Ominous prologue? I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about…
So, after several requests to get this up on ffn, here is the first chapter of "Kiss Kiss," my new Sanji-centric super angsty project that I'm sure will kill me for the amount of detail I'm pouring into it. I know I said I had two big oneshots I wanted to post first, but I haven't gotten much time to work on them because of the 30 fics challenge I'm doing. On that note, while the second chapter of this is started, it will probably not be finished very soon. I'm trying to work on it a little at a time everyday so that it will be done by next weekend-ish, but I'm not making any guarantees at this moment, especially since my ongoing Naruto fic hasn't been updated since August and I'm totally neglecting it. *failure*
For those of you who have read the beginnings of "The Killing Moon" by ColourPearl (which is awesome), I apologize for the similarity in storyline. We've already talked and know that no one is stealing anyone else's idea. And after you read this, you should go read that; she jumps into the action a lot faster than I do. ^^
Finally, I realize that Georgia is a Mary-Sue in this chapter. It's deliberate. This isn't SanjixOC, anyway, so who cares?
Now, with no further ado, onto the very mushy first chapter of "Kiss Kiss," a love story… of sorts.
Disclaimer: I do not, have not, and never shall own One Piece, and thank God for that, because if I did it would be all about Sanji and I'd take month-long instead of week-long breaks.
Kiss Kiss
By Dandy Wonderous
Chapter 1: Once Upon a Time
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance, the silver moon's sparkling, so kiss me…
-"Kiss Me," Sixpence None the Richer
Sanji was in what Zeff used to call "eggplant burnout."
It was something most people in a steady job (though the term rather loosely applied to Sanji) experienced, during which they stared at their work and simply said, "No."
In short, Sanji needed a vacation.
The reason Zeff dubbed it "eggplant burnout," however, was because Sanji not only got tired of cooking, he got tired of being his usual flamboyant self. Even his flirtations lacked their typical extravagance.
The first time this happened, when he was about fourteen, Sanji had gotten a little freaked. Cooking didn't interest him. What would he do now?
When Zeff noticed and finally asked what the hell was wrong, Sanji had grudgingly admitted his wavering love for his profession. Zeff had simply nodded, thrust a shopping list in his face, and ordered him not to return until he felt like himself again. Sanji had sailed to the nearest port, gone to a restaurant and been served for once, flirted with pretty girls who didn't ask him for a refill, taken a walk down the beach, finished shopping, and returned within three days fully ready to get back to work.
This happened about once a year, and the ritual was repeated.
Cooking for the Straw Hats was, of course, a completely different experience, with adventure and excitement always around the bend. But, to his surprise, he felt the old tired feeling creep back into his bones after a particularly long stretch at sea, and he knew something would have to be done before long.
The rest of the crew was picking up on his bad humor as well. Not that Sanji was known for being the most congenial man (unless women were in the vicinity, of course), but he was snappier than normal and the kicks he threw in irritation were far harder.
"It's like cook PMS," Zoro observed.
And his cooking, while still delicious, was lacking its usual flair.
Nami decided to ask him one day if he was feeling okay, but he dismissed her with a quick, "Fine, Nami-san, you're especially beautiful when you worry about me, and would you like a drink, I'll bring it out immediately," and before she really knew what was happening she was back out on deck.
Robin looked at her expectantly but she just shrugged and waited for her drink.
So when Zoro announced that he'd spotted an island, Sanji breathed a sigh of relief. Just in time for supper, too. He finished the lasagna he had been working on and joined the rest of the crew on deck for docking.
They dropped anchor in a little bay out of sight from the port town but only a short walk away. Sanji all but bolted overboard to be off.
"There's lasagna on the stove!" he yelled over his shoulder. "Luffy, let the ladies get some first!"
"Sanji-kun!" called Nami, effectively stopping him. "Where are you going?"
"Oh, just a supply run, Nami-swan! Nothing to interest a lovely lady like you!" Then he was away down the beach before anyone else could question him.
"Does he do that a lot?" asked Franky.
"Usually he drags someone along to help," Usopp answered.
"The cook's being even weirder than normal," Zoro added dryly. "Maybe someone should keep an eye on him."
"I think Cook-san just needs some time alone," Robin offered.
"He has seemed uptight lately," Nami agreed.
"He's always got a stick up his ass," Zoro said.
"He'll be fine," Usopp interjected when Nami gave Zoro an angry look. "Let's just eat supper before it gets cold."
