A/N: Hello! Welcome to the latest update!

I'm so glad so many of you enjoyed the last chapter! I got a lot of wonderful comments and I appreciated all of them and I appreciate you, lovly reader, even if you don't comment becuase if you've made it to this chapter you've read the equivenlent of the sixth Harry Potter book, Half Blood Prince.

This is just a bunch more bullshit in between island scenes with relationship building scenes. I hope you enjoy them.

Also, please enjoy the tiktok references. I sure did.

Happy Reading!


The Town of the Beginning and the End- Arrival at Loguetown

I watched Sanji through the rest of breakfast. He seemed to flutter around all of us, making sure our drinks were filled and restocking some dishes that were very popular. He seemed jittery and nervous, even with everyone complementing the food as we ate, though with each one he seemed to relax.

The biggest thing though was he seemed extra attentive to me. He went overboard all of a sudden with his romantic compliments and fawned over me way too much, refilling my drink often and if I reached for a dish he was there first, putting more into my plate for me. I was becoming more flustered and embarrassed as Nami picked up on it, teasing me with these over the top looks about the whole thing. I didn't know if that reaction was because I liked it too much or not at all.

It was sort of nuts, having a guy treat you as well as Sanji did with no real ulterior motive. Well, he was probably feeling guilty about the allergy thing. I'd have to talk with him soon about it, but there was something he wanted answered first.

"Guys, before we start training, I need just a moment." I said as soon as Luffy had eaten the last bit of food on the table.

I would need to explain to Sanji about Haki training too, but to start he needed to know the big crew secret.

About my secret that they all kept.

But only part of it.

I don't think he would react very well to the news of what I had seen in his past. I think it would be easier if I had just come here without Whole Cake knowledge, because there was no fucking way I saw a conversation about that going well. I needed to think through just how to talk to him about it, run through some possible scenarios, and quickly because I couldn't just put it off forever.

For now though, I took a breath and focused on what I did want to tell him.

"So, Sanji." I nearly snorted when I saw his face, looking like he was hanging on to every word that I was going to say. "Everyone else here knows this, but this is a crew secret. If word of this got out the world government would hunt me, more seriously than just hunting a pirate."

I knew this for a fact. It wasn't something I questioned, it would happen if word got out of my knowledge. The World Government would try everything to get me, and because I was a pirate, they would feel justified in their attempts to tourture the information out of me.

Or worse the Celestial Dragons would get me.

Or maybe even another pirate crew.

What would be worse? Impel Down or The Dragons?

I was trying to keep everyone out of Impel Down, I was not getting myself put there to do it.

"They won't ever get whatever you're going to say from me." Sanji looked so serious, not that I ever doubted him or anyone else on the crew to blab.

I decided that just jumping for it was going to be best for Sanji so the next thing I said was:

"I know things from the future because I saw the future."

Sanji blinked. And blinked again. His face twisted into something like apprehension. His whole suave body language seemed to melt as he worked through what I said. Clearly he didn't want to be mean, but he seemed very skeptical of what I just told him. It was kind of cute to see his desire to please women clash with something he didn't believe in. I think he just needs to hear more.

"I saw our crews future, for the next three years give or take. I didn't see how our journey ends, in fact we still had quite a bit left before we reached the last island, and I'm just trying to help us get hurt less while we go on our way."

Both emotionally and physically.

Sanji still seemed a bit unsure of what to say or think about my odd explanation, and Nami jumped in.

"She told me things she couldn't possibly know." She said firmly.

"She really does know what's going to happen!" Usopp added.

Zoro scoffed. "Just tell him something that happens next like you've done with us, then he can see for himself."

"Alright-"

"Wait!" Luffy cried out. All of our heads snapped to him. "Leave it a surprise, Tani. Please?"

I bit my lip at his plea. He had told me the other day he wanted me to keep as much of the journey a secret from him as I could, but he said nothing about the others.

"I'd like to tell Sanji and anyone else who wants to know something about the upcoming island, Captain. Just so he can see. I won't ever ruin an adventure for us, I'm just telling everyone something that will help more people get less hurt. You don't have to listen to this one if you don't want to though."

"He should just believe you. Saying things is enough. You wouldn't lie."

I saw the way Sanji sat up taller. I didn't want this to escalate right now, so I tried diffusing the situation the way that had worked best so far. Explain the thing to Luffy.

"No, Captain I wouldn't. But not everyone is as trusting as you. It would make Sanji feel better to see the proof, and you don't have to hear it if you don't want to, but the others get to make that decision by themselves."

Luffy's frown slipped back into a smile. "Yeah, alright Tani! I'll be on deck when you're all ready to train!"

One second he was in his chair and the next the galley door was closing, Luffy long gone.

"What was that about?" Usopp asked, jabbing his thumb at the door our Captain just left from.

"Luffy doesn't want too much of the future spoiled for him. Anything that he doesn't have to hear he doesn't want to hear." I told him.

"Well we all want to hear, so tell us, what's on the next island?" Nami said.

"Well, are we headed towards loguetown?" I asked. Nami nodded, so I bit my lip as I decided what to tell Sanji about the next island. I didn't want to mention the cooking contest, he seemed like the type of guy that would internally stress over it for no reason. What about…

"Lightning is going to strike just when we need it."

Everyone stared at me, as if waiting for the rest of it. I nearly laughed at their baffled expressions.

"That's it? Lightning will strike just when we need it?" Usopp asked.

I nodded.

"That's the most cryptically bullshit you've given us yet." Zoro sounded exasperated. I shrugged.

"For now, yeah. I'll tell you all a bit more when we dock, but it's just gonna be some advice to follow when we're shopping."

"Why can't you just tell us now?" Usopp asked.

"Tani!" Nami protested, but I just smiled back, feel it turn into something a bit...wicked.

"Are we ready to get back to training?"

Nami and Usopp groaned. Zoro slowly grinned and stood up, calling out as he left that he would meet us on deck.

"I'll be there in a bit, Sanji and I are going to clean up the kitchen." I told the last two.

