Thanks to all my readers! I always enjoy seeing what you think. ^-^

A stunned silence fell over the Baratie. All the cooks, Luffy, and I stared at Krieg unbelievingly as the customers fled the ship.

"Outrageous!" Carne exclaimed. "Krieg wants the ocean-going restaurant?" We were all thinking it, he just said it.

Sanji sat up slowly beside me, holding the left side of his neck. I sighed in relief. He wasn't hurt too bad, just had the wind knocked out of him for a bit.

"Gin!" Luffy yelled. "Are you okay?"

Patty slowly sat up, too, with a moan. His eyes bugged out when he looked up at Krieg. "What! WHAT?" He scrambled back to the hoard of cooks to get away from him, still gaping at him.

"My ship's a wreck," Krieg announced, his deep voice rumbling with every syllable. "I need a new one. When I'm finished with you, I'll dump you." His eyes scanned over us darkly. "I have about a hundred men on my ship who still draw breath. They're dying from wounds, hunger, and thirst. They need a hundred rations of food and water." His eyes narrowed. "You will prepare them. Some have already starved to death. There's no time to waste."

"You expect us to feed a hundred pirates?" Carne growled, clenching his fists. "So they'll have the strength to take over our ship? We refuse!" Other cooks nodded in agreement.

Krieg's face darkened. "Refuse? You don't understand. It's not a request." His eyes pierced through us and his voice deepened to an almost god-like quality. "It's an ORDER! DO NOT DEFY ME!"

Da~amn, he was scary. He actually sent a shiver down my spine. Almost all the other cooks were quaking in their boots under his stone-cold gaze. Sanji and I looked at each other. He gave me that same look he did back in the kitchen and I understood immediately. He got up first and then I did. I was going to follow him to give him any assistance he might need but he touched my hand gently, silently telling me to stay put.

"S-sorry, Sanji…" Gin said, shaking on the floor and holding his shoulder. "I…I never meant—"

"You!" Patty boomed, glaring at Sanji who was already heading back to the kitchen. "You got us into this mess! Where are you going, Sanji?"

He stopped and wiped the last bit of blood off his lower lip. "The kitchen, of course," he replied. "We've got a hundred meals to prepare."

The cooks made exclamations in shock and I folded my arms, closing my eyes. We'll fight him if we have to…because this is our home… That's what he said. He'll save those who need food, but if they turn against him, he'll attack them with just as much ferocity. Interesting philosophy…and it made sense to me…

There was a massive Click that made me open my eyes again. The cooks around Sanji had pulled out pistols and cocked them, aiming at Sanji. My eyes widened and I moved forward.

"Sanji—!" Luffy caught my elbow and held me back. "What are you doing, Luffy?" I struggled against him. "They're serious! Let go!"

He said nothing but held onto my arm, watching.

"If you want to stop me…" Sanji replied to what the cooks had said at the same time as me, "…Fire."

I froze, stunned. What the hell?

"I know…" he continued, holding his arms out, "…They're unredeemable villains. But my job is to feed people, not to judge them. It gets too complicated." His tone changed slightly—kind of majestic. "If a man is hungry, I feed him! That's a cook's job." There was a moment of silence as we waited for the first finger to twitch. Nothing. "What's the problem?" Sanji asked.

Patty, then, came up behind him and smacked him with his massive arms across the back of his head, knocking him down.

"Patty!" I yelled, glaring at him and struggling against Luffy again who now had a firm grip on my arm. "Let go of me, darned it!" I fumed. How DARE he? Damn him—I'll kick his ass!

"You stay outta this!" Patty growled at me. I stood still but still glared daggers at him. "Hold him down!" he barked at the cooks and one kneeled on each side of Sanji and grabbed an arm. Patty took out a big…thing…out of the cupboards. I didn't know what it was because it was wrapped in a tablecloth. He went back out to the middle of the floor and set it down with a big Clunk. He pointed at Sanji, his face grim. "Sanji, I know you feed the people I chase off. Maybe you're right to do that sometimes. But this time, you're WRONG! Now you keep still. I'm gonna defend this restaurant!"

