[SERIOUS] CHAPTER 2: Blue-Band Pirates set sail!: The Mysterious Cunning Cook

[Somewhere at sea, Grandline]

[RECAP]

Ko and Callen have just escaped the angry herd of people and are now at sea. Ko pointed out their next location and what they will do there. Ko is now looking for a talented cook to join his crew or become his Nakama. So now we will return to the present.
[PRESENT]
Ko yawned as he started to lie down on his back. "I wonder how this cook is like.." he thought as he looked as the sky. "Today's gonna be a clear day" he said to his mate Callen who was sailing the ship. Ko then caught a sight of the island "FULL SPEED AHEAD!!" he yelled as he pointed and the Island that was in sight.

[[Jaya island]]

The restaurant was busy, really busy , but it was now one of the most popular restaurants in the grand line. The blonde haired boy spinned the pan as the rice flew and landed back in the pan. He was cooking with speed and moving it skllfully as the fire blew all around on the stove. He added more seasoning and grinned , this was going to be a good finish by the look of things. The bell rang "JULIAN!!! ORDERS UPP, One fried rice with tomato chicken, is it ready?" HE presented the two dishes and his golden fried rice was completed "Ok its done Mr Donti... can i have a break now?" Donti nodded as he took the order "Yeah ok, but no more than 30 minutes, need you back in here!!!" Julian grinned as he picked up his lunch which was some bread and went outside, he was going to think of somethings while eating,it was going to be a busy day at work after all

[[Julian Rodriguez]]
[[200,000 beli]]

"We're already full speed ahead, I cannot control the winds or the waves to get us to go faster." Callen grumbled but did not say it out loud for his captain to hear it so not ti dampen the other's excited mood. It can't be helped since the other wanted to find the next crew member though he have to wonder- why a cook? And why specfically a cook?

He shook his head,smiling slightly, seeing that maybe his captain do have some sort of plan in his head though not really much. But it's a start.

.......wait a minute.....

Callen wonder slightly why he has to be the one sailing- he's 12 for Pete's sake! Wait, he wonder slightly if the other even knows how sail at all. What kind of captain did he join....?
Callen secretly look at his captain with disdain before looking at the island ahead.
Let's see what their usual magnet trouble selves would bring them.

Ko stared at Callen who was mumbling under his breath with a weird expression. "What is he thinking?" he thought as his belly started to grumble. "Aww, man we need to find this cook quick or my belly is gonna let out a surprise...." he whispered as he clenched his belly. They then arrived at the small village and got off the boat. The village was busy with loads of people doing shopping and what-not, "What a pain in the ass now it's gonna take us a life-time to find him..." said as he slowly took out a bounty poster of the cook. He then walked up to a villager and asked "Have you seen this man any-where?" while pointing at the poster. Suddenly the man fell to the ground and started to crawl away, he had a frightened expression on his face and he was shaking. " Weird..." Ko thought as he started to progress into the busy village.

Jaya Island had been pleasant thus far for Rhyme. Quiet, no problems, no one asking to hire him out. Just a relaxing day with a full belly and a day free... and he was hating it. They was no challenge here, nothing to push him to his limits. He couldn't even find a pirate crew to join, not that he expected them to be advertising. The first island in his grand journey of self discovery and nothing was happening! Rhyme was already making plans to get off the island when he came upon an interesting scene: some local, if the wear was anything to go by, was crawling away from a red haired kid holding up a piece of paper. At least it was the most interesting thing to happen today.

"Is their some kind of problem?" his gruff voice asked as he stepped in front of the red head, blocking his path. "I'm not from around here but it looks like you're starting trouble."

"Huh?" Ko says as young bald man approached him. Ko quickly bent down and apologized, After bending Ko got out the poster once again and pointed at the man in the picture. "Im not from here too but have you seen this man?" he asked as he pointed and looked back at his crew-mate Callen who was again mumbling something.

As soon as they made it on the island, Callen immediately took the vision of the busy town in his head, looking left to right to see anyone else who would look at them the wrong way and see if they would becausing them trouble in the future. Gawsh, he hopes not. He kinda wanted to get this cook that Ko is so dead set on and get out of this town without.causing any trouble. But knowing his captain, and his unexplainable luck for trouble, he highly doubts it.
Why is he following this guy?
Oh right, because there is no way he could go out to see by himself.

