Chapter 58

Irruption

Sanji sniffed the air with delight. As Liam had told him, in this beautiful artisanal shop in the middle of the city center, there were dozens and dozens of cheeses, each one more appetizing than the other. Judging by the number of customers crowding around him, the blond wasn't the only one to be impressed.

The scientist had discovered the place during one of his visits to the Basterl University which was located on the outskirts of the city. He had quickly spoken about it to the cook who had decided to accompany him on the occasion of his next meeting with the island's acousticians. Basterl wasn't very close but if what Liam had seen was confirmed, Sanji was ready to imagine a collaboration with the shop owners despite the distance.

At the end of the morning, the scientist had left in the direction of the campus while the blond had headed towards the store he had recommended. Liam would spend several hours over there and they had agreed to meet in front of the university entrance in the early evening. It gave the cook time to explore both the fromagerie and the whole city if he wished.

Although All Blue had animals and beautiful pastures now, no one was producing cheese on the island and Sanji was desperate to attract competent staff to further guarantee their independence in terms of supply. Yet this was a particular specialty and the blond knew it would be difficult. This was why developing a solid partnership with a cheesemaker would already be an interesting step forward.

Since Vorgo had closed its shops for All Blue, the restaurant had only been supplied according to arrivals from small cheese shops here and there but none of them had attracted the attention of the two cooks for a sustainable cooperation. Thanks to this opportunity, Sanji wanted to change the situation. Desserts had never been a problem for him and his pastries were a huge success, but offering a refined cheese platter was a must for any self-respecting menu and he hoped to be able to offer it to his customers.

As he arrived near a large immaculate display window, Sanji leaned down to observe the products. Around him, several sellers were busy advising and serving the inhabitants and he carefully examined the appearance of the cheeses arranged according to their milk and type: cow's milk, sheep's milk, goat's milk; creamy cheese, soft cheese, pressed cheese, hard cheese. The choice was huge.

They all looked equally delicious but he had to decide in order to test their quality and then, depending on the result, the owners would still have to agree to develop a partnership with All Blue knowing that in view of the number of people around him, they probably didn't need to make themselves known to make a good living.

"Is it difficult to make up your mind?"

Sanji looked up at a young dark-haired man with bright, clear eyes who was waiting for his order from the other side of the display, a questioning smile on his lips. The blond leaned towards the window display again.

"I'd like one of each type of cheese. Also give me one of each of your specialties."

"Oh. A restaurateur then." The seller nodded and looked at his products before doing so.

"I'm looking for a specialized supplier," the cook agreed, "Are the owners around?"

"Maybe," the young man replied, continuing to select the cheeses.

"Is it possible to talk to them? Of course, I wanna try their products first but let's be real, these cheeses are visually impeccable and I'm pretty sure they're of exceptional quality."

"The best in the entire region and beyond." The dark-haired man grinned. He then placed around ten cheeses in front of his customer as they arrived at the cash register. "I got you some cottage cheese and a brocciu, a camembert and a goat's cheese, some morbier and tomme, Emmental, Parmesan, blue cheese and mozzarella," the young man showed him before carefully wrapping them.

"Tomme goat?" Sanji asked.

"Tomme sheep. You asked for one of each type, didn't you?"

"That's right. I just wanted to check."

"I'll add a brous."

"A brous?" The cook wondered, "You have some?"

The seller nodded in the direction of his product. "Specialty of the house. For your aperitifs, you won't find anything better. You need to know how to cook though."

Sanji nodded, a confident smile on his lips. "Indeed. But that's my part."

"You're the cook?"

"The chef," the blond corrected.

"Cool. You seem to know your stuff."

"So are you."

The young man smiled broadly before wiping his hands on his apron then extending one of them to his customer and Sanji shook it over the counter.

"I'm Aaron. I'm the owner with my brother. We've been cheesemakers for generations in the family."

"Being a cheesemaker usually requires experience but you're young," the cook noted, surprised.

"So are you," the dark-haired man pointed out with a smirk.

"You have an astonishing choice," Sanji continued as he looked around the rest of the store.

"There's nothing surprising about it, on the contrary. We're good at what we do so all the producers send us their milk for us to work with, that's all," Aaron replied nonchalantly.

"Do you make partnerships?"

"Only with the best." Sanji raised an eyebrow and the man gave another confident smile. "It's a matter of principle. Our products are exceptional, so we pay attention to those who can serve them, so that they don't damage our reputation."

