Note (26 AUG 2013)::

Update to the chapters, I've left this alone long enough. I went through and corrected misspellings, grammar and some fragmented sentences.

Thank you to everyone who left reviews and favorited this story! I really appreciate the support and I will try to get back into this, if the fates of life be so willing.

Disclaimer: One Piece is the property of Eiichirou Oda

'thoughts '

"words "

Dark on Blue

Written by Kizoku-Totori

Ch. 1

The impact of the wall against his back urged Sanji into the dark embrace of unconsciousness.

'No!' Sanji willed one eye open against the pain. The other sealed shut with dried blood draining from a jagged cut that tore diagonally across his left eye.

'I can't rest, not yet.'

He struggled onto his hands and knees, pausing when he was overcome with dizziness.

'I must protect...'

He coughed and he felt his mouth flood with the metallic taste of blood. He could hear his breath bubbling, and feel the bloody froth upon his lips, piercing pain seared his chest each time he drew a breath.

A broken rib, probably a punctured lung. 'Great.'

He couldn't let it get to him. He needed to beat this rat-bastard, time was running out. So he needed to do it fast and he needed to do it hard.

'God ... I'm tired.'

Any and all planning was cut short as an iron grip grabbed him from behind, the huge hand wrapped around his neck easily and hoisted him into the air, and his legs dangled two feet above the ground as he fought for air. His air supply dwindled as the towering man gently squeezed, crushing his throat. Sanji feared his neck being broken as he felt the vertebra along his spine start to crack.

' O'crap!'

He gasped for air, grabbing the giant's hand with both of his trying to break the hold. What was this monster? Finding the fleshy part between thumb and forefinger he managed to clamp his teeth upon it and bite. He bit as hard as he could. He tasted the blood as it flooded his mouth choking him, but he didn't let go. The giant roared, releasing Sanji just enough that he was able to twist around. Keeping a hold of the mighty forearm he used it as a counter weight to fling a kick at his attacker's head.

Impact rang throughout Sanji's body.

Pain.

He felt it vibrate up the bones of his leg.

'Wha' the...'

He twisted as much as he could to glance towards the giant's head... he had blocked Sanji's kick with his other forearm. It had felt like cold hard iron.

"What ..."

Sanji's kick had never failed him, how could this be! He could kill a Banana-dile with one swift kick to the solar-plexus. A Banana-dile! They were as big as houses, at least four times this man's height and size!

The giant bared his ragged tobacco stained teeth in a toothy grin. "I came prepared." His voice was grating, like a rock upon concrete. He deftly released Sanji's neck and broke his hold upon his forearm with a single flick of his wrist. The force of the motion caused Sanji to fall head and shoulders first towards the concrete below. Fearing he would hit the ground, Sanji closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his head for protection. The impact never came, but the world was upside down when he finally opened his eyes again.

The giant had grabbed Sanji's kicking leg, holding him upside down in a very demeaning manner. Sanji bared his teeth in rage and attempted another kick, which was deftly dodged. Infuriated, Sanji continued to struggle to break the vice like grip.

"Now, now." The giant grated, giving Sanji a quick shake. "Behave."

When Sanji didn't falter in his struggles the man deftly snapped him at a nearby wall like a wet towel, knocking the fight out of him and leaving his body to hang limp gasping for air. Blood and rubble dripping from his finger tips to the dry, cold, unforgiving ground that offered no remorse.

"Sigh, this would go much easier for you if you would just submit. I wouldn't have to give you so much pain, but then again I wouldn't get much pleasure if you didn't struggle." The wanton look in the man's eyes caused Sanji to shiver in disgust. "Your no-hands fighting technique is quiet magnificent. It brings me un-mentionable pleasure to see it, to be honest I did at first worry that I wouldn't be able to overcome it so I had made some…. slight modifications." He brought the arm that wasn't restraining Sanji up to his face and clamped his jagged teeth on his sleeve ripping the aged yellow fabric away to reveal a metallic armament that now replaced his once flesh and blood arm. "They call this lovely new invention ARMs, Armorized Replacement Mechanisms. Theoretically it was meant for folks who had lost an arm or a leg in a battle or accident, but the gentleman I dealt with was kind enough to sell me the newest model at quite a low discount. GaKekekekeke..."

The chuckle that followed lead Sanji to believe that the dealer didn't really have a choice in the matter, let alone survived the exchange.

"Now than," drawing Sanji's attention back to him the giant lifted Sanji up until they were pretty much nose to upside down nose. "Where are they?"

"Do you mean Santa and his elfs or Jack Skellington?" Sanji tilted his head sideways to demonstrate ignorance. And gasped as he felt the giant's fist tighten around his ankle, causing a very painful pressure upon the already bruised leg.

"Let me tell you something, Sanji. Have you ever realized something about yourself? You with your quote-on-quote 'strong' legs and legendary cooking skills. Have you ever thought about the fact that you are possibly the weakest, most worthless Nakama of your little Strawhat Pirate group?" Sanji felt a rage flowing up inside him. " Ruffy is the strongest with his Gum-Gum techniques, Zoro with his 3-swords, Nami with her navigation and hand to hand combat, Chopper with his brains and reindeer strength, Usopp with his creations, and you... All you can do is kick things. Wwwooowwww... that is just so amazing." The sarcasm dripped off his tongue like dripping fire. "I must admit that you do have powerful legs, but your mentality is low class. Not a good combination. One of the many rules of battle is to start from the weakest link and work your way up, I never imagined it would be this easy though. Gakekeke..." He threw his head back, laughing as if he had made the funniest joke in the world. He practically beamed with pride at the capture he had made.

Sanji couldn't bear it; having a 'no hands' fighting style in this kind of position was a bad thing, a very bad thing. He had to think of a plan...

'Aw Shit, this is going to hurt.'

Amidst the giant's loud braying laugh, he had taken his eyes off of Sanji. Taking advantage of this Sanji quickly grabbed the giant's huge ears, before his captor realized what was going on Sanji yanked his head forward slamming his forehead, hopefully the hardest part of his head, into the giant's nose. This caused a waterfall of blood to instantly flow over Sanji, but it had worked the man roared and jerked back releasing his grip and grabbing for his nose. Ignoring the dizziness that was quickly blurring his vision, Sanji planned the next attack. Still holding onto the man's ears Sanji kept himself steady, using the momentum of the moment to slam his heavily soled shoe onto the top of the giant's head. The loud crack of the collision echoed off the surrounding buildings. Following through with the move Sanji hoisted himself into the air using the giant's shoulders to balance himself as he used the handstand to maneuver the next attack towards the giants back, aiming for the spot right below the neck and between the shoulder blades.

He hit it.

The twisting motion of the attack allowed Sanji one more opening, he took it. He slammed his right knee into the lower part of the giant's back aiming for the kidney. He felt the impact and the fleshy thud as his kick connected.

Landing nimbly on the ground behind the giant he waited for him to fall.

It never happened.