Hey guys! Happy New years! Sorry it's a day late, but I thought you would be happy for another chapter anyway!

Time Is Running Short: Part 2

Day 6

"Oh, your back already Cook? That was quick..."

"Yeah. It was like you said Zoro. She didn't mean what she said."

"Oh, so she apologized huh? So did the, Kindhearted Love Cook, forgive her?" Zoro asked.

"Well of course I did! Were all nakama here, aren't we! After all, there's no reason for me to hold a grudge against her. It's not like one of us is gonna be leaving the ship anytime soon... So we might as well just make up now." Zoro smiled. "And what the hell kind of a name is that!? Kindhearted Love Cook?! Really Zoro... ?!"

"Stow it Cook!" I smiled.

"Hey Zoro, why don't you go and tell Ussop to inform everyone the foods just about ready for me would you?"

"Well, I suppose I could do that. I'll be back."

"Kay, thanks."

*Sunny's lower decks / Zoro's (POV)

Oh, there he is. Looks like him and Franky are working on another crazy project. Wonder what it is this time... ?

"Oi, Ussop. Your projects gonna have to wait. Foods ready."

"Oh, okay!" Ussop replied.

"Umm... Ussop? Okay what? Who are you talking to?!" Franky asked. I face-palmed.

"Ah! Um- Sanji said the food was ready! Y- You mean you didn't hear him yell Franky!?" Ussop stuttered.

"No I didn't. Oh well, you must have really good hearing Ussop. Either that or I'm going deaf." Franky replied. I chuckled at that, while following Ussop and Franky up to deck.

You know, I never really realized it until now. Not until everything I had, everything I loved, was inaccessible. It's all still here. In my sights, but its far, far from my reach.

"Oi! The foods ready!" Ussop shouted, alerting everyone in the ship. Everyone dropped what they were doing and ran down the hallway towards the kitchen.

"Fooood! Luffy shouted.

"Luffy calm down! You almost stepped on Chopper!" Nami shouted, while running right through me... along with everyone else.

"Robin... Will you carry me? Please, I'm hungry but I don't like getting stepped on!" Chopper whined.

"Well of course I will Doctor-San." Robin replied.

"Don't think that makes he happy stupid!" Chopper yelled.

"Well if you aren't happy then what's with that crazy smile!?" Franky asked.

"I'm starved!" Brook shouted. "My stomach has been growling this whole time! Even thought I don't have one anymore. Yohohohoho!" I smiled.

I really miss talking with everyone. But all I can do now, is watch them from the shadows. I don't have a say in anything. My opinion, doesn't exist anymore. Those Marines we ran into earlier, we could have taken them easily. But I can't talk to them now, or touch them, and I can't protect them either. It's frustrating.

They still act the same. Even though I'm not there beside them. I use to walk these same halls with them, and yet. It's almost like, I was never even he to begin with. I know I'm invisible now, in fact, it's more than that. I'm dead. I don't have any connections anymore. I shouldn't feel pain. Whether it be physical or emotional. But yet, it's still somewhat painful.

"Oi everyone, I hope you enjoy the food. I made a little extra since I slept in this morning to thank you all!"

"Thanks Sanji!" Everyone shouted. Sanji smiled.

He's the only one... the only one that can make me feel whole again. Whether I'm dead or alive, it's him... He's been smiling a lot today. I'm glad.

"Hey Sanji aren't you gonna eat to?" Ussop asked."

"No, you guys go ahead. I ate earlier, so I'm not hungry. I think I'll go out on deck and have a smoke instead."

"Alright then." Ussop replied. Sanji took out his usual pack of cigarets and picked one to his liking. I looked at him, then he looked back at me, and smiled.

Again? I thought, as he took his cigarette and pointed at me before then motioning to the door, and started walking. So I followed. He was much more intelligent than Ussop, that was for sure...

*Out on Deck / Back to Sanji's (POV)

"So what's up Cook, why did you bring me out here anyway? I was perfectly fine staying inside." Zoro replied.

