Chapter 65
We are hope
Sanji slowly opened his eyes and stretched. Behind him, Zoro's warm body enveloped him but he turned around when the cook slowly pulled away, still deeply asleep. The blond stood up silently. The sun was rising and the first rays of light were timidly penetrating the crow's nest. A new day was dawning.
As he jumped to the foot of the mast, he met Usopp's tired gaze from the helm where he had spent the end of the night watching the sea. Sanji nodded to him and the sniper didn't need to be asked twice to pick up his things and disappear into the boys' quarters for a few hours of sleep. The air was still cool at this hour and the blond felt the salt of the sea spray whipping his face. It wasn't so surprising since the Sunny was sailing at high speed, creating eddies and foam as it passed. Their next destination would not be long and Sanji rushed to his galley to start making breakfast.
As soon as he got into his lair, he took out some ingredients to make pancakes and muesli before selecting several fruit and grabbing cottage cheese. Lost in his thoughts, he quickly prepared the dough then started the fire under the pan while cutting several mangoes. Given the time, his first companions would not be long and he soon put a knob of butter that crackled in the hot pan. It was only when it was time to pour the dough that the cook paused, his eyebrows furrowed. He stared at the melting butter before glancing at the rest of his ingredients.
In the end, he slid the dough into his pan and turned it quickly until it was distributed aesthetically before letting it heat up. He then closed his eyes and let the dough rise. After a few moments, the pancake began to form and he took a deep breath.
"Sanji, I'm hun-
The captain of the Straw Hat Pirates stopped in the galley doorway, his eyes wide. He had rushed over as soon as he had smelled a delicious smell of pancakes spreading over the Sunny and into the boys' quarters. He was always among the first to wake up because the appeal of food was much stronger than that of sleep for him. Only Robin or Jinbei was sometimes already seated around the table when he arrived, but this morning, he was the first.
Luffy devoured the multitude of dishes all over the place with his eyes. In front of him, a breakfast worthy of the greatest feasts was laid out. Pastries in all shapes and sizes, pancakes with the most diverse fillings, donuts overflowing with jam, cakes fresh out of the oven and a series of still steaming small savories but also scrambled eggs garnished with herbs or smoked fish, small pies still cooking and terrines just released from the mold. Luffy also spotted mini puff pastries waiting to be cut, assortments of fresh fruit and even meat not to mention teas, coffees and milks.
The straw hat boy began to salivate and he looked up at his cook who blushed, as if he was being called out.
"I'm sorry, I-I did a little too much but it's because-
"Yahoo! It's a party!"
Luffy rushed to the table and grabbed a whole quiche along with three petits fours and a piece of roast that he stuffed into his mouth. Sanji followed him with his eyes, stunned, and he had not yet reacted when Robin and Nami entered the galley a few moments later. They also raised an eyebrow when they discovered the number of dishes and the blond abruptly came out of his torpor.
"It-It's not what you think, I'm fine!"
"Luffy, watch your manners! You're not alone on this ship and I'd like to taste Sanji-kun's quiche too!"
The navigator ignored him to automatically head towards the captain and hit him until he agreed to give up the second quiche he was about to devour. For her part, Robin smiled as she settled down quietly and soon, the two young women each chose a small pie with a bowl of fruit and a slice of quiche.
The blond stared at them but before he could wonder more, Jinbei, Brook and Franky arrived, groaning with satisfaction in front of the wide choice. Not knowing what else to do, Sanji began to serve his friends without a word and it was only when Zoro pushed the door open with Chopper and Usopp that his heart started to pound in his chest again. He glanced anxiously at the little reindeer and he was about to open his mouth to finally justify himself when the doctor rushed towards the plate of pastries.
"Pains au chocolat and raisin bread! My favorite pastries!"
Usopp also hurried over to the plate of donuts, visibly delighted, and Sanji ended up looking at the swordsman, definitely lost. His companion wasn't much help though as he just sat down before grabbing the plate of scrambled eggs and smoked fish before Luffy could do it.
