The young boy flopped onto the ground tired and covered in a thin sheen of sweat, his weights laying around him in awkward places as he panted trying to get his breathing together. as the sound of a ship coming into the harbor caught his attention. It was an odd looking ship with the head of a fish and the most inciting smells wafting from it. Sitting up he stood and ran through the trees til he reached his small village and blinked as people began coming off the ship dressed in white clothes that had large black buttons decorating the front of them, the outfits confused the young boy and he looked over as his best friend came to a stop beside him.
"You beat me here Zoro, does that mean you were at your training spot?"
His cheeks turned a light pink making her smile as she looked out at the ship as the people filed off of it.
"They're cooks, that's what sensie said, told us that they were here to help us stock our supplies or something like that. Said these guys were known as the fighting cooks. They don't look much like fighters though do they?"
"Kuina, are you really one to say things like that? You get underestimated all the time for being a girl?"
This time her cheeks turned red and she refused to meet his eyes as they watched the chefs come and go from the ship.
"You think we should go and check it out?"
She looked down at him finally with a wicked smile.
"Beat you I'll beat you there!"
Without warning she took off at a sprint heading for the docks, Zoro close on her heels calling out to her at how unfair her start was.
Down on the docks another small boy was helping to unload produce as were the others, his blond hair falling over one of his eyes constantly making him flip his head this way or that to try and clear his vision.
"Hey Carne, why are we doing this again?"
"I dunno, something about the boss owing the mayor here or something like that. I wouldn't question it if I were you."
"Oh yeah? Well your not so who asked you!"
"You did Eggplant."
The blonds face turned red at the nickname.
"I told you not to call me that!"
"Why not? Head chef does."
"He's different!"
"Only cause he's like your father."
"What's your point? It still makes him different!"
The chef known as Carne just shook his head and laughed at the young boy.
"You know Sanji, you have quite the attitude for a kid."
Sanji crossed his arms and huffed as he walked beside the older chef, his pout began to lessen as he looked about his surroundings and took everything in. The houses were all like mini dojos and Sanji felt his curiosity peak as he began to scan and see that alot of the kids his age carried swords. One in particular caught his eye as he ran along the edge of a small hill with a young girl, he carried three small wooden swords at his side. Raising an eye brow he tugged on Carne's white jacket.
"Why does everyone have a sword?"
"Well this is a training island for upcoming swordsman. They all come here to train and study to be better."
Sanji pandered this a moment and than tugged on Carne's jacket again making the man smile at his curiosity.
"Is that why we're bringing them food? Cause they need to train really hard?"
"That's part of the reason yeah String Bean, but the other is cause they're a small island that doesn't get many provisions. It's your first time being here isnt' it?"
Sanji nodded, his eyes large and over bright as he looked around now. Carne chuckled and ruffled the boys hair fondly.
"Come on kid, lets go make sure all the stock is here and start doing our job eh?"
Sanji looked up and nodded smiling largely. As they headed back for their ship Sanji sighed as he looked around towards the small dojos and smiled one last time hoping he might get a chance to practice what the old man had been teaching him since he was saved from the crushing blue waters of the ocean.