IMPORTANT Author's Note:

To know who Hanzatsu and Mumei are, please see the profiles of xJaTx and 01—fallenangel on deviantART! Thank you!


One Piece:

Valentine, Be Mine

"Hey, Nami!" A whisper called to her, followed by a few swift yet gentle taps on her bare shoulder.

"Hmm?" The navigator lifted her head slowly, her mind still placed within her own imagination. With a few blinks to dispose of the haze, she began to focus on the bandana-wearing female before her, "What?"

"Why are you so quiet? I'm trying to talk to you, you know." The girl placed her hands on her hips to show her displeasure, seeing that her suspicion was true. Nami watched as she tilted her head to the side, and gave her the most antagonizing look she had ever seen.

Sighing, she rested her cheek into her raised left palm while slouching forward onto her drawing desk, "Just thinking."

"Oh," a higher sounding voice piped up, entering the conversation from behind the orange-haired girl, "You okay?"

Seeing her attempt to return to her inner world as pointless, she spun around to face the two temporary additions to the Straw Hat nakama and leaned back with one arm resting on the heading of her chair. Looking from one to the other, Nami gave them a wide smile and waved her hand lazily, "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry, Mumei. And Hanzatsu, calm down."

Grunting a little, Hanzatsu crossed her arms, clearly taking offense, "Well, I was trying to get your attention and you just made a small 'hmm' noise in response. We were trying to ask you something."

"And what's that?" Nami dipped her head slightly to look up at the girl speaking to her.

"We wanted to know who you think Robin is going to end up with." The sea stone-wearer said blatantly. Nami watched as the caramel-haired female winked one of her large blue eyes at her, showing she had switched her mood from angered to match-maker.

Seeing that Nami was clearly befuddled, Mumei tried to add more depth to her friend's explanation, "I think she's gonna end up with Sanji-san. But Hanzatsu-san—"

"I told you it's 'Hanzatsu-chan' or no—"

"—thinks it'll be Franky-san. Which one do you think she'll end up with?" Mumei's smile always made Nami smirk, even if for a moment, but that did not expel the Clima Tact-wielder's feelings of small confusion and curiosity.

"Why those two?"

"Well, Sanji-san seems more lovey-dovey with Robin-san then he does with you. And I think it's so cute!" Mumei giggled a little, as if to admit she was fan-basing the pairing of two new friends.

"Bu-ut," Hanzatsu sang lightly, "I heard from Usopp-kun that Robin-san touched Franky-kun's dingy ding! That's like an engagement present! You don't see me shaking every guy by his ding—"

"Okay!" Nami yelled, running her hands through the air, "…Well, I've never thought about this sort of thing before. But Hanzatsu does bring a good point to the table. So, I guess I'll just agree with her for the sake of argument."

"Yes!" Hanzatsu smiled triumphantly, while Mumei gave a smile, simply to say, 'C'est la vie'. Though the debate had reached an end, Nami wasn't willing to let the topic lay to rest.

"Why are you even thinking about something like that, anyway?" Nami knew these girls to be random and sometimes comedic, but not once had they brought up the idea of love, "I've never even thought about it."

"Hm, it's just something we noticed." Hanzatsu said innocently while wearing a knowing grin.

"What is that suppose to mean?" The navigator sounded deeply suspicious.

"It's nothing, Nami-san!" Mumei cheered as she jumped up from her seat upon a ledge inside the library, "Hanzatsu and I just thought of it, that's all."

"If you say so," her look was bored, but still incredulous, "So why choose those three?"

"Because they make a love-triangle all on their own," the bandana crew's navigator answered with no sign of fear and slowly made her way to sit before the treasure-lover, "I mean, who are we suppose to consider? Usopp-kun? Luffy-kun told me that he has someone named Kaya back at home and their story is just too cute to pass up."

Nami, though frightened by the usually proud water-powered girl to sound so gentle, felt the 'love bug' catching onto her. Somewhat interested in the new material, she took a chance and added her two cents, "Well, why not Luffy and Robin, then? Or Broo—no, that's too creepy. How about Zor—"

"NO! No! No!" the room, or possibly the boat, shook with the sound of Hanzatsu's voice, "That one is off-limits."

