- Chapter 18 / No More
Chopper stood there shaking his head, "Sanji stop it!"
"No more … I'm not taking it anymore." Sanji whispered as he used the knife he had gotten from the kitchen to cut away some more of the damaged flesh. Already small little tiny chunks of his bloody flesh sat on the bathroom counter. Maybe it had been a mistake to get the bigger knife after all he thought then frowned as he stared into the cracked broken mirror trying to make sure he cut all of that disgusting mark off his face.
"Sani give me the knife!" Chopper now demanded stepping in the room, the sound of crushing and cracking was heard under foot of his shoe as he stepped on some of the mirror bits that had fallen to the floor from the counter and sink.
Sanji's blue eyes now noticed Chopper in the mirror and his breath caught in his throat. "Oh … it's just … the blood is in the way." His thoughts broken and cracked like the mirror before him.
"That's because you're cutting yourself Sanji … please give me the knife." Chopper pleaded.
Sanji kept looking in the mirror, and now used his other hand wincing as he touched the new wound. It seemed like it was all gone now. Slowly Sanji then turned to Chopper and offered the knife to him. "I just … I wanted it off."
Chopper took the knife and tossed it behind him keeping his eyes locked on Sanji. The blonde's face was bleeding badly from the jagged hole he had made, by cutting off in bits and chunks on the left side of his face right were that burned brand logo used to be. The wound was bleeding heavily, and trailing down messily along his cheek and down his chest. Yet at lest now with the weapon out of the way Chopper would be able to start treating the man and took a step to his friend to do just that, but was surprised again.
As Chopper moved to him, Sanji took a step back, not being able to help himself, and grabbed another towel from the rack near by, and hid his bare chest no longer able to look at the doctor. Shame utter shame was wrenching through out Sanji again. God he didn't want anyone to know…wait that was right he needed to tell, and warning them all about what was said last night before …
"Sanji… let me help you." Chopper put his hands up showing he was not a threat. His doctor senses were tingling now big time. Slowly he eased himself to Sanji, not sure if the man right now would lash out like a wounded animal would or not, but had to get that bleeding to stop.
Sanji kept his head turned down as he tried to think of everything that was said last night, and what he needed to say as he let Chopper come now to him as he kept hiding himself, his hands holding tightly to the towel that he was keeping to his chest.
Chopper reached out testing the limits, and placed a hand on Sanji's shoulder.
At the touch the blonde jerked his head up, and pulled back almost franticly so at the other man's touch.
Chopper again put up his hands, "I'm not going to hurt you Sanji. Please I just want to help you… will you let me do that?" he asked very slowly, showing himself as the lest possible threat he could to the other man.
Slowly Sanji nodded his head in reply after a moment, and when Chopper this time touched him he didn't pull away, even let Chopper start to lead him out of the bathroom.
"Ok now let's just go to the living room…" was all Chopper got out.
"No!" Sanji almost yelled and stopped in his tracks. "I ... I ... I don't want to go there … the … I just … It's a mess I didn't get to clean up... It's ..." fuck what the hell was he saying! He needed to get a grip and stop acting so fucking helpless!
"That's ok Sanji … we can go to the bedroom ok?" Chopper asked and once he got another head nod from the blonde Chopper guided the man through the apt, but Chopper could not help but look to the living room again as they passed by. Chopper's dark brown big eyes took in the scene once more of the chaos of it all. The glass, the over turn sofa, the clothing… the clothing! The clothing that looked like Sanji's from last night. Suddenly then it hit him like a brick dropping on his stomach. Even though he now only worked with children in the hospital, he had first at the hospital spent his fair share of time in the emergency room, and had learned to spot certain things. Drug abusers, spouse abuse and in this case rape.
Chopper sat Sanji down on the bed, "You going to be ok here for a moment Sanji? I just need to get some things ... here lets put this towel up here … good just like that and hold it tight to keep it from bleeding anymore ok." Chopper coached getting Sanji to use the towel he had to his chest, to now help stop the bleeding on his face. Once he was then sure Sanji would be ok, he sat his bag down, and rushed out getting the few things he would need like some water and more towels, and did it as quickly as he could.
