I hope you enjoy this chapter of fluffiness and the likes. It'll be a very nice chapter to read. I hope you like it all and that this answers the question about why Shoda isn't dead yet. I am so in love with this story by the way. I have been trying to write chapter eight for a while now, and each time it was moved up to another chapter. Now it'll be chapter eight, so be prepared for fights and captured crew mates. Enjoy!

~Rebecca

Chapter 7, Trouble Stirs

Shoda fingered the scar on his chest. It was still an ugly red, and the stitches had not yet been removed. He growled, swearing that he'd get his revenge. The wound hurt, but he'd give back as good as he got. He would destroy the Pirate Hunter for giving him such an ugly wound.

The scar was no more than a fine line on his chest, but the Captain despised it. The sword had pierced him just above his heart, and he would have certainly died had it not been for one of his subordinates with a healing Devil Fruit power. He'd had to recover for a week, but after, he ordered his men to search for the Straw Hat Pirates.

He'd get his revenge, no matter what.

Roronoa Zoro was going to die.

And Black Leg Sanji.

Well...

Shoda smirked, he'd get what he wanted, there was no doubt about it. He'd have to make a good strategy, fight the Pirate Hunter himself. The Captain set his pencil down and frowned. How though, the Straw Hats were strong. He'd have to think of something really, really, good. Otherwise it wouldn't work out like he wanted it too.

But if he...

No that wouldn't work.

What if he..?

Nah, same outcome.

How about...

A glint appeared in his eyes and Shoda threw his sunglasses down onto the table, smirking down at his crawly handwriting. It was the perfect plan. Perfect. Amazing even. He had to make sure his subordinates knew what to do, otherwise it would fail. But if it worked, than he'd be victorious.

"Well then, let's get that settled," Shoda murmured to himself as he stood, walking over to the door.

He opened it stiffly and the guards in front froze. They saluted their Captain and averted their eyes, fear clear in them.

"At ease, men. Can one of you tell me how long to the next island, and possibly the Straw Hat Pirates?" Shoda asked, walking away.

"Uh- Sir, it's just a little more. Perhaps only ten hours."

Shoda nodded, turned the corner and left he guards alone. He'd have to fit his plan in that time span, make everything ready. It would have to do. Now he just needed a better collar for his Devil Fruit User. With a grin on his face, Shoda disappeared further into the ship, his plan formulating nicely in his head.

It was just a matter of time now.

o-o-o

Zoro watched Sanji as the womanized Cook was soaking up the sun on the deck. Sanji had always been pale, but now he had a little more color. It didn't help much though, he was still just as fair skinned as Nami was. Zoro sighed, crossing his arms behind his head as he continued to watch his perfect fantasy lying on his lawn chair.

Sanji's hair was long, purposely, and done up in a messy bun. Few strands were hanging loose, framing his delicate face. Zoro could see the longer lashes from where he sat against the mast. Sanji's lips were plump and full, shiny red with saliva. And to top it off, he was wearing a skimpy bikini, the blue color going nicely with his eyes. There was a cloth draped around his hips, secured with a tight knot so it wouldn't fall off.

And Zoro couldn't keep his eye away. Sanji was the most perfect thing he'd ever seen and he didn't want to miss any of it. Sanji's movements were graceful and feminine, he'd had enough time to practice. He even fooled people at the last island into thinking Zoro had a beautiful girlfriend. All the villagers had been exited and celebrated something weird. He'd gotten a stone necklace from one of the village women, and her words kept echoing in his head.

"If you ever wish to marry that wonderful young woman, give her this. On our island it's like an engagement ring. Keep it safe, young warrior, for its precious Sapphire. Stone has memory, and if you ask her with this stone, it'll remember and never leave her neck no matter how hard anyone will try."

It was just a stupid stone, so why was it keeping him busy. His fingers had been fiddling with it in his pocket all this time. The stone was smooth, and Zoro had to admit that it was beautiful. The stone had te same color as Sanji's eyes, deep ocean blue. It would sparkle in the sun and Zoro would gaze at it, wondering. Would he want to marry Sanji?

