Chapter 6 I Care More Than That

Luffy's heavy eyelids opened slowly, he awoke with a cold cloth to his forehead. He looked around, he was in the captains quarters, he was back on his ship!

Then he remembered, "NAMI!" he shouted sitting up quickly, letting the cloth fall on the bed. His body quivered at the sudden pain that shot through him. "I gotta' find her!" he said turning to the side of the bed.

When he pushed his arms down on the side of the bed to help him stand an escrutating pain overwhelmed him that made him scream and fall onto the floor.

His crew came rushing in, in panic.

Usopp was the most panicky out of all of them. "What's wrong Luffy? What's the matter? Why did you scream? Are you okay?" He looked down noticing him on the floor, "AHHHHHHHHHH! HE'S DEAD!" Usopp fainted.

"What do you think you're doing!" Zoro growled at him helping him off the floor and back onto the bed.

"We've got to save Nami!" Luffy said struggling to get back up.

"What? Where is Nami?" Sanji questioned.

"Arlong captured her!"

The one's who had witnessed that event looked at each other.

"I think you need to lie down.." Sanji said.

"NO! I'm serious I saw Arlong with my own two eyes! We have to save her!" Luffy tried to get up but Zoro pushed down on his face so he wouldn't be able to. "HEY! LET ME! LET ME UP! LET ME UP! LET ME UP!"

"You're not going anywhere, Luffy!" Zoro yelled at him.

"Yeah, besides you done in that old fish head. How could he be alive?" the chef pointed out.

Luffy growled and looked at Sanji with big pointy chompy teeth, "I DON'T KNOW BUT WE HAVE TO FIND HIM AND GET NAMI BACK!"

Zoro lowered his hand, "Luffy are you sure?"

"Yes! I'm telling you the truth!"

Zoro nodded, "All right then, let's go!"

"Are you serious?" Sanji asked in disbelief, "How do you know Luffy wasn't just seeing things?"

The swordsman looked at him, "I think our captain knows what he's doing," he looked back at their captain, "Do you know where they took her?"

"Before I went unconcious, I heard them say they were going back to Coco Village."

"Oh great, don't tell me we have to go back there again." Sanji moaned.

"Maybe we can catch them before they reach it..." Zoro pondered.

"All right then let's go!" Luffy said attempting to get up again.

"You stay down here and rest!" Zoro ordered resting a hand on his shoulder, "We'll tell you when we get there, or see Arlong's ship."

"But-"

"Don't worry," Zoro assured him. "we'll find her."

Usopp sat up, "What happened?"

Sanji rolled his eyes, "Come on!" he said grabbing him by the back of the shirt and pulling him out of the room.

Everyone left, except for Chopper.

Even though he didn't want to, Luffy got back into bed, but he didn't lay down. Chopper jumped up on the bed beside him and examined his wounds. The little reindeer doctor went right to work treating everything. Then something caught his eye. "What happened to your arm?" he asked, eyeing the scratches.

"Some weird snake guy did that. It's no big deal.."

"No big deal!" the little reindeer repeated, "It's infected!"

Luffy looked at it. The scratches on his arm were buldgey, purple and pussy. Clear liquid oozed out of it. It was enough to make someone sick!

"What kind of creature was this?"

The captain shrugged carelessly.

"This is really serious! If I can't find out what kind of creature attacked you so I can treat this, you could have to get your arm amputated or even worse you could die!"

Luffy didn't say anything, his mind was somewhere else.

"HEY! Are you listening to me!"

He didn't answer.

"Well, whatever," said the reindeer putting bandages over the infection, "I'm going to read up on this and see what I can find to treat it," the reindeer hopped off the bed and left the room.

The pirate captain watched him go, then looked out the window. He sighed.

Nami's whole front of her shirt was soaked by the tears she had cried. She had cried so much she could hardly breathe. She could hardly believe what had happened. The only person who had ever stopped and took time to help her was gone, killed right in front of her eyes. Through everything she had been through he had been there, when Arlong had tricked her, he was there, when she had gotten sick, he was there, he was always there. He was always there to pick her up again when she'd fall. And through everything else she had experienced he had never let her down. And now... And now she had let him down. She couldn't help him when he needed her most. And what made it all worse was that the snake men seemed to enjoy coming down and torturing her. But even though that was horrible and hurt immencly what she had done hurt her more.

"Oh, god," she sobbed, "how could this happen?"

She wept.

Luffy lay on his bed awake, staring at the ceiling. How could he rest at a time like this? One of his crew was in trouble! How could they expect him to take it easy?

