A finger reaches the strap that it was trying to take off earlier. Usopp immediately blush at the sudden touch, but that didn't stop Sanji from continuing his urge to undress his sniper. He already told him that they would continue no matter what if Usopp had agree to the situation, which he indeed has, so there was no going back now.

After taking off one of the sniper's straps, he stared at his face, burning red with embarrassment.

"Your still embarrass about me seeing your body?" Sanji asked, grabbing a hold of the other strap.

"Y-Yes! Shut up!"

"I still don't see why. I've seen you body before."

"Don't you see?! Before, we weren't lovers so it was ok, but now that we doing something like this, it's really embarrassing. Because now you are going to be doing things….with my body, looking at my body directly….it's just…just driving me crazy! Because it you-"

Suddenly the sharpshooter cover his mouth, after just realizing what he just said, not wanting to admit that last part. Sanji's eyes widen, in surprised.

"B-Baka! You are making say strange things again, Sanji!" Usopp exclaimed, waving his hand back and forth in front of his face, blocking Sanji from seeing.

"Usopp…" Sanji pull his hand away from his face to see him so fluster. "You are…so adorable sometimes." He chuckled, blushing a bit.

"Shut up! Just keep doing what you were doing!" Usopp, shouted, being stubborn in a cute way, at least to Sanji.

"With pleasure, Sniper king…"

"W-What I didn't mean…Ah!" Usopp tried to stop Sanji but it was too late, he already got the second strap off, pulling a bit of his overalls off, revealing his bare chest.

Sanji blinked a bit, never really hearing the brave warrior of the sea moan before. It sounded too beautiful, so arousing, and so wonderful; for it turn him on so much, that he couldn't wait hear more.

On the other hand, Usopp didn't understand his own sounds from his own long nose as he quickly covers his own mouth after hearing it.

"Did I just really make that sound?" He thought, and then he flinched, feeling the massages of the cook, feeling his torso, after being separate for two years. He was just doing his own thing; admiring the abs he got from the training. Memories surfaced, recalling how scrawny he used to be. Did that change that fact that would have loved him back then if he was still look like that? Probably not. But he did like that his sniper was getting stronger as everyone else, not only becoming more confident in himself, but in his body and his abilities.

"Shit, what happen to you those last two years? I barely noticed how muscular it has been we last seen each other."

"I had to get stronger… For Luffy's sake. For the crew's…Everyone's sake…" Sanji listen and could hear sadness in his voice. The sniper looked down in regret.

"Back on that Island, when Zoro disappeared….I couldn't do anything. I really felt….useless at that time…"

Uh oh. This is bad. Sanji didn't mean to bring him down. What happen back on the Island hurt everybody including him and Usopp?

"Don't be so down on yourself. We all couldn't do anything at that time. We all share the same issue here. None of us was a match for him…"

"Yeah! But I couldn't do anything! I couldn't help one bit." Sanji in return took his right finger and pinch Usopp's cheek.

"Ow! Sanji."Usopp whined.

"Yeah and how do you think I felt when I couldn't do anything to protect my crewmates? When you tried to carry me when I couldn't do anything to stop him? I tried to protect you guys like Brooke did before you, and seeing you terrified, but putting everything you got to protect me, to protect our crew…and when you disappear right before my eyes…" He trailed off. Usopp noticed that Sanji was in a whole different world. He remember what happen at that time, wanting to protect his friends, but wasn't strong enough. Sanji has been through a lot. He always acted like the big brother, trying to protect his family, like Zoro. He remember the sacrifice that the swordsman's was willing to make in order to protect Luffy, though nobody never breathed a word about it, he remember that Sanji was willing to do the same for his not only his captain but for his beloved crew. Oh course this was not something that Sanji nor Zoro would bring up but Usopp could understand that enough that even though they both fight a lot over of the course of their adventure, they both really respect each other. Usopp has always felt they were more like the big brothers of the family, always willing to protect their siblings from any danger especially for their captain. Heck all three of them even had a name called the "monster trio" So where did Usopp fit with Sanji? How could even match that bond that the three of them had?

Suddenly he felt to hands grasping the sharpshooter's face.