Sanji sat there staring at the floor. He needed to get a grip. So what? He had liked getting fucked, what was the real surprised there? That's all it was. It had been just sex. Sex he had, had tons of times. No different … it felt good that's why people like sex. It was ok. It was not rape. Rape … he would have not let rape happened. Yeah that was it. Just the feel of it, and all got him distracted, and sure he had said no, but his body had said yes, and he had cried, and begged for it to stop, and they kept on taking turns on him only laughing at him … oh god he could not breathe!
Chopper came rushing back into the room to find Sanji hyperventilating "Sanji! You need to clam down! Look at me!" Chopper tried to gain the blonde's focus as he sat the things he had gathered to the floor, and got down on his knees before his friend. "Look at me Sanji look … good calm down now, and take a deep breathe for me." Chopper watched the blonde do as he was told, and Chopper nodded, "Good now let it out slowly….good, and again ... very good Sanji." Once Sanji seemed now to be in a calmer state the doctor started to work on the man's face. Chopper tried to gather his wits about him. He had never had to go through this with a friend before.
"Sanji … about last night…" The doctor tried to start, but was cut off by laughter.
Sanji could not help it he just laughed as Chopper mentioned it. Then he again remembered it all and he laughed more. "Doflamingo knows Chopper … he knows about everything. I don't know how he found out, maybe he always had someone following me I don't know, but he knows."
Chopper frowned as he worked repairing the man's face. "Knows all of what Sanji?"
"He knows I met Luffy's gang, that I care about them, that he can use them against me … and he is going to… he does not seem to know about you, but he knows about all the others, and he is going to cash in Zeff to that shitty Croc, and use Luffy, and everyone to renew the contract … but no more I wont … I'm not going to let him Chopper I will die before I take anymore!"
Chopper stopped his work for a moment then once he got a grip on himself he started again, his hands steady as ever while he tried to think this all out. "Ok I'm going to need to call the others Sanji. Luffy will need to know this, and Ace and Zoro are right out in the car downstairs I will call them up here first…"
"No… they should stay there I don't want them in here." Sanji frowned.
"Ok … aright then … is there maybe something else you want to tell me about Sanji… something that happened last night? Like how the living room got like that?" Chopper asked as delicately as he could.
Sanji's mouth went dry at that, and quickly he thought up the first thing that came to mind. "There was a fight … they were drinking, and stuff it was nothing."
Chopper frowned. Usopp could have told a better lie then that. "You know Sanji I'm your friend, and that means you're able to tell me anything. If something bad happened …"
"Well nothing bad happened!" Sanji snapped at the doctor, and looked away with his eyes as a fresh gauzed bandage was applied to his face. Chopper could not know. The doctor had to be thinking it something else. Sure he was dirty, and all but the dirt would never show that much … would it?
Chopper didn't want to pressure Sanji into admitting what happened so let it go for the moment. Plus with other problems raising there ugly heads to show, he needed to first think about Sanji's physical health, and wellbeing. As Chopper now wrapped Sanji's foot he thought of what he would need to do, and would need do it fast. Who knew when people would come back here! "Sanji while I make a call to Luffy can you get dressed, and pack some things? I think it is best you come stay with us for a little bit till we fix things ok?"
Sanji nodded his head. That's right he needed to fix things, and make sure no more things got broken. As Chopper left the room Sanji got to his feet, and let the towel around his waist drop to the floor. No more bitching, no more whining how life was unfair. It was now time he did something about it. It was time he got up, and made a stand, and fought for what was important to him!
After the blonde got all the blood off him and fixed his hair to hide somewhat over the bandage he dressed quickly. Black pants, and matching suit jacket, with a white button up shirt under, and shiny black dress shoes. He as well assembled a few things he might need for this trip like a few guns, extra ammo, pack of smokes, and matches since he still didn't have his silver zippo lighter back.
Ready for business Sanji walked out of the bedroom. "No more!" he growled out loudly as he walked past Chopper.
"Hold on Luffy …Sanji wait where are you doing?" Chopper asked following after the blonde.
