I changed the name, because I didn't really like it anymore. :P I change my mind a lot so yeah. You'll be seeing these things a lot. For those who have just started reading, this fic used to be called 'Kill Me, Please'. Now it's called 'What One Deserves'. Hopefully you won't be confused. Enjoy!
Commencing: Fanfiction: What One Deserves: Chapter 3
Chapter 3
"So, Sanji's possessed by a demon?" Nami frowned. "And now he has amnesia?"
The Straw Hats were sitting in the dining room of the Going Merry; Zoro's last words of the story just leaving his mouth. Robin was still in the infirmary, Sanji accompanying her. Luffy said that he was to stay with Sanji, to watch for any other change and to make sure Robin rested well while Chopper listened to Zoro.
"Gist of it." Zoro nodded.
"That... sounds like something from a messed up fairy tale or something…" Usopp shuddered.
"Like the ones in the fairy tale book Robin has?" Chopper asked.
"Yeah…" Usopp shuddered. Those were some creepy stories.
"Are you sure?" Nami said. "It's not like Sanji… at all."
"It's not Sanji!" Zoro was close to exploding now. "It's that damn Arsepisan!"
Usopp burst out laughing. "Arse? Arse-pisan?"
"Nickname."
"Oh. 'Kay."
"And this demon is weakened by the sun?" Nami said.
"Yeah." Zoro said. "Like a vampire."
"Maybe we could strap him in," Usopp suggested. "You know, with some leather belts and buckles…"
"And you think Sanji would still not suspect us?" Zoro cocked an eyebrow. "Oh, hi Ero-cook! We're just going to FREAKING STRAP YOU IN YOUR BED UNTIL MORNING, so don't suspect us, alright?"
Nami burst out laughing, and Usopp glared at her. "Sorry, but…" She shook her head to clear it. "Right," she said. "We're arriving at an island in about two hours. Maybe we can ask around for a way to exorcise the demon."
"What demon?" Sanji pushed open the door. Judging from his expression, he had only just arrived to hear Nami's last words.
The four drew a deep breath simultaneously, all of them calculating how to explain this to the amnesic cook.
Sanji sighed. "Nami-swan, may you excuse Marimo and I for a moment?"
Nami blinked. "Oh. Sure, yeah." She flashed a smile at Zoro that said you go explain.
"Damn woman." Zoro muttered, but he strode out after Sanji.
"Alright, tell the truth." Sanji led Zoro to the Going Merry's deck, where the cook propped himself against the railing and took a whiff of his cigarette.
Zoro decided to act dumb. "Uh, what do you mean?"
Sanji rolled his eyes and stared at Zoro. Zoro thought he saw a tinge of red in the cook's irises, but the color vanished almost immediately.
"I attacked Robin-chwan, didn't I?"
"…." Zoro didn't know what to say. "How did you…"
"Logic, duh." Sanji bit his lip. "I've seen victims of that old geezer's kicks, and mine. The ribs are broken at a specific angle." His eyes bore into Zoro's. "So tell me, Marimo. Robin-chwan's ribs are broken in the exact same way. She's bleeding, and the soles of my shoes are stained with dried blood."
Zoro sighed. The cook was smarter than he had thought. "Yeah… So… Do you remember anything?"
Sanji cocked his head. "Yes. I remember going to sleep, then waking up and checking to see what was the commotion outside. I found Robin-chwan in Chopper's arms, and you told me Robin-chwan fell down the stairs." He took another swig of his cigarette. "She didn't. I know that. There was blood on the deck. A lot of it, and Luffy was looking a bit battered."
Zoro frowned for a bit. Looks like that demon created a false memory. Then he'd just have to go with it. "Fine," he muttered, trying to put in a tone of surrender. "We had a night attack."
"What?" Sanji's eyebrows shot up.
"Marines. They were after Robin. Didn't have enough time to wake all of you up. Robin was on watch, and Chopper and Luffy wanted a midnight snack. Those two idiots woke me up while going to the kitchen and we met Robin. The marines attacked and yeah."
