𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙤𝙡 { 𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙟𝙞 | 1 }

Chapter 21:Lets make Shabu Shabu!

*after school on a Friday*

Victoria pov
"Hey Marco?"
"Yes, yoi?"
"Can Sanji come over, please? He's offered to teach me how to cook things."
Marco was silent for a moment. "Hmm...yes, yoi. But remember the curfew. And I'm not saying this because of me, I just don't want the guy to get in trouble, yoi."
I smile. "Of course! We promise!"
"See you at home, yoi."
"Byyye!"

He hung up on me. Everyone was looking at me, seeing what I have to say. I grinned up at Sanji, who had his arm around my waist.

"The voice of god says yes!" I declared.
Luffy tilted his head with confusion. "What?"
Zoro rolled his eyes.
Sanji grinned at me. "Good!" He leaned in towards my ear so he could whisper to me. "I'm excited."

"So what exactly are you two going to cook?" Robin asked.
"We..wait what are we going to cook?" I asked Sanji.
He hummed. "How does Shabu Shabu sound?"
"Sounds magnifique..."
His lips twitches into a smile.
"Aaaaalright you two!" Nami cut in. "If you're gonna start sucking each others faces off, do it over Zoro's food."

We both blush, and avert our eyes from everyone else.

*timeskip*

After school, Sanji & I quickly darted over to the supermarket, so that we could grab some ingredients & sauces for our Shabu Shabu pot.

(A/N:I forgot to mention:Shabu Shabu is a hot pot dish of thinly sliced meat & vegetables in boiling water. I've had it before, and its amazing! When my Mum makes it, she puts spices into the water, and we have it with this peanut sauce.)

When we got home, it was only Marco who was home.

"Hey," I greet. "is it only you?"
"Yeah, yoi. Kira's gone to work, though she'll be over to try your concoction." His eyes swept over to Sanji. "Hey, yoi. Need help?"
Sanji smiled. "No, its okay. Thank you for the offer though. You hungry?"
"Very, yoi."
Sanji grinned. "Well, looks like we can start now."

"Make sure she doesn't hurt herself, yoi!" Marco called out as we walked inside the kitchen.
"Shut up, pineapples!"

We unloaded our groceries, putting our meat & vegetables to the side.

"Alright..." he mutters as he takes my coat. "Go wash your hands. I want your hands as clean as Levi Ackerman's bedroom."
I giggled. "Of course."

I scrubbed my hands clean, then tied my hair up in a bun. I turn, and see that Sanji was already getting the portable stovetop ready.

"Can you put this out on the dining table for me, please?" He asked as he hands me the stovetop.
"Yeah."

I did as I was told, and helped Sanji with the pot. While Sanji made the sauce, I put Kombu & some spices in the pot, and let it sit for 15 minutes. During those 15 minutes, I helped Sanji out with the meat & vegetables.

Sanji looked over at me. "Wait."
I stopped cutting. "Whats wrong?"
He put down his knife, and washed his hands. He dried them, then git behind me.

"Let me show you how to cut that." He whispered to me.
"Oh? Was I doing it wrong?" I asked.
"You've got it half right. We just need to make the cabbage slices, a little bit thinner." He took control of my hands. "So you do it like this..."

By controlling my hands, he sliced a piece of cabbage thinly..it looked around about 2''.

"Okay, so I'll do it again."

He repeated the action, except this time, his hands were a little bit looser on mine. It was hard to concentrate, what with his delicate chef hands brushing over mine.

"Now you try it. I'll be right here.."

I had a firm grip on the knife. Carefully, I sliced the piece of cabbage the same way Sanji did. It got me the end result of the exact width & thickness Sanji had.

"Perfect.." he whispered. "Absolutely perfect."
I blushed, a small smile on my face. "I couldn't have done it without you."

His arms wrapped around my waist, I closed my eyes as Sanji laid a shy kiss on my cheek. It tickled slightly, since his hair would brush me every now & then.

Before I even knew it, I had finished chopping up the cabbage.

"Hey..." I whispered to Sanji. "Can you go take the Kombu out of the pot, and start boiling it for me, please?"
He kissed my cheek again, except this time it was longer. "Sure thing, my Queen."

He let go of me, and went off to do what I told him to do. I put the sliced cabbage into a small bowl, and then finished slicing & chopping the rest of the vegetables. Sanji came back, and finished the meat.

"So, we ready?" I asked.
Sanji nods. "Yeah. Oh, and Kira-chan is home."
"Cool. Well, better go get that bloody phoenix."

Sanji set up the table for me, while I went into the lounge, and got both Kira & Marco.

"Hey, dinner is ready."
Kira grins. "Oh yay! I'm excited."
Marco smirks. "So am I."

They followed me over to the dining table. Kira was grinning when she saw how Sanji had set up our table. It was elegant, and would've looked like a King would dine on this dull, oak wood table. The cutlery & bowls that Sanji pulled out, were shining & even had a gleam.

"Dinner is served."

"Oh wow!" Kira cheers, clapping her hands. "What a splendid delicacy!" She grabbed Sanji & I into a hug. "Aw you two! You both should live with me, and be my cooking slaves!"
Sanji was blushing hard core, and is having trouble with forming words.
"Thanks, Kira..-"

I suddenly sensed Marco's jealousy, and managed to wriggle Sanji & I out of Kira's embrace. Marco was pouting angrily.

"L-lets just eat.."

We all sat down, and dug into the food. I plucked a piece of meat with my chopsticks, and let the meat boil in the broth. After a few minutes, I took it out, swirled it in our sauce, and ate it.

'Holy shit balls, this is delicious!'

I look over to Sanji, and smiled. He pet my knee under the table.

"Alright it is official. You both need to cook for me!" Kira declared. "Its so yummy! I wanna eat some more!"
"This is amazing, yoi." Marco states.
"I couldn't have done it without Sanji's help.." I said bashfully.

After eating & doing the dishes, it was time for Sanji to go home. We offered to drop him off, but he said that he's fine with walking. I walked Sanji out to my gate.

"Thank you, Sanji. I enjoyed cooking with you."
He gave my hand a squeeze. "It was an absolute pleasure, mademoiselle." He turned to me. "We need to cook together some more. You're more teachable than the others."
I giggled. "Well, I need to be."

Gently, he kissed my forehead, and shared a hug with me. I inhaled his scent, and could smell cigarettes, cooking spices, and cologne. We pulled away, and he stared down at me.

"Are you free tomorrow ?" I asked.
He paused for a moment, before he answered. "Yes..what do you want to do?"
"You can come over to my place..and we can have a day together, you know?" I explained.
"Sounds wonderful. I'll be over at lunch."
"Great!"

Sanji leaned down to me, and we kissed. For a second, I was surprised, but I easily melted under Sanji's touch. He cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin. When he pulled away for a quick breath of air, I pushed in for another kiss. He smiled when I held him closer to me.

'Why do I feel childish?'

I pulled away, a small hue on my cheeks. Sanji was still smiling, and kissed my forehead again.

"I need to go." He whispers to me.
"Okay..I-I'll see you tomorrow."
He kissed my nose. "Definitely."

He let go of me, and walked off. I waved as he walked down my street, until he was simply as black as the night sky. I went back inside, and was met with a grinning Marco, and a even happier Kira.

"You looooove him!" Kira giggled.
I covered my face with my hands. "S-shush!"