A/N: OKAY! I have written, re-written, and re-written what I've re-written. Now, I'm able to post. YAY ME. (forced happiness, said in dead monotone)

Oh, yeah—to all of you who have read my one-turned-multi, A Snowball's Chance, it will be taken seriously AFTER AMtHGF is done, 'kay? Thanks for the understanding.

ONE more thing: I hope this chapter gives some complexity to some of the characters…mainly a blonde who is currently engaged to a certain cook. How she met said cook? Yeah, it's here (gives evil smile).

Disclaimer: NO, I don't own One Piece and I never will!!! (runs away sobbing)

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Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Chapter Six

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Sanji choked on his cigarette and began a loud coughing fit. He pounded his chest for a minute before regaining his calm composure.

"Somebody wants—'' he coughed again, "—to kill her? Why?"

Zoro shrugged. "We don't know why," he said with an edge of impatience to his voice, "But we have a feeling that it has to do with Luffy, because Buggy—''

"Wait wait wait," Sanji interrupted, hands up in a halting motion. "You mean 'Buggy' as in 'Buggy the homicidal clown-pirate' Buggy?"

"No duh, dipstick," Zoro muttered.

Sanji shot him a look and took another drag. "So what about Buggy?"

Luffy cracked a smile. "I kicked his butt a while back and stole his map to the Grand Line. This was from before we even knew Usopp, and a little while after I met Zoro. Obviously, the idiot's never gotten over it."

Sanji rubbed his temples. "Did she have any idea about him?"

Robin spoke up. "I sent her a note. It should have arrived when she did. It warned her that he was on the island."

That's strange…he thought. Wouldn't she have told me about it?

"Then why…" he began slowly, voicing his thoughts, but was cut off abruptly by the front doors banging open to reveal a blue-eyed blonde he happened to be engaged to.

"Sanji-kun!"

Sanji winced visibly, and he looked around desperately for a place to hide. His cigarette almost split in half from the pressure his teeth gave it. Mariasol! Here! In the restaurant! With his old crew sitting in front of him! This wasn't going to be pretty…

Oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap oh… "Hai, Mari-chan?" he called out, voice cracking. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the immediate interest of the crew as pairs of eyebrows flew up and eyes widened. Well, all except Robin... Why was she unsurprised?

Mariasol came up to him, heels clacking on the hard ground, and looped her arm in his. He wished to be smited by some heavenly being, including Enel, when he saw the looks they gave him.

"Who are they?" she asked, the bitterness and steel evident in her tone. It echoed off the walls, and he saw each surprised face slowly become clouded with dislike, disappointment, or (in Luffy's case) pure oblivion.

"They're—''

"We're people who you don't need to know," cut in Usopp, crossing his arms, ring now evident on his finger. "We've done things you couldn't dream of even in your nightmares."

"Oh, really?" Mariasol's glare intensified, and she pulled Sanji closer to her. Meanwhile, the blonde cook was staring at Usopp in complete disbelief. Was the cowardly Usopp actually arguing with someone who clearly didn't like him? Was he being…defiant? The thought briefly entertained him for a moment before Mariasol pursed her lips and turned to Sanji.

"Sanji-kun," she began, "we need to get together sometime today to discuss some plans for…it," she said, glancing briefly at the Straw Hats. "I've contacted a planner, but we'll still need your input on the basics; you know, flowers, location, date, wether the ushers will be wearing for white gloves or not…Oh! And catering! Will the restaurant cater for this? I wonder…Sanji, think that over, would you?"

"Mari-chan, I don't think now's the best time—''

"I want to have it soon, Sanji, you know how impatient I can be," she chatted on. "Just stop by my office around one, okay?"

"Hai, Mari-chan," he said quickly, attempting to push her out the door. "Around one, I understand. I'll see you later, yes. Bye now!"

She balked at the final push and turned quickly to an unsurprising Sanji. Then, in front of a wide-eyed crew, kissed him and crushed his cigarette beneath her heel. And so, leaving as suddenly as she had come, Sanji found himself in the company of some very curious pirates…

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The ground beneath Nami was hard and wet. Her dress was soaked, she was cold, the heel on her shoe had snapped, her hair was mussed, necklace gone, and there was a scratch on her cheek that stung like none other.

