(Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or any related characters)
"Aaaah, I can't wait!"
Brook's music plays in the background as the breeze rustles against the tangerine tree's leaves while Nami tends to them. She smiles warmly after picking a ripe fruit from a branch, examining it before tucking it away with the others. Robin glances up at her from where she waters her flowers, nodding her agreement.
"We haven't had very many moments of relaxation, other than on Sunny," Robin says, "It will be nice."
"Nami!"
The peacefulness of their conversation is very suddenly destroyed by their captain's loud beckons. Nami groans, expression going dark as she steps away from her treasured trees, "What do you want?"
Luffy comes skipping up to the gardens, smile plastered on his face as Usopp and Chopper follow in tow. He skids to a stop in front of the two women— one amused while the other one scowls.
He giggles as he energetically asks, "How much longer?"
She can hear the others on the far deck going about their business. She recalls seeing Franky messing with something earlier and can infer that Zoro is probably snoozing in some corner of the deck by himself. Chopper and Usopp are still running around according the the sounds of glee emanating behind her.
Nami sighs, walking past Luffy without another glance, "I told everyone that it'll take four days to reach Kusukira Springs from the previous island," walking into the kitchen and setting the basket of tangerines on the counter beside Sanji, Nami sweetly asks, "How many days has it been since we left, Luffy?"
Luffy takes a moment to ponder that before innocently admitting, "I don' know."
Nami can't help but sigh once again at the sunshine-like smile that erupts then, running a hand through her orange hair. She isn't even surprised.
"It's been three days, Luffy," Sanji offers without turning from his meal preparations. He very delicately slides a tall glass filled with colorful juice and fruit over to Nami with a gleeful smile on his face, "Enjoy your drink, Nami~swan!"
"Thank you, Sanji-kun," Nami says as she turns back to Luffy whose face has gone red with his in-depth thinking on the information that's been provided for him.
Nami takes pity on him after watching wordlessly for a few moments, "We'll be there tomorrow."
Luffy snaps his fingers, "I knew it!" and runs back through the kitchen doors towards Usopp and Chopper.
Nami sighs for the third time in the short expanse of time, "Why do I feel like this isn't going to be a very relaxing trip?"
"Oh, Nami-san," Sanji hums from the stove, "Don't worry, I won't let anyone bother you during our little vacation!"
Nami huffs, sipping her drink, "That'll be the day…"
/
It's early evening the following day when the Sunny arrives. Just as the townspeople from the previous island explained and practically advertised, the immediate image of the island is that of tall hotels, illuminated casinos, theme parks and gigantic swimming pools. Palms trees line every shore except for the expanse of land set aside for the dock. The streets are narrow to accommodate the several shops and tourist attractions. It's not an island meant for year-round residents— unless of course they work there— but for those seeking a break.
The entire crew stares out in excited awe, shouting out the different things catching their eyes.
"Cool! Look at that rollercoaster!"
"The spa~ Oh, I can't wait!"
"Wonder what power source they use for all those rides… and look at that pool!"
"Oh, I can already hear the happy melodies playing!"
The Sunny docks into the harbor, sails being folded up and anchor being released as soon as movement ceases. Bags and necessities are already prepared and next thing anyone else at the harbor knows, nine excited people come charging off of the ship and towards the city.
They would have kept running— no doubt getting seperated in the process— if a woman clad in a simple polo hadn't fearlessly walked in front of them.
Everyone skids to a stop, shouts of surprise erupting from the group.
They all stare at the woman— who simply smiles back in return.
"Welcome to Kusukira Springs! I'll be your guide this evening," She turns to leave, "Please follow me."
Without a second thought, lost in their excitement, the Strawhats all follow.
The woman in a polo leads them to their hotel on the shore, seemingly understanding immediately what they're there for. It's a tremendously tall building almost entirely made out of windows. As they make their way into the large and busy lobby, the polo woman turns to them.
"Here in Kusukira Springs we welcome all visitors. Be you marines, pirates, revolutionaries, criminals, saints, or simple commoners you are free to relax here at our expansive resort," she motions to the receptionist desk, "You will be assigned a room based off of your group's size and then will be allowed to explore the resort. And remember, here you are safe!"
And then, all so suddenly, she's gone.
"That was a little creepy," Zoro murmurs with his arms crossed, glancing around at the throngs of people. Bags are slung around his shoulders in a careless manner and his expression is that of being none-too-pleased about the fact.
Nami nods, "I kind of thought so, too."
"It's as though they are all programmed to lead us to our doom," Robin mumbles, gazing up at the glass walls with a content smile on her face.
