Cook

"Shishishi!!! You're so funny Usopp!!" Luffy laughed at his friend who was still trying to slow down his heart rate. Usopp shot him a glare.

"How the hell was I supposed to know you have a sea king as a friend?!!" He shouted out, making Luffy laugh harder.

They may have forgotten to tell Usopp about Levi, who almost gave them burnt fish for dinner. Thankfully, Zoro smacked his head with the hilt of his katana before that could happen.

"Hey, Usopp…" Nami trailed off as she was looking at the large slingshot on his sniper's back. He looked over at her, prompting her to continue.

"Where did you get that slingshot? It doesn't seem like something that is from the 'East Blue'." She asked and pointed it out, making Usopp take his slingshot off of his back and look at it fondly.

"This is my 'Kabuto'. It's a gift my father sent me with using those news birds. It was pretty funny watching that thing try to carry this massive thing in." He chuckled as he remembered the sight.

His answer caught the attention of everyone listening as they realized it was a weapon from the 'Grand Line'. He continued as he stretched it back.

"This baby was made using things called 'dials' from the 'Sky Islands' that can do things like store and restore things like fire and lighting. This thing is probably my most prized possession." He finished with a smile, making Luffy and Zoro smile as they held their treasures, while Nami was suddenly thinking about her treasure of a Village.

All three noticed the emotional change but moved on after exchanging looks. Usopp smiled at them as he went to load his weapon.

"I know you already have an idea, but why don't I show you just how strong this thing can be." He said as he loaded his most powerful ammo and aimed it at a large rock formation about a hundred meters away. Luffy paled when he looked where he was aiming.

"WAIT, USO-"

"Secret Star: Heaven Dragon Star!!!"

A bolt of lightning in the shape of a dragon and almost as big as the entire 'Going Merry' was shot at high speed straight at the rocks.

*BOOOOM!!!!*

Everyone looked at Luffy, who was looking at the rock with cold sweat dripping down his face, in confusion.

"What, Luffy?" Usopp asked him as Luffy slowly turned to him.

"I sense two people on that rock…"

"…" "…" "…"

"Let's go help them out."

"Sounds good."

.

.

They found some of Zoro's old bounty-hunting friends on the rock formation, or what was left of it, with both of them charred black and one of them with scurvy.

After getting some nice vitamin C in their body along with some burn oil and bandages, they were good as new. Well, as new as mummies could be.

They were sailing towards a place called 'The Baratie', a restaurant that supposedly floats on the sea. As it came into sight, they were amazed by the fish-shaped restaurant that was truly floating on the surface of the water. Luffy had stars in his eyes.

"Didn't I tell you it was amazing, Luffy-aniki?" Johnny asked Luffy who rapidly nodded his head in response. He was about to 'Moon-Walk' over because of the smell, before remembering something he had been putting off.

When he saw Nami gripping a wanted poster from the 'News Coo' with white knuckles and scratching at her shoulder, the idea of food completely left his mind.

He walked over to her and saw how she didn't even notice him even though he was right next to her. He peaked over her shoulder just in time to see the name 'Arlong The Saw' and some guy with blue skin and a massive nose like Usopp before the poster was ripped away.

Nami looked at him with such a fake smile it made him wince in pain sensing her emotions from up close.

"What's up, Luffy? I thought we still had a few minutes before we landed." She said trying to hide her panic and the bounty poster, which just made Luffy sigh at her.

"Just, follow me." He told her and walked towards the kitchen, making eye contact with Zoro and silently telling him to protect the ship. He nodded back at him as he and Nami disappeared. Usopp looked at their backs before they closed the door and he turned to Zoro.

"Should we-" Zoro cut him off before he could continue.

"No. Luffy is the Captain of this ship. Whatever happens on this ship is his choice, we just need to go along with it." Zoro explained to Usopp, who nodded his head in response.

Zoro lay down on the deck while Usopp went up to the Lookout spot. He almost immediately saw a marine ship that was about to fall apart coming towards them.

"Zoro!!!" He yelled out as he pointed in that direction, making the swordsman stand up and look that way. He scowled when he saw a marine ship.

"Don't get in our way. One-Sword Style…"

.

.

Fullbody wasn't having the best day possible.

His ship was in shambles, his subordinates were even worse. But, he did have a hot date waiting for him in his office. That made him smile.

