The Straw Hats were once again at port in a town called "Hakiyoku*". As of the moment, the group had split up in pairs, each going in their separate directions as soon as they hit land. Luffy had gone with Usopp to explore; Chopper was with Robin buying medical supplies and more books; Brook and Nami stayed at a nearby café, drinking tea and the such, as they kept eyes on the ship; Franky and Zoro browsed around looking for more needed metal and such for their travels; and Zetsumei was with Sanji, restocking on needed food after Luffy had broken into the fridge and pantry just a few days ago.
Of course, Zetsumei didn't appreciate being stuck with the chef; in fact, she much rather have gone on her own, but at this point she could have really cared less. On top of that, she figured it would be best to listen to Nami, especially after what Zetsumei witnessed when she learned Luffy had snuck on rations. She didn't want to get on the woman's bad side. All in all, it might have been best for Zetsumei to go with Sanji instead of someone else, seeing as she knew more about food than anyone else in the crew.
"Zetsumei?"
Zetsumei looked up from her browsing and looked to Sanji who was smiling, like he usually did to her, as he held up a papaya. "How would you feel about fruit salad tonight?"
Zetsumei crossed her arms and looked at Sanji with an eyebrow raised. "Why the hell are you asking me?" Zetsumei sighed and turned away from him, beginning to walk over to another booth, mumbling to herself about how he was the chef so there was no use in asking her.
Sanji slouched dejectedly with a small sigh escaping from his mouth. He thought he had finally made progress when Zetsumei had agreed to go with him to the market (even if Nami threatened her). But it seemed he was far from making any sort of progress.
After buying a few papayas for fruit salad, Sanji quickly went after Zetsumei who was looking over a fish stall, holding up a fish and looking it over. After seeing it over, she set it down again.
"There aren't very many fish here…" Zetsumei said, wiping her hands on a rag that was laying on the table.
"Well, it's the best we could do, Missy."
Zetsumei and Sanji looked up to see the stalls owner, an old man with a long white beard, walking up to the table and looking at them. "This island isn't as abundant on fish like it used to be." The old man shrugged. "It's hard finding enough to even open the stall in the morning."
"Do you know the cause?" Sanji asked.
"Not at all," the old man said, shrugging. "Something must be either spook'n the fish or something else has gone wrong." The old man motioned to the fish. "Anyway, you two goin' to buy something or not?"
After getting snapped at by the old man, the two purchased one fish and left looking at the other stalls for more food they could get, having gotten most the necessities already.
"Is there anything you'd like for dinner tonight, Zetsumei?" Sanji asked, looking over to see Zetsumei's reaction, which was nonexistent. She didn't even bother speaking up. At this point, Sanji had gotten used to her not answering and sort of expected her not to answer. But he couldn't say he didn't wish she would answer.
The two stopped in front of another stall of fruit and vegetables and browsed over them. Lemons, limes, peaches, pears, carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, anything you can think of was at this stall. It seems that due to the low quantity in meat or fish, the island had made up with it for the large variety of fruit. This just meat that Luffy was going to have to suffer a bit before the crew could reach the next island to get more meat.
Sanji put a hand to his chin, looking over the variety as he began, somewhat, talking to himself. "Maybe on top of making fruit salad I could make 'Fruit Bake'*…" Sanji tapped his chin, trying to remember all those fruit recipes up in his head. "Or maybe I could try 'Fruit Salsa'**, I don't believe I've tried making that yet… Or with the fish I could possible try salmon with fruit salsa…" Sanji smiled to himself, completely ignoring the strange look Zetsumei was giving him. "A fruit dip could go well with all these fruits…and it would go well with Nami-san's tangerines… I could also make a cobbler, I don't remember the last time I made one of those…" Sanji's eyes were soon glazed over with hearts. "I could also make a nice cake for Robin-chan!" After a moment of swooning over the idea, he suddenly remembered another recipe he hadn't done in a while. "I haven't made fruit sherbet in a while either…"
"If you're going to be making 'Fruit Sherbet'," Zetsumei spoke up, drawing the man's attention, "then I would suggest using limes instead of lemons…" Zetsumei picked up a lime, looking it over before throwing it at Sanji, who caught it before it hit the ground.
