Part 8: Feelings and princes
"I'm gonna, live here," Sanji said happily while taking off his shirt and jacket before jumping into the water with the mermaids who laughed.
"Haha, Sanji your funny," Luffy said before noticing Hermione was walking in the direction Nami went, "Hey wheres she going," he said when Star walked over to him.
"Just going to check on her, meanwhile I need to talk to you about how you looked upset," Star said calmly.
"Why you upset Luffy," said Camie looking confused.
"You didn't say something bad to Nami on your way to us did you?" Usopp asked.
"No I didn't," said Luffy looking a little down.
"Cmon captain," Star said as he lead him to a space far from the mermaids as they sat down.
"Hey are you sad," Luffy said making Star looked confused.
"No I'm fine, why do you ask?" He asked.
"Hermione said you would be sad when you woke up because you wouldn't be able to get back to your family," Luffy said and Star looked a little surprised before looking down sadly.
"Guess I never had the chance to think about it till now," he said remembering back in his world how his family went on trips, the times he would play outside with his brother when they were kids and Christmas.
"What was your brother like?" Luffy asked.
Star smiled, "We didn't get along a lot when we were younger but there was times we had fun together like playing games," he said.
"Do you miss him?" Luffy asked.
"Well of course I do, but I know their going to be okay and Ill always have my memory's with him along with my mom and dad," he said remembering when he put the usb in his brothers hand.
"But now I got Hermione and the rest of the crew," Star said smiling before he and Luffy laughed.
"That's nice, hey you're wife talked about when we were in the bath in Alabasta and I remembered having this warm feeling when I saw Nami," Luffy said putting a hand over his chest while Star looked a little surprised.
"Okay, anything else besides the nosebleed," said Star.
"Yeah my chest feel started beating real fast, wait I'm not sick am I," Luffy said looking surprised.
"Of course not," Star said looking annoyed before realizing something. "Hey Luffy, did you ever learn about love?" He asked.
"What no," Luffy said looking confused.
"Well lll tell you something its not weird and I know from experience," he said holding up his right hand where his wedding ring was.
"Oh, but what does this have to do with Nami?" Luffy asked looking confused.
"Can't believe I'm doing this," Star thought before taking a breath, "Luffy I think your in love with her," he said making the pirate captain look surprised.
"WHAT," he yelled making Star cover his ears.
"Hey what's wrong Luffy?" Usopp asked from far away.
"Uh nothing," Luffy said looking embarrassed while the bright blue light covered Stars body and he threw a small metal piece into the water. A few moments later Godzilla appeared but around the same size as Star.
"Hey Chopper want to go for a swim," Star said.
"He'll let me on him," Chopper said looking excited and Star nodded his head while Godzilla swam over.
"Yay," Chopper said jumping onto the beasts head before it started swimming around fast.
"Hey no fair," Usopp said looking annoyed while the bright blue light stopped covering Stars body as he let out a breath.
"That should keep them busy for a while," Star said while Luffy sat back down with his face a little red.
"Thanks," he said.
"No problem, you know I don't want to say anything but I think she might feel the same," Star said looking up.
"I don't think so," Luffy said looking down, "Shes mad at me because I had to get us to wait two years before we could all meet up again and she hated me back when we first met," he said looking down.
"That second thing isn't your fault Luffy," Star said, "Its just unlike you she had really bad experience with pirates when she was just a kid and ended up working for those same pirates for a long time before you saved her," he said.
"I know, I was there in the room he kept her in," Luffy said clenching his fists.
"I know, you broke Arlongs sword with your bare hand, I think thats one of the times I saw you the most angry," Star said as he remembered the episdoe he watched. He could still remember the look on his captains face before he destroy the room and the building.
"Luffy, she cried for you," Star said making Luffy look surprised.
"What," he said.
"It was shortly after the newspaper announced Aces death, she was trying to get off the sky island to go meet up with you and while she ran she cried," Star said looking up at the sky.
