The tale of catching dreams

Disclaimer: Even if I wish I would, I do not own One Piece or its characters. All belongs to lucky Oda-sensei.

Even if this is my very first fanfic, I hope you are going to enjoy it nevertheless.

The announced pairing will appear later on, but since this is also an adventure story, the pair needs time to develop, okay? ;)

If you are going to find spelling mistakes, I allow you to keep them

No, please tell me. Since I'm actually German, my grammar and spelling will be no real pleasure, so please tell me so that I can improve

So..enough babbling, here's my first chapter.

Chapter 1: Everything's alright?

It was a warm day on one of those spring islands located somewhere on the Grand Line.

Bright rays of the morning sun dove the whole landscape into a soft light,

giving everyone the feeling of utterly perfection.

With the dew sparkling from the grass, the picture completed.

Nothing bad could ever happen in a place like this.

Who would dare to disturb such a dream?

The most remarkable object you'd see when arriving by boat was the small cottage which throned on the giant hill facing the peaceful (and still sleeping) fishermen's village you'd be aiming at at that moment.

Now there was a light breeze blowing through its window, causing the dark hair of a young man to join the wind in its dance.

He sat on the window-sill and leaned against the wall, sighing deeply.

On his stomach rested an old-looking strawhat.

As if noticing this just in that second, he started to trace the lines on it with his middle finger while chewing on something unrecognisable.

'Wheew, it's so boring, boring boring. Why can't we just go out and do something??', he suddenly pouted.

A green-haired man sighed and cast a sideway glance at him up from his game of chess.

His head still rested on his left arm while setting his opponent mated with the other.

Without really looking at the strawhat-boy, he plainly pressed out

something like 'Man, I'm trying to concentrate, so just be quiet and chew.'

'But Zoroo, I don't want to just chew, I want ADVENTURE!'

With that said, strawhat Luffy jumped up and began to punch the air around him wildly.

'Would you just shut the hell up!? I'm losing right now and I would sure as

hell not advise you to have something to do with it afterwards !', a very very angered Usoppu cried out.

Luffy made a face at him.

'People, just hanging around will do nothing efficient.', Sanji muttered out matter-of-factly and then mumbled '..not that you jerks could manage something like that anyways…'

Merely a second later, the chessboard came flying through the air, just to be dodged by the cook's foot.

'You stupid idiot of a', Zoro's insult was interrupted by a loud yawn of his captain, followed by stretching and another round of chewing on that thing.

Sanji showed the swordsman his index finger which was answered by a cocked eyebrow and a very furious expression .

Still, Zoro decided to just sit down,…having just woken up, he was way to tired for crappy stuff like that so-called cook.

He leaned against the back of his chair, slowly drifting away into his slumber.

The last thing he heard was the bewildered question of their marksmen.

'Guys, d'you actually reckon where Nami is?'

Her feet dangled in the mild ocean water, causing a prickling feeling

to jolt throughout her whole body.

Yet she was way too sunk in her thoughts to notice it.

Nami sat on a slim plank, her face wearing a very dreamy look.

Although she had something small enclosed in her hand, the navigator seemed

as if she couldn't care less.

Somewhere in between her eyes and her hand, her mind got lost and instead

chased after a thought in her inside.

But she didn't not know where to search first.

There were reminders from time to time, carefully spreaded throughout her

memory without any logical order. She was totally confused.

Last night, she didn't sleep well at all.

Within the last few weeks, sleep had become something bad for her since

it was always giving her past the chance of intruding her head.

But what really bothered her was the dream she had this night.

She could not connect it with anything she had ever thought or witnessed before

and had therefore no idea about what the dream meant to hint at.

In the beginning, she considered it to be an ordinary dream about her

life with Bellemere, since there were tangerines everywhere.

But the fruits soon started to flow through the air, forming to strange forms just

to lose shape again. Tongues ran out of them, then fingers were pointed

at Nami's little former self and laughter could be heard all over her mom's plantation.

Nami woke up startled, just to find herself in a bed with her companions

lying to her feet and mumbling senseless things into the cold air of the night.

