Author's Note: I am sooo sorry, that it took me so long. A bunch of stuff kept coming up, like my husband and kid getting sick, and then I got sick, and then I got busy and other things happened. X( Then I just plain got stuck and wasn't sure what to do! DX I did try my best, though I can't say it's much. I wanted to keep it short and simple, but I hope you guys aren't disappointed. I hope you guys still enjoy this chapter. X(

The Vanity Princess

Chapter 14: Found

"Okay, Luffy, you're all patched up, but you can't over do it," Chopper said as he finished up bandaging Luffy's wound, and then he leaned back, as if to inspect it.

"Thanks, Chopper. We need to get going. We shouldn't be too far behind them still," Luffy said as he stood up from the crate he had been seated on.

"All right, so how do we find them?" Zoro asked, having been standing silently and patiently off to the side as Chopper worked on their captain.

"I just need to get close to them, and I know what direction they went in. So, let's head that way first," Luffy said and started off in that direction, but immediately tripped on another smaller crate and fell face first to the ground.

Robin chuckled softly and said, "Allow me, Luffy." She helped the grumbling rubberman to his feet, and then took his arm to guide him. "There we are," she said and chuckled again.

"Thanks, Robin," Luffy muttered, looking very put out. More than ever, he was dreading never being able to see again. He needed his vision back, damn it!

"Wait, if you're blind, how do you know which direction we're headed in?" Sanji asked, glaring slightly at Luffy's back.

"I know," Luffy replied back curtly and with the same deep feelings as before.

Sanji sucked his teeth, but he said no more, though he gave a growl and a glare, when Zoro bumped him from behind and gave him a look of warning. "Piss off, Marimo!" he growled under his breath.

"Back off, Curly Brow," Zoro growled in return as his eyes narrowed further.

"It's all right, Zoro," Luffy suddenly said as he stared off ahead blindly. "I should have done better..."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Luffy. You're still blind. We're sure you did your best, right?" Usopp said as he looked about at the others.

"No, not his best. If he wasn't going to succeed, then he should have died trying!" Sanji said and scowled at Luffy's back.

"Eeeh? Now, hold on a minute!" Usopp started, his jaw dropping.

"But I don't want Luffy to die!" Chopper cried at the same time.

"Don't be stupid!" Zoro also cried.

"There's no need for him to die!" Franky said and scoffed to this as well.

"Of course he should!" Sanji said, now scowling at them as well.

"Aah, please, let's calm down. You all have my heart racing! Ah, if I had a heart! Yohohoho~!"

"Enough!" Luffy yelled and finally turned to frown deeply at all of them. He was looking at them clearly, since their energy piqued from everyone getting excited. "I get it! I failed, okay?" he cried, looking directly at Sanji. "No one is regretting it more than I am! I'm disappointed in myself! I should have done better, blind or not! And don't make excuses for me!" He then looked to Usopp, who deflated, but then he just looked to Zoro, who nodded in return to him. Luffy also nodded as he faced forward again and said, "We don't have time for this! So shut up, and let's find Nami!"

"Che!" Sanji exclaimed, but did as his captain ordered, as did the rest of them. They then took off running, Luffy relying on Robin to guide him and putting his full trust into her.

x

"Let go of me!" Nami cried as she kneed and punched the man holding her as he took her all the way back to their ship, which was harbored and hidden on the other side of the island. He said nothing as he climbed up the ropes to the deck of their ship and then dropped Nami onto the floor of it. Soon, his buddies joined him, but Nami looked none too pleased. "You're going to regret this!" she cried and scowled up at them.

"You think we'll regret this? I think not, little girl. Now, you are going to do your job, and guide us through the Grandline. And... maybe you will be good at another job too," the captain said and smirked nastily to her. She knew perfectly well what he was insinuating.

"You won't make it out of this island," she said and glared at him, though her heart was pounding. "He will come for me..."

"No he won't. Your useless captain is dead by now," he said and smirked wider.

Nami burst into laughter, though she looked to him with incredulity. "You think he would die from a little stab wound?" she asked as she kept laughing.

He immediately lost his smirk, as did the rest of the crew, and then he said, "Even if he did live, he won't be for much longer. He can't see, and no one's going to help a pirate back to his ship. By the time the rest of your crew realizes something's wrong, we will be long gone from here." Looking to the rest of his crew, he cried, "Set sail! Let's get out of here!"

"You won't make it," she said, calmly as she remained seated on the floor of the deck. "They'll come for me."

"Just do your job!" the captain said and kicked her down. "Where do we go?"

Nami slowly sat up again, but she did not say anything to him, and then she looked up at him again. So, he kicked her again. She grunted as she hit the ground again, this time, just pushing herself up a bit. "They will come for me..."

"Sounds more like she's just trying to convince herself that they'll save her. Not this time, lovely," one of the crew said as he smirked at her.

"No, I don't need to convince myself," she said and shook her head. She then turned it to look at him. "I know."

They all began to frown and glare at her, and so the captain backhanded her across the face. "Am I going to have to torture you to get you to tell us where to go?" he growled down to her, but then he sucked his teeth and looked to one of his crew. "Just get us going, until we can get her to do it. I don't want any trouble."

"Yes, cap'n," he said and headed off. "Let's get out of here!"

Nami frowned deeply and just turned to look towards the island. They would come for her, she knew it, but would they make it on time? Yes, they had to. She knew Luffy would do anything to come for her, especially now. No, not especially now. She knew he would always try his best for them. This made her smile.

