38 Chapter 38

Yosaku and Johnny were helping the cooks who were unharmed to clean up the debris, only 'cause Zeff had threatened them to. In the meanwhile, Usopp and Nami were sitting beside Zoro and Luffy.

Usopp was trying his best to defuse the situation and make it less tense. He was telling stories after stories, the only thing he was best at after his shooting skills. But it wasn't working. It wasn't making the duo get up. Neither was there any change in the duo's face nor was Nami looking good. She looked worried.

.

On the other side, Sanji had finally caught up to Zeff, who was ordering the cooks and the two poor souls to clean up the restaurant.

"Old man, why?" Sanji asked, gritting his teeth.

"Why what, egg plant?" Zeff asked nonchalantly, with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"You know what I am asking about," Sanji said in anger. "Why would you use me as an exchange to the pirates? Why?" His refused to lift his head to glare at the man rather than the floor, he didn't want to show Zeff that he was weak.

"Brat, that was a deal so you need to go with them," Zeff said wanting Sanji to understand his dream and go out to search for it. "Either way we don't need a cook like you." 

.

Usopp left making an excuse that he needed to give food to his pet sea kings, which was obviously a lie. But Nami didn't stop him. She needed some time alone, to process everything and it was good that Usopp was out even if it meant for a minute.

It was Zoro first, who has lost a lot of blood and no one knew when he would be getting up and then it was Luffy who fell without any reason. Yeah, he was looking pale from the beginning of the fight but that didn't mean that he has to be out like light right now without any reason. They didn't took him to a doctor 'cause Luffy wouldn't like it. But his body was burning up and they don't know what to do at all.

Nami and Usopp had to refuse Zeff's help when he offered to ask one of the cook who apparently had a medical background to look after Luffy. But what are they supposed to do right now with them down? What can make him get up? They didn't know anything about Luffy except that he has a goofy and cheerful attitude and a smile is so bright that it could make everyone forget their worries.

Drops and drops of water fell on her thighs, making Nami realize that her sight was blurry too. Her hands refused to raise up to wipe her tears and chose to grip on the skirt which she was wearing.

She felt helpless that she couldn't help her friends, she was useless at the battlefield. Maybe if she had helped in the fight, Luffy would be okay. Would be up, would be doing his regular works and would have found a way to make Zoro up too.

"P-Please," She said with a choked voice, silently crying. "I-I *hiccup* hav..e ne..ver *sob* got a single fr-friend *hiccup* in my l-life." She wasn't even able to recognize her own voice. "P-Please, I beg *hiccup* you b..oth, do-don't die."

She couldn't explain the tears which were flowing freely from her eyes. All she could do was cry and tell Zoro and Luffy in her cracked voice that how she was used as a slave by Arlong, how she was despised by the whole village all cause Arlong took her and hence never have she had a single friend, until Luffy, Zoro and Usopp came in. Even Sanji, the cook who hit on her with every chance he got was a friend of her now.

Nami harshly wiped her tears as she started telling the story of how Arlong and his crew had arrived at Cocoyashi village one day and killed her mother. How he had taken her in and used her to create his maps. How he asked money from each of the civilians in the Coconomi Islands to give them the permit to survive. And lastly, her deal with Arlong for freeing her village, her hard work of collecting 100 million berries all to save her village.

"I-I never want to drag you all in this," Nami said in a low voice. "I would never want you to die."

"I just want to leave this all and go but," Nami said wiping the tears. "I don't want to abandon my friends. Luffy is reckless without you Zoro." Nami said looking straight at the green haired man. Zoro was the only one who could keep up with Luffy and hence protecting him most of the times, but now that he is down... "Please Zoro, please wake up for him. He needs you to look after him."

Nami didn't know why was she saying those, when her own suffering was crumbling her, was breaking her. Tears started clouding her vision all again, she scrunched her eyes, remembering Luffy's words of trusting him to defeat Arlong. Remembering Zoro siding with Luffy without a single thought.

Her whole body shook and trembled, as she broke into sobs. Her right arm fingers were digging into her left arm's flesh, scratching the Arlong tatoo, which showed that she belonged to them.

"Y-You do-don't know anything and yet you were ready to fight for my village!" Nami whimpered choking on her tears. "The fight has nothing to do with you."

