My new story! 'We'll Meet You At Diablo Mountain' is still on hiatus, so yeah. Sorry if I'm rushing it too much, this was supposed to be two chapters, but I'll be writing only around 5 chapters of this story. Cramming everything into one chapter. I've been in a Sanji-torture mood these past months. :P
Disclaimer: Veratican Justice does not own One Piece.
Commencing: Fanfiction: What One Deserves: Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Sanji stared at the fallen figures of his crewmates.
He let the blood stained knife drop, and the bronze blade clattered to the floor.
"What have I done?" Sanji was on his knees now, sobbing into his hands.
He looked upwards; vision blurred with tears, and directed his wail at the heavens above.
"Dear god, what have I done?"
A few days ago….
Sanji knocked on the door of the store. "Hello?"
"Come in," Came the disheartened voice, and Sanji pushed his way through.
The storekeeper was a pudgy man, dirty and smelly, his head balding. He regarded Sanji warily from behind his counter. Books were scattered all over the place, missing pages or of any sort. Spilt rum bottles were everywhere, and the storekeeper took a swig of a newly opened bottle.
"I'm here for these books." Sanji handed the man the list Nami-swan had gave him. "My ship's navigator said I would find them here."
The man read it, taking his time, and Sanji resisted the urge to scream hurry up! After what seemed like eternity, the man grunted. "'Ave them all right. Wait a moment."
He heaved himself up from his chair, mumbling slightly as he stumbled his way across the messy floor, scanning the shelves.
Sanji waited patiently, hands in his pockets, foot tapping. He caught sight of a souvenir on the counter.
It was rather like a weaving, the souvenir, not the counter, mind you. Resembling a spider's web, the weaving was woven with many different colors. It stood on a stone pedestal, like some magical cotton portal, and Sanji thought it pulsed with power every time he looked away. It looked a lot like the dream catchers he had seen before, yet it emitted a powerful aura that seemed to fill the room.
"Hey, what's that?"
"That?" The man glanced up distractedly from his quest of finding books. "Oh, that?"
"Yeah."
"It's a Spirit Weaver." The man muttered like that explained all of it, and began rummaging through the shelves.
"And what does it do?" Sanji let his eyes wander the room.
"Catch spirits."
"I'm sorry?"
"Catch spirits. It's supposed to catch ghosts."
Sanji opened his mouth to say that there were no ghosts, but thought better of it. Hey, it was the Grand Line. There must be some ghosts.
"Your books." The man stood up and handed Sanji a stack of books.
"Thanks." Sanji took out his wallet with one hand, the other balancing the books, and he, with two fingers, swiftly took a few thousand beli out and handed the money to the man.
The man nodded, and Sanji turned towards the door.
"Wait."
Sanji looked back, exasperated. Nami-swan was surely going to kill him if he was late.
Of course, she'd probably forgive him if he mentioned he was attacked.
The man's soft fist closed around Sanji's throat, lifted the cook up high, and Sanji dropped the books. The blonde cook started kicking with pure instinct, each kick finding its mark, but surprisingly, the man didn't waver.
The man sneered, and tossed Sanji towards the bookshelves, where Sanji hit his head, hard, and slid down to the floor.
"The hell was that for?" Sanji muttered, rising to his feet.
The man grinned. "You're going to be a better vessel. I know it." He opened his mouth wide, and Sanji caught a glimpse of something black emerging from it, and it shot out of the man's mouth, the man dropped, and the black thing darted towards him.
Then it was latching onto his face, and Sanji remembered screaming, and his hands were grasping uselessly at the thing, but it was slipping through his fingers, it was like holding a seal in water, and he couldn't do anything to stop it, and it slid down his throat as he screamed- it felt slippery and slimy, and coldness pierced his brain, numbing it, he couldn't think clearly, he wanted death, it hurt so much, but he was still screaming, screaming like there was no tomorrow, wishing it was all over, and-
Sanji was gone.
The thing that took over him stood up, smiling with satisfaction at his new body. Sanji had black lips now; black as night, and his face was riddled with black veins. His eyes glowed red and when he smiled, fangs poked out of his lips.
