Authors Note: PLEASE READ BEFORE CONTINUING! At the very end I'm not going to say he or she so that identity will still remain officially a mystery. You will get what I'm saying when you reach the end of this chapter! You will probably have a good guess by the end as far as the mysterious admiral goes.

Disclaimer: A girl can dream can't she? Oda-sensie owns One Piece not me.

Chapter 9

Almost

Nami wasn't even thinking as she stepped closer to Luffy and placed her hands on his shoulder. Luffy's hands found themselves at Nami's waist. Both of their eyes were barely open. Just enough to see below each others noses. Luffy could feel a warm breath brush over his lips. Involuntarily he inhaled.

Then as fate would have it, Nami's eyes opened up shock. Not because of what she was doing but because of what was coming. Nami stepped away from Luffy and stared at the sea.

Luffy opened his eyes when he felt cold salty air kiss his face. He looked over to Nami, to find her staring at the sea. He, following her example, looked at the sea as well. Luffy noticed how the waves had become slightly rougher and the temperature seemed to have dropped quite a bit. Suddenly a great shadow was cast upon him and then it disappeared. Luffy looked at the sun, clouds were passing through the sun's path causing giant shadows. The clouds were going at fast (faster than usual) pace. In the distance Luffy could see gray clouds heading their way.

Only one word crossed the two pirates minds. Storm. Nami looked at Luffy, she was silently apologising for not noticing the storm before. Luffy understanding her silent plea, shook his head and smiled.

The two started walking back towards the town. Nami was grateful for deciding to wear a long sleeve shirt today and her long board shorts. But. Nami also berated her self for deciding to wear a white shirt. She glanced across to Luffy who was walking casually, staring straight ahead of themselves. She sighed, at the rate the clouds were going it would be raining in no time. If only she wasn't... distracted (yes, that's the right word), she could have predicted the weather and gone back to the apartment sooner.

Nami smiled grimly when they reached the town, at least when it did rain she would have some protection.

The navigator and captain walked along the road, the crowd had died down probably because of the temperature. Luffy glanced at his navigator, she was walking with her arms crossed and only looking where her feet were going. Luffy frowned was Nami unhappy because that he had nearly kissed her or was it because of the storm. Was it both? Luffy shook his head, absolving his thoughts by just agreeing that girls were to confusing.

Luffy and Nami were walking by a few local bars when the rain began pouring. Nami rushed into a bar with Luffy on her tail. They sat down at a table. Luffy noticed that Nami still hadn't unfolded her arms and seemed to be clutching her sides. Luffy puzzled by this, began to ask why she was doing that when a stomach growled. Luffy looked over at a blushing Nami and began to laugh out loud.

"I'm hungry! I didn't have any breakfast!" Nami said obliviously displeased with Luffy's actions (who still hadn't stopped laughing).

"Would ya like sum'thing ta eat madum?" The bar tender called out above Luffy's laughter. Immediately Luffy's laughter ceased but then he looked at the bar tender once and burst into another fit. The bar tender wasn't something you would call pretty, more along the lines of road kill with a goatee.

"Yes please, a turkey sandwich and maybe a steak for giggles over here." Nami called out. The man nodded and headed into the kitchen. The bar was completely empty, that was probably why Luffy's laughter had echoes. A vein began to bulge on Nami's temple, so to release all her anger she pounded Luffy into the ground. How she did that from across a table will never cease to amaze me. They could pay for some new floor tiles when they got their bill.

"Ow, Nami that hurt." Luffy said a little sadly as he got back onto his chair. Nami just glared at Luffy and looked out the window. Nami saw some red caravans across the street. She had seen these caravans all over the place when she was looking for Luffy. Nami noticed the gold writing on the caravan.

Torikusuta Circus

Nami wondered out loud. "Isn't that Tori's name? Torikusuta?" Luffy looked outside than at Nami. He smiled. "Yep, and you finally decided to call her Tori!" Nami glared at Luffy and was about to retort when the bar tender came to their table and gave them drinks.

He the tips of his lips (they are lips right?) moved upward in a smile. "These are own the house for being the first couple served today!" Nami's eyes widen and she quickly defended her self, "We are not a couple!" There was evidence of a blush across her face. Luffy however didn't say anything and sank into his chair as his blush rised.

"Wait!?" The two pirates stood still completely. The man pointed to Luffy then Nami and uncurled one finger on his other hand for each of them. The man looked at his fingers.

"There's two of you so aren't you a couple or are two thrice?..." The man began mumbling more while Nami just sweat dropped. Nami feeling guilty about yelling at him said, "Um yeah were a couple in that sense. Thanks." Nami took the drinks from the man and put them on the table.

The man then told them their food would be done in ten minutes and then he left. Nami and Luffy just drank their rum in a uncomfortable silence, watching drops of rain slide down the windows.

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tori

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tori looked onto the deck and smiled gratefully. 'No, annoying Marines today.' Tori thought happily. Sure it was raining but hey no Marines! Although Tori silently wondered where they were and what they were doing. She walked across the deck and into the cabin. There were stairs leading downwards to a hall. Along the hall was many doors, living blocks, the kitchen, the navigational room and of course the Admirals cabin ,the very last door.