"Wait," said Chopper suddenly. "Where's Luffy?"
They found their captain in the dining room next to the huge (and now empty) lasagna pan. "Oh, hey guys!" He looked around at his crew's dark and murderous stares and smiled nervously. "Did you want some?"
Sanji made his supply run in a record time of one hour and eight minutes. Proud of himself, he carted it back to a mostly deserted ship, with only a sleeping Zoro on guard. Said swordsman woke up briefly at Sanji's approach, gave him a grunt in greeting, and passed out again. Sanji couldn't have cared less.
The cook stowed the supplies rather haphazardly and rushed back to land, desperately wanting to be off the ship again. There would be plenty of time for organization later, he reasoned.
Soon he was meandering through the streets, hands in his pockets, smiling winningly at the women and hunting for a good restaurant. It was almost sunset, the air balmy with a nice breeze, a true summer island with fragrant flowers blooming. Sanji soaked in the atmosphere and turned on an uphill road leading to a restaurant overlooking the sea, ready for a quiet dinner that did not involve bottomless rubbermen and shitty marimos and nothing to look forward to but dishes.
Deciding that lamenting the lasagna was a fruitless pursuit, Nami wandered out on deck. She was leaning against the railing, watching Usopp, Luffy, Chopper, Franky, and Robin start off for town, the two youngers crewmembers berating Luffy about the food while the elder members watched, amused. She sighed, letting her head sink to her arms on the rail.
"Not going into town?"
Zoro materialized next to her, bottle of rum in his hand. He leaned his back against the rail and took a swig, looking at her sideways.
"Maybe later."
"Hmph."
He was silent, but didn't seem interested in leaving her. "What do you want?" she prompted impatiently.
He took his time, drinking more of the rum before answering. "The cook's been acting weirder than usual," he finally said dryly.
"I guess. So?"
"Aren't you worried?"
She bristled, straightening up. Just what exactly was he suggesting? "Are you?"
She expected him to get angry or annoyed, but instead he shrugged. "About him personally, no. But when one of our nakama has a problem, we all do."
Of course. Zoro took care of the crew. And secrets were a threat, they had seen that many times.
"He said nothing was wrong."
"And you believed him?"
"Well…"
"Hmm." Another swig of rum. "Well, if he's not telling you, maybe he really was just having a bad day. Or more likely he's in town looking for a hooker-"
"Zoro! You know Sanji-kun isn't like that!"
Was he laughing at her!?! He was! It was in his eyes.
Oh, his interest just went up forty percent.
"If you're so worried about Sanji-kun, why don't you go check on him?" she asked sourly.
There came that reaction she had been looking for earlier. "Like hell! You go check on him!"
She smirked before returning to her previous pose on the railing. "Sanji-kun probably just needed some fresh air, that's all."
He shrugged and pushed away from the railing, rum finished. "Well, I'm guarding the ship tonight, so if you want to leave, go ahead."
She scowled slightly but stayed looking out over the island. It had been twenty minutes or so since Sanji left; if she hurried, maybe she could-
She blinked in surprise. Why was she worried? She never worried about him like this. What business was it of hers if Sanji felt like being alone for awhile?
Annoyed with herself she set aside all notions of chasing after him. Sanji was useful at best and bothersome at worse, and she could use a break from him and his constant swooning.
With a new resolve to stop worrying she returned to the women's cabin to grab some money and go shopping. She could visit all the fancy boutiques before they closed, and then she could go eat in a nice restaurant. And she would ignore that silly little voice telling her that Sanji's lasagna would probably have tasted better than anything she could get in town.
The young, pretty hostess was straightening some menus when she heard the door open and light footsteps enter. "Hello, welcome to Pearl's by the Sea," she greeted absently, absorbed in her task. A hand stopped hers and finished putting them in place in an instant.
She looked up in confusion at the customer and gaped in surprise at the handsome young man before her, clad in an elegant suit, grinning broadly while one visible blue eye twinkled merrily at her.
"Uh, w-welcome," she stuttered again, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. Dang, this guy is cute!
"Ah, to be welcomed by such a beauty!" he praised, to her astonishment. "This must be a truly magnificent restaurant!"
The blush grew brighter and she swallowed hard. "Um, th-thank you." She stared in shock for a few more seconds, then regained her senses with a snap and grabbed her seating chart. "Table for one?" she asked hopefully. Please say yes, please say yes!