At these words, the cook felt a smile stretch his own lips. "You know the All Blue?"

"The restaurant in an ocean in the middle of the ocean? Is that you?"

"We're good at what we do," the blond confirmed.

"Says you. I've heard about it but I've never tried." Aaron smirked again, putting the cheeses into a bag.

Sanji took the time to observe him then. "Okay. Let's say that if your products suit me, I'll make you taste your own cheeses like you've never had them before and then we can talk about our agreement. Deal?"

Aaron seemed to think for a moment before nodding, visibly amused. "That's fine with me, I like it when people are ready for anything. But first, I need to talk to my brother. How long are you here for?"

"Until this evening?" Sanji suggested. 'I'm not cooking today."

"Great. Come back when it closes, he'll be here. I'll keep your cheeses refrigerated until then."

"Perfect."

Sanji finished eating a blueberry tart when the first drops of rain began to fall, staining the sheet of paper he was writing on. He had settled in a small park after strolling through the town market and he had immediately taken out his notebook to think about the recipes he would serve to the two brothers. The town of Basterl wasn't large and rather rural, some kind of good life encouraging residents to rest on the numerous benches provided in public gardens as well as along the street.

A gust of colder wind forced the blond to close his notebook. Around him, the many students who were also enjoying their break to relax got up and soon, everyone was rushing for shelter as the rain increased and thunder began to rumble in the distance.

Sanji ran a hand through his damp hair in an attempt to fix them before slipping between tables until he found a small one in the corner of the room. He had followed the crowd of young people to the nearest café to escape the rain, a trendy bar that had suddenly seen its clientele double that mid-afternoon. In view of the torrents of water which were now pouring outside, the place was full and the cook had decided to spend the next few hours there.

Setting his things down on the table, Sanji quickly beckoned to a waiter to get him a strong coffee before settling down to take out his papers and pen: he wanted to offer something that would dazzle his next suppliers at first glance so he had no time to lose.

Sanji stretched out slowly in his chair and let his gaze wander around the bar. As the hours progressed and with the students around, the atmosphere had become more festive. The dance floor had been opened in the center of the room and many young people were crowding around it, drinks in hand and smiles on their faces. The bursts of laughter and lively conversation around the tables were nice and the cook got carried away by this friendly atmosphere for a few minutes. He was satisfied. He had reflected on many dishes and although he hadn't yet completely decided which ones he would make, he knew that he could dazzle the two brothers with his recipes. Cooking was his area and he intended to use his assets to further grow All Blue.

The blond was suddenly slightly jostled by a young man with a closed face and his first instinct was to open his mouth to insult him before refraining. Indeed, the man was literally being pulled towards the dance floor by an enthusiastic young lady who had vigorously intertwined their fingers so as not to let him escape. Obviously reluctant to dance or even be here, the young man was trying to cool her ardor and Sanji immediately decided to take the young woman's side and therefore not slow her down. He just observed them, soon noticing with amusement that despite his grumpy face, the young man resigned himself when she wrapped her arms around his waist to force him to move.

Sanji picked up his pen again, a smile on his lips. Excitement and thrills from young love were palpable in the air and as the evening progressed, the blond had no doubt that several couples would form. As he finished his second cup of coffee that a lovely waitress had brought him a little earlier, he contemplated the names of the dishes he had written down on his sheet. He was lulled by the increasingly languorous rhythm of the music.

Cheese gougères. Classic but safe.

Quinoa gratin with cheddar. Interesting but it wasn't the season.

Exotic fruit cheesecake. A specialty that he mastered to perfection on the Baratie.

Slightly distracted by the cheerful atmosphere around him, Sanji looked up again and saw the couple he had previously observed. The young man was now moving awkwardly against the young lady while she beamed, visibly under the spell of seeing him make such an effort for her. After a few moments of this clumsy dance, the young woman finally placed her lips on his to thank him and Sanji could see the young man's cheeks redden from where he was. The cook then smiled fondly when he noticed the loving gaze of the man on her.

Shaking his head dreamily, the cook absentmindedly returned to his list.

Pavlova with Roquefort. Probably a little too original.

Strawberry mousse with cottage cheese. If he didn't add too much sugar, it might work.

Tiramisu with mango and fresh cheese. Perfect! The naturally sweet taste of the fruit would subtly enhance the goat cheese, Zoro would love it.

