I swear I'm so hooked on this book that I can't stop writing it.

It's been ten minutes, Sanji rubbed his red swollen cheek with the back of his hand lightly. For a woman, or even a woman in general, you sure had an arm on you. The pain from your backhanded slap was easily an equivalent to a punch from Zoro that he'd earn from daily assaults upon the green haired swordsman. Sanji agreed to disagree on if he deserved so much disrespect from the likes of you, it was a simple comment. Yet he let the matters be all the while you walked the deck of the Sunny to regain feeling back within your legs. Maybe even blow off some steam the cook had to hope.

After you've made your third roundabout of the Sunny, Sanji broke your line of action by stepping directly in front of you. "I know you're not a talkative person in the slightest," Sanji began to speak after countless minutes of torturous silence since your previous threat that had successfully made the blonde scared for his own safety. "But I want to ask you a few questions..."

You've completely forgotten about why you were even agitated at the cook, so you shrugged and looked the opposite way out upon the blue sea. "Depending on the questions, I'll answer them," you gave Sanji a rare opportunity to snatch up. For he couldn't help but light up like a firecracker as he expected a flat out deny.

The blonde opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Hesitation. "I guess before I even begin... What questions will you refuse to answer?" Sanji was expecting you to say just about anything in general and walk away. It was already hard enough to get you to talk at all, even though he had gotten a joke out of you not so long ago. A joke he never understood.

"Just ask me a real question before I go back on my promise," you rolled your eyes with a cross of your arms.

"Alright then..." Your bad attitude remained contagious. "How'd Luffy hurt you after we fought?"

"Huh?" You tilted your head to the side, Sanji found you adorable once again, but bit his tongue to avoid your wrath.

"The question has been eating at the crew for a while, I remember back when we met for the first time, yet also fought, my attacks went right through your body. That means you're a logia fruit user correct?" You didn't know how to answer, it was a very technical question. So you just shrugged hoping to let the conversation slip. That was until Sanji huffed, "Luffy isn't a logia user, but he managed to injure you with a simple punch. Which is why your spine is broken might I add."

You stuck up your nose with disgust, nobody here had shown you a hint of respect once since arrival. And it looks to stay that way. "Why should I tell you how I lost? You're just going to use it against me later on."

Sanji understood why you've came to that conclusion and was quick to retaliate. "None of us plan to fight you again..." Sanji reassured holding out his hands to reveal his blossoming cheek that once lied hidden.

"I find that hard to believe," you tut with poison in your voice. Pulling at the pair of cuffs that clung to your wrists. "Have you forgotten me and Robin have a past? I am also in handcuffs, unable to protect myself, and besides your doctor and maybe yourself, EVERYBODY here is out to get me!" You were clearly still put up with the prisoner belief.

"Is Robin here?" Sanji pointed out sweetly. Instead you shrugged again. "Then just tell me. You're gonna have to work with us eventually since we fight in teams on this crew most of the time. According to most, I'm in the monster trio.

You sighed. "Until I feel I can trust anyone here completely, it's a question for a different date."

Sanji grinned, he made progress. "I can respect your decision, follow me to the kitchen. I'll make you some food and we can talk then.

"I'm not eating anything this crew gives me," you repeated for a second time and a matching glare.

The cook standing before you slumped forward running a hand down his face. "Just give me a bone..." He hissed before straightening himself out with a fake smile. "You've been living off of fluids for the last two weeks, you're probably aching for some real food," as if your stomach had ears, the muscle grumble so loudly it could've echoed. The crude pain of hunger had sat in almost immediately. You were no stranger to pain, but hunger was the worst type to ever exist.

"See," Sanji hummed, you weren't going to put off your bodily needs for much longer.

"Okay..." You gave in, and weren't proud to do so. "But I'm watching your every move."

"If you think I'm trying to poison you, I'm not."

"Get to the fucking point."