His lookout told him they spotted what looked like a pirate ship with a jolly roger he had never seen before. He scoffed and ordered his men to fire the cannons at them.

'Stupid upstarts…'

That thought was cut off when he heard someone on the pirate ship shouting.

"1080 Pound Phoenix!!!"

A massive compressed slash of air in the shape of a phoenix was upon his ship before he could even think.

*SLICE*

He looked to his right to see his entire ship cut in half, just a couple of inches from his feet.

His face exploded in a cold sweat.

"TURN AROUND!!! TURN AROUND NOW!!"

"SIR, THE RUDDER WAS DESTROYED WITH THAT SLASH!!" A random Marine yelled at him. He also heard another one mutter.

"It wouldn't matter if the rudder was fixed, the ship is cut in half…" He felt veins on his forehead pop.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!!"

"Nothing!!"

.

.

Zoro scoffed as he heard the screaming from the ship he just cut in half.

'I still need to work on my 'Observation Haki', I was trying to cut that idiot captain in half.' He thought to himself before turning around, lying down, and falling asleep within seconds, not noticing Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku staring at him with horror.

"Zoro-aniki is still crazy strong, huh?" Johnny whispered to his friend, who snorted and walked away, not wanting to wake the sleeping tiger.

Inside the kitchen, Luffy is sitting across from Nami at the table, face completely blank, something that unnerved Nami to no end.

"Umm, is there something you want to-"

"Arlong"

She immediately tensed up and covered herself with her arms, an act that seemed to make Luffy sad before returning to his blank facade.

"So you saw…" She trailed off, dragging her nails on her covered shoulder. Luffy sighed.

"Nami, I'm your friend. I can help you if you need it, but only if you ask for it." Luffy said making Nami glare at him.

"You don't know anything!!" She screamed at him. He just stayed silent.

"You know nothing about what I've been through!! What everyone has been through!!What HE MADE ME WATCH!!!" She was tearing up, screaming at the top of her lungs by the end. Luffy bored it all stoically.

Nami took a few deep breaths after she stopped screaming, looking down at the table, all rage replaced with overwhelming sadness, something that made Luffy crack the table with his grip.

"Luffy…" She looked at him with tears uncontrollably flowing from her eyes.

"Please help me…" She pleaded. Luffy stood up, eyes shadowed by his hat. He walked over to Nami and firmly pressed his hat on her head. Nami widened her eyes.

"What's the deal with that hat?" Nami asked when she saw Luffy looking at it fondly. He smiled at her.

"It's my treasure." He answered with a smile, confusing Nami.

"But I don't see any gems or anything on there?" She asked making him laugh.

'Shishishi!!! No, Nami, nothing like that. Someone who I look up to gave me this hat, telling me to return it after I've accomplished my dreams." He explained as he was filled with memories

She started crying happy tears as she watched him walk to the door to the deck. He glanced at her over his shoulder.

"Give that hat back to me after I kick that fish's ass." He said and walked out, making her completely break down, not in helplessness and despair, but in hope and joy.

.

.

Luffy walked out onto the deck and all four already out there immediately noticed how serious he was. He looked at Zoro and Usopp.

"After we get a cook, we're kicking some dickhead fish's ass." He said getting nods in return. He looked over at the bounty hunters.

"We are gonna fight that Fishman guy named 'Arlong' and his crew when we are done here, so if you don't want to come with, just stay at 'The Baratie'." He told them getting horrified looks in return.

"Luffy-aniki, you can't mean 'Arlong The Saw', can you?" Johnny asked and when Luffy nodded, he almost fainted.

"You can't be serious, Luffy-aniki!!! That's a Fishman who has sailed on the 'Grand Line'!!" Yosaku screamed at him, not even making Luffy blink.

"I don't care, he made Nami cry, so I'm gonna kick his ass. If you try to stop me, I'll kick your ass too." He said making them jump before sighing and nodding, understanding now why he wanted to fight the Fishman so badly.

Luffy put away the serious face and smiled at them.

"Well, what are we waiting for?! I smell meat!!"

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The five guys walked into the fish-looking restaurant to see a man with absolutely massive forearms and very skinny biceps. The sight made Luffy hold back a laugh.

"Hello, valued customers! How will you be paying for your food today?" The man asked them with a massive fake smile on his face. Luffy couldn't hold it after that.

