Sanji had been thrilled at first to receive a letter bearing the return address of the Baratie. It had been a while since he'd parted ways with the shitty geezer and neither of them had written.

It wouldn't be necessary for them to exchange letters. They both knew what the other would say...the caring worry and pride beyond the harsh words. Best to avoid such an obviously foolish and embarrassing display if they could.

Still...a thrill went through the chef as he peeled the letter open and began to read news of home, suddenly longing for the old bastards voice even if it was through lines in the paper.

A cold sickening disappointment filled him as he came to quickly realize it was Carnes scrawl he was reading. The boss was sick. It looked bad. To please come back.

The letter didn't say 'to say good-bye' but it oozed off the page now and Sanji almost called himself a fool for not senseing the aura of depression seeping off the note.

Zeff was undoubtedly dying. Zeff himself hadn't written. Hadn't added a post script to the note or a signaling drop of soup to even hint he had been involved in the letter.

In fact the letter smacked of any thing but. It had to have been mailed secretly, Sanji decided. That meant it was even worse than what he was saying.

Shit.

For the first time since leaving with his hungry captain to persue his dream Sanji wanted to go back. NEEDED to go back. See that shitty hero one more time.

But it was probably too late.

And even if it wasn't, if the last thing the man saw was Sanji next to his bedside without the telltale smile of finding All Blue, he would surely just die with frustrated disappointment on his lips.

Fuck no, he wasn't going to do that to the person who man him into the man he was today. He deserved satisfaction that his eggplant was now a man...a man who could sacrifice his own childish desires for one last hug for something bigger.

He had to find All Blue. There would be no other honor fitting for the old man.

Sanji tossed the letter in the waste bin. If anyone asked later he'd just have to respond it was misaddressed piece of junk mail. That's what it was after all, Zeff had probably laid down the law no one try to contact him.

The letter wasn't supposed to exist. It was a letter not meant to reach him.

He was still glad the assholes at Baratie didn't get soft with the boss without him.

Thanks Carne. I'll leave Zeff in your hands for now. I hold his dreams in mine.