Chapter 45
In the wind
Sanji quickly backed away but the sharp blade still grazed his hair. The aura of Haki around the sword reached him and the blond swallowed. This blade was formidable. Or rather, Zoro with this blade was formidable. The cook knew the swordsman's Haki and strength but through this sword, his power was increased tenfold. Enma sucked its owner's Haki, forcing him to draw on his strength, and it had long been common knowledge that Zoro possessed quite a lot. Yet Enma forced him to surpass himself even more and that is why the swordsman was so dangerous with his new blade. The Haki that emanated from them was phenomenal and the cook didn't remember the last time he had faced the fencer as in the days of their rivalry at the start of their adventures. Right now, he felt like he was rediscovering him.
Sanji knew that his own strength had nothing to do with those times and he was proud of being able to stand up to the swordsman as he pushed the sword away with his left foot while twirling to counter the next attack. He wasn't in the best shape but he could tell Zoro wasn't holding back and he was managing to keep up. Still, the blond knew that he was stepping back a little more often than usual and his rival's blades had brushed against him more frequently since they had started the fight a few minutes earlier.
The cook focused harder when Zoro spun at full speed in his direction, two of his blades brandished in front of him. This attack would be devastating and Sanji had no room for error. The blond was aware that he wasn't supposed to risk his life when fighting against his crewmate though. After all, they were part of the same crew. Yet the intensity of theirs blows had always been a way of assessing their respective powers and this particular training had never been to be taken lightly between them. Like each of their confrontations against very real enemies, they could prove deadly. At this level of intensity, a misstep could become the equivalent of an immediate sentence and neither of them forgot it.
Tonight was no exception and when Zoro brought his swords down in front of him, he was sure that the blond would parry his blow. And he wasn't wrong when Sanji violently kicked one of the blades away and dodged the second by bending down smoothly. The swordsman awakened his companion's instinct and Sanji was the first surprised when his reflexes deflected one sword then another before fighting back fiercely.
Zoro gave him back some of his confidence in the best possible way and the cook was deeply grateful for it. At the same time, the swordsman showed him that he still considered the blond as worthy of being his equal and that he also counted on him just like before on the battlefield.
Sanji felt like he was growing wings. It allowed him to breathe more freely than he had done in weeks even though he was really panting when he spun again before jumping to try to kick the fencer in the head. In front of him, Zoro was also breathless and Sanji looked at the sweat beading on his forehead. The night air was quite mild now despite the overcast sky because the Sunny had left the winter island area a few days ago.
He and Zoro had met on deck shortly after dinner and no words had been necessary, their intentions clear enough. Immediately, they had fought with all their might and if Luffy had laughed, Franky had seriously threatened them so that they wouldn't damage the ship and Usopp had literally begged them not to make them sink. Sanji could understand his two friends. It was obvious that if they weren't careful, the Sunny could suffer from serious damage and it was the only thing that tempered their ardor. At this thought, the blond couldn't help but shiver as he imagined the day he would face Zoro on dry land. At that moment, there would be no limits and excitement was already pulsing through his veins in anticipation.
The cook quickly got up after jumping back to avoid another attack of the swordsman. He saw Zoro rushing towards him, two of his blades clenched in his hands and the last in his mouth. The blond tensed, ready to dodge before retaliating. Indeed, he doubted that he could meet the swords of his companion head-on without creating a shock that would pulverize all their environment. The fencer's speed was impressive but the blond didn't miss the almost imperceptible movement of his weight on his right foot as Zoro reached him and he braced himself in return. The swordsman was aiming for his left side and Sanji was going to surprise him by using his opposite leg to hit him in the legs and unbalance him.
Zoro pounced at him, his two blades sparkling in the night as he extended the reach of his blow thanks to his momentum. Sanji didn't take his eyes off him. He only needed a fraction of a second to bring down his right leg but he had to wait until Zoro had fully engaged his movement. Soon, swords whistled above him and the cook unleashed the power of his thigh muscles to rotate a few centimeters.
Enma brushed against his hair again as Wadô missed him and Sanji smiled victoriously before widening his eyes. Although in the farthest hand of the swordsman, Kitetsu rushed towards his chest and the blond was forced to duck backwards abruptly to avoid the blade lacerating his skin, losing his balance and momentum.
