Disclaimer: If I owned One Piece, I wouldn't be writing this. But I don't, so I am (writing this). So, respectfully, One Piece belongs to the wonderful Eiichiro Oda. Enjoy!

A/N: Sorry if they seem to be out of character (OOC). This is my first fic. If you see any problems, please tell me! (Oh, and R&R!)

Key: Oo----oO means backwards time skip

------------ means normal skip, POV change, etc

Absense Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Chapter One

A young woman appearing to be in her early twenties with bright orange hair sipped her tropical drink, adjusted her sunglasses, and continued her view of the sprawling, bright blue sea that expanded before her.

She downed it to the dregs, sucking as much of the tangerine as she could from the elegant glass. She sloshed the ice around when she had finished, frowning slightly as if the melting ice was the reason she was feeling down.

Today. Four years ago today. It all ended.

Why couldn't she have prevented it?

Oo----oO

Four years ago, it had been done. After two and a half years of searching, One Piece had been found and Luffy had been proclaimed King of the Pirates. However, seeing that many of his crew mates wishes had yet to be fufilled, he continued on the voyage and when Nami had finally finished the map, Robin had discovered the Rio Poneglyph and had discovered the ancient city (An island off the coast of Alabasta), Zoro was well on his way to becoming the world's greatest swordsman, and Sanji had finally found the All-Blue.

It was their final day all together. They were throwing a party to celebrate the occasion.

With Zoro leaving to train with Mihawk (He had been injured in the final battle and by losing his left leg knee-down had become 'handicapped' and unable to fight) who had decided Zoro-and only Zoro- would be his successor, the new ship, the King of Beasts, or Thousand Sunny would be in need of a new first mate. So, being the only other near-level-headed person on the ship, Nico Robin had accepted, and in turn decided to give a sort of 'vacation' to the well-deserving crew. They had decided to set a base on the island of Cocoyashi, Nami's hometown, where they felt that they would be most tolerated for a short while.

They were docking on the island of Bahi Mahoy(the closest island to them currently while also located in the All-Blue)for their final night all together, and would be leaving Zoro with Shank's crew (who was, obviously, partying with them) in the morning when they set sail.

Needless to say, the crew had been fanatical at the prospect of their first 'vacation' in who knows how long and had showered with the new first mate with more love, compliments, and respect than their own captain had ever received in the four years they had all known him.

However, Nami had noticed herself that Sanji had not been as 'love-love' as he usually was and had refrained from talking much all day. He had been shut up in the galley, and when Luffy had gone to check (to the insistence of Nami, although she was loath to admit it) he had come back, reporting that he hadn't heard anything of cooking, and rather more scribbling, clickings, and murmuring. Only when he knocked on the door had Sanji supposedly jump straight in the air and shout at Luffy "No meat for you!".

True, she had her suspicions, but she only felt that it was because even though Sanji wouldn't admit it, he was going to miss Zoro, and didn't know how to show it (even though he was far by the most emotional on the crew besides Franky).

She only realized how wrong she was after dinner, when they had all been sitting out on the deck of the Thousand Sunny, admiring some of the work Franky had put into it, (Usopp had grudgingly said that it was 'fine' and looked around for the rumored 'Going Merry Spirit.' He was still going at it, as far as she was concerned, although he was slowly repairing relations with Franky.) drinking rum (for Chopper, some tangerine juice that Sanji had supplied ahead of time; for Nami, some rum with tangerine syrup to her great delight), playing cards (Zoro's debt to Nami was further extended, to his great horror), chatting, laughing, and betting how much longer Zoro was going to be able to put up the 'cool guy' act before breaking down like the rest of the crew had.

Sanji was passing around like a bus boy, collecting and handing out new drinks, and had reached Luffy when he bent down and whispered something to him. (Luffy, who was now 'King of the Pirates' had wrapped the old Going Merry flag he had managed to save around him like a cloak at the beginning of the party and while it would have given him a true sinister appearance, his wide grin ruined the effect completely. Suprisingly, the crew had not ordered him to take it off yet, until he jumped out at Chopper from the shadows. Needless to say, Chopper had a panic attack and Luffy's face was quite swollen from the number of beatings he had received) Luffy then, smoothly with an almost sort of elegance heaved himself up and began to speak.

"OI! Shut up, dammit! Sanji's gonna speak!"

Or not.

Sanji, setting the tray down, cleared his voice and began.