"Usopp…When you disappear, back on that island, my heart stop…I didn't know what to do about it at that point. I let my captain down, my crewmates were all leaving right in front of me and you…had to protect me…"

Usopp could tell he was hurt as the cook was trembling as he held his face. Usopp moved slowly towards his forehead, caressing with his own.

"What you did for this island. Taking on those guys on your own like that…didn't even bother to have us help you, because you wanted to handle the guys on your own, and prove to be a better person. Why? We almost lost you because of it. If it weren't for Nia-chan, sacrificing her life for the sake of your own…Do you have any idea how worried, heartbroken we were because of the actions you took? I know you wanted to save Nia-chan and you wanted us to believe in you, but please…Don't be so reckless. Don't act on your own when you got us, your friends, your crewmates, and your family with you. You're not alone."

Sanji looked up at the sniper who seem to be depress, hearing that statement, but Sanji didn't care. He need Usopp to know that he can't be running off the face of the planet on his own and nearly getting himself killed because of it when he has friends who care about him deeply.

Usopp didn't answer because he simply didn't know if something like that was going to happen again. It could be tomorrow, or tonight to be frankly honest. Or on some other island. There might be one day when that might happen again so he didn't want to promise to that.

Unfortunately Sanji can read his expression and knew exactly what he was thinking, as he pinched his cheek again.

"Hey! Are you listening, Usopp? Don't you dare be going do something reckless again? Promise me!" He scolded.

"Ow! Sanji! I can't! I don't want to promise something I can't keep!"

"Shit! Then-Why can't you!?" Sanji exclaimed, pinching his cheek even harder.

"OW! OW! Sanji-kun! I can't make that promise because I don't want you or the others protecting me!"

"What you mean protecting you!? You always want us protecting you all the time!? Why now is an issue!?"

"That's not it! I don't want to see you…die for my sake…"

Sanji stopped pinching his bruised right pink cheek, and stared at him, curiously wondering what he is talking about.

"The reason why I've became this way…The reason why…I became stronger was to protect, my Captain, my crewmates, and you. I don't want to see you guys have to be sticking your necks out for me. I want to be a worthy crewmate standing by your side."

"Usopp…"

"I don't want to see the day where you or Zoro would be sacrificing yourselves for our sak-"

"Wait! What do you mean me or Moss head?" Sanji was confused, wondering what he could be talking about.

"Oh crap! I wasn't supposed to talk about that!" Usopp covered his mouth, remembering what was told back at Thriller Bark. He surprised that he didn't bring it up sooner with him and his big mouth.

"Talk about what? Tell me, Usopp."

"I can't! Y-You might hit me, Sanji-kun!"

"Don't call me by name…I'm Mr. Prince now…" The cook, withdrew some black glass from out of nowhere and put them on, making a goofy smile.

"Now tell me Usopp-kun…What is it that on your mind?" He spoke, transforming into a different person. It has been over two years since he made an appearance.

"Uh…Mr. Prince?" Usopp didn't know what to say. Mr. Prince was like someone he could look up. He would give him advice for typical problem, but this issue was something he could not say.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Prince…I wish I could tell you but I can't. Don't be mad me." That was not going to cut it. Not this time.

"If you don't tell me, then Sanji will make love to you right now, and rapture you whole body including your ass." He threatens darkly. Mr. Prince made a mischievous look, wiggling his hands in the air, to show proof that he was not joking around.

"WAH! I'm Sorry Mr. Prince! It's just Sanji-kun said, don't bring it up! That's why!"

Mr. Prince glances at the sniper, wondering what the hell Sanji told him not to bring up. He thought this would be simple fun but not he got to know now.

"What did he tell you? I'm promise not to tell Sanji-kun about this Please." Mr. Prince asked kindly.

"Well."

"Please." Again with that pleading voice, so impossible to resist.

"Well….Ok, but please don't tell Sanji-kun this ok?"

"Ok." Yes his pleading voice got through to him. "So tell me Usopp-kun. What did Sanji Tell you?"

"Well…Sanji didn't really tell me about it. But he told someone about it. They weren't from our crew, but they witness the whole thing.

