Sanji was throwing out the garbage after he had been kicked in the face for the thirteenth time that day by the shitty old man's false leg. He grumbled in annoyance and threw the trash bag like it had done him some wrong.

"Kuso..." the small boy said, wincing when he touched his cheek. "All I wanted was to see what he was doing... I almost got the entire recipe too..."

"Hm?" he rotated around a bit, having seen something out of his peripheral vision.

The moon was throwing its light down into the water and the ocean sent the iridescent fluid back. The waves lapping on the beach could be heard from the tiny shop and the wind had picked up slightly. Sanji remembered that Zeff had guessed that a huge typhoon will hit soon. They had ran around preparing for it for half the day and Sanji had done most of the work himself.

Sanji squinted his eyes and slowly tiptoed forward. He saw something move in the shadows and he paused for a second. His eyes finally adjusted to the darkness and he blinked.

"Hey..." he said softly.

The girl flinched at his voice and her grip on the dull kitchen knife shook. Sanji considered it. It didn't look like it could inflict any harm on him and the girl didn't appear to have enough strength to use it anyway. She was skin and bones.

Even as he said it, there was a huge rumbling and the girl blushed before glaring at him again. Sanji sighed and took a few steps toward her. This simple move made her face contort into fear and panic. She stumbled backwards as Sanji approached and her fierce gaze faltered as her eyes filled with tears. Sanji reached out and the girl cringed, squeezing her eyes closed and shaking like a leaf.

The blond haired cook simply pried the knife out of her hands and threw it into the garbage.

"Stay right here," he told her and ran back into the small restaurant.

Sanji rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands thoroughly before pulling out some vegetables and a tortilla wrap. As he got to work, Zeff was snoring away on the couch beside the fire. He peeked out to get a look at what his apprentice as doing before feigning sleep again.

Sanji finished making the vegetable wrap and soup then hurried outside to give it to the starving girl. She was in the corner of the yard, giving him a suspicious, uncertain gaze. Sanji walked over to her but she snarled at him halfway. He resorted to leaving the meal on the ground where he stood and retreated back to the porch.

When the girl still didn't make a move for the food, he raised his hands.

"I won't do anything, I swear it on my shitty life," he promised.

The girl stared at him for a moment more before scampering out, grabbing the food and water, then retreating into the shadows again. Sanji smiled in satisfaction.

"Is it good?" he called.

The girl scarfed down the food and didn't answer.

"What's your name?" he asked. "Where did you come from?"

That's when the wind picked up and the black clouds above charged with electricity. Sanji covered his face as the strong gale buffeted against him.

"Oi!" he looked over into the shadows again. "Get inside!"

There's wasn't an answer and on closer inspection, he realized that the girl had vanished. He gritted his teeth and ran out.

"Heeeeey!" he screamed over the wind. "Where'd you go?! It's not safe! Come back!"

"Sanji!" Zeff yelled from the door, suddenly wide awake. "Get back in here!"

"But-"

"There's nothing you can do for her now! What good will it do trying to find one girl in this chaos!?"

Sanji clenched his fist and after crying out for the girl one last time, ran into the restaurant.

_

The next day, the air felt fresher, the sky was clearer. The sea breeze was calm and soothing as it danced through the town. The birds sang their song and the raindrops from the storm accented the trees' leaves like fragile jewels.

Sanji stepped outside into the overgrown yard, soaking in the morning. He scanned the perimeter, seeing nothing.

"Thought so," he said, crestfallen. "Huh?"

At his feet, was the plate, bowl, and cup he had served the food on yesterday. He crouched down and picked it up. There was a tiny crack growing on the glass cup. He beamed.

Zeff looked up to see Sanji running around in the kitchen. "Don't waste food, lil' eggplant."

"I'm not, old fart!"

Sanji grinned in pride as he took in the sight of the platter of food. He grabbed the plate and placed it on the back porch.

"Hurry up and open the restaurant, Sanji!"

"Alright, alright, I'm coming," Sanji disappeared into the building.

_

It became routine to the little boy. Each day he would leave out food and he'd come back to see it gone and the plates cleaned spotless. It was gratifying. He'd never fed someone other than Zeff because the old man said it was too early for him to be serving customers or cook anything for that matter. And the fact that someone was eating his food like it was worth eating made him so happy inside.

