The Approach
The sun was bright over the endless stretch of East Blue when Heaven's Embrace descended from the clouds.Wings folding like the petals of a mechanical flower, runes shimmering as the cloaking spell faded, the ship cut across the waves in full sea mode.
Ahead, floating on a massive anchored barge, the famous Baratie restaurant bustled with life. Its fish-shaped hull gleamed in the midday sun, the smell of seared meat and rich sauces carrying on the wind.
"Smells like heaven," Bell-mère said, inhaling deeply.
"Or like my kind of heaven," Vegito smirked, tail flicking. "Food, booze, and potential recruits."
From the deck, Nami eyed the floating structure with mild awe. "I've heard about Baratie… best food in the East Blue, but pricey. And the head chef's got a reputation for kicking customers out if they mouth off."
"Then it's a good thing my charm's unstoppable," Vegito grinned.
Kuina muttered, "Your 'charm' usually starts fights."
"Semantics."
Dockside Drama
The crew pulled alongside the floating restaurant, attracting plenty of stares from dockworkers and sailors alike. Heaven's Embrace was already the talk of the sea — a vessel like nothing anyone had seen before.
A Baratie waiter froze mid-step on the dock, his tray of drinks wobbling dangerously as his eyes traveled up the ship's runed hull and dragon-woman figurehead.
"...The hell kind of ship is that?" he muttered.
"The kind that's about to make you rich in tips," Vegito said as he leapt down, offering the man a grin that was somehow both friendly and cocky.
First Sight of Sanji
Inside, the Baratie was packed — the chatter of diners, the clink of cutlery, the sizzle from the open kitchen. And then there was the man himself.
Sanji emerged from the kitchen like he'd just stepped out of a shōjo manga: cigarette between his lips, golden hair over one eye, tray balanced effortlessly on one hand. He spun between tables like a dancer, serving plates with a flourish, every movement designed to impress.
Then he saw Nami.
BOOM — hearts practically exploded out of his eyes."Ahhh… An angel descended upon this humble sea! Milady, please allow me to—"
"Sit down, curly-brow," Vegito cut in, yanking Sanji back by the collar.
Sanji coughed, spun, and gave Vegito a once-over. "And who the hell are you?"
"Guy who can eat twice your weight in food and still have room for dessert."
"Oh yeah?" Sanji's grin turned competitive. "I can outcook any man alive. Including you."
"Buddy, I once made stew in the middle of a meteor shower using lightning as a stove."
They leaned in until their foreheads touched, a faint electric crackle of rivalry in the air.
Bell-mère sighed. "Here we go…"
The Reunion
Before the "argument" could escalate further, a voice cut in.
"…Sanji."
The cook froze. Slowly, his gaze drifted past Vegito to the woman standing near the door to the dining hall — Reiju.
His cigarette fell from his mouth."…Sis?"
The entire room went quiet. Sanji took two steps forward, almost as if afraid she'd vanish if he moved too quickly.
"It's really you?" he said, voice unsteady.
Reiju smiled — a real, warm smile that made her eyes shine. "It's me, little brother."
Sanji blinked hard, swallowing. "I… thought I'd never—"
"She's free now," Vegito cut in, clapping him on the shoulder. "And no thanks to your old man."
Sanji's jaw tightened at the mention of Judge, but he didn't argue. Instead, he looked back to Reiju, his voice cracking just a little. "…Welcome back."
Rom-Com Chaos – Alvida's Entrance
The emotional moment was shattered when the Baratie's front doors slammed open with the force of a cannon shot.
In stepped Alvida — slim, stunning, and moving as if the world itself were her runway. Her black hair shimmered, her curves seemed to move in slow motion, and yes, there were inexplicable sparkles and rose petals swirling around her.
Every single patron froze mid-bite.
Her eyes locked onto Vegito like a hawk spotting prey.She pointed dramatically, her voice ringing through the restaurant:
"YOU! The man who stole my heart and left me adrift! Take! Responsibility!"
A fork clattered to the floor. Somewhere, a baby started crying.
Sanji's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "…You lucky bastard."
"Not helping, curly-brow," Vegito muttered.
Banter Escalation
From that point on, nothing in the Baratie was normal.
Sanji and Vegito's banter spiraled into Dragon Ball gag manga levels of absurdity:
They argued over who could eat faster, ending with both shoving entire roast chickens into their mouths at once.
They competed to charm every female crewmember — Sanji with flowery declarations, Vegito by just existing.
They insulted each other's cooking in increasingly ridiculous ways ("Your soup tastes like a ship's bilge!" / "At least my stew doesn't look like sea king puke!").
Tables shook. Drinks toppled. Patrons ducked for cover as the verbal war raged.
Don Krieg's Mistake
The chaos hit its peak when the Baratie's doors slammed open again. This time, it wasn't a lovestruck pirate — it was Don Krieg and his battered, hungry crew.
"We're taking this restaurant!" Krieg bellowed.
"Wrong day for you, gold-plating," Vegito said, cracking his neck.
Sanji lit a fresh cigarette. "Mind if I join?"
And just like that, they were a tag team.
The Fight
If Krieg thought he could intimidate anyone in this room, he was wrong.Vegito and Sanji tore through his men like a storm — Sanji's kicks snapping necks (figuratively) and sending pirates flying, Vegito casually backhanding attackers into walls, breaking armor with single taps, and making it all look easy.
When Krieg himself swung a massive spiked club at Vegito, the Saiyan caught it in one hand. "You call this a weapon? I've eaten ribs bigger than this."
Sanji drop-kicked Krieg in the gut for good measure.
Within minutes, the dining hall was a wreck… but Krieg and his men were unconscious, neatly piled outside the door.
Departure
By the time they left, Baratie's chefs were cheering and waving them off. Sanji lingered at the dock, watching Reiju until the ship's gangplank pulled up.
"You take care of her," he called to Vegito.
"Always do." Vegito grinned, saluted, and Heaven's Embrace lifted into the sky once more — bound for Reverse Mountain.