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The Chef's Princess	By : Lady_Kae Category: +M to R > One Piece Views: 9739 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece nor am I making any money from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
The Chef's Princess
Chapter Five: Sensenbor Island
A One Piece Fanfiction

The war between Briss and Denebra was an ugly affair. Briss had launched an unprovoked attack on a Denebran cruise ship that carried the king, Dane Cygne, and his wife. The two were killed in the attack, which led to Genevieve Cygne Leonias taking the throne earlier than she had planned. Her husband, Torbin Leonias, declared war on Briss for the death of the monarch. It lasted for seven years. In the end, the war ended with Denebra as the victor when Torbin Leonias subdued the King of Briss, Morden Irenfist.

" It doesn't say a damn thing on if Magnus was a member of the Briss royal line." Sanji drawled. Tamara had been reading from the book aloud and he scowled. Well, that hadn’t worked out like they had hoped.
Tamara sighed in her melancholy. So much for hoping that they could get their answers that easily. It looked like they were going to have to find out through other means. " You're right. There is next to nothing on the war between Briss and Denebra except for this though. Maybe that's why my father told me to check the records?"
" Could be." Sanji agreed and the two went silent for a bit to see if Tamara could try to glean any more information from the text. The ring was still sitting in his pocket, it was as if it was scalding him the longer it sat there. Sanji cleared his throat nervously and Tamara looked up.
" Everything alright?" Tamara's tone was light and mirthful.
" You never answered me earlier, Mara." Sanji replied. His palms were sweating in his nervousness and his fingers brushed the tiny jeweled band in his pocket.
Tamara closed the book softly and she set it on the window sill. Turning to look out the panes of glass, she sighed a little. " I honestly don't know Sanji. I've been thinking about it, on top of everything else, but I don't know what to do. Five years changed us both so much..." She felt Sanji pull her against him as his arms wrapped around her waist.
" Not where it counts." Sanji whispered against her neck. Both his hands took hers and he settled them over her heart.
Tamara smiled softly. " That's true. I meant what I said though. I have been thinking this over. I don't think this is the safest point in time for us to resume our engagement Sanji. It's like when you were worried about us having a baby right now. If Magnus were to learn that, he'd be trying to kill you in order to get to me. I'm not willing to put you in that kind of danger Sanji."
" I'm already in danger, Mara. All of us are. Magnus has to know by now that we're helping you. And don't even think of trying to ditch us either." Sanji smirked a little as Tamara turned to face him. " You don't have just me in your corner now. You only need ask. Luffy already offered once. If he gives the orders, we're going to Denebra."
Tamara hadn't thought that the rest of the crew would be that willing to take up her cause. " Are you guys always like this?" She asked, though her voice cracked a bit she was so overcome with emotion. Her heart felt a swell of love not just for Sanji, but for everyone else aboard the Thousand Sunny. She hadn't felt this kind of camaraderie in years.
" Pretty much." Sanji replied as he wiped her tears away. " We're more than just a crew, Tamara. We're a family. You've been a part of that for the last two months now. You're not alone any more."
Tamara rested her head against Sanji chest as he held her tight. She was crying, but they were happy tears.
Zoro and Franky were watching from the hatch. They hadn't heard much, but it was obvious that the two had made their peace and the two men smiled at the sight. It was good to see them both happy for a change.
" Alright you two, get a room already. You're going to have the rest of the crew acting all mushy if you keep this up." Zoro said blandly. His eyes betrayed him though and Tamara laughed even as she picked her book back up off the window sill.
" I'm going to need to talk to everyone in the morning. Something big happened today and..." Tamara began.
" What? You two are going to elope once we reach Sensenbor Island?" Franky teased. " Go get some sleep. We'll get the scoop in the morning, alright?" He stopped Sanji short just before he followed Tamara down the hatch. " I'm glad you two worked things out. Just don't do anything we wouldn't do."
Sanji smirked triumphantly. " Too late for that." He replied with a purr as he looked Zoro in the eye. That was sure to put a naughty mental picture in that dumbass’ mind.
" Aw dammit! Now I've got images in my head that don't need to..." Zoro began as Sanji climbed down the hatch.
The chef couldn't hold back his laughter as he followed Tamara. Sanji couldn't help but mess with Zoro. It was too much fun sometimes. Tamara shook her head at her beloved’s antics. When it came to those two, it seemed as if it was nothing but an eternal pissing contest.

" So let me get this straight. Sanji showed you a letter from your parents from five years ago that had an encrypted message in it. From it you find out that not only do you still have a relative who survived, but that he's your twin brother and you never knew that he was your brother? In fact you believed that he was your cousin all this time even though you've only seen him once or twice?" Usopp questioned. Tamara had told them last night's revelation over breakfast.
A nod to all those questions was Usopp's answer. " According to my father, they sent him to the very island we'll be at next month." Tamara replied. " Sanji and I are pretty sure that we figured out Magnus' motive behind all of this. It stems to the war that was raging when my father was born. Magnus might be from Briss, but right now that's our only lead."
Luffy grinned broadly. " You just let me know when you're ready and we'll head to Denebra." His voice was oozing with confidence.
Tamara smiled fondly at the captain. " Let's go to Sensenbor and find Aden first. Then we can talk about the ass kicking that Magnus has coming to him." She replied with a broad grin.
The entire crew broke out laughing at statement. Luffy's enthusiasm and courage were contagious it seemed. Tamara hurriedly finished her breakfast and bolted for her craft room. She still needed to finish the rest of the liners she was working on and then she had to figure out how she was going to get them into place before everyone went to bed that night.

