"Usopp!" Nami called up to the long nosed teen who was standing on a tower of tables that had been erected as some kind of wobbly stage, singing and shouting as he swung around a mug of beer and with the red hie across his features it was clear the booze was taking effect. She was really going to have to help these guys handle their liquor better if they were truly going to be pirates. She couldn't blame him though, this was probably the first time he got drunk.

"Nami! I can barely see you all the way down there!" Usopp cheered, making an over exaggerated gesture of peering down at her. "Sing with me Nami!" Nami closed one eye as the so called singing echoed above causing others around to start singing too. They were way off tune and all things musical but she was so happy that the people of Cocoyasi could still feel like this after everything. With Arlong gone, Cocoyasi and the rest of the Conomi Islands were free.

"I'm looking for Ichigo! Have you seen him?" She called up to the teen causing him to stop and think for a moment.

"Ichigo's awake?" Nami sighed, she should have figured as much.

"Never mind Usopp." Nami turned with a wave for him to go back to what he was doing and looked over the mass feast that was currently on going as Usopp began the revelry again, her eyes searching for the slightest tint of orange hair amidst the crowds. Nojiko didn't look like she was having any luck either, seeing her sister amidst the crowd asking about the teens whereabouts. It seemed like Ichigo hadn't told anyone he was awake.

In truth, Nami was still wrapping her head around what had just happened in the past hour. Had she really just seen Bell-mère's ghost? It looked just like how she remembered her, unfortunately the injuries she sustained were only bad memories for both Nojiko and herself but despite them, Bell-mère smiled and went to embrace the two. Before she had slipped right through them, but for a split second she felt like she had felt her warmth and in truth that was more than enough of a gift.

She had told them that Ichigo somehow had the power to see spirits, to see the dead communicate with them as if it were normal. And for a short time he had allowed them to see Bell-mère one last time, not that she was sure how any of this was possible. Nami didn't even think he did it for her and her sister, but for Bell-mère herself. Because once she had said what was needed to, she looked at peace and had vanished. There was so much that she didn't understand about Ichigo and this only added to the pile.

In truth, the time she spent in those few lasting moments would never feel like enough, but she would never think any less of what she had gotten. She got to do something she had never been able to do, a proper goodbye with the women who had raised her. Bell-mère had told them of how proud she was, despite both herself and Nojiko tearing up like weeping children Bell-mère had said she had been there through it all, watching them grow into the beautiful women that they were today.

She had thanked Nojiko, for never turning against Nami for what happened in the past, for always being there when everything was just too much for her to bare on her own.

That Nami should never feel regret at what she had done over the years and should always still chase her dream of mapping the entire world.

Nami had wanted to tell her so much about what she had done, what she had seen. That not all of it had been bad. But there wasn't enough time and Bell-mère knew that. Nojiko was stunned by the fact after she was gone, even Nami was completely stunned. The fact of that matter was that they had just been able to say a proper goodbye to Bell-mère, something Arlong had stripped them of so long ago and it was all thanks to Ichigo. But he was nowhere to be found.

Nami looked around once more, Luffy was stuffing his face with everything he could reach. Sanji had been cooking almost non stop since the party had started and Zoro was drinking was being cursed out by Doctor Nako, Nami hadn't heard the full story of what happened back at the Baratie but she had seen Zoro's wounds and new that there would be a story behind it. She was sure Zoro wasn't fully trusting of her, now that he had learned that she had basically swindled them. But there was a little hope that Luffy would still accept her onto the crew. She couldn't map the world from Cocoyashi village afterall.

"Where is he?" Honestly, she had no idea what she would say to him when she found him. How was she supposed to confront him on what he had done? His abilities were unlike anything she had ever seen. Arlong had laughed when he had come out of the water, explaining in detail how they had chained him down with anchors on the ocean floor. In that moment, she had wished she had never helped Zoro drag his body out of the ocean when they first encountered him at the very least he would have been spared such a death, yet only minutes later he had burst forth in a swell of power the likes she had never seen before and ended the nightmare that had plagued her since childhood. She couldn't even begin to understand the power he had unleashed upon the Fishmen. It couldn't be a Devil Fruit, Nami had seen how Luffy got around water so there was no possible way it was the same. But his powers seemed, otherworldly. Not to mention the fact he could see and converse with the dead.

Turning away from the party Nami headed away from the celebrations, the only place she hadn't looked yet. Soon enough her walking had turned into a run as she headed down the familiar path that led to Arlong Park, in truth she could have gone the rest of her life not coming back to this place. Soon enough, she was standing outside the gates and for a split second she thought it might have all been a dream but pushed on through, walking through the gates.

There he was. Kneeling amidst the ruins of the remains of Arlong Park he was knelt down before the water. Nami's eyes widened at what he had erected before him. It was a small shrine, a few incense standing and were burning. He was honouring those that had fallen at his hands. Maybe it was hard for him to take a life?

"Sorry I couldn't give you more time with Bell-mère." Ichigo spoke softly causing Nami to stiffen slightly, she hadn't made a sound that she was aware of and despite his eyes being closed he had somehow sensed her.

"Did a ghost tell you I was here?" She asked, almost nervously looking around only emitting a small smirk from her fellow orange haired teen.

"No." Ichigo shook his head as he opened his eyes, eyeing the small shrine he had erected before raising up. "Everyone has a unique signature to them." He told her. "You've been looking for me?"

"Y-Yeah." She nodded awkwardly, casting a glance down at the small shrine. Ichigo noticed the slight disdain for it in her eyes.

