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Enjoy your reading.

Chapter 29

Place your bets

Sanji opened his eyes and sat up in his bunk, grimacing. Outside, dawn was barely breaking but he still decided to get up. Around him, his friends were sound asleep despite the Sunny's incessant rolling since the day before.

They were nearing their next destination and the entrance to the urban island of Napola was at the mouth of its main river. The estuaries always brought strong swells and combined with the gloomy weather of this autumnal climate, the Sunny was being tossed in all directions.

The blond grabbed his clothes and slipped quietly out of the room. It wasn't the bustles of the sea that kept him from sleeping or woke him up in the middle of the night. Sanji was used to the ocean's whims and he didn't feel the oscillations of the ships he had lived on anymore. So if he got up tired for many weeks now, it was because sleep eluded him and the few hours he managed to get here or there were often filled with nightmares or gave him the impression of not sleeping through the night.

The three days that the crew had spent on the lagoon had allowed him to rest more but the return to daily life had quickly caught up with him and the long hours of the night had made their comeback without him managing to find rest.

Outside, Sanji greeted Jinbei whose watch was ending. The Fish-Man had settled near the helm given the state of the sea and Nami would replace him as soon as breakfast was eaten. The blond then leaned on the railing a little further on to light a cigarette as best he could despite the wind.

The outline of the island would soon take shape but he needed to provide at least two meals before he could stock up and even if there was still enough, the scarcity of food put pressure on him even more than before. Indeed, he had to deal with leftovers while ensuring quality food for his friends and beyond taste, his responsibility as a cook was involved in the integrity of the dishes he served.

Sanji took a drag on his cigarette, automatically going through his breakfast preparations. This meal was the only one that the blond always made alone and it was both a blessing and a curse.

First of all, Sanji liked breakfast because it brought him a semblance of normalcy. Coffee, tea, toast, omelets or waffles were simple and so familiar preparations that the blond had no need to check them. The dishes followed one another without him thinking about it and it was at this moment that darkness overwhelmed him.

Since he had no need to focus, his thoughts invariably drifted in one direction and the early hours of the day were always the most oppressive. Even more than the night where the silence stretched on endlessly, the morning was synonymous with a new day to face and the many obstacles he could encounter appeared in all their infinity: he had preparations to manage and recipes to find. Meals to anticipate and his friends' appetite to satisfy.

Very often, anxiety gripped him and he breathed heavily at the same time as his hands began to tremble. He had no other choice than to turn off the heat under his preparations and sit down at the galley table to try to put an end to the panic attack as quickly as possible then. Fortunately, he was alone and this perspective helped him regain control fairly quickly.

Yet Sanji was quite confident for the day to come. Indeed, regarding lunch, the problem was already solved. The day before, the swell had thrown dozens of crabs lifted by a wave onto the ship and Luffy had first wanted to devour them right here and now before his crew managed to convince him to keep them in the aquarium for the next day.

That left only dinner to consider if he didn't have time to stock up when they arrived, but if he made a list of all his remaining ingredients, he could ask his friends what they preferred to eat. The crew was often enthusiastic about tasting totally improbable dishes and even if the suggested combinations were sometimes weird, they had the merit of giving him ideas and even sometimes amusing him.

Finally, the cook put out his cigarette before entering his den to start taking his ingredients out of the fridge. He wanted to make several sauces to accompany the crab and even if he knew that he would need Zoro to test them, he felt in a rather calm mood as he was naturally thinking about what he needed to do.

Sanji knew that only his confidence kept him from really cooking. Just like breakfast, he had learned some dishes to perfection for years and the absence of his taste and smell was a real handicap, but it was above all the fear of making a mistake that paralyzed him. The psychological aspect of his problem was the most important and he knew it. Unfortunately, realizing it wasn't enough and he had to fight against his tendencies at every moment. Against himself.

"We need money."

Sitting around the galley table at lunch, the crew looked up at Nami who stared back firmly while enjoying a piece of crab. The musician grabbed the potatoes at his side and the dish swayed dangerously because of a new swirl. Quick as lightning, the cook barely caught it while stabilizing the glass of the little reindeer that had escaped him while the navigator took a little more mayonnaise.

"Since we left Wano and even before, we have never been able to get money," she pointed out. "The situation is becoming critical."

