Disclaimer: I do not own One-Piece or the original One-piece characters
Dedication: This story is for Meg Lynch, the inspiration for my main character
Pairings: Sanji/ OC
Summary: When a shooting star brings sarcastic and independent Kree to the Straw Hat crew, things begin to change on the Going Merry. With only the tattoo on her shoulder being the clue as to where she has come from, her tight lips and guarded secrets bring no help. Questions are raised in the crew. Who is Kree? What is she? Where did she come from? What does she want? When the secrets unfold, a myth becomes truth and a whole new problem and a new adventure comes to life.
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Chapter 2: Broken
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The Going Merry reached the spot Nami believed to be the sight of the crash, but nothing was there. Searching the water, there was no sign anything had fallen into the sea at this particular spot.
"Maybe if we keep searching, we will find something," Robin said as the Merry drifted with the currents.
Nami sighed, shrugging her shoulders in defeat. Sanji just leaned against the rail and watched the cold sea as they moved slowly through it. The happiness that had earlier permeated the air gave way to the tension and disappointment, soon after, it was just quiet. Zoro's snores filled the dock as Luffy's small wheezing snores followed in time. Even Sanji, jealous of the close relationship the men had, had a small smile as he watched the couple sleeping in each other's arms.
"Are you alright, cook-san?" Robin asked, leaning on the rail beside him. "You seem sad looking at captain-san with swordsman-san."
"No, I'm fine Robin-chan," he smiled gently. "Would you care for anything to drink, maybe a snack?"
"I think everyone would benefit from some of your food and the coffee," she agreed. "It has been quite a night."
Sanji just nodded and moved to the galley. When he opened the door, the mess that greeted him made him close the door to pretend it was a dream. The kitchen looked as if it had been hit with a tornado. Knives and food were everywhere. It would take quite a while to clean it by himself, and he refused to ask for help.
"Sanji, everything alright, you have that look you get when Luffy makes a mess of the kitchen," she said.
"It was just the storm, I will get the kitchen cleaned up and have coffee and snacks ready very soon Nami-san," he smiled and opened the door to get started.
"Why don't I help you, cook-san," Robin offered. "The job will be done much faster with a few extra pairs of hands."
"Generous as always my dear Robin-chan, but I could never…"
"Just say thank you and hand me a cloth," she smiled, cutting him off from his refusal. Sanji looked beaten down, feeling only slightly better than he looked. He just nodded and led the way into the kitchen where the two silently got to work. After an hour, the kitchen was spotless and Sanji had a tray of sandwiches and fresh coffee set out of the deck for the crew to eat.
"Thank you Sanji," Nami smiled taking a bite of her sandwich. Sanji grinned at the thank you from the beautiful Nami-san and nibbled at his own sandwich as he looked out over the sea again. The Merry had entered what seemed to be the sight of a ship wreck, old bits of timber and parts floating in the ocean, gently bumping against the thick sides of their ship. When they reached the center of the wreck, Sanji's eyes widened.
"Usopp! Get Chopper!" He cried as he stripped off his jacket.
"Sanji, is everything…" Nami was unable to finish her question as the blond cook jumped into the water. The splash woke Luffy up, making the captain rush to the sound to see if his crew was alright.
The deck was silent as Sanji swam. Three pairs of eyes followed the cook's path and saw what had made him cry out.
A girl lay stranded across the broken mast of the wrecked ship. Sanji pulled her onto his back and swam back to the Merry. What felt like was hours was only a mere five minutes when Sanji finally hauled the girl onto the deck.
The girl was beautiful by anyone's standards. Long black hair stuck to her face, carrying a gentle wave, even soaked as it was. She was tall with perfect curves. Her black tunic was ripped in multiple places, only the water keeping the shreds of fabric from falling away from her marred skin. Her dark jeans fared little better than her shirt, but at least they would hold. Her feet were bare and caked in blood. Sanji couldn't take his eyes off her, she was beautiful. Her pale skin glowed in the moonlight making her look like some ethereal being, contrasting to the dark red cuts littering her torso and legs.
"Doctor!" Chopper cried when he saw her. "We need a doctor! Doctor! Help!"
Sanji ignored the reindeer, leaving the job of calming the doctor to the others, and tiled the girl's head up before lightly pressing on her chest. CPR was a crucial thing you had to learn when you worked in the middle of the ocean. Too many stupid customers fell into the ocean and it was the waiter's job to help them when no one else did, that included Sanji.
After two minutes of performing CPR, Sanji grew worried. Was she already lost to them? Sanji continued to try anyway. The crew seemed to hold their breath as they watched Sanji try to press the water from lungs. After too long, violent coughing filled the ship and Sanji was helping the girl to roll over. She hacked up what felt like gallons of water before she could breathe properly. Nami quickly curled a towel over her shivering shoulders.
"Are you okay?" the navigator asked gently. The girl looked up, her eyes darting around frantically.
