Chapter 7

Nami had seen a lot of strange things in her life especially since she met her idiotic rubber captain. But this was a new kind of strange. The Merry was entering the port of their next island, and they were met by a huge crowd cheering for them and loudly welcoming them to their town. This was making her feel uneasy. Normal citizens did not welcome unknown pirates with the promise of free food and free wine. But she seemed to be the only one suspicious about this place. Usopp was grinning smuggly and waving to the crowd. Luffy was laughing and talking about all the food he wanted to eat. Zoro was just being his uncaring and brooding self, asking luffy if they could stop and get some alcohol with the food. Nami frowned disapointedly at her friends naivety.

She hoped that their two guests would be able to explain this town's over friendliness, but when she turned around she saw that the two were gone. The realization that they had left without saying goodbye irritated her, but she wouldn't be able to say why.

While the straw hats were being warmly welcomed by the town's people, Sanji and Miss Wednesday had sneaked off the boat. Miss Wednesday had tried to argue when Sanji had told her of his plan. It had not felt right to leave these people without saying goodbye or a warning. But he had quickly reasoned that they did not owe them anything. They were pirates. Like all the other pirates that had passed through this island, they would have the same treatement.

"We don't have time to feel sorry for a bunch of insignificant pirates. We have our own troubling situation to take care of. Do I need to remind you that the boss probably thinks we failed our mission."

"Right."

Even after agreeing to his words, he still caught her biting her lips in frustration and shooting a few last glances in the direction of the small group of pirates before following his lead. They had jumped from the side of the boat and ended up on one of the few empty parts of the docks. They took advantage of the straw hats' arrival distracting the crowds, to slip discreetly in one of the small alleys. As they made their way towards the town's main house, they made sure that no one was following them especially the Unluckies.

Sanji decided to lead them towards the back garden of the main house. They silently crouched hiding behind large sheets that were hanging out to dry. They crept slowly to the small black door that opened into the main house's laundry room. He knew that the kitchens and the main entrance would probably be full of people preparing for the straw hats' arrival so this small entrance was their best chance to get in unnoticed. They discreetly looked through the small window on the right side of the door. the laundry room was dark and empty. Now was their chance.

He entered first, the princess followed close behind. They slowly but successfully made their way through the room and then the unlit corridor that connected the laundry room to the agents' dorms. When they were both standing back to back each facing their bedroom door, Sanji turned around and whispered to her the emergency plan he had come up with on their way here.

"We are both going to open our door at the same time. If someone hostile is in there waiting for you, run back down as fast as possible and we will later try to meet up in front of the small fish fountain at the east docks. If there is no one, then pack the essentials in a bag we'll go to the post office out of town. We can send a letter to the boss from there."

She nodded in understanding before facing her door again. They pulled their door open at the same time, shoulder tensed ready for any kind of sneak-attack. But none came. Instead Sanji was met by an empty bed room in the same state as he left it in this morning. While Vivi was met with the funny site of Mrs. Monday wearing a religious sister's outfit with a worried look on her face. But the strong woman's facial expression soon changed to relief at the sight of the blue haired girl.

"Mrs. Wednesday you're finally back, Mr. 8 and I were getting worried when you did not come back on time for dinner."

The princess smiled at her colleague's words. Her partner had heard the conversation and turned back to stand behind her his knives out.

"Didn't I tell you to run as fast as you could if you saw someone in your room?" He scolded her.

"Mrs. Monday is not here to hurt us, Mr. 9." He looked at her with exasperation. She could be so naive sometimes. But before he could explain to her that this could all be a trick to capture them Mrs. Monday started talking quickly in her high-pitched voice.

"Earlier the Unluckies came to look for you, we did not want you to get in trouble over a simple food mission so Mr. 8 told them that this morning pirates had attacked so you stayed here to defend the base instead of going whale hunting. The Unluckies seemed to accept the reason and left."

Vivi smiled in relief at the news.

"So we're not in trouble then. That's good!"

But Sanji had a harder time believing that they were completely saved. Mr. 8 's excuse had a lot flaws and holes that the Unluckies and therefore the boss could easily find. The harbor did not look like it had been attacked. And the boss had probably some other agents than them reporting everything to him. He could easily discover that Mr. 8 had lied.

But right now he could not do anything about it without asking his king what to do next.

"I'm happy to see you both back uninjured. But you both probably had a difficult day why don't you rest tonight. I need to go downstairs and welcome our guests. I'm on drinking game duty tonight."

She waved good bye to them and left to join the party happening on the other side of the house.

When she was out of sight, Sanji grabbed the princess arm just before she went back in her room.

" Pack your essential things in a small bag in case we had to make a quick get away in the next couple of days."

"But Mrs. Monday said..."

"Just do it please Mrs. Wednesday."

He asked her trying to pass on the importance of his request by tightening his grip on her arm.

"Okay." She nodded one last time to him and entered her room closing the door behind her. He really hoped that she would do as he asked. He had a bad feeling about all of this. The boss was not the type of employer to accept so readily his employees changing his plans without his permission.