"Critical how?" Zoro asked, chewing his mouthful suspiciously. The swordsman knew the young woman was likely to exaggerate when it came to berries and even if her explanation seemed reasonable, the urgency of the situation could be very relative.

"Critical enough that we'll soon no longer be able to buy anything on the islands where we'll have the chance to stop," the redhead replied. "Besides, alcohol is a luxury that we'll no longer buy at the next call if that makes things clearer for you."

The fencer rolled his eyes. It wasn't like he hadn't expected it.

"It's true that we haven't had the opportunity to find any treasure or anything in a while," Usopp remembered, holding his plate so it wouldn't fall.

"Emperors' territories were not the most suitable places," Brook agreed while finally enjoying his potatoes.

"Wano was super poor," Franky added, shaking his head. "You think we can make some money on the next island?" He asked the navigator then.

"This isn't an option; we absolutely must take advantage of our visit to leave with enough berries."

"It's an urban place if I remember correctly," Robin said, saving the salad and the sniper's plate from crashing after another swerve.

"Exactly. Napola Island is a kind of big metropolis, the ideal place for money transactions," her friend confirmed.

"What's their specialty?" Chopper wanted to know. He was gripping his glass of milk with both paws.

"Active centers of speculation and business of all kinds," the redhead replied. "They trade and negotiate with most of the other Grand Line islands, including the wealthiest. They have great knowledge in real estate and construction."

"How could this benefit us?" Jinbei asked, curious.

"Is there treasure buried somewhere?!" Luffy asked in turn, his eyes bright and his mouth full.

"I wish there was. Unfortunately, we'll have to use more conventional, and above all, more delicate methods."

"What did you think about, Nami-san?" Sanji asked her, placing a steaming pot of tea in front of his friends while clearing as many dishes as possible to prevent them from ending up on the floor.

"I think we have to go to the casino."

"To the casino?! I've never really been able to enter except for the one in Alabasta and I'd really like it!" Chopper exclaimed with delight.

"You're counting on gambling to bail us out?" Zoro wondered.

"It's the quickest and most direct way," the redhead agreed, grabbing her glass of water which was slipping.

"These establishments are often closely guarded," Jinbei pointed out to her, "Will we be allowed to enter?"

"That shouldn't be a problem," the navigator said.

"Business is business and renowned pirates have their place as long as they have enough money to spend," the archaeologist explained.

"But we're broke!" Usopp reminded them.

"It's all about appearance," Nami explained in turn. "We just need to pay attention to our looks to give the illusion of what we wish to be."

"I got the perfect outfit for that kind of super party!" Franky rejoiced.

"I hope you do because no one will let you enter wearing underwear," Sanji muttered.

"I wanna play blackjack!" Luffy yelled.

"I always wanted to see people play baccarat!" Chopper got enthused in turn.

"We're not going to have fun, we're going to be profitable," the navigator immediately stopped them.

"Being profitable in a casino is impossible," Usopp pointed out to her.

"We just need to be organized. We'll make teams according to everyone's possibilities; I've already thought about it."

In doing so, Nami took out a paper which she placed in the middle of the table and immediately, all her friends looked at it.

"I'll play the slot machines!" The captain exclaimed, overjoyed.

"This game is the worst of all," Franky pointed out, frowning, "The machines are often programmed so that the odds are in favor of the casino."

"You're right but it's the only game Luffy can play," the navigator reminded him. "I'll give him a small amount and we'll see. Maybe we'll be lucky," she added, shrugging her shoulders.

"Zoro, Usopp, I'm on your team!" The little reindeer rejoiced. The sniper high fived him while the swordsman glanced at the paper before gulping down his drink with indifference.

"Roulette doesn't require any particular skills either, but in the event of cheating, it's easier to spot," the young woman explained. "You have the most important role actually because I'm counting on you to be very attentive. If we manage to prove that the casino isn't honest, we can use blackmail and earn more than all the games combined!"

"Perfect for my incomparable observation skills!" The sniper boasted.

"You can count on us, Nami!" The doctor assured her, flattered to have been chosen.

"Franky, Jinbei, Brook, Sanji-kun, Robin and I will join the poker tables," the redhead finished. "The game requires thought and stamina but these are where the biggest amounts of money are exchanged. We need to prepare for this and that is why we'll spend the rest of the evening developing our strategies."

