Thank you guys so much for your thoughtful reviews-I was so inspired I wrote 2 chapters and drafted all halfway through Alabasta in four days! This is also the longest chapter yet. Seriously, guys means the world to me.

Had to add fluff in this chapter to balance out the rest of it. I got rather unexpectedly lost in Sanji angst? But he is a top contender for most tragic backstory in the Strawhats.

Why do we use the Japanese word 'tsunami'? Literally 'harbor wave'. Nami, of course, meaning 'wave'.

With their log pose pointing to Alabasta, tension and excitement was palpable on the ship. Sunny even imagined the Merry was relieved to be heading towards their goal for the first time since Whisky Peak. They were all happy to be on the water again, even the crew's token fire-type. Being off the island and back on the ship meant more time for the activities he'd grown to love. One of them being napping in the sun. His napping spot of choice-like it often was-Zoro's head. Sunny had gotten more bold since the first weeks on the ship where he'd curled up next to the napping swordsman. After Arlong Park, Sunny figured out the swordsman wasn't nearly as scary as he seemed and he'd claimed the spot as his own, even going as far as climbing on Zoro's face to get there. If he climbed up carefully enough, Zoro wasn't even all that grumpy about it when he woke up.

Sunny's unusually deep nap was interrupted as Sanji kicked the door open from the kitchen with a tray of drinks and cookies and danced over to the lounging girls, doting on them as usual. Sunny smelled the most heavenly smell, that he couldn't help but climb down and track it into the kitchen. Sanji's baking bread! He'd smelled it a few times but from what he could see of the oven when he sat up on the stool, it had just started. Oh, he wanted it now. Then he spotted the mixing bowl still on the counter top. Only one failed attempt and he was up and crossing the counter. He'd felt drowsy and off all morning but by the smell of it, this pre-oven bread would be just the pick me up he needed. Sitting up showed him that the bowl contained a large ball of dough set aside to rise. It smelled like dust and sugar in the way yeast smelled, almost buzzing as it worked in the dough.

Enticed, Sunny leaned forward enough that his weight brought the bowl on his side and he stuck both paws in to prevent it from the clattering to the floor. Well, since I'm already here? He took a bite. It was weird and soft and fluffy and chewy and lightly seasoned. He took a bite, then another and within a fews moments, he'd eaten the whole thing and the bowl had tipped back with him in it. He really was tired. But content. Sanji sure made good bread.

The door opened and Sanji entered again, still grinning widely from his conversation with the ladies. He washed his hands and turned back to the setting dough. His eye widened. Inside the bowl was not the dough he'd been working on, but a curled up familiar red-blue-and-cream crew mate, sleeping, face covered in flour and dough. He fogged the stainless steel with slow, gentle breaths, like he'd tired himself off eating Sanji's work. He was...cute. Innocent. Cherubic.

Sanji snapped the wooden spoon in his grip. "SUNNNNNNYYYYYYY!"

Sunny was throughly sure that messing with Sanji's kitchen was not a worthwhile endeavor. He'd learned his lesson. He probably wouldn't do it again for some time. Sunny was sitting in the middle of the deck with Luffy sitting on his legs politely next to him while Sanji glowered at them.

"S-Sanji-" Luffy tried to start.

"No excuses, Luffy! Your bad habits have corrupted Sunny! You're the captain of this ship and you raid my fridge and I will not have this spreading to the rest of the crew-except of course the girls~"

"Shit cook," Zoro grumbled from where he was still sitting against the railing.

"Marimo brain!" Sanji growled, reaching out to kick him. The swordsman dodged and followed up with his own strike. Sunny sighed in anxious relief and shared a determined nod with Luffy as they slowly and carefully crawled away to retreat to their cabin until Sanji cooled down.

Yes, lesson learned- Sunny was not stealing food for at least two weeks.

Vivi was jumpy and nervous and Sunny tried to be attentive to her after he dared brave the deck again fifteen minutes later. Despite their initial feelings, Sunny had grown used to her on the crew, and she added some order and wisdom to the group. And she didn't get as violent as Nami when Luffy and Sunny's games got too rowdy or loud around her. Even if she could be stuck up and straight-laced, Sunny enjoyed having her around. But more than ever she was leaking tension and worry so Sunny wound up sleeping in the girl's room almost instinctually that night.

