บท 24: Chapter 024

"Collier Shoot!" he yelled. The kick made contact with Gin's neck and snapped his collarbone. Gin choked and fell over backwards onto the ground, and Sanji nailed him on the head with his heel, ending the fight. He panted heavily and straightened. The pirates backed away from him in fear, not believing that Gin had been defeated.

Don Krieg grimaced. "That Gin is a disgrace. He's done the one thing he wasn't allowed to do. He's failed me!"

"You speak as if you're going to fare any better," Luffy said mockingly. Krieg growled, and the surrounding pirates started jeering at Luffy.

"You stupid punk! Gin may have lost but Don Krieg is the strongest! The Don Krieg pirates are the best in East Blue!"

Luffy shrugged lazily. "If by that you mean that they have the best numbers, then OK." The pirates fumed at his words, but Krieg kept a calm countenance.

"You hit me once boy. Consider yourself lucky. It won't happen again." Luffy raised both eyebrows sky high, then leapt towards Krieg. Before he could pull out his spiked cape as he had planned, or even react, Luffy sank his fist into his gut, denting the steel armor considerably. Krieg fell to the ground gasping for breath. The armor had caved in and was crushing his torso, cutting off the air that was trying to flow into his lungs. He tried to suck in air, but to no avail, and only gained a wheezing fit for his efforts. Finally, he groaned out.

"Take it off. Please…" he managed. Luffy was disgusted.

"That's the great Don Krieg for you," he said with a chuckle. "Glorifying himself one moment, and then groveling at someone's feet the next." He waved his leg in a swift Rankyaku, which cut Krieg's armor in two. The man gasped for breath, letting sweet air fill his lungs, and then glared up at Luffy in fury.

"I don't suppose you'll leave in shame knowing that you received help from your enemy?" Luffy asked.

Krieg responded by lunging at Luffy in a reckless rush. Luffy met him with a backhand to the head, feeling the crack of bones in Krieg's face. Krieg fell onto his side, defeated.

Gin had woken up and watched in shock from where he lay. The Don had been defeated. The impossible had just happened. A small part of his mind that was gradually expanding criticized his naïveté and chastised him for ever believing that his captain was unbeatable in the first place. Why had he ever believed that when there was an abundance of evidence to prove otherwise? Because he wanted to believe it? Because he had to believe it?

The Krieg pirates had slumped in defeat from the moment their captain was knocked out as the chefs all roared in victory. Gin groaned as he got up unsteadily, Sanji watching his every move. He walked over to where Krieg lay and stared down at him. "This is our…loss," he said quietly. He picked up Krieg and slung him over his shoulder. "Men, let's get out of here," he said tiredly. "Thanks for everything, Sanji-san."

"Sure," Sanji said with a wave. "Don't ever come back, you shitty asshole." He turned to Patty and Carne, who had both recovered. "Get him a boat," he ordered. They protested loudly before Sanji yelled at them. They then told him not to order them around so much before fetching the boat obediently.

Gin turned to Luffy one last time. "Kid, I'll see you in the Grand Line." Luffy nodded happily.

"I look forward to it!"

After the Krieg Pirates left, Luffy turned back to Sanji. "Well, I'm heading out soon. Feel like coming with me yet?"

"You speak as if I'll change my mind at some point," Sanji pointed out.

Luffy shrugged. "I guess we'll see."

Sanji hesitated a moment, then turned to him with a wide grin on his face. "Hey, have you ever heard of All Blue?" he asked excitedly. Luffy didn't really want to lie and so he responded that he had. Sanji went on to explain the legend of the chef's paradise anyway, and Luffy listened intently, nodding the whole time.

That was when Zeff walked up to him and nodded his thanks to Luffy, who just smiled back. "Actually Sanji, this is perfect. You almost just got my restaurant destroyed. Why don't you go along with Straw Hat here so I never have to see your face again?" Zeff asked in lazily.

"Keep dreaming old man," Sanji said stubbornly. They stared each other down for a full minute before Zeff finally sighed. To hell with this.

"Sanji, your cooking and pride as a chef are renowned by everyone that calls this restaurant their home, including myself. Not a single day has gone by when I have regretted my decision all those years ago. You have made me proud to call you my assistant head chef, and I want to see you fulfill the dream that I never could. Now get lost, you shitty little eggplant."

Sanji had stiffened in shock at the words he was hearing, and even Luffy's eyes widened. As if a dam had broken, tears welled up in Sanji's eyes as he fell to his hands and knees. "Zeff!" he shouted as he cried hysterically. "For all you've done for me over the years, I know I owe you a hell of a lot, and I'm going to spend every day from here on out continuing to make you proud!" This was too much for the other chefs, especially Patty and Carne, who all broke down crying as well.

Sanji stood up, and Luffy burst out laughing. "Man, that was great! I'll never forget that. So, what do you think? Wanna come along now?"

"Shut up, you rubber bastard!" Sanji yelled halfheartedly as he wiped the tears from his eyes. "Let's go already!"

"You and I both have foolish dreams, Sanji. I can't wait to see how this plays out," Luffy said mirthfully. As they got yet another boat ready, the cooks shouted out their goodbyes to Sanji.

"You son of a bitch!" Patty yelled in between hiccups.

"We're gonna miss you!" Carne yelled in between sobs.

"I'll see you around, you shitty bastards!" Sanji shouted. Zeff couldn't help himself, and his eyes teared up as well as theirsmall boat sailed out to sea.