Chapter 40

Rain or shine

"This is a quite stunning island", Robin explained. "It gathered the four existing climates on Grand Line over a few dozen square kilometers."

After five days of cruising at a sustained speed to be sure of escaping from the Marine, the straw hat crew had spotted a small desert island with unexpected climatic peculiarities. The young woman had quickly identified it as the four weathers island and she brought the book which dealt with the subject to show it to her friends during lunch. Indeed, this land was also rich in historical vestiges and the archaeologist was as interested as Nami to the idea of being able to explore their next destination widely.

"Four weathers at the same time?" Zoro wondered, swallowing a mouthful of bread. "How's that possible?"

"No, actually, the island is divided into four distinct territories", the young woman answered. "On each corner of the land, one of the climates is present."

"It's unusual", Ussop pointed out, checking that Luffy wasn't stealing his dessert. "It's the first time I hear about such a thing!"

"Yes, this is exceptional", the navigator told them. "This is why we absolutely want to stay on this island as long as necessary. The Log-Pose will recharge quickly according to our information, but we'd like to be there long enough to get the most out of it."

"Nami-san and Robin-chan, I love to see you so happy and determined!" Sanji frolicked while bringing them a cup of tea.

"So it's settled, we'll stay a few days!" Luffy exclaimed before devouring two donuts with enthusiasm. "Robin will do her excavations and Nami will study weather!"

"From a practical point of view, I suggest we dock on the side of the summer climate", Brook said. "It should be more pleasant."

"I agree", Franky approved, finishing his glass of cola. "A nice barbecue in the sun could be welcome to relax."

"I'm all for the barbecue!" the captain immediately yelled, excited.

"I can't wait to take a break after all this stress!" Chopper added, delighted.

So, while everyone was enjoying the prospect of a few quieter days through playful discussions, the rest of the meal was quickly swallowed so that they could disembark as soon as possible.

Nami, Robin, Franky and Brook had made their way to the autumnal part of the island as soon as they had touched shore because the archaeologist believed they would find one of the sites her book was talking about. The wind had been blowing continuously since they had entered this climate and soon, drops of rain crashed on the ground.

Brook took out an umbrella and sheltered Nami who was precisely mapping the landscape around them. A few steps away, Robin turned down her hood over her head and with Franky's help, she dusted the contours of a small house buried under sand and dust.

"This shelter surely dated back to the time when the island was still inhabited", the young woman said after a few minutes of silent work.

"Why do you think no one is here anymore?" the engineer asked her.

"According to the research I conducted, the weather was equivalent on the whole island at that time. Something started to change and the most common theory is that the variability of the climate over such a small space didn't allow the inhabitants to adapt."

"Do you hope to learn more by studying these remains?" Brook asked.

"Yes, I would like to understand the origin of the population movement. By studying their housing conditions and the objects left behind, I hope to discover with what means they have tried to adapt to the environment."

"The best would be that I manage to determine if these different climates were triggered because of this island or if it's the weather which had created this so particular place", Nami added while continuing to draw.

"Indeed, that would allow me to make much more progress in the understanding of the events which took place", her friend approved.

The navigator nodded and then took out her barometer while protecting herself from the gusts of wind.

"In any case, it'll be necessary to go around the island so that I take into account all the possible data."

"I can't wait to discover the milder parts of this place!" the musician complained, trying his best to keep his umbrella in hand.

"No kidding", the cyborg mumbled, struggling to remove the wet sand from the rubble of the house. "It'd still be better if we could do all this in a nicer place..."

"Don't forget that if we make a great discovery, we can make considerable benefit from it", Nami reminded them with conviction. "That should be enough to keep you smiling."

At that moment, a sudden gust of wind made them shiver while Brook was starting to run behind his umbrella to catch it.

On the summer side of the island, the rest of the crew was having a good time. In anticipation of the promised barbecue for the evening, the blond had started to prepare tasty meats, flavored sausages and various sauces for his friends. He then had cut a mountain of potatoes to serve fries as a side dish, not to mention a salad and fruit to complete the meal more lightly.

In the middle of the afternoon however, he didn't forget to refresh his crewmates and prepared some drinks before leaving the Sunny for the beach. So he jumped off the deck and softly landed on the sand, his drinks on his tray perfectly stabilized.

