"Hey! Everyone!" Johnny's voice grabs Luffy and my attention. "We made it to the ocean-faring restaurant!"
"Brother Zoro!" Yosaku shouts. "Brother Luffy! Brother Usopp! Brother Nami! Sister Akari!"
I giggle as I imagine Nami's angry face at being called brother.
"Come on, I want to see the restaurant," Luffy pulls me up, and then we are rushing towards the front of the ship.
The restaurant before us is shaped like a giant fish, and the name Baratie is clear on the side. It is hard to tell how many people are inside dining, but if the two men who led us here are telling us the truth, it is one of the best on the East Blue and is always fairly busy. They have some of the best chefs out of all the seas.
"What do you think? Pretty amazing, right?" Johnny grins.
Luffy, Usopp, and I are gripping the railing as we stare at the restaurant.
"It's so cute!" I gush.
"A huge fish!" Luffy shouts.
"I didn't think it would look like that," Nami chimes in.
"It's way cooler than I thought it would be," Usopp adds.
A ship horn turns our attention from the restaurant to the marine ship that is pulling up alongside us, which isn't surprising since anyone can come eat here, but it does suck.
"Where did that come from?" Luffy questions. "Has it been following us?"
"I mean, they don't even know who we are," I shrug. "We are not a threat yet."
"All I want is for them to not shoot at us," Usopp's teeth chatter.
"Hey, just saying, we are not pirates!" Johnny cowers behind the railing.
Yosaku follows his partner, "Look, who is up there!?"
A man with well-combed pastel pink hair, dark eyes, a scar on his right cheek, and bolts attached to his knuckles is looking down at us. He's wearing a white pinstripe suit, which seems a bit odd for a marine officer if he's duty. "I am the minister of the navy, Lieutenant Ironfist Fullbody. Which one of you is the captain?"
"Ironfist, really?" I mumble, rolling my eyes.
"Monkey D. Luffy," Luffy speaks up as he crosses his arms over his chest. "I am the captain of this ship. We just made our pirate flag yesterday!"
Johnny and Yosaku burst into laughter at that proclamation.
"I am Usopp," Usopp speaks up, causing me to give the long-nosed boy a shove.
"You two rascals look familiar," Fullbody points between Yosaku and Johnny. "Ah, I know what it is, you go to government agencies frequently. Two-rate bounty hunters. What were your names? Ah yes, Johnny and Yosaku. Have you been captured by pirates, huh?"
Yosaku and Johnny look at each other, mumbling about what the marine man just said about them.
"I mean, we rescued them, and now we are allies in a way," I interlock my fingers and place my hands on top of my head.
In the next moment, the two bounty hunters unsheathe their swords and jump over to the marine ship. It doesn't last long though, as Ironfist beats them within moments, tossing them back like they weren't even a worthy challenge. Which from what I saw they didn't put up much of a fight.
"Are you guys really that weak?" Luffy narrows his eyes at the two men.
"All he has are those stupid bolt fists," I chuckle.
"He's really tough," Yosaku chokes out. "I'd like to see you fight him, sister."
"What are you idiots doing?" Zoro scoffs.
"Hanging on to life by a hair," Johnny groans.
"Can you quit messing with those nobodies," a females voice fills my ears.
"Sorry, my dear," Fullbody looks over as the cabin door opens. In the next moment he glares back at us, "Looks like it is your lucky day, disgusting pirates will live another day since it is my day off. I came to dine with my girl, and she wants me to leave you all alone. Next time we run into each other, that will be your last."
"What a jackass," I roll my eyes, turning away from the marine ship.
Nami is on her knees, looking at what must be wanted posters that Yosaku and Johnny hold onto seeing as they are bounty hunters. She's gripping onto a single paper like her life depends on it.
"Guys!" Usopp's scared shout cause us all to look over at him freaking out. "They're aiming a cannon at us! They're gonna sink our ship!"
A loud explosion fills my ears as a cannon ball starts barreling at us.
"What are they doing!" I scream. "I thought he said he was going to leave us alone!"
"Don't worry, I will take care of it!" Luffy jumps up on the railing.
"What the hell, Luffy!?" Usopp exclaims.
"Gum-gum balloon!" He expands his stomach just in time for the cannon ball to catch it.
"What!?" Usopp, Yosaku, and Johnny exclaim, reminding me that they don't know the extent of Luffy's Devil Fruit powers.
"What the hell!?" Fullbody grits his teeth.
"Here, I think you lost this!" Luffy quips as he flings the cannon ball back.
