:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"We have to live a life of no regrets." –Portgas D. Ace

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

It wasn't supposed to be a special day really, Nami was just supposed to go out and read some books on being a navigator and drawing charts. She much preferred calling it "grinding levels" in being a navigator.

But, just like anything can happen at any moment, Nami's average day changed completely.

Why?

Because Nami could sense Belle-mere and Nojiko. She could do it with her eyes closed. She could sense the way they were moving, that Belle-mere was in the tangerine grove and that Nojiko was carrying the basket for Bellemere, and if she really focused she could see their "aura," and the exact moment when Nojiko stumbled, almost letting all the tangerines fall down.

'Kenbunshoku Haki.' Nami immediately realized.

Truthfully she shouldn't have been as surprised as she was, considering she did once suspect the original Nami of being able to use Haki, since at the time it was the only explanation as to how the original Nami could predict the weather.

Still, despite her surprise, she was curious.

How far could she stretch out her radius?

She closed her eyes, and focused. She tried imagining her surroundings, and tried "seeing" further ahead than the tangerine grove.

She could sense the birds flying in the sky, but not the worms in the ground.

'l will have to work on this.' Nami thought to herself, her eyes opening.

"For now, I have a long day ahead of me."

Filled with stealing books, of course. The villagers were too stingy to lend them to her, it wouldn't be good for their business after all. Even so, they never called her out on stealing those books, because she always returned them back.

Her days were practically a routine really, wake up, help around a bit, go steal some books, read said books, return them back, go back home, sleep. Repeat.

It was boring, but she couldn't really do much considering she's just a kid. Besides it was all part of her plan.

She'd take two years to practice her thieving skills, further her navigating knowledge, and now her Haki. After that she's planning on getting some training in before heading out to sea at the age of eight. She had a few things to do before the storyline kicked in after all.

Resisting the urge to just go back to sleep she made her way into town after greeting Nojiko and Bellemere, both told her to stay out of trouble.

Nami wanted to scoff.

It was impossible for her to stay out of trouble after all considering Luffy was her future captain. She was just going to embrace the fact that trouble was likely to become her middle name.

For now, "Thieving Kitten," was her nickname in town. Honestly, she wanted them to change the nickname. She didn't want to be a kitten. Cats were weak. She wanted to be a stronger animal, thank you very much.

Nami stopped in the middle of town, deciding to try her Haki out again. Maybe it might make stealing easier for her after all.

Using Haki was strange yet liberating, she decided making her way around town with her eyes closed. Liberating in the sense that she could feel everything around her, maybe not everything, but everything. That sounded odd even in her head, but it made sense to her, because she could feel what was going on around her.

Sure, her reaction time was awful, and sometimes she still bumped into people, but the possibilities are what really made her perk up. Along with the feeling of actually being able to use Haki.

She wouldn't lie, it kind of made her feel special, and maybe a tad bit smug, but Haki was amazing. It gave her a high feeling, the same one she was used to feeling once upon a time when she was partying.

'Haki may just be my new addiction.' She decided in amusement, as she opened her eyes.

At the end of the day, she concluded that Haki really did make stealing things easier for her.

.o0o.o0o.

When Nami turned four, she started drawing some charts. It was nothing compared to the original Nami's, but this Nami was a firm believer of practice makes perfect. She simply had to practice a lot, and then she would be perfect.

Besides, she wasn't aiming to be like the original Nami. She was aiming to become stronger than that. She wanted to be on par with Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.

So she decided to take an apprenticeship under her home island's doctor, Noko. Not because she was interested in saving lives or anything. She was more interested in the science, medical or otherwise, of the world she now lived in.

Given enough time, she wanted to know more about the Devil Fruits. She wanted to get her hands on some Devil Fruits, but the problem was she couldn't consume multiple Devil Fruits, and she valued her ability of swimming.

So she'll have to come up with another alternative of really being able to use those Devil Fruits once she acquires them.

It was a hassle, but then again she was pretty greedy.