Sanji's pen slipped from his hands before rolling across the table and the blond took a second to catch it, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. What had he just imagined now?! Caught in the vision of this couple and in the atmosphere, his mind had visibly drifted to the swordsman and it was him he had thought of without even realizing it when selecting his dishes.

Sanji swallowed, his throat tight. Yes, it was him and Zoro that he had unconsciously associated with this couple on the dance floor. Zoro refusing to move and refusing to leave his swords, his face closed and arms crossed, and Sanji who would have dragged him forcefully before rewarding him with a passionate kiss.

The cook put down his pen. His hands were shaking and guilt suddenly twisted his stomach. Where was Liam? Why wasn't he the one he imagined himself dancing with? The scientist was a much more natural candidate than Zoro on every plan.

Sanji tried to snap out of it, refusing to give in to panic. In recent weeks, he had gotten really close to the dark-haired man, reminding himself every day to pay him enough attention and not to lock himself into work so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past. He inquired about the progress of his research and what he was learning from researchers. Sanji had then discovered that the man was truly inspiring when he spoke about his passion. At that moment, his eyes came alive and his entire being showed his enthusiasm, making him deeply endearing. The cook sincerely loved seeing him light up that way and he had thought it was the missing piece that he still felt in their relationship sometimes. Some sort of emptiness that he couldn't really fill.

For his part, Liam was always curious about what Sanji did with his days but also concerned about what he would need. Actually, the scientist gave him so much that Sanji had a little trouble keeping up with him sometimes. He wasn't used to being the object of such adoration. He was even still surprised, unable to grasp what the dark-haired man saw in him that could justify such fervor. And yet, despite this confusing reality, because of his selfless intentions and kindness towards him, Sanji felt his heart swell with each of Liam's attentions. Thanks to him, the blond felt loved and really respected, allowing him to open up more and more to the other man. Liam respected his pace and past relationship without expecting anything in return. He was perfect.

When they had taken the leap, the cook was aware that he had asked him a favor rather than the concrete outcome of the feelings he felt. Sanji was infinitely grateful to Liam for accepting. In this way, Sanji had been actually able to see things differently, even if they had been painful at the time. And gradually, he had gotten his bearings. He had concentrated on enjoying this relationship for what it was. Because he felt good alongside Liam. Really. His dreams of the swordsman had almost completely disappeared and when he still appeared, it was only among his other crewmates. Zoro was no longer at the center of his universe as he had been for many months. Liam had truly allowed him to breathe again.

So why was Zoro suddenly appearing today? Why did Sanji remember him in this special atmosphere? Were they just memories, some images imprinted by the force of his memory because of the passion they had shared? Would reminiscences always come back here and there?

Recovering a semblance of calm, Sanji got up and placed some berries on the table before putting away his papers and pen to head towards the door. He refused to delve any further and as he weaved between the students to get out, the blond was careful not to look up at the couple who were now kissing intensely on the dance floor, indifferent to the rest of the world. He couldn't betray Liam, even unconsciously. After everything he had done for him, the scientist simply didn't deserve it.

Sanji waved one last time at the two brothers who waved back from inside their cheese shop before turning away towards the street. The meeting had gone rather well. Adrien looked almost like his brother and the blond had had trouble distinguishing them at first. He was also just as confident about the quality of their products and demanding about the partnerships they established. Their business relied solely on them for the production so they couldn't supply much and they generally chose to work with caterers who organized one-off events. Becoming the official supplier of a restaurant would be a significant additional workload, especially since it was the All Blue whose notoriety attracted crowds.

The cook had tipped the scales in his favor by showing them the recipes he had thought about and Aaron's excitement for the novelty had ended up convincing his brother. The three young men had then reached an agreement and Sanji would return soon with his creations. The blond was leaving with plenty of other cheeses in addition to those he had already selected then.

Grabbing a cigarette that he lit without even thinking about it and his bag of cheeses under his arm, Sanji was confident about his chances of convincing the two brothers and thus setting up an unprecedented collaboration. As he walked through the still damp streets, he tried to stay focused on this interesting prospect but now that the mission was completed, his mind was once again caught up in the disturbing thoughts he had had a little earlier. Realizing that it was almost time for him to meet Liam, his uneasiness was coming back.

