Chapter 89
Like it used to be
"That's stupid, I already signed that thing!"
"It's not stupid, it's a personalized gift that will allow them to keep an everlasting memory of that day!"
"I hate photos!"
"Who cares?! The bride and the groom wanna do it so you're gonna do it, period!"
To punctuate his sentence, Sanji kicked the swordsman hard in the chest and Zoro stumbled backwards until he fell into the chair facing the sniper in the middle of the room. The latter grimaced. Zoro was looking daggers at the blond but he still took the opportunity to point his instant Den-Den Mushi at his target. At his side, Chopper tried to encourage their friend.
"It won't take long and it's for a good cause," he promised him.
"If you could just turn your head towards me," the gunner pleaded cautiously, "I only need one small photo for the tree…"
The murderous look he encountered made him shudder and he hastened to take a few shots in rapid succession. Immediately afterwards, Zoro got up from his chair, fuming while Nami leaned over the prints that the Den-Den Mushi was gradually developing.
"I couldn't do better." Usopp apologized when he discovered the photos of their first mate. He was looking surly.
"It's okay, at least we'll have a true memory," the redhead said, shrugging her shoulders.
The whole Straw Hat crew had met up after lunch to tidy up the reception room that they had left practically as it was since the ceremony two days before. They had found the fingerprint tree that the best men and women had given to the bride and groom and on which each guest had written their name. Nami had then wanted the sniper to add a portrait of each of them and after tidying up, everyone had played along. Everyone except the swordsman who had dragged his feet before outright refusing until Sanji directly forced him to.
In the end, Nami chose a photo and the sniper annotated it to add it to the others. A little further away, the rest of their companions had spread the previous photos on the cleared tables and Luffy in particular was looking at them with interest.
"They're so cool!" He gushed.
"They're all in our image," Franky approved while observing the photos of Chopper's adorable face, those with the broad smile of the straw hat boy and those exaggeratedly confident of Usopp.
"This will truly be a wonderful keepsake," Brook agreed, reviewing those of the blond cook with heart-shaped eyes, those of the navigator with a cheeky grin, and those of the archaeologist with a sweet smile.
"I'd like to have a set of them too," Malek said while he examined Franky's thunderous pose and Brook's perfectly stoic figure in their photos. "Wanted posters are nice, but they're less personal."
"Oh, I want them too!" Chopper got enthused.
"We could make duplicates for those who want," Robin suggested, putting down the photos of the smiling dark-haired cook and those of the gloomy swordsman that Usopp had just brought.
"We'll make a print for everyone, but first we need to complete the tree with the portraits of the other guests," Nami decided while coming closer.
"I only want the ladies' photos," Sanji said, taking a cigarette out of his pack. "There's no way I'm gonna put up with your ugly faces all the time," he then muttered in the direction of the men.
"If you think someone wants to see your curly eyebrows!" The swordsman immediately hissed, still furious.
"And if you could stop acting like a bad-tempered child," his companion got annoyed, turning to glare at him.
"And you, if you could mind your own business!"
"It is my business, moron, it's about pleasing the newlyweds who happen to be my captain and the most beautiful navigator on the Grand Line!"
"All you care about is the pictures, fucking pervert!"
"And all you care about is your own comfort zone, shitty swordsman!"
The atmosphere was electric again between the two crewmates and Nami decided to simply ignore them as she headed out. "Well, let's go take pictures of the rest of the guests before snack time," she said while turning the other way.
"Great!" Luffy exclaimed, jumping up to join her.
"Excellent idea!" Malek added, delighted to slip away.
"Better than staying here," Usopp agreed, sighing as he gathered the remaining pictures.
"The next few minutes are going to be very interesting." Brook was amused as he helped the sniper put away the scattered photos.
"Don't destroy the room, I just built it," Franky grumbled towards the two men who continued to insult each other.
Each of their companions more or less happily walked through the door to reach the outside then. As he crossed the threshold though, Chopper stopped to turn towards them. "If you get hurt, come see me right away!" He begged them, worried.
Unfortunately, neither the cook nor the swordsman answered him, too busy insulting each other, and Robin put a hand on his hat to pull him towards the exit with a smile.
"It's like déjà vu…"
"You proud of yourself, mosshead?! You scared them away with your caveman-like social skills!" Sanji scolded him as the door had just closed behind the beautiful archaeologist and the little reindeer.
