Author Notes and Review Replies will be at the end of each chapter. Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece. This is my contribution to the Kilguin Sumfest 2016! This weeks topic: Summer Food! If you want to find out more or join in with this, check out: Kilguin on tumblr and you should find the blog! Anyway, hope you like this!

Chapter One: Sick of the Sun

The doorman didn't have enough time to accomplish his duty of opening the doors as the young master beat him to it. Swinging open the carved wooden frames, he wasted no time in marching down the short steps and out onto the front. The doorman watched him nervously before the doors closed back into place. Penguin had stopped just at the edge of the perfectly manicured lawn, circular in shape and surrounded by the gravel of the path. He inhaled sharply and curled his upper lip at the thick air. It was devoid of moisture in any sense of the word and the dryness was almost as irritating as some of those who resided within the great manor.

After a few more minutes of staring down at the immaculate shine of his boots, he decided it was going to take more than just a few steps outside to calm his nerves. Adjusting his cap to shield his eyes from the scowl of the sun, he started his walk down to the main gardens. Despite the yielding softness of the grass beneath and the sweet chatter of birds in the trees he approached, Penguin could not bend the frown upon his expression. It only tightened as he recalled the conversation within the house.

The demand for his interaction of politics in the city was a constant discussion. Along with the attendance at the meetings and after-parties where he would no doubt build his reputation. The relentless mentions of it and the growing interest in his status as a bachelor only became more infuriating. When would his uncle return from the North to send Penguins intolerant, distant cousins away? They'd wanted nothing to do with him until he'd come of age and it was only now when his uncle Sir Trafalgar D. Water Law had business out of the county that they decided to step in. The young master did not trust them at all.

This particular evening he'd walked in on them in the drawing room, laughing amicably over tea and cakes that even if the young master did travel to the city, he'd be eaten alive by the proper politicians and businessman. From outside the door the young man had heard them disapprove his medical aspirations and intentions to help the local town improve their businesses. Penguin had the bittersweet triumph of bursting in just as they'd finished another joke. Leaving Madam Mint spluttering over her teacup and Sir Sandhurst choking over his cigar. The young master had said nothing, simply stared silently before leaving, not afraid to slam the door behind him.

Now he was past the small orchard and flower garden, entering the fruits and vegetable patches. He paused among the entwines of Strawberries. Nestled in the earth, cushioned with their leaves. Penguin pursed his lips. Stopping off at the end of one of the neat green rows, he picked up one of the servants small woven baskets and knelt down to peer and pick at the ruby fruits. He was fond of the gardens but knew how Sir Sandhurst especially enjoyed the strawberries and if Penguin could cut his selection short, he would do.

Now content with his pickings. Penguin left the farming grounds, walking out onto the grassy land surrounding the lake. The young master looked over the mirror-like water and to the few trees offering shade for those sick of the sun and he spied one to his right that looked perfect for sulking beneath. His sour expression was finally softened with surprise as he realised someone was sitting a few feet away from the tree, just out of his line of vision before.

Penguin instinctively quietened his movements and as he got to the tree and peered around cautiously. Who would be lounging about in his garden? No staff would dare, let alone a towns-person. Whoever it was, the young master could only see a mass of flaxen hair that no doubt spited the sun. He was sitting upon a patchwork blanket, a basket at his side.

"I know you're there"

Penguins nails dug into the bark and his shoulders jumped at the deep voice. The blonde man had not even turned around and yet knew he was there? Penguin was tempted to pretend he wasn't but he wasn't going to be so childish. Instead he appeared from behind the trunk and sheepishly clasped his hands behind his back. As he approached, he hoped the position wouldn't seem nervous and would instead seem more regal.

Standing so he could see the man from the front, his eyes were immediately drawn to the striped blue and white scarf around his neck, hiding his face from the nose downwards. His eyes were obscured by the thickness of his fringe. He was of bulky stature and tall judging by the length of his legs dressed in a greyish-blue material. His feet were adorned with fallow brown boots. His muscular torso wasn't well disguised by the rather-tight fitting white shirt folded up at the elbows. It was smudged with black markings, giving him an even more rough appearance.

