Despite all Zoro's hard work at wrangling Luffy they still ran out of food in a few days. It was unavoidable between Luffy's appetite and the lack of cook there really wasn't much he could do. The weather certainly didn't help as it alternated between ferocious sea storms that required rapidly shifting the sails and an intense humid heat that trumped even the deserts of Alabasta everyone was miserable.
Luffy, Chopper, Pekoms, and Pedro were put on fishing duty as Nami watched the skies and Zoro manned the crow's nest.
"IHM STRVING SNJI HLP ISS CREEME!" Luffy called out through his dry cracking lips.
The minks were practically sweating through their furs. They'd been fishing for hours when Luffy finally felt a quick tug on his line. He yanked his rod back and a huge purple fish leaped out of the ocean. The fish had a spiked crest along its back and a gaping mouth filled with sharp teeth. Luffy stretched his arm back behind his head, it stretched and then he pulled it forward and sucker punched the fish in the face. It made a squelching sound as Luffy stretched out his other arm to loop around the fish and drag it back to the Sunny.
"FOOOODDDDDD!" Luffy declared his eyes sparkling in anticipation.
Relief filled everyone's faces and Zoro let a small smile filter across his face.
"Awesome…" Chopped stared mesmerised. "But Luffy is it even edible?" Chopper asked, "Here I think Sanji kept a book somewhere let me get it." The tiny reindeer said as he scampered across the deck towards the ruined kitchen.
"Where are you book?" Chopper muttered to himself as he dug through Sanji's wooden cupboards in the back of the room. He tossed things behind him as he searched. "Ah here it is!" He said as he pulled the last book from its place in the cupboard. "Alright now, let's see purple spiked fish where are you?"
"LUUUUFFFFYYYY!" Chopper called. He ran out towards the deck as fast as his legs could take him. Good thing he had thought to look the fish up Chopper thought to himself, someone might have died if they'd just eaten that fish without thinking.
"Luffy don't eat the ski-" Chopper's words stopped short with the sight that met him on deck. The crew was gathered around the fish. Zoro slicing the fish into stripes. Nami berating Luffy to let her cook the fish first. And Luffy...Luffy was stuffing his face with fish skin, his belly bulging out past his shorts with the amount he had already eaten. "The skin's poisonous." Chopper finished lamely.
It took a minute, everyone just stared at Chopper and blinked a couple of times. "AHHHHH the skin's poisonous Luffy ate the skin! Someone call a doctor! Luffy's gonna died!" Chopper cried as he rushed around the deck.
Nami stared at Chopper, then turned and went back to piling the strip of meat Zoro had cut onto a plate. "Serves him right the glutton." She said.
Zoro shrugged and then cut the rest of the skin off the fish and flung it into the ocean. "Oi Nami," he called, "I want some sake with my fish."
"Come on Chopper eat some food," Nami nagged. She pushed a plate of grilled fish towards him. The rest of the crew was already greedily stuffing their faces and raving about Nami's seasoning abilities.
Chopper took the plate, poked the food about before he brought a piece of fish up to his mouth, "Mmm Nami this is so good." He gushed. Next to Chopper Luffy was stretched out on his back, his eyes rolled back in his head and foam dribbling out of his opened mouth. His breath was shallow, but every now and then he would softly mumble something that sounded like meat.
"Nami we need to find an island soon. We're low on medical supplies and look at Luffy." Chopper flicked his hoof at their mess of a captain twitching on the deck.
"I know Chopper," Nami said running a hand through her hair as she looked out towards the sea, "But I can't just make an Island appear. Besides the entry in that book said instant death the fact that it's been a couple hours and he's still breathing is good."
"Yeah I know but we can't just expect Luffy to pull through this on his own!" Chopper argued his voice filled with concern.
"Stop worrying Chopper." Zoro ordered, "Luffy got himself into this idiotic situation just do all you can for him no one expects more. Besides Luffy's strong there's no way poison is going to do him in." Zoro's assurance calmed Chopper somewhat, Zoro's confidence in him was always something that brought him back from excessive worry.
"That's right! And you remember Punk Hazard Luffy has a crazy resistance to poisons!" Nami added her voice light despite the tightness in her eyes. Chopper could feel his spirits lift that's right Punk Hazard Chopper thought. Luffy...Luffy was going to make he was sure.
A few hours later dark clouds formed over the ship and white shapes began falling from the sky.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Nami started holding her hand up to touch the falling moisture, "Wait this isn't snow," she said rolling the fluffy thing between her fingers, "This is cotton candy. How strange."
"What Nami?! Did you say it's raining cotton candy?" Chopper asked excitedly. He dipped his head back, opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out to catch the falling flakes. "Wow it really is cotton candy! This is amazing! So good!"
