Unseen, Unheard

A Straw Hat Story

Chapter 1: A Bad Omen

Sanji's Perspective

Shitty marimo, drinking all the sake dry. Damn Luffy for munching all the food like it was his last few hours of living. Now there's hardly a thing left. Barely a few morsels to scrap together for the ladies midday snack. Bastards. They're too careless for their own good.

Popping a cigarette in my mouth, I take a good long drag, releasing the smoke building up in my lungs after a few heart beats. Watching the ashy tendrils rise up, I drop the finished cigarette and snuff out the embers with the toe of my boot. I consider lighting another one, but I remember my dwindling supplies. Almost gone, just like the food. Nami-swan hasn't been wanting to stop at any island yet. The New World has her on edge, just like the rest of us.

Sighing, I roll up the sleeves of my dress shirt. I decided to go with an old favorite; orange pinstripes and black vest. Zeff had shipped the outfit to me before Water 7. Despite most of my memories about the old man were shit, it was kinda touching to know he gave a damn. Getting packages across the Grand Line is the toughest thing. A package meant to get there in a week could ultimately take a month.

Gazing at the empty shelves of the storage, I decide my next plan of action: inform the crew we have no supplies, and get the fucking moss head and captain to fish. I'll have to apologize to the dear ladies for the inconvenience before proceeding to kick everyone else heads in. As a chef, it's a real hassle to know that you're out of food. I'm not a navigator; Nami-swan is amazing at that position. I don't have a clue how far we are from the next island but I guess we have to make do. I exit the kitchen.

It's a bright and sunny day in the New World, with the azure sea blossoming around us like petals. The wind whistles in my ears as it pushes into the sails, buffering the ship along on its quest. It's odd for the weather to be acting so calm. Maybe we are nearing an island after all. Looking around, I see Luffy resting in his usual spot, on top of the lion's head. Chopper and Usopp are playing games as Nami-swan and Robin-chwan are lounging in the sun, looing mighty adorable~! Brook is humming a melody while Franky mans the ship. The dumbass marimo is pumping away at his weights, not a care in the fucking world.

"Oi marimo!" I call out, slamming the door shut behind me.

Zoro instantly recognizes my voice and proceeds to ignore me.

"Fucker!" I growl, marching over.

I am pissed! My supplies are gone and he is acting like he never harmed a fly. Damn him! Carelessness like this can get a crew killed right in the middle of the New World! Zoro grunts in response, mumbling numbers under his breath. Like always. Foot connects with metal in a split second reaction. I'm shocked. Zoro had enough time to ditch the weight, grab his katana and unsheathe it to block a simple kick to the head. The marimo always keeps his sword sheathed when defending against my attacks. So why is now any different? I brush it off. Zoro looks at me with that single eye, a noticeable death glare being present when he sees me.

"You and the shit captain will be eating crow food tonight if you don't start fishing."

"Eh? Why!" Luffy jumps into the conversation, since he isn't very far off from our brewing fight.

I keep my foot firmly planted on the blade of the katana as Zoro and I have a stare off.

"You ate all the food," I accuse, "And you drank all the sake!"

"What's this about no food?" Nami-swan questions, pulling her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose.

"Oh it's nothing to worry about Nami-swan~!"

"No food?!" Chopper and Usopp shriek.

Brook laughs at the way they cling to each other, fear filling their eyes. They are afraid of starving. I was the fucking same. I vowed never to let anyone starve, but this is out of my hands.

"Ero-cook," Zoro reels in my attention like it is a tangible thing, pressing on his blade harder. I wonder vaguely if it is going to snap in half, "Get your facts straight before you begin accusing."

I blink, nearly in confusion before it hits me. I stop pushing on the marimo's katana.

Zoro drank booze, not sake. There's a distinct difference. Booze is a general definition for alcohol that has been distilled. Sake is fermented. Two completely opposite things that I have seemed to confuse. Why had I blamed him?

Zoro releases his sword in a powerful arc, knocking me to my ass as the blade wizzes by me. I feel a mixture of shock and embarrassment. Two years of training in Hell did no prevent me from being knocked to my ass by the shitty swordsman. But how could I confuse Zoro's preference for booze with sake? Did I just simply forget? I don't forget stuff like that. I always keep tabs on what everyone preferable tastes are. I have to know what to buy at the next island, so it's just easier to do favorite meals more often. Fuck.

