? '------ {. ' 'COOK ' '.} '------ '?

It took Sanji two months to start gaining weight without Law hovering over him, and it took two more months for Sanji to start moving around normally. Sanji itched to cook, it 's been too long since he 's prepared anything. Corazon was an okay cook when he managed to stand long enough to make something, and Zeff even started to cook dinners while hobbling around on the wooden leg that Law had given him, muttering about how he didn 't care if the old man walked or not.

Sanji wanted to cook.

So, he did.

? '------ {. ' '? ' '.} '------ '?

'Old Man Zeff! ' Sanji yelled, 'Teach me to cook! '

'Why should I teach a shrimp like you to cook? ' the old man didn 't even look at him, but Sanji wasn 't going to give up easily.

'I want to cook, I want to be the best cook! ' Sanji insisted. 'When I find the All Blue, I want to cook everything! '

'Hn, you just look like a pipsqueak to me, ' Zeff squinted at him, and Sanji stood tall. 'Peel those potatoes, brat. '

? '------ {. ' 'STRENGTH ' '.} '------ '?

'Okay, Sanji 's turn! ' Luffy chirped, beaming too happily for someone who 's been smacking his nakama around like ragdolls for the past hour.

Sanji nervously shuffled closer and let Luffy tie the blindfold around his eyes. He was ways away from the others, given how he 's been recovering and not able to move for a while, but he needed to catch up. He wanted to be strong.

A stick bonked over his head and Sanji grit his teeth.

'Try to feel for the attack, ' Law 's strict voice informed, 'It 's all about feeling right now. '

Sanji tried to feel for the stupid stick, only for it to hit his shoulder. Sabo had gone before him, and he had only been hit four times compared to Ace 's seventeen. Sanji wanted to get that good because when you watched Sabo, you could see that he could feel the attack like Law spoke of.

Sanji felt, listening intently, and waiting.

He got hit in the elbow.

Sanji felt for the attack.

His head was struck next.

Sanji felt.

Felt, felt, felt.

And it was like he could see the attack, so he moved his head, and felt nothing.

'Yay, go Sanji! ' Luffy chirped behind him, and Sanji peeked from under his blindfold.

'I did it? ' he asked, confused.

'Yes, ' Law smirked, 'Took you nineteen tries, but you did it. '

'My turn! ' Penguin said cheerfully.

'Let Sanji have a few more. ' Law said, nodding to Luffy.

The top of Sanji 's skull got hit.

Sanji felt, and he dodged.

Sanji felt, and he got hit.

Hit, dodged, hit, hit, dodged.

By the twenty-fifth struck, Sanji successfully dodged four hits. Sanji beamed as he made his way to the group that had already gone, it was a start and a damn good one!

? '------ {. ' '? ' '.} '------ '?

'Cooks pride their hands, boy! ' Zeff barked, 'So you can 't attack with your hands! '

Sanji pursed his lips, so what was he supposed to attack with?

'Your legs, boy, ' Zeff stressed.

And that was the beginning of Sanji 's leg training.

? '------ {. ' 'COMMITMENT ' '.} '------ '?

'Sanji, ' Luffy said, smiling.

'Y ' Yes? ' Sanji sputtered.

'Do you want to join my crew? ' Luffy asked him, tilting his head to the side.

'I thought I already did? ' Sanji felt dread in his gut.

'You didn 't mean it then, ' Luffy said lightly, still smiling, 'Do you want to join my crew, Sanji? '

Sanji 's bottom lip trembled, 'Yes! '