Chapter Text
"I don't want to fight you. That's dumb," the boy in the straw hat stared blankly at Sanji, as if he's the one that showed up unannounced and broke down his door. "Aren't you excited to see us?"
"No." Sanji gritted his teeth, "I'm not excited to see you. I want you to get out of my home!"
O O O O O O O O O O O O
Earlier that evening
“And that, my darling, is how the captain, the navigator, the swordsman, and the coward daringly escaped capture and sailed into the sunset on their magnificent ship,” Sanji finished, spinning around with flourish and ending in a low bow. “Happily. Ever. After.” He waited a moment. Shortly, laughter and claps filled the air and he couldn't help the bright smile that overcame his face. Across from him, sat a very excited four-year old, who had a twin smile. Her little, blondish-pink pigtails bounced up and down with her gleeful laughter.
“That was a great story, daddy!” she exclaimed as Sanji turned back to the stovetop, cheeks turning pink with the auspicious compliment. He always felt proud when he’s able to bring joy to his child. “Thank you, Mikan. I’m glad you enjoyed the tale. Now, how about you finish up your drawing before supper?” Her giggles quieted down and nodded, focusing back on her scribbly figures. Soon humming filled the room and Sanji got back to work.
Checking on the consistency of his mushroom risotto, he started gathering the final ingredients to sprinkle on top of the simple dinner for his little family tonight. Sanji glanced at the door, hopefully it will be just the little family tonight.
“Is mama joining us tonight?” Mikan asked without looking up from her drawing. Sanji startled by the inquiry. Another nervous glance at the door and back to his daughter.
“I’m not sure, honey. I’d bet she would really like to sit down with us.”
Mikan looked towards Sanji at that response and screwed up her face, before refocusing on her drawing, “No, she wouldn’t,” was muttered under her breath but he wasn’t going to call attention to that right now. It was times like this where he wished he could grab a smoke. Unfortunately, they are very few and far between on the island and Mikan had expressed in the past how stinky it made him smell. Trying to save the conversation, Sanji gathered two bowls in hand and sat across from the young girl.
“Mikan, tell me,” he said conspiratorially to the little girl, she raised her eyes sparkling with curiosity, “who would you like to have sit with us tonight?” The question sparked an excited squeal and a quick scramble off her chair. Shortly after, a large, stuffed doll sat on the table next to her. “I choose MoMoo.” Sanji thanked the heavens above that he wasn't serving steaks.
“Let me go make up a bowl for Mr. MoMoo and I will be right back.” Sanji grabbed an empty bowl and pretended to fill it to the top before plunking the bowl in front of the stuffed cow. The conversation turned into light topics of what MoMoo thinks of the food and how well his future as a guardian of the sea will fair. The chatter was easy and the meal was consumed. Nothing remained out of the small cookware pot to the pleased eye of both Sanji and Mikan.
“Honey, I’m going to clean up the plates. Please tidy up the living room if… any guests were to stop by tonight alright?” Mikan gave him a knowing look, before quietly heading over to her toys and putting them away. Sanji stared out the window in frustration. Pudding hasn’t been by the past week which is driving up his anxiety. She normally pops in once or twice a week to check in. Normally, to insult Sanji’s shortcomings or request some special food to pick up at a later date. But on those days that she would bless the home with her presence, she would go out of her way to ignore Mikan. A truly unpleasant experience for both father and daughter, but it was a necessary evil to pay to stay unbothered for the majority of the time.
The dishes all nicely cleaned and stacked, Sanji moved around the small kitchenette to observe Mikan’s progress with the living room. Most items were already in their rightful place, but everything must look perfect and tidy nonetheless. Sanji remembers the last time blankets were left strewn about on the floor after a pillow-blanket fort night. He received a vicious tongue lashing, the restriction of leaving the home for two weeks without supervision, and the declaration that their blankets would be withheld until they gained Pudding’s blessing. Sanji’s been thankful they live on a tropical island, but blankets provided a certain comfort both Sanji and Mikan preferred to have.
“Would you like me to read you a story before bed, hon?” Sanji folded his long limbs onto their narrow rocking chair and waited for his little girl to bring him one of her few books. Looking through them, Mikan could barely hold back her disappointment before walking to the chair empty-handed. “Nothing sparking your interest tonight?”