Luffy turned to his side. Then there was a knock on the door. He glanced at it, "Who is it?"

"It's me." Zoro's voice answered.

He turned his head, "Come in."

Zoro opened the door, "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Ok, I guess.."

"Just thought I should let you have this." he heard the swordsman say, as he tossed something on the bed.

He turned to it, when he saw what it was he lit up like a light bulb, "My straw hat!"

"Yeah, we found it in the water, that's kind of how we found you."

Luffy stared at it grinning from ear to ear.

"We've spotted Arlong's ship!" a voice from on deck shouted.

Luffy grinned madly and laughed his laugh as he set the hat on top of his head. He pushed it forward over his face so it hid his eyes, "Let's do this!"

Zoro and Luffy hurried on deck and just as they had said, there was a ship in sight. But was it Arlong's? No one needed to ask, their captain told them right away, "That's it!"

"Ok," Zoro nodded, "let's go!"

The crew scampered around the ship, trying to make sure they would catch up with them.

"Captain Arlong!" one of the snake men shouted rushing over.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"Another pirate ssssship'ss aproaching. It ssssseemssss to be following usssss."

The merman walked to the back of the ship. Indeed someone was following them. But who was it? He noticed someone was standing at the front of the it. The merman squinted trying to see who it was. He held a telescope to his eye. Then he knew, "It can't be!"

"What isssss it?" the snakeman asked.

"Open fire on that ship!" Arlong commanded shoving the telescope into the guy's chest.

"Yesssssss ssssir!"

Luffy grinned widely. Soon they would have Nami back and everything would be just fine. Absolutely nothing could go wrong now!

Boom!

Hot lead flew thick through the air and the smell of burnt gun powder. But lucky for the Straw Hat Crew they missed.

"They're fireing at us!" Usopp screamed in panic.

"Avoid Cannon Fire!" the captain ordered.

The crew did their best.

Cannon were booming, lead whistled through the air in all directions. Even though the crew did their best to avoid being hit the pirate ship was taking damage and things didn't look good.

Another cannon ball flew through the air and struck the side of the ship. Luffy looked over the edge and examined it. "HEY!" he screamed angrily, "STOP BLOWING HOLES IN MY SHIP!"

A cascade of water drenched him as a cannon ball slammed into the ocean close to the starboard side.

Luffy growled through clenched teeth. "THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD IT!"

"HEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" Zoro questioned Luffy, who had stretched his arms out between two beams on the ship.

"Gum Gum-

"LUFFY DON'T-"

BOING!

"Rocket!"

"LUFFY!"

It was too late, the pirate couldn't hear him now, he was too far away now, sailing though the air toward Arlong's ship holding his hat so he wouldn't lose it again.

"Don't worry!" Luffy shouted back, "I'll save Nami and be back before you can say, "Gold Roger!"

Maybe if he had been looking it wouldn't have happened.

SPLAT! Luffy's body pasted across the front of Arlongs ship like a fly across a wind sheild, leaving him flat as a pancake.

Before his body slid off he stretched his hand up and grabbed the side of the ship. He pulled himself up and peeked over.

Guards were everywhere. Now what? He looked for Arlong and spotted him at the front of the ship. He growled and looked away.

Now to focus on these morons. Luffy ducked down, then stretched his arm out punching one of the snake men with his fist.

The guard next to him looked as the snake pirate groaned and fell over. By the time he had looked Luffy's way he as well was knocked out by a smack in the face. Luffy snickered as he tapped one of the snake men on the shoulder, then when he looked punched him. When Luffy had knocked out all the pirates in his way he pulled himself up and climbed over onto the ship.

He turned his head in both directions trying to decide where to look first. I know! Below the deck! Where else would she be?

He made his way down below. There was a door, he slammed it open.

"Nami!"

Nope, wrong door.

About fifty snake men, who had been sitting at tables drinking, stopped their talking in an instant and stared at the pirate.

A sweat drop slid down his forehead. "Oops.."

"Get him!" one of them shouted.

Luffy started to fight them but found out they were extreamely hard!

He punched three on each side of him while kicking a few in front of him. But they didn't go down as easy as the others he had sneakily knocked out. It took a couple hits to kill or knock out these guys. His arm stretched forward as he punched one in front of him. Another one came up from behind him and slammed him to the floor. He quickly lifted himself up and continued to fight. Another snake man punched him in th stomach and sent him flying across the room and crashing into a wall.

He fought as best he could but there were too many and they were too strong for him to take on all at once. He was going to make a break for it but found himself burried under a ton of snake men.

He was angry now, he couldn't get beaten like this! He growled. With all his might he forcefully pushed himself up. Snake men flew everywhere.