Yes, he would.

Very much.

It fried his brain the moment that woman had said it. He'd been frozen, taking in every word she said while his brain leaked out of his head. A blush had covered his face, inflaming it, reaching up his ears. The woman had smiled, pressed the necklace into his hand and pushed him towards the rest of the crew.

They'd looked at him weirdly, especially when he had refused to let them see what he was holding as he avoided Sanji's gaze. He'd avoided everyone for the rest of the day, contemplating what he should do. And he also got lost.

Zoro bonked his head against the mast, which he had been sitting against. He pulled the necklace out of his pocket and watched it sparkle in the sun. It was beautiful, just like the person he would give it to.

"Hey Zoro! What is that?" Luffy's voice penetrated his thoughts and Zoro looked up.

Luffy was sitting in front of him with a thoughtful look on his face, eyeing the Sapphire necklace that dangled between Zoro's fingers. The young Captain had a sparkle in his eyes as he looked at the jewel, and then he sat down in front of Zoro. His fingers gently took the black cord from Zoro's fingers. The Swordsman stared, transfixed, as Luffy studied the jewel with a serious look.

"This is from the last island we were at," Luffy stated.

Zoro nodded, taking the necklace back from Luffy and wiping his finger over it as he stared into it. "It is," he agreed.

"It's like a wedding ring, right?" Luffy piped up.

Zoro froze, his face paling a few shades as he looked up at his Captain. Luffy only smiled and jerked a thumb in Sanji's direction.

"Sanji has one too, just like that," he said. "It's green though. He said it was a Jade."

Zoro's eye flew to Sanji, who was still lounging on the lawn chair without a care in the world. Then he looked back at Luffy with a quirk of his brow. Luffy nodded his head a few times and his smile grew just a little brighter. The Straw Hat Captain stood, dusted off his pants and grinned even wider. There was a glint in his eyes that told Zoro what he needed to know. The Swordsman shot to his feet and gulped, necklace in a tight fist as he nodded at Luffy.

The Captain had given his consent, so that meant that Zoro could do whatever he desired. And what he desired most was for Sanji to be by his side when he became the Greatest Swordsman in the world. Zoro breathed out once, and then made his way over to Sanji.

"Come on Cook," he said, grabbing Sanji's wrist and draggin him off the chair.

Sanji yelped, sunglasses that had been on his face falling to the floor. He scrambled for balance, thin, long legs flailing to get under him.

"Oi! Stupid! What are you thinking draggin me off the chair like that! I could have injured myself, you ungrateful little-"

He was cut off as Zoro kissed him. It was just a soft kiss, but it did the trick and Sanji shut his mouth with a click. He pouted, cheeks reddening in an adorable way. Zoro rolled his eye and let go of Sanji's wrist. Sanji eyed him, suddenly uncertain, it seemed.

"What is it?" the blonde asked.

Zoro opened his mouth, but shut it as he got a good look at Sanji. The sun was shining on him, and that golden hair of his looked even more like real gold than it usually did. His eyes sparkled and reflected the sea in them, and Zoro was lost. Lost in that blue like, lost like he'd been since he laid his eye on them the first time.

He couldn't stop himself from saying it though, and it blurted out of him in one fell swoop that had his cheeks reddening and made his heart soar in his chest.

"Marry me."

Sanji's eyes widened, and that curled brow of his, which he hadn't bothered to change, shot up in utter shock. His cheeks inflamed and suddenly there stood a beautiful, shy woman in front of an equally shy Swordsman.

"W-What?" Sanji muttered, hand going to his mouth in surprise.

Zoro heard a snicker behind him and guessed Luffy was watching, perhaps he'd gotten the rest of the crew to watch.

"You heard me," he said, eye locking on Sanji's to confirm that, yes, the blonde had heard him.

Sanji's eyes filled with tears and they streamed over his face as he let out a chocked sob. A wide smile appeared on his face and he laughed, tears tracing down his cheeks and falling to the grassy deck.

"You bastard, why'd you have to ask me before I could ask you," he grit out. "Of course I'll marry you," he said.