Nami bit her lower lip to not her sobs get the best of her. "I want to leave... yet I can't." She hiccupped. Why the hell was she crying even? Why the fuck was she even telling these? Didn't she promise to never cry and never tell these to anyone? She couldn't comprehend anything. Only the words of Luffy were going on and on and on in her head.

"Luffy..." Nami choked looking at the still body of Luffy. "Help me.." She begged. She wanted to see Luffy back in action and not lying so pale and lifeless.

Someone pulled her into a hug and her nose was hit with the smell of sea and meat, and a warmth like the sun. She knew who it was and hugged him instantly.

"L-Luffy," She choked out. "I thought you would never wake up." She stated her worry hugging the boy who had made his space in her heart stubbornly.

"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed bright and free, making Nami feel at ease after so many hours. "I'll definitely kick Arlong's ass!"

Nami wiped her tears as she was let go from the hug. "You are reckless," She said through her glossy eyes and a wobbly smile. "Thank you for being alive, Luffy."

Luffy just laughed it off. "You are my friend Nami and I'll kick anyone's ass for you! Right, Zoro?"

"Of course, captain!" Zoro replied, having woken up just a few minutes before.

"Zoro!" Nami said with a bright smile and saw Luffy shout out the same name with double enthusiasm as hers and jump on the swordsman, making him grumble in annoyance.

"You're alive!" Luffy yelled hugging the shit out of Zoro.

"I wish I could have been dead now," Zoro said half-heartedly with a small smile, but that seemed to have make Luffy detach from him in an instant with horror filled eyes.

"Never say that! I need Zoro!" Luffy replied instantly, making Zoro hide his face in embarrassment. No one had thought that Luffy wouldn't be able to understand the joke and here he was, always doing the unexpected.

Nami started giggling, which was soon joined in by Luffy who didn't understand a thing but decided to join in to Nami's happiness.

Usopp and Sanji who were listening the conversation from the start sported a smile from the first time they were eavesdropping. They didn't want to offend Nami so they had just silently listened to everything that was being said. But now with the duo up, they knew things would be getting better soon enough!

"Great Warrior Usopp is also ready to help Nami!" Usopp stated revealing himself, holding his slingshot. "It's good to see you two up too!" He said to the duo who smiled in return.

"Usopp.." Nami whispered in a low tune looking at Usopp who wasn't even shaking at all.

"Sanji!" Luffy said making Sanji give up on hiding and come out. He didn't know how the teen knew that he was here but he just ignored it. After all, he needed to check on beautiful Nami-swan, for whom he had come in the beginning after hearing Zeff's words. He can go with them only for the sake of saving the beautiful princess just like her knight, but he has a debt to pay. 

He wasn't even given time to brace himself when Luffy jumped on him saying, "Yay!! Sanji is finally coming with us!"

Sanji got a tick mark at that. He was still angry that he was used as a bargaining chip, but when he was about to say it out loud, someone's stomach decided to grumble out loud.

"I'm hungry," Luffy said falling on Sanji completely, making him quickly catch the falling boy and place him on the bed which he was using. 

Sanji sighed. "Follow me," He said. He didn't like that someone would stay hungry on his watch.

"Carry me, pretty please," Luffy said making Sanji halt and making the mistake of looking at the puppy dog eyes of the kid.

"I-" Sanji didn't know what to say at all. Should he let the monkey boy climb on him or should he stay pissed off from him.

"If you don't, I'll carry him," The swordsman said already getting up from the bed and going towards Luffy. Sanji wasn't that heartless to let the man aggravate his wound, but it was not that that made him accept the teen's offer. It was the look Nami-swan gave him.

"Fine, hop on," Sanji said with fake irritation, getting a happy cheer from the kid who jumped on his back without wasting a moment.

He heard Zoro mumble that he could carry Luffy even in his state, making Usopp yell out a no, elicting a giggle from Nami-swan, which sounded so ethereal to his ears and a laugh from Luffy, who was swinging his feet back and forth from his back.

Did he regret the position he is in? Well, Sanji will tell yes, but silently he enjoyed the jealous face of the moss haired swordsman. The kid captain was sure adorable and like a bright sunshine, but was it okay for him to join them? To join a crew of reckless people with too big dreams, when he had abandoned his for the sake of loking after someone?

He shook his head, getting rid of the thoughts and gave the kid a piggyback ride till they entered the second floor of the Baratie where the cooks ate. But there was no space for anyone to sit, but there was food.

