Author's Notes: Due to popular demand...this story shall continue! THANK YOU VERY MUCH to all those who read and reviewed the first part of this story!!! THANK YOU!!!

Lil bishi hunter: Sorry, can't promise anything. However, I do hope you enjoy where this story goes. (Sanji: (looking worried) "Oi! What do you mean, 'can't promise anything?'", Zoro: "Heh-heh-heh...", KS: "Keep it up green-boy, and I'll make you cry!")

Blizzardrake: Thank you! I'll definitely keep on going:-)

Devlinn Reiko-sama: Thank you! Yes, I love the original story of the "Little Mermaid." (Sorry to Hans Christian Anderson for some of the liberties that I had to take with his story. I did try to stick to the original, though...)

Marcha-chwan: I just couldn't help thinking about Sanji as a merman. He loves the sea, swims so well and can hold his breath really long. He is one of a kind. (Sanji: (smiling), Zoro: "Oi! What am I? Chopped tako?", KS: (rubbing hands together) "Don't give me ideas...")

CloudKistune17: Thank you! And, I can say that I've wanted to write a real ZoSan yaoi fic for a long time, and this is officially my first. LOL!!! (Sanji and Zoro: (looking upset) "OI!!!")

Sheri-chan: I'll definitely continue! (Sanji and Zoro: (hitting their heads on the table), KS: Hahahahahaha!!!)

Lady Geuna: Thank you, and good question! Unfortunately, I really don't know the answer to that one. In the case of this story, it gets around it because...--answer is edited due to it containing spoilers--. However, VERY KEEN OBSERVATION!!! (Sanji and Zoro: (looking at each other, extremely worried), KS: Hahahahahaha!!!)

The Wandering Swordsman: Thank you! And, your wish is my command...

Now our story continues...

XXXXX

Story 1: Part 2: The Little Mer-Sanji

For the next several days the swordsman noticed the cook watching him a bit more frequently than usual.

While the two men seemed to always be at one another's throats, there was a time when Zoro's heart had held a larger spot for the cook. That is until the cook had chose to ignore the swordsman's feelings one too many times.

During their first few days on the Going Merry, the swordsman had the strangest feeling that the blonde wanted to tell him something. And, truth be known, he had grown to admire the cook, especially after their battles on the Baratie and with Arlong's men.

And added to that, the swordsman had a sense of familiarity whenever he had stared at the blonde's face. There was something about those moments, when the cook's blue-eye watched him as the swordsman trained with his weights, or practiced with his katana on the ship's deck, or engaged in a battle with a difficult foe.

However, when a woman with a pretty face entered the room, both the swordsman and his feelings were completely shoved to the side as that stupid cook's eyes would fill with hearts, and he would drop everything to do the woman's bidding.

Cracking open a sleepy eye, the swordsman looked up to see the blonde standing over him.

"What do you want, Kosu-Kokku?"

"I fixed you a snack," grumbled the cook as he handed over a plate with the swordsman's favorite food on it.

"Why?" Asked Zoro, casting suspicious green-eyes on the blonde.

Trying to choose his words carefully, the cook answered the question. "I thought you'd like it."

Poking, then sniffing, at the plate of food, the swordsman muttered, "What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing's wrong with it."

"If nothings wrong, then you must want me to do something. What?"

"Nothings wrong with it, and I don't want you to do anything."

"I don't believe you, Ero-Kokku..."

"Fine!" Shouted the cook as he snatched the plate away and threw it overboard before storming off into the ship's kitchen.

Face red with anger, the swordsman closed his eyes and tried to drift back to sleep.

"Kuso-Kokku..."

XXXXX

Slamming the kitchen door behind himself, the cook leaned his back against the wooden door and slid down to the floor.

"Damn Shitty Swordsman!" Cursed the cook as he buried his face in his arms.

All he had hoped for was a kind word from the swordsman. Just a word. Even if the green-haired man couldn't love him back, it wouldn't have mattered. At least he could die knowing that the man that he loved didn't hate him...but now...