"And so why didn't you tell me?" Sanji demanded.
"Because then you would've freaking gone to Marine-ford and killed yourself!" Zoro shot back.
"Whatever." Sanji walked away. "Thanks, anyway." He closed the kitchen door and Zoro headed to the infirmary to discuss with Luffy.
Sanji sat on the counter of the kitchen, smoking his second cigarette. "God, he's even worse at lying than Luffy." He glanced sideways, out of the kitchen window. "Hn?"
There was a seagull, flapping its wings towards the mast of the Going Merry. The orange-billed bird squawked happily as it caught sight of the cook, changing direction immediately and flapping towards the kitchen window.
"What's that?" Sanji spotted something hanging from the seagull's claws. It looked strangely familiar…
The seagull dropped the object onto the windowsill and flew away, cawing happily that its mission was completed. It joined the flock that was flying above the Going Merry, and together, the gulls flew to god knows where.
"This…" Sanji stared at the object. "Is a dream catcher?" He stumbled back and coughed, felt himself slip away. "Demon?" Everything clicked into place.
It was horrible. There were cold tendrils of numbness pushing at his mind, piercing every thing that was Sanji, and the world was spinning. Everything went dark, except for one thing. The image pulsed in Sanji's mind, and he was unable to look away from the picture of him smashing his foot into Robin-chwan.
The Sanji in the picture was unnatural, with black veins, black lips, glinting fangs and red eyes. He slammed Robin into the railing, attacking her mercilessly, and Sanji wanted to kill himself. The Sanji in the picture, no, in the movie laughed, turning around to face Luffy who had confronted him. He slammed a kick into the boy, taking advantage of the captain's inability to hurt his crewmates, and returned to the assault on Robin.
Is this what I am? A monster?
There was a small voice in the back of his head, reassuring that this was all an illusion.
Everything is all right. It's just an illusion. Let yourself relax.
Sanji let the voice pull him away from the dreaded image, too willing to let the movie fade from his mind. He felt so much better when he was floating around in darkness. Nothing to worry about… Nothing to burden him… Black tendrils wrapped around his body, and Sanji didn't fight as the darkness consumed him.
Sanji went away, and the black veins spread. He opened his eyes and they glowed red. The Arpisan studied the Spirit Weaver. "How the…" He shook his head. "Blasted thing is hard to destroy, eh?" He grabbed the object by its pedestal, careful not to touch the webbing. "Guess I really can't get rid of it by chucking it into the ocean." Sanji opened the fridge, which he kept all of the ladies' ingredients for their food and placed the Spirit Weaver in the most inside of the fridge. "That should do it."
The veins receded and Sanji blinked. "What was I doing here again?" He looked at the fridge. "Ah, Nami-swan and Robin-chwan's afternoon snack!" Seeming to have forgotten completely about the previous ordeal, the cook cut and blended tropical fruits together, and carried the rainbow colored drinks out of the door to present to the ladies.
He didn't even notice the figure standing behind the open kitchen door.
Luffy stole into the room. He opened the fridge Sanji had just closed and took out the Spirit Weaver. The captain studied it for a long time, before placing it under his Straw Hat. He was about to close the fridge door, then stopped, gazing longingly at the variety of sweets and fruit stored in the fridge. Then Luffy snatched a bar of chocolate from the fridge, popped it in his mouth, closed the door and scurried out of the kitchen before Sanji returned.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Nami asked Robin as they approached the theater, followed by the rest of the Straw Hats. "I mean, you, Luffy and Zoro are wanted pirates… Won't this just lead to havoc when the audience realizes there are pirates among them?"
"I don't think they'll mind," Robin smiled, giving off that creepy aura that made Nami want to edge away from the archaeologist. "Besides, this island's band is one of the most well known in the Grand Line."
Nami sighed. "I guess we do need some music apart from Luffy's horrible singing." She shuddered and glanced at Robin's bandage wrapped body. "Hey, are you really alright, Robin?"
