A/N: Hi guys, sorry for the delayed upload. I got caught up with IRL stuff. Quick heads up; the chapter after this one may come a week later than its supposed to. Hopefully I will be able to avoid that but there are a lot of things I need to deal with IRL so the story may update slower from here on out. Other than that, please enjoy the latest chapter.

'Thoughts'

"Speaking"

'Quotes'

"Text emphasis Text"

"Techniques"

'The Wolf Within'

"Luffy's words are echoed/amplified by the Wolf Within"

'Luffy's thoughts are overlapped by the Wolf Within'

Cocoyashi Village ( I )

Three Questions: We're headed where?! How do we do that? Who did this to you? And The bastard did what?!

The Going Merry

NO ONE'S POV

Two crumpled forms groaned as they pushed themselves up off the deck. Silently the two shared assuring looks to one another. This was just a fluke and it wasn't real combat anyway. In real combat they never would have lost to a woman, even Big Sis Nami!

Nodding to themselves comically, they patted their clothes to rid it off dust before making their way to the kitchen so they could join the Straw Hats for dinner. Johnny paused in his stride however when he noticed the direction they'd taken from the Baratie.

'Wait no this can't be right…the only thing in this direction is…!'

Yosaku noticed Johnny's panicked look and asked him what was wrong but his partner just rushed past him. Thinking he'd been duped, Yosaku angrily called out to Johnny. "Bastard! Don't you dare take my spinach puffs again!"

Johnny had a habit of not ordering spinach puffs for dessert for himself but unapologetically ate some, if not most, of Yosaku's back in the Baratie. The dark haired bounty hunter paid no mind to the misunderstanding and just threw open the door to the kitchen, Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats looking up to the door with raised brows wondering what warranted such an action.

"Johnny, you good?" Luffy asked, eyes shifting around as he widened his range of perception. Was there an intruder onboard? Perhaps an enemy pirate ship nearby?

"Even if you're hungry that's not a valid reason to slam the door open like that…" Sanji reprimanded from his seat next to Nami, the navigator glaring warningly at the man. The look promised another session of pain for his actions and the thought gave Johnny a moment of fright before he remembered why he did such a thing and was overcome with confused anger again.

"Big Sis Nami, Do you realize where you've set the course for?!" Johnny demanded answers. No one in their right mind would be headed there and Nami had to be clueless or just plain stupid if she was sending them to that tyrant bastard's turf. "You're sending us towards the Conomi Islands! The hometurf of-"

"Johnny you bastard!" Yosaku cut Johnny's tirade off by jumping the bounty hunter from behind, sending the two of them crashing towards the table. Sanji was not about to let food be wasted.

SLAM! BAM!

"Bloody Knob Gobblers!" Sanji growled under his breath as he stared down at the two bounty hunters he'd slammed into the ground with an axe kick. "If you two just plan on making a ruckus then take your share of the food and bugger off!"

Luffy was quiet for a moment with wide comical eyes before he turned to Nami questioningly. "Knob Gobbler?"

Nami entered a coughing fit and pounded her chest to get whatever got stuck up in her airways back down. Across from her Usopp had snorted water out his nose in shock and horror as Luffy seemed to want an explanation on the cuss. Sanji stopped glaring down at the two idiots who were groaning in pain so he could grab some tissues for Usopp. Luffy had gotten up to help Nami out of her predicament so Sanji wasn't given the chance to be a white knight for a fair maiden much to the cook's disappointment. He wasn't going to make moves on her but he wasn't above hoping for compliments because of his chivalry.

"Ugh…Big Bro Sanji, why?" Yosaku whined from his position on top of Johnny who was trying to get the other bounty hunter off. "Yo Johnny, chill man, I'm gettin off, I'm gettin off. What's got your panties in a twist anyway?"

Johnny stood back up and glared at Nami, the action drawing confusion from Yosaku and ire from the male Straw Hats. Nami just raised her eyebrow and gestured for him to just spit out whatever was on his mind.

"You're sending us towards Saw-tooth Arlong, Big Sis. This a suicide voyage or something?!" Yosaku snapped his head to Nami in horror as he realized why his partner was so aggravated. 'I thought he was just after my spinach puffs!' Yosaku thought as Nami just blankly stared at Johnny. "If you want to face off against that bastard and earn the ire of the other fishmen that's fine but don't drag my partner and I into it! Don't drag Big BroZoro along the ride either for that matter!"

Yosaku decided to join in the discussion in an equally incensed state before Nami could reply, "He's right! I owe a lot to you and even like ya a hell of a lot Big Sis but this is suicide!"

The two bounty hunters glanced at Usopp, expecting the archer to also jump into the argument in a panic but the archer just seemed mildly concerned and glanced towards Luffy. The wolfman's face was a blank sheet that gave the bounty hunter nothing to work off of while Sanji was openly hostile towards them as he stood between them and Nami. The navigator's glare dissipated into a bored look before she sighed.