"Not even human...," muttered the cook to himself.

It was common knowledge amongst the mer-people that unlike humans, they had no soul. While humans who died were thought to be able to find each other in the next world, mer-people became foam on the sea's waves. Which made each passing of every mer-person a greater loss because it was final and permanent.

As the blonde man grit his teeth trying to stop the tears falling down his face, one sentence ran through his mind.

"One more day. Only one more day...then nothing..."

XXXXX

"That Kuso-Kokku is up to something..." Thought the swordsman to himself, following the blonde through the town's busy streets.

Earlier that morning the Going Merry had pulled into port for supplies, and unlike his usual self, the cook actually volunteered to stay behind on the ship as Usopp, Luffy and Sanji's beloved Nami headed in to town. The swordsman had declined Nami's offer to lower his debt to her if he helped her, instead the green-haired man told her that he had more pressing things to take care of.

As the cook entered the telegraph office, the swordsman followed close on his heels.

"What's this about?" Questioned the green-haired man.

"None of your business, Shitty Swordsman." Answered the cook, with a tone a bit harsher than he intended.

"If it's about the ship or our crew, it is my business." Growled Zoro.

"It's not," snapped the blonde, quickly turning away.

The swordsman was already angry at the cook because of the incident the day before, and now the thought that the man would dare to lie to his face sent him over the edge. Yanking the piece of paper out of the blonde's hands, the swordsman quickly read the note as the cook tried to wrestle it back from him.

"Kuso-Kokku!" The swordsman's raised voice caused everyone's attention to turn towards the arguing duo. "You're planning on leaving us?!"

"It's a precaution...if something happens to me." The cook answered half-heartedly, "I want Zeff to send his best cook..."

"It says that he should send someone immediately."

The blonde didn't answer, turning away to hide his face.

"Fine," seethed the swordsman as he jammed the piece of paper back into the cook's hands. "Remember, you can only leave your Captain if he says yes, or if you die. Make sure you choose one of the two."

The blonde didn't move as he heard the swordsman storm out of the office, leaving the cook behind.

"I wish I could," thought the blonde to himself, as he crumpled the piece of paper within his fist, "but I don't have any choices anymore..."

XXXXX

His shoes felt as if they were filled with lead, as the cook took step after step down the docks in the direction of the Going Merry.

Soon it would be dusk and once more their little ship would be on it's way, but the next time it reached land, it would be short one of it's crew. A member who wouldn't even be able to leave a body behind for the others to mourn, only sea foam and memories that would blow away and be forgotten.

Taking the unsent message out of his pocket, the blonde threw it into the water.

"Sanji!" A voice came from somewhere off the side of the docks. A voice that the cook had not heard for many years.

"Lian?" Called the blonde, blue-eye searching the waters below until they caught a glimpse of a black-haired face floating just above the waterline.

"I know we aren't supposed to come near places of humans," the face raised a black curly eyebrow as he watched the blonde man, "but I've always worried about you. After all, you are my favorite cousin."

"Thanks," answered the cook.

"Well," queried the dark-haired merman, "have you found him? Does he love you?"

Not answering, the cook tried to smile, but could only produce a sad grimace on his face.

"Sanji," the merman spoke, his voice slow and sad, "you turn twenty tonight..." After a long moment of silence, Lian spoke up once more. "I've been to see the witch. There is a way to save you...but it takes a huge sacrifice..." Holding a dagger out of the water, the dark-haired merman continued to speak. "Kill him with this, and you will be free. You can return home to us."

The dagger flew up from the water below and stuck in one of the dock's planks at the cook's feet.

"It's the only way," Lian called out before he turned to swim away. "I'll be waiting..."

Watching his dark-haired cousin as he left, Sanji bent down to retrieve the ancient jewel crusted weapon. Holding the heavy blade in his hands, the blonde could only hear Lian's voice repeating in his brain.

"Kill him with this, and you will be free..."

XXXXX

Author's Notes: I'm just tweaking the ending now...I'll try to post it as soon as possible! Aloha!