Hey all my loyal readers who are miraculously still favouring and following this monster! I am grateful to you all and ahsamed that you've been waiting for so long for such a short part. However, I have an announcement.

I have bad news. The real reason I don't update too fast isn't because of lack of inspiration/motivation (even if they sometimes do play a part) is that I'm in cronic pain. Because I've done heavy labour all my life, I've worn down the muscles in my lower arms and hands. To put it in perspective; it hurts to lift a cup of coffee. That's the point I've reached. So I'm sorry to say the waiting time between each part will only get longer.

Oh, and I'm looking for a new beta reader. Someone who can do a thorough spell/grammar check. PM me if you feel up to the task :)

Now please enjoy this shamefully short part (it was a bit difficult to get right, on top of everything ^^,)

Part 5: Tension

Chapter 1/3: Merry won't sail faster just because you're in a hurry

Zoro hadn't thought too hard on Sanji before, and vice versa. They mostly thought the other was annoying, their personalities simply weren't compatible, but each acknowledged the other's strength and ability to hold his own in a tight situation. The hunting challenge on Little Garden was the first time they competed with their pride as men against each other.

Both of them thought they had brought home the bigger kill, unfortunately, they were quite similar in size. They had argued for several minutes about each little part that seemed bigger. Ruffy had taken one long look at the two beasts and concluded; "Exactly equal."

Now Zoro was stitching his ankles in the alt, extra heavy weights beside him ready to be used as soon as he'd cleaned away the blood, grumbled over Ruffy's verdict and the fact he had no backing from either Usopp or Nami. The fact that he knew Ruffy could not lie made it somehow worse. In conclusion: he hadn't trained enough. Equal to the stupid cook wasn't good enough. Zoro was the better man!

Since they were clear of all dangers regarding Little Garden with surroundings, Sanji had holed up in the kitchen to try to work his way through exactly how he felt and how to deal with it by preparing some slow-cooking recipes. Zoro's kill was dark red meat, rich in protein, while Sanji's had white meat full of healthy fats. Both of them were good in their own ways and he could easily balance the meals if he had both. There was nothing wrong with anything, yet Sanji felt somehow… inferior.

Unacceptable!

Sanji's eyes burned as he prepared the ingredients for the next four days' meals as well as today's supper. He was not inferior to the marimo. Ruffy had said they were equals. Equal to someone like the sword-swinging green buffalo was perfectly wrong! Sanji was the better man!

Out on the deck, Usopp glanced again at Ruffy who kept looking towards the galley and giggle happily. After coming down from the high of the giants cutting the ocean itself in two, Usopp had made a promise with Ruffy that they would one day sail to Elbaf. She'd responded with; "Let's beat up Crocodile and set sail for Elbaf!"

That had frozen Usopp right in a happy dance-step.

"Why did you have to bring up Crocodile?! He's a Shichibukai! Eighty million beli!"

"Yeah! Isn't that great?!"

Really, Usopp should have learned his lesson by now; Ruffy had no sense of danger. All he could do was try to keep up. So he'd promptly set up his little lab on main deck. Facing dinosaurs and giants and fishes and whales of proportions he couldn't even describe as well as snowstorms on clear days, topped with enemies with all kinds of powers and talents, Usopp needed to adapt. Needed to change and grow stronger. His strengths were lying and sniping, and both had proved to be just good enough until now. He doubted it would be anywhere near enough against a Shichibukai. Actually, Crocodile could probably smash him without realizing Usopp was even there.

Ruffy had immediately sat in front of him, her eyes brown (Usopp double checked) and wide with an excitement that stroked Usopp's ego. It was really hard to feel anything but great when Ruffy aimed her starry eyes on you. But then her attention had suddenly waned, much too early for Usopp's tastes. He hadn't even finished the first project!

"You know, Ruffy. I was glad you returned to normal an hour ago. What's up now? Giant heartbeat withdrawal?" the teen asked huffily.

Ruffy looked back at him with a smile on her face. She looked proud.

"Zoro and Sanji are going to grow a lot stronger from now on," she said.

