This might be the longest chapter I made, though it might not for some of you *haha! I can't make up my mind*
And yes! I give my deepest thank you and bunch of kisses for you who have followed me and still sticking with this. and those who read this though didn't follow me, I still shower you with my regards and thanks *no kiss tho ;p*
And you guys seriously have to give bunch of flowers for Masamoony-chwan, because she isn't in a really good condition that I release this chapter faster than I plan to. Go gives her flower *Jajaja~!*
I do apologize for those who ships LawLu because, I have no plan to reveal the two so soon. So please bear with me. I'll notify in the summary if they do appear later in the chapt, but I still hope for you guys to read the whole story ;D~
No more blabbering, here we go~~
Eiichiro Oda-senseistill own One Piece, Hail Oda...~~ \(^o^\)
CURSED or BLESSED [8] : Cost of a Recklessness
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By the time Sanji opened his eyes, sunray was blinding him mercilessly. He rubbed his eyes heavily. He was in a bed, sweet smell was enveloping him, he felt comfortable. He tried to relax himself a little longer. Then suddenly all of his memories from last night coming into his senses. He jerked his eyes wide, breath hitched. Abruptly he tried to sat up, but to no avail. He couldn't even sit into a seating position, his body was so damn heavy, like the gravitation was working ten times harder today. Then he felt his whole body was twinge with pain, he was trembling. His throat dried just like a person who had lost in a dessert for a week. He needed something to quench this unbearable thirst. He needed blood. He needed it badly. He let out a whimpered, hoping somebody would heard him. But then, his trembling body was getting worse. He just realized, nobody would care about him, not even that young noirette who had seen his true ugly form, not that ferocious were-wolf who was – by nature – his sworn enemy. He would die here, alone, without nobody. Because he was damned to be lonely. Exiled by his kind, despised by his prey, hated by his enemies. He smiled sadly. Maybe death wouldn't be so bad for him, maybe it was his time to give up on hoping, because hoping brought only more despair for him.
All of a sudden, his nose smelled something. The sweet smell he always smelled these past days. Then, he realized the smell was getting stronger, nicer, hugging him tightly into sudden comfort. He didn't want to open his eyes ever again, not while he decided to succumbed to his fate.
"Oii.. wake up!" called the voice. He winced, when he felt a big hand nudging his shoulder softly. heavily, he opened his eyes. His vision was blur at first, but he still could catch a glimpse of green and black.
"Will he be alright?" asked another voice deep with worry.
"Hope so."
"...why?" the blond managed to speak, though his voice was cracking, ragged with pain.
"Ah he wakes! Sanji.. Are you feeling better?" asked Luffy, his grin was wide, as wide as usual, that pure feeling.
"I-..."
"It's okay. you're safe here." Said the noirette again.
"Can you sit?" Asked the other. Sanji changed his gaze and found the green head was talking to him. He was too exhausted to even answer him, so he shook his head weakly.
"Well... That's not a surprise." He sighed, "Luffy, hold this." He continued, handing the boy the food for Sanji. Luffy took the plate with no question. Then, Zoro moved closer to the bed, carefully he circled his muscular arm around the vampire's shoulder, pushed him up, though he stopped when the blond winced.
"You sure you got enough energy for yourself?" Asked the green head frowning. But Sanji didn't answer. Zoro pushed the wiry body again in one move and he let the blond rest against on the bed headboard. The muscular man slid some pillows behind his back, making him comfortable.
"I know this is sucks, but still better than not." Zoro said to him. Sanji saw what he offered to him. A fresh fish and chicken. The blond cringed and stole a glance at Luffy who was watching them the whole time.
"Luffy. Leave us for a sec, will ya?" Asked the were-wolf.
"Sure. Take care of him, Zoro. Get better soon, Sanji." The noirette smiled, giving Sanji a quick pat on his shoulder, then he left.
"Take your time. I won't look at you." Said Zoro, turning around to face the blond with his back. Sanji stared him, confused. What seriously happened with this Farligenete? He didn't hate him? He was a fuckin Vampire, a cursed one on top of that, even his kin looked at him with unhidden disgust. Then why, he the only race who was considered vampire eternal sworn enemy cared for him? Did the wolf pity him?
