The Rising Tides
So hello my faithful readers hope you had a good Christmas and New Year despite it probably being way past that when I upload this, but meh, semantics. Honestly there isn't much for me to say in this AN so I'll letting you get one with the story now :3.
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
*Noises or Actions*
'Attacks'
I don't own One Piece
Luffy lay at the stern of the ship relaxing, the use of his power kept the boat moving at a steady pace. His hat was settled over his face to block the sun light from reaching his eyes.
He felt a pressure shift on his chest as it fidgeted, lifting his head slightly to raise the hat, he gazed at the sleeping form of Maya. She had worn herself out again while playing earlier, and deemed his chest a comfortable enough spot to nap on.
Hearing footsteps approach, Luffy tilted his hat up which revealed the body of Makino bearing down on him.
Crouching down next to him she opened his coat to show the bandages that were stained a very pale pink showing he was bleeding slightly but no enough to be worried about. "How is it?" She asked pocking around the area slightly casing Luffy to hiss.
"It was fine before you poked it," He mumbled, after receiving a look from Makino he continued, "It's stiff but I don't feel any major pain."
Makino nodded, "Good, you should be able to fight then should the need arise."
"How close are we?" Luffy asked
"Not too far now, Sanji said he can see the island in the distance so a couple more hours at the rate we're currently going." She answered before standing and walking off.
Sighing Luffy shifted slightly into a more comfortable position to wait out the few remaining hours before they reached land.
Luffy shook himself awake, or rather was rudely awoken when their boat breached the bank of the island and he was thrown roughly forward.
Groaning for his now face down position on the deck, stood up and brushed himself down. Hearing giggling he looked up and spotted Maya and Makino standing a small distance away looking rather amused at his predicament.
Apart from a rather rude sea-cow when they were near the island the journey there was rather calm, giving Luffy much needed rest to recuperate from his fight with Hawky-chan. Stepping off the boat, Luffy rolled his shoulders to get some feeling back in them and sighed in relief.
"Well, what now Captain?" Sanji asked, stepping into view.
"Now we find our crew." He answered and closed his eyes. Using his haki he searched round the island looking for any of his members until he pinpointed Zoro's wandering aimlessly not far from where they were at the moment. "Ah, speak of the devil and he shall arrive. Come on!" He said disappearing into the forest.
Zoro was lost. I mean when was he not? Not that he'd ever admit that but that was besides the point. So when his captain, the blond haired curly eye-browed cook, the other cook and the crews resident kid stepped out the foliage directly beside him his was rather shocked to see them. Again, not like he'd ever admit that.
"Hello Zoro, safe journey I presume?" Luffy asked upon entering the clearing Zoro currently resided in.
"Well enough Captain. Yours?" He returned smirking slightly
"Meh, sea cows. You know how it is." Luffy replied striding past him to survey the area.
Zoro blinked at the answer but pushed it aside deciding to focus on the task at hand, "Ok, plan?"
Luffy shrugged, "Still working on it, where are the others?" he asked
"We got separated early on, still haven't found them." Zoro answered turning to face him.
Luffy hummed thoughtfully, and was about to speak again when a voice spoke up from the direction they just came from. "Usopp's dead." Johnny spoke up, walking up to them with Yosaku following behind.
"What?!" Makino managed to choke out, everyone else appeared in too much shock to answer.
"Bro Usopp is dead." Johnny said, he face downcast.
"How?" Zoro asked
"Nami, Nami killed him in cold blood." Yosaku spat, clearly angry and sad at the same time.
Luffy's eyes narrowed perplexed. Nami? She didn't seem the type to go around killing people, and Usopp at that.
"Are you serious?" Sanji asked, almost equally shocked, having not known Usopp as long as the others.
"We saw it with our own eyes." Yosaku confirmed, Johnny nodded along with him.
Luffy remained silent still deep in thought as the others squabbled between them. Others were less than willing to accept the news. Then something clicked, and a smile crossed his visage briefly. A small tug on his arm pulled him from his thoughts, looking down he spotted Maya looking up at him, confusion written in her eyes. Crouching down to her level he asked, "What is it?"