"Ah" was all the stranger said and Penguin narrowed his eyes.

"Who are you and why are you here?"

"Can't a man enjoy his picnic?"

"You do know you're on private property?"

The blonde titled his head back slightly, before turning to look over his shoulder and he must have finally spotted the manor, only small looking in the distance.

"I thought I might have gotten away with it this far out"

Penguin very much wanted to tell him he hadn't but something yielded in his gut. What was the point of putting someone out their way and ruining their afternoon when the young master himself knew how bitter it was to have it done to him.

"Well you can get away with it if you let me join you" Penguin announced, tone undeniably haughty and the other man stilled before relaxing back. The young master could have sworn he was grinning under his scarf.

"Sure"

The scarf was something that bothered Penguin. He was struggling with the braces on his shirt causing friction on his shoulders in the heat. How this man could wear a scarf was beyond him.

He'd sat, placing the strawberries down which the blonde clearly looked to.

"Sorting out a picnic yourself?" he questioned the young master.

"If only out of spite" Penguin replied with a hiss.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

The young master blushed slightly and started absently removing the fruits from the basket and picking off the larger leaves and stems. He didn't mean to bring up his aggravations.

"It's nothing...just a few problems back home"

The blonde said nothing, after a few moments Penguin realised he was expecting him to continue so he took the chance to change the subject.

"Would you like some?" he gestured to the strawberries neatly sorted back in the basket, the leafy remains on the grass around them outside the blanket.

"If you're offering" was the response, a smile in his words and the young master relaxed. He watched as large hands reached for the fruits. White scars littered the back of his knuckles and Penguin ignored the urge to pry.

"So you live up at the big house I assume?" the man questioned, twirling the strawberry around in his fingertips.

"Yes, my uncle owns it…" Penguin trailed off slightly as he watched the other bring his hand up to the upper hem of his scarf as though to pull it down. Of course he would have to if he was to eat. Though to the shock of the young master, he simply split it in the middle where the folds didn't meet and popped the strawberry in his mouth. Penguin never did see any of his face. The aggravation on the younger man's lips must have been clear as the blonde chuckled.

"Rude to stare" he commented.

Penguin spluttered slightly on dry air. A blush searing to his cheeks again and he huffed angrily to himself. He went to awkwardly apologise when the other spoke up again.

"What's your name?"

"Penguin"

"Pengun?"

"N-no, not quite, the 'i' is softly pronounced" the young master explained. The other just nodded.

"My name is Kirā, nice to meet you" he raised a hand for Penguin to shake. The young master did so with a polite nod.

"And you too...where are you from?"

"The South, I'm travelling through"

"Are you a merchant?" Penguin asked. It was one of the most common travelling professions nowadays, or at least from judging Kirā's appearance. He didn't look like a businessman or doctor.

Kirā didn't respond for a few seconds but Penguin thought nothing of it.

"Something like that, I sell for a living, so yeah" he shrugged. "What about you? Are you rich for a living or is there something else that takes up your time other than angrily marching through the gardens?"

The smirk in his voice made Penguin momentarily bristle but he knew the other meant well. He offered an awkward smile.

"I'm interested in medicine, like my uncle. He's a doctor. Though my cousins who are living with me at the moment want me to go into the city for politics and business" he scowled at the end. Making no effort to hide his distaste.

"Another jab at your aspirations today then I assume?" Kirā had turned briefly to collect some flasks of drink from his very traditional basket. He offered one to Penguin.

"Yes...what is this?"

"It's a juice from the South, it's nothing alcoholic don't worry"

The young master shot him a look.

"I'm old enough to drink"

"But who would want to on a day like today? There's no hydration in alcohol" Kirā explained lightly, though Penguin felt he'd managed a swift recovery from formerly assuming Penguin to be too young. He unscrewed the cap and sipped it.

"It's...really nice! How have you managed to keep it cool in this weather?" Penguin exclaimed.