"…Sure," Usopp replied dryly. That's exactly what he was doing right now too. But unlike those two monsters and Ruffy, Usopp wasn't a man for hand-to-hand combat. He'd figured that out after hammering that fishman into the ground. Even now, weeks later, he still remembered the feeling in his arms after beating the fishman repeatedly. That feeling, to Usopp, was unpleasant. It haunted him in a way the actual deed did not.

Ruffy looked at him, smiling. "For those two, don't you think having a rival is the best motivation? They are boys after all."

Usopp hmphed, but didn't retort, though only because Ruffy had the guts to call Zoro and Sanji "boys" rather than "men". If nothing else, it made Usopp feel like he wasn't as far behind as he thought he was.

Nami and Vivi sat by the main mast, Nami certain she'd die of heart-failure one of these days. About an hour ago they had left Little Garden, and Nami had initially rolled her eyes at the majestic words of the giants that only someone like Usopp and Zoro would find deep, meaningful and cool. Now, in hindsight, they wouldn't have managed to get away from that goldfish if the giants hadn't punched a hole through it, sending them flying several kilometres over a long hole in the ocean that, when it closed, rose to splash Merry's hull and bring her back down somewhat safely. It was still a rough landing and they had some reparations to do. Bellemere's mandarin trees looked as roughed up as Nami felt. She also couldn't quite forgive the giants for not only not warning them about that goldfish, but to have used them as bait. Nami wasn't yet ready to think further than that. Her head hurt, and her chest felt tight, she felt disorientated in her own head.

"I'm exhausted. Vivi, could you keep an eye on the log?" she sighed and handed the eternal pose to the princess who sat beside her.

Vivi silently accepted the eternal pose, and Nami noticed the way she stared at it in wonder, as if she couldn't quite believe it. It made the navigator smile.

"Don't give me that look. You're finally going home. 's long as we don't run into more trouble, of course," she added, knowing fully well they would. But that was okay. They could face anything. As long as Ruffy was calm like now, Nami believed they were fine.

Vivi gave a fait smile, but her eyes were on fire. Maybe that was why Nami liked her. She was a little like Ruffy, not so strong it was ridiculous but with the same headstrong determination and fearlessness, and still Nami felt like she could relate to Vivi.

"I must go home," Vivi said, her voice level and certain. "I must live and tell Alabasta's people the truth. Nothing else can save my kingdom."

"Sure." Nami rubbed her forehead. She felt hot and the air was freezing. "I'm sorry, I think I'll rest for a bit."

"Of course, Nami. I'll keep…"

Nami felt the world fade around her, and then she wasn't sure if her ears were ringing or Vivi was screaming. She felt Ruffy though. Inside. Somehow. Nami wasn't sure but knew it was Ruffy. Who else could ever feel so safe?

Captain Smoker lit another two cigars as he finished listening to the little black transponder snail.

"It cuts there," Ichiban, head of communication on board, reported.

Smoker just nodded. He'd expected a lot more time to pass before he heard about Mugiwara, a month at least, but it had barely been a week since they entered the Grand Line. He had mixed feelings about it, but wasn't too surprised. It might even be the best outcome, considering they hadn't even reached the marine stronghold he'd planned to report to and have as a temporary base.

The marine threw a glance around himself. The men were all his own from Rouge town, trustworthy and familiar. Besides them there was a suspicious character they'd captured the other day who was still tied to the mizzenmast, guarded by the activity around him and Smoker himself. Smoker's brain grinded the titbits of the conversation they'd overheard. He couldn't deny it made something tingle uncomfortably in his gut.

"Call Tashigi and play it again," Smoker ordered.

Ichiban saluted, a force of habit that looked unconscious as he also leaned forward. "Of course, but Cadet has been engrossed by the sword our prisoner carried since… well."

"I don't care. Tashigi! Come listen to this!"

Normally the woman was quick to answer, eager to please and all that. Smoker caught himself thinking of her as some mix-breed mutt. A really scatter-brained one.

"I don't think she's done polishing that sword," Ichiban said drily.

The next roar from Smoker after his second in command could probably be heard at least a mile around them.

"YES, YES! I'M HERE CAPTAIN SMOKER! COFFEE?!"

