Yeah, finally back with the second chapter of this story. We got alot of positive feedback from you guys, so I guess you liked it huh? Well sorry for how long this took, would have had it done sooner but... well, you know how it is, things don't always work out like you want them too. Anyway, thanks to all those who read and reviewed, hope to keep gettting them from you and hope you review this chapter and future ones as well. Well, without any further babble, here's chapter two.

Hurt Me Physically, Break Me Emotionally,

But Love Me Eternally

By Aerie Elf and Silver Knight91

Chapter Two: Let The Games Begin

Nami sat in her cabin with tears sleeking down her cheeks as she hugged her knees to her chest. Sanji had hurt her; there was no denying that. But she hurt Sanji all the time. What good was it to be close to people if all they do is hurt one another? Nami scrubbed the tears from her cheek and lay her head face down on the pillow to scream into it in frustration. Her scream echoed more than she would have liked, but she needed to let out her anger somehow.

Hush money? What was he going on about, what did he know that he shouldn't of? Nami got more frustrated as the thoughts went through her mind. She didn't quite understand, she didn't know anything anymore. One minute Sanji is in her face with comments of love and affection, and then the next minute he is ignoring her and treating her like dirt. A number of profanities came to Nami's mind as visions of Sanji's back floated in and out of her thoughts.

Nami heard the door open and for some reason she had hoped it would be Sanji there to apologise, or comfort her…or something! She lifted her tear stricken face, sleeked in a mask of her sorrow and hurt, only to see Zolo with a look of confusion on his face. Nami let her head fall back onto the pillow with, she shouldn't have had her hopes on Sanji; now Zolo probably thought she was weak.

From the girls Nami had heard about in Zolo's past, Nami knew the last thing he would want was someone fragile, someone weak. Kuina was a better swordsman than he was back when they were young, and that was the type of girl Zolo liked. Kuina was strong, upfront, and tougher than most men. Nami herself was more of a shadow walker, as a thief she relied on other's to create diversions and protect her as she did her work. She was most likely a weakling in Zolo's eyes.

"Nami…argh…um…are you ok?" Zolo stuttered, obviously utterly confused as to what to say to a damsel in distress. Nami let herself breathe, just lay there listening to the sound of her choked back sorrow, why was she so upset? She sobbed into the pillow, and listened carefully to Zolo's uncomfortable throat clearing, and the way he struggled with his comfort. It was obvious to Nami that Zolo was the more physical type of lover, rather than the emotionally comfortable and supportive type.

"Nami, I'm sorry…but I don't know what to do…" Zolo was really struggling to get that out, Nami could tell by the stuttering mutter of a voice he used. He hated being helpless, but he wasn't them morale-support type of guy. Nami knew the one person that could help her now, only one person could help her through this.

"Get Luffy!" She half screamed into the pillow in hatred of, herself for crying in front of Zolo, of Sanji, for hating her for nothing, and of Zolo, for not knowing what to do. It was hardly Zolo's fight, but he was trying.

OoO

Nami let herself cry for the next few minutes until she heard the cabin door open again. She looked up in hopes that it was just Luffy; she didn't need Zolo to see her cry any more. Luffy was rubbing his eyes and yawning loudly, but Nami knew any minute now it was coming….

"Hiya Nami!" He half yelled in his gleeful way of being. He was really hyped up after a nap, but the minute he saw her face, he threw the gleeful entertaining captain out the window. He became some sort of loving brother figure as he sat down on the bed next to her and held out his arms.

Nami sat up as tears started streaming down her face once more, noticing that Zolo had already left as Luffy appeared. Her head automatically fell onto his shoulder making his red vest soak through to his skin almost immediately. Luffy took off his straw hat and popped it on her head and looked down at her for a little while. Luffy looked at her as though she were a puzzle he could put together given enough time. Nami didn't care, so long as he was there to protect her.

Luffy, with his wondering mind, came back into place and wrapped his arms around Nami in a brotherly way. She winced at the strength that was now around her but it made her feel safe, safer than being with Sanji or Zolo. Being with Sanji or Zolo was a battle with herself, she always seemed off guard and vulnerable with them, with Luffy she felt safe, guarded and protected by her older brother. She lifted her head up off his shoulder trying to turn off the water works; but to no avail, hopelessness and despair streaked her face and covered her skin like a mask, a mask that made her feel bare in her own skin.

