Oh my gosh, it's an update! *shock*
The hard part about writing this chapter was the second section, mostly. It gave me fits. I had most of the rest of this planned out, but that part in particular was a very delicate part that I wasn't sure how to handle. I'm not particularly satisfied, but it'll do for now.
Random moment: do you know the song "Leave You With a Smile" by George Strait? Okay, the first lines go:
At first she's gonna come on strong
Like she'll love you all night long
Like it's goin' out of style
Then she'll leave you with a smile
You're gonna give her all your heart
Then she'll tear your world apart
You're gonna cry a little while
Still she'll leave you with a smile…
So, I was listening to it the other day, and while the song itself doesn't fit this story, those lines do, specifically the two in bold. It made me lawl. XD
Unfortunately, the lack of "kiss" in the lyrics meant I couldn't use it at the beginning of a chapter. Woe!!!
Speaking of that, I've never heard the song used for this chapter, but it was someone's facebook status once and I was like, "Oo, that's a perfect lyric!!!" ^^
Finally, I'm off school from now until sometime in 2010 (nope, I have no idea when break is over…), so expect faster updates. Huzzah!
Reader Review Corner!!
Abra Cadaverous: And you reviewed while reading! Huzzah! (I like when people do that because it makes for long reviews, XD) Ah, well, that just shows that I should do more research and never be a doctor. *fail* It almost DID come from Zoro; in fact, it said Zoro, and then I deleted it and typed in Usopp. I had a reason at the time, but I can't remember it now. -_-' Yes she is and yes he does. XD I know, right? He shouldn't do that. Haha, I think that's your ZoNa love shining through there. XP That was kinda the point. XP I would to, that witch. *kicks Georgia* I SO ALMOST DID!!! There was actually going to be a line where Sanji suggested that their enemy might be invisible, and then Usopp was going to ask how that was possible and Sanji was going to say that the Suke Suke fruit could turn people invisible and the crew would ask how he knew so much about it and he would be like, "…No reason." Where I was going to put it was a bad spot for Sanji to be comical, though, so I didn't; it would have broken the MOOD!! I might write a short extra about it, though. ^^ Yes, she should. Harridan? That's a word I haven't heard in… well, ever. XP Yeah… I felt bad later! Really! He does. XP I know, aren't I? ^^ Oh, I hate when that happens! That weird thing where it won't stay scrolled down, right?
Daschel: I know! But it's okay, he didn't! It was just his unruly foot! Yes, poor Sanji… Yay, I'm glad! ^^
Lochrann: Thank you! ^^ Yes, actually, I do. But only when I'm the one writing it. XP Thanks! I'm glad my Sanji torture is so good. XD Thanks. I've only once been so willing to call one of my own characters nasty names before this. Actually, it's kind of a toss-up as to who is worse, and I think Georgia tops the list… I both love and hate writing bad guys. They're fun and horribly frustrating at the same time. Thanks! ^^
ChronosNumberVII: Then do it! Sanji needs a large amount of hugs right now. *hugs*
Amethyst Turtle: I do, too; she's my second favorite, and it was hard to hurt her. I seriously debated taking it out, but I didn't in the end. Thanks, I'm glad. ^^ He did stab Franky in the back (sorry if that wasn't clear, probably my fault). Haha, it's not too insensitive! I like Frobin. ^^ Wow, really? Thanks so much!
Sandy Toehs: …Cough… Sorry… Thanks! ^^
Three-days-late: To quote you, there's always time for Frobin. XD Yeah, though I think this is perhaps the most heartless villain I've ever created. One that has no feelings for her victims and enjoys their pain. (Is it sad that they're my favorite kind of villains? I guess it's because it's that much sweeter when they're defeated if they have no humanity…) Oh, I'm sure that will make him change his mind! Don't do it, Sanji, you'll disappoint your fangirls!!! Seriously. XD
Sora Tayuya: I didn't try to kill them; it was all the plot bunny! *hides in bunker* Aw, don't feel that way! *pat* Yeah, Sanji, not doin' so good right now. I love Franky too! Really! And I felt horrible about it! *cringes and hides from flamethrower* Excellent lesson. Class dismissed. XD Thanks for reading!
