((A/N: Writing this chapter nearly broke my heart. I feel so bad for Sanji... ;-; But it had to be done. cries))
The next couple of days, Sora got better. She didn't have any fevers so she was safe from any infections. Sanji had to force liquids down her throat though, for Sora was very stubborn about not putting anything into her stomach.
Late one night, Sora quietly crept out of bed, she walked around the sleeping bodies in the room and out onto the deck. Her bare feet chilled against the damp deck floor, but she wanted the fresh breeze. She was getting cabin fever of just sitting in that room all day. She walked up towards the wheel, and sat on the seat behind it. She dozed off as the ship rocked her to sleep, not feeling someone cover her up with a blanket.
Sora was brought out of her peaceful dream by the annoying caw of a gull. Sitting up, her hand flew down to her side and smacked someone on the face. She looked over to her right and saw Zoro rubbing his face, waking up.
Sora sat up and placed her bare feet on the deck, the sun hadn't come up yet and warmed it up. She sat down on the floor next to Zoro, and took his hand off his face. "Are you okay?" She asked as she stroked his face.
Zoro leaned against the seat with a nod. Taking the blanket, he covered her over and stared out at the ocean. Sora placed her head on his arm, and held his hand. "I love the smell of the ocean…" She said quietly, noticing Zoro shiver in the chilly breeze. Sora scooted closer to Zoro and placed some of the blanket on him.
Zoro blushed as Sora's hand moved up his arm and she held it closer to her. Over the past few months since she had come onto the ship, Zoro had developed feelings for her.
Sora held his hand with one hand, and his arm with the other as she snuggled his strong arm. "Zoro…"
Zoro didn't look down at her, "Yeah?"
Sora drew circles in his palm, making him shiver, "I really am glad that I'm part of this crew…" She yawned as she held his hand again.
Zoro looked down at her, as she dozed off, holding onto his arm. He hoped nobody came out here and saw them cuddling like this, Luffy would never leave him alone if he found out. But at the same time, he did want someone to come out and see them. He really didn't care. Sitting there, she smiled as he watched the sun rise above the ocean.
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Sanji came out onto the deck, holding a mug of coffee in his hand. He walked up to make sure that the wheel was locked, when he dropped his mug of coffee. It shattered as it hit the floor, waking both Zoro and Sora.
Sora looked up and saw Sanji's spirit energy change from one of pure envy, to a deep shade of hurt. "Sanji…" She gasped as she watched him turn and run away into the cabin. "Oh…" She said burying her face in Zoro's arm. "I better go talk to him." She said, getting up and following him.
Sanji walked into the empty kitchen and decided that he needed to cook. He began cutting up apples like crazy. In his fury, he accidentally cut himself. Cussing audibly, he washed it and applied pressure with his cloth.
Sora found Sanji in the kitchen, holding his bleeding finger over the water. When he put it in a cloth and turned around he froze. "Sanji, I-"
"You don't have to explain." Sanji said without emotion.
Sora saw that he was really upset by the color of his spirit. "Sanji… I didn't-"
"Well you did!" Sanji said loudly as he turned around, and continued chopping apples.
Sora quietly closed the door behind her and walked over toward Sanji, "Sanji, please listen…" She said placing a hand on his arm.
Sanji quickly walked away from her, "Why should I, I understand what's going on. You like Zoro."
Sora caught the tears in his voice, walking up beside him. He turned away from her and placed down the knife.
"Go and cuddle with your boyfriend. What should I care." Sanji said sadly as looked down at the counter, tears traveling down his cheeks.
Sora hugged him from behind, "It's true Sanji. I do like Zoro, but I don't want to lose you because of it. You're my closest friend… You're the one that helped me the most. You helped me cope with Seku dying. You helped me when I got hurt. You're the one that jumped in after me and saved me Sanji. I didn't see Zoro forcing liquid's down my throat, you did… You're my best friend… a-and I don't want to lose you because I don't like you the way that you want me to…" She cried onto his back, and felt him tense up after she finished talking.
Sanji turned around and hugged her, "I'm sorry Sora… I-I didn't mean it that way."
Sora cried into his shirt, and Sanji hugged her and continued speaking, "I'm glad that I have a best friend like you. I'm glad that you're happy… really…"
Sora slid down onto the floor, and Sanji sat next to her. "I-I'm sorry that I broke your heart Sanji. I a-am…" Sora said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder. "I'm so s-sorry…" She hiccuped.
Sanji hugged her and cried into her shoulder, "It's alright… I'm just glad you're happy… But if things don't work out between you two, I want you to know that I'm here. All right?" He hugged her tighter as she continued to cry into his shoulder.
After a while, they both settled down and just sat there. Sora broke away first and looked up at Sanji. "All right… b-but don't pick on him okay?"
Sanji tucked a piece of hair behind her ears, "I'll only do that if he really deserves it. I swear."
Sora smiled and ran a hand through Sanji's hair, "There's no one in the doorway, right?"
Sanji looked over at the doorway, "No… why d-" He was cut off when Sora placed a firm kiss on his lips. She then got up and walked away, leaving Sanji sitting there, blushing bright red.
Zoro was still waiting where Sora had left him, he looked up at her when she came back to sit next to him. "How'd it go?"
"He's fine… I talked to him about it…" Sora sighed as she leaned against him again. "Zoro?" She asked, looking up at him.
Zoro raised an eyebrow and looked at her, only to have his lips meet hers. He blushed and she broke the kiss.
"I told him about that too. He took it rather well…" She said leaning against him again.
Zoro's arm slipped out of her hands, and wrapped around her shoulder, holding her against him. Sora smiled as she snuggled against him and fell asleep. Before too long, Zoro fell asleep as well.