With a resounding thud, the gates of justice closed heavily behind them. For the Marines on that vessel, the sounds of it closing was a sound of security. The prison itself have never had a prisoner escape, and thus, meant that their long journey was finally over. For a Marine, here was friendly waters, but the same couldn't be said for those below deck. The sound of those gates closing made their hearts drop into their stomach. For they were pirates, prisoners, and they would never see the outside world again because of it. Their facial expressions said it all as there was a sinister snicker from some of the Marine's at the plight of those captured pirates.

Impel Down, the most impregnable prison, has always been the pride of the marines, and the bane of pirates everywhere. No one ever imagined that would change, and less that it would be that day as the sound of the alarm screamed suddenly as they got nearer to the actually prison. It took the crew by surprise as some of them jumped, and the Captain immediately ran to the communication room... a huge change from the quiet of just a moment ago as it quickly became chaotic.

It would seem that it was true, their ships hadn't be summon for nothing.

Sanji was in the kitchen as the alarm shriek. The ship's cook, he would stop only once in his preparations as the sounds of feet scrambling along the deck would echo inside of his galley. The other chefs around him wouldn't even pause, they were not the ones to fight, they were the ones to cook. So, this didn't concern them, only affairs that directly touched upon their domain, and thus, only Sanji would place his knife down on the table. His mind reeling as the excitement made his heart beat faster. He remembered nothing before he woke up in the hospital, he remember nothing about being on a crew before this ship, and thus, as he left them behind to finish the meal he had started preparations for ...he couldn't answer the question their eyes tried to etch into his back.

Why ...was he so different?

Sanji wouldn't look back as he come out into chaos.

The sound of battle not something that invoke fear, but instead seem to call out to him. He stood there looking out into the distance as the cannonballs hit the water, and the insignia on the vessel they were shooting at had him confused.

Wasn't that one of of their own?

It would be Genji that would answer his unspoken question as the man was rushing to one of the cannons. His aim was lacking due to him only have one eye, but anyone who could fire was being told to shoot at this moment. Besides, even with one eye ...his shots were coming closer than those with two.

"It seems the Straw Hats aren't all dead ...their stupid Captain just busted into and out of Impel down. The bastard is on that ship."

He would point out into the distance as he tries to get the ship's cannons to line up again ...Sho would appear from one side to help him physically nudge it into the right direction. Neither saw it, in that moment, the way that Sanji's eyes would light up at those words. Something inside of him would curl up in happiness and in delight, but he couldn't trace it ...he couldn't tell what it was that made him stumble with one hand press against his hidden eye. It was almost as if he had gotten a bit light headed, and it would seem that his luck was bad as the black hair bastard would call out at the moment.

"If you can't handle the rocking of this ship ...then take your ass back into the kitchen. We don't have time for sea sick pansies!"

Kirito had seen his little slip up as Sanji would scowl back as he yelled in rebuttal.

"Then what the hell are you doing out here?"

The man went red in the face at those words, but before he could say something else a cannon ball would hit the side of the ship. The impact rocking the boat so hard that the ship would actually launch to one side ...as Sanji would charge the part of the boat that was rising upwards. His eyes locked on something that seemed to be encased by the sun itself as he would kick hard upwards as his foot would connect against the metal ball long before anyone realize the danger they were in. Pushing his weight onto his other leg as he swing his hips to the side ...he would send the cannon ball back towards the ship that had fired it. The ball crashing with better aim than what they had managed with the cannons as Sanji would place the still smoking leg down onto the deck with single tap of his foot. A smirk would grace his face as his eyes searched for Kirito's. This was the differences between him and the other cooks. He wasn't just a chef in the kitchen, but a warrior of the sea. This meant that his place wasn't to huddle inside of the kitchen when trouble came, or to take up arms only when the ship was being boarded. He was to fight anyone at anytime to protect the crew, and his smug grin only showed his prowess. Though that was a very short lived moment indeed as another cannon ball would hit the ship along it's side. Sanji would strive to keep his footing as the ship tilts dangerous to one side again. He could stop the cannon balls that were a danger of landing directly on the ship, but those that hit the sides ...over water ...he was helpless to stop.

"Damn it, those fucking pirates are making a mockery of us!"

The Captain shouted out loudly as the ship that they were pursuing continued to get further and further away. Other ships would continue their chase, but the crew knew it the moment the first yell rang out that their purse had come to an end as one of the shipwrights shouted out loudly, and then another.

"Cap, we are taking on water!"

With those words, their objective changed. They went from trying to chase the ship to trying to keep theirs afloat long enough to reach the shore. A single thought ran through their minds, a single stream of consciousness that made their defeat bearable. The gates of justice had been closed after they had passed through. The gates of justice was the only way out, and with those doors shut ...it meant that their defeat was only a temporary thing.

"Form up a chain, we have to bail out as much water as possible."

The Captain bellowed.

Thus, they were able to put their full minds to the task at hands. Shoving out water as fast as possible as shouts and curses came from the lower decks ...and Sanji's blood goes cold. The prisoners, the ship was taking on water, too much, and the area currently in the most danger was the lower decks. Breaking from the formation he was currently in. He would race to the entrances of the prison barracks. The sight made even him green as the water stood at waist height as the chain group continued to pass out buckets of water up the stairway over the side of the ship. They were ignoring the plight of the men in prison even as the water rose further.. and Sanji knew ...these prisoners would drown in those cells.. unless he let them out. Without hesitation, Sanji would head for the keys near the bottom of the stairs. His hands reaching out and pulling them free of the hook only moments before something ram into him. His body going forward as they both hit the water at the bottom of the stairway with a splash, and dark eyes would glare into blue as bubbles surrounded them both.

