Silmeria - Thanks for being patient everyone. Enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to One Piece or Sentinel.

Chapter Eighteen: Out into the Wild Blue

Luffy's lips twisted into disapproval at the muffled arguing from behind his office door before rising from his seat and approaching the door and leaning against it with a small huff. It had been a total of six days since Nami joined their small, ragtag group and there was visible tension between the members that worried him. Of course, bringing in a new member wasn't always a smooth transition, but with what happened with Arlong, Luffy thought they would get along better. His hand reached for the doorknob before twisting it and pulling it open to see Nami and Usopp outside of his door arguing in hushed whispers, but what caught Luffy off guard was the lack of anger. If anything, the arguing was good-natured and the sight forced a sigh of relief that drew their attention towards him with sheepish looks that Luffy was quick to wave off and pull them inside his office.

"What's up with the secrecy?" Luffy was quick to call out, urging his crew into the seats that were in front of his desk. "And the arguing? I hope you two are getting along...?"

Nami and Usopp shot each other looks that Luffy was too slow was decipher before turning back to their Captain to address a small problem that Luffy fail to realize was even a problem.

"A flag?" Luffy placed his fingers on his chin in deep thought. "Do we really need one?"

"Do we really need one?" Nami repeated, incredulous. "We're Pirates, aren't we? Of course, we need one, Luffy! What kind of Pirates would be if we didn't have one."

"I...never said anything about us being Pirates, Nami." Luffy waved his hand in protest when Nami shot him a look of utter confusion. He turned to Usopp who was also looking at him with a thoughtful expression. "I never said I was a Pirate did I, Usopp?"

"Now that I think about it, Luffy, no, you never said you were a Pirate." Usopp tilted his head to the side before turning to Nami with a small smile. "I suppose with all that happened in Cocoyasi Village, we never told you what we're doing and where we going."

A look of realization stole across Nami's features and she released an amused sigh. "I guess we didn't, huh? And here we are, going back and forth about a flag like a bunch of children."

"If it makes you feel more comfortable, then I would be happy to allow a flag for our ship, but won't that make trouble? I want to get to Alabasta without hiccups."

"Oh?" Nami tilted her head and met Usopp's gaze who was quick to shrug off the question. "Alabasta is quite a ways so I don't think it's possible for us to get there without the occasional incident."

"Yeah." Usopp agreed with a shrug. "We're going to run into the Marines and Pirates and neither of them has been friendly - especially in these parts, you know?"

"I know." Luffy looked at the map with a small twist of the lips. At this rate, it would take another week to get to Alabasta and that was barring the weather conditions and the wind factors. "Do we have an estimate of how long it's going to take?"

"Two weeks due to the storm that blew us of course two days ago," Nami admitted softly. "I'm grateful that we overstocked back in Cocoyasi, or else we would have been on our last meals by now - water is good too."

Luffy opened his mouth to inquire about a quick route when a massive boom echoed throughout the office, making his heart sink to the bottom of his shoes. It would be just his luck if it was pirates.

"Let's see what's going on," Luffy ordered, grabbing his staff on the way out and to the deck where they spotted Zoro near the cannons and no ships in sight.

"We heard an explosion," Luffy explained, when Zoro meet them with a raised eyebrow when noticed they were armed. "What's going on?"

"I was testing the cannons," Zoro explained, an apologetic brush against Luffy's shields for the frightening experience. "I wanted to make sure they were in working order in case we were attacked by pirates." Zoro turned to Nami and Usopp. "Did you talk to him about the flag?"

"We did, but-what's that on the water?" Nami stepped closer to the rails, her eyes widening when she noticed two bodies waving frantically near the rocks. She turned back to Zoro, who, at this point, had realized what, or rather, who he shot at. "Did you know someone was out there when you shot those cannons?!"

"No, I-"

"Never mind, Luffy? Help me!"

Luffy wasn't surprised that the moment the two stragglers were brought on board, a fight broke out between him, Nami and Usopp and it wasn't until Zoro recognized the two stragglers that Luffy was pulled away by the scruff of his neck.

"Enough." Zoro dragged Luffy who made it a point to jab the older looking straggler in the ribs before he was handed off to Nami. "I know these two sea dogs. Everyone? Meet Johnny and Yosaku - Pirate Hunters."

"And it looks like Yosaku has a touch of scurvy," Nami announced with a bitter grin. "Nothing some good old fruits and vegetables won't cure. Johnny, why don't you stay up here and reacquainted?"

"But-"

"Aye." Johnny agreed, smile swift and eyes grateful. "Best do what the lass says, Yosaku. Don't need you passing out or dying on me for something that could easily be taken care of, eh?"

"Aye."

Once Yosaku and Nami were out of earshot, Johnny's happy demeanor shifted and turned to Zoro with a grateful, yet, mild grin. "Thanks for saving us, Zoro, even if you were responsible."

"I did apologize, but what are you doing out here? You two are a long way away from home."

"We lost the trail of a pirate we were hunting," Johnny uttered, displeasure clear in his tone. "And we lost our small ship so we were stranded on those rocks until you came along. Thanks for that by the way."

"Of course." Luffy murmured. "Despite the circumstances, we were happy to help you and your friend, Johnny." Luffy's gaze shifted to where Nami and Yosaku departed and a thoughtful frown pulled at his lips. "How long where you were guys out here?"

"A couple of days," Johnny replied with a sheepish grin. "It was a good thing that I paced it all at that restaurant, but Johnny has never been much of an eater and we ran out of food about a day or so in. As soon as Johnny's fixed up, we'll be out of your hair."