Usopp grimaces, "Don't say stuff like that, Robin."
"None of you are even commenting on this super~ cool architecture! How did they use all this glass with so little supports?" Franky rubs a large metal hand down a pillar, "Wowie!"
People walk around the group in a hurry to get to the attractions outside, and only moments later does the crew realize that Luffy is gone.
"Luffy!" Nami yells out in outrage alongside Usopp while the others gaze around trying to find the familiar straw hat on his head. The only way they find him in the large crowd is from the sound of his voice yelling excitedly over the semi-quiet people around him.
"— big room! One that we can see the ocean from!" Luffy says as his crew approaches. Chopper is already by Luffy's leg, clinging to it as though if he lets go he'll be swept away, "Oh! One that has a stocked fridge, too! Lots and lots and lots—"
Nami's yanks him away from the desk immediately. She steps into his place with a nervous smile in place as the others behind her try to silence their objecting captain, "Sorry about that! Heh, um... we'd like a—"
"Already got one picked out for ya," the man behind the counter says with a small smile, "Large room, ocean view, stocked refrigerator— with full kitchen, too."
And then he hands them their keys.
Nami, flustered and surprised, takes the keys without a word.
"Your room is 203 on the 15th floor," he says in finality, "Have a nice stay here."
Nami blinks, turning to look at Sanji behind her. He shrugs, looking to Zoro who does the same. Nami looks back at the receptionist who has gone to look at piles of paper records and logs, "Erm...thank you…"
/
The room is both big and incredibly high off the ground. Franky is excited beyond measure— running around the hotel room with Usopp and speaking excitedly about the engineering involved. Everyone else ignores them as they marvel at their own parts of the room.
Two bedrooms— one for the girls and one for the guys. A living room. A full kitchen with a— previously— fully stocked kitchen now being consumed by Luffy. And a balcony with a view of the ocean. Everything is either made out of glass or items colored light blue to add to the clear effect.
"Not like we don't see the ocean every day," Nami mumbles, gazing out the window at the expanse of sea she still adores despite spending a good percentage of her life on it.
"Oi, Zoro!" Luffy yells, "Let's go to the pool! Down stairs! Down stairs! Outside! Outside!"
"I know where it is!"
Robin laughs from where she stands, tapping Chopper on his antler, "Would you like to go, doctor-san?"
Chopper nods excitedly, skipping after Luffy as they head for the door. Usopp follows with his arms full of pool equipment for their devil-fruit users. Brook sings merrily as he runs after the group of pirates.
Nami scowls after them, "Put on some swimming gear, guys!" and when she's ultimately ignored she simply huffs to herself before turning to Robin.
The older woman looks amused, taking a few steps towards the door after her leaving nakama, "Are you coming cook-san? Ms. Navigator?"
Sanji dives over the island countertop in the kitchen, rolling delightfully at Robin's invitation, "I'd be happy to, Robin~chwan!"
"I think I'll stay in the room today," Nami says, gazing back out the window, "It'll be nice to have some quiet time."
Robin nods her understanding, turning away with Sanji following with a loving, "Enjoy your time, Nami-san!"
The door closes with a quiet click and Nami heaves in a breath of air— stretching her arms out around her. Not often does she get quiet time. She's usually surrounded by her crew which is normally loud and rambunctious on the best of days.
Nami heads for the balcony, taking a seat in one of the woven chairs.
/
The pool area has multiple different sections. It's the best way to allow groups more privacy and less contact with other strangers visiting the island.
"I bet that woman was talking that way because of how many people visit daily," Robin muses from her lounge chair, "Thousands every day. It's like she's a recording now— repeating the same thing every day for hours on end."
Zoro looks at her from where he's sitting. His swords lay on the ground beside him and he dared any of the staff surrounding the pool to even try and take them away, "Yeah."
Robin had gotten all the boys to put on swim trunks— mostly because the staff had stated that it was required for the pool-area. She smiled fondly at her captain and nakama playing in the pool only a few feet from her. Chopper laid beside her— panting in the heat as the sun beat down on him.
A loud smack echoes in the small area and she doesn't even look up as a ball goes bouncing past her chair.
"Yosh!" Luffy shouts, "Point for me!"
Usopp goes running after the ball, "Franky, how is he beating us?"
"Don't know, bro," Franky mumbles baffled, watching as the raft they made for the rambunctious captain sways in the water, "Are we going easy on him?"
Usopp jumps back into the pool, "Yeah, that's it! The Great Captain Usopp chose to allow for his opponent to gain a point out of the kindness of his heart!"