" OOOOHHHH! So comfy!" Luffy exclaimed as he settled into his bunk.
" Sure as hell beats sleeping against wood with only a blanket or two to serve as a buffer." Franky agreed.
" When did she even find the time to put these in?" Usopp questioned. The boys had learned about Tamara's surprise for them as they all settled in for bed. He couldn't help but sigh in relaxation as he settled into his own rack. Wow, the liners Tamara had made had just the right amount of softness to them and the material was nice and cool.
" Who knows. She definitely did us a huge favor though." Franky smiled as his eyes closed. " She didn't have a lot of time to make them either, or get them installed. Nami wasn't kidding when she said Tamara was the fastest seamstress on the Grand Line."
" Is she wearing her engagement ring again?" Luffy asked. The whole crew knew that the two had patched things up the night before.
" I haven't seen it." Usopp replied. " I don't think that they would pick things back up that quick, Luffy. They were estranged for five years after all."
Luffy's brow furrowed. Again he couldn't help but dwell on the fact that Magnus had been the cause of that rift. " I don't want to wait to head to Denebra." he stated tightly. " I want to beat that bastard into a pulp for hurting Tamara and Sanji as much as he has."
" You left that decision to her though Luffy. Besides, we'll be at Sensenbor Island soon. Tamara wants to find her brother first." Franky retorted. " I understand how you feel Luffy, but we need to take things one at a time."
Luffy didn't reply though he was still scowling a bit as he stared at the ceiling. He hated waiting.

Over the course of the next month, Tamara would often spare against Brook to keep from getting rusty in her sword play. Sanji would watch her, completely entranced with her movements. Sure Sanji had visited Denebra a bit when he and Tamara were younger, but he had never seen her practice her sword play before though he knew from experience how deadly she was with a knife in her hand. He had seen it first hand back in Romoria.
" Watching the two of you is getting boring Tam." Zoro called down to her one afternoon. His tone was harsh and his gaze spoke volumes of uninterest.
" You're just mad because you're nowhere near as graceful as either of them, moss head." Sanji snapped back. " Just because you're bored watching them doesn't mean that the rest of us are." His grey blue gaze was piercing as he leveled it on the swordsman.
" It's fine Sanji." Tamara said, though her tone was saying that it was anything but. " What are you suggesting then, oh fearsome pirate hunter?" Her blue eyes were defiant as she glared at him and she swung the wooden sword that she had been using in her hand a bit.
Zoro smirked. " I want to see how long your fancy sword work can last against my three sword style." His gaze was piercing as he looked down on Tamara from the second level. " Unless you feel that you're not up to the challenge."
Tamara smirked. " I can always fight you the same way I did Mangus." She turned her head to Brook a moment. " Brook, would you mind?" She asked sweetly, all the while batting her eyelashes innocently. Brook had a thing for the wholesome, good girl act and Tamara liked teasing him with it.
Sanji couldn't help but chuckle at the way Tamara had Brook wrapped around her finger. He also knew his friend would never try to make a move on Tamara, which meant his lover was either indulging the perverted skeleton, or she was teasing the hell out of him every time she did it.
Knowing Tamara? It was definitely the latter.
" Of course my dear!" Brook gushed and he held the handle of his sword out to Tamara. She pulled the blade free in a single smooth stroke and she tested the weight a bit. Brook sighed at the vision before him. " Beautiful and deadly." He simpered adoringly.
Tamara turned towards Zoro with a competitive gaze. " Ready when you are." She said tauntingly.
Zoro smirked almost ferally. He had been hoping to challenge Tamara for a couple of weeks now. " You had better not interfere, fancy brows." Zoro said around his blade as he prepared himself. He jumped down to the main deck where Tamara stood waiting. Her gaze was cold and imperious as she met his eyes. " You had better not hold back."
" I expect the same from you." Tamara replied. Her voice was nothing like Sanji had ever heard it before. As much as he didn't want Amara sparring off with Zoro, Sanji couldn't help but be intrigued. He wanted...No, needed to know what Tamara's limits were in an all out fight. He had never seen her use everything she had to give before. Tamara began stepping to her left, her movements fluid and silent and her blade swayed disconcertingly as she waited.
Zoro was just as patient and he swung his blades in a show of ambidexterity. The look in his eyes was almost wild. He followed her movements, though he was tensed a ready to block any shot Tamara made.
" I'll land a potentially lethal blow in five moves." Tamara said out of nowhere. Her voice was steady and sure. There was undeniable confidence in her tone. Her gaze was locked to Zoro's and it hadn't wavered in a show of cowardice.
" Potentially lethal, huh?" Zoro sneered. " Let's see about that." He launched forward and his blades clanged against the single sword Tamara was wielding. Damn she was faster then she looked. She slashed at an opening and Zoro dodged it, following it up with an immediate parry. Their blades met again and Zoro's eyes widened in shock. That was four moves so far.
Tamara spun and Zoro winced as he felt the blade graze his neck. That was what she had meant by that?! Only an inch to the right and he would have been dead! Well, Tamara hadn’t said that it would have been the end of the duel at least.
“ Is that all you’ve got?!” Zoro bellowed as he brought his blades down in an arc.
Tamara jumped back, as she knew that Brook’s sword wouldn’t stand a chance if all three connected. As soon as the blades cleared, Tamara was back in close quarters, and her left leg connected with Zoro’s shoulder. Shit! How much of Sanji's fighting style did Tamara know? The swordsman’s eyes went wide at the force of the blow, he had not been expecting that level of strength from her! Zoro put some distance between them and he took a moment to rub out the soreness that Tamara had left him with.
“ You alright?” she purred. There was a smirk on her face that was doing nothing but pissing Zoro off. She had the same smug look Sanji had when he knew he hit hard.
" Fine." Zoro growled. He closed the distance between them and he ducked as Tamara's foot flew for his head. Zoro was forced to roll out of the way as Tamara twisted to bring her foot down in a vicious axe kick.
Tamara hissed as she felt one of Zoro's blades glance her leg but she parried the next three slashes that the swordsman sent her way. Zoro was now constantly keeping her on the defense and her feet and sword were barely keeping up with Zoro's precise movements. She was taking every opening she could to land a hit though it did nothing to slow Zoro down. Zoro suddenly rushed in again and Tamara rolled to dodge his Onigiri. She looked around wildly, not seeing him anywhere. Where the hell had he gone?!
She looked skyward and Tamara went to her back as Zoro came crashing down. Her legs went up on pure instinct to throw him and she rolled into a handstand. Both legs spun as she turned herself and she heard Zoro grunt as she kicked him in the jaw. " Veau shot!" Tamara bellowed. Her leg flew out to hit him in the chest but Zoro blocked the kick with the flat of his blades. She quickly turned and her borrowed blade followed but Zoro had already closed the space between them.
Both of the swords in his hands were scissored at her neck.
" Not a bad showing." Zoro admitted as he lowered his blades. " I'll admit that you went much longer than I thought you would." He rubbed his jaw a bit and he smirked. " You mentioned that you needed to get past ten thousand kilos right? I can help you with that."
Tamara smiled. " Any help would be appreciated." She replied. She looked up at Sanji who was beaming with pride. It felt good to know that she had made him proud with that display.
“ How did you know about that shot to my neck earlier?” Zoro asked. To be honest, it had him puzzled beyond belief.
Tamara giggled. “ That was more to get into your head. It threw you off enough to allow me to control the flow of the fight for those first few moves. After that though, it was like you became an entirely different person." Tamara admitted. " There is more to swordsmanship than just swinging your blade. Sometimes it means getting into your opponent's head too."
Zoro nodded. It was a good tactic to keep in mind. He looked up to the second level where Sanji was watching Tamara still, though his smile as soft and tender as was the look in his visible eye. Oh, that was one man who was thoroughly smitten with his lady. " Oi! Fancy brows! Are you going to have a problem with me training her further?" Zoro called up to him.
" Fine by me." Sanji replied. " I was already of the mind to keep working on her footwork with her as well."
Tamara nodded in agreement. It had been a long time since she and Sanji had trained together. She knew from talking with Nami that Sanji, Zoro, and Luffy were the strongest fighters on board. She'd be a fool to pass up such a chance.
Magnus wasn't going to know what hit him the next time their blades crossed.