She was quiet for a moment as Luffy patiently awaited her, "She didn't really kill Usopp did she?" she asked, hurt now filling her eyes.
He smiled reassuringly and rubbed her head slightly, "No, I don't think she did." He told her.
The others apparently heard the little conversation that they had because Johnny spoke up again, "I know what I saw Luffy, she killed him and left his body to sink to the ocean floor."
"You should listen to your friend Luffy." A cold voice spoke up from behind him.
As one they spun round to face the voice, Nami it turned out to be. Luffy couldn't help but voice his thoughts, "Not that's it's not good to see you, how did you find us...?" He asked rather perplexed.
She seemingly ignored the question, "Why are you here."
"What this spot, or this island." Luffy asked, amused.
"Both." Nami bit out.
"Well we came to the island for a nice holiday walk, and in this clearing the sun hits just perfect that's it's a nice spot to take a nap." And that's what he did, literally, just lay down where was standing, his straw hat settling over his eyes. "But if you must know I came to find a wayward crew member, don't suppose you've seen her? About your height, orange hair, seems to be obsessed with money." He asked teasingly.
She didn't answer and it seemed Johnny to that opportunity to speak up. "You killed brother Usopp, I saw you!" He yelled angrily pointing a finger in her direction.
"So? Go ahead, kill me. Take your revenge." She goaded in return.
Luffy scoffed from the ground, "You don't mean that." He said
"Oh yeah? Try m-" Her voice was cut short however due to the fact that blue watery chains now bound her body together, their point ends directly underneath her chin, ready to pierce at a moment's notice. It was rather familiar actually.
"Go ahead, tell me to finish it!" Luffy said, he voice taking a more serious turn, his hat lifted enough so that he could see her out the corner of his eye. She said nothing. Luffy scoffed again and the chains dissipated, "That's what I thought." His hat lowered, once again covering his eyes.
Without a second thought he caught the foot aimed in his direction curtsey of a rather pissed off cook, "How dare you threaten a lady such as Nami!" Sanji shouted in anger, apparently not even phased his attack was caught. "Heeelllooooo Nami-sawn~!" He immediately turned to Nami, "Do you remember me?!" He yelled/asked, hearts present in his eyes.
"Shut-up shitty cook!" Zoro shouted whacking Sanji round the head with one of his sheathed swords.
Moments later they were engaged in a grand battle, worthy of the feasting halls for many years to come. Or rather that's how they saw it.
"It doesn't matter, Usopp is dead, his body rotting on the ocean floor." Nami continued apparently over her near death, "Leave this place before Arlong finds you and kills all of you! You're an eyesore."
Luffy stretched, "Nah, I like it here. We'll go in our own time. I won't let King Fish Sticks scare us off." He waved her off.
Nami didn't answer, instead choosing to simply walk off.
"So what are we doing now?" Zoro asked
"You are standing, I am napping." Luffy said.
"Wait you were serious about that?!" Johnny exclaimed. Luffy murmured his approval but made no effort to move. He didn't have to wait long as a pressure settled on his chest and he felt a presence sit and then lay next to him. "Maya, Zoro, you too!?" He cried
"The captain's wish is my command." Was all he said, moments later he started snoring. Even Luffy was startled by how quickly he fell asleep.
"Well if you're staying here then we'll go and find something else to do." Johnny spoke as he walked off, Yosaku following diligently behind him.
"See you! Take care of yourselves!" Makino said, waving. Not that Luffy or Zoro saw it.
All was quiet for a moment apart from the rustling of the trees and the chirping of birds. "Do you think Nami really killed Usopp?" Maya asked again from Luffy's chest, the trembling present in her voice.
They were quiet for a moment until someone finally answered, "No, I can't see her doing it no matter how little time we've known her." Makino reassured.
"I agree, while she was acting strange earlier, she was acting. As hard as it was to spot it, in her eyes she was hurting inside." Luffy added.