Kirā laughed.

"It's part of the ingredients, very refreshing, the flasks help as well"

"Wonderful, may I keep drinking?"

The blonde laughed again, clearly amused by the young master. He nodded. Penguin continued eagerly before placing it down with a delighted gasp.

"It reminds me of the ice cream we would make back home, you couldn't find anything more lovely to eat on hot days. Though we had very few days like today up North" Penguin rambled with a fond smile.

"Are you from up North?"

"Yes, well, I was born there and lived there until I was eleven, then I moved here"

"Do you miss your ice cream then?"

"Not really, we have the ingredients for it with me in the house. My uncle always makes sure to collect more when he travels "

"Do you not want to go with him?"

Penguin wasn't used to having a conversation about him that didn't revolve around his future. He enjoyed discussing the little joys of his childhood and his family.

"I would, but I won't leave the house in the hands of my cousins. Plus I fear I would just get in the way"

Kirā shrugged. He reached back again into his basket and this time collected some brown paper packages. Inside he revealed them to be clean cut sandwiches, the bread fluffy and pale.

"Would you like one?"

"What are they?"

"Sandwiches"

Kirā and Penguin looked at one another puzzled for a few moments before Penguin laughed.

"I mean what is the filling?"

"Oh, yeah...It's cheese and ham, I'm not very interesting"

"That sounds nice, yes please"

Kirā handed him two in the crinkled paper. He glanced to the slim, almost artistic hands of the young master. That drew him to look over his attire in general. He wore a clean, well ironed white shirt under charcoal braces. His trousers were a similar dark shade and on his feet he wore polished, high black boots. Just under his knees. Not exactly weather appropriate. At least his eyes were protected from the sun with his cap.

"Didn't expect you to wear a cap like that, it's very like what a towns-person or farmer would own"

Penguin had settled his sandwiches in his lap whilst he knelt and lifted his hands to clutch his hat.

"I prefer them like this, besides, the rest of me is far too hot. Can you imagine wearing a top hat in this weather?" he sighed with a small smile."Speaking of which, why on earth are you wearing a scarf?"

Kirā was surprised it had taken this long to question it. He usually got asked about it when it wasn't baking hot out anyway.

"It's made of a very versatile material" he lifted it up at the ends and stretched it out to show an almost webbed effect of the thin fabric. "It actually keeps me cool, it's not too hot anyway and the heat it does give me causes my body to counteract it more. It's like drinking a hot drink on a hot day so you sweat more and cool down".

Penguin raised his eyebrows. He was pretty impressed but still didn't much like the idea of wearing traditionally winter attire on a day like today.

The afternoon continued well past the peak of sunlight in which the two moved the blanket under the shade of the tree for some relief. Until finally the sky began to sear and darken with the setting sun.

"Oh gosh, it's so late! I better go or they'll send out some kind of search party" Penguin exclaimed, standing and sliding his braces back up from when he'd loosened them earlier.

Kirā just watched him silently, even as the young master muttered something like,

"Probably hope they find me dead".

Kirā didn't respond, but grimaced beneath his scarf. Though his expression softened when the young master turned to him, fiddling with his wrists.

"Will you be here tomorrow?"

Kirā didn't intend to be. He really was only passing through and figured this would be a nice place to stop and eat. That and the weather was far too sticky to go far. His current business plan had a deadline that was't too distant too.

"Sure" he nodded to Penguin who lifted his shoulders and beamed.

A/N: This turned out wayyyy longer than a oneshot, so it's going to be a full, varied chapter story. I'm uploading the first chapter today so I don't miss the topic deadline, and will upload the rest as time goes on.

Anyway, I hope you like it so far! There's probably some nineteenth century inaccuracies but it's not really based in any one country. I'm from England so I think of Britain but really it's more of a non-existent place.

You might recognise my OC's, Arabella Mint and Sandhurst from my "Mint Leaves, Blue Thorns" ahahaha.

-LAW09

CHAPTER TWO UPDATE: Sunday 24th July 2016