A/N: Hi everyone! Before I continue with the story, I just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful reviews, they made my day. I'm pretty new here, this is my first fic after all. My mother language isn't english either, so I write a little slower than I thought I would. Anyway, I hope you will enjoy this chapter too!

4. A sweet date in the night

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"And now?"

"No, Rea, no."

...

"And now? Are we?"

"Rea, for God's sake!," Thatch yelled at me.

I didn't pout, but it was really close to that.

"I'm just asking because I can see a helluva big fish-like ship behind you. It greatly resembles the Baratie, but hey, who am I to judge your navigation skills?"

Thatch's brows furrowed, then he turned around and noticed our destination coming closer and closer. He absolutely didn't pout. A Whitebeard commander doesn't pout.

I was more than happy that we arrived. I wanted to get out of the little boat as soon as possible. My legs were numb because of the lack of space, and a little stretching would have been nice. I didn't even realize how still I was in that dinghy and how that affected me. My back hurt a bit and I was fidgeting in my seat for a little movement.

I stepped on the wooden floor of the Baratie and waited for Thatch to finish tying down our boat. The fresh evening air and the little breeze were like Heaven for me as I stood up straight. It was nice after this long traveling.

Oh boy, this was just a little trip. What will happen when I'm not gonna see land for weeks?

"I never expected seeing you here anytime soon, brat," came a gruff voice from behind me. I instantly turned around with curious eyes, because that could be just one person I know.

An old man stood there with a ridiculously high chef's hat and a blonde mustache. He wore a white chef's coat and eyed Thatch with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes - yep, these two definitely met each other before. I knew it.

Thatch chuckled lightly and shook hands with the head chef of the restaurant. Zeff then turned to me.

"Who is the little brat, brat?"

Isn't that a little too much 'brat'?

Honestly, I would've been annoyed at the nickname, was it not for the fact that the person who called me that was Zeff himself. Like oh my God! I gotta try at least one of his recipes while I'm here!

"The name's Rea," I beamed at him with sparkling eyes. I couldn't help it, he is one of my role models after all. Even when I was just sitting at home and watching him on the screen, I instantly decided that I would give anything to meet him in real life. Oh good lord, what if he could try my soufflé recipes? Oh, good LORD, his peg leg is so cool! "I take it you're Zeff, right? The head chef of the Baratie."

"Oho, you told her about me?" he turned to Thatch with a smirk on his face.

"Nah," he replied. "She just seems like a little fangirl. She's a menace."

"Hey!"

Zeff's laughter interrupted our bickering.

"Why don't you two brats come inside? We already prepared a table for you."

I was eager to try the food here, but Thatch was taking his sweet time, alright. I wanted to hurry and get inside but remained quiet until my fellow traveler hid the devil fruit in his bag and brought it with himself. Good, my man can learn quickly.

I'm a proud mother.

I was admiring the ship's decorations while the two men started a little small talk. When we got inside the doors I instantly glanced at the big, round table in the center of the room. The only table in the room.

Well, I expected that they closed for the night already, but damn! Did I just get a VIP seat?

"Patty! Tell Sanji that if he isn't down with the food in ten minutes, he'll get an extra round of training tomorrow!" Zeff shouted at the man standing all across the room. He was large and muscular with a lot of hair on his legs and big forearms. Yeah, that's Popeye 2.0. Now I just have to find the cook named after meat and the whole bunch will be together. What was it, Carne?

I often wonder why Luffy didn't invite those two on his crew. Must be because he didn't know 'Carne' and 'Patty' mean different kind of meats.

"Got it, Boss!"

"Now then you two, take a seat," Zeff gestured towards the table.

You don't have to tell me twice, old man!

I sat down at the speed of lightning. Enel would be jealous. I don't care who prepares the food here, Zeff, Sanji, or the others, but eating in the Baratie is one thing that will be crossed out in a few minutes on my bucket list, and that's final.

Thatch hopped down next to me with another tired groan, and Zeff next to him, so that he could be face to face with me too.

"How come you picked up a kid and brought her with you, Thatch? I thought Whitebeard wasn't a babysitter. Or did you all changed professions while I was running a restaurant and raising the eggplant?"

Thatch paled once more and his worries started to sweep in.

"She is... at least eighteen. Yeah," he whispered. The two of us, Zeff and I sat there unamused.

"Is she?" he lifted one eyebrow.

"Am I?," I continued.

"Oh come on! I didn't kidnap a child from her brother from an East Blue island because I was stubborn, right? Right?"

