Welcome aboard for the new readers.
Enjoy your reading.

Chapter 19

A bit of privacy

The next morning, the crew took advantage of the breakfast served at the inn by the fireplace. Luffy took on the restaurant's stocks with his usual appetite and Nami had to stop him when the owner warned them that he would increase the bill accordingly.

Shortly after, everyone was out to enjoy the last hours on the island before the Log-Pose finished recharging. The leaves were rustling in the morning wind and covering the ground with a thick crunchy carpet. A clear sun was rising in the sky and the invigorating air of the open sea completely awakened them.

They arrived in a wooded park overlooking the village and Chopper, who was feeling particularly cheerful in this enchanting landscape, suddenly fell into a pile of leaves, laughing. Immediately, Luffy met him and Brook, Ussop, Franky and Sanji soon followed. The huge heaps of autumnal island leaves welcomed them in the form of soft mattresses and they had a field day, laughing like children.

Nami watched them for a moment, smiling, but she quickly grabbed her handkerchief to sneeze. The island's climate didn't suit her and despite the beauty of the landscape, she was eager to leave.

"Do you think if we go back to the spa, we'll have a chance to go in?" she asked Robin, her eyes watering.

The two friends hadn't been able to enjoy their tickets given for the city's spa the day before. The owners were overwhelmed by their free trial offer and the young women had given up because of the number of people crowding the place.

"I'm not sure", the archaeologist answered. "They were full until the end of the week. There could be as many people there as yesterday."

"That's true", her friend sighed, sneezing again. "But I must find a warm place until we leave..."

"I noticed a little book and coffee shop on the town square. We should be safe and quiet there."

"Sounds good", the navigator agreed. "If there's no noise, my headache won't increase."

The girls informed Zoro of their intentions before leaving for the village while the swordsman decided to sit against a tree with his swords set down near him. The rest of the crew was continuing to jump happily into the swirling leaves and he took the opportunity to rest by closing his eyes.

Suddenly, he heard muffled footsteps coming in his direction and he opened an eye, on the alert.

"Above all, do not move, marimo."

Zoro frowned but kept still. The cook was coming towards him with an outsized smile. It wasn't normal.

"Come here, my dear, come see Sanji!"

This time, the fencer cringed and he straightened up.

"The hell? What's wrong with you, idiot?!"

Then he saw a ball of fluff bristle at his side and he turned his head. A big gray and white long-haired cat was sitting next to him, watching him warily. A few steps away, Sanji got angry.

"I told you not to move, you moron! You'll make him run away!"

Zoro dropped back against the trunk, relieved.

"Come here, baby, come on."

The cat seemed to examine the cook with interest but he didn't take a step in his direction despite his pleas and his hand held out to him.

"Don't stay close to this cactus head, he'll be able to crush you by falling asleep."

The fencer glared at him and Sanji ignored him, fully focused on the cat. He took a step towards him and squatted but the animal shivered and he stopped. He finally sat down and continued to call him softly to reassure him.

"Why don't you leave him alone? Can't you see you scare him?" the swordsman pointed him out after a few unsuccessful minutes.

"Cat is a fearful animal, marimo. You need patience, that's all."

The blond reached out his hand again. He had managed to advance a few centimeters since earlier but the cat growled at his approach and stepped back.

"He doesn't like you", Zoro snickered.

"Bullshit! All cats adore me!"

Sanji didn't want to be discouraged but the animal suddenly started to rub against the fencer's arm at his side who raised his eyebrows, as surprised as he was.

"Oh, no! Don't go near him, he'll infect you with his soggy brain!" the blond warned him.

Zoro calmly raised his opposite hand and stroked with his fingertips the back of the animal that agreed to let him do. The swordsman looked up at the cook insolently.

"He doesn't like you", he repeated, satisfied.

"You're going to make him dumb through contact with you, you moron", Sanji grinded in a bad mood.

The cat, however, seemed to enjoy the fencer's strokes and he moved closer to him to climb onto his lap. Zoro then scratched his neck and the animal began to purr. For his part, Sanji was disappointed. He was about to give up when the swordsman looked up at him.

"Come here, cook. Slowly."

The chief hesitated before obeying. He had always loved cats and if the opportunity arose, he was planning on taking one to the Sunny. This one was beautiful with his long winter coat and he had wanted to adopt it immediately.

He moved slowly while remaining seated so as not to frighten the little animal that was enjoying the attentions of the swordsman. Arrived at his side, he gently moved forward his hand and after a few more seconds, the cat finally allowed him to be touched. He then rubbed his head against the blond's hand and his purr doubled.

