AN: Okay, chapter two time! It's really, REALLY short, yes, but I'm having terrible writer's block with this story and it was all I could do without forcing myself to write. I would have combined this chapter and the next, but I don't like doing that xP So forgive me for the tinyness! I may go back later and add a thing or two, but I dunno.
As the eight Strawhats gathered around the table, the atmosphere of the galley seemed to get heavier and heavier with each breath. It was a few long minutes before anyone spoke.
"S-so what do you think is wrong with him?"
The poor sharpshooter's voice cracked at the thought of his broken captain, his best friend. One look around the room told him that his crewmates were wondering the same thing.
"Maybe he's sick…" Chopper offered.
"No, Doctor-san, I don't think that's it. Even though he did look like it, I don't think an illness is the cause of Captain-san's troubles."
The reindeer sniffed, "O-okay." He trusted Robin's judgment, she was smart.
Next is was Brook who spoke up, "Whatever is the matter must be something awful to upset someone like the captain," He turned to the swordsman, "What do you think?"
"I don't know, but I'll be damned if we don't do something. He's helped all of us, now we got to help him," Zoro said.
Seven heads nodded in solemn agreement. It was about time they repaid their debt to the raven haired man, they just wished they didn't have to do it like this. They sat there in more silence for a while before something occurred to the navigator.
"Sanji," Nami piped softly, "Since Luffy didn't…um…finish lunch, do you think you could take him some soup or something? He's got to be hungry."
It was a plausible assumption. Despite his scrawny appearance, the straw hat bearing teenager had an appetite to rival even the largest of men. Missing a single meal could be devastating to him.
Sanji, being Sanji, couldn't help but swoon.
"Oh Nami-swan is so beautiful when she's worried!" He sang. Franky, being the closest, promptly cupped the back of the blonde's head.
"Not now Sanji-bro! We don't have time for that!"
As he rubbed his bruised noggin (and ego), Sanji glared at the cyborg, "Ow! Alright, alright. I'm going. Stupid idiot making my beauties fret." No one bothered to point out how his tone betrayed his words.
Silently, he shuffled around the kitchen, gathering a simple bowl of soup and some apple juice. He would have added some meat, but after the events at lunch, it probably wouldn't be a good idea, so it was left behind.
He left the galley then, carrying the small meal with his usual graces on a tray. When he reached the door to Luffy's cabin, he kicked it gently.
"Oi, crap captain, I brought you some food."
No answer. Sanji tried again.
"Oi!"
Still no answer.
"Luffy! Damn it man, open the door already!"
With a stronger kick, the door swung open to reveal a dark room. Sanji carefully stuck his head in to look for the younger man that was supposed to be there.
"Captain? You in here shit-head?"
Disturbed by the utter silence in the normally live room, the chef entered the cabin fully, setting the glass and plate aside to turn on a light. His visible eye widened.
The room was in shambles. Luffy's pillow and blanket where thrown across the floor, tear stains clearly marring them, the random knick-knacks that had been on the shelves lay broken in their place, and in the center of it all, was the word Ace carved into the floorboards by what the blonde could only guess was a raw fingernail.
And no captain in sight.
Sanji searched the room before jumping to any assumptions, but upon finding nothing and thinking back to the shorter man's actions from earlier, jumped high. They'd only left him alone for a hour, damn it!
"Shit shit SHIT!" He swore and ran for the galley as fast as his strong legs could carry him.
Within seconds he was barreling in, frazzled and out of breath.
"Oi, Baka-brow, what's your problem?" Zoro snapped when the violent swing of the door almost knocked him over.
"S-shut up Marimo! Luffy's gone!"
AN: Ah! Cliffhanger! Sorry! Sorry!
Yeah...I don't have much practice writing Sanji. Or any of them for that matter. But I digress. There's going to be at least two more chapters of this. :D I already have three planned out a little, so it should be here soon. Unless the plot bunny that lives on my shoulder decides to randomly die again. Zombie plot bunnies don't do as good a job motivating me :T
*glares at word count* ...I hate you...