II. Alcohol - Because no great story starts with salad

Along with it was a card, which Chopper tried to hide quickly under his hat, but way not fast enough for Brook not to see.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY", he gasped.

"SNEAKY TANUKI!"

"I AM NOT A TAN-"

"CHOPPER, CONGRATS!"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG MAN!"

"CHOPPER, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

The reindeer blushed in exasperation.

"Yeah, thanks guys, I didn't want to tell because I don't know, the situation was just not-"

"WE GOTTA THROW A PARTY!", Luffy announced, "SANJI, MORE FOOD!"

The cook was just about to explain that it was impossible to prepare a birthday party like that, not to mention after lunch, but Robin interrupted the fight which was about to ensue suggesting that they made a feast in the evening, with a cake, candles - and obviously alcohol.

Everybody agreed on that, although the captain wasn't entirely satisfied with the fact that he wouldn't get any more food at the very moment.

They reached a small town soon enough for Sanji to buy the ingredients he needed (along with Luffy, of course, who wanted to check on the birthday menu), for Franky, Usopp, Brook to go buy the beverages, for Nami and Robin to do some shopping and buy some cute birthday party ornaments and for Zoro to get lost a couple of times.

Chopper was ordered to stay on the ship - officially because the Thousand Sunny couldn't be left without care, but actually because since everybody wanted to buy presents among the other stuff it was best to not have him in the way.

When they came back, the pirates all had a satisfied look on their faces.

Sanji barricaded himself in the kitchen and threatened everybody in eyesight (meaning Luffy) with his kicks.

Finally dinner time came and everybody sat at the table. Sanji had surpassed himself with wonderful dishes and Chopper was so moved by the cook's effort that he almost cried. Usopp quickly wiped away his single tear, encouraging him to smile instead of crying because - and he started telling a probably made up story about the meaning of life and cherishing moments.

Finally it was the time of the birthday cake and unwrapping presents.

Franky and Usopp had worked on a firework display leaving in awe, Robin gave him the most up to date medical book around,

Brook played him a piece he had composed himself, Sanji's present was the huge birthday cake which was still to be brought to the table, Nami's present was the clear weather (it should have rained heavily) and she deleted his debt to her, making everyone wish it was their birthday as well.

Zoro tried to be nonchalant about it, but he had given much thought to the present and surprised everyone by giving the doctor a cute ornament for his big hat.

Finally it was show time and the cake was majestic, there are no other words to describe it. The love, the passion and the effort the cook had put into it was clear to everyone. He even earned a kiss on the cheek from both the women in the crew and an almost approvingly grunt from the green marimo.

And then, the alcohol kicked in.

Now, that's the real beginning of our story, sorry for the wait.

Where to begin though? Probably from Luffy, because every One Piece story starts with Luffy.

"'Nother round."

"'Nother round of what?", Usopp asked, barely standing.

"Rum, 'f course, whaddya think? Where's the waiter?"

"We ain't got no fucking water", Sanji mumbled, "just Rum."

"Why should I run? Where to?", said the captain, who was in no condition to walk, most definitely not to run.

Chopper and Franky where playing hide and seek, but then the doctor 'forgot where he was hidden' and fell asleep, while the robot forgot to search for him and went for another drink.

The skeleton meanwhile was making moves on his own violin, complimenting its womanly curves.

Nami and Robin started dancing to no music and Zoro rejoiced at the amount of alcohol which was jet to be consumed.

"For y'all who still can walk", Luffy said, or at least that's what he would have liked to say - this is an impromptu translation - "get up here and let's play a game."

Brook vanished with his violin, declaring he would invite them all to the wedding.

The Birthday Boy fell asleep on Franky, after both had found themselves puking in the same 'sea corner' after the hide-and-seek game. Usopp had insisted he was sober for about an hour before fainting to the ground.

In the end, the only ones who actually understood Luffy's invitation and had enough strength to accept it were Sanji, Robin, Nami and Zoro.

"What's this game 'bout? If it ain't worth my time, I'ma charge you, y'know", Nami said, clinging to Robin.

"I got many games in stock, no worries", the captain smiled, for a second almost looking sober, if it hadn't been for the fact that he had his neck tied in a knot. Usopp's idea, by the way.

"First, we could, mm, play hide 'n seek? Then, bottle game, strip poker, or 7 seconds to heaven...", and he started listing a variety of games no one knew of or that were way too much revealing for the ladies.

They settled they could try with hide and seek, (hoping to get something more out of it than Chopper and Franky) and later on 'I Never', a game in which everyone says a thing they never thought of or did or would want to do and all the players who did have to drink.

Robin was chosen to be the seeker, as she was the one who knew the ship less than the other members (well, aside from Zoro, who could have gotten lost in the blink of an eye).

"I'ma hiding with Nami-swan."

"Like hell you are", grunted the swordsman, "I gotta hide well here y'know! I need the navigator here."

"Well well...I guess I'll go with who pays more", agreed the redhead.

In the background Robin was already counting.

Luffy was already well hidden, and if not well at least hidden, since the three of them were still arguing when Nico Robin was almost done.

"Fine, I'll pay! Just come with me now, would ya?", said the swordsman, and without waiting for a response he started running on the other side of the ship after grabbing her hand. The cook would have certainly protested but the time was almost up so he figured he would get back to that green marimo later and hid as well.

"I'll regret this tomorrow..", Zoro mumbled, unaware of having voiced his thoughts out loud. After Nami had found them a very good hiding, she smirked, getting so close to him that he could feel her breath on his skin.

"If it's something you'll regret in the morning", she whispered, "sleep late."