The blond man opened his mouth to reply in the affirmative when a hand from behind him laced itself around his arm, setting all his senses tingling. "No," said a voice lightly.
A woman's voice.
For the next hour Nami wandered from shop to shop, trying on numerous outfits and attempting to enjoy herself, but for some reason she couldn't get Sanji off her mind. She kept trying to convince herself that he just needed some "Sanji time" or something, but she also got a feeling of foreboding, like Zoro was right and someone should keep an eye on him.
Finally she gave up and left the current boutique she was in without purchasing a thing (leaving a disappointed shopkeeper behind). Irritated by this strange cloud that hung over her, she moved through the streets, looking subconsciously at every blond head that passed.
Oh, snap out of it, Nami! The moron is fine!
She passed a café with luscious smells drifting out of it, scents that reminded her of how their own galley always smelled, and she found herself torn between two things: a sudden urge to be with Sanji, and hunger.
The first feeling she cursed with vehemence. He could take care of himself and she certainly wasn't going to ruin some time away from the fawning moron by looking for him. She would push that away and try to sate the other need.
A blond man about Sanji's height passed on the other side of the street and she found herself doing a double take.
Ugh, what is with me today? Gritting her teeth she stalked back toward the docks, determined to find something to distract herself.
What she did find, however, was Sanji himself.
He was apparently done with supply shopping (That was fast, she thought) and was going to get himself something to eat. He was trotting up a hill to a seaside restaurant with a strange spring in his step that told her he was in a much better mood than earlier.
She had the sudden crazy idea to follow him and have supper there. She smashed at this thought rather violently (apparently pushing them back wasn't working well enough) and started to go in the opposite direction.
She hadn't taken two steps before she turned on her heel and started back toward the restaurant Sanji had now disappeared into. I'm not worried about him, but he won't refuse to pay for me. This way I get a free meal.
With this reasoning she hurried along the uphill street, a plan forming in her head. She'd give the lovesick cook a real treat, she thought, and then he'd get her anything she asked for. She could probably drag him shopping afterwards and make him carry the bags. It was a very sly plan, she thought, worthy of a good seductress. She would walk in behind him, take his arm, and say sweetly…
"Table for two."
Sanji turned in shock to the woman, eyes wide and jaw dropping. He had never seen a beauty such as the one now holding his arm.
She was tall, about his height, with a gorgeous body that rivaled even Robin's gracious proportions. Jet black hair tumbled in carefree waves down to her waist, some strands held back and out of her face by a diamond studded barrette in the shape of an oriental dragon. A crimson dress hugged her curves, accentuating them as though they needed the help. And then there were her eyes, shining emeralds that regarded him coolly over delicate cheekbones.
Sanji felt his heart accelerate to light speed. Hello, mission control, we have lift off.
The goddess gracing his arm with her touch turned that green fire gaze back on the visibly disappointed hostess, who, with only a hint of malice, said, "Right this way."
Sanji, giddy like a small child, followed the girl absently, his attention solely on the woman who easily matched his stride with her long legs, made even longer by the impossibly high stilettos she wore.
They were seated in a beautiful table right in front of the enormous windows, looking out over the bay as the sun sank down past the water, the first evening stars peeking out in anticipation of the dark. But Sanji was completely distracted from the pinks and golds of the sunset by the greens and reds of the angel across the table.
The now fully ignored hostess made a face, slapped the menus down before the pair, and left in a huff. Neither paid her any mind.
"I hope I'm not intruding," his new friend said with a small half smile, just hinting at perfect, pearl white teeth beneath full, vibrantly red lips. "Were you meeting someone here?"
For a moment Sanji couldn't answer, still amazed that this vision of beauty was really sitting right there, close enough to touch, and he hadn't done a single thing but entered the restaurant. Well, it had looked like a promising place to eat…
"No, not at all," he answered when he realized she had asked him something. "I was going to dine alone. Oh, but I certainly don't mind the company," he added hastily.
She laughed lightly, the sound of wind chimes in summer, those gorgeous green eyes twinkling merrily. "I'm Georgia, by the way."
"Georgia! What a beautiful name to match such a radiant goddess!"