"Tommorow, I'm resigning my post from the crew. I'm gonna be opening a resturant here on the island and won't have time to be a pirate. It was one or the other, and I chose the resturant.

"Don't get the wrong idea. It's been great meeting you all but…" he looked directly at Nami at that point "I need to go where my dream is, and a future for me truly lies."

That did it for Nami. At that point, since the beginning of the speech, when Sanji first got up and said that he was leaving--

He was leaving.

Slowly, tears began to cascade down Nami's face. Sanji was leaving? Up until now, he had seemed like a permanent part of the crew! A part that would be there forever, even in old age… She just couldn't comprehend what the crew of the Thousand Sunny would be like without him… A quiet and lonely one at most.

She clamped her hand over her mouth. Lonely? Quiet? Where had those two come from?

Oblivious to the outcries around her, she sat deep in thought.

Lonely? What do I mean lonely? I have almost everyone I could ever need right here! Sure, Sanji has good morals… and his chivalry is so rare nowadays…and the fact that he gives me attention and support and… and why do I care so much that he's leaving?

Before she could do anything more to ruin her rep, she turned and ran.

Her actions did not go unnoticed by Sanji. He watched her leave the deck and run to her orchard.

Oo----oO

Nami sighed and leaned forward even farther onto the railing. Tears threatened to fall, but she pushed them back. Even being on this very island came the threat that she would run into him again. And after what had happened, that was one of the last things she wanted.

Oo----oO

"Navigator-san?"

Nami turned away from the tangerine she was examining and faced the archaeologist-turned-temporary-first-mate, Robin.

"Hai, oneesan?"

"Why are you so sad? Didn't see this coming in the first place?"

Nami hung her head. "…No."

"How?"

"It just always seemed to be a given that Sanji-kun would be part of the crew forever. He's been there forever…kind of like the scenery… but not."

She sat down in the grass and Robin kneeled next to her.

"How not?"

"Well… have you ever reached rock bottom, oneesan? When you thought that there was nothing and nobody to reach you that far down? Or when you detest yourself and feel as if everyone feels the same? About the hating yourself part, I mean.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that whenever I feel like that there is one person-well, two counting Luffy-I always know that Sanji will be there calling 'Hai, Nami-swaaan' or 'Mellorine, Mellorine!'" (She did such a good imitation at his swoon that Robin couldn't help but to smile) "And it feels so weird because I know now that in a month, say, I'll probably wake up and expect him to burst in with his impeccable timing and announce in an overly cheerful voice that breakfast is ready.

"I'm just…I'm scared of losing him…of losing everyone…like I lost Bellemere-san..." She took a deep, steadying breath at that point and finished. "And I… I don't want that to happen to anyone I trust or love! Ever again!"

She wiped some tears away and tried to smile. "Well…looks like I broke my promise not to cry anymore."

As Nami attempted to calm herself down, Robin slowly digested at what Navigator-san, or rather, Nami, had just said.

"May I?" she said carefully, pointing to a lone tangerine on a branch.

Nami nodded, and Robin picked it gently, and began peeling. She spoke slowly, carefully, as if tasting the words before she said them.

"So, you're afraid of losing him because you can't imagine what it'll be like without him? Eh, Nami-san?"

Nami nodded and Robin held out a slice of tangerine. She took it murmuring an "Arigato," and began sucking on the fruit. "Yes, but I don't get why he would want to leave. I mean, he always seemed happy enough here, didn't he?"

"I don't know—maybe you should ask? He's right behind that tree. I should know. I've been holding my hand over his mouth ever since."

Nami's head shot up and her eyes widened in shock. "B-but oneesan! I don't- Robin-san?! Robin?! What the hell do you want me to say?!"

Robin was walking away at the point and replied "The truth." before murmuring "Fluer Kaihou" in order to release Sanji and disappearing down the stairs down to the deck. She placed 10,000 Beli that Nami, not Sanji, would cry, on the small pool the crew had set up in the last two minutes.

Nami stared at Sanji, now fully in front of her and panicked. How much had he heard? What did he think now? Had she now been deemed weak and helpless? Where had her self-assurance gone? Her spine? What was wrong with her today? This was what, the third time today she cried? What about her promise to Bellemere? The one never to cry again?

Gone. That's what it was. Gone with Zoro and Sanji. Well, more with Sanji because for some reason, she was crying over him! Him, the guy that drove her nuts! That drove her absolutely crazy either with his good intentions or semi-perverted ways!

