Chapter 10: the Baratie, home of the fighting cooks.

We find our crew situated on the going merry, sailing to their next destination. Luffy is currently wheeling out a canon. "Hey usopp, let's test this out!"

"Great idea!" Usopp says inspecting it. "Let me show you what a pro can do." Usopp gets the canon prepped and fired it, hitting a big rock dead on. "Nice shot!" Luffy says with stars in his eye. "What else could you expect from the great captain usopp?" Usopp says bragging a bit.

A few minutes later a tan man with sunglasses pulls out a sword and runs at Luffy. "This for attacking yosaku!" He says. Luffy dodges his swinging of the blade and grabs his arm.

"Johnny, what are you doing here?" Zoro says walking up to see what's going on. "Big bro zoro! Help! I've been captured by a pirate. Wait, why are you on a pirate ship big bro?" He asks confused. Zoro was a bounty hunter right?

"I'm the first mate of this ship, hey where's yosaku? Isn't he usually with you?" Zoro asks. Somewhat concerned for his mutual friend. "It's bad big bro! Yosaku has been real sick!" Johnny replies frantically.

Luffy let's go of johnnys arm. "Go get your friend and bring him here, maybe we can help him." Luffy offers. Minutes later Johnny is back with yosaku in tow, who looks violently Ill.

"Hey yamao, think you can take a look?" Luffy asks. Yamato nods and takes a look at yosaku. "How bad is it big sis Yamato?" Johnny asks.

"I'm a guy, also I think your friend has scurvy. Have you two been eating any fruits?" He asks Johnny. "Sorry big bro Yamato, and not really no." Yamato sighs. "Usopp, zoro, go grab some limes." The two nod and get some and squeeze them in yosaku's mouth.

"I'm saved!" Yosaku shouts jumping up. "Thanks big bro Yamato!" He says happily. "You know." Nami speaks up. "We'll need to get a cook for the ship soon. We won't be able to survive for long without proper meals."

"Oh you're looking for a cook?" Johnny asks. Luffy simply nods his head. "We just came from the perfect place, though getting someone to join you might be tricky. You'll want to head to the floating restaurant the baratie, known for its fighting cooks. Also zoro, a man with the eyes of hawks is rumored to be in the area." He finishes.

"It's decided, let's head to the Baratie!" Luffy declares. After a solid hour our two of sailing they finally spot the Baratie, and a marine ship.

"This is marine captain fullbody." A man with pink hair on the marine ship says. "Are you all pirates? I don't recognize your flag." He says.

"We just put up our flag a few days ago." Luffy proudly admits. "And I painted it." Usopp needlessly adds. "We'll since I have a date I'll let you all be for now." The marine captain informs them.

"Sink their ship." The man silently orders to his men. In seconds the marine vessel fired a canon ball st the merry, however Yamato uses his kanabo to hit it back at the marine ship, causing serious harm to the marine vessel.

With the marines temporarily dealt with they drop anchor and head inside. "Welcome to the Baratie, my names patty. How will you be paying?" The man asks the group. "With money." Luffy answers simply. "Perfect, go sit at a table and someone will be by to get your Order." Patty says.

After they sit down a blonde man wearing a suit walks up to their table. "My name is sanji, I'm the assistant cook. All the waiters ran off, so I'm doing what I can to help out. Anyways what can I get for you?" He asks the group.

"Meat! Luffy says. "Booze." Zoro says. "I'll take some fruit, and some meat." Usopp says. "Can I have some tea and fish?" Nami asks batting her eyes at sanji.

"Of course, for a beauty such as you how can I say no?" Sanji says with hearts in his eyes. He then turns to Yamato. "And for you? My lovely lady?" He says.

"Yamato is a guy." Luffy says pointing at Yamato. Sanji looks at luffy, and then Yamato. His eyes wide and mouth agape. Yamato nods. "I'll have whatever Luffy is having, plus some sake." Yamato says.

Sanji sadly nods and walks off to take care of the order. Moments later sanji returns with their order. Everyone begins eating and seems to enjoy their food.

Over at a different table they can all hear a commotion going on. "Is this what you serve your customers?" The marine captain they met earlier questions angrily. "What's this fly doing in my soup?!" He yells at sanji who without missing a beat answers "it appears to be doing the backstroke." Which causes some chuckles.

"I expect to get my money back and a free meal!" The marine says knocking the dish off the table breaking the bowl, spilling the soup.

And what happens next surprises the Strawhats. Sanji kicks the marine captain. "You could have removed the fly! Do you know how long I worked on that soup?"

"How dare you! I am a customer!" Fullbody yells at sanji. Then a man with a peg leg and a ridiculously tall hat walks out. "What seems to be the problem?" The man asks.

"Chef Zeff." Sanji begins. "This fool wasted the soup I made and is throwing a tantrum." Zeff looks at sanji and then at the marine captain. "Wasting good out at sea can be a death sentence." Zeff says simply. "And I don't appreciate anyone who would be foolish enough to do so. Get out." He says. Literally kicking the marine out.

Sanji grabs a cigarette and walks outside. Luffy has his usual look and smiled wide. "I've found our chef." He says. "That perverted cook?" Zoro questions. "Why does it have to be him." He sighs.

Luffy walks outside and talks with sanji. "That was pretty awesome. You should join my crew." He says. Sanji looks bewildered. "No thanks." He replies.

"I refuse." Luffy says stubbornly. "What do you mean you refuse you jackass!?" Sanji asks angrily. "Simple. I refuse your refusal. We need a cook, you should join us. Besides, don't you have a dream?" He asks curiously.

"Have you ever heard of the all blue?" Sanji asks Luffy with a smile on his face. Luffy shakes his head. "They say the all blue is where you can find fish from all four seas meeting at one spot. It's every chefs dream to find it." Sanji explains.

"Well you should definitely join us then. You can't find the all blue by staying here. It has to be on the grand line somewhere, and that's where we're headed." Luffy says to him.

"Thanks, but I can't leave yet. I owe the old man too much." Sanji explains walking inside.

Moments later a scruffy looking man comes inside. "Please, I need food." Patty walks up to the man. "And how will you be paying?" He asks. "Do you take lead?" The man asks, pulling a gun.


thank you for reading! I've gotta say I've really been enjoying working on this story, and I appreciate everyone's responses so far as well.

currently my main focuses are this as well as a naruto fanfiction I've recently started writing , basically it's about naruto, ino and shikamaru being born 5 years before canon, plus naruto being raised by the Nara clan. If you're into that sorta thing then I'd appreciate it if you check it out.

also, if you want to read ahead for either story my pat re on is stidhamlucas999 , it's 5 a month to get updated chapters as soon as I'm done writing them. This story is at chapter 15, while my naruto one is at chapter 6, with chapter 16 being my next update. It'd mean a lot if you can support me on there.

pat re on .com/Stidhamlucas999

also, Spiderfan, I agree completely about hatchi joining later on. While I'd love to add him early both him and nami (and maybe another character?) needs to undergo some growth before he can be in a position to join.