Author's note:Hi guys. I'm here with a new story. Of course I didn't forget about the other one I will continue it as well. But this story was in my head for a really, really long time, so I sat and started to write. But before you start reading I have to warn you, that it is an AU story and there can be or there will be some OOC-ness. (Sorry for that). But I hope that despite of it, you will like it.
Now I don't have much to say... Read the story, and review it! :D :D
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece and the characters, Eiichiro Oda does and we like him for it! :D
Chapter 1: How it all began...
EastBlue City was a very big town located on an island at the Grand Line. It was a typical large town, where everyone was busy and do not pay attention on the other's things or problems. Everyone lives their own life.
EastBlue City consisted a lot of districts, and in one of the districts, called Fuusha, there was a little orphanage. Since it was a beautiful sunny day the kids were in the playground. Some of them were playing hide and seek, some others play football and so on. But one of them was just sitting lonely on a bench. It was a girl with short orange hair and she wore a little green dress. She was just sitting and watched the others. She did not want to play with them. She did not like any of them.
The reason that she was all by herself was that she hated say goodbye. Every time she managed to make a new friend, someone came and adopted him or her. It was too painful to say goodbye so she decided that she never make new friends anymore.
So every time someone came to her and try to make contact with her, she just simply ignored the person or if someone did not understand that she wanted to be alone, she just beat up the kid. After a little time the kids started to be afraid of her and nobody tried to be her friend. And she was ok with that.
Now she was 8 years old. She had lived at the orphanage since she was born.
Since she was alone, her only hobby was to make some trouble, annoying the other kids, but her best hobby was to scare the new ones. The kids were usually brought to the orphanage at around 5. All of them were scared and sad enough, but she didn't care about that.
For her regret, in the last 3 months no kids were brought to the orphanage so she was really bored.
But today, finally she could get some fun. She heard from one of the caretaker, that a new kid would come. That is why she was sitting patiently on the bench. She waited for her next victim.
Finally she heard that someone press the doorbell. One of the caretaker immediately went to the gate and opened it. A tall man walked in with a boy behind him. The boy was around her age. He had black tousled hair, he wore a white t-shirt with an anchor label and a blue short. He had big eyes and a goofy grin on his face. When he walked towards the building he looked at her, and she also looked at him. Then he disappeared in the building with the tall man and the caretaker.
She smiled viciously and waited for the best moment.
Before dinner she went to search for the new kid to have a little talk with him. Since the orphanage wasn't very big she could find him easily. He was playing in the sand with some other kids. Her first thought was that he managed to make friends really soon. This made her really angry. She slowly approached the boy. The others noticed that she was walking towards them. She wasn't very far so she could hear that the kids say to the new one that he should run away and hide. But the new kid just looked at them confused. Finally she arrived to him. By that time, the other kids were nowhere to be seen. But the new kid just stood there and looked at her. This impressed her a little, sometimes it was enough just to walk towards them, and they ran away from her. She just glared at the new kid until he spoke.
"Yo! I'm Monkey D. Luffy. What's your name?" he said with a big grin on his face. This angered her!
"You have no right to speak with me in this tone." She said in a very fearful way.
"Why, who are you?" said Luffy confused.
"My name is Nami, I live here for the longest time, I am the one who say that what you can do and what you can't. You have to obey to me in everything. Understood?
"You are mean, I don't like you. Besides I don't obey to anyone." said Luffy casually.
Nami was taken aback. Everyone was scared from her when she spoke this way to them. But he was different. And she didn't like it a bit. She was furious now. So she grabbed him by his collar and shoved him against the nearest tree.
"Ouch! That was hurt like hell. Let me go!"
"No I won't let you go until you say that you obey to me"
"No way! I hate you! You are evil." Luffy looked at her really stubbornly.
"You…" Nami was angry, really angry. But after all she let him go.
"Fine! But I will make your life miserable. So be careful. You will regret this." said Nami threateningly.