"Shishishishi!!! With money, of course!!" He shouted, making the man give them a real smile.

"Right this way!" He said, leading them to a table for four and Luffy immediately pulled up a chair from another table making the man look at him with confusion. He smiled at him

"We have another friend on the ship that'll be coming any second now," Luffy explained with a smile, making the man smile back and grab another plate, glass, and set of silverware, placing it on the table.

"A waiter will be with you right away." He told them with a smile. Almost immediately after he walked away, a blonde-haired man wearing a suit and a cigarette in his mouth walked into the restaurant through the kitchen, straight towards them.

Sanji looked at the group of five guys, more specifically the two who he sensed were very strong, around as strong as he was, and he kicked sea kings out of the sea to wake himself up in the morning. Especially the kid in the straw hat.

He wouldn't let looks fool him. That kid may look harmless, but he's never met a wild animal he could guarantee wouldn't attack when provoked. He walked over to them and slapped a scowl on his face.

"Hey, shitheads, I'm the sous chef, Sanji, and I'll be cooking for you today. What do you want?" He asked, upset he wasn't cooking for a pretty lady.

Zoro looked at the pervy cook who came to take their order and immediately decided he wanted to cut him. He looked over at his Captain and groaned when he saw that look in his eye.

"Please, anyone but him…" He muttered, knowing it was inevitable. Luffy smiled at Sanji and shouted.

"MEAT!!" Sanji looked at him like he was a five-year-old.

"That much is implied, but what kind of meat?" He asked, making Luffy smile wider.

"THE BEST MEAT!!!" Sanji rolled his eyes and looked at the others.

"Sake." He heard that idiot moss head say.

"Just whatever you think is best," Usopp said to him, Johnny and Yosaku nodding along. He scoffed as he wrote it down.

"Alright shitheads, just wait here a few minutes and it'll be ready," Sanji said and walked into the kitchen without another word.

Luffy watched him watch away with a glint in his eyes. He could sense very well how strong this 'Sanji' guy was. He would probably have to open 'Gear 4th' if he wanted to win quickly, and he isn't even sure if Zoro could beat him.

There was also something weird about him like his body wasn't built the same as everyone else's.

It's safe to say the sous chef piqued Luffy's curiosity. Now, he just has to try his food to make his decision.

A couple of minutes later, Luffy was eating the best meat he had ever had. It was gone in a second.

"MORE!!!" He screamed out making Sanji scoff at him and grab his plate.

"Savor it next time, you glutton," Sanji said and he went back to the kitchen with a small smile on his face.

Luffy smiled wide as he sensed the appreciation and satisfaction that came from Sanji when he complimented his food.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door getting thrown open. He turned to see a pirate who looked like he was on death's door with a pistol in his hand.

"Hello, valued customer! How will you be paying for your food today?" He heard the big forearms guy ask the pirate.

"Do you take the lead?" The pirate asked, getting a wooden plank to the face in response. Luffy turned back to Sanji to feel his raging emotions. It was rage, sadness, empathy, despair, and a bunch of other stuff he didn't want to learn about.

Sanji watched as his coworker beat the starving pirate for a few minutes before kicking him in the gut, and sending him out of the restaurant. The guests cheered when they saw that. He stared for a few more seconds before going into the kitchen.

Luffy watched Sanji during the entire thing and when he sensed him going to give food to that pirate, a smile broke out on his face. He stood up and walked out the door towards them. When he got there, he heard Sanji talking to the pirate who was eating his plate of eggs and rice like it was the only food in the world with tears dripping out of his eyes.

"It's damn good, isn't it?" Sanji asked as he lit his cigarette, making the pirate finally break down in tears.

"It's really good!! It's the best food I've ever eaten!!" He got out while stuffing his face. Sanji flashed a genuine smile when he heard the compliment on his cooking. Luffy made his presence known, though he was sure Sanji had already known he was there a long time ago.

"I've found a good chef. Hey, Sanji, join my crew as the cook." Luffy said bluntly, making Sanji blink at him before shaking his head. 

"I can't leave here. I got something I need to do." He said with a faraway look. Luffy looked at him confused.

"What do you have to do?" He asked the chef, breaking him out of his reminiscing. Sanji scowled at him.

"That's none of your business." He answered, making Luffy pout.

