Chapter Text
On an island of endless green and vibrant life, the Thousand Sunny rested peacefully near the shore. The coastline was lined with tall trees whose branches hung heavy with broad leaves and colorful blooms, and the air carried a sweet scent of pollen and damp earth.
It was a place where nature seemed to grow wild and free in every direction.
The Straw Hat Pirates had originally docked here simply to restock their supplies of food and cola fuel. However, once they saw just how rich and abundant the plant life was everywhere they looked, they decided to stay a little longer to explore and enjoy the scenery.
The crew wandered out in small groups, spreading across the island with their own interests leading the way.
Chopper hopped along with sparkling eyes and a small basket in his hands. He was almost trembling with excitement because every step revealed new kinds of herbs, flowers, and shrubs that he had never seen before. He kept pointing out different specimens while talking rapidly about their possible medicinal uses.
Usopp walked beside him, looking around with equal wonder but offering his own dramatic commentary. He pointed at massive ferns and twisting vines, saying how much this place reminded him of the dangerous but lush forests where he had trained for two years.
He claimed “I could spot which plants were useful or dangerous just by looking”, though most of his claims were just tall tales like usual.
Robin walked slowly behind them, her expression calm and curious. She traced her fingers along the bark of an ancient tree and observed the unique patterns of the local vegetation. She was interested not only in the biology of the island but also in its history.
She had mentioned that such a unique ecosystem likely held many secrets and perhaps even ruins or legends buried beneath the greenery.
Sanji walked a short distance away, smoking a cigarette and looking around at the scenery. He had to admit that the island was beautiful in its own wild way.
There were flowers of every shade and tall grasses swaying in the breeze. Yet as he looked at the overwhelming amount of green surrounding them, a familiar thought crossed his mind. He exhaled a cloud of smoke and spoke loud enough for the swordsman nearby to hear.
“It’s incredible how everything here is so overwhelmingly green,” Sanji said with a smirk. “Honestly, looking at all this foliage just reminds me of a certain moss-headed marinating in his own dull color.”
Zoro, who was leaning against a tree and half-asleep with his arms crossed, opened one eye and scowled instantly.
“Who are you calling moss-headed, curly eyebrows?” Zoro shot back, pushing himself off the tree. “You just have a personal grudge against anything that looks better than you. Maybe you're just jealous that green is a much better color than whatever ridiculous style you carry around.”
“Jealous?” Sanji scoffed, tapping his cigarette ash away sharply. “I have standards, swordsman. Unlike you, I don’t look like I walked out of a swamp after a bad haircut.”
“You want to say that again?” Zoro growled, stepping forward and gripping the hilt of his sword. “You’ve been asking for a fight all day, haven’t you?”
Before Sanji could make another sharp remark or Zoro could fully draw his weapon, a hand came down hard on each of their heads at the exact same moment.
A loud double crack echoed through the air, followed by twin cries of pain.
“Both of you stop it right now!”
Nami stood between them, her hands on her hips and a dangerous look in her eyes. “We just got here and you two are already making a mess. If you ruin my peaceful exploration, I will send both of you flying into the ocean. Do you understand?”
Sanji’s demeanor changed instantly. The irritation vanished from his face replaced by hearts in his eyes and a soft, lovestruck smile. He rubbed his head gently and bowed apologetically.
“I am terribly sorry Nami-swan! I would never dream of upsetting such a beautiful lady. Please forgive my terrible behavior.”
Zoro merely grumbled something about crazy women and rubbed his own sore head, looking away in annoyance.
While that small commotion had been happening, their captain had vanished. Luffy had not stayed with the group for more than two minutes.
The moment he caught sight of a path leading toward a town further inland he was off.
He ran with long, bouncy strides with his straw hat secured firmly on his head.
He stopped briefly to stare at a flower that snapped its jaws shut like a trap when a bug flew near it. He laughed loudly at the sight, thinking it was fun to explore these things. Then he smelled something sweet and delicious coming from a market stall.
He rushed toward the town square where vendors displayed piles of fruits that glistened under the sun. There were fruits shaped like stars, others that looked like giant berries, and vines hanging heavy with produce.
Luffy’s eyes lit up even brighter than before. He jumped from place to place, touching everything and asking the locals about every plant he saw. He was completely hooked by the adventure of it all and especially by the promise of new tasty things to eat.
Sanji watched his captain’s disappearing figure from a distance, lighting another cigarette. Seeing Luffy so full of energy and excitement always brought a strange sort of warmth to his chest.
