"So you're saying there's some woman who takes people?"

"Yeah."

"And this town is haunted by her?"

"Yup."

"And last night she showed up to do something to Sanji-kun, for the second night in a row, and you think something is inside him?"

"Hai, Nami-san!"

"Why couldn't you have mentioned this earlier!?" Nami's fists met their usual targets. "Honestly do you know how helpful information like that could have been by now?"

"Sorry, Nami-san." Sanji rubbed his head, ears angled down and quivering from the pain.

"It is interesting, though, that the reason this town respects the forestry so much is because of an unknown frightening force." Robin spoke up from her seat next to Nami.

"Talk about frightening force. She looked like a corpse from the river." Zoro commented, ignoring his throbbing headache.

"Don't talk about women like that! Respect their choice of fashion!" Sanji snapped at the swordsman next to him. Zoro arched a brow.

"She could be trying to kill you and you still fawn over her?"

Sanji stared back in silence, obvious confliction crossing his face before he spoke again. "Ladies still need respect!"

"Of course they do…"

"Anyway." Nami brought the attention back to her. "What's this mark you were talking about?"

"Usopp did you finish drawing it?"

"It wasn't that hard from what you described." Usopp turned over his sketchbook to show the others a perfect image of the one etched on Sanji's chest. "If this is on you why couldn't you just show us?"

"I'm not taking my shirt off in the middle of a dining room. There has to be one gentleman on this crew." Sanji glanced at the other Straw Hat males around the table who had decided that their new clothes after two years would bear all in public. Brook didn't really count, having no skin to show after all.

"Hm…" Nami took the sketchbook from Usopp and looked it over. "Chopper are you sure you didn't find anything."

The little reindeer shook his head. "No. All my tests came back negative. And last light when I checked over Sanji his burn was gone and that mark was there instead." He pointed to the drawn image.

"Hm."

Last night had been something for the three Straw Hats left on the Sunny. After the encounter with the "guide" Zoro had helped Sanji to Sick Bay to find Chopper to try and make sense of the mark burned on Sanji's chest. They had caught the young doctor in the midst of his own confusion since one by one his tests were yielding nothing. Of course, when he had seen Sanji's new state of injury he forgot all that to tend to the Cook and give himself even more to test. The three had agreed that, in the morning, they would go to the inn to tell the crew about everything. So here they were, sitting around a table in the furthest edge of the dining room having breakfast, discussing the supernatural phenomenon and ignoring any whispered remarks aimed towards their Fox-Cook.

"Ne, maybe Sanji's possessed." Luffy said with his mouth full of food.

"Luffy, just keep eating and let the rest of us discuss this." Nami sighed. "We should split in to groups and ask around. Usopp draw more of these marks, someone has to know what it means with a reasonable explanation for why Sanji-kun is like this."

"Nami-san I feel so honoured to have you worried about me!" Sanji beamed, his eyes turning to hearts and his wagging tail nearly tripping a passing waiter.

"I'll go with Robin and Chopper. Luffy, Brook, and Franky will go together. And Sanji-kun, Zoro, and Usopp together. Someone has to find something."

"Nami… can I switch with someone, please?" Usopp fearfully looked to the Swordsman and Cook who were already butting heads, fire practically bursting from them.

"Someone needs to keep them in control. Okay, once Usopp finishes drawing we'll head out."

"Nami, you're so cruel…" Usopp felt some of his soul die.

~~O~~

"Oh, it looks like they got new products shipped in." Sanji stopped by a stand to begin ogling their goods.

"Crap Cook we didn't come here to watch you to make more shopkeeper enemies."

"Shut it, Marimo, the more supplies we get the better." Sanji turned back to the shop stall then twitched. He felt the same curious type gaze he had received from his crew when they had first seen his fuzzy appendages. He glanced up to meet eyes with the brown, unblinking ones of the older male shop keeper. He was leaning far closer to Sanji then he appreciated. "Er…"

"Now what's wrong with you, lad?" The shopkeeper's scruff voice made Sanji's ears twitch.

"Nothing's wrong with me." Sanji straightened up from where he had been looking over the produce.

"But, lad I don't mean to be rude, you don't exactly look normal. Not with them fuzzy bits twitching."