I looked at Sanji, waiting for him to say something, but he just looked at Patty silently. Luffy, too, stared silently. He hadn't said a word yet.

"He may be Don Krieg, but he's just one man. He can't beat all of us!" Patty said, undoing the knot on the tablecloth, revealing a huge gun that looked like a catfish or something close to it. "This is Baratie! We deal with rowdy pirates every day. And we know what kind of customer service to give 'em!" He picked it up, swung around with it to face Krieg, and brought it up to his shoulder. "You've eaten!" He cocked it. "HERE'S YOUR DESSERT! He fired it with a massive Boom. "THE MEATBALL OF DOOM!"

Krieg seemed to let it hit him dead-center in his chest. It exploded, sending him flying backwards through the doors.

"DON KRIEG!" Gin cried.

Luffy gaped at what he saw, finally letting go of me. I was in awe of its power. It was like a mini-cannon. I rubbed my arm to get the zinging to stop as the smoke cleared and we could see the broken, charred doors and the still-smoking body of Krieg that was smashed into the railing outside.

"Blast," Patty said, backing up a few steps. "I busted the doors."

"Chef'll have your hide," one of the cooks said.

Not if I get it first. My eyes narrowed. Patty was now within arm's reach and I thought about pouncing on him…thought about it…

"It's nothing," another said. "A small price to pay for saving Baratie."

"What about the men on Krieg's ship?" Sanji asked, still on the floor.

"Hmm…" Patty turned around and smirked, stroking his goatee and still holding the gun on top of his shoulder. "I say we smear butter on the ship and set it on fire."

"Sounds delicious, Chef!"

I cringed at the booming voice I didn't want to hear again. This was not a happy day.

"What?" Patty whipped back around, stunned. "HOW?"

Krieg stood in the doorway, his entire upper body covered in armor. He looked more ominous than ever. "That dessert was a bit heavy for my taste. Hardly a four-star meal."

Luffy was still shocked. "His body…It's all shiny!"

"Steel armor!" Patty exclaimed, dropping his gun and grabbing another weapon, the others following suit. "What a dirty trick! Rush him!"

All of them charged with a roar and I rushed over to Sanji. I grabbed his arm and yanked him down to the floor with me.

"Janeen!" Sanji said, trying to get up. "What are you—?"

"GET DOWN!" I yelled over the roar, yanking at his arm again.

"INSOLENCE!" Krieg roared even louder. Guns appeared all over his body from out of nowhere and shot all at once.

The cooks yelled in pain and I shrieked as the guns went off, clamping my eyes shut and covering my ears. Sanji was only half down and Luffy was still standing, but both of them were gaping.

"Bullets!" Sanji exclaimed as the cooks fell one by one. I didn't see them, but I could hear them drop like flies.

"Gun barrels!" Luffy said. "All over him!"

I snuck a peek, trembling like a leaf. Krieg had a double-barreled pistol in each hand and one was in each shoulder plate. There was also a triple-barreled gun in each of his side plates. The cooks were a bloody mess, strewn all over the place. Gin was off to the side, his hands over his face. I sat up slowly, my breathing shallow and quick, heart going a bazillion miles a second, and still shaking uncontrollably. Sanji looked at me concernedly and was about to say something but Krieg's voice mad us all jump.

"No one defies Krieg, you worthless scum! I am stronger than ANYONE!" He flexed his arms. "Arms of steel, stronger than any flesh!" He pounded on his chest. "A carapace of the strongest wootz steel!" He took off a glove to reveal a diamonded gauntlet—one on each knuckle and one on the back of his hand. "Diamond fists to demolish ANYTHING! And a built-in array of weapons!" He tugged it back on, the most god-awful grimace on his face. "I command FIFTY ships and FIVE THOUSAND fighting men! I've NEVER lost a battle! I am the Don of the Pirate Armada! If I tell you to prepare food, you'll SHUT UP AND DO IT! NO ONE DEFIES ME!"

During this rant, Zeff had come through with a gigantic bag and set it down in front of Krieg.

"Chef Zeff!" the cry rang out from among the cooks as they got back to their feet, making Krieg's expression change dramatically. He just stared at the man in front of him.

"There's food for a hundred," Zeff said calmly. "Take it to your men."