Oh, yes, and her hands were handcuffed together.

This wins, hands-down, as the biggest mistake I have made in my life, she thought bitterly, attempting to sit herself up in a comfortable sitting position. Really! Coming here beats a years' worth of Arlong services, considering what I've been through in the past week or so. Letting out a sigh of exasperation, Nami blew her hair out of her face and slumped against the cold stone wall.

Her pity party was soon interrupted by the sound of metal scraping metal, and the heavy wooden door at the opposite side of the room slowly opened a crack, allowing a hooded person to squeeze though, slipping the key out of the lock. He (she didn't notice anything about him proving her assumptions wrong) made his way over to her before stopping in front of her, crossing his arms and looking down at her, shadows hiding his face more than she would have looked.

Enraged, she sat herself up again, glaring venomously at him. "Who the hell are you?" she spat out accusingly.

Without a word, he knelt down to her eye level before pushing his hood away. Her almost stopped.

"Dabelle?"

If Nami's mouth had been open any wider, a fly could've flown in, no problem. Her eyebrows had disappeared completely into her hair, and her shoulders slumped dramatically from shock. "Dabelle? What are you--? Here--? But I mean… It was you?!" Then, as quickly as she had given in to shock, her face instantly clouded over, and disgust was evident. Her eyes were narrowed, and it was a lucky thing for him that the handcuffs were so strong, because if they weren't, they would've definitely snapped.

"It wasn't you, wasn't it, Dabelle?" she asked. "This was your plan? Kidnapping me? Drugging me? Or were you just a spy, betraying us every second you were around?"

Dabelle chucked.

"Yes, and no."

Nami's face went sour again. "What do you mean?"

"Yes, I'm a spy. But I wasn't the one who drugged you. This grand plan of imprisoning you and punishing you for some 'unknown deed' wasn't mine. My boss, however—'' he leaned down to Nami's face at that point, face unreadable, "—does."

"How long have you been working for him?"

"Since the day you met me."

Nami stiffened at this. That had been so long ago…Three years, if she remembered correctly. So, for three years, he had been spying on them, relaying what they did to a mystery boss? How could she not have noticed? What was wrong with her lately?

"Who is it that you're working for?" she asked shortly, getting to the point. "I know that Buggy's involved in this; but there's someone else, isn't there? Someone…we're not used to."

Dabelle smiled quickly again.

"That, Nami, is for me to know and for you to find out."

"What kind of answer is that, dumbass?" Nami fired back.

"One where my employer's identity will remain secret for a bit longer," he answered back cryptically.

"Why does your employer choose to be anonymous?" she challenged, eyebrow raised.

"He is…like that," Dabelle said simply. "He wishes, at the moment, for the revelation of who he is to be shocking, astonishing…one that would leave you speechless. He wants to be the one with the honors."

"So this is bound to be oscar-worthy?" Nami asked casually.

Dabelle shrugged.

"Answer me this, though," she said slowly. "How do I know for sure that you're not the psycho behind this? You could be making all of this 'employer' crap up."

"Now what could I possibly have against you?" he asked, feigning innocence. "But…" he added slowly, "you have cheated someone else. Apparently, you really betrayed them, from what I've heard. Really, Nami," he said, faking shock, "what kind of things have you done before that could involve this kind of treatment?"

Nami looked at Dabelle, exasperated.

"Dabelle," she started, "do you know how many people I've cheated in the last month?I certainly don't remember something that happened even longer ago…possibly. But even then, how do you expect me to narrow it down with what you've told me? What con could possibly need me dolled up in chains?" she rattled her handcuffs to emphasize her point then.

Dabelle shrugged and rose to his feet. "Figure it out," he said offhandedly before making his way out of the cell, door creaking horribly behind him.

Nami made a childish face at the door for a few minutes before getting serious.

Hookay, Nami, think. Who have you conned that would have the connections, resources, and actual drive—insert 'horrible misdeed here'—to pull this stunt off?

