Chapter 1 has been re-written! As you will see, the story remains the same, but I've added/changed dialogue and scenes. I will be doing this for every chapter, with possible new chapters in between, up until I reach where I stopped 4 years ago. Sanji will be slightly OOC since I'm trying to have less of the (what I find annoying) constant flirting and fawning over women. I know it's a big part of his character, so it will still be there; just dulled quite a bit. I always like the more serious moments like in Water 7. I've also changed some of the dialogue that I get from the movie. What is said essentially remains the same, just re-worded at times. So without further delay, here is the beginning of I'll Be There rebooted.
**Some quick notes:
-When a text is bold and italicized "like this", it is when a character is talking but not physically present (like talking on a phone or recording.
-When a text is not bold, but is italicized, "Like this", it is a flashback. I also center aligned these particular parts to make it easier to spot, because they sometimes appear rather suddenly.
Rated T for violence, blood, and swearing.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece
~0o0~
"You make quite a good team. I must say, you're pretty good for making me use my hand." The Golden Lion smirked at the blonde pirate he currently held at his mercy.
"But now that I've used my hand, don't expect me to hold back." Sanji's eyes widened as the grip on his foot tightened, emphasizing the threat even more as Shiki slowly began to raise his hand.
He distantly heard cries of concern from his crew members below, but found himself unable to move as time around him seemed to slow.
"Sanji!" Chopper cried as Zoro began to unsheathe his swords, but stopped once he noticed their captain preparing to fling himself at the two air born pirates.
"Gum Gum…" No one seemed to register the slight tilt of Shiki's head as he prepared for the incoming attack.
"Rocket!" The old pirate turned his head to the side with a smirk, and before Luffy could register what happened, he was crashing into the ground.
"Luffy!" Sanji shouted as the moment was enough to snap him out of his daze. He brought his free foot back, taking advantage of the Pirates momentary distraction, but a sudden sharp pain in his side brought that action to a screeching halt as he gasped.
"Dammit!" someone exclaimed from below them.
"Let's start with you." Shiki says gleefully, shifting his foot from where it was buried in the cook's side.
"Sanji-kun!"
"Stay back, Nami! Three sword style… 108 pound phoenix!" and to the crews relief, this seemed to catch the pirate off guard for him to finally release Sanji's foot.
Using the only other opening available he kicked against the man's chest, propelling himself off the sword and falling back to the ground; briefly landing on his feet before collapsing onto his knees and clutching at the wound on his side, clenching his eyes shut in pain.
"Sanji!" Chopper cried as he rushed to his side, Nami right behind him.
"Sanji-kun! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Nami-san, don't worry about me." He meant to smile at her, but it turned out as more of a grimace as Chopper inspected the injury. The navigator lightly smacked him on the head.
"Liar." She said fondly. They looked up at the sound of laughter. Shiki was still floating in the air in front of them, watching the scene with a kind of sick amusement; blood dripping from one of his bladed legs.
"Jeeehahahaha! To think you're able to fight on equal ground with me… it's such a pain. I'll just get rid of you all at once." With an almost graceful flick of his wrist, the ground began to tremble as it began to pull the crew towards the center of the field they had been fighting in. Chopper let out a surprised squeak as he was torn away from Sanji and Nami and tumbled into the center with everyone else.
"Chopper! Guys?! What's happening?" Nami exclaimed, catching Sanji as he bit back a curse trying and failing to stand up. "What are you doing? You're going to hurt yourself more!" she scolded as he tried getting up a second time.
"I can't just sit here…" he said, trying not to let his frustration show as the wound on his side flared up with his movements.
"I think you'll find that you don't have a choice." Shiki gloated as the ground came up to entrap the cook's legs.
"What the hell?" he growled in frustration, trying to pull them free when another piece of earth shot out of the ground and hit him directly where the sword had been, knocking the air out of him. The earth released his legs, and he collapsed in a heap; wheezing as he tried to protect the injury from enduring any further harm.
"Sanji-kun!"
"Oh, Baby-chan~" Shiki almost sings. Only then does Nami realize how quiet it had gotten. Looking up, she felt the blood drain from her face at the sight.
"Everyone…" Zoro, Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy were all trapped and unconscious in a giant, twisted tower of stone.
"You see, them… they don't even deserve to be killed. But this one…" she looked over in horror as Shiki held Sanji up by the neck, a smug look on his face as the cook weakly glared at him.
"No! Leave him alone, I'll go with you!" she cried, trying to figure out how the pirate got ahold of him without her noticing.
"You know what I think, Baby~chan?" the pirate said as his eyes darkened and he smiled.
"Stop it!" the navigator begged.
"There's always something you want to request from your nakama." He moved in a blur, the sound of metal ripping through flesh, a gasp, and a heart wrenching cry.
"Sanji-kun!"
~0o0~
Smoke drifted up into the sky as what was left of the village burned; a tall, twisted tower illuminated by an ominous light. The sound of a motor broke the eerie silence that had descended upon the space in the night as Franky, Brook, and Robin searched for their nakama.
