Thank you for the reviews! Now, here's my response to them;
Lunanite: I'm really glad you liked the story! I hope you keep being interested because there's a twist in the story I'll like all you to see. Yeah, it's hard to think of a job for him. Don't worry; I have no intention of making Luffy a wrestler. I don't think it will suit Luffy (because whenever I think of wrestlers, all I imagine are muscular and big guys). A racer does sound good but I need something with more time and regular but thank you for the suggestion! Thanks for reviewing!
abbylee95: Here's the next chapter! Hope you'll like it! It's a little bit longer than the last one though. Thanks for reviewing!
MyWonderLand209: I hope you keep being interested! There's a big twist in the story that I'd like to show you guys. Yeah, Luffy's dumb yet sweet attitude is so cute! That's it! A fireman! It's the right job! Thanks for the suggestion! Thanks for reviewing!
Well, here's chapter two! I tried to put lots of fluffs and stuff so it might not make sense. Enjoy~!
~ Chapter Two: Best Friends One Could Have ~
Nami locked the door to their front door. She descended the steps of the small stair on the front as she slung her red purse over her shoulder. Luffy, who was now dressed in a comfortable-looking red shirt and light-blue jeans, waited for her while fiddling with the big black bag over his shoulder to make it comfortable to carry. His straw-hat, now with the additional red band, dangle from his neck. As Nami came beside him, he started walking with her
They had no car and empty taxis rarely passed by. They had no choice but to walk to Nami's workplace where Luffy could catch a taxi. Nami's workplace was just a couple of blocks away so they could be there on time.
People increased, cars roared, and buildings got taller as they walked in comfortable silence. While Luffy thinks it's comfortable, Nami hadn't even paid attention to the surroundings and just kept glancing at the black bag Luffy was carrying. Curiosity was eating her. Luffy never needed to bring anything in his work. His uniform and everything he needed for it was in his workplace already.
Finally, Nami couldn't take it anymore. She pointed her index finger to the bag and gazed at Luffy as she asked;
"What is in that bag?" with slight annoyance and irritation in her voice
Luffy glanced down at the bag, then, settle his gaze on Nami.
"Robin asked me to buy these things for her. She said you guys need it" Luffy answered, face scrunched up in confusion that Nami didn't know
Nami released an 'Ah', finally understanding.
Robin-nee-san did tell me something like that but she never told me it was Luffy whom she asked
Suddenly, that thought triggered turmoil in Nami like a switch. Why Luffy? She had many slaves of men that she had captured because of her mature beauty. Not that she was saying that Luffy was one of them. She very well knew Luffy did it out of kindness. But why Luffy? There were many others she can ask!
Plagued by these thoughts, Nami barely noticed a blur of brown at the corner of her eyes. Her reflexes made her dodge, bumping with Luffy which made him yelp. Nami successfully dodged the paper cup that was thrown at the garbage can behind her but not the cold coffee that was in it.
Her clothes were safe but her whole right cheek and plenty strands of hair there took its stead. She glared hatefully at the occupants of the passing motorcycle that had thrown the cup without even decreasing speed.
"Geeze!" she exclaimed, gaining the attention of a couple passerby.
Luffy blinked, analyzing what just happened. Then, it clicked. As Nami reached out for her handkerchief in her pocket, she felt a hot breath on her face. She froze midway as she saw Luffy leaning down on her. Thinking he was going to kiss her and her mind frozen with shock, the only thing she can do was shut her eyelids tightly.
Then, she felt nothing on her lips but instead, she felt a tongue snaked on her wet right cheek. She opened her eyes, seeing as Luffy pulled back.
"Mm-mm" he hummed while playing with his tongue. "You taste like Starbucks" he said directly with a big grin on his face
Nami's reaction was imminent. She felt her face heat up as she unconsciously touched her right cheek while still looking at Luffy. Housewives and other women on the neighborhood who saw this paused in their steps and gazed at the couple. Some 'tsked' as they continue their way
"Youngsters these days" they murmured
This knocked Nami out of her stupor
"Stupid! Don't do that in public" she harshly whispered. "And I still haven't forgiven you for forgetting our anniversary so don't act so clingy with me!" she exclaimed in one breathe while walking ahead of Luffy, trying to get away from the scrutinizing gazes
Luffy's grin disappeared, replaced with a horrified look, as he chased after Nami.
"I said I was sorry! And I am taking you to that restaurant so forgive me already!" he pouted
They reached the building where a big "Cocoyashi Channel Station" was openly displayed. Nami turned to Luffy
"I'll carry that and give it to Robin. You should go now or you'll be late again" Nami offered as she reached out to grab the strap of the bag
Luffy backed away to get it out of Nami's grasp. She, meanwhile, paused and looked at him suspiciously. He shook his head
"I'll give it to her myself. It's a little bit heavy" he declined
They entered the building and Nami's mind was once again in havoc. After being checked by the guards and talking to the front desk, they headed for the elevator. Nami's body was in automatic while her mind was switching from one thought to another.
