Near the Baratie - East Blue
Nami felt ill. She has stolen the Going Merry from the Luffy and while Nami was accustomed to stealing from Pirates this left a bitter taste in her mouth. The Strawhats had treated her as one of their own, had seen her as her own person and even shared a fair portion of their treasure with her which was more than any other pirate would be willing to do in the same situation. Luffy had even offered to help her with the Arlong situation without even knowing, or perhaps caring, how dangerous it would be.
Nami couldn't let them get involved, over the time she had spent with them she had genuinely grown to like and care for them and she couldn't let them get hurt fighting that monster. As strong as they were she didn't feel they would be any match for a full crew of fishmen no matter how hard they fought. Then there was the fact that she was so close to her goal of a hundred million beli which would allow her to buy back Cocoyashi village from Arlong and any doomed attack on Arlong could jeopardise that.
Plus a failed attack on the Arlong pirates would, without a doubt, have dire repercussions on the villagers she was trying to save. Arlong would view the attack by Luffy and his crew as a hostile action from Cocoyashi and would kill many villagers in retribution.
Nami also couldn't wait for Luffy to finish his business at the Baratie. She had no idea how long Luffy would stubbornly stay at the restaurant trying to recruit the chef he wanted, he could be there for weeks and that was unacceptable for Nami. While she didn't have a deadline per say if she was gone for too long Arlong would start to believe she was having second thoughts about their arrangement and had fled which again would have dire repercussions for Cocoyashi.
All in all Nami believed this was the best thing for her and her village regardless of how disgusted she felt with herself. With the money Luffy had given her from the bounties he'd collected she almost had enough, she was just short of her goal by a few million beli which could easily be found on her next venture. She would have had the money needed already if she could get into the ship's treasure room but the blasted butler had installed a combination lock and lined the wall with sea stone. Sea stone was a material that was harder than steel and all but impossible to cut through or melt which in turn made theft from the treasury all but impossible.
Four days later Nami neared Conomi Island and quickly decided not to risk Arlong having someone sink the Merry just to spite her and make her life harder. With that in mind Nami sailed the ship to the other side of the island where Gosa village used to be before docking the ship at the abandoned pier and gathering up her share of the loot.
Making her way on foot to her home to drop of the treasure she took in the sight around her sadly. Upturned houses and buildings lined the streets, evidence of Arlong's temper when a villager can't pay his monthly tribute. Wanting to be away from such a sight and desperate for the comfort her mother's tangerine trees brought Nami quickened her pace home.
Due to everyone else not having the same sixth sense for weather patterns that Nami did they were lagging behind and instead of being only an hour or so and a few hours behind respectively they now trailed her by over half a day. This made Luffy incredibly anxious as he worried about his crew on the island without him for a few hours.
Luffy's anxiousness reached a fever pitch when they were only an hour away from the island so Gin and Sanji attempted to break Luffy out of his thoughts. However it was Gin that spoke first. "Captain, why was it that you killed Don Krieg so brutally but you let all the others go free?"
Luffy didn't answer for a moment as he just stared out to sea. "I wanna be the king of the pirates, but I can't really be that if nobody knows who I am." Luffy turned to face the others in the boat and saw that they didn't fully understand what he meant. "Dead men tell no tales." Luffy said simply and after hearing that a look of understanding came over everyone's faces.
"So what's the plan when we reach the island captain?" Sanji asked
"We go to Conomi island, beat the shit outta Arlong and then get my ship and navigator back."
"I was expecting a slightly more detailed plan captain." Sanji deadpanned.
"Doesn't need more details. That plan is the plan and it's exactly what's going to happen." Luffy said with absolute conviction. "But I suppose a bit more information couldn't hurt, anyone know anything about where we're heading?" Luffy questioned the group.
Johnny shook his head and shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Besides it being the base of Arlong, no."
Sanji just looked thoughtful at Luffy's question while Gin looked slightly nervous. "Captain I know that Arlong is a fishman and fishmen are supposed to be ten times stronger than humans. Oh and that Arlong has been in the East Blue for about eight or nine years now, ever since he was released from Impel Down."
Just like when he was at the Baratie another piece of the puzzle that was Nami clicked into place. Seeing that Luffy looked thoughtful the others left him to his thinking believing that he was coming up with a more complex plan than his previous one.
"Sanji, any chance of some meat I'm hungry?" Luffy asked with a smile causing everyone's draw to drop in shock, all the time he had spent thinking he had just been thinking about food.
Breathing out a cloud of smoke Sanji agreed and went into the small cabin area to put something together for the small group.