Nami waited for the boy to say something like 'I'm sorry I will obey to you'. But this wasn't the case. The boy did the most surprising thing for her. He started to laugh. Nami was shocked.
"At least I will have some fun." said Luffy while he was laughing.
A few seconds past before Nami could speak again.
"I will make that grin disappear from your face! Be careful!" with that Nami turned and walked away.
After that day, they did everything just to get on the other's nerves. They play every possible prank on each other. Luffy became very popular. He had a lot of friends, everyone liked him. For Nami it was just one more reason to hate him.
This went on and on for 3 months. But then something happened which changed everything between them.
Since Luffy's arrival a lot of things had changed. Luffy's happiness and cheerfulness brought smile on a lot of children's faces, except one. Nami hated him. Hated him for his happy self, hated him for having a lot of friends, and hated him for protecting everyone from her. He was the complete opposite of her. Nami did everything to break him, to make his stupid smile disappear from his face. But that was an impossible mission.
It was the end of November, so the weather was really cold outside. The kids were inside the building in a big community room. Most of the kids were playing silently with each other and the caretakers were just chatting.
It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Nami was sitting in her room with a notebook. She was drawing. This was her only true hobby, this was the only thing which could calm her and make her forget her miserable life for a little time. She was just finished her drawing when two kids barged into her room!
"You idiots! What the hell are you doing here? Get out!" yelled at them immediately.
"We are sorry. But Perona-san called for you. Someone came and told she wants to adopt you!" said the two kids. Nami was shocked.
"What did you say? Are you just kidding me?" it was a bit hard for her to believe to them.
"No! We are serious! Come quickly! You have to go to Perona-san's office. They are waiting for you!"
After a few minutes of hesitation Nami started to run to the chief caretaker's office. When she arrived, she stopped in front of the door. She was a bit afraid. What if they changed their mine, or didn't like her, or they were mean. But she quickly put those thoughts to the back of her mind and she opened the door. But the room was empty and dark. She realised at that right moment that it was a joke. She became furious and she wanted to find those two kids and beat them up. But suddenly someone grabbed her arms and pinned her to the floor. She could have easily push the kid off but then three other kids appeared and hold her down. It was impossible for her to break free. One of the kids bind his hands and legs up so she couldn't move.
"Oi! let me go or I…" yelled at them.
"Or what would you do? What you could do when you are like this?" said one of the kids laughing at her.
"You will regret this" the kids started to laugh harder.
"I don't think so, because you will never have any chance for revenge."
"What did you say? What do you want to do with me?" asked Nami. Now she was scared, but she didn't show it.
"You will know after you woke up." said one of the kids. That was Nami's last thing she heard before she felt a sharp pain in his head and passed out!
Nami slowly opened his eyes. She was lying on the floor. It was dark, she couldn't see anything. Her head was hurt. She was really scared. She didn't know where she is. She started to scream for help, but she got no response. But she didn't give up and shouted and screamed further. After one and a half hour she started to be exhausted and sit on the ground. She hugged her knees and closed her eyes. She hoped that someone would come to her and rescue her, but she knew deep down that this was impossible.
Meanwhile in the community room…
"Perona-san, Perona-san!" yelled four kids while run into the room.
"What happened?" asked the pink haired chief caretaker.
"Nami ran away! She left a message that she went away and would never come back."
"What? I can't believe this!" with that she ran to Nami's room only to find her closet empty and a little message on her table. Soon the other caretaker also arrived to Nami's room.
"What happened Perona-san?" they asked.
"Nami ran away! We have to find her. It's freezing out there. She could not make it very far. She could be somewhere near."
The caretakers nodded and they ran to take their coats to search for Nami.
In the meantime Luffy was sleeping in his bedroom. But he woke up when someone barged into his room!
"Oi Luffy! Wake up!" yelled Perona. Luffy was too sleepy he hardly could register the situation first. Then slowly his senses also started to wake up.
