Yay, I'm getting good at updating like twice a day! lol.

Chapter 6: Reason

"I don't?" asked Zoro. "Well I want to, so start explaining.

Sanji tried carefully to sit up, a hard cough escaping spraying the swordsman with blood.

"Trying to make it seem as though I murdered you?" he asked sarcastically.

"Sh…shut up…" Sanji muttered swiping the blood off his chin. "It looks like I'll be joining him…"

Zoro stared at the cook's wrist dangling off the edge of the bed and without another thought grabbed it and pressed his thumb hard against the wounds.

The cook hissed in pain. "Let go of me you asshole!"

Zoro pressed harder until he cried out in anguish, close to tears. Satisfied he let go. "See how you're screaming now, cook? You go and die and you precious Nami-san and Robin-chan will be like that. Not to mention Luffy will never forgive you. Is that what you want?"

The blonde shook his head. "Iie…"

The swordsman folded his arms across his chest. "Start explaining."

"Hah," scoffed Sanji. "I don't have to tell you shit."

Zoro knew the cook wasn't one to talk about himself, nor his feelings. It seemed that to him everyone else's well being came first, before his own. The only way to get him to talk would be to guilt him, or force it out of him. "He helped you when you were ill, ne?" He heard a sudden breath catch in the blonde's throat, however he quickly shook the comment off.

"I told you, I don't have to tell you shit,"

Zoro sighed in annoyance. "You're purposely making this difficult, ne?"

Sanji grinned weakly. "'Course."

The green haired man leaned against the wall behind him knowing this was going to take a while. Chopper wouldn't thank him for that…

"You were ill with the flu and a high fever, but being the stubborn bastard you are you refused to stay in bed." He smirked at the cook's bewildered expression. "You almost killed yourself making soup."

Sanji figgetted nervously. It just didn't make sense. How could Zoro of all people know? He wasn't on the Baratie long enough to ask anyone or anything, so it just wasn't logical.

The swordsman hesistated before speaking again, unsure if it was safe to mention the chef yet. "The old man found you before the stove caught fire."

The cook struggled off the bed onto his feet and staggered over to the other man grabbing him by the shoulders. "You…know nothin'…"

"Get off me, baka." Demanded Zoro pushing him away with almost no effort. Although he had barely touched him, the cook was swaying dizzily just barely able to retain his balance. "Get back in bed, shitty cook." He decided to try another approach. "You're extremely pale, burning with fever, and can barely stand." He said quoting Sasuke.

"You…you're doing it on purpose!" the cook staggered for a moment before falling to his knees on the floor, suddenly breathing heavier. "Y…you really…wanna…know…about…him?" he coughed once again tasting the coppery bitterness of blood. "Fine…but…only to…shut you up…"

&Flashback&

"Onegai, we 'ave no where elze to go!"

The cheff snorted. "What use are you to me? This is a restraunt, not a hotel for stranded asses."

"I'll be a chef! I can learn! I swear on my life, sir!" the 16 year old begged. "Onegai!"

"What about the boy?" the chef asked pointing at the boy at Sasuke's feet.

"Nani? My nissan?"

The chef smirked. "There's a brat on my ship."

"My nissan iz not a brat!"

"Hey crap-geezer!" called a 9 year old Sanji running into the room. "The other crap-cooks are slacking!" the boy stopped running and stared at the two brothers.

The younger brother smiled. He appeared to be around 12 years old, though when he spoke his low baritone voice made him sound much older. "I think he referin' to that boy there, aniki."

Sanji grit his teeth. He hated not knowing what was going on, but especially when it had to do with him!

"Stop that." Growled Zeff elbowing the boy in the mouth. "It's bad for your teeth, baby eggplant."

"What kinda name zat be?"

Sanji ignored the question. "Shut up, crap-geezer! You aren't my tousan!"

Sasuke and his brother watched in horror as the chef brought up his right leg (or at least what should have been his leg) to kick the boy in the jaw. "Don't talk back to me." He snapped while Sanji rubbed the side of his face and spat bitterly.

"Does that boy have better manners than this crap-kid?"

The younger brother bowed respectfully. "I do best I can."

The chef nodded finally. "Very well…your names?"

"Sasuke." Replied the older one.

"Yusuke…" mumbled the younger one. (yea, I kno Sasuke & Yusuke, I thought that sounded cool lol)

"Baby eggplant, show them to the kitchen."

Sanji rolled his eyes (again…eye). "Hai, crap-geezer."

&End Flashback&

"So he was a runaway?"

The cook shrugged. "'guess so…"

Zoro scowled. "You don't know?"

"I never got to ask him…"

Ha, I have some smart reviews who seem to figure all my hints out...hehehe...

Shawna D.