The blond took a long drag on his cigarette as he walked past a group of men who stared at him from a street corner. Was he going to be able to look Liam in the eye? He had the ridiculous feeling of perverting the relationship that the scientist had so generously offered him and even if he tried to convince himself otherwise, the guilt that had gripped him earlier was growing. Shaking his head vigorously to chase away his torments as he came into sight of the campus park, Sanji finally put out his cigarette and noticed a mostly dry bench not far from the university. He decided to sit while waiting for his companion and saw a newspaper not far from him, probably forgotten by a passerby.

The cook extended his arm to grab it, as much to keep his treacherous thoughts at bay as to get news of the world and keep busy. Since he was on the All Blue, he did feel like he was ignorant of the news surrounding the rest of the Grand Line. All Blue's position as well as its status was no stranger to this and even if contacts were more and more regular with the outside world, he was often too busy to pay attention.

That was why he was all the more stunned when his gaze fell on the front page of the newspaper dated several days earlier: the death of the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard alias Edward Newgate, as well as that of the Commander of his Second Fleet, Portgas D. Ace.

Sanji felt his hand become as dry as the sand on the sheet of paper as he feverishly searched for the article page. He just couldn't believe his eyes. It had to be a hoax. There was no way! Whitebeard was an Emperor in the New World and Ace was… Ace! A pirate who was worth more than five hundred million berries and promised to a future as incredible as that of his brother!

Finally finding the article but unable to focus precisely, Sanji skimmed through the story of the battle and the way the Admirals and the Warlords had put up a fight against Whitebeard's crew who had come to rescue their commander and friend. His hand literally shook when he reached the passage relating the death of the two men, the youngest wanting to protect the one he considered his father from a fatal punch which had left him with a gaping hole where his heart should be. It took two times for Sanji to be certain that he had correctly understood the events that had taken place without him having the slightest idea.

When Sanji lowered the newspaper into his lap a few moments later, in shock, he felt breathless. Ace was dead. This meant that Luffy had lost his brother. Another one. Indeed, he remembered perfectly the last time they had encountered the young man on the Grand Line. The crew had helped him get his hands on an old contract between pirates guarded by a tiny dragon. That evening, near the fire, Ace had told him, Zoro and Robin that Luffy and he had already had the misfortune of losing one of their brothers when they were children.

The blond suddenly closed his eyes, feeling his vision blur in spite of himself. The straw hat boy had boundless admiration for his big brother, he had witnessed it.

Luffy…

Luffy must have died of grief when hearing the news.

Suddenly opening his eyes, Sanji grabbed the newspaper again, terror brutally compressing his chest. Hopefully his captain and crew hadn't been caught in the heat of the war! Knowing the straw hat boy, Luffy would inevitably want to fight to avenge his brother and he could even have tried to intervene in Marineford. Sanji shivered violently as he remembered the immeasurable difference in strength that existed between the Admirals and his friends. Ace hadn't escaped it, nor had Whitebeard, so it was unrealistic to think that Luffy could take them down. The last time the blond had spoken to them was more than a year ago, but he remembered that his crewmates were struggling to keep up with the pace of the New World. There was no way they could have reached the level of an Emperor in such a short time.

The cook forced himself to swallow his anxiety to continue reading. He then noticed with relief that there was no mention of the Straw Hat Crew as he eagerly scanned through the pages. This fact soothed him a little. If something had happened to them, the World Government would obviously have told the world about it. The Straw Hats were wanted and Luffy was considered as one of the Worst Generation Pirates, so there would have been an article to report on his arrest or death at least.

At this idea, Sanji felt the taste of bile rising along his stomach into his mouth and he took a deep breath to avoid vomiting, his heart pounding. He couldn't imagine his captain's death. Of course, Luffy was probably weakened right now but his crew was with him. He just couldn't fall. Not like this. Not under these circumstances. Not when Sanji wasn't even there to defend him.

When Liam found the blond a few minutes later and he handed him the newspaper without a word, Sanji no longer thought about the guilt he felt towards the scientist. He didn't even think about Zoro anymore. His feelings and doubts were paltry compared to the distress that his captain was probably feeling at this very moment. Losing a loved-one was the greatest human tragedy and he had felt it in his flesh, just like his crewmates. Nothing was worse than realizing the absence of the one who would never come back.

At that moment, the only one he was thinking about was Luffy.

Several of these scenes were bound to happen sooner or later!

There's so much at stake everywhere but let's not rush. In the next chapter, we'll be with the crew.