"I'm fine." Robin said. "Cook-san didn't hit me that hard."
"Robin-chwaaaaaaaan! Nami-swaaaaaaaan!~" Sanji noodle-danced in front of the navigator and the archaeologist. "God bless me for going to a concert with such beauuuutiful ladies!"
"Come on, Sanji. There's no need to act overboard." Nami flashed Sanji a smile.
"Yes, Naaaami-swaaan!" Sanji nearly melted into a Mellorine puddle of happiness.
"Such behavior is not fitting for you, Navigator-san." Robin giggled slightly.
"Yeah, but he needs encouragement." Nami said as she stepped over the trembling (with happiness) Sanji. "Since his memory has been rewritten by the Arse-pisan."
"My, Navigator-san." Robin said. "Even you?"
"Zoro didn't bother giving us the proper name." Nami shrugged. "Arse-pisan is rather catchy too, though."
"Naaaaamiiii…." Luffy trailed behind the two women. "Do I haaave to go?"
"Yes, Luffy!" Nami snapped as she handed their tickets to the attendant. "Listen and maybe you could do something about that singing of yours!"
The attendant swung the door open and gestured towards it, bowing as the Straw Hats entered the theater.
"Aaah!~" Nami sighed happily as the enchanting music filled the huge theater. "They really are the best!"
"Indeed." Robin nodded. " 'Shockwave' and 'Aftershock' are rather fitting names for the songs." She glanced at the other Straw Hats and smiled.
Zoro had fallen asleep at once, sinking into the red velvet chairs and snoring. His snores were conspicuous amongst the music, receiving glares from other audience members. Did the swordsman care? Like hell.
"Whheeeeeee!" Luffy was even more embarrassing than Zoro, bouncing up and down on the chairs. The springs in the chair and the captain's rubbery skin made the boy bounce higher than what would've been possible.
"Stop it!" A woman hissed at the captain. "It's disrupting the concert!"
"But it's funn!" Luffy whined back, not bothering to lower his voice.
Usopp face-palmed. "I don't know him." He whispered to the glaring audience.
"I'm bored." Chopper said. "Usopp, can you tell me a story?"
"Alright! How about that time when I singlehandedly defeated the vampire bandits of Coca Village?"
"Yay!"
Zoro cracked an eye open. He frowned when his eye drifted over the seats. That damn cook's seat was empty. Call Zoro suspicious, but the swordsman immediately leapt to the conclusion. He looked up and saw the cook disappear into the boy's bathroom, and Zoro stood up, following.
Sanji was leaning over the sink, gagging and rinsing his mouth with water.
"Hey, shitty dartboard." Zoro approached the cook cautiously, his hand on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji. "Are you okay?"
Sanji glanced up at Zoro, his irises turning red. "R… run…." The cook croaked. "B…before I…"
Zoro backed away as Sanji clutched at his chest. The cook doubled over in pain, and for a moment Zoro thought Sanji would force the Arse-pisan out of his body, but no such luck. A foot rammed into Zoro's side and he was flying out of the bathroom, slamming into the empty theater seats.
"Zoro?" Luffy sprang up, the audience already entering 'angry stampede' mode. "What the-?"
"He's back!" Zoro got up with much difficulty. The damn Arse-pisan must've increased Sanji's strength. "The Arse-pisan!"
"What?" All of the Straw Hats were on their feet in an instance.
Chopper looked around. "And the demon picked such a public place to resurface!"
The theater was already half empty, most of the audience frightened off by Zoro's violent entrance.
"What are you staying here for?" Zoro shot a glare at them. "It's dangerous! Get out!"
The rest of the people, frightened and screaming, stumbled over each other as they rushed to the exit, determined to get away from the swordsman who seemed like the main threat.
Sanji walked slowly, ambling towards the door of the bathroom. He lit another cigarette, and stopped a few paces in front of the Straw Hats. The cook smirked and held out his clenched hand. It loosened and the stub of a cigarette fell to the ground. Black veins spread across Sanji's face, staining his lips black, and fangs poked out from the pitch black lips.