RedSavent: Well, he DOES have emo hair… XP I shall say nothing on Georgia's fate at this time (*coughbutIagreewithyoucough*). Like a rape scene? Really!?! *sickeningly excited about that because she's never written something that intense before* Thanks! ^^
Callosum: Thanks! I had to have Franky do something Franky-ish, and I'm not so good at writing him yet, so that was it. Zoro isn't totally unfeeling! XD Thanks! And thanks again! And thanks a third time! Lots o' thanks!!!
Saint Dezzie: Yes, oh no!!! Cough… About that… Of course! She's a displaced Strawhat! ^^ Thanks! Oo, gritty, I like that. XD
ZodIaCCat: I had that problem, too, with reviews being blocked. *pout* Thanks! Yes, they do! *shock* Yes, she is EVIL!!! OAO Hmm… I guess you'll have to read and find out. *evil herself* Thanks again! ^^
ZOroronoaRO: Thanks! Ah, sorry that wasn't made clear. Some amount of time passed in which the others, including Zoro, returned and Chopper woke up. It was probably about an hour or so.
Eternitybeckons: Woot, intense! Thanks! ^^ (I love your penname, btw. XD)
-JansonFriedh827-: Thanks! Well, the prologue was intended to be ominous and ambiguous, mostly to show that this was going to be suspense since the first chapter was so lovey-dovey. Yep, you got it exactly right. ^^ Yup, he's confused. OMG, that's the funniest thing ever! I mean, the way you wrote it, not that you got a concussion… -_-' I've run into doors before, but never that hard. I felt bad too, later. T_T Oh, don't worry, they know Sanji's not himself right now. They're cool like that. XD Nami was elsewhere for the first half and asleep during the second half. But she is alive! She starts playing a much bigger role starting next chapter. ^^ He is. No, I don't think Zoro could EVER kill Sanji, or vice versa, not matter how much they fight. ^^ Yeah, poor Chopper. Unfortunately no, Vivi's only part was that dream sequence. But I like her, too. ^^ Oh dear, must please the ADD people!!! XP
Next victim! …I mean, chapter…
Kiss Kiss
By Dandy Wonderous
Chapter 4: Stroke of Midnight
She kissed me dead…
-"Chain Me Free," The Matches
"…What?"
"I need you to kill me," he repeated, as calmly as if he were asking Zoro to raise the anchor. No, even more calmly, because orders like that usually involved a lot of yelling and cussing.
"Cook…" He searched for the right words to say to snap the other man out of this… this… whatever this was. "It's… it's not that bad, really-"
"Not that bad?" Sanji rasped, gaping at him. Then his mouth twisted into a smile and he chuckled darkly, hysterically. Zoro tensed in reflex. "Zoro, I attacked Robin-chan. Robin-chan. How is that in any way "not that bad"?" His eyes grew wide, and then he hid his face back in his hands. "Oh God, what if I'm the one who attacked Chopper, too?" His shoulders shook violently.
Zoro couldn't answer because he knew, in all likelihood, it had been Sanji.
"Who next?" asked the cook slowly, looking back up at him. "Usopp? You? Franky?"
Zoro tried not to give anything away, but his eyes darted down to his feet for the shortest of seconds at the last name. That was all Sanji needed; his jaw dropped for a moment, then his head hit his knees and he sobbed into them.
"I did something to Franky, didn't I?" he demanded weakly, brokenly.
"I didn't say-"
"Don't bother lying!" If his throat weren't so damaged, the whole ship would have heard the shout. Sanji pulled his head up enough to look at his bloody hands. "I remember… a kn-knife. And blood… so much blood…"
He looked like he was going to be sick. Zoro took a few steps toward him, unsure what to do but determined to do something.
"Don't come any closer!" he yelled, a harsh, grating sound, and then he lapsed into a fit of coughing. Zoro took the opportunity to come to his side and sit down next to him.
"As if you could hurt me," he said gruffly when the coughing died down.
"I didn't think I could hurt Robin-chan," he whispered back.
That wasn't what Zoro had meant, but Sanji's voice was so anguished that his comment about the blonde being too weak was bitten back. If he had misinterpreted that to mean Zoro didn't think Sanji could bring himself to hurt him, then he would interpret the teasing to mean he was too weak to fight whatever it was that was making him do this.
"That's why I want you to kill me."