Well, there's Ben, Fred, Tom, Sam, Haru, Guillemere, Victor, Desdmond, Franz…

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Mariasol sipped her tea under the shade of the umbrella-table, admiring the ring she had picked Sanji to give her.

She smiled, and she would have looked lovely, were it not for the disturbinggleam in her eyes. The gleam that gave an almost supernatural appearance.

She was never like this, of course. She had always been a pleasant child when she was younger, and was still a pleasant person when she had met Sanji. What had seemed to be an unjustified dislike of…Nami…however, had actually good reason behind it.

That red-headed…woman…was out to destroy the happiness she had built up so long with Sanji.

She remembered when she had first met him; coincidentally, it was also his first day on the island and (unbeknownst to her) the day her had left the Straw Hat Pirates.

It was sunny, she thought, gazing off dreamily…

—Flashback—

Mariasol shifted the heavy bag in her arms, weaving her way through the crowds Old Market usually brought, avoiding the occasional food item that would ruin her new shoes. She turned the street-corner and met head-on with a group of running young boys, almost causing her to fall.

"Almost" being the key word there.

Instead, she landed (rather neatly, she noticed) in the arms of a tall blonde man smoking a cigarette. Even though he looked about her age, he looked to be a good head taller than her, and gave an almost comical look as he looked down at her curiously.

"Are you all right, miss?" he asked, righting her and picking up the few pieces of fruit that had fallen from her bag and miraculously not gotten trodden on.

For Mariasol, everything in the world—except them—stopped moving.

Mystery Man placed the fruits carefully in her bag, smiling a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Beautiful…she thought, using all of her will power not to gape like a child.

"I'm Sanji, by the way," he offered, putting his hand forward, still smiling.

"M-Mariasol," she said shakily, adjusting her bag so she could shake his hand. He had a rather strong and comforting grip, she noticed, stumbling back slightly, still staring in wonder at the divinity that had appeared in front of her. "Are you a tourist?" she asked breathlessly.

The church chorus began and the ray of heavenly light fell upon him as her prayers were answered and he answered "No."

"I actually came today," he explained, looking around at the crowd that had suddenly decided to move despite her wishes, eye squinted in the sudden bright light. "I'm…opening up a restaurant near here. Over there, actually," he said, pointing a bit behind him.

Mariasol's eyebrows went up as she suddenly understood what and where he was talking about. "You mean the old Brio?" she asked.

Sanji chuckled. "I think so... I'm looking for help, actually. Not many; just enough to help me get the place running. Do you anyone who would be willing to help?"

"I may not know any cooks, if that's what you mean," she said slowly, "but I think I can help you.."

—End Flashback—

Mariasol smiled absently, playing with the diamond on the ring, as fond memories began to flood her mind. A week later, they had found a decent enough sous-chef and his accomplices. And a hostess. Which, obviously, was her.

It was a year after their original meeting when she had finally asked him out. It was possibly one of the happiest moments of her life when he had said "Yes." So, for the following three years, they had managed to balance a professional and personal life with the other, little fights, and lots of romance.

However…a few days ago, on their way to their anniversary dinner—their anniversary dinner!—Sanji had spotted a familiar figure leaning over the railing overlooking the ocean.

When she saw how wide he had smiled when he had seen her…how animated he was when he talked to each other about their…group…she regretted not pushing the red head over the railing after immediately seeing his reaction to seeing her.

It was also then she knew she would have to fight for what was rightfully hers:

Sanji's heart.

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Luffy sat on the bed in Nami and Robin's bedroom, watching Franky and Usopp pace around the room. It was quiet out, and only the sound of ticking from a nearby clock could be heard. Zoro stood near the doorway, head bowed in thought, swords propped neatly next to him. Chopper was sitting in Robin's lap, his bare head being stroked by her hands. It was obvious that the hamster wheel in his head was turning with great speed.

I want a hamster, Luffy thought to himself, perking slightly. A brown one. With white spots. I'd name him 'Furfy.' Maybe I could convince Usopp to make him a straw hat… And so, Luffy's tragically short attention span was then drawn to the appeal that his brand new nonexistent pet hamster held, while the predicament of a certain navigator vanished.

