Chapter Text
The attack hadn't been expected. Hell the Strawhats didn't even know anyone was on this island. A hot, tropical jungle, dense and thick but teeming with edible flora and fauna. Sanji had shooed Franky and Zoro off to go hunt and forage, Chopper even passing the minty haired swordsman a small list of herbs and plants to collect with detailed diagrams of them for medicinal use. Then the little doctor quickly hurried off to his infirmary, apologizing for the migrain plaguing his big noggin but promising to be out after a nap and a snack.
The others stayed behind on the boat, Usopp and Luffy settled on the Sunny's figurehead as they fished, cutting up and rough housing while waiting for bites. Brook sat on the railing nearby, plucking softly at the strings of a small harp like instrument he had picked up at the last island they anchored at, already nearly a master at it, but for now content to just busy his hands plucking soothing, random notes. Jinbe wasn't far away, settled into a chair with his eyes half closed, reading with Robin while Nami sat and sunbathed. They expected to be docked for a while, the logpose didn't take long to set but Zoro and Franky had gotten competitive as they disappeared into the brush, arguing about who could bring back the most grub. Not that Sanji minded, as long as the Sunny could hold it all it would be good to have especially with their captain's appetite. Sanji herself was leaned against the main mast, having just passed everyone refreshing drinks. She took a long drag from her cigarette, not even pulling it from her lips as she blew away the smoke from her mouth and nose.
Then it happened. A massive, bulky frame had dropped onto the ship. The figure was cloaked, covered in pelts and leaves from the island. There was a tail and ears...but it was hard to tell if it was a part of the cloak or if the assailant was maybe a Mink or something close, but it wasn't worth worrying about. Sanji didn't even have time to react before a powerful, open palm had crashed into the back of her skull hard enough to rattle her teeth. Sanji collided with the ground, sliding a few feet away before hearing her assailant grunt above her, peppered with various projectiles, Usopp standing on the figurehead as Luffy charged. The attacker was grabbed by four sudden hands, appearing in a flurry of flowers. Jinbe and Brook where rapidly approaching as well, though the skeleton had no weapon drawn, intent on pulling Sanji and her bloodied face away. Usopp was now running over as well, feeling much better about helping Sanji then antagonizing the large figure further.
Then, it went foggy. A large bundle slammed into the ground as fists collided into the hidden beast, a haze of purple green mist spreading across most of the ship's deck. Everyone choked and gasped, airways constricted and eyes filled with irritated tears. The attack was over just as quick as it started, the culprit gone just as fast as he entered. The group of struggling pirates barely had the chance to group together and talk before their heads grew heavy and syrupy. Vision tunneled and brightened before darkening and fading out. One after another the crew fell, Sanji the last to pass out.
♤♡♤
Sanji woke with a dull roar of pain in her head. She figured it was an awful concoction of the attack she took and the fumes she breathed in. She needed to get Chopper, if Chopper wasn't already helping people. Another voice called. One she didn't recognize. It made her blood run cool. Another attack? While they where already injured and hazy?? Dirty and cheap....but as her ears cleared that panic turned to confused curiosity. The voice was soft and young, confused as well it seemed.
"H-Hello? Are any of you awake? This isn't my cane. I can't find mine. Do any of you have it?" There was a lilt to the voice Sanji recognized. An almost permanent hum. Sanji's head shot up quickly, met with a surprising sight.
A young boy. Wearing a suit shirt too big for him and leaning on a cane that was just taller than him. He had darker toned skin, like Usopp. He was...tall. tall didn't even feel like the right word. He was stick thin and nearly the height of a grown man, his legs wobbling under himself like a newborn deer. His deep hazel eyes had jumped to Sanji when he noticed the movement. Sanji noticed it then. That big, puffy afro, practically wider than the kid was. Could it be...no...
"B-Brook...?" She choked out, noticing the boy's eyes light up.
"Oh!! Are you one of mother's friends? I must have snuck on this ship, I'm hardly allowed off my mother's estate. She says I'm too frail, but sometimes I sneak away! There must have been a party. I apologize, I didn't mean to stay." His voice was soft and polite, but he was speaking a mile a minute. "I'm sure mother is worried! Can you help me find my cane? And my clothes? These aren't mine. I'm sorry I didn't mean to take what isn't mine. Honestly I don't remember even coming here!"
