Rum Crest

As Nami began to gain consciousness she was having a difficult time knowing if she was even fully awake. All that welcomed her in this world was blanket of darkness and a sharp chill in her bones. At this point she knew it really didn't matter. Either way she would still trapped in a hellish nightmare. She could feel her jaw clenching and her teeth grinding against her sore tongue. Holding back any frustrated screams she could feel building up in her chest.

Wherever she was it was obvious this was not going to be an easy place to escape. There was absolutely no light seeping in. The room had no windows and the only door must be hidden from her view. The temperature was moderately cool so chance were she was somewhere near the bottom of the sub. Although the likeliness of escaping was looking rather slim, it didn't discourage her one bit. Stealing from greedy pirates left and right in East Blue, Nami had mastered the art of escape at a very young age.

That bastard has no idea what he's up against.

Nami had a difficult time feeling the rest of her body. Whatever he injected her with was keeping her temporally paralyzed from the neck down. It was giving her plenty of time to bitterly reminisce how she even got in this fine mess in the first place. She cursed Luffy's name over and over in her head. Why did she have to choose a captain that only had a taste for trouble?

52 hours ago

Making their way into the New World it didn't take long for Luffy to demand they dock their ship on dangerous island. The name of the city they arrived in should've been a dead giveaway: Rum Crest. Much like the Grand Line's Whiskey Peak, this was city infested with uncover bounty hunters. Only these hunters were a thousand times worst. Bounty hunters in the New World were fighting to make a name for themselves just as much as pirates. If a hunter wanted to earn wealth and respect, they needed to take out a famous rookie and his crew. Depending on the fame of the pirate crew a hunter managed to caught, it could make him or her a legend! And there was no crew more desirable out there than the Straw Hats Pirates. When the Straw Hats arrived in Rum Crest it was like Christmas morning for all those patient bounty hunters.

The crew split into groups as they explored the island; Nami, Zoro, and Usopp were interested in drinking the island's famed rum in a local tavern. When word spread that the Straw Hats in the city, the top hunters on the island were in the chase. Before Nami even had a chance to finish her bottle there were hundreds of bounty hunters rushing into the bar to capture them.

Zoro smiled, Nami groaned, and Usopp screamed. Quick to his feet the swordsman was ready to slice and dice with his santoryu. As Zoro fought the fleet of bounty hunters, Nami and Usopp naturally did what they were best at: running away. The sniper went right, the navigator left. It didn't take long for Nami to lose the group of bounty hunters chasing after her. Nami had to admit her invisibility technique was coming to good use. She could walk around the island unnoticed for the time being. As she walk about she couldn't help but notice a group of men celebrating near the port. In a city full of bounty hunters Nami knew that wasn't a good sign. She sneaked by the group to hear what the all commotion was about.

"Well the bastard has finally done it! Can you image what kind of reputation Angre is going to get after this?"

"Well he was always one to claim he could catch a big fish."

"I still can't believe it. Are you 100% sure Angre caught the captain of the crew? Barney, you're one of Angre's men, aren't you? Is it true?"

They were looking at the short man with purple dreads and long scar across his forehead. The scar went so far back it looked like the man underwent some type of brain surgery.

"It true alright. I saw the hat myself!"

Nami let low groan. The hat reference only meant one person. Leave it to Luffy to be captured by the top bounty hunter on the island.

"Isn't Angre sailing out this very minute? Why are you not on board with him?"

Nami let out another quiet groan. If the bounty hunter that caught Luffy was sailing out that very moment that meant the Straw Hats were going to have a hell of time getting him back. And Nami was in no mood in a wild goose chase. The sooner they all sail out together, the better. She needed to figure out which ship Luffy was held prisoner on and quick.

"Angre wants some of us to stay on the island, you know, in case we are able to capture any more of the pirate crew," explained Barney, cleaning his ear out with his little pinkie. "The only reason Angre would postpone his departure is if I found one of them. I'm not allowed to return empty handed at this point."

"Bingo," thought Nami. She would just let this guy capture her and take her to the ship. Hard part over.

"Yeah right! Like you could actually capture one of the crew members before Angre sails out, Barney," laughed one of the men. "You would need all the luck in the world for that to happen."

Nami stumbled out from behind a tree, wobbling about as she walked by.

"Man, the rum on this island is sure strong," hiccupped the rosy-cheek navigator. "Hey, can one of you gentleman help escort a lady back to her ship? I'm afraid I'm a bit too tipsy to do it myself."

Every jaw in the group immediately dropped straight to the ground. Nami let out a giggle. She always liked playing drunk during these situations. It always kept things interesting.

Barney brought his jaw back up in place and pulled out a den den mushi out from his pocket.

"Angre, if you left the island, I would seriously advise you to turn the ship around. I have someone you don't want to miss."

"Wow, I don't remember my ship being this big," exclaimed Nami, teetering right and left down the long hall. "You sure this is my ship?"

"Yes of course," assured Barney with ball of sweat dripping down his cheek. He couldn't believe his luck! Angre was going to reward his dearly for capturing this woman pirate. "Allow me to show you to your room. I afraid you are too dizzy to get there by yourself."

