Hello! I've been feeling in a writing mood, so I'm gonna try to write as much as I can before I fall asleep. It's night time in my area right now, so...
Without further ado, enjoy!
After working to what felt like an excrutiangly long shift, Sanji had finally been released from the grip of Zeff, and wasted no time in getting out of the Baratie, and heading out.
Sighing to himself, he pulled out his smart phone, and decided to shoot Usopp a call, to find out where his friends were hanging at. Dialing his number, memorizing it easily, he put the phone up to his ear, he waited for Usopp to answer his phone, as he began walking down the street, cars whirring past.
It didn't take long for him to answer, as Usopp was one to always have his phone nearby.
'Hello? Sanji, is that you?' the familiar voice picked up from the other line.
"Yeah, it's me Usopp. I just got done working my shift at the Baratie, and I was wondering you'd all be hanging out right now."
'Straight to the point, I see. Well, Luffy, Chopper, Nami, and myself are hanging out at my place. We got some pizza, so if you didn't eat yet, I'd advise hurrying it up and getting here before Luffy devours it all.'
"Alright, thanks for letting me know. I'll be there in a few minutes. See you then."
'See ya.'
Sanji tapped the red button on his screen to end the call, and sighed, shoving his phone into his coat pocket. He lit a cigarette, and held it between his lips, as he continued walking down the street, before stopping at a corner of an intersection, waiting for the crosswalk sign to display the LED green male walking. The temperature seemed to decrease more by each day, as winter time was approaching, the leaves falling off of all trees after bearing their orange and yellow colors.
As he waited, he watched some cars go by, still smoking the same cigarette he lit after finishing his phone call with Usopp. He almost choked on it though, as he saw the green-haired male's spirit appear in the street after blinking, and his eyes went wide. A large truck had been driving by, and Sanji closed his eyes tightly, hearing the rather gorey sound of the male getting hit by the truck, blood splattering everywhere for him. He was glad that no one else had to be put through this Hell.
When he slowly opened his one eye, there was no horrific scene of blood, or any sign of the green-haired male. He sighed in relief some, and watched the truck drive down the street, before making a left turn down another street.
The light turned green for him to walk, and he eagerly crossed the street, not wanting to see another scene like the one he had almost witnessed just a few moments ago. He wished that he was only hallucinating, and that this was all some sort of dream, and he'd wake up soon. But sadly, life didn't favor Sanji like that, and he was cursed with seeing the undead.
Quickening his pace, he began to take longer strides, as he wanted to get to Usopp's apartment already. Maybe the green-haired savage wouldn't appear if he was in an enclosed space with more than one person.
Sanji turned the corner down to Usopp's street, living in the apartment complex on the right side of the road. He crossed the street, and quickly walked up two flights of stairs after entering the building, and knocked on a door that was labeled '307'. He waited for someone to answer, and looked at the door once he saw Usopp open up the door.
"Wow, you didn't waste any time getting here.." Usopp chuckled lightly to himself, moving out of the doorway to allow Sanji in.
"Yeah, well, I wanted to get here before my old man called me for more work." he replied, stepping inside, taking his shoes off by the door, before setting them neatly beside the other pairs of shoes. Just by looking at them, he could indeed tell that Luffy and the others were over. He knew what kind of shoes each of his friends liked to wear, so it wasn't hard to determine who was over someone's house.
"I guess you have a point there. The pizza should be here in about five minutes or so. Everyone is in the living room." Usopp looked at his chef friend, the slightest concern etched onto his features. The bags underneath Sanji's eyes were hard to not look at, as they were the complete opposite of the male's white skin.
Shrugging it off, Usopp joined them in the living room, where Luffy and Chopper were playing a fighting game on Usopp's Xbox, while Nami was filing her nails, as she wasn't one to watch or play a video game of any sort.
Sanji smiled to himself, as he felt in a more relaxed atmosphere, now surronded by his friends, which were a sight for sore eyes.
"My lovely Nami-swan is even here to grace me with her presence!" he cooed out, putting up the normal ladies-man facade he always bore when around a woman, as Nami looked up from her nails, a smile on her lips.
"Hi Sanji!" Luffy cheered, as he had just won a match against Chopper, who would be a little upset about it, but paid no attention to it. Instead, he got up, and quickly came over to the blonde chef, wrapping his arms around his mid-section, smiling widely.
"I haven't seen you in forever, Sanji!" he chirped happily, as Sanji couldn't help but chuckle, patting the younger boy's hair.
"It's good to see you too Chopper, and you too, Luffy." he smiled, as the younger boy removed his face from Sanji's midsection, and looked up at him. Sanji could see the smile on his face deteriorate some, as he must've noticed the bags underneath his eyes. However, he said nothing, and eventually removed his arms from Sanji.
