Chapter Text
Sanji woke up early in the morning. He stayed there a few minutes before stretching and getting ready to head to work. Even though Sanji was the head chef he did not have to stay in the Baratie all day. He had the privilege of leaving early and arriving late. However, the blonde chef took pride in what he did and would be there from the time it opened till the time it closed.
The blonde made his way to the bathroom to fix himself up. The other thing he took extreme pride on was how he looked and presented himself. He made sure his hair was perfect and his cloths with no wrinkles. He would mostly always dress in a black suit and made sure to always smell good for the ladies.
When the blonde was satisfied with how he looked he headed to work. There was, however, something he had to pass to get there. His annoying,loud mouthed neighbor. The boy was too hyper for his own good. And not to mention that his annoying dog would bark at him every morning, sometimes successfully giving him a head ache.
As Sanji slowly opened the door and tipped-toed into the apartment hallway, he chanted to himself "don't hear me, don't hear me..."
"SANJI!"
Sanji cringed before turning around with a fake smile. "Hey, Luffy! Up early again I see!"
Luffy was a short kid that lived with his older brother, Ace. He always walked with his dog Chopper, a brown terrier with brown curly fur and a weird blue nose. If it wasn't because Luffy was dating the apartment manager he wouldn't even have the dog. This is a 'no pets' allowed apartment. "I always wake up this early!" Luffy screamed from across the hall. "I'm hungry SANJI! MEAT!"
"How many times do I have to tell you, if I keep feeding you everyday I'm going to run out of food. And stop screaming across the hall people are still trying to sleep." Sanji replied.
"Come on Sanji, you know I can't live without your cooking! And the neighbors know me already!" Luffy continued pleading, that's when Chopper decided to voice his opinion and started barking at Sanji.
"Fine, I'll bring you some food from work...I'll bring for you and Ace and Smoker, happy?" lifting his hands up in defeat.
A toothy grin was Sanji's only response. Luffy was easy to please as long as he got food.
With that Sanji turned on his heel and almost ran away. He went into the elevator and pressed the lobby button. I'm gonna be so late for work...
Sanji stepped out onto his floor when the elevator finally stopped. He was going to go straight through the door when something orange caught his attention.
"NAMI!" Sanji practically floated to her. "My sweet, how has your day started?!"
Nami is a red-head with pale skin. She is the second in command and the manager when it comes to money.
"You know I already have a boyfriend Sanji...how many times do we have to go over this?" Nami indeed was with someone. That person is the scrawny boy the blonde just happened to shake off. He still doesn't get how she chooses Luffy over him. Personality wise they contrasted. Nami always got mad at Luffy for his stupidity, which he doesn't blame her for.
"Sorry Nami-swan but your beauty always makes me forget...I just wish I was the one you were referring to." Sanji said while bowing to Nami.
Nami rolled her eyes. "Sanji, do you know how many girls you say that to? Anyways, aren't you going to be late?" She said trying to get Sanji to leave.
"Yes my dear love, I will be seeing you tonight. Don't wait up on me my sweet!" Sanji ran out the apartment with hearts for eyes.
/
Sanji reached the Baratie just when his father, Zeff was turning the key to open the door. Zeff was a blonde man with a really long mustache. Sanji was about a foot taller than the older man. Zeff was the person who pretty much raised him. After Sanji's mother died in a car accident five years ago, Zeff was the person to keep raising him. Zeff had lost one of his legs in the accident and now has a peg leg. But he could still kick ass when he was angry.
"Egg plant, how many times do I tell you to stay home longer? You think I want to see your ugly face this early in the morning?" The older man asked-eyeing his son.
"You know I can't let you do everything yourself." Sanji said while passing Zeff to enter his second home.
Zeff followed right behind with a scowl on his face. "You know what I mean. If you stay ALL day here, how are you going to make your own life?" The older man limped to a stool next to the counter. "You stay here morning till night... get a hobby, do something with your life."
Sanji grinned at his father while pulling an apron over his head. "Come on old man, you do the same. Plus I'm not ready to settle down." Sanji was used to this conversation already. This was something his father always brought up. He knew his father meant well but it was starting to get on his nerves.
Zeff sighed. "Sanji, you are 20, when are you going to start looking for the one? That girl you brought once the red-head, Nami, whatever her name is, she looks nice."
"Taken..."
"What about the one with black hair and freckles?"
"Ace?" Sanji laughed. "Come on old man you know he's taken."
One thing Sanji loved about his father was that he accepted Sanji fully. Gender didn't matter to Zeff. All his old man wanted was for his son to be happy.
Sanji heard his father sigh again. "Sanji...you only got like this after He dumped you..."
Sanji raised a hand to stop his father from talking. "That was a long time ago...I'm over him already." The blonde clinched his fist into a ball when an image of his former lover flashed in his mind.
Before Zeff could say anything to his son, there was a knock on the door. Both blondes looked up to see a young mail-man by the door.
"Ussop! What's up? We got mail?" Sanji said while walking to greet his friend, who also lived on the same floor as him. It was weird to get mail at the Baratie. Since Ussop lived in the same apartment building with his girlfriend Kaya, Ussop would bring his mail after the long nose finished work.
Ussop was dark-skinned, had curly black hair and a really long nose. Probably due to all the lies he says. "Yeah, you got some mail. I was passing by and decided to drop your mail off along with Zeffs'. Kill two birds with one stone, right?" Ussop handed the mail to Sanji. "See you, I have to finish my route."
When Ussop left, Zeff spoke again. "Anything other than bills egg-plant?"
