Hello everybody. I've been wanting to write about this couple for a while, they're little seen but I find O-Some's character very endearing and his dynamic with Sanji cute. Disclaimer: English is not my native language, I speak it well but there may be mistakes. I'm sorry in advance.
Background of my story: I wanted to write after Luffy became the Pirate Lord and Sanji found All Blue. I used some pretty popular theories to flesh out my story including the destruction of the Red Line and the coming together of all the seas which forms All Blue. After that I imagined something that would allow the main couple to romance.
I hope you like the story, I have never ventured into erotic writing so I will see from your comments if it was well executed. I think the story will be 4 chapters or more if there is any length.
Happy reading everyone!
Chapter 1
A geisha lesson is very intense, especially since today was a crucial rehearsal. It must be perfect; her dance should represent sensuality and elegance. All his gestures must be graceful and delicate. The music played by the strings of the shamisen is fast and lively to liven up the environment, and the young geisha does not make a mistake. Sometimes she hides her face behind her fan, sometimes she tilts her head slightly towards her shoulder. She is focused when suddenly her teacher stops playing and sternly orders:
"Smile more, O-Some!"
"Yes excuse me !"
O-Some complies and offers a tender smile on his face. The teacher resumes the music and the young woman finishes rehearsing her dance. She catches her breath from the intense exercise and bows to her teacher to thank her for the lesson.
"Come closer, my child, so that I can take a look at you."
"Right away," O-Some replies, kneeling in front of the old lady.
"Your hair isn't done well enough. Your hairstyle must be perfect. Wash them well tonight and tomorrow come early, I will do them for you. Your makeup must not smudge and you must smell good. Wear the perfume I gave you."
"Yes, Rima-sensei."
"Now you can go. Eat light this evening and tomorrow morning, drink your tea and don't eat too much rice so as not to be bloated."
"Understood!"
O-Some gets up, bows and thanks the old lady again for the lesson, then leaves the dojo. Once outside, she takes a deep breath and that's when a little mouse emerges from the folds of her kimono and squeaks worriedly.
"Oh Chuji… I feel so bad…"
"Chu chu?"
"Tomorrow I have to choose a fiancé because I am old enough to get married. It's even about time according to Rima-sensei, because I'm twenty-three years old..."
"Chuuuu…"
"I should already have children..."
"Chuu chuuuu!"
"Yes, I will pull myself together. Shall will go and see mom?"
"Chuuuu!"
O-Some smiles at her little mouse, her best friend, and heads towards the Wano cemetery.
O-Some stands in prayer at his mother's grave, his pink hair in a bun fluttering lightly in the breeze. She breathes incense while Chuji, standing on the pile of offered apples, also meditates. After that, O-Some kneels in the grass for a long time, Chuji asleep on his kimono. The young woman's mother is one of the many victims of Kaido and Orochi... The famine had weakened her, but despite the illness and the shortage, she had always given to her only daughter. As she prepared to make her final journey, she advised her twelve-year-old daughter to become a geisha. Orochi respected the tradition of not touching geisha women, marrying them according to the rules and not "dirty" them. She asked him to remain discreet, to smile no matter what and to always say yes to survive. In the afterlife, she would watch over her and call someone to save Wano and her daughter.
O-Some had followed his mother's advice, smiling no matter the situation, keeping a low profile and refusing to touch the fruits offered by Orochi. At sixteen, she entered the flower capital's group of geishas. There, she met Hiyori, known as Komurasaki, who became her friend and taught her how to survive around Orochi. But when Queen, a lieutenant of Kaido, had turned his attention to her, a fool's game had begun. She had to offer her dancing skills every day, smile at him, compliment him, and keep him company during dinner. Only tradition saved her from any touching. But she knew that one day, if Queen came forward as a suitor, she wouldn't be able to refuse. Hiyori had bought time for herself, seducing Queen with her beauty, but her "orchestrated death" had ended any cover for O-Some.
Queen had returned for her, the evening of a great feast organized on Onigashima, and intended to declare his love for her. Panicked, she faked a migraine, supported by the other geishas. But as the battle raged on the island, she found herself face to face with a pirate. She had begged him not to hurt her, but the blow had landed, violent, cruel, splitting open her poor little skull and staining her pink hair with blood. It wasn't until later that night that she realized it wasn't the pirate who hit her, but Queen. Now that she thought about it, that pirate would never have hurt her.
Sangoro-san was too nice for that.
"O-Someeeeeee!"
The young woman opens her eyes and jumps at this cry filled with joy. She recognizes the voice without difficulty and smiles as Chuji jumps up and down on her lap. O-Some turns around and greets Yamato in an almost brutal hug. The new arrival is almost twice his size.
"Yamato-san, how are you?"
"I'm super excited! I finally decided it was time!"
"Time ?"
"I, Kozuki Oden, am finally going on an adventure!"
"Oh?"
"Chuuuu?"
"Luffy, the Pirate King, opened the world to us! I can see it all! No more Red Line, no more Grand Line, no more constraints! We can go anywhere now, O-Some! It is time ! Imagine, thousands of islands, giants, sky islands, underwater islands and so many things!"
O-Some laughs as Yamato continues to list all the wonders of the world, even more beautiful since his change following the great war where an alliance of Pirates, Revolutionaries, Swords and Kingdoms faced the Government. Yamato jumps around, excited more than ever, and the geisha lets herself be carried away by this joy, although her own situation catches up with her and sadness tarnishes her pretty face. Her friend notices this and is worried.
"O-Some-chan, what's wrong?"
"Nothing at all! Everything is fine!" Dhe replies, forcing a smile.
"O-Some… you can tell me everything."
The young geisha lowers her eyes, hesitating to confide, even wondering if what she feels is a problem or simply the anxiety of tomorrow. She sits back on her knees in the grass, affectionately stroking Chuji's head, visibly worried for her. Yamato takes a seat next to her and remains silent, waiting for O-Some to confide.
"Tomorrow I have to choose a fiancé."
"You don't seem to be in much of a hurry..."
"I'm twenty-three years old, I should have been married a long time ago according to Rima-sensei. So tomorrow, five suitors will present themselves to me for an engagement ceremony according to Geisha traditions."
"Have you ever seen them?"
"I met two at a festival, but we never exchanged a word."
