After a few minutes of cuddling, Sanji noticed that Usopp started coughing. He held his pink, embarrassed face with his strong hands and noticed his hard breathing. He was getting sick, from staying out in the rain for the past few hours. They needed to get out of this weather.

"Nia-chan. We need to go. Usopp is getting worse from the rain."

"Mew."

"Wha-What? What are you talking about, Sanji? I'm fine." Usopp breathe, before coughing again.

"No you are not, you idiot! Why do did always lie at times like this!"

Sanji finally let go of the sharpshooter, just so he could throw him over his shoulder. He jumps out of the hole carrying Usopp on his back, dashing into the forest.

"Damnit! If there's a place nearby." Sanji mouthed. Usopp coughing startled his train of thought looking in the forest. It was be awhile before reaching the others especially with the sniper on his back.

Suddenly, a little fox called out to Mr. Prince, trying to get his attention.

"What is it Nia-chan?" He asked.

"Mew, Mew!"

"I-It's… *cough. Looks like…*cough*cough Nia wants you to follow her…"

"Mew!"

"Ok…Nia-chan…Show us the way."

Sanji allow his foxy friend to lead the way. He trusted her as well as Usopp had, despite not know her as long as he did. She smiled, knowing that the cook had such big faith in her. That's was one of the things that she loved about the Straw hats.

A few minutes had passed and they reach an old cabin. There were leaves growing out of with, making it seem it has been abandon for years. It was all by itself in this forest.

"Mew…"

"You want us to go inside?" Sanji asked, being a bit concerning.

"Meeeew!" She purred, in persuasion.

"Well…ok…If you say so." And the Black leg Sanji, stepped on in.

When he opens the door, there was no one in sight. There was a bed, and a kitchen that seem as it hasn't been used in year but everything was perfectly clean. There was dresser full with clothes for both Usopp and Sanji to fit into. Sanji wonder if there was seriously no one living in this house.

"Are you sure it ok, Nia-chan?" Nia nodded to his question.

"I'm *cough sure… its ok. Nia isn't a liar, Sanji…*Cough."

"Right….And speaking of lies…" Sanji voice became serious and he roughly but slowly took the sniper off his back and toss him to the ground.

"Ahh!" Usopp gasped feeling the wooden floor. Nia stepped in front of Sanji, hissing at him.

"Don't worry Nia-chan. I'm not going to do anything to our Sniper. I'm just going to talk to him…"

That didn't faze Nia. She was still upset that he through Usopp to the ground likes that.

"Ok…I'm Sorry… Nia-chan. Please, let me talk to him alone…"

"Nia…" Usopp breathed. Nia glance at the sniper and remember what happen earlier. She rub up against his face not before heading into another room in the cabin. Usopp didn't want her to leave so he would have to face Sanji alone.

With them now alone, Sanji drop himself on top of the Sniper looking at him with fury. Usopp had his eyes widen, when Sanji was only a few inches away from his face. With Sanji's hands next to his ears, Usopp couldn't escape.

"Now…I'm going to give you one more chance to reconsider your options of what you just told me earlier." He told the Sniper seriously.

"Oh no…What is he going to do?" Usopp thought. He was lying on the floor with Sanji staring down to him intensely. There was no backing out now. Sanji sighed before looking down at his frighten face, before doing the thing that he needs to do, the thing that he been trying to do for a while now.

"I Love you."

Usopp's eyes widen at his words. He never really thought that he might say those words. It hit his heart in a home run, in wanting it to flutter.

Sanji gaze down at the sniper and noticed that his tear drops started to roll from his face. That action made the cook frown.

"Do you cry even when someone confesses to you?" he breathed. He didn't expect the sniper to cry at his confession. He cheeks turn light red, thinking about what he just said. It seem like with this guy, he would only get embarrass for.

"B-But it sounds like you threaten me…" he wept.

"I am." He spoke. "I'm trying to get you to understand my feelings…"

"But why Sanji? Why do you love me?" Usopp cover his embarrass face, taking his frustration out on the cook. "You like women! I've seen you head over heels with them. Nami? Robin? Even if you don't like men, what is it about me that you find attractive? I'm not good-looking! I'm a liar! I have a long nose! I run away from danger. I left the crew over the Merry. I couldn't even have the guts to apologize to Luffy for what I did to our captain. I not at all strong like you guys am. So why? I don't understand… at all…."

Sanji looked at the sniper's covered face, and thought about what he said. Despite him being the center of attention all the time, he really is negative about himself, a point that was proven in Thriller Bark and Water 7. However these were all the questions that Mr. Prince has thought of and understood and answers already, while dealing with his own feelings himself.