"-…y.. did… - o,…" he couldn't speak, he tried.
"I don't know what are you trying to ask. Fix yourself first. Then we talk." Zoro deadpanned. He stayed still, facing the other side. Sanji bit his lower lip. His face heated up, eyes started to sting, a warm feeling crept up inside him, and for the first time after hundred years, he felt blissful. He didn't care anymore, he didn't waste any more time. He took the raw fresh foods in front of him, dig his teeth in and sucked them dry. Blood downed smoothly in his throat. Even though it quenched only a little bit, it was still satisfying.
" Hee.. I thought you drinks on human."
"N-no." he answered, still a little hoarse, then he cleared his throat a bit, "I hold back on that. And I.. don't like the idea of feasting on human. And...," the vampire paused. Zoro let out a hum, signaling the blond to continue.
"I'm sorry about your eye." At least he managed to apologize.
"I beat you, so consider it as a tie." The green head replied. Both fell in silence before the were-wolf broke it with another question, while Sanji wiping the mess on his mouth after feasting on his food.
"By the way, you are a strange one, not feasting on human blood? Tell me then Nesatios*1 what is your purpose of staying with them if you don't need them?"
"… I'm finished, you can-" Zoro turned before Sanji finished his words. "I just…- I don't...- " the vampire hitched. He just didn't have the courage nor strength to tell this Vill about his past. Not this time. Not after what had happened. Zoro understood his hesitancy. He sighed, he knew this wasn't a good timing but, he needed to make sure the Nesatios won't harm any of his family – his nakama – in Baratie.
"So be it. Whatever reason you have with you, if I found out you are aiming for those in the restaurant, I'll make you regret it. Deeply." Zoro said, voice laced with menacing threaten, deadly venomous. Something inside Sanji twinged, he felt sudden constriction in his chest. The Vill's words was squashing his heart hard. No! He didn't have any intention to harm them. He didn't even think about it. He just wanted to be their friend, his friend. Then again, he was a cursed one. If this how the cursed worked, if this what he brought to his surrounding, then he had no choice, had he? He had – he needed to disappear from them. He had to end his miserable life. Doomed to be lonely, forever.
"For now, stay and heal yourself, then you are free to decide. If you're okay with animal's blood then I'll prepare for you, as much as you need." Said Zoro, snapping the vampire back into the reality.
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Zoro didn't understand. He was okay until – before the blond enter his life. He wasn't supposed to pity on the blond. Sanji was a Nesatios for fuck sake! He was a wicked sly creature. He had a lot of trick to played them. Zoro, as the only one who had the most rational logic of them all, had to protect those morons in the Baratie from him, from the sly creature. But why? Why were his blue amber eyes sucking him down like a whirlpool? Drowned him deep into those beautiful clear blue color. Crumbling his firm constancy so easily. And those feelings, deep inside the beautiful amber beads hidden a lot of sadness, loneliness, pain, even despair; and he hid it well. Zoro knew that feelings all too well. He had experienced it back then, while he was only a teen pup. And he just noticed it last night, when the Nesatios turned into his true form, unmasking his perfect masquerade. A flawless beauty outside, misery scarred creature inside; it stirred the beast feeling so hard, he felt he was contradicting himself. He had to protect his nakama, even it costed him to kill the blond, so be it. But on the other half, he was trying to save the blond, keeping him alive, so he could stay together with everyone. He might blame it on Luffy though, telling that the noirette was the one who wouldn't let him kill the blond, but deep inside him, he knew he won't kill that fucking annoying irritating blond Nesatios; well, after he seen the blond's true form and those sadness within. What the fuck happened to him, seriously. He might need a fucking hard bang on his head to get a hold of himself. [Shit!] he cursed while walking towards the toilette to check on his bandaged left eye, which was done by Sabo who was lecturing him while doing the patch work. It was still throbbing painfully. [Oh well… I might lose this one] he sighed. Although he had an extremely quick regenerating healing, the wound was inflicted by Nesatios, it nullified his regenerating ability. Basically, it was the same for the Nesatios. Their regenerative powers would be nullified, if their opponent was Farligenete or their own kind, which they called themselves as Nosferath*2, or those humans who had strange power, which they nicknamed them as Farlig*3.
