Chapter Four

Five hours.

They have been at it for five hours. They have been onloading the ship for five hours. Nami felt like her hands would come apart any second. Zoro felt irritated as he pulled at the neck of his shirt and flapped it a bit to create some friction of air. Usopp had collapsed onto the grassy deck, breathing heavily and feeling dizzy from the bright sun. Yes, despite the dark weather earlier in the morning, the sun actually decided to say hello to Mock Town come noon. Sanji groaned in annoyance sitting down on one of the crates and taking a deep breath.

After Sanji's hearty breakfast of brown soup and bread with chunks of cabbages, they spent the last five hours loading the ship with the order supplies that had been brought to the foot of their ship.

Luffy on the other hand was smiling and just a little bit sweaty. This straw hat was on his head as usual, shielding his face from the blazing hot sun.

"Awe, come on crew, don't tell me that you are tired already?" Luffy chirped cheerily clapping his hands.

" What the fuck is wrong with you? "Usopp gasped looking up at Luffy from where he lay on the deck." How are you not tired? "

"I don't know, probably another effect of the gum gum fruit, either way I feel fine actually." Luffy shrugged

" Give us a break Luffy, we've been working for hours, we haven't even had a proper lunch yet. Fuck, I'm craving meat! "Zoro moaned.

" Right?" Nami added staring at him like he'd read the words in her heart. Biting her lips, she slapped her hand down in her lap and got up from where she had previously sat." You know what? Let's get some lunch right now preferable with meat inside, yeah? "

" Yes please, before I die before my time." Usopp sprung to his feet at the hearing of meat, a wide smile on his face as his stomach began to groan.

" Guys, guys, we have more crates remaining and have you forgotten we have to offload? If we take a break to got out to eat and get back late we'll never finish in time to sail ship from dock tommorow." Sanji suddenly reasoned crushing their hopes. He stared at their glum face, he too was glum. No one exactly liked to load and offload the ships provisions especially with just a mere party of five. In fact they dreaded it, and it wasn't like it was safe to pay someone to do it for them without the risk of something being stolen.

"Way to crush someone's hope, Blondie." Nami hissed throwing him a sour look.

"As much as I'd hate to admit it, Sanji's right. We need to finish this." Zoro added getting up" Come on, we can do this."

Usopp shrugged halfheartedly as he moved behind Luffy to grab at the rope. Nami followed with a reluctant grumble.

"Heave-ho" Luffy exclaimed cheerily as the crew grabbed on to the thick rope that went over the long hard wooden crane and down to the dock where a crate of supplies was tied to the other end and pulled.

Their muscle strained painfully against the pull of the rope. The weight of the crate was impossible, and that was only meant for their booze stock. When they had hauled to crate up just above the deck, Usopp let go off the rope and moved on to pull the crane towards their open cargo hold and stop when the crate was just at the middle.

"Leash out!" Usopp yelled giving them a thumbs up from where he stood.

Seeing his signal, the crew began to slowly, gradually and carefully loosen their grip on the thick rope. Their palms burned despite it being protected by the leather gloves, but they couldn't stop now. Their hundred Berry worth of booze hung on the shoulders of their strength. The crate was lowered safely into the cargo hold, and only then did they release the breath of relief.

"Ahhhhh, that was scary. Our booze." Nami let out an exaggerated sigh, placing her hands on her hips and raising her head to the hot sun.

"Come on guys, there are still three more crates to go." Luffy announced looking back down on the dock where three crates sat on the wooden bridge.

"You say it like it's easy." Usopp pouted.

"Well how else do you want me to say it? We still have three more to haul in and we've got to finish it today because if we don't them there will always be tommorow. But we leave tommorow morning. Plus, let's face the fact here, we have no one to do it for us. "

" Three more right? "Zoro huffed jumping down from the deck and onto the dock in a swift move. He walked over to one of the crates, everyone's eyes following his every movement. He looked up from where he stood and waved his hand." Pull down the carrier let me load the crate!"

