Treasure Hunters
Author's Notes: I don't have much time to write here, but I wanted to do one thing before I got to the meat of the story.
Review Responses:
LunaticV: I love getting reviews like yours! I will ensure there are a few good ZoLu moments.
For some of your other questions: Luffy had all those positive tests because he kept testing himself after "the first one" to be sure.
Meeting up with old friends? Well, Yosaku and Johnny are probably still in the East Blue. But as for the others, we'll just have to see!
Gilly was given the epithet "Bastard Enigma" by the Marines because they're pretty sure she was born out of wedlock to a female lover of Zoro's. (Shows you how much they know!) The Enigma part is that they know nothing about her. All they know is that if she's with the Straw Hats, she has to be dangerous!
I actually love Sanji. Sanji makes me laugh and he's just plain awesome. However, Sanji and Zoro fight like roosters and I have to express that in the story! Besides that, Sanji is still protective of Luffy because he's the captain.
Last, where Gilly learned to say such naughty things- that would be Sanji and Brook. Why Zoro didn't react- he was probably laughing or not paying attention. Hey, he may be overprotective, but he's still a pirate!
Disclaimer: Still not mine!
Chapter 3: Spitting Image
Suggested Track: "Grace Kelly," Mika
Nami and Usopp were preoccupied with pretending to be a married couple, mostly because Usopp was trying to do so loudly and Nami was most reluctant to play along. Robin and Brook were doing most of the actual shopping. "Hitsuji," however, was taking advantage of the distracted adults to have her share of fun. She was striding confidently down the sidewalk with a big smile, and a vaguely familiar song on her lips:
"The islands in the west~ are windy~!
Blow up, blow down, see their heads blow around,
And they're all idiots~!"
"My, my, she's very much like her father," Robin giggled softly, as Brook began to eat an apple from the stand. "I just hope that her distinct personality doesn't draw attention to her."
"She's no more noticeable than the rest of us," Brook remarked cheerfully. Robin glanced around quickly between Nami biting Usopp's head off, Usopp laughing nervously and squealing protests, and Brook, who'd gone to ask a pretty passerby if he could see her panties, and laughed softly.
"If we haven't been arrested yet, then she should be fine." Robin glanced around when she realized she didn't hear Gilly singing anymore. "Hmm, I wanted to hear about the islands in the east. Where is our Hitsuji?" Robin glanced at Nami to see if she had an eye on Gilly.
"Usopp, for the six billionth time, I will not kiss or hug you just for this stupid ploy," Nami hissed to Usopp. She looked especially irritated that he was trying to slide his hand into hers or his arm around her shoulder. Neither of them were paying attention to the girl in their care, which may have been a bad idea. Gilly appeared to have vanished into the crowd.
"Hitsuji? Hitsuko?" Robin called aloud, trying to get Nami's attention, glancing around the market stalls. Usopp looked up.
"Ahh! Hitsuji's gone!" Usopp shrieked, and Nami cried out.
"Ah! We have to find her now!" Nami and Usopp began to scramble and look for the familiar green-haired girl. None of them noticed the girl, whose hair was now vaguely the color of tangerines, hanging off the edge of an armory booth, staring with wonder at the swords.
"Oi, shopkeeper man, how much are those shiny swords?" Gilly asked cheerfully, pointing at a sword that looked much like her father's. He looked over the counter at the tiny girl who had to stand on tiptoe just to see over, and chuckled warmly. She looked unusual, but was still cute.
"They cost a lot of money, little sweetheart," he chuckled, and she continued trying to pull herself up. Finally, she hoisted her elbows onto the counter and folded them so she could see everything, with her feet dangling. "Now, now, don't do that! I wouldn't want you tipping this table over and getting hurt and scratching all my nice swords!"
"I won't! I want a sword." Gilly grinned. "I have pocket money!" The shopkeeper laughed raucously.
"Pocket money! Hah! Little girl, these swords cost much more than pocket money. Now, where's your mommy and daddy?"
"Oh, I dunno." She shrugged. "Around. I have all my pocket money, though." She reached into her front pocket and pulled out a little wooden box, and dumped the contents- folded bills and rolled coins- out on the counter. It seemed that Zoro and Nami's explanation of pocket money had given her an idea.
"Gilly, because you are such a smart girl, I think you should learn to get things for yourself," Zoro had said when he sat her down in the lounge. She had just turned three, but she was still sucking her thumb. "What I'm going to do is give you some money once a week. Have you seen me and Daddy and Auntie Nami and Uncle Sanji buy things with money?"
"Uh-huh," Gilly mumbled around her thumb.
"Yeah, it's like a trade. We give them money, and they give us things we want or need," Nami added. "So, if you have money, you can get things you want."
"Say we're in the market, Gilly, and you would like a candy-apple." Gilly's eyes lit at Zoro's words: her very favorite confection! "Well, instead of asking Daddy and me, you can just let us know you would like it, and give the man your money. Now, you will not have very much money, so you have to ask how much things cost before you buy them."
