"Oh, wow!" Luffy said loudly as he looked up from the town square and towards the center of the island itself. In the day light they could see an extremely high incline of a mountain that seemed to climb into the clouds and curled at the top as though the whole mountain itself decided it was too tired to hold itself upright, so it slouched and curled. "What a weird mountain!"

Sanji blew out a stream of smoke and smiled because Luffy had finally explored the whole town, got bored, and started looking for more interesting things. And of course his eyes landed on a huge mountain that could have rivaled Drum Island's. Trees only extended partway up the mountain's base from where they could see, then became rocky cliffs before ascending into white snow. It was quite picturesque.

"I'm gonna climb it!" Luffy announced with a wide grin.

"Is that really necessary?" Usopp asked carrying shopping supplies with Sanji to restock the kitchen. Sanji had learned to restock on non-perishables as soon as they got to town, for just in case they had to make a quick get away. If they actually had a peaceful time on the island this time he planed to pack the kitchen with as much food as Nami would allow for their budget. "Can't we just relax here?"

"Sanji, I need a boxed lunch!" Luffy said and Usopp sighed with having his words ignored. Luffy was going to do what he said, and that was that.

"Sure, I'll make you one when we get back to the ship," Sanji agreed. If it would keep the captain entertained for a while, he'd do it. Speaking of the ship, he hadn't seen Zoro since the marimo turned tail to go back to it with Robin's assistance; the excuse being that if she was going to stay on land there was a book she wanted with her, but Sanji knew it was so Zoro didn't get lost the whole 3 minute walk back to the ship.

Zoro having allergies to an innocent purple plant had to be the most amusing thing he'd ever seen. Fierce Demon of the East Blue had pollen allergies. He smirked, remembering how riled up Zoro got when he teased him. He still got a kick out of it and he didn't think that would ever change. Though Sanji did understand it was a shame that they'd been out at sea so long and Zoro couldn't even enjoy his shore time. Sanji decided he'd go back and make sure Zoro got his incubus meal at least. Along with Luffy's lunch box, he'd have to make Zoro actual food as well if he wasn't staying on land. The rest of them were enjoying the local cuisine and Sanji learned that the chastity bell was used as a spice in all the dishes. It had a slightly bitter taste and reminded him of fennel seed in flavor. If Zoro was allergic to the pollen he doubted Zoro could eat it, so it was probably a good thing he'd gone back to the Going Merry.

'Feeding' Zoro every other day had gotten easier as time passed. He'd dare say it was enjoyable. He still felt the awkward fact that he was kissing the asshole that he fought with most of the time, but there came a comfort with the practice. Familiarizing himself with Zoro's kiss was one way to vent the stirring emotions he felt. Touching and being touched, even for a few minutes, was a bliss that was always followed by a slight emptiness when they parted. It wasn't like Sanji expected it to be enough, but it seemed like he was pathetic enough to affect him. It was sweet, bitter, and sad all at once. At least he was getting something but it wasn't enough to satisfy him. If it was anyone else –if it was any woman- it would be easier, he thought. But this was Zoro.

Love –not that THIS was love- was not supposed to be so hard. This had to be some sort of short time infatuation. That was it, Sanji decided confidently. They'd been on the ship for far too long and he hadn't seen other people in over a month. He hadn't seen other women to enjoy and he certainly had to have some sort of ship-cabin fever from the whole cambion business. After all, Zoro was the only one giving him physical attention. And did it really matter if it was man or woman if it was just kissing?

Never mind the persistent butterflies or racing heart beat. It didn't mean anything because…

Sanji sighed as he saw the Going Merry docked where they left it. He still couldn't find a reason it didn't matter because it DID; even if he didn't want it to. He was still sticking with the infatuation excuse though; it was a much better word to the alternative. At least then he could hope it would peter out and he could give his full attention back to Nami and Robin.

Usopp and Luffy dropped off his supplies so he could put it away and Sanji started making a boxed lunch for Luffy's latest adventure. Usopp was determined to take a leaf out of Nami's book and relax on the island and not climb a mountain. Chopper was also on the ship and was pouring through his books. Their doctor looked like he hadn't gotten any sleep but furiously scribbled notes in a book. The tell tale snoring from the bunker told him Zoro was sleeping in the middle of the day and Sanji rolled his eyes. It was odd that Zoro wasn't lounging on deck, but then again, with his allergies, the swordsman probably wasn't feeling all that well.

Sanji scoffed with a smile as he set to work making something for when the demon woke up. The least he could do was make Zoro some chicken soup and add some spice to help with the gross sounding congestion that he had.