Kirito again.

Their heads would burst free of the water as they stood up dripping wet as he scowl at Sanji.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"What the fuck do you think?"

Sanji countered back.

"They will drown if we don't let their asses out."

Kirito gave a dismissal look as he looks over at the prison for a moment. Then his eyes went back to Sanji as the man continued with his speech.

"Damn it, if we let them out and explain the situation ...they can give us a hand. ...we can save the ship and make it to shore."

Kirito's spoke then ..calmly as the man closed the distances between them as his hand cut across the space in front of him and he grip Sanji by the shirt pulling him close with his sudden increase in weight. He made sure that they were almost nose to nose as he saids the words.

"Who gives a fuck ...are you some sort of shitty bleeding heart ...they are pirate scum, and this fucking tub is just a bit of drift wood. We will abandon it and them, without a moment's notice or hesitation based on the Captain's orders, and he has given us none other than to fucking bail out water. So, right now, you are committing treason and insubordination by leaving your damn post, and that's all that matter to me, Pansy."

Sanji's eyes went wide at that as he grabbed the front of Kirito's shirt so they were even now in the captured department. Neither men could escape the other, as anger crackled like lightning between them.

"What the fuck did you say? You brown nosing ass wipe ...did you yes sire your fucking brain out of your head ...we are responsible for those prisoners. Captain's orders or not, as Marines ...we should uphold the fucking law and protect the people, and until a judges tells me otherwise, those motherfuckers fall under that protection as people. This ship ...given to us by the government, has served us well and is suppose to be fucking taken care of as well, and if by letting them out I can serve both parts of the agreement than so be it. I accept my punishment, so ...get the fuck out of my way! Or, is the real reason you are standing in my way is because the thought of those scum free on the ship making you shit your pants right now? If so, don't worry, Ass wipe, I will keep them in line. "

Kirito's anger was swelling again as a voice cut into the argument stopping both of them cold.

"There is no saving this ship, we have taken on too much water."

They hadn't heard him coming down the stairs with all their bickering and arguing. The Captain, he had descended down into the lower decks to get a better look at the damage done to his ship, and what he saw made his heart heavy. Their current conversation didn't make it any better as he said his words carefully and slowly.

"We can't save the prisoners, either. We don't have room on the small boats to take them with us. Leave them in their cells, Sanji, there is nothing more we can do."

The Captain ordered as Sanji released Kirito then with a shock look on his face.

"There is nothing more that we can do...we are abandoning ship, that's an order."

The captain would declare loudly not meeting the blonde's eyes as Kirito would take that as his win as he gave the blonde a smug grin before releasing his shirt, and walking away. The Captain quickly followed as the prisoners' voice rang out. Nothing they had said or done had been in secret as the Captain of the pirates and his crew calls' echo through the room. Screaming at the top of their lungs not to just leave them as everyone walked away except one.

Sanji stood there alone with the key in his hand.

Everyone had gone back to the deck, and they were getting on the lifeboats. They were leaving the ship, and these men in cages ...were being left behind to drown. Sanji didn't move as the water rose and he watched them, standing there, stun, incapable of moving, with the keys in his hands. Their freedom ...their salvation in his hands, and they knew it, as they called out to him, promise him.

Bribery ... gold and treasure for the keys.

Commitment ... they would serve him for the rest of their lives if he save them.

Sympathy ... they told him of their families of those that are waiting on them to come home.

Threats ...he would rot in hell, they would kill him if they got out, others would avenge them if he didn't give them the keys.

Pleads ... They will go straight, they would turn away from crime ...they didn't want to die ...just let them out.

The water was up to his chest, and he was standing on the middle step halfway up the stairway. For the prisoners, it had to be all the way up to their necks. The key was still in his hand and their voices still carried as they screamed, beg, and some of them simply went silent. Some had accepted their fates, and maybe, had already drown themselves. Soon, the entire area would go silent ...as only the sound of Sanji's breathing could be heard. The stillness would jar him then, in a way that sound could not, and he would throw the key into the cell ...into the water. His breathing hard, his heart pounding, as he listen for a sound. As he hope for something to happen. Yet ...nothing, as a sound came from behind him. A voice calling his name as Sanji simply stood there.

He didn't belong here as the words from his nightmare chime back at him.

A hand would grab his shoulders as he was spun around strongly to see Genji glaring at him. The man would literally shout in his face.

" SANJI, we got to GO, now!"

Sanji only stared at him, as Genji gritted his teeth. Not getting a response, Genji started pulling on him and finally Sanji turned away. One glance back was all Sanji gave ...as the realization settle in and his heart burn with the realization.

There was nothing he could do now.

Nothing at all.

Desolation... chapter 3 ...completed.

(Well, it's summer time, so I am going to continue with this story. Wish me luck, because, this has lots of different ways it can end, so I hope I am picking the most interesting of directions to go in. Also, please review and let me know if I am currently going in the right direction.)