Author's Notes: THANK YOU for everyone who are reading and reviewing this story! I'm just hoping that you guys like it! (I'm basically flying by the seat of my pants on this one because I don't have time to really sit down and work that much on it...so, I am literally at the whim of the characters and on this ride with everyone else. So, we'll see where it goes...okay?)

Oni Giri Slash: Thank you!!! I know, but I had to give him a reason for leaving that profession and becoming a detective. And, unfortunately, that was the reason.

Donkey and Skunk: Thank you!!! I agree with you! I really do believe that a reader brings a lot to a story, on their own. This way they can interpret a story the way that they want to, which makes the experience even more enjoyable! And yes, there's one coming up in this chapter!

Eileen-san: Thank you!!! Here it is! Here it is!

Smallstream: Thank you!!! I'll try to update as soon as I can...when I can.

Okay, now onto the next chapter...

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After dinner, the green-haired man cleared off the dishes and washed them.

"Oi! You forgot to dry them!" Growled the aggravated blonde.

"Why?" Asked Zoro as he looked at the filled dish rack. "What's the sense of having THAT if you can't just let it air dry?"

As the blonde stood up and made his way to the kitchen entrance, Zoro relented and grabbed a dish towel.

"Geez! You're such a pain-in-the-ass!"

"No," replied the blonde, "I just like my kitchen to be well kept."

"OUR kitchen."

"You don't pay rent."

"I have to live with YOU...that's payment enough." Then, after a moment of silence, Zoro added, "by the way, the witch called today."

"Nami called? You didn't tell me that she called! Give me your phone. I have to call her. And don't call her a

witch. She's a wonderful woman. In no way is she a witch..."

"Stop babbling, you idiot." Muttered Zoro as he reluctantly handed over his phone.

After slowly jabbing at the buttons for a few minutes, the frustrated blonde finally thrust the phone back at Zoro. Shaking his head, the green-haired man put the towel and a plate down as he took the phone back and started to scroll through his 'received calls' list.

"You really do suck at anything mechanical, don't you?" Teased Zoro as he hit the 'send' button.

Grabbing the phone from Zoro's hands, Sanji glared at him until he heard someone on the other end of the phone connection.

"Hello?" It was a male voice.

Frowning, the blonde asked, "may I speak to Nami, please?"

After a slight pause, the voice asked, "Sanji, is that you?"

"Yes, it is." Answered Sanji, the enthusiasm now missing from his tone. "Hi, Luffy."

"Hold on! Don't hang up! I'll get her!"

After a minute another voice came over the phone.

"Sanji?"

"And how is my Swan doing?" Sanji's voice was once again cheerful and bright, forcing Zoro to make 'gagging' signs by pretending to force his fingers down his throat. Glaring at the other man, the blonde tried to ignore Zoro's attempts at 'sign language.'

"I'm okay. I'm just surprised that Zoro actually told you that I called."

"Yes. A little late, but he finally told me."

"I think I may have a case for you guys...Remember Usopp?"

"Zeff's PR guy?...Yeah, I remember him."

"Well, about a week ago he disappeared...and this morning I received a phone call..."

"What do they want?"

"A hundred thousand."

"For a Public Relations guy?" Sanji started laughing.

"It's not funny...You know darn well that these kinds of thing are bad for business."

"'These kind of--?'...WHAT 'kind of things?'"

"Gambling..."

"...Couldn't fly out to Vegas like everyone else, huh?..."

A very long silent pause, then Nami spoke up. "I'm really worried about him."

Another long pause before Sanji continued. "You still love him, don't you?"

"It was NEVER like that...Besides, it was YOU who broke up with ME, remember?...Look, Zeff told me to call you, so I'm calling...I'll leave all the information I have with Luffy. If you want to take the case, fine. If not, let me know and I'll make other arrangements. Good bye."

Finishing placing the dishes back in the cupboards, the green-haired man retrieved his phone from the blonde. "The Witch shot you down again, didn't she?"

Glaring, Sanji snapped, "Stop calling her that! It was MY fault that we broke up, NOT hers."

"Bullshit. The minute she found out about your hands..."

"You don't know shit!" Yelled Sanji, "I broke up with her because she deserves someone better!"

"Someone better?!" Zoro's voice was now raised to evenly match Sanji's shouting. "She's nothing but a conniving witch that's trying to sleep her way to the top!"

"Take that back!" Screamed Sanji as he aimed a kick for Zoro's head.

Blocking the kick, the green-haired man grabbed the blonde's leg and pulled, throwing Sanji off balance and giving Zoro a chance to get behind the smaller man and restrain him in a bear-hug.

"She dumped me for you! And after you, she hooked up with the next idiot she could find! Let's face it, you just beat her to the punch, that's all!" Growled Zoro at the struggling man.

"She dumped you because you RAN AROUND behind her back!"

"I DIDN'T RUN AROUND!...It was only ONCE...and that cheerleader slipped a micky in my drink!"

Bringing his head straight back, Sanji hit Zoro in the face with the back of his head, forcing the green-haired man to let go of him.

Turning to face Zoro, who was now sporting a bloody nose, Sanji emphasized his next statement by poking his finger in the green-haired man's chest. "For the final time, let me set the record straight! I broke up with her because I didn't want to be a burden! She did not break up with me! Furthermore, she DIDN'T want to break up with me! She kept telling me that we could work past my...handicap! I BROKE UP WITH HER! GOT IT?!"

Face red and breathing heavily, Sanji didn't give Zoro a chance to answer as he spun around and stormed off into his bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him.

"Good night, Asshole!" Shouted Zoro behind him.

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Collapsing on his bed, the blonde felt the stabbing pain flare up in his arms and fingers from his fight earlier that night.

Digging into his pocket, Sanji brought out the container of pills.

"I don't want to be a burden to her...or anyone else for that matter..."

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Author's Notes: Thank you for all those reading and/or reviewing this story!!! All reviews are greatly appreciated, and so are all the hits! Mahalo and Aloha!