Pekoms spoke up from where he was sitting on the lawn, "This is a sign we're approaching Mama's territory. This is the famous cotton candy snow. Blackleg is a few days ahead of us and has likely arrived already."
"Oi," Zoro called from the crow's nest. "I see something ahead."
'Ring...ring' echoed across the deck. The den-den mushi shook from its spot on the ship railing. Nami glanced over, "Who could that be?"
"It seems they've found us already." Pekoms spoke, "Just hide yourselves and I'll follow protocol to get us pass this scouting ship."
"You think they might have medical supplies or an antidote?" Chopper asked cocking his head at Luffy who was still sprawled out unconscious on the deck.
Soon enough the foreign ship was closer. Zoro was just beginning to make out the ship's shape through the cotton candy snow. That… that looked like a giant snail ship Zoro thought as two giant snail eyes stared at the Sunny. 'It's the Germa 66's ship!' Zoro heard from below. Germa 66 Sanji's family huh? Well this should be interesting, Zoro thought as he reached out for with his haki.
He was definitely better at armament haki as that had been what had saved his life when he fought all the humandrals on Gloom Island. But in cases like this his observation haki wasn't too shabby either. Zoro sat in the crow's nest, kneeling in a meditation pose. He took a few calming breaths, closed his good eye and then focused. From the darkness white flames flickered to life on the other ship surrounding the people onboard. He could feel well over a hundred presences flickering to life on the ship he flared his haki and felt the other life forces flicker back. No one too strong on board so far. Then he felt it two beacons blazing towards the front of the ship. It was strange both presences felt cold and apathetic, but there was something familiar about one of them. Zoro flinched back when he realized what it was, one of them, one of them felt like Sanji. But where Sanji felt like burning passion this was cold, distant and unnatural.
Zoro let out a deep sigh and opened his eye. This meeting seemed like bad news to him, especially with Luffy out of commision he thought. Well best to get this thing over and either pass peacefully or cut their ship in half. With that thought Zoro grabbed his swords and jumped down from the crow's nest.
"Why have you come here strawhats?" boomed from a snail speaker aboard the Germa ship.
"Move! Move!" Nami screamed, "Furl the sails! We're gonna hit!" The crew rushed around the deck taking the sails. The Sunny pulled right and just barely skirted around the snail ship, slowing to pull alongside the Germa snail.
"Is that…?" Nami whispered as she looked up to the bow of the snail. Two hooded figures stood on the opposing ships bow. Even at this distance with the hood covering most of his face. Nami couldn't help but stare. Under the hood she could clearly make out a curling eyebrow. "That is...Sanji! Sanji! It's good to see you!" Nami said waving at him, a smile gracing her face.
"Wow to think we would be reunited so soon Sanji." Brook uttered.
"Sanji! It's bad!" Chopper babbled, despite the tears of happiness staining his fur. "Luffy ate some poisonous fish! Do you have any antidote on board?"
While the rest of the crew shouted their excitement at the hooded figures on board. Zoro stood silently behind the wheel of the ship gazing up at the two people above. He frowned.
"You keep calling me Sanji," a male voice replied, as the figure reached his hand up to the hood, "But you've got the wrong guy. Though we do look alike so I can't say I blame you." With that the figure flipped his hood back revealing a face that was identical to Sanji's.
"Wha-" Brook started his jaw hanging open in surprise. Nami held her hand over her mouth in surprise her eyes wide in shock.
"My name is Yonji." the man stated.
Zoro felt himself lean forward and his mouth open involuntarily as he looked at the man. He definitely looked like Sanji. He had the same stupid dartboard eyebrows there was no doubt the two were related. But then on the man's head he saw hair a similar shade of green to his own. This this was very strange Zoro thought. When Zoro had reached out with his haki he had expected something, but it wasn't this.
"His face is the splitting image of Sanji. He even has the same eyebrows!" Chopper cried, "Must be his younger brother." Chopper muttered under his breath.
"My relationship with Sanji is none of your business," Yonji said his eyes trailing across the strawhats. He paused on Nami his eyes transforming into hearts and his face scrunching up into a lecherous expression. "Whoa what a babe!" He yelled.
There was a synchronized smack as all the strawhats facepalmed to the familiar response. "Definitely Sanji's younger brother." Nami concluded.
A few more moments of gawking at Nami and then Yonji spun on his heel. "Raise sails." he called, "We have no reason to remain here. Let's go."
"Wait Sanji!" Chopper yelled, desperation in his voice.
"I'm not Sanji!" Yonji yelled back, anger evident in his voice. "For crying out loud my hair's as completely different color!"
"But Luffy," Chopper started hysterically as he stood on the railing, "The rash is spreading and his resistance is falling. Please we're only asking for an antidote!"
