Chapter 2, Explanation

The rocking of the ship was a comfort now. He knew he was at home before he even had to open his eyes. And damn, Sanji was waking up a lot of times now, and not normal sleep. His eyes fluttered open and he stared at the ceiling of the infirmary. It was peaceful and calm. They were probably out on the open ocean now, away from the Marine Base. Safe. Sanji yawned, and on que his stomach rumbled it's hunger for food. He wondered how long he had been asleep. Sanji sat up, swinging his legs over the bed. His eyes popped open in shock as he realized he was a man once more. A breathless laugh left him and he felt up his own legs with trembling hands.

"I'm normal again," he said to himself.

Sanji got off the bed and made his way to the galley, opening the door slowly. He hadn't known the crew was talking until it was suddenly silent and everyone was staring at him. Sanji cleared his throat and smiled sheepishly.

"Morning," he said.

Zoro snorted into his mug of sake and began coughing. That gave the rest of the crew the motivation to smile and happily welcome him back. Luffy yelped that Sanji had to cook him meat. Chopper scolded Luffy for saying that because 'Sanji needs rest!' Nami bonked Zoro on the head for laughing and Zoro laughed even harder at that. Ussop stood, telling Sanji he would cook for now, which Sanji happily accepted. Robin was sipping coffee with a small smile, Brook his tea and Franky was chugging his cola while winking at Sanji.

"Sanji are you alright?" Nami asked once the ruckus had died down.

Sanji nodded, but his stomach rumbled again and he grinned. "Fine, just hungry. How long have I been sleeping?" he asked.

Nami's face fell a little, she didn't answer. Zoro's mug slammed on the table and Sanji startled. Zoro's gaze was hard, but soft at the same time, he seemed conflicted.

"You've been sleeping for a week, Sanji," Zoro said.

Sanji's jaw dropped because of two things. First, a whole week sleeping? Why? And how? Second! Zoro said his name! Sanji gaped at the Marimo in utter confusion.

"Wait what? How?" he asked, turning back to Nami.

Nami sighed. "You turned back the moment Zoro brought you to the infirmary, and you fell into a coma right after," she told him.

Robin pipped up then, with some interesting information. "It seems like your body needs the same amount of nutrition ours need to function after using our powers. Captain-san eats a lot and I just drink coffee, Skeleton-san drinks his milk and Doctor-san eats the candy or sleeps when he's tired. You didn't do any of those, and Paramecia type need energy replenishing for us to function. You must either eat or sleep to keep up your strength, and seeing as you were forced to change by that Marine Captain, I can say that your body wasn't used to it and pulled you into a coma."

Sanji nodded slowly, understanding the situation. On que, his stomach rumbled again and that same moment, Ussop handed him a plate with scrambled eggs and two pieces of toast.

"It's not much, but it's good," the Sniper told him.

Sanji smiled gratefully and took a bite, surprised that it tasted rather nice. "This is good, Ussop. Thanks," he said.

Ussop send him a warm smile and sat back down at the table. Sanji joined him and continued eating. The crew picked up their conversation and Sanji felt right at home once more.

"Hey, Sanji," Chopper said.

Sanji looked over at him and hummed. "What is it, Chopper?" he asked.

"What does your Devil Fruit power do? Zoro didn't know what it was because he was separated from you at the time you got it. Did the Captain tell you?" Chopper asked with a worried look on his face.

Sanji nodded his head, concluding that he did actually know what the Fruit had been. "It's called the Karada Karada No Mi. He said it translated to Body Body Fruit," Sanji began, catching the attention off the crew. "He also told me that I can change my body to any given form. So I can get smaller or taller, bigger and apparently I can also turn into a girl."

Chopper frowned, "But your clothes weren't shrinking with you, where they?" he asked.

Sanji nodded, bringing his hand up to feel at his neck. He touched bandages instead and rubbed at them softly, his neck did feel a little sore. "No, they didn't."

Chopper huffed. "But that's not right!" he said. "Paramecia is supposed to change your clothes to fit your new appearance, like mine and Luffy's do," he explained.

Zoro spoke up then, "Maybe it was the collar, maybe it was blocking part of his powers."

Sanji nodded, it seemed logical. "The only thing is, I don't know how to use my powers," he said.

Chopper smiled then. "That's got more to do with imagination. You have to believe that you can change into what you want to become."

Robin nodded to this and demonstrated by using her powers to pick up her cup. "It's not as hard is it seems, you just have to see what you want to happen. Once it's done, you needn't do anything until you think of turning back."

Sanji agreed and finished eating his food. "How did we get out of the Marine Base by the way. I don't remember any of that," he said.

Zoro huffed, then, and crossed his arms. "Sunny got into the harbor, and I got there right after you passed out the second time."

Sanji nodded, sending Zoro a small smile in thanks. He stood, taking the plate to the kitchen. Chopper told him he'd better rest for a few more hours before really getting out of bed. Sanji agreed without trouble, he was tired anyway. So, back to the infirmary it was. After getting more peaceful sleep for a few hours, Sanji was good to go and he wanted to test out his new powers. With new clothes and confident views, Sanji decided he would consult the other Devil Fruit users on the ship.

