Chapter 3: Birthdays and Confessions
I do not own One Piece! That will always belong to Eiichiro Oda!
Arlong woke slowly, eyes looking at the sleeping beauty who lay snug against him with a look of absolute peace on her face. Nami's head was lying on his shoulder with a hand resting on his bare chest. He moved the arm her head was resting on to hold her closer to him, admiring how good she looked in the shirt he lent her. She gave a slight moan as she snuggled closer to him, making his heart race and his face flush. Oh, how he could have watched her sleep for hours, but he knew now wasn't the time.
"Nami," Arlong says softly. "Nami, time to wake up."
That caused her to stir, slowly bringing her hand back, fingers lightly dancing over his skin. The touch, though very light, was enough to send a shiver through Arlong, making his breath hitch in his throat. The girl was causing him to lose what control he did have, and she didn't even realize it.
"Mhm." Her eyelids fluttered for a moment, and then slowly, she opened them. Then, blinking a bit before she remembered where she was, and gave a start.
"Hush," Arlong whispered. "You're safe."
"A-arlong," she said, looking up into his face. "Wha-what time is it?"
Arlong reached for his cell on the nightstand and looked at the time. "It's 7:30 in the morning," he said. "I think it's best if we get up. You did promise your mother you'd be home this morning."
Nami was quick to sit up at the reminder, and her face grew flush as she looked at Arlong laying there without a shirt on, taking in his muscular body. He saw the blush on her cheeks, and he felt a sense of pride, knowing that he had that effect on the girl.
"I'm...sorry," Nami said, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I didn't mean to stare."
Arlong chuckled as he reached up to brush her face tenderly. "You have no reason to apologize." He said, then gives her a shark-like grin. "I am taking in the view, and I must say it's a spectacular view."
Which made Nami blush even more. "Charmer"
Seeing her blush brought back the memory of their first kiss, and never had he wanted to relive that very moment. Sitting up, Arlong cupped his hands around her face bringing her closer, then pressed his lips against her soft ones. Nami surprised him by automatically wrapping her arms around his neck and deepening the kiss without any hesitation. Poor Arlong was close to losing all self-control, and he might have if, for once, his common sense hadn't come up and smacked him alongside the head.
He broke their kiss, breathing pretty hard. "You're like a bad drug."
Nami just looked at him in curiosity. "What do you mean?"
"I can never get enough of you."
Nami snorts in amusement. "You're terrible."
Arlong just sat there and laughed.
~~. ~~. ~~
"So, did you and Robin have fun last night?" Belle-mere asked Nami the moment she entered the kitchen.
Belle-mere stood at a tall 6'1" with a relatively slim build with had gray eyes and wore her fuchsia hair in a unique style, a Chelsea hawk and a long ponytail. She wore a green checkered shirt, indigo trousers, and brown sandals. Though she looked like a weak woman Belle-mere was tougher than two-bit nails, she also rumored that she beat bigger and tougher men with just her fists. At the moment, she was slicing up tangerines that grew in a small grove in the back of their home.
"Yes," Nami said as she picked up a tangerine slice. "Sorry that I stayed out so late."
"It doesn't matter for now," Belle-mere said as she lit a cigarette. "Just make sure you're not late for work. I don't know why you continue working there, especially with the way that money-hungry bastard treats you."
"Like I said last night, Arlong has mellowed, and we came to an understanding."
"The only thing he understands is money," Belle-mere said. "Men like him will never understand anything but that, and that is the one thing they will ever love."
Nami struggled not to betray what she was feeling at that moment. 'You're wrong! Arlong not like that.' she wanted to say. But, of course, then she would have to tell her adoptive mother the truth about her and Arlong being in a relationship. It was clear that Belle-mere had no love for the man, and to say that they were dating would be adding fuel to the fire. Arlong told her she would have to tell her family the truth about them, but how could she? How could she ever make Belle-mere see Arlong was a different man?
"And what about your dream of becoming a navigator? You'll never get that accomplished if you stay there as his damn dishwasher. He doesn't pay you enough for you to stay." Then, a new voice spoke from the entryway of the kitchen. The voice belonged to Nami's older sister, Nojiko. Nojiko was an average-sized young woman with light blue hair and tanned skin. Like Nami, she was 5'7" in height and wore a beige undershirt (though usually, she wore a green button-up shirt with yellow stripes), blue trousers, and purple sandals. She also wore pink lip gloss.