Sanji landed on his hands before standing up to catch his breath, wincing. He had wanted to surprise his opponent but it was Zoro who had turned the tables to his advantage and he looked at him, ready to meet his smirk. To his surprise though, the swordsman looked as unsettled as him and he was staring at his blades, as if caught off guard.
"What?" The blond asked him, panting.
Zoro seemed to come out of his torpor and he raised his head before meeting his gaze, also breathless. "Nothing. Something I didn't pay attention to."
Sanji didn't add anything. His breathing tended to get stuck in his throat and it wasn't just because of the exhausting exercise he had just done but mostly because of the panting figure of the swordsman whose gaze was fixed on him. Embarrassed by his own reactions, the blond ended up shrugging before relaxing his posture, definitely tired.
"You're doing fine for now, mosshead, but it won't last."
"I know."
Sanji's heart couldn't help but jump in his chest at those words and when he looked up again, Zoro was still staring straight at him. He then sheathed his swords and shook his head, breaking the intensity of their gazes.
"Jinbei's on watch. I'll let him know he can come back to the deck."
Sanji just nodded and only began to truly relax when Zoro disappeared towards the boys' quarters. The cook took several breaths then rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck. He was no longer used to subjecting himself to such treatment and he would surely feel it the next morning. In the end, he headed to the bathroom. His body as much as his mind needed a cold shower.
Sanji looked at the open bags of flour in front of him, satisfied. As he had promised his captain a few days earlier, he had stocked up at the last call to make bread in all its forms and treat his friends. After some hesitation, the cook grabbed the rye flour before measuring out the amount he needed. The rye bread would be ideal for the ladies so that they could enjoy some nice oysters, as would the sea bream filet in butter that the blond had planned for dinner. Sanji observed the beautiful gray color of the flour before dipping his fingers into it and closing his eyes, a smile on his lips.
Why hadn't he thought of it sooner? Some basic foods didn't require him to use his sense of smell or taste to successfully cook them. This was the case for bread and butter and the cook intended to use this revelation to his advantage. Indeed, he knew the gestures by heart and he only had to look at the texture of his product or dip his hands in it to ensure its good consistency and assess its quality.
At lunch, he had served his first try to the crew, a walnut bread which subtly accompanied the creamed chicken. Faced with general appreciation, the blond had asked the little reindeer for permission to cook certain foods alone. Sanji had feared the doctor's response and argued that these basic preparations helped build his self-assurance not only in skills but also in confidence. He had even detailed how the food he had chosen didn't require his taste or sense of smell to put all the chances on his side. When he had wanted to continue by reminding him of the daily exercises he submitted to prove his good faith, Chopper had interrupted him and the cook had looked at him with concern.
Yet the reindeer had immediately reassured him by admitting that he was thinking of allowing the blond to cook one extra meal per day without the presence of the crew and Sanji had remained silent. Suddenly, he had wondered if this freedom wasn't a little hasty. He had gotten used to the reassuring company of his friends around him during these delicate moments and he was undeniably getting better but was he strong enough to resume his routines? At that moment, his fights with Zoro had come back to him and he had looked up at the little doctor, beaming. He had thanked him and promised to come and debrief with him every evening for the next few days before heading to his galley, as nervous as he was impatient.
Sanji poured the flour into his large bowl with the salt, yeast and warm water. He then gently mixed the ingredients before placing the soft dough on his worktop. Around him, the silence was total but anxiety didn't overwhelm him. Kneading anchored him in the present and reality, making him attentive to the smallest details that he perceived on his fingers. Folding the dough over itself and doing it again for several minutes. A mechanical work that allowed him to reclaim his cooking since he no longer perceived it in the same way. Finally, the dough became perfectly elastic and Sanji grabbed a cloth to cover it and let it rise at room temperature on his worktop. He then cleared his dishes and washed them while whistling.
He was carefully putting away his flour when a dull noise was heard outside and he immediately raised his head, on alert. He was willing to bet it was a cannon shot and he honestly doubted Franky would let anyone have that kind of fun with the Sunny. Hurrying to save his last ingredients, Sanji pushed open the galley door while searching for a cigarette in his pocket.
