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Sanji POV
Sanji kept sinking in and out of consciousness. Every time he woke up, he would only last a few seconds before he was pulled back down. He couldn't focus on anything. He couldn't understand anything. The only thing his mind would allow him to register was the searing hot pain. His chest felt like it was on fire. He kept trying to sit up, or move around—anything to stop the pain—but he couldn't. Someone was stopping him from moving.
When he finally opened his eyes again, he saw his sister, Reiju. Then he saw (Y/n). (Y/n) was holding him down. Reiju was doing the same thing she had done earlier—extracting the poison. It hurt like hell. It felt like his chest was on fire, but ten times worse.
He was confused—did the poison come back? Or did it never leave? Or was Reiju doing something else? He didn't know. He just wanted the pain to stop.
...
Your POV
Reiju had come just in time to see Sanji pass out. Immediately, Your hand started to burn. The Vivre Card—It was burning. That could only mean one thing. Sanji was dying.
"What's wrong with him?" you asked Reiju. "I thought you extracted the poison."
"I thought I did, too," she said. "I thought this poison targeted the lungs—and that's why Sanji was affected by it. It turns out my father made this poison. It doesn't affect the lungs—it affects one of the factors of genetically enhanced cells."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning Sanji was affected because of his DNA. This same poison would affect any of Judge's children, besides me, of course. I think Judge made this poison to have very similar properties to the Lung Poison to throw me off if I'd ever discovered it. I guess it worked."
"And what do we do now?" you asked.
"I'll try to extract it, but I don't know if it will work. You need to hold him down. His friends will be here soon. Maybe their doctor can help us."
...
Sanji POV
Sanji felt like he had been writhing in pain on the floor forever. He wanted to tell Reiju to stop, but he couldn't make out the words. He wanted to tell (Y/n) to let go, so that he could sit up, but he couldn't. The only thing he could do now was fight against the hands holding him down. First, it was just (Y/n). He could fight through her. Then there was someone else. He recognized the face—that retarded swordsman. What was he doing here? Then he saw another face—a raccoon dog. No—not a raccoon dog. It was a reindeer, Chopper.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he went out of consciousness, but when he woke up this time, he stayed awake.
"Reiju." That was the first face he saw when his vision cleared. "Chopper," he said when he saw his face. He tried to sit up, but again, (Y/n)'s hand held him down. Still, he tried again and sat up. He was tired of lying down.
"Sanji. How do you feel?" Chopper asked.
He groaned. "Still the same. What happpened?"
They explained to him everything they found out about the poison.
"It's still not fully gone," Chopper said. "But if we get back to the ship I can treat you in the infirmary."
"Where's Luffy and the others?" Sanji asked.
"Zoro got lost and separated from the group. I sniffed around for you and the scent led me away from the others. Luffy and the others still don't know. We can only hope that no one has recognized them."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Open up!" said a Germa soldier. "We know you are in there, Vinsmoke Sanj! You have ten seconds to surrender."
"They know you're here. You guys have to go." Reiju said.
"What about you?" said (Y/n).
"I'll distract them. You need to split up— two of you need to get Sanji to your ship and the other needs to warn your friends before they get themselves into trouble. Now, hurry."
"Wait," Sanji said. "Thank you, Reiju."
She gave him one last smile before Zoro and (Y/n) hauled him up and jumped out the window. Chopper followed after them.
...
Your POV
The four of you had decided that Zoro and you would take Sanji back to the ship while Chopper would sniff the others out then meet back at the Sunny. Chopper was the only one really qualified and to do it. Zoro would get lost instantly, or so Chopper said. And you had no idea where to go.
Now they had another problem. Zoro didn't know where the ship was.
"How do you not know?" you scolded.
"Seems like that moss is eating up your brain cells," Sanji said.
"It's not my fault!" Zoro said.
Sanji sighed. "I think I know where a ship might have docked. There's only one place really." He pointed. "Usually, no unauthorized ships are allowed here. But, there's a dock over there with only two soldiers guarding it."
Zoro thought. "I think I remember taking out two soldiers."
"You're just now saying that?" Sanji said.
"I thought you were joking when you said he was an idiot," you stated. This made Zoro scowl.
"Whatever. Let's just go," Zoro said. Sanji put one arm around Zoro's neck and the other around yours. His head lolled more and more as you walked. He started to become heavier.
"We should take a break," you insisted, for Sanji's sake.
"We can't," Zoro responded. "Unless you wanna get caught."
You sighed. "Fine."
Sanji had managed to direct and weave them around trees and soldiers. Up until now. You spotted two soldiers at the end of one side of the castle. They were walking towards the three of you.
"Hide!" you said. You all trotted to a slightly big tree. But it was too late.