Somebody knocked on the door everybody in the room jumped. Zoro, trying hard to ignore his knocking knees and appear intimidating, pulled his bandana over his head, giving his eyes a creepy appearance. After arranging his swords so that they would be in plain view of whoever was on the other side of the door, he cracked it open.

"Yes?" he growled.

"It's me, Dabelle," Luffy heard. "Quit the act, I can see your hands shaking."

Letting out an exasperated breath, Zoro opened the door wider, allowing Dabelle's wide shoulders to squeeze through.

"Thanks, Bushido," Dabelle said, dropping the bag he had been carrying on the floor. Luffy heard the clatter of silverware, and immediately deducted that, for some odd macho-man comfort, he had gone back to the ship for his precious knives. His eyes were then drawn to Dabelle rummaging around in his pocket before shortly holding out a silver chain with specks of what looked like jade. The clasp might've been broken, but it was evident what Dabelle was holding was a bracelet.

"Wow!" Usopp exclaimed, getting closer for a better look. "It's an actual Cosette! Look at this craftsmanship…!" seeing, however, the looks the crew was now giving him, he stood straighter, cleared his throat, and shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Kaya…has a thing for…this kind of stuff, and she…she told me about…it"

"Riiiight," Chopper said sarcastically, obviously unconvinced, and the only one to voice what every other Straw Hat was thinking.

"I will eat you," Usopp snarled, arms outstretched, glaring at the reindeer with such a ferocity that it caused him to hide behind the little protection offered by Robin's hands.

"Anyways," said Dabelle in a tone that clearly defined 'moving on,' "Is this anyone's? Robin? I found it outside the door." He tossed it to her.

Robin examined it closely, turning it over in her hands. "No," she said slowly, "But it looks like something Nami might have. Or want. Remember? There are things resembling this circled in hr catalogs."

"Oh!" Zoro said suddenly, head popping up. "I remember these! When I went out shopping with her—not in that way, baka," he added quickly, seeing the skeptical looks on his crew mates'' faces, "the ero-cook was gone. But when Nami would drag me out shopping to hold her bags or whatever, she'd usually drag me to a jewelry store or whatever and spend eternity looking at…stuff like this. I think Usopp's right; it's a Cosette. It should be expensive, too; does it have the swirly-thing near the clasp?" he asked, directing the last part at the resident sharpshooter.

Usopp nodded. "Yeah," he said, "Right where everyone says it is."

"Really?" Zoro asked incredulously. "I thought it was just a shoppers' myth."

"No, it's the real deal. Kaya told me."

The conversation stopped there when Dabelle coughed, trying to intervene. "If you girls are done discussing your sparkly fantasies," he said, "we have something important to focus on. Franky, if you will."

Franky coughed twice into his fist and stepped forward. "The bracelet is Nami's!" he cried dramatically, rising his arm upward as if declaring war.

"Yosh!" shouted Luffy, now distracted from his thoughts of his pretend hamster. "But why would the clasp be broken? Nami takes insanely good care of her stuff. Remember when she almost killed us for breathing on her maps?"

"I try not to think about it often," Chopper said shakily. "Too many frightening things—horrible, horrible things—happened."

"If I may?" Robin asked. "Didn't you also touch the maps? By running around and screaming with them on deck?"

Luffy crossed his arms defiantly. Maybe… "Pah! No! We're not that…okay, so we night be that stupid," he relented, "But come on! She should've at least given us a warning!"

"She did," Franky muttered. "With lots of emphasizing, pointing, shouting, hitting, diagrams, and fire-breathing."

Oh yeah… "Doesn't matter," Luffy said, waving his arm, dismissing the topic from further discussion.

"Anyways," Robin said, getting back on subject, "why would it be broken? And why would it be put outside of the door when she wasn't here?"

"Well, I don't know," Luffy said, looking cross and slightly clueless.

"Then hear me out…" she said carefully.