Outside, his hand stopped its search when the blond noticed the source of the chaos. The outlines of an immense pirate frigate were slowly emerging through the mist on the right side of the Sunny and a volley of cannonballs was hurtling towards them. In shock, Sanji didn't have time to shout to warn his crewmates when the captain appeared above him.
"Gum-Gum Balloon!"
The huge belly of the straw hat boy repelled the first projectiles which fell into the ocean, creating large eddies, and Sanji clung to the wall. He then noticed that the shots seemed to be concentrated towards the front of the Sunny and he saw Luffy landing on the grass alongside Zoro who had drawn his swords and Jinbei, also in a fighting position near the guardrail on the starboard side.
At that moment, Usopp and Robin emerged from the library at the same time as Nami, Chopper and Franky came out of the infirmary. They rushed to join the cook, worried, only to find that their three companions were countering lots of cannonballs below. The Sunny pitched harder as pieces fell into the sea and sprays of water gushed up to the first floor. Around the blond, everyone tried to maintain their balance and Sanji nodded towards their attackers who had appeared on the deck of their ship. Clearly, they were eager to fight because their enthusiastic cries were immediately heard.
"What's with them?" He got upset.
"Their ship is huge!" Chopper was horrified when he discovered that it overlooked theirs by a hundred meters.
"How dare they attack my beautiful Sunny!?" The cyborg exclaimed, his arm ready to explode a cannonball in mid-flight.
"They appeared as if by magic, I barely had time to sound the alarm!" Brook informed them as he leapt from the mast to meet them.
"The sky has been overcast for a while, they must have used the weather to their advantage to hide and sneak up on us," Nami hissed.
"What do you think they want?" Usopp asked, seeing the pirate flag dancing in the wind.
Suddenly, the Sunny pitched violently because Jinbei had steered to avoid a particularly massive cannonball and the navigator stumbled at the same time as the sniper. There followed a series of new cannon shots, the projectiles grazing the ship even more.
"These bastards are aiming for the ocean on purpose to capsize us now," the blond growled, hanging on to the galley door while he supported Nami.
"Their cannons are gigantic! If one of them touches us, it'll rip half of the Sunny off!" Chopper realized with concern.
"Their intentions are clear," Robin agreed, observing Luffy, Zoro and Jinbei repelling new attacks below. "They keep our forces focused on one point to attract our attention before striking in a roundabout way."
"I'd have assumed that our reputation would protect us from most pirate offensives but that's not the case," Brook laughed.
"We can't stay here!" Nami said when another cannonball landed a few centimeters from the right side of the Sunny and created an immense spray of water which sprinkled the entire deck.
"Taking us prisoner and giving us to the Marine is the most plausible hypothesis regarding the presence of these pirates," the archaeologist pointed out. "Our total bounty is gigantic, not to mention the prestige that would inevitably accompany this feat."
"Yeah, well, I won't let them hurt the Sunny!"
At these words, Franky jumped over the railing to land on the grass and rushed towards the helm to set sail. At the same moment though, a new jolt threw the entire crew to the ground when two chained cannonballs tore the rudder from the rear of the Sunny. Their attackers had obviously figured out their tactics and the cyborg immediately dislocated his right arm to retaliate. Around them, the bombardment didn't stop and Zoro, Luffy and Jinbei also got back on their feet to deflect the projectiles coming in all directions.
On the first floor, the rest of the crew got up in turn, groggy. Nami had heard the wood crack and the blond met her worried eyes.
"The Soldier Docks are hit!" Brook exclaimed as he had rushed to assess the damage.
"The rudder is in pieces!" Usopp panicked at his side.
"As long as the refill room for Coups de Burst is good, that's all we have left." The navigator was alarmed as she headed towards the bowels of the Sunny. The skeleton rushed after her and Sanji gritted his teeth when he heard the pirates snickering from the deck of their ship.
"They seem organized, it's not a random attack," Robin confirmed.
"They got other weapons!" The little reindeer exclaimed, pointing to the rocket launchers that several of them were holding.
"They'll try to sneak on us again," the archaeologist deduced.
"Not if we're faster!"