"Let's send off the real 'Shockwave', shall we?" Sanji smiled, his irises glowing red.
They came at him at once, Luffy and Zoro aiming for the head and the rest attacking the cook's lower body, doing everything they could to render Sanji's main weapons useless.
"Fools." Sanji caught Luffy's fist and swung the captain into Zoro. He flipped backwards and landed on his hands, throwing out kicks in what would a 'Party table kick-course'.
"Kyyyaa!" A kick landed on Nami and she cried out as she was thrown back, her Climatact having done nothing to stop the blow.
"Close Range: Fire Bird Star!" Usopp threw a pellet at Sanji who caught it before it exploded and threw it back. "Gaack!" The bullet exploded on Usopp, who ran around, waving his arms. "I'm on FIRRRREE! HEEELLPP!" He grabbed his soft drink and dumped the contents on himself, extinguishing the flame.
"Do you not feel remorse, Cook-san?" Robin said as her phantom arms clutched at Sanji, who was throwing out kicks like free samples.
"Your cook is gone!" Sanji ducked under a swipe from Chopper and landed a mid section kick on the reindeer's Heavy Point. "I control everything in this body!"
"Stop it, Sanji!" Luffy got behind the cook and looped his arms under the man's armpits, holding him. "Fight him!"
Sanji, disobeying all rules of logic and human anatomy, kicked Luffy between the legs.
The captain howled in pain, and that scream seemed to shake Sanji to his senses. At least, for the moment.
Sanji took in the scene in front of him. Chopper was in a dent in the wall, struggling to get up. Usopp was drenched with soda water, approaching the cook cautiously, and slingshot at the ready. Robin was clutching her bruised arms (which the demon had enjoyed kicking) and staring at Sanji, all the hostility she had when she was Ms. All Sunday directed at him. Nami was on the ground, limp and motionless, and Sanji felt Luffy's arms tremble with rage. He looked at Zoro, who was still like a statue, frozen in a fighting stance.
Blue met brown, and Zoro dropped his swords and straightened up. "Let him go, Luffy."
"What are you saying?"
"He's back."
Robin's eyes widened and her face reddened slightly. Sanji must've saw the look of hatred and hostility she had supposedly sent towards the demon. Usopp trembled, edging away from the cook as though he was still possessed. Chopper got up with much difficulty, and staggered over to Nami. The reindeer doctor, wordlessly, took out his first aid kit and started treating the unconscious Navigator.
All of the Straw Hats stared at him in disbelief, and Sanji felt himself tear apart inside.
Luffy's grip on Sanji loosened and Sanji fell to the ground, trembling. "Kill me…" He rasped. Droplets of tears splattered the ground. "I don't… deserve…" Sanji trembled, and Luffy kneeled down to pat the crying cook. At once, Sanji looked up and leered at Luffy. "Idiot." He lashed out his leg and Luffy went flying.
"What a dirty-!" Usopp started, but Zoro was already in action. He blurred, and appeared behind the demon cook, swinging his hilt down. The hilt smashed into the blonde's head, and the cook slumped down and fell in a dead faint.
Luffy rose from the rubble, and looped his hand over the unconscious cook. He started towards the door, and the Straw Hats followed. No words were said, as the same clear thought ran through all of their minds.
We need to get rid of it. As soon as possible.
End of Chapter 3
Special thanks to those who reviewed!
To TheLaughingClown: Thanks a bunch for reviewing on both my chapters! I'm sorry if it's a bit rushed, but as I wrote, this story's going to be a quickie! Thanks, once again!
To Stelra Etnae: Thanks for following my story! I completely agree with you, so watch out for more 'amnesia' angst in the next chapter!
To NirvanaLuffyLover: Glad you liked it! Arse-pisan.. Hahahahaa! Thanks!
Reviews Greatly Appreciated!
-Veratican Justice