The cook looked at the table, confused. Everyone was happily enjoying their dishes. He would have thought that at least one of them would question him about all that food. Didn't anyone wonder what he had been thinking? Didn't one of them imagine that he was going under again?
Finally, Zoro looked up to question him with his gaze, probably finding him weird to just stay still in silence. Sanji looked back at him, unsure, and the swordsman raised an eyebrow.
Brook then placed his cup of tea in front of him. "This breakfast is sumptuous," he appreciated peacefully.
"So super!" Franky agreed, his mouth full.
"These mini-fours are delicious," Robin added.
"The dosing of tea is absolutely perfect," Nami noted with a sigh of satisfaction.
"You, uh, you're not asking me why?"
The crew looked up at the cook, visibly surprised.
"About what?" Usopp asked him, biting into a piece of toast.
Sanji felt his eyes widen further. "Well… why I cooked so much?"
Chopper tilted his head, a pain au chocolat in each paw. "You wanted to try new recipes?"
"Because it's yummy!" Luffy belched as he continued to stuff himself.
"Maybe to test your Haki?" Jinbei suggested.
"No." The blond stared at them one by one, stunned, and Zoro stared back at him while he swallowed a huge mouthful of omelet. Sanji took a deep breath then. "You-You don't think that… I'm having a relapse?"
His friends frowned at these words and Chopper looked him up and down. "Are you?" He wondered.
"No but-
"What are you talking about then?" Zoro mumbled.
"You don't think I've relapsed?" The cook repeated in disbelief, "With all… all this food everywhere?"
"You're doing much better, bro," the cyborg reminded him, shaking his head.
"Besides, you'd tell us," Usopp pointed out while buttering a new piece of warm bread.
"Your Haki allows you to cook in a very creative way; you might want to experiment," Nami said.
"You're looking relaxed and collected," Robin approved, blowing on her hot tea with a smile on her lips.
"I…"
Sanji swallowed, confused. His friends continued their meal quietly, attentive but serene. They had clearly not considered for a single second that his behavior was the result of a relapse or a new symptom. Was it his new attitude or the calm he now exuded? The strength of the trials they had endured with him and which had further strengthened their bond?
A huge wave of gratitude suddenly overwhelmed him and his eyes misted over, but the swordsman's gruff voice quickly brought him back to earth.
"So what, curly brow? Spit it out."
"I got my sense of smell and taste back."
This time, the sound of cutlery stopped abruptly in the galley and his friends stared at their cook, eyes wide. Sanji felt emotion take over him again but before he could make a move, Nami pushed her chair back to rush into his arms at the same time as Chopper jumped from his own to cling to his leg, his eyes brimming with tears.
"San-Sanji!"
The blond tried to put a reassuring hand on his hat when the navigator hugged him.
"I'm so happy for you," she whispered, her throat tight.
"Nami-san…"
"I'm very proud of you, Sanji," the little reindeer sniffed in turn.
"You fucking deserved it," Usopp murmured.
"This success is entirely yours," Robin approved.
"Congratulations, dear friend," Brook added with emotion.
"You super nailed it!" Franky got enthused and raised his glass of cola to him.
"Your desire to serve an eclectic breakfast is all the more logical," Jinbei noted with a smile.
"Sanji, more!" Luffy yelled, brandishing his plate.
"S-Sure." The blond quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand to offer mini-quiches to his captain, happy with this distraction. "I-I think I haven't recovered everything yet but it's probably a matter of time," he added while Nami wiped her own tears.
"We can do some tests," Chopper suggested, still clinging to his leg.
"Maybe later. I'd like to try some recipes," the cook admitted.
"Of course."
Nami got back to her seat and the little reindeer slowly did the same. Trying to regain his senses, Sanji met Zoro's confident gaze on him and the blond looked back without blushing, his heart swollen with emotion. He knew that this victory was also the result of all the stones that his companions had provided to him so that he would move in the right direction at one time or another. Yet Zoro held a special place throughout this ordeal and this victory was also a little bit his.
"Hey, Sanji."
