Chapter 3: Kokoyashii and the singing mistress.

A/N: Thanx for the awesome reviews! Here's the next Chapter Enjoy!

That morning was the saddest morning Going Merry had ever experienced. On the bed was a young woman laying there pale as the moon. Luffy was holding her hand and it was frozen. He had said nothing or eaten anything from that moment on. Why did it strike us so fast? Why was Nami taken away from us… from me? He thought to himself as he stared at the sea.

4 DAYS LATER

"Land Ho!" Usopp bellowed from the crow's nest.

As they docked, they were met by Gen and Nojiko, who were pretty happy to see them return so soon. But their happiness was shattered when they heard the news. Gen grabbed Luffy by his shirt.

"I thought I told you to take care of her!" He yelled.

"Gen-san" said Nojiko gently. "You heard him say that it wasn't their fault."

Gen thought for a moment, and released his grip.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I was just taken by surprise that's all" he said to Luffy

Luffy simply nodded.

"You may stay here the night" Gen said "You're welcome anytime."

2 hrs later

Luffy returned to the peak where Bellmere was buried. He looked at the plaque beside it.

It said:

Nami

Born Died

July 3rd, 1986-December 15th 2004

Rest in Peace

Luffy couldn't help it anymore. He began to sob uncontrollably. Nojiko, who was behind the tree, heard him. She approached the crying Luffy and knelt beside him.

"You really cared for her didn't you?" She asked sobbing a little herself.

"Yes. I only regret not telling her that I loved her when I had the chance" He said between sobs.

Nojiko gasped. "You- You loved my sister?" She asked completely taken by surprise.

Luffy nodded. He had never been in love before and he had no idea it hurt so much.

"Well, I'll leave you then, with my sister's soul." She said as she got up. "Come to me if you need me."

Luffy nodded. Suddenly something struck him like lightning.

"Wait! Nojiko!" He yelled.

"Ya?"

"If… If someone has imprisoned your soul… can the person still be free?" He asked.

"No. Unless the soul is free then it will go to it's destiny. If the soul is not free, the person will be tortured for eternity." She said as she turned around and walked away. Then, Nojiko faced Luffy again "…Why?"

"Just wondering"

He was now alone, in the darkness. Suddenly, he heard a faint voice. He went to the edge of the cliff over looking the harbor. There on the beach was a woman standing, facing the water. She was singing to herself. Her voice was very dreamy and she was wearing white. He hair was a bright red and she was pretty. But most of all, she reminded Luffy of someone he knew. He couldn't hear the song perfectly. He only heard the first verse before she slipped into darkness. It went like this:

-Spare a little candle, save some light for me.

-Figures up ahead movin' in the trees,

-White skin in linen

-Perfume on my wrist

-And a full moon that hangs over,

-These dreams in the mists…

He leaned in closer to hear her better.

-Darkness on the edge,

-Shadows where I stand

(Shadows where I stand)

-I search for the time on a watch with no hands

-I want to see you clearly,

-Come closer than this

(All that I remember)

-But all I remember,

-Are these dreams in the mists…

She disappeared. It was one of the most beautiful songs Luffy had ever heard. I have to free your soul Nami. Once you're free, you can go wherever you need to go… Luffy closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep where he was.

Cold… Cold… Cold! Luffy woke up looking over the harbor at the endless sea. He was still half asleep. Eyes were half closed and he still owned morning weakness.

"Sanji….meal time…!" He mumbled half asleep.

Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his heart. Nami… Nami's soul… he thought.

"Oi! Wake up sleepy bones!" Said a familiar voice.

"Nami…?" Luffy asked dreamily.

He looked up to see a woman's face staring at him.

"Gee, how long do you need to sleep?" She asked him

"How long was I asleep?"

"Hmm… I'd say about 4 days" She said thoughtfully.

"4 frickin' days!" Luffy yelled in surprise.

"Yup."

"Why didn't anyone wake me?" He asked her now sitting up.

"We figured you needed sleep so we left you be." Then she added, "You stayed by my sister's side even when she's passed on…"

He stared lazily at her. "Yeah, I guess I did"

"Well, that's okay… Your crew is ready to go."

"Yeah… How far is Stratsbourgh Island?" He asked suddenly

"Umm… about 2 days from here." Nojiko replied.

"Allright, well thanks for everything and we'll be back to see Nami." He said walking away.

"I'll never understand him…" Nojiko said to herself.

Meanwhile Luffy walked back to port and The Going Merry. He saw his crew getting ready. One spot looked empty without Nami.

"Ya! Everyone!" Luffy yelled cheerful as ever.

"What's gotten into you?" Usopp asked.

"Yeah! Why are you so cheerful all of a sudden?" Sanji asked.

"Because we're going to free Nami!" Luffy answered back.

"Eh? What made you change your mind all of a sudden?" Zoro asked.

"I got some sleep" Luffy said simply.

Sanji grabbed him by the shirt. "AHO! Don't be joking. Nami is dead."

Luffy looked at the enraged cook. "You just give up too easily!"

Sanji let him go and turned abruptly around and walked away.

Usopp looked at Luffy. "I thought the voice said Nami's end was 4 days ago."

Zoro smiled. "Meh. I got it. Let's get ready to go to that Island"

Usopp spun around. "Why the hell are you so supportive you were there we all saw Nami's body lowered in the ground!"

Zoro looked at him. "You above all people should know where we're coming from."

"Eh?" Usopp blinked.

"What do bad guys like to do?"

"Be... Bad?"

"Baka! They bluff!"

Usopp thought a moment. "That's right. But... there's no guarantee he was bluffing though.

"Maybe not." Said a voice from behind. "But there's no harm in trying. At least we can say we tried."

Zoro and Usopp turned to see Luffy with a widespread grin on his face.

They nodded.

"Yosh! Off to the island. It's not far in the other direction"

"Umm, but it was 3 days from where we left off." Usopp said.

Zoro poked him with his sword handle. "Yeah but we would've went around. Had we not come here, we would've wasted a lot of time."

He nodded.

"Well are we going or not?" Luffy yelled.

They nodded again. The crew was off to Stratsbourgh Island to recover Nami's soul.

A/N: There you go! PLZ R&R! Thank You