GreenCyberWolf: This is the last chapter of Nami's Returning Nightmare. I want to thank everyone who stayed with me through this entire journey and I'd also like to thank you guys for all your reviews. I hope you enjoy the last part of the story, this is where everything gets wrapped in a nice little package, and tied up with a bow. Now as I promised Luffy I have a surprise for you.
Luffy: (bouncing excitedly) ooh…ooh…ooh, that's right. What is it? What is it?
Nami: Luffy stop bouncing everywhere, it's annoying. (smacks Luffy on the head)
Luffy: Ow Nami, what'd you do that for? Hey wait you're the surprise? Shishishi, that's awesome.
Nami: Yeah I'm here and we have a story to finish. I don't mean to cut this short but I'm tired of being unconscious. Besides I know how the story ends, if you're good I might just tell you.
Luffy: Really you'll tell me Nami?
Nami: (kisses Luffy on the cheek) If you behave.
GreenCyberWolf: (watches as Luffy's mind fries trying to understand what just happened) Ok seeing as Luffy is out of commission and Nami ran off let's get this chapter started.
Disclaimer: One Piece belongs to the great Oda-sama. Not to me.
"talking"
'thinking'
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Nami's Returning Nightmare
Ch. 11
Recovery
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The Thousand Sunny, the strong and dependable ship of the Strawhat pirates felt as the sun shone down brightly on his wooden decks. The lion head ever smiling as he faced the horizon and the next great adventure that this crazy crew would encounter. He had been built to replace the former ship of the Strawhats but that didn't bother him in the least. Sunny could feel that the people he carried loved and cared for him just as much as they had his predecessor. So because of the love of his crew he always tried the best he could for them. Every member considered him just as much a part of their makeshift family as one of the humans. Every battle he fought and managed to sail away from was because of these people. He was so in tune with his crew to the point where he knew the mood and feeling of each of the pirates that sailed him on this sea and now he could feel that something was seriously wrong.
This closeness he felt to the crew was the reason why he sensed that it was wrong for him to be smiling or for the water to be so warm as it splashed against his hull. On this day he could practically feel the heavy weight of his crew's sadness wash over his rails. Trying to make sense of what was going on the Thousand Sunny focused on each of his crew members in turn. He could feel by the energy of each of the people on deck that something was definately not right on board.
Focusing his energy even more he counted off the crew to himself. They were all aboard this time, the navigator's presence had been missing for quite some time now, and it was her disappearance that the Thousand Sunny attributed to the crew's recently somber feeling. With her return the now depressing mood puzzled the great ship. That is until Sunny focused on the pirate's life force, which being a ship, he could feel easily.
The captain's aura was wavering slightly but was still strong. It was as if something was attacking his spirit little by little though. So if it wasn't him then who? Looking into it a bit more the large ship suddenly centered in on the weak shimmer of an aura. In the short time of his service to this crew never had he seen one of their auras's so diminished. The Thousand Sunny now understood the pirate's mood and if he had been permitted to move a deep frown would no doubt grace his features. The navigator's life force flashed unsteadily, it would flare up a bit and then die down to almost disappear completely. The dim light continued to flicker like that of a flame about to go out as Sunny could do nothing but sail on and leave things for his crew to deal with.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
During lunch the afternoon following Nami's return to the Strawhats the feeling around the table was considerably lighter than it had been when the orange haired girl was missing but no one quite felt in a celebratory mood either. The day so far had been bright and cheery with the sun shining brightly down on the pair of ships traveling swiftly through the ocean. It was sickening that the day seemed so perfect when one of their nakama was struggling just to stay alive.
The day before when Chopper had told them of the extent of Nami's injuries Zoro had walked up to Luffy who had yet to move from in front of the infirmary door and rested his hand on the captain's shoulder. The swordsman was never good with words but he had known Luffy would understand the reassuring action. After a moment Zoro moved on towards the crow's nest leaving the younger pirate alone with his thoughts. Luffy walked the few feet to sit next to the infirmary door wanting to be near in case something would happen. There was nothing that could be done at that point but wait.
Even though Chopper feared his crew would be their usual troublemaking selves and asked Robin to keep them quiet while he cleaned up from the surgery, there had been no need. Everyone remained rather subdued during lunch all the way through dinner, especially Luffy who had even refused to come eat lunch at the dining room table opting to remain at the infirmary door.
"There hasn't been any change since yesterday." Chopper said as he came in late to lunch and he found many eyes looking questioningly at him. It had been just over a full day since getting Nami back and the young doctor was trying to be optimistic. "She isn't getting any worse though and she made it through the night, so that's good. It means she has a much better chance of pulling through." He said with a weak smile.
Luffy ate slowly, or well, slowly for him anyway. His thoughts were on the still unconscious girl in the infirmary. His treasured straw hat was mysteriously missing and the crew couldn't help but notice how different the boy looked with the hat that was usually stuck to his head gone. He looked older and more serious though it could just be the worry over Nami still present in his eyes.
It was Ussop who finally brought up the missing object after all it was very unusual to see the captain without it. "Oi Luffy, where's your hat? I never thought you'd leave it lying around like that." Luffy finally looked up from his plate to his long-nosed friend before silently shrugging and then turning his attention back to eating but not before a slight blush appeared on his cheeks and ignoring the curious stares from his crewmates.
"It's safe." Was the only response Luffy provided and the captain continued to eat unaware of the even more curious stares he got.
Chopper was puzzled by Luffy's answer. 'Why doesn't Luffy tell them that he left it with Nami? Is it supposed to be a secret?' The young pirate nodded to himself figuring that had to be it. He went back to eating his lunch before Luffy decided to help himself to everyone else's food. After they all finished with the meal the young reindeer got the crew's attention again. "I think that it would be ok if Nami has visitors today." He waited for the loud cheers from the crew to die down before continuing. "However, she is still in serious condition and sleeping. So you can't be loud." Here he looked pointedly at Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro. "Nami's still really weak and needs to rest, your visit needs to be short, I'm only giving you guys a few minutes."
