Ch. 25- A Test of Loyalty
One Piece © Oda
Blizzard, Monkey D. Aika, Kumi, Kovar, and Monkey D. Star © Me
"Sanji, you were so nice to that man," Aika smiled.
"Yeah, Sanji," Nami added. "I can't believe you fed that guy...even though he would later be your enemy."
"Like I said," Sanji began, "I just couldn't leave him to starve, and out in open sea, starvation is a real death sentence. Why do you think I get mad every time Luffy cleans out the fridge?"
"I guess so," Aika said.
"Still," Usopp began, "it takes a real man to do the things you do, Sanji."
"Well, what did you expect?" Sanji asked. "After all, I almost starved to death, myself, when I was a kid...no way am I gonna let anyone else suffer like I did."
"And that's just one of the many things we admire about you," said Robin.
"Indeed!" Brook concurred while Blizzard went up and licked Sanji's face, causing him to chuckle as he wiped the slobber off his cheek.
"Thanks, Blizzard," the cook said.
"Hey, guys," said Zoro. "Check it out."
"You're lucky he got you some food!" Luffy called out to Gin while Past Sanji looked up at him. "You were almost a goner, you know!"
"That's putting it mildly," Sanji said, sarcastically.
"Hey, you!" Luffy said to Past Sanji. "Why don't you join my crew?"
"...Pardon?" asked Past Sanji in bewilderment.
"What did he say?" asked Gin.
After a moment, Luffy soon explained himself.
"So, lemme get this straight," Past Sanji said. "You're a pirate?! So why did you go and shoot at us?!"
"Oh, that was an accident," Luffy said. "It was a stray cannonball that was fired in self-defense."
"That makes absolutely no sense at all," said Past Sanji.
"Well, now it kinda does, now that I saw that it actually did happen," Past Sanji mused, causing the other Straw Hats to chuckle, lightly.
"Listen," Past Sanji began, "if I were you, I'd watch my back around here. Chef Zeff used to be the cook on a pirate crew, himself."
"Really?" Luffy asked. "The old man was a pirate, too?"
"The Baratie is the old geezer's treasure," Past Sanji continued, "and the cooks who work here used to be a bunch of hot-blooded thugs. If you ask me, for a place that's frequented by pirates, they're just perfect for the job."
"Seems pretty fitting, to me," Franky smirked.
"Yeah, this place is a bit crazy, isn't it?" Luffy asked.
"Eh," Past Sanji shrugged. "You get used to it after a while."
"Just like how we all got used to Luffy's antics after a while," Robin pointed out.
"Although some of us warmed up to it, right away, like Blizzard and Brook!" Usopp added.
"Yohohoho!" Brook laughed.
"Some people only came here to see the pirates and the cooks fight," Past Sanji continued, "but the waiters all wussed out and jumped ship."
"Oh, I get it!" Luffy exclaimed. "So that's why the old man wants me to work for him for a year!"
"You could say that, yeah," Past Sanji agreed.
"Well, anyway," Luffy began, "you should come and sail with me!"
"Forget it," Past Sanji answered. "I've got a good reason to stay here."
"No way!" Luffy shouted as he got in the blonde's face. "I refuse!"
"Wait, what?!" Past Sanji questioned in surprise.
"It's very simple," Luffy began, "I'm refusing to accept your refusal! You're a really good cook and I want you to join my crew!"
"...Can you do that?" Aika asked, tilting her head in puzzlement.
"In Luffy's mind, he can," Zoro answered.
"Yeah, that's one thing about your brother," Sanji said. "No matter what, he just won't take no for an answer."
"Now just hold on a second!" Past Sanji exclaimed. "Just hear me out! There's a reason why I can't join you!"
"Okay, what is it?" Luffy asked.
"...None of your business, that's what," Past Sanji answered.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Luffy questioned. "YOU JUST SAID TO HEAR YOU OUT!"
"Psh!" Zoro scoffed. "Talk about stupid. You never did make much sense either, Dartboard."
BAP! Sanji kicked the swordsman in the face, and soon, another brawl commenced, while Blizzard heaved a sigh and shook his head.
"Every time..." he muttered.
"Look, all I'm asking is that you respect my wishes!" Past Sanji shouted. "Now get outta here before I filet you and that crappy straw hat of yours!"
"Hey, you!" Luffy shouted as he butted heads with the cook. "No one insults my straw hat unless they're looking for a beating!"
"You guys almost fought like Zoro and Sanji do now," said Chopper.
"I noticed that," Sanji said, he and Zoro having been pulled apart by Nami.
"Uh...excuse me," said Gin.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" Past Sanji and Luffy yelled.
"...My name is Gin," Gin introduced himself. "I'm one of the Krieg Pirates. You, the boy in the straw hat...if you're a pirate, then what exactly are you after?"
Luffy grinned and replied "Isn't it obvious? I'm after the One Piece, so I'm going to the Grand Line to get it!"
"Yeah!" Aika and Kumi cheered, while Gin went eerily quiet after that declaration.
"...If you don't have a cook," he started, "then I'm guessing you don't have much of a crew, yet, either."
"This guy will make five," Luffy said as he pointed at Past Sanji, who growled at him.
"Leave me outta this!" he barked.
"You don't seem like too bad a guy," Gin began, "so I'm going to give you a warning: whatever you do...stay away from the Grand Line."
'Ugh...really? Not more of this stay-away-from-the-Grand-Line-it's-dangerous crap, again!'
"I guess after a while," Usopp began, "Luffy would be annoyed by all those warnings."
"People have warned him who-knows-how-many times," Nami said, "but we all know that it wouldn't stop Luffy from doing what he wanted to do."
"It wouldn't be Luffy, otherwise, now would it?" asked Brook, causing the Straw Hats to laugh.
"Don't run straight towards your own death," Gin said. "You're still very young. The seas are vast, and the Grand Line is just one narrow route. There are plenty of waters that you could sail."
