A/N: How DEAD have I been? I'm sorry. It's summer and I should be able to update more :/
Really I'm very sorry. I'm a retard with a lot of things occupying my time. AUGH AND I LOVE THIS STORY! D:
Mina smiled warmly at the old woman and walked towards her holding out her parcels. "I brought us groceries," she declared swooping down and giving the old woman a quick kiss on the cheek. "So we can eat well tonight." Her eyes shone as she unwrapped the parcels and took out a ripe, orange, tangerine. She placed it on the table and began getting out the rest of the food. The old woman laughed hoarsely.
"Mikan? I should have known Mina…" Mina flushed and looked at the old woman slightly embarrassed.
"What? I happen to like them! Not only are they delicious but they make me feel happy!" Mina defended hotly before turning her head towards the window, "Eating them…I feel so…"she murmured now brushing her hair back with her hand. The old woman lifted her head at the sudden change in Mina's tone.
The girl was hunched over a glaze over her eyes as if she was searching for a memory, something to grasp at. Memories of how Mina came into her life came rushing at her. The old woman sighed getting out of her chair, groaning a bit from the struggle of it. The lady's name was Noriko and she had lived on Hana no Yama for her entire life. And Mina…
Mina wasn't exactly her daughter. She was like a daughter though; for the past five years she had been living under Noriko's care and roof.
Five years.
Five long painful, wonderful, depressing, exciting years.
Noriko sighed a bit before stalking over to the kitchen. "I need a drink…" she muttered out loud so that the young redhead could hear her. Much to the old woman's relief she heard the tinkling noise that was Mina's laughter. "Something cold?" Noriko suggested scrutinizing her cabinet depicting all sorts of alcoholic beverages. Mina grimaced.
"Oba-chan you know I don't drink…"
"Oh come on! Quit being such a wuss woman. You're what? Twenty? And don't drink? Haven't even gotten laid in the past—"
"Oba-chan!!" Mina cutin her face burning with embarrassment as she rushes into the kitchen glaring at Noriko. The old woman only smiles with a twinkle in her eyes. Now Noriko was old. She was very old. But she didn't act her age. She's…a very interesting old woman let's leave it at that. Noriko had shrunk as most women did as they passed their golden years by. Just by a glance you would consider her old. The slight wrinkles, the crooked nose, the eyes that shone with wisdom beyond Mina's years. But the spirit she had, the way she carried herself. It was as if she held her youth in the palm of her hand.
Mina loved the crazy kook.
She loved her from the moment she opened her eyes swept up on the beach the waves crashing onto her. And she looked up and there was Noriko pouring cold fresh water over her bloodied head. Like an angel.
Her guardian angel…
"I love you."
BANG!
Mina gasped aloud clutching at her heart, a white-hot pain intensely running through her body. Her mind was swarming and familiar yet vague feelings of warmth and love touched at her. But it wasn't feelings of Noriko's affection.
It was something else…something so eerily familiar yet she had no idea when she'd experienced it.
Nauseous she fell to the floor her fingers scrambling to grip something solid, something real.
Noriko rushed beside her and clasped her hand trying to soothe the panicking girl. This happened every so often. It used to frighten Noriko to no end and it still did however she finally figured out what Mina's seizure like condition was. She was having glimpses, not exactly memories more like feelings, remembering them from her previous life. After all…
Mina had no memories besides the five years she spent with Noriko.
Chopper looked around curiously. The little reindeer had wanted to explore the island [in a more calming manner than his captain I must say and managed to drag the less than willing green haired swordsman along with him. Robin insisted that the little reindeer have supervision with him.
Sanji—being the lovesick fool he is and wanting to spend the afternoon with Robin—immediately volunteered Zoro.
Zoro—being, well Zoro—blatantly refused.
This of course led to Zoro and Sanji fighting it out, the occasional insult spewing out of their mouths as well. Poor Chopper hid behind Robin's leg; while Robin looked up from her book and sighed. Usopp had conveniently disappeared. Conveniently.
…Chopper planned to mercilessly fling rotten tomatoes at the long-nosed traitor.
Robin—being the rational smart lady she is—managed to calm down Sanji and Zoro and asked Zoro politely if he would accompany Chopper.
To this Zoro snorted; "Hell no!"
Robin offered the swordsman enough booze to make him dance like a panda on crack.
"Let's go Chopper." Chopper blinked at the chuckling Robin and the swooning Sanji as he was pulled along by his green-haired nakama.
So now Chopper and Zoro found themselves in a small but quaint bookstore. The little reindeer squealed when he saw the amazing amount of books, stacked everywhere upon shelves. Even Zoro had to raise his eyebrows at the sight of so many books in such a small place.
"UWAH! Isn't this awesome Zoro?" Chopper asked excitedly. Zoro grunted in reply. Ignoring the marimo's less than enthusiastic reply, he ran further into the store and began browsing around with the books. Noting that this would take quite a while Zoro settled himself into a corner and prepared for a nice long nap.
The princess and the straw-hat managed to find themselves leaving the busy town and walking towards the more country-like side of the island. It surprised Vivi, really. She supposed that this island would've been more tropical but it was actually more peaceful with rolling green hills and mountains far into the distance.
Her captain plopped down on the soft grass and patted the spot next to him, motioning for her to sit. Vivi hesitated before sitting down, pulling her knees up to her chest. They sat in silence for a while, refusing to lock eyes with the other. Luffy was ashamed that she had to see that side of him--so broken and pained. Vivi was afraid that if she looked at Luffy she'd promptly burst into tears.
But she was thinking...
What had Luffy-san meant when he said that he saw Nami? Was that even possible? It had been five whole years and they had traveled all over trying to find the money-loving navigator. To think that...Luffy might've found her here of all places...
