Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece

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"Sit down Darlin'," Buck gestured to the seat across from him, "I want you to tell me what experience you have in cooking,"

"Don't trust the information I gave Law?" I asked as I took the offered seat.

He shook his head with an amused smile, "While I trust that the captain will give me all the information I need, I've learned over my 25 years as a chef that just because a person says they can cook don't mean shit."

I let out a small whistle, "25 years as a chef?"

He nodded with a pleased smile, "That's right Darlin'. I've been a chef since I was 15."

"That means you're 40 right?" I asked and gained a nod, "What made you want to become a chef?"

"I spent most of my younger years in a kitchen watching my mom cook," He answered with a soft smile, "When I was old enough, she started teaching me and I fell in love,"

"Why become a pirate?" I asked since it didn't quite make sense.

"I was working at a bar and the captain came in with a few of the others," The man took off his black chef's hat and ran a hand through his hair, "I was cooking their food when the owner came in and handed me a bottle tellin' me to poison Captain," His fists clenched, "He told me that if I did, I would be getting a raise and part of Captain's bounty," He scowled, "Damn filthy rat,"

"What happened?" I asked and Buck smiled, "You wouldn't be here if you had poisoned Law,"

"You're right," He chuckled softly, "I tossed that bottle into the trash and finished cooking Captain's food. I sent it out. Thirty minutes later, the owner came in and raged at me for not poisoning Captain," He grinned, "He was loud enough that everyone heard him. I shouted at him in return, tellin' him that it went against everything that made me a chef to poison one of my customers," I felt my respect for the man grow, "He fired me right then and there. I left and Captain followed me out," He shook his head lightly, "Captain asked me why I hadn't followed my boss's orders and I told him that trying to poison someone on purpose was a chefs worst shame," He sighed softly, "Captain chuckled and said that he needed a chef like me on his crew,"

"He offered you a job just like that?" I asked wondering what could have been going through Law's head at that time.

"Yep," Buck laughed with a grin, "Surprised the hell out of me, but I accepted since I didn't have any other way to survive on my home island," I gave him a curious look, "I have a bit of a short fuse when my old scars act up or someone just rubs me the wrong way. My job at that bar was my last chance,"

"What about your mom?" I asked.

Buck's grin slipped and he sighed, "My mom died in a bandit attack around the time I was 16."

"Sorry," I apologized, "I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories,"

"It's fine Darlin'," He offered me a grin, "You didn't know," I offered him a sheepish smile, "Now tell me what kind of experience do you have?"

"I've worked as a baker and as a waitress," He nodded, "I've also spent time in a restaurant preparing ingredients for soups and such," I blushed slightly as I murmured, "If I try doing anything other than baking or prep work, I will most likely burn it somehow. I can burn water,"

Buck let out a laugh making my blush deepen a bit. He shook his head after a few minutes, "It's fine. I'll just have ya doing prep work and let you take over doing the desserts if you can handle it."

"I should be able to," I agreed with a smile, "So what are we going to be doing?"

Law was looking over his crews finances with a sigh and wondered how they could spend that much money on a simple one day trip. He looked up when there was a knock on his door and called out, "Come in."

The door opened to reveal Ariun carrying in a tray with his usual coffee cup and some snacks, "Buck sent me up with this stuff since he figured you'd need it."

"Set it here," He moved some of the papers out of the way and she set the tray down.

"What are you doing?" She asked looking at the papers curiously.

"The crews finances," He reached for his coffee cup, "Honestly I can't figure out how they can spend that much money on a single island in a single day,"

"Mind if I check it out?" Ariun asked looking at him with a slight frown.

Feeling curious, he handed her the papers, "Sure why not."

She immediatly began looking through them and hummed softly. He watched her as she took a seat in the chair across from him. He took a sip out of his coffee cup and reached for one of the small snacks. She spoke after a few minutes, "There's a bit of a discrepancy here," She stood up and laid the papers down in front of him before pointing at something, "The numbers aren't adding up."

He looked at the numbers and went through the calculations before realizing she was right, "You're right."

"Who did the food shopping?" Ariun asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Buck sent Shachi and Penguin to do the shopping," Law answered while wondering what the two could have possibly spent that much money on, "He and the other two chefs were doing an inventory check,"

Ariun hummed softly, "It looks like those two are planning something and the cooks are involved."

"Why's that?" Law wondered what was going through the spotted haired woman's mind.

"Why were they doing an inventory check?" She asked making his eyes widen slightly, "They should have done one before they sent someone out shopping," She shook her head, "I can't really think of anything they would be doing, but then again, I haven't known them that long," She picked up her tray and began to leave the room, "I have to go help make dinner. Have a nice afternoon Law,"

I looked up from my sketch book upon hearing the door open and found Shachi poking his head in. I gave him a raised eyebrow and he grinned, "Hey Ariun."