"Don't start that again, Sanji-"
"Listen!" he hissed, turning to grab his shoulders desperately, and Zoro's protest died. "You're the only one who can do it," he continued feverishly. "I couldn't have Nami-san or Chopper or Usopp do it, that would be too painful for them. And Robin-chan and Franky…" He gulped, voice wavering, and then took a breath and kept going. "But you, you've always hated me, right? And you do what needs to be done. So you can do it." He laughed that same bitter laugh again. "I'd do it myself, but what if… Whatever the reason I'm doing this, it might stop me."
Zoro stared back at him for a moment, then his gaze hardened. "I won't do it."
"Damn it, Zoro, you're not listening!"
"I am listening, and I won't do it!" Zoro growled back. "It's not something I can do. When you leave the crew, no matter how you leave it… that's up to your captain."
Sanji gaped at him. "But… but you know I couldn't… Luffy won't-"
"Exactly, and that's why I won't, either."
"But he wouldn't understand!" Sanji cried desperately. "I can't be allowed to live, not while I'm doing this!"
"We'll find who's doing this to you and kick their asses," he answered confidently.
"Don't you get it?" Sanji yelled as loud as he could. "After what I've done, I don't want to live!"
A moment of oppressive silence settled for a moment.
"Robin didn't, either," Zoro finally muttered.
Sanji flinched. "That was different. Robin-chan was completely innocent."
"And you're not?" Zoro demanded. "Are you really going to sit there and tell me you wanted to hurt your nakama?"
Sanji sighed and closed his eyes. He looked suddenly decades older, the young, energetic man Zoro knew so well gone. "No…" he whispered. "I didn't." The last part was almost pleading, as though the swordsman wouldn't believe him.
He opened his eyes again and looked into Zoro's. "If you won't do it now, then could you promise me something? I know you won't break it."
Zoro was wary. "What is it?"
"If I… if I start to hurt anyone else, then promise me you'll… you'll stop me however you have to. No hesitation. Got it?" He held Zoro's gaze and waited.
Slowly, Zoro nodded. "I promise."
Sanji sighed as though a huge weight was off his shoulders. "Good. Thank you." He leaned back against the couch, exhausted.
Zoro was silent for a moment, then stood. "I'm gonna go check on the others. Will you be okay?"
Sanji nodded. "Just don't forget your promise."
"I won't."
Nami hugged her arms closer around her as though it would keep her sick heart from falling out of her chest. Robin was laying deathly still on the bed, her labored breathing the only indication of life left in her. It made a grating, rasping noise that chilled Nami to the bone.
Chopper heaved a sigh and collapsed in his chair, looking exhausted. "Well?" she prodded gently, unable to take her eyes off her injured friend.
"She has several broken ribs and she may have a punctured lung," the reindeer answered with a sniffle. "If the bruising gets any worse, I'll have to check for internal bleeding too, but we'll have to wait a little before I can know for sure." His breath hitched and he sniffed again.
Nami wanted to comfort the little doctor, but she was preoccupied with holding herself together. Luckily, Franky, hunched in the only other chair in the room, did it for her. "I'm sure you'll have her super again in no time."
Chopper turned to smile weakly at him. "Asshole! I'm not flattered by your confidence!"
Nami shot the cyborg a grateful look, and he nodded slightly in return before his eyes locked back on the archeologist. She looked back as well, chewing her lip.
Robin sighed in her sleep. Nami couldn't hold it together anymore.
"Robin!" she cried, sinking to her knees next to the bed. "Get better! Don't leave me alone with these… these… morons! Oh, Robin! Onee-saaan!"
"Calm down, Nami-chan," whispered a raspy voice, and Nami lifted her tear streaked face. Robin's head was tilted slightly on the pillow, violet eyes trained on her. "I hardly intend to leave you with the, ah, morons."
"ROBIN!!!" cheered Nami, Chopper, and Franky at once. The navigator, being closest, was able to get her arms around the older woman first, hugging her as much as she could. "You're okay!"
Robin hissed a little in pain, then chuckled as Nami jerked back as though she had been bitten. "Aah!" shrieked Chopper. "Watch her ribs!"
"Sorry, Robin," Nami apologized, pulling her hands back.
"It's fine, Navigator-san." She looked around the redhead to Chopper. "I'll be well soon, am I correct, Doctor-san?"
Chopper wiggled in happiness. "You can count on me!"
"I'm sure I can." She sighed, her head sinking back onto the pillow, eyelids slowly closing.