"What do you mean?" Sanji asked curious
Before he could answer however a voice spoke from nearly right next to them, "GUYS! I'm glad I found you!" Startling the people next to it they reacted accordingly. The voice then proceeded to receive a foot in the face, a sheathed sword followed soon after and a multitude of spikes made out of water darted to towards him, barely stopping before they pierced his body. "H-h-eyy g-u-u-y-ss" The voice painfully muttered out.
"Usopp?" Zoro questioned, surprised at his sudden appearance.
"You're alive?!" Sanji continued for him, relief evident in his tone.
"Eh, not so sure now." Makino muttered as Usopp collapsed after the water spikes dissipated.
Luffy moved his hat up slightly as moments later Usopp magically recovered and began yelling at both Zoro and Sanji for trying to kill him, apparently disregarding the fact that he had also had a hand in that.
Luffy stood up after getting Maya off his chest and looked at Usopp with inquisitive eyes after he had stopped yelling and ranting, "How'd she do it?" He asked
Usopp blinked, "Do what?" He asked densely.
"How did she 'kill you'" He repeated with quotation marks
You could almost see the cogs turning inside his head when he answered. He then went on to explain how she had stabbed her hand to create the illusion of blood and let him escape through the ocean.
"So there's something happening here that someone isn't telling us." Makino thought.
"It doesn't matter anyway. It's no use!" ANOTHER voice spoke up from the edge of the clearing.
Luffy apparently couldn't take it anymore. "HOW DID YOU FIND EVEN FIND US?!" He yelled
The person now revelled to be a woman about the same height as Nami, blue hair, a striped button up shirt, a tattoo across her right arm leading onto her chest, blue jeans that reached her ankles and sandals; shrugged and pointed at Usopp. "I followed long nose here" The group blinked and turned to look at the man in question, who for his own looked rather meek.
Luffy nodded understandingly, "Who are you, and what did you mean it's no use?" He asked
"First off, i'm Nojiko, Nami's older sister. And I meant that Alrong's rule will never end." She answered in order. "Just please leave her alone, I'll explain everything if you just go!" She pleaded
"What, you'll explain why she like that?" Makino asked
Nojiko sighed, "Yes but only if you leave after. There is nothing you can do here." She pleaded again.
She was startled however when Luffy walked straight past her without a care in the world, "Meh, I'll pass on that," and disappeared into the forest.
It was an interesting walk he went on, meet a few fish men that were dumber than Usopp, stumbled upon a ratty faced marine captain in the village and now here he was resting underneath a tree.
That was until screams of panic and worry interrupted his nap. Rather rudely he might add. Deciding not to interrupt he stood and lent against the tree to watch the on goings.
The crowd eventually parted showing Nojiko laying on the ground clutching her stomach with presumably a doctor kneeling over her. Suddenly someone burst out of the ground and rushed in the direction away from the village. From the flash of orange he presumed it to be Nami.
Moments later with Nojiko carried off, he watched the townsfolk arrange into sloppy military styled lines as he felt the presence of the crew approaching the outskirts to the village.
A man walked to the front of the crowd and proceeded to make a rousing speech about finally toppling Arlong, but was interrupted by the re-emergence of Nami. This time she had tears in her eyes and put on a clearly fake happy demeanour. She claimed that she could get the money in half the time, the next go around. However it seemed to have no effect of the 'leader' as he marched of anyway with the villagers following behind.
Nami stood still as they walked away, apparently in too much shock to do much else. She soon collapsed to her knees, anger and fury filling her eyes, replacing the defeat and helplessness present before. Gripping the knife she that had previously dropped she repeatedly stabbed at her tattoo on her shoulder, cursing Arlong as she did so. Well until a grip around her wrist stopped her.
Surprised she turned to find the culprit being Luffy, standing over her. An eyebrow raised. The grip on the knife slackened and it slipped from her grip, clattering to the ground once more. Sobs wracked her body as she tried to contain them. "Why?" She asked, "Why are you still here!?" She yelled her fists beating against his chest as she released the anger pent up through years of sadness and abuse.
Luffy bent down and curled Nami's body into his own after the 'attack' battered off into nothingness. "I know, didn't feel like leaving just yet." He answered.
