Disclaimer: I don't own, so you don't sue. (Seriously, One Piece belongs to the wonderful Eiichiro Oda; not me. But I can dream.)
A/N: Thanks to my beta, EdwardCullenLover, I have good spelling and perspective. Also, thanks to the reviewers that help me push this forward. Positivity and constructive criticism in reviews makes the story go faster. Please R&R!
Key: Oo----oO backwards time skip/flashback
---- normal time skip, POV change, etc.
thoughts—side one of mental argument
Absense Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Chapter 2
Dear Vivi,
Thank you so much for your previous letter. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write you back, but you know…
Well, you don't, so I'll fill you in. A few weeks ago, actually, a letter came for me inviting me to the opening of a new spa and resort, free of charge. And you know me, always willing to relax and get away from the crew whenever I can. So, the following day, I took two weeks worth of absence and sailed off on another ship, the Heart's Desire from the island we had been docked on at the time.
Well, I was halfway to the island when I realized something: The island was Bahi Mahoy; yes, Bahi Mahoy, the exact same oneSanji lives on right now.
Believe me, I was all for turning 'round and going back to Luffy all the way on Drum Island (Chopper's in for a check-up with Dr. K) but, sadly, I was out voted by the crew. I'd tried everything—flirting, charming, bribing, blackmailing (which is incredibly hard with no debts around you), begging…no can-do.
So, consequently, I am, right now, on the island of Bahi Mahoy, the sameisland Sanji's on, mind you, and after unpacking I decide to take a drink out to the overlook and see the All-Blue
It was very peaceful…no screaming Luffys or Usopps…no Chopper having panic attacks…no Franky and Usopp fighting (again!)…I'm about to head back when I decide that I want to see the sun set. I should have known that that was a biiiiig mistake.
Vivi, I'm sure you've predicted a lot in the last 4 years, with three-going-on-four-kids now. I'm sure you're saying, "Holy crap, she ran into Sanji!" Well, that's not all. I happened to run into Sanji and his three year girlfriend
Yes, I'm sure you've passed out now. If you have, than 'Hello' to Kohza, who's probobly flipping out and wondering what you passed out about (Thereby reading this). Hello, Kohza, how's Alabasta? I hope your next child comes soon and with much gusto (Like how Vivi went into labor with Sondra in the middle of a ceremony? I still laugh.).
Sorry, I'm getting off track. But yes: his three freakin' year girlfriend! I almost killed her then and there on the spot—she's so precious and beautiful…like a doll. And Sanji was all clueless that I was here… (Well, gee, maybe if you had at least left us a mailingaddress…!)
Hope to see you soon, Vivi. If not, then write soon. I'm staying at the Universal Stalling, room 312.
Love, Nami
P.S. I'M SEEING THE BUGGER AT NOON!
--N
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In the Kingdom of Alabasta, cries of shock, panic, and rage rang through the castle.
Vivi had fainted, Kohza was freaking out, and immediately after she had awoken she cursed Sanji in a language only a severely hormonal pregnant woman knows.
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Nami sipped her tea in the dainty lavender china cup outside of a corner café, questioning her morals as she waited to meet up with Sanji and Mariasol.
You really shouldn't have, Nami. It's just asking for pain.
But when have I ever backed down from a challenge?
What does a challenge have to do with anything?
You saw the look she gave me! It can only mean a declaration of war!
Aren't you overreacting?
So what if I am?
Nami took a hard bite of her pastry. A little rough- the poor thing had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. She looked it over with disdain and shrugged. Story of my life, she thought as she took another bone-crushing bite.
"Oi! Nami-saaaan!"
Nami's head turned and she faced the opposite street where Sanji was coming down, the thing on his arm.
Doesn't she ever need to take a bathroom break?, she thought as they sat across from her at the small table.
The two ordered (Sanji his black coffee, the 'Girlfriend' a chai green tea.) and set to business: a complete and total awkward silence. She could see Sanji fiddling with his spoon, Mariasol fiddling with his suit cuff. She was sure she was twisting her hair from nervousness as well
"Well…" she began. "Where's your resturant, Sanji? I'd like to see where you—and Mariasol—work. How about it?"