"Why?" Evidently, the navigator of Luffy's crew was once again curious to the logic of her friends. As she blinked, she saw the anger and awkwardness etched onto either of their faces relax into a kind, but definite smile.

"No reason." With their words, the room looked like it was glowing as their lies were more clear then day.

"Alright. But again, why those three? Yes, Franky's connection to Robin is kind of obvious, but all the guys have seen me naked before loads of times. Okay, except for Zoro, Franky and Brooke, though he wishes…Huh? What?...Why are you looking at me like that?"

With blue and brown eyes open wide, the only other reaction made was by the sweat drops sliding down both of the girls' right temple, "…We…were not expecting that…"

"Is it that shocking?" Nami wondered aloud, blinking as she began to question that particular moment in Alabasta.

"Yes!"

"Oh…well…sorry." She shrugged lightly, unsure of how to respond to the reaction.

Dropping their shoulders, the molecule-manipulator was the first of the two to let it go, and shook it off with a slight shiver. "Never mind that. We just chose those two because they both have qualities that Robin-san needs."

The red-head was surprised to hear the small, glasses-wearing girl to say such a thing. She knew love to be love, had felt it for her nakama as a whole, but she had never gotten down to brass-tacks in order to fully understand it. She figured it was just a natural feeling, to love her nakama, just as she had loved Bellemere, Nojiko and the rest of Cocoyashi village. But to think of who matches their entire being up with another seemed extremely complicated to her. However, she held a note of sweetness and care that made the idea sound pleasing to her in a way that love never had appealed to her before.

"Like what, for example?" To study, even though they were both two years younger then her, she probed for answers as delicately as possible.

"Well, for instance," as Hanzatsu leaned back on the heels of her palms, Mumei explained, "Robin-san is an eloquent, gentle person. In my opinion, with Sanji-san, though he may be flirty and a ladies' man, he can be chivalrous and always has his heart in the right place. Plus, he's not too noisy, so she would be able to stay calm. Also, she has the kind of atmosphere about her that clearly says he will only be with her. He needs that, so it would be good for both of them."

"Nevertheless!" Hanzatsu shot straight up, her finger pointed high into the air, her face showing strong determination, "Franky-kun is her opposite, which is clearly perfect for her!"

"Here we go." Mumei warned in a whisper.

"Opposites make good love partners? I think I'd hate that." Nami said honestly.

"No you wouldn't!" Again, the water-bearer bellowed, "Opposites are the most interesting of partners!"

"How is that?" There was a distinct sound of scepticism in the question.

"Because with an opposite, you're always learning something new. Like, with Robin-san and Franky-kun for example. I'm sure their time to get to know each other in that Enies Lobby place really let them understand each other better." Hanzatsu was confident in her reply.

"…How do you know all this?"

"Usopp-kun had some free time, so he shared some stories with us."

"How much did he tell you?"

"Up until Brooke-san's story. Why?"

"That's basically…our whole lives!"

"Oh, really? Well, then I was right."

"How do you figure that?"

"Because if they've had time to work together after that, then it's even more likely that their bond deepened further. Robin-san is eloquent, so she must really like him to find the sudden courage to touch his di—"

"Hanzatsu-san!" Mumei yelled in distress.

"I'm just saying. And anyway, if you see how well she gets along with someone like Luffy-kun, of course that kind of person interests her. Though their different, Franky-kun and Luffy-kun are both somewhat childish, and Robin-san likes that, is what I think."

"…After listening to both your explanations, I now go with Mumei." Nami said artlessly after only a moment, just to see the girl's switch their reactions between each other.

"Well, that doesn't matter," Hanzatsu said with a bit of an attitude, "I'm going to spend the whole day with Franky so he can get the perfect gift for her. Then we'll see who's really right!" And with a victorious stance, the proud sea stone-collector stood quickly and made her way towards the exit of the quarters.

"Wait," Nami exclaimed so suddenly, making both her friends look at her with blank expression, "Why today?"

"Geez," Hanzatsu turned to face the room, rubbing the back of her neck as she tapped the front of her boot against the ground, "For a girl who wouldn't listen… What do you mean, 'why today'? Just look at your calendar; you'll know then."

