To be honest, I don't do fighting scenes so well, so that would explain this chapter. I also don't like straying too far from the main character (who is Zetsumei and Sanji in this case), which is another explination. So, I hope this chapter doesn't anger anyone, and I don't think it will, but just in case I send my apologies. Please enjoy reading anyway (may be slightly OOC too, but I tried not to get it that way).

Sanji gripped the skillet in his hand, tossing the ingrediants all together before settling it over the fire again. He listened carefully as they sizzled, mixing their given juices together to create a most delicious dish. Though, even if most of his attention was drawn to the skillet, he kept finding himself looking back to the infirmary door where Chopper was held up with Zetsumei.

It was Sanji's natural instinct to be worried for a woman, but with his currently growing feelings for the woman behind that closed door, he knew he was being more concerned than he would be if it were Robin or Nami (if that was even possible).

Yes, Sanji understood he had feelings for the former marine, and he understood fully well that these feelings were much stronger than what he had felt for women (even Robin and Nami) in the past. Perhaps it was that one night at Atlantis that made him realize these feelings, or maybe it was when they were in the Observation Room together. To be honest, he didn't know when they started, he just knew he harbored them.

After the information Zetsumei had given him and the others, he had finally understood most of the things she said. He also understood why her smile never fully reached her eyes at times. Sanji knew that the answer Zetsumei needed wasn't revenge. She just needed a stable mainstay, but he wasn't a hundred percent that he could be that strength she needed. He did, indeed, want to stay by her side. He wanted to see her angelic smile; her sea-green eyes that reminded him so much of sea he had been traveling on; her coral colored lips and raven hair for as long as he possible could. He also wanted to hold her; smother her in needed attention; kiss her until her heart wasn't broken; hold her in a deep embrace until she-

"Sanji!"

Sanji imediatly snapped out of his thoughts, just in time to catch the fact that his nose was beginning to bleed because of his devious imagination. He hurriedly dried it and turned around to see Chopper, peeking over the counter. "Something wrong, Chopper?"

"No," Chopper said, shaking his head. "Zetsumei just took some medicine and is fast alseep now."

"How do her injuries look?" Sanji asked, turning back to his skillet and pouring the given food onto a plate.

"Better," Chopper said as the plate was placed in front of him; however he didn't have much of an apitite. "I'm still a bit worried they might get infected..."

"I'm sure that won't happen," Sanji said, pulling out his lighter and lighting his cigarette as he walked around the counter to a chair beside Chopper. "You're a capable doctor, Chopper. You do a more reliable job then any other doctor."

"There was just so much blood..." Chopper sniffed, stuffing his mouth with the food Sanji had given him. "Zetsu told me that they tortured her for hours, just trying to know our whereabouts and why she had snuck in." Chopper sniffed again, tears beginning to soak his food. "Why didn't she just tell them? If she had, she wouldn't have been on the brink of death like that!"

"Chopper," Sanji said after taking a long drag of his cigarette, "they would have just done the same thing to her even if she had told them." Sanji put his cigarette back in his mouth, looking towards the ground. "We just got to her before they could kill her off."

"Would they really do that?" Chopper asked, looking to Sanji. "Kill her, I mean."

"Probably," Sanji said. "Considering she was on the execution block and managed to escape before getting killed, they would most likely want her more dead than alive." Sanji blew out another cloud of smoke. "But that's nothing we need to worry about now. She's safe here."

Chopper hummed in obligation, bowing his head as he looked towards his small feet dangling from the chair. He soon looked u again, looking towards Sanji's arm. "How are you doing, Sanji?"

"Hm?" Sanji questioned, turning his head towards the doctor.

"You're not lightheaded anymore, right?" Chopper said, giving a rather weak smile, which made Sanji slightly regret what he had said. "I'm sure taking all that blood from your system made you feel a bit weird."

Sanji smirked. "It was nothing I couldn't handle." Sanji soon looked to the ground, smiling lovingly. "Plus, even if it was a small amount of my blood, I'm happy I was able to help her."

Chopper tilted his head, a bit confused. Usually Sanji would have been in full pervert mode mode as of now at having the idea of him helping out a woman in dier need; however, his expression was more sad than happy. "Are you sure you're all right, Sanji?"

Sanji looked up, his usual confident smile on his face, as if nothing was bothering him. "Yeah, on hundred percent." Sanji stood from his chair. "How would you like to help me make something for Zetsumei-san, huh, Chopper?"

Chopper's expression brightened exceptionally. "Okay!" The little reindeer soon jumped off his chair and ran into the kitchen with Sanji, glad he was asked to help (which rarely happened). He was even more happy when Sanji let him lick the bowl afterwards.