Welcome back, everyone to a brand new chapter of One Piece: Jou's adventures. Things are about to get real since we're in the Arlong Park Arc. Now, I'll stop my rambling and let's get it going.
Disclaimer, I don't own One Piece.
All rights to it goes to the story-telling genius known as Oda.
But I own Jou and other original characters in this fic.
Now, let's go...
Previously on One Piece: Jou's Adventures...
"NAMI MURDURED HIM!"
One Piece: Jou's Adventures: East Blue Saga Pt.10
"You can't be serious!?" Yosaku said.
"Yeah, it's true." Johnny said, sitting down indian-style. "She was a traitor all along. She's been winning Arlong's favor so she can have the treasure buried in Cocoyashi Village all to herself. That woman is just a cold-blooded killer! She won't stop until she get's what she wants! Nami, had us fooled the enti-"
"QUIET!" Luffy yelled, grabbing Johnny's shirt. "Say another word and you'll regret it!"
"Easy, Luffy!" Zoro said. "This has nothing to do with Johnny."
"Go on, believe whatever you want." Johnny said. "But I know what I saw. Nami killed big bro Usopp!"
"Shut your mouth!" Luffy shouted. "Never in a million years would Nami kill Usopp! She wouldn't do that to her friends!"
"But I saw it!" Johnny argued.
Zoro turns his head and see's someone familiar. Jou followed Zoro's gaze.
"Nami?" Jou said.
"What was that about friends, Luffy?" The said girl, said.
"Nami?" Luffy said, dropping Johnny and turning around to face her.
"What're you doing here?" She questioned.
"What're we doing here?" Luffy repeated. "You're our friend. We came to get you." Luffy said, picking up his straw hat which he dropped.
"What a pest." Nami said.
"Nami...?" Luffy said, sounding surprised by her tone.
"Friends, huh?" She said. "Don't make me laugh. You're just pathetic enough to deserve each other."
"Damn you!" Johnny shouted, running forward. "You killed him! I watched you do it! Now big bro Usopp is gone!"
"Yep, that's right." Nami smirked. "So, why don't you kill me and get your revenge."
"What...?" Johnny said, surprised.
"Word to the wise, fella's..." Nami said, twirling her staff. "Because of your friend's stupidity. Arlong is preparing to kill Zoro and his friend, Jou along with their entire crew. And I don't care how monstrously strong you guy's think you are. You're no match for the real monsters. I promise you, if you stay on this island you will die. So, you have a choice to make between life and death."
Zoro gritted his teeth at Nami. Jou just crossed his arms over his chest. Sanji however...
"Her heartless face is so hot!" Sanji cooed becoming heart-eyed. "Hi Nami! It's me Sanji! Let's run away together!"
"Can it, Romeo!" Zoro yelled at him. "This isn't the time or place for that!"
"Excuse me, love is like a hurricane." Sanji replied. "So, back off."
Zoro turned his attention to Nami.
"Hey, look at me when I'm talking to you!" Sanji yelled. Zoro ignored him.
"Nami, where's Usopp?" Zoro asked.
"With the fishes." Nami said, casually.
Zoro charges Nami with his sword drawn but is stopped immediately by Sanji throwing a kick with the swordsman backing away.
"How sad." Sanji quipped. "A swordsman striking a lady."
"Idiot!" Zoro said. "Can't you see what's happening here?! You're starting to piss me off!"
"Heh." Sanji laughed. "If someone had stopped me that easily. I'd be mad too."
"You should watch your mouth." Zoro told him.
"I'll say whatever I want." Sanji retorted back. "Bastard."
"Big bro's!" Yosaku yelled. "We're all in this together, okay!? This is no time to fight!"
"Your pal's right." Nami said. "Now quit your bickering and leave while you still can. You outsider's have no right to butt-in to his islands affairs. Don't you get it yet? The only reason I got close to you idiots was that I could rob you of everything you had but now that your broke it looks like the dream's dead. So go, take your ship. Go on, find a navigator dumb enough to join you and go to the Grand Line. Continue on your quest to find the One Piece or whatever. Just leave here, you're an eyesore!"
