Author's Notes: Hey guys! Here is this week's chapter! I'm having a little trouble with chapter 15. Hopefully it won't catch up to me and then I take forever submitting a chapter. Q.Q So I'm sorry if that does happen in advance. I'm also having some trouble with chapter 5 of Midnight Lullaby. I am trying my best for you guys though! XD Anyways, I hope you all enjoy chapter 12 of Phoenix! Please review! Flames and criticism are welcome! Enjoy! XD

The Ritual of Fire Phoenix Island

Chapter 12: Unhidden Emotions

As soon as Luffy and Nami exited the building, there was a huge crowd of people waiting for them outside. As soon as the crowd spotted them, they began to cheer loudly and tossed flower petals in the air above them. Both Luffy and Nami were surprised by the large crowd that had gathered. Nami put on a fake smile and began to wave at everyone. Luffy as always had a blank expression. They were ushered to a carriage. Luffy helped Nami climb aboard and then climbed up after her. Tomo climb up front with the driver, and then the carriage set off. They both sat in silence, not knowing what to say.

'We've just been…married…' thought Nami as her face turned into a sad frown, 'Not like this…I didn't want…Not like this…' she thought to herself as she put a hand to her mouth. She felt sick. She wanted to cry again. Luffy looked over at Nami with his expressionless face, having seen her move from the corner of his eyes. He frowned in sadness. She looked miserable. Luffy looked away from her with his frown. Did she hate being stuck with someone like him? He watched as they past shop after shop.

"OOI! Mugiwara!!" they heard someone yell.

Luffy sat up straighter, "Ah, Niku-ossan!" he yelled with a grin. Nami turned to Luffy quickly in surprise. He was grinning and acting like his happy-go-lucky self again.

"Congratulations on your marriage!!" Lou yelled from his shop.

"Ah, arigato Niku-ossan!!" yelled Luffy with a huge grin as he laughed and waved at him. As soon as they passed the shop, his shoulders drooped, his arm was placed back down at his side slowly, his grin faded, his face fell, and his eyes…lost their gleam. Nami's eyes grew wide as she stared at her Captain. He looked…sad.

'He looks like that…because of me…It had been an act…How many other times had he 'acted' like he was happy? I thought…he was always happy…' she thought to herself as she continued to stare at him. Then she inhaled sharply. His words from in the crow's nest came back to her, '"Besides, it's better to keep everyone else happy. If I wasn't happy, then you guys wouldn't be either. Someone has to keep us all happy, right?"' She continued to stare at him wide eyed with the words echoing in her mind, '"Besides, it's better to keep everyone else happy"'...'Keep everyone else happy….' Tears began to form in her eyes, 'What about you…?'

Luffy turned and looked at her and then looked surprised. Then he smiled at her…a sad…empty smile…It was different, she could see it now…She could see his unhappiness. He used to be happy…and now she's made him sad…She looked away from him to keep herself from crying. His face fell once again as he turned away from her.

'Had there been other times when he pretended to be happy? Were there other times when he just didn't feel good or wasn't in a good mood, but had been happy for them? The time after Usopp's fight was the only time I had ever seen him depressed. Right now, he isn't happy…Maybe I'm getting it wrong. There were those times he would sit on Merry's head and now Sunny's. Maybe those were the times he needed for himself. After all, that was the whole reason everyone was so curious. That's the whole reason I had talked to him that first time. That seemed like so long ago now…Now…now we're married…' she thought to herself. 'It would have been nice if Lou-san or anyone else had said something sooner! We might have been able to have dropped out of the competition and avoided all of this…It's too late now…No sense in thinking about that…We're stuck…He's stuck with me…A selfish, temperamental, money hungry girl…' she thought as her face contorted in a deeper frown in sadness.

