Hello everybody,

here comes the new chapter. I hope you'll enjoy it.
The upcomming week will be rather busy so I will probably update the next chapter around the weekend again.

Hope you have a great time till then.

Sharry ;-)

Chapter 2

-Sanji-

"That can't be true."

Nami jumped from her chair and walked up and down the dining room, hands entangled with each other.

"Are you serious, Sanji?"

Angrily she stared at him, almost like he had tried to play a bad trick on her. Innocent he shrugged his shoulder.

"Do you really think I would joke about something like that? That's all he said and then he vanished literally with that lady."

Except for Nami, who was pacing around like a tiger caught in a cage, all remaining crewmembers sat at the grand table in the Thousand Sunny's dining room, only short of their swordsman.

Helpless Sanji had watched the Marimo making a deal with that foreign lady, watched him disappear in nothingness, leaving the cook behind to collect all the lost grocery bags and fetch the other crewmates.

After the last one – Luffy of course – had finally come back to the ship, Sanji had swiftly explained what had happened, unable to answer even half their questions. In between he had been serving coffee, not that the added caffeine was good for his nerves. By now he was smoking his fifth cigarette.

At first the others had been talking all at once, drowning each other voices, now they were all drowning in silence. Solely Luffy played with Usopp's self-made sugar-cube-slingshot while humming something quietly, totally ignorant to what Sanji was talking about.

"And Zoro seemed to know that beautiful stranger?" Brook asked, stealing one of his captain's sugar-cubes and stirring it into his coffee.

The cook nodded.

"Sanji, tell me her name again." Robin sat right next to the skeleton and observed her cup of coffee like it was a complicated puzzle, like it was a matter of life and death.

"Uhm, I think it was Joudama or something like that; the last name started with a K… Kolkata? Kokutta? Ko…?"

"Korekuta."

"Yeah, that was it!"

Surprised he regarded the archeologist, who was getting up as well.

"You know her?"

For a moment Robin bit her lip before finally nodding and running her hand through her hair.

"Certainly, Korekuta Joudama, I met her once, shortly after joining the Baroque Works."

"Really?" Chopper was still sniffling into one of Franky's oversized, dotted handkerchiefs.

Robin glanced at the young doctor.

"Sent by the world nobles she came to reclaim the world aristocrats' property from Crocodile. She was rather insisting and at some point offered a price even Crocodile couldn't refuse. At that time, it was about a golden sword."

Nami paused and watched the other woman. "World aristocrats' property? Who the hell is this woman, if she works for those?"

The archaeologist passed the navigator, placing a hand on her shoulder, and leaning against the counter.

"She is a Korekuta, a rarity hunter of the Celestial Dragons."

"Like an antiquarian?"

Robin nodded towards the cook.

"Something like that. In the world noble's name, the Korekutas travel over the whole world to collect everything on the list."

"What kind of list?" Usopp mumbled.

"Oh right, she was browsing through some little book and referred to Chopper and Brook by numbers," Sanji added.

"Numbers?" Franky leaned forward and lifted his sunglasses up. "So, what's up with that list, Robin?"

Asked woman folded her arms and sighed heavily.

"Nobody except the Korekuta family have ever seen the list itself, but whenever a world aristocrat wants something it's added to that list."

"And the rarity hunters collect this stuff afterwards?" Nami concluded, sitting down across from Sanji.

"This stuff is more often than not a living being," Robin explained seriously. "As we know the world nobles have their own worldview. If they see something they want, they consider it already as their own and it is the Korekutas' duty to reclaim their property."

"This means," the skeleton continued that thought, "if Chopper and I'm on that list, they believe we're theirs? They were here to collect us?"

"I'm nobody's," Chopper grumbled into his handkerchief. "I'm a pirate, as free as the ocean."

"Indeed," Robin agreed with a subtle smile. "And it's not that easy. The concept of the list is quite complex. The objects are sorted by their importance for the Celestial Dragons. It contains a total of 9,999 points. Not one more, not one less. Everything not on the list, can only be included after another point of the list has been taken care of. Nobody but Korekuta Muchinushi, head of the family and world noble, is enabled to modify the list."

