I Will Always be by Your Side (ZoSan)

Chapter 3

Sanji rushed into the infirmary right behind Chopper. They quickly made their way over to the bed and Sanji watched as the reindeer slowly laid Zoro down upon it. The swordsman falling limp from his large arms.

Chopper rushed around the room, grabbing tools and other things that might help Zoro. Sanji watched him move before asking,

"Is there any way I can help?" Chopper did not even look at Sanji before he answered.

"I think I'm good by myself Sanji," then he looked at the cook, "thank you, but I need you to leave." He finished after he pulled up a chair next to Zoro.

"What?" Why?" Sanji asked.

"You've done all I need you to do. Now I'll take it from here." He then turned back to Zoro quickly. Sanji simply stood still in his place. A part of him wanted to argue and stay, but another wanted to smack that part. It was not his business. He did what he could and should leave the rest to the professional. But then why did Sanji feel like it still was not enough. Sanji cursed these feelings to the deepest pits of hell as he walked out the door.

The cook stood with his back against the wall. He lit a cigarette, inhaled, and blew it out slow, calming his nerves. He hoped it would also calm the feelings of guilt and unsureness that were swelling inside of him.

Ever since they first met, Sanji and Zoro were never on good footing with each other. Always fighting about the stupidest of things to keep their dignity and masculinity. But behind those nasty nicknames and dick measuring contests were two men who were closer than brothers, and Sanji knew that. This was what Sanji tried to convince himself with while he took another inhale of his cigarette. This was why he suddenly cared so much, right? Sanji sighed internally.

It was his first time seeing Zoro the way he was in a long time. The very first time he could remember was in Arlog Park after he had gotten slashed by Hawkeye. His wound had been reopened and caused him to suddenly break into fever. But Sanji could see that it was not nearly as bad as what he was going through at the moment.

Sanji wondered how long he had had the infection. The cook could only guess since that morning, but like usual, he hid it from everyone else so as not to seem weak, but it was a hard thing to hide. Sanji cursed himself for noticing the signs and doing nothing about them. He had doubted himself in that moment. He thought Zoro was fine when he was suffering.

After taking a few more seconds to relax, Sanji decided he should tell the others about what was going on. He then walked to the front deck to see that nothing had changed since he had left only a few minutes ago. They were oblivious to what was going on.

"Oi! Everyone!" Sanji yelled to get his crews attention. Luffy and Usopp stopped running around and looked at Sanji along with Franky and Brook who stopped what they were doing as well. Robin put down her book and Nami looked to Sanji from her chair.

"What's wrong Cook-San?" Robin asked. Everyone walked over to Sanji, all of them confused and curious. Oblivious.

"There's some important news I need to share." If no one was listening before, they were then. They also started to look nervous. Shifted their weight from foot to foot. Fiddling with their clothing. Sanji knew he could not keep them waiting. He started from the beginning.

"You know Zoro and I had escaped the Marine Base and were trying to find the ship yard to get off the island. And you know that the Marines found us and began shooting. We dodged the bullets as best we could, but two got Zoro right through each ankle. He lost a lot of blood, but the worst part was that Chopper wasn't able to clean the wound in time. It got infected, bad. He's in the infirmary with Chopper right now with a fever and he's unresponsive, but Choppers got everything under control." When Sanji finished everyone looked either surprised or solemn from the news, Then suddenly the entire crew began bombarding Sanji with questions.

"Do you know if Zoro's ok?"

"How bad is he exactly?"

"Can we go see him?"

"Oi Oi! Everyone just calm down." Sanji said sternly. "Zoro's gonna be fine. Chopper just doesn't want anyone to go in the infirmary now." Sanji answered all of the questions in one go, hoping it would please his worried crew, hoping they would calm down. When they did they seemed to accept Sanji's answer. He could physically see their spirits rise and he knew they knew everything was going to be alright. So why could he not feel the same?

Suddenly Luffy walked up to Sanji and faced him.

"Do you know if he's gonna be ok?" The rubber boy asked. Sanji was confused for a second until he realized Luffy could see the doubt in his eyes. He wanted to know what Sanji thought. The cook forced a snort of laughter.

"Please. The Marimo can cut a damn ship in half. He's gonna be fine." Luffy looked at Sanji for a second to see if he really meant it. The cook forced as much confidence on his face as possible. Luffy grinned.

"That's the spirit Sanji!" He laughed. Everyone agreed. They all understood that Zoro was not someone to give in to sickness easily. This even raised Sanji's hopes a bit, but he just could not stop the growing guilt inside of him.

It's my fault. Sanji thought to himself. If I had just been faster, been stronger, I would have been able to get him out of the way of that bullet. None of this would have happened. Sanji shook is head vigorously.

No! It's not my fault! There was nothing I could have done to stop it. Why can't I just worry about myself damnit!!! Sanji walked off of the deck to be alone with his thoughts. His head just kept swimming with the two voices inside of it. It just seemed that no matter how much Sanji believed he should listen to the second voice, the first one just kept pulling him back to guilt and shame. What caused this? Where did this come from? Sanji wondered all while walking to the galley. Then it hit him.

The Marine Base. That was where it all started, and it was one moment it particular that confirmed this. A moment where Sanji got to know Zoro better than anyone else. Sanji thought about the moment, and it became clear.