-1Well this was hard to write since I just got back from Chicago. This is drawl.

All I can say right now is that I hope you people understand the difference between "X" and "X". The later means a switch from the crew's story to Luffy's or visa versa while the single "X" just means a change in scene.

Disclaimer : I don't own One Piece

Nami's POV

The sun was setting and everything was calm on The Thousand Sunny. Everyone was doing what the usual activities after dinner like playing tag, reading a book, cleaning the kitchen or simply taking in the view. From the top balcony I surveyed the crew letting a small smile creep onto my face. I looked out to the sea ahead and saw his silhouette casting a long shadow down on the deck. He was on his favorite spot at the head of the ship looking straight out in the ocean towards the setting sun on the horizon. Immediately, I was drawn him. My heart began to beat harder as I walked down towards him by all my other friends who strangely paid no heed to my existence like I wasn't even there. The butterflies in my stomach began to flutter furiously around the closer I moved to the Lion's head. When I finally made my way to the spot right behind the headpiece I could do nothing but stand in his shadow taking in the calming aura around him. Nevertheless, when I actually tried to open my mouth the butterflies in my stomach flew up to my throat automatically cutting me off before I could say anything. Looking up at him I watched his hair flow in the breeze while his straw-hat was lay on his back held by the string around his neck. I could feel the blush on my face as I quickly looked down at the wooden planks beneath my feet. I gulped the butterflies down back in my stomach.

"Hi Luffy"

He flinched slightly as if he was startled by the sound of my voice. Slowly, he turned around on Sunny's head. I didn't see the usual wide grin and vigor that I was used to but instead a look of depression and defeat adorned his face. My heart sank at the sight. It was so unlike Luffy to look so sad. I knew I should say something but the words had left me. All I could do was stare.

"Where are you?" he whispered.

"What do you mean? I'm right here"

The sun was already seconds away from disappearing behind the horizon and the sky was quickly darkening as a result. As the last of the sun fell from sight he closed his eyes and hung his head. The sky around us had somehow completely gone dark with nothing but the moon looming above us that lit his face in an eerie glow. A shiver traveled up my spine. I turned around to look to everyone else if they had witnessed the odd abrupt change in the sky but the deck was empty.

"Where did everyone go? Luffy do you know wha…!"

I turned back to Luffy who was sitting on the lion's head with the pale light of the moon washing over him. His eyes were still closed but his face was unnaturally pale. Yet, I was more focused on the streams of scarlet blood running down from his eyes.

"What happened to you?!"

I reached out to touch him but as my hand came up to him he seemed to get farther away. Suddenly, the ship disappeared from underneath us and I found myself in an empty area with nothing but black space that I was somehow able to stand on. I scanned the area and saw him sitting in the distance with his head down and his hat now missing. I was now running towards him in the unknown realm but again he got further and further away from me the more I ran until he was out of site. My surroundings had disappeared and I was aimlessly running in a world of complete darkness. I fell on all fours gasping for breath. I felt lost and scared in this new world but most of all I was worried.

"LUFFY! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

Just then, a white spotlight appeared to the left of me and revealed him in middle of the circle of light… but he looked different. He was lying down with his arms on either side of him but all over his body there were bruises and horrible wounds that were oozing out blood that pooled around his body. I ran over to him and fell on my knees beside him not even caring that I was sitting in his blood. My cheeks began to heat up when I noticed he was in nothing but his black shorts but I quickly tried to block the thought out for a the more serious problem. I put my hand on his chest and felt a faint beating from his heart to my relief as I looked up to his face. Now, his eyes were hidden behind a blindfold but there was still blood smeared across his cheeks. I wrapped my arm around his head cradling it gently in my embrace but as I lifted his head I heard a soft jingle. I pushed him away just enough to see the blue-ish green collar around his neck with a metal chain.

The spotlight widened slowly revealing the rest of the length of the chain link by link until it reached its end. The other end was held loosely in the pale hand of a veiled figure. My eyes widened at her appearance as I held Luffy's limp body closer to me.

"It's you.."