Sanji was fast asleep with Tamara curled up to him like she used to do, pretty much half on top of him. Her head was resting over his heart, her left arm was curled tightly around his torso and one of her legs was tangled with both of his. Both had already completed their shifts for nightwatch, in fact Sanji had just gotten back to bed not too long before.
The great boom of a cannon suddenly roused them and Tamara almost fell out of the bed in her stupor. Sanji had bolted up as well and they looked around wildly. What the hell had just happened?! Another explosion rocked the ship this time and Tamara bolted out the door to see what the hell was going on. Sanji wasn't far behind her either.
Robin's battlecry brought them both to full wakefulness as they appeared on deck and Sanji looked towards the starboard bow. There was another vessel, a pirate ship, attempting to board them.
The rest of the crew was already leaping into action and the sounds of battle was creating a cacophony that deafened Sanji's ears. Five men rushed towards him and Sanji put them down. He stiffened a moment. Sanji could feel someone approaching him from behind and the chef hurriedly dodged a giant hammer as it came down where he had just been a moment before. His gaze narrowed. This was the same band of pirates that had attacked them in Romoria. Damn. Sanji had been sure that he had put that bastard down.
Tamara's bellow shocked them both as she came flying into the fray, and her foot connected strongly with the bastard's shoulder. The pirate was sent face first into the deck and the exiled princess looked at him. The gaze she affixed Sanji with was all too clear.
He's mine.
Sanji nodded and Tamara smiled almost ferally as she launched her offensive. The training that she had done for the last two weeks with Zoro and Sanji was paying off. She was smaller than her opponent, therefore much faster and her strikes were connecting with a ferocity that Sanji had never seen from her before.
" This is for destroying my foyer, you son of a bitch!" he heard her scream. Even though she was a few meters away, Sanji felt as if he was tuned in to every single bit of noise around him.
The telltale click of a chamber being loaded swam into his ears and Sanji looked around in a panic. Who the hell had a gun and why did it sound so close?! Sanji spotted the gunman as he began encroaching from behind Tamara. He had her in his sights already and he was getting ready to pull the trigger! Sanji surged forward, all the while screaming Tamara's name, and the shot rang out.
The battle seemed to freeze for a solid minute despite that it was only a few seconds.
Tamara looked up at Sanji, her eyes wide and full of terror as she watched blood pour from the exit wound in his back. He had taken the shot point blank. The chef teetered on his feet, and then Sanji crashed to his knees. He fell to the deck, motionless...Blood began pooling around him as he stared into the distance unseeing.
" Sanji..." Tamara couldn't even recognize her own voice. Terror like she had never known gripped her heart in it's cold, numbing hold. She had never felt this afraid, even when she herself had been so close to knocking on death's door. "...get up...Sanji please..." White hot rage began settling over her as she looked upon the unmoving form of the man she loved. No...He couldn't be dead! " SANJI!!!!!" Tamara screamed as she got to her feet. She didn't know when it happened, but her hand had closed around the massive hammer that her previous assailant had wielded. She swung it forward, her other hand closing over the stock and it hit the gunman in the head. He too crumpled to the deck, lifeless.
" CHOPPER! ROBIN! NAMI! GET HIM TO SICK BAY!" Zoro ordered above the chaos. Two more of the marauding pirates went flying as Tamara hit them with her borrowed weapon. The crazed look in her eyes told Zoro what he feared.
Tamara had gone berserk.
" Shit." Zoro swore under his breath. Their attackers were running for their lives at this point, many of them were jumping over the bow in an effort to get away from the incensed woman. Those who were foolish enough to try to fight her were falling faster than Zoro thought possible. Tamara's rage and grief were fueling her strength and that alone was the most terrifying thought. What if the rest of them had to fight her in an effort to calm her down? How guilt stricken would Tamara be because of the aftermath of such a confrontation. " Luffy, Brook! Corral her towards the aft! Usopp, Franky! Find a way to get that hammer out of her ha..." Zoro was suddenly cut off as Luffy was flung into him and the two hit the main mast hard. Brook crashed into the deck right beside them. " Damn!" he groused. Now he could see why Sanji had been sore when Tamara had tossed him from her room the month before.
Usopp was attempting to get Tamara in his sights, but the enraged woman was moving too fast for him to catch in the darkness. " Franky! Get her still!" he called over.
" Right!" Franky answered. " I'm sorry Tamara." Franky's eyes narrowed as Tamara began closing the distance between them, trying to get to Luffy and Brook where the three lay groaning and he put himself in the middle. She wasn't getting anywhere near them if he had anything to say about it. He raised his fist in preparation to bring her down, but Tamara slammed the hammer against the deck and used the momentum like a vault to propel herself upwards. Her feet crashed against his face and Franky immediately saw white just before losing consciousness. He crumpled in a heap and Tamara jumped over Franky's prone form as she brought the hammer above her head.
" Gum Gum Balloon!" Luffy cried hurriedly. Tamara was bringing the hammer down on both of their prone forms and the captain absorbed the blow even as he covered Zoro. " Get up there and get Robin! We need to completely immobilize her! I swear, if Sanji..." Luffy couldn't even bring himself to finish what he was about to say as he caught the next swing Tamara aimed at them. " Tamara! Calm down!"
Her feral scream was her only reply. Tamara had snapped, her consciousness receding and leaving only the pain filled husk at the fore.
" What the hell are you waiting for Zoro?! Go get Robin!" Luffy demanded and Zoro seemed to snap out of his stupor. Tamara could have killed them with that hit if Luffy hadn't been so quick to act. Luffy pushed the mallet away from him, forcing Tamara backwards as well. He was going to have to stall as much as he could until Robin could get there and Luffy knew he couldn't throw a single punch. Sanji would never forgive him if he hit Tamara, even in self defense. The woman was clearly not herself either. Luffy wrenched the gigantic hammer from her grasp and Tamara launched herself at the captain, sending them both crashing against the wall under Chopper's medical wing.
" LUFFY! Robin can't leave sick bay right now! She's helping Chopper staunch the bleeding!" Zoro cried out. He blanched when he saw the predicament Luffy was in. Tamara was trying to wrap her hands around his throat.
" Damn it!" Luffy hissed under his breath. His gaze narrowed as he drew his foot up and he pushed Tamara off of him. " Someone grab Franky and everyone get out of this vicinity now! Make sure you're not in sight!" He grabbed Tamara before she could jump upwards to clash with Zoro and Luffy felt her fist connect with his temple.
Tamara was definitely not herself. She wouldn't dream of using her hands to fight, not when she used them to bring so much joy and beauty into the world.
