Chapter 4 :- The Beginning of Emptiness (Sanji POV)
Sanji returned to the Baratie. His dream was finding the all blue which he had finally achieved. He still had a debt to clear though, his debt to Zeff. With the help of the maps Nami gave only to her crewmates, he could guide Zeff to bring the Baratie, the floating restaurant to the All Blue. Sanji had already brought fishes from the All Blue which couldn't be found on East Blue for Zeff to experiment and cook with. With all the new dishes they could prepare with all the new marine wildlife and seafood, the Baratie's popularity rose exponentially. Sanji was considered the greatest cook in the world. His fame circulated everywhere. He was living a dream but was he really happy?
He seemed sad even when he cooked. The fame had no effect on him. When beautiful girls walked in, he didn't even look at them, leave alone flirted and when he tried, he couldn't even smile. Now the girls used to flirt on the handsome cook but he would politely reject their advances. Everyone wondered what had happened to the formerly vibrant and womanising Sanji. The Sanji that returned to the Baratie wasn't the Sanji that left.
Every night, he looked at the map. Everyone wondered why. The map reminded him of her, the person he loved the most. The moments he spent with her flashed in the night sky as if he was re-living them. The meals, drinks and desserts he prepared with so perfection and enthusiasm for her, the times he put his life on the line without a moment's hesitation, her tears and her laugh, the tough love he enjoyed when she beat him when he flirted with other women. He enjoyed them all. He wanted her attention. All the affectionate Nami-swan moments flashing before his eyes. He missed her a lot.
But more than this, he was filled with regret; regret that he didn't confess to her. What he regretted was that he didn't even try to tell her and just let her go. What had happened? Could just those 2 words make a once confident Sanji into this gloomy version.
That night Zeff came up to Sanji's room. He knew Sanji wouldn't be asleep. He sat with him and asked him, "You don't seem very happy lately, lil egg-plant. You look lost most of the time. What's the matter?" Sanji replied "N..Nothing…really." with a dejected face. Zeff told him "Let me tell you something. You remember when we had no food and were stuck on the rock? I had money but no food. That inspired our dreams to become chefs and our respect for food. Look where we are today. You seem like you miss something. But if you don't chase for it like it's your dream, you will never be happy. You must go and find your own happiness." Sanji tried to respond with an answer Zeff was all too familiar with, "But old man Zeff, I…"
Zeff interrupted "Stop rambling about debt. You showed me the All Blue's location and brought fish from there. I am now a world famous chef thanks to you. You helped me fulfill my dream. There is no debt to repay. Besides, you are like a son to me. If I was the reason for holding you back, what would that make me? Remember the first time you left the Baratie?"
Remembering that moment, Sanji broke into tears once again and thanked Zeff. Zeff left the room saying some final words of wisdom, "The day you stop chasing your dreams is the day you stop living. Live your life to the fullest…..son, without any regrets." (As a few tears came in Zeff's eyes too. For he had a father-son bond with Sanji)
Sanji looking up to the stars seeing Nami's smiling face in them speaks within himself, "Nami-san, I will not give up. I haven't given up yet and never will. Whether you love me or not is your choice. Mine is to stay devoted to you forever, love you forever, stand by you forever and never let anyone put a single scratch on you or bring a tear to your eye. That I promise. I am coming…Nami-san."
The next morning, Sanji was all packed up and set to leave, his destination being Nami's village in East Blue. He said his goodbyes to all the chefs and Zeff as everyone was in tears knowing this might be the last time they probably see Sanji.
Sanji was in tears too again but he was also enthusiastic for seeing his beloved Nami-san again and fulfilling his real dream, that is spending the rest of his life loving her, even more than he always has…..