Looking much happier Luffy quickly shoveled the rest of the leftover food into his mouth and was the first to dash out the door. He was quickly followed by everyone else. The rubber captain was about to burst through the infirmary door heedless of Chopper's instructions but he was abruptly stopped. Zoro had grabbed hold of the back of the younger boy's red vest to make him wait for the others but even Zoro was having a bit of trouble holding his captain back.
Chopper entered the room first closely followed by Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Robin, Ussop, and then Franky came last. Of course the crew had seen Nami just the day before and knew the extent of her injuries, but at the sight of their fiery tempered navigator covered in bandages, the fact that they had almost lost one of their own really hit home in the hearts of the crew. It seemed impossible that the girl who was usually so strong willed and lively was now wrapped up and covered in a mix of blue and purple colored bruises.
She lay so still Ussop had to double check to assure himself that her chest was still rising and falling as it should be. Zoro had a hold of his katana and gripped it tightly in order to keep himself calm as he leaned against the wall next to Franky whose expression was hidden behind his sunglasses. Sanji stood at the foot of Nami's bed as he nervously wrung his hands since Chopper wouldn't let him smoke in the infirmary. Robin stood calmly beside Chopper who had taken a seat at his desk and they both watched their nakama sadly. Luffy sat in the chair beside Nami's bedside and gently grabbed onto her hand refusing to let it go. Seeing Nami like this reminded the crew who had been around at the time of when Nami was sick, she had nearly died in that situation as well. No one missed the fact that Luffy's straw hat was settled nicely on the bedside table next to Nami nor the way he held the navigator's hand with his attention focused on her. After a short visit and a few quiet 'get wells' the group started to file out one by one, like they had promised Chopper.
The captain was the last one in the room as Chopper looked at him expectantly. "Hey Chopper, do ya think I could stay here for awhile?" Luffy asked softly. Luffy never looked away from the orange haired girl even as the little doctor looked at him in surprise.
Chopper could only look back at the older boy, Luffy hardly asked for anything much less asked quietly. Even so Chopper looked ready to deny the request but Robin's gentle hand on his hat made him stop. She gave a small smile and nodded to him. "Alright Luffy but not too long, ok." Luffy gave a slight nod of aknowlegment as Chopper and Robin walked out.
The two parted ways when they came out of the infirmary and Robin headed to the library while Chopper noticed that Shanks was leaning against the mast on the lawn deck. He could pick up on Zoro and Ben's voices coming from the back of the ship talking about the finer points of swordsmanship. He saw the meat loving Lucky walk into the kitchen where he could hear Sanji cleaning up from lunch. Ussop was across the deck talking to Yassop from the exaggerated movements the younger pirate was telling another tall-tale. He assumed Franky was working down in his workshop. After a moment's hesitation the little reindeer followed Lucky into the kitchen hoping to get an after lunch snack from the chef.
Luffy sat next to Nami, still holding onto her wrapped up right hand. He slowly took in her battered appearance memorizing her every bruise and gash. With each new injury committed to memory the boy felt a deep stab of pain in his own heart. His coal black eyes filled up with tears that he refused to let fall. He never wanted to see her like this again but what Shanks said yesterday still echoed in his mind. 'As long as you live this dangerous life she'll never be completely safe.' Luffy frowned deeply, it didn't matter, he would always protect Nami from now on. No matter what. "Nami, can you hear me?" Silence is all that answered him although he didn't really expect an answer. "You have to hurry up and get better, everyone's been really worried about you, even Zoro but he won't admit it out loud." Luffy tried to steady his shaking voice. "I'm not worried though, I know you're strong, I know you'll wake up real soon. Besides, I miss having you around. Even when you yell at me and… well not you hitting me 'cause that hurts… but I just miss you. I also want you to meet Shanks. He's the guy that saved you. I don't know if I ever told you but me and Shanks are old buddies. He saved my life too back in my village, I know you would like him Nami." A small grin appeared on Luffy's face as he gently squeezed Nami's hand being careful not to hurt her injured hand.
The boy brought his free hand up and softly brushed orange bangs away from her face. Luffy's voice went even softer as he continued his talk with Nami. "I'm glad we were able to find you. No other navigator can take your place, I won't allow it. You're the only one who can navigate this ship." Luffy took a deep breath feeling his heart beating against his chest. "This feels weird but like in a good way. I've never felt like this with anyone before. Shanks said it was love and he's usually right about stuff." Luffy turned his eyes to the side blushing even though Nami wasn't awake to see it. "I don't really know how this is supposed to work but I have a feeling that I should tell you." Letting his hands move on their own Luffy slowly moved his fingers from Nami's hair to trace over her pale lips. Almost as if in a daze his head lowered until his lips took the place of his fingers in a quick tender kiss. He wasn't sure what he expected. Maybe that Nami would suddenly wake up like in the fairy tales Makino used to read to him or maybe she would be able to kiss him back. As he pulled away there wasn't anything like that. She didn't kiss him and she didn't wake up. When Luffy straightened up again she looked just like she did before and his heart dropped.
Suddenly the infirmary door opened and Chopper walked inside unknowingly breaking the moment. "Luffy, I have to change Nami's bandages now so you'll have to leave."
Luffy knew his time was up so he squeezed Nami's hand gently. "I have to go now Nami but don't worry I'll came back later ok." With that the captain stood up and silently walked out of the infirmary door letting Chopper do what he needed to do.
Shanks watched Luffy exit the infirmary with a smirk playing at the edge of his mouth. The red haired man was against the mast waiting for his young friend to show himself. Luffy walked over to him with a light blush staining his cheeks. "Well Luffy you look like you just got something very important off your chest, hmm?" The boy just shrugged and mumbled something incoherent. "It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with a certain brown eyed navigator by any chance, would it?" Shanks was grinning as Luffy's blush darkened.
Luffy decided very quickly to change the subject. "Hey Shanks, I wanted to say thanks for rescuing Nami from that bastard and taking care of her."
The older pirate scoffed but frowned and placed a hand on the others shoulder. "There's nothing to thank me for Luffy I was more than happy to help. I'm only sorry I didn't act sooner." Luffy frowned as well but tried to smile anyway. "It wasn't your fault Shanks I know you tried and you did get Nami out of there."
