10. A journey with kindred spirits

As soon as I came out of the kitchen, I heard the loud yelling of Luffy and Johnny. Nami and Kaya were examining Yosaku's condition together, checking the symptoms of scurvy. Nami wanted to speak up, but she stopped when she noticed the big jug filled with lemon juice in my hands. She raised an eyebrow, but kept silent.

"It's scurvy, right, Nami-san?" Kaya asked the orange haired girl.

"Ah, yeah. I wanted to send those two for some lemons, but I see that Rea already brought it."

Kaya giggled and looked at me. I winked playfully at her and passed the lemon juice to Luffy and Usopp, so they could give it to the swordsman on the ship's floor. I wonder how Yosaku didn't choke while the two idiots poured the whole thing in his mouth.

"Scurvy?"

"It's a disease which is mostly common on the seas. It's basically the lack of vitamin C. Lemon has a lot of that stuff, so that'll help him recover," I said and sat down next to Kaya. In my other hand I held the coffee I made while preparing the lemon juice. Thank God, this drink feels like heaven right now.

"What she said," Nami nodded. Oops. And narrowed her eyes at me. "But how exactly did you know that the guy had scurvy?"

"Future knowledge."

"Bullshit."

"You don't have to believe me," I chuckled and took a sip from my cup.

Soon, Yosaku started looking better... well, compared to what he looked like when we pulled him up from that rock Usopp shoot down earlier. Much better, I would say. Zoro's face was stoic, but I could see the worry in there. Aw, so he really cares.

I yelped when Yosaku suddenly jumped up from the place he lied on. I almost spilled my coffee, dammit.

"A little more careful, will ya?"

And then the two introduced themselves.

"It's obvious now. Diseases and food... diets and the necessary nutrients... and the ship's food supply. It's clear as the sky." Nami leaned on the table with one hand, the other was on her hips. This seems to be her 'serious' pose when it comes to the crew's problems or plans. She looked at every one of us a little bit, then back at Luffy, waiting for him to come to the conclusion himself.

Our captain sat there, nodding and with crossed arms.

"Okay, I decided. We need a cook! Oh, and a musician, since Rea can't be one right now," he said, looking disappointed. I almost stood up to ruffle his hair and apologise, but before I could do that, Luffy's face suddenly lit up with a new idea. He turned to Kaya, who blinked at the sudden attention on her, and waited, being a little stiff, for whatever the raven haired boy had to say to her. "Kaya, do you know how to sing?"

Nami's hand was faster than anything I've seen in this world until now. Oh my god.

"WOULD YOU JUST DROP THE MUSICIAN?"

And she smacked our captain across the room. Was Nami always this vicious? No, the better question - is she, and will she be? Because I don't want to sleep next to a possible threat to my life every night I go to bed on the Merry.

Just before the two swordsman would've opened their mouth, I smirked and turned toward the others in the kitchen.

"If you want a cook I know a place... and someone who can possibly fill the role of the cook. He makes the most delicious meals I've ever had in my life."

"No. Oh, no no," Usopp perked up at my words. Oho, he knew who I was gonna suggest. "Not the pervert cook, oh my god..."

As my mind wandered back to the blond cook in the restaurant, a look of fondness came over my face. Man, I really missed Sanji with all his flirting, cooking, humor, style, elegance...

AND he has good taste in music, let's not forget that. I didn't hear Jazz music since I left the Baratie. And that has to change in the near future.

"Come on, Nii-san~," I nudged Usopp a few times. He just looked back with pleading eyes. "I told you he doesn't want anything from me, he is just like that."

"Just like what?"

"A gentleman."

"HE IS A PERVERT!" my brother shouted in my face. I just laughed and pushed his arms away from my face. Luffy found our conversation funny too. This is two against one, Usopp! Victory!

"Putting this... person aside," Nami broke the two of us apart. "What is this place you mentioned?"

