Sanji hesitated in the bathroom before opening the packet he held in one careful hand. He sniffed the contents and nodded. This was the stuff, all right. This would do it. He licked his finger then slipped it in the bag, picking up a few crumbs on the tip. He contemplated them for a moment and licked them off, expecting a fouler taste from the dried herb.

"Must be mixed with regular mint," he murmured. That was a better deal than he'd expected from the tea shop he had bought this in, but no matter. He ate a few more crinkled leaves then straightened, pouring a little crumbled batch on his neck and brushing the remnants off carefully. He opened the door with a flourish and walked boldly down the hall, grinning. Dessert was going to be wonderful tonight, he thought with a pleasant warmth spreading in his belly. His Angel would be waiting for him like they had agreed upon earlier, waiting in the kitchen for his love. He quickened his steps and was soon rounding the bend to his wonderful new kitchen and dining area. She was there when he opened the door, seated by the aquarium gazing at the fish swimming by. No one else was around. It was late at night, their usual tryst time.

"Darling," he whispered lowly, stepping to her side and nuzzling her neck. "I've come for you."

"You're so melodramatic...hey, what's this?" He pulled her face gently about so he could kiss her. "Ohhh, you smell good." Her cheeks flushed, lavender eyes shining as she pressed forward, eagerly licking his lips and the inside of his mouth. Sanji resisted the urge to yell in triumph. It worked! He hadn't been too certain that the catnip would have the same effect on her when she was human, but she was greedily tearing at his clothing where he had placed it and nibbling all over his face.

"In the bedroom," he panted. "Quick." He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the room in the back. Once placed on his bed she went even wilder, tearing his shirt open to attack his scented chest with kisses. Sanji cried out with pleasure as quietly as possible, touching her breasts with gentle hands. He rubbed lightly, finding an erect nipple and teasing it until she began to toss her head on the pillows.

"Zoro," she panted, her tongue hanging partway out of her mouth. Her eyes were completely unfocused and she was obviously not seeing him. Sanji's eyes squeezed shut. His hands gripped the bedsheets so hard the knuckles started to turn white.

"Angel," he gasped. "Oh shit, I didn't know." He squirmed above her while she lapped at his flat male nipples, nibbling and sucking. A little tear began to bud from the corner of his visible eye, the droplet growing as he struggled to fight back the soft weeping that wanted to escape. He squeezed it shut and tried to turn his face away but he still felt exposed. Damn that guy. Damn him! He gently folded Elly in his arms and tried to brush some of the herb off his clothing, but it was too late. And why should it bother him if she fantasized about another man? He still stared at Robin and Nami. All right, he did more than stare, he admitted to himself. He doted on them. Catered to them. And she had to watch that all day...

Why wouldn't she want someone that didn't act that way? The swordsman never seemed to give a shit about any ladies. Plus, if she was excited by his body the ass was always pacing around without his shirt off when he lifted weights (every single day without fail). Sanji growled angrily, then jerked backwards as her hands encircled his neck. Elly gently bit him, purring under her breath and rubbing against him below. Her body was vibrating with passion, an electricity he'd never felt from her before. Maybe she didn't really love him in that special way after all. He blinked, shocked. What if she was using him because she didn't think the other man would want her?

What if he was doing the same thing to her?

Startled at this revelation he did the only thing he could think of. The blond chef pushed her backwards then locked his legs, creating an impenetrable barrier. He sighed wearily when he saw her confused face. Well, at least he could take care of this. Sanji rolled off the bed and stood, catching her when she hurled herself into his arms. He bent to kiss the top of her head briefly, inhaling the scent of her purple hair one last time.

"Maybe this won't be so bad," he muttered before sweeping her into an embrace and leaving the room. Moments later he was standing face to face with a furious swordsman, who had wandered down into the common area for some rest. Sanji squared off against him near a large couch and, although it was difficult, he held his ground as he started his story.

"You drugged her?! You ass! I never thought you'd be that low." Zoro shook a large fist in Sanji's face.

"Zoro?" Elly was frowning, not really out of the stupor yet but starting to realize something was wrong. The big man gulped and jumped back when Sanji thrust her at him.

"Here."

"What the hell am I supposed to do with her?!" He stared down at the pale woman with a glint of terror in his eyes. She sighed and cuddled against his white linen shirt, one hand toying with the bandanna on his left bicep.

"Eh." Sanji turned his back. "She called me your name, all right?" He shrugged angrily and walked off, shoving his hands in his pockets. Zoro stumbled backwards, blinking. He frowned, trying to think fast, but his mind was too occupied with the scent of lavender and the soft touch on his arm.

"Why'd you do that?" He blurted out.

"Hnn?" Elly looked up and kissed his throat. The big man's eyes widened and he fumbled behind him with a free hand, trying to find the couch before he fell on the ground. His fingertips brushed cloth at last and he half-fell, half-sat upon a large divan with her on top of him. She was sitting in his lap. Zoro clenched his teeth, his face burning. Her close proximity and her gentle attentions were starting to cause a certain reaction in his body that he knew he couldn't hide for long.