"Blegh, liar!"
Sanji mumbles happily when he returns from ogling the other women at the pool, welts on his cheeks that he ignores with a pleased smile, "There's some nice views around here."
Zoro grumbles something under his breath and suddenly the two are going at each other.
The previously breezy atmosphere goes away almost immediately. It's so sudden that no one even really notices.
Zoro and Sanji continue to argue beside Robin in the distance, said woman reading her book as Chopper watches Luffy, Franky and Usopp's antics in the pool. Brook strums his guitar to a small group of onlookers as laughter fills the warm evening air.
The ball goes skipping out of the pool after a particularly hard hit from Franky.
Luffy jumps off his little raft and runs after the ball, wet feet smacking against the concrete ground. Birds squawk restlessly above him— hoards of them flying in the same direction.
This— people notice.
Zoro gazes up at the sky, feeling the breeze suddenly return in gusts of harsh wind. He meets Luffy's eyes that have gone up to meet his, sees the way the young captain's grip tightens on the ball in his hands. Though they don't know what's going on, they both understand how the atmosphere pushes their instincts to feel uneasy.
"Oi, Robin—" Luffy calls just as the pool begins falling silent with anxiousness. Luffy doesn't finish asking his question at the sight of Robin's terrified expression from where she's sat up in her lawn chair.
She stands immediately, taking Chopper in her hands. Sanji begins asking what's wrong when—
"Luffy, we have to—"
The urgent gasp is cut off at the explosive sound of an amazing amount of water crashing against the palm trees against the shore. They begin falling, snapping and crackling as they collide with nearby buildings and the ground.
Usopp looks suddenly pale and Brook feels his hands shake against his guitar strings, "What—
"We have to run!" Zoro shouts in understanding, but all too late.
The water shoots up into the air as it collides with the barricade of the pool grounds— bits of building and tree coming with it menacingly. The impact vaporizes all other sounds. The birds suddenly don't exist. The whispering wind has gone silent.
Luffy feels his heart skip a beat, staring at the water in terrified awe. The ball slips from his grip and the next thing he knows he's zeroing in on the other devil fruit eaters sitting around the pool— frozen in place.
"Zoro!" He screams, "Get them—"
Usopp's body collides with his own with enough force to knock them both to the ground. In the back of his mind, Luffy hears Usopp yell something about 'don't let go of me' and 'hold your breath', but he isn't paying attention to that.
Zoro seems to have gotten the message. Luffy sees Sanji running after Brook just as Chopper jumps into Zoro's arms and the swordsman's knocking Robin into the pool along with the two of them for cover.
Brook and Sanji get covered by the wave first. The brown water consumes them before Sanji has the chance to reach out to their resident skeleton. There's no shouts of panic— no grunt at that impact. One moment they're there, and the next they aren't.
Franky is next, having remained in the far end of the pool he takes to diving underwater as the wave hits.
Zoro's already been underwater with Robin and Chopper when they're covered and the wave is zeroing in on Usopp and Luffy.
Luffy hears his own scream of fear over his companion's, hand gripping onto Usopp like a lifeline as the water approaches them. He's split between the overwhelming need to block Usopp from the oncoming assault and the instinctual desire to hide for cover.
Despite his fear, he somehow manages the former.
The water takes them both— forcing them through trees and rough patches full of sharp metal and stone. And, some point through it all, Luffy feels it.
All contact with Usopp disappears.
He's alone.
Okay!
So, I've been wanting to write a story like this for a while. I just love the idea! Something as catastrophic as a tsunami— and the strawhats having to survive through it. Sure, there was Water 7, but still. I feel it would be especially dangerous considering the ratio of devil fruit eaters to none devil fruit eaters.
Also, I wanted to take the chance at writing with characters that aren't often seen interacting in fanfiction (or not as much as I'd like to see *ahem*).
/
A few things: this chapter will probably be the hardest one for me to write. Writing things that need to be in more detail with the entire crew— while also including individual thought— let's just say I'm often baffled at how many writers can accomplish it so flawlessly. So, that was hard.
The name of the island was chosen as a mix of two Japanese words:
— Rirakkusu- relax
— Kusuri- medicine/pharmaceuticals
Which together created~:
— Kusukira Springs!
That doesn't really matter but I wanted to share :)
And as always, I edit my work by myself— often times later at night when I'm about to pass out— so it's very common that I miss mistakes. Please let me know it you see a mistake, if you want to make a suggestion or anything in between.
Will hopefully update within the next few days.
Good day!