Sanji didn't speak, looking around at her fallen crew. Her head ached, she could feel dried blood on her nose and mouth, and taste its copper. She took a hard, dry swallow and shakily righted herself. Even standing the boy was still so /tall/. She had no doubts.
"Brook...Brook what happened why are you..." she started, getting nothing but a confused blink from the kid.
"I'm not sure!" The kid interjected, "I just woke up! Can you help me? I need my cane. I'm too tall you see, mother and the doctor both say I'm growing too fast, I'm only 9 you see!" He said, starting to wobble forward towards Sanji. "The say my body has trouble keeping up, and my bones hurt all the time! I don't have good balance, so I use a cane! But this one isn't mine." The kid said, noting a strange gold ring near the handle and pulling it up, gasping as a shimmering blade revealed itself. The young Brook quickly closed it as if the small inch he showed would slice someone up nearby. He shook his head. "Definitely not mine. Mine doesn't have a sword in it. I don't even know how to use a sword! Huhuhu."
Sanji frowned. That wasn't the giggle of the Brook she knew, but maybe it changed when he got older. Maybe it was during that isolation...Sanji squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, before taking a deep breath and looking directly at Brook, who only now seemed to register the other's injuries.
"Oh no! What happened? Did you fall? Looks bad, like when I fall! Do you have a rag? I can help clean it! Mother says I'm very helpful, I like helping!" Jeez this kid could talk. Brook was chatty sure, but this was excessive.
Sanji shook her head. "'M fine. I'm worried about you Brook, you're all small! Well...I mean not physically I guess. You're still so tall but..younger! You're alive and y-you..you have skin!" Sanji started, "You aren't a skeleton anymore! I kinda miss the all bone look...brown eyes..." She mused, leaning in and gently cupping the boy's cheek.
Brook just blinked, then snorted. "Huhuhu...sorry, I shouldn't laugh. You must have hit your head!! Of course I'm alive and have skin, skeletons can't move on their own!"
Sanji sighed, shaking her head and opening her mouth to argue but stopped herself, chewing the inside of her cheek before speaking again, calmer. "The Brook I know is a skeleton. He's a musician and a swordsman. What was the last thing you remember? Anything strange?" Sanji asked. It felt weird to her, talking to a kid but not even having to kneel to reach his eye level.
"A musician! That sounds more like me, I love music. My best friend in the whole world Yorki got me into playing. He gave me a flute and told me to practice and said I was so good I should try another, so I got a violin! I'm still learning it, but mother says I play good. She also says though that I shouldn't hang out with Yorki because he's poor. But I don't think that matters, he's cool!" He said, Sanji nearly groaning at the tangent, but hearing Yorki's name at least settled any lingering doubts that this kid wasn't Brook. "Well...it's weird. I remember walking my dog Harmonica, that's her name cause she has a lovely bark like a harmonica, and then going to bed..and as my eyes closed I felt like I was as tall as a house and my hands looked like a skeletons!"
Sanji's eyes lit up and she smiled. "So you recall being just bone huh? That's a good start. I'm not sure what's happening, but we'll get this figured out little Brook." She said, a soft smile on the boy's face as well.
"Oh! You know my name but I don't know yours, what's your name? Sorry that I don't remember if I'm supposed to know you." Brook said, a small bow of apology following.
"Oh it's fine. I'm Sanji. I'm your cook. I guess you don't remember any of your friends here either do you? We should probably check on them actually..." she said, looking over at the still unconscious figures.
"Sanji! That's a nice name! No I don't remember anyone here, they're all strangers to me huhuhu!" He looked around, tilting his head as a noise had begun.
A soft, rumbling, growling groan amongst the group. Sanji had trouble placing just who it was coming from, until she noticed a kimono and coat ruffling.
Jinbe shakily sat up. His head hurt...why did his head hurt? When did he go to sleep?? He let out another groan, looking at the ill fitted clothes against his grimy blue scales. They looked nice...
His eyes widened. These weren't his clothes. They where too nice..he didn't have anything nice. He could feel rocking. A boat. His heart raced, his head pounded, his breath hitched and choked sobs escaped his dry throat. They shouldn't have wandered off..they shouldn't have gone out of the city...his brothers. Were where they...
