Freckles
chapter 10
They've been sailing for two days, and almost all this time Eli had been lying on the deck looking lazily at the blue sky above her. She wished she hadn't left her book on the Merry, at least she would have something to do. Damn you Nami !
And of course Yosaku and Johnny had nothing on their boat to release the girl from her boredom.
She rolled her head toward the boys to see how they managed to bear this, yet again, uneventful day. Usopp was fishing drowsily. Ace was just plain asleep, or at least it looked like he was, she never knew when was the real thing. And Johnny was sharpening, again, his blade, she could swear it has diminished in the passed two days. They had lost sight of Nami about a day ago, but the group managed to guess that she was going to Arlong Park and Yosaku had left to warn Luffy and Zoro.
The two bounty hunters had informed them that Arlong was a very dangerous man, well a merman to be more precise, and that he had the highest bounty of East Blue. Eli had never met a merman, but she had heard stories about them being 10 times stronger than a normal human, she wasn't too scared though because her companions and herself weren't exactly what people would call normal.
The thing that preoccupied her the most was why would Nami go there. Yosaku and Johnny suspected that she was probably after his bounty, but Ace didn't seem to agree. Nami wasn't a bounty hunter, but a thief. So maybe she was after the merman's treasure.
She sighed heavily. "This is so boring..."
"Hey Eli, tell me what made you join the crew ?" Usopp asked, obviously trying to find some entertainment to keep him from dying of boredom.
Eli sat up. "Mmh Luffy's smile I guess." she replied grinning, yup Luffy was obviously the one that made her a pirate. Ever since she had met him and his brothers, not a day had passed without hearing the word pirate. This could have been annoying but it wasn't, and she wanted to share their dream.
"Ohh this is soooo romantic !" he said making fun of the girl, before starting to sing. "Luffy and Eli sitting in a tree... K-I-S-S-I-N-G..."
"IDIOT !" She frowned hitting him on the top of his head. What was he thinking ? Seriously ? Eli exhaled heavily glaring at the boy who was now rubbing his head. "I meant his passion for the sea and adventure ! I guess it inspired me... What about you ?"
Usopp cleared his throat. "Well, I guess my inspiration is my father, Yasopp. He's one of the greatest pirates in the world you know." he said proudly.
Eli raised an eyebrow and leaned forward to look suspiciously into the boy's eyes, she had quickly learned to never trust the long nosed marksman. "Really ?"
Usopp promptly pulled back. "Yeah really !"
Eli narrowed her eyes and started to get closer again. "Really really ?"
"Really really !!" Usopp insisted angrily.
Ace laughed. "Really Twig ! Yasopp is in Shanks crew."
Eli turned to face the young man with wide eyes. "THE Shanks ?" she blinked, she had never met the man, but she knew that Luffy was his number one fan. "The no-one-touches-this-strawhat-it's-my-precious-treasure-and-my-promise-to-become-Pirate-King Shanks ?"
Ace nodded smiling.
Eli turned back to see Usopp crossing his arms proudly, she put her hand on his shoulder. "Sorry that I doubted your words Usopp."
The long nosed boy huffed. "You should always trust me young woman, because I never lie !"
"Hey you just did."
"No I didn't."
"Ohoh you did it again !"
"I did NOT !"
Two days later they could, at long last, spot their goal, Arlong Park.
Eli took the binoculars from Usopp to watch the pirates' base. It was a huge mansion located at the coast. It had five floors, on the wall of the third floor everyone could read in bold letters "Arlong Park". Eh ! They aren't even hiding, Eli though. On the top of the house was their Jolly Roger, a red saw-fish head.
"So how do we proceed ?" she asked giving the binoculars back.
"The Going Merry is over there." Usopp warned the rest of the crew in a cheerful manner. The boy had told her that the ship was given to the crew by a friend of his back on his home island, the way he talked about the Merry was genuinely caring, and so she was glad for him to see that the Merry was safe and sound.
Johnny looked at a map. "She had anchored close to Cocoyashi Village."
Eli brought a finger to her cheek and looked at the map questioningly. She might have been right thinking that she was going to steal the merman's treasure. What sort of thief would dock right before their prey's nest ?
"Then to Cocoyashi village we'll go." Ace concluded.
The crew was peacefully sailing toward the Merry when they saw three mermen looking at their boat from ashore, Usopp and Johnny gawked.
"Let's go back !" Usopp ordered trying to act as normal as possible, even though his legs were shaking like jelly.
Eli rolled her eyes, Usopp's cowardice was quite amazing, she had only witness it two times but she had already understood that it was going to be a running gag. "Freckles will take care of them." she turned to look at the young man. "Don't tell me..." Seeing that Ace was asleep, she hit her forehead. She will have to thank Luffy later for teaming her up with such reliable crewmates.
As Usopp and Johnny saw the mermen coming to investigate the boat, they instantly dove in the water, and swam away.
"Hey wait ! I can't swim !" Eli yelled at the two cowards.
She swung around when she heard a thump behind her, the mermen smirked. "So what brings you here missy ?"
She forced a smile. Quick quick think of something to say. "Sightseeing ?"
"I told you, we're on our honeymoon !" That was the most innocent and gullible excuse Eli could find. Who doesn't like newly weds ? Well mermen apparently.
The girl and Ace, still asleep, were tied facing a bunch of mermen in Arlong Park. One of them, probably Arlong, was interrogating Eli. He was a very large blue saw-shark, sitting in a very large armchair, it almost looked like a throne, and he had the most threatening smile she had ever seen.