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The chains on Nami's wrists were cutting into her skin and her arms were sore from being behind her back for so long. Her tights had runs and holes aplenty, with the occasional scrape on her legs. She had been able to shift into a new position, though. It was now in the corner furthest from the door, and she had pulled herself up to sit on her knees. While it was true that they were slowly getting sore, it was better than a soaking wet butt. Not to mention, it was also easier to get up this way, should the need become necessary.

It was quiet in the cell she was in, the only sound being her labored breathing. The state of the cell was in deep contrast to the state her mind was in, which was complete chaos. If the frenzy had been animated, there was no doubt in her mind that there was a half-dozen mini-Namis running around crazily, opening file cabinet after file cabinet and adding name after name to a rapid growing list, closely titled Jerks I've Offended in the Last Five Years.

Let's see here, she thought. Gary? Yes, I think there was a half-million involved. Carson? No, I only stole his wallet and license. It was pretty hard convincing that cop I was a ferryman.

"Man" being the keyword here, she thought chuckling. That was before I met Luffy, wasn't it? Good times, good times…

Her trip down memory lane was abruptly put to an end as the sound of voices wafted down the hall. Instantly intrigued, Nami's head—and ears—perked up, cursed her distance from the door, and slowly made her way forward.

"…Much longer do you think…here?"

The voice could only be Buggy's; it had the shrill edge, sound of nervous laughter, and underlying tone of possible hysteria to it.

"Not longer…crew…letter soon."

The second one, however, did pose more of a question as to who it could be. Too many of the people she had conned had voices identical to that; low, husky, relaxed…but clearly articulate, as if the speaker had well-to-do upbringing.

That still takes a few off my list, though, she thought, mentally crossing a few names off the list. But still, not a hint…

"—Ransom involved?

This was Buggy again and her heart couldn't help but beat twice as fast with the promise of money. Her eyes, however, couldn't help but roll, depressed at his constant fixation on money.

"Sorry…disappoint, friend…little suffering will be more than enough."

So her being in this dump was more than enough? Oh, Goody…

Well, what did you expect, Nami? A voice chided mentally. The chains and cell aren't just for appearances, Nami! Or grand ol' tradition, or for old time's sake. Really, you ditz! He means business!

"When will they come?"

"Tomorrow, my friend."

The last parts were crystal clear to Nami. The crew was—hopefully—coming tomorrow? Then, adding a day and a half (they knew how to drag on a fight) to her sentence, she roughly guessed that she should be out in about two days…

"…planned…them…?"

Instinctively, Nami's just about collided with the door in an attempt to hear what "Husky" was going to say to that. She temporarily stopped breathing due to the apprehension, and chewed her lip. What were they going to do to them?

"Sorry…liberty to say…"

Nami groaned. Even with his own partner he was so secretive? He probably knew who was on the other side of the doors he was walking by so casually.

Almost hesitantly, Nami pressed her ear to the door even harder in an attempt to hear more, but was rewarded with only the low murmur of voices disappearing down the hall.

Defeated, Nami slumped against the wall next to the door, head bowed. Try as she could, she was slowly more and more depressed at her defeat. This man…knew what he was doing, and would not fail in his "getting even" with her. He wasn't sidetracked as easily as, say, his partner, and that only raised his chances. It seemed almost that, by whatever means necessary, he would win. No matter the stakes.

The problem is, she thought, if I could just remember who he is. Then I might have some chance of identifying some sort of weakness…Anything could be useful at this point, dammit! Well, almost anything…

Nami closed her eyes, worn out by the day's events so far. She breathed deeply, in and out, in and out. It was a small trick Robin had taught her when she was—once again—chasing after Luffy. Slowly, the area around her began to vanish slowly until she was sitting, all alone, in a black room.

All alone…

Nami squeezed her eyes tighter, concentrating very hard not to think of a gun shot. Of screams. Of a woman falling to the ground. Or of the cackling laughter of him. Arlong. That one thing in the world that had severed her from the outside world and her emotions, causing her to need and want nobody.

That is, until he came.

Sanji.

One of the first people, besides Genzo and Bellemere and Luffy, who knew how to give unconditionally, without expecting anything of the sort in return. At first she had been wary of him. She pushed him away, emotionally and physically. She openly used him in an attempt not to get rid of him and his attraction, but to also show what she really was.

