Rewritten!

AN: Yet another new rewritten chapter. Hope you'll all enjoy.

AN: Aaaand, here I'm back again! Since it was my birthday yesterday, I'll give you THIS today. Hope you all will enjoy it^o^ more are soon to come… I hope so ^o^; Thanks for all your wonderful reviews~! Love ya all~!

Aaaahhh, a big thanks to KittyBlue for beta-reading this chapter.

I don't know what I should have done without her help^^ Thank you, thank you so much~!

-hugs you-

I owe you big ^o^

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Taste of bittersweet Disaster

-A One Piece fan fiction

By Crystal Blue Fox

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Blood on my hands

I don't know what to think…

How would you now think of me?

Please don't,

Don't go back and look…

Please… hate me…

And don't forgive me!

20. Chapter

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Blood on my hands

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Zoro slid down along the old oak tree as he tried to catch his breath. He had been running most of the time, and still, he hadn't found those two damn blonds' and that blue-haired kid. He looked around at his surroundings, but found nothing to help him in his search. Damn it, where were they? Cursing inwardly, he forced himself to stand again. Anna had healed his wound, but that gas was still running through his system, and beside that, he still got a fever.

He pushed off the tree and ran again, as he had done for the last couple of hours. Seriously, why the heck should his bad sense of direction kick-in at a time like this? He knew that he had been running in circles, but it had been like a bad omen keeping him from going the other direction.

He heard something. Steps?

Hiding behind a tree, the person finally came out of the trees, running for their life, away from the direction he had been avoiding so much. Nami? She didn't see him, and he didn't say anything, for some reason, because before he could fathom himself, she was already gone. One of the disturbing thing was, that she was alone, neither of the blonds' or that blue-haired kid was with her, that meant that they were still in trouble, with no doubt, the way she was running, and that curly-cook would never in his wildest imagination leave her alone in danger, or in such a distress.

Zoro took off in the direction she had come from.

Hopefully, he wouldn't be too late.

-TOBD- TOBD- TOBD—

Nicki rolled away, coughing up some blood as he grabbed his chest. Shit! His ribs hurt, it wouldn't surprise him if some of them were broken. He stood on shaky legs and glared up at the other blond, who stood there, smirking at his victory of planting a well-placed kick. Sanji moved slowly, as if he cared about anything in the world, other than the need to kill him.

Nicki raised a brow as he noticed something about the blond: He were still limping. Now, if heused that to his advantage, he could win this fight, with no dead bodies. He coughed again and stepped forward, and threw a quick glance at the large wound on the other chest; a slash from his own claws had ripped through clothes and skin.

Suddenly they both moved fast. Sanji got on his hands and kicked him square under his jaw, but he dodged at the very last moment and fell back on his own hands. But he never got to stand up as a sudden bone-breaking kick to his back came with full force. Nicki screamed and swore, that he heard something break… again! He fell to the ground, but hurried away before another kick would land, breaking his back fully. Gritting his teeth, wheezing as he tried to bite the pain back, he tried to stand again. Damn that cook was fast… and damn hell strong!

Shit! He was too weak in this state, but he couldn't let his instincts fully take over either, if he did, only god knew what'll then happen. But that smell, the smell of blood, even though the chef wore all black, he could see the blossoming wounds underneath.

A taste, just a little taste, the wolf part of him begged.

No! No, he couldn't give in, shouldn't.

But his body reacted on its own, as the cook knocked his feet into the dusty ground with the tip of his shoe, he shot forward and slashed that leg. The blond almost crumbled, wheezing hard, he tried to knock off the pain.

Damn it! Why had he done it? More fresh blood would only make that side of him more manifest.

Yet, he couldn't help himself smile in triumph, seeing the other's reaction of how deep the wound was, as he inspected it with a sneer, though it still wasn't enough to make him stagger. Eye not able to leave the sight of the bleeding wound, he even caught himself sniffing the air at the now more vibrant smell of blood, a tongue dared licking dried lips. Heart beating just a bit faster, bones cracking, promising of a feast if he'd let the transformation complete.

Just let go. Release the pain. Give in for the need.

No! shit! Stop it, stop! He shouldn't even think like that! He shouldn't -

Sanji groaned, and came at him. "You piece of shit! You'll pay for this, you monster!" he roared, one leg already coming at him.