"Maybe they were afraid of your lewd ideas, shitty cook!"
Outraged, the blond tried to kick the swordsman's head but before reaching his target, he encountered the edge of two swords which forced him to step back. Smirking, Zoro whirled his blades before rushing towards the cook who dodged his attack by leaning back abruptly. One of the swords grazed his shirt and when he straightened up, the blond looked at the swordsman mockingly.
"So you think you can fight me again?" He joked, "Aren't you a bit presumptuous by any chance?"
"Against a cook as pathetic as you, I have every chance," his companion replied, staring back at him.
"I'll try not to hurt you too much, stupid musclehead, but don't come crying when you've bitten the dust."
"Whenever you want, clumsy cook."
The sound of the swordsman's metal against the blond's shoes echoed again in the room and the shock soon pushed the two opponents back to the tables. Without worrying about it for a second, Sanji used his momentum to propel himself forward while Zoro did the same and the windows shook under the assault that followed. Neither of them noticed though. Eyes fixed on each other and a predatory smile on their lips, this dance of another kind was their favorite and they were not about to stop.
"Shit, they're already gone. I guess Malek served snacks on the Sunny after all…"
The two best enemies of the Straw Hat crew had returned to the All Blue to find that their companions were no longer there. They had probably finished taking pictures of the other guests and returned to the ship for the end of the afternoon.
The blond had to admit that the swordsman and he had not seen the time pass. Busy fighting and rediscovering each other, they had not noticed that the minutes were ticking by and Sanji glanced at his watch before looking questioningly at his crewmate.
"You hungry? I could eat something after all this…" When Zoro agreed, the cook nodded, "Okay, I'll make us something before the dinner service. Malek is off until tonight and Zeff has given the day off to Elio and Sam. I can't be late or the old man is gonna go crazy…"
"I'll wait for you here. I need to examine my swords."
The cook frowned at these words. "I hope we didn't damage them?"
"We didn't, but I wanna make sure. We haven't fully recovered yet…"
Sanji didn't answer. He could have easily taken this opportunity to mock or provoke the swordsman, but it was not the right time anymore. Zoro was improving day by day and this last fight had given the blond a hard time, but he had also noticed that the swordsman was not yet completely back to his best level and he was therefore careful that his blades did not suffer either. Sanji smiled slightly. The fact that Zoro did not feel belittled and allowed himself to expose his weakness in front of him was proof of the strength of their newfound relationship: even if their rivalry remained undeniable, they were comfortable enough with each other to remain honest on this very sensitive subject.
"I'll be back in a minute. Just wait on the terrace." Zoro nodded again and sat down on one of the chairs while grabbing his swords. For his part, Sanji didn't waste a moment and went through the back door of the All Blue to enter the kitchen.
"Fucking finally," Zeff grumbled as a greeting from his workstation. "Where were you?"
"A dispute to settle with the mosshead," the blond evaded while grabbing his apron, "This idiot needed to be put in his place and now that it's done, I gotta feed him."
The old cook cast a suspicious glance at his former student who was taking out ingredients before frowning when he noticed his preparation. "Rice, eggs and pickled cucumbers? You planning a banquet or what?"
"Mosshead doesn't like sweets, he's a real pain in the ass," the blond commented as he grabbed a pan with a sigh. "Plus, he needs sticky rice balls and omelet because this idiot is addicted to sushi and onigiri. With that, I need to give him some pickled cucumber so that he eats some greens and the flavor doesn't clash with all that…"
Zeff rolled his eyes as the other cook went through the motions to make his crewmate a five-star meal in less than ten minutes. He then watched him slide everything onto a gleaming plate and kick open the back door of the kitchen.
"Oï, shitty swordsman, it's time for your snack!"
"I ain't deaf, curly brows, I'm right here!" The man replied angrily from the terrace.
"You were sleeping, I needed to wake you up," the cook continued flatly. "Now, eat and be careful with my crockery, I want it back in one piece."
"Putting out nice plates won't cover the fact that your cooking is shitty," Zoro replied immediately.
"Yeah, sure, like you don't like it. And don't forget your tea," the blond concluded, throwing a burning cup in his direction.
With that, he slammed the door shut and was about to head back to his workstation when he came across his mentor's piercing gaze fixed on him. He raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong, old man? Why are you staring at me like that?"