"Why should you marry one if you don't even know them? And what about love?"
"Oh Yamato-san…"
O-Some shakes, her hands clutching her sky blue kimono, while Chuji climbs onto her shoulder to caress her cheek with his little paw. Yamato looks down, realizing that she may have been imprisoned her entire life until Luffy arrived, thus avoiding being raised as a true woman of Wano. Given O-Some's discomfort, everything seems more complicated than she thought.
"Nothing seems complicated, Yamato-san. As a wife and a Geisha, all I have to do is make my husband happy, take care of him, please him, give him beautiful children and educate them well, take care of the house, stay clean , smell good, do my hair well, keep my smile, and this is how my marriage will make me happy. A bright future awaits me, don't I? I'm going to be a happy woman so why... why do I feel so bad... why do I...
"That's not what you want, O-Some-chan."
"H-Huh…?"
"I'm not saying that you don't like being a Geisha, but you don't want to marry a man you didn't choose."
"But I will have a choice! Five men will present themselves to me for the ceremony and I will choose."
"Did you choose these five men?"
"Um... N-no... they saw me and they liked me, so they proposed to marry me."
"So you didn't choose…"
O-Some is shaking more and more, his eyes are getting wet and even Chuji's reassurance is no longer enough. Yamato sets his eyes on the grave of the young Geisha's mother, sighs, then smiles with all his teeth.
"Come with me !"
"H-huh… W-what?"
"Tomorrow, go on an adventure with me!"
"But Yamato-san, I can't! Tomorrow is my ceremony! I can't…"
"Of course you can! Everyone can. We are free to do what we want. Imagine that you discovered a passion while traveling! The world is so big, there is surely a man waiting for you somewhere, and whom you will also choose!"
Sangoro's face appears in O-Some's mind and his cheeks turn pink. She wonders where he is now, after four years, what's happening to him and how he's doing. She wants to see him again, hear his voice and taste his special soba, it was so good. Yamato's laughter snapped her out of her thoughts and she blushes even more.
"Who are you thinking of, O-Some-chan?"
"N-nobody, why...?"
"Ah ah ah! You're thinking of someone! Don't miss out on your life, not after everything we went through in Wano...come on, sail with me."
"I don't know, Yamato-san…"
"Promise me to think about it! Please…"
O-Some nods, making that promise. The two women separate and on the way home, she is already thinking about the proposal. Leave Wano and discover the world? But O-Some was neither a pirate nor a soldier, she didn't know how to fight. But Yamato was strong, she knew she would protect her. The unknown scared O-Some, but what was worse between discovering the world and staying on Wano with a man she hadn't chosen and couldn't love? What was there in the world that could convince her to leave with Yamato? The answer was so obvious when the image of Sangoro appeared once again in her head, her heart beating as hard as the day she had almost confessed her feelings to him before he left Wano to continue his adventure. Unfortunately, she didn't get a chance to say anything because Sangoro was called by his Nakama O-Robin. O-Some had smiled and said to herself that having met him was already the most beautiful thing in her life. She had watched his boat set sail with a pang in her heart, hoping to see him again one day. But he never came back and Yamato offered him a chance to maybe find him again.
The next morning, O-Some boarded the same boat as Yamato, leaving Wano and determined to taste this special and delicious soba again.
Yamato and O-Some had agreed that they would each keep a diary of their adventure. The first island had been the most exciting because it was the start of their journey, a new discovery. A small spring island which stood out for the diversity of its birds, of all shapes and colors. The two women were amazed by this wildlife and touched when the birds came to say hello and open their beaks, hoping for a treat. Chuji remained hidden in O-Some's kimono, worried about getting caught by a bird of prey. They had tasted foods they had never tried, discovered landscapes so different from Wano, a new culture, a local language and so much more. O-Some had laughed at Yamato's eccentricity, running, jumping and screaming in all directions, amazed by what she saw.
"And here is the first island of Kozuki Oden's great journey!" Yamato had shouted from the top of the hill as the sun was setting.
During their trip to the second island aboard a rich family's boat, the two friends and the little mouse exchanged their diaries, sharing their impressions of this first experience. Yamato had explained that the prefix "O-" was a form of politeness used in Wano when addressing a woman, and that they could now use their first name simply to introduce themselves. The geisha liked the idea and now addressed people as Some.
"Oden, Some and Chuji on an adventure in this new world!"
The second island had been very different from the first, much richer and very commercial. There, Some had discovered another way of dressing as a woman. Used to wearing kimonos, wearing her hair in a bun and wearing makeup in a certain way, she had discovered that a woman could wear pants, a long or short skirt, sweaters, blouses, t-shirts and many more. She could leave her hair free, braid it, make a ponytail and so on. She had bought some clothes, changing her outfit depending on the weather, and Yamato had done the same.
The third island was a winter wonderland where they discovered a variety of culinary treats centered around a food called cheese. Needless to say, the two women and Chuji made their stomachs explode several times. Yamato had loved climbing mountains before throwing himself face down on a board to descend at full speed. She had caught Some once to go down together, and the young geisha had screamed at the top of her lungs, totally terrified, but once down, she had laughed out loud.
"I told you it was great! Do you want to start again?"
"I think so, but hold me tight!"
And they started again, several times. Afterwards, they created works of art in the snow. Some had particularly worked hard to build a small igloo for Chuji. This island had brought them so much joy that the young geisha had forgotten that she had left everything behind and that the engagement ceremony had taken place without her.
And it didn't matter anymore.
They let themselves be carried by the wind, no matter which direction a boat offered, as long as it was going to a new island, they jumped on board. Since the destruction of the Red Line and the unification of the seas, all navigation had changed. The currents were no longer the same, the Log Pose still worked magnetically, but the possibilities of movement had increased. There was no longer a Calm Belt to separate the oceans, although sea monsters could still be an occasional threat, but now anyone could go anywhere.
For simplicity's sake, an island was referred to as being located "formerly in...", but the four seas no longer existed, the Grand Line and the New World were no longer hazard zones.
There was only one great sea left, one home for all, a free planet where the Pirate King and Sun God, Nika, Monkey D. Luffy, reigned as the liberator of this world.
"Are you going to tell me who is this mysterious person you think of every time you look out to sea?"