"Is that really all she thinks about us?" Jou thought.
"Good-bye now." Nami said.
"Nami..." Luffy muttered.
Luffy all of a sudden falls to the ground flat on his back.
"Big bro Luffy!?" Johnny said.
"Sleepy." Luffy stated and then placed his hands behind his head.
"Sleep?!" Yosaku said. "At a time like this!? In the middle of the road!?"
"Well, I'm pretty tired." Luffy stated. "I'm not gonna butt-in to their affairs. Not interested. But I'm not leaving either. Night."
"Huh!?" Was all Yosaku managed to say.
"Big bro...?" Johnny said.
Zoro places a hand on his forehead. Luffy began snoring, showing that he really was asleep.
"Fine." Nami said, clenching her fist tight. "WHATEVER! JUST GO AHEAD AND DIE!" She then dashed off the other direction. Sanji tried to yell after her but it was too late. Jou decided to dash after her.
"Jou!" Zoro yelled, as Jou stopped in his tracks. "Just let her go! She made it clear that she doesn't want anything to do with us anymore."
Jou put his head down but decides to keep running after her.
Hey, Jou!" Zoro shouted. "Get ba-" Zoro just sighed seeing Jou run off after Nami.
Jou finally caught up to Nami, seeing she has stopped running and made his way up to her.
"Hey, hold on a sec!" Jou said.
"Now, what do you want!?" Nami glared back. "I told you all to go ahead and die!"
"Really? That's not what I heard." Jou replied. "I heard what you really said."
"What...?!" Nami asked, glaring.
"You're a terrible liar." Jou said. "You know that?"
"Back off, Jou." Nami said. "I mean it."
"Do you now?" Jou quipped. "You know what I think...?"
"What...?" She asked.
"You're afraid." Jou said.
Nami didn't say anything. All she did was glare and clench her staff tighter.
"I believe the thing between you and Arlong goes a little like this..." Jou began. "To him you're a little dog on a leash who he get's to do whatever he wants with and their's nothing you can even do about it. You put on this tough persona to just hide the fact that you're scared. But guess what? You aren't being tough at all, you're just a scared little girl..."
Nami just narrowed her eyes tight and bit her lip. She then turned around walking away. However, Jou wasn't done yet.
"For all you know, behind your your back he's tricking you so you don't even know that he's just using you." Jou said. "You believe your weak and know you can't hope to beat him so that just goes to show that you're afraid!"
Nami swiftly turned around with a glare in her eyes, with a quick motion she takes her staff and smacks Jou across the face with it. The force of the hit made Jou turn his head, he now had a little mark on the right side of his face.
"You..." Nami began, voice shaking. "You get the hell outta here and leave. Go back to Luffy and take your wannabe pirates and never come back to this island! YOU HEAR ME!? JUST GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU ESPECIALLY! QUIT TALKING TO ME LIKE YOU KNOW ME! BECAUSE YOU DON'T! I HATE ANNOYING PEST LIKE YOU! SO JUST GO AWAY!"
With that she ran off once again leaving Jou there. Jou just stood there. He's an annoying pest, huh? Was that her way of saying she's through with him and the rest of the crew? Jou began walking back to Luffy and the others.
As he walked back, he touched the spot on his right cheek. He winched a little in pain.
"Geez, I gotta admit she's good with that thing." Jou thought. "That actually stings a little bit."
Jou made his way back to the others and found them in all in the same spot. Sanji was leaning on a tree, Zoro was sitting down in the road and Luffy was still napping.
"Hey, big bro Zoro, what're you thinking?" Johnny said. "C'mon!"
"Did you forget that Arlong is out to kill us?" Yosaku said. "We should be running away!"
"Now that we know what Nami is like, there isn't a single good reason we should stay on this island." Johnny suggested.
"My reason for staying here..." Zoro said, looking at the sleeping Luffy who's snoring. "Is there. I'm staying because he's staying."
"Yep, me too."
Everyone looked over and noticed Jou.
"Yo." Jou waved.
"Jou, you're back." Zoro said. "Did you go and talk to her?"
