Chapter 20

She meant a lot to a lot of people. She was a diplomat; the daughter of two high ranking naval generals. She was beautiful, talented, and smart. She was perfect in every way. It was fate that we met. But it was reality that drove us apart. I wanted her; I adored her in every way under the sun. I wish I could tell her that, but with each passing moment, she's slowly fading away from this world. And what have I done for her? Given her strength when she was down? I was there for her when she needed someone the most. I would give anything to take her place and have her live while I die. That's just how much I love her. Yes, I love her more than my own life. I've never felt this way before about any girl. But just when I get this feeling of true love, she end up dying little by little. And not only that, she'll leave this world with someone else on her mind. She'll leave with the man she fell in love with…and I won't have any place for her in her after life.

----

"It's been two weeks!" exclaimed Vivi. "I'm afraid that Adella might not…" She couldn't continue.

"When is she coming out of that comma?" asked Usopp. "I miss her. Her smiling face, her cheery attitude…I hope for the best."

"Has anyone seen Zolo?" Nami asked.

"I think he left a while ago. I don't know where, though," informed Vivi.

Zolo came into the room and sniffled. "Has Chopper given any word on Adella's condition?"

"Zolo? Where have you been?" asked Luffy.

"That doesn't matter," he said with a sniffle.

"Hey, I just realized that Sanji isn't here," noticed Usopp. "Didn't he leave right after Zolo?" His friends shrugged.

Chopper tiredly came out of the room. Her rubbed his eyes and yawned. "I've done all that I've can. Now it's up to Adella to do the rest. Her life now depends on her will to live."

"Can I see her?" asked Zolo. Chopper nodded. Zolo went into the room and sat in a chair. "Oh Adella, I'm so sorry that this happened. I hope that you'll be okay. You have to live, okay? You have to find the will. Don't give up." Her mouth moved just a little. "Huh?...Adella?" She muttered something inaudible. Zolo leaned over. "Adella, what is it? Can you speak now?"

"…S-S-S…"

"Adella, speak up."

"…Sa-Sa…"

"What is it Adella? Please, speak up!"

"…Sanji…"

Zolo sat back in his chair, stunned. "Sanji…?"

"…S-S-Sanji…w-w-where…" She reached out for Zolo's hand. "S-Sanji?" Her eyes opened weakly.

"Adella?" Zolo held her hand. "Adella, it's me, Zolo!"

She looked over. "Z-Z-Zolo? W-What…h-h-happened? I-I d-d-don't f-feel t-too g-g-good…"

"Adella, you've been in a comma for two weeks!"

"C-Comma?" She turned her head. "I-I wanna see N-Nami and Vivi…"

He nodded. "Alright." He got up and left the room.

"I…I'm gonna d-die…" She felt so sure of it.

Nami and Vivi entered the room. "Adella!" They fought over the chair until Nami decided to let the younger girl have her way.

"How are you feeling?" asked Vivi.

"Bad question," said Nami.

Adella finally felt able to make full sentences without stuttering. "Guys, I'm so sorry. I should have told you from the s-start. You see, when I was a little girl, I had a grave i-illness. Doctors told my parents that I wouldn't live, yet here I am. After a while, the illness went away. I thought that it would be gone for good, but apparently the virus still lived in my body. I've cheated death once already. That was my freebie. But now I can't avoid it."

"Adella, don't talk that way," pleaded Vivi. "You're gonna live, alright?"

"…It was so beautiful…"

"What was?" Nami asked.

"Where I was. The last thing that I remember was blacking out with Usopp. After that, I was in this beautiful place. Everything was just so perfect. I saw my grandparents too. After sometime in that place, my grandparents wanted me to go with them. They were going to take me some place nice. They said that I would be happy forever there. Just when I was about to go, someone called for me. It was…Sanji. He was crying and begging for me not to go. He said that I was needed back on the Merry Go. He made me felt so needed that I knew that I had to go back. So I took his hand and we went back together. Then, I woke up to Zolo staring down at me. Had it not been for Sanji…"

Nami and Vivi smiled. "Adella, did you come back for us…or for Sanji?"