"Oh, guess I messed up big time," said Luffy putting his hat over his eyes while Star patted him on the shoulder, "How do I tell her?" He asked making Star look surprised before he smiled.
"Just be honest, tell her how you feel and tell her why you had to train," Star said.
"Thanks," Luffy said smiling and Star smiled back before the two of them got up.
Over with Hermione she found the navigator sitting in front of the water hugging her knees, "Hello," Hermione said getting her attention as she sat down next to her.
"Oh hi, I just needed to get away from everyone for a bit," Nami said.
"Well like Luffy you were looking down when you walked away," said Hermione getting her attention.
"Guess I was little harsh, but he separated us all for two years," Nami said sitting up, "Even though we could have been there for him," she said.
"I know, but you still looked determined when you asked to be trained," Hermione said smiling.
"Well we did need to be prepared for the new world," Nami said before realizing something, "I suppose you also saw how I reacted when I tried to escaped before I saw Luffys message," she said.
"You mean how you cried, yes we both saw it," Hermione said calmly while Nami took a breath while her face went a little red, "Nami, do you feel something for Luffy?" She asked.
"It doesn't matter, he's to focused on becoming the king of the pirates," Nami said looking down and hugging her knees, "I don't want to get in his way," she said.
"Not sound rude but that sounds foolish," Hermione said and Nami noticed she looked annoyed.
"What," she said.
"You heard me, who saids you can't be with the person you love while going on an adventure," Hermione said now looking right at her, "Sure look at me, despite all the pain Heaven was going through when he tried to awaken his power he still made time for me," she said.
"Sorry," Nami said hugging her knees.
"No its alright," Hermione said before smiling when she thought of something, "Hey maybe Luffys asking Star what the warm feeling was when he saw you in the bath," she said making Nami look surprised when she stood up blushing.
"Wait what," she said trying to stop herself from yelling.
"Cmon, lets go talk to your future pirate king," Hermione said before standing up. They walked into the middle of the grove where Star and Luffy had just walked back. Hermione noticing Luffy looked a little embarrassed.
"Your talk go fine," Star said noticing Nami was blushing.
"Yep," Hermione said before walking over to her husband and holding his hand as they stood to the side.
"Hey whats going on with them," Usopp said looking confused.
"Not now sniper king," Star said making him look surprised before Usopp covered his mouth.
"Why'd you call him sniper king?" Camie asked looking confused while the captain and navigator stood facing each other while being quiet. The only noise coming from Chopper who was still in the water with Godzilla and Sanji who was swimming with the mermaids.
"So," Luffy and Nami said at the same time. The two of them laughed looking embarrassed.
"Nami I'm sorry I had us separate for two years, after Jimbie helped me feel better Rayleigh showed up with an offer and asked if I wanted to train," he said. "He asked if I wanted what happened at Sabaody two years ago to happen again," he said.
"Yeah it took all of us to take down one pacifista," Usopp said.
"Does he mean boss Jimbei, I remember hearing in the news about him and Luffy," Camie said looking confused.
"They fought side by side during the war at marine ford, Jimbeis one of the reasons Luffys still alive," Star said making Usopp looking confused.
"What do you mean helped you feel better," Nami said looking confused.
"After I woke up, I felt so weak I wanted to give up after what happened with Ace," Luffy said clenching his fists as Nami looked a little surprised.
"I'm so sorry Luffy," she said.
"I'm okay now, because Jimbie reminded me of who I still have you, Zolo, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky and Brook," Luffy said before looking over at Star and Hermione, "Now we have even more crew," he said.
Nami stood there a few moments before running forward and hugging her captain. "I trained for two years so we could get stronger so that could never happen again, I don't want to lose anyone again," he said.
"You wont Luffy, because that's what we trained two years for right," Nami said smiling before the two of them looked at each other. Thats when Sanji looked over at them with a serious look on his face.
"Whats going on," he thought.