Sanji glanced excitedly at the swordsman who smiled at his enthusiasm as he let him enjoy it. At last, he stopped his own caresses and quickly, the animal slipped into the arms of the cook whose eyes sparkled.

He then leaned against the tree trunk alongside Zoro and let his fingers slide with delight into the soft fur. After long minutes of caresses, the cat ends up rolling in a ball against him and closing his eyes.

Sanji was literally over the moon until Luffy turned up in front of him, hair full of leaves and his hat hanging over his shoulders.

"You have a cat, Sanji?! He's too handsome! Can I touch him?!"

"No way", the man firmly replied. "He's sleeping."

"Oh."

The captain sat down in front of him, obviously waiting to observe more the animal. After a few seconds, no longer holding it, he brought his elastic hand closer to the small body curled up against his cook.

Sanji glared at him but remained motionless as his hands held the cat against him and he didn't' want to risk moving and waking him up. So it was the swordsman who distracted Luffy's attention.

"What if you looked for a toy? He'll want to move after his nap."

The captain's eyes lit up and he got up quickly to run to his crewmates slumped in the leaves.

"Emergency meeting!" he shouted at them. "We need to build the coolest toy in the world!"

Sanji relaxed against the tree and worshiped the cat's regular breathing in his arms.

"I'm gonna take him with us, moss head."

The fencer wanted to gave him a questioning look but the blond wasn't taking his eyes off his new treasure.

"You sure? He may have an owner", he pointed out.

"He doesn't have a collar."

Zoro shrugged. He didn't hate cats so he didn't care if the cook took a shine to this animal. He wouldn't be the one to take care of it though.

About twenty minutes stretched peacefully. The cook was continuing to fondle the sleeping cat against him and the swordsman was dozing at his side. Suddenly, Luffy turned up again in front of them, his arms full with a round piece of wood of fifty centimeters long.

"We built the best Grand Line toy!" he showed them, grinning from ear to ear.

Sanji straightened to take a look as Zoro was looking at him absentmindedly. Franky, Ussop, Brook and Chopper were standing beside the captain and were nodding with satisfaction.

"It's a multi-function toy", the cyborg said, catching the object. "Look."

He pushed on a piece of wood and a long fishing rod topped with feathers came out of the top of the stick.

"Created from real bird feathers", he stated.

"I built the "independent games" part", Ussop proudly continued.

The sniper pushed on another side and a cavity opened, dropping several balls.

"Some can open to contain catnip or other scents!"

The crew's musician came forward and showed the cook a small wooden bird.

"I have recorded several melodies. Every time the cat will move the bird, a new song will be heard!"

"I made it from a dial", the gunner explained with excitement at his side.

"And we asked Franky to build the most enormous bowl of food!" Luffy got enthusiastic, pointing to Chopper.

"In fact, it's a mobile and adjustable food distributor", the little reindeer explained, showing a circular object about thirty centimeters wide. "The animal must roll it for the food to come out through the holes. This helps to fight boredom and stress!"

Sanji was amazed by the creations of his friends and he already imagined the happy life his cat would be able to live near the straw hat crew. He felt the animal suddenly stretch in his arms and Luffy immediately gave him one of Ussop's balls. After sniffing it, he jumped to the ground and tried to catch it between his paws to play in the middle of the leaves.

"He's adorable!" Brook gushed.

"Did you give him a name, Sanji?" the captain asked him.

"Not yet, I have to think about it..."

The crew took turns with the cat to show him all his new toys and it turned out that Brook's bird was a great success. Sanji looked lovingly at his little protégé that came regularly asking for cuddles to the crew members totally under his spell.

"We could name him Caramel!" Luffy suddenly shouted.

"Caramel? He's not even that color", Ussop pointed out.

The captain shrugged.

"Yeah, but caramel is good!"

"What about Puss in Boots?" Franky interjected.

"It's not really a name", Sanji noted. "It's more like a title."

"What do you think of Felix? It's a classic that never gets old!" Brook suggested.

"He may already have a name", Chopper thought. "I'll ask him!"

After speaking to the cat that meowed back, the reindeer turned to his friends, smiling.

"His name is Crookshanks!"

"Crookshanks? It's perfect!" the blond got enthusiastic, scratching his head with love.

"Crookshanks! Where are you, Crookshanks?"

The group turned to the sound of the voice and soon, they saw a little girl about eight years old coming towards them. Immediately, the cat pattered towards her among the crackling leaves and when she saw him, she squealed with delight before rushing to meet him.

"You found Crookshanks, thank you!" she said, giving a big smile to the crew in front of her.

"It's your cat?" Luffy asked her.

"Yes, it's Crookshanks!" she showed him. "My name is Rosie. Crookshanks is used to go for long walks outside, I got him since the birthday of my four years!"