" I'm not letting you go until you calm down so the only one you're going to hit is me Tamara! So you had better start getting all of it out now!" Luffy shouted over her incoherent screeches. Another blow hit his brow and it opened up a cut there. It was only superficial at best. Luffy let her go only when everyone was off deck and he stood still as he took every punch and kick that Tamara dealt him. He could take it.
Slowly Tamara's hits became fewer and fewer. Luffy sighed a bit and he held his arms out to her, into which Tamara all but collapsed as she sobbed brokenly. " I can't lose him!" she wailed. " I can't let Magnus take him from me! That bastard's already taken everything else!" Her fists beat ineffectually against Luffy's chest and he tightened his grip on her. His chest was so tight in his own pain and rage Luffy was sure his heart was going to stop from the tension there. " I can't!"
Luffy didn't care how long it took now, or if Tamara had warned him off. Magnus was going to pay for this. The captain was going to send his foot so far up that bastard's ass that Magnus would be able to taste the bottom of Luffy's sandals for weeks.
Tamara didn't know how long she cried, not how long it was until Luffy finally loosened his hold on her.
" Tamara?" Chopper's voice was scared and Tamara turned her teary gaze onto him. " I'm not going to have to sedate you or anything am I? I don't want to do that to you."
Tamara shook her head. " What happened?" she sniffled. " The last thing I can clearly recall is..." Tamara's eyes went wide in fear and she looked around in a panic. " Chopper, where's Sanji?!" Her breath was suddenly forced from her chest as she looked at all the bodies laying on the deck and her hands trembled as she brought them to her mouth. What in god's name had happened here? Tamara looked up at Luffy for a moment to get her answers and her pallor went as white as a sheet. What had happened to Luffy? Where was everyone else for that matter?
Chopper gently took her face in both of his hooves and he forced her to look at him. There was too much carnage here, and he knew Tamara would have an even bigger mental breakdown if she knew how much of it she had caused. " Sanji's being moved to your bedroom as we speak. He's not conscious right now, and he's barely stable, but he's alive Tamara. That's all that matters."
Tamara's shoulders slumped visibly the minute the word alive left Chopper's mouth and her eyes closed as relieved tears fell from them. " I don't remember anything after seeing..." Tamara's shoulders shook and Chopper 's brow furrowed. He might have to sedate her after all, if only to get her to sleep. "...Luffy...What happened?"
" Don't worry about it right now. Go to Sanji, Tam. You need to be by his side." Luffy pulled Tamara to her feet and Tamara winced as her hands throbbed with pain. " Chopper, look over her hands really quick before she goes back to her room."
Chopper did as he was told and he silently worked. The shocked, yet haunted look in Tamara's eyes told him that she had figured out what happened. " You pulled muscles in both your arms...Tamara, I want you to take this when you get back to your room. It'll help you..."
" I can't go back to sleep right now Chopper." she sniffled. There was a fresh round of tears rolling off her cheeks as she looked at her bandaged fingers. She had broken three knuckles on her right hand, and she could only figure that it had been on Luffy's head. Please tell me I didn't do that to him... she thought desperately. She felt Luffy's hand on her shoulder and he started pushing her towards her room.
" Listen to Chopper, Tam. You need to rest too." Luffy ordered. He could feel her trembling and he gave her a supportive squeeze. " Don't think about anything up here, Tamara. Just focus on Sanji and yourself."
Tamara went to retort, but she kept her mouth shut. Maybe she was better not knowing right now. " You had better fill me in on what happened after that bastard shot Sanji." she hissed. She roughly cast his hand off and the seamstress stomped away. Tears were still streaming down her face as she watched Nami exit out of her room. Zoro came out a moment later and both of them looked at her sympathetically. They had just brought Sanji over from sick bay.
" He's out cold for now, but he's still just barely hanging on." Nami whispered and she leaned into Zoro for support. Watching the two of them was only making Tamara's heart hurt even more. Right now, she couldn't even get the comfort she needed from the man she loved. He was fighting for his life right now.
" Tam..." Zoro whispered. He was refusing to meet her gaze. "...Do you remember anything?"
Tamara's eyes widened in surprise. Please, let her not have done anything to him either...What the hell had happened above deck?! " Zoro, what did I....What..." she stammered fearfully. The carnage above deck, Luffy's wounds, had she done all that herself? Who else had she hurt?
Zoro sighed heavily. " Don't worry about it. Just let it go for now. You didn’t kill any of us, so no harm no foul, alright?” Zoro turned Nami towards their room and he lifted a single hand up. “ We’ll see you in a couple hours. We’re going to try to get some sleep.”
Tamara’s head turned towards her’s and Sanji’s room and she swallowed thickly. She was almost scared to go in there, but Tamara knew she wanted to see for herself how he was doing. Steeling her courage, Tamara turned the knob and she entered the bedroom. There was a giant lump in her throat that was refusing to leave. She walked over to the bed and she sat gingerly on the side of it nearest to Sanji. If they thought for a second that she was going to sleep beside him while he was in this state, the rest of the crew had another thing coming. Tamara knew she wouldn’t so that she didn’t agitate his wounds. Tamara had to cuddle beside him in order to sleep on the bed with him. It had been like that even when they had first started sharing the bed in his room at Baratie over five years ago.
Her fingers trembled as she brushed the hair out of his face and a fresh sob made her hiccough in an attempt to hold it at bay as she caressed his cheek. His color was so pale, he almost blended in with the crisp, white sheets. “ You dumbass.” she whimpered. “ Why the hell did you have to do that?” Her hand moved lower over his neck and her blue eyes blurred as more tears came unbidden. Judging by the red stain on the bandages, the shot had been right through his lung and had barely missed his heart. Tamara doubled over the bed, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed brokenly.
Luffy popped his head in to check on Tamara and Sanji about an hour later, and he sighed heavily as he looked on at the scene that met him. Tamara was resting her head and arms on the side of the bed beside Sanji, and she was still sniffling a little even as she slept. Had she cried herself to sleep? Luffy’s brow furrowed as he walked in a little ways and he grabbed one of the throw blankets off of the chest at the foot of the bed. He covered Tamara and he looked down at Sanji. The two of them were a hell of a pair. Both of them were strong in their own right, but the problem was that they were extremely overprotective of each other. There was also that sense of chivalry Sanji had. He wouldn’t allow a woman to be harmed if it were in his power, much less raise a hand or foot against them. The man’s instincts when it came to women were unreal.
Luffy shook his head as he walked to the door. “ Crap...Who’s going to cook?” he dead panned as he closed the door behind him.

