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 they weren't.' A story about a royal family, a farmer boy, a series of balls/dances, and everything in between. AU, LuNa

Kiari-san hasn't much to say except this one seemed to give her more trouble than the last ones. She's not exactly sure why, but it was. She is also going to apologize in advance for a certain name spelling and possible spoilers if anyone has not reached or passed the Arlong Park arch. Kiari-san can read the katakana spelling for Nami and Nojiko's "mother," but tweeked it. Berumeeru just seemed very odd to write, so it's been changed to Bellemel. Hope everyone still understands who she is. C:

Disclaimer- She don't own One Piece. If she need, LuNa moments all around! XD

Patience

-Chapter Seven: Bellemel-

Monkey D. Luffy tugged up the sleeves of his button-up blouse, because it felt very off to have long sleeves in a warm season. On his legs fitted the rare, course material slacks and a pair of his brother's shoes on his feet. His treasured hat was discarded for the meantime as his once messy hair was quickly brushed through. He didn't quite feel himself or look much like his usual self would.

His stomach flipped and flopped this way and that. It was an odd feeling to him; like he was hungry, but not. He couldn't understand it. "What's wrong with my stomach?" he asked his mirror reflection with a frown.

"Are you nervous?" Ace asked from the doorway, startling his younger brother. He picked himself from leaning against the frame and walked into the room. "That could be what's wrong."

The other placed his hand upon the general area of his stomach and looked at the reflection of it. He had thought perhaps that could of been it, but he'd never really been nervous ever before. So why should it start now? That and, because he'd never been nervous, he wasn't exactly sure what the sensation felt like. Did one's insides churn over and over until stinging acid ran the neck when they were nervous? Did the stomach feel like it was hosting thousands of restless butterflies that helped the churning process? Did faces heat and flush with blood; skin get clammy and sweaty; hearts race like a team of horses? Was that what nervousness felt like?

"You probably are," the elder chuckled, ruffling his hair before turning back to the door. Looking over his shoulder he said, "We should start over now. Don't want to be late, do we? Come on." Then he exited the room with the youth following him with a weak smile.

The room was deserted and quiet a minute until the farmer boy reappeared. With a smile set upon his tan features, he picked up his straw hat and settled it upon his head, obscuring messy ebony locks. "There!" he grinned to the mirror before dashing out again.

His nervousness seemed to be gone.

II

Princess Nami watched the ballroom entrance with anticipation. Settled upon her lap were two folded dress jackets she'd borrowed from the cook for the farmers to wear. She figured they wouldn't have the right threads for such an event, as the eldest had said, and thought she could have been of help by getting them something. She settled for dress jackets, hoping they had at least a clean pair of pants and a nice blouse.

The carrot-topped artist nearly jumped from her seat as she saw a couple of raggedy looking men enter the room and made her way quickly over to them. With a large excited grin she welcomed them and handed over the jackets. "I'm so glad you two came," she exclaimed as they took the offered clothing.

"What're these for, Nami?" Luffy asked, puzzled at the prim and proper jacket. Instead of answering, she took back the clothing item and ordered him to unroll his sleeves. When he did, she handed back the dark jacket and told him to put it on over his burgundy blouse. Once he had it on, she buttoned the golden buttons for him and fixed his blouse collar over the jacket's, which fell a couple inches past his collar bone.

"There," she smiled to him, "That's how you wear it. It will help you fit in better here." Looking over at the other farmer, she saw that he had already put his jacket on in nearly the same manner. "You two look great," she smiled sweetly, just glad to have better company with her now.

"You look very lovely yourself, Princess Nami," Ace complimented with a gentlemen's bow. She blushed pleasantly.

Nami was dressed in a silken black dress that hugged her body and rippled down her long legs. Two long slits traveled up on either side, ending about mid-thigh, exposing some smooth pale peach skin. The dress had no sleeves, but she wore a black translucent shawl around her sloped shoulders and had it tied at her abdomen. For jewelry, she had a couple silver bracelets rimmed with black rubies and a black diamond butterfly pendant rimmed with platinum and hanging on a thin, strong platinum chain. Her bright orange hair was brushed out and left to brush the back of her neck at the tops of her shoulders, decorated slightly with a couple silver clips. Lastly, on her feet strapped a pair of delicate black sandals with a tall, thin heel and silk ribbon that tied up her calf.