Sanji wrinkled his nose at the meager crowd in front of him. The island may be prosperous but it didn't rely on its market to increase its profits and the few storekeepers looked miserable in the middle of the gray square and the overcast sky where their few goods were displayed.

The crew had arrived as planned at the beginning of the afternoon in Napola's port and everyone had disembarked right away. The Log-Pose would reload quickly and Nami had wanted to stock up before their casino night in case they had to leave suddenly.

That's why Sanji was holding the last berries of the Straw Hat Pirates in his hands and he sincerely hoped that this situation was only temporary. Even if they had never rolled in gold, having no money at all was a major disadvantage on the Grand Line because if it didn't guarantee everything, it was still an asset to providing food, medicine and wood for the ship.

"Chopper, we should head downtown. There's not much here."

The little reindeer nodded and turned left, the cook on his heels. As they walked through another square, the doctor grimaced. "The asphalt isn't very comfortable for my hooves, not to mention the lack of air around here…"

Sanji could only confirm. Napola was a concrete island from one end to the other and the tall buildings blocked both their view and oxygen. Around them, people always seemed to be in a hurry and the streets seemed too small to accommodate them all at once. The two friends were regularly jostled when they stopped in front of a shop window or because they were not walking fast enough.

The resulting atmosphere wasn't the most pleasant and the blond realized that Zoro was probably the one who came out on top since he had remained on the ship to watch it while waiting for the return of the crew. For their part, Luffy, Nami and Robin had gone to scout out the casino, Usopp and Brook had wanted to explore the city and Jinbei and Franky had offered to find cola.

Suddenly, Sanji saw a more welcoming cobblestone shopping street and he beckoned the little reindeer to follow him. They spotted a butcher's shop with reasonable prices and while they waited in line, the cook carefully observed the storefront to try to organize his next meals according to the money he had.

After their purchases, they passed by a fruit and vegetable seller and ended up settling on the terrace of a small bakery a little away from the hustle and bustle because Chopper had fallen in admiration of their pastries.

While enjoying his pain au chocolat with satisfaction, the little reindeer observed the cook who was smoking and contemplating the city around them.

"How do you feel these days, Sanji?"

The blond looked back at his friend, his cigarette in the corner of his mouth. It seemed like an insignificant question but it wasn't and Sanji decided not to avoid it. Chopper was careful not to harass him about his condition since their last conversation because he thought Sanji must be the one initiating the requests but he also knew his patient tended not to talk about himself so as not to worry his friends. He then gave him the possibility of telling what he wanted while granting him an obvious way out.

"Staying a few days on this lagoon did me good," the cook finally replied. "It's far from perfect but I was able to rest a little and that hadn't happened for a long time."

"Do you still struggle to sleep?"

"It's not getting better," he admitted, "And the few hours I manage to close my eyes are never quiet moments."

"I can give you some infusions to help you fall asleep if you want."

"I don't know, Chopper," the blond murmured, letting his gaze drift back towards the busy street. "If sleeping makes me relive even more of this bullshit, I ain't sure it'll help."

The little reindeer nodded. "What about your panic attacks?"

Sanji hesitated for a second before taking a drag on his cigarette. "Still there, especially in the morning. But they pass more quickly so I tell myself it's encouraging. Unless I get used to it…"

"You're probably able to control them better and that's good news either way," the doctor assured him. "This means you have learned to recognize and circumscribe them quite effectively."

"But that doesn't solve the problem," the blond pointed out, remembering his crewmate's words.

"No, it doesn't."

Sanji blew his smoke towards the sky, his gaze absorbed in the clouds above him. "I thought about what you told me about Trafalgar and I think you're right," he continued after a moment.

"Really?" The little reindeer wondered.

"Yeah, it's kind of weird. I heard him talking with Luffy when Hancock was on the Sunny and it reminded me of some things. Nothing special or anything but… it allowed me to consider certain events in a different way."

"That's excellent, Sanji! Decentering is a very powerful way to take a step back and better understand your own feelings!" Chopper's big eyes shone with joy and the cook couldn't help but smile back. Whatever the situation, the adorable innocent face of their ship's doctor always managed to relax his companions.

The reindeer finished his pastry with enthusiasm and the blond soon pushed his chair back. "Let's hurry back. I don't wanna keep Nami-san and Robin-chan waiting for dinner…"

"The city's casino is a real institution. It has several gaming halls, a bar and a restaurant. There's even a performance hall and entertainment. Entrance is free except in the VIP rooms."