----

They finally arrived at the hotel and spa. Luffy jumped out and helped Nami down. He smiled at her sadly as he put his hands on her waist and lifted her out of the carriage. Once her feet touched the ground she looked away from him. She couldn't bear to look at his sad smile. Each time his face would fall and his heart would sink lower. They both followed Tomo up some stairs to the courtyard above on the hotel property. They both stopped to look around. It really was beautiful. Nami found herself smiling despite their situation. There were flowers and beautiful trees every where, all colors and varieties. There was a large fountain in the middle that was surrounded by paths and flowers. There were also benches for those who would want to sit and take in the scenery. The sun was still setting behind them, so there was still some light and they were able to see everything. The setting sun added to the beauty.

"This is beautiful…" exclaimed Nami with a smile as she turned toward Luffy. He was smiling at her with that same sad smile, but she thought she saw something else…warmth? She turned around no longer smiling as a blush crept up her cheeks. Luffy's smile vanished again as she turned around. By now, he was feeling totally rejected. She didn't want him…Had she for a moment forgotten who she was with…?

Tomo turned to the two still standing in the middle of the courtyard, "Right this way, please." she said politely with a smile. Both Luffy and Nami looked toward her and walked toward her. "Perhaps you would like to eat first? We have a small feast prepared for you." she said as they approached.

Nami smiled again, 'That might make him happy.' she thought. "That would be great! I'm sure my Capt…" Nami stopped mid sentence, "I mean…" she turned and looked at Luffy who looked back at her a little confused with lips slightly parted. "I'm sure Luffy would love to eat." she finally said smiling at him.

He smiled in return, his smile a little bigger this time, but still with some sadness. "Aa…" he replied with a nod.

Then Nami turned to follow Tomo, Luffy following behind her. As they walked Nami looked at the hotel itself. It had six stories and it seemed each room on the upper floors had a balcony. It had great detail and architecture. Tomo guided them inside. The entrance was large. The doors were solid wood and beautiful. Two doormen held the doors open for them. The inside lobby was huge and also beautiful. It had marble floors and columns, beautiful architecture, with spiral stairs on each side of the lobby, and a large fountain in the middle. There was also a balcony on the second floor. Nami could hear voices from upstairs. Tomo continued to guide them down a hall to the left of the lobby and stopped at some double doors. She opened them to reveal a large banquet room. In the middle was a long table. In the middle of the long table was a beautiful arrangement of floors. At the other end of the table was a small feast.

Nami looked over at Luffy who had a smile on his face and a little more light in his eyes. "Please, have a seat." said Tomo in her polite voice as she motioned to the other end of the table. Luffy began to walk to the other end of the table, Nami following him.

Even in their situation. Luffy still loved to eat. Nami found this humorous, yet not so humorous at the same time. They both sat down at the table. Nami didn't really have an appetite. She was still a little nauseous over everything that had just happened to them. She decided not to eat. Luffy looked over at Nami and noticed she wasn't eating. Then he realized that he was happy about the food. She was probably still troubled over what had just happened, but all he seemed to care about was the food. He lowered his head concealing his eyes with his hat and didn't touch the food.

Nami looked over at Luffy. He still hadn't touched the food. He had his head lowered and his eyes concealed by his hat. He looked sad again. "Lu…Luffy, aren't you going to eat?" she asked softly. He only shook his head no. "But…why not?" she asked softly.

"I…I'm not hungry…" he replied quietly. Nami's eyes went wide. She had wanted to make him happy with the food…but was selfishly bothered that he could eat at a time like this. 'Baka!' she yelled to herself. He probably wasn't eating because she wasn't. Nami looked over at the food. "But it looks really good, doesn't it?" she asked with some cheer in her voice as she smiled. Luffy looked up toward her. "I think I might try some of this. It looks delicious!" she exclaimed as her smile widened. 'Please Luffy…eat something…' she thought to herself.

Luffy looked over at the dish she was serving herself. It did look delicious. "Why don't you try it too?" she suggested cheerfully as she began to serve him some as well. Luffy looked down at the plate she was serving him and then looked back up at her. She smiled at him and then began to eat after serving him. Luffy watched her for awhile. 'Please…Luffy…eat…' she continued to beg him in her mind. Then he looked down at his plate, picked up his fork, and slowly began to eat. He ate with civilized manners again. No reason to make her dislike him more than she might already.

