SailorStar9: With Chapter 165 uploaded, I present Chapter 166 this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.
Pairings: Ace/Sasha, sibling Luffy/Sasha and Sabo/Sasha, Background Protector!Law/Sasha
Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda EiichirÅ-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC, the pairing and the fic idea.
Chapter 166: Arc 12: Back to the Present! Hody Makes a Move!
"And for that decade that followed, not just Fukaboshi, Ryuboshi and Manboshi, but also the King and the Princess spoke to the nation through the monitor; all the while signatures keep mounting up again." Jinbe continued, after recounting Fukaboshi's announcement at Queen Otohime's funeral. "So that was how we have been fighting against discrimination for the last 16 years and the beginning of the Fish-Man Pirates. Arlong, who did horrible things to your hometown, was like a brother to me. If he engaged in violence, we were willing to go anywhere in order to stop him ourselves, but he always paid off the Navy soldiers around him to keep his actions secret from the Navy. As a result, I made you and many others suffer. I feel responsible." he knelt before Nami.
"Oh yeah?" Sanji puffed his cigarette. "Then, why don't you cut your own belly? Pay her with your life. I still won't forgive you but it could relieve Nami-san of her pain."
"Oi, oi." Ace objected. "We're not samurai, you know."
"Ace is right." Nami agreed. "Stop, Sanji-kun."
"But Nami-san, what they have done to you was..." Sanji protested.
"That's a different story." Nami cut him off. This man didn't mean to hurt us. The only one I hate is Arlong. Anyway, I'm glad you are not the mastermind of the Arlong Pirates. Because you're Sasha's master, aren't you? It's true that I've gone through hell because of the Arlong Pirates, but I met my friends in that horrible turmoil. One thing led to another and I am who I am today. I'm not gonna hate you because you are a Fish-Man. So don't pity me because of my life. It's not so bad because I'm enjoying it in the present."
"I don't deserve such words of kindness." Jinbe let his tears flow freely. "Thank you!"
"Nami!" Hachi wept.
I didn't know... Ace looked at his sobbing teacher. Jinbe-sensei... he must be suffering from so much pain.
"Luffy?" Nami blinked when the rubber-man fell over.
"Don't tell me..." the Fire Logia facepalmed, hearing Luffy's snores.
"Hey, wake up!" Sanji kicked the dozing Luffy awake.
"That was a good nap." Luffy yawned.
"I can't believe it." Sanji fumed. "I thought it was unusual for you to listen so quietly."
"So, your name is Shirahoshi." Nami looked up at the giant Mermaid.
"Yes," Shirahoshi nodded. "Excuse me. I was crying remembering my mother."
"She was quite a woman, wasn't she?" Nami noted.
"Nami-sama," Shirahoshi leaned closer. "It feels like I have known you since I was a kid although we just met for the first time. I feel comfortable with you."
"Maybe that's because we've been through similar things." Nami reasoned.
"Now, excuse me." Jinbe cut in. "I took too much time. I need to know who is still at the Ryugu Palace now. Hody and his soldiers invaded the palace and captured the King and his soldiers. And you don't know what happened to five of your crew. That's all the information we have so far."
"Jinbe-san," Hachi voiced. "If things are going as Hody planned, the whole country might be in a terrible state by now."
"Do you know what his plan is?" Jinbe turned to the younger Fish-Man. "I suspected he was up to something in the Fish-Man District after retiring from the army, but he never revealed it to me."
"Yeah, I know." Hachi replied. "Hody hates humans more than Arlong-san did. He has been living in resentment and anger of the Fish-Men, and nothing else. And there is something about him clearly different from Arlong-san. Arlong-san would look down on humans, but he would never hurt other Fish-Men. But Hody would attack those Fish-Men that was sympathetic to humans without mercy. This year is the World Summit that takes place every four years. Since they gathered enough signatures, King Neptune would express his intention to the world finally to relocate the Fish-Man Island."
"Don't tell me he is planning to block it." Jinbe realized.
"No, he wants more than that." Hachi frowned.
"What is that?" Chopper exclaimed when a huge Den Den Mushi walked in. "That's a big Den Den Mushi!"
"It's a Video Den Den Mushi." Den realized. "Why is it here? It's activated." he pointed out as the Den Den Mushi stopped and light shone from its eyes, turning into a wide screen.
"That's..." Jinbe frowned when Hody appeared on the screen.
"He's the..." Nami hissed.
"Nami-san, do you know him?" Sanji asked.
"Hody!" Hachi spat out.
"What?" Chopper hurried over. "That's him?"
"Everyone on the Fish-Man Island," Hody began. "Can you hear me? I'm the captain of the New Fish-Man Pirates from the Fish-Mn District: Hody Jones."
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.
