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Chapter 9
"Get out of there Marimo." Sanji ordered.
"Two more minutes." Zoro replied.
Sanji closed the short door and watched the second hand pass on the clock attached to a pillar. They had gone to a Korean spa in the northern suburbs of Chicago called King Spa for the first time. Sanji had seen it advertised and thought it would be a nice change. The main room consisted of ten saunas with varying temperatures, a theater and food court. Upstairs had an oxygen room, infrared room and overly plush arm chairs for naps.
The sauna Zoro was trying to cook himself in was 240 degrees. Sanji didn't even try going in that one but Zoro took it as a challenge to his endurance. Sanji watched the clock as the second hand sailed around and after two minutes opened the door. "Now."
Zoro came out drenched in sweat wiping his head off with a towel. His gray uniform hung from him. Smiling he told Sanji, "We should do this again."
With an unimpressed raised eyebrow Sanji replied, "You're steaming and eww dripping everywhere. I don't want cooked Marimo."
Zoro just laughed and smacked Sanji's ass with the towel. "Come on Curly let's go to the baths."
They had to be completely naked to go in the wet area so once in the locker room they stripped and made their way in. On one wall were stand up showers and on the other were sit down showers. In the middle were four Jacuzzi baths of different temperatures from bath water warm to almost scalding hot and on one side a regular pool. They showered first then relaxed in the bath water warmth.
As Sanji rested back and enjoyed the calm he reflected on his current life. His friends were amazing and a bunch of misfits but perfect together. His old man calmed down and relaxed as his son did bringing the stress of running a massive restaurant to a better level.
Zoro had been patient and loving, sparing with him in the morning then mind numbing sex at night. They fought in the underground twice a month and he was at every one of Zoro's legal matches cheering him on. When he tested out new recipes Zoro would sit patiently and taste as many concoctions that he would come up with even if it was sweets. It was a supportive and caring relationship.
Sanji had never felt so happy and at peace. He felt like everything was going great. He was even thinking of him and Zoro marrying one day. The crazy man brought his life all he needed.
As the two men walked out of the spa Zoro started complaining. "I'm tired I'm overdue for a nap."
Sanji looked around the parking lot looking for their car. "Yeah yeah if you didn't try to cook yourself you wouldn't feel so drained. You need to drink a lot when we get home and eat." He heard Zoro laugh. "Not alcohol."
"Fine." Zoro said.
They heard a feminine voice call "Sanji" in a sing song voice. Both looked up seeing a man and a woman walking to them. Zoro had to do a double take they looked so much like Sanji. The woman had soft features but no mistaking that curly eyebrow. The man looked almost identical to Sanji with just a few changes. He had his hair slicked back and it was green but otherwise there was no denying they were related.
Zoro saw Sanji freeze then grab his hand trying to pull him in the opposite direction of the approaching people. It didn't help as in the midst of Zoro's confusion and shock the two caught up to them. The woman was smiling though it was out of place with the rest of her. The way she was standing was almost in a fighting stance ready to defend and attack if necessary. The man had his arms crossed sneering at them in open disgust. "Who are they?" Zoro asked.
"Marimo we have to go." Sanji tried to pull Zoro away but he stubbornly stayed.
"Sanji what's going on?" Zoro tried to get Sanji to look at him but he was looking down and pulling on Zoro's hand. The pull lacked the strength he usually had and he could feel his partner's hand shaking slightly.
"Marimo we have to go." Sanji started pushing on Zoro's chest turning him and they started to walk away.
"Sanji." The woman called. Sanji flinched but kept walking clutching onto Zoro's hand. "Sanji!" Sanji froze. "Turn around." Her words were sharp and voice cold. "How dare you not come when called."
Sanji turned at her words but kept his head down. "I'm sorry Reiju."
Zoro was confused but furious. He no longer cared who they were though he had guessed by now. They were Sanji's brother and sister. Zoro had found out enough about Sanji's family to know about them and know how they treated him. "Come on Sanji let's go."
Sanji shook his head. "I can't Marimo. I have to talk to them. Please just stand over by that bench down there. I'll be there soon."
Zoro heard how his voice broke slightly. He wanted nothing more then to take his beloved away from these awful people but the pleading in his tone made him listen. Zoro walked to the bench out of earshot but kept his gaze fixed on the three people.
"Father is beyond upset with you." Yonji snarled. "We're here to drag you back. I'm going to love breaking you." He looked over to Zoro. "You call yourself a man yet you're with that!"
Sanji snapped his head up at that comment. "Shut it ass." He hissed. "He's a good man and has nothing to do with this."
"He has everything to do with this. We got word you two have been playing house. You've been seen at USOMAC acting like an idiot clinging to him. Did you know pictures were taken? There is evidence of your debauchery out there for the world to see. And if that's not bad enough you lost your last underground match. That shit makes us look bad." Yonji said.
"I'm not going back! Fuck all that no one cares but you." Sanji stood his ground with his fists tightly balled at his sides. His body was rigid with fury.
"You'll do as we say. Reiju show him." Yonji ordered.
Reiju sighed then pulled out an IPad from her purse. She pulled up the pictures and started going through them showing Sanji. He was horrified it was pictures of all of his friends outside their homes and at their jobs completely oblivious to what was going on. At the end were pictures of him and Zoro and all the different places they've gone as well as pictures taken from outside of them in their apartment. He felt like his whole body was revolting against him. His stomach clenched and tried to force its contents out. He swallowed until he could gain some control back. After a few false starts he finally said, "Please don't hurt them. Can we go back to the arrangement? I'll do whatever job Father wants. Just please…" He could feel his eyes misting but fought the urge he wouldn't show further weakness in front of them.