Usopp jumped onto the starboard railing to face their enemies while cocking his black kabuto. A Pop Green flew towards the opposing deck then germinated into several flowers which exploded in fireworks. Yet instead of meeting their target, the shock seemed to ricochet before reaching the other ship, completely nullifying the attack.
"What the-
"Watch out!"
Sanji grabbed the sniper by the collar to pull him back as a burst of bullets flew towards him in retaliation and they hit the ground to escape it. Behind them, Robin crossed her arms over her chest.
"Mil Fleur! Gigantesco Mano: Spank!"
A huge hand appeared and attempted to strike the enemy ship head on. Yet like Usopp's attack, Robin's limb seemed to ricochet on an extended surface in front of the frigate and the power of her blow returned towards the young woman who didn't have time to react. The shock wave reverberated on her huge hand and Robin fell to the ground while blood escaped from her mouth when it vanished into hundreds of petals.
"What kind of bullshit is that?!" The cook roared, pale with fury.
"Robin!"
Chopper rushed to her as Sanji leaned towards his friends on the deck. They were now running from one end of the ship to the other trying to stop the cannonballs from wrecking the Sunny.
"Oï, did you see that?! Looks like there's some sort of transparent bubble that reflects our attacks and prevents us from hitting those bastards!"
"We did, curly, we're not blind!" Zoro barked while cutting up yet another projectile thrown at them.
"None of our attacks pass through this kind of film, not even water," Jinbei confirmed at his side.
"Must be some sort of alloy of copper, steel and aluminum that can absorb large amounts of energy!" The cyborg shouted in turn. "Probably a devil fruit user!"
"I'm sick of it!" Luffy brutally pushed aside another cannonball before rushing towards the enemy boat at full speed. "Second Gear. Gum-Gum Jet Gatling!"
The captain's two Haki-covered arms unleashed a flurry of blows increased by the speed of the Second Gear on the protective veil around the ship and the intensity of the shock created multiple explosions at the points of the impact. Yet the fists of the straw hat boy bounced like on a trampoline and after a moment of stupor, the enemy pirates began to laugh. Under the force of his attack, Luffy had then to parry his own blows and he landed on deck, panting and furious.
"What do we do?!" The sniper yelled from the first floor.
"We'll find something else," the blond replied, kicking away a cannonball. He then set off into the sky, using Sky Walk to gain momentum before spinning. Soon, his leg burst into flames and he rushed to the ship.
"Diable Jambe. Poele a Friere: Spectre!"
A multitude of burning kicks stretched the protective bubble until several pirates retreated in fear but just like his captain, the alloy resisted and the cook was ejected next to his friends when his flames leapt towards him in return.
Furious, Sanji tried to get up when Chopper lunged forward. "Get down!"
Usopp screamed in fear when the little reindeer grabbed the new cannonball as best he could before pushing it away thanks to his Heavy Point form. Wincing, the doctor then turned to his friends to make sure they had nothing and the cook coughed amid the dust. The projectile had smashed through the exterior railing as it came towards them and he had to wait for the rubble to fall before fully opening his eyes. When he finally did though, he felt himself turn pale.
"Everyone out, hurry!"
Rocket launchers were aimed in the direction of the first floor and the pirates didn't wait to shoot, launching around twenty simultaneous shots. Usopp took a step back, his eyes bulging, and Chopper cried out. Without further thought, Sanji kicked the sniper away while he grabbed the little reindeer in one hand and Robin in the other.
When he jumped over the railing, the rockets exploded behind him and he was thrown violently onto the grass at the same time as a terrible crack was heard. The first-floor deck and the entire staircase shattered and a rain of pieces of wood fell all around them. Sanji instantly turned away to escape the sharp fragments while protecting Robin but he didn't miss the shipwright's genuine cry of rage above the din.
"I'm gonna kill you motherfuckers! Franky Radical Beam!"
"Wait, it's no use!"
The cyborg ignored Jinbei and the power of the laser beam hit the alloy at the hull, creating a massive explosion that shook both ships. The opposing pirates swayed and Franky intensified his effort. In response though, their enemies didn't seem to want to give up and they cheered when a volley of glowing Haki arrows flew towards the crew. Luffy and Zoro rushed in front of their companions and Sanji and Jinbei deflected some as well but the cyborg couldn't avoid several of them and he collapsed.