"These things?" Sanji pointed to his ears. "Look I'm not in the mood to tell the story but know that—"

"He ate a Devil Fruit!" Usopp quickly jumped in to the conversation. "Yup, a Devil Fruit. The Fox-Fox fruit. He just ate it, still doesn't know how to control it."

"Fox-Fox fruit?" The shopkeeper questioned.

"Yes! It's a Zoan model under the uh Mutt-Mutt branch! We're hoping he figures out how to control this so people stop staring at us weirdly." Usopp laughed at that and threw an arm around Sanji's shoulders.

"Ah, I see." The shopkeeper smiled. "Good luck to you then, lad."

"Thanks. Now we should get going." Usopp tugged Sanji away from the stand. He didn't drop his smile till they were from earshot of everyone. "What did you almost do!?"

"Tell him a less complicated version of what happened to get him to stop staring." Sanji flatly answered.

"You can't do that!" Usopp screeched. "Who knows how anyone here will react to that!"

"So you made me a Devil Fruit user? Does a Fox-Fox fruit even exist?"

"It's better than a cursed pirate being chased out of town by stakes and torches!"

"Panic much?" Sanji's ears cocked as he arched a curly brow.

"Now I see why Nami paired me with you two…" Usopp sighed. "Hey, where's Zoro?"

Both pirates looked around them. In the midst of getting Sanji out of one problem Zoro had gotten himself in another.

"Lost again. That crappy swordsman is no good on his own feet. Oi, Marimo, where the hell'd you go this time!" Sanji called while making his way back to the market.

"Nami, you're so cruel…" Usopp repeated. He had no choice but to follow after Sanji's flicking tail, a dark cloud trailing after him.

Meanwhile, with a more competent group, Nami, Robin, and Chopper were having more luck in their search. But the luck wasn't much. When showing the image Usopp had drawn around the most they had gotten from everyone was that the four triangles at the bottom were the base symbol of the town. If anything was to be placed on the island those four triangles had to be carved in to it, in respect to their culture. To what the addition of the symbol meant, the townspeople weren't much help.

"Are you sure you don't know anything else?" Nami questioned a young woman walking with her child.

"No, I'm sorry. I hope you find out thought." The woman answered. She walked from them tugging her daughter along with her.

Nami sighed. "Thank you…" She gestured for Robin and Chopper to follow her but was stopped by a gentle tug on her pants.

"Have you asked the elder?" The little girl had run back to Nami and stopped her with a tug to her pants. Bright blue eyes looked up with wonder at the older woman.

"Elder?" Nami crouched down to the girl's eye level. She spoke with a soft tone. She always did have a soft spot for kids.

"Mhm. He knows everything."

"And where does the elder live?"

"The house in the middle."

"I see." Nami nodded and stood. "Thank you. We'll go ask him." She patted the little girl's head. The girl giggled then hurried back to her mother who was calling her back. "Looks like we have a lead."

"I wonder why the mother didn't mention the elder." Robin questioned.

"Adults have so much on their mind they forge the simplest things. Let's hurry." Nami walked fast with anticipation in reaching the home of the elder.

That's how the three found themselves in front of a small wooden hut heavily overtaken by vines and plant life. A small stone fountain was outside with different carved versions of the four triangle image on the rocks surrounding it. This was certainly the place, if any, to get the information they were looking for.

"Hello?" Nami knocked on the door. "Hello?" The wooden door creaked open, an invite for them. With no hesitation they took it and walked in the two room hut.

"Wow…" Chopper looked around the front room in awe.

A long line of books on one side of the room and a collection of plants and bottled herbs on the other. Some stone and clay figures were set up in the corners of the room that looked like different big cats caught in mid roar. The room smelled musky, most likely from the collection of items on display in the small dark room. They didn't realize someone was there till they heard shuffling followed by a rough cough.

"May I help you?" An old man came from the room in the back. Time had had its hold on him. A long white beard down to his waist swung in coarse waves, wrinkles dominated his pale features hiding his dark eyes with the soft smile he carried. He wore a grey robe that dragged on the floor behind him much too big for his thinning frame and a top his head he wore a white cap to cover his balding scalp.

"You must be the elder of this town, correct?" Robin smiled gently to the older man.

"Yes. By the sounds of things you must be travelers."

"In a way." Nami continued the conversation. "We have a question. Do you know what this symbol means?" She held up the drawing for him.

"Ah, the fox." He said with a nod.

