Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Chapter Ten

And when the lights all went out,

We watched our lives on the screen.

I hate the ending myself,

But it started with an alright scene.

-My Chemical Romance, "Disenchanted"

xxx

Sanji was rather surprised to find somebody in his kitchen the next morning, sitting at the table and drinking coffee. Zoro had left to go to the gym before class and, even with all of the excitement of the night before, he really hadn't been expecting to see a stranger sitting at his table. The man looked to be quite a bit older than Sanji but had the appearance of somebody who had spent a lot of years working hard, so he was still in rather admirable shape. His hair was blue, although not electric-blue like Franky's, and he was wearing a rather gaudy purple-and-orange striped shirt that Sanji really, really wished he could change. He decided that if these people were going to be his guards they would at least have to dress respectably. He may not have had the guts to confront Mihawk on his jacket, but the rest of these people…

Wait. Sanji blinked for a minute (once he got over the fact that either the other man's lips were just abnormally dark or else he was wearing lipstick or something weird) and wondered why there was a mouse on his table. "Um…"

"Nmaa…good morning," the man looked up. "I presume that you're Sanji?"

"Yeah," Sanji moved into the kitchen. "And you are…"

"Iceburg."

"Oh. So you're Iceburg," Sanji nodded, noticing that while the other man seemed to be looking at a newspaper, he was also examining sheets of paper with pictures on them. And it was only when he recognized some of the faces that he became a tad suspicious. "What are you doing?"

"Just looking at pictures of the people that you've invited this afternoon. We have to make sure that none of them have ties with Krieg's men, after all," Iceburg set the pictures down after staring at one for a few moments.

Sanji came over and glanced at it as well. "You know Franky?"

"I did."

"What does that mean?" Sanji blinked.

"He and I used to build ships together when we were teenagers. He continued in the same vein and opened up his mechanic shop while I went into politics," Iceburg sat back and clasped his hands in front of him as he glanced up at Sanji. "We had our disagreements about that, of course, but the fact is that while we were once close friends we haven't spoken in several years. I take it he'll be there this afternoon?"

"He should be."

"I suppose we shall have to rectify our little dispute, then," Iceburg paused before frowning and exclaiming, rather childishly, "I don't see why Lucci's dragging me into this! Why would I want to go?" before he schooled his face into a neutral expression once more. "Nmaa, but that isn't important."

"So? Are they all alright?" Sanji reached for the papers but Iceburg gave him a pointed glance before handing him a picture he drew out of his wallet. Sanji peered at it before his eyes widened and a small smile crept onto his face. There were three people depicted in the photo; on the left was a young man with shoulder-length blue hair that had a white bandana tied overtop, in the middle a young boy with goggles strapped to his head and a look of utter joy and hero-worship on his face, and on the right an older teen wearing a floral-print shirt (and this clued Sanji in immediately. Well, that and the eyeliner…) as well as goggles over his shorter but still electric-blue hair. Both of the older boys had content smiles on their faces. "This was you and Franky?"

At Iceburg's nod, he continued, "Then who's the other boy? The young one?"

"Paulie."

"The guy from the Marina?" Sanji asked.

"Yes. You've heard of him?"

"From Kaku and Kalifa."

"I see," Iceburg took the photo back and tucked it into his wallet once more.

"Are you coming with me to school?" Sanji almost dreaded the answer. Not that Iceburg wasn't pleasant or attractive, but he wasn't sure how the university professors would take to a man with a mouse in his pocket, city clerk or not.

"Not today. We're quite confident that Krieg's men don't yet know where you live or your school schedule, so we won't start officially keeping track of you until next Monday. Besides, am I right in understanding that your roommate and your ex-lover would be more than willing to protect you?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Who told you?" Sanji groaned. Not only did this man have records on all his friends, but he knew that Ace…

"Kaku."

"I hate him."

"No, you don't," Iceburg patted his arm. "Nmaa, but I should be going. I'll meet you at Miss Nefertari's this afternoon, shall I?"

"Sure," Sanji nodded. "Oh, do you want some breakfast? Or does your mouse need anything? I swear, between you and Lucci, you're running a menagerie down at City Hall."