Nami's body shook, "Luffy..." She whimpered against his chest. "Please help me."
Luffy chuckled slightly and lent down further so that his mouth was in line with her ear, "You could have just asked." He teased. He stood and looked down at Nami as tears flowed down her face uncontrollably. Shrugging off his coat and folding it he handed it to her and then settled his hat on her head. "Look after these for me would you?" He asked as he walked past her towards the rest of the crew standing a little ways away from them. "Makino, Maya. Take care of her, the rest of you!" He called. "We're going on a little fishing trip!"
Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Usopp walked along the path towards Arlong Park that was now steadily coming into view. As they did so I become evident that somthing was up because the villagers that had valiantly charged ahead to attack Arlong were gathered outside of the gates that appeared to be locked shut or at least no one had bothered opening them yet.
"There, they're coming!" Someone yelled. At their call the crowd parted down the middle allowing a straight path towards the gates to be formed. This also served to reveal the reason why the crowd was gathered outside the gates, because Johnny and Yosaku were sat down in front of the gates apparently barring entry to the park for reasons unknown to them at the time. When the two men recognised the crew walking towards them they immediately stood and stepped aside shouting encouragement as they walked past.
Just as they were nearing the gate Luffy clenched one of his fists and imbued it with Haki, turning it black as it went to work reinforcing his arm. When he felt the haki take hold he threw out his arm and crashed it against the doors of Arlong's park causing it to cave immediately. Dust and debris filled the parks plaza, and Luffy waited for it to clear before walking forward.
Dozens of fishmen awaited him on the other side looking curiously as to why suddenly their front door was gone. The one however that drew Luffy attention the most was a larger red fishman sitting on a throne just in front of the main building.
Luffy and the others stopped in the centre of the plaza surrounded by the fishmen who had all their weapons out. "Are you Arlong?" Luffy asked with an impassive gaze and the fishman seated on the throne.
"So what if I am? What do y-" The newly confirmed Arlong never completed his sentence however as a fist the size of his own body made from water impacted him, sending him flipping over his seat and into the building behind him, creating a sizeable hole in the process.
The other fishmen was so surprised by this that when he went strolling after him whistling a jauntily tune they didn't do anything to stop him. "Zoro, Sanji, Usopp. I leave everything to you. Oh before I forget." He order before releasing a wave of conquers haki, which made all of the weaker fishmen to collapse knocked out apart from three that were standing and presumably Arlong.
After Luffy disappeared through the hole in the wall the others got ready to fight, Zoro drew his swords, Sanji put out his cigarette and Usopp pulled out his sling shot, although his legs were shaking.
Luffy entered but looked like a lobby just as Arlong was getting up after his meeting with a giant fist. He didn't looked worse for wear apart from the fact that his long nose was slightly bent in the wrong direction.
"Who are you?" Arlong asked, hatred evident in his voice.
"Oh, I'm Luffy. Future Pirate King." Luffy stated, not even fazed by the lack of damage on Arlong's body.
Arlong grinned toothily, "Pirate eh? I assume you're after Nami then?" He questioned while slowly advancing on Luffy.
"You assume correctly." He answered, readying himself.
Arlong stopped as he burst into laughter, "That's too bad; she's mine and mine alone!" He roared before launching himself at Luffy, who dodged out the way and kicked him in the stomach as he flew past, causing him to fly back in the direction he came and though another few walls behind him.
Luffy strode after him, stopping momentarily to pick a saw blade along the way he assumed to be Arlong's. When he eventually caught up with Arlong, when was face up lying on a pile of rubble catching his breath from the strength of the kick he just received.
Luffy walked past him, dropping the blade as he went, and drew 'Tsunami' before turning to face the fishman who was just now picking himself up of the floor. "Come on fish sticks, where's that fishman strength that those people were so afraid of?!" Luffy taunted.
"You damn human!" Arlong yelled; spittle flying from his mouth as his did so. He came at Luffy swinging his saw blade wildly and without form. Luffy dealt with this simply enough, dodging the wilding swings and blocking those his he felt like, he didn't feeling the need to use his devil fruit for this.