“We’ve read these a lot, dad…” she scowled lightly in the direction where they were stored, “mama said she’d bring more if I was good. But she hasn’t daddy…” her scowl crumpled and her eyes watered, “have I been bad?”
Sanji hated this life.
“No sweetie, you’ve done nothing wrong. Mommy just hasn't seen us in a while…. I’m sure she’ll be bringing you story books the next time she stops by.” Sanji swore, even though he knew it was a lie. Mikan looked like she knew the promise as it truly was but rested her head comfortably under her father’s chin anyway.
“Can I hear another pirate story instead? About the adventurers?” Sanji couldn’t say no to a simple request like that.
“I can do that, sweet girl. How about the time when the lord of the ocean and the god of the sky, two enemies bound by hate and fate, unknowingly faced this all-mighty, pirate crew… and brought peace across the world!” Mikan wiggled out from underneath her father’s chin with awe written on her face. “Okay so this is where the story be-”
Sanji really didn’t expect interruptions this late in the evening. But the sound of cannon fire and explosions in the distance put a stop to his words. A sudden sense of dread filled his body as he slowly got up, child in arms, as he looked out the back window that showcased the lower portions of the island. Sanji’s little home sat precariously at the top of the highest cliffside of the island, overseeing the small city below. Which parts of it were now on fire. Oh.
Sanji’s house was not exactly the latest in technological advances. It was a simple, A-line wood structure with a small living room attached to the kitchen on the main floor of the house with separate spaces for two bedrooms and a bathroom on the second floor. Not exactly a fortress. If the fire or violence spread up to the cliffside, they wouldn’t have much to protect themselves with.
Besides the quaint home, Sanji was prohibited to house any weapons besides his (dulled) kitchen knives. He would say his feet were as strong as any weapons, but ever since Pudding had found him practicing Savate one evening after they first were married, well, sometimes Sanji sees the scar running up his knee and thank the sea gods he could still walk… In the privacy of his bedroom, he still does his stretches and light kicks and gymnastics, though. Lesson learned, do not let his wife see him practice.
Speaking of wife.
The door slammed open which reverberated throughout the whole home. Pudding stood there, heaving, one hand holding a gun and the other pointing at him. Shit.
“Get away from that window, right now!” She all but shoved him out of the way where he basically fell into the side of the couch that was up against the wall.. She aggressively yanked the curtains back, blocking his view of the smoking town below. Her eyes burned with anger and fear as she all but stalked over to Sanji after doing the same to the rest of the windows in the living room and kitchen.
Sanji carefully put Mikan back on the ground and hid her behind his leg, a couple fingers holding onto her shoulder to keep her still. He allowed a gentle smile to grace his face and warm eyes to greet his wife.
“Hello Pudding-dear, you’ve missed sup-” a rough open palmed smack struck his left cheek, barely missing his eye. He heard a cut-off sob behind him before he moved his hand to his daughter’s head. ‘Best to remain quiet until Pudding has left,’ Sanji thought inwardly and growled at himself, ‘idiot, and now Mikan saw.’ Sanji absolutely despised when violence occurs anywhere near his daughter. Especially when it’s her mother’s doing. What a mess.
“Shut up, you ugly snake,” she hissed out, “I’m checking to see you were still here per mother’s request. That’s it. You are to stay here. No leaving, no more looking out the window. Nothing. If the house starts on fire, you burn with it,” She grabbed ahold of Sanji’s collar and lowered his head until they were nose to nose, “do you understand me, my love?” Sanji sighed at the term of endearment.
“Yes of course, my love. Thank you for making the long trip up here, you work so hard and are as radiant as ever,” he smiled lightly as her eyes shined with love and sadness. Pudding slowly uncurled her hand from Sanji's dress-shirt and cupped his cheek before pressing a soft kiss to the now bruising flesh.
“You are a wonderful husband,” she happily grinned at him before a movement caught her attention. Shit. Pudding’s smile instantly fell as she took in Mikan, still huddled behind Sanji. Moment broken, Pudding flicked her hair and shrugged, “Whatever, if I catch you outside this house after this stupid fight is over, I’m going to get a fourth eye.” She laughed airly at her joke but Sanji couldn’t help but gulp at the warning. She doesn’t often go back on her word.
“Please be safe, beautiful,” Sanji requested before bowing his head slightly. She smirked at him before lightly tapping his cheek and walking out with a little hop in her step. The door slammed and Sanji heard several locks being fitted into place. Not often are doors manufactured with the locks on the outside.