"I did." Jou replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
From where Zoro was, he could make out a little nick on Jou's right cheek. Did she hit him?
"Hey, did she...?" Zoro began.
"Forget it." Jou sighed. "It's not important. Wherever Luffy stays, we stay with him."
"That's right." Zoro said. "We're staying 'cause he's staying."
"Don't be stupid, big bro Zoro." Yosaku said. "Are you saying you wanna bring her back too?"
"What I want has nothing to do with this." Zoro said. "I don't decide who the navigator is, he does." Zoro said, still looking at the sleeping straw hat.
"Right." Johnny said. "Understood, you're not leaving. Sorry to cut our reunion short but I won't stay, my role as guide end's here."
"Yeah." Yosaku agreed. "I'm with him. I don't wanna deliberately get myself killed."
"Fine." Zoro said. "I'll see you around."
"Until we meet again, big bro!" Johnny yelled as he walked off.
"Take care you guys!" Yosaku yelled, walking off with his friend.
"You too!" Zoro said.
"See ya!" Jou waved.
Johnny and Yosaku walked off into the distance leaving the four pirates on their own. It was now quiet, the wind blew around the four. Jou decided to take this time to just sit indian-style. Luffy was still sleeping soundly and Sanji just leaned against a tree smoking his cigarette.
"Hey, what do you two think it is?" Sanji broke the silence, asking the chain-wielder and swordsman a question. "Why was she crying?"
"I don't know?" Zoro said. "Was she crying?"
"She was in her heart." Sanji said.
Jou brought his head up to Sanji. Jou believed Sanji was right. Nami was crying in her heart. He wasn't mad at her for striking him earlier and for what she said to him. He knew she didn't mean any of that at all.
"Tch." Zoro scoffed. "If there were there'd be tears of guilt for killing Usopp."
"Yeah, right. Are you serious?" Sanji said. "You really are dense. Do you still honestly believe that Nami could've killed Usopp?"
"I don't think she did ." Jou said. "I don't think she killed him either."
"See, someone actually get's it." Sanji said.
"So what you're saying is that Nami didn't kill him?" Zoro asked. "Is that what your saying?"
"Am I wrong?" Sanji said.
"Well, who knows?" Zoro shrugged. "I always thought of her as sort of a small-time crook who wouldn't watch a guy die let alone kill him, maybe she just snapped."
"Wait, what'd you say!?" Sanji snapped. Surprising Zoro.
"SHE'S NOT SMALL TIME!" Sanji shouted, sharktoothed.
"Is she all you think about!?" Zoro shouted. Sanji goes to strike Zoro with a kick with the Swordsman going to block with his sheathe. Jou sighed and turned his head. Is this really the time to be fighting? Even with everything that's happening right now.
However, the thing that stops their attacks was a familiar crew member of theirs getting hit from either side from both of them.
"And here I thought we were all having a moment." Jou sighed, and then turned his head over to see the face of a certain long nose. "Usopp!?"
True enough Usopp was in between the Zoro and Sanji. With Zoro's sheath hitting him in side of his face and Sanji's kick on the other side. It looks like they just knocked him out.
"He's alive." Sanji said, sounding almost relieved.
"Well, he was." Zoro deadpanned. "I hope he still is."
Luffy now awake was holding Usopp in his arms.
"Usopp! Did Nami do all this to you!?" Luffy shouted frantically, and shaking the long nose.
"Sorry." Sanji smiled. "Zoro and I did that."
"No you did." Zoro said.
"He's waking up." Jou said, in front of Usopp.
"Luffy, you're here now." Usopp said.
"Yep, sure am." Luffy grinned.
"I'm here too." Sanji grinned, waving. "Hi there."
"One of these days I'll kill you!" Usopp growled to Sanji.
"Oh, you just made a full recovery." Sanji said.
"SHUT UP!" Usopp yelled.
"Hey, Usopp..." Jou said. Usopp turned to Jou. "I need to tell you something..."
"What is OW!" Usopp shouted in pain as Jou grasped Usopp's nose and tugged it so he was in Jou's face.