Nami felt a lump build up in her throat, and she was slowly losing it. She needed to get away before she broke down. "I'm going to go and take a shower," Nami said.
Once in the shower, all Nami could do was slump to her knees and break down in tears. How much longer could she keep their relationship a secret? Nami loved Arlong with all her heart, and she knew he loved her with all of his. He wasn't the same man she had met over two years ago. He had changed because of her, because of the love that had grown between them. Nami feared that soon she would have to choose between Arlong and her family.
~~.~~.~~
Summer turned into fall, and soon winter arrived, a season Arlong truly hated—cold temperatures and having to wear clothes needed against freezing temperatures. Though he had a nice underground garage to park his jeep at the restaurant, it was a far different story. Cleaning the snow and ice along with warming up his vehicle, he just found annoying as hell!
"Hey, give me a hand with the groceries, will you," Tiger said one cold winter day coming into the apartment.
Arlong looked up from the couch. "Are you fucking serious? I was going to call Nami, damn it."
"Your girlfriend can wait, little brother," Tiger said, taking the cellphone out of Arlong's hand. "Get your coat and move your ass."
~~.~~.~~
Arlong grumbled in disdain as he carried an arm full of groceries from the car. He was annoyed that Tiger made him help with groceries; he already helped bring them during the last shopping trip! He wanted to talk to Nami, not carry in groceries, so he was even more huff than usual. Why didn't his big brother have the groceries delivered? The store had a delivery service, and he used it during the wintertime. Tiger's 4X4 truck was parked next to his jeep with its tailgate and the cap door up. Some boxes held loaded grocery bags placed carefully next to the toolbox and other tools Tiger needed for his construction job. Arlong paused as he stared at the devices.
'Construction worker, that was what he was,' Arlong thought. 'I need to find out where and who he worked with; I might find him that way.'
"Will you stop daydreaming about your girlfriend," Tiger said as he picked up one of the loaded boxes.
Arlong muttered under his breath as he watched his brother head inside. Then, deciding to make the trip go fast, Arlong loaded up as many bags as he could into his arms and started walking; the problem was Arlong had no actual path to see any obstacles since he was carrying so many bags. Though he didn't care, wanting this chore to be over, and that proved to be a mistake.
The walkways were always well-salted down due to ice, but for some reason, the apartment complex's groundkeeper didn't do a good job salting down the icy sidewalks and walkways. So, all Arlong remember was that he was walking, and the next thing he knew, his feet went from underneath him, and he landed hard. Pain shot through his left ankle, and he was screaming from that alone.
"Arlong!"
Tiger was kneeling next to him, joined by a few other tenants and soon the landlord, who looked ready to panic.
"My ankle," Arlong said through gritted teeth. "My ankle is fucking killing me!"
"Let me see," Tiger said, carefully moving Arlong's pant leg up. The ankle was starting to swell, and seeing that was enough for the older man. "We need to get you to the hospital."
"Fuck the hospital," Arlong snapped. "Get me back to the apartment!"
"No!" Tiger said. "You slipped on ice, and your ankle is swelling; you are going to a hospital!"
"I called 119, and an ambulance is on its way," their landlord said.
Soon the ambulance arrived, and after a few moments, Arlong loaded, and the ambulance was on its way to the hospital. Tiger looked to see the landlord and the other tenants picking up the spilled grocery bags. Feeling guilty, Tiger took the bags from them, going back to the apartment. He had just pushed the ajar door open when he heard a familiar voice calling to him. He looked to see Nami hurrying to him.
"Let me help you," she said, taking a couple of bags from him going inside. "Arlong, I'm here! Are you ready?" She placed the bags on the kitchen counter. "Tiger, is he asleep still?
"Nami, he's on the way to the hospital," Tiger said as he placed the remaining bags down on the kitchen table.
Nami's eyes widened at the news. "What happened? Is he okay?"
"He slipped on the ice and took a bad fall," Tiger said. "Looks like he might have sprained his ankle. I was going to head to the hospital. If you want to come-"
Nami shook her head. "I'll take care of things here," she said. "You need to make sure Arlong is okay."
Tiger nodded before jotting his cell number down on a scrap piece of paper in his wallet. "Call me if the landlord tries giving you any trouble."
"I will," Nami said.
Tiger paused just for a second at the door to watch the girl start putting the groceries away. Girlfriend? Nami was more of a wife to Arlong, and he didn't even know it.
