Chapter One

.Sanji.

"When are you getting off today?"

Sanji switched off the blow dryer and pumped a generous amount of hair serum in his palm before he turned back to his beautiful customer. The smile never left his face from the moment he started working on her hair. Spreading the fluid in his hand and applying it on her blue locks, he looked at her in the mirror.

"At seven, my love!"

Gathering up her courage, she asked "Want to grab a coffee?"

"Who am I to refuse a lady as beautiful as you are?" he gave her hair a final fluff before removing the black apron off her neck. "You look amazing! As usual, don't wash them for the next twenty four hours and then use the Lo'real color last to keep the color intact!"

"Of-course!" Vivi's heart was hammering. She almost never asked out any guy and here she was, blatantly asking her hair dresser out to coffee. Who could blame her though? The guy was gorgeous with flow-y blond hair and a well maintained goatee, not to forget his ocean blue eyes which always reflected his charm and his exuberant nature. He was always smiling in the most carefree manner which simply spread warm happiness in the heart of the person who saw it. His physique didn't help in keeping her thoughts under control either. His pant, shirt and vest stuck to him at all the right places and left just the right amount to imagination.

"Mosh mosh!?"

Vivi blinked and looked at the receptionist.

"Sorry, spaced out. How much do I have to pay?"

"Thirty five Dollars" She smiled up at her "And you aren't the only one" she added with a wink

Vivi blushed and handed over the money. She turned. She walked towards the exit and saw Sanji who was still smiling at her

"Starbucks at seven thirty?" He asked as he opened the door for her.

"Sure..." She exited the building, a huge smile etched on her face.

Caime leaned over the desk and gave Sanji a smart smile. "How many hearts have you broken like this?" She pointed an accusing finger at him "Just tell them you're gay when they ask you out!"

Sanji laughed lightly, as he walked over to the receptionist and leaned in too. "Bisexual, dear. I'm bisexual. Though I do prefer men." He winked.

Camie sat back on her chair "You haven't dated a girl for the past year."

"Ah! Camie chan! That hurts! I am going out on a date tonight at seven thirty with the most beautiful Vivi San!" Sanji put up a horrified face, his eyes still twinkling with humour that ruined his act.

"Where you will turn her down like all the other girls you have!" Camie chuckled as she went through the computer screen "Nami is next."

"Ah! Nami! A swan in the form of human! Another date I guess... And who said I would turn Vivi down? Who knows? I might end up wanting to date her."

The conversation continued for a while and when Nami came a few minutes later, Sanji drooled all over her. Nami, accustomed to his nature, swatted him off, demanding her hairdo.


An hour later, Sanji was walking to Starbucks, his bag slung across his torso, hair held up in a loose top knot, the fringe still framing his rough features. The cool air hit his face as he entered the haunt and spotted Vivi. He walked upto her with the same rugged crooked smile on his face, a little dance in his walk.

"Vivi!" He bowed and kissed her hand before standing up straight. "Your beauty never ceases to amaze me!"

Vivi giggled and moved her hair behind her ear.

Half an hour later, Vivi was staring transfixed at Sanji across the table. Off-course. Just her luck. The guy was gay. If you listened closely, you could listen to her heart breaking and flowing with overwhelming emotions of embarrassment and resentment. Embarrassment because the Sanji was gay, resentment because Sanji was gay. Basically, Sanji was gay and the world was working against her.

"You're gay." She repeated.

"Bisexual" He corrected, still grinning over the cup. The cup which he attached to his soft lips and sipped on the coffee, his Adam's apple moving as it allowed the liquid to reach his stomach.

"And you haven't dated a girl in forever." She was spacing out again, imagining those lips on hers and then watching that image shatter like a glass.

"Yes... unfortunately, I haven't. And I don't really have a reason behind it. There has just not been a... you know... click? with a girl recently."

"Uh huh.."

Sanji was sure she had zoomed him out of focus, her eyes were fixed on his biceps which were peeking from under his rolled up shirt. He chuckled.

"So... Dinner on me?" He asked politely, flexing his muscles at the same time on purpose. Vivi blinked and looked at him.

"Ah! No.. actually. I need to be home by nine. Family meeting..." She wasn't lying, she really did have to go and attend a meeting with her father and Koza and the others. "Please don't get me wrong, Sanji, I have no problems with your past... experiences. I really do have a meeting, which is why I asked you for coffee and not for dinner." She blushed.

Sanji chuckled again. "Vivi, you don't have to explain yourself to me, my darling. I knew you wouldn't judge me. How about dinner on Saturday?"

"Sounds great!" She chimed.


Sanji texted Camie a while later as he walked back to his work building. He left his car parked there because it was a walking distance from Starbucks which was located in a street prone to extreme traffic jams.

'Told ya! Taking Vivi out on Saturday!'

He tapped on 'send' and turned into the blind corner, lost in his phone.

Pain shot up his back and he heard his leg crack. A sickening pain on his left temple and his vision blurred.

He didn't know what had just happened and what was going on around him, except those blaring lights that hurt his already sensitive vision. He tried to raise a hand to shield his eyes but his arms felt heavy.

Car door opening and someone shouting. A set of shoes in front of him followed by the owner's knees as he was turned over. He felt someone slapping his face but what he felt the most was the dizziness and the sensation of the whole world spinning around him.

"Oi! Sanji! Oi! Can you hear me?"

Through the darkness threatening to engulf him, he heard a familiar baritone voice. He tried to focus on the face leering on top of him but all he noticed was green hair... Green hair... The bar... Drunken Saturday... Hot guy... green hair... Zoro?

The last thought escaped his lips in a slurred manner before he gave in to the darkness.

To be continued...