A little whine started behind him before grabby hands were tugging on his arm. Now this won’t do.
“It’s going to be okay,” he tried lightly but his daughter latched onto his hand and tears spilled over.
“Sh-he hit y-you,” Mikan sobbed.
“Honey, I’m okay you don’t need to cry for me,” he murmured as he got down to his knee and bundled his daughter up in a hug. “I’m so sorry that scared you. And you are so very much allowed to feel your feelings and show you’re upset, but please don’t cry for me.” He pleaded as tears pricked his own eyes as little hitching sobs continued.
“She hit you!” Mikan repeated, all but screaming it in his ear, “She’s so mean! Daddy why did you let her hurt you like-like that- you love-e her and she does that to you!” Sanji really didn’t want this conversation. If he could disappear into the floor he would. Is this what his mother felt every time Sanji showed up at her bedside after hearing Judge scream at her followed by Sanji’s concern, child-esque questions. What a horrible feeling.
“Mikan,” he said, moving her back so he could look her in the eyes, “what mommy did to me isn’t nice. But mommy isn’t fully well. She loves us-” Mikan shook her head, “Hey hey! She…..she tries to love us…but….she has a lot of hurt on the inside and she sometimes…doesn’t know how to channel those emotions correctly.” Mikan’s lip still wobbled and Sanji couldn’t stop beating around the bush, “Mommy can be not nice to me sometimes, and I’m sorry you saw that. I…” he sucked in a breath because he doesn’t want to teach her to accept these things, “Mikan, when you’re older this will make more sense, but I ‘let’ it happen because I would rather Mommy focus on me than you. I know she can be not nice to you too, and I’m sorry I don’t protect you more. I’m sorry….we’re here sweetie.” Sanji let a couple tears roll down his cheeks before roughly swiping them away. Mikan grabbed his hand as he went to put it back down.
“Daddy don’t be sorry,” Mikan wiped her eyes and hugged him again, “Mama needs to say sorry. But I don’t want her coming back…” Sanji looked to the ceiling wishing there was something he could do. The sound of explosions were steadily ringing louder through the thin glass windows, the curtains doing little to muffle the sound.
“You know what? Let’s get ready for….bed.” Sanji scooped her up and headed for the stairs. Tomorrow everything will go back to normal. Mikan will keep drawing. Sanji will make food. They will exist in peace within their wooden cage.
“But it’s loud and scary outside,” Mikan whispered as Sanji helped her into her jammies.
“Think of it like fireworks, sweetie. Once it hits midnight, no more loud noises,” he promise nothing but empty.
Mikan had requested to share Sanji’s barely twin bed for the night, which he happily obliged. Sanji stared at the clock, slowly ticking down the minutes and hoped the fighting would die down soon so he could get some kind of shut-eye. Hopefully Pudding would be too tired to actually come back later in the night to check on them, but if that’s the case, Sanji would need to be prepared to greet her at the door. Letting out a little yawn, Sanji closed his eyes and hoped for a miracle beyond miracles this night would be over.
Maybe an hour later, the sound of wood exploding below him, shocked Sanji awake.
Mikan bolted up next to him a scream building in her throat before Sanji placed a calm hand on her mouth and shoulder.
“Honey, no.” He shook his head and got up. The sound of feet quietly moving around downstairs sparked him into movement. “Stay here, under the bed, do not leave until I’m back. Got it? Just like we’ve practiced.” The ‘daddy no’ was left on deaf ears as he started to leave the room. Stopping shy of the threshold he glanced back with a reassuring smile. “Everything is going to be okay, sweet girl,” before gliding out the room and sneaking down the stairs.
Three people were milling about in the shadows of the living room, various sizes. Sanji really couldn’t do much more than feel the element of surprise was already a bust, so what good is standing around in the darkness would be. Flicking on the light switch at the bottom of the stairs, the room was drowned in light.
Three pairs of eyes found his own before an excited shout sounded and a body all but flung itself at him. Second nature, Sanji jerked his foot up and stopped the body flying at him in mid-air. So the intruder now had his foot in their face. A pair of black eyes found his own.
“SANJI!!!! We found y-”
Sanji dropped his left foot and used the body’s falling momentum to catch him in the chest, forcing him away.
