"Take my life!" Zoro shouted at Kuma. "Take my life instead of my captain's!"

Zoro raised his chin defiantely, looking the Shichibukai before him in the eye.

"Not a chance, marimo!" Sanji suddenly leapt out of nowhere, slamming his knee directly into Zoro's back.

"There's no way you're going to die in Luffy's stead!" Zoro, too weak to fight back, collapsed and fell to the ground, unconcious. Sanji looked up at Kuma, and accepted his fate.

Zoro woke with a start. Just next to him, he could hear Luffy's gleeful shouts as the boy bounced happily. He sat up quickly. "Where's that dumb curly-eyebrow," He grumbled, looking around. Zoro got to his feet, for the most part ignored by the rest of his crewmates, who were busy focusing on Luffy.

"Oi! Dartboard-eyebrow!" Zoro called, walking through the wreckage and rubble from their fight. He stopped at the edge of the forest, noticing the rocks were stained red with blood here.

Sanji lie on his back in the middle of the pool of fresh blood, his body splayed out spread-eagle on the rocks. Zoro knelt beside Sanji.

"Oi." He lifted his head, slapping the side of his face. Sanji stirred and gave a faint cough. "I'm taking you to Chopper." Zoro went to put his arms under Sanji to carry him. The cook gripped the collar of Zoro's shirt, his bloody face a look of rage.

"You're not carrying me anywhere." Grumbled Sanji.

"I have to take you to Chopper." Zoro said, disgruntled.

"Shut up and listen to me, damn marimo. You have to-" He coughed again and let out a gasp of pain when Zoro lifted him up.

"Put me down! Listen to me, Zoro!" He scrabbled at Zoro's collar, his grip slipping. "You have to find All-Blue. Prove to those bastards back at the Baratie..." Sanji trailed off, his hand slipping off Zoro's shoulder.

"What are you talking about?" Zoro stared at Sanji. "Oi." He patted his face again, but Sanji did not respond.

"Sanji!" His arms were still wrapped around the cook as he sunk to his knees. He clutched the sleeve of Sanji's jacket.

"SANJI!"

Nami turned her head, frowning a bit. "That was Zoro." She said. "Saying Sanji's name..." Added Usopp, throwing a concerned glance at Nami. Luffy hopped up. "Let's go!" He ran in the direction from which he heard the cry.

They were followed by Brook, Chopper, and Nami, and they found Zoro on his knees in front of Sanji's lifeless body in a state of utter anguish. Tears mingled with the blood on his face as his shoulders shook with sobs.

"S-Sanji-" Luffy stared down at him, shocked. Chopper immediately rushed over, checking for a pulse but finding not.

"He's not breathing!" Chopper said, frantically doing all he could, but to no avail.

"Oi, C-Chopper, he'll make it, right..?" Stuttered Luffy, his eyes wide. Chopper was on the verge of tears.

"He's-He's not coming back!" He howled, his tears overflowing and pouring down his furry face. Luffy collapsed on his knees, speechless and unable to fathom this event.

"Sanji..." He whispered under his breath. "SANJI!" Luffy screamed out at the top of his lungs, his tormented voice echoing across the gloomy forest. He threw his head back, crying uncontrollably.

Brook watched and listened to Luffy's cries, and looked at the anguished faces of the strawhat crew. He bowed his head gently, his bony shoulders sagging. Luffy gripped the front of Sanji's jacket despondently, still heaving with sobs.

"SANJI!" He screamed again, and threw his head back, howling wordlessly. Zoro covered his face with his hand, unable to keep from crying.

Luffy pressed his palm against his forehead, tears running down his cheeks. "I-I couldn't even keep my nakama from dying..!" He choked. "I...I am not fit to be the Pirate King..!"