Bonjour Friends!

AN/: I've finally returned! As I've mentioned to some readers/commentors, 2018 has been a very rough year for me and it was difficult to sit down and write. I did have doubt that I'd ever return, but I felt a lot of inspiration lately so here I am. Although I still cannot promise to work faster and update regularly, I can promise to never quit. I do love writing these outlines and having the best time rereading and growing from these experiences. So please, enjoy, let me know what you think! The next chapters are gonna blow up; I can't wait!

If you do like this fan-fic (or not—but still), then please check out my other fics on my page such as Always a Sin and Not the Same as Them which are Naruto fan-fics. Once again, if you like this story, let me know, send a review my way and follow it up. Thanks so much!

Eggs and Bacon,

CrimsonNi

Chapter Nine

"I don't understand; what did you find in the book?"

Sanji, who was high on endorphins for what felt like a few seconds, sobered up and recollected the memories the short passages of the book triggered. He felt his mouth move before hearing himself speak. Hiniku was zoned in on him, serious and concerned all at once. "When I was six years old," he began. "My mother gave me a book about dragons. Truthfully, I didn't particularly care for it, but anything my mother ever gave me was always met with the highest praise and joy. So I read it, thinking it was a book about the folklore of dragons."

"I'm assuming it wasn't."

Sanji cracked a smile. "No, it was actually about the relationship between humans and dragons. I remember reading a legend about a man that developed a deep, spiritual connection with a dragon-he loved it so much, he promised on his deathbed that in his passing, he would become the fire in the dragon's gut. If the legend were true, would you understand why that's considered arrogant and naive?"

Hiniku shook her head. She was enamored by Sanji's story-telling abilities and she was sure that he wasn't aware of just how good he was.

"Before their extinction, dragons were considered the most untameable creatures of this planet. Many have believed that dragons were so sentient, they could be comparable to gods or demigods. So this man who loved a dragon was considered a fool for dying and believing he could hold significance for something that never loved or cared for him in return. But according to legend, he was loved back. The dragon treasured this human so much, he gave him the gift of rebirth. Everytime the human reached his end, he would be engulfed in flames and be born anew to live another lifetime."

"So they lived happily ever after?"

"It turns out that dragons are not immortal; surely they live very long, but even they have a limit. And unbeknownst to the man, everytime he was born anew with flames, the dragon's life span decreased. In the end, as much as the man wished against it, he had to live on without the dragon. Ironic really, since the man wanted to be the dragon's muse but it ended up being the other way around."

"Forgive me, Sanji-sama, but what does this legend have to do with the book?"

Sanji reached for a pencil nestled in the inside of his pant pocket-a proper chef always had a handy writing utensil in case there was an inspiring new recipe to write-and circled some phrases in the pages.

"See here?" He asked, facing the book towards Hiniku. "It's common for cookbooks or recipe books to start with an intro that describes the theme of the dishes. In this passage, there's mention that the theme is "Laurenti inspired" and here," he said as he pointed to the first recipe listed. "It emphasizes that all ingredients must be aged. There's a couple other mentions of age and fire. Whoever wrote this book-and I already have an idea as to who-was referencing that old tale."

Unfortunately, Hiniku did not look convinced. "I'm sorry, Sanji-sama, but I'm afraid I still do not understand."

However, Sanji was patient. "Laurenti is a Northern-born scientist who studied all reptilian species, including dragons. He was known for being obsessed with them to the point of people accusing him of experimentation and was executed via hanging after it was learned that he trying to make that legend come true."

"How would that even be possible?"

"He experimented; he'd kidnap the likes of orphans or strangers and have them burned alive with the flames of the dragons. But to my original point, Laurenti, at his hanging, was asked if he had any last words. He said, 'I only regret the pain I've bestowed my dragons before my end'. The person who's writing this wrote a letter in the form of an allegory. He's apologizing to the recipient for causing them pain of some kind."

"Who wrote such a letter?"

"Vegapunk."

~*BREAK*~

Contrary to popular belief, Zoro does consider himself cultured….more so in alcohol, but traveling with the Strawhats has helped him learn a lot about different people and cultures. In other words, Zoro has seen some shit. All kinds of devil fruits and users, all kinds of weapons, all kinds of battles and death and foods; all aspects of life that one can imagine. But he's pretty sure that he's never seen this. Well, maybe a variation from other people that he's met along the way, but from Luffy? Never.