~~.~~.~~
Tiger arrived at the hospital, and once he checked in at the nurse's station, he was shown to Arlong, who was miserable. The doctor had wrapped Arlong's ankle up, and it was clear to see that whatever instructions Arlong got, he wasn't happy with them. After a nurse came in and gave Arlong another check, was Tiger allowed to take Arlong home after being given crutches.
"So, how long do you have to stay off the foot?" Tiger asked on the drive home.
"A few weeks," Arlong grumbled, arms folded. "Which is bullshit! I can't keep the restaurant closed for that long I'll lose money!"
"Did you ever consider getting an assistant manager?" Tiger said. "Hell, you've been doing everything yourself as the manager and owner since the day you opened the Park."
'Do you know how much that will cost me to find and hire someone?" Arlong snapped at him.
"You and your damn talk about money," Tiger snapped back. "You're not hurting on money. You have more than anyone I know, and what is wrong with giving someone a damn promotion! No wonder people don't like working for you. You're a miserable self-centered asshole!"
The silence that followed caused Tiger to glance at Arlong. He was sitting looking so stunned and deeply hurt that he looked ready to cry. Tiger had never once yelled at Arlong like that or said the things he did, but Arlong had just got to him.
"Arlong, I'm sorry," Tiger said. "I didn't mean to go off like that."
"Can we just go home," Arlong said in an almost childlike voice. "Please."
'Great,' Tiger thought. 'Now I've gone and done it. He'll be miserable now.'
~~.~~.~~
Tiger had forgotten about Nami, and when she opened the door for them, he felt way worse. But, seeing Arlong on crutches, the girl was by her boyfriend's side, helping him to the couch and immediately making sure he was comfortable. However, Arlong was still quiet, and Nami assumed it was from his medication at the hospital.
"I made dinner if you're both hungry," Nami said.
Arlong was looking around the living room from his place on the couch. "Did you clean?"
"I did," Nami admitted. "I hope you don't mind that I did that and the laundry."
"The laundry?" Arlong said, stunned. "All of it?"
"Yes. I hung up all your extra cabana shirts with your shorts."
'Yep, total wife,' Tiger thought before going into the kitchen.
"Arlong, you aren't upset with me for taking care of everything here?" Nami asked. She knew how he was over certain things and how he liked to keep things orderly.
"No," Arlong said, holding out a hand to her, which Nami took, and he gently pulled her onto the couch. "I'm not upset. Honest, I'm not just surprised, that's all." He held her in his arms, resting his chin on her head. "I'm glad I have you in my life."
As Arlong recovered from his sprained ankle at home, Tiger, for the time being, helped at Arlong Park, taking on Arlong's duties as the boss. Before her shift and on her days off, Nami looked after Arlong, who loved how sweet Nami was looking after him. Needless to say, when Arlong was able to take over again, he was teased by Chew and, at times, by Kuroobi. Arlong wasn't thrilled when Chew gave Nami the nickname "the wife" and threatened to have him clean the bathrooms with a toothbrush.
~~.~~.~~
Finally, Spring arrived, and Arlong was happy to see the winter snow gone. Eventually, he could go back to his 'vacation style,' as Nami called it. He still wore his urshanka though the hat was more of a winter thing; it was who Arlong was. Soon May came, as did Arlong's birthday. A day he never bothered with celebrating at all, well, not until Nami came into his life. She changed it for the better for him.
Arlong focused on the usual routine at the Park. The lunch was over, and the lunch crew was finishing up with their cleaning duties. Then, Arlong heard the rear door opening and looked up as Nami with Tiger came in. Both were carrying 9" x 13" aluminum foil pans with lids.
"There are two more in my truck," Tiger said, looking at Arlong.
Curious about what his big brother and Nami were up to, Arlong sent two members cleaning crew to get the other two pans. Nami followed them, and soon they returned. "What the-," Arlong said when he saw Nami was carrying two white enclosed cake boxes and a paper bag with handles.
"Did you honestly think I was going to forget?" Nami asked him.
Arlong rubbed the back of his neck. "I was kinda hoping you might have," he said.
"Sorry," Nami said as she placed the cake box down on the preparation table. "I wasn't letting your birthday slide by this time."
The lunch crew looked at their boss in genuine surprise. "Boss, it's your birthday?!"
"What if it is?" Arlong grumbled, eyes narrowing.
"Arlong," Nami came up to him and whispered to him. "Remember your promise."
He sighed. Damn, he slipped some. "Sorry," Arlong said. "It's my birthday. No big deal, just another day."