"And what did Sanji tell them?"

"You see… Mr. Prince. There was incident that happen back on island called Thriller Bark where there was something big powerful, knocked us all out including our captain. He seek out to take our captain's life. But Zoro, our swordsman's was willing to sacrifice his own life or his captain and his crewmates. And when his about to do it, Sanji step in, willing to do the same. However Zoro, knocked him out and took the pain on himself, for Luffy's sake. After that, he was severely hurt but was able to live miraculously because of it. And some guys saw this whole thing and told Sanji about it, which in return told them not to tell anyone about it. I'm know that Zoro didn't do this for honor, nor for glory. He did it for protecting his family. And Sanji…I know he picks fights with him, and they call each other names like "Loser Prince" and "Moss head" at times, but I know…deep down they respect each other…"

Mr. Prince was shock at his confession. Truth to be told, he recalls that memory that he had with Thriller Bark. It wasn't a peaceful one either but it never acure to him that Usopp was listening to that whole conversation or even watch that whole thing for that matter. He had to wonder who else knew this.

"You should see them sometimes…" Usopp smile, thinking how those three act. "They are funny bunch especially with Luffy with them. They make an awesome team with their monstrous strength. I really love those guys. Sometimes…I wish I could be like them…But I know that I can't, but I can be stronger for them. I don't want to either of them, risk their lives for me. I want us to stay together, as we are now…as a family…"

"Well that's what I been trying to tell you…you idiot!" Behind the thoughts of Mr. Prince, Sanji wanted to kick him.

"Mr. Prince?" The cook lost his train of thought and focus back on the sniper.

"Hmm? What is it Usopp-kun?"

"I-I-I wonder…What Sanji's bond and I had before all this? Sanji, Luffy and Zoro had such and unique bond…I do with Luffy, and Chopper as well. But I really want to know… What Sanji thought of me all this time, before he told that he loved me?"

"Uh…Usopp-kun. Didn't he already tell you that he loves you and how special you were to him already?"

"Yeah I know he did now… But before then was I just a pest to him, before he realize that he loved me? He told that he just found out his feelings recently but…"

"I don't think he ever thought you that way."

"I know. I know. He told me and I just being annoying again. But that's why I can't promise him anything, because I don't know when I will die, but I rather protect my loved ones that to have them die for me, including Sanji. He protected a weakling like me so much since we been with the crew. I know he doesn't understand that and he wants and still want me to depend on him, but I can't keep letting him do that. That's why I need to get stronger not just for my Captain but mostly for Sanji." Usopp looked at his hands, in determination. Mr. Prince sighed, seeming that this idiot is so thickhead sometimes but can understand his struggle.

"Usopp…you are such a fool."

"Huh?" Usopp gasped at the sudden touch of the cook's hands on his face.

"Are you jealous of me and that shitty moss head's relationship?" Usopp noticed that the black glasses where removed from his face, signaling that Sanji has return. His smirking face made Usopp frown.

"No! I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"No! Jeez, why did Mr. Prince tell you anything? I told him not too." He really is jealous. It somehow made Sanji feel happy yet annoyed a bit.

"Why are you so jealous of me and that Moss head's relationship when you know that I love you? Of course me and that Moss head have problems but we are family. He is part of our captain's crew and we respect each other. The bond you and me have together is something that no one in the crew has. Just like with you and Luffy, and Luffy and I, we all have share a bond. What I thought about you before was different. You were my family, you were like my younger brother that I needed to look out for and wanted to help realize his rightful place in the crew. Yeah, you were a pest sometimes but like Luffy, I didn't mind, nor did I ever feel you weren't worthy of being in the crew. But now, that is different. You are my sniper and my one and only sniper. And I can't stand to see you get hurt or die in front of my eyes. So…there's really nothing to be worry about."

"Sanji…" Usopp slowly held the cook's face, wanting to kiss him.

"Can we continue where we left off, now? I've wanted to make love to you for a while now, but it seems we keep getting off topic." Sanji mumbled. Usopp witness that the cook was blushing and giggled on how cute he was. Sanji frowned.

"Do we really have a choice?" Usopp chuckled happily.