"The fox?" Chopper questioned.

"Yes indeed. Tricky little things they are." He chuckled. "Ah, where is it?" The elder shuffled to his bookshelf. He traced a shaky finger across the spines. "Here." He pulled out a thick red book and flipped it a couple pages in. "This is what you're looking for I believe." He offered the open book to them. Robin took it from him carefully.

"The fox spirit is the guide of trickery, quick thinking, and adaptability. If you sense this spirit is near you take head of where it leads you, it always provides guidance out of obstacles." Robin read.

"What?" Nami looked back to the elder, lost.

"I didn't expect an outsider to understand it instantly, none ever do. You may keep the book if you wish, I have plenty for those interested in our culture."

"Culture?" The archeologist looked up from the book.

"Indeed." The elder groaned as he sat himself in a dusty wood chair. "To us here in the town it is still new, but in our sister islands this culture has reigned for hundreds of centuries."

"Um, could you explain it a little more?" Chopped asked.

"Of course, little one, I'm always happy to explain to those who express fondness."

The elder went on to explain that the island they were on was the fourth in a chain of sister islands that followed the same culture. What the culture was was a strong belief that the world around them was governed by the spirits of different animals each who have their own role to play. They, as humans, must respect the land to avoid the vengeful curses the angered spirits inflict. They, on the current island, still have much to learn about their own culture. They only know to avoid angering the spirits in return for them to continue helping them.

"So, these are linked to different spirits?" Nami pointed to the drawing.

"Yes." The elder answered.

"What does it mean if someone has it on their body?" Nami got straight to the point.

"Pardon?"

"One of our friends. He said that some weird woman led him to a rock that had this mark and now he has this branded on him, along with certain appendages that aren't his."

The smile on the elder's face fell in to a deep frown. "You must leave this island."

"What? But why? No one has done anything yet." Chopper said quickly.

"Your friend, he will bring misfortune to all of us."

"Misfortune?" Robin tapped a finger to her chin in thought.

"If what you said is true he has been cursed by our 'guide'. If he stays here all of us will be punished as well."

"What are you talking about?" Nami frowned herself.

"Out. Leave now!" The elder spoke in a loud commanding tone.

"Okay, alright we'll leave." Nami huffed and stomped from the hut, Robin and Chopper following quickly.

"Nami, what do you think he meant?"

"I don't know, Chopper, but this island is no help. They barely even know what they're following. We're going to have to go someplace that does know." Nami held up a crinkled rolled up map.

"Isn't that the map where he showed us the sister isles?"

"Yup." Nami grinned, sticking out her tongue.

Robin giggled. "Impressive as always, Navigator-san."

~~O~~

The crew was meant to be back on the Sunny at lunch. It wasn't a planned return time, but everyone knew nothing needed to be said to know when to group back together. Meal times were the only times they were all together doing the same activity.

"Marimo if you drop any of my hard work I'm kicking you overboard!" Sanji threatened as he walked from the Galley carrying trays full of steaming food in each hand.

"How did I even get convinced in to this?" Zoro grumbled. He followed the Cook carrying his own trays of food. They were headed down to the deck where a picnic blanket had been spread out and Usopp was setting out the drinks as Sanji instructed.

"Hey, Sanji, does this look alright?" Usopp asked when the Cook came up to him.

"Perfect, Usopp. I'm sure everyone's going to enjoy eating in the fresh air." Sanji crouched down to set the trays of food on the blanket.

"Sanji-kun!"

"Nami-san! Robin-chan! You're back just in time! Lunch is ready!"

"Great, I'm starving." The two female Straw Hats and Chopper took their seas on the picnic blanket.

"I'm so happy it's my food that gets to please your stomach~! Ack!"

"Oops, didn't see your tail there." Zoro did a poor job of hiding his smirk. Sanji growled. He snatched the trays of food from the Swordsman before kicking him back against the railing.

"Food!" Luffy was sitting with the others, appearing out of nowhere. He was already eating in his usual gluttonous way making Sanji's temper rise and his ears twitch.

"Luffy, where have you been?" Usopp asked.

"Ge vhent pho het pha hak!" Luffy said, cheeks as stuffed as a squirrels.

"What?"

"Yoho~ I believe he said we went to get the rock." Brook cleared, taking his own seat.

"What rock?"