I stand up, storming off to the kitchen without another word. It just fucking burns me up. I slam my fists into the table, sitting down before I can wreak havoc on my precious kitchen. What the hell happened just now? Did I fucking lose my mind? And what the hell was up with Zoro drawing his sword?

It's a bad omen, I think to myself, tracing miscellaneous circles on the table's surface. The door to the kitchen opens, but I don't turn around to greet the visitor. I don't look up until a hand touches my shoulder.

"Is something wrong Sanji-san?" Robin-chwan asks, sitting herself opposite of me.

She pushes a stray stand of hair from her eyes and gives me a friendly smile. Robin-chwan hardly does that. She just wants to get hold of the interesting facts. She believes this to be a little entertainment. But I'm confused as hell. What's going on?

"It's a bad sign." I reply.

Zeff has taught me many times to recognize bad omens when they arise. Without a doubt, this is one of those moments. Before I know it, I'll probably be burning food next.

"What do you mean? Please explain." She rests her arms on the table top, looking me straight in the eye as she waits for an answer.

"The shit cook who raised me taught me when to recognize a bad sign. To help heighten my instincts or something like that. I never fucking understood it, but I kinda do now." I crave a cigarette to light, but I resist.

I only have two of those precious stress relievers left. I have to use them at the proper time.

"What exactly indicated a bad omen?"

"I accused Zoro of drinking sake. I know he drinks booze but I fucking blamed in on him."

"I assume that's not all."

I chuckle lightly. I'm glad we picked Robin-chwan. She's an extremely intelligent woman.

"You are right."

Her lips twitch into a half smirk as she leans forward, "Let me guess," She thinks for several moments, "Zoro-san drew his sword on you."

"Bingo."

"I'm sure it's just an acquired instinct. He's changed. We all have." She points out.

"Well, it still fucking bugs me. It doesn't make any sense."

"I understand," She gets to her feet, opening the door to the kitchen. Before she leaves, she turns her graceful form towards me, "Nami wanted me to tell you we are near an island. We'll be docking soon." With that, Robin-chwan leaves.

I've never felt so alone before. There are plenty of times I can recall having some pretty shitty moments. But being alone with my thoughts and a haunting omen hanging over my head only I can see is a damn problem. A cigarette would fix that. Again, I recoil. I'll be getting more in a little while. It should be fine to smoke one. What the hell has gotten into me? I haven't changed that much, have I?

I glance at the window, feeling a cold chill creep up my spine. Momentarily the kitchen blacks out. The window producing the only light is covered by pure darkness; a figure most likely. But in an instant, the black disappears, allowing light to filter back in. I have come to the conclusion that I've lost my fucking mind. Dammit all to hell.

I pull the box from my pocket, throwing it down before fishing out my lighter. Within ten minutes, both cigarettes are used up and stomped out, leaving the kitchen smelling like smoke and my nerves on end. I'm blowing everything out of proportion. I probably blamed Zoro because he drinks up the liquid substances of our supplies on a regular bases. He drew his sword because that fucker, Mihawk, trained him too. The black figure outside the kitchen was Luffy, peeking in in hopes I wasn't here so he could steal whatever was left of our food. I need some shitty fresh air. I exit the darkness of the kitchen, stretching as though as I had slept on a hard surface.

"There you are Sanji-kun!" Nami yells, having taken her position by Franky, who is steering the ship.

"Help Brook raise the sail!" She orders.

"Hai Nami-swan~!" I get to work instantly.

By sunset the Thousand Sunny is docked at some island in the middle of the sea. It isn't a huge island, but it isn't small either; somewhere in the middle. It is clad with unique structures I've never seen before. They are like giant statues of abstract art, bringing a tone of uniqueness to the island's atmosphere. Marines seem to be absent from the island. Finally, somewhere peaceful!

I can't wait until morning to buy more cigarettes. I give a heart-felt farewell to my dear Nami-swan and Robin-chwan before setting foot on the rich soul. Trekking several hills, a prominent feature here, I encounter a town. The sun is bleeding away into the horizon. The little shops easily provide me woth an adequate number of boxes to last me awhile. I thank the kind lady for keeping her shop open for me to look around. By now night has rolled in and the streets are deserted. There's no point in trying to blindly find my way back to the ship on an island I'm not familiar with; I vote for staying the night.