I couldn't see it but I knew she was smiling behind that veil. She suddenly began to laugh insanely as her hand gripped harder on the chain. She took a step forward. My heart was filled with fear, my mind ordered me to run, my body refused to move. I could only tighten my hold on Luffy's body while she moved closer to us.

"Are you trying to protect him from me?"

X

3rd Person

Nami jolted up in her bed covered in a thin sheet of sweat looking around the dimly lit room. Robin was staring at her from the chairs in front of the beds with a curious look on her face. She tried to calm her breathing as she got up from her bed.

"Is there something wrong, Navigator-san?"

"It..it's nothing, I just had a bad dream...I need to get some air," stuttered Nami while she opened the door.

"If I may ask, about what?" asked Robin putting down the item she was holding in her hands.

Nami stood in the doorway for a few seconds before turning her head slightly to the older woman. "Just had a dream that someone stole my treasure, that's all," she explained before closing the door behind her.

Robin stared at the door for awhile before she turned back to the item she had set on the circular table. At the previous island she had bought it at a local shop due to an odd instinct that told her to buy it. She turned it in her hands until it showed the gold name plate on the bottom. "Seidou island" she read out loud to no one, "I have a feeling this will be of good use to us."

Up on the deck Nami was welcomed by a blast of cold air. Crossing her arms, she started walking to the front of the ship under the starry sky. They had already set sail for Hitoya 3 days ago after Ace's log pose had finally set on the next island. Just a little over two weeks and now she was starting to have nightmares about Luffy and that girl. She somehow unconsciously walked over to Sunny's head. Maybe sitting where he always sits would make her feel better in some way or another. Taking a deep breath she climbed up on top of the lion's head and settled down to stare at the black sea in front of her while the wind blew through her hair. Maybe that was the reason he always sits on this spot was because it was so relaxing and peaceful on the lion's head.

"That was the creepiest dream I've ever had," whispered Nami bringing her knees up to her chest, "It seemed so real in the beginning but then...wow." She looked up into the stars in deep thought.

"Are you trying to protect him from me?"

Nami nearly fell off of Sunny's head when she heard the voice abruptly come across her mind. Gathering herself back to her center of balance on the lion the gears in her mind suddenly started to turn. "Wait! Those were the same exact words that she said before she took Luffy!" she exclaimed to the ocean,"..oh great, now she's rubbing it in in my dreams." Her fingers curled into fists on her lap. Thinking about that day she couldn't help but feel frustrated that she could do nothing to help. She was useless like the rest of his nakama who couldn't do a thing to save their captain for whatever fate he had in whatever place he was in. "And now all I've been doing is moping around the ship while he could be..." Before she could finish the thought she jumped back off the head piece and towards the kitchen. "Nah, what am I saying? That stupid idiot probably found a way out already and he's just waiting for us to find him."

Inside the kitchen she sat at the table while she waited for her water to boil on the stovetop while a lone cup and tea bag lay next to her tapping fingers. "What could possibly be happening to him as I just sit here? I just wish he would pop right in here so that this nightmare can be over..." whispered Nami, "All these years I've only put myself first in my life but now I realize he somehow made his way flawlessly into my heart. I've been denying it for so long but Robin's right... I do love Luffy" She put her hand over her heart that was crying out. In the background, the kettle began to scream.

X

Sanji swung the door open hard enough so that it slammed on the wall behind it. The loud smack woke Nami up instantly from her doze on the dining table. Completely catching her off guard, she fell off the bench in heap.

"Oi! Sorry to wake you Nami -swann" apologized the cook with his heart shaped eyes looking her up and down sprawled on the floor. In the blink of an eye, Sanji was on the floor with a large red bump on his head while Nami stood above him with her hands on her hips.

"Why did you make so much noise with the door you idiot!"

Sanji sat up on the floor peering up at her with his visible eye while rubbing the throbbing pain on his head. "Oh yeah, the navy island can be seen already in the distance outside, just thought you might want to know." Nami straightened up a little at the news staring at the wall in front of her. "Oi, are you ok?"

Nami turned to run out the door after leaving Sanji an order to prepare a quick meal before their arrival on the naval base. Obviously, there was much to do before they actually attempted to land on Hitoya other than the usual routine with coming to a new island. Being one of the biggest threats to the government, they had to disguise themselves and their ship to get anywhere near the island.

