Author's Note: I'm definitely back on track now, thank goodness *phew*. I have the rest of the plot coming together in my mind, but ideas are always welcome :). Well, I hope you like it, I hope you review it, and I hope the story keeps going along this well.

Luffy cocked his head to the side. "Professor?" He asked, frowning slightly.

Mizuki nodded. "Professor Blaire. He's the only one who isn't afraid of the curse."

Nami bit her lower lip. "Blaire..." She mused. The name was somewhat familiar.

"He's brilliant, but the townspeople fear him," Mizuki began, "He has made some wonderful contributions to the island. He helped make blueprints for a wind-powered electrical plant using the air currents on top of the mountain."

Nami raised her eyebrows. "Interesting. What about the curse? Do you think he can help us?"

Mizuki pondered the question, furrowing her brow. "I don't know. The town Mayor allows him to research the curse and take the bodies of the deceased, but that's all I know."

"He might be our only hope." Nami said, sighing.

"Yosh," Luffy exclaimed. "We're gonna talk to him. Where is he?"

"He lives further up on the mountain. I can lead you to him." Mizuki said, confidence entering her voice. "Yes, he can help us. I know it."

Nami smiled. "Good. I'll go wake the others," she offered. "It has to be almost sunrise already."

Robin walked through the town, carrying several large books and a slice of meat in a container. The sun was already casting pink and orange rays between clouds from its position low in the sky. She knew it would be a good idea to try to find some information on the island's curse, so she had borrowed a few resources from the Thousand Sunny's library. She looked around. The streets were almost as abandoned as they had been the night before, but this time Robin knew the townspeople were not at Azumi square. A few merchants began setting up shops and stands.

Robin approached the inn, yawning slightly. The fatigue from lack of sleep was finally hitting her, but she ignored the feeling. Upon entering the building, she heard voices from the hallways. She rounded a corner and saw Nami standing in the doorway of one of the rooms.

"I know you're hungry, Luffy, but we need to go."

"Namiii," whined Luffy from inside the room.

"Everyone else is getting ready! You're the captain!" She shouted.

Robin laughed softly from down the hall. She had known Luffy would want Sanji's cooking, and had reheated the slice of meat she now carried. "Give him this, Miss Navigator," She smiled, handing her the meat.

"How did you know.. nevermind," Nami said, rolling her eyes as she wondered why she didn't expect Luffy to be hungry.

"I picked up several books that looked like they might hold information on the curse," Mentioned Robin as she walked into the room. Luffy ran past her, drooling hungrily as he took the meat from Nami. He then returned to his seat on the bed, humming as he tore into the meat. Mizuki smiled, unsure of what to make of his sudden change in emotion.

"Good thinking," Nami said, smiling at Robin. "We were just going to visit a Professor Blaire with Mizuki."

"Professor Blaire?" Robin asked, her eyebrows raised with suprise.

"Do you recognize the name?" Nami inquired.

"Yes... I remember seeing his name in a newspaper a few years ago. He was wanted for affiliations with the Revolutionary Army."

Luffy laughed. "I wonder if he knows my dad!"

Mizuki's eyes rose. "Your father is a Revolutionary?"

"Mm," Luffy nodded, attempting to rip off a chunk of meat with his teeth. "My dad's Monkey D. Dragon."

"EHH?" Mizuki cried, her jaw dropping. Robin smiled slightly. "I hope this doesn't make you think poorly of our captain."

"Oh, of course not!" Mizuki said honestly. "Hitoriku is in full support of the Revolutionary Army! That's why we rarely have Marines on the island. They think we suffer from the number of pirates that come here, so they leave us alone."

"Well, that's good to know. I'll go get everyone else ready," Nami said, walking to one of the other rooms.

Luffy burped, having finished his meal, then stood up and stretched his arms. "That was good! But I'm still hungry! I want Sanji to make more meat! Yosh! We'll go find him now!" He grinned to Mizuki. "Mizuki, thank you for everything."

"Ah, it was no trouble! You're welcome," She said, flustered by his appreciation. She blushed slightly, but regained her composure as Nami reentered the room.

"Everyone's ready," She announced, picking up her clima-tact from the bed.

"Good," Luffy said, walking into the hallway. "Let's find that Professor! And then Sanji! I want more meat!"

Sanji lay on his bed, smiling. He had learned that the woman who was now attending his wounds was named Linda. She carefully unwound the bloodstained bindings from his left shoulder and torso. The white shirt Sanji had been dressed with lay next to him on the bed, stained with blood that had exploded from his nose. Linda gently took the remaining bindings off, revealing his wounds.

"Oh, it looks like you're healing up pretty fast," She exclaimed, seeing how the gash had almost sealed itself. "As soon as your ribs heal, you'll be out of here!"

"I never want to leave a woman like you, Linda-chan!" Sanji said, eying her adoringly. "Such beauty!"

Linda laughed lightly as she set the bloody bandages on the table. She picked up the jar of ointment, and opened it with her delicate fingers. "I apologize, this may sting a little..."

"I'll take any pain from you, dear. I am a slave to love!" Sanji cried, crossing his good arm over his now bare chest.

Using a small cloth, Linda gently applied the medicine to the wound. The ointment made the wound sting, but Sanji continued to smile adoringly.

After applying the ointment and bandages, Linda looked up. "Are you hungry, Sanji-kun? Here, I'll get you something to eat." Linda walked to the open door and called out "Risa! Rita! Bring Sanji something to eat!"

Sanji looked up, excitement filling his eyes. "There are other ladies here?"

"Of course there are! This is the infirmary, after all."

Two women then entered the room, both dressed the way Linda had been. They were twins; they both had the same dark blue eyes and short, dirty blonde hair. One carried a bowl of soup, while the other carried a spoon and a napkin.

Linda smiled. "The one on the left is Rita, and the right is Risa! But don't worry if you can't remember!" Linda laughed lightly. "Now, I have to go check on another patient. They'll take care of you for now," Linda said, walking out.

Sanji was ecstatic as Risa sat next to him. As Rita held the soup, she began to feed it to Sanji. "Be careful, it's hot," She whispered quietly.

"You are both hotter, my lovely ladies!" Sanji said cooly. He smiled as both women blushed slightly. Sanji let Risa feed him the soup. He noticed that it was very well made. Not nearly as good as his own cooking, but it was cooked by someone with experience. "Did you beautiful women cook this?"

"No," They replied at the same time. "Eliza cooked the soup."

"It's good," He said as he accepted another spoonful. "My complements to the chef."

"If ya' want, you can thank me now!" A hearty voice said from the doorway.

Sanji looked up in shock and horror. Risa and Rita both smiled and cried "Eliza-sama!"

In the doorway stood a large woman. She had dark red lipstick and rouge, along with a very muscular jaw, and wore a short skirt and revealing blouse very much like the other women. She grinned, "Now who's this good-lookin' fellow?"

Sanji was paralyzed with fear and sudden disappointment.