She tried to take a steadying breath and spoke. Thankfully, her voice never wavered.

"So, how much have you heard, Sanji-kun?"

He avoided her eyes. "…Not much?"

"Sanji… help me understand why-'' she gulped "-why you're leaving." She stood up. "I mean… you love it here, right? Even with Zoro and yourself constantly fighting and Luffy being the spazz he his..." Her face darkened. "It's because of me, isn't it? I'm sorry if I hurt you with my orders, Sanji-kun, but please don't leave! I- we need you! Why are you going to be settling here? Can't we figure something out? Please, Sanji…'' she came up to him at the point and looked him directly in the eyes. "Please, Sanji, can't we figure something out?"

In Nami's mind, a battle was ensuing between her and her colder, more logical self.

Are you nuts? What are you doing? 'Can we work something out?' Naaaaa-miiii! What are you doing? Since when have you begged with Sanji? Usually it's 'do this, do that' and he does it witout a second thought! And you're begging? Honestly, Nami! Why?

Deep inside her, a voice answered, Because it's my turn to beg.

And if her heartfelt answer didn't make her quiet, then Sanji's sure did.

"No."

Nami could picture a bolt of lightning striking them. No? No? Why not? She scrambled to collect her thoughts while desperatley trying to string together a coherent sentence without sounding as sad as she already was.

"But-Sanji" She looked up at him with her big brown eyes. She felt tears threaten to fall."Why? Do you really hate it here? Why, Sanji-kun? Why?"

He looked at her with a stoic attitude with eyes that would have seemed to ask 'forgive me' if she wasn't blinded by unshed tears.

Then, the nail in the coffin:

"Because chasing after someone will do me no good…It'll just hurt everyone in the end."

He then brushed past her and clombed down the wooden stairs to the deck with the open-mouthed, astonished crew.

Nami fell to her knees. It was just like losing Bellemere…Tears began to fall and she made no effort to stop them.

Just like losing Bellemere…

Bellemere…

'Because chasing someone will do me no good…'

Someone…

No good…

I'm no good.

She then covered her face with her hands and had a good, long sob, not caring who heard or who saw.

Because Sanji was gone. And he was never, never coming back.

Oo----oO

Nami looked down into her glass and sighed. The next morning, Sanji had left. He left right after Zoro, and she didn't accompany the rest of the crew to say their good byes. She stayed in bed all of that day, eating nothing and drinking little, and only when Chopper insisted from fear of dehydration. She got up-really got up- about a week later and started acting 'normally'(picking pockets) a few months after. But she hadn't smiled since. Sure, she would joke and try to laugh, but it was a hollow sound. And when she tried to smile, her eyes would be so empty and desolate. No one besides Robin really knew how to handle it and why she had begun to act like this.

They had contacted Vivi when they arrived in Cocoyashi and she had come full-fledged with the 'royal fleet' and her husband, the new King of Alabasta, Kohza. To say she was a little ticked was an understatement. To be honest, she was throughly quite pissed. She came through the door of Nojiko's kitchen (newly remodeled to be protected against Nami when she was 'thinking') with a red face and a terrified Kohza lagging purposly behind. It took Luffy full 'Gum Gum' mode, a Chopper in human form, and a heavily drugged tea in order to slightly sedate her rage at Sanji.

She and Nami had spent most of the day together in the village and had had a few talks concerning a certain cook. Her face reddened slightly at the memory, but she was secretly glad that Vivi had addressed an issue most of the crew had not bothered to acknowledged.

Oo----oO

"Nami?"

Nami looked up from folding her napkin in her lap, giving a surprised look. "Hai, Vivi-chan?"

"Cut it, Nami. Don't give me the 'doe-eye look.' I didn't come from freaking Alabasta to be given a 'chan' or a 'hai.' I came to figure out why you're sad and depressed and won't really smile or really laugh. Why is it that you seem to be emptier, Nami, after Sanji left. And I know what he said. Robin gladly supplied that tidbit."

Nami looked at Vivi with an open mouth. "…Where did the 'couldn't-come-up-with-a-comeback-to-save-her-ass' Vivi go? Because she was a lot less hostile."

Vivi shrugged and took a sip of the iced tea the waiter had brought her. "Dunno," she said, smiling. "Hormones?"

Hormones? Wait…

Nami gasped sharply and half-screamed "Ah! Vivi! Why didn't you-'' she was stopped by a smooth hand clamped over her mouth.

