Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or any of the characters.

Warning: Rushness; Grammar; OOCness; Yaoi; Lemon; swearing; repetitiveness (I'm a repetitive person) and anything you notice that isn't on this list but is on this list. I will also not take responsibility for any problems the readers have experienced. Eg. Puking rainbows.

Not promising perfectness, if you expect it. You know where the back button is. Sorry.

Edited 3/4/2014
word count: 3,726

Chapter 8: Too Close

Sanji stood out side, smoking over the railing of the ship in the dark night. He couldn't go to sleep compared to everyone else who were dead in deep sleep so he had let Chopper off of night watch and said he would take it instead. Chopper had been worried about him doing it incase he didn't know what to do but Sanji and assured him that he would wake up everyone even if he thought it was a minor threat.

He continued his cigarette, staring at the box of sticks. He was thinking deeply about a certain crew mate who had been there for him since the very start of everything, he remembered the way Zoro had held him back in that house, the way he had been with him in the kitchen although he could have just left him alone there.

He smiled at the image of Zoro smiling at him, it was warming his heart in the cold night air. His thoughts stopped as he noticed Robin sneaking around on deck. Where was she going?
Sanji didn't know why but he felt inclined to follow her, like he had to and when he did, he felt like it was déjà vu. Like he had done this before.

He stopped when Robin stopped, standing beside a stranger. They were in a nice quiet area in the town, far from the dock, and far for other people to see or over hear them.
He automatically hid himself so he couldn't be seen, what was going on? Why was Robin with this stranger? What was she doing?

"I hear you are knowledgeable, I would like to ask you a few questions if possible?" That had been Robin's voice, what did she want to know?
"Child," It was another woman's voice, it sounded slightly croaky. Perhaps an old woman?
"Why do you seek me?"

Sanji peeked around the corner, just enough to see Robin and the stranger but not enough to give himself away.

"I've got many books on this town, I've read them all, but it didn't have what I'm searching for. So, after asking around, I heard about you," Robin paused as she smiled. "I was lucky for you to meet me tonight."

Had Robin been doing that the past few days? Sanji hadn't really noticed, in all honesty, he hadn't paid enough attention to everyone on the ship…apart from Zoro…
"I see, and what is it that you want to know, my dear?"
"I want to know about the abandoned dock and the ghost who resides there."
The old woman smiled and began to tell Robin what she had wanted to know.
"I do not know everything to the dot, but this is what has been passed down through generations to make sure we stayed far from that dock."
The old woman looked at Robin to see if she was still listening and of course, she was indeed.

"There is a ghost, a poor stranded soul who died nearly over a 1000 years ago with a woeful regret and so, she can not move on. She drowned to death and so if you drown too with regrets she'll take pity on you and give you the chance to remember them."
"Remember?" Robin whispered, that had not been what the ghost had said. The ghost had said to fulfil a regret…

"She takes the memories of the person in exchange and will give them back if you can remember them."
Robin nodded, it didn't matter, to remember your regret was the same as fulfilling it really.
The woman smiled sadly. "But what she doesn't mention, is that when they remember, she kills them."

Robin's eyes widened in shock. "How do you know?"
"As far as I remember, when I was young, no one has ever come back from the dock, since many would go missing the dock has always been forbidden to go to."
"What if…the person doesn't remember their regret?"
The old lady sighed. "I don't know, but there is no one here who has experienced it themselves."

Robin was frowning, her mind ticking away thoughtfully. So, could they still lose Sanji?
The old woman knew that look on Robin's face, it was that of worry, worry for someone or for herself, the old woman didn't know.
"They could try to forget about remembering, but I can not guarantee they will live."

Sanji looked away, leaning against the wall, his shoulders slumping. He felt his heart drop. So, he was going to die either way?
He slowly looked around him, blinking, the words the old woman having said repeating over and over in his mind.
He really would have preferred not knowing this information, he wished he just hadn't followed Robin, and had just minded his own business.

Sanji pushed himself off of the wall, and begun to make his way back to the ship. What should he do then if he was going to die anyway? Well, it was obvious, he was going to die with his memories instead of dying with out them.

Even if that meant he had to leave everyone.

Even Zoro.

Why did that thought hurt?

He had to fulfil his regret as soon as possible before he became too attached to this life and he already knew how.