Some's face reddens, they are both leaning against the rail of a Navy ship on their way to their next destination. The night is calm and the clear sky offers a starry celestial vault. They have been traveling for several weeks now.
"Do you remember the Battle of Onigashima?"
"Hard to forget."
"I was on the island that night. Orochi had brought a group of geishas to forget Hiyori-san's death and I was one of them. Queen-sama had made advances towards me that evening and I faked a migraine so he would leave me alone. A few hours later, not far from our dojo, Queen-sama and a Straw Hat pirate fought. Queen-sama hurt me...and Sangoro-san saved me and helped me escape the fire."
Yamato is surprised by Some's story, she never knew she found herself in the middle of the battle. She understands better the small scar at the corner of her forehead that she hides under a few strands of hair. However, the first name Some mentions doesn't ring a bell.
"I don't know any Sangoro among the Straw Hats…"
"Oh, that's the name he gave himself in Wano. His real first name is Sanji."
"Aaaaah, Sanji-kun! Wow, I didn't know he saved you!"
"He also saved Chuji!"
"Why do you keep calling him Sangoro?"
"It's a habit that I've kept. But you're right, since I'm using Some and not O-Some, I might as well use his first name."
"And you want to see him again?"
A sweet smile appears on the young woman's face as she gazes at the horizon, the memory of his smile, his unique soba recipe warms her being. Chuji hops on the railing, amused by Some's expression, and Yamato waits for the answer, although she thinks she has guessed it.
"Yes, I want to see him again."
Two months of sailing and discovering the world. Yamato filled three books to describe his adventures. Some took notes too, but in a different way. She, who likes to read a lot, says to herself that she could tell her experiences in the form of stories or fables. She thinks about it a lot. This time, they are on a pirate ship, a first for Some who is a little intimidated, but Yamato is there. If anything should go wrong, in one hit she sends the ship to the bottom of the ocean. The young woman sits on the deck and reads a new book, while Yamato has a drinking contest with a member of the crew. Judging by the blush on their cheeks, the competition is well under way. Then the captain arrives and takes a little height to address his crew.
"Okay, listen to me! We are approaching the old intersection between Grand Line and Red Line, where Marie-Geoise was located."
Yamato looks up at the captain, as does Some who leaves her book. She doesn't realize that they have already come this far.
"The landscape has changed here. There is no longer a Red Line or a World Government. The remnants of the Red Line formed archipelagos, and the joining of the seas created some rather unusual currents. The intersection of ancient oceans gave rise to the center of our unique sea, which inherited the name All Blue. Prepare for the unknown."
"Yes, captain! We have to replenish our reserves, we have almost nothing left."
"And if we find treasures, we steal!"
"And I want women!"
"And I..."
"No!"
The captain's order establishes an icy silence among the crew. Even Yamato and Some are surprised. Chuji took refuge under his friend's sweater, frightened by the deep voice. No one understands why suddenly their leader refuses to do what they've always done.
"We are in one of the Straw Hats' most protected territories, and one of his lieutenants lives here. If you want to attack the Pirate King's crew, then go ahead, steal, pillage, rape, but know that I will not defend you."
The pirates turn pale as they imagine the horrible deaths that could befall them. Suffice to say that they are convinced of being as good as gold. Yamato bursts out laughing seeing the fear on their faces. She, who knows Luffy so well, knows that attacking one of his territories amounts to signing his death warrant. The captain of this boat is not that far from the truth. Some smiles as she listens to her friend's laughter. A member of Luffy's crew is on the archipelago. Maybe he could give him some information about Sanji.
Yamato and Some had separated from the pirate ship. They were walking on one of the small islands of the immense archipelago formed by Red Line. They were on a huge shipyard, this new island was built around boat building.
"Maybe I should have my own boat!" Captain Oden's boat!"
"You'll need your own crew then, Yamato-san."
"I already have two members, you and Chuji!"
"Chu Chuuuu!"
Some laughts, it's true that the three of them have been traveling together for two months now and they've experienced a lot of things together. Yamato marvels on the boats, climbing scaffolding and shouting on the deck of some of them that she, Captain Oden, would discover the whole world. However, when she is told the price of a boat, even a small one, Yamato collapses. She and Some have enough money to travel by paying board to those who take them on board, they can eat and from time to time sleep in a hotel, but in no case Yamato has enough money to buy a boat. As they continue to walk around the construction site and Yamato cries her eyes out, Some begins to think about asking for information. She approaches one of the construction sites and asks for the boss, a man of around sixty, with black and white stripes and a mustache, who introduces himself to her with a warm smile.
"Are you looking to buy a boat, my lady?"
"No, although this one looks incredible." She said, pointing to a boat structure. "Actually, I heard that a member of the Straw Hat crew is on this archipelago. Do you know where he is?"
"Yes I know. It is located at the ancient crossroads of the seas, what we now call the All Blue. The space between the islands forms an atoll there. There is a complex consisting of a huge restaurant, a bar and a few lodges on platforms and anchored boats."
"A restaurant, you say?"
"Yes. It's in the center of the archipelago, you can't miss it."
"Thank you so much !"
Some turns around and looks around for Yamato. Chuji peeks out from the collar of his blouse and squeals sweetly. The young woman smiles with happiness. When she finds her friend, she runs towards her and jumps into her arms.
"Yamato-san! Sanji is here! He has a restaurant at All Blue!"
"That's great! I was just hungry, and I can't wait to see him and ask him how Luffy is! So let's go quickly!"
"Yes!"
"Ah ah ah, you're going to see Sanji again!"
Some laughs while blushing, her heart beating madly. Finally, after four years, she was going to eat the special soba again.
Some and Yamato are sitting on a small sailboat, leaving a small island in the archipelago, and the atoll that is All Blue opens up before them. Their eyes opened wide at the marvel they discovered. The water is transparent, you can't see the bottom, but the sky is clear and the sun at its zenith, it's easy to see several metres below the surface. Thousands of fish of all colours are swimming, following a current in groups or alone. Some recognises a species of fish that normally lives in freshwater, but yet... A group of turtles passes under the sailboat and Chuji follows them, hopping from side to side.
"What is that?" Yamato yells, leaning over the edge and pointing at an animal. Some joins her and follows the direction with her gaze and her mouth opens wide discovering a being she has never seen.
