A.N: Be prepared for the "Evil cliffhanger of death" as my readers called it.
Chapter 25: Parents
"What?"
"My mother, she got in to a car accident!" Nami explained "Nojiko's waiting me at her workplace; I need to get there as soon as I can so that we can go back to Cocoyashi."
"She works at Party's bar, right?" as soon as Luffy got a nod he took Nami's hand, dashing towards the front doors of the building they had come out of five minutes ago.
"Luffy! Where are you two going!?" Usopp yelled as they passed him, but they kept on running all the way inside, up many stairs and straight to Dragon's office. At the moment neither bothered to think how Luffy remembered the way, especially since Nami was still too stunned to think straight.
"Dad!" Luffy yelled as he threw the door to Dragon's office open. Said man sighed, asking: "What is it, Luffy? I have work to do."
"You need to drop us to Makino's bar" Luffy told. Dragon crossed his arms, asking: "And why's that?"
"Dad, we're in hurry!" was the only answer he got. The father and son held a silent staring contest for a while before Dragon gave in: "Fine, but you'll have to explain it to me later."
They left the building, going to Dragon's car. Normally he had his own driver, but he decided to drive himself this time because of Luffy's restlessness. They passed the front door and the buss still hadn't come.
"We get there faster this way" Luffy said.
"Yeah" Nami said, still in shock. Luffy frowned, asking: "You okay Nami?"
"I'll be fine" she assured "Your phone is ringing."
"I know" Luffy said, taking it out "Hello?"
"Luffy, where the hell did you two go?" Zoro asked from the other end of the line "Shanks keeps asking me about it even though you didn't tell me anything."
"Give the phone to Shanks" Luffy simply said, his serious tone making Zoro do as he was told.
"Alright you trouble maker, you have three seconds to explain yourself. One-"
"Nami's mom got hit by a car" Luffy blurted out, silencing the red haired teacher "We're going to her sister so that they can go back to their hometown."
"...You two have a ride?" Shanks asked.
"Yeah" Luffy confirmed.
"Got it" Shanks said and Luffy could hear him sigh on the line "Make sure Nami gets to her sister."
"I will" Luffy said, hanging up. Dragon, who had been listening the conversation, understood the situation better now. He concentrated on the road again, driving faster. In situations like these time was always precious.
XXXXX
When Dragon parked the car in front of the bar, Nami jumped off, yelling: "Thanks for the ride!"
She could see Nojiko's car, where she was already waiting, and ran there. They were off under a minute.
"That was fast" Dragon said, but got no answer from Luffy who had already jumped off as well "Where are you going?"
"Home" Luffy said simply. Dragon got out of the car, locking it.
"You sure you don't want to go get something to eat?" he asked, adding with a knowing smirk "My treat."
Luffy froze. Free dinner? Why did his father use that, he knew he couldn't refuse!
"Fine" he said and they walked in to the bar.
"It's been a while, Makino" Dragon said to the green haired barmaid, getting her attention.
"Ah, Dragon-san, haven't seen you in a while!" she said cheerfully, noticing Luffy "And Luffy too! How's Ace doing?"
"He's fine" Luffy said, sitting down. Makino's smile fell a bit as she noticed that Luffy and his father hadn't seemed to have made up after all.
"At least they get along well enough not to try strangling each other" she thought, asking: "Your orders?"
"The usual" they both said, making Luffy glare at his father. Makino glanced at Dragon. They both knew this was going to be a long night.
XXXXX
"Gen!" Nami yelled as she saw her father figure sitting on a couch in the lobby "How's Bellemere-san?!"
"In the operating room" Genzo said, gritting his teeth "The doctors are doing all they can, but..."
As Genzo trailed off the girls understood the seriousness of Bellemere's condition: it was possible that she wouldn't survive.
"Bellemere-san..." Nojiko mumbled. She could still remember the day she had met the woman.
