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Chapter 19

Reiju was back at the place she hated. She hated everything about being at the Vinsmoke mansion. She hated the ridiculous opulence where it seemed her father spent far too much trying to show off his wealth. She hated the servants that were actually slaves who ran around catering to every whim with their heads bowed flinching as she walked by though she never hit them. She hated the guards that patrolled the grounds and house that would only greet her with a nod but watch all she did hoping one day she would slip up and they could garner favor with her father. She hated the chef in the kitchen who would proclaim he was the best in the world when he thought no one was looking though she knew of at least one far better than him.

More than any of them she hated her father and three of her brothers. She hated herself when she was in the mansion most of all. She hated that she had to look around herself constantly and never have a moment of peace. She hated that she had to look at all the staff with disdain as though any one beyond family was beneath her. She hated hearing and seeing her family and having to agree to their sick thoughts. When she was in the mansion all she felt was hate and paranoia.

Reiju wanted out.

She wanted to be done with all this. She was in the study surrounded by high back chairs and bookcases. She picked up a bottle she had hidden in plain sight. It was an old black bottle that she had filled with rum and belladonna or more commonly known as deadly nightshade. She had been taking sips of it since she was fifteen. Every family member was trained in counter measures to anything someone else could throw at them but this was something she did on her own.

She looked as the bottle as she contemplated her next steps. Her hand hovered over decanter glasses at the small bar in the corner. She tried to force herself to pick up five. She wanted to fill each with the deadly toxin and take it to her father and brothers where they could all share one last drink before that final slumber. She knew she would outlast them due to her tolerance but in the end she would succumb too but be happy knowing she had succeeded.

Reiju forced herself to pick up the glasses. Her hand shook with the effort. She kept trying to get her brain and hand to work together. Each failed second then minute that passed frustrated her. She had to do this she kept telling herself. She had to do this for Sanji and all the people he held dear. She had to do this for the servants that were forced to work at the mansion. She had to do this for the women forced to follow her brothers to bed. She had to do this.

After thirty minutes of fighting with herself she slunk back in a chair clutching on to the bottle. This was just one of many failed attempts. She could never understand why she couldn't actively move against them. Yes she had been helping Sanji but none of that would lead to her father and brothers death. She had even tried killing herself before they brought Sanji back into the mix but her body fought her mind again and would refuse to cooperate. She supposed part of the reason was she was trained to fight off any and all attacks. She couldn't figure out the other reasons.

Sighing she took a sip from the bottle then replaced it. She felt the light ache and mild nausea but it quickly subsided. Reiju walked into the dinning hall as the others had gathered for dinner. She tried to block them out but couldn't help it when they mentioned the 'disgrace.'

Yonji sat at the table arms crossed. "Why won't you believe me?"

Ichiji rolled his eyes. "If you really believe that he is behind even some of the recent events than that falls on you. Obviously you didn't put enough fear into him. Are you admitting failure?"

Yonji sneered. "Never!"

"You better not." Niji threw in.

Reiju sat at her place with her mask firmly in place. "Are you talking about this again?"

"I'm done." Niji said.

"I won't drop this." Yonji said. "The disgrace is doing something against us. We should have killed him by now. Father why did you let him go?"

Up until then Judge had been passively listening. He had been shaking his head at their squabbling but otherwise it was just another petty disagreement. "Did you question my decision?"

Yonji paled. He let his anger get the best of him. "No father. I'm just trying to understand is all."

Judge shrugged. "I'm not sure myself. He is my son after all. The reputation he has amassed has been rather impressive. It benefits us to have him at our disposal. If I had killed him then it would be looked at that I couldn't control him. And there is no weakness."

Reiju nodded. She knew Sanji could have been killed quietly then have one of the others go in on jobs looking like him. That would have been a simple solution. They would have kept the threat alive but for some reason her father let Sanji go two years ago and most likely would have left him alone if not for Yonji looking for any reason to bring him down. She felt almost sorry for Yonji.

Because there were four sons there was so much expected of them. Sanji had been deemed the black sheep but the others had to prove themselves. Ichiji and Niji no longer looked at anything Sanji did but Yonji still compared himself to him. Ichiji and Niji had established themselves as they were the oldest sons but Yonji had to work even harder.

"I get that. Why can't I do the jobs he is sent on? I told you I could kill Perospero and Katakuri but you sent him." Yonji said.

Judge stood in anger. "I make the decisions for this family no on else." He then strode out of the room.

"You may be right about the disgrace." Ichiji said. "If you really want I can talk to father about sending you on more jobs."

"Thank you brother." Yonji said.

"Let's go play Russian roulette." Niji said.

Reiju watched as her three brothers stood each with renewed energy to go play their favorite game. They had modified it to up the danger. She sat at the table knowing she had to keep the game up until she could leave and tell Sanji Yonji was pushing to hurt him and Ichiji may be on his heels. She would do what she could to prevent it but he needed to know.