Sanji paused. He hadn't told the other ones, that those hunters had mentioned his name concerning that list as well. On the other hand, he wasn't even on that list yet and it didn't matter if Zoro had made that deal because of two or three crewmembers, right?

Robin continued: "But being on that list alone isn't enough to be hunted by the Korekutas. The sword I was talking about was sorted as number 628 and only objects with three digits or less are actively searched for."

"So because Chopper was around 4,000 and I was around 1,000, they don't even hunt us?" Brook double-checked.

"Exactly. Only the first 999 objects of the list are important enough for the world aristocrats to be collected. Everything else is second-tier and only reclaimed if the opportunity arises."

"Does that mean - " Usopp poured himself some more coffee, while mumbling more to himself than to everybody else " - that Zoro has to be somewhere on that list, where they really want to catch him?"

Their sniper sounded unusually serious.

"I mean, they even agreed to scratch Chopper and Brook from that list, right? So that means Zoro has to be among those first 999 numbers."

"Ridiculous!" Huffing loudly Sanji shook his head. "I mean sure, that moss on his head is quite special, but rarity hunters for some broccoli? You got to be kidding me! How can this brainless muscle-head compete with a singing skeleton and a talking emergency ration?"

"Hey!" Chopper stood up angrily and Sanji raised both hands in a silent apology.

"Sorry, but seriously. In the end he's just some guy, without any special powers or devil fruit."

"As always you have a unique way in phrasing your worry about our swordsman."

He glanced at the archaeologist but didn't reply.

"Well Sanji isn't wrong, is he? What would they want from Zoro and more importantly why would he just agree to those terms?" Nami stood up again and walked over to the counter, apparently not able to sit still for a longer period of time. "Usually he's nobody who gets scared by some little threats. So, both of you are on that list, for all I care he's on it as well. Why the hell would that be reason enough for him to make such a deal? Zoro is more the type to draw his swords and provoke a fight than to simply nod and enter some contracts."

The others agreed silently, only Sanji kept staring at his cup. That was another thing he had not mentioned, the way Zoro had stared at that woman, the way he had stepped back, especially when this Joudama had only needed to mention her father to silence the otherwise fearless swordsman, all those things he had kicked in the long grass.

He didn't keep quiet about it because it wasn't important – more the opposite, that part of the story worried him the most – but he knew that this behavior was totally not fitting their idiotic swordsman and the Marimo wasn't probably too fond of the others hearing about it.

Zoro was one of the most fearless warriors Sanji had ever met - that at least he acknowledged - so all he tried to do right now, was trying to save his frenemy's face. It felt like he owed it to the other one.

The cyborg shrugged his shoulder.

"I think only Zoro himself can answer those questions. So the big deal is, what do we do know? We have no clue where Zoro-bro is, right?"

"You know he doesn't like it if you call him that," Usopp commented.

"Ain't like he can hear me," the shipwright replied.

"Let's hear what the captain says."

Everybody grew quiet as the archaeologist addressed the unusual quiet boy with the straw hat, who was still playing with the leftovers of his slingshot.

"I trust Zoro," he stated simply and smiled wide. "If he says we should visit Rayleigh, then that's what we're doing."

Just as plain and simple the captain's order was, putting it into practice was way more complicated. Thanks to the Vivre Card they knew at least which direction they had to turn to in order to find the former pirate, but they still had no clue how long it would take them and the Log Pose had already reset, so if they would change the course now it was fairly possible to get lost for good in the New World. A big risk, which especially the navigator would like to avoid.

However, no one of them was even thinking about leaving their swordsman behind and if Rayleigh was their only hint to get Zoro back, there wasn't much of a choice.

