Author's Notes: THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN READING AND REVIEWING THIS STORY!!! Well, here we are...at the (almost) ending of the story. There will be a chapter that follows right on the heels of this...an epilogue of sorts. I hope you guys like it!!!

Emerald Raven: Thank you!!! And, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Um. I just put in the relevant part of the fight. LOL! (Sanji and Zoro: "Fight! Fight! Fight!", KS: "Um, guys...uh...nevermind...")

AnimeBride: Thank you!!! Just seemed like a natural 'fit' of the two stories...well, at least to me, anyway. LOL! (Sanji and Zoro: (still chanting) "Fight! Fight! Fight!", KS: (Shaking head))

THANK YOU VERY MUCH to Blizzardrake, Dirge-Gaurdian, Verum, Devlinn Reiko-sama, Emerald raven, Sugar-Hype-Queen, AnimeBride, and whomever leaves anymore reviews on this site!!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

So, here we go, the second to the last chapter...

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Part 5: Senseless

"You have to cast a spell!" Yelled the cook as the swordsman shattered yet another set of shackles attached to the blonde's wrists.

"How?!"

While the green-haired swordsman did not have the skills to summon the spells cast over the natural world, he could wield his swords to shatter the chains and block most of the boys' attacks. However, in this battle, that ability couldn't save them forever. With each hit, Sanji could feel his strength waning, and if this continued, both of them could be killed.

The blonde stared at the swordsman.

This time, the underage duo's fighter sent a pair of shackles, one to bind the cook, and the other for the swordsman. For the first time, the swordsman felt the pain that the cook had been taking with each hit. Eyes filled with anger, the swordsman cut through all the chains with one stroke of a katana.

Glancing over to the blonde, the swordsman saw something in the young man's eyes. Only this time, he knew what it was...a sense of worry and hopelessness. The same look of vulnerability that he had seen on the cook's face over the past few days.

This was not good.

If the cook was losing his concentration and will, they would lose. And, from what Zoro had come to understand, that would definitely mean the death of his Sacrifice...

Sheathing his katana, the green-haired man cupped the cook's face in his hands. He didn't have time for a pep talk, he had to act quickly. Looking straight into the blonde's blue-eye, the swordsman tilted the cook's face up and kissed him squarely on the lips.

During the kiss, the swordsman watched as the cook's eye rapidly changed from shock, to anger, to a sense of calmness.

"Hentai!" Yelled the red-headed boy in the distance. "You nameless abomination!"

Finally breaking the kiss, the swordsman turned to the two boys.

"Jealous?" Then, turning back to the cook, he added, "Kuso-Kokku, you have to concentrate."

Watching as the determination returned to the blonde's face, the swordsman nodded as he prepared an attack of his own.

While he may not know the spells of Sanji's North Blue home, he knew a few things that he could conjure up from his.

Drawing all three of his katana, the swordsman protectively wrapped his arms around the cook, keeping the blonde close to his chest. Then looking at the two boys the swordsman shouted, "Thirty-Six Pondo Hou!" Wado Ichimonji and the other two swords began to glow blood red. "Restrict all!"

The swordsman felt the surge of power emanating from himself and the cook, enter into the katana.

As red bolts leapt from the three swords towards their targets, the two boys were left frozen like statues, senseless...

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While the rest of the crew ate the feast that the cook had prepared that afternoon, the blonde retired to the comforting silence of the men's quarters.

Lying on the futon on the floor, the cook stared at the ceiling.

As the door quietly opened, the swordsman entered and watched the blonde man.

"Oi, Ero-Kokku. Don't you want to take part in the celebration?"

The blonde's blue-eye looked in the direction where the voice had come from. "Don't feel like celebrating."

Walking over and sitting on the floor, next to the cook, the swordsman asked, "Why not? We won."

The worry-filled, hopeless look returned to the blonde's eye as he watched the swordsman's face. "What about next time?"

"What do you mean, 'what about next time?' If they send someone else, we'll deal with them the same way."

Closing his eyes, the cook's face appeared visibly pained and weary. "I can't risk it. I can't risk you." Opening his eyes, the cook placed a palm on the swordsman's leg. "While we are bonded as nakama...I don't think we could ever be 'connected.' Not like a Sentouki and Sacrifice should..." Withdrawing his hand to his side, the cook closed his eyes once more. "That could get you killed. And, I'm not willing to risk that...I'd rather die first."

The swordsman quietly watched as tears escaped the corners of the cook's eyes, leaving paths down either side of his face.

Placing a hand over the blonde man's heart, the swordsman could feel the steady beat within the cook's chest. While he had no proof, the swordsman was sure that it was beating in time with his own heart.

"Well, I'm not willing to let you go." Stated the swordsman, as he leaned forward and gently kissed the blonde's lips.

While he may not have been able to be 'connected' in the traditional way of a Sentouki and his Sacrifice, the swordsman was determined that they would be connected the best way that he knew how.

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Author's Note: Now...here comes the ENDING! LOL! Stay tuned...

P.S. Some of you may have noticed that ONE of the 'completed' stories has gone back to being 'in progress.' Yep, that's the one that is coming back with a second part. LOL! (5/19/07)