She laughed again, and he almost melted into the floor. "And might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
"Of course, my dear!" he cooed. "I am…"
Here, he hesitated. He had a bounty now; granted, he looked nothing like the picture (no matter what the bastard marimo said), but the blond hair, curly eyebrow, and matching name were too many coincidences, and anyone with half a brain could put it together. And he wouldn't dare suspect Georgia of having anything less than an entire brain, or even a brain and a half.
But then again, she was staring at him with those big, sincere eyes, smiling encouragingly. She didn't mean him any harm, surely, had only been intrigued by his (self proclaimed) good looks and (self proclaimed) stunning personality, and she had decided to take a chance on love with this random stranger who was now determined to show her what a true prince was like.
"I'm Sanji," he said finally, grinning as dashingly as he could.
"Sanji," she repeated, and the way she said it, letting it drip off her tongue like so much fine wine, made a shiver run down his spine, shaking him to the core. He wanted to hear this voice say his name that way, everyday, morning, noon, and evening. Especially evening.
"I haven't seen you around town," she continued lightly, and he snapped himself out of his trance to listen properly (Rule number one: always listen to what the woman is saying; they like to be listened to.). "Are you a sailor?"
Again, he felt the cautiousness that told him he shouldn't tell so much, shouldn't trust so blindly. Again, he shook it off and nodded. "Why yes, I am."
She smiled a little bigger, and he was glad he admitted to it. Women in general liked the idea of sailors, the thrill of adventure and romance that it brought. "That must be horribly exciting."
"Oh, it is."
She looked out the window at the sea, wistful, and Sanji felt his heart rise and thump wildly at the sight. "I sometimes wish I was a sailor; then I could leave this little island behind and have adventures of my own." Then she sighed and turned back to look at him. "But what business does a lawyer have on a ship?"
Sanji didn't know, but he was desperately wracking his brains for a suitable reason.
He was distracted by the waitress who appeared to take their drink orders. Sanji finally gave the menu a precursory glance before ordering the finest wine they had without hesitation, only a very small and mostly stifled part of his brain wondering if he had the money for it. The waitress hurried off and the pair turned to look at the menus fully for something to eat.
Satisfied that he found a type of spicy seafood pasta (the only thing that could make your favorite food better was eating it across from a beautiful woman), Sanji laid his menu back down and waited patiently for his companion to make a selection, trying (and failing) to keep his gaze on the ocean instead of her. After a bit she nodded to herself and set the menu aside.
"So what do you do on your ship?" she asked curiously.
For the briefest of instants, Sanji considered pulling an Usopp and claiming to be the captain. But no good relationship was built off lies, even if it only had a hope of lasting one night, so he answered truthfully. "Actually, Georgia-chan, I'm a cook."
He didn't regret his decision when her eyes lit up. "Really? Then whatever are you doing in a restaurant?"
He laughed at that. "Well, even first class chefs like to be cooked for every now and then."
She laughed with him. "I can appreciate that." She studied him for a moment, and he found it made him feel somewhat vulnerable. "You must be every woman's dream," she said finally. "Handsome, polite, and you cook, too."
Sanji was stunned. No one had ever said such a thing to him before! Every woman's dream? Really? Him?
It took every ounce of willpower he had to stay collected after those words sank in, took all his strength to stay cool. She had just said something he had dreamt of hearing numerous times, and he didn't know what he would do if he were to ruin his chances by acting like an idiot now.
She was still smiling at him, and if she noticed the way he was gaping at her ever so slightly, she didn't show it. "I guess I'm lucky I got to you first tonight, huh?"
Sanji forcibly shook himself out of his strange stupor. "Oh no, Georgia-chan, I'm the lucky one, to have such an angel choose to dine with me."
She laughed. "Angel? Me?"
"Of course!" he twittered. "You're the most radiant being I have ever seen! You have to be sent straight from heaven!"
A slight blush rose to those wonderful cheeks. "Now you're just exaggerating."
He looked wounded. "I would never lie to you, Georgia-chan."
"Really?" She propped her elbow on the table and put her chin on her hand, regarding him coolly. "You, Sanji-san, are a very interesting man."
He grinned. "I'm only here to please." Then he took the wine from the waitress, freshly arrived, and poured her a glass.
Nami was stunned.
That woman, whoever she was, she had just waltzed right in there and completely stolen her idea!!!
It was infuriating, that that-Nami searched for an appropriate word-floozy-old fashioned, but it worked-could grab Sanji's arm and lead him off, just like that!
She stared through the glass doors, silently willing Sanji to decline the offer. But of course the perverted idiot didn't; instead, he just stared dumbly at the… at the hussy, and walked away with her hanging off his arm.
