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Chapter 49
Teamwork
"Okay, this is how this is going to work."
Sanji pulled out his notebook while all his friends were gathered around the table after lunch, with the exception of the navigator and captain who went about their business on deck. The crew cook had decided that their reconciliation dinner would take place this evening in view of the magnificent weather Nami had announced and he was intending to make their evening unforgettable.
"You all know Luffy had passed the first part of his re-take since Nami agrees to have dinner with him. Tonight seems to be the best time so I'll need each of you to make this promising beginning a success. Then, it'll be up to Luffy."
Everyone agreed around the table and the blond looked up to point out the musician.
"Brook, you'll be in charge of the atmosphere. Your music will be an important asset to bring them the necessary serenity and romanticism. The table will be set in front of the mandarin trees so that should help."
"My bow is ready and the atmosphere will be worthy of the greatest moments!" the skeleton fervently assured him.
Sanji nodded then turned to Ussop and Chopper.
"You two will keep watch over the ship. One at the front and the other at the back. We can't afford to make any mistakes; we must absolutely not be disturbed by anything."
"You can count on us!" the little reindeer who was taking his role very seriously approved.
"Watching is good, but what if we spot something?" the sniper worried.
"You'll have Zoro as a back-up", the cook explained, showing him the swordsman who was dozing in his chair. "If there's a problem, it'll be up to him to take care of it."
The two friends nodded and Sanji looked at the carpenter.
"Franky, you'll be responsible for the course. Weather should be mild, but in case of whirlpools or unexpected storm, you'll have to anticipate as much as possible."
"Don't worry!" the cyborg got enthused. "That evening's gonna be super fun!"
The blond approved and finally looked for the beautiful archaeologist.
"Robin-chan, you'll be our wild card! The last bulwark if one of us fails to fulfill his task!"
"No problem", the young woman replied.
Sanji then had a satisfied smiled before taking another look at his notebook.
"As for me, I take care of cooking a divine meal for them and ensuring the service. Be at your places at 6 p.m. They'll start eating at 7:30 p.m."
"And what about us? When we're eating?" the swordsman who had opened his eyes suddenly grumbled.
The cook stared at him for a second before he rolled his eyes.
"Obviously after their evening, marimo! There's no way you're eating before so you fall asleep during work!"
Zoro expressed his displeasure with a loud sigh and took a kick in the shin in response from his partner who was glaring at him. As they stood up suddenly, one to draw his swords and the other to kick him, the other crew members headed for the door while enthusiastically commenting the next few hours. This mission was unusual for the straw hat crew but everyone was happy to make his contribution to build this story.
When Nami showed up at the dinner table that night she widened her eyes in delight. Magnificent bronze folding screens were delimiting a protected space which directed the view towards the mandarin trees. The table was covered with an immaculate white tablecloth dotted with rose petals and tall glasses were holding candles to complete the intimate atmosphere. Large plates as well as silverware and sumptuous crystal glasses finished convincing her that the cook had decided not to do things by halves. Smiling at the attention, she settled in while Luffy was coming in his turn.
"Class, it's like a big restaurant!" he noted with amazement.
His navigator nodded as he was gazing curiously at the large candles whose flames were dancing slightly through their transparent prisons. Brook's violin notes were heard and the captain looked for his musician, but only his shadow behind one of the folding screens was proving that it was really him.
"Music, awesome!"
The skeleton suddenly made it lighter and playful and Luffy sat down in front of the navigator, following the rhythm. He then noticed the young woman and gave her a cheerful look.
"That's cool, isn't it?!"
Nami approved with a smile, overwhelmed by the straw hat boy's enthusiasm. The scene was truly splendid. Their friends had obviously decided to give them the best possible evening and she had a grateful thought when she realized how much they took these few hours to heart too.
At that moment, the crew's cook turned up, a tray in hand, and snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Nami-san, Captain", he declaimed in a professional tone. "May I offer you an aperitif to start with?"
He put down a large glass with pink contents in front of Nami then one with green colors in front of the straw hat boy who grabbed it with interest.