"Oh Perona-san, what happened?"
"When was the last time you talked to Nami?" asked Perona.
Luffy was confused. He didn't understand why Perona-san asked this.
"I don't know. Why?"
"She ran away. That is why we ask everyone if someone talked to her about this, or know something about where she could go."
"What? But why?" Luffy was shocked.
"We don't know, but some of us have already gone out to find her."
"But it's freezing outside! What if…"
"Don't worry Luffy! We will find her." With that Perona went out from his room to talk with the other kids.
Luffy also went out from his room. He wanted to find her. It was true that they haven't spoken with each other for a while. But the reason to him was not that he hated her or something. Actually, for him Nami was a mystery, he couldn't understand her. But since she didn't wanted to tell him anything he didn't force her.
He walked towards the community room. Something is strange about this. Nami would never do such a thing. She was smarter than that she would ran away in this weather. If she really would have wanted to escape she would have already done that or she would do that when the weather is nicer and she wouldn't freeze to death.
As he was walking towards the community room, he heard a bunch of kids laughing and talking silently.
"Now everyone believed that she really ran away." said one of the kids.
"Yeah! But they will never find her!" said smirking the other.
"Or by the time they find her, it will be late." on that statement all of them started to laugh.
Luffy stopped. A few moments passed before he started to comprehend the things he have just heard. Then he clenched his fists. He felt the anger started to fill his mind and started to take control over his body. He started trembling from the sudden fury. Then he walked to the group of kids and grabbed the one who said that by the time someone found Nami, it would be late. He pinned him to the wall. The other kids immediately ran to help the one on the wall, but Luffy kicked them away. He glared at the one on the wall. He was scared.
Then Luffy started to speak. His voice was deep, angry and scary. All of them froze and couldn't move from the fear.
"Where is Nami?" asked Luffy, but the kids were speechless. Luffy's grip on the kids wrist tightened. The kid cried out in pain.
"I ask one more time! Where is Nami? If you don't tell me, you will regret the day you born." said Luffy threateningly. Then one of the kids finally started to speak.
"T-There is an old cellar which is c-completely o-out of u-use. W-We took her th-there. We s-said Pe-Perona-san that she r-ran away so that they don't search for h-her in the o-orphanage, a-and since nobody u-used that ce-cellar, w-w-we…" Luffy interrupted the kid, he heard enough.
"Where is the entrance?"
"In the old storehouse in the b-backyard." with that Luffy let go the kid and started to run to the storehouse.
Nami started to wake up again. She hoped that everything that happened to her was just a bad dream. But when she opened her eyes she could see only darkness. Her whole body, especially her head was hurt like hell. So she just stayed on the ground. She presumed where she could be. It was dark, and cold and damp. It must be a cellar. She knew that there is one in the storehouse but nobody used it and it was locked down. She knew that if she was really in the cellar nobody will find her. Not like if anyone would search for her. Probably the caretakers would be happy, because she was just a burden on them. And the kids also didn't care about it. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a noise from above.
She sat up immediately.
Then after a few minutes she saw a little light. The light started to grow bigger and bigger until she saw a figure who hold the light. She couldn't recognise the person until he spoke.
"I found you!" said her saviour.
Nami was shocked. She heard the voice of the person she thought to be the last one to search for her. Yet he was there, holding the light of freedom and to save her. She wanted to speak but no voice could come out of her. She was shocked once again. Then she felt a tear escaped from her eyes. Then another tear and another until she realised she started to cry. It was strange for her. She didn't remember the last time she cried. But at that moment she couldn't help it. Luffy realised that she was crying and put the light on the ground and went to her side.
"Don't worry, Nami. I will take you out of here and I never let this happen again to you." said Luffy smiling. Nami was cried at this harder and suddenly hugged Luffy, who hugged her back. The two kids were sitting there for a while until Nami slowly stopped crying and passed out from the exhaustion.
