Part 2
The last few hours are all a blur.
Somehow we all got to the ship.
Somehow we escaped the Marine Armada.
Chopper kicked everyone out so he could work.
Sanji's life is in his hands now.
Sprits are low.
Even Luffy, who usually can manage to be cheerful in any dreary situation, is depressed.
Everyone's worried.
"That dumb-ass is too stubborn to kiss off now." Even Zoro, who never seems to get along with Sanji, goes off to sulk, worried like the rest of us.
This is the closest one of us as come to death since I got sick that one time.
Though this seems more dire.
With a sickness, there's a chance medicine can fix everything. Just find the right medicine, take it, rest and you're good as new. Even with a serous illness that can't be cured, you still know what you can do for it. You can be told what to expect, you know how it could end, you have time to make preparations…
But with something like this…
With something like this, there's just so many more factors involved, so many unknowns.
What if the bullet hit a vital organ or artery?
What if it gets logged somewhere that's too dangerous to remove.
Dying isn't the only bad thing that could happen to Sanji.
He could become paralyzed.
He could have damage that leaves him in pain for the rest of his life.
"That idiot." I'm crying again.
I'm hiding in my Tangerine Grove so no one can see me cry.
The Tangerine grove that Sanji so thoughtfully planted on the ship for me.
The grove that he so lovingly guards from Luffy and helps me tend.
The grove from which he takes fruit to make "Sanji's Tangerine Smoothie of Love". A drink he makes only for me and has become one of my favorites on a hot day.
"You stupid idiot." I can't stop crying. "Who the hell told you to risk your life for me."
I can't lose another person I care about. It hurts. The thought of loosing him hurts so much. More than when I lost Bellmare-san. How could that be? How could it hurt this much?
>"Because you love him."
"I loved Bellmare-san too! How can this hurt more?"
>"This is a whole new level of love."
"How the hell did that happen? How did he end up becoming so dear to me? How did he get past my walls and barriers? That sneaky bastard."
>"Because he's so kind, caring, thoughtful, chivalrous, virtuous, pure…"
"Virtuous? Pure? He hits on anything that looks good in a skirt."
>"But you're his favorite. He puts you above all others. No matter how many girls he flirts with he'd never do more than have tea with them. No matter how many girls he may go out with he'd always come home to you. He's loyal, in his own way. And he does all these things for you. Things you ask him to, things you don't ask him to. And little by little he's gotten to know you simply by watching and observing you…
"And just why the hell does he do all that?"
>"Because he loves you."
"Why! How could such a sweet, kind, pure person love a selfish, self centered, tainted person like me? I treat him like shit. I hardly thank him for anything he does for me. I use him the way I would use a tool. How could any one love someone like that?"
>"…"
"Well?"
>"I don't know. You'll have to ask him."
Suddenly I hear a door open and close from below deck. I hear Chopper coming up. I bolt up and I'm at the railing without remembering moving.
I see Chopper come up. He looks drained. His fur is covered in Sanji's blood.
Chopper looks up and realizes everyone's starring at him. Before anyone asks Chopper speaks.
"I was able to remove the bullet. It missed anything critical by millimeters and didn't do any permanent damage. It did collapse his lung, but I was able to fix it. The thing that bothers me most is how much blood he lost. It would make me feel better if he could get a transfusion but none of us are his type. It's not life threatening, A transfusion would just help things along. If he gets through the night without anything major happening, he should be ok…" Tears start welling up in the little reindeer's eyes "I did the best I could. There's nothing more I can do."
"You did more than any of us could ever do doctor san." Says Robin kneeling down to Choppers level. "It's up to him now. You should get some rest."
"Robin." Chopper burst into tears. Robin takes the cuddly reindeer into her arms.
Everyone's tension is broken and we all feel a bit better.
My knees give way. I feel dizzy. I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding in. I remembered how to breathe again.
"Thank goodness. He should be ok. He's going to be ok. Yes. He's going to be ok. It's on him now to recover and I'll never forgive him if doesn't.