It was the kind of feeling that came from respect and loyalty. After all, he had sworn to serve this man until he became the King of the Pirates. It was his duty and his honor to follow him anywhere even to an island covered in nothing but greenery and weeds.
He took a deep breath to steady himself, inhaling the thick, sweet air heavy with pollen. Almost immediately he felt a strange sensation.
It was just a small tightness right in the center of his chest. It felt like something soft was pressing against his ribs from the inside. He paused and placed a hand over his chest, frowning slightly. He coughed once, a short dry sound that did not bring anything up.
It must just be the air here, Sanji thought to himself as he shook his head and adjusted his suit. Too many flowers and too much dust. Nothing a cigarette can’t fix—or the cigarette itself was the problem at this point. Chopper had insisted, clearly pointing at his bad habit.
He told himself it was nothing important. It was just a small reaction to the environment.
He fell into step behind Nami and Robin, ready to follow them wherever they wished to go, pushing that odd feeling deep down where he would not have to think about it.
The group continued their walk through the island, eventually splitting up to follow their own interests and plans. Sanji stayed close to Robin, acting as her loyal knight just as as they headed toward town. Robin dear had expressed a desire to visit the local archives to learn more about the culture and history, and naturally Sanji was not going to let her walk there without an escort.
Brook followed along with them too, humming a merry tune in his high spirits.
“The beautiful scenery and sweet air is quite inspiring to compose a brand new song dedicated to this wonderful island.”
Elsewhere, Chopper bounced happily along a less traveled path deep into the woods. He had announced loudly that he was going on a serious herb hunting expedition and intended to fill his basket with rare finds.
Usopp went with him, carrying a large sack over his shoulder. He said he planned to collect rare seeds and special plants that could be useful for the crew or even for his own inventions later on.
Zoro decided to go with Jinbe. The swordsman just wanted to walk around and maybe find a quiet place to nap or train, and Jinbe was happy to accompany him.
Zoro had decided to wander off toward the higher ground, likely looking for a place to nap or train, but he'll definitely stop by a bar if he sees one. Jinbe walked calmly by his side, happy to accompany him so his lack of directions would at least be in control.
Franky and Nami had headed toward the harbor district. Nami wanted to inspect the market stalls to buy fresh groceries and supplies for the ship while Franky needed to stock up on Cola fuel to keep his systems running at maximum power.
As Sanji, Robin, and Brook strolled deeper into the busy town square, the noise of people bargaining and laughing filled the air.
The place was lively and colorful, filled with stalls and shops selling all kinds of goods. They had only been walking for a short while when they heard that familiar loud laughter followed by the sound of running feet and crashing objects.
Luffy came bouncing around the corner, looking very pleased with himself. He was holding something round and yellow in both hands and taking huge bites out of it. Right behind him came a very large and very angry man.
Earlier, the seller had proudly advertised the fruits that tasted exactly like high quality meat. To Luffy, this was the greatest discovery in the history of food. Without thinking about money or asking permission, he had grabbed some of the largest fruits and run off yelling about how amazing it was.
Chaos followed immediately behind him when the owner of the shop came storming after him. He was a massive man wearing a white chef’s hat that looked more like a military helmet. Strapped to his shoulders were two heavy machine guns and in his hands he swung a cleaver that was almost as tall as Sanji himself.
“Come back here you little thief! A free taste is not permission to take a batch!” the man roared. “That is a specialty item! Do you know how rare that fruit is!? I will chop you into tiny pieces and feed you to the beast pigs!”
Luffy stretched his legs to run faster, laughing with his mouth full.
“It tastes like meat! It's the best thing ever!” he shouted back without a hint of regret.
Luffy turned a sharp corner and skidded to a halt right in front of Sanji and the others. He looked back at the angry man charging toward them and grinned nervously.
"Sanji! Robin! Brook! Look look look!" Luffy shouted holding up his prize.
He spotted Sanji and the others and immediately changed direction, running straight toward them for protection.
"Sanji! Robin! Look what I found!" he yelled.
As he got close, he almost dropped the fruit, but Robin simply extended her hands and sprouted extra arms to catch it gently before it hit the ground. Brook stepped forward, spinning his cane to block the butcher’s path while Sanji moved between the angry man and his captain.
Robin held the items up and examined it with a calm expression. “My my. You certainly find interesting things wherever you go, Luffy.”
“Now now, Captain. Perhaps you should stay right here and let the adults handle this matter. You really must stop running away with other people’s goods you know.” Brook sighed.
