The Crimson Tattoo
A One Piece Fanfiction
By Sacred Sakura
Written: 6/30/2007, 7/25/2007
Published: 7/25/2007
Rating: T
Genre: Angst (for now)
Pairing: yet to be revealed (evil grin) (singsong voice) Nothing is what it seems...!
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. The story and any concepts/characters not original to this series does belong to me, however. Also, this fanfic is no longer based off of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, but the "tattoo" in the title will still remain a central part later in the story, so no worries.
Dedication: To Darkmaster2, Lord of the Shadows, and AR1502599. Thanks for hearing out my weird ideas and putting up with my obsessive otakuness! Also, thanks to my reviewers! Your reviews give me hope. (cries from happiness)
A/N: I've updated as promised!!!
REMINDER: I need to catch up on my One Piece…baka You Tube... Now I have to endure slow scanlation uploads...baka dial-up... (cries)
Again, I cannot stress this enough: Do not expect an immediate update after this… What with juggling four or five other fanfictions with this story—not to mention AP summer homework, club planning, scholarships, college apps, SATs, etc.—I am an incredibly busy person. But I WILL promise this: THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE THE END OF AUGUST. Check my profile later this month for more specific update dates.
Please R&R!
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Chapter Three: It Wasn't Me...Was It?
Sanji froze. He could've sworn that Kaiyume-chan was pointing in his direction.
Problem was, he was almost one-hundred percent certain that he had never touched his dear, beloved Nami-san.
Almost.
Because there was that one night.
The night that they partied at Alabasta, courtesy of the Nefertari family as hosts.
The night everyone became drunker than an inebriated Chopper after five glasses.
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"Ahhhh, Nami-shhwaaaann!! You look sho lovely t'niiiight!!"
"Thanksshhh, Sannnji-kunnn..."
"Will shummmun tell dat sshhhitty cook t'shuddup?"
"Wwhhhheeeeeeeeeeee!!! 'I'mm duh piiiiirate kiiiiiiinnngggg!!! I rule duh woooorld!!! And dey're all iiiid'oooots!!! I'mm hunnngry...' Sannnji, where'sh d'meeeaaaat?"
"Luuuffyyyy!! Uuurushaaaaiiiiii yyooooo!!! Ommmae no utauuuu iiiiru ga daaaamme yooooo!!! I'mmm beeeetterrrrrr!!! 'Oooohhhh, Caaaaptain Uuuusshhopp iiish duh beeeesht caaaptainn innn duh wwoooooorrrllld!!! Laallaaaalllllaaaaaaaaaaa!!!'"
And all the while, Chopper was collapsed on the floor, passed out.
"Oh my," said a concerned Vivi, observing the scene with a shocked Igaram. "We should probably get them to their beds."
As he helped the turquoise-haired princess tuck everyone into their beds, the bewigged man thought to himself with horror, 'What kind of people has Vivi-sama been associating herself with these past weeks?! Yes, they single-handedly took down Baroque Works, thus saving the future of Alabasta—but they're nothing more than lowly pirates who would take any excuse to drink!!!'
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Vivi's eyes shot open, her body suddenly tense. There was rustling in the room.
'An assassin?!' she wondered, readying the Kujakki slasher beneath her pillow. Her light gray eyes narrowed as they strained to cut through the darkness.
"Nnn...Usshopp...I need you t' fix my ClimaTact... It'sh not creatin' gold..."
"...Nami-san?" The turquoise-haired girl's shoulders relaxed. 'Oh...she must be sleepwalking...'
"Nnn...? Vivi...? Ah...I'm jush going out to—to—"
"Usopp-san's probably sleeping right now." Vivi smiled. "It would be better to tell him about the, ah, problem with your weapon in the morning."
"Hmm... You're prob'ly right, Vivi. Shtill, I wanna catch shum fresh air..."
"All right." The younger girl crawled back into her bed. "If you need anything, though, just feel free to wake me."
"Thankssh, Vivi..."
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That night would be a blank for every one of the drunken Mugiwara Kaizokudan.
Except for Nami, who would remember everything later.
