Doubting the Dream
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece
Warning Spoilers to Recent Chapters
A/N: I haven't watched much of One Piece yet or read the Manga but I love it and I especially want the pairing of Nami and Luffy. I'm not using the Japanese terms as I haven't learnt them yet and it's my first fanfic. It's set about four years after Ace's death and a year and a half after they have found one piece. The characters are slightly different in personality as much has happened. If I have made any major mistakes please say I would enjoy some constructive critism. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1- The Captains Doubt
Luffy sat upon his chair within the men's quarters. His pen quivered over the book in front of him. He had paused writing the ships log. In the past few years he had matured into his role as captain more and more. He had paused as his mind had drifted upon the memories he had of Ace. His chest hurt in all that was lost that day and his mind wandered about how he could have changed the past.
Becoming annoyed he closed the book and set his pen down. He stood up wrapping his coat around him. He walked towards the door pausing slightly as he prepared his facade and stepped out on deck. Zoro was before him asleep and Usopp along with Brooke and Franky sat playing cards they looked up as their captain came upon deck.
"Where is Chopper?" Luffy asked the others.
"He was in the infirmary I think. You want me to go check?" Usopp replied with a foreign serious tone not many used with Luffy.
Luffy shook his head his eyes glancing once again around deck. He turned and returned back to get to the infirmary his coat billowing behind him. When he reached he gently opened the door and peered inside. The sight was familiar now yet it still pained him and his eyes stung threatening tears. Chopper sat writing notes down upon his desk. By him was a bed with a lone figure led down upon it.
Chopped looked up, "how are you Luffy?" he asked with a worried tone.
"I'm fine. How is she?"
Chopper turned to look at the person upon the bed as Luffy sat down on the chair by her. Chopper was tired and frustrated that his medical expertise had drawn upon failure. "She is still the same. As far as I can say she will have to wake up on her own. If she ever..." He was cut off.
"Of course she will wake up. She has to, she just has to." Luffy said with slight venom in his voice. Chopper realised his mistake and was about to apologize when Sanji's voice was heard calling out for lunch. Chopper stood up and moved to the door he looked back upon a familiar sight to him of the Captain staring sadly at the sleeping Navigator that was Nami.
"Would you like me to bring any down?" Chopper asked quietly trying not to distract the Captain too much. Luffy nodded faintly in reply.
Once Chopper had gone Luffy just stared. To him now she was precious and beautiful. He leaned forwards and gently kissed her forehead muttering, "I'm sorry, I should have protected you." Leaning back he let tears flow. She had been like this for a year and a half now. After all the dangers of the Grand-Line they had grown careless. They had found the One Piece but didn't guess it had been trapped.
They all fell prey to traps being separated. Luffy had hollered and shouted when he heard Nami scream. He had found her bloody and unconscious with tears in his eyes he had begged for her to be alright. He had already matured a lot since Ace's death but this put him into overdrive he had refused to leave her side for weeks before he set up rules about her. He slept in the chair by her side most nights.
Sighing Luffy pulled out a small book from within his coat and started to read to her. It was his routine now to read to her every day for two to three hours. Over time he had grown better at reading and writing willing her to wake up.
He had been tough with his crew about what had happened and he had apologized but they stated they understood. He made sure whilst docked two people where on the boat. One on deck and one with her at least one of the two was either himself Zoro or Sanji. There had to be someone with her at all times and at nights someone was to sleep in the room to check on her though Luffy mostly did that.
Once he had finished reading Chopper entered having waited until Luffy's moment with Nami had passed and handed Luffy a plate of food. "Are you sure your ok?" Chopper asked again in a worried tone. Out of the crew he couldn't get used to the change in Luffy.
Luffy gave a quick smile "I'm fine. You?" He asked.
Chopper hesitated not believing the Captains answer but ignored his urge to inquiry further and answered: "I'm fine just a little tired. I wish Nami would wake up though." Luffy nodded in agreement at the last bit. There was a crash and a bang from above and Sanji's and Zoro's voices where heard arguing with Franky screaming about not hurting the ship.
"I'm gonna check if any of those idiots has injured themselves." Chopper said with a frown and walked out the room. Luffy turned back to look at Nami. Sighing he wished he could take her place and have her well again. When he slept he dreamt of two dreams. Ace and Nami and he woke up cursing everything he could. For weeks he tried to avoid sleep which affected his diet until Chopper and the crew forced him sedatives.
Slowly Luffy improved but to the crews shock he became obsessed like Zoro with becoming stronger and every morning at dawn he trained with Zoro's weights sometimes Zoro helped. Robin had stated at a meal one day that he felt responsible for Nami and wanted to better protect us his crew.
Chopper looked at the sleeping Luffy. His hand was entwined with Nami's as he slept. Chopper thought back to that fateful day:
-Nineteen Months Earlier-
They had found Raftel. Excited they searched the island in groups until the sun itself grew tired and went down to its slumber. When they returned to the boat everyone was empty handed. Brooke suddenly chirped up; "I found a cave within the forest, it looked man made. But I might be wrong as I have no eyes." He laughed and strangely everyone laughed all in to good of a mood to complain about his Skull Joke.
