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Sanji felt as if he was in a dream-like state, or probably calling it a nightmare would be more fitting. Hours and hours of the night passed by as he paced around his room.
He stared at the cold, shiny metallic weight on his wrists. Thoughts made his blood rush to his brain leaving his hands cold and shaking..
The air smelled like confectionaries of various kinds, but all it did was make sanji sick to the stomach.
The women there dressed him, ready to be the sacrificial lamb for his family at the whole cake island.
As their carriage started moving Sanji thought of his short but memorable life. And the few months of bliss he had with a certain Rubber boy and his crew. Chasing his dream that he's had to abandon, for good this time.
It's not as if he had a particular determination for it like the swordsman or the captain. It's his dream, yes, but there are more important things in life than his mere dream.
Was he even allowed to dream?
He felt as if he could hear Luffy again.
"Sanji. Hey Sanji, "
Came the call. No way the man is here. Sanji thought to himself. But his "siblings" Reactions said otherwise.
They jested and mocked him. Laughing at his advances but all Luffy had eyes for was Sanji.
"We've come to pick you up Sanji, "
And Sanji could feel his heart swell up at his smile but also drop immediately after at the dread of the eyes around him creeped in on his soul.
His hands felt heavy with the burden of the shackles.
So he kicked him and he did so more than a dozen times. He brought out everything his soul had to offer in the angry hot fiery kicks that burned bright.
"Put up your haki or you're gonna die, "
"Why do I need haki sanji? I just want to talk, "
Luffy coughed up blood gasping for breath, questioning him.
And his heart shattered again, that raising his legs for his captain and crew was so easy but against them just as difficult.
"I refuse to fight you, "
And Sanji wished Luffy didn't. That for once he'd listen and he'd fight. Sanji deserves it. Deserves all that he can take on his fragile body for the final time right here before he has to hand over his life and soul to others. That if he is to end, let his story end at the hands of the person he loved the most rather than cruel, heartless monsters waiting for him on the other side of this sickly sweet country.
His wish wasn't granted.
And Luffy's already battered, beaten body laid bloodied on the ground as he lost consciousness signalling the end of their so called duel.
Sanji was about to turn back to his "family" but immediately got hit by the impact of a blade which made him fall.
Roronoa Zoro.
Zoro who had quietly and patiently waited to see how far this duel would go. How far would Sanji take it to and it seems it was too far.
Sanji got up, touching his bleeding chest. He braced for more.
And more came his way.
The shock of the attacks overrode the pain he had felt otherwise. He felt the rage of Zoro in those attacks.
His captain was disrespected after all.
And Sanji felt pain shoot through his veins, his clothes wet with blood and he could hear voices and sounds but they slowly became distant and he felt his body drop to the ground.
Silence at last.
Zoro was panting and the Vinsmoke family stared at him in shock and horror; the consequences of his actions dawning on him as Luffy woke up and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Signalling that it's time to leave.
The atmosphere of the sunny was frantic, frightened as Chopper desperately checked Sanji for vitals, trying his best to stop the bleeding and start up his heart.
The sigh of relief never came.
Tears streamed down Chopper's cheeks and he hiccuped, the first patient of his that has ever died.
It had to be his own crewmate.
Luffy stared at the ocean for any threats coming their way. He had complete fate in Chopper. He can cure anything and all Luffy has to do is wait.
There's no way Sanji can leave him selfishly and just die right?
Chopper tugged at his clothes, his face contorted in pain and anguish, the little doctor could barely breathe, his face and clothes wet and the only way one could explain his expressions was distress.
" He's okay, right Chopper?"
"I'm sorry Captain, "
" What do you mean Chopper? Sanji is okay, right? How many days will it take for him to recover? Does he need anything? "
" Sanji won't recover, Luffy, "
"Nonsense. He can rest up a little, Nami can make his favourite food and he'll be right up in a second won't he? "
"Luffy... "
"That's enough Luffy, " Zoro says this time,
" What do you mean? "
" He's dead Luffy, "
Luffy's eyes widen
No no no no way.
"No way. You two fight all the time, come on now, he'll heal up real quick, "
" He didn't want to live, "
"What are you saying Zoro? Zoro do you hear yourself? What do you mean Sanji is dead? Chopper can heal him! He can heal everyone! "
" Hey chopper! What is Zoro saying? Tell him to stop saying such bullshit! He's gonna heal up, he's gonna continue his adventure with us! "
Luffy doesn't even believe his own words, as the tears stream down his cheeks and he falls to his knees.