"I love you, for you Usop-"

"Don't tell me that! Everyone says that in their love confessions…What about me do you love so mu-" Then he was cut off by the black leg Sanji, covering his mouth.

"Well…If you would shut up and listen I would tell you, idiot." He shook his head, blushing, trying to get these words out.

"I came to that conclusion earlier today, that everything you do I've loved you for. Yes you might not be good-looking like the ladies but that doesn't matter to me. Yes I love Nami-san and Robin-chan however it's because they are family to me. With other woman, I tend to draw close too, because they need protection, for some that is. Yes, you may not be strong like me, Luffy or Moss head. You make run away on most occasions, but when it comes to protecting your friends, you're totally the different person. When we had to save Robin, you may have reject the offer due to your fight with our captain, but you still came to help her, with even having to put of the mask of Sogeking to hide your identity. When your braveness comes to the surface, you become a worthy crew member. And even when you're not brave, you still part of our crew, with the stories, with your talent on building equipment, your artwork."

Usopp couldn't remove his hands from his eyes. He didn't want Sanji to see him, but his heart want to leap out of his chest. Everything he was saying, was something he never been told before. He had always been so negative about himself, never thinking that anyone would understand him.

"So….All those things, I loved everything about you. If you would stop being so negative about yourself and let me in to your heart…" The cook gently reaches out to touch the hands that covered the sharpshooter's face but it wasn't as easy as it sound.

"Usopp…please…Let me look at you…" with that pleading voice, it was hard to resist. Usopp just shook his face.

"Please…."Sanji whisper quietly. Again, the pleading voice.

After of whew seconds of thinking about it, the sniper was finally starting to give in, letting Sanji look at his embarrass face.

"Sanji…Don't tou-" The sniper tried to breathe out but Sanji held his chin, bending down to kiss him.

Usopp, was unable to think straight. This was his first kiss with Sanji, and it felt so different for him. He never thought in his life that he would be kissing Sanji. The feeling of his body on top of his, the warm of his touch, his tongue dive so hard in his mouth to taste his lips was something, some strange yet so wonderful at the same time.

When they parted, they were breathing hard. Sanji gaze at Usopp red face, seeming to be in a trance from the kiss.

"I knew it…." The cook breathes touching the sharpshooter's lips. "You kiss me like you love me."

"Let me ask you again… Do you really want me to go away? Do you really hate me?" Sanji asked sadly, but seriously. The sniper eyes widen, realizing the meaning behind what he really said earlier, as he shook his head, frighten.

"Do…You…love me?"

The sniper closed his eyes as he nodded. He finally came to accept Sanji's feelings as his own. He felt the sniper arms reach out to embrace him, pulling him closer to his face.

"I love you so much…" The sniper finally confesses. "I don't want to be apart from you."

Sanji wrapped his arms around his sniper. Usopp, closing his eyes, with sadness, as the Sniper King finally was being honest with the cook, and himself.

"Why, Sanji?! You idiot! Why me? You are such an idiot!" Usopp cried as the cook gaze at him.

"I told you...Blame this feeling in my heart that only races when I'm your side…You better take responsibility for this, Usopp." Sanji whisper, as he grabbed Usopp head to press his lips toward his. He knew Usopp was just talking to himself when he said that, for it was not really a question for him to answer, but Mr. Prince answered anyway. But Usopp cover his mouth, being scared for a second attack. Sanji stared at him.

"You can't really cover your mouth from me. Now that we know our feelings it will be impossible to hide your feelings from me, Usopp." Sanji teased.

"Ugh…..Shut up…Sanji! I'm not ready for your attacks." Usopp blushed trying to push him away.

"Why? You already admitted your feelings to me." Sanji nuzzle their noses together. Usopp was so confused on what to do. He was not ready for this at all. He doesn't even know if Sanji likes kiss him or was just teasing him. Plus his was sick. Unknown to Usopp though, Sanji was ready to kiss him again. He wanted to feel his lips and get a good taste of what it like, kissing the sniper.

But before Sanji could reach his lips, Usopp started to cough again. It made Sanji realize that they were still wet, haven't change clothes or taken a bath since they arrived in this cabin.

"You might catch my cold you know… *Cough" The sniper breathes. Sanji chuckled to his statement.

"Well, because it's you, I don't think I would mind that…" He grasp his sniper head and place gentle kisses on it, blushing a bit. Usopp's eyebrow twitch, when Sanji kiss his forehead again. Usopp noticed someone was flushing with red by that statement.

"Heh…Your blushing, Sanji… *cough." Usopp chuckled by his stubbornness.

"Shut up. Anyway let's get you out of these clothes and into bed…"

"B-But what about Luffy, and the rest of the crew?"

"We got no choice. It's still raining outside, and its way too dark out. They will be alright."