Annnddd…. So after some long freakin time that I didn't update the project, SexyDilf1 reached out to me, reminding me to finish the project, which I did it already in the past, though I didn't post it as I was so lazy and forgetting things. *forgive for the long long long sentence without stopmark lul*
Trying not to betray her expectation, here is the newest chapter~ Enjoy!
Eichiro Oda- sensei still own One Piece, Hail Oda...~~ \(^o^\)
CURSED or BLESSED [39] : A Past to Remember
"Kuukakuha: Nuru-shiba!" Luffy activated his nullifying skill. Knowing what his opponent capable of, Katakuri deftly move from the white circle appearing below him.
"Dammit! Yo-"
Suddenly Luffy collapsed to the ground, leaving Katakuri in confusion.
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His eyes were struggling to open themselves. He groaned, feeling his whole body screamed in pain yet, a comfortable warmth surrounding him, keeping him safe. He didn't really want to open his eyes. He still wanted to savor the warmth, still wanting to enjoy the comfort. But something was bugging him, asking him to wake up, back into reality.
At first everything was a blur, until he heard a soft voice calling his name. it was deep yet affectionately calming. He didn't want to open his eyes. He moved around, snuggled deeper into the radiating warmth. He got a poke on his cheek.
"Well.. Zoro will finish all your meat then."
In an instant those night orbs jerked open.
"Meat!" He repeated weakly.
"And that's how you wake a greed little moron." The man sighed.
"Toraoo…" he called heavily when he saw the man.
"You okay? I'm sorry it took more than I thought."
"Hehehe… Of course I am! AH! Where is tha- auuuh…" he whined when his body tingling with pain.
"Sit still. Know your limit, Luffy-ya. I don't want anything bad happened to you."
"Did we win?"
"I don't know. The war is over now. Though, I had yet got sight of our friends."
"They will be alright. They are strong!" Luffy's grinned, nearly splitting his face.
"Yeah. They will." Law hugged his little noirette. "Let's get you to a safer place."
"Nowhere safer compare to your hug, Torao."
That made the demon nearly topple to the ground – somehow – though he managed not to. He was dumfounded hearing that from this little monkey of his. His naïve declaration of love.
"Then you will be forever in my arms." He said blushing fiercely.
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"I-… it's possible? IT ISS!?" Ace was all but scream, yanking Doflamingo's shirt.
"ACE! CONTROL YOURSELF!" Rocinante reprimanded his subordinate to act more like underlings towards their own King.
"It depends on you." Doflamingo replied uninterestingly, shoving Ace's hand from his shirt, then dusted his shirt, fixing on his own. This subordinate of his was really rude. He needed to shove him some manners next time around.
"I will do anything! Tell me!"
"Kill him then." Doflamingo said lightly, jerking his thumb to the red head, who was now jaw hanging in utter disbelief.
"You are kidding, right?" Rocinante rolled his eyes.
"Am not. Shoo go!"
Ace bolted his way towards Shanks without thinking twice. However, an inch before the collision, Ace was being thrown backwards, slammed onto the ground.
"ACE! GET BACK HERE!" Rocinante roared, after making a bump on his king slashed lover's head. Dammit! Not even his lover knew how to keep his manner in check. He would punish his blond today. Or tomorrow. Or forever.. Eternity sounded nice. He grinned, licking his upper lip. He would enjoy this to his heart content.
Ace who was already flew to attack Shanks again, stopped and turned his attention towards the King's consort, while Doflamingo was laughing in delight.
"Sorry, sorry. That was a joke. I am very sorry for the rudeness." Rocinante quickly moved closer to Shanks who was sighing.
"Gosh… you should see his shock face!" Doflamingo was still laughing, before another bump appearing on his head. Dammit, Roci! "I'm very sorry." He apologized to the redhead, who was now laughing like a madman. While Ace was still with his dumb face, couldn't follow the conversation.
"Doffy! You shouldn't play with his feeling like this, you OOBAKAA!"
"Naah.. I'm just testing him. You know how demons work, Roci."
"Y-You…!" Ace chocked in anger.
"Sorry, sorry. Ok, for the real thing. It wasn't hard actually. You just need to bind him to you." The demon king explained.
"How…?"
"Give him your heart. He will be resurrected when the bound succeeded."
"And if it not?"
"He will still be dead. And your existence will be erased."