After a minute or two the chance to strike came as Arlong over extended after Lufyf dodged out the way. Taking the opportunity he used 'Tsunami' to move Arlongs swords further away and using his free hand threw and uppercut at his chin causing him to be launch up through the ceiling. Hearing a clattering, Luffy turned and saw that the sudden change in momentum caused Arlong to drop his sword on the ground. Smirking he walked until his was underneath the hole before sheathing 'Tsunami' once more and muttered, 'Mizu Mizu: Jettosutoimu' and shot up through the hole Arlong just created.
Landing on the top floor, he immediately became water as Arlong passed straight through him, spinning madly, because Luffy wasn't solid at the time, Arlong continued on until he hit the other end of the room with a loud crash.
Now that there wasn't flying fish coming at him, Luffy took time to study the room they ended up in. It was rather small, leading him to believe they were either near or at the top of the building. The room was filled with stacks of paper nearly as high as the ceiling a desk once stood in the centre of the room, however it was split in the middle after a certain fish went flying into it on his grand adventure to the other side of the room. Walking over to the broken remains of the desk he picked up a pen from the ground covered is a suspiciously red substance. Nami's blood he realized.
A dark chuckle echoed behind him, "I see you've noticed." Arlong said. Luffy turned to him just as he yanked out a few teeth that immediately re-grew, "This is Nami's room, where she creates all her maps and charts. This room is her happiness! Her life!" He yelled possessively.
Luffy's grip on the pen tightened with each word, so much so that cracks soon began to be seen on the pen from the pressure being put on it.
"Her talent with navigation is probably the best in the world right now, she would be wasted on your crew!" Arlong continued to yell, "By using her talent in cartography I COULD RULE THE SEAS!" he began cackling madly.
Luffy's eyes darkened, "Use...?" He whispered
Arlong grinned manically, "Yes use!"
The pen in Luffy's hand finally snapped under the strain, "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?" He yelled furiously before drop kicking the remains of the desk past Arlong's shocked visage and directly through the wall behind him.
Arlong was so shocked at the sudden change in tone that when Luffy went on a rampage through the room he didn't even register that fact until he was finished. "My charts! 8 years worth of charts ruined!" He rounded on Luffy and swung a fist, only now realising that he was missing his sword, who dodged and countered with his own fist launching Arlong to the corner of the room. "Bastard!" He yelled again, 'Same no Ha' spinning as he launched himself at Luffy standing calmly in the centre of the room.
Luffy didn't flinch as he watched Arlong fly towards him, reinforcing his arms with haki he struck at Arlong when he was inches from impacting his body, rocketing him down the floors that they had just gone up until he landed heavily on the ground floor where they had started.
Luffy stood at the edge of the newly created hole in the floor and gathered the powers of his devil fruit, 'Mizu Mizu: Ryujin's Denka!' he yelled, a great ball of water formed and charged downwards towards Arlong, slowly changing into a head of a dragon just as it impacted the body of Arlong, a loud roar erupting as it did so, drowning out the shouts of pain from the now incapacitated fishman. Get it? Drowning? ...ok I'll just leave.
As Luffy stood, revelling in his rather easily attained victory, the building started to shake and rock unsteadily. Creaking and cracking soon grew in tempo and Luffy had no warning when the building collapsed around him.
A crowd of people stood watching as the building collapsed a mix of emotions present, euphoria at finally being free of Arlong and worry as they did not see Luffy exit before it went down. Murmuring grew as they watched the rubble. Zoro, Sanji and Usopp stood to one side along with Makino, Maya and Nami who had turned up after their own battles had been won.
"What's happening? Where is he?" Maya asked worriedly, eyes wondering around the pile of rubble.
They continued to watch the pile of rubble in silence, when their eyes were suddenly drawn to the top of the pile where the rubble started shifting. When moments later Luffy emerged from the top of the pile much like a mole would, covered in dust, the whole crowd gave a loud cheer at seeing he was ok.
Coughing out a small plume of dust, Luffy stood and stumbled down the side of the little hill that had be formed rather ungracefully. Granted he had been inside a building while it was collapsing so it was ignored.