But still, he'd like it if he could speak to the girl. He didn't even have a good look at her face the one time he interacted with her. It didn't seem like she trusted him yet.

Sanji became determined to see her. He had so many questions he wanted answers to. But most of all, he wanted to know her name.

So, he wrote a note. He positioned it under the glass of water and like always, went about business as usual, learning how to cook from Zeff, cleaning up the small restaurant, and tending to customers.

_

The girl glanced around warily before scaling the steps of the back porch. She cocked her head to the side at the sight of paper underneath her water. She opened it and stared at the figures on the slip, narrowing her eyes, trying her hardest to read the words.

"Sanji...?"

The door opened and the girl lifted her gaze to look into a pleasant grey blue eye. They stood frozen for good long while, the girl's eyes gradually expanding with alarm, but then... the boy smiled.

"Hello," Sanji grinned. "My name is Sanji."

She gawked at him, not knowing how to reply. The first night she had met him, she had been shaken up and terrified. Sanji had seemed taller then. He had been more horrifically presented in the wickedness of the night. And now that she actually saw him in the warmth of day, the first thing she noticed was his one eyebrow, his left one and the corresponding eye were covered with his bangs. He also had fair skin and bandages around his fingers as well as a blossoming bruise on his cheek. His eye was filled with childish wonder and his whole ambiance was inquisitive and pleasant. But that one eyebrow...

Sanji looked down to see that she still hadn't eaten.

"Shall we dine together?" he said courteously.

The little girl didn't know why, but she didn't reject his offer. Something about the boy made her trust him. She followed his every move as he took a few steps to the side and then lowered himself onto the porch. He gave her an expectant gaze and the girl, relented, sitting down across from him.

She picked up the bowl of soup and gulped it down while Sanji watched her. She then went on to eat the sandwich that had been artfully cut up into the shape of a star.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" the girl finally muttered softly, averting eye contact and chewing on the sandwich.

"Because this is the first time I've properly seen you," Sanji beamed.

The girl swallowed and gave the rest of the sandwich a weird look, not having the courage to look at him. "So?"

"So?" Sanji repeated the question like the answer should be obvious. "I want to appreciate God's gift to man."

The girl scrutinized him.

"What's your name?"

"Name?" she bit on her bottom lip tentatively. "I don't have one."

Sanji blinked. "You don't have one?"

She nodded, keen to ending the conversation. "I don't have one."

Sanji's eyes sparkled. "Then I'll give you one."

The girl looked doubtfully at him. "You can't just give someone a name."

"Why not?"

She opened her mouth to answer but Sanji was already muttering to himself, going through a catalogue of names in his head.

"Haruna? No. Kazue? Doesn't sound right... mmm..." Sanji closed his eyes, contemplating hard.

He snapped his fingers and he reached into his apron pocket to pull out a notepad and a pen stashed inside. The boy excitedly scribbled onto the paper, paused a few times to tap the pen thoughtfully on his chin.

"Got it!" He shoved the paper into the girl's hands. "This will be your name."

She lifted an eyebrow at him and he just smiled in answer. She looked down.

The girl's sapphire eyes widened.

"That's what it'll be!" Sanji's blond hair rustled around his face as the wind blew. "Tuou L. Btella!"

And thus, this strange boy, dubbed me the name of his dream ocean.

"Do you like it?" he asked eagerly.

Btella averted her eyes, and murmured. "I guess."

The door slammed open and a frightening man filled the doorway. "What do you think you're doing laying your ass around here, lil eggplant?"

"Shitty geezer!" Sanji's face contorted into a fixed expression of annoyance as he popped onto his feet.

Zeff's eyes wandered over to the girl who was now in a position that welcomed the idea of a terrified feline. She had dark brown hair and elegant features. Freckles were scattered on the apple of her cheeks and her eyes were breathtaking, like the ocean had compacted itself into her head. She wore recently ruined clothes and dirt was dried onto her like a second skin. Sanji noticed where he had put his attention and he ran to stand in front of Btella, who was now too shocked at the blond cook's actions to be scared.

"Don't do anything to her, geezer! If you do anything to make her afraid, I'll never forgive you!"