I glance around, picking out a random tavern I just so happened to be near. The Numbers Inn. Whatever the fuck it means, I don't care. It is a place to sleep for a night. A pair of footsteps mimics my own when I reach the inn door. I turn, but see no one. A hot breath reaches the back of my neck, making me unleash a fury of kicks in quick section in all directions. A man grabs my leg, halting the movement like I am a simple child. Little fucker! My kicks still haven't improved. I grit my teeth, preparing to Sky Walk out of his grasp when I feel something sharp slip into my skin. My leg goes numb slowly. What the hell?!

It spreads up my ligament, traveling from toe to fingertip as my body gives out. Fuck! The thing stabs into my neck, shutting my eyes like two hands. I can't fight back. I can't even feel my own body. Dammit, I'm screwed.

I should have listened to the shit cook's words. It was a bad omen that came true. Before I know it, I am carried off, leaving the packages of cigarettes in our wake.

Zoro's Perspective

1027. 1028. 1029. I grunt with each lift, feeling my muscles strain from fatigue. I've been working out since the moment my eyes opened; at the crack of dawn. The constant repetition of numbers soon drains away until I forget the number I am on. Fuck. I guess I have to start over. 1. 2. 3. I'm surprise to say the least. Dartboard brow hasn't hounded me this morning like I had expected him to. I haven't heard a word from that love-struck idiot in a while. Heh. Wonder if he got stuck on lapdog duty for Nami. Damn witch. So manipulative. I take a deep breath, releasing the weight so it clatters to the floor. Fuck I am craving some booze; but after the cook's rant, I figure there's literally nothing left. Being broke, it isn't worth asking the shitty witch for extra to spare. I'm already knee deep in a debt that she still remembers from 2 years prior. Bitch. And to think she could be merciful and let me off the hook. We have been separated for 2 years after all.

Slipping my sleeves back on, I make my way to the kitchen. I'm not in the mood to deal with a pissed cook, but hey, a man needs to get some breakfast. I try to hold back a yawn as I slam the kitchen door open. I first expect scowling for being so careless in his kitchen. But I hear nothing. There is no lingering scent of cigarette smoke. He hasn't been here all night. Bastard. He's probably mopping around back in the boy's room. It feels kind of weird, being in the kitchen without him. I dunno. Just doesn't feel right I guess.

An omen of sorts almost. I've never fucking believed in omens, but they're there, trying to warn you to something bigger. Maybe this is one of those times it'll occur. Something catches my eye on the surface of the usually spotless kitchen table. Snatching it up, I examine it. It is a crushed cigarette box. I narrow my eye. Sanji never crushes his boxes when they are empty. Tossing it away, I look out the window. Something is fucking wrong. I piece it all together, processing the information slowly. He must have run out of cigarettes last night and went to the town. But someone other than Sanji crushed his box for some reason. This could possibly by the omen I was thinking about. Ah, fuck it, I've just lost it.

Scratching the back of my head, I leave the kitchen. I feel tense half expecting a foot to be coming my direction. It's almost lonely knowing the fucking cook is gone. Listen to me. Damn. I have changed in 2 years. I need a few bottles of booze big time. Help all of those stupid thoughts to be flushed away. Finding the town will be a pain in the ass. But it might be worth it if I can get lost near a bar.

The rest of the crew is bustling away, preparing for the trip into the town. Robin is flipping away at books, scary glare intact as she looks for relative information. Nami is directing Franky to stay on the ship and keep it safe. Something along the lines of a storm coming in. Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper have resorted to chanting random shit, with Brook making a song about it. Maybe I can get one of them to help me to a bar. Seeing the sing-a-long turned horribly wrong, I try not to get my hopes up. There's no way in hell I'd be going with that witch and her bitchy attitude. With no shit cook, that leaves me with Robin. Fuck. I think I'd rather get lost.

"Alright, listen up!" Nami calls out, clapping her hands. Silence greets her. She blinks, almost in surprise, "Where's Sanji-kun?" Everyone gives a half ass shrug, not particularly worried. I mean it is the Ero-cook after all. The only thing that can vanquish him is a pair of boobs. He wouldn't go down easily.

"This place is called the Number Isles. There's only one town, so all of us will go together. I assume Sanji-kun got a jump start on it early this morning, so we get to shop to our hearts content!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper groan with disapproval.

