One Piece: Sea Devil Sanji

"Kyaaaa!! Who're you!?" Nami struggled to free herself from his hold "Let me go!"

"Relax, Nami-san. It's just me, Sanji"

"Wha!?" Nami was surprised by the familiar voice and stopped fighting "Sanji-kun! How come you are here! Weren't you in the Baratie!?"

"That's not important now Nami-san" he softly but firmly held her shoulders and turned her around. She tried not to face him to hide her tears but he cupped her face and made her look at him. He gently wiped her tears with the sleeve of his shirt "You are beautiful when you cry Nami-san. Although I would've prefered these to be happy tears than sad ones. What's upsetting you?"

"Nothing..."

"Do you really think I'll believe that?"

"I said it's nothing, ok!" she snapped at him and turned around "It's not any of your business...!"

"Well, it actually is my business Nami-san..." he smirked at her then he forcefully picked her up on his shoulder.

"Wha!? Let me down, you bastard! Where are you taking me!?" she yelled at him while hitting him in the back.

Sanji laughed as he playfully slapped her behind.

"Ahh! You scoundrel!" Nami yelped with a red face "Let me down so that I can kill you!"

"Sorry but can't do that Nami-san. You are my prisoner now" he carried her to the kitchen and headed for the fridge.

"What...!? Prisoner!? But why?"

"Did you really forget, Nami-san?" Sanji opened the fridge and took a plate filled with orange dumplings he cooked for the crew yesterday. He set it on the kitchen table and sat down in a chair while laying Nami on his l.a.p. He held her down not allowing her to escape. He grinned at her and elaborated more "You deserted the crew and stole our ship and treasure. So I am now capturing you"

She paled at what he just said "Uh... umm... Would you let me go if I said sorry?"

"Maybe. Depending on if you answered my question or not"

"As I said, not your business" she scowled and turned her head away in anger. But Sanji still detected the sad undertone in her voice.

Sanji frowned but then he thought of something. He held her in place with with his left hand and started tickling her sides with the other. She yelled at him to stop but he ignored her.

She fought back trying not to give in but Sanji had memorized her s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e spots by heart and knew exactly how to elicite the strongest reaction from her. She lost the battle admirably in the end and started laughing with tears appearing in the corner of her eyes.

"Ha ha ha... Stop... ha ha ha... please ha ha ha... Stop... I can't take anymore"

Sanji stopped his ministration "Feeling better now"

Nami took a moment to collect her breath and looked at Sanji "You are enjoying this a bit too much, aren't you? Won't you let me down now?"

"But I don't want to" Sanji pouted "It's not everyday that I can hold a goddess in my arms"

"Geeze, you never stop do you?"

"No, and this is only the beginning" he said as he picked a dumpling and held it in front of her mouth "Here, eat this. It's a tangerine flavored, your favorite. It'll sheer you up"

"I can eat on my own you know"

"I know but I enjoy feeding you myself. Consider this your punishment for pulling a fast one on us and running away"

She didn't want to at first but the delicious fragrance brought down her reservation and took a bite.

Sanji's face melted into a happy one watching Nami chew and swallow with a red tinge on her cheeks "You are so cute when you eat"

"Hmph...!" She took two more bites and finished the whole thing "There, I did it. So what do want now?"

"I can take a guess on why you're not willing to tell me of your problem" he pulled her left sleeve to show the b.a.r.e skin of her shoulder. He rubbed the blue sawshark tatoo on it "It has something to do with this, isn't?"

Nami trembled when Sanji touched her tatoo "No! That's just--"

He shushed her with a finger on her lips "The Arlong pirates insignia. Everyone of their crew wear this tatoo. They are fish-men who believe they are above humans as the stronger species and look down on them as inferior. So it's quite surprising that they would let you, a filthy human in their eyes, wear their mark"

Nami's expression was turning dark listening to Sanji.