Zeff considered his student and the girl behind him. "As if taking care of one brat wasn't enough, the one I saved goes and saves one of his own."

Sanji faltered. "You mean..."

"Hose her down before letting her take a turn in the bathroom," Zeff swiveled around, limping away again. "Cooks need to be spotless."

Sanji grinned from ear to ear. "Got it!"

He grabbed Btella's wrist and pulled her to the garden hose.

"What're you-"

She was interrupted by a spray of cold water. Sanji laughed at her disgruntled, drenched state.

"Welcome to the world of culinary arts, Btella! You're going to love it!" he sprayed the water at her again.

Btella peeked at him from under her bangs.

"Heehee~" he giggled.

_

Fire and bloodcurdling screams. Thick air and scarlet sprays. Tear inducing smoke and terrible fear and agony. A woman with dark blue eyes stared down at her, blood escaping her head like a ghastly waterfall of red.

"Run."

Btella took in a sharp gasp and sat up bolt upright in her new bed. She whipped around frantically, trying to recall where she was. The room was plain, the standard furniture scattered around the room with hardly any accents. The walls were a fading gray and the fluorescent light from the moon was cast through the window. The waves from the beach could be heard, its rhythm entering the little girl's blocked ears. Btella noticed that she was panting and tried to calm herself down.

She shivered, pulling her legs up to her chest and hugging them.

"I'm not scared... I'm not scared... I'm not scared..." Btella chanted to herself under her breath. Her eyes frighteningly wide. "I'm not scared... I'm not scared..."

"Btella?"

The chestnut haired girl snapped her head up to see Sanji in her doorway.

"San-"

Sanji placed a finger to his lips. "Shh!"

Btella clamped her mouth shut. Sanji grinned cheekily. "Want to go into the kitchen with me?"

The kitchen was small and the refrigerator ancient. The sound of its mechanisms were annoyingly loud and disturbed the entire building. Sanji glanced around the corner carefully before tiptoeing around and dashing inside the room. He ducked behind the counter, his hand peeked out and gestured for Btella to join him.

"What're we doing?" she asked, whispering under her breath. "Why are we sneaking around?"

Sanji grabbed a chair and began pulling it. The screech was loud as the chair's legs scratched across the floor. He froze for a second but when nothing happened, continued dragging it across the room. Btella watched apprehensively, knowing what it meant to be in the kitchen without permission.

"Oi, Sanji!" she yell whispered.

"You're so uptight, Btella," Sanji pouted. "Ever heard of being rebellious?"

The sound of a gunshot thundered into Btella's head.

She lowered her gaze and clenched her fist. Sanji climbed onto the chair and made room for her.

"Come on up!"

Btella gazed at him for a moment and he noticed the fear in her eyes. She took a step back, shaking her head.

"Btella...?"

The girl ran out of the kitchen.

_

"This is not how you clean dishware, lil' carrot!" Zeff hit her repeatedly with his hat. "You use water! WATER! Not oil!"

Tears sprang up in Btella's eyes and she ran behind Sanji, putting her hands on his shoulders.

"Stop yelling at her, kuso jiji!" Sanji growled at the chef.

"Don't spoil her like that, little brat! If she wants to stay here she needs to learn the difference between H2O and synthetic fat!"

"I'll teach her then!"

"Hoo..." Zeff looked down at the boy. "You think you're ready to teach someone else now, lil' eggplant!?"

"Of course not! But if it's something as simple as dishwashing, I think I can handle it!"

Btella went into her little gloom corner.

"I didn't mean to insult you, Btella..." Sanji said apologetically.

"Hmph," Zeff hobbled away. "I'll leave it to you then, lil' eggplant."

Sanji sent him a glare before the old man disappeared around a corner. He turned to Btella. "Sa. Show me how you normally wash the dishes."

Btella nodded, determination apparent. She jumped onto the stepping stool so she'd reach the height of the sink. She rolled up her sleeves and turned on the water.

"It's better to use warm water," Sanji instructed, turning the knob to adjust the temperature.

Btella's eyes brightened and she reached for a dirty dish and the soap bottle.

"Ah!" Sanji grabbed her wrist. "That's what you've been doing!"

"Nani?"

Sanji extracted the bottle and showed it to her. "Oil."

