Hey! And welcome back to another 'Reviewer's Reply' and new chapter after a long week!
Robin: Welcome back everyone!
Let's get this thing rolling so we could start the awaited chapter!
Robin: (giggles) As you wish, Cupid-san. (reaches in and grabs first review) From Mimi-san…
I swear! You sound so cute in your reviews! Well! If you hadn't paid attention, Zoro had sometime to think about what to do with himself now that he knows that Luffy is a Daywalker. And thus decided to still be friends. And about the soul mate thing, why do you think it's a ZoLu! (giggles) I think I'm gonna call you Mimi-chan from now on, because you sound so cute!
Robin: (giggles) Somebody got into the chocolate before coming into the studio.
(sticks out tongue) And you didn't? Miss 'I-can-grow-multi-limbs'.
Robin: (grins) You got me on that. (grabs another) From Neo-san…
(door bell rings) Hm? (goes to the door and sees a butler and grabs the small tray of coffee) Uh… Thank you… (butler bows and starts walking away) … (looks at the tags and smiles) Neo-san did it again! (walks towards Robin and hands her coffee)
Robin: Well this is a surprise. (takes the offered cup and takes a cautious sip) Mild with a bit of cocoa.
(takes a sip with hers) Cappuccino with chocolate! This will keep me up for a bit.
Robin: (giggles) Thank you Neo-san!
Yeah! And you got a few things! One, you're now known as Neo-kun! Two, you guessed right! And three, you get brownies from Robin and me! Which should arrive by the time we finish this, aye?
Robin: (giggles and nods) Yes. (grabs another) From Pirateking1…
Hey! I'm not sure how Neo-kun got his (or her) name, but I'm still working on the nickname for you, now that I know you're a girl. And yes, Zoro and Luffy are getting closer. (smiles brightly and proudly)
Robin: Chocolate, coffee, and you get a happy Cupid. (giggles and grabs another) From Hanabi-chan…
(sees a jar of cookies) Thank you Hanabi-chan! There's more to the story, but I know you know that! (hands Robin a few cookies) Cookie?
Robin: (takes offered cookies) Thank you Hanabi-chan for the cookies.
Now we're really have to pull an all-nighter…
Robin: (laughs) Like you haven't done before.
Yeah… but that was without coffee or cookies… (smiles like a crazy Luffy idea) This is gonna be great!
Robin: (smiles) Oh boy. (grabs last one) From Ookami-san…
I know how you feel. I could only post these chapters up on the weekends and any holidays if I have time. Then I have to have time for homework and let my brothers on. Ugh! And you got a sword! Neat! And don't worry about scaring me, I don't have many reviewer's scaring me, not since Kami-san… Which I haven't heard from in a while… Must be busy… Anyway, I don't mind being scared, but only when I don't piss you off on something… If I do, you'll warn me before going off… right?
Robin: (giggles) You're so much fun to watch.
Thanks Robin! Well! Without further ado! Let's start the fic!
When your day is bright
And sun shines all through the night
That's when
When you know you've been
Been kissed by the sun
Sitting on the beach
And sand tickles your feet
That's when
When you know you've been
Kissed by forever sunshine
Brightness forever sunshine
Kindness forever sunshine
Thrills forever sunshine
And you smile just because
You can make it in the sunshine
Life is love in the sunshine
This is forever sunshine
La la la la la da da da
La la la la la da da da
La la da da da da...
Oh yes...! - Youhei Shimizu
Chapter 12: A New Face Pt. 1
In class the next day, every guy was talking about their new girlfriends or talked about how they were let down.
Zoro was snoring as Luffy talked to Usopp.
"Okay guys!" Franky said as he came in. "Now I know the party was really exciting and all, but that was then and this is now. And now we have a new student joining us!"
There were murmurs going around.
"Looks like you're no longer the new guy, Luffy." Usopp said.
"Na? What was that?"
"Never mind…"
Everyone hushed when the door slid open and a very tall young man with sun blonde hair came in.
"Everyone, this is Blackleg Sanji." Franky said.
