Ch. 26- Playing Pirates

One Piece © Oda

Blizzard, Jupiter, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Lucky, and Hoeru © Me

Hercules © Me and Gakuto1991

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHH?!"

The Sanji Retrieval Team was in complete shock at what Pedro had just conveyed to them.

"The Revolutionary Army was defeated?!" Blizzard questioned. "Are you serious?!"

"Oh, man!" Luffy exclaimed as he held the newspaper. "I hope Sabo's okay! I mean, I'm not too worried about him and all, but still!"

"You're talking that guy you met in Dressrosa, right?" Chopper asked. "I didn't know that THE Sabo of the Revolutionary Army was your brother, too, Luffy!"

"First the Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd Unit," Nami began, "now the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff?! What kind of brothers are you guys?!"

"Plus," Pedro began, "aren't you-gara the son of Monkey D. Dragon the Revolutionary, Luffy?"

Luffy looked at the picture next to Sabo's...and it was there that he saw his father's smiling face. It was one of smugness, cunning, and confidence, as if he were mocking his enemies with that grin.

"...Luffy?" Nami asked, worriedly. "Are you okay?"

"...So this guy is my Dad, huh?" Luffy asked.

"...Luffy, you don't have to keep looking at it, you know," Blizzard said. "We know how much you...dislike your father."

"...Honestly," Luffy began, "I don't know how to feel about my Dad, anymore."

"Really?" Chopper asked.

"Well, for one thing, he saved Sabo 12 years ago," Luffy said. "Plus, Robin got to know him during those 2 years...and she told me he's not really such a bad guy. At first...I did hate him...but now I'm not sure how to feel."

"I see," Nami said.

"Wow, Luffy!" Carrot exclaimed. "I didn't know your daddy was such a famous man! Garchu!" She then bit on Luffy's ear, causing him to yelp in pain.

"Well, anyway," Luffy began, "I guess I'll worry about my Dad later."

"Hey, if that's how you feel, then okay," Blizzard said.

"So...how did it actually happen?" Luffy asked. "Them getting found, that is."

"Hmm..." Nami hummed as she skimmed through the paper. "Oh! Here it is! It says that through an anonymous source, the Revolutionary Army's hidden base was revealed, but by the time the Marines and Cipher Pol arrived, the Blackbeard Pirates had completely leveled the settlement to the ground!"

"...Blackbeard...!" Luffy hissed while Blizzard growled.

"I don't understand," Nami said. "Blackbeard has nothing against the Revolutionaries! Why would he attack them?!"

"I think I know," Luffy replied. "Back in Dressrosa, there was this Champion-guy, Burger or something, and Sabo totally kicked his ass!"

"That's probably got a lot to do it," Blizzard concurred. "Plus, since Sabo took the Flame-Flame Fruit, that also might've added more fuel to the fire."

"It also says that Blackbeard clashed briefly with Cipher Pol before he and his crew retreated," said Pedro, "but there was no info about any fatalities in the article."

"So that means that Sabo could still be okay," Luffy smiled in relief. "Man, that's a relief."

Grrrruuuuuuuuuuuurrrrmmmmbggghh!

"Ugh~!" Luffy groaned as his stomach growled again. "Now I can go back to worrying about being hungry~!"

"I'm surprised that Aika's being so quiet about this," Nami said. "I mean...you'd think she'd be a little excited about seeing her father's face for the first time."

"Hey," Chopper spoke up as he looked around, "where is Aika, anyway?"

"Baron Corpse is gone, too!" Carrot added.

"Eh?!" Nami questioned. "Gone?! Where'd they go?!"

All of a sudden, Blizzard's nose twitched at a peculiar...yet rather delicious aroma.

"Hey," Blizzard said. "Something smells pretty good!"

Soon, Chopper and Carrot sniffed the air, as well, before their mouths started to water.

"Mmm, it does smell good!" Chopper exclaimed.

"It makes my tummy growl!" Carrot added.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Luffy exclaimed as he sniffed the air, too. "It smells like curry with...grade A marble beef, diced carrots, green onions, spiced with curry powder and gram masala, white rice, and..." He then sniffed the air once more. "Tangerine zest!"

"Curry?" Nami repeated. "Where's it coming from?"

"It smells like it's coming from the kitchen," Pedro answered.

Soon, the group entered the kitchen and found Brook sitting at the table, drinking a cup of tea.