He watches his captain carefully of course, trying to resist the urge to disappear like the ninja he is and explore the whole place. It is rather tempting..... But his captain comes first in a way. In a way.

It was then that when Ko had ask a man about the guy in the poster, the other crawling away from them as if they were the plague itself, and Callen couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"What's with him...?" The archeologist couldn't help but ask though he wasn't exactly expecting an answer seeing how confuse his captain is himself.

And then, this bald dude came up to them, making Callen raise another eyebrow. The child decided it's better not to ask.
Callen sigh as he heard his captain ask the other where the cook is once again. The other is as new as they were. There is no guarantee that he knew the other on poster even if he had been here for a day, it's a pretty big town.

"Senchou, he's a cook, right?" Callen deadpanned, sweatdropping at his captain's lack common sense. "Why don't we try the local restaurants and see if he works there."

Rhyme glanced over from the wanted poster to the child who appeared to be traveling with this Senchou. Clever kid.

"Yeah; if he's a cook you are bound to find him at one of the restaurants. In fact," Rhyme again turned backed to the poster, looking at it carefully. "I think I've seen him today. While I was eating I swear I saw him cooking in the kitchen."

"Heheh...." Ko thought as sweat started to drop from his fore-head. Why didn't he think of checking a restaurant in the first place? Ko then asked the young man "Which restaurant did you last him at?" while folding up the poster and slipping it into his pocket. Before the man answered Ko looked up at the sky and thought "What the!?.... A storm is approaching." Ko quickly turned round and told Callen to search the area for any shelter, Ko then turned back to the young bald man and awaited an answer for him.

[[Back at the retaurant]]

His break was over and he was cooking again, Julian was spinning the pan while seasoning his sauce which was brewing in the other pot. He was moving his hands fast as well, cooking was nice, but being a lone cook in a restaurant kitchen was hard work. Julian then whipped the rice onto the plate along with the cooked meat and hit the bell "ORDER UP!!!!" The owner picked up the plates and served them. Suddenly three men in grey suits walked in and pointed guns at the owner "Good evening Mr Donti... we are the Grey haired pirates, and we are here to demand protection money..." Julian was shocked at how straight foward they were. Mr Donti grunted "Get the hell out of my restaurant punk..... this is Anubis pirates territory remember?!!!" The man in the middle laughed as Donti said this and pointed his machine gun at him "Didnt YOU here.... the big guy, Anubis , has gone to the New World... he doesnt have anymore interest in this sea.... some of us are planning a coup to take back the island from Anubis's small force stationed here....." Donti grimaced as the gun was close. Julian removed his apron and dashed to the cabinet, it had his speciality weapons. Donti was adamant and was brave "I dont answer to thugs... especially not like you kids...... so back off...." Before one of the grey suited pirates was about to shoot, all of a sudden, their machine guns were sliced in one swoop. It was Julian and he was carrying a double edged sabre which was emitting blue ice from it "If you want to do this... lets settle outside......"

The sudden storm didn't shock Rhyme at all. He grew up in the Grandline, he had seen much stranger. "I can bring you to the restaurant he was at. But if you don't find him there I'll have to start charging for my time." He turned, gesturing for the Red headed stranger to follow. "This way."

The restaurant was near, so the walk was short. Approaching the establishment though he could hear someone speaking in a otherwise dead silent place. 'If you want to do this... lets settle outside......'

"This may complicate things."

Callen didn't seen shocked by the upcoming storm. He did live in the Grandline and have plently of opportunity to be familiar with the rather ever changing weather of the Grandline at sea. He's not a navigator or anything but anyone who is anyone in the Grandline would be able to surpass these bipolar weather and Callen is one of them despite only using a sail boat.