"Robin?" asked Nami tentatively, and she inclined her head just enough so the younger girl would know she was listening. "What happened?"
Robin's eyes opened again. "Perhaps… I should leave that question to be answered by Captain-san."
Nami felt a sudden pit grow deep in her stomach. She swallowed hard. "Wh-what?"
"I agree with Nico Robin," said Franky. "They'll tell you what's going on soon, I'm sure."
The pit grew. "Don't make it sound so ominous," she said with forced laughter. "If it's a stowaway or something, just tell me."
"Yeah, we can take it," agreed Chopper, and Nami glanced down at him. From the way he was looking at Robin with fear and sorrow in his eyes, she realized that he already had it figured out.
She suddenly got that feeling that she was out of a very important loop, and no one wanted to be the one to include her in it.
"Zoro!" cried Usopp suddenly from where he was sitting in the dining room with Luffy. She looked at the door, then looked back hesitantly at Robin.
"Go ahead," said Franky. He nodded at the archeologist, who had drifted back off. "I'll watch her."
Chopper and Nami glanced at each other, then the navigator nodded and opened the door. She paused in the doorway, looking back at Chopper. "Coming?"
Chopper looked once more at his patients, then nodded and hurried after her.
Luffy hadn't moved at all, it seemed, from the way she had found him when Usopp and Chopper's shocked yelling had awoken her and brought her running to the galley. He was still sitting in a chair, staring with a stark melancholy at the table, his hat shadowing his eyes. Usopp was standing next to him, looking imploringly at Zoro, who was rubbing his temple as though he had too much to think about. The door clicked shut behind Chopper and Luffy seemed to wake from a trance, looking up first at Nami and then turning to Zoro. His expression was strangely unfathomable.
"Do they know?" asked Zoro after a moment. Luffy shook his head.
"Wh-wh-what's going on?" Usopp stuttered, looking ready to run and hide at any moment.
Captain and first mate stared at each other, locked in silent conversation, and then finally Luffy spoke, tone defensive. "It's not Sanji's fault."
That pit in Nami's stomach became a hole that devoured her heart. "Wh-what?"
Usopp blinked, then laughed hysterically. "That's not funny, Luffy. Don't make jokes like that."
Luffy didn't answer, just touched the brim of his hat reflexively, and Zoro took over the explanation. "We found the cook attacking Robin, and he'd already gotten to Franky."
A whole eternity of silence seemed to envelop the crew. Finally, Chopper broke it, tears pouring down his face.
"I knew it! Robin's wounds… I knew they were just like…" He couldn't finish.
"But… but Sanji-kun could never…" Nami stammered out, shocked.
"It wasn't Sanji," Luffy repeated, more forcefully this time.
Zoro nodded. "He doesn't remember anything that happened."
"So…so what… how?" asked Usopp lamely.
The swordsman gritted his teeth. "I don't know. Mind control? A weird drug? It could be anything."
"A mystery," added Luffy, lacking all of his usual exuberance about such things.
Nami's eyes lost focus and everything went strangely dark around the edges. This had to be a lie. Or a joke. A very, very bad joke…
"Nami?" asked Luffy worriedly as her shoulders began shaking.
She looked up, a slightly crazed smile on her face. "Usopp's right; this isn't funny."
"Nami, it's not-"
"A good joke?" she finished, cutting Zoro off. "You're right, it's not, so stop making it."
"Nami, this isn't a lie," said Zoro forcefully, starting to look nervous.
She blinked at him, then put her face in her hands. "This isn't happening, this CAN'T be happening, it's not happening…" Her voice rose quickly in volume until she was almost shrieking.
"O-oi, Nami!" cried Luffy and Usopp in concern. Zoro grabbed her shoulders.
"Nami, quiet!"
She gasped as though she'd been slapped, lowering her hands to look at him.
"If he knows you're this upset, he'll never forgive himself, and you know it," said Zoro, staring into her eyes.
She sniffed and then nodded, pulling herself back together. "You're right." She turned away for a second, then turned back, once again their normal, tough as nails navigator. "Like you said, it's not Sanji-kun's fault, right?"
Zoro dropped his hands in satisfaction while Luffy managed a smile. "Right!"
"So what do we do now?" asked Chopper hesitantly.
