Eleutheromania
Chapter Twenty
I've noticed that this has started to become more of a Lami-centric fic than a Sabo-centric… Oops. I think I'm a little bit in love with Lami. ^_^" Anyway, it'll be Eleutheromania's first birthday next month! Do you want something special done up?
"You lied to them, Nii-sama. Sister says you're not supposed to do that." Lami scolded as she pulled on a new dress.
Law shook his head, pacing around their shared room. "Something didn't sit right – why didn't he talk? Who were those kids? If they knew that he was a User, then they should have been worried that he had fallen into the sea, but they just laughed. So either they don't know, or they don't care. I don't like it… You stay away from them, Lami."
She snorted, and started to towel off her hair. "Where am I going to see them again? I'm always either at school or here or the beach with you."
"Then until they leave, let's not go to the beach anymore."
"Law – !"
"As your big brother, it's my job to look after you, no matter what, right?" Law demanded. "I think those kids were pirates too, so stay away from them all, ok?"
True to Koala's predictions, the Blue Scribes sailed into port not long after midday – Sabo's stomach had been grumbling ever since Lami had finished removing his stiches, so everyone was pretty keen to land. To everyone except Lami's surprise, though, one of the Komusō had met them at the jetty, and helped them tie Koala's boat to the pier.
"Welcome to Templar Island," The Komusō said in a soft voice from beneath a black basket. "All are welcome, but I'm afraid that no weapons are allowed." The tone of voice was perfectly respectful, but there was a hard edge there, as well. "Who is the Captain of the vessel?"
Sabo stepped forward, pulling on the new shirt Leif had made for him, with his typical smile in place. "Ah, that would be me, Komusō-san. I'm Sabo, and we're the B – ow, Lami, dammit!"
Lami had clotheslined him in the nose, before he could give too many details away, and bowed respectfully to the priest. "My apologies for our captain. I'm Lami, the doctor; this is the navigator, Koala, and the tailor, Leif. Please, do you have any long-range Den Den Mushi? It's just that Koala-chan's father is ill, and she was hoping to talk to him before he departs for a better place." The three Scribes all attempted to keep straight faces at Lami's boldfaced lies, but it was a close run thing (Sabo in particular was glad he had an excuse to be covering his face).
The Komusō bowed back. "Of course. Once everyone has disembarked, I shall take her there myself. Please make sure you leave your weapons aboard your ship." The Scribes bowed in return. "Just so that you are all aware, we also have a Marine ship docked on the other side of the island. So please do something about that," he added, pointing at their pirate's flag.
The Scribes sweatdropped, and Sabo clambered up the mast to tie it down. As this was happening, Lami stepped closer to the priest, and held over her medical bag.
"Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam," She said quietly. "As a doctor, I have some pretty dangerous objects on hand, for all medical occasions. The nodachi I use for self-defence shall remain on board, of course, but…"
The priest inclined his basketted head. "I will inform my brothers. If I may, sensei, where are you from? It is rare to find someone of your faith."
Lami played with the chain that hung around her neck, watching as Koala and Leif tried to help Sabo untangle himself from the sail ropes. "North Blue."
"Ah, I see." The priest nodded. "You are from that island, then? May I see that?"
Lami's fingers stilled, before carefully pulling the chain of her cross out from under her dress with her tattooed arm.
"Ah, of course. You are the little girl Sister Jacques D Molly spoke of so fondly. It is an honour to have you on this island, Trafalgar-sensei."
"Just Lami will be fine," She said, inclining her head once, before moving to help get Sabo back on deck, the cross tucked back beneath her dress.
With the minor dramas sorted out, the Komusō asked each of them to state what weapons they possessed, and place them belowdecks on the kitchen table. Sabo's pipe, Senzo no Chi, Koala's filleting knife and Leif's small hunting dagger were all placed carefully on the table, and then the priest led them all back through the town they'd landed in. Their first stop had been to the guest houses to store their packs for the night; all guests to Templar Island were given a bunk in the guest houses, so that was to be the Scribes rendezvous spot, should they become separated.
Once all of the Scribes had picked out their bunks (there were two bunks to a room, so they were all together, at least) and settled their belongings, the priest took them into the small dining area for a quiet lunch.
"This is delicious!" Sabo exclaimed, tucking in to the bowl of egg and rice.
Koala and Lami watched him and Leif in mild disgust, shovelling food into their mouths as though there was no tomorrow. Interestingly enough to Lami, Sabo seemed to be guarding his food as he ate, eyes flickering every which way and body poised as if to launch himself at somebody – maybe he hadn't always gotten enough to eat, in that Jungle?
"You're both being rude!" Koala scolded. "You need to breathe as you eat, you know!"