Before him in the sandy clearings of Wano stood Luffy, skin blaring red as if he were split open, glaring at the sky with a fury he barely witnessed with his battle with Kaido. Except, Kaido was not around, no other Yonko was around-no enemy in general. The Strawhats were keeping a strong eye on Kidd and his crew, so Luffy's level of ire was confusing for Zoro. He'd never seen Luffy so raw before and for a moment, he wondered if Luffy was worse off or tame (in comparison) to when he lost Ace.

What prompted him to come this way was the horrible aura that leaked through the air after the Cook's flashy departure. He remembered thinking something was wrong when the woman used her paper abilities to whorl the Cook through the sky onto one of the Germa ships and left Luffy with that aura. Then Luffy played his own disappearance trick and high tailed it to here where it looked like he was ready to destroy the ground beneath him. Luffy was taking deep breaths, one by one, attempting what Zoro would assume was regulation. As a man who regularly mediates to prevent himself from destroying random pirate ships on a whim, he knew it best to avoid disrupting the regulation process. He knew to remain quiet, to make his presence known, but not threatening. And after a while Luffy finally acknowledge Zoro.

"I made him mad."

"The Cook?"

Luffy mutely nodded. "Sanji, yeah."

Now this was completely foreign territory. They've never had this kind of 1 to 1 before. "Isn't he...always mad?"

Luffy frustratingly pulled at his hair and huffed, his cheeks returning to the scarlet color. "I don't get it! I want to help him but he won't let me!"

"Since when has that stopped you before? You've always barged your way into people's business-"

"But this is different! He told me not to butt in but this isn't right!"

Zoro sighed, feeling an urge to rub his temples. What he wouldn't kill to fuck or train right now. "This isn't like you, Luffy. You got a problem with the Cook, drag his ass here and settle it once and for all. We can't leave here with all this baggage; it's only going to set us back."

"I feel like I'm losing him again."

That stopped Zoro short. "Again?" Zoro's mind drifted to the 2 year separation, which, if that was what Luffy was referring to, just what the fuck? Luffy didn't only "lose" the Cook, but the whole goddamn crew! Did he just miss the stupid Love Cook?! He meant to ask, but Luffy's melancholy face stopped Zoro again.

Luffy looked right at him, right at his face, into his pupils and something very serious but silent was being spoken. "I've already lost him once." This wasn't about the 2 year separation.

The side of Zoro that was like everyone else, the nosy side that actually liked hearing about others, wanted to desperately ask what Luffy was talking about, but that look spoke volumes. It told Zoro that the moment he asked, he'd regret it and he wasn't even sure why. That nagging little voice whispered in the same kind of desperate tone as Luffy and begged him not to ask. It told him that he truthfully would not like to know the truth to that question. Then suddenly the voice yelled for him to get out of the way! Luffy's arm enlarged from long and lanky to thick and veiny and unfortunately for Zoro, it was aiming right at him. But that voice warned him early enough for him to dodge. In doing so, Zoro's vision was filled with dust, debris, and sand.

"What the fuck?!"

"Coward!"

"What the hell is your problem, Luffy?!"

"Sanji is really stupid! He deserves better but he's too stupid!"

Zoro dodged again, this time ripping his swords out of their sheaths. He's fought Luffy only once before, but that was 3 years ago AND Luffy without haki training. Now, Zoro's beyond confident in his abilities and if this were a sparring match, this would be different. Because he would understand that it would be a fight to last a long while but neither would charge 100%. Except, this was a sparring match and against a furious Luffy? Truthfully, Zoro was kind of shitting himself. Which was bad, because Law had his way with him not too long ago and feeling the stretch now of all times? It certainly didn't help matters.

Still, Zoro wasn't going to just stand here and allowed himself to be beaten the crap out of. "Calm down, what the fuck does any of that have to do with me?!"

