There is a reference in here and past chapters, but from now on I am no longer saying if there are references in any of my books. You just have to keep your eye open more from now on.

"Mornin'" Nami grinned as a few heads of the Straw Hat crew popped into the kitchen ready for breakfast. The trio took a seat at the dining table expecting their breakfast to be served within the second. Just to realize that their cook had yet to finish it. Sanji's head bobbed, as did his eyelids that felt weighed down by lead. "Sanji?" Nami arched her eyebrows in confusion.

"Oh..." Sanji perked back wiping off what felt to be stray drool trying to escape from the corner of his mouth. "Good morning Nami," Sanji greeted the woman of his dreams with a tired jaw breaking yawn not once taking his eyes from the stove. Despite how little of the crew were accounted for, everyone found the tired salutation off when normally one look towards Sanji's Nami-swan would perk him up to the point where he'd be bouncing off the walls.

"How come you weren't in bed last night Sanji? Then again neither was Chopper," Usopp asked rather than the others since it was only him and the girls at the dining table. The girls don't ever bother to enter the boy's dorm so how could they know of Sanji's absence? Everyone else was taking care of matters of their own before the first big meal of the day.

Sanji looked over his shoulder to the long nosed liar, he had black rings around his half lidded eyes. "Chopper woke me up... Couldn't get back to sleep afterwards," Sanji yawned again with a hand before his mouth.

"Explains why Chopper is still asleep," Usopp shrugs letting the conversation go. Zoro made a silent entrance not all that long afterwards, the silence and lack of crew members even got him by surprise.

The swordsman's attention was immediately drawn to Sanji just out of boredom alone, it always made his day to tease and provoke the cook. And today looked to be his lucky day. "You look like a wreck," Zoro snickered with a pleased smirk. "Did (Y/n) put up a fight again?" Zoro asked with utmost curiosity but most of all as a joke.

"She actually didn't," Sanji answered without a second thought. "Wait!" Sanji spun around waving his knife within the air in Zoro's direction. "How the hell did you know I had to take care of the problem!?"

"Chopper told me you and (Y/n) had a sleep-"

"Shut it," Sanji snapped.

"What's up with the secrecy Shit Cook?" Zoro knew exactly what was up no thanks to Sanji's unnecessary hostility. Sanji hadn't a clue as to why Zoro had to press on the subject so hard to begin with.

"Come with me outside," Sanji glared at the Mosshead. A look that could kill upon contact. Zoro refused to follow him out. "I'm tired, cooperate with me just this once."

"Fine," Zoro followed Sanji outside.

The trio couldn't take their gazes away from the door as the two rivals bickered on their way out of the kitchen. "What the hell was that about?" Usopp exclaimed.

"Embarrassed you had a sleepover with a girl?" Zoro teased.

"That's not the problem," Sanji growled. "I don't need Nami or Usopp or anyone else getting their nose all up and in my business any further than they already are. I've noticed that they both trust (Y/n) the least around here, and if they heard I slept with her last night..."

"I see where you're going," Zoro wore a deadpan expression. "My mouth is shut."

Sanji eased up. "Really?"

"Yeah," Zoro crossed his arms leaning his weight all on one foot easing himself up all on his own. "You've been taking all the shots ever since (Y/n) joined up with us. I knew girls were difficult but damn..."

Sanji slumped forward sending even more wild looks at the swordsman unable to grasp the his words and let them sink in. "Where is the Zoro we all know," Zoro was too reasonable and understanding even to Sanji's knowledge.

An irritated growl ripped through Zoro's throat. "I'm only stating the truth. You're only easing (Y/n) into the crew after all she's been through hell and back."

"Yeah... Surprised she didn't leave after the whole poison incident."

"That's not what I meant, but alright," Zoro huffed turning on his heel to leave. Sanji snatched him by the sleeve of his coat.

"What do you mean?" Sanji asked with a death glare.

"Why do you care so much dartboard?" Zoro smirked again. "Not like you like the girl," Sanji's grasp had let up while his cheeks flared up to a brilliant crimson. Zoro found the answer in his wordless response, eye widening upon realization.

"Well I'll be damned," Franky's voice broke through the silence. The cyborg strolled right on up to the duo resting his large hands upon their shoulders. He heard every word spoken. "Sanji finally found a girl he genuinely likes. Why else hasn't he spoiled the girl rotten like Nami?" Zoro was damn glad Franky came around.

"I-I-I," Sanji stuttered unable the respond. "I-I don't spoil (Y/n) cause she hates special treatment!"

"If you ask me, she's eating the attention right up," Zoro teased once again loving how flustered Sanji became just by the mention of mere words. "Why else did she ask you to sleep with her?" Zoro tacked onto Franky's previous comment knowing the exact outcome.

"Sanji got laid?" Franky couldn't find that one bit believable. Zoro erupted into a fit of laughter.

"Arg!!!" Sanji hunched over ripping at his hair. "I'm just embarrassed to like (Y/n) of all people out there!"

"There's no reason to be embarrassed bro," Franky gave a thumbs up.

