Authors Note: Here is another Chapter. I decided to finish this a bit early than I originally planned. 

I also want to add that I am doing the Sanji lollipop gage for this chapter but I assure you he will be back too smoking.

Please review and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece or any of the charters in this story.

Chapter 4

The Food Burns

Sanji couldn't breath. He tried and tried but nothing happened. All he did was gage and throw up. His lips were turning blue as he started to choke, his eyes roiling in the back of his head.

Zoro and Nami rushed to Sanji's side. "He's not breathing!" Zoro shouted, turning the cook on his back. "Nami check for a heart beet. Someone get Chopper NOW!"

Everyone did as they were told. Robin quickly rushed towered the bathroom to gather Chopper. Nami pressed her head against Sanji's chest and confirmed she heard his heart.

"It'd beating but struggling," she said in a rushed voice.

Zoro shook his head. "Oi, Cook? Cook, can you hear me?" Not getting a response Zoro cursed and tilt Sanji's head back and pinched the bridge of his nose and opened his mouth. Zoro's lips touched Sanji's and he blew in, making air go threw Sanji's longs.

"What's wrong with Sanji?" Chopper asked as he and Robin came rushing over.

"We don't know he fell from the crow's nest gagging and throwing up. He stopped breathing, but has a small heart beet," Usopp explained.

Luffy ran over to Chopper and shook him. "What's wrong with him Chopper? Fix him!"

Chopper nodded and took out what he needed and ran over besides Zoro. "Zoro is he breathing yet?"

Zoro took in a deep breath and shook his head. "Oi, Cook, Cook if you can hear me move something!"

There was nothing. He singled for Nami to check his heart and he once again breathed into the cook's mouth.

"Still beating!"

Chopper nodded and knelt down next to Zoro, checking his heart and lungs. His eye's widened. "It sounds like he has water or something in his lungs! Zoro keep doing what you're doing if you can, while I take out the liquid from his lungs."

Zoro nodded and continued as constructed. Usopp and Nami were hugging one another full of tears. Robin was watching with a worried look on her face and behind everyone as Luffy just watched in silence.

After a whole five minutes of the agony and waiting Sanji finally took in a deep breath and turned to his knees, vomiting and gagging. He grabbed the closest person's knee and chocked as he spoke. "It hurts…, Chopper. My chest hurts," he coughed again and rested his head onto Zoro's knee.

"Don't worry Sanji; I'm going to help you. Zoro carry him to the galley, hurry!"

Without hesitation Zoro lift Sanji with gentle care and ease bridle style and hurried over to the galley. Gently Zoro laid him down on the small mattress Chopper often used for his patents. "Don't worry Sanji, Choppers going to help you."

Sanji however didn't respond, only groaned in pain and held tightly on his chest. This worried Zoro even more. He had never seen the cook in this much pain, and wondered how he got this way in the first place. Whatever it was he was going to kill it.

"Chopper," he called out and turned to see the little doctor, running over as fast as he could.

"Zoro do you know anything that could of caused this?" Chopper asked as he inserted a sensitive into Sanji to help him relax.

Zoro thought about it, and bit his lips. "I think he got bit by a bug, when we were in the forest. It was on his hip…, I don't know though."

"Show me ware even if you have to remove his pants."

Zoro nodded, and untucked Sanji's shirt and removing the belt, sliding the pants down throwing them to the side, gently sliding his boxers down part way showing were the bug was. What they discovered was a large orange mark with purple lines.

"He's been poisoned by a Poto betel. The poison always goes straight to the lungs, and with Sanji being a smoker can make it worse. I'm going to need to operate and give him something. But don't worry he'll be fine, he'll just throw up for most of the day and night. He also won't be able to smoke for a while either," Chopper explained.

Zoro nodded and glanced at Luffy who was the only other person in the room. Need any help, Chopper?" Luffy asked.

Chopper shook his head. "No I'll be fine, though if I do I'll ask Nami or Robin."

"Then you know what you have to do, make our Nakama better!"

Chopper nodded and shooed Zoro and Luffy out of the room. The two quickly obeyed. Zoro stood a second longer and glanced at the blond on the mattress. He frowned and fallowed his captain.

****

An hour has passed since then and everyone was uneasy. There was still no word from Chopper on how the cook was doing and Luffy was going mad. Not just from worry, but for the need of food. Usually Sanji would have made a small snack for everyone by now along with refreshing drinks. That wasn't going to happen today and Luffy was trying his best to hold back on his hunger.