Sanji sighed deeply already feeling a headache forming between his eyes. He stepped forward as the butcher came to a halt in front of them, red faced and furious, aiming his machine guns directly at Luffy. He was shouting about cutting that stretchy neck right off and grinding the rest into paste.
“Excuse me sir,” Sanji said, raising his hands calmly even though the man was waving that giant knife around. “Please lower those things. I understand perfectly how frustrating it is when someone disrespects the produce you take such pride in. As a fellow chef I truly understand.”
The butcher stopped, huffing and puffing, and lowered his weapon just a little bit when he realized he was being spoken to professionally. Sanji engaged him in a serious conversation from one chef to another.
He listened to the man explain how this special fruit grew only here and had the unique texture and flavor of high quality meat. Sanji nodded along respectfully, agreeing that such an ingredient was indeed valuable and should not be taken without paying.
He pulled out a good amount of his own berries. It was almost everything he had brought to treat himself. He handed it over with a polite nod knowing full well he could not ask Nami for money to fix this mess.
She would likely turn him into a small speck on the horizon if she found out, especially when each Straw Hat was already given a budget for the trip beforehand.
There was no doubt Luffy had already used his.
The butcher counted the coins, grunted in satisfaction, and finally turned around to march back to his shop, muttering about crazy customers.
Sanji watched him leave and patted his pocket where his wallet was now much lighter than before. He turned around to face Luffy and crossed his arms over his chest. His eyebrows furrowed into a sharp scowl.
“Really, Luffy?” Sanji started, his tone firm and scolding. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? And do you know how much that costs me? Stop doing stupid things!"
Luffy stood there scratching his head behind his ear, trying his absolute best to look innocent and sorry. He blinked his big black eyes and tilted his head to the side. He looked so genuinely clueless that it was almost impossible to stay mad at him for too long.
“Sorry Sanji...” Luffy chuckled, though his voice lacked any real regret. Then his expression shifted instantly from sheepishness to pure delight, beaming at Sanji with that wide, bright smile that could light up an entire ocean. “But look! It's fruit that tastes like meat! Isn't that just awesome?”
He took the fruit back from Robin and held it out proudly toward Sanji, his eyes sparkling with absolute trust and excitement.
“I brought it for you really,” Luffy said. “Because I tried it and it was good, but I know you can make it even better! Only you can cook it right, Sanji. You can turn it into the most amazing and delicious meal in the whole world right? I know you can!”
Sanji opened his mouth to continue scolding him or to complain more about the money he had lost. But the words died in his throat as he looked at Luffy’s face. He saw that complete and total faith. His captain trusted him more than anyone else when it comes to making the best food in the world.
He believed that Sanji could make anything taste perfect just because he was Sanji, and Luffy wouldn't trade him for the world. The annoyance melted away instantly, replaced by a warm swelling feeling in the cook's chest. He felt incredibly proud and happy just to be relied on like that.
A soft smile spread across his face naturally. He was about to say something kind or maybe make a joke about how of course he would make it the best meal ever.
But before he could speak the words, something happened.
Without warning, a sharp, biting ache pierced right through the center of his chest. It was sudden and intense, like something rough and jagged had scraped against the inside of his ribs and dragged itself upward. It felt coarse and dry, like rough bark or the edge of a thorn scraping along his lungs.
It was painful in a way he could not explain.
Sanji stopped instantly as his breath caught in his throat. He stood frozen, the smile still on his face, but his eyes widened slightly in surprise and confusion. He swallowed hard, fighting the urge to gasp or cough. The sensation lingered for a moment, rough and uncomfortable, before settling back into a dull throb.
He stood perfectly still. He did not let Robin or Brook or especially Luffy see that anything was wrong. He swallowed the strange sensation down and held his hand over his chest for just a moment, hiding the movement casually. He tried to remember what he was going to say before that sharp pain interrupted him.
“Alright then,” Sanji managed to say, keeping his tone steady. But for some reason, the words felt harder to get out now.
“I’ll make sure to cook it properly. You’ll see. It will be the best thing you’ve ever tasted.”
Sanji brushed the strange ache away from his mind and kept walking alongside his friends. He told himself it was nothing serious, just a reaction to the thick air or the strange plants growing everywhere.
He decided quietly that once Chopper returned from his herb hunting trip, he would ask the doctor to check him over properly. Whatever this feeling was he wanted to know, but he was not about to ruin the day or worry anyone over something that might just be a small irritation.