"Don't you ever..." Jou growled. "And I mean EVER knock me out and tie me up and leave me alone to die." Jou glared into Usopp's eyes with the said sniper looking terrified of it. The look Jou was making could make the devil crap himself with the scary-looking aura behind him. "Understand?"
"Yes! Ok! Can you let go of me?!" Usopp pleaded. Jou let go of Usopp's nose with it making a snap almost knocking the sniper over.
"But over and all I'm glad to see your alive." Jou said.
"Yeah, we kinda heard you were dead." Zoro chimed in. "Killed by Nami."
"Stupid Johnny!?" Luffy shouted. "He was spouting nonsense that entire time!"
"Well, in a way it is the truth." Usopp said. "But I'm alive. Because you see she actually saved my life."
Walking back to her house was Nojiko, also known as Nami's sister. She walked back to her house through the tangerine orchard. She let out a sigh to get out the all the thoughts going through her head. As she walked back there was vase being thrown out a window which startled her. From inside there were some other things being broken. She had a feeling who was inside of her home.
She walked inside and caught Nami sitting at a table with her head down. Hands rested on the back of her neck.
"Geez, Nami." Nojiko said. "You sure know how to trash a place. Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Nami said. "I'm just resting a little that's all."
It obviously wasn't nothing. She had hit Jou and had to yell at him to let him know that she's done with him and the rest of the crew. Nojiko walked over to the table and picked up a chair to sit in.
"You mean to tell me that pouring over a treasure map and after wrecking a house is how you relax?" Nojiko questioned. "You're not fooling me. Now fess up already! What's bothering you?"
"Something happened to make me mad." Nami answered. "It's nothing."
"Those guys." Nojiko sighed. "Who're they?"
This brought Nami's head up in surprise to look at her sister.
"You know...?" Nami asked.
"Yeah, I met some captain guy." Nojiko said. "He seemed kinda Liar-ish though. Nami, I heard that you smiled with them? We both know that's rare for you. As a matter-a-fact, I've never seen you smile in years. C'mon, tell me who these guys are?"
Nami was silent. She was honestly trying to forget about those four guy's that she's grown to be quite fond of.
"It's okay." Nojiko told her sister. "You can tell me anything, remember?"
Nami seemed hesitant to talk about them until she finally caved in and told her sister.
"I had planned to forget about them." Nami said with a thoughtful expression. "I thought I could just erase them from my mind."
However, for her it was hard to even do that.
[Flashback]
Nami was playing cards with Jou, Usopp and Luffy. With the latter of the four carrying a bunch of cards. Zoro was just napping near them. Nami layed her cards on the deck.
And I'm out!" She cheered, throwing a fist in the air.
"Oh, man." Usopp whined. "You gotta be kidding! How'd you win again?"
Nami just smiled and laughed.
"You know, I'm starting to think that your cheating." Jou said.
"Nope, I was playing fair." Nami giggled.
"Sure you were." Jou said, sarcastically. "Luffy, how come you have some many cards?"
"I don't know." Luffy said. "It seems like more is better."
"IDIOT!" Usopp shouted. "Learn the rules like everybody else!"
"Alright, here's the rules." Luffy said. "The one with the most wins."
Nami just kept laughing as the two kept on bickering to each other.
"But..." Nami said. "The more I tried to erase them, the more I remembered."
[Flashback]
The 5 were sitting below deck in a storm with it moving Merry from side-to-side. From inside the ship a hole burst through with it spouting water.
"Oh crap!" Jou yelled. "Guy's there's a leak in the ship!"
"Hurry up and fix it!" Nami commanded. Usopp and Zoro did their best to hold the leak closed with just their hands.
"I'll go get the wood and nails so we can close it up." Jou suggested. Luffy began running over to help.
"Leave it to me guys!" Luffy said and then placed his mouth over the hole and takes the water into his body. Luffy bloats up like a balloon knocking the four back. However, Luffy couldn't hold it and ended up letting go. The water filled up the room all the way having the 5 being shot up into the air.
There was also a time with Jou in particular.