Luffy gently picked her up and went out of the cellar to the inside of the house. Once she stepped inside she started to call Perona.
"Oi Perona-san, I find her!"
Perona come out of the community room and almost fainted at the sight. Luffy was standing there with an unconscious Nami.
"Hurry Luffy! Take her to the infirmary!" yelled Perona with a lot of concern in her voice.
Luffy took Nami to the infirmary and placed her gently on the bed.
"Can I stay here?" asked Luffy.
Perona looked at Luffy who hold Nami's hand in his and saw that she could say anything Luffy wouldn't leave her side.
"Fine, Luffy. You can stay here. But you have to sit somewhere else until I wash her and take care of his wounds."
"Ok." said Luffy, and he walked to one of the beds and sat down.
After half an hour Perona came from behind the curtain which was around Nami's bed. Luffy was still there waiting.
"Can I see her?"
"Yes. But she is sleeping, do not wake her up. She has to rest." said Perona and left the room.
Luffy walked to Nami's bed and sat down the chair next to her bed. She started to stir up and slowly opened her eyes.
"Where am I?" asked Nami.
"In the infirmary." said Luffy. Nami looked surprised at him.
"Luffy?" she couln't believe he was there.
"You should rest!" said Luffy concerned.
"No, I'm fine. But why are you here?"
"Because I found you, and I wanted to know if you were alright."
"Did you worry about me?"
"Well… yeah. When I heard those bastards who did this to you, I was angry. I've never been angrier in my life." said Luffy clenching his fist at the memory. "But I'm glad you are fine."
"Why did you save me? Don't you hate me, like the others? asked Nami surprised.
"Hate you? What are you talking about? I never hated you. I just didn't understand you. Why are you always alone and why are you scare away everyone from you?"
"Do you not hate me?"
"Of course not." said Luffy and smiled at her.
Nami's eyes started to tear up. She couldn't believe this. She thought that Luffy hated her just as she hated him. And she was fine with it. But somehow that he said that didn't hate her made her happy. But she didn't understand why.
"I hate to say goodbyes." said Nami suddenly. Luffy looked at her questioningly, but Nami continued immediately.
"I hate to say goodbyes. And every time I managed to made a friend, he or she was taken away from me. And I was left alone. After a while I didn't want anyone to be my friend so that I would never have to say goodbye. And I was alone. Nobody wanted to adopt me."
Luffy was still confused, but he managed to understand that why Nami didn't want friends. But for him it was unacceptable.
"I will be your friend. I promise that I won't leave you here alone. I promise that until someone came for you I stay here no matter what. When you have to say goodbye the next time it will be the day when someone nice came for you. I know that someone will."
Nami was completely stunned. She couldn't believe the words she heard.
"But what if someone come for you before me? What if…" but Nami didn't have the chance to finish her sentence.
"If someone came for me, I will make him not to want me, trust me I can do that for sure." said Luffy grinning.
"Don't you want to live with a nice family? I didn't want to hold you back!"
"Don't worry about it! It doesn't matter for me where I live until I can eat every day and there is roof above my head." said Luffy with an even wider grin on his face.
Nami couldn't describe what she felt at that moment. She was so happy and she thought first that it was just a dream. But it wasn't. Luffy was really by her side, he really said what he have just said to her. She knew that from this day everything will be fine, because he was with her. He was the light in her dark life. He was the one who could save her from the darkness.
"Promise?" asked Nami!
"Yeah, it's a promise!" said Luffy and placed his hand on hers.
From that day everything has changed. Nami's life was full of happiness and light. It was completely the opposite of her previous one. She and Luffy were inseparable. Luffy kept his promise and stayed with her until someone finally came for her…
2 years later… Nami 10, Luffy 9 years old.
Nami was outside and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. It was still in the morning. Most of the kids were inside and finishing their breakfast. Of course Luffy was also inside.
