A few hours later and the crew found themselves in Zou's temporary hospital as Chopper checked on Nekomamushi and Pekoms. Chopper ran around fussing and scolding people for removing bandages and moving around too much. The rest of the crew wandered about, Usopp and Franky went to discuss some new invention, while Brook and Robin went out in search of tea. Zoro was resting outside the main patient's room napping against a wall. His three swords situated between his folded legs. Meanwhile Luffy and Nami made their way over to Pekoms. His bandaged form was resting on a bed his sunglasses still perched on his nose.
They stood at the foot of Pekoms's bed and Luffy grinned at him and said, "Hey Lion-guy! Tell us about Big Mom and Sanji."
Pekoms nose scrunched up in mild surprise. He paused for a moment before he answered, "Big Mom she's one of the Yonkou as you can imagine. She marries people into her family to create alliances, nearly all of her subordinates are her children. Sanji has the Vinsmoke family name and there is no doubt Mama wishes to create an alliance between her pirates and Sanji's father the leader of the Germa 66."
Nami's head tilted in interest,"Sanji's Dad?" she questioned. "What sort of person is he? Sanji's never mentioned him before."
"I've never met him personally. But the Vinsmoke family…" Pekoms began carefully, "Well to put it simply they're a family of assassins."
"Assassins?" Nami said, her eyes widening in surprise. "I never would have guessed...Then what's all this about a tea party?"
"To put it simply Blackleg Sanji was blackmailed. You can never refuse a tea party invitation from Mama." Pekoms gruff voice answered. He shuffled a bit in his bed sitting up so he could meet the two strawhats gazes.
"Blackmail?" Luffy asked, as he casually picked his nose.
"People who have refused Mama in the past, well a box is then sent to them," Pekoms voice was low, "And when they open it they'll find the head of a loved one. It could be someone from your crew or from a certain restaurant in the East Blue, either way this is certainly what would have happened to Blackleg." Luffy's face darkened at the response. Nami let out a shocked gasp and then reached out and grabbed Luffy's arm in reassurance.
"So that's why Sanji had no choice but to go" Nami said. Well as terrible as a head in a box was at least they know Sanji hadn't left willingly, It was a larger plot that he'd had no control over Nami thought. And understanding Sanji's reasoning relieved her somewhat.
"Nami," Luffy started, his expression grim at the threat to his crew. A note of command filled his voice as he said, "I'm going alone."
"What?! No way Luffy!" Nami burst out. "There's no way you can get there on your own." Her voice was raised with her hands on her hips as she argued. She'd be damned if she was gonna let her captain go off into danger alone on their ship without her, the navigator. He'd be sunk before sunset. And she shuddered at the last memory of when Luffy went to rescue someone alone. Sanji wouldn't be another Ace. No, Nami thought she'd go with Luffy to standby him.
"But Nami," Luffy replied his face drawn into a serious expression. "Remember what Zoro said, If we all go we could be starting a war and we can't do that right now. If I go with Pekoms we can sneak in and get Sanji back."
"No Luffy," Nami said shaking her head, "Maybe we can't all go but some of us should still go with you. Me especially, I'm the navigator you'll never make it without me. And don't forget about my other title I'm the catburglar too. If anyone can help steal Sanji back it'll be me!" Nami finished with a grin.
She could see Luffy considering her argument for a minute before he replied, a grin spreading back to his face "Okay Nami you can come too!"
Then Luffy in his boundless energy was rushing out of the room. His sandaled foot had just cleared the doorway as he prepared to rush down the hall and towards the Sunny.
"Oi Luffy," Zoro said quietly from his spot on the hallway floor. His good eye was still closed but as Luffy screeched to a halt and turned towards Zoro it opened lazily. His grey eye looked up and met Luffy's grinning face.
"Shishishi." Luffy laughed, as he walked closer to Zoro. "Zoro you're here? Did you hear everything just now?"
"I did." he said simply.
"Betcha're all worried about Sanji huh?" Luffy reasoned his head bobbing, a sage look passed over his face.
