Sanji woke up happy actually. He felt weird feeling that considering he was just yelled at night and couldn't read and enjoy Megumi's happiness that she's wearing her new pjs and reading a new book he had gotten her. He was so looking forward to reading it to her but talking to Lohan took longer than he thought. By the time they finished Zoro had read the book and put Megumi to sleep.
Sanji walked into the kitchen to start on breakfast. He's gotten use to making breakfast for all three of them. He enjoys it too.
Sanji sets the table, serves everyone food and pours their drinks and still no one comes out. Curious Sanji goes to Megumi's. He knocks on the door multiple times and calls her name but no answer. He then just decides to walk in. He finds the room empty. Her bed is even made. Sanji doesn't freak out. Sometimes she has nightmares about Zoro. Maybe she had another one and Zoro cleaned up. Sanji closes the door and goes to Zoro's. He knocks and calls his name. The more time that goes by that he doesn't answer worries him. Then he decides to just go in. He opens the door open slowly not wanting to wake them up. He heart sinks when he finds another empty room.
Where could they have gone? He walks in to see Zoro's bed is also made. Nice and neat. He notices a note on the bedside table. He looks at it.
Dear Sanji,
Didn't want to cause more trouble. Don't worry we'll be fine. I'll contact you when we've settled down until then.
Zoro
Sanji stares at the note. 'What the hell is this?' He asks himself. This can't really be happening can it? It's a joke. Sanji runs out hoping to catch them but no luck. They must have left earlier than he thought. He ran around the block before he came back. Tired and heart broken he saunters to his room.
"Sanji? What are you doing still in your pajamas?" Sanji turns to see the old lady from across the hall two doors down.
"Granny Cindy, it's my friends. Him and his daughter are, were staying with me. I can't find them."
"Oh I think I know who you're talking about. Riley needed a walk in the middle of the night, well I say that but it was actually one or two in the morning when I came out here and I saw a man with unusual green hair and a little girl in his arms with the same color hair. He had a duffel bag and a suitcase with him. I thought he was a new tenant going on vacation."
"Did he have three piercings on his left ear?"
"Yes he did. I thought he kind of looked like a pirate."
"Did he say anything? Hint about where he might be going?" Sanji asks getting closer, sounding desperate.
"Sorry no, just that he didn't want to cause trouble. Why?"
"He's a friend I knew from high school and the little girl is our daughter."
"What do you mean the little girl is your daughter. With him?" She ask shocked. She knew Sanji for a while, well all three or four years that he's lived there. She knows him as a playboy, he more of the bachelor type than father type.
"He's a carrier." Sanji sinks to the floor. "This can't be happening, why?" Granny Cindy couldn't help but feel sad for him, she's old enough that it's hard to tell she was a beauty when she was younger but she's not that old, she knows it must hurt to be left behind. She gives Sanji a hug, something he needs at the moment even he doesn't realize it.
A week or more has passed, Sanji doesn't remember how long its been, he's been working and looking for them or trying to but no luck. Megumi should have started first grade by now. Sanji just stood there, lifeless.
"Sanji?" He hears his name being called. He looks up to see the group looking at him. "Zeff called us to talk to you." Nami says.
"What happened?" Robin asks. Sanji looks at them. He could tell they are worried about him but also Zoro and Megumi. He looks around. It's one of the rare days where the restaurant is empty, the customers are all too busy to eat at the moment. Sanji walk over to the closest empty table and sits down, setting the tray on the table. Sanji reaches into his pocket and takes out Zoro's note. He hands it to Robin. She reads it out loud.
"So he just took Megumi and left?" Usopp asks.
"I've looked everywhere but can't find them." Sanji says his head in his hands.
"Why are you so worried? Zoro wont do anything stupid." Nami say taking the note Robin is handing her to look at. Sanji freezes at that. He forgot they don't know.
"Megumi is my daughter." Sanji says. He doesn't know if Zoro would have wanted to tell them yet but he's not here right now so...
"What!" Chopper and Usopp yell.
"Hold up, take a step back." Usopp says, one hand in the air while the other touched his forehead in a thinking manner.
"How can you be Megumi's father?" Nami questions, she's been trying to figure it out since they met her. Her apartment is almost looking like a crazy person's with pictures and red string everywhere.
"At the senior party I was upset about Susan and Zoro was also upset, mix a lot of alcohol you get one drunk guy with a broken heart and the other upset. I invited Zoro and he agreed. We had sex and you know the rest." Sanji explains.
"So that's why you were freaking out about the train accident."
"And why Megumi would call you when Zoro was attacked."
"Why you invited them to live with you."
"Yes. It took me a while to figure it out but I was in shock. Zeff knew the whole time. I told Zoro I want to be with her he told me he was fine with that, that he would tell her when she got use to me, she didn't call me by my name. Then they moved in a Zoro thought it was time to tell her the truth. Turns out she knew the whole time. She just started calling me daddy. Then he just takes her and leaves." Some of the pieces were starting align. They always thought it was weird for Sanji to be as involved as he was, now they know why and they wanted to help.