"If you cowardly idiots want to run away, go ahead." The two bounty hunters opened their mouths to argue however Nami just went on with an exasperated expression on her face. "Are you both forgetting who's the Captain of this crew, outsiders?"

The two flinched at being referred to as outsiders but instead of thinking about her words and the implications of the answer they just shouted and pointed to Luffy. "Yeah, you're boyfriend, what about it?!"

"...They're kidding right?" Sanji's anger changed from a raging wildfire to a simmering burn as he pinched his eyes tiredly. Usopp blanched at the two bounty hunters and Nami had one of her eyes twitching periodically as her patience was being snuffed out rapidly.

"Johnny, Yosaku." The two men looked to Luffy who seemed torn about something and regarded them with a disappointed expression. "Who killed Krieg and the majority of his crew again?"

"You." The two answered immediately but continued staring at the wolfman with agitated expressions. The idiots weren't even connecting the dots of the rather blatant implications. "What about it?"

THUD! SMACK! SNAP!

Usopp planted his face on the table, hard, at the sheer stupidity of the two hunters. Nami was just done and facepalmed in exasperation as she took deep breaths to calm herself. Sanji…whatever modicum of respect he had for the two individuals in front of him crumbled away as the big vein on his forehead popped.

"Krieg was the strongest man on the East Blue but Arlong is a Fishman! The bastard's bounty's higher than Krieg's as well!" Johnny said not understanding why the crew his Big Bro Zoro joined wasn't getting it. Yosaku didn't join him this time as the small collection of brain cells he had began working overtime trying to figure things out from their point of view. Once he did he smacked himself in the head.

"Forget Krieg, Johnny, remember who Big Bro Luffy stood toe to toe against?!" Yosaku grabbed Johnny by his shoulders and started shaking him much to the ravenhead's chagrin. "Mihawk! Johnny! Dracule Motherfucking Mihawk!"

Silence descended the kitchen as Johnny slowly processed his partner's words. The Straw Hats were just too done with the both of them to care anymore and returned to their meal. "Ah! Arlong doesn't stand a chance at all! Big Bro Luffy can beat him all day everyday!" Johnny exclaimed at the top of his lungs inside the closed room…and Luffy had taken off his protective headset when he entered.

BOOM! POW! SMACK! CRACK! SNAP! CRUNCH! KABOOM!

Luffy huffed as he threw the two jackasses out the kitchen with the bag of take out bought for them. Johnny and Yosaku wished Nami had been the one to deal out the punishment now, at least if she had they wouldn't be tied together like a ribbon. How Luffy managed that they had no idea and all that was going through Yosaku's mind as tears cascaded down his face was, 'Why was I dragged into this?! I wasn't the one who shouted like all hell broke loose!'

"..." Zoro stood by the door to the men's barracks carrying an empty plate and glass and just stared at the pair for a few moments. The swordsman walked towards them and the two thanked the gods that they'd be freed from this painful position only to cry in deeper despair when Zoro walked right past them with a disappointed shake of his head. "You're both idiots. I heard the yelling from the barracks."

Closing and locking the door behind him, Zoro surveyed his crewmates and captain to see the damage. Sanji was irritated but wasn't particularly bothered by the earlier outbursts. Usopp jittered in his spot at the table, anxiousness rolling off him in waves. Luffy was leaning back into his seat with a cold drink pressed against his head, probably to find some comfort against the painful ringing in his ears.

Nami was a different case altogether. Outwardly she seemed impassive, unbothered by the interrogation from earlier. Her eyes told a different story.

"Mind sharing what's got ya down, Nami?" Zoro asked while making his way to the sink. His gaze lingering on Sanji for a few moments. "And don't act like nothings wrong. You and I both know that's a lie."

Zoro kept his eyes on Sanji, waiting to see if the cook would attempt to play hero again. For a moment it seemed like the blonde would but while Sanji did set a bone chilling glare on the green haired swordsman he didn't intervene or admonish Zoro. Luffy kept a half-lidded gaze on all of them and seemed content with letting his Vice Captain continue.

Nami gazed at Zoro with a blank expression before sighing and letting her emotions free. Her expression now deeply troubled as she glanced at Zoro, Sanji and Usopp periodically. She looked down, concern painted clearly on her face.

"They're right…" The navigator glanced at her lover who kept silent and just watched. "Aside from Luffy...and maybe Sanji the next destination is basically a suicide trip."

Usopp frowned deeply but made no effort to correct her. The skirmish he had with Ghin showed how he still had a lot of catching up to do. Zoro schooled his expression to his go to resting bitch face to not give away the anger he felt from feeling insulted.

"It wouldn't be much of a problem for you either, Zoro, if you were in peak condition." Nami added, knowing she'd likely wounded his pride. "For Usopp…there's a few matchups that could work out in his favor but the odds would still be heavily stacked against him..."

There was a moment of silence before Zoro asked, "And your worried because?" The swordsman was lost on why Nami was concerned over something like this now. "You didn't voice any protests when I went to duel Mihawk. What's the difference? I'm still risking my life in both cases."