Ichiban closed his eyes and shook his head as Smoker scolded the woman both verbally and physically. He wanted to say that beating her head in would probably do nothing to cure her scatterbrain, but at the same time knew that if anybody else tried to raise a hand against her it wouldn't be Smoker who cut the hand off.

"Now pay attention. There are two men talking," Smoker explained and Ichiban saluted again.

"We intercepted this call earlier. Ready Cadet?"

"R-ready!"

Ichiban pressed the button in the tiny device and the snail opened its eyes.

The connection was poor, buzzing and sparking, but here and there words came through.

"Mr Zero… … …your mission… eliminated Vivi…Straw hats?" The snail sparked sharply before a different voice spoke "…Mission accomp… are dead."

Tashigi reacted, but Smoker held up a hand. The snail kept buzzing and humming, picking up the odd word and half a word, "Alabasta" among them. A surprised curse came through, and the statics escalated before they calmed and the voices returned. Smoker leaned in, listening more carefully. The word "dead" was spoken more than once by a nervous voice. Then…

"…last elec…munication… after you'll…ve written orders like be…"

The line went silent and Ichiban put the snail to sleep.

Smoker and Tashigi stood in silence for a minute.

"Captain? Did these people just say Zoro and the straw-hat pirates are all… dead?"

Smoker happily ignored Tashigi's slip and rubbed his chin. "Doesn't matter," he said, because in reality it didn't. The straw-hats were pirates and if they were eliminated, as these people said, it was simply one band of pirates less for the common folks to fear. Personally though, for both of them, it did matter. More than Smoker was even willing to admit. It actually bothered him to think the girl who had slipped through his fingers in Rouge Town could be killed so easily.

"I don't believe it though," he offered Tashigi's crushed expression. "Play with the thought. Someone comes after the straw-hats, but are defeated them, their phone rings and Mugiwara picks it up. That's what I would do."

Tashigi's expression cleared. "Oh. Yes, that makes sense. But Captain, this Mr Zero they talked about, could he be connected to this Mr 11 person we caught the other day?"

"Possible," Smoker agreed airily and crossed the deck towards their captive. "So, you're a secret agent, taking orders from a Mr Zero? Your criminal organization are all about numbers, I understand?"

Mr 11 sneered. "Mr Zero? Criminal organization? How absurd. What? Don't you marines have pirates to chase?"

Smoker looked calmly at the tied man. "That so? Then you wouldn't mind explaining the written order we found in your pocket?"

"Well, that was, I mean…"

The game was as old as the history of crime-fighting, and it had yet to fail. The captive was sputtering, ruining all the fun of the game, but was at least making it easy.

"That was what?" Smoker asked, unimpressed. "Your pockets were empty."

The agent had either never been caught or was simply stupid. With the limited information Smoker had from the transponder and his own experience in interrogation, he pulled out everything the man knew within fifteen minutes. After fifteen minutes Mr 11 was brought below deck, chained to a package of gunpowder that would detonate and blow his arm off if he tried to wiggle out of the binds.

Smoker sat on a chair, chewing on the butts of his cigars, thinking carefully. Tashigi stood beside him, attentive and sharp.

"Captain. The men on the transponder mentioned Alabasta, and also, the name mentioned with straw-hats…" she started.

Smoker waved a hand to say he was also thinking in those lines. "Vivi, Nefertari Vivi most likely with the context, is the crown princess of Alabasta who went missing a few years back."

"But Alabasta is in the grips of a rebellion. You think the straw-hats are part of a criminal organization, and involved in that?"

Honestly, and to himself only, Smoker thought that impossible. Monkey D. Ruffy and her crew had left Rogue Town barely a week ago and she was wanted across the globe, Grand Line included. A secretive organization that had their members covered by code names and knew exactly nothing about other members wouldn't have a wanted pirate in their ranks. On top of that, the people on the transponder wanted the straw hats dead. According to them they already were, but Smoker would only believe that when he found Rayla's body.

Yet, one way or another, Rayla appeared to have come across Alabasta's missing princess. That was the piece in the puzzle that had yet to fit.

"Captain?"

"Don't know," Smoker answered Tashigi's earlier question. "Still, this is our first clue to the straw-hats whereabouts. Contact HQ and request an eternal pose. We're heading for Alabasta."

