Chapter 10: Storm Pass

The moment Nami arrived back at Germa's main ship, she was whisked away for wedding dress fittings. She was relieved to see a lot less bows and material than she'd feared. Instead, the dress was formfitting, hugging her torso and flowing down her legs to end in a long train. There was a small bow on top and two on the sides near her knees that gathered the dress into soft ruffles. The top was strapless, though she had white gloves reaching almost to her shoulders.

If she actually wanted to get married, the dress would have been perfect. Oh well. At least she got to look tasteful for her forced marriage.

The same seamstresses as before surrounded her, plucking at the dress and making notes about what they would need to fix and asking if there was anything she wanted them to add or change. She tried to make herself answer all their questions, but was barely paying attention, too caught up in the reality that in a week she would be married to a stranger. Not only that, but a stranger belonging to a family that was allied to Arlong and conquered everything in sight with their military might. It had been a reality that was easy to forget during the few short days she'd spent mapping the sea. That was where she wanted to be, mapping the world instead of being tied down in marriage with the great privilege of helping yet more jerks conquer yet more innocent people.

Would the world be better if she just disappeared? She shook that thought off the moment it occurred, not willing to entertain it for even a second. That wasn't how Bellemere had raised her to think, and Bellemere hadn't died for her just for her to give up because things were hard. She had to keep going. Once she was married, her entire island would be safe and free from Arlong's living tax. That was something to celebrate, wasn't it?

She let the seamstresses' ramblings about how grand the wedding would be wash over her. She was sure they expected her to participate, but they were clearly far more excited about the wedding than she was, and she had nothing to contribute to the conversation anyway.

~.~

"I want you to go to Storm Pass," Judge told Nami the next morning at breakfast, an excited sparkle in his eyes.

"Storm Pass?" Nami repeated. She heard choking and saw both Yonji and Sanji struggling with their breakfasts. Either food had gone done the wrong pipe for both of them, or they knew of Storm Pass and had a less than positive reaction to it.

"Why?" Yonji asked, his voice rough. His gaze flickered to Nami. "Isn't our navigator too important to send there?" Our navigator. Like she belonged to the Vinsmoke family. She curled the hand laying in her lab into a fist where no one could see.

"Too important if she was at risk, yes," Judge agreed. "But, from Ichiji's and Niji's report, I believe she can handle it just fine."

Yonji and Sanji turned to look at their older brothers. Ichiji didn't look up from his food, but Niji said, "She got us out from a dangerous storm without any trouble when our own navigator was helpless against it. If someone had decided to follow her advice from the beginning, we would have avoided the storm entirely. There's no one else I'd rather ride through a storm with than Nami."

"You see?" Judge asked, beaming. "She made our navigator, with years of experience, look worthless. I believe she can make it through Storm Pass and finally map that area for us."

"What is Storm Pass?" Nami asked politely, hoping she would get an answer this time.

"One of the most dangerous places on the sea within the New World," Niji said, leaning across the table toward her. "And it protects one of the wealthiest nations in North Blue, Yashta. The area is almost impassible. No navy or army has ever managed to make their way through it. They are either forced to turn back or meet a watery grave. As such, no accurate map of the area exists. No one has ever made it very far through."

"What about the wedding?" Sanji asks. "It's supposed to be in a week, but, no matter how well Nami navigates the storms, we're still likely to take longer than a week between the time we'll leave and the time we would return." He really, really hoped his use of the word 'we' was accurate and that he would be going with her this time. He hadn't even been told that she'd arrived back the night before. Shouldn't someone bother telling him when his fiancé was aboard the ship? He had more of a right to know than anyone other than perhaps his father.

"It will be fine," Judge brushed off. "It won't matter if the wedding is a few days late. Arlong doesn't care if any of his crew are present for the wedding, so it's fine even if Chew and Hatchan leave while you're away."

Sanji clamped his mouth shut. Of course it didn't matter what his opinion was. Why would it?

A wide smile spread across Yonji's face. "So, who's going with our navigator this time?"

"You are since there's rumors that Yashta's princess desires to meet you," Judge said, which wiped the smile off Yonji's face. "If Yashta's forces happen to spot our ship, we'll simply say that you were curious about the princess as well and wanted to meet her."

"You don't actually want me to marry her, do you?" Yonji asked, his facing turning a shade of green that matched his hair.

"Why not?" Sanji challenged. "I'm getting married. Doesn't that mean the rest of you should start thinking about it as well? Even if Nami can get us through the storms, if we can obtain Yashta kingdom easily by marriage, then why not do so? Isn't that part of the benefit of having five children? So you can marry them to advantageous marriages?"

"Nothing has been decided," Judge said. "We have far too little information about Yashta to make a decision like that. If their forces are weak because they rely on Storm Pass to protect them, then it would be a waste to marry one of you off to obtain their kingdom."

"That's right, gold is for winning," Yonji said, glaring at Sanji. "Military might is for alliances. Why would we want to join forces with some weakling just because their wealthy when we can easily take their riches for ourselves?"