Usopp also seemed curious about that and turned to Nami in interest. Sanji and Luffy glanced at each other and both sighed in exasperation internally.

"The difference is that dueling Mihawk is part of your dream, your journey." Nami responded with a little amused smile, "This little detour...it's not even my dream...just a chore I had never got around to doing."

Nami couldn't help it. A few tears ran down her cheeks against her will as she continued. "Bringing you all along for the ride...only to get you killed…I'm an idiot." Zoro scowled and narrowed his eyes at Nami's self-loathing. "I should have just went with Luffy, if you guys ended up not being able to live your dreams because of me I'd-"

"Shut up." Nami's ranting was cut short by Zoro's clear displeasure. Sanji's glare hardened but a warning glare from his Captain kept him from interjecting. "It's our lives, Nami and it's up to us on how we live it. If any of us didn't want to help liberate your home we would have said so." Zoro scowled for one second longer before his face broke out into a smug smirk. "You know I would have been bitchin a long time ago if I had any problems with dealing with those guppies for ya."

Nami seemed at a loss for words when Usopp jumped in and agreed with his Vice Captain. "He's right, Nami! It doesn't matter who it is, if they mess with you they gotta deal with us!" True to the marksman's nature, Usopp then struck a smug wise man-like pose and began regaling his crewmates with the time he stood up to a massive carp that came to his village. True to the crew's nature they ignored him, well Luffy paid him some attention and nodded along, feigning interest to amuse the archer but the rest flat out ignored him.

"Crude delivery but true nonetheless." Sanji stated, throwing in his two cents in. "Any who harms our family can expect no mercy."

Nami, touched by her friend's-no her family's concern and clear devotion to her, began shedding tears for very different reasons. Sanji and Usopp began panicking and fussing over her while Zoro just laughed and took a seat next to her before ruffling her hair affectionately. The act froze Sanji and Usopp in their tracks but for different reasons. For Sanji, well, Zoro just took his seat and stole his thunder. Comforting women was his job not the shitty mosshead's! In Usopp's case…

"Zoro...are you dying?!" Usopp exclaimed in horror before he eeped and slammed his hands on his mouth as he heard growling behind him. Turning around nervously, Usopp's fears were confirmed as he came face to face with Luffy covering his ears as he glared daggers at the marksman. Thankfully his outburst got Zoro and Nami's attention as the swordsman shot him a confused, and slightly irritated, look while Nami began eyeing Zoro from top to bottom in concern.

"No, Usopp, I'm not dying. The heck gave you that idea anyway?" Zoro questioned while giving Nami headpats to assure he was fine, ignoring Sanji's withering glare.

"He's probably freaked out by how affectionate you're being. Usually you're a stone cold battle junkie set on drinking yourself to oblivion." Luffy answered with an amused smile watching the brother-sister dynamic blossoming before his eyes. "Why are you so affectionate today anyway?"

"Blood Loss and a little tipsy after Ero-cook's remedy…" Zoro stared at Sanji for a few seconds causing the blonde to gaze back with exasperated anger. "Dartboard ain't gonna be our Doctor right? Much as I love alcohol even I know it ain't the solution to every injury."

"You gave him alcohol?!"

"Dude, what the hell?!"

"Nope. He's our cook and martial arts instructor, definitely not our doctor."

Nami and Usopp glared daggers at the blonde who raised his arms up in surrender. If it was just Usopp, Sanji would've reciprocated the glare but since Nami was involved he decided to just accept defeat on this one and explain without a fight.

"The home remedy was made with the intention of giving someone all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals they would need while recovering. Taste was the last thing to be considered so it wasn't a pleasant beverage to consume." Sanji said as he took the empty plates of his crew over to the sink so he could wash them. Zoro stood up and joined him without a word. "Noticed Mosshead here loved his alcohol from all the drinks he ordered in the restaurant and saw the stash in the corner of the room. Alcohol dulls the senses and has quite a powerful kick to it so I decided to add some in. Just enough to mask the taste though...shitty swordsman wasn't in any danger."

"Still doesn't make it right." Nami huffed, more than a little miffed about the situation.

"Eh. Ended up tasting tolerable and the pain isn't as bad now." Zoro said with a wry smile. "I can actually walk now."

Luffy decided to nip it in the bud right then and there before his first mate got any ideas. "You're going back and sleeping in the barracks until we arrive in Cocoyashi. Captain's orders."

Zoro blanched and opened his mouth to protest only to be cut off by the rest of the crew.

"Seconded!"

"Agreed!"

"Shitty Swordsman"

Luffy clutched his sides as he burst out in laughter while Zoro looked at his crew with a betrayed expression. They had for all intents and purposes banned him from his favorite pastime, training. "Sorry brother. Tell you what though, once you're fully recovered I'll double down on our sparring sessions."

