Chapter three

'Oh will you stop being such a drama queen?
It's like you feel the world coming down on you! Pull yourself together; cause hanging around in your hammock all day sure won't undo things…' Zoro trailed of his voice softening as he spoke.

'That's not for you to decide.' Sanji growled back. 'Don't address me like I whine. I don't.'

'You don't?' he snapped but Sanji just sighed.

Zoro couldn't help from letting out an angry snigger. What a pussy.

He turned on his heels and tramped out banging the door.

Sanji turned around in the bed shortly after. He glared at the swords lying neatly on Zoro's hammock. He jumped out of bed. At least he wasn't the only one to be mad now.

He dressed himself and got ready to kick Ruffy out of the kitchen. No one's eating without him cooking on this ship!

Nami spoke with Chopper and Usopp in the kitchen.

'Morning.' Nami smiled at him.

'Good-morning Nami-san! I'm so sorry I haven't been up to cook your daily love meals for you today! I-'

'Oh that's okay Sanji. Don't wanna know why.' Nami said slyly. Sanji ignored her little outburst and almost disappeared into the closet with pans and other cooking applies.

'I've kept Ruffy away from your fridge.' Chopper squeaked.

'Huh? Oh thanks!' Sanji said and turned around to look at Chopper. He glared at him for a bit while thinking off what he should say now. The silence between the three was broken and Sanji was pulled out of his Zoro (?)-Trance as Usopp tramped in.

'I can't believe Speed-racer is dead!' He threw himself down by the kitchen table.

'…What a slump.'

'Who's Speed-racer?' Nami questioned.

'It's my mascot. My masterpiece. It's A.I'' Usopp said proudly. 'But Zoro accidentally sat on him so now he's broken!'

'I told you t'was an accident!' Zoro growled as he tramped into the galley filling up the hold kitchen with his presence. Sanji backed away almost disappearing in the dark corner of the kitchen.

'That was what I said, stupid.'

'Whatever,' Zoro smiled and looked at a very weird cook operating in his kitchen.

'What'ya making cook?' Ruffy asked walking in.

'Uh… some new experiment with uh… tomatoes and fish and some vegetables… It's kinda complicated! I'll get back to you when it's done.' Sanji mumbled. He saw Zoro in the corner of his eyes.

Ruffy yawned and whined the way he always did when he as hungry, which was constantly. Sanji felt right in the mood to provoke. He slipped the pots and pans out off his hands and turned on his heel.

'Where are you going? I thought you were cooking!' Ruffy said loudly. Sanji just showed a cigarette in his hand over his shoulder for the others to see. He was not in the mood for listening to Ruffy the next half an hour.

'What is it anyway Usopp?' Nami questioned. Zoro giggled.

Usopp gave him an evil glare as he drew up something very dead mechanical thing out of his pocket. The others stared at the thing while Usopp carefully placed it on the table. Zoro burst into laughter. Chopper's eyes and mouth opened widely in joy.

'You can fix it! It's a mouse isn't it?'

'Of course I can fix it. Now SHUT UP Zoro.' He whined at Zoro's back.

'I c-can't! But I can leave to laugh outside.' Zoro left as he giggled on.

He put his hands in his pockets and started to whistle a small song he remembered from a long time ago. He threw a couple of eyes out on the sea and closed his eyes as he felt the wind onto his face.

He could smell the scent of sugar coming from the right side. His eyes opened slowly as he realized Sanji was standing in profile to Zoro on the deck several meters away.

Apparently Sanji has caught the sugar himself. His one pocket was filled with sugar. He was cursing under his breath as he tried to empty his pocked into the sea. The smoke in his mouth moved hectically has he spoke to himself.

Zoro cast a sidelong glance at his crewmate as the cook caught something else in his pocket. He smiled oblique in triumph and giggled, as he pulled out the ruined paper substance that seemed to have been the bag that had hosted the sugar earlier.

Sanji continued to clean his pocket thoroughly.

'Enjoying yourself?' He asked simply not looking up.

'…Utterly.' He smiled and stretched as he laid himself down on the deck not taking his eyes of the cook who shifted uneasy.

'They seem pretty hungry down in the galley.'

'Well no one's stopping you from cooking them food.'

'I can't cook.'

'They'll eat anything.'

'I'll probably make something dangerous out of your ingredients.' Zoro sighed at his lame comeback. Sanji smiled slyly.

'I'm sure that you'll figure something out.' He smiled as he finally looked at the swordsman. He stroked his pants to get the final pieces of sugar away before he headed for the galley.

'uh… I'll ruin your kitchen.' Zoro said quickly before Sanji disappeared. Sanji's head snapped back.

'No cause you're not stupid.' He said simply and hurried away. Zoro sighed and closed his eyes.


Sanji threw the towel in the corner after having washed the last dishes. A pathetic crowd of marines attacked them after dinner and he hadn't had time to wash the dishes. Anyway I had the first night shift so he washed it then. He lit a cigarette and stepped out into a rather cold night. He took a short glance at the sky and the stars before he sat himself down between Nami's tangerines. He threw himself down and looked at the blank sky while he puffed quickly on his cigarette.

He heard steps besides him and a big bump down besides him.

'T'isn't your shift yet.'

'I know shit-head. I can't sleep.' Zoro growled.

'Fuzz-ball.' Sanji mumbled. Zoro looked as if he hadn't heard and looked at the stars.

'Aren't you supposed to watch the sea?'

'I am. I can see the reflection in the stars.'

'Ha! Very poetic.'

'R-right.' Sanji stuttered. He turned to lie on his side and look out over the sea. He could feel Zoro's gaze upon him.

He could almost see his whole knee from where he was lying. Sanji shook a bit but tried to hold still so Zoro wouldn't think he was a pussy freezing. It wasn't really that cold.

He was just being sensitive.

A little tired…

and a bit nervous… maybe.

He put both his hands under his head to rest it on them. The top of his head touched Zoro's thigh. He closed his eyes and felt very tired. He sighed and very soon he almost couldn't keep himself awake. Zoro'd watch the sea.

Sanji was forced awake when two fingers slowly touched his upper cheek. The cook did a good job keeping his breath steady. He kept his eyes closed. That stupid swordsman clearly thought he was a sleep.

A whole hand slowly cupped his chin and the hand advanced lightly up over the cooks face stroking it down his hair at last. The swordsman clutched the blonde clump of hair he had in his hand.


Sorry it took so long! Please review! Tell if you think this chapter was better!