[Flashback]
At night, Nami was sleeping down in the kitchen with her head down at the table, she had a map in front of her. Jou walked into the kitchen and saw her and shook his head and walked his way up to her.
"Nami, you should be in bed." Jou said. "Not here. You know, sleeping like that is bad for your back."
She didn't seem to be awake. She was totally past out. It wasn't a surprise to Jou considering how late it is. He thought it was time to take matters into his own hands. Literally.
"Alright then..." Jou sighed. "We'll play that way." Jou grabbed her and picked her up bridal-style. "Better get you in bed."
Jou carrying Nami walked off below deck where her room was. As he was walking down, Nami woke up in his arms.
Jou...?" She said, eyes half open. "What're you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing, weirdo?" Jou smirked. "I'm taking you to bed."
"Just put me down." She said, tired. "I can do it by myself."
"Can you...?" Jou asked, smirking.
"Yes." She said. "Now can you put me down."Jou stopped walking and he and Nami both stared at each other for little.
"Nope." Jou said and then kept walking.
"Whatever." She said, resting herself back on his chest. "You're lucky I'm tired." She had to admit that his chest felt warm and comforting. It was like a pillow. She felt her cheeks flush a little, but she had to put all those thoughts out to make her blush go away. She was lucky he wasn't even looking at her, with how much of a tease he is, she'd never hear the end of it.
Jou had his hands full with Nami so he had to improvise and kick the door but not that hard. He walked over to the bed and laid her down gently.
"Alright, sleeping beauty, there you are." Jou said.
"Just go and close the door on your way out." Nami said, resting her head on the bed.
"As you wish." Jou smirked and nodded. He walked to the door. And before he went out the door he looked back at her.
"Good night, Nami." Jou said, softly. He waited for her to say it but just walked out. He assumed she was asleep so he took this time to walk out. Nami laying her head on the bed just smiled to herself eyes-closed.
"Good night, Jou." She said, going to sleep.
"The truth is..." Nami said. "The only thing I forgot about was the pain that I bared."
Nami remembers back on Usopp's village all the stuff the guy's went through. Luffy's fight with Kuro, Usopp getting attacked by the pirate with the hammer, Zoro's fight with the Nyaban brothers and Jou's battle with Jiro. She remembers how amazing and brave they all were during that time. Just fighting and risking their lives. Just sailing with those 4 guys she's grown to be quite fond of had to be the most she's ever been happy.
"If it were possible..." Said Nami. "I'd join up with those guys and sail around the world."
After Nami's story she had fallen asleep. Nojiko sat across from her sister and watched her sleep.
"Now I see." Nojiko said. "Yeah, that would hit her hard. To think that someone actually showed up for her. Friends. That word means pain. It breaks her heart."
[Back with the guys]
"So, that's it." Usopp said, finishing his story. "That's how Nami pretended to kill me so I could escape from Arlong Park. Looks to me like she's got some hidden motive for hanging with a bunch of renegade fishmen."
"Obviously." Sanji said.
"I've already figured that much." Jou said.
"Fine, what next...?" Zoro said, arms crossed. "We gonna destroy Arlong Park?"
"Woah! Hold on!" Usopp shouted, holding his arms in front of him. "Don't you wanna know what's going with Nami first!?"
"It's no use either way." A voice said.
All the guys looked and see a certain blue-haired woman that Usopp met not too long ago.
"No matter what you guy's do, Arlong's rule won't come to an end." She said.
"Nojiko?" Usopp gasped.
"Who's she?" Luffy pointed.
"Nami's big sister." Usopp answered.
"Her big sister, huh?" Jou said.
"Nami's sister!" Sanji cooed. "No wonder she's so hot!"
"What do you mean that it's no use?" Zoro asked.
"Yeah, you mind explaining?" Jou added.
"Just trust me." Nojiko said. "Don't get yourselves involved in what's going on here and leave poor Nami alone. I'll explain the situation."
"Hmm?" Jou hummed. "I'm sensing a story coming."
"The situation?" Sanji questioned.
"Do you mean that you can tell us why she joined up with Arlong's group?" Usopp asked.
