Chapter Two: Signs of Irritation
"Why don't you let me do it? You always do." Said Nami.
"A lady such as yourself should save her hands for more important things." Replied Sanji. "Besides, as you said, I always do it, so why stop now?"
The navigator shook her head. "No, I meant just for today. You haven't had another cigarette since you woke up. Are you feeling ok?"
The cook nodded. "I'm fine. Just a bit tired, really, you shouldn't worry your pretty little head about such little things, Nami-san."
The red head nodded suspiciously. "If you say so, but if you need me I'll be in my room." She turned and swept from the room.
The blonde turned and picked up a plate and began washing it. He wondered if Zoro had caught on even in the slightest as to what his problem was, but even if he did, he hadn't said anything. That was a good sign, wasn't it?
Apparently Nami had begun to notice. Hopefully not much though. It would break the cook's heart to worry a girl about him. It just wasn't right.
Suddenly he felt a wave of dizziness and grasped the edge of the sink to retain his balance, hissing in pain as pressure was put on his wrist. What the hell is wrong with me? He wondered. He shook his head quickly trying to brush off the feeling but it only resulted in a headache.
Just then (of all people) the marksman entered the room. "Oi Sanji, Luffy wants you--" Then he noticed the cook's pained expression. "Hey Sanji, is something wrong? Should I go get the others?"
"Nah, it's fine. Think I just need some rest." Replied the blonde blinking, trying to clear his blurred vision. "I'll get some after I finish the dishes."
"Usopp can do them for you."
The sharpshooter and cook turned to see their captain standing in the doorway with a determined look on his face, with usually meant whatever he wanted, he would get,
"Why didn't you just tell us you weren't feeling well?" he asked still cheerful as ever despite the look he was giving them. "We wouldn't get mad."
"It's just a headache Luffy, it'll pass. It's not serious or anything" He replied doing his best to look the boy in the eyes without wincing while picking up another plate.
"Sanji, I said Usopp will do them for you." Replied the boy persistently.
"But I don't want to!" whined the marksman annoyed. "That's his job!"
"Usopp, as your captain I order you to do the dishes for Sanji. Sanji, I order you to get some rest."
Usopp sighed and took the dish from the cook's hand, which he noticed for the first time seemed to be trembling and throbbing.
"Arigato..." Mumbled the blonde quietly then dizzily staggered out of the room.
"Tell me Zoro, did Sanji tell you what was wrong when you spoke to him?" asked Luffy spinning his straw hat on his finger as Shanks had shown him.
The swordsman shook his head. "No, of course not. Dumbass love cook wouldn't tell me anything even if his life depended on it!"
"Would anyone?" teased the redhead walking over and sitting on the floor next to the boy and swordsman.
"Oh and he told you?"
"Shut up." Replied Nami. "If Sanji-kun feels like keeping to himself we should respect it."
"She has a point, maybe he just has a lot on his mind, captain-san." Said Robin.
The small reindeer nodded. "Yeah! He'll be good as new after he sleeps!"
"But you aren't worried?" asked Luffy. "Sanji is our cook! If he can't cook what will we eat?"
Once again the boy's comment received a slap across the face from the navigator. "IS THAT ALL YOU THINK ABOUT! FOOD! WHAT ABOUT HIS HEALTH!"
"OW! NAMI! STOP HITTING ME!" whined Luffy, "Of course I'm worried about his health!"
Usopp came out of the kitchen and sat down with the other 3, still grumbling about having to do the dishes.
"I don't see," he complained, "why Luffy couldn't do the dishes."
The captain grinned replacing his straw hat on his head. "I didn't feel like it."
The other four sighed exasperated. Luffy never truly had a reason for anything, but as long as he could say he wanted it or didn't want it, no one could argue. After all, idiotic as he may seem he was captain.
"He didn't complain when you told him to go to bed?" questioned the navigator. "That's not like him."
"As I said before, he's probably just feeling under the weather! Like the time…"
Zoro clamped a hand over the sharpshooter's mouth. "We heard it at breakfast, you dumbass, and we still don't believe it anymore."
"I do!" protested Chopper. "I believe him!"
"So you believe everything you hear, doctor-san? That's not smart." Said Robin giving the reindeer a mysterious look before returning to her book.
Nami looked worriedly at the swordsman. "Did what Luffy said at breakfast upset you or something, Zoro?"
"It isn't any of your business." He snapped, while still eyeing Wado Ichimonji.
"That sword…it's white. Why is that sword different from the other two?"
"None of your business." He snapped again. "So shut up." He stood up and walked over to the other side of the ship and lay down to take a nap.
"You shouldn't treat a lady like that." Said Sanji who had just entered the room and was glaring at the swordsman.
"It's fine, Sanji-kun." replied the redhead a bit surprised to see him back on his feet already. "Are you feeling better?"
The cook shrugged. "It was only a headache, I told you it would pass. Nothing to worry about, really. Can I get you anything, Nami-san?"
She shook her head. "I'm just going to check to see what the closest island is."
"Wise as always!" Replied Sanji with hearts in his eyes as the navigator got up and returned to her room.
"And you Robin-chan? Can I get you anything either?"
The dark-haired girl shook her head. "Iie, demo arigato cook-san." She smiled and followed Nami.
Throwing himself at the girls' mercy had to mean he was normal again…or did it?
Yay, and yes i have the next chapter...