"Aye-aye, sir."

Left alone, the marine took a deep breath to clear his thoughts. Alabasta that was in an uproar, their missing princess found, a secret organization run by a Mr Zero, Mugiwara. The only reason this Mr Zero would want Princess Vivi and Mugiwara dead would be if they were on different sides. So Alabasta's missing princess was with Ruffy and her gang. That was all he could determine for now. The rest was still missing too many pieces.

Of all the agents within Baroque Works, there was only one whose identity wasn't a secret. She went by code name Mr 2, but even outside of her own crew she was known as Bon Clay. Interestingly, and an unknown fact, is that it wasn't her real name, or his for that matter. It was one she'd chosen which she felt her own skin fit into. She had joined Baroque Works in exchange of a promise, and that was nobody's business but her own.

"Quiet down, all of you. Really, what's all this racket? Why do I even need to go? Such a mission, can't you finish it off yourselves?"

Bon Clay's old crew said nothing, but they were outnumbered by the people placed under her command only last month.

"We could never! He'd slaughter us!"

Bon Clay huffed unhappily. These guys. They were staring themselves blind at Mr 3's number and were most likely comparing him to Mr 4 and Bon Clay. Days like this she really wished the lower agents had more information. But alas, it was forbidden to know anything about someone else. Such a stupid rule, and such a stupid mission. How many days would this take anyway? So annoying.

"P-please. It's boss's orders."

"Weaklings! What a pain. Are you not transvestites?!"

Heads lowered all around her, and Bon Clay huffed out another "weaklings" at them. This trip was going to take days, and she had really been enjoying her free time waiting for the boss's next orders. This wasn't what she had expected and looked forward to.

"This trip better bring something good. All right then, transvestites, let's make this quick! Raise the anchor and head for Little Garden."

Nami was sick. At first Usopp hadn't thought much about it. He'd gotten concerned, of course, but they had faced so much up until now that this seemed like a minor issue. Until he saw Ruffy's face. On top of that, Vivi was acting strange. Ruffy had carried Nami down into the girls' sleeping quarters and placed Nami on her bed. Then Vivi had pushed them all away and claimed a place she hadn't earned at Nami's side.

Sanji was inconsolable and didn't seem to notice anything was off. Ruffy was completely white in the face and Usopp held his captain's hand tightly, sensing something from her that made him think she was expecting an ambush. He was also holding her back. Yes, he was miffed at Vivi's behaviour, but accepted that neither he nor Ruffy knew anything about medicine. This was most likely also the only reason Ruffy allowed herself to be held back.

"I think it's the climate," Vivi offered an explanation that sounded like she was grasping for straws. "One of the dangers of Grand Line is the sickness that follows the extreme changes in the weather. Anyone can suddenly get sick and die. It's a common occurrence."

Usopp felt Ruffy wanted to say something. Her heart was in turmoil, raging just underneath her skin and Usopp was holding her. He'd always been more or less able to sense her, at least since he'd joined the crew. He was unsure what was going on with her now. He could feel how upset she was, but also that fight or flight state she seemed frozen in.

Vivi suddenly turned around on them. "Even a small cold can prove fatal on this sea. Does anyone on this ship have any medical knowledge?"

"Nami," Usopp said, which of course was wholly unhelpful to the situation.

Vivi had the gall to close her eyes and turn away from them. It was the most dismissive Usopp had seen her, and whatever was simmering under Ruffy's skin almost reached a boiling point. His hand was starting to hurt in her grip and he moved his other hand from her elbow to her shoulder.

"W-what about food?!" Usopp threw out there, looking towards Sanji in desperate hope. "Couldn't she get better if she ate a lot of… meat?" That was a very long shot and the look on Sanji's face told him he was quite far off as well. "Oh! What about those drinks you make for Ruffy?"

The cook sighed. "Of course I can make basic needs meals for Nami, but it won't cure her. This is a much different situation from Ruffy's, all she needs is proper nutrition." Sanji glanced at Vivi who was busy taking Nami-san's temperature, but still decided to not go into details of Ruffy's condition. He thought nothing bad of Vivi-chan, but Sanji was on a constant mission to earn Ruffy's trust. "Besides, I put down a hundred times more effort into the ladies' meals than on yours. Everything bad ends up on your and Zoro's plate."