"We've spotted him!" one of them said into a Transponder Snail. "We have spotted Vinsmoke Sanji! The girl is with him! East side of the main castle!"
"Run," Zoro commanded. He took out the two soldiers, then went back to his position by Sanji. "Hurry!" Zoro said.
You wrapped your hand around Sanji's waist and pulled him along. He was slowing down. More soldiers were coming.
"Keep going!" Zoro yelled. "Don't look back!"
"Go that way!" you said, pointing in the direction where there were no soldiers.
"But the ship is the other way," Sanji said weakly.
"We can go back around later," Zoro said as you all were running. Too late. Soldiers came from the direction you were running. You were surrounded.
"I can take them out, but more would just come..." Zoro thought out loud.
Suddenly, someone was right behind you with their hand on your neck. It was Sanji's younger brother, Yonji, who had apparently come back from his mission with Reiju. "Come with me, or she dies," he said to Sanji.
"Just run," you said. "He's going to kill me anyways."
"I'll let you and swordsman live. I just need Sanji."
"Let them go, Yonji," said a woman's voice. It was Reiju. "Sanji will die anyways. And the girl will get caught by the Marines. And we have no use for the swordsman."
"Reiju, what are you—" Niji began.
"I have already talked to father," she said. "He agrees with me. If you think otherwise, you can go talk to him yourself."
Yonji grunted. "Fine." He let you go and walked up to Sanji and held him by his neck. "It was nice to see you again, big bro." He smirked and dropped him, letting him fall to his knees, then flew away.
"God, how many siblings do you have?" Zoro said.
Sanji ignored him, catching his breath.
"You should get going," Reiju said. "I just saw your friends. They should be on their way back to the ship now." She turned to you. "Take care of my brother." You nodded. She left. Soon, the soldiers had left and it was just the three of you.
"Sanji," you said. You kneeled down next to him. Instinctively, you unbuttoned his shirt. The lines had appeared again.
"We should go," you suggested. You re-buttoned his shirt. "You ready?" you asked.
"Y-yeah."
You took his right side while Zoro took his left. He was obviously much heavier this time, and the ship was still half an hour away. He was getting weaker. He needed a doctor, and fast.
Fifteen minutes later, and almost half his body weight was on you and Zoro. "Stay awake, Sanji," you whispered to him, not loud enough for Zoro to hear.
You were almost there. You could see the ship now.
"Zoro! (Y/n)! Sanji!" Jinbei said. Sanji was half conscious. You sped up.
You barely made it on the ship when Sanji's legs gave out.
"What's wrong with him?" Franky asked.
"He was poisoned," you explained. "Has Chopper gotten here yet?"
"No. He left with Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp," Robin said. She turned to Zoro. "Only you made it back. What happened?"
You knelt down by Sanji and explained everything that happened.
"That's terrible," she said sincerely. "If that's true, we need to bring Sanji to the infirmary."
You helped Sanji up again. "It's not far," you whispered into his ear, reassuring him.
Robin opened the door to the infirmary. Sanji lied down on the bed.
"I can stay with him," you said. You heard Sanji groan. "Just tell Chopper to hurry here once he arrives."
Robin nodded and walked out, closing the door behind her.
You pulled the covers over Sanji and sat next to him on the bed. You put your hand on his chest. He winced.
"Chopper will be here soon," you assured, but he had already passed out.
You put your hand on his pale cheek and caressed it. Then you stopped yourself. I shouldn't do that, you thought.
Finally, Chopper walked in. You stood up. "Sanji!" Chopper yelled. "He's gotten worse." He fumbled through his bag until he pulled out a handful of plants he had collected along the way.
"If I mix these up, it should do the trick," he said. He hand you a bowl and some plants. "Can you mash these up then drain all the liquid?" Chopper asked as he prepared his syringe.
You nodded. You mashed it, drained the liquid, and handed the bowl to Chopper. He drew up the liquid with the needle.
You saw that Sanji was awake. "Hey," you said to him. "Chopper is here. He has a cure ready."
Sanji nodded weakly.
Robin knocked on the door before walking in. "Do you need any help, Chopper?"
"Yes. Hold him down. This is going to hurt."
Sanji closed his eyes. You held down Sanji's arms and chest while Robin held down his legs.
"Ready?" Chopper asked. You and Robin nodded.
Chopper held the needle over Sanji's abdomen, where all the dark purple lines met. He counted to three and plunged the syringe in.
Sanji's back arched as he yelled. He kept trying to escape your hold and sit up. He almost had his hand free. Fortunately, Zoro and Nami ran in after hearing the scream. He held Sanji's arms down as you held down his chest and abdomen. Nami pushed on his shoulders. Sanji started trying to stay still, but he couldn't stop his back from arching.