Why wouldn't Luffy let her carry the bag? Why did he insist on personally giving Robin-nee-san the bag? Did he want to see her? No, no, the bag must be really heavy and Luffy didn't want to burden her. That must be it . . . right?
DING
The sound snapped Nami out of her musings. That was the sound of the elevator opening as they reach the eighteenth floor where the "CocoNews" was currently working in.
"Nami?" Luffy called out, worry etched on his face
Nami was still in the elevator with a look of daze. She immediately straightened up and left the elevator before it closes.
"Sorry" she muttered, smiling in embarrassment
They headed towards a certain room that says 'Camera Room'. Nami opened the door and came in. They were greeted by bright light coming towards ten of the thirty television screens that were lined on the wall. There were also different keyboards and many colored switches.
"Good morning, everyone" she greeted with a smile
Sitting on a chair, fiddling with varieties of keys and switches, was a tanned girl with light-violet hair that was pulled up by a red ribbon and barely reached her neck. She has a heart-shaped face, dark-green eyes and lips that were covered with light-pink lipstick. She was wearing a sleeveless blue striped shirt and black leggings. She also had a small microphone on her ear. Without even glancing at them, she greets back;
"Morning Nami, Luffy-kun"
"Oh, hi, Nojiko!" Luffy grinned
Suddenly, a blur of yellow appeared in both of their vision. A man with short blonde hair, bangs covering his left eye, kneeled down and took Nami's hand. He had a round face, sea-blue eyes, funny curly eyebrows and is wearing a black tuxedo that seems to shine with the light. And don't forget the cigarette that magically sticks to his mouth even if they were wide open as he drank in the sight of Nami's beauty. They can practically see his visible eye turn to hearts.
"I have been blessed to be in the presence of such beauty" he dramatically recited, "May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
Nami sweat-dropped at the man's antics. Nojiko joined Nami as she too was given the same speech. Then, Nojiko released a 'tsk', knowing fully well that the blonde was going to regret it.
"My name's Mikan Nami. I'm Nojiko's sister" she said in a way of introduction
"I should have known!" his expression was then replaced by a distressed one. "That two of you beauties should be related!" his love-struck expression came back. "I must be the luckiest guy to be working with so many gorgeous women!"
Nami chuckled nervously and looked up to Nojiko.
"New recruit?" she asked but already knows the answer
Nojiko curtly nodded, eyes still on different screens. The blonde stood up and bowed, right hand on his chest, as if he was a waiter.
"Nami-swan, I am Kuroashi Sanji. It would be a pleasure working with you" he introduced, and wiggled his curly brow
Nami was flattered at Sanji's obvious flirting. Now that the overwhelming feeling of joy had passed, Sanji was conscious of his surroundings. He could feel a glare pricking his neck painfully like needles. The room suddenly felt cold to him and a shiver run down his spine, making him feel goose bumps. He set out to find the source of his discomfort. As he felt and found the direction of the source, he turned his head to where it was; beside Nami when. . .
"Oh, Robin!" Luffy, who was quiet all this time, spoke up, ran deeper into the room, black bag in tow
Startled by the 'sudden' appearance of the young man, Sanji can't help but watched Luffy.
He approached a woman with long ebony hair that reached her waist, holding a mug of coffee. She has a heart-shaped face; bangs reached her eyebrows, blue-green eyes and lips pursed into a cunning smile. Luffy approached her and started conversing with her, inaudible to the other three
"You're a strong-willed and lucky guy, aren't you?" a female voice came out of nowhere.
Three heads, namely Nami's, Nojiko's and Sanji's, snapped at the woman. The woman had dark-red hair that was tied in a single ponytail, two sides of her head shaved and only bangs and curls remained. She had a weird hairstyle to any passerby who's looking. She had a heart-shaped face, onyx eyes and a cigarette longer than Sanji's hung from her lips.
"Bellemere-san." Sanji whispered
"Yup. You're lucky he stopped glaring just as you looked at him" Nojiko added
"I think he had Robin to thank for that" Nami interjected
Struck by the sudden realization that the three women was referring to him, he pointed a thumb to himself.
"Me?" he asked, confused
This time, however, it was Nojiko who answered
"Who else do you think he was glaring at?" she nonchalantly said, eyes trailing back to the screens.
Nami sighed as she made his way to the chair beside Nojiko, all the time watching cautiously at Robin and Luffy. She sat down and helped Nojiko with setting up. The screens were showing different reporters from different locations and the anchors at the studio. They were responsible on switching the displayed view of the studio to the view of other reporters although they can be the reporters themselves. Nami put on a small microphone on his ear and also started clicking keys. The morning news will start soon so they had to prepare.
