Chapter Text
His first night in Germa Sanji longs for home.
He stares at the ceiling of Nami’s living room from the couch. Her cozy home lay on the border of ocean and forest. Sea salt and the musk of wood linger around him.
52 Blossomer Lane, Germa Kingdom.
Reiju’s cryptic message, the first in over 3 months, said only that and one other thing:
I’ll likely die soon.
——
3 months. There were 3 entire months of radio silence from his sister, the only sibling ever to contact him. Zeff had told him years ago of his Germa origin. He knew, in a sense, of his past. But, it wasn’t until that very past came knocking on the Baratie’s door did it become very real to him.
Business, she said, brought her to the East Blue and love is what brought her to his door. The moment they met, a hollowness filled up inside of him. His sister. His very own. Sanji cooked his fingers numb and then nearly drank the Baratie out of business. They talked for hours, deep into the night and morning. Reiju was vibrant and cunning and beautiful. Sanji couldn’t believe that in the seven seas, he could call someone so wonderful his kin. He wished he could have known her his whole life.
After only a few short days did she have to depart. He knew the ache in his heart only meant that it was full. Bittersweet. The word’s meaning fell into place like a puzzle piece. They promised to keep in touch and they did through messenger birds. One or two messages a week became their cadence and then suddenly, nothing. Sanji watched the skies for any word from her every morning and night. He sent more messages of his own and held back something brewing inside him.
Abandoned.
No, not again. She wouldn’t; Reiju loved him. He finally had a sister, she finally had him. Surely, she would write soon.
Days passed like stagnant water. Zeff held him when he finally cried. He said he was okay, said he wouldn’t wait any longer, but even if he didn’t know, his gaze remained fixed on that empty sky.
——
I need some air.
That deep blue Germa night sky taunts his memories. He needs to walk— smoke , get out of his head.
His hostess, Nami, has been wonderful to him. A cunning woman herself, he could understand how she and his sister became friends. Unfortunately for him, the gorgeous redhead had no more information than he on his sister’s whereabouts. Apparently, Reiju was known to be away for weeks or even months at a time. Nami says she’d call it her work but truth be told she could never get a straight answer on what Reiju's work actually was. Eventually, she stopped asking and accepted there are some things better left to the unknown. She only realized that something was amiss when Sanji’s letters began to pile up, indicating that Reiju’s messenger bird could not locate or reach her. Before long, Sanji himself showed up at her door, clutching a message from Reiju with distraught, red-rimmed eyes. And now he’s here in Germa and his sister is nowhere to be found.
He turns everything he knows over again in his mind as he walks aimlessly into the charming forest, cigarette in hand.
Three months ago he stopped receiving letters from Reiju.
Three months ago Reiju apparently left for another work venture.
She packed light, Nami said. Wherever it was, Reiju didn’t intend to be there long.
So where is she?
His only hope is that she shouldn’t be very far.
And lastly, the most unsettling piece of information he has:
I will likely die soon.
Reiju believes herself to be in danger. The words have seared themselves into Sanji’s mind. He wants to cry, break down and lose himself in his wallowing but he knows can’t. He won’t, not with Reiju’s life on the line.
The blasted paper boy hat on his head is making his forehead itch but Nami said it was pertinent that he hides his identity, though she didn’t go much into why. She said the Vinsmokes weren’t exactly loved by the people or government of Germa. She said she shouldn’t say too much as it was family business.
Reiju should be the one to tell you.
Well yes, many of his issues would vanish if Reiju were here but she’s not. Sanji huffs into the silence and comes across a clearing. The warm, salty air rakes through the tall grass as a breeze comes through. Sanji walks forward to embrace it. He closes his eyes and calls out to Reiju in his heart.
Please, dear sister, come home safe and sound.
He opens his eyes to the same silence racketeering his heart and he finally falls to his knees as the tears well over, well past their brim. It’s all well past anything Sanji feels he can take. The wind howls quietly and soft blades of grass swirl around him. Fireflies glimmer in the night air with warm glows of tiny light. His heart feels like it’s breaking slowly and all at once. He stands, steadying himself. He must return soon.