Except the ball doesn't go back at the marine ship, it goes straight for the Baratie. Exactly what we don't want to happen if we are going to ask one of their chefs to join us.
"Perfect," I groan, flopping my hands down by my sides. "Why do all bad things happen to us?"
"This is how life is going to be from now on, isn't it," Nami groans, placing her hand on her head like she is in pain.
Luffy's stomach shrinks back, horror taking over his face as he falls back onto the ship. His legs sticking into the air as his hat flutters onto the deck.
"What are we going to do now?" I grab Luffy's hat, leaning down to place it on his head as best I can.
Luffy slowly stands up, adjusting his hat and dusting off dirt from his vest. "I'll go make sure that everyone is okay and then apologize."
"Then you can figure out who will be our chef," I smile.
"I'll make sure to get the best," he pats my head. Then he turns, grabs the railing, runs back, and flings himself over to the restaurant.
"Now we just have to wait," I sigh, plopping down on the deck next to Nami. "With Luffy, who knows how long it will take."
"Was no one going to tell me about Luffy?" Usopp looks around at Nami, Zoro, and me.
"You didn't ask," Zoro shrugs.
"Come here, Akari," Nami taps my shoulder, motioning for me to sit in front of her. "Let me do your hair, since I have no other way to pass the time."
I scoot in front of her, "Maybe just simple pigtails?"
"Anything to make you cuter."
The next hour or so passes by in a bit of a blur. Nami takes her time on my hair, eventually deciding on low pigtails. Zoro looks to be taking a small nap as Usopp walks around the ship doing a few repairs when needed. Johnny and Yosaku stay lying on the deck as they are recovering from the beating by Fullbody.
"Do you think they are making Luffy work until he can pay off the damages he made?" Zoro speaks up after some time.
"If he is, then he is too honest," Nami shakes her head, leaning into me. "It was the Navy's fault, and he should have blamed them."
"There's no use waiting on him out here," Usopp shrugs. "How about we go inside and eat? Maybe we can figure out what is going on as well."
"That is a great idea," I stand up, holding my hand out for Nami. "Breakfast is starting to wear off, and I would love to see just how great this place is."
+~*~*~*~*~*~+
"This place is a lot fancier than I thought it would be," I look around the restaurant as the four of us finish our soup and rice.
Once we entered the Baratie, we were able to get a nice table in the middle right away. There looked to be a broken table, which probably explains all the commotion that we heard but didn't care too much about. Anything to keep out of a fight.
"The food was amazing, just like we were told," Nami widely smiles.
"At least they told us about Luffy, so we can figure out what to do next," Zoro leans back in his seat.
"Ugh," Luffy's voice shocks me to turn around to see him with an apron around his waist. "What the heck you guys?" He steps up to our table.
"Ah, so they let the chore boy out here?" Nami teases.
"A whole year of work, huh?" Usopp chuckles.
"At least you look cute," I sheepishly smile.
"We need to change the flag to show you like this," Zoro smirks.
"Are you all seriously eating without me!" Luffy angerly screams. "I'm working my ass off and you just come in here and eat! How can you all be this mean?"
"Luffy, please be a bit quieter," a young man with straight blonde hair that covers his left eye calls out. The eye that is showing is a grey-blue with his eyebrow curling. He's wearing a black suit with a blue shirt underneath, and I can't help spotting a little hair on his chin. He seems tall even as he bends over to pour wine for a lady, and I can just tell he has long legs. His name is Sanji from what I have been able to pick up as he dances around the dining room with a cigarette hanging from his lips.
"Are we not allowed to have a nice meal?" Zoro looks away from Luffy.
"Eat this," Luffy mumbles, placing a bugger into Zoro's water glass.
Nami and I look at each other before placing a hand over our mouths to try and keep the laughter in.
"We only had breakfast today, so we came in to fill up," Usopp purses his lips to try to keep the laughter down.
"We were just talking about how the food is pretty good here," Zoro picks up his glass, slowly bringing it up to his lips. "However, I feel a bit bad for you...because you get to drink this!" He exclaims as he forces the drink down Luffy's throat.
Nami, Usopp, and I are now fully laughing as Zoro is now out of his seat watching Luffy roll around on the ground choking.
"Oh sea, how grateful I am for this moment!" Sanji skips over to our table; hearts seem to be swimming in his eyes. "Loves, please, smile upon me, for this pain is unbearable." He holds his hands out at Nami and I as we compose ourselves. "I would stoop to the low level of a pirate, hell, even a devil, if only I could be with you," he coos. "It breaks my heart that the obstacles between us are like the great ocean."