Shanks began to smile realizing that Luffy was more mature than he thought. "Well then now that's settled why don't we change the subject. Tell me about some of your adventures. I'm sure you've had quite a few."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
During breakfast the next morning things were starting to feel back to normal somewhat. Luffy wasn't so distracted and stole most of Ussop's food also Zoro and Sanji got into their first real fight since Nami had been taken. This morning Shanks, Ben, and Yassop decided to join them for breakfast and this could have contributed to the lighter atmosphere around the dining table. Not long after breakfast was done an island was spotted on the horizon.
"It seems to uninhabited." Robin said after checking over some of Nami's maps. "There's a small bay on the far side that looks like it would be a good place to anchor."
Shanks stood next to Robin looking over her shoulder with amazement at the accuracy of one of Nami's latest maps. "I have to say Luffy, you sure know how to pick'em, looks and talent. Heh, not even my navigator is so dead on when it comes to drawing maps."
"Shishishi, yeah Nami's the best navigator in the world." Luffy's face lit up in a grin and he laughed.
Judging by the consistent weather surrounding the two pirate crews the island was Fall. As both ships headed toward the small island the crews bustled about and prepared to make landfall. "This will be a good place to avoid any unwanted trouble." Shanks said to Luffy and Zoro who had joined the two captains near the figure head of Sunny. "The Marines most likely wouldn't bother with such a small island and the same goes for any other pirates. With Nami still in this vulnerable condition it would be a very bad idea to go off and get into a fight." Luffy quickly agreed and within two hours both ships were harbored in the sheltered bay and both crews had started to disembark.
Instead of getting off the ship with everyone else Chopper chose to stay behind to look after Nami. Luffy almost did the same opting to stay close by in case Nami were to wake up. Shanks and Ussop had other ideas though, the older captain coming up on one side and Ussop on the other, they both managed to drag Luffy away from the ship. It had been decided among the pair that Luffy wasn't his usual hyper-active self and was far too concerned with Nami all the time. So like good friends the pair had shanghaied the Strawhat captain and drug him off to the forest to have an adventure and get his mind off things for awhile.
When lunchtime rolled around Sanji and the Red Hair pirate's cook made a huge feast for both hungry crews. Ussop and a few of the younger pirates from Shanks's crew built up a huge bonfire because of course you can't have a BBQ without a bonfire. The other Strawhats were scattered here and there mingling with the Red Hair crew. During the late lunch Luffy almost seemed back to his old self though both Zoro and Shanks could see that it was an act meant to keep his crew from worrying too much. Luffy was sitting on the sand between Zoro and Shanks as he finished off the last of his meat. Shanks's eyes had nearly popped out of his head at the sheer amount of food the boy could put away. It was then that Zoro noticed Chopper jump onto the railing of the Thousand Sunny and scan the crowded beach obviously looking for something.
"What do you suppose the little guys looking for?" Shanks wondered to the two pirates next to him.
They both shrugged not really knowing what the little reindeer could be up to either. "Don't really know. Maybe he's trying to find some food, I don't think he's eaten yet." Zoro mumbled into a mug of beer.
"You don't think it could be about Nami do you?" Luffy asked in a worried tone as he jumped to his feet. Before the pair of pirates could affirm or deny the idea, Chopper's voice called out. His big brown eyes looking in Luffy's direction.
Chopper noticed his captain jump to his feet not too far from the ship and luckily it was his captain that the doctor was looking for. "Luffy! Luffy!" The young pirate jumped off the railing onto the sandy beach and dashed towards Luffy, the teen jerked around suddenly at Chopper calling for him as his heart rate rapidly sped up in fear. Was there something wrong with Nami?
Racing to where Luffy was standing Chopper tried to talk while catching his breath. "It's Nami…huff…she…huff…she," the little doctor paused to take a deep breath and then continued, "Nami's awake! She wants to see you."
Luffy let out a deep breath he hadn't realized he had been holding and the others, who were listening in, also let out a sigh of relief as a cheer went up from both crews as the news spread down the beach, some of the Red Hair pirates not even sure what they were cheering for. The black haired captain grinned in relief and immediately rocketed himself over the Thousand Sunny's rails and crashed onto the lawn deck.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
(Nami's POV)
Pain. That is the only way to describe the feeling of returning to consciousness. Everything hurt, it hurt to move, it hurt to breath, it even hurt to think. I desperately want to stay in my dream but the outside world is calling to me. I don't want to come back to reality not with that bastard waiting for me. I want to go back to the dream I was having but with each second I can feel myself ripped from that world. Luffy is there waiting for me and I'm holding everyone up.
Scribble... scribble... Wait, what's that noise? Scribble... What's he planning now? Why did I have to return, I was safe with Luffy in his warm hold and I was happy. I can't stand the thought that in the end it is all just a dream and can so easily slip through my fingers. I lay on the small bed and try to hold onto the peace from my dream but too quickly it is fading away. The strange sound, which is familiar but I can't place, is overrun by the fierce pounding in my head. I can't concentrate on anything without my skull feeling like it's going to split open. It feels like every bone in my body must be broken but something is weird about this. Something is odd and even in this state it catches my attention. I still feel warm even outside my dream, things still hurt but less than they did. The bed is soft and smells clean not like the hard blood stained mattress I remember passing out on.
Unsure of my surroundings I tense involuntarily which only causes my pain to double. I grit my teeth against the loud groan trying to force it's way past my tongue. I try to keep myself as still and quiet as possible until I can find out for sure where I am. Not really wanting to draw attention to myself unnecessarily, who knows what could happen. Staying silent for a minute and only the random scratching sound reaching my ears I can't resist my curiosity anymore though they say curiosity killed the cat. With my head pounding and every bit of me aching in a dull kind of pain I slowly crack one eye open then the other.
What I see is at first unremarkable, mainly because my vision is so blurred it's all one big mix of color and light. The scratching noise comes again and I tilt my head toward where I can hear it coming from. The slight unwanted movement sends pain shooting through my head and the pounding intensifies. Before I can swallow it a soft groan escapes my lips and the noise stops suddenly.
