Chapter 5：Why all this trouble?
"Sanji kun, you need help with those dishes?" Nami asked sweetly as she entered the kitchen.
The ship's cook spun around, too overjoyed by his angle's presence to continue his dishwashing.
"Nami swan is so lovable when she offers a helping hand~~! But I'll be damned if I let these greasy plates and detergents ruin her perfect manicures~~!"He chanted merrily to the air.
"Ano, I'm standing right here, Sanji kun. Who are you talking to?" Nami said waving her hand in front of the cook's uncovered eye, which instantly turned into a giant pink heart.
"My chivalry self."The hearty-eyed cook answered.
"…Fare enough." Nami nodded, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. It sounded kind of weird but she did believe there was a huge part of chivalry self living in Sanji—that was, when his ero ero mode wasn't taking over control.
"Anyway, I wanna help. "She said,"I'm not doing anything right now, and our course is already set for the next few hours. So maybe there's something I can do in here- you know, to keep myself occupied? "so I won't be just sitting there pouting about Zoro…Wait a minute, who said Zoro? Why does this have anything to do with Zoro? This isn't about him! It's about me being a nice person and showing kindness to Sanji kun if I want to, and I DO want to-not that I'm trying to prove anything, right?
Convinced by the little voice in her head, Nami gave the cook a honey dripped smile which she knew was enough to give him a sugar shock."Please, Sanji kun, let me help."
"My dearest Nami swan, you are already granting me a generous favor by just standing there looking pretty. I can't think of anything else to ask from you~~!"The blond cook smiled back- in a love struck manner of course. "However, I'm sure I wouldn't mind if you decide to uh, unbutton that beautiful blouse you're wearing for just a little bit~~~~"
"THAT-" bringing a new bump onto the cook's blond head, Nami stated determinedly. "-IS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN, SANJI. I said help, not strip."
Though disappointed, the cook quickly regained his usual suaveness. "Actually, there is something you can help me with, Nami san. I was just thinking about making some snacks for you ladies. Since Robin chwan is not around, it'll be nice if I can at least know your preference."
How's that counted as helping him? Nami had wanted to ask, but knowing Sanji she decided to just let the matter drop. After all, the cook was too much of a gentleman to actually assign her any kitchen work. Now that she thought about it, he could be really sweet at times. He always treated her nicely- if he was able to stay in non-hearty-eyed state more permanently, she would've fallen for him ages ago.
"How about Mochi*? It's been so long since we have some Japanese dessert, Sanji kun." She suggested, giving the cook an expectant look.
"Sure, Nami san, your wish is my command." The cook smiled back fawningly. "And what flavor would my lovely Nami swan be expecting?"
"Umm…I'm thinking something light and healthy, like matcha*?"
"Matcha it is. I personally am not quite fond of making green-colored food cause that'll remind me of that shitty swordsman, but I guess I can always imagine smashing his head off while I grind these tea leaves. " Sanji explained as he took out a ceramic jar from his preserver. He opened the lid, allowing the scent of fresh green tea to give off.
"Wait Sanji kun—Maybe I can grind these for you?" putting a hand on the cook's lean shoulder, Nami offered in a sweet tone.
"Are you sure, Nami san? This can be quite boring job-"
"Oh I'll never get bored-"the orange haired girl smirked, "When it comes to smashing something green."
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Zoro stirred and cracked open his good eye.
It was dark and he was alone in the crow's nest, still holding a dumbbell in one hand. He had to admit it was a fairly stupid posture to have fallen asleep in, not to mention he was also blowing a snot bubble from one of his nostrils.
He should be glad that no one was around to see it…or should he?
He blinked: So he was alone, without any company, which meant- Nami never showed up.
What time is it? He looked out through the porthole, only to find that the moon had begun sinking into the sea. He'd say it was pretty late at night, or pretty early in the morning —he couldn't tell precisely. Observing the moon was more like Nami's thing—she was the navigator after all.
But either assumption was enough to tell him that she was either considerably late, or she had intentionally bailed on their appointment. Knowing Nami, he was almost one hundred percent sure she did this on purpose.
"Great. She actually made me apologize for calling her what she truly is." He muttered under his breath.
This was just typical Nami. This, was what she did—punishing him just because she wanted to, while he simply did nothing wrong.
When he confronted her about this in the morning, she'd better not brush him off with some lame excuse like "I forgot it".
0-0-0-0-0
"Whoops, I totally forgot it." She said, batting her eyelashes innocently. "I was working on my map last night, I guess I just sorta lost track of time. Sorry~"
Zoro narrowed his eyes. It was funny that despite the fact that he actually saw this coming, he felt all the same pissed.
"Cut it, woman. I'm in no mood for crap like this. What kind of game are you trying to play with me?" he asked impatiently.
"What game—it's not a game! " She protested.
"You're right, it's not." He nodded, "Cause it's not funny at all. I'm sick of it."
Nami inhaled sharply. Did he just say he was sick of this—sick of being with her?
"You are sick of it? What about me? I'm sick of all~~ this~~! "She snapped. Her defense mechanism was setting off big time. "All this hiding, sneaking around, lying to everybody's face about it, and—and pretending to forgive you while I know perfectly well you were just saying sorry to get laid!" She bit her lower lip the moment she realized what had come out of her mouth, but it was too late.
A mixed expression of shock and anger flashed across Zoro's face.
Through gritted teeth, he repeated her words in a very slow tone. "So you think I apologized to you just to get laid?"
Nami was at a loss for what to say. What she had just said was mean—even to her own ears, but somehow taking it back would not be an option.
"Well…what else could it be?" Despite herself, she kept pushing further, with the faintest hope that he would deny it immediately and tell her she was wrong.
But Zoro didn't deny.
He glared at her pretty face, not speaking for a long time.
Then he let out a low sneer, like what he was hearing was ridiculous to him.
"Maybe you're right. It's not like you are the only woman I know, Nami. If I just wanna have some sex, why'd I have to go through all this trouble? "He gave her a slight smile—more like a slight quirk of the corner of his lips, just for the gesture itself.
"Wha…what do you mean?" Nami stuttered. Her heart began to sink as she saw his lips continue moving, uttering the most hurtful words she'd ever heard from him—
"It's not worth it. I'm out."
With that being said Zoro turned around, walked straight through the doorway, leaving the cabin door open.
A stunned Nami stood in the middle of her charting room, staring at his back until it disappeared down the end of hallway.
Realization slowly sank into her being: Did Zoro just…end things with her?
Author's Note: I almost gave up on this. How I wish I could just write this in Chinese and paste it into Google translation and let it do the job for me~! Yeah I know, it won't work...I blaim the developer of Google translation (or on-line translation service in general)for not being able to provide coherent sentenses.
To StarKiss666 : it's like you can read my mind or something...I was gonna let Nami bail on her date with Zoro anyway but haven't got the chance to write to that part, and you've pointed it out before I finished writing this chapter. So I was like " Am I that predictable?Oh no~~~" when I saw your review. Still, thank you. XD
And fmdevil san, you must've guessed this. All my friends say I'm too easy to read. :( (Sorry, I'm just being whiny cuz I know you are really nice person and you would probably say things like: no you're not~~ So it's really just me poking at your soft spot. XD )
Notes about Japanese food (just in case):
Mochi-a kind of sweets/dessert/snack, made of glutinous rice, usually has sweet-flavored stuffing like red beans or matcha or chocolate.
Matcha-green tea, in high quality( not really).
R&R pls~~!
Minami