Disclaimer: One Piece and all its characters are property of Eiichirō Oda
Chapter 10
Iryann's blue eyes fluttered open and she found herself staring at the small infirmary's ceiling once again. She glanced around and smiled softly. After trying to move her left leg and feeling a stabbing pain in her thigh, she sighed and leaned back against the pillow.
"Stuck here again, huh…"
She tried moving her right shoulder, and found that it still hurt, but it was a lot more bearable than it had been last time she'd been awake.
Again, she smiled.
"That little reindeer is quite the doctor…"
Just then, the door opened, and said little doctor entered the room quietly. When he saw Iryann staring at him, he jumped back slightly, not having expecting her to be awake.
"Oh! Y-you're awake!"
Iryann looked at the cute furry creature, and couldn't help but smile at him warmly. He's so cute!
Chopper saw her smile and blushed, side stepping carefully to his desk, while keeping the girl in sight. He then saw the girl stifle a giggle with her hand, and noticed it was the right hand she'd used. Getting into doctor mode, Chopper looked at the girl with slight concern in his features.
"How's your shoulder? Does it still hurt?"
The girl looked slightly surprised for an instant, and glanced down at her right arm. She moved it around and winced slightly at the slight pain in her shoulder.
"It still hurts a bit," she admitted, then glanced at the small doctor with a smile, "But it's feeling a lot better, thank you."
"I-Idiot!" he screamed, blushing madly and twirling around as the girl thanked him, "That doesn't make me happy!!"
Iryann cocked her head in amusement at the little reindeer's dance. He sure looks happy to me…
Just then, her stomach rumbled noisily, and Iryann found herself blushing in embarrassment as she pressed her hands to her stomach.
Chopper stopped his little twirls and giggled.
"You must be hungry! I'll ask Sanji to make you something!" he chirped starting to walk towards the door.
"No, wait!" she tried moving her leg, "I'd like to take in some fresh air—itte!" Iryann winced. Her leg still hurt quite a lot.
"AGH!" Chopper panicked, "Don't move! The stitches will come out!"
Iryann pouted.
"But I want to go outside~"
Chopper looked troubled. The girl had been stuck in there for two days already…but she shouldn't move her leg…but she should also eat something…argh! What do I do!?
He looked at the girl's pleading blue eyes…and sighed.
"Fine…" Iryann smiled happily, "But you have to promise me you won't walk! I'll ask Franky if he can make a crutch for you, but until then, someone will have to carry you around, okay?"
"Okay!" she chirped, happy to be able to get out of there…although she really wished he would just let her walk by herself…
Chopper smiled, "I'll take you to the galley then, it's probably time you met everyone anyway…"
He turned into his yeti form, making the girl's eyes widen at the sight. She barely remembered being carried by a furry giant after she had collapsed in the galley in a pile of sobs.
"Sorry, did I scare you?" the reindeer looked slightly saddened by the girl's response to his change, and Iryann noticed.
"Oh no! I was just surprised, that's all!" she assured him, "It's actually very cool! You're like a huge teddy bear!" her eyes creased in a smile, and Chopper found himself smiling and blushing again.
He walked to the blonde, and picked her up gently, being careful not to move her leg more than necessary.
"Thanks Tonakai-san," she smiled.
"I-idiot!" he stuttered as he walked to the door, "Even if you're grateful it doesn't make me happy!"
The girl giggled as she was carried out of the infirmary, and leaned into Chopper's arms.
It really is like being held by a big teddy bear…
"Sanji~!" a vein pulsed on the cook's forehead as he heard his captain whine for the twentieth time in the five minutes he'd been in the galley. "I want fooooood!"
"And I want you to shut up, shitty-gomu!" he growled in annoyance, "I told you it's almost ready!"
"Yay!!" Luffy clapped his hands in cheer.
"Do you need any help, cook-san?" Robin lifted her eyes from the book she had been reading to glance at the cook.
"Oh no, don't worry, Robin-chan, this is no problem." he turned with a smile, as he took the meat out of the oven. The archeologist smiled back and turned her attention back to her book.
"Sanji-san, are you sure you don't need any help?" Vivi asked kindly.