He didn't even need to ask the boy to get down.

"FOOD!!" The kid cheered and ran to grab one of the plate to fill food.

"Hey! Where's our seats?" Sanji asked, not wanting Nami-swan to sit somewhere else but a chair.

"There ain't no chairs for you," A cook said eating his lunch.

"Just eat on the floor," Another cook supported.

"No chairs? How is that even possible in a restaurant?" Sanji asked irritadely, but he was halted when he saw Luffy and Zoro both carrying stacks of plates of meat and bottles of sake, sit on the floor comfortably and start to eat. Even Nami-swan and the Usopp didn't hesitate to sit on the floor.

"Fine, whatever," Sanji said giving up and filling his plate.

"Yummy!" Luffy cheered as he ate the juicy meat.

"Not bad," Zoro stated opening another bottle on sake.

"Shouldn't you not be drinking those?" Usopp asked eyeing at the bottles of sake which were being emptied one by one. "And shouldn't you be eating vegetables and rice too?" He asked Luffy who was gobbling meat after meat.

"Whatever," Zoro replied.

"Luffy, Zoro," Nami said giving them a smile, which made them shiver a bit. Usopp inched away from Nami knowing what was about to come. "What should you both be eating or drinking right now?"

Luffy and Zoro started sweating.

"Damn witch, all I need is booze to get better!" Zoro stated taking his bottles away from the reach of the woman.

"Yeah, what he said!" Luffy replied gathering meat in his arms and instantly filling them in his mouth for safe keeping.

That got the two, bonks on their heads. "Seriously, you two! Get some nutrients!" Nami said filling new plates with vegetables and rice for the duo who were scrambled on the floor and gave them orders to finish their food which she had filled. They needed those to recover.

"Hey, who was the one in charge, of making this morning's soup?" A voice came, and that was of Patty. He was holding a bowl of soup in his hand.

"Oh, that'd be me!" Sanji said raising his hand. "Pretty good, right? I made it especially g-"

"How the hell am I supposed to pass this crap down my stomach?! What is this, pig feed?!" Patty asked throwing the soup with its bowl on the floor, in process shattering it to pieces.

Nami and Usopp stopped eating and looked at the commotion, while Luffy continued nibbing on meat and Zoro sipped sake away from Nami's eyes. 

"Does human food not suit you, damn racoon?" Sanji asked menacingly standing up slowly. He hated it when someone wasted food or mocked off his cooking skills. 

"Ha, this is pure crap of the highest quality. Makes me wanna puke!" Patty said bringing out his tongue to show his distaste. "Do you put actual shit in this or what?"

"I'm perfectly confident about my soup." Sanji hissed. "Maybe it's your damn tongue that's-" 

Sanji got cut off when another cook, Carne, spit out the soup which he was drinking. The other cooks followed suit soon after, draining the soup on the deck of the Baratie all the complaining how terrible and horrible it was. 

"The hell do you think you're all doing?!" Sanji shouted angrily. 

"You being the assistant chef was always just a sham! It's only because you've been here the longest," Patty said crossing his arms. 

"If something tastes bad, then it's my right to say it's bad!" 

Luffy could feel them lying through their teeth. He didn't like the way the cooks were acting. They were all agitating Sanji despite feeling so good after drinking the soup. He can even notice that some of the cooks had drank the whole content and added water to it, to show the draining of the soup and thus insulting Sanji. But why? Why were they acting so when they liked Sanji's cooking? 

Even the owner had joined it in it. 

"What's with this disgusting soup? Is it supposed to taste like sludge or what?" Owner Zeff asked after taking a sip of the soup. "We'd go out of business if we served this to the customers!" 

On the surface to the others it looked like Zeff was saying the truth, except for Luffy who caught on what was happening. There were some people in this world who showed their love by the anger, because they didn't know how to show their love otherwise. Such was Ace, when he was small. He showed only anger as a way to show his love.

So, this might be the case with the old man too. But he was older, some may say, and hence, should have a better grasp of emotions. But Luffy knew better, age never mattered in the case of emotions. Some people can and some people cannot, it was just like day and night.

"Don't you joke with me, you damn geezer!" Sanji shouted instantly grabbing Zeff's cook shirt. "How is this any different from the soup you make?! Well?! Speak up?!"