"Is he flirting with us?" I narrow my eyes as I look at Nami.
"He's doing something," Nami shrugs.
"Obstacles, eh Sanji?" The voice of an older man comes from the side.
Sanji breaks out of his lovesick mode to glare at the old man. "Gah, it's the geezer."
"I'm not stopping you from following your heart and becoming a pirate. Besides, I don't need you here anymore. We'd be better off without you."
I turn to see an older man with blonde hair, a mustache long enough that he can braid it, a peg leg, and the tallest chef's hat that I have ever seen. There's no doubt in my mind that he is the head chef of the Baratie.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Sanji quips. "I am the assistant chef of this restaurant. That makes me the second most important person here."
"You want me to list offenses off for you? One, you fight with the customers. Two, you waste hours flirting with all the women that came in here. Three, you're a lousy cook, which makes you dead weight in these waters. Four, the other cooks aren't that fond you. Sanji, go be a pirate and leave my restaurant for good."
Sanji rushes over to the old man, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. "Listen here, old man! You can insult me all you want, that will never bother me! But never insult my cooking! I am staying right here no matter what you say!"
"Take your hands off of me, you underdone cabbage!" The old man grabs Sanji by the arm, easily lifting him up and slamming the boy down onto our table.
"Are you okay, Sanji?" I ask, looking down at the boy near my feet.
"Not even a scratch," he groans, flicking his eyes to look up at me. Then he looks up to see the old man heading back to the kitchen. "You can't just kick me out, old man! I am always going to cook here! Until you die!"
"I won't die," the old man waves Sanji off. "I feel like I could live another hundred years, maybe even more."
Sanji grits his teeth, mumbling under his breath what must be curses under his breath.
"Great, looks like you got permission to leave," Luffy smiles as he steps up to us. "Which means you can come be my cook."
"Never!" Sanji screams. Then in the next instant he is fixing our table and has retrieved some treats for Nami and me.
"What is all this?" I giggle as Sanji stands between Nami and me to pour some drink into our glasses.
"Why, this is to ask forgiveness for all the commotion, my dears. A fruit macedoine and a Grand Marnier, compliments from me."
"Thank you so much," Nami coos in a voice a bit higher pitched than normal. All I can think is that she's playing up how much she likes the man in order to keep getting free stuff. "Such a noble thing to do. Wouldn't you say so, Akari?"
Sanji looks over at me with a tender smile.
"It is very nice, I will say that," I feel my cheeks heat up as Sanji's eyes seem to sparkle.
"Hey!" Usopp calls out. "Where's our special treats? This was our table too? I could sue for discrimination if you don't give us anything." He jumps out of his chair and rushes over to be nose to nose with Sanji.
I tune out the bickering boys as I take a few bits of the fruit cup Sanji put before me.
"Akari, can I have some?" Luffy pleads with a small pout on his lips.
"Only a couple bites," I hand him my spoon, watching as he takes his first bite.
"I'm going to get Sanji to join the crew. He helped a starving pirate even though he was told not to, and I know that his food is great."
"He seems like a pretty decent guy, and I would love to have a cook on board."
"You're cute with your hair like that," he grins.
"Thank you. You're cute with that apron," I giggle as I snatch the spoon back to scoop up the rest of the fruit. "Yum," I happily sigh.
"Boys, boys, please, don't fight over us," Nami dramatically sighs, leaning into me.
"As you wish, darling," Sanji tenderly smiles.
"We are not even fighting over you!" Usopp exclaims.
"Chef dear," Nami coos, running her hand over Sanji's arm once he's close enough. "All this food is so delicious, but the only problem that we can find is the price. My dear Akari and I, well, we just don't have the funds for all of it."
"It just breaks my heart," I join in with the acting. "We'll do whatever we have to be able to pay for all this delicious food."
"For the two of you, it will be free," Sanji widely smiles. "Don't worry about it."
"My hero!" Nami and I exclaim in unison, doing our best to hug the young cook at the same time.
Once we release him, he glares at Zoro and Usopp.
"Pay up, you scum," Sanji grumbles.
"Are you serious?" Usopp glares right back.
"Don't be too harsh on them," I pout, reaching out to brush my fingers against Sanji's.
Sanji snaps back to his lovey self, "If that is what you wish, darling." He happily whistles as he starts his walk to the front of the restaurant.
"How the hell did you two do that?" Zoro asks. "Are you two witches?"
