27th chapter! I hope the scene in the previous chapter fit into the story :) Please review, favorite and follow or send pm to support my work and cheer me on! :)

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Zoro had to jump after Sara and save her from the water. Well, how could he let Sanji suffer because of what he didn't do? He knew how much it must have hurt the blond to let Sara fall but he was also somehow praised that the chef trusted him enough to let him save a woman in need.

Everyone had rushed on the deck when hearing the splash of water. Most of them thought that Luffy had done something stupid again but then they found out it was Sara who had fallen into the sea.

"You guys, what happened here?" Usopp inquired when Zoro lifted Sara back on the deck. The woman was coughing hard but she hadn't breathed lots of water into her respiratory system.

Sanji didn't know how to explain the events but Zoro had a simple answer ready. "She slipped off the deck."

Well, he doesn't exactly lie about it...she slipped...they don't need to know the details!

"Really? You are as glumsy as Brook!" Luffy laughed before Nami punched him.

"Usually it's you falling off the deck!" Nami cursed and sighed deeply."Are you okay, Sara-san?"

"I am fine, but..." Sara staggered and was about to say something when Sanji bent close to her ear.

"You want to play fair game?" Sanji whispered."Then play one. They are not going to despise us, they are going to despise you from despising us."

Sara felt like Sanji was against her but then the gentleman smiled at her and offered his right hand with the healthy shoulder. "Are you alright, Sara-chan?" he asked as gently as usual. It was as if his personality had changed.

"I am fine, thank you," Sara thanked and took the offered hand to stand up. Sanji blushed when he finally realised that the woman's clothes were soaking wet. "DON'T LOOK, YOU PERVERT!" Sara shouted and punched the man slightly.

"Idiot," Zoro grumbled but managed a small smile.

"Maybe you would like to have some dry clothes?" Robin suggested, chuckling slightly.

...

When the scene was over and everyone returned back to what they were doing, Sanji went into the kitchen. He knew fully well he was not allowed to cook but the atmosphere there calmed him down.

Sanji leaned into the wall and let his back slide against the wall until he was sitting on the floor. He grabbed his hair and pulled slightly, cursing under his breath.

I can't believe it...I was rude towards a woman!

Sanji had struggled and was still struggling against himself. He knew he should have saved Sara and he knew that he should apologice his behaviour. Then again, he realised it wouldn't be wise in that situation.

That Sara...I know how horrible she must be feeling at the moment but I can't do as she wishes! Even though I shouldn't turn down a lady...

Then Zoro stepped into the kitchen, apparently looking for their chef. He gazed around the room and was about to leave when he saw the blond curled up against the wall. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Shut up, Moss-head," Sanji hissed.

"Is it about that woman?" Zoro asked straightly and when he saw a nod, he approached the man who looked rather pathetic. "Tell me what's in your head."

"I know you are not really good at listening people so why bother?" Sanji sighed.

"Just spit it out,"Zoro insisted and Sanji gave up. Well, as if he had any reason to hide his feelings from the green-haired man.

"It's just that..." Sanji hesitated for a while."I am used to treating ladies gently and doing everything I can to keep them save. I just broke my own rule."

Zoro could see that the blond had difficulties in believing what he had done earlier. "Then why didn't you do what you were used to do."

"Idiot. If I saved her in that situation, she would probably believe that I chose her over you," Sanji explained."Besides, I knew I could trust you enough to save her even though I didn't."

"Your request hurt my pride," Zoro hissed. "But the look on her face when she realised it was me and not you...it was worth it." Zoro laughed slightly.

"I bet it was," Sanji chuckled but then he fell silent for a while." It was really hard..."

"What?"

"The whole situation. I couldn't treat her like usual and she wasn't the calm lady I knew. Normal logic didn't work! I couldn't be myself, the gentleman and all-the-ladies-man!" Sanji cursed.

"Your kind of pervert calling himself a gentleman?" Zoro chuckled."Well, I can see your point." Zoro sat on the floor next to the blond and sighed deeply. There was a comfortable silence in the kitchen and all they could hear were their breaths. "But you did the right thing."

"Somehow it doesn't feel like it," Sanji admitted but smiled slightly at the idea that he had chosen one Marimo over such a beauty!

...

Sara enjoyed the warm bath to its fullest. Chopper had insisted her of taking one because of the cold water: she was a young,fragile girl after all. Sara had wondered why the idiotic swordman didn't need to take a shower but everyone had just sighed deeply and said "because he is an idiot." It didn't make any sense to her.

She laid in the warm steam had covered the windows. She sighed deeply and let her muscles relax.

She couldn't believe what she had heard. Had Sanji really kissed the idiotic swordman? Did they have some sort of gay relationship? According to what she had heard, they were rivals and couldn't stand each other. It seemed somehow absurd that they would have a relationship. Unless it was only a trick to make her give up on the blond. She wasn't going to do so.

At her point of view, Zoro was her rival from now on - rival in love. She should try harder to flirt with the chef and not let him fall into the hands of the certain idiot. They weren't cute couple, after all. She thought that she and Sanji were a perfect match and therefore they were meant for each other.

Sara smirked by herself: the game had just begun.

...

Author's note:

I hope this chapter somehow explained Sanji's rude behavior :D I don't want him to be too out of character, after all! :D I wanted him to be strong enough to be rude but then he has to be a gentleman so he has to regret what he did even though he realises he did the right thing :D And good boy, Sanji, choosing Zoro ;) Zoro is way hotter! :3

And I will admit it, my Beta hasn't done her work for a while :D She has read all the chapters and fixed some biggest mistakes which sticked out for her but that's all :D I try to do the rest by myself :_D