I ignored Sanji's protest and told Nami and Usopp to go warm up and stretch. When Sanji finally gave up trying to get me to stop, the kitchen filled with the sounds of a water slashing and straw brushing across the floor as he swept.

"Does Luffy always eat that much?" Sanji asked. I let out a small laugh before answering in the affirmative.

"I'm going to have to stock up a lot more on islands then." He said, frowning at the back pantry.

"Yeah. More is better, in this case. Actually I recommend you leave out a midnight snack for Luffy, otherwise he will eat the entire cupboard or fridge."

"Great idea, Tani-san! Your such an -"

"Sanji. Please. Enough with the over the top flattery. You don't have to feel guilty about the allergy thing, you didn't know."

Sanji seemed to melt to the floor in a depressed heep, a drastic change from just seconds ago. He tugged on his hair, and I was sort of startled at how truly bad he felt about this.

Oh no.

Oh no no no no.

"I am so sorry my food made you sick Tani-" He cried.

"Sanji,oh no, no, please stop." I had no choice, but to bend down and kneel next to him, he just looked so sad. I grabbed his wrists away from his hair and bent my head to look at him while I spoke.

"It's my own responsibility to make sure my food is safe, I should have said something, I should have asked what was in the food."

"No, Tani it's-" his head was shaking but i cupped his face to get him to stop and look at me.

"Yes." I said firmly "My allergy is my responsibility, and I'm fine. It's not a serious allergy which is why I don't worry too much about it. Please, Sanji. Don't stress over this."

Next thing I knew Sanji was scrambling backwards holding his nose as red leaked between his fingers.

I snorted and rolled my eyes. Of course he got a nose bleed from that.

I was very tactile when it came to my friends, having no fears of tackling, cuddling, hugging, and in some cases even smacking some asses. I was going to have to tone it down for this one.

If only he wasn't such a pervert, he'd get more of what he wanted.

Imagine how Sanji would react if I just plopped down next to him for a nap on deck.

As much as he wanted it more than Zoro, he wouldn't be able to handle it!

"Come on, Sanji, get it together. We have training to do." I said, trying not to let him catch on to how amused I was at his reaction.

He nodded, getting a towel and cleaning up the mess quickly and with practiced hands. Finally he turned and held the door open, so I said thanks and led the way out of the galley. I put my sunglasses on and looked over the deck where everyone had started training. Luffy was hitting a blindfolded Zoro while Usopp hit a blindfolded Nami and-

"YOU BASTARD!"

Oh shit .

"Wait, Sanji!" I yelled, but it was too late for Usopp. He had been kicked across the deck and into the rail, kealing over and coughing. Nami, understandably curious, had lifted her blindfold and was offered a hand up by Sanji, who was now in a panic over her bruises.

Nami, getting annoyed with his frantic shouts, brought up a fist and knocked him on the head.

"Stop that! We're just training!" Nami yelled at him.

"What kind of training do you just stand there and let someone hit you! And who hits a lady!" Sanji snarled the last bit over his shoulder where Usopp was just starting to stand back up.

"It's called Haki. You saw Zoro use it, and Luffy too." I then explained to Sanji how it was three powers basically based off of willpower and spite at the universe.

"So one of these powers lets you sense other people around you, even when you can't see them and couldn't possibly know?" Sanji asked. His hand shook slightly as he brought a match up to the cigarette in his mouth.

"Yeah, observation haki. You can sense when attacks are coming too, its externally helpful."

Sanji let out a breath, the smoke rising into the air.

"I think I have that."

It took me a second to process his words. I think my brain just melted a bit there. He thinks he has what already? Observation haki? He's serious? How? When? What!

"Okay." I said, "okay that's-" I wanted to say it was good, having such a skill unlocked, but how?

"How long have you had it unlocked?" I asked.

"Oh, uh, since I was a kid sometime." He said vaguely.

Was it in the cage? As he escaped his family? While waiting for someone, anyone, to come save him from starvation? Reaching out, trying to find anyone to save him?

"Well then you and Zoro will have a special extra training for observational and Luffy for Armament after the regular training." I managed to work through the tilde waves of emotions that threaten to drown me by turning and facing my partner. "You want me to continue or do you want to hit?"

"Finish mine." Nami said, replacing the blindfold and getting ready to sit back on the deck.

"Nah, Nami. Stand up this time. Legs spread apart, arms out." Nami did just as I asked, standing in front of me like a star. "Great."

I hit her once and tried to ignore Usopp who recovered from the blow and was now storming up to Sanji, rightfully furious.

"What was that for you … you… asshole!"

"You're the asshole! Who hits a lady! What is wrong with you!" Sanji yelled back at Usopp, both right up in each other's face now.

"It's training! We've done it loads of times!"

"You've hit Nami-San more than once?" Sanji snarled. I half expected him to erupt into flames.

Usopp shrieked at the cooks rage and next thing I knew he was behind me using me as a shield.

"Tani said to do it. They hit me and I hit them back."

"THEM? You hit THEM?" Sanji roared, and even though I knew his anger was directed at the person behind me I still flinched back, still felt like it was for me. This made Sanji pause, and then Zoro got involved.

"What's the big deal? Women can defend themselves, cook."

"Women shouldn't have to! They should be protected at all costs and cherished above all else!" Sanji's anger was now directed in the opposite direction of me, and I felt Usopp relax behind me. Sanji started kicking out at Zoro, who used the opportunity to train his Haki and dodge the blows. Luffy cheered them on. Nami met my eye and we rolled them together.

"Alright Luffy, you're paired with Usopp for a bit." I said, and Usopp looked at me like I snapped his slingshot

"Cool! Usopp, put on your blindfold!" Our captain cheered.

I frowned at the fighting pair, wondering how I was supposed to get their attention.

"Hey! Oi!" I yelled at them, but they continued. "Boys! Honestly knock it off!"

Finally both of them paused in their attacks to turn and look at me.

"I am a man, Tani." Zoro said. "A man who's going to kick this shrimp boy cooks ass."

