Here we go my Angels! My second out of five stories that were done in the past weeks! This story was request by my dear Angel Cherish! It was a great change of pace trying something new, and it was a great way to brain storm new ideas to get my brain pumping! XD 3 Thank you so much for requesting my darling!
Remember to put a name with your request that I can address you by! Please and Thank you! Love you all!~
"Wah! Hic Hic" A small orange haired girl cried as she walked through the tall forest tree's that gave no hint towards any kind of people.
"Bellemere! Nojiko!" The girl cried out, wanting to be with her family once more. She hated working for the pirate Arlong and his crew, but it was the only way she could help her town. She couldn't let Arlong keep a hold of her town forever, she had to earn enough money to buy her town back from the pirates so they could go back to the way they were living before. She ended up getting so mad at Arlong's crew that she ran off from them and got lost on this island they were mapping out.
"What are you crying about?"
The girl stopped and looked around quickly, wondering where the voice was coming from up in the tall trees. She quickly wiped her tears from her face, not willing to let someone see her cry. She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists tightly, still looking around for someone.
"If you want to cry you should just let it out,"
Someone dropped down behind her, making her let out a small squeak in surprise and turn around to him quickly. She stared at the boy with wavy dark hair and dark eyes, with freckles going across his face. He stared down at her softly, and put his hands up, showing he wasn't going to harm her like she probably expected.
"Who are you?!" She asked, taking steps back quickly and holding her fists up.
"Ace," He said with a smile, staying where he was with his hands up still. "I'm guessing you're lost here,"
She nodded her head slowly and watched him closely, wondering if he really meant no harm. She finally put her fists down and held onto her dress, still a little paranoid that he might be someone that will hurt her.
"What's your name?" He asked, trying to get her to talk to him a little bit.
She wasn't sure who she could trust, especially him; after all he came from the trees in a deserted kind of place no one goes to. She backed up a couple more feet again, ready to take off running in the other direction at any chance.
"Woah! Okay. It's okay. I just happened to stumble across you when I was getting away from everything else here." He said realizing he may have over stepped the line and made her more paranoid.
She understood that perfectly. After all that was the reason why she came to this tall forest to begin with…to get away from those pirates and let her feelings loose. She couldn't let them see her cry, she'd rather die than let that happen.
"Nami," She said hesitantly, startling him from her sudden voice. He quirked an eyebrow at her, and she sighed, rolling her eyes at him in irritation. "My name is Nami."
"Oh! Okay." He said, nodding his head in understanding and put his hands down, but still kept the distance between them. "So, did you get lost here? It's kind of a maze if you aren't from around here."
She nodded her head, wiping at her cheeks to get the trails of water from them that were still slightly left there. She felt embarrassed that she had to admit that she had gotten lost, but if he was from this island then he'd be able to help her find her way out. He smiled at her warmly, and she unconsciously smiled back at him, finding it hard not to smile back to him.
He held out his hand to her and urged her forward. "I'll help you out of here." He was trying to reassure her. She looked helpless walking through the forest with tears running down her face, and all he could remember were the days he was doing the same and wished someone was there to help him.
Nami slowly held out her hand, barely bringing it back in hesitation before slipping her hand into his. Though her mind kept telling her 'no' because of all the people who were against her and who have betrayed her, yet her natural instinct pushed her mind out of the way and shoved her body to listen to it. It's like every fiber of her was telling her to trust him and follow him to wherever he was taking her.
He held her hand gently and tugged her along, trying to keep her calm as they made their way through the trees. She could see the town up ahead the was slowly peaking through. She stopped quickly and jerked him to a halt. Ace looked back at her in confusion until he saw the panic in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked, turning to face her and squeezing her hand lightly.
She shook her head and took a step back, but was held where she was by Ace who was trying to figure out what was going on with her. He heard laughter down in the town and knew it was probably pirates down there in the bar who were passing by on their way to someplace.
"Is it the pirates?" He asked, getting his answer as her shoulders quaked and her pupils dilated in horror. "Are they hurting you?" He hated to see her looking so scared where she was standing and wanted to do something to help her. "Why do you go with them if you're so scared?"
"I have no other choice," She gritted out, clenching her other hand on her dress. "I have to save my town from them."
Ace's eyes darkened in anger at the thought of some pirates holding a town captive and making a small girl do their bidding. He stepped towards her closer and clasped his hands on her shoulders, making her look directly into his eyes so he knew she was listening. "Do you want me to take you away?"
