Chapter 123: Enter Invisibility!

The dining table was inside a large hall adorned with paintings of various animals and people, in the centre of the room was a large fireplace paying host to a huge roaring fire, which had a whole boar on a spit slowly roasting above. A huge marble staircase at the end of the room, came down into the room from the upper levels, above of which hung a chandelier, of cut crystal glass illuminated by candles, and creating little rainbows dancing actors the walls. On the floor to the side of the table was a bear rug made from a polar bear, its fur was snow white and also covered in stitches. Sitting at the head of the table was the laughing Dr. Hogback with Cindry standing a little way behind him. The straw hats present in the room were seated around the table: Vivi and Nami next to each other and opposite from Sanji and Robin, whilst Zoro and Franky sat opposite Hogback. "Like I said before, I rarely ever get visitors! So when I do I like to spoil them, before they leave. So, what brings you people here? And why are you all so filthy?" The doctor asked wiping food from his face with a napkin. "Our ship was trapped in the Florian Triangle, and when we ended up her our ship was struck upon by a giant spider. And next we were attacked by zombies outside your mansion".

Hogback, downed his glass of wine before looking up at the pirates. "Zombies, you say", he spoke questioningly, his eyes glinting. "How can you not be aware..." Sanji began but stopped himself at suddenly being kicked under the table and receiving a glare from Nami. "Um, quick question," Franky cut in. "What are the zombies doing on this island?" Trying to hide the fact that they were aware of who actually ran this island form the shadows, the straw hats listened to the doctors response. "In all truthfulness, I don't know. I came here years ago after hearing about an island where zombies lived, and I decided to study them". Sanji, frowned "Study them? Why would you willingly be anywhere around them?" Cindry moved in to clean the food stains on the table, due to her serving the food straight on the table before each person.

"When most people hear the word zombie", Hogback began, "they immediately conjure up images of a brain eating monsters, about a sin against nature. But what if we saw them through a different lens. A lens of resurrection". Involuntarily, the whole crew shuddered, unnoticed by Hogback, but indeed witnessed by Cindry. "People coming back from the dead. That would be a miracle! The dream of all doctors and scientists around the world; how to achieve permanent longevity! But my old employers scorned my work, stripped me of my medical licence and declared me a criminal. That's why I came here, to complete my work in solitude, away from prying eyes, and funded by my generous benefactor".

It was at that moment that Cindry returned into the hall carrying a tray of custard tarts before unceremoniously dumping them onto the table, muttering about useless utensils and crockery. "Cindry!" Hogback exasperated, "I know you dislike plates, but really. Main meals I don't mind on the table but deserts...couldn't you at least have these on a plate?" Cindry didn't even respond, simply walking out of the room as quietly as she had arrived, whispering; "I wish every plate in the world would disappear," as the doors closed behind her. Wrinkling her nose, Vivi watched as the doctor, Zoro and Franky started licking their food from the table. As for Sanji, he had picked up his and was attempting to feed to Nami, who had resolutely refused to eat anything from this creepy place.

Next to her, Robin had used her devil fruit to sprout six hands for the table; hold her custard tart and pick it apart each hand feeding her a different piece of tart. "I have to say..." Robin uttered, "Cindry is a very good patisserie chef". The others simply blinked at the archaeologist for her completely irrelevant statement at this time. "One more question," Franky added, sitting up from his finished desert. "Have you seen a skeleton running around?" Hogback stopped in the middle of eating the last of the pastry, and looked up. "A skeleton?" He repeated, running a hand through his hair, trying to calm his sudden racing nerves and stymie any perspiration, as a give away sign of 'yes he did' know a skeleton. "Yeah," the shipwright nodded. "All bones with this big afro and dressed in a suit and bow tie. Really cheery fellow for someone whose been dead for forty years". Unable to prevent beads of sweat trickling down his face, the doctor broke into a cold sweat, before picking up a glass of water and dousing himself in it. "Never seen him before. Now if you would please follow Cindry, she'll lead you to your rooms and the bath".

"Isn't this nice?" Nami spoke. Inclining her head towards Vivi and Robin. The three females had decided to avail themselves in the large bathroom. Warm water and bubbles rippled around their bodies, whilst steam rose in the air and quickly condensed onto cold mirror and the windows. "Yeah..." Vivi sighed, from a sedentary position in the water. "I can feel my muscles detoxing", the princess replied glancing over at the navigator before looking at Robin sat on the edge on the steps into the water, book in hand, humming softly. "Hey Robin... where'd you learn that tune? It's very memorable", Vivi asked. Realising that she had also been involuntarily entranced by the tune, Nami opened her eyes and looked at the archeologist. Robin smiled as she marked her page, and closed her book.