Tori walked pasted all the doors and only stopping for the last one. She opened the door and found a bed on the right wall, a shelf of books and a desk in the very centre of the room. Tori walked towards the desk, holding onto the edges as the boat lurched. Tori placed her self in the seat. On the desk were some papers and a cup of hot chocolate, her favourite. Tori took a sip of the drink and eyed some papers. The title of one paper was The Plan's Progress.

Tori set the mug down and lifted the paper up for closer inspection, she read the following:

Things have been going surprisingly fast. We already have four pirates in the underground dungeon.

The mascot, Chopper. Franky the Cyborg. Black Leg Sanji. And some long nosed guy.

We still have yet to capture the other four.

We await your orders and return.

Vice-Admiral Sasuke

'They've been busy, so things seem to be going a head of schedule, huh?' Tori smirked. She put the report down on a corner of the desk. The next thing she saw was a yellow sticky note on the next page. It had four red tickets with gold printing. It said Torikusuta Circus and on the back of each ticket was a seat number. The seats weren't all together but separated in couples, two here, two there. There was some writing on the note as well. Tori read:

Dearest Admiral Warai,

I have considered your request, everything shall be done according to plan as long as all damages our paid. Also my co-workers and I want twice as much money as opposed to the arranged amount. There are four tickets if you shall need anymore just ask.

Yoshi Eku, Owner and Ring Master of Torikusuta CircusTM

Tori eyed the little trade mark symbol with humour, 'cocky much? she thought to herself. Tori took the tickets and placed them in the pocket of her shorts. In place of the tickets, Tori opened up a desk draw and placed a small key (from the draw) on to the sticky note.

Tori got up and left the room. She walked down the hall with a smirk, thinking,

'Time to make things interesting.'

-- - - - - - - - - - - -

Zoro and Robin

--- - - - - - - - - - - -

The swordsman walked casually down the street in the rain while his partner walked with an umbrella shielding her self from the water bullets. Being the lady Robin was she had offered Zoro to come under the umbrella so he didn't catch a cold but Zoro being a man said "It's just water."

Robin and Zoro were on thier way back to the apartment after a unsuccessful search. On this side of the town their was a lot of restaurants and shops. Also there was a giant red tent that appeared to be a circus. They were nearing the apartment complex because the walls started to look grungy.

Robin stopped suddenly, Zoro turned to find her looking at a newsstand. The stand was locked up but the newspaper was still on display. The first page had a bunch of Marines in a big line. The picture was taken from far away so you couldn't see the details. What Zoro and Robin could see were dark forms of the things the marines were carrying. And one of the things had what appeared to be a long stick pointing out, a nose.

-- - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Admiral

-- - - -- - - -- -- --- - -

The Admiral hoped from roof top to roof top. They were looking for a certain blacksmith shop. They zipped up their jacket for it had started to hail. They arrived at the rooftop of their destination. They began climbing down a ladder hidden of to the side of the building. They walked over to the back door. While sniffling the Admiral knocked on the door.

An old man with glasses answered the door. The man's mouth hung open a bit but then he found voice and greeted his visitor, "Good afternoon Admiral Warai."

The Admiral nodded and spoke to the man, "You to Jack, and I trust you have finished the upgrades..?" The man nodded stiffly and gestured for them to come inside.

The workshop was very humid and dusty. There pounds of coal all over the place and bits and pieces of metal. There were black streaks among the wall as well. The furnest and anvil were in the right corner while a giant table was in the centre filled with tools and such. One thing caught the Admirals eye. There was a wooden staff and a bag covering its top.

'Be ready Straw Hat because our battle is near!'

End of Chapter 9

Authors Note: You may be thinking Tori is the admiral but remember things can be taken to different ways!

Oh yeah I forgot to mention this, I got flamed a while back and you can flame if you want cause I honestly don't care if you do. I won't go crazy and disrespect you or anything like that so go ahead and flame if you want. Just one thing, please don't swear if you do!

List of AWESOME Reviewers!

wheathermangohanssj4: I think Luffy understands love to a certain extent. I was just trying to get Luffy to realize he doesn't like Nami just because of hormones. Thanks for the review as always! ;)

kage karasu: Lol! I was just waiting for some one to say that! ;) Near the end the title will make sense! Thanks for the review! There's going to be more LuNa soon!

Nuit Fleur: Thanks! That I had be so eager to to write that ending to hear peoples opinions!

onepiece fanatic: THANK YOU! I was worried if they were OOC! Now that things have calmed down I'm going to have more time to write!

Shijiro: Remeber things can be taken two different ways!

Flacacelecr13: I hope you weren't disappointed there. Actually you probably were, who doesn't want them to kiss? Don't worry there will be kiss, though it won't be like you probably think it will. Trust me at the end theres gonna be so much fluff your gonna explode! Thanks.

CrazyGirlofManyNames: Thanks! I like cute things!