"Ho-… WHAT?!" it was Rocinante's turn to jaw hanging. "Y- you mean…. Back then…."
"Yes. It was. Depends on how much the two of you know each other, how pure your intention is, how deep are your feelings is. Easy peasy isn't it?" he explained casually.
"This will be in our next discussion! For now.. where do you keep your freakin heart, Ace?!" Rocinante was starting to boil facing all of these. He just… couldn't anymore!
"Uhh… heart?" He repeated, scratching his not itchy mane.
"…. Don't say you lost that shit, you piece of shit!"
"N-.. Noo.. Not that I lost it… I just-"
"Come on. Say it clearly, kid." Doflamingo cut his uncertainty.
"I gave it to him already, actually…."
"EH?!" both demons yelped in surprised.
"Is there any ritual or some shit we have to do? I…"
"It is! How can you give him something so important like that?! Are you crazy or what? Don't tell me you gave it to him as a present?!" Rocinante was roaring, stressed out of his comrade slash junior.
"I did…. Uhh…"
"YOU DIDDDDD!?"
"Ye-.. yeah… as a pendant…" Ace's voice was getting smaller and smaller with each question.
"MY FUCKIN…." Roci was sighing in desperation while the demon King laughed like it was the best joke in his whole life.
"Wait.., wait… pendant? Is it possible that he wears it all the time?" Shanks suddenly butted into their conversation, getting an idea of something.
"I sure told him that but, I rarely saw him… wear it… ! Lemme check it." He flew as fast towards Sabo's body.
Upon reaching, he caressed his messy bangs, and gave a loving caress to the pale cheek. Even knowing that his lover couldn't feel a thing, he couldn't stop himself to shower his love with all of his affection. He didn't want.. he couldn't stand a world without him. He promised himself to resurrect the man. Even he had to destroy the world to resurrect this sweet Farlig, he would do it.
"I am sorry, Sabo. Please wait for me." He whispered softly, then placed a chaste kiss on the blond's forehead. He then rummaged to search the pendant on the blond.
"He is head over heel for him." Rocinante said softly to his partner.
"Well, that's great to hear. That's one of the important conditions to success the binding thing." Doflamingo replied.
"One of? There are others?"
"Of course there are. We are talking about resurrecting person, aren't we?"
"If that what it is. What's the other conditions?"
"Too much hassle to explain. Besides, do you think he will listen to us even the chances are only 0.1%?" Rocinante didn't answer him and Doflamingo didn't need his answer. He knew Roci knew the answer already, because he would do the same. He would try everything to keep his partner safe, even he had to go to the highest heaven to be with him.
"Fo-FOUND IT!" Ace shouted when he found said pendant – or too be precise, his heart. "Let me borrow this for a while, Love." He gave a quick peck on the cold body, then quickly flew towards his seniors.
"Good. Now let us begin." The man with pink coat grinned smugly.
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"My trial? Please don't joke with me Robin-chwan.."
"I'm just giving you chance. whether you want to try it or not, it's up to you."
Sanji didn't understand any of that. What trial? This cursed he had in him wasn't enough? But wait! Did she say… that thing could save Zoro? Could it?
"You did say that thing can save Zoro?"
"It's not hundred percent sure. You also might die in the process." Robin informed him.
"Please tell me, Robin-chwan. I'll do anything."
"I will stab your hearts. The two of you. Then everything is yours to handle."
"Mine?"
"Yes. The two of you have a problem, you have to sort that off. You had been bound, that bond should be strong enough to keep the two of you save, but somehow it didn't work as it should have. I guess something like doubt? So, you have to fix that to bring him back."
"Zoro hadn't died yet!"
"He didn't. But he would be in his eternal slumber if you didn't help him."
"Wh-… do you mean if… even I give him my life, he won't awake?"
"You said it yourself. He hadn't yet died. There's no point giving him your life?"
"I…" Sanji had no idea how complicated the things were.
What was this problem? Did they have any problem? He never showed him anything. Sanji just knew the green head was somewhat clumsy around him and tried his best to… what? What was he hiding?
Doubt? Uneasiness? Was it about marimo who loves Luffy? How could he solve this shit? What doubt was she referring to? He didn't want to doubt the green head, but it is what it is. His brain was playing the trick. It wasn't entirely the mind's fault. It was life which taught him and mend him the way he was now. How could he possibly erase that so easily? He wanted but he couldn't. He had no idea what to do. Nevertheless, he made his decision.
