Chapter 21

Author's Note: Thank you for all the follows and favourites~ You guys are the best! Now on with the story :)

Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX

Zoro felt the familiar cold clutching at his heart at Kaidou's words. The chills numbed him and made him frozen to the spot. He willed his body to move but the hand by Wado trembled.

Sanji was boiling with rage at those merciless words. He chewed the cigarette in pent up annoyance while Kaidou laughed. Unable to handle the man's atrocity, the spat the soggy cigarette out and stomped on it. He was about to confront the Emperor when Eustass held him back. "This is my fight."

Silently, Sanji backed down and allowed Eustass to step forth. Law was shaking slightly. The cook went to the surgeon's side and patted him on the shoulder. "Believe in him."

Law nodded. Tears unconsciously welled up but Law still held a strong front. His gaze, never leaving Eustass's back. Sanji saw the look in the Heart Pirate Captain's eyes. He felt a pang in his chest. Not even Zoro loved him this much. Or at least, Sanji wasn't sure of it.

Eustass glared at Kaidou. If it were a normal man, he would have died from such a poisonous glare. However, Kaidou only scorned the flame haired man and grinned. "What a misplaced look… no wonder no women want you!" The Emperor then mocked a look of sympathy, "And you would have been a charming fellow if you had waited for a good woman instead of jumping for a man… how pathetic."

Eustass snarled and tore at Kaidou's throat without warning and drew first blood when the man was taken by surprise.

Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX

Kaidou clutched his right upper arm. He never expected a bunch of steel knives from the table outside to fly at him. It was boldly aiming for his throat and only good reflex saved him from bleeding out. Not being a Logia type in situations like that sucks. Fortunately enough Kaidou wasn't a Yonkou for nothing. Something like that could only be considered a scratch. He frowned.

"You know… if you deny that you love that man here and now… I could be willing to reconsider and forgive you."

Eustass growled, "Never. Even if have to stake my pride as a pirate I won't deny my love for Trafalgar. Someone like you who doesn't understand what love is will never get it."

Kaidou chuckled. "Oh trust me kid, I know more about love than you do. It was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve."

Eustass laughed. "That's why I say someone like you will never understand. Love can be only for one person. That person for me can only be Trafalgar D Watel Law and nobody else!"

So saying, Eustass morphed all the surrounding metal objects to gather in a formation threatening the safety of Kaidou's crew. Kaidou did not even flinch. It was either he had been confident of his crew's capabilities or that he did not care for their well-being.

Zoro saw the tension in the situation and his lover's odd behavior. He observed how his captain had a serious look in his eyes. It was rare for Luffy to be so concerned and worked up over something that does not involve his dream or his nakama. Apparently Luffy has already accepted both Law and Eustass as comrades although Zoro wanted nothing to do with them if possible.

Sanji was looking at Eustass with something akin to longing and he felt the jealous beast inside of him trying to break free. Breathing in and strengthening his resolve to restrain it, his hand reached out for Wado once more and this time it touched the white hilt.

A feral howl escaped Eustass's throat as Kaidou closed the distance. It was quick and only for a split second but Zoro saw it with his one good eye. It was a gory massacre.

One moment the crew had been threatened with knives, the next moment they were dead with none of the knives stained with blood. Instead, it seemed as if their bodies had exploded from within. Zoro could not comprehend it.

Kaidou dodged the knives that were zeroing in on him from the back and a cluck of his tongue in annoyance when he viewed the corpse of his crew members. "Useless trash…"

Eustass kept the barrage on going and Luffy cheered him from the background. Zoro made his way over to Sanji and Law while Chopper attended to the pink haired captain and the skeleton musician.

Franky observed the dead crew members and was puzzled. He could only think of one possible reason how it could have happened but he had never seen or heard anything like it before. At the same time, Robin analyzed what remained of the corpse and came to a similar conclusion. Neither of them knew what to make of the absurd situation.

Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX

Eustass was being thrown into a wall and Law tried to intervene. However, a glimpse of the look Eustass gave Law made the man hold himself back. "Don't throw away the life I had exchanged for you…"

Law cried. The tears could no longer be held back. "I don't want to live if you're not with me!"

Eustass smiled and closed his eyes. Kaidou's punches came down hard and fast. When he was done, there was nothing but a crater left in its wake. Eustass was nowhere to be seen.

Kaidou laughed maniacally and Luffy saw red. That had been the last straw. A straight punch from coiled rubber fist was all it took to put the delirious Yonkou out of commission.

"Don't make fun of what people love."

Sanji and Zoro looked at their captain. "Luffy…" Zoro's voice cracked. Luffy turned around and their eyes met. Luffy flashed the usual large grin and told his first mate, "Don't worry! Everything will be alright. I promise."

Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX

Chopper attended to the wounded with Ussop and Franky's help. Brook was rudely awakened by Sanji's kick while Nami cried about all the money wasted. Robin went over to the corpse for closer examination while Luffy fought with Zoro about the way Zoro carried Eustass.

Before anything could get worse between Luffy and Zoro, Law had Eustass moved to him using his abilities and refused to allow Chopper to care for Eustass. Chopper wasn't too happy but complied with the man's wish.

While everyone was busy, Robin found herself pondering over Law's words. " 'I don't want to live if you're not with me' huh? How curious…"

Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX

The cleanup took an entire day with all the pirates helping. It was a solemn evening and even Luffy wasn't as enthusiastic as he would have been when dinnertime came.

After dinner, everyone had an early night and Sanji was left to clean up. Zoro had been in the crow's nest the entire time and Sanji sulked. He did save some food for Zoro in the fridge. He was just a little irritated at how indifferent the swordsman was at times.

"Seeing Law and Eustass's love, we really have a long way to go don't we?" Sanji sighed.

"Yes, I think so too."

Sanji jumped. "Zoro! Where the hell did you come from?!"

Zoro grinned and pecked Sanji on the lips before hugging him tightly.

"Zoro?"

The swordsman inhaled the smell of cigarettes and spice. He wanted nothing more than to stay as he did.

Sanji began to feel weak the longer Zoro held him in the embrace so he started to put up a struggle which only made Zoro hold him closer.

They stood there in the kitchen in a tight embrace. Zoro trying to kill the jealous beast in him but it won in the end. "Don't you ever look at another man in that way again…"

Sanji was slightly miffed by what Zoro had said. "What do you mean?"

Zoro pulled away slightly and pouted. "I saw how you looked at Eustass today."

Sanji made a small sound in realization and then laughed. Zoro got mad and kissed the cook to shut him up. They pulled away from air, blushing heavily.

"I mean it."

Snaji smiled. Zoro could be so adorable at times. "Don't be jealous. I have you don't I? I wouldn't change from woman to man if I wasn't serious."

"Then why…?"

Sanji thought for a while and lowered his gaze. "I just thought how it would be nice if we could love each other as much as they do."

Zoro scoffed. "What makes you think we don't?"

Sanji paused for a moment to think. "I have no idea. Something is just… missing. I don't know how to put it. Maybe I'm just jealous because even if their relationship is not normal, their nakama accepted it just like that."

Zoro smiled. "Remember I promised that I won't tell anyone so long as you didn't want to? I don't care what other people say about us honestly but I think you do. All I ever ask for is to be with you. That's enough for me."

Sanji punched Zoro lightly. "Easy for you to say…"

Zoro chuckled and kissed the blonde lightly on his lips. "Say you love me."

Sanji's ears tinted pink. "Don't get full of yourself now moss for brains…" Then he leaned in closer and put his lips beside Zoro's ear. "I love you, Roronoa…"

Zoro smiled. "I love you too."

Xxx Destiny Aitsuji xxX

Author's Note: Thank you for taking time to read! Ending is real soon. Dp drop a review~ See you next time ^^