She sighed.

Another dream like every night. Yet so different.

Sighing again, she pressed her face into the pillow, trying to get those images out of her head.

In that situation, the constant snoring of her crewmembers was a welcome noise.

Everything was better than silence, so she imagined what their words might mean.

That night, she tried all she could not to fall asleep again.

Nevertheless, the darkness surrounding her tempted her to just lay down

and join the others in their slumber.

From her point of view, that was way too dangerous, so she quietly slipped out of bed, put on some clothes and left out of the open window.

Breathing in the fresh air outside, she could feel a burden fall from her.

Nami stretched and then began to run down into the village, stopping here

and there to cast a glance at the perfect landscape around her.

As she arrived in the center of the village, something took her breath away that most of the people wouldn't even notice.

Not because it was too small or not so important, but just because it didn't fit into

this world of utterly beauty.

The little port was built out of wood and as it seemed was allowed to

elder continuously in contrast to…everything else on this island.

The wood was muffy and rotten, every step causing.a creepy noise.

This imperfection in the world of perfection made her stand there awestruck.

And so Nami ended up where she sat, now looking into the water in a puzzled way

and observing her reflection.

Something just isn't right with me.

With a concerned expression on his face, Sanji left the room they had

all just been inside of a second ago.

What could have caused her to go? She could've at least told someone what she's up to…

Hopefully, no

'…nothing happened to her, now that we only just saved her from that Arlong guy.', Zorro said to Luffy and Usoppu while leaving the room and slamming the door shut.

The cook shot a sideways glance at him.

For the swordswaver that was almost an emotional outburst.

He shrugged and sighed deeply, he had some far more important things

to care about than this carrothead.

'She's probably just gone out for a stroll. You know her, something caught

her interest and with that, she left. She'll be back by noon.', Usoppu stated calmly.

'Yeah, and because we know her, we go and look for her, baka. Most likely she sits in some corner defending herself for stealing from some pirate or somethin'', was the

only answer from the crew's swordsmen before he grabbed hold of Luffy's collar and

pulled him out of the cottage.

After another thoughtful glare at Zorro, he quickly followed them.

He must be seeing things that weren't there.

'Couldn't it be that she just left for eating?', the captain's naïve voice spoke out, 'since Sanji overslept, she must have been really hungry, I guess.'

'Don't talk such nonsense, Luffy, she knows exactly that she could wake

me up every time she wants for every wish she may have. Such beauty cannot…', with that,

Sanji's voice trailed off, leaving the ending of his sentence up to everyone's imagination.

The fact that his eyes took the shape of hearts didn't really help them to

keep their thoughts clean though.

As the four boys went down the path leading to the village, a sudden scream

could be heard all over the isle.

Panicked eyes met as the boys looked at each other.

That wasn't their navigator. That was a fact.

But who else would be screaming at such an inhuman time of the day?

Their pace quickened rapidly as they hurried down into the village.

Whatever caused that scream to happen, they would not give it the chance to affect Nami!

With the wish to wash away her thoughts by eating breakfast, Nami stood up,

put the tiny thing she held in her hand in the side pocket of her skirt and

searched for the nearest restaurant around.

The girl soon found what she was looking for and entered a café in a neat yet narrow alley.

Her breath slowed down as she found her captain grinning in her direction.

He's worth a nice amount of Berry though, too bad that I won't get that money.

She grinned at that thought.

Even if Nami always said that money and tangerines (and more money ;) ) were

the most important things to her, she would never ever betray one

of her friends for gaining money.

What a shame! Considering what I could buy for that amount…

She laughed to herself and set down at a table in a corner of the building.

Men, what time is it actually? There are so many people around already..I didn't even notice the sunrise.

She faced the wooden top of the table in thought as she all of a sudden heard someone muttering in the café's entrance.

'That kid is never ever worth so much money. Look at him. He has most likely never entered a real ship.', a male voice mocked her captain, just to be followed by the giggling of some preadolescent girls.

Nami watched them closely out of the corner of her eyes.