Flashback:
Nojiko was walking hand in hand with Nami in the streets of Drum kingdom, which had a terrible civil war going on. Not that the four year old knew much about it, but death and hunger had been everyday things to her ever since she could remember.
"Nojiko, I'm hungry" little Nami said.
"So am I, but do you see any food?" Nojiko asked. Her parents had died when their house crashed on them and she had become an orphan, living on the streets just like many other children. Few days later she had met Nami, who had told her that her parents hadn't been awake in three days. It would be much later before the orange haired girl realized that her parents had died of hunger, having given the little food they had to their daughter.
"No" Nami said, looking down and trying to ignore the dead bodies they passed. Civil war of Drum, which had lasted for 14 years, was currently going its third year. Later the place would be known as the Sakura Kingdom.
"Let's just keep walking; I'm sure we'll find someone to steal from soon." Nojiko said. Hunger wasn't the only thing that kept them walking; cold did that too. It was easier to stay warm while in the move.
"Nojiko, look!" Nami said. She was pointing at a middle sized bag, which seemed to belong to a pink haired woman smoking a cigar. The bag was lying carelessly next to her feet and she was looking off in space, lost in her thoughts. Nojiko smirked in a way no four years old should be capable of as she said: "I'll bluff; you take the bag and run."
"Okay" Nami chimed. She was faster than the older girl and Nojiko was better at bluffing, so things worked just fine this way. Nojiko went over to the woman, getting her attention.
"What do ya want, kid?" she asked, blowing out some smoke.
"Do you know what day it is, old lady?" Nojiko asked, ignoring the vein popping on the woman's forehead as she saw Nami getting closer to them and the bag.
"Old lady? Where are your manners, kid?" Bellemere asked, trying hard not to lose her temper. It was not prober for a peacekeeper to hit children.
"Sorry" Nojiko said "So, do you?"
Nami was closer and Bellemere still hadn't noticed anything; so far so good.
"Yeah, it's Wednesday" Bellemere replied. Nojiko had actually meant the date and month, but didn't comment. Nami was almost there...
"And what time?" Nojiko asked. Bellemere blinked, wondering why the kid wanted to know, but answered anyway: "12:30."
Nojiko smiled, Nami had gotten the bag. Now just a little while long-
"Hey kid, get back here!" Bellemere yelled as she noticed how Nami took off with her bag. She got up, but before she got after Nami Nojiko took a hold of her hand, asking: "Hey lady, do you know where the bakery is?"
"Not now kid; I've got a thief to catch" Bellemere said, pulling her hand away. Luckily Nojiko had already gotten Nami enough time to hide in an alleyway. The violet haired little girl smiled, leaving behind an angry peacekeeper. At that time neither of them knew that their paths would cross again very soon.
Flashback
A doctor coming towards them pulled Nojiko out of her thoughts.
"How is Bellemere doing?" Genzo asked, standing up from the couch. The doctor fixed his glasses, saying: "The surgery went well and her condition is stable now, but we don't know when she wakes up."
"Can we see her?" Nojiko asked, the doctor nodded, saying: "This way please."
XXXXX
"Oi Luffy! Where did you and Nami go earlier?" Usopp asked as Luffy finally came home.
"Is he sick?" Chopper asked after Luffy had just walked past them without even glancing at them.
"Who knows" Usopp said with a shrug. Zoro stood up, going after Luffy. Usopp had told him what had happened earlier and he was supposed to get information out of Luffy for Ace, but now he knew something was wrong. Annoying the younger man would have to wait.
"Luffy?" Zoro said, knocking on the door. When he got no answer he said: "I'm coming in."
He saw Luffy sitting on the floor in front of his bed, staring at what Zoro guessed was an old photo. The marimo closed the door, knowing that if it was as serious as he thought Luffy wouldn't want to take the risk of others hearing them. He sat next to the younger boy, but knew better than to look at the photo. Luffy'd show him if he wanted. They sat in silence for a while before Luffy said: "Zoro"
"Yeah?"