Regaining his balance at the bottom he coughed a few times and blinked trying to get rid of some dust in his eyes. He looked up at the crowd in front of him as he finished brushing himself off. "What? Is there something on my face?" He asked when he noticed everyone staring at him. That seemed to knock everyone out of their staring. Only then did they once again break out into cheers, they all began rushing towards Luffy. Pats on the back, hugs and kisses on the cheek went around. All the village's populace thanking him for helping them get rid of the fishman's rule. If one could call it that.
Their celebrations quieted down, after awhile and a small path appeared, heading towards his crewmates. Nami included. Smiled and shrugged towards them. "For future reference I wouldn't recommend being inside a building while it's collapsing." He suggested
"Really? Who'd thunk it?" Makino replied sarcastically.
That was all it took for Maya to burst out laughing as she ran towards Luffy, who bent down to scoop her up in his arms. She laughed more when he span around in circles while holding her above his head but pouted when he stopped. She was partially satisfied when he placed her on his shoulders instead of the ground.
Luffy looked towards where Zoro, Sanji and Usopp where standing. "How was fishing?" he asked, walking towards them.
Sanji shrugged and lit a smoke, "Productive." He answered simply, the others nodding in somewhat agreement.
"Good." Luffy nodded as well before turning to Nami and smiling softly. His straw hat perched on her head and his coat bundled in her arms. He walked towards her but didn't say anything and simply opened his arms.
Tears sprung up in Nami's eyes and she walked forward and buried herself into the crook of his neck and let the tears go. She felt Luffy's head rest beside her own and heard him whispered in her ear. "You are part of my crew Nami. But most importantly you are my friend, that's I'll always be there to help you should you ever need it. You just need to ask and I will be there." Finally the dam broke, and Nami realized her emotions that she had been holding back for years, and Luffy just held her through it.
Luffy stretched as he walked out of his cabin and glanced at the sky. Judging by the sun's position it was almost noon, they should be moving off then if they wanted to arrive at Loguetown on time. Walking down into the mess he saw everyone was already up though he noticed a distinct lack of someone there. "Where's Nami?" He asked as he helped himself to some leftovers that was present from the party last night.
"Saying her goodbyes I think." Zoro answered, a bottle of sake already in his hand.
Luffy nodded in understanding and sat down to eat. The crew making small talk as they finished eating. When they did so they proceeded up stairs back onto the deck as they witnessed a crowd had appeared on the small dock to see them off.
They prepared the ship to set sail as they waited for Nami to show up but they didn't have to wait long as a mop of orange appeared on the horizon running towards them. She appeared to be in quite the hurry to the confusion of many and didn't slow in the slightest as she reached the crowd.
"SET SAIL!" She yelled through the mess of people as she barged and pushed her way through, uncaring of the confusion she was causing.
Luffy shrugged in an unabashed manner, "YOU HEARD THE NAVIGATOR! LOOSE THE SAILS, PREAPARE TO LEAVE DOCK!" He ordered with a grin. He also created a few clones to speed things along.
Nami dived aboard at the last minute, just as the ship left the range of the dock with a grin and brushed herself off.
"Why the rush?" Makino asked with an amused tone. Nami just grinned broader and upturned her shirt causing a small tidal wave of wallets and jewellery to come out onto the deck. It seemed at that point the villagers noticed what happened as well and started shouting obscenities, but there wasn't any heart in them.
Luffy just shook his head and smiled.
Sorry for the long wait, I had intended to get this out by the end of Feb but when I was half way through to received word from my college that I was falling behind on my assignments and that I was at risk of failing if I didn't pick up the slack soon. So this had to go on the back burner for a while until I got that sorted out.
After that I just didn't have any inspiration to write for a month or two after that until recently so I thank you for sticking with me and being patient while I do things. So thank you for that.
Other than that I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I'll see you in the next one.
-Red
Translations
Mizu Mizu: Jettostoimu – Water Water Jet stream
Same no Ha – Shark on Tooth
Mizu Mizu: Ryujin's Denka – Ryujin's Charge