Fugu

"Did you really have to bring the kid along?" Fugu asked.

"I'm not a kid!" Lami snapped.

"You're eight years old," Fugu said leaning down to the girl, almost nose to nose with her. "You are a kid. And you don't belong on a pirate crew."

"Shut up! This is my daddy's pirate crew! If anyone doesn't belong here it's you, you hideous blowfish!" Lami said. "I can't believe we have to follow you! We don't even know you! For all we know you're leading us into a trap!"

"I gave my word to Law that I would lead you to the cave with the treasure and that's how it's going to be!" Fugu screamed.

"Well, I don't want you here!" Lami said.

"Okay! That's enough!" Penguin stepped up. Placing a hand on each of their faces, he pushed the two arguing pirates apart. "Lami, you know the captain would want us to follow Fugu. That was the plan from the beginning. No one is to blame for the Navy showing up and separating us."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Lami said. Crossing her arms over her chest, she marched away from the two guys. Pushing through the thick bushes of the jungle she didn't stop or even look back when Penguin called out for her. With an aggravated huff she thought back to two days ago when they first met Fugu.

"Daddy! There it is!" Lami yelled. Hanging from the railing of the ship, she kicked her feet and pointed to the island they were about to dock at. "Do you think we'll find a sub there?!"

"We don't have enough for a submarine, Lami," Law said. "Besides I highly doubt a jungle island will have a shipyard."

"Why can't we just steal one then? We're pirates after all," Lami said looking up at Law when he stepped up beside her. Voices from the crew caused her to look back at them. Like usual the majority of their eleven members were gathered together on the deck indulging in a game of poker. Their crew was finally shaping up. Of course they had to steal a bigger ship to accommodate everyone, but it was worth it. It gave them plenty of room to train and spar.

"Yes, but I want my sub to be designed the way I want it," Law said.

"So we have to wait a long time?" Lami asked.

"Hopefully it won't be much longer," Law said. "That's why we're stopping on this island. Rumors have it there's over a hundred million berries in treasure hidden on this island. We just have to figure out the specific location and go after it."

"Okay," Lami said. "Can I get some ice cream when we dock?"
"If you be a good girl," Law said.

"I'm always a good girl," Lami said with an innocent smile.

Law chuckled. "I'm sure Shachi would agree considering that snake you put in his bed."

"Hey, I wasn't the only one who did that. Ika helped. Besides, it was harmless," Lami said. "And small too. It wouldn't hurt him. I'm sure it was more afraid of him that he was of it."

"You're just lucky he found it before we set sail," Law said.

"Why? The crew would have killed it since you wouldn't let me keep it as a pet," Lami said. "They probably would have eaten it as well."

"Lami, we've been over this before," Law said. "You can't have pets on a pirate crew. They would cause nothing but trouble. And get in the way when we have to fight. They're too big of a responsibility anyway."

"I know." Lami pouted. "Just never get rid of Bepo. He's probably the closest thing I'll have to a pet."

"I'm never going to get rid of Bepo," Law said. "He's part of our crew."

"Yeah!" Lami nodded. She turned her attention back to the island. A few minutes later they had finally pulled into the docks. The anchor was lowered, the gangplank was put in place, and they were walking down it. She looked around. The island was like any other they had been too. Several people were walking around doing their shopping or working their jobs. But somewhere in the dense jungle that surrounded this town was a grand treasure. And they were going to get that treasure. Then they were going to get their submarine.

"Lots of pirates here, Captain," Penguin said eying the people around the docks.

Lami looked back to the docks. Several ships were sporting pirate flags. And a lot of the pirates were taking notice of their crew.

"They could be after the treasure like us," Shachi said. "A lot of people, especially pirates, often are."

"It doesn't matter," Law said. "We'll get that treasure before anyone else. And if we happen to wipe out some of the pirates here then it would be better for us."

"This might be a good place to pick up a new crewmate or two," Bepo said.

"We already have eleven," Lami said. "How many are we going to have?"

"We'll get as many as we need," Law said. "We're still no where near strong enough to take on the Grand Line. We need at least five to ten more people before we head there."

"They better be nice," Lami said.

"There's some strong looking pirates," Penguin said. "Maybe we can take out their captain and get them to join us."

"Maybe," Law said.

"So what are we going to do first?" Lami asked. She took Law's hand and smiled at him. "You said I could get ice cream if I'm good. Don't forget."

"I won't." Law squeezed her hand. "First we need to see what we can learn a bout this treasure."

"So you're looking for the treasure of the jungle, huh?" The crew turned their eyes to find a tall black haired man watching them. He was leaning back against a crate with a toothpick in his mouth and a cocky grin on his lips.

"What's it to you?" Shachi asked.

"I know where it is," he said.

"Oh really?" Shachi crossed his arms. "And why should we believe you?"

"Because I have no reason to lie," he said. "Besides, I know you are the Heart Pirates. You're really starting to get a name for yourselves. You, Trafalgar Law, are becoming notorious for being cruel." His eyes dropped to Lami. "Though it's a liability having a kid on your crew."