"There are?" Luffy asked, intrigued. "You sure know a lot about the Grand Line, huh?"
"...Not very much," Gin admitted, his face beginning to sweat profusely. "In fact... I barely know anything about it at all...but enough that it scares the daylights outta me!"
"For a guy who's one of the Krieg Pirates," Past Sanji began, "you're a bit of a coward, aren't you?"
"Uh...who's Krieg?" Luffy inquired before the memory shifted again. Luffy and Past Sanji stood at the railing of the restaurant while Gin stood in a dinghy, preparing to sail off.
"Wait, it just changed without explaining who that Krieg guy is?" asked Aika.
"You'll see later on, anyway, Aika," Usopp answered. "These are Luffy's memories after all."
"I just thought I'd warn you about the Grand Line and all," said Gin.
"Thanks, but I'm still going to the Grand Line, anyways," Luffy answered.
"Hehehe..." Gin chuckled. "Well, I guess I can't stop you. Do what you want, I suppose. How you wish to die really isn't any of my business, now is it?"
"Big Brother's not gonna die, either way!" Aika exclaimed. "...Right?"
"Once we find our Luffy, he won't," Nami answered.
"You think he'll be okay until we do find him?" asked Kumi.
"Sure I do!" Aika answered. "Big Brother's the strongest man I've ever known! He'll be okay!"
"Man, I hope so, Aika," Sanji said. "I really do."
"Sanji," said Gin to Past Sanji. "...Thank you...for saving my life. The food was great." He then grinned. "Perhaps I can come and eat again?"
"Sure," Past Sanji smiled. "Anytime at all."
The Straw Hats all smiled warmly at the scene.
"You two acted like you were best friends," Franky said.
"It's funny how a plate of food can bring people together, huh?" asked Robin.
"The many wonders of a good meal," Sanji mused.
"Food does have that effect on people, doesn't it?" asked Blizzard.
"Chore boy! There you are!"
Luffy yelped as he turned to see Zeff standing on the upper deck.
"Boss Zeff!" he cried.
"Uh-oh..." Chopper muttered. "I wonder if he saw everything?"
"Something told me he did," Sanji began, "but that old crap geezer just didn't say much."
Gin stood frozen in slight surprise before he sighed in remorse, putting a hand to his forehead in shame.
"Forgive me," he said. "Now you'll probably get yelled at or fired because you fed me."
"Hmm..." Past Sanji hummed as he looked down at the empty plate and glass, then picked them up and dumped into the sea.
"What are you doing?" Luffy asked.
"Heh," Past Sanji smirked. "Now there's no proof, so there's no reason for me to get yelled at."
Gin gasped in disbelief while Luffy smiled, as did the rest of the Straw Hats. Then, Gin got down on his hands and knees, bowing his head in gratitude as he sailed off with the current.
"Stay outta trouble Gin, you hear?" Past Sanji called.
'Now I really gotta get this guy to join me...somehow.'
"CHORE BOY!" Zeff called. "GET TO WORK!"
"AAH! O-okay!" Luffy cried as the memory ended, right there.
"...Hey, how long did Luffy work for you guys, anyways?" Usopp asked. "I don't remember."
"Hmm..." Sanji hummed in recollection. "Actually...I think he was only there for about a day or two."
"That long?" Blizzard asked. "Why? ...Wait, lemme guess. He was lousy, wasn't he?"
"You guess correctly," said Sanji. "I mean...he kept breaking the dishes, he kept snatching food, burned himself on the utensils because they were still on the stove..."
"That bad, huh?" asked Kumi.
"But...you know he was trying, right?" Aika asked.
"Yeah, I know," Sanji began, "but...uh...well...how do I put this? Your brother's not very...um...competent, as far as those things go."
"...I guess so," Aika said.
"Hey, look," said Usopp as he pointed forward at a new memory, which showed the Going Merry at nighttime. Luffy was walking up to the ship, taking off a dirty apron from his waist, and the Straw Hats could make out a rare look of exhaustion on his face. It was apparent that Zeff really put him through the wringer, that day.
"I don't remember this one," said Nami. "Of course, I was asleep that night."
"Yeah, I don't remember very much about this one either," said Usopp. "Although, that's probably because I was on watch that night."
As Luffy prepared to head to the boys' room for a good night's rest, he heard voices.
"I still can't believe you're a pirate now, Big Bro Zoro."
"Yeah! And with some scrawny kid as your captain!"
Luffy's eyes went wide, instantly recognizing the voices of Johnny and Yosaku before he approached the hatch and took a peek. There, he saw Past Zoro, leaning against the wall while speaking with Johnny and Yosaku, who sat on the other side of the room.
"How come you joined up with him, anyway?" asked Johnny.
"Look, I was...in a bit of a bind," said Past Zoro. "I got captured by the Marines at one time and he bailed me out."
"Ah, I see," said Yosaku. "So you're repaying a debt, huh?"
"A debt?" Past Zoro repeated. "You've gotta be kidding. I don't owe that moron anything."
Luffy's eyes went wide.
"...Zoro...?" he whispered.
The Straw Hats also stood in disbelief at what they had just heard...even Zoro, himself.
"...Oh, no..." Zoro muttered. "He heard me that night...?!"
"Wait, I don't get it," said Johnny. "If he saved you, how come you talk like you don't like him?"
"Look, you guys saw him," said Past Zoro. "He says he's a pirate, but what kind of a pirate goes and owns up about some mistake he made?"
"That is true," Usopp muttered. "Luffy's a little too honest for his own good-OW!"
"Shh!" Robin shushed the sniper after swatting his arm.
"So, what are you gonna do?" asked Yosaku.
"I'll just hang around him for a little while longer," said Past Zoro, "and then, once I find...that guy and beat him...I'll ditch that idiot. Besides, you guys know how I am: I don't take any orders from anyone, especially some snot-nosed, straw hat-wearing brat with his head in the clouds. I mean, seriously? King of the Pirates, him? He doesn't even know the first thing about being a pirate!"