Sanji didn't wait for his answer, Zoro had frozen over anyway. The blonde threw himself at the Swordsman and tackled them both to the deck as he kissed the green haired man. Zoro threw his arms around the Cook and kissed him back, ignoring the cheers that sounded around them. When they pulled away from each other, Sanji was still crying, openly this time. He bawled like a baby, cheeks still red and he sniffed a few times.

Then he smacked Zoro, hard.

"Hey! What the hell was that for!" Zoro cried out.

Sanji smiled, "Here."

It was the only warning Zoro got, before something was clipped around his neck and he looked down. It was the necklace Sanji had gotten. The Jade green sparkled in the sun and Zoro felt tears burn behind his eye, but he swallowed them down.

"Doesn't it match great with your Marimo hair!" Sanji teased as he drew back.

Zoro rolled his eye and held up his necklace, showing it to Sanji. Sanji's already teary eyes filled again and he gasped.

"Oh my God, Zoro it's beautiful," the Cook stuttered out.

Zoro grinned, leaned in and clipped the necklace around Sanji's neck. The jewel rested on his chest, just above his breasts and just below his collarbone. Zoro stared at it for a moment, then up at Sanji's eyes. They really where the same color. That beautiful ocean blue that Sanji always loved.

"Thanks," Sanji murmured suddenly.

"What for?" Zoro asked softly, gazing at him with a fond smile.

"You know, for saving me and all that stuff you did for me back at the Marine Base."

Zoro rolled his eye. "You don't need to thank me for that, you idiot."

Sanji smiled. The blonde stood and helped Zoro to his feet. The Swordsman instantly got tackled by three idiots who were bawling their eyes out because they thought 'that it was so cute and beautiful!'. Zoro growled, threating to cut them in half if they didn't get off. It didn't work. He could hear Sanji's hearty laugh and looked over to see the blonde smiling at him. Zoro smiled back, he wanted to see that expression on Sanji's face a lot more.

Sanji then got jumped by Nami and Robin, both of them crushing him in a hug that had Zoro laughing at the Cook. Sanji blushed, but kept it civil and hugged both ladies back. It was alright now, he could do it. Zoro watched him with that fond smile on his face, and if anyone ever mentioned it, he would deny it. But they always knew anyway. They always knew just by looking at him just how much he really loved Sanji.

Apparently it showed.

o-o-o

Sanji could hardly believe it. Zoro had asked to marry him. And he'd said yes. The Cook smiled to himself as he fiddled with the necklace, the Sapphire sparkling in the evening sun. He looked sideways at Zoro, who was snoring away with his hands behind his head as he lay in the grass. Sanji couldn't quite help the fond smile that made its way up his face. He weaved his fingers through Zoro's hair, the silky feeling easing him a bit.

He really did love the idiot, didn't he?

Of course he did, why else would he marry him. But, Sanji thought, isn't it weird? We're both men. Then he shook his head, of course it was alright, they were Pirates for Pete's sake. It wasn't like they cared what others would think of them.

Sanji idly wondered if the crew was planning a wedding. They had both been kicked out of the galley. Sanji wasn't allowed to make dinner and his hands twitched at just the barest thought of it. He wanted to do it so bad, but he guessed he could today. Nami had threatened tha she would raise his debt if he set foot into the galley before they were done. And she'd done the same to Zoro.

"What are you thinking?" Zoro mumbled from his spot, cracking his eye open to look at Sanji.

Sanji looked down on him, eyes locking on the necklace resting on Zoro's chest. It really did fit him. It didn't match his eye though, that steel grey. It also didn't match his hair, not exactly anyway. For Sanji, it matched his spirit, his dream and his love for his crew. And of course his love for Sanji.

"Nothing, just wondering if Luffy is gonna marry us," he responded a pregnant pause.

Zoro's brow shot up and he pushed himself upright. "What?" he questioned.

Sanji grinned, of course Zoro wouldn't know this, he had lived on land for the better part of his life of course. Sanji however, had been living on a ship since he'd been seven, and he knew all there was to know about living on a ship.