"I have to get to the Baratie, and stop what they plan to do to Zeff." he said picking up his keys from the stand by the door, and started down the hallway with out stopping.
Chopper trailed after him still. "Well Sanji why don't we wait for the others to come then, we can all go together ok?" With Sanji's mental state Chopper was worried for the blonde to go off, and do anything right now.
"No can do, got to be there by noon, already ten now." Sanji said walking past the elevator to the stairs door, and opened it, then started to head down them.
"Sanji I don't think it's a good idea. You should wait for Luffy, and everyone! Please Sanji." the doctor pleaded.
"No … I'm done being pushed around. They wanna fuck with me then I'm going to fuck back! It's what I'm good at after all. Maybe I can teach them a few pointers." Sanji smirked pulling out a cigarette now, and lit it up as he got into the lobby of the apt building. Slowly he was building back up his cocky hard cover that protected him from the world. It had failed him sure enough, but he was not going to let it fail him again. He puffed out a cloud of smoke as his feet hit the sidewalk.
"Yes Sanji's place right now hurry!" Chopper was now telling Luffy then ended the call, and pulled on Sanji's arm trying to get the man to stop. "Please Sanji, it's only going to be a few minutes! Let's just calmly wait …" he was cut off as Sanji turned on him, and pushed him back.
"Fuck waiting! I have waited a year! I'm free, and I'm not following anymore orders from no one! People want to keep pushing my buttons, then it's about damn time I show them how much of a bitch I can be in return! NO MORE!" he yelled pointing two fingers at Chopper that held his cigarette between them.
Chopper stumbled back, and gasped with wide eyes. He had never seen Sanji so pissed before. By the time he had gathered his wits though Sanji was already in his red convertible, and starting it up. "Sanji!" The doctor ran to the car but it was too late.
The blonde put his foot to the gas petal and let his car gun it down the road in a roar that matched his own furry.
"Fuck!" Chopper cursed. The bastard was going to get himself killed going off half cocked like that! Then Chopper remembered Ace and Zoro, and started to make a call when the two of them in Chopper's car pulled to the curb side by him.
"Chopper what's going on?" Zoro questioned as Ace leaned his head over to see the doctor as well.
Chopper pointed down the road, "Go, hurry, help Sanji! To the Baratie! Now something bad is going to happen to Zeff!" and kept waving his pointed hand in the direction to which Sanji had gone.
That was all the information Zoro needed, and he was then next to lay heavy of foot on the gas petal, and tore off down the road.
Chopper then in turn hurried back up to the apt. He had a feeling he was going to need his medical backpack again today, maybe a few times over.
Blood was going to rain this afternoon! Sanji grinned as his eyes narrowed on the road ahead of him. Screw making peace with the world, he was going to drag it down to the dirty hole he had fallen into. No more running, no more hiding, no more!
The drive was a quick one, quicker then it should have been, then again maybe it would have taken him longer if he had paid attention to all those red lights and stop signs. No matter, he thought, as he pealed up to a stop on the lawn ripping it up, which was by the parking lot that was meant for business parking for the docks there.
Sanji got out and dropped his 3nd used up cigarette of the day, only to light up another cigarette. Since having lit up the first one, he had been smoking non-stop. His shoes then heavily clicked on the pavement of the parking lot as he walked up to the dock, then turned his back to it, and stood there waiting, blocking the path so no one would be able to go to the ships with out getting past him first.
No way had Don Krieg, and his boys came here yet. If they had, the place would have been a mess, as it had once before a long time ago. No he still had time. His thought trail then ended as a voice called out to him ... a voice he had not herd in some time now.
"Eggplant!" Zeff yelled from the dock behind the blonde. The man had a gun pointed to his own head waiting for Sanji to turn around.
Sanji stiffened for a moment then quickly kicked himself mentally to not break down again, not when he was needed so much! "Knock of the heroics you shitty old geezer. The contract is already off." He didn't have to turn around to know what the legendary fighter / chef was doing, because if Sanji was him he would be doing the same. "You're not dying today … no one, but those shitty bastards are. So why don't you go back in that restaurant, and wait for me to get finished here."