The mood was somber as the crew began filing into the dining room the next morning. The late night attack had taken it’s toll, on top of the realization that one of their crew was barely alive as a result. Franky was sporting two black eyes, and Luffy’s head was bandaged as well considering the blows Tamara had landed. The mood quickly began changing when they saw the table was laden with food and almost everyone’s mouth watered at the smell.
Sanji couldn’t be up and around already, could he?
Everyone looked at the kitchen and instead of a tall blonde man, a petite brunette was currently flipping pancakes.
“ Tamara?” Luffy said as if shocked. “ You can cook?”
Tamara busted out laughing at that question. “ I spent four months of the year for six years of my life on Baratie. What do you think?” she shot back. That laugh was exactly what she had needed to lift her spirits, even if it was only for a moment. Her eyes fell on both Franky and Luffy and her mood dipped once again. “ I’m sorry…” she whispered as she carried the platter around to the table.
Luffy stopped Tamara before she could get too far. “ Do you honestly think we’re blaming you for these?”
“ Don’t play it off as nothing, Luffy. I lost time between when Sanji was…” Tamara choked. She felt Luffy pull her close in a hug again. “ The scene I saw on deck...That was because of me?”
“ Most of it.” Luffy said honestly.
“ They need to start calling you Whiteleg Tamara.” Franky groused. “ That’s all I saw before I lost consciousness.” He quickly back pedaled when he saw that the young woman was even closer to bursting into tears again. “ I meant that in a good way! I think it’s awesome you were able to take me out in one kick!”
“ That doesn’t make me feel any better!” Tamara scolded even as her foot flew upside the back of his head. She looked around at the rest of the crew. “ Be honest, how many of you did I hurt?”
Luffy, Zoro, Brook, and Franky all raised their hands. Usopp looked mildly uncomfortable, as he knew that he could have just as easily been counted among those ranks.
“ Did I…”
“ You snapped, plain and simple. You weren’t yourself so don’t dwell on it. The only thing you’re guilty of is being hopelessly in love with fan...Sanji.” Zoro had been about to call him fancy brows again. “ You picked that hammer up and it was like the opposition began falling right at your feet. You seriously kicked some ass last night Tam.”
Tamara dwelled a little further. Picked up that hammer? The one that was easily three times her own weight? Well, that would explain why she had so many pulled muscles in her arms. They hurt like hell this morning. “ That still doesn’t make me feel better.” she whispered. She picked up a couple of plates and she began piling food on top. “ I’ll be back to get the dishes done in a bit.” And just like that, Tamara darted from the dining room and back across the deck.