"Why thank you," she smiled shyly, "You two can go mingle if you want. I'm going to go talk with my sister a minute." Not waiting for a reply, she headed over toward the thrones. Luffy frowned.

"Go on," Ace chuckled, giving his brother a light push in the princess' direction with a wink before heading off in the opposite direction. The young farmer looked baffled a second, watching his sibling leave him. A second after that he decided to follow after Nami, not having anything else to do. He wasn't sure what one was really suppose to do at such a gathering.

The boy with the ragged old straw hat drew much attention out of the crowd, but he didn't seem to notice the stares he was receiving. He looked to be too absorbed in gazing about the ballroom with its grand decorations and flowing music and delectible snacks and champagn glasses. It was all very new to him and quite amazing for any boy of his status.

It was some time of absent wandering before he remembered about the people around him, running into a petite blue-haired miss. He called out a soft, sharp exclamation, grabbing the woman's arms before she tipped over and helped her regain her balance. "Sorry," he said, not looking particularly as apologetic as he should've been.

"It's quite alright," she smiled warmly, "And thank you very much, sir." She paused. "I don't think I've ever seen you before. Welcome to our home. Were you looking for someone, perhaps?"

"Yeah," he brightened, "Where's Nami?" He lacked the proper manners which seemed to amuse the other greatly.

"Nami-chan? Yes, I believe I can find her for you," she giggled, holding up a slender finger to him. She turned around, not leave her spot, and called out, "Nami, I believe I've found a friend of yours."

The orange-haired princess appeared out of the crowd, a baffled expression upon her face at being called with such a comment. Realization seemed to dawn when she saw a blinking farmer behind her smiling sister. "There you are Luffy. I was looking for you," she grinned lightly at his blank look, walking up to him, the other forgotten for a second.

"Aren't you going to introduce me, Nami?" Nojiko smiled with amusement at the two. It was Nami's turn to blink.

However, the scarred boy seemed to catch on quicker than her. "I'm Monkey D. Luffy," he chimed with a growing grin, giving a slight bow, "Nice to meet you."

"It's very nice to meet you, Luffy-san," she returned with a bow of her own, "I'm Nojiko, Nami's sister."

Nami nearly forced a smile, "Luffy, why don't we dance?" Before either of the two could object, she grabbed the boy's hand and dragged him onto the dance floor. Nojiko laughed to herself, amused by them.

"Do you not like your sister?" he asked, hoping to distract her from his dumb feet, even as she was placing his hands. He didn't know how to ballroom dance. It wasn't something natural for a farmer to know.

"No, of course not. I love my sister," she answered, placing her own hands and leading them; "It's just that if she's talking to you, Niwa will notice. He will come over to talk to you and realize, even though you were recommended by me, that you're actually not suppose to be here. It's all rather complicated and I'm sure you don't want to think about it."

Luffy just nodded and it was clear to her that he'd barely understood a word. She sighed in exasperation, resting her head just under his collar bone. He smelled nice; of dirt and soap. It was indeed an odd smell, but she seemed to like it.

"Luffy," she nearly hummed in question. She sounded tired.

"Hn?" he returned, ignoring his flush and the people staring at them to look down at her. Could she look more comfortable?

"Will you go to the balcony with me?"

He seemed confused, but nodded when she looked up for his reply. He expected her to draw away and lead him to the mentioned place, yet she remained. She hadn't had a decent dance partner in a while and this was nice.

When the song playing seemed to have ended, Nami pulled back with a smile; "Thanks." She headed off of the dance floor and toward a door, motioning for him to follow her. He did.

The halls were plain, but elegant. The walls were decorated with color and the floors were of marble. Along the stretch of the right wall were picture frames containing the various rulers before now's King Niwa. Along the stretch of the left wall were more picture frames, these containing scenes of the lives who'd lived in the castle. They all amused a trailing Luffy.

He laughed at one rather suddenly, gaining the princess' attention. "What is it?"

"That," the farmer boy chuckled, pointing at the hanging picture which depicted a small family, one little girl with orange hair covered in mud. Nami walked over to gaze at the picture herself, a fond smile growing upon her face.

