Chapter 13

"Are we still on track?" Luffy asked Robin –the current holder of the eternal pose to Furunmei Island.

Robin smiled at the captain, marking off another tick in the back of her mind as he asked her for what seemed like the millionth time. She knew that he was anxious. They all were now, even knowing that Nami was heading for the same place that Mitsuki's sister was. It was Nami's personality more than anything. She was arrogant at best even more so after the two year period. It would definitely cause her some problems. They needed to get there fast.

"We're still on track," Robin reassured him. "She'll be okay."

"Mm," He grinned. "I know."

Did he?

Robin watched as he walked away, and glanced up at Zoro in the crow's nest. He stared intently at the horizon, hoping to see the island sooner than the two days they had left to reach the island. Usopp, Chopper, Franky and Brooke were all quiet too. Franky spent most of his time down in his workshop, while Usopp and Chopper just sat around under the tree with the swing. Brooke stood silently at the helm with Robin and Sanji, not saying a word.

Hancock stayed in the library or the aquarium, speaking less to them all than she usually did. There had been no sign of the snake recently. Hancock did smile and blush when speaking to Luffy still. Sometimes Robin would walk by and be surprised at what they were talking about. She and Luffy were discussing –

"Robin," Luffy was back.

"We're still on track, Luffy," She said automatically.

"No, it's not that," He shook his head. "I knew that. I only asked you a moment ago."

"What is it then?" Robin chuckled.

"I feel funny," He frowned.

"Shouldn't you go and speak to Chopper about that?" Sanji asked.

"I'm not sick," Luffy said, although a little unsure himself. His chest kind of felt tight. It hurt to breath. Maybe whatever Nami had was contagious.

"Idiots don't catch colds," Zoro said coming up the stairs, surprising Robin, as she was usually aware of his movements. She hadn't even noticed him come down from the crow's nest. "You of all people should know, dart-brow."

"Explain it better," Sanji told Luffy, not bothering to pick a fight with Zoro. Sanji's hands were shaking slightly, trying to hold in everything he was feeling.

Luffy frowned deeper for a moment before shaking his head. "Never mind, it's nothing. I'm going to go see Mitsuki."

The four of them exchanged glances as he walked away, but didn't say a word until he was halfway across the ship. Luffy didn't even bother to shoot himself across the deck.

"I don't get why everyone is so down," Zoro sighed. "We're going to get her back."

"You're one to talk!" Sanji stood up, showing his anger and frustration for the first time that day. Brooke immediately took over the helm. "You let her be kidnapped right underneath your nose. What kind of look-out are you?"

"She was hiding behind the observation room from Luffy, as if I could keep an eye on her in the first place," Zoro said. "Where were you, curly-brow? Sleeping soundly in your bed?"

"So you're blaming this on me? You were the one on lookout!" Sanji said. He could feel the vein pulsing angrily in his temple. "You damned muscle brain!"

"Stop it," Robin laid a hand on Zoro's chest as he opened his mouth to retort. "If you go on like this, it doesn't help anything. We're all upset because she got taken right from underneath us. I should have stayed with her after giving her the blanket. I was going to, but Mitsuki was pretty angry at Hancock and I didn't want to leave the two alone –"

"You wouldn't have known," Zoro said. "Not any of us could have guessed it."

"So don't go beating each other up about it either," Robin turned her gaze out to sea. "Nami will be fine. She's resourceful."

"She doesn't have her Clima-tact," Brooke sighed.

"She can steal from someone who has a weapon," Sanji said, although he wondered himself. "Believe in her. She'd hit us all if she heard us."

"She would, wouldn't she? Yohoho," Brooke laughed.

Luffy found Mitsuki in the library. He looked around at the room. The only time he came in here was when he was passing through to go to the bath, or when Nami was working in here. He could almost picture her sleeping on the desk as she had been the day before. Upset and frustrated –was it his fault she got kidnapped?

"Luffy-kun?" Mitsuki was watching him from the desk. Luffy wanted to kick her out because that was Nami's desk, but it wasn't as if Mitsuki was doing anything wrong. He let her be.

"Eh?" Luffy swung his head around to look at her.

"Is something wrong?" She asked. She didn't seem to be affected by Nami's absence, but at the same time it was obvious that she was.

"No," He shook his head. He walked to the window and stared at nothing in particular. "Was there really something wrong with Nami's heart?"

"No, it was a good thing that was happening in her heart," She said, cracking a book open.

"Good?"

"Mm,"

"A racing heart is good?" Luffy asked.

"In this case."

"What makes it good?" He asked, turning to face her.

Mitsuki was silent for a second. She wasn't sure if she should tell him or let Nami sort it all out later. Nami could handle it herself, she was sure, but –

"Just say it," Hancock came down from the bathhouse. When Mitsuki only glared, Hancock sighed and turned to Luffy, "It's love."

"I'm not marrying –" He began automatically.

"No, not me," Hancock blushed. "Nami."

"Eh? What about Nami?"

"She's in love," Hancock said. "That's why her heart is beating. It's because –"

"Which leads me to ask, Luffy-kun," Mitsuki interrupted. "Why couldn't you feel that her heart was racing?"

