Updates will be posted at complete random! (meaning it could be weeks, months or years)
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece. Only all my OC's that appear. :D
[Location: Reverse Mountain - Grand Line]
"Luffy, are you sure she said she'd meet us here?" Nami asked, running a hand down her face in frustration. "How would she know we're here to begin with? It's not like you sent her a message or anything."
The Straw Hats had been at the Lighthouse for nearly a full day extra and still there was no sign of her. The mysterious new but old crew member they were promised to meet at the start of the Grand Line. The one that Luffy would never shut up about the closer they came to leaving the East Blue. Was she still going to come?
"Yeah, she did! Just like we promised. She'll just know." Luffy answered, his gaze not leaving the horizon, vigilant in his search for his friend's arrival. If she said she would be there, she would.
Nami sighed, looking at her wrist. The Log Pose needle jiggled at the movement but held firm to its position. "If you say so... But we can't wait here forever! We need to get to Whiskey Peak before the Log Pose resets."
"She'll come." Was his certain reply.
"You haven't told us much about her." Zoro stated, sitting relaxed against the railing, hands behind his head and legs stretched out crossed at the ankles. "What're we to expect?"
"Yeah, all you've told us is that she'd meet us at the start of the Grand Line." Usopp added, hammering the final nail into his makeshift repair of the mast. Damage: courtesy of Luffy and his spur of the moment 'let's fight the Island Sized whale'.
"I already told you! She's super strong and she's always taking photos." Luffy grinned, facing his crew.
Cue eye rolls and facepalms. "We know that!"
Obviously, this isn't exactly what they wanted to know. What is she like as a person? Her appearance? Something useful. They all sighed. Trust Luffy to be vague.
"Oi, Luffy. This is a matter of life and death." Sanji spoke lowly, grabbing his Captain by the shoulders. "…Is she beautiful?"
Luffy began picking his nose. "Dunno."
"Luffy! Tell me, dammit!"
"Eh, who cares."
Everyone froze as something white fluttered down randomly into the centre of the group. Their eyes followed it until it landed on the ground, staring at it for several moments after, speechless.
"Huh?"
The Straw Hats scanned their surroundings. There was nothing in sight. Not a sliver of movement.
Seeing as no one budged to take it, Nami stepped forward and cautiously picked it up flipping it over. Something was written on it. "It's a note."
"Where did it even come from?" Usopp gaped, switching his gaze from the note to the sky repeatedly.
"It just appeared… Out of thin air." Sanji breathed, eyebrows raised to his hairline.
Zoro snored loudly, clocking out of the conversation. Typical.
Luffy stroked his chin, "Ah! It's a mystery note!"
"What does it say?" Usopp asked, ushering the navigator.
Nami read aloud the cursive penned words. "'Please don't wait for me. I'll catch up with you soon, I promise. - Mikari.'"
Usopp and Nami shivered, swivelling their heads in every direction. "Eeep! It's like she's watching us!"
"Ooh!" Luffy bonked his palm with a fist, having a light-bulb moment. "It must be that ghost guy!"
"What?" Usopp and Nami yelped.
Sanji took a long drag of his cigarette, shaking his head. "The hell you on about now?"
"Yeah. He has glowing red eyes, wears a hooded cloak and is like a ghost! Disappears then reappears! Really cool!"
"A g-g-ghost?! That's even w-worse! Please, go in peace! D-Don't haunt me!" Usopp cried, curling into a tight ball under Sanji. "Sanji, m-make it go away!"
"Yeah right. There's no such thing." Sanji drawled. He kicked his leg that Usopp had attached himself to, trying to free it. "Oi, quit clinging to my leg. Get off!"
"D-Don't be silly, there's no such t-thing as g-g-ghosts. Ha-ha-ha…" Nami stuttered, trying to laugh it off and failing miserably. She rubbed her arms that were covered in goose bumps. "Brrrr! That gave me chills! What the- this is creepy!"
Sanji finally shook the leech off, opening his arms wide to the navigator. "Come into my loving arms. I'll warm you up, Nami-san~!"
Nami brushed the cook off, sending him to the floor in a shower of hearts.
"What a jerk… Bully-cook." Usopp grumbled, poking his tongue out and dusting himself off.
"It's okay, he's friendly!" Luffy stated, nodding once. "I wanted him to join my crew, but he wouldn't." He sulked, blowing a raspberry.
Usopp and Nami pulled themselves together, emotionally, and wiped their foreheads.
"Phew, it's friendly." Usopp sighed in relief.
"Well, thank heavens for that. Last thing we need is a ghost in our crew…" Nami mumbled and stared pointedly at the Captain. "So, are we continuing?"
"Yosh." Luffy sprung onto his favourite seat, Merry's 'head', no longer sulking. He pointed to the horizon. "Set sail! To Whiskey Peak!"
Let the 'Spot the Nakama!' game begin.
[Whiskey Peak]
Luffy: "Is she here? Where is she? Do you see her?"
Sanji: "No, Luffy. Be patient."
[Little Garden]
Luffy: "Nami! Can you see her? Where is she?"
Nami: "No. Only you know what she looks like, remember?"
[Drum Island]
Luffy: "Hmmmmm…"
Zoro: "Oi, give it a rest."
[Arabasta]
Luffy: *inhales-*
Usopp: "Shush! She'll come when she comes!"
Chopper: "Yeah, shush!"
[Jaya - heading to Sky Island]
Dark clouds, giant whirlpool, sea king, being sucked into said whirlpool, waiting for an explosion that may obliterate them. Clearly not what any sane person would purposely encounter.
But that's where the Straw Hats come in! The majority of members wishing this wasn't the case. (Nami and Usopp at the top of the list, closely followed by Chopper.) Why do they put up with such crazy things for the sake of chasing dreams and adventure? Yet, here they are. Not one of them was leaving. (Not that they could currently.)
One small mercy, though, is that their future nakama would not go through this terrifying ordeal with them. Yet, they couldn't help but think that maybe she would change her mind about joining once she knew what it was really like being part of this crew, with Luffy as Captain that is. The mounds of garbage they get dragged through on top of all the trouble he attracts was not everyone's idea of a fun voyage.
Or she would be as insane as the rest of them and actually stay. How could you not want to be a Straw Hat, in spite of the dangers?
But wait. Something isn't right.
The whirlpool is gone.
What in the four blues is going on?
"LUUUUUUFFYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
Someone is shouting from the water.
"Huh?" Luffy squinted over the side of Merry. The others stared at where the voice came from, moving closer.
Who would be out here? After that whirlpool happened?
"LUFFY! OVER HERE! IT'S MEEEEE!"
Their rising unspoken questions were answered.
"MIIIIII-KAAA-RIIIIIIIII!"
After surviving weeks of Luffy's ordeals, in the absolute last place they'd expected, with the most unlikely scenario… She had arrived.
Thus, the 'Spot the Nakama!' game ended.
Author's Note
...Oh hey, didn't see you there! Ah-ha-haaa... Ahem. I don't have much to say really except... I'm baaaaack! YAY *throws confetti*
Yeah, it's been a long time and a lot of work has been put into this version. I can promise you now that I won't ever rewrite this fic ever again. Never ever.
I still love One Piece so there's no way I was giving up on this! I've been itching to complete this story for years and only now do I feel I can do that. T_T
So, I hope you can have a good laugh (and maybe cry?) with me yet again. Thanks for giving me another chance! XD