He was just one stone throw away from getting one head shorter.

Her mood wasn't the best anyways and bashing anyone insultingher crew was a

convenient way of getting lost of her pent-up anger.

But she nevertheless hoped that this kid would just shut up.

Beating weak underages really was beneath her, no matter what they did.

At least that was what she thought of herself.

'Hey pretty one, mind if we join you?', the very same boy dared to ask her just a mere

second later.

She threw a dark look at him.

'What makes you think that I actually wants this?', she spat out angered.

The boy just ignored her rejection and was about to sit down when Nami made him stop.

'Don't you dare sit down or I'll break your pathetic little neck.', she threatened him in a low, deathly voice.

For a moment, he and his girls just watched her in shock, but he then straightened himself.

'It seems to me that your mum wasn't capable of a ..-', he taunted.

In less than the twinkling of an eye, he was pinioned against the wall with

a knife pressed at his throat. Her chair crashed on the floor, followed by her glass that

loudly flew into flinders.

'Finish your sentence if your life isn't worth anything to you.'

It was then that his girlfriends noticed what was going on, one of them letting out an earpiercing scream.

Oh holy shit. Keep it down. I don't need anyone interfering here.

'May I ask', the boy stammered anxiously, 'why you're so mad at me? I was just meaning to be nice to you..'

Nami, what are you doing? You have to keep your head clear.

Her expression softened a little, her knife was put back in its hold

but her glance at him remained cold as ice.

'Let this be a lesson to you, boy.

Never insult a pirate captain without looking for potential crewmembers first. I am quite a nice one, though. If I were someone else, you'd already been dead.', with that, she ignored him, took her bag and searched another table to continue her former attended breakfast.

Nami even decided to pay for the table she's damaged.

She really did not had enough sleep last night.

The young boy hurried out of the shop, followed by his two girly shadows.

He breathlessly leaned against the next best wall.

'Man, that was a creepy woman. Besides, who would've guessed that such pirates would be around anyways? Who does she think she is?', he began to rant.

'Shopping?', a hollow voice asked.

'Oh, whatever.'

With that, the trio left.

Luffy chuckled.

'Naaa this sounded like Nami, didn't it?'

'Sure as hell…who else could have frightened that brat like this?', Zorro smirked.

'Let's get going, people. We have to look for Nami-san.'

While Luffy already hopped away with Usoppu and Sanji following , Zorro shot a last killing glance towards the stupid blondie.

What's up with that guy anyways?

'Didn't I tell you that she would just be eating. I am the knowing captain after all.'

'Oh, just you shut up, baka.'

'How could Nami-swan prefer that crappy cooking here to mine?'

'Oi, Nami, did you have to scare that little kid to death?'

Nami looked up from her scrambled eggs upon hearing the familiar voices.

'Ne Zorro, at least I left it at scaring him to death, didn't I?', she smirked and

watched her whole crew entering the café and coming in her direction.

Usoppu piped up.

'You know, Nami, you could've at least told us where you were going. We thought something happened to you.'

Nami smiled warmly.

'I'm sorry, but I just didn't feel like waking you up at 1 o'clock.'

She stood up and paid for her food.

Nami silently decided not to pay for the table.

Her crewmembers understood the I-don't-want-to-talk-about-what-happened-tone in her voice.

All except of Luffy.

'Neee Nami. What happened? Why'd you wake up that early? Have been hungry, huh?',

he asked in a childish manner, the trade-mark grin plastered on his face..

'Ano, Luffy. Don't worry about it. You wouldn't understand it anyway.', she laughed and left with the other crewmembers.

Luffy's eyes vanished under the shadow of his strawhat.

He stood there for several seconds, doing nothing but staring into space and thinking.

Yes, he was actually thinking.

So, I wouldn't understand, huh?

The moment lasted for an eternity and yet just for a second.

'Hey, someone needs to pay for that stupid table!!', the owner of the café suddenly shouted.

Luffy grinned. 'Sorry, I just happen to be cash-strapped!'

And with that, he was gone.

The five of them walked in silence for several minutes, the boys all thinking about the

same but none of them daring to ask their navigator about it.