"Hey! I'm not a libilitme!" Lami said.

The man laughed. "That's liability, kid, not libilitme."

Lami stuck her tongue out at him.

"Lami, behave," Law said.

"Okay," Lami said.

"So why would you tell us about this?" Law asked.

"I'm interested in joining your crew," he said. "The name's Fugu."

"Fugu?" Lami snickered. "What a silly sounding name."

"Lami," Law said in a warning tone.

Lami rocked back on her heels and whistled a tune.

"What makes you think we'll trust you just like that?" Penguin asked.

"I don't. But I figured you would if I led you to the treasure," Fugu said. "I understand that you don't trust me. We can work up to that. But I have no ulterior motives in doing this. And you can ask anyone who's lived here for the past twenty years. I've lived here all my life. I've been researching the treasure during that time. There's a specific piece of treasure that I'm looking to get from it. And they say there's a cursed sword among the treasure that no one has been able to handle in decades. I'm curious to see if that's true."

Lami looked up at Law. She found that he was considering the man's words. "Daddy, you're not going to do this, are you? We don't know him."
"I'll have to think about it," Law said. "The offer sounds promising."

"Daddy." Lami tugged on his arm. But Law had his mind made up.

"We're going to get a hotel room," Law said. "Come find us later today and we'll talk more about this."

"You got it." Fugu nodded then walked away from them.

"Do we really have to meet with him again?" Lami asked as they walked into the town.

"Yes," Law said. "We're going to need inside information if we're going to find this treasure."

"Fine," Lami said. She looked around until her eyes landed on a hotel. It was simple and possibly would cost them less than the other hotel across the strees where a man in a tux just walked into. "How about that one?"

"Look's good to me," Shachi said as a short dressed woman walked out of it. She spotted the pirates and gave them a flirty wink. "Look's very good to me."

"She was hot," Penguin said. "I wonder if she works around here."

"Or maybe not," Lami said.

"It'll do," Law said. "We're only staying a few days to get a break from the ship."

"Fine," Lami said. She glared at the crew. "But no one better wonder off for very long."

"We'll try not to," Shachi said but his eyes were still locked onto the woman walking away from them.

Lami rolled her eyes. She might only be eight years old, but she wasn't stupid. It was easy for her to notice when someone in the crew would wonder off and find themselves in the company of a woman. She's actually seen one of the before sleeping with a woman. It wasn't like she went looking for that. But she just happened to walk by a crewmate with a woman in an alleyway; apparently they couldn't wait and get a room. She was pulled away quickly when Penguin called to her. He was going to get her some ice cream and didn't notice what she was looking at. Before that happened she had asked her dad where babies came from. So it wasn't like she didn't know what sex was. Or the fact the crew often went looking for it. Well, a couple did. Some wanted to wait until marriage.

They walked into the hotel. Like she figured it was a simple building with minimal décor of a few plants and paintings. A clerk sat behind the check in desk looking rather bored. Lami said, "Can I sleep with Bepo?"

"I suppose that would be all right," Law said. "As long as you don't try and sneak out at night."

"I never try and sneak out," Lami said.

"Sure you don't," Penguin said placing his hand on her head. "And those three kittens you had in the hotel at the last island just happened to follow you inside in broad daylight when you were with us."

"It's possible," Lami said with an innocent look. "Kittens can be very sneaky."

The crew laughed.

"Just like you, Lami Love," Penguin said ruffling her hair.

Law shook his head and signed them into their rooms. After placing their bags inside of the rooms they headed out to get something to eat.

Unfortunately, in the middle of their lunch Fugu had appeared. He walked over to them. "I'm ready when ever you are."

"We're done here," Law said.

"Then come with me," Fugu said. "This conversation will be done better in private unless we what a whole lot of others following us."

The crew got up. They followed Fugu outside and into an abandon playground just outside the edge of town. Reaching into his coat he pulled out a map and rolled it out on the ground. He pointed to the northern most part of the map. "It's here. Most believe it to be in the center of the island because of all the caves there. But it's not. Those caves have been search multiple times. What people don't know is there are veins, if you would, of tunnels running through the underground that lead to the real spot. A few people have found them but no one has ever found the right tunnel."

"And how do you know which is the correct tunnel?" Bepo asked.

"I believe there is a tunnel closer to the actual cave where the treasure is hidden," Fugu said. He moved his finger to the west a bit. "About right here. There's a cave opening. But it's guarded by a pack of giant wolves."

"Figures," Penguin said. "What is it with people and wolves? It's like they don't even acknowledge that there are other creatures on the planet."

"Are the wolves significant?" Ika asked.

"I believe they are," Fugu said. "It's rumored that those wolves were part of the pirate crew that left the treasure there. They are guard dogs who are suppose to stand watch over the treasure until their crew came back. But it never happened. They were defeated by the Navy several years ago. Most are dead but a few are still alive in Impel Down."