"Sure!" Sanji yelled after him, moving to pull the crane carrier from above the deck.

In two hours they had successfully onloaded the crates into the cargo hold and had gotten on to offloading the things that needed to be placed. The the booze in the wine cellar, the livestock in the wiid cages, sick bay materials, etc. Sanji took to offloading the kitchen materials, Luffy took to the livestock, Zoro took to the weaponry, Usopp took the stationeries and ship materials, Nami took to the rest.

They all bounded into the kitchen in exhaustion. Their clothes drenched with sweat and their muscles screaming, they all wished it took months before they completely ran out of items.

"Ahhhh, that was so hard, I'm so glad we're done!!" Nami was the first to cheer when they had all settled down on the couch in the dinning." I'd definitely kill for that meat now."

"Sure" Sanji chuckled walking over to the dining where they had all draped themselves over the couch in exhaustion, with a tray of drinks." But first, you need something cool to hydrate."

"Is that cold beer." Usopp's eyes sparkled at the sight of the tray.

"No, it's something much more sweeter." He announced placing the tray on the dining. He watched in hopeful anticipation as everyone got up in unison and each made a grab for a mug. There was anticipation in their eyes, it was always exciting to try something new made by Sanji because it always came about much more better than his lasts.

Luffy looked into the reddish orange liquid content in the mug and discreetly sniffed at it. It wasn't that it looked bad or weird, he just liked to smell his drink before taking the content down to where his food would be, a bright smile spread across his face as he scent hit his nostrils." Is this a fruit juice? "

" Whoa, really? I haven't had a fruit juice in like forever." Usopp commented taking a sip of the cool apple and cherry squeezed juice. The flavour burst onto his taste buds, it was sweet and cold and just perfectly and expertly made. His eyes shone like stars in happiness as he clutched his mug like his life depends on it

" I don't think I've ever had a fruit juice before. "Zoro hummed taking a sip. Nami couldn't help her smile as she watched Zoro look at the refreshing drink in surprise, a green brow raised. From the distant scent of the drink she could tell the apple and cherry apart. She loved fruits so much, with oranges and tangerines being her favorite, she even planted them on the grassy deck of the Thousand Sunny. She drunk a lot of fruits juices she'd make with her mother and sister. But she's got to admit, never has she tasted one so delicious before.

"Hmmm" Luffy exclaimed slamming his now empty mug on the table with a wide grin." So delicious, you're awesome Sanji!"

A tiny shade of pink adorned the the cheeks of the blonde cook. A compliment was nice. " Oh, I try."

"You've got to stop being modest Sanji, give yourself some credit." Nami walked over to him and nudged him playfully on his arm. She smiled at his bashful expression, knowing how much the crews compliments meant a lot to him. Serving and cooking at that seaside restaurant, no one exactly appreciate his fancy food or took to even tasting it. But here, on the thousand sunny, with the Straw Hats, he felt quite satisfied.

"Yeah man, loosen up." Usopp added placing his empty mug on the table." Ahh, that hit the spot. I feel more refreshed now."

" Speaking of loosing up we should like totally do something to congratulate ourselves for finished onloading and offloading in a day." Nami chimed in. Everyone agreed quickly and looked at her expectantly like they were expecting her to mention a great place to loosen up, well like she always did." It's not exactly completely loosing up immediately, but during my browsing yesterday I overheard about a festival happening tonight."

"A festival? What type of festival, will there be a banquet? Will there be meat? "

" Calm down Luffy, is meat all you think about? "Sanji let out a low chuckled holding the shorter male down. Luffy looked up at Sanji's grey eyes with a blush.

"To answer that question Luffy, yes there will be a banquet and there will be meat." Nami explained after sipping the last of her fruit juice.

"Yes!" Luffy punched a fist into the air in excitement.

"But the thing is it's a festival, so you'll have to by the meat." Nami finished and the grin on Luffy's face turned sour. Zoro snickered." It's an Obon festival."