Nami wanted so badly to say yes, but she kept imagining Nojiko or the Mayor being hurt by Arlong because she ran away, or just leaving her friends there on the island with no help against them. She wasn't a coward! Bellemere taught her to be strong and to never back down. She shook her head furiously and narrowed her eyes determinedly.
"I won't leave them!" She shouted in determination.
Ace couldn't help but smile at her determination and with her standing her ground, but it still didn't tamper down his worry for her. She was going to go back with those pirates and allow them to do whatever they wanted her to do. Just the thought made his temper boil inside of him.
"One of these days I'll find you and get you out from their hold." He told her with his own determination. "If you have already been saved by that time, then good, but if not, I'll use all my strength to get you away from them, along with your village."
Nami felt the tears well up inside of her as she felt unbelievably happy that someone was so willing to help her and her village out of their problems. She pushed herself into him, clutching his shirt and burrowing her head into his chest, trying to keep the tears at bay so they didn't stain her face once more. She felt safe and warm there as he wrapped his arms around her, trying to give her any reassurement he could before she went to them.
"I'll definitely come," He mumbled into her hair.
"Promise?" She asked, hoping he'd keep to it if she heard him promise her.
He nodded, his chin bumping her head when he did. "I promise,"
It was finally time for Nami to head back to town when the pirates noise became louder as they walked out of the bar. They were obviously drunk and were already heading for the ship. If she didn't head out now, they would leave her and totally forget about her, giving her no chance to go back. Her nightmare of Arlong blaming the town would come true and that was only the beginning of her worries.
"Come find me!" She shouted as she glanced back at him and waved from down the hill. She couldn't stop the hope that was welling up inside of her and gripped her dress. Her feet carried her as fast as she could towards the ship where the pirates finally spotted her and remembered the little human they took as their prisoner.
Nami sat up in bed, looking around in confusion as to where she was. She put a hand to her forehead as she remembered she was on the Merry, heading towards one of the towns near Vivi's home. She had to get up quickly and start making sure everyone was prepped and ready to go before they went across the desert. Vivi had warned her that without the right equipment they would burn in the day and freeze at night.
"Why did I have a dream about that of all things?" She asked herself, putting a hand to her forehead in tiredness. "That was an odd thing to suddenly remember," She shook her head, knocking the memory from her head and telling herself she had to get ready.
The whole crew was questioning Luffy about his brother that they just ran into, but the name Ace had stuck in her head. It couldn't be the same one she knew years ago could it? It had to be just a coincidence that she recalled that memory and then had someone who had the same name and same looks as him….right?
"I can beat Ace in a fight now though!" Luffy boasted, looking smugly at his crew that were still slack jawed at how strong his brother was compared to Luffy.
"Who can you beat?"
Said man suddenly jumped onto the side of the ship, knocking Luffy forward before he turned around with a proud smile towards his brother. Ace looked up at all of them and properly greeted them and thanked them for taking care of Luffy.
Nami couldn't stop the smile from her face; it had to be him, same freckles, same smile, and the same eyes as the past. But he didn't give any indication that he remembered her. He probably forgot about her long ago after she left. She went back to her duties on the ship, making sure they were heading the right way and listening to Sanji start the drink and food for everyone for welcoming the new man on the ship.
Nami drank with them a bit as she talked with Vivi once more, trying to gather more information on what they were up against and what they needed to expect from the ranks of people in the organization.
"Oi," Ace said as he tugged on Nami's skirt as she walked by him, about to get another drink to work on. Nami glanced back at him with a quirked eyebrow, wondering what he wanted from her of all people. He smiled up at her with an ear to ear grin, his eyes shining in the light with joy. "It's good to see you got saved. Too bad it wasn't by me."
Nami froze in her spot as she looked at him with wide eyes, not prepared for what he had said and was still taken aback. "EH?!" She shouted, making everyone jump. She looked at them and shook her hand with a smile, telling them it was nothing and making them go back to their cheers. "You mean….you remember?"
Ace pushed his eyebrows up in surprise himself. "How could I forget?" He chuckled, tugging her closer to him and putting and arm around her shoulders. "You think I'd forget that little girl I found cluthing onto me for dear life and crying her eyes out?"
Nami punched him in the shoulder, seeing the teasing smirk on his face. "That's not what happened," She laughed, feeling happy that he actually remembered her from long ago. "So you didn't forget your promise afterall."
"Course not," He said, thumping her in the head gently. "The only problem was that I never got the pirate's names, or your villages name." He glanced at her, making her smack herself in the forehead, realizing their childish mistake from long ago. "I guess you see my dilemma. I couldn't figure out where you were. I went from island to island trying to find where you were."