"Captains can marry their crewmates. Like a priest or whoever does that on land. It's just the way it goes on a ship," Sanji told the Swordsman.

Zoro's frown only deepened at that. Then he spoke up with a grin on his face. "Luffy's too stupid to know how to do that," he chuckled.

Sanji rolled his eyes and looked down on the necklace Zoro wore. He reached out to touch it and slid his fingers over it, down until he met skin instead. Zoro didn't move, so Sanji sat a little closer and traced his hand over Zoro's abs slowly. The Swordsman shivered a little, but made no move to pull away. Sanji leaned down and pressed a kiss to the skin there. Zoro's abs contracted and the man mumbled a curse. He fisted Sanji's hair and hauled him in for a kiss. Sanji grinned in victory.

Zoro broke the kiss and glared at the blonde. "Do you love me or my abs? Sometimes I don't get you," he said.

Sanji broke out laughing. Of course he loved Zoro's abs, they were a part of him after all. Zoro rolled his eye and hauled the blonde back for another kiss, this time a little gentler than the first. Sanji placed a hand next to Zoro's head as he pushed him back down on the deck. He was about to take it a little further when the galley door banged open and Sanji broke the kiss to look up.

"Get over here, lover boys," Nami said, smirking and crossing her arms.

Sanji smiled and got off of Zoro, letting the Swordsman stand. Zoro shot him a look that their activities would be continued, no matter what Sanji's complains would be. Sanji shot back a smile that said he was totally okay with that. Then the both of them made their way up the stairs to the galley. It was illuminated with a lot of lights and when Sanji stepped in he could see they had gathered the Christmas lights and hung them along the walls. It was actually really pretty to look at.

Sanji's eyes then fell on the table and he couldn't contain the gasp that escaped him. On the table stood a two layer big wedding cake, decorated with flowers and blue and green gems. It was really pretty to look at and Sanji wondered in the back of his mind why it wasn't gone already with Luffy in the room.

He spotted Luffy biting his nails and glancing at the cake, but he looked resigned not to eat it until either of them did. He also noted that everyone had changed clothes to match the occasion, not all that special but a little more of the nicer clothes they possessed. Sanji couldn't help the smile on his face.

"Who-" he stammered, he couldn't even voice it.

"Me and Robin made the cake with one of your recipes. They're really accurate, thanks Sanji," Nami said.

Sanji felt something wet on his cheeks and wiped at his eyes. "It's beautiful, thanks," he muttered.

"Can we eat it now?" Luffy mumbled softly.

Nami bonked him on the head and it made them all smile to see that the Captain only growled and demanded a slice because 'I am the Captain and I want the cake!'.

Sanji motioned for Zoro to get over and the Swordsman laced his fingers with Sanji's. They were about to cut the cake when Nami yelped at them to wait a moment.

"You have to be married first!" she berated.

Zoro rolled his eye. "But we are!" he said as he held up the necklace.

Nami face-palmed. "No! You have to be married by Luffy! Get over here," she said as she dragged the Captain over and away from the cake. "Remember what we practiced earlier?" Nami asked him. When Luffy nodded she smiled, "Good, now get on with it!"

Luffy was pushed forward and both Zoro and Sanji were placed next to each other, facing each other. The crew went to stand behind them, and Luffy on the other side like a real priest. Luffy cleared his throat and a piece of paper appeared behind him in one of Robin's magical hands. Sanji looked at her and smiled.

"Alright, here we go. Zoro, say your vows, and Sanji after," Luffy said.

"Vows?" Zoro questioned.

"How should I know, I'm just reading what this paper says," Luffy muttered.

Sanji snickered. "Just tell me how you met me and what you thought off me, something like that."

Zoro's face cleared and suddenly there was a malicious grin on his face. "Alright," he said. "When I first met you, I thought you were a complete idiot. Stupidly in love and showing off that gorgeous body of yours in those tight suits." Sanji let out a 'hey!' and smacked Zoro's arm playfully. Zoro only grinned at him. "But the longer we sailed together the more I was drawn to your stupidity and the more I started to actually like you. First I thought of you as my partner in crime, then as my friend, and now as my lover and later this evening as my husband." Sanji blushed as Zoro said that, but he wasn't done yet. "Sanji, I love you, and I always will. I promise. And you know I never break my promises," Zoro said.