"We find whoever's making Sanji do this, and we kick his ass!" Luffy declared, pumping a fist in the air.
"I don't know," said Usopp slowly. "I mean, if this guy can control minds, maybe we should…" He trailed off at Zoro and Nami's hard looks. "I mean, hahaha! This guy will be no problem for the brave Captain Usopp! I remember I once fought off a whole hoard of men with the ability to control minds!"
"Wow, really?"
"So cool, Usopp!"
"The only problem is," said Nami quickly, cutting the oncoming Captain Usopp song short, "we don't know who's doing this or where to find them."
"The cook can't remember anything," Zoro supplied. "And… well, he feels enough like crap that maybe we shouldn't badger him too much."
She nodded. "Then we can go back to the island. Maybe someone there knows something. Robin may have heard something about pirates or bounty hunters able to control humans somehow, so when she's better we can ask her."
"Yosh! Let's go!" ordered Luffy, face cheerful but eyes grimly determined. The look made Usopp shiver; he wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of Luffy's wrath.
Nami nodded and went to change course, motioning for Zoro to come with her. Before he left, he looked back at Chopper.
"Hey, the cook hurt his throat. You should make something for Usopp to take him."
"What? Why me?" asked Usopp.
Zoro gave him a look. "Just do it," he snapped, then followed Nami.
Usopp sighed. "Right. I'll do that then."
"Don't worry, Usopp," said Luffy confidently. He tripped to the door after his navigator and first mate. "He won't hurt you."
Usopp had to believe the bright flash of teeth as he disappeared out the door.
The cabin door creaked open slowly and a long nose poked around it.
"Hellooo? Sanji?"
There was a slight creak and Usopp jumped, cringing away from the door and slamming his back against the wall. He stood there panting for a moment, one hand over his heart, the other clutching the glass Chopper had instructed him to have Sanji drink.
Silence from the cabin.
Usopp forced himself to take several deep breaths and then open the door again, a cheery smile on his face. He couldn't let Sanji see him scared, after all; he knew the older man must feel terrible about all the stuff he'd done. No, all the stuff he'd been forced to do.
It was still hard for Usopp to wrap his head around what was happening. He never would have believed that Sanji would be capable of hurting anyone on the crew, for all his short temper and threatened murders. He had seen the slashes on Franky's back and Robin's broken body, but he still couldn't believe it.
Monsters did stuff like that. And Sanji was no monster.
The cabin was still and silent, and Usopp trembled a little when he didn't see Sanji immediately. But then he saw a blonde head resting on the arm of the couch and his panic subsided. Sanji was stretched out across the cushions, almost deathly still. It was a bit disconcerting.
Usopp, not wanting to wake the sleeping cook, was going to just set the glass on the coffee table and sneak away. He bent to set it down, looked up, and jumped in surprise to find a blue eye staring at him.
"Usopp," Sanji croaked. Then his eye clouded in fear. "Didn't they tell you what was happening? You shouldn't be here!"
Usopp suppressed a shudder. The pure fright in Sanji's eyes was scarier than the prospect of mind control. He was one of the Monster Trio; one of the strongest people on the Grand Line!
For him to be afraid of anything was just… wrong.
"Ah… Chopper wanted you to drink this," Usopp offered in explanation. He retrieved the glass and held it out to Sanji, whose hand shook as he took it. "It's for your throat," he added when Sanji looked up at him questioningly.
Sanji looked at the greenish liquid with a cold grin. "That Chopper… he shouldn't be worrying about me when he has Robin-chan to…" He gulped and couldn't finish. Usopp noticed that he was fighting back tears.
Suddenly, Usopp realized something. He had always admired Sanji as one of the strongest in the crew, and he had always counted on him, along with Zoro and Luffy, to be able to handle anything. And now Blackleg Sanji had come up against an enemy he couldn't fight alone, and for once Usopp could help.
And he would. For his nakama, on his honor as a brave warrior of the sea!
"Oi, Sanji, it's all gonna be okay," he said comfortingly. He sat down next to the chef, who pulled reflexively away. "It will be," he repeated confidently. "Luffy, Zoro, and Nami are looking for the guy doing this right now, and they'll find him and kick his ass and everything will go back to normal!"
Sanji took a shaky breath. "I don't think it's that easy, Usopp."
"Sure it is!" He smiled brightly. "Luffy believes we can do it, so we will, somehow."