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"Kaiyume, stop saying such strange and foolish things!" Nami scolded playfully, trying desperately to hide her apprehension and fear as she bent down to pick up the adorable toddler. "Honestly, what would possess you to accuse me of even considering going to bed with one of these idiots?!" She laughed, same old Nami.
The occupants of the cabin all sighed involuntarily with relief. Only Robin noticed that the redhead's gaiety was forced.
"Because I technically live with these guys, you probably confused them for your fathers," Nami suggested to her little girl.
Kaiyume blinked, confused. "But...my daddy..."
"Oi, Nami. What's it like to be a father?" Luffy asked the navigator curiously.
The red-haired girl immediately thought of Genzo, the only father figure she and Nojiko ever had. "I guess they care for their children, love them, play with them, and...love their mothers." She smiled sadly. Kaiyume's true father did not love her. He'd told her that countless times.
"Well..." Luffy thought for a moment. "Since Kaiyume doesn't have a dad...then why don't we be her daddies?" He grinned at his brilliant solution and looked to the other male members of the crew for support. "What do you guys think?"
Usopp sputtered, "Luffy!! Do you even realize just how much responsibility is involved in taking care of a child?!!"
"Nami-san! Rest assured that your lovely daughter is in safe hands with me!!!"
Zoro raised an eyebrow skeptically as he muttered, "As long as I don't have to do anything, I don't care. Just be careful that baka cook doesn't molest her or anything."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!! HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE ME OF BEING CAPABLE OF DOING SOMETHING SO VILE, EH, MARIMO?!!"
"What?! What are you talking about?!" Chopper demanded, blushing. "Me, take care of something as scary as a kid?! Shut up! Idiot!!"
"Then it's settled!" Luffy grinned. "Kaiyume, we're your daddies!"
Baffled but unafraid, the light-brunette child nodded in understanding and acceptance. If no one was going to tell her that she was right, fine.
She smiled.
Having five daddies would be way more fun than just one, right?
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I hope the drunk parts were at least somewhat coherent. Please note that they are greatly exaggerated, for two reasons: to poke fun at drunk people, and to hide my ignorance of drunken behavior. Also, I was up at sometime past three in the morning typing that section up little by little because I'd been working on Calm Tempest right before... XD
Huzzah!!! Review replies and a few clarifications!!! (Dang...so many reviews... What did you all do, email each other the story?!? (goggle-eyed))
Luffy's singing: Just plain randomness. A drunk Luffy is both scary and funny, though. (He's so cute when he sings! Kyaaa!)
Usopp's singing: A mixture of English with Japanese because it sounded better in my head, our favorite long-nosed friend is saying (and singing), "Luffy! Shut up! Your singing sucks! I'm better! 'Oh, Captain Usopp is the best captain in the world! Lalala!'" Lame, I know, but it sounded better in my head.
flashbacks: Don't worry, there'll be boatloads more in the future. They're coming in increments. (smile)
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KoloheSanji—Well if that's the case, keep checkin'! And...yes...the father was incredibly drunk, as this chapter implied...
iluvchocs—THE FATHER DOES NOT KNOW! (evil laughter) Thanks for the info! I appreciate it!
Sheri-chan—Updated. (smile) As for whether your right...we'll see... (evil grin)
huntress, Koinu, J.T., saiyukifan526—Continued. (smile)
dark-and-deadly, catho, lelathesa, Dea-Jasmine-Gemini, OneDreamADay, sempai-sama, (anyone else I missed)—Thanks! Updated! (smile)
God'sAngel—Green Tea Pocky, and we'll start negotiating...
Alastair—I bother with the Japanese because it sounds normal to me. (I have an A-plus in Japanese III and am going on to AP IV. I'm an otaku. So sue me.)
Nami stopped wearing belly-showing clothing once the bulge appeared. My teacher was of medium height, and her baby was normal weight. I understand your skepticism, though.
komikero, Nehszriah—Kaiyume's a prodigy...yeah...that's it... (cough cough)
wheathermangohanssj4—Fathership...I'm not allowed to reveal that yet. Nami would kill me. XD Very perceptive of you on the 'pursuing' part. (smile)