Sanji Hears the Truth and Learns More About Lord Dinero

SANJI'S POV:

Sanji began walking away in anger. He wanted to rip his heart to shreds. It was too painful to love someone this much and have them not love you the same way. He started to wonder if it was better to not feel anything at all than to feel love and then experience rejection. His head was a jumble of old memories and feelings, and he wasn't sure how he'd make his way past this new heartbreak.

Just as his eyes started to blur with tears, Sanji realized that there may be some context that he missed. He knew Avisa wasn't telling him everything, but a part of him knew deep down that Avisa had to love him. There had to be a reason she was saying what she said.

I've already committed to eavesdropping; I might as well stay and hear her fully.

He started to walk back into earshot as he heard Avisa continue, "I care about Roberto, but I don't know that I ever loved him. I know that you wanted me to. He has a stability to him. But you know I'm not built for that kind of life." She paused. "At this point, I'm like you now. My heart yearns for adventures on the seas."

So...it's some guy named Roberto she doesn't love?

Sanji's heart flooded with relief and hope. 

Her grandmother answered, "Life on the seas is a hard one my fish. Are you sure you're prepared for that? I would prefer you stay here and try to find some peace in this life. I know I did. Even if I had to give up my dreams, I found happiness in having your mother and marrying your grandfather."

Avisa sighed. "I know, but I'm in love with someone. I think that changes things too. I think I could live without him, but I'd never be truly happy again. It would be my greatest regret."

So, she does love me. And doesn't want to live without me.

Sanji watched from the shadow of a tree as Avisa's grandmother looked at her confused. "Who is it that's making you feel this way? I've never heard you talk about someone like this before. You're usually too worried about your own dreams and your thievery to let romance get in the way."

Avisa chuckled. "You know the pirate cook with manners?"

"Him?! My dear fish, you can do better than that."

Sanji cringed. Why do people keep saying that?

Avisa sighed. "Why do people keep saying that? I promise he's a good guy." Avisa paused again. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm worthy of him."

Her grandmother looked at her thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose that's up to you. But Roberto being divorced as he is now could be an opportunity for you to gain a comfortable life away from all the poison and pain."

Avisa chuckled. "I don't think one can run from pain. I think that just keeps wounds from healing."

They sat in silence for a moment before Avisa added, "And I could never be happy with Roberto. I know that now."

Her grandmother nodded. "I know you never saw eye to eye on a lot of things, but I do think you've changed a lot and maybe you've gone further than minor disagreements. I suppose I should set you free my little fish."

"I still want to help you and Jaimie and James though. I won't just abandon you."

Avisa's grandmother snorted. "You've done more than enough for us. We have enough in our savings to last us for years and James is almost done with his training. I know you feel guilty about what happened to Carlos and to our farm, but there is no way to fix the past and you are not responsible for it anyhow." She took Avisa's hand and added, "You must forgive yourself and move on from this. Carlos never would have wanted you to live with the weight of his death on your shoulders."

Sanji could see Avisa sniffle and wipe a couple tears from her eyes as she said, "I know."

"Well then," her grandmother said, as she groaned and stood up, "It's time for me to hit the hay, I think. I believe your lover cook is waiting for you over by that tree. I know you like him but he's being a bit of a creep." She shook her head in disappointment before she headed up the path.

Shit. She saw me.

SANJI AND AVISA'S POV:

Avisa looked behind her to see Sanji by one of the large apple trees nearby. She smiled a little as she walked up the hill towards him. "So how much of that did you listen to?"

Sanji sighed. "Sorry. It wasn't my intention coming out here to eavesdrop. I wanted to talk to you but heard you talking to your grandmother and got curious about your conversation." Sanji looked at her worried. He wasn't sure if she'd be angry at him. He figured she had the right to be since it was an invasion of privacy.

Avisa nodded her head. "That makes sense. I would be curious too if I was in your position hearing what my grandmother was saying. She has always been trying to encourage me to try and stay on the island. Roberto was the closest person to make me tempted to, so she often brings him up. But apparently, he's divorced now so..."

Sanji nodded. "She was trying to convince you to settle with him."

Avisa smiled sadly. "It's more like settle for him." She sat down and leaned against the tree. She patted the ground to get Sanji to sit next to her. He sat and lit a cigarette before he took her hand in his.

They sat in silence for a moment before Avisa asked, "What did you come out here to talk to me about?"

He didn't know how to bring it up without making her feel like he was interrogating her. But finally, he sighed a little before he replied, "I feel like you might be hiding something from me. Or at least like you're not telling me everything about this Lord Dinero person. Why did he want a devil fruit?"

"I wasn't really trying to deceive you or anything. I just avoid the topic because it makes me uncomfortable sometimes. But I'm glad you came and asked. I hope you know that I don't want to keep secrets from you."

Sanji smiled sadly as he said, "I guess I'm still learning to trust you. But I'm trying."

Avisa twisted a blade of grass in her other hand as she tried to think of how to phrase things and be as open as possible. Finally, she said, "Lord Dinero wants more power for himself so that he can take over more islands. He practically owns this one, but he's still hungry for more. He's a mysterious man though and no one really knows where he came from or how he really looks. He wears a distinctive leopard mask at all times to hide his face. He's cunning and intimidating and uses that to his advantage." She paused and looked up at Sanji seriously as she added, "But he wants to be untouchable."

Sanji chuckled drily. "So, he looked for a devil fruit to gain more power."

"Exactly." Avisa paused for a moment and brought her knees to her chest before she continued, "I heard from Natasha—who regularly hangs out around Lord Dinero's men—that he had found one and his men were bringing it to him on the island where we met. He basically owns that one too—hence the booming poison and medicine industry. But I intercepted it in the building that they held it in." She smirked a little as she said, "They thought it would be secure on the third floor in a guarded and locked room, but they underestimated Alexei D'Angelo."

Sanji smiled a bit at Avisa's cocky pride as he asked, "And how did the amazing 'Thief of the Rich' get stabbed then my love?"

She frowned at him. "It just so happened that as I was running down the hallway towards the exit when Lord Dinero showed up early. He found me as I was running away with his precious devil fruit and threw one of his daggers. I just barely missed him with my bullet. But his dagger hit its mark. I managed to run still and that's when I decided to eat the devil fruit. I figured I'd at least try my best to make sure he didn't get his hands on it. And it was easier to run with it inside me than in my arms." She paused and grinned as she added, "Plus, I was hungry."

Sanji chuckled. "If that isn't the weirdness of fate, I don't know what is."

She looked at him seriously. "I don't think I'm keeping anything else back from you, but you should know the man is ruthless. Everyone knows his motto is "I pay all debts back sevenfold," and he includes revenge in that. If you cross him in any way, he will pay you back for what you've done. That's why I was so scared. I crossed him more than anyone ever has I think."

Sanji put his arm around her and thought for a moment. He wasn't sure what kind of man they were dealing with, but he seemed to be vicious at least, and that made him worried for Avisa. It might have been a mistake bringing her right into the thick of things. He was glad he and the Straw Hats were here at least to protect her, but he was still concerned. Something didn't feel right.