"Sorry." He apologised to her. "But I was brought up to respect the dead, even those fallen by my own hand." He continued. "No doubt they were the worst scum…"

"No, I get it." She told him, walking past him and looking down at the grave, she almost hesitated before kneeling and lighting another incense and sticking it in the sand bowl. She closed her eyes for a few moments, trying to recreate the way she had seen Ichigo do so before she raised up to her feet. "It's over now, I may not ever be able to forgive them for what they've done." She told him honestly. "Hating the dead isn't going to help me, I need to move forward."

"Looks like we're in the same boat on that one." Ichigo replied, heading for the entrance to Arlong Park, confusing the young navigator at his words. What did he mean by that? Hurrying to catch up to him, she didn't dare risk a glance back, thinking if she did the current reality of it all would just shatter to reveal the nightmare.

Nami risked a glance up at Ichigo as they walked, it seemed to her that he was too lost in thought to take much notice if she was looking at him or not. It was weird, until now she hadn't really taken a good look at her fellow orange haired teen. Usually he had a scowl plastered on his face and his emotions weren't easy to read. There was so much mystery around him that it was beginning to nag at her.

She had to give it to him though, he pulled off the whole 'brooding bad boy look'. She recoiled slightly at her train of thought, why was she thinking this now? Sure, the guy was attractive, she had even see Kaya give him a glance or two before they had left Syrup Village, although she suspected Kaya to harbour feelings for the resident sniper of the crew, no harm in looking, right?

"I'm not as shallow as to think he's suddenly attractive because he saved us." She thought to herself, she had never once considered herself some helpless damsel needing saving, sure maybe a fleeting moment of hope had passed her by when Ichigo had stormed Arlong Park, but she wasn't coming down with some kind of rescuer romance. "Why the hell do I have to defend my own thought process!"

Sighing gently to herself she glanced at him again, smiling lightly as she couldn't help but slip a hand into his pocket, with the utmost ease she pulled out the badge he had come storming into Arlong Park to retrieve.

"You never told us you could talk to ghosts." Nami began tucking the badge back into her own pocket, she had a plan for this Her words snapped Ichigo from his thoughts, bringing his attention back to her. "Though, in truth we'd probably have never believed you." "Well, Luffy might of." She added mentally.

"Not a lot of people would believe me if I did tell them." He agreed. "Hell, Bell-mère could barely believe it when I started to speak to her." He chuckled causing Nami to smile before the chuckle faded and he glanced at her and she smiled, making a small cross over her chest.

"Cross my heart, won't tell a soul." She promised and he nodded, sighing gently in relief. "Nojiko won't either, and even if we did tell, who would believe us?" She asked with a smile.

"I see Luffy made it here, it seems to be quite the party back in Cocoyasi." Ichigo began to turn the tide of the conversation, Nami nodding recalling when Zoro, Usopp and Johnny had all arrived after Ichigo's defeat of Arlong and his crew. They had all been shocked to hear he had defeated them all on his own. Zoro was distrustful of her, not that she could blame him, and didn't leave Ichigo's side until Luffy arrived. Not that Dr Nako would have let him anyway with his injuries. Johnny and Usopp had gone to investigate Arlong Park with Nojiko and some of the others to see what they could make of Nami's story.

It was hard to deny the proof of what Ichigo had done with dozens of dead Fishmen and a bisected Arlong laying in what now was the remains of Arlong Park. With the Fishmen Scattered, Arlong dead, news soon went all around the island and the party in Cocoyasi Village started soon afterwards with no slowing down in sight.

Luffy, Sanji and Yosaku arrived as the festivities were starting, the obvious presence of Momoo, the giant sea cow was nerve wracking but apparently it had been frightened into submission thanks to Luffy and Sanji and had left as soon as it had the chance. She expected to be chewed out by Luffy for stealing the Merry, instead he just said that everything worked out in the end and proceeded to stuff his face with as much meat as his rubber powers permitted his body to stretch.

It was odd, the only thing Luffy seemed to be upset about was the fact that he as the Captain didn't get to defeat the big bad guy. Apparently he was going to have a long talk to Ichigo about how as Captain, he should get to fight the toughest guy. To Nami, that just seemed stupid, and considering Luffy's mental capabilites, it was probably the normalist thing for the straw hat wearing Captain. Either way, she'd let Ichigo deal with Luffy, he seemed to be able to do alright so far.

"Are you joining in the festivities?" Nami asked as she saw that they were approaching Cocoyasi, the singing and laughter could be heard even from so far away, it caused her heart to swell at such a sound. Glancing up at Ichigo she saw a frown on his face.

"Nah, maybe a bit later. I'm not feeling fully recovered yet." He told her.

"Well, when you're ready, come find me." She told him, getting a nod from the teen as she began to walk away from him.

"Nami." Ichigo called out before she could get to far away. "My badge." He told her making her smile.

"Come find me when you're feeling better, I'll give it to you then!" She laughed before quickly running off causing Ichigo to sigh as he ran a hand through his hair before wincing slightly as his eye throbbed in pain, no longer able to hold up the mask. Ever since he had woken up he had felt a dull throbbing in his eye which over time only got worse.

"Is it because I fired a Cero from my eye? My arm is completely numb with several fractured bones from the recoil of the Gran Rey Cero." He grit his teeth as he slowly made it back to the doctors office where he had woken up. He hadn't expected the use of Cero's could do so much damage to his physical body, he should have reinforced himself with his reiatsu before firing. Right now he needed some rest before going on to deal with the festivities.