The cooks were shocked. "Chef! What're you THINKING? If we feed those pirates, they'll come and overrun us!" They were all looking at Zeff, but Sanji was still looking at me.

"Janeen…" he murmured, touching my arm gently and making me flinch slightly. "Are you okay?"

I hadn't calmed down very much, actually, hardly at all. I shakily looked at him with huge eyes and nodded slowly. "I…I'm not hurt…" I said breathlessly. My heart had probably slowed down to about a million miles an hour and every muscle in my body was locked up. They relaxed more slowly than I would have liked them to.

Sanji blinked twice. "Are you…a—?"

"You went to the Grand Line," Zeff said, staring Krieg down. "But you ran scared, eh?"

"Whoa! He called Krieg a coward?"

"The tyrant of the Eastern seas…who commands fifty pirate ships…couldn't handle the Grand Line?"

"The Grand Line?" Luffy exclaimed, staring at Krieg.

Krieg was still staring at Zeff with shock and awe, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You're… "Red-Shoes" Zeff!" He composed himself and looked at him coolly. " "Red-Shoes" Zeff. So you're alive. A unique pirate, the Captain-Cook."

"So what if I'm alive?" Zeff retorted. "What's it to you? Now I'm a chef exclusively."

"Ha!" Krieg laughed and folded his arms. "You say it like it was a choice. But did you choose to be a cook…" he grinned again. "…or was being a pirate too much for you?"

Zeff made no comment and Krieg's face grew serious.

"Looks like your red shoes days are behind you. "Red-Shoes" Zeff…master of the deadly kick, who never used his hands in battle. That awesome leg strength could smash bedrock and even leave footprints in steel."

I stared at Zeff, breathing a little bit easier. My arms were stinging again from landing on them so hard, though. Zeff…was that…powerful…? That's why he holds himself with such pride…

"The blood of your enemies dyed your shoes, hence your unusual nickname." Krieg's eyes narrowed. "They say you died at sea. I see you didn't lose your life…but you did lose one of your precious legs."

I looked at Sanji but he was looking down. He looked so…guilty…That's the only way I could describe that look on his face. It was like…there was a connection between him and Zeff concerning—

I gripped the sides of my head with a soft cry of pain, clenching my teeth and squeezing my eyes shut. It felt like a spike just drove itself into my head. My blood pulsed harshly in my temples and my chest got really tight. This was kind of like before when I was with Zoro—but less painful—and I saw—

Before my eyes flashed a huge rock—an island—that was carved high by the waves. On it were two figures. They were lying side by side. One was a boy in tattered cabin boy clothes lying on his side and had short, scraggly blonde hair. His eyes were closed and he was rail thin. Beside him was a man on his back, also rail thin. He wore the clothes of a Captain and his right leg was a bloody stump, broken off just below the knee.

"Janeen? Janeen! What's wrong? What is it?"

Sanji was holding my wrists, trying to get me to look at him. I slowly and shakily let go of my head and looked up at him. I felt tears trickling down my face and I wiped them away with the backs of my hands. The pain in my head subsided and my surroundings came back into focus.

"No—nothing," I said quietly, looking back at him with a small, reassuring smile. I nodded and looked again at Zeff's back. "Nothing, I'm fine."

I could feel Sanji's puzzled and worried eyes on me. "What ha—?"

"Then I'll TAKE it from you!" Krieg snarled at Zeff, clenching his fists. "It's true that I didn't succeed on the Grand Line! But I am Don Krieg, the mightiest of all! Weaklings do well to shun that dark route. But I had plenty of strength! Ships and men! And ambition!" His eyes narrowed again. "The only thing I lacked was knowledge! That's what stopped me! I just didn't know enough. I'll have that log…AND THIS SHIP, TOO!"

By then, the cooks were all back on their feet and they were fuming.

"You can't have it!" Patty shouted. "This ship's all we got in the world."

"Yeah," another added grimly, "we've been cast out from everywhere else."

"Chef Zeff is our savior! He took us in when no one else would!"

"We won't let you take our ship!"