Zeff's eyes widen for a moment at the young man standing at the end of the dock, and could not help for but a moment to see that young boy he had taken in so many years ago. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as his eyes watered. He knew what this could mean for the both of them, but he would not disgrace a man's resolve so lightly. Zeff lowered the gun, and limped over to stand by Sanji's side.
Pulling the cigarette from his mouth the blonde looked over at the older man and frowned. "Tch, and just what do you think you're doing?"
"Like I would let you have all the fun?" Zeff questioned with a bit of a grin to his face.
Sanji smiled. He should have known better to think he could get Zeff to go sit in the kitchen, and wait for it to be all over. Looking away from the man he owed everything to, he stood up a little bit taller, as a bit more of him self seemed to repair itself at that moment. One less crack that gave him strength he so dearly needed right now.
"Whatever you shitty old geezer, do what you want, just try not to break a hip." Sanji scoffed and went to take another puff on his cigarette only to end up dropping it and grunting out in pain.
Zeff in a blink of an eye had lifted his fake leg and plowed it into Sanji's gut. "How many times do I have to tell you to respect your elders?" he demanded yet could not wipe the grin off his face that was growing all the more larger now. It really had been far too long.
Sanji fought not to rub at his gut as he stood back up straight. Then after a moment spoke again, "I see you still kick like a mule."
"Eh what are you talking about eggplant. I barely touched you. You're getting to soft in your old age." Zeff mocked.
"Yeah if I'm getting so old how about showing me a little of that elderly respect your always preaching about?" retorted Sanji.
Zeff didn't get a chance to answer however as many cars and trucks were now making there way down the street. It was time.
A moment later the parking lot was full, and blocked with Don Krieg and his men. The leader himself came out to the middle of them all and called out. "I didn't expect to see you here Mr. Prince. Going to make sure we keep the old man alive?" he smirked.
"No! You're not going to take him period!" Sanji called out.
Don Krieg narrowed his eyes on the blonde. "Are you going against a direct order?" He was a man that had no tolerance for disloyalties no matter what the reasons.
"I no longer follow Doflamingo." was Sanji's reply, making a clear statement he was standing against all of this.
"Well then if you don't get out of the way I don't have to worry about not killing you then, do I?" the gang leader smirked. "Give him up or else Mr. Prince, this is your only warning!"
"Yeah well … You can take your shitty warning and shove it up your as-..." Sanji was cut off there.
"Kill them both!" Don Krieg yelled, and was answered back by a few guns going off.
Sanji and Zeff dove, each to a side. Sanji taking cover behind a mailbox as Zeff used a bench the best he could for cover.
"You idiots don't waste bullets on them! They are just two men! Now go, now, get them!" Don Krieg then yelled, his temper rising at the incompetents he was surrounded by.
There was a moment's confusion haste before the first wave of men then came running. Once Zeff and Sanji was sure no more shots were going to be taken they jumped out from behind their cover to give kicks as greetings to the assholes that rushed them.
Don Krieg had brought a lot more of his men then Sanji had thought he would. They might be here for awhile. Yet this was what he had been psyching himself up for since he had walked out of the bedroom of his apt. Nothing was ever easy. If he wanted to come home again, he had to see this through.
With every kick he sent, he promised himself just a few more, and it would be over. With ever dodge he used to step out of harms way, he promised himself just a little bit longer would he need to do this. It was all coming to an end, and everything he had learned over the course of his life, not just this past year was finally going to take true shape to who he was. This little grain of dirt … of sand was going to shine now in the sun like never before. He would take control of his fate, and change things.
As things were going well for the two men Don Krieg was starting to get pissed. "Can't you bastards do anything … fuck it! Shoot them then, if you think you can do that right! Whatever it takes!"
And gun shots rang out again, but in the numbers of Don Krieg's men, Zeff and Sanji were able to safely hide or use the other men around them as shields. Sanji then bumped his back to Zeff, and each man turned to spare a moments glace at one another, a smile on each of their faces before turning back around to continue the fight. It all just seemed so easy now. That probably was the first clue that tragedy was on its way.
