Ok, yes this chapter is short, but the next one is longer. Yay me! Lol. Oh and guess what? I DIDN'T GET FLAMED! OMG, I LOVE YOU PEOPLE! (hugs everyone that has been reading story) o.O I DIDN'T DO IT!

Chapter Four: Realization

"Wha?" asked Luffy. "Chef Zeff lied to you?"

Zoro eyed the blood on his fist. It was bright red. And seeing as he was a swordsman, he was used to being around it. He knew right away by scent that it was fresh blood, meaning the cook had cut himself before he had come into the room.

"That explains why he almost fainted the other day," said Nami who along with Robin had followed the doctor and marksman back into the room. "He wasn't sick, it was blood loss."

"Hmm…" Robin smirked. "He's not as much of a ladies man as he thought. Blood isn't a popularity among women, cook-san."

The cook sighed deeply. "Gomen nasai…you're right, Robin-chan…" he flicked his gaze to the floor. He had been hoping that Nami-san and Robin-chan wouldn't come in the room, but of course why wouldn't they? And judging by their reactions it was clear to him that they would think less of him.

"Somebody go lock up all sharp objects." Commanded the doctor, carefully examining Sanji's wrist.

"Nani?" he demanded. "How the hell will I cook?"

"You weren't even planning on it." Snapped Zoro. "You were planning on being dead."

"I…I was…" he couldn't find the words to say a bowed his head. Usually he'd have a smart-ass answer for the swordsman, but now just wasn't the time. Especially if Nami and Robin were beginning to think less of him, they would probably think even less if he argued childishly. He glanced at his wrist and winced as the small reindeer proceeded to put ointment on it. Although it stung badly he couldn't help but feel he deserved it. What had he been thinking? Had he even been thinking?

"I don't need those." He said scowling as Chopper pulled out the bandages.

"Iie, it's my job as a doctor to help people, so don't complain!" Chopper replied.

Sanji rolled his eyes (uh…eye?). "Help him first, he bleeds more." He pointed to Zoro, who had momentarily forgotten the wound on his arm.

The Doctor sighed and proceeded to bandage Zoro's arm before turning back to Sanji, who was suddenly breathing heavier than before. Each breath was a shallow almost forced gasp.

"Chopper!" whined Luffy. "DO SOMETHING! HE'S DYING!"

"N…not…dying…Luffy…" the cook managed to mumble between breaths. "Jus'…tired…"

Zoro, the only one not panicking, smirked. "He's feeling the effects of blood loss again, what did you expect?" he gave the blonde a threatening look. "Where else are you bleeding, dumbass?"

The room was silent for the next few minutes save for the cook's hyperventilation. Weakly he gazedm around the room at his nakama. Luffy, Usopp, Zoro, Chopper, Nami-san, and Robin-chan. If he had known that his nakama were with him, what could possibly have caused him to pull such a stunt?

"'m not…" he muttered softly.

Nami sighed worriedly. "Onegai Sanji-kun, what else is wrong?"

Sanji swallowed hard. He hated to be the cause of the navigator's pain or distress. It wasn't right to cause a lady to worry over a worthless guy like him. Fortunately for Nami, if he was the cause he'd have to answer her.

"P…poison…"

"Nani?" demaned the others, save Robin who was leaning against the wall though still looking a bit shocked.

"Poison? You're poisoned? How?"

The cook brought up a shaky hand to massage his temples which were suddenly beginning to ache. He felt like the time on the Baratie when he'd gotten the flu. Everything was achy and he was nauseated, but he refused to stay in bed, which if not for Zeff would have caused his own death had the stove caught fire. After snapping out of his thoughts he realized that Zoro and Chopper had pushed him onto the bed, and the doctor was trying to pull of his shirt to find the source of the poison. Without warning he pushed the reindeer away and clutched his chest as his body was racked with coughing spasms.

"AHHHH! HE'S GONNA DIE! HE'S GONNA DIE!" Luffy ran around the room screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Kuso…" the blonde muttered when the fit had ceased. There was blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Yea, I'm working on typing the next one, hopefully this one wasn't worse than the last one...>