"PUNY FOOLS!" Krieg thundered. "NO ONE CAN DEFY ME! YOU'VE SEEN THAT I'M THE STRONGEST OF ALL!" He clenched his fists and shook them at us. "I'll take Zeff's log, assemble another armada, capture the One Piece, and lord it over this great age of pirates!"

Luffy stepped forward, his face serious. "Hold it!" he said, pointing at Krieg. "I'M going to be King of the Pirates!"

The cooks gaped at him. "Chore Boy?"

I blinked, staring at the back of his head. Him…? King of the Pirates…?

"Stay outta this, kid!" Patty yelled. "He'll murder ya!"

Luffy shook his head, still looking at Krieg. "I can't. Not out of this!"

Krieg glowered at him. "…Did you say something, boy? Don't you want to take that back?"

"Nope," he replied, crossing his arms. "I was only stating the facts."

"This isn't a game," Krieg said with a low growl.

"Obviously."

I could just tell he was grinning and touched my forehead with my fingertips. I couldn't help but give a little smile, too.

"Weren't you listening? The Grand Line was too much for even Krieg! Can't we just call it off? Going there is suicide!"

My smile vanished. Okay, I knew that voice.

"Quiet. Stay out of this."

Shit. I really knew that one.

We all turned around to look at Usopp and Zoro sitting at a table. Usopp was half standing up, using the table to prop himself up. Zoro was leaning back in his chair, three swords strapped to his waist, one of them partially drawn.

"Time to fight, Luffy?" Zoro asked. "I'll lend a hand."

Luffy blinked. "Zoro, Usopp, you guys are here?" He thought for a quick second and shook his head. "Nah, I can handle this."

My heart thudded painfully and my arms ached. How long had they been there? I gripped my arms and willed my heart to calm down, squeezing my eyes shut. Shut u~up…

Krieg burst out laughing. "That's your crew? Pretty thin, ain't it?"

"Wrong!" Luffy said, holding up three fingers. "There are three more!"

"Don't count me in!" Sanji put in. He paused and looked at me. "Is he counting you?"

I shrugged slightly. Yes…

"DON'T BE SO COCKSURE, KID!" Krieg roared. "I had a FLEET and FIVE THOUSAND MEN! In SEVEN days, we were smashed to BITS in that demon sea!"

The cooks were awestruck. "SEVEN DAYS?"

"Krieg's armada was destroyed so quickly?"

"Who could have done it?"

Usopp was freaked, too. "Did you hear that?" he asked Zoro, trembling. "Fifty ships in one week!"

Zoro had a slight grin, though. "Sounds interesting."

"It does…" I murmured, looking at Zoro. I was intrigued, I had to admit. It kinda sounded like fun. My heart skipped a beat when he looked at me and I quickly looked down.

Krieg didn't like his comment. He stared darkly at him. "Reckless impudence…but you're not funny. Watch your mouth or I'll kill you right now!"

I grinned to myself. I'd like to see you try… I almost said it…almost.

Krieg grabbed the bag of food. "Now listen carefully. I'll give you a chance. I'm taking this food to the men on my ship. Then I'm coming back. Anyone who doesn't want to die had better be gone when I return. All I want is the Captain's log and the ship." He swung the bag over his shoulder and headed out. "But if you're eager to die…wait for me. I'll bury you at sea. It's your choice." He left, also leaving Gin behind on the floor, trembling and holding his right shoulder.

"Sanji, forgive me!" he said shakily. "I didn't think…he would do this! I…I…"

"It's not all your fault, swabby," Zeff said. "The cooks helped to bring this on us, as well."

At first, they were sympathetic, but when Zeff added that second part, they blew up.

"Chef! Are you siding with Sanji? You crazy?"

"He's the guy who started all this trouble!"

"Sanji wants to destroy your precious restaurant!"

That last cook turned around and pointed menacingly at him. "Don't you, Sanji? You'd do anything to be the Head Chef! Either that or you're insane! Which is it?"

I growled and bolted to my feet, glaring at him. "Stop it! You don't—"

"SHUT UP, YOU EGGPLANTS!"

We all stopped and stared at Zeff.

"Has any of you ever really been hungry before?" he asked. "Have you gone for days without food and water on the high seas? Do you have any idea what agony that is?"

