Chapter 21- Come Back To Us, Luffy

One Piece © Eiichiro Oda

Ashley, William Henley, Beau-Père, and The G-13 Base © HatOnFire/Me

"Y-You want to help me?" Luffy questioned, unsure of whether his former crewmate was being honest or not.

"Cross my heart," Nami nodded, "I do."

At least 10 minutes ago, Nami had snuck inside the detention center of the base, in no small part to Henley. While she worked to find her captain, she managed to get the key to his cell from defeating a group of guards. Now, here she stands, four feet away from the cell of the person she came to rescue.

"That's the thing," Luffy shifted his gaze away from the navigator, "I don't know if I can."

"Because you think I don't have any respect or faith in you, right?"

The former captain sighed, looking back on the adventures they had on the Grand Line so far. He remembered so many moments, from when he and Nami explored an island filled with animals and a man stuck in a treasure chest to traveling up to Skypeia via the Knock Up Stream.

"You know, I trusted you back then," He said, "I still trusted you even when you took the Merry back at the East Blue. I thought I still could when you left with Shiki..." He glared at the floor beneath him, "But you betrayed my trust. That's when I thought you didn't have faith in me anymore."

"I'm really sorry, Luffy," Nami reflected on her actions with grief.

"I don't think you are," Luffy quietly seethed, looking up to face her. "You've lied to me before, so I don't think you're sorry...!" His rage dissipated, replaced with sorrow. "How can you be when you have an idiot for a captain?"

"Don't blame yourself for all that's happened. Just blame me. You have every reason to do so."

The black-haired boy looked a little to the side, listening to Nami's words.

"Do you remember anything about Drum Island when you were sick?" He queried, "Up to when you felt better?"

The navigator remembered a little bit of what happened at Drum Island. It was where they met Chopper, but she didn't remember anything else.

"I actually thought you were gonna die back then," Luffy grew more solemn, "I tried my damnedest to save you when you were sick. But I couldn't do much except carry you to the top of the mountain. And the worse part? It was my fault that you were sick in the first place."

"What do you mean, your fault?" Nami pondered.

"If I didn't get your clothes burned, then some bug wouldn't have bitten you and made you sick."

"Luffy, come on," Nami shook her head, "If you didn't do that, I would've been a wax sculpture for the rest of my afterlife."

"Well, it's still my fault you almost died back there. I more than deserved that debt you forced on me when I ruined your coat."

"O-Oh, you remember that part."

"I couldn't not remember that," He sighed, talking on, "When you gave me that jacket, and when I left you in the room, I was wondering something. I may have been confused about it, but I felt... good. I don't think I ever felt something like this before. I thought I did, but it was all wrong."

'My heart couldn't stop beating that day,' He thought privately, 'I think I grew a little bit warmer, too. I don't know now if what I felt was real or not.'

"Anyway," Luffy spoke up again, "I was about to ask you something, even if I didn't exactly understand it, but then... that happened."

"Oh, Luffy..."

It was Nami's turn to hang her head in shame. Luffy saved her many times when they first met, and broke Arlong's grasp on her in the East Blue. He is the reason everyone was still alive now, but what has she done to repay him? Constantly reminding him of his idiocy, arguing and beating him up over some of the pettiest of things, putting him in debt, and taking advantage of his airheadedness over the stolen pirate flag incident.

On top of that, there was a chance he could have told her how he felt. But would she feel the same way? Does she still? Nami couldn't wrap her head around the idea. She only found out recently and put it aside because she prioritized her captain's safety. That, and she already decided she ruined the prospect of it.

'Well,' She sighed, 'There's one more thing that can be chalked up to a fleeting fantasy. I should've known this kind of thing could never work for someone like me.'

"None of this would've happened," Luffy said, breaking through her thoughts. "If I were smarter and stronger."

"What?" Nami questioned, not understanding what Luffy was getting at.

"If I were a different person, you wouldn't hate me. No one would hate me. You wouldn't have lied to me about that flag, you wouldn't beat me or call me names, and I would think that maybe..."

Luffy went quiet, contemplating whether or not to finish the thought.

"No, that's not important anymore. All I think now is that you would've been happier if I didn't exist at all."

"NO!" The thief quickly objected to Luffy's logic, "That's bullshit! I wouldn't be here without you! If you were different, none of your crew, your friends, would be alive!"

"But-"

"I'M NOT DONE!" Nami yelled, gritting her teeth and making Luffy jump up. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and wiped the blood from her head and face, continuing in a normal tone.

"Luffy, listen to me. If you were like anybody else in this world, I would never have been free. You're different from the other pirates I met. You aren't lustful, you never demand anything from other people... Well, that's not entirely true. You expect them to give you some food, so..."

Luffy slightly chuckled from that remark. She was not wrong in that assertion. He'd demand food from anybody, and run off on his way.

"But, that's not the point," Nami jumped back to the real topic, "You did a lot for me, and all you wanted is for me to join the crew as your friend. You put up with me for a long time, and you never asked me to change..."

"Well, yeah," Luffy mumbled, "What kind of a friend would I be if I told you to change the way you are?"