Sanji walks through the clearing, cigarette spent and spirits low. A soft neigh sounds off to his right and he’s stricken by the sight of a beautiful white horse with piercing dark eyes. He approaches slowly,
“Hello there, are you alone too?” He keeps his voice soft as he approaches.
The horse lowers its head and snacks on the grass below it, unalarmed by the blonde’s presence. Sanji’s able to walk right up to the gorgeous creature and stroke its mane. His new companion snorts and wags its tail, clearly keen on the affection. Continuing the rub down, Sanji finally notices the silver harness around its head. This horse belonged to someone.
“Why would anyone give you up, beautiful girl?”
The horse sighs happily and begins to nibble on Sanji’s hat, earning a giggle from him.
“No one’s given her up, she just likes the grass in this area.”
Sanji startles backward and reclaims his chewed hat, placing it messily on his head.
The stranger comes barely into view, backlit by the moon and menacing in stature.
“Although, I should probably invest in another horse since she was supposed to warn me if anyone was nearby.”
His voice is gruff and baritone and his tone is far too casual for speaking to a stranger in the middle of a forest at night. To the stranger’s dismay, the horse just neighs happily and continues to eat grass.
“I will sell you,” the strange man threatens. Even Sanji can see it’s hollow.
The horse just nuzzles Sanji’s hand and whinnies which causes a small giggle from him.
“Brat,” the man concedes with folded arms.
“Anyway, if you’ve come to steal my horse I have to say it’s not a great idea. She’s defective but not for sale or seizure,” he says directly to Sanji.
Steal?
“Wha—oh no! That’s not, erm, I would never—“
The man steps forward and slowly comes into view. If fear is what made him stutter before, it’s now for an altogether different reason. The man is
Wow.
He’s all hard lines and muscle. His gaze is threatening and his stature equally horrifying but he is art nonetheless. Sanji knows he’s stumbling over his words and drinks in as much of the man as he can see. Dressed in only dark trousers, a white shirt, and dirty boots, he must be from nearby. Perhaps a farmer or caretaker for livestock.
“Your um, horse was alone. I thought she was abandoned. I only wished to keep her company,” he admits, standing his ground.
The man just grunts and stares Sanji up and down.
“You have a habit of stealing people’s horses in the forest in the middle of the night?” The man turns around grabbing a bag hidden under some brush.
Sanj turns bright pink.
“Do you have a habit of leaving your horse unattended in the forest in the middle of the night?” Sanji folds his arms in defiance, annoyed at being made out to be a thief.
The stranger just stares at him with a look of mild amusement on his face. He finally turns to look at the blonde squarely and it causes something in Sanji’s chest to jump.
“I train here at night. What is your reason for being out here?” The man’s gaze is harsh and unsettling.
Train? So might he be a soldier?
“I don’t recall that being your business,” Sanji rebuts.
“So if not a thief, what are you?” He asks dryly, folding his arms again.
“I don’t recall that being your business, either.” Any charm the stranger had previously vanishes at the sight of his poor manners. They stare each other down for a moment until the man chuckles devilishly.
“You have a name or is that also not my business?”
Nami’s warning to keep his identity a secret echoes in his mind.
“You didn’t mention yours either, you know,” Sanji quips back.
In truth, he wouldn’t mind telling this stranger his name but he can’t. Should he make one up or just take his leave?
The man snickers, his face contorting into something much less threatening. Unfortunately, Sanji doesn’t have the luxury to enjoy this easy banter that flows between them. No one can know who he is or what he is doing here. He has a mission and doesn’t have time for (intimidating) semi-handsome strangers in the dark.
“I go by Zoro,” he says looking at Sanji expectantly.
“I…” It’s tempting, far too tempting.
“I…must be on my way. You should really take more care to ensure your horse is accompanied in the forest at night. I bid you adieu.”
Sanji turns fiercely and walks away before he can stop himself. He almost told the man his name! Surely he must be losing his mind at this late hour.
“Wait!” Zoro suddenly pulls on his arm roughly.
“Unhand me!” Who does this man think he is?
