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The beautiful town was buzzing with energy, people were chatting, laughing and working, while big and small animals were scurrying across the streets. Ikumi didn't see any of that. Her eyes only were focused on the man walking beside her. Yet, the tall, blonde cook of the straw hats was looking at everything that was going on around them. He was out for restock the Sunny's kitchen and she had been more than willing to help him with it. Finally, a chance to spend some time alone with him. Since the day she had met him for the first time, Ikumi did have a crush on Sanji, and it may not be hard to get his attention, but to remain in his focus. Whenever there was another skirt, he could follow, he did. But this time there was no Nami or Robin that he could dance around.
They were finally alone!
Well, except for all the other females that were walking around this town. Ikumi's former excitement soon was damped when she saw Sanji's gaze follow each and every woman that was passing by. At times she didn't know why she was doing this to herself. It was heartbreak over and over again but then he would smile at her and compliment her on something, and she was done again. There was just something about him that kept pulling her in.
"So, what do we need?". His agitated speech that followed about all the things he planned on cooking and what he therefore needed was just one of those things. He was so passionate in what he was doing and whenever she watched him cooking, she could see how he was living for that.
They passed a bookstore and one article in the window caught her attention. "Look at this!". It was as rather old book and big enough to break someone's skull with. The cover read 'Medical encyclopaedia' in big bold letters. This was by far the best and most reliable book about all kind of medical techniques and cures that could be found, and it was so damn hard to find one. "Sanji, I need to get this". There was no answer and when she looked around, her company was nowhere in sight. "Damn!". There was a marine base on this island, so it was a better thing to stay together in case they were getting caught and chased. One last longing look at the book "Stay here, got that?", then she followed the path towards the city centre to find the cook again.
Yet, when she reached the marketplace, she found her worry to be wasted. "Let, me help you find the right ingredients, my lovely lady". He once again was right at it and dancing around a young female in a short dress that stood beside a booth that was selling vegetables and fruits. Ikumi sighed but there only was a slight pain in her chest. He had done this so many times to her, there probably was nothing left in her chest that was able to break. How was it that he never did realize her feelings for him and how much he was hurting her every time he was running after other woman? But this was probably something that would never change and over the time she had gotten used to it in some way. Maybe it was time for her to move on, but it was hard to find someone in the traveling life she was living. There were times she wondered if the only reason she was clinging to the idea of still being in love with him was her being afraid that she would find no one else.
