Luffy put his hat on it's string as it rested on his back. He ate salmon faster than Nojiko could cook as the sun still had yet to rise into the sky. The early morning dew reflected off the grass as the light fog started to clear.
"Well we know one thing that hasn't changed." Nojiko said happily bringing him plates of halibut. The woman was proud to see he still had an appetite, hoping to get him back on his feet. Still her curiosity was getting the better of her. How the leader of the free world ended up in their humble abode.
"Y-yeah." Genzo said not taking his eyes off the rubber man who continued gorging himself. The pinwheel man remained bewildered witnessing the rubber man resurrect after having such a low pulse, it was truly a miracle.
Luffy finally took a break from eating after downing his glass of water greedily.
Genzo coughed catching the high councilor's attention. "What happened Luffy? You were found floating upstream." The stitched man asked.
Luffy looked hesitant before answering taking time to examine his wounds that finally healed. "I lost my throne." He simply said staring at the plate in front of him; his appetite suddenly waning.
"Lost your throne...to who?" Genzo asked as Luffy continued to eat again. The man couldn't have imagined Luffy losing a fight, especially without the world hearing about it—the fight must've happened soundly.
"Arlong, he caught me off guard... he used my weakness against me." The words he spoke were filled with sorrow and pain. Luffy was bested by one of his most hated foes, trying to not mercilessly kill anymore—his goal was to better, so why did he feel worse?
The pair had no outward reaction toward his words. They assumed if the combatants ever met again something like that could be possible. The Fishman knew Nami since she was a young girl. They could only imagine the distasteful things that bastard said to Luffy.
Genzo slammed his fists on the table
angrily. "Then you have to take it back, make that bastard pay!" Genzo wanted to do it his damn self after all Arlong had done to them in the past. By the looks of it Luffy seemed less motivated to do it.
Luffy continued eating his food not batting an eye at the outburst. "You were right Genzo, I'm nothing but a murderer—I don't deserve to be high councilor."
Genzo eyes widened slightly seeing the sorrow gaze of the once unbreakable spirit of the rubber man. "Boy..." was all he could utter seeing the blank stare from Luffy.
"She's still with you Lu—" Genzo started before being cut off.
"Please stop saying that," the pair noticed his tears dropping onto the table. "Everyone keeps telling me that...but she isn't, not the way I want. I failed her dammit! No matter what I do now, nothing changes for me, everyone in the world has a happy ending except me, It should've been me that day..." Luffy said staring at his plate before peacefully eating again.
"I'm glad you got that out, but knowing my sister if she heard you talking like this and wallowing in self-pity she would beat the hell out of you." Nojiko spoke placing more food on his plate while taking her seat next to the two men.
"Nothing has changed since that day, I thought myself invincible and infallible, I'm a damn idiot." Luffy said continuing to dig in on his plate.
Genzo placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. "I can't tell someone else how to feel but...I understand your pain. I keep thinking to myself that I should've kept her on Cocoyashi Village with us, to keep her safe. But, If I had to do it over again I would do it the same. I've never seen Nami smile like that since she was a baby. Based on what she wrote in her letters, you and your crew became like family, letting her live a life of freedom that she never could on the island—all while you didn't break your promise, she never lost her smile, you didn't fail Luffy." Genzo said standing up collecting the empty plates on the table leaving Luffy to his thoughts.
While Genzo washed the dishes, he hadn't noticed Nojiko leave the room and sit next to him handing him a stack of letters.
"These are—"
"Yes, you should have them, keep them safe." Nojiko said offering a warm smile. Nojiko left him at the table as he read the opened letters one by one. Each detailing their adventures, experiences, and highlights from the day. He read everyone up until the last one about how she would return to the village soon and that she had a surprise to tell them. In every letter she made sure to mention despite her mood she always had a smile eager to attack the next day with a level headed mentality.