So it was by chance that he was the first to realize. When Sunny slept with Nami, it would be against the covers on her legs, or sometimes he sprawled on his stomach, Nami's arm between him and her sleeping form, curled on her side like she was still shielding herself. She let him be with her, but they kept comfortable, instinctual space between. And although they were close, it reminded Sunny that the only one Nami fully and unconditionally trusted was Luffy. He understood-he trusted his sleuth but if he slept as deeply and defenselessly as humans, his body may have acted the same way.

That night after leaving Little Garden, Sunny felt a hand reach and pull him against her chest with a shiver. Sunny tensed in surprise at the unexpected awakening but adjusted himself in her hold, sleep enveloping him much too easily.

He woke up again in the early morning when he felt Nami start to shiver again, and pull her blankets in closer, though the weather wasn't mildly cold, even by Sunny's tropical standards. Her breath hitched slightly. Sunny brought his nose to her face to sniff curiously. Her face scrunched up as his soft nose brushed against her lip and nose and her eyes opened.

"Sunny?" She pulled away slightly surprised and amused. "Morning breath, Sunny. Come on." They got ready, Sunny letting the issue slide as Nami got dressed, she must have just been having a good dream. Vivi had already gotten up and they went to the kitchen for breakfast.

Vivi had gotten a newspaper from a news coo, or what Sunny referred to as a "legged wingull." After that, the grim look on the princess's face didn't fade, even when Luffy's hijinks escalated through the day. Sunny wisely bowed out of the impromptu wrestling match between Usopp and Luffy he didn't have energy for anyway. He Nami as she looked out a the water, looking uncharacteristically lethargic. Maybe she'd had an unrestful night of sleep as he did. Even his breakfast wasn't sitting well with him and he felt like he could go for a nap, early enough in the day that even Zoro would balk.

Sunny waiting for a moment to see if Nami would acknowledge him so he could get a better idea of what she was thinking. She didn't react when he butted his head into her calf to try and get her attention, her gaze fixed on the horizon. From he height difference, he couldn't see the look on her face, but it didn't seem...right.

A pit of worry opened up in Sunny's stomach. He didn't know a lot about humans-not at all-but something was wrong. She didn't seem upset like on Cocoyashi, or just sleepy, she seemed similar to how Zoro had been acting before he collapsed in Arlong Park.

Sunny ran over to Luffy; the nearest person (Usopp had already 'lost' wrestling) and used the same words and body language he used on the rare occasions Sunny initiated tag. Luffy's eyes lit up with recognition at the request but Sunny was already hurrying back to Nami. Luffy joined a moment later, slowing to a stop in confusion. "Sunny, Nami probably won't play with us."

Sunny butted her leg again and she turned to Luffy, a flushed, dazed look on her face.

"Nami drank too much? But you don't look really good, are you hungry still?" Luffy asked, hand on his chin as he put his face a close to Nami's to inspect her.

"I think she's sick," Sunny put in, watching carefully. She looked like she was going to fall over.

"I'm fine, Luffy, I just didn't sleep well. I think I'll go to bed now..." She moved to take a step and stumbled. Luffy caught her easily, picked her up, and shot off to the girl's room.

"Sanji! We need food in the girl's room! It's an emergency! Nami's sick!"

In a few panicked minutes, everyone was gathered in the now-cramped girl's room, Nami sitting up, holding a bowl of soup.

Vivi's forehead was creased. "Why didn't you tell us you weren't feeling well?"

Nami leaned forward, a hand to her face partially covered by strands of hair. Sunny jumped on the bed to see her better. "I'm just getting a little sick, it's not a big deal. What's important is getting to Alabasta as soon as possible."

Zoro frowned. "With a sick navigator?"

"Nami-swan I know you could do it but it's dangerous to your health so take it easy while I nurse you back to health!" Sanji told her, still coo-ing but marginally more serious from when he first heard and kept yelling "I'll bravely take on your illness so you won't have to suffer, my darling~!" while rapidly cooking up the soup.

"But this doesn't feel like a regular sickness. Nami has a bad fever. And any illness can be very dangerous on the sea," Vivi stated.