"A Cosmopolitan for the lady and a Mojito without alcohol for the young man", he explained to them.
He then placed a small plate of appetizers towards the navigator while he put down the larger one in front of the captain whose eyes lit up.
"Omelet rolls with cheese, curry and chive. Cucumber and shrimp canapés. And asparagus cream in verrine. Bon appétit."
"Thank you, Sanji-kun", the young woman thanked him.
"It looks yummy!" Luffy pointed out, grabbing a verrine and a roll.
The blond slipped away and nodded to Brook as he walked past him. For now, everything was going well.
Ussop pointed his binoculars at the ocean from the back deck of the Sunny once again. The notes of Brook's violin were reaching him a little and he had seen Robin who had confirmed that everything was quiet and that the couple was starting the main course. Duck breasts flambéed with apples and apricots. The sniper mouth was watering just by breathing the air that was escaping from the kitchen and he expected to have a generous portion as soon as the evening ended. Especially when Sanji had brought a huge pot of potatoes that had simmered in duck fat. He was sure Luffy was feasting and he was looking forward to enjoy it too.
The gunner shifted to starboard and noted that the cyborg was holding the helm while whistling and that Chopper was staring at Grand Line at the front with all his concentration. He then resumed his observation on his side. The sun was almost entirely set and the darkness of the night was gradually invading the ship.
Suddenly, a slight darker form drew his attention on the horizon above the sea. Frowning, he looked closely but the mass seemed mobile and moving. It could very well have been a shadow caused by the clouds among the last rays of the sun but he tried to make sure of it. However, after a few moments of staring at the sky, he suddenly understood the problem looming in front of him.
Terrorized, he almost yelled for help before recovering. He couldn't alert Luffy or Nami and he was right next to them. He then rushed to starboard and made large signs to Franky for him to warn Chopper. This one understood and soon the little reindeer came running.
Biting his nails, Ussop pointed the sky to him in the distance before handing him his binoculars. Chopper grabbed it with apprehension and didn't fail to jump when discovering the threat which was visibly charging at them. He turned to his friend, eyes wide with fear.
"N-No panic", the gunner who was trying to take matters into his own hands stammered. "Sanji said Zoro would fix the problem if there was one!"
"You're right, I'm gonna get him!" the doctor decided, rushing to the crow's nest.
Ussop nodded then took a deep breath while searching the ship with his eyes for Robin. He had to warn her in case the fencer failed to control the situation. He had boundless admiration for the crew's swordsman but in this context, he didn't know how he could manage.
"Flying bugs?" the fencer grumbled, pushed by the little reindeer towards Franky next to whom Ussop and Robin had already gathered. "So what?"
"They come from the back, you have to change the ship's direction", the archaeologist was explaining. "Otherwise, it'll be impossible for us to hide it from our two friends despite the flooding screens."
"If I turn too fast, Nami'll notice", Franky reminded her.
"It'll be worse if she sees insects on her plate!" Ussop pointed out to him with anguish. "What bad luck, they'll ruin everything!"
"We'll take them by the right side", the cyborg decided. "It'll give us more space to fight them."
"Fight insects?" the swordsman picked out, folding his arms. "I know she's freaking out, but isn't it a bit too much?"
"These are migratory locusts that move in swarms of several thousand individuals", Robin told him. "These insects are extremely dangerous for the ship."
"That's why I took them for a cloud first!" the sniper understood.
"They're dangerous for the Sunny?" Chopper inquired with concern.
"Yeah, these suckers devour boats' wood 'cause the sea salt makes develop very nutritious minerals", the carpenter explained in a bad mood. "They'll eat the Sunny if they're given the opportunity!"
"In this case, no mercy", Zoro approved.
He released his three swords from their sheaths and positioned himself to starboard while Franky was slowly activating the helm to turn the Sunny.
"Makino was really nice!" Luffy insisted, biting vigorously into a piece of bread. "She always gave me seconds and she let me talk to Shanks even if I wasn't allowed to!"
