Chapter 17

It wasn't supposed to be like this. I thought that by joining up with them, I would be able to escape his grasp. I didn't want to see anymore people suffer and get hurt because of me. But now, someone that I care about is hurt thanks to me. I know what I have to do. It's for their safety. I have to leave. But it wasn't supposed to be like this…

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Sanji sat at the kitchen table alone. After Adella's long explanation, he couldn't help but feel used. So, she only joined us in hopes of getting away from the man that wants her dead. Her parents are high ranking naval officers, no wonder that man wants to kill her. I can't believe it. He sighed.

"Hey Sanji." Nami sat at the table with him. "How you feeling?"

Sanji put a hand to his stomach. Chopper had taken care of the wound. "Better."

"You seemed to take Adella's news hard. But she likes being part of our crew, so that's nothing to be mad about."

"I really don't care."

"…Yes you do." He looked at her. "Sanji…do you love Adella? Please answer me truthfully."

"Me? Love her?" Of course I love her, but she's in love with someone else. "Nope, not really."

"…You're lying."

He looked at her. "What?"

"I said that you're lying."

"No I'm not."

"Yes, you are. I can see it in your eyes. You love Adella deeply."

He couldn't hide it anymore. "So? It's not like she'll love me back."

"What do you mean?" I could've sworn that Adella loved him too.

"I saw her the other night with Zolo. They're in love with each other. They way she threw herself into Zolo's arms. And when they…kissed."

"Kissed!" Wait, Adella kissed Zolo! Nami was confused. "No, that can't be right."

"I saw them for myself." He blinked back the tears. "She's madly in love with him. I can tell. She was so happy today."

Maybe…Maybe it's true… "Sanji…" She reached out for his hand. "Sanji, I'm so sorry."

Sanji looked away. "Don't be. You didn't do anything. I just want nothing to do with Adella romantically. Hell, I might not even want anything to do with her. She broke my heart."

Nami suddenly remembered the conversation she had not too long ago with Adella.

"Nami, Vivi…I think something's wrong with Sanji," said Adella.

"Really? What makes you think that?" Nami cocked her head to one side.

"Well, he was depressed this morning, and I can't understand why. He said that his heart was broken, but by what? I can't think of anything that would break his heart."

"…Did you…Did you do anything?" asked Vivi.

"Me? What could I have done?"

"I don't know." Vivi shrugged.

"You guys, something's wrong with me too. I can't tell for sure what's wrong, but I get this weird feeling around Sanji sometimes." Adella blushed.

"Oh yeah? What kind of feeling?" Vivi and Nami smiled.

"A tingling sensation. Like I can't wait to be with him."

"Adella, have you considered that you might be falling in love with him?" Nami was certain that that was the case.

"What! Me and…Sanji?" Adella thought about this. "Sanji is a nice guy…but I don't know."

"Think about it Adella. Those feelings are not like the feelings that you might have with someone like Usopp."

"You should really examine your heart," said Vivi earnestly.

Adella looked down. "My heart," she whispered.

"Nami? You're spacing out." Sanji waved his hand in front of Nami's face.

"Oh, sorry…" I've got to do something to bring these two together. They need each other more than they think. But if Adella really does love Zolo… She smirked and laughed internally. Then I'll just have to drive them apart! It won't be pretty though. "You know what, I'll go get Adella. Then you two can talk."

"H-Huh?" He blushed. "Don't do that. I don't want to talk to her right now." Crash. "What was that noise?"

Nami perked up. "I don't know…?"

"AAAHHH! LEMME GO!"

"That's Adella!" shouted Nami. They both got up and ran out on deck. Two figures jumped overboard. "Hey! Stop!" The two of them ran to the railing and looked out at sea. A small vessel drifted off far away.

A faint cry could be heard, "Help! Someone!" It was barely audible.

"Oh my God!" exclaimed Nami.

"Adella…!" Sanji didn't know what to think or say. How could I let this happen? He looked down, then noticed something. He picked it up and looked closely at it. He gasped and his eyes became wide. "This is Adella's pendant!"

"We have to go after her!" Nami ran inside to wake everyone up.

Sanji clutched the pendant tightly in his hand. "Adella…Don't worry, I'll bring you back unharmed…" he ran inside. "Hey! Get this piece of junk moving!"

"It's not a piece of junk!" yelled Usopp. "This is Kaya's ship!"

"Who cares! Adella's been kidnapped! Let's go!"