No longer able to stand by, and watch him self be made a fool off, Don Krieg took out his machine gun, and blasted through his own men, to try and get at the two.
"Sanji!" Zeff cried, and the next thing the blonde knew, Zeff was diving on top of him, pushing him down to the ground just in time before a round blasted over head of them now.
A loud explosion then went off due to the machine gun Don Krieg held blew up in a flurry of flames, which in turn made the gun's bullets go off every which way, shooting at random. Everyone hit the deck then. The gun, and now firry burnt up body that held it flew back from the burst of the explosion, and onto one of the parked cars, only catch the car on fire as well.
"What the hell is wrong with you Ace! Those bullets could have hit us! Next time aim for the guy's head!" Zoro yelled as he came jumping over a car swords drawn.
"Could have hit us, but didn't!" pointed out the fire shooter as he laughed out following behind the swordsman, with guns in hand.
Zeff pulled back rolling over from Sanji, and Sanji got up just in time to block an attack, and sent a man flying with a deadly kick. Sanji smiled then seeing the other two men coming towards him, but it was short lived smile as he looked back to Zeff to see the man's one good leg was shot up all to hell. It was like a blow to the gut that was harder then one of Zeff's kicks. "Zeff…" Sanji gasped out.
"Watch out behind you!" cried the older chef as he saw another man swing a club down towards Sanji's head.
The man however never got an inch to Sanji's head as Zoro had come up, and with one soiled strike with only one of his swords, he sliced into the man's back with ease cutting right through the man's spine making the guy's whole nervous system go out of wack were he crumbled to the ground a twitching mess, falling from Zoro's sword.
Zoro gave a sharp twist with his wrist making the used blade turn in a fast small movement that made the blood on the steal fling mostly off, while the owner of the sword frowned at Sanji. "What the hell is with you, stopping in the middle of a fight like that shit-cook?" Then his eyes saw what Sanji's did, and he didn't know what to say.
Ace pushed Zoro back a step, and fired out some shots now with his guns. The small pellets that were in them, whizzing out into the air in top speed, then crashing into people's faces or chests, and popping much like that of a water balloon. The small bit of liquid with in them splashing over what they hit, and as air came in contact with that liquid it busted into roaring high flames. Of course then being suddenly set on fire, out of the blue, the people who had been shot, were in a panic running into others, ending up catching them on fire as well. Some of the other men rather then get ran into, and get the same fate shot at there own men, putting them down, to become just logs for the fire.
"Get the old guy back under some cover!" Ace ordered and went on to cause some more havoc, that Zoro then soon joined in with.
The green haired man's two swords twirled in his hands as some men came at Ace to try and get the fire shooter to stop. The next thing one knew body limbs flew up in the air, and blood spurted from the missing limb areas of the men. Screams echoing out across the parking lot, be it because they were on fire, or the men dropping grabbing at their body, and at their severed limbs, not able to believe, or understand it being detected from them.
As Zoro and Ace had their fun Sanji dragged Zeff back, and behind the mailbox he had used for cover. Once he had the old man safely behind the bit of covering he looked into the old man's face. "Zeff…"
Zeff's jaw clenched as he looked up at Sanji. After a moment he finally spoke up, "You go help your friends Eggplant. They are good people. Don't you ever forget that."
"But … you leg." Sanji chocked back tears. It felt like the first time again. That time he had just been a kid, and Zeff had came out of no where pulling him from the train tracks and Zeff's leg ... it was gone, and now …here his other one was, and it looked so bad. A trail of blood from the area they had been in to behind the mailbox proved that it had to be bad. Would this one be lost too?
"It's just a leg Sanji." Zeff's voice came out firm as he saw something in the blonde's eyes. Some part of Sanji on the verge of breaking. "You go out there now, and you do what I can't, what I taught you! You go out there and be my legs!" Zeff ordered trying help snap out Sanji of it, and build that wall back up that the blonde needed right now.