He went into the toilette to check himself in the mirror. His true form reflected on it. A handsome (oh sure! he knew he was.) green head, with a pair of dark brown streaked green furry ears perking up, on his left ears were his three golden earrings which he wore them, always. He huffed and ignore it. Slowly, he opened the blood tainted bandage which stinging more and more and tried to open his left eye. He jerked his head down in pain, covering it with his hand. It was starting to bleed again, the red liquid rolled down his face and hand. He couldn't even open his eye for more than half second. But he was sure, he saw red with a big dark spot. [Damn it! I have to be more cautious and focus. What the hell was I doing back then. I was so fuckin reckless.] he cursed himself, blaming his self-confidence, his haughtiness. He thought he already won the fight and he let his guard down and this was what it cost, an eye.
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"Shiit! Zoro! Your eye!" scolded Sabo when he saw Zoro's bandage covered with blood, and messy. "Did you open it up?" he continued squinting his eyes. Zoro cringed and scratched his green mane. [this is gonna be long] he thought defeatedly.
"I just need to che-"
"ARE YOU NUTS?! I patched that up because you keep saying you don't need a doctor and now you just opened that up like nothing?!"
"I told you, I just need to-"
"I DON'T NEED YOUR EXCUSE BLOCK HEAD! I need you to be healed! I need you to NOT walking around, oozing your blood like you are a FUCKIN ZOMBIE though you might be one! YOU NEED A BRAIN! SHITHEAD!" Sabo roared, fire flaring from his mouth making the were-wolf stepped back while covering both his stinging ears from the thundering voice.
"Sa-Saboo-kun.. what happ- AAHH! ZORO! Your eye!"
"Makino-san, please help me to kill this fucker and shove him into the hospital. He needs a doctor for fuck sake! He is losing his eye!" Sabo explained, massaging his nose bridge, very exasperated.
"Zoro, please. listen to Sabo-kun." Makino begged. The green head huffed and pat the noirette lady and the dusty blond man's shoulders.
"It's okay. No need to worry about this. I was careless. I'm losing it either way. I checked it just now. It's healing but, the scar was too deep. I think, I opened my eye when the slash came so, it might injure my eyeball. Huh?" Zoro asked when he noticed the duo were staring him with palpable expression of fear? Uh.. no. Disgust? Not quite right… Terror, yeah. Palpable expression of terror… and horror.
"What?" the green head asked again, annoyed.
"YOU DON'T NEED TO PICTURE IT IN OUR MIND, BAKAAA!" the two screamed from the top of their lungs, making the were-wolf passed out from the deafening cried. Poor big guy.
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On the fourth day,
"Oi, kuso-cook!"
"What?!"
"Are you sure you are okay? I don't see you're healing at all. What happen to you?" asked Zoro worried.
"It's nothing. Don't worry."
"You can deceive others, but not me. I know something wrong with your condition. Even that quality of blood is poor, it doesn't mean you can't-"
"I said, I'm Okay. It has nothing to do with you." Sanji retorted and trying to run away from him. But Zoro knew better. The beast quickly grabbed his slender arm – it was not even rough, but the Vampire winced.
"See. I just touch a bit and you're like this."
"Don't bother me, Marimo! I don't need your concern."
"Suit yourself." Zoro gritted his teeth. He reached his limit to face the damn blond. While he still had it, he quickly stomped away, exasperated.
[You're going to kill me, once you know I have a curse. Don't make it harder for me? Baka-marimo!] thought Sanji, heading towards the kitchen.
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Week has passed. The vampire has yet fixed, he didn't even recover, Zoro knew it. The blond might unable to regenerate himself because of he was lacking good quality blood or the massacre trauma he had been through. Though he was a Vampire, branded as a cold-blooded killer, he also had heart to love those who had been with him these past years. And he wasn't one who killed people blindly. Zoro understood that perfectly, because he was in the same boat as him, once.