I thought it wiser to remain silent.

"Hah! She may look older than she is, but I can see the little girl there," he smiled at me. I was surprised, no one could figure out my real age or guess it right even back there in my world. I really looked older to others, more mature too. I noticed that here I was a little more open with people than in general. I didn't really think about why though. Maybe that had to do something with Zeff pointing out that I'm still not an adult. "Can you fight at least? Any self-defense?"

"Absolutely nothing," I said as if I was proud of the fact that I'm the equivalent of the strength of a baby.

Zeff looked taken aback, then turned to Thatch.

"You don't plan on bringing her with you, right?"

This time Thatch was the one that remained silent.

"Well maybe you could solve this little problem for me," he whispered to himself. I glanced at him curiously but shrugged and let it go.

I was hungry, I couldn't possibly concentrate on anything else. And then the music started playing.

Jazz.

Oh my God, my legs are weak.

I didn't hear any music since I got here. I was craving it like crazy. And jazz... just... oh my God.

A man with complete elegance came down the stairs, two trays of delicious-smelling food and a bottle of wine in his hands. He was headed our way with years of practice in carrying the trays carefully, meanwhile still looking like it's the easiest thing a man can do.

I would've dropped it the second I came down those stairs.

His blonde hair covered up one of his eyes completely. On the other side of his gentle face, I could see the little swirl at the end of his eyebrow. He wore a black suit with a blue shirt underneath it. He came closer, every step on the beat of the music in the background. His eyes were closed - how the heck he can walk like that is beyond me - as he put the food on our table with practiced movements. I looked up with wonder in my eyes and he immediately lifted his head a little so our gaze could meet. He allowed a little flirty smile to slip onto his face.

"Welcome to the Baratie, Mademoiselle."

I was hooked.

From my hunger and the food before me, from the music, or from Sanji himself, I couldn't tell, but my heart skipped a beat.

"What the fuck?" asked Thatch with unbelieving and twitching eyes.

Sanji turned in his direction with a bored expression now.

"Oh, you too I guess."

Zeff sighed and tried to hit Sanji with his peg leg. The cook dodged in the last second.

"Be nice to others too, Little Eggplant! And don't flirt with kids."

"Shut up, Shitty Geezer!" Then he turned to me with little hearts in his eyes. Damn, those are real? "The name's Sanji, Mylady."

"Flirting? Oh, I don't mind," I mumbled and beamed at them as I was already munching on some ridiculously delicious meat and potato chips. This... is Heaven. And the music is still playing. I'm living my best life right now.

"Oh, she doesn't mind," Thatch spoke up with a bewildered face. Zeff quirked an eyebrow.

"You have some experience regarding this?"

Oh, I perked up at hearing that.

"Oh come on, sweetie, you know you like it when I'm being cute." I gifted Thatch a little wink with my statement too. Meanwhile, Sanji couldn't decide between being angry at Thatch and admiring my presence at the table.

Man, that sweet potato is delicious.

"Let's just not get into that, shall we?"

"You're no fun."

"I take offense to that, I'm plenty fun when I want to be."

Thatch took a bite from his own plate and immediately shut up after that. We ate in silence, savoring every bite of our food. The spices, the different flavors, everything was in place and perfect harmony. It was amazing, and Thatch knew it too. Sanji was standing next to us with an eager smile as he watched us destroying the prepared goods.

I already knew it was him who made the whole thing.

Thatch finished his portion with a smile on his face while I made sure I left the best pieces for the last bite.

"Thanks for the food, it was delicious as always. But... it wasn't you who made it, right?" Thatch asked the old man, who just flashed a proud smile - you can be proud of your son, Zeff, because he's amazing - and stood up.

"Hah, you're right. I was all the Little Eggplant."

"Why you Shitty Geezer...," I heard Sanji mumbling as he lit a cigarette in his mouth.

"Impressive," Thatch mused, looking at the annoyed blond.

Under the mask, I could see the happiness forming in him at the commander's words.

I finally finished my portion and looked up from my plate. I looked Sanji dead in the eye.

"It was the most delicious food I've ever eaten," I said with complete honesty and a serious yet excited face. I smiled at him. "Of course, my mom's cooking is still the best. And I know no one can defeat her in this regard, heshishishi."

Did I... did I just crack a One Piece laugh?

How the heck?

Sanji was swooning all over me while I gave him the admiration he damn right deserved. Thatch and Zeff were in their own little world, so I left them to themselves.