"People keep mice for pets often," Iceburg countered. "But pigeons are a great deal more eccentric."

"Point taken. What's its name?"

"Tyrannosaurus."

And Sanji took back everything he thought about Iceburg seeming normal. He was as cracked as the rest of them. "I see."

"And I think I'll decline your offer for food," Iceburg stood and scooped the small white mouse into his pocket. "I've heard great things about it, but no doubt you're tired of cooking for everyone that pops in. I'll see you later," he waved and walked out as Sanji shook his head at the absurdness of it all.

000

"Hey, can I talk to you?"

"When have I ever said no?" Sanji asked, lighting a cigarette and perching on the hood of his car as Ace wandered up. It was nearing 3:30 now and he was just about to head to Vivi's, but he wasn't going to say no to the company. Especially if the company was Ace.

"Look, it's just…" Ace scrubbed a hand through his hair and looked as if he were trying to figure out the best way to phrase something a little unconventional. "I…I think you're in danger."

"Danger, huh?" Sanji didn't let any emotion flicker over his face as he blew out some smoke. Maybe he'd have to get Kaku to teach him how to be indifferent after all. He knew he was pretty good at it, but if it came to life or death…well, the other man could freeze lava with the face he'd pulled the night before. "What kind of danger?"

"Have you ever heard of a man named Don Krieg?"

"Yeah," Sanji's eyes narrowed now. What was going on?

"Well, Smoker showed up at my place this morning and said that there'd been a murder at the restaurant and that the city thought it was Don Krieg's doing and that he was looking for you," Ace forced out before taking a breath.

"I know."

"You…you know?"

"Yeah. But why does Smoker care?"

"Apparently Krieg's men like to harass ships coming into the harbour, and they're giving the Coast Guard a hard time of it so Smoker and gramps are pretty fed up with them, too," Ace shrugged. "Or wait, is this why we're going to Vivi's?"

"Yup," Sanji nodded as Ace hopped up on the car beside him and put an arm around him. "I found out last night. I think I'm still trying to process it."

"So what's the deal?"

"Can't you wait for a half-hour?"

"Fat chance."

"Figures," Sanji rolled his eyes. "I need a bodyguard at all times when I'm not with Zoro or you."

"Okay, I get Zoro because otherwise they'd have to send somebody to stay at your house. But me?"

"Word got out to the organizers of this little mission that we were lovers."

"Word," Ace looked unimpressed.

"Yeah."

"So who do I need to go after?" Ace had a grin on his face.

"Don't try it. He'll beat you to a bloody pulp and still act like a perfect gentleman," Sanji replied, mimicking Ace's words from when he had first described 'Zoro's trainer.'

"So, wait, he works for the government?" Ace blinked.

"That he does."

"Wow. I never…I mean, yeah, he's a little weird, but I never would have thought that…" Ace shook his head. "So, there is somebody after you?"

"They think so."

"Who's 'they?'"

"The people the city hired to keep gang violence down," Sanji shrugged. "I dunno if they have a name or anything."

"We have a special unit for gangs?" Ace blinked again, looking rather adorably confused.

"Apparently. News to me, too, but it seems that being in this super-special elite group means that you have to go about your life living a lie," Sanji snorted.

"Uh-oh," Ace was now sporting a rather teasing grin. "Are you and your new boyfriend having problems?"

"Shut up," Sanji elbowed him. "I'm not particularly happy with that man right now."

"I can tell," Ace sighed. "But you like him, right?"

"Define 'like.'"

"Friendship," Ace said bluntly. "You're head over heels for Zoro; I doubt some long-nosed freak will take precedence. Even if he does have killer eyelashes."

"Ace! He's not a…"

"There, see? You're defending him, so you can't really hate him," Ace was still grinning.

"Whatever. We have to go if we're going to make it to Vivi-chan's on time," Sanji slid off the hood and opened the door. "Want a ride?"

"Of course," Ace got into the car and they drove away.