OoO

"What's the matter Nami?" The tone in Luffy's voice was concerned since this was the first time he had seen Nami cry like this since the incident at Arlong Park. The tears in her eyes were stronger and more powerful than any enemy Luffy ever faced. Seeing her cry was seeing a challenge to help her and make her happy again; as any big brother would. Those tears gave Luffy strength to fight for Nami, but they posed the greatest threat as enemies; Luffy hated nothing more than seeing Nami cry.

He couldn't help but look at her like a younger sister, and Nami looked at him as an older brother. Luffy wanted to be there for her, but he needed to give her enough space to be her own person; she was not weak or frail, some people had to learn that the hard way. Zolo would learn it the hard way too, but Nami would teach him eventually.

Luffy gazed into the eyes of his younger sister; Nami. He saw the hurt she was suffering, and he knew some of the reason already. Nami hadn't told him what had happened, she hadn't told him about Zolo or Sanji; but as much as Luffy played at ignorant fool, Luffy was always watching, nothing got by him easily when it came to her. Sanji spoke to Luffy as well, so Luffy knew that end of the deal. Luffy could see it in Zolo's eyes too; that look of cunning and stealth stalking; Nami was like a fawn and Zolo was the lion watching and waiting for it's chance to pounce; Zolo was a true hunter, and Nami was his prey.

Luffy liked Zolo though, he knew Zolo meant Nami no harm. But somehow Luffy knew that Zolo was going to cause Nami some deal of hurt. It made him want to step in and seperatae them, but he could never tell Nami who she could or could not love. Love was a strong word, and Luffy didn't really think that that was what she felt for Zolo, not yet, he was more of a diversion; a subconscious diversion.

Nami chocked back ssome sobs and finally started to settle down enough to open her mouth. She looked up at Luffy first to make sure he was listening, and he kept her eyes on her intently. "Sanji… Sanji's the matter! And Zolo couldn't help much either..." She half yelled, half-spluttered in frustration. Luffy shook his head; he had seen this coming. He pat her back a little bit and then pushed her back a little so he could look into her eyes while she told him what had happened.

"Well… Start from the start and tell me what happened" Luffy said to her as brotherly as he could manage. He was wondering if Sanji was up though; he could really use some food!

Nami burst into the story, taking pauses every now and then to sniffle or sob a bit. She told it at 300 words per minute, so words ran into others to string together a sentence that only half made sense. Luffy understood her completely though, for some reason he understood the babble better than most humans talking to him.

Babble made more sense to him because when people babbled like Nami was, they expressed their true emotions. They said everything they thought, they didn't cut down what they said, or alter it to suit the person they were talking to. Everything that came out was something they felt deep down, heartfelt and meaningful. That was the sort of thing Luffy understood best; heartfelt emotions, feelings and thoughts. Anything that came from the heart made sense to Luffy.

OoO

Nami told Luffy about the incident earlier that morning. She told the story with great details until she reached the part where Zolo and her kissed. She abruptly stopped, and skipped to the part where Sanji threw her gift to him into the sea as though it was worth nothing, even after she had risked her life for it. Luffy looked at her as though he knew she had left something out of the story, and immediately Nami felt bad for trying to hide it from him.

"Luffy…Zolo and I…we…we kissed. I don't know why, but I just sort of latched onto him and I…I just…I don't even know" She cried towards the end of it. Soon she was back looking at the cabin door and hugging Luffy as tight as she possibly could while tears just seemed to fall from her eyes. Luffy kept patting her back and making soothing noises. Nami would have giggled at the noises he was making if she wasn't crying, they were very unlike him. They were similar to the noises mothers made to newborn children, and Luffy was using them on her…he really was an older brother at heart.

"Nami you sound like…like your afraid. Not afraid of Zolo, not afraid of kissing…but maybe afraid of your feelings…" Luffy said melodiously into her ear. The words he spoke were so true it were as though her heart had jumped out of her throat and told her. She had no idea how it was Luffy managed to do that, say exactly what was wrong with her before she even knew what it was, but that was what Luffy did every time she was hurt.