"As if! A real man-"

"Hold it! You can kick each others ass, just put on the god damn blindfolds!" I yelled at them as quickly as I could while I had some of their attention.

"Blindfold?" Sanji asked, a redness rushing to his cheeks that made me wonder how innocent Sanji really was.

Fuck no don't even go there.

I held up the scraps of fabric, pointed at Nami and the. said something I always thought was hilarious.

"As you can see, she can't"

Usopp gave a chuckle, Luffy a couple of Shishishi' s, and Nami a snort. The other two guys looked unimpressed. Guess they lacked a good sense of humor.

I gave them each a cloth but neither made a move to put it on. I had no idea what they were waiting for.

"Go on! Put the blindfolds on and fight." I insisted. Sanji did so immediately, Zoro took an extra few seconds, but eventually they were fighting again, managing to hit each other and block fairly well.

Nami and I trained for quite a while, now that she had proof of the power existing it was something she wanted. Her desire only grew when I had mentioned how much easier it would be to sneak around and steal things with observational haki.

By the end everyone was panting, tired, and sore from a hard training session. But for some it wasn't quite over yet.

"Ready for extra training?" I asked the two men collapsed on deck.

"What about me Tani?" Luffy asked, bouncing where he stood. He had way too much energy.

"After them, yours is different, but you'll be a part of their training. In fact we all will be."

Usopp and Nami groaned, and everyone took a moment to stand but was upright in front of me by the end.

"Put your blind folds back on please." I said to the guys. I went over to Nami, Usopp, and Luffy and explained what we were about to do, much to Luffy's absolute delight. I told them to get ready and went back over to the guys.

I brought Sanji closer to Zoro, their shoulders almost touching, letting me lean up using both their shoulders as leverage and whispered in their ear.

"Count to twenty, then find us."

I moved as quickly and as quietly as I could, up the stairs and climbing up onto some boxes which let me get on the roof of the galley. I looked back down and saw the two had moved on the deck, but not far. Both men were frowning, arms stiff out to stop themselves from hitting something, waving around comically. Both moved in opposite directions, Sanji going towards and finding Luffy first, while Zoro found Usopp. Sanji found Nami next, leaving Zoro to find last.

"Found you." He said as his head popped up over the side of the roof.

"Great job! You can take off the blindfold now." I said. He did so and smiled as he looked at me.

I shooed him out of my way and crouched down, dangling off the side and letting myself fall to the ground, turning and giving him a smile before I led us back to the main deck where everyone was gathered.

"Okay. Luffy, you stand there with your arms out. Great. Now, everyone else's-" I paused, raising a broom handle like a bat "-hit him over and over as hard as you can."

After ten minutes of the entire crew wailing on our Captain, who worked on blocking our hits with his Armament haki, I called it quits for the day.

Luffy demanded more food, to which Sanji got a quick bite to eat prepared for us all.

After lunch Zoro laid down on deck, and quite honestly after this morning's training I was down for a nap too, so I decided to join him again. I hesitated a bit too long once I was close, at least in Zoro's opinion.

"Lay down." He said, not even opening his eyes. I snorted and got comfortable, turning my face into his stomach to block out the bright sun keeping us warm.

I don't know how long I slept before I was waking up to shouting.

"What the hell does he think he's doing?" Sanji's voice carried far, and his footsteps quickly coming closer made me tense up and crack an eye opened. Instead of seeing Sanji stalking towards us I saw Nami's back as she stood, arms stretched out as if to block us.

"Sanji, be quiet. And let them be." She whisper yelled.

"But Nami-swan he's-"

"Could you make me something with a tangerine sauce, Sanji? It seems like I'm missing home already."

"Of course Nami-swan, right away! Anything to cheer you up!"

"Thank you Sanji-kun!"

After his footsteps disappeared Nami said "you owe me." And walked off before I could ask which one of us she was talking to. Too tired to go after her, I fell asleep again.


It was after dinner, and Sanji protested more venimently about my help this time.

"Sanji, I'm helping. Get over it."

"You shouldn't have to dirty your hands by-"

"Sanji, did you know I worked in a kitchen for five years? And I washed every dish I used. Washing dishes is nothing to me. So just let me help."

He took a breath, and I thought he was going to start arguing some more, but instead he focused on something else. "You worked in a kitchen?"

"Yeah. A few different ones actually."

I worked at a taco place, a grocery store bakery, a large upscale bakery, and finally at a hotel-slash-casino as a pastry chef. Each kitchen unique, each kitchen just the same.

Really? A chef and a musician? You really are a talented woman, Tani."

I blushed furiously, the compliment one of Sanji's more serious ones, which made me more flustered by it. Why couldn't he just use his weird over the top voice? I didn't take the stuff he said then so seriously!

"Thank you." I managed to say, just as sincerely, though a tad bit flustered.

"What was your role, if I may ask?"

"Oh, well I did a bunch of cooking basic stuff at my first job." Did this world have tacos? Surely some island had them. "But eventually I went to culinary school and became pastry chef at a pretty nice restaurant doing their plates desserts."

"I'd love to try one sometime, if you'd like to make one that is."

"Of course." I beamed at the man. He was actually pretty cute when he was being shy.

"You said you went to a school for culinary? I didn't know they had those. Zeff was a great teacher though."

"Yes. Where I come from there's a few to choose from, from the very best to some just okay. I chose one right in the middle, and it was a wonderful experience."

"Is that what you'd like to do here? Be the pastry chef alongside me?" Sanji wiggled at the thought and I could only imagine that inside Sanji's head was and wearing a frilly apron and nothing else.

"No. I'll want to bake every now and then, but I want to do something different now. I want to be strong, I want to be able to fight and protect my friends. I want help, help islands, help people, help us."

"You don't have to fight to help. We could protect you and Nami just fine and-"

"Sanji, you seem to really want to respect the women around you."

Boys drank gallons of respect women juice.

"Of course I do! Women deserve to be cherished, pampered, and worshiped!"

"Have you ever asked women their opinions on how they want to be treated, or have you just listened to what men say women want?"

The sound of bristles against wood stopped and I looked over at Sanji who was frowning.