My pompadour-haired kidnapper talked to the head chef about us staying overnight, and I was told to head to the first room on the second floor. I got up from my seat and grabbed my bag full of my belongings. I didn't notice until now, but my bones screamed for a good rest and a fluffy bed. It's not the same as the wooden floor of a boat.

I said goodbye to everyone for the night, flashed the blond, flirty cook a little smile, and went to my room.

It was time for a nap. A long nap.

I couldn't sleep.

I sure as hell tried to, but that wasn't enough. And if I can't sleep for whatever reason, that's always a bad sign for me.

Because now that I was alone in a separate room with thick wooden walls and a locked door, I was alone. I didn't hear Usopp's loud snores every minute and so, I didn't hear Thatch's quiet mumbling and I didn't hear the waves constantly moving around me and rocking the ship, even despite the opened windows. It was a silent night, and so I remained with only my thoughts.

Nowadays, that's a dangerous territory, but I tried to let all my thoughts flow freely. I knew I had to at some point. Being ignorant and locking all the bad things happening to me up isn't the best idea, it doesn't matter how much I just want to NOT think about certain things. Like my family, my freinds - sisters -, my life in general. This crazy thing that's happening to me. This crazy thing I can't even understand fully. This whole thing that messes with my head since I got here...

So tonight I let the thoughts free, and the first thing that comes to my mind with record speed is a memory - an old one. The very first one that started to form me into the girl I am today.

Ten years ago

"Alright, kids! Before we begin our very first day in school, please, chose a deskmate and sit down at a table!"

My eyes were wandering over the place my mom called a 'classroom'. It was tiny, yet so big, it kept me mesmerized and in amazement. There were wooden desks below every window and lamp.

The woman who just spoke was beautiful in my eyes. With shiny, short, black hair, a summer dress painted with flowers, and that kind smile on her face, she may have been an angel. I was drawn to her the moment our eyes met - but she looked away to watch the others too. I understood, everybody deserved that mesmerizing look after all. I wasn't special.

At the back of the room, there stood the adults. I didn't know why we had to be separated. I didn't want to let go of my mom's hands. It was safer and not as scary as standing alone with the others around me.

The girls were in a big group just below the first window and they were chatting with excited smiles and large movements. The boys were on the other side of the room. I stood in the middle, squeezed by everyone else. But there lingered only one thought in my head.

I had to find a deskmate.

The other started rushing and quickly taking seats. I was a little confused and light-headed from the day so far, but I could tell that everyone knew at least one person from the line. I didn't.

I always thought leaving kindergarten would be the best thing in my life because I got to be a big girl from now on, but I changed my mind. I wanted to go back to the others. Here in this mess, I was alone.

I had to find a deskmate soon before everyone left the line!

I was frozen in one place, I didn't know why. My legs just weren't moving. I searched with my eyes for my mom. She always helped me when I was in trouble, so I just had to find her, right? Then I could easily pick a deskmate with her help.

I tried my hardest, but I didn't find her. Maybe she wasn't in that blur formed by all the adults.

Oh god, everything started spinning.

More kids left the line with another. I have to say something before everyone leaves! What should I do?

A deskmate...

With ragged breaths, I started to search for that woman who announced our task. She should be next to me, smiling with that kind smile on her face, right? Why can't I find her?

A deskmate... quick... don't leave me here...

Why is everyone blurring? Where's my mom, where's everyone? I have to pick before...!

A hand, sweaty and tiny like mine suddenly grabbed me and I felt a strong hold on my own palm. I instantly looked up.

There stood a girl with wide, brown eyes and messy yet straight hair. She doesn't want to smile, I could tell easily, but she has to. She has to find a deskmate after all. Like me.

I looked her in the eyes and then we took a sharp breath in. Our breath was taken away and time stopped for a second, as we stood still, her smiling, I wondering what this feeling in my chest was. Her smile quickly dropped. She didn't have to lie to me anymore.

I remembered her from kindergarten, we met a few times. Seeing her up close was different though. She felt the same way about me if her look was anything to go by. And then I moved.

I tightened my hold on her hand and started to drag her with a faint, hollow smile on my face to the front desk. We both sat down, and school orientation day with the parents started.

We took one last look at each other, locked our hands under the table, and moved our gazes back to the teacher. Ah, there she was. Our eyes were full of excitement, fear, happiness, joy, anxiety, and wonder, but we both knew what happened here. We didn't need grand acts or big, important moments and memories. We didn't assume, we knew. We didn't hope, we trusted. And this bond here, this will forever be unbreakable. It was in an instant, and we shook hands with Fate itself.

