Hello, again, and let's get going with another chapter of Simmer And Spice!

"Whoa, whoa, whoa..." I said, putting my hands up like I was surrendering. "What do you mean, 'not my brother'?" Sanji-Kun still had that serious look on his face. I was hoping he would hurry up and laugh already. This was getting really freaky. "Ken, I'm sorry, but it's true." He said. I felt myself begin to cry. Why was this happening? First, freaking pirates attack our ship, I see my friends get shot, and now Sanji-Kun is playing his mean pranks. My shoulders shook. "Hey, don't do that..." He said. He pulled me close to me and I rested my head on his shoulder. He stroked my hair, trying to get me to stop crying.

Sanji-kun had to be my brother! Only brothers knew how to make their little sisters stop crying in their own special way, right?

"If you're really not my brother..." I said quietly into his sleeve. "Tell me. Tell me why you lied." I could feel Sanji-Kun flinch at the word "lied."

"I wasn't lying, Ken. Not exactly, I mean." He said. "Here, well, when you came to the Baratie..."

"Sanji-Kun?" Sanji turned to Keneda, and grinned. She was in a little blue waitress dress, her long white hair in pigtails with bows, and darker blue Mary-Janes. "How does it look?" Sanji gave her a thumbs-up. "You're the best looking six year old waitress I've seen!" Keneda smiled brightly. "Yaaay!" She said, clapping her hands excitedly. She began to skip around and ran towards the kitchen. "Race! Race! Race!" She called. Sanji, always up for a chance to one-up Zeff's favorite, bolted up and dashed towards Ken. She was speedy for a little girl, but he was eleven now. He could totally win this.

"Sanji!" Surprised, Sanji tripped and fell on his face. "Ow..." When he looked up, Keneda was already gone. Crap. Zeff came up to him, and snorted. "What a klutz," he quipped. "Shut up, Geezer." Sanji spit out. "Why'd you have to go and ruin the race for, huh?" Zeff rolled his eyes. "Please, you were gonna lose anyway, brat. Anyway, we need to talk. About the girl."

"Keneda? Why? What'd she do?" Sanji asked. "Nothing. She's an excellent employee, something you should be." Sanji considered flipping this geezer the bird, but let him continue. "We've all noticed that she takes quite a liking to you. In fact, she only speaks to you, or me if she really has to."

"Yeah, so what?" Sanji asked Zeff feeling his time was being wasted extremely. "She's a kid. I'm a kid. Kids tend to stick together. Especially if there's crappy geezers and bum cooks roaming the ship." Zeff grunted, stroking his braided mustache. "That may be true, but I really think she needs to stick with you for a while. I've already got a restaurant to run. I don't have time to take care of a little girl."

"And I do?!" Sanji cried out. "In case you've forgotten, I work here too! Bussing tables, cooking...Why can't you get Patty or Carne to babysit her? I don't wanna!"

Suddenly, Sanji found himself on the floor, rubbing his cheek. He glared up at Zeff. "What the hell did you do that for, Geezer?!" Sanji growled. "One, don't you yell at me!" Zeff yelled at Sanji. "And second, have you no respect? That girl obviously needs someone to be with her! You're the only one she seems to like,,and here you are, being the asshole of all assholes!"

"I'm surprised you don't do it yourself, seeing that you love her so much!" Sanji blurted out. Zeff raised an eyebrow. "What the hell do you mean, brat?" He asked. "Ever since she got here, you've been babying her! Giving her the easy jobs, making the rest of us do extra work just so you can buy her dresses..." As he went on, he realized how stupid he sounded. He eventually shut up, not wanting to sound like a bigger idiot. Sanji stood in front of Zeff, arms crossed, scowling at the floor.

"Sanji-Kun?" Keneda's small voice said from behind him. He turned and saw her standing timidly in the doorway, nervously looking between Zeff and Sanji. "I-I'm sorry...but I accidentally knocked someone's soup down...I need help cleaning it." Sanji gave Zeff one last glance. He was reluctant, but this was what he had to do. He'd have to raise this little munchkin himself.

Sanji sighed, taking Keneda's little hand. "Come on, sis. Let's go clean that mess up."

"You guys ready to go?" Zoro-San called to us. Sanji-Kun nodded and made his way up the ramp. I held back a little. I still couldn't understand everything he had just told me, and frankly, I didn't. He was my brother, he liked it or not. "Hey, Keneda! You'd better get here fast, or the boat will leave!" Nami-San warned me. I broke from my thoughts and scrambled up to the deck. Sanji-Kun and I turned back to,our restaurant, taking in one last look at the place we once called home. I sighed, missing it already. A hand rested on my shoulder. I looked up, Sanji-Kun gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't be too sad. Just think. Once we see the Grand Line, we'll find the All Blue, and be famous cooks like we always said we'd be." I smiled back sadly, giving him a hug.

"Whoo-hoo! We finally have chefs!" Luffy exclaimed joyously, doing a little happy dance. "Now we can eat all the meat we want!"

"I think you mean to say, all the meat you want." Zoro-San said, polishing his swords. The tall skeleton man came up to me, tapping my shoulder. "Excuse me, madam. So sorry for that fright I gave you earlier." He bowed deeply. I grinned, still a tad freaked out. "Oh, it's okay! I scare easily, so-"

"now, may I see your panties? Just for a second."

I gasped and raised my leg up, smashing my foot in the skeleton's face. Sanji-Kun taught me that. "DID YOU REALLY JUST ASK ME THAT?!" I shouted, already wanting to go back to Baratie. "Haha! You aren't alone, kiddo," Nami-San said, shaking her head. "Brook is known for doing that. You could say he lacks the proper gentleman skills," Sanji-Kun turned to her and did that weird smile, which prepared me for another love sonnet. "Oh, dear, dear sea goddess!" He came to her, taking her hand. "Though the dead man lost his ability to truly love the right way, I on the other hand, am very capable of-"

"No, thanks." Nami-San said simply. I looked around at the crew. Such a variety of different people, personalities...I was gonna like it here. The little animal, a reindeer tugged on the skirt of my dress. I picked him up and cuddled him close to my face. "Oh, Chopper-Chan is so cute! And fluffy!" I cooed, and Chopper-Chan seemed to almost purring.

"Oh, Chopper?" Robin said. She grinned. "Yeah, he's our doctor."

"really?" I nuzzled my nose against his. "The sweetie deer is doctor?" Franky smiled. "Yep! We all have our roles here on this ship!"

Usopp-San jumped up excitedly. "I sense a skills montage!" He cried out. Zoro-San rolled his eyes. "What a wack." He muttered.

Heehee...Usopp is such a wack, indeed, Zoro. We will get more into each member's skills next chapter! it'll have lots of comedy and smiles, I promise! See you next chapter! ^^