"Back in Alabaster", she began, "when I snuck onboard the Merry, I overheard Luffy and Ace humming. I suppose it's a memento of their shared childhood". The immediate mention of Luffy made Vivi flush bright red, and as for Nami; she simply stood up, unashamedly naked, and walked over to Robin. "Luffy has sung bits of it to me..." she stated, "I guess that it's a tune sung by sailors and family members, as well as a promise to meet again, after long voyages", the navigator explained. Sitting down next to the archeologist, she murmured a couple of lyrics;

"Night is falling, so ends this day... over hill and under tree...I bid you all a very fond farewell"

As she ended her verse, Nami placed hand over her heart, and gently caressed a gold chain and pendant; from Luffy. "He really is quite sweet when he wants to be..." she mused, reclining back into the warm water, missing the blush on the princesses face and the melancholic guilt on Robins.

"I haven't been able to do something like this since I was little", Nami trailed off as she rubbed shampoo into Vivi's hair. "Sisterhood suits you", Robin uttered as she towelled off at the side of the large sunken bath. She then noticed the faint blush appearing on the navigators cheeks, as she continued to wash Vivi's hair. "Hopefully, after we find the One Piece, and Luffy becomes the Pirate King. I want to start a family", Nami uttered. Flabbergasted, Vivi tried to turn around. Only to remember that she was in the middle of a hair routine.

"Y-y-you want kids?" She stuttered, "does Luffy know about this?" A look of concern appeared in Vivi's face as she realised the dangers of raising a child on a pirate ship; and although having Suki in the crew was a worry sometimes, she was also twelve years old and old enough to know how to protect herself as a pirate and what o avoid. Shaking her head, Nami replied, "Luffy's so focused on his dream. I'm just afraid that if we have a child, he wouldn't be able to handle looking for one piece and being a father at the same time. Me as well, I mean we're both seventeen".

"I get to be godmother right..." Vivi grinned, turning her as best as she could. From the other side of the sunken bath, Robin fidgeted as she got dressed; trying not to think about her as Luffy's secret and random hook-up. If anyone found out, there was going to be one humongous argument. And that was going to be just Sanji, she didn't want to think about Nami or Vivi's fury. "Hey, Robin?" The princess spoke, "you agree, don't you, that if Nami and Luffy have a child then the whole crew can come together and help out raising them?"

Just as the archeologist was about to respond, her sixth sense began playing up and she spun around and created a myriad of arms sprouting from the tiled floor and grabbing onto the outline of a figure; trying to wrest themselves free. Vivi and Nami both bolted from the water and made sure to have themselves covered by towels, visible furious. "What the fuck! Who is this pervert?" Vivi exclaimed outstretching her left hand and throwing out a mini sandstorm that struck the immobile outline and taking away his hidden presence.

"Delicious," a deep male voice purred, as a blonde haired man in a dress shirt black trousers and wide coat tails pushed himself up from the floor. His face was human but with feline whiskers and nose. "You're exquisitely beautiful", he started pointing at Nami, "I think I'll make you my bride". Then next thing the three females knew was the man disappeared again and reappeared before the navigator grabbing her and hoisting her over his shoulder; shamelessly copping a feel in the process.

"Get off me!" Nami yelled, elbowing her kidnapper in the vicinity of where she imagined his face to be, but the invisible man held her tightly, "now now, my precious bride-to be, I can give you what you want," he purred, lecherously. "I wouldn't mind having a couple of kids with a pretty thing like you." He was suddenly cut off by the doors of the bathroom being burst wide open by a hard fast kick from Sanji, whom yelled; "the only person who Nami loves, regrettably, is our captain. So. Let. Her. Go!"

The actions of sanji, who despite being the presence of the semi naked Nami and Vivi, and the half dressed Robin, managed to direct his fury towards the non visible male, holing the navigator. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the usually stoic Zoro, who appeared behind the chef ready to defend their friend and shipmate but upon seeing Robin in a state of semi undress, he suffered a nosebleed and collapsed to the floor wheezing. Taking the momentary lapse in the pirates attention, the invisible man kicked open the windows and jumped out, still carrying the screaming navigator, "I'll make you my wife. And you will love me!"