She gave him her special I'm-cute-and-I-know-it-but-I'll-pretend-I-don't-smile. Damn that smile, he thought. It's so…so…kawaii! It took all of his strength and skill not to jump her, going "Mellorine, Mellorine!".
He looked away, trying not to fall under the smile's spell. "Sure. C'mon, Mari-chan." He laid the money for their drinks and Nami's pastry (she had begun to protest, but he had given the 'You're a lady,' excuse and she could only reflect on the damn ingenious logic he used.)
They started down the street, Sanji and Mariasol in front, and Nami examined the surrounding area in wonder. This was where Sanji lived and worked? It was so fancy! The signs were in ebony, marble, with script of gold… the dresses in the windows were extravagent and she felt that even an hour of bargaining with the owner would she barley be able to afford a pair of socks. She saw the detail in work, and when she caught the delicious aromas coming from the many buildings, she could tell they had gone to the center of the market square.
I wouldn't mind living like this, she mused, turning left at the corner. To think that I…her face flushed a deep crimson at that and she looked at the sky, afraid that Sanji had become telepathic and begun to sense where her thoughts had been headed. She tried to become engaged in a mental scolding.
What was that?! 'To think that I' what? That I might've married him? That I might've become Mariasol, hanging on Sanji's arm at that point? Damn it! He has a girlfriend! Nami, I command you to focus on things that don't have to do with the fact that, yes, you might've been in Mariasol's position right now. Okay? Okay.
Sanji and Mariasol stopped suddenly and Nami hit them. She murmured some "Gomen, Gomen" before looking at the building Sanji had stopped at. It took her breath away.
The Mikan Nakama reminded her slightly of the castle in Alabasta: large, beautiful, and it natrually drew people in. The pilars that rested on top of the three stairs were massive and tall. The outside was a mix of black, red, and white stone. Black base, white walls, red swirls on the white. The sign was written hung on the balcony, above the stairs. It had beautiful gold lettering in a fancy script. The Mikan Nakama looked absolutely gorgeous and she could almost smell the
food coming in from the outside. She caught a whiff of a familiar dish.
"Sanji-kun…do you sell, by chance, tangerine sauce redfin fish?"
Mariasol's look did not go unnoticed.
--------------------
Mariasol's face darkened slightly at the mention of her favorite dish. How did she know about that? Had Sanji cooked it for her when they had sailed together?
No. She gripped Sanji's arm tighter, as if keeping him from going to Nami.
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Sanji smiled at Nami. She remembered? He had cooked that dish only twice; once the night after the Water 7 episode, and again on her birthday. (It had been the last one he had shared with the crew). But still…he had thought that most of his actions for her went unnoticed. She had remembered a recipie he had cooked only twice?
She did notice the things I did for her, he thought with realization. He was about to comment on it when something on his arm tightened and he looked down. Mariasol stood next to him, staring hard at the door. I shouldn't, he thought as he gave a rather weak "Yes, Nami-san."
I shouldn't bring that up. It would be ungentlemanly of me to start a conversation that would exclude Mari-chan.
Not to mention, she's getting jealous just by being in the same room as Nami.
He shook his head. Mari-chan? Jealous? That's stupid. He opened the door open, letting in Mariasol and then Nami. They murmured "Arigatou" and he couldn't help but smile at the amazed expression on Nami's face.
He drooped his head close to her ear. "Nice, isn't it?"
She jerked visibly. "Sanji-kun!" She sounded shocked. "What…I mean…Of course…That is…" Her cheeks were now a deep crimson and he grinned unabashedly at her discomfort.
"'That is' what, Nami-san?"
-------------------
Nami caught a glance at a foolish Sanji, her thoughts running along the lines of Hell, that scared me.
"It's…" She caught a glance of a very pissed Mariasol standing next to the hostess booth. "It's really nice, Sanji-kun. I can see all of the effort you've put into it."