"Have I ever told you anything about my parents?" Zoro looked at Luffy in surprise, having not expected that. He had thought he'd gotten in trouble with Nami or something...
"A little"
"Like what?"
Zoro thought for a moment. What had Luffy told him again? Not much, that was for sure.
"Not much, really" he said "Your mother died after you were born and your father is a workaholic bastard."
Luffy nodded, he had said that.
"Did I ever tell you what my dad does?" he asked, but Zoro shook his head. The Marimo did have a pretty good idea of it tough, he just needed a confirmation.
"He owns a drug company" Luffy said. Zoro nodded; he had been expecting this.
"You're not surprised?" Luffy asked, finally looking up from the photo.
"Not really" Zoro admitted "I heard you talking with him once years ago and just put some pieces together."
Luffy nodded. He was relieved to see it didn't change Zoro one way or another, but he was his best friend anyway and knew about Ace too; the others might not take it so well. He didn't want to have friends just because his father was a millionaire. And there was still one thing even Zoro didn't know.
"How much do you know about my grandfather?"
"Huh?" Zoro asked, looking at him in surprise "Should I know something about him?"
This was all Luffy needed to know that Zoro didn't know a thing about the principal.
"Our principal is my grandfather" Luffy told, making Zoro blink: "Excuse me?"
"He's my gramps" Luffy repeated, slightly amused by Zoro's shocked face. The Marimo sighed, muttering: "You have one fucked up family."
Luffy laughed at this, relieved that it didn't change Zoro's opinion about him either.
"So, who else knows? Obviously Ace and Sabo, maybe Robin too, but is there anyone else?" Zoro asked, but he doubted it. Besides his brothers, Zoro was the first person Luffy ever told anything personal to.
"Yeah, Nami knows" Luffy said, shocking Zoro again.
"What? Why?" he asked.
"He heard gramps shouting at me" Luffy said, scratching his head "And I kind of slipped the thing about dad today."
"You're an idiot" Zoro said with a laugh "What did Nami say?"
"She promised to shut up about gramps, but I'm not sure about dad" Luffy told "I just have to hope she doesn't tell anyone."
And Luffy really did hope that. Zoro didn't seem to think any differently now, but they had known each other for so long. He wasn't sure about the others.
XXXXX
Nami sat next to Bellemere's bed, staring at her peaceful face. How long would she be in coma? The doctors weren't able to tell... As Nami watched her mother she remembered their first conversation together.
Flashback:
"Got you!" Bellemere yelled with a grin, finally finding and catching the thief from three days ago. Nami squirmed, yelling: "Let me go, you mean old lady! Let me go!"
Bellemere's eyebrow twitched; this was the second time she was being called old in three days!
"Watch your mouth, kid" she said "Now where are your parents? How come they let you run around stealing like this?"
"I don't have parents!" Nami told, squirming "Now let me go!"
Bellemere blinked before letting out a sigh of frustration. Orphans weren't anything new in this country even before the war; she should've known. Some kids kept wandering around the streets and since the orphanages were so full the government, or what was left of it, didn't do anything. And they didn't really have enough food or space in the orphanages anyway.
"What should I do with you, huh?" she wondered out loud. Nami, still struggling to get away, said: "I already told you, let me go! I have to get back to Nojiko!"
Bellemere smiled at this. The kid was an orphan, but it seemed she did have someone taking care of her after all.
"Well I'll take you there, just so me which way to go" Bellemere said, resisting the urge to take out a cigar. Holding the kid was hard enough already as it was; she didn't need more distraction.
"No way, I'm not letting you near her!" Nami disagreed, sticking her tongue out "Now let me go!"
"Not happening kid" Bellemere said and put Nami down, but still kept a hold of her "You're not going anywhere on your own."
Nami ignored her and kept squirming, but Bellemere didn't let go.