"What's this thing?" Franky asked, pulling the Mantis bike in front of the tower.
"Oh my… what a bone chilling sight." Brook said worriedly as the three of them gazed up at the pale faces of their friends.
~0o0~
"So it was Shiki that attacked the East Blue after all." Robin mused as they all sat in solemn silence, Chopper attending to their wounds.
"Nami must have gone with him to save us." Usopp said quietly. Everyone remained in a heavy silence, until the Shipwright spoke up.
"Hey… where's Curly Cook?" Everyone seemed startled by the question, as they began to look around only to notice that the cook was nowhere to be seen.
"He was pretty badly injured. Do you think Shiki might have taken him?" Chopper asked worriedly as Zoro stood and began to walk around the area.
"I suppose it's possible. He could have been taken to ensure Miss Navigators cooperation once on board his ship. And aside from protecting us, another big motivator of her leaving would have been to protect her home in the East Blue." Robin crossed her arms in thought.
"Oh… how horrible of me…" everyone turned at the new voice. A teary eyed Xiao stood next to her mother, who carried her grandmother.
"You are from the East Blue aren't you? I said I wished Shiki would leave for the East Blue in front of her, who could say such terrible things?" she said, voice heavy with guilt. Luffy had been oddly quiet through the whole thing until he approached the three villagers.
"I agreed! I wanted him to leave so bad, I didn't even care what he was going to do…" Xiao cried, clutching something in her hands.
"You deserve to be free though, don't you?" the three looked up at the rubber man as he spoke. He smiled at them, a huge grin that stretched across his face.
"I've never seen people as kind as you." Xiao sniffed and offered him a small smile in return.
"Hey… is that a Dial you have there?" Usopp inquired, pointing to the thing in the little girl's hands.
"Oh, this? I found it lying on the ground." She held it out to Luffy, who gently took it from her hands. The crew, minus Zoro who was looking at something on the ground nearby, gathered around their captain as he pushed the button. Nami's tearful voice greeted them.
"I'm… oh gods…" There was a pause, and sounds of sniffing; Luffy tightened his grip on the dial.
"That's Nami's voice!" Chopper said.
"She sounds so upset…" Brook commented worriedly.
They waited for the voice to continue, as there were more sounds of distress as she tried to compose herself. Zoro had moved from where he had been staring at the ground and began walking, as if following something.
"P-please forgive me… for being unable to say farewell to you all directly." The voice began, more composed, but with great struggle.
"I've decided to join Shiki's crew as their navigator. Shiki is a legendary pirate whom Luffy and you guys can't oppose." Luffy shoved the dial into Usopps hands before he turned abruptly and walked away from the group. Usopp flailed with the item for a moment before holding it out so everyone could hear the rest. There was a loud crash as Luffy unleashed his frustration on a pair of boulders. Zoro stopped walking, blinking at the ground before looking up.
"Oi…" he almost whispered, eyes going wide.
"You…" There was a sob. "You will only be wasting your life if you come after me." Another crash and a yell as another boulder was destroyed.
"Oi." A bit louder this time, as the swordsman almost stumbled forward before kneeling down on the ground.
"I'm so sorry… I couldn't stop him…" the voice whispered.
"Stop him from what?" Franky asked to no one in particular.
"That's why I'll say thi-"
"CHOPPER!" everyone was startled by Zoro's sudden shout.
"Chopper get over here, now!" the reindeer flailed from where he had been perched over Usopp's shoulder before jumping to the ground and running towards the swordsman.
"Are you okay?! What's wro-" the doctor went silent as the strong scent of blood hit his senses, and stumbled a bit at the suddenness of it, but continued on until he got close enough to see what had their swordsman so un-characteristically panicked.
Once he got close enough to see the source of Zoro's panic, he almost seemed to vanish from where he was and reappear in front of the first mate.
"He's not breathing." He said simply.
The air around them seemed to go cold as a shocked silence descended upon the group, his words heard by them all as they approached the scene. Robin put her hands over her mouth as she stopped walking and took a step back.
"Oh… that… that must be what…" Franky said, stopping by Robin's side and putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Oi oi…What's with all this blood?" Usopp whispered, shaking slightly.
"Chopper-san… is he…?" Brook approached, but still stayed a respectful distance away from where the doctor was working.
"Sanji?" no one moved as the captain appeared right next to the reindeer, his hat hiding his eyes, fists clenched at his sides. There was no response from the prone body on the ground.
"His heartbeat is there… it's really faint though. We need to get him breathing again. Robin, will you come help me?" the archaeologist shook herself and took a breath before approaching and kneeling down next to the doctor.
"Was he not breathing when you found him?" Chopper asked.
"Yea…" Zoro responded, staring at the motionless and pale face of his rival as Chopper and Robin began to work on resuscitating him, thoughts drifting.