"Shachi," I greeted him.

"Can you help Pen and me?" He asked and gained a raised eyebrow.

"With what?" The scent of something sweet was hitting my nose.

"Hiding something," My eyes narrowed.

"Hiding what?" Shachi grinned sheepishly and moved further into the room.

Penguin followed after him and the two were carrying what could only be called party supplies. I stared at them and Penguin asked, "So mind helping us hide this stuff?"

"Why should I?" I frowned at the two, "Why do you need to hide that stuff?"

"Captain would kill us if he found us holding this stuff," Shachi explained making me give him a raised eyebrow, "His birthdays in a few days and we'll be taking a break before Reverse Mountain, so we wanted to throw him a party!"

"And why would he kill you?" The two were rather nervous.

"Captain doesn't like celebrating his birthday," Penguin explained, "But we wanted to celebrate it because it'll be his first as captain of the crew,"

I frowned at the two and debated what to do before shaking my head, "No. I will not hide that stuff."

"Why not?!" Both stared at me with misery on their faces.

"If Law doesn't want to celebrate his birthday, do not make him," I turned back to my sketchbook before sighing softly, "Kuro probably wouldn't mind hiding that stuff,"

I heard them leave and sighed again. Shutting my sketchbook, I checked to see if we were submerged. Upon finding that we were on the surface, I got off my bed and walked out of my room.

Law walked out on to the top deck and found Ariun in the same position as the night before. He walked over to her and asked, "Why are you out here?"

"I felt like enjoying the night air and it helps clear my mind," She replied with her eyes locked on the moon.

He wondered what could be bothering her since she had seemed rather happy most of the day, "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing," She shook her head lightly, "Just something reminding me of parts of my past,"

He frowned as he asked, "What happened?"

She was quiet and continued to stare at the moon. He wondered if she would answer him as the minutes passed. After a while, he thought that she wouldn't, but she chose that moment to speak, "Shachi and Penguin wish to celebrate your birthday."

He grimaced upon hearing that, "I told them that I didn't want to."

He began to plan their punishments when she spoke again, "The only reason they're doing it is because it'll be your first birthday as captain."

"I'm going to punish them, but I suppose I could allow them to celebrate," He knew that the dangers ahead would make such things almost impossible.

Ariun nodded with a frown, "Is it because the Grandline is ahead of us and we won't have time for partying?"

"Correct," He wondered how she had guessed, "How'd you know?"

"My caretakers often spoke of how difficult the Grandline was and the book's I've read only cemented that fact," She replied with a small sigh, "It's the only logical reason I could come up with,"

He nodded seeing her point, "So why did that remind you of your past?"

"I haven't celebrated my birthday since my mother was alive," She spoke in a voice so soft he could barely hear her, "It's not because people haven't wanted to, but because I just never saw the point,"

"Without family birthdays become meaningless," He murmured feeling a strange sort of kinship with Ariun.

She nodded and silence reined around them. He became lost in his thoughts and memories of birthdays spent with his family. Pain welled up in his heart. Clenching his teeth and hands, he pushed it down. He was surprised when Ariun spoke, "Kuro will most likely attempt to throw me a party on my birthday. He tries every year."

"Shachi and Penguin gave him the party supplies didn't they?" He asked to which she nodded.

"I told them that he would be willing to hide them," She admitted with a slightly sheepish smile.

He chuckled softly, "Why would you do that?"

"I felt like it," She looked at him, "You're not mad are you?"

"Not really," He admitted with a smirk, "You seem like the type to do that,"

She snorted and rolled her eyes, "Yeah right."

Silence settled between them once more.

I stretched out with a yawn as I heard, "Ariun-ya what are you doing?"

I looked at Law to see him walking out onto the main deck with Bepo. I yawned again as I answered him, "Buck and the others didn't need my help, so I thought I would come out here for awhile," I offered him a curious look as I waved at Bepo who beamed at me, "What about you?"

"I decided to try and take a nap since the weather is nice," He replied walking over near the railings, "What are you going to be doing?"

"Taking a bit of a nap as well," I admitted with a slight grin, "Sun myself mostly,"

I yawned again as I transformed into my leopard form and stretched. Law chuckled slightly as Bepo walked over to him and laid down. Law sat down and leaned back against Bepo as the bear almost immediatly fell asleep. Snorting slightly at the sight, I laid down as Law asked, "What?"

"You abuse his willingness to help you," I laid my head on my legs as my tail swished behind me lazily, "What did you do to become so close to him?"

"We've been friends for over two years," Law replied with a small shrug, "I saved him from a laboratory that was experimenting on him,"

I offered the polar bear a look of understand before yawning and closing my eyes. As I fell asleep, I murmured, "You're a good man Law. I'm happy that I've become a member of your crew."

End