"Stupid girl! Don't screw around with us!" a large man yelled, punching me hard in my face. My hat flew off my head and my eyes went wide as I stared up at it. I guess I let my anger get the better of me, since the next thing I knew, I had punched a black-covered fist into his face and sent him flying back. I caught my hat and returned it to my head.

"Don't touch my treasure," I growled.

"Little bitch!" the other two yelled, swinging their swords at me.

"Yin-Yang Pistol!" I yelled, lashing out with black bullets that shot out and threw everyone back. I glared at the three of them.

"Wow! You're strong, aren't you?" a voice called.

I looked up and saw that girl. She was up on a roof, looking down at me.

"Huh?" I tilted my head. She jumped from the roof onto the second-story porch.

"You won bare-handed against sabers," she pointed out.

"Huh? You were that..." I thought hard. I knew I remembered her from somewhere. "Who are you?" I gave up.

"I'm a thief that robs pirates!" She smiled. "My name's Nami. Hey! Why don't you join me?" she asked excitedly.

"No. I have no reason to join you," I said plainly. Then I turned and began walking away from her.

"Wa...wait!" she yelled after me. I heard her hit the ground. "I said wait!" she yelled again as she ran after me.

My stomach rumbled. I placed my hands on it and groaned.

"Now I remember..." I winced as I felt my empty stomach churn. "I'm so hungry!" I fell to my knees and hunched over in empty stomach pain.

"How 'bout I treat you?" Nami suggested. I looked up at her.

"Really!?" I jumped up. She nodded nervously. I looped my arm with hers. "Let's go!" I cheered.

Nami and I sat in a house, I ate the food she presented for me as she stood and watched.

"This is good!" I smiled. "You live here alone?" I asked.

"I don't live in this town," Nami said, confused. Then she shrugged. "The locals were scared of Buggy, so they ran away."

"Then you're breaking and entering," I pointed out.

"That's rude!" Nami puffed out her cheeks. "I'm a thief that robs pirates!" she explained to me once again. I chewed thoughtfully on the food in my mouth as she continued. "Don't compare me with someone who breaks and enters!"

I swallowed my food. "But a thief's a thief, right?" I asked. Nami looked away from me.

"I'll earn one hundred million beli, no matter what," she muttered. I made a noise of confusion as I stared at her.

"What are you gonna do with all that money?" I asked curiously. Nami turned her back to me as I continued eating.

"Secret," she said. Then she tucked a piece of paper into her shirt. "If you have a map of the grand line, one hundred million beli isn't just a dream," she said to herself. I stopped chewing and stared at her.

"Map? Are you a navigator?" I asked.

"My skills are way better than any other navigators'!" she boasted. I smiled widely, I felt the white air coming in waves.

"I see! That's great!" I stood. "Why don't you join us as a navigator?" I asked hopefully. She leaned on the table.

"Really!?" She smiled. I leaned over too.

"Yeah! A crew of pirates!" I smiled.

Nami glared at me.

"No," she refused. She looked me up and down, probably taking in my height, big eyes, brown hair and outfit. "You're a pirate?" she asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," I said, taking my straw hat off my head and looking at it. "I promised the man who gave me this hat that I'd become a great pirate." I smiled, placing the hat back on my head. Nami was silent for a bit. Then she slammed her hands on the table

"I hate pirates more than anything else in this world!" she told me fiercely. "I only like money and oranges!"

"Come on! Be our navigator!" I begged again.

"I said no," she repeated, walking away from me, waving her hands to avoid the happy air. I shrugged, sitting back at the table.

"Oh well," I said ,shoving bread in my mouth, the white air disappearing.

It was quiet for a while. Nami stared out the window, listening to something I couldn't hear.

"Well, if you accept my conditions, I might think it over," she finally said, walking back to me. I smiled.

"Really? I'll do anything!" I grinned. A renewed white aura danced around me.

"I want you to come with me to see Buggy," she said. Then she let some rope fall from her hands. "However..." She smiled creepily as I ate the last of my meal. She made my stand as she tied a rope tightly around me.

"Why'd you tie me up?" I asked.

"It's just rope. Is there a problem?" she asked. I thought a little before smiling.

"It squeezes my chest a little, but I guess not!" I said. "I wouldn't mind meeting other pirates. Let's go!" I smiled back at Nami and started walking.

"Hey! Wait for me!" she said, walking faster.

I walked through a large group of pirates with Nami leading me by a rope. The men were all looking at me with interest, smiling at me and whispering to one another. I shifted under their gazes, but shook it off and let Nami guide me to the captain of the crew.