I silently, but understandingly, watched Sanji get up as Zeff spoke. It all made sense. That island…those figures…That was them…Zeff saved him and paid a large price for his kindness. Sanji glanced at me but said nothing. He lit a cigarette, taking a quiet puff.

Patty, among the others, was utterly confused. "Huh…? So what, Chef?"

"If you're gonna keep moaning…" Zeff thumbed over his shoulder, "then just head out the back door."

There was a moment of silence then the cooks took up their weapons again. They were all grim-faced as they gripped them.

"I'll stay and fight," Patty said. "I can't stand to let Krieg have his way." The others voiced their agreements.

"What? Are you fools?" Gin cried. "You saw what Krieg can do! You'd better run!"

"Gin…" Sanji said, taking a few steps forward. "Listen to me. As a cook, I consider it my duty to feed the hungry." He sat on a table and blew a stream of smoke. "But soon I'll be facing plunderers with full stomachs. So if I have to beat your mates to death, don't complain." His face grew dark and he stared Gin down. "If they try to take over this ship, I'll slaughter them without mercy, and that goes for you, too. Got that?"

Gin gave no response but only stared at him in stunned silence.

Patty snorted, though. "First you save 'em, then you kill 'em? Good idea, Sanji."

"Be quiet, crap-cooker."

I muffled a giggle, leaning back against the center pillar. The guys were annoying at times, but sometimes they just made me want to laugh. I looked over at Luffy. He was sitting on the table Zoro and Usopp were at. He was beaming at a calm Zoro and Usopp was still freaking out.

"By the way, Gin…" Luffy called to him.

Gin perked up. "Aye?"

"You said you didn't know anything about the Grand Line. But you've been there!"

Gin's face fell and he started trembling again. He covered his eyes with his hands. "I know nothing. It's all a crazy fog. Something happened on our seventh day out. But…was it a dream or reality? It's all mixed up in my head…He appeared so suddenly…" His voice dropped lowly. "Just…one…man… How could one man scupper fifty ships?"

Everyone flipped out. I stared at him, stunned. This day was getting weirder and weirder.

"What?" Luffy exclaimed.

"Impossible!" Sanji said, awestruck.

"Krieg's armada was destroyed by one man?" the cooks cried.

"Could it have been…?" I whispered with a slight shudder, still staring at Gin.

Gin continued his tale. "Before we knew it…our ships were sinking, one after the other! If that storm hadn't come up, he'd have sent the flagship to the bottom, too!" He sighed and shook his head. "I'm not sure how many ships survived…It was terrible…I can't believe it was real! I don't want to remember that man! …That man with the piercing hawk eyes, eyes that kill at a glance!"

My heart skipped a beat. "It's him!"

Sanji looked over at me. "What?"

"…Mihawk…" I whispered, looking over at Zoro.

He was extremely tense. He recognized the description as fast as I did. His right hand was gripping the hilt of his white-colored katana.

"It had to be him…" Zeff said, drawing my attention away from Zoro. "…had to be Hawk-eye."

The cooks froze. "Haw…Hawk-eye?"

Zeff nodded calmly, looking at Gin. "You said his eyes were like a hawk's. That's proof enough. But what he did to your ships…It had to be him!"

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Sanji was looking at me funny. I blinked, looking back at him. I couldn't tell what he was thinking and his expression changed slightly when I looked at him. I blinked again. "What?"

He looked at me for a few more seconds before shaking his head and looking away. "Nothing."

The look in his eye was more than "nothing." It wasn't like him. Normally, he'd come right out and be honest with me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, though. It was one of those feelings you get that you know isn't right but there isn't a word for it.

"He's the man I've been looking for," Zoro said to Luffy and Usopp but loud enough for the rest of us to hear.

"What?" those two asked, interest peaked.

"Johnny said he comes here," Zoro replied.

A handful of cooks chimed one after another after a few moments of thought.

"…Don't know about old "Hawk-eye"…"

"…But "Old Red-Eyes" was here."

"Aye, he drank so much wine his eyes turned red."

"Then the fool caught fire and exploded!"

