"I don't see any damn boats," Franky spoke slowly, his eyes darting toward Sabo.
"Wait a minute," Sabo replied with an impish smile. He pulled the cord around his neck, lifting a whistle from inside his shirt. He blew into the whistle twice, then three times more.
"Can you train boats to come when you whistle?" Franky asked, unimpressed. There was a brief silence before a reply came. Two sharp whistles followed by three more. "Fucking guerillas," Franky spat.
Chopper scanned the trees, "Where?"
"Not that kind of gorilla," Franky murmured, smacking his palm gently against Chopper's head.
"Luffy awake yet?" Usopp asked as Zoro walked up.
Zoro nodded, slinging a black D Foundation backpack over his shoulder, "Yeah. They're coming."
"He'll be hungry," Robin realized, looking from empty hand to empty hand. "Anything good in that pack, Zoro?"
"Powdered food, eight water bottles, flares, batteries, a flashlight and," Zoro pushed the backpack open, "matches."
"We're gonna starve," Usopp panicked. "I won't eat any of you if you promise not to eat me either…"
"We'll eat you first," Nami teased, pinching Usopp's side.
Everyone was silent as several long, narrow motorboats rounded the bend. Two of the black, sleek canal boats were empty. The others were filled with intimidating, stony-faced terrorists. Sabo nodded, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, "We'll have you all set. At least for a while."
"Why?" Zoro questioned, his jaw set firm.
Sabo didn't look at Zoro. He simply watched the incoming boats. Finally he replied, "I suppose you could thank his sentimentality."
"Oh, fuck that," Franky snarled. "I wouldn't thank him if he spoon fed me the last meal on Earth…"
"He doesn't expect anything in return?" Robin asked, doubtful.
Sabo turned and looked at her. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, "He expects Luffy and Law to disappear. Forever. If they ended up in the wrong hands…"
"You mean like yours?" Zoro challenged.
Sabo's smile widened, it was almost chilling, "Exactly."
"They promised they would assist in your escape," Ace explained. "But they don't want to know where you go."
"Damage is fucking done, I'd say," Franky stated.
"And what about Teach?" Zoro questioned.
"Actually," Marco replied, "That's where we come in. We agreed to help with that."
"You mean you volunteered all of us or you mean we're separating?" Nami pressed.
"We wouldn't ask you to-"
"Teach is our business," Luffy said, walking up, side by side with Law.
"Luffy," Nami murmured.
"Hey, man, you okay?" Usopp whispered in concern.
"What did you agree to do, Ace?" Luffy asked, his eyes locking on the other's.
"Teach is currently being held in an island facility in the Pacific," Sabo briefed. "By the United States government." Sabo looked down, quick, almost imperceptible, "And we have plans to bring the entire island down."
"Whether he's on it or not?" Franky questioned.
"Yes."
"How long do Ace and Marco have? To save Teach?" Luffy asked.
"Can we take a vote? I'd like to leave him there," Law murmured, chewing on his nails.
"This isn't your problem," Ace interjected. "We're the ones who agreed to the terms."
"So, what about Law and I? Where you willing to-"
"Of course they were," Law interrupted with a scowl. "Don't be naïve, Luffy."
"We don't have a lot of time," Sabo said simply. "Take the river to the ocean."
"The ocean?!" Nami sputtered. "Why the hell would we do that?"
"Because you don't want to be anywhere near here when the bombs go off."
"God you're awful," Franky growled, his hand curling into a fist.
"We're going to get Teach," Luffy decided, leaving no room for argument.
"I still think we should sleep on it," Law groaned.
"We can provide support-" Sabo began to offer.
Luffy smirked, "Ya know, I'd really rather you stayed the fuck away from me. It's not personal to you, Sabo. It's just, with everything…" Luffy busied himself as the Revolutionary Army boats hit the bank. He looked anywhere but at the men, "And, yeah, just stay away from me when this is over." Luffy met Dragon's eyes. Luffy stared hard, Dragon looking away first. "It doesn't matter what else you do in your life, Dragon. You're a damn coward."
"Wait," Brook spoke up. "What are we going to… do… about… Mr. Sanji…?"
"Any of you assholes got a smoke?" Zoro boomed, looking from face to face. One of the soldiers nodded, fishing a pack out of his pocket. Zoro snatched the entire pack from the man's hand without another word. He gestured to one of the empty boats. "We'll use that."