"I'll hold you to that." Zoro walked out the kitchen and towards the barracks, resigned to his fate. Nami rolled her eyes at the swordsman's grumbling and Usopp went to help Sanji with the dishes. For a few minutes, Sanji and Usopp bantered with one another about the crew's adventure, Nami joining in from time to time to fill in the gaps or stop Usopp from diverging too far into his tales. Then Usopp had an epiphany.

"Have you guys ever noticed how we act like we're actual siblings sometimes? Especially Zoro and Luffy?" Usopp asked Nami, not expecting Sanji, the newest crew member, to have any input on this topic. He was wrong.

Sanji gave Usopp a confused look, "Isn't it only natural? I mean you did become part of his pack didn't you?"

"Huh? Pack? You mean crew?" Usopp asked back, completely lost.

Sanji blinked and turned to Luffy, "He doesn't know?"

Luffy shook his head, "No, he doesn't. Zoro was supposed to fill him in…but…" The wolfman smiled wryly recalling the scene of Usopp facedown and beaten up on the floor after Zoro experienced for the first time the true hell that is a scream in closed rooms. "Well, to make this quick, Usopp my devil fruit is the Inu Inu no Mi; Model: -"

For a few moments there was silence…then Nami began to observe Usopp nervously. The marksman hadn't been left dumbfounded or in fright like everyone else had so far. Usopp was just quietly staring at Luffy, blinking with uncomprehending eyes.

"Usopp? You ok?" The navigator stood up and shook the marksman's shoulder who turned to her with a furrowed brow.

"Uh yeah…Who or what's a —-?"

CLATTER!

A plate slipped out of Sanji's hand and clattered against the others still in the sink, thankfully not breaking, as the cook's cigarette fell out his mouth. "Y-You're kidding right?" Sanji asked, staring at Usopp incredulously. The monster wasn't just some random beast from a small time cult following, it was a freaking legend in the North Blue for God's sakes! How could the guy who spouts off on and on about the most out there stories not know one of the most famous mythological creatures in existence?!

"No?" Usopp answered unsurely, under the impression he was about to get decked by the cook. "It's a cool name…but I don't recognize it…"

Nami, Sanji and Luffy all just stared. There wasn't anything else they could do but stare…Until Sanji sighed and began sharing the tale of the monster known as 'The Devourer.'

30 minutes later and the world was all good again, at least to Sanji and Nami. Usopp, in his shell shocked state, had forgotten the most basic fundamental rule on the ship. No yelling in closed spaces.

BONK!

With a steaming bump on his head Usopp kneeled before Luffy, shivering under the wolfman's scathing look. "You're going to get an additional training session for the next few weeks, Usopp." Luffy promised darkly with a smile that was anything but friendly. "Personal training sessions."

Usopp began crying and whimpering to Nami for mercy. Begging her to calm the captain down and alleviate his punishment…Yeah no she wasn't interested.

"Why do you forsake me, Nami?! Why?!" The navigator just rolled her eyes as Usopp continued his dramatic display. Sanji, wiping his hands clean by the sink as he'd finally finished with the dishes, turned to Luffy to bring the topic back up.

"So are Usopp and I welcome to join the pack now or is there a prerequisite?"

Luffy glanced at Sanji for a moment, then at Usopp before resting his gaze on his fiance. "How long till we get to Cocoyashi?"

"Two days. One if the winds become favorable." Nami answered as she looked out the window longingly.

"Hmmm, well I might as well give you both the tools for the job so you can take out the trash expeditiously" Luffy stood up from his seat and stretched, his bones audibly popping. "Aight, let's do this." Luffy's jaw twitched and, with a loud snap, his canines lengthened…and Usopp fainted.

THUD!

"...Well I guess that means I'm going first." Sanji nonchalantly walks to Luffy, purposefully and unapologetically stepping on Usopp on the way, and presents his arm. "It doesn't have to be on the neck right?"

Luffy sighed and rubbed his eyes together. "This again? For fucks sakes I'm not giving you or Zoro or any one aside from my wives a mate mark." As the wolfman sank his teeth into Sanji's arm, spider-web-like cracks began spreading outwards much like with Zoro when the first mate had joined the pack, stopping once it encompassed nearly half of Sanji's body. Letting go of his cook's arm Luffy walked over to the sink to spit out the blood that had entered his mouth and gargled water to wash any residual traces out. "All right, someone hold Usopp down so he doesn't struggle too much when I bite him."

"Got it."

Sanji pinned Usopp to the ground by his limbs with the exception of the archer's right arm which Nami presented to Luffy. The wolfman laughed internally at how Nami was holding Usopp's hand up to him like it was a treat.

"Ugh. Carrot I told you not to mess with my stuff. Put down the glitter bomb Onion…" The marksman's slurred words drew confused yet amused smirks from his conscious crewmates. Then Usopp's eyes shot wide open the moment Luffy's fangs penetrated his skin. "AH! MONS-MMPH MMM!"

Knowing it would hurt her beloved's sensitive ears, Nami clamped her free hand over Usopp's mouth. Maybe she also did it a little for the marksman as well, feeling a tad sorry for the guy...and guilty for leaving him to fend for himself against the sadistic bastard that is her boyfriend.

