Gin slowly walked toward an empty table, wobbling a bit with hunger before sitting in a chair and putting his feet up onto the table.
"I want food." he said in a grumpy voice.
"Welcome to the Baratie, ya scumbag!" Patty said with mock politeness. "How will you be paying for ya meal?"
"You take bullets?" he asked as he pointed the gun at Patty's head, causing Patty to smash him into the table.
"That's another table you've broken Patty!" Zeff yelled.
"We only take Berris asswipe!" Patty said as he cracked his knuckles. "If ya don't got money, ya don't eat!" Gin's stomach grumbled with hunger, making Patty smirk at him. "Hungry eh?"
"It's gas asshole." Gin mumbled before demanding food. Patty lost his patience with Gin before pounding him into the ground. As this happened, Luffy looked around and stopped when he saw Sanji in the kitchen making food. He smiled as Patty told the customers to enjoy their meals before throwing Gin out the back. Luffy walked out onto the ledge above Gin as he lay there mumbling something. He looked up when Sanji came out with a plate of food and a glass of water and set them down next to him.
"Eat up." Sanji said as he sat down next to the railing. Gin looked at the food with hunger in his eyes before he looked away.
"I don't want your charity. Take it and go." he said. Sanji just looked at him.
"Forget what they said. If someone's hungry, then they're a customer."
"I'm not a customer." Gin said as his stomach roared with hunger. Sanji looked to the sky in deep thought.
"It boggles the mind, the ocean." Sanji said. "How losing your food and water out here can mean death." He looked back at Gin before continuing. "I know what it's like to starve because of the sea more than anyone. If you want to die with dignity, fine. But if you eat and live, won't that give you a chance to fight for your honor in the future?" Gin's eyes widened a bit at those words. Luffy smiled as Gin took the plate and started scarfing down the food.
"Delicious. It's delicious. It's wonderful!" Gin said through his tears as he kept eating. "I'm sorry. I thought that was the end for me. I thought I was gonna die! It's too yummy!"
"It's good huh?" Sanji said with a smile as Luffy laughed before he jumped down and landed on the railing next to them both. "What are you doing kid?"
"Looking for people to join my crew." Luffy said as he looked up at Sanji. "I need a cook for my pirate crew. You wanna join Mister Cook?"
"Huh?" he and Gin said in confusion.
"You're a pirate?" Sanji asked. "Well, don't try anything stupid with this place. The owner's an ex pirate himself."
"A pirate huh?" Luffy asked, remembering what Sanji said about Zeff. Sanji explained that this restaurant was all the geezer needed in life, and that the other chefs were like pirates.
"No wonder this place is so wild." Luffy said.
"Yeah. Not a day goes by that their isn't a fight or arguement going on here. It's gotten so bad that the waiters bailed on us." Sanji continued.
"So, you in or what?" Luffy asked.
"I'll pass. I can't leave this restaurant." Sanji said.
"Really? What reason?" Luffy asked. Sanji blew out some smoke before saying that it wasn't important. Luffy just stared before he smiled. "I see. Sorry, but I don't accept."
"Don't accept? What don't you accept?" Sanji asked in annoyance.
"You're refusal. I need a cook for my pirate ship and I pick you." Luffy said as he crossed his arms.
"What?!" Sanji yelled. "Didn't you hear me? I said no, you Straw Hat bastard!"
"I'll kick your ass if you make fun of my hat!" Luffy yelled. He had this conversation before, but he still didn't like anyone to trash talk his hat.
"Hate to interrupt..." Gin said after eating his meal.
"WHAT?!" they both shouted.
"My name's Gin, a pirate of Don Krieg's fleet. You said you're a pirate kid?" he asked.
"Yeah." Luffy replied, still a little steamed at Sanji.
"What are you after?" he asked.
"One Piece!" Luffy said with a smile. "I'm heading to the Grand Line soon to go after it." He looked on as Gin looked back in utter terror.
"You can't have been searching that long." he said. "If you don't have a cook, your crew can't be that big."
"He's the fifth member." Luffy said as he pointed at Sanji.
"No I'm not!" Sanji yelled.
"Let me give you some advice kid. Stay away from the Grand Line. There are plenty of other places that you can go to." Gin said.
"I know, but One Piece is in the Grand Line, so that's where I'm going." Luffy said. "You sound like you've been there." Gin grew quiet as he stared at the ground while shaking.
