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

Heehee. Kiari-san laughes at Luffy's song. If anyone of you have reached the Skypiea Arc then you should know why she's laughing. When Luffy is humming in this chapter, that's what he's humming to. She just couldn't add the words because it'd be just too odd. Enjoy! ;3

Disclaimer- She don't own One Piece. All copyrighted of genius Eiichiro Oda-sama.

Patience

-Chapter Eight: Shanks-

Ace looked around for his younger brother, but saw him nowhere. It was nearly upon midnight and he felt it best if they should leave slightly early. He'd entertained himself separately from Luffy, picking up a couple dances and chatting with some chatty elderly fellows. He'd lost track of the other during that time and now slightly regretted it. Luffy was optimistic and easily amused, but he could take care of himself when he needed to. So there was no need of much worry.

Asking around for the boy, he got some compliments and some complaints and some information. Luffy was last seen roughly three hours ago with the orange-haired princess. They'd been dancing. Where they went afterwards, assuming both did go together, was unknown.

He thanked them all with a small smile and eventually came to his stop. There was no need worrying about them. So some minutes later, he took his leave with a goodnight to all he'd been aquainted with that night.

II

Nami awoke to that odd smell of dirt and soap the next morning. It was later by the way the sun filtered through her window and she felt herself unaccustomed with the late morning glow. Groaning at having to awaken, she sat up in her large bed, blankets pooling about her waist. There was something restraining them on one side, she just noticed, and there was an extra weight on the bed.

Luffy had spent the night.

He was curled into a ball at the far end of the bed, his back to her and ontop of the covers. His shoes and jacket had been discarded, laying on the floor, and his sleeves were bunched at his elbows while his pants were rolled up to about mid-calf. Short ebony hair rested in a mess of woven tangles and charcoal eyes were closed in relaxed sleep. His treasured straw hat lay on its back on a pillow between them.

The orange-haired princess couldn't help a small smile at the serenity on his face, just touched by the late morning's soft glow. His skin looked warm and smooth, the scar below his eyes not even seeming to disrupt it. With a careful hand, she brushed a couple fingers over that scar. A shiver rolled up her spine.

The skin thought to be so smooth was course and split under her fingering touch. It was small and rather shallow, but the feeling was grotesque and she quickly drew her hand away.

Nami rose from her bed and shuffled over to her wardrobe. Pulling open the doors, she quickly grabbed an outfit for the day; a dress. Before heading into the bathroom for a quick bath, she glanced over at the slumbering farmer. Another small smile grew upon her face before she disappeared behind the bathroom door.

It was some hours later that Luffy woke up with a groggy moan. The sun glared through the window and into his sleep-drugged eyes with incredible light. Even so, he felt extremely rested, as though he'd slept a whole day away.

Sitting up in the bed, he realized it wasn't his own. It had way too much cushion and didn't sway with his every move. He really didn't seem to mind much though.

It was then the artist returned to her room, holding the ragged straw hat between her fingers. The other nearly panicked, stumbling from the bed to take the hat from her. He placed it on his head with a look of relief.

"It's my treasure. No one's ever touched it but you before."

"I'm sorry. I was just getting it properly fixed from the time you tore it on that branch. I had very quickly fixed it before, but it should look much better now," she explained.

"Thanks." He really didn't know what to say. So he smiled.

"It's okay, but can I ask you why that old hat is such a treasure to you?" Nami couldn't seem to remember if she'd asked the question before.

"A friend gave it to me to keep safe," Luffy smiled wider, "I'm going to return it to him one day."

"Who is this friend?"

"Shanks. He's a voyager and known more as Red-Hair!" he answered, waving his arms enthusiastically.

The princess kindly asked why he'd give away a straw hat, so the other told her his whole story. He told of the time eleven years ago when he was five and Shanks lived with them. He told her of the reason behind his scar and how Red-Hair had saved him from the ocean because he was too proud to admit that he couldn't swim. He related of the sea monster that showed up then and took Shanks arm when he was protecting him. This man sounded like a great person and probably the best father figure the young farmer ever had. Nami admired the amount of enthusiastic respect Luffy had for him as he spoke.

"And you're sure he'd coming back after his voyage?"

"No," he answered honestly and smiled, "But I have a feeling."

The other couldn't help the smile that soon graced her own lips. His were contagious.

III

Luffy hummed a very unfamiliar song as Nami led him down a corridor from her room. She'd said she wanted to show him something; a place no one else had seen. So he was dragged along, looking around and humming to himself as they went.

The oranged-haired princess had them stop before a locked door, producing a key from her dress pocket. She looked to either way down the hall before unlocking the old lock in a single, fluent motion that also had the door open.

"Go in," she said softly, waiting for him to enter first before following, shutting the door carefully behind her. Once settled, she out-stretched her arms and a grand smile splayed across her face, "Welcome to my art gallery!"