“Owwww!!!! Why’d you kick me??” The boy cried as he rubbed his chest looking at Sanji with confusion.
“Because you attacked me?” Sanji asked equally as confused, before settling his feet and shoving his hands in his pocket, “I don’t want a fight, but I will if you force me to.”
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Present time
"I don't want to fight you. That's dumb," the boy in the straw hat stared blankly at Sanji, as if he's the one that showed up unannounced and broke down his door. "Aren't you excited to see us?"
"No." Sanji gritted his teeth, "I'm not excited to see you. I want you to get out of my home!"
Sanji glanced at the two other intruders milling about.
The female companion, with dark hair and large, almost glowing blue eyes shot an appraising look over to him. Sanji shivered at her roving gaze, whatever she was searching for she didn’t find with the way she quickly glanced away to return her walkthrough of his home. Staring intently at Mikan’s drawings still sitting at the dinner table she continued on her inspection. Investigation?
Her general aura seemed quite scary, if Sanji’s to be frank. If the woman came at him, he's not sure if he could truly harm her. But if it was between fighting her and protecting Mikan…. he would do what was necessary. She finished her circuit, only glancing at the staircase, before returning to lean against the wall with the destroyed door. Pudding is going to kill him….
He noticed the larger man with algae green hair was not as subtle. Where his female companion was relaxed and serene in appearance, this man was fidgety; his fingers tapping his white sword handle in a steady rhythm. His aura screamed do not approach but he refrained from any violent movements. He stood proudly behind the younger man on his right-hand side. He had an odd look on his face, behind the scowl and scrunched up eye, it almost looked like puzzled concern.
“Look-I’ve seen the explosions,” what he wouldn’t give for a cigarette right now, “ I don’t know who’s winning down there, but Big Mom has a pretty insane crew and I don’t think you will win. Just a looking at you…So just….pack it up and leave, alright,” he brushed his fingers through his hair to give his hands something to do.
“No! Silly Sanji!” the kid stuck his tongue out at him. Why?
“Right….Okay, so you wanna die?” Sanji questioned.
“Nope, not dying either.”
“Okay….so can you just leave my home?” Furrowing his brow.
“Not yet!” the kid exclaimed, eyes also furrowed as if Sanji’s being difficult. The woman behind him was also looking slightly put-out by the conversation as the swordsman just rolled his eyes.
“This is frustrating,” Sanji mumbled before glaring at the younger, darker haired boy, “Just leave!”
"But Sanjiiii-," The younger boy began to whine. Sanji was over this strange encounter.
"Stop it! I'm not sure how you know my name but stop talking to me like you know me. I don't know who the hell you are!" His voice rang out. That seemed to be the final nail in the coffin. The words that crumbled the strangers resolve, the childish façade bleeding away. The straw hatted boy's face went blank…before it grew into anger. That…. Is not the best reaction for possible violent strangers who broke into his house. The green-haired man and dark- haired woman also tensed but stayed put.
"Now I will ask once again nicely, please leave my home. I’m sorry if you all are like, victims of Big Mom looking for justice, some upstarts trying to challenge her authority, or have some kind of vendetta against pirates; I understand. I get it. But I don't have what you want. Whatever it is you're looking to achieve, it's not here….at least not in my home. Big Mom doesn't keep anything important on this cliff." The flared nostrils of the leader makes Sanji think he struck a nerve.
"Big Mom took something important from me," the boy announced, taking a step forward, Sanji tensed. "She stole one of my friends. He's been gone for years." A deep pain crossed the younger man's face before his resolute scowl took over as he kept approaching Sanji. "I failed as a Captain. It shouldn't have taken this long. We've had so many adventures without him and it hasn't felt the same…. We never gave up looking. I promised my crew, we were going to bring him back. Because without him, it's like there is a hole in my heart," the boy was standing toe to toe with Sanji, vibrating with energy. It made Sanji off kilter. His words seemed genuine. But Sanji couldn't help him.
The boy smiled sadly at Sanji's confused look and placed a hand on Sanji's shoulder, "My crew and I finally found out what happened. We learned a lot about who our friend was. He wanted to keep us safe and keep his past in the past. But he was also a big dummy because how are we supposed to protect crew if they don't share when they're scared or hurting…" The boy gently enveloped Sanji in a hug and tucked his chin on his tense shoulder, "I'm sorry it took us a lonnnggggg time to find Sanji. But we're here to bring you home."
