He sits next to her, Chopper running around trying to make sure she'll be alright. He's already wrapped her up and stitched her stomach wound closed. Sanji stares at her body, he digs his fingernails into his palms. He should've been faster. He should've done more.

"It's not your fault," Chopper's voice causes the blond to look over, he tilts his head slightly to the side, visually confused. "(Y/n) being hurt. It's not your fault. We should've moved her to the back of the building, but none of us thought about that. So don't beat yourself up."

"I could've stopped it," he rubs his fingers through his hair. "I should've been able to. Look at her, that looks like she would've been in a lot of pain. Pain I could've stopped from being inflicted."

Chopper shakes his head, "So then what stopped you, Sanji? Why weren't you fast enough? Did you forget someone was up here?"

"I froze," he takes a deep breath, digging his nails deeper, pushing harder, trying to draw blood. He shakes his head, he can't tell Chopper that he was thinking about his ex. (Y/n) isn't her. She doesn't even look anything like her. And unlike his soulmate, she's here. In this town.

He sees her eyes start to flutter, and he jumps up, stepping over next to her. A wave of relief floods over him as her eyes meet his. She's confused, but she gives him a smile.

  He can't help but speak to her, "I'm sorry."

  "Oh! You're awake!" Chopper pushes a step stool closer to her and steps up on it. "Don't move around too much, you need to rest in order to heal. And if you need anything just ask. I'm sure Sanji here would be glad to get it for you. But if you feel any pain, just talk to me and I'll see what I can do about it!"

  "Thanks," her voice comes out dry and cracked. "Sanji, can I ask you something?"

  "Of course! Anything!" he gives her a smile brighter than all the lights she's ever seen, and for a split second she believes that he's actually happy. But it falls quickly and she realizes that it was fake again. "Why'd you apologize to me? You didn't do this to me? I can't seem to recall all the details. But I'm sure I heard your voice call my name, you were trying to warn me. This can't possibly be your fault."

  "But it is," he lets out a deep breath. "I could've stopped it. This wouldn't have happened if I had just-I don't know... if I hadn't hesitated."

  "I'm sure you're only being hard on yourself," she takes his hand and gives it a squeeze. She can feel the cold metal of the ring her has on. "Now, could you bring me some food? I'm pretty hungry all of a sudden."

  He nods, pulling his hand away from hers quicker than she would've liked. He rushes out the door and she's left with Chopper, whom just gives her a smile, then scurried out the door as well. He must've remembered that they only met today.

Sanji comes back in a few minutes later, probably because he had to recook. He places the tray on a table and rolls the table over to her, "Please enjoy."

  "I will," she picks up the utensils again and pokes the food with the fork. "Thank you, Sanji. I really appreciate it."

  He watches her as she puts the food in her mouth and chews it. He already knows that she likes it, but for some reason, he feels anxious. As if she'll just randomly decide that she doesn't like it anymore. Like his ex did. He closes his eyes and looks away, why does he continue to think about her? Of all the days to be reminiscent, it's today.

  The day he meets a beautiful lady, who likes his food. Who's kind and doesn't blame him for everything. Who wouldn't-

  "Baratie," her whisper snaps him out of his thoughts. He just heard her correctly, right? She said Baratie. Her eyes meet his and he feels his heart stop. "When I first tasted your food, I couldn't help but get the feeling that I knew the taste. You used to work at the Baratie, didn't you? The sea restaurant? I live... well used to live close by to where it landed when it came to my town. My dad loved taking me there..."

  "Tell me... is everyone okay?" his voice is quiet, and he feels as if he could cry. "Are they alright? Everyone is fine there, right? They're not hurt?"

  She shakes her head, "They're all still alive and kicking troublemakers out. At least from what I know. I haven't been there in a few weeks."

  He smiles, he should've known better than to be worried about them. He lets out a sigh, "Thank you. I'm glad you told me."

  "Of course!" she smiles eating slowly as to not upset her stomach. "You guys really seemed like a family... so I'm glad that you're worried about them. It fills me with hope."

  He looks at her, "What do you mean?"

  "Do you know if they tell your family that you're being taken? Or do they just let them wonder what happened to you? I want my dad to know I'm okay... but they won't let me do that... will they?"

  "I think, most of the time it just depends on your soulmate and who you're around when they take you away," he sits down in the chair. "But I don't know. I wish I could give you an answer... but I can't. I didn't get to stay very long."

  "I guess no one does," she feels tears well up in her eyes and she hears him move closer. He cups her cheeks and looks into her eyes, "What are you doing?"

  "I'm telling you that there's no reason to cry," he gives her a smile. "As long as you're here with us, there's a chance that you'll be able to tell your dad that you're fine."

(o^^o)