Nami showed a small smile, making Luffy do the same in return until he scoffed and looked away.

"But I don't know if anything means that much anymore."

The navigator sadly moaned, feeling she was close in getting Luffy to return. Then, a subject stuck out to her, almost beckoning her to bring it up.

"You said that it was your fault I didn't trust you. What did you mean by that?"

"I said that..." Luffy answered shakily, beginning to repeat certain words. "Because of who I really am. Me being an idiotic, gluttonous, waste of space... Being the devil's son, causing pain to others, that's why. I thought because of that, you would never believe in me."

"Oh, Luffy, I'm really sorry," Nami clutched the bars, unable to look at him with his abnormal green eyes. She was almost on the verge of tears, having remembered the cutting words she gave him the day before. "I really am. I shouldn't have said that-!"

"But you were right," The former captain interrupted, "Just like Ashley. Who could love someone like me?"

"W-Who?" Nami quietly quivered, still holding herself back. She didn't pay much attention to the name, only concentrating on keeping the water in her eyes from leaking out.

"Just someone who died a long time ago, along with her hatred of me. It doesn't matter."

Nami closed her eyes and pressed her head against the bars. As the pressure caused a little bit of blood to run from her self-inflicted head wound, she whispered, "If I could change what I did, I would. I went off on a tangent and said so many terrible things about you that I never meant to say."

She opened her eyelids and forlornly gazed at the black-haired boy she cared for, letting out her tears.

"I'm sorry."

Luffy took a few steps forward and stared back at her with a similar expression. The strange green eyes that he wore began to shift back to the default color, black.

"If you don't want to forgive me," Nami broke the silence, "If you don't want me in the crew when you come back, then that's fine. All I want for you is to return, safe and sound."

"But why?" He asked, "Why do you want that? What do you gain from saving me?"

"I'm doing it because it's right, because it's my fault, and because this is for the others who weren't responsible. But more importantly..."

Nami grabbed the straw hat that hanged behind her neck and showed it to its rightful owner.

"It's because I want you to go back to your dream."

Luffy stared at the hat, realizing she had it with him.

"I-I forgot you had my hat... I wouldn't be surprised if-"

"If I took it for myself?" Nami sniffed, "I may have taken treasure from others, but this has sentimental value worth more than that. It's your hat, and it's important to you. Just like being the Pirate King."

"Nami..." Luffy let a small smile out, moved by those words.

"Forget about thinking of me. Just think about your dream."

And Luffy did. He remembered the day when Shanks gave him the hat before he left.

"I want you to have it, Luffy," He said, putting it on his head. "I'll wait for the day you become a full-fledged pirate."

'The Shanks I know would tell me to quit,' Luffy thought, 'But he always says that like he knew I wouldn't. He would never say those things about me being a waste.'

'You can't actually believe this bitch's lies!' The darker part of his mind echoed, causing the former captain to gasp, his eye color going back to green.

"Luffy?" Nami was slightly startled, "What's wrong?"

Now, Luffy was beginning to have doubts over where he stands. On one hand, he still doesn't want to live, but on the other, there may still be a chance for him. His dream isn't over yet, but his mind, body, and soul are splintered. But could Nami understand what's been happening to him?

'She'd think I'm crazy,' He made his decision, 'But she's giving me a chance. She wants me back.'

'She doesn't deserve you!' The negative side growled, 'And neither does your crew! You know you can't forgive any of them!'

'Chopper and Brook had nothing to do with it! I'm still not sure if I can forgive the others, but...'

"L-Listen, Nami," He spoke up, breaking the suspense Nami felt in the air. "I don't know how to say this, but there's a voice in my head."

"O-Okay?" The navigator listened, a little bit confused. She remembered what Henley told the rest of the crew when they were searching for Luffy. The substance allowed a stream of memories to replay to someone, but the side effects resulted in a strong emotional output which could damage the person's mental and emotional health. At least, that was the gist of it.

"It started telling me bad things about you and the others recently. And, well... It's been making me want to..."

"Want to die?" Nami shuddered, placing her right hand on the cell lock. She quietly stuck the key inside and grabbed the bars again.

"Yeah..." Luffy nodded, "But this was just now. Before that, something else happened."

Nami paid close attention to Luffy, wondering how bad it got before now.

"I had some nightmares where bad things happened to me. Nightmares involving you and the crew, Ace and Shanks, Gramps, and even some of my enemies mocking me, telling me how worthless I am."

"Luffy, you're not worthless," Nami stated outright, "None of us would-"

"You guys call me an idiot several times," Luffy scoffed, interrupting her. "So I don't think I'm that far off thinking you would say that."

"You drive us crazy sometimes, I admit that. But-"

"It's fine. I put you guys in danger too much, sometimes. That's my bad."

"It's you being extremely fearless, that's all. While we could've died almost every time something goes wrong, we somehow pull through."

"But it doesn't change how much of a terrible captain I've been."

"That's the serum talking, Luffy! You can't let it rule you and make you say that about yourself!"