"What, were you busy or something? I just thought, maybe it would be nicer if we came out here is all. It's not like you could talk to anyone in there anyway, right?" Zoro sight went from my eyes, to the ground. I kinda felt guilty after that... "So anyway, I thought that, maybe it would be nice to come out here and keep you company Moss head." I explained, while lighting up my cigarette.

"Well who said I wanted your company stupid. It's not like I asked for it or something." Zoro replied. I laughed at his response.

"Your expression did, silly."

"My expression... ?" Zoro asked.

"Yeah, you looked-" There was an award silence for a moment or two. After all, the Zoro I knew would never admit to being-

"Lonely... ?" Zoro asked. As if he were simply reading and answering my thoughts. I looked back at him with a sympathetic face.

"Zoro?"

"Yeah... ?"

"I didn't know a ghost could be lonely..."

"Yeah... Neither did I."

After that, we just stood there in silence. Neither one of us said a word. I eventually finished and threw my cigarette-but over board, before heading for the kitchen door. I decided now was a good time to go back inside the ship. The silence was getting to me...

"Sanji-" Zoro started.

"Y-Yeah." I asked surprised.

"Thank you. For keeping me company." Was what I heard, as I walked to the kitchen door and placed my hand on the handle.

"Your welcome Zoro... W- Why don't you meet me in the crow's nest later? I have watch so, we can talk some more, if you want that is... Okay?" I asked.

"I would like that." Zoro replied. I smiled, then opened the kitchen door.

*Up in the crow's nest

After finishing all the dishes from super, I went straight to the crow's nest. Zoro was lonely, so I had to. I couldn't keep him waiting. Hell, if I was in his situation, I would feel the same. I guess, all I can do, is be there beside him. At least until he's his normal self again. I have to.

With those thoughts in mind, I walked up the latter and opened the hatch. Zoro appeared to be looking out at the sea. He payed me no attention when I entered the room. His line of sight never left the window. And once my eyes adjusted, nor did mine.

It was a rather pretty sight. The way the moonlight danced across the water. The way the sea was still and quite, its waves resting with the appearance of the moon. At that moment, I felt content. As if all of my problems and worries were simply washed away with the sea. But oh, how I was wrong...

"Hey Zoro... It's beautiful, isn't it?" I asked, sitting down beside him.

"Hey. Your right." Zoro looked at me. "It is beautiful." Our eyes locked.

"You know, I was thinking..."

"W- What were you thinking about?" I asked. There was a short pause, and then-

"You." Zoro answered plainly.

"Huh!? M- Me?" I asked. A bit surprised by Zoro's straight forwardness.

"Yeah. Just you..." Zoro confirmed. I laughed.

"Hey, what's so funny about that Cook?!"

"Me too." I replied.

"Wha- What?"

"I've been thinking... of you to Zoro."

"You have... ?" Zoro asked. I lowered my head and covered my face.

"Yes... Ever since earlier."

"Earlier?" Zoro asked.

"Zoro do I really have to say it... ?"

"Um... Say what?!" Zoro asked, this time looking pretty confused.

"Ugh. I guess so... Well. W- When you touched me in the kitchen earlier, I was so surprised by it. You were actually able to touch me. I- I was so happy." Zoro stayed quiet. "I- I didn't want you to stop. It, it was nice. It was like none of this ever happened. Like you where here again..."

"Sanji..."

"After all, the last time you touched me, when you were alive... was when you, kissed me." I finally raised my head.

"Wha- When I... Kissed you?!" Zoro stuttered. "Y- You mean... That really happened?!" Zoro asked.

"Y- Yes. You mean... you don't remember Zoro?!" I asked. I really hoped he did.