Then someone pressed the doorbell. Perona was busy at that moment because she was teaching some manner to a kid, so she asked Nami to open the gate.
When she opened it, she saw a woman with red long hair tied in a ponytail. However the two sides of her head her hair was really short, almost bald. Nami's first thought was that she looked really strange, but her smile was really nice. Nami liked the woman.
"Hi! I'm Bellemere. I came to Perona-san. Is she here?" said Bellemere with a very nice tone.
"Good morning Bellemere-san. Yes, she is here. I take you to her." said Nami.
"Thank you. What is your name?"
"My name is Nami."
"What a beautiful name."
"Thank you." said Nami and blushed a bit at the compliment. Bellemere just smiled at her.
Nami find her smile really comforting. When she looked at her she realised that she wore a nice gold necklace with a golden mikan medal.
"I like your necklace. It's beautiful. My favourite fruit is mikan."
Bellemere was surprised a bit.
"Really? Me too. Actually, I have a mikan plantation."
"Really? That's great." said Nami in a cheerful way. She imagined for a moment that it would be so good to live in such a plantation. But meanwhile they found Perona.
"Perona-san. She is Bellemere, and she wants to see you."
"Oh, thank you, Nami. You can leave now."
"Ok." with that Nami walked away to find Luffy. Perona and Bellemere walked into Perona's office.
Nami finally managed to find Luffy in the canteen of course.
"Oi are you still eating?"
"Yeah, I was really hungry." said Luffy and continue eating.
"I have to tell you something. I've just met a woman and she had a big mikan plantation. This is so cool. I want one also when I grew up. Maybe one day when I can get out of here I find her and ask whether if I can work for her. It would be so great. I really like mikans." as Nami tell Luffy how she liked mikans and how nice the woman was she didn't realise that someone listened to her smiling until she spoke.
"I'm happy to hear that you like mikans so much, because I could use some hand on my plantation." said Bellemere. Nami was startled a bit than turned around to face her.
"Really? I would gladly help you. But until someone adopt me or I'm 18 I'm not allowed to leave the orphanage. said Nami sadly.
"That won't be a problem if I adopt you. Of course just in case you'll accept me, will you? "
Nami's eyes widened. She couldn't believe what she heard. She has waited for this moment in her entire life. She dreamt a lot about this moment. And now there is someone who wants her. And on top of that she is nice and she couldn't imagine a better person than her. She was so happy that she instead of answering her question just hugged her. Bellemere was startled for a moment, but immediately hugged Nami back. Perona started to cry she was happy for Nami. And Luffy… He was also happy for her. He knew that someone nice came for her one day. And he knew that this woman is perfect for her.
After an hour they packed the few things which belonged to Nami and she was ready to leave the orphanage. She was happy, but something was wrong. She looked at Luffy and tears started to fall from her eyes. She ran to Luffy and hugged him, and he hugged her back.
"Luffy I don't want to leave you." said Nami crying.
"But this was what you wanted. You can't reject her. You would never find anyone better than her."
"But what if I never saw you again? I…" but Nami didn't have the chance to finish her sentence.
"I will find you. Someday I will get out of here, and I know we will meet again." said Luffy and smiled.
"Promise?" asked Nami still sobbing a bit.
"Yeah, it's a promise. A new one." said Luffy and hugged her tighter.
Then Bellemere came to Nami's room.
"Nami are you ready to go?"
Nami and Luffy let go each other. Luffy looked at Nami and smiled at her reassuringly. This gave Nami enough power to begin her new life. She knew that someday she will see Luffy again. After all he promised, and he always kept his promises. He managed to find her once, so he could find her one more time.
What happened to Luffy? He didn't stay at the orphanage for long. On a nice, sunny day a woman with dark green hair and a man with red hair walked in to the orphanage and the moment they saw Luffy, they knew that he is the one who they will take with them.
This was the story of how they met each other, this was the story of how they become friend and this was the story of how it all began…
To be continued….