Luffy's face was turning a dark shade of purple and a red rash was dotted across his body. His breathing was faint and gasping Chopper could still hear a faint heartbeat but it was fading fast.
"Please! We've used all of ours and none of them seem to be having any effect!" Chopper tried again.
"If you really are Sanji's little brother please help us save Luffy!" Brook implored.
A harsh laugh echoed across the two ships. "Sucks to be you guys!" Yonji barked back, "I'm not the type of man that goes around saving people. How about you losers try stealing it from me like real pirates?"
"What a meanie!" Chopper yelled from the rail of the Sunny. His face was scrunched up in anger.
"How cruel saying that type of thing with Sanji's face. He might look like Sanji but they're nothing alike! I hope you fall over and die!" Nami roared, her fist shaking at Yonji.
"All we have to do is take it from you? Sounds like a piece of cake to me." Zoro's voice was even, but there was dark undertone as he stepped towards the edge of the ship. His right hand was resting on Wado Ichimonji and a malicious grin staining his face. "So you want a fight lookalike?" he asked.
"Who does this stupid moss ball thinks he is?" Yonji said his lips pulled back in a sneer.
"Wait Zoro…I didn't really mean it! Don't actually kill Sanji's little brother." Nami said worriedly. Zoro glanced at Nami and drew one of his swords pointing it at the Germa snail ship.
"He's the one who set the ultimatum Nami. He made his bed now it's time for him to lie in it!" Zoro stated as he unsheathed the Wado and pulled his arm back. Before Zoro could release an attack there was a yell and a crash. Then Yonji went flying from the deck and there was a loud splash as he landed in the ocean.
"What's going on up there now?" Nami questioned as she glanced up nervously, momentarily distracted from whatever nonsense plan Zoro was thinking. Behind Nami there was a gentle squish as someone landed on the grass.
"Hmm." Zoro grunted as he sheathed his sword. His eyes staring at the new figure who had appeared on deck.
"Who is this now?" Pedro asked. On the Sunny stood a beautiful woman with pink hair. She was dressed in some sort of butterfly costume with springy shoes. Her costume vaguely reminded Zoro of Vivi's outfit back on Whiskey Peak. Meant to distract people with clashing colors and patterns while she attacked. Something about this person instantly put Zoro on his guard. She was a woman, but that certainly didn't make her any less dangerous.
"I'm sorry for my stingy little brother. He really has no manners and is rotten to the core." the woman apologized as she smiled at everyone on deck. Zoro couldn't help but stare at her eyebrows perfect spirals curling delicately above her brown eyes. The only difference was that while Sanji's spirals faced right this woman's faced left. Zoro let out a slight snicker. How weird was the bloodline if that was the distinguishing trait Sanji shared with his siblings?
"Little brother? So you must be Sanji's sister. Wow so pretty you even have eyebrows like him too!" Chopper gushed, momentarily distracted from tending to Luffy.
"REIJU!" Snarled Yonji as he splashed out of the ocean. He was dripping and his green hair lay flat against his scalp. "DAMN YOU! HOW DARE YOU SHAME ME LIKE THAT!"
"Oh silence little brother. You're doing a fine job of shaming yourself without my help." Reiju replied cheerfully with a little wave.
"Is it just me or is he floating?" Pedro asked. He pointed his paw out and Yonji seemed to be jumping through the air. Before he landed on the deck of the Sunny and stalked over towards Reiju.
"The Germa are a technologically advanced army." Pekoms explained,"You can see why Mama's after their power."
"The Vinsmokes… that was the name of a clan of royals that ruled the North Blue with an iron fist while I was still alive. Are these the same?" Brook asked as he glanced over to Reiju.
Yonji began trying to kick Reiju as she gracefully dodged. Zoro looked at the spectacle and couldn't help but think that Sanji would never try to kick a woman. This whole meeting with his siblings kept getting stranger. Zoro couldn't justify it. Sure Tashigi might be the spitting image of Kuina, but they also acted the same. It was weird but he'd gotten used to it. With Sanji's siblings it's like he fell into some strange nightmare where everyone had the cook's face, but no one acted like him.
"Yes, in a prior era the name Vinsmokes was synonymous with evil itself." Pekoms said.
Reiju knocked Yonji flat with a kick to the face, then turned back to Brook. "Oh Mr. Skelton it seems you are quite well versed on our history." Reiju joined them a delicate smile remained spread across her face. "Yes we are that same clan. The Germa are a nation without a land though we are still considered royals." Just as Reiju finished Luffy let out a visceral cough.
"Hmm I see this is quite severe." Reiju said as crouched down to inspect Luffy. She poked him a couple times in his face. "Let me guess he ate a purple spiked stone fish from the hot-hot sea."