Nicki frowned. Monster? Did he just… call him a monster?!

That's when he fully lost it, and gave in.

If he wanted a monster, he'll damn hell give him a one!

-TOBD- TOBD- TOBD— DDD

Sanji barely sensed the breeze, before he was faced by gleaming canines in the dusty light, embedding, not a second later, into his shoulder, cutting off his attack immediately. He screamed. It hurt like hell, but, somehow, the pain, "woke him up" from a hazed dream. That's when he took in his surroundings, not remembering a shit of why the heck he even was here.

How'd he come here?

Why was he fighting this creep?

Canines embedded deeper, ripping out a groan off him. If they went even deeper, there would be no saying if the shoulder ever would be useful again, meaning; cooking might not be a possibility, not without help.

"Fuck! Shit! Get off, get off! Get off me, Wolfie!" Kneeing him, the thing, it, whatever, solid in the liver, it successfully made it release him, giving him enough opportunity to get as good a distance in between them, as possible, and maybe figure out how the heck to get the hell out of here. Touching his shoulder, and testing its mobility, he sighed in relief. Even though it hurt and barely mobile, it was mobile, meaning; he could still use it, somewhat.

But how the heck could he get out of here? The walls around this arena were too high to get over, if not getting enough run to make a perfect jump, and the arena barely made enough space for that. Second there was the doors on floor level, with no doubt quite solid, but giving them a hard-enough kick, it should be no problem. Question was; where these people professional enough or was the place just as rundown as the basement?

"Seems like that Omen-thing of yours is slowly wearing off?" the wolfman rumbled, chuckling at him as he flinched. Had he really been using that much time to figure out a way out of here, or was that thing recovering way too fast? "But still no idea of who I am, it seems?" Why was that even so amusing? He'd remember any day if he'd ever seen a creature like that.

"Fuck off!" Sanji growled, readying himself for the next attack, and to get the hell out of here.

"Seems as if the demon got a taste for our little human friend!" The broadcaster announced in the speakers "Ladies and gentlemen; if we're lucky, we might even be able to watch a demon's feast as well!" People roared up in excitement at that. Sick shits.

The attack was sudden, again, with no warning, he barely even sensed it. Sanji lashed out a kick, but only hitting an arm. Claws slashed down and tore his shirt, only the shirt, though it had been one of the expensive ones in his wardrobe. Shit! A kick swiftly knocked his legs from under him, but Sanji were fast, moving to his hands, he send a kick directed to the other's head, though missing. The leg was caught, and canines immediately dug into its flesh, deep. Sanji cried and fell to the ground, killing the plan of escape. No, there were no other opportunity but to fight.

The kick from the heel hit with no doubt its other's kneecap, but with no effect, instead, the knee seemed to bend backwards, as bones cracked and seemingly rearranged itself, as if transforming into another form. Was he a devilfruit user?

Canines pulling back so the pantleg could be pushed up, it revealed a worrying looking wound. A tongue ran over it, licking the bloodied leg, as the creature hummed in delight, before biting back into it, as Sanji made a move to pull it away. Second time was even worse. He almost knocked his head against the dusted ground, as he screamed, and moved his free leg to smash it against the other's head, back and shoulder multiply times.

"GET OFF ME, YOU FUCKER! OFF! OFF! O-AAARGH!" This time there were no mercy for the back of his head, as those teeth bit right through, biting off a piece of flesh, only to chew it and eat it. No. this thing wasn't even human. "FUCK! Bloody hell SHIT!" he cried out, barely hearing the joke from the broadcaster about being eaten alive. No, none of these spectators watching this sick show, wasn't even human. Impossible.

A tongue dug into the open wound, lapping the blood up, before the whole mouth was over it just seconds later.

What was even this place?

Whimpering, dizziness was already clawing at his senses. Damn heck, if he were to die like this. Moving the free leg, he smashed it hard onto the other's head, making the face land into his wound, though hurting like shit, he none the less kicked again, and again, until the psycho-wolf would finally let go of him. He moved fast, pulling himself away from the pool of blood, he could barely stand, not even when using the wall to support him.

Nami? Where was Nami-san? Was she okay? Had she made to escape?

Hopefully, hopefully she hadn't faced this madness.

Someone was coming at him from above!