"You will have two-hundred Bells every week," Nami explained, and she took out coins that added up to two-hundred Bells. "See, this little one's worth one, this one's worth five, this big one's worth ten..."
"So, if a candy apple costs one hundred and fifty bells, you will only have enough for one. Then, you have fifty extra. You can even put that away and save up for another candy apple next time." Zoro paused, and looked at Nami. "Are you sure this isn't too complicated for a three-year-old?"
"I'll help her, Zoro! She's a bright girl!" Nami giggled, and showed Gilly the Bells by size. "See, big ones are worth more…"
Gilly's little fingers quickly organized her Bells by size and denomination. "I have thirty-hundreds, and four hundreds, and fifty, plus two hundred today…" She reached into her other pocket and pulled out the money Zoro had given her that morning. "Three thousand, six hundred and fifty Bells.." She looked up at the shopkeeper with a big grin, as he gaped at the considerable pile of money. "Are any of your swords less than three thousand, six hundred, and fifty Bells?"
"You can count that high?"
"Mommy taught me all about money!" Gilly chirped, still struggling to keep her eyes over the counter's edge. "How much is that sword?" Gilly pointed at a katana that looked very similar to her father's. The shopkeeper looked between the sword and the child.
"The least expensive sword I carry costs seventy-five-thousand Bells. Besides that, they are all larger than you, so it would be fruitless for you to try and lift one." Gilly stared at the shopkeeper, and traced the numbers in the air to do the math.
"Oh… oh… it's all too much!" Gilly stomped her feet in frustration.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" A lower female voice asked, and Gilly turned to see a woman in Marine uniform with dark brown eyes and dark hair. She couldn't help but be intrigued at the sight of a small girl looking at swords. Gilly's eyes welled up with tears.
"See, lady, my daddy told me that he was a great swordsman even when he was little, and I'm little now, and I want to be a great swordsman like him, and so I want a sword so I can be a swordsman, but they're so expensive and big!" She began to cry softly, and the woman patted her head. She looked at the shopkeeper with a warm smile.
"Why didn't you tell her about practice swords? I'm sure you've got some bamboo swords for students." Gilly stopped crying and looked up. The shopkeeper got taken aback, and saluted.
"Yes, miss!" The shopkeeper quickly retrieved a box of wooden swords. Gilly looked up at the woman.
"I didn't know there were swords like that."
"Of course. What dojo do you want to attend that doesn't have wooden swords?"
"No dojo. I want to learn from my daddy." She began to jump to try and see in the box, until she caught her under the arms and lifted her up. "Thanks, lady!"
"Ensign Tashigi," she corrected Gilly. Gilly didn't react to Tashigi's title and identity, nor the voice of her father's other old Marine enemy.
"There you are! Come on, we have business- oh?" Smoker was intrigued the same way Tashigi had been. "You make a friend?"
"Commodore, I'd salute, but my hands are full. I don't know where this girl's parents are, but I ought to turn them into headquarters for letting a child this young wander around alone!" Tashigi scoffed. Meanwhile, Nami, Usopp, and Robin were watching and listening from across the street, as Nami repeatedly bashed Usopp in the head with her fist.
"Look-at-that! Look! See! You distract me for two minutes, and she's already been caught by Marines! And not just any Marines! The only two Marines with half a brain in their thick skulls!" Nami hissed.
"Shh. You must not remember Commodore Smoker," Robin reminded her quietly. Nami looked at Robin, bewildered.
"Of course I do! He wants Luffy dead!"
"Shh." Robin nodded back to the armory booth, as Smoker and Tashigi knelt next to Gilly and showed her how to hold the bamboo sword. It was light, and decorated with three red ribbons. Tashigi carefully adjusted her grip, and Smoker chuckled, as she eased her knuckles around the hilt.
"Now, just bring it down in front of you, really hard, okay?" Smoker edged back, and Gilly swung the sword down over her head. He laughed and clapped his hands together. "Hah! Good job! You're on your way!" Usopp and Nami gaped, and Robin giggled.
"You forgot that Smoker loves children." The trio looked back, as Gilea swung a few more times.
"There was a lot of power in that, I could feel the air move from your swing!" Tashigi chirped. Gilly blushed pink, and hugged the sword to her chest.
"So cool! Thank you so much, Mister and Miss Marine!" Gilly bowed politely to them, and shoved her share of money towards the shopkeeper. Smoker helped her put the rest of it back into her box. "You're Condor Smoker, and you're Ensign Tashigi, right?" Gilly looked up at them, a big, eager grin on her face. Smoker laughed.
"Commodore."
"Okay. Commodore and Ensign. I'm going to tell everybody I know about the nicest Marines I ever met!" Gilly hopped in place, still grinning, and Smoker chuckled again, smoke puffing with each laugh.