Sanji blinked in surprise at Zeff's words, and they hit him right in the heart. He could do this! If Zeff believed in him, he could! He gave a nod then reached behind him under his coat and pulled out his two guns he had and the extra ammo and laid it down for Zeff. With a smirk back to his face Sanji said, "Here use these, just don't you go dying on me old man!"
Zeff smirked back despite the pain he was in. "Like I would give you the satisfaction." He then watched his student, his son, turn and go off to join back in the battle, and only then did he lean back against the mail box let a frown of deep pain come to his face. Quickly he used the apron he had, and its strings to tie around the upper part of his wounded leg, to help with slowing the bleeding. He had, had worse. No way would he let himself die from this!
As Sanji's path became blocked to Zoro and Ace, the blonde rolled backwards as if falling, but as his top half went down his lower half came up, and his hands then supported him on the ground as his legs spun out with well placed throat, and head kicks, in a dangerous speed, and might of power, making the men fall back. As Sanji got more room he then pushed himself in a spring pop up with his arms that lead into many back flips, that helped him clear the rest of the way, and for anyone that dared get in his way, they found themselves in a world of hurt. The blonde was like a small tornado, wiping around in a blink of an eye, slapping polished black shoes down onto any fool that dared tested his power.
Ace and Zoro paused a moment in there fights to watch the blonde clear the last small group of men that stood between them, both men in awe.
Ace's eyes lighting up, well remembering the first time he had seen Sanji fight, but it had been nothing like this. It was shear chaos of raw power, and god the way he moved his body. Was it wrong to get this horny in the middle of a battle?
Zoro's eyes narrowed in lust. He so had to get him some of that! Now more then ever he wanted to put that blonde to the test of sword to shoe. Sanji would be such a challenge of a match. A match Zoro would then win of course, and pin the blonde down, and have his way with in victory.
Sanji gave one last flip that landed him on his feet right between Ace and Zoro. Sanji turned then to one side, and leaned back, his leg rising up in a fast quick movement catching a man rushing onto the three, under the chin, and sent him flying. Due to the man having had his mouth opened, and yelling, the force of the kick made his bottom teeth come up, and shatter his upper teeth. Bits of yellowish white rubble flung up in, and between blood that flowed out of his mouth in thick strands, soaring through the air in almost a artist paint's grace.
"You all sure took your time getting here." Sanji mocked pulling out another cigarette.
Ace smirked, "We would have been here sooner if someone had not got lost."
"Oi! I knew just where I was going, it's not my fault they changed the roads!" Zoro barked out then added, "Like you would have done better anyways. You would have fallen asleep at the wheel."
"Yeah, and even in my sleep I would have not got lost circling the block." laughed Ace.
Zoro turned red and gripped his swords tighter.
Sanji paused, "You got lost circling around the block? How is that even possible?" he could not help the grin that was now on his face.
"There was road construction." Zoro said in his defense almost pouting.
"Aww poor Marimo. I see we are going to have to get you a little pet collar with tag else we might lose you for good." teased the cook.
"Ohh can the collar be pink with spikes?" Ace asked.
Zoro widen in his eyes, "Just in the hell are you fantasying about!" he questioned to Ace.
Ace waggled his brows, "Wouldn't you like to know."
Sanji puffed out some smoke from his cigarette, "I know I would." He smirked.
The conversation then ended there as suddenly one of the men from the crowd used a heavy duty chain gun, making a thick mental chain come whirling out and around the trio, wrapping many times around them, trapping them together.
"Gaw! What the hell is this crap!" Zoro yelled out.
"It looks like a chain." replied Ace in all humor still.
"Oh well thank you captain obvious." Sanji grunted then bit down on his cigarette in his mouth.
"We got them now!" called out one of the men. Yet what was worse, was more cars were now coming in. Seemed like reinforcements had been called in.
As men came then to rush up on the trapped trio shots rang out behind, and some of the men dropped.
Zoro looking back, and could see Zeff was slumped over holding onto the mailbox, and firing off rounds from a gun helping to keep back most of the men.