000

Vivi Nefertari's house was a mansion in every sense of the word. Perched on a hilltop in the north part of the city surrounded by lush forest and accessible only by a wrought-iron gate that required about five pieces of identification, Sanji had always loved going there. Being an orphan, even though he had high-class tastes, such luxuries were rare in his life and he liked the idea of feeling like one day he'd own a restaurant in a five-star hotel and be able to experience such things all the time.

As they pulled up the long, winding driveway, glimpses of the Pacific Ocean were visible out the passenger side window, and the University also came into view sitting on a bluff high atop the water. It was a nice day for September; the sun was warm and the leaves just starting to turn. All too soon October and the start of the rainy season would be there, so the days of full sunlight were meant to be cherished before they were plunged into what counted as winter on the West Coast.

"So, why d'you think Vivi's letting us have it here?" Ace wondered as they parked in the roundabout before the front door and walked up the marble steps. "It seems odd that she'd just agree like…"

"Not odd at all," Vivi herself stood inside the doorway, a smile on her face.

"Vivi-chan, my love! How are you?" Sanji waved enthusiastically.

"I'm fine, Sanji," she smiled. "Oh, Sanji, you remember Pell?"

The man standing beside Vivi nodded his head and Sanji grinned at him. It was hard to tell how old the other man was; his skin was so fair that he would always look younger than he was, although at the moment he looked almost un-dead. His hair was dark black and he had very noticeable eyeliner around his eyes, although Sanji reasoned that if Vivi's family had originally come from Egypt the exotic look may have been more common elsewhere…although he'd dearly like to know how Pell kept his skin so pale in a desert. He had never quite understood Pell's relationship to Vivi, although now that he thought about it everything seemed to make a little more sense. "So it isn't odd because you've been under guard all your life?" he finally questioned.

"That's part of it," she admitted. "Pell and Chaka have essentially acted as my bodyguards out in the world. My father has always been afraid that I would be prone to kidnapping because of our wealth and status, and that leads to the other reason Rob Lucci and Cipher Pol are known to us."

"Wait, Cipher Pol?" Sanji held up a hand.

"Yes. Cipher Pol Number Nine…or CP9 for short. That's what the special task force is called," she informed them. "But come in. I'll explain on the way to the parlour," she ushered them inside before continuing. "A few years back there was another large gang in the city. Their leader was a man named Crocodile, and he was working for my father at the time. However, it was discovered that he had plans to fraud the company, send my father to jail, and take over management for himself and his gang of thugs. Rob Lucci is the man who discovered this plot and he and his team ended up capturing Crocodile and convicting him, so hopefully he'll rot in jail for a long time," she had a frown on her face.

"So this Lucci fella…he's good, then?" Ace wondered aloud.

"More than," Vivi assured him. "I wouldn't worry about a thing, Sanji. If Rob Lucci says he's going to protect you, you're as safe as anyone in the world. His team is remarkable, and even with Pell and Chaka around, they were always close, always watching just to make sure I was okay. You almost forget they're there after a while," she admitted.

"Well, I'd hate for it to be awkward, so…oh, not you again!" Sanji groaned as Hattori fluttered to his shoulder and cooed.

"He likes you."

Sanji looked up to see Lucci standing easily against the parlour doorway, looking far more casual than he had the night before. But no less intimidating, Sanji thought. His top hat was gone and he was wearing all black, but his shirt collar was undone and there was no tie this time. His wavy hair was tied back and he had what Sanji supposed would have passed for an amiable smile on his face had it not looked so predatory. "I see that. Kaku told me that the board at your condo doesn't like him, but that doesn't mean I'm going to take him."

"I wouldn't expect you to," Lucci replied, easing himself away from the doorframe and walking over. "You must be Mr. Portgas."

"Yes," Ace accepted the older man's hand. "And you must be Rob Lucci."

"I am. Incidentally, Sanji, did Iceburg show up at your place this morning?"

"Him and his mouse," Sanji sighed.

"Good. I was hoping that he would."

"Are the others here yet?"

"Very few of them. I see your friends have a problem with the concept of 'punctuality,'" Lucci raised one of his curiously arched eyebrows.

"They're kids," Sanji shrugged. "What did you expect?"

"I suppose."