He went first to the seaside and put two glasses for Ussop and Luffy settled in a small inflatable pool and who were splashing around while laughing. He then went up to the first trees bordering the land where Zoro had taken up residence to rest out of the sun.

As the blond was approaching, he noticed that the swordsman wasn't the only one enjoying a nap and that Chopper was sleeping soundly in his arms. The cook then took the time to observe them for a moment, a smile on his lips.

The little reindeer curled up against the fencer was terribly touching and the picture simply adorable. So he couldn't dare to wake up the marimo like he always did, at the risk of disturbing their doctor.

Sanji approached and brushed with his hand the green hair of his crewmate who immediately opened one eye.

"I'll leave your drink here", the blond whispered, putting it down a few steps away. "I put Chopper's on the other side, don't spill it."

Zoro nodded imperceptibly before closing his eyes again and the cook quietly walked away.

Nami, Robin, Brook and Franky came back shortly before dinner time and headed for the Sunny to dry themselves and put on dry clothes after long hours spent in the cold, damp wind. Chopper, Ussop and Luffy took part in the construction of a barbecue and in the wood collecting while the cook was enlisting the fencer to carry the huge dishes up to the table that the blond had set at the edge of the beach. At the end of the fourth round trip, there was only the cooler containing the drinks and Sanji gave it to the swordsman before following him to find their friends.

As they were walking in silence, Sanji suddenly grabbed the free hand of the fencer to slide it into his own. At this unexpected contact, Zoro jumped and his first reflex was to try to free himself but the cook tightened his grip.

"Relax, marimo", he said, dragging on his cigarette butt conspicuously. "It's only my hand."

"Why are you doing this?" the swordsman growled, trying to slip away again, cheeks red.

"What do you mean?" the blond scowled. "You held Chopper against you all afternoon, I have the right to hold your hand, don't you think?"

"But that's not the same, you perverted cook!" Zoro muttered, finally managing to free himself.

At these words, Sanji stopped, halfway between the Sunny and their picnic table, to watch him bitterly.

"Yeah. It sure is easier to sleep with your friend in your arms than to offer a tender gesture to the one who shares your life."

The fencer stared at him, both astonished and shocked, and the blond had a moment of surprise when he realized his own words. He then shook his head, embarrassed.

"Don't mind me, marimo", he mumbled. "I wasn't thinking, that's all..."

The cook quickly left him to help Ussop arranging the wood for the barbecue and the fencer followed him with his eyes before resuming his own walk, undecided about what had just happened. He had the impression that the cook was serious at the time but since he had almost apologized afterwards... His attitude was strange but Zoro decided not to dwell on it any longer and he finally met the rest of the crew.

After a hearty meal and when Luffy's belly was nothing more than a huge balloon, the straw hat pirates scattered a little on the beach. Sanji, Brook, Chopper and Ussop decided to start a poker game and since they had no money to bet, it was decided the losers should take a sip of alcohol each time, except for Chopper who had to swallow a piece of candy. Zoro refused to join the party and preferred to return against a tree at the edge of the forest to drink his own bottle without having to share it. For their part, Robin and Franky settled down to examine the pictures of their first sites taken by the archaeologist in order to annotate their own observations.

A little further, the navigator couldn't help starting to map this part of the island and she had been scribbling for several minutes. After a moment, she got up and took a few steps, nose up. She searched the stars carefully, then nodded and clarified her map with a precise pencil stroke.

"Can I see your map, Nami?" Luffy suddenly asked behind her shoulder.

The young woman jumped slightly before turning around.

"If you want to, but it's not finished yet", she warned him.

"That's okay!" the captain claimed cheerfully.

Nami nodded, then grabbed his hand and brought him back to the fire. They sat around and she showed her main map, visibly playful.

"I made a first draft from the cartographic data of Robin's book. Then, I studied the north side which fit with the autumn climate and we had time to do a small part of the east side, the one with a spring climate. I have the impression that geography is directly related to the climate, but I can't determine which one led to the other..."

She bit her pencil and tapped a dot on the map to show it to him.

"I'll surely learn more by examining the other two sides. Robin said this island was once inhabited and it'd be necessary to understand whether the climate change has chased away the locals from their land or if it's something else."