Sanji laughed wryly and put his head in one hand. "I wish I had that much confidence."
"Well, why don't you? Luffy's always been right. He is now, too." Usopp looked down at his knees. "He keeps saying how it's not your fault. He knows you didn't want to do this, and he wants to help you. We all do."
The sniper heard some sniffling and realized Sanji was crying. He spared the man any embarrassment and looked off, over at the bunks. "Drink your medicine or Chopper will throw a fit," he added lightly, eliciting, to his pleasure, a small laugh from the cook.
Silence settled over the two while Sanji slowly drank his medicine. His tears dried away and Usopp congratulated himself on a job well done. This must have been why Zoro told him to do this; he knew he could handle it. Usopp's chest swelled with pride, and in his mind he was already embellishing his tear jerking, heartwarming tale of how he comforted a nakama in need.
"How all good curses are broken."
Usopp jumped, startled, when Sanji spoke so suddenly. "Uh, what?"
Sanji swirled the rest of his medicine reflectively. "I remember… something about how all good curses are broken."
Usopp's pulse quickened. Sanji was remembering something that could help them? "Is that all?"
"Yeah…" He gulped down the last of the drink and stared into the empty glass. "Does it mean anything to you?"
Usopp thought about it. "No, I don't think so. Maybe Robin would have an idea? We can ask her when… well, we can ask her later." He mentally kicked himself for the sore subject. Sanji moved his head so that his eyes were shadowed by his bangs.
"Oi, Sanji, are you okay?"
Sanji didn't answer. Usopp noticed he had gone awfully tense. Now the younger boy was really kicking himself. He had been doing so well, and now he had gone and upset the poor guy again!
"Oi, Sanji, really," he said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's going to be ok-"
CRASH!
It happened so fast that only Usopp's nearly superhuman reflexes, honed from countless years of cowardice, kept the broken shard of glass from piercing his heart. He stared at the bits of the cup Sanji had broken sticking out of the right side of his overalls in shock, watched blood, his blood, drip slowly down to the floor.
Sanji tossed the rest of the glass across the cabin in annoyance with a muttered curse, then stood up quickly and kicked the sniper hard in the ribs. Usopp uttered a cry as he flew across the room that was cut short when his head connected with the wall.
Sanji didn't spare him a single glance as he darted out of the cabin, pausing only to retrieve the knife Georgia had stashed away under the couch cushions.
"Such a touching moment! I'm almost sorry I had to ruin it. Almost."
"I can't believe… how were you that convincing?" Sanji gasped in shock.
"My control over you is increasing exponentially," she explained, walking his body swiftly through the ship. "I can now access all of your memories and I can think and react like you would. Impressive, no?"
"So that's why you stashed that knife there," Sanji interjected. "To get it again later."
"Actually, I had been planning on putting it in Zoro's things and framing everything on him. It would have been wonderful if you had blamed your rival and ripped him apart, only to learn it was all your fault." She sighed wistfully. "Of course, your idiot captain had to find us before then. Ah well, I still had fun with the little sniper boy."
Sanji's face grew hard. "It won't matter. When Zoro catches up to me, he'll kill me and your plan will fail."
"Will he?" She smirked.
"Yes. He promised. And Zoro's good with promises."
"Hmm…" She walked closer to him, and he stood resolutely as she ran a hand teasingly under his chin. "Such faith. Such resolve. But tell me, Sanji… will you really be willing to die when the time comes?"
"Of course," he spat back.
She stared at him a moment, then turned abruptly and walked with slow steps away. "You know, Blackleg Sanji, I have done this many times and seen many reactions. Usually I don't get discovered, but in a crew so small I suppose that was unavoidable this time. Those times, it's too late for the crew to feel anything but confusion and betrayal before I kill them. Other times, the crew does learn. Most try to kill their crewmate, and many succeed. It doesn't matter, though; I always catch them anyway." She looked over her shoulder at him with a smile, one that told him his plan was futile. Sanji didn't flinch, and she turned away and continued her walk, so like a funeral march. "But do you know what that crewmate always does before his companions kill him? He fights. No matter how horrified he was at what he was doing, no matter how heinous the crimes, his crew's life simply isn't worth his own in the end. So he fights until his last breath, and I sit back and enjoy the show."
"I won't fight," Sanji said, voice cold and determined.
