Title: Patience
Author: kawaiichiisaikitsune (pirate-kiari)
Rating: K+
Pairings: LuffyxNami, NojikoxOC (may be more later on)
Summary: 'Balls weren't really what everyone said them to be. At least, to this young girl it weren't.' A story about a royal family, a farmer boy, a series of balls/dances, and everything between. AU, LuNa
Kiari-san likes talking in the third person, so she'll continue to talk that way. She is sorry if you're annoyed by it, but she is having fun. Kiari-san is also sorry for the delay in her chapter, but her computer broke. It was very sad, for she didn't have a life then. Anyhow, Kiari-san is over-joyed by the two reviews she's gotten and repeatedly thanks dbzgtfan2004 and tori007otaku for them. Flames are ignored, constructive criticism is highly appreciated, and praise is great for Kiari-san's ego.
Disclaimer- Kiari-san is sad. She doesn't own One Piece. -mopes-
Extra- Revised Edition!
Patience
-Chapter One: Straw Hat-
Soon dawn approached, signaling the end of the night ball. The royal guests bid their farewells to the hosts and vowed to be back for the second one the next day. All in all, the dance went rather well, except for the carrot-topped princess demanding to know why she wasn't told sooner from the queen. She never got a true answer from either rulers, but dropped it seeing as it wasn't her choice who they told, even though she was their younger sister/in-law.
Once every single guest had evacuated from the alluring castle, the three went straight to bed. A ball really did wipe one completely of energy.
Nami had to drag herself to her room and nearly fell asleep in her expensive dress because she was so tired. Luckily, she did manage to throw on a pair of limp pajamas, though, before crawling into her graciously big four-post bed and drifting off into dream land.
II
In a small farm house in the small village ruled by the Niwa Kororo couple, two young men were just waking up, however. A large rooster that had stationed itself on the roof of the poor hut was their alarm clock as it squawked at the rising sun.
Bright splashes of soft reds and oranges seeped through the small slip between the drawn curtains, resting on the cheerful face of a slumbering boy. His mouth hung wide open, dark snores emitting from it, and he was sprawled out on his hammock. His feather pillow was folded over the edge, threatening to fall off like the cotton blanket which had already before that night. The sleeping boy, however, had no idea of its threat as only small locks of raven hair were flopped unceremoniously over its edge.
In the other room another boy, a couple years older than the other, was awake and dressing for the morning work. Pulling on a pair of black slacks and placing his brownish red cowboy hat over his long disheveled hair, he walked out into the small kitchen. There he prepared a meaty breakfast, knowing well that his younger brother would immediately be at the table once he got a whiff of the breakfast aroma.
And sure enough, no sooner after his recent thoughts, there was a loud thump of something hitting the wooden floors and then softer, quicker padding as the fallen raced for the kitchen. The older had just enough time to set out the plate of meat at a seat of the table before his optimistic brother pounced on the aforementioned seat and began digging into his fatty meal. Unlike the one stuffing his face, however, he hadn't much of an appetite for breakfasts and preferred just a couple swigs of what alcohol was sitting in the cupboard to fuel him up.
The morning meal didn't last long as in a few minutes all food that was placed upon the solid oak table was gobbled up by the human garbage disposal known as Monkey D Luffy. Patting his bloated stomach the boy thanked his older brother, Ace, for the delicious meal. In answer, Ace laughed his welcome before taking a gulp at his cup. Then he ushered his little brother to go get ready for the early morning work like he did every other normal morning.
Once dressed in loose jeans that he rolled up to his knees, a loose red vest, and his treasured straw hat, he and his brother slipped on their shoes (or sandals in Luffy's case) and exited their humble, but rundown abode.
The first thing the brothers did upon reaching the acre farm they now ran was feed the animals. The pigs were fed their normal slop, the chickens got seeds and dried corn, horses got hay and oats, and the cows were led into the pasture where they could feed upon the green grass. While the animals ate, the farmer boys cleaned out the chicken coop and scrubbed down the horse barn. They were planning to re-paint it a darker shade anyhow.
Luffy was in charge of milking the cows while Ace hand picked the ripe crops and settled them in baskets, ready to sell in the village. Then he loaded the baskets into a cart in which he would heave into the village. However, he first had to wait for his younger brother to finish with the cows so that he could bottle the milk and bring them as well. This was how they got their money; by selling their food stock.