The manta ray, majestic and graceful, cuts through the waters with rare elegance. Its massive body, which can reach several meters in width, seems to float in the sea depths. Its movements are fluid, propelling its dark form through the ocean currents. Its large, flattened head and deployed pectoral fins give it an imposing and impressive appearance. Its smooth skin, often speckled with distinctive patterns, reflects the silver reflections of the sun piercing through the crystal clear waters.
"It's a manta ray! They were thought to be an extinct species...and they reappeared when Red Line disappeared." Declares the captain of the sailboat.
"Amazing…"
"Whoaaaa! What is that?"
"Chuuu!"
A small otter has just jumped onto the back of the sailboat, Chuji jumps in fear and runs to hide in Some's blouse. The two women look at the new little companion. The captain takes some small shrimps in a bucket and throws them to the otter who gets a feast. Yamato starts laughing at this behavior and the otter dives back into the water. They spend the next half hour contemplating this unique ocean rich in diversity.
All Blue was by far one of the new wonders of the world.
"We're arriving at the All Blues complex! The boat in the center is the restaurant, you will eat there like never before. The bar is the platform with the parasols and all the small floating houses around are the lodges to rent. Shall I drop you off at the restaurant?"
"Yes please!"
"Some-chan is hungry~"
"Yamato-san…" Some responds, blushing while her friend bursts out laughing.
Yamato and Some enter the restaurant, the two women adopt a very different attitude. The older one is very excited and moves forward, while the other is overtaken by her shyness and hides behind her friend. They are greeted by an elegantly dressed woman, dressed in a suit consisting of a white shirt, black pants and a black jacket. She wears a black scarf tied around her neck, her pink hair is perfectly styled and held back by an equally black headband. Her royal blue eyes are intense and her smile is seductive. An aura of a femme fatale emanates from her. The two arrivals notice her particular eyebrows and Yamato immediately makes the connection, but before she says anything, the maitre d' speaks:
"Welcome to All Blue's, my name is Reiju, can I prepare a table for two for you?"
"Yes please! In the name of Some and Oden Kozuki!"
"Follow me." Reiju replies, amused by Yamato's introduction.
Reiju leads them to a table for two in the dining room. She politely pulls out the chair for Some to sit in and does the same with Yamato. She places a hot towel in front of them so they can wash their hands and announces:
"Our waitress Abby will come and take care of you."
"Reiju-san! Can you keep quiet at our table? I want to surprise Sanji-kun!"
"Of course, I will keep the secret that Oden Kozuki is present."
"Thanks!"
Reiju gives them a smile and turns around. A few minutes later, a young woman with long, plum-colored hair introduces herself. She wears a waitress outfit in the same tones as that of the maitre d', with a crisp white cloth on her forearm and a bottle of water. As she serves the two guests' drinks, she introduces herself:
"Welcome to All Blue's! My name is Abby, what can I serve you?"
"I would like langoustines from our blue coast and lobster flavored with black truffles like stuffed cabbage. And also standing spaghetti gratin and a piece of black angus beef with fermented mushroom leaves."
"Oh my! You are very hungry! How to cook beef?"
"Uh…"
"I recommend rare!"
"Let's do it like this then!"
"And for you miss?"
"Is there any Soba?"
"Oh... no, I'm sorry miss, all our dishes are on the menu. But I will pass the word on to the chef for next time!"
"Alright..." replies Some, a little disappointed. "In that case, I'll take... a semi-cooked salmon croquand with sorrel."
"I recommend it rosé."
"Okay, I trust you!"
"Shall I serve you some wine with it?"
"Do you have any sake?" Yamato asks, eyes bright with excitement.
"Koi gold? It is a sake imported from the country of Wano."
"Oh great! It reminds me of home! Right, Some-chan!"
"Yes!"
"Right away!"
Abby bows and turns around, handing her ticket to Reiju who leaves for the kitchen. A few minutes later, the waitress returns with the bottle of sake and a basket of bread, which she serves first to Some, then to Yamato. The two friends sip their drinks, soaking up the memories of their home. They discuss what they saw in the waters of All Blue when they were on the sailboat. Yamato explains the emotion she still feels after seeing the manta ray. Their conversation is interrupted by Reiju's approach.
"So, Oden-san and Some-san, I deduce from your names that you come from Wano."
"Yes! We had a hell of a trip! How did you guess?" Yamato asks.
"Sanji talks about his adventures and he mentioned a princess from Wano named Oden Kozuki."
"Ah ah! Yes it's me! Besides, Reiju-san, your eyebrows look like Sanji-kun's!
"Yamato-san… that's not something to say…" Some reprimands, blushing violently and placing his hand on his forehead.
Against all odds, Reiju laughed softly. "Good point, Yamato-san. Indeed we have the same eyebrows. Sanji is my little brother."
"I didn't know Sanji-kun had a sister!"
"And yet, when he discovered All Blue, he sent me a letter. I was surprised to receive it and it made me want to join him. He created this place. And I advise you to prepare yourself, the food is the best in the world."
"Yes, we already had the chance to eat Sanji-kun's cuisine, but given what we saw in the water on the sailboat..."
Reiju smiles more, and Abby chooses this precise moment to come back with a tray loaded with all the dishes ordered. Yamato ends up with four plates, while Some has just one. Their appetites are satisfied and, with the first stroke of the fork, they are transported into an ocean of flavour. They close their eyes, their palates light up as each mouthful offers them an explosion of exquisite and unexpected tastes. The dishes are a veritable feast for the senses, a symphony of textures and aromas that awaken an unexpected pleasure in them. Yamato savours every mouthful with infectious exhilaration, her eyes sparkling with joy as she discovers new combinations of flavours that transport her beyond the imaginable. As for Some, she savours her dish with a special delicacy, letting every note of flavour dance on her tongue, awakening buried memories and unsuspected emotions. Between each dish, they exchange knowing glances and amazed smiles, sharing the joy of this unique culinary experience.
Chuji jumps out of Some's blouse and onto the table. He approaches the plates, attracted by the tempting smell of the food. Some hands him a piece of salmon, which he devours greedily, while Yamato lets him try a piece of beef. Chuji is happy to discover new flavours and squeaks gently, which makes Some smile. Yamato fixes his gaze on her friend and decides to tease her a little.