Then he noticed she had stopped eating again. He looked up at her. She was smiling at him. A smile so warm…or at least…it made him feel warm. He looked back down at his plate and blushed. He continued to eat. Her smile became warmer as she watched him for awhile. He was eating with manners again. The same feeling she had felt at the banquet washed over her again. 'What is this feeling…?' she thought to herself. It made her feel warm, gave her goose bumps, and…something else. Something else…that she didn't know, it was an unfamiliar feeling. The emptiness in her chest began to fill, but the longing…it felt worse…'What is this…longing? A longing for…what?' she thought to herself. Her chest began to hurt. She refused to bring her hand to it. 'He might notice…' she thought. Instead she continued to eat.

----

After awhile, Luffy put his fork down. He hadn't eaten nearly as much as he usually does. However, Nami was glad he did eat. Nami took one last sip of her wine before setting it back down on the table. Luffy drank the rest of his and set his glass back on the table. Tomo approached them, "Would you like to make use of the spa now?" she asked them in her polite voice.

"Yes, please. That would be lovely." replied Nami looking up at her.

"Right this way, please." she said with a smile as she walked towards the doors. Luffy and Nami got up and followed her. She guided them back down the hall and across the lobby to the hall way on the other side. She stopped at a second set of double doors. On the doors there was a sign that read 'Closed Due to The Dance Festival'. Another sign read 'Women's Spa'. Tomo opened the doors, walked in and to the side for them to follow her in. They both followed inside. Tomo shut the doors and turned and walked to the right.

Both Luffy and Nami stood and looked ahead in awe. There was a very large bath in the middle of a very large room. There was a statued fountain of two cherubs holding tilted basins as water flowed from them. The bath was full of bubbles, and there was steam filling the room. "This way, please." called Tomo from the right politely. They both turned to look towards her. Tomo was standing next to an open door. They both walked towards her and the door and stepped inside. Tomo walked in slightly and grabbed the door knob and pulled is slightly closed. "You may disrobe in this dressing room. There are robes you may use here." she said as she pointed to some robes on hooks.

"Cho…chotto matte, disrobe?" asked Luffy in disbelief with wide eyes. Tomo only smiled at him before closing the door on her way out. Luffy reached out a hand and took a step toward the door, but she was gone. Then he slowly turned back to Nami with a pained expression on his face. "They don't really mean for us to…in here?" he asked Nami nervously.

Nami closed her eyes and sighed at him, "We're married…remember? Of course they do…" she replied as she opened her eyes and looked at Luffy. Luffy's jaw dropped. She just shrugged as she turned toward the robe and began to disrobe in front of Luffy.

Luffy made a noise of disbelief, "O…Oi, Nami!! What are you…?!" he began to say and since she continued to disrobe he turned his back on her.

Nami sighed again, "Luffy…we're married…" she repeated. Luffy kept silent. "You should do the same you know." she said in a bored tone. She removed her dress and under garments and set them in a cupboard. Then she began to slip into the robe.

Luffy turned to a robe and without turning toward Nami, he hurriedly began to disrobe. Nami turned to him just as he slipped his robe over his shoulders. He tied the belt and then turned toward her frown on his face. "There's no point in being modest now, Luffy…There's still…later…" she said quietly as she turned her head away from him.

Luffy made a throaty noise before turning away from her as well. "Not if there's anything I can do about it…" he whispered quietly to himself with a sad frown.

Nami turned toward him, "Did you say something…?" she asked.

"No…let's go…" he said quietly as he turned and opened the door.

They both walked out and toward Tomo, who was waiting just outside for them. "Perhaps you might want to start off with a therapeutic massage before entering the bath?" she asked.

"That would be wonderful." replied Nami with a smile as she followed Tomo.

Luffy stood where he was with wide eyes, "Bath…?" he whispered as sweat beaded down his face.

Nami turned to him, "You coming?" she asked quietly.

"Aa…" he also replied quietly as he began to follow them.