"We need that," Marco pointed out.
Zoro shook his head, "Nah. We don't."
"Uh, remember what happened in Houston?!" Usopp panicked. "Sweet Jesus, that's, mm, about to happen here. We need that boat."
"We'll get in boats, but not this one," Zoro said simply. "And they'll wait," he said nodding toward the Revolutionaries.
"We wait for no one," Dragon said, watching Zoro with great interest.
"You'll wait," Zoro challenged. "You'll fucking wait."
A soldier laughed in indignation and suddenly Luffy was in front, his shoulders wide and his fists curled, "You will wait."
Sabo smiled, rubbing the back of his neck with his gloved hand, "Well, does he remind you of anyone?"
"Not particularly," Dragon murmured.
Without speaking, the group of them broke into smaller teams. Nami and Usopp collected kindling. Franky and Robin arranged them in the boat, neatly and in straight rows. Chopper and Brook went off to look for wildflowers. Law sat on the edge of the boat, not caring if he was in the way or not, his yellow eyes set intently on the Revolutionary Army.
Luffy and Zoro stood by Sanji. They didn't speak a word, but Luffy's warm hand found its way into Zoro's. Zoro stroked Luffy's smaller hand with his rough thumb. The cigarette pack in Zoro's pocket felt unnaturally heavy, almost too uncomfortable to hold. He exhaled sadly and Luffy squeezed his hand tightly. Zoro turned and smiled, his stomach twisting when big, fat tears dripped from Luffy's large eyes. Luffy returned the smile, his teeth still stained pink with his own blood.
"The weather's good," Zoro said. Immediately he wanted to dive into the river and drown himself. He couldn't believe he'd actually said something so…
Luffy gave him side-eye before laughing, "Ah Zoro, you're great."
"A great, big idiot…"
Luffy laughed again, light and merry, "Yeah. You are." Luffy used his free hand to brush his unruly hair from his eyes. He clicked his tongue and even before he spoke, Zoro knew he was deep in thought, "Hey, Zoro. What are the chances?"
Zoro felt Luffy's hand close more tightly around his and he knew exactly what he was asking. What were the chances they would come together again? Memoriae or no Memoriae, Luffy had found him. He chose him. Out of everyone Luffy passed from the motel to the bar, he chose Zoro to save.
"And finding Sanji… I mean we were just running for our lives. We had no idea where we were going…" Luffy pointed out, shaking his head.
"Instinct," Zoro offered.
Luffy shrugged, "Maybe," but he wasn't convinced. He huffed and looked down at the ground, "It was like Divine Intervention."
"Do you know what that means?" Zoro asked, arching a skeptical brow.
Luffy smiled, "Kinda. I think."
"What are you wanting to say?" Zoro questioned with an indulgent smile.
Luffy laughed, "Do you think…" he grew serious, "Do you think it was Law?"
"What was Law?" Zoro asked, eyeing Law, still perched on the edge of the boat.
"Do you think he used his connection to…?" Luffy trailed off unsurely.
Zoro shrugged, "Does he look like the kinda guy who would send you on a wild goose chase for friendship and love?"
Luffy considered it before exclaiming, "Hell no!" Luffy and Zoro both laughed. Luffy shook his head, "Ah, he's not bad, he's just got a scary face and devil beard."
"I don't think he's scary lookin'," Zoro argued, "Maybe just a little… nihilist? Am I using that word right?"
"No fucking clue," Luffy admitted.
"I keep expecting him to sit up," Luffy whispered. "How long is too long to hope?"
Zoro's eyes wandered down to Sanji. He couldn't look at his face or his hands, those pale, thin fingers. He stared at his bare feet. They were bony feet, and veiny, and Sanji would have wanted to be wearing shoes, damn it! Zoro sighed, "He's gone."
"I just can't accept it," Luffy barked. "I mean, who says? Who says he doesn't just need a transfusion or injection or something?!"
Zoro sighed again, hanging his head, "I don't know, Luf."
"We could freeze him, like I was frozen and-"
"I don't know," Zoro spoke over Luffy, "If there is anything you can do, but I do know Sanji. And Sanji wouldn't want that." Zoro shook his hand from Luffy's, placing both hands on Luffy's shoulders. He looked Luffy in the eye, "Set him free."
Luffy's face showed his pain. He swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, his brow furrowed. He kept nodding, finally finding his voice again, "Okay."