"Are you in a hurry to see Sanji-kun?"
"I... I don't know... Y-yes...", Some stammers, blushing again.
Yamato gives her a playful little smile as Some wonders if Sanji still remembers her, or if he's forgotten her completely. Part of her wants to run away. Chuji, seeing the worried look in Some's eyes, decides to jump off the table.
"Chuji! Come back here! You're going to hurt yourself!"
But the little mouse ignores her, Yamato and Some watching her crawl between the tables and the waiters' feet. They're worried about her, every time she nearly gets trampled, their hearts miss a beat. Chuji disappears under the kitchen door. Some looked around, unsure of what to do, and suddenly there was a shrill cry from the kitchen, and the two friends feared the worst.
In the kitchen, one of the line managers has just realised that a mouse is on her cutting board and is petrified with fear. The mouse looks around and jumps onto the worktop, causing the chef to scream again. One of her clerks sees it and decides to play the hero card. He takes one of his knives and starts swinging it at the mouse. The mouse dodges the blows, squealing in fear, its speed saving it until it's trapped in a corner. The clerk raises his knife again, and this time he's about to get a hit, but his movement is stopped by a firm grip on his wrist.
"Easy, knives are for cooking, not for fighting."
"But chef! There's a mouse!"
The chef in question sets his blue eyes on the terrified mouse in the corner. However, the mouse recognised him and immediately squealed with delight. It was then that the chef made a surprised expression followed by a big smile.
"Chuji! Is that you?"
"Chu chuuuuuuu!"
"What are you doing here? Wano is far away!"
"Chuuuu!"
Right under the surprised eyes of the entire kitchen team, the chef poked the mouse's head with his index finger, eliciting a squeak of delight. He holds out his hand for it to jump on and orders everyone back to their posts, which is done in a second. He discreetly pokes his head through the porthole in the door separating the kitchen from the dining room and notices Yamato and Some. A gentle smile appears on his face and his heart warms. He puts Chuji on his shoulder and heads for his worktop. There, he prepares two dishes that aren't on his menu and the little mouse rubs her cheek affectionately.
"Reiju!"
"Yes?"
"Who's taking care of Yamato-chan and Some-chan's table?"
"Oh no... how did you know… Yamato-san, or should I say Oden Kuzuki, wanted to keep it a secret."
"Ah ah ah! That is my Yamato-chan!"
"Abby's in charge."
"Please fetch her for me."
Reiju complies and leaves the kitchen, a minute later Abby shows up.
"You need me Sanji-san?"
"For table eighteen, announce that it is offered by the chef."
"Right away !"
Abby takes the two large bowls and places them on a tray. She leaves the kitchen and heads for Yamato and Some's table. They are surprised to see food arriving when they haven't ordered any, too worried about Chuji. The waitress puts a bowl in front of each of them and says:
"A special dish courtesy of the chef. Bon appétit!"
Some bows her head, overwhelmed by a mixture of indescribable emotions. Her eyes open wide, reflecting a gleam of wonder that lights up her face. A radiant smile spreads across her lips as she contemplates her dish with palpable fascination. She takes a mouthful and a shiver of emotion runs through her body as she lets herself be carried away by this wave of deliciousness. The exquisite taste that caresses her palate reminds her of precious moments, of that warm encounter and moments of sharing.
In a burst of contagious enthusiasm, Some dives into her dish with delight, savouring every mouthful with unbridled passion. And as the feast continues, Some lets her heart fill with gratitude for this transcendent culinary experience, for these moments of pure happiness offered to her. Yamato gobbles it up too, and sighs with well-being.
"Wow, that's a great dish! What's this?"
"It's Sangoro's special soba!"
It's been dark for over an hour now, and Some and Yamato are sitting at a table on the restaurant terrace, a little way from the crowd. They're sipping warm green tea to finish off the incredible meal they've just had. The geisha has a smile stuck to her lips ever since the soba, and Yamato can't help but tease her about it. They are joined by Reiju, who arrives with a steaming cup of her own and politely asks to sit down with them.
"Have you finished working Reiju-san?" asks Yamato.
"Yes, for today. The restaurant is open twenty-four hours a day. It's one of Sanji's rules, to be ready to feed anyone at any time, but you have to sleep well, so there's a night shift. Of course, Sanji and I are on call anytime if necessary."
"This place is wonderful!" exclaims Some.
"And yet, Some-san, you've only seen the surface, if I may say so. All Blue is huge and full of secrets."
"I can't wait to find out all about it! A new chapter in the adventures of Oden!"
Reiju smiles and takes a sip of his tea. His gaze is drawn by movement towards one of the platforms of the giant boat, which is the exit from the back of the kitchens. His little brother has just come out, and he unties his apron and stretches his back, breathing in the iodised night air at the top of his lungs. As he takes his packet of cigarettes and lighter out of his pocket, his sister calls out to him. He turns towards her but doesn't have time to do anything as Yamato jumps into his arms.
"Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"
"Yamato-chan!" he replies enthusiastically.
Sanji's eyes turn into little hearts, happy to be hugged by a woman, although Yamato behaves more like Oden. They enjoy the embrace until Chuji appears, still on the cook's shoulder.
"Chuji! You're all right now! We were worried about you!"
"Chu chu chuuu!" replied the little mouse.
"He's fine, he kept me company for the rest of the shift. But I think Some-chan must be worried."
Yamato nods as she lets go of Sanji and they both head towards the table where Reiju and Some are still seated. Sanji holds out his hand so that Chuji can jump on top of its friend, and she sighs with relief knowing that her little companion is all right. She then looks up and meets Sanji's gentle smile, which makes her blush violently.
"Some-chan, you've come a long way since Wano!"
"Yes, Yamato-san asked me to accompany her on his adventure."
"Oh, so you've travelled a long way?"
"You've no idea, Sanji! We've discovered so many islands!"
"I can't wait to hear all about it, the night's just beginning after all."