After about another minute, Sanji stopped moving completely. Once Chopper made sure he was out, Zoro and Nami left the room to Chopper.
"He'll be okay, right?" you asked.
"Don't worry, (Y/n). Sanji is strong. And Chopper is a great doctor," Robin assured. You nodded.
...
Sanji POV
(Y/n)'s face was the first thing Sanji saw when he woke up. He actually didn't mind.
"Sanji?" (Y/n) tried. "How are you feeling?"
Sanji blinked a few times to clear his sight. "Guh. Terrible." A bright light shined in his face right when he could finally see straight.
Chopper's furry hooves could be seen out of the corner of Sanji's eyes. "Chopper."
"Sanji. How are you? Dizzy? Nauseous? Do you have any fatigue?"
He sat up. "I needa smoke."
"Smoke?! A cigarette is the last thing you need!" Chopper scolded.
"Chopper, he kind of has a point. Look, I know I almost poked out your eye and all a few days ago, so you have no reason to listen to me. But, if Sanji starts having withdrawals, well—that won't be good."
Chopper sighed. "Fine." He fetched Sanji's cigarettes and lighter from a drawer.
Sanji sat up with his back against the wall. He put a cigarette between his lips and lit it, inhaling the savory smoke. It had only been a few days, but Sanji missed the sweet sensation. He relaxed as he exhaled.
When he was done, Chopper snatched the box and lighter from Sanji and hid it back in the drawer. "Only one," Chopper scowled before he left to tell the others what was going on.
"So, what happened?" Sanji asked (Y/n).
"Chopper found a cure. The poison is out of your system, but you should still take it easy for the day."
"For the day?" he said.
"Yeah. You've been asleep since yesterday afternoon."
"And somehow I still feel like crap." He tried standing up. It felt good to finally be able to stand up.
Chopper came in and started fussing over Sanji. He was so loud the whole ship could hear him. "Sanji! Sit back down!"
"It's fine, Chopper."
"No, it's not! You still have a fever!"
"I don't get fevers!"
"Everyone gets fevers!"
"Whatever, I'm fine. If anything, you're giving me a headache."
(Y/n) chuckled at that statement. She could hear Robin and Luffy laughing outside.
"I'm giving you a headache?" Chopper said, his anger rising. He tackled Sanji. "Lay back down!"
(Y/n) wisely took this as her cue to leave. She shut the door behind her.
...
Strawhats POV
"Chopper! You're not supposed to attack a sick person!" Sanji exclaimed.
"I thought you said you weren't sick!" (Y/n) could hear Chopper growl.
"I'm glad to hear that Sanji is doing better," Robin said.
"Chopper! Stop that!" Sanji yelled.
"SIT BACK DOWN!"
"I'm going to the kitchen," Sanji said.
"No way!"
"If I bring you cotton candy will you let me go?" Sanji asked.
There was a moment of silence for Chopper to think about the offer. "Fine."
Robin giggled. Finally, Sanji walked out. "Anyone hung—?" he began.
"YES!" everyone exclaimed. Sanji smiled as he made his way to the kitchen. (Y/n) followed him.
...
Your POV
"So, you're going to leave when we arrive at our next island, huh?" Sanji asked as he buttered the pans.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"You know, I'm sure Luffy wouldn't mind if you stayed with us."
"Like, join the crew?" you replied. It sounded amazing. Every cell in your body got excited at the thought.
"Yeah," Sanji said.
You wanted to say yes. You wanted to say it so badly. Your mouth started forming the word, but you stopped yourself. "I can't."
Sanji stopped. "Why not?"
"There's a lot of things I've left unfinished. Things I have to take care of."
Sanji understood that. He'd been in the same situation once. "I get it," he said. "But when you're done, you should find us—no matter how long it takes."
"And how will I do that?" you asked.
He pulled something out of his pocket. His Vivre Card. He ripped it in half and gave you your part. You took it.
"Wait." You had one made for you too, you remembered. You pulled yours out of your pocket, ripped it in half, and gave a half to Sanji. "I have part of yours and you have part of mine, so if either one of us is in trouble, we'll know."
He took the half of your card happily. "That's a good idea."
...
Two weeks later, you had arrived at the next island. You helped the crew restock, then it was time to go.
Everything was set. Sanji was much better. Chopper had already removed and destroyed the tracker in your neck. Everyone was lively.
"I guess this is goodbye, (Y/n)-san," Brook said.
"Maybe," you said. "But don't worry—" you gave Sanji one last look before you got off the ship. "I have a feeling I'll see you guys again."
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed. If you guys like this fic, I just might make another of the next time they meet. Anyways, thanks for reading :)