New Life

Title: New Life: Chapter 18
Author: Genuinelie(s)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Not mine.

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Chapter Eighteen
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Ana's quarters were quiet when Sanji entered, the doctor and Chopper both in the galley eating with the rest of the crew. Zoro appeared to be sleeping when Sanji cracked the door open quietly, but he opened one eye when Sanji sat by the bed, his tray of food balanced on one knee, the other object he held propped by his side.

Zoro smiled, small but unmistakable. He pushed himself into a sitting position.

"I've missed your food," he said quietly.

That was like a knife in the gut. The euphoria from earlier had long since worn off, leaving Sanji once again with his guilt. He stood up and placed the tray carefully on the swordsman's knees before sitting back down again.

He gestured to the mug of tea. "I would have brought you something stronger, but Ana was firm on the matter."

Zoro's lips quirked. "No arguing with that woman, is there." He sipped on the bowl of soup. "Ah." He looked surprised. "Maybe I'm just half-starved, but you got better. Didn't think that was possible, cook."

Sanji couldn't help himself from glowing. "Those marines must have beaten your sense out of you," he drawled, "or did I just hear you give me two complements, marimo?"

A shadow fell over Zoro's face. He looked straight into Sanji's eyes. "I should have done more of that," he said.

Sanji winced.

Zoro had changed.

It wasn't that he wouldn't have welcomed complements from the swordsman before, or that he didn't appreciate how obviously happy Zoro was to see him - in many ways, it was his dreams come true.

It was just that he didn't deserve it.

And the swordsman was making it impossible for Sanji to keep this reunion lighthearted.

Sanji cleared his throat. In a low voice, he said, "Zoro, I'm sorry."

The swordsman looked up from his meal, taken completely off-guard. "For what?"

Sanji forced himself to meet Zoro's gaze. "How long did they have you? What happened after you went over?"

Zoro put down his spoon. "The marines sent a fleet after us, after we took out that one ship." A grimace passed quickly across his face, "After you were injured."

"They'd been following us."

Zoro nodded. "They pulled me up. I don't remember it, but one of the marines told me I was half-dead, caught on some driftwood. Lucky. I woke up in their brig. The storm threw them back and they didn't try to follow the Merry." He snorted. "Cowards."

Sanji could feel his fingernails digging into his palm. "They had you for that whole time."

Zoro's lips thinned. "It wasn't so bad, Sanji."

"You're starved. You have cuts all over your body. Your clothes were filthy. They tied you to a -"

"Recently." Zoro's voice was firm.

God damn it. Sanji's eyes were starting to sting. "I didn't even think to look for you. I just left you to rot for more than a year in that -"

"We played cards. My cell was all right. I made a couple friends with the marine bastards while I was -"

"I was cooking while you starved!" Sanji spat. God damn it! Why wouldn't Zoro just admit it and hate him?

"Sanji -"

"I was lounging in All Blue while -"

"Sanji!" Zoro exploded. "You stupid cook! Shut up! Don't blame yourself for something you didn't know about!"

"I blame you!" Sanji finally shouted back, then looked away, quickly, hands still fisted at his sides.

He realized it was true. If that fucking swordsman had just had any sense, if he'd had any respect for his life -

Sanji closed his eyes, briefly, then with a shaking hand drew a cigarette from his pocket. He looked up at Zoro as he lit it. Zoro just sat there, regarding the cook with a strange look that was stuck somewhere between sympathy and animosity.

Sanji took a deep drag, then sighed, shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry," he said softly, then drew the other item he had brought with him up into his lap.

Zoro's eyes widened. "Wadou," he breathed. He automatically reached for his sword.

Sanji scooted backwards, earning him a confused but vicious look from Zoro. "You almost died because of this," he said, conversationally.

"Where did you find it?" Zoro said, his voice laden with tension. He knew who held the cards, all right.

"Robin." Sanji said. He blew out a lethargic stream of smoke, then rested hand and cigarette on his knee as he leaned forward. "She said the storm gave it to her. I don't know how much the others told you, but she found me in All Blue."

Zoro shook his head slightly. He hadn't known.

"She gave it to me," Sanji continued. He held Zoro's gaze, which was now wary. "I hung it above my bed for nearly two years." He laughed.

A strange expression crossed Zoro's face. "Sanji -" he started.

Sanji interrupted him. "If I give this back to you," he said, "you have to give me a promise."

Zoro swallowed. The dinner Sanji had cooked for him was cooling, forgotten on his lap. "What."

Sanji put a hand around the slender white sheath. "This will never be placed before your life again. Or I throw it overboard right now."

Zoro's hands were fisted on his sheets, knuckles white.

But there was no hesitation, no doubt in his face as he nodded at the cook. "Or yours," he said softly.