"I wanna check out those first!" Luffy points to the metal looking shit sticking out of the ground, trying to make his voice whiny.

In the end, Luffy is getting over to the fucking twigs one way or another.

Nami sighs her own tone of disappoint, but doesn't argue, "Only for a minute." She resigns, shaking her head in disapproval. They all cheer, raising their fists up in the air before abandoning the ship in excitement.

Luffy nearly misses the dock completely and went for a swim, but he reacts very quickly by grabbing the dock and launches himself inland. Brook and Robin follow shortly after. The witch marches over to me, snatching my wrist like a cobra. She proceeds to drag me behind her as though as I am a helpless child. What the fuck?

"I can walk." I point out, unable to wrench myself from her claws.

"You will get lost. We will spend days looking for your ass so just deal with it." She snaps harshly. Geez. Bitchy Witchy is on her period.

I resort to having the witch drag me after our captain until we reach our desired destination. I then yank my arm from her grasp and look at the fucking thing Luffy has been so interested in.

"It's a 'C'! For Chopper!" Chopper notices, a childish grin plastered on his face.

"You're famous too Chopper-san?" Brook inquires.

It is indeed a huge fucking 'C'; a gleaming slate color that protrudes from the ground in a high swoop. The surrounding area has been removed of all wild life, leaving the landscape here bare and dry in comparison to what we first saw when we docked. There are several other structures that rise up from the ground, but none of them form an obvious letter.

"Interesting," Robin runs her fingers along the surface," The book didn't mention anything about architecture."

Why would you want to write a book about metal things sticking out of the ground? Seems kind of pointless to me. But whatever the fuck makes people happy I guess. Kicking the metal, I listen to hollow insides rattle.

"Time to go!" Nami orders, once again latching on to me like a leash.

Luffy makes a few whines but they fall deaf on ears as the Bitchy Witchy takes off with me in tow to the next stop: the town. Maybe we'll run into the shit cook and I can rub it in his face that I suddenly became the Bitchy Witchy's center of attention. Heh. Has a nice ring to it. Bitchy Witchy. I can imagine his face, smoldering with anger. I would be ready to block that first kick which is always aimed for my head. It's always fun, pushing one another's buttons just to see the other get upset. I don't know why, but yesterday was a bit different. I've never successfully managed to knock the agile cook to his ass. For some reason, he let his guard down. Under normal circumstances, he never does that. Maybe something is wrong. The bastard never lets anyone know if he's hurt or not, so it's a distinct possibility. For once can't we have a shitty break? Why do problems always find their way to us? It's a fucking pain in the ass. And Luffy always wants to be a part of it.

"This place is kinda cute." Nami ejects me from my thoughts with that ridiculous statement.

Bitchy Witchy and her sense of style…

It is more of a modern style that takes the appearance of a bustling city instead of a meager town. Buildings rise up around us like those metal spire things did. The ground under our feet is straight rows of cobble. I pity the poor bastard that got stuck doing this work. Shops line the place rather nicely. The place looks nice. Not fucking cute. Seemingly unaffected by the true powers of the New World. I notice a shop just up ahead with a few sets of cigarettes perched in the window. Was the shitty cook there? No. Something tells me otherwise. Continuing at the same pace as Bitchy Witchy, I note the inn we are rapidly approaching. The Numbers Inn. Ah, I get it. Because it's the Number Isles. I stop dead in my tracks. Resting on the ground was a bag, its contents spilled for the world to see. Cigarettes. The identical kind to the box I found in the kitchen. No cook was fawning over a woman nearby and no one was claiming the items.

"Eh? What's this?" Nami, completely oblivious, runs into the package. Chopper lifts up a box between his hooves.

"Hey, they are Sanji's!" He sniffs, "Smells like him too."

"I hope he's not kidnapped." Robin states in that creepy ass tone of hers.

"Robin!" Usopp shrieks, causing Brook to release a symphony of 'Yohoho'.

"Sanji dropped his cigarettes? That littering!" Luffy exclaims, completely missing the point.

"Luffy…" Usopp tries to explain, but is cut off by our dear captain.

"Yosh! We will get onto him after food!" He declares, heading for the entrance to the Numbers Inn.

The instant he is a mere inches away, the door bursts open, successfully slamming the rubber man into the tavern wall. A man spills out into the streets, terror guiding his every step. I put a hand on my katana. Other people flee the inn as the man is just getting over the shock of something.