Btella's eyes turned into little dots. "Ah..."

Sanji laughed under his breath.

She blushed. "It's not funny..."

"Warui, warui," Sanji placed the oil back in the cupboard. "From now on, it'll be in here. That way you won't make the same mistake twice."

He grabbed the soap and handed it to her. "Here!"

Btella accepted it and began washing the dishes under Sanji's scrutiny.

"You need to prioritize cleaning the brim of the cup," Sanji said. "And when you have a big pot like this, you can place it below everything to collect the water and put everything in it. That way you don't waste water."

"Oh!" Btella was impressed. "I never thought of that."

"And after you clean everything with soap, place it aside," Sanji rolled up his own sleeves and began to help. "And clean out the pot. Then remember to wash off the suds with clean water. Don't use the dirty water you used to soak the dishes."

Btella nodded furiously. "You're more knowledgeable about cleaning up than cooking."

Sanji's eye twitched as he irately scrubbed a plate. "That's because the stupid old geezer won't teach me anything."

"He will," Btella swore.

Sanji turned to her in surprise. "How do you know?"

Btella met his eyes. "Because he will."

"That... explains nothing..." Sanji sweatdropped. "But..."

The brown haired girl was surprised to see a smile on his face.

"I don't mind, because he's a person I revere."

"You revere him?"

"Um, not so much as revere as the fact that I have no choice but to listen to him."

They kept washing dishes in silence until Sanji spoke up. "About last night... if I made you uncomfortable in any way-"

"It's nothing," Btella interrupted, placing a cup on the drying rack in finality.

"Right..." Sanji stared at her from the corner of his eyes.

_

It was dark. The wind was howling and the shadows in the bedroom sinister. Btella was wide awake in her bed, unable to sleep, yearning to never experience that dream again. Staring unseeingly at the ceiling.

She was cold.

_

Btella yawned as she weakly mopped the floor. She leaned on the handle, trying to keep on her feet.

"Oi, lil' carrot."

That voice was like a blaring alarm and Btella straightened up, immediately looking lively as she mopped. Zeff exhaled through his nose and gently pried the cleaning device away from her and crouched down to her level.

"Are you scared of me?"

Btella shook her head, looking at her feet.

Zeff placed his hands on her shoulders. "You've never looked me in the eye once in this past month."

Btella bit her bottom lip nervously.

Zeff suddenly pulled the girl into a hug, making her eyes enlarge. "I know. This world is a pitiful place isn't it? But you don't need to act so submissive anymore. Follow that brat Sanji's lead."

Btella flinched when Zeff began to rub her back soothingly.

"It was painful, right? It was tough, right?" Zeff's hand tightened on her back. "Having this scar on your back."

Btella's face scrunched up, her eyes began burning.

"You can cry," the cook's face was set in resolution. "Cry all you want. That way, after you're done. You can smile again."

Btella wrapped her arms around the old man and buried her face in his shoulder. Zeff smiled kindly as she wailed.

"There, there," Zeff's deep voice soothed, patting her back.

"Hey, old geezer," Sanji appeared in the doorway. "That mechanic is back. He wants to ask you some quest-"

He absorbed the scene in front of him. Zeff was in front of Btella. Btella was crying and sniffling. His eyes shadowed dangerously.

"Oi, shitty geezer! What did you-"

Btella ran to him and enveloped him in a tight hug. Sanji was taken aback as the little girl cried her heart out while clutching at his shirt.

"Sanji!" she wailed.

"B-btella!" Sanji didn't know what he should do. He became flustered and panicked.

"I'll go talk to the architect," Zeff slipped away.

"Oi!" Sanji barked at the retreating chef's hat. "You're leaving me!?"

"Good luck, lil' eggplant," Zeff waved uncaringly as he continued walking, not even sparing a glance.

Sanji tsked then placed his attention on his crying friend. He hesitated for a second before placing his hand on her head and patting it. Btella stopped crying abruptly and lifted her head.

"Are you okay?" he grumbled, a light blush on his cheeks.

Btella's face scrunched up again and she pounced on him, sobbing hysterically.

"Eeeek!" Sanji stumbled a bit, trying to keep from tumbling back. "What-what-what-what am I supposed to do?!"