"EVERYBODY! GET UP HERE NOW!" she screamed at the top of the stairs to the lower deck. The sounds of the doors creaking open and low groans filled the hall as the rest of the crew dragged themselves on deck.

"Nami, what's going on?" asked Usopp who was still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes," what's with all the yelling?"

"That is what's going on," stated the Navigator pointing out into the ocean. All heads simultaneously turned to the direction her finger was pointing.

"Holy crap! We're here already?! I didn't expect it to be so quick!" yelled Ace is surprise running to the rail to get a better look. His brow furrowed as he studied the island that was just a dark lump on the horizon just barely visible by the first lights from the rising sun.

"Yeah, now we're here but the problem is that we are pirates, one of the most wanted, and that's a naval base!" interjected Nami crossing her arms, "We have to come up with a plan to get on without getting captured."

"The Thousand Sunny was just made so I'm sure the navy won't recognize her as the Straw-hat's ship," exclaimed Franky with a glint in his eyes behind his sunglasses, "She won't get us into any trouble!"

"All we need to do is take down the flag," said the reindeer who was already half way up the mast.

Ace turned around and glided over to the group with his hands in his pockets. He looked at each member of his infamous brother's pirate crew. "What about your faces? Since you're his crew, you have huge bounties on your heads that are posted everywhere." The deck went silent for a moment. It was true that since the Enies Lobby incident they were now all targeted by the government instead of only Luffy, Zoro, and Robin. "All of you need a disguise of some sort."

Usopp stuck his hand in the air waving it frantically from side to side. "I think I got the perfect thing if we need a disguise!" He scampered down to the men's quarters and soon reappeared with a huge chest that he was struggling to bring up the stairs. Zoro sighed before taking the chest out of the sharpshooters hands with ease and brought it up on deck. "I could have done it myself..."

"Ohh! I've seen that chest in the room but I couldn't get in with the lock!" exclaimed Chopper running to the front of the group for a first row seat with the flag in his hold.

Usopp settled in front of the chest and fished around his pockets to pull out a key. "Well now, these are my treasures so I like to keep them safe, "he said smirking at the small reindeer. Unlocking the chest he popped the top revealing different clothing of various colors stuffed to the brim with a small picture of Kaya at the top. Usopp quickly snatched the photo up and stuffed it in his pocket earning curious gazes from everyone except for Nami and Zoro. "... anyway, I have a lot of costumes in here that I picked up from a few areas just in case something like this would ever happen we can use."

"Wow look at this!" said Chopper digging into the chest, " how do you have Soge King's mask?!" The reindeer pulled out the mask playfully putting it on his face. Usopp quickly snatched the mask out of the young doctor's grasp.

"Uh, it was a gift...yeah! The Soge king gave it to me in thanks of letting him take my place with all of you at Enies Lobby!" said Usopp who proudly flaunted the mask in front of Chopper.

"So awesome!" squealed Chopper. The rest of the crew groaned.

"Hey! Before you all start playing dress-up breakfast is ready!" yelled Sanji from the kitchen door. Robin and the guys filed into the kitchen one by one leaving the deck a quiet wasteland. Nami waited for their backs to disappear behind the door before she herself moved towards the kitchen.

"So you want to know what could happen to Luffy?" asked a voice from behind her. She swiftly turned around to find Ace coming up the stairs from the lower deck with something in his hands.

"Wait, how did you get down there so quick? I thought you were with us up here." she asked. Her eyes quickly fell upon the item he was delicately handling- Luffy's straw-hat.

"I went down when everyone crowded around the chest Usopp brought to look for my brother's treasure. It seems that I found it by your bed with a little hint from your roommate." Nami visibly seethed thinking that Robin might have basically told him about some things she shouldn't have. "You ok there? You're looking a little red...getting anxious about the island or something?"

"No! .. I mean What did Robin tell you exactly?" said Nami shaking her head to relieve her anger.

Ace raised a brow at the question as he leaned on the railing near her. "Just that it would be in the girl's cabin, why?"