His hands in the dish water, the blond turned to his captain, curious. Luffy had stayed in the galley to finish the food long after the others had left and now, instead of rushing outside, he was calmly looking at him. Grabbing a dish towel to face him, Sanji felt himself shiver under the intensity of his quiet gaze.
"Thank you."
His cook raised an eyebrow. "For the meal? You know, I was mostly happy to-
"No, for everything you do for us. For what you did for yourself too. Thank you for fighting."
Sanji stared at him, his breath taken away. "But, I… That's not…"
"You thanked us, but did you thank yourself? If you're feeling better, it's thanks to your actions and choices."
The blond swallowed. "It's because y-you helped me," he stammered. "Without you, without Zoro, without Chopper, without the whole crew, I… I might not be here today…"
"We all doubt sometimes and that's what a family is for."
The word resonated strangely in the cook's stomach and he gripped tighter the dish towel in his hands. Still sitting at the table, Luffy's bright smile warmed him in return.
"I doubted too when I lost Ace and then I remembered thanks to Jinbei that I was not alone. I remembered that I had a bigger family, all of you. I needed to continue for those I had lost and for those I still had. And I wanted to become much, much stronger to protect you. You gave me strength even if you weren't there so I wanna do the same when you doubt."
Sanji felt new tears welling up in his eyes. He admired his captain so much. The boy he had met two years ago had marked his life in every possible way. He had shown him the way from the first day and even today, he never stopped pushing him to aim higher and higher as much by his will as by his greatness of soul.
"You already did it, Luffy. You already did it… so many times," he replied, his throat tight.
The straw hat boy continued to stare at him. "With Ace, Sabo and then Tama, I realized that the only family that matters is the one you choose. And you, as long as you want it, you'll be part of my family, Sanji."
The cook felt the tears he had held back until now escape at these words but at the same time, his stomach untied and he couldn't help but smile. His captain looked deep into his eyes then.
"Dying doesn't mean you repay your debt and you know that now, don't you?"
Sanji nodded vigorously, emotion still squeezing his throat a little too much to answer immediately. Yes, he knew it now. He had felt it deep within him and he had realized that his self-worth was not limited to his feelings, however convincing they were. He knew now that he did not need to offer his life to prove his personal value. On the contrary, if he had to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his people one day, it would be like Zoro at Thriller Bark, because he was aware of his skills and confident in his abilities to achieve it.
What he had blamed Luffy for when he had woken up in the Heart submarine seemed so out of place today that he didn't understand how he could have interpreted his words as an injustice. There was a difference between sacrificing for your values or to prove your worth and now, his vision was perfectly clear.
Sanji breathed softly. "I know, Captain."
Luffy beamed.
Zoro had leaned against the galley wall after breakfast. He had put his swords down not far from him and quickly closed his eyes, distractedly listening to the noises coming from the room he had just left. Luffy had stayed inside, which was quite unusual because despite his huge appetite, he was often one of the first to swallow everything to better rush to his next activity. The swordsman was not worried though and he was taking advantage of the few rays of sunlight that pierced the clouds.
Quicker than he would have thought, Luffy had happily crossed the threshold to go out and Zoro had settled back against the wall, determined to take his first nap of the day. The regular sound of a knife on a board and the soft music of the cupboards opening and closing had kept him awake in the end.
There had always been something hypnotic about hearing Sanji move in his galley. The blond had recovered his abilities thanks to his Haki and Zoro had found this symphony with pleasure but the movement that the swordsman discerned at this moment was different. A mixture of fluidity and dexterity that he perceived even through the wood between them. A melody of tinkling and crackling that came together in a harmonious rhythm. A quiet and captivating music that filled the room with a unique atmosphere.
A breath.
Between the four walls of his galley, Sanji was being reborn. His Haki had given him back his ease and confidence but his two recovered senses gave him back his creativity and passion. The perception of his entire environment was probably coming back to him beyond his food and Zoro didn't need his Observation Haki to know that the blond was vibrating with emotions at that moment.