His panicked mind was cut into by a soft voice, his head snapping around to the sound. His eyes had shrank down to near slits, scales hot under the silky robes covering his body.
"Hi!! You're up, I don't know you, I'm supposed to but I don't remember! I'm Brook, what's your name?" The voice said, a tall figure approaching the boy. A human. This was a human boat.
Past the figure, he caught the fluttering of a black flag. He saw that skull, his heart dropping into the pit of his stomach like lead.
Sanji noticed the panic settling into the small helmsman. "Brook.." she started quietly, stepping forward and catching Jinbe's gaze, the poor boy shaking his head, backing up.
"N-no...no...l-leave me alone!" He cried. His voice was so small...Sanji couldn't help but feel hot tears pricking in the corners of her eyes.
Jinbe was always quiet about his childhood, Luffy would sometimes ask as the chaos of dinner settled about Jinbe's past, about his childhood in particular, and the older man would always wave it off, claiming it was just plain and boring. If the word boring didn't work to shut Luffy up from the nagging, he always placated the young captain with food from his own diligently guarded plate.
Sanji had ideas why. Ideas she felt where coming true as she watched the young Fishman panic.
"I-I said back off!" He squeaked, his voice coming out in cracked squeaks. "M-Mr. Gurya is t-teaching me Fishman K-Karate! H-He says I'm the best of his students!" He warned, struggling to his feet.
Standing up, he was only a little shorter than Brook, the boy still chattering and hobbling close to him, Sanji inching forwards as well and trying to stop Brook but she couldn't get a word in!
"Karate? That's cool! Mother says I'm too frail for karate, or running, or any physical sport!" He babbled on, Sanji's heart sinking as sge watched Jinbe.
It all happened so fast. The boy had taken a fighting stance Sanji knew well from observing the other train and fight when he was bigger, though it looked wobbly and untrained here. It didn't matter though, what mattered was the action the woman nearly missed by blinking. A yelp echoed off the ship, a firm blue palm burying itself in Brook's scrawny chest, sending the boy flying back and crashing into a wall.
"I-I can throw my brothers t-twenty feet and most of th-them are bigger than me!!" The kid warned in his tiny, terrified voice. "Y-You evil human pirates!! I w-won't let you take me and my brothers!! Y-you won't sell us I can't l-let you! Where are they!!" He demanded to know, his eyes burning holes into Sanji's very soul...but she could tell something else was hidden in there.
He was scared and sad, Sanji could see it. He was so so small compared to the Jinbe he knew. Strong for a child, but still a child, unfortunately bearing adult fears that no one should.
Sanji's ears burned, torn between the demanding, tiny, scared voice in front of him and the choking wails of pain behind him. He turned, looking to Brook. Her heart sank, seeing the boy crumpled to the floor, trembling and choking. She could see blood spattering the sides of the boy's mouth. He needed Chopper. This was bad.
Sanji tensed. Chopper!! She had forgotten all about the doctor during this all. Was he okay?? He wasn't out here...oh how she hoped the little reindeer was still sleeping off his migraine...what if he was little too? What would he be...she shuddered to think about a poor, tiny, scared animal trapped in a sterile, overwhelming environment like that. She looked between the two boys. She took a deep breath, brows furrowing.
"Jinbe." She finally spoke, flinching at the way the Fishman winced hearing his own name from what was effectively a stranger. "Jinbe it's okay...it's okay we're friends...we won't hurt you.." she soothed, watching the kid shake his head.
"'M not stupid!! Th-this is a trick!! You're gonna sell me and my brothers!" He squealed, tears flowing down his face. He balled up his little webbed hands over and over again, gritting his sharp teeth as he stared down the blonde human.
"No Jinbe...I promise. This isn't a trick. My name's Sanji. I'm the cook on this boat. She's called the Sunny. She's a good boat. You won't be sold." She tried further to reassure, "I don't know where your brothers are. (This was a lie, she knew where at least two where, but she feared the confusion would just hurt the kid more.) You're safe here though okay? See Brook? He's hurt. I'm not mad, I understand. You're terrified...I'm not going to hurt you."
Jinbe's yells had stopped, a mix of being too weak and hoarse to continue and the words beginning to soothe.