"Yeah, Sanji-kun," Nami agreed, "You strain yourself too much, you should take some rest once in a while."
Sanji swooned with the tray of meat still in his hands.
"Hyaa~! My ladies are so thoughtful!" he sang, and then turned back into scowling mode as he noticed his other crewmates sitting around the table, "Oi longnose! Set the table."
"WHAT!?" Usopp protested. It took a look from the cook to realize that if he didn't get the dishes fast…Sanji's shoe would go up his ass.
"I-I mean…sure!" he quickly got to his feet and made his way to the kitchen counter.
Sanji smirked, satisfied. He grabbed a tray with drinks and made his way to the table.
"Oi, cook," Zoro glared at Sanji, "Where's the booze?"
Sanji scowled back, "Move your lazy ass and get it yourself, marimo."
Zoro grumbled and stood from his chair while Luffy laughed and the rest of the crew smiled.
After he'd passed out in the galley, Zoro had slept through the whole day. The dark rings had disappeared from under his eyes, and they were all glad to see him start training and napping calmly outside again.
It seemed like he was not haunted by nightmares anymore.
"Hey, where's Chopper?" Luffy asked, as he noticed his little furry friend was missing.
"I think he said he was going to check on Iryann-san," Vivi said.
"Has she woken up yet?" Nami turned to the blue haired princess, who had been helping Chopper in the infirmary, taking her role as the nurse of the ship.
Vivi shook her head, "No, but she was exhausted from whatever she had experienced in those ships…so it's not surprising."
They all nodded silently. Zoro walked back to the table with a bottle of rum in his hand, and sat back next to Nami.
"So what will we do once she wakes up?" he asked, taking a swig of rum, "I don't think she knows where Datte is any more than we do."
Nami sighed, "Don't you think she'll know anything that might help us, though?" she took a sip of her drink, "If we just sail around randomly, we'll never find Kaien's island…"
They all stayed quiet, each buried in their own thoughts. Robin was the first to speak again.
"Swordsman-san," Zoro looked up from his drink, "Do you think Kaien will attempt to capture Koori-san as well?"
"Most likely," he frowned, "From what I know, that guy's been trying to take them both for many years now."
"Tch! Bastard…" Sanji snarled, lighting up a cigarette.
"So, since she escaped from those ships…do you think they'll come to us and try to take her away again?" Usopp asked, as he put the plates on the table.
"They better not try," Franky took a swig of cola and wiped his mouth with his arm, "Or they'll see what this ship is capable of."
"Right!" Luffy yelled, his trademark grin painted on his face, "Because if they try to get close to Iryann, we'll kick their ass!"
"You're damn right we will." Zoro said with a smirk.
"Yohohohoho! This is going to be exciting!"
Everyone smiled and Sanji finally brought the food to the table, kicking Luffy on the head before he started eating like the human vacuum he was.
Just then, the door opened, and Chopper walked in with Iryann in his arms. When they saw the girl's smile, any tension that had gathered around the room dissipated, and they all smiled back.
"She just woke up, so I thought I might as well get her something to eat." Chopper explained.
He set Iryann on a chair, next to Vivi, taking care not to move her leg and she smiled gratefully at him.
"Thanks, Tonakai-san." She chirped.
"B-baka!! That's not gonna make me happy you bastard!!"
They all laughed, and Nami gave her new nakama a friendly smile.
"I think some introductions are in order," she said, "My name is Nami, I'm the navigator of the ship."
"And a greedy witch as well." Zoro added before taking a gulp of rum.
"Oi marimo!" Sanji snarled, "Don't say that about Nami-san!"
"Tch! Idiot."
"What was that, asshole?!"
A second later, both Zoro and Sanji nursed a pair of big bumps on their heads as Nami glared at them.
"Will you two just shut it?"
Iryann sweat-dropped as she saw both men shrink under the redhead's fist, while Luffy just laughed happily, a hand on his straw hat.
"Nami's really scary!" he chirped, "Don't mess with her money or her oranges or she'll have your head for dinner!" He laughed.
Another frightening blow from the navigator, and Luffy was on the floor pressing a hand to the new bump on his head.
She then turned back to the – half scared, half amused – Iryann.
"Don't mind what these idiots say," she sang sweetly.
