Her mind spins as she tries to make sense of what Sanji's telling her. She has to remind herself to breathe. But he's telling her in such a way that it's almost making her feel bad for overreacting. But it's true.

They're a gang. She's living with a gang. Most people in this town, in fact, are in gangs. It's essentially the way of life here, it's kill or be killed. It's common knowledge no one would miss anyone on this side. They've been forsaken by the government, and they've lost the only thing that makes them want to live; their soulmate.

"Is that how you felt?" she asks him, but he just stares at her slightly confused. "When you lost your soulmate, did you loose your motivation to live?"

"Well," he stares at the ground as he tries to recall how he responded. "I was in shock, but I was glad that I was the one they sent away. This place is no place for a lady. But... yeah. I did feel as if death would've been a better punishment."

She shakes her head, she's unsure as to why, but she's glad he didn't die, "I–"

"But it's for a different reason," he looks over at her and gives her a smile. "It wasn't because I lost her. It's because I discovered something about myself that day, and I couldn't accept it. I'd rather be dead than come to terms with it."

Silence falls between them before he exclaims, "Oh! You were going to say something! And I interrupted! I'm sorry, please do tell."

"I was just going to say that," she takes a deep breath before she continues, "I used to rely on the soulmate system heavily for happiness. And now that I lost mine... I don't know how to feel. But I believe that you have to learn and grow from your soulmate.

"You shouldn't want to die just because you lost them... right?" she gives him a small smile. "But you just told me that you didn't, so my speech was worthless."

"Not worthless," he shakes his head, his hair waving around slightly. "Sometimes, we don't realize how badly we need to hear our own words."

She doesn't understand, not until he nods at her and she looks down. Teardrops mark the blanket and they continue to fall from her eyes without her knowledge.

She hurriedly wipes them away, "It's just a lot to take in."

She hears noise on the other side of the door, before it gets broken down. Luffy comes through and gives her a giant smile, "She's fine guys!"

"And she needs more rest!" Chopper waves his hoof at Luffy. "Leave her alone!"

"Why's Sanji get to be in here but I can't?!" Luffy folds his arms over his chest. "But I just want to ask (Y/n) a question!"

"It's fine, he can be in here," she smiles at the small reindeer. "Thank you for trying to help me out though. And thank you for actually helping me out with my wounds."

"Flattering me won't make me happy!" Chopper gushes and wiggles his arms a little. He's very transparent with his feelings.

"Well, anyway!" Luffy sits in the edge of her bed and takes her hands in his hands. "Please join my gang!"

Her eyes widen, but Luffy only continues, "I know you might not trust us, but you were sent to this house for a reason! I believe that it's because you're meant to join us on journey!"

Sanji lets out a sigh and stands up, he needs a smoke, "There's no point in saying no. He'll pursue you to the end of the earth. Hell, he'll even jump into the ocean and drown trying to get you to join."

"But..." she stops, maybe she shouldn't say it out loud. "This is so sudden..."

"Take your time to think about it!" Luffy jumps up and gives her the same giant smile from earlier. "I can wait!"

"Thanks, Luffy," she gives him the biggest smile she can muster. "I appreciate you and your concern."

  Sanji leaves the room and heads to Chopper's balcony. He steps out into the cool air, the rain stopped about half an hour ago. He leans onto the railing before he lights the cigarette. The town is sleeping, no one here likes to go out in the rain.

He closes his eyes, "(Y/n), I'm sorry. But I can't tell you the truth."

"About what?" Zoro stands on the edge of the open door and cocks an eyebrow at the blond. "Do you know her from somewhere? Because you've been acting mighty strange ever since you've seen her."

"No, I don't know her," Sanji glares at him, straightening out his back before he lets out a sigh. "But it feels like I should."

"Almost like you're meeting your soulmate for the second time?" Zoro steps onto the balcony and closes the door behind him.

"I suppose?" Sanji shrugs, thinking about the first time he and his soulmate met. "No, actually, I never felt that way about her..."

"Then is that what you're not being honest about?" the green-haired man lets out a sigh, this is annoying. He shouldn't have to do this, but something isn't sitting right with him. "Or is it something else?"

"It's something else," he stares at the rooftops, a mist surrounds them. "But it doesn't matter."

"But it is about your ex-soulmate," Zoro nods, following Sanji's gaze. "Listen, I don't care what you do, I honestly don't. But the moment your lie comes back to haunt you, don't come crying to me about it."

"It's not something that important," Sanji takes a deep breath, letting out the cigarette smoke slowly. "She asked me how I took my breakup... my exile. And I told her a lie."

Zoro nods, leaving the balcony without another word. They've had this discussion before, and he finds it ridiculous. Anyone that lost their soulmate the way Sanji did would feel the same way. In fact, he's sure that everyone who has lost their soulmate and are on this side of the track feels the same way he does. And Sanji needs to stop hating himself for the way he responded.

(*≧∀≦*)