"Akari could be," Luffy teases as he sips some tea.
"Akari is a saint," Nami places her arm around my shoulders. "As for myself, well, all I will say is that you better watch out," she giggles.
"Sanji is just fond of ladies, and there is nothing wrong with that," I shrug.
"Fond is not a strong enough word," Zoro chuckles.
"He hates guys, that's for sure," Usopp grumbles.
"Hey!" Sanji's voice makes me jump as I watch his foot come down on the top of Luffy's head. "That's enough goofing off!"
I watch as he drags Luffy back to the kitchen, instructing him on hot towels.
"Well, we might as well head back to our ship and wait to see what happens with Luffy," Zoro shrugs, tossing his napkin and some money onto the table. "With his luck, we won't be here that much longer, but I can also see us being here a while."
"It will give me time to plan our next destination," Nami nods. "And I don't think it will be that bad to rest up here for a few days."
"I agree," I tap my feet together. "Johnny and Yosaku need to focus on getting better, and staying in one place will help with that."
"I'm going to figure out how to get back at that blond bastard," Usopp grumbles.
I roll my eyes, "He's going to be part of the crew, you know?"
"He made it very clear that he was not coming with us," Zoro says.
"When Luffy puts his mind to something, he will do whatever it takes to make it come true. I've been with him enough to know that. I'm not sure if it will be easy, but when we leave here, we are going to have a cook, that I am sure off."
+~*~*~*~*~*~+
Two days! A whole two days has passed since Luffy blasted a cannon ball through the roof of the Baratie, and two whole days since we had a meal prepared by the talented Sanji. We've all just been doing whatever we can to pass the hours until Luffy figures out how he can get out of the work he's been forced to do. I have only been able to see him a few times each day when they let him take a break, and we usually don't talk about anything.
I've been quite productive with my time off, though. Out of all the books on the ship, there were two on blacksmithing and taking care of weapons. I read them enough to commit it all to memory. Then I spent time making my shurikens and Zoro's swords perfect, which didn't take as much time as I would have hoped. Nami was spending a lot of time drawing maps, so I didn't want to bother her. Usopp was tinkering with some stuff, and he asked for my help a few times. Zoro was working out for a bit, which at times was a bit too intense for me, but he did help me with a few things that will help with fighting. Yosaku and Johnny are still resting up, so I took care of them whenever they needed. I get this warm feeling in my heart when they call me sister.
It was when Nami and I were getting ready for bed that the two of us would have any time to talk. Nami kept any answers of hers quite vague, as if she is ashamed of where she comes from. I was more of an open book, though there were certain things that I chose to kept to myself. Parts of who I am that only Luffy knows, and that I want to keep that way for a little while longer. Of course, she always found a way to bring Luffy up and talk about our relationship. It helps to talk it out, though.
"Holy shit!" Usopp's voice cuts through my thoughts as I do some simple exercises on the deck. "We need to get out of here! That ship is bad news!"
I knock the boy on the top of his head as he rushes by, "First of all, we aren't going anywhere without our captain. Second, we don't even know if they are going to fight us."
"Akari is right," Zoro speaks up as Yosaku and Johnny groan from their spots lying on the deck. "We just need to stay back and watch whatever happens."
I turn to set my eyes on the humungous ship that is scooting closer to us and the restaurant. One thing is setting it apart, though. "It's a wreck."
Nami steps up beside me. Her face giving away her fear of what could by hiding in a ship that big. "What do you think they want?"
I shrug, "I hope they came for food, and only food. Judging by their ship, they aren't doing too well."
"Who even is it?" Usopp stutters.
"That symbol is for Don Krieg's pirates," Nami takes a shaky breath. "I don't know much else other than that, but I know they are feared by many."
An explosion happens on the Baratie mere moments later, but we can't see what is going on. Gunfire then fills our ears for what seems like twenty seconds too long. Then it all goes silent on the restaurant.
"What do you think is happening over there?" I lean on the railing.
"Why don't we go on over and find out?" Zoro smirks, looking from me to Usopp and then Nami.
"Hell no," Nami shakes her head. "I am not going to run straight into a fight like that."
"Usopp?" I look over at the sharpshooter.
"Don't worry, I'll come to help," Usopp nods with a grin.
The three of us carefully enter the Baratie where the other customers are being led onto another boat to get away from the fight. We get a few looks of concern, but no one tries to stop us. Once inside the restaurant, we see the immense damage that has taken place with tables broken and strewn all over the place. There are people with wounds scattered all over. A large man with steel armor is standing at the front entrance where the door has been blown off. Chef Zeff, the old man with the tall chef's hat, Sanji, and Luffy appear to be the only ones still standing. I also notice a large bag separating the pirate from everyone else.