"Whoa how did you know? You must be super smart just like Sanji!" Chopper said excitedly. Zoro felt himself withhold a snort at the notion of Sanji being smart.
"Poisons happen to be one of my favorite delicacies." Reiju giggled, "Though I'm glad you think I'm smart. Here let me have a taste." With that Reiju leaned over and pressed her lips to Luffy's. Zoro opened his mouth in shock. That... that was not what he was expecting, then he grinned at the thought of how pissed the cook would be when he found out Luffy kissed his sister.
"Wait no stop! If you suck out too much poison you may die!" Chopper cried as he rushed towards her and Luffy.
"The rash is being transferred to her!" Nami concluded, shock in her voice.
"No fair I want a kiss too though I have no lips! Yohohoho" Brook joked.
Zoro twitched he felt it more than saw it. It was just a sudden alertness and then he was moving. His sword sliding from his sheath to block a fist aimed at Reiju's head. Wado stopped the attack and Yonji blinked in surprise.
"I don't care who you are. You try attacking my captain while he's unconscious again and you won't have any limbs left!" Zoro growled, letting his killing intent slide across his aura.
Yonji blinked again then his face was sliding into a smirk and a kick was headed towards Zoro's head. Zoro whipped out his second sword and parried the attack.
"Oh you're pretty good for a peasant this'll be fun!" Yonji chuckled, glee apparent in his voice. Zoro growled and continued to block. It wasn't hard per say but this guy was more irritating than the cook and a lot weaker too. Zoro could hear Chopper from somewhere behind him talking to Reiju.
"Luffy's rash is gone completely!" Chopper noted, "Are you okay Reiju?"
"Yummy! Of course I'm okay," Reiju said licking her lips with a smile. "That was an excellent meal."
Luffy sat up glanced at Reiju smiled and said. "Hi Sanji! MAKE FOOD PLEASE!"
"That's not Sanji she's clearly a woman!" Nami said smacking Luffy, "That's for being an idiot and almost dying! She save your life Luffy."
"Thanks then," Luffy said nodding his head, " So who is she?"
"You have my sincerest thanks for taking care of my little brother all this time." Reiju said bowing her head slightly. "You see Sanji ran away when he was very young and my father has been searching for him all this time. Which is why when we saw his most recent wanted poster Father had the conditions of the bounty changed from Dead or Alive to just Alive."
"Meh I don't really care about all that. " Luffy said shrugging before he turned and looked at her seriously. "But Sanji's sister we want Sanji back. He's our nakama." Luffy had that determined look in his eye as his hat shadowed his face.
"See what you've done sister. You've saved our enemy." Yonji yelled from his fight with Zoro. "And you Pekoms you're with big mom's crew but you're hanging around with her enemies?"
"Shut up Algae head! If you have time to yell at other people you must not be taking this fight very seriously," Zoro said as he let loose a downwards slice. He was so done with this punk Sanji lookalike. He sheathed both his swords lightning fast and let his fist fly straight into Yonji's face. Yonji's eyes widened slightly as he flew off the Sunny and crashed back into the Germa's ship.
"Quite the arm you've got there Mister Swordsman," Reiju commented.
Zoro grunted in response.
"Point taken pirate. I think it's time me and my brother go." Reiju said leaping back to the Germa ship in a single jump "For now let us say that we have seen nothing. But I would advise that you let Sanji be." Reiju peeled Yonji off the side of the ship where he had landed and pulled him onboard.
"Tell your brother when he wakes up that his kicks are even more pathetic than the Cook's. And next time he should think twice about who he's attacking or he might find himself cut in half." Zoro threatened a dark smile on his face.
"Hmm," Reiju smiled, "I'll be sure to tell him. For now let us say goodbye. Good luck straw hat I hope we do not see you again." Reiju let out one parting wave, then the Germa ship was fading back into the Cotton Candy Snow.
"Well that was weird," Nami said.
Author's Note: Hey so this is the longest chapter to date over 3,500 words! I originally wanted to split this chapter but it just wasn't cooperating. I really wanted to finish up the meeting between the strawhats and the Vinsmokes, but there was so much to include I might have gotten a bit carried away. Anyways let me know what you guys think, especially with the fight scenes. Expect the next chapter to take a little bit longer, it'll probably be up around Friday. Next time will feature the strawhats arrival on whole cake island.
Just to let everyone know I've got around 13 Chapters planned for this fic but it might go up. And yes I'm hoping to have it done by thanksgiving! Also I don't know if I mentioned this but I'll be cross posting all my stories on archiveofourown with the same user name if you prefer that platform. Shout outs and thank yous to the two reviews I've gotten it's super helpful (not to mention motivating) to hear people's thoughts about my writing and what needs improvement. If anyone wants to be my beta or proofreader on this or any future fic please PM. Anyways hope you all are enjoying this.