A/N: Unfortunately, Fanfiction has a nasty habit of not giving writers the use of symbols, i.e. the asterisk, to indicate a pause or break in the story or a switch from point-of-view. Because of this I've decided to use "o O o" to symbolize the afore mentioned devices. Anywho, just so you know.

Chapter 2

To Nami, everyday seemed the same: always a clear sky, blue ocean all around, no ports in sight, and nothing to do. Boredom consumed her. All she could really do anymore was make map after map but Nami found her work intriguing for only so long. With a heavy sigh, she set down her pencil and stood up, arching her back with her arms over her head in a lazy stretch. Rubbing one eye, she opened the door leading into her room and walked out into the sunlight. Noise greeted her ears and she recognized it as that of her crewmates. An annoyed squabble could be heard amongst them. Luffy and Usopp were arguing about Nami could only guess what, Zoro was sleeping, typically, with his swords neatly lined up next to him, and Sanji was standing near the front of the ship, a thin, snakelike ripple of smoke rising from him. Nami smiled cheerfully. The years in her past seemed to have made her forget that she could still have friends. Here they were: her friends; people she could rely on and trust. The breeze rustled her red hair and she felt a steady warm feeling descend over her.

As she watched her crewmembers she particularly noticed their cook. For some reason, Nami wanted to talk to Sanji, or maybe at least stand near him. Her heeled sandals clicked rhythmically against the wooden deck as she strolled towards him, passing Luffy and Usopp, still squabbling, and Zoro, still asleep of course, his loud snores wafting through the air. The scent of his smoke tinged her nose as she neared him. Nami had never said to Sanji that she didn't approve of his smoking but sometimes she felt the urge to tell him. But there was something so characteristic about the way it made him look when he did smoke. Still, someday she'd tell him it bothered her. Finally next to him her smile seemed to broaden more and she felt peaceful.

Sanji had been unaware of his newfound company until he took a long draw on his cigarette and exhaled a thin plume of smoke and heard a light chuckle. He noticed Nami standing near him out of the corner of his eye and felt a blush flare up. Hurriedly he put out the cigarette.

"Ah! I'm sorry Nami-san! I didn't know you were nearby…" Sanji said quickly, a blush visible on his face. She grinned.

"Sanji-kun, it's alright, you don't need to apologize." Nami replied cheerfully. He flashed a quick smile, forcing himself back into character. While Sanji was trying to compose himself, Nami's glance had shifted to the ocean. The breeze ruffled her hair softly and she let out a contented sigh.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" She said warmly.

"Hai…" Sanji replied distantly, looking over her soft features. God, he loved to look at her. Although, by looking at her physically, it did make him a bit of a pervert. Unfortunately there was nothing Sanji could really do to prevent it; Nami was too good of eye candy for him. Sanji's eyes wandered from her feminine profile down her delicate and well-shaped breasts to the graceful slope of her curved back, down her shapely bottom, and finally down her long and slender legs. The heat started to intensify around him as he started to fantasize again what Nami must look like without anything on. He tried to force himself to stop, but then he could see her in his mind slipping out of her skirt and then her panties and winking at him over her shoulders.

For the love of—why am I being tormented like this…! He thought angrily, the heat getting worse. Nami noticed how uncomfortable he looked.

"Sanji-kun? Are you alright?" She asked, resting a hand on his shoulder. The small gesture nearly made him jump out of his skin. His eyes darted a bit, his face red, his skin growing too hot, and that all too familiar and uncomfortable feeling starting to makes his pants feel tighter.

"It's beautiful! The breast—best! Best view I've ever felt—seen! Seen and felt! Ah!" Sanji could feel his cool slipping rapidly. Nami was staring at him with a very confused and skeptical expression.

"Sanji-kun? Is there something you need to say?" She asked cautiously, one eyebrow raised questionably. Quickly spinning away from her, Sanji started a rather quick gait away from her side.

"Food! Food needs to be served! I'll cook it! Right!" He sputtered quickly. Slamming the door to the kitchen shut, he left Nami staring after him with a confused face.

"Um…okay then…?" She said softly. Biting her lip, Nami looked back at the water. A cold feeling started to well up in the pit of her stomach.

o O o

After banging several kitchen utensils around for a few moments, Sanji finally managed to calm down a bit.

I'm such a shithead…I can't even keep my own dirty thoughts in my own damn head…! He thought angrily. He wanted to kick himself for being such a fool, but he decided to save all his kicking for a more worthy adversary. Sanji felt he was tarnishing the feelings that were between him and Nami with all his lurid thoughts. Though he felt permanently stuck in the "friend zone" when it came to their relationship, he'd always had a bit of hope. Or at least some kind of escape in his fantasies.

Angry and discontented, Sanji busied himself with preparing a rather disheartened dinner.

A/N: Chapter 3 is near completion and will be posted shortly!