She watched from the corner of her eye as her brothers formed a circle with a revolver in each hand. They had one bullet in the six chambers spun the cylinder and pointed it at the one to their right and pulled the trigger and laughed. That was another thing she hated. Her father had messed them up so they only felt anger and hate. They didn't know what love was. They didn't know kindness and they couldn't even feel fear.

Zoro woke up from yet another nightmare. He could feel his heart still racing as he tried to calm down. Ever since that day at the farmhouse he had been having nightmares. He wasn't tormented by the deaths he had seen no he kept seeing what was in the basement but instead of strangers that were there in real life he saw his nakama. Each one of them he saw chained, hungry and sick. It would take the edge off after calling them and talking to them come morning but it never failed to rear its ugly head in his dreams.

He looked over to his lover and watched the steady rise and fall of his breaths. If Sanji had been upset by what he saw he didn't show it. He had been a bit more touchy and Zoro now could associate that with how he reacted after a job but aside from that he had been his normal self. Zoro pulled the blond closer and inhaled his scent. He wanted to fix things, make it so they were all safe again but he didn't know how.

He had located the cameras hidden in their home and he hoped he was keeping his knowledge a secret from the person on the other side but he had a feeling he was failing. Once he knew they were there it was hard to dismiss them. It had initially been distracting to be intimate with his lover after finding them but Sanji pulled him from his thoughts and he lost himself to the feeling. Once they were both lying panting in bed bliss running through their veins he looked up to where he knew the camera was and in his moment of possessiveness he pulled the blankets over them and pulled Sanji tight against him. He didn't like anyone watching them especially then.

As he laid in bed with a deeply sleeping Sanji in his arms he tried to think up a plan but knew he was lost. Lost as everyone accused him of being. He would have to defer to Sanji and hope they could come out of this unscathed. Or at least he added to himself as unscathed as possible. He remembered what Kidd said and agreed. Seeing what he saw in that basement had chipped away at him.

Sanji was happy and in the kitchen of the Baratie. He was yelling and cursing with the lot of them and enjoying every minute. Sure he would scold and say they did things wrong but that was just his way.

A very nervous Conis stepped into the kitchen. She was fidgeting and kept biting her bottom lip in worry. "What has you so trouble my dove?" Sanji asked.

"There's a lady here. She looks just like you. I'm guessing she's your sister right? She wants to talk to you. Is everything ok? Should I tell owner Zeff or anyone else?" Conis' voice stayed quiet but Sanji heard her over the din.

Sanji took off his apron. "Don't worry about it beautiful I will handle her. Just tell the old man and tell the other wait staff to leave her alone." With that he gave her a flourishing bow, kissed her hand and went out the door.

In the dinning hall he saw his sister standing by the podium. She had a huge hat on and glasses and if you didn't know it was her or look close to her face you would just think she was someone else. He was leery of what she planned but moved to greet her.

He gave a small bow. "My dear how may I help you?"

Reiju smiled. That was the brother she had always seen on camera. The one that moved to every woman with words of praise even her someone who didn't deserve it. "We need to speak outside."

"Of course." He put his arm out for her to take and she did.

They walked a couple blocks to a small café and sat at the outdoor tables. Sanji took in his surrounding and saw three men out of place. They wore expensive suits and kept looking their way. Amateurs Sanji thought. "You need to hire better bodyguards."

"Don't I though? I thought I had trained them well enough but I apparently not. Maybe I should leave them here in a dumpster. Having guards in tiresome." Reiju replied.

Poor little rich girl Sanji thought. Then the scolded himself this wasn't Reiju's choice. She was being guarded for her safety but at the same time she was watched. "Is something wrong?"

Reiju tilted her head back and forth. "Yes and no. So far they think everything is done by Big Mom but Yonji is suspicious and keeps talking I think he might sway the others. So far he might push to have someone follow you. But Yonji is so jealous of you I fear he might want more."

Sanji scoffed. "Jealous?"

"Yes." Reiju said. "Father is harsh on all of us. We are expected to achieve great things. He even expects much from you regardless of what they call you. In an odd way Father is proud of you. He sends you on dangerous jobs and you always succeed. No matter what it is you do complete the job. Your myth is our greatest asset. You were the only threat to us no one else would make a move against us for fear of your reprisal. Yonji on the other hand has failed at two missions. It has been years but the trust has not been reestablished. He is now sent on minor jobs and only wants to do more but with you around he can't."

Sanji merely nodded his understanding.

"I know you told Zoro." Reiju saw a look of surprise. "The man cannot hide the fact he knows the cameras are there and he has nightmares now. He also clings to you more. I think you need to tell the others since they may be in danger."

Crap Sanji thought. He started formulating a plan he would have to tell his nakama what a monster he is then rely on Robin and Zoro protecting them until he could eliminate his father and brothers. "Thank you my dear sister."

Reiju smiled brightly. Hearing him call her sister made her happy.