"You say that now, but I wonder what you'll think when your life is flashing before your eyes." She stopped and grinned. "Well, no matter. For now, we have mutiny to commit."
"Sanji! Where are you?"
Sanji's face paled. 'Luffy… oh God, not Luffy, not him…'
Georgia crouched behind the crates in the storage room and waited. "Too easy," she said. "Let's see how Blackleg Sanji matches up to his captain…"
"Usopp hasn't come back yet," said Nami.
"I'm sure he's okay," said Zoro confidently.
"Yeah." She forced calm. "He's probably just… comforting Sanji, or maybe he found one of his inventions to mess with."
Luffy looked back from where he was perched on the railing. "I'll go check on them," he said, hopping down and sprinting across the deck. "I want to talk to Sanji, anyway."
"Oi, Luffy," Nami began to call after him, but Zoro cut her off.
"I think it would be good, Nami."
She watched her captain disappear below deck and nodded. "You're right… now, turn us starboard!"
"Sanji! Usopp! Guys?"
Luffy popped into the cabin and looked around. All was still and it was apparently empty.
He folded his arms and cocked his head in confusion. "Huh? But I thought this is where they would be…"
He took a few more steps into the room, and it was then that he noticed the crumpled figure in the corner of the room.
"Usopp!" he gasped, rushing to his friend's side. The sniper was out cold, bleeding from a wound in his chest, out of which a few shards of glass were still sticking.
"Aah! Usopp!" cried Luffy in panic, shaking his friend's shoulders. "Are you dead?"
"Nng… Luffy?"
"Usopp! No! Don't die!"
"Luffy?"
"Keep breathing!"
"Luffy, stop shaking me!"
Luffy opened his eyes in surprise. "Oh, hey, you're awake. Why didn't you say something?"
Usopp hit him on the head. "I did, you idiot! Ow, that hurts." He looked down at the glass, rubbing the knot on his head with one hand. "You have all the gentleness of a rhino."
"What happened?"
Usopp froze, and then his hand lowered in time with his eyes. "I… I was talking to Sanji and then… he just…"
Luffy didn't push him to finish. "Which way did he go?"
"I don't know."
The rubberman jumped up. "I'll find him." He hurried off, stopping briefly to look back at Usopp, who was slowly pulling himself to his feet. "It'll be okay. Right?"
The last word was said cheerfully, but there was the faintest hint of a need for reassurance.
Usopp nodded, forcing himself to believe it. "Right."
The hold was silent as the grave, and Luffy ceased his calling as though the heavy air was choking off all sound. He walked into the middle of the crates of provisions and supplies, looking slowly from one side to the other.
Finally, he spoke.
"Come on out, Sanji."
There was the softest tap of dress shoes meeting wood before the cook plowed into his captain from behind. Luffy barely got out a muffled cry before he was on the floor, a knife pressed to his neck.
"Peekaboo," Sanji whispered in his ear.
"Sanji," gasped Luffy. "What are you doing?"
"Killing you," he answered mercilessly. "You're a horrible idiot of a captain. I'll run this ship right."
"I know that's not really you, Sanji," said Luffy, comfortingly.
For a second, Sanji seemed taken aback. Then he started roaring. "Fool! I AM Sanji, and I'm about to slit your throat!"
"I know you're in there, Sanji, and I know you don't want this," said Luffy steadily.
"Fool!" shrieked Sanji again.
"It's okay, Sanji. I'm not mad at you. I know it's not your fault."
Sanji took a deep breath as though he was going to scream again. Silence followed.
Then Luffy felt the steady drip of tears on his head.
"…Sanji?"
"Sanji. What are you doing?"
"Luffy!" Sanji screamed. "Luffy, fight me! Damn it, where is Zoro?"
Georgia ignored him, replying to Luffy with his voice. "Killing you, of course. You're a horrible idiot of a captain. I'll run this ship right."
Sanji gritted his teeth. "That's a lie! No one's a better captain than Luffy!"
"Oh, do hush up, Sanji. I can hardly hear myself think!"
"You shut up!" He fought desperately for some kind of control. "I owe him… so much… I won't let you hurt him!"
"I know that's not really you, Sanji."
Sanji gasped and froze, staring at the image of Luffy's calm face. "…Luffy…"
"Oh, how touching," said Georgia in disgust. "Fool! I AM Sanji, and I'm about to slit your throat!"