But anyway, his captain is right- they should go and find shelter soon. The storm seemed big, judging by how the air pressure seem to drop and the humidity gone up. And the dark clouds in the distance is a big sign that practically said "storm is coming!" if not the sound of thunder far away.
He didn't say anything as he opts that it's probably a good idea just to shut up and watch how things would go from here as he saw his captain following the bald guy towards the restaurant that he claims that he saw the cook at.
It was then that he also heard a voice motioning over about a fight that should be taken outside, which made Callen's eyes shine in interest. While he's an archeologist, he's also an informant in his own right. Yeah, he could recognize most of these people through bounty and other things, due to the fact that he has his own stack of bounties that he could look over in his bag, but he's not one to sprout out information on whoever he deemed interest
He could probably say a lot of things about his captain through what he got from hisinformation network and probably a lot about the bald guy who he knows the name of.
But they didn't really need to know about how much he knows- that is what got him in trouble with the marines and a bounty to boot it, in the first place.

But when he gets over excited and curious... It tends to sprout out.

Like now, when he heard the voice and the fact that the Gray-haired pirates here, he couldn't help but go further ahead from the other two behind him to get into the restaurant to see what's going on, not surprise to see the guns in pieces or the sabre in a cook's hand. He looked more interested and curious rather than fearful of what is happening like any other kid in his age- judging by the shines in his eyes. He already have a notebook out for reference to write down what he deems necessary without a thought if his safety or life.
Meet the other side of Callen: the informant side.

Ko turned around to check if Callen was gone however he was still here. Something seemed odd with Callen his eyes were twinkling and he was holding a notepad which seems he kept in his pocket. "What a sudden change of personality...." Ko thought as sweat came down his cheek. He then turned round and followed the man who was kindly leading him to his destination.
However something felt off... this strange feeling that Ko had last-time right before he met that Marine named Arasu ,was this strange yet exciting feeling called.... Sense of Adventure?

Looking into the restaurant, Rhyme caught sight of the hostile scene. He turned to look at the two he lead here. The read headed one had a gleam in his eye that put Rhyme off a bit; and the other, a young boy, had a notepad out, which greatly confused the tracker. "I'll take my chances inside," he muttered to himself as he stepped into the restaurant turned battlefield.

"Excuse me," he said evenly to get everyone's attention. "I'm sure something very serious is going on here and I really hate to interrupt it, but two, um, men have business with this cook." He pointed to the blonde haired chef. "So maybe you can finish this argument after they speak with the cook? If that's okay with you gentlemen, I mean."

"Thank you" Ko said as he bowed to the young man who had lead him here. He then turned to face the cook who was about to get out the restaurant "Hold it" Ko said as he started to get out the cook's bounty poster. Once he had got it out Ko pointed to the one in the picture and said "Julian Rodriguez, a cook with a fairly high bounty.... Im hoping that you will accept the invite to my crew. " After saying this he turned to Callen and whispered "Im I inviting him right?" sweat started to pour down his fore-head.

Julian looked to the two new people in the restaurant and sighed, he wasnt expecting customers right now. But then he asked him to join his crew and Julian felt like laughing a bit "Thats a tempting offer, but i refuse... i have a restaurant to cook for and Mr Donti has been good to me...." By the time they had finished talking the grey haired pirate grunts had already headed for the exit, without their guns they were powerless to fight Julian and these new guys to. Julian then sighed again "They got away , sorry Mr donti.... they might come with a gang next time..." Mr Donti sat on the chair nearby "Dont worry about it kid..... i aint too old to let some punks try to take my restaurant... now then, you chaps want food or what?" He was refering to Ko's party.

"Come to think of it... I could use some food" Ko said as his belly started to rumble. He then entered the restaurant and picked up the Menu. "Hmm.. the food here is quite expensive...." he thought as he scanned the menu. Ko then got out some beli that he had got from taking down a few wanted pirates. The money Ko took out was around 95-100 beli. "Ill take anything I can buy with this amount of money" he said as he looked at the beli.

Rhyme watched the exchange between the red head and cook, Julian or something like that, with growing interest. So the stranger he lead here was making a crew, huh?

After Julian turned down the red head's offer Sambad followed the man around. He grabbed a seat and offered the read head one as well. "Sorry the cook said no. But did I hear right? Are you building a crew? Are you a pirate then, or just some sailor looking for company?" While waiting for an answer he orded some water- he had a feeling much talking was about to transpire.