"Yeah, what a sight…"

Zoro glared at nothing, clenching his fists. "That sea snake!" he hissed. "He lied to me!"

I could tell he was ticked off, but not thoroughly pissed. THAT I had seen and didn't want to ever again. I felt for the bottom edges of my sleeves to make sure they were down far enough. Luffy asked him something and he sat back, mumbling a reply. I looked away in case he looked up again. The last thing I wanted was to get caught looking at him by him. I didn't know what would've happened if he did, but I wasn't curious enough to find out, either.

I squeezed my arms in spite of the daggers ripping through my flesh and looked down at my shoes. Quite frankly, I still had no idea how I was going to save his life when he faced Hawk-eye. I didn't even know when that was, not to mention that I knew he didn't want my help. And what about me joining the crew? What about Sanji? I didn't want to leave him. Then again, I also didn't want to get stuck on the same ship as someone who hated me and probably would murder me in my sleep. Those were two big things that kept me from leaving…but…would I ever get a chance like this again?

My ears picked up Patty yelling about something again but I didn't pay any attention to it. My internal crisis was too important. I had been mulling this over and over again in my head for the past two days. My money that I had gotten from tips thus far was in one of my cargo pockets. All of it. I had put it all there this morning in case I did decide to go with them, but Luffy had promised to work for a year, not two days. How did I know this would happen today? How did I know Luffy, Zoro, the Merry Go, Gin, or even Hawk-eye? How did I—

"Janeen?"

I snapped out of it and looked blankly at Sanji who was right in front of me, looking at me funny again. This was a confused, worried funny, not quite the same look he had given me before. I blinked, looking around. About half the cooks were also looking at me, the other half watching outside, and Luffy and co. were also looking at me. Avoiding Zoro's eyes, I looked back at Sanji questioningly.

"I said you don't have to stay," Sanji said. "You can avoid this…"

It took me a second to comprehend him. When I did, my grip on my arms tightened and my eyes narrowed. "I'm not leaving," I stated firmly, ignoring the pain in my arms. "This is the only place I know and I'm not leaving it to pirates."

We stared at each other for a few slow seconds before he gave a small smile and went back to where he was before and waited silently, staring out the door. I knew Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp were still looking at me, but I refused to look. I just stared at the back of Sanji's head.

I'm no coward, I thought to him, wishing he could hear. You know I'd never leave you to your death just to save my own skin. You know that. I softened my gaze and my heart gave an agonized throb. Stop pushing me away, Sanji…I wish you knew…how…I feel…

The deepest howl filled the air and rang in our ears. The cooks tensed.

"They're coming! That's their battle cry!"

"We must defend our restaurant!"

I gripped the counter behind me, not knowing what I was bracing myself for.

"STAND DOWN, YOU COOKS!" cried the pirates as they began to board.

Then—

CRASH! BA-BOOM!

All beings were thrown side to side and I dropped to my knees, clinging to the counter's edge as we were tossed around by the waves like a little toy boat. Everyone was shouting and the tables were skittering about the floor. The sounds of groaning and snapping wood grated on the eardrums and harmonized with the yelling and shouting in a terrible cacophony. It was almost impossible to connect words with the respective person saying them. Almost.

"Nami, Johnny, and Yosaku are on our ship!" I heard Zoro yell to Luffy.

"It may be too late!" Usopp shouted.

When I looked up, the three of them were disappearing out the door. The noise was subsiding somewhat and the waves let up slightly.

"WEIGH ANCHOR!" Zeff roared. "They want our restaurant!"

A couple cooks responded, running off. I regained my balance and followed Zeff, heading for the door.

Sanji caught my arm. "Where are you going?"

"I have to see if that was him!" I replied, running out with Sanji right behind me.

We stopped outside next to Zeff. I scanned the waves, looking everywhere. I knew the galleon was cut to ribbons—that wasn't my concern.

"See if it's who?" Sanji exclaimed then stared at the galleon. "What happened?"

Zeff and I saw it at the same time: a little raft with one sail…and one passenger.

"Uh-oh…" Zeff said.

I could feel the blood in my body go cold. "It's HIM!"

Please review! Your viewpoint is always appreciated! with love~shdw dncr