Luffy and Nami then noticed how close the two of them were, "Hey Luffy?" Nami asked as she looked him in the eye.
"Yeah," he said looking right at her as well.
"Do you still have that feeling," she said.
"Yeah but I know what it is now," Luffy said as their faces leaned close to each other when, "JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING YOU RUBBER IDIOT," Sanji yelled jumping towards them.
"Sanji," Nami said before Luffy stood in front of her.
Sanji went to kick but to his surprise his kick was countered by Star who blocked him with his own leg. He had an angry look on his face before pushing Sanji back who looked angry from being stopped.
"Just what are you thinking Sanji," said Usopp running over.
"I thought they were all friends," said one of the mermaids looking confused.
"Get out of the way," Sanji said before hearing Chopper yell as Godzilla stood next to Star. Like Star it was looking angryily at the cook.
"Not until you tell me what you think your doing," Star said ready to kick again when one of the guppy mermaid quintuplets spoke up.
"Camie theres a ship," one of them said as they swam over to her.
"We think it's a ship,".
"I think it's a ship from the royal palace,".
"It might be,".
"I don't think it is,".
"Oh no, you all gotta hide now," Camie said before the Straw hats began to hide while Godzilla turned back into a small metal piece when Stars body glowed. Sanji looked angrily at Star before jumping into the water.
Flying over to the grove was as a large fish carrying a ship on its body. Riding on top of it were three large mermen.
"It's the three princes," Camie said looking surprised.
On the ship were the three princes of the Ryugu kingdom. There was Manboshi the youngest who was a sunfish merman, Ryuboshi who was a giant oarfish merman and Fukaboshi the oldest who was a shark merman.
"Did they say princes," Usopp said looking confused.
"Yeah theres no doubt about it," Star said from behind the rock he was hiding with Hermione. Luffy and Nami were hiding behind the rock next to them.
"Star don't you know the stuff that happens on the island, what do we do," Nami said.
"The chapters for fishman island came out very long before chapter 1000, so its taking me a while to remember," Star said before noticing Mamboshi was dancing.
"Red mamboo, red mamboo, what do you say we just dance and relax here," he said.
"Not now, I'm sorry for disturbing you all but we got a report that a pirate ship entered the country illegally, have any of you seen anything?" Fukaboshi asked looking serious.
"If they did come here then please tell us, fi so la ti do," Ryuboshi said and like Mamboshi he was dancing. "If not that's okay, mi re do," he said.
"No sorry, we havent seen anything," Camie said smiling, "Sorry you had to come all the way down here," she said.
"Where are they," Sanji said looking around before mermaid pulled him towards her chest.
"You better hide here Sanji," she said while Sanji looked excited and forgot his anger.
"I see, I'm sorry for disturbing you all," Fukaboshi said before heading back towards the ship, "There must have been some mistake,".
"No that's okay," one of the mermaids said smiling while waving. "Take care," another said as the youngest princes followed their brother back to the ship.
"Thank you Camie," Star said before looking surprised.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"I think I'm remembering something and something bad is about to happen," he said looking nervous.
"Stay quiet Sanji," said the mermaid who was holding Sanji.
But Sanji still looked excited, but then after a few moments. "Mermaid," he said before having a massive nosebleed that shot up and looked like the image of a mermaid.
"Ahh Sanji," Luffy said looking surprised.
"Just what was he doing," Nami said looking annoyed before the bright blue light covered Stars body as he took off into the air and pulled Sanji out of the water.
Nearby Hammond who was with the other fishmen from earlier noticed the straw hats running over to Star as the bright blue light stopped covering his body, "So the straw hats were alive," Hammond said.
"So they are here," Fukaboshi said, "Ammo knights," he said.
"Yes sir," a male voice said as multiple fishmen dressed in armor got off the ship and headed towards the straw hats.
"No, off all the people why did the princes have to be here," Hammond said as he got out of cover as well.