She was telling the absolute truth: the resturant had a tall, domed ceiling that had an intricate pattern, giving the impression of being in a church of some sort. There were pictures on the ceiling, ones of trees and tangerines, of ships and the ocean. She felt like she was looking at the heart of the Mikan—the origin of the name, the owner's past as a pirate…
Along with the ceiling, it had a general warm-cool look; warm in the winter, cool in the summer. There were constant tall white windows, open at the top so a pleasant breeze would be able to come through without the treat of anything from the tables falling through. The lights from the chandelier—yes, chandeliers—made it very bright, and the light green of the walls gave a feeling of tranquility. There were random plants and pictures placed throughout the resturant, but one picture stood out in particular.
Glad that there was nobody seated where she found herself headed (That would've been awkward…) and gazed at the picture framed in a simple wooden frame.
She still hated it. The colors, the shapes…it was an overall suckish picture and he had hung it in his resturant?
Oo----oO
Nami sat gazing on the deck of the Going Merry. She rested cross-legged, a flat board and pad of paper in her lap. A few pencils were scattered about from where she had picked one up in another in old ectasy…
The real thing ran laps around her foolish imitation. The colors were off, the shadows incorrect. Not to mention, the mast head was totally off. It wasn't was bad as Luffy's skills, but still…
She felt a small tap on her back and she turned around, now facing a grinning Sanji holding one of the pencils that had rolled off the high deck down to the main one. She took it from his hands and put it back in the haphazard pile she had just recently estabolished.
"May I, Nami-san?"
She hesitated before nodding, worried that he'd ruin the peace she was enjoying.
Bah, let him. Luffy's probobly going to wake up from one of his naps and ruin the peace. What's the harm?
"Go ahead, Sanji-kun," she said, absently, watching the scene before her.
Sanji heaved himself down next to her, trying to resist bursting out in song, declarations of love, or his usual "Mellorine, Mellorine!" There was a reason she was allowing him to sit next to her during 'her' time—she trusted him to be calm and respect the unwritten rule not to ruin the moment.
He wanted to keep the trust.
He stuck a cigarette in his mouth, refraining from lighting it in front of a lady and watched the scene before him.
The sun, slowly sinking into the horizon, bathed the water in small hues of oranges and yellows, the clouds in the sky darkening in contrast to the bright colors almost similar to the sea's current colors. A cool breeze blew across and he sighed deeply. It was then Nami spoke.
"The colors blend so well…like, how the red of the sun melts to the orange of the sky that shows the clouds, that melt into the purple-grey sky…I tried to draw it, but…" she let out a sigh, one that showed she was not happy. "The picture turned out all wrong."
Sanji was instantly intrigued. There! On the board! There was the picture she was talking about! He leaned over and in one swift motion grabbed the offending paper before she had the chance to realize it was gone. The second she did, the color drained out from her face and she tried, rather unsuccesfully as Sanji held her back with one arm, to grab it back.
"Give!" she shouted, arms waving frantically. "It's so horrible it's not even worth your time! Honest!"
Her cries of protest went unnoticed by Sanji who had tried to focus on the picture. True, some of the colors were off a bit (you couldn't notice if you squinted and held it up to the light) and the shapes were a bit wobbly…But she had gotten the perspective perfectly in terms of lighting and shading. The proportions were right, too. It was just…how to describe it…squiggly.
He grinned. It didn't look like it, but…a lot of heart and soul had gone into this piece. The fact that it was different from her usual style (which consisted of rulers and graphs and charts and all things scientific) but still had tried all the same made him want to give her a medal.
"Damn it, Sanji, give it back!" he was brought back by Nami yelling now, having given up her attempts to grab it back. Now she was trying the crying stage.
Not the tears, he thought. He wanted to look at this longer. But no…the first tear!
Damn my Nami weakness, he thought. Unfair! She can look perfectly adorable even with those tears…
With a sigh of regret and defeat, Sanji offered her the picture, head in his hand so he wouldn't do anything more to submit to her beautiful tears.
Nami looked up in surprise from the poke at her side and turned towards him. There was her picture, handed of free will from Sanji, whose head was currently in his other hand, looking away. She smiled, took it and a black pen, scribbled on it for a sec.