Nami sunk further into the bed, soup half-finished. "It isn't anything serious."

Sunny crossed the bed and curled up by her upper leg. Nami had woken up long enough to drink some water but she had no real interest in the food Sanji offered, even the bread she'd complimented at dinner the day before. The look on the cook's face sent a needle through Sunny's heart. He'd looked lost and scared and young for a moment, then he smiled.

"It's okay, Nami-swan, you can have some later when you're feeling better."

Nami went back to sleep shortly after and Sanji took the uneaten bowl from the room.

The crew checked in then stepped out, pulling Luffy along, to talk outside the door after they had all gathered in the room half an hour later. Sunny didn't move from his spot at her side. Nami was curled in near him, shivering in her sleep despite the early afternoon warmth. Parts of the discussion outside the room Sunny made out, even without straining to listen. Alabasta. Wait. Doctor. Soon.

They came back in, looks of agreement. Vivi explained to Sunny gently that they were going to find a doctor. Sunny knew what a doctor was, they were made to help people like Nami. Sunny tried to give Vivi an appreciative smile. He knew that finding a doctor meant some kind of risk to her people. This was the second time, after choosing to give up her cover, she'd selflessly chosen the Strawhats over herself.

"Alabasta is still a week away and that pirate surgeon mentioned Drum Island had an accomplished doctor," she continued. "So we're setting sail for Drum."

Sunny stayed by Nami's side, snoozing or lethargically watching the shadows move across the room as the others came in to quietly read or nap in the room in shifts while others tried to fill her role of navigator. The ship lurched and turned several times throughout the afternoon and heavy winds whistled against the porthole.

The sickness was completely out of his control. The only thing he could do was stay with her and try to keep her safe.

Nami woke up and was petting Sunny's head tiredly. She had a fever and not much energy to do much but sit up in bed. Neither of them left the room that day because the weather was rainy. Sanji brought in their food but even Sunny's stomach crawled at the idea of food and he didn't manage to eat as much in worry. Luffy eats more in his worry. He does his best not to be too loud in the room when he brings in his dinner to eat with Nami, Usopp comes in to ask thoughtful navigation questions, Zoro peeks in to ask her if she needs anything, and Vivi prepares her journals on Alabasta at the desk in the room.

Sunny sits quietly, remembering his anchor, his reason for fighting, his dream to find the one responsible for his mother's death. If something happened to Nami, there would be no one to blame or seek out. He couldn't bear that, too. Losing more family when he'd just realized he hadn't lost it all. He felt as if he couldn't bare one single loss more. Not one.

Sunny wondered if Luffy felt this way and it made him so strong. But Sunny didn't feel strong, he felt very scared, and very tired.

Nami flicked on the light to examine the sketched outline of her Little Garden map-she hadn't gotten the chance to ink it yet, but in the end, she only made a few careful adjustments before she was coughing and tiring and turned the lights off again to rest.

The cabin shifted a little while later, causing the rolled map to tumble to the ground. Sunny hopped down and replaced it in the drawer.

The next day went similarly but with more coughing and she was more exhausted and her fever still hadn't gone down, despite the natural remedies the crew had tried. Sunny was tired, partially from Nami coughing through the night and partially because he was so worried Nami would get worse and he wouldn't realize it that he'd jerk awake to check to make sure she was still warm. He had nightmares about lightning and gunshots, and a large, cooling form.

Luffy ate Sunny's untouched breakfast without noticing in his mad rush to eat his own and Sunny was too grateful to be indignant. He curled up to Nami's side again.

The crew upstairs fought the sail in heavy winds. Normally they'd raise the sail but doing so would mean the caravel would practically be at a standstill. They would lose precious hours. As the wind battered the sail, Zoro's eyes flashed around the deck to check on Sunny, the lightest of the crew, who had, more than once, nearly been carried off his feet by a stray gale. He caught the shit-cook doing the same instinctual search. But Sunny wasn't on deck, he was downstairs with their navigator, because she was very sick and they were all fighting for her life.

Sanji came by with Usopp with dinner and tea. Sunny drank his tea but didn't feel hungry enough to manage the food. Neither did Nami, who could barely stomach bread, to Sanji's silent pain and wetness in his eyes.