"Sanji, hang on you cant die in such an idiot way, wait Star cant you heal him like you did with Luffy?" Usopp asked but Star shook his head no.
"Sorry, I'm only good for treating injury's and wounds, I can do nothing about blood loss," he said.
"What about you and Hermiones blood types, Sanjis is S RH," Chopper said.
"No good, blades cant even pierce my skin now," said Star.
"I'm not even sure what mine is, plus I'm from a different world," said Hermione.
"Hey is there anyone with type S RH blood, were really sorry we entered your country illegally but our friend really needs a transfusion," Nami said before noticing the mermaids and even the knights looked nervous.
"Why isn't anyone helping, please we cant have our friend die like this," Usopp said.
"Nami chin," Camie said getting everyones attention, "Fishman, Merman and Mermaids all have the same blood as humans and can give transfusions but the thing is," Camie said.
"Hahah, hey straw hats what are you doing," Hammond said walking out of the crowd with the other two fishmen.
"Its that guy from earlier," Nami said looking surprised.
"You humans an inferior race and not one fishmen would even think about giving you any blood and if they did those with hatred towards humans would judge them," he said.
"Prince Fukaboshi, that's Hammond from the fishman district," one of the soldiers said.
"I know," Fukaboshi said calmly.
"Look at all that blood, let the idiot bleed because its law here that were not to give any humans blood," said Hammond.
"What," Usopp and Chopper said looking surprised.
"But why," Nami said.
"You humans made this happen, you always feared us and called us monsters," Hammond said, "You refused to mix your blood with ours and Fisher tiger was no different, he was the hero of fishman island," he said.
"Fisher tiger, he said that earlier," Luffy said.
"That's because you've heard his name long before coming to fishman island," Star said as the straw hats looked at him.
"Wait your remembering more of what happened," Chopper said.
"He didn't care what race they were but he still freed all of those slaves," Hammond said getting their attention back, "But after suffering a serious injury in battle a simple transfusion could have saved him but you humans refused to share your blood and thats how he met his end," he said angrily.
"Now straw hat leave your underling there and come with us, captain Hody Jones wants to meet you in the fishman district now," Hammond said.
"Listen we don't care if there is a law, please just give us some blood for our friend, he cant die like this," Usopp said.
"Will make sure to pay you somehow," Nami said.
"If you wont listen to us," Hammond said before pulling out a bazooka, "Then will just take you by force," he said.
"Star, you still good to fight," Luffy said standing up.
"Yeah captain," Star said standing up as the bright blue light covered his body. "Lets see if I can use my own air blast," he thought moving his finger like he was about to to flick something.
"Trawl net," Hammond said before firing a large net towards the straw hat pirates.
"Gear second," Luffy said pumping blood through his legs as steam came off his body.
He and Star then jumped in front of the fishman as Star pointed his right hand forward, "Didn't you hear what my captain told you earlier," Star said.
"Were not working for you, Jet pistol," Luffy said sending a hard punch into Hammond and at one of the other fishmen.
"Air Force," Star said before flicking his finger and sending out a large blast of air that sent one of the fishmen crashing into the nearest wall. Making a crater and making the mermaids look surprised.
"He took out Hammond from the fishman district," one of the fishmen soldiers said looking surprised.
"That other guy used a blast of air," said another soldier as the bright blue light stopped covering Stars body.
"Luffy, Star," Nami said.
"Behind you," Usopp said noticing the large sea bear moving towards them.
"I got it," Luffy said calmly and Star nodded before Luffy turned towards the sea bear holding his hand up with a serious look on his face. The bear then stopped with a nervous look on its face.
"Amazing," said one of the mermaids.
"He really did get strong over those two years," Nami thought looking surprised.
"Luffy everyone, up here," Camie said from on top of the ship the princes had arrived on.
"Camie," Usopp said.
"Grab Sanji and get him up here, we can find other humans in the town near the port," said Camie.
"Right," Luffy said.