Both boys poised with their latest mouthful halfway to their face, eyes guarded. Sabo coughed and cleared his throat, nudging Leif and bowing to the Komusō. "Sorry about that! I'm used to having to fight for every mouthful, you see, so I apologise if I offended you. Na, Leif?"
Wild green hair bobbed as Leif nodded in agreement. "Sorry, mate! 'S some pretty decent tucker!"
Koala and Lami facepalmed.
"You know, everyone, I think the next nakama we should find should be a cook!" Sabo told the Scribes cheerfully, still eating at a slightly-faster-than-normal pace. "The best cook in the world, how's that sound?"
Koala flicked a piece of rice into his eye. "This again?! Sabo-kun!"
He laughed, and the rest of the lunch passed quite quickly. As the priest had to attend in a prayer service in just a little while, he offered to give the Scribes a brief tour of the small town before he had to leave them to their own devices. They all agreed readily, with the understanding that they would all meet back in their room at five, should they get separated
That, as it turned out, was a very good idea.
Leif was the first to disappear, his 'friends' and his ears leading him directly to the island's sole loomhouse, where he gleefully informed the others to go on without him, promising to make everybody new clothes with the knowledge he was about to pick up.
"Is he always like that?" The priest asked the sweatdropping Scribes.
"I hope not," Lami grumbled.
"He's still new…" Koala mumbled.
"He only joined us on the last island," Sabo added, before shaking his head, and attempting to regain his earlier good mood. "On the bright side, just think about that! New cloths will be cool!"
The girls both shot scathing looks at the blonde captain, which he cheerfully ignored.
"Lead on, Komusō-san!"
Koala departed next, staying at the Communications Room to contact Dragon, whilst Lami and Sabo continued their tour with the priest. Eventually, however, he had to go join the mass, leaving the remaining Scribes to their own devices. Basically, they just decided to wander through the woods around the township they'd landed in, and see if they couldn't reconnaissance any nearby Marines (Sabo's idea, not Lami's – she only agreed in the end because she couldn't sense any humans in there with her Haki).
"So," He began cheerfully once the township was out of sight. Lami could already feel a headache developing.
"What now?"
"You didn't say you were religious."
Lami frowned at him. "That's because I'm not: I'm an atheist."
Sabo raised his eyebrows, at that. "Then why do you wear that cross?"
Lami spun them both around and pushed Sabo up against a tree, a gloved forearm against his throat. "Didn't we have a discussion, not four hours ago, about not going into my past?" Her gold-brown eyes were fierce.
Sabo held up his hands, placating. "Hey, I was just asking if you were religious. Didn't mention your past or anything. Just curious."
"Curiosity killed the cat!" Lami spat back, stepping away and moving off again.
"But satisfaction brought it back," Sabo called, chasing after her and rubbing a hand against his throat. Lami turned around, ready to yell, before closing her mouth furiously with an audible snap. She drew in a deep breath, appeared to count to ten with her eyes closed, then turned back around the other way, and started stalking back towards the township.
"Hey! Lami, wait up! I didn't mean to offend you!"
She flicked him the finger, and continued back to the town.
Sabo groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "Jeez, she's even harder than Ace was!"
On the streets of Loguetown, a darkhaired, freckled pirate captain sneezed. "Ah, must be a beautiful woman talking about me! I bet it's that bounty!"
"Oi! Come back here, pirate!"
"Huh? Ah, better run – men! Let's set sail! Sabo, Luffy – here I go! The Grand Line!"
"… and now he's saying that we should pick up a cook as well! Dragon-san, you have to talk to Sabo-kun about this stupid idea of his – I mean, who's ever even heard of Revolutionary Pirates, anyway!? What an idea!"
There was a dry snort from the Den Den Mushi. "What an idea, indeed. Don't you think that this might be the sort of change necessary for our cause, Koala? Something to turn the tide?"
Koala pouted. "It can turn as many tides as it wants, people aren't going to want to help us once they find out that some of our members are pirates!"
"Some of our members are already pirates, Koala. Of all people, you should know that."
Koala blushed, her fingers brushing the bottom of her sun brand, hidden beneath the back of her dress. "…Oh… But still, sir I –!"
"Koala!" Sabo suddenly appeared at the doorway. "You're a girl, right?"
Her eyebrow twitched. "Sabo-kun, where are you going with this?"
"I made Lami mad again – how do I fix it? I mean, I just go find more food for my brothers when we're fighting, but that never worked on Makino-san, so what do you do for a girl?! Ah, hello, Dragon-san!"
There was a chuckle from the snail phone, and Koala thumped her head on the table.
It was going to be a looong trip back to Baltigo.
Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam : Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give glory – the Templars motto. There will be more on this next chapter ;)
Jacques D Molay – a play on Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar. Molly is the name I gave the Sister in Flevance because why not?