"Franky!"
The little reindeer rushed towards the newly injured man while Usopp retaliated by throwing dozens of Pop Greens to protect Robin, still on the ground.
In the midst of the surrounding chaos, Sanji tried to think. Nami and Brook were still in the hold and he sincerely hoped that they hadn't suffered from the various collisions. With the rudder out of order, using Coup de Burst was the only way out, but if the Sunny hadn't yet taken off, it was because the navigator and the musician had encountered a problem.
Soon, the cook glanced at the ship's doctor who was busy with the shipwright. Their attackers managed to cross projectiles of all sizes through this bubble to hit them while the Straw Hat Pirates were pushed back every time regardless of their attempt. So their best chance was that one of them managed to slip inside unnoticed using the opening created by their own weapons. Then it would be enough to find the person responsible for this protection and bring them down. The Sunny wouldn't endure such an attack forever and they didn't have much time, but someone needed to reach a crossing point without being spotted…
"Chopper…" The little reindeer turned his head towards him and the blond took a deep breath. He didn't know if he was ready but if it came to protecting his friends, he was willing to take the risk. "We need to get on this ship until we can leave. If I play my cards right, I can get there without them seeing me and-
"That's out of the question, Sanji. The Raid Suit is not an option."
The cook stared at the ship's doctor who stared back firmly. Caught off guard, he wanted to argue but his captain's hand touched his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of finding this guy and bursting his bubble. All of you, defend the Sunny until I return." Sanji only nodded and Zoro appeared in turn. "You got room for two?" He asked the straw hat boy. "I really wanna make them pay for attacking us so cowardly," he added in a low voice.
In response, Luffy wrapped one of his hands around the swordsman's waist and the other around the railing. A second later, they were catapulted towards a huge cannonball which they faced at full speed.
Sanji wiped the blood dripping from his mouth, smirking. Luffy and Zoro wreaked havoc on the opposing ship that they had managed to get into by pushing back a cannonball that had just come out of the protective bubble. They had landed on the deck like in a bowling game and if at first, the attacks had continued to rain down on the Sunny, they had decreased as the fencer and the captain decimated the troops.
Panic had begun to overtake their attackers and they had sent their last trump card on the Sunny, hoping that the threat would make the two invaders turn back, without success. Thus, two half-giants had turned up and while Jinbei, Chopper and Usopp kept in check the first as best they could, Sanji had followed the second who had rushed towards the hold.
Inside, the navigator and the skeleton had their feet in the water and scratches on their faces but they weren't injured and they were busy putting the loading structure of the cola back upright, which had broken due to repeated assaults on the hull. Sanji had immediately jumped up to smash his foot into the jaw of the half-giant who had tried to sabotage their work but he had fallen to the floor when his attack had been repelled.
Obviously, the protective bubble could also be used as armor and he had spent the next few minutes attacking his opponent while his friends tried to continue their repairs. They weren't as efficient as Franky but the shipwright couldn't stand at the moment and Nami had spent many hours with him to know the system well enough to navigate as best as possible.
As the half-giant got up, Sanji nimbly ducked and then kicked him down again in the legs before he reached him. The big pirate was slow and he collapsed into the water. The blond looked at him with satisfaction. Over the past minute, he had changed his technique. He might not be able to get rid of him, but he just needed to keep him at a distance for as long as necessary and when Coup de Burst would be triggered, they would push him overboard. For now, he just had to be careful that he didn't destroy the Sunny further.
Sanji glanced at his friends, making sure Brook wasn't weakened by the water slowly seeping inside the Sunny's belly as he placed one of the cola barrels in its slot. Outside, an explosion was heard and the blond used a torn wooden board to hit his enemy and keep him on the floor. The shock was hard on his own arms but he stood firm. Actually, he even felt surprisingly good.
Earlier, Chopper's brutal response had left him reeling before setting him free. Sanji knew that he wasn't ready to face Stealth Black yet and hearing it from his friend had allowed him to completely forget this possibility. The cook had understood that this was his chance to prove to himself that he didn't need the Raid Suit to protect his friends and the adrenaline of the fight had ended up freeing him.