Until Chopper came back, he would just endure it and carry on.
They stored the special meat-tasting fruit safely with the other interesting items they had found while exploring. Sanji glanced at his nearly empty wallet and sighed to himself. He knew he could not spend anything extra now, not after paying such a large amount just to keep his captain out of trouble.
Luffy noticed his mood and tried his best to distract him from it. He chattered loudly about everything they saw, pointed out funny shapes in the trees, and kept telling Sanji how amazing the meal was going to be once it was ready. It was his clumsy way of apologizing, and Sanji could not stay annoyed at him for long.
Sanji stayed close to Robin, stepping forward whenever she picked up an artifact or a book or bought something new.
“Robin dear! Let me carry those for you!” Sanji offered, ready to act as her loyal knight and shield her from any heavy work.
Robin just smiled softly and shook her head. She sprouted extra arms from the ground or from nearby walls to hold her things, her power making carrying loads look effortless and graceful.
“Thank you, Sanji, but I can assure you, I'm fine.” She thanked him, so Sanji walked beside her instead, keeping a watchful eye out for any danger or trouble that might come their way.
Luffy, meanwhile was impossible to keep in one place. He ran ahead and then bounced back, then climbed straight up the tall trees lining the road. He swung from branches like a monkey and plucked every fruit or flower that looked interesting.
He bit into a few of them while he was high up, chewing noisily and declaring them delicious or funny tasting before tossing the good ones down toward Sanji.
At one point ,Luffy spotted a large round orange glowing bright and ripe near the top of a tree. He stretched his arm all the way up, grabbed it, and swung himself down until he landed right in front of Sanji. He held the fruit out proudly with a wide grin stretching across his face, his eyes shining.
“Here Sanji! This one's for you!” Luffy said cheerfully. “I bit a tiny piece just to check and it is super sweet! You will like it, I promise.”
He didn't wait for a reply before he was grabbing onto Sanji again.
He was always like this, touchy and clingy in the way only he knew how. He tugged at Sanji’s sleeve or his coat, pulled him toward things he wanted to show, or just held onto his arm while walking. Sanji was used to it. It was just how Luffy was with everyone he liked.
But today it felt different.
Before Sanji could even peel the orange, Luffy jumped up and practically climbed onto his back. He wrapped his arms loosely around Sanji’s shoulders, and rested his chin right on top of the soft blonde hair, leaning his full weight there comfortably.
From this high vantage point he stretched his neck this way and that, his eyes darting everywhere.
He reached out to snatch a bunch of purple grapes hanging from a vine draped over the path. He also pointed excitedly toward the town square where many locals wore hats woven or shaped to look exactly like fruits, leaves or strange flowers.
“Look look Sanji! That one looks like a pineapple! And that one is like a big mushroom!” Luffy laughed right next to his ear, his voice warm and loud.
Sanji smiled back automatically and adjusted his posture to carry the extra weight easily. It was familiar and normal. It was just his captain being his usual energetic self.
Yet, underneath that comfortable interaction something was happening inside him that he could not explain.
Every time Luffy came close, every time he grabbed him or touched him or smiled at him with that unguarded affection, the feeling inside Sanji grew worse.
What started as a small scratch was now a heavy pressure right in the center of his chest. It felt as though something heavy was sitting on his lungs, making every breath a little bit harder to pull in.
As Luffy stayed perched there, warm and solid and so incredibly close, the pain didn't fade away like before. It settled deep and stayed there, constant and throbbing.
It felt rough, like vines were slowly twisting around his ribs and tightening little by little. Sanji’s steps slowed just a fraction as he tried to breathe normally, but the air felt thick and hard to get down.
He began to cough. It was soft at first, just small quiet sounds that he tried to muffle by clearing his throat or turning his head away. He hoped no one would notice.
Robin was walking a few steps ahead looking at the architecture of a nearby building. Brook was strumming his guitar and humming a new melody he was making up. They were both distracted by the beauty of the island and the things they were discovering.
Luffy didn't notice anything wrong at all. He just kept eating his grapes and pointing out more funny hats and strange plants, shifting his weight now and then on Sanji’s back.
Every small movement sent another sharp pulse of pain through Sanji’s chest. His breathing became shallower, each intake of air sounding a little heavier than the last, though he did his absolute best to keep it silent and hidden.
Sanji kept walking, though every step felt heavier than the last. He was fully aware now that something was wrong with him. It was no longer just a small irritation or a fleeting ache. The feeling was deep and persistent, rooted inside his chest like something alive.