"Oi!"

"Don't yap. As long as I'm cook on this ship, you will eat well balanced and nutritious food. Make no mistake."

"F-forty one degrees?!" Vivi suddenly exclaimed. "The fever's gone up! If it goes up further…"

There was no change in Ruffy, inside or out, so Usopp went on with the next option.

"So she needs a doctor. You have doctors in Alabasta, right? How much further?"

Vivi slumped, as helpless as the rest of them. "I don't know. I have no idea. I've never heard of Little Garden so I don't know it's location in relation to Alabasta or any other island I know. It could be weeks before we get there."

Ruffy's voice was steady and final when she spoke. "We'll veer off course and sail until we spot another island. Usopp, you take the helm."

"Aye, captain."

"No."

Everyone turned at the voice. "Nami?"

Nami felt awful. Her chest felt too small, her head heavy, her entire body sluggish and slow and the air was freezing. But she couldn't rest. She was navigator on this ship and she had promised. Promised to take them to Alabasta. Take them all around the world! Besides, unlike the rest of them, she still bought the newspapers whenever she could, to stay updated.

"There's a paper on my desk. There's something you should know, Vivi."

The princess frowned, confused and went to pick the paper up.

"Nami, we're going to find you a doctor, so sit tight," Ruffy said. She stepped closer when Nami set her feet down on the floor.

"I'm fine, captain. I don't need a doctor."

"I'm siding with Ruffy on this one, Nami-san," Sanji put in.

"Yeah, Nami. Vivi just said…"

"N-no! It can't be!"

Vivi's choked voice attracted Usopp's immediate attention. "Huh? Vivi, what's the matter? Is it about Alabasta?"

The princess was shaking, the paper crumbling in her fists. "How could this happen? Half of the royal army, three hundred thousand soldiers, have defected and joined the rebels!? The scale was 6:4 when I left, but with this the rebel army has the upper hand in terms of numbers. It changes everything!"

Nami rubbed her forehead. "Yes, the violence is sure to escalate. I'm sorry, Vivi. That newspaper is three days old. I didn't want to stress you out further." It was different now, now that she knew Vivi was the kind who enjoyed a thrill and was unafraid in the face of the unknown. She was strong enough to handle this knowledge. "You understand, right Ruffy?"

Her captain smiled at her and it was all sharp teeth. "I understand that you need that doctor more than ever because you're spewing horseshit all over the place. I don't give a rat's ass about Alabasta. If the people want to fight they will fight and they will die and I couldn't care less."

Nami, Usopp and Sanji all gaped in surprise. But Vivi, Vivi saw red.

"You callous, soulless, bastard pirates! Crocodile is pushing a million people into a mindless war for what and YOU DON'T GET IT! TO ME MY PEOPLE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN…!"

Before anyone could stop her, Ruffy had rounded on Vivi, eyes gold as she backhanded her so hard it echoed in the room and immediately pulled the princess back towards herself to put her hands around Vivi's neck.

"Ruffy! Stop!" Sanji and Usopp yelled, the former grabbing their captain to hold her back while Usopp tried to pry Ruffy's fingers off Vivi's neck.

"HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU GOING TO SAVE A MILLION PEOPLE IF YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR A SINGLE PERSON!"

Sanji pulled Ruffy off Vivi with so much force he could feel his captain's bones creak under his grip. But he had no choice. Ruffy's eyes were blazing and directed at the one who was disregarding her and her crew.

"Ruffy, you're overreacting," Nami said from the bed. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

The pirate captain hissed like a snake. "Don't tell me lies, Nami! You can care about that princess and her struggles all you want but I only care about you!"

Usopp was making sure Vivi was breathing okay. Ruffy's hands had left red marks in their wake. But Vivi gulped down air and coughed, so her windpipe was probably intact. That meant that Ruffy at least hadn't intended to kill her.

"It can't be helped. Merry won't move faster just because we're in a hurry, and you're the only one who can navigate, Nami," he pointed out.