"Nami?" My sight is too blurry and I can't make out who the voice belongs too but it has my head ringing trying to pin the familiar sound to a scattered memory. Finally the name is pulled up through a haze of pain and confusion but it couldn't be. Blinking to try and clear my vision I only succeed in making my head hurt worse. After a few seconds the blurred outlines start to clear and I can see enough to realize I'm not in Montaru's base anymore. Instead of the bare stone walls that have surrounded me since I was taken captive there are the welcoming wooden walls that I can recognize as the inside of Sunny. The very walls I had been dreaming of, the same ship, the same crew. I can't help but wonder if maybe I'm still in the dream somehow. No, it hurts too much to be a dream. Moving only my eyes this time I focus on the excited little reindeer at my bedside.
"Your really awake Nami?" If Chopper's here then that means... "How are you feeling?" He puts down the notepad he had been writing on and starts to bustle around the bed checking my heartbeat and other medical related things. I open my mouth to try and answer him but it seems to only aggravate my throat and I wind up in a coughing fit that brings me back to the edge of darkness again. When I can breath normally Chopper is there with a glass of water. I gratefully drink most of the liquid with Chopper's help. As he sets the cup on the nightstand by the bed I notice something that makes my heart speed up rapidly. Luffy's hat is there but it's owner is nowhere in sight. That can't be, Luffy doesn't just leave his hat lying around.
"Ch...Chopper, where is Luffy?" It hurts to speak and my voice comes out hoarse and scratchy from not being used but I have to know if he's alright. What Montaru did all those years ago to Dai flashes across my mind but I mentally shake it off. Luffy isn't some kid who can't handle himself.
Chopper looks up at me with his soft brown eyes and I feel like crying. How much had I wished and hoped that my nakama would come for me and now here I am with them again. "Hmm, Luffy? He's outside with Shanks and everyone eating lunch. Do you want to see him?" I can only nod weakly in response already I can feel my eyes getting heavier and I just want to rest my tired mind and body. The little doctor smiles happily and jumps off the chair he had been using before disappearing out the door. I silently hope that Chopper hurries I can feel the pull of the unconscious world trying to take me back but I fight it. I have to stay awake. I just have to be sure this isn't some kind of sick dream.
Suddenly from somewhere outside there's a loud thudding crash, it can only be one person. I smile because with Luffy around things feel safe again. Half a minute doesn't even get the chance to pass before the infirmary door swings open, and there he is, silhouetted against the bright afternoon sunlight from outside. Now that I really look it makes him look sort of angelic… or maybe it's just Chopper's medication talking.
(END NAMI'S POV)
Luffy's soft black eyes met with chocolaty brown ones the instant the rubber boy came running through the door. He stopped just inside the door frame as their eyes met. Finally the boy tore his gaze away from Nami's and let them slowly travel over the rest of her features as if making sure everything else was ok. He made his way over and sat in the chair that had been vacated by Chopper earlier. "Nami you're awake, you've been sleeping for awhile, but I knew you'd wake up again." Luffy's wide smile softened as he gently took Nami's hand in his larger one. "Chopper said you wanted to see me. Is something wrong? Can I do anything?"
Nami smiled weakly at his concern. It surprised her, the Luffy she remembered never sounded this concerned with anyone before. "No Luffy nothings wrong. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't dreaming." Tears began to well up in the navigator's eyes.
Luffy frowned softly at the raspy sound of Nami's voice. He brought his free hand up to gently brush the tears from her cheeks. His fingertips softly brushed against her bruises making her wince. Luffy quickly pulled away not wanting to hurt her. "Don't cry Nami. Shishi, everything's all right now. This isn't a dream and I'm not going anywhere."
The orange haired navigator looked up at her captain through half lidded eyes and smiled wearily. Now that she knew this wasn't a dream or her imagination Nami felt herself relax and could feel herself being pulled back into sleep. There was something keeping her from drifting off completely though. Something that she felt she had to do before everything could be right again. "Luffy …" His rough hand covered her mouth silencing her immediately.
"You need to sleep Nami. We can talk later now that you're getting better." Luffy gave her a warm smile. This puzzled Nami, she had seen a lot of different smiles on Luffy's face before but none like this. There were his wide grins whenever they were at a party or when lots of food was around. There were his daring adventurous smiles he got when starting out exploring on a new island, the more dangerous the better. Then he had his devilish little smirks when he was winning a fight and had the other guy on the ropes. This look was a new one though it was soft and gentle, and if Nami didn't know any better… loving.
"No Luffy, I can't sleep. Before anything else happens I have to tell you something important." Luffy's eyes blinked owlishly down at his navigator's pleading voice. "I missed you."
A smile spread across Luffy's face. "Shishi, I missed you too Nami."
It was getting harder for Nami to keep her thoughts together, blackness was hovering on the edge of her vision. She frowned up at him. "Let me finish Luffy." He looked sheepishly at the injured girl and nodded. "The thought of you was what kept me going in that place and as bad as it was it helped me realize something." She paused and started coughing again. Eyes half closed and sleep pulling her back into it's embrace Nami struggled to put her thoughts into words. "I want to stay with you. I always want to be by your side even after we complete our dreams, I want to be with you Luffy."
The rubber captain carefully brushed his fingers through the girl's soft orange hair. He blushed as his gaze remained on the clean white bedsheets. "I knew you had faith in me Nami. That's why I wasn't about to give up on you either. I knew you were counting on me to get you back safe and sound." Luffy looked up at last to see that Nami's eyes were closed. She had already fallen into a peaceful sleep again. He gave her bandaged hand a light squeeze. "I want to stay with you too Nami." He watched her sleep quietly knowing she still needed lots of rest.
