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After two years. Two whole years, and here it was.
Sabaody.
Sabaody, and in Sabaody, here was...she.
She.
That's the problem, wasn't it?
Sanji has been herself for only short of a year. Yes, maybe Emperor Ivankov did attempt to explain that "no, that's not true, she has always been herself and she was simply locked away from aknowledging that-", but hey, the old ways still stuck. She prefered to think of being her only since that year. A very eye opening, very intense and emotionally charged year.
Upon first arriving at the Kamabakka Queendom (and for half of his duration there, really), the place filled him with hatred. Anger, frustration, humiliation. He hated the pink colour scheme, he hated the weirdly over the top dressed people, he hated the attempts of being forced into a dress, he-
Well. He hated a lot of things. Especially accepting that he might not even actually be him.
But she? Oh, she felt free. Felt as if the shackles have been lifted from her limbs, as if a weight has been removed from her shoulders, as if that awful metal helmet has been finally unlocked from her face, despite being under the impression that he got rid of it years ago.
In a way, that mask really stuck for a lot longer than just childhood.
It was hard, at first, to get herto come out, but once she did, he finally left.
In Momoiro, it was an amazing feeling. Away from the prying eyes, it was a form of rebirth. No one knew, so she could exist peacefully. She could talk, she could walk around, she could cook and train. They, the residents, have seen him before, but only knew her, so she was safe.
Now? Now, she felt a sort of despair, a feeling of grief. A deep sadness and fear, getting more and more intense the more the distance to the familiar boat shortened.
He wasn't there, but they, the people waiting on the deck on top of that boat...they were waiting for him.
She took him away from them, and it filled her heart with guilt.
"...Sanji?"
She froze. Her breath quickened, a panic setting deep inside her chest, because that was the captain, and he was calling him.
Except that she already threw him away.
"Sanji-kun? Sanji! You're here! Our cook is here! I really want meat, reunions make me so hungry, I sooo missed your cooking-"
"I'M SORRY!"
She fell to the ground in front of Luffy, long blond her falling to fully cover her face. She bowed, as low as she could, deep sorrow striking through her voice as she stared into the grass and soil beneath, too scared to meet his captain's eyes.
"I-...h-he isn't here, not- not anymore, and it's my fault! I'm so sorry! He's not here, and he won't be, and-"
She felt a wetness gathering in her eyes, but she refused to cry. She had no right, not when she was the culprit, not when she was the one causing pain, not when-
"I'M SORRY I TOOK YOUR SANJI AWAY!"
"You're not Sanji?"
Luffy looked. He looked, with that blank, dark stare, so intense it could shake anyone to their core. One could make the mistake of thinking that Monkey D. Luffy was a childlish brat uncapable of any form of formality or the ability to strike fear, but both he and she knew- that look meant seriousness. This was the captain's look.
"I- my name is Sanji, but I'm...I'm not him. Not...anymore. I'm sorry"
Luffy kept looking, silent, unmoving. The shadow of his straw hat obscured his eyes, hiding away any sort of clue as to what he could be thinking- it kept it a secret, tucked away until the right words could find their way our of his mouth.
"Okay, Sanji. Join my crew!"
She gasped, confused, her mind racing. What...what did he mean? Did he misunderstand? Sure, he wasn't always the brightest, but there was a weirdly intelligent understanding stored in that rubber head of his, and she thought, hoped, that no literal explanation would have to force itself through her mouth, but-
"You say you're not Sanji- not him, Sanji. That's okay. That means we need a cook, so join my crew!"
And there it was. He smiled, that bright, white smile, with his eyes closed and hand upheld, with so much genuine passion and honesty, with this childlish simplicity, with so much pure love.
She allowed, at last, to let a single tear slip. How could she not?
Sanji took the captain's hand, and she...she felt light. She smiled, her bottom lip wobbly, a voice in the back of her head scolding her, because really, she was going to ruin that make up she worked so hard on if she kept this up, and her new tight fitted black slacks were probably stained from grass and-
"Captain...it would be an honour."