"No!" Sanji started fighting desperately, kicking at Georgia's ghostly body. "Don't you dare, don't you dare!!!"
"I know you're in there, Sanji, and I know you don't want this."
"Fool!"
"Luffy!"
"It's okay, Sanji. I'm not mad at you. I know it's not your fault."
"Oh please, what a load of… What the-!!!"
It was as though he were emerging from ice water.
He gasped in air as though he hadn't breathed in years.
He still wasn't in full control of his body. His arm refused to drop the knife.
But it also refused to spill his captain's blood.
He felt Georgia fighting to regain control, and he felt tears running down his cheeks.
"…Sanji?"
Sanji gasped again at Luffy's voice. "Luffy… Luffy, I don't want…"
"It's okay," the younger man assured him. "We'll figure something out."
Sanji tried to drop the knife again. It was impossible. "Luffy, I can't stop… I can't fight her…"
"You can, Sanji. You can."
This is touching, really, but now you've pissed me off.
Sanji cried out as the hand holding the knife pressed harder against Luffy's neck against his will. Luffy remained calm.
I'm not letting you do this, bitch. He couldn't. He owed this man for so much. Because of Luffy, he had the chance to chase his dream. He had a life of his own. And he had a family, one that he loved more than anything and one that he would give his life for.
But he didn't know if he had the strength to protect them from himself.
You don't have a choice.
"Sanji," said Luffy, slowly but sternly. "You can fight this. I know you can."
Sanji fought to hold his hand steady; it was an epic battle to keep control, and one that he was losing. "I can't!" he sobbed. "I'm too weak!"
"No you're not!" Luffy yelled suddenly, furious. "If you believe that, it's over. Don't let her beat you!"
You're right; you're too weak, you maggot.
Sanji did his best to ignore her, but he couldn't help but believe her. Maybe so, but I'll hold out against you for as long as I can.
I give you twenty seconds.
There was a sudden rush of frantic footsteps, followed by a familiar voice. "Luffy? Sanji?"
"Zoro!" cried Sanji in relief. Twenty seconds is more than enough.
It took Zoro a second to size up the situation: Sanji had Luffy pinned down, a knife pressed to his throat. But the cook had to be at least partly himself.
The weight of his promise suddenly came crashing down on him.
No hesitation.
"Shithead." Sanji turned to look at him, his eye crazed and desperate. The simple movement seemed to take a lot of effort, and his control slipped, the knife pressing ever harder against Luffy's neck. "What are you waiting for? Kill me!"
Tears were streaking down his face. Luffy was crying, too, as he pleaded, "Zoro, don't."
Maybe Zoro was crying, but he didn't know for sure.
He had promised that he would stop Sanji at all costs, no hesitation. But Luffy had just ordered him not to hurt the man.
He drew Wado with a heavy finality.
Which to follow: the order or the promise?
Sanji's eye lit up with relief when he saw the sword; Luffy's clouded in worry.
Break a promise, or disobey an order?
Zoro made his decision.
Thank God.
It was the last thing Sanji thought before the back of Wado slammed into his head, knocking him out cold.
Chapter 4 End
A/N: So hopefully, the prologue makes sense now. ^^
…as calmly as if he were asking Zoro to raise the anchor.
Which, according to the wiki, is Zoro's only job on the ship, other than raising sails and rowing with the others. Poor Zoro…
"After what I've done, I don't want to live!"
It pained me to write this sentence…
A moment of oppressive silence settled for a moment.
I don't like the word "oppressive" here but I couldn't think of a more fitting word…
Oh, Robin! Onee-saaan!"
I love the way Robin's name is pronounced in the Japanese version, especially when Nami does it. "Robeeeen!!!" XD Oh, and onee-san=sister for those who don't know.
You should make something for Usopp to take him."
There are actually a plethora of reasons why Zoro sent Usopp. Well, okay, two: first, because he was worried about Chopper's safety more than Usopp's (not that he doesn't care about Usopp, mind you). Second, he was worried that it would upset Sanji to be around Chopper after he just realized he probably tried to kill him.
And Sanji was no monster.
Even if he is in the Monster Trio. XD
So anyway, that's that. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! More to come… soon. ^^
So glad that she's out of school for now, this is Dandy Wonderous, signing off.