I guess I accepted Luffy's offer as a crewmate. I just had a few other things on my mind the rest of the day like "What about Sanji?" and "How do I keep Zoro alive?" I kept going back to the fact that I hated him and he hated me, but no matter what, I wouldn't allow myself to let him die. Stupid, I know, but that's how I felt—stubborn. For some reason, I also felt that Sanji would come with me if I asked him to, but it wasn't a very convincing feeling. I wanted to stay with Sanji but I wanted to get off this ship. Damn! It was all so frustrating!

Anyway, the rest of the day was kind of blah except for my trips outside. It was like I was a magnet for Zoro's radar or something. He was always out on the deck of the Merry-Go (I didn't even care that I knew its name anymore, in fact, I barely noticed.) watching me. It both bugged me and scared me. I couldn't ignore him because every time I went out, I was on the lookout for him, which bugged me even more! I just couldn't escape him! Anyhow, my day was pretty much the norm except my flights at the sight of Zoro. Tips were pretty good, too. My normal chores were just a little bit harder because of my injury, but Luffy helped out.

When I woke up the next morning, I had a baaad feeling. A premonition, you might say. And, as usual—

I was right.

One of our customers screamed and another dropped their wine glass in shock, staring out the window.

"Don Krieg's pirate ship!"

Everyone rushed to that side of the ship in alarm to see. A bunch of the cooks came out of the kitchen as well. Cries ran throughout the customers.

"The hourglasses beside the skull mean that time's run out for their enemies…"

"There's no mistake! It's Krieg's pirates!"

I set down the wine bottle and looked as well. My eyes widened. That ship was HUGE…but…it looked so…

"What do they want?"

"Wow! It's huge!" Luffy exclaimed. "Maybe Gin's come back to say thanks."

"I doubt it…" Sanji replied, "…but something seems odd."

I couldn't help but agree.

"That ship…is a wreck!" he said.

I went over to Sanji and Luffy, running my fingers up and down my left arm. It didn't hurt quite as bad as yesterday, but I was still in pain. My eyes, however, were still on the ship coming upon us. It had three masts…well…two and three quarters. The middle one was breaking but not completely broken off. Not a single sail on the entire ship was in one piece. A good majority of the ship itself was in splinters. Even the great cougar head on the bow had half of its head blown off. I was amazed that the galleon was actually still afloat.

"A great galleon, ravaged to that degree…that wasn't the work of men," Sanji continued. "They must have sailed through a typhoon!"

"That's the Grand Line for you…" I murmured, staying close to Sanji.

The doors flew open and a hush fell over the room. Everyone watched as two figures—one giant leaning on the smaller one—stumbled slowly into the room.

My hand went to my mouth, staring at the smaller man. "Gin…"

The giant spoke, his voice rough and jagged. "Please…may I have…some food and water?...I've got money…lots of money…"

Don Krieg was about in as rough shape as Gin was when we first met him. Krieg had bandages wrapped around his large head. His light-colored sideburns framed his sunken face and square jaw. His long, black trailed on the floor and was trimmed in mangy-looking fur. His patterned shirt was very worn and the large chain around his neck clanked noisily as he swayed. Gin was under his left shoulder, helping him walk.

"Who is that?" Patty asked. "Pretty shabby for a king."

"He looks hungry," Luffy commented.

"Starving is more like it," I said. I looked up at Sanji. He had the most perplexed look on his face I had ever seen.

"What's going on?" he asked, aloud but more to himself.

I bit my lip, staying close to him and holding my arms. I didn't understand it, either. One of the most feared pirates in this part of the world was in pitiful shape, captaining a ship that is barely afloat? What in the world?

Krieg's eyes rolled back into his head and he stumbled, crashing to the ground. Gin was immediately at his side.

"Don Krieg!"

Krieg shakily reached out a hand towards us. "Food! Water! …Please!"

Gin's eyes were frantic as he surveyed the room. "The Don's on the verge of death! If you don't help him, he's doomed!"

No one moved—except one, though I believe only Luffy and I noticed. Sanji's face was set as he left us to go to the kitchen. I looked at Luffy and he realized it at the same time I did: he was getting food for him. I motioned Luffy to stay and went in after Sanji. Sanji was taking food that one of the cooks had been preparing before for a customer and heaping it on a plate.