"Marry her! Forget about me! I'd just hurt you!"

A user.

So, with visions of a smiling Sanji dancing before her eyes, she pulled up her knees and cried for the second time in twenty-four hours.

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Sanji turned the key in the lock, tested the door, and pocketed the key in one smooth movement. He had planned—had being the key word here—for today to be a nice, chaotic business day, made for forgetting kisses and broken bracelets. Instead, though, he saw the old crew he had left, the guy who replaced him, found out Nami—who he was trying to forget—was missing with a homicidal maniac on the loose, and had had lunch with Mariasol and the wedding planner.

It was times like these he questioned why he even had the restaurant.

The streetlights reflected in puddles be splashed and he kept his head down, trying to forget how beautiful it had been last night when he had been out with Nami.

Kissing Nami…it was a complete mistake, but it had felt so right. He liked it when she eagerly participated. Not like a kiss between friends on the cheek on Christmases or his birthday…He almost couldn't believe that it was almost like she wanted it as much as him…

And then she ran away.

It was her stupid conscious. Or her unusual sense of justice and morals…Of what she should or shouldn't do. Or her annoying complex about happiness.

Well, whatever it was, it damn annoying and had caused her to run into the arms of a kidnapper.

He was so wrapped up in his dissection of Nami's actions that he didn't notice he was being watched.

Until, of course, when the person watching him stepped out of an alleyway behind him.

This Sanji couldn't ignore. He instantly stopped and looked up, feeling the prickle of someone else's eyes on his back. His back stiffened and his legs became lucid. What seemed to be a shiver to an outsider was actually his preparation for battle. He checked behind him and his eyes were immediately drawn to the offender.

He was covered in shadow, except for an arm lightly decorated in scars and tattoos. His arms were at the hilt of what Sanji immediately recognized as a sword hanging by his side.

What the…? He thought before becoming interrupted by the offender suddenly rushing forward, reaching obviously at his weapon of choice.

The long-dormant fighting instinct within Sanji found him drawing his hands out of his pockets and tapping his shoes on the ground.

What happened next occurred quickly, almost too quickly for the human eye to process: Sanji, leaning instinctively, quickly hit the ground, sweeping his legs around, attempting to catch the offender in the chest. However, curiously, the stranger had somehow anticipated this and, with incredible timing, had leapt back at the last second, drawing his sword completely.

Sanji was back on his feet in seconds. He glared at the man, almost questioning what authority he had, before striking for his chest once more. The attacker then, using the flat side of his blade, stopped Sanji's momentum completely, causing the two to meet head-on.

"You still can't beat me."

Sanji's head reeled back in surprise, instantly confused. What? Who was this? Comparing him to…wait…

Zoro?

"Marimo?" he growled.

"Ero-cook," Zoro retaliated.

"What the hell?!" Sanji yelled. "Why did you randomly attack me like that? Whatever happened to your fighting standards?"

"Surprisingly, when I'm around you, they go away, as if by magic…" Zoro mused. It would have been comical, too, if it weren't for the fact that he (Sanji) was being insulted at the moment.

"So, finally grown a sense of humor, then?" he challenged.

Zoro shrugged before pulling his sword back from Sanji's foot and sheathing it. "A lot can happen in four years," he said cryptically. "Not that you'd know anything about that, though."

Zoro turned his back on Sanji then and began going down the street, the opposite way Sanji had been going a few minutes earlier. "Come on, ero-cook," he called. "The others are waiting for us."

Sanji hesitated, then followed. No matter how awkward this was bound to be, it would be important.

After all, it had to do with saving Nami.

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A/N: Hey all! This chapter is finally written and posted, and this chapter is finally over with! I hope that I've shed some light on the Sanji-Nami-Mariasol triangle, not to mention updated you on the new situation out dear navigator is in! (oh, yes, all of you Mariasol-haters will be pleased to know that there's some drama between her and Sanji in the next chapter… v ) Just a few parting words: It will be a while for the next chapter, because I'm starting school soon, so I'm not making promises or evan a general guess, because you all know how off the last one I made.