The next day they entered the cave. It was a winding square chamber quite bare and to Robins disappointment no historic markings on. Soon they came to an enormous chamber. They moved forward heading to a large doorway opposite the entrance.
Walking forwards they were rushing until Sanji tripped and a section of the flooring slid down. Everyone stopped as the sound of mechanisms whirled. "Oh well done, stupid cook." Zoro shouted at Sanji.
"What was that carrot top." He replied in an equal shout Zoro made his way towards Sanji drawing his katana swearing profoundly at Sanji who was doing the same at Zoro. Suddenly out of the floor walls shot up fitting into previously invisible grooves in the ceiling. They were separated.
Everyone heard Nami scream followed with a loud metallic screech. Suddenly various traps and blades sprung at the crew. Chopper remembered finding it hard to concentrate with Luffy screaming and breaking the walls to get to Nami.
Everyone fought their way through the maze. They met at the entrance to the next chamber. "Oh great moss head is lost." Sanji said in annoyance. Robin used her powers to find and direct Zoro to them. They continued to the next chamber after Robin couldn't locate Nami and Luffy.
Once they entered the next chamber they all stood shocked. It wasn't the gold or jewels or riches or documents that had them frozen it was what was in the centre of the room.
A bloody and injured Luffy sat upon a throne within the centre of the room. In his arms he cradled a bloody Nami who was unconscious. He was weeping and clutching her as if afraid she would disappear. His sobs where hysterical pleading with Nami to be ok his eyes covered by his hair his hat placed upon Nami as if telling her she will be ok.
Chopper had sorted Nami out and did what he could. Luffy was extensively injured. Chopper later found out that Luffy had got to Nami and shielded her from the torturous traps that had attacked them using his own body as a shield. Nami had a slash across her back and a cut across her forehead. It had taken Luffy four weeks to recover leaving his body more scarred than any villain had left him before.
-Present Day-
Luffy awoke before dawn. His body clock tuned to his routine. Standing up he kissed Nami gently on the forehead and left. Upon deck it was warm but raining. Luffy removed his coat and shirt leaving them inside as he let the rain wash over him. He started his training, to become stronger faster and a better Captain.
Soon everyone awoke glancing at their captain training. Sanji called Luffy in once breakfast was ready. Luffy entered the dining room with his shirt and coat back on. He took his place and ate quickly. He no longer stole food from the others as now food didn't rule his every waking thought Nami did. Standing up without saying a word he walked out and returned to Nami's side.
He opened the book and read a poem:
Twas a long time ago
Like a dream ago
Surreal and Perfect
Until the glass was shattered
Shards Blew Forth
Spinning for their Mark
And when they hit
Ice cold hands threatened
To pull me into the dark
A dance with death
I walked away as stone
Concealing everything
I do not gloat on my victory
It may as well have been a defeat
Only time can tell yet refuse to say
My heart lies broken with the shards
Yet it still screams in agony
Of it's loss
All I can do is stand silently
Neither do I scream and shout
Maybe my eyes betray me so
I say this now
I say this forever
I love you...
Luffy ended the poem and sat brooding over its meaning for a while. "That was beautiful Captain." Robin said quietly from the doorway. Luffy jumped in shock dropping the book. Blushing he quickly got up and walked out giving a single glance back to Nami. Robin chuckled and walked over to the book she picked it up. Opening the page it had fell on she saw untidy hand writing of the captain and smiled. She glanced over at Nami rose and followed the Captain out of the room.
Luffy sat hidden at the back of the ship. He was embarrassed and couldn't stop blushing. Suddenly Robin sat down by him next to him. He stood up but paused when she asked: "Do you understand it's meaning when you wrote it?"
"No I've been pondering it. The words just fell onto the page." He said honestly with a sad thoughtful expression.
"May I lend my reasoning behind the words, Luffy?" Robin asked, there was silence until Luffy sat down and nodded. "You where happy, everyone was here and we had found One Piece. Now you doubt if it was worth it because of what happened to Nami. You are scared of your feelings in case she wakes up and doesn't return them or she doesn't wake up so you hide the full extent of them."
Luffy pondered this and said; "I just want everything to be right. I want Nami back." His voice broke and tears flooded his eyes. "I just want to see her smile again." Robin smiled sadly and replied, "As do I captain as do we all."
Standing up Luffy went to Nami it was growing dark and he needed to be in her company to ease his worry slightly. "Wait Luffy." Luffy turned as Robin gave him his book back. She smiled and walked of and Luffy hung his head as a single tear fell to the floor. He returned to Nami and sat down holding her hand he fell asleep.
The sun broke blissfully over the see sending diamonds of red sparkles into the eyes of Luffy who was concentrating on his exercises. Today he was joined by Zoro. Meanwhile Chopper examined Nami and wrote his report. He sat down thinking of ways to help her.
"Chopper?" said a faint voice. Chopper fell of his chair in shock. He looked over as Nami looked at him weakly. She was awake!
To Be Continued
A/N: I know it's not much of a Poem but I wrote it years ago and felt it right for this story. Hope you enjoy it. If I get good reviews I will continue the story.