She stood there a few minutes longer, clenching and unclenching her fists in rage.
And then a couple came out of the restaurant, looking at her oddly as they passed, and she realized what she was doing and spun on her heel, walking briskly down the street.
All the way back to the ship she chastised herself for getting so worked up. So she hadn't gotten her human shopping cart for the night; that wasn't the end of the world. Zoro had been right; Sanji had just been looking for a whore. Well, he had found one; what business was it of hers that he wanted to spend his evening with that woman?
She didn't care if he spent his night with hundreds of women. Let him screw the whole town! Yeah, she wasn't mad, she wasn't jealous, it had just wrecked her plan of a free meal and a slave.
That was all.
And why had she even wanted to eat with him in the first place? It had been an idiotic idea. He was annoying and clingy and dumb, and any time away from his stupid fawning and lovesick rants was welcome.
No, she was certainly not jealous of the woman, or the fact that she was eating out with him, like she had never done before… But there had been plenty of offers, she could have at any time, it wasn't like it was special, or anything.
Arriving at the ship, Nami climbed up the ladder and stormed across the deck. Her angry footsteps alerted Zoro, who graced her by waking up.
"Find the ero-cook?" he asked offhandedly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped, marching into the girl's cabin and slamming the door so hard it shook the entire ship.
Zoro raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. Guess that was a yes, he thought before drifting back to sleep.
Sanji took another bite of seafood pasta absently, eyes remaining on the woman before him as she cut another piece of steak and lifted it to her mouth to pass between those luscious lips and onto her tongue.
How he envied that piece of meat!
So much for enjoying your favorite food more; he had barely tasted a bite of what he swallowed. It was completely unlike him, to not fully savor and appreciate a meal the way he should, but he found himself unable to help it. She was so distracting, the way she flicked her hair back before she took a bite, the way she daintily wiped her mouth afterwards, the way she idly swirled the wine in her glass before taking a sip, leaving the lightest hint of lipstick on the rim. Sanji may have had a serious weakness for women, but this was something else entirely.
Sanji took another tasteless bite and realized he was in love. Not just lovesick; love.
It was a lot like when he had first seen Nami…
The thought of the fiery navigator didn't bring the thrill it usually did, and as Sanji stared at the goddess across from him he realized he didn't care.
Why should he? Nami was pretty (he found it hard to assign "beautiful" to anyone else after meeting Georgia), but she also used him as a doormat. He wasn't so clueless as everyone thought him to be, oh no; he knew she only put up with his flirting because it meant special drinks and desserts and using him as her personal slave whenever she wanted. He had always held out hope, though, that maybe, one day, she would take the mikan daiquiri he held out to her and realize… But she hadn't, and now, as he sat here at this table with this most wonderful of women who had been God sent to him, he realized that she never would.
And he didn't care.
Georgia was there, really, really there. She wasn't here because she would get a free meal out of the deal (she had already offered to pay, which Sanji had vehemently refused to let her do). She was here because she had seen something in a lowly mortal like him that convinced her that he was worth spending her evening with. Without really meaning to, Sanji found himself telling her all about his dreams with an energy he hadn't used since that day he had told Luffy the story of All Blue. In answer to her questions he told her about his life at the Baratie, even getting so personal as to admit that the old geezer Zeff had been like a father to him, something he had never once said aloud to anyone, not even those in the crew. He told her of leaving the floating restaurant and of some of their adventures, being selective in his information and never once mentioning Luffy by name, only as "my captain," because even if he wasn't easily recognizable the captain of the pirate crew that destroyed Enies Lobby certainly would be.
He vaguely realized that the more he sat there, the more he talked, the more wine he drank, the looser his tongue became. And it never bothered him that, as he gave more and more details, she said next to nothing about her own life.
They finished their meal, and, after paying, Sanji helped her out of her seat and together they exited the restaurant. The sun had long since gone and they stood under the rich purple of early night, the sky laced with millions of glimmering stars.
"Let's walk around town," she suggested, and Sanji wholeheartedly complied. She took his arm and they wandered the streets under the lantern light. The port town was lively at night; bands played under the lantern light, street performers did tricks for change tossed into hats, bars started getting busy and sounds of drunken revelry and fighting permeated the air. Georgia seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere, but Sanji couldn't tear his eyes or thoughts away from her.