Lucci trailed off as a giant bang came from the entrance, followed by a shriek of "Luffy! You do not just barge through doors like that!"

"My angel!" Sanji sighed as Nami came into sight, pulling a sheepish-looking Luffy by his collar as Usopp and Kaya followed close behind. "You look even lovelier when you're angry."

"Hello, Sanji-kun," she smiled at him. "I'm sorry, Vivi, but this idiot may have dented your door."

"It's no problem," Vivi had a pained smile on her face as she waved it off. "Pell will take a look at it."

"At least it's better than last time," the pale man muttered as he strode off. "Last time the door came clean off its hinges."

"Sanji!" Sanji braced for impact as a small boy flung himself at him, and he spun the teenager around as Chopper laughed. "It's so good to see you again!"

"Same, kiddo," Sanji ruffled his hair. "But you're getting a little too big for me to pick up, you know that?"

"Sorry," Chopper blushed and shifted from foot-to-foot in an embarrassed little shuffle.

"So what's this all about, Sanji?" Kaya asked, her fingers tight on Usopp's arm as she glanced at Lucci.

"You'll find out soon enough. Broo-hoo!"

They all jumped; even Sanji, although it was understandable since the one who had uttered the words was seated on his shoulder.

"What was that?" Usopp was starting to shake.

"Broo-hoo, my apologies. My name is Hattori!" the pigeon crowed, using a wing to point to itself. "My master is Rob Lucci, and he'll explain everything as soon as everyone gets here."

"THE PIGEON TALKED! AWESOME!" Luffy crowed, rushing over and examining the white bird. "HOW DOES IT DO THAT?!"

"AWESOME!" Chopper echoed, his eyes wide.

"Do I want to know?" Ace looked rather amused.

"Is ventriloquism an asset in your job?" Sanji glanced back to Lucci, who regarded him impassively.

"Not at all!" the pigeon replied, and Sanji had to admit that the man was good: he couldn't tell where the original voice was coming from. "But throwing your voice certainly is." The pigeon's voice suddenly deepened to a much more human tone, and Luffy's eyes nearly bugged out of his head.

"I suppose that's true," Nami looked intrigued. "So what are you, then? A spy?"

"Not quite," Lucci used his own mouth to speak the words this time around. "But, as I said, your answers will come shortly. Please, go in and make yourselves comfortable. I believe we're only waiting for a certain roommate of Mr. Blackleg's to show up before we can begin. And a certain city clerk," he amended. "I understand he and your mechanic friend had a falling out some years back?"

"So he's said," Sanji replied. "But he was vague on the details."

"Ah. Well, no doubt everything shall be sorted out soon enough. Ah, hello, Mr. Roronoa."

"Who're you?" Zoro grunted, striding into the hall and moving almost protectively over to Sanji. "Hey. You alright?"

"Fine."

"Good. Who's he?"

"Lucci."

"Lucci Kaku's roommate Lucci?" Zoro clarified.

"Yes," Lucci answered.

There were more footsteps in the hallway and two men rounded the corner, one with blonde hair and an unlit cigar in his mouth talking animatedly to the other, who looked remarkably unfazed. This must be Paulie, then, Sanji thought absently, as the two men came up. "Nmaa, sorry I'm a tad late. Paulie here wanted me to look at something on a boat of his and we ran short of time."

"It's always my fault, isn't it?" Paulie rolled his eyes. "There. I've brought you. Can I go?"

"I'll need a ride back downtown."

"You're so needy," Paulie scoffed. "Oi, Lucci, you promised you'd help me tomorrow, remember?"

"If I can," the pigeon replied.

"Stop that. It freaks me out," Paulie put his hands on his hips. "Tomorrow, then?"

"If I can," the pigeon repeated, and Paulie threw his hands up in exasperation before stalking out.

"Hey, bros, what's taking you all so long?" Franky stuck his head out, but his eyes narrowed as he saw Iceburg. "Oh. It's you."

"It has been a while, hasn't it, Franky?" Iceburg's face remained neutral.

"I thought I didn't exist in your little world of books and politics anymore," Franky snorted.