"Who else is going with Nami?" Sanji asked, ignoring his younger brother.

"You are," Judge answered. Sanji's eyes lit up, but Niji immediately protested.

"Shouldn't someone who's already traveled with Nami go?" His eyes cut to his older brother. "I mean someone who's traveled with her and listens to her advice? I think the voyage through Storm Pass would go more smoothly that way. Even with Nami's skills, it's still likely to be a rough voyage."

Judge seemed to consider Niji's words, causing Sanji to hold his breath. Finally, he shook his head. "You've only been on one voyage with her. That's not enough to build up a rapport that would help in a situation like this, and I want all of you to gain experience working with her. She's our ticket to regaining North Blue. All of you need to know how best to work with her."

Sanji gave a silent sigh of relief. Thank goodness. Hopefully, the he and Nami would have some time to talk. Preferably, before they reached the storms, because they certainly wouldn't have time to talk once they did.

~.~

"And what's this tool for?" Yonji asked, pointing to yet another thing sitting on Nami's desk on the deck.

"That's to help me measure distances so my spacing on the map is accurate," Nami said, trying to keep her tone even. Yonji had been asking her questions, which meant interrupting her work, for the past half hour.

Surely, if Yonji had an interest in navigating, he'd had plenty of opportunities to learn more about it throughout his life. The Vinsmokes had plenty of them, none of whom gave her very friendly looks. Not that she blamed them. It couldn't be easy to be faced with someone so much younger than you, yet so much better at your job than you. Plus, she was currently the golden girl of the king, a position that she currently wanted to keep. Hopefully, none of the other navigators would try to sabotage her work.

"She's trying to work," a voice edged with annoyance said. "Why don't you leave her alone for a while?" Nami looked up see Sanji, leaning against the ship's railing with his arms crossed over his chest as he stared down his younger brother.

"Father said he wanted us to spend time getting to know what Nami does," Yonji argued. "That's part of why we're on this voyage with her."

"No, Father said he wanted us to learn to work with her, not to harass her while she's working. Why don't you go do something productive instead of bothering my bride?" Was it Sanji's imagination that Yonji twitched when he said bride? Sanji's hands curled into fists. His idiotic brother better not have been trying to flirt with Nami. Geez. Two of his brothers wanted to harm Nami to 'show her her place amongst the royals' and the other wanted to steal her. Sanji had never more strongly wished he was an only son than in that moment.

Nami looked relieved as Yonji left, grumbling under his breath. Sanji hoped Nami was grateful for his help…except she'd probably be more grateful for the help if he also left her alone to work, but he wanted to talk to her. They hadn't had a single opportunity to speak since she'd arrived back at the castle. It shouldn't be that hard to be able to speak with your fiancé, even if it was an arranged marriage.

He fidgeted awkwardly as Nami bent over her desk, making careful marks across her map. She looked completely engaged in what she was doing, which certainly wasn't how Sanji felt when he was out on campaign or discussing how best to defeat Germa 66's next target. He wished he had something he cared about that much. Regardless of how Nami ended up being a navigator for pirates, whether it was willingly or not, she was obviously passionate about the work.

Nami paused and glanced up when she realized he was still there. "Did you need something?"

He tried to give her a smile, but it felt more like a grimace. "Uh, I was just wondering how your first voyage went. Did everything go okay?"

"It was fine," Nami said, turning back to her maps. "Didn't you hear your father? We got through the storm fine and he was pleased with the maps I brought back."

Sanji's shoulders sagged. He didn't care about that. Well, they were good things and important things, but that hadn't been what he was asking about. "I more meant my brothers. They were okay? They didn't cause any problems for you?"

Nami paused again to look up at him. He couldn't read the look on her face, but it didn't look upset or negative. That was good…right? She could see that he cared? That he didn't just want to be a man she was forced to marry? He wanted to ask her about her service to Arlong and if it had been forced, but it didn't seem like the right time. And why would she trust him with information like that when they had spent so little time together?

"No," Nami said, her voice softer this time. "They didn't cause any problems." She hesitated before adding, "Thank you for checking."

She immediately went back to her maps, but that was okay because Sanji's heart was soaring at her words. She'd thanked him. Thanked him for checking to make sure she was okay. That was good progress, right?

~.~

"Lower those sails!" Nami ordered. "They'll be torn to bits in this wind and then won't do anyone any good. Head left!"

"Left?" The helmsman asked, balking as he looked at the waves coming from that direction.

"Yes, left!" She repeated. "We need to go left!"

The helmsman threw a pleading look behind Nami and she turned to see Sanji standing behind her.

"You heard the lady. This is the woman who your king says will grant Germa our greatest desires. Do as she says."

The helmsman gulped before nodding and turning the wheel. Nami barked orders at the men manning the sails to help the large ship make the turn. Moments after they changed their course, a tornado appeared and crossed the path they would have been on had they not moved. Several men stopped to stare.

Clearing his throat, the helmsman said, "Um, any other orders, miss?"