"But I need yoU to stay put okay? You can't leave. This island is big and dangerous, and the only one around for several weeks. The sea here is very dangerous." Sanji instructed, watching the boy hug the baby pink coat on his shoulders further around himself.
"Do you like those? They're yours from when you're bigger. You're a brave and powerful fighter, and you're the helmsman of this ship. You don't have to worry. Just settle down and I'll be back. I just have to get Brook help." She said, watching for what felt like hours before Jinbe fell to the floor and nodded.
"Okay..." the other replied quietly, his rage turned into frightened, confused trembles.
With that reassuring, Sanji quickly turned and ran to Brook, who was still crying and shaking. "I-It hurts Sanji!!" He wailed, gripping the shirt near his chest.
Sanji sucked in her breath, worrying her lip with her teeth and gently lifting Brook, one hand supporting his back and the other under the bend of his legs. She rushed towards the medical bay, kicking the door in fast knocks.
She didn't even get to yell for Chopper before the door was swiftly opened by the reindeer, standing at the door in Heavy Point. His eyes fell to the trembling bundle in the cook's arms, his comically tiny voice gasping.
"What's going on? Who's this?!" The doctor fussed, letting Sanji slip in and settle him on a bed.
"Bear with me Chopper but it's Brook. We got attacked and now I think everyone that was on deck except me are kids now. I know Jinbe is. He's out there right now the poor thing...he thought we where slavers." Sanji said, tears still threatening her eyes.
Chopper's frown sat deep in the corners of his muzzle, pulling a chair over as he shifted to Brain Point, standing on it and looking at the young musician dumbfounded. "Where does it hurt Brook...?" He asked, the boy motioning to the area of the shirt he was holding.
Chopper's hooves unbuttoned the shirt quickly, Sanji and him both gasping in shock. A big, purple and black bruise covering his pitifully tiny chest.
"What happened...? Was this what attacked you guys?" Chopper asked Sanji quietly, the blonde shaking her head no.
"Jinbe did that. He was scared. I don't think he recognized Brook as another kid, cause he's so tall. He thought he was going to hurt him." Sanji explained, Chopper offering a small nod of agreement and understanding.
"He has a broken rib." The doctor assessed with ease. "I'm going to set it and ask some questions then let him get some sleep. Do you know what may have done this Sanji?" Chopper asked, big eyes looking to the other.
"When we were attacked, as soon as Jinbe and Luffy hit the assailant this package thing exploded and a bunch of weird powder seeped from it. It choked us out and we fell unconscious...It may have been that but I don't see a trace of it on me nor on Brook and there wasn't anything on the deck...then there's the question of why didn't I change?" Sanji worried the inside of her cheek. She was confused why she wasn't affected...but she figured it was good that she didn't. The kids would need an adult, and Franky and Zoro could still be hours out. And Sanji didn't want to think of being a kid again. She squeezed her eyes shut before she let those memories bubble up.
"So you think it was some mystery powder? Maybe it was from the island. I'll see if I can find anything on it in my books. I have Brook. You go check on Jinbe." Chopper said. Sanji nodded, turning to leave.
"Are you a dog that talks?" Brook's weak voice piped up. "Hm. No..I see the horns..you're a deer..but you have a blue nose! That's cool." Brook almost started to ramble again before receiving a stern 'hush' from his doctor.
Sanji smiled as she closed the door, coming back to the deck. She wasn't sure if he as relieved or heartbroken to see Jinbe still sitting in the exact position he was left in, tears still falling off his dirty cheeks. His hands were full of the grass that he'd pulled up from the deck. He flinched when Sanji approached and knelt in front of him.
"Sorry, did I move too fast?" The boy nodded. "I'm so sorry...are you feeling any better?" He shook his head, eyes locked on the grass between Sanji's shoes. "I see...do you think you could tell me what you remember last? Before you woke up here?"
Jinbe swallowed, his strained, tiny voice rumbling up. "I-I was exploring this big shipwreck with my brothers...I was telling them we shouldn't but my little brother Arlong," Jinbe noticed a tense in Sanji at the name, "said it was fine. We got tired so we went in and took a nap...I remember punching something...in these.." he said, lifting his hands and showing the comically oversized kimono sleeves to Sanji.