The Straw Hats saw the memory turn blue as Luffy shrank back from the hatch while the Straw Hats gaped in disbelief...while Zoro looked away in shame.
"...That was way harsh," Franky said.
"I can't believe you said that, Zoro!" Chopper exclaimed.
"I...I didn't know he was listening to us!" Zoro argued.
"And here I was, thinking you were the most loyal to Luffy," said Sanji.
"Look, things were different, back then, all right?!" Zoro questioned. "Back then, I had no interest in following anyone or taking orders from anybody! ...I guess...I guess I had an ego problem, too..."
"A big one," Nami said with a fierce glare. "You really hurt Luffy's feelings that night."
"Yeah...but then...it all changed," Zoro said.
"How?" Aika asked.
"...You're gonna find out, Aika," the swordsman replied as the memory shifted. It showed Luffy in the kitchen, washing dishes with a distant look in his eyes while the cooks were busy preparing the meals. It was obvious to everyone that what Past Zoro had said the night before had really gotten to him.
"...Wow," Sanji said. "I remember that he did look a bit distracted that day...now I know why."
"...Dammit," Zoro cursed. He really wished he didn't have to see these memories, especially now that he realized that there might have been times that Luffy might've heard things that he was not meant to hear.
"...Zoro?" Robin asked. "You know that...no one blames you, right?"
"Yeah...you didn't know he heard you!" Usopp added.
"...It doesn't change the fact that I insulted him," Zoro whispered with great regret. "God...I really took Luffy for granted, didn't I?"
At that moment, Luffy's ears caught the sound of Patty's voice.
"Hey, where the hell is Sanji?" asked Patty, causing Luffy to look up from the dishes.
"Where do you think?" asked one of the cooks. "Flirting with the women in the dining room, of course."
"Again?!" Patty questioned. "And that guy's the sous chef?! He makes me sick!"
"Well, you're no prize, either, Patty," Sanji muttered under his breath.
"That may be," started another cook, "but Sanji's been here way longer than any of us. Makes me wonder why he sticks around here, even though he and the boss don't get along?"
"I think it's because he wants to be the head chef," answered another.
As Luffy was eavesdropping, he unknowingly let the dishes slip out of his wet fingers, causing them to shatter in the sink, and it eventually caught the attention of the staff. That's when Patty turned and noticed him before he growled.
"Chore boy!" he shouted, causing Luffy to look up at him. "And just how many dishes have you broken, just now?!"
"Oh, you know what?!" Luffy questioned as he dropped another dish. "I lost count!"
"BE MORE CAREFUL, YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Patty spat.
"Oh, boy," Sanji murmured. "It begins."
Soon, Luffy started causing all kind of problems, like taking the food of the plates and eating it, spilling mop water on the floor, and knocing over utensils that were still hot, just like Sanji had said. Finally, the cooks had had enough of Luffy making a mess and kicked him out to wait on the customers instead.
"I wonder if Coby's having a hard time, doing chores like this," Luffy muttered as he went into the dining hall...only to find Past Zoro, Past Nami, and Past Usopp there, sitting at a table.
"Well, if it isn't the chore boy!" Past Nami exclaimed.
"We heard you gotta work here for a year!" Past Usopp smirked.
"You think we can change the ship's flag?" Past Zoro inquired, jokingly, which caused Past Nami and Past Usopp to laugh...as the memory turned blue once again, and Zoro looked down, feeling even guiltier than before. Luffy was already feeling bad enough after eavesdropping on him during that night...the fact that he made that crack of changing of the crew's Jolly Roger only made him feel even worse.
"...Wow..." Nami said. "Now I feel bad, too..."
"Yeah, had we known that Luffy had heard about what Zoro said that night," Usopp began, "we never would've went in there to poke fun at him!"
"...How could I have been so stupid?" Zoro asked.
"Hey!" Luffy shouted. "You guys are eating in here without mean?! How cruel are you?!"
"Luffy, quiet down!" Past Sanji called before he noticed the others. "Huh? Oh, are these your crew?"
"Yeah," Luffy answered as he picked his nose...and flicked it into Zoro's water.
"Hey, since we're at a restaurant, we might as well have a bite to eat, am I right?" Past Zoro asked.
"Heh, yeah!" Past Usopp agreed.
"You know, the food's not half-bad," Past Zoro began, "but you know what would make me feel better?" He then grabbed Luffy and made him drink his water. "IF YOU DRANK THIS YOURSELF! HAHAHAHAHA!"
"BLAAAGGAAAARRGH!" Luffy gagged and sputtered, while Past Usopp and Past Nami kept laughing. Of course, their present selves felt even worse.
"...You know something?" Nami asked. "I almost wish these weren't actually Luffy's memories."
"Me, too..." Past Usopp said.
"I can't believe you all treated Big Brother so badly," Aika said.
"Yeah, what were you thinking?" asked Chopper.
"Back then...we didn't take Luffy very seriously," Usopp admitted. "I guess it was because he acted like such a goofball most of the time...but now, looking back, I can't help but feel regretful...especially when we know why he acts like that."
Zoro didn't say a single word, but only closed his eye and looked away, while Blizzard blinked at him, sadly...but the moment was soon interrupted when they saw Past Sanji kneel before Past Nami.
"O sea, how grateful I am for this day of days!" he exclaimed, lovingly, with hearts in his eyes. "O love! Smile upon me, for I cannot survive this pain! I would stoop to becoming a pirate or even a demon, if only I could be with you, my orange-haired beauty! Such a tragedy, for the obstacles between us are far too great!"
At that moment, the memory turned red...and for some reason, Luffy seemed to be green.
'Hey! Who the hell said you can talk to her?! ...Whoa...where'd that come from?'
"...Oh, no..." Sanji murmured with slight dread.
"Yohoho!" Brook chortled. "Well, this doesn't look very good, now does it?"
