I.O.U

It was entirely the wind's fault if the ocean was rushing a bit too roughly, which made the ship sway a bit too tipsy, and the crew on board move a bit too.. erh, stupidly. In Luffy's case, however, that was exactly the story.

Nami had told him that it was not safe (for him and his hat) to sit on the figurehead on a windy day. But did he listen? Noo. So what happened? Well, I would ruin the plot if I tell you, would I? :P

As Nami walked off with her maps in her hand, she was still quite positive something like the stupid wind stupidly blowing that stupid hat off his stupid head would happen, if Luffy still acted so damn recklessly. It was bound to happen, naturally.

And sure enough.

"My hat!" yelled Luffy, and Nami turned to see a battered straw hat rapidly flying to her direction. "Nami, my hat!" Luffy yelled again, apparently just noticing her.

Nami raised both her eyebrows.

Usually it wasn't her job to retrieve Luffy's hat. Usually she just yelped 'hat!' and pointed while the other boys raced to fetch it for their captain. But since the other boys were apparently busy (Zoro - sleeping, Usopp - lying, Chopper - being gullible, Sanji - skipping oh-so-merrily towards Robin) and she couldn't possibly go 'hey hat, the boys are that-a-way, wrong direction'.

Oh, well.

And it's not like she's going to do this for free, either. Virtue has rewards, right?

Nami took a few steps backwards, and with a swift little jump, she caught the straw hat in midair. If that sounded easy, well, it was. "Here you go, Luffy." Nami tossed the hat back to its owner, who catched it with just one hand. "Now, you owe me a favour."

"Thanks, Nam - erh - what!?" Luffy looked puzzled. "Why do I owe you?"

"Because I saved your hat." replied Nami triumphantly, "And I was right, but you didn't listen to me. That's why!"

"Hey," protested Luffy. "Have you been planning this all along?"

"Unfortunately, not. But that makes it even funnier. This was bound to happen. This was fate."

And for all ye believers in fate, there was karma.

As Nami thought of the many favours Luffy could possibly do for her, the wind playfully glided under her arms, blew the maps off her hand, and carried it away, away, and away, and away...

"My maps!" shrieked Nami, and both her hands shot up to her face. "Luffy, my maps!"

Luffy made a noise that sounded very much like 'ha!' and extended a helpful hand towards the maps. But instead of being sensitive, catching it with a careful touch, and treating it like a helpless bird in need, Luffy grabbed the maps with a horrible HORRIBLE scrunching noise that Nami clearly did not respect. By the time his elongated hand returned, Nami's maps resembled nothing much but papier-mache balls.

"Here you go, Nami." Luffy said cheerfully, handing the 'things-she-once-called-maps' back to her. "Now we're even!"

Even? With the papier-mache? Of course not.

Nami slapped an over-exaggeratedly large fist across Luffy's head. "Idiot!!!"

And the moral? Never make Luffy owe you. Zoro she can still depend on, with his debt of 300 000 berry. But however badly Luffy messes up, forgive. Definitely.

-end-