Today is just not my day, I almost get blown up by an imbecile, Sanji acts out more then usual, and now this... I looked back at Krieg has he finished explaining his new found interest in this ship once he realized I was here.
"That's why I need that journal. I am lost because I don't have enough information." Announced Kreig
"Keep on dreaming.. we won't let you have this restaurant." The chefs yelled, making Krieg face tighten in anger.
"Shut up! Haven't you realized the difference between you and me? I've already shown you how strong I am After I get that journal will gather more men and go back too the grande line I will acquire the One Piece, the ultimate treasure and be the greatest pirate of all." Krieg announced.
The room went icy. I doubt many of the others noticed. But my adventures on the Grand Line had run me by some people of true strength and I had not felt something like this in years. It was as if someone had let a predator into the room and it was stalking its prey. You could feel its deadly focus. I looked around. There was: the grinning idiot the hat, Sanji, Gin, the chefs, and the boy's pirate crew. Wait a second my eyes flew back to the straw hat kid, the boy wasn't grinning anymore. Instead his fists were clenched he had attracted the notice of his green haired companion was looking up from his meal. I realized that the moment he spoke, he was emitting the violent presence.
"Wait just a minute! I am the one who will become the greatest pirate! NOT YOU!" he stated hands on hips and starring down Kreig.
"KID!" the chefs gasped.
"Come back here or you'll be kill" Pati yelled at him. The boy had moved in front of Krieg.
"This is the only thing I can't conceded" he announced, smiling confidently,
"I don't have to take them back Because I speak the truth."
"This is not a joke." Krieg clarified menacingly, the kid remained unfazed. Perhaps there was more to him then I thought because he shot back
"I know!" The sound of whispering reached my ears
"Did you here that Krieg said that he couldn't get through the Grand Line. Don't be upset but I don't think we should go there." I turned and looked behind me at the table where two boys sat. His crew if I remember correctly. The one with the long nose muttered to his stoic companion. Krieg noticed as well
"You'd better shut up" the green haired warned as their captain now turned to look at them as well. The swordsman noticed his glance, and turned back to look at the straw hat boy.
"Are you going to fight? Luffy?" he asked causally before throwing one of his three swords the white one over his shoulder and asking "Need some help?" in a way that spoke nothing of lack of confidence in his captain and everything of desire to spill blood.
"You're still here?" the straw hat captain asked surprised that to see them? Why is he so shocked? "No I don't need any help, just sit there" the boy commanded them.
Krieg got over his shock during their short conversation and annoyance turned to laughter.
"Hahahahaha Are they you're crew? Only a bunch of kids?! Hahaha."
"That's not all. I also have two more." the kid said, holding up two fingers. I
"Hey! Hey why are you counting me too?" Sanji protested. It appears this youngster has his eyes set on Sanji. This is good for Sanji. He is a fool for wasting his life here. I thought slightly amused.
Kreig interrupted, apparently having enough. He was never very patient.
"Stop fooling around kid. Because I lacked for information my 5,000 men were destroyed in seven days on that evil sea. Fifty ships gone!" Hah! Krieg does not have the will to conquer that sea. No matter how much information he has, no matter how many men he has, it will destroy him. The chefs were full of disbelief and for the long nose had leaned over to the boy with the green hair and whimpered
"Did you hear that? Fifty ships were destroyed in only a week." At least his crew was not arrogant.
The green haired looked intrigued and stated
"That's so interesting." Good response kid, certainly crazy enough to make it.
"I am not kidding because I hate that. If anyone doesn't believe me I will kill them." Krieg warned.
"Listen I will give everyone a chance, think it over while I am taking this food back to my crew" grabbing the bag of food Sanji had brought. He took one last look around and said
"If you don't want to die here, just go. My crew is eating."
Chefs' faces and the face of the straw hat imbecile told me that they would all be staying. I can't leave the protection of my ship, my dream, up to this servant.
"My goal is just a journal and this ship. If you want to die I'll help you, even though it would cost me some time" then with out sparing a glance for his fallen crew member he was gone. Sanji and I could probably manage to defeat him, I might not make it but Sanji would. I set out prepared to die for my dream anyways. I glanced at Sanji He is too young to die here, despite his own feelings.
After Krieg had left, his crew member began apologizing for his captain, ridiculous, a crew member apologizing for a captain. He should not apologize for things outside his control.
"You don't have to apologize. Do not feel guilty." I interrupted him. The chefs let out a gasp of surprise. They must be surprised, I have always taught them to beat up pirates that came here.
"Everyone here does stuff for their own sake." I told him, gesturing to Sanji lying on the floor. Pati, however, had apparently heard enough.
"Zeff even you are protecting Sanji?!" he yelled incredulously, "why?" his outburst sparked the other chefs to protest as well
"Yeah, This all happened because of Sanji!"