"Ga hak fanfi vas in gont un!"

"The rock Sanji-san was in front of."

"I still don't get why we need it." Franky questioned setting the rock down on the deck and taking a seat next to Brook. "Luffy kept saying it was important."

Sanji froze upon seeing the rock. Only two nights ago he had been lead to it; the mark that had once been on it he bore on his chest. It brought an odd welling sensation in the pit of his stomach.

"Sanji?" The tap of small hooves on his arms brought him back from his frozen state. "Are you okay?"

"Ah, yeah. Zoned out there." Sanji forced a smiled. He set the last two trays of food down then glared to Luffy. "Luffy your portion is one tray!"

The crew settled in to their meal. When they were well in to the picnic feast Nami brought attention to herself.

"Everyone, I think we should cast off as soon as possible."

"Eh!? Why!?" Luffy whined.

"Because." The Navigator brought out the map she had swiped and rolled it out. "This island is useless in information. If we want to find out what happened to Sanji-kun one of this three other islands has a better chance of helping."

"Three islands?" Sanji asked.

"Yes." Nami went on to explain what she, Robin, and Chopper had learned from the elder of the town. She knew things weren't going to be normal once they head back out to sea, but it never really was for their crew. So they might as well use it to help their dilemma.

"Wait… I could bring misfortune because of what happened to me?" Sanji's ears went back. He could be putting his nakama at risk in trying to help him. Sure he had no control of what had happened happened but, they never had to face something like this. He knew Luffy was right in what he said at breakfast. Something was inside him, he felt it, but he didn't know what. He wouldn't tell his crew either, not until he was sure. Though now since it sounded like he was a risk he might not have a choice in hiding it. He couldn't add another burden to his crew.

"Sanji-kun, I wouldn't take what the elder said to heart. The most he knew was what the symbol meant and that there were other islands. Don't worry about it, okay?" Nami smiled sweetly. She knew that would convince him.

"Aye. Alright, Nami-san." Sanji's ears flicked back up. He didn't know everything for sure. He would have to figure it out on his own; to stop anything from hurting his nakama before it had a chance.

"What do you say, Luffy? The Log Pose is set and pointing to the next island in this chain. Everyone's stocked up. All that's left is you as captain to decide."

Luffy swallowed his mouthful of food in a big gulp. "Set sail! Once lunch is done!" He cried out loud enough to scare the birds from the branches in the trees off in the distance.

"Yosh!" The crew yelled in agreement.

Their lunch continued with even more wildness than usual thanks to the promise of setting out on a new adventure. It was in no time they were full, the deck was cleared, and the Sunny was crashing against the waves once again. With Nami navigating and Franky steering all the rest of the crew had to do was stay on lookout for random attacks and be ready to dock again.

"Sanji try like this. Forward, back, forward, back."

"Ugh, Chopper it isn't working."

"Concentrate. Watch me. Forward, back. See?"

"But how do you move them!?"

"Uhhh…"

Zoro cracked his eye open. He had been woken from his after lunch nap on the Sunny's deck by the voices that trailed over to him. Sanji and Chopper were sitting across from each other not too far from the Swordsman. He had no idea what they were talking about but by the way Sanji was glaring things weren't going well.

"Chopper…" Sanji whined.

"Sanji it's hard to explain. I just, do it. Why don't you relax and not think about it so much?"

"How can I not think about it? They're attached to my head!"

It was his ears.

Cook must be trying to get Chopper to teach him how to control them. Zoro thought. He sat up with a yawn to better watch how this played out. By the way Sanji was fiercely chewing on his unlit cigarette and Chopper was fidgeting with his hooved hands, they were having no success.

"Try moving one. Like this." Chopper tilted his head and flicked the one ear. "Think about how you want to move it."

Sanji sighed and tilted his head. He glared deep in concentration but his furry ear remained still. "Fucking…"

"Sanji. Relax."

"I'm relaxed. I am relaxed. Completely relaxed. Totally and utterly relaxed." Sanji took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He concentrated hard on moving his ear. Just one twitch to get things started, so he could know it was possible for him to control his furred appendages and them not control him. Just one twitch. One twitch. One twitch. "Ah!" he felt it. He focused and tried again. Repeating his mantra his ear twitched again. Subtly, but it had moved by his control. "Hah!"

"See? I told you relaxing worked!" Chopper beamed.

