew's safety, shitty apparent family crisis or not.

The rest of the crew looked around themselves uncertainly. This was all true but it felt wrong to leave one of their nakama on their own when they honestly didn't really know anything about what was going on with him.

It was Sanji though, strong, sunny Sanji. He'd be fine, right? He didn't need their help, right?

…right?

—-

"The Super Secret Meeting of the Council of Rescue Sanji United is hearby in session."

Ussop smacked a makeshift gavel on the ground in front of him. Luffy, Robin, Nami, Chopper, Brooke, Franky (everyone except Zoro basically since he was being a prickly jerk about the whole thing) were gathered in a circle behind a copse of trees behind the compound.

"Ussop we're all here except Zoro, it's not a very big secret."

Nami huffed.

Ussop nodded sagely and countered with, "Yea, but do you know what he'd do if he found out about us talking about this behind his back? I'd rather not have to deal with the shit storm he'd bring down on our heads, my head, thank you very much. So until further notice this is most definitely the SECRET Meeting of the Council of Rescue Sanji United."

Robin titled her head, "But we still haven't determined if the cook actually needs rescuing or not have we?"

Franky nodded along, "She's right, for all we know he could be headed back to us now."

Chopper fidgeted with his hat, "What we really need is more information. What do all of you know about Sanji and his family?"

…

…Crickets, actual crickets, could be heard chirping in the background, as if mocking them.

Smug bastards.

Chopper drooped and clutched at his hat, "Yeah, me neither."

Luffy frowned and rocked back, racking his brain. After a moment he huffed and scratched at the hair under his hat.

"Urggh! I wish we could just see his family or something."

*poink*

Blackness.

That's all anyone saw, and for a moment no one said anything but as if on cue Ussop started screaming his head off and Chopper joined in as they began to run circles around the group.

"Wha…"

A bright light flashed and they all felt a sinking sensation in their gut before they went weightless and found themselves falling only to abruptly be dropped into a bright, lavishly furnished room that no one had ever seen before.

As they started picking themselves up from the jumbled heap that they'd landed in a grumble from the bottom of the impromptu dog pile drew their attention to the tuft of bright green sticking out from under Franky's armpit.

"Zoro-bro?"

Zoro glared fiercely up at all of them.

"Someone had better have a damned good explanation for this."

Well here we go, this one will probably be a three parter and I might sprinkle other one shots between to satisfy my yearning for Sanji angst. If anyone wants to write a story based off any idea you get from anything here have at it please! I need more epic fan fiction to read and i can't quite write that stuff myself cause it never comes out right. Plus, reading is more fun. I give my blessing for anyone to take any plot bunny or lack there of, please, I'm starved for more Vinsmoke, princely, awesome Sanji related fics. Feed me before I eat my hands.