CHAPTER THREE:
"It's been three days, Zoro." Luffy bluntly stated. Said prince was staring out the window to his balcony, not really paying Luffy any mind.
"I know."
"I don't know if what you're looking for is out there."
Zoro finally turned his attention towards Luffy, who was sitting on his bed cross legged, staring at him.
"I know."
It was hard to explain. After Zoro woke up on the shore, Luffy and the other sailors that had survived immediately found him and brought him home. But… something was off.
"How did I get to the shore, Luffy?" he asked again for the umpteenth time. Luffy picked his nose as he answered nonchalantly, "I told you… we were searching on the beaches and we found you there washed up alone."
"But how did I get to the shore?"
Luffy shrugged. Zoro frowned, despite knowing the answer was the same as the last umpteen times he asked before. It just didn't make any sense. He knew he was about to die drowning. So how did he manage to escape death's door? And that voice… that pretty voice…
"And you're sure you weren't singing to me or something?"
Luffy flicked a booger off his finger. "Why would I sing to you, Zoro? I could if you want me to, but–"
"No. No, I'm good. Thanks." Zoro cut him off before Luffy could demonstrate his horrendous singing. He looked out the window again.
Someone saved me… I know it… Zoro thought with determination. Whoever you are… I'll repay the debt… I promise.
A gentle tapping sounded against the coral windowsill as Sanji looked up from his small cell. From behind the window bars appeared the long nose friend he'd been hoping to see.
"Special delivery…" Usopp winced as he revealed a nice couple of ice packs and smuggled snacks. Sanji smiled as best he could despite all of the bruises on his face.
After the whole fiasco, of course he had come home late, resulting in a nice lecture from his father and beatings from his brothers (which his father didn't even care to stop). And with three days of no food, Sanji was depressed, hungry, and tired. All he needed right now was a friend. And Usopp was just the brave enough friend to come and sneak in the castle walls to see him.
"Thanks Usopp…" Sanji greeted as he gladly took hold of one of the ice packs for his face. With his other hand he grabbed some of the smuggled snacks and munched on them. Usopp smiled weakly.
"Don't thank me… I'm sorry your family are shitheads… I should have insisted you leave sooner so you wouldn't get caught…" Sanji shook his head.
"Don't be sorry. It's my fault I stayed out so late. Don't worry about it…" Sanji apologized back as he chewed. Usopp swam next to the window bars and flopped his green tail right along the sand floor. The bars and wall separated the two friends, but to Sanji, it was as if they were right next to each other, supporting one another.
"You know… you never really did tell me about what happened…"
"Oh." Sanji swallowed, all of a sudden feeling timid. "I uh… may have seen some merman-like creatures…"
"What?"
"And uh… rescued one from drowning…" Sanji mumbled under his breath. Luckily, Usopp had great hearing, but unluckily, still lacked the comprehension to understand.
"Again… what?!"
Sanji sighed and decided to explain the whole thing in detail. So he explained the strange vessel that they rode on. He explained the booming star-like explosions and the dancing with split tails. He explained the weird green haired marimo and his desperation to accomplish his dream. He explained the beach fiasco and how he escaped before they could see him (minus the whole singing bit… Usopp would never live it down). He explained his own sympathy towards the marimo's aspirations. Usopp just stared at him in slight disbelief.
"Wow… that sounds like something I would come up with… not saying that any of my tales are fictional but still!" Usopp lied. Sanji rolled his eyes with a smile. "Wish you could fulfill your dreams too though," Usopp frowned. "I hate seeing you here all cooped up and beat up. But you know, the great Usopp has to save his strength for when we break outta here!" he laughed. "Don't worry, I'm coming up with a great escape plan! You'll be free soon!"
Sanji smiled and gave a weak laugh. "Yeah, come up with that plan already bro, come on."
"I'm working on it!" Usopp retaliated as Sanji laughed. If Usopp wasn't here, Sanji couldn't imagine how much more torturous it would be in this castle. "Besides, I'm not as diabolical as Nami the sea sorceress, you have to give me some credit…!"
Suddenly, with those words, Sanji's eyes lit up.
"That's it!"
Usopp shuddered and cocked an eyebrow at Sanji. "What?"
"We'll ask dear Nami for help!"
Usopp winced visibly. "The sea sorceress, Nami? But… how will we pay–?"
"We'll figure it out along the way." Sanji interrupted, now excited at the idea of ditching the wretched place he called home. "At the stroke of midnight, we'll sneak out with one of your new inventions or something and go see Nami quickly before anyone notices I'm gone. Then we can finally escape this hellhole!"
Usopp frowned a little bit. "I'm happy that you're happy but… you know she expects a great price for her deals…"
Sanji smiled weakly in response. "Yes… but… what could be worse than this?"