Btella suppressed her sobs for a second to look up at him. "I can't sleep."

"Eh?" Sanji was becoming exhausted by all this.

"I keep having nightmares. What do I do about it?"

Sanji crossed his arms, thinking. He tapped his fist on his palm as an idea came to him. "You can always sleep with me."

She tilted her head. "Will that help?"

Sanji placed his hands on his hips and threw out his chest, acting manly. "Nightmares are no match for me."

Btella smiled. "Okay!"

Pink flowers were popping up everywhere around Sanji as he gazed at Btella adoringly. "You're so cute when you smile! Always smile! Never stop smiling, Btella!"

He grabbed her hand and wrapped his pinky around hers. "Promise me to always smile! Only in front of me though."

"That's greedy, little brat," Zeff had returned with a man in a crisp suit behind him. "And move over. You're blocking the doorway."

Sanji's pleasant nature faded away at the sight of him while Btella scurried to get out of the way. "Then just go around us, braided whiskers."

"Oh," the suited man noticed Btella. "Never seen you before."

"This is Btella, Stiff Suit!" Sanji introduced Btella excitedly. "And Btella, this is the guy that's building the restaurant for us. You know, the one I told you about."

"The one we're going to be working on?" Btella peeked over a table as the adults gathered around it.

"Yes," Stiff Suit spread a blueprint on the surface. "That is, if we can figure out the technicalities. With what it is now, it won't even be able to float, let alone do all the things you've asked for."

"I don't know why you're telling me this," Zeff rumbled. "You're the mechanic. Figure something out."

"I'm here because I'm telling you the fish head turning into a small boat isn't going to work! You need to give up on it!"

"Aw," Sanji pouted. "But that would've been cool."

"You heard the kid," Zeff said resolutely.

"Aaaagh!" Stiff Suit ran a hand through his hair. "But the fact is that it's not possible!"

"Why?" Btella asked. "Just alter the balance here and here..." she pointed at certain parts of the blueprint. "Then there won't be a danger of the ship sinking."

"Nonsense..." Stiff Suit muttered, grabbing the blueprints crossly. Slowly his eyes widened as he realized what Btella had said was correct. He stood frozen in their dining room, steam coming off his very red face. He finally cleared his throat and folded the paper up again. "I won't be bothering you with this again. If you'll excuse me."

He then scampered away, along with his briefcase.

"Sugoi, Btella!" Sanji praised. "How did you know?"

"I just do," Btella smiled nervously.

"This is good news," Zeff grabbed Btella's hand. "Will you do a few odds and ends in the house for us, lil' carrot?"

"Sure."

"Keep your mitts off her, kuso jiji!" Sanji grabbed her hand out of Zeff's. "I'll show her what needs to be fixed. You go away!"

With that, Sanji dragged Btella away, dust trailing behind them.

_

Sanji jumped into his bed and giggled, burrowing into the covers then popping his head out. "Come on in!"

Btella grinned and taking a step back, charged forward before leaping up. Sanji grunted when she landed on him.

"Sorry! Did I hurt you?!"

"I would be lying if I said no..." Sanji groaned in pain. "I'm fine. I'm fine."

Btella crawled into the blankets next to him.

"We should probably turn off the lights, huh?" Sanji began sitting up.

"Don't bother," Btella looked around and seeing a pencil on the bedside table, grabbed it, aimed, and flicked.

The pencil twirled around and around, flying toward the light switch. Sanji's mouth dropped open when it hit the target and the lights turned off.

Btella appeared satisfied and laid back down.

"You're amazing, Btella," Sanji expressed.

She shrugged. "It's nothing special."

"Nothing special? I can't do that!"

Btella gave him a look. "You can't turn off the lights?"

Sanji realized what she meant. "I mean with the pencil!"

"You're saying you can't turn off the lights?"

"...With the pencil..."

"You can't turn off the lights?" she repeated.

"I can... but-"

"Then what's so special about it?"

Sanji was defeated. Btella blinked at his expression.

"Ano sa," Sanji sparkled, remembering something. "Have I ever told you about All Blue?"

"Hm? What's that?"

"It's where all the seas, West, East, North, and South meet! It's an ocean with all the fish from each sea gather."

"Is that possible?"