This was his chance! He had to get out of that room, find Nami and get the heck out of there! With no further delay he ran for it. When he was out of the room he turned to go down a hallway and then stopped and hid when he noticed more snake pirates. They were standing in front of a door and seemed to be guarding it.

Luffy chuckled quietly grinning widely.

Nami was still crying, creating a puddle of tears in front of her. She hadn't stopped since they had left the island. She was starting to get dehidrated and was almost all out of tears. She cried out in distress. Luffy.. Luffy...

Nami was in such dispair she didn't hear the two thuds outside of the door.

She sniffled.

"Luffy... This is all my fault!"

She cried again.

"No, it isn't."

"Yes, it is!" she insisted, "You wouldn't be dead if I hadn't done all this!"

"But I'm not!"

"Oh, Luffy I wish you were here.. I wish you-" she stopped and gasped as she realized he was talking to her. Oh my god! A ghost!

She looked around but didn't see anyone. I must be going mad.. She hung her head and cried again.

Suddenly she felt a hand slide under her chin. She gasped as it lifted her head. She gasped again, shocked as she stared at Luffy's face.

He smiled "Don't cry, Nami. I am here!"

"L-Luffy.." she looked away, "How could you come here after what I did.."

He let go of her face. He became serious for a moment. He looked away also, the pain on his face from before clearly shown, like the thought of what had happened stung. "What you did hurt me, Nami..."

She closed her eyes, the thought stung her as well. She didn't expect to be forgiven. She didn't deserve it! As far as she was concerned it would serve her right if Luffy left that second and never returned.

"But I don't care.."

Her face lifted, she gasped. Hope and surprise lit in her eyes.

He looked at her and put his hand under her chin again. "Because I care about you..."

Her heart sped up.

"More than I care about that."

She didn't understand. How could he care about about her at all after what she had done?

There was a silence for a moment.

Her lip quivered. "I- I don't undertsand.."

The childish grin came back, "You don't have to!" he closed his eyes, "you're part of my crew and that's all that matters to me!"

He let go of her face, stood and put the key he had taken from the guards in the keyhole of the shackles.

"Just hang on a sec! I'll have you free in a jiffy!" It unlocked, "There!" he said unlocking the second one, "You're free! And now we can- WOAH!"

Luffy never finished his sentence he stopped short when Nami flew into his arms and knocked them both to the down. Leaving her on top of him and his back flat against the floor.

"Hey What's-"

She hugged him tightly. "I thought you were dead.. I thought I would never see you again." She sniffled.

"It's okay..."

"I'm so sorry! This whole thing is all my fault!" She cried.

He put a hand on her forehead and ran his fingers through her hair. "It's okay..."

Her tear splattered onto his face. He sat up partually and hugged her for a long moment then let her go. Her arms weakly held her up.

"I'm so glad," her eyes squinted weakly, "you're all right." She collapsed onto him.

He caught her, then scooped her up. He stood staring down at her, his eyes full of concern. He caressed her cheek with the back on his hand. Nami... He looked out the window in the room and said quietly, "It's okay.."

Zoro leaned over the side of the ship. Come on Luffy.. We can't hold out forever.

"LOOK!" Robin exclaimed.

Pirates from Arlongs ship swang over on ropes and began to invade the Going Merry.

"What are we going to do?" Usop, who had been cornered asked.

Zoro looked at the snakes on eather side of him. He screamed his answer, "FIGHT."

Zoro went right to work with his master swordsman skills killing as many as of the snake men as he could.

Sanji also went to work kicking the pirates that dared to get a leg length near him.

Usopp picked the ones off near him with his sling shot.

Robin used her ability, putting it to good use.

Chopper took his human form and pounded on any of the snake men that dared to come near him.

The enemy was very strong! Were they too strong? Could the Straw Hat Crew hold out until Luffy returned?

Luffy walked up stairs onto the deck. As would be expected, he was surrounded by the snake men pirates, with Arlong standing in the midst of them.

"So you're alive." Arlong grimaced.

Luffy stared at him saying nothing.

"And you thought you could just sneak onto my ship and take my little Nami away without a fight."

Luffy set Nami down.

Arlong laughed. "Think again!"

The snake men attacked.

Luffy charged at them with his fist ready to slam their faces, but they were unexspectingly fast.The snake men lashed at him with their claws cutting him, making him bleed. One of them raised their hand for a second strike, but Luffy grabbed it's arm and threw it over his head. Another one of them lunged at him but even though they were fast he was faster! He quickly bolted out of the way. Another came up from behind him and knocked him down. They scruffeld on the ground trying to be the one on top. As they rolled along they tripped other snake men, then finally Luffy was victorious and threw him off. His victory was short lived as other snake men attacked him.