"It seems Luffy's gotten his first taste of jealousy," said Robin in amusement.
"Really?" Nami asked. "He sure didn't act on it. In fact...he hardly reacted at all."
"I guess it's because Luffy was still trying to figure out how he felt about you," Franky answered.
"Ahem!"
The group looked up to see Zeff, who was leaning against a chair while giving a disapproving look at Past Sanji, who flinched in shock.
"Ah, shit, the old man...!" he cursed.
"You're in trouble, Mister," Aika said.
"Obstacles, huh, Sanji?" asked Zeff. "In that case...go and follow your heart as you please. I don't need you around here anymore."
"...Excuse me?" Past Sanji questioned.
"Huh?" Luffy muttered.
"Hey, you crap-geezer," Past Sanji cursed. "In case you've forgotten, I'm the sous-chef, here. What do you mean you don't need me anymore?!"
"That's exactly what I mean," Zeff answered. "You fight with the customers and you waste hours, staring at some woman's ass!"
"He still does, sometimes," Zoro muttered.
"Watch it!" Sanji barked.
"Not to mention you're a lousy cook," said Zeff. "Face it, Eggplant. You're nothing but dead weight. Plus, the other cooks don't like you very much, either...so do us all a favor: go be a pirate and get lost!"
Luffy just sat on the floor, blinking as he watched the situation unfold, his eyes staring owlishly at Zeff.
'...Well...I can see he wants Sanji to leave...but I can't help but think he's lying about something.'
"Don't you go stepping over the line, old man!" Past Sanji barked as he grabbed the head chef by the collar of his coat. "You can insult me all you want, but don't ever insult my cooking, got that?! I'm staying right here, whether you like it or not! You have no say in the matter, get me?!"
"Keep your hands off of me, you underdone eggplant!" Zeff yelled as he grabbed the blonde cook and slammed him into a table, smashing it to pieces.
It was a good thing Blizzard covered Aika and Kumi's eyes.
"How come you're always covering our eyes?!" asked Kumi in irritation.
"Hush," Blizzard replied.
"Urrrgh...!" Past Sanji grunted while Past Zoro, Past Nami, and Past Usopp had managed to save their food before the cook went crashing into their table.
"Hmph!" Zeff scoffed as he turned and walked away.
"Hey! Don't you walk away from me!" Past Sanji yelled. "You can't just kick me out! I'll cook here for the rest of my life! UNTIL THE DAY YOU DIE, YOU CRAP-GEEZER!"
"Until the day I die, eh?" Zeff asked. "I got at least another hundred years ahead of me, boy."
"...Always gotta have the last word, don't you?" asked Past Sanji.
"Great! You've got permission, now!" Luffy exclaimed. "So come and be my cook!"
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Past Sanji barked before the memory ended, right there.
"Wait, I don't understand," Chopper said. "What happened? Why did he want you to leave? Doesn't he need you?"
"The truth is," Sanji began, "he just didn't want me wasting my life there. I mean, sure, I may've been a bit of a nuisance, but I think the old man just wanted me to go out and follow my dream, that's why." He then chuckled. "That crap-geezer...in his own strange way, he always did care for me."
"Like he was your daddy," Aika smiled.
"...Yeah," Sanji smiled. "He was."
"Guys, check it out," said Nami as another memory appeared. It showed the Baratie, again, and Luffy was standing outside, getting ready to start his shift, again. However...he still had that distant look in his eyes, obviously still hurt from what Past Zoro had said a couple of nights back and when he, Past Nami, and Past Usopp were teasing him yesterday, and the Straw Hats could make out tiny traces of tear stains on his face.
"...Oh, dear," Robin whispered in concern.
"Poor Big Brother..." Aika said, sadly.
"...We really got to him, that day," Usopp said, sadly.
"I was so stupid..." Zoro muttered under his breath. "I ought to kick myself! Why didn't I realize he was hurting?!"
"He didn't exactly say anything, either!" Nami added. "I mean...maybe he didn't want us to think he was overreacting or something, I don't know!"
At that moment, Past Sanji approached Luffy from behind.
"Hey, chore boy!" he called. "Come on, it's time for you to get to work. Try not to break any dishes, this time, all right?"
"...Yeah..." Luffy muttered, distantly, which caused Past Sanji to blink at him before he sighed and went to stand beside him.
"Umm...hey," said Past Sanji. "I...I normally don't do this kind of thing, but...I can't help noticing you've been kind of distracted since yesterday."
Luffy glanced over at him.
"You, uh...got something on your chest, there?" Past Sanji inferred. "Maybe you wanna get it off? You can talk to me."
"...Well," Luffy started, "since you asked...say there's this friend and...well, you haven't known him for too long, but...he kind of, maybe...said something that might have hurt your feelings, but he doesn't know that you heard him...what would you do?"
"Huh," Past Sanji muttered. "Honestly, I wouldn't worry about too much. Speaking from experiences, I don't really care what people say about me, so I just ignore them. Besides, whoever it was who talked about me usually forgets about it. It's probably best to just not bring it up."
"...Yeah," Luffy said. "I guess maybe he did forget about it...maybe it's nothing to worry about, too much."
"Who's this friend you're talking about, anyway?" asked Past Sanji.
"Uhh...it's not important," Luffy lied.
"It is SO important, you idiot!" Zoro barked before he glared at Sanji. "And you! I cannot BELIEVE you told him not to tell me about what I said!"
"I told him not to worry about it!" Sanji countered. "I didn't think that he actually wouldn't confront you! And in all fairness, Moss-head, I didn't even know he was talking about you!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Nami yelled as she pushed the two of them apart. "Look! What's done is done, okay?! We can't do anything about it, now! Look...maybe, when we find our Luffy, we'll talk to him about all this, all right?"
"...Yeah," said Zoro.
"You're right," Sanji agreed.