"Yeh yeh Luffy, I'll make some snacks so why don't you go play…" Sanji mumbled as he pushed Luffy out of the kitchen door before bending down to speak to Chopper quietly.
"Chopper, could you distract him?"
"Sure Sanji!" Chopper didn't question why, he just happy accepted and ran off to play with Luffy and Ussop.

Now that breakfast had ended, he began to clean the table, piling the plates so he could carry them to the sinks where he would wash them.

Soon, the kitchen was sparkling clean, polished to a point not even a speck of dust remained, of course, it had to be like that, a kitchen must be cherished when you are a chef.

Sanji breathed out a sigh, finally, he could use the video call on the den den mushi to contact them, he was a little nervous and had tried to delay it as long as possible with cleaning, thus why it was so clean at the moment.
He also hoped he could pull this call off without them knowing something was wrong. He took out his book and input the numbers for the Baratie that he had found towards the back which held everything for him to contact everyones den den mushi.

*Biri Biri*

He waited patiently for the call to be picked up.

*Biri Biri*

Seriously, what took them so long to pick up, the longer it rang the more nervous he was feeling.

*Biri Biri*

What were they doing? Just pick up the god damn phone.

''Hello?''

Sanji recognised that deep gruff voice but it didn't scare him, no, it calmed his nerves instead and he felt confident to speak.
"It's me, Sanji…"

"Eggplant! Ah, hold on, Patty! How do I work this video on this?! God damn new thing!"

'Eggplant?'

Sanji thought in confusion, but yet, the name felt familiar.
There was a few scrambled movements on the other side of the den den mushi before an image appeared. It was Zeff and everyone at the Baratie smiling at him happily.
Sanji grabbed his and toggled with it, putting his on as well. They grinned even more at the sight of the blonde.

"You're lucky we're not open yet fucking brat!" Patty yelled.
"Sanji you've grown!" shouted someone at the back of the group.
Zeff grinned. "You really don't look like that little eggplant that was here."
"So you can finally quit calling me eggplant shitty old man!" Sanji yelled down the den den mushi, laughing his head off, talking with them felt so comfortable.
"No chance in hell you shitty brat!"

They talked for a while, mainly Sanji listening to Zeff who had teased Sanji about his wanted poster - which to Sanji was the first time seeing the appalling atrocity - his reaction upon seeing it was hilarious for everyone else but him. Zeff had also toured him around the newly renovated restaurant, taking Sanji's breath away at how amazing it looked, especially the kitchen but hell it was never going to be as good as his own one.

Zeff had also asked if everything was going well on the thousand sunny, and if the crew was doing well. Sanji managed to avoid a few questions and only answered simple ones, he told Zeff that his crew was, of course, doing well especially when they had him as a cook which earned him the comment of having an increased ego.

Eventually the call ended and he hanged up the den den mushi, still smiling to himself, it was nice to know that he had grown up with those people, he had grown up well with them and if it wasn't for any of them he probably wouldn't have lived an amazing childhood on a floating restaurant. So, now that he had called them, that had filled one of his regrets, right?

So, why did he still feel like he was still missing things? Ah, maybe he had to talk to her and tell her he completed it, of course, how silly could he be?
Well, he shouldn't keep her waiting now should he?

He jogged up and out to the deck, and to the edge of the ship, no one paid attention to the blonde but continued relaxing on the beach, taking the advantage of their relaxation time, but it was when he shouted that they all looked at him in surprise.
"I video called them with the den den mushi! The Baratie and everyone!"

Sanji waited, waited for the woman to make her appearance and give him his memories back…but she didn't come. Maybe she didn't hear him? So, he called out once more but yet she still didn't appear.
"Cook-san..." Everyone's gazes turned to Robin who was the only one out of them all to understand the situation.
"Maybe it's best that that was not your regret...maybe it's best you don't remember…"
"What are you saying?" Sanji glared at her, his eyes filled with anger. To tell him to forget about remembering, was like telling him to forget himself, he had thought he was going to keep the information to herself since he had not heard her tell the rest of the crew what she had learnt last night.

"I wasn't sure whether to tell you or not, but...I realise...we can't lose you again cook-san" Blue eyes looked into Robin's sad ones, quietly telling her to continue.
"I spoke to some locals...they stopped using this dock many years ago because although the woman of the sea saved those who drowned, in the end, she would still kill them..."

Everyones eyes widened with this new information, why had Robin kept it back? Shouldn't she have told them all as soon as she learnt this information so Sanji could have made his decision before jumping right into it like he did just now?