Nami took over watch for everyone so there wasn't any arguing. She didn't know why but something told her to let Zoro off the hook and do his own thing. Robin had agreed with her saying it was best. Robin had added that she felt Zoro may believe some of this was his fault. Nami understood.

Usopp kept busy in his workshop working on some of his inventions, while Zoro was sitting not too far away, sharpening Sanji's kitchen knives. Just outside Luffy and Robin were sitting, and waiting. Robin was trying to keep the rubber man from going crazy by playing a bored game with him. It wasn't working to well.

"Ahh, Robin this game is boring!" Luffy wined.

Robin chuckled as she made her next move. "Would you like to do something else then, Captain?"

"I want to EAT! ZORO! MAKE ME SOMETHING TO EAT!"

Zoro sighed when he heard his captain's cries and placed the kitchen knife back where it belongs. "Oi, Usopp, know how to cook anything?"

Usopp blinked and glanced at Zoro. He smiled and stood up, pointing his thumb at his chest with a proud smile. "You are looking at one of the great cooks of the East Blue. Chef Usopp! I'm not as good as Sanji of course."

Zoro smiled and nodded. "Then make something for our captain. I'll go and help Robin with controlling him."

"Yosh! Good luck."

"Yeah, I may need it," Zoro said with a grin and walked out.

Just as Zoro left the kitchen the room to the galley door opened and Chopper walked out looking tired and a bit out of it. "Chopper?"

"CHOPPER!" Luffy shouted a smile on his face. "How's Sanji?"

Chopper smiled which brought relief to the others. Hearing Luffy's yells both Nami and Usopp came running toward group.

"He's going to be okay. But it's going to be a rough night for him. He's going to be spending it in some pain and vomiting," Chopper explained.

Zoro grinned. "Knew the Cook would be all right, can we see him or is the idiot sleeping?"

Chopper shook his head. "Yeah, we can see him though he may not be able to talk, and if you can't stand vomit I suggest staying out."

Luffy smiled. "Yosh! Let's go," he said and was the first one to run in fallowed by Zoro then Robin. Usopp and Nami waited by the door.

Sanji would gage, bringing his bucket up vomiting his guts out inside of it. Luffy bounced in with Zoro, the rubber boy laughing and making his way to Sanji's bed.

"Sanji!" he laughed.

"Hey, Cook."

Sanji took in a deep breath and glanced at them. His eyes narrowed in anger and he coughed again quickly grabbing his pale. Once finished with another round of vomiting he swallowed hard and looked at Luffy then to Zoro. "G-get Out," he demanded.

Everyone's smiling faces faded when they heard Sanji's words. Zoro's grin disappeared and he moved closer to the cook. "Oi, Cook, were just seeing how you were doing."

"I said get out," Sanji said, grabbing a hair brush and chucking it at the swordsman's head.

Zoro quickly dodged it and glared at the cook. "Oi, wha-" he started to say but an arm grabbed his shoulder. He turned and stared at Luffy with a frown. His captain had a serious look on his face and was staring at the floor. He shook his head no and Zoro grunted and turned away.

"Zoro, leave him go. Sanji we understand just get better," with that Luffy left the room along with Zoro who glanced once more at the gagging cook.

Robin frowned, closing her eyes as a hand came out and started to rub at Sanji's bare back. "We'll be right out side if you need us Cook-san," she said offering a smile and walked out, though the hand remained a moment longer before it too disappeared.

Usopp gulped. "Sanji, I will make sure no one comes in to bother you!"

"Get better Sanji-kun!" Nami said with a smile, surpassing the need to vomit herself as she watched Sanji wrench into the bucket and fallowed Usopp out of the room.

Sanji took in another deep breath and laid his head down, covering his forehead with a hand. He felt tears threaten to escape but held them back. "Fuck," he cursed, sitting up and gagging once again. Chopper quickly ran back into the room once everyone left.

"Sanji, are you all right? Would you like some pain meds?"

"Ch-Chopper, how long is th-this going to last?

Chopper frowned. "I told you, it may last the night. You just have to relax. Do you need anything?"

Chopper waited for Sanji to finish vomiting and handed him a hanky for his mouth. "Thanks. No just keep Luffy and Zoro out especially Zoro. I don't want them to see me…, not like this."

Chopper nodded. "Okay; don't worry I won't let anyone in unless you give the OK. Just try and get some sleep," he said and inserted a sensitive into Sanji's right arm.

