Luffy, Zoro, and Nami approached the Baratie's main door, yawning and still trying to wake up. The sun had barely risen over the eastern horizon, and the moon was still visible in the slowly brightening sky.
"I slept wonderfully!" exclaimed Luffy, stretching his sleepy muscles as they walked along the wooden deck.
Zoro couldn't help but agree with his future captain's sentiment. The Merry was very cozy and a great place to sleep. "Your snoring doesn't even bother me when I sleep on that ship," the swordsman joked.
Luffy turned to his green-haired friend with feigned indignation: "Zoro! How could you?! I don't snore!"
His two companions chuckled slightly at the humor in his voice.
It was strange, but Nami agreed with the two boys. She didn't say anything as her laughter faded, but she couldn't deny that since arriving on the ship... she hadn't had a single nightmare. She glanced at the two boys, who were now talking amongst themselves, and smiled. She'd been with them for almost a month, and she couldn't help but think that perhaps they had something to do with her lack of nightmares. Part of her wondered if the nightmares would return when they parted ways...
Separating... Nami shook her head to banish the thought. She couldn't deal with all these conflicting feelings right now; it was too soon.
The three companions reached the door and Luffy wasted no time in pushing it open, gently this time.
"Welcome to Bara-" the teenager stopped when he saw who was entering the restaurant. Sanji quickly walked past the two boys, ran to Nami's side, and knelt before her. "Nami-swan!" exclaimed the blond chef, his eyes shining with joy. "Your beauty shines especially brightly this beautiful morning! You look like you slept well!"
Luffy laughed as he jumped for joy. He really wanted Sanji to come with them. "So you're coming, right?" he asked the young chef, getting straight to the point.
Sanji tore his gaze from the smiling Nami and fixed it on the boy in the straw hat, who had stood up from his crouched position. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before answering. "Yes," he said simply.
Luffy shouted with joy. He knew he'd have him on the crew!
"I'll only stay until we get that treasure for Nami," the blond man added.
The teenager in the straw hat stopped immediately, his celebration turning into a pout. "It's not fair!" he whined.
The blond chef crossed his arms. "Well, that's the deal. If you don't like it, I'll stay... "
"Shut your mouth and get out of here, brat. I told you so," a raspy voice said from behind them. "You weren't working this morning... You have places to be."
Sanji turned around, and the other three looked over his shoulder to see Chef Zeff standing in the kitchen doorway. "You three, bring it in one piece, now. Or not... I don't care," the old man gestured for them to leave and turned to go back into the kitchen. There were preparations to be made, and since Sanji was gone... "Patty! Meat! To the kitchen!" the man shouted.
"I'll be back in a month, old man," Sanji said to the departing man, staring at him from behind, "And from now on, I'm coming back as your sous chef."
The old chef said nothing, he simply waved goodbye as he continued towards the kitchen.
Sanji scoffed and turned to face the three people he'd be calling crew for a while, scanning them. It would be interesting, no doubt. "Let's get out of here. I've already prepared everything we need for the trip," the blond said, pushing his way through the group toward the door. "Oh..." He turned, grasping the doorknob and giving Luffy a big smile. "And thanks for inviting me aboard."
"SANJI!" Zeff's voice shouted angrily from the kitchen, "WHY THE HELL ARE THERE TWO UNCONSCIOUS MEN IN MY PANTRY?"
The blond boy paled... He must have kicked them harder than he thought... Sanji opened the door as fast as he could and ran after the group, pushing them all toward the entrance. "Let's go to his ship, guys! No need to waste any more time!" the chef laughed nervously. Time to... go!
"Sanji!" Nami called from a chair on the terrace. "It's so hot today! Would you mind making something to... cool me down? Would you mind?" she asked, a hint of mischief in her voice.
"Your wish is my command, Nami-Swan!" replied the blond chef as he descended the stairs to the opposite side of the ship.
"Meat! I want meat!" Luffy shouted after the chef left. He was leaning against the ship's figurehead, facing Nami, who was sunbathing.
Zoro gently rested his bar on the Merry's wooden deck to avoid damaging the vessel. He looked up as Sanji climbed the stairs to the kitchen. "Hey, cook! Bring me some alcohol while you're at it!" Nothing like a good drink after training.
Hearts fell from Sanji's eyes and he stopped in his tracks, turning and frowning at the green man, "You've got legs. Get it yourself, Mosshead."
A mark formed on the swordsman's forehead. "You'll be there! Just grab a bottle of sake!" he argued furiously. Stupid Ero-Chef.
"I said you can do it yourself," said the blond man, turning his back on the green-haired swordsman, ending the conversation and crossing the door into the kitchen.
"Meat! Meat! Meat!" Luffy's voice shouted once more as he lazed about in his place.
"Yes, yes. I'll make you something, Luffy," Sanji shouted from the other side of the ship as he disappeared through the kitchen door.
A second mark appeared on Zoro's head. That damn chef wasn't forcing Luffy to move! Why on earth did he have to? The swordsman snorted angrily and started heading for the kitchen. He really needed that drink now. Just as he was about to climb the stairs to his destination, he was interrupted by a loud splash on the port side of the ship and immediately turned toward the sound. The green-haired man's eyes widened slightly at what he saw before a smile spread across his lips.
.....
Hi everyone, what do you think of the story so far? The book has over 300 chapters. If you'd like to download the complete book, it's available on my Ko-fi page. Here's the link: 👉 🤩 ko-fi.com/winterstar01 🤩