"H-hai…" Iryann replied, looking between the battered men and the smiling navigator.
"Anyway," she continued, "You know Zoro, the green haired moron on the floor," said moron scowled at her in annoyance as he sat back on his chair, grumbling something about witches being violent. Iryann smiled at him warmly and his gaze seemed to soften slightly.
"The blond idiot is Sanji-kun, he's the cook of the crew…and a bit of a ladies' man…but don't let that freak you out, though, he won't do anything."
Iryann tilted her head in curiosity at Nami and was going to ask what she meant, when she felt her hand being held gently and looked up at the cook. He kneeled down in beside her, holding her left hand up.
"Ah, my beautiful flower," he sang, "It is only the majestic sight of a beauty such as yours that makes this humble cook's heart flutter like the wings of a lively hummingbird." He held her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly, earning a low growl from Zoro. "If there is anything you need, I, your Prince, will be more than happy to serve you."
Iryann giggled at the love-cook's act.
"Why thank you, Sanji-san." She pulled her hand back gently, and the cook fell back in a swirl of hearts and smoke.
"Hyaa~! Iryann-chwan is so cute when she giggles~!" he cooed as he twirled back to the counter.
"I-Iryann-chwan?" the girl repeated, slightly puzzled by the odd suffix.
"Oh, he does that with all the girls of the crew," Nami winked at her, "You'll get used to it."
A loud rumble was heard around the room, and everyone stared at Iryann, who blushed furiously at the sudden attention.
"Oh my," Robin smiled, "It seems like our guest is quite hungry."
Luffy laughed.
"Don't worry! Sanji will make something for you! He's the best cook in the world! You'll love his food!"
"My lady," Sanji was beside her again, putting a very appetizing plate in front of her, "I hope it is of your liking."
She smiled gratefully at the cook, and took a bite of the succulent filet. Her eyes widened and she looked up at him with a full smile.
"This is delicious!"
Everyone smiled, while Luffy laughed his head off and Sanji twirled some more at the compliments.
"See? I told you!" The captain chirped, "Sanji's food is the best!"
Nami smiled and continued her introductions while Iryann ate.
"The little reindeer is Chopper, our doctor." the furry animal blushed shyly at the attention and waved before hiding behind Zoro, bringing a smile to the blonde's lips.
Then, Iryann watched as the longnose took over and stood on his chair, with a foot on the table, putting up his hero-pose.
"I'm Usopp-sama!" he yelled proudly, "The best sniper there is and bravest man of the seas! But people know me as…Captaaaaaaaain Usopp!!" Again, he struck a pose.
"OI USOPP!" Luffy protested with his mouth full of meat, and slamming a fist against the table, "I'M THE CAPTAIN HERE!"
Iryann giggled, bringing the attention back to her.
"I know that! You're Monkey D. Luffy, ne?" she asked with a smile on her face, "I've heard many things about you."
Luffy's trademark grin again threatened to split his face in two.
"Shishishishi! Cool! I'm famous!" he laughed, "And you know something?"
"What?"
"I'm going to be the next Pirate King!" he chirped, "Right after I find One Piece!"
Iryann's eyes widened slightly at the bold statement. The young raven haired man looked so childish and innocent, but then she remembered the look in his eyes when he had promised her that he would save Datte, and knew somehow…that she was in the presence of an extraordinary man.
She smiled.
"I'm sure you will." she said.
Nami smiled at her captain and went on with the introductions.
"The black haired woman in front of you is Nico Robin," she said, "She's an archeologist."
Robin nodded politely and smiled at the curious look the girl gave her.
"Yeah! Robin's a great archeologist!" Luffy chirped, "She's looking for the Rio Poreni…Ponyglu…Puneri…" he scratched his head as he struggled to get the complicated name right.
Robin giggled and went to help her captain.
"The Rio Poneglyph, Captain-san."
"Oh yeah! That!" he said with a laugh.
Nami shook her head at Luffy's idiocy and turned to Vivi.
"The girl sitting next to you is Nefertari Vivi," she informed Iryann, who had taken her gaze from Robin to the blue haired girl; "She's the princess of the kingdom of Arabasta."