"So what do I do Luffy? I need your help…" Nami cried into his shoulder. Luffy seemed to hug her tighter, and he seemed as though he was lost for words. Nami was sure that if Luffy didn't know, or couldn't help her, then she was doomed to an eternity in this oblivion of terror that scared her more than any pirate ever had.

"Stop being scared Nami…Be bold, set your sights on a goal, and try with all your might to reach it. If you believe it, and you fight for it, I know that you can do it Nami" That was all Luffy said before letting her go and getting up off the bed. He walked slowly from the cabin and Nami watched in silence as he closed the cabin door behind him.

What was it she was supposed to aspire for? Did it matter? Whatever she made her goal, Luffy would be behind her all the way. He was her support system, her offense, her defense, and everything else in between. She couldn't rely on anyone as much as you could rely on Luffy, and she was glad to have him as an older brother figure. Now all she had to do was make her older brother proud. Luffy wasn't scared of anything, so Nami wasn't about to let emotions get in her way of being the same way.

OoO

Luffy waited outside the cabin door for a few minutes to make sure that Nami was no longer crying. He exhaled a breath he hadn't known he was holding. He scratched his head, he felt out of balance without his straw hat; but Nami needed it more than he did at the moment. He sometimes wondered if Nami relied on him perhaps too much; but dismissed the thought as immediately as it had arisen.

Nami would not have broken down into tears like that if she had relied on Luffy more. She would have come to him, for what Luffy assumed to be, every day with problems and woes. But Nami kept her emotions bottled up and hidden away somewhere that even she sometimes had a hard time finding them. Luffy sometimes considered the fact that she hid her emotions from herself, and protected herself from them so much that perhaps one day they would consume her, and she wouldn't be able to make heads or tails of any of them.

He chuckled at the thought and a sudden shift in the darkness before him alerted him to the presence of another. Luffy shook his head; Sanji was trying to morph into the darkness to avoid everyone, and from what Nami had told Luffy, he had a fair idea of what it was Sanji really wanted to hide. If Sanji were half as good as Nami at hiding his true feelings and emotions, he wouldn't have the problem he did. But in Luffy's mind, there was something everyone didn't know, something deeper than the "love" Sanji claimed, something more pure and truthful.

"Hiya Sanji!" Luffy squealed as though he had only just noticed Sanji and was half surprised to see him there. Sanji seemed to sink into himself at Luffy's words, and Luffy knew that once again, he would have to be the sympathetic listener so Sanji could let out some of his agony. This obviously wasn't going to be short, it was a good thing Sanji knew how to cook, otherwise Luffy would be going to bed starving.

"Heya Luffy, wadda you doin up this late? You should be restin and regainin your energy…" Sanji almost lectured him. Luffy shook his head once more, any minute now Sanji's tone was going to change, he would be talking to Luffy and spilling the beans, rather than creating idle chit chat in hopes of boring Luffy to death so that he would leave.

"Well yeah, I should. But how could I sleep with Nami crying like she was?" Luffy saw the instant shock on Sanji's face, and he could swear he saw something of hurt in his eyes as well. Sanji let himself drop to the deck as he leaned against the railing; soaking wet and clutching something wrapped in cloth. Luffy didn't need to see it glint in the moonlight to know it was the golden wok Sanji had thrown into the sea after Nami had given it to him.

"Luffy, you know, I never meant to hurt her…I don't ever want to…you've just got to believe me" Sanji almost pleaded with him wirily. Luffy believed him, but Sanji wasn't going to get anywhere with himself if Luffy acted like this attitude was ok. Luffy masked his face in a look of annoyance and dissatisfaction before folding his arms and narrowing his eyes on Sanji.

"I just have to believe you…my little sister was in there bawling her eyes out because you hurt her, and you expect me to just believe that you never meant to? I am an ignorant person, but my little sister is something I am always paying attention to, remember that" Luffy said in as stern a voice as he could manage at this point in time. What he said was true, but he knew that Sanji hadn't wanted to hurt Nami, but Luffy didn't fully understand his obligation to either.