"Which is why I can't lie here," Nami argued and stood. "I'll take us to Alabasta. To anywhere any of you want to go. I don't have time to be sick."

Ruffy glared after Nami as the navigator climbed the stairs. The captain ignored Vivi on the floor, shook off Sanji's hands and followed. Usopp exchanged a glance with the cook, threw a look at Vivi and tailed behind his captain.

Sanji stood still for a moment, pondering. There was an imbalance between Vivi and Ruffy that the pirate captain was keenly aware of but Vivi seemed oblivious to. In fact, Sanji thought Vivi behaved like she had probably done all her life: like a princess.

"You know, Vivi-chan," he started. "It's understandable you care about your people, but you should also realize that we are Ruffy's people. More than any of us, you ought to understand her feelings."

Having said that, Sanji also climbed the stairs to help out on deck.

Vivi sat still, holding her throat and face. Ruffy's words were skewered into Vivi's heart, deep and sharp and baring down on doubts she'd lived with since she was a child. Slowly, Sanji's words also started to pour in. But this crew was only a handful of people, not millions. How could Vivi and Ruffy possibly understand each other? Ruffy… she was a pirate; she didn't care about a million lives. She clearly wasn't born a royal and didn't reason as one. Ruffy was…

I only care about you.

We are Ruffy's people.

Vivi felt the veil over her eyes. There was something she had missed, overlooked, misunderstood, couldn't see even now though it felt like the answer was dancing right there in her hands. What was she doing? Ruffy had been cold since the beginning. What had Vivi done? What hadn't she done?

On Little Garden, neither Nami nor Zoro had been the least bit worried when they were captured by Mr 3. Ruffy had been angry when Dorry-san was attacked. She'd cared and worried about him, had argued and fought and kept on fighting. For what? How had Dorry-san earned it?

Vivi stared at her hands and the smears of blood on them.

How had Dorry-san earned it? What was the barrier between Ruffy and herself? There shouldn't be one…

The realization hit Vivi like a speeding bull. Just now, Ruffy had called her "that princess". That's who Ruffy couldn't stand. Ruffy was a leader who not only felt empathy, but was fiercely protective as well. Vivi the princess was merely a bureaucratic symbol and of course that was a barrier on a pirate ship.

Ruffy was much more like Koza. But still not. Ruffy wouldn't risk her people for a princess. Vivi's status meant absolutely nothing here; these people were pirates. That's not why they were taking her to Alabasta.

They were taking Vivi home. A home that was currently under attack by someone who were also targeting Mr Bushido and Nami. Of course Ruffy couldn't ignore that.

Somehow, Vivi wanted to cry. Her chest suddenly felt so light and full of air, as if a restriction she'd carried all her life was suddenly gone and she could breathe freely for the first time.

"Father, please be strong. I'm on my way."

Vivi stood, wiped her face and throat one last time and went outside. It was full activity on deck, but eyes were turned more towards Nami than their tasks.

"Everyone, it's improper when I'm only a guest, but I have a favour to ask of you."

The pirates looked up. Ruffy was hovering near Nami, her face tight and the look Vivi received was a warning. Vivi accepted it as something she had deserved, all things considered.

"My kingdom is in grave peril. The people are being played into a war. Many will die needlessly and only I can stop it. So I must return to Alabasta as soon as humanly possible."

"Of course, Vivi. We'll take you there. We promised," Nami said around a strained smile, and Vivi smiled right back.

Ruffy watched, and the warning in her eyes had faded.

"That's why we must find an island and a doctor for Nami so that I can arrive home safely. This is as fast as this boat can go, yes?"

It wasn't a question. Ruffy's expression melted into approval. "Exactly."

Tension seeped out of the rest of the crew as well. Even Mr Bushido, whom Vivi found hard to read at the best of times.

"Are you sure about this," Usopp asked with a face full of scepticism. "You're not freaking out about those one million something subjects of yours?"

"I am!" Vivi emphasised. "That's exactly why we must get Nami to a doctor immediately!"

"Well said, Vivi-chan. You leave my heart shuddering with newfound love for you."

Zoro huffed around a smile. "You heard them, Nami. Go back to bed and leave this to us."