"Why me?" He asked, rubbing at the side of his face.

"You taste good," she whispered. Her tongue was out, licking at the droplets of nervous sweat on the side of his neck. He shuddered. Damn it! He had to get them out of here - she would have to rest until all that shit was out of her system. And if anyone wandered in there would be no end to the questions and teasing. So he'd have to carry her out because she was glued to him, her arms tight around his neck with no sign of relaxing. Zoro nodded. All right, that was the plan. Carry her to her room and let her sleep it off or something...and hope no one saw them in the meantime. He relaxed a little. He could pull this off, no problem. His big hands slipped around her waist and gently shifted her to his hip as he stood. She mewed faintly and clung to him, those dark purple eyes wide.

"It's all right," he muttered. He didn't know why he chose the words but they just fell out of his mouth as if they had to. "I'll take care of you."

"Thank you." She set her head on his shoulder. Zoro felt a brief pang of guilt and was immediately angry. Why should he feel that way? That stupid cook had done this; tried to force her into doing things that...

He choked, the revelation flooding his cheeks with blood and causing him to stumble as he walked out the door.

Sanji had tried to force her into doing things that she didn't want to do with him. What had that pervert said? She'd called him 'Zoro'. Probably when he was trying to - you know -- oh, shit. Oh holy shit. He quickened his pace, trying to reach her room before he roused someone. His boots clacked like they always had on the decking but now it seemed to be louder, echoing infinitely in the dim corridors of the ship. Someone was going to wake up and see them. His face burned hotter with embarrassment. If they did he could just say what he was doing - carrying her to bed because she was incapacitated. He paused to glance at her and saw she was quietly watching him, her eyes large and somehow sad. Her fingers were tracing the collar of his shirt, feeling the texture carefully with her finger pads. Zoro was about to say something when he saw her door in front of them.

"That was close," he said with some relief. But now he saw he had another problem. The stupid cat didn't want to leave him in her dazed state, nor did she understand why he had to go. "C'mon, you'll feel better when you get some sleep," he urged, trying to push her in the door.

"Don't leave me." Zoro bit his tongue. Fuck. Now she sounded hurt. Her eyes were still wide open but now they streamed tears as well. That was his fault, he snarled at himself. His fault! But he wasn't like that other guy. He couldn't comfort and coddle girls; he didn't know what to do. The swordsman respected strength and he'd always thought she was a rock. But no, here she was crying and upset in front of him. Clinging to him like a little girl and pleading for him to stay with her. Damn that ero-cook for taking away all her defenses! He swore he'd hit him the next time he saw the bastard.

"Shut up," he mumbled nervously, stepping through the doorway. "I said I'd take care of you." Once the door closed behind him his heart started to beat faster, his throat tightened. Panic? Him?! Zoro hissed with surprise the next instant as her arms curled around his waist. One hand dipped into his haramaki and stroked his lower belly.

"You did say that," she purred dangerously.

CRAP!

She'd tricked him! He swallowed hard and tried to pry her hands off his body but to no avail. Elly was too squirmy and she was very warm. Zoro choked. Why had he thought that? What was he doing, standing here like some big dumbass when she was touching him that way? God, her hands were both inside his stomach warmer now, caressing him lower than before. It felt good...no, he was lying to himself. This felt great - it was just what he wanted. He had this idea that getting what he wanted while she was uninhibited like this was wrong. The big man closed his eyes for a moment as she pulled the green fabric up, away from his shirt and pants. Maybe this was the only way she would drop her guard to let him know how she felt and maybe - just maybe, she was getting what she wanted, too.

"You really want this?" He asked shakingly. Her hands had unbuttoned the flap on his pants and were eagerly pushing the white shirt away from his skin so she could reach his belly. "You sure?" he husked, his voice dangerously low as she began kissing him from the navel up, shoving his haramaki and shirt off in the process. Zoro's stomach contracted violently, the muscles almost cramping when she started nibbling. She carefully traced his biggest, most prominent scar, the one she'd always wanted to touch and lick. He reached down and stroked her back with trembling hands. He'd lied to himself again. This didn't feel great, it was orgasmic. He groaned deeply, yanking off his upper clothing himself and pulling her up to his face. He shouldn't have thought that word. Elly gasped as he brought her close, her eyes suddenly focusing for the first time. Zoro's face blanched but he was never, ever someone to back down from something once he had started. He placed a large hand behind her head to move her closer to his mouth and kissed her.

He poked carefully at her lips, wanting to kiss her deeply but unwilling to be too rough. She sighed and parted them and he swirled his tongue at hers, growling a little and moving them towards the general direction of the bed. He had no uncertainties now. He would press her down on her little mattress, strip her, and make the very best love he could to the woman he'd wanted to for so long. The hell with how this had come about. The hell if that other ass had even had her before. He didn't care. She was his now.

Sanji sat at the edge of his bed smoking and staring up at the ceiling. The polished wood had some flaws in it. There were five in that little corner of his room. He blew smoke, carefully coiling it into a ring with an ease born out of practice. He wondered how many there were in the middle of the room.

One...

Two.

Fuck.

It was going to be a long night.