Sunny had almost lulled off to sleep when he felt Usopp's hand on his head.

"Have you noticed Sunny's been really tired?"

"He's worried like the rest of us," Sanji said.

The loudest thing from several moments was breathing, then Usopp agreed. "Yeah, you're probably right. He's been pushing himself to take care of her so of course he's tired. I'm just getting nervous. Drum is still two days away..."

"She'll make it."

The door opened, causing the two men to turn around to look at the swordsman who had casually entered the room. His eyes studied Nami's for a moment before he reached over and picked up the fire-type who had been laying with her, tucked him under his arm like he was pillow and left the room. He stepped back on deck, sat down in his usual spot and let Sunny scoot to the top of his head. Sunny knew he was being benched for a little while. Sanji and Usopp were with her, the could take care of them for just a few minutes... he was asleep faster than Zoro.

Sunny curled up at Nami's neck, snout draped over her to fend off her shivering. It was getting harder to do, especially because Vivi had warned him against making her too warm. When he came back into the room after Zoro's forced break, he'd seen Nami had taken a turn for the worse. He'd have to stay with her. He shifted slightly, pulling back as he felt her body temperature, rather than just her skin, rise a fraction of degree.

Vivi was on watch for Nami, and looked up from her notebook. "Did her fever raise again?"

Sunny bobbed his head in a so-so gesture. It wasn't enough for any of the others to notice, and she was hovering just below his own body temperature, so her fever had gone down some from the afternoon. Vivi nodded and sighed, glad for the short reprieve, but knowing it wouldn't last long.

Around dinner, they managed to coerce Sunny into coming out from the girl's cabin while Vivi helped Nami clean up and get ready for bed. Fresh air was nice and he felt some of the tension release to see the crew wandering the deck, going over plans, checking the log pose, shouting about healthy dinner, all a coordinated unit. Then he felt a light thunk below deck in the direction of the girl's cabin reverberate lightly through the floorboards. He was back inside and waiting at the door until Vivi opened it up again fifteen minutes later.

Nami hadn't woken up yet that morning but Sanji brought in breakfast for Sunny. He tip-toed in as not to disturb Vivi, who had just fallen asleep after her nightshift. The blond cook set down the tray in front of the shrew pokemon, whose left eyelid twitched slightly. Sanji knew his small crew mate well enough to know it was him opening his eye. It was still a mystery to him how that worked.

"Breakfast," he said quietly.

Sunny craned his neck to lap up some tea briefly before curling up again. Sanji shook him gently. "Hey, eat something, I brought breakfast."

Sunny gave a light sigh in warning. "Sanji..."

The tray was stubbornly scooted closer to him. It was a rice and vegetable omelet. The smell made Sunny feel sick. He could only stand the smell for a few moments before he got up and moved to the other side of the bed. Sanji watched, his mouth open. He felt cold sweat gathering on his forehead. No, no, no. Not another. Not both of them.

Sanji got up, clearing his throat before picking up a few boiled baby carrots, one of Sunny's favorite treats, and walked around the bed. He crouched, and held one out to the cyndaquil, keeping the rising panic from reaching his face admirably. Because, no, there couldn't be two of them. Had Sunny eaten yesterday? Sanji was less and less sure the more he forced himself to try to remember. And what about the rest of the crew? Had they eaten enough? Had Sunny finished his food two days ago? He had been so worried about Nami-swan, he hadn't been thinking straight. It was a nightmare to relive his trauma by his dearest Nami-swan refusing to eat but the world had found a way to make it worse yet again. Two of his nakama. Beautiful Nami-swan and the crew's youngest and smallest member. And the rock in the middle of the ocean, and the bag of treasure while Zeff had given him all the food and- and Sanji felt horribly guilty for having eaten while his friends hadn't, like he was cheating him somehow and why should a cook eat when his crew isn't, it's an insult-

And Usopp had mentioned something may have been wrong. With the absence of a doctor, the health of the crew was the cook's responsibility. He'd brushed the concern aside because Sunny hadn't had the same symptoms. Sunny looked exhausted though he'd been sleeping for days and weak and he wasn't acting like himself.

