Title: Nothing To Choose – Part 1
Fandom: One Piece
Pairing/Characters: Strawhat Pirates
Genre/Category: What if?, gen
Rated: PG-16
Word count overall: approximately 5,000 - 8,000 words
Word count for this part: 385
Warnings: Character death, violence
Spoilers/Setting: Unspecific time after Thriller Bark, slight spoilers for Water 7
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece

Summary: A sum is made up of many parts. Take one part away and the sum changes. The Strawhat Pirates are made up of nine members. Take one member away...

A/N: A story told in ten parts. Feedback is very much adored and if anyone spots any mistakes, please let me know!

Sanji panted with the effort of heaving himself up. He glared at his smirking opponent and his goddamned overgrown metal toothpicks.

"Well, that's pretty disappointing. I expected more from the notorious Strawhat Pirates." Sanji gritted his teeth as the bastard gloated, trying to think of something to take the bastard down.

But nothing worked, from Collier to Bas Côte to Concasse; the asshole either dodged or blocked his kicks with his blasted swords. Not even his Diable Jambo attacks were enough to break through his defense.

He coughed and cursed as he felt and tasted the blood filling his mouth. Gingerly, he touched his rips.

Chopper was going to throw three kind of fits.

His enemy sighed aggravatingly, "This is boring. I don't want to fight some shitty cook. When Captain said that he would fight Strawhat Luffy I thought I would get to take care of Roronoa Zoro. I'm the First Mate. I shouldn't have to settle for the cook."

Roronoa Zoro. First Mate.

Sanji froze.

Nami and Chopper, crying.

His fists clenched.

Dinner was ready, but Luffy was nowhere to be found. Stored in the fridge were Luffy's lunch as well as his mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks.

The rest of the crew picked at their food in silence.

He shook with rage, hard enough to feel his teeth clatter.

Usopp, climbing down the ropes leading to the crow's nest, carrying a large sack and setting it down on the deck gently.

"Your shift isn't over yet, Usopp."

Opening the sack in response. "I couldn't. Not with that stuff up there."

Dumbbells and other equipment filled the sack.

"Don't you dare talk about him!" His rage gave him new strength and he delivered a vicious series of kicks at his opponents shoulders and chest.

The bastard stumbled back, surprised by the force of the onslaught. But still, he managed to block every single kick, pissing Sanji off even more. How dare he, how dare he? How dare that damn Marimo die? How dare-!

Sanji stopped. His breath left him and he looked down at the sword piercing his chest blankly. Dully, he felt a stabbing pain and heard his opponent laugh cruelly.

The air smelled of blood.

Then everything went black.