They sat down at the table and Yamato began her long story. She mentions Wano's departure and tells of their first trip on a merchant ship. She explains that Some had been very ill on that voyage, but that afterwards she had become accustomed to the sea. She tells of the first island with all the birds, and Sanji is so fascinated by the description of the birds that he doesn't realise his cigarette is burning itself between his lips. Yamato details all the types of boats they have travelled on: merchants, nobles, marines, pirates and others. She tells how they have discovered different ways of speaking the same language and how they have tried to learn about other cultures, by buying new clothes, wearing their hair in a different way and adapting their behaviour. Reiju listens with a tender smile, everything they say is full of excitement and happiness. They are like little girls who have discovered the outside world.
Some took care to tell Sanji in detail what they had eaten on the winter island. She explains as best she can all the variations of cheese: their colour, their smell, their taste, their consistency, how they are used, and the cook listens with fascination, making mental notes for future recipes. Reiju caught the pink in Some's cheeks and the stars in his eyes when she noticed that Sanji was captivated by what she was saying. The elder Vinsmoke can't help but smirk, wondering where this pretty young geisha came from.
Yamato recounts the few islands in the Red Line archipelago that they have visited and how the people explain that the landscape has changed completely. Reiju intervenes, explaining that they haven't seen everything yet. The archipelago is more or less around the world like Red Line used to be, but the major changes are that Marie-Geoise no longer exists, the new Navy HQ is still in the same place but it's easier to get to. Reiju mentions that Reverse Mountain is gone and that what used to be the access to the Grand Line is a souvenir, as the seas no longer have the same configuration. Listening to the description, Yamato asks a question that's been nagging at her for a while.
"So what about Laugh Tale?" Can we easily go there now?"
"Yes and no." Sanji replies. "It's true that you no longer need to cross the entire Grand Line to get there, but the island still remains difficult to access. You must always have access to the four road poneglyphs and decipher the coordinates. Us, the Straw Hats', and other crews who have already had access to the island, have agreed to take anyone who wishes to visit it, but at their own risk."
"Why is that?"
"The island remains quite special, Yamato-chan. It is made of magic and knowledge that goes beyond what humans are capable of believing. Some people are not yet ready to know truths, you have to be open-minded and manage to believe in the impossible."
"So we can go on Laugh Tale, but it's better to go with someone who's been there before and be prepared to be turned upside down."
"Exactly."
"Incredible… I want to go there even more! I'll ask Luffy to guide me there! And I will tell this in my adventure journal how the Pirate King showed Laugh Tale to Oden Kozuki!"
Some laughs at Yamato's enthusiasm, she too is piqued with curiosity about Laugh Tale, the famous last island which launched the golden age of piracy, where One Piece had slept, waiting for its time. Ready to be found by Monkey D. Luffy. The conversation continues for hours and Some ends up mentioning his passion for reading.
"There is a large library on one of the islands in the archipelago, it's about an hour's sail from here Some-san. I'll show you the direction tomorrow if you want."
"Yes it would be my pleasure. Yamato-san, we need to find a place to sleep tonight."
"Take one of the lodges, there's this one available," Sanji points out to one of the small floating houses near the restaurant. "I invite you, stay as long as you want."
"So cool, thank you Sanji."
Reiju also tells them where she and Sanji are staying in case there's a problem. Yamato starts to yawn, it's well into the night and she wouldn't say no to a nice soft bed. The elder Vinsmoke gets up and guides them to their residence for the night. Before leaving the restaurant terrace, Some is called by Sanji. She turns round and meets his charming smile.
"I'm glad to hear you're well Some-chan!"
Some's cheeks flush red once again, her shyness causing the words to die in her throat and the only response she can muster is to bow politely before catching up with Yamato, her heart racing. But the truth is, she's happy to know that Sanji remembers her to the extent that he made her the special soba without exchanging a word beforehand. He hasn't forgotten her and he's even happy to see her.
After four years, she had finally found him.
"Ahhhhh I slept so well! These beds are incredible!"
"Yes, I slept really well too, Yamato-san."
"You know what I want to do?"
"What?"
"Dive into the waters of All Blue!"
Yamato had barely finished her sentence when she left the room, wearing just a mawashi* and jumped into the sea. Some tries to stop her, but to no avail. She slips on a light kimono over her nightwear and runs out onto the terrace of her floating cottage, looking around for her friend. Yamato rises to the surface, taking a deep breath of air, and turns to Some.
"It's incredible, Some-chan! You've got to see this!"
"Yes, but Yamato, there are people!"
"Hello Some-chan! I'm bringing breakfast to these wonderful doves!"
Some is startled by Sanji's arrival in a Sky walk on the terrace of her cottage. He's carrying a tray on his hand with several dishes for a royal breakfast. Enchanted by this, Yamato emerges from the water and her near nudity is revealed to the other two. Some puts her hand over her face, annoyed by her friend's lack of modesty, while Sanji suddenly freezes. A few seconds pass without the cook moving before a huge nosebleed sends him flying into the ocean. Yamato shrieks in surprise at this phenomenon and catches the tray of food in a hurry. The sound of Sanji diving has alerted a few cooks passing by and they dive in, saving their chef from drowning and potential anaemia.
"Yamato-san, I think you'd better get dressed..."
"Yes, I forgot I could be seen."
After getting dressed, Yamato joins Some and Chuji at the table in their flat and happily stuffs herself on the breakfast prepared by Sanji. She asks her friend if she'd like to visit the library today, and Some replies that it could be an idea, but that she'd also like to visit other islands in the archipelago with her. Yamato is delighted with the offer and suggests going there just after lunch. Some agrees and leaves her to find a sailboat to leave the All Blue atoll. Meanwhile, after dressing in a white dress with thin straps embroidered with daisy motifs, she heads for the restaurant. There are few customers at this early hour and she is greeted by Reiju, who offers her a smile.
"Yamato and I are going to visit some of the other islands in the archipelago, is Sanji-kun there?"
"Yes, he's in the kitchen. It's pretty quiet so I think he's got time to talk a bit."
"Thank you Reiju-san."
Some makes her way timidly towards the hinged door with the porthole. As she enters the kitchen, her heart races and she easily finds a blonde-haired man among the other cooks. Sanji notices the young woman's presence and his eyes turn into little hearts. He twirls and turns towards her, completely under Some's beauty. His attitude doesn't even surprise his team, who are already used to their chef's obsession with women.
"Some-chan! ~ To what do I owe this visit from my delicate flower?"
"I-I... I wanted to thank you for breakfast!"
"Don't mantion it, it's perfectly normal! Are you going for a walk?"