"After all we're gonna need all the energy we can get for this." Luffy said to himself quietly.
An hour after eating the small sailboat carrying Luffy and company came upon Conomi island and looking through a spyglass Luffy spotted the Going Merry on the east side of the island. Quickly firing off an order to the rest of the crew the sailboat docked at the same pier as the Merry as well as close to the sailboat Usopp and the others had been in.
"Hey captain, looks like the others came this way too." Gin said eyeing the other boat.
Luffy nodded his head before turning his head to his home out on the sea, the Going Merry. He carefully examined it from the outside before quickly examining the inside and seeing that the entire ship was unharmed. With this in mind Luffy came to the conclusion that Nami had only stolen Merry just to get to this island. Why she did so he had no idea as she must have known he was more than happy to take her wherever she wanted to go.
During his inspection of the ship he also checked on the ship's treasure room and saw that it appeared to be undisturbed. While Luffy wasn't as obsessed with money as Nami he was still a pirate making it important to him which was why he was so relieved to see his wealth was untouched.
Summoning the others into his private cabin he pulled a book from the bookcase that Merry had installed during the retrofit. "Right this is a map of the island. We're right here...I think. According to the map there should be a large village but all that's out there is a ghost town."
"Some of those buildings look like they've been flipped upside down." Johnny stated while scratching his head, when he said this Gin and Sanji both turned to look at him in disbelief. "Hey I ain't making it up its what it looks like," he defended himself folding his arms petulantly as he did so.
"You said fishmen are ten times stronger than humans even out of water right?" Luffy asked while scratching his head deep in thought. "Well I suppose its not too much of a stretch to think that it was a fishman that did that to the village."
Grim understanding of what they were now facing flashed across each of the pirates in the cabin.
"So what's the next step captain?" Sanji question through a mouthful of smoke.
Luffy consulted the map once more and pointed to a spot on the west side of the island. "Over here is the largest village on the island. Chances are we get any info we need there and if the others have any sense they'll have headed there too. But first we need to let the others know we're here."
"How we doing that captain?" Gin asked in genuine interest.
"Just leave that to me." Luffy said said smirking. Together the group left the ship and began making their way towards the village Luffy had indicated. It was as they were walking through the remnants of Gosa village that Luffy raised his hand with his palm facing the sky and eyes closed in concentration. "Roaring through the air, the sound of thunder, plunge from the heavens and reap destruction. Raging bolt." Luffy incanted and several hundred large bolts of lightning fell from the sky all over the island.
"What the hell?" Sanji screeched which only caused the grin Luffy was sporting to grow even wider.
"Well the guys will know we're here now, right?" Luffy asked innocently.
"Yeah them and everyone else on the island!" Sanji yelled furiously.
Completely unrepentant Luffy just shrugged and carried on walking towards their destination. "They were gonna realise that sooner or later anyway." Luffy called over his shoulder. Gin and Johnny set of after Luffy quickening their pace slightly to catch up with Luffy. Sanji let out a deep breath and flicked his cigarette stub to the side of the road and lighting another before following at his own pace.
Eventually the group came upon their destination, Cocoyashi village. Immediately upon entering the village the difference between this village and the one they docked their sailboat were obvious. While both villages were obviously poor and seemed run down this villages building were at least all the right way up. That and unlike the last village this one had a citizens, citizens who were all in the street looking panicked.
"Strangers I'm not sure why you're here but I'm afraid we don't have a lot to offer you," a man in a police uniform who was covered head to foot, quite literally, in scars said. "Forgive me, where are my manners. My name's Genzo." Genzo said whole holding out his hand for Luffy to shake.
Shaking the offered hand Luffy grinned. "No problem me and my crew are just passing through."
"Then I fear you've chosen a terrible time to visit, the island has only just been hit by some kind of freak lightning storm."
"Ah yeah, we saw all that lightning. Sure was weird huh." Luffy said sheepishly while scratching the back of his head causing the rest of his crew to give him a bit of a stink eye. "Anyways we're looking for the rest of my crew, they got here a bit before us. You haven't seen them have you?"
"Err maybe." Genzo said scratching his chin deep in thought. "I definitely saw another new face earlier today but I haven't seen anyone else besides him."
"Was it a swordsman with green hair?" Luffy asked hopefully.
"No...it was a brave young lad carrying a pistol. Oh and he had a really long nose, like really really long."
"Usopp!" Luffy declared with a smile, happy that at least one of his crew had been spotted in the area. "You sure you haven't seen anyone else?" Luffy asked with hope clear in his voice , hope that was dashed when Genzo shook his head sadly. "Well in that case we're also looking for someone else, any of you heard of someone called Nami?"
