Chapter 1

A New Heading

As a cook, Sanji loved all varieties of food. Give him any ingredient and he would show it the upmost respect by turning it into a masterpiece. But his most favourite ingredients came from the sea. The fish that flickered through the salted waters, clams hiding rich protein and iron within their shells, even algae gave many dishes just the right touch.

Speaking of algae.

Glancing out the kitchen window, the cook could see the Straw Hat's swordsman training with his gigantic weights out on the grass deck. He should probably go warn Chopper of the muscle head's activity, the bastard was still healing from Thriller Bark.

But instead he decided to ignore his crew mate. That idiot wouldn't listen to anyone anyway. Like when he hadn't listened to Sanji when he had stood between the swordsman and that warlord. The blond gritted his teeth and had a strong urge for a good dose of nicotine. He just didn't understand the bastard! That didn't mean he disrespected him. One of the reasons he had volunteered his life in place of the swordsman was because he respected Zoro's strength and loyalty to the crew.

"Doesn't make up for the fact that he's still an idiot," Sanji grumbled.

He continued on with his cooking, stirring up the risotto to ensure the broth was soaking up properly. Life went on. They had left Thriller Bark behind and were on their way to Fishman Island, the cook's true paradise. He grinned stupidly as images of beautiful mermaids swam in his vision.

"Sanji-kun?"

The melodious voice of his angel immediately called the cook away from his task. "Yes, Nami-swaan?"

"How are we for ingredients?" the red head asked, one hand resting on the door frame, the other on her skirt clad hip. A true picture of a goddess of beauty.

"Well we got lots of food from Thriller Bark," Sanji said, turning the heat down on his cooking so it wouldn't overcook while his eyes were off it. "I took inventory then, and we were well stocked. I can check again today, but it's definitely not an issue at the moment. Why do you ask, Nami dear?"

"I found a sea chart of the area, it was mixed in with all the supplies we got," the navigator said, clasping her hands behind her back and rocking on her heels. "It indicated if we continue on this course we may pass by an inhabited island, and when we live a life at sea we always want to take advantage of a chance to resupply."

"As intelligent as ever, Nami-swan!" Sanji flattered. "But if this island is so close, why isn't the log pose indicating it? I thought it had already locked onto Fishman Island."

"Don't worry, it has and still is," Nami assured. "The island I'm talking about probably doesn't have as strong of a magnetic field as Fishman Island, so the log pose 'missed' it, to put it in loose terms."

"I see," Sanji nodded in understanding. "I'll do the inventory, just in case then."

"Alright, Sanji-kun. I'm going to ask the others if there's anything they would need." With a blinding smile, the beauty of the ship left the cook to his work.

Xxxx

"Hey, Usopp, help clean up," Sanji said as he grabbed a few of the empty plates from the table.

"Huh?" the sniper whined.

"Just get your ass moving," the cook growled with no real heat.

The long nosed pirate morosely started collecting the plates along with the blond as the rest of the crew chatted with each other. The main topic of conversation being the island they may pause at.

"We should definitely look around if we pass it," Luffy said matter of factly. "Any new island means lots of adventure."

"That's not the point, idiot," Nami snapped at the rubber monkey. "We are only going to stop if we absolutely need to."

"I don't think we should stop at all," Usopp called from behind the kitchen bar as he helped rinse the dishes. "I mean, what if my Can't-go-on-unknown-islanditis acts up again?"

"It wouldn't hurt to get a bit more cola," Franky said, leaning back in his chair. "The Sunny needs as much fuel as she can get."

"Let's just wait and see what happens," Zoro grunted, getting to his feet. "If we do even pass by the island, we'll just check out supplies then and decide."

"Don't be so lax about this Zoro!" Nami barked at the swordsman, but he was already out the door.

"Hey, Zoro!" Luffy laughed as he ran out of the galley as well. "Play tag with me and Chopper!"

"Absent minded idiots, the both of them," the navigator sighed helplessly. Robin chuckled lightly.

Eventually everyone filed out and went about their regular business, Usopp finished helping Sanji and ran off to play with Chopper and Luffy, who had resorted to playing a ball game instead. The cook took a quick smoke break before sitting down and planning tomorrow's menu, he also took out his inventory clip board in order to remind himself to check the pantry later on.

All in all it was a calm afternoon on the Thousand Sunny.

Around the time the sun was beginning to set, Sanji had finished up his tasks and decided his ladies could do with an evening snack. He whipped up some warm tea and petite fours and laid them out artistically on a platter.

Smiling to himself the cook waltzed over to the door and swung it open. "Nami-swan, Robin-chwan, I've made you a wonderful treat!"

"Cook, look out!"