"Once." he muttered. "That place...makes no sense! It was nothing but one horror after another there."
"Is that so?" Sanji said.
()()()()
"Man this food is great!" Usopp said as he, Zoro, and Nami were eating inside the restaurant while Johnny and Yosaku ate their meals on the Going Merry so others wouldn't think they were pirates. "I really hope we get a chef from here to join us."
"Yeah. It'd be great." Nami said in a quiet voice. Both of them looked at her as she stood up and left the table.
"Where are you going?" Zoro asked.
"To get some air." she said without even looking back at them. She walked out the doors and went to the back before leaning onto the rails. She sighed as she thought about her home. She remembered how Luffy offered to beat Arlong and save her island and smiled at that. She was truly touched that someone would do something like that for her. She heard sails unfurling as she looked to the left to sea Gin bowing his head at Sanji as the tiny boat he was on sailed away.
"Sanji!" bellowed Zeff. "Get back to work!" he said before he went back into the restaurant.
"Shitty old geezer." Sanji mumbled. While they walked toward the door, Luffy sensed Nami and looked to his left to see her looking back at him.
"Oh. Hey Nami!" Luffy called.
"Who?" Sanji asked as he was about to walk into the door. He looked over to see Nami as well.
"Nami. She's my navigator and friend and...where'd you go?" Luffy said before he looked back to see Sanji presenting a rose to Nami.
"It must be fate that we meet like this Miss." Sanji said.
"Oh...hello." she said in quiet voice before she turned to Luffy. "Friend of yours?"
"He's our new cook." Luffy said with a grin as he walked towards.
"I'm not your cook!" Sanji said before something clicked. "Wait. Our? As in, she's in your crew?"
"Yep." Luffy said. Sanji looked back at her before he closed his eyes.
"Fate is a cruel Mistress. To be so close, yet so far." Sanji said.
"What is he talking about Luffy?" Nami asked.
"He doesn't want to leave the restaurant, but I refused his refusal."
"That doesn't make any sense." Nami said.
"SANJI!" bellowed Zeff's voice from inside the restaurant, snapping Sanji out of his daze.
"Shitty geezer." Sanji mumbled as he walked back into the restaurant. Both Nami and Luffy watched him leave before looking at each other.
"I don't think he'll leave Luffy." Luffy only grinned.
"He will, because we're not leaving until he comes with us."
()()()()
It was awhile after Gin left and Luffy hadn't given up. He would ask Sanji to join and Sanji would refuse. Nami's mood brightened a bit watching Luffy annoy Sanji. Sanji was giving free meals to Nami after she charmed them out of him, which caused the other chefs to yell at him. Zeff and Sanji even got into a fight after Sanji refused to listen to Zeff, who told him to get out of his restaurant. Sanji told him that he wouldn't leave no matter what. This kept happening until a ship appeared on the horizon.
"DON KRIEG!" somebody shouted. Everybody looked out to see a huge galleon bearing Don Krieg's Jolly Roger. Everyone was terrified despite the fact that the galleon looked like it went through a hurricane. The galleon pulled up next to the restaurant as everything seemed to grow quiet. Footsteps could be heard as a huge man was approaching the door. The doors opened to reveal Don Krieg being held up by Gin.
"Please...I need food." Krieg said before he collapsed. Gin was asking them to bring Krieg food and that he had money this time. However, most of the chef's laughed, stating that they knew about his reputation. Krieg was bowing his head, begging for food as Gin cried for him to stop.
"Move Patty." Sanji said as he kicked Patty out of his way before placing some food and drink in front of Krieg, shocking the chefs. As Krieg ate, another chef named Carne told everyone what he knew about Krieg before Krieg finished his food and slammed his drink onto the floor.
"Sanji! DUCK!" yelled Luffy. Sanji looked confused but did anyway, leaving Krieg to swing his arm over Sanji, missing him completely before he stood up. Everyone looked back at Krieg before the customers ran out of the restaurant as Krieg looked at Luffy and Sanji.
"Nice reflexes cook." he said.
"Don Krieg! Why did you attack him?" Gin asked in shock before Krieg hurt his shoulder and dropped him to the floor as he eyed the restaurant.