"What's wrong?" Chopper is at his side, easing the man to the ground before he has a sudden heart attack.

The man spews out sentences that make no fucking sense. It takes him awhile to calm down and talk in English.

"A boy stumbled in, bloody beyond belief! He was tall and blond." He rattles off.

"With a swirly eyebrow?" Robin asks, looking at the inn with a questioning gaze.

"Aye. The very same. They got him, that's for sure!" Before the man can elaborate, he gets up and runs off. You know for an old man, he can run fucking fast. We aren't getting anymore answers from him.

Luffy and Chopper charge into the inn; the rest of us follow. The usual morning chatter is dead. The silence is instantly broken the moment we set foot inside. It's rather dimly lit, but the light bounces of the lacquer surfaces providing an adequate amount of light. Still there is a noticeable transition from outside to inside.

The shitty cook is sprawled out on the ground, giving a new meaning to bloody beyond belief. That damn precious shirt of his, a gift from Zeff, is ripped open, revealing rows of deep cuts that are continually welling with blood. It is blossoming across the pale Ero-cook's skin, drenching what is left of his shirt. He is going to be pissed for sure. A bruise defines his jaw with a dark black discoloration that spread down his neck. His legs are twisted in odd directions. Both of them are broke, a clean cut severing the bones from one another. Damn. Looks painful. Right at the base of the cook's throat is the engraving 'marked' which is still bleeding despite the minimal damage. The bastard that did this is going to pay. Now we can't fucking fight! What am I going to do all day besides sleeping? Play with Luffy? I'd rather fall off the boat!

There is a pause in everyone's movements when they see Sanji. I even see Robin falter. The Bitchy Witchy is trembling in her high heels, eyes wider than Chopper at the sight of her lap dog being put down. Why am I feeling sick at this point? Because it's your nakama dumbass, a voice tells me. Forget what that fucker Mihawk taught you and care!

"Sanji!" Luffy practically shouts, shattering the relatively quiet atmosphere around us. The shitty cook's head lolls to the side but he doesn't make any attempt to move other than that.

"Someone call a doctor!" Chopper squeaks, running around in circles like it is the most helpful thing to do.

I kneel beside the cook, trying to hide a smirk. If it had been me, I could have beaten up the fucker first. I am still a bit stronger than him.

"You're the doctor here." I point out, surprising myself on how nice I sound. Fuck have I gone soft or something?

"Oh, right!" Chopper suddenly recalls, rushing to the cook's aid while the others stand transfixed. Well except Luffy. The bastard nonchalantly strides over, taking Sanji by the shoulders and proceeds to shake the beat-up cook.

"Oi, oi Sanji wake up I'm hungry." Didn't he get it?! Nami smacks the back of Luffy's head to stop him before Chopper could.

"Idiot." She mutters darkly.

"I hope he's not dead." Robin says, going back to scary ass mode. It is effective in the lighting. It has Usopp trembling.

"R-Robin…" He stutters, looking like he is going to piss himself just cause of her ominous voice.

"Is Cook-san alright?" Brook asks, showing general concern.

"I don't know!" Chopper snaps, taking his doctoring roll seriously.

"If he dies, we can tell skull jokes together!" Brook jokes. So much for concern.

Do they not realize this could be serious? Oh wait…I see why. Whenever the shit cook is hurt, he's always alright. Why should now be any different? They are just repeating familiar steps that we did 2 years ago. But what if this time is different? What is the love-struck idiot is fucking hurt bad? From the looks, he is. Chopper's little hooves are shaking harder than Usopp's entire body.

Not a good sign.

More like a bad omen.

"We have to get him back to the ship, stat." He speaks slowly, deliberately to keep his voice from shaking like the rest of him.

I never thought I would be carrying the shit cook, ever, but that's what happened. I put all of my will in focusing on the crewmates in front of me to keep from getting lost. The irresponsive cook is dangling from my arms, looking nothing more than a pale bag of bones. The blood gets on my shirt, but I don't give a damn. Sanji needs help, and dammit, I am going to get him some. For the first time in my life, I don't get lost. This is a bad omen or what?

There is actually a distinct different between booze and sake that I had no idea about. Guess we learn something new every day. Please review! You get a virtual triple chocolate caramel cookie if you do~

-Soul Spirit-