Chapter Three: Truth
It was a clear bright sunny day. Not a cloud was in sight. It was quiet…a bit too quiet. It was certain it wouldn't last.
"FOOD!" screamed Luffy interrupting the silence. "Where's Sanji! Why hasn't he started making breakfast yet! I'M HUNGRY!"
"Maybe…he's still sleeping?" suggested the sharpshooter.
"Go and find him."
"W-what?" stuttered Usopp. "M-me? W-w-what if he kicks me out? I mean you know how strong he is…!"
Luffy grinned childishly. "Then he'll kick you out."
The sharpshooter sweatdropped.
"Now go find him. And tell him I want meat!"
"Yes sir…" he muttered and started off towards the boys' quarters only to be stopped by the navigator's voice.
"Wait!" she called. "You guys, look at this!"
"What is it?" asked Robin calmly.
"Are we in trouble? Did something happen to Dr. K? I KNEW I SHOULD'VE STAYED!" the small doctor was about to cry.
"Iie, it has nothing to do with you, Chopper-san." she said smiling, then her face turned serious again. "But it may have something to do with Sanji-kun's strange behavior…maybe…someone should check on him anyway."
4 pairs of eyes went to the swordsman.
"Why me?" he grumbled.
"Cause…uh…you can block his kicks!" replied Usopp quickly.
"I checked on him last time…"
"And you still owe me, now go!" she commanded.
The swordsman glared at them and stalked off muttering curses under his breath. Nami held out a newspaper for the remaining nakama to see.
Luffy blinked confused. "A picture of Chef Zeff sleeping?" he looked from one crewmate to the other. "Why'd they take that?"
"BAKA!" yelled Nami. "He's not sleeping…HE'S DEAD!"
"Nani…? D-dead? H-he's…d-dead?" stammered the markman.
Luffy's jaw nearly hit the floor (which was possible seeing as it could stretch that far). "Wha--? Dead? OH MY GOD! WE GOTTA GO WARN SANJI!"
Chopper and Robin glanced at each other confused. Neither of them knew anything about this "Chef Zeff" or Sanji's past on the Baratie, seeing as they joined the crew after him.
The cook was sitting on his bed nearly inches from tears. It angered him that in the past few days he had let his emotions run wild, but what could he do?
"Dammit…" he muttered. "You…you promised me…YOU PROMISED ME YOU BASTARD!" (A/N: Ok…I must watch too much yyh, cuz that just sounded like how Yusuke would react! o.O) he held a knife with trembling hands. Slowly he raised the knife above his head, aimed straight at his heart, though he was sure the shaking of his hands would throw off his aim. Without another thought, he took a deep breath and plunged the knife downward.
Squelsh!
(A/N: I'm so evil! Lol, no im not, keep reading)
He waited for the pain to explode from his chest just seconds before his life was ended, but it never came. He exhaled the breath slowly and opened his eyes. What he saw was not what he ever would've expected to see. There standing above him was Zoro, blood oozing from the spot where the knife had punctured his arm.
"You…why…but…!" spluttered the bewildered cook.
"What-are-you-doing?" demanded Zoro through grit teeth.
"I just…I wasn't…It's not…" he stammered as the bloodstained knife slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor. "It's none of your business!"
The enraged swordsman grabbed him by the collar hauling him to his feet, but before he could do anything Luffy burst into the room followed by the reluctant Usopp and Chopper.
"AHH! Blood! Somebody's dying!" wailed Chopper. "Somebody call a doctor!"
"Uh…Chopper?" muttered Usopp. "You ARE the doctor."
"Zoro!" Luffy exclaimed "You're bleeding!"
The swordsman shook his head. "It was an accident, Luffy, I'm fine."
The captain wasn't convinced. "Fine? You arm doesn't LOOK fine! Chopper needs to exmine or whatever the word is for look at!"
"Examine?" helped Usopp.
"Yeah that!"
Zoro snorted. "It's just a scratch. The shitty cook needs him more."
The blonde shook his head. "I'm not the one bleeding on a clean floor." He picked up his pack of cigarettes off the bed stuffing them into his pocket. "I don't have time for this, I have to go make breakfast." He turned away but before he could move Zoro had grabbed his wrist. The cook winced and bit his lip masking a cry of pain with a low growl.
"Zoro! Stop it! You're hurting Sanji!" exclaimed Luffy worriedly.
Zoro sighed annoyed. "Luffy, look closely."
The captain scratched his head. "I don't get it…"
Zoro felt like banging his head against a wall. Of all people to be captain, why did there's have to be such a moron? Well it wasn't like any of the rest of them would honestly make a better captain, but still…
"I'm barely touching him!" he growled still not removing his gaze from Sanji.
"Let go of me, crap-swordsman!"
"So…what happened to your wrist that you neglected to tell us?" he asked ignoring the request and pressing lightly on the cook's wrist. The cook bit down harder on his lip and threw a kick at the swordsman, however, Luffy caught his foot. "Answer him."
"Answer or I'll make it worse." Growled Zoro. When Sanji did nothing Zoro clasped his wrist tightly.
"Not telling you shit…" he hissed.
Zoro suddenly felt warm liquid ooze on the hand that was holding Sanji's wrist. Red liquid. Obviously blood. Without a word he yanked the cuff of the cook's sleeve up to revealed a bunch of different sized cuts and scars.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" screamed Chopper. "Bandages! I NEED BANDAGES!" he fled from the room followed by Usopp who was eager to leave before somebody their temper.
"How long?" demanded Luffy. "How long have you been doing this?"
The blonde stared at the floor unable to look neither the captain nor first mate in the eyes. "About a week…"
Zoro dropped the cook's wrist disgusted, blood dripping onto the floor to join his own.
"Why?" asked Luffy.
"That old crap-geezer lied to me…"
I just know ur gonna flame me, right? Oh well, better go type the next chapter anyway...