In all this commotion, the straw hats sat there speechless. Even Zoro was looking at Luffy with his hands on the hilt of his only remaining sword. He won't say he liked the blondie but if he was going to one of them, then he was a friend. But with one shook of Luffy's head, Zoro went back to sipping his sake.

"The soup I make..?" Zeff asked and then punched Sanji away. "Don't get cocky!"

"The owner punched him?!" Patty asked with wide eyes. It wasn't a surprise with the owner beating up Sanji, but he never had once used his hands instead of legs. It sure was a surprise.

"It's a hundred years too early for a little egg plant like you to be comparing my soup with yours. I've cooked all around the world," Zeff stated emphazing the last part.

Luffy couldn't tolerate the act anymore once Sanji was out of the room completely sad. He got up from his seat and served himself a bowl of soup and true to the true emotions of the cook, it was hella delicious.

Wiping the delicious soup trails from his hands, he looked at the cooks and specially Zeff. "I don't get it."

"What?" Zeff asked eyeing the door through which Sanji had left.

"The obvious lies which you all have been telling to Sanji since the very beginning," Luffy stated shocking almost everyone.

"What?!" The cooks asked in shock, even the straw hats looked at Luffy with wide eyes. They never had thought that Luffy would be someone who can catch lies, specially when he was so gullible.

"You lot love his cooking and yet you tell him otherwise," Luffy stated serving himself another bowl, and momentarily feeling that Sanji was approaching the door.

"Yeah, we know," One of the cook stated sitting down on a chair.

"Whew, that was scary. He sure was stomping mad," Another cook stated, looking all relaxed.

"Everyone here knows how good Sanji's cooking is," Patty stated serving himself a bowl of Sanji's soup.

"Then why tell him otherwise?" Nami asked looking all confused.

"If you don't do that then he won't listen to us," Zeff answered to Nami before turning towards Luffy. "You are taking in Sanji, right? Taking to the Grand Line... it's his dream too."

"Yep, but only if he agrees to!" Luffy said with enthusiasm. He could feel Sanji freezing in shock outside the doors of the restaurant. He momentarily wondered if he was kidnapping Sanji at the end of it, but decided against it. He would ask him one last time before leaving, if he joins in then it;s fine, if not, then the place of the cook in his ship will be forever open for Sanji.

Outside the door, Sanji fell on his legs and sat, listening to the the ending of the play the cooks played before him, only to make him realize of his dream. He can hear them asking for seconds and thirds and even fourths fr his soup.

"I can hear you.. you bastards," Sanji's voice wavered as he said those words. After a moment, he got up on his legs and stood straight to witness the brilliant tapestry of ocean beneath the caressing touch of the sun. It looked as if everything was asking him to go look for the one thing that his heart desires the most to see.

"The All Blue..." His whisper got carried by the wind to the ears of someone who would make sure to protect his dream forever and help him find it.

"Here I come!" He said with a full blown smile and dashed to his compartment to pack up to the new journey which awaited. To help the beautiful Nami-swan too!

He turned around with a twist in his legs and faced the door, where laid the way to reach his dream. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, listening the happy chatter from his father figure and the rest of the cooks, who were enjoying his cooking.

With a push on the door, he opened the door and entered. The chatter and murmer ceased to exist. The cooks and head chef was looking at him, probably to start their drama again to push him towards his dream, but he didn't need that anymore. He has understood that he is the one who has to carry his father figure's dream and his dream forward. He has to find it.

He looked straight at Luffy, his about to be captain. He can feel him already understanding what he was about to say from the big smile he was carrying on his face. That sure did startle him for a minute, but regardless he has a decision to announce.

"I'll accompany you on your way to become the pirate king," Sanji stated calmly leaning agaisnt the wall of the Baratie, leaving the cooks with wide mouths. "After all, we both have crazy dreams," Sanji said remembering the time when the kid had boldly declared his dream. "I'll be the cook for your ship."

"Sounds great!" Luffy cheered with his hands up in the air and ran straight towards him to leech on him like a bug. Sanji sighed before face palming himself. He was in, right? He let out a chuckle, as he felt Luffy climb on his shoulders and sit comfortably there with a bright sunshine smile on his face.

"Zoro! Nami! Usopp! We finally got Sanji!!! Yippeeee!!!" He said jumping down to the deck and running to Usopp to do their little victory dance.

"He did it," Zoro said smiling at Luffy danced with Usopp.