"Not every day you get catered food and cake brought to you," said the lunch cook.
Tiger had removed the lid off the first pan, which had cooked sticky white rice, then removed the cover from the second pan. That pan had bite-sized pieces of fried chicken with their skins covered in a sweet and sour sauce. Nami had put the disposable bowls, plates, forks, and cups out. The lunch crew lined up, but it was fair that Arlong got his food first because it was their boss's birthday. Then, once everyone had gotten their food, did they dig in, and they all loved it.
"So, where did you buy it?" Arlong asked Tiger.
His big brother looked at him, looking so amused. "The only bought was the cake," he said with a chuckle. "It was Nami who did all the cooking."
Hearing Tiger, not only was Arlong surprised so were the whole lunch/ cleaning crews. They were staring at Nami. "What?! Our dishwasher made all this?!"
Arlong was staring at his girl, overwhelmed by the fact that she had taken the time to make it this just for his birthday. Not once in his past relationships did a woman ever do anything like this for him. Hell, he was lucky if he got sex on his birthday. Nami was quite the opposite. She made not only for him but more than enough for the lunch crew and the evening/ closing crew. She must have started early in the morning to have it all ready for them. Belle-mere would have known and questioned Nami about all the preparation and cooking.
Nami must've had an idea what Arlong thought, for she came to him. "I hope you won't be upset that I did all the cooking at the apartment," she said. "The kitchen at home is small, and the apartment kitchen is more considerable. So don't worry; I cleaned it all up before we came here."
"How can I be upset?" Arlong said, in all honesty. "Knowing you worked so hard to cook all this because of my birthday, wanting to make me feel appreciated, there are no words to express how I feel."
"So do you love it," Nami said.
"Yes," Arlong said. "It's the nicest thing any woman has done for me."
"Your welcome," Nami said before she kissed his cheek.
Arlong mentally already made plans for Nami's birthday, and he would make sure it was extra special for her.
~~.~~.~~
It was 7:30 in the morning, and generally, at this time, Nami would've woken up thanks to her alarm. Once awake, she'd shower, change, have breakfast, then come back upstairs to brush her teeth. But of course, today, that didn't happen. So instead, she kept on sleeping.
At 8:30, she woke up by someone gently shaking her. Nami opened one of her eyes with a groan to see that Belle-mere and Nojiko were in her room. Belle-mere was sitting on the bed and the one who woke her up while Nojiko was standing, holding a tray of something Nami couldn't see yet.
"Happy Birthday, baby girl," Belle-mere says, smiling.
Her birthday? Nami sat up. She had completely forgotten about it!
"I made your favorite breakfast," Nojiko said, placing the bed tray down. "Orange flavored pancakes with bacon and toast along with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice." Then she handed Nami a small gift-wrapped box. "And this is from me."
Nami eagerly tore the wrapping off and opened the box. She gasped at the golden bracelet that lay nestled on the square-shaped cotton pad. "Nojiko," she said. "This is beautiful!"
"I thought you deserved something extraordinary to wear when you decide to start dating," Nojiko said.
"Like that nice young man that you went to school with," Belle-mere said. "What was his name? He works at the Baratie."
"Sanji," Nami said.
"Yes, that is the one," Belle-mere said, nodding. "You should go out on a date with him."
Why did Nami have a feeling that Sanji insisted on that? He had a crush on her since the 7th grade, but Sanji had a bad habit when it came to any attractive girls; he chased them all, never able to stay true to one. So though he swore his heart to her, Nami knew better. Besides, she liked him as a friend, and that was it.
"We're friends, and that's all," Nami said.
"Still, you should give him a chance," Belle-mere said as she got up.
The moment her adopted mother and sister left her room, her cell vibrated, and she immediately recognized the number. "Hey, handsome," the moment she answered.
"How's my birthday girl?' Arlong asked.
"How did you know that was today?"
Arlong chuckled. "You forget that I have my ways of knowing things, and I made a mental note when you told me."
"Why am I not surprised that you would do that?" Nami said. "You didn't call me just for that, did you?"
"I was calling to let you know that I'm giving you today and the next three days off with pay," Arlong said. "As part of my present to you."
"Today and the next three days off?!"
Hearing Nami surprised shout caused Belle-mere and Nojiko to come running to her room. "What's wrong?" Belle-mere asked.
"I have today and the next three days off with pay," Nami mouthed to his adopted mother.