"Sounds more like a wild goose chase than an actual fact," Ika said.

"Who knows?" Fugu shrugged. He then pointed to a group of rocks clustered together. "On the off chance that we get separated we can meet up at this point here. I've marked the trail to the cave but I'll be the only one who knows where they are. I've also got a few extra maps for you all to share. Hopefully, if we do get separated, everyone will get with someone that has a map." He passed the maps around. "If not you can always try and navigate your way there or come back to the town."

"What do you think, Captain?" Ika asked.

"I think it's a bit risky," Bepo said.

"We have to try," Shachi said. "This is one quick way to get more treasure for our sub."

Law hummed. "All right. We'll go in two days."

"Daddy," Lami said. "Why are you so trusting of him?"

"I'm not. But I'd like to see what happens," Law said. "If Fugu proves himself worthy and strong enough he'll be welcome onto our crew."

"Just great," Lami grumbled.

A few days later, the pirates all gathered at the edge of the town.

"Is everyone here?" Fugu asked.

"No, we're all missing," Lami said.

Fugu frowned at her.

"What? Not my fault you can't count," Lami said with a shrug. The crew chuckled. "I mean there's not that many of us."

"All right, Lami. That's enough," Law said.

"Yes, sir," Lami said.

"Let's get-" Law was cut off by a loud explosion. Turning around they saw two fleets of Navy soldiers running through the town with their guns out. A few pirates had already been caught. "Into the jungle."

"Aye, Captain," the crew said. They bolted for the jungle. The Navy followed. Guns fired, filling the air with hot gunpowder. A few caught up with the crew. But the pirates were swift. They easily knocked the soldiers out.

"Got ya!" A Navy soldier jumped in front of Lami and Law.

Law held out his hand. "Ro-"

"Wind!" Lami said. Her wind orb appeared. A gale wrapped about the pirate and threw him farther into the jungle. "You got to be quieter, Daddy."

"Shut up." Law smiled.

"We have to keep moving," Fugu said.

More gunshots. More soldiers. Having to weave in and out of the thick foliage the pirates got separated.

"Keep moving!" Fugu called out. "Get to the meeting place!"

And here they were now.

"So how much farther to this cave?" Lami asked. She looked over her shoulder to find Penguin and Fugu following her. "We've been walking for almost two hours."
"We still have over four hours," Fugu said. "It would go by a lot faster if you would stop complaining. Seriously! How could anyone let a child on a pirate ship?"

"For your information I was abandoned when I was a baby!" Lami snapped. "Daddy took me in when he found me! I have no other family!"

"Oh," Fugu said.

"Can't I just fly us there?" Lami asked pushing a large vine out of her path. "It would be a lot quicker. And I'm getting better with my powers."

"No," Fugu said. "Flying will only get us lost."

"We're already lost," Lami said.

"No, we're not," Fugu said. He walked up to a tree. Lifting a couple of vines out of the way he showed them a small piece of wood nailed to the tree with his name on it. "I've already told you that I've mapped out this jungle and put markers in place. If we flew we wouldn't be able to see those markers. The jungle looks very different from the air."

"That marker wasn't exactly easy to spot," Lami said.

"It was for me," Fugu said. "This tree is the only one who has this low branch here." He placed his hand on a branch that reached his knees. "See?"

"You are amazing," Penguin said. "I never would have noticed that."

"Like I said, I grew up around here," Fugu said. "I've spent a lot of time in the jungle."

"Too bad you weren't eaten. So we're stuck down here," Lami said. "Walking for hours."

"Here." Penguin picked her up and placed her on his shoulders. "How about I carry you for a while?"

"That's much better! Thanks, Penguin!" Lami said.

"You spoiler her," Fugu said.

"Can't be helped," Penguin said. "The captain, Bepo, Shachi, and myself have been friends for a while now. We met shortly after the captain found Lami."

"And that proves you four will be biased when it comes to her," Fugu said.

"Jerk." Lami stuck her tongue out at him. "They love me."

"Maybe," Penguin said. "But that's the way it is. Actually, adding you onto the crew will help with that. You can punish her in ways that we can't."

"Hey!" Lami protested. "You're supposed to be on my side!"

"I am, Lami Love," Penguin said. "But you still need to be disciplined. And let's face it, you do have us wrapped around your little finger."

Lami huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "You make it sound like a bad thing."

"I'm already adding to the crew then." Fugu smirked.

"Shut up and lead on," Lami said. "I want to see my daddy! He and the rest of the crew better be all right. If they're not I'm holding you personally responsible!"

"Just chill," Fugu said. "We'll get to the meeting place soon enough."

I'm still here. Just lacking motivation to write and dealing with sleep deprivation. Reviews, as always, will help get chapters up quick. ;) Oh, yeah, more on Ika will come later.

Nequam-tenshi- I don't mind people pointing out mistakes. I know I'm horrible at proofreading and I miss a lot of mistakes.