They moved up and down the streets, still arm in arm. Sanji stopped at a cart selling fresh flowers and bought a bouquet for Georgia, and she smiled and pulled one vibrant hibiscus out, slipping it behind her ear. The bloom looked dull next to her own beauty, he thought.
Eventually they ended up back near the docks. Georgia slipped off her shoes, shrinking three inches in the process, and stepped off onto the sandy beach. Sanji kicked off his own shoes, and they hid them away in a hovel near where the dock ended. He pulled off his suit jacket and laid it over them, with the bouquet bundled inside so it would not blow away, and then they started walking along the shore. They chased the waves and laughed when they lost, getting the hem of her dress and the bottoms of his slacks drenched in seawater. They watched crabs skitter along the beach and disappear into the tide. Sanji spotted a perfect sand dollar and grabbed it before the waves carried it away again, ignoring that his sleeves were now soaked. He presented it to her, and she thanked him and held it close the rest of the night. They saw a few whales offshore, and Sanji pretended that he could talk to them, to the great amusement of Georgia. After a long time that he found far too short, Georgia sighed and stopped, getting that wistful look again as she stared out at sea.
He put her hand in his and looked out with her. "What's wrong, Georgia-chan?"
She blinked sadly, not looking at him. "It's just… you'll be going out to sea soon, and I'll be here, and we'll never see each other again."
He felt a lump in his throat and violently swallowed around it. "Georgia-chan…"
He wanted to ask her to come with them, join the Straw Hats and sail the world. But she wasn't built for pirating; a lawyer, living in this small town to take care of her ailing parents. She'd be too weak to take care of herself in all the dangerous situations they managed to get themselves into, and he couldn't spend all his time looking out for her, as willing as he would be to do so. Luffy probably wouldn't even allow such a thing, and he didn't even want to begin to think of what Zoro would say.
"How romantic it would be," she said suddenly, yanking him from his thoughts, "to wait faithfully for you to return to me at the end of your journey."
Nothing anyone had said to him had ever made him happier than those words. And they were so sincere, too…
But on his honor as a gentleman, he couldn't let her do such a thing. "No, Georgia-chan. I may never be back; I could easily die on this ocean."
She looked down sadly, and that he couldn't have, so he took her chin in his hand and lifted it gently. "Live your life, Georgia-chan. You'll find someone else to make you happy."
She stared up at him, those emeralds sparkling with withheld tears. "I just wish it could be you."
Sanji smiled lightly. "Me too." And then he bent his head down closer.
The kiss was so natural, as though their lips had been made to fit together perfectly. He pulled her closer against his chest and she ran her hands up his arms and into his hair, dropping the sand dollar in the process. It fell with a soft thump onto the sand and sat illuminated by the moonlight that also fell on the two strangers bonded together by this most basic declaration of human love.
Sanji felt a strange jolt of something, almost like a small spark of electricity that traveled down his spine and made his entire body tingle. Ah, the spark of true love!
Reluctantly they pulled apart, staring into each others' eyes for just a moment longer. Then she sighed and bent to retrieve the sand dollar. "It's late," she said as she straightened back up. "I need to get back home."
Sanji was disappointed, but nodded. "Yeah, I need to get back to my ship."
Their fingers entwined again and they started the walk back to the dock. They weren't merry and playful this time; it was almost like a funeral march, they way they drug their feet through the sand. Too soon they were back in their shoes and standing at the street corner where they would have to part ways.
"Well, Sanji-san," said Georgia, smiling and extending her hand. "Thank you for this lovely night."
"No, Georgia-chan, it is I who must thank you!" He shook it and gave her his broadest grin back, though his eyes were tinged with sad reluctance.
"I wish you well on your journey," she said, laughter and tears both reflected in those clear emeralds.
"I'll miss you," he blurted out, then blushed as he mentally slapped himself.
Her eyes widened slightly, then she smiled and reached up. Carefully she pulled out the small diamond earrings she wore and held them out in her hand. "Take these."
"No, Georgia-chan, I couldn't-"
"Do. To remember me by."
He stared at her a long moment, then nodded dumbly and took them. He slipped them into his breast pocket and then looked back at her with a smile. "As though I'd ever forget you."
She laughed lightly. "As I will never forget you."
And then, with one more lingering kiss, she was gone as though a dream on the wind, fading into the dwindling night crowds still on the street.