By now they had adjusted their course after the Vivre Card, ignoring the needles of the Log Pose. The evening was already dangerously close and although they were missing one of their comrades, their captain's mood didn't falter a second while he was playing cards with Usopp, Chopper, and Brook outside on the lawn. He was probably already used to rescue his friends, one after another.

Not quite as lightheaded were the other ones in the kitchen. Nami and Robin were sitting at the table, a crawling piece of paper between them under a glass bowl, and drinking coffee. Behind the counter was Sanji preparing the dinner and tried his best to work quietly, so he wouldn't disturb the intense conversation.

"I can't believe it! After more than two years we're finally back together, just so that this idiot gets lost within a couple of days." Nami slammed her fist onto the table. "What was this brainless moron thinking? Making a deal with a rarity hunter. I mean, didn't he even think about us before leaving?"

"Oh, I'm sure he didn't get lost on purpose," Robin replied softly, yet not even smiling. "I assume he wanted to avoid worse from happening and after all he told us what to do."

"Go to Rayleigh! Talk to Rayleigh! Not like that idiot could have left us some more breadcrumbs, right?" Failing in imitating the swordsman Nami brushed her hair aside, biting her cheek in annoyance.

"Was that really everything he said, Sanji?"

Surprised he looked up from peeling his potatoes.

"Yeah, that's it. He only had a few seconds to talk to me, afterwards that Korekuta could do with him whatever she wanted. I tell you, that kind of deal was crazy, more like magic."

"The Deal-Deal-Fruit."

"Excuse me?" Nami and Sanji turned for the quiet archaeologist.

She nodded towards her cup. "At that time, I watched her and Crocodile closing the deal. She ate from the Deal-Deal-Fruit and is able to make deals with everybody and everything as long as both sides offer and receive something. It's impossible to break a contract crafted with the power of the Deal-Deal-Fruit."

The other two shared an insecure look.

For another time the blond decided to keep quiet. Because for another time he hadn't told the whole truth. The swordsman had left him with that scary message for the crew.

I'm sorry.

Zoro had apologized, something totally untypical for him and Sanji had decided to keep those few words to himself.

"You know quite a bit about her," Nami commented silently.

The other woman nodded without looking at anybody.

"She contacted me first in order to reclaim the sword. Afterwards I did my research of course, although it wasn't as easy as it seems." Her smile was nothing but fake. "She's a dangerous woman."

"You're sure?" Sanji had a difficult time to agree on that. The swordsman as well hadn't seemed too impressed by her. "I mean her skills are useful, especially in her job, but she didn't look like a fighter to me and she's so young."

"Oh, don't be blinded by her looks, Sanji." Finally, Robin looked up. "If my sources aren't mistaken, she's way older than she seems."

Sanji put his knife down.

"What do you mean by way older?"

A subtle, knowing smile crossed her lips like she was reading his thoughts.

"Let's say I found a picture of her from Gol D. Rogers execution and at that time she looked roughly about twenty years old."

"But that means she has to be about forty or something at least," Sanji whispered in silent horror.

"Well, genes matter," Nami shrugged it off and got up. "What's going on outside?"

She hadn't even finished her question, when the door was flung open.

"Hey, come out, quick!" Usopp stumbled inside waving at them.

"An attack?" Sanji was already on his way outside, following the sniper who put his goggles on.

"Don't think so," the other one replied and pointed at the water. "You see that? It's coming at us."

In the fading light it was hard for Sanji to see anything beside the dark waves surrounding them.

"What is it?" Nami walked up to him, squinting her eyes. "A boat?"

"Way too small for that," Franky judged, jumping down from the lookout. "But it's hard to make anything out; it's already too dark."

A soft laughter aroused behind Sanji. He turned for Robin who winked at him. Just in that second a silent splash distracted him, followed by a cold squall and a loud clash.

"Goodness, my landing used to be better as well."

"Rayleigh!"

The dark king was standing on their lawn, soaking wet in a puddle, water dripping down.

Luffy was already rushing towards him, crashing him into a breathtaking hug.