Tamara entered their bedroom and her eyes fell over onto Sanji’s still form. He looked like hell still but when Chopper had check on him earlier, Sanji’s heart rate had risen a little to near normal levels. That was heartening to hear. Tamara sat beside him again and she sighed heavily as she began thinking about how much food she had cooked for dinner that evening. Sanji had been out for the entire day so far, not that she had been expecting him to jump right back after being shot like that. “ You had better not be out too long. I don’t know how the hell you manage to cook for all of us. I’m no slouch in the cooking department, you know this, but damn, I never honestly realized how much food we eat until I filled in your shoes.” she whispered. “ I’ve been doing a lot of thinking too, Sanji...I’m starting to realize you were right.” Her eyes turned to the chest of drawers and Tamara squeezed Sanji’s hand. “ All of us, no matter what now. I put all of you in danger when I came aboard this ship. I’m not breaking my promise however. I promised you I wasn’t ever going to do that again.”
Sanji sighed a little in his sleep and Tamara smiled softly. “ Again, don’t be out much longer.” she whispered as she pressed a loving kiss against his forehead. “ I’ll be waiting too.” Tamara got off the bed and she crossed the room. She was pretty sure he had put what she was looking for there.

Sanji’s nose twitched a little. He felt the urge to sneeze coming on him and he lifted his hand to brush whatever was right by his nose away. His fingers touched what at first felt like silk, and he opened a bleary eye to see what it was. His vision swam for a minute and he groaned as his head spun as well. What happened to cause this? Surely he hadn't tried drinking Brook under the table again?
He chanced it again, though he noticed his sight was hazy. All he could see to his right was a blob of brown resting beside him on the pillow. A peaches and cream complexion came into view as well, along with a long aquiline nose. " Mara?" he rasped in confusion. Sanji's eyes widened. He sounded terrible! A coughing fit suddenly struck him and he bolted upwards. Every hack made his chest and back burn!
Tamara bolted up just as quickly in confusion, suddenly pulled from her slumber, though she quickly grabbed a pitcher of water and a glass from her shelf. Sanji was breathing heavily as she sat beside him and tears of relief streaked her face. " Easy now, not too fast, okay?" she whispered as he took the offered glass from her.
" What happened?" Sanji asked her once he had finished the cup. " I thought I was dreaming for a while there."
" You took a shot meant for me, Sanji." Tamara replied softly. It was taking every ounce of her self control not to throw her arms around him right now. " I've been worried sick about you for the last four days..."
Sanji's brow creased and he pulled Tamara into his arms. " Is everyone else alright?" he inquired. He remembered the pirate attack in the middle of the night, seeing the gunman approaching Tamara from behind. Everything else after that was hazy.
" For the most part." Tamara nuzzled his neck, feeling assured in his gentle grasp.
Sanji nodded and Tamara sat upright again. " Why were you at the bedside then? There's more than enough room for both of us, you know?"
Tamara blushed. " I didn't want to chance agitating your wounds. You know damn well how I have to sleep beside you and I didn't want to run the risk of waking up covered in blood either." She explained. In all honesty, Tamara had barely slept the last couple of days.
Sanji couldn't deny her that one and he settled back against the pillows. " Get into bed Mara. You need your rest too." He whispered.
Tamara sighed in defeat and she did as he asked of her. She turned on her side and Sanji spooned around her, leaving her to sigh at the contact. She had really missed this the last few nights. " Good night Sanji." She whispered tiredly.
Sanji pressed a gentle kiss into her shoulder. " Good night Mara."

The Thousand Sunny docked in Sensenbor the next day and Tamara sighed as she pulled out a thin box. It held the shards of her broken saber and she had heard that there were talented smiths here in Sensenbor from some of the travelers when they had passed through Romoria. She couldn't get passed the feeling that she needed to bring it with her. Sanji stood behind her with a curious look on his face.
" What's in there, hun?" He asked her. He pulled on his shirt and Sanji hissed a little as the muscles in his chest and back protested the movement. He didn't complain however. Sanji knew he'd gladly do it all over again if it meant Tamara's continued safety.
" My sword. I'm hoping to find a smith in town that they can repair it." Tamara replied ever so softly. She opened the box and she swallowed the lump in her throat at the sight of the four pieces the blade was in. The blood had not been washed away after all this time and Tamara felt her shoulders quiver as she recalled that horrible night.
Tamara closed the box again and she got to her feet. Sanji gently rubbed her back with his palm and she looked over her shoulder at him. " You shouldn't even be up and moving right now."
" Someone has to do the grocery shopping." Sanji shot back with a playful smirk. " Besides, I'm not leaving your side. You're going to be looking for Aden as well right?"
Tamara nodded with a small smile. Hopefully she would be able to get some leads on her twin.

Deep blue eyes were watching his movements as he slammed his hammer down onto the white hot metal he was working. Sweat, ash, and grime covered his handsome face and he took a second to wipe the moisture from his brow.
" How's that claymore coming Dean?"
" It's coming along well. I'm going to start shaping the fulcrum soon once I get the forge a little hotter." Dean Lionshard replied with a smile. " Are you going to keep on my ass like this all day gramps?"
" You should know me well enough by now, boy." The older man answered as he came over by Dean. " You remind me of your mother when you smile like that. You take after your father though. Sound like him too."
Dean chuckled. " So you've told me a million times over the last few years. Did you know them well Jairo?" Dean shoved the unfinished blade back into the flames and he walked over to the bellows. He needed to get the forge as hot as he could stand it.
Kenshin Jairo nodded as he pulled the claymore from the forge. " It's not wide enough."
" I already took that into consideration. I'm going to do that as I'm shaping the fulcrum. Don't worry Gramps. I got this." Dean chuckled. " Besides, I'd rather look like my real parents than the bastard that called himself my father." Dean's frow furrowed a little as he stoked the flames higher.
He'd never forgive that bastard for what he had done.