"N- No. I remember but, I- I thought it was just some sort of dream or something! My memory, it's a little foggy from that time... But, if it wasn't a dream, and I'm remembering correctly. Wasn't that right before I-

"Died... ?!" I shouted. "Yes, it was! You kissed me, and I didn't know what to do... I didn't know what to do Zoro!" I yelled, feeling the tears spill from the corners of my eyes. I tried to reach for his hand then, I don't know why. I knew I wouldn't be able to grab that hand that I desperately wanted. But none the less, I tried anyway."I- I didn't know how to react Zoro. B- Before I even got the chance, to understand what was happening, to kiss you back... y- you died!" I yelled, slamming my fist into the wall beside me. "You- died... you died... you-"

"Sanji!" Zoro yelled back, suddenly grabbing my hand. "S- Stop it! You'll, wake up the others..." Zoro replied. That's when, I couldn't hold back anymore. I held the hand that I so desperately wanted, needed, and now had, and cried. Zoro held onto my hand for as long as he could.

It felt good to get some of my thoughts off of my chest, real good. There was still a lot more to be said and done, but we both agreed it wasn't the time for it. Zoro and I also decided, that tomorrow morning would be best time to try to convince Chopper.

"Oi, Sanji."

"Hmm? What is it Zoro?" I asked.

"Why don't you try to get some sleep. I'll take watch."

"Oi, you don't have to do that. After all, it's my turn to take watch. If I let you do it you would probably end up sleeping on the job or something." I replied.

"Hey! I would not, stupid! Besides, I don't sleep anymore, remember?"

"Oh yeah. I forgot..."

"Anyway, just try to get some sleep Cook. After all, I get bored just floating around and watching you asleep all night. So I'll take watch. Got it?!" Zoro asked.

"H- Hey! What do you mean you watch me sleep all night?! You creep!" I yelled. Zoro smiled.

"A- Alright then... Whatever! Sounds good to me." I muttered, as I made myself comfortable on the nearby couch. "If you see anything just be sure to wake me up alright?" I asked.

"Yep. I know the drill. Now you should get some sleep. You need it."

"Huh. Yeah... I guess your right..." I mumbled. I could already feel myself dozing off. I guess it was pretty late, about midnight I think... ?

"Hey... Zoro..."

"Hmm?" Zoro asked.

"I lov..."

"W- What... What was that."

". . . . . . ."

"Sanji?"

". . ."

"Oh. Well, that was fast." He's already asleep, the idiot.

About an hour later, Sanji's (POV)

I could feel myself slowly waking up. Why you ask, that I don't know. I don't feel like I've been asleep very long... and I'm still so damn tired. Zoro told me to get some sleep, and yet, someone's here trying to wake me up instead. Why I wonder?

"Oi! Sanji!" Wait a minute, it's Zoro... ? "Wake up! Sanji!" Zoro shouted.

"Hmm... W- What is it Zoro? Why the hell are you yelling at me... !?" I asked, while slowly sitting up on the couch.

"There's a ship, and I don't think it's a friendly one!" Zoro answered.

"Huh?! A ship, at this hour!?" I yelled, while quickly jumping from my comfy seat on the couch to the window for a better look. I picked up the telescope and quickly scanned the area. To my surprise, there and behold, was a ship.

"What the hell! Ships usually aren't out and on the move at this time." I explained.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Zoro answered. "Not to mention its a Marine ship."

"What?!" I yelled. I immediately knew Zoro was right once I got a look at the ships flags.

"Hey Cook... Does that ship, look familiar to you at all?" Zoro asked.

"Huh? W- Well... Now that you mention it... it does kinda look like we've seen it before..."

"Wait a minute. Sanji is that the-"

"Its the ship from earlier Zoro! The one we thought we had escaped!" I yelled.

"I knew it..." Zoro muttered.

"They must have been following us this whole time. But why? It doesn't make any scene..."

"Yeah, somethings off here... If they were going to attack us they would have done it already. So what's with this waiting?" Zoro asked.

"I don't know. Unless..."

"Oi Cook. What's that light, you can see it right?" Zoro asked. I quickly took out the telescope and scoped out the area again.

"Yeah, I see it too. What is that?" I asked, trying to focus in on what I was seeing. "Wait a second. It- It's a-"

Boom!

"Sanji get down!" Zoro shouted. The last thing I saw, was the sight of the telescope being blacked out, before I braced myself for impact.