---------------- Chapter 6 / Potato Salad
Most of the Mugiwara gang was out on the beach. Franky and Usopp had built a good size wooden deck platform on the beach giving them somewhere solid to set up the wooden long table and benches, along with a BBQ grill, and karaoke system yet leaving still plenty of room for dancing space for later on. The four corner polls of the structure had paper lanterns of many bright and happy colors stringed from the tops each one connecting to the next to circle in the space and keep it well lit. It was really rather nice and seemed to be the only thing that had gone right out of their plans they had made yesterday.
Ace had tried to set up a meeting with Hancock but the soonest time he could get was next month and the promise if any other time opened up they would call. Nami had tried to crack into Doflamingo's home computer and ended up getting her laptop fried from a nasty virus counter attack program she had never seen before. So till she got a new laptop and figured how to get around that nasty backlash she was at a dead end. Robin and Chopper also had, had a run of bad luck and even with all the hours they had put into it they had found nothing other then the first time Sanji had shown up in the Arena for Doflamingo and all the times after. Yet to make matters worse it was past 5PM an hour into the party and no one could reach Zoro nor had herd from him since yesterday.
Ace bored looked around on the beach from where he sat in the sand. Chopper, Nami and Robin were all in lawn chairs in the sand near the platform. Nami was in a red bikini top and white knee shorts as she was busy messing around with her now useless laptop trying to see if she could salvage anything from it. Robin in the next chair over was reading a thick musty looking book she had got from the city library on news reports from over a year ago, a month prior to when Sanji had made his scene in Water 7 Arena. She was wearing a one piece black bathing suit with a purple long knit wrap tied around her waist. Chopper in the third chair wore only a pair of red swim trunks as he stared at his phone reading online news reports from around the same timeline as Robin about culinary places in the city.
His brother Luffy in dark blue swim trunks and his lucky straw hat ran around on the beach with Johnny and Yosaku playing frisbee. Jonny wearing his dark sunglasses, a burgundy tank top and black swim trunks while Yosaku just had on light blue swim trunks.
On the newly built platform Franky was at the grill in his sea-panties and one of his loud shirts unbuttoned of course. Usopp was at the table sitting down wearing brown swim trunks and a white tank top. The long nose man sat his phone down just having ended a call with his wife.
"That was Kaya, she apologizes for being late and has picked up a side dish since she could not help any with the party and should be here soon." Usopp told Franky yet it was easy to over hear their conversation if anyone wished to listen in and it seemed Ace was the only one bored enough to do so.
"No prob bro and she really didn't need to do that we are super on food! I don't even think Luffy can eat all of what we got." Franky replied as he flipped over some of the steaks on the grill.
"Heh yeah right Luffy is like a bottomless pit I don't think he even knows what full is." Usopp laughed.
Ace sighed and lay back in the sand tuning out the rest of the conversation to wonder for the hundredth time where the hell Zoro and Sanji were. He set his hat to rest over his face to keep it shaded from the setting sun. The only thing else he wore were a pair of black swim trunks. Though the night was slowly creeping in the temperature had hardly dropped any. With the warmth of the air around him it was easy to doze off and that's just what he started to do.
"NEVER FUCKING AGAIN!" came Zoro's voice bellowing out as he stormed onto the beach with a cheeky looking Sanji carrying a brown bag behind him.
"If you would have just listened to me we could have been here an hour ago." The blonde coolly replied.
Ace whipped around pushing his hat up onto his head so he could see and at the sight a big grin came to his face. He quickly got up but was past by a blur that was his brother.
Luffy lunched himself into the air, "Zoro Sanji you made it!" called out Luffy knocking down Zoro and would have gotten Sanji to if he had not side stepped out of the way.
"Oi!" Zoro groaned under Luffy and was saying something but Ace only had eyes now for Sanji and hurried up to the blonde's side. "Need help with that?" he offered motioning to the brown bag.
Sanji was laughing at Zoro's misfortune as he nodded to Luffy when Ace snuck up to his side. He seemed a little surprised to see him and the cutest light pink blush came to Sanji's pale cheeks at Ace's offer. "That's very kind of you thank you and since I got it for the party anyways it would be best you did as I would not know where to put them." He replied politely handing the bag over to Ace's care.
"Ne? Got it for the party?" Ace questioned, "You didn't have to go to any trouble." Ace curiously peeked in the bag and spied 4 high priced wine bottles. "Woah … wine and it's the good stuff." Ace chuckled.
Sanji shrugged. "I would have felt bad coming empty handed."
"He brought booze?" questioned Zoro as he had finally got up, Luffy as well got up and now poked his head in the bag only to get swatted at by Ace to get out of the bag.
