Sanji started to work while Zeff hung out with Megumi. Sanji couldn't help but feel happy. When the day started he was tired and lifeless but hearing Megumi laugh gave Sanji an energy boost. He would walk in and see Zeff smiling down at Megumi smiling back up at him. This is heaven. Everything is right again.
"Do you want to help me cook?" Zeff asks.
"Yes!" Megumi says enthusiastically as she raises her hand. "I've never cooked before." Megumi says. Zeff lets out a roar of a laugh.
"Then let's get you ready." Zeff says. He goes into his office then comes out. "First you need to take off the blazer." Zeff says and Megumi does. "Then we need to roll up your sleeves." Zeff helps her with that. Rolling her sleeve till they reach her elbows. "Next is this." Zeff says handing her a small apron. With Zeffs help she puts the apron on. "Last is this." Zeff pulls out a small chefs hat and puts it on Megumi's head. She smiles. "Now let's get cooking." Zeff holds Megumi's hand as they walk to the back of the kitchen not without catching the eyes of every worker. They couldn't help but stare at her and admire how cute she looked. She looked like a doll.
Sanji recognized the apron and hat. Zeff use to let him wear it when he was young too. "Megumi," Sanji calls. She turns to Sanji.
"Yes?"
"Smile." Sanji takes his phone and takes a few pictures when smiles. He's going to print these out and hang them up. "You can continue." Sanji walks off to continue with his work.
After talking with Megumi and continuing with his work, his co-workers all came up to him saying the same thing, 'I didn't know you had a daughter.' He explained to all of them the same way, that he just learned that himself months ago. He liked the compliments he's gotten for her. So many 'she's beautiful' and 'she's adorable.' He felt proud about the compliment. Sure he never thought that he and Zoro could create something beautiful and sweet like Megumi but they did.
Zeff let Sanji take Megumi home earlier than he was suppose to be going home that day. Zeff had made them dinner so they took that home expecting Zoro to be there but he wasn't. They were both worried. Zoro wouldn't abandon Megumi with him right?
He took Megumi a shower and wanted to put her to bed but Megumi didn't want to go to sleep until she saw Zoro. She was worried too. So they both sat on the couch talking and waiting for him to come back home.
They both jumped off the couch and ran to the door when they heard keys going into the lock, unlocking the door. They saw Zoro walk in with a duffel bag, a big suitcase and a small backpack. Zoro looked up and smiled when he saw Sanji and Megumi there waiting for him. "Welcome back!" Megumi shouted as she runs to hug Zoro.
"I'm back. You should be in bed."
"She wanted to see you before she slept." Sanji announced.
"Then let's go to bed." Zoro says bring in the suitcase and closing the door. He set Megumi's backpack down by the door before continuing. Sanji watched Zoro walk with Megumi. Was he limping?
"Do you need help?"
"No," Zoro shakes his head. "I'll unpack tomorrow." Zoro walks in Megumi's room and puts her to sleep. He leaves the suitcase on the floor. As he walk out he sees Zoro favoring one side of his body. He's limping and holding onto his left side of his abdomen.
"Did you eat?"
"No but I'm not hungry. I just want to take a shower." Zoro announces. He sets his duffel bag on the floor by the door in his room before just going to the bathroom. Something was wrong with Zoro. He needed to eat and he looks hurt. Sanji just walks in and freezes. He knew it. There on his abdomen is a bruise.
"What happened?" Sanji asks. Obviously shocking Zoro by the jump Zoro did. He looks to see Sanji standing by the door.
"Nothing." Zoro says.
"That's bullshit. Don't lie, how did you get those bruises and why are you so late?" Sanji stands up straight and crosses his arms over his chest. Obviously he isn't going to let it go.
"After I left I went to the school to talk to the teachers. They had called the police so I talked to them and sorted everything out. After that I went back to his house and packed everything. When I was going to leave he showed up. He didn't want me to leave so we fought. He got a couple hits. I'm fine."
"I'm calling Chopper to look at you."
"Don't! I'm fine. I just need some sleep." Sanji looks at Zoro suspiciously.
"Have you eaten?"
"What?"
"Have you had anything to eat since you left the restaurant?" Sanji rephrases.
"No."
"Then I won't call Chopper but you are eating. Take a shower, I'll reheat the food." Sanji says walking out as he closes the door behind him.
Like Sanji told him, Zoro takes a shower and heads to the kitchen where he finds a plate of food waiting for him, so is Sanji. Zoro sits down, says his thanks and starts eating. He eats slowly as he watches, from the corner of his eyes, Sanji sit there across from him staring.
"I can't eat if you're staring." Zoro informs. He looks at Sanji.
"Just making sure you eat it all it." Sanji says. Zoro isn't eating like he usually does. He's actually taking his time. More time than usual.
"I'm not going to waste food." Zoro says, offended that Sanji would think that.
"That's not it. I'm making sure you eat everything and don't save it for later." Zoro just hums in response.
"How was Megumi today?"
"Fine. When she woke up she did cry but stopped when she saw me. Spent most of the time with Zeff. He even let her help cook. All she did was peel lettuce and onions but she seemed happy." Sanji says smiling remembering her standing on a stool next to Zeff. Zoro gave a smirk.
After eating they both went to bed. After closing his door Zoro felt more tired than he thought he would. He wasn't fine. His side was killing him but he didn't want Sanji or Megumi to worry about him. He also couldn't stand on his leg. As soon as his body his hit the bed and he closed his eyes he was out.
Sanji was still worried. He knew Zoro is hurting but he knows Zoro won't accept help. Knowing him it'll heal natural. At least that's what he's telling himself.