Iryann's eyes widened; and she looked at Vivi with obvious curiosity shinning in her ice-blue irises.
"You're a real princess?"
"Yeah," Vivi admitted shyly, "Luffy-san and the others saved my kingdom from a terrible rebellion…I stayed behind when the battle was over…but once the country was back in prosperity, I realized I missed my nakama and the sea too much, so I decided to rejoin the crew." She explained with a smile.
"Vivi's our princess, and she's also my girlfriend!" Luffy said happily as he put an arm around Vivi and pulled her to his side, "She's gonna be the Queen of Pirates!"
"Lu-Luffy-san!" Vivi stuttered, blushing furiously as Luffy held on to her.
Iryann smiled at the couple. They're cute together…
The sight of the two lovebirds made her think of Datte, and her smile faltered a little.
Zoro noticed this, and tried to take her mind away from the thought of Datte's disappearance.
"Oi Franky," he called, effectively turning Iryann's and everyone's attention to him, "Your turn."
"Ossu!" The blue haired cyborg stood up, striking his pose; arms clashing together with the blue star tattoo perfectly visible in the middle, "OW! The name's Franky! I'm the shipwright of the crew, and the one who build this SUPA ship!"
Iryann's thoughts about Datte vanished at the cyborg's introduction. She didn't really know whether to be amused or disturbed by the man's appearance…The Speedo had her a little iffy…
"N-Nice to meet you, Franky," she managed to say, with an awkward smile.
All attention then came down on Brook, who was sipping on his tea, peacefully.
"That's Brook, our musician."
Iryann stared at him blankly.
...What the hell?
Luffy laughed, and everyone smiled and chuckled understandably (they had also been very…shocked, when they first met Brook).
"Brook ate the Yomi Yomi no mi," Nami explained, "Which gave him a second life after he died…but it seems that, by the time his soul found his body again…it was already a skeleton…"
"O-oh, I see…" Iryann was still not sure how to take in the fact that there was a skeleton drinking tea just a few seats next to her…
Said skeleton suddenly put the tea cup on the table and stood up; Iryann was very surprised at how tall he was. Brook then walked around the table and vowed politely in front of her, much like an English gentleman would.
"My Fair Lady," Iryann looked at him curiously, "…May I please see your panties?"
The girl could only gape as Zoro, Sanji, Vivi and Nami hit the skeleton on the head with an angry, "YOU PERVERT!!"
Franky, who had been gulping down his fifth cola and had been oblivious to Brook's request, turned to them and calmly asked.
"Pervert? Who's calling me?"
Everyone dropped to the floor at the cyborg's question, save for Luffy, who was obviously laughing like a madman, and Iryann, who was just looking around with slight confusion.
As she paused to analyze the situation, the girl couldn't help but smile, and she found herself joining Luffy in his laughter.
The crew looked at Iryann with wide eyes; this being the first time they had heard her laugh like that. Zoro, on the other hand, smiled and chuckled softly, shaking his head as he sat back on his chair.
About time…
Iryann laughed wholeheartedly, and as the shock wore off, they all smiled at her.
"You know," she managed to say after a while, wiping the tears from her eyes, "I had been wondering what it was with Luffy and the Straw Hat crew that would make Zoro become a pirate," she smiled a Zoro, "But I think I get it now."
Zoro smirked and the rest couldn't wipe the smile off their faces.
"And your bounties are so high, too," she continued, then looked at Sanji, "I was surprised at meeting Sanji-san, though…he doesn't look like his picture at all!"
"You kidding?" Zoro uttered with a bored expression, "He looks exactly the same."
"WHAT WAS THAT, ASSHOLE?!!"
"I forgot," Zoro said; ignoring Sanji's killing intent as he walked past him to get another bottle of rum from the wine rack.
Sanji's face was red with fury, and it took both Franky and Chopper (in Strong Point) to hold the fuming cook back and prevent him from strangling the swordsman to death.
Luffy laughed, while the rest just smiled or shook their heads at their crewmates' antics.
Iryann watched as Zoro took a swig of his bottle, purposely ignoring Sanji's desperate attempts to get his hands around his neck, and smiled to herself.
I'm glad you found a family after all, Zoro…I'm glad…