Tomo directed them to some massage tables. There were two women waiting for them that hadn't been there when they first entered. One was an older woman and the other only a little older than they were. Nami sat at the first table with the older woman. Luffy walked toward the other and reluctantly sat down. The woman just smiled at him. Nami began to slip out of the top half of her robe and turned to lie face down on the table. Luffy blushed and turned away from her. The younger woman giggled quietly at his reaction. Then he reluctantly slipped out of the top half of his robe and lay face down and leaned his chin on his crossed arms.

The women began the massage. Nami watched as Tomo lit some incense. The younger woman smiled down at Luffy. "You're so tense." she said softly as she leaned over toward him.

"Re…really?" he asked nervously.

"Un…you must relax. There are no worries here." she said in a very soft voice. "I will take care of you." she continued softly.

"Is that really necessary?" asked Nami annoyed. The woman and Luffy both looked over at her in surprise. She was slightly leaning up exposing quite a bit of her bust as she was turned to the woman. She had an annoyed expression on her face.

"Su…sumimasen!!" exclaimed the younger woman as she blushed. Luffy was looking at her in confusion. Nami looked toward him as her eyes went wide as she blushed. Then she turned and leaned her chin back on her folded arms.

'Was I…jealous just now?!' she thought to herself. Luffy realized Nami's half naked state and leaned back down on his folded arms. The sound of the other woman's voice had irritated her. Nami breathed in the scent of the incense deeply trying to calm herself down. Normally, she wouldn't have cared about the other woman, but just now…she couldn't stand the sound of the other woman's voice, or rather who that voice was directed to. 'It's bad enough she's touching him…' Nami's eyes went huge as she made a quiet throaty noise. 'I am jealous!! Oh…my…' Nami frowned deeply and continued to take deep breathes. The fact that she was indeed jealous agitated her.

After about thirty minutes, the massage was done. Both Luffy and Nami sat up and put their robes back on. Tomo once again approached them. "Perhaps you would like to share a bath now?" she asked with a smile.

"Sh…share?" asked Luffy nervously. Sweat beaded down his face as he gulped.

"Yes, Luffy…share…"replied Nami as she glared at him. Luffy stared at her with huge eyes. He looked like a cornered animal. If she hadn't been so agitated from earlier, she might have laughed. Even though she didn't laugh, her spirits were lifted slightly.

They both walked over to the gigantic pool of a bath, passing some showers along the way. The steamy and bubbly water looked inviting to Nami. Without thinking about it, or rather, without caring, Nami untied her robe and slipped out of it placing it on a bench near by. She heard Luffy make a noise behind her. She smiled to herself as she walked over to the water and stepped in.

Luffy watched as Nami approached the water. Then suddenly, she untied and removed her robe. He made a noise of disbelief, blushed and quickly turned away. "Why must she do that?!" he whispered to himself as he creased his brow.

"You can look now…" said Nami in a bored tone. Luffy reluctantly looked back toward the bath. She was sitting in the bubbly water only the top of her bust visible.

Luffy blushed as he frowned down at her. She looked back at him with a bored expression on her pretty face. She stared at his furrowed stubborn eyes. "I told you it's pointless…" she said still in her bored tone. She watched as he walked over and plopped down on a bathing stool and crossed his arms as he continued to frown at her.

'Is he mad at me? Does he hate that he's stuck with someone like me?' she thought to herself as they stared at one another. "Aren't you coming in?" she asked. He only continued to stare at her. She found herself smiling. "You aren't afraid of me…are you Luffy?" she asked in a teasing and seductive voice. She noticed a blush creep across his cheeks as sweat beaded down his face. His frown deepened. "Aww, come on Luffy…" she continued in her seductive voice as she hooded her eyes at him. His blushed deepened and then he glared at her.

She closed her eyes and sighed with a slight smile on her face, "Alright fine…I promise to behave…" she said as she turned around away from him.

Luffy stood up and slowly walked over to the water. He removed his robe and threw it next to hers and then stepped into the water.

