Hello! It's me again! I think that my rambling is becoming boring. So here instead is...

Random Thoughts from the Author

...I'm glad Apple Jacks don't taste like apples...apples suck!

Pain Ch.5

'Shit.', the troubled cook cursed silently as he sat alone in the cold kitchen that usually brought him such joy. "God how could I be so stupid!" , he murmered as he wore a scowl

that was somehow saddened and angry at the same time. Sanji just sat there for a long moment; struggling with his conflicting thoughts. 'Maybe she just needs some space.' , he

thought, 'Or maybe she could use some company.' He stood up, but then sat back down again. 'Fine. I'll leave it up to fate.', he decided as he pulled a coin out of his pocket.

'Heads; I go after her. Tails; I wait for her to come out on her own.' With that he flipped the coin up so high that it almost hit the ceiling, then watched intently as it fell back to

earth.

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Nami felt nothing but extreme relief as she rebandaged her arm. Just as she finished; she heard a light rap on the door. 'Sanji.', she thought as she quickly pulled down her

sleeve. (Just incase he noticed that the crimson stain had grown a bit.) Feeling slight, unexplained pangs of guilt; she climbed the small flight of stairs to her door. As soon as she

turned the knob, she could hear a muffled apology from the blonde love-cook.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

"Nami-san, I'm so so sorry.", Sanji began as she swung open the door to the women's quarters. "Please forgive me. It's just-", but Nami put a finger to his lips to silence him.

"Sanji, it's okay. I understand.",she said knowingly. 'No way. I thought she was furious at me.', Sanji thought as he began to relax. While he was trying to decide if Nami was

really mad at him or not; she had come to a decision of her own. "It's cold,", she said, "either come in here or stay out there." 'If I know Sanji-kun; he'll do just what I want him

to.', she thought as she wore a slight grin. "Hai, Nami-san.", he said slightly wide-eyed as he brushed off the snowflakes that had accumulated on his jacket, and stepped inside to

the warmness of the cozy room that carried the delightful scent of his Nami-san. As Sanji kicked off his shoes, Nami descended the stairs and sat down on her plush bed. He soon

followed, trailing like an excitied puppy, and, after a moment's hesitation, he happily plopped down next to the fiery headed navigator. This was soon followed by a long, awkward

silence.

"Y'know,", Nami started trying to break the silence, "If you mouth 'Olive juice', it looks like your saying 'I love you.' Funny huh?" "Mmm.", he said with a warm smile. Another

long silence. 'God. I'm, such a dork.', Nami thought. "Sanji-kun?", she said; breaking the silence yet again. "Hai, Nami-san.", he replied. ",...Why do you...care about me so

much?", she asked; her gaze cast towards the wood panelling of the floor. "Nami-san,...", he said as he wrapped one arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder,

"Isn't it obvious? It's because...I love you." With that Nami sighed and let several strands of hair fall in front of her eyes, yet she wore a smile on her lips. "I...I wish I

could...express myself like you can Sanji.", she said softly, "I wish I was better at dealing with my emotions...my anger...my joy...my pain."

Suddenly, Sanji pulled her closer to him; resting one hand on the small of her back and one hand in between her shoulder blades. Nami wrapped her arms around his neck and

buried her face into his well-toned chest. "It's gonna be okay.", he murmered. "How do you know?", she asked "Because,", he said, "I'll protect you. No matter what." With that

Nami looked Sanji straight in the eyes, then suddenly she captured his lips with her own in a kiss. It started out innocently enough; then Sanji, regaining his cool composure,

deepened the kiss. He gently massaged her tounge with his own, and Nami kissed him back. She explored every inch of his wonderfully nicotine flavored mouth. They softly

nibbled on each others lips, and Sanji rubbed her back soothingly. 'He's such a pro.' , Nami thought; a slight blush rising to her face. Sanji then gradually broke the kiss and began

to nibble her ear. At this Nami began to giggle softly.

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'I must be dreaming.' , Sanji thought as he struggled to keep from laughing his head off like a maniac in his currently blissful state. 'This is way too heavenly to be reality.'

Wearing a devilish grin, he passionatly kissed Nami's neck, and felt an overwhelming sense of masculine pride at the adorable, happy sounds that his tangerine goddess of beauty

(his words.) was making.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

"Sanji! Nami! We're back early! Where-are-you!", Luffy called in a sing-song voice. "Crap!", Nami said as she and Sanji looked around frantic. "What do we do?", Sanji

asked in a hushed voice. "Quick, get in the closet!", she said as she propelled him across the room. There was a small crash as Nami shoved Sanji into the small closet and he

slammed into the wall. Luckily these small crashes were quite commonplace on the Merry Go. So no one thought much of them anymore. After frantically slamming the closet door

in poor Sanji-kun's face; Nami tried to look natural as she rushed across the room and sat at her desk; pretending to work on some of the maps that constantly cluttered her

workspace. Within seconds the rubberman had bounded down the stairs to stand next to Nami. "Hey, Nami! Have you seen Sanji?", Luffy asked with a wide grin. "Nope.

Haven't seen him.", she replied plainly. "Hmm...", he replied as he attempted a pensive look. "Why are you blushing Nami?" 'Crap. Ok...uhh...uhh...I've got nothing!' , she thought.

'Wait. I've got it.' invisible lightbulb appears over her head "Hey Luffy, theres steak in the kitchen.", she said with a sly grin, but when she looked up; he was already gone. 'Too

easy.'

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As soon as Nami opened the door to the cramped closet; a disheveled Sanji came tumbling out. His hair was quite mussed and one of her bra's was tangled on the buttons of

her jacket. She stifled laughter as she watched him struggle with it...only to have it snap back and hit him in the face. "Here, let me.", she said as she freed him of his elastic

affliction. "Thanks.", he said with a warm smile as he dusted himself off. "Gotta get out there before Luffy eats all the food...so I don't have much time." With that he began to

ascend the stairs. "Sanji-kun?", Nami uttered nervously. "Hai, Nami-san.", he said sweetly. Nami's ears turned red. She couldn't believe she was going to say this. "Olive juice.",

she said sheepishly. With those two words Sanji was about to explode out of sheer joy. He was floating away, but he managed to stay linked to reality just long enough to say

"Olive juice too, Nami-san."

To Be Continued