"And what's that?" Luffy asked her, pointing a cross on the drawing.

"Oh, this is the site Robin found. She thinks there are others and she wants me to write them down to study if their geographic location has any particular significance."

"That's cool!" Luffy exclaimed.

Nami agreed, a dreamy look on her face.

"Even if I can't precisely determine the origin between climate and geography, these data are extremely interesting. Grand Line is full of unusual particularities and I really can't wait to get to know all of them..."

She then fell silent to gaze at the straw hat boy who was observing her with his big curious black eyes.

"I know, I talk a lot", she admitted with a small apologetic smile. "I didn't mean to bother you with all these explanations but I'm so excited by all these new meteorological characteristics..."

Luffy firmly shook his head to stop her, a big smile on his lips.

"That's not it; I just wanted you to tell me what makes you so happy!"

The navigator blushed under his genuine look and the captain continued with enthusiasm.

"I even washed my hands before asking you!"

At these words, Nami smiled, amused.

"You looked at the list, didn't you?" she asked.

"Yes! I wanted to be sure not to stain the map this time!" Luffy proudly agreed.

"You did well", the young woman whispered, leaning towards him.

She then glanced around before coming even closer.

"You know, I'm feeling really good tonight and we're out of sight..."

Luffy opened his eyes wide, thinking he understood the navigator's suggestion.

"Oh! You think I can-"

"Yes. Don't ask the question."

Nami closed her eyes and placed her lips on those of her captain. The latter soon pulled her against him and kiss her back. Taking advantage of this moment of sweetness and concentration from the straw hat boy, the navigator quickly deepened their exchange, leading him into a ballet of fiery kisses.

"Get a room", Franky suddenly laughed as he was walking past them a short time later.

Puzzled, Luffy turned away from the navigator's lips to question him.

"For what?" he inquired with curiosity.

Nami ran a hand around his neck to redirect his attention to her.

"Don't mind him, he's jealous."

"Jeal-?"

The captain didn't have time to ask for more because the young woman had pressed her mouth against his again and he forgot the cyborg in an instant. This one shrugged and continued walking towards the fencer who was still sitting against his tree. He gave him a new beer and the first mate thanked him. The engineer then left in the opposite direction to return to Robin.

Late into the night, Ussop, Sanji, Chopper and Brook had really slowed down the pace of their game. The little reindeer had a sore stomach by swallowing candies and the others were clearly feeling the effects of alcohol multiply in their bodies as the minutes go by.

"Ussop?" Sanji asked, trying to keep a clear head.

This one cast a confused and anxious look at his game before shaking his head.

"Fold, I'm out... In both ways."

"First, cheers", the blond reminded him, passing him his forfeit.

The gunner sighed then grabbed the bottle with a resigned hand and drank a long shot. He then closed his eyes to keep the earth from moving while he was feeling his stomach protest.

"Brook, you got something?" the cook asked.

"A pair", the skeleton showed him.

Sanji shook his head.

"Sorry."

He showed his three aces and the musician winced before grabbing the bottle.

"Chopper?" the blond finally asked.

"I... I think I have something."

"Lemme see."

The little reindeer put down all his cards and Sanji sighed.

"You have a flush", he grumbled. "You win the round."

"Great..."

Although delighted with his victory, the doctor blinked before falling asleep in the sand, a smile on his lips. Sanji then took the bottle from Brook's hands who collapsed on the floor. The blond hesitated for a few seconds, wondering if their friend hadn't fallen into an alcoholic coma but finally, the skeleton began to snore heavily and he calmed down. At that moment, Ussop rushed to the Sunny and the cook assumed the enormous quantities of food now largely soaked in alcohol had finally decided not to stay in his stomach. As he shrugged, Sanji took another sip because of his own defeat. With reddened cheeks and heavy eyelids, he looked for the rest of the crew.

Near the fire, Nami and Luffy had fallen asleep against each other and a little further, Robin and Franky were continuing to quietly discuss around the sketches of the young woman. Finally, the cook noticed the fencer still busy drinking at the edge of the forest and staring at the ocean. Straightening up on his shaky legs, Sanji then decided to join him.