"No way someone like you will spend the rest of your life here," Luffy commented, making Sanji look at him surprised. Luffy went to say something else, but the pirate sitting on the ground with a now-empty plate beat him to it.

"Excuse me?" He asked politely, making the two look at him.

"You said 'your crew', didn't you? Are you a pirate?" The man asked getting a smile and nod in return. He shivered before looking back at him.

"Take my advice kid, don't go to the 'Grand Line'. It's full of monsters normal people will never be able to beat." The man advised Luffy, making him burst out laughing.

"Shishishishi!!! That's just loser talk!!! If you're talking like that, you're too weak!!" Luffy said bluntly, making Sanji look at him in a new light and the pirate in anger.

"You don't know anything!! I'm a pirate with a bounty of 12 million berries, my captain has a bounty of 17 million, and we had a fleet of 5 thousand pirates, but we were wiped out before we even knew what happened!!" The man said, shivering as he remembered what happened a couple of days ago. Luffy just laughed at him again.

"Shishishi!! Like I said, you're too weak!!" He said as the man got up and asked Sanji for a dinghy to leave, which was provided. The man had veins bursting on his forehead before he sighed in resignation, realizing there was some truth to the harsh words. He looked at Sanji with a smile

"Thank you so much, Sanji! I promise I'll repay this someday!" He said as he sailed away, making Luffy laugh again and Sanji smile before putting out his cigarette and walking back towards the restaurant. He looked at Luffy as he walked back inside.

"Why are you still here, anyway? Didn't you finish your meal a while ago?" He asked making Luffy smile at him.

"I'm not leaving until you join my crew!!" Sanji felt his blood pressure skyrocket. He screamed at the dense idiot.

"I already refused you!"

"And I refused your refusal!"

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.

They walked back into the restaurant, and as soon as they did, Sanji caught a haki-covered foot to the face.

*WHAM*

"Oww... What the hell, old geezer?!" He shouted holding his now-bloody nose. Zeff glared at him.

"Get the hell back to work!!" The head chef shouted, getting Sanji to reflexively get up and disappear to the kitchen. Zeff looked at the kid who dodged his kick with a raised eyebrow.

'There's not a lot of people that could dodge that kick on the 'Grand Line', let alone the 'East Blue'.' He thought to himself as he stroked his beard. He looked at the kid for another minute before asking him a question.

"Who the hell are you, brat?" He asked, making the kid perk up immediately. He puffed his chest out proudly before answering.

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm going to be the Pirate King!!" He shouted, making the entire restaurant go silent and stare at him. Zeff watched as the kid, completely unbothered by the stares directed at him, sniffed the air like a dog and sprinted back to what he could only assume were his friends with how strong that green-haired swordsman was.

He decided that this was the man he would trust Sanji to. The one who will help him achieve his dream. Now, he has to do something about that annoying stubbornness... Where the hell did he learn that from, anyway?

Luffy ran back to his table because he smelled more meat there. When he returned, he saw Nami sitting with everyone else with his hat still on her head. He smiled as it seemed like she had a massive weight taken off of her chest. There was still a bit there, but that'll go away when he makes some sushi.

He sat next to her and she smiled at him before turning back to Usopp and continuing to talk about whatever the hell a 'Clima-Tact' was. He went to start eating his new serving of meat, but that's when he sensed it.

An aura that was as strong, if not stronger, than his Grandpa, invaded his senses. He gripped the hilt of his cutlass instinctually as he made eye contact with Zoro, who was already standing up to walk outside. He looked at Usopp who was pale white and shaking. Luffy got up to follow Zoro outside and everyone else at the table followed him.

When Luffy got outside, he saw Zoro tying his green bandanna on his head, eyes locked on a small, coffin-like, boat that could only fit one person. The person sitting on this weird boat, however, was the reason for that feeling.

The man was wearing black-and-red, ornate clothing, short-cropped, jet-black hair that is slicked back, as well as a short beard, mustache, and sideburns that point upwards in a "V" shape. The most eye-catching part of the man was the curved, single-edged black blade on his back. 

This man's appearance sent the Krieg Pirates, who were coming to get food and take 'The Baratie' as their own, into a panicked frenzy. They went to shoot their guns and cannons at him, only for the man to glance at them, causing them to fait.

"What just happened?" "How did that guy faint?" 