He tried to tell himself it was just a strange sickness or a bad reaction to the island’s lush environment, but deep down he knew this was very weird.
Eventually, Luffy hopped down from his back, but he didn't move far away. Instead, he immediately grabbed Sanji by the arm, and began pulling him toward a row of colorful shops lined up along the street. The air around this area was filled with wonderful smells of spices, baked goods, and fresh produce.
“Come on Sanji! You have to see this!” Luffy said excitedly, practically dragging him along. “There's so many weird foods here and you're the only one who knows which ones are good! You have to help me pick the best stuff!”
He stopped right in front of a stall piled high with unfamiliar fruits and vegetables, then leaned his whole body weight against Sanji’s side, tilting his head up and looking straight into his eyes. His gaze was wide, gleaming, and full of that classic pleading look he always used when he wanted something and expected to get it.
It was his way of stopping any resistance before it even started. He knew exactly how to use that face to make his friends give in no matter how much they might complain.
That close proximity, that trusting and innocent look, and the warmth radiating from Luffy beside him struck Sanji quite hard while something within his chest twisted sharply and scraped against his lungs.
The cook opened his mouth to say something or maybe to argue just a little bit, but instead a harsh, sharp cough burst out.
He brought his hand up quickly to cover his mouth, doubling over slightly as his shoulders shook. It felt as though something soft but irritating had tickled the very back of his throat and his windpipe, demanding to come out.
He gasped for air, his breathing coming in short ragged bursts as he tried to settle the sensation.
Robin turned toward him immediately, her expression gentle but attentive.
“Sanji? Are you alright?” she asked softly. “You've been coughing quite a bit lately.”
Brook twirled his cane and looked around at the heavy foliage and blooming trees surrounding them.
“Ah, I wouldn't worry too much about it,” Brook chimed in with his usual cheerful tone. “There's so much pollen floating around in the air here. It's very thick! You must have breathed in a large cloud of it just now. It gets into everything you know.“
Luffy pulled his hands back and took a small step away. The pleading look was gone, replaced by a slight frown and genuine worry in his dark eyes.
“Hey Sanji? You okay?” he asked. “You sound really sick.”
Sanji couldn't bring himself to look directly at his captain to respond. He kept his gaze lowered, staring at the ground, or shifted his eyes toward Robin instead. Her calm, beautiful face always felt reassuring and steady to him, like a safe place to look when things felt overwhelming.
“I'm fine,” Sanji said, his voice a little rough. He straightened up and adjusted his tie, forcing a small smile that didn't quite reach his eye. “Really. It was just... a bit of dust or something stuck in my throat. I just need a moment to myself.”
He excused himself, saying he needed to find a restroom to wash his face and clear his throat properly. He walked away fast before anyone could ask more questions or offer to come with him.
He moved through the crowd, looking left and right until he spotted a public restroom not too far away. He hurried inside and locked himself in one of the empty stalls, leaning back against the door for a second to catch his breath.
As soon as he was alone and hidden away from everyone else, the urge to cough returned. He doubled over, gripping the sides of the sink or the wall for support as his body shook with the slight force of it. The sounds echoed loudly in the small enclosed space.
It felt as though something was scratching its way up from deep inside his chest, something that wanted to come out but was stuck like sticking wet paper on a surface. It hurt and itched terribly, making his eyes water.
He stayed there for several minutes, coughing and gasping, doing everything he could to force whatever was annoying him out. It felt like hours, though it was likely only a short while.
Then finally, after a particularly violent shudder, he choked out whatever had been rising up. He panted heavily, leaning against the cold surface of the sink, his heart beating fast and hard against his ribs.
He waited until his breathing calmed down just a little before he forced his visible eye to open wide and pushed his bangs to the side so he could see more clearly. He looked down at what he had coughed out onto his hand and into the sink basin.
His blood ran cold.
There were petals.
They were small and delicate, shaped like any petal. They were a bright, warm shade of yellow. They looked clean and fresh, as if they had just been plucked from a flower growing in a garden, not pulled out from inside a person’s body. There were only a few of them, barely a handful.
Sanji stared at them in absolute silence, his mind going completely blank for a moment. The pain in his chest had softened into just a mild dull ache, and the terrible itch in his throat was mostly gone. He could breathe easier now, almost normal again, as if removing those small things had cleared the path.
But that did not answer the question screaming in his head.
Why in the New World had he just coughed up flower petals?