"That's me when I was eight," she said with a light giggle of her own, "I skipped lessons to go play out in the orchard. It'd rained the day before, but I didn't care. I loved those tangerine orchards, but they're gone now. It's been turned into a garden of flowers and different fruit trees." She touched the glass containing the old photo, her smile weakening. "There's Nojiko and there's Gen-san. And Bellemel..."

Luffy noticed the sorrow in her soft voice, tilting his head to the side to look at her when she paused. "Is something wrong?" he asked, genuinely curious. The artist looked up surprised, but quickly smiled and waved a hand in the air.

"Oh, it's nothing really. I'll tell you later," she laughed a humorless laugh and started down the hall again, "Come on now."

III

"Bellemel was our mother," Nami explained, leaning against the marble railing. As it reached about waist high, she placed her hands on it and leaned foward a little.

Luffy was at her side, lazily on his knees and leaning fully against the railing, arms slung over it. His head was tilted up slightly so that he could look at her at least from the corner of his eyes as he gazed at the scenery below them.

He saw the same scenery as before that the artist had captured so well. The sky was a milky heaven of black, dotted with little and big stars. The moon hung low in the sky, a full cresent that grinned madly at them. Below, the streets of dirt and gravel were blanketed in the eerie silver-black glow, pierced only by the heavy orange lights still burning brightly in the occasional house. And as before, he could see his farm and hut on its hill far off to one side, glowing in the ethereal glow of the moon.

"She's dead now," Nami continued. Luffy turned sharply to look at her at that. His eyes didn't plead for the whole story or to know how she felt, but showed his curious concern for her. She smiled weakly, "Where do I start?"

Some time was lost in silence, the princess looking to the scenery and the boy looking to her. The silence was prolonged for what seemed like hours before she spoke up again.

"Nojiko and I weren't her real daughters, but she adopted us. I suppose we're not even real sisters, but living under this same roof for over ten years makes it seem like we are." She gave a fond smile, "Bellemel was the best mother and the best ruler the world ever had. She personally tended to the tangerine orchard and let us help her. She even cooked many of our meals; her tangerine courses were delicious. She never got to tell us her secret for the recipes though... Bellemel died when I was nine. She was killed."

Luffy looked almost sympathetic, watching her with soft charcoal eyes. "What happened?" he asked at last, curiosity getting the better of him.

"There was a rebellion. It wasn't very large or had much reason, but it was still what it was. They were nearly ready to start war against us, but Bellemel wouldn't have it. So in advance, she went to talk to the group. I wasn't there personally, being too young, but heard the stories. She was killed by their leader, Arlong. Afterwards, the rebellion created chaos all throughout the village. Gen-san went to take his revenge on them, but never returned. It wasn't until Niwa happened to show up did everything return to normal. The rebellion seemed to have fled and we've never heard of them since," Nami paused. "Five years later, Nojiko was married to Niwa. And now, they're having a kid."

"Do you miss her?"

"Every day of my life," she frowned to her hands and chanced a glance at the other; "Her funeral was exactly eight years from today. I suppose Nojiko might've forgotten. I can't blame her, what with all that is going on around here."

Luffy just nodded, looking at the ground below the balcony. It had her unnerved.

"I suppose it's about nine o'clock. Early, but I'm in no mood for the ball. Think I shall turn in..." she said in the quiet, looking out to the sky.

"Oh," the farmer picked himself to his feet, "I should go then."

"No." She reached out to stop him suddenly. He turned to her and their eyes locked. "Please stay."

-TBC-

--Review Replies--

-Chapter Five-

bertie reads heaps, thanks for your review! Woo! Party! XDD

-Chapter Six-

Urainium235, thanks for your review! Do people really do that? Guess Kiari-san's never really noticed that before. Waa, she hopes it's a successful removal surgery! XD And thanks!

lunalove101, thanks for your review! Kiari-san loves cats. They seem to like her back too. And you're quite welcome for the update. C:

beamz, thanks for your review! Glad you like the plot, because it's soon to get a nice big twist to get things more exciting. And she had no idea she hooked readers so well. Good to know. C:

God'sAngel, thanks for your review! They were good ideas. C: Ha ha! There just might be some jealousy there! And glad you enjoyed the moments. Kiari-san is quite pleased of them herself. :3

Flames are ignored, constructive criticism is highly appreciated, and praise is great for Kiari-san's ego.