Finally, the scarred boy came running up with three tin pails of milk, sloshing as he ran. In a cloud of dust, he stopped just before his brother and grinned his trade-mark smile. "Sorry!" he chimed, handing over the heavy pails. Ace just sighed, taking the buckets before Luffy had the chance to drop or spill them.
"While I'm at the village I'll buy some needed items and clothing. What I need you to do while I'm gone is bathe the animals, paint the barn, and plant more crops for what I've pulled out. Can I trust you to do all that?" he informed after bottling the milk and giving the other some for their own needs.
"Yes sir!" Luffy saluted enthusiastically, before rushing off towards their hut to set away the warm milk.
III
Back at the Niwa Kororo castle, Nami had woken up from a peaceful sleep feeling completely rested. Dressing out of her light pajamas, she hopped into a simple dress and headed for the dinning hall. A hearty English breakfast was sure to start her day well.
Upon reaching the richly decorated dinning room, she seated herself at the head of the long glass table and waited for a servant to appear out of the swinging doors that led to the kitchen. It didn't take long, for a couple seconds after she had settled in her chair, a servant's head peeked into the room to see if anyone had occupied it in the last half hour. Seeing his princess's fiery orange hair over the back of the chair, he walked out in a butler-like manner.
"How can I serve you Princess Nami?" he formally asked, bowing down slightly.
"Just a simple English breakfast, please," Nami flashed a smile at the man, before he nodded and scurried back into the kitchen to relay the order to the chef present.
It didn't take long for the meal to arrive before the princess. The chefs were fast, but efficient cooks. On her plate sat a small stack of perfectly round pancakes, scrambled eggs sprinkled with shredded cheese, and a couple strips of crisp and juicy bacon. As a side dish, she had a couple slices of toasted wheat bread already evenly splattered with butter and a cup of orange juice. She thanked the servant and the chef before delectably starting at her meal.
After her highly healthy, delicious breakfast, Nami excused herself from the table now occupied by Niwa and her older sister and left for her room. However, she first stopped off at a room near hers that had been kept a secret from all occupants of the castle. Quickly looking around her to make sure no one was coming or in sight, she dug into the unnoticeable pocket in her dress and pulled out an old-fashioned, but small, golden key. As silently as she could keep it, she fitted the key into the lock and twisted. The brass and also old-fashioned lock snapped open and fell to the carpeted floor with a thump.
Then with practiced swiftness and grace, Nami scooped up the lock and fitted it over the door knob, making it look as if the room was still locked, and walked into her latent room. Dropping the key back into her dress pocket and switching on the single dim light dangling in the center of the room, she walked across the clustered room and to the window in which thick cream curtains were drawn. Nami easily pulled open the curtains, letting the brightest shades of blue and yellow engulf the once dusky room. With a delighted sigh at the beautiful scenery just outside her window, the carrot topped princess turned back around to face her secret room.
At one side sat a solid oak desk, two stacks of sketch pads at either end. One stack was used pads and the other was pads that were still relatively new. A group of sharpened HB and B pencils sat in a cup between the two stacks and a pencil shaver sat beside it. On the other side of the room was a low, fancily carved table where layers of tube paints rested next to a box of many different brushes and a palette. Beside that table were a couple three-legged easels and a dainty wooden stool. Blank and used canvases were also in piles on the wooden floor or leaning against the cream colored walls. And there were many other art supplies littering the room.
Why did Nami keep this room and her love and talent for art to herself? She wasn't sure. She just had the odd feeling that if it got out it would ruin her. Though that made no sense, even to her, she still hid it. It was all for an unexplainable, unknown reason. Of course, it didn't bother her in the least. She liked keeping things hidden from others and bearing secrets that no one in the world knew about. It kind of made her feel like some sort of spy or thief, and she liked that feeling for an unknown reason.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea hit Nami as she got the urge to draw and/or paint. Smiling at her brilliance, she drew the curtains and switched off the light. She silently slipped out of the room, really locking the door this time when she closed it, and entered her bedroom. Upon entering her room she immediately went over to her walk-in wardrobe and pulled out a thin, tattered cloak and a bag that's suppose to sit on one shoulder and rest at the opposite hip. Nami took these things back into her secret art room so that she could access her idea. Into the bag she loaded a fresh sketch pad and a couple pencils, the palette and some tube paint, and an unused canvas. Then she folded up the three-legged wooden easel and wrapped her cloak around it.
