DESPERATION

(And, when I think it's over ...the reviews go back up. Now what to do ...end it or continue? Well, this could make a good stopping point, so I guess, I will wait to find out either way.)

Hope

Is a scary thing

It can make a dead man walk

Extend life

And when it dies

Kill

Hope

Is a scary thing

Luffy had to swallow his laughter as the crew went ballistic with those words. He needed to focus now more than ever, even as he felt the relief of the crew completely. It was like someone had open a window in a stuffy room, or after lunch, when the food was all gone and suddenly there was snacks. It was just as audible a relief as a loud sound, so thick that he could almost taste it, and a part of him was glad for his stubbornness. Even he had his breaking point, and he had been quickly getting there.

Even the captain had been losing hope.

He could stop the laughter from escaping him, but not the smile that grace his face.

It hadn't been in vain ...his struggle.

It was a wide and toothy grin that made him look like a idiot to his enemies, and gave comfort to those who was seeking his help. It was an expression that many would call him stupid for, as he clutch the hat on his head tightly. He would pull it down over his eyes for a moment. His crew needed that smile at this moment, but the joy in his smile couldn't reach his eyes.

He didn't need to let his crew see that.

Afterall, hope wasn't a solution, nor was it really an answer, but, it was the beginning in a search for one.

"You mush brain!"

Nami yelled as she hit Zoro across the head hard. Usopp would chime in then almost perfectly as it would seem that the paralysis that held him silent had pass. There was unshed tears in both of their eyes as he spoke.

"How can you seriously say he is dead ...if there is no body!"

Zoro would rub at the swore spot with one hand as Nami would turn and lock eyes with Usopp.

"That's right, I told you earlier that Kuma-guy had some weird ability that made that ghost girl disappear. He could also teleport. Do you think he did that to Sanji?"

All eyes went to her then, as Robin would take that moment to point something out as well.

"It's possible, especially considering that Swordman-kun never saw what happen to Cook-kun. If he did, he could tell us what happen to his body."

Everyone's eyes would turn to Zoro then...

This was his opening to answer, his chance to tell them if he was hiding anything. The man didn't denial it, nor given any sort of an answer, and silences for Zoro was the best they were going to get as the man would cross his arms. It spur on their hopes, and, though he didn't want to ...Zoro was going to have to put a stop to it as he saw it flare in their eyes.

He open his mouth to object, to explain ...

"Oi, it's not possible because ...PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT I AM SAYING DAMMIT!"

Zoro would discover that they were no longer even listening to him. His time had run out while he was thinking, and now their backs were turned as the four of them was deep in discussion on what to do. They were trying to figure out what had happen to Sanji, and with Usopp in the mix the stories were getting wilder and wilder. Chopper would be the only one still paying Zoro any attention as Brook would be lying on his back on the ground nearest to Nami as if he was trying to get a glimpse of what they were saying.

Though his next comment about panties would reveal his true objective, and he would earn his first lump as a member of the crew.

Chopper would twirl his hooves around each other for a moment as the action brought Zoro's attention back to him. Chopper knew how Zoro felt about the site. He had refused to take Luffy, and the two of them had even fought about it. But, he needed to ask, he needed to check something himself, and with the turn of events. Now was the best time to ask.

Chopper would ask.

"Zoro, do you think you can take me where ...you found all the blood?"

Chopper and Zoro would get everyone's full attention with that question.

"I can track you know, if ...if Sanji is somewhere on this island I can find him."

If not, he didn't make that statement.

It was hope, and no one wanted to crush it.

Zoro once more open his mouth again, but this time, it would be Luffy that cut him off.

"Hai, who is this Kuma guy?"

Everyone had forgotten that Luffy wouldn't know him. He was the only one who had been knocked unconscious before the fight. He was the only one who hadn't seen his frighten strength, and considering where this was leading, and the seriousness in his tone. He was the only one who didn't understand ...that the two of them could not meet, and as beads of sweat would roll down their heads as they tried to think of someway out of it. It would seem that salvation would come from a very unlikely source.

"Umm...Strawhats?"

The pink hair woman from the pirate crew they had rescue would cut in then to everyone's relief. Though they should have guessed, that they would be cutting into this conversation sooner or later. Afterall,with the crew outside, the party inside had of course come to an end. The entire festivities had been for them, and, with all the commotion coming from outside ...the group inside had slowly been making their way outside during the entire commotion.

"...His name is Bartholomew Kuma..."

As a group, the crew would scream at her.

"Don't tell him about him!"

It would end with Usopp gaining a few new lumps, and the story for the most part coming out anyway. This crew, was always an interesting thing, and as plans were made, Zoro finally just gave up on the whole explanation part...of why Sanji was dead. No one was listening to him anyway. He even found himself relieved of being a guide for Chopper as those two pirates that had help him find the site had agreed to show Chopper. Though Zoro made sure they haven't forgotten his threat of death if they chose to tell anything more. After that, Luffy had pretty much declared that Sanji wasn't dead, and that was the end of it. When Luffy got a certain way, the crew just knew, it was easier just to go along with it.

It usually turn out for the best.

They all hope that this time would be no different.

Elsewhere ...three days later ... a storm would send the waves crashing against the base. The lights would swing as they hung from the ceiling, and the men would work overtime making sure that nothing of importances was swept away into the sea. The pattering of rain ...outside made a noise that was almost deafening ...as those who worked and lived inside of the place strove to ignore it. In this backwater place a war was being fought by the marines fought against the most deadly and unrelenting of foes. This was a war that promise that they would see multiply fatalities that day, as the leader of this group would swear loudly. He was drench in blood from his chest to his legs, and he had blood up to his elbows on his arms. He looked at his battlefield as he left one battle behind him, victory, and cursed when he saw how many more lay before him.

"What the fuck were those Admirals doing? Why did it seem like there was more and more patients every day?"

He would walk past the row of beds containing more battles for him to fight. He was the head doctor of this group of Marine physicians, and he ran this base with an iron glove. Though they couldn't save them all, they were damn well going to give it their all ...as his eyes glance to the glass room. This is the place where victory or failure was balance on a knife edge. His eyes would glance over to their newest arrival, a man with blonde hair spread out everywhere and with a oxygen mask on his face. He was bandage from head to toe, but, even with one half of his face covered ...it was hard not to notice the strangest looking curly eyebrow on the visible side. Since, he was brought in unconscious, they didn't know his name, and since he was missing any form of identification they had simply gave him a name. Sanji, that is what they call him, since, that eyebrow had an uncanny resemblance to a member of the straw hat pirates. It was nothing more than a joke, because, no one would every mistake their Sanji with Blacklegs.

Their face looked completely different.

"Still hanging in there, Sanji?"

He would tap the glass outside of his room.

He wasn't expecting a response, but the sight of the breathing machine was enough of an answer for him. He was still here, and maybe, someday he would wake up. Then again, the machine might sing his death song any moment ...as well. Just another battle, just another insignificant life ...that could be saved or lost to the sea.

He never noticed that the heart rate monitor would speed up slightly after he left.

(Well, that is it ...or it could be it. Anyway, if this is the last chapter, I hope everyone enjoy this as much as I like writing it. )