Sanji had a lock of his hair cover his right eye while the exposed eye had an interesting curl of his brow, and had deep ocean blue eyes.
"Isn't he that son of that famous chef?" Whispered one guy.
"No doubt, but why is he here?" Whispered another. "Too good for the other rich-boy schools?"
"Just look at him. He could totally pull off a foreigner and get all the girls he could get!"
Some whispers of the same subject were going around as Sanji headed to the empty seat behind Usopp and next to Zoro.
"Hi!" Luffy called out. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy! Welcome to our class!" He stuck out his hand.
The blonde blinked, but put on a small grin as he shook the other's hand. "Sanji, nice to meet ya." He said as he sat down.
"I'm Soge Usopp, the most well known guy in the whole school!" Usopp introduced himself.
Sanji didn't believe in that little lie, but he said his name again.
"And this is Roroanoa Zoro!" Luffy said as he started poking the man's forehead. "Eh? Zoro… Wake up! Class is starting!"
A snort was heard as the man woke up. "What's up?"
"We have a new guy in our class." The teen said happily.
The man looked at the new guy and nodded. "Yo."
"Yo." Sanji responded as they begun class.
Lunch
Sanji, as he expected, was getting nasty looks from the other guys. 'Well… if I try sitting down in one of the tables, they're just gonna try something stupid that they'll regret.'
"Oi! Sanji!"
He looked to see Usopp and the other two.
"Wanna join us? It's a great day out!" Luffy said.
He raised his visible brow. 'They eat outside?' He thought, but shrugged and said. "What the hell…" And with the added thought 'At least I'm not somewhere where I'm hated for being so damn rich…' he followed the odd trio outside.
"Whoa! Look at the leaves!" Luffy said as he ran up to the tree. The tree's leaves had started to change color.
"Yeah, it means autumn is near." Usopp said. "Nothing to get all excited about."
Luffy looked at the other teen with a tilt of his head. "Na? Autumn is my favorite season."
"Why?"
"It's not hot like summer, but it's not cold like winter. And the leaves change color!"
Zoro grinned and Sanji looked at the area that was the back of the school.
"Nice place…" He commented. "You guys eat out here?"
"Everyday!" Luffy childishly responded.
"Until winter comes in." Usopp said.
"Aw! But then we get to do snowball fights!"
Sanji looked at the two before looking at the green-haired man as he pointed to the two teens. "Is he always like this?"
"Most of the time." Zoro responded as he yawned as they all finally settled down under the tree.
"Luffy!" Called out a female voice, which caused everyone to look to where the source of the voice came from.
Nami and Kaya were walking up towards the guys.
"Nami! Kaya!" Luffy called.
"Hey Kaya!" Usopp said as the mentioned girl sat next to him on one of the roots that were too stubborn to go to the ground, thus creating a perfect sitting place.
"Hey Usopp!" Kaya said as she kissed the other on the cheek.
"Nami! Nami! You gotta meet Sanji! He's new to the school!" Luffy said excitedly as he hurried her to the group. He looked at the mentioned blonde, who was staring at his cousin with a shocked expression. "Sanji! This is my cousin, Nami. Nami, this is Sanji."
"Hi." She said as her hand was suddenly grabbed gently.
"Oh dear fate of love, I thank you for this opportunity to see such beauty. Go ahead an laugh at me! For I cannot stand to just quietly sit idlely with my feelings of admiration have struck so suddenly!"
Luffy was extremely lost at the whole conversation and turned to look at Zoro, who looked as though he smelled something rotten or heard a thousand nails scratch on the chalk board, as his eye twitched. "What's he doing Zoro?"
"How the hell should I know?" The man replied as the ginger-haired girl laughed.
"Wow! You're quite the romantic." She said. "Mind if I ask you something?"
"Of course!"
"Sanji, as in the young sou chef of the new restaurant that opened up not too long ago?"
"The same one!"
"Oh my gosh! So you and your father, Zeff was it? Are pretty famous."