Sanji's face inflamed and he heard the crew aww at their display. Luffy turned to him and motioned for Sanji to take his turn.

Sanji cleared his throat. "When I first met you I thought you were going to die, 'cause of Mihawk. But when you stood up to him and declared that it was for your dream I felt something. I didn't know what it was at the moment, but now I do. We fought a lot, yes, but I also considered you my partner in crime. You were a Moss headed idiot. Still are actually." Zoro glared at him, but it only lasted a second. "I began to think of you as my brother, and as a friends. But when you rescued me and saved me from that Marine Captain, I knew what it was that I felt. I had fallen hard though, and it was a risk." Zoro frowned at him, but that also lasted only a second before he understood that Sanji had been afraid he didn't love the Cook. "Now I know that was foolish and I thank you once again for saving me. I love you Zoro. I swear on both my hands that will never change, and no lady, no matter how beautiful they are, shall steal me away from you, ever."

Sanji looked up, having bowed his head somewhere during the talking to see that Zoro's face was red and tears were gathered in his eyes. The blonde smiled at him and Zoro quickly wiped them away.

"You swore on your hands?" Zoro asked quietly.

Sanji nodded, and it served him another round of aww from the crew behind them. Luffy cut it off though with a rumble of his stomach. Sanji chuckled and motioned for him to get on with the ceremony. Luffy joined their hands together and stood back a little, turning his body to Zoro.

"Alright, repeat after me," he said. Zoro only nodded and Luffy began. "I, Roronoa Zoro, take thee, Vinsmoke Sanji."

Zoro repeated, "I, Roronoa Zoro, take thee, Vinsmoke Sanji,"

"To be my wedded husband, to have and to hold."

"To be my wedded husband, to have and to hold," Zoro's smile was wide.

"From this day forward, for better, for worse."

"From this day forward, for better, for worse," his eye locked onto Sanji's.

"For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health."

"For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health," Sanji smiled back.

"To love and to cherish, till death do us part."

"To love and to cherish, till death do us part," Sanji can't contain the blush.

"According to Roger's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my strength and my love."

"According to Roger's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my strength and my love," Zoro repeated with a grin.

"Alright, now Sanji," Luffy said with a grin. When Sanji nodded he repeated the same question. "I, Vinsmoke Sanji, take thee, Roronoa Zoro."

Sanji repeated, "I, Vinsmoke Sanji, take thee, Roronoa Zoro,"

"To be my wedded husband, to have and to hold."

"To be my wedded husband, to have and to hold," Sanji smirked as Zoro's ears went red.

"From this day forward, for better, for worse."

"From this day forward, for better, for worse," Sanji's eyes fell on the necklace.

"For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health."

"For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health," it was so beautiful.

"To love and to cherish, till death do us part."

"To love and to cherish, till death do us part," Sanji felt Zoro's hand squeeze his.

"According to Roger's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my strength and my love."

"According to Roger's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my strength and my love," Sanji repeated with his trademark grin reserved only for the ladies.

Luffy's grin was so wide it sparkled in the Christmas lights. "You may now kiss the groom," he said to Zoro with a twinkle in his eyes.

Zoro rolled his eye and pulled Sanji closer. Sanji could feel the crew's eyes on his back, but he only had eyes for Zoro right now. Zoro leaned in a bit, and when he was about to kiss Sanji, slanting his lips over the Cooks, the ship lurched to the side and they were thrown off balance. With wide eyes, they stared at each other.

"What happened?" Franky yelped, scrambling to his feet.

"ATTACK THE ENEMY! CAPTURE THE PIRATE HUNTER AND BLACK LEG AT ALL COSTS!" a voice outside screamed.

The crew shot up and looked at their two, yet to be married, crew mates. Sanji's face was paper white and Zoro's glare was set for murder.

This meant war.