"Ne Zoro shouldn't you already know what he brought already since you were sups to be following on him?" Luffy questioned as the four walked over to the table Johnny and Yosaku trailing after them.
Ace then butted in to ask some questions as well, "Not that am complaining but why did you two show up together …so late …and not even bothering to call?" there was a hint of jealousy to Ace's voice. "Or answering your phone….Zoro." He added for good measure.
Zoro pouted, "I forgot my phone." was his only reply as he seemed to not want to answer to the rest but Sanji was all the willing to. "Well though it might be smart to spy on your prey it's not smart to send in a dumbass to do it." Sanji went on to add. "As soon as I walked outside I noticed him snoring away drooling on himself."
Zoro glared at Sanji. "Then the bastard made me drive him around." Zoro added trying to take the spotlight off himself.
"Awe is you trying to say you didn't enjoy our little date? Mar-im-o?" Sanji asked flirtingly cute like to Zoro more then anything to mock the man.
Ace's eye twitched and eyed his friend and smiled forcibly so as he sat the bag on the table. "Date?" Ace questioned through clenched teeth still giving Zoro that scary smile.
Zoro paled at the accusation. "It wasn't a date!" he protested.
"You mean it was not much of a date." Sanji grinned and then greeted the others as they came to the table sitting down seeming to want to know what was going on now as well.
"It was not a date!" Zoro cried. Ace moved up to Zoro putting his arm around his buddy. "Then what were you two doing on this ... not so called date?"
"Well the bastard at lest took me to the store so I could bring a gift to the party and some smokes for myself but then he got us in trouble with some bounty hunters or cops or something most likely for indecent behavior in public. He nearly broke my wrist keeping me prisoner as he climbed all over me." Sanji even pulled back his sleeves to show off the purple marks.
Everyone eyed Zoro with gaping mouths. Ace's hand at his side cracked as he opened and closed his fist while his other arm tighten around Zoro.
"Oi! You bastard that's not the way it happened at all! You got your own damn hand stuck in the window and you were the one to attack me when I told you not to smoke your shitty cigarettes in my car." Zoro growled at Sanji and tried to get himself away from Ace.
"Well anyways after we were spotted we drove around for awhile trying to lose them as he ruddily yelled at me for every little thing." Sanji said sitting himself down at the table to take out a cigarette and lit it up.
"You where being annoying." Zoro took a seat as well as Ace let go of him. Everyone seemed to now be catching on that Sanji was just messing around at the expense of Zoro and they all seemed willing now to play in with it.
"My, that really does seem like a bad date." Robin smirked
"Oh am only getting started." Sanji waved his hand as he took a moment to take in another puff of smoke and blow it out before he went on. "So anyways once we were no longer being chased by some Smoker guy..." Sanji let his eye glanced to Ace as he said the name and watched the man stiffen. "I ask the bastard to stop for food."
Chopper smiled. "You ate?"
"Ye gods no. That shitty bastard had the gull to take me to some cheep dirty little fast food place. Where we didn't even get out of the car as he used the drive-threw the lazy fuck!" Sanji said making it seem as if Zoro had tried to make him eat from the city dump.
"Then he got us lost for hours till miraculously we somehow ended up here." He ran a hand threw his golden hair on his right side and flicked back.
"Ah! So then the date is not over yet. He still has to take you home and get his good night kiss." teased Nami.
"I honestly rather walk my dear knowing him he would try to force himself on me again." Sanji teased and snickered looking over to a very red face Zoro.
"Your just asking for it asshole!" Zoro ground his teeth. If this kept up he was not going to have any teeth left to grind he could not help but think.
"Ah fine I will meet you half way." Sanji then blew a kiss to Zoro across the table. Sanji most likely would have not done this if he was still not high and only still was because he had made Zoro stop at a rest stop so he could use the bathroom where he took the time to do another line.
Zoro blushed brightly and looked away as Ace glared at Zoro. Ace didn't get it. Why was Sanji flirting with Zoro so much and more or less ignoring him? Had Zoro said something to Sanji about Smoker? Oh if he had he was going to kick his ass!
The mansion's back door then opened and Kaya came rushing out with a bag in hand. She was very fair of skin like Sanji but while his blonde hair was like gold hers was like pale wheat. She was lovely and lithe in build wearing a long peach skirt that went down past her knees and a short sleeve white tasteful blouse.
"Kaya!" Usopp called as a bright smile came to his lips being the first to greet his wife.
"I'm so sorry I took so long, the meeting I had with the board of directors at the hospital ran late." She explained then rose up on her tip toes to kiss Usopp on the cheek. Then she was introduced to Sanji.
During this time Ace pulled Zoro to his feet. "Come on lets get some glasses for the wine." he used as an excuse.
