As always I hope you guys enjoy thos chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Can't wait to hear what you think!
Chapter 31
Nami and Robin had left the room after finishing the dishes (with Robin's devil fruit they finished quickly) to allow the four brothers to talk in private while Sanji made snacks. Niji, with Sanji's encouragement and a little help when his older brother seemed lost for words, explained what was up. Sanji ended up doing more talking than originally planned but he didn't mind as long as Niji was willing to allow all of his brothers to know. Niji however stared at the floor the whole time, clearly ashamed of himself, but finally looked up when Ichiji spoke up as soon as the two finished.
"Really?" Was all the oldest brother said.
For the first time in his life Niji was on sure what his older brother meant. Ichiji had always been a man of few words but you were always able to tell what he meant or wanted no matter how little he spoke, his body language and tone said it all…. Not this time.
"That's what you're so worried about?" Yonji laughed after a minute of silence.
Niji shot Sanji an 'I told you so' glare which earned him a kick to the back of the head.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR!"
"For being an idiot," Sanji said as he lit a cigarette. "Yonji wasn't laughing at you. And since when is Ichiji hard to read? Like I said before it's you they could care less about it. Besides they got me to make fun of…. Uh… that does not mean I'm giving you permission to do so.
"Uh-huh," Ichiji replied.
"Sure," Yonji added.
"I'M NOT!"
"I wouldn't say we could care less… but Sanji's right."
"Huh…?" Niji said shocked.
"So you're afraid of a little thunder? Big deal."
"What Yonji is saying," Ichiji said walking up to Niji and resting his elbow on Niji's shoulder. "This is us caring, who could blame you? Besides it's more fun to pick on Sanji."
"Gee thanks," Sanji said sarcastically.
"Hey, you said it not us."
"Shut up," Sanji said walking to the door. "I'll be back. I need to see if the girls need anything," he added then vanished threw the door. "Nami-Swan, Robin-Chwan, Carrot-Chwan, Cosette-Chwan, Reiju, Mom, do any of you girls need anything?!" He asked over the railing to the girls who were all sitting in the grass by the tree swing.
"No, but thanks for asking Sanji-kun," Nami smiled up to him. "Oh! Tell your brothers the worst of the storm has passed.
Sanji nodded, slightly disappointed that they didn't need any thing, before turning back to the kitchen. But before he entered, he noticed Law poking his head out of Chopper's office.
"Black Leg, come hear a second."
"What you need, Tra-guy?" He asked walking over only to be surprised when Law grabbed his arm, pulling him in and quickly closing the door.
Chopper was sitting at his desk peering into a microscope.
"Sanji sit in that chair over there," the little reindeer said without looking up from his work.
"I don't think I want to. You two are acting oddly suspicious. I'm not sure if I trust you at the moment."
"Just sit down," Law said shoving him into the chair.
"I need a sample of your blood," Chopper explained.
"For what?!"
"Can't say right now," Chopper said finally turning away from the microscope and grabbing a needle out of a drawer.
"Why not?"
"Can't say that either. Just trust me."
Sanji sighed, "that would require changing back into my normal clothes, would it not?"
"For a minute. But then you're putting the raid suit right back on."
"Fine, as long as I get even a minute out of this stupid thing," he muttered deactivating his raid suit. He rolled up the sleeve of his white button up dress shirt.
Law grabbed an elastic band and wrapped it around Sanji's upper arm while Chopper prepared the needle.
"You know, I don't like the fact that you're not telling me what this is for, right?"
"An experiment," Law said moving out of Chopper's way.
"It is not!" Chopper said as he stuck the needle into Sanji's arm. "What it is for is not important right now. If it becomes important… or necessary… then I'll tell you. But right now it's nether."
"Whatever…. If you're done, I'll be going," he replied after Chopper placed a bandage where the needle had been.
"Yes, but put your raid suit back on before you go.
"What took you so long?" Yonji asked when Sanji entered the kitchen.