"That's her! She's the one who stole the map!" someone yelled, pointing at Nami. She pushed my roughly forward. I squealed and hit the ground, kneeling in front of a man who looked similar to a clown. Nami stuck her tongue out at me and looked at the man.

"I have captured the thief! Captain Buggy the Clown!" she announced, walking in front of me. "I'm returning the map!"

The clown pirate looked at her. "Thanks for returning the map, but what made you change your mind?" Buggy said, glancing curiously at me every now and again.

Nami was lying; was this part of her plan?

"I had a big fight with my little adoptive sister here," Nami said as she handed over the map to Buggy. "I really can't stand her anymore." She shrugged, motioning to me. "Can I join your crew?" she asked.

"Buggy's getting angry," someone muttered, voice trembling.

"His Devil's Fruit power will appear again," another mumbled in fear.

"Devil?" I muttered. I waited, But instead, Buggy laughed out loud.

"Had enough of her? What an interesting woman!" He laughed. "I like you. You can join us," he said as he broke out laughing again. Nami looked shocked, then she smiled. I shifted uncomfortably in the rope again. It was really chafing and squeezing my chest.

Moments later, I was sitting in a cage.

"Nami? Why am I in a cage?" I asked. No one answered me. The conversation Nami and Buggy were having was just out of my earshot. There was another man, though. He had long black hair and he stared intently at me. He looked hungry. Was he gonna eat me? I looked back over to Nami and Buggy, who were still talking.

"- a party for our new member, Nami!" Buggy had finished. Everyone cheered. I watched everyone, drinking, dancing, doing tricks, showing off, and worst of all...eating in front of me. My stomach rumbled and I groaned, leaning against the back bars of the cage. Nami was sitting with Buggy at a different table. They were talking about things I couldn't hear. I ignored it and concentrated hard. A small white bubble-like piece of air floated out and I sent it over to a table of food; the air made a line around a barrel and to the empty side of the table, hoping to grab some and float it back to me. My concentration was straining. It wasn't very easy, to be honest.

"I want to eat too!" I concentrated harder. My concentration broke and the air disappeared. I fell back and breathed heavily. "Shit..." I huffed, frustrated.

Buggy yelled something, everyone set up a large cannon and pointed it out at the small town. Nami had appeared to ask Buggy what he was doing. Buggy answered, Nami had a look of stiffness about her after. I watched the bomb, it flew out to the town and made a large explosion. My eyes were wide. Everyone but Nami cheered. I could only stare at the destructive path. I shook it out of my head. What did he say about ruling the grand line?

"Hey! The one who's going to rule the grand line is me!" I said. Buggy turned to look at me. He glared daggers. "I'm going to be the pirate king!" I yelled.

"You're an idiot!" Nami hissed my way. Buggy was silent. He stared down steadily and I think angrily.

"Now I know why you can't stand her..." Buggy growled. Nami nervously turned to him, smiling.

"Yeah, that's right. She's so simple-minded about everything. I just can't handle her anymore." She shrugged. Nami was lying again. I was getting tired of this game. It was boring. Buggy looked back to me.

"So true," he agreed. "In that case, Captain Buggy will give you a present..." He smiled evilly at me. "Blowing up this little sister of yours!"

"What?" Nami's fake smile fell. I glanced at the bomb. They were going to shoot me with that thing?

Buggy was still smiling at me. "It's also a test of your loyalty to me," he stated. He looked at his men. "Prepare it."

Nami's face was emotionless. I watched them prepare the bomb and point it my way. If that hit the cage, I would fall into the sea. I would die. I looked at Nami with almost pleading eyes. She looked back with a blank face, she was at a loss for what to do as well. This little game went to far, and I for one didn't want to play anymore.

"I-I'm fine as it is." Nami tried to lie our way out of this. "It's a party, right? Let's have some more fun!" she tried.

"Do it. This is my way of partying." Buggy was still intent on blowing me to pieces. He handed Nami the matches and she simply stared at them. I stared into the mouth of the cannon. I guess this was it for me. Damn.

"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!" everyone cheered out. Nami still stared at the matches, like she was deciding what her next move should be. Her eyes locked with mine and we had a small moment of silence, understanding.

Buggy spread his arms.

