Okay... So maybe I was wrong. Updates might be fewer these days. But... to say sorry here's a double update :) I hope you guys continue to read and enjoy.
Luliyah x
Zoro was the first to walk through the door and greet Luffy with a "Happy birthday". Sanji stood at the door and watched how carefree the swordsman acted despite the fact that he was dying.
"Oi Sanji!" Luffy called grinning.
The cook smiled back at him. He knew exactly what Luffy was asking. He rolled up his sleeves and made his way over to the kitchen.
"Fine, but only because it's your birthday."
Everyone cheered as Sanji put on his apron and began to cook.
"That was really nice, what you did for Luffy," Zoro said coming up behind Sanji and slipping his arms round his waist.
Sanji put down the dish he'd been washing and lent back into the man.
"Why'd you decide to do it?"
Sanji sighed.
"I see how you act despite the fact that you're dying. You don't let that define you. So I've chosen not to let who I used to cook for decide who I cook for in the present."
Zoro kissed the cook shoulder as he picked up the plate again.
Zoro was dying. He'd been much too painfully aware of that for the past year. What's more he'd had to keep it a secret from the rest of the group. None of his nakama wanted to lose Zoro but Chopper could not bare the fact that Sanji would be the one experiencing the most pain when Zoro's final days came.
"Would you like some help with that?" Zoro asked as Sanji picked up another dirty plate.
"Sure," Sanji mumbled bowing his head.
Zoro moved so he was next to the cook and then got to work with the remaining dishes.
"*Sniffle*"
Zoro turned in time to see a tear roll down Sanji cheek and fall off his nose into the dish water.
"Sanji..." Zoro began putting down the bowl he'd been washing.
"Daijobudesu," Sanji said raising his hand to wipe away the tear.
Zoro lifted his hand to Sanji's left cheek. The contact caused Sanji to tense. Zoro's hand flicked away the fringe to revel the left side of Sanji's face. Zoro froze. The cook lifted his hand slapping the other's away and flattened down his fringe before continuing with his dish.
"Sanji, what happened?" Zoro asked.
"Betsuni," Sanji snapped scrubbing the dish harder as his anger grew.
"Sanji..." Zoro began.
"Betsuni!" he yelled slamming the dish into the sink.
The dish broke, the pieces of ceramic falling to the floor.
"I said betsuni," Sanji said before stalking off to the girls' dorm.
Sanji stood in front of the mirror and pulled his fringe away from his face exposing his left cheek. In the corner of the mirror he could see that the swordsman was watching him from the door.
"What do you want, baka?" Sanji asked as he continued to look in the mirror.
Zoro walked over to him and caressed the cook's left cheek with his hand, his fingertips brushing against the scarred tissue. Sanji recoiled from his touch.
"What happened?"