"Women have told me that they like being pampered before. That they like the attention." Sanji seemed to grow a bit more confident as he told me.

"And some women do." I shrugged while shutting off the water and turned to face him fully for this conversation. "Some women don't at all because it's overwhelming attention coming from a stranger. Some women want to be saved, hope to be saved, and some women are strong enough to save themselves, and would feel insulted if you came to their rescue. Rescuing a women who wants to fight for herself is not respectful. It's insulting."

"But...but ladies shouldn't have to fight-"

"But some want to. I want to fight. I want to be strong. I don't want you stepping in when I haven't even gotten the chance to try, but I'm also not saying that a helping hand, or in your case kick, wouldn't go unappreciated if it got sketchy."

"I think I understand, but I still won't fight them. Even if they'll feel insulted by it. I just-" Sanji looked pained, shaking his head as if to dislog the thought. "I can't do it. I can't kick a women."

"And I'm not asking you to. I would never ask that of you. Someone else can handle it when the enemy were fighting is a women." I told him honestly, already planing on ways to keep him away from the femme fatales we encounter. I figured it was best to lighten the mood a bit, so I gave him a smile with a tilt of my head and restated a piece of advice

"I also stand by what I said when we first met. Flattery turns sour in abundance."

He returned my smile and added the ending.

"And boring conversation slows digestion. I remember everything about that meeting."

The startlingly earnest way that he said that, without the wiggling body and high toned voice, made my heart skip a beat and a blush rise to my checks. This was not the reaction that I wanted to have, but I couldn't resist Sanji's charm.

Oops my heart went FUCK

The last thing I needed when one man definitely didn't return my feelings was to also start catching feelings for a second man.

It wasn't that my feelings for Zoro had changed or diminished. It was its own little seed now planted in my heart, and the more interactions that watered and nourished the tree would make my feelings grow.

In this metaphor Zoro's seed would have grown into a mature sampling of a tree by now.

What a dumb bitch I am.

I realized I was just standing there as my face got more red and Sanjis slowly turned a bit surprised but also somehow satisfied. I had to clear my throat before I could speak again.

"Right. Yes. Okay well I'm going to go to… uh… to bed! Yep. Goodnight Sanji."

"Goodnight Tani!"


When I woke the next morning, It took me a moment to remember I didn't need to cook breakfast with Sanji on board and I pretty much immediately shut my eyes and went back to sleep.

The next time I woke up I got out of the bed and got ready for the day, joining Zoro on deck for my morning stretches as he went through his workout.

We had breakfast, we trained, and now we were relaxing and waiting for Sanji to call us for Lunch. I had gone in to ask if he wanted help, but he declined the offer and I was politely shooed out of the kitchen.

"You raised your prices again?" Nami's upset voice was the first thing that greeted me. "That's a little steep, don't you think?" The bird in front of Nami frowned, making a sad noise.

"It's not the birds fault Nami, take up your problems with the Newspaper, or more likely, the World Government itself." I told her, walking over to give the bird some scratches before he set off.

"Well if they raise it another cent, I'm not paying it!" Nami yelled with her hands up.

"What's the big deal, it's just one paper?"

"Just one Paper? I buy these everyday!"

"Yeah, but there's no need to save every last Beri so you can buy back your village from Arlong, ya know? You can finally stop obsessing about money."

"You're so stupid!" Nami sneered. Now that all that stuff's over, I'm saving money for me! Geeze." Nami turned towards me and rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to be one of those poor pirates who can't even afford to dress up. Right Tani?"

"Calm down. I'm in the middle of developing my special Tabasco Star. An eye full of this will make any bad guy-"

Luffy came crashing down from the deck above, falling right into Usopp, who knocked the hot sauce right onto his own face.

There was a brief second where nothing happened, where we just all took in what had just happened.

Then Usopp started screaming.

Nami sighed and turned away, opening the paper. Usopp had literal flames coming out of his face, shooting high in the air. I think I would have been more concerned if one, something crazy like this didn't happen every day on this ship and two, if there wasn't just so many questions about this one. How did that work? How is he still alive? How did his eyes not melt? What started the fire?

"Oh come on, I just want one of them!" Luffy yelled, and Usopp continued to run around the deck on fire. I figured he would be doing that for a while if no one offered a better solution, so I started making my way to the galley.

"NO!" Sanji was up on top of the galley, where he had kicked Luffy down from. He stood in front of the recently added tangerine trees, guarding them from the grubby gremlin hands of Luffy.

"This is Nami's Tangerine orchard. I won't let anyone lay a finger on it." His whole demeanor changed. He uncrossed his arms, spreading them wide, smiling with hearts in his eyes.

"Nami can you see how well I'm protecting your trees?!"

"Yes, you're doing very well." Nami said, her voice an octave higher than usual as the door to the galley door swung shut behind me. I ran a cloth under cold water, and when I came back out, nothing had changed except now Nami sat in a chair.

"Usopp!" He paused his running, turning to where my voice had come from. "Put this on your eyes."

He sighed in relief and fell onto the deck, laying there while Luffy ignored the problem he caused in favor of begging for food. Typical.

"I only want one tangerine! Just give it here! You're so mean!" Luffy stuck out his tongue at Sanji, who yelled No at the captain louder as if that would make him understand the word.

"Oh well, I'm pretty happy anyway!" Luffy said, giving us all a big smile.

"The world sure is a turbulent place. They just had another coup in Villa." Nami said, flipping the page. As she did so, a paper slipped out and drifted to the deck between the four of us.

I had to cover my ears from the screams Usopp, Nami, and Luffy all gave off. One of them definitely sounded way happier than the other two.

Luffy stretched his arm and grabbed the paper, getting a good look at it.

"Shishishishishi! Look guys! We're wanted criminals!"

Luffy spun his wanted poster around to face us, nearly shoving it in our faces in his excitement. Usopp was first and started reading it aloud.

"Wanted: Dead or Alive. Monkey D Luffy. Thirty million Beris?!"

"That's a whole lot of Beris!" Luffy exclaimed before laughing even more.