Sanji and Tamara were combing through the marketplace and Sanji smiled as they came over to a flower stall.
" Buy your pretty little miss some roses?" The old woman running the cart asked with a cheesy grin. " Or maybe some lilies? She's bound to love them."
" I'll take some of the chrysanthemums if you don't mind." Sanji replied and Tamara smiled affectionately. She gave him a kiss on the lips for that even as he handed her the pale purple mums.
The peddler smiled as well. " When are the two of you getting married?" She asked. " Such a lovely engagement ring that she's wearing."
Sanji was floored by the question and one look at Tamara's left hand showed the woman's words to be true. She was wearing her engagement ring again.
" We haven't set a date yet." Tamara replied as she met Sanji's eyes. " There's a couple of things we need to take care of before we can do that."
The two of them were silent as they continued walking through the town and Sanji swallowed thickly. How had he not noticed that she was wearing it again? They came to a pause by an apple tree and he took her left hand in his. Sanji brushed his lips against her knuckles, and he felt a few tears prickle at the corner of his eyes. " I thought that..."
" You were right." Tamara interrupted. " Besides, this'll keep anyone else from trying to make a move while we're here." Both of them laughed a little and Sanji dipped his head down to kiss her chastely on the lips.
" Trust me, there won't be any trouble there." he replied with a smile. Sanji wanted nothing more now than to sweep Tamara off back to the ship to show her just how happy she had made him. " Let's go find that smith so you can get your sword fixed."
" Groceries first." Tamara retorted and Sanji sighed. " Besides, I want to get these back to the ship so that they don't wilt." She took a quick sniff of the chrysanthemums in her hand and she smiled. She loved their soft, mellow scent.
" Okay, groceries first." Sanji agreed, though he had a gleam in his eye. Looks like he didn't have to sweep Tamara back off after all.

Zoro was on the ship when Tamara and Sanji came back on board and he smirked knowingly. The rest of the crew had taken notice to the ring sitting on her left hand, though none had commented on it. Zoro figured that Tamara must have realized how short life on the ocean could be when she nearly lost Sanji earlier that week. He was right on the berry too. " Any luck finding a smith yet?"
" I haven't started asking to be honest, but I'll be heading back off momentarily. I just need to go put these in our room before I do that." Tamara replied with a smile.
" You mind staying here then Sanji? I need to find someone to do some maintenance on my blades anyways." Zoro asked the chef. If they both could find a smith, it would save time in the long run.
Sanji's brow furrowed. Someone needed to be here when the groceries were delivered. Sanji sure as hell didn't want Luffy getting his hands on any of the food that he had purchased that morning. " I was going to go with her, but I'll stick around then. Just don't leave her alone, alright?" That also cut into his plans for what he wanted to do with Tamara in the privacy of their bedroom. Sanji couldn't deny the logic of the two heading out together to find someone to tend to their swords. Hm...Maybe he could ask Tamara to get his knives tended to while they were at it.
Zoro nodded as he got to his feet. " I'll be waiting for you on the dock then, Tam."
" I'll be there in a few minutes." she replied chipperly. Tamara smirked as she looked over her shoulder as Sanji followed her to their bedroom. " I know what you're thinking, and no. Not right now. Chopper hasn't even cleared you for that kind of activity yet anyway."
" I wasn't thinking that." Sanji lied. His eyes shifted however as they swept over her body of their own accord. Damn, he just wanted to...
" You've been giving me the bedroom eyes for the last twenty minutes, Sanji." She retorted with a smirk. She planted a kiss on his cheek and then leaned in to whisper in his ear. " Get Chopper to clear you and I'll change my mind." she purred huskily. Damn if she couldn't use a round or two with him between the sheets after the last couple of days.
Sanji groaned as his cock immediately sprang to life at her sinfully dulcet voice. " That's not fair, Mara." he growled. He was tempted to just bend her over the side of the bed right now anyway.
" Nothing's fair in love and war, Sanji." Tamara said as she walked towards the door. " I'll see you in a bit, alright?"
" Just be careful out there, alright?" Sanji pulled Tamara back as he gave her another kiss and she hummed happily.
" Damn I missed you the last couple of days." she whispered against his lips.
Sanji smiled. " Get going or else I'm going to be tempted even more than I already am now to make that moss head wait even longer." He laughed as Tamara shook her head.
" You're incorrigible." Tamara chuckled as she gave him one more parting kiss. " Love you."
" Love you too. I'll see you soon." Sanji replied as a warmth spread through him from his heart. It had been a long time since he had felt that kind of happiness settle over him. " Oh! Can you grab my knives from the kitchen while you're heading out? I've kept them in good condition, but they're long overdue for servicing."
Tamara nodded with a smile as she walked out the door. Well, first stop was the kitchen then.