"Good," Nami nodded, but then, there was a loud screaming, causing everyone to look up...and that's when they saw a gigantic galleon ship...only, it looked like it had seen better days. The figurehead, a roaring tiger, as cracked and chipped at the left side, the sails were torn, and the crew on board looked half-dead.
"Is that...?" Aika asked.
"Krieg's pirate ship," Sanji answered with great disgust.
"Wow..." Franky muttered. "What the hell happened to that ship?"
"...Hawk Eye happened," Zoro answered.
"Who?" Aika inquired.
"A hawk eye?" Kumi asked in perplexity. "But...how can hawk's eyeball do that?"
"Not a hawk eye," said Zoro. "Hawk Eye. Dracule 'Hawk Eye' Mihawk...the World's Greatest Swordman, able to cut through battleships with a single swing of his black sword."
Aika and Kumi gaped before they glanced at each other worriedly, then swallowed the lumps that had formed in their throats.
"Whoa!" Luffy exclaimed, forgetting his earlier sadness. "That ship's huge! Hey, maybe Gin came back to say thanks!"
"I doubt that," Past Sanji said, "but...something does seem off."
"Off, how?" asked Luffy.
"I dunno...let's hurry and get down there," said Past Sanji as he and Luffy hurried to the dining hall. That's when they got a closer look at the wrecked galleon.
"Yeesh," Past Sanji grimaced. "A great galleon ship like that, ravaged to that degree? That wasn't the work of any man...it looks like they sailed into a typhoon or something!"
"Heh...they wished," Zoro muttered. "They got lucky that they escaped with their lives. Anytime Hawk Eye cuts down a ship...hardly live to tell the tale about it."
"Okay, Zoro, that's enough," Robin said as she held Aika and Kumi, who shivered in fear. "You're frightening the girls."
"And Chopper," Blizzard added as the little reindeer clung to his right foreleg.
At that moment, someone else entered the restaurant, causing the customers to gasp in fear as they stood up out of their chairs. It was Gin...along with a tall, burly man that was wearing a fur coat and had bandages wrapped around his forehead. He had some rather expensive-looking clothes and jewelry, so it seemed he was rather wealthy. If one didn't know better, he almost looked dead on his feet.
"Guh..." he groaned. "Please...may I have some food and water? I...I got money...I can pay...!"
"Is that...Don Krieg?" asked Aika.
"It sure is," Sanji answered. "...Even now, I still can't forget that ugly mug of his. I honestly hope he died in the Grand Line, somewhere, that bastard."
"Huh?" muttered on of the cooks of the Baratie, Carne.
"Who the hell's that?" Patty asked. "He looks too shabby to be a king."
"That guy looks pretty hungry, doesn't he?" asked Luffy.
"What the hell is going on?" Past Sanji asked, just as Don Krieg collapsed on the floor, panting heavily.
"D-Don Krieg!" Gin cried in alarm.
"Enemy or not," Chopper began, "he was really on the brink of death. I could tell just by looking at him...it looked like he hadn't eaten for nearly a whole week!"
"Hey!" Gin shouted. "Don't anyone just stand there! Get him some food and water, please! If you don't help him, he'll die!"
A pause...before Patty burst into laughter.
"You gotta be kidding me!" he shouted. "This half-dead idiot is actually the dreaded Don Krieg?! Don't make me laugh!"
"Come on!" Gin shouted. "Seriously, you have to help! This time, we have the money to pay for it! We're customers, here!"
"Hey, Carne!" Patty called. "Call the Marines! They'll leap at the chance to finally catch Don Krieg! No one feed a single crumb, got it?!"
Soon, the patrons in the restaurant began to clamor in agreement.
"Yeah! If he eats and gets his strength back, he'll kill us all!"
"He's a pirate, after all! Starving's way too good for him!"
"That monster deserves to die, so I say let him!"
Even the staff members were murmuring amongst themselves.
"There's no way we can feed this guy."
"He's right. Don't give 'em anything! Not even a glass of water!"
"You know...I really can't say that they're wrong," said Nami, "but...it is a bit hard to watch this, isn't it?"
"And yet, I can't help thinking something's off," Brook replied.
"Urrgh...!" Don Krieg groaned as he bowed his head before Patty. "Please...I won't harm anyone, I promise! Just feed me...and I'll leave you all alone! I beg of you...please help me!"
"Don Krieg, what are you doing?!" Gin questioned. "Don't grovel! It's beneath you!"
"Please!" Don Krieg pleaded. "I'm begging you! Even if it's leftover rice, I'll eat it!"
"...Don Krieg...!" Gin sniffled with tears in his eyes.
"...Gin really does care for his boss, doesn't he?" asked Franky.
"Yeah," Sanji replied, "although...I wonder if that loyalty might've been misplaced."
"Misplaced?" asked Aika.
"Hmph!" scoffed Patty. "Trying to work on my sympathies, huh?"
"Get the hell outta the way, Patty!" Past Sanji barked as he kicked the loudmouthed cook out of his path, holding a plate of rice and a bottle of grog, then walked up to Gin and Don Krieg. "Here you go, Gin. Feed this to your captain."
"S-Sanji...!" Gin whispered before he bowed his head. "Thank you!"
"Bless you, sir!" Don Krieg exclaimed before he shoved the food into his mouth.
"You fed him?!" Franky questioned. "Even though he was the enemy?!"
"Really dumb move, cook," said Zoro.
"Say what you want," Sanji began, "but no matter what, it's a cook's duty to feed the hungry...even if they do stab you in the back, later. I didn't regret it before and I'm not regret it, now."
"Well said," Robin smiled.
"Sanji!" Carne shouted. "Have you lost your mind?! Take that food away from him! Don't you know who that is?! That's 'Foul Play' Don Krieg, the tyrant of the East Blue! He got his start in prison, then lied his way onto a Marine ship, where he killed the officers and took over! He's full of all kinds of rotten tricks, like flying a Marine flag as he enters the port, and then shooting up the town, or a white flag to make you think he's surrendering before he goes in for the kill! He's known far and wide for his legendary duplicity! He may say that he'll let us go, but there's no way we can trust him! That two-faced bastard is better off dead!"