"Check it out, I'll be seen all around the world!" Much quieter Usopp clasped his hands and said, "Girls might even fall for me."

"What!" Sanji was in front of Luffy in an instance, shoving Usopp out of the way to get a good look. "They put long nose in but left me out?" Sanji paused as he scanned over the picture multiple times.

"Where are you? I don't see you anywhere! You're not there!"

Usopp made a teasing affirmative noise and pointed to the background of the photo.

"It's the back of your head. That's not so great." Sanji said, pouting now and completely contradicting what he said.

"Awe don't be so glum, you don't have to be a captain to get your picture on one of these things."

Sanji perked up. "Is that true?"

"Yeah, just work really hard." Usopp told him, as if that's how he did it.

Usopp and Sanji started dancing around, singing about going to the Grand Line. Luffy joined in the celebration, so Nami looked to me, the only other sane person around.

"Yet again you guys don't understand how grim our situation really is. This means all of our lives will be in constant danger." The boys didn't even acknowledge what Nami said. She looked over at me, getting more upset at my lack of reaction.

"Why aren't you upset about this?"

I shrugged and gave her a small apology smile.

"Our lives were pretty much already in constant danger. Besides, this bounty may be high for the East Blue, but wait until you see how high he gets it in the Grand Line." My tone was probably way more excited than it should have been at the end there, because Nami just buried her head in her hands again.

"At least Zoro might agree this is bad." I could just make out from Nami.

"Zoro is probably thinking about how thrilled he is that tougher enemies are going to start attacking us." I told her. She groaned, but when she looked back up her eyes had harded. She wallowed for a moment, but got right back up. After all, it is what it is.

'It is what it is' said by multiple men echoed in my head.

"Okay, this is no time to be relaxing in the East Blue." Nami used the sound of her fist hitting her palm a sharp reminder that she was serious about this. This drew Usopp's attention to her, then over her shoulder.

"Hey, what's that?" He asked, squinting. He got out his spyglass to get a better look at whatever he saw in the distance.

"Ma-m-m-MARINES!" He cried, dropping the glass and ducking behind Sanji.

"Oh no were doomed! I'm too pretty to be arrested!" Nami added to the panic.

While those two freaked out, I bent down and grabbed the small tool, looking through it where Usopp had been, and getting a good look at the incoming Marines.

I made a noise, wiped the end of the spyglass with my shirt, and brought it back up. Yeah, nope. That's not a concern at all.

"Chill out. Their ship is in ruins." I said. Each one stopped their whining immediately, going right back to normal.

"Really?" Nami said. I nodded and handed back the spyglass to Usopp.

"Do you know who it is, Tani?"

"No way to tell until they get closer. Don't remember a busted up marine ship though. Where the hell did my notebook go, am I forgetting something important?" I muttered the last bit to myself, not wanting to scare everyone.

By the time I found it and checked, we were close enough to the ship that we could see people on the deck without any problem. We could also see the many repair holes, the tattered and patched up sails, and questionable paint job. Though with all the other problems who really gives a shit about the paint.

Nami, upon my word that this wouldn't be a problem, went back to reading the paper. Sanji went to the galley to start lunch. Luffy sat on the rail, smiling over at the ship. Usopp stood behind him, and I flanked Luffy's other side. Zoro was sleeping on deck so he was gonna miss the whole thing I guess.

As we passed, I saw the lineup of marines in front of their captain. Looked to be less than a dozen, in questionable shape. Standing in front and leading the men was a familiar face. Tanned skin and pink hair, the sun bouncing off the metal across his knuckles as he stared with an opened mouth at our ship just sailing right by his.

"Hard to Port! Our target's right in front of us!" A voice yelled. Much quicker than I expected the marine ship pulled up beside us again.

"It looks like it just came out of battle. That thing barely floats." Luffy said.

"That's a real shame. Putting scrap ships in the sea." Usopp said.

"This is not a scrapped ship!" Fullbody yelled. "Are you guys blind? Have you forgotten the face of Ironfist Fullbody?"

"Why do they choose such dumb names." I muttered.

It took Luffy a minute, and no one said anything else as we waited to see if he did in fact forget.

"Oh yeah! You're that marine guy I saw one time!" Nami put her head in her hands, she was doing this a lot in the past ten minutes, and groaned at our captain. Luffy, like usual, continued speaking and bless his heart; offered help. "Are you stranded? Need some help?"

Nami groaned louder, and a muffled "stop him." came out that I assumed was directed at me.

I had a vague recollection of this, but I couldn't tell you what happens, so I actually wasn't worried at all. If I don't remember it, nothing happens here.

"Quit fooling around!" Fullbody yelled. Too bad for them that he didn't take the offer. "Our meeting here spells the end for you!

Fullbody held up the paper in his hand, showing off Luffy's bounty poster. "Monkey D. Luffy! You're under arrest!"

And then he waited. As if we would, I don't know, just hand ourselves over?

Oh geese, you got me!

...Fuck off.

Luffy decided that he should confirm the marines identification. "Yup. That's me alright!"

"And the back of my head!" Usopp added. I stomped on his foot and gave him the best "what the fuck was that" look. Terrified one minute, confirming he's in a wanted poster to a marine the next. Usopp shrugged calmly.

"It says dead or alive. A key distinction." Fullbody turned and directed his men to take aim.

Someone lowered the connons, pointing right at the ship.

Usopp was no longer calm.

He started backing up, his eyes wide and he stuttered.

"Guess their gonna shoot." Luffy said, completely unconcerned.

"This is bad." Usopp finally managed to say.

"I got this." Luffy pulled back his arm, getting ready to do who knows what.

"Why don't you let me handle this, Luffy?" Zoro said. I did a double take, not quite sure when he had come up behind us. He had been asleep on the other deck.

Maybe his spidey senses started tingling.

Probably remembering what happened the last time Luffy said he 'had it' when Fullbody was shooting at us, Usopp pulled Luffy back and away, telling him to let Zoro handle it.