Robin was the best choice he could come up with. He found her in the library, where she spend most of her time reading. Sanji knocked on the door and Robin looked up at him with a smile.

"I see you decided to ask for help, Cook-san," she said.

Sanji nodded and sat down on a chair while Robin laid her book away. Robin looked at him with a stern eye and Sanji wondered if he made the right choice.

"I want to see you change into a girl, Cook-san," Robin said to him.

Sanji blanched. "I don't know how," he said.

Robin regarded him flatly. "We told you didn't we. Use your imagination and try it. It can never hurt to try."

Sanji nodded and closed his eyes, thinking about what he had looked like in the mirror. But, that may have been a bad idea. He remembered how pale he had been, how his eyes had sunken in and how dead he had looked that way. He remembered the pain he'd felt given by the collar, how agonizing it had been to change that time. How his brain felt like it had oozed out of his head. How he'd felt, ripped apart from the inside, searing fire roaring through his numb limbs.

Sanji gasped, hands flying to his chest to grasp at his khaki shirt. His chair rocked back and he could hear Robin's suddenly worried voice float around the room. Sanji's head slammed into the floor as the chair tipped over and darkness swallowed him so suddenly that he hadn't even realized it until he was no more.

o-o-o

Sanji eyed Chopper warily as the Doctor examined him for any brain damage he could have received in the fall. The blond Cook had awoken in the infirmary for the umpteenth time and this time half the crew was there to meet him. Zoro was sitting against the far wall, eyes closed, seemingly relaxed. But Sanji knew he was anything but that. His muscles were tensed in a way that suggested he was ready for battle, or anything to go wrong with said Cook he was secretly worried about. Luffy was sitting on Chopper's chair, eyes on Sanji with a serious air around him. It was one of those very few times that Luffy was serious, when one of his crew members was in harm's way. Robin was there as well, standing next to the door opening and talking with Ussop in hushed tones as they discussed Sanji's situation. Chopper was still prodding at his head and wrapping a bandage around it all the while, ignoring everything and anything that could possibly distract the young Doctor from working on his patient.

"Are you sure that could be it?" Ussop asked quietly.

Sanji was dying to know what they were on about, and he guessed they were talking about his earlier episode. He shuddered just thinking about it. Robin interrupted his thoughts when she spoke.

"I think so, there's really no other explanation for it. He could go on with it for a little while."

Sanji frowned this time. They were worried about him, yes, but they seemed to know what was wrong with him and he didn't. Sanji waited until Chopper was done fixing his head and he thanked the little reindeer gently.

"You should be careful, I don't want you taking off the bandages either. They need to stay on, do you understand?" Chopper said fiercely.

Sanji nodded and turned to Robin. "What's wrong with me?" he asked quietly.

Robin smiled gently, walking to him and resting a hand on his shoulder. "It's nothing serious, I assure you. You may have a slight trauma caused by the fear and pain you felt when you transformed. It not weird and you'll be fine. But, you must face that fear head on when you are ready to. It's perfectly normal to fear your own Devil Fruit and it's powers, Cook-san."

Sanji agreed, it was normal to have a fear of something you didn't understand. But for him, it was a little strange still. He could live with it for now, he supposed.

"I understand, thank you," Sanji told them.

Ussop send him a smile, Chopper hugged him and Luffy grinned. Robin nodded at him before turning and taking her leave. Zoro however, he just ignored everything and kept sitting against the wall with his eye closed. Sanji frowned, but didn't comment as the rest left them alone in the infirmary. It was silent for a good long while, and Sanji had begun to fiddle with the hem of his khaki shirt. Zoro broke the silence, his voice rough, but very quiet.

"I thought you died," he said.

Sanji frowned, looking at the normally stoic man sitting against the wall. Zoro wasn't looking at him, and Sanji hadn't thought he would. This was personal. Deep.

"You were sleeping for so long I thought you were going to die any second. You almost weren't breathing. You were sickly pale, you looked dead, Sanji," Zoro said, voice cracking.

Sanji opened his mouth to tell him he was still alive, but Zoro beat him to it.

"Your fever kept rising and Chopper didn't know what to do about it, he couldn't treat you normally because all of your skin was affected by Sea Prism Stone and he couldn't touch you until Nami, Ussop and me got it out of you. You were just- And I thought..." Zoro voice cracked again and he took a deep breath. "I was scared," he finished, so quiet Sanji almost didn't hear him.

"I'm still alive," Sanji said as he slipped off the bed.

He made his way over to Zoro, and in a rare moment of showing their close friendship, did he hug the Swordsman. Zoro's arms came up and encased his body, Sanji was uncomfortable with his height over the green haired man that moment. A sudden sensation started in him and he gasped, falling into Zoro and shrinking. Zoro yelped in surprise when Sanji was suddenly the size of a young teenager. Sanji had landed in his lap, face pressed into Zoro's chest. His clothes had shrunk with him this time and they had transformed into a simple shirt and loose pair of slacks.