"Because," Vivi whispered "Kohza doesn't know yet. I was actually going to tell him when a messenger came in, saying that he had an urgent message from Captain Luffy. He caught us in a rather, erm, suggestive situation and thereby I want to solve this problem, get back to Alabasta-''

"And have lots of suggestive situations, eh Vivi-chan?" said Nami, smiling widley at her blushing friend whose current color could now rival Luffy's favorite shirt.

"Yes, well," Vivi began in a rather high tone, "I… I really do want to know what the problem is, Nami. Please…" she took Nami's hand at that point and continued rather shakily. "Please, Nami. Can't you tell me? You've pushed back everyone else. If what happened is what I think happened, then I really really want you to tell me yourself."

Nami leaned back in her chair and fixed the 'evil eye' she usually used on Luffy when he was being impusive or Zoro when he needed puersuasion (blackmail, in other words) on Vivi. "What do you think happened then, Vivi-chan?" her voice had an obvious cold edge to it.

Trying to seem unfazed, she met Nami's eye and placed two ear plugs in her ears. Good timing too, because the after she answered Nami burst into a torrent of curses and a large rant that could be taken as one word entirely.

"I WHAT?!"

Vivi sighed after Nami had finally finished and began panting, looking, well, as Vivi had earlier: well and throughly pissed. She then plucked out the earplugs and sat them in front of her, giving the surrounding villagers that happened to be looking at them a glare that clearly read 'look away if you want to avoid a scene.' Then, before Nami was able to regain her breath, Vivi said, "Don't give me that. You heard me and you know it's possible. Perhaps I haven't been clear enough: you love Sanji. Get it?"

Nami was quiet and stared at her plate of steak with mikan sauce. Love? Pah. I don't need love! Love is… it's not worth it! I've had Bellemere-san and Nojiko, and the crew is fine as my nakama… but I don't need love! Love can only mean hurt! But… how does that fit with Sanji!

Nami lifted her fork now laden with the meat and tangerine sauce. She chewed slowly and tasted the food like she tasted the word Vivi had lain before her. Love…

Was it possible for a person such as her to love?

Oo----oO

Nami yawned and streatched; with the sunset came the night, and with the night came a sort of drowsiness she had been unusually subsceptible to lately.

Wishing she had Vivi or Robin to enjoy the beauty of the currnet sunset, Nami thought drowsily, Ten more minutes…Won't hurt a thing.

Oblivious to the couples and families walking down the street-bridge she sighed and breathed in deeply, openly enjoying the last few days she would have before the rest of the Straw Hats would be joining her.

That is, she was oblivious to the people in the backround before a couple walked by and a member pulled back with a puzzled expression and gave the red head a look that she could feel in the back of her head. She turned around, angirly, starting off on the poor soul. "You know, it's considered rude in some places of the world, believe it or not, to stare at a person as blatantly as you…you…" the rest of her lecture gave way to a look of immediate disbelief.

"I thought it was you, Nami-san!"

It was Sanji. Her Sanji. And on his arm was another woman.

A woman that gave her a glare of absolute venom.

------------

Sanji looked Nami over. She looked tan, so she was still out in the sun; her hair was just as long as when he had left (Not going to think about that now, he thought); She had a new tattoo on her arm—a Beli sign (Isn't one tattoo enough?); She was wearing a simple yellow dress that went a bit above her knees and her infamous sandals; the glass in her hand had a bit of orange remnat sticking to it (Obviously she still loves her mikan…); and the ring around her finger. His heart lept sightly at the sight of it: he remembered the day he had given it to her perfectly.

Oo----oO

Nami took a small bite of the chocolate cake Sanji had prepared for her earlier and savored it for a few minutes before swallowing. Her voice came out thick.

"This cake is amazing Sanji- how long did this take? Was it too-''

Sanji held up his hand, grandly signaling her to cease talking. "Non, dear Nami-swaaan! Nothing is too much for a woman like you!"

She blushed slightly and took another tentative bite. It was so rich… six layers of six different chocolates… she fully understood how chocolate was called sinful; it was just so—she felt something in her mouth.

Surprised, she hesitanly pulled it out, scared it was a tooth or something. Instead, she pulled out a loop. She carefully wiped it with her napkin (It was red, for Sanji's 'insistance of his love') and gasped in surprise.

Sanji grinned broadly. So far, no angry-Nami, which was good for everyone. It was plenty cute, but it hurt bad.