At the mention of Nami's name every villager present tensed and flinched slightly. However Luffy noticed that Genzo and the pretty woman with blue hair stood next to Genzo had slightly different reactions. While they too both tensed and flinched at the mention of her name just like everyone else they also looked worried for her as well, a look that disappeared as quickly as it came. This told Luffy they were keeping secrets about her, perhaps they were close to her or maybe they were family.
"We know a Nami but I'm afraid we haven't seen her in some time. She spends a lot of her time at sea you see." Genzo said carefully and with almost trace of fear in his voice to betray how worried he truly felt for the orange haired teen.
"I see...well in that case I guess me and my crew will just stop and have a bite to eat before we head out to find the others." Luffy then inclined his head in acknowledgement to Genzo before heading to the other side of the street and sitting outside what appeared to be a bar. "Hey Gin, how about you go fetch some drinks for everyone." Luffy said to Gin before tossing him a small stack of beli bills.
Gin had just sat down and Luffy beckoned Genzo over for him to join them when Zoro came wandering into the village with his sword slung over his shoulder. When he saw that so many people were staring at him when he entered he looked around and saw Luffy and the others sat outside a bar.
"Hey captain...is that sake?" Zoro had not even finished asking his question before Luffy had tossed him the bottle. Catching the bottle he wasted no time in opening and draining the entire bottle in one go casuing several bystander's jaws to drop.
"Where's the others Zoro?" Asked Luffy when his second on command had drained the bottle dry.
"Not sure, we got separated." Zoro said while reaching for another bottle of sake. When he looked at the rest of the crew he saw the raised eyebrows and looks of confusion. "Hey a fishman showed up and those two can run pretty damn fast." Zoro said attempting to defend himself however still seeing the way the others were looking at him he continued, "Have you seen those two run? There was no way I could've caught them after I dealt with that fish freak."
"Wait you killed a fishman?" A panicked Genzo yelled as he jumped to his feet.
Unconcerned Zoro simply shrugged his shoulders. "Several, one down in that destroyed village, then about a dozen at Arlong's base."
Shock was clear on Genzo's face. For over eight years they had suffered under Arlong's rule, believing him and the other fishman to be all but invincible and therefore they had resigned themselves to having to live under Arlong's rule. Then out of nowhere this green haired swordsman appears and does what many of Conomi Island would believe to be impossible when he killed not one but over a dozen fishmen. The kicker was that this swordsman wasn't even the captain the straw hatted boy was meaning he must be stronger.
However before Genzo could continue his inner musings and allow hope to blossom within him Yozuku came sprinting into the village as fast as he could from the same direction Zoro did.
"Big bro Zoro, big bro Luffy," he added when he saw that Luffy was also there.
"What's up Yozuku? You look like you've just seen a ghost," a concerned Luffy asked. And it was true Yozuku did indeed look as if he'd seen a ghost, he was pale, sweating and had slight tears in his eyes.
"It's big bro Usopp...he's dead!" Immediatly after saying that Usopp was dead the sky darkened and a sudden clap of thunder reverberated throughout the island. The sound of thunder caused many of the villagers to look extremely panicked and look towards the sky a few even muttering about how the heavens themselves were angry.
"Explain!" That one simple command was laced with more authority than any other command Luffy had given his crew to date.
"It was Nami, she killed big bro Usopp."
Luffy's glass of sake shattered in his hand and he narrowed his eyes at hearing Yozuku's words. "Nami's a lot of things but she isn't a murderer." Luffy's eyes found the blue haired girl from before and he quickly observed her and while everyone else was still panicking about the thunder and odd bolt of lightning that was now striking the sea around the island she was looking straight at Yozuku fear and worry plain to see on her face.
"But big bro Luffy I saw it! I saw her stab him and throw him into the sea at Arlong's base!" Yozuku defended tears now falling from his eyes.
"And why was Nami at Arlong's base as well?" Luffy asked his temper rising ever higher.
Luffy's attention was pulled away as he saw Nami casually strolling into the Village wearing a smug smirk, a look that Luffy couldn't help but think failed to suit her. In Luffy's mind Nami didn't look like Nami unless she was scowling at him or shouting at him...maybe even smiling at money at a push.
"Where's Usopp Nami?" Luffy asked coldly as small amount of lightning began to arc off from his body. This sight casued Nami's smug smile to falter for just a moment before she was able to get it back in place.
"Sleeping with the fishes," she sneered back at Luffy faux superiority.