"Great! I'm Luffy!"

Sanji was dumbfounded in front of the ball of fur rubbing against the girl's legs, purring continuously. He couldn't believe Crookshanks already had a house... He had already planned everything to put him comfortably on the Sunny...

"Oh, you have beautiful toys!" Rosie exclaimed as she discovered the inventions at Ussop and Franky's feet. "Did you find them in the village?"

"We made them especially for Crookshanks!" the captain explained excitedly. "He loves Brook's bird, look!"

While the straw hat boy was giving her a demonstration, Zoro watched the cook out of the corner of his eye. He had stuffed a cigarette into his mouth and clenched his jaw. Nevertheless, he eventually approached the girl after picking up the rest of the toys in front of his friends.

"You can take them if you want. It was for Crookshanks anyway."

"Really?" Rosie lit up. "How nice you are!"

She grabbed the inventions with delight and Sanji bent down one last time to scratch the animal's head at her feet.

"Have fun, Crookshanks. I'm sure Rosie will continue to take good care of you so don't go too far."

He took a few steps back and Crookshanks climbed onto the girl's shoulders before wrapping around her neck. She offered them a big smile before turning away to return home.

"Thanks again, bye!"

The crew waved back at her and Rosie gradually disappeared from their view as she was coming down to the village. Finally, Ussop sighed.

"What a pity, I liked Crookshanks."

"Me too but he already has a family. He'll be better with Rosie", Sanji said, lighting his cigarette.

His friends nodded and went back to the harbor. The Log-Pose was going to recharge any minute now and the girls were probably already waiting for them on the Sunny.

Back to the ship, they set sail and Sanji bustled in the kitchen. He was still a little affected by Crookshanks' departure and he made shortbreads in his image for dessert while persuading himself it was better to adopt a cat that wouldn't have the chance to have a family.

During the meal however, he was quickly drawn from his melancholy when he noticed that Nami continued to blow her nose and sneeze regularly. He then totally focused on the navigator for the rest of the lunch and made her a honey and lemon tea when she retired to her room to rest. Chopper also gave her some infused plants to help her fight by advising her to relax because there wasn't much to do but wait.

This is how the young woman decided to take a relaxing bath and she locked herself in the bathroom shortly thereafter.

Nami sighed as she closed the door behind her. She was finally able to enjoy a real moment of relaxation. Putting her soaps and her towel down, the navigator sank into the hot water whose steam was already invading the room. The temperature was ideal and the water relaxed her immediately.

Despite her condition, she had made sure the weather was calm and the course was launched. She just had to enjoy it. She sighed, enjoying the bubble bath and the subtly perfumed scent.

Nami brutally opened her eyes ten minutes later. She was dozing quietly but a characteristic noise had drawn her from her saving lethargy. She forced herself to close her eyelids again and concentrated on breathing calmly, focusing on the caress of the water. Her headache had ebbed and the steam was helping her to breath. Yes, everything was fine...

The red-haired woman clenched her teeth after another uproar that resounded in the bathroom. They couldn't do this to her, could they?! She was one floor above, how could they make so much noise?!

After a few more moments of fighting, Nami opened her eyes, livid with anger. She jumped out of the water and grabbed a towel she barely took the time to squeeze around her body before opening the bathroom door like a fury.

Eyes on fire, she walked past Luffy who looked questioningly at her as Robin was continuing to read a few steps away, impassive. As she arrived in front of the kitchen, Ussop coughed gently behind her back.

"You know, I'm not sure it's the right time for..."

Nami glared at him and the gunner took a step back, shivering with fear.

"You do what you want, I just wanted to tell you they're busy, you know!"

"I know they're busy! I'll make them regret to be busy when I'm in my bath!" the navigator yelled, mad with rage.

"What's going on?" Chopper intervened as he passed in front of them.

In response, Ussop put a hand on his eyes when Nami opened the kitchen door on the fly while he himself turned around modestly.

The young woman barely noticed the stunned head of the two occupants who turned towards her at her spectacular entrance. She stepped into the room, water still dripping down her body, and ignored the half-naked bodies slumped onto the table.

"You have no respect for anyone on this ship!" she screamed with no preamble. "We can't spend five minutes in the bath without hearing you fight or get laid and I'm sick of it!"

Sanji closed his mouth he had open wide seeing Nami turned up in such states of undress and Zoro rolled his eyes, annoyed. That one, she really ruined everything...

"You can't continue to use every room of the Sunny whenever you want because other people live here and I don't want to ask myself what I'm gonna find behind the door every time!" she carried on, perfectly hysterical.