This….is wrong.
The shorter man kept talking.
"-It must have been scary. And Sanji sounds confused but we'll help him now. Sanji doesn't have to be here anymore. Nobody is aro-"
This is wrong.
Sanji couldn't move.
Coiled with tension.
What is he getting at?
Why is this person touching him?
This stranger.
He was confused.
"-nd then we can throw a party and you can make us a feast when we get back to the Sunny! With extra meat. I promise-"
The boy kept babbling.
He felt like a statue.
He couldn't move.
His eyes felt damp.
He doesn't know this stranger.
Why is he crying?
This is wrong.
"Captain…" a quiet, feminine voice spoke a ways away.
"-So let's go! Sanji will come with us and we'll be a whole crew again!"
His emotions were acting funny.
He felt fear.
He felt relief.
And anger.
Stop.
He's confused.
He doesn't know these people.
"Luffy!" a deeper voice sharply sounded.
Stifled, soft crying made it to his ears.
A familiar cry.
Sanji unfroze and shoved the body wrapped around him away.
In a second, Sanji had lunged his way to the staircase and scooped up his child, shushing and wiping tears from her cheeks. The room behind him went eerily quiet.
"The-they're taking y-you away daddy?" Mikan whined into his shirt, tears staining the collar and small hand clenching his neck. Sanji began reassuring her from his hunched position but quickly straightened to face the intruders, angling his daughter out of view. Leaving his back open to the strangers was an error on his part.
"No they're not, honey." he murmured to her softly, but it almost felt like shouting in their small home. "These people are confusing me for someone else and should be leaving soon. I'm sorry they scared you."
"Are they gonna hurt us?" she peered out from behind his shoulder.
"No, we're not." The woman spoke gently to the child, but fear made Mikan tuck her head back into Sanji's chest.
"You have a kid!?" The green-haired swordsman questioned, eyebrows quirked up high with shock. The Straw-hat boy was picking himself off the ground and adjusting his hat back to his head. Face grim.
"Sanji, this is not your home," the boy expressed, trying to catch his eye. Sanji ignored him to reassure his daughter when renewed tears flowed down her face.
"I would beg to differ," Sanji laughed humorlessly, not looking in their direction, "I live here. I have a daughter." he hesitated, "I have a…. beautiful wife." He couldn't help but grimace. "This is where I belong."
The Captain was starting to protest when a hand clamped over his mouth. A disembodied hand sprouting from the Captain's shoulder. Shock lifted Sanji’s eyebrows. So she was a devil fruit user. He really would not win this fight he sourly thought, taking in his position. True he could flee upstairs, and maybe jump out a window. But with three aggressors after him, he wouldn’t get far.
"Mr. Cook-san, we met, Ms. Reiju," that made Sanji pause. Why would they know his sister? He caught the other-worldly blue eyes of the woman, locked together, she continued, "She informed us you were an important piece of an arranged marriage with Big Mom's daughter, to cement a treaty of sorts between your two families. Do you recall that?" Of course he recalled his forced engagement. The way Pudding would throw that in his face anytime he tried to be kind to her or hope they could bond over this situation in the early days. She hated him for it. She hated being around him. Even on days when he could find her kindness, her ever growing rage would find its way out.
He grinded his teeth and nodded in acknowledgement, “yes, I know about my own wedding.”
The woman stepped closer, her arms held loosely in the air. As if that would matter. She already showed him her powers, she can easily attack or restrain them if she wanted to.
"Does Mr. Cook remember where he was before the engagement?" His heart began beating faster.
"Why would that matter…"
"Oh, I'm curious to know where our stories misalign is all," she smiled serenely at him but with a hint of sadness now clouding her eyes. "You must not misunderstand this situation. We are not here as kidnappers or to bring you or your child harm. We really don't want to fight the Big Mom pirates," he heard a 'tch from the swordsman but the woman called his attention back to her, "But I think we have also misunderstood what we were walking into."
That earned a glance from both her companions, "I thought at first you were merely acting as if you didn't know us. To save face and protect yourself. But I fear it may be deeper than that. We were friends in a past life…. that you have appeared to have forgotten."
"….."
"So I ask again," she continued as the weight of her words fell on the room, "what were you doing before you were forced into this arrangement?"
“.......”
“Well out with it, cook!” The green-haired man growled, hand gripping the white handle now. If he doesn't, is this man going to attack him?
