This got started by a random little plot bunny that entered my mind and won't leave until I had to write down. Then more ideas come along, so this developed into a full-blown story. Not all of the One Piece characters will be in here, unless I can find a valid and solid reason for their appearance.

Black Rose- Sometimes the darkest red roses are called 'black roses'. Symbolizes death or to say farewell. They can send a positive message of rebirth and new beginnings.

- - - - - –

When she come to, all the the nine-year-old can feel is pain. It's everywhere and it makes the young girl cry out, alerting nearby nurses that she's awake. They ask questions, but all she can do is tell them over and over about the pain. One nurse gives her a pill to swallow.

The pain melts away away and she drifts off to sleep.

Her dreams are disjointed memories of the accident: A rainy night, her sister next to her, hold her hand as she slept, then of a scream and the feeling of being flipped upside down.

Then there is the sight if blood on concrete. Of a arm poking out the window.

She wakes up screaming.

After two weeks, the girl is moved from the ICU unit to the normal room. She shares a room with a blue-haired girl named Vivi. She holds a stuffed yellow duck in her hands. "What's your name?" Vivi inquires.

"..Nami."

- - - - - –

It's during her lunch that she meets him.

"Wanna be in my pirate gang?" He asks. "Vivi's in it, She's the princess of a land called Alabasta . And we're saving it from the evil pirates."

Vivi nods in agreement. "I play sometimes."

Nami looks at him. He has on straw hat and has a grin from ear to ear that makes his look almost idiotic. There's a scar under his eye. Mildly, Nami wonders how he got that.

"Maybe later."

"Aww.. C'mon, it'll be fun."

"Pretty please?"

Nami shakes her head.

"Luffy, don't push her to be in it. It won't be fun if you force someone to play."

The boy sighs in disappointment.. "Oh alright." Then a second later. "Hey Vivi, wanna see if Sanji's back yet?"

Vivi nods and hops off her bed, her stuffed duck in her arms as usual. She stops before leaving the room. "You sure you don't want to come with us?"

"I'm sure."

- - - - - –

There's rain falling against the car as the family makes their way home. It's a quiet ride home and Nami feels herself drifting off to sleep.

Nojiko's already sleep next to her, the elder sister hand holding the younger sister's hand..

Belle-mere says something in the driver seat, but she doesn't hear her. Lips move, though no sound comes out.

Suddenly the car spins violently. Nami hears a scream, can't remember who it's from.

She hits the ground hard. She tries to find her sister or her mother, but she can't call out to them. Her lips won't move.

So she says their names over and over in her mind, hoping either of them- both of them- are okay.

(Bellemere Nojiko BellemereNojiko bellemerenojiko )

"Nami wake up!"

The orange-hair girl eyes snap open. Her face feels wet and she realizes she's been crying in her sleep.

"You were having a nightmare." Vivi tells her. "You were screaming."

Vivi's face looks frightened. Nami mumbles out a weak apology.

She forces herself to stay awake that night. She doesn't want to deal with the nightmares.

- - - - - –

Luffy's back the next day, grin on his face. "Join my pirate crew!"

Nami tells him to go away. He looks a little hurt as he leaves, but not to upset.

Nami doesn't want to play pretend. She wants to things to go back to normal.

To a time before she came to the hospital.

Before she got stuck with ugly scars marring her arms and legs.

Before Belle-mere and Nojiko died in that car accident.

Name hugs herself in a ball and cries.

There are footsteps and the feeling of something being placed on her head. Touching it revels to be a straw hat.

Surprised, Nami looks up to see Luffy there, an unreadable expression on his face. It's a mix between sadness, confusion and understanding.

It makes Nami break down into tears even more. Luffy just sits with her, rubbing her back but not saying much at all.

She wants to push him away from her; something to releases all of her grief on in a physical manner.

Instead, she cries harder.

- - – - -

The next day, when Luffy pokes his head in her room as asks if she wants to join his pirate crew, she agrees.

On the condition that she can keep whatever treasure they can find.

- - - - - –

Slow start, I know! Of course I will continue this. Reviews help so I know if I'm doing anything wrong.