"Let's light it up!" he yelled as everyone continued to cheer. Nami's eyes stayed locked to mine. She opened her mouth to speak, so I held the stare. Whatever she did next, I'm sure I'd forgive her. One way or another. "Nami!" Buggy called to her. She broke the look and glanced back to him. "Don't ruin the party!" he yelled. She looked back at me. I held my stare, my composure. I was almost positive I would going to die sooner or later. Even if Nami didn't do it now herself.

"What's wrong? Your hands are shaking," I said to Nami. Her eyes held a bit of fear in them as she stiffened. I smiled. She straightened up. "Geez, this is what happens when you're not mentally prepared." I rolled my eyes and kept my grin. I was egging her on, pushing her to whatever choice she was gonna make.

"What do you mean by 'mentally prepared'?" She shot at me. "To kill people at will? Is that the way of the pirate?" I smiled a bit wider.

"No," I replied. Everything else, all the noise, seemed to be silent as I smiled and told Nami, "It's being prepared to risk your own life." I had said it quietly, but I knew she heard me. She was thinking again. Then the matches were snatched from her hand, and the pirate who had done so said something I couldn't hear and was about to light up the cannon. I made a noise of fear. Nami reached and put together a staff she held in pieces on her hip, whacking the pirate before the cannon was lit.

Everyone stopped cheering. Buggy looked shocked, and I was surprised as well.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!" I yelled in shock.

"Aw crap, um..." Nami was racking her mind for a lie to tell. But Buggy was pissed.

"Nami!? What's the meaning of this!?" he growled. Nami stood straight and bowed.

"I'm sorry!" she squealed.

"WHAT'S THE POINT OF APOLOGIZING NOW!?" Buggy shouted rather incredulously. I chuckled a bit.

"What're you doing? Didn't you just save me?" I inquired. Nami looked at me.

"That's ridiculous!" she retorted. "I got too excited and slipped..." She was lying again. "I won't stoop to the same level as these pirates."

"Yeah, got too excited." I nodded.

"I'll never be like the pirates who took the life of the most important to me." she said aloud. I nodded.

"So, is that why..." I trailed off when I heard a sizzling. "AH! IT'S LIT!" I squeaked, pushing myself against the back of the cage.

"Do you really thing you can defy me? Bitch." Buggy snapped at Nami. Pirates came from all sides, about to attack her.

"WATER! WATER! I'M GONNA DIE!" I cried as Nami fought, running to the cannon. "This is way beyond bad..." I brought my knees up, blocking my face. I heard Nami scream in pain. I looked up to see her gripping the fire that was traveling up the rope of he cannon. "You..." I muttered. Her face was twisted in pain, but our gazes were still locked. "BEHIND YOU!" I yelled as the pirates shouted.

"Time to die!" They were raising their swords at Nami. My eyes went wide as I recognized the person who had blocked the slices.

I smiled widely.

"Hey, hey..." the voice said. "all these people picking on one girl?" I smiled even wider, sitting on my knees in the cage.

"Zoro!" I shouted. Nami looked back at him.

"Hurt?" he asked Nami.

"Uh..." Nami was at a loss for words. In the back of my mind, I wondered why.

"Are. You. Hurt?" Zoro broke it down for her.

"Uh, no, I'm fine," Nami answered.

"Yay! Thank goodness!" I smiled. "You actually found your way here!" I said aloud to Zoro. He winced and whipped around to glare at me. It was a friendly glare, though. "Hurry up and get me outta here!" I demanded. He sighed.

"What on earth are you doing?" he asked me. "A bird takes you away, and now you're in a cage?" he asked again. I shrugged.

"Well, it was fun. But I need help now! Zoorrrooo!" I whined. The pirates were muttering to themselves about something, staring at Zoro with what looked like fear. Zoro walked past Nami and over to my cage.

"You-you're Zoro. What do you want? Come for my head?" Buggy asked, making Zoro stop to look back at him.

"Not interested. I quit being a pirate hunter," Zoro said.

"But I'm interested. If I kill you, I'll become even more famous!" Buggy laughed. Zoro glared back at him.

"Don't do it. You'll die," Zoro said. He was staring back at an angry Buggy.

"Eh? Okay." the clown smiled, twirling a knife in one hand and gripping one in the other. Zoro sighed.

"I guess I can't make him understand..." He said to himself. I watched from my cage as everyone cheered on Buggy, except Nami, who just stood in shock. Buggy licked the dull part of him knife and smiled as Zoro took a fighting stance. I watched with growing anticipation and a bit of worry.

"TIME FOR YOU TO DIE!" Buggy jumped at Zoro, who sliced the clown's arm and leg off, as well as in half. Everyone got quiet. Nami squeezed her eyes shut. Zoro put his swords away as Buggy fell. Then he looked back.