Once the two were finally out of ear shot Ace frowned at Zoro. "What the hell did you say to him?" he straight up asked.
Zoro blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't give me that. What did you tell him about Smoker? Sanji is all over you!" Ace questioned and accused all at once. It was weird he had never been this jealous of anyone before like this and it left him rather uneasy.
Zoro stepped into the kitchen starting to gather glasses and handing some to Ace. "I just let slip you happened to ... use to you know … date Smoker." He said while not willing to meet Ace's eyes because he had not so nicely put it like that to Sanji. "I don't even know what you're so upset about he has been acting like a fool all day, just another reason why you should not get mixed up with him."
Ace narrowed his eyes but kept taking the glasses. That was the second time someone had tried to get him to back off on trying with Sanji but Ace really didn't think Zoro's reasons were the same as Chopper's. "So you spend a whole day with him and now you're some kind of expert on him and what's good for me… or do you mean what's good for you if I was out of the way?"
Zoro stiffened and looked at Ace really shocked at the question. He could not answer it though cause of that stupid little nagging voice at the back of his head that said things he was not even willing to admit to himself yet and hoped against all hope that the little voice would just fucking die. "Don't be stupid you know how I feel about Luffy." was the best reply he could give.
It seemed to be enough for Ace and he nodded and stared at the floor. "I'm sorry it was stupid of me to get jealous I don't even know why I did, hell I flirt worse to random people then what he was doing with you."
"I really don't think he was flirting with me. Probably just trying to annoy me to death, the bastard." said Zoro as he turned back to the cabinet to gather glasses into his own hands. Yet Zoro could not help but wonder what he would do if Sanji was ever serious and hint on him. Sure he was annoying painfully so but … Zoro cringed and slammed the cabinet door shut and headed back out to the beach. He really needed to stop thinking things like this.
Ace followed after Zoro feeling guilty now because clearly Zoro had to be pissed with him with the way he was now acting. Zoro was not even the type to make a move on someone who one of his friends had their eye on. It was stupid of Ace to have even thought something was up.
They came back to the group as Luffy was cheering and whining, "Yosh! Food! Ah Franky Chopper got a bigger piece of meat then me."
"Oi it does not matter there is still more if you want when you finish that." argued Franky.
"Oh I almost forgot here is the potato salad." Kaya held up a white bag with a logo of a fish with the name Baratie under it. "The meeting was on the edge of town and since I remembered about this charming little boat restaurant near by I stumbled on a few weeks ago I just could not pass up the chance to go to them. They really do have the best food in the city I'm surprised they don't get more business then they do."
Sanji's visible blue eye widen at the name on the bag and his heart started to beat widely in his chest.
Kaya pulled the wrapped dish out as everyone worked to fill up there own plates and glasses.
"Yo cook-bro what about you? You want steak, weenie or a burger?" Franky questioned as he had gotten now everyone else their meat but him.
"Oh... no thank you, none for me." Sanji politely refused as his eye was glued to Kaya and the dish in her hand.
The refusal of food got Chopper to look up and was about too set in on Sanji when Sanji spoke up asking, "Would you mind if I had some of the potato salad?"
"Sure anything else?" Kaya asked filling up a plate for the man. Sanji shook his head and took the plate and breathed in the aroma of the food closing his eyes and smiled.
Robin looked to Chopper and Chopper looked back to her. Could luck have shined on them and dropped a clue in their lap?
Sanji breathed out letting his eyes flutter open and he tossed his cigarette to the sand. "Ah the secret of it is not using vinegar but pickle juice. First boil your potatoes leaving the skins on after a giving them a good scrubbing and let simmer for 20 mins followed by the removal of the skins. Then dice potatoes to cubes and mixed together with pickle juice, parsley, onions, celery, scallions, a hard boiled egg, carrots, and red bell pepper. In a separate small bowl, mix mayonnaise, pickle juice and mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste. When finished mix in the dressing with the potato mixture. Again, salt and pepper to taste." Sanji sat the plate down and picked up his fork and scooped up some of the potato salad on his fork and popped it in his mouth. He moaned in pleasure as soon as the food touched his tongue and closed his eyes once more.
Ace moved to sit next to Sanji and smiled at him. "Seems we have found something you like to eat after all."
Sanji blushed opening his eyes to look over to the man. "It is good." he admitted and turned back to his plate.
"That is amazing can you really tell what all is in it and how it's made just by sight and smell?" Kaya questioned as she sat her self down by her husband with her own plate.
Sanji looked up and blushed again at the question. "Well with many dishes yes." he side stepped the question.
"That is such a handy talent. I need to take you with me to all my favorite restaurants and get you to write the recipes of my favorite dishes for me so I can make them at home." Kaya laughed.