Just outside the door to the infirmary there was a certain red headed pirate who was listening in on his young friend. A wide grin formed on his face. Shanks pushed off the wall and walked over to the rail he looked down to the beach. Luffy's crew and even some of his own were standing there waiting for news. "She's gonna be just fine you guys," a smirk crossed Shanks's face as he jumped onto the sand effectively blocking Sanji as the cook started to make a rush to the ship and Nami, "but I think they'll want some time alone for a bit." Sanji of course took the whole thing the wrong way and it took a nasty comment from Zoro to divert the blonde's attention from kicking his captain to the moon. Meanwhile the celebration, as it could now be called, continued the rest of the day and into the night.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The following afternoon the Red Haired pirates were preparing to set sail again. Now that they knew Nami was awake and was headed for a recovery Shanks left the rest to Luffy. The older captain stood by the rope ladder leading up to his ship as his crew loaded up the extra supplies they had used during the party the previous day. Luffy stood beside the red haired man giving his friend and mentor a last goodbye. "Sorry but I can't give your hat back yet Shanks. I still haven't become the strongest I can get yet and I still have to find One Piece." Luffy ran his hand through his hair where the straw hat would have been if it wasn't sitting by Nami's bed.
Shanks laughed good naturedly and wrapped an arm around Luffy's shoulders. "Don't worry about it Luffy. Anyway there's no way I'd take it back now seeing as you've already given it to a special girl to hold onto." Luffy's cheeks colored pink and Shanks laughed louder as he released Luffy and turned to climb onto the Red Force. Hearing this Sanji scoffed and turned away sullenly. "Besides we'll run into each other again when you become pirate king." With many goodbyes being shouted on both sides the Strawhat crew gathered on the beach to watch as Shanks and his crew sailed off.
Luckily the usual trouble that followed the Strawhatcrew didn't catch up with them on the little island. For three days there wasn't much to occupy their time with. Instead of driving everyone crazy Luffy spent most of the day either watching Nami or letting Ussop and Chopper drag him off to explore the woods though never too far away from the ship. Even though Nami had regained consciousness and Chopper had told everyone she wasn't in danger anymore the navigator still spent most of those three days sleeping. Chopper said that was a good thing, it allowed her body to heal. Nami was still weak and couldn't stay awake for very long, the crew stayed on the small island for three full days waiting until Chopper told them Nami was stable enough to start sailing again.
After the third day with their stocks resupplied everyone looking forward to getting out on the ocean the Strawhat crew set off again. With Sunny sailing on the open water and the urgency of finding Nami behind them the crew went back to the normal routine of things. Even Luffy started to act like his old self though he always kept in mind not to be too loud in order not to disturb Nami.
Though it would be a little too simple to say everything was alright again. The nightmares started on the fourth day Nami had returned to the crew. Chopper had been with her then. Jerking up suddenly and scaring the little doctor right off his chair Nami yelped as the sudden and sharp movement caused a wave of pain to shoot through her body.
"Nami, what is it?" Chopper asked frantically picking himself up from the floor.
Taking a few deep breaths Nami tried to calm her nerves and stop trembling. "No, it's nothing Chopper. Just a dream. It's ok." She lay back down but it took awhile for sleep to claim her again.
She was alone when it happened the next afternoon. Crying out Nami shot up in the infirmary bed so fast that the pain didn't even register until a few seconds later. The outcry brought the young doctor rushing into the room with Luffy and Ussop trailing behind. The afternoon sunlight streaming in through the door told the navigator it hadn't been very long since lunch. Chopper looked concerned as he made her lay back down. She wouldn't stop trembling and the little reindeer could see the remains of tears in her eyes. "Nami, was it another dream?" Turning away from the curious looks Nami nodded slightly but didn't say anything else about it.
Luffy looked upset as he sat next to Nami somehow he knew what the dreams were about and he hated it. The Strawhat captain felt completely useless. If it was an enemy he'd fight it, if something were broken he'd get it fixed, but how could he fight something that was in your head? How could he fix something he couldn't see? "Ussop you guys continue the game without me." He told the two others standing beside him. Luffy reached over and grabbed onto Nami's hand which caused her to turn back and look at him in surprise. "I'm gonna stay here with Nami." And he did stay, until she fell asleep again, the comforting presence staying beside her bed.
It was breakfast time on the Thousand Sunny, eight days had passed since finding Nami on Shanks's ship, and her recovery was going really well. Most of the bruises were already fading and in a day or two the stitches could come out. She was finally able to stay awake for most of the day and thanks to Sanji's cooking was getting her strength back from being so under-nourished in the fishman base. The thing that worried Chopper, and secretly Luffy, was the nightmares Nami kept having. By this time the whole crew knew about them but no one could think of anything to help her.
The crew was relaxing around the table after the breakfast meal and Sanji was making up some food for Nami who was still confined to the infirmary under doctor's orders. As usual with every morning Sanji turned to Chopper to ask about Nami's health but this morning the young pirate beat him to it. "Nami is strong enough now so I can move her from the infirmary and back to her room. Being in a more familiar setting should help her get better faster. Luffy," said captain turned with half a piece of bacon hanging out his mouth that he had snatched from someones plate, "can you carry Nami to her room for me while I get her medicine?" Luffy nodded happy to be able to help his navigator.
Suddenly Chopper's animal instincts kicked in sensing danger. Turning around Chopper sqeauked in fear as Sanji stood behind him flames surrounding him in rightous fury. "That's unforgivable, how could you let that rubber bastard be the one to help my Nami-swan? No dessert for a week seems like a good punishment."
"Ah, for a whole week? But Luffy really wanted to help somehow and you've already been helping Nami. He wanted to do something." Chopper pleaded but it fell on deaf ears. "Aw please Sanji."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Noooo!" The calm night was shattered as a terrified scream rang through the air. The boys all jumped awake at the yell that came from the women's quarters. Luffy and Sanji were the first to move, leaping out of bed and rushing to the door. The others lay in their bunks wondering if they should follow as well. Zoro grumbled getting up as he waved the others away.
"There's no need all of us going. Those two idiots can handle it." The swordsman huffed and closed the door behind him as he walked out.
The rest of the guys frowned at the door feeling guilty they could do nothing to help their crewmate. "I knew it was going to take some time for her to heal but I didn't expect the dreams to be this bad." Chopper spoke to no one inparticular burying his head into his pillow.