"Chopper needed me for something," he answered while scratching the back of his head.
"Why do you look so confused?" Ichiji asked.
"He wanted a sample of my blood…. but… wouldn't tell me why…."
"That's not creepy at all…." Niji said.
"I'm not to worried about it. I'm sure he has a good explanation. But, Niji, I also brought some good news from Nami-San, the worst of the storm is over, so no more thunder and lightning for today. It is raining a bit though, you okay with that?"
"Really? A little water never killed anyone," Niji said as he left the kitchen.
"That is a really bad analogy!" Sanji hollered after him.
"You know what I meant!"
"Nami-swaaaaan, Robin-chwaaaaaan! I've brought you snacks!" Sanji said with hearts in his eyes as he walked into the aquarium were Nami and Robin had taken the other girls, showing off what was probably the most beautiful room on the Sunny. "A delicious strawberry banana smoothie," he said hand Nami and Robin their smoothies.
"Thank you, Sanji-kun."
"Thank you."
"You are most welcome Nami my love, Robin-Chan," he replied before walking to Carrot. "A sweet carrot cake for Carrot-Chan."
"Thank you, Sanji!"
"You're welcome, Carrot-Chan. Reiju, a strawberry shake."
"Thank you, Sanji."
"Welcome. A strawberry banana sundae for mom."
"Why thank you, Sanji."
"And last but not least Cose~"
"I'll take that," Niji said taking the smoothie off the tray Sanji was holding.
"Niji! I thought you were discussing something with Ichiji and Yonji."
"Yonji saw you come out of the kitchen with the girls' snacks and took off running for the kitchen with your captain."
"Great. Tell me the guys followed shortly after, otherwise it'll all be gone."
"Don't know didn't stick around long enough to make sure. Any way what was that you were saying? Last but not least Cosette…. How would you say it? Chwan?"
"NO! YOU CAN STEAL MY FAVORITE PART OF COOKING BUT I REFUSE TO LET YOU CALL ANY OF THE GIRLS SWAN OR CHWAN! THAT'S MY THING!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"DON'T YEAH, YEAH!" Sanji said throwing a kick to the back of Niji's head however Niji blocked the attack with his own kick.
"Boys," Sora said sternly
"Yes, Mother," they replied.
Niji turned back to Cosette and handed her the smoothie.
"Thank you Sanji-sama, Ni-Niji-sama," Cosette said reaching for the glass with a shaky hand.
"Cosette-Chan, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Of course, Sanji-sama," She said getting to her feet.
"You too, Niji," Sanji added walking to the door.
"Okay," Niji replied, unsure as to why Sanji needed him as well.
They stepped onto the deck and Sanji turned to face his brother and Cosette.
"W-what is it Sanji-sama?"
"First, a reminder that it's just Sanji. Second, it's not me that needs to talk to you, Cosette-Chan."
Cosette watched in confusion as Sanji grabbed Niji by the shoulders and quickly turned him towards her.
"Tell her," he said shoving him closer to her.
"Tell her what?"
"That thing we discussed earlier."
Niji turned glared at Sanji through the corner of his eye.
"Don't be stupid I'm not talking about that! The other thing we talked about."
"Oh…. Right…. umm…. Cosette… I've… been meaning… to tell… you something…."
Cosette continued to look at Niji with narrowed eyes and her head tilted slightly to the side.
"A-about the other day… when I… threw the plate at you…."
Sanji lightly shoved him, encouragingly.
"I crossed the line…. I did it to make Sanji angry…. It was wrong… and… I'm sorry."
"N-Niji-sama?"
Niji shook his head slowly, "did you not hear Sanji? It's okay to drop the same crap…. Just don't tell the other maids," he teased.
"Y-Yes, Niji-sa~... Niji."
"Sooo does that mean you forgive me?"
"Mmm," she thought for a moment taking a drink of the smoothie. "I'll have to think about it…."
"Alright. I'll take that…. I deserve it anyway. Well worse really," He decided with a single node.