"Yes, we're going to visit the archipelago with Yamato-san, we'll be back this evening."
"OK, I'll make you some soba for tonight."
Some's eyes filled with stars at the mention of the word soba and she smiled broadly.
"I'd love to eat Sangoro-san's special soba!"
"Oh, I'd forgotten that name!"
They exchange a little laugh before Some leaves the kitchen to catch up with Yamato. She passes Reiju and greets her politely, and the elder Vinsmoke smiles mischievously. Since the arrival of the two Wano's women, she has a feeling that things are about to get very interesting, and she promises herself that she will keep a close eye on her little brother.
A week goes by. The days at All Blue are filled with discovery and adventure. Every morning, Some wakes up with a passion for reading, diving into the pages of captivating books she has discovered in the archipelago library. Meanwhile, in the ship's bustling galley, Sanji deploys all his talent as a chef to delight the taste buds of his guests. Some, curious but inexperienced about cooking, sometimes spends late evenings in the galley watching Sanji's skilful work. She is fascinated by the way he handles knives with surgical precision and mixes ingredients with astonishing dexterity, creating dishes that are veritable works of culinary art.
Some witnesses Yamato's enthusiasm as they explore the various islands of the archipelago. They explore every nook and cranny, discovering magnificent landscapes, diverse cultures and welcoming inhabitants. With each new island, they immerse themselves in its unique atmosphere, traditions and mysteries. In the evenings, they write about their adventures in their diaries, passionately describing the encounters they make, the stories they hear and the natural wonders they discover. Each story is full of wonder and excitement.
Sanji, true to himself, gives himself body and soul to please all the women they come across. Every morning, he brings breakfast to Yamato and Some's lodge. He twirls in all directions and turns very romantic when one of his waitresses says hello or compliments his cooking. Unlike Zeff, he agreed to have women in his ranks, although he certainly does not behave the same way with men. He doesn't hesitate to hit his male clerks with one of his powerful kicks when they make a mistake, while he chivalrously runs to the women to explain what they are doing wrong. He earned a reputation as a meticulous, perfectionist and perverse chef, but his kind and caring personality charmed everyone who worked with him.
One evening, as they are getting ready to sleep, Yamato speaks to Some.
"Some-chan, I've seen most of the islands around All Blue, and this place is by far one of the most beautiful we've visited, but I'm thinking of continuing my journey tomorrow and leaving aboard a boat."
"Oh already! I think there are still things to see and Sanji-kun said we can stay as long as we want..."
Yamato laughs and turns on her side, she stares at Some while stroking the head of Chuji who came to play next to her. Then with a serious voice, she continues:
"Some-chan...I saw that you were spending time at the library on the nearby island and also that you were starting to scribble in a different notebook than your journal. Do you like to write?"
"Yes, I like it. I think I would like to write books, I don't know what kind but it's an idea."
"And I can see that you want to stay here."
"W-what… ?"
Some blushes as Yamato's smile grows even bigger.
"Do you want to stay here Some-chan?"
"I... I don't know... I like being with you."
"I will write you letters! And you will send me your first book."
The young geisha lowers her eyes, she does not want to show that she is thinking about the proposal. She loves Yamato, she loves her dearly and traveling with her is the best thing that ever happened to her. Yamato saved her from an oppressive situation, but at the same time, here in All Blue, there was Sanji. She bites her lips, not knowing what to do, that's when her friend's voice makes her make her decision.
"Promise me one thing Some-chan."
"Huh?"
"Leaving Wano like you did was harder than anything and you had that courage. So promise me you'll talk to Sanji. He's a good man, he's kind and I know you chose him."
Some turns crimson but Yamato's words touch her. She suspects that her friend has understood the feelings she has for the cook. While her shyness makes her hide under her pillow, she promises Yamato that she will, that she will approach Sanji. They fell asleep after talking for part of the night and the next day, Yamato and Some separated.
"Reiju-san."
"Hello Some-chan! Haven't you been feeling lonely for the last couple of days?"
"No, it's okay. You are there. But I... I'm a little embarrassed."
"About what ?"
"You and Sanji-kun offer me invaluable hospitality and I wish I could pay for the room I use and the food I eat. Plus, I'm starting to run out of money for the ride to the library, so I... I wanted to know if it's possible to work."
Reiju offers her a sincere smile before nodding, she holds out her hand and leads her into the waitresses' locker room. There, she takes her measurements and finds her an outfit that fits her.
"I'm going to teach you the trade. I understand you can dance too ?"
"Er... Y-yes. Well, traditional Wano dances, practised by geishas."
"That's great, you can offer your little dances in the restaurant with the other dancers and teach them what you know."
"I can try."
The maitre d' offers her a reassuring smile and lets her change before spending the day with her to teach her the waitressing trade. She finds that Some learns very quickly; she may not be able to carry much at once, but she quickly memorises the dishes, writes the orders on the tickets and, thanks to her geisha upbringing, her forms of politeness are very well developed. Reiju teaches her what to serve first and how to pour the wine, remember to ask for the dishes to be cooked and how to walk around the room so as not to get in the way of other waiters. Every time she enters the kitchen to pick up a dish, Sanji melts in front of her, her waitress outfit making him all perky. Her first days as a waitress were shy, but she soon got the hang of things and became efficient. Some even begins to make friends with the other waiters and cooks, who come from all over the world and share new things at every meal.
In particular, Some befriends a very talented line cook, Sanji's second-in-command, called Cosette. The young woman with the long brown hair has a gentle personality, but her cooking is full of character. The geisha senses that she is fascinated by Sanji, but in a platonic way, as she has recently met a man who works as a fisherman in All Blue Atoll.
On the third night of hes new job, Sanji decides to make his kitchen revolve around Wano's dishes: soba, meat skewers, rice balls and sake are on the menu. Some finds the perfect opportunity to don one of her kimonos and take to the restaurant stage to dance the night away. While he's cooking, Sanji turns his head towards the kitchen door and catches sight of Some dancing. Without realising it, he stops what he's doing, the eggs he was supposed to beat remain liquid in the bowl. He contemplates Some's graceful movements, her body moving with delicacy and charm. The way she has styled her hair in a bun reminds him of the first time he met her in Onigashima. Some passes her fan in front of her face and smiles sweetly and innocently. Sanji feels his heart speed up, his face heat up and his cigarette burns itself out. He can't take his eyes off the young woman, her beauty is driving him crazy...