"It is! And I'm going to find it! It's my dream to find it!"

Btella considered his excitement at the mention of this legendary sea. How his face lights up and his eyes dance.

"I'll help you," Btella told him.

"Really?" Sanji beamed.

Btella nodded. "I'll help you with this dream of yours."

Sanji became the sun. "Thanks! But this is only happening after I get the older geezer to recognize my cooking..."

And so, Btella listened to him talk, expressing his desires in excitement. They both fell asleep and Btella indeed did not have another nightmare.

_ _ _

Btella was bolting through the streets, the bag of groceries flying behind her. She narrowly missed being hit by a carriage and jumped through a display of cans. She rolled a bit before hopping onto her feet and running again like nothing had happened. Blood ran down her arm where something sharp had grazed her.

"Sanji, you idiot!" she growled under her breath as she flew passed stalls and stores.

Meanwhile...

Sanji gritted his teeth as the man lifted him up from the front of his shirt.

"You're all talk and no bite," the man chuckled darkly.

Sanji spat his cigarette at him, causing a round burn to materialize under his eye. The man winced and dropped Sanji. The blond chef took the chance to kick him across the face.

"Why you little...!" his comrades said in outrage.

"He he..." the man wiped away the blood spilling out of his nose. "You're begging for it, little snot."

"Take it back!" Sanji snarled. "Take back what you said!"

"What's so bad about what I said?" the man asked. "It's true. That restaurant of yours is filled by useless nobodies, the owner is a washed out pirate, and the only girl working there is a witch slut that deserves to be hanged."

"You bastard!" Sanji ran at him, kicking the living daylights out of the man.

His friend punched the chef away and two men grabbed his upper arms to hold him there. The man from before punched him right in the gut. Sanji gasped at the pain and the men let go of him. He fell to his knees, hugging his stomach and coughing.

"Had enough?"

Sanji's coughing died down and after a second, he lifted his head. A smile curled into existence. "Just kidding."

"Huh?!"

A grappling hook wrapped around a couple of the men and they cried out as they were lifted out of the dark alleyway.

"What the hell?!"

Something whizzed by their heads and knocked the rest of the man's followers out.

"Heh..." Sanji smirked, he did a handstand and did a move similar to a pinwheel as his legs continuously hit the man upside the head.

The man staggered back, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. A lean figure landed next to him and poked him slightly. The man fell flat on his face.

Sanji popped out another cigarette and lit it as the figure sheathed their weapons.

"Ten against two and we still win," he inhaled before letting out a string of smoke. "How pitiful."

Somebody stomped on his foot and he cried in agony, hopping up and down. He fell on his bottom, cradling his throbbing foot.

"Pitiful, eh?" Btella cracked her knuckles menacingly. "I'll show you pitiful."

"Belle! Wait! Let me explain!"

"I. Can't. Believe-!"

Sanji cringed, when the brown haired girl was right on top of him, her aura smothering.

"You tried to beat them up without me!" Btella finished. "What?! I don't deserve a kick on these jerks anymore?!"

"That's why I was stalling for time!" Sanji cowered. "I knew you were coming so I was stalling for time!"

"Che..."

Sanji felt the danger ebb away and sighed in relief.

"Let's go back," Btella held out a hand and Sanji grasped it. She pulled him up. "We're late as it is."

The teenagers walked out of the alley way, leaving behind the group of men either unconscious or hanging from the roofs, trying to wiggle themselves free.

They were on the open sea, sailing in Sanji's boat with the food loaded up in the back. Btella was tinkering with a flat board while Sanji watched the Baratie come into view.

"Owner Zeff and I keep telling you to stop smoking," Btella said through the nails hanging in her mouth, never looking up from her work. "It'll dull your taste buds."

Sanji blew out some smoke rings. "What about you and your crazy inventions blowing up the restaurant?"

"At least my extracurricular is productive," Btella grumbled, taking a nail out of her mouth. "You're going to regret it."

"What's this nagging coming from the Sauté chef?" Sanji grinned as he faced Btella.

"Don't pull rankings on me," Btella spared him a glare. "I'm the only waitress because you men keep scaring off the normal employees. Be grateful."

"I've been grateful, Btella," Sanji smiled.

