a/n: Ah, first of all, sorry to all the people who are subscribed to my White Collar stuff. I do have a tendency to just disappear for months on end. I don't know if any of those stories will ever be finished (I've sorta forgotten all the plots) so anyone who wants them came have 'em. I think for now I'm gonna try my hand at one-shots. Those seem to be more my specialties.
Secondly, this is my first time writing a One Piece fanfiction with the actual characters, so apologizes for any OOCness. Point it out and I'll work on fixing it for next time.
Thirdly, I loved the whole Drum Island arc and there's just not enough stories based around it so please, people, write some more stories I beg you!
Enjoy.
...Darkness...
Cold...
Crushing, Overwhelming...
...Choking...
Can't Breathe.
...
...
Help!
Sanji woke with a start, panting and gasping for air while also wincing at the pain dancing across his spine. Shit that hurt.
But more importantly: air. Crisp, cold oxygen filling his sore deprived lungs better than a cigarette on a stressful day (which was pretty much everyday spent with the mugiwara crew).
Sanji sighed and settled down in his cot. The avalanche, he thought, how'd I get out? Meh, doesn't matter. At least Luffy and Nami were saved.
Where were they now? Did they make it all the way to the castle? Or were they still climbing? How long had he been asleep anyway?
Most of all, though, were was he?
Sanji stifled an internal scream as his back protested him sitting up to look around. The walls were made of stone and it seemed to be snowing outside. Funny. When did he even get inside?
Oh, and Luffy was there too sitting right beside Sanji staring at him intently, not moving at all.
"Luffy?" No reaction.
"Luffy, what happened? Is Nami okay? Oh, God, please tell me you made it in time." The captain continued his silence.
"Dammit, Luffy! Say something!" The injured chef screamed. He was preparing himself to deliver a hard kick to his captain's head when he himself received a hard punch instead.
Sanji was stunned into silence. A red print already forming on his cheek.
"...Not your place." mumbled Luffy who had stood and turned away from the shocked blond so Sanji was unable to read his expression.
"What?"
"I said it's not your place!" He yelled furiously before continuing on in a more calm tone. "It's not your duty to sacrifice yourself. You're the cook. I'm the captain. It's my job to protect you, okay? So promise me, Sanji. Promise me you'll never, ever try to give up your dream."
"But, Luffy...Captain, I..."
"Promise me!"
There was silence for a moment. It was impossible to tell what the other was thinking. Finally, a grin began to form on Sanji's face as he replied, "I promise."
Luffy turned to reveal a similar smile being shown on him. "Pinky promise?"
A small chuckle to himself and a pinky promise later, Sanji was up running around some mysterious castle with his crazy rubber-man captain chasing down a talking deer. It may have been weird to some, but this, this was Sanji's place.