"Mean old hag- ow!" Nami mumbled and got hit on the head by Bellemere "Why'd you hit me!?"
"First of all, I'm not old. Second, it's rude to say hag" Bellemere said, mumbling under her breath: "You little brat."
"It's rude to call others brats" Nami said back, glaring at the woman. She glared right back, only stopping when Nami's stomach grumbled.
"Are you hungry, kid?"
"No!" Nami said, blushing as her stomach grumbled again.
"Really now? That's too bad; I have some food in my bag" Bellemere said with a smirk to the little girl glaring at her. Bellemere frowned as she saw the glint in Nami's eyes. Faster than she could react, Nami bit her arm and sprinted off right after she let go.
"Get back here!" Bellemere said, going after her, noticing that the girl was incredibly fast and the quick turns she took didn't help at all.
"Damn it..."
XXXXX
"Nojiko!" Nami yelled as she reached her friend in the alleyway they had their temporary home in. Nojiko looked up, but stayed sitting on the ground. She had hurt her leg yesterday and couldn't walk.
"Did you get any food?" Nojiko asked although she did notice Nami came back empty handed.
"No, the old lady was there again" Nami said, jumping when she heard: "Didn't I tell you to not call me old?"
"Nami, you idiot! Why'd you lead her here!?" Nojiko yelled, looking at the panicking three year old. Bellemere raised an eyebrow as she recognized the older girl, realizing they had worked together.
"But she followed me!" Nami told, moving in front of Nojiko, facing Bellemere "Go away!"
"Easy kid, I'm not going to hurt you or your friend" Bellemere said, slowly sitting down to not to scare the kids. Nami packed away a few steps before snapping: "I'm not afraid of you!"
"Sure you're not" Bellemere said, taking food out of her bag "Hungry?"
"No" Nami denied as her stomach grumbled.
"Is that so?" Bellemere asked, slowly taking a bite of her sandwich with a mocking smile "These sandwiches are delicious."
Bellemere looked at the orange haired little girl, who looked like she was about to give up.
"Nami don´t, you can't take food from a stranger!" Nojiko yelled as she saw the younger girl hesitating. Bellemere chuckled, saying: "You're a smart girl."
She got up, literally lifting Nami out of her way.
"Now let's take a look at your leg" she said, crouching down in front of the little girl.
"My leg is fine" Nojiko said stubbornly "Go away."
Bellemere smiled at the stubborn little girl; she had guts. However, she needed to know the condition of her leg.
"I'm not gonna hurt you, kid, now show me that leg of yours." Nojiko hesitated, but rolled up her pant leg anyway. This was the start of the small family living in the edges of Cocoyashi.
Flashback
Nami sighed, looking at her mother. Everything had been so well and now this happened... someone up there was laughing his as off.
XXXXX
"You look happy" Robin commented as Dragon got back to his office. She and Sabo were still there, waiting for Dragon to come back.
"You could say that; we might not have really talked but at least I managed to get Luffy to sit in the same table with me." Dragon said, walking over to the window "Things start looking better now."
"You served him dinner, right?" Sabo said with a lazy smirk "Luffy doesn't say no to a free meal no matter who offers it."
A vein popped on Dragon's head, but he kept facing the window since he knew Sabo was right.
"May I ask why did you leave in the first place?" Robin asked. Dragon smirked, replying: "Luffy needed a ride."
"Seriously, from you?" Sabo asked with a raised eyebrow, knowing full well that the father and son didn't really get along.
"Yes, from me" Dragon said, getting irritated "For once not from you, but from me."
"Maybe he knew Sabo's car is broken?" Robin suggested. Silence filled the room and then Dagon dropped on to his knees.
"Why must you always ruin my good mood?" the company leader muttered from the floor, depressed. Sabo burst out laughing and Robin said while giggling: "My apologies, sir."
A.N: Making people depressed is a gift, no? :p