"Zoro stop moving!" Ace now frowned. "I have a plan!" He bit on his bottom lip wiggling a bit, "If I can just get my hand free I can …"
"Nooo! I don't think you should plan to be firing anything right now. I don't want to end up black and crispy thank you very much." retorted the swordsman.
"Oh like that's really going to …uh oh…" Ace blinked, and looked down. In trying to get his hand more room he had ended up letting his finger pull on the trigger to one of his guns a little too much, and it ended up squeezing out a shot. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head at what happened next.
The small ball splattered over Sanji's right leg catching it on fire in a blaze.
"What the fuck Ace!" Sanji cried out in surprise his cigarette dropping from his mouth.
"Stop drop, and roll!" Zoro cried out leaning to one side as Ace leaned to the other, thus not getting the group anywhere.
As the three got rushed again by the some of the new crowd Sanji frowned, "No time!" and with that leaned back into the two men he was chained up with, and rose up his flaming leg, "I'll just use it as a little extra spice!" and with those words said he let his foot stamp many times on the new men, which in turn as well put the fire out on his leg, due to the fast pace action, and bodies falling over it suffocating the flames.
With his pant leg now burned away and a few first degree burns Sanji kicked Ace in the shin. "Set me on fire again and just see what happens!"
Ace winced, "Owe ... It was not like I meant to geez." the fire started now whined.
There was more ruckus now as van came plowing through the cars, making people scatter. At once the almost black looking van had its doors opened, and Luffy and the rest of the gang came pouring out.
Luffy put a hand to his hat and pointed at the trio chained up together "Haha! You guys look so funny!"
All three of the chained up men stiffened in embarrassment.
"Now is not the time!" cried Zoro.
"Shut it Luffy!" came Ace.
"Just get us lose!" was Sanji's demand.
Still laughing the leader nodded, "Franky give them a hand!" and then Luffy was off to cause havoc of his own, plunging bare fists into any faces that came in view he didn't know.
Some of the others made way as Franky rushed over and shook his head. "How the hell did you guys even get stuck like this?"
"Some chain like gun thing spewed it at us." Ace replied.
"Woah that sounds supprah! You got to tell me more about it!" Franky said sounding very interested.
"Yeah, yeah we will draw you a fucking blue print of it, just get us out of this!" wiggled Sanji impatiently.
"Ah right, sure thing cook-bro." Franky said then placed two of his large hands down on the thick heavy chain, and started to pull till a loud click was heard as the mental gave way, and one of the chain links broke making the rest of the chain then sag, and loosen.
Sanji widen his eyes in surprise. Wow serious strength, and with that info he made sure to make note not to get himself trapped in any bear hugs from the man.
Just then as the rest of the chain dropped to their feet, and they had gotten free, a voice called out over the battle going on.
"Sanji stop, and back down, or else!" Gin cried out.
Sanji turned to where the voice had come from, and widen in eyes in horror at the sight he saw. There by the mailbox Gin had pulled Zeff out from behind it, and now had the old man on his knees with a gun to the temple of Zeff's head.
"Get them to stop now Sanji, and come with me or I will have no choice!" warned Gin.
Sanji slowly shook his head no. "Don't you dare do this!" he yelled out.
"I have to Sanji!" Gin frowned. He truly looked troubled by this predicament.
The battle from both sides now was at a halt, everyone's eyes on Gin and Zeff, but that all changed as a wild laugh came out from one of the new cars that had just pulled up. Doflamingo and his Hyena gang got out of the new cars.
Sanji looked back to Gin in a panic now. "Gin if you ever loved me you wont do this!" he pleaded, his body almost trembling now, as he tried to keep back those thoughts of last night from coming back up again, but that laugh, that fucking laugh!
Gin frowned all the more as a battle was now raging with in his heart. "Sanji I do love you, but I can't. I can't go against this. It was an order from Doflamingo himself!"
Doflamingo grinned, "That's right it was."
Sanji flinched at the sound of the man's voice, but let his hands ball into fists as he fought hard with in himself not to be a coward no more! "Please Gin! For once just once stop saying it, and prove it!"
Gin opened his mouth and shook his head no; wanting too much to do just that, but how could he go against an order from the head boss?