"Who are you?" she demanded. "Where am I?"
"Hey, it's okay," Robin whispered gently. "Cook-san just pulled you out of the water. Do you remember what happened?"
The girl just pulled the towel farther around her shoulders, reveling in the feeling of safety she felt with the large black cloth covering her body.
"I…I…" she began. Her voice was quiet as she stuttered out a reply. "Don't remember."
Robin could tell the girl was lying, but wrote it off as fear. Whatever she was running from would not get her here.
"Do you have a name?" Nami asked gently.
"K…Kree," she replied, shivering in the cool night air.
"Kree, you look like you've been through some hard fighting recently," Nami smiled gently. "If you are okay with it, Chopper would like to check your cuts."
The girl just nodded and stood, but her feet collapsed beneath her, unable to hold her weight. Sanji was able to catch her before she hit the ground, but when she was back on her feet, she pushed him away and snarled.
"I can stand by myself," she snapped protectively take light steps. Sanji just stepped back and watched her walk carefully until Chopper's sharp glare made her stop.
"You will hurt yourself more," he told her firmly. "Sanji will help you to the infirmary."
"He lays one hand on me…"
"How about my help," Robin cut her off. "You need some no matter who helps you."
"I can walk on my own," Kree grumbled, each step stronger than the last.
::Eternity::
The crew had all fallen asleep soon after Kree and Chopper had retreated to the infirmary. Sanji, despite the late night, was up at the same time as every other morning to make breakfast. Once everyone else had been served, Sanji picked up the two plates he had set aside and left the kitchen. When he entered the infirmary, Chopper greeted him with a sleepy smile and gratefully took the plate the cook offered.
"You can wake her up if you want," Chopper said as Sanji placed her portion beside the bed.
"How are the scratches?" Sanji inquired looking at all the bandages showing through the clothes Nami had lent her the night before.
"They were deep, but the salt helped clean them and if they stay clean and heal properly, she won't even have scars." Chopper grinned.
"You are a truly amazing doctor Chopper," Sanji said setting a hand on her shoulder.
"That doesn't make me happy you bastard!" Chopper wiggled happily.
"Huh?" a sleepy groan sounded as Kree rolled over. "Waz goin'on?"
"I was just about to wake you," Sanji said. He started to go into full doting mode when he caught her eyes. The stormy blue-gray was a rare sight, and just seemed to catch you in their depths. They reminded Sanji of a stormy sea, more gray the blue, yet captivating. "Are you hungry?"
"No," she mumbled, but her stomach disagreed. At the first mention of food, her stomach growled loudly.
"I'll just leave it here, when Chopper says you are okay to leave, you are welcome on the deck. Luffy can't wait to meet you."
"He already has," she muttered.
"You haven't met him though, there is a difference," Sanji chuckled as she pulled the plate forward. Sanji left before she started to eat, giving her more space to enjoy the food comfortably.
"Thank you," she said. Chopper saw the blond smile gently at the girl. She was so quiet as she stared at the food.
"Aren't you hungry?' Chopper asked her.
"Yeah, of course," she nodded and began nibbling at the food. With how skinny she looked, Chopper worried she may have been a prisoner somewhere.
Kree was only able to eat half the food before she was full, offering the rest to Chopper before curling back up to sleep.
"Kree-chan, are you still tired?" he asked gently, sitting in the chair beside her bed.
She just nodded as her mind began to drift.
"Should I leave you alone?" Chopper wondered.
"Don't matter," she mumbled.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" Chopper asked. She shook her head slowly, closing her eyes.
Chopper stared at the girl and wondered where she had been that made her feel like this. HE would have to talk to Sanji soon so he could warn the cook about her light diet.
"Oh, Chopper, is something wrong?" Sanji asked when the little doctor walked into the kitchen.
"I'm worried," he said.
"About Kree-chan? She looks strong and you are a good doctor. You'll set her right."
"Shut up bastard!" Chopper giggled happily. "That doesn't make me happy."
Sanji just smiled at the reindeer, waiting for the doctor to voice his opinions.
"Sanji-san?" Chopper finally asked.
"Yes Chopper?"
"Can you make smaller portions for Kree-chan? She couldn't finish breakfast."
"Of course, we'll work her up to a full meal." Sanji promised.
"Sanji-san?"
Sanji turned to look at the reindeer, and saw just how worried the doctor truly was.
"What are you worried about?"
"She's broken," Chopper said.
Sanji nodded remembering the look on the girl's face. The storm in her eyes raged strong, hiding what was plain to anyone that looked close enough. Something in her past was making her give up. Sanji had seen it before, not often, but enough, overwhelming depression that sent too many over the edge.
"Just watch her Chopper, once she gets used to us, she'll be fine," Sanji said, hiding his lies with a gentle smile. He would let the little doctor do what he could with the injuries he knew, and he would watch over her mental stability until she decided to leave them for good.
::END CHAPTER 2::
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