He offered up the boiled carrot a few inches from Sunny's snout. As far as foods went, this would be the most inoffensive, even with an upset stomach. "Eat a little." Sunny moved his head away before setting it down again. Many animals will refuse to eat when- Sanji cut out that thought. Sunny wasn't like that, and he wasn't on a rock without food, so why wasn't he eating, why was he starving himself. Did he want to waste away like Na- His voice was flint. "Sunny."

Sunny ignored him. Sanji stood up and stormed from the room, and returned a minute later, slamming the bottle of habanero sauce Sunny loved so much on the desk before spreading some across a carrot. When waved it in front of Sunny's nose he got no reaction except a small growl.

Sanji takes a precious moment to collect himself, pressing the sleeve of his suit to the his face with enough pressure that he left like he could ground himself and wiped away the sweat and dried the panic from his eyes. He wanted the moment when Sunny had stolen food just three days ago, he would take his nakama's hidden mischievous streak-that and when he'd mistakenly drank coffee and been more hyperactive than Luffy, happily over him denying a single meal. He arranged the blankets tucking Nami in gently. He steadied himself enough to stand and scooped Sunny up. He was out of the room before Sunny was weakly trying to wriggle free. Sanji didn't let him. He slammed the door open to the deck with a kick and strode out.

"We've got a problem."

"Another one?" Zoro groaned, hand running across his face. He looked to be on the ropes as much as the rest of the crew.

"Sunny's sick too. I can't get him to eat anything. I won't have two people on this crew not eating!"

"Sanji, I'm alright, I just don't want your dumb food," Sunny growled in irritation, knowing the cook couldn't understand him anyway and redoubling his attempts at freedom. He had a flash of the first time he'd met the crew, on this deck, running for his life while they yelled and tried to catch him. He felt bad, he needed to be left alone to get better. He wanted Sanji to let him go-the cook seemed to be banking on Sunny playing nice and not igniting, but there were other options for escape, he was sure of it.

The crew came over, inspecting their small friend.

"He feels warmer than usual." Usopp observed touching his forehead. Sunny stopped struggling abruptly at the hand covering his face. It felt oddly soothing, the cool skin and pressure of his hand blocking the painfully bright light.

Then the hand jerked back. "Do you think it's contagious?"

Zoro spoke up. "Nami was bitten by a bug, right? Sunny probably got the same thing, or else we'd all be getting sick, it's not a big ship. And judging by how dirty he was, he probably was in that marsh Nami said she got most her bug bites.."

"I don't know why we're just realizing now that he may be sick, though. Since he's smaller, I thought it would have effected him faster?" Vivi asked, biting her thumbnail.

Luffy's face was flat and difficult to read. "How long until we get to that island?"

"A day or two with good winds," Usopp said uncertainly. "But I'll check my math and Nami's notes again."

Luffy brought Sunny back downstairs and managed to convince him to have a few pieces of meat he'd torn into tiny pieces, making him Sanji's favorite person that day. Luffy hummed lightly, petting Sunny gently where he was laying on the boy's lap. "I don't want you to worry, Sunny. Nami's going to be okay and so are you, so you don't need to worry at all."

The ship's crew was up and alert before dawn the day they were set to land. Nami had taken another turn for the worse and wasn't lucid, even while awake. Sunny hadn't exhibited any other symptoms Nami had except for the exhaustion and refusal to eat more than a few bites of apple sauce when Sanji staunchly stood his ground until he did so.

Finally, they saw the island in the distance, the strange outline of an island with what looked like thick, massive pillars growing from it. As they got closer, something was wrong.

"Are those guards?" Zoro asked as they approached.

"I wasn't aware Drum Island had any sort of organized police or militia," Vivi said slowly. The crew cruised into the port on guard.

Once they stopped, three armed guards approached. Vivi, Zoro, and Usopp, and Carue, who were on deck while to dock the ship, watched them cautiously as the guards slowly sized them up and peered deck of the ship.

"Can we help you?" Zoro said finally, crossing his arms. His finger touched Wado Ichimoji under his arm, the only hint that he wasn't as casual as he was acting.

The guard raised his weapon. "This is the Whapol Kingdom you've arrived in, under the reign of King Whapol. Identify yourselves."

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