Fresh tears fell on the table as he finished reading the letters written in her cursive. "These are one hell of a gift." Luffy said rubbing his eyes with his shirt.
As the pair finished the dishes they walked over to him wrapping the letters back up as he finished re-reading the last one engraving the words in his mind.
"These mean everything." He said looking toward the pair. "I'll be sure to share these with the crew when I see them again." Luffy said handing the letters to Nojiko, she promised to hold onto them.
"Would you like to see her?" Genzo asked heading towards the door.
"Of course." He answered following the man out to the yard heading down a stone path on the side of the hill.
The pair stopped at two grave site mounds with all types of flowers gathered around the exteriors. Two wooden crosses stood at the helm of them.
"Take your time." Genzo said climbing up the path back up to the house.
Luffy took a deep breath as the morning light started peaking over the horizon. "Nami, my navigator, my confidant, my friend, I'm sorry I let you down. I've done some terrible things since you left. There's nothing more in the world than I want then for you to return to our crew. After spending time with your family and reading your letters I finally understand now. I couldn't back then why you were smiling even when I failed to save you—all you wanted was to find freedom and friends to live for, that was enough for you. I won't ever forgive myself fully but...I know that you wouldn't want me to dwell in my sorrow, you'd kick my ass if you saw me like this," Luffy spoke chuckling to himself imaging her fists breaking his spirit because of his pouting. "I'm going to right this wrong, I'm going to take out that bastard Arlong for everything he did to you, I will keep my promise and make this world better and safer than it ever was; like you would've wanted, I'll be back—I promise." He finished the last part almost silently.
"That was beautiful." Nojiko smiled coming to stand next to him.
"It came from my heart, I don't know any other way to speak." Luffy confessed rubbing the back of his neck.
Nojiko giggled seeing his expression of his private words being heard. "I know, I could tell. Also I could tell how much she cared about you when you first arrived. Nami had a hard time opening up to anyone, you were the first she allowed to open up emotionally to, and you delivered freeing her and the village from Arlong." She turned to look him directly in the eyes before continuing. "But now its time to do it again, that bastard has your title and your home—she would want you to continue on."
Luffy nodded agreeing with her. "If it hadn't been for you guys finding me and providing me with this peace, I wouldn't have wanted to go back, I would've just walked away from it all to live in peace somewhere not wanting to be bothered. I understand now, what I need to do, it's thanks to you guys." Luffy said with a new determination in his eyes.
Nojiko's eyes widened slightly noticing his rejuvenated look. No longer did she see his pain and sorrow; it was a look of renewed determination. The purple haired woman shook her head placing her hand on his heart. "It's thanks to her, she's still with you Luffy, I can see it."
Luffy inhaled the light breeze as the sun peaked over the horizon basking the land in bright rays light; the smell of Mikans entered his vernacular.
"I know that now, I used to think people said that to make me feel better but...I know now." He repeated as his heart swelled in remembrance of Nami.
Luffy caught a large cloak as it flew into his hands. "Ready to go high councilor? It's time to take back the throne." Genzo exclaimed grinning widely.
"Yeah, lets go." He said throwing the cloak on. "Hold onto the letters until this over." Luffy directed towards Nojiko as she nodded in a yes.
"Are you ready boy?" Genzo asked noticing the fire reigniting in his eyes. It was hard to remember he was only a little nineteen years of age. Any other person his age would've cracked under this pressure. The mere fact he stood ready to face the world truly made the old man believe Luffy was the best choice to lead the free world.
"Thanks again you guys." Luffy spoke embracing the two tightly.
"Aw don't mention it, we're family Luffy." Nojiko said winking.
"Damn straight, we hold each other down no matter what." Genzo exclaimed proudly.
The sun glared brighter rising higher in the air as the city began to wake up. There wasn't much time before Arlong began whatever he had planned—they needed to hurry.
"Let's go you guys." Luffy smirked pulling his hood over his head concealing his identity—the high councilor was coming back.