The swordsman had never paid attention to food before getting to know the crew's cook. For Zoro, a smell could be enticing or repulsive, a taste appetizing or off-putting. But just as Sanji was overflowing with emotions and expressed himself through his sensitivity, his perception was revealed in the same way. This was the case with his Haki and his cooking and the blond perceived the tiniest variations in the feelings of those around him just like he could strengthen a flavor thanks to the range of ingredients available. He managed to touch the deep personality of his opponents when he revealed a forgotten aroma or attenuated a fragrance that was too invasive. He deciphered his food and his peers at an infinitesimal level to make them shine in all their splendor. He had the gift of giving life.
So this morning, Sanji rediscovered his own and his soul was reuniting to finally be whole again.
Zoro let himself be enveloped by the breath that his companion casted and that sparkled through his gestures. Sanji was happy and his happiness radiated from all sides. If cooking was his means of expression and if the swordsman had learned to decipher him for a while, the blond knew how to interpret it at its true value too now. And there was no doubt that he would use it to further enhance his dishes and offer more to those he loved.
That's why Zoro shook his head when Usopp wanted to enter about twenty minutes later, his arms full of tangerines that Nami had given him. The sniper immediately understood and didn't insist, simply putting the fruit down not far from the door before walking away.
This moment belonged only to the cook and his art. And Sanji had deserved to be able to enjoy it again so much.
Zoro smiled when he heard the blond start humming on the other side of the wall. He kept his eyes closed and enjoyed the caress of the sun on his skin. The smell of sugar that reached him had never seemed so nice.
Sanji left the galley nearly two hours later, a tray of snacks in hand. He noticed the tangerines near the door and Zoro opened an eye before stretching. By the time he was fully awake, Sanji had given their snacks to all his companions and the swordsman grabbed three onigiris topped with soy sauce and grilled that the blond had left for him before going downstairs.
As he ate them happily, the cook carried the fruit inside before going back out to light a cigarette. He then leaned on the railing to watch Chopper, Luffy and Usopp on the Sunny's lawn. They had finished their snacks and immediately resumed making rough dummies filled with foam and beads. Luffy wanted to use them as test subjects for his new attacks but the sniper saw them more as scarecrows for the tangerine trees. As for Chopper, he was simply delighted to help his friends.
The swordsman finished eating and ended up coming closer. He glanced over the shoulder of the blond who was watching his crewmates fill a new dummy to the brim. Usopp stuck out his tongue as he pressed the seams to join the edges and seal them together with his blowtorch. He then put down his tool and was about to move on to the last dummy when Luffy grabbed the blowtorch to create eyes and a mouth for his new friend.
Unfortunately, the captain didn't know how to use it and the flame that shot out from the blowtorch was so big that it almost burned Chopper's hat in the process. Horrified, Usopp tried to take it back but the straw hat boy had already pointed the flame at the dummy's face. A second later, the heat melted the fabric and the dummy exploded, its content bursting in the faces of the three friends, leaving them covered in foam and melted beads.
Seeing their dazed faces, Sanji burst out laughing and his three friends looked up at him. The cook's crystal-clear laughter flew into the air until it enveloped the entire Sunny and Luffy started laughing too, his face blackened by smoke.
For his part, Zoro only shook his head before observing his companion who was struggling to get his breath back. With a smile, he put his arm around the blond's waist to pull him against him and Sanji let him, still shaking with laughter. In the end, the three handymen went to wash and Sanji wiped his eyes. "Man, it's been a while since I laughed like this…"
"It's been a while indeed." As he caught his breath, the blond leaned a little more against his companion until his back rested entirely against the swordsman's chest and Zoro completely encircled his waist in return. "You seem a lot better," Zoro murmured in his ear.
"I feel better. Recovering my sense of smell and taste is amazing. I feel like I'm rediscovering everything and I have lots of ideas…"
Zoro nodded. "I figured as much."
Sanji blew out the smoke from his cigarette above him, his head resting on the swordsman's shoulder to observe the sky. "Do you think there are big shots waiting for us on the next island?"
