Disclaimer: I don't know anything but Alli and Megan

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again no reviews so sad

chapter 9

"Stupid Marimo!" Sanji stated followed by the sound of boot meeting flesh.

"Ow! What the hell was that for shitty cook?" Zoro snapped, I heard the scuffle of feet before I was out of hearing range. I quickly walked to the kitchen knowing that I could find salvation there.

Walking in I took in the smells of the kitchen the many spices that where kept mingled in the air coating it in a pleasant smell. I could smell the lingering smoke from the cigarettes Sanji smokes, damn it, I was staring to not mind the smell so much. Looking at the counters for a distraction I saw that Sanji had brought the steak out of the freezer, one big slab, I figured he had too have gotten it at the last market he had been at because it was too thin for being caught himself, yet it was still fairly thick.

I walked over to the counter picked up a knife to start cutting at the meat, it was fairly frozen too I noticed when I tried to cut through it. I was so use to Alli super heating the blade when I needed to cut frozen foods I forgot how hard it is to cut things that are frozen without help from magic but with the restriction on magic so that those idiots don't find out it would be hard to heat the blade, oh well, that's what good old fashioned muscles are for. I thought as I set on applying as much pressure as I could working the knife through the meat and trying for the cleanest cuts I could make.

When I did finally cut a piece of the large slab, I divided the smaller piece in to more strips thin and rectangular in shape they would be perfect for sandwiches. After pausing to find a cooking sheet, I placed the strips in the sheet to thaw out the large slab got easier to cut off. It helped that the kitchen had warmed up considerable.

I was tempted to take my shirt off it was so hot but I didn't know when Sanji was going to come help with lunch and me shirtless was not something I wanted him to see, at least not yet a voice whispered in my head, I shook my head to get rid of the thought, no not ever do I want Sanji to see me without anything I try to convince myself only partially working.

When would the moron come I thought looking over my shoulder at the door, I was half way through the slab and it had been quite a while since I left him fighting Zoro, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't help at all idiot; I cut another piece of the steak, I slit the piece through the side making two thinner slices setting both slices on the counter, I cut one length wise into three pieces, picking them up I placed them in row with the other slices all identical in size and shape.

I should make a marinade for these pieces of steak, a teriyaki sauce would be good with the meat, it would bring out the nice robust taste of the meat but an hour at most would not be enough time for the marinade to soak into the steak on its own. I wonder if I could make the marinade sink in with my magic and have no one notice especially Sanji, I placed another three slices on the sheet having cut them while I was thinking.

Working the slab to give another piece between me working on it and the heat of the room only the core was still frozen, I heard the door open turning I expected to see Luffy trying to sneak in so he could snatch a piece of food, I had already kicked him out twice, the second time I threatened him with a knife having the sharp projectile hit the wall inches from his head had motivated him to leave the kitchen fast but I saw Sanji walking in instead he fixed his tie while he closed the door.

"Sorry Megan-Chan I was fighting with that stupid Marimo, don't worry he won't bother you anymore I made sure he understood that much." Sanji apologized, I rolled my eyes is that what he's been doing this whole time, I've been working my ass off, three fourths of the way through the slab of steak and he's been having a pissing contest with Zoro. I turn back to the steak, hiding in my anger but hacking at the mostly thawed meat with renewed vigor.

"Zoro wasn't bothering me, so how about you do something useful like help prep lunch? Oh can you get that knife out of the wall?" I half snarl at him, I caught his look of surprise over my shoulder when he finally noticed the knife sticking out of the wall; he pulled it out with ease he walked to the sink and placed the knife in the gently to be washed with the rest of the dishes.

then stood over my shoulder examining what I was doing, I felt the heat radiating off of his body my body yearned to lean back in to the heat; I refused to let it my body responded. Holding myself in place and putting more focus on cutting the meat made it easier to fight the urge, I should be used to body heat from another Alli, who put out heat like a furnace, for many years it took a lot of effort to pull her off of me but what radiated off of Sanji was different kind of heat a more sensual heat then what Alli let off from extra magic.

I wonder if he knows it or if I'm the only one that feels this heat, if he knows and he makes use of this odd yummy heat then I would have a hard time denying this feeling and I'm screwed, but if he doesn't know and I'm the only one that feels it then once again I'm screwed, if it's both then I'm doubly screwed because this heat washed away my plans to find somewhere normal to live and made me want to stay and just roll in the feeling and this was all Alli's fault. How had I let her talk my in to this I was the older sister, she should listen to me not that it ever happened she was to convincing for my good and seeing her happy always stopped any plan I had, the woes of being an older sibling.

"I didn't plan on using that much of the meat but with Luffy's appetite that might have been a good call." Sanji commented, snapping me out of my thoughts, damn, I was getting lost in my head to often not something I usually did.

"Yeah well with how much I've seen disappear at meals, I thought it would be ideal to have a lot for the demons out there." I said trying to keep my head on straight, I left the slab of meat handing the knife to Sanji and taking the last pieces of steak to sit with the rest of them taking then moment to actually look at how much steak I had cut, the sheet I placed them on was nearly filled with identical strips of meat putting the last few pieces of steak in the last available spot.

I walked to the cabinet with the spices, I pulled down a few setting them on the counter; I also grabbed two large bowls out of the cabinet putting them on the counter next to the spices. I walked to the fridge next pulling out a few sauces I saw half bottle of wine sitting on a shelf grabbing that too. Arms full of things, I nudged the door closed with my hip and walked back over to the counter lining up the two set of ingredients with different bowls.