"I know today is February the fourteenth, but there's nothing special about tha—"

Two loud, resounding gasps and two very over dramatic faces cut off the red-head.

"…Y-You…You don't know what today is?" Clearly, Mumei was distressed by the news.

"What? What's so special about today?" Their strange reactions made her urgent to know the answer.

"You seriously don't know?"

"No."

"Don't you have a calendar?"

"Yes."

"And it doesn't tell you what today is?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Did you buy it on the East-Bay market? They sometimes cheat you on your purchases."

"No."

"Really? Did you check the little retail sti—"

"What's so special about today?"

"…Whoa, calm down. We just can't really believe you don't know. Anyway, today is Valentine's day."

"Valen-what?" The word sounded so foreign to the usually spunky navigator.

"Val-en-tine's-Day. It's a day to show the ones you love, that you love them." The way the cute voice of Mumei explained it made it sound so sweet and charming; it was an instant reaction when Nami felt the kind sense of giving wash over her. Ideas began to spring into her head, about each nakama member-including the two who informed her-and what sort of gift would suit them the most. The images of smiles, smiles she caused her friends to have, also became clear to her. Words of appreciation and thanks seemed to somehow create themselves, even though these words were never uttered before in such a way by any Straw Hat member, and all these delightful notions were directed towards her. Her own smile crept onto her lips, spreading to its farthest, sweetest corner.

"…Wait," again, the call of the proud one brought her back into reality, "If you don't know what today is…that means no one else in the crew would know either…"

"Oh no, Hanzatsu-san! Just leave it alo—"

"GUYS! EVERYONE GET TO THE KITCHEN NOW!" Hanzatsu's stomps up the stairs were only the beginning of the stampede the was heard and felt down the bottom of the Sunny. Nami let her hand fall behind the chair, just to catch the falling lamp. Though clearly letting the event slide with slight agitation in her eyes, she could see the black-haired girl sitting still, fearing the sound of thunder that was surrounding her. Once the noise lessened to its final step, Nami sighed.

"Should we go join them now?"

"H-Hai." Sadly, poor Mumei was still afraid to move, and her voice's shaky tone matched the state of her body. Getting up, the navigator walked over to her and patted her shoulder gently, calming the young girl down, and was able to get her to walk with her into the kitchen with relative ease.

Upon arrival, as the door swung open, it was clear to see Hanzatsu was already having trouble.

"Sanji-kun, you must know about Valentine's day, right?" It was obvious she was begging him to be the first one of the blank-faced crew mates to say yes. As she pleaded, Mumei and Nami took their seats.

"Yes, of course, Hanzatsu-san!" His fan boy eyes were almost bulging from his eye sockets, making unclear what and where he was responding to exactly. Nami took this as a chance to observe and scout of information; she carefully watched both Sanji and Robin, to see how each was reacting to the news of the brand new holiday.

"Good." Hanzatsu sighed with relief.

"I know about it too!" Brooke raised his hand, excited to be apart of the conversation. Hanzatsu gave him a stern look.

"I hope this isn't an attempt to receive some kind of an award, is it?"

"…"

"Franky-san, do you know about Valentine's day?" Sighing, she decided just to move on, causing Brooke to cry slightly.

"Yeah. I know some people used to celebrate something like this back home, but I only heard about it. I've never actually celebrated it myself." As honest as he was to show he held some knowledge, or at least more so then most of the Straw Hats, he was visibly puzzled by the topic.

"Fine then. Sanji-kun, please help explain what Valentine's day is for me." Hanzatsu more so told then asked.

"Valentine's day is when, once every year, you show the one you love that you love them!" Again, Nami studied the expressions of Robin, Sanji and now also Franky. All of them seemed so natural to her that she couldn't see how two new people upon the Thousand Sunny could possible deduce such bold feelings of love from the sight of these three people. Well, of course, Sanji was an exception.

"So, I can only show one person I love that I love them?" Luffy asked aloud, "Then…no one is leaving this crew for," –he took the time to count- "ten years! Hanzatsu and Mumei too! It's going to take me ten years to spend Valentine's day with you."

