Before the Storm
-x-
"You sure got lucky," Luffy commented as he looked down at Sanji and the previously starving pirate. "That food saved you, you darn near starved to death! Hahahahaha!" Luffy turned to Sanji, "Hey Mr. Cook, join us! Be the cook for my pirate crew!"
"You're a pirate?" questioned Sanji when Luffy came down to sit with him and the other pirate. "Why did you fire on us?"
"It was an accident," explained Luffy, "It was a stray cannonball that was launched in self-defense."
"That makes no sense," Sanji said, cannonballs weren't launched in defense, they were just fired to attack and destroy. "Well you'd best watch yourself around here, Chef Zeff used to be a famous pirate."
"That old man was a pirate?" asked Luffy.
"The Baratie is the ratbag's treasure," Sanji told him, "And the cooks that flock to him are all hot-blooded pirate types. For a place frequented by pirates, they're perfect for the job."
"Yeah this place is a nuthouse," Luffy agreed.
"You get used to it," Sanji replied, "Some people come just to see the pirates and the cooks go at it. But the waiters got scared and jumped ship a few months ago. We still haven't been able to find anyone willing to take the job."
"Oh, so that's why he wants me to cook for a year," Luffy realized, "You should sail with me."
"I decline," Sanji answered, "I have a good reason for staying here."
"No, I decline!" Luffy snapped.
"What?" questioned Sanji, "You decline what?"
"I decline your declination!" Luffy exclaimed, "You're a good cook and you're joining my crew!"
"Hold on... listen to my reason," Sanji requested.
"What is it?" asked Luffy.
"None of your business!" Sanji growled.
"But you just told me to listen!" Luffy protested.
"Respect my wishes or I'll make a fillet out of you crap-hat kid!" threatened Sanji.
"You make fun of this hat and I'll send you flying!" Luffy warned him.
"Sorry to butt in," the pirate suddenly interrupted, causing Luffy and Sanji to turn and glare at him, "I'm Gin, one of Don Krieg's pirates. If you're really a pirate, what are you after?"
"I'm going to the Grand Line!" Luffy announced. "I wanna become King of the Pirates!"
Gin paused and stared at Luffy for a moment, "If you don't have a cook, you must not have much of a crew yet," observed Gin.
"This guy makes six," Luffy answered.
"Don't count me!" Sanji scolded him.
"You don't seem like a bad sort, so I'll give you a word of warning," Gin decided. "Whatever you do, don't go to the Grand Line. You're young, don't rush to your doom. The seas are vast and the Grand Line is just a narrow route. There are plenty of safer waters to plunder."
"Hnm... really?" questioned Luffy, "Do you know a lot about the Grand Line?"
"Not much," Gin admitted, "Hardly anything at all. But enough that it scares me."
"You're rather chicken for one of Krieg's men," Sanji remarked.
"Who's Krieg?" wondered Luffy.
-x-
