"Luffy and His Riddle"
(c) Mei Evelyn
A One Piece Fanfiction
One Piece (c) Eiichiro Oda
Ch. 4: Nami
When a mysterious boy named Luffy asks me to be his navigator on his journey to Grand Line, I accept it just because I know for a fact that that sea is rough, and having a strong man on the same boat will give me benefit aside from all the gold I can fetch there. But when he says he is a pirate, meaning that if I were to join him in his crew I will be practically a pirate as well, I flatly turn his offer down. I hate pirates to the very core of my heart. They are jerks, cocky bastards, walking disasters for the world.
But I know I shouldn't let such opportunity to waste, seeing that I still can make a deal with him, though he still insists that I am part of his crew instead of partner in the sea. But I don't bother anyway, so I let him think whatever he wants. At least I won't ever be a pirate, just that I deceive people with many ways to reach my goal. As long as I never depict harm on innocent people, I'm save from being a pirate myself.
And then this infamous Buggy crew just gives more reason for my loathing towards pirates. I'm close to kill Luffy with my own hand because of my view on pirates.
"Ah, so you manage to get out alive. I thought you're already eaten by that lion. All pirates are just the same, you act however you like and always hurt people. You said you'll gather your own crew, right? I might as well end your sick desire before you can harm more people!" I yell as I draw my pocket knife, intending to end it quick. But the Mayor is quick to get in my way.
"Ahh, stop it, young girl!" the Mayor reasons.
"You won't be able to kill me," Luffy says, turning to the devastated dog on the ground.
"You'll never know if you never try it," I counter.
"Stop it! What's gotten into you?" the Mayor snaps at me, in which I ignore completely.
I'm ready to charge to Luffy, but his action catches me off-guards. He puts down a box of dog food in front of Shushu—the dog, and goes to sit beside the small dog.
"That's the only one left I can bring back to you. That lion had eaten all," Luffy says in light tone.
He went to beat that lion, just for the dog's sake? I quietly wonder.
"You really are brave! I didn't see it, but I heard you are!" Luffy says, smiling to the said dog beside him.
Shushu bites the box in front of him, not actually biting it but actually holding it with his mouth to bring it somewhere. Shushu stops once at his track and barks, glancing in Luffy's way, when the said man says, "You also did a great job back then!" which get a bark in return. Shushu continues his way. I smile as I watch the whole scene unfolds.
"I am sorry, for thinking bad about you before," I say truthfully, taking my step closer to the straw hat guy.
"It's alright. You must have a reason for it. Though I don't know whatever reason you have," he says as he pulls himself up from the ground and brushes his short from dusts. I only smile in return.
"Nami, I have a question," he says, uncharacteristically with a serious expression on his face.
"Huh? Fire away," I say.
"What does it mean to protect your treasure until you bleed?" he shots.
What does it mean to protect your treasure until you bleed? Interesting question, though still weird coming from his mouth. What do I know about protecting my treasure until I bleed? I know a lot. My treasure has been torn away from me by force. My life, my freedom, my mother, my happiness, but foremost is Cocoyashi village itself. The people I love are living in the village, threaten everyday by the sole existence of a frightening fishmen-jerk pirate crew claiming the whole island. I survive everyday just because the happy thought I have when someday I could reclaim the village. I will reclaim the village from that sick bastard. All I have to do is to collect the money needed to grant the deal. I know a lot to bleed myself just to protect my treasure.
"It means what the sentence says. You bleed to protect your treasure," I give my answer in a second.
"Hmm, is that so?" he raises his eyebrow.
"That's what I think at least. Why do you ask anyway? It's weird coming from you," I ask him back, slightly confused.
He stares at me for a few seconds. I realize that I can't make out what he thinks at the moment, because he has that expressionless kind of face, even I find nothing in his eyes. How strange.
Our stare-down is put into stop when the Mayor declares that he will fight Buggy because he can't take it anymore. In the end, Luffy has him knocked out, to my surprise, just because "he will be in the way" as Luffy claims. The battle goes quite fast, maybe just around half an hour, until Luffy manages to take Buggy down, with my assistance somehow, and sends away the Clown's crew from the village.
All encounters with Luffy and Zoro really changes my view on them. They are nice with people, but still I hate the fact that they're pirates. Our trip continues to Syrup village, where we meet a young man named Usopp. Luffy takes down the Kuro-bastard, and Kaya gives us a nice caravel made by one of his servant, Merry. Usopp joins in, and the new company sure enlightens the days in the Merry Go.
We meet Johny and Yosaku in our way, former partners of Zoro and pirate hunters, because of a dumb reason created by Luffy and Usopp playing with new canon. Long story cut short, I stumble upon a stack of wanted poster the pirate hunters duo have. A certain face makes my blood boiling with rage.
It is in the Baratie that I decide to abandon the crew, leaving with Merry Go to Cocoyashi village. While the boat is floating above the sea, I recall my conversation with Luffy back then. I will protect my treasure, doesn't matter how much I will bleed.
I'm sorry, Luffy. Sorry for all of you. It was fun spending time with you, but I need to protect my treasure. I'm sorry, Luffy. I hope you can forgive me.
Next chapter: Usopp
Unimportant side question: Which straw-hat's background story do you like the most? I really love how Oda made Nami's background. It's so devastating, to the point of dramatic but somehow I just like the angst, dunno why exactly. Maybe just because I like heavy angst in general. Makes my heart bleed with agony. I like Robin's as well. Heh. And Brook and Laboon. I wonder who's voicing little Laboon and big Laboon. Heh. So let me know what's yours! *wink
05/06/2016 (it's my birthday!^^ And I'm updating two chapters since it's been a long time since I updated. Enjoy)
-Mei Evelyn