Zeff stared at him for a few more moments before shrugging and turning away. Sanji then shook his head and got back to work, gulping the portion of onigiri he had made for his own snack.
For more than thirty minutes, the two cooks worked in silence. Precise and concise, the lack of staff and time did not seem to be a problem for them and the preparations multiplied at a phenomenal speed. The blond's dishes in particular seemed to appear out of nowhere as he passed his hands over the plates and quickly, Sanji placed his last starter with satisfaction.
Zeff glanced curiously at him again when his former protégé opened the back door of the kitchen to retrieve the empty and perfectly piled dishes that the swordsman had left.
"The mosshead has decided to go do his photosynthesis elsewhere. It's a good thing for the customers who won't have to see his goofball face…" He placed the plate and cutlery in the sink then began the dishes while whistling.
"You're still in a good mood," his old mentor noted after a minute, busy positioning his pear tarts.
"Yeah, so what? Seems like it pisses you off."
"I just noticed that you keep complaining but you've never cooked so quickly."
"You can admit that I'm the best in this kitchen, I wouldn't blame you for revealing the truth," Sanji pointed out mockingly. "I've finished the fish terrine, the bouillabaisse and the roasted vegetables while you've barely started on the desserts!"
"Let's wait and see if it's edible first," Zeff grumbled.
"It'll be delicious and you know it."
The former pirate didn't reply and Sanji grabbed a knife which he twirled in his hand with dexterity, slicing tomatoes at lightning speed while already sizzling some olive oil in his pan in anticipation of his next vegetables.
Zeff discreetly raised his head to study him carefully. Each gesture of the blond was right on the mark with exceptional handing skill. Yet he saw him suddenly pause and while he thought that his protégé had perhaps made a mistake, he saw him suddenly rush towards their stock of fresh herbs and fruits. Sanji returned with a lemon and chives before grabbing some vinegar and sesame seeds from a cupboard. In three seconds, he made a light and deliciously fragrant sauce with which he perfumed the tuna tartare that was resting next to him. He then put his plates in the fridge with a smile and the old cook could only silently agree. He hadn't thought of it but these condiments would enhance the taste of the tuna in addition to the spices they had selected. It was an excellent idea.
Zeff finally refocused on his desserts, skeptical. On the Baratie, Sanji could surpass his other cooks when he cooked and when he served but he had never seen him so at ease that he seemed to anticipate each of his own gestures. Even in all these months on the All Blue and since his crew had returned, he had never reached this level of creativity and serenity at the same time. The old pirate sensed that he was missing something but questioning the brat would be useless and he settled for continuing his own dishes.
Half an hour later, Amy appeared to check the tables and reservations and Zeff decided to take out the trash since most of their dishes were ready. He then grabbed the bags before pushing the back door of the kitchen while the blond checked the cleanliness of his plates. In doing so, the old cook came across the crew's swordsman who was looking at the restaurant hesitantly.
"What you doing here?"
Zoro stared at him, clearly only just noticing his presence. "I need to see the cook, but I guess now's not the time."
"You guess right. Don't distract him, he's already in his own world tonight."
"Okay." The swordsman sat down on one of the benches on the terrace with determination and Zeff raised an eyebrow. Zoro looked back at him then. "I won't bother him. I'll wait."
The old cook shrugged. "Suit yourself."
He turned on his heel and walked back through the kitchen door, slamming it behind him. He then went to the sink and washed his hands.
"Your sushi lover is back," he told the blond.
Sanji turned to him, surprised. "What's he doing? He got lost?"
"I don't know. He told me he wanted to see you and I told him not to disturb you, we got other things to do."
"Did he tell you anything else?" Sanji asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
"He didn't. He just decided to sit down and wait for you. I don't know if he realizes that a service doesn't take five minutes," he grumbled as he resumed his work after drying his hands.
"Hmm… Weird."
The old cook grabbed his scissors to flavor the plates of tuna tartare and smoked salmon with chives after the blond had wiped them. The service would start in a few minutes and Amy would only need to take them to the dining room. After a while, however, Zeff noticed that the plates were no longer reaching him so quickly and he looked up to see his former student fidgeting in front of him. Frowning, he watched him frequently glance towards the door while carrying out his task, which slowed him down. His attitude, so different from his behavior since the beginning of the evening, made the old pirate stop for a moment to examine him once more before everything finally fit together.