Sanji could tell by the look in the young doctor's eyes that he wanted to speak with him privately at some point. He sighed, and knew he couldn't escape it, so he gave him a small nod, before looking over at the TV screen.
"I'm gonna go on the front deck to smoke real fast." Sanji spoke, as he made his way over to the glass sliding door, being careful not to step onto the gaming console that was on the wooden floor. He could hear Chopper following behind him, as he knew that private talk was happening a lot sooner than expected.
He opened up the door, and stepped onto the concrete deck, allowing Chopper out with him as well, before shutting it. He leaned against the iron railing, pulling out his pack of cigarettes and lighter, lighting one up. He waited for Chopper for begin, closing his eyes, taking a large huff out of the cigarette. He found himself relying on them more and more now that he had that dammed marimo spirit haunting him.
"Sanji... You have real bad bags underneath your eyes, and I know you never usually miss your sleep, since you have such a busy schedule." the young doctor spoke, as he stood beside the taller male, looking down at the sidewalk of the street, watching someone walk by.
"So..." he turned his gaze up to the blonde, eyes pleading some. "What's going on exactly..?"
Sanji sighed, and flicked some of the excess ash off of the end of the cigarette, watching it fade along with the wind.
"I guess I'm just getting a case of insomnia. I can't really fall asleep anymore, and it's been messing me up real bad. Nothing really crosses my mind when I lay in bed, so I know it's not my own thoughts keeping me from sleeping." he replied.
Chopper was quiet for a few moments afterwards, listening.
"Well, if it's just insomnia... Maybe I can suggest Benadryl? It'll help you fall asleep easier, and if that doesn't work, we can try to find something that'll help you.. Whether it be pills, or just a small excersise before bed to help you tire yourself out." Chopper looked back up at him. "You said it wasn't work stress or anything like that, right?"
Sanji nodded, as he exhaled another cloud of smoke.
"I'm used to a bustling day, so I know that isn't the case. I might just go pick up some Benadryl on my way home. Hopefully that'll knock me out, and I'll stay out." he put out the cigarette in an old ash tray on a chair of the porch, and saw the pizza delivery car pull up to the apartment complex. "Come on, the pizza's here. And thanks for the suggestions, Chopper." he smiled.
"Compliments don't make me happy, you bastard!" Chopper squealed some, walking back inside of the apartment. Sanji chuckled some, as he stepped inside, but stopped, as it felt like something brushed onto his shoulder. He shivered, and quickly closed the door, going over to the dining table, as Nami got out plates and cups prior, her being over Usopp's frequently.
Usopp had come into the dining room a few moments later, holding about five pizza boxes in his arms, before setting them down on the table, stuffing the change he had left over into his back pocket of his shorts.
"Food! The food's finally here, yay!" Luffy cheered, eagerly bouncing over to the table, ready to devour the pizzas whole. His mouth watered at the smell of the food, and only grew ever more excited to eat.
"Wait your turn, Luffy, and you'll get it soon enough." Sanji spoke, as he opened up one of the boxes, taking the pizza cutter off the table and slicing it through the pizza quickly, obvious he was skilled with the sort. He then set it down, and served everyone their share, making sure Nami got hers first, because he wouldn't have it any other way. He ate his own piece now, watching Luffy inhale his pieces down, while Usopp looked over at him, moving over to prevent his own slices being stolen.
He chuckled at the spectacle, but at the same time, a pain grew in his chest. He wished that his life could be filled without a worry like how his friends were demonstrating at that moment, but that could never happen with the blonde. Not while he had his demented power of seeing the deceased and other supernatural beings.
He sighed softly to himself, finishing up only one slice, not really being too hungry to begin with. Instead, he settled for serving his friends their pieces whenever they finished, making sure they were fed well. Even though Usopp had bought the food, he still felt as if it was his responsibility to keep them fed and not starving.
After watching the trio duel for pizza, while Nami ate like a civilized being, Sanji decided it was time for another smoke break. He could always accustom himself to the busy kitchen life and bustling of the Baratie, but he could never do it with his friend's energy and enthusiasm.
He stepped back outside onto the deck, and lit another cigarette, needing it badly. His nerves had been on edge for a while, and cigarettes seemed like the only thing that could settle them down.
But now he had questions to ask, and problems to face, like that damned savage who refused to let him live peacefully. With that menace around, his life was thrown into a spiral of madness.
"Wonder if that bastard feeds off of me... Like a parasite, or a succubus..." he pondered out loud.
"Maybe..." a voice spoke from behind Sanji, and he dropped his cigarette over the railing, before quickly turning around.
All he remembered before seeing complete darkness...
Black, dull orbs. A duo of endless voids.
Yay, cliffhanger, I think! Guh, it's 1:30 AM where I am now, and I'm not even tired...
Maybe I can scrape together another chapter. Highly unlikely though. Don't forget to review!
Later!
Animelover0160