But before Sanji can put up a proper fight, an arrow whizzes past his ear and sinks into the trunk of a tree behind him, only centimeters from his face.
“Get down!” Zoro whispers while forcing the blonde toward the ground.
His own back is to the tree behind him and the man’s chest is directly in front of him in a protective stance.
He’s…protecting me?
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” He whispers while checking their surroundings.
“Y-yes. I mean no, I’m fine.” He isn’t sure if his heart is leaping from the danger or the closeness.
“Must be bandits,” he starts and then looks at Sanji with a smirk.
“Your friends?” He’s much too proud of himself for that one.
“Oh, you mean the armed men in the dark clearly aiming for my head? Yes, we go a ways back,” Sanji deadpans.
Zoro chuckles and then speaks, his voice low and soft enough for only Sanji to hear.
“Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
He stands and only then does Sanji see 3 impressive-looking swords fastened to the man’s waist.
Is he a swordsman?
The blonde takes a deep breath to calm his racing heart when he hears pained yells coming from the direction Zoro just left in.
So he has *some* skill.
Sanji wonders to himself what kind of man this stranger he just met in the dark is when he suddenly notices a bandit armed with a knife making their way toward Zoro’s horse. The horse squeals aggressively and Sanji springs into action needing only one swift kick to knock the aggressor out. He didn’t get trained his whole life by Red Leg Zeff to lose to some measly bandits. Plus, that horse is his new friend, he couldn’t possibly let harm come to her.
But now is probably a good time to make his exit, yet his moral compass is nagging at him to check on the swordsman though he knows it’s a poor decision. Another wail sounds from Zoro’s direction, and Sanji decides to check to ensure the brute isn’t getting clobbered before he leaves. He rushes towards the fight and sees Zoro surrounded, hacking his way through bandit after bandit.
The man looks like a beast.
He’s definitely not a farmer. He also doesn’t seem to be an ordinary soldier. Sanji is nearly mesmerized when he notices a hidden archer about to release an arrow directly at the swordsman’s chest. The blonde charges forward without thinking and leaps into a back spring high over the swordsman’s head blocking the arrow at the last second and landing nearly without a sound in front of him. The look on the brute’s face makes the decision entirely worth it.
“Woah,” was the only thing he could get out before they had to charge back into battle. The entire thing lasted barely a minute before it was over. It was certainly annoying to keep that blasted hat on his head while he fought but, to his pleasure, Sanji barely broke a sweat. Once he’s positive that all the bandits are effectively immobile, he looks back over at the swordsman who is already gazing in his direction. There’s a strange pride in the blonde’s chest until he notices an arrow sticking out from Zoro’s right arm.
“You’re hurt,” Sanji says, walking forward and assessing the wound.
“Hm? Oh, that. I heard Aria signal for danger and one of the bastards got me while I was distracted,” he confesses without an ounce of pain displayed.
“Oh! So your horse’s name is Aria. How lovely.” Sanji realizes he’s smiling much too wide. He also realizes the swordsman’s gaze makes him fidgety.
“In any case, you should still tend to this wound, infections aren’t anything to be toyed with. Where are your first aid supplies?” The blonde immediately busies himself with patching Zoro up with supplies from the man’s bag but is stopped by a hand on his forearm.
“It’s nothing, really. Don’t be bothered…” The swordsman looks him directly in his eyes again and he has to look away.
“What was that back there? You were…incredible.” The honesty in Zoro’s voice makes Sanji’s hands stutter slightly.
“I’ve just never seen anything like it. Where do you train? Why do you only use your legs? How do you move like that?” His questions are earnest and filled with a powerful desire to learn.
Sanji’s chest fills with pride and something warm.
“My father taught me. I only use my legs because my hands are my prized possessions, I can hardly allow them to be roughed up in battle. I’ve spent nearly my entire life training my body to move the way you saw.” Sanji speaks honestly while tending to the wound on the man’s massive arm. When he meets the swordsman’s eyes he feels his stomach do a flip. A gleaming respect sparkles in his eyes and Sanji is entirely unprepared for it. He looks away again before speaking.