As if to prove his point...Don Krieg decked Past Sanji to the floor with a haymaker move.
"SANJI!" Luffy and Gin cried out while Don Krieg gave a devious grin.
"Don Krieg!" Gin shouted. "How could you?! You said that as long I led you here, you wouldn't hurt anyone! This man saved our lives- ACK!" He was soon silenced when Krieg grabbed him by the shoulder and squeezed, tightly...threatening to crush it.
"That food was pretty good," said Don Krieg. "I can feel my strength returning, already."
"Gin!" Luffy cried, while Past Sanji smirked with a bloody lip.
"So that's how it is, huh?" he asked.
"Not a bad ship," Don Krieg said. "I think I'll take it!"
"Why am I not surprised?" asked Blizzard. "I knew something smelled off about that jackass."
"You fed him, but he still chose to fight you?!" Chopper asked.
"Some guys are just ungrateful," Sanji said, nonchalantly.
"What a horrible thing to do!" Aika shouted.
"It's about to get a lot worse," Sanji said as the memory shifted, once again. "Just watch."
By now, the Straw Hats were watching the outside of the Baratie...but, for some reason, Don Krieg's galleon had been cut in half, somehow.
"What happened here?" Chopper asked, sweating nervously.
"Well...the old man and I fed Don Krieg's crew," said Sanji. "After that, they were ready to start a fight, again. The cooks were ready to turn against me, but then the old geezer asked them if they had ever starved before...and if they were gonna keep bitching about it, then they might as well. Instead, they chose to stay...now that's real loyalty for you."
"...Loyalty..." Zoro muttered.
"And Moss-head, do me a favor?" Sanji asked. "Stop with the sadsack shit. It's not a good look for you."
"...Since when do you care?" asked Zoro.
"For your information, I don't," Sanji retorted. "I just don't want Luffy seeing you like this. We'll talk about it when we get him outta that damn dragon's claws!"
"...You're right," Zoro said. "...Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Sanji answered.
At that moment, Luffy, Past Zoro, and Past Usopp were standing at the aft of the Baratie, where they saw Johnny and Yosaku swimming towards them...and yet, neither the Going Merry, nor Past Nami were nowhere in sight.
"Johnny! Yosaku!" Past Zoro cried as he pulled them aboard. "What happened?! Are you two okay?!"
"What happened to the Merry?!" Past Usopp asked. "And where's Nami?!"
"That's the thing!" Johnny answered. "She kicked us off the ship and stole it, along with all the treasure!"
"SHE WHAT?!" Luffy and Past Zoro questioned.
"SHE STOLE THE MERRY?!" Past Usopp asked in disbelief.
"You stole their ship?!" Franky asked, causing Nami to look down, guiltily.
"N-now, hold on a second!" Usopp cried. "What she did was wrong, but she did have her reasons!"
"I was...kind of a on deadline," Nami answered. "You'll see later."
"...I understand," Franky said. "I'm sure you didn't really wanna do it."
"Of course I didn't," Nami replied, "but...back then, I was out of options."
"We will discuss when we get to that point," Brook said. "Don't you worry about that."
"Thanks, Brook," Nami smiled. "I'm still not showing you my underwear, though."
"...Fair enough..." Brook muttered in defeat while Blizzard snickered.
"Wait!" Luffy exclaimed as he pointed to the horizon, where he could make out the shrinking shape of the Going Merry. "There's the Merry! Right there!" He then looked to Johnny and Yosaku. "Hey, where's your ship?!"
"It's still anchored, nearby!" answered Johnny.
"Zoro! Usopp!" Luffy called. "You gotta go after Nami!"
"Are you kidding me?" Past Zoro asked. "Forget it. Why should we go after traitor?"
"What about the Merry?!" Past Usopp questioned. "Kaya gave her to us, you know!"
"No way!" Luffy shouted. "I made my decision, long ago...Nami's supposed to MY navigator! I won't settle for anyone else!"
Nami gasped silently as she felt her heart begin to race.
"...You know...I don't think he wanted you just because he loved you," said Zoro. "I think he really acknowledged your skills...he wanted the best navigator there was, and to him, that was you."
"Luffy...!" Nami whispered as tears welled up in her eyes. "I...I can't believe it...!"
A pause...but then Past Zoro heaved a sighed.
"Dammit," he cursed. "Fine, you win! What an annoying captain..."
Although he didn't notice it, Luffy seemed to tense up subtley at that utterance, and seeing that still made Zoro feel guilty about the things he said on that night.
"Come on, Usopp!" Past Zoro called. "Let's get a move on!"
"Right!" Past Usopp exclaimed before he looked to Luffy. "W-wait, Luffy, what about you? Aren't you coming?!"
"I can't," Luffy answered. "The Baratie's in trouble."
"Well...just be careful," said Past Zoro. "Looks like things are about to go to hell in a hand basket."
"Yeah, I know," Luffy nodded.
"LOOK! IT'S HIM! DON KRIEG, IT'S THE DEMON WHO WENT AND SANK ALL OUR SHIPS!"
The Straw Hats all looked up...and they gaped upon seeing a shadowy figure, sailing in on what looked like a coffin with candles that had an ominous green flame. The very sight made the blood of the more fearful members of the Straw Hats run cold...even those who had seen it before. Past Zoro looked especially shocked upon seeing the boat, while the present Zoro quietly clenched his fists.
As the shadows fled...it was soon revealed to be none other than Dracule 'Hawk Eye' Mihawk.
"It's...it's him...!" Past Zoro whispered. "Hawk Eye...!"
"The guy you're looking for?" Luffy asked.
"...He's...he's scary...!" Aika whimpered.
"I'll say!" Kumi exclaimed. "He looks like a vampire!"