"Eh?" Luffy was surprised by the question, but didn't hesitate to answer. "It didn't feel fast to me. Her pulse was the same as mine."

Mitsuki smiled, quickly ducking her head so that her hair covered her face, and giggled softly. She wished Nami was here to hear this.

"I'm going to go and take a nap," Hancock said, deciding to ignore the entire situation. "You haven't slept at all, right Luffy? You should take a nap too."

"No," Luffy said firmly. "I'm fine."

She frowned, but nodded. "Then I'm going to go take that nap."

"What's with you?" Mitsuki said angrily. Both Luffy's head and Hancock's whipped around to face her. "Even if she were your rival, why can't you show some compassion? If you don't care about her or my sister, just leave!"

"It's not your boat to kick me off of," Hancock told her.

Luffy was silent for a moment before turning to Hancock and saying, "I know you're here to talk business, but if you don't want to be a part of rescuing my nakama –"

"I never said I wouldn't be a part of rescuing that girl," Hancock said, looking upset at Luffy's tone.

Luffy hesitated, but nodded, "Thank you."

Hancock waited an extra moment before leaving the room. Luffy and Mitsuki were both silent for a moment.

"I don't think she'll actually help," Mitsuki muttered.

"She will," Luffy sat down on the bench surrounding the room.

"Whatever," She rolled her eyes.

"No, she will," Luffy said, leaning his head back and staring at the ceiling. "She may seem cold, but she's not."

"Do you like her?" Mitsuki asked after a pause.

"Mm," Luffy said. Mitsuki frowned, but he went on, "I like all my nakama."

"You consider her your nakama?"

"Mm," He said again.

"What about Nami?" She asked.

"She's my nakama too," He sat up. "Baka."

Mitsuki shook her head, "I meant, do you like her?"

"Of cour–"

"Sorry, let me rephrase that. Do you love her?"

Luffy sat frozen in his seat. Mitsuki watched him as he stood up suddenly and crossed the room, leaving without saying a single word more, and not answering her question. Mitsuki sighed and leaned back in Nami's chair. She laid her hand over her eyes, closing them tightly.

Then she smirked.

I clicked the lock open using my hair pin. I paused a moment before smoothly taking it out and bending it back into place. The girls watched me as I slipped it back into my hair.

"If any of you want to back out and stay here, now's the time," I said.

None of them replied.

I looked at Ran, and she nodded at me. I placed my finger to my lips as I opened the door slowly. Peeking out into the hallway, I noted that there were five more doors in this hallway. I kept close to the wall and made my way to the first door on the right. Ran followed behind me as planned.

She frowned as she held her ear near the door.

"What's wrong?" I murmured quietly.

"Crying," She mouthed, and gestured tears falling with her finger on her cheek. She tested the door, but it was locked like our room had been.

I waved her back behind me, slipping the pin out again, and daring to unlock it. The chances that we weren't the only girls kidnapped on this ship were higher than I would like them to be. I opened the door enough to peek through.

Sure enough, there were more girls. Two were crying in the corner. Recent captives? I wasn't sure. I opened the door more, and slipped in. The girls in the room looked up, surprised. I waved the rest of my temporary alliances in. It would be bad if any of them got caught out there without me.

"Who are you?" One girl asked quietly as I walked over.

"I'm the girl that's going to rescue you all," I said, kneeling in front of one of the crying girls and brushing a hand through her tangled hair to soothe her. "Are any of you hurt?"

Heads shook. I sighed with relief. It means our kidnappers weren't abusive. It was a good thing, but I had to keep in mind that

"Good," I said, standing up. "I wish I could take you all with me in this instant, but that many girls crawling around this place will be hard to keep a secret…"

"Are any of you pirates?" Chika asked mockingly.

I rolled my eyes, "Can any of you fight?"

"Do you think any of us would be here if we could?" Hana asked.

"I know a bit of Haki," One girl said, raising her hand. Her face was hard and unemotional.

"That's great," I said, "Are you willing to come?"

"I would be angrier if you didn't ask," She said. "I'm aiming to be a Marine."

Great. Just what I needed. Literately, at this moment. I grinned at her, "Well, this would be a great thing to have behind you when you get there."

"This is good," Chika said to Tsubaki, quietly enough. "If our pirate steps out of hand, the Marine should be able to take her."

"She's not a Marine yet, and Nami's been a pirate for a long time now," Hana pointed out softly.

"It doesn't matter," Tsubaki said. "Right now we're all in alliance."

"Mm," Ran agreed.

"So you're coming," I ignored them all and spoke with the Marine. I looked over the other girls. "If and when we gain control, we'll definitely come and get you. I'll be locking the door on my way out, just in case though."

They nodded.

"I should tell you all now that we probably only have until they come to feed us in the evening," I said to everyone. "Then our greatest weapon disappears. That's the element of surprise." The girls nodded. I turned to the girls that were accompanying me, "And I have no idea what they'll do to us if they discover us. It could be bad. It could be death. If you're not willing to risk that, then stay here or go back to the room that we were locked in."