"He's giving you time off!" Belle-mere exclaimed.
"With pay!" Nojiko added.
"I'll let you go," Arlong said, having heard both Belle-mere and Nojiko in the background and that Nami was probably going to get hounded now. "I'll call you later. Love you, Kitten."
"Is that man sick?" Belle-mere asked after Nami had hung up.
"I told you that Arlong and I came to an understanding," Nami said.
"That's gotta be one hell of an understanding if he gave you four days off with pay," Nojiko said.
"Well, you know what this means?" Belle-mere said, smiling brightly. "A day of shopping for the birthday girl!"
It was the one thing Belle-mere always did for her daughters when it came to their birthdays. She always put money in a coffee can, and it may not have been much at the start, but it became a nice bit of shopping money for her girls. So after breakfast and quick cleaning of the house, Belle-mere, Nojiko, and Nami caught the bus that would take them to the local mall. But, while it was a day of fun with her mother and sister, Nami missed being with Arlong, and when they weren't looking, Nami would check her cell for messages. There were plenty from her friends but nothing from Arlong.
He said he would call, Nami thought as they caught the bus for home. Did he get too busy at the Park to call me?
"Nami, could you get the front door and turn on the lights?" Belle-mere asked as they walked up the walkway to their house.
"Of course," Nami said, unlocking the door and reaching for the light switch.
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NAMI!"
She let out a scream as her friends jumped from their hiding places. While Nami placed a hand of her beating heart Belle-mere and Nojiko came in behind, laughing in delight. Her friends joined in the laughter.
"We sure surprised you," Laughed Luffy.
"Yes, you certainly did," Nami said.
"Nami-Swan," Sanji said, coming out of the kitchen nearly dancing as he did. "My sweet Nami-Swan, will you finally go out on a date with me?"
"Really!" Usopp said. "How can you ask Nami that and on her birthday of all things!"
Nami's surprise birthday party went well, and the most shocking was Luffy. He was known to eat a lot when it came to food, but this night he behaved. When her friends left for home, Belle-mere sent Luffy home with two containers of leftovers from the party.
Nami felt tired as she flopped down on her bed. But, of course, it didn't help that Arlong still hadn't called as promised, and she wondered what had happened. She started to drift off when her cell buzzed, and she answered it.
"Hello," she said tiredly.
"Sorry for calling so late, Kitten."
She sat up. "Arlong, do you know what time it is?"
'It's only 8:50," he said. "Things took longer than what I wanted, but it's not that late. So we can still celebrate your birthday."
"You're serious?" Nami said.
"Look out your window, and you tell me."
Nami wondered what he meant. She looked out of her bedroom and nearly dropped her cell. Standing under one of the street lights was Arlong.
"Can you leave the house?" he asked.
"Y-yes," she stammered. "Let me change into something nicer."
"From where I'm standing, you're perfect as you are," Arlong said. "Now come on. We have a reservation waiting for us."
Nami felt like she should change into something more appropriate, especially if Arlong made a reservation, but he said what she was wearing was fine. What kind of reservation did Arlong make?. She hurried and carefully slipped down the steps and almost reached the back door in the kitchen when Belle-mere came in from the living room.
"Nami," she said. "Are you going out?"
"Yes," Nami said, hoping her mother would let it go there.
"Do you mind getting me a couple of packs of my cigarettes?" Belle-mere asked as she handed her adopted daughter the money. "I forgot to get them while we're out, and my favorite show is coming on."
"Sure," Nami said, taking the money. "I might be out a little late if you're okay with that."
"Of course, since you have the next three days off," Belle-mere said. "Don't stay out too late. Okay?"
"Promise," Nami said, going out the door.
Arlong had already crossed the street further down. He wasn't taking chances of getting caught by Belle-mere, and the very moment Nami reached him, he pulled her a much-needed hug. They both missed each other, spending the few moments holding one another. Once done, Arlong took Nami's hand, and they walked to the end of the street where he had parked his jeep. He opened and helped her into his jeep.
'He's such a gentleman,' Nami thought as Arlong got in on the driver's side.
"And this is for you," he said, holding up the orange rose that she had grown to love so much.
"Arlong," she said, taking the beautiful flower. "You have no reason to apologize."
"I do," he said. "I said I would call you, and I made you wait for so long because I got so busy."
Nami smiled before she kissed him.