The Spider Web-like cracks spread on Usopp as well, glowing like moonlight. The scene was so surreal to the archer that he'd stopped struggling so he could watch. Nami had a similar reaction but was more curious if the process would be the same for her, she wasn't exactly going to just be a standard member of the pack after all. Sanji looked like he wanted another smoke...and Luffy, who noticed, was beginning to seriously worry about his cook's smoking addiction.

'If you ban him from cigarretes, you'd need to ban Zoro from alcohol as well.'

'Ah, right when I thought you'd be quiet for once.'

'Am I wrong, though?'

'...Shut up you overgrown Chihuahua.'

'Chihuahua?! How dare you! Apologize!'

'No.'

While Luffy had his tennis match with the wolf within, he released Usopp's arm and returned to the sink to freshen up. The marksman stood back up with the help of Sanji who decided to ask more about the crew's adventures till this point. Glad to be in his element yet again, Usopp happily shared what he knew. Nami smiled happily seeing the two getting along before noticing Luffy gesturing for them to leave. With a nod the two left the cook and the archer to themselves and when they reached the door Nami noticed the look in Luffy's eyes and smiled darkly.

"Our bedroom?"

"Our bedroom." Luffy confirmed with a twisted smile as his eyes were alit with mirth.

'Damn pup, I said apologize! I'm not shutting up until you do!'

'All right, all right…I'm sorry.'

'That didn't sound sincere at all!'

'I'm sorry but I am very sincere, I swear.' Luffy did a mental arm raise. 'Scout's honor.'

'You've never even been a scout you cheeky cu-'

Inside the privacy of their own bedroom, Nami locked the door behind her as Luffy brought out the black den den mushi Mihawk had given him earlier that day.

Puru Puru Puru Puru Puru Puru Puru Puru Pu-Kchack!

"Hello Hello?" A gruff man's voice came out the black snail's mouth, it's expression a glare with an open frown. "This is my private number so who is-"

"Good Afternoon Gramps." Luffy grinned cheekily when the black snail blinked before it split into a wide shit eating grin. Nami from her seat sweatdropped at how eerily similar it was to Luffy's own. "Mihawk got the Den Den Mushi this morning…how've ya been?"

"Wahahahahaha! I'm healthy as a horse if that's what you're askin! Just finished re-educating that Margaret prick you told me about in Shell's Town actually. Met that new recruit you sent my way as well er Kirby was it?"

Nami and Luffy both sweatdropped at how Garp butchered the two individuals' names. "You mean Morgan and Coby?" Luffy felt bad for the kid already.

"Huh? Oh yeah, Coby that was it. Cheeky brat had another recruit with him, that wimpy son of that scum Mildew." Nami raised her eyebrow at the new name and glanced at Luffy questioningly. The navigator wondered if Garp was changing the bastard of a marine captain's name on purpose or genuinely just didn't care enough to learn it…it was both.

"So why'd ya call? Got another Marine for me to re-educate already?" The snail was smiling jovially as it delivered Garp's message but the eyes were anything but sunshine and rainbows.

"Not this time no…well I guess there was that guy from earlier but…Nami you think Pink hair needs re-educating?" Luffy turned to his girlfriend to get her opinion only to find the navigator looking like a deer caught in headlights. "Babe you o-"

"BABE?! MY GRANDSON HAS A GIRLFRIEND?!" Oh Luffy's poor ears. The wolfman's eyes became swirls as he flopped onto the bed, the black snail's expression becoming panicked as it flew up in the air. Screw keeping up professional appearances if he was gonna die it was gonna be with his real emotions expressed on its face not a raving grandpa's!

"Idiot!" Nami jumped out of her seat and dove for the snail, catching it right before it hit the ground. She let out a pained grunt when she slammed down on the ground, the snail following her expression of pain now that he was out of danger. 'Thank you beautiful orangette!' The snail screamed internally, returning to a professional's standards now that it was out of danger. "Ugh, Luffy be careful, you clumsy puppy!"

"Eh? Who is this?! My grandson's girlfriend?!" The snail glared down at Nami who gulped as she readjusted herself, cursing her boyfriend who was still disoriented from the sudden scream earlier. "My grandson can't date yet! He's 20 years too young to be dating! I forbid it! No girl aside from one that could keep him in check will ever have my blessings! NEVER!"

"Sir, after 20 years, Luffy would be 37." An exasperated voice said from the snail but the expression hadn't changed from the angry one from earlier. "And a woman who could keep your grandson in check? Sir…I say this with all due respect but if he's got even a shred of your DNA no woman in the world would be able to keep him in check."

"Ha! His mother would! That woman scares the living shit out of even someone like me!" Garp guffawed as he rebuked his companion. Nami sweatdropped internally questioning if that was something he should sound proud of when she registered his words.

'Wait Mother? If it's someone even Garp's afraid of then it can't be Dadan. Luffy said his adoptive mother was basically Garp's go to babysitter for himself and his brothers.'

