Okay, here's chapter ten, which is still in the Flash Back mode.

Disclaimer: ...What? You expecting me to say I actually own 'One Piece'? If only, if only... But, Melissa is mine, and Kris Malone is Skelly's.

Kris managed to get Luffy to walk to the lobby of the hospital. She still had an eerie feeling about all of this.

"Hey, why did you guys go running off like that?" Kris looked up. Zoro called to the two, "What was that about? We gotta leave. Now hurry up."

"Hey! Kris can take all the time she needs," Sanji raised a foot in defense for the young lady.

Kris sighed. "Guys, we're taking a slight detour. Luffy wants to say hi to the driver who ran over Melissa." Sanji tensed up when he heard that, and how easy it was for Kris to say it.

"We all need to go, and now. The doctor is waiting, and he's very impatient." Kris shuddered a little, remembering the bruises an angry man had given her. He was long gone, but, she still hated to remember. Luff put an understanding hand on her shoulder.

The group headed to the basement, all of them just barely fitting in the elevator. They walked down the hallways, all of them getting the same tensing vibes. None of the rooms they passed had windows. None of them were patient rooms.

At the very end of the narrow hallway stood the doctor with some keys in his hands and a mask over his face.

Kris rubbed her arms and shivered. The closer they got to that room, the colder she felt. She squinted to see the red lettering on the wall behind the doctor. She saw, 'GE'. 'GE' What's that stand for?' Then, she pieced the puzzle together. 'Oh no.'

The group continued to precede forward.

"Finally. Wait, who are you?"

"Oh, sir," Kris started fiddling with her hair, "This is our chaperone, and our friends--"

"There's too many of you. Besides, I cross the line at the dog." Said the doctor, pointing at chopper. Chopper, in turn, growled.

"What is that thing doing in a hospital anyway? Mutts should stay outside."

"Now hold it!" Kris snapped. "Chopper's a good boy, and besides," Kris paused when she realized who she was talking to, and what she was about to say to him in such a tone. She cleared her throat and stepped closer to Luffy, who had put an arm around her, "He's a therapy dog."

It was more of a question than a statement really. And Kris knew the doctor wouldn't hurt her, but that didn't stop her from pressing herself as close to Luffy as possible.

The doctor stared at her with half-lidded eyes. After a moment, he said, "Whatever." Kris breathed a sigh of relief. "Only four of you can come in with me."

Obviously Shanks had to come, and it was Luffy's idea. Kris was not about to leave his side either. That narrowed it down to one spot left. Everyone looked at each other.

"Alright, alright," Nikki spoke, "I'll watch your dog, this one time! But, I'm not staying out here alone. For his safety someone better--"

"Chill, Nik," Zoro interrupted. "Don't have a hissy-fit. I'll stay out here with you." Zoro sat down against the wall across the hall from Nikki. Nikki, just stood there, surprised that Zoro would speak to her like that.

"Okay, so it's settled. Luffy, Shanks, Sanji and I will go in--"

"Just hurry up!" The doctor yelled. He certainly was not anywhere close to the kindly doctor Kris received to look after her when she was in the hospital. "Stupid ki--"

"Hey!" Shanks spoke sternly, but didn't yell. "They're just kids. Give 'em a break." He smiled at the doctor, whom didn't return the act.

Instead, he cursed under his breath. He also mumbled, "I'm nice once, and they walked all over me..."

Kris scrunched her nose at him, and hung onto Luffy's arm. She wanted to call him the worst curse she could think of at the moment, but the word was an understatement.

"Now, be careful, and have respect for these people. They've already been through a lot. They don't need brats like you messing things up." He unlocked the door, and as soon as the door was just open a sliver, a cold rush of air came out. Shivers ran up everyone's shines and moved up and down their bodies.

Kris clung onto Luffy, and he put his arms around her.

The five walked in, and saw what looked kind of like...file cabinets. Large file cabinets.

"A mourge?" Sanji was shocked. At first, he wanted to kick this person into next year, but, now he felt a little bad.

"This way." The doctor walked over to, more or less, cabinet holding a corpse. He pulled it open, Kris wanted to faint. This dead women looked a lot like an older version of Melissa, with a few different features.

Shanks closed his eyes grimly, while Luffy hung onto Kris tightly. If she did faint, he wouldn't let her hit the ground.

Sanji felt a mixture of emotion; loss, grief, fury, emptiness. He felt like someone just kicked him in the stomach. Or worse, he felt like he kicked himself in the stomach. He lost his breathe just looking at the women. He gasped, and as audibly as he could, he said simply, "Mother?!"

Save the doctor, everyone's head snapped to him.

Sanji backed up slowly. Then faster. And faster. Then he turned and shot down the hallway so fast, he was running up the stairs three-at-a-time before Kris got out the door shouting his name.

Nikki and Zoro were talking and laughing. But, when Sanji ran pass them, they looked at each other, and stood up. "What's wrong with him?" Even Zoro couldn't help but notice the look of terror on Sanji's face. As much as he hated to admit it, Sanji was tough. Seeing a dead person shouldn't phase him. Mr. Malone's limp dead body didn't scare him.

Kris' eyes were wide and yet, confused. "It was his mom."

The gang searched the hospital. Everyone spilt up to find the cook. After ten minutes, Kris slapped her forehead. "Oh, geez! It's so obvious!"

She took the elevator to the ground floor, and ran to room 119. Kris looked in through the window before entering. Sanji sat at Melissa's side. He stared straight ahead.

Kris didn't knock, she walked in and stood behind Sanji.

"Sanji?" She asked softly.

"I. Hate, him."

"What?" She looked at him, but he didn't turn his head to her. "Yeah, the doctor was a jerk, but,"

"I hate Luffy!" Sanji yelled. "I hate him! He's always getting us into trouble, and now, because of him--"

"Now you stop, Sanji!" Kris screamed back. "Stop it right there! Luffy didn't cause your mom to die. Yeah, I'm sorry. It sucks. Mine is dead too! It happens! He's your friend! And he wouldn't want you to feel any pain!"

Sanji stood up and stared down at her. "Bull! He's a moron. And, anyone who befriends him, is just the same!" Sanji said harshly between clenched teeth. He towered over her, and looked very intimidating.

Tears came to Kris' eyes again. They slide down her cheeks.

Sanji's expression soften a little, then his eyes went wide. He just realized what he said. "Kris...I didn't mean you. I-I, that's not what I--"

WHAP!

Before Sanji could finish, Kris slapped him right across the face. It sounded like it echoed through the dark room.

Tears fell freely and Kris ran out of the room. Down the hall, she ran into Luffy, literally.

"Kris. Kris, what's wrong?"

Kris buried her face into his chest, and she sobbed the loudest she ever sobbed before. She just stood there wand wept, and Luffy let her.

Back at the room, Sanji felt sorry. He didn't mean to insult Kris. But, he meant what he said about Luffy.

Sanji hated him.

OH, MY, FREAKING, GOSH!! DUDE! I cross my legs when I type, and, MY KNEES WANT TO SHOOT THEMSELVES!

Okay, I don't even have anything of the next chapters typed. So, DO NO expect them for a while.

Skelly, I hope this will be enough for a while.

Signed: Daisy