"VAMPIRE?!" Chopper questioned.
"I remember when I saw him, back during the Paramount War," Blizzard whispered. "...If I hadn't warned Luffy in time..."
"...Dracule Mihawk," Robin said. "One of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the World's Greatest Swordsman."
"...Even now," Zoro began, "I still feel a tingle down my spine whenever I see his face." He closed his eye. "I was way outta my league."
"What do you mean?" Aika asked. "What happened, Zoro?"
"...Well...you see this scar on my chest?" Zoro asked as he pointed to said-scar, which caused Aika to nod in response. "...He's the one who gave it to me."
Hearing that caused Aika to gasp in disbelief.
"...You mean...?" she asked.
"...He beat me," Zoro nodded.
"Hey, Hawk Eye!" shouted one of Krieg's revitalized men. "Why the hell do you keep tormenting us?!"
"...For my amusement," said Mihawk, casually.
"AMUSEMENT?!" the Krieg Pirates yelled before one of them tried to shoot him...only for the Warlord to deflect the bullets with just a light swing of his enormous blade.
"I...I missed?!" the pirate questioned in shock.
"No," said Past Zoro. "Shooting at him is just useless. He simply deflected the bullets, that's all."
"Wait, Zoro!" Luffy called. "You were supposed to..."
He then stopped himself as a look of recollection appeared on his face.
"If you do something that makes me give that up...I'll have to have you slice your stomach open and spill your guts."
Luffy's face paled as he stood back, letting Past Zoro approach Mihawk.
"...He remembered your vow," Sanji said. "That's why he didn't stop you."
"...I actually wish that he had," Zoro answered.
"H-hey!" cried one of the Krieg Pirates. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?!"
"I've never seen such subtle swordplay," said Past Zoro, ignoring the pirate.
"Without subtlety," said Mihawk as he sheathed his sword, "then a sword is nothing more than an iron bar."
"You split this entire galleon with just your sword, alone?" asked Past Zoro.
"Indeed," Mihawk nodded.
"...I see," Past Zoro grinned. "Then you really are the greatest."
"Hey, wait...!" whispered one of the Krieg Pirates. "He's got three swords...could this guy be...the Pirate Hunter?!"
"I went out to sea, just to find you!" Past Zoro declared.
"And why is that?" asked Mihawk.
"Heh!" Past Zoro smirked as he tied his bandanna around his head. "To become the greatest. If you're looking for fun...then fight me."
Hearing that caused the Krieg Pirates to shriek in fright.
"IT IS HIM! THAT'S RORONOA ZORO!"
"The Pirate Hunter?" asked Don Krieg.
"That guy's him?" asked Past Sanji.
"Zoro, what are you doing?!" Past Usopp questioned. "We gotta go after Nami, remember?!"
"Big Bro..." Yosaku whispered, worriedly, while Luffy remained silent.
"Once I find...that guy and beat him...I'll ditch that idiot."
'Zoro...I don't want you to leave...but at the same time, I can't get in the way...what am I gonna do?'
"...He was really worked up about that," Nami said.
"I'm sorry, Luffy...!" Zoro whispered.
"...What a pathetic weakling," said Mihawk as he stood up from his boat and got on board the remains of Krieg's galleon. "If you really are competent swordsman, you don't need to cross blades to know that I far surpass your inferior skills. Does the courage you have to point your blade at me come from confidence? Or perhaps...ignorance?"
"...I was definitely ignorant..." Zoro said as he looked away, then glanced over at Robin. "Robin...cover Aika and Kumi's eyes...I don't want them to see this."
Robin nodded before she proceeded to use her powers to cover Aika and Kumi's eyes.
"It comes from ambition," Past Zoro answered as he put Wado Ichimonji in his mouth, "and a promise to an old friend."
The air was tense...the Straw Hats stood, watching the scene unfold. Past Zoro glared at Mihawk with his swords brandished. The Krieg Pirates dared not to interfere out of fear of getting sliced by Mihawk's sword, while Luffy, Past Usopp, Johnny, and Yosaku all stood on the other side, watching intently.
"We meet at last," Past Zoro began, "sooner than I thought, too."
"...How futile," said Mihawk.
"I don't believe it...!" Patty said, nervously. "The World's Top Swordsman and Pirate Hunter Zoro, about to duel, here?!"
"This'll be a cinch!" exclaimed Johnny.
"Yeah! Nobody can beat Big Bro Zoro in a sword duel!" agreed Yosaku, while Luffy just remained silent.
"...Big Brother's really tense," Aika said. "His face doesn't show it, but he's really nervous about this."
"...Could it be that Luffy sensed that Mihawk might've been stronger than Zoro, all along?" asked Robin.
That's when Mihawk whipped out...his pocket knife.
"A dagger?" asked Franky. "You're kidding, right?"
"Just watch," Zoro said.
"What the hell is that for?" Past Zoro glared.
"I'm not the kind of idiot who would go around, shooting at bunny rabbits with a cannon," said Mihawk. "You may have a reputation here in the East Blue, but you're still just a pesky vermin."
"What did you say?!" Past Zoro questioned.
"The Red Line and the Grand Line divide the seas of the world into four quarters," Mihawk explained. "Of the four, the East Blue is the weakest. Sorry to say this, but this is the smallest dagger that I've got."
"...If I were you," Past Zoro started, "I'd watch that bravado, pal. Otherwise, you're gonna look real stupid when I kill you!"
On that, he charged at Mihawk, preparing to use his signature move.
"Look at you," said Mihawk. "You're just a tiny frog, croaking in your little puddle. I think it's time you learned how big the sea really is!"
"...And boy did I learn..." Zoro whispered.
"Oni...GIRI!" Past Zoro shouted as he tried to deploy his attack...only for Mihawk to stop it with just his dagger alone. "W...what?!"
"Zoro?!" Luffy asked in concern.