“W-what about you? I mean, I’ve never seen anyone wield swords the way you did. It was quite impressive,” he says honestly.
Sanji wouldn’t say he’s easily impressed but the man wielded three swords simultaneously in perfect sync. The way he moved was incredibly intimidating yet also profoundly beautiful. Every strike was decisive and no movement was wasted.
“Hmph. Well, I’m not nearly good enough yet. But one day I will be regarded as the best swordsman in this world.” His eyes are far off but he gives the blonde a sincere grin. For some reason, Sanji believes him. Behind that smile there’s serious conviction; he can sense it.
He decides to smile back at the swordsman and the man’s face suddenly becomes serious.
“And I know exactly how to get stronger,” he whispers.
Sanji tilts his head in confusion. Zoro looks suddenly fixated on him.
“And what’s that?” The blonde questions.
“You.” The man is deadly serious, standing and taking Sanji’s hand in his own.
“M-me? I beg your pardon?” The blonde stumbles backward reclaiming his hand from Zoro.
“Be my sparring partner.” The conviction in his words makes Sanji want to agree but he can’t.
“I can’t–”
“We can meet here at night and spar. Or we could even spar at the castle training grounds if that’s more agreeable to someone of your status,” Zoro offers while waving to Sanji’s entirety.
“Huh? My status? The castle? Do you work… for the King? I mean I thought you might be a military man but this means you’re of a high enough rank to use the castle training grounds. What are you a Captain? Lieutenant?”
Zoro suddenly eyes him suspiciously.
Sanji abruptly finds he may be in more danger than he realizes. If this man works for the King then he is exactly the kind of person he should avoid. Nami said the Vinsmokes were not well-liked by Germa’s government.
“I did work for the King before he passed. And, aren’t you a nobleman? You certainly dress like you’re of high society. Normally I’d steer clear of you but, your talent supersedes my distaste for nobles. So, the castle it is?” The swordsman nods as if they’ve come to an agreement.
Germa’s King passed away? He had no idea.
“Wha–no. I’m sorry but I cannot. I have something important to me that I must do. I apologize but I must refuse. It … would not be wise for us to meet again.” Why do those words feel like a lie?
“Oh. I see. Even so, I hope that fate not to be true. I would very much like to see you again.”
He means to spar, Sanji reminds himself, or more so the incessant beating in his chest.
In the end, he can only bring himself to nod as he turns to walk away. The first morning light eases into the sky and Sanji’s heart feels light for the first time in ages.
--
He returns home only to be scolded and chastised by a worried Nami.
“Where in god’s name have you been? I came to check on you and you had vanished! I thought they had found you, you massive idiot! Do you know what they’ll do to you?” She’s clearly very upset. Sanji hadn’t meant to worry her. She’s also suffering from the absence of her friend, his sister.
“Nami darling, I apologize from the depths of my heart. I did not want to wake you but wanted to check out the town before Germa awoke.” He doesn’t know why he decides to lie or rather omit his meeting with the stranger. Something tells him to keep that secret close to his chest.
“No, I’m sorry. I was just…worried. I couldn’t sleep without dreaming of Reiju.” Her eyes look weary and Sanji curses himself for making a lady suffer.
He guides her to the leather sofa and brews some tea to help calm her nerves. She sips her drink and Sanji watches as the anxiety eases throughout her body.
“Nami my love, I need you to tell me everything. If we are to find Reiju I need to know it all. Who would be looking for me? Why would I also be in danger?” He tries to remain comforting and calm.
Nami takes a deep breath and looks at Sanji head-on, something akin to pity and remorse in her eyes.
“Sanji.”
“Yes, dear?”
“You are a prince and well, heir to Germa’s throne.”
… Huh?
—
When Zoro awakes the next morning he’s filled with the vision of golden blonde hair and blue eyes.
Was it a dream?
Did he dream those long legs and their ferocity? Before he can be certain a knock sounds on his door.
“What is it?” He calls out groggily, his right arm hitching in pain when he lifts himself out of bed.
Once dressed he opens the door to see his advisor holding something that looks like a letter.
“King General, there’s been an update on the matter of the Vinsmokes."