Vivi shivered slightly in anticipation but did not want to get her hopes up. She had so many questions choking her up, wanting desperately to be voiced to her captain, but she silenced the voices and kept her mouth shut. If Luffy-san didn't want to talk about what had happened to him before, she wouldn't pester him about it.
She was wise in not asking Luffy about it. He was still in a turmoil about the whole thing. It hit him hard. His navigator--his precious nakama--had been lost to all of them for five years. It was painful. He didn't want to let go, even think of the possibility that she may be dead. All these years they'd been sailing the seas--putting aside their dreams and hopes just so that they could find Nami. He wasn't stupid. He knew that everybody else had slowly been losing hope. Hell, even he was. They barely talked about her as of lately. It really stung. It really did.
And then...seeing that girl who had an uncanny resemblance to her and she blatantly pushing him away, insisting that she was not Nami...
But she was! he thought furiously. That was Nami, I'd recognize her anywhere! Why can't she remember me?
Luffy was pissed. Pissed, depressed, confused, and all that shit. Gah...
He groaned and shoved his face into his hands. Vivi jumped at this sudden movement and looked at her captain in concern. "Are you alright Luffy-san?" He immediately tensed again. Crap! He had completely forgotten about Vivi. Now he felt guilty. Here he was, acting like a total enigma and Vivi was beside him probably worrying her head off about him since he hadn't spoken a word to her since she cried in the alley.
The guilt settled in even more.
He had made her cry. By not being able to be brave enough to cry for himself, he had forced Vivi to cry for him. He sighed, lifting his face up and finally locking eyes with Vivi. Her dark blue eyes held confusion, slight apprehension, and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on. She immediately tensed, waiting for whatever reaction Luffy might have.
He sighed. "Vivi I--"
He froze then suddenly dove towards Vivi, pushing her onto the ground. Vivi was paralyzed in shock from his sudden movement. Then the shock wore off and suddenly she was angry, "Luffy-san what the hell--"
BOOM! From the corner of her eye she could see a large explosion in the back of them. She gasped. What in the world?
Luffy jumped off Vivi's soft body and motioned for her to stay put. He frowned and shielded his eyes from the sudden smoke and debris.
"Mugiwara!" A rough voice called him and brought Luffy to attention. He spun around, fist ready to cream any opponent. What he saw made his jaw drop.
Holding a terrified Vivi by the arm stood Captain Smoker of the Marines.
Chopper sighed happily holding a large stack of books. He couldn't believe the wide variety this store held! He'd found so many interesting books regarding medicines and more tactical approaches to treating sickness. It made him so happy
He was sorry Robin couldn't have come with him so he got her a couple of funky looking books that seemed to deal with history to please her. And if she wasn't happy with the result he could always take her to the bookstore herself. Happy with his thoughts he slammed the books onto the front register.
A young girl with dark red hair jumped at the loud "thump!" the books made when Chopper slammed them on the desk. She growled impatiently, "Alright jeez--Holy crap!" she exclaimed her blue eyes widening at the sight of all these books. She pushed them aside to take a look at the person. You can imagine her shock when she saw little reindeer Chopper looking up at her.
"UWAH! A raccoon!"
"Shut up human! I'm not a raccoon!"
"Huh?!"
"I'm a reindeer dammit!"
"...Oh. You can talk too."
"Of course!"
"How is that..." her statement trailed off when she saw the muscled green-haired swordsman snoozing at the front entrance of the store. Her mouth dropped and for a moment she represented a gaping fish.
"R-Roronoa Zoro!"
The man in question lazily lifted his eye in response before going back to sleep again. The bookeeper continued to gape before saying, "You guys are pirates!" Chopper jumped a bit at the accusation, but there was no use hiding it.
"Y-yes. But don't worry! We're good pirates!" The bookeeper frowned.
"Don't you guys know? You're in danger here--the Marines--"
"Marines?!" Chopper shrieked making the bookeeper jump.
"Yeah...they say Captain Smoker docked just a couple hours ago..." Zoro's eyes snapped open.
"Smoker?!" Shit! If Smoker is here then that means...Images of a certain blue haired, dark eyed, glasses wearing, Marine invaded his mind. "That stupid woman..." he swore angrily getting up and grabbing his swords. "Let's go Chopper. We need to warn the others."
"Y-yeah..." Chopper squeaked quickly paying for the books and rushing after the tall man. The bookeeper looked at their retreating backs, apphrehension and nervousness clouding her mind.
"The Marines aren't the only thing they need to worry about..." she muttered to herself pocketing the money. She froze when the cool subtle edge of a knife touched her throat. A gasp was caught in her throat.
"You're right girlie," a mockingly kind voice that sent chills down the girl's spine responded. The holder of the knife gripped her hair. "Now...you're going to be a good girl and follow my orders or your little bookshop will be reduced to ashes..."
Noriko sighed as she put Mina to bed. The girl's panic-attack had ended and her shaking sobs had subsided, and now she was sleeping a frown plastered on her face. Noriko looked at the girl for a moment.
"Who are you Mina-chan?"
A/N: Yes who is this "Mina"? Is she really Nami? I don't know and neither do you xD Okay maybe I DO know. Ahahaha, actually I was quite happy with this chapter. It's moving along rather nicely. Oh--and to add a little twist I put in Smoker and Tashigi too:D Hahah poor Zoro going to go through that woman's mouth...
Anyways, as always review please I'm definitely open to suggestions on what I can add to the story. Spefically romance(: What pairings should I do...? You guys know for sure Vivi is lusting over the Captain. I can't say the feelings are mutual. Anyhow--gimme your feedback please! I'll update soon
Dark-chan