If he really liked it…she thought as she capped the pen. If he really liked it, then how about a promise for a better one?
"Oi, Sanji-kun. Here."
Sanji looked at the paper she was shoving in front of his face. It was the same one, just the opposite side. Written in a messy scrawl read When I draw a better one, I'll just give it to you and you'll give this to me. Then I can burn it! Promise!
He cracked a smile, taking the picture. Then…
"My beautiful Nami-swaaaan has given me a gift! She does have feelings for me!"
She groaned. "Sanji-kun…"
He stood up. "Y'hear that, world? My beautiful Mellorine gave me a gift! She loves me after all!"
"Sanji-kun!"
"MY MELLORINE LOVES-'' he was cut off by a conk on his head.
"Shut it, Sanji," growled Nami. "The ship, nor the world needs to know. It's just a promise. Okay?"
"H-hai," said a rather sore cook. He rubbed the back of his head.
She sighed and streatched. "Anyways, don't you have dinner to cook? I think Luffy would be really hungry after such a long nap. And he'll be loud until then. And I really dislike the loud," she finished, giving him a look that clearly read, Beat it! You've had a moment with me. Now go and cook!
"Hai, Nami-san! Leave it up to I, your love-cook, to cook a spectacular—''
"FOOD!" came the sound from below deck. They felt the ground shake.
"Oh, sh—'' began Sanji, but he was cut off by an explosion of sorts from the lower deck as Luffy hurtled out from the room from below and launched himself to the opposite end of the ship where, Sanji noted, his unfortunate kitchen was located. He began to run off, trying to save the unfortunate room from calamity-by-Luffy. He was briefly stopped by Nami.
"If anything gets out, Sanji…"
"Hai, hai, you'll have my head!" he cried, jogging in place. When she gave a nod of dismissal, he was down and in so fast, she feared she had blinked, missing the departure.
She smiled, gathering her supplies and heading to her room to deposit them. Hearing the shouts and bangs that came from the kitchen, she smiled.
Maybe tomorrow she'd give it another shot.
Oo----oO
Nami smiled wryly, remebering the dinner they had had that night—a rich fish and potato soup. When served, the sauce he had dripped on had read Promise.
She felt a presence next to her. Mariasol. Trying to keep it civil, she managed a small sentence, trying to degrade herself to her (Mariasol's) standards.
"I should ask him to take it down," she pretended to muse. "It's horrible." She tried to smile pleasantly. "Eh, Mariasol-san?"
"If you're fishing for compliments, you're not getting any," she said stiffly. "You're right. It is horrible. Ask him right away to take it down."
With that, she left to a waiter calling her name.
Nami tried hard not to strike the retreating Bitch-du-jour.
What the hell have I ever done to her?
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Sanji came up to Nami after Mariasol had left. She was still staring at the picture, although not as she had been before. Last time, it was if recalling a fond memory. Now, he could almost see criticism pouring out of her eyes and stabbing the picture. He broke the awkward scilence.
"Before you ask, no I'm not taking it down. I like it. Besides…" he looked at her like a grinning buffoon. "You still owe me a new one before you can burn it."
Nami tried to regain her composure by socking him on the arm and giving a "Baka!", trying not to show how happy she was. Even if his girlfriend of three years didn't like it, he was still willing to keep it for a promise she had proposed about seven, eight years ago.
She changed the subject with a "When are you going to serve me?"
He looked at her, slightly taken aback.
"…Huh?"
"You heard me," she said, smirking. "When are you going to serve me? This is a resturant. And you are a cook…"
He tried not to blush. She was asking him to serve her? There was a god!
Wait—where had that come from?
He gulped. "Hai, Nami-san. Over here, please."
He seated her at the same table the picture was at, handed her a mirror, and began to play the part of a waiter.
"Today, Madamoiselle, we have the specials of anything dipped in tangerine sauce, glaze, or topping. I would recommend the white-breast fish, but only when glazed and marinated. The red potatoes have a spring of rosemary and—''
Nami laughed. "I'll take the special. The potatoes. And…" she looked over the list. "…Some chardonnay."