"This is a nice ship. I'll take it." Krieg said with a grin. "My old ship is on the verge of sinking, so I'll be needing a new one. As for you cooks, get my men some food. I've got 100 men starving over there, so hop to it." Sanji started walking towards the kitchen, only for all the other chefs to block his path. Patty knocked Sanji to the ground before pulling out a shellfish looking cannon and shot at Krieg, asking if he wanted dessert. The smoke cleared, showing a pissed off Krieg before he stated that the dessert was terrible. He then pulled out a bunch of weapons from under his wootz steel armor and fired on the cooks. After he was finished, he began to rant about how his weapons and manpower made him the strongest.
"The strongest huh?" Luffy asked as he was shoving his face with food that the customers left in their panic. Everyone looked at him as some sweatdropped.
"How can you eat when Don Krieg is threatening to kill everyone here?!" one of the cooks shouted. Luffy just looked at them all with his cheeks puffed out with food.
"Simple." Luffy said before swallowing. "It's because I'm not scared of Krieg or his crew." Everyone froze as stiff as statues for what felt like forever.
"E...eh...EEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?" came from almost everyone on the ship. Krieg, however, looked pissed at his statement. He was about to show Luffy why he should fear him, but was stopped when a big bag was placed in front of him by Zeff.
"That's 100 meals worth of food." Zeff said. "Take it and leave." This caused the chefs to ask why Zeff gave him food.
"You're...Red Leg Zeff?!" Krieg said in quiet shock as Zeff turned and walked away. The other chefs asked why he did when that would give them the strength to fight.
"Maybe...but will it give them the will to fight?" he asked before he looked back at Krieg. "Well? Did your will survive defeat?" Krieg just stared at him as the other chefs realized what he said.
"Not even he could do it." Carne said in disbelief. "A fleet of fifty ships couldn't get through the Grand Line. Krieg's eyes widened and became bloodshot in realization that Zeff was alive. Zeff said that was correct, but he chose the life of a cook. Krieg laughed before he explained what he knew about Zeff. How his kicks turned bedrock to dust or left footprints in solid steel. How he got the name 'Red Leg' or 'Red Foot' due to his enemies blood coating his shoes. He then said it was a pity that Zeff couldn't fight anymore since he lost his leg.
"I don't need to fight. I'm a cook. As long as I have my two hands, I'll be fine. Enough talking. What is it that you want?" Zeff said. Krieg stated his desire: Zeff's logbook. Luffy asked if Zeff sailed on the Grand Line, which he knew the answer was yes. Zeff confirmed Luffy and Krieg's questions, saying that he did have a logbook of his time on the Grand Line. He also refused to give it to Krieg, stating that it was the pride of the crew he sailed with and too important to give to him. Krieg didn't like this answer at all.
"Then I'll take it by force!" Krieg stated. He went to tell them how the Grand Line did beat him, but he wouldn't give up. That he lost due to lack of knowledge about the Grand Line. That with Zeff's logbook, he'll have the information to find the One Piece and conquer the Grand Line.
"No way!" Luffy said as he walked between them all and declared loudly. "The one who will be King of the Pirates is me!" Everyone was looking at him with mixed reactions.
"Hey, back off before you make things worse kid!" Patty yelled.
"Not a chance!" Luffy said with a grin.
"What did you say kid?" Krieg asked annoyed. "I'm not in the mood for your idiocy."
"I don't care. I'm just telling you the truth." Luffy said without a trace of doubt.
"This isn't a game." Krieg said.
"I know it isn't. I'm dead serious about conquering the Grand Line." Luffy said, finally causing Krieg to lose his patience.
"Enough!" he shouted. "I lost 50 ships and almost all 5,000 of my crew after only seven days. That sea is a nightmare!"
"What? One week?!" Patty screamed.
"I'm tired of hearing you spout nonsense boy." Kried said. "If you want, I'll kill you on the spot." Luffy remained quiet as Krieg bared his hidden weapons again. Krieg then spotted Zoro and Usopp before laughing about how small his crew is.
"I've got two other members." Luffy said, causing Sanji to yell that he wasn't a part of his crew. Instead of attacking, Krieg left to feed his men, stating that he would take the ship when he did, and that if they valued their lives, they better leave. After he did, Gin began to apologize to Sanji, saying that he didn't think Krieg would do this.