"Hai. But alas I had to be forced to come here during the days of when I usually cook, but seeing you has brought my spirits to go up, to the point I could fly."
She giggled as everyone stared at the blonde oddly.
"You own a restaurant?" Luffy asked, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Yeah." The blonde said normally. "It's called 'Baratie'."
"What?!" Usopp said. "That place that's hard to get into, even on the first day?"
"The same." He said in a bored tone.
"Can we have dinner there, Nami?" Luffy asked.
"We can't Luffy!" She said. "We don't have the money to afford the food, especially with your bottomless stomach!"
"Never fear, my dove, for your meal is free of charge!" He then looked at the guys. "You guys still pay for yours."
"How generous…" Zoro said with a dull tone.
"Oh! Sanji-kun!" Nami said in a false shocked tone. "Wouldn't you be in trouble for being so generous? For me?" She bashed her eyelashes.
"You're no trouble at all! My dear Nami! Even if this is the first meeting, I believe fate has brought us together for this very reason to meet."
"Get a room!" Zoro said, not able to take it anymore.
"What was that, Marimo?"
"What you call me?"
"You heard me… and it seems to fit you quite perfectly."
"You wanna take me on, Dartbrow?"
"Guys!" Nami said as she made herself look like she was going to cry. "Please don't fight over me. I don't like it at all!"
"Of course my dove!"
"Na? Nami…" Luffy said. "Why are you talking so funny?" His response was a pat on the head by his cousin.
She looked sweetly at the blonde and smiled. "Would you mind reserving a table for two at six o' clock this evening?"
"Of course!" He said as his visible eye turned into a heart.
"That's really weird…" Usopp said as Kaya giggled.
'Manipulative bitch…' Zoro thought as he saw her eyes on him.
"Oh! That reminds me… Zoro, you owe me 500 beli for making my cousin cry the other night."
"NANI!?"
"I could forgive you… but you have to come with me and Luffy to the restaurant."
"Yay! Zoro's coming!"
"Wait a damn-"
"Do you want me to make it 700 beli?"
He growled as he grunted in reluctant agreement.
"Ah! You're so beautiful when you take charge!"
She went up to the blonde and looked like she was fixing his tie. "You haven't seen anything yet, Sanji-kun!" She sang that final part. "Make that a reservation for three at six." She said as she moved away. "We better get going. Don't want to be late to class."
"Of course! Do you need help!?"
"I'm afraid guys aren't allowed to my school. But thank you for your offer." She said as she and Kaya walked away.
"Later Nami! Later Kaya!" Luffy called out as the girls disappeared.
Once the girls were out of sight, Sanji smiled like an aloof, love-struck idiot and called out. "Mellorine!" from the top of his lungs.
"Sanji's kinda funny, isn't he?" Luffy said with his usual smile on his face.
"You don't seem to get it, do you?" Usopp said.
"Huh? Get what?"
Zoro sighed as he told the blonde to shut up, only to almost get into a fight before being saved by the bell.
"Even Zoro likes him." The teen said.
"Oi, oi, oi…" Usopp said as he shook his head.
Restaurant
The three: Nami, Luffy and Zoro, were in the restaurant and were seated in the center of the area.
Zoro and Luffy were dressed in their casual clothes; The teen with a dark blue shirt with a while pirate skull and tan cargo pants, while the man wore a plain white shirt and black jeans.
Nami, on the other hand, was decked out in an orange tube dress.
The man looked like he was asleep with his arms crossed, chin towards his chest and eyes closed, but was avoiding having to notice the other rich stiffs in the same room.
The teen, however, was taking it in and waving to the people who were looking at him.
Sanji came out with a large cart and went up to their table. "This evening special is the seafood minestrone, finely seasoned and prepared genuinely." He said as he placed the bowl of soup in front of Nami. "Ladies first." He said smoothly before grabbing the other two bowls. "Here you go." He said dully to them.
All took a sip, and Luffy cleaned his bowl before anyone blinked.
"Is there such things as seconds here?"
Sanji just blinked, Nami sighed and shook her head, and Zoro raised a brow, but was slightly amused.