"Brook?" Nami asked. "What are you doing in here?"

"Supervising," Brook answered.

"Supervising what?" Chopper repeated.

"Brook!"

Everyone looked up to see Aika wearing a dark red shirt, a pink Doskoi Panda apron, a pair of pale rose shorts, and a chef's hat, using a step-ladder to stand at the stove, where a pot of rice boiling

"What are you doing?!" Aika questioned. "I told you not to let anybody in here! Now the surprise is ruined!"

"Oh, dear," Brook replied. "Sorry about that, Young Miss Aika."

"Aika, what are you doing there?!" Nami asked.

"I'm making lunch," Aika answered. "Someone has to make the meals until we get Sanji back, right?"

"When did you learn how to cook?" Blizzard queried.

"Well, remember when Caesar got kidnapped by that Pet-Pet guy?" asked Aika. "And you, Big Brother, Big Sis Nami, Chopper, and Traffy had to go and get him back? Well while you were gone, Sanji taught how to cook meals!"

"Wow!" Luffy exclaimed. "That's so cool!"

"I had to have Brook in here with me," Aika began, "because Sanji says I can't cook if there's no one in here to watch me and make sure I don't get hurt."

"Well...as long as Brook's watching you, I guess it's okay," Nami said, "but still, be careful, okay sweetie?"

"I will!" Aika replied. "I promise!"

"Come on, guys," Nami said. "Let's leave Aika to work in peace."

"Right," everyone nodded before they headed out...but then, Luffy peeked his head back in.

"Psst!" he whispered. "Hey, Aika! Can I get a taste?"

"Big Brother, it's not done yet!" Aika scolded.

"Okay, okay!" Luffy exclaimed as he left. "Sheesh! Sanji really did teach you."

Once they were outside, Nami couldn't help chuckling at her sweet little adopted sister's kindness.

"Isn't Aika just a sweetheart?" she asked.

"It's so nice of her to wanna cook for us," Carrot replied.

"Yeah," Luffy agreed, "but I'm not sure how much longer I can wait. My tummy needs food, now!"

Grrrrrrrrrrrrwwwwwlll~! His stomach roared, noisily.

"See?" Luffy asked. "It's saying 'Feed me'!"

Nami rolled her eyes in exasperation, but then she gasped as she looked out towards portside.

"Oh, god," she muttered in horror. "Luffy, right now, food's the least of our worries!"

"Why?" Luffy asked before he spotted some incoming storm clouds. "Oh...that's why."

Before too long, BABOOM! The storm hit, and thunder and lightning shook the heavens above.

"KYAAAAAAA!" Carrot shrieked in fright as she saw the lightning bolts. "IS THAT ELECTRO?!"

"You act like you've never seen lightning before!" Blizzard shouted.

"Quickly!" Nami called out. "Hoist the sails! The wind will tear them apart!"

"Yes, sir, Nami sir!" Luffy saluted. "I mean- ma'am! I mean...ah, forget it." He then hurried to furl up the sails, along with Pedro.

"Hey, you!" Nami shouted at Pekoms. "Don't just stand there! Get up and help us!"

"You're kidding me, right?!" Pekoms questioned. "I'm practically half-dead-grrrr~!"

XXX

Meanwhile, back on Zou...

"You're saying that Carrot is out at sea, right now?!"

"Yes, Wanda..."

At Zou's main gate, Wanda had just found out from Bariete about Carrot's disappearance.

"I...I ape-pologize," Bariete said. "I tried to stop her, but by the time I found her, she had already packed up and left!"

"...You-teia can't fool anybody, Bariete," Wanda replied...pointing to the bananas strapped to Bariete's back. "Carrot bribed you into not telling me, didn't she?"

"EEP!" Bariete squeaked. "W-well, Wanda...she didn't wanna hurt your feelings and-"

"It's all right," Wanda reassured with a warm smile. "Honestly, I kind of saw it coming. As long as she is Luffy and his group, she'll be fine."

Bariete smiled while munching on the bananas, but meanwhile, in Kurau City, Usopp, Zoro, Robin, Franky, and Kumi, were all sitting in Hoeru's house.

"I should've known that Aika had run off," Usopp said. "That kid really is our captain's sister! Once she gets a crazy idea in her head, there's no stopping her."