"You'll die if you get your memories back…I think she gives you a second chance to fulfil your regret but you will still die. Please choose to forget it all so you can live on with a new life…"

Robin paused.

"Is your memories worth dying for?"

They all looked back at Sanji, the expression on his face unreadable, what would he say?
Robin swore Sanji had laughed slightly, as if he already knew he could die if he got his memories back and that she was hiding a small detail from him.
Everyone stared at him anticipating his answer.

"Yes"

Sanji said it so simply, like it was the only and obvious answer that could be said.
"But Sanji you-!" Nami's sentence was cut off by someone else who was angry by the answer of the blonde.

"Pathetic!"

They all snapped their heads to the voice that belonged to Zoro. Sanji slowly turned to look at Zoro. The green haired man glared at the blonde, his blood boiling hotter than a fire, it was an expression Sanji hadn't seen from the swordsman in the past few days together.
"I understand you want your memories back, but if it means giving up your life then forget your memories! It's just a weakness after all!"
Sanji glared darkly at the green haired man where as everyone else closed their mouths, watching quietly, it was between these two.

What did the marimo know!? He knew nothing! He didn't know that he would die either way! Robin had left that part out of her explanation but he understood why, it was the same reason he couldn't tell them either. She wanted hope, and at the very least, everyone else needed the hope that he would live. He also, didn't wanna to see the looks they would give him if they knew.

"If memories is what you want, we can create new ones!" 'Like the past few days.'
Zoro added as an after thought. Forget about losing these moments with Sanji, if he got his memories back, he'd lose those moments indefinite.
"I don't mind having new ones…" Sanji spoke "but no matter what, I still want them…"
"So you'll really die for these fucking memories!?"

Sanji knew no matter what he said, Zoro wouldn't let it go, so instead of saying 'yes' for the hundredth time he said,
"What if you were in my situation? Have you got a memory or maybe someone important to you and you forgot them? Wouldn't you want to remember?"
Sanji glanced at Zoro's sword and he had a gut feeling to use those as an example instead.
"Those swords of yours…they're special aren't they? What if you forgot the meaning behind them?"

Sanji didn't know it, but he struck a soft spot for Zoro but it had worked. What would he do if he forgot Kuina and the reason why he wanted to be the worlds greatest swordsman?
Zoro gritted his teeth, and countered that verbal attack with his own.
"What about us?" Zoro was losing his temper, he was on the edge despite remaining calm but the expression on his face said everything. "Did you never think how it will be like for us if you died?!" The image of everyone on the crew crying for Sanji appeared in Zoro's mind.

That had also stuck Sanji slightly, remembering his dreams, when everyone on the orbit had died, leaving him all alone.
"Did you think that when you were prepared to die at the Baratie?" Sanji quickly shouted, remembering the large scar Zoro had.

The air was becoming heavy with tension, no one moved a muscle and tried not to breath loudly, in fear it would set something off. It was so quiet that it could even be possible to hear a pin drop in the ocean, that was until Zoro spoke up, calmly but still it felt awkward.

"Right. Whatever Cook, do what you want, I fucking don't care."

Zoro turned on his heel, and calmly walked out of there as if nothing had happened. Sanji watched after him, until he turned and looked at the others who were all staring sternly at him.

"Sanji…"

He sighed and looked away, walking away from them before any of them could continue talking. Whatever they wanted to say, he didn't want to hear it, not now. He was feeling like shit and he was regretting his words. The whole scene just now could have went differently, a lot differently and maybe he said a few things that he didn't need to say.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and slinked his way to his kitchen but still, why couldn't Zoro be understanding?

The first thing he noticed upon entry was that a few of the sake bottles was missing, obviously taken by a certain swordsman. He let it slide, seeing him now probably wasn't the best choice. He sighed yet again as the kitchen door opened.

"If you want snacks…just…help yourself…" Sanji mumbled knowing it was Luffy, he leaned on the counter, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it without a second thought.

"He cried…"

Sanji didn't say anything.

"When you 'died', we all cried…even Zoro who has never cried…" Luffy paused, waiting for Sanji to speak, but when he didn't, he continued.
"He didn't cry when we lost Going merry…and yet for you he cried and that's because he cares."
"Luffy…that ghost will probably kill me either way." Sanji whispered, deciding that Luffy, as the captain, deserved to know.
"I'm going to die either way…I'd rather die with my memories than to die never getting them back. I know I would regret it."
"but-"
"I think she's given me a chance to die with no regrets thats why she's allowed me to fulfil them…not another chance at my life…"

He understood it now, no matter what, he'd die and now he knew Luffy had understood it.
"Between you and me, okay Luffy?"
Luffy frowned, why did he feel like he was so useless in this situation. It was like it was out of his hands and he was unable to do anything about it.

