Hi again SO Sorry for not updating this in forever. The original ending of this story would have been so disappointing so I had to go back to the drawing board. For those of you still following, thank you for your patience. And for those of you who are just reading this story for the first time, welcome! Feel free to tell me what you think. And just as I mentioned in the last chapter, the villains are still very flexible, so if you have any suggestions as to what you'd like them to be like don't hesitate to speak up in a review. While the villains are still flexible, the direction this story is going to take is solid and will definitely surprise you. I promise you will like it. If not, Flame me.

Sleepless

DAMN HIM!

Zoro stood on the other side of the door breathing heavily. He had used every ounce of self-control he possessed not to go against his better judgment and lash out at his nakama. Which left him there, with his hand still clutching the handle, trembling as he waited for the adrenaline rush ebb away. But even as he felt his heart beat recede back to its normal pace; he couldn't get Franky's fucking voice out of his head.

"If he was still fighting to stay alive then why didn't you get him help instead of standing back and watching him die?"

Zoro shook his head. He didn't want to think about that. Right now he just wanted to lie down on the couch, close his eyes and get some sleep. He didn't give a damn that he was soaking wet or that Usopp's blood was still staining his clothes. He didn't want to give a damn about anything right now.

"Weren't you supposed to be on watch this morning? Where were you when it happened?!"

It's not like there was anything he could do…or anything he could have done! Zoro had decided long ago that he would live his life without regrets, and today was no exception. He made his decision- and that was to stay with Usopp. He didn't waste time looking for the ones responsible and he didn't run off to try to find Chopper. And while there was the possibility that if he had gone to get Chopper, Usopp would still be alive there was also the possibility that he would have died anyway. He lived his life without regrets. That's why he chose to stay with Usopp. Because he knew he would never forgive himself if he let Usopp to die alone.

So screw Franky!

Zoro turned over on the couch.

Usopp's dead and there was nothing anybody could do to change that. He had no choice but to except this fact and move forward. He was a realist, always had been and always will be…

However … that didn't stop him from wishing this had never happened...

Goddamn it!

How was he supposed to sleep with all these pointless thoughts running through his head?!

Zoro ran his hand down his face and sighed. All he needed to do was clear his mind. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He closed his eyes. Soon he was moments away from falling into a peaceful slumber when he felt a tug on his leg.

"Please…please don't go." Usopp choked with tears trailing down his face, begging him with frightened eyes.

"I don't want to be alone."

Zoro jolted out of his reverie and gasped. His heart was pounding. He looked down at his pants and immediately pulled back his leg to see what it was stuck on.

Flop.

Something fell to the floor. Zoro leaned over to inspect it. It was flat, plastic. Zoro snatched it with the tips of his fingers. It was-

"A beach ball?" Zoro turned it over in his hand. Then he noticed another sliver of plastic protruding from the couch. He pulled it out. It was another beach ball. "What the hell?" Zoro stuffed his had between the cushions. One by one he pulled out beach ball after beach ball until half a dozen deflated orbs were piled in his lap.

He couldn't even begin to imagine what the explanation behind this was.

Zoro fell back on the couch and groaned.

He didn't want to think anymore.

He was tired–no. He was exhausted. He was mentally and physically exhausted.

And he couldn't Fucking. Sleep.

This day couldn't get any worse.

Zoro lifted his head up at the sound of the door creaking. He couldn't see who it was- not that he needed to. The smell of cigarettes pretty much gave it away. He put his head back down and closed his eyes. Sometimes the universe loves to go out of its way to prove him wrong.

"Zoro?"

Zoro was surprise to hear the chef use his name so softly. Usually he spat it out like a curse. But now… now he sounded like he just wanted to make sure he was there. So Zoro ignored him.

Keeping his eyes closed, the swordsman listened to the sound of the chef's footsteps as he walked over to him. He heard the cook set something down on the table in front of him. He paused for a moment…then sighed, before finally going back towards the door. However, once the chef walked past the couch, Zoro opened his eyes. On the table before him was a plate with filled with all kinds of delectable cuisine; grilled strips of seaking, gourmet toast, slices of assorted fruits, and pastries.

What the hell?

Then it dawned on him. His breakfast. He had completely forgotten about that.

…Sanji obviously hadn't… Even after everything damn thing that's happened this morning, he didn't forget.

Zoro didn't know why he was so surprised. It was Sanji after all.

But still…

"Thanks."

Sanji spun around surprised.

"You're awake?"

After being on watch all last night and after everything that happened this morning he should be in a coma.

"Can't sleep," Zoro replied simply.

"Oh…" was all Sanji could think of to say. Yep. This was one shitty day. Damn he couldn't even begin to imagine what screwed up things that guy must be thinking if it meant he couldn't sleep. The idiot slept through hurricanes!

"You could ask Chopper for some sleeping pills," Sanji suggested.

Zoro considered this.

"-but I wouldn't," he added.

Zoro raised a brow. "Why not?"

"All of his medicine is in the infirmary," Sanji explained.

Zoro stared at him obviously having no idea what that was supposed to mean.

"And …well- he's in there," Sanji told him looking elsewhere.

"…oh," Zoro said seeing his point. He could never ask Chopper to endure the sight of his best friend's lifeless corpse for something so selfish like sleeping pills.

"Maybe if you asked Robin-chan, she might get them for you-"

"I'll get them myself," Zoro said getting annoyed with how sensitive the cook was with the subject.

Zoro wasn't one to tiptoe around death. A heavy silence fell between the two of them. The cook wasn't saying anything, he wasn't doing anything, and it was pissing Zoro off.

"What do you want?"

"What?" Sanji asked confused.

"Why are you still here?" Zoro snapped.

The chef glared at him, "Eat your food before it gets cold, marimo." The door opened and shut, and Zoro was once again alone in the dark, with only haunting thoughts to keep him company.

Robin was on here way to the bow with a bucket of soap and water and a washrag. Though it wasn't raining as hard as it was earlier, she decided against leaving her umbrella behind. At the sound of a door creaking she turned around.

"How is Zoro?" Robin asked the chef.

"Still as stubborn as always, Robin-chan," He looked at her and smiled, before noticing what she was carrying. "Robin-chan, you don't have to-."

She held up her hand. "It's fine. The rain washed away most of it. It shouldn't take long."

"Robin-chan-"

"How are you doing?" she asked him.

Sanji looked caught off guard for a moment, but just for a moment, before he smiled at her "Don't worry about me, Robin-chan, I'll be fine."

"But you're not fine now."

Sanji didn't know how to respond. "I'll be fine," he repeated, "Thank you, Robin-chan."

Sanji withdrew into his kitchen. He needed some time to be alone right now, but when he opened the door…

"Chopper?"

The reindeer sobbing at the counter looked up at him.

"Are you hungry?" Sanji asked already preparing a plate of food for his heartbroken friend.

Chopper shook his head. "It's just that," he struggled to get the words out. "This is the only place on the ship…that I can't still smell… him."

"Oh…"

Sanji took a seat next to him as the reindeer sobbed. "We were s-suppose to have a p-pool party t-today."

"Really?"

"Ca-captain U-usopp's Oper-peration: S-secret P-pool Par-party. B-but we f-forgot th-the BEACH BALLS!" was all Chopper could say before wailed out in tears. Sanji sighed and held the reindeer as his tears soaked his jacket.