Intertwined

She was a red-headed beauty, he was misunderstood, yet they both intertwined their lives in the rarest of ways. Ace/Nami

Chapter One: Two Worlds

Nami was in her room, texting on her phone before school. She was one of the most popular people at G.D. Roger High, the other members being Margaret, Boa Hancock and Nico Robin who were also her best friends. Margaret was the caring, nice one, Boa was the beauty queen and Robin was the one who knew everything about everyone. Nami was the confident one who had a thing for tangerines but things they all had in common was that they were beautiful, nice, smart and popular. Sure, Boa was claimed to be a bit mean but she really was caring underneath, Nami knew.

Nojiko, Nami's older sister, entered the room, "I can't believe you're still trying to text Hancock! She's probably killing another guy. You know how she is."

"Yeah, but it was his fault," Nami shrugged, "Maybe I should text Robin instead..."

"Or maybe you should go to school," said Nojiko, rolling her eyes, "I'll drive you."

Nami sighed and threw her phone into her bag before zipping it up and throwing it over one shoulder. School. She knew it was important and she was actually a good student but that still didn't mean she liked it. She walked out into the hallway where a picture of her deceased mother, Bellemere, was.

"Hey, mum," Nami smiled, "Hancock probably killed boy. I the boys would stop making up those stories..."

"Nami!" shouted Nojiko.

"Coming!" she yelled, smiling at the picture again, "Bye, mum!"

The car engine was running when she got in, "That sounds good for the environment."

"Since when did you care for the environment?" asked Nojiko, raising an eyebrow and pulling out of the driveway, "Honestly, it's always tangerines, money, friends, homework, texting... Hey, how about a boyfriend?"

"What!"

"You know you've never had one. Do you like anyone? Luffy, Zoro, Sanji... Ace?"

"Ace?"

"Yeah, why not? He seems like a nice guy, besides, you know, beating up thugs."

"He's... different..."

Nojiko looked at her, "Nami, different is another word for weird. I saw Ace and Luffy with Mr. Shanks once and he looked really happy. He just sounds misunderstood. Did you know his mother died giving birth to him? He's like you in a way. And his father died too so he's adoptive brothers with Luffy. You should be nice to him. It's hard for him... Just like us."

Nami was speechless. She had never heard her sister say such a long lecture. Usually, it was just a one sentence sarcastic comment. She got her bag and got out of the car since she had arrived at school, "Yeah, yeah, sure" she mumbled, before looking at the time, "Crap, I'm late!"

Meanwhile...

"ACE!" shouted Garp, "If you don't get down here in five minutes, I'm coming up and knocking you to school!"

Ace rolled his eyes. What happened to normal grandfathers? He wondered if his own grandfather could be any worse.

"AND WEAR A SHIRT! WHY YOU THINK YOU'RE SO IMMUNE TO THE COLD!"

"LUFFY HARDLY WEARS ANYTHING EITHER!"

"AT LEAST HE'S NOT SHIRTLESS!"

"Shishishi!" laughed Luffy, sitting on his bed where he and Ace shared a room.

"Shut up, Luffy," said Ace but he was grinning, "I'm still sneaking out without a shirt. Besides, Franky barely has any pants, so my problem can't be that bad."

"OK," grinned Luffy, "Can I come too?"

"Yeah," said Ace, putting on one of his boots, "Maybe, if we're lucky, we can find a thug."

They hopped out the window and landed safely on the front lawn.

"Oi, Grandpa, we're walking!" Luffy shouted, "... And beating up people!"

"Baka! Don't tell him!"

Surprisingly, Garp said, "Yeah, go wild."

"OK..." said Ace, "Meh, come on, Luffy."

Garp smiled when they left. You're so much like your father, Ace... Only your father wore a shirt. He grinned, Those kids are doing more for this town than the police are.

"Geez, not one thug," said Ace, when they reached the school gates.

"Isn't that good?" asked Luffy.

"Yeah but that was my perfect late excuse. 'Oh, don't worry sir, I was just in a punch-up with a couple of thugs and saved this person.' That is the perfect late excuse."

"Your first teacher is Shanks. He wouldn't mind."

"Because he's my carer since your real Dad's in the army."

"And... late again," said the principal, Silvers Rayleigh, "Let me guess... thugs?"

"No, there were no..." Luffy started.

Ace slammed his hand over his mouth, "Yeah!"

Rayleigh looked at them suspiciously, "Well... OK, then. Hurry off to class then."

They both ran off.

"See you, Luffy!" shouted Ace, running in a different direction to his class.

OK, just around this corner... Nami and Ace thought.

And... BAM!

"Gomenasai!" said Nami automatically and looking up, "Hey, you're..."

But he already ran off, holding his books, "Gomen ne, but I have to get to class!"

Nami stared after him, "Wow, he really doesn't wear a shirt... Nice muscles... wait, what am I saying?" She sighed and picked up her books, "Hey, these aren't mine..."