"I think you two know the name too, huh, Johnny-san, Yosaku-san? The restaurant on the sea..." I turned toward the two timid swordsmen. They looked at each other then smiled at me and each gave me a thumbs up.

"Of course, Rea-aneki! There is a place where you can find a cook for your ship. You'll get the best food there... In the floating restaurant, the Baratie!"

Is the dramatic pose necessary? Oh well.

Zoro became curious while cleaning his swords in the corner.

"Have you been there?"

"I worked there for a few months."

"WHAT?" came the matching response from everyone besides Usopp and Kaya.

Well, it's not like I learned the ins and outs of cooking, I just picked up a few recipes from Sanji when we had a bad night, couldn't sleep and we ran into each other by chance in the kitchen. It didn't happen often, but when it did, we talked nights and had a lot of fun. Sanji even started teaching me a few things, which I think was a big accomplishment - he didn't let just anybody touch his kitchen tools, after all. And now I can proudly make a fucking good macaron! That shit is difficult to make, I tell ya.

"Earth to Rea, do you hear us?" came the sudden voice of Kaya from behind my ears.

"Hm?"

"The others were asking why couldn't you be the cook of the ship," Kaya explained to me patiently. Oh, I must've zoned out a bit.

"Oh, I was just a waitress."

Far, far away, men with memories of torture, blood and pain shivered from the past experience. All of them swore never to come back to that place... the den of the devil herself. Searching hands, glimpses at the skirt, a wrong comment in the wrong time... yeah, they don't want to experience the results of such actions ever again. The terror they were in was beyond the human world...

All because of a simple waitress they thought they could mess with. Never again.

Meanwhile Rea thought back to the days with a fond smile on her face.

"I mean, I can make a thing or two, but if you want tasty and healthy food all the time, turning to the cooks of the Baratie is a better option."

Nami thought about what I said with her fingers on her chin and nodded.

"Yeah, that'd be the best option. Besides," she smiled at me. "Rea already knows the staff and the owner, right? That'd be a huge advantage in finding a cook too."

"What do you say, Luffy?" Zoro asked the cheerful captain.

Luffy seemed to think really hard about this matter which... I think is a sign to be afraid sometimes. The straw hatted captain moved his gaze towards me and looked intensely in my eyes.

"Can you cook meat?"

"I mean... yeah?"

"Right! Nami, we're heading to the sea restaurant! Meanwhile, Rea! I'm hungry!"

I sighed and held my hand in my palms. That was all he wanted? Oh well.

"Right, right. C'mon, Captain."

We were on our way to the Baratie. I cooked the meat for Luffy, which kept him busy for quite some time. Usopp was still sulking about Sanji.

"Why him... oh, why..."

"Relax, Usopp, he's not that bad."

Fire started burning in his eyes as he looked out to the wide sea.

"I ain't letting a pervert get close to my sister! Come at meee!"

"There, there..." Kaya was soothing her boyfriend with gentle pats on the back. She gestured towards me to just go, she will take care of my brother.

"Come at meee!"

Yeah, I thought it wiser to let the war cries and Usopp alone for now. His girlfriend will deal with them.

Meanwhile, Johnny and Yosaku wanted to catch up with their 'Aniki', so they went to the back of the ship to talk. Zoro came back with a more serious, determined expression on his face. The two must've told him about the 'hawk eyed man' being close to the restaurant.

To be fair, I was also intrigued to see Mihawk face to face. There was a weird kind of excitement in me when I tried to imagine how those sharp, dangerous eyes look in reality.

I found Nami looking at maps and compasses next to the steering wheel. Everybody else was occupied, so I sat down and we talked a little bit. I told her about my family. Sometimes it felt good, telling stories of my home to others, because while I was having flashbacks and unwanted memories, worries at night, if I told others my dearest memories, it felt nostalgic and warm, not the usual stress and panic. And Nami listened - I told her about my mom. Caring, smart, independent woman. I told her about my dad... cheerful, kind man with a good humor. My little brother, whom I always loved dearly...