"What?" Sanji said. He hadn't expected that.

Zoro let out a breath. "I'm sorry, Sanji. Yes."

Sanji felt the tension leave his shoulders. His hands lingered on the sword a moment longer, then passed it to Zoro.

The swordsman caressed it like a lost love, then, to Sanji's surprise, put it aside and began to eat.

Sanji stayed frozen for a moment, then settled back in the chair, content.

*****

The crew, with the exception of Luffy, were done eating when Sanji returned with Zoro's tray. Guri and Toban both slammed their feet down to the floor upon the cook's entrance, guilty expressions on their faces. Sanji chose to let it go.

The two crews, old and new, had segregated themselves. Half on one side of the table, half on the other. Both were looking slightly uncomfortable with the whole situation, again with the exception of Luffy, who was doing his best to be oblivious as he stuffed his cheeks with rolls.

Sanji knew better. The Pirate King just didn't want to deal with the situation.

Sanji dropped his load into the sink and turned, leaning against the counter.

Nami.

Robin.

Luffy.

Usopp.

Chopper.

They had all come back.

Seeing his old nakama, seated by Luffy's new crew, who had since grown to become Sanji's friends, suddenly made the last few years of Sanji's life seem real to him. It hadn't all been a dream. This, more than any of the other situations Sanji had found himself in since they had gone their separate ways, made Sanji feel awake.

Alive.

It was a weird feeling, like the moment just after you come out of sleep, when everything just comes crashing down on you and you actually feel your life.

Sanji took a deep drag, then stubbed his cigarette out in the sink. He realized everyone's eyes were on him, even Luffy's.

Sanji coughed. "It was all right?" Sanji muttered finally, gesturing at the table.

An enthusiastic chorus of agreement came from both crews. It lasted too long, and Sanji had to wave them down. "Oi," he said finally, then sighed.

It figured they would look to him. Luffy was avoiding the problem of having two crews nicely, and Sanji was the only other thing they had in common. "So Luffy," he finally said, because, dammit, he was the captain, "What do we do now?"

Luffy blinked at him. "We go to your restaurant, of course."

Sanji blinked back. "What?"

"Well," Luffy said, "that's where we were going, before that thing with Zoro. And I still want to see what you did with the place. And -" his captain grinned, "I want to see my home."

His home.

Sanji felt himself break out into a surprised grin. "You remembered!" He frowned suddenly. "But Luffy, the storm. We're cutting it close -"

Luffy shook his head. "I've been counting. We've made good time, we should have a few days left before it starts up again."

"Still -" Sanji started, anxious.

"You? Count?" Guri broke in, a mischievous smile on his face.

Nami looked at him, obviously surprised, then relaxed into a smile of her own. "Yeah, Luffy, since when?"

Luffy put on a pout. "Hey," he whined.

Relieved laughter, from both sides.

Yes, they were both Luffy's crew.

Sanji frowned, still concerned about the storm. Finally he pushed aside his worries. It didn't matter anyway, once Luffy had made up his mind.

But if the storm was there...

The thought made him feel sick to his stomach. He wasn't sure he could go through it again, not now, not with everyone here.

Sanji shook his head, shoving away his thoughts. "That goes for all of you."

"What, Sanji?" Ana asked.

Sanji smiled. "What Luffy said about the restaurant. About it being home. That-" Sanji cleared his throat, "That goes for all of you. We're all nakama, now, so -"

Was he overstepping his bounds? The crew was silent, but no, Luffy was grinning, and -

"Yes," Robin's quiet voice finally broke the silence, "I think we are."

Luffy threw his hand into the middle of the table with a giant whoop. "Nakama!" He cried.

Without hesitation, twelve hands joined his.

"Nakama!"

Sanji grinned and broke away first, twirling over to the stove to pull from the oven the biggest, most elaborate cake he had possibly ever made. He had been saving it as a surprise. Now, it seemed just fitting to celebrate.

"Dessert!" He cried.

"Ahh! DESSERT!" Luffy shouted, and made a dive for it.

Robin's hands sprouted just in time, holding Luffy down. The seven crewmembers unfamiliar with Robin let out surprised yelps.

Then Guri cried, "Whoa! That is the coolest -"

"Yeah!" Toban shouted. "I didn't know you ate a Devil's Fruit, too!"

"Didn't you know?" Usopp interjected. "We all did. Mine was of course the coolest-"

"Really?" Chopper squealed, eyes wide. "I didn't know you ate a Devil's Fruit, Usopp!"

Sanji carefully set the cake down in the middle of the table. Mindful of Luffy, he began to cut large slices for each of his nakama. They had broken out into excited, comfortable chatter.

His nakama.

His family.

Sanji grinned.

*****