"Just wondering"

Ace started to turn the hat in his hands staring intently at it for awhile as if he forgot that Nami was even there. "Anyway," he said looking at Nami, "I've been thinking about how you were the only one to actually confront me about what I said in the bar and I think I can see that you are by far the one most worried about my kid brother's safety." He tilted his head down so that she couldn't see his eyes anymore behind his own hat but she was able to see a little smile on his face. "I can see this not only by how you're keeping his treasure safe but I know how you feel about Luffy now."

The girl's eyes widened at the man in front of her while a flurry of butterflies raged in the pit of her stomach. "Wha..what are you talking about?"

"I was out on the deck last night staring out into the sea to clear my mind of some not so happy thoughts when you came out. I was going to say something but then you started talking to yourself and I decided to listen," he admitted looking back up to her with a familiar grin on his face. "Then when you went into the kitchen I actually heard your little self confession easily through the door. Sorry I eavesdropped but I got a little curious." By now Nami was blushing like crazy looking down at the floor. She suddenly became uncomfortably hot while beads of sweat formed on her forehead. She started rocking from one side to another while an uncomfortable silence fell between them. "...I'm sorry if I embarrassed you but it's okay. I'm not laughing or anything. I'm actually glad, but we have to get to the more serious matter of Luffy's situation now."

"Yeah you're right..." replied Nami trying to regain her composure.

"Ok then, what exactly do you know about these angel's and the devil fruit?"

Nami leaned on the railing next to Ace and stared down into the water. "Robin said that angels hate devil fruit users and something about being enemies...oh, and that angel's awaken something that make the devil fruit the most powerful that's really all I know."

"Well, that's exactly what could happen," he said "what that girl can awaken in little Luffy and how she does it can cause us to lose him forever." Nami turned away from the water to look into his eyes waiting for him to continue, "Whatever the worst case scenario that you can possibly think could be happening to Luffy right now may be actually occuring. That girl is going to torture him in the most inhumane ways not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally until there is nothing left inside."

"What are you saying? That his spirit is dying? That's impossible! Luffy is like a stone wall."

"Not exactly. Everyone has a weak spot and by now I'm sure that 17 days has been enough time to find it." he explained, "But that's not even the bad part. That thing... that angel can awaken the true power of the Devilfruit."

"So she's not going to kill him but..." she began," wait, isn't that ok if he has that because in Robin's book it said it will make him the stronger one."

"No she will have control over every part of his body" he said slowly, "yet, Luffy...he won't be able to fight because...well.."

Nami stood up straight and turned the rest of her body to face him. "Just say it"

Ace looked down at the floor boards while the straw-hat wavered in his loose hands in the wind. Nami saw the depression his face. "The Luffy we all know and love will turn into nothing but a sadistic monster with a lust for blood and death."

"What? I don't understand.."

"He will destroy and kill everything in his sight, his mind will be smothered in darkness. I don't know what will happen to him physically but inside it will be like our Luffy died."

Nami stood stiff from shock with her mouth slightly open and eyes wide. No words could form. Her mind couldn't even imagine her kind innocent captain turn into such a horrible thing. No way that the person she fell in love with would die inside and be nothing but a memory. It must be a lie... but why would Ace lie about his brother's fate?

Ace looked back up to her and took in her shocked expression. "Are you.."

The kitchen door opened with Sanji peeking out searching for the two on the deck. Spotting them he raised a curly brow at the two standing so close to each other. "...aren't you two coming in for breakfast?" Not a single response came from either of them as the walked to the kitchen not even looking at each other. Sanji's eyes followed Ace while he closed the door behind them.

X

A small naval ship drifted to the side of the Thousand Sunny with 6 marines and an officer aboard. They eyed the ship with suspicion since no one seemed to be out on deck despite how close to shore they already were. "Hello! Is anybody up there?" The sound of heels hitting the wood flooring hit their ears as a woman peered down at them from the rail.