These past weeks, taking care of the melancholy blond, Zoro noticed a lot of things about him. He was always masking his sadness, he looked strong, smiles more than anybody, but deep inside, he was drowning in loneliness, his mask has yet broke. His smile was still empty, but when they were altogether, he really laughed and Zoro liked that laugh. He was a shy person with a fuckin foul-mouth. At first, he appeared suave and he still was to Makino, to Zeff, to Sabo, to Brook, but then he would change his persona towards Luffy mostly because his glutton has no boundaries, Ussop stupidity and his pranks, and to Zoro which he nearly commented on everything, 'why are your head green?' or 'is there any brain inside that moss head?' or 'You brutal muscles idiot!' or 'Fuck you and your cute ears!' oh wait, the last one might miss the point but, well you understood what I mean right? And he was the most contradicted person Zoro ever knew. Well it might because he lived for a very very long time but, Gosh! Sometimes he needed to push that slender body down, pinned the Nesatios underneath him and forced him to spit out whatever was in his mind. Because! His mind and his mouth worked in an opposite order, especially his foul-mouth. Betraying each other, like a fuckin damn Jerk!
Up until now, though the Vampire cliqued just right into the family, Zoro still had his eye on him – just to be sure that he would not do anything funny. And it made Sabo keep teasing that he was interested to the beauty blond. Dimwit! They were sworn enemy! How could he interest to that fuckin idiot Nesatios? It was impossible. He always denied when Ussop caught him staring to the blond, or the beast would scowl when Sabo caught the blond staring at him, of course that idiot denied the fact Sabo mentioned. And there was this unique soft calming smell when the blond was around, yet he couldn't understand what was this smell all about.
But somewhere in between his cheerful self, adding ruckus in the kitchen and home, Zoro often found him day-dreaming with deep sadness, or the other time, when they argued – oh they argued a fuckin lot! – he looked like he was about to cry, might be because Zoro's words were too harsh, or might be he was a damn crybaby. Whatever it was, Sabo always blamed the beast for it, and so did Ussop and Brook. Hhh, he might be the one at fault. Zoro wasn't one to coward down, if apology needed, then he would man up and faced the blond. When he did that, the blond's feature would cheer up a bit before it went back to its usual somber. These passing days, Zoro's heart would clench tightly when he saw that melancholy expression. There was this urge inside him to made the blond smile, truly smile. He just didn't understand it anymore.
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"Are you serious? Do you need more blood?" asked Zoro, arching one of his brow when he saw the blond's pale body, cuts and wounds still there, it was closing but at a very slow pace. It wasn't even normal for a human being, well, except he was no human. They were in Zoro's room. The blond was changing his clothes, while the beast suddenly barged in without knocking whatsoever – luckily, he was still wearing his fucking boxer – well yeah, they shared the room together, because Zoro's room was the emptiest of them all.
"Gah! B-Baka yarou*4! Why don't you knock?!"
"It's my room."
"But I share it with-… fine." Muttered the blond. Zoro sighed and close the door behind him, stepping closer to the blond. Suddenly he took the blond's hand and brought them to his mouth. At first, the blond was so confused, he let the beast did whatever he planned to. But when the cut on his arm was licked by Zoro, he quickly pulled it away, as if he was burnt.
"What the hell?!" Sanji wailed, aghast.
"Hey! I'm just trying to help you."
"By licking it clean?! Are you some kind of disinfectant?!"
"My tongue is! We, Farligenete have better regeneration power than you Nesatios. Though it sounds disgusting but, our saliva indeed has disinfectant and more regenerative power, baka!"
"Thank you for your kind info, on the other hand I DO NOT need help from a Vill!" Sanji said coldly, continuing to slip into his black pants and zipped it up.
"Seriously, what's up with you? Why you always act like I have offended you or something?"
"I do not. Maybe it's just your imagination."
"Well, do I?" hissed the green head, his tone changed an octave higher. Sanji sighed and quickly averted his gaze to him.