"Look Luffy, you ever admired someone so bad you would do anything to make them happy? Anything to keep them smiling? Anything to make sure that, no matter what the consequences, they were always happy in this world that deals more cruel blows than kind ones…" Sanji trailed off in deep thought; lowering his head so Luffy couldn't see his eyes. Luffy smiled and sat beside Sanji, it was time to let on; just a little bit.

"Something tells me we both had the same person in mind when you said that" Luffy whispered quietly so that Sanji was the only one who would hear. Sanji tensed a bit, and then he just sat there with his head hung over, clutching onto the wrapped object so hard his knuckles went white. Luffy saw this as the perfect time to leave Sanji to think about what he had just said. He hadn't thought Sanji would have made it that easy, but apparently Sanji knew exactly how he felt, even though he hid it from everyone; including himself it seemed. So much for getting something to eat, Luffy thought mechanically as he walked into his own cabin and slipped into bed.

OoO

Sanji couldn't stop the tears that were flowing from his eyes. No matter what he did for Nami, he would always hurt her, and hurt himself in turn. The realization that all of his efforts to be with her had been in vain, all his efforts to stay away had been in vain, and all his efforts to make her happy weren't working as they should have… It broke him inside, almost so much as Sanji did not know if he any longer had insides.

He pulled back the cloth he had used to cover the golden wok. The wok had been a gift from Nami, she had risked her life to get it for him in some way, or so she had said. The wok was of the finest gold, trimmed with silver in the shape of dragons made from puffs of air. It was obviously stainless and a chef's dream; a valuable commodity to say the least. But even if that wok had been rusted bits of tin slapped together and flat as a board, he would have treasured it more than his own life.

Sanji had always believed that without a heart a person is not whole, and without and heart a person was worth nothing. Sanji wasn't worth any more than the scarps you found in the garbage that cats and dogs had been feasting on. His heart had been a gambling tool many a time, and often enough he had thrown it out on the table, only to get it back broken into pieces. This time the stakes had been higher, this time he hadn't gotten his heart back at all, all he had was a coupon; expired and worthless.

Sanji wiped his eyes and took the wok into the kitchen. All his efforts would have been for nothing if Nami noticed he still had it. He got out some black spray from the storeroom (lord only knew why they bought such trivial things, but Luffy insisted on each and every one). Sanji sighed at that last thought, but it made him smile after all, because for some reason everything he insisted they buy came in handy and got used.

Sanji put the wok up in a cupboard he rarely used and made sure it went right to the back. He couldn't get rid of it, but he couldn't let Nami know he still had it either. He yawned loudly and looked at the clock in his floating kitchen.

"Shit! 5am? I have to get some sleep" Sanji spat ungentlemanly. He stretched his arms out and shrugged out of his wet clothes. He wrapped a large towel around himself and darted into the men's quarters. He dressed into his nightclothes, boxers and a tiger tee, and got into his bed. He let all of his thought wash over him as he faded into a land of dreams.

OoO

Nami got dressed into her short orange skirt and blue and white striped shirt. She decided she would go without sandals for now, as she would only be walking around the ship. She stepped out of her cabin with Zolo's green bandana wrapped around her arm and went to find her swordsman.

Nami found him resting alone in a hammock with his eyes closed. She swung herself over him and landed with most of her body between his legs, her arms folded on his chest as she rested her head on them looking up at her savior. Zolo's eyes opened slightly and she smiled brightly at him. Zolo smirked an evil sort of smirk and wrapped his legs around her waist. He leaned up to her ear and his breathing quickened her heart's pace.

"How do you plan to escape me now?" He whispered devilishly into her ear. Nami only smiled at him and let herself be trapped by him. He kissed her gently and lay back in the hammock. Nami had wondered up until that point how Zolo could sleep so easily most of the day, but lying there with him, she found herself slipping into a peaceful sleep of her own.

OoO

Sanji yawned and rolled over in the covers of his bed. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes he rolled back over and had a look out the window.

"Oh Shit!" by the light of the sun, Sanji could tell he should have been up hours ago. He jumped out of bed and threw off his nightclothes. He shrugged quickly into his regular outfit and rushed out of the bedroom pulling on his coat and searching for his smokes.