"No reaction at all..." he said.

"Wow! That guy was really weak!" I stated, smiling at Zoro.

"No way..." Nami muttered, then she looked as the Buggy Pirate Crew started laughing. Zoro glanced at them, then back at me. All I did was blink in confusion.

"What are they.." I trailed off.

"What's going on?" Nami asked quietly. "Their captain was killed and they're laughing," she stated.

"You! What's so funny!?" Zoro asked angrily. I saw Buggy stand, whole again.

"ZORO!" I screamed. He looked back an was stabbed through his side. Zoro made a noise of pain before falling to his knees. Blood was already forming on his clothes. "ZORO!" I screamed again, this time in worry, not warning. Okay, and maybe some anger. I felt the black air coming off me in small waves. Yeah, I was getting angry.

Nami gasped when she saw what had stabbed Zoro.

"What's with that hand!?" she yelled.

"What the hell is this?" Zoro growled out through his teeth. The sword was pulled out and he looked back to see the hand flying back to Buggy and connecting to his arm

"The Chop-Chop Fruit," Buggy stated. "That's the name of the Devil's Fruit I ate!" He connected all of himself back. "I can't be killed by a sword! I'm a splitting man!" He laughed.

"His body went back together..." Nami breathed. "I thought the Devil's Fruit was just a myth!"

"Splitting man? Is he a monster?" I asked. Then again, I was the walking definition of yin and yang.

"Although it's not critical, the wound is still pretty serious," Buggy said to Zoro. "This fight is over." Buggy's crew started cheering again as he stood over Zoro and continued to laugh at him.

"This isn't looking good..." Zoro stuttered past his pain. The black air still came. I gripped my hands into fists in an attempt to keep calm. I only ended up straining the rope that was tightly tied around me.

"ATTACKING FROM BEHIND IS COWARDLY!" I shouted. "BIG RED NOSE!" I growled out loudly. Everything was silent again. Buggy looked over and glared at me.

"Who...has...a..." Buggy was angry as well. "BIG RED NOSE!?" he snapped, turning to face me. He shot his sword at my face.

"LUFFY!" Zoro coughed. I caught the sword with the black air.

"Buggy..." I muttered, holding the sword inches away from my face. "I'm gonna kick the crap outta you." I glared, smiling evilly as the black air started coming in waves. The black air broke the knife into pieces, getting stronger the angrier I got.

Buggy laughed at me.

"Kick my ass? You must be dreaming, little girl!" Buggy mocked me as his crew laughed along with him. "All three of you are going to die today," he stated. "Now, how should I finish you guys off..." he thought aloud. The black air was getting stronger. I could feel it. Nami was scared, Zoro was hurt, and I kept getting angry.
"It's no use... It's over..." Nami muttered. That pushed me. I let out a crazed laugh. The dark part of me was close to taking over. I was going to lose myself.

"Like hell I'll die!" I laughed. Then I stopped, my stare was cold, dark. "You might wanna run, Zoro," I said seriously.

"What?" Zoro said, his eyes searched mine. Maybe I was just too far gone to care.

"You're telling the guy who came to save you to run away!? What about you!?" Nami shouted at me. My judgment was clouded, but I didn't want to hurt anyone close to me. Like I could tell them that. I just smiled, my eyes still cold and crazed. I was blinded by anger. That black air was coming in large, strong waves. Zoro looked at me, worried and a bit fearful. Then he smiled at bit.

"Roger that," he said. Nami nearly fell over.

"YOU CAN'T ESCAPE!" Buggy yelled, attacking Zoro again. Zoro fought, tricking Buggy, and running to the cannon. He flipped it over and away from me and Nami ran around it.

"WHAT!? WE'RE GONNA DIE!?" Buggy shook and stepped back.

Zoro was doubled over in pain. My eyes were sill angry, cold, dark, crazed. I could feel the anger fading slightly, but not by much.

"Hey, light it," he said to Nami.

"What?" she said.

"Hurry!" Zoro yelled.

"Yeah!" Nami stuttered.

"Wait, what!?" Buggy was stuttering. "Wait! The bomb is still in there!" he yelled. Nami lit the cannon. I let out another crazed laugh in anticipation of what I knew was coming.

"You lit it! Ahh! Stop! Stop!" Buggy panicked. Nami and Zoro covered their ears, waiting for the bang. The loud boom rang out and the bomb shot at the Buggy pirates.

TO BE CONTINUED...