Robin studied they're expression of surprise but saw no alarm on their faces. It seemed that they didn't recognize her, then again, she couldn't even recognize herself. She was wearing a yellow sun dress that went down to just below her knees with simple white slippers and a matching hat. Her hair was hidden underneath a brunette wig of curls that went down past her shoulders while every inch of exposed skin was covered in a powder that made her a little lighter than her natural tanned color. "Hello there, boys! " she greeted with fake accent filled with enthusiasm, "Do you need something?"

"Yes ma'am, you are heading towards a government base. We would like to know a little information about your purpose here and if anyone else is on that ship of yours with you." stated the officer.

Zoro appeared next to Robin looking down at the ship "Who are you talking to down there, Melony?" he asked with subtle sarcasm. Robin looked at his appearance with amusement. His obvious green hair was under a mop of wavy black hair that went down past his neck and kept falling into his eyes. A dark green t-shirt fit loosely around his body, blue shorts, and his boots completed his casual wardrobe.

"They seem to be marines from the island we're going to, Ethan" she said innocently, "they want to see everyone on the ship and know who we are."

"Yeah, we're just from the previous island on the ocean for vacation," he explained carefully, "just trying to relax from home."

"I see, who else is on that ship with you?"

"Just friends. Do you want to see them?" asked Robin politely. The officer nodded signaling her to disappear from sight to get the others. She returned with 3 others. Usopp was wearing something similar to Sanji's usual attire but with a white dress shirt and black pants and shoes. His black curly hair was tied back and covered with a white bandana. There was no real danger of showing so much of his face since he was labeled as Sogeking on his bounty. Sanji was wearing a brown wig that went down just past his eyes to hide his curly brows and down mid neck. His attire consisted of a black t-shirt and kaki shorts with sandals. Nami was in a white dress almost exactly like Robin's but a little shorter with white sandals. Her hair was a mess of blonde curls that went midway down her back.

"This is Julius, Shawn, and Dominique" said Robin as Usopp, Sanji, and Nami waved their hand when they're fake names were called. All together the group looked just like a few innocent civilians taking a ride on the waters of the Grandline. Chopper and Franky were hidden below deck just because there was no way of hiding their species and size. Ace...well he was another part of the plan.

The marines looked at each other exchanging nods before turning their attention to Sunny. They seemed to be buying the civilian act. "Well, this is a marine base. You can't land."

"Awh, but we just need a little rest on land for a bit, can't we just stay as guests for one day?" asked Nami looking at the men, pouting. The marines had already glued their eyes to Nami taking in her appearance with mouths hanging open. The marine next to the officer nudged him lightly trying to persuade him to agree.

"Hmm, you all seem like a harmless bunch. I'm sure we can let it slide." said the officer rolling his eyes. Nami giggled before giving the men a wink while the others bowed in thanks.

Sunny was brought into port with the small marine ship as its escort. The crew glanced at each other relieved that the first part of the plan was accomplished. It was one thing to gain entrance but now they needed info.

X

The disguised Straw-hats were ushered to officer's lounge right after docking and were now relaxing in two seperate rooms. "We must be in the bedrooms for the upper ranked marines. This room looks pretty nice." said Nami as she studied the area. Both rooms were furnished with a elegantly carved desk and chair with drawers that matched. There were two beds in each room originally but they dragged in another bed just for the guys. Carpeted and an adjoining bathroom decorated with marble, it seemed like a cozy rest stop. "I can't believe they let us in so easily!"

"Well I think we have you to thank for that, Navigator-san," said Robin taking off her white hat, "You're especially good at acting your part."

Nami flashed her a mischievous smile before she sat down on one of the beds. "Well, now we have to be a distraction for the marines, and more importantly the officers." Their door opened and the 3 guys walked in.

"Geez, it's really scary being so far inside their base," said Usopp tugging at his collar.

"Well what now?" asked Sanji.

Zoro brushed the black hair out of his eyes before looking at the clock on the wall above the beds. "Well by now Ace should be off the ship and doing his job. Let's get going. We better do our part." Nami quickly got up and walked to the door.

"Well what are we waiting for?" The crew split up into the different areas of the base making sure to use the excuse of tourist curiosity if they were stopped by anyone.