"Oh just shoot the old fart already!" Doflamingo rolled his eyes. "This is already boring me. It does not matter if Zeff lives or dies anyways, I will get what I want either way."
"Gin please!" Sanji was having a hard time now fighting back his tears as his blue eyes looked then to Zeff's proud face.
The old man smiled then at Sanji, and a tear ran down his cheek not in fear of his own life, but because he knew no matter what happened to him, Sanji was going to be taken care of now. He had friends now, and no more would Sanji be alone.
"Oh screw it I'll do it myself! No more of this crap!" Doflamingo huffed and pulled out a gun from behind his back and took aim.
"Nooooo!" Sanji cried looking to Doflamingo.
The shot rang out cross the parking lot and everything seemed to happen then in slow motion for Sanji. Luffy was yelling out something, and people had suddenly broken out into fighting again as the metal bullet speeded across the way in a clear path to Zeff.
Sanji then looked back just in time to see Gin drop his gun, and give his back to Sanji, as Gin wrapped his arms around Zeff, shielding the older man with his own body. The bullet then went through Gin's back making him fall forward, and both men went tumbling to the ground. As the two men then just lay there, not moving, blood poured out, pooling around them.
A/N's: Ha ha! Some of you all thought I was going to let Sanji kill himself eh? Tsk tsk. Nah he just wanted to crave up his face a bit like a Thanksgiving turkey ^.^; Well at lest to remove the brand Doflamingo had put on him. So yeah I know the choice I gave that could be happen this chapter looked pretty bad but! When I started this story I knew I just had to give tribute to Sanji's Diable Jambe attack! Thus Sanji got set on fire, and who else better to set Sanji on fire then Ace? Sometimes I really just can't help myself. ^.^
So yeah Don Krieg got killed by Ace, but when I said someone would die I never meant a full out villain. Anyways yes it's now clear, you can all breathe easy for it won't be Sanji that dies! This time! *evil smirk* After all if you all didn't know this is the first story in series I call Ace vs. Zoro for Sanji aka Lovers A to Z and it would be kinda suckie if my main star died in the first story right? Hehe, and as a reward at the end of the last chapter I will post the summary of the next story to this series for you all even before I post it on my profile!
The count down goes on! Two Chapters now left!
Next Chapter: It's a for sure thing! One will live, and one will die! But who will it be? Zeff OR Gin!
Review Replies:
AnimeFan - Nice to see another Ace fan! Hehe. His fan crowd cheering him on for this story is a bit lacking so I'm happy he has you cheering him on ^.^
Lili - Thank you so much for your support!
vivaciousRingo - Ha ha! Sorry Ringo-chwan I have not driven Sanji-kun far enough for a suicide attempt YET! Maybe I will though ^.~ I just feel as long as there is breath with in Sanji-kun's lungs he will try to protect those he cares for, no matter what he is dealing with. So I would need to push him really far for him to go that extra mile to off himself. I'm happy you also liked the rest of the chapter. The mirror scene was one of my favs to write ^.^
tazx x x - Lol well you saw through my trick this time! BUT be warned I will do anything for a good story even kill off main chars if the occasion arises for it. After all technically I have already killed Sanji in one of my stories "Haunted by Love" =P
Barablu - Sqwee! You make me so happy with all the little things you notice that I put in! Lol yeah Doflamingo is an evil sneaky bastard! And of course he would control people with out them even knowing! *blushes* I'm so happy you say you can still see my stories like a movie being played out cause that's how I write them. It plays in my head and my fingers type it out. To be able to give others such a visual written world to fall into for a bit is such a horror!
XoX - Thank you. I hope I can keep the suspense up till the very end and then some!
crystalbluefox - Holy crap! I got you roped into this story too? *is in shock then blushes like crazy* Well first and foremost thank you so very much for giving this story a try, and reviewing, and for all your sweet praise! So sorry about making you miss your practice! As to if Zoro will get a chance with Sanji, and all that good stuff, you will just have to keep reading to find out. I hope I can keep the ride entertaining for you. ^.^