Zeff's eyes widened and he almost dropped the scissors from his hands. No way! He thought he knew this kid better than himself, but he would never have expected that! And yet, how has he not noticed earlier? He had taught the blond himself that cooking was a matter of passion and Sanji excelled in this field because he was inherently passionate. His dishes revealed his mood and aspirations and if Zeff had never seen him as efficient as tonight, it was because he had never seen him so relaxed and focused. This nervousness that now made him check the same plate three times when he had so easily cooked the most sophisticated dishes earlier was just as revealing. Sanji was in love. How could he have missed that?!
Zeff growled. Obviously, the blond had made him believe that his annoying habit of worshipping women reflected his permanent state of lovesick sap. And today, the old cook realized that his protégé had never really been in love. He understood better his endless moods for two years that he had wrongfully attributed to the absence of his crew…
"Take your break," he suddenly barked at his former student who jumped.
"What? Are you serious, old man?" The blond replied in the same tone, "The service will start in ten minutes! Are you losing your mind?!"
"Take your fucking break!"
Before he could even understand how, Sanji was kicked out the back door of the kitchen and he staggered into the grass. From his bench where he hadn't moved, Zoro turned to him, surprised.
"What the hell are you doing, cook?"
"I have no idea," the blond grumbled, placing a cigarette between his lips, "The old man kicked me out so I could take my break two minutes before the start of the service…"
The swordsman gazed at him again before shrugging and seizing the opportunity he had come to seek. "I was wondering…"
Sanji raised an eyebrow questioningly while taking a drag on his newly lit cigarette and the swordsman spoke. "Do you think Liam located a door near Shimotsuki?"
"Shimotsuki?"
"Yeah, that's the village where I trained."
The cook stared at him for a moment before shaking his head. "I know he's listed several doors leading to the East Blue over the past two years, but I don't know them. You'll need to check with him."
"Um, okay." Zoro refocused on the ocean in front of him and Sanji ended up sitting down next to him, curious.
"Why do you wanna go back there all of a sudden?" He asked after a moment.
"I think I need it," the swordsman replied. "For my swords."
The cook nodded, the smoke from his cigarette butt rising in the humid evening air. "I guess it won't hurt given the context. For you and them. Like a homecoming of sorts."
Zoro nodded, his gaze still fixed ahead. "I need to see her. I need to talk to Kuina."
The blond turned to the swordsman, surprised, but the man didn't move.
"I need to tell her that despite my mistake, I won't give up. I almost gave up and I can't hide it but I won't make that mistake again. With Wadô, I'll become the best swordsman in the world in her memory because I'm stronger than ever. No matter what obstacles are standing in my way from now on, I know that I'm not alone."
The swordsman finally turned his eyes to meet those of his companion and Sanji felt his heart race under the intensity of his gaze.
"Come with me, cook."
Sanji felt his eyes widen in shock. "You-You want me to come with you? To Shimotsuki, the village where you grew up?"
"Why not?" The swordsman replied with a shrug, his eyes drawn to the open sea again. "It makes sense since you're part of my dream now."
Sanji didn't answer and Zoro ended up wondering why. He was about to turn to ask him the reason for his silence when he felt the weight of his crewmate's head fall on his shoulder and he looked questioningly at him. "What is it? I know you have the restaurant to run and you don't have to, if you don't want to," he reminded him.
"That's not it, mosshead…"
The swordsman raised an eyebrow. The hair of his companion completely obscured his face and it was impossible for him to guess his true emotions. In the end, Sanji sighed deeply before straightening up and bringing his cigarette to his lips to hide his red cheeks.
"Of course I wanna come with you, idiot. The opportunity won't come again soon and the All Blue will survive without me for a few days…"
At these words, Zoro's face split into a grin and the blond's heart pounded even more. He looked away to stop himself from blushing harder but completely lost his composure when the swordsman's arm wrapped around his shoulders to pull him against him with a laugh.
"I should warn you, cook, there aren't many ladies over there. Kuina was the only one who was ever allowed to fight in the dojo and I don't think there are any even now. You think you can survive?"
"Idiot."
Sanji pushed his companion away, grumbling, but Zoro's laughter in his ears made him smile in spite of himself. Seeing the swordsman get his joy back at the same time as his blades had a delicious taste of yesteryear. Everything was going back like it used to be…
Yes, they're going to go see Kuina.
Buckle up again, but don't worry. We're leaving for a gentle destination!