"Yeah, he did it," Nami said with a giggle.

The happiness sure was contagious, as each and every one in the room sported a smile on their face.

"That's how it's gonna be, guys," Sanji said turning towards the cooks. "Sorry for all the trouble I put you through."

Patty humphed, continuing his act. "I don't like it one bit. I wanted to throw you outta here with my own two hands, but now you decide to leave on your own?"

"Sorry, for making you put on that shitty performance," Sanji said intentionally breaking the cooks out of their play.

"Wha?! You knew?!" Patty yelled loud in embrassment.

"I could hear it crystal clear from outside, you numbskulls." Sanji said looking away and seeing his captain out in the deck with the others. They would have finished with their lunch.

"Now get the hell out of here, eggplant!" Zeff said making Sanji angry.

"You want to so desparetly kick me out geezer?!" Sanji asked angrily.

"That's exactly right, lil'eggplant. I've always hated brats. There hasn't been a single day when I don't regret saving a brat like you." Zeff stated making Sanji angry further.

"Whatever, enjoy the few years you have left," Sanji said turning his back to the cooks and to the geezer to go to his cabin to pack his things.

The beginning days of the Baratie, when the geezer has suggested feeding anyone who is hungry. The time when he started smoking, to show that he was a grown up. He wanted to grow up fast, all because he wanted to help his savior. The time when the cooks started coming in. The tie when he got kicked for cooking crap.

The time when some diners talked shit about the old man and the old man beating the shit out of some diners when they agitated his cooks. That time when they fought against some no name pirates who tried to threaten the restaurant and all the cooks stood their ground in order to protect it.

He would be leaving everything behind now, except the memories which he would carry till forever in his heart.

.

With the help of everyone, the Merry was ready to set sail once again. It was filled to its brim with food given by the generous cooks to show their gratitude for defeating Krieg. Even Nami had hauled something and that was none other than the broken gold armor of Krieg which was floating on one of the wrecked platform. Adding that to her haul, she had a complete 100 million to free her village.

"Sanji sure is taking his time," Usopp stated breaking Nami's trail of thoughts.

"Heh, he might have got lost," Zoro stated with a smirk. He can totally believe that.

"Nu-uh!" Luffy stated with a bright grin, as he saw the silhoutte of Sanji emerging finally. "He's here!"

Sanji walked straight in mid of the cooks who looked at him with stern faces. Even Patty and Carne went far to literally kick him out of the restaurant woth their weapon spoons shouting that it was a payback for all the years. But it was useless as Sanji easily kicked them to the deck.

The atmosphere looked tense, with none of the cooks and Sanji exchanging even a single word. Sanji's shoes clicked on the deck until he reached the ship, the ship which will be his home on the seas from now on.

"Let's go," He said without turning to look back.

"Just like that?" Luffy asked with his head cocked to side.

"What about goodbyes?" Usopp asked from beside Luffy.

Zoro leaned against the railing and took in the sights of the cooks, even Nami was looking at them to find someone.

"It's fine," Sanji said, jumping on the deck of the Going Merry easily.

"Hey Sanji!"

Sanji froze with his back still to the Baratie.

"Don't catch a cold," The voice was of none other than the geezer's.

As if a dam had been left open Sanji's eyes welled up with tears, falling from his eyes.

"OWNER ZEFF!!!" Sanji shouted, turning on his hells and planting his head on the deck of the Merry. Zeff was able to see the snot and tears carefully from where he stood as Sanji kneeled down. "I'M ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR TAKING CARE OF ME FOR SO DAMN LONG! I SHALL NEVER FORGET FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE THE DEB I OWE YOU!"

Zeff couldn't control the tears which he kept at bay and let them down finally. He would miss his Sanji, his son.

"Godamn it! We are gonan be lonely without ya!" Patty yelled out through his own tears.

"Real lonely, you hear?!" Carne shouted up, as his tears leaked through his eyes. Sanji lifted his head to witess everyone's tears faces, his own tears were not stopping at all.

"I'LL MISS YOU!" "YOU'RE MAKING US CRY, DAMMIT!"

"Damn idiots.. Men should say their goodbyes silently," Zeff stated wiping down his tears.

"LET'S MEET AGAIN ONE DAY! YOU GOOF FOR NOTHING BASTARDS!" Sanji shouted out.

"Alright! Let's set sail!"