"Ah. Hai, Miss Nami-san. Let me get that for you. The wait shall be approximately fifteen minutes." He took the menu, bowed, and waltzed away.
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Mariasol stared dissaprovingly at her boyfriend taking orders and cooking for this woman who had just showed up. She knew he had once loved her, and how this woman was the one thing standing between her, Sanji, and a life of marriage.
She needed a plan.
"Miss. Excuse me, miss."
Mariasol looked up. "G…Gomen. I didn't see you there."
"It's okay. Not a lot of people do. But…may I have a word with you?"
She turned her nose up. "I have a boyfriend. So don't bother."
The man gave a smile. "Sure you have a boyfriend, but…I was talking about the red head. Do you know her?"
"Unfortunately. What's it to you?"
He smiled. "I have a way we can both be satisfied."
She looked over to where Nami was sitting. She was sitting innocently enough, but still looking at that damn picture. Why was it there? What was so damn appealing about it? Why did he like it?
Because she made it, her darker side spoke up.
Her eyes narrowed. Her head whirled around to face the boy. "come with me. I know where we can go and won't be interrupted."
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Sanji looked at the task in front of him: tangerine glazed white breast (marinated!), not to mention potatoes with rosemary and seasalt…and they chardinay would have to be only the finest if it was to be given to dear Nami-san.
Dammit, there it goes again. Not 'dear Nami-san,' just Nami-san. What happened with us is history.
And yet here she is one the same island as you, no visible boyfriend, willing to hang out with you…
With me and my girlfriend, he thought grimly as Mari-chan stuck her head through the door to the bustling kitchen. "Sanji-kun!"
"Hai, Mari-chan?" he called to her, his eyes still on the food in front of him. Maybe if I ask one of the new kids. But no, that would take all of the fun out of it; besides, he wanted to show a bit of effort had gone into the dinner.
And those new boys always burn food, he thought, swinging a rather big, sharp, and potentially lethal knife around before slapping it on a fish and succesfully chopping it in half. That's like it, he thought.
"Sanji-kun!"
His eyes darted to a miffed Mari-chan.
"Hai?"
"I said I'm going to my place for tonight. I want to get some sleep. I've got a really demanding schedule starting tomorrow. Do you mind?"
"Of course not," he called. "You have my key, though, right?"
"Yes, Sanji. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"
"Hai. Bye!"
"Bye, sweets. Love you!" she called, disapperaing through the doorway
"Same!" he waved at her absently, eyes back on his task.
Then she was gone, and Sanji was left alone with a fish chopped in half, cold potatoes, herbs, and some tangerines.
Better get cracking if I want to get it done in fifteen minutes, he thought, rolling up his sleeves.
Sanji liked challenges.
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Nami sipped her water absently, trying to avoid the critical eye of those who were seated next to her. Hell, even people across the resturant were staring at her.
What do you want? Do I look like a cheap sell? No! Am I sunburned horribly? No! So what? If you're wondering why I'm sitting by myself, no I am not lonely! I just happen to be waiting for my meal, alone, with no guy. Is there a problem with being single? NO! So just screw off, okay?
Over the rim of her glass she gave the woman staring at her peculiarly the 'death glare.' Said woman sank in her seat and took a long sip of her wine.
I thought so.
She put her cup down on the tablecloth and began to play with her silverware. Deep in thought, she innocently began tracing circles on the table with her fork.
Where did 'Thing' go? She was just here a moment ago. Shouldn't she be annoying the hell out of me? Or at least glaring, snubbing, insulting, offending, dissing, bragging…and of course, pointing out the fact that she's Sanji's boyfriend and I'm just an old fling…God I hate her.
For once her little conscience shut up about slandering an 'innocent' person.
Innocent my ass.
"Miss Nami-saaaan!"
She didn't have to look up from her 'pattern drawing' to know that Sanji was approaching.
Approaching with a steaming hot plate of damn good food, that is.
Her mouth watered as Sanji set the plates down before her and pouring some blood red chardonnay into a wine glass. He looked at her expectedly, face reading Well? Dig in!