"His mother? I thought you said she went missing?" The sound of a person scratching his head was heard over the call as Garp coughed anxiously as he had messed up somewhere.

"Ah! Ehem, Yes yes, that dear daughter-in-law of mine has indeed gone missing, wahaha, but if she was still around she'd beat the shit outta me and Luffy anyday of the week! Woman was even able to keep that son of mine in check while they were together after all."

Nami frowned, Garp was clearly hiding something and a glance from Luffy confirmed that her boyfriend was still out of commission so she couldn't ask him about it…if he even knew that is. 'Luffy's never mentioned his mother…he told me about his biological father but not about her…I thought she wasn't with us anymore…' Nami wondered if Luffy even knew his biological mother was alive. The wolfman was never ashamed to say who his family was, he was never ashamed to admit almost anything actually. Nami recalled how he'd confessed to mostly seeing his biological father as nothing but Donor…harsh but she sees why. To Luffy, Shanks was his real father and that man was more like an uncle than a dad. So if Luffy never told her about his mother…there was a good chance even he didn't know she was alive.

"Anyway, is this Luffy's 'girlfriend'?" Garp questioned, the snail gritting its teeth angrily. Nami was beginning to wonder if there was anyone from Luffy's family, adopted or otherwise, who was sane or normal aside from Makino.

"Yes, Sir Garp, this is her. My name is Nami and I'm the navigator for his crew…and I am able to keep him in line." Adding that last part with a smug smile, Nami observed the snail's expression turn to one of doubt and apprehension.

"Keep him in line? Wahahaha! His father will become a marine before someone manages to tame Lu-''

"I threaten to cut down his meals and refuse to offer him any affections when he doesn't behave. So far he's been a very obedient pup." Nami purred like a cat who'd just found a new 'toy' to torment. "Do I fill up your requirements now or should I have Luffy at my beck and call when we meet in my hometown?"

"Meet in your hometown? Why would I do that?" Garp decided to ignore the rest of the frightening sadistic woman's speech to focus on that detail. Fortunately for him, and for Nami, that's what she was really after.

"The 16th Branch in the East Blue, responsible for the Conomi Islands and thus my hometown Cocoyashi Village...has been in league with the former Sun Pirate Saw-Tooth Arlong for the past 8 years as he terrorized and took control over my home. Killing my mother, former Marine Officer Belle-mere, before putting me to work for him since I was 10 as his navigator." Nami knew better than to wait for Garp's outburst so she continued by sharing Luffy's new plan. "Saw-Tooth Arlong is the sword brother of Warlord Jimbei...Luffy and I have a favor to ask you, Grandfather."

From there Nami elaborated further on what Luffy had planned and the technicalities of their situation that allow for certain...exceptions. As time went on and Garp listened more and more to Nami, the old Vice Admiral began to realize the similarities between the navigator and his 'missing' daughter-in-law. The cold twisted thinly veiled sadism, the lack of regard for limits or breaks when it came to vengeance...the clear love and devotion she had for her family. Towards the end the talk between Garp and Nami turned into one that families had around the dinner table. The Vice Admiral as the father meeting and bonding with the lovely girl his son, well grandson, brought home.

"Wahahahaha! An all out paint war?! Haha! That's my grandson!"

Nami could hear the groaning in the background, sounds like Bogard was recalling a rather unpleasant memory. The navigator giggled as Garp shared memories of Luffy and his brothers growing up. One that had her gasping for air was the time the three children had somehow glitterbombed the whole area of their adoptive mother's house.

"That old hag was pulling her hair out trying to clean up after the mess! Wahahahaha!"

Nami laughed along with the Vice Admiral as the wolfman still laying on the bed finally seemed to come to. Groaning, Luffy sat up on the bed and clutched his head with a pained expression. Nami gave him a sympathetic smile, she may not have sensitive hearing yet but Garp wasn't exactly quiet by normal human standards either. "You alright there, Lu?"

"Ugh, yeah I guess. Fuck, Gramps screams hit like a fucking truck." In response to Luffy's pained complaints, the den den mushi huffed and scowled disappointingly.

"Tch! Cheeky brat, you should've come up with ways around that weakness by now." Luffy glared at the snail that shivered slightly under the glare but retained it's imitation of Garp's expression. Internally the snail was screaming.

"Or you could learn to keep your voice down to normal people's standards." The wolfman's scathing look was causing the snail's heart to pump like never before. Poor thing was probably gonna die young if it had to keep living under that look.

"Bah! Who wants to be a normal chump! I'm out for number one!"

"Number one asshole? You got that title a looooooooong time ago Gramps." The snail's eyes became pure white and popped out shark teeth before responding.

"What was that you cheeky brat?! I'll re-educate you when we meet again!" Luffy raised his eyebrow at that and turned to his fiance who'd been quietly chuckling to herself watching the two interact.

"You caught him up to speed already? And he agreed?"

"Ha! Course I did! Anything my granddaughter-in-law wants, she need only ask!"