As he was drinking a small sip of beer with relish, Zoro saw the blond tumble in front of him. Obviously tipsy judging by his hazy look and disheveled outfit, he was going to ask him what he wanted when he settled down between his legs. Sanji then tried to move to wedge his back against the swordsman's chest but in doing so, he shoved him and the latter spilled half of his drink.

"Fuck, watch out", the fencer muttered, pushing him away.

The cook ended up sitting in the sand alongside the swordsman and he sighed heavily. Finally, the blond decided to stare at Zoro who looked at him questioningly.

"I'll make you a list, marimo", he seriously said.

"A list? A list of what?" Zoro wondered.

"Of what I like and what I need. That way you'll know what to do and I'll always be happy."

The fencer's eyes widened.

"Are you fucking serious, cook?"

"It works for Luffy and Nami so why not for us?" Sanji took offence, showing him the two lovers sleeping peacefully in each other's arms.

"I don't give a d-"

"Number one. I wanna trade places."

Giggling, he slipped between his legs again and Zoro moved his bottle with a precise gesture so as not to lose the other half of its content. After securing it, he rolled his eyes at the stupid smile of the blond who had pressed his head against his left shoulder while pressing his back against his chest.

"Number two. I want a welcoming seat."

The cook took the swordsman's left hand and wrapped it around his waist. He then sighed with ease and curled up a little more in his arms.

"Number tr-"

"Number three, I want you to shut up", his crewmate wearily sighed.

"But it's my list!" Sanji protested, glaring at him.

"And I'm telling you, you have to be quiet if you wanna keep your seat."

The blond frowned but remained silent for a few moments because he didn't want to lose the heat of the fencer. Zoro smirked and took another sip of beer. He was about to close his eyes to relax when Sanji spoke again, much to his despair.

"Number three. I want you to compliment my food when you like it."

The swordsman groaned but the cook wasn't getting these too discreet signs which escaped his confused perception.

"Number four. I wanna kiss you in front of everyone."

Zoro put his bottle back in the sand and shook his head before sighing.

"Number five. I want you to let me make love to you and I want you to enjoy it."

This time, the fencer jumped before grabbing his arm.

"Enough with your list now. I got it", he growled.

"Number six. I w-"

The swordsman put his hand on his mouth to stop him and Sanji tried to stir but he was too confused to be able to fight effectively. After a few seconds of limply struggling, he stopped moving and closed his eyes before drifting off to sleep against the warm body of his crewmate. The fencer slowly loosened his hand and the cook's head slipped into the crook of his shoulder.

Zoro let his fingers absentmindedly brush the skin of his neck for a few moments before his gaze got lost on the sea. The sounds of their small party had reduced around him and he sighed imperceptibly. He knew Sanji well enough now to know that his requests weren't trivial and that he had tackled this list thing because alcohol had disinhibited him enough. The blond would never have dared to knowingly ask him such things, but the fact remained that the fencer was convinced these wishes were the reflection of his most ardent desires. However, they had had an important conversation and the swordsman had made real efforts to show him he was getting involved too. He didn't understand why Sanji wanted more.

Zoro grabbed his bottle and savored the last drops. How was their relationship supposed to work under these conditions? He had thought he had taken an important step but he was realizing tonight this advance was only superficial. In reality, the blond was hiding his desires and his wishes and he wasn't really happy with the situation, even if he tried to convince himself of it. What Zoro didn't understand was what the cook really wanted through this relationship. It seemed to him that Sanji was looking for something absolute and total and because of that, he was always demanding more from their bond when he himself was just beginning to comprehend and appreciate it.

The fencer finally put down his now empty bottle by his side before taking a look at his partner peacefully asleep against him. He had gotten involved in this relationship because it was like a challenge in his eyes but today, he was beginning to wonder about it. These strange sensations that connected him to the cook were confusing. They were entailing him to such a degree that each emotion could be multiplied and their understanding turned upside down. He didn't want to be the victim of his feelings or Sanji of his own.

And yet, tonight, he was feeling that their relationship was developing in uncharted territory. A territory where the blond was craving recognition and where he himself was no longer really the master of what they were creating. A slippery territory.

I wanted in this chapter convey something complex, namely the unconditional need that one can feel to "possess" the other beyond a classic jealousy. Of course, it has a meaning and I'll explain why I think Sanji can feel it.

That's why in the next chapter, this situation will be more explicit and more... explosive!