This is how, beyond the critical events that the Straw Hat crew underwent, the cook was a little more confident and exalted while he twirled flexibly to avoid the semi-giant or when he managed to deflect his punches despite his invisible armor. Admittedly, he would have preferred to completely defeat his opponent but at that moment, he guaranteed the safety of his friends and the Sunny and that's all that mattered.
"Sanji-kun, the cola is on but Coup de Burst may be too dangerous since we no longer have a rudder. I was thinking of using the Gaon Cannon if Usopp can handle it," Nami suddenly said behind his back.
The blond jumped to avoid the pirate in front of him and the latter, carried away by his momentum, landed in the pile of boards placed against a wall.
"Good idea. With such power, they won't be able to resist. Usopp is on deck, we just need to tell him."
"Watch out, Sanji-san!"
The cook jumped aside thanks to the skeleton's warning and avoided the monumental fist of the half-giant which would have crushed him. Furious, the blond braced himself to push him away again and he got ready to take the shock in return. However, to his great surprise, instead of trying to avoid him as he had done so far, the pirate let himself be kicked to try to crash into the cola structure with a wicked smile. Fortunately, Brook reacted immediately.
"Soul Parade Ice Burn!"
The floor froze under the half-giant's feet and he slipped, missing the target he had clearly aimed at and crashing further against the hold door. Sanji stared at him, mad with rage. The pirate had probably understood that their main weapon was within reach and he had almost ruined all their efforts.
"Go up and tell Usopp. I'll take care of putting this clown out."
Nami and Brook immediately rushed towards the exit, running past him, and the blond studied his opponent carefully. Protective bubble or not, he was going to give him the beating of his life. Before rushing off, Sanji took the time to dig into his pocket to take out the cigarette he had coveted about twenty minutes earlier. He then lit it before blowing out his smoke while the pirate stood up painfully in front of him. As he glared at him, the cook felt a grin tug at his lips again. He placed the cigarette between his lips and rushed towards him.
Usopp had fired the Gaon Cannon when Luffy and Zoro had returned to the Sunny. The captain had crushed his counterpart who controlled the bubble surrounding his ship and with the help of the swordsman and the straw hat boy, Jinbei had finally gotten rid of the half-giant who continued to spread panic on the deck. The figurehead had then opened and the extraordinary power contained in the Sunny's mouth had pulverized the now unprotected enemy ship, leaving only scattered pieces of wood on the surface of the sea.
As calm finally returned, the crew looked for the cook but before anyone thought of going to find him, the bloodied body of the last semi-giant tore the lawn of the Sunny from the hold to continue its flight towards the sky. Frightened, Nami, Brook and Usopp jumped while Luffy whistled in admiration, his hands shading his eyes to better observe the dislocated body of the big pirate in the sky. In his wake, the cook also burst out of the hold and took off in pursuit, his right leg on fire and his hair blown up by the wind and heat.
"Frites Assorties!"
The three kicks of the blond to the right, left and forward took the form of a spiral because of the flames and his opponent could only absorb the attack, unable to stabilize himself under the weight of his fall. Yet his armor was still effective and he only spat out a little blood before trying to straighten and regain control of the situation. The cook immediately flew towards him and concentrated all his strength in his right leg. Around him, the flames doubled in size and his friends on the deck recoiled with a cry of surprise. The power that grew around the blond was such that the Sunny shook.
"Collier Frit!"
The masterful strength of his foot burst the protective bubble on the neck of the half-giant whose eyes rolled back under the impact while his blood gushed everywhere. His body fell like a stone then, digging another hole in the deck and forcing Jinbei and Robin to move aside. For his part, Sanji landed softly on the grass a few steps away to contemplate his work before pulling out a new cigarette and lighting it quietly.
Scattered across the deck, the rest of his crewmates were still in shock. The cook's power had been felt throughout the ship despite him taking care to kick at a good distance and it took a few moments before Usopp finally found his words.
"Wh-What was that? What happened?"
Not far from him, Zoro crossed his arms over his chest, a smirk tugging on his lips. "What's happening is that he's starting to believe."
Musical inspiration for the scene of the fight between Sanji and Zoro: Château - OST Matrix 2
From the next chapter, we'll enter the last part of the story!