"Right through here m'lady," Sanji bowed holding open the door that led to his domain. The Kitchen. You disliked being treated above others, but this time around, you just let the matter slide. This cook was more than a victim of a gentleman's chivalry and there was nothing you could do about it. He was too far gone to save, even though you broke him out of that ordeal once, you could easily do it a second time.

Upon entering, you could've swore the kitchen was the most neatest place within the ship; Nothing seemed to be out of line or dirty. You knew Sanji was a cook, but had no idea he was this dedicated to his profession. You took a seat at the counter that bordered the actual area of cooking, and saw your face within the glossy piece of art. Sanji made quick work and began tossing around ingredients and cooking utensils for what looked to be a meal personal to your own self and another for his own crew since lunch time were soon to arrive.

You resumed to gaze upon your own reflection. Lost. When was the last time I saw myself in a mirror? The realization that you couldn't even recognize your own self really got to you. All those times you sat upon your raft going island to island, not once did you ever see your reflection within the sea. Those little things stung, like a bug bite, you wish to ignore it's existence. But the pain of reality would always catch right back up to you...

You slumped forward to rest upon the countertop. Immediately regretting that decision, pain surged throughout your body from the source of your lower back. You hissed straightening out your spine, just to go numb. Sanji peered over from the stove panicked for a brief second, for then he snickered with delight to your foolish slip of the mind.

"What'd I tell you?"

"Fuck off! I know... Keep my damn spine straight..." You mumbled with disgust evident within your voice.

"At Least you remember," Sanji shrugged turning on the stovetop once prepared. "Mind if I asked you some personal questions (Y/n)?"

"I... I guess not," hesitant, you sighed no thanks to boredom.

"Don't you have two warlords chasing after you? What'd you do to throw the government into a frenzy? I mean who hasn't heard of your name at least once?" Although that question wasn't personal itself, Sanji respected that the answer to come may be extremely personal to you alone. Information was easy to leak in this time and age, but not much is know about you.

"Three," you corrected knocking your knuckle upon the table.

"Three?"

"Three Warlords..." You groaned annoyed to the circulation of repeats. "Trafalgar, Mihawk, and Doflamingo. That reminds me," You shuffled within your seat uncomfortably, peering over your shoulder as if searching for someone. Changing the mood within the room to something more heavy. Were you scared? "Me and Zoro aren't simpatico at the moment... Or, at least I don't think we are..."

That was a sudden turn, Sanji thought. He doesn't remember you or Zoro ever conversing. "Why wouldn't he be? Zoro is one of the few who actually trusts you." How many times could shock get the better of you in one day?

"That's really surprising... Zoro should be more out to get me than Robin."

"Why?" Sanji asked once again. You didn't dare explain, so instead you pointed towards your left eye and pulled down on your bottom eyelid. Sanji figured out what you had ment instantly, entirely, subconsciously backing up a few steps. "You mean to tell me you're why Zoro is half blind?" You nod slowly, anybody could tell that you were guilty for admitting such a fact. "I may hate that dumb Marimo, but why'd you do it?"

"I kill within reason, you have to attack me first," Sanji already took something tragic from your comment. "I would've died if I didn't attack Zoro that day... He didn't even want to hurt me. I saw him argue with his mentor. But Zoro was only following Mihawk's orders. And that was to help him capture me..."

This no doubt happened during our two year break when Zoro was Mihawk's apprentice. It sort've kills me how much trouble (Y/n) had caused in such little time, Sanji monologues within his head for a brief moment before coming up with a reply. "Makes sense... But you never did answer me. What'd you do to cause the Government to put you at such such high priority?"

"Let's just say... I'm capable of destroying the World Government single handed."

Silence had sat in like a thick sheet of fog. Sanji didn't doubt your claim one bit. He's seen what you're capable of, Luffy just got off lucky on day one to have put you out of commision so easily. What Sanji never took into account however, was that he was literally staring at you with cerulean eyes filled to the brim with waking fear.