"Ah, it's been forever since I've heard of one." Usopp mused loosening his dread from the bandana he used to hold it up.

" That's nice. A calm festival for a cool night, that's another way to loosen up."Sanji hummed in agreement.

" We'll need to buy lanterns, and kimonos." Zoro added.

" Then we go now! Come on, one more thing to shop for in Mock Town." Luffy got up from where he sat." Are you ready to go? "

" Let me grab the Map. "Nami said and ran out of the kitchen.

"Let me grab a new shirt and retie my hair!"

Usopp yelled to as he left too.

" I.....need to wash my face." Zoro have a sharp nod leaving in an awkward manner.

Luffy blinked at the empty space that his crew had once filled up. They had all left in a hurry, which was understandable. However, Sanji didn't seem to be excusing himself for anything. Luffy turned to stare him up, well there really seemed nothing for Sanji to change. He looked good. His clothes were dry of the sweat and his hair wasn't a bird next like Usopp's own had been. Honestly, if you were to ask Sanji what he wanted to get from the ship he'd say the whole kitchen.

"You don't want to grab something?" Sanji questioned crossing his arms around his chest.

Luffy blinked again, long lashes fluttering a bit. He pursed his lips, staring at the handsome Frenchman." I was actually going to ask you that."

Sanji smiled and shook his head." I just need to clear the mugs." He replied brushing past Luffy to grab at the mugs they had discarded in the table.

"Let me help." Luffy jumped in to grab the mugs before Sanji could. He gave Sanji a smile and moved over to the sink in order to wash them.

Sanji stared at the back of the Brazilian boy. He wore a different attire today. His was wearing a black shirt with orange floral design on it, blue jeans and a yellow sash. His straw hat was now hanging behind his neck revealing his dense mop of black hair. He looked so slim, there were taut muscles here and there and an small outline of a six pack that he'd gotten from years of pirating. He'd also gotten pretty taller than last time.

"You don't have to do this, Luffy." Sanji began grabbing his soapy hands to stop him.

"Sanji you do enough, let me. It's fine." Luffy protested quietly trying to drag his hand away from Sanji's grip but only succeded in pulling him closer.

His breath hitched, and his brain went blank. These past few days, they've always managed to find themselves in this situation. Which was the more confusing and comprising. Luffy would feel embarrassed, and blush like he was right now, holding his breath and afraid to move.

Sanji however was both enjoying and hating this. He wanted Luffy. He needed Luffy. Everything about him antagonized him when he'd realized that he couldn't touch. Those long cute lashes, kissable lips, delicious looking tan skin and an awesome slender body. How he wanted to take Luffy under him and have his way. But he couldn't, especially when he didn't even know if Luffy wanted it too.

"Um, you should...let me?" He murmured, running his pink tongue over his lower lips to moisturize it before pulling it in to nip it between his teeth.

Sanji lower half stirred to life. He needed to get out of here and release some sexual tension, if not...he didn't know for how long that he was going to keep himself away from their Captain's innocence.

"I'll be leaving first." Sanji announced moving away from him and turning towards the door.

" Huhn, wait, are you not going to wait for the others? "Luffy called after him.

Sanji waved him off with a smile." Don't worry about me, I'll shop for my lantern and kimono by myself, you guys have some fun, I'm going somewhere else to loosen up."

"Somewhere else? Well can I come with you?" Luffy called to Sanji jogging over to him.

Sanji turned back to him with a smile. He wasn't going to be the first to destroy his innocent mind....

Yet.

"Go with the others, I'll meet you guys later." He said and walked away and out of the ship to the only place he could be himself.

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Yes, the creator of one piece said that if he was going to give ethnicity to his characters then using real world text...

Luffy= Brazilian

Sanji= Frenchman

Usopp= South African

Zoro= Japanese

Nami= Half Swedish and Half Norwegian

Mihawk= Romanian