Chapter 4
"I guess this must be the place." Nami said. The Straw Hats were standing in front of a white and gold painted building that was named "The White Dragon." "I love the exterior design of the place." Franky praised, pointing to the extravagant design of the "White Dragon." "Whoever did it must have put a lot of thought into it." Chopper added. "All right, time to get some meat!" Luffy joyfully yelled. Very suddenly, as Luffy walked towards the door, something went flying out the door and was about to collide with him. Luckily, Luffy had more then the necessary reflexes to dodge out the way, as the object went though a wall on the other side of the street.
"Whoa!" Cried Luffy. "What the heck was that?" Usopp asked. "I think it was a person." Robin answered. "Why in the world would they throw a person out like that?" Questioned Nami. "I guess he didn't like the service." Brook replied. As the Straw Hats were discussing what just happened, Sanji had walked to where the person had landed to see who it was and saw that the person was a naval officer. "That's a naval officer." Sanji thought. "And he just got kick out of a restaurant." Almost if on cue, Sanji was hit with a almost overwhelming sense of deja vu. "Why does this feel so familiar?" Sanji pondered. "Hey cook! We're going inside. You coming?" Zoro called. Sanji snapped out of musings and called back, "Yeah!" As he walked towords the "White Dragon", he shooked his head. "Well, no matter what happens, i'm going to find out who these guys are one way or another." Sanji thought out loud.
"Hello! Welcome to The White Dragon. Our motto is: The Customer Is Always Right!" Bruce joyfully greeted the Straw Hats. "Hey! Point me to the where the meat is!" Luffy enthusiasticly asked. "Calm down Luffy, you'll get to eat soon enough." Nami chided, as she grabbed Luffy's ear to calm him. "OWWWW! Stop pulling so hard!" Luffy cried. As Nami pulled him away, Robin came to Bruce and said, "Table for 9 please." "Table for 9? Alright, this way please." Bruce responded. As the Straw Hats were led to and sat down at their table, Bruce told them that their waitress will be here momentarily.
"I wonder who she is?" Asked Luffy. "Well, whoever she is, our pervert cook will be swooned to her, guaranteed." Zoro said. "Hey, I only fall in love with the cute ones, like Nami and Robin!" Sanji argued, as Sanji looked towards the girls with hearts in his eyes. "I just hope I can leave here with a full stomach, course, me being a skeleton, I don't have a stomach! YOHOHOHOHO!" Brook joked. "So Sanji, I heard that, before you joined the crew, you worked at restaurant. How does it feel coming to one?" Franky asked. "You know Franky, it kinda feels like i'm coming home. Just seeing the hustle and bustle of the dining room kinda makes me feel like i'm back at the Baratie." Sanji repiled sincerely. "Ahhh, that's so sweet of you to say." As the crew turned around to see who it was that said that, They saw Jessica Starlight, their waitress. "Whoa! Where did you come from?" Usopp questioned, surprised by her arrival. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frightened you. I'm Jessica Starlight and I'll be your waitress for today." As she handed out everyone's menu, Zoro sensed something was wrong. "Weird, I would have heard Sanji being head over heels for her by now, considering how attractive she is." Zoro thought. As he turned his head to see what Sanji was doing, what he saw cause him to fully understand why he didn't hear Sanij in his 'Love Sick' mode.
Sanji wasn't in his 'Love Sick' mode, he wasn't head over heels, he didn't have hearts in his eyes, hell, he didn't even say anything. All Sanji did was stared at Jessica, with a expression that said "I think I find my one true love." When Jessica was finished with handing out the menus, she noticed that Sanji was stareing at her. "Ummm...is there their something wrong sir?" she ask, hesitatingly. When she asked him, Sanji broke out of his trace. "I'm sorry, everything's fine, it's just...you look so beautiful." Sanji complimented sincerely. "Beautiful? I...T-thank you." Jessica said, blushing. "I've seen many gorgeous women, but you're...I can't describe how amazing you look." "Stop sir, you're making me blush." As this scene was playing out, the Straw Hats could couldn't believe what they were seeing. Here was Sanji, one of the biggest skirt chasers they have ever met, talking to a girl with complete and utter honesty, almost as if he knows she's the girl for him. "Um...Sanji, Why don't you let the poor woman do her job?" Nami asked. "Huh? Oh...sorry, I guess I got too much into the moment." Sanji apologized. "Oh, it's okay sir." Jessica reassured. "Please, call me Sanji." "Okay. Then you can call me Jess." "Hey, Jess! We're getting hungry over here." Franky complained. "Oh yes! What would you like to order?" Jess asked the Straw Hats. "Well, what would you suggest?" Nami inquired. "Hmmm...let's see..." Jessica began, deep in thought. After a few moments, she said, "I know! You can try my 'Garlic Shrimp Scampi.'"
"Garlic Shrimp Scampi?" Zoro asked. "Yep. It's shrimp and rice with a special garlic sauce poured over." "Jessica answered. "That's sound good. Right guys?" Chopper asked the crew. They all nodded their heads. "Alright, I'll get started then." Jessica said. As she left, Zoro instantly interrogated Sanji on what just happened. "Well Zoro, let's just said I believe I find my one true love." Sanji replied. "Yeah, how many times have I heard that one one before?" Zoro sarcastically remarked. "No, this is different, it's like...I can't explain it." "Some things don't need a explanation, Sanji." Robin said. "Sometimes, you just feel good inside, and I don't believe that needs a explanation, now does it?" Robin said. "Thank you Robin." Sanji thanked. "Jessica Starlight. What a lovely name...wait, Jessica Starlight?" Sanji thought, trying to remember something. Then it hit him. "Now I know why 'The White Dragon' sounded so familiar. I read about it in article a long time ago and the reason I remember is because the name 'Jessica Starlight' kept coming up." Sanji said. Luffy listened to the conversation with great interest, and believed he found his next crew member, but, before he can ask, he needed to test her cooking skills.
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"Bon Appéti, everyone." Jessica said sweetly. On the Table was the Straw Hats food, which consisted of yellow rice and shrimp and garlic sauce poured over. "Alright! Let's dig in!" Luffy joyfully said. As they began eating, many of the Straw Hats were pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted. "Wow, this is good." Chopper said. "Good? Jess should win a award for this." Usopp praised. As more of the gang began to praise her cooking, Jessica blushed deeply. "I don't think i'm that good." Jessica said modestly. "Are you kidding? you're just as good as Sanji!" Nami replied. Sanji himself just stayed quiet, in deep thought about the food he has eaten. Finally, he asked Jessica where does she get her garlic from. "Oh, I get it from the west blue. Why?" She asked.
"Because I noticed how the sauce had a smooth taste to it. How do you make your sauce?" When she explained how she creates her garlic sauce, Sanji nodded. "I see. Most people would take the garlic from the south blue." "That's because I noticed, when you ground them, they make a fine powder." "Is that why you chose to steam your shrimp? Usually, when I make shrimp, I just fry or grill them." "Oh, so you use cocktail or tarter sauce, then? "Actually, I just make a new sauce entirely." "Really? What sauce is that?" As Sanji and Jessica were conversing about the culinary arts, Robin watched them with a smile on her face. "Those two hit it off instantly." She said. "Of course they did. Anyone with similar interests will always connect." Zoro added. "Ahhhh..." Luffy said, satisfied with his meal. "All right. I deiced." Luffy announced. "On what Luffy?" Nami asked. "Who our new crewmember going to be." "Really? Who?" Chopper excited asked.
"Jessica!"