Chapter 7

Mystery sighed sadly as she saw Zolo was asleep. Drat, she had been intent on talking to him. The reindeer was watching her and she dropped her head so she didn't have to make eye contact. Her purple eyes searched the deck frantically and she suddenly saw something out of the corner of her eye.

It was Luffy flying toward her at top speed. His eyes widened, her eyes widened and she shrieked as she was knocked over board. Luffy rubbed his face and then looked over. Mystery was gone!

"She can't swim!" Luffy shrieked. He wanted to help but knew as soon as he touched the water he would be about as useful as a rock. Luffy looked around frantically and then noticed a streak of black fly past and then there was a splash. Nami came up behind Luffy and donged him on the head with her fist.

"You idiot. You knocked the poor kid into the water!" she yelled and then hurried to the edge. Sanji finally surfaced with Mystery in his arms. Sanji pulled himself up the ladder and onto the ship, Mystery sputtering in his arms. He looked up at them, his eyes wide.

"She's a cursed fruit user." he said. Luffy smiled, and Nami gasped. Sanji picked her up and laid her in front of the little reindeer. Chopper looked her over.

"She's fine as far as I can tell. She probably just got a shock." Chopper said. Sanji looked over at Nami.

"What I don't get is why she didn't tell us she had devil fruit powers." he said. Nami shook her head.

"Maybe she had a good reason." Luffy suggested. Nami turned to him. Luffy shrugged. "Some people aren't exactly comfortable with their power and instead of using what they have, they hide it. They don't use the power unless absolutely necessary. Some powers are even dangerous to the user and so, they can't exactly let themselves get out of control." he said. Nami and Sanji stared at him.

"And where exactly did you find this out?" Sanji asked.

"Well, it's kind of obvious." Luffy replied. "But, I learnt it from a friend a long time ago"

"Oh." Sanji muttered and then Mystery twitched and her eyes began to open. She looked around, a little disorientated.

"What- what happened?" she mumbled and gave a slight cough.

"Luffy knocked you into the water." Sanji said and then glared at the captain.

"It was an accident. I'm sorry." Luffy said. Mystery shook her head and smiled.

"It's okay. You didn't mean it." she replied. Sanji suddenly looked like he'd had an eye for a heart transplant.

"I saved you gorgeous!" he cried. Mystery scrambled away a little.

"Ah…thankyou. If there is anything I can do, please tell me and I'll seek to do it." Mystery said. Sanji grinned.

"Well, there is one thing." he began but Nami thumped him over the back of the head.

"Don't even go there." the orange haired woman hissed. Sanji pouted, almost looking like Luffy.

"I know, you can help me make dinner if you like." Sanji said a little put out but getting back on track in no time. Mystery nodded.

"Sure, whatever you want." she said. Sanji grinned again and dodged as Nami's fist went for his blonde head yet again. He scrambled away, Nami hissing at him about thinking dirty thoughts.

Luffy shook his head, thinking how screwy his crew was, but then, with him as the captain why wouldn't they be. "Umm, why didn't you tell us you were a cursed fruit user?" Luffy asked tentatively, respecting what he had said earlier. Mystery's eyes widened.

"I'm a what?" she asked. Luffy shook his head.

"Cursed fruit user aren't you?"

"Not that I know of." Mystery replied. Luffy, priding himself on a good judgement of character, knew she was telling the truth and let the matter go. If she truly didn't know she was, then, perhaps there was a reason for that too.