"Ok, but can you show me to the bathroom first," asked Nami, tussling her long locks. "I really need to freshen up first."

"Of course. It's that next door to the right," explained Barney, pointing her in the correct direction.

"Thanks! It may take a while," giggled the orange-hair girl. "Lady business, you know."

Barney let out a nervous laugh, waving his hand up and down.

"Of course, no worries. Take your time."

As Nami entered the bathroom she let out a chilling scream.

"Ahhhh! There's a gross spider in here!"

Barney quickly ran into the bathroom to help the drunken damsel in distress.

"Where? Where's the spider?"

Nami came up behind the short man and knocked him out with her twirling rod.

"Whoops! False alarm," said Nami, giving the unconscious Barney her best cat-like grin.

Locking the door behind her as she left, Nami ran down the halls desperately looking for the holding cell Luffy was kept prisoner in. They were sailing further and further away from the island that very moment, so she needed to act fast. Nami noticed that most of the walls were made out of seastone. There was no doubt Luffy was being held in a cell made out of the same material. It made sense this bounty hunter had a ship full of seastone. Most pirate rookies were devil fruit users and it was the only sure way of subduing them.

Nami noticed a man standing guard in front of a room down the hall. He had a ring of keys dangling from his left pocket and was holding a seastone club. I guess that must be the room. Making herself invisible once more she snuck up next to the man and knocked him out. She unhooked the ring of keys from his trousers and unlocked the door before her.

The room was dark and Nami was having trouble looking for the light switch. As soon as the lights went on she made herself visible again. She wanted Luffy to know she was the one saving him and not some mysterious ghost. Nami only managed to turn on half of the lights in the room, leaving most of the cell still in the dark.

"Luffy, are you in there?"

She was having a difficult time adjusting her eyes to the darkness. As she walked further towards the cell she could make out a figure chained up against the back wall. Nami could not see the person's face, however what she could see was an unmistakable head of short black hair. She quickly scrambled with the keys, looking for the right one to open up the cell. She hoped Luffy was alright. He was not responding to her calls. She was worried he could be badly beaten and weaken in the seastone cuffs. As soon as she got cell door open she rushed to the figure. He was locked up pretty good in cuffs and chains. Guess the bounty hunter did not want to take any risk with a devil fruit user onboard. She shook her captain's chained arms hoping to wake him up.

"Luffy! Are you alright?"

He was obviously knocked out cold. She brought up his head, inspecting his face for injuries the best she could in the dark. Being a rubberman and somewhat of an idiot, Nami knew her close examination was probably be pretty pointless, yet she had to be sure nonetheless. It was then she notice something really odd. There was a funny little patch of dark hair on his chin.

That's weird. I don't remember Luffy having any facial hair.

As soon as the thought popped into her head, all the cell's lights magically turned on. Nami gasp in horror. Dropping the man's head, Nami realized this prisoner was not her captain at all. What she mistaken for black hair was in fact hair with more of a dark blue shade. Giving the man one more good look she remembered he was one of those lunatic Captains she saw at the auction house on Sabaody. She recalled Robin stating his name: Trafalgar Law. Nami had heard some terrible stories about this man and he was definitely not a pirate to get mixed up with. However, she did remember reading a news article about this being the same man that helped her captain escape the war two years ago. Nami was torn. She would love to help the man that saved Luffy's life, but she wasn't so sure about releasing a mad man like him on a sailing ship she was currently trapped on. Something told her that he was not the type that took being captured very lightly nor logically. There would sure to be hell and fury aboard this ship if this man was ever let loose. Nami let out a hard gulp. She didn't like those odds at all yet for some reason her fingers were inserting the sixth key into the hole of the seastone cuffs. The click assured her that they were now unlocked. She hesitated in pulling the chains off for a moment.

Well, he is currently unconscious. I just have to make sure to be off this ship before he comes to.

She let out an uncomfortable sigh as pulled off the chains. Nami could feel tears of fear streaming down her face. This was all her stupid captain's fault. She was so going to punch him square in the face once she saw him again. As soon as she was finished, Nami got up and looked down at the unconscious captain one last time. He could probably take it from there once he woke up.

"Well, this makes us even, Trafalgar Law," said Nami, turning a heel as she exited the cell.

The only thing that matter to Nami from that point on was getting the hell off this doomed ship. Well that, and possibly stealing some of their treasure on the way out. Wasting no time, Nami ran out the room only to be welcomed by a barrel of a gun. The now conscious Barney was holding a gun only inched away from her face.

"So here's where you've run off to, Cat Burglar Nami," exclaimed Barney, cocking the gun. "Please follow me. I have someone who's been dying to meet you."

Hey everyone! Gosh, I guess it took me a while to update, huh? Geeeez, sorry bout that! With the holidays and all, these last months have been pretty crazy! I'll try to update more often ^^'

A big thank you to angel, Sarin-sama, Anon, mandarina, Rhirhirhi, SayukiChoco, and Hachibukai for reviewing my story! I really appreciate the comments you guys :,,,,,D all your encouraging reviews means a lot! And a big thank you to everyone who Fav/Alert my story! I hope this chapter wasn't too boring :3 I promise it will get more interesting…I think! Heh, heh!

Please continue to R&R! Thanks! Peace!