By the time Sanji finished Luffy's boxed lunch, Chopper had succumbed to the fact that what he needed was not in any of this books. He went ashore, mentioning he wanted to talk to Robin anyway. Luffy enthusiastically thanked Sanji for the large portioned lunch and ran off with Usopp following as he was headed back to town. That left Sanji and Zoro on the ship. Sanji let the soup cook and season as he placed everything on it's proper shelves and secured it before he climbed down into the bunker to wake Zoro.

Even Sanji had to grimace slightly with how utterly miserable Zoro looked. He looked paler and even more sluggish than usual after a nap. His nose was red from constantly being rubbed or sneezing. Seeing Zoro sick was not actually a highlight of his night so he withheld any mean jabs he could have said and instead served Zoro a generous portion from the pot at the galley table.

"At least you're spared the dishes tonight since we're all eating on the island," Sanji commented dryly as Zoro drank down the broth.

"At least there's that," Zoro muttered.

"I'll mercifully come over to feed you though." Sanji lit up a cigarette and leaned against the counter. "Looks like this might actually be a boring island."

Zoro made a non-committed noise and Sanji guessed the allergies smothered Zoro's normal annoyed mood into a solemn muted one. How annoying. Zoro finished his bowel and even washed it without having to be told.

"I'll leave the pot here, you can serve yourself when you need," Sanji said as Zoro was finishing up. "Should last you tonight and most of tomorrow. I'll drop by tomorrow to make something else."

"Thanks," Zoro said and Sanji blinked because Zoro headed to the door instead of approaching him.

"Hey," Sanji said loudly, catching Zoro's attention. "Aren't you, you know, 'hungry'?" It was the second day since Zoro had last taken energy and he'd thought Zoro would get the gist that he wasn't coming back that night.

"Yeah, I am," Zoro said and grimaced some, as though hating to admit what he was about to. "But you have no lust to take." Sanji stared at Zoro, confused.

"What are you talking about?" Sanji asked. "I thought you said I had lots to take."

Zoro sighed and folded his arms as he looked to Sanji. "You don't. Can't you tell?"

Sanji frowned. Everything seemed normal to him. They'd gotten to the island, spent the night, went shopping. Nami had been talking about getting new clothes and the guys had gone shopping for the kitchen… Sanji paused in mid thought. Nami-had-gone-shopping... and he'd completely forgotten to offer to go with her!

"Gah! I didn't even think about asking to watch her try things on!" Sanji said suddenly, hands tugging his hair in anguish. Nami never said yes without a large fee, but he often hoped she would so he could openly watch her and praise how beautiful she looked in ever thing she came out in. Because Nami was amazing in every way like that. "What was I thinking?!" Zoro rolled his eyes.

"Oh look, you were actually thinking with your head instead of your dick," Zoro said and Sanji glared at him. "See, no lust." Sanji frowned. Zoro had not drained him the last time. He'd been fine the night before.

"What happened? Did you do something?" Sanji asked suspiciously, vaguely wondering if Zoro had dipped back into his dreams.

"No, I didn't. Since we came to this island, everyone lost their lust," Zoro said. "Chopper thinks it's because of the chastity bell since there's so much of it." Zoro sniffled with the mention of the plant. "I checked the town last night. No one has any lust there either." Sanji stared at him, a little lost because it had so quickly become a routine that Zoro ate, did the dishes, and they parted with a kiss. It was simple and it left him with that melancholy feeling, but he looked forward to them anyway.

"The log post doesn't set for two weeks," Sanji said.

"I know," Zoro sounded calm at least.

"But um, but you've gone those two weeks before when I was pissed off at you."

"It's not like last time. I had the rest of the crew and at least they had something. But now no one has anything." Zoro looked severely uncomfortable. "I think these allergies are taking a toll on me too."

Sanji stared at Zoro for the longest time, his heart racing because this was not adding up well. "So no one on the island has any energy you can feed on?"

"Doesn't look like it so far."

"Well… how are you supposed to feed?"

"I don't know."

"How long can you even last without it?"

"I don't know."

"Aren't you going to turn into a demon if you don't get fed?"

"Yeah."

Sanji slammed his fist down on the counter, temper exploding. "Can you at least act like there's a serious situation?! You're supposed to turn into a demon and you don't have anything to say about that?!"

Zoro frowned. At least his tone was serious this time, "What? Would it be better if I started freaking out?"

"It would make ME feel better, yes!" Sanji snapped. "Fucking explain yourself, god damn it!"