"Yeah." Nojiko answered. "And if that doesn't get you to leave, I don't know what will."
"Okay." Usopp said. "So tell us all about it. I gotta admit I'm curious."
"Same." Jou nodded.
"I'll pass." Luffy said and then began walking off. "I don't care about her past."
"Where're you going, Luffy?" Sanji asked.
"For a walk." Was all the straw hat said.
"A walk!?" Usopp said. "Do you mean you're not gonna listen this!?"
"Nope." Luffy said simply and just kept on strolling forward. Nojiko watched Luffy walk away.
"What's wrong with him?" She asked.
"Don't mind him." Zoro said, walking up to a tree to sit and lean against it. "That's just how he is." Zoro rest his hands behind his head. "We'll hear you out, though I can tell you right now I doubt it's gonna change anything."
"Well, I'll listen too." Usopp said. "It might help me make some sense out of everything that's going on around here."
"Me too." Sanji smiled. "I wanna know all about her."
"Now he's asleep." Nojiko pointed as she saw Zoro now sleeping against the tree.
"Hey!" Usopp shouted, sharktoothed. "You said you'd hear her out!?"
Jou let out a sigh as Nojiko stared right at him. Jou noticed her.
"What...?" Jou asked.
"Did somebody hit you?" She asked him. As Jou recalls earlier Nami smacked him pretty good across the face with her staff leaving a mark on his right cheek. Jou didn't answer her back but the way Jou put his head down, she must've figured Nami did that to him. Not to tell him she's done with him and try to hurt him but to protect him and the others.
She then brought her direction to Luffy who was still walking away from the group.
"I see." Nojiko smiled, sighing. "This is why it was hard for her."
Nojiko and the other three listening to her all took a seat to listen to her tale.
"From the beginning then..." Nojiko began. "It all goes back to eight years ago. Up until that day, when we were still little children she lived here in the village. Nami and I will never forget her for as long as we live. Her name is Belle-mere."
And there you have it. Next time we'll be covering Nami's background. I'll try my best to get in the important parts not all of it. And speaking of background I'll show Jou's later. I do have a backstory for Jou when we get around to Loguetown but it won't be about his mother but she's in it.
Oh, by the way. Remember that Jou and Nami flashback I put in. When Jou said "As you wish" that a reference from a movie. If you know which movie than your awesome.
Anyway, reviews...
Chance Green G King: His name is ironic yes. I don't think an OC has fought a fishman pufferfish before so it should be interesting and I hope I can make it exciting. Man, I never thought of that. His spikes protect him as well as allowing him to hurt his enemy. That actually works.
Jou: I'm in for a world of pain am I?
Don't be a baby. Outcast. I've read a few chapters. I should probably leave some reviews when I can for that. I hope I can pull off the fight being excellent.
Jou: Just make me incredibly awesome.
That's what I try to do. To me it seemed fitting for him to dive into the water instead of Zoro and for him to mock her to add a little bit of conflict between them but it was probably no different than when Zoro did it. Thanks for the review.
pokemonking0924: I like that scene too. Zoro's actually my favorite character in One Piece. Just because he's just so badass.
I did that because I wanted Jou to be present there with Zoro to meet Arlong and all his crew.
Jou: I don't think I can ever forgive Usopp for leaving us like that.
Zoro: Yeah, no kidding.
How'd you get here, Zoro!?
Zoro: I don't even know how I ended up here? Which way do I go?
Back that way. *points to the left*
*Zoro walks to the right instead*
Wrong way, Mosshead! Truth be told, that part was very fun to write Jou's dialogue for that scene. I really like to see Jou as the teasing type. I'm glad you found that amusing.Yes. Jou is going to fight against Puff. As for what shade of pink Puff is? He's like a bubblegum pink. He's that bright. Yep, the name just comes from what type of fishman he is. A pufferfish. So yep, Jou will be fighting against him for when the Straw Hat's go up against the Fishmen. Thank you.
Alright, next time we'll be going into Nami's background which I will try my best to just show the important parts and hope I don't butcher it too much. Thanks for reading.
I'll see you guys next time. Later! XD