But she couldn't. The fish, so perfectly glazed…it was perfectly white on the breast and was dripped to perfection. There were greens, even though she did not ask for any. But with a light sprinkling of sea salt, she found herself not caring. The potatoes, in a separate bowl, had rosemary sprinkled on, steam rising from them. They were red potatoes. Oh, sweet, sweet red potatoes! The shame of eating it! She couldn't! Yet, at the same time…
She picked up her fork, cut a small piece of the fish, and stuck it in her mouth tentatively.
Her eyes widened.
Sanji's did too. Did she not like it? Was it not to her standards? Was she allergic to something without knowing it? He gulped as she did and she panted slightly.
"Sanji," she gasped "That fish was…was amazing!"
It was. The flavor rolled off her tongue. The sweet tang of the tangerine and the rich marinated fish clashed and meshed perfectly. She almost wanted to devour the skin, but stopped, knowing that people's stares would not only get more intense but that she shouldn't appear like a glutton. So what if she had missed his cooking for the past four years, and Dabelle's couldn't hold a candle up to it?
She speared a potato, chomped down, chewed, swallowed, and had speared another in the span of thirty-four seconds.
He watched in enjoyment as she devoured the food he had laid before her. So she had missed his cooking that much, eh?
His heart, for some unknown reason, swelled with pride as he sat across from her at the table.
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Mariasol swirled the beer in the bottle looking at the man if front of her. He had a wonderful plan. A delicious plan. A wonderfly delicious plan that she was more than willing to take part in, even if it meant bending more than a few rules.
"So you agree?" he asked, reclining on the couch opposite her. He sipped his beer.
"Tell me how far they'll be away again?"
He smiled. "Far enough. The West Blue will completely separate them."
Her white teeth glinted as she spoke.
"You know I am."
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Luffy groaned as he filled out the papers reguarding the navy, shares of the treasure, the plans for the next few months, and what he was going to wear in their battle against the amatuer 'Top Hat Pirates.'
Come on! He thought. Not only were battles actually planned out in advance, and the actual pirate pirates were getting few and far between…but he had to do work! Hard work, as The King of the Pirates!
"WAAAH!" he shouted, leaning his head back and yelling at the ceiling of his quarters. "IT'S. NOT. FAAAIR!"
He then kicked the desk up, breaking it in half (Looks like we'll need a new one.), scattered the papers, and careened out the door in hopes of sympathy, booze, and a nice snack.
We need Nami, he thought, hopping over the railing and onto the main deck below. We've spent most of the money—except her treasure—and Robin's discipline sucks!
It was true. When Nami had kicked them, punched them, yelled at them, threatened them, or blackmialed them, more was surprisingly done. However, where Robin was concerned, her discilpine consisted of soft words, pep talks, reasoning, and promises of not to do something again.
Obviously, the ship had been in total chaos by the second hour Nami had left, and Robin was still all-forgiving.
He pushed the door to the galley open and Dabelle looked up. 1:15. Right on time for his afternoon snack.
He pushed the plate he had been working on over to Luffy, dried his hands off with a towel, and watched his captain eat, trying to make small talk.
"So, Nami's coming back in about a week or two, right?"
"Yosh." Luffy gulped. "We're going to start sailing for her four days after tomorrow and we should be able to have at least a day to hang out on the island after that. Maybe we'll see Sanji, maybe not. Anyways, all I'm saying is that after she gets back, she's not having a vacation for a looooong time."
Dabelle smiled at the captian's childish way of talking, then said, as if he had just come up with it, "How about we sail right now? Y'know, so we can get a bit of a vacation ourselves! We can hang out longer too. And visit your friend's new resturant…"
Luffy was out the door by then, yelling "Robin! Zoro! I've got an ideaaa!"
Dabelle cleaned up the plate he had been eating from moments before and didn't stumble as the ship veered suddenly.
He smiled as he wiped the plate down. So far, so good.
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A/N: And there's the second chapter! Yay! (Hugs self and amazing betas) I'm trying to get at least a chapter done a week, and since it goes through at least three different people, all at different times, and I go days without seeing the paper…you get the drift.
Now R&R! (Pleaaaase!)
--VirgoMaiden