"Hang on Luffy, you get Nami and hold on," said Star before the bright blue light covered his body. Luffy nodded before wrapping an arm around Nami who blushed but still held on. Hermione grabbed onto her husband before they all flew into the air.
"Hey were flying, whoa," Usopp said before falling onto the fish and the bright blue light stopped covering Stars body.
"Whoa that was awesome," Luffy said.
"Mermaids," Sanji said.
"No stop thinking about them Sanji or your going to die," Usopp said.
"Hey you cant take that, that ship is for the princes," one of the soldiers said.
"Sorry, but ill make sure to bring it back after we save Sanji chin," Camie said before the fish started moving forward.
"Sorry about this everyone, if I had the same blood type I would have give him some of mine," Camie said.
"Don't blame him Camie, its his own fault for the way he thinks," Nami said.
"Yeah Namis right, I remember how much discrimination you and Hachi faced back on the Archipelago but I didn't think it would be this bad," Usopp said.
"We cant relax just yet, it might take us a while to find a donor because there haven't been that many humans here in a while,".
"You're the first weve seen in a long time," she said.
"That's weird, I thought this place was famous," Luffy said.
"Thats true, pirates would have to come through fishman island to get to the new world," Nami said looking confused.
"Maybe unlike us they were taken by the new fishman pirates," Hermione said.
"Makes the most sense," Star said.
"Anyway, we're you two really about to kiss," Usopp said looking at Luffy and Nami.
"Oh yeah that's right," Luffy said smiling before Nami grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled his face towards hers. Their lips in their first kiss making mostly everyone look surprised.
Star and Hermione just smiled. Nami then pulled away from Luffy smiling, "I hope you understand what that meant Luffy," she said.
Luffy then smiled, "Yeah, I love you too Nami," he said before hugging her and Nami hugged him back smiling as well.
"Luffy chin, Nami chin," Camie said looking surprised.
"Well this is surprising," Usopp said.
"Luffy, Nami," Star said getting their attention. They looked to see him holding a small device and then he pressed down on a button. The bright blue light covered his body as a small photo appeared in his free hand that wasn't holding the camera. He then handed it to them after the bright blue light stopped covering his body.
"Its us," Luffy said looking at a picture of himself and Nami.
"Thought you might want to a photo to remember this day," he said smiling.
"Well thanks for explaining things to him Star," Nami said.
"No problem," Star said before looking nervous, "Oh no," he said.
"What is it," Chopper said noticing the look on his face.
"I have still give him the talk," he said making most of the straw hats look surprised.
"Oh yeah," Nami said looking embarrassed.
"What talk," Chopper said looking confused.
"Chopper, he needs to know where baby's come from," Hermione said with a nervous smile on her face.
"Oh," Luffy said.
"I know this is important, but how is Sanji going to react when sees the two of you together," Usopp said looking at the unconscious cook who was out with a smile on his face.
"Ill handle it," Star said taking a breath before he sat back, "I actually know way that can help him," he said thinking of certain young woman from the new world with three eyes.
Back at mermaid grove, "Why did you hide from us that those pirates were here," Fukaboshi said sounding serious as he looked at the mermaids.
"Were sorry prince Fukaboshi but they were Camie friends and they were nice," one of the mermaids said.
"We thought it wouldn't be right if they were punished for just entering illegally,".
"I hope Sanji will be okay," another said.
"Sunfish mambo, sunfish mambo, you've all got it wrong," Mamboshi said.
"Mamboshi is right, I'm sorry we should have explained our intentions when we arrived," Fukaboshi said, "Its true that they are notorious pirates but we knew who they were and that's why they didn't need to be checked at the border,".
"Thats not the reason why we were looking for them," he said.
"Hes right, we were looking for the straw hats for a completely different reason, re mifa," Ryuboshi said.
"What was it?" One of them asked looking surprised.
"We missed our chance to give them the message from Jimbei," Fukaboshi said looking serious.