~~.~~.~~
Arlong drove to the Harumi Parking Lot, where he paid the parking fee, and from there, they walked to the Kachidoki Asashio Pier. The very moment she saw the boat docked at the pier, Nami realized what Arlong meant. He made a private charter reservation and with the Riverboat Mizuha! Once settled, the small luxury riverboat left the dock.
"I hope you enjoy the cruise I picked for us," Arlong said.
He picked the classic but very popular cruise that departed from Nihombashi, and Nami loved it. To see all the different bridges, especially at night, lit up just made it more spectacular. Nami felt like a fairy tale princess as they returned to the dock. As they walked back to the jeep, Nami remembered the cigarettes.
"Do you think you could do me a tiny favor?" Nami asked nervously.
"Depends on the favor," Arlong said.
"Could we stop at a convenience store so I can get Belle-mere's cigarettes? She gave me the money."
"Seriously?" Arlong said to which Nami nodded. He sighed. Why couldn't the woman get her cigarettes herself? Well, Nami did ask, so he couldn't just tell her no. "Alright, if you tell me why you call your mother by her name."
Nami waited until Arlong had driven from the parking lot and onto the street before she told him the answer. "I know you and a lot of people think Belle-mere is Nojiko and my mom, but she isn't," she said, turning to look out the passenger window. "When Belle-mere was still a marine, she went with her company to a national emergency. A town had a devasting earthquake, and Belle-mere was part of the rescue operation team. I was only a baby when Belle-mere found Nojiko, who had seen me a few moments earlier."
Arlong was surprised. "You and Nojiko don't know who your own are parents are or even if they're alive?"
"No," Nami said, looking at him. "It doesn't matter. After all, Belle-mere raised us as her daughters. So far as Nojiko and I know, our real parents are dead."
Arlong was quiet after that, lost in his thoughts. Nami and I aren't so different. At least I know about my parents but she- she doesn't know anything about hers.
Arlong drove to a convenience store he knew, and after getting the information about Belle-mere's cigarettes brand, he took the money and went in for Nami. Not before he took out a small gift-wrapped box and an envelope handing them to her.
"Read the letter but wait until I come back before opening your present," he said.
After he went inside, Nami opened the letter and read the following;
Nami,
I am not a man who comes right out and says what he is feeling, and even writing this is proving a challenge. I never dreamed that I would find anyone as unique as you are. You gave me a chance, a real chance at something so alien to me. You held up a mirror showing in truth the horror of my heart, the man I was. You are my world, my everything. I love you with all my heart and soul.
Yours forever,
Arlong
When Arlong came back to the jeep, he found Nami crying silent tears. "Nami, is something wrong?" he asked in worry.
She didn't answer him; instead, she threw her arms around him burying her face into the curve of his neck. He saw she was still clutching the letter. He didn't think that would have made her cry. Maybe the present but sure not the letter. Now he felt terrible. He didn't mean to make her cry.
"Kitten, I didn't mean to upset you," he said, holding her. "I wanted to find a way to tell what I've felt, and this was the easiest way for me to do so. I'm sorry for making you cry."
"I love you too."
"Wha-," Did he hear that right? Did he hear Nami confess her love for him while he confessed his in a letter? "Did you say what I think I heard?"
Nami leaned back, looking him right in the eyes. "I love you, Arlong Okane," she said.
She loved him! Nami had indeed said it! She confessed that she loved him. HIM!
"Nami," he said, surprisingly becoming a little emotional himself. "I never dreamed that I would hear those words, those sweet three-letter words. I love you, Nami Chizu." Then, becoming aware that he was close to crying, Arlong wiped his eyes composed and politely nodded to Nami's present. "Open it."
Nami finished wiping the tears from her eyes, tore the wrapping paper off, and opened the box. "Arlong, it's so beautiful," she said, holding up the necklace that was a tangerine with its lovely white flower in full bloom.
"Let me put it on for you," he said, happy that she loved the necklace. Nami held the little tangerine between her fingers, admiring the beautiful craftsmanship as Arlong fastened the necklace's clasps. "There we go."
Nami looked back up at him, her eyes reflecting her love for him and seeing that love brought a genuine smile to Arlong. He leaned forward to capture her lips in a deep passionate kiss.
Nami and Arlong finally confessed their love for one another. Yes, I know that Hungry Days is in a modern parallel universe for One Piece, but hey, I like to give myself a challenge, and what more of a challenge than using places in the real world. The chapter is a belated birthday gift to my friend, BXE. So, remember to Read and Review.