"Your story ends here!" Fullbody said, giving now regard to what was happening over here, and giving the signal to fire. The cannonball flew forward, whistling as it sailed the short distance through the air.

Zoro brought his sword down, and cut the metal right in half. Two pieces flew behind him and splashed into the water. He sheathed Wado, and looked at the stunned faces of his enemy.

"I was trying to take a nap."

Some marines cowered at the remark. Fullbody's anger only grew. Which was actually a really dumb reaction to seeing a man cut a cannonball in half.

"There's plenty more where that came from! FIRE!" Spit flew from his mouth as he gave the command.

"Well this is bad. Real bad." Luffy said, no worry in his voice at all.

"What is? What's bad?" Usopp's panic grew, figuring it had something to do with us. Instead, the enemy ship suddenly exploded, smoke blocking the view of the destruction. The wind blew it away easily, revealing a thoroughly burnt Fullbody and underlings.

"Too bad. Their cannon had cracks in it." Luffy said.

"Oh." Usopp's voice was monotone as he looked at the spot covered marines. "That is bad."

Fullbody pressed his foot into the rail of their ship, causing the thing to tip and press up against our rail, a groaning sound filling the air. Immediately I was much more upset about this whole thing.

They were risking damage to the Merry.

"You reached little brats! Never mock a former Marine HQ Lieutenant. We'll just have to go hand to hand!" Fullbody leapt forward, commanding his men to follow him, and landed right in front of Luffy.

"Your head is mine!" Fullybody cried, swinging his fist and punching luffy in the face. Luffy's head stretched back. And back.

"Gum Gum!" Luffy's head shot forward, another hand had to stretch back and grab his straw hat that didn't quite make the return journey. "BELL!"

Luffy's head collided with the marine lieutenant...former lieutenants. Fullbody hit the rail, and Luffy put his hat right back on his head.

I didn't even get a good punch in when my opponent, and all the ones surrounding me, went flying back over to their ship. Sanji walked by me, wearing a pink apron and carrying a frying pan.

Hm, now there's a weapon! I could be like Repunzel!

Sanji stopped right in front of a dazed Fullbody, and waited until the man looked up and realized who was standing over him.

Fullbody screamed.

"You got a lot of balls, tough guy, picking a fight during lunch. I should kill you. Unless you made a reservation, I'll have to ask you to leave."

Sanji was so scary that not only did Fullbody retreat back to his own ship with a cry of "What's that waiter doing here?!" All of his men onboard had jumped overboard, swimming away.

Another splash in the water confirmed Fullbody had joined their retreat.

"We'll, I guess that's done." Luffy said.

"Eh. He was all talk." Usopp said.

"That guys still nothing but a wimp." Sanji said.

"Come on you guys, could you keep it down?" Nami complained from her seat. "Honestly I can't even sit and read a paper."

"Nami! Tani! I finished preparing you ladies a delicious meal!" Sanji said.

"Yeah! I'm starving! Let's eat, guys!"


Day three wasn't off to a great start.
It was still dark out when I woke up sharply, short of breath, heart racing, and tears in my eyes. My nightmare swirled in my head, thoughts of us failing, me failing. I couldn't stop anything. One by one the Strawhats fell and there was nothing I could do about it but watch.

I forced myself out of the bed, mindful of being quiet because I did not want to wake Nami, and made my way out onto the deck for fresh air.

It was still dark, and surprisingly cold. Though I should have know. I shivered but moved towards the rail anyway, looking out at the calm sea that stretch as far as I could see. And I breathed, the fresh smell of the salty waves. And I stayed there breathing and staring until a door opening startled me, and I jumped, turning and finding Zoro coming out of the men's dorm.

I realized I was still in my pajamas and tried not to blush like a school girl. It wasn't like they were skimpy, but it was just a bit of a weird feeling. I decided I might as well go change and start my day at this point, and left a confused Zoro on deck. When I came back he started working out and was in the middle of a set, no time to talk during that, so I quickly started stretching knowing he also wouldn't interrupt me.

I used this strategy to escape too, waiting for him to start a set before I left, going into the galley where Sanji greeted me enthusiastically and then it was breakfast and training and lunch, I mean hours had gone by, and yet Zoro's eyes followed me through all of it. I realized then he was the kind of person who wouldn't ask outright necessarily, but they would be there if you wanted to talk. So when he was napping on the deck, I stopped avoiding him and joined him, getting comfy using his leg as my pillow and let myself drift to sleep.

It was to Sanji's voice that I woke up again, but this time when I opened my eyes I saw the glint of Wado and a black pant leg clashing very close to my face. I closed my eyes again, hoping it was another dream, but sadly I don't think it was.

"Oi, what happened to never hitting a lady, asshole?" Zoro growled at the other man.

"I would have never hit her, I was aiming for you and you know it." Sanji hissed back.

"Your just jealous she sleeps with me and not you."

"You're a brute who doesn't deserve her! Why on earth would she choose your hard and quite frankly smelly body when she could use mine?"

"Saying your soft, curly?" Zoro sneered. Sanji reared back to strike another blow when I decided to let the two idiots know I was awake.

"Sanji, you'd really let me sleep on you?" I asked in the most over the top girly voice I had, leaning forward and have him a face that said it was all I ever wanted.

Immediately his nosebleed shot him backwards, and although I was a bit concerned, I could help but to burst out laughing.

"You okay?" I called out to him, getting my laughter under control. He gave me a thumbs up, but more blood gushed from his nose when he removed the hand to do it. I shook my head at the sight.

"Sorry Sanji, but I don't want you to bleed on my while I'm sleeping. I'll stick with Zoro for now, so can you quit interrupting my naps?"

I laid back down on Zoro, really snuggling up to him, basically hugging his lower body.

"You make a very comfy pillow, Zoro." I said with an extra squeeze.

I didn't have to look at Zoro to know he was blushing, the strangled noise he made that was almost a thanks was good enough insight. Sanji agreed to leave us alone, though he sounded pretty put out out about it, and left us to sleep.