She was way too bitchy when she got annoyed.

Nami all of a sudden stopped walking and let herself fall on the grass under her feet.

The boys turned their heads and looked somewhat between curious and surprised.

'I had a bad dream.', she stated as a matter of fact.

Upon hearing that, the boys joined her on the grass, waiting for her to continue her story.

Even Zorro did not fake falling asleep so as not having to listen to what she had to say.

His curiousity got the better of him.

'But don't make fun of me afterwards. Never before did I tell everyone, so just

listen and keep your mouths shut. ..Please.'

'Of course, Nami-san, I'd never make fun of you. And if one of those st', Sanji did not manage to finish his sentence, seeing that the back of a sword landed in his stomach.

'Cut it down, ahou.'

Usoppu and Luffy just grinned and nodded in agreement.

The girl took a deep breath.

'Yosh have you ever heard of visions?'

After about half an hour later , Nami had finished telling her friends almost all about the last weeks.

The fear. The pain. That all had come back.

Only her tears remained her secret , since she did not want to worry the others too much.

Sanji took another drag from his cigarette, while Zorro and Luffy stared

in the sky absorbed in thoughts.

'Quite something, ne', Usoppu finally broke the heavy silence.

Nami couldn't express in words how thankful she was for this, so she just

answered this with a smile.

'And do you actually have a clue what this all has to mean?', Zorro asked and

looked her straight into the eyes.

Normally Nami was used and therefore not affected by this stare, but in the moment she

just couldn't stand it and thus broke their eye contact.

'That's what depresses me so much. I have absolutely no idea.'

Luffy let out an angered sigh.

'Then let's find out!'

'Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh?!'

Sanji let go of his cigarette, just to have a frightened Usoppu jump up and grind it.

'You could've killed us', he screamed.

Zorro smirked.

'Stupid love-cook, your goofiness is incredible.'

'Guard your tongue, bastard.'

'Oi…', Luffy tried to interfere.

'Feel my blades, blondie!'

'Never ever call me blondie again or I'll serve you as a dessert.'

Usoppu backed off to Nami as the two of them watched the scenery in shock.

They fought all the time, but Zorro never pulled his swords at Sanji.

Nor did he usually stop smoking.

Something wasn't right with them either.

It must be something with this stupid 'perfect' island, Nami silently thought to herself.

Zorro violently lunged at Sanji who was about to kick his head off of his shoulders.

'YAMETE YO!', Luffy ordered with undescribable force in his voice.

All four stared at him in utter shock.

'or I'll punch both of you', he continued grinning.

'Let's finally get going, we need someone who can read dreams!'

Zorro and Sanji stared at each other for a moment, then drew back and agreed.

Usoppu stood up laughing.

'Finally, my idea got accepted!' he perverted the facts.

Enthusiastically, the four men started to think about their plan.

'Ano, how d'you actually plan to find a dream reader here?', Nami broke in.

'If you don't mind, I could be of help.'

Surprised, they all turned their hands. Surprisingly, no one had sensed the man's arrival.

He was almost double the size of Sanji, completely hooded in a thick

black cape, leaving only his eyes visible for the crew.

They were blue as steel and cold as ice.

'I'm Alastair. I heard you're looking for a dream reader. Follow me then.'

Nami sweatdropped.

Luffy grinned and grimaced at the others. 'See, it is easy!'

Sanji and Usoppu shrugged (even if Usoppu had a scared long upon his face,..

the others were there, so he didn't care) and followed their captain.

Zorro clasped one of his swords as a precaution and was about to head

after them when he saw Nami hesitating.

His lips turned into a small smile as he went up to her and laid one hand on her shoulder.

She looked at him with a blank expression.

He patted her shoulder and whispered 'I guess he's alright, so let's get going.'

Nami sighed and grimaced at him.

'After all, it's my dream that ought to be read, so what do you think I'm going to do?', she laughed and sped off after the others.

Zorro stood in silent for a moment, then shook his head, smirked and ran after her.

Let's hope that I'm right.