Btella didn't seem to hear and she finished off what she had been working on. She smiled in satisfaction and slipped her wrench into her tool belt. "Done!"

"What is it?" Sanji leaned over her, looking down at the translucent board, the wires and gears shown through the plexiglass like material.

Btella grinned teasingly. "Watch."

She jumped over the railing.

"Oi!" Sanji ran to the side to see Btella skating across the water on her board. "Ooooh!" he said, impressed.

He heard Btella's laugh of triumph as she bent down to make a tight curve. Water spewing up at the speed. "I finally did it!"

This was followed by a giant explosion and a poof of dark smoke.

"Btella!" Sanji shouted. He dove into the water and swam to where the invention backfired. Btella was floating on her back, staring up at the blue sky.

"Dammit..." she muttered under her breath, letting out more smoke from her mouth and punching the water.

Sanji smiled sympathetically. "You'll get it. Come on, let's go back to the boat."

Btella straightened up and her glum expression turned into slyness. "Race you!"

She bulleted forward.

Btella lay on the deck as Sanji caught the wind with the sail. "I admit it. You won."

"As expected," Sanji bragged, pulling off his shirt and wringing the water out.

"Yeah, yeah," she took off her own shirt to reveal a bikini, in preparation of the invention malfunction similar to the one she had right now.

Sanji saw the mark burned onto her back and frowned. Even after all these years, she still refused to tell him what it meant. It was a circle with three triangles on the top, the skin around it a horrible burned texture. The color had faded out over the years, but there was no curing the scars around it. She had told him that he didn't need to know, and if he were meant to know, he would find out eventually.

Btella snapped the shirt and sprayed water onto Sanji. "What're you blanking out for, senpai?"

Sanji smiled. "Just appreciating your beauty."

Btella rolled her eyes. "Well, I don't appreciate your common flirting. Save it for the customers."

Sanji was about to retort when the boat skidded against the side of the Baratie and Btella jumped off to tie the boat to a post.

"I'm going to dry my hair and I'll come back to help you unload," she said, tying off the rope with a final tug.

"Aye, aye," Sanji did a mock salute as Btella disappeared into the restaurant.

"Oh, Btella!" the chefs in the kitchen greeted when she ran by. "You've been gone for a while!"

Btella smiled. "I was beating up some imbeciles by the market. Too bad you couldn't see."

"I don't doubt it," Carne chuckled.

She ran out and into the hallway where she bumped into Patty.

"Btella-san, you're soaking wet!" Patty exclaimed.

"I'm going to dry off now!" she ran up the steps.

"Be careful not to slip!"

"Hai!"

Patty went back into the kitchen.

"Ah, such a refreshing presence in the middle of this pig sty," one of the chefs commented on Btella.

"That's for damn sure," Patty began preparing meat.

"And if it wasn't for her, we wouldn't even be here," Carne tossed some vegetables over his shoulder and into a boiling pot.

"We would still be drinking in the nearest bar," Patty cut the meat into thin slices in a single second.

The door burst open and Btella came back in, her hair dried and clothed in dry garments.

"Add more seasoning to that, Kevin," she told them as she was passing by. "And some more green onions to that, Takahashi."

"Got it," the chefs called after her.

Btella jumped on top of Sanji's back as he was straightening out with a box full of produce.

"Ah aha ah!" Sanji said, almost spilling the cabbages.

"I'm back," Btella said, pulling him upright again.

"I'm aware," he gave her a grin. "Welcome back."

Btella grabbed her own box and they worked silently until the boat was emptied and the kitchen stocked.

"You're still planning to leave?" Sanji asked as they headed upstairs.

"Yeah," Btella replied. "As soon as I get the mechanics for the Wave Rider down."

Sanji kept silent, his eye downcast. Btella sensed his gloom and turned around, pausing on a step. Sanji blinked up at her.

"Hey," she grabbed his hand and wrapped her pinky around his. "I'll never forget this, okay?"

Sanji was shocked for a second before he smirked. "This coming from the person who takes almost a year to remember a new employee's name."

Btella glared playfully at him. "I'm trying hard to make a moment for us, you know."

Sanji pulled her into a hug and her eyes widened. "Visit from time to time."

Btella smiled and returned the embrace. "Of course."