Robin only gave an amused chuckle while Hoeru leaned against the wall.

"I'm surprised you-teia are not angry at her," the Timber Wolf Mink said.

"Well, we're so used to Luffy pulling off such crazy stunts," Robin began, "that we're not surprised that Aika's started following his lead."

"...I see," Hoeru smiled. "Well...as long as she's safe, I suppose it's fine."

Back at the main gate, Wanda stood next to Inuarashi...who glared down at the sea with a pondering expression.

"Something troubles you, Your Grace?" asked Wanda.

"...I am going to have some extra guards be placed around the gates," said Inuarashi, to Wanda's surprise. "I suspect that somehow, the enemy has a Vivre Card, which they followed to get here...the only question is where did they get it from?"

Wanda only stared up at the duke, nervously.

"I only hope that the Vivre Card was lost with the ships that Zunesha sank," Inuarashi continued. "If they come back, we must be vigilant."

"...The thought scares me," Wanda admitted.

"...As it scares me," Inuarashi agreed.

XXX

Deep down beneath the sea...it was revealed that Jack was lying on his wrecked ships, unable to move due to his Devil Fruit's weakness...and yet, somehow...he was breathing.

'Someone...!' he thought. 'Someone...hurry and get me the hell out of here!'

XXX

Concurrently, in a certain land...

"BWAAAAAAAAAAAH~! It can't be! Guuuuhh! Hic!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but it's true! Jack's attempt to recover Joker ended in failure...and that puts an end to our arrangement for those SMILE Devil Fruits!"

GLUG-GLUG-GLUG! Kaido sobbed as he took a swig of some sake.

"Then...that means we can't...make any more gifters!" the Emperor bawled. "BWAAAAAAAAAAAAHH~!"

'He's a crying drunk, today!' thought some lesser Beast Pirate members.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH~!" Kaido wailed. "But...but we said we'd make the greatest pirate crew ever, entirely out of Devil Fruit users! GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH~!" He took another swig of sake. "Hic! Hic! And before that dream could come true...Joker gets his ass beaten by some two-bit kids?! Poor, poor Joker...all because you had to be such a damn, pathetic weakling!"

"But...but Kaido, sir!" said one of the Beast Pirates, holding up Luffy's wanted poster. "Straw Hat Luffy is the man of the times, after all! If...if you underestimate him, then..."

A pause...but then Kaido took another swig of his sake.

"If I underestimate him..." he started...as he held his spiked mace, "...then...WHAT?!"

WHAM! He slammed his mace against his underling's face, not only tearing up the wanted poster, but breaking his face, completely...and as if that wasn't enough, he sent him flying right through a wall, much to terror of his crew! Then, he took another swig of sake before he glowered down at his underlings...and let out angry roar!

"WHO THE FUCK DO YOU ALL I THINK AM?!" he questioned.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" the Beast Pirates screamed. "HE'S AN ANGRY DRUNK, NOW!"

"Straw Hat Luffy...Trafalgar Law...!" Kaido hissed. "I know what they call your generation! Little whelps, proud of wiping out mere Warlords of the Sea...but you must realize that you punks have messed with MY business!" He then began to drink more sake. "Ahhh...hic!" He then turned to look at the cell nearby. "Worororo! Hey...I bet you can warn those fools in your generation, can't you? 'Run away while you can! All we're doing is playing pirates'! Isn't that right...Eustass 'Captain' Kidd?!"

In the cell...it was revealed that the one inside was really Kidd...only he looked like he was covered in blood and bruises...and was barely alive.

One could only wonder...if he was here, where were Killer and Hawkins?

XXX

Back on the Thousand Sunny, the Sanji Retrieval Team had managed to escape the thunderstorm, but now, they found themselves in a snowy area.

"Well, I'm glad we got outta the storm," Nami said, wearing her coat, "but now, it's freezing out here! Brr~!"

"It doesn't bother me!" Chopper exclaimed. "I love the cold!"

"Me, too!" Carrot added.

"Ugggggggh...!" Luffy groaned, lying on the deck with a grumbling belly. "This is it...I'm done for...! Tell Nami I love her!"

"Luffy, I love you, too," Nami began, "but seriously, you'll be fine. I'm sure the food will be ready, soon."

"Hey, everybody!"

Everyone looked up to see Aika and Brook come out of the kitchen.

"The curry is ready!" called the former.

