Can Life Get Any Worse?

Disclaimer: I beginning to think that I will never own One Piece… well, that doesn't mean I should stop trying!

A/N- I am back! Sorry I did not update as soon as I thought I would. I would like to say that I have made a LN one-shot! Check it out when you have the time. And know, time for chapter 9!

Chapter 9: Search for the Straw Hat

"Are you sure you're ok Nami?"

"Do you want us to get anything?"

Kuina and Vivi sat on the edge of Nami's bed, who was bedridden due to her fever.

The feverish girl managed a smile. "I'm fine, don't worry," she said with a weak voice.

Vivi sighed. "I'm not so sure that we can trust that Luffy will take care of you!"

Kuina nodded in agreement. "Vivi's right! That idiot barely knows how to take care of himself, none the less a sick girl like you!"

Nami once again smiled. Her friends tended to worry too much at times. "I'll be fine…" She sighed and looked at her two friends. "Now go and have fun. Luffy took care of me during that school assignment thing and-"

"Oh yeah! I almost forgot!" Vivi grinned slightly. "So, how was it?"

Kuina smiled. "Yeah, I mean we told you what happened in Monkey Jungle!"

Nami chuckled. "Yeah, yeah I know." She quickly thought of a way to avoid that conversation. What would he friends say if they knew he possibly liked Luffy?

"Anyway, where's Kaya?" Nami asked, trying to change the subject.

"I don't know. She wasn't in her room," Kuina said as she thought about it. "Well where's Luffy? I mean this is his room too!"

"Kuina, can't you tell? She's trying to change the subject!" Vivi pointed out.

"No!" Nami quickly protected herself. "I'm just wondering…"

Kuina and Vivi exchanged glances, and then looked back at Nami, whose face was now a light shade of pink. She knew what they were thinking.

"So what exactly happened in the Forest Miracles?" The two girls grinned.

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" Nami jumped out of her bed and began pushing her friends towards the door. "Look at the time. You guys should go to the beach! Have fun!"

"But Nami-!" Vivi and Kuina looked over their shoulders to see the door slam in their faces.

Vivi sighed. "This will never work! It's obvious she's starting to like Luffy, but she always hides the good evidence!"

"Yup!" Kuina nodded her head. "Well then we gotta come up with a plan!"

Vivi grinned at the thought. "Good idea…"

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"And there I was, fighting off this giant beer to protect our stuff!" Usopp stood in fighting stance, as he showed how he fought the bear.

Zoro sighed. "Usopp, give it a rest would yah?"

Usopp frowned slightly. "But it happened! I'm telling the truth!"

"Yeah, yeah, we heard these types of stories before." Zoro grumbled. "Let's just say my night wasn't too enjoyable."

"You were fighting with that Mihawk guy, right?" Sanji grinned when he saw Zoro grumble once more.

"Hey Luffy, how was your night? You know, with Nami." Usopp questioned.

"Huh? Oh, it was alright!" Luffy said with his cheerful smile.

"Was Nami ok? You didn't let her get hurt did you?" Sanji jumped in front of Luffy, a suspicious look in his eyes.

"I'm sure he didn't Sanji, just calm down!" Usopp pulled back his friend as he looked back at Luffy.

Luffy grinned widely. "Don't worry Sanji! She's good! She just has a fever-"

"WHAT!" Sanji burst out with a shocked and angered expression on his face. "You let my Nami get sick!" Sanji let a menacing growl from under his breath.

Luffy gave a laugh. "She's alright! Anyway, I better go back," Luffy said as he pointed his finger in the direction of the door. He waved goodbye as he stepped out of the door.

"I sure hope Nami's alright…" He thought out loud as he walked.

He was soon in front oh his door as he gently pushed it open. "Nami?"

Nami rolled over in her bed, lifting her head slightly. "Oh, you're back Luffy…"

Luffy walked over towards her bed, his smile still on his face. "You feeling ok? Sanji was worried about you."

Nami chuckled. "Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry. But hey, can you do me a little favor?" Nami kept on going, not waiting for an answer. "Can you get me some breakfast? I didn't eat anything yet…"

Luffy gave his goofy grin and nodded. "Yeah, sure! I'll be back soon!" With that said, he ran out of the door, leaving a snickering Nami behind.

She slowly got out of bed as she took off her pajamas and slipped on her regular clothes. "Luffy can be so dumb at times… but I still do owe him a proper thank you…" Nami gave a small sigh as she quickly ran out of the door.

She raced down the halls, hoping no one would see her, especially not Luffy. Soon, she was outside and heading towards the forest. I sure hope I remember where it was…

After a while of searching, Nami finally got there. The Forest of Miracles.

"What nice memories…" she said with a slight sarcastic tone as she walked. "But Luffy did save me, so I should give him some kind of thank you. And I know the perfect thing."