Nami heard movement behind her. Then she heard the water sloshing as the bubbles rippled toward her. 'So, he really did come in…' she thought to herself with a slight smile. Once the sloshing and ripples stopped she looked over at him and smiled. Only his chest was visible. He blushed as he furrowed his brows and turned toward the cherubs in the middle. Her smile widened. Luffy kept his eyes on the cherubs for awhile before moving towards them. Nami watched him as he moved toward the middle of the bath. He kept going until he got deeper in and then he stood up and began to walk. Nami raised a brow. 'It must be deeper further down.' she thought to herself. The water came up to just under his lower back. She watched as his back muscles moved as he walked through the water.

He stopped in front of the water flowing out of one of the basins. He looked up at it awhile before moving to its front. Now, Nami had a frontal view of Luffy, from just below his belly button up. She had to admit he was well muscled. He smiled at the flowing water, and then stepped under it, tilting his face up into the stream. She could hear him chuckling to himself. She smiled. He always did enjoy the simple things in life. As she continued to watch the water flow down his body, she felt herself blush and her body grew hot.

She furrowed her brows and then began to move towards him. He came out for breath and laughed before going back under. She continued until she was next to him, keeping herself hidden under the bubbles. She looked up at the water flowing out of the basin and then back down at him. He was grinning as his face was tilted up into the stream. He pulled back again and then noticed her from the corner of his eye. He yelped in surprise and fell over backwards splashing water everywhere.

He came up gasping for air. He looked back over at Nami, whose hair was drenched and covering her face. He began to get a little nervous. Then the unexpected happened, Nami burst out laughing. Luffy stared at her in confusion for awhile before his lips twitched and he began to join her laughter. Nami lifted a hand and shoved water at him. He put his arms up to block it and then splashed her back. She laughed as she shoved more water at him. The water fight continued for awhile until Nami shoving the water continuously at him made her lose her footing and fall forward onto Luffy. The only things between them were water…and bubbles. They both came up gasping for air. Then Luffy looked down at her. She looked up into his face with wide eyes. Both their faces turned a deep red.

Nami pulled back from him slowly and turned around. "I guess…we should get out now…We've been in here a long while…" she said quietly as she stood up and walked back where they first entered. Her lower back and up visible. Luffy followed behind her. As the bath became shallow Luffy lowered his gaze. Nami walked out of the tub and to the showers they had passed on the way in. Luffy sat down in the bath with his back to Nami and waited for her to rinse. Nami walked up to a shower, turned it on, and began to rinse off. She had her head down and watched the water drip from her hair. She was trying to calm her racing heart and her breathing. She had made the water cold to cool herself off. Once she was done, she turned the water off.

Suddenly, a towel appeared next to her. She slightly jumped and turned toward it. Tomo was standing next to her with a smile on her face as she held out a towel for her. "A…arigato…" she said quietly as she took the towel. 'Had she been here this whole time?!' she thought to herself. She dried herself off and then handed Tomo back the towel. She noticed Tomo was holding a second towel. 'Was she going to give that to Luffy?!' she thought to herself. "Uh…I'll take that…" she said as she smiled nervously at her. Tomo smiled, handed her the towel and then walked off. Nami walked back to her robe. She put the towel down on the bench, put her robe on, and then tied the belt. She picked the towel back up. Then she turned and walked a distance past some of the showers. "Alright Luffy, I'm done." she called over her shoulder.

Luffy turned around and saw Nami had her back to him. He stood up and walked out of the bath. He walked to a shower, turned in on and then rinsed off. Nami took a deep breath and looked forward. Then she noticed them, the two women who had massaged them unabashedly watching her and Luffy. "Excuse me!" yelled Nami as she felt herself grow angry. She untied and threw open her robe to block their view of Luffy. They had gotten a full frontal view of Luffy. Luffy looked over at Nami in confusion.

Both women yelped and blushed. "S…sumimasen!!" they both yelled as they turned around.

Luffy looked around Nami as he heard the women. "They were still in here?!" he asked.

"So it seems…I wonder why they didn't leave?!" she exclaimed. Nami looked around Tomo was no where in site. "Why are you still here?!" she asked them.

"It…it's our job to stay here. Just in case the customer wants another massage, ma'am…" the older woman responded without turning around.

"Is it your job to stare at the customers?!" yelled Nami in annoyance.

