Cheddar: WOW I"M DONE! with this ending another is on the way!

Chapter 9

"HIKARI!" Zolo and Sanji yelled as they ran up the steps. Zolo took off his boots and swords faster and jumped into the water. Hikari was sinking fast down below. Zolo swam as fast as he could to reach her. Sanji up on deck was franticly calling out for every one to come help him. Usopp brought up with him a long coil of rope and Sanji looked over the edge franticly trying to find Zolo and Hikari.

'Just a little further…!' Zolo thought as he reached out as far as he could. He grabbed Hikari's hand and he pulled her to him and he wrapped his arm around her waist and began to swim upwards. He had a sudden pain in his chest, he needed air and fast. He kicked harder and he broke the surface of the water and took in a much needed breath of air. Sanji saw them and he immediately threw the rope down. Zolo swam towards it and grabbed it he wrapped it around his arm and Sanji and the others pulled him up. Zolo set Hikari on the deck.

"She's not breathing!" Zolo cried out.

"I know CPR!" Sanji exclaimed and he started performing mouth to mouth on Hikari. Zolo watched in disgust as Sanji gave her mouth to mouth. He too knew CPR but didn't say any thing. Zolo stalked off and he climbed the rope ladder up to the crows nest. He leaned against the strong mast. Fresh rain struck his cheeks and tears mingled with them.

Finally Hikari coughed up a lot of water. She opened her eyes saw the crew looking down at her and then she fainted. Luffy bent down to pick her up but Sanji grabbed his hand.

"We mustn't move her." He said softly. "I'll get her some blankets, and an umbrella…" Sanji said as he walked down the stairs. Nami stared down after him longingly. She too stood up and went down after him.

"Hey…" She said to him as she caught up.

"Hey Nami-san!" Sanji said some what happily. Nami couldn't find any thing to tell him so she just kept walking next to him in silence.

"Hikari has a big heart… she cares too much for every one else." Nami said softly. "She wants to make every one so happy that she too is sucked into her own…vortex… of happiness." Sanji looked at Nami. This was why he loved her.

'Nami…' he thought to himself.

"Nami…?" Sanji asked after a few moments of silence.

"Hm?" she asked as she looped her arm through his.

"Nothing… never mind…" Sanji said as he shook his head. He took Nami's arm, and he intertwined his fingers with hers. Nami blushed.

'I love you more than any one… I know I just now realized that but I do.' He thought as he stopped. Nami looked up at him and Sanji leaned down and kissed her.

"I love you Nami-san." He said as he lightly rubbed his cheek against hers. Nami blushed and kissed his cheek.

"I know." She told him "I know."

Hikari groggily awoke to a light patter of rain on her face.

"Uhn?" she asked confused. "Am I dead?" she asked no one. Luffy and Usopp had gone off to find Sanji to see what was taking so long. She sat up slowly. 'No I'm not dead!' She thought excitedly. 'I- who saved me?' she thought. She lied back down as Sanji came back with an umbrella, and blankets.

"Oh! My angel you're awake!" Sanji said happily. Hikari looked at him sadly.

"Sanji… I- I just don't like you like that any more…" She said softly.

"I know and I don't like you that way any more either…and …" He paused and hung his head "I'm sorry I lied to you about Zolo… he really is a good guy and you two look cute together." Hikari smiled.

"Speaking of him where is he?" She asked as she slowly stood up.

"He's in the crows nest but you're not fit to stand up yet!" Sanji cried as he went over to her to make sure she could stand. She refused his help.

"Sanji… I'm fine!" She giggled. She gave him a hug for him to make sure. She smiled and walked towards the rope ladder. She had difficulty but she made it up and she found Zolo crying softly.

"Zolo?" she asked quietly. He looked at her.

"Oh… what?" He asked as she came and sat down by him. She leaned on his arm. Zolo looked at her in shock.

"Get off! You love Sanji remember?" He said angrily. Hikari looked hurt.

"I do not!" She protested. Then she turned his face back towards her and she placed her lips lightly on his. Zolo broke away.

"If that was for saving you, you're welcome." He said as he turned away.

"You big dummy" Hikari said as she started to cry. "I love you and thank you are the same!" Zolo turned back around.

"I'm sorry…" he said as he lightly wrapped his arms around her.

"I don't care if you're sorry I just want to be loved! By no one else but you--!" she stopped as Zolo kissed her.

"I love you Hikari ever since the day when I first saw you I knew that I loved you. When you thanked me for the first time I knew."

"Me too." Hikari said as she leaned against his chest. He tightened his arms. "Zolo I love you."