"As I expected." Sanji smiled, flexing his fingers. "This is a worthy vessel." He spun, lashing out a few kicks. "Good. Flexible." Then he winced and gasped, clutching at his chest. The demonic features withdrew as the world shook and whirled.
"What… are…you…. doing," Sanji choked out the words, clutching his head.
He shook his head again, and the thing-along with the black facial features- resurfaced. "Interesting." Evil Sanji (We'll be calling him that when he's alone.) said. "It appears that this dimension has side effects to my powers." He shrugged, letting the veins and black lips return to their normal colors, and for once, Evil Sanji looked like Normal Sanji. At least, excluding the creepy grin."At least it's better than the last one."
"Now let's see," he picked the books up the floor, stepping over the unconscious storekeeper. "My name is Sanji. I am a pervert and a womanizer, and I am the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates. I bring treats to Nico Robin and Nami daily, and I hate Roronoa Zoro's guts. I have a phobia of spiders, and an addiction to nicotine. I fight with my legs, also known as Black leg Style. And my pirate crew," Evil Sanji strolled out of the store, still carrying the smile of evil satisfaction. "Seems to be too happy and cheerful, and lack morose and pain.
"But no worries," Evil Sanji spotted the Going Merry, and started walking towards it. "I'll put an end to that."
"Where have you been?" Nami frowned as Sanji clambered aboard the Going Merry.
"Sorry, Nami-swaan!" Sanji swooned. "A bunch of shitty weaklings tried to rob meee…."
Nami rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Sanji-kun. Get back in the kitchen before Luffy comes back."
"Yes, Naaami-swaaan!"
Sanji noodle-danced all the way to the kitchen. He slammed the door behind him, locked it, and took out a paper and pen.
"Let's see…. Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Tony Tony Chopper, and Nico Robin…" Evil Sanji smiled, jotting down the names of his crewmates. "Hmmm…. I think Nico first…"
Suddenly, he gasped again, and Sanji's normal voice returned.
"You… Bastard… What are you doing?"
"Planning your crewmates' death, my dear self."
"Won't… Let you…"
"If you can stop me."
"Why…"
"My dear, dear self, I am a Arpisan. A spirit of destruction. I exist to possess and wreck."
"Spirit…. Spirit…"
"Hmmm? Yes?"
Suddenly, Evil Sanji's eyes widened and he tipped backwards, crashing to the floor. Then Sanji (god, this is confusing) was bolting up, unlocking the door, and running out of the deck ("Sanji-kun? What are you doing?!"), screaming, "The Spirit Weaver! The Spirit Weaver!" He ran towards the deck, preparing to dive, when slender hands gripped him.
Sanji looked backwards, and saw Robin striding towards him, her hands crossed.
"May I inquire, what is of the matter, Cook-san?"
Sanji tried to explain, but he felt the Remnant inside of him begin to retake control. "Spirit…. Shop… Possess…" Sanji felt his thoughts slip away, and shook his head as the Remnant regained control. Sanji smiled and stood up. "My apologies, Robin-chwan. I was reading a rather good mystery novel, and had just figured out the mystery without finishing the book."
No! Shut up, bastard! They need to know the truth! Afra… Afradca…
Quiet, fool! As if I'll let you trap me in that blasted thing! This is no longer your body.
No… Shut… Up…. No…. Don't believe him, Robin-chwan, Nami-swan….
Robin arched an eyebrow. "And the sudden dive?"
"Thought I was dreaming," Sanji smiled apologetically.
Nami shook her head. "Seriously, Sanji-kun. You scared me for a moment. Finish your book, and start cooking."
Sanji's visible eye formed a heart. "Y-Yes, Nami-swaaan!" He pranced back into the kitchen, unaware of Robin, who was watching him carefully.
Back in the kitchen, Evil Sanji heated up the frying pan, muttering to himself. "Yes, definitely Nico. She knows something…"
"Saaaaaanjiiii!" The door bolted open as Luffy shot through, screaming. "MEEEAAAT!"
Sanji turned and lifted up his leg, and Luffy slammed into his foot, and flew off with the sudden recoil.
"MEEEAAATTT!"
Sanji huffed and walked out of the door, directing his scream at Luffy, who was in a Luffy sized dent in the wall. "I'm cooking! Stay the hell out of the kitchen!'' He locked the door again and turned back to the frying pan. Luckily he inherited his previous life's skills.