Later on, I found out her name, Kenza. It meant 'treasure'.

Treasure... that word sounds beautiful.

I snuck out from my room pretty easily.

I wanted to get to the kitchen to relieve some stress. I couldn't cook for Usopp in a while, and it threw me off a little. So even if he isn't here right now, habits stick with you easily and are a good way to pretend that you stick to the safe normality of the world. Even if being here at all isn't exactly normal for me.

I found the kitchen after a few opened doors, and looked around it a little bit. There were cooking tools and equipments all over the place and the walls, of course sorted and kept clean. It wasn't anything like Usopp's little space with a pan and some utensils, it was a professional kitchen. At least as professional as a sea restaurant's kitchen can be. A little smile made his way onto my face and I got to work.

Screw Sanji's or Zeff's permission - I'm so sorryyy, please forgive meee -, I like to live dangerously.

Well, as another thought, maybe not. But it's part of the lifelong adventure we are all living, right?

I didn't try anything hard, I settled for a souffle pancake. It was one of my first recipes I learned at home. My family always loved it, and it seemed like Usopp addet it to his 'favourites' list too. Or the other foods I made were just that bad, I'll never know.

Meanwhile, in a little village in East Blue a long-nosed boy tried to replicate the sweet treat and failed at it miserably - despite that he was happy with himself, because that recipe was his sister's and even if it didn't taste the same as her cooking, a little bit of her presence still lingered in it.

"Those look incredible, Rea-chan!" came the smooth voice from the kitchen door's direction. I turned around, caught in the act, and looked at Sanji sheepishly.

"Erm... sorry for intruding," I looked away, a little guilty now. Sanji just smiled at me and came closer to the table with my pancakes.

"I gave you permission to use the kitchen, didn't I? So we are good," he lit up a cigarette. I stared at him with wide, unbelieving eyes, then chuckled a little.

"Yeah, guess so. Thanks, Sanji."

The no honorifics thing surprised him a little, but didn't seem to bother him at all, so I relaxed.

"You really admire the Shitty Geezer, don't you?" he mused while helping with cleaning the tools I used for the pancakes. My eyes lit up at the mention of Zeff. I smiled midcheviously at my night-time guest.

"Don't you?"

"Mh."

I watched as he put away everything, lost in thoughts. Or memories. I didn't intended to cause any major flashbacks tonight, so I came up with an idea to enlighten the mood.

I smiled at the sous chef and I put the whole plate in front of him. I was a little worried that I didn't do good or I messed up something in the cooking process, but I was positive on this one.

"Would you like to try them? After all, you were the one who gave permission to use the kitchen."

Sanji paused, looked at the plate, then lifted his gaze at me. Wait, aren't those the heart-eyes? Weren't those just my imagination?

"Oh what a sweet thing! For a lady to offer me the food she made with such effort! Truly an angel from Heaven!" Oi, oi, I'm no angel! How the heck could I annoy Thatch to his death then?

Anyway, Sanji took a bite from my pancakes. I wondered if they were good, I didn't have time to try them myself. I was wringing my hands under the table as the blond cook savored the food. I waited patiently for the feedback.

Sanji's eyes - now instead of hearts - lit up like a christmas tree.

"Rea-chan, these are really good! So delicious~! Where did you learn that?" he asked me with mouth half full and a smile on his face.

I couldn't possibly say that 'from the internet. Oh, what's this? Well, let me explain...'

But then memories started to flash before my eyes; memories of a wonderful woman helping me reach the stove, showing me how to crack an egg, smiling at me despite the burnt parts of the food I made on my first try.

"My mom, actually," I sat down with nostalgia written over my face. Sanji did the same, although I couldn't read his expression for once. We sat there in silence, him finishing the second pancake and leaving me the other two. I ate them, but both of us remained in our seat, not making plans to sleep anytime soon.

Sanji broke the calming silence.

"Why exactly gave I permission to a beautiful lady to use the kitchen in the night?" and the flirty smirk was back from dinner.

Might as well mess with him a little bit.

"It was for my big brother," I shrugged. "We parted ways because of some circumstances, but I made him these souffle pancakes for the last few weeks. He loves them, and I kinda missed him tonight, so I thought I would feel better if I made them here."

Sanji's smirk twitched a little at the mention of a 'big brother', but remained in its place nonetheless.

"At least you could find somebody who appreciated your talents."

Oho, so that's how it is, huh?

"Yeah," I tried to fake a look into the distance. "He was strong, proud, brave, and really protective. I miss him."