"No Luffy," Usopp waved to him, "I don't think that's how it works. It's only for someone you love, like someone you want to spend the rest of your life with; someone you love with all your heart."

"But…that's how I feel about my nakama." Luffy blinked, figuring Usopp was the one who was mistaken.

"Ah…" Usopp sweat-dropped.

"No, Luffy-san," Mumei piped up once again as she stood to get everyone's attention, "Valentine's day is a day to show everyone who you love, that you love them. But its also a day for couples, as in boyfriends and girlfriends, to express a different kind of love then just nakama love."

"Ah, I see." Luffy answered, still obviously a bit unsure.

"So! Now that you all know what it is, who wants to celebrate it?" Hanzatsu cheered loudly, raising her arm with the loose sleeve high.

"I do!" Luffy answered with great enthusiasm, "And I think the whole crew should too! So, let's all have a special Straw Hat nakama Valentine's Day!" With the final word of the captain, the whole crew was faced with the strange emotional roller coaster of love.

Slowly, everyone gave their agreeing comments in. The navigator surveyed each of their reactions, expanding from her first three-people watch, and found it weird that no one seemed at all squeamish by the mention of a deeper bond then just nakama. She figured her timid reaction was due to past endeavours that had made her who she was. Still, the expression of love that seemed to be an easy thing to her strange friends surprised her. This whole rush of emotion and forced holiday was so confusing to her.

As she observed her fourth male, she began to think of the criteria of love that Hanzatsu and Mumei had mentioned. Mumei's matching ability was based on compatibility. Hanzatsu's was one of opposite attraction. It was then, as she replayed the conversation, she suddenly heard a voice ask her, 'Which of these males would be the perfect match for me?' Instantaneously, she was repulsed by the question. How could she take an interest into this holiday, in a romantic sense? For a girl who once thrived off being independent, and for a woman who lived each day hating the word 'friend', how could she be suddenly so interested in the idea of being in love? It was unheard of.

And yet, her mind began calculating. She was starting off with Brooke, and going in reverse of the males who had joined the crew. Obviously, he was not even allowed on her list of possible candidates. Even if she was no longer afraid of him, she had not grown to love him past the level of 'new friend'. Franky was off-limits, as brought to her attention by Hanzatsu. Chopper was a reindeer boy, so the age and species were two strong barriers. Sanji was still within the love triangle for Robin, but also, she had always loved him as a brother, like the brother she never had. Usopp was with Kaya, once again, as proven by her bandana friends. Zoro was much to easy manipulate, and Luffy was too childish.

Now she was afraid. 'Do I not match up with any of these guys?' Each one was so unique, and she couldn't find someone compatible amongst the seven of them? It must have been impossible for anyone to find no reasonable love match with more then a handful of options. Robin was just was beautiful and wonderful as her, and she had two men at her disposal! How could Nami have none? It was then she decided on, or more so remembered to try, Hanzatsu's strategy; opposition. It was something that worried her, but then again, so did the affairs of love in general. So, with her mind ready to scan again, she looked over quickly and carefully at the undead musician.

"Nami?" It seemed everyone needed to raise their voice to get her attention on that day.

Turning around with quick agility, feeling scared as if she had been caught stealing, she looked over to her left to see Zoro looking at her with his usual lazy expression. She had even noticed she had taken her place beside him, so the sudden rush of sensory for his presence did not assist her as she tried to calm down.

"Yeah?" Her speech was in tact, which she was thankful for.

"I said, where's the next island?" His voice and question, though neither of great volume nor importance, caught every being's attention within the space.

"I think in about two to about three hours, roughly. It won't be too long. If you had listened to me last night, you would know that already," She spun around, stood and announced, "Everyone is to buy gifts by dinner time! If anyone needs money, see me before we land!" And with her point made, she walked off down the hall, already hearing chair legs screeching against floor boards.

'My opposite? Is there really a guy here who is suppose to be with me?'


Author's Notes:

I hope you took my first note into consideration. You can search for the two new characters one dA by typing in their names as well.

This is Chapter 1! I was rushed, but I really wanted to do this, so I will write the next chapter tomorrow and have it posted by then. It is now midnight, so good night to you all.

My Soul Duty will by updated by next weekend! Chapter 9!

Please R & R!