Oh I totally agree with you on the Zeff thing. As much as Sanji swoons over the ladies, his body and soul have alwasy really belonged to the father-figure who saved his life and made him who he is today (all incest jokes aside). It just goes to show how much his nakama mean to him now that he's willing to sacrifice what he's struggled so long to preserve.

Then again, it's worth pointing out that Zoro has never really (up until maybe these chapters) been as close to death as baby Sanji was on that rock, and maybe sees his body as merely a tool for achieving his goals. ... I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to say other than that I think it was more shocking (for the audience) to see -Sanji- offer up his life than it was to see Zoro do it.

*snort* I'm seriously trying to remember if Sanji has ever really touched Zoro outside of a fight or a splash page before that chapter (maybe a drunken celebration?).

Who's to say he didn't? *waggles brows*