Nami walked through a deserted hallway looking into each room for a little while before moving on to the next. Each room seemed pretty boring with a few shelves lined with books and a desk piled with papers. Nothing special. In the next room she looked into she found another man which by the look of his uniform he must be ranked as a colonel. "Oh, I'm sorry" she apologized as he looked over at her from his desk, "I was just walking around looking for something to do."

The man stood up from behind his desk and walked over to her with a smile on his face. "Well that's ok pretty lady, you must be one of the people on that ship that came in this morning am I right?" Nami nodded keeping her head down while her eyes peered up at the colonel towering over her. "I don't have enough free time to entertain you even though I would love to but I'm sure I can lead you to the cafeteria area since it seems to be noon so you can get some lunch. What's your name miss?"

"Dominique" she answered while he led her down the halls. Unlike most of the high ranking officers she has met this one seems pretty laid back and not so stern. The two engaged in small talk while Nami discreetly glanced into each room to see if she could spot anything important that could possibly get them to Luffy even if that was Ace's job. She passed a room that had a pile of gold objects sitting on the table but didn't even take a second glance and kept looking for something that this base could have on Kyuushuu island. Still, one room attracted her attention right away and it was covered in maps. She quickly wrapped her arm around his pulling him towards the open door. "What's that over there? Can I see??"

"That's just the cartography room, it's not that interesting." he explained while he let her drag him into the room. She let go of his arm and started studying the maps on the walls of the different islands they had already passed and some she had never seen or heard of yet. Nami slowly made her way around the room while the colonel watched her every move closely with a smirk tugging at the sides of his mouth. Nami stopped at one of the older maps posted on the wall. Her eyes widened when she saw Kyuushuu island actually labeled in a mapped segment of the Grandline. Her eyes narrowed.

'Maybe this can be my chance to get a little information myself' she thought turning her head towards the colonel. "Sir, what's this island next to Hitoya? I've never seen it before in the maps we have on our ship."

The man quickly tore his eyes away from the girl's body and walked over to the map to get a better look. He suddenly slammed a hand over the map looking down at her in some sort of a panic. "Oh, that's nothing for you to worry your pretty little head over, Dominique...umm let's just keep going to the cafeteria."

"Awhh, why won't you tell me?"

"I can't it's top secret"

"Please!"

"No!"

"Please!"

"No."

"Plleeaasse..." she begged using her puppy eyes again.

The man sighed. "Well I guess there's no harm done if I just tell you a little but you have to give me something in return," he said moving closer to her trapping her between himself and the wall, "It's an island that witnessed a mass murder with unknown suspects. The only survivor was a little girl and we never got any information out of her because she mysteriously disappeared from her care-takers. It's a place of mystery and some say it's even haunted. It was taken off maps everywhere for the navy to study but now no one will go near it."

Nami cheered herself inwardly knowing that no man could resist her womanly charm but cursed herself for getting cornered like she was now. "Ohh sounds so creepy! I want to go there! Can I?" she said trying to keep up with her character.

"No! That island has been restricted by the government. No one is allowed there." he said crossing his arms, "Besides, that log pose on your wrist will take you 2 months to reset on this island and I'm sure I was told that you people will only be staying for a day."

"Awhh, oh well. Okay! let's go to eat now." she chimed trying to change the subject as quickly as possible. Before she could reach the door he grabbed her arm and spun her around. Nami's eyes widened as he put one arm around her shoulders and another hand over her ass. His face came down closer to hers as she tried to wriggle herself from his hands but he only held on tighter.

"What do you think you're doing said a voice from the door."

The colonel stopped a mere half inch away from Nami's lips and turned to see Sanji standing in the doorway before he loosened his hold on the girl. "Who are you?" he growled realizing that Sanji had spoiled his moment.

"My name is Shawn and that's my wife you have in your arms," he said walking closer to the two. Nami raised a brow but quickly realized what he was trying to do. Playing along she pushed herself out of the man's arms and ran over to hide behind Sanji. "I wouldn't do anything hasty."

"I don't need anything else on my record for hurting civilians but count yourself lucky, girly." he said eyeing Nami. The marine stood up straight before storming out of the room purposefully bumping shoulders with Sanji on the way out. When he had disappeared down the hall Sanji turned around to the slightly shaken girl behind him. "Are you ok my Nami-san?" he asked with his heart-shaped eyes.