"S…sumimasen!" she exclaimed.

"Matakun…" whispered Nami in exasperation.

Luffy finished rinsing and turned off the water. She let go of one side of her robe and threw the towel over her shoulder. She felt as Luffy grabbed and took it from her. He dried himself off and wrapped the towel around his waist. Then he walked over to his robe, removed the towel and then put the robe on. He half heartedly tied the robe and walked back over to Nami. "I'm done." he said from behind her. She closed her robe and tied it and then turned around toward him. His muscled chest was visible and his belt looked lopsided. She smiled, 'Sloppy as always…I wouldn't have him any other way…WHAT DID I JUST SAY?!' she thought to herself as her eyes went huge. Suddenly, the pain came back to her chest. She involuntarily grabbed for it.

Luffy looked at her concerned, "Oi, Nami, are you okay?" he asked softly.

Nami gasped and turned around quickly, "I'm fine!" she said loudly before walking away.

Luffy watched her walk away, a concerned expression on his scarred face. Tomo appeared out of no where. "Would you like a manicure, pedicure, and facial done now?" she asked in her polite tone.

"U…un…" replied Nami quietly as she followed Tomo.

"Oi…Nami, what are those?" asked Luffy from behind as he followed them.

"Just come and you'll find out." she replied without turning toward him.

She smiled at his uncertain question. She was glad he seemed to be back to normal. He was no longer sad. Knowing that kind of made her happy. Tomo turned left and through a door. Inside the room were a few recliner type chairs. She heard Luffy laugh as he took off past her and flew into one of the chairs. She smiled warmly at him as he began to play with it. She sat down in a chair next to him. Two different women from the women who had massaged them came into the room. Nami was just glad it wasn't the two perverted women. They bowed, introduced themselves, and then began their work. Nami leaned back and enjoyed the pampering.

Luffy eyed the woman who was about to put some strange smelling green stuff on his face. "O…oi, what's that?" he asked uncertain.

"It's okay Luffy. Just let her do her job." Nami reassured him without turning toward him.

He continued to eye the stuff suspiciously, but allowed her to proceed. He sat uncomfortably through out the whole process. He watched as they did weird things to his finger and toe nails. Then they put more weird smelling stuff on his feet. Then they did some other weird stuff to his hands and his feet. He looked over at Nami. She was reading a newspaper and looked completely relaxed.

Finally, they were done. The women bowed, said their farewells and left. Tomo came to them again as they were getting out of their chairs. "Perhaps now you would like to redress and enjoy a drink at our bar?" she asked them politely.

"That would be lovely." replied Nami with a big smile. Tomo redirected them into the dressing room. Nami and Luffy walked in as Tomo closed the door behind them. Nami walked to her cupboard and removed her things. She took off her robe and began to redress. She put her blue dress back on as well as the accessories and shoes. She bent down and removed the sheer bottom of the skirt. 'I won't be needing this anymore. I will give it to Tomo to put it in our room.' she thought to herself.

Luffy, having gotten used to Nami not caring to disrobe in front of him, already had his back to her. He removed his robe and began to put his clothes back on, leaving his shirt untucked. He didn't button it all the way up and then put his black vest back on. He brought the tie back around his neck and let it hang loosely. He put his shoes back on, stood up and then tap the toes on the floor. Nami turned at hearing his tapping.

"Ready?" she asked him as she smiled.

"Aa." he replied as they both walked out and followed Tomo to the bar.

To Be Continued…

Translations and Explanations Corner:

1: Niku means meat.

2: Chotto matte translates to "Wait a minute." or "Hold on a minute."

3: Sumimasen is the formal and polite way of saying "I'm sorry." or "Excuse me."

4: Matakun is an exasperation that means 'Geez!" or a type of sigh or even like saying "Good grief.". You get the idea…O.o

Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed another one of my boring chapters. Yet again this chapter was just to see their interactions with one another and seeing their feelings. If you don't like it, TOUGH!! . Hehe! I really hope you all enjoyed my chapter! XD Please review and tell me how boring it was! Okay, seriously, don't do that…-.-;