"Perhaps we were both too hasty when it came to each other's career choices," Iceburg offered. "Regardless, that isn't what I'm here for today. If you want to talk, we can do so at your leisure."

"Yeah. Fine," Franky hesitated before sticking out his hand, and Iceburg gave him a nod before shaking it. "Come in, then. I think Brook's gonna go ballistic if he has to sit still any longer. I've already had to drag him away from the piano about three times."

They all filed in and Sanji waved enthusiastically toward Robin as the older woman gave him a gracious nod. Brook was still staring at the piano but he perked up as more and more people filtered into the room and let out one of his ear-splitting laughs that caused Sanji to cringe as he sat down on one of the long couches, once again seated between Zoro and Ace.

Once they had all settled themselves and Vivi had offered drinks, Lucci and Iceburg began to explain the situation. Sanji all but tuned out, having heard it all the night before. Ace had a hand on his shoulder and Sanji shared a look with him at one point. Why did everything seem so much faster last night? Oh, right, because he was completely freaked out.

Sanji only began to tune back in when silence filled the room, and he noticed that every single pair of eyes was on him. "What?"

"What do you mean, 'what?'" Nami's eyes were wide. "There's people that want to kill you!"

"Yeah," Sanji shrugged. "But it's not like I'm in any danger yet. They don't know who I am, and if I've got guards…"

"Speaking of which," Robin's smooth alto broke his sentence. "Would it be beneficial for us to know the names and descriptions of these guards? It's one thing to inform us that they'll be there, but how are we to know if the people shadowing Sanji are guards or enemies if we don't know what they look like?"

"Robin-chwan is so smart!" Sanji sighed happily as Zoro elbowed him. "Oi, idiot. Hands off." Zoro looked a little perturbed by this, so Sanji rolled his eyes and let his head drop onto Zoro's shoulder. "I'm joking, Marimo."

Zoro grunted in response but his hand moved to Sanji's thigh and rested there as Sanji let a smile touch his lips.

"You're right, of course," Lucci nodded. "However, there are some complications with that theory. Namely that even we are not quite sure who we can spare to watch him at any given time. I will be one of the ones chosen, of course, but the fact remains that we all have 'real' jobs with the city that we can't just up and forget about without arousing suspicion."

"But then how will we know? Will you have some sort of code? Common dress? Something?" Nami leant forward, her hand gripping Luffy's tightly.

"Once more, I cannot answer that. Chances are, however, that you need not worry. Mr. Blackleg will mostly need escorts whenever he is out of his apartment as well as when he is home alone, and we will have members at the restaurant for each one of his shifts. If he is with any of you in the room now, there is really no need for extra protection. Krieg's men will not attack when there are others present, which is why he needs companionship at all times," Lucci explained as Nami finally nodded and sat back. "When is your next shift?" he turned his piercing eyes on Sanji.

"Tomorrow," Sanji replied slowly. "I work closing again."

"One of us will be there," Lucci assured him.

"One of you?"

"Most probably my roommate," Lucci finally admitted.

"Ah."

"Oi, cook, I thought you told me not to get mad at him," Zoro wondered aloud.

"Yeah. Because I'm already mad at him," Sanji huffed. "Stupid lying long-nosed freak."

"Thought he wasn't a freak," Ace muttered as Sanji shot him a glare.

"Sanji, what'd he do?" Zoro asked, looking a little concerned.

"It's nothing," Sanji shook his head. "We'll work it out. I've already told him I'm not mad."

"But you are?"

"Not…not really. I'm just…I feel a little betrayed is all. And I shouldn't, really, because I hardly know him, but I always thought my judgment of people was good, you know? And here I find out that one man I feel like I can trust and that I connect with was essentially putting on a front the entire time. I understand that because of his job he has to, but that doesn't make me feel any better," Sanji chewed on his lip reflexively.

"It's his own fault," Lucci said simply. "His training expressly warns him not to get close to anybody because of the very reasons you've been explaining. And yet he chose to do so. You're allowed to be angry with him."

"Yeah. I guess," Sanji closed his eyes as Zoro placed an arm around his back and held him close, Sanji nuzzling into the swordsman's neck. "How is he taking it?"