"Don't worry Chopper, it's not your fault. I didn't think Nami would have nightmares like that guy's sister did, at least she didn't seem to for the first couple of days." Ussop said looking over the top bunk to the one beneath it where the reindeer was.
Chopper looked up at his friend with a sad look. "That's not it Ussop. I knew that Nami probably wouldn't have any nightmares for the first few nights because her body and mind were too tired to create them. Her body was spending all it's energy trying to heal itself so it didn't bother making up nightmares in her mind."
The long nosed teen simply stared down at the little doctor before he nodded understanding a little bit more but still feeling like he was in the dark on the whole thing. "Ok Chopper, if you say so."
Not bothering with the stairs Luffy stretched himself out and reached the door to Nami and Robin's room before Sanji. He burst through the door and saw that the archaeologist was already seated on the side of the bed trying to comfort the distraught girl. Nami's whole body was shaking and her hands though still bandaged could easily be seen trembling as they clutched at the covers. Luffy felt the chef arrive behind him and Robin turned to look at the two men standing in the doorway. The older woman shook her head sadly and pulled away from Nami a bit as Luffy walked over to take her place. Seeing Luffy sit down beside her the navigator latched onto the front of his shirt and buried her head in his shoulder. All Luffy could do was wrap his arms tightly around the trembling girl and try to offer whatever comfort he could.
"Geesh how's a guy gonna get any sleep around here?" Zoro complained grumpily from his position leaning on the door frame.
Sanji whirled around to glare fiercely at the green haired swordsman already upset that it was Luffy holding onto a crying Nami and not him. "Don't start blaming my poor Nami-swan you shitty swordsman."
"What was that Swirly-brow?" Zoro growled ready to fight even though he didn't have his swords.
Before the argument could break out into a full blown fight Luffy spoke up from his spot on Nami's bed. The tone of his voice was one he rarely used towards his nakama. "Would you guys give it a rest and knock it off." The rubber captain didn't look up from Nami but the two got the message and backed away from each other.
Robin smiled. "I think I'll find somewhere else to sleep for tonight." She said walking towards the door.
Sanji was instantly at her side hearts forming around him. "You could sleep with me my wonderful angel."
"Yeah then she'll be the one having nightmares." Zoro smirked at the cook as he walked out, the door being closed behind him. Luffy could hear the argument continue beyond the door.
After the three of them left Luffy sat in silence letting Nami cry into his shirt. He hated seeing her like this and hated even more that he wasn't able to stop it. Sniffling a bit after a few minutes Nami lifted her head from her captain's shoulder. "I'm sorry Luffy. Everyone must think I'm such a baby."
Luffy frowned deeper as Nami tried to apologize. "Don't apologize Nami we all know it's not your fault even Zoro doesn't blame you." Nami smiled at Luffy's attempt to make her feel better and snuggled closer to him as a result she pressed herself closely against him, the captain blushed as he automatically tightened his hold around her waist. "Do you wanna tell me about your nightmare? It seemed really bad this time." He knew she had nightmares almost every night even after Chopper had moved her back to the woman's quarters. The crew had only been woken up a few times though.
Nami shuddered as she felt Luffy place his hands on her shoulders and gently push her away so he could look into her face. She knew he was trying to make it better but she did not want to relive those dreams by talking about them. She let out a soft whimper as Luffy's hand rubbed over a rather large wound and he immediately stopped. The navigator looked up into the boy's soft black eyes and found she couldn't stop herself from telling him everything. "It feels like every time I close my eyes I'm back there again, alone, with him." Nami shivered violently at the memory, leaning back against Luffy. "He...he just wont stop. I can't do anything. I can't run or fight and it always ends the same way."
Wrapping his arms around the shivering girl Luffy brought her back into his comforting embrace. He lightly ran his hands up and down her back letting her know he wasn't going to leave anytime soon. When he felt the many bandages still there underneath her shirt his hold tightened almost painfully around her middle. 'That bastard shark, I wish there was a way to kill him twice. No one makes my navigator cry.' Luffy knew, had known, that he loved Nami. Somehow even before Shanks told him he had known somewhere in the back part of his mind. Ever since Nami had woken up their short conversation had played and replayed through his mind but neither of them had brought it up again. Finally Luffy tried to forget about it after all Nami had been pretty out of it at the time. She probably didn't mean it that way anyhow. Now seeing Nami like this, so sad and vulnerable, it caused those neglected feelings to rise to the surface again.
Luffy gently lifted Nami's chin up so that she would look at him then leaned down so that his black hair tickled against her ear. "Nami, I swear I won't let anyone hurt you like this again." Luffy pulled back and looked down into her tearful gaze as his hand came up to rest against her cheek. "I don't like seeing you hurt like this, it's so frustrating cause I can't do anything to help you. I mean I don't like seeing any of my nakama being hurt but it feels even worse when it's you. Without you I'd be lost."
"Luffy." Nami was stunned at her captain's words and wasn't exactly sure what he was trying to say to her. There were a few stray tears still on her cheeks as she looked up into Luffy's dark eyes. "Thank you Luffy, for everything." Nami leaned forward to bury her head into the boy's shirt again. "I don't know what I'd do without you either." She could feel her heart rate start to speed up again but this time it wasn't out of fear.
The captain broke his hold on his navigator and gently laid her back on the bed. Chopper would be upset with him if Nami didn't get enough sleep because he'd kept her up all night, she was still injured and needed to rest. Luffy seemed to move on instinct as one of his hands gripped Nami's tightly. Something in his mind told him he needed to act on this feeling and in true Luffy style he jumped in head first. "Nami I have something I gotta tell you, and it's important but I don't know if you'll like it or not, but Shanks told me that you would, and he's usually right so…I love you." Well that's what he said but the fact that the boy was speaking in such a rush only made his words sound jumbled so that what Nami really heard was something like this. "Nami-IhavesomethingIgottatellyou-anditsimportantbutIdon'tknowifyoulllikeitornot-butShankstoldmethatyouwould-andhesusuallyrightso…I love you."
