What's Not To Love

Chapter 30

Zoro trailed a little behind the members as they walked to surround Nami. He kept his eyes on Sanji who was staring at the grass with intensity. Even when all the members were together, not including the twins who were sitting a few inches away , it took Robin tapping his shoulder for him to pay attention.

"Okay," Nami started with her hands clasped together. "We have a change of plans for docking,"

Nami stared at the curious glances everyone was giving her and tried to think of the best way to approach this. She told Sanji that there was less than 12 days left now, and most of the crew knew what that time meant for him. What she was afraid to tell them, though, was how many days left they had exactly. She put her hands on her hips and sighed.

"Remember I told you a few days ago that we have at most 12 days left?" she watched the chorus of nods before continuing. "Well, that's changed. We have less now,"

Frank and Brook looked at Sanji with a hard expression before looking back at Nami. Brook was the one to question her statement.

"How many days do we have left then?"

"Originally, the log post was aligned with two islands according to my map. When we left Summer Island, the log post changed directions. The first island we're supposed to stop at is under serious weather conditions right now."

"So it's not a grounded island?" Franky asked. "It's, what, one of those floaty ones?"

"Right,"Nami added. "It's not grounded like the ones we've been to so it moves a lot according to the weather. Right now, we have the option to go there but we can only stay one day , maybe less. I'm not familiar with the conditions there and we can't afford to lose the ship or anything else,"

At this moment, all eyes flew to Luffy. If Luffy wanted to go there, then they had to go. The rubber boy seemed to be in deep thought. His arms were folded and his head was turned towards the sun. Usopp and Chopper stood not too far from him chanting prayers of not going near there to avoid dangers close by him. A deep frown took up Luffy's face before he stared back at the crew before locking eyes with Nami.

"We'll decide after dinner," and with that he walked off to resume the game he had been playing earlier with Chopper and Usopp, who were right behind him.

Franky's head was the first to leave Luffy's retreating back. "What happens if he chooses to go?"

Zoro watched as all eyes stared at Nami who was recovering from a blush. She cleared her throat and thought for a moment.

"If he says we have to then we've got no choice. It'd be best to only go on the island for the most important things. Like medicine and food." Her eyes finally met Zoro's. "How's the baby supplies? Need to stack up or can we last if we pass this island."

Zoro shrugged his shoulders and told her he'd check later. At the moment, he was, though he wouldn't admit it, a little worried about Sanji. The cook hadn't looked good for the past few minutes. He had been happy earlier, so what was wrong now?

"If we stop at the island then we'd have about 8 days left since we aren't staying, but if we avoid it all together..." Nami looked at Sanji . "We'd have 7 days left."

Sanji stared at Nami as she said this and immediately felt everything shut down. 7 days couldn't be enough. It just wouldn't be enough.

The group, excluding Zoro and the babies, all looked sad at the sight of a weak minded Sanji. Zoro, however, was confused. Why did the amount of days matter and what was at the end of the count down? He glanced at the members of the group. And why was everyone so sad about it?

The swordsman watched on for a few more seconds before talking to the girls. "Do you mind watching the kids for a few? To check their supplies."

Nami and Robin nodded silently at Zoro as they sat down with a sigh. Franky and Brook remained standing as they were both trying to figure out what to say to Sanji. Stepping past them, Zoro grabbed Sanji's arm, surprising everyone. They just watched as Sanji trailed behind Zoro who looked more surprised than anyone else.

He stumbled down the stairs and looked back at the fading faces of his crew members. His eyes went back to the short green in front of him and all he could do was open and close his mouth. Zoro never, never initiated anything between them in case Sanji wanted to back out, and it's been even less of a thing since their relationships been in constant turmoil. Looking at the bronze hand wrapped around his pale one, he considered pulling away. He considered stopping Zoro and telling him that it was really over. That this time he really couldn't overcome the obstacle between them and that he would respect his wishes and stay away. He contemplated the entire time they sped down the halls.

He caught the gold earrings in Zoro's left ear and bit his lip as they turned down the hall leading to his room. Taking a silent deep breath, he yanked his arm and stopped walking, making Zoro do the same. They were a few feet away from the room when they stopped. Sanji stared at every part of Zoro, starting from his moss head, down to his arched eyebrows, his sharp stare, his structured jaw, muscular neck, buff arms, broad chest, skinny waist, long legs and his eyes stopped again at their locked hands. He could see Zoro cock his head to the side and stare like he always did when he didn't understand something. As Zoro looked at him in utter confusion, he opened his mouth to speak.