After she said that Luffy's anger became palpable and a bolt of lightning fell from the sky only a dozen feet behind Nami startling her. "Nami, Nami, Nami." Luffy said in a mocking tone before he glared at her with coldness in his eyes that she had never seen from him. "Not only did you betray my trust when you stole my ship that bears my mark but you murdered one of my crew."
Nami froze in fear at the glare she was being subjected to by this point, it was almost as if Luffy was staring straight into the depths of her soul and judging her. "So what if I did!" Nami sneered in an attempt at covering up her fear. "You gonna kill me now and get your own back?"
As she said that she threw her arms to side to present herself as a target in a way reminiscent of Zoro when he squared off against Mihawk. This however just caused Luffy to chuckle lowly. "Nami you murdered a member of my crew, do you really think I'm going to put you out of your misery?" Luffy let out a short high pitched laugh void of any mirth. "No Nami I'm gonna add to your misery. I'm gonna let you choose who I kill."
Nami's heart was hammering away in her chast as she was now thoroughly terrified by this point but still trying not to show it. Seeing this Luffy continued to stare at her coldly and added in a voice void of anything but ice cold fury, "I'm gonna count to three and if you haven't chosen someone then I'll choose for you."
Nami couldn't speak as she was too shocked at the change in Luffy's whole personality, this was something she never could have predicted. Several members of the Strawhats were about to speak up but were silenced by Luffy with a wave of his hand.
"One...two...three." Luffy counted down slowly with a pause of a few seconds between each count and on the count of three Luffy reached behind him and grabbed the pretty blue haired woman. "Play along." Luffy whispered in her ear as he held her flush against him with his pistol pointed at her head.
"Any last words for her Nami?" Luffy asked coldly once again staring straight into her eyes.
Nami seemed to be caught in indecision as she struggled with what she was going to say. Wanting to speed her thought process up Luffy made a big display of pulling back the hammer on his flintlock. This action broke Nami out of her thoughts. "Usopp's not dead!" Nami screamed in pure desperation.
Luffy just chuckled, unfortunately his proximity to his captive caused his breath to tickle her ear which in turn caused a faint blush to appear on her cheeks.
"I know." Seeing Nami's shock and disbelief he added, "He's standing right over there." Luffy said with amusement clear in his voice as he pointed to an alleyway to the left with his pistol where a confused Usopp was stood.
Nami could only splutter in shock, disbelief as well as no small amount of relief. Ignoring Nami Luffy spun his captive around so they could face one another holding onto her hand as he did so. "Please do forgive me." Luffy said a charming smile on his face as he kissed her knuckles just as he had once done to Nami. "I just felt she needed a bit of a wakeup call. Sooner or later her mouth is gonna write a cheque that her abilities can't cash in."
To Luffy's surprise he was unable to make her blush like he did with everyone else she just stood there with an amused look on her face. "Ha don't sweat it," she then looked him up and down and smirked at him. "Just so you know you're smooth but you're not smooth enough to get in my pants that easy."
Nami who had grown a little jealous over the attention her sister was receiving yelled at Luffy. "Fine whatever, but thanks to that moron," as she said this she pointed at an unimpressed Zoro, "Arlong is now out for blood so you guys need to clear out of here."
Luffy just looked at Nami and smiled slightly before turning his attention back to the blue haired beauty before him. Still holding her hand he pulled her close and whispered in her ear. "In that case I'm looking forward to showing just how smooth I can be."
Again Luffy failed to make her blush, in stead she simply giggled. Not quite the reaction he was looking for but Luffy was still prepared to count it as a win. Unseen to Luffy it wasn't just Nami that was fuming at his blatant flirting but also Sanji. Sanji was letting his fury be known by the gritting of his teeth, the rapidly draining cigarette and the rather odd growling noise he was making which was causing Zoro to look at him as if he was a disturbed simpleton.
Luffy let go of her hand and motioned for his crew to follow him and he lead them out of the village and into a clearing that they had passed earlier. Plopping himself down in the shade of tree at the edge of the clearing he gestured for his crew to join him.
"So what's the plan captain." Zoro asked as he too sat down leaning up against a nearby tree.
Luffy hummed in thought for a moment. "Not sure," was all he said while smiling casing a few people to facepalm at him. Luffy had sensed the pretty blue haired girl following them when he and his crew had left the village, however much to his disappointment none of his crew had noticed her.
"You need to listen to my sister you know," came a voice from behind them which startled everyone except Luffy.