Spices to one sauce to the other, I poured the sauce first as I started I felt my magic loosen. Gently flow down my arms to the food, I knew Sanji couldn't see it so I didn't worry; the more magic that seeped out the less focused the rest of the world became so I didn't really care letting the magic move me following it on what to add, how much when the mixture was right; I grabbed a piece of the steak without really thinking about it.

I didn't have to I mixed the meat in to the saucy mixture the magic that was in the sauce making the sauce absorb into the meat as easily as water fills the gaps in sand, I left the steak for a moment; filling the second bowl with the spices careful to now have the sauce on my hands clump them together, being to absorbed in the magic to clean them, I picked up the bowl swishing it just so all the spices blended together perfectly placing the bowl back on the counter.

I picked the meat out of the sauce into the spice giving it a nice coating on top of the sauce, I knew by instinct that the flavors wouldn't be to over powering after it was coated. I placed the steak back on the sheet to rest and wait for me to cook it, I repeated this process lost in my magic, it's not a clogging hazy feel but a comforting relaxed feel. I haven't been this relaxed the whole time I've been on the ship and the sensations of what I'm doing is sharper than normal, I can smell each spice separately as well as mixed together and I smell each sauce.

The mixture it makes having a high acid tang from the wine taking a deep breath I take in all parts the spices, the sauces the wonderful smell it made all mixed together. I felt the tenderness that had worked in to the steak, the cool silky syrup from the sauce then the grainy coating that covers the steak, it's amazing to watch as my hands move detached from my mind, I see every line in the meat the little streaks of fat twisted in with the rich muscle. Then as the sauce follows into the meat every little crevices filled before soaking in last the spice, tiny grains covering each side all distinction lost under hundreds of grains sticking to the sauce yet there is still rivets of where the fat and muscle meet.

Placing the completely changed meat back where it started, the hiss of meat hitting a burner shot through my trance, shocked I jerked my head up my magic halting crumpling and bending back on its self at the abrupt stop in flow of energy the meat I had been holding plopped in to the sauces spraying the counter.

In speckles Sanji was at the stove a piece of the steak, I had prepped in a pan I smelled the fish oil burning in the pan. Sanji looks over at me giving me a small curious smile, the fact that Sanji was still in the room had slipped my mind; I shake my head in it's a nothing gesture and go back to the meat releasing my magic letting it follow into the mixture of sauce and food knowing that the steak had soaked up enough of the sauce falling back into the soothing rhythm the magic and food created grab, soak, coat, place, grab, soak, coat, place, sizzle.

I gave a side way glance at Sanji not breaking my concentration he looked as focused same letting each piece of meat rest for the same amount of time, him fitting in to my rhythm perfectly it was a feeling I hadn't had before to be at my highest point and have someone that works with me without trying, it should worry me more, but all I can think is I can have this feeling of wholeness every day. Maybe this place won't be so bad, letting my mind wander off my hands working at their own rhythm.

I reached for a slice of steak to find that there was no more unprepared meat, slowly I walked out of my trance, I felt refreshed and energized that came only from the cleansing work my magic had done while cooking. I look over at Sanji, he was still cooking the steak working with the same intensity I had moments ago I saw the already cooked meat on heating plates taking that I couldn't help cook anymore; I picked up the two bowls I had been using placing them in the sink for the moment I washed all the slime of my hands that I had gotten from the ingredients after I filled the bowls with water to have them soak, putting together what would be a good idea to go with the meat.

Sandwiches would probably be the best drying my hands on a towel, I walk across the kitchen back to the fridge, I pull out the bread, lettuce, and tomatoes. I placed them on a counter opposite to the one that Sanji was working at, I found platters in a cabinet above the counter.

I sliced the loafs of bread tomatoes and lettuce in to sandwich fixings that would fit the meat perfectly satisfied, I glanced at the plate I was happy at my work, but something was missing, the cheese. I walked back to the fridge shifting though it to find what I wanted, I pulled out two blocks; one yellow cheese and the other Parmesan. Hmm maybe I can get Alli to eat this; it would go well with the steak, slicing the cheese I placed that on the platter as well gathering up the excess ingredients. I put back what I hadn't used.

I looked over at Sanji taking a moment to just watch the way he moved, all slim toned muscle, then to note of how the steaks where coming. I saw that almost all of them where done with pristine organization on a separate platter, the man took his time with food I didn't see one grain out of place the last strip of steak was on the burner as he turned off the stove and put the last piece in place. He looked up at me with a smile, I had to swallow my heart back in place as it jumped to my throat those amazing eyes pining me in place.

"Are you ready to serve Megan-Chan?" Sanji asked me holding up the platter of meat I nodded before finding my voice.

"Yeah lets go feed those mongrels before they starve to death." I said forcing my voice to not waver or crack, I picked up the platters of bread and condiments balancing then on my arms. Carefully Sanji pushed the door open with his foot which was actually slightly fascinating because the door opens inwards towards the kitchen, he held the door for me as I walked out the crew was scattered so there was no fight to put the platters on the table but I knew the smell of the food would soon attract them like animals. I watched as Sanji carefully set the steak on the table just to be sure that it was safe.

"Alright you idiot's foods ready come and get it!" I yelled quickly moving out of the way I saw Alli sitting in the chair next to Robin oblivious to the world I walk over there.

"Hello Alli foods on, favorite thing of the day wakey, wakey." I said waving a hand I front of her face with no reaction sighing, I stopped waving and raised my hand hitting her over the head with a nice thwack.

Author notes: Come on people how do I have to bribe you to get you to review, I love reviews I'd love more please. I got special help making these Megan chapters work from SNmoonlit. See you next week.