"Oh God! Zoro I'm sorry, I had no idea that it was a demon." Luffy whispered backing away towards the door his face ashen with guilt. "I just ordered him to have it."
"Luffy you did not know, just like you said." Nami replied pulling him into a hug smoothing down his black locks as he stared at the limp form of Zoro. Shaking his head, he ran out of the room Nami running after him. Sanji sighed not liking how everything was turning out, Zoro was getting weaker and the demon child was continuing to grow making Zoro's stomach swell even more with each passing day.
"Sanji?" Chopper asked placing a hoof onto the black sleeve of Sanji's suit.
"Sorry Chopper, I was just thinking how screwed up everything is." Sanji said leaning back onto the bed resting Zoro against his chest just wanting to be close to him.
"Um, Would someone be so kind as to tell us what is going on?" Usopp asked pointing to Zoro.
"Chopper can you please take them somewhere else and tell them, I can't." Sanji whispered lowering his head so it was touching Zoro's forehead, not having the guts to look his crewmates in the eyes, not with the looks they were sending towards Zoro. Gripping the covers he readjusted them to better conceal Zoro's stomach before closing his eyes enjoying the closeness of his lover.
"No, we are staying here so please continue." Usopp said crossing his arms refusing to move an inch till he knew what was going on. Sanji sighed, Chopper sent him a questioning look then nodded when the cook motioned him to continue.
"Well you all remember when we found Zoro injured on the deck right?" heads nodded as Chopper continued. "Well regretfully, on that day Zoro was impregnated by a demon. With Robin's help we found out that he has five weeks left before the demon child claws out of his stomach killing him in the process."
"Then why not just remove it now?" Franky asked.
"Because I can't, if I try to remove it now Zoro will die.
"Wait so no matter what we do Zoro will die either way?" Usopp cried going pale. Chopper nodded tears collecting in his eyes. Everyone knew that Zoro and Chopper were close almost like brothers and seeing the little doctor like this made your heart ache. "Then what do we do?"
"There is a way to remove the child without killing swordsman-san." Robin said with a reassuring smile.
"What really?, well hurry and do it before Zoro bro gets any worse!" Franky cried happily.
"That's a bit hard to do right now." Sanji said lifting his head blue eyes holding a bit of unease at what he had to say next.
"What why? Come on Sanji I thought you would be happy that there is a way to save Zoro." Usopp squeaked out as Nami appeared back in the room having left Luffy alone even though she did not want to.
"Believe me Usopp I am, It's just..I don't trust the person who has to remove it." Sanji whispered. "That man kept Zoro from me for two years while we were separated so I don't want him anywhere near Zoro." Well that was not entirely true he had already sent a request to Hawkeye for help. If Hawkeye was the only way to save Zoro then he would trust the man just for that.
"Wait you don't mean Hawkeye Mihawk do you? The man who trained Zoro in the ways of the sword." Brook asked
"Yeah that Mihawk." Sanji whispered.
" Sanji!" Luffy cried bursting into the room clutching a small envelope in one hand. "This just arrived in the mail, it's for you."
Sanji gulped reaching out to grab the envelope from Luffy's outstretched hand. With shaking fingers he ripped open the envelope eyes skimming over the contents.
Sanji and straw hat pirates, I will be there to help my pupil in five days if the weather holds. Please remain anchored where you are at and keep Zoro from moving around to much. If he moves to much the child will grow faster shortening the time Zoro has left. By now he may already be getting weaker and that will not be good if marines attack you, so as I said before remain where you are and keep Zoro safe.
Hawkeye Mihawk
"So Hawkeye is coming after all?" Luffy asked his face serious.
"It seems that way but how does Hawkeye even know our location?"Nami asked.
"That's because I told him our location when I asked for his help."Sanji stated as Zoro twitched in his sleep hands moving to circle his stomach. "It was a risk I had to take Nami in order to save Zoro's life." Zoro meant the world to Sanji and living without his marimo may very well kill Sanji to, everybody on the crew knew this. After the battle with kuma on thriller bark Sanji refused to leave Zoro's side till he woke up. Their relationship grew up till the point they got separated.
"I know that Sanji and I'm not mad but Hawkeye should know the we can't just stop in the middle of the ocean not with marines still searching for us."Nami said eyeing the log pose attached to her wrist. "We should proceed to the nearest island and wait for him there that way if we are attacked we have a better chance of getting Zoro off the ship safely."
"I agree with Nami, with how weak Zoro is getting he will be in greater danger of sustaining injuries, plus it will be hard for him to fight with the way he is now." Chopper said hopping onto the bed next to Zoro. "Can everyone but Sanji leave the room please, I need to give Zoro a check up and I don't think he wants everyone to see him like this." Chopper said pulling down the covers so they rested just below the curve of his stomach. Everyone nodded moving to leave the room well everyone but Luffy who crossed his arms refusing to move.
"No I want to feel the baby."
"Oh for the love of.. Luffy I swear if you do not leave right now I will throw you overboard and refuse to save you. I'm sorry but I won't let you anywhere near Zoro not after what you did." Sanji said moving so his body was blocking Zoro's stomach from the captain's immature eyes.
"I said I was sorry why won't you let me feel it?" Luffy asked once again not backing down.
"Luffy you can't think that I will just let this slide do you? Zoro is your first mate and any order you give him he has to follow so until this whole mess is over you are not allowed near Zoro and I will never forgive you for this now get out!" Sanji growled eyes narrowing dangerously.
"But I…"
"Franky will you please remove our captain before I kick him." Sanji said rising from the bed. Franky frantically grabbed Luffy as Zoro jerked awake with a scream halting the room's occupants. Sanji whirled to face Zoro.
"Zoro hey what's wrong is it the…?" Sanji was silenced when a fit of horrible coughing gripped the bed ridden swordsman shaking his entire form. Sanji was filled with more dread as a sticky red substance flew from Zoro's open mouth, blood. Chopper gasped going into doctor mode ordering everybody but Sanji from the room. Zoro was sprawled on his back Chopper injecting him with a sleep aid before looking at Sanji with teary eyes.
"He's getting worse Sanji." Chopper squeaked
"Yeah."