And so she searched for a while.

Nothing.

Some more.

Still nothing.

Nami sighed as she sat down on a stump of a tree. "How am I supposed to find that hat if I don't even remember where we camped out!"

There was a slight rustle in the bushes that made Nami look up. "Anyone there?"

No answer.

"Probably just a rabbit or something," Nami reassured herself as she stood up again. "Back to searching…"

Time passed by, and still nothing came up. It was just about hopeless.

"How will I be able to find it?" She glanced over towards the sky, seeing the sun well over head. "It must be about noon, and Luffy will be sure to notice I'm gone…"

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"Hmm… what to get Nami…" A clueless Luffy stood in front of the breakfast table.

"Um, excuse me sir. Would you like some breakfast?" A clerk came up in front of Luffy.

"Uh, yeah! I gotta find some food and…" He looked over back at the table. Waffles, cereal, muffins, bagels, just about everything.

"Well it is almost noon, so I suggest you hurry up!" With that, the clerk walked away.

"What, it's noon!" Luffy glanced one last time at the table, and grabbed a plate and put everything on it.

He ran back towards the room at full speed, only to see an empty room once there. "Nami!" He set the plate down and thought for a moment. An idea popped to his head, giving him a place to go. He didn't know why, but he followed his instinct.

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Nami continued to walk around the seemingly endless forest. "I don't remember it being so long…"

A slight noise in the bush made Nami turn around. "Who is that? Hello? I know you're there!" She could feel herself getting angry as she stomped over.

"I said get out of that hiding place!"

Another rustle in the bushes. "Why, surely!" A rough voice came from the bush. Out came a large figure, at least 18 for sure.

Nami took a step back, feeling sweat drip her neck.

"Heh, don't worry, I won't hurt you!" A menacing grin came upon his face. He took a step forward as she took a step back. "Just give me some money and I'll leave you alone."

"W-why sure… anything you…" Nami gave a nervous smile as she spoke in her sweet and innocent voice. "...wait; did you just say my money?" Her voice was again bitter as she stepped forward angrily.

"Yes, I said you're money! Now hand it over!" The thug stuck out his hand, waiting for the money. "You don't want me to get rough now, do you?" His other hand was pulled together in a tight fist.

"Um-" Nami once again stepped back. What did I get myself into!

"I'm wait- Ugh!"

She shut her eyes tightly, hearing the boy fall onto his back with a loud thud. When she opened her eyes, she could see a blur of red and blue. "Luffy?"

Luffy turned around, grinning. "There you are!"

She stared for a short while before the thought finally processed in her brain. He came here… just for me?

While Luffy and Nami were caught up in their moment, the boy managed to get up. "Heh, you're not gonna get away from me that easily!"

"Uh?" Luffy turned towards the thug once more. "Oh, so you still wanna fight?" He grinned widely as he pulled back his arm, making it land squarely on the boy's chest, sending him flying backwards.

Nami still stared, not being able to understand a few things. She shook her head, finally coming back to reality. And then the thought dawned on her. I didn't find his hat!

While Luffy was still making sure the boy was out for good, she made a run for it. She still had no idea where it would be, but her feet seemed to be running on their own.

"Nami?" Luffy turned his head slightly to see the orange head disappear from sight. "Wait, Nami!" And soon, he was chasing her as she still continued to look.

"Finally!" Nami's eye spotted the spec of yellow floating through the wind. She took a few steps forward, her hand reaching out as she grabbed it.

"Nami!" Luffy skidded to a stop as he walked up to her. "What where you doing here anyway?"

Nami chuckled. She said nothing as she put his hat firmly on his head. "That was a thank you," she said with a smile.

Luffy looked at her for a moment, a grin slowly appeared on his face. "Heh, I should be thanking you!" He stepped back slightly, revealing a giant smile. "Thanks!"

Nami smiled. You're wrong… I should be thanking you… because without you, who knows where I would have been…

"Let's go back, I'm hungry!" He turned around and started to walk, glancing over his shoulder to make sure she was following.

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"What? Where did I go? I put it right here!" The frantic Luffy looked all over the hotel room, searching for the large plate of food.

Nami giggled as she watched him go. "Maybe you forgot to bring it or something," she suggested.

"Aw man! I'm hungry!" He clutched his grumbling stomach.

"Just wait an hour or so until lunch! Unless you want to go now, but then you-"

"All right let's go!" A grin once again appeared on Luffy's face as he ran through the door.

Nami sighed as she walked towards the door. "I just had to get him started…"

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A/N- Blah, it's short, I know. Well here is the long awaited 9th chapter. Sorry it took a while, but I never knew Thanksgiving weekend could take up so much time. Well I am thinking of making a new One Piece story that is not a Oneshot. I'm gonna need some more time to think about it… Until then, review and enjoy!