Sanji nodded. "That was you not too long ago...I don't know why or how it happened but you're tiny now.." she said, looking across the deck. "They all are probably tiny..." Jinbe looked behind him at the sleeping group. He looked down at his dirty hands and brushed the stray grass blades away. "So my brothers..."
"Not here. They're all adults now, like you're supposed to be. You aren't slaves. You're safe here, in your home."
Those words made the boy cry harder, suddenly bursting forward and holding Sanji in a tight, rattled hug. "Home!!" He sobbed out, the woman holding him shook too, but just rubbed his back tenderly.
"There...there it's okay...get it allll out..." she rocked Jinbe softly, ears pricking at the familiar gurgle of a hungry belly. "Are you hungry Jinbe? Would you want to eat?"
Jinbe's eyes lit up, and he nodded, but quickly froze and hung his head. "Oh...I would but I'm in trouble.."
"Trouble??" Sanji asked, tensing.
Jinbe nodded, explaining. "Arlong broke a window in our room on accident last night, it was an accident, he didn't mean too. He's a good kid..." he trailed for a moment, but shook away how much he missed his brothers. Sanji had a hard time believing the claim. "But because he did and I'm older and should have told him better we got in trouble, 'n we got told we couldn't have dinner that night, or breakfast the next day, or lunch." He said, looking up at Sanji.
The boy froze in fear at the cold, angry look in the cook's eyes. The woman stood, a hand still delicately in his frizzy, dirty hair. She gently coaxed Jinbe to follow, unable to lift the boy like she so wanted to do just because he was already so big. Sanji wanted nothing more than to just hold this poor child close while she made him a great big meal, but the best she was going to get was petting his hair softly as they walked. "Here, sit at the table, I'll get something fixed up for you and Brook." She said, Jinbe nervously sitting at the table.
He watched Sanji cook in awe, watched how fast she moved and the way flames would shoot up from the stove on occasion, his mouth drooling from the scents that filled the air, driving that pang of hunger in his gut further. Sanji took notice of course, and during some downtime set to work on something light he could snack on in the moment. Jinbe was pulled from his thoughts of hunger by a small bowl set in front of him, filled with chopped up fruits. "I know it's only your second favorite but it'll be easier on your belly for now." Sanji said, caught in another hug.
"Th-Thank you!" Jinbe's little voice hollered, feeling that kind hand on his head once more.
"You're welcome, eat up, lunch will be ready soon. What do you want to drink?" She asked, nodding when Jinbe simply requested water.
Jinbe happily dug into the sweet fruit, his little legs kicking happily as he ate. As he finished the fruit his lunch was brought over. A plate piled high with seafood udon, steamed veg, and a side of warm bone broth. Jinbe looked in awe at the food, he'd never seen so much! He didn't pause long, his arm quickly shooting between him and Sanji, leaning forward over the plate and scarfing his food down quickly.
Sanji's heart twisted up in knots. It all made sense to her now. Jinbe always ate quick. He always sat at the table end and kept an arm curled around his plate, slightly leaned forward. Guarding. Someone was always ready to nab his food it seemed, whether it be the adults responsible for making sure he ate in the first place or the boy's around him. (Though Jinbe had fond memories of his brother Hatchi sliding food to him from his own plate if the other kids took most of his.)
"Jinbe...Jinbe slow down it's okay, no one's gonna take it from you." She reassured, frowning at the fat tears dropping down the boy's cheeks as he ate.
The familiar click of hooves across the wooden parts of the deck caught Sanji's attention. She got up, reaching to pet the Fishman's hair but stopped when the boy flinched and even growled. She met Chopper outside of the galley, Chopper looking up at her.
"Brook's okay, he's sleeping." Chopper answered Sanji before she could even get the question out, Sanji's shoulders relaxing.
"Good. Jinbe is eating. He's still really shaken...he's got a lot of struggles." She said, Chopper nodded before looking out over the deck.
"I'll go check on them. You stay with Jinbe."
Chopper toddled off, going to check on the rest of the crew as Sanji slipped back to the kitchen, gathering the empty dishes from the now sat back and sleeping Jinbe.
Chopper looked over the group as he approached, his blue nose twitching and ears perking up. Straight ahead of him lay a small boy, turned away and quietly crying.
"Usopp?"