Nami looked up at Sanji, disbelief in her face. "Sanji-kun, how did you…"

He held up his hand again. "I have my ways, Nami-san. But that's not important; do you like it?"

Nami looked at the iron hoop and the small glass tangerine adornment. The stem was so petite, and it must have taken a lot of craftsmanship. She looked up at him with an adoring smile—a real smile, not one of her manipulative ones—and said in a choked voice "I love it, Sanji. Thank you so much. It's beautiful."

She slipped it on her finger and held it away from her, admiring it from a distance. Wow… A ray of sun passed through the curtain of her window and hit the ring, causing light to dance around wherever she aimed it. In one smooth movement, she threw her arms around Sanji's neck. It would have been a rather touching moment, but…

"SANJI! WHAT THE-!!"

He flinched. Bad move. Very. Apparantly a hug didn't mean that, but…

After being thrown out of her room, Sanji leaned against her door, inhaled his cigarette and blew out the smoke, smiling. She had smiled. A real smile. His hand and head hurt like hell, but it was all worth it.

Oo----oO

Nami snapped to attention after an "Oi! Naaami-san!" She blushed, afraid she had been caught looking at Sanji from the look of the…thing…attatched to his arm, it was probobly much better if she didn't. However, she still was able to catch a look at his seemingly uniform black suit, cigaretteandblonde hair hanging over left eye. He hadn't changed a bit, to her surprise…

"Oi! Nami-san! Ya there?"

She snapped again. Damn zoning out, she thought, feeling her face start to turn a faint shade of pink.

"Hai, Sanji-kun! What were you saying?"

He cracked a smile. "How are you?"

She tried to get a coherent sentence together before answering. "I'm-I'm fine, Sanji. Navigating takes me here and there, and I meet all sorts of interesting people and see amazing places… Oh! Usopp's getting married, did you know?"

Sanji looked extremely imtrigued. "Usopp? Married? To who?"

Nami grinned broadly. "To his childhoodd friend, Kaya! They're so cute together! She's a bit gullible and swallows almost anything he says without a second thought… but she's really sweet. And so gorgeous! Usopp's just so lucky!"

Sanji nodded. "And Robin-chan, Luffy, Chopper, Franky and Zoro?"

Nami fllicked a strand of hair behind her shoulder before starting. "Well… Chopper's still the physician and has been promoted from 'Emergency Food Supply' by Dabelle, our new cook? Robin's leaving her post of temporary first mate and is going to her island to see if she can find any remains of the Tree of Knowledge, Luffy's currently in Alabasta looking for some of that 'Dancing Powder' and visiting Vivi… she's having her fourth child…I'm going to be the godmother again! Oh! And Zoro's finally beaten Mihawk and has been deemed 'The World's Greatest Swordsman'! He's coming back to the crew soon. We're all heading back to Cocoyashi in a few weeks to get back together again… then Franky's going to take on a few apprentices while we're there and take them aboard with us… no more girls yet, but it's OK. I'll be visiting with Nojiko for a month or so, and that'll be enough. So how about you, Sanji? How's the resturant? We haven't heard from you in so long! Oh, and is this your girlfriend? She's gorgeous!"

Sanji tried not to stare at Nami with an astonished expression. All of that happened in the time he had been gone? He had missed so much! He still couldn't believe that he had forgotten to give them a mailing address… and Usopp was getting married? Usopp was the first? And Vivi… three, no, four kids! And Nami was the godmother of all of them? Chopper wa still the doctor of the crew,huh? And he had been promoted from Emergency Food Supply? And what was that new cook's name? Dab? Debbie? Debelle! They had a new cook? Was he (or she) any good? His girlfriend? Oh! That's right! He looked down at his arm attachment and felt a shiver of guilt. How long had she been excluded? Oh well, nothing to worry about. She was going to be brought into this sooner or later.

He cleared his throat. "We-ell, Nami-san, I've been doing fine, I suppose…nothing much to report. The city's great. I live a bit down from my resturant, the Mikan Nakama and it's doing well… there aren't that many chefs there because I'm a bit picky of who I have or don't have… Zeff's been here, so I've gotten word from the ol' Crap-Geezer that it's decent enough. And this, Nami, is my girlfriend Mariasol. Mariasol, this is my, ah, old crew mate Nami."