He stood at the corner for awhile after, still staring down the lane long after he could no longer see her. His fingers reached up and checked to make sure the earrings were still in his pocket, and then he turned with a small sigh and started back for the ship.
He didn't think much about it, his thoughts going over every moment of the date, savoring it, saving it forever, but when the Sunny came into sight he was shocked back to the present. He had the late watch tonight, he remembered, and judging by the moon's position it had started nearly two hours ago.
Who had had the last watch? Usopp, he was pretty sure, so maybe it wouldn't be that bad. The sniper would probably call him a jerk and be pretty annoyed about it, but he could just make some pike tomorrow and everything would be smoothed over. As long as it wasn't Zoro or one of the girls, he was pretty sure there wouldn't be a problem.
He paused on the beach for a moment, checking to make sure the diamond earrings were still safe and sound-they were-before steeling himself for the possible wrath of his crewmate and heading up to the observatory.
Nami heard the hatch open and looked up from the map she was studying to stare accusingly at the chef, folding her arms. "Well, I see you finally decided to show up."
"N-nami-san!" he said in surprise. He pulled himself fully into the room and stood there, embarrassed. "I thought Usopp had last watch."
"Well, he wanted to go to bed and I was still working on this map, so I relieved him for you."
She expected him to immediately start gushing about how wonderful and considerate she was or cry apologies with teary eyes and beg for forgiveness, but instead he just kept looking embarrassed… and distant. "Well, then, thank you, Nami-san. I'm very, very sorry that I kept you up. I'll make you any kind of treat you want tomorrow to make it up to you."
"Yeah, you better." She was confused. This wasn't fawning Sanji, this was… something entirely different. It was just like he'd been acting for the last few days, but amplified. Like he was longing for something… longing to be anywhere but here.
The more she looked at him, the more she thought about him with that woman, and the more disgusted she became. "Well, I'm done with this map, so I'll be going to bed now," she snapped, gathering up her supplies and the map that had been finished nearly three hours ago.
"Hmm?" He had been gazing out the window, and she realized with shock and annoyance that he had been ignoring her. And that didn't make any sense at all. "Oh, right. Good night, Nami-san."
What's wrong with him? she wondered, both in fury and seriousness. This wasn't like Sanji at all.
As she left the observatory, she chanced a look back at him. He had taken something out of his breast pocket. As she watched, he pressed it lightly to his lips, eyes staring out longingly at the island.
She made a disgusted noise under her breath and slammed the hatch shut with more force than necessary.
And he didn't even notice.
Chapter 1 End
A/N: Oo, not jealous are we, eh, Nami? Heeheehee…
"It's like cook PMS," Zoro observed.
I have male friends that I swear have PMS every month. XP
It was almost sunset, the air balmy with a nice breeze, a true summer island with fragrant flowers blooming.
I was in Hawaii when I wrote the first half of this. Talk about inspiration for setting! The restaurant he goes to was, in my mind, like Mama's Fish House in Paia, on Maui. It had the most gorgeous scenery, and the fish was all caught fresh that day and to die for!!! …I wanna go back to Hawaii… *sniff*
Or more likely he's in town looking for a hooker-"
I really don't see Sanji as the kind to get a hooker, as perverted as he may be. He has enough chivalry and respect for women not to do that, even if he will gladly imagine them naked. XD
The young, pretty hostess was straightening some menus when she heard the door open and light footsteps enter.
I imagine that the jealous hostess is, in fact, a self-insert. XP
"I'm Georgia, by the way."
I think Georgia's a pretty name. ^^
…had only been intrigued by his (self proclaimed) good looks and (self proclaimed) stunning personality…
I proclaim them as well. XP
"You must be every woman's dream," she said finally. "Handsome, polite, and you cook, too."
If he would dance with me even though I suck at dancing, he would indeed be my dream guy. XD XD
They saw a few whales offshore, and Sanji pretended that he could talk to them, to the great amusement of Georgia.
Because that's my favorite part of Finding Nemo. ^^
"I'll miss you," he blurted out, then blushed as he mentally slapped himself.
At least it wasn't the "L" word. ^^
…but he could just make some pike tomorrow and everything would be smoothed over.
According to Oda, pike and other foods related to autumn are Usopp's favorites.
So that's the first chapter! Enjoy the mush, because after this…
I'm working hard, so expect an update at… some point. Until then, this Dandy Wonderous, hectically busy and signing off!