I nod for us to take a seat at one of the only intact tables. All we can do is wait and see if we are needed.
The man with steel armor, who I take to be Don Krieg, is rambling on about the Grand Line and how amazing his crew was and how he is going to find the treasure that will make him the ruler of all the seas.
"Now hold up just a second!" Luffy points at Krieg as he steps in front of everyone. "It is me who is going to be the King of the Pirates!"
The Baratie crew shouts out surprise, but only one large man is able to be heard among the other. "Stay out of this kid! You saw what he did to the rest of us. He'll kill you in a second!"
"I can't stay out of this!" Luffy grins.
"Did you say something, lad?" Krieg looks at Luffy. "You sure that you don't want to take that back?"
"Not at all. All I did was state the facts."
"This isn't some game, boy."
"Clearly."
"Were you even listening!" Usopp blurts out. "The Grand Line was too much even for him!"
I shoot a sidelong glance at Usopp. "Shut up," I snap.
"How can you two just sit there and be calm? It is suicide just sitting here."
"Listen to Akari and stay out of this," Zoro brings one of his swords up to rest on his shoulder. "Hey, Luffy, is it time to fight?"
"We're always ready to lend a hand," I smile, juggling some shurikens.
"Zoro, Akari, Usopp, did you come over for me?" Luffy's eyebrows just barely furrow. "No matter, I can handle this."
Krieg's laugh starts out slow before he is full out hysterical. "Is that really your puny crew? That's barely anyone, and one of them is a girl!"
I clench my jaw as I stop juggling. "You bastard," I grumble.
"Wrong!" Luffy holds up his hand with two fingers up. "There are two more! Another girl as well!"
"Do not count me in with your crew!" Sanji takes a seat on the floor.
"Stop being so cocky!" Krieg exclaims. "I had an entire fleet of some five thousand men, and in seven days we were destroyed by the demon in that sea!"
"Seven days," I let by body relax. "That's only a week, and now he's here asking for food. How did that happen? Is it possible?"
Usopp is choking back sobs, "Did you hear what he just said? That fifty ships in a week. How are we going to survive?"
Zoro places his sword back at his hip, "Sound interesting. Maybe someone out there is just better than him."
"Reckless is what you are, but at least you are funny," Krieg says. "If you don't watch the next thing that you say, I will take you out right now." He grabs onto the big bag, "Listen very carefully, all of you. This food is going back to my ship for my men, and then I will be back. If you don't want to die, then you better have left before then. Then I will ask again for Zeff's log and the ship. However, if you are looking to face death head on, you can wait for me. I won't feel anything as I bury you out here at sea. The choice is yours," he lifts the bag over his shoulder and heads out of the restaurant.
"I hate men like him," I grumble, placing my shurikens back into my bad. "Thinking that they rule the world because they are a little bit stronger than most everyone else. Ugh, I never want to turn into someone like him."
"Sanji, please forgive me!" A pirate on his knees is trembling. That can only be Gin, the man who Luffy told me Sanji saved, and is the reason Luffy wants Sanji so bad. "When I told him about this place, I thought, I just, I can't believe what he did."
"You can't blame yourself, boy," Zeff says. "The cooks brought this on us as much as anyone else."
The cooks burst into outrage at Zeff blaming them for the terror that has befallen them in the last twenty minutes or so, and point their fingers directly at Sanji who is calmly smoking on the floor. At this rate, they'll still be arguing by the time Krieg comes back, and then we are all screwed.
"Shut your traps, you cabbages!" Zeff screams.
I swallow the giggle before it can burst from my lips.
"How many of you have been hungry before? Like starving? How many days have you been without food and water out on the seas? Do you understand the agony that it is to be in that position?"
"What are you getting at, chef?" The big man, who I heard someone call Patty, asks.
"If all you are going to do is moan and groan, then you can head out the back door," Zeff points behind him.
All the cooks look around at each other, and then start to pick up weapons that look like giant eating utensils. They are pledging their alliance to the Baratie and Zeff, and are ready to fight no matter what might happen. At least we will have some help, because I know this isn't going to end without a fight.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ah! I can't believe we have reached Sanji already. I hope you are all excited for some long chapters, because it is about to be a wild ride for a bit. Hope you enjoyed reading! And I would love to know what you thought! :D