CH 36

You've never heard of it?" Sanji asked still smiling. Both Gin and Luffy listened as Sanji told them about this 'miracle sea' that has fish from all the Blues in it. That it was somewhere on the Grand Line and that he'd find it one day. While he talked, Zeff was looking at them all from above with a smile on his face. Sanji kept going on about the All Blue, but stopped when Patty shouted that lunch was served.

"Don't know how they still have food here." Gin said since he saw Luffy eat everything in sight earlier.

"Forget it. Let's eat." Luffy said as the trio left for the kitchen. They walked in, only to find that there were no seats available. They got themselves some food and sat on the floor before starting to eat. As they did, someone asked who made the soup.

"I did." Sanji said. "Good huh?"

"Good?! This slop is good?" Patty yelled. "I'd be amazed if the customers didn't vomit from one taste!"

"What did you say?" Sanji asked with a dark look on his face, which got worse as other chefs said that his soup was horrible. It really got bad when Zeff agreed with the chefs, which caused Sanji to lose it and to start screaming at the geezer. Zeff shocked them when he finally used his hands to strike Sanji, who left in a huff.

"What are you all talking about?" Luffy asked in mock surprise. "The soup's delicious."

"Can't argue with you their...Captain." Gin said. It just felt strange calling someone else captain.

"Of course it is." Zeff said. "Sanji's a great chef. Everyone here does." All the chefs were then saying how great his cooking is. But no matter what we say, that kid's too thick-headed to listen." Luffy ate more soup as Gin listened. "Hey kid. You said you needed a cook for your ship right? I wouldn't ask anyone for this...but can you take that kid with you? To the Grand Line." He smiled as he said that it was Sanji's dream.

"Man boss." Patty said. "You sure made us put up quite the act."

"I thought we were found out because of your bad acting." Carne said.

"My acting?" Patty laughed. "Did you hear how bad you were acting."

"No way." Luffy said. Some of the chefs fell over at that, while Gin had starting choking on his food in surprise.

"What?" Zeff said, now sounding angry. "You said you wanted him to be your ship's cook earlier! What, he not good enough for you?"

"Oh, he's good." Luffy said. "But he wants to stay here and cook for this restaurant. I want him to join, but I won't force him." Luffy then started eating again before slapping Gin's back, making him cough up his food and breathe. Zeff was playing with his moustache as he spoke.

"So unless he agrees to come with, you won't take him huh?" Zeff asked.

"Right. More food please." Luffy said.

"Fair enough. But who knows if that hard-headed twerp will agree to join ya." Zeff said. Luffy asked for more food as his haki picked up on Sanji hanging outside the door. Sanji was trying to light up a cigarette, but failed as he sat with his arms on his knees and his head down.

"I can hear you all, you bastards." Sanji said in a quiet tone. Meanwhile, Luffy, Gin, and the chefs were eating, but were interrupted by something crashing through the wall. Everyone looked to see Yosaku stuck in the mouth of a Panshark, with Sanji underneath them both.

"It's Yosaku." Luffy said in a calm voice. "You come for the food Yosaku?" Luffy asked with a smile.

"Do you even notice the Panshark that has him in his mouth?" Gin asked with a few sweatdrops. Everyone pried Yosaku out of it's mouth before they sent the fish away and gave Yosaku a blanket and some food.

"What are you doing here Yosaku?" Luffy asked. "Weren't you going after Nami?"

"Actually Big Bro, we couldn't catch up to Nami." Yosaku said. "But we did know where she was going. If it's that island, we're gonna need your strength Big Bro Luffy. Where we're going could mean death.

"I know where she's going Yosaku." Luffy said, stunning him a bit. "I also know why she did what she did."

"You...you do?" Yosaku asked.

"Yeah, but it's something she doesn't like to talk about or have in the open." Luffy said, knowing how touchy a subject this was.

"Then we should get going." Yosaku said before he noticed Gin. "Uh, Big Bro Luffy?"