Nami shook her extended hand with as much dignity as she could muster. His 'girlfriend,' Mariasol, had stopped giving her the evil eye and said a pleasant "Nice to meet you." Her melodious voice made Nami's seem like a husky growl as she absently answered "The pleasure's all mine, really." She took a few moments to analyze her and found she was just about superior to her in every way: wavy blonde hair, slender waist and lond arms and legs… she was pale, but looked gorgeous that way, ice blue eyes, long lashes, and was dressed in a knee-length blue dress that matched her eyes berfectly and showed off a fine pair of shoulders. Her pumps put her an inch or so above Nami, but she felt that back to back without shoes she'd have an inch or two on that witch.

Witch? Where had that come from? Asked a tiny voice in her head. Nami, haven't you learned not to judge by people by how they look? Nami snorted silently. Stupid conscience.

Nami, be kind and she'll return the favor.

Ha. As if.

Selves, do yourselves a favor and shut the hell up.

"So, Mariasol, is it? How long have you known Sanji?"

Mariasol smiled. "Today, three amazing years. I met him while he was looking for a hostess. I got the job and then, a year later, got the guy!"

"So you've met him four years ago? And then started dating him an exact year after?" Nami tried hard to keep a sort of malice out of her question. However, something was heavily implied.

Sanji tried not to shrink back. There it was, the scary-mean Nami. Not the cute-mean Nami, oooh no. This was the Nami that caused her to try to kill Arong. To carve out her tattoo. To beat up a literal giant. To severly harm a certain Mr. 3. This is not going to be pretty, he thought worridley.

"Yup!" She said brightly, and, unashamedly, gave Sanji a large kiss on the cheek. He smiled, she saw, and decided to cut the meeting short.

Looks like he got over of me fast! She thought angrily while giving a "Wow, is it that late already? It's been great, Sanji, Mari, but I've got to go. My…thing starts in an hour or so, and I really need to go to my hotel and get ready."

"Wait!" Sanji didn't realize he had spoken until he had reached out for her unconsciously. He needed to come up with a cover, fast. "What hotel are you staying at?" he prompted. "It'd be great if we could all get together sometime." adding an emphasis on the 'all.'

"It's the Stalling," she said quickly. "It's near the middle of the town. I've really got to go now- but it was nice meeting you!" she offered. "I'll see you!" she called as she ran off.

"…Well." said Mariasol as Nami turned the corner. "She's different than you described her. A bit more… butch. And her hair sounded duller. What bright hair!" she laughed as she covered her mouth daintily.

Usually, for Sanji, the sound of her laugh would be enough to start gushing with love. Now, it reminded him of breaking glass.

But not today. Not when he had just seen Nami… The first time in four years.

"Come on," he said, his voice soundding husky. "We have reservations, don't we? We'll be late if we don't leave faster."

Mariasol smiled and snuggled closer to him, murmuring, "But they don't have anything on you, Sanji. They can't possibly compare."

He kept his face straight. "…We'll see about that," he said, watching the corner where Nami had disappeared.

When they turned the oposite way at the same corner Nami had dissaperaed from, his thoughts were still of Nami.

------------

Nami stomped down the street, feeling like a pouty five-year-old now more than ever.

Really! Simpering up to him like that!...It's a wonder I was able to keep my lunch down! And what was with that whole 'three amazing years' crap? Does she not know when to stop, or when toomuchinfo is given? What did he ever see in her in the first place? How is she better than me?! Sure, she has legs and perfect skin, and looks great in that knee-high dress… someone should give her the address of a damn convent! It'd save women a lot of stress!

With a cry of frustration she punched the thing closest to her: a solid brick wall. "HE'S DOING IT AGAIN, DAMMIT!" she screamed. Then, shaking her hand off she continued into the lobby of her hotel, gaining the wary eye of at least seven locals and six old women.

She tried to calm herself and not cause a scene, but all that did was give her a severe anger fit. Really! How dare she come onto her guy and…

Nami stopped herself short of the grand staircase. Her guy? Where had that come from. It was silly, really. It was the heat… and she really did need to eat…

She glided up three flights of carpeted stairs, making sure she was in check. No need to cause a scene. She had done enough of that outside. That cop was eyeing her… hopefully it was because of the dress she was wearing and not the way she was throwing a fit.

