"Sanji?" Chopper repeated. "Can you help me find your heartbeat?"

Sanji's thoughts were racing. There was no way to mimic a heartbeat in the position he was in now (or mimic one at all); there was no way to run away; Chopper wouldn't be distracted by something else at this point; no one was coming in the door to save him. . .

"Sanji?" Chopper said again.

"Chopper," said Sanji. "Let me up."

The doctor must have detected something in his tone, because he stood up and allowed him to rise. Sanji glanced at the windows, making sure that no one was near, and then turned back to Chopper.

"Chopper," he said. "I'm going to tell you something, and I want you to promise that you won't completely freak out. Also, you cannot tell anyone else. Got it?"

Chopper hesitated, and then nodded, looking at bit scared. He turned back into his small form.

"Okay," Sanji said, leaning against the counter. "I'm a vampire."

Chopper screamed. Sanji grabbed him and covered his mouth. The tiny doctor flailed around for a minute before calming down.

"Be quiet," Sanji hissed. Chopper nodded and Sanji released him. He stood on his own again, looking up at Sanji slightly fearfully and curiously.

"Anyway," Sanji continued, "that's why you couldn't find a heartbeat: I don't have one."

Chopper found his voice. "H-How? And how long?"

Sanji yawned. "How long, since yesterday morning at least. How, I don't know. I just woke up and . . ." he gestured to himself.

Chopper stared at him, some of the fear in his expression dissipating. "Is that why you look pale, too?"

"I guess so. And I'm guessing my canine teeth are longer than what's normal for a human."

Chopper jumped up onto the counter and made a gesture. Sanji opened his mouth and let Chopper examine his teeth.

"Yep," he said. "They're a bit longer than they should be. But, Sanji . . ."

"Mm?"

"Why can't we tell everyone?"

"Simple," Sanji said. "I wouldn't be able to stand it if my Nami-swan and Robin-chwan saw me as a monster."

"B-But you're not a monster, really," Chopper said, trying to comfort him. "I mean, you don't even look that different—"

"My problem, my decision," Sanji said in a tone that indicated finality. Chopper sighed.

"Okay, I won't tell anyone else . . ."

"There is something I need your help with, though," he said confidentially. "Since I'm like this now . . . I, well, can't eat regular food. You know?"

"What—oh!" Chopper's eyes widened in understanding. "You want me to help you get blood for you? How?"

"I don't know . . . to be honest, though," he added, feeling a mite guilty, "I already took one of your blood packs last night. Sorry."

"Sanji!"

"Sorry!"

Chopper looked down. "I don't know how I'll get you blood. I could get some from the hospital—"

Sanji explained what had happened with him and the hospital.

"Oh, so that's why Robin gave me the blood pack," Chopper said. "I forgot to thank you for that . . . but can't you just, um—" he opened his mouth and put his hooves to his teeth, mimicking fangs.

"I'll do that as a last resort," Sanji said firmly. "Please, can't you think of an alternative?"

"I can try," Chopper said, looking uncomfortable. "It won't be easy. You can't just go up to someone and ask for their blood."

"I know. Thanks, Chopper—I appreciate it." Sanji patted Chopper's head. "I'm going back to sleep. I'm nocturnal now, if you didn't know."

"Oh, right," Chopper said as the cook laid down back where he was. "But I want to perform a full examination on you later—"

"Get out of here before I take a bite out of you."

Chopper fled the kitchen.

Sanji woke once again, later that day, to Luffy shaking him. "Saaanji . . . wake up . . . I'm huuuungry . . ."

"Is it time for dinner?" Sanji muttered, still on the floor.

"My stomach says it is."

Sanji checked the time. "Huh. Your stomach's right for once." He got up. "Honestly, I'm surprised that you didn't come in here sooner. Not that I wanted you to."

"I tried," Luffy admitted, "but Chopper said not to and to wait 'til dinner."

Making a mental note to thank Chopper later, Sanji nodded. "I'll get started then. Now go away."

"But I'm hungry!"

"And the food won't be ready for a while. Go play with Usopp or something."

Luffy huffed and shuffled out of the kitchen. Sanji rolled up his sleeves and got started.

A half-hour later, a delicious-looking clam chowder was being carefully laden into separate bowls. Sanji garnished two of the bowls with oyster crackers (arranged into the shape of a heart) and yelled for everyone.

As the sun set, the rest of the Strawhats entered the kitchen. Luffy was the first, sitting down before Sanji could set down any bowls. As he was finishing setting the table, Zoro finally came in and sat down.

"For you, Nami-swan, Robin-chwan," Sanji said, presenting them each with a bowl of chowder and crackers.

"Hey!" Luffy said indignantly, peering into the bowls and spotting the crackers. "Where're my crackers?"

Sanji grabbed a few and chucked them into his chowder. "Happy?"

"Yep!"

As Sanji threw crackers into everyone else's chowder (after they raised complaints), Chopper looked up at him. Sanji looked back. Through a series of subtle gestures and grimaces, they managed to have a silent conversation that went something like this:

I'm sorry; I couldn't find a way to get blood for you!

Ugh. Thanks for trying, Chopper. You haven't told anyone, have you?

No. No one knows except us.

Good. If there's no other way, then—wait, is it okay if I just drink one of the packs from your office again?

Those are for emergencies!

Keeping me alive isn't an emergency? Fine, never mind. If there are really no other options available, I'll have to go out tonight and find someone.

Are you sure?

No, but I'm doing it anyway.

Okay, if you're sure. Don't forget to come by my office before I go to bed for a checkup.

Whatever.

Sanji!

"More crackers, Nami-swan, Robin-chwan?"

Chopper folded his arms and glared at Sanji.