*~}{~*

Later that night after everyone went to bed and after Chopper checked on Sanji one last time, Zoro left the crows nest. He knew Sanji didn't want him seeing him when he was sick like this, and Luffy forbid it but he didn't care. Something in him ached to see Sanji to make sure the cook was Ok. It was driving him nuts.

Slowly he made his way down to the small area in the galley that Chopper called his infirmary. He frowned when he seen the cook laying there back toward him on the little mattress. The cook was breathing heavily and Zoro could tell he was in pain from all the vomiting he did.

Zoro didn't hesitate to make his way over to the cook and knelt down besides him. He glanced at him and noticed that Sanji was half asleep. Frowning Zoro brought the cold cloth over the cook's forehead and dabbed gently, feeling the cook move into the touch. He rested the towel on his forehead and ran a hand down his bare back taking the blanket and covering him.

"Hope to see you in the kitchen tomorrow, shit-Cook," Zoro said, standing to his feet and making his way to the door. He glanced once more at Sanji before leaving. "That was a bit harder than I thought."

*~}{~*

Sanji awoke the next morning feeling a lot better. The only problem he had a massive sore throat and could barley talk. Chopper had checked him over as soon as he noticed the cook was awake and confirmed he would have to stay away from his cigarettes for a while and take some pills.

"How long is a while?" Sanji said just barley over a whisper

"It shouldn't be more than a week, knowing you Sanji. With a normal person it would be a good month or two. I also wouldn't talk so much it will hurt your throat more."

Sanji nodded, and handed Chopper his pack of cigarettes. "I got five other packs in my trunk. You have anything I can use instead of a cigarette?"

Chopper blinked, but quickly understood and smiled. "Yes! I have lollipops!"

"A lollipop?"

****

Sanji stood in the middle of the kitchen with an angry look on his face. The place was a mess. Who ever used his Kitchen last did not clean up after themselves. Boy was he going to kill who ever it was. Unless it was one of the beautiful ladies, then I'll be happy to clean up for them. He thought with a large smile and heart shaped eyes.

Shaking his head Sanji reminded himself about his kitchen and stormed out, murder written all over his face. "Oi…," Sanji cursed under his breath. He forgot his voice wasn't working to well due to all the hacking and throwing up he did the previous night. He grumbled in frustration and searched the deck for someone who can help. "Nami-San," he said horse like and made his way over to the Navigator with a large smile and a heart shaped eye.

Nami was sitting on the deck by the sun table reading the morning paper when she noticed Sanji walking over to her; she smiled and was glad he was feeling better. "Hey, Sanji-kun, do you need something?"

Sanji nodded. "Pen, paper?"

Hearing Sanji's voice she understood and handed him several pieces of paper and a pen. "That will be 100 berries."

Sanji nodded, and started to writ something down then showed it to the navigator.

"You look beautiful this morning' Ah thank Sanji-Kun," she said and waited for him to writ something else down. "'Who cooked the food last night?' Oh that was Usopp and Zoro," she said blinking a few times watching as Sanji wrote a little more. "'Thank you.' Oh you're welcome Sanji-kun."

Sanji bowed to her and waved a hand as he made his way over to the two other men on the ship.

Usopp was minding his own business fixing a part on Zoro's shelf when a shadow covered his light. The sharpshooter raised his head and waved a hand. "Oi, you're in my light, move."

Sanji did not move, and glared at the back of Usopp's head. Usopp cold feel chills run up his spine and slowly turned around to see long legs dressed in black pants. He gulped and watched as the right leg rose into the air and slammed down onto his face.

Usopp fell backwards from the impact his face bruised and swollen. He laid there for a moment but quickly shook the pain off and jumped to his feet. "Oi, Sanji what was that for? Are you trying to kill me?"

Sanji only glared and pointed to the kitchen. Usopp blinked and stared at Sanji, then to where he was pointing to. "You want me to go to the kitchen?" Watching Sanji nod he shrugged and did as told.

Sanji watched as Usopp left for the kitchen and frowned, reaching into his jacket he took out one of the lollipops Chopper gave him and brought it to his lips, taking it into his mouth with his tongue. Sanji then turned to where he seen the swordsman, lifting weights on the other side of the ship. Slowly he made his way over to the green haired man, glaring.

Like Usopp, Zoro also had his back turned to Sanji. Unlike Usopp however he knew who was coming by the sound of there steps. He grinned. "Need something Aho-Cook?"