~0o0~
The swordsman had gone to inspect the last place he remembered seeing the cook once everyone realized he was missing. Usually, he didn't find himself too worried whenever the man went missing or seemed hurt since he could take care of himself and, though he would never admit it out loud, he was incredibly strong. But considering the circumstances that led to the moment he couldn't help the worry that creeped into him when he saw the dark stains of blood on the ground. There shouldn't have been as much as there was, even with the injury he had sustained. So when he noticed drops of It leading away from the spot, he followed it. People always gave him a hard time for getting lost in the most ridiculous situations, but as he followed the trail, an unusual feeling crept over him and he doubted that he'd be able to get lost in that moment.
As the stains grew bigger and less scattered, he had eventually hit a small puddle that had not absorbed fully into the ground yet and a sense of dread filled him as his gaze followed it to its source. Which is how he found the Straw Hat's cook lying in a large puddle of his own blood as it slowly continued to ooze out of the gaping wound that slashed across his chest.
Sanji had dark circles under his eyes that added to the already horrid image of death. There was dried blood smeared across his face, the sides of his mouth, and streaks of it that ran down his chin. While Zoro had been around blood and death plenty of times, seeing one of his nakama in such a state caused him to have a sense of panic that was very foreign to him. So after he discovered the man wasn't even breathing, he did the only thing he could think of at the time; he called for their doctor.
~0o0~
The swordsman was drawn out of his thoughts by a soft wheezing sound, shortly followed by a sudden, sharp inhale that was then cut short by a harsh, wet cough. This went on for a few moments, Robin supporting his head as he fought to regain some kind of normal breathing pattern.
"Alright… good. That's good, Sanji. You're doing great." Chopper said gently as he pulled some supplies out of his medical bag.
"Let's put some pressure on this wound to slow the bleeding. I didn't bring enough supplies to perform the kind of surgery he's going to need, so all I can do for now is try and make him stable enough to move to the ship." Arms sprouted around the cook as they put pressure on the various wounds.
"He's starting to feel a bit warm." Robin commented as she dabbed at a gash on the cook's forehead. Chopper nodded and picked up his wrist to check his pulse.
"His pulse is still pretty weak. I'll need to operate as soon as possible. Did anyone find Sunny?" the reindeer asked without looking away from his patient.
"Oh, yea. It's over by the mountains over there." Luffy pointed beyond the ruins of the village into the distance.
"That's pretty far, though. Maybe an hour or so away. Would he be able to make it?" Usopp asked. The doctor remained silent as he considered their options.
"We don't have many other options, so we're gonna have to try. Franky, can you make some kind of stretcher that we could use?"
"You got it Dr. Chopper." Franky saluted.
"I'll help you get supplies." Usopp offered as he ran off with the cyborg. Their plans were cut short, however, when a sudden choking sound broke through the chatter.
"I think he's got blood in his lungs." Zoro said as they saw fresh red liquid bubbling past the cooks lips.
"Robin, tilt his head this way. Yea, just like that. That's good." The doctor instructed as he gently turned Sanji on his least injured side. The cooks body gave a shutter, an odd noise coming out of his throat, before fresh blood oozed past his lips and down his chin before dripping onto the ground. More splattered onto the ground as a violent cough racked his body, and the crews hearts clenched when he made a sound of distress.
"I don't think he has that much time, Chopper-san." Brook said sadly.
"Chopper… Is… Is he gonna die?" the question was so quiet, and laced with a kind of fear that reminded the crew just how young their captain was.
"I…He's hurt really badly, Luffy. I promise, I'll do everything I can to save him. But he needs surgery, and in order to do that we need to get him back to the ship, and right now he wouldn't survive long enough to get there, even if we used that mantis bike. The Terrain is way too rough." Chopper tried to ignore the pleading look Luffy was giving him.
"I'm trying Luffy… I promise, I'm doing my best." Chopper said, rubbing his arm across his face to wipe away the tears that sprang to his eyes.
"Nm'i….s'n…" everyone's attention zeroed in on the cooks face as he slurred out the words.
"Sanji?! Can you hear me?" the doctor asked, pushing back some of the blonde hair that fell over his eyes back.
"If you can hear me, try opening your eyes." The cook remained unresponsive after that.
"Oi, Chopper. Can he fly?" Luffy asked urgently. Chopper seemed confused for a moment before he remembered.
"Billy! We could get Billy to fly him back. That would be much faster and smoother!" the reindeer said excitedly.
"Where is he though?" Brook asked.
"Billy!" Luffy shouted at the sky, walking away from them.
"Billy! Please, we need your help!" they watched the sky for any sign of the bird.
The bird that had now seemed to become the only thing standing between Sanji and death.
~0o0~
End chapter 1
As of right now, this is the only chapter that i've updated. So keep that in mind if you are just starting this story while you read the next few chapters. I'll delete these specific notes once i update the next chapter, and add it to the end of that one, and so on. Please let me know how you think of the changes i made (if you've read the original version), or what you think of the chapter in general.
If the chapter doesn't have a title (if it still reads "Chapter X") then it hasn't been updated yet.
Until the next update:
~Cooking-ninja