"We were just heading towards you!" The straw hat yelled grinning widely, his arms flung around the former pirate several times.

The newcomer laughed lightly. "Yeah, I tried to make it faster, but the coating from my boat broke when I was rising up, so I had to swim the rest by myself."

"And he's saying that like it's nothing," the sniper next to Sanji mumbled. "Not like 70% of all pirates kick the bucket while trying to dive under the Red Line."

"Well, we did it, didn't we?" The cyborg grinned.

"Yeah, but we're madmen."

"It's good you're here now, Rayleigh," Nami greeted the former pirate seriously. "But when you were already on your way, it has to be because of something important."

The old man nodded, and his smile vanished. Rayleigh regarded each single one of them for a moment, his facial expression darkening more and more.

"Where is Zoro?" He asked lightly but his eyes told another story.

"That's why we were looking for you," Luffy answered smiling, "Zoro told us to talk to you."

"Did he now?" Rayleigh looked down at Luffy. "That means he's no longer with you?"

Luffy shook his head.

"Nope, he went with some girl because of a list or whatever, didn't really get all that."

"Because you weren't listening," Nami grumbled and pushed her captain aside. "Korekuta Joudama was here and closed a deal with Zoro."

Suddenly the dark king seemed so much older than before, an ancient sorrow darkening his features, like deep regret caging him while running his hand over his face.

"I'm too late," he stated sober. "Once again, I'm too late."

"What do you know, Rayleigh?" Sanji noted several crewmates looking at him. "Why did this idiotic Marimo tell us to go to you? What the hell is happening?"

Shaking his head, the old man met Sanji's eyes.

"Shortly after your departure I heard that Joudama had arrived on Mary Joa. I was pretty sure that it wasn't a coincidence and so I buckled up to warn you, but of course she was one step ahead of me."

He started to wring his cloak out.

"Maybe we should go inside? Now that the sun is down it'll get chilly rather quickly."

Nobody rejected Robin's idea.

Inside of the dining room they waited for Rayleigh, who had to change clothes following Doctor Chopper's order.

To Sanji's dislike he recognized the shirt the newcomer was wearing immediately, when Rayleigh came back inside, now wearing dry clothes and a towel around his shoulders to keep his wet hair from dripping on his borrowed clothes, borrowed from Zoro and fitting almost too good.

Uncertain they waited for the former vice captain to take a seat, Sanji offering him a cup of tea as well and sitting down across from him.

"Fine," the newcomer started, "please tell me exactly what happened."

For another time Sanji could feel eyes on him. He cleared his throat and started talking.

Once again, he told what had happened, tried to recall every tiny detail, being as unimportant as it might be, tried to give the exact words Zoro and Joudama has said. But again, he left the few things out, he didn't share with the crew.

He didn't know why Zoro had sent them to this man, but if Sanji couldn't tell the crew everything, he would for sure not tell anybody else.

The whole time Rayleigh seemed almost calm. Every now and then he would take a sip from this tea, asking very few questions, sometimes shaking his head, sometimes huffing silently. But never, not only once, not even for half a second, he didn't observe Sanji.

"And that's it?" the former pirate asked after Sanji was finished with Zoro sending them to Rayleigh.

"Well he did add something at the end." Sanji cleared his throat while his cheeks got hot. "He said..." He bit his lip.

"Stop stuttering," Usopp threw in but slapping a hand in front of his mouth when Sanji glared at him.

"So the Marimo said – and that's just his opinion – I should tell you, that you have to regard your age."

"What?!" Nami, Usopp, Brook, and Franky yelled in unison.

His cheeks burned, but Sanji continued talking, while the dark king simply watched him expressionless.

"He said you're getting on a bit and have to consider that."

Suddenly the old man got up and Sanji shrunk to half his size on his chair.

"What a brazen joker," Rayleigh growled and folded his arms, hiding the slogan on his shirt. "Asking for my help and insulting me at the same time, through a messenger on top of it, unbelievable."