Sanji didn't bother to wait to hear Luffy request for meat; he ran straight into the kitchen and locked the door behind him. He quickly dug through the freezer to find some meat, and went to the cupboard to get the ingredients for pancakes. He whipped up a batch of pancakes while he waited for his seasoned meat to cook.

Drizzling some syrup on the pancakes and grabbing the meat out of the oven with his bare hands Sanji exited the kitchen very much out of breathe and dying for a smoke. He threw the meat at Luffy like he would to any dog waiting for it's meal and rushed around giving everyone their pancakes. He came to Nami first out of habit and stood there for a moment first with jealousy that she was laying all over that stupid swordsman, and then in a daze, enthralled by how beautiful she looked while she was asleep.

"Sanji, hurry up with those pancakes!" Ussop demanded as he watched Luffy gulp down the meat. Sanji sighed and pulled himself away from the sight of Nami and went over to Ussop to give him his breakfast. He stormed off into the kitchen to make another batch of pancakes for Nami, and something for that beast Zolo.

I put myself up for this willingly, you'd think I'd be able to deal with it…

OoO

Nami woke to the smell of pancakes, but not just any pancakes though; Sanji's pancakes. She lifted her head and expected Sanji to come out of the kitchen and give her breakfast soon; the pancakes smelled more than ready. She yawned and stretched slowly taking in the scenery around her. But something didn't seem right though.

Her eyes darted to Luffy and Ussop who were sitting and eating pancakes and meat; her pancakes! Sanji had always fed her first; it was standard procedure for him. And yet it was all too clear to Nami that things had certainly changed; she sighed to herself.

I can't expect him to swoon all over me when I am sleeping on top of Zolo, can I?

Suddenly she heard the door of the kitchen open and Sanji came rushing out to give her her breakfast. Nami looked at him inquisitively; she hadn't meant to, but she couldn't help herself. Sanji seemed to read straight into her thoughts and handed her her breakfast.

"You were asleep and Ussop was real hungry, I thought you wouldn't mind" He shrugged indifferently and walked off into the kitchen. Nami couldn't have been angrier…. he had given her breakfast to Ussop! She was so frustrated she scooped up her pancake and took a large bite.

Nami found herself kicking and shaking trying to cool her mouth down while she tried to swallow the impossibly hot pancakes. Sanji stood there and watched in what Nami took for amusement. Nami tried to put her hands on her hips and narrow her eyes on him, but the food in her mouth was far too hot to let her concentrate on that. Sanji took the opportunity to disappear into the kitchen and Nami took the opportunity to go and get something to drink.

Nami walked into the kitchen and briskly walked past Sanji's back, which faced her steadily. She shook her head in annoyance and rummaged through the fridge for a drink. She found some fresh water and began sculling to her hearts content. She was suddenly interrupted by Sanji; who practically snatched the water bottle from her mouth.

"Careful princess, we are running low on rations you know" Sanji said bitterly as he put the water away and turned his back to her again. Nami's mouth dropped in shock and her hurt only fuelled her anger and her mouth.

"Well I wouldn't be in here drinking like a fish if someone hadn't made the pancakes so god damn hot!" She screeched at him angrily. Sanji turned to her with a smile playing on his lips; Nami grew fiercer.

"That's what happens when you cook food Nami, it gets hot. Next time do the smart thing and blow it" He smiled even more, grinning ear to ear. Nami couldn't resist after that.

"Blow me!" She screeched at him; it was meant to be an insult, but Sanji didn't take it that way.

"Love to babe, but I'm thinking: Ain't that Zolo's job? Or is he not as impressive in that area as you thought he might be?" Sanji nearly cracked himself up with what he had said, but Nami was ready to pummel him after that. She resisted the urge to hit him, mostly because she knew he'd beat her in a fight, and walked out of the kitchen. She got to the door and half turned; if Sanji wanted to play like that, then she was going to do the same.

"Oh Sanji, don't you worry, Zolo's doing his job. You might want to ask him for tips later" She winked at him let the game's begin and left him standing there smirking at her.

SMACK!

Or so she thought...


Well that's chapter two over and done with. Again thanks for the reviews, hope to be getting chapter three on the way and hope to hear from you all. For those of you who haven't reviewed yet...REVIEW! And to those of you who have, please continue. Well, thanks from both of us. Laters!