"Here," Sanji handed him a snack, a plate full. "Just for you, now scram." Luffy looked into Sanji's eyes as he took the plate.
"You're our cook, I won't let you die or leave this ship with out my permission." He had determination in his eyes, there was no way he was going to let Sanji die, he would defeat that ghost if he had to, for his nakama.
Sanji looked at Luffy as he walked out of the room with his plate, leaving Sanji to his thoughts. Luffy's words echoed in his mind why did it sound like the captain really could save him.

The day past slowly and everyone tried to avoid the kitchen and the crows nest as much as possible, as there were two certain people - surrounded by deadly killing aura - hiding in each one. Franky and Ussop had attempted a couple of times to talk to Zoro to only receive a glare from him before he continued to count as he worked out.
Nami, Robin and Chopper had tried to see Sanji but he wouldn't spend five minutes sitting down without having to bake or cook, so leaving them be had been the best choice.

At least that was what the crew decided apart from their captain. Luffy strolled into the kitchen and sat down, watching Sanji intently, his silent words getting to Sanji.

Zoro had not come down to the kitchen at all, not even for Lunch or for dinner and it had irritated Sanji. Was that damn Marimo starving himself?
He had thought about it all day since the morning, Zoro didn't know what he knew so he shouldn't have gotten mad at the green haired man.

He was most certainly in the wrong.

He grabbed the plates full of food, almost hearing Luffy smile as he stomped his way to the crows nest, practically flying all the way up there and kicking the door off of it's hinges and at Zoro.
"You can ignore me as much as you want but to steal your shitty booze and starve yourself is not something I'm going to allow."

Zoro, although hearing Sanji, didn't acknowledge his presence nor the broken door, after all…why should he? Sanji was going to die soon for his memories and Zoro wanted to break what ever bond they had with each other. No way was he feeling as weak and pathetic again as he did before.
He listened to the foot steps approaching him, knowing the blonde wasn't going to leave him alone.

Sanji gently placed the food onto the wooden floor with a tap before standing up straight once more, his hands behind his back.
"I'll create new memories instead…"
Zoro looked up at Sanji who looked sadly down at him. Had the blond said what he just said? He was confused, why would the blonde practically argue with him earlier and then change his mind now?
"Huh?"

"Do I need to spell it out to you? I won't die for my memories…"
Sanji had his fingers crossed behind his back, he squeezed them tightly, knowing full well he was lying to the man.

Zoro looked away continuing lifting weights as if the mans previous sentence hadn't thrown him off from ignoring the other.
"Why the sudden change?"
"You're right, it wouldn't be fair on everyone here." Sanji sat down, his eyes still on Zoro.
"Heh." Zoro scoffed. Shitty cook.
"You know, this is one of my new memories and you're being a total ass, grass head!"

Zoro glanced at Sanji's glare before grabbing at the plate of food that Sanji had placed before. Damn the food had been calling his name since it had arrived and he had resisted long enough. Sanji sat down beside him, taking the fact that Zoro had taken the food, as a sign that they were now okay.
"s'good…"
"As always right?" Sanji grinned leaning backwards.
"No…it's better…"
He looked at Zoro who was already staring at him, Zoro's eyes glanced at Sanji's lips and then back at his eyes. Their eyes were looked with one another. Zoro's left hand automatically reached up to touch Sanji's hair.

Sanji froze as Zoro's finger twirled around a strand of Sanji's side fringe before his whole hand pushed it to a side. Sanji could feel his heart beat rise, thumping against his chest furiously. He hoped Zoro couldn't hear it. The more Zoro's finger brushed against his skin the more crimson his face was getting as well.

"You know…" Zoro whispered.

Sanji gulped.

"…it amazes me how your eyebrows curl in the same direction like that…"

"…..You bastard!" Sanji automatically kicked Zoro in the head, swearing profusely as he left the Marimo in the wall to go back to the kitchen, angry at the Marimo for insulting him again although he had just apologised.

Zoro lifted himself up and sighed in relief.
"…that was close…"