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

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

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Guide with Taste: Part Five

Luffy would later reflect on this battle and chuckle to himself at the sheer luck it took to break through Don Krieg's armor and land the final blow. He realized that it was Don Krieg's arrogance and his obsession with his weapons that led to his downfall.

It wasn't the gold-plated armor, the massive shield, or the Gatling gun that made the difference; rather, it was the small but powerful bombs that weakened the metal enough for Luffy to strike and shatter the armor like glass. Even injured and without his protection, Don Krieg refused to back down. He attempted to ensnare Luffy in a strong net, trying to drag him into the raging waters below where Luffy would find himself drowning in a mix of desperation and panic as he fought to escape and claw his way to the surface.

However, what Don Krieg and the captive audience below didn't realize was that Luffy was somewhat of an escape artist, a skill he had developed thanks to his grandfather's rather creative punishments.

It was easy for him to slip his arms out of the net and, grabbing Don Kreig, swung both of them back toward the ship with enough force to slam him back onto the deck. Unfortunately, Luffy misjudged the distance for himself and landed back in the water, the force of the impact sending a shock through his system leaving him loose-limbed and taking in water as he struggled for air., his chest tightened and the edges of his vision darkening. He looked up to see a flash of yellow and black and realized that Sanji had jumped into the water and worried if the Guide was well enough for such an extreme action.

The cook dragged him out of the net pushed him up to the surface of the water and laid him across the broken deck where they were met by echoes of cheers from the displaced crew of the Baratie.

Luffy was placed on his side and choked up several lungfuls of water as air rushed back into his lungs, and a helpful hand on his back.

"Thanks," Luffy managed, lifting his head to take a curious look around. The entire deck of the Beratie was destroyed and its crew were gradually making their way back on, safe from Don Kreig and his escaping crew.

"I should be thanking you, Luffy." Sanji's rough voice echoed in his ears. "For saving us."

Luffy huffed, a small, but exhausted smile pulling at his lips. "You needed help and I wasn't going to stand by and let that man take over this place. It's your home."

Sanji's hand stilled against his back at the confession before it resumed its gentle patting, but the gesture was almost an afterthought as if Sanji was too caught up in his thoughts for his brain to connect with the gesture.

"What are you going to do now?" Sanji helped him to his feet, urging him to sit on a piece of driftwood. "You had a crew with you, right? Where are they?"

"One of my crew members stole my ship, unfortunately." Luffy let out a small chuckle at Sanji's look of shock. "She's a Guide and she's just joined us, but she's a good girl so I'm sure she has a good explanation."

"And if she doesn't?" Sanji pressed, bewildered that Luffy was so trusting of someone that he just met. "What are you going to do if she won't give the ship back?"

"We'll take it back" Luffy responded, as if taking back his ship was a simple matter Sanji supposed that it was a simple matter, but there was another simple matter to be solved.

"How are you going to catch up?"

"I-"

"Luffy! Lufffyyyyyyyyyy!"

Luffy tilted his head in curiosity before turning it and spotting Yosaku's panicked expression causing Luffy's heart to sink. He stood to meet his new friend, holding his shoulders when he slumped over in exhaustion.

"What's the matter?"

"We got a message from Usopp." the paper crumbled in his hand. "He says he found Nami!"

"Really?!" Luffy grabbed the note out of Yosaku's hand and sure enough, in Usopp's messy scrawl, was confirmation that he had indeed found Nami and that Zoro was on the path to recovery. A swell of relief loosened the tightness in Luffy's chest. He was relieved that his crew was safe and sound. Unfortunately, Usopp didn't explain why Nami had stolen the ship, but that would be a face-to-face conversation Luffy wasn't exactly looking forward to, but one was needed nonetheless.

First things first, however; he needed a ship.

A clack against the wood interrupted his thoughts before Zeff's rough voice pierced their ears. "We have a small boat you can borrow to get back to your ship. It's the least we can do to get you involved in our mishaps."

"Thank you, and again, it was no trouble. Don Kreig was a problem that needed to be solved. Why don't you use the bounty to repair the ship? It can be his special way of making up for all the trouble he caused this area?"

Zeff threw his back and let out a boisterous laugh that caused Luffy and Sanji's hearts to swell. It was good to see the old chef back in good spirits. Their excitement, however, turned into surprise when the head chef turned to Sanji. "Why don't you go with Luffy, Sanji?"

"I'm sorry?" Sanji echoed, at a loss at the turn in the conversation. "Why would I go with Luffy?"

Zeff raised an eyebrow as if the answer was obvious. "I'm sure you understand that your services are no longer required, Sanji." Zeff looked hesitant. "We've gotten several complaints regarding your food - especially the soups. Your cooking is a little lackluster as of late and well, I'd figured going with Luffy will get that spark back."