"I know..." Sanji groans taking a seat upon the deck. "I can't even explain why I like her..."

"True love at its very finest!" Franky howled.

Sanji ran a hand down his face. "I just get this fuzzy feeling that makes my heart beat like crazy whenever I'm around her," Sanji rested a hand upon his chest feeling his heart sing. "(Y/n) is a serial killer for crying out loud," Franky and Zoro frowned to the sudden insult. "But..." Attention was caught between the two crewmates. "(Y/n) has a heart of gold beneath her murderous exterior. I saw it last night... I just want to know what made her into such a horrible person."

Zoro crossed his arms, letting out a long sigh. "Ready to listen to me then?" Sanji picked up his head. "Mihawk told me a few things about (Y/n) after our first encounter with her before the crew got back together."

"Tell me."

-----

After breakfast, most of the crew decided to bask in the sunlight upon the deck. Might as well enjoy what treasures life had to give you. Robin, as always, was kicked back in a lawn chair reading a book with Nami sitting to her right looking over the new wanted posters and charts that she had newly drawn up. You sat at Nami's feet just because you could. Brook strummed on his guitar with a pen and paper that had an array of lines and music notes strewn across the page. Sanji sat off to the side smoking a cigarette in respect to you since he already figured out you hate smoke from past experiences. It really was just Franky who decided to head back to his workshop missing out on the fun.

"(Y/n)," Nami poked you in the back with the toe of her sandal from the lawn chair she sat reclined in. You twisted your spine to face the redhead from where you sat tearing your eyes from Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper's little game of monkey in the middle where things were starting to get a bit rough. Cause according to Chopper, Luffy's ability to stretch out his arms to steal the ball was considered cheating. Nami's chestnut eyes fluttered with delight seeing as to how you actually listened to her call. "Why don't you join in on their game?" Nami offered. "You seem really invested in it."

"I'd rather watch," you smiled in her direction. Returning your attention back onto the children of the crew.

"Then how about I do your hair?"

You spun back around, "M-my hair?"

"Yeah why not?" Nami giggled. "Usopp has a knack for botany and grew some flowers that are all ours for the taking."

"And?" You didn't really follow the statement all that well.

"I think you'd look pretty with some flowers in your hair," Nami sat forward in her chair, messing with a few strands of hair that rested upon your backside and twirling them between her fingertips.

Your cheeks burned in embarrassment and you didn't catch the bodily signal. Robin hummed to her own amusement. "Go ahead," you replied unsure of what else to even say. Nobody has ever offered to do such a thing out of pure interest.

"Oh Sanji," Nami called out to the cook with a hand held up to her mouth.

"Yes Nami-dearest!" Sanji swooned with hands pressed to his cheeks and hearts in his eyes breaking away with his previous argument with Zoro that you had no clue was even going on in the background.

"Please fetch us some flowers from the garden."

"Sure thing!" Sanji sped away, gone in a blink of an eye.

"Does he always act like that?" You tilted your head in one direction.

"Oh," Nami giggled again. "I forgot that you haven't seen Sanji swoon before."

"So does he always act like that?" You asked again on repeat.

"Yes," Nami snickered.

"Oh (Y/n)!" Franky sang as he strolled right on up to the deck of the Sunny with what looked to be a large purple rolled up yoga mat thrown over his shoulder. The cyborg flashed a smile in your direction, pleased to find that you were already on the deck sitting upon the grass with much of the others accounted for and present. You on the other hand looked off towards Sanji who came back rather quickly from Usopp's little garden. You were pleading for an answer with no need for words. You had no idea what had made Franky so ungodly happy to see you, when nobody besides Sanji has ever intentionally wanted to see you.

Franky sat down upon one knee and propping the large mat upon the plush grass before you. "Took me a few weeks..." Franky started, his large mechanical hand grasped the belted restraint that kept the mat rolled up by the buckle. "I would've gotten this done sooner, trust me I wanted to finish this project sooner than I had anticipated."

"Just... Get to the point alright," you weren't really in any hurry. But Franky was really dragging it out. Franky made something for me alone? I actually can't wait to see it!

"Okay okay," Franky chuckled flipping up his sunglasses to rest upon his forehead flashing you a wild smirk. "So I would've gotten this done sooner..."

Click

Franky released the belted restraint and the mat rolled out all on its own till it lies flat and free of all imperfections. Your heart fluttered, "my weapons!" You gasped lunging forward and picking up your sword above everything else new and perfected.

"Your weapons were beyond any technology I've seen so far. Lots of trial and error just to figure half of them out," Franky proudly explained while you flipped the hilt of your sword for a blade of silver to pop out from within. The silver blade shimmered within the sunlight, you ran a finger over the edge of the blade with awe to find absolutely no imperfections.

"My weapons weren't even in this great of shape when I got them!" You awed looking up at Franky. "Thank you Franky!"

"No problem girly," Franky snickered taking a seat on the grass and showing off some other weapons but most of all admiring your work. "(Y/n) do you mind explaining to me where you got these weapons, or how you made it? Cause this sword is just extraordinary. I could whip something up for Zoro."