Right before dinner, Nami woke up Zoro and I and demanded a meeting, so all of us gathered on the back deck. Nami was leaning over the stolen Buggy map that showed how to get to the Grand Line. Luffy sat nearby, legs crossed. I had my elbows on my knees, hands propping up my head. Zoro sat leaning against the rail, and Sanji and Usopp stood, looking down at the map from above.

"We're getting closer. We've almost made it to the Grand Line and it looks like the only way into it is here." Nami pointed at the middle of the map. "Reverse mountain."

"What a pain." Zoro said. "There's got to be some way around that thing.

"There's not." Sanji spoke up. "From what the old geezer told me, that's the only place to enter."

"Well how come?" Usopp asked.

"Cause it's really dangerous."

"Yeah, but how come?" Usopp asked, frustrated with the non answer.

"I told you everything I know, geeze!" Sanji shouted back.

I bit my lip and was thankful for Nami because if I opened my mouth it would be to ask Sanji why exactly he didn't know. He had to cross once to get here, and I never found out If what I knew was fact or just someone's headcanon. Was it as simple as the passenger liner taking him through the calm belt? Did he smuggle himself out somehow and find the kitchen job later?

"See the reason is-" Nami tried to explain, but was cut off by Luffy.

"HEY! I got an idea! Why don't we just sail straight into it?"

I saw Nami's face twitch with the captain's idiotic suggestion.

"Are you really that clueless?" She asked, annoyed probably more at herself for following the clueless idiot.

"My way sounds a lot funner." Luffy defended, and the 'more fun.' Correction just slipped out. He ignored it and blazed right on though. "Plus it'd feel way better to just dive right into it, ya know?" The whole time he spoke he had his usual large grin. Nami, clearly seeing this as a lost cause for now, huffed.

"Talking to you drives me completely insane!"

Luffy grew suspiciously sersious. "First off we need to stop at an island."

If I knew Luffy, the next thing out of his mouth is going to be about food or music.

"Time to pick up some meat! Need meat!" He cheered.

Oh wow. I really am psychic. Cue eye roll.

"There's a famous city on this Island, known as Loguetown." Nami pointed out where she was talking about on the map.

"I'm pretty sure I've heard of it before." Zoro said. "It's the city of the beginning and the end."

"It's the town where the old King of the Pirates, Gol. D Rogers, was both born and executed." Nami added.

It took a few seconds for that news to sink in for some of us. All of us watched as Luffys face shifted from joy to awe as he looked at the small land mass on the map.

"That's where the king of the pirates died?" Luffy asked, reverence in his voice. This was the first time I had ever heard him speak at a whisper.

"Well?" Nami asked the captain with a tip of her head.

"Yeah, let's do it. This was the man who had the One Piece. Everything the world has to offer. I need to see where he was born and executed."


"Oh my gods." I groaned aloud. It was dark, I was alone on watch, and I was pissed at how dumb I was. Seriosuly so fucking stupid.

"It's called loguetown because it's the last spot you can go to get the log pose for the Grand Line." I said under my breath.


It was day four of sailing to loguetown when Luffy was starting to get unbearable stir crazy. I was laying in one of the deck chairs and I could see Nami getting visibly more annoyed as Luffy continued to ask me to play.

"But Tani." Luffy whined. "I'm so bored!"

I nearly caved, not with playing, but showing him the speaker I had hidden. I really wanted to save it for right before the Grand Line entrance, after Loguetown, but damn was this boy testing my patients right now.

I took a sip of my drink as I thought of what to do when I realized I had a nearly empty cup, and I knew exactly what would entertain him for a bit.

I quickly fished the drink and he'd up my hand to stop Luffy's complaints in its tracks.

"Sit with me on the deck." I said, and moved off my chair to sit cross legged, Luffy doing the same across from me with a cheer.

"Okay. Now pay attention to my hand."

Slowly I clapped twice. Three times my hand hit the top of the cup, then another clap. I grabbed the cup and brought it back down on the deck a little to the left.

Another clap, grab, twist, tap, and smack later Luffy was positively glowing as his eyes attentively watched as sounds poured out in a fun rhythm. His eyes shot up with a large grin when I started singing.

"I bought my ticket for the long way round. Two bottle of sake for the way. And I sure would like some sweet company and I'm leavin' tomorrow whaddya say?"

Luffy bounced along in front of me, enjoying every second. I sang the second verse, and then sped it up as fast as I could and did the whole thing over again.

I had barely been silent for a second before Luffy started cheering for me to do it again, and I smiled.

"I want you to try. Go slowly, and I'll do it with you."

I went through the steps, showing him, but I should have known that he didn't really get far before forgetting what came next and replacing it with his own version. Then I was able to sit back and relax as Luffy created his own cup song, until Nami got too annoyed with all the banging and demanded he go do something else.


The sun was just rising over the horizon on the fifth day. Luffy was downstairs, cranking up the anchor which Zoro pulled the rest of the way and attached it to the deck. Sanji and Usopp were up in the riggings, letting out the sails. Nami and I were in the kitchen, she was begging me for information about how reverse mountain worked, but I wouldn't give it up. She was getting really cranky about it.

"Tani! Tell me how we get up the damn mountain already!"

I shook my head. She was stubborn, but so was I.

"Nami, you figure it out. You figure it out without my help, because you're smart. The only reason I know how we get up, is because you figure out how we get up."

"And I could figure it out a lot faster if you WOULD JUST TELL ME HOW THE FUCK WE-"

"Sanji! We're hungry! Food!" Luffy's cheer came from below. Taking that as my cue, I stood up from the table to help get it ready for breakfast.

"Nami" I said, giving her my best serious look. "You can do this. You are smart, you understand the sea and weather like no other. You are literally the best navigator in the East Blue. Soon it will be the world, once we conquer the Grand Line. You can get us there."

I went to the cupboard to get out the plates as Nami picked up the map and her cup of tea and left, grumbling about stupid complemts meaning nothing with an embaressed expression that contradicted what she complained about.

Sanji came inside, and I could hear outside feet running and Zoro yelling, with Usopp and Luffy sounding much more excited than the swordsman.