Sanji tilted his head to the other side to see if he could move his other ear. He resulted in the same faint twitch after his mantra. It wasn't the same movement Chopper had shown him but considering he couldn't even move his ears when they were human he took this as success.

"A twitch is nice, but I'd like to move them completely. I'll work on that while I cook. Thanks, Chopper."

"Anytime!"

"One more thing. How do you move…?" Sanji glanced back at his tail spread out behind him. His tail would be ultimate control. The stupid thing already likes to mess with his sleeping and settle where anyone could step on it, not to mention it refused to stay still unless he was sitting. It was his own problem child.

"Err… I don't exactly have a tail to show you thanks to my Human-Human fruit." Chopper scratched his head.

"But, don't you have any idea how I could move it? My—that tail—is irritating when it does what it wants." Sanji jabbed a finger at the fluffy tail.

"Have you tried flexing your gluteus maximus?" Chopper asked in his doctor like tone.

Sanji stared at him. An awkward silence held between them until Sanji felt calm enough to speak. "You want me to flex my butt?" He didn't need to control his ears to show how he felt about that suggestion.

"It's a theory! I mean, the gluteus maximus is typically flexed when—"

"Don't." Sanji held up his hand. "Do not even think about finishing that sentence. Even as a doctor you should have some limits to your theories." Sanji dropped his head in his hands. "I'll figure it out, Chopper. Thanks for the help with the ears."

"Alright." Chopper stood. "If you need anything else or feel sick again I'll be in Sick Bay." The young doctor said and left the Fox-Cook to think of possible ways to move his stubborn tail.

Zoro watched Chopper climb the steps to the upper deck till he was out of sight then looked back to the frustrated Sanji. He watched him figure out how to move his ears partially by tilting his head side to side. But it looked like his tail was what was leaving him stumped. Zoro stood and made his way over to the Cook. He wasn't trying to be quiet with his steps. By the way Sanji's ears flicked his way when halfway there the Cook had picked up on that.

"Not in the mood, Marimo." Sanji huffed. The steps continued his way. The loud, purpose steps irritated his ears. "Would you—" Sanji's eyes widened. He bent back in time to see the edge of a sword swing where his head once was. He heard the katana be pulled from its sheath, the cut of air, now he was on his back looking up with shock at the Swordsman. He locked eyes with him. After the initial shock of being nearly beheaded wore off he snapped.

"What the crap are you doing!?"

"Good question." Zoro brought his sword down on him again. Sanji kicked and rolled back in time for the katana to slice down on the grass.

"What is wrong with you!?"

Zoro didn't answer but instead rushed forward to the crouched cook. Sanji growled, he was not in the mood for this. He kicked off the ground and blocked the oncoming strike. He heard the slice of wind again. Kicking off the sword he avoided the side strike. Zoro held both katanas ready to attack neither which, Sanji noticed, was Kitetsu. For some reason that irritated him further. If Zoro wanted a fight, he was going to get one.

Readying himself with some taps of his toes on the deck Sanji jerked forward. He kicked, flipped, and made sure to give little openings for the Swordsman. Zoro was aiming lower than usual. He usually struck higher but now each attack Sanji deflected was aimed around his waist. Sanji blocked one low swing with the heel of his shoe and that's when he figured out why Zoro's aims were low. In the position Sanji was in, thanks to the block, it left his waist twisted and tail exposed, which Zoro's free blade was aiming at.

If it wasn't for his Sky Walk Sanji would have lost his annoying tail in a horribly painful way. "Are you trying to maim me!?" Sanji snapped down at him, keeping himself up in the air with his Sky Walk. Sanji saw the familiar stance change in the Swordsman. He held his blades horizontal to his shoulders ready to unleash his 72 Pound Cannon. That damn Marimo is trying to blast me out of the sky! Sanji screamed in his head. But where he was hovering, where Zoro was aiming, it would not only blast him down but also destroy the Sunny's mast. They'd both be stuck in the middle of the ocean and have to outrun Franky's ray gun or anger.

Sanji dropped down in front of Zoro to start his attacks before the 72 Pound Cannon could be complete. He had no idea what was going on with Zoro or why he was forcing Sanji to twist and jerk his body rapidly to avoid attacks to his tail. He didn't need an answer, though, not when this furious at the silently fighting Swordsman.

