"What do you mean! You're clearly passionate. And that Passion carries you! That's why you're perfect! And if you're thinking about it. Might as well! You'd make a perfect addition to the Crew of the Future King of The Pirates!" Leroy argued

"Pfft.. Future King of the Pirates? Wow, now that-" suddenly there was a loud bang from one of the doors on the opposite side of the boat. Causing all of them to snap to attention.

Shouting and screaming suddenly being heard

"Alright, Everyone! Chill out!" Spoke a man with a sword drawn. He was a notorious wandering blade by the name of Gisei. He looked to be wounded. His kimono robes were tattered and cut up. They seemed to be small incisions across the fabric that caused a large amount of superficial bleeding.

Wandering Blades...Rouge Swordsman that dedicated their life to the blade, their only goal was to get stronger, and to fight every swordsman they saw. And work their way to the strongest swordsman in the world.

"You think he followed us here? We let our boat go drifting into the Horizon..." Spoke a man that was slumped over the shoulder of another. A wound across his chest seemed to have stopped bleeding as an arm seemed to have been amputated from the elbow down. A loose rag was used to stop the bleeding.

"What? Of course, he followed. But he still probably thinks we're on that fuckin ship..." responded the swordsman that was holding the man

There were about seven of them all that seemed to be worse for wear. "Just our luck huh? Trying to go head to head wit-"

"Try not to speak moron! He punctured your lung!" Spoke a tall blade. The leader Gisei spoke up once more as cooks from the kitchen suddenly began filling out.

It was a strange sight to see, but the looks on their faces said that they meant business. Holding large utensils for butchering huge animals, some with harpoons the size of their bodies, while others wielded huge cutting knives

"What the hell is goin' on out here!" Spoke the voice of Ducasse as he walked out of the kitchen with a large boning knife in his hand. It was a look that even someone like noir would find unfamiliar. A scowl was strewn across his face. His eyes seemingly shadowed as he came to the front of the restaurant.

"You must be the owner" Spoke Gisei. His hand on his sheath.

"Look we don't want any trouble. We just need to take control of this ship until the coast is clear. And we'll sail to the nearest Island! And you can have your..." He looked around with a confused look "Restaurant? Back."

"Like hell, I'd let some piss ant blades like you threaten us!" He said lifting the blade up. He knew who these men were. Wandering blades were famous for people searching for strong opponents that followed either the Bushido code or wanted a good fight. Notorious for their strength and their skill with a blade in hope of one day challenging the greatest and strongest.

Giesei let out a sigh as suddenly a loud clank was heard! He drew his sword and attempted to strike down Ducasse! The rest of the blades follow suit and unsheathing their weapons and attempting to attempt to strike to the chefs that were standing guard with their weapons!

But suddenly! A Force stopped the blade from striking!

It was Noir!

Flicking his leg through the air, he pushed the blade up and back at Giesei, who stumbled backwards. Then in the same move, Noir landed on his hands, and pushed himself from the floor into another! Planting both feet into him and using him as another launch off to kick a third and final in a round house.

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By this point Leroy had already gotten up to watch the events unfold! He too leapt forward and dived quick enough to move a group of the chefs out of the way of one of the heavy strikes! A large crash was heard!

"You guys alright?" Leroy questioned as he stood to his feet, making sure the Chefs were alright. Murmurs of confirmation filled the air as they groaned, looking stunned as they had been rearranged in a blur of speed. This Readying themselves properly to face the Wandering Blades.

Ducasse had been one of the people that Leroy had suddenly moved, The Chef and The Captain both moving to protect him. "Damn. I've gotten slow. Too slow since my days out on the sea..."

*

Gordon Ducasse.

Once known as the Crimson Maw. Long before he was ever a restaurant owner.

He was a pirate on the High Seas. Taking from the richest there could ever be. And giving it back to those that truly deserved it.

All the while, he hopped from crew to crew as a chef. Using his experience to improve his skill and to use what he had at his disposal!

That was until one faithful day in a storm. He'd paid a shipping travel company to sail him through the Calm Belts and through the Grand Line to take him on a once in a life time opportunity in the North Blue. He figured it'd make for a great little break from the Pirate life.

He'd rented a temporary vessel, hired another crew, and began to hunt in the upper northern section of the North Blue. What was he looking for? Why a creature of legend that had been stalking wayward sailors. He figured that he'd kill himself and then cook it! Make the finest dish he could with it.

"Ship! Up ahead!" Spoke one of the Look outs, causing Ducasse to see what the fuss was about.

Peering through the Spyglass. Wasn't a ship, but a dinghy! And...Was that a child?

"You fuckin' idiot sandwich, thats not a ship! That's a raft!"

"Alter course to bring that ship alongside!" He screamed.

With quick work, the ship was steered to allow the dinghy to graze gently up along the side.

Peering over, the edge, he was met with the face of a scrawny, sunken face boy peering back up at him.

The rain beat down on the cabin around them as the young boy sat in the seat across from the desk in the Captains Quarters. His hands resting in his lap, with a sullen lost look across his face as he hung his head.

Clack! A dish was set in front of him, the smell of garlic, and tomato sauce filling his noes caused him to look up, light gleaming in his eyes as he literally drooled while looking at it!

"Ratatouille. Best I could do in such short-" Ducasse was interrupted as the clanging and clattering of metal against ceramic glass cut him off.

The young boy was scarfing it down! Tears rolling down his eyes as he spooned mouthful after mouthful of vegetable in, only to stop for a second to bring his arms to his chest. A loud 'Mmmmm!!!' coming from him

"Heh. Glad you like it." Ducasse dragged a chair across the wood and sat in front of the boy. Waiting only for when he was finished to ask the question

"What's your name, kid?"

At first. The boy didn't respond. A strange fearful look coming over his face.

After hearing the name. Ducasse thought it was best for him to take a new name. For a new life.

Pinot Noir.

The Ducasse would come later, to eventually be added onto the name

After that. Ducasse called the entire voyage off. And took the boy back with him to the East Blue. Where then, Ducasse decided to retire and start a restaurant. Figuring with this child starting a new life, that maybe he should too.