It took Nami a couple of seconds for her to decode Luffy's rushed and jumbled words all except for the last three which was the only thing the rubber boy had said clearly. Nami blushed then she smiled when the words untangled themselves. "Luffy, do you really mean that?"
Luffy looked at his navigator with an intense stare. "Yes." His answer was short but Nami had no doubts in the truth behind that one word.
Still lying against the pillows that Luffy had pushed her against the orange haired navigator reached up and grabbed onto a fistful of Luffy's shirt and pulled him down to her. Leaning up slightly Nami placed her lips over her captain's in a gentle kiss. Luffy placed a hand on her upper back for support as he began to kiss her in return.
The kiss started to heat up as Luffy ran his tongue over Nami's bottom lip asking for entry. Without hesitating Nami parted her lips for him and was pleasently surprised that Luffy seemed to know what to do. The rubber captain started to explore her mouth with deliberate slowness twisting his tongue around hers in a very sensual way. Unsurprisingly Nami tasted like the tangerines she loved so much. Luffy savored the rare chance to taste Nami's favorite fruit, he knew he'd probably never get to taste the real things. Pushing Nami back down on the pillows Luffy put more force into the kiss as he braced himself above her with one hand, the other finding her chin and tilting it more to the side so his tongue could delve deeper into his navigator's hot mouth.
The circular motion Luffy's large warm hands were making on the back of her neck were sending shivers down her spine. All of a sudden she felt Luffy playfully tap her tongue with his then draw back into his own mouth inviting her to follow. Not one to turn down a challenge like this Nami wasted no time in returning the same treatment to her captain. The kiss went on back and forth this way for a few minutes until they both had to break apart for air. "Luffy, I love you too." Nami whispered into the captain's ear before kissing the lobe and leaning back.
Smiling warmly as he looked down on her Luffy softly stroked the tips of his fingers against Nami's cheek. "You should go back to sleep Nami. Chopper's gonna kill me if you don't get enough rest." Luffy whispered with a grin.
Nami chuckled tiredly but nodded. She didn't want to admit it but that little make out session wore her out as she was already tired from not getting enough sleep the last few days. "Would you stay with me for tonight Luffy? I don't want to be alone." Nami frowned but the boy grinned and nodded moving to a chair next to Nami's bed and gently brushed the hair away from her brown eyes. Luffy sat beside her bed until he heard the soft rhythmic breathing that told him Nami was finally asleep then Luffy leaned over to place a feather light kiss on his navigator's forehead.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
It was a nice breezy morning one week later just after breakfast and the crew was busy with their usual morning routines. Zoro was laid out next to the railing for his after breakfast nap. Sanji was enjoying a smoke and the cool breeze before heading back in and cleaning the breakfast dishes. Chopper and Ussop were bugging Franky as the cyborg worked on an unknown project and Robin was also enjoying the morning air as she happily sat in her chair and picked up her book. Luffy walked out of the galley after finishing off what was leftover from his crewmate's plates and with a grin he disappeared into Nami's room. Sanji huffed sourly as he watched the rubber idiot and he stamped out his cigarette.
Inside the women's room Nami was tapping her fingers impatiently against the spine of a book. She was waiting for Luffy to show up, 'That bottomless pit better not still be eating.' Was the only thing she had to say about it. After a considerable amount of threats and persuasion from the navigator Chopper had agreed that today she could finally get out of bed and go outside, just as long as someone was with her, in case she needed help. Nami honestly thought Chopper was being a bit overly cautious but after hearing how her near death experience scared the young doctor she could understand his feelings. So it was a stipulation she could definitely live with especially seeing as Luffy once again beat Sanji to the punch and volunteered to be her 'escort'.
This move on the part of the captain didn't surprise the more observant crew members but the others had their jaws dropped to the floor. Nami knew that Luffy wouldn't have it any other way. Ever since that night the two of them had been trying to keep their new relationship a secret from the rest of the crew. Though the orange haired girl suspected some of the smarter members already knew. The morning after Luffy had told her of his feelings Nami woke up to feel her captain's straw hat on top of her head and the boy himself sleeping peacefully next to her. It was Nami who suggested before Luffy left that they wait to tell the crew until she could help explain things and could stop Sanji from causing any harm to someone, namely Luffy. All it took was for her to mention that Sanji would likely take away his meat supply for a year for Luffy to agree to keep quiet about it.
Since that night her nightmares had begun to fade away but they didn't stop completely. She would still sometimes wake up in a panic with tears in her eyes even though the captain had left his treasured straw hat in her care, which was what tipped off a few crew members that something was different. As much as Nami wished for that small gesture to be able to make things better all of a sudden it didn't work that way. However the simple little object did help calm her down after the nightmares and she didn't wake the crew again. Luffy's comforting presence in the form of an old tattered straw hat was enough for her and slowly but surely the darkness still embeded in her mind was disappearing.
So now after more than three weeks of being bed-ridden Nami was sitting up and waiting impatiently for Luffy to arrive. "If he doesn't get his butt in here I'll just leave without him." The navigator huffed though she knew if she did that Chopper would be upset and probably make her stay in bed until all her bandages came off and even after three weeks there were still many bandages wrapping her ankle, wrist, and various other injuries on her body. Just then Luffy walked through the door with a big smile on his face. "Finally, what took you so long?" Nami scowled.
"Shishishi, sorry Nami." Luffy grinned as he grabbed a pair of wooden crutches Chopper had left by the door. He walked over to her bed and held out his hand for her to grab.
"It's fine but you owe me for being late." Nami grinned along with Luffy as she tossed her book down on the bed and grabbed hold of his offered hand. She laughed as he pouted.
The rubber boy's childish frown turned into a warm smile at hearing the light-hearted laugh of his navigator. 'Was it only a couple of weeks ago that I thought I'd never hear that again?' He gently helped Nami to her feet and kept a hand on her back to keep her steady as she adjusted to using the crutches.