"Are you for real?" Sanji said.
"That's a stupid question to ask!" Luffy said.
"Is he like this?" The blonde asked the ginger-haired girl.
"I was forced to lock up all the places where food was stored."
"Since when? I was there not too long ago and there wasn't a single sign of a lock." Zoro said.
"Try living with him full time." She said as she smiled up at the blonde. "The soup is amazing! Thank you Sanji-kun!" She cooed, causing the man to act weird.
"Ah! Hearing such sweet words from you is like an oasis in the desert; refreshing and sweet."
Zoro handed his bowl to Luffy. "Here, I lost my appetite."
"Wow! Thanks Zoro!" The teen said as he finished that off as well.
"Not good enough for you?" The blonde said, glaring at the green-haired man.
"Just too much fancy crap I have to force down my throat."
"Want to say that again, Marimo?"
"Guys! Let's not-" Nami started to say.
"Stay out of this!"
"Don't talk to a lady like that!"
"What lady?"
"I'm going to kick some manners into you!" The blonde said as he started to raise his leg to kick when someone kicked him.
"Eggplant! What the hell are you doing out here!? Get back into the kitchen this instant!"
"Crap Geezer…" He said as he got up, bowed, and went into the kitchen, followed by the man.
"That must be Redleg Zeff…" Nami said.
"Who?" Zoro asked, a little irritated from the interruption.
"Sanji-kun's father and owner of the restaurant."
"Really? So cool!" Luffy said.
"Here's your bill, sir." Said a waiter to Zoro, who grabbed the small folder and looked inside, only to look shocked.
"Damn it…" He said as he counted and paid it, only to have two coins left.
"Thank you Zoro!" Nami said with a false smile.
"I'm not like Ero-cook, you wrench."
She smiled smugly as she took a sip of her water. "I think it's time to head home, wouldn't you say?"
"Can we stop for ice cream?" The teen asked.
"I'm out of money." Zoro said.
"Don't worry! My treat!" Nami said.
"I don't trust you."
"You're no fun."
Restaurant: Closing Time
Sanji was closing the restaurant and took out the trash, when he heard a soft, pained whimper. He looked to see a woman behind two trash cans and went up. "Oi, Miss? Are you okay?" He asked as he got a closer look. "Huh? Wait a sec!"
Before he could move, the 'woman' moved quickly, catching him off guard. "Oi! Get off me, pervert!" He shouted when he noticed that it was a man in disguise. He fought, but for some reason the guy, as scrawny as he was, was a lot stronger than he was, and he felt the guy bit his neck and felt something really cold go into it. "Get the hell off!" He shouted as he kneed the guy in the gut, causing the man to back off, and he got onto his hands and started to do random kicks until he felt the guy was out of the alley. He panted as he held the spot where he was bit. "What the hell did he inject me…? Better see a doctor tomorrow…" He said to himself as he went back inside, only for his head to start spinning.
He suddenly felt cold and hot at the same time and he didn't walk straight.
"Eggplant?" Zeff said when he walked in to see the blonde before the mentioned person collapsed. "Sanji!" He said as he went up to his son. "Sanji! What's wrong?"
His head felt like tearing in half and cried out in agony. 'What the hell is happening to me!?' Was his only thought as he was being ambushed internally.
Stay with me don't walk away
Take my hand I want you to stay
By my side
Night and day
Night and day
Every time I feel temptation
I close my eyes and I wonder
Where you are
Can you make me feel completely
Safe from harm
If you long for someone
If you need anyone
Then just show me the way to your heart
Stay with me don't walk away
Take my hand I want you to stay
By my side
Night and day
Night and day - Sho-T feat Brenda
DON'T HURT ME! I SWEAR SANJI IS GOING TO BE OKAY IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! (pants)
Robin: They're still going to send you reviews about it.
I know, I just wanted to reassure them that Sanji isn't gonna die or anything.
Robin: If you say so.
(pouts and sighs) Well! See ya in the next chapter! Bye!