What surprised me the most was the fact that when I finished my tales, Nami started talking about her family. And I listened with great interest and excitement. Because I heard stories about a beautiful, strong, loving woman and her two daughters. Nami didn't mention names, and I didn't ask. Part of it because I already knew her background and story, part of it because I felt that she wouldn't be comfortable with sharing their names now. So I listened, and we both let the memories flow.

The next moment we became aware of the fact that there were tears all across our faces.

We were crying.

Nami tried to quickly wipe away her tears. I knew better already. Bottling up emotions isn't the answer.

I reached out to her, and pulled her into my arms. Nami gasped and became rigid, but I didn't let her go. I moved so our arms touched each other, and put her head on my shoulders.

Slowly, her tears started to flow again, and after a little bit of time, we were crying silently next to each other with aching hearts. Both of us for our home and family. Because when you have someone who can understand you a litte, just a little bit, a bit from the weight on your sholders rolls down. These were the tears we shed together.

We were halfway to the Baratie now. Just a few hours away, if Nami's calculations were right.

I've been thinking about this for a while now.

"Hey hey, Captain! Could you come here for a sec?" I shouted to the man on the figurehead of our ship. Luffy stretched his arms and grabbed the planks on my right. He was here with a grin the shape of a D in record time.

"What's it, Rea?"

"Do you have some spare time?" I asked, but meanwhile was already preparing all my stuff on the floor.

"Why?"

I looked him in the eyes, matching his grin.

"I want to draw you."

The others, including Luffy himself were staring at me with questioning looks. I took out my papers from my bag and sat down. I gestured for my captain to do the same.

"Why?"

"Well, where I come from, this is quite common. And I think it's a good idea. You know when people decide to start training, or working out?" I asked, and got several nods back. "The people often do these..." I pointed at the blank paper with my pencil. "Before and After pictures."

"Before and After?" Nami asked. Kaya seemed to get my idea.

"I think I understand. This is Luffy-san's jurney's beginning, right?"

I nodded at my friend with a smile.

"It is indeed." I turned toward Luffy again. "I want to draw two drawings about you. One from now... and one from when you become the Pirate King."

My words must've been astonishing, because everybody had their jaws on the floor.

In the next second, a smirk came across Zoro's face.

"Heh. I think it's a good idea."

My eyes widened when he said that, but I quickly matched his grin, as well as the others. I looked back at my captain to see if he is down - oh boy, was he down. His eyes were wide, round and shining.

I think he liked my idea.

He sat down and I started drawing. Thin lines, dark shades for the hair, his hat on his head and the childish, cheerful smile on his face. It turned out really good, just as I imagined it to be. What excites me is the other drawing I will make.

The one about the Luffy who became the King. And oh, isn't that thought exciting? Will he change much? His expressions? His eyes? The smile on his face? Will his hair be darker, longer, shorter? It's not worth thinking about that now. What is important is the fact that I'll get to see it all.

I'm gonna go with him to the end and back. Where he wants to, where he needs to.

I'm gonna be there. This is a promise... after all, this little drawing isn't completed without its second part.

And I never leave my works incomplete.

We have arrived. Finally.

Personally, I didn't want to deal with Fullbody and his lover right now, so I remained in the girl's quarters and packed my drawing materials away. I assumed everything happened according to the canon timeline when I went out and saw two of the cooks dragging my captain away from the ship. I looked at Kaya and she nodded, so I relaxed. With a sigh, Nami put her hands on her hips.

"Okay. Let's settle down and go into the restaurant. Rea, can you guide us?"

"With pleasure, Mademoiselle~," I bowed to our navigator. Usopp and Kaya started snickering, Nami gained a few tick marks.

"The heck are you doing?"

"It's better if you get used to it now," I laughed and straightened my back again. "After we go in, you'll be bombarded with this kind of language."

The others besides Usopp and Kaya didn't get it, but oh well.

They're gonna meet Sanji sooner or later.

Usopp groaned at the thought.