"I can't believe you are thinking of food right now at a time like this....." Callen sighed as he shook is head.
"Also, do you have to be so blunt in asking him to join?" He deadpanned, considering he never heard of a person that would just bluntly as them to join them without rhyme nor reason. Then again, Ko did this to him too- ask him to join when they are considerably strangers with no history together. But shouldn't the captain be a little wary?

Though Callen knows enough about Julian to know that the man is a good man and a rather decent one at that (only through the information he got though) but he doubts that his captain even knows as much about this guy as he does.
He might as well just give up on trying to understand his captain.

Callen took a bag of belis from his small waist bag and gave it to his captain.
"There is 500 belis in that bag. Go crazy." He said as he started to walk off, not hungry nor does he particularly want to stick around for too long when there are other things that need his attention.
Like those gray haired pirates. He heard of then but doesn't have much information on them. He got enough information about the people here so why stick around when he could learn something entirely new?

"I'll see you later Senchou."

"500!?" Ko's eyes began to shine as he thought about all the food he can order. He then began to drool a little but held it in, Ko then turned to Callen and said "Leaving already?, Guess it can't helped but be back in a few minutes because I might need you...."
Ko then turned to the young man who lead them here. "Yes, Yes I do one a crew its named "Blue-Band Pirates!" Ko then began to giggle a little and ordered a turkey followed by some soup. He then turned back to the young man and asked "Why did you ask?"

Rhyme let a small smirk cross over his lips. "Well you see I came to Jaya looking for pirates, specifically the Anubis crew. But I arrive here only to find out they have moved on to the New World. I was actually getting ready to leave since they aren't here but I got lucky running into you."

He took a sip of his water, pausing for his statement. "I want to join a pirate crew. One that is sure to be pushed to it's limits."

Ko paused for a second and quickly looked over to the young man. "Did you just say you want to join a crew?" Excitement took over Ko's face as he dropped his fork "Then why not join mine!?, you could be a great addition to the crew however.. I do not know your name, may you please inform me of it?" Ko asked with a smile on his face. He then awaited a response from the young man and the food that he ordered earlier.

Callen wave his hand over his shoulder as to gesture that he understand what his captain needs, though it is also somehow supplied that he can't make any progress. A few minutes are rather unrealistic since anything could happen in a few minutes and there is more likely the fact that he might get into some kind of trouble on the way.... Well, it's not like it's anything new to him really. But except for going out in the open and just hiding in plain site, due to the fact that he's just a kid so many people would easily look down at him, he'll just stick to the shadow.

Well, this might also give time for his captain to go use his charm and get him some new crewmate, which worries him slightly but he knows that Ko's sense of people is rather amazing. Unorthodox but rather percise.

At that instant, as soon as he exit out of the place, he ran towards the boxes where they would lead him to the roof tops and headed towards where he remember the pirates that were here had ran towards.
Yes, he's going to spy on them but since he doesn't want to leave Ko for too long, being as danger prone as he is, he tries to make this little information gathering quick.

He looks up at the sky for the moment and sigh. Please senchou, keep yourself out of trouble.

Rhyme allowed himself to smile back at the Blue-Band captain. He took another sip from his glass then continued the conversation. "Of course: my name is Sambad Rhyme, professional man-hunter! I can track anyone anywhere, be it around the Red Line or through the Grandline." He allowed himself to bask in his own ego for a moment before trying to seal the deal. "Just two questions on my end. Who are you exactly, Blue-Band captain? And will your travels be dangerous, life-threatening even?" He awaited the answer letting himself fill with hope.

"Me?" Ko asked as began to chuckle a little. "Im Ko Massaki the Navigator and Captain of the Blue-Band Pirates!" he yelled making everybody stare at him for a few seconds. He then began to lower his voice and said "Dangerous is my middle name.... so far we battle head to head with a Marine Captain and 25 marines soldiers." Ko began to giggle a little more but then stopped.... something felt wrong.... he approached a window and put his hand out it. The atmosphere levels began to drop and the sky was turning into a very dark color of grey. "Damn it the storm is back.... Callen hurry-up!" he thought as he pulled his hand back, he then went back to his seat and started to slowly eat his food.