Sanji's eyebrow forward and he reached out and grabbed the swordsman by his ear and tugged, pulling him toward the kitchen.

"Oi, Oi! What the hell are you doing, shit-Cook?" Zoro complained, until he was pushed into the kitchen.

Both Usopp and Zoro gave Sanji questionable looks, wondering what the hell their cook was up to. Sanji however glared at them with daggers, then stared at the large mess in his kitchen. He pointed to Usopp then to the dishes, and then pointed to Zoro and to the mop.

Zoro and Usopp stared at one another then to Sanji. When Sanji folded his arms over his chest and raised a foot they glanced around. Only then did Zoro notices the mess.

"Usopp what the hell did you do?"

"ME! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO ASKED IF I COULD COOK"

"YOU WERE THE ONE PROUD TO DO IT! 'I'm one of the best chefs in the east blue' I believe those were your words!"

"Ye-yeah well you should know I was just joking."

"You still cooked lunch and dinner! This is you're mess!"

Sanji shook his head, rubbing his forehead with frustration. He raised a leg and kicked both of his crew mates in the head, and once again pointed at the dishes and the mop. He glared at the both of them taking out the lollipop from his lips in slow motion. Zoro couldn't help but stair.

"Now. Clean. Or I'll get Nami-san," he said horse like, and coughed a bit. He raised his right hand and pointed his index finger into the air then to the clock. Indicating they only had one hour to clean the kitchen. Taking his lollipop he put it back into his mouth and left the room.

Zoro watched as Sanji left then glared at Usopp. "You were supposed to clean the mess AFTER we ate. Sanji does it all the time, no reason you can't," he said, grabbing the broom and began to sweep.

A sweat drop formed at the back of Usopp's head and he sighed. "Sorry, but YOU only told me to cook, so that's what I did," he said and made his way over to the dishes and started the running water.

Back out on deck, Sanji made his way over to the side of ship and leaned against the wall, looking out to sea. He smiled as a refreshing breeze passed, brushing through his hair. He was glad he wasn't throwing up anymore and that most of the pain was gone.

Last night was torture for him, and he hoped to never have to go through something like that ever again. Not to mention it was embarrassing for Luffy and Zoro to see him like that. He hated it most that Zoro did. He knew Luffy would just laugh it off and never speak of it, but Zoro was another story. He knew Zoro would make fun of him for it.

""Need, something Aho-Cook?" He said that to mock me and he knows it, damn bastard," Sanji cursed and pulled the lollipop out form his mouth. He stared at it for a moment before, putting it back and sighed. "Probably, thinks I'm real week now…."

****

"Damn shit-cook. Don't know why I have to do this anyway," Zoro mumbled as he cleaned off the last bit of food off the wall. The hour was almost up and he knew Sanji would be in any moment. He turned to see Usopp had finally finished washing the last dish, and had put it way.

"There, good as new. That was hard, I wonder how Sanji does it by himself all the time," Usopp said with a smile.

"He's use to it, though maybe we should help more often," Zoro said and rubbed at the back of his neck. He glanced around and nodded in approval. The kitchen was spotless clean, just the way Sanji liked it. "Then again, he usually doesn't let the kitchen get that messy."

Just then the door to the kitchen opened and Sanji walked in. He glared at both Usopp and Zoro and waved his hands indicating for the two to get out of the way. Both Zoro and Usopp looked at one another and stepped out of the way so Sanji could get a good look around. He grinned, and nodded in approval. "Good, get out," Sanji choked out, and coughed lightly.

"Aye, Aye sir!" Usopp said and happily left the kitchen.

Zoro took his time putting the mop back and smiled at the cook. He couldn't help but linger around a bit, seeing the cook looking better and not the way he was yesterday. Zoro didn't know why but he was happy about it. It really did scare him err worry him the way seen Sanji just the night before. Then he noticed Sanji staring at him, with that childish lollipop sticking out of his mouth.

"So, what's with the pop?"

"Mind your business," Sanji said horse like, going over to his fridge.

Zoro tilt his head. "Your throat hurt," Zoro then asked bit worried.

Sanji turned and glared at him. "Get out."

"Hey, I'm sorry. I was just wondering how you were," Zoro said moving closer toward Sanji.

Sanji flashed him another glare. "You think I'm week," Sanji coughed.

Zoro's eyes widened at Sanji's words. "No, Sanji…."