He opens the door to the Infirmary, Sanji lying there still as can be and Luffy feels the urge to grab him and shake him awake.
But all he does is grab ahold of his shoulder, tears dripping to his body as he cries and screams.
The vast sea is lonely but Sanji found such joy in it. It's dark, grim but also bountiful. Calming but restless, merciless.
They sailed away from the whole cake island and eventually out of Tottoland. Nami didn't have the heart to ask the captain of the next destination but it had to be decided sooner or later.
" We're going to the east blue,"
" But Luffy, Kaido is-"
" I'm going to the east blue then,"
" Luffy, you know we can't start this war without you right?"
" Just... Hide for a bit I'll be back soon,"
Nami and Zoro share worried glances at each other. They understand the demand but also the consequences.
" You can't run forever from your responsibilities just because you're sad you know, you started something and you must end it, until you don't you are putting your people, the people who put their trust in you; in danger,"
Zoro speaks sense, logic. Yet it almost feels as if he's demonizing him.
" I failed. I failed to keep a promise to owner Zeff. He put his trust in me and I failed him so I have to bear the consequences of it,"
" Sanji chose this himself why are you-"
"Can it,"
So they sail to the east blue, the yonko take down is halted for a little longer and in this time the crew barely eats, every meal time extremely painful.
Nami pushes plates towards Luffy who's all skin and bones, who takes a few bites and tears stream down his face.
Chopper is even worse off because he's having to take care of the corpse, making sure it doesn't decompose. He comes out of it every time looking sickly, almost like a corpse himself.
Zoro can't seem to recognise his captain anymore, it's as if the man who has asked him to accompany his journey to be the pirate king is now gone, replaced by a broken and torn boy.
It's heartbreaking.
The first steps back to Baratie are difficult, Luffy charges in none the less.
The mood of the crew told Zeff all he needed to know.
" When I saw the only alive poster, with vinsmoke at the front of his name, I could tell. Something was up..."
" I had-"
Zoro started but Nami interrupted him,
" His family, dragged him into a political marriage and-"
Zeff lifted up his hand as if to stop them from continuing.
" Sanji is dead, I failed to protect him, I've failed you and I'll accept any punishment,"
Luffy spoke, his voice bone chilling like a piece of ice gliding down your body.
" Let's get you some food first,"
Zeff said walking back to the baratie, the crew following him.
luffy stares into space, steaming bowls of food lying in front of him but he pays it no attention.
It plants fear in the hearts of others. as if an alien is sitting before them.
Nami tries to make chopper relax, who had been crying non-stop especially after stepping into the baratie.
Luffy slams his fist on the table and storms upstairs.
Sanji's room is the same as it was 2 years ago, as if someone had been taking care of it every single day.
The picture of young sanji and Zeff sits at the shelf, a pack of cigarettes right under it.
Luffy lays down on the bed and soon he falls asleep before he realizes, the exhaustion finally settling in.
He wakes up at noon, the sun starting to set, the sea calls to him, he wonders if it calls for Sanji too.
He picks up one of the cigarettes and lights it, watching it burn; the familiar scent invades his senses as he stares at the sun setting, pleading to bring him back. A prayer, a request, a ray of light, anything. as if it's a nightmare that will end in a few hours but it never does.
Zoro clears his throat, he stands at the door frame, watching.
" Captain, when are we setting sail?"
no answer.
"Luffy"
silence.
Zoro steps in and Luffy gets up, pushes him out and closes the door.
"Stop throwing a tantrum, your crew is waiting for your orders."
" I want to rest,"
"You've lost a crewmate by being careless and now you will lose more,"
"No, you've made me lose a crewmate,"
" I was just doing my duty as-"
" Did you really think Sanji would hurt me?"
" He already was,"
Luffy shakes his head and walks past him.
The funeral was a blur, Luffy remembers nothing from it.
Except for the saddened faces of people around him, he remembers nothing else except for the pain in his chest.
Another day passes by and Luffy watches the waves crash on the side of the boat, worry settles in his mind the rest of his crew needs him, he knows. Zoro's right; he's being nothing but selfish right now.
a child bumps into him, the paper he was carrying falls to the floor.
Luffy picks it up, it's a crayon drawing of the sea, colourful fishes floating around.
luffy starts
"Hey, do you know about the All Blue?"