The princess latently crept out of the room once again and started down the hall. The bag's strap rested over her shoulder and hung at her opposite hip, while the wrapped easel was tucked between it and her leg. Her arm rested comfortably over the bag and held the wrapped item from its bottom.
She felt rather proud of herself as she walked down the hall, but that was to change when she heard the all too familiar voice of a certain blonde chef. "Nami-chwan!" he cried gleefully, running down the hall towards her. Gracefully stopping before her, he held out the covered dish to her. Nami, however, took a minute to look him over. The blonde hair, that curly eyebrow, the dress suit, the cigarette hanging from the side of his mouth still spewing a soft trail of smoke; nothing was out of place.
"Do you need something Sanji-kun?" Her voice was light and heavenly, and the way she said his name... Oh! He absolutely loved her!
"I made you your favorite," the chef, formally known as Sanji, said as he pulled off the cover to reveal a yellowish pie with crumbly crust and a dab of whipped cream atop, "Lemon Meringue Pie."
Nami looked between the pie and the chef, contemplating whether she wanted to refuse it or accept it. Accepting it and having to eat it would take too long, so refusing would be the easiest way out, but she didn't want to hurt the poor man who adored her so much. So, much to her dismay, she took the plate of pie with a friendly smile, "Thank-you so much Sanji-kun." She leaned the covered easel against the wall, making sure it stayed covered, and picked up the fork that sat diligently beside the pie on the plate. Suddenly, Nami wolfishly scooped the pie into her mouth and in no time was done with the whole piece. Luckily, Sanji was too caught up in just staring at her with hearts in his eyes that he didn't notice her unruly behavior. "It was delicious," she passed the dish back into his hands, "But I have to get going now. Good-bye." And with that Nami picked up the wrapped item and all but raced down the hall. She loved to be pampered, but now was just not the time for it.
Once she was out of the castle and at least a fourth of the way towards the village, Nami unraveled the easel from her cloak and wrapped the flimsy clothing around herself, putting up the hood so that the villagers could not see who she was.
The village market place was crowded with people either buying or selling items. Row upon row of carts and stands ran down the entire length of the small village and was stocked with food, tools, clothes, and other items. Even animals were being sold; and for hefty prices. The princess gazed all around her in awe. She'd seen plenty of villages much like these before, but there was just something about this very village that was enchanting to her. It made her want to capture it on paper, but she refrained from doing just that. She didn't want to attract much of any type of attention here.
Farther along the village Nami walked, shoving her way through crowds of people she couldn't get around. And there, two stands away, sat an unusual cart. No, it wasn't the cart that was interesting, but more the merchant who was likely to be the owner of it. He wore a cowboy hat and had ink tattoos on his back and arms. He was attracting quite a crowd now with his fire breathing. The trick to it was quite simple; liquor and a match, but he had neither. Somehow, this man was just suddenly breathing fire. If you didn't think that interesting in such a poor village then you must've been blind.
The carrot-topped princess made her way over to the man and dropped a couple gold pieces into a shallow bucket he had placed before him. Then she picked up a small orange from his cart and started off, but not before catching his thanks.
She carried on until she finally reached the end of the village. And what stood before her dark chocolate eyes was the beautiful scenery she had hoped for. Acres upon acres of bright green pastures with some light splashes of colorful flowers, an azure blue sky with bits and pieces of fluffy white clouds drifting along, a small farm and hut in the distance, and a brightly glowing sun to lighten it all up. It was all so beautiful and quiet.
Nami continued walking down the beaten path until she was closer to the farm. She thought it'd be a good touch to the peaceful meadow at its side. Of course, there wasn't suppose to be anyone living there anymore. If she heard correctly from the gossiping maid, all the occupants of that place had died off and now it was an abandoned farm. But from where she could see, it looked rather lively. Perhaps she could go check it out.
What she found when she neared the farm house was a farmer boy who was washing down a midnight black mare with the soft water of a hose. He was clothed in a red vest, blue jeans rolled up to his knees, sandals, and a tattered old straw hat with a red band. Beads of sweat and water dribbled down his tan, rubbery skin and from the angle she was looking she could see a small scar near the bottom of his eye. Then he turned, looking straight at her with his cheerful coal eyes, and she froze.
-TBC-
Kiari-san hopes you liked. She made it longer for you all. And again, she is so very sorry she couldn't get this up any sooner. Kiari-san hopes that you can forgive her. Flames are ignored, constructive criticism is highly appreciated, and praise is great for Kiari-san's ego.