"It looks awesome! The building is huge and the people are really classy!" On the deck of the Sunny where the crew had gathered upon their return, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates was already stomping with impatience while his navigator continued her explanations.

"Indeed, the establishment is rather chic and the dress code is adapted accordingly. This means you must wear pants and a closed shirt," she added, addressing her captain, the cyborg and the swordsman.

"Are traditional outfits allowed?" Jinbei asked. "I don't have much other than my kimono…"

"As long as there's no flaunting of muscles or beach outfit, I think it's okay," the redhead replied.

"Since the clientele consists mostly of pirates, carrying weapons is authorized," Robin added. "Their use is prohibited within the casino though."

"For my part, I have an absolutely perfect suit!" Brook rejoiced.

"I don't know if I have what I need!" Chopper panicked.

"We'll go look in your closet, I'm sure we can manage," Usopp suggested.

"Take the opportunity to also check what Luffy chooses," the redhead said. "Do you have something to wear, Zoro?" She asked the swordsman then.

"What do I know?" The fencer muttered, half asleep against the mast.

At these words, the young woman glanced at the blond who immediately nodded in return to reassure her. Beside him, Franky also seemed crestfallen.

"A closed shirt and pants are super uncool! It ain't the outfit I planned!"

"I'm sure that a formal outfit will show you off just as much," Robin reassured him with a smile.

"Now that cheers me up!" The cyborg beamed. "I'm counting on you to give me a super opinion!" He finished, striking a pose.

"Yeah, Robin, we're counting on you," the straw hat boy added while imitating his shipwright with enthusiasm.

"Perfect. See you all here in an hour then," the navigator concluded.

"No, cook, it won't work."

The blond frowned. While he had easily convinced Zoro to wear black pants, the tops seemed to give him a lot more trouble.

"Why not? You wore this outfit on Dressrosa."

"It bothered me all the time when I needed to fight, I don't wanna wear that thing again!"

"We're not going to fight, mosshead."

Sanji glanced again at the swordsman's things on his bunk. He didn't understand how his crewmate could have so few clothes since all this time he traveled on the Sunny. Even Jinbei had probably more outfits than him!

"How about you just wear the shirt?" He suggested, handing it to him. Zoro groaned but agreed to put it on. "It looks like it suits you," the blond pointed out then, examining him. "Close the buttons and we'll see."

The fencer did so but the cook quickly noticed his annoyed look.

"What's wrong?"

"It's too tight," the swordsman grumbled.

"It's not, it's just that you're not used to it."

Zoro ended up barely managing and Sanji grimaced when he saw the final result. The swordsman looked like a roasting joint badly put together and his muscles were popping out everywhere, almost preventing him from breathing and especially from moving. His already scarlet face was evidence of his difficulty in remaining still, but if he moved, the shirt would probably explode.

"Okay, it's too tight. We'll find something else. How could you have gained so much muscle in the last few months…"

Zoro shrugged his shoulders and the buttons of his shirt flew all over the room. Sighing, the cook soon handed him a new piece of clothing but it wasn't better. A few minutes later, Sanji bit his lips in front of his crewmate, annoyed. He had tried to make the swordsman wear a shirt from the cyborg but it was too big and all the ones the fencer had were suffocating him.

The blond stared at the fencer's chest then, his brain working at full speed. There had to be an outfit that could fit the swordsman without making him look like a frumpy beggar or a convict. Around them, Chopper was wiggling in his three-piece suit and Brook was adjusting his jacket while whistling.

"Cook. It's no big deal."

The fencer's voice a few steps from his face startled him and he looked up to meet his gaze. A shiver ran through him in front of its intensity and he instinctively lowered his eyes but in doing so, he fell again on the chest of his crewmate and this time, he couldn't help but really see him. Zoro's tanned skin gleamed among the rays of the setting sun that reached the boys' quarters and his naturally visible muscles followed the rhythm of his deep breathing.

Sanji felt his mouth go dry.

"I think…"

The blond desperately looked around the cabin to stop himself from staring openly at the fencer's abs, definitely nervous. At that moment, Luffy threw himself on his bed and the blond's attention was attracted by the shine of the swords placed against the wall on the other side of the room. He froze.

"I think I've got just the thing!"

Sorry for the delay, I wasn't around for a few days.

What do you think is Zoro's outfit?!