Chapter 26

Points of view

"Would you like anything else, Nami-san?"

"No thanks, Sanji-kun. Everything's perfect."

The blond didn't twirl around like he used to do, but a slight smile graced his face and he walked quietly back to his galley.

From the deck where she had settled down to draw, the navigator followed him with her eyes until he disappeared completely. It was mid-morning and the sun and clouds followed one another above the Sunny. In the aftermath of the feast of skewers, a little fresh air felt good.

The redhead observed the pink cocktail that the cook had just given her. "It's been ages since I've seen him smile…" On the other side of the table where he was also drawing, Usopp lifted his head to peek in the direction of the door that had just closed. "Making those skewers did him good in the end."

"It looks that way." The sniper changed pencils and Nami examined the outlines of her own map, thoughtful. "Zoro was right to insist," she noted. "I must admit that… I didn't think Sanji-kun would be able to do it."

"Me neither," Usopp agreed. While correcting his plan, he shook his head. "I can't believe I'm saying this but he looks so fragile right now that I thought he was gonna break into a million pieces…"

"You think Luffy and Zoro knew he could do it?"

"Probably. These three always seem to know what the others have in mind and never explain it," the sniper grumbled. "Maybe Jinbei could tell us? He seems to follow the same reasoning but at least, he doesn't leave us out…"

Facing him, Nami began to play with her own pencil. "Brook told me that Zoro spent all of yesterday afternoon in the galley."

"What did I tell you? They must communicate in coded language or even outright telepathically… Yeah, that wouldn't surprise me! When they stare at someone without saying anything before an attack, I get goosebumps for our enemies. They're surely thinking of the cruelest way to kill them at this moment…"

The navigator completely ignored her friend's rantings, sighing heavily. "This situation is so frustrating! Everyone sees he's not well but there's nothing we can do! And he's even more distant with me and Robin…"

"You are superior beings for him, he won't bother you with his problems," the sniper pointed out, grabbing his eraser.

"I know and I don't deny that I like to be treated that way but what does it make us?" She got annoyed, contemplating her drink again. "What does that make me? We are his crewmates too! Robin can talk to him sometimes and he listens but with me, he immediately looks away. Besides, I was the one who asked him to cook less at first and then I blamed him for putting himself in danger without knowing what he was going through… I feel so guilty!"

"Nami, the worst thing for Sanji must be not being able to serve you. When I try to help him when he asks, it seems to cost him so much I lose my means! I don't know how Zoro does it…"

"And I don't understand what's going on between them," the redhead sighed again. "They didn't speak to each other and the atmosphere has never been so tense but since the party with Trafalgar's crew, they looked for each other and Sanji agrees to cook when Zoro asks him. That doesn't make any sense!"

"Their relationship has always been a mystery," Usopp reminded her while shrugging.

"I spoke to Chopper earlier and he doesn't wanna go into details but he thinks that Sanji is going through some kind of identity crisis. It makes sense when you think about it… His family must have tried to break him throughout his childhood and seeing them again must have reminded him of all his bad memories…"

At these words, the sniper looked up at his friend. "Break him?" He repeated uneasily. "What makes you say that?"

"The way his brothers and father talked about him. Their cruel ways and their contempt for everything that he is. If this is what he heard when he was a child, I'd probably have disorders too…"

Usopp cast another glance at the galley door the swordsman had just walked through before grimacing. "It was that damn outfit that started it all…" He then sighed heavily in turn. "I feel bad too. When we found out about it on Wano with Franky, we just thought it was great even though Sanji didn't seem so enthusiastic. We completely ignored him and it must have been like a stab to see that we loved this Stealth Black so much…"

"You couldn't have known," the redhead reminded him, "For us, Stealth Black is just a costume that Sanji-kun can put on but for him, it's the image his family had projected on him all these years."

"It was such bad luck that he lost his taste and smell at that moment," the sniper lamented.

