"Maybe I could fall in love with you." ~ Zosan

5 | Mistakes.

Sanji ran and ran. He ran as if his life depended on it. Until he reached the town, that was, when he abruptly fell to a halt and took a few breaths, already practically wheezing for air. What was he to do?.. he was left asking himself that over and over.. until he remembered what Zoro told him one day long ago. About why he drinks booze. About the effects. It was like a light bulb moment.

As if on que, Sanji sprang to life looking for the first damn pub or bar he could find. Anything to help him cope.. anything..

By the time he'd found it, he was already waltzing right in and walking up to the bar, putting the money down on the table

"Three shots.. please."

The bartender took the cash and handed him three shots with a smile, which Sanji politely returned before throwing one back, only to tear up slightly and hold his throat, feeling the burn. How the hell could Zoro do this on a daily basis?..

Either way, Sanji tried to distract himself from it. Throwing down the other two with a slight pause in-between before he bought another two shots. He was damn well set on getting drunk out of his mind, and there was no one here to stop him. Was that a good or bad thing? Well.. We'll see.

By the time Sanji returned to the ship, everyone knew he was gone. It was unlike Sanji to just... not show back up to cook lunch and dinner. Their nakama were starved, and luffy refused to eat anything but Sanjis' cooking. When he came back, the sun had already risen, and it was close to noon. The cook was a mess. His shirt was untucked and buttoned up the wrong way, bloodshot eyes, thoroughly ruffled hair. He was stumbling as though he were still drunk, his clothes rumpled, overall just looking... dishevelled.

When the cook eventually returned to the ship, Luffy just sighed as he shook his head. That was a first, and the captain wasn't too happy. The crew was sitting around the table, having taken no initiative whatsoever without their cook to prepare them a proper meal. Nami was the first to speak.

"Sanji. Where the hell were you? We were all worried about you."

"Oh, Nami-Swan! To be so privileged as to have you worry about me?! If only I could die from such kindness!"

Sanji clasped his hands together, swaying on the spot as his words slurred together, the biggest grin on his face

The navigator rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, feeling annoyed as she watched him continue these damn lovesick swoons.

"Thanks. Where have you been?"

Sanji cupped his head in his hands, beginning to go on an incoherent ramble about how flattered he was to have been thanked by Nami and how much he loved her.

Nami was trying her damn best to tune out the cook's ramblings as he continued to drunkenly ramble about his love for her before she began getting angry.

"Sanji, would you shut up already? Where the hell have you been? We were worried about you, and all you can do is fawn over me the entire time."

"Mm?"

Only now seeming to notice the others, his smile grew wider

"I didn't even see you.."

It was hard to make out what he was saying, his words blurring together

"Sanji, have you been drinking?"

Nami's eyes were filled with pure shock as the cook stumbled forward. She was hoping that that's not what happened, hoping it was something else. However, his demeanour and slurred speech practically screamed alcohol.

"Oh, I'm fine! But if you'd like to worry about me more, Nami, my dear, then I'll be more than happy to receive it as a token of your affection.."

He seemed to just be droning on and on, as he would every time he saw her without fail, still a lovesick fool even while drunk.