"I'm not in the mood for that act!" she snapped before turning away from him, "and don't you dare call me your wife ever again!"

X

"Haha! Nami I saw you in the cafeteria! All the marines were swarming all around you! You did great as a distraction even with the officers!" laughed Usopp from the chair next to the desk. Next thing he knew he was on the floor with a fuming girl over him.

"Be quiet! Listen up, I found out some stuff that I'm sure will be useful but it's not really good news." The whole crew was in the girl's room now and were staring intently at their navigator. "I was talking to a colonel and convinced him to tell me about Kyuushuu island. He told me that there's a rumor that it's haunted but I'm pretty sure he hasn't been to the island himself...and he also told me that it takes 2 months for log pose to reset on this island for Kyuushuu."

Everyone inhaled sharply. "What do we do now..." asked Sanji as he lit one of his cigarettes.

Zoro stepped foward with one of his hands digging around in his pocket. "The officer from the ship that brought us in gave me this already," he said gloomily holding out what looked like an eternal post, "it's for the island right after Kyuushuu. I think he thought I was the captain of our 'vacation' ship."

The door creaked open to the room. All eyes shifted ready for the worst scenario that they were discovered as imposters since some of them had taken off their wigs and make-up. Instead, Ace stepped into the room raising a brow at the attack stances that everyone was in. "Yeahh... well I finally found you guys."

"Damn it! Couldn't you have knocked or something?" yelled Sanji while he let out a huge breath of smoke.

"Oh, sorry and by the way nice hair," he joked as he walked farther into the room, "so anyway I'm sorry to say this but I didn't get any useful information about the island." His face was now serious when he spoke. "The only thing I got was that it's a closed case and all the info about it has been trashed, even the eternal pose to the island. I don't know what to do now." He sat on one of the beds with his head in his hands.

Nami sat next to him and patted his shoulder. Despite they were still only acquaintances through his brother she did feel like it was right to comfort him for Luffy's sake. "We didn't fail yet, I got one of the officers to tell me about the island, but like I said to everyone else: it's not good news. He said that our log pose won't reset for another two months if we want to get to Kyuushuu."

"2 months?..." Everyone closed their eyes in self meditation as the room went silent. That is, everyone except for Sanji who was glaring at Ace with his Nami-swan so close to him.

Suddenly they were startled out of their thoughts at the sound of snoring. All eyes fell on Ace who still had his head in his hands. "Ace?" asked Nami tapping him on the shoulder. Ace slumped over onto the floor, asleep. The room erupted in laughter. The crew began to laugh a laugh they haven't had in past numerous days. Ace may be more mature than Luffy but they resembled each other so much that the Strawhats couldn't help but see the same nature in Ace that their captain had. It seemed like for a second the dark cloud lifted from above the group making them feel a small dose of the carefree nature they missed so much.

"What the hell! Now's no time for that guy to fall asleep!" screamed Sanji putting out his cigarette.

"Lighten up, ero-cook. You know that he has that weird quirk about him what's your deal?" said Zoro nonchalantly as he brushed the hair out of his eyes again.

"What did you call me!"

"Hey guys, not around here!" said Usopp stepping in between them. Zoro crossed his arms looking at Sanji with a victorious expression plastered on his face while Sanji tried to calm himself down and avoid looking at the swordsman's smug expression.

"Yes, I think we should all follow Portgas-san's example and go to sleep ourselves." stated Robin taking off her white slippers.

"Then I guess we should carry this guy to our room?" asked Sanji lightly kicking Ace.

"No, I think it would be better not to risk carrying across the hall to your room so he can just stay in here." said Robin using her powers to make hands sprout out from the floor around the sleeping man's body. The hands passed him across the floor onto the other side of the bed on the farthest side of the room from the door. "Now go already."

"You're just going to let him sleep in here with you!?" protested the cook getting a small nod from the two girls.

The guys walked out of the room with Usopp pushing a grumbling Sanji through the door.