The farmer boy was amazed, eyes wide with excitement as he glanced about the broad room. "Amazing!" he chimed loudly. Nami smiled proudly.

"Just don't touch anything, okay?"

He nodded and was off to the other side of the room where paintings were hung. Many were recognizable as parts of the village or the scenery found around it. Some were of what seemed like random people and there was that one she'd done the first time they met. After gazing at the paintings with utter appreciation and awe, he moved to the next wall which supported hanging drawings. Many were of scenery and those "random" people of before. Some were even of still life or something made up by the mind. However, there was one certain drawing that caught his eye.

It was a man with an average, scruffy face dressed in a captain's suit. His face was full of long scars that promoted the mind to think they ran along his whole body, yet he seemed quite happy. His short hair was covered by a hat that happened to support a paper pinwheel. This is what caught Luffy's eye.

"This guy looks funny," he laughed, pointing out the drawing for the other.

"That's Gen-san," the artist halfway smiled, gazing at the picture with almost hurt brown eyes; "He was like a father figure to us. When we were really little he put the little pinwheel in his hat and made us laugh. He took good care of us when Bellemel couldn't and they were close friends." She sighed to herself and took a seat at her low table. He followed, sitting across from her. "When Bellemel was killed he was furious," she continued, "He vowed to take his revenge upon Arlong. And one day he went to do just that, but he never returned to the castle. We were sad, scared, and defeated when the murderer came by to ransack our home. The kind doctor took us in then and for some years we lived in fear of he who took our 'parents.' Those were the worst days of our life and I'm sure as glad to never have to face anything like it again. But I do miss them though. My 'parents,' I mean."

Luffy just nodded, his face void of emotion. She felt like crying because of it. Why did he have to look his most emotionless in the time of her most vulnerability? She hated it. She hated him!

"Hey Nami," he spoke suddenly, making her jump, "Was pinwheel guy strong?"

She frowned. "Not particularly. He bragged about his days as a knight though."

Then he laughed, and she couldn't figure out why. But then she laughed too, because he exclaimed; "Pinwheel was a funny guy." And the good memories were flooding back.

IV

Nojiko smiled down at her grinning son tucked in his bed nearly ready for sleep. "Should I tell you the rest of the story tonight?"

"Yes please," he chimed happily, jumping from his bed and cuddling closer to his new mother. She laughed a light, cheery laugh.

"You have to get back in bed first."

Kenji quickly scuttled back under his blankets, settling back against his pillow in anticipation. "I'm ready now," he grinned, earning one in return.

"Alright then, where did I leave off..." Nojiko paused for thought a second or two, "That afternoon, the princess decided to run away. She packed various items into her pack and sneaked out of the castle..."

"You already told that part," he laughed.

"Did she get to the farmer's place?"

"Yes!"

"Then we must be here; the farmer let the princess into his cozy home and for hours she stayed, talking lively and happily with her host..." she paused to see him nod enthusiastically, "But you see, the next day the castle was invaded. When the princess found out she was shocked and wept. Her family was killed in the invasion and she blamed it all upon herself.

"'If only I didn't run away,' she wailed, 'Maybe they'd all be living still today!'

"'How would that've made a difference?' the farmer asked, confused.

"'I really am the princess. I lied to you my good man and I am so sorry,' she wept.

"The man consoled her until she cried herself to sleep. That night he headed for the castle to defeat the evil that made the princess cry."

"Why?" Kenji spoked up suddenly, "Did he win?"

"You'll have to wait and find out little one," she laughed, "Now where was I?" Nojiko paused a second. "Oh, right. So the man went to defeat the invader than made the princess cry, because he didn't like seeing her sad. He loved her just that much.

"When the princess awoke the next morning and headed into the village, she found everyone celebrating. She was confused at this and asked what was going on. As it turned out, the kingdom was saved by a very brave red-haired man. It was the farmer! He'd defeated the evil one.

"The princess was so happy she ran to him and showered him with 'thank you's. She told him to tell her what she could possibly do to repay him and he only had one wish; to marry her. And so they were wedded.

"And on their wedding night, the princess, now the queen, declared; 'Fate is a funny thing. It likes to play tricks on us. But everything happens for a reason.'

"The end. Now go to bed my son."

"Yes mummy. Good night," he smiled sleepily.

"Goodnight."

-TBC-

--Review Replies--

-Chapter Seven-

Urainium235, thanks for your review! Kiari-san's been writing during school; the time before school starts and the bus ride home. She appreciates your patience (-snicker-) but things just seemed to be coming to her quicker than usual and it's working. C: And glad the surgery was a success. XDD

lunalove101, thanks for your review! You hurt her knee! Just kidding. Glad you're enjoying. C:

God'sAngel, thanks for your review! Kiari-san enjoyed the dance scene as well, though she really had meant to draw it out when it first came to mind. Oh well, it still worked, no? And there is definitely nothing cuter than a jealous Luffy! Just wait 'til Chapter Nine. She garauntees you'll really enjoy! C:

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