Was that a 'ch' I heard?

Can't wait for the moment Sanji meets Usopp.

"Why exactly are you traveling with that bastard, if I may ask?"

I didn't know someone could be polite and rude at the same time, yet here we are.

But to put into words my reason for following Thatch? That could be a little hard... then again, it all comes back to one thought.

"Part of my dream," I beamed at him.

Sanji looked taken aback for a second, then smiled awkwardly and took a drag from his cigarette.

"Dreams, huh?"

"So, what's yours?"

"Pardon?" he looked at me with questioning eyes.

"What's your dream?" I tilted my head a little.

The two's gaze meets and from now on it is a discussion about great plans to sail the sea, the mysterious All Blue, the Grand Line and Devil Fruits, pirates, marines, and much more. It's nice, Rea thinks, as the sun starts to rise once more and life comes back to the floating restaurant.

As the girl, brave to take risks and happy with the blond gentleman on the other side of the table raises her head to the sunrise, an idea cames to her mind - a stupid idea, really, but it just might work -, and says goodbye to Sanji, meanwhile leaving the kitchen and getting to work. She will need damn good luck to pull this off.

Thatch has some... concerns, one may say.

He took a look at the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, and found his own in the back of the book - the Yami Yami no Mi. The most powerful Logia on Earth, or at least based on the book. Things are more suspicious and confusing now.

Why would Rea want that fruit? For power? Money? She is weirdly fixated on the fact that the fruit is 'bad and unsafe' in her opinion. Or that it will bring a disaster to his crew.

Thatch can't help but think back at the conversation between them on the dinghy, but he pushes back the memory hard. Traitors in Pops' crew are like cherry blossoms on a winter island. Impossible.

Still, the thought made his way into his brain and remained there, waiting for the chance to come to the surface once more.

Either way, the little girl in his boat became more interesting with that relevation. He didn't find Rea's fruit, but that was okay.

Thatch came down the stairs to find... no one in the room except those two - Patty and Carne, if he rememberes right - bringing out the tables. He had to hurry and meet up with the rest of his crew near Reverse Mountain. He already said goodbye to Zeff, and wanted to leave without making a scene. He had to hurry. So...

Where the hell was his little stowaway?

"If ya lookin' for the pretty girl, he couldn't sleep at night and snuck out to the kitchen. She's tired, so she slept in in your boat," one of them said. Thatch blinked for a few times, then thanked the two and went out the door.

As they said, Rea was in the boat, sleeping like the little sleaping beauty she is. Why couldn't she sleep at night? Oh well...

It was time to go.

The pompadoure-haired man cut the ropes that kept the boat tied to the restaurant and started sailing towards Reverse Mountain. The girl in the boat was asleep after the night-time adventure, burried in a green blanket.

Except she wasn't. And that's REALLY on the careless, goofy commander this time.

"Did he leave already?" I asked with a suprised tone.

Patty and Carne looked lost. And a little paler.

"Rea-san, didn't you say that-"

"That I will be on the boat, asleep after the tiring night?" I asked with a sweet tone and an innocent smile. The two men were really lost. "Oh well. I might as well remain here for a bit. Any tasks for me, Boss? I have experience, I was a waitress on my island for what, like three weeks now I think?" I turned to Zeff with the same crafty and mischevious smile I gave the cooks. The old man looked me in my eyes and started laughing with me.

"You're a sneaky little egglant, aren't you? Fine. All of our waiters were scared off lately. You up for the job?" He shook his head.

I shook hands with him.

"As long as we can discuss the payment," my smile went from sneaky to determined. The old man raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"I'm weak as hell, but I have to fight. I... can't use my left hand in that regard. My legs are my best bet. So, please," I got to my knees and bowed before the head chef of the Baratie to everyone's surprise. "Train me, Zeff!"

I pressed my forehead into the wooden floor as hard as I could. Because all in all, this was the only chance I got for this.

Minutes later, Zeffs smirk told everything.

After a major freak-out, an awkward meeting and a few months later, Thatch has arrived home. While telling a tale to the World's Strongest Man, his own captain and father, he couldn't help but wonder back in thought to the two devil fruits in his bag - the little, annoying, sneaky gril's and his own. When he noticed the missing presence of Rea, he couldn't do anything. He was too late and too far to turn back.

And while Whitebeard laughs and muses on the story with wise, thoughtful eyes, Thatch remembers the only note in the bag Rea left him.

The choice is yours - remember to subtract me from the equation.

~ The little menace ~