Sanji looked at the lime for a moment before understanding what Zetsumei was saying. "I see your point. Limes are much less acerbic than lemons; thus you wouldn't have to be as careful with them. If you put in a tad bit too much then you wouldn't really notice. It would taste like you had used lemons instead." Sanji soon smiled and looked to Zetsumei, hearts in his eyes and slight swoon in his steps. "That's brilliant, Zetsumei~!"
Zetsumei ignored Sanji's chimes and just continued to look over the fruits and vegies before her. Her mind worked in a similar way to how Sanji's worked when looking at foods, concocting different recipes to fit each individual piece. Although, the thing that was different (and it might have been due to her upbringing) was that Zetsumei thought of different alcohols instead of different recipes. But with her being a fellow connoisseur, she knew her way around both alcohol and food. It just made you wonder why she couldn't get along with the chef; though, that might have been due to his tendencies around women.
"I could probably make a nice fruit wine out of this…" Zetsumei said, holding up a few cherries. "Or maybe a vodka…" Zetsumei crossed her arms for a moment, still looking intently at the cherries. "Maybe a Guignolet*** would be good… Or a Hare Vişne**** maybe…"
Sanji smiled as he picked up a few fruits and placed them in the basket he had been carrying around all day before saying, "With how much knowledge you have of liquors, it's hard remembering you used to be a marine."
"Hm…" Zetsumei hummed before chuckling, which surprised Sanji a bit (it would anyone if they knew how rarely she actually laughed or smiled). "Three years in a bar will do that to ya."
Sanji's smile left his face for a moment, realizing that it might have been his chance to learn more about this 'Mysterious Woman' that had been joining them on the seas for about a week now. "You said your father ran the bar before you did, right?" Zetsumei was silent as she placed fruits in Sanji's basket, too lazy to put them in her own. "Did he teach you everything you know about alcohol?"
Sanji turned to look at Zetsumei when he heard her not answering him, but then she spoke up. "Not everything…" After mumbling that, she walked away, leaving Sanji there to pay for everything as she disappeared somewhere in the crowd.
Zetsumei continued looking around, before suddenly hearing the light tone of music being played. Her curiosity began getting the better of her and she tried figuring out where it was coming from, only to learn it was some old man playing a harmonica as he walked by. He was singing as he played, and the words couldn't help but catch Zetsumei's attention.
As soon as the sun sets and the moon reaches its peek
Towards where the phoenix gazes and to where the crane seats
There I will find thee,
In pale shades of blue and green
With such beauty of a flower on land
For those who seek riches find riches
Within the Dragon's nest they will find
The Bird of Paradise
Zetsumei found herself in confusion. She didn't understand what the meaning of the song was, or if there even was a meaning to start with. But before Zetsumei could even ask herself any questions, she was tapped on the shoulder. She looked up and towards Sanji, the one who wanted her attention.
"You all right, Zetsumei?" Sanji asked looking a bit worried.
"Fine," Zetsumei answered before turning to the old man again, but he was gone.
"Anyway," Sanji spoke up, stuffing his lighter into his pocket, "it's getting late, and we shouldn't keep Nami-san and the others waiting for us."
"Right…" Zetsumei mumbled, slowly following the chef as they made their way back to the café Nami and the others should be waiting at.
*Fruit Bake: a sort of cobbler made with peaches, papaya, rhubarb, and raisins and baked in a oven. Could either be serves cold or warm.
**Fruit Salsa: made with tomato, orange, kiwi, red onion, avocado, cilantro, and jalapeno chile peppers.
***Guignolet: a French wild cherry liqueur. Only reinventions of the drink remain after the original recipe of this drink was lost.
****Hare Vişne: a dark red wine, nearing the color black, that is produces from sour cherries. Could be drank straight or used in cocktails.