He barely managed to push himself away from the wall, tumbling to the floor, as the wolfman came, slashing down where he'd stood not a quarter of a second ago. Hands more looked like paws now, nails more alike claws. If he hadn't moved, his head would've been torn off his shoulders. He had to keep a clear mind, if he wanted to survive this.

Trying to get on his feet again, he found, to his horror, that he couldn't. The right leg was partially dead, though moving it reminded him that it far from was.

A laugh ran like icy cold water along Sanji's back, as the creature practically crawled towards him.

"Looki likes you're having problems with standing. Hurts your little legs?" it said, licking its too wide lips. "Too bad, too bad for you… but good for me!"

Sanji widened his eyes in horror as he saw the others whole body-structure begin changing; Legs and arms became thinner and smaller, his back stretched as fur began growing fast all over his body. Hair shortened and turned into grey fur as well, while the neck grew longer and thicker and the face became smaller and longer. Sanji swallowed a lump there had stuck in his throat, before he started crawling backwards, facing the now fully changed grey-white wolf standing before him, shaking off its clothes. The growl sent a tremble rigging through his body, as the creature came closer, tail lowering, ears laying, and its body close to the ground; ready to attack any moment.

"Who... who are you?" Sanji breathed, and swore, that the wolf became even angrier by those words.

"What a sight! Ladies and Gentlemen! We have just witnessed one of the wolf-lines transformations, a rare sight unless you're one of its preys!" the Broadcaster roared exited in the speakers, as people gasped, whispered and cheered happily. "Let's now see if our little human-friend can survive this or if our demon will get a big meal today!"

Barely having time to look up as the wolf landed just feet away from him, Sanji kicked, hitting it right in its face, and scrambled away, not wasting another second. He had to get out of here, fast. He couldn't fight like this, when not even being capable of standing. The exit, where the heck was the exit?

Something heavy landed onto his back, not two seconds later, before a growl vibrated into his right ear, decreasing his skin-color with three shades paler. He didn't dare to move, not even to turn his head to look at the angry wolf standing on his back. If he didn't peace his mind together soon and come up with some plan, he'd be done for, very, very soon. Trembling hand moving underneath him, he slowly tried to make a move, but the wolf saw this, and with a growl, bite into his shoulder.

Sanji cried, no, screamed, as there was not only one bite, but multiple, sharp teeth tearing the flesh on his shoulder into shredded pieces.

"Shit! OFF ME! OFF ME!" he screamed, tears running as he moved his other hand underneath himself, suppressing the pain, he pushed up fast, pushing the wolf off him, before scattering as far away from the wolf as possible. He couldn't think, barely piece anything sense together, as the fear seeped through his veins, sending him pictures of horrible memories from not long ago.

He needed a smoke. No, he needed something stronger, something from that stack he had hid underneath his mattress in his bunker. Sitting up, he leaned his head against the wall, gasping, his breathing coming in shaking breaths. He felt nauseas, and a strong urge to empty his stomach. Tightening the grip on his shoulder, he wondered if it ever would become as mobile as before, judging from the feel of it, there was more than just broken bones and flesh. The muscles didn't feel too well.

Fuck!

Finally getting sight of the door, Sanji made his way towards his, more like dragging his body than running or even walking. The wolf howled, and before he could reach for the handle, he was tackled to the ground, tumbling around until he laid flat on his back, with a drooling wolf on top of him.

Sanji stopped breathing for a moment, not daring to make a single move. The sounds around him drowned away, time slowing as he watched the wolf open its mouth, showing off all its white fangs, before time took hold of the situation again, and the mouth clasped around his throat like a beartrap.

Then, suddenly, he remembered it all, especially the face of his opponent.

"Ni, Nicki…?" He gasped, wheezing as he tried to breathe, as sharp teeth dug further into his throat. It couldn't be possible, could it? He tried to get a hold of its head, no, Nicki's head, only resulting in a deeper bite. He gagged, vision turning unclear, mouth hanging open as he tried to gasp for air, fingers still trying to get a grasp of the fur and pull the head back, though, he could already tell that he was losing consciousness, as the audience rose from their seats and roared in excitement.

Sick bastards. All of them nothing but a bunch of sick psychotic bastards.

Was this really it? All the dangers he'd been through with his crew, was this really his end, in a circus-like-arena, for rich bastards' entertainment, bitten to death?