Grumbling under his breath the old man brought his cup to the sink and came back, now the small text 'bite me' on his chest showing again.

"He's asking for your help?" Usopp asked and raised an eyebrow.

"Mhm," the other one agreed, "his words mean as much as 'Hey, you're ancient now, but it'd be really nice if you'd still bail me out' tze."

Rayleigh shook his head before nodding towards Sanji.

"Thank you for telling me everything." Then he turned for the door. "And thank you all for your hospitality. I should be back with Zoro by tomorrow evening and would like to borrow those clothes until then."

"Hu?"

"Wait a sec."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm coming with you!" Luffy jumped up as well.

Smiling politely the old man regarded the crew.

"I don't want to cause any inconvenience, beside my age -" He emphasized those words dangerously "- I'm completely capable of rescuing your swordsman."

"I'm still coming along," Luffy decided with a wide grin, "after all I'm the captain."

"I'm coming, too!" Chopper stood on his chair and lifted his hooves up high. "Zoro helped me so often, now it's my turn."

Robin laughed softly. "It's the responsibility of the crew, after all."

Sanji sighed. "Fine, if Robin-Darling wants to go, I can't back down, can I?"

"This will be totally SUUU..."

"Your enthusiasm doesn't even surprise me, still I would prefer to deal with this on my own."

All of them stared at the man at the door, silent distrust raising between them.

"Why?" Nami demanded.

"You think we're weak?" Usopp hissed between asking and daring.

"Is there something else you would like to tell us?" It was Brook who stood up to faze Rayleigh, an unreadable smile on his skull. "An unusual request; the crew standing at the sideline, leaving the task of saving their crewmate to an outsider. Especially you should know the weight of your words. Still you insist on this. I think you owe us at least an explanation."

All present people grew dead silent and watched the two oldest men in the room.

Smirking slightly the dark king bowed his head.

"Certainly, how thoughtless of me. Excuse my behavior. Of course, I understand that all of you want to save Zoro; you're comrades, you're friends."

Rayleigh walked over to the table and placed both hands on it, thinking for a moment.

"The thing is that I know a part of Zoro's past, which I'm not in the position to share with you."

"The part when Zoro met the Korekutas the first time?" The navigator guessed.

"Correct," Rayleigh confirmed. "Joudama is no danger for Zoro. But that doesn't count for her father, Korekuta Muchinushi."

"What a name," Usopp giggled, quieting down when everybody looked at him.

The former pirate cleared his throat.

"Nevertheless, this is the reason why I have to hurry up, so I reach Mystoria and free Zoro before Muchinushi arrives."

"Mystoria?" Nami repeated, deeply caught in thoughts.

"But that doesn't explain why you don't want us to come along," Sanji stated coolly.

It wasn't like he was best friends with the Marimo, but Brook was damn right; Zoro was a crewmember and it was their job to save that idiot, and if they had to beat him up for him to understand that he couldn't just bail on his crew, then that was part of their job as well.

A dark grin enlightened Rayleigh's face.

"Sharp minded, aren't you?"

Sanji didn't reply anything while the grin faded, and the former pirate became serious once again.

"I want to avoid that somebody of you does something you might regret later."

The crewmembers exchanged uncertain looks.

"Why should we regret helping Zoro?" Usopp asked wary.

The old man shrugged his shoulder.

"I can't answer your question for now, but trust me that it's easier for all of us, if I go alone to..."

"I don't care!"

Luffy stood up and folded his arms.

"I don't care if I wake up tomorrow regretting it. Zoro is part of this crew, he's my friend and that's why I'm getting him back. No matter what you or some stupid deal says." For a second nobody said anything. "I mean, after all I'm the captain."

The former pirate bowed his head in defeat.

"Aye."

His eyes lit up dangerously when he straightened up again.

"I warned you, but yes, it's your decision." Although it wasn't a threat Sanji felt his heart racing. "Very well, if you want to jump in, let's come up with a plan. How do we rescue Roronoa Zoro?"