By the railing, Nami had slumped in defeat, but she smiled faintly at her crewmates. This was somehow new to her, and she wanted to laugh, wanted to cry. Being cared for by pirates of all people. Being loved felt odd despite the fact Nami spent so much of her time loving and caring for them. "…yes. Okay. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"You're no trouble," Ruffy assured and lifted the older girl into her arms like one would a toddler and pressed her forehead against Nami's, but quickly jerked back. "You're hot!"

Once again Vivi watched as Ruffy carried Nami inside, back to their shared bed, and could only follow.

"The others will want to keep an eye on her too, so we'll move the boys' blankets in here tonight. You do what you can about the fever until we find a doctor."

"Of course!" The answer came a little too forceful, because to Vivi's utter surprise, she felt herself tick at Ruffy giving orders.

The look of warning immediately reignited in Ruffy's eyes.

Vivi shook her head, as much at herself as to Ruffy. "I mean, yes, of course. Thank you."

Eyes narrowed, the pirate captain exited the room and left the hatch open. Vivi could hear her hand out orders to the crew on deck and their enthusiastic responses.

Vivi sank down heavily in the chair beside Nami's bed. "I never even knew I was like this. I'm a little concerned."

Eighteen hours after the straw-hats had veered off the course to Alabasta the weather had grown stable and cold. It was now noon. Ruffy stood atop the main mast, spying in all directions, still dressed in shorts and a tank top. Usopp couldn't bear to look at her when he could barely feel the tip of his nose and had dug out a jacket for her. Trading posts with Sanji as a lookout in the crow's nest, the cook sent Usopp an appreciative nod when he spotted the jacket.

"You're of no use if you freeze to death," Usopp told the girl above his head. It had started snowing a minute ago. As of right now the snow was feather light and only dusted the ship. But they'd been in Grand Line long enough to not trust that to last.

"I don't feel cold," Ruffy objected.

"There are days I wonder whether you feel pain at all," Usopp sighed. "Just wear it. Or go to bed. You need to sleep too, you know. Weariness can play tricks with your mind."

"It takes several hours between me spotting an island until you all can see it."

Yes, Usopp had taken note of that. He knew his own sight was good and he was observant and his ability to measure distance was something he was starting to take pride in, albeit not with confidence.

"We have binoculars, I have these, they work even better," he pointed to the googles on his head. "Have some faith, senshou. All of us want Nami to get better." Especially considering there was no improvement at all.

Ruffy looked down at him. Her face was pale, but that was the only indicator she hadn't slept since the night before reaching Little Garden. Other than that her skin was pink, making the scars stand out in stark contrast. Usopp had never paid them much mind aside from noticing their existence. Now he couldn't help but look, unease growing with every mark he counted. Though rather than the number, it was their arrangement that had Usopp's stomach twisting uncomfortably. They were too regular, too concentrated in soft areas. Too deliberate.

In Usopp's mind, he asked the question what could possibly have happened, where Ruffy had been and why. Around those questions he had erected a wall to keep them in. He didn't want to know. Ignorance is a bliss and Usopp had long since decided that's where he wanted to stay. Ruffy was Ruffy regardless and he didn't want the way he viewed her to change, even if that view was currently annoyance since the girl was being stubborn and stupid. As per usual.

"Wear proper clothes, go sleep, or eat. I don't care as long as I have only one girl to worry about."

Ruffy blinked, but then she laughed quietly. "Yes, Mother Usopp."

"It's Captain Usopp! Geez!"

The girl got down into the crow's nest and Usopp shoved the jacket at her with a glare that was answered by a happy smile.

"But you talk like a mother."

"FUCK OFF!"

The hours wore on. The crew had dinner in the girls' room and Zoro took over watch in the crow's nest while Ruffy and Usopp made snowballs as way of shovelling the now constant white downpour off the deck. The light dust from early morning had become large snowflakes, though thankfully still light. Too light to make proper snowballs even.

"Hey…"

Ruffy immediately looked up at Zoro. "Yes?! Do you see a doctor?"

"Of course he doesn't!" Usopp deadpanned.

Above them Zoro lowered the binocular. "So, can humans stand on water?"