"Shut, up, you do, how someone so strong can get sick' that's what you were thinking," Sanji said, turning away from the swordsman as he coughed and washed his hands in the sink.

"Sanji, that's not true. I've been worried about you all damn night."

Sanji let out a bitter horse like laugh. "Yeah, Marimo and Luffy doesn't eat meat any more. Stop making me speak and get out of my kitchen. You're the last person I want to see right now."

Zoro was a bit hurt, and taken back by Sanji's words. That was why he didn't want Luffy or me in the room. "Sanji, look I don't think your week. I never did, I was only worried about you, ok?"

Sanji shook his head, he didn't expect the swordsman to say something like that, but he couldn't believe it. Zoro had never showed he cared before, well besides the morning after they had…, done the thing, but that was something different. That was because Zoro had caused the small pain in his back side.

"Just get out."

Zoro sighed. "Fine," he said and turned to the door. He glanced once more at Sanji as the cook started to cut up the fish and frowned. "Glad your feeling better," he said and slammed the door behind him.

Sanji sighed, sitting down at the table and hiding his face in his hands. He felt bad for yelling at Zoro. He wasn't sure if the Swordsman was telling the truth or not, but part of him knew he was. Sanji couldn't help it though, and knew it was because he still wasn't feeling the greatest. He felt more irritable and tired and thought about going to apologize to Zoro.

"Maybe I'll wait until after breakfast. If I delay any longer I know Luffy will be gnawing on Chopper soon," he said softly to himself and got back to his feet, moving over toward the counter and continued to work on his fish.

****

Later that afternoon Sanji still hadn't apologized to Zoro and it was already after Lunch. It wasn't that Sanji didn't want to; it was that each time he tried to get close to the Swordsman he seemed to disappear as if trying to avoid the cook. Sanji knew it was his own fault of course, but still continued to try.

It was then when Sanji found Zoro sleeping under the mast that he decided to approach him, when Luffy called his name. Sanji cursed under his breath and turned to his caption.

"Sanji, where is my sack! You know I like a snack before dinner!" The caption demanded jumping over toward his cook.

Sanji frowned and slapped his forehead. He couldn't talk at the moment so he couldn't tell Luffy no or to wait and sighed. He then took out the piece of paper Nami had gave him and started to write something down.

Luffy watched with a confused look on his face as Sanji started to writ, and then when the paper was handed it to him he started to read. "-What do you want? - But Sanji I told you what I wanted! I want my snack!"

Sanji only slapped his forehead and sighed in frustration. He should of known to add 'to eat' at the end of the sentence. Shaking his head, Sanji gave Luffy thumbs up and made his way toward the kitchen.

Luffy laughed with joy and clapped his hands. "Whoo, finally!" he shouted and turned to Zoro. "Hey, Zoro! Sanji is making us some snacks!"

Zoro opened his eyes and yawned loudly before glancing at his caption. "Huh? Oh that's nice Luffy," he said and closed his eyes once more.

Luffy frowned. "Ah, Zoro your no fun," he said and walked away yelling for Chopper and Usopp.

Zoro opened his right eye and watched as Luffy walked away and frowned. He put his hands behind his head and stared up at the sky. His mind was still on the conversation he had with the cook earlier. He had asked Chopper about the way Sanji may behave, if he would be more…, aggressive or angry. Chopper said he might be that he wasn't allowed to smoke. Chopper had also said to stay clear from fighting with him, since he may take things too seriously. That Sanji's behavior may be due to withdrawal.

So Zoro decided to stay clear from the cook as much as possible. He didn't want to make things worse by staring fights or something along the lines. All he wanted was Sanji to be his normal self again, so things could go back the way they use to be. Well if he was completely honest with himself he wanted things to go how they were with each other right before Sanji got sick; when they were back on that island and in front of the camp fire.

It was strange. That whole day had been a bit weird. Throughout the day he and the cook did less fighting and more getting along. Sanji had even apologized for hitting him. Okay, so it was also for the kiss they shared but it was still an apology. Not to mention a slap in the face was all he got, and not some kick in the head. Then the conversation they shared in front of the camp fire was friendly and well comforting.

Thinking about it, Zoro really hoped they could do something like that again. It was nice and for some reason Zoro liked being close to the cook. Even so he knew he would have to wait for Sanji to fell 100% better before that would happen. And he decided that waiting would be worth it.

Smiling, Zoro closed his eyes and fell right back to sleep.

To Be Continued.