"Who knows. Maybe. We'll be ready either way."
"You really recovered from your injuries?" The cook suddenly whispered.
Zoro smirked, "Are you worried, curly brows?"
Sanji took another drag on his cigarette, "You wish." The blond then took the time to blow out his smoke again while the swordsman's arms were still pressing him against his chest. "Still, you almost died this time," Sanji added softly.
"And I came back," the swordsman replied before leaning over to his ear again, amused, "I came back from hell for you."
The blond rolled his eyes. "I'm surprised you didn't get lost down there."
Zoro brushed his lips against his neck. "A promise is a promise, cook." The swordsman finally rested his chin on his companion's shoulder and Sanji ran a hand through his green hair to caress it absently. "Thank you," he breathed after a moment.
Zoro only nodded in return. "I never doubted, I know you. I know who you are."
His cigarette butt in the corner of his lips, Sanji smiled. Now, he was sure of it too.
The swordsman kissed the blond's lips when Sanji tilted his head towards him and they closed their eyes, alone in the world. They thought they were out of sight but above the tangerine trees, Robin, Jinbei and Brook had also had a view of the entire scene of the dummy's explosion and now of their two crewmates.
"What a joy to see them so united," Brook noted with a sigh. "The turmoil was so violent that I thought I would never see them so close again…"
"I understand Luffy's words even more," Jinbei acknowledged. "These two are an inseparable pair in every way."
"The wings of the Pirate King," Robin agreed with a smile.
"What a lovely metaphor!" The musician marveled at her side.
"It's more poetic than armed wings," the Fish-Man agreed.
"And just as true," the archaeologist pointed out. "If Zoro represents physical strength and security when he protects the crew and captain, Sanji is an incredible emotional support for each of us. He knows how to remind us of our worth and qualities through every pivotal moment."
"Two perfectly indispensable and complementary roles," the musician added. "One feeds the other in the same way and that is how the balance and strength of the crew is maintained and revealed."
"Luffy knows how to surround himself with the best and I am honored to be part of it," Jinbei noted.
"We all are," Robin confirmed.
The Fish-Man then turned away modestly when their two companions deepened their embrace below and Robin and Brook followed suit as he headed towards the library.
"All the conditions are met for our captain to achieve his goal and ours in his wake," the skeleton pointed out to them.
"The next island seems ordinary but on the Grand Line, the extraordinary is never far away," Jinbei noted.
"I'm sure we won't have to wait very long," the archaeologist agreed with a smile.
"I see an island!"
The crew rushed as one towards Jinbei who was on watch since the end of lunch. In the middle of the afternoon, the outline of a land stood out on the horizon and the straw hat pirates exchanged excited glances. Luffy jumped up in joy and his elastic arms wrapped around the Sunny's mast. "Great, an adventure!"
"This is gonna be super!" Franky rejoiced on the deck.
"It's a rather common island without any particular affiliation; it'll be a nice change," Sanji noted while lighting a cigarette.
"We're still wanted by the entire fleet of two Emperors, not counting the Marines," Nami reminded them. "We'll need to be careful."
Leaning against the railing, Zoro shrugged. "Wherever we go, we'll be recognized now anyway."
"Our destiny is definitely more likely to end in tragedy than in peaceful retirement," Robin approved with a smile.
"I don't wanna die; I'm way too young!" Brook panicked.
"Don't worry, I'll heal you if you're hurt!" Chopper assured him immediately.
A little further at the helm, Jinbei burst out laughing. "We never get bored with you!"
"That's the problem," Usopp confirmed wearily.
As the island came closer, Sanji reached into his pocket for the shopping list he had already started. He needed to complete it before they disembarked, but after a few fruitless seconds, he remembered that he had left it in his locker room when he had changed after clearing the lunch dishes.
"I'll check the supplies; do you need anything?" He asked his friends.
There were a few requests and the blond nodded before heading to the boys' quarters to retrieve his list. He opened the door to his locker and searched inside for a moment before retrieving it. He then noticed another crumpled sheet of paper in a corner and he grabbed it to unfold it, curious to know what it was.