The rest of the mermen were about twenty. Twenty huge monstrous marine beasts sneering at the girl, and under their malicious stares she felt tiny and weak.
She blamed herself for choosing not to fight the two mermen back on the boat but it was so small there was a high chance she'd end up in the sea, not to mention that her partner was heavily sleeping.
"You didn't chose your vacation location wisely missy." He sneered showing his large shark teeth. "And your husband as well !"
He laughed loudly soon imitated by his henchmen, Eli forced a smile feeling cold sweat building on her forehead. At least she made them laugh. That's a good thing right ? she thought to give herself some courage. Nervously she glanced at her partner. Ace wake up please...
Arlong must have follow the girl's eyes because now he was looking at Ace insistently. "I think... I've seen that boy somewhere..." He leaned forward and narrowed his eyes.
Frak ! The tattoo ! A shiver ran down her spine, if he saw it he'd surely know who her the sleeping young man was, and her "cover" would be kinda blown up to pieces. Eli fell on Ace's arm to protect his ASCE tattoo. "Don't touch my husband !" she managed to utter in spite of her throbbing heart.
"Don't you dare talk like that to Arlong pitiful human !" a merman barked punching the girl in the face.
He was about to punch her again when a familiar voice interrupted him. "I know them Arlong !"
"Nami !" Eli exclaimed. At first she was thankful for the girl's intervention, but then it hit her. She was walking casually in this creepshow and talking to the boss as is she knew him. What's going on here ?
"I know you've been following me, but I never thought you would actually come here." She crouched and looked closely at her two former crewmates. "Don't you get it ? I've been using you to steal your treasure. I'm part of Arlong's crew."
Eli was just stunned. If that was true then Luffy's judgment wasn't as reliable as she thought, but she couldn't quite believe it, the boy had a sixth sense for these things, then again she barely knew the girl, so she couldn't really make own her mind.
Arlong laughed loudly. "This woman would do anything for money, even forget the death of the own mother. You were very unlucky to cross the path of this cold blooded witch."
At those words Nami's face froze. Okay... What was that now ? Eli knew at that moment that the navigator was hiding something. But what...
"What do you want to do with them Nami ?" Arlong sneered.
She stood up. "Lock them up, I'll take care of them later." She said coldly walking away.
Right before Eli and Ace were being taken away, a merman came running to Arlong. "Boss ! The long nose guy got away from us. He's probably hiding in Cocoyashi Village."
Frak Usopp ! Eli bit her lip.
"Well I had to go to Cocoyashi Village anyway, I'll take care of him." Arlong sneered.
"It's been about 30 minutes now, wake up !" Eli said annoyingly, kicking Ace.
They were locked in a small and dark room, the girl had hear Arlong and a part of his crew leaving few minutes ago, which made her feel a little bit more secure. Eli was sitting facing the door and Ace was laying next to her. She was really angry at him right now, and seeing his sleeping freckled stupid face she couldn't help but wanting to kick him over and over again, which she did.
Ace opened his eyes slowly. "Hu... Was I asleep ?"
"Of course you were !" she snarled wondering if he could be even more annoying.
Ace sat up, and yawned. "Where are we ?"
"Arlong Park !" she replied coldly.
"What happened to your face Twig ?" Ace asked looking at the girl's swollen cheek.
"A merman happened ! Now untie me." she barked. How dare he acts as if he cared ? Her head snapped in the direction of the door hearing the lock clicking, she kicked Ace down. "Sleep !"
Nami entered the room, and looked at them coldly. Eli winced seeing that the girl had a dagger in her hand. "I want you to leave before Arlong gets back."
"What ?" Eli blinked looking at the navigator cutting her ties. Could she be more confusing ? Come on, who doesn't like dealing with a person who has a twisted behavior.
"I don't want you to get involved in my business." She crouched next to Ace and cut his ties. "Leave as soon as he wakes up. And use the back door."
Eli stood up and dusted her clothes. "Why do you help us ?"
"This is none of your business. Leave this Island ! I don't want to see you anymore !" Nami snarled, before leaving the room.
After getting out by the back door of Arlong Park, Ace and Eli were walking on a small road. The landscape was relaxing, a lot of trees and rice fields surrounded them, they could hear the birds chirping and the weather was nice.
The scenery really clashed with Eli's state of mind, she was still trying to process the recent events, focusing on Nami's mysterious behavior to distract herself from the anger she felt for her companion, even though he had already apologized profusely.
Eli sighed heavily. "This girl is tricky..."
"Well aren't you all ?" Ace said in a poor attempt to relax the atmosphere. She glared at him, apparently he wasn't aware he was digging his own grave. No, she wouldn't waste her energy answering that. And apparently her glare was enough since he broke eye contact clearing his throat.
"I'm sure she's hiding something." he said. "She had fun with the crew, and she wasn't faking it."
"Well she did help us escape..." she said tucking her hands behind her head.
"By the way where is Usopp ?" he asked.
Eli turned her head slowly toward him with wide eyes. "FRAK ! USOPP !"
to be continued
I like this chapter, I enjoyed writing scared and angry Eli.
She's not a sissy but come on, being tied in front of twenty vicious mermen... How would you react ?
And I have to admit I liked being angry with Ace hehe.
ThexWhitexPhoenix : I can't quite change everything, I mean some events are really important there ! I hope you won't mind.
Art-sama : I have the same feeling :P Brotherhood is such a mysterious thing...