"But obviously it's not that simple. After seeing you crying earlier, I can infer that you are not happy with your situation, Nami-san. It appears to me that instead of being a willing crew member, you are forced to work for them" he lifted his finger from her mouth and continued "I just want you to know that I'll help you be free from them"

"Who said I need help!" she glared at him "It's true I work for Arlong but I'm not forced to do anything. I'm a actually an officer under him so you better let me go or he will come after you"

"I'm not afraid of him or his crew. I know there must be a good reason for you to want to continue working under him but I already decided to free you from him wether you consent to it or not"

"...You must be a fool to want to challenge Arlong. He commands a hundred underling. Everyone of them is a fish-man who is ten times stronger than a human. He aslo has three other officers that never knew defeat. And that not including his personal power. He is as strong as his three officer combined. So you better give up now and let me go if you know what's good for you"

"Sorry but I'm still not impressed" he shrugged not concerned in the least.

Nami ground her teeth at his stubborness "Why don't you undertand that I don't need your help!" she yelled at him in frustration then started crying "Damn it, why can't you leave me alone! He promised me if I pay him a 100 million berries he'll free me and my village. I already managed to collect 98 million. I'm this close to reach the goal that I worked hard for the past eight years but here you come to ruin all my efforts. If he even suspects that I have anything to do with you, he'll use it as an excuse to renege on the deal and I would be helpless to do anything about it"

Sanji felt his heart wrench seeing her tears again "Do you even hear what you're saying Nami-san? Do you really think he'll let you go once you pay him? I bet the sick bartard is just giving you some false hope for freedom and having a laugh with his henchmen behind your back"

"Do you think I don't know that! But I have to keep hope or how would I continue living and face Bellemere who gave her life for me! I need to hope, it's the only thing I have..." bitterness filled Nami's last words as she hung her head down.

"You still have me Nami-san" Sanji lifted her chin up and looked her in the eye "I'll never leave alone. I'll die before I let anything happen to you. There is also the rest of our comrades. Do you think Luffy and the rest will not come after you. I may not know them for long" 'In this lifetime at least' "But I'm sure they will not abandon you and fight for you. Even that cowardly Usopp. So have faith in them. Have faith in me and let me help you"

Nami stared back at him with tears streaming down and nodded. She hugged him and buried her face crying on his c.h.e.s.t.

He pulled her tighter in his embrace and rubbed circles on her trembling back soothing her "Don't cry... It'll be allright. Trust me love, come tomorrow and you'll never have to worry about Arlong ever again"

Nami continued to cry until she tired herself out and fell asleep.

Sanji didn't move from his place and stayed watching over her while she slept 'She is so warm and soft. How I wish we could stay like this forever' he tucked her hair behind her ear then leaned down and kissed her head as he inhaled her sweet scent 'I love how she smells of shampoo and tangerine'

Sanji, having her in his arms, couldn't remember the last time he felt this peaceful so he closed his eyes and eventually he too fell asleep.

Morning came, Sanji felt something poking him. He woke up to big brown eyes peering at him. He smiled still half asleep "Good morning, Nami-san..."

"Wake up, idiot. I need to go to the toilet" she scrunched up her nose "I tried to free myself without waking you up but you kept an iron grip on me"

"Sorry" he smiled wrily then happily stood up gingerly carrying her bridal style "Allow me to escort you to the bathroom my princess"

"The hell you doing pervert!" she yelled at him whith shark teeth then punched him to the ground "Hmph, I can go by myself thank you!"

"But Nwami-swan~" Sanji w.h.i.n.ed with anime bumps on his face "I want to go with you~"

"In your dreams!" she headed ouside the kitchen "Go do something useful like preparing breakfast"

"As you wish Nwami-swan~" he twirled around with heart eyes.

After going to the male bathroom and freshened up, he returned to the kitchen and started cooking. By the time he finished setting the table with food Nami came back and sat down. She changed her outfit to a sleeveless green spotted T-shirt and black shorts.