The people who witnessed this were completely blown away, wondering how the man caused someone to faint with just a glance. Well, almost everyone.

"Oh shit..." Zeff muttered to himself as he saw and sensed the man. He looked over at Sanji to see him in a cold sweat.

"What kind of monster is that?" Sanji asked himself, never feeling something like this in his life. That feeling was wiped away when he saw the moss-head slowly walking towards the monster in human skin.

He looked over to Luffy to see a massive smile on his face while he gripped the railing tightly. He could sense the worry deep in those excited eyes though. He turned back when the sewage head started talking.

"These small fries bore you, right? Why don't I try to give you some fun? It's about time we meet, Dracule Mihawk." Zoro said as he unsheathed his 'Wado Ichimonji' and placed it in his mouth. The man looked around at everyone, stopping on Luffy and the straw hat on Nami's head for a minute, before settling on Zoro impassively but acknowledged his presence, unlike the Krieg Pirates.

Dracule Mihawk was bored. He's been bored for a while. Red Hair is the only one who can keep up with him in swordsmanship, and the gap is only growing as he keeps getting stronger. He seeks the enjoyment of a fight, preferably not against a drunk, but he can't be picky.

He came to the 'East Blue' both looking for something exciting and to get rid of the idiots that disturbed his nap. It was just before he left the 'Grand Line' that he got a call from the Fleet Admiral. He was told he needed to check the strength of some newcomers, not catch them. Mainly because the Fleet Admiral knew that if he told Mihawk to go catch or fight someone, he would do the opposite to show he didn't need to listen to them.

He almost just hung up on the spot, but he ended up asking who the rookie was and the answer piqued his interest. 'Monkey D. Luffy' was the name heard from Red Hair around a decade ago, saying how much the kid reminded him of his old Captain.

So, he followed those previously-mentioned nap-ruining idiots and was going to look for the rookie after. Who would've known that both the idiots and the kid would be at the same sea restaurant?

He noticed his friend's hat on an orange-haired girl who was standing next to his target, confirming that this was the same kid he heard about a while ago. His eyes went to the blonde in a suit and long-nose kid, sensing that their strength wasn't meant for this sea.

He finally settled on the swordsman who was drawing his blades in front of him. He could sense that the swordsman in front of him would be stronger than even some Vice-Admirals, which was incredible for the 'East Blue'.

Too bad he was the strongest in the world.

Zoro saw as the man he had as his goal look him in the same way he looks at nameless grunts. The thought made him scowl.

He knew he was strong, but he also knew he wasn't the strongest yet. His Master had told him so. That was proven when he met Luffy and witnessed the incredible things he could do.

He knew he probably wasn't going to win, but there was no way in hell he wasn't going to try. Even if he lost, he had to bridge the gap more, had to close the distance more. If he dies, his dream was never meant to be.

Zoro watched as Mihawk looked back at Luffy before he took out the blade on his neck.

"The Fleet Admiral asked me to test your strength..." Mihawk trailed off as he disappeared.

*TING*

The next thing anyone knew, Mihawk was in front of Luffy, blade pointed at his heart, being held back by Zoro. Zoro looked pissed off.

"If you want to harm my Captain, you have to kill me first!!" He said with a dark tone that made Mihawk very slightly smirk before he disappeared again and reappeared on his small coffin boat. He started drifting away as he looked back at Zoro.

"I passed an abounded island on the way here. You can't use your full strength here, can you?" Mihawk asked getting a smirk from Zoro. Luffy looked at Nami with a smile.

"Can you go grab the 'Merry' and bring it over here so we can follow him?" He asked making Nami smile and nod at him before going to do as asked. Luffy looked at his Vice-Captain who was barely keeping himself together with how excited he was.

"You ready?" Luffy asked. Zoro looked at him with a Manic grin on his face and an ecstatic look in his eyes.

"I've been waiting for this day for more than a decade. Of course, I'm ready." He said as he jumped onto the now-close 'Merry' and sat down with his legs crossed to meditate. Luffy laughed at that.

"Shishishishi!! Sanji, do you wanna come watch with us?" Luffy asked the chef, getting him to look at him for a second before nodding and jumping onto the ship. Luffy had a massive smile on his face as he jumped up onto his favorite spot and pointed in the direction that Mihawk disappeared in.

"Yosh!!! Set Sail!!!"