Nami nodded while taking a sip of wine. This woman whom Luffy seemed to consider as a big sister in his native village was reminding her of the devotion and simplicity with which Bell-mère had raised her. She was sure she would get along with Makino if she ever met her. She was a strong woman who hadn't lacked gentleness or authority over the little Luffy and for that, she had already earned all her respect. Discovering part of the childhood of the future Pirate King fascinated her.
"You and Ace grew up with her?" she then asked him.
"Oh, no!" the captain exclaimed, digging among his potatoes. "Pops sent me to Dadan's house, that's where I met Ace! That one, she wasn't nice at all with us at the beginning but we liked her anyway!"
At these words, he burst out laughing.
"Pops forced her to keep us and she didn't want to! I think she was afraid of him so she found us a corner in her old house but she kept yelling at us! But, actually, when Ace left, she was super sad and took good care of us!"
The navigator gently shook her head, smiling while letting herself be lulled by the softness of Brook's music a few steps away. It was so like Luffy to have great memories of a person who must have made his life impossible at times! This was the straw hat boy's way: generous and always ready to believe in human beings' kindness.
Nami admired these two qualities more than she wanted to admit. For her who had been raised with love before being brutally torn away from it, there was rarely room to open her heart so completely. This one had been lacerated at the death of her foster mother and by Arlong's cruelty towards the inhabitants of her village. Since then, she had always had the reflex to manipulate the others rather than letting herself be approached to protect herself from suffering.
She had even started by betraying the straw hat boy when she had met him. Nevertheless, he had wanted to prove her that he wanted to welcome her on his ship as a full partner. He hadn't wanted to take advantage of her sailing skills for a selfish purpose; he had offered her to take part in an incredible adventure during which she would have the opportunity to realize her own dream.
This proposition was priceless and Luffy had this touching naivety which had restore her faith in humanity many times since the beginning of their journey.
Sanji came out of the kitchen and froze, appalled by the sight of hundreds of locusts trying to move into the ship. Below, his friends were struggling to try to repel them, but their multitude and speed made their actions almost ineffective. The insects were trying to land at any time to attack the wood and if Ussop and Chopper immediately chased them by throwing themselves on the deck in order to block them with their bodies, Franky and Zoro had to take care of repelling those who were attacking the Sunny's hull, which wasn't an easy task. Fortunately, Robin had unfolded dozens of hands to protect the couple from those who were infiltrating to their table despite the folding screens. For his part, Brook had increased the sound of his instrument to cover the surrounding noises. So far, their basic plan seemed to be working and the captain and navigator hadn't probably noticed the problem.
The cook headed for the table. He had taken care to put a cover on his desserts to protect them and he didn't remove them until he entered the small space reserved for dinner. He offered his two crewmates a chocolate cake topped with a tangerine sorbet, then cleared the last plates without leaving his confident smile. As he was about to return to his lair, Luffy suddenly put his hand on his shoulder and grabbed something.
"What's that?" he asked with curiosity.
Sanji saw with horror a locust fuss between his fingers. He then had a small nervous laugh before quickly taking it back.
"Don't mind it, there must be worm-eaten wood somewhere and he took on board at the last call!"
The eyes of the straw hat boy widened even more, ready to ask him a series of questions, and Sanji bit his tongue in front of his interested look.
"Luffy, you should taste this cake, it's delicious", Nami quietly interrupted him, carrying a spoon to her lips.
"Really?!"
The captain sat down again and vigorously devoured his share.
"It's too good!" he approved, shoving a new bite into his mouth. "Sanji, are there any more?!"
The cook watched anxiously for a moment the navigator who was ignoring him and continuing to taster her dessert peacefully. He quickly pulled himself together then, and placed a confident smile on his lips.
"Absolutely, Captain! I'll bring it right away!"
"Awesome!"
The blond turned on his heels confidently but when he met an inquisitive eye of Robin who was watching the place from the kitchen door, he sighed. He was sure that Nami was suspecting something.
"Three swords style. Leopard Spinning Balls!"
Zoro stooped to better leap forward then rushed, spinning around. Locusts within reach fell around him but Franky frowned.
"Stop doing that, you're damaging the Sunny", he reproached him.