Just as the ship was beginning to sail away from where it was harbored, a pair of hands grabbed onto the railing, causing the ship to stop with a groan and turn to the side slightly.

"What the hell is going on?" the captain demanded.

Nami gasped and looked to the rails and seeing the hands, as well as the outstretched arms. Her face broke into a bright smile, and she whispered, "Luffy!"

Her crewmates then began climbing up the rope ladders, already fighting the men coming at them. Luffy then pulled back on the rail and let himself shoot up into the air. He landed in a crouch on the deck and slowly stood up as he looked about. When he spotted Nami, he lurched forward and cried, "Nami!"

However, someone grabbed her and pulled her away, making her cry out. "I don't think so!" he said and brought up a sword to her throat.

"Give me back my navigator!" Luffy cried and scowled back at the man.

"I think you're mistaken. She's our navigator now," the captain said as he came down from the upper deck with the wheel.

"And you'd be mistaken, if you think we're going to let you take her," Zoro said and glared as everyone squared off.

"She is my navigator," Luffy said slowly and dangerously as he stared intently at the opposing captain.

"Luffy," Nami whispered and closed her eyes as the sword pressed more against her throat.

"We're not falling for your tricks this time," Sanji said as he took in a puff of his cigarette and blew out the smoke. "You won't even come close to winning."

One of the enemy scowled as he pulled out some small flash bombs to blind them, but just as he was about to throw them, Usopp brought up his Kabuto with lightning speed and shot them right out of his hand. The man cried out, and the bombs flew off into the sea.

"As we said, we're not falling for your stupid tricks this time," Zoro said and lunge forward and the crew followed.

Luffy threw his fist, punching the man holding Nami, and she fell to the ground. He then went straight for the captain, now that Nami was free and joining the fight. Without all their cheap tricks and careful planning to back them, they were taken down easily by the Strawhat crew, which showed the enemies true strength, or rather, lack their of. Though it still took some time, seeing as they were outnumbered.

Luffy, on the other hand, had his handicap, but he was not about to lose again to this captain. He could see his enemy clearly, and just had to be careful, when that enemy thrust forward. He dodged each time, narrowly escaping the point of his blade, which nicked his skin each time. He jumped around, annoying his enemy and threw small jabs to hinder him.

"You rubbery son of a bitch!" the captain cried, looking angry and looking tired as he chased Luffy around. "How are you able to dodge my attacks, when you can't see!?" he yelled and thrust his sword at Luffy again, but Luffy agilely flipped back, kicking the captain's chin. The man cried out and flew back, losing his sword, which went skidding across the deck.

Luffy immediately jumped up, landing over the captain and grabbed the front of his shirt. Pulling him up close to his face, he growled, "No one takes away my navigator. No one takes away my crew. Even if I can't see, I will protect them!"

The captain gaped up at Luffy, but then glanced behind him. His eyes grew larger as he saw Luffy's crew slowly approaching them, but then just stop as they watched their captain. His own crew was already taken out. He could see it in this crew's eyes; the respect and care, even love, that each held for their rubbery captain. He then deflated, knowing they had lost. Not only had they lost strength wise, but they also lost in spirit. This man had a very good crew, which meant the man, himself, was far superior in every aspect. He said so himself. Even if he could not see, he would protect his crew. He had not left it up to his crew, but had come to fight himself, and he had succeeded. It was no wonder his crew fought so hard for him.

Pulling back his fist, Luffy punched the captain hard, sending him flying across the deck. "Never come after my crew again!" he warned and then sighed out, seeing as he was still injured. "Let's get out of here..." he said and turned, but looked directly at Nami. He felt relief, and he was glad they made it in time. He was not sure what he would have done, had they not, and this showed within his eyes. His lips even thinned out, and he just did not want to think of it.

Seeing this as well, Nami's own eyes swarmed, and just not caring, she ran forward and wrapped her arms around him. "It's okay, Luffy. I knew you'd come," she whispered to him.

He did not hesitate to wrap his arms around her, though he nearly fell against her, and a few eye brows shot up. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Luffy then sighed and whispered, "I'm sorry, Nami... I wasn't able to protect you."

Nami shook her head and whispered, "And I wasn't able to protect myself... I promise I will get stronger, and we will be able to protect each other."

Burying his face within her neck, he nodded and said, "And if I can never see, I promise to do the same."

"What the hell is going on!? Nami-san? Luffy?" Sanji asked, looking as if his feathers had been ruffled.

"Did you not think their relationship would not improve with them spending so much time together?" Robin asked with a soft chuckle as she smiled to the captain and navigator.

"And not to mention Nami was willing to spend some much time with him?" Zoro said and scoffed, though he smirked to the irritating cook.

Nami huffed and pulled back from Luffy, deciding to ignore them all. "Come on, let's go back to the ship. You need to get looked at," she said, taking Luffy's hand within hers and guiding him to the railing to climb down with him.

Sanji grumbled under his breath, but followed along with his crewmates to go back to their ship, looking very unhappy.

Author's Note: I hope you guys weren't too disappointed with the choice I made. I didn't want to drag it out with a long fight, which I wouldn't have been able to write properly, and instead gave you a sweet and simple one. Anyways, let me know your thoughts. Next chapter should be my last one. So, look forward to it. :X Thanks so much for your continued support, you guys. :)