Nami giggled, placing her head on his shoulder in exasperation. "I can't believe we were so stupid," She felt so giddy that he was looking for her, and she liked the feeling of his arm around her once again. His arm was so much bigger and muscled now compared to when they were children. He was taller than her and his chest and stomach were rock hard from years of work and fighting. It was like the child she had known long ago had changed into a man…..a man with devil fruit powers. "You've changed a lot….that is everywhere but your face," She teased, poking his cheek that was covered in freckles everywhere.
He grabbed her wrist with a mock pout, making her laugh even more that his face turned even more childish in his pout. He glanced up and down on her too, noticing how womanly she had become over the years as well. "It's not like I'm the only one who changed." Her body was definitely far from a child's and was one most men would kill to touch and press against as he was.
He obviously looked her up and down, making her giggle in embarrassment and punch him in the shoulder once more. He laughed along with her, finding it contagious on the ship as she was much more bright than when he knew her before. The laughter could be heard around the whole ship as the two cracked one another up and Nami turned towards him, putting her head on his shoulder as her stomach began to ache from all the laughter.
"Nami-swan!" Sanji said, spotting the two and deciding to intervene between the two who looked like they were having a romantic embrace. He cut between the two, pushing Ace back and holding a tray with a drink on it for Nami. "I brought my lovely angel a drink!"
"Thanks Sanji," Nami said with a nod, taking the drink as her laughter stopped. "Do you want another Ace?"
Sanji caught the friendly tone in her voice and his eyebrow twitched slightly. Ace declined a drink, and Sanji let out a huff, not willing to give him one even if he decided he did want another. He couldn't figure out what the man had done to become so friendly with Nami, but he didn't like that he could make her giggle like she did when he couldn't even do it.
Even though they were traveling across the desert, it was plain to see to everyone that Nami had a tendency to stick close to Ace wherever he was. Sure they had to split up a couple times due to issues arising, but once they were in a group once more, she was back by his side and giggling whole heartedly.
"Nami! How do you know Ace?" Luffy asked, making everyone listen in carefully for the answer that everyone wanted to know, but was too scared to ask her in fear that she would yell at them or hit them. Luffy was just too oblivious to realize it and spoke before he thought. Though no one was complaining against his stupidity.
Ace looked at his little brother with a smile and ruffled his hair. "I met her when we were children. We kind of hit it off back then."
"Oh~" Luffy said, nodding his head in understanding. "So you and Nami are a thing?"
Both Ace and Nami stared at Luffy in shock, and everyone else in the back dropped to the ground at his fearlessness. They couldn't believe he would ask such an open question. Ace smiled and ruffled his brother's hair again, leaving him standing there in confusion as the two who were the topic of the question giggled and continued walking.
"Man, you weren't kidding that the nights get cold here," Ace told Vivi as night had finally fallen and they made camp. He didn't get cold per say, but he could tell when there was a temperature drop in the environment he was in, and the others in Luffy's crew were shivering enough that it was plain to see.
"You watch your brother pretty closely." VIvi said with a smile, looking in the direction Ace was watching. "But there's no need to worry about him. He's pretty strong." She told him to try and put him at ease about his brother being a pirate captain on the seas in the Grand Line. She looked closer as Ace nodded his head, not breaking his eye contact with what he was watching. That was when she looked closer and realized it wasn't Luffy he was watching closely, but who was in the background to Luffy trying to organize everything around her. "Though I don't think Luffy's the one who has your attention."
Ace broke his eye contact and looked at Vivi who was smiling knowingly back at him. A faint blush came over his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his head and let out a small chuckle. "I've been found out huh?"
"How long?" Vivi asked, making him sigh.
"Since I first met her I guess." He said, rubbing his neck with another sigh. "I just can't help but feel like I want to be around her. Though I can see she's made her home right here with Luffy."
"Who you talking about?" Nami said, jumping in and scaring Ace who instantly turned a little brighter at the thought of her hearing their conversation.
"I'll think I'll go closer to the fire." Vivi said, pointing towards the others who were huddling to get warmer with Chopper who was struggling against them with all his might, which wasn't enough.
Nami waved at Vivi with a smile of thanks and looked back at Ace who was trying to hide his face beneath his orange cowboy hat. She reached out and plucked it off his head, making him look at her. "You and Luffy both hiding beneath hats. Must be in your family." She teased.