"Sanji! Are you INSANE?" I said as soon as I was through the door. "He'll kill you as soon as you give it to him!" Gin was one thing, but this? No way! I couldn't let him! I wasn't even thinking about the well-being of the crew or the ship…only…

He didn't say anything. He set the empty pan down, picked up the plate and headed back out. I, however, put my arms out, blocking the door. He stopped in front of me, gazing at me softly.

"I can't let you, Sanji," I said defiantly, looking him in the eye. "Not this time."

We stood there in silence, staring at each other as voices from the dining hall floated in. I didn't care what they were saying, but my arms were starting to get really heavy and hard to keep up as I concentrated on Sanji. Sanji, though, was just looking at me with these sad, pained eyes. The longer I looked at him, the more my resolve waned.

"Have you ever known…" he finally asked, still not moving, "…what it's like to starve…?"

I watched his eyes carefully. With the sadness and pain was an element of knowledge; a knowledge that most men should never possess. I lowered my arms finally, still looking at him.

"You have," I said quietly.

Again he was silent.

I hesitantly moved over to let him pass, crossing my arms. "I guess…we'll just have to deal with him…however he acts…"

Sanji still stared at me solemnly. We stood there in silence again. I recognized Patty's brutish bellowing.

"That's right…" Sanji said with a small nod. "We'll fight him if we have to…" he went past me as he spoke, "…because this is our home."

I followed him out and stood in the doorway. I watched him grab one of the wine bottles off the counter on his way to Krieg and Gin. Patty was in the way, however, of the lowly pirates. He apparently didn't believe anything Krieg or Gin had been saying.

He snorted. "Trying for sympathy?"

"Out of the way, Patty," Sanji said. He didn't give him a chance to react before kicking him in the jaw, sending him flying a couple of feet, unconscious. He set the plate and bottle in front of Gin and Krieg. "Here, Gin. He can eat this."

Both of them stared up at him in awe. I just watched, coming back up by Luffy and sitting on the edge of a table.

"Thank you!" Krieg cried and began stuffing his face.

"Sanji! Take that food away from him!" Carne, the cook with the sunglasses yelled as the customers all ran to the other side of the restaurant in fright. "Don't you know who he is?"

Honestly, I didn't have a clue, but I knew he'd be bad news if he attacked us. There was no way I could take him down. I was sure about that.

"He's "Foul-Play Krieg," tyrant of the eastern seas!" he continued. "He started out in prison! Then he lied his way onto a Navy ship. He killed the officers and took over. That's how he got his start as a pirate! Flying a Navy flag, he sails into ports and attacks both town and ships. Sometimes he flies a white flag, then opens fire!"

Krieg was scarfing the food down like a starved animal. I hadn't ever seen someone eat so fast. My mind was so preoccupied with watching Krieg closely that I wasn't really paying attention to Carne. He was saying something about him being unstoppable at full strength and that he should starve. I watched Krieg wipe is mouth and flex his arms. He then raised his head, his menacing eyes locked on Sanji. Then it hit me.

"Sanji!" I exclaimed, bolting up. "Look—"

It was too late. Sanji had just barely turned back around when he got clothes-lined by Krieg's massive armored arm. We all looked on in horror as he got flung backwards toward us. Alarmed, I ran over to him and knelt down beside him.

"Sanji! Are you all right?"

He could only cough twice in reply as I gripped his shoulder. Blood drooled out his mouth as he slowly looked up at Krieg.

"You said you wouldn't, Krieg!" Gin was hysteric as he pleaded with his captain. "You swore you wouldn't hurt nobody if I led you here! That man saved our lives!"

Krieg seized Gin's right shoulder. "The food was good," he rumbled. "My strength is returning." There was an audible Crack as he squeezed his shoulder, making Gin cry out in pain. He released Gin and he crumpled to the floor.

"Gin!" Luffy exclaimed, taking a half step forward but stopping.

Sanji coughed again, getting up slowly. "So that's how it is…"

I gripped his shoulders gently. "Sanji…"

"I'm fine…" he murmured, wiping his chin but not taking his eyes off Krieg.

"Nice restaurant," Krieg's low voice filled the hall. "I'll take it."

Review please! luv ya much~shdw dncr