"You look lovely as always Nami-san" he smiled at her and gentlemenly held her chair and helped her sit down. He then next to her.

"Thank you" she smiled back and started eating "Mmm! Your food is as heavenly as ever Sanji-kun"

"I made it as a sign of my eternal love for you. I'm glad you like it" he grinned happily and looked at her with heart eyes " Nami-san! D...does that mean you love me too?"

"Yeah yeah..." she answered half-heartedly used to the man's many eternal love confessions by now "So, my home town is in the Conomi islands. We will be seeing them any minute now. What are we going to do? Do you have a plan?"

"Hmm" he thought about it for a second and said "Nothing. Just take me directly to meet Arlong"

***

Two hours later they arrived at their destination. They docked the Going Merry and traveled on foot. They are both standing just outside the east gate of Arlong's estate, the Arlong Park.

"Hey, are you crazy!" exclaimed Nami as she held Sanji back "I told you, he is always surrounded by his men. You wouldn't even reach him before they swarm and capture you. Why can't you listen to me!?"

"Don't worry about it" Sanji waved her concern away and held her hand "I may not look it but I'm quite strong. You'll see, this will be a walk in the *Park* for me" he dragged her towards the gate.

"This no time for jokes! You have to--" before she could object anymore Sanji picked her up and leaped over the wall landing inside the estate. He set her down and headed in the direction from where they could hear loud laughter.

"Shahahaha What're you being so reserved for!?" in the courtyard just outside the mansion Arlong was sitting on a wooden chair flanked by his two loyal officers Kuroobi and Chew who are standing behind him as bodyguards. He is addressing a marine sitting opposite of him "As they say, money makes the world go around! Money's good! There's nothing more reliable than money isn't that right, captain Nezumi?"

"Chi chi chi chi... Certainly" agreed the marine captain as he took the bundle of money presented for him "As always you are a man who knows how to get by in this world..."

"Excuse me..." Sanji decided to walk in at this moment followed by Nami "I appologize for the intrusion, it appears I came in a not very opportune time"

"Uhm?" Arlong didn't expect for someone to interrupt his meeting "And who might you be?"

"Just a concerned boyfriend" Sanji lit a cigarette "I'm not very happy with the work conditions of my girlfriend so I decided to make her quit"

"Since when I'm your girlfriend!" Nami hit his head with her bo staff "Can't you be serious for one minute!"

"But Nami-san..." Sanji looked at her with a mock hurt expression "You said you love me this morning! Wouldn't that mean we're dating now?"

"No, it's not!!"

"Ohhhh, Nami!" Arlong called her when he finally noticed her "Welcome back, that was a long trip...!"

"Yes, it was..." Nami turned to face Arlong and answered him with a neutral tone "I just arrived and came to see you right away"

"Good! How much did you rake this time?"

"Quite a lot!... But there was a complication"

"A complication... Let me guess, it has something to do with this?" he pointed at Sanji who is staring at him "Is he your new victim?"

"Yes... As you can see, he followed after me"

"If he's bothering you, I can help you get rid of him"

"Hey! I'm not botherig her!" interjected Sanji as he pulled Nami by her waist closer to him "And like I said earlier, from now on she is quitting your crew. I'll be taking her away"

"Ha... Well, we can't have that" he gestured for Kuroobi to rid of him "She's very important to me. Her skills as a cartographer is the key to my ambition of ruling East Blue"

"Let her go, lowly human" said Kuroobi as he approached him. He was about to push him away from Nami but a kicked to the side of his head sent him crushing through the mansion exiting from the other side till he smashed on the outer wall. He fell to the ground unconscious.

"Wahh!" Nami was astonished. Moments she was afraid when Kuroobi loomed over her and Sanji and the next he was sent flying away. She didn't even catch how Sanji kicked him.

"So..." Sanji glared at Arlong and exhaled a plume of smoke "Who's next?"