"Not to mention that it is thanks to Vinsmoke technology that he's still alive today…"

"All of this is so fucked up," the sniper sighed, "It's like Stealth Black stole his place from his point of view!"

"Maybe we can help him, Usopp," Nami suddenly realized and he looked at her for a moment, puzzled. "How?" The navigator fixed her gaze on him. "We can't erase what his family did, but we can show him that he doesn't need to be reduced to a character, our cook or a bloodthirsty monster."

"Can we do that?" The sniper wondered.

"We can. We'll show him that he's much more than he thinks!"

"I wanted to update you about my research regarding the artificial bacteria that Sanji suffers from."

All his friends immediately turned to the little reindeer who had spoken during lunch. The cook himself looked up from his worktop where he was arranging his dishes in anticipation of the desserts and an anxious silence fell in the room.

"I studied its characteristics and I think it was created on the model of cyanobacteria, an association of bacteria between them forming a network. In this way, the cells are in close connection with each other and communicate. I think that's how they usually evolve into breathing functions."

"But this isn't the case with Sanji-bro, right?" Franky wanted to make sure.

"They communicate but they can't move," the doctor confirmed. "Even when I put them in another environment, they failed to expand or transform. They're firmly attached to the mitral cells, which paralyzes and prevents them from functioning, and this is the reason why Sanji no longer notices odors or tastes."

"If they don't move, we can kill them!" Luffy intervened. "We just need to aim and smash them!" He added, banging his fist.

"Organisms of this type are far too small to be killed by physical force, Captain," Robin said.

"Really? Too bad…"

"Antibiotics destroy bacteria so it should be possible that way, shouldn't it?" Nami resumed.

"That's the principle," Chopper approved, "Some antibiotics prevent the formation of the protective bacterial envelope, others block chemical reactions essential to their metabolism and some others prevent the translation of their genetic information into proteins. Unfortunately, in all three cases, I come up against the fact that this bacteria is also derived from nanotechnology."

"The usual medicine won't work then," Brook realized.

"Unfortunately. The membrane of this bacteria isn't a living wall and its protection is too effective. In the same way, its metabolism isn't the result of natural chemical reactions nor the production of its proteins."

"We'd have to invent an antibiotic specific to its characteristics," Jinbei noted.

"This is exactly my plan. I have already isolated the elements associated with classic bacteria but I also have to know the other side associated with nanotechnology to be effective."

"How can we do it?" Usopp wondered, "Do we need to find the lab that made it?"

"It'd be the most obvious but we don't even know where to look," the little reindeer pointed out.

"Maybe we could find suppliers on the island they infected," Zoro said. "The Marines know, we can get them talking."

"How do you plan to go back there without Eternal Log-Pose?" Nami sighed. "Because of the magnetism system between islands, it's impossible to steer blindly on the Grand Line," she reminded him.

"Perhaps if we study the communications of the Marines to go back to the source?" Jinbei suggested.

"This method would take too much time and Sanji doesn't have that luxury," Chopper intervened. "We need concrete and quick results."

As everyone nodded, the blond cleared his throat from his worktop. "I can wait," he assured them, "We shouldn't put our main mission on hold for this kind of thing, we're too close to the goal."

"Your health is a priority, Sanji-bro," the cyborg pointed out to him while the navigator and the sniper shared a knowing look.

"Of course, but when Luffy will be the Pirate King, Chopper will have plenty of time to find an antibiotic," the cook tried again.

"For Luffy to become the Pirate King, he needs you at your best," the redhead decreed.

Not far from her, the little reindeer nodded. "Absolutely. And we have probably the best possible clue to find the solution to your problem. We have the Raid Suit."

"Of course! The Raid Suit has already stopped some of the effects of this bacteria!" Usopp got enthused.

"It's about studying how it works to reproduce and adapt the results to a drug," Robin agreed.

"Exactly. And the one who could best understand its characteristics is Franky," the doctor affirmed, turning to the shipwright.

"Your scientific knowledge thanks to the two years you spent in Dr Vegapunk's laboratory is certainly the most appropriate," Jinbei confirmed.