"W-What?" The former captain jolted up, gaping at Nami. "Wait, how did you-?"

"Know about that?" Nami stared back with ardent eyes, "Know when this all started? Simple. Henley told me. You know, the redheaded guy who's part fish-man."

"He told you that?"

"That and the part where he gave you the serum. He told us about what it's doing to you, and he regrets it so much, he's helping us break you out."

"Wait, HE'S HERE?!" Luffy's expression began to slightly darken.

"Because he wants to atone for what he did to you, and so do I. Can you come back with us?"

"So what?!" Luffy's rage took control, "So you can use me again?!"

"You're the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, goddammit!" Nami retorted, "No one in this crew wants you to go and die! I don't want that!"

"I'm not the captain anymore! I won't be after what you've done!"

"I'd rather you be willing to come back to the ship, Luffy!" Nami clenched the bars as hard as her hands could, "I don't want to drag you out without giving you a choice here!"

"Like you ever gave me one when you lied about the flag!"

"I fucking get it, Luffy! It's my fault! You hate me because of that!"

Luffy went quiet from Nami's words, looking stupefied.

"N-Nami...!" Luffy stuttered, "I... That's wrong... I don't hate you...!"

"I wouldn't blame you if you did..." The orange-haired girl calmed down with a whisper, lifting her right hand up and placing it below her blackened right eye. Her digit almost traced the outline of the bruise. "I deserve far worse. But seeing you like this... That's punishment enough."

"That guy..." The black-haired boy set his eyes out the window, "He said he was sorry, but I didn't want to hear anything else from him. He made me angry, he made me turn out this way. It didn't matter if he wanted to make up for this."

"So it doesn't matter if we want to make up for lying to you?" Nami wore a despondent appearance as she fiddled with the key still inside the lock, slowly turning it.

'Please don't make me do this,' She thought to herself, 'Please don't force me to pull you out.'

"I-I don't know..." Luffy closed his eyes, "I don't know if I can forgive you this time. Part of me wants to because I care about you and the others, but..."

"Don't worry about that," After a quiet turn, Nami pulled the key out. "All I want for you is to come back. If it'll help, I'll leave the crew."

"WHAT?!" Luffy jerked his head around in shock, "You can't do that!"

"Why not?" The navigator peered at the elevator down the hall, "I've caused you enough grief as it is, and Zoro sure does hate me enough."

"Y-Yeah, you weren't exactly the greatest person on some days, but still... The ship needs a navigator! I need a navigator!"

"I thought you said you weren't the captain anymore."

"Huh?" Luffy blinked, realizing he contradicted himself. "Oh... W-Well... I..."

(BGM: Gold and Oden, One Piece)

Nami chuckled, shaking her head for a little while. "Relax, Luffy. Even I can be a hypocrite sometimes. But the point is, maybe you and the crew are better off without me."

"Without you? Come on. I'd be lost and I wouldn't know where to go if you weren't showing me the way."

"And without you, I would still be struggling to free my home."

Luffy allowed a little smile to run on his lips, taking a quiet breath to himself. Nami turned around and leaned against the bars with her back, feeling pitiful. Her eyes were concealed by the shadows underneath her hair.

"Hey, Luffy?"

"Yeah, Nami?"

"I've done you wrong. I know I hurt you in so many ways. From forcing a debt on you back on Drum Island, lying to your face about the flag being stolen, giving you the impression I didn't believe you could beat Shiki, and for insulting you. You're the captain, and I should've treated you with respect. What I did was unfair, rude, and it caused a rift in this crew."

'Nami...' Luffy silently thought, regarding her words. His green eyes darkened a little bit.

'Don't listen to her!' The negative voice yelled in the former captain's mind, 'She'll betray you again! That's all she's good for!'

"Honestly," Nami continued, "Keeping me around is too much trouble than it's worth. After remembering how I've acted, I don't think I belong here. But none of this is about me. It's about you."

The navigator paused to straighten herself out and look at Luffy.

"It's true, you're not as smart as everyone else. But even so, you're really strong. You even have a good heart. Something I obviously don't." Her eyes averted for a moment when she said that but went back to her captain's face. "Also, you've shown me that not all pirates are the same killers I see them as. There are some who are good, like you. I'm really glad that I met you when I did."

"Same here," Luffy replied, "You're a great navigator, even if you can be harsh sometimes. You just take this adventure too seriously, but being aware of the danger is what kept us alive, so..." He paused for a second, trying to find something to follow up with that. "I'm not good at this kind of thing."

"A person like you doesn't deserve to be in here. Not when you still have a shot at your dream. Luffy, I'll ask you again. Will you-"

"Excuse me," A calm voice called out, apparently walking out from the elevator. "I'm sorry to interrupt your speech. However, I'm afraid I have something against letting you walk out."

"Oh really?" Nami questioned, grabbing the Clima-Tact she dropped on the ground. "I take it you're Commander Beau-Père, the man in charge?"

"Yes," Beau-Père nodded, the light above him slightly flickering on and off. "I am nothing more to you than that."

TO BE CONTINUED...