She slid the key into her room, lit the lamp next to the door, and set herself down on the couch with an oof. She tried to read the book she had brought along with Robin's reccomendation, but to no avail. After a half hour of fake reading, she tried to get her mind on other things: like the big unvailing of the new ship, Carletta; she would be attending the ceremony on order to pick some pockets and get some new clothes. And the real reason she was coming…she had received a summons to the opening of a new spa and resort, free of charge. She was estatic, and under the permission of Luffy she had started packing right away. She would be wearing a disguise, of course, and would be going under an alias in order not to attract the attention of the Marines: being the navigator of the Pirate King and a skilled thief herself had more than tripled her bounty. Chopper had assured her that she didn't have to worry about the Marines going after her, with a sort of Revolution of sorts they were undergoing and would be far from attentive to her, but Nami was skeptical. To be safe (and to the satisfaction of her rather paranoid self), she had packed a dark brown wig and some red-rimmed glasses, and even though it gave her the aura of a paranoia, she felt safer and more, also bringing her staff.

She decided to take a short swim down near the pool the hotel had, then would get some room service and try to sleep.

Sleep would help her deal with the 'Sanji-Mariasol Problem' as it was now referred to.

------------

Sanji looked at his girlfriend over the table; lost in a world of his own.

Why was she here? He hadn't seen her in years; four to be exact, but whose fault was that? He had never given them anything to refer to him in case they wanted to keep in contact. But they had never asked for one. True, Luffy would have probobly told them to let him concentrate on his 'dream,' but even so… considering the terms he had parted Nami with, he could understand a little bitterness… But she had seemed so happy at the road-bridge… it had been a while since he had attempted to read her emotions. Having Mariasol with him probobly didn't help matters much… even he remembered that look of hers; like something bad was going to happen; soon.

He sighed and took a bite of the whitebreast salmon he had ordered. Not bad, but he could probobly do better… whitebreast salmon was especially hard to cook with, considering that the white of the belly needed to remain snowy for best reults unless they were frying; he hadn't ordered fried, though. And this was slightly brown. He tried to ignore that fact, and took a bite of the rice; too salty to a tongue like his. His Nami-san had always hated salt…

His eyes flew open; His Nami-san? No. Not right now. Today was a day to focus on Mariasol.

Mariasol.

Mariasol, the woman who thrived on quality and excellence.

Mariasol, who could make a cautious spender like him wonder why he had bought an elaborate casserole dish with handles of gold when he knew that the old iron one he had worked even better.

No, he thought. What happened with Nami was—is—old history, he corrected. And stop thinking of Mariasol-chan's negative qualities! She's a wonderful woman, and you're lucky to know her! She's generous…

Nami's stinginess was kind of cute, actually…

And she has beautiful blue eyes! Gorgeous one's only a doll can have!

Nami's give a feeling of warmth and are quite comforting, though…

Dammit! Stop it mind! You're not the ero-cook Zoro says you are!

And Nami-san bites her lip in the ke-yoot-est way when she thinks…

DAMMIT! STOP!

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Mariasol watched as Sanji stared intently at his water glass and kept chewing the same piece of meat he had been chewing for the last ten minutes. It would have to be liquified by now…

"Sanji, sweets?" she said, laying her hand over his. "Are you okay?"

He jerked violently. "Hai, Mellor—Mariasol. Yes." He smiled at her. "I'm quite all right. Sorry to worry you."

"Are you…" she began, but Sanji held up his hand.

"Very," he said firmly, as if to state that the current conversation was over. Mariasol knew better than to argue with him over such 'trivial matters.'

They finished the dinner in scilence. Mariasol wasn't stupid; she knew Sanji's thoughts were on a certain red head navigator.

We'll have to fix that, she thought, stabbing her steak with extra malice.

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Nami padded into her hotel room, the carpet slightly dampening as she made her way to the small table next to the couch she had fallen on earlier. Two cards lay on the table. One, a survey of the service, food, accommodations, etc.

The second was from Robin, written in a hasty scrawl rather than her usual carefull script. She soon understood why:

Buggy is looking for the crew. You first, since you're alone. He's in disguise. May turn up on the island at any moment. Gotten stronger. Has a man on the inside. Be careful, Nami

--Robin

Nami dropped the card and grabbed to the edge of the table in order to save herself from falling down.

Buggy on the island?

Gotten stronger?

Man on the inside?

Hopefully he didn't realize that not only Sanji was part of the crew, but on the island as well.

She intended to keep it that way.

A/N: Hope you all like chapter one! It took a while for me to write, but it was all worth it! Now go R&R! (please.)

--VirgoMaiden