The list of his goals but also the qualities and defaults that his friends had given him some time earlier appeared and Sanji froze, troubled by his discovery. He had read and reread these words so much that he wondered how he had ended up forgetting the very existence of this paper.
He had put it aside when Zoro had pointed out that he spent too much time looking at it. At the time, Sanji was so obsessed with his desire to get better that this list was indeed turning into an obsession and when the Sunny had set sail after Law had retrieved his navigator, the cook had buried it in his locker and he had forgotten about it.
Looking at it again today filled him with indefinable emotions. He felt like he had come a long way. He remembered his initial disappointment and incomprehension in front of this description. Yet, in their own way, each of his friends had offered him a glimpse of his personality that day and, put together, he now admitted that the portrait was strikingly true. The gap that had destabilized him because of some adjectives had disappeared and the mystery that these words had created was now lifted.
Today, Sanji measured the extent of the change he had undergone. Maybe it was because he had just completely broken free that the evolution was obvious. Finally, he had accepted that he no longer deserved to suffer. He was not sure if he had completely forgiven himself, but at least he had made peace with himself. He had stopped blaming himself every moment and was looking towards the future instead of dwelling on the past.
He looked at the sheet carefully. Brook had noticed that he was indecisive, and Sanji now understood that doubt had undermined his confidence. Because he was hesitating, he had been paralyzed. It was only when he had made a choice that he had managed to see things more clearly. And he had learned that the most important was not so much to take the risk of being wrong but to make a decision to get out of passivity and regain control of his life.
Of course, Robin had perceived his insatiable side, his constant greed to never be satisfied with himself because he was convinced that he could not be good enough anyway. Today, he tried to be more indulgent towards himself and above all, he took care to celebrate his victories, however small they were. He learned to value himself and, in this way, he fulfilled one of his first objectives. Learning to love himself.
Sanji continued reading and came across Zoro's description. He felt again the passion that the swordsman had characterized him with and it was expressed both in terms of cooking and in his everyday life. Sanji found his joy of living fully when he put his whole soul in every gesture he made. It was his way of celebrating life and getting the most out of it.
The blond bit his lip as he thought back to the words he had exchanged with the swordsman a few days earlier in the aquarium. A desire that he had dared to assume and share and that filled him with a sweet and intoxicating excitement. Sanji rummaged through his things and took out a pen. He smoothed the sheet as much as possible and wrote his new objective against the steel of the locker room door, the goal they would achieve together this time. Learning to love.
Sanji smiled again when he saw the adjectives his captain had given him. As always, Luffy had understood his cook better than he had himself. The blond was indeed as strong at overcoming the obstacles that stood in his way as he was at creating them and hurting himself.
The cook finally observed Franky's words. His sensitivity had been the most troubling to accept because it was what had most emphasized his torment. He knew it today though: his sensitivity was indeed among his greatest strengths. It allowed him to use Haki to cook and to feel this indescribable pleasure that his connection to others brought him. Thanks to his sensitivity, he was not alone. He could enjoy the presence of his friends and this feeling was unmatched.
The paper trembled slightly in his fingers when Sanji looked at his own adjectives. Zoro had asked him to find a quality and a flaw that wouldn't reduce him to a skill and he had searched for days without success.
His right hand shaking, Sanji tightened his grip on his pen. He leaned against the locker again and crossed out the two adjectives he had given himself. Instead, he wrote the same word to describe his first quality and his first flaw, a smile on his lips.
Human.
THE END
Trailer parts 16/16
Musical inspiration for this last chapter:
Hope - Namie Amuro (20th One Piece opening)
Famille - Jean-Jacques Goldman
Anyone can cook - OST Ratatouille
Here we are. This adventure has been rich in emotion, I hope you felt it through beautiful and hard feelings along the way.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for all your comments, they have always been a source of joy and motivation.
You can find me on X PommeDapi11
Long live ZoSan and long live One Piece.
Take care.
Pommedapi