Sanji glanced at Luffy with distaste.
"So he really was the one glaring at me." Then, a smug smile came to his lips. "Is he jealous that I got the attention of Nami-swan?"
Upon hearing the last statement, Nami's face flushed with embarrassment while Bellemere and Nojiko laughed out loud. Sanji's face turned into confusion as he stared at the laughing women
"You hear that, Nami? He's jealous" Nojiko teased as she elbowed Nami but both hers and Nami's eyes were still on the screen
"Zip it" Nami warned but her blushing face didn't make it terrifying
Bellemere turned to Sanji after composing herself.
"Why wouldn't he be jealous . . ." this statement brought more confusion to Sanji's face. "When you were obviously flirting with his girlfriend?"
Shocked overcame Sanji and he froze, almost dropping the cigarette on his mouth as it was wide open. His visible eye turned wide as a saucer. Seeing the expression from the corner of their eyes, Nami and Nojiko giggled and then Bellemere joined them.
"G-Girl-f-friend-d? N-Nami-s-swan is?" Sanji stuttered, pointing a finger at Nami and another at Luffy.
"Yeah, let me tell you something." Bellemere started. "You know Arlong?"
"He was the previous director here, right? I heard he was hospitalized" Sanji nodded, shock momentarily forgotten
He had heard Arlong was a jerk to the ladies so he was grateful that he was hospitalized for now. If he hadn't, he'd be glad to be the one to knock the living daylights out of him. Because of that, Bellemere, Nojiko and Nami's mother, is now the current director
"Here's the story. The day of the . . . 'accident'" she whispered like it was a secret and was unsure whether to use 'accident' as the right word. "He was talking rudely to Nami and was getting too close for comfort. Luffy happens to see this and did what he did to you earlier. And when Arlong looked behind at Luffy, Nami told us Arlong had such a horrified face, like someone with a chainsaw was going to murder him"
Sanji gulped at Bellemere's description.
"Luckily, Nami didn't look behind her at that time but she could feel the vibes released by Luffy. The next thing she knew, Arlong was running, screaming "Bloody Murder", and that's why he had fell down the stairs" Bellemere finished, a smile on her face as if it wasn't a big deal. "You're pretty lucky you didn't look directly at him"
Suddenly, the shock from before and the shock from the story hit Sanji full force. He paled, his eyes was wide as a saucer, his mouth wide open and the cigarette almost dropping .
"NANI!"
At the exclamation, Robin and Luffy's head snapped at him. Robin chuckled at Sanji's funny expression. Seeing his expression once again, the three women laughed out loud.
"What's with him?" he muttered, slightly angry for the earlier events
He looked at his wristwatch and his eyes widened as he saw the time
"Oops, I gotta go" he said, the black bag no longer in possession. "Bye, Robin"
Hearing Luffy's statement, Nami turned to him and quickly reminded him of something
"Oi, Luffy, don't forget! Seven-thirty at Baratie"
All heads snapped to the two of them, including Sanji's who hasn't overcome his shock yet. Luffy grinned at her and ran out
"I won't! Don't worry!" he shouted back, glaring one last time at Sanji.
The glare was gone in a split of a second but that was all Sanji needed to feel goose bumps again. Touch her and you'll find your head off of your head was the hidden message
After he left, all eyes turn to Nami (except Sanji's), wondering what that was about. Seeing all their stares, Nami sighed as she turned back to the screens.
"I'll explain later"
~End of Chapter Two~
Thanks for reading chapter 2!
Nothing interesting happened again *sighed*. It took longer than I expected and I really had to stop there. I didn't get to introduce Luffy's co-workers. Sorry about that. I'll make the next chapter shorter (hopefully)
Well, I'm proud of my way of writing this time! Last chapter, I was really lazy in typing so it wasn't too good. I hope this was good enough. Please tell me if I have any grammar mistakes or misspelled words so I can change them immediately! Please and thank you!
Is Luffy Out Of Character here? Or Nami? Sorry about it. While typing Luffy in this chapter, I just can't help but imagine my ideal boyfriend so this chapter's Luffy is based on that *laughs sheepishly*. Nami is hard to type in a love story since all she cares about is money. Please tell me on how I could improve or please suggest more fluff scenes!
I hope you read long enough to find out the big twist in the story! Oh, and about their dinner plans . . . let's just say the result will be very predictable but I hope you don't lose interest.
*starts reciting a poem dramatically*
~My bare feelings, to you I hand
And I don't want you to misunderstand
For it causes war and deepens the hatred
So, I value the thoughts in your head
All I ask is for you to let them bare
Since feelings are the only things we can share
Even if we are miles apart
Your comments are things I take to heart~