Cheddar: hey y'all you really arn't posting who you like and i NEED to know who you like better because i'm typing the ending as we speak and i don't know which way to turn... love u lotz! C-h-e-double d-ar

Chapter 8

Zolo strode down the hall and across the deck to the kitchens where Hikari was cooking. He was a few feet from the door, he took a deep breath in and went over to the door and opened it.

"Hikar—"He stopped as he saw Sanji and Hikari with their lips locked. He dropped the flute and Hikari looked at him. She broke away from Sanji.

"Zolo!" She gasped "T-this isn't what it looks like I--!" Zolo turned on his heel and walked away quickly. Hikari got up and picked up the neatly wrapped parcel. She opened it and saw the flute she had played earlier. Tears sprang to her eyes as she read a small card that was attached to it.

'To: Hikari.

I love you.

Zolo'

She ran out after him. Sanji leaned back against the cabinets and took out another cigarette, lit it and blew a long puff of smoke.

Zolo walked quickly back down the halls when he heard his name called.

"Zolo WAIT!" It was Hikari. Zolo looked over his shoulder and started to run. He ran back to his room and slammed the door shut behind him. A few moments later Hikari opened the door.

"Zolo?" She asked as she stepped in slightly. She came in to see Zolo lying on his bed with his back to her.

"What do you want with a nobody like me?" he asked angrily. Hikari went and pulled up a chair and set it beside his bed.

"Zolo… I--- I didn't know that you loved me… I thought that you hated gypsies…" Hikari said softly. Zolo sat up and turned to face her.

"Who told you that bag of lies?" He asked.

"Lies? I don't understand." Hikari said. "But Sanji told me--- Zolo!" Zolo had leapt out of bed and was out the door by the time Hikari had called his name.

'Sanji!' Zolo thought as his temper rose to a boiling point. He continued to curse Sanji to all of the places of torture he could think of. He burst out on deck and found Sanji sitting against the mast smoking.

"YOU!" Zolo bellowed. "WHAT LIES DID YOU TELL HIKARI YOU PIG?" Zolo grabbed Sanji by his collar and he pounded him against the mast.

"What?" Sanji asked him.

"DON'T PLAY DUMB WITH ME YOU STUPID COOK! YOU TOLD HER THAT I DON'T LIKE GYPSIES HUH? WELL PAL YOU'RE GOING TO PAY!"

"STOP!" A new voice yelled above Zolo's. It was Hikari. she had tears streaming down her cheeks. "Just stop it both of you! You both used to be friends until I came!" She cried out. Zolo loosened up on Sanji's collar. Sanji took advantage of this and he kicked Zolo in the stomach. Zolo let go and stumbled back a few feet.

"Zolo!" Hikari cried as she rushed over to him.

"Stay away from him." Sanji told Hikari as she bent over Zolo's crumpled figure. "He's not worthy of an angel like you!" Zolo glared at him.

"If I'm not worthy then certainly neither are YOU!" Zolo pulled him self up. He drew out one of his swords. "You're not worth all three of my swords." Sanji glared back at him.

"And you aren't worth my time!" Sanji shot back. He turned and walked back towards the kitchens. Zolo tightened his grip on his sword and he charged at Sanji.

"SANJI!" Hikari cried out in horror as Zolo sped at him. Zolo swung and Sanji back flipped over him and kicked Zolo hard in the back.

"Curses…" Zolo muttered. "Stupid pretty boy cook!" Sanji glared at him again.

"STOP IT!" Hikari cried out suddenly. She was on her hands and knees crying. "Please… just stop…" she pleaded. Sanji turned and looked at her. Zolo slowly stood up.

"Just… stop…" she said even softer. Suddenly she stood up and walked backwards towards the ships bow. Fresh drops of rain started to fall down. "You two were too good of friends before I came and I won't let my self ruin that for you. Friendship is more important than any thing…" She stepped onto the goats head on the front of the ship.

"If you won't stop this… then I will." She said as she stepped off the ship.