"You've got no reason to apologize sailor." Zeff said, shocking the cooks. "Every cook here did what they thought was right." The other cooks started asking why he was taking Sanji's side and how it was Sanji's fault that Krieg was after the restaurant.
"YOU FOOLS DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Zeff shouted. He then went on to say how they didn't know what kind of horrible pain it is to starve. "The difference between you all and Sanji is that Sanji knows." The chefs began to wonder what he meant before Zeff spoke again. "If complaining is all you'll do, then get out." All the chefs went silent for a moment before claiming that they would stay and fight. That the Baratie was the only place they had left. Gin was asking if they lost their minds, only for Sanji to reply that now that they've been fed, he had no problem killing them. While Sanji was speaking to the other cooks, Luffy turned to Gin.
"What happened out there Gin?" he asked, getting Gin's attention. "On the Grand Line." Gin just stared at the floor as he told them what he saw. On the seventh day of their voyage, they came across a single man who, one by one, sunk Krieg's entire fleet. Needless to say, everyone was freaking out at this news. Gin then explained it was only due to a freak storm did their flagship escape.
"His eyes...sharp and murderous...were like that of a hawk." Gin said. Luffy heard Zoro react to those words as Zeff said that it could only be Hawk-Eye.
"Hawk-Eye Mihawk!" Zoro gasped.
"Sounds strong." Luffy said. "Is that someone you know Zoro?" Zoro calmed down a bit to tell them that Hawk-Eye was the man he was looking for. While everyone was talking, Luffy thought back to when Zoro and Hawk-Eye fought, which ended with Zoro losing badly. He then remembered how Hawk-Eye nearly killed him at Marineford and how good with the blade he really was. He was brought out of his thoughts when Usopp asked if they really had to go to the Grand Line. He looked back at him with a grin. "Of course we're going." he said as Zoro said that he would finally fight his rival. Sanji just told them all that they're stupid, and that idiots like them that wind up dead. While Zoro told them off, Luffy was cracking his knuckles and walking out toward the galleon.
"Hey, where are you going kid?" Gin asked.
"To fight Krieg. What else?" Luffy said.
"Are you crazy?!" Gin yelled. "Have you not seen how strong Don Krieg is?!"
"I have." Luffy said. "But he hasn't seen how strong I am." He then looked Gin straight in the eye. "Besides, I told you before, didn't I? I'm not afraid of any Krieg pirate." Gin just stared in shock, while Zeff smirked at Luffy's confidence. Everyone looked back at the galleon as they heard Krieg's men roar to life with energy. They were about to attack, only for Krieg's ship to be cut in half. Everyone was freaking out as Krieg shouted out his disbelief at what was happening. Zeff ordered someone to raise the anchor before they sunk with it. While this happened, Zoro and Usopp came out to check up on the ship, only to see Yosaku and Johnny floating in the water and crying.
"What happened?" Zoro asked. "Where's the ship?"
"I'm sorry Big Bro." Johnny said. "Big Sis Nami. She..."
"Took the ship and treasure and sailed away!" Yosaku yelled. While Zoro and Usopp yelled out in disbelief and anger at Nami, Luffy just stared off at the ship in the distance, faintly picking up on Nami with his haki.
"Nami..." Luffy muttered with a sigh. He knew why she did it, so he couldn't get angry at her. He turned to Johnny and asked where his and Yosaku's boat is.
"It's moored to the restaurant."
"Zoro. You and Usopp go after her." Luffy ordered.
"Why? Let her keep the ship. It's not worth it to keep that witch." Zoro said in annoyance. Luffy calmly stared at the far off Merry.
"She has her reasons." he said in a calm voice. Zoro just looked at him like was crazy, but agreed.
"Fine. But what about you?" Zoro asked.
"I'm gonna stay and fight these guys." Luffy said. "I like Pops here, so I'm gonna help them out." Before they could set sail, some of the Krieg pirates were freaking out.
"Don Krieg! That man is back!"
"He's come back to finish the job!"
"What? He followed us?!" Krieg shouted. Everyone turned towards the sea to see a tiny raft with two candles, each burning with an eerily green flame, sailing towards them. Even Zeff looked surprised at the sight of him as everyone saw his eyes. Yellow, cold, and murderous.
"It's him." Zoro said in shock. "He's here...Hawk-Eye!"
Sorry if it sounds a lot like the anime. Couldn't think of many things to change. Hope you like it.