The cook swallowed hard. He didn't think he could feel more humiliated someday in his life and he pushed back the swordsman's body above his own. However, his ordeal wasn't over because he saw Luffy come forward in the kitchen.

"What's going on? What you doing all half naked, it's a new game?" he asked around.

Sanji turned pale, Zoro snickered and her navigator turned to him, her anger following him at the same time.

"And you, you unworthy captain who isn't able to control the urges of his crew, have you no shame?!"

"What?" Luffy replied, incredulously.

"Chill out, no need for all the drama", Zoro cut them short, straightening up quietly.

"I'll tell you when there'll be no need for all the drama!" Nami shouted in return. "And put your clothes on, you depraved swordsman!"

Zoro shrugged and actually grabbed his pants while Sanji took the opportunity to hide behind the counter.

"Listen, both of you", she continued, royally ignoring the captain. "It has to stop 'cause there's no way I'm gonna catch you disturbing the ship or finding you doing that anywhere again!"

"Oh, yeah and what are you gonna do about it exactly?" the fencer retorted, folding his arms over his chest.

"I'm gonna find you a room!"

Sanji, Zoro and Luffy stared at her for a moment, gaping.

"What for?" the captain then asked.

"You, get out of here! Go take a hike!"

The straw hat boy recoiled from the fury of his navigator and went off shrugging, completely lost.

"A room?" the cook who had dressed himself too repeated.

"Yeah, a fucking room, so we'll be fine! But I warn you, until then, you'd better hold you back cos I swear I'll cut you off, and with your sword, Zoro!"

The fencer winced, not enthusiastic about this use for his swords and his manhood.

Nami took their silence for approval and at last go back to her bath, still furious. She let the two men finish getting dressed in silence while Ussop finally dared to take a look inside the room, not without having made Chopper promised to wait for his signal before opening his eyes.

The same evening after the meal, Zoro slipped into the back of the cook busy finishing his dishes, making him jump when he ran a hand under his shirt. The ship was quiet and he was going to start kissing him when Sanji stopped his hand on his skin with a firm gesture.

"You sick or something, marimo?" he reproached him, turning around.

"The witch interrupted us earlier", the swordsman reminded him. "We have to finish..."

"Damn, you're really stupid", the cook said irritably. "Why do you think she turned up, huh? Don't start it again!"

"Why? What do I care about her threats?" he retorted. "Don't tell me she scares you?"

"That's not the point", the blond dodged. "We are on a ship with other people, she's right. We must learn to... delay."

"To delay?"

"Yeah. To stop behaving like animals if you prefer."

Zoro sighed, really annoyed.

"How long 'til she builds this room? We're not gonna wait for days!"

"Yeah, speaking of which, you think it's a good idea?" the cook asked him, taking out a cigarette.

"What? I thought you didn't want to do that anywhere, make up your mind!" the swordsman wondered.

"True, but a room..."

"You're right. If we requisition the hold, there's no need to wait and no one ever goes in there!"

Sanji looked up and stared at him, astounded.

"The hold isn't a place for that! There are all our food stocks, Chopper's herbs and Franky and Ussop's tools! Plus, I wasn't talking about that, you stupid!"

"Oh? What then?" the swordsman scowled.

The blond ran a tired hand over his face.

"Don't you think it's kind of weird if we have a room? It's a private space, it's not trivial!" he pointed out irritably.

The swordsman shrugged.

"Who gives a shit? She won't mess with us and we'll be safe. And she's the one who offered it!"

"Jeez, why did I think you could understand?" Sanji surrendered.

"It's just a fucking room!" the fencer suddenly fumed. "We won't spend our life in there!"

"But we'll spend our nights in there! It means we'll have to go there at night and that means we'll sleep together! It'll mean we share something so frankly, it's not just a fucking room!" the cook snapped in his turn.

Zoro gazed at him for a moment in silence before sighing.

"Why do you always need to make everything complicated? It's a room, you go if you want. No one will force you to go or stay in. If you want to get out for sleeping somewhere else, I won't stop you and I'd do the same if I feel like it."

Sanji caught his breath, uncomfortable. He had to admit he was feeling stupid now that Zoro had shown him he had a panic attack for four walls and a bed.

"Still, it feels weird", he kept on to not completely lose face, taking out his lighter.

"Yeah, you're a weirdo anyway", the swordsman grumbled in conclusion.

The cook didn't reply and winced when the door slammed behind his crewmate.

Yeah, Crookshanks is Hermione's cat name (no other resemblance with this cat however, phew!).

Nami really is the best to jump right to the problem, isn't she? She can do anything!

I also love deepen the gap between Zoro and Sanji but it's for bringing them closer afterwards, promise!

I wish you the best Holidays.