"AT LAST!" Luffy cheered as he ran to the galley. "Food for me, food for me!"

"Wait up, Luffy!" Chopper called as he and the others followed him.

"This better be good," Pekoms added, dragging himself along after the others.

Soon, everyone entered the galley and found Aika and Brook setting down plates of curry on the table.

"Come on, everybody!" Aika added. "Come and eat!"

"Oh, wow!" Nami exclaimed as she sat down and looked at the curry dish. "This looks just like how Sanji would make it!"

"I followed his recipe, exactly," Aika replied. "I just hope you guys like it."

"Only one way to find out!" Luffy answered before he took a bite...and soon after, his eyes went wide.

"Luffy?" Chopper asked.

"How is it?" Blizzard queried.

"Oh, no," muttered Aika in dread. "Does it not taste good?!"

A pause...but then, Luffy just started shoveling the curry in his mouth.

"Mmmm~!" he savored the curry's taste. "It's so yummy~!"

"Really?!" Carrot asked.

"Wait a minute, let me try!" Nami spoke up as she took a bite, too. "Mmm...mmmm! This is good!"

Soon, everyone began to eat, as well.

"Wow!" Chopper exclaimed. "Such a sweet and spicy flavor! You can really taste the tangerine zest in here!"

"And the beef is so soft and chewy!" added Carrot. "It melts in my mouth!"

"This is exquisite!" Pedro added as he took another bite. "I've never eaten anything so delicious!"

"Sure beats eating sweets everyday-grrrawwwr!" Pekoms chimed in.

"Yohohoho!" Brook laughed. "My taste buds are practically dancing! Although I have no taste buds."

"You like it?" Aika asked, beaming happily. "Really?!"

"If you ask me," Blizzard started as he ate some curry, too, "Sanji made the right decision, teaching you to cook."

Hearing that caused Aika to smile tearfully at the praise she was receiving.

"Hey, Aika!" Luffy said. "Can I have some more?!"

"Me, too!" Chopper added.

"And me, three!" exclaimed Carrot.

"...Sure!" Aika answered. "I'll give you guys seconds!"

And so, the Sanji Retrieval Team helped themselves that the young D. Carrier had worked so hard to make for them. Before too long, the pot was completely empty and everyone had eaten their fill.

"Ahh~!" Luffy sighed, patting his bloated stomach. "Now that hit the spot!"

"That was so good!" Chopper exclaimed.

"I couldn't eat another bite," Brook added.

GRROOOOWWRRP! Pekoms let out a noise that sounded like a roar and a belch at the same time.

"Pardon," he said.

"Haha!" Luffy laughed. "Nice one, Pekomamushi!"

"Thanks for making the food, Aika," Nami praised as she pet the wolf-girl on the head. "I don't know what we'd do without you."

"Shishishi!" Aika giggled. "I was happy to!"

"You know," Pekoms began, "if getting Black Leg back doesn't work out for you guys, you can always have the kid be a replacement."

"Nah," Luffy answered. "I mean...no offense, Aika. You cook great and all, but..."

"I know," Aika replied. "I may be good at cooking, but I'm not Sanji. No one could ever take his place."

Luffy smiled sweetly at Aika, who smiled back at him, but then she frowned a bit as quickly as she smiled.

"What's wrong, Aika?" Carrot asked, worriedly.

"...I...I just realized how much I miss Sanji," Aika said before she looked up at Luffy. "Hey, Big Brother...we are gonna get Sanji back...aren't we? Because...I don't wanna say goodbye to him!"

A pause...but then Luffy ruffled Aika's hair.

"We're definitely gonna get Sanji back," he reassured. "I promise."

Aika smiled upon hearing this, as did the rest of the group, except for Pekoms, while Luffy grinned and laughed.

Soon, everyone left the galley, except for Nami, who stayed to help Aika wash the dishes.

'...Just hang on, Sanji,' thought Aika as she scrubbed the plate while Nami dried them off. 'We'll come and find you...and then we'll bring you back with us, and then everything will be back to normal, again! You'll see!'

And so ended the first day of the Sanji Retrieval Team's voyage. Aika continued to provide meals for the group until their eventual arrival at Whole Cake Island, but that would be a different story for another time.

TO BE CONTINUED...

And that is the end of Zou!

Next week, the Marine Rookies Arc! See ya then!

Review, please!