The silence that followed Zeff's words was tense and thick and Luffy could only stare at the head chef in shock. From what little he heard about Sanji's cooking, it was excellent and he was one of the most beloved chefs on the ship.

"You're lying," Sanji muttered, cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment. "If you had a problem with my soup then you would have told me-"

"We didn't know how to break it to you," Zeff admitted. "You were one of our best chefs and we didn't know how you would take it."

"I take it just fine," Sanji grunted, folding his arms and regarding Zeff with a cold stare. "I know when and where I'm not wanted."

Luffy's brows furrowed at the confrontation. He kept his gaze on Zeff who lowered his gaze to the ground when he caught Luffy's inquisitive stare - as if he couldn't bear the weight of it.

Or the weight of his lie.

During his time on the ship, he received nothing but compliments about Sanji's cooking. How tasteful the soups were and how buttery and tender the steaks and fish tasted. He listened enraptured, as the guests gushed over the desserts. Not one complaint passed the passenger's lips.

Luffy opened his mouth to defend Sanji when a small whisper reached his ear, carried by the gentle sea breeze.

"I can't wait until the ships are repaired. I already miss Sanji's steak."

"His steak? What about his soups? And his breads? Nothing beats the soups!"

"Oh, and don't forget the desserts! That raspberry tart? I'd kill over it!"

The compliments, carried by the seas, and Zeff's persistence, forced a thought to enter Luffy's mind and it forced a smile to pull at his cracked lips.

Sanji's talents had moved beyond Baratie and Zeff was well aware of it.

"Sanji?" Luffy called out, causing the argument that started between the chefs to halt. "We've been looking for a chef and you seem to fit the bill. Why don't you come with me? See what the world has to offer?"

Sanji grew quiet at the offer, raising a simple eyebrow before a thoughtful look crossed his face. He turned back to Zeff with a touch of worry - of doubt - clouded over him.

"You want me to leave? Really?" Sanji shuffled, reminding Luffy of a child who was waiting for his punishment. And in Sanji's case, he supposed that it was a punishment - being banished from a place he called home for so long. "No one said anything about my cooking-"

"Because, it's not true, Sanji." Zeff's cheeks flushed with shame at the confession. "The people of the Baratie love your cooking Sanji. I love your cooking, but your talents are stagnant and I fear that if you remain here, you'll never achieve your dreams and your light will be snuffed out."

"Zeff," Sanji swallowed against the lump that formed in his throat. "I don't-what about you? And the crew?"

"Bah," Zeff brushed off his concerns with a large smile. "We'll be fine. We can still cook up a storm without you. You, sir, will go with Luffy and find that All-Blue."

"All-Blue?" Luffy pressed, his mind twisting as he tried to recall what the word meant. "What's the All-Blue?"

"It's a legendary sea and it's the only place where the North, South, East, and West Blues meet," Sanji explained, his eyes getting a faraway look. "It's said that there are fish from each sea and have every resource available. It's a dream among chefs to find it."

"And where is this All-Blue?"

"It's said that it's in the Grand Line." Sanji's brows furrowed. "But, if that was the case then someone would have found it by now, right?"

"Not exactly," Luffy muttered. "The Grand Line wraps around the entire world and it's split into sections by the Red Line. The first section is called Paradise and the second is known as the New World. So, the All Blue could be could be anywhere in the Grand Line. Not to mention the odd phenomenon that happens on the Grand Line."

"So, it's hopeless?" Sanji's shoulders slumped, a respondent look. "Is that what you mean?"

"Well, no," Luffy shook his head in denial of Sanji's words. "What I meant was that the All-Blue is going to take a while to find, not that it's impossible." Luffy shot him a sly grin. "The chances of success usually increase when we're full of good food and cheer, right?"

Sanji huffed, the action amused with a tinge of annoyance. "I suppose that it would be more successful if you had a chef with a good head on his shoulders."

"So, does that mean that I get the pleasure of having your cooking more often, Sanji?" Luffy looked up, blinking rapidly and earning a bemused huff. "What do you say? Come explore the world with us?"

"And get your ship back?"

"And get my ship back," Luffy confirmed, shooting Zeff a wink which was wholeheartedly returned. "Eh, speaking of getting ships back. Thank you for lending one of your boats! I appreciate it!"

"Of course." Zeff waved a hand towards his crew. "Lads! Let's get them a boat and send them off, aye!"

"AYE!"

Zeff turned back, reaching out to grasp Sanji's shoulder and giving them a good, hearty shake. "I know that you're going to take the world by storm, son."

Sanji nodded, reaching out and wrapping his arms around his adoptive father's waist. "Thank you," he murmured into Zeff's shoulders. "For taking care of me."

"Always and you will always have a home here, Sanji."

Sanji, at a loss for words, tugged Zeff tighter to hide his tears before releasing him abruptly and turning to Luffy with a wide grin and shining eyes.

"Ready to get your ship back, Captain?"

"Ready!"