A/N:

A bit of a different direction here. It's still the same story. I swear. XD

Sanji Kitetsu Chapter 18

Elsewhere on the Grand Line in a yellow submarine, Sanji lets out a stream of cigarette smoke at the mirror and runs his fingers through his midnight black hair. He hates the colour, but no hair dye ever works to change it, including the one he just spent the last two hours trying. He readjusts the bangs to cover one side of his eyebrows and gives his mirror image a look in defeat.

The black makes him look pale like a ghost, and his blood-coloured irises only make it worse. Patty and Carne used to call him a vampire because of it. There was a time from his youth when he was genuinely surprised that direct sunlight didn't burn his skin. All in all, those weird asymmetric eyebrows that he's so used to covering up might be the least of his concern when it comes to his looks.

It hasn't always been this way. Sanji vaguely remembers a time when he had the exact same shade of blond hair as Zeff, but neither him nor the shitty old man can recall the event that led to the change in his colour scheme.

"Room. Shambles."

A clear bubble expands from just beyond the door. Sanji bites down on the cigarette filter as a figure appears out of thin air.

"Have some respect for people's privacy, shitty doctor. You know this is the bathroom, right?" He mutters, taking the cigarette out of his mouth with two fingers.

"The question is if you know this is the bathroom. You've been hogging it for two hours, and I have to pee." The man casually makes his way to the toilet and unbuckles his belt.

Sanji quickly averts his eyes, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

"Shit, Law, you could at least give me a few seconds to get out."

The man only gestures to the flushed toilet to show that he's done.

"You should be calling me Captain." Law points out as he washes his hands at the next sink.

"I told you, I'm not joining the crew, not unless you exempt me from wearing that hideous thing you call a uniform."

"Your skimpy suits wouldn't have lasted you a day in North Blue waters."

"We ain't in North Blue anymore."

"No we aren't." Law turns off the tap. "So why did you follow us all the way out here to the Grand Line if you weren't planning to join the crew?"

Sanji creases his brows, sensing that the conversation has suddenly turned serious. Maybe he has overstayed his welcome here.

"To... keep you and your crew fed?" He answers sarcastically. Even as he keeps his eyes downcast, he feels the doctor's studying gaze through the mirror's reflection.

"I know you mean no harm to us, Black Leg-ya, but I have an obligation to keep my crew out of harm's way as much as possible. If you want me to trust you, you'd have to be honest with me. You know full well that none of us would starve without you. Shachi and Penguin can cook, maybe not as well as you, but their food is edible."

The captain pauses and firmly grips Sanji's shoulder from behind with his tattooed fingers.

"Tell me, what do you plan on doing on my ship?"

The question makes Sanji's heart sink. It's not like he hasn't explained his intentions to the doctor the first time he set foot on this ship. It's unlikely that the cautious man has forgotten, which means he probably never believed Sanji's words since Day One.

"I told you before. But if it's not good enough for you, you can drop me off at the next port." Sanji meets the captain's gaze through the mirror, not bothering to mask his feelings of helplessness, disappointment, and hurt.

The doctor's expression is blank for a few moments, and then his eyes widen ever so slightly in realization.

"All Blue? You were serious?!" Law blinks, releases Sanji's shoulder, and facepalms. "And the reason you won't join is really just the uniform." He adds to himself as an afterthought.

"I'd like to have my dignity intact when I find it." Sanji shrugs. Law gives an awkward chuckle and steps closer to hang an arm over the shoulder he was gripping moments ago.

"Sorry bud. You really had me convinced that there was more to you not wanting to join the crew. What do you say if I make an exemption for you on the uniform, Sanji? You can attach our mark to your suits instead."

The doctor holds out his free hand for a shake. Sanji takes the hand and shakes it firmly after a moment's hesitance.

"My pleasure to be of service to you, Captain. But do I get to negotiate the size of the mark?"

"We can talk about that after your feast." The captain pats Sanji on the back and turns to open the door. "Which reminds me, Bepo was just making a fuss about catching an over-sized tuna. You'd better get to work soon. We'll have your feast tonight."

"The largest of tunas is the Blue Finned Elephant Tuna from South Blue, and its meat is perfect for a tuna sandwich feast..." Sanji takes a draw on the cigarette he's been neglecting. He exhales the puff of smoke at the doctor's death glare through the open door.

"I'm just kidding, Captain. No bread on board. Of course I remember." The cook flashes his captain a toothy smile.

The door slams shut. Sanji turns to face the mirror again. He takes one last look at the one visible eerie red eye and extinguishes the cigarette in the sink.

Time to work.