Doctor Noko never suspected any ulterior motives hidden behind Nami's desire to "protect her precious people."

Honestly, Nami wanted to barf. It seemed like everyone was easily swayed with the power of friendship and trivial things like that.

'If the power of friendship can really save people, then Ace wouldn't have died, would he?' She thought to herself whenever she was starting to doubt her own believes.

She would not believe in the whole friendship makes one stronger belief.

.o0o.o0o.

"Come back here, you little thief!" Genzo yelled chasing after Nami.

Nami grinned, not pausing as she forced her short legs to run faster and faster, "No way!" She yelled back, the most carefree look on her features.

Alas, Genzo eventually caught her, he did have longer legs after all.

After forcing the five year old Nami to return the book she stole, Genzo gave her a severe scolding which she tuned out.

"Why did you even steal that book?" Genzo asked as he walked Nami back to Bellemere's place.

Nami crossed her arms faking a pout. "It's 'cause Bellemere's poor, so I don't wanna ask her to buy it for me." And apparently her acting worked, because Genzo's stern look softened up a bit.

"Next time just ask me, and depending on whether or not you've behaved yourself, I'll buy it for ya."

"Really?" Nami perked up.

"Just don't go stealing anymore stuff, alright?"

"Yeah!"

"Promise?"

"Promise!" Nami lied with a grin. (Not that Genzo believed her either way, but it's the feelings that counts, right?) "So you're staying over to eat, right?"

"I dunno, I mean I don't wanna impose." Genzo shrugged.

"You're such a pansy." Nami taunted.

"P-pansy? Do you even know what that means?"

"Nope~!" Nami shamelessly admitted, "But I like calling you that. From now on your new nickname is Mister Pansy Pinwheel, the man whose in love with Mom, but can't admit it!"

"I am not in love with Bellemere!" Genzo denied.

"Suuuure you aren't."

.o0o.o0o.

"Let me get this straight, you want me to train you to become a marine despite the fact that you want to become a pirate?" Bellemere summed up as Nami dug into her breakfast.

Both Bellemere and Nojiko were giving Nami a flat look.

Nami grinned at them. "Aye."

"A pirate going through marine training, and here I thought I've seen it all." Bellemere smirked.

Nojiko gave Bellemere a disbelieving look, "You're not actually going to teach her, are you?"

"Of course I'm going to teach her, after all I need to make sure she stays alive when she heads out to sea." Bellemere smiled, it was one of her motherly smiles.

Nojiko sputtered out a protest, but in the end nothing came out of it. Bellemere was intent on training Nami, and Nami was intent on learning from Bellemere.

When Genzo and doctor Noko found out, they didn't seem really surprised.

"A former marine training a future pirate, now I've seen it all." Both had said the same thing even!

.o0o.o0o.

For all intents and purposes, Nami really loved her family.

They had grown on her a lot, despite how manipulative she was towards them. She really did see Nojiko as a younger sibling figure, despite the fact that she was physically younger than Nojiko, and she really did see Bellemere as her mother.

Then there was Genzo, who she saw as a father figure, not that she would ever admit it aloud to anyone really. Even doctor Noko was like a surrogate uncle to her.

She loved them.

Those four brought a whole new meaning to the word "family" for her, they made family more than just a word, or blood relations, they made family feel like family. She loved them. She really did.

On the day she turned eight, she had disappeared from her home island along with a fishing boat.

She just didn't love them enough to stay.

(Or maybe it was because she loved them so much that she left?)

.o0o.o0o.

Chapter End.

.o0o.o0o.

Author's Note: Well, this chapter was fast paced, wasn't it? Anyways sorry for not updating in over a month, I have no excuse.

Lilith's Question Corner~!

Lilith: Today's question is…."Who are your least favorite One Piece characters?" Damn, that's a hard one. Personally I don't like Boa all that much before Luffy softened her up, someone I really don't like though…hmmm….nope, can't think of any right now.