"Robin-chwan. Do what you have to do. I'll give my best."
"Hmph! This will be very interesting, Avare." Mihawk commended, hearing his conviction.
"Very well, be ready Sanji. Everything is in your hand." She gave him a weak smile, before instructed him, "Hold Zoro with you, I have to stab the two of you together."
Sanji blushed ever so slightly before he did what he has to do. He took the green head in his arms, secure him tightly in them.
[I'll bring you back no matter what!] Sanji thought, before he felt a cold sharp knife went through his chest. "Kkhh…." He managed to let out a pain growled. Before darkness manage to consume him, he felt his soul was being dragged by a white light, into somewhere else.
Somewhere that was white and blinding.
"How much percent the success rate actually?" Mihawk asked after seeing the two body fell on top of another, motionless.
"How much will it be?" Robin answered with another question.
"Hmm.. how about five?"
"I believe it will be ninety-nine." She chuckled.
"Such arrogance." The king replied dryly, yet he himself somehow believe the lady.
"Because it's them."
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[This is….]
Everything was white. He didn't know where he is, nor what he supposed to do. The only thing he knew was to save that moss head from eternal slumber. He had to success no matter what!
He looked around to find something, but it was futile. Nothing was there. He was alone in the nothingness.
[… nothing's here. What should I do?]
He frowned.
"Think! You have to think! Think how to fix this!" He mumbled. [ Please… I need something.. anything! ZORO!]
He felt a bite.
A soft bite, on his lower leg.
He jerked his head to see what's was biting him.
A dog.
A small grey dog.
"He-.. hey little one… who are you-!"
"Hey there, little one. What are you doing here?" Sanji could hear his own little voice inside his head. Something was playing in his mind, yet he couldn't remember anything. What was that?
The little grey dog in his hand, was moving his front legs to reach him. He was panting, letting his tongue out, making him even cuter.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Sanji asked with a frown on his face, cutting the distance between them.
Pero*1
The pup licked his face.
"Hey!" he yelped, a little surprised. That was when the pup jumping out of his hand, then ran away from him.
"Hey! Wait! Little pup! Don't go-!"
"Grey… I don't want you to go… don't leave me alone…" another voice of him crying was playing in his mind. He clenched his own head.
"Grey? Who is Grey?" he couldn't remember anything. What was that? Why was the little pup here? What it had to do with all of this? Who was Grey? He didn't know any Grey in his life. Grey?
"Woof! Woof!" a cute barked from below him. The grey pup was waging his tail with a ball in his mouth.
"Hey you… will you tell me anything?" He knelt while trying to reach the animal. He got another lick from the pup.
"That ticklish…-"
"Grey… stopp it ahahah! That ticklish!" his laughing voice was echoing inside his mind again.
"Grey?" he tried to call the pup.
"Woof!" the animal responded before jumping onto him, waging his tail, licking Sanji all over his face.
"Ahaha.. what exactly do you want, Grey-?!"
"What do you want, Grey? We can't play the whole day like this… My father will notice, stop it ahahah! You are so spoiled you know.."
"…. Have… we met before?" Sanji asked. His tone was full of disbelief. What was that? He knew this little guy? When? Why he didn't remember?
Then suddenly Grey jumped from him and barked towards something like a mad dog.
"Hey! Heey! What happened? Grey?"
Sanji followed with his eyes to where Grey was barking to. And color drained from his face.
It was Judge.
"Fa-father… Aaakkhh! I'm sorry.. I'm sorry.. please let him go… No! NOO! DON'T KILL HIMM! AAKKHH!"
"KKhh…! You again…." He hissed with such hostility.
Grey was already leaping onto Judge, but in one swing, Grey was thrown backwards.
"GREEYY!" Sanji screamed, while Grey was whimpering in pain. He quickly ran towards the little pup, picked him up carefully.
"Grey… Greey… please hold on. Don't die on me… Grey…" another sobs in his head.
"If you don't throw him right now, I'll fuckin kill it!"
"I will.. I will.. don't kill him."
"It's you.. It's always you…" Sanji was hissing. He hated him. he hated him with all his life.
"Are you okay, Grey?"
The little pup was wheezing, but it seemed fine.
"If you don't leave right now… I'll fuckin kill you, BASTARD!" he roared to Judge. Suddenly his father was gone. Like a smoke, he vanished just like that.
