Archive of Our Own ^beta

Reiju couldn’t believe it. When she had seen Sanji arrive at Whole Cake Island, she had thought it was all over for him, that his hard-earned years of freedom were finished. All because of their father’s ridiculous ambition. But what neither she, nor their father and brothers—and obviously not even Sanji—had expected, were people chasing after him.

She was honestly surprised when she and Yonji ran into the Straw Hat crew out at sea on the outskirts of Totto Land, and even more surprised at the state their captain was in. She had to wonder how he even managed to ingest that much armored stone fish poison, nevermind surviving it. She could only silently marvel at this boy’s luck in meeting the one person who could save him at that point.

However, she was sure that if the Straw Hats didn’t turn back, their luck would run out very soon. There was a limit to such fancies of fate and they would need nothing short of a miracle to get as deep into Totto Land’s territory as they had intended.

Even while they were riding the carriage taking all the Vinsmokes over to Big Mom’s castle, everything still seemed hopeless. No way out, no means of escape, no room to hide; not even a will to run. Not until their coachman pointed out the large figure charging at them from the direction of the forest.

“Your majesty, something is approaching!”

Reiju frowned slightly, leaning forward to see past her father. Was that… a tree? And someone waving from the top of it?

“Hey! Sanji!” the person shouted right then. “Haven’t seen ya in a while!” 

Reiju could barely believe her ears. It definitely sounded like Straw Hat Luffy, Sanji’s cute little captain. It seemed like the man’s luck and determination ran deeper than Reiju had given him credit for and she felt a smile pull on her lips. It was quite refreshing.

But then Sanji spoke up behind her, his voice weak and shaky, “What are they doing here?”

With that simple sentence, it was obvious what Sanji’s answer was going to be. Still, that knowledge didn’t make hearing Sanji speak like a Vinsmoke any easier, any less devastating, and Reiju only hoped Straw Hat wouldn’t blame Sanji.

Unfortunately, it would probably take yet another miracle for that. Reiju didn’t want to watch the following fight; she could see Sanji’s heart breaking with every kick he threw Straw Hat's way, yet, for some reason, she couldn’t look away either. The way Straw Hat took every hit, not even trying to block a single one, the way he refused to back down, saying he wasn’t going to fight Sanji… It was something Reiju had never seen in her life.

She had witnessed countless fights, fought countless people herself, and she had met countless pirates. But this boy was simply something else entirely.

And, as shocking and painful as this scene was to witness, her smile widened the slightest bit.

"You can kick me all you want but you're the one feeling the pain!" Straw Hat screamed after the retreating carriage.

Reiju couldn't even say she was surprised by Straw Hat's words in the end. Yet, she was still incredibly happy to hear them—happy Sanji got to hear them. Happy her little brother had found people who loved him this much and had the power and will needed to act on it.

And even with the gates of Whole Cake Chateau closed tightly shut behind them, Straw Hat's words still echoed around them. "Come back, Sanji! Without your help I can't become the King of the Pirates!"

They were inside the castle now, but Reiju still felt the dark skies above part just a little bit. 

There was yet a small ray of light above.

Listening to Sanji retell what he had seen and heard in Pudding's room, Reiju was surprised by the feeling of relief that washed over her. For one, Sanji finally had no reason to stay. There would be no wedding, no alliance, and no threat to the hostages come tomorrow. There weren’t even any bombs on his wrists.

And two, Germa 66 was as good as dead.

The only problem was Sanji’s kindness. How do you convince someone selfless like Sanji to let people die? Reiju didn’t know. She had tried and tried but she knew it was hopeless. For her, anyway.

She had to leave it to the person who appeared to have the power to sway the tides of fate itself.

As if on cue, there was a loud crash outside the medical room, followed by shouts that got louder and louder with every passing second. What did she say about luck and fate? It was honestly so incredible that it was absurd.

It didn’t take Straw Hat very long to speed past the door Reiju was hiding behind. Quickly dragging him inside, Reiju took in the state he was in; ragged clothes, wounds and dirt all over, a missing tooth, cheeks hollow as if he hadn’t eaten for days. A complete mess, yet so desperate to reach Sanji—and not even being quiet about it even though he was running all over the Chateau, Big Mom’s very own castle.

“We’ve been tricked, Pudding lied to us! The very girl Sanji’s getting married to said she’s going to kill him—” Straw Hat stopped suddenly, blinking at Reiju with a slight frown on his face. “Are you okay? You got hurt?” he asked then, gesturing to her thigh.

Reiju chuckled at the concern. “I’m fine,” she said, dismissing him. You really should worry more about yourself right now, she added to herself as she shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “And don’t worry, my brother knows about Pudding.”

“What?! He knew?” Straw Hat cried.

The genuine shock on his face got quickly replaced by rage, however, when Reiju explained the situation Sanji was in—or the situation he thought he was in.

“Hostages? You mean the Baratie?! I know them!” Straw Hat said, nearly shaking in anger. “If they’re really in danger, I’ll go back to the East Blue to fight if I have to!”

Reiju blinked, taken completely aback by the declaration. But before she could so much as ask if he was serious, a loud growl came from Straw Hat’s stomach. 

“Do you… need something to eat?” she asked uncertainly.

“N-No, I’m fine!” the boy replied immediately, a bit too loud and a bit too forceful. Like he was trying to convince both Reiju and himself that he wasn’t hungry after all.

His words from the day before echoed in Reiju’s mind. ‘I won’t eat anyone’s food but yours anymore!’ When he had said it, Reiju had thought he was exaggerating but looking at him now, weak and tired and with stomach empty, she could tell he had been dead serious. And she found she couldn’t say anything in that moment; not about his hunger and not about Sanji. Both of those were now fully in Straw Hat’s hands. And so, she only watched silently while the pirate gathered himself, breathing heavily as he tried to calm his complaining stomach.

Finally, after a few moments, he got up to his feet. And whatever it was that Reiju expected to see, to hear, it certainly wasn’t this wide, happy smile or the relieved tone of his next words.

“But at least now I know Sanji’s aware what Pudding’s up to! As long as he’s not being tricked, I’ve done everything else I can!” he announced, looking perfectly satisfied with everything.

“Wha—” Reiju only managed to say before getting interrupted.

“Thanks, Sanji’s sister!” Straw Hat called, his hand raised in a wave even while he turned on his heel and started running towards the window.

Reiju’s eyes widened at the suddenness of the situation. And why the window?! “Where are you going?! That’s not—”

She was cut off again, this time by the loud crash of glass breaking, and she could only stare with an open mouth after the man. Did he seriously just jump out of the window, at this height?!

“I made him a promise, but it’s not here!” 

His last words repeated themselves in her head over and over while she tried to process what just happened. It was only when people started screaming all the way down at the foot of the Chateau that she finally broke out of her stupor.

And Reiju… laughed.

Laughed, because of the absurdity. Laughed, because she didn’t know what else to do. Laughed, because of the relief. This man, this pirate, was certainly something; a raw force of nature, maybe. Sanji truly was in good hands now.

Letting her head fall back, Reiju stared at the ceiling above, wondering when exactly the dark clouds disappeared.