"I'll be super honored to help Sanji-bro!" The cyborg immediately rejoiced. He then got up to spin around before striking a spectacular pose.

"Yeah, go ahead, Franky!" His captain encouraged him by clapping.

"This is welcome news," Brook was delighted and he brought his cup to his lips with a sigh of satisfaction.

"It's a breakthrough, Chopper," the redhead congratulated him.

"Good job," Zoro approved proudly.

As the little reindeer blushed at their compliments, Franky whirled around in front of the cook who was eyeing his friends hesitantly.

"Where's your outfit, bro? I wanna start studying it right now!"

"Uh, I… It's in the boys' quarter. Probably among my things."

"Super!" The shipwright walked cheerfully to the door and Sanji frowned. "Wait, you haven't finished eating!" The cyborg didn't answer, the door already closed, and the blond stared at it in dismay.

"Hey, Sanji, don't worry. He'll finish when he takes a break," Usopp reassured him. "If I were him, I wouldn't be able to stand still either!"

"I see. Vinsmoke technology is so appealing, huh," the blond muttered, turning back to his worktop with his eyes downcast.

The sniper shook his head, a wide smile on his face. "It may be great, but that's probably not the main reason for his impatience. No, the important thing is it can make you feel better!"

When Sanji turned up on the beach where the Heart Pirates had settled while waiting for their Log-Pose to recharge, he immediately noticed the curved hull part of the submarine. Its owner was also watching it with irritation and Sanji couldn't blame him. The day before, Luffy had told him that he had accidentally smashed the iron sheet while trying to help clean the submarine and he could easily imagine the level of annoyance the surgeon had towards the other captain at that moment. Indeed, Luffy could prove to be admirable in determination and generosity, but his propensity to destroy everything he touched was enough to depress even the most patient ones of his crew. Trafalgar didn't need another reason to curse the straw hat boy though.

Yet the blond continued to walk with an equal step. In his right hand, he held a huge dish and under his arm, a smaller box. As he reached the other pirate, Law turned to him, his face gloomy.

"What now?"

Sanji raised his left hand in a sign of appeasement, showing him his plate covered with a cloth. "I made skewers for a regiment yesterday and your change of plans left me with a ton of them. I can't waste food so you're gonna take them."

"Why don't you give them to your captain or your crew?" The surgeon replied immediately, clearly on his guard.

"I did during lunch but there's still some left. Hancock didn't take that much and I was planning on giving some to her warriors but since they're already gone, that's not an option anymore. The rest of the crew are sick of eating meat and even though Luffy would be fine with it, he needs to eat something other than animal protein to stay fit."

"What if I don't want it?" The surgeon insisted stiffly.

"Don't be stubborn, just give them to your men and don't touch them if you want, but I don't want to waste food." Law squinted and Sanji put his huge dish on the ground to light a cigarette. "Relax, Trafalgar. Luffy didn't ask me to give them to you so it's not a roundabout way to make amends."

As the other pirate watched him intently at those words, Sanji shook his head when the smoke from his first puff billowed skyward. "I know what happened yesterday." The doctor instantly glared back but the blond ignored him, handing him the other package he had kept under his arm. "This one is from him though. Well, sort of."

Law noticed the box the cook handed him, frowning. "What is this?"

"A gift he wanted to give you for spending time with him. We all participated because it suited us too," the blond admitted while Law sighed. "Actually, it's Robin-chan who chose it on Kurta so you're really likely to like it."

"On Kurta?" The doctor wondered. "Why did he wait so long?"

"Because that moron had good intentions when he bought you something but he forgot to give it to you since he doesn't care. I found it while tidying up earlier."

"Sounds like him," the dark-haired man admitted while wearily grabbing the package. "But I don't see why I'd accept it today…"

"Because you can't refuse a gift?"

Law gave an impassive look to the cook before sighing more deeply then carefully opening the box. As he discovered its contents, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"It's a collector's item," he noted after a few moments of observation.