"Are you kidding me?" You huffed kicking your seat behind yourself. Sanji snapped out of his trance chasing after your fleeting figure. Beating you to the door, using himself as a barricade.

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable... I was thinking okay?"

Sanji... You're so damn clueless.

"You claim you want to be my friend and all. Well... I can see the fear in your eye. I can't take anyone seriously!," you planted your foot against Sanji's chest to kick him away from your one and only exit. Sanji fell forward hissing with pain, feeling warmth trickle down his chest from his stitched up wounds. "Where's the man I fought two weeks ago?" This time you had used a cheap shot and got Sanji where he currently were the weakest. Sanji were no longer an obstacle, so you left without a sound.

-----

Hours later, it came to no surprise that you remained pained and alone. It was for the best. Nobody on the crew had any intent on speaking with you, Sanji realized just how insecure you were, he pondered on that subject during this time. Sanji couldn't tell if you truly felt insecure around the crew, in which he completely understood, or if there was an ulterior reason that hasn't shed light. Nobody shared your mindset except maybe Franky or Robin, but they weren't going to help out.

Even Sanji felt that loneliness was probably the best medicine he could give you at the time being... Let you warm up to him.

Sanji took a short stroll around the ship with a bowl of food at hand. It wasn't all that long until Sanji found you gazing out upon the sea, resting up against the mane from the figurehead of the Sunny. You were truly at peace, he saw that calm face of yours that gave him that sense of relief that just made his entire day.

"How long are you gonna stand there you filthy pervert?" You snapped not once taking your eyes from the ocean. Sanji was standing behind you, he swore he never made a sound, you must've lived up to your assassin occupation to tell he were even there.

"I'm leaving," Sanji reassured glancing at the bowl within his hands. "I brought you some leftovers from dinner. I thought you'd join us, but it looks like I was wrong to assume," Sanji held out the bowl of soup, steam wafted from the surface of the thick liquid, you never made a move.

"I... I don't want to eat okay," you sighed. You almost regret denying the absolute truth.

"Well... I'll leave it here," Sanji sat the soup down within your reach upon the outer railing of the Sunny. "Goodnight (Y/n)," Sanji bowed his head, spinning on his heel.

You sighed, just one glance at the bowl made your mouth water. Biting your lip did no good. "Goodnight," Sanji came to a halt, his ear just barely managed to receive your faint reply. A small pleasurable grin soon occupied his face.

-----

Robin flipped a page in her most recent pickings of a chapter book she had found on a recent island. A gentle gust of wind knocked a strand of her raven hair out of place to tickle at her nose. Since day one, she had been the one to take the night watch as she'd find it truly heartbreaking to part ways with literature. That was until a truly displeasing noise had penetrated her eardrums, causing Robin's mind to go on pause for just a brief second.

It sounds like someone's drowning, Robin sat deep in thought before letting out an annoyed sigh and putting a ribbon of salmon color between the pages and brought the book to a gentle close. The woman wedged the book to her side beneath her arm, and followed the gutteral noises till they just fade with a dull thud not even a moment later. The woman heard that thud however as clear as day besides the howling wind and crashing waves.

Robin continued the search, more alert than before. "(Y/n)?" Robin tilted her head off to one side, she found you lying upon the deck dead asleep, why the deck however made the woman curious. What her sapphire eyes found second made the woman to gasp dropping her book onto the deck with a deafening echo. "(Y/N)!" Her feet moved with the click of her heels before her mind could even react. Robin kneeled down at your side, rolling you over and onto your back. Your entire front was covered in the blood of crimson that was previously pooled at your frontside. Yet your body had shown absolutely no injuries. The blood that stained your lips was another telltale sign.

Robin had no idea on how to react, she had never seen anything such as this. Your entire body was warm to the touch, so Robin used her quick thinking and put the back of her delicate hand to your forehead, immediately retracting her arm back with a serpent's hiss. "She's burning up..." Robin gasped lying you down with care. "Chopper!" Robin hollered in a frightful panic. "Somebody help!!!"