"Sanji-san, your nose is bleeding..."
"Ahhhhh!"
Sanji places his dishcloth over his nose as most of his clerks giggle in secret. Cosette gives him a big smile and his chef immediately resumes his posture.
"It's because I'm captivated by your beauty, Cosette-chwan! ~ "
But Cosette is no fool. She knows exactly why her boss is having a nosebleed.
After a week in her new job, Some takes a day off. She is sitting on the sand by the water. She's wearing a little orange dress and a hat to protect herself from the sun. She has planted a parasol beside her, so that Chuji can rest in the shade. The young woman is reading a new book and scribbling in her notebook from time to time. It's a beautiful day, with a warm breeze and not a cloud in the sky. The smell of the sea is invigorating and the gentle sound of the waves calms Some. As she gets caught up in her task, the sound of footsteps in the sand makes her look up, and she blushes when her gaze meets Sanji's.
"Sanji-kun, aren't you working?"
"I am, but it's fishing time!"
"Are you going fishing yourself?
"Have you ever dived into the waters of All Blue?"
"A few times for a swim."
"But have you actually seen what All Blue is?"
Some doesn't understand, so Sanji offers her a reassuring smile. He crouches down beside her and hands her a pair of glasses and a small device. The young woman takes it in her hand and turns it every which way.
"My nakama Franky created this little device for me, it converts the oxygen present in the water into oxygen so that we breathe underwater with it."
"It's awesome !"
Sanji smiled wider and took off the blue polo shirt he was wearing, as well as his trousers, to find himself in swimming trunks. Discreetly, Some contemplates the cook's body, his skin is pale and she knows he only fights with his legs, yet his whole body is finely muscled, his abs are visible and he is proportioned exactly right. She raises her notebook in front of her face, hiding her blushes and ashamed of having rinsed her eye. But Sanji holds out his hand and Some understands that he wants her to come with him. Luckily she's wearing a swimming costume under her dress, so she shyly removes it to reveal a pink and white bikini. The effect on Sanji is completely different to that on Some, because no sooner has she placed her dress on the towel than the cook falls backwards, his nose bleeding.
"Sanji-kun! Are you all right?"
"I saw a goddess... ~ "
Some hides her face behind her hands, touched by the compliment. She waits for Sanji to come to his senses and takes his hand. They both step into the ankle-deep water and Some places the glaces over her eyes. The water is warm and transparent, showing the golden sand beneath. She continues to move forward in the water, still holding Sanji's hand, her body shivering as she gets used to the temperature of the water, which is now waist deep. Eventually their don't have foothold anymore and Sanji swims gently towards a reef, Some following, swimming awkwardly, not being used to it. The cook approaches her and tells her to put the device in her mouth.
"Breathe normally into it, you won't run out of air and I'll stay next to you."
"I trust you!"
"Are you ready to dive in?"
"Yes." She replied, taking Sanji's hand again.
As he had no device, he took a deep breath and dived in, taking Some with him. By reflex, she closes her eyes and when she opens them, she discovers for the first time the splendour of this underwater world, her eyes lighting up with wonder at the dazzling variety of aquatic life. Sanji stays close to her, never letting go of her hand, and she lets herself be enveloped by the immensity of the ocean. Some is captivated by the brightly coloured fish dancing around them, by the shimmering coral that graces the seabed, and by the strange and fascinating creatures that inhabit this underwater kingdom. She points to the turtles she saw the first time she was on the sailboat and Sanji smiles underwater before handing a small mollusc to one of the turtles, which happily takes it.
Sanji watches Some's delight with tenderness, sharing her joy at each new discovery. He points out the most remarkable species and shows her how to swim around them so as not to disturb them. From time to time, he rises to the surface to catch his breath before diving again, holding his breath for two or three minutes without any problem. A group of fishes, intrigued by the presence of the divers, approach with curiosity, offering Some moments of magical closeness to marine life. She remains fascinated by the beauty of this aquatic universe, feeling privileged to witness such a marvel.
Sanji swims towards the rocks and collects different shellfish and other crustaceans which he puts in a bag. He always said that All Blue was a cook's paradise, all the fish in the world come together here, which allows him to develop his cuisine and feed anyone who is hungry. He sees a closed anemone and extends his hand to Some to pull her towards him. There, he lightly passes his hand through the anemone, which releases a hundred small silver fish which swirl around them. This time, Some can't let go of Sanji's hand. She finally realizes that what he shares with her, his world, his dream, makes the moment very intimate. He opens his soul to her and she is touched by this experience. Her heart races, she realizes that for the first time since she found him, it's just them. To be even more in tune with him, she decides to remove the small device from her mouth to see what it feels like to be in apnea.
Their eyes meet and something happens. They don't take their eyes off each other, their fingers are intertwined and the air bubbles escaping from their mouths mix. Some realizes that they have gotten closer underwater. Maybe more could have happened, but another turtle just came between them asking for a treat too. The young woman pulls herself together and puts the device back in her mouth, taking a deep breath. They stay in the water for almost an hour, until Sanji judges that he has collected enough shellfish to cook for the evening's service. So, they end up getting out of the water.
"That was amazing Sanji-kun! I didn't know there were so many wonders in the ocean."
"Yes! I even continue to discover more every day. If you want, we'll go again."
"That would make me very happy, yes!"
"I'm happy that my Some-chan is happy!" He said with heart-shaped eyes.
Some lets out a small laugh and grabs her towel to dry off. She watches Sanji do the same and get dressed before returning to the restaurant. He waves to her and tells her to rest well. Some flops down on her towel and lets Chuji climb onto her stomach.
"Chuji, I just experienced something incredible."
"Chuuu?"
Some tells the mouse about her first experience in the waters of All Blue and Chuji notices how much happiness its friend radiates. After her story, she thinks back to Yamato's words and tells herself that after what she just shared with Sanji, it was time to talk to him. She thinks back on her situation, she who left Wano when a life she didn't want awaited her, finds herself in All Blue, the most beautiful sea in the world, with a library nearby to be able to write and alongside the man she had fallen in love with. It was perfect.
Everything was perfect.