Still Wednesday

I would be lying if I said I wasn't impressed or amazed by Baratie. It was a giant, floating restaurant with a fish head with five stories and impressive 'fish fins' at the side where there were some outside tables. The four of us simply stared at the building for maybe five minutes after we docked. The silence was broken by Nami. "Well, this looks fancy, I'm glad you're paying for it al Luffy."

I shrugged, money never was a problem to me, my family shared my appetite and thus understood that pocket money was a big deal. "I just hope it isn't one of those places where they have those ridiculously small portions, I never get full out of those!"

Usopp looked down to his naked chest covered by the red suspenders of his yellow, rolled up pants. "I feel underdressed."

I laughed at that – we all were underdressed in such case, me in my red open chest cardigan, Zoro with his military look made from his heavy combat boots, dark green coat which showed off his chest with a scar going from his left shoulder to his right hip, Nami was wearing simple blue jeans and a bikini top. Yea, talk about underdressed, but as long as we pay they shouldn't complain, besides their business is near Grand Line, they probably get a lot of people who are less than decent.

We walked into the restaurant and I gleefully took notice it was completely empty rom customers apart from us – great, that means there will be more free cooks to work. Once we had sat down a curious blond man came to us. He had blond hair which he styled so it would fall on his right eye and he had this silly eyebrow that swirled, swirled, what kind of genetics made eyebrows swirl? I snorted as my glance fell on Zoro; probably the same that made green hair natural color.

"Mademoiselle, how can I help you?" The blond bowed and completely ignored the rest of us in favor of talking to Nami like he had some kind of sickness. Sickness that made him swoon, make heart eyes and talk like he was hit by a brick, I hoped it's not contagious.

Soon, Sanji - who explained he was NOT a waiter when we called him that – the sous chef of Baratie went away with our order we were free to look around the interior of the restaurant. Sanji said their waiters around only before noon as they live quite far, so until then the cooks who live in the upper floor of the fish restaurant work as waiters.

It were boring five minutes, but after those five minutes the food started to appear on the table with the help from Sanji. I started devouring food as soon as I saw it letting my crewmates quickly grab what they could as soon order more. I grinned as I swallowed the last bite from Usopp's plate – the food was simply awesome, so I said so. "This food is awesome – the most delicious food I have ever eaten."

Nami glared at me, but I wasn't really bothered as Usopp seemed to be every time Nami turned that glare at him. "Maybe we could share your thoughts if we managed to eat enough of it to know?"

I waved her accusation away. "You should be quicker, only the smartest can survive this."

"This is not how that phrase should be used." Deadpanned Nami.

I shrugged watching as Zoro drank sake right of the bottle, lucky him, drinking alcohol like water and then not even having a hangover from it, I was a big lightweight…

After closer inspection I notices Zoro looking a bit distressed, he kept glancing at the kitchen door and keeping absolutely quiet. I nudged my first mate with my foot and after I was sure he was listening to me asked a question. "Why so gloomy?"

Zoro's eyes finally left the double door and turned to me. "I'm not gloomy, I'm simply thoughtful…"

I tilted my head. "About what?"

The green haired male shook his head. "Nothing important."

Shrugging and leaving Zoro to his strange brooding mood, I turned at Usopp who was quietly eating something he managed to grab, I felt my stomach rumble; I hope there will be more food soon…

For the next half an hour or so Sanji continued to bring us food. At one point he demanded to pay for what I have already eaten and I did so easily demanding more food, needless to say Sanji continued the track between the kitchen and our table with a smile.

Once I was finally full and happy, the first waiters had already showed up and were tending to the increasing crowd of customers. Because Sanji apparently liked how weird we were, he invited us up to the chef floor for his break. The floor where the chefs lived looked like a huge dorm – there was a common room with a big TV, couches, some tables with table games scattered around and very comfortably looking chairs. The open windows had a fantastic view to outside and were quite a view catcher, I found myself stuck by them gazing into the sea bellow, somewhere behind my back I could hear the voices of my nakama and Sanji, Usopp telling one of his unbelievable stories.

Amused, friendly laughter reached my ears and I grinned; it seemed like Sanji was falling into our group quite easily, maybe he would agree to become one of my new nakama? That would be absolutely awesome, he knew how to cook, was funny and got along with everyone – except Zoro – fine. Although I had to yet see him fighting so far he seemed like someone competent, he had a fighter's build and a restaurant like this wouldn't continue its business so easily of they couldn't protect themselves against pirates.

I turned away from the window. "Hey Sanji, are you strong?" The conversation they had stopped as they stared at me surprised. I shrugged. "I was just wondering that with your restaurant being so close to Grand Line you definitely know how to fight, right?"

Sanji's face split into a wide grin. "You bet I can."

"Somehow I doubt it."

It was Zoro's comment that made Sanji glare and squeeze his fist. "You want to try out who's stronger?"

Grin that appeared on the green haired man's face looked a bit predatory… "That's exactly what I was saying, are you up to prove me wrong shit-cook?"

Sanji's eyes narrowed as his body stiffened with anger. "You're up moss-head."

I grinned as I watched the two men glare at each other; healthy rivalry is always something one needs in life!

A.N. This took WAAAAAY too long to finish, but I know what I'm gonna write next, so hopefully I will update this on weekend before starting update for People Who Stared at Walls. I hope you have enjoyed this chapter ^-^.