"That's impossible!" cried Johnny. "He stopped Big Bro Zoro's Oni Giri with that little knife?!"
"No way!" shouted Yosaku. "That move never fails!"
Past Zoro grew very tense...but he did not back down. He let out a roar of fury as he tried to cut Mihawk, but the Warlord continued to perry his blades with his tiny knife. No matter how many times he tried, Mihawk kept blocking his attacks.
For the Straw Hats, this almost looked too hard to take in. Right now, the Zoro they were witnessing was nothing like the Zoro they knew, now. His movements were clumsy and erratic, not poised and fluid like they normally were. He was letting his frustration and need to win take over...and that would soon cloud his judgement. And worse, yet...they knew that Luffy wanted to step in and help, but he forced himself not to.
"What drives you?" asked Mihawk. "Why do you so hard, knowing you cannot win? You're such a weakling."
"TAKE THAT BACK, BUZZARD EYE!" Yosaku yelled as he and Johnny prepared to jump off and attack him.
"WHY YOU!" Johnny shouted. "I'LL TEACH YOU NOT TO MOCK BIG BRO ZORO!"
"WAIT!" Luffy cried as he grabbed them by the back of their coats. "STOP IT! JOHNNY, YOSAKU, STAY OUT OF THIS!" He soon pinned them both to the deck of their boat. "I know it's hard, but you gotta keep calm!"
'I wanna help, too, but I can't!'
The Straw Hats felt their hearts clench upon hearing that thought.
"Dammit, I wish Luffy didn't have to be so honorable for once!" Sanji cursed.
"He knows Zoro's about to get killed, but he can't do anything about it!" Blizzard cried.
"Hey, what's going on?!" Aika asked as she tried to pull off Robin's eyes.
"...I hate to say this," Brook began, "but Mihawk was far superior in skill than you, Zoro."
"...Tell me about it," Zoro whispered as he clenched his fists.
Soon, Past Zoro slid back as Mihawk pushed him away...but even then, he refused to surrender. He soon held up his swords behind his back.
"Tiger...HUNT!" he yelled as he tried to strike Mihawk down...only to get stabbed in the chest.
"BIG BRO ZORO!" Johnny and Yosaku screamed while Luffy tensed up.
"AAAAAAH!" Chopper shrieked. "ZORO!"
Robin covered her mouth as she gasped in horror, but in her shock, she accidentally released her grip on Aika's and Kumi's eyes...and needless to say, the girls were horrified at what they just saw.
"Oh, no! Zoro!" Aika cried.
"No way...!" Kumi whispered in shock.
"Guuuh...!" Past Zoro gagged as blood spilled from the wound.
"Do you wish for me to stab your heart?" asked Mihawk. "Why do you not retreat?"
"I...I can't...!" Past Zoro coughed. "If I surrender...if I retreat, even one step...my vow...my ambition...everything that I ever cared about will be shattered...and my dream will be lost forever."
"...Yes," said Mihawk. "That is defeat, I'm afraid."
"Heh...so that means I can't walk away," Past Zoro said, even as blood dripped from his mouth.
"Even if it means death?" Mihawk inquired.
'Please stop...please stop...please stop!'
"...I prefer to die rather than be defeated," Past Zoro said in defiance.
"...Luffy can't take much more of seeing this," Nami said. "And to be frank, I can't either!"
"...Boy," said Mihawk as he pulled out his knife from Past Zoro's chest, "tell me...what is your name?"
"...The name's Zoro," Past Zoro said as he held up his swords, again. "Roronoa Zoro."
"I shall remember that," Mihawk said as he finally reached for his sword. "It's been quite some time since I've met one with such courage. I shall honor the swordsman's code...and send you to your death with this black blade of mine...the finest in the world."
Seeing that sword sent the Krieg Pirates running away in terror, knowing it was the very blade that destroyed their fleet. Past Zoro, however, remained unafraid...as he began to spin his swords in his hands.
"DIE, BOY!" Mihawk yelled as he lunged at him.
"Big Bro, it's not worth it!" cried Johnny. "GET OUTTA THERE!"
"Dodge it, dodge it, dodge it, dodge it...!" Luffy whispered.
"Three-Sword Style, Secret Techinque!" Past Zoro exclaimed. "3,000 WORLDS!"
As the two swordsman swung their blades...blood splurted from Past Zoro's wound as Mihawk's sword struck...and shattered the two swords in the green-haired swordsman's hands.
"...Oh, my god...!" Robin whispered. "Don't tell me...!"
"...I'm sorry you had to see this..." Zoro whispered with great shame.
That's when Past Zoro turned to face Mihawk, who was just preparing to finish him off.
"What are you doing?" Mihawk asked.
"...Wounds on the back," Past Zoro began, "are a swordsman's greatest shame."
"...Hmph," Mihawk smirked. "Splendid."
SLASH! With a single swing of his mighty blade...Mihawk sliced Past Zoro right in the chest...a geyser of blood bursting right out.
"ZOOOOOROOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Luffy screamed in horror as a single tear formed in his eye...and on that, the memory faded to black.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time on One Piece: The Fire Within!
Chopper: Zoro, are you crazy?! You could've been killed!
Zoro: You think I don't know that?!
Past Sanji: JUST ABANDON YOUR STUPID DREAM, YOU IDIOT!
Luffy: ZORO, ARE YOU OKAY?!
Past Zoro: *tearfully points his sword to the sky* Luffy...I'm sorry I let you down...but from now on, I swear to you! I WILL NEVER LOSE AGAIN! YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT, KING OF THE PIRATES?!
Luffy: *grins* Nope!
Mihawk: May we meet again, someday.
Luffy: Hey, Pops! If I beat this guys for you, does that mean my debt's repaid?
Zeff: Heh! It's a deal...now go wild, kid!
Next time: The Battle for the Baratie
Sorry for the long wait, everybody. My computer had to be fixed, but thankfully, this won't happen again.
Review, please!