Summary: It had been nine long years. They used to work together on the Orbit. Then he was washed overboard. What will happen now that she discovers the boy she thought was dead is very much alive? SanjixOC
Disclaimer: I own only Kataluna
Chapter One: Last Day on the Orbit
"Kataluna, get that order to table thirteen!"
"Yes, sir," replied Kataluna, balancing two plates in her left hand, three in her right, and a tray of drinks on her head.
She scooted past Sanji, a small blond boy who was busy scraping leftovers into a trash barrel, arguing with the cooks over wasted food.
"You guys are eating off someone else's plate like dogs!" he muttered.
"Sea cooks never wasted food," they chided.
Kataluna giggled; even though Sanji was just as young as she was, only a year older, he always found an excuse to argue with the higher ups.
Kataluna entered the main dining area and made her way through the mass of round tables. Each one was covered in a simple white tablecloth and boasted a bright blue candle in the center.
The young girl found Table Thirteen and placed all five meals in front of the customers without spilling a drop. She gave each his or her drink as well.
Holding the tray that held thee drinks under her arm she asked, "Can I get you anything else?"
"No, thank you," replied an elderly man, speaking for the group.
Another man, younger than the first by a considerable margin leaned forward curiously.
"Just how old are you young miss?" he asked politely.
"Eight years old," she proclaimed proudly. "But I'll be nine next Thursday!"
"My, my," exclaimed an elegantly dressed woman. "So young and yet still charming. And working on the Orbit no less!"
"Thank you, ma'am," Kataluna said with a slight curtsy. She made her way back to the kitchen, asking those on the way if everything was satisfactory.
She was in the middle of picking up a champagne glass from a vacated table when she glanced out the large window and screamed, shattering the glass when she dropped it.
"Red Shoes Zeff's pirate ship!" she cried out, pointing a finger out the window to a large ship bearing the Jolly Roger.
The customers glanced up at her outburst and dashed to the window to see what she was screaming about. When they verified that pirates were at the restaurant, they panicked and ran to the back of the room.
Meanwhile, Sanji had heard Kataluna's terrified scream and ran to her rescue. He hugged the shaking girl and turned her face away from the frightening sight.
Kataluna threw her arms around Sanji's neck and shut her eyes tightly. The last thing she could remember was the feeling of Sanji's heart beat wildly in his chest with fear before everything went black.
When she opened her eyes, Kataluna saw that the sun had set. The beautiful chandeliers adorning the dining area illuminated the Orbit.
Sitting up carefully, she scanned the faces, seeing only the cooks. They must have already brought the passengers back to the port.
She was relieved to see that most of her friends weren't too badly injured. However, there was one person that she couldn't seem to find.
"Where's Sanji?" she asked in a small voice.
When no one answered her, she asked again, a little louder.
"Where's Sanji?"
The cooks looked at her miserably and the captain walked to her.
Kataluna," he began, draping an arm over her shoulder gently. "He went overboard with Captain Zeff. He's gone."
Kataluna froze, aware that her captain was still speaking, but not hearing anything else he said.
She broke away from him and ran to the deck, seeing the broken railing where he must have gone over. She stopped in her tracks, seeing the broken pile of wood.
Feeling a hard lump rise in her throat, Kataluna let the tears fall. She sobbed loudly to the ocean, the waters that had taken away her best friend.
"Sanji," she whispered into the wind before she collapsed, crying wildly as the cooks could do nothing but watch in despair.