"He was fairly emotionless this morning," Lucci admitted. "He feels guilty for ignoring the most basic lessons he was taught, but I think that he feels worse knowing that not only does he feel bad, but somebody else does as well. It's…difficult for him to get close to anyone, and from what I saw last night…" the dark-haired man shrugged. "Well, no matter. He's a strong lad. He'll get over it."

"I'll talk to him tomorrow," Sanji promised, glancing around to note that most of the occupants of the room were staring at him curiously.

"Should we be inquiring as to who this mysterious man is?" Robin had a hand propped under her chin and looked rather amused.

"My trainer," Zoro cleared his throat. "Some of you probably haven't met him. His name's…"

"Kaku Yamakaze," Sanji interjected.

" 'Yamakaze?'" Zoro glanced at him.

"Yeah. He's part Japanese. Mountainwind was just an alias…they mean the same thing," he explained quickly.

"Really is a liar, eh?" Zoro chuckled. "Well, you two'll figure it out, I'm sure."

"You're not mad?"

"Why would I be? It's not like we've ever been more than casual friends anyway. He has his secrets, I have mine. There's nothing to get all bent out of shape over."

"That's surprisingly deep," Sanji gave Zoro an appraising glance. "Maybe you do have more than one brain cell."

"Oi," Zoro grunted.

"You two are cute, you know that?" Nami was smiling at them, but Zoro knew that the orange-haired witch probably had other things on her mind then how 'cute' they looked.

"But not as cute as I'd be with you, Nami-swaaaan!" Sanji trilled, basically in Zoro's ear, and the larger man grimaced at the unwanted noise.

Nami predictably ignored him even as he started to wiggle slightly on the couch. "Calm down, love-cook," Zoro looked surly as Sanji finally listened and leant back against him, smiling as he ran his fingers down the other man's arm. "Oi, do we need to hang around here anymore?" he finally asked. "If we know everything…"

"You're all welcome to stay for dinner," Vivi said cordially. "Terracotta says that she'd love to cook for all of you."

"And we could never turn down her food," Sanji sighed. "That woman has some serious talent."

"It's settled, then!" Luffy hopped on top of the couch. "Food!"

"Luffy, you can't just…" Nami held up a hand futilely as Luffy tore out of the room, his exuberant shouts of "Food!" echoing down the long hallways of the mansion. Nami sighed and rubbed her temples before looking over at Sanji and giving him a smile. "Well? Shall we?"

"Of course, my dear!" Sanji jumped away from Zoro and took her hand as they walked to the dining room, glad that all of his friends were taking this so well.

"Sanji-kun, how are you holding up?" she asked as they walked, her hand comfortable ensconced in his. "I mean, so soon after you've been gone for two years…it can't be easy."

"I'm trying not to think about it, to be honest," Sanji admitted. "I can accept it and I can accept that I'm going to need to be a little more careful from here on out, but Vivi-chan gave me her word that if anyone can break up this band and send them all to jail where they belong, it's definitely Rob Lucci."

"He is a little intimidating, isn't he?" she looked intrigued. "What about the rest of his team? What are they like?"

"I've only had the pleasure of meeting a couple," Sanji replied truthfully. "But they seem competent…even if the rules they need to live by in order to ensure their own safety are a little…shall we say…detrimental to forming friendships or relationships?"

"You can't blame them for that," Nami patted his arm. "Well, you know that we're all here for you, right?"

"Of course," he smiled at her as she reached to place a chaste kiss on his cheek. "And you know how much I appreciate it."

"Of course," she echoed his words. "Well, shall we go and eat?"

"That'd be lovely."

Notes:

1. Anyone interested in the picture that Iceburg has, it's based on this one ON THIS PAGE sh(.)hoon(.)jp/g03/pict/w7_log_if_15(.)html (at the bottom). The link for the main website page is here: sh(.)hoon(.)jp/g03/menu(.)html it has wonderful art (even the SCRAPS are amazing). There's your general ZoSan and SmoAce stuff, and a TON of Water 7/Enies Lobby stuff, so go check it out if you want to!

I think that's actually it for this time around…