Breakfast was ready faster than I could have ever done, it was incredible. Sanji cooked with such grace and fluidity, but that didn't slow him down. He was a master at the craft. I was only slightly jealous.

"Go ahead and sit down, Tani, you've helped enough. I'll go grab the others." Sanji said, making his way to the door and peeking his head out. First he politely told Nami that she could come inside to eat, then he yelled at everyone else.

"Hey you idiots, Food's ready!"

Nami came in and shot me a disgruntled frown, taking her seat.

"ME FIRST!" I could hear Luffy yell, just before he nearly busted down the door in his excitement to get to the food.

"Wow! This looks great!"

"Hey, Luffy." Nami said, though why she was trying to talk while Luffy was eating was anyone's guess. She should know by now where Luffy's attention was during meals.
"What do you suppose happened to Buggy? You think he's dead"

"Who?" Luffy said, shoving more food in his mouth. "Oh him I'm sure he's dead."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Zoro said as he came in, dragging Usopp by the nose behind him. "Pirates can be a real stubborn bunch."

"We also have very sensitive noses!" Usopp cried. Zoro let go and took a seat while Usopp nursed his sore nose. Zoro chuckled, the anger he brought with him fading with each small chuckle.

"That too." He said. "If it's one thing I know, it's pirates. And, uh, not that I care but-" Zoro paused to bring his coffee mug to his lips, taking a sip. It gave Luffy another chance to reach out. "You food." Another sip. Another stretch. "You're food's gone, Usopp."

"Ah!" Usopp eyes bugged out when he looked down to see his empty plate. "Jerk! You can't keep stealing my food! Give it back!"

"Here you are Nami, Tani. This is a special dessert I made just for the two of you!"

"Thank you Sanji!" Nami said.

"Thank you very much." I told him as he set the parfait glass in front of me. "It looks beautiful."


After lunch today it was time to clean up around here. All of us were working on something, sweeping and mopping the deck, washing off the rails, trying to make the Going Merry sparkle once again.

"Hey look!" Luffy walked over to the rail carrying his broom with him and leaned in. "A hermit crab! I wonder where he came from. You think he's from your village, Nami?"

Nami turned from where she was pruning her trees to look over at Luffy. "Probably. Or I guess he could have come from Usopp's village."

"If so, that would have been amazing!" Usopp said, pausing from where he was cleaning the canon. "That little guy would have traveled a long way."

"Damn it! Why does this crap happen to me?"

I tilted my head, looking around out at the sea, trying to see if someone was nearby. The voice was suspiciously familiar.

"Did you say something?" Luffy asked. He must have heard it too. Something caught my eye and I looked up to see a line of clouds streaking the sky, far as my eyes could see in both directions. How strange. There were no planes here to do such a thing.

"Just now? Not me." Nami told Luffy. Usopp also denied speaking.

"There was something." I said. The others frowned. Luffy hearing something was one thing, but me hearing it meant it probably was real. I didn't want the others to worry though, it didn't seem like we were being attacked or anything. Maybe it was even just another animal, but I couldn't say that.

"Probably just the wind blowing through something that made an odd noise." I said, but still this nagging feeling that I should know what had just happened lingered.

Nami and Usopp looked unsure, but Sanji's voice cut in from where he and Zoro were cleaning the other deck.

"Hey! Get back to work Luffy!"

"Right. Excuse me."


"Ah-Choo!"

"Bless you." I told him.

"Zoro, of course you're going to get sick if you sleep in the open air. I mean, doesn't it get cold at night?" Luffy said.

"I've never been sick, not a day in my life." The stubborn man replied.

"You know, I don't remember ever being sick either. Not once!" Luffy titled his head from his spot on the figurehead of the Mery, as if thinking on what that meant. I shook my head at the two in disbelief but didn't bother to tell them how strange that was.

"Someone must be talking about me." Zoro said with a shrug. "Or so the saying goes."

An explosion from the back of the ship made me jump, but by now I had stopped rushing over to go and help. My heart still beat faster, my adrenaline spiking, and this happened at least once a day with Usopp perfecting his ammo. Sometimes twice. Once it was seven.

Maybe we should have him do ammo experiments when we're docked on an island? No, he'd never have enough time than.

I sent out a small apology to Merry, patting the ships deck before getting up and heading to the kitchen for a drink.

It was a short while later than Zoro moved, making me look up from my notebook at him.

"Hey, I think I see an island Luffy."

"Really?" Luffy stretched his arms and shot into his seat on the figurehead. "That's great!...What island is it?"

"I can't believe you forgot. I just told you." Nami said, walking up with Usopp and Sanji so we could all get a look at the upcoming island.

"So that's the island where loguetown is located." Usopp said.

"I wonder if they have a market." Sanji asked, taking a puff of his cigarette.

"The locals have to buy food too." Nami pointed out.

"That's true. Looks like I might have to redo the menu than. Fresh vegetables."

"I hope they have a sword shop. Using three sword style with one sword kind of blows. Think it's time to remedy that."

"Honestly can't believe you've waited this long to do so." I told him.

"Oooo! I can't wait to check out their equipment shops for some cool stuff!" Usopp added before Zoro could say something in his defense.

"That's it, huh. That's the island where Gol Roger was born and then executed, right?" Luffy asked, leaning far over the rail as he looked at the island.

"Okay, so you did remember." Nami said, leaning on the rail right next to Luffy, who had a hand on his hat to prevent it from blowing away in the wind as he looked at the island in front of us.

"Where the King of the Pirates met his fate. This place is known as the city of the beginning and the end."

I caught Nami's small smile as she looked to Luffy, her eyes soft like her smile.

I looked out over the rail, getting my own look at the island that made a Pirate King.

Is this how someone will look at Dawn island one day?


A/N: We're getting so close to the Grand Line. I can't wait to share the next few chapters with you.

Please remember that the best solution to love triangles is that Tani has two hands.

Also! There is a small short story posted now called "Uh, Weren't you were doing that?" In which Tani and Nami work out a small misunderstanding with the logbook of the strawhat pirates.