"Yes, you do. It's just your imagination. I can take care of myself, and that's what I've been doing from long ago. So, mind your own business!" replied the vampire toneless. Zoro didn't understand why, something stirred inside of him, something just stabbed his heart, it was painful. It might be because how the Nesatios acted or it might be the way he seemed to drive Zoro away, all the time. Whatever reason the blond had, it snapped something inside Zoro.
"Fine! Do as you like. Stay like that and rot as you want." Berated the beast coldly. Sanji jerked up to found the beast was staring at him fiercely from the mirror. The blond eyed him blankly. The beast had decided to made it official, casted him away from their peaceful life, away from him. Mechanically he nodded. He had found a new determination.
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"Haven't sleep yet, Sabo?"
"Zoro. Yeah... How 'bout you?"
"Lights on, you keep sighing. How can I?" The green head said, stepping closer and sat beside the blond on the floor, even though that ash grey comfortable couch was behind them.
"Sorry." Sabo replied, twirling both his thumb together, cupping a glass of hot chocolate. "You want some?" The human asked.
"Nah. Mind sharing?"
"I... "
"If you need me then."
"Thanks. I like how you keep others private space." Chuckled Sabo though his features still tired and sad.
"Well, I do have my own space, so yeah." The were-wolf answered.
"It's not that I don't want to but, I don't know. I don't know what's bugging me." Sabo paused, but then he continued. "The fact we are living with a vampire? Or the fact we know that there is someone, out there who knows our secrets." They both engulfed in silence.
"I can rest assure you, the one who knows our secret won't leak that out." Zoro spoke, crossing both his hands behind his head and leaned on the couch. Sabo furrowed his eyebrow,
"How can you be so sure?"
"She will also be in danger if she tries."
"Hunt her down?"
"We are talking about human nature, Sabo. And she is a witch. She won't escape their idiocy."
"Not.. not everybody like that."
"I know. Mostly." Zoro warned. Sabo set his gaze back to his mug on the tudor oaky colored coffee table.
"What do you think about the vampire?" Zoro continued.
"I don't mind. He is a nice person."
"I thought so. But I don't understand him. He seems to drive me away whenever I want to help him."
"Don't you think he had something in his pasts?"
"You might be right but- hhhh.." the beast sighed.
"Hey Zoro…"
"Hhm?"
"Do you…, regret that?" The blond asked again.
"Huh?"
"Your eye."
"No. This will remind me not to let my guard down." Zoro smirked. That didn't convince Sabo though. "This is a compensation of my failure. You should be happy I lost only one eye. I could die back then." The were-wolf continued, patting his younger nakama, trying to console him. Sabo sighed though he forced a smile.
"I know. Thank you for being alive. Thank you for protecting Luffy. I don't know anyone else who would always around us, beside you." Sabo said, leaning against the older were-wolf muscular shoulder. Zoro gave out a ghost smile. He stretched his right arm where Sabo put his head on, and circled it around Sabo's shoulder, rubbing his arm to soothe him.
"Believe me. Anyone will be happy to be beside you guys." Grinned the were-wolf.
"Haha. I hope so."
"AHHH! Zoro! Sabo!" A sudden scream. Both jolted and quickly set their gaze to the source of the voice. The noirette was running down the stair to where the men were.
"Wh-what happened?" Sabo asked worry. Zoro was frowning, confused.
"San- Sanji.." He paused, catching his breath.
"What's with him?" Now that took the green head attention.
"He's gone."
* HnO HnO HnO HnO HnO – To be Continued –HnO HnOHnO HnO HnO *
*1 Vampire (Non-human calls Vampire)
*2 Vampire (Vampire calls Vampire; How they called themselves)
*3 Super-human (Vampire and Non-human call Super-human)
*4 Stupid bastard
Aaaannnddd…. Where did the blond go?
I'm seriously sorry for making Sanji such a melancholic and timid person. I do hope his char did not stray too far, because when I read the original comic, I felt like I did. But oh well, I still hope you guys entertained with this story.
And I have a special surprise in the next chapter. So really, stay tuned~
And so how was it? Good bad? Haha~ please do review so, I could do others better.
Jyaa~ 'till next time ~o^/
HnO