"I don't know what will happen, stupid cook." Zoro's own temper seemed to be rising as he was being yelled at, but he didn't raise his voice like he did with their stupid fights. "I've never completely lost control before. Maybe a few days of not feeding makes me start to lose my head but I always found someone before I completely lost it. There have always been people to get energy from. But now there's plenty of people, but no lust. Even you…" He shook his hand in Sanji's direction, as though Sanji was really a source to depend on. Zoro stopped himself and ran his hand though his mossy hair and he calmed himself from possibly freaking out like Sanji nearly was. And really, now that Sanji thought about it, if Zoro started freaking out then they really would be fucked.

"Look," Zoro said, his voice forced calm. "If I do turn into something that tries to hurt anyone, you and Luffy have permission to kick my ass. Stop me if you have to. Chopper is doing research to see if he can find out anything out about cambion. Maybe something that will help stop me from turning into a demon."

"Damn it, a lot of help you are," Sanji said lowly and snuffed out his cigarette in the ash tray. "You're a cambion but you don't know anything about your own kind." Zoro shrugged and it only annoyed Sanji further.

"I thought I was the only one like me," Zoro said. "Never met another one. Never had a father to meet." That hung in the air longer than Zoro seemed to want it too and he waved it off. "It'll work out in one way or another. Freaking out doesn't help anyone." He left the galley without another word and Sanji had nothing else to say, listening to the door shut after Zoro. Sanji started another cigarette and wrapped his arms around himself.

Sanji remembered what it was like to lose a last bit of bread off the side of a cliff. A whole island to sit on but not a crumb to eat. An existence solely measured in how many days his body could live on without subsidence. The mind focused fully on the emptiness inside the body and every moment was left questioning if he was going to make it to the next day. He always equated Zoro's incubus hunger with a second stomach to fill and it just happened to be fed with warm kisses. But now it didn't look like kisses were going to do anyone any good.

Sanji smoked through 3 more cigarettes before he left the galley. He climbed down into the bunker where he found Zoro once more, rocking in his hammock. Zoro was awake this time though and glanced at Sanji, his arms tucked behind his neck as a pillow. Sanji pulled himself into his own hammock, facing Zoro and sitting so his legs hung out of the netting.

"I'm staying on the ship with you," Sanji said firmly.

"Idiot," Zoro quipped. "Go enjoy the shore time. You can't do anything."

"Maybe if I don't go walking around the island or eat the prepared food, my lust will come back so you don't have to starve," Sanji reasoned. Zoro blinked, looking surprised. Sanji looked away from him, face feeling warm but it was always darker in the bunker so he doubted that Zoro could notice. "Can't have you turning into a demon and hurting anyone, can I?"

Zoro was quiet a moment. "I don't know if it'll help. I still smell the plants here on the ship."

"You say that as though it's going to change my mind. I'm staying and you're going to deal with it. I'll make Usopp do some proper shopping since he's not doing anything important." Sanji folded his arms. "It's not a very interesting island anyway. The beautiful women all wear long clothing and I can make better food here on the ship." He watched Zoro's hammock rock back and forth. "They don't even had a brothel here. No dancing girls. Not even any damsels in distress. Nami and Robin will be safe while I'm away…" He noticed Zoro had a smile on his face, but not the usual smirk he got when they were sneering at one another. This one was softer, more genuine. "What are you smiling about, marimo?"

"Nothing," Zoro said and looked at the ceiling. "Didn't know you cared, cook."

Sanji's face warmed more and he felt his heart thud against his ribs. "S-shut up. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for the rest of the crew. Can't have you turning into a demon. You'd put our precious ladies at risk." He quickly pulled out a cigarette to light up to distract himself. "Fuck you."

Zoro sat up and looked at Sanji, swinging his legs over the side like Sanji had in his. "Well right now I don't think you'd be up for that, even if you did want to." Sanji nearly inhaled his cigarette when he realized what Zoro was insinuating. Instead he clamped his mouth shut on the end of it and forced himself to slowly breathe in the smoke. This man was going to be the death of him. His face felt fever hot but he strangely didn't feel the embarrassing rush of arousal that accompanied such talk. He really was out of lust, as Zoro proclaimed. "It's worth a shot," Zoro said after a long moment. "If it does work, you should be back to normal in three days."

"Yeah," Sanji agreed. "Think you can hold out that long, shitty swordsman?"

"Of course I can, shitty cook." Zoro returned and Sanji did notice that neither of them had the usual malice.