Zoro swung both katanas in a horizontal strike. Sanji blocked the attack, his opposite foot dug in to the grass to keep from being pushed back. Then he noticed it, an opening he could use. Zoro was leaning all his weight on his left side trying to overtake Sanji's block which left his right side open, mainly his right foot stretched out as a ground to keep his balance. The perfect hit could topple Zoro over but Sanji couldn't exactly move from his pose without losing part of his suit in the mix. He just needed one good hit.

"Grrr… fucking Marimo!"

Sanji's tail wrapped around Zoro's right ankle. Zoro felt the furred appendage snake around his leg; he didn't pull away. The tail snapped and brought Zoro's leg out from under him. The Swordsman watched the blue sky over them come in to sight as his back met grass. His arms splayed out across the deck but he held on tight to Shusui and Wado Ichimonji. He only grunted at the initial slam on the deck and when a new weight settled on his stomach.

Sanji sat on him, casually crossing one long powerful leg over the other and lighting his cigarette. He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. No words passed between them. No sounds. Not even a struggle to push the Cook off. The fight had been won. It was time to come down from that fighting high before attempting to even look at each other.

Sanji took another relaxing breath from his cigarette before looking to the Swordsman under him.

"What the crap was that?" He gracefully questioned.

"A fight." Zoro responded in his usual annoyed tone when addressing Sanji.

"I know it was a fight. But why were you acting more barbaric than usual?" Sanji received a grunt in response. "Don't even start with that! You could have really destroyed the Sunny!"

"I knew what I was doing."

"Oh you did? So nearly beheading me, blasting me and the Sunny apart, and trying to cut off my tail counts as you knowing what you're doing!?" Sanji roared, shaking from how mad he was.

"You moved your tail." Zoro replied calmly.

"What!?"

"You moved your tail. It took me down, didn't it?"

Sanji's rage was instantly replaced with confusion. He looked to his tail that lay down Zoro's side on to the deck. Had he really moved it or was Zoro picking on his appendages again? But, Zoro was on his back as Sanji knew would happen if he kicked his right foot out from under him. But he couldn't kick it because he was blocking Zoro, so did that mean he really had moved it? He kept staring at his tail. If this didn't work he'd go drown himself. With another puff of his cigarette he flexed his rear, as Chopper suggested. His tail lifted sending a jolt down to the tip of his tail. He flexed again and this time followed the flow of the jolt. This was what he had been looking for. Some primal instinct took over with each jolt he felt and soon, he had taken a hold of it. He moved his tail side to side, forward and back, even pressed it against his back. He could move it!

Zoro watched the Cook over him figure out how to move the golden tail and the smile spread across his face at the success. Sanji looked happy and relieved as he tested out different ways to move his tail. Zoro couldn't say from experience, but it seemed that it was easier to move a tail than ears, at least for Sanji.

"Oi, Marimo, you helped me figure out how to move this thing." It wasn't a question, it was a straight to the point declaration.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

Sanji dropped his tail next to him curled on top of Zoro's torso. The fur against his skin tickled faintly. Why had he helped the Cook? It would have been fun seeing him irritate himself with trying to figure out how to move something coming out of his ass along with his new ears. But something had brought Zoro to his feet and initiated the attack knowing full well what to do to anger the Cook in to using his tail without thinking about it.

"Because." Zoro started. "It would have been a headache hearing you whine day and night because your ass hates you."

"Better ass than yours." Sanji flicked the tip of his tail. He was starting to like this control.

"Tch." Zoro sheathed his swords the best he could in the position he was in. He was going to thump back down on the deck but he stopped when his fingertips brushed over the soft fur of Sanji's tail. Curious, he stroked his fingers over the tail. He felt a slight tremor, most likely an aftershock from Sanji tensing so quickly. Zoro ignored it and continued to pet the tail.

Where Chopper's fur was dense, thick because it was meant to help him survive harsh winter days the Cook's tail was soft, sliding over his fingers like cool running water. It looked thick due to the appearance the fluff gave it, but it felt like silk. Golden silk that blended in to a silver tip. Zoro was mesmerized by the soft touch that made his fingers tingle as he combed them along the flow of the fur. He almost regretted having yanked and stepped on it just to annoy the Cook.

Shit.