"How do you expect to be out of hair if you don't have a ship?" Luffy chuckled at the flush that dusted Yosaku's cheeks. "We can drop you off if you need it. It's no problem."

Yosaku winced at the offer before turning his back on Zoro and Luffy. "That's the thing," Johnny started. "Our ship was sunk and we were headed to the Grand Line."

Zoro's eyebrows shot up at the information. "You two thinking about hunting bigger game than what's in East Blue?"

Johnny shrugged, a solemn light entering his eyes. "We don't really have a choice. I mean, not a lot of money is made in East Blue, you know? We figured if we hit the Grand Line then we can make enough to retire and actually enjoy traveling the seas, eh?"

"Aye." Zoro returned, meeting Luffy's eyes before turning back to Yosaku. "You're more than welcome to stay with us in the meanwhile, but a question?"

"Sure."

"You wouldn't happen to know where to find a cook?" Luffy cut in as if reading Zoro's mind. "I am sorry about your friend getting scurvy, but he was an example to me and Zoro. The last thing we need is one of our crew getting it and our quality of food is lacking."

"Ah," Johnny uttered in agreement before brightening. "I might know where you can find a cook." Johnny pointed east. "Yosaku and I passed a floating restaurant - the Baratie - before we were blown out of the water. You might be able to find a cook."

"A floating restaurant?" Luffy pressed, curiosity drumming through his veins at the thought of it. "You said east of here?"

"Right, in the Sambas Region. It'll take about eight hours to make the trip, but I believe you'll find what you're looking for." Yosaku turned on his heel and headed towards the stairs that would take him below deck. "I'm going to check on Yosaku - thanks again."

As Johnny faded from earshot, Luffy turned to Zoro with a small grin. "What do you think, First Mate? Shall we see about this floating restaurant and get us a cook and a decent meal?"

"I don't see the problem with a small detour as long as it doesn't take us too far out of the way." Zoro agreed. "But, I don't know how Nami is going to take it. I mean, she's already irritated that the storm took us off course."

"She'll understand if she doesn't want to continuously cure us of scurvy," Luffy remarked. "And I'm sure she's a little tired of eating tangerines and sandwiches."

Zoro shuddered at the thought of another day of scarfing down food that was consisted of meat, bread or cheese. He missed hot soups, steaks, stir-frys, and cooked fish.

"Amen."

"Now." Luffy clapped his hands before turning to the wheel and gave it an enthusiastic spin that shifted the ship to the east. "Let's see what this Baratie is all about, hmm?"

"So." Nami began, a scant eight hours later. "You two took it upon yourselves to redirect the ship off course more than we already were and take to a restaurant that's nowhere near our initial destination?"

Luffy and Zoro sat on the deck on the ship, nursing lumps and sheepish grins as the Baratie loomed ahead, its colorful lights and smells splitting their attention.

It really was worth it.

"We need a cook." Luffy tried to rationalize, taking a cautious step closer to Zoro who shot him an amused look. "I thought about it when you were treating Yosaku and don't you want better food? Instead of eating tangerines all the time?"

"Eating tangerines all the time was the reason why we don't have scurvy, Luffy." Nami shot back, her eyes shifting to the restaurant as well before turning back to her shipmates. "I understand your reasoning, Luffy, but please, tell me next time before you make such a decision, okay? We have to take into account the weather, pirates, and marines before we set sail. What would have happened if we would have been knocked off course again? Or ran into a bad storm? We have enough food, but what would have happened if we couldn't dock? You brought me in as your navigator to think about these scenarios, correct?"

"I-" Luffy didn't think about it. At all. He didn't think about what would happen if they couldn't make it to this floating restaurant. He merely thought about his destination. "I'm sorry, Nami. It won't happen again."

"I apologize as well, Nami." Zoro looked pale and distraught at the scenarios and Luffy didn't blame him. "You're our navigator and we should have brought our objections to your attention."

"I didn't say this to make you feel guilty." Nami softened. "You two are Captain and First Mate and I merely ask that you bring your whims to my attention so that I can add them to our objectives. I see no problem with taking a detour. Life at sea isn't about the straight and narrow, it's about living at our own pace and whims and I am tired of eating tangerines." Nami turned back to the restaurant with a mild grin. "Let's go see what's on the menu."

"Ahoy there!" Luffy jumped up and waved his arms towards the crew members idling on the deck. "Permission to board and eat!"

"Luffy." Nami sighed, holding back a small chuckle at the display and was quick to grab the wheel and steer them towards the Baratie, docking with the ease of a woman who had spent her entire life at sea instead of a mere month. "I'll get Usopp and the others - go ahead without me and be careful."

"Right." Zoro wrapped an arm around Luffy's shoulders and urged him across the railing and to the deck of the Baratie. "Thank you for allowing us to board."

"Of course." the two deck-hands bowed in greeting, rising and clearing the way towards a door that leads them further in. "Welcome to the Baratie! The best restaurant in East Blue."

Luffy opened his mouth to inquire about the menu and the cook before the door that led into the restaurant was blown to splinters and a tan-skinned man stepped through with a manic grin, but that wasn't what caught Luffy's attention. No, what did was the white and gold that sat snug on the man's body.

This man was a bonafide Marine and that was the last thing Luffy wanted to see. He had no intention of fighting or instigating a fight with a Marine, but if the man-caused trouble then Luffy didn't exactly have a choice. It was either that and get no food or leave and get no food. And neither option appealed to Luffy.

So, with that thought in mind, Luffy pulled his staff off his back and approached the Marine with a manic grin of his own. So much for a peaceful meal, right?