The Thousand Sunny got thrown back and forth in the dark water, the waves smashing hard against the sides. The storm had quickly escalated from the small, grey clouds on the horizon to a raging inferno of cold water and devastating lightning, and as if it wasn't enough they had been thrown of course, totally lost on the sea. Luffy and Usopp, with the help of Brook and Franky, tried to repair a big hole that'd appeared in the side of the ship when it'd gotten hit by a rock. Sanji, Zoro and Chopped, whom turned into his human form, tried their hardest to secure the mast and sail, while Robin helped Nami keep the rudder on the new course the red-head had set.
"If we keep this course we should be out of the storm soon!" Nami shouted, trying to be heard over the storm
"Then that's what we'll do" Robin said, looking right ahead
After what seemed like hours they finally came upon a stream, leading them out of the storm, and soon they could see the dark night sky dotted with stars. The storm behind them roared a last goodbye before slowly fading away behind them. When they reached safe waters they threw the anchor into the sea, to finally get a well deserved rest. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper crashed down on the lawn-covered deck, the captain smiling like the idiot he was, but who could blame him; they've made it trough the storm.
Sanji and Brook had gone to check how it'd gone for the kitchen while Robin and Franky went down to the lower levels of the ship to check what damage had been done. Zoro simply plopped down on the spot, put his arms behind his head and leaned against the wall, soon to fall into a slumber. Nami stood leaning against the railing, looking over the calm water they floated on, smiling to herself. It had been one of the worst storms they'd gone trough, but they'd managed.
"Nami, look out!" Luffy suddenly said, making the girl turn her head back
The captain stood up, pointing on something above her head, and when she turned her head up to see what it was a sudden blackness came over her and she lost consciousness. Her hold on the railing loosened and she slipped over it, falling down and hitting the water with a splash, soon followed by the thing she'd gotten hit by. It was a big part of the mast that'd come of under the storm, but as it was made of wood it came back to the surface, as Nami didn't. Luffy, Usopp and Chopper hurried to the railing, leaning far over looking after her, but to no use; it was far too dark to see anything.
"Can you see her?" Usopp said to Luffy, as the teen stretched his neck as far as he could, his head merely a few centimeters above the water
"No, it's too dark!" he said, restoring his neck to its original length
"What are we gonna do, what are we gonna do?" the reindeer doctor panicked, running around in circles
The green-haired swordsman's eyebrow twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes before standing up. He searched the deck from where the commotion came from, and found it.
"Oi, what's all the noise about?" he asked and walked up to his crewmates, casting a glance over the railing
"Nami fell into the water!" Luffy said, as he strangely enough was the only one of the three who hadn't gone all panicked over the situation
"So what?" Zoro said, looking down again "She knows how to swim"
"But she got hit on the head by a piece of the mast" Chopped said, looking up on the swordsman with teary eyes
"What? Why didn't you say so sooner?" he said, but didn't wait for an answer. He threw his swords of the belt and kicked off his shoes before diving into the cold water, but sure to take a deep breathe before breaking into the water. He didn't open his eyes, as the salt water would sting, so instead he reached in front of him with his arms, but no luck.
"You found her yet?" Luffy asked, as Zoro broke trough the surface to get air
"Not yet" he answered and dove back again
This time he came deeper, searching for the navigator in blind. If her lungs had filled with water, which he hoped not, she would lay at the bottom of the sea, but if not she should float back up; but it was useless to just guess if you couldn't verify your suspicions. Without thinking he opened hi eyes, the salt water burning, but in the short period of time he had them open, the weak light that made it down there, he could see a flash of orange just a few meters in front of him.
"Hey, what's all the noise about? I could hear you all the way to the kitchen" Sanji asked, as he walked up to the trio by the railing, Robin and Franky trailing close behind with Brook coming dancing from the kitchen.
"Nami got hit by a piece of the mast and fell into the ocean! And Zoro went after her!" Luffy said
"What? That barbarian doesn't know how to save a lady! Even less save Nami-swan!" the blonde chef shouted
"Hey, could you give me a hand instead of just shouting around?" an annoyed voice rang, which made the whole crew hang over the railing, staring down on the water
Zoro was just a few meters from the ship, but far enough to not get hid by the shadow cast, as the full moon glow in ghostly white. He'd found Nami and now had both his arms wrapped around her waist, her back resting leaning against his chest and her head resting on his right shoulder. Her head was turned so her mouth was close to his ear, giving him the opportunity to hear her breathe; deep and quiet.
Franky and Brook had gone to bring a rope and threw one end over the railing, while holding onto the other end. When Zoro was sure he wouldn't drop the unconscious red-head he turned his head up and told them to drag them up, which the whole crew took part in. when the two was once again on the deck he gently put her down, leaning her against the railing, before backing away to let Chopper take a look.
"How is she?" Sanji asked the reindeer doctor, worry lacing his voice
"She's fine; she's just unconscious, though I have to take a look at her head later" he said, turning to the crew
"I think she's waking up" Robin said, blue eyes locked on the younger woman
And she was right; Nami's brandy colored eyes slowly opened. She lifted her head just a bit, and her gaze swept lazily from one to another; beginning on Zoro, whom stood to the left and ending on Brook standing at the far right. She lightly scrunched her brows, a slight frown adoring her face and opened her mouth and spoke:
"Who are you?"