Yonji grinned like he had him right where he wanted. "We thought you'd say that."
"Yonji give us a moment. Go back to the car or go harass some stranger." Reiji said.
He stalked off leaving brother and sister alone. "I'm really sorry about this." She explained. She handed Sanji a flash drive that he put in his pocket. "All the information is on here. It's actually two hits both in New York. They need to be done in the next 72 hours and you don't need to return to the mansion to report after I'll be tracking your progress. Also I will be sending you new flash drives with your new assignments. I made sure I'll be your only contact."
Sanji nodded. "I'll do it just please don't hurt anyone."
"I promise." Reiju looked around making sure Yonji was long gone. "Can I hug you?" She asked hesitantly.
Sanji was stunned for a moment but shrugged. His sister hugged him. It was their first hug. It was nice. It was what Sanji thought their family could have been. Reiju whispered in his ear. "Please don't think badly of me but I've been bugging your home for years. The love you two have is beautiful. I wish I could have that."
Sanji pulled away. "You bugged my place? How could you?"
She put here hands up to placate him. "Don't get the wrong idea. No one knows but me. I did it at first to keep tabs on you but kept it up to try to keep you safe. Now I watch the two of you and know what love really is."
"That's … that's…" Sanji wanted to say weird, stalkery, creepy even but she was still a woman and he wouldn't say that." Thanks I guess. I'll still find them and take them down."
"And I'll put them back up." Reiju answered simply.
Sanji was tempted to roll his eyes. Typical of a Vinsmoke to always think they're right. "If we're done here I would like to go."
"Always so impatient to get away from me." She said teasingly. "Yes we're done. Happy hunting."
Sanji walked back to Zoro and pulled the seething man into a crushing hug. The world that had gone sideways felt righted again. The breeze that he failed to feel in his panic had returned. He could hear the sounds of birds and traffic again. But mostly he could feel Zoro's heart beating and hear him breathing it was comforting and safe.
Zoro had been trying to get all the information out of Sanji the whole drive to the Baratie. Why Sanji had to go there now he didn't know. What he had wrung out of him was that they were his sister and brother which Zoro already assumed. Sanji told him that they found him because he had to go to Germany and sign some papers with a lawyer pertaining to his Mother's assets, that the plane ticket had already been purchased by them and he had to leave the next day. Zoro didn't believe him one bit.
He had tried different tactics. He was kind and supportive when that didn't work he acted afraid of the situation which died on the spot with an incredulous look. Then he tried his least favorite, guilt, which he noticed made Sanji waver but not change his story. Zoro in his frustration went to his stand by and yelled at him which he immediately regretted as he saw the other man tighten his grip on the steering wheel and swallow hard. Zoro knew what that meant. It meant he was at his breaking point. "I'm sorry Baby. You know I love you right? And I'll stay by your side no matter what right?"
Sanji nodded and he scrubbed at his eyes. "I just have to talk to Zeff then we'll go home ok?"
Zoro nodded then held Sanji's right hand. When they went inside the kitchen Zoro heard something he never thought he would hear. "Dad!" Sanji called. Zeff along with about eight others popped their heads up their bodies radiating tenseness. "I'll be back Marimo." Sanji headed upstairs with Zeff. The others who Zoro now deemed in the know locked the back door and pulled the steel covers over the high windows blocking out the daylight. Zoro was determined to find out more.
Upstairs Sanji flopped on the couch exhausted. "Reiju and Yonji are here in Chicago. I'm going back to doing jobs to keep everyone safe."
"Shit!" Zeff said.
"My thoughts exactly." Sanji curled up on his side. "They had pictures of everyone at their homes and work. It would take nothing and everyone I love would be dead because of me."
Zeff sat next to his son and rubbed his back. "Eggplant don't blame yourself. Blame them. Everyone will stay alive and blissfully unaware because of you."
"I just don't want to have to lie to Zoro. I'm afraid I'll lose him." Sanji said.
Zeff wished he could take this burden himself but he knew he couldn't those bastards enjoyed torturing Sanji too much. "If he leaves at least he'll be alive but I don't think he will. If he's put up with you this long he ain't leaving." Sanji nodded slightly comforted. "I guess you'll be seeing the boys again to get your stuff." Sanji nodded again. "Let me open the safe." Zeff went to the fridge and slid it to the side behind that was a wall safe. He turned the combination lock and opened it. Inside were stacks of money and multiple IDs and passports for Sanji's different personas that Robin had made. "Who do you want to be?"
Sanji didn't bother looking up he mumbled into the couch cushion, "Don't know don't care."
"How about Tristan Prince?" Zeff heard a noncommittal answer and pulled that information down with a stack of cash. "Here." He tossed it on Sanji.
"Thanks. Now I just have to face the Marimo." Sanji stood then went in his old bedroom and grabbed a small travel bag and put the cash and IDs in. He started to trudge to the stairs but was stopped by Zeff.
"Try not to look like you're going to a funeral and he'll believe what you tell him." Zeff said.
Sanji tried not to laugh at that but failed so he went downstairs with that thought only to be met with an odd look from Zoro. He wasn't sure how the man pulled it off but there was anger, confusion and hurt with a bit of relief. "Come on Marimo let's go home."
King Spa is a real place in Chicago. It is really cool and only $25 a day with a coupon. Each time I'm there I spend about 5 hours there. They also do scrubs and massages but I haven't gotten that.