"What the fuck?" Zoro exclaimed, not releasing his hold on Sanji.

Sanji felt like he was fourteen again. A small kid in his foster father's embrace. He giggled, the laughter bubbling out of his chest and escaping his lips before he could catch it.

"Zoro I did it!" Sanji smiled up at the man.

Zoro said nothing, mouth gaping open and staring at Sanji. A slow blush spread over the Swordsman's face and Sanji could see him swallow, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. Sanji frowned up at him and Zoro averted his eye. With a confused mind, Sanji looked down at himself and noted that Zoro view was directly into his shirt. Sanji's cheeks heated and he smacked Zoro's arms.

"You pervert!" he exclaimed.

Zoro yelped and quickly released the raging teen on his lap. Sanji fell over, falling silent and laying still on the hard wooden floor. He stared at the ceiling. He did it, he got small. He doesn't have to think about it hard, just wish for it to happen and it'll happen. Sanji grinned, and imagined himself as a brunette girl, or at least some girl Zoro would like to see. He wondered what it would be. He felt the weird sensation again and he felt his body shift. He felt his hair lengthen and his body become slender. His chest expanded and his legs grew longer, thinner and thicker. Sanji felt his face shift into something smaller, more delicate and he could even feel his eyes change, his lips becoming more plump and his lashes become thicker and longer.

Zoro's face went bright red the moment Sanji was done transforming and he froze instantly. Sanji smiled, getting up and looking down on himself. He was rather, developed. He was wearing a see through night dress, with black lacey lingerie underneath. Sanji's face flushed and he gripped at his longer- wait... His hair was short. Sanji's brow furrowed and he walked over to the mirror, looking at himself. His hair was short, shorter than his own, but it was still blonde. It looked kinda like a unkempt bob style if he said so himself.

Sanji turned to Zoro, who was staring at him wide eyed and with a blush covering his face. Sanji smirked, so Zoro was into girls, slightly. Maybe.

"You mind telling me who I look like?" Sanji asked, hands going to his wide hips.

Zoro cleared his throat, averting his eye. "Y-yourself," he mumbled.

Sanji's eyes widened a fraction. "But this hair style looks nothing like mine? And I'm a woman."

Zoro rumbled and scratched at his nape, making no move to stand whatsoever. "Yeah, it's Kuina's hairstyle, but... You know, also you. And you made yourself a girl, I never said I wanted you to be a girl."

Sanji's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and he turned away from Zoro. The words I wanted you replayed in his head a few times and a heavy blush grew on his face. He couldn't quite believe his ears. Zoro cleared his throat behind him, but Sanji made no move to turn back to the idiot.

"I'm-" Zoro began. "I'm gonna go now," he murmured.

Sanji could only nod as he began transforming back to himself. The door slammed shut and Sanji waited for his Devil Fruit to finish before he sat down on the infirmary bed. This was so weird. Zoro definitely liked him, he knew that already, but now he knew it for sure. Sanji placed his head in his hands and felt like hiding himself.

Shit.

His body shrunk again and kept shrinking until he was no more than the size of a rat. Sanji face-palmed. He was like, what, six inches tall? Sanji sighed and jumped off the bed, luckily landing safely on the ground instead of crashing with his now tiny legs. Sanji shot off, spotting a hole in the wall and wondering if they had mice, probably not. Or maybe they had, you never knew with Luffy on the ship. Sanji made his way through the hole and into the interior of the ship, exploring to his heart's content to think over things.

Sanji didn't find any mice, or rats, but he did find the aquarium room, where Brook was playing piano. Sanji liked this particular song. It was a lullaby from North Blue. His mother used to sing it to him. Sanji walked out into the room and imagined his mother, wanting her voice to sing the song. His body shifted once more and he could feel the exhaustion creeping up on him. He shouldn't use it so much yet, he thought. Then, he began to sing, startling Brook with his now clear, beautiful, female voice.

"In North Blue there's a woman,

She's fair and oh so beautiful,

She seems to be inhuman,

She was always so dutiful,"

Brook looked at him with a smile and Sanji smiled back as the rest of the song picked up.

"She is the Queen of a wondrous land,

Standing there on the glittering white sand,

She has five children, cherished and loved,

They are, by her, so beloved,"

Sanji heard footsteps and soft murmuring, but he didn't pay attention as he wanted to finish the song before he would pass out. It was a short song, just a lullaby, but he loved it all the same.

"She lives in North Blue,

Where the sun warms your skin,

And that's when you knew,

That this was her win,

Now sleep, dear sons of mine,

Outside where the sun will shine,"

Sanji finished the song and he turned, seeing the crew smiling and clapping. Sanji smiled dazedly and he swayed. His vision blacked and the only thing he saw after that was the one to catch him before he fell.

It was Zoro. And Zoro had the most loving, caring expression on his face the Cook had ever seen in his life.

Hey guys! I see that you all like this fic so here's another chapter. I made up the song myself and it's supposed to represent Sora if you didn't catch it. No wonder Sanji loved it, heh? Anyway. I hope you enjoyed and till the next chapter!

~Rebecca