"You!!" Arlong's eyes turned red from anger "How dare you!? An inferior species like you attack your natutal superrior! Chew blow him apart"

"Right away" Chew jumped to the side of the open sea pool and inhaled tons of water. After reaching his maximum capacity he faced Sanji and yelled *Water Canon* unleaching a giant water attack destroying the ground in its path.

*Rankyaku(Tempest Kick): Sen(Line)*

Sanji performed a front kick sending a shockwave that went through the water attack landing squarely on chew's c.h.e.s.t sending him spinning to the sea spewing blood.

Just at that moment dozens of fish-man lead by the other officer Hatchan jumped from the pool and surrounded him "You'll pay for what you did! Attack him men!" Hatchan pulled six swords then leaped foreward at Sanji followed by the rest but they started foaming in the mouth and fell face first on the ground except for the octopus fish-man officer who knelt down sweating bullets.

Sanji didn't want to waste his time with them so he used his Conqueror's Haki rendering them unconscious.

Nami and the marines were wide eyes with opened mouth not believing what they just witnessed.

"That took care of them" Sanji put his hands in the pockets if his pants. He smirked at Arlong "It appears only you is left"

"How!?" Arlong stood abruptly from his chair "How could you possess that power!?" he is shaking from a mixture of primal fear, the same when his fish side warns him of a predator, and blinding fury from watching his men falling one after of the other.

He was so angry he ignored his instincts. He punched the wall of the mansion and pulled the Kiribachi, his personal weapon, a giant black pole with six saw-toothed patterned black blades, resembling a shark's saw-like teeth. He picked it up easily a tentament of his strength. His veins were visibly throbbling on his neck as he glared at Sanji with hate filled eyes "I'll hack you to pieces! How dare a lowly creature like you bring dishoner to our noble race!"

Nami started shaking witnessing the fury on Arlong's face. It brought back the worst memories of her torment under him. She hugged herself and started hyperventilating in panic until she felt someone pat her head "Don't worry. I won't let him hurt you" she looked to the side and found Sanji smiling reassuringly at her "Just put your trust in me, ok?"

She gazed at his deep blue eyes and found her worries fade away. His eyes gave her hope again and the confidence she desperately need. She gave him a small nod "I trust you"

"Good! Now watch as your future husband kick ass" he grinned at her and walked towards the fuming Arlong.

"You wish..." she smiled at his retreating back.

"Die, filthy Human!" Arlong swung his weapon trying to bisect him but Sanji easily dodged under and blitzed crouching right under him.

*Anti-Manner Kick Course*

Sanji delivered a 180 degree vertical kick upward into Arlong's torso sending him rocketing to the sky. Not letting him fly too far away, he sky walked right above him.

*Concasse*

Sanji spun around and brought down his right heel on Arlong's back making sickening cracking noises. Arlong's eyes rolled to the back of his head losing counsciousness from the pain of having his spine broken in half. He crashed on the ground forming a small crater.

Sanji landed on the edge of the crater and looked at the fallen Arlong. He flicked the b.u.t.t of his cigarette down the crater and nodded to himself satisfied with his handiwork. He then walked back to were Nami's standing and kissed the back of her hand "Like I promised Nami-san, from now on you are free..."

Nami didn't know how to react as everything happened so fast for her. She brought her eyes to him after staring at the beaten form of Arlong "Free...?" the word felt foreign to her. Tears began to fall from her eyes "I'am free...?"

"Yes..."

"I'am free?" her face melted in the most adorable happy smile he's ever seen as the tears contined to fall down the side of her cheeks

"Yes" he repeated again and smiled back at her "You're so beautifull when you cry Nami-san"

"I'm really free..." he nodded at her. She slowly brought her arms around him and hugged him tightly "Thank you, *snif* thank you *snif*"

He silently hugged her back.

"So, what do you want to do with them?" after embracing her for a while he separated from her "I didn't kill them as their fate is yours to decide"