"As I told you, Robin chose."

The surgeon placed the box at his feet, then turned the large resin chessboard over to examine it better. He then rummaged inside and pulled out perfectly chiseled figures.

"I admit that your archaeologist has many skills," he noted, "In addition to her knowledge of the poneglyphs, she's increasingly proving to be someone valuable."

Sanji nodded as he blew his smoke above them. "Don't get carried away, Trafalgar. Robin will never join another crew."

"I'll bet she won't," the man replied while detailing a tower with amber reflections.

"Luffy gave her back something she thought she had lost forever. She'll follow him to the end of the world now. Like we all will."

"Hmm."

"Luffy has that effect."

"What effect?" The doctor replied absent-mindedly, still absorbed in his gift.

"That of waking up in us what we have always lacked without even knowing it."

At these words, Law slowly looked up to meet the cook's frank gaze on him. He then quickly turned away. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I don't care if you don't wanna say it. I know what it feels like to be so grateful to someone who gave us what we were looking for the most in the world."

The surgeon didn't reply and Sanji finished his cigarette in silence.

"You know what's the most amazing thing about this kind of person?" He finally resumed as he stubbed out his cigarette butt under his shoe. "Luffy's just happy to help, he does it without a second thought. It's so natural to him that he doesn't consider the kind of impact his actions have on others and their lives. But we know. We know it to such an extent that we cannot even express it."

Law put away the chessboard and its pawns in the box at his feet before getting up. "Nobody is that selfless. I see no other reason for his behavior other than stupidity or too much naivety."

"Helping you avenge that guy, you think that was stupid?"

The Heart captain clenched his jaw at the provocation. "He didn't know why I hated Doflamingo until he was in the heart of the battle. And while his madness got me what I wanted, he nearly died simply because of his propensity to make mindless decisions."

"Don't think you're so smart, Trafalgar. Luffy fights first and foremost for what feels right. He only listens to his heart and he uses his reason to fuel his determination against his opponents."

Law smirked. "That's exactly your captain's problem. Straw Hat-ya always acts on his feelings and you're well placed to know. If he went so far as to attack an Emperor at Whole Cake Island, it was only to get you back and his unpredictable behavior almost cost us all our lives even on Wano."

"If he challenged the World Government to bring back Robin or Big Mom to come get me, it's because he saw more than what we wanted to show him."

"Well, good for you," the surgeon snarked, bending down to pick up his new chess set. He then made a slightly larger room appear around him to encompass the dish still placed at his feet but Sanji took a step forward to hold him back.

"Luffy was part of the Supernovae before being called the Fifth Emperor by the newspapers. Among the eleven most promising pirates of his generation. If you think he did it simply by chance, you're the one who's stupid."

"I have no doubt that Straw Hat-ya has some qualities. But in this case, what objective reason did he have to agree to seal this alliance on Punk Hazard?"

"Luffy's an excellent judge of human nature, he saw in you as he saw in all of us before offering us to board with him."

"What are you trying to demonstrate?" The other pirate asked, "I already know how much you all appreciate your captain."

The cook fixed his eyes on his then. "I'm trying to make you understand that under his oblivious and incomprehensible behavior, Luffy never does anything by chance. He has a plan that eludes us most of the time, but which led him to where he is today, recognized by the mightiest of our world as a serious contender to become the next Pirate King. And he will be. I wondered every day on the way back why he risked so much when I pushed him away, insulted and even humiliated him. Why he wanted to help me save this family that I hate when he had to face an Emperor against whom he had no chance of winning."

Silence fell again between the two men and Sanji waited for the surgeon to ask the fateful question.

"Why?"

"Because, as unlikely as it may seem, for you and for me, he saw something. This man with such an extraordinary destiny saw something in us. Something worth it."

Luffy and his relationship with others is probably what I find the most beautiful and fascinating in the manga. And because Sanji experienced it in his head and heart, he can only be his best advocate.