There was a change in the wolf's eye, teeth released him before the wolf sneered at something, and suddenly a flash of green and white tackled the wolf off him. The coughing, as he finally could breathe, didn't sound promising.

Then, that green head suddenly returned above him.

"Shit, Sanji? Sanji! You hear me?" He could almost cry in happiness at the sound of the familiar voice, from the just as familiar face. That he'd get this happy of the sight of lively moss, he'd never could've imagine. Always able to barge in at the right moment, that idiot.

"Loud and, clear." He answered, a bit later than the approximately answering time of a question, it definitely pulled a deep frown from the other. "Am I looking that, bad?" he joked, though the talking hurt his throat. Coughing, it felt, as if someone dragged a burning blade over his vocal chords. Face finally getting clearer, the expression was far from satisfied of what it saw. Did he really look that bad? "S'nothing," he tried to brush off "just a, lill' nick." And tried to get up, though plummeting through a building seemed easier.

A hand steadied his back, as a mumbling "the hell it is" sounded in his ear. "Come on, before that wolf wakes up." The animalistic whine though, told that the time soon was up. "Think you can run?" Zoro asked, glancing only once down at him, before keeping a close eye on the awakening disoriented wolf.

"Dunno, right leg, pretty fucked up." He said, wincing as said leg spasmed.

"But can you use it?" What he'd think? That he was a duplicate of his maddening stamina? An arm was already around him. Sanji sighed, no answer needed as he already was pulled up to test the theory. Standing, sort of. Running, no. A whole muscle had been bitten off his leg! What he think? That he had as monstrous stamina as he?

They were moving already, rather dragged along than running on his own, Zoro brought him to what once had been a door, now cut into pieces. People were screaming, someone was yelling and suddenly something pierced through him with the sound of a gunshot. He couldn't even tell where it hit, other that it made him loose his footing and almost dropped to the floor, if it hadn't been to Zoro's steel hold on him. Consciousness was failing.

The swordsman stopped suddenly, he sounded frustratingly, but Sanji just couldn't piece together the meaning of his words. Blinking, a movement behind them caught his attention. The wolf was approaching them in high speed. He opened his mouth, but the words seemed to fail him, though just as the swordsman sensed the danger, it was already too late.

A flash of blue light suddenly sent the wolf flying back into the arena. The light so sharp to his eyes, that he couldn't even get hold of the form behind it, though, it seemed humanly with... tails?

"Oliver…?" Zoro mouthed, sounding fully taken aback. Oliver? As in that lill' blue haired kid? As on que, the light turned to face them. Oliver's face. scrutinising the face closer, it seemed less human than normal. Canines was instead of teeth, hair turning into fur and his features seemed less and less human, the light forming around him as a fox's shadow, a fifth tail growing as they watched.

The voice of the Broadcaster boomed through the hall from the arena's speakers.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! This is something out of the ordinary! We had not expected to see the legendary fox this early in the program, nor together with another demon! This is an amazing sight!" Roars of excitement, surprised gasps, whistles and claps was heard. "Ladies and Gentlemen, all the way from the other world of Gaia, our Demon Hunters pride; the legendary, CRYSTAL BLUUUEEE FOOOOX!"

"Legendary?" He heard Zoro mumble, before Oliver turned, and attacked Nicki, who once again tried to approach them.

"Zoro!" the kid called "Get Sanji out of here!"

"What about-"

"Now, god damn it!" Oliver roared and now gave the two of them a stare that could almost send the devil on the run. "I can't suppress it much longer!" he almost choked "Please, get the hell away from here… before it's too late! A-Anna can fix his wounds… but you have to hurry…!"

Zoro didn't respond, or he just didn't catch it, as they suddenly were moving again. His steps couldn't really follow along the other's speed, and soon, he almost pulled the two of them to the ground as he lost his footing fully.

"Cook?" he asked, didn't he?

"Sorry, can't." was all Sanji could get himself to say, consciousness swimming in and out of focus. He couldn't even tell where they were, but judging from the wind blowing, probably outside.

"Heads up," Zoro said, before he was scooped off feet, and the pain became a bit more tolerate "I'll get you to Chopper."

"Don't, get lost." He tried joking, a retort was returned, though Sanji was already blacking out, before he even could decipher those words.

