Chapter One: A Problem? No sir!
It was a bright sunny day aboard the Going Merry. It was nice and peaceful—well almost.
"LUFFY YOU IDIOT!" yelled Nami annoyed. "WERE YOU IN MY STUFF AGAIN?"
Luffy giggled gleefully. "Why would I go into your stuff? It's all pink and girly!" This received a sharp slap across the face from the navigator. It was always so annoying that Luffy was always happy. Nothing ever seemed to put him down—nothing.
Sanji entered from this kitchen, smoking his trademark cigarette that he was almost never seen without. However, the look on his face showed that he seemed to be regretting it.
"OW!" whined Luffy. "Nami! That hurt!" The captain rubbed his head furiously then stopped when he noticed the cook. "Hey Sanji!" he called.
The cook just looked him and sighed, exhaling a puff of smoke. He looked at the navigator and faked a smile. Obviously Nami wasn't buying it.
"What's wrong, Sanji?" she asked worriedly.
Zoro stood up from his spot on the floor where he had been resting, smirking. "Knowing him he probably burned breakfast."
"Burned breakfast?" asked Chopper. "Why would he do that? That's not healthy..."
"Tch." Snorted the cook, annoyed. "Not even close, you dumbass. But it's nothing to worry your pretty little head about, Nami-san."
The navigator nodded suspiciously. Of course, even if something was wrong why should she expect him to tell her? Of all the men aboard the Going Merry, Sanji did have the best manners, and at least knew how to act civilized in the presence of a lady; well if either her or Robin could really be called a "lady". She often wondered if he trusted the rest of the crew. Usopp was pretty much either lying or making up stories and didn't speak much to him. Zoro often fought with the chef, it was more like a rivalry. Chopper was usually listening to Usopp's wild lies. Robin, who knew? The only thing that mattered was that she was on their side now. Luffy was…well…Luffy! And Nami herself was often drawing maps or asking him for constant favors.
"What do you guys want for breakfast?" Sanji asked snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Meat!" replied Luffy cheerfully jumping up and down.
"Meat ain't for breakfast, Luffy," replied the cook. "It's for lunch or dinner." He turned and started back into the kitchen. "If anybody, such as Nami-san or Robin-chan, has a better request, lemme know."
"Everything looks great, Sanji!" said Luffy, nearly drooling.
The rest of the crew sat down around the table and helped themselves to a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast. All except Sanji, who was just sitting there without his cigarette in his mouth.
"Ok now I know something isn't right," said the navigator. "Sanji, you aren't smoking. I mean, maybe that's a good thing, but still! You always are! So spit it out and tell us what's wrong!"
"Nothing," Sanji replied calmly. "Nothing, I'm just not hungry." He stood up. "I'll be back to clear the table after breakfast." He turned and left the room.
"Am I the only one that thinks something is wrong with him?" ask Nami impatiently looking from one crewmate to the next. "He's not eating, he's not even smoking!"
"He's probably just feeling ill. I remember one time when my whole crew was sick I had to take on this whole gang of pirates that attacked our town!" said Usopp. Obviously he was lying, as he often was.
"COOL!" replied Chopper amazed smiling adorably.
"Sure you did, just like…" Zoro began but Luffy cut him off.
"Of course he didn't…that would be like Zoro losing to a girl!" teased the captain.
Zoro turned to him but didn't retaliate. Instead he simply said. "I'll go get the shitty cook." He got up a bit slower than usual and went of in the direction of the cook's room. He thought of Kuina and sighed. If only Luffy knew that he really had lost to a girl…a girl who had been his only friend before becoming a pirate. He looked at the white sword at his side, Wado Ichimonji, Kuina's sword…
Sanji lay on his bed, and sighed staring up at the ceiling. Stupid crap-geezer…said he wouldn't go down without a fight, and then… he glared at the pack of cigarettes on the table beside the bed.
"I should've eaten," he muttered to himself. "Never let food go to waste…that's what he always said. But now he ain't here to say that."
He looked at the window and noticed for the first time he was being watched. "Hmm?" He turned to the door and opened it annoyed. "What do you want, marimo head?" he demanded.
The swordsman folded his arms defiantly but he was still thinking about Kuina. "Not that it's my business, but why aren't you eating? I thought you were the one that always said food couldn't go wasted, shitty love cook?"
"Shut up." Snapped the blonde. "It's none of your business what I say or do. Now why aren't you eating either baka?"
"I'm just not hungry." He replied mimicing the way the cook had answered just moments before.
"Don't give me that." Grumbled Sanji. "Something had to have happened."
The swordsman rolled his eyes. "Like something didn't happened with you? You're worrying your "precious Nami-san and Robin-chan", and you don't even seem to care!"
The cook glared at him. "Get out of my room." He could feel his hands trembling, but he wasn't sure if it was rage or something else. Unfortunately Zolo noticed.
"And why are you shaking?"
"Just need a cigarette that's all." He replied coldly but he didn't take one.
"Stubborn, aren't we?"
"If I go with you to breakfast will you shut the hell up?" growled the blonde.
The swordsman smirked. "I might."
I hope it came out better this time...
Shawna D.