[It… it was a shadow?] he quickly averted his gaze onto his hand where Grey was laying on. He was also gone.
"I miss you Grey…"
"Grey!" he repeated.
"I wish we could be together.. forever…hiks…"
"! Grey…" he repeated it again, remembering his friend. He gasped, "How can I forget about you…. About us…"
Yes, he remembered it. Grey was once his friend. A cute grey little dog whom had been his friend for only a month, before his father tried to kill him. He had to let his little friend go so it wouldn't be killed. He had missed him so much, it felt like forever. So, to keep his sanity in check, to protect his heart from breaking, he buried their memories so deep he didn't even remember about him again. How cruel was him?
Tears rolled from his eyes. He was crying. Again.
"Grey…. I'm so sorry… I'm sorry I was forgetting you…" he sobbed. He hid his face in his palm, crying in regret, remembering the forgotten past. "I'm so sorry…"
He felt a lick on his hand.
He quickly looked up.
A dog. A dark brown dog, with streak of grey in his fur. He was quite huge.
"… G-… Grey?" he called.
"Woof!" he responded. Moving near to the man slowly, he then licked his distress face. It seemed like he was trying to tell him to calm down. Sanji hugged him with all his might.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry, I forget about you Grey… I'm so sorry…" he cried. He felt movement on his neck. Grey was rubbing himself onto him. He felt his soft fur. Then he felt his paw on his waist. "… Grey?" he called the dog again, pushing himself away from him. His Azure beads widen in shock. He was stupefied.
He wasn't panting like before. He was calm and somewhat arrogant, radiating his power. He was sitting down calmly, powerful. His only eye was so magnetizing, Sanji felt like he was sucked up into enigma. His heart was thumping so fast, he could hear it with his own ears.
In front of him was the dark brown wolf with green streak all over his ear, and cheek fur and his wagging tail. On his left ear was three earrings, jingling once a time.
He gulped once, trying to regain his composure.
"Zoro…?"
"Woof!"
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"Ace? Why are you even here?"
"Picking you up. What else?" he grinned his usual eat shitting grin. He was always smiling, Sabo had to wonder is he even a demon? He was a demon with an angelic smile. How could he not fall for that? He was his demon. His only demon.
Wait..! He died, didn't him?
"Ace.. I died, didn't I?" Sabo frowned, questioning the man in front of him.
"Yeah.. that's why I have to pick you up."
"This is hell then?"
"Not exactly right… it's the border to the other world."
"You died?"
"I am a demon. I died if my heart died."
"So why are you here?"
"Giving you this." He said nonchalantly, spreading his arms, pushing something to the blond.
"It's…" Sabo couldn't finish his word when he saw the thumping heart on his hand.
"My heart. I'll give you this so you can go on living."
"But then you-"
"I won't die. I'll die if you die, so let's live together from now on."
"You mean?"
"You are my heart, Sabo. And you will always be my life. I can't go on living without you." The freckled told him, moving closer to the blond.
"I can't let you die for me."
"Then come on living with me." He said, whilst snaking his arms around Sabo's waist, trapping the dusty blond inside. He didn't want to let him go. Never!
He then stole a kiss.
"Be with me. Become mine forever." He whispered, closing the distance between them. Sabo was blinking, cheek redden furiously, confused of what this demon was talking about. He could feel Ace's hot breath near him, then the demon claimed the blond lips with his own. "I love you."
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"You… are Grey…?" Sanji's jaw was hanging in utter shock. Zoro didn't say anything. He just averted his gaze away from him.
"WHY?! TELL ME! GIVE ME REASON, JERK!" Sanji was wailing, pulling the fur on Zoro's neck, crying in anger, relief, stress, hurt, ease, everything was mixing into one, he didn't know whether he was angry or happy after seeing his bond.
Zoro sighed and rolled his eye, letting the blond do whatever he wanted to.
"ANSWER MEE!" Sanji shouted an octave higher. Zoro was suddenly back in his human form, he then hugged the blond firmly, without saying anything. At first Sanji was still trying to resist the hug, but those solid arms didn't budge. His frustration turned into relief and sadness. He cried, clinging onto the sturdy neck, he let out his pain and sadness. Sanji felt the hug was getting tighter, securing him, giving him comfort without any words. Indeed, it was Zoro, a cold yet burning Vill.