"Oi!" He chuckled, reaching for his hat and making Nami jump back with a smile. He reached out and grabbed her cloak, pulling her down enough for him to grab the hat, but it knocked her off balance and made her land in his lap.
Their faces burst into red as they realized their faces were mere centimeters apart. Ace reached up and grabbed his hat, putting it next to their heads where the others would see them and leaned forward, closing the gap between them. Their lips connected together as his hand kept his grip on her hip, holding her closer to him. Her hand slipped to his arm and gripped it lightly, making him press closer into her and deepen the kiss.
They pulled apart and looked at one another, seeing the daze on each others face's from the kiss that they both wanted from the other. Ace pushed the hat into her face and turned her around, making her sit between his legs and lean back against him. She pulled the hat from her face and looked up from it with her red cheeks, seeing him trying to hide his own red cheeks in embarrassment. He didn't want her seeing him looking so red and embarrassed and tried to keep her looking forward.
Nami smiled and snuggled back into him, grabbing the edges of the opening of his coat and pulling it around her so it covered the both of them inside the small area. Ace looked down at her and saw the smile, making him chuckle in response and smile too. He wrapped his arms around her and put his chin on her head, feeling her hair slightly tickle his skin as she nuzzled her head into the small of his shoulder.
Vivi and Zoro were holding Sanji back as they all secretly watched the small scene between the two….that is all except Luffy and Chopper who were completely oblivious and were trying to fight between one another. Sanji was boiling in jealousy and Vivi and Zoro were holding his shirt to keep him next to them so he wouldn't storm over there and separate them once more.
The more Nami watched Ace, it seemed the more she was falling for him. From him being so friendly with everyone, to cleaning his own dishes so no one was burdened with it, to helping the two kids who were in trouble. Everything he did made her figure out more about him and fall for him more so than before. It felt like her heart would burst any moment if she fell more for him. It didn't help that he would sneak in kisses when he thought no one was looking, sending her heart into her mouth at the sheer joy of it.
But she knew that this journey was short. Ace had to find that Teach guy and make him repay what he did to a crewmate of theirs, and he would need to separate from the Straw Hat crew….and from her. A part of her wanted to go with him on his journey and try and help him, but she couldn't separate herself from Luffy either. She owed him so much and felt a sense of duty to pay him back for saving her and her village. Not only that but he was helping her achieve her dream with no argument against any of it. And even though he was captain, he let her run the ship as she wanted. She couldn't leave this useless bunch to themselves or they'd die out on the sea.
"Do you have to go?" Luffy whined, hanging onto his brother with tears running down his face. "Join my crew!"
Ace chuckled and ruffled Luffy's hair, making his brother let him go. "I owe my life to my captain. I can't just back away. Besides, you're not lonely anymore. You have your own Nakama to look after and have an adventure with."
Luffy nodded his head, giving a proud smile towards his brother. "Here, use this to find me if you ever need to." He handed Luffy a small square of a paper that slowly moved in the direction of Ace.
"A Vivre card!" Vivi said with a gasp, knowing that not many people had these in the world.
Ace nodded and smiled at her, happy that someone knew what it was and hoped she would explain it to his stupid little brother about what it could do. He looked over at Nami who was looking down while standing there. She couldn't look him in the eye, because she knew if she did, she'd feel the urge to go with him.
"Oi," He said, tugging on her cloak and making her look up at him slowly. "I'll come back and find you, okay?" He chuckled, and smiled at her reassuringly. "This time I know where to look. And you have a way of finding me if you need to."
Nami smiled, glad that he was so willing to meet up with her again. At least she knew this wouldn't be the last time she'd see him. "Promise?" She chuckled, holding up a pinky to him.
"Promise," He told her, linking his pinky with hers and shaking their hands.
She stepped into his chest as he placed his head on top of hers and wrapped his arms around her. The other's turned away quickly, giving the two their alone time, and Zoro grabbed Sanji, finally making the cook give up on trying to separate the two and letting them have their final time. Ace pulled back slightly and looked down at Nami before lifting her chin up and kissing her lips gently. It wasn't a goodbye kiss, but a see you again kiss that promise of what may come in the future when they see one another once more.
"We'll find one another once again someday." He told her reassuringly and determinedly. He wasn't going to let this be the last time they saw one another. He'd rather die than be unable to see her once more. He gave her one final squeeze as she nodded into his shoulder, knowing he kept his promises and would follow up on it.
"I'll wait for you then," She told him with a smile.
She watched as he quickly disappeared on the rest of his journey into the sand, leaving them with his Vivre card that would lead them towards him wherever he went.