Chapter 15

On the Thousand Sunny

No one moved. No one spoke. They stared at the sea where the ship had left their eyesight. Sanji snapped first.

"We have to go after her. She can't do this." Sanji looked frantic.

"Franky, I think it's about time we caught up. We have to get our friend back." Luffy gave the order. Franky smiled and ran below deck. Nami began barking out orders for direction. Everyone ran around getting ready. The wind was hitting the sails just right and Franky used the ship's machinery to get them an extra boost of speed.

'I'm coming Mezumi.' Sanji waited on deck.

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Back with Mezumi.

"So sweetheart I suggest you start making me a big pile of gold. I'm going to need it soon if I am going to spend it on the next island." A crew member approached her with several very large empty bags. "Fill these with gold by sunset and I will consider not throwing you to my crew at night." No wonder there were so many bags. They were hoping she would fail. The crew leered at her, imagining things she didn't want to know about. She repressed a shiver. This only gave her more reason to execute her plan.

"If I may Captain? That sounds a little too... ordinary." The Captain rounded on her.

"Are you questioning my orders girl?"

"Not at all Captain. I was merely suggesting something more extraordinary."

"I'm listening." She walked around the Captain trying to convince him with dramatics.

"Captain you say you want to be famous. But you seem to think that vast wealth will make you famous. Wealthy individuals spend money left and right and they are not as well known as you aspire to be. I suggest you do something that no one else has done. Posses something no one else has ever had the ability to posses before. I have the ability not just to make gold. But to make it from anything. Any substance and any shape." She rounded on the captain.

"Any amount of money would seem inconsequential when I could make you a golden ship. You would be the envy of all. Think of the fame Captain. The wealth, the envy, the women..." It was much too easy.

"I have decided. Make this ship gold."

"As you wish Captain." She stood with her hands on the railing.

She had already given up. She had a plan that would ensure the safety of her friends. She would make sure none of her kidnappers would go back to hurt them. Unfortunately for her, her plan did not include her making it back to her friends or Sanji.

She had been making gold for years. She was very quick at making it now. Starting from the bottom she began working. The men watched her with fascination. The rigging began to creak and whine. It stopped soon when the metal took over. Under their feet the deck changed to solid gold. The crew was rejoicing. They hollered and shouted their good fortune. Everyone was suddenly thrown back when the ship began to lean back. Her plan worked perfectly. The ship was sinking. The crew started scrambling about trying to get to the life boats; only to find that they had met the same fate as their ship. The captain ran to her, outraged. He grabbed Mezumi by the throat in one strong, greasy hand. He lifted her into the air.

"You, what have you done?"

Mezumi's voice came out distorted from the pressure on her throat. "'The problem with a metal ship is: it won't float.'" She smiled as she quoted her aniki. "You can have your gilded ship but it will be at the bottom of the ocean." The captain back handed her so hard she fell over the side and into the water. Being a power holder, she began to sink. She saw the ship sinking rapidly. She thought of Sanji. She knew he would go on to fulfill his dream.

'Sanji, I hope you remember me.' Seeing his face in her mind's eye she smiled. Her eyes closed and her life slipped away as the under tow forced her to the bottom.

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Chapter 16

The water pulled her one way and then another. Something settled on her stomach and pushed inward. That something must have caught her and pulled her down to the sea below. She felt so heavy resting against the sea floor. Something hard pressed at her chest. It dug into her ribs painfully. She was glad when the pressure released itself. But she was disappointed when it came back full force a second later. Her lungs burned and her mind was fuzzy.

"Mezumi!"

Why did it hurt so much to be dead? The weight on her chest would not let up for longer than a second. Her lungs burned more.

"Mezumi!"

She thought she heard Sanji's voice. Had she been sent here to be tortured? To hear the man she loved but have no way of reaching him? She died to save her friends. Why would that be the reason for this unbearable torture?

"Mezumi, don't leave me!"

She rolled sideways and coughed up water. Gulping in precious air, she did not take notice of her surroundings. Two hands slid behind her back and her neck. They lifted her up till she was face to face with Sanji. He was soaking wet and still dripping. His face held an expression of unparalleled joy.

"You're alive." She managed a smile.

"Sanji." She placed her hand behind his head and brought his lips to hers. The kiss was filled with passion and adrenalin. It lasted for what felt like hours. They broke apart when her lungs began to burn again. "You saved me."

"Let's not make it a habit."

"I love you Sanji. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

"I love you Mezumi. I love you." They kissed again.

"What happened?" She looked around to see Nami speaking.

"I turned the ship to gold. They were excited till they realized it was sinking."

"You sacrificed yourself so we would be safe." Usopp was incredulous.

"You need to rest. Can you get to the sick bay?" Chopper was concerned for her health. She was drowning just a few minutes ago.

"I don't think I can move yet."

"Not a problem." Sanji lifted her up in his arms and left for the sick bay.

"This brings back such fond memories." She smiled at her sarcasm.

"Yes it does. The last time we did this was when I fell for you." Her eyes widened.

"You cared for me that long?" He only nodded as he laid her gently in bed. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled up a chair. She grabbed his hand after he settled down in the chair.

"I think everyone has a new found respect for you." He thought for a moment. "Was I the reason you were unsure of your dream?"

"Yes. I didn't want to tell you yet because I thought it would push you away. I want to be there when you find the all blue. You can open a restaurant but I want to open an orphanage. I want to make sure no children lived the way I did."

"I love that idea. We can fulfill our dreams together. When you left, the thought of living without you was unbearable. I can't imagine my future without you now."

"I am here to stay now. I am here for you forever."

"Forever." They kissed once more.