"Gum Gum double barrel!" he shouted punching two in the chest.

Two more came up from behind him. The fight seemed pointless. These guys were obviously stronger than him especially since there were so many. Even though he tried his best it wasn't good enough and they restrained him. Two snake men held him by his arms, holding them behind his back. One of the snake men behind him leaned their head forward opening their mouth near his neck like a vampire threatening to bite him.

"STOP!" Arlong shouted.

They looked at him.

"He's mine!"

Arlong walked forward from where he had been standing. He made his way to Nami, when he was in front of her he pulled her away from the the pirate.

"Don't touch her!" Luffy screamed at him angrily struggling to break free.

Arlong laughed defiently. "You stupid P-human! After I kill you and return to Coco Village I'm going to make everything go back to the way it was!" he leaned down to pick Nami up, "Nami will make maps for me and bring me treasure and Coco village will go back under my control and there's nothing you can do about it! And I'll-"

POW!

Luffy's fist smashed into Arlong's cheek and knocked him down. Arlong looked up at him hatefully.

Luffy's hand rested on the back of his arm as his stance from his punch stayed the same, his face hidden by his hat, his fist still clenched.

"I said, "don't touch her!"

Luffy looked up his eyes met with Arlong's. Shark eyes..

Pieces of skin were torn as scraches appeared on Luffy's face.

POW! Luffy punched him again. Scratches tore at his face. He punched him again as more scratches appeared.

The snake men were about to restrain him but in the next instant they found they didn't need to. When Luffy raised his fist again his wrist slit open, he cried out in pain as it did. This hurt more than the other scratches so the pirate stopped for a moment. He held his wrist squeezing it, as if trying to surpress the pain, but unfortunatlly the pain had only begun. Arlong slit other blood veins making Luffy so focused on pain he didn't have the will to fight.

This time Arlong punched Luffy. Once in the face and once in the stomach. Luffy's body flew across the ship, hit a wall then slid down it.

"Foolish P-human!" he laughed, "Did you really think those pathetic punches would do me in?"

Luffy didn't answer, his mind was too focused on the pain pulsing through him. His body flinched and quivered from it.

"Finish him!" Arlong said with no more desire to waste his time on the human.

One of the Snake men leaned down opening their mouths like before. Luffy eyes that had been closed opened partually and looked at the fangs approaching him.

"Pretty soon their poison will being pusling through you veins!" Arlong explained as the snake man leaned over more. "And you'll die! You'll die slowly and painfully!"

The snake man was about to bite when Luffy's hand flew up and clutched around it's throat. "I wont let you... take her..." he said weakly.

Arlong smiled, "You don't have the strength!"

Arlong was right, he didn't have the strength, his strength was almost completely gone and he didn't even have enough of it to hold his arm up any more. His hand slid off of the snake man's neck and fell to his side. He closed his eyes.

The snake man leaned in again. It's teeth sunk into flesh as it unleashed it's poison into the veins-

Arlongs eyes opened wide in shock.

Luffy's pupils shrunk.

-but they weren't Luffy's

"NAMI!"

She put herself in the way to save him! The poison pulsed through her veins just as Arlong had promised. Her body went limp and she fell to the deck floor.

Luffy lifted her a little, "NAMI! NAMI!" he cried shaking her.

She didn't move.

The begining of tears were clearly shown in Luffy's eyes as he looked up at the merman, "YOU SICK BASTARD! YOU KILLED HER!"

Arlong was frozen, saying nothing, he just as shocked as Luffy was.

Luffy sucked the poison from the bite and spat it out.

"NAMI! NAMI! he screamed shaking her a little. When she didn't comply he continued to suck the poison from her.

Still nothing.

"Don't worry!" he said to her though tear filled eyes, "I'll save you!"
He held Nami against his chest, his arms flew forward.

"Gum Gum-"

He pulled back.

"Sling Shot!" (I don't know)

Nami flew through the air and landed on the deck of the Going Merry.

Luffy grinned weakly then fainted.

Authores Note:

Thanks for the help with the attacks but there was ALOT on that page to read and I can't be online as long as I want so I have to stick with the American names. Sorry. Maybe I'll change them if I ever get time to read them. Sorry about the sling shot thing I didn't know what it was called.. (refering to what he did to Wapol. Ya know when he was chewing on Luffy and Luffy sent him flying. I wanted to use that so I could send Nami to safety. Well anyways don't be too mad at me. :)