"Oh you don't need to worry about that! Sanji is going to be our cook so he can just make it and it will be ten times better for sure!" Luffy grinned and said between shoveling in food to his mouth.
"Oh how wonderful!" Kaya cooed.
Sanji pushed in more food into his own mouth and glared at Luffy.
"Oh, he is not denying it this time!" Yosaku pointed out.
Sanji pouted, "Cause I already have said I'm not enough times it should have sunk in by now."
"Only time will tell." Robin smiled and reached out a hand stopping Ace's face from landing in his food as the man suddenly just started to fall face forward.
"What the hell?!" Sanji gasped and let his fork drop so he could put a hand to Ace's shoulder.
"Huh... oh that don't worry Ace does that all the time." laughed Luffy.
"He is narcoleptic." Chopper explained.
"Oh…" Sanji blinked and removed his hand from the man's shoulder. A slow smile came to his lips. That is kinda cute. If a person had to have faults he could think of a lot worse ones to have.
Robin let Ace's head lay to the table as Zoro watched Sanji then sneered, "No longer favoring him, now seeing his flaws?"
Sanji smirked and leaned an elbow on the table, "Worried my eyes wont only be for my little marimo anymore?" he flirty mocked. Seeing already how well his mock flirting got the biggest raise out of the bastard he kept at it. He had to admit he got a bigger kick out of seeing the swordsman blush then he did Chopper.
"Oi cut that shit out you pervie-cook, people are trying to eat here with out getting sick!" Zoro shot back trying to hide the red on his cheeks.
Sanji waved a hand, "Yes, yes we all know about your love sickness." he teased and went back to eating leaving the green haired man sputtering and the gang now laughing at him.
A tall figure then came down from the street soon making himself known as the older man Brook. Franky got a plate ready for him and set it down at the free spot at the table just as he reached the others.
"Your rather late everything ok?" question Nami.
"Nothing that can't be put off for later." He smiled setting down and looked over to Sanji. "Good to see you where able to join us Sanji-san."
Sanji smiled, "Thank you I…" Sanji paused as Ace jerked his head up and blinked looking around.
"Sorry about that." Ace rubbed the back of his head rather embarrassed he had done that so soon in front of Sanji.
Sanji's attention stolen from Brook turned fully to Ace and gave the man a dashing smile. "Eh why so? You're rather cute when you're sleeping."
Ace at once felt relief and a cheesy grin came to his face. "So your saying I'm not when I'm awake?"
Sanji laughed, "I didn't say that." And with his plate empty he now refilled it with another helping of the potato salad.
They didn't get Sanji to eat anything else though he did have thirds of the potato salad so it was still a win. Robin and Chopper were defiantly going to have to pay a visit to this Baratie later on.
A/N: Dammit I'm hungry now T.T I think I will need to see if I have the stuff to make some tatter salad! Anyways we are now caught up to the chapter I'm working on now. It's going to be continuing on from the party and will have more NOOKIE! Yes more smut xD This time the real stuff! *crosses fingers* hopefully it will go over ok. As well as the promise of nookie I give you the secret of Sanji's left eye! And drama! Hehe I think it might be still a few chapters till the ball gets really going on things, right now I'm just doing up a lot of set up for things so that their will be a plot and tons of mini plots going on at the same time to make everything complicated and yummy drama-ish! Erg yeah food on the brain… Ah well I think I will be able to get the chapter done tonight if nothing distracts me so maybe more tomorrow! See ya all then!
Review Replies:
Kirite - *noodle dances* Yay! I'm happy to know your still here and enjoying the story! Lol don't worry good things come to those who wait annnd…this chapter did have a bit more ZoroxSanji Zoro is slowly starting to realize something and Sanji is starting to think of the man as a friend worth messing around with like Chopper and remember Chopper is the nearest thing Sanji has to a real/best friend right now.
HA! I so forgot about that thingy. I switched it on so let's see if that makes a difference…just watch me get flamed for my shitty stories xD
datErdbeerschn - *waves franticly* Yay you came! Lol sorry for the trouble but it is listed under SanjixAce since Ace has the major male romance role towards Sanji in this story…its going to lead to a Ace vs Zoro match in humor ways as well as drama oh yeah and then there is also gunna be Gin trying to get back in the picture xD I might have to have the boys team up to get Gin out of the way later on xD I don't know yet we will have to see what my wacky mind comes up with xD
I will keep that toilet thing in mind xD
*blushes like crazy* I was so worried about the DonflamingoxSanji nookie. When I was writing it I knew it was different then all the other stuff out their. It's always either willing or rape and I guess I took a gamble and won? xD Yay for fantasies during sex with wanted sex partners!
Cant wait to see what ya think of the next chapter ^.~