Luffy blanched at the snail who looked smug as it delivered Garps words, internally thanking the snail gods above that the scary pirate captain wasn't glaring at him like he wanted to crush him anymore. Nami didn't bother holding in her laughter and let loose as she gave Luffy a kiss on his cheek, throwing her arms around his neck affectionately.

"Grandfather approves of me, Luffy!" The wolfman just stared at her like she was some alien creature that just offered him a trip to the world of endless screaming.

"What the hell did you do to Gramps?! What the heck did you say?!" The normally composed pirate captain lost all his marbles. Garp didn't like any woman around his age anywhere near him growing up. Ace's first girlfriend? Chased away by Garp wielding trees like dual blades. Sabo's first admirer? There wasn't a mountain of boulders the day before. The first girl who had a crush on Luffy? Dear lord, even Makino was openly hostile to Garp for how he dealt with that situation. Luffy wasn't blind. He knew what kind of person his fiance was. Greed incarnate! The kind of people Garp tended to immediately shove into a cannon and fire away no matter how many times Sengoku reprimanded him for it! How in God's name did Nami get in Garp's good graces!

"I have you on a tight leash." Nami, his beautiful girlfriend said oh so sweetly…before fixing the cold sadistic look that promised pain if he did anything to annoy her. "Isn't that right, my love?"

"Yep. Tight leash. Real tight. Absolutely and unequivocally tight." Garp laughed his ass off hearing his grandson's abrupt submission. Was he stronger than her? Yes. Was he so much stronger that it's pathetic that I bend to her will so much? Yes. Was he afraid regardless and just let her have free reign for the most part?

'Yep.'

'Shut up wolf. You aren't any better.'

'Hmmm…thou-chee'

'It's Touché, dumbass.'

Cocoyashi Village

No One's POV

A tanned woman sighed as she kneeled on a cliff's edge. In front of her was a cross, a grave, overlooking the ocean. A vase of wilted flowers in between the woman and the cross.

"She's cutting it real close this time, mom." The tanned woman said as she began removing the dead flowers from the vase, the ocean winds breezing past causing her light blue hair to sway. The woman wore a beige sleeveless shirt, blue trousers, and purple sandal, her right arm and chest bearing many tattoos. "That little orange spitfire's still as reckless as ever…"

The grave remained silent to the woman's attempt at striking up a conversation. It continued to be unresponsive as tears began to fall down onto the ground. The woman's form shook as she let a few more tears slip past before putting her walls back up. This wasn't the time to break down into a sobbing mess. That could come later when the nightmare finally came to an end. The thought brought a smile to the woman's face.

"Nami probably decided to take a bit longer so she could make this her final expedition." The woman chuckled to herself while placing new flowers in the vase. "Stupid girl, if she carries that much plunder in one go it'll be too suspicious for Marines to just ignore." The woman smiled sadly as she watched the sun begin it's descent beneath the waves, the sky changing to a beautiful breathtaking orange. 'Like her hair…and our tangerines.'

"You alright there, Nojiko?" The young blue haired woman looked behind her to see an older man in a maroon police uniform with a pinwheel attached to the top of his hat. It was the sheriff of her village, Genzo. The man who was also her and her little sister's adoptive father…heavily scarred from when Arlong arrived, given to him by the sawtooth shark fishman's right hand man, Kuroobi. Genzo noticed Nojiko staring at his stitches again and sighed but made no attempt at reprimanding or discouraging her from it. He'd realized it was pointless after the 50th time he'd caught her doing so. Instead he walked closer, bottles of beer in his hands, Belle-mere's favorite brand. Nojiko's eyes flicked to the bottle and she smiled as the older man kneeled next to her, offering one bottle to her after opening it. "Need a drink?"

"I thought fathers were supposed to chase away bad influences, not be them." Nojiko teased with a cheeky grin. Her spirits lifted now that she had the company of someone she held dear. Genzo scoffed at her and grinned at the cross.

"You're mother was the worst influence of all kiddo. You and your sister are gonna be delinquents no matter what I do." Even after all these years, he could still picture Belle-mere's shark toothed protests as she violently proved him 'wrong' by whacking him with whatever she had handy. Nojiko burst out in laughter having similar thoughts as she took a swig of her beer. "She's sure taking her sweet time with this latest run…"

Nojiko's smile dimmed slightly but she was still more upbeat than when she was alone. "Yeah...I think she wants to make this her last run."

Genzo glanced at his adopted eldest daughter and noted the bags under her eyes. No one would have noticed unless they were, like him, right next to her. "Worrying about it wont make the problem go away...if anything it'll just make you feel worse." His uncharacteristically wise response drew a raised brow from Nojiko who smiled wryly at him.

"Dr. Nako lay in on ya again?" Genzo opened his mouth to deny her claims but Nojiko smirked and continued, "I know my father isn't bright enough to say something like that. All his brain cells are dedicated elsewhere."

Genzo and Nojiko stared each other down before the sheriff finally folded and confirmed that the good doctor had indeed laid in on him earlier. The young woman got a kick out of her father being reprimanded for being such a worrywart and decided to tease him a bit.