"Sorry…" he whispered and gave a soft push on Zoro's chest. Before the beast broke the hug, he managed to give him some pat on the head, making the blond's heart skip a beat. "So… we actually knew each other from before…?" the blond asked after he managed to control himself. Zoro scratched his own mane, then sighed.
"Yea.. We are."
"Why didn't you tell me, Kuso marimo?"
"Even If I were to tell you… will you remember me? Will you accept me?"
"…." That made the Nesatios quiet.
"…. It doesn't matter now. The important thing that you remember that time." He grinned. Sanji stunned. That bastard, grinning like that, that was a cheating move! He couldn't stay mad getting such hearty grin. Wait…!
"That reminds me! You have to wake up!"
"Oh.. that.."
"What?!"
"I want. But I can't."
"Why?!"
"I can't leave you."
"Leave me?"
"Yeah."
"Whatever do you mean?!"
"You are asking me to stay with you here."
"I never-!"
"It is. I can't leave you here."
"But I'm here, asking you! That's not me!"
"I'm sure that's you. I know you are you, but that man is also you. I can't let you sinking in that darkness." Zoro explained.
"What are -! ZORO!" suddenly the whiteness below Zoro was crumbling, as fast as it was, Zoro was falling in. Sanji barely missed him, but somehow, he managed to catch his callouses hand.
"Release me. You will fall." with his still calm voice, Zoro said.
"No…NO! I won't let you go!"
"I can't let you die."
"I CAN'T LET YOU DIE TOO, KUSO AHO!"
"But I can't let you sink into despair either." his voice was somewhat somber.
All of the sudden, Zoro was weight more than before. What the….
There was another thing below Zoro. Another person. It was,
"Lu-… LUFFY?!" Sanji chocked.
"Let me go, cook." Zoro 's voice was croaked. It sounded dejected.
"Why… Why you chose him? Tell me…"
Shit! Tears was starting pooling in the back of his eyes again. Why was he such a crybaby? He didn't want to cry again and again, yet the pain in his heart, thousands prick he felt in his thumping heart was even painful than anything he had ever experience.
"I didn't choose him… You chose him."
"What are you saying?" Sanji bit his lower lip, holding Zoro, not wanting to let him go.
"Don't cry, kuso cook. I had so much fun being with you." He smiled. A painfully sad smile.
"Why Zoro… tell me… Why you chose Luffy over me? Was… was it because I forget about you? Was it because I forget about Grey?"
"No…" he answered curtly.
Sanji's vision was already blur with his own tears.
"Don't let go… Please Zoro… stay with us…. I beg you."
"I can't. I'm sorry. Let me go, Sanji.."
"Don't choose him… Why can't you choose me?" he sobbed. He saw Zoro smiled, but he saw his only eye was crying without tears.
Why did he cry? Shouldn't he be one who cried? Zoro didn't love him. Even though he loved Zoro so much. Zoro didn't…
Wait! Had he ever told him that? Had him?
Had him ever declare his love to Luffy? Was it only in his thought?
Was it?
It was, wasn't it?
It was his insecurity made him that way.
That sudden revelation made up his mind. He had no idea what possessed himself, but he felt that it was the right thing to do. So, he did what he had to do. Long time ago.
"Zoro… I.. I-.. I had been always loving you!" Sanji declared, half screaming, letting his feeling out. Releasing his frustration.
He saw Zoro's only grey bead widen in awe. His jaw slacked, no words out from his mouth, he was gapping, but he couldn't miss the sweet rose color on his sun kissed skin.
That was when Sanji saw the noirette turning into himself. Below the green beast, clinging like a wraith, smiling so malicious, trying to drag Zoro's down into abyss.
"TH-… that's me? Wh- why am I there?"
"Sanji…." Zoro called him. That made him jolted.
At that exact moment, he lost his grip on Zoro's calloused hand.
"ZOORRRROOOOO!" he wailed in horror. Without thinking, he jumped into the hole, following his soul, trying to catch his Zoro.
* HnO HnO HnO HnO – To Be Continued – HnO HnO HnO HnO *
*1 Lick
And that's for this chapter~!
It's nearing the end indeed. I will give all my might to finish the story. Of course! with some bonus stories include~
So as always! Leave me comment, critics, anything~!
Just a reminder for me to keep the story going *wink*
Till the next chapt!
Jyaa!
HnO