"Don't make me kick your ass." Zoro replied angrily his mouth twisting into an aggressive snarl. Luffy's face passed back into his default grin.
"Luffy I'm coming with you." Zoro said, there was no room for argument in his voice.
Captain and first mate made eye contact and the world seemed to slow. The two stared at each other intently, an unworded understanding passed between them. Luffy made one small nod to Zoro, "Okay." was all he said. Then Luffy turned and his sandaled feet were running back down the hallway and away from Zoro.
Between the tempest, the heat, and Luffy's cooking Zoro was really really regretting his decision to go search for Sanji. Luffy had as captain decided to take Sanji's place in the kitchen, probably so he could steal food easier Zoro mused. But then on their first day Luffy had forgotten he left the oven on and the kitchen and a large portion of the food had turned into a blackened smokey mess. Man was the cook gonna be pissed about that when he got back.
The rest Luffy had mixed into his 'Secret Random Curry' Zoro had taken one bite and nearly spat it back out. It took all his discipline as a swordsman to swallow and reach his fork down for another bite. The rest of the group had similar looks of despair as they stared at dinner. Pekoms made some comment about being in hell while Brook prodded the jam floating in the pot with his spoon making some joke about how this would kill him if he wasn't already dead. -Skulljoke!- Nami just stared at the bubbling pot with fish floating in it and covered her nose at the smell. Chopper and Pedro had tears in their eyes as they sampled the concoction. Then they proceeded to spit the liquid out and rapidly brush their paws across their tongues to remove the flavor.
"Bunch of ingrates." Luffy grumbled as he raised a large spoonful of the curry to his mouth, "I went out of my way to make all this for you guys. Sheesh." Then he shoved the whole spoon in his mouth. Some say the resulting blech could be heard all the way back to the redline.
"We told you!" The crew said as Nami smacked the back of Luffy's head.
"Sanji would be so mad if he saw this disgusting mess." Chopper scolded.
"Fine, I guess I'll have to make us something edible," Nami said. "For 50 berries each of course." Berry symbols filled her eyes.
Nami crossed the blackened mess of the kitchen and headed towards the pantry. She flung open the door and screeched, "Luffy what happened to all the food?!" Scattered boxes and dumped bags lay all over the pantry, empty.
"Haha, well I messed up a bunch," Luffy said, rubbing the back of his head. "Cooking's a lot harder than I thought."
"You used up an entire week's worth of ratios for one meal!" Chopper, Brook, and Nami said synchronization. Looks of identical horror covered their faces as they huddled together.
"What the heck are we supposed to eat now!"Chopper screamed, "We're gonna starve! Sanji save us!"
"Would you all sit down and shut up!" Zoro yelled, from where he was still seated at the table. A vein throbbed on his forehead, as he clutched a fork in his hand. Ugh Luffy really he thought. "It's pretty apparent what we're gonna have to do. Luffy no more cooking for you," he said.
"Awww, but Zoro," Luffy whined.
"No Luffy, if you ever set foot in the kitchen again I will shove whatever burned monstrosity you make down your throat even if it kills you!" Zoro threatened, his eyes flashed at the dangerous warning.
"Nami," Zoro called, "See if you can find something left in the pantry to make this mess edible. Since we don't have much food left we can't afford to throw this out." Zoro reached his fork down and took another bite of the curry.
Author's Note: Wow I had to think really hard about who to include in the rescue party without bringing too many people, man was that tough. I really like carrot as a character but I have no confidence in being able to write her well, so sadly I left her out. And since Zoro was going somebody had to stay behind. Also I have no idea what color Zoro's eyes are supposed to be if anyone knows please let me know and I'll fix it. Next chapter should feature some Vinsmokes popping on the scene. As always read and review.
In summary this is who went and stayed:
Went: Zoro, Luffy, Nami, Chopper, Pedro, Pekoms, Brook
Stayed: Franky, Robin, Usopp, Carrot,