Chapter Text
Sanji is gone.
Taken by sweet death at the young age of just twenty-one.
Gods, the All Blue is still yet to be found. Their captain isn't the King of the Pirates yet. Ussop, can not consider himself to be a brave warrior of the sea, not after all of what happened. Nami hasn't finished the map of the world. Chopper is still working to make the perfect medicine that will cure every diseases out there. The whole history is still shrouded in mystery, something that Robin wants to unravel. Franky's desire to honor his old master and father is not yet finished. Brook has yet to reunite with his dear old friend and crewmate Laboon. Jinbe hopes to end the unjust discrimination and oppression against his people…and a certain mosshead isn't the greatest swordsman of his time yet.
It's unfair. It's unfair how all of them will still get the chance to move forward, It's either they fail or succeed on their dreams…but their cook…
Blackleg Sanji, from now on, will just be a memory.
***
Luffy refuses to eat any.
He said he doesn't want to eat anything, not unless it's made by Sanji.
But you see, the thing is…the cook is gone and it will almost be for a month now. Their captain, not used to starvation, became all hollow. His eyes are sunken, and his once supple tanned skin is now akin to ashen paper. It hurts to look at his face, the crew all silently agreed with one another.
It was as if losing Sanji wasn't enough, now before their very eyes, they are witnessing the bit by bit loss of the man that Luffy was once was.
There's no going back now.
Nami sighed deeply, taking a glance at the first mate, Roronoa Zoro.
The said man was nowhere to be found, probably sulking at the bow of the Sunny. Not that she could blame him.
That's another thing. When was the last time did these two eat? At least Zoro takes a few bites from what she makes; but mostly it is the familiar alcohol that fills him up these days.
Luffy on the other hand is a solid rock. It's like when they were back at Whole Cake Island again—Emperors, no. Not that godforsaken place again.
Don't think about it. Don't think about it. Don't think about it.
It just hurts to reminisce. It hurts to think about him during these days. Nami's not used to this feeling. Most of the time its the irritation at the cook, or the silent admiration for his quick-wittedness. But to long for? She never thought that she will feel this ever again.
“Luffy, just eat please.” She begs again but it's met with all the same response…or so she thought. “Sanji will be mad at you and that stupid swordman if you continue to starve yourself!” She can't help but raised her voice, emotions taking over. “If he's here–”
“What do you mean Nami? Of course he's here.” Luffy starts to mumble. “And the old chef too.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I ate all the food rations and now Sanji's mad at me. Nami…am I selfish?” He continues to talk, eyes still unfocused, not directly looking at Nami.
“Y-Yeah. Yes, I'm so selfish, aren't I? Sanji?”
A loud silence.
“Sorry, sorry, shishishisi. Don't worry, I'll be the patrol for tonight so you can sleep tight! I'll alarm you if a ship pass by, don't worry.” His stomach growled loudly. “Not again, I could have sworn, old chef there offers a part of his leg to me.” He said, pointing to his far right.
Nami's hold to the glass of water slackened, causing it to fall and break into tiny pieces at the ship's floor.
Like her heart. Like all of their hearts.
As tears started to gather and slowly fall from her eyes, “C-Captain…S-Sanji here.” She had an idea. The red head styled her hair, a half of bangs now covering her right eye and mostly her part of face. The hairstyle where their cook was known for. Clearing up her throat, she then started to speak in a lower voice. She smirked coolly at him, well tried to. “Oi, stupid rubber-boy. Are you really the captain I am with? Have your fill now, or I will shove my foot up your—”
“Oh, Nami! Your'e here too?”
And at this rate, she couldn't take it anymore. Dropping her act, she went to the famished guy and hugged him. Tightly. Tenderly.
Both of their bodies rock to her sobbing…she had tried everything, and yet…
“Oi, Nami…” Luffy started softly, stare still focused at nothing but the blank space in front of him. “Don't you know?...I can't be the king of the pirates…without him?”
***
“Yes, you can.”
At the bow of the dark-covered ship, Zoro tsked, angrily crumpling the piece of paper full of a familiar handwriting with his right hand as the other holds the lamp.
The heavy dark clouds have started to pour down droplets blindly on him. He tried to hurl the paper into the sea but the heavy gust of wind just blew it back in—falling back at the Sunny. With instant regret, he immediately went to pick it up wishing it's still the same, but to no avail. With the help of candles' light surrounding him, he can see that the writing is now unrecognizable, ink all smudged into horrible state. “No, no, no!”
Zoro cradled it carefully.
“Why?”
It's raining heavy…he is not sure if he's thankful that the clouds cried for him.
“Why would you say that…damned shit-cook.”
01: now that he's gone…enter the denial