Hesitant, Sanji spoke, "I….I worked at a floating restaurant….the Baratie in the East Blue. My…." vitriol shadowed his face, "the Vinsmokes…threatened me…. Forced me to return to them or else….my real family would be killed. I didn't want to risk it." he said dejectedly, squeezing Mikan a little closer to him.
The swordsman closed his eye as anger rolled off him in waves. The Captain and the woman, meanwhile, looked heartbroken. Sanji looked away, he didn't like to see their faces warped with those emotions.
"I was a willing sacrifice, I knew what I was agreeing to" he muttered staring out the nearby window, glimpsing the sea.
"And I have my daughter,” he said looking back at them, “She's the best thing to happen to me. And I would go through that hell all over again if I knew she is what I get to live for. She holds my heart…." He said confidently, glancing down at the light pinkish-blonde hair "She holds my dreams." He finished before looking back up. The Straw-hat glared at him.
"Your dreams are to be locked away on a mountain, away from the sea?" That was not the response Sanji thought he would receive. The Straw-hat Captain kept going, "You dream to be a pawn in a game from a family that hurt you? A dream where you have to be fake? Living with people that are mean to you?" Sanji knows that the boy must have seen the bruise that had formed on hiis face. A woman's touch some may say, Sanji thought sparingly. The Captain continued, "This is not what you want! Do you want to stay with people like this? The people that will stop you from finding the All Blue!? That was your dream!"
Sanji stood shocked as if ice water doused him. How did this kid know?
"It doesn't matter now," Sanji said resolutely, ignoring the creeping sensation crawling up his body. "As long as I have my daughter with me, I don't care where I am." He huffed a humorless laugh as he caught a glint of gold around his wrist, "even if I'm tied to this hellish place, and I can't leave…..my daughter is what keeps my dreams alive."
The room echoed with silence after his announcement.
Then the Captain across from him started laughing.
"Shishishishi, well jee Sanji, if that's what is keeping you from coming with us, she can come too! Duh!" Straw-hat laughed. Sanji sputtered.
"Captain, that may not be the entire issue. He does not remember us. If what he says is true, he had been on the Baratie before his capture. He doesn't recall ever leaving." The woman murmured to her leader.
"That's….not cool," Straw-hat agreed, looking as if he was mulling over the situation, "but we can help Sanji remember. And we can tell him about all the stuff he's missed out on while we get out of here."
"We're running out of time," the swordsman growled as explosions grew significantly louder and closer to them. Right, the island was at war with unknown enemies. Well. These enemies being these strange people trying to take him away.
"I don't even know your name," Sanji pleaded, warring with himself as well. He didn't know what was going on. Why did these people want to save him?
But if he could escape this imprisonment.
He could put an end to an awful cycle. Save his daughter from the burden of the abuse and trauma he had suffered. That his mother suffered. She could avoid their fate. Maybe, for once, he doesn't have to fear his past. He could follow this man.
"My name?” The Captain stared at him, before nodding.
“My name is Monkey D. Luffy! I am the Captain of the Straw hat pirates. And I am going to be king of the pirates," Luffy grinned at him, a little bit of tension showing, but the enthusiasm was real, "and you are my cook! The best cook in all the blue seas and who will find the All Blue. So come! Rejoin my crew, Sanji!" The woman next to him smiled tightly and the swordsman huffed a humorless laugh. But all eyes were trained on him, waiting to see his response.
Mikan had uncovered her face during Luffy’s outburst, and was staring in awe instead of fright.
"Daddy…" his daughter tugged at his shirt to lean in closer, "they sound like the pirates from the bed time stories," she whispered not so quietly into his ear. Sanji jerked to look at her, missing the looks the pirates gave him. His daughter's eyes were sparkling with hope.
He sighed.
"Yes, honey they do don't they?" Sucking in a breath, he caught the Captain's eye and gave him a nod, "Okay, Luffy, we'll come with you. I still don't quite know what is going on….or remember this supposed history we have together... but this may be the best opportunity we have….to leave this place." Luffy opened his mouth to exclaim something but Sanji raised his hand to stop him. "But first," he lowered his daughter until she was on the ground and holding onto his pant leg. He grimly unrolled his sleeves and held up his wrist, glistening gold bangled cuffs reflecting in the Captain's eyes. "I need help getting these off."