The fencer rolled his eyes. Indeed, the ship caught a few splinters when his swords were whirling too close to the wood but it was where the insects were landing, so he couldn't do otherwise.
"If you got a more effective technique, go ahead", he replied, repositioning himself.
"Of course I got one, look at that!" the cyborg exclaimed. "Fresh Fire!"
The fire calcined dozens of flying insects which fell blackened to the ground and Zoro stared at him.
"That's even more dangerous than what I'm doing", he placidly noted.
"Of course not, I only target those who are flying!" his friend showed him.
"Yet, we must also take care of those who are attacking the wood!"
The swordsman took a breath and focused. He could always make those damn crickets move before attacking them.
"Two swords style. Hawk Wave!"
"Fresh Fire!"
The breath triggered by Zoro's blades had driven the insects to fly away and Franky literally set them alight as soon as they left the ground.
"That's good work, we keep going!" he got excited. "Chopper, Ussop! Send them over here!"
A little further, the two friends were indeed exhausting themselves to chase the locusts which were returning to land a few meters further, forcing them to start again indefinitely. At the carpenter's call however, they gathered their last strength and threw themselves one more time towards their enemies.
"Another cup of tea, Nami-san?" the blond asked, fluttering.
"No thank you", the young woman replied.
"Another chocolate cake? A cocktail?"
"I'm fine", she said, placing her napkin on the table and smiling. "Dinner was really excellent."
"Oh, thank you, Nami-san! But... Luffy, you want something? I'm sure you're still hungry!"
He must have put too much emphasis and enthusiasm in his question because the navigator turned to him, looking questioning. For his part, the captain broadly smiled and the notes of Brook's violin redoubled in intensity.
"I wouldn't say no to-"
"It won't be necessary, Sanji-kun. Everything is fine", the young woman cut him short, standing up.
"Yeah, it was really great!" his captain approved. "We'll have to do this again!"
The cook anxiously followed his two friends who headed for the deck. He had done his best to hold the couple back as long as possible when he had seen that Franky, Ussop, Chopper and Zoro were still struggling against a few reluctant locusts while throwing the corpses of insects overboard when he had brought the tea. Nami had seemed to be enjoying the evening and he didn't want everything to be ruined because the ship had been unlucky to come across this swarm of doomed insects...
As they went down the steps with Robin and Brook who had joined them, Luffy rushed towards his four friends on the deck.
"What are you guys doing?" he asked them in amazement.
"We're resting", the fencer grumbled.
They were indeed all slumped onto the grass, their tongues hanging out and their breath short.
"Why are you all tired?" the captain asked again, kneeling next to them.
"Oh, it's... a new game", the sniper replied, hardly catching his breath.
"It was really exhausting", the little tired reindeer confirmed.
"I'm sure you were too absorbed in your game to be able to eat" the navigator said with a smile as she walked towards the helm.
Sanji turned his gaze to Brook who winced when Nami made a slight movement to port.
"We even went slightly off course. This game was really exciting if you didn't notice..."
She exchanged a knowing glance with Robin and the cook had confirmation that the young woman knew something had happened.
"For my part, I had a great evening and dinner was really sumptuous so above all, enjoy it now that your game is over."
Smiling, she then walked away with the archaeologist while Franky, Zoro and Chopper were slowly standing up.
"You think she guessed?" Franky muttered to the musician as they made their way to the kitchen.
"Quite likely", he replied. "However, this teamwork was sensational and from my site, I could hardly see anything!"
"You mean we did all this for nothing?" Zoro grinded.
"She didn't seem to be mad at us, that's something", Chopper said with a sad smile.
"Luffy did the job and that's what counts", the blond then understood, lighting a cigarette. "I think Nami-san really enjoyed this evening so we can consider it a victory."
While his friends were delighted by the news, a little further, Luffy helped Ussop to get up since he was still lying on the grass of the Sunny.
"Say, Ussop, you'll show me this new game?" he asked him hopefully.
"I rather hope we won't need to get back to it for a while..."
I tried to write this chapter light and carefree. I wanted to display Nami with a gentler side for her to remember why she likes Luffy.
Hope you like it too!