"He's part of my crew now." Luffy explained. "Anyway, let's go." All three were heading out to leave, but were stopped by Sanji, who was leaning against the rails.

"Your dream's crazy kid." he said. "But so is mine. Guess now's the best time to go. Why not start looking right now?" They all looked at him as he turned to them.

"Sanji?" Luffy asked.

"I'll join you on your journey to be King of the Pirates." Sanji said as he looked at him. "I wanna be the cook for your ship, okay? That alright?"

"Yeah, of course!" Luffy yelled with a grin before he and Yosaku started dancing and singing. Gin just stared in utter confusion.

"How can a guy that strong act so...childish?" he asked himself. Sanji turned to the chefs behind them all.

"You all happy now?" he asked grumpily, but he smirked at their faces. "Sorry. I'll go now. And sorry that you had to do some shitty acting."

"You knew?!" Patty yelled.

"I heard everything assholes." Sanji said as he looked at Zeff. "Stomping on my pride huh? Was that all you could think of to get me to leave, you shitty geezer?"

"YOU WANNA FIGHT SANJI?!" Patty yelled before Zeff stopped him.

"I've always hated children." he said. "I've always regretted letting a brat like you live Sanji."

"Tch. Fine. Have fun with your crappy life, ya stupid old man." Sanji said before he turned to the three of them. "I'm gonna get my stuff. Wait for me by the ship." As they got ready to leave, Luffy was packing food for the trip when Zeff approached him, offering him his logbook.

"Thanks, but no thanks pops. That's your adventure in there. I'm going out there to make my own adventure." Luffy said. Zeff smirked before leaving as Luffy was still packing. After some time, all the chefs were outside on the patched up fin as the trio were in the boat, waiting for Sanji so they could depart. Finally, Sanji stood in the doorway with his gear, taking a last look around before walking towards the ship. Patty and Carne attacked him as a last goodbye, to which Sanji took them both out with two kicks and kept walking till he got to the edge of the fin.

"Let's go." he said.

"No goodbyes?" Luffy asked.

"Nah." Sanji said as he was about to get on the boat.

"Sanji!" Zeff called from the balcony, stopping him in his tracks. "Be careful out there kid." Sanji just froze as tears came to his eyes. Luffy gave a soft smile as he remembered what happened next.

"CHEF ZEEEEEEF!" Sanji yelled before spinning around and bowing till his head hit the Baratie's deck. "THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR ME! AND FOR ALL YOUR KINDNESS! I OWE MY LIFE TO YOU OLD MAN! THANK YOU!" Sanji stayed there on the deck crying, which was soon followed by Zeff and all the Chefs on the Baratie.

"WAAAAAAH!" Patty yelled out, getting Sanji's attention. "This is sad!"

"Really sad!" Carne yelled out as well, both with tears in their eyes.

"We're gonna miss you Sanji!"

"This place won't be the same without you!" Everyone was saying how they'd miss him as Sanji's smiled through his tears.

"Rotten words." Zeff said with bloodshot eyes. "Real men should part ways without words, let alone tears." Sanji finally got in the boat after regaining some control.

"LET'S GO! SET SAIL!" Luffy shouted as they unfurled the sails and sailed off. Sanji was still crying as he waved back to them all.

"I'LL SEE YOU ALL AGAIN!" he shouted before smiling. "IT'S A PROMISE, YA CRAZY BASTARDS!" he didn't stop until they couldn't see the Baratie anymore.

()()()()

"The weather's nice." Nami said as she sailed towards her home island. As she stared ahead on the bow of the Going Merry, her mind wandered to her friends that she had just stolen from. "Luffy...everyone." she chocked out as tears started falling from her eyes. "Maybe one day...they'll let me be with them again." She started trembling as she hugged herself. "If I ever meet them again...Bell-mere."

'Why don't I help you?'

Nami froze. Time felt like it stopped as she stared on at the ocean.

'You've seen how strong I am Nami.'

Nami fell to her knees as bottom lip quivered.

'I can beat him.'

"Luffy..." was all she said before she cried her heart out to the heavens.

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