"We really need to work on your observation." Luffy drawled unimpressed at with his crew. "Now I don't believe we've been properly introduced," looking directly at the newcomer and flashing a charming smile once more, a smile that once again caused Sanji to growl in frustration.
"That's Nojiko, she saved me from a couple of Arlong's goons earlier." Usopp piped up from his place opposite Luffy.
"Ah then it seems you have my gratitude." Luffy said charmingly before continuing in a serious voice. "My crew is my family and I'd sooner die than see anything happen to them."
Nojiko waved away his gratitude. "If you wanna show your thanks you can leave this island. You have no idea what's going on here."
"Why don't you tell us what's going on then?" Zoro asked rhetorically.
Nojiko let out a deep sigh so as to fortify herself for what she was about to say. "Listen to understand what's going on here and what's going on with Nami you need to know about her past."
As soon as she had finished speaking Luffy just got up and dusted himself off before setting off in a random direction. "I'll pass. Her past is her own and if she wants me to know them she'll tell me herself." Luffy said over his shoulder as he continued walking away.
"Never mind him you can tell us," an eager Usopp said and being supported by a nodding Sanji who was desperate to hear more about the orange haired beauty that had captured his attention.
Luffy was walking aimlessly as he passed various fields filled with crops. While he was walking down a wide rural path he passed three fishmen and not wanting to provoke a fight just yet he gave them a simple nod and continued on his way.
"Hey i don't think we've seen you round here stranger," said the octopus fishman in what seemed to be a kind and friendly voice while his two companions just stared at Luffy as he passed them and sneered.
"'Cause I'm not from round here, I'm just passing through."
"Where you going stranger?"
"Nowhere in particular, just taking a stroll." Luffy answered the octopus fishman in a bored voice while never once slowing his strides.
"Oh, ok. Well have a nice walk stranger!" Yelled the same fishman as he waved him goodbye in a childlike manner. His simple cheerfulness casing Luffy to smile slightly.
A short while later Luffy's aimless wandering brought him to a tangerine farm however it wasn't the tangerine farm that was interesting it was what was happening in it. As Luffy stood by the fence that surrounded the farm he watched on as over a dozen marines surrounded Nami and Genzo. His eyes narrowed in suspicion when several marines disappeared into the tangerine orchard.
While Luffy didn't know what was going on fully he knew that one way or another the shit was about to hit the fan so to speak. With that in mind Luffy quickly hopped over the fence and made his way over to the group. It was when Luffy was only a dozen feet away that his suspicions were proven accurate when Nami lashed out at one of the marines with her collapsible bo staff she kept under her skirt.
Nami's hostile action drew the attention of every other marine who then turned their weapons on her. Recognising the danger Nami was in Luffy had no other choice but to let out a blast of haki directed at the marines. As the marines all collapsed to the floor foaming at the mouth Nami looked around frantically until she spotted Luffy walking towards her.
"What are you doing here?" Nami screeched at Luffy, her fury at Arlong's betrayal and the actions of the corrupt marines bleeding into her voice causing her to take it out on Luffy. Luffy however didn't let it bother him and he just continued to walk towards her until he was just in front of Nami. "Get out of here you don't even know whats going on," tears were now beginning to fall from her eyes.
Nami was surprised when instead of replying Luffy just grabbed and pulled her into a hug and held her tightly as Genzo looked on. A moment or two into their embrace Luffy spoke calmly into her ear so as not to spook her. "Why don't you tell me what's going on?"
Nami then poured her heart out to him through her tears and told him everything about her deal with Arlong. He told him about how Arlong had just betrayed that deal by sending marines to steal everything she had saved up so far. The entire time Nami spoke Luffy never let go of her and just continued to hold her close attempting to bring comfort to her.
Once she had finished speaking she gently pushed Luffy away seemingly calmer but no less furious at Arlong. Luffy then moved a hand to her face to gently cup her cheek. "Did Arlong ever promise not to steal the treasure?" Luffy questioned attempting to lead her to the loophole in the deal that Luffy had already spotted.
Realising what Luffy meant Nami's eyes widened. "But...but...but that's not right," tears were now flowing freely as she collapsed to her knees. "Luffy please...help me." Nami pleaded looking directly into his eyes.
Luffy didnt answer he just crouched down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, an action that drew a protective growl from Genzo. He then placed his prized straw hat on her head before turning to lightning and teleporting to where he had left the rest of the crew.
Luffy appeared in front of his crew as well as a startled Nojiko, who upon seeing his control of lightning had a sudden epiphany regarding the strange lightning strikes that had plagued the island for the last few hours. They all looked at him questioningly.
"Arlong Park falls today!" Luffy declared.