Wrong thing to say apparently since that made Luffy roar in anger. Luffy wasn't in the mood for talking apparently. Okay, time to tell "fear" to fuck off because whatever was Luffy's problem clearly had to be settled through combat. There was no time to tie his lucky bandana around his head, but fine, he had his swords so he could defend himself. He just wished he had some damn luck. Just as he secured Wado tightly between his jaw, Zoro suddenly found himself closer to the ships and Law in the same place he was standing. Luffy recognized the change in target and seemed only a little thrown off, but his focus returned in an instant. Luffy's face did not change in fury levels but at least he wasn't flinging spaghetti arms at Law. Clearly Law used that to his advantage because Zoro saw him walk right into Luffy's space to speak into his ear. It was frustrating, but Zoro was thankful that whatever Law was saying, Luffy seemed to buy. Although his skin was still blotchy, the steam leaking from Luffy's ears were cooling down and the frown lines were slowly disappearing. In a matter of seconds, Luffy's ire ran its course with the help of Law. Zoro watched as the two walked towards him and even though the voice returned to tell him it was safe, Zoro still felt it smart to keep his swords up to guard.

"I doubt you need those anymore, Zoro-ya."

Zoro did not respond, keeping his eyes focused on Luffy. He was subdued in expression, but he did appear better, lighter. "Sorry, Zoro. I didn't mean to try and hit you."

"Maybe you should talk with the Cook." He suggested.

The spark of fury lit up behind Luffy's eyes, making Zoro tighten his grip on his swords. "No, maybe you should."

For the third time in such a short amount of time, Zoro was stopped short. He was confused and angry and confused. He supposed he was more frustrated than usual because Luffy was the most readable person to him; even when he didn't understand him, he didn't worry because Luffy would somehow clue Zoro in how what he was thinking. Like with Law. Everyone, himself included thought Law was just using Luffy and to see Luffy just accept Law was baffling. Except, Luffy had this look and aura that spelled it out for him. While the rest of the crew were gossiping about how Law was ultimately going to kill him, Zoro understood that Luffy trusted Law thus Law was already to be trusted by all of them.

Then all three felt a third presence across the sand. They turned in time to see an army of white behind a head of pink. Had they not met her beforehand, it would be assumed that Sanji was doing some cross-dressing; the Princess (or Queen now?) was dressed in glamorous pink, including her cape draped over one shoulder. Her heels, although silent in the sand, somehow clashed with the surface enough to make her presence known.

"No, maybe I should," she stated with a sly smirk.

~*BREAK*~

Hiniku was kind enough to grab more pencils and paper for Sanji to note his scrapings as he deciphered more of the book. It was rather thick, but the "recipes" were short enough to break down the code. He managed to get maybe a quarter in, still unable to learn who the recipient of the "letter" was, but Sanji was getting an idea of what Vegapunk was saying. The man sounded like quite the Laurenti. Sanji would have been able to decipher more had he not experienced the worst chill in his spine. He shot up from his seat and looked at all vulnerable spots a person could hit him from, but he couldn't identify the source. He felt too many auras, well actually, he felt 4, but 4 still considered many! One of them was quite a distance and not as gross feeling as the other 3 which made him want to smack himself on the forehead. These auras were very familiar. Blood-relative familiar.

Three powerful thumps landed in front of him and made a diamond formation. Yonji was to his left, Niji to his right, and dead center, was Ichiji. They were wearing their raid suits but Sanji was not blind to the darkening skin of Ichiji's neck and face. It was clear that he was burned, cut, and bruised but the extent of the damage was not as open. Sanji felt a tiny lick of bloodlust urging him to look. Take a look. And look he would after he learned how this would play out.

"Brother." The monotone voice spoke. Empty, lifeless.

"Ichiji," was hissed back. Did Sanji think tiny? He stood corrected, he meant the bloodlust was waking up and growing up to be quite the monster.

"I believe we have some business to finish". Without resistance, Ichiji's mouth stretched into a grimly smile befitting that of a monster. Sanji got the sense that Ichiji's own bloodlust was filling him with purpose.

Perhaps he commanded it through body language more than actual words, but the cloned soldiers were swift in their formations; they lined themselves behind the brothers, the front line armed with guns and the second armed with spears. Sanji assumed, at first, that the soldiers turned on him since the "masters" they served for years were now present, but the frowns on the all brothers' faces made it a clear indication. The tides turned in Sanji's favor. Still, the bloodlust wanted no casualty; it needed to spill Ichiji's blood on its own. Sanji waived his hand as a signal (hopefully one that they can read) to back off. And when they did, the bloodlust throbbed harder. He couldn't help himself any longer, Sanji just had to match his smile to Ichiji's.

"Yes, we do," he replied hungrily. Yes, his bloodlust was hungry and finally, finally, it was time to satiate its hunger.