All the girls walked by me, and I wondered if they were really going to give up just like that. Only the Marine girl stood in front of me. I sighed. Well, one was better than none. This was to be expected of girls. They don't want to lose their lives any sooner than old age. I used to be like that. But Luffy taught me just what it meant to risk everything. And I wouldn't stop until everything was lost.

"Are you coming?" Hana asked from behind me. "We have four more doors to cover down this hallway."

I turned. My face was neutral although I was pleased. Ran opened the door, and we all shuffled out after her. I gave a quick wave to the girls as I closed the door quietly and locked it once more.

We went on to the next room, which was surprisingly void of any girls, though it was unlocked already. There were crates and barrels stacked in the room, leaving hardly any space to move.

"Look for anything we can use," I said, going to the first crate and cracking it open. Food supplies –I wasn't really too surprised. So was this why they came down every couple of hours? It made sense to me. Food, probably alcohol. What more could a pirate ask for?

Luffy wouldn't ask for anything but meat.

"I found a bag," Tsubaki said, holding it up.

"A crate of bottles filled with alcohol?" Hana sighed.

"Fruit," Chika muttered.

"Nothing good," Ran said, and Ren nodded the same. "Food, food and more food."

The Marine didn't find anything either. I frowned, thinking over everything.

"What kind of fruit?" I asked.

"Looks like Lemons, but they're green," Chika replied.

"Those would be limes," The Marine told her.

"Tsubaki, pack a few into the bag, alright?" I went to the crate Hana said had been alcohol, opened a bottle and took a sip. I grinned the moment I tasted it. It was good, but taste wasn't what I was searching for. It was actually rum.

"We'll take three bottles," I said, handing them to Tsubaki.

"Do you think getting drunk will help us?" Chika questioned.

"First of all, I wouldn't get drunk," I told her. "Second of all, we won't be drinking it." Well, maybe I'd have a sip or two more later, but that was later.

"What other reason is there for bringing it?" Chika asked.

"You'll see later," I said, glancing around the room once more. "This should be fine. You guys find something to cushion the bottles so they don't clank against each other. Ran and I will go on ahead. Ran will come back and tap twice once we have the next door open."

They nodded. Ran opened the door and I followed her out. We walked cautiously down the hallway, pausing at the next door to listen. When nothing was heard from within, I tested the knob, and pushed on the door.

A closet.

It was small –though it was easy to move around in, but it was by far the room I was most excited to see. I grabbed the broom that was there and broke off the bristles. I gripped it tightly, reminiscing, "I haven't wielded something like this for a long time."

"Isn't it just a broom handle?" She asked.

"It's now a weapon," I said, "Though it's a bit smaller than I prefer."

"So like a Bo staff," Ran said.

"Exactly," I murmured, though it wasn't the accurate term for a staff of this length. Hanbo, I think, was the correct name. But I didn't bother correcting her.

"You could tie the knife to the end, and it'd become a spear," She suggested.

"I wouldn't know how to use it," I admitted. "Anyway, check this next door then go get the other girls."

"Mm," She nodded. We exited the closet and inched across the hall to the last of the four doors excluding the ones that we'd left initially, and the one I was pretty sure led to the rest of the ship.

I watched as Ran pressed her ear gently against the door. She was shaking slightly. She must have known the risk that came from doing something like this. The chances, even with the element of surprise, were lower than I liked to gamble on. I wouldn't bet a single beli on the chance that I had to get out of this unharmed. But I would fight. I would fight, and I would help these girls here.

Being kidnapped like this, to be later used for who knows what, had to be no better than when I was under Arlong's control. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I had a small trace of a headache, but obviously that was the least of my worries. Was this alright to do? Did I have any right to put these girls in danger? Yeah, I still had more than enough tricks up my sleeve, but where would that get us?

"It's quiet," Ran whispered. "Nami?"

I tested the door. It was locked –another room of kidnapped village 'flowers'? With my head, I gestured back to the storage room. Ran got the message. She nodded and slipped away. I knelt down in front of the lock and took out the hairpin again. As I played with the lock, I wondered what Luffy would do in this situation… though perhaps that was a stupid question to ask myself. Luffy would obviously just Gomu Gomu his way out. He would do it without asking questions, without fearing the consequences, without fretting about anything, not even his nakama –unless they were in serious danger, of course.

My heart was beating wildly at the thought of it all. Luffy… I really wished he was here now. Not that I always wanted to have to rely on him. I just wanted his support. I didn't want my last image of him in my head to be him staring at me from across the ship with an icy atmosphere between us. If anything I wanted it to be the night we spent on Akaki Island, but right now I didn't have that choice. If I wanted to change that image of him, I'd have to get out of here and damn-well survive.

I clenched my fist tightly as I pulled the pin out and gripped the door. I heard the girls coming down the hallway. I eased the door open to reveal…

A/N: BAM! What's behind the dooooooor? You won't find out til the next chapter! Which is much sooner than the last few chapters have been. Tomorrow's my last busy day, and it's only a half busy day, so i should have time to write and post the next chapter tomorrow! Fingers crossed!

I hope you enjoyed... :)

[though I'll be the first to admit that this chapter could've turned out a little better.]

Happy reading!