The blond paused at Zoro's shout and looked over to where the swordsman was standing on the deck. And he saw Luffy's game ball hurtling towards his face. Good reflexes allowed him to spin out of the ball's path and keep from dropping the precious snacks, and the ball flew past him and went through the kitchens open door. Everyone on deck halted for a moment, processing what had just happened, when the silence was literally shattered by the sound of breaking glass.

Sanji peered back into the kitchen. There wasn't any signs of broken dishes or any amount of damage. Then he noticed the door to Chopper's office was open.

"Shit," he breathed. He hurried back into the galley, gently placing his tray on the table and briskly strutting to the gapping door.

"Sanji? What happened?" Luffy called out, hopping over the railing and also coming into the kitchen.

The cook just shook his head silently and flicked on the light, bathing the medical room with a yellow glow. It also revealed the dreadful scene around him. "Luffy, go get Chopper."

The seriousness in his tone must have made an impression on the Straw Hat captain as nothing was said and he heard the boy's sandals leaving the kitchen.

"Shit," Sanji huffed again, running a hand through his hair. "He's not going to be happy about this."

Absolute wreckage was the only way the cook could describe the reindeer's office. The ball that had flung through the door had bounced on probably every solid surface in the room. Papers had been knocked over, the glass of the cabinets were shattered, several bottles littered the floor and many were broken. The multi-coloured mess on the floor created by the mixed of spoiled herbs and pills and spilt liquids. Even some bandages and cotton swabs hadn't been able to escape the destruction.

The clicking of hooves on wood alerted the cook to the doctor's presence and somberly turned to face the youngest pirate. His heart deadened at the sight of the reindeer's wide shocked eyes and lowered ears.

"This is bad, isn't it?" the blond asked.

"I…" Chopper gulped and fiddled his hoofs. "I'll… have to check everything… See what's damaged and…" a small tinge of distress glinted in the brown eyes.

Sanji tried to think of something to say, something to comfort the doctor. But he was beaten to it.

"I'm sorry, Chopper," Zoro appeared behind the reindeer, his head lowered. "I was the one who threw the ball."

"No, it's okay!" Chopper said hurriedly, turning around and flailing at the swordsman. "We were all playing, we all got carried away."

"Chopper, it's not okay." The moss head got onto one knee to level his eyes with the doctor's. "This is really bad, and I am partly at fault."

The reindeer whined quietly at the swordsman's words. "But I don't blame you," he said firmly, defiantly meeting Zoro's gaze. "I have already forgiven you."

Zoro smiled and patted Chopper's fluffy hat. "Alright. Now let's get this cleaned up, okay?"

"Mm-hm," Chopper nodded and turned to face the mess.

"What are you still doing here cook?" the swordsman growled at the cook.

Sanji scoffed at the marimo's bluntness, but wasn't in the mood to argue. "I'll go tell Nami-san what happened," he said and left the two to their work.

Xxxx

"So what are the results, Chopper?" Robin asked gently.

The whole Straw Hat crew was once again gathered around the table. It had taken several hours for Chopper and Zoro to clean up the medical room and it was now dark out. Several eyes looked expectantly and worriedly at the doctor, waiting to hear the damage report.

With a deep breath Chopper began.

"Most of the herbs I use to make the medicines have been spoilt. I've lost half the disinfectant we had stocked up. I still have bandages and linens, but the cotton swabs are ruined. A couple of the readymade medicine was still salvageable, but it has been considerably diminished. Also, several of the jars I use to hold the medicine were broken and I have nowhere to put what I have salvaged." He looked around at his crew mates, round eyes serious. "I can say now that if something happened in the next few days, if there was a fight or sickness, I would not have enough supplies to be confident in the treatment I administer."

A heavy atmosphere settled over the pirates as they took in this information.

"So this is an emergency." Nami stated darkly.

"Yes," Chopper agreed. "We need to find some way to resupply as fast as possible."

"The island," Sanji spoke up. "We can resupply at the island you mentioned before, Nami-swan."

"You're right, Sanji-kun," Nami affirmed. "But that will be more difficult than usual. As I said before, the log pose isn't locked onto it. It will be only by luck if we actually pass by it."

"We'll have to keep an eye out for it," Robin added in. "Perhaps have someone on watch constantly."

"I'll do it," Zoro said firmly and left for the crow's nest before anything could be said differently.

The crew continued to murmur amongst themselves as to what else could be done. But it was decided that the island was their best hope. Usopp, Robin and Nami continued to comfort the disheartened doctor and Luffy asked Brook to play some music to make everyone happy again. Sanji was hopeful, he trusted Nami's navigation skills to get them to the island and if someone did get hurt along the way, he was sure Chopper could figure something out.

He made the kid doctor a sweetened hot chocolate to uplift the reindeer's spirits.