It was then he remembered just whose tail he was so delicately stroking. Though he wondered why Sanji hadn't protested or made to kick him the second he touched the now relaxed tail. Zoro glanced to the Cook, then heard a loud thump that only sounded in his head.

Sanji's ears were cocked back low, subtly twitching with his slow, steady breaths. He was leaning on the arm propped on his knee, the cigarette in his hand long forgotten. His eyes were half lidded, dazed and seeming to shimmer with something Zoro had never seen from him. The faint pink colouring his cheeks went along in the list of never seen before too.

Zoro sat up slowly causing Sanji to slide down till he was sitting on the grass under them, legs bent over one of Zoro's and back pressed against the other. He was completely out of it.

All because of some petting to his tail?

Zoro had to test this. He held the tail in one hand and combed his fingers through it with the other over the entire length.

"Kyu…" The odd sound that came from the Cook brought another of those thumps only he could hear. Just what was going on?

"Oi, Cook."

"Sanji! Snack time! Snacks snacks snacks!"

Sanji's eyes snapped back to normal. Zoro was too close. He was leaning over him to a point that their foreheads nearly touched. When steel met blue Hell's gates sprung open.

"Get the fuck away from me, shitty Marimo!" Sanji screamed loud in his ear. Zoro sprung back from the assault to his ear. He heard ringing in his head now.

"You don't have to yell shit! You're the one who dazed off randomly!" Zoro yelled back.

"The hell are you talking about!? And why are we sitting like this!" Sanji kicked Zoro away so he could sit properly.

"Stop yelling already! It's your fault for going loopy cause someone pet your tail!" Zoro held up the cause of their yelling match in Sanji's face.

"Stop touching my tail already!" Sanji jerked his tail away. He stood with a huff and patted himself off.

"Sanji! Snacks snacks!"

"I'm coming you bottomless pit of a captain! And you!" Sanji pointed to Zoro. "Hands to yourself, pervert." Sanji stomped off to the Galley. He slid his cigarette back between his lips to puff on furiously.

"You're one to talk, ero-cook!" Zoro huffed and flopped back down on the grass. The Cook was such a moody bastard he didn't know how he put up with him. All he did was pet his tail then the curly browed idiot got all dopey looking. Since when does a tail cause that? Since when did Zoro hear that thump he did when he saw Sanji looking so blissful? Closing his eyes with a groan Zoro chose to ignore his pilling questions in favour of sleep. Sleep always fixed things.

"Sanji! It's snack time! Snacks!"

"Shut up! I'm working on it! And stay out of the Galley!" With a kick to the face Sanji pushed back his hyped up captain long enough to slip in the Galley. He locked the door behind him and looked ahead to his kitchen. Wrapped in the silence of his safe haven he groaned his sigh.

The hell are you talking about? Of ocourse I knew what he was talking about. I was conscious throughout the whole damn thing." Sanji thought to himself.

When Zoro had touched his tail he was ready to kick the moss-head's skull in using that as an excuse. But he hadn't expected the gentle, cautious caress the Swordsman's rough hands delivered. Before he knew it his rage had died down to be replaced with calmness, growing weaker with each stroke to his tail till he had gone numb and giddy. He was grateful no one else was on deck at the time; he would have had no explanation to what the two were doing especially how he ended up in Zoro's lap. Thank goodness for Luffy's stomach. He felt that if it hadn't been for him Zoro's hands might have been on his ears next. If his tail sent him in to such a loopy state he couldn't imagine what his ears could cause.

"And just when I finally thought I figured out how to move you, you go and add more problems." Sanji glared down at his tail. "Snacks." He needed a distraction.

He'd figure out how to conquer his problem child of a tail and make sure no grubby hands made a fool of him again. He'd also figure out why his heart was beating so loud.

Later.

AN: Hello again everyone! Ah, I had a bit of trouble writing this chapter. So many turn arounds but I finally wrote a chapter I'm happy with. Writing about the island's culture and developing more on it will be fun for me and hopefully you as well. Let me tell you, writing Sanji trying to figure out how to move his foxy bits then having them turn on him once he does was super. I know it's still not clear what exactly I have planned, but it will be good, trust me. And no, Sanji isn't pregnant for the reviewer that questioned that. Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter and look forward to the next one! If you want to see anything I always enjoy incorporating what the readers want. And also if you have a story request throw that at me too.

Kitsune out!