"The sword?" You hummed tapping your chin for a brief second. "It was a gift from Eustass Kid... so I have no clue how it was made."

Sanji jumped to his feet. "Are you and Kid allies?" Sanji asked suddenly as if it were a question that could determine his fate for good or worst. Sanji already knew you were allies with Law, but you've admitted more times than what came to mind that you hate the Surgeon of Death as well. Besides the World Government, Kid and Law were recurring names.

"I guess?" You ran a hand through your hair wondering why this question even had any significance. "I just traveled with Kid and his crew for a little while," you retract the blade of your sword back within its handled sheath. "Kid didn't want me to leave his crew so he gave me this sword hoping it'd persuade me to stay... You know the rest of the story."

"Clearly," Sanji comments. "Why else are you here?"

"Oh," Robin hummed. "Why not use a katana like Zoro? I wouldn't accept a gift related to bribery." Almost everyone nodded their heads to agree.

"Kid tried to bribe me and it didn't work," you laughed lightly amused since Kid wasn't the type of man to bribe. It was either he got what he wants, or he kills you and gets what he wants. Either way, he gets what he wants. "Besides, I'll never use a katana again, it almost blew my cover when I was on the run from the government."

"Rough," Robin comments without the need to speak further. She buried her head right back into her history book.

Luffy chuckled to his own amusement, popping his knuckles while stepping forward. "Want to test out those weapons on me?" You didn't know a good response right off the bat.

"No..." You answer your captain, cold all the while collecting your arsenal of guns, daggers, and most importantly your treasured sword.

"What! Why not?" Luffy pouts like a child who never got his way.

"I don't like fighting devil fruit users," you reply in a blunt manner.

"But you're a devil fruit user too!" Luffy's attitude took a dive.

"Sounds pretty hypocritical," Nami insults you without a second thought. She wasn't wrong in the slightest though.

"I know, but I'm pretty sure you all have noticed that my devil fruit is overpowered even though I rely on my weapons more," more nods of agreement were passed around. "I don't rely on my fruit unlike everyone here who has one because what if you're bounded by sea prism stone? If you do not know how to protect yourself without powers, then you're as good as dead," your little speech had opened the eyes of your crew. Robin examined her hands in a state of shock just to realize your comment was more than true. The same went to Chopper, without the fruit he couldn't be a doctor or protect his crew. And Brook would be dead. Luffy grew up with Ace and Sabo, so he's the mostly in the clear with self defense.

"I've... Never really thought about that possibility," Usopp was the first to comment upon your belief.

"Might as well point out that I never ate this fruit by choice..." You pause suddenly no thanks to hesitation. Should I finally tell them what my real purpose in life is? How the Government shaped me into the perfect killing machine to destroy the Pirate Age? Well... I already began, let's finish it.

"Like Boa's sisters? They were forced to consume snake fruits... Nevermind I said too much," Luffy actually bit his tongue remembering that little slip of the mind about how Boa Hancock had instructed him not to let another soul know of her or the Gorgon Sisters true past.

"I guess," you dug your fingers within the fat of your thighs. Admitting something so personal was actually harder than you had anticipated. "That's why I try my best not to use it but any way I look at it, I cannot turn off my fruit. It's either I'm a logia type or I have my stupid doppelganger following my every move." I'm not ready... Forget everything.

"So that's how your fruit works," Sanji grinned. "I've noticed you don't have a shadow at all unless we put sea prism on you," everyone stretched out their necks noticing you indeed had no shadow from where you sat. "You can also get injured whenever your shadow is mobile and apart from your body."

"100% correct," you were quite pleased to hear that Sanji had figured out your devil fruit all on his own rather than a ten minute explanation from you in the future. "Whenever you don't see my shadow twin it means me and my shadow are one. So right now I'm a logia type and cannot get injured. It also means I can control shadows, but I have to give up invincibility for it to work..."

"I want to fight you even more!" Luffy exclaimed with a lisp. His tongue was all bloody and swollen, Chopper quickly grew alarmed.

"No Luf-"

"Fine," Zoro cut you off. "Take me on."

"Zoro-"

"I'm not a devil fruit user and you're a swordsman just like me. Up for a challenge?" Sanji saw a flash of fear run through your lost orbs. You shivered looking the opposite direction.

"I already took one of your eyes... I don't want to take any more of you than I already have."

"Then take us both on," Sanji jumped in rolling up his sleeves. You stood in pure shock. "We both have lost to you in the past. What's wrong with a healthy rematch?" Sanji smirked as he watched your lost expression of remorse turn into one of true bewilderment.

"Two against One?" You loved the idea.

"What?" Zoro grinned alongside his rival.

"Can't take a challenge?" Sanji teased.

"No I'll take you on," You stood up arming yourself with an array of weapons.

"If you truly think this is unfair, we'll gladly partner up with you," Luffy offered cracking his knuckles once again.

Alright, next chapter is a fight. Who do you want partnering up with the reader to take down Zoro and Sanji?

Robin

Nami

Usopp

Franky

Brook

Chopper

Or Luffy.