-TOBD- TOBD- TOBD—

"Zoro!" Luffy cheered happily as he saw the approaching swordsman and waved, though the smile dropped as fast as it came, as he saw what, or rather who his firstmate was carrying. "Sanji…?!" he said breathlessly, quickening his steps, as he saw the blood covered chef of the Thousand Sunny in the arms of the swordsman. "Sanji!" he this time called, pulling a brief reaction from said blond, who turned his neck and only for a fleeting moment looked at him captain, before closing his eyes again.

Luffy came to a stop before them, taking in all his visible wounds, wounds there seemed coming from an aggressive animal. "What happened?" he asked in a much darker tone than he'd attempted, Zoro's frown only deepened, apparently he couldn't tell either. "Where's Nicki and Oliver?" he instead asked, that, at least, seemed to be something Zoro could answer.

"The arena, in the building straight ahead," Luffy nodded, noting the odd expression of worry in the man's eyes, "Take him to Chopper" A nod notified that he was heard, before they darted in each direction.

He'd never seen the swordsman this much out of it, not even as they found Sanji the first time, months back. What changed in between them?

Luffy came to a stop as he reached the end of the woods and saw a kid, he knew all too well, walking towards him on bare bloodied feet, carrying a sleeping person much taller than himself. Bloodied light-blond and blue-blond hair, gave the two persons away of who they were. Oliver looked up with tired eyes, soon turning into horror, as he seemed to realize who he was.

"L-Luffy…?" he said with a raw voice, stopping in his steps. He nudged Nicki back up on his back, who almost slid out of his hold, gripping tighter around his dangling legs.

They both looked almost just as bad in shape as Sanji; torn bloodied clothes, bruises and scratches, covering their bodies.

"What happened… Oliver?" he asked quietly, quirking a brow at the odd behavior as the other teen took a step back. Luffy looked up at the grey building. What the heck happened in there?

"Please," Oliver begged, as he looked at him again, his lips were trembling "don't… go in there," the kid begged him.

"Your hat…?"

"I-it's okay, I-I'll get it back later."

"Oliver," he took a step towards the kid, who stepped back again.

"Please… don't…!" the blue-blond whispered, a drop of tear released, as his body swayed dangerously, legs threatening to give up any moment. Luffy sighed, closed his eyes for a moment and walked past the kid, who kept begging him to stop. He patted his hat-loose head, and heard the boy fall on his knees behind him, sobbing, as he reached the doors.

The first thing that met him was the strong smell of blood. Opening the door revealing a long corridor, he followed it. The silence was almost screamingly loud. As he looked down each corridor he passed, there was no one to be seen, though the distinctive smell of blood was everywhere to smell. Red footprints told him in which direction to go, he followed them without a second thought, towards a destroyed gate, there only could be caused by Zoro's swords.

Though what awaited at the other side, was a direct scene of horror.

Guards lay spread everywhere in what seemed to be an arena, all shredded, all broken… all dead! Blood was the new paint in this room, on the walls and on the floor. Even above this arena, at the seat places, the horror continued. It was grotesque.

Luffy couldn't remember the last time he was lost for words or action, as every senses seemed to churn his stomach. A shaking hand to his chest, he just barely made to turn his back to it, as his stomach couldn't hold it any longer. What worse was, if possible was all those bodiless heads, cringed in their last scream of horror.

It almost looked as if a demon had been on the loose in here!

-TOBD- TOBD- TOBD—

A hat was propped down on his messy bloodied hair, but he didn't dare to look up, just kept staring down at the ground. Sandaled feet stopped before him, without turning around. Oliver's breath was caught in his throat as they, after a long moment of silence, suddenly turned around, the person before him dropped down on his knees and hugged him. Lips shivered, threatening to release a cry, threatening to voice his sorrows and regrets.

"It's okay," Luffy whispered and tugged him closer into his embrace. His arms were getting weaker by the warm feeling radiating from the captain's body "…s'okay. I'm here, Oliver… I'm here," and then he couldn't hold it any longer. He cried, as if his heart had been broken anew. He couldn't stop himself.

Among the trees, further behind the captain of the Thousand Sunny, stood Usopp, head bowed, as if he knew.

How could he be forgiven, for all what he'd done?

Why did this kindness hurt much more, than had he been scolded and yelled at?

How? Why? Why?

To be continued