Sanji quickly skimmed through the mail. "Nope just bills, bills, bills...what's this?" Sanji pulled out a small blue envelope.
"What are you waiting for egg-plant? Open it!" Sanji heard his father say from behind him.
Sanji slid his finger into the flap of the envelope and slowly opened it. Inside was a letter. Sanji unfolded it and started reading out load for Zeff to also be able to hear.
Dear: Otayo
He paused to look at his father. Otayo was his mother's maiden name, the one before she got married and changed it to Blackleg. Zeff made a gesture with his hand for Sanji to keep reading.
This letter is for Sanji Otayo. I am aware that Lina Otayo has passed away and Sanji is her only off spring. I am Roronoa, Lina's older brother. If you are reading this it is because I have passed away as well. I have left all of my belongings toSanji Balckleg, and he may do what he wants with that. I advice to go quickly, I have further information in my house. Address: Netrare Street house 43. You may not accept everything that is in there but make sure to keep him safe.
Sincerely, Your Uncle
Sanji looked up at his father with a puzzled look. Keep him? What did that mean?
"What do I do?" Sanji was confused; this random letter comes stating he had an uncle he had no idea about. And to go to this address to pick up things that he had no idea who it belonged to...
"Well egg-plant, I say you go and find out..." Zeff got up and pulled the apron off of Sanji. "I'll be waiting for you to get home."
Sanji looked at the letter again now noticing the small letters at the end, October 5... this letter was written almost a month and a half ago.
Sanji arrived at the address. The house was located in a neighborhood, however the houses were extremely separated letting the house have its own lawn, pool, and still extra space. The entrance of the house was lined with many trees making a beautiful entrance. The white house wasn't big, but not too small either. From the outside a person can clearly see there is an attic, and at least five bedrooms.
Sanji closed the door of his car and slowly made his way to the entrance, hearing his dress shoes crunch under dead leaves. Sanji finally reached the entrance and climbed the three old steps. Finally noticing his predicament, Sanji scowled. He didn't have the keys to the house. Should I just kick down the door? It's not like anyone is supposed to be here...
Sanji face palm, "I shouldn't have come in the first place. This has to be some kind of prank or something." Sanji glanced at the letter again while pivoting on his heel to head back to his car.
Dear: Otayo
This letter is for Sanji Otayo. I am aware that Lina Otayo has passed away and Sanji is her only offspring. I am Roronoa, Lina's older brother. If you are reading this it is because I have passed away. I have left all my belongings toSanji Balckleg, and he may do what he wants with that. I advice to go quickly, I have further information in my house. Address: Netrare street house 43. You may not accept everything that is in there but make sure to keep him safe.
Sincerely, Your Uncle
Sanji's one blue eye widened, now noticing that almost each sentence had an underlined letter. Off, older, to, what, further, sure
"F, L, O, W, E, R?" Sanji said, stopping in his tracks. "Flower?" The blonde turned around to look at the house again. Right in front of the door, to the left was a flower-pot. Should I really go back? I could just go home and leave this be...
Sighing, Sanji returned to the door stopped in front of the flower-pot, and lifted it up. Right underneath were two keys. One was silver and the other green. Sanji picked them both up and jammed the silver key into the door. Hearing a satisfying click, the blonde pushed the door open.
The room was dark inside, only being able to see from what the outside light provided. Sanji stepped inside and slowly made his way along the wall, passing his hand trying to find a switch. The blonde's hand graced a switch and with an "Aha!," the blonde turned flipped it.
The room was full of books and old articles. The house had little furniture, no TV and a huge rug in the center. Sanji made his way inside and started skimming through drawers, cabinets, and doors. Not really interested in the things inside. Nothing looked valuable...
The blonde reached the end of the house effectively finding nothing of interest. The blonde took out his phone after lighting himself a cigarette. "Yeah, Zeff...there is nothing here."
"Nothing at all? Money, electronics, kitchenware?" Sanji could hear his father ask in disbelief.
"Nothing, Nada" Sanji answered lazily. "I'm going back now. I'll take a picture of the house and send it to you. Maybe the house is worth something nice."
"Alright egg-plant, I'll see you soon."
Sanji heard when the line went dead. "Let's see if I can get something from you old house."
Sanji was about to head out when he remembered that he didn't check the attic. He was going to leave it but he guessed that checking won't make a difference. He might actually find something.
Sanji pulled the string letting the stairs come down. The blonde walked up the stairs. When he reached he found the light switch and turned it attic was full of endless boxes. Sanji was able to read some of the labels. Books, clothes, computers, and many more stuff.
"So this is where everything was...kitchen stuff." Sanji read a label. I will have to come back with Zeff. The blond picked up the box named 'kitchen' and was about to head downstairs when a noise behind him caught his attention.
Sanji turned around and scanned the attic with his one blue eye. Not seeing anything and thinking he imagined it, he continued to walk downstairs.
(RATTLE)
Now I know I'm not going crazy. Did that sound like a chain? "Hello, is anyone there?" The blonde placed down the box and headed to the corner where he thought he heard the chain. Sanji pushed the boxes aside until he saw the chain he was hearing.
Following the chain his eyes spotted a tail? "WAH!?" Sanji fell back on his back side. Is there an animal living here? Sanji got on his knees and crawled to the boxes that were hiding the animal behind it. Pushing the boxes, Sanji was able to see what was behind it. The blonde had a hard time getting his mind to register what he was seeing.
It was a teenage boy. He was tanned skin and chained by the neck. But what made Sanji not believe what he was seeing was that this boy had green hair. And to top it off, it had a long green tail and big fluffy green cat-like ears. This has to be a dream...