She thought a bit. "I came back for…" She smiled. "Sanji. You guys, I think that I'm in love with Sanji."

"Are you gonna tell him?"

"Yes! Where is he? I have to tell him now."

"Why now?" they asked curiously.

Adella grimaced. The pain in her body was horrendous. She felt her health failing her once more. "Because I won't get a second chance ever again."

"What do you mean?"

"Although I can here with Sanji, I'm going back. I can feel it. It's getting harder to breath and my chest is burning. Please, tell him that I want to talk with him."

Nami and Vivi looked at each other, then to Adella. "Um…He's not here. He left a long time ago and he hasn't shown up since."

Adella closed her eyes. "He hasn't…?" A tear rolled down her cheek. She turned her head. "I understand…"

"Vivi, can I be alone with Adella?" Nami asked. Vivi nodded and left. "Adella?"

She turned back to her. "Yes?"

"Sanji…he's deeply hurt."

"How?"

"He told me that he saw you and Zolo…kissing."

Adella's eyes widened. That night…So Sanji was there and he saw us! Oh dear… "…I…"

"Adella, did you kiss Zolo?"

"…I did."

"Why!"

"I don't know why. We were just so hurt and we had to know how we really felt about each other."

"You're not his lover are you?"

"No, never!"

"Sanji's heartbroken and he thinks that you don't love him."

"Oh no…what've I done?" She closed her eyes. What's the point of living when the man that you love feels that you don't love him? Sanji's gone and he might not come back until after I'm dead. I have no will to live anymore if the man that I care about wants nothing to do with me because he thinks that I'm in love with someone else! I just want it all to end. She began to cough and choke.

"Adella!"

"I can't…I can't take it anymore!" Blood ran down her mouth. "It hurts so bad! It's…It's too much!" She screamed.

"Adella!"

Chopper and everyone else rushed into the room. "Adella!"

"Adella!" Zolo held her down. "Clam down!"

Usopp felt feverish. "So much blood…" He fainted again.

"Ugh, Usopp, not again!" Vivi shook Usopp. "Usopp!"

"What's wrong?" asked Luffy.

"Nami!" called out Chopper.

"Yes!"

"Go find a blue bottle in my bag in the boys' room and bring a syringe! Hurry!"

"Right!" Nami dashed out of the room. "Where the fuck is Sanji?"

----

Sanji sat in the bar with his head down. "…Adella…"

"Do you want another one?" asked the bartender.

He shook his head. "Just go away." The bartender shrugged and went to help other customers. Sanji sighed somberly. "I hope everything is okay on the ship. I hope Adella's alright. I had to get out for a while. The atmosphere was so sad and I was too. I want to feel happy right now, even if it's just a little bit…" He sighed once more. "What can I do now for Adella? She's already got Zolo, so where do I fit in? Nowhere I guess. She probably doesn't even need me right now…"

----

Adella coughed out more blood, but Zolo wiped it away. Sanji, she thought. "Just leave me alone. There nothing here for me anymore! Just-"

"Stop it Adella!" shouted Zolo. "You're always so optimistic and you always look on the bright side! You have to have faith in your friends and in yourself. Don't act this way!"

"You don't know what I'm going through!" she yelled at him.

"Adella!" He grabbed her by the shoulders. He stared into her eyes, then exhaled heavily. He loosened his grip on her and rested his head on top of hers. "I don't want you to die now. After two years, we've met up again. I don't want it to end like this."

Her coughing ceased, but her heart rate began to speed up. "Z-Zolo, my health is failing me…"

Chopper rushed in and filled a syringe with liquid from a blue bottle. "Alright Adella, I bought this medicine here on Sunset Island for a lot of money, it should help you." He took her arm and inserted the needle. Adella grabbed Zolo's hand and squeezed it. Chopper injected her with the medicine.

Adella winced, then she began to cry. Where is Sanji? I need him here with me right now…