Zoro looked at Tamara surprised as she came down the ladder after a couple of minutes. " I won't lie, I was expecting him to pin you down for a quickie." he chortled.
Tamara busted out laughing at this and she shouldered her bag again. " He almost did." she admitted. " Come on, I was pretty sure I could smell smoke and burning wood over this way." She pointed to their left and Zoro followed without complaint. The two made their way through the town and Tamara looked around at all the smithys about. This island must be very popular for blade making...
Without warning, someone shoved Tamara roughly as he moved past her and she felt Zoro catch her before she fell.
" Watch where you're going asshole!" she snapped. Her eyes were narrowed on his back as he turned to face her. The man was taller than both Zoro and herself, but that didn't deter her. She had faced off against bigger fish that this brute.
" And just who do you think you're talking to, little lady?" he sneered and his eyes roamed over Tamara lasciviously. She was a pretty little thing, besides the scar on her face of course.
Tamara felt Zoro bristle as he noticed the way he was looking at her. " Calm down, moss head. I've got this." she whispered.
" Tam, I'm going to beat his ass in Sanji's stead if he tries anything." he hissed back. His right hand was already over Wado as he was speaking. Tamara pushed him away gently and he stepped off to the side. It was a clear sign that he needed to back off and let her handle it herself.
" Who do you think I'm talking to, lumps for brains? I don't care much for men like you as it stands, much less the fact that you have no qualms hitting a lady." Tamara replied nastily. Her temper was already through the roof at the fact that this bastard was still undressing her with his eyes.
" Ain't no such thing as a lady. Just whores and bitches if you ask me." the man said as he licked his lips. " As for hitting a woman, why they hell should I care about something as trivial as that? If any woman pisses me off, I'm gonna hit 'em. You're no exception to the rule either."
Tamara scoffed. " I can promise you wouldn't be able to lay a single finger on me." she hissed scathingly as she put her hands in her pockets.
Zoro tensed. Tamara was getting ready to attack this bastard if he made a move toward her. He knew from experience just how much of Sanji's fighting style she could use.
The man's eyes blazed with anger. This little tart certainly had a big mouth. " I'm the last man in this town you want to mess with, girly. They don't call me the demon of Sensenbor for nothing. On top of that, you're unarmed and I have an advantage over you. I know a little bit about Denebran royal swordplay. In fact, I was part of the coup de tat when the princess had all those pirates kill her family. You're looking at the man that took the queen's head. Marco Reigns."
Zoro's eyes narrowed. Reigns was a wanted pirate and he had a decent sized bounty on his head. Somewhere in the forty million berry range if he remembered right. Well, Tamara could collect the bounty if she wanted. The navy had no clue she was a member of the Strawhat Pirates. " Mara..." Zoro said warningly. She was poised to strike and he could all but feel her seething anger rolling off of her in waves.
Tamara's eyes were fine slits. This bastard had been part of her family's massacre? She knew he hadn't killed her mother, but the fact that he was trying to make such a claim royally irked the hell out of her. " Let me use one of yours." she said to Zoro. This man was a pirate and would probably know Zoro by name. She held her hand out and she heard Zoro sigh.
" Mara, he's got a forty five million berry price on his head, you sure about this?" Zoro asked her as he handed her one of his katana.
" Bounty hunters then?" Reigns guffawed. " Ain't no bounty hunter ever been able to take me down." His gaze settled on Tamara again and she took a readied stance. One hand was even behind her back. " You're not going to be able to do anything like that."
" Try me." Tamara seethed. Whispers were starting to reach her ears from the shopkeepers and the villagers looking on. It seemed as if they had smelled the fight coming from a kilometer away. Good, at least she had room to work with if the situation called for it. " Why don't you show me a little bit of the denebran swordplay you learned."
" It's your funeral." Reigns sneered.

Sanji suddenly felt a chill wash over him and he looked out towards the town. Somehow, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone had really, really pissed Tamara off. Sanji went stiff for a second. If someone had pissed Tamara off, that meant she was probably getting ready to fight.
Shit!
Sanji quickly ran from the kitchen and he looked up on the second level. " Robin! Are you still on board?" he shouted.
Robin was jolted from her book as she suddenly sat up straight. Why did Sanji sound so panicked all of the sudden? " Yes, Sanji. I'm still here." she answered. " Is everything alright?"
" I need to go check on something. If the delivery comes before I get back, please show them where to put it!" Sanji said hastily as he dashed off the ship. They would have gone to the left where we smelled the smoke coming from earlier. I just gotta head that way. Sanji thought quickly.

Zoro watched as Tamara circled Reigns patiently and he yawned. " Any day now would be nice. We do have things to do today, Mara."
" Just be patient." Tamara shot back. " You want me to get that bounty right?" Her eyes were eerily calm as she kept them locked on Reigns and her sword hand hadn't moved an inch.
She's only shown me little bits and pieces of the actual royal sword play over the last couple weeks. She's not even taking a position to use the black leg technique either. No, she's more than likely going to school this ass on how royal swordplay is supposed to be. Zoro thought.
Reigns rushed in and he sent a devastating slash at Tamara but she was nowhere to be found when he brought his blade down. He turned to the right and he swung again, only to find the tip of Tamara's blade just lightly poke him in the side. Reign's eyes went wide. She was to his left...
" You're wide open." Tamara said flatly. Her gaze was still eerily calm and Reigns swore he felt the vein in his temple start throbbing. The bitch still had her right hand behind her back!
Reigns spun again though Tamara was nowhere to be found within reach. She had stepped back and her eyes narrowed on Reigns in disgust. " If you knew anything about denebran royal swordplay, you would have had made much better moves than that and you would have countered much faster." Tamara darted in herself this time and Reigns' eyes went wide at the speed she displayed. She twisted her wrist just so and his sword clattered to the ground out of his now useless hand. She spun around him and Reigns screamed as her blade bit into the back of his ankles. The bitch had just kept him from running.
Tamara came to a stop before him and her blade dug into his throat. " You don't know jack shit." she hissed with utter disdain.
Reigns looked at Tamara as if she were a demon in women's clothing. " Who....Who the hell are you?!" he demanded with a bellow. He couldn't get to his feet, and he only had one hand that was still useable.
" Here you go. Just stay here. I'll get him to the Navy headquarters." Tamara said flatly as she handed Zoro back his sword.
" I promised your fiance I wasn't leaving your side. That was the only way I could get him to agree to him staying behind this time." Zoro shot back.
Tamara lifted Reigns onto her shoulder with a grunt and she smirked at Zoro. " You and the navy don't get along, remember?" she said smugly. " I'll only be a few minutes. Besides, we need to find a damn good smith, remember? You can start looking and I'll find you soon enough." She waved over her shoulder as she began walking off.
" Tch...Fine." Zoro groused as he began walking in the opposite direction. He was going to check out a few of the shop in the immediate area anyways. As he was browsing, Zoro's mood kept getting blacker and blacker by the minute. It was that damn smirk! It was just like....GAH! Thinking about it was only serving to piss him off more nonetheless! Zoro was grumbling to himself about a certain seamstress and that damn fancy brows cook for the better part of ten minutes.
Sometimes Tamara and Sanji were a little too much alike.
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The Chef's Princess