"He wants to destroy your beloved restaurant." HAHAH They really do not understand what is in Sanji's heart. I realized. As if Sanji could ever destroy a restaurant, let alone this one. I sighed, I would have to explain to them.
"So Sanji have you come up with a plan to take Zeff's place?" one chef mocked bitterly. That's it.
"SHUT UP YOU IDIOTS!" I roared. Silence reined. How do I fix this rift between Sanji and the rest? How can I explain...
"Have you ever known the suffering of being without food or drink in the middle of the sea?"I demanded,
I heard Sanji sigh, but he did not stop me. I tried to make out his expression but his head was tilted down, shielding his eyes. My brief pause had must have given Pati enough time to regain his wits, because he began to speak again.
"Eh? what do you mean?" He asked confused. Then again maybe not. I looked around at the chefs. Confusion radiated out from the sea of faces. Krieg will be back any minute. I do not have time to explain the past, our past. I can't hold them responsible for how Sanji and I feel. I cannot ask them to pay for our dreams.
"I don't have time to talk about the past, if you want to why don't you just get out of here through the back door." I told them. There was silence again, then a murmuring and when I looked around at them, they all were clenching their serving forks and chef knives tightly. Not a single person had taken a step toward the door. Pati was the first to break the silence.
"I will stay here and fight. I won't let him attack our restaurant!" he swore. Then the others joined in as well.
"We don't have anywhere else to go."
Gin looked panicked
"You've already seen how strong Captain Krieg is. You have got to get out of here." He begged, eyes wide with fear.
Sanji spoke again, from the floor where he had landed after Krieg had sent him flying.
"Gin. I must tell you That it is my duty as a chef to give food to starving people." Sanji got up from the floor and sat on one of the empty tables, its occupants having fled long ago, I knew what he would say before he even opened his mouth. We feel the same way.
"But the man who just walked out of here is the pirate who robbed our food. So if I'm going to kill him you have no right to stop me." The look in Sanji's eyes turned deadly, as he warned
"Who ever dares to take this restaurant, even you." He said looking at Gin. "I will kill them. Understand." He asked. I could see that even Gin didn't really understand Sanji's feelings, but he saw that he could not convince him. You won't be alone Sanji. We started this dream together. I swore. I could tell that even the other chefs did not understand Sanji's words.
"You are the one who gave food to him, and now you'll kill him? What's up with you Sanji? Are you out of your mind?" Pati demanded. Nobody here understands Sanji's dream, what drives him. Sanji turned a anger glare Pati's way.
"Bastard chef, won't you mind your own business!" He growled glaring at Pati, the atmosphere grew heated. My poor boy. The intensity was broken by the sound of someone whining. I turned around and saw that the other pirates were still at the table, looking relaxed as ever, well two of them. Why are they still here, this has nothing to do with them. I would have thought that the boy would have taken this chance to escape. He wants to continue on his adventure so badly. Is he just a massive idiot? The source of the whining was the crew member with the long nose. His captain was pointing to Sanji and telling them.
"See? I told you he's a good man right?" He said from his seat on the table, pointing past me. I followed the finger to Sanji. What the hell? What is he talking about. Of all people there is no way this idiot understands what Sanji has been through. So why is he so interested in Sanji?I wondered
The long nose was arguing, no more like begging I corrected myself, with his captain.
"I don't care about him, we'd better get out of here." he whined. Huh it looks like my words did reach someone. But his two companions did not look the least bit bothered by the chefs, Krieg, or by the thought of death. In fact he realized, They seem quite relaxed and like they are enjoying themselves.
The green haired answered long nosed
"Calm down" He reassured "The enemy is a bunch of sick people." This had little effect of the long nose. They seem like quite the characters. Idiots. The serving boy chimed his agreement, slapping long nose on the back.
"Right!" He agreed with a smile. He then looked up at me and I gasped in surprise. When his eyes met mine, I was almost knocked over as I choked on the ferocity, force, and pure strength in them. Holy Shit! I had never felt anything like that before. The kid looked like kid and had the eyes of a monster. Who is this boy. He-he looks like someone who has been to the brink of death and knows what its like to claw your way back. He looks like he knows what its like to go for days with out food or water. . He looks like someone who knows what its like to fight for their dream against all odds. And is fully prepared to fight for it and win or die. I realized. The smiling expression had not changed but the black eyes held what seemed like endless pools of strength. They drew me in made me think that I could leave it up to him and he would defeat Krieg. The kind of strength that allows other to bask in the shade of it. I felt relieved when his frightful gaze moved else where, past me to lock on something behind me.
"Besides." He went on "I have to fight him, if he's that good, it'll be either him of me that will be killed." He said with a smile. I was speechless, as was everyone else. For the second time in less then a minute I found myself asking Who the hell is this kid? This Monkey D. Luffy.