"She might also be taking her time cuz she found someone, ya know~"

The sheriff stiffened and turned to Nojiko, twitching like a robot about to explode. The woman knew exactly how to push his buttons and this? This was one of the easiest and most triggering one of them all.

"Might have had a fun night or two…" Genzo looked ready to erupt at the very thought of someone laying a hand on his adopted daughter. "Or three...maybe even had more than one partner, one wild night be-"

"No! Never! I forbid it!" Genzo lost all his marbles and shot straight up from his kneeling position to start raving. Too incensed to notice Nojiko desperately trying to conceal her laughter...and her sadness. While her father figure continued his tirade she gazed longingly at the cross and wondered to herself like she had many times before, for the past 10 years. How different would her life be if Belle-mere never died? Would Nami never have lost that innocent happy light in her eyes? Would the two still quarrel day in and day out over the littlest of things? Would they have made up after that last fight?

Eventually Nojiko realized Genzo was no longer ranting and she turned to him wondering why he was being quiet again. Between her and Genzo...was a box of tissues. Confused, she remained where she kneeled as Genzo took a few sheets and began wiping her cheeks...that she now realized were wet. She'd begun shedding tears without realizing. With shaky breaths, she calmed herself down and stood up, offering a hand to the old sheriff to help him up. Genzo smiled and accepted, standing up with her as he opened the third and last bottle he brought with him and poured it on Belle-mere's grave.

"Be kind of mean if I just left it above her grave, wouldn't it." Though phrased like a question, Nojiko knew it wasn't one. The young woman giggled, knowing her mother would have clocked Genzo for not giving her the beer. The woman had gotten mad when the Sheriff had taken her away from bars a lot when she was still with them. "Things will be all good from here on forward, Nojiko. When Nami gets back, let's all go out for a bite to eat. My treat."

Nojiko scoffed, "It would be on the house to begin with, cheapskate." The Sheriff blanched at her and denied her claims as they walked away from the grave and towards her home. The mood was light and cheery again. A feeling she wanted to feel for the rest of her life but most importantly, a mood she wished Nami would have after finally being free from this nightmare. Nojiko learned these thoughts were nothing more than a naive child's foolish dreams.

The next day, a day before her sister was due for arriving, the marines came. They came to her home, ravaged her mother's tangerine orchard, and took away all her sister's hard work. The young woman and the Sheriff were stuck where they were left. The old man was trashed and beaten by the marines after he tried to stop them from taking his adoptive daughter's plunder, left battered and bruised against the house's front door. Nojiko clutched her sides in pain, the marine captain having shot her in fear when she rushed towards him. Her older sister, shot and in pain as her father figure leaned against her family home black and blue. This was how Nami found her family again not too long after the Marines had left. All the joy she felt over the winds granting her wish to come home sooner was gone as she stood before her mother's ruined orchard.

"We tried, Nami. I swear, we did." Nojiko's eyes streamed with tears as the tall man with a straw hat who'd accompanied her sister cauterized her bullet wound with a heated blade. She didn't know how he'd done it and she wasn't lucid enough to question it. The green haired swordsman and blonde man in a suit took Genzo inside and worked on administering first aid for the old Sheriff. Usopp worked in the kitchen to make a salve he'd learned to make over the years after getting himself cut and scratched in all his 'adventures' back on Syrup. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry, Nami. You worked so hard for the money to save us…and we couldn't even keep it safe."

"Fuck the money." Nami growled out through her gritted teeth as she trembled with fury seeing the state of her mother's orange grove. "Those bastards have gone too far. Fuck leaving alive for Grandfather, I'm killing them myself."

The young navigator glanced at her captain, expecting disappointment or protest but the wolfman's face was just a blank sheet as he lifted the unconscious Nojiko off the ground. His eyes however, they were bright gold and burned brighter than she'd ever seen them before. Nami had seen what Luffy became like when he saw others treating their own crews, their own families like shit. Now she's witnessing how he reacts to his family being hurt.

"You won't do it right" The wolfman said softly but firmly as he gently lowered Nami's older sister onto the couch. The wolfman stood and faced his navigator with the same blank face, no trace of fear despite being in her scathing gaze. "You'll probably just start bashing their heads in. Maybe break some of their bones one at a time. Castrate a few perhaps?"

The options given all seemed very novel to Nami but Luffy acted like the choices were nothing more than a child sentenced to sit in the corner. "Do you know what's one of the best kinds of vengeance, my love?" The captain walked towards, not waiting for an answer and not expecting one either. "One of the best kinds of vengeance is like dragging someone down with you to the depths of the sea, releasing them just in time for them to be able to get that sliver of sweet, lung-filling, life-giving air..." Luffy cupped Nami's cheek and pushed back a stray strand of hair as he gazed deep into her cold eyes, normally vibrant and full of life...now remaining of nothing but wrath. "only to pull them back in just as they're about to break through the surface."