X

A soft tapping came from the other side of the door. "Good morning. Are you two awake already?" asked a voice from the other side. Nami and Robin were already dressed and just fixing a few flaws of Robin's powdered appearance in the mirror. They poked their heads out of the bathroom to look to the door.

"Yes, we are up. We will be out in a few minutes." answered Nami in her sweet voice.

"Ok your group is expected out on the deck soon." The two listened as the footsteps faded away.

"Come on let's go over to the guy's room." said Nami walking out the door. Robin followed picking up her sun hat off the bed on her way out.

The boys' room was simply a mess. The sheets were thrown across the floor half hanging of the bed while the pillows and somehow been separated from their cases and were pushed the foot of the bed. Their clothes were scattered all over the floor and as for the guys, they were sprawled across their different beds still loudly snoring. "I still don't get why they checked up on us and didn't even bother to wake up these guys, " said Nami pushing the clothes in her path to the side while she walked into the room. "HEY! WAKE UP YOU LAZY IDIOTS!"

All three of the sat up in their beds immediately. Zoro reached out to the side of his bed grabbing air as if he were trying to reach his swords that are usually next to him when he sleeps but couldn't find anything solid and instead fell off the side of his bed. Usopp snickered from the bed across from him while the swordsman stood up rubbing his head glaring at Nami. "BAKA! What the hell are you doing in here!" Robin and Usopp turned to Sanji expecting him to come to the defense of Nami's name but instead saw him frowning at the door.

"Where's Ace?" he asked, a barely noticeable amount of annoyance in his voice.

"That's what we came in here to tell you," explained Robin, "last night we came up with a plan to get the log pose to set in order to get it to point to Kyuushuu."

"Ace has a log pose himself and since we have two we have decided to leave Ace's log pose somewhere hidden on this island so he is off scouting the island for a place to leave his," interrupted Nami pointing at the orb on her wrist, " and one of the officer's noticed I have one so we can't leave mine. In two months we will come back here to pick it up as if we were stopping by in order to get back to our island to end our 'vacation'."

"So basically we're just going to sail around or something for 2 months and then come back here?" asked Usopp getting out of bed and buttoning his shirt.

"Exactly" she said, "We have to get away from here for now since we made the mistake of saying that we were only staying for a day."

"But where do we go?" asked Zoro placing the black hair over his own, "if we go to the island that the eternal pose that one of the marines gave me then we might not be able to get back to this one."

"No, we do have a place to go for now, " said Robin, "I found an eternal pose from the last island we we're on. I felt that we might need it."

"That is just way too convenient" sighed Nami.

"You're so amazing Robin-chwan!!" chimed Sanji finally jumping out of his bed. His face was hit by a mass of clothing knocking him to the floor.

"Hurry up and get dressed! Their waiting for us at the port!" yelled Nami walking out the door.

"Hai, Nami-san!"

X

Miraculously, Ace had found a place to leave his log pose deeper in the center of the island where there were numerous trees to cover his movements. He placed the compass inside a small indention on the side of a large tree probably created by some birds awhile ago for nesting. He covered the opening with a rock that fit snuggly in the hole and placed his hand on the side of the tree. His hand lit up slightly before going out leaving a burned hand print on the side of the tree. Carefully taking note of his path towards where Sunny was docked he memorized a few check points around him. The sun was barely rising when he got out of the trees on the south wing of the marine base. Running over to the ship he breathed a sigh of relief when the port was still empty around Sunny. Jumping onto the ship he thought about how well this operation was going. 'It may seem that it's going smoothly,' he thought as he went down into the ship, 'but two months... things can only get worse for you, Luffy.'

Sooo, yes I did rush this chapter. Sorry for that and for any misunderstandings in the text. Unfortunately, this was one of those chapters with nothing more than a explanation in how they are going to get to Luffy so I wanted to get it over with. Chopper and Franky were just chilling somewhere in the lower levels of Sunny and the marines didn't search the ship so don't worry about them they will be back. Nothing special here but it's ok. Probably noticed that I didn't put anything about Luffy's story but that's because by the next chapter they are going to find him so the next chapter is going to be ridiculously long. On the down side, I'm actually thinking of putting this story on a hiatus (ha right before the actual chaos in the story) but that decision is not for sure.