"Saying goodbye doesn't mean you love him any less," Zoro promised, knocking his forehead against Luffy's.
"I'm impressed," Law interrupted. "That was beautiful."
"Shut up! I wasn't talking to you…" Zoro growled, his face flushing scarlet. "Devil beard."
Law snickered, a genuine, unexpected noise. He covered his mouth and cleared his throat before adding, "They're ready for him."
"I'll get him," Zoro offered, expecting resistance. But Luffy didn't argue.
It was strange and unsettling the first few seconds of contact; the weight of death clung to his skin and clothes. But then it was just Sanji. Just Sanji in his arms. Zoro didn't expect the fire exploding up his throat. He blinked at tears, biting down on his lip hard enough to make it bleed.
"Here, easy, it's slick," Franky warned, steadying Zoro onehandedly as he approached the boat.
"I've got his legs," Usopp murmured, sliding Sanji carefully into position on the stack of wood.
"Would anyone like to say anything?" Brook asked, "That's how funerals go… usually."
"Bye, Sanji," Chopper whispered, placing a handful of wildflowers on his chest.
"Bye… S-S-Sanji," Nami cried, tucking her own flowers in his open hand. "I'll miss you."
"Uh, let me see, I would like to say a little prayer, if ya'll don't mind," Usopp suggested.
Zoro grunted, whether in dissent or approval, Usopp wasn't sure.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which hunger and thirst
after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall
obtain mercy."
"Know any resurrection spells?" Law asked dryly. "While you're at it."
"Sanji was a good dude," Franky spoke quickly. "He was a pretty boy but he was smart and capable. In another time and place, we could've really blown shit up and torn shit down. I'll miss you, brother."
"Goodbye, Sanji," Robin barely choked out, her face covered by her hand.
"I didn't know him long," Brook said, breaking the momentary silence. "But what I knew of him was one bad ass motherfucker."
Law began to walk away, pausing just a moment to mutter two simple words, "Bye, Keeper."
"It's your turn," Luffy sniffled, nudging Zoro.
"I don't want a turn," Zoro answered thickly.
Luffy punched Zoro in the side, "Zor-o."
Zoro stepped up and placed his hand on Sanji's head, stroking his soft, blonde hair. He fished the pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and placed them on Sanji's chest. He leaned in closely, his lips grazing against Sanji's cold ear, "I'll take care of him. I swear on my life, and on my honor as your brother." And then he stood up, his fists knocking violently against the wooden pyre. The wood cracked and splintered from the impact but Sanji didn't move. "Can't believe you died, asshole." Zoro crashed through the water and over the bank, disappearing into the woods.
Luffy didn't bother hiding his tears. He climbed into the boat and crouched beside Sanji's body. He rubbed Sanji's hand with the back of his, his murmuring unintelligible and gentle. "You really weren't like the others," Luffy breathed, recollecting an old conversation in Deadhouse. "And because of you, I've driven a car and been on a boat. I've been shopping with my friends. Sanji, Sanji, I've even gotten to go to the zoo. I've seen the outside world. And," Luffy stopped, staring hard at where Zoro had disappeared into the woods, "I've fallen in love."
"You can't pick your parents," Luffy recalled telling Sanji. "But you can pick your family." Luffy stroked Sanji's cheek gently, "Thanks for picking me." He brushed his hand through Sanji's hair, ruffling it gently like Sanji used to do to him, "I love you."
Luffy pulled a cigarette from the pack and placed it against Sanji's lips. He pushed gently until the stick rested in his mouth. Luffy struck a match and lit the end, watching it smolder and grey. He dropped the match in the bottom of the boat, letting it settle between the stacks of wood. Luffy slipped from the boat and eased it off the bank. His fingers loosened and finally he let it go with the current, "See you later, Sanji."
They stood in silence as the wood slowly alit. Piece by piece began to smoke and spark, ash littering the air. The boat burned slowly until the heat was too much. The gasoline tank beneath the motor combusted and the entire pyre burst into high, searing flames.
Luffy stood completely still, submerged waist deep in the river. He closed his eyes and let the warmth from the fiery pyre hit his skin. It would be the last time he'd be able to feel Sanji's warmth ever again. And he stood there until the boat had long disappeared and he shivered from the cold. He stood there until Zoro came to get him, pulling him back to shore with his hand around his.