"What is it, woman?" Zoro opened a lazy eye and looked at Robin, who had just set something on the table.
"Don't call Robin-chwan that, Marimo!"
"Try and stop me, Dartboard!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
"SHUT UP!"
"Yes, Nami-swan!" Sanji sat meekly back into his seat and turned his attention to Robin. "My deepest apologies, Robin-chwan!" His eyes widened when he saw what the object was.
"What's that?" Usopp asked.
Robin smiled faintly. "That, Sniper-san, is a Spirit Weaver. I picked it up from a shopkeeper who sold his shop."
"Shopkeeper?" Nami cocked her head. "But I thought all the shops here were full with business."
Robin nodded. "Indeed, but this unfortunate shopkeeper was in an incident, or so he told me, and lost the will of business."
Chopper bit his lip. "That's sad."
"What's it do?" Luffy directed the conversation towards the Spirit Weaver, no doubt enchanted by this 'mystery' thing.
"It captures spirits."
"G-gh-ghosts?!" Usopp stuttered.
Sanji shrugged. "Who knows? It's the Grand Line."
"Whatever." Zoro stood up and ambled out of the dining room. "I'm taking a nap."
"Lazy." Sanji muttered.
"What was that?"
"Go and nap, shitty Marimo."
Zoro snarled and stalked out of the door.
"Robin-chwan," Sanji said. "May I borrow the… Spirit Weaver?"
"Oh?" Robin cocked an eyebrow. "May I ask, what for, Cook-san?"
"Oh," Sanji shrugged. "Just want a look at it before someone throws it over board, Robin-chwan." He shot a meaningful look at Usopp, Chopper and Luffy. The three most troublesome of the crew shrank back under his gaze.
Robin smiled. "Very well, Cook-san."
"Thank you, o heavenly goddess!" Sanji grabbed the Spirit Weaver. "It is of heavenly blessing that I am with such beauty-
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Nami waved him off. "Just remember to return it. We could sell it for some beli."
"Yes, Nami-swaaan!"
"So she does know something." Evil Sanji hissed. "She will have to go." He stared at the Spirit Weaver. "But first, this blasted object." He gripped the Soul Weaver, squeezing it, but the object wouldn't break. "Shit!" He gripped the weaving, tore it, and opened the window, ready to chuck it out.
Then it started glowing. A deep, low hum resonated from the weaving, filling the kitchen. Before he could react, there was a flash, blinding his eyes, and everything went dark.
Sanji scrambled to his feet, rubbing his eyes. How he got to the floor, he had no idea. He looked around him. "This…"
The Spirit Weaver sat on the counter, fully repaired, leaving no traces of whatever just happened.
"I'm… back…" Sanji blinked. No evil thoughts, no desire to kill his friends. He laughed with joy. "I'm back!"
Sanji grabbed the Spirit Weaver, waltzing out of the room. "Robin-chwaaan! I'm dooone!~"
Sanji hit the bed with a happy sigh. With the Arpisan gone, he had his own body back. Though he had been gone only for a day, it felt like weeks of not having his body to himself. Sanji stared up at the moon, the bright stars and the pitch black sky. He was never, ever going to go into some shitty fat man's store, again.
Sanji fingered the Spirit Weaver, which Robin had decided to give him. His finger caught in the web, and Sanji struggled to pull it out. Vaguely, he realized, that there was a cold numbness spreading across his finger tip.
He gasped as the numbness, going strong now, consumed his whole body, and Sanji jerked back, clutching his throat. He gagged slightly.
Sanji sat up again, grinning. He stared at the Spirit Weaver. "Blasted object. It'll be gone for good this time." Sanji opened the window and chucked it out. The splash was relieving, and Sanji stood up. He walked towards the door and headed towards the library, where he could see the faintest of lights. Robin must've been working late.
Sanji strode towards the library, avoiding the window so that Robin didn't see him, and in the pale light of the moon, his veins shone black and his eyes glowed red.
End of Chapter 1
Sorry if the Arpisan sorta resembles a Remnant from Skulduggery Pleasant. I had no idea until I actually wrote it down. Reviews greatly Appreciated! :P
-Veratican Justice