Nami winced as she got used to the feeling of the crutches under her arms. Her shoulder where she was stabbed twinged in a quick flash of pain, almost unnoticeable. According to Chopper the wound was really deep and had gotten infected during her stay with the fishmen. The infection was taken care of almost immediately by the young reindeer's medicine but the knife wound itself took a lot longer to heal. "I can't wait to get out of here." Nami grinned towards Luffy momentarily forgetting she was supposed to be irritated with him for making her wait. "My room is nice and all but after all this time I'm ready for a change of scenery." Luffy chuckled and agreed whole-heartedly.
The captain followed his navigator out the door and to the railing overlooking the lawn deck where the crew was lounging about. She had to move slowly with the crutches at first but soon got used to them. Looking down at her relaxed nakama Nami slowly began to smile. This was something she didn't think she would ever be able to witness again and now she was finally able to appreciate it.
"Hey you guys!" Luffy shouted to the crew below them as he leaned over the rail next to Nami. Getting everyone's attention he pointed excitedly to the girl beside him. "Nami's up."
Nami groaned at her captain/boyfriend's ability to state the complete obvious with such a knowing tone and straight face. Like no one else could see her standing directly next to him.
Sanji, Chopper, and Ussop gave the navigator huge grins as she started towards the stairs and they all rushed over to wait for her at the bottom. Robin, Zoro, and Franky didn't move from their spots on deck but still smiled at seeing their nakama up and about. The crutches made it awkward for Nami to make her way down the stairs so when Luffy, who was coming down after her, picked her up in his impaitence and carried her the rest of the way she didn't protest.
The cook however had no problems with disapproving. "Hey Luffy what are you doing to my Nami-swan?" Sanji scowled as Luffy easily carried both Nami and crutches down the remaining stairs. Robin sent the pair a knowing grin but only Nami caught it before the archaeologist slipped back behind her book. The navigator blushed lightly but turned her attention back to Luffy as he set her down on the grass. Sanji lost his scowl as he ignored Luffy and twirled around Nami in his love state while the others gathered around as well.
"Tell me immediately if this is too much Nami." Chopper said at once, his doctor instincts overriding his happiness.
"This is nothing to great pirates like us Chopper why I've lost count of how many times I've defied the specter of death." Ussop puffed out his chest as he grinned at the starry-eyed reindeer.
Nami grinned happily at having her crew around her again. Chopper was worried for her as she knew he would be and she could tell Ussop was trying to distract him from his worry with those completely unbelievable lies. Sanji would never change with his cigarette puffing out little hearts as he kept going on about how miserable he had been without her. Nami just had to roll her eyes at that but she didn't discourage him, amazingly she had missed that as well. She missed not only Sanji's annoyingness but Ussop's lies and tall tales. Chopper's overwhelming gullibility and Zoro's ability to nap anytime and anywhere. Robin with her quiet and calm personality and Franky's completely odd pervertedness.
As for the last person on her list, the boy whose straw hat still rested beside her bed, she couldn't even put into words how she had missed him. Thinking back on it Nami remembered that she had promised herself that if somehow she were to survive that she would tell him how much he meant to her and it had paid off because it turned out that he felt the same way. Nami grinned at the thought of that night and finding out Luffy's feelings were the same as her own. It was indescribable how that moment made her feel. Turning her attention back to the boys Nami just shook her head hopelessly at Ussop's lying.
"I'm fine Chopper it doesn't hurt." She smiled reassuringly at the young reindeer before turning her attention to Sanji trying to get him to shut up for a minute. Luffy stood just behind her shoulder letting Nami handle the crew's attention, his eyes never leaving her form and the grin never leaving his face. Nami finally got Sanji to give her some space and now he was over by Robin. Nami had only been standing out on deck for a few minutes and not even doing anything when her shoulder started to ache from the odd way the crutches were supporting her. She felt it as a small shiver ran through her body making some of her more persistent injuries complain. The navigator didn't say anything though, there was no way she wanted Chopper to order her back to bed, not after just a short time of freedom.
No one had noticed the shiver not even Chopper who had the girl's attention as he told her about some herb he had discovered on the small island they had left behind. Then suddenly Nami let out a squeal of surprise as she was lifted into the air and her crutches dropped to the ground. Luffy laughed as the crew turned their eyes on him some dumbfounded others murderous (aka Sanji). The navigator wrapped her arms around her captain's neck unsure of what the unpredictable boy was planning. Leaping forward to land on Sunny's head and turning around to look at the assembled crewmates coal black eyes shifted in Sanji's direction and lips turned up in a defiant smirk before Luffy lowered his head and captured Nami's soft lips with his own.
"Luffy you bastard! What are you doing to Nami-swan?" Sanji exploded as he actually bit his cigarette in half. The cook would have kicked the crap out of the rubber idiot if he hadn't been holding onto his beloved angel. Sanji's attention was diverted though when Zoro burst out laughing from his position across deck.
"Hey keep it up Luffy, Nami, whatever makes the swirly cook upset is ok with me." The swordsman managed to call out before Sanji lunged at him and the two started trading blows as per usual. "Just face it Dartboard Brow you've lost. It doesn't seem Nami is too angry with the captain at the moment." Zoro took the time to point towards the couple, and Sanji although he didn't want to, followed his direction. Luffy still had Nami in his arms and she indeed didn't look all that upset seeing as she was too busy kissing him back.
When Luffy pulled away Nami stared up at him in amazement. "What…what are you doing?"
"Shishishi, you said I owed you and I think this takes care of letting everyone know about us." Luffy told her motioning with his head toward the encouraging smiles of Franky and Robin, the stunned faces of Ussop and Chopper, and behind them Sanji and Zoro who had started fighting again.
Nami laughed as she looked back up at Luffy and he grinned. "Yeah I think that'll do it." She brought her lips back to his for another heated kiss.
=O=O=O=O=
So that's it, all there is, the end, it's kaput, no more. It's been a blast writing this and reading all your reviews. Now this means I can try to work out some of the other dozen or so fics I have plots for but no story written. It's been so much fun. I'm gonna miss you guys so much (burst out into melodramatic sobs)…OH COOKIE! =D Ok I'm over it.
Anyway hope everyone enjoyed the story and thanks again for all the reviews and for everyone reading.