"Aww, do you know people who think Marines are mean?" Tashigi asked in her sweetest voice.
"Nah, but my Daddy doesn't like Marines at all."
"Hitsuji!" Robin called out, and Gilly's ears perked.
"Uh oh. I have to run now, thank you again!" Gilly bowed to Smoker and Tashigi and rushed to where she heard Robin's voice from. Tashigi smiled at Smoker.
"What a sweet girl. So young, and so ambitious!"
"You know who that was, right?" Smoker raised an eyebrow. Tashigi looked dumbfounded for a moment, but Smoker pulled a familiar photograph from his pocket. "Spitting image of her father, even with that disguise." Tashigi gaped, as she saw the photograph of Gilea.
"My god, Roronoa Zoro's daughter!" She watched as, across the street, Robin picked Gilly up and carried her against her hip. "Commodore, we should-"
"No. Wouldn't be fair. Let's wait. I don't think I could pull in a kid like that. It would be unjust to take a child from her father, or to take father from child. Only way I would do it," Smoker grinned, "is if I took both at once."
Nami and Usopp isolated Gilly in an alcove. They had been given permission by Zoro to use the most severe punishment there was on her. Zoro and Luffy had agreed when it became clear that Gilly required punishment that they did not want to hit her. Luffy had enough of Garp's "fists of love," and Zoro didn't like the idea of doing harm to or frightening his daughter. They often gave her time-outs on a "naughty spot," denied her dessert, sent her to bed early, or removed toys and other privileges. However, they soon realized that a child who could be as wild as theirs may only respond to corporal punishment. They did not want to hit her, but they decided on a way to make very, VERY clear to Gilea that they were displeased with her actions and that she should not repeat them. Usopp was very, very nervous, but Nami stood firm as Gilly stared between them.
"Hold out your hand," Nami instructed her in the coldest voice she could muster. Gilly's eyes widened. She outstretched her arm and closed her eyes, knowing what was coming. "Gilea, you ran off from us. You talked to strangers without our supervision. Do you know how scared you made us?" Gilly nodded, eyes squinted shut. "What you did was wrong. Very wrong. You could have gotten taken off the street and never seen us again! Even worse, the Marines could have taken you away and sent you to Impel Down when they found out you were a pirate! You're going to have to take your punishment so you know never to do that again!" Nami turned to Usopp. "Okay, go ahead."
"Why do I have to do it?" Usopp whined.
"Because you're the man." Nami put her hands on her hips, and Usopp raged.
"You suck!"
"Long-nose."
"Dirty thief."
"Pinocchio."
"Gilly," Robin interrupted to get her attention. Usopp and Nami continued shooting back and forth, and Robin took all their grocery packages and set them in Gilly's hand. Usopp and Nami stopped when they saw Robin had taken over. "This is the weight you put on our hearts." Gilly whimpered, as the heavy packages balanced on her palm, but Robin held her hand and forced her to hold it up.
"It's heavy!" Gilly whined, tilting her head back and letting tears run down her cheeks. Robin nodded.
"Yes. And it hurts us too." Robin took the packages from Gilly and took her firmly by the hand. "Young lady, I hope you learned your lesson."
"Won't run off again," Gilly sniffled, and she grabbed onto Robin's hand.
"Okay, good." Robin patted her head, as Gilly rubbed her nose furiously. "Now, let's find where Brook vanished off to and make him hold all the packages. Silly man shouldn't run off!"
-----------------
Sanji fit in on the Marine base easily with his hat on, and stayed quiet as he wandered into the main hall. He got directions to the kitchen from another Marine, briefly mentioning that he was a recent transfer. He strode to the kitchen and quickly made himself look busy chopping cabbage.
"New guy?" The head cook asked, as Sanji piled up the cabbage in the center of the table. "You're fast. How'd you end up here anyway?"
"Pissed off my higher-ups," Sanji chuckled, keeping his eyes hidden as best as he could.
"A man of your skills should be doing something more useful. Can you make coffee?"
Sanji found himself wheeling a cart of coffee up to the meeting rooms of the commodores and rear-admirals, and smiled slyly. His plan was working. He figured that once he was delivering meals, he would be able to slide into an office and go for any records on Gilea. However, he heard something that changed his mind completely.
"… Roronoa Gilea, if she is associated with the Straw Hat Pirates, is either a kidnap victim or a pirate. I have to wonder sometimes why Vice-Admiral Garp is interested in her," a frustrated Rear-Admiral Zetsubou complained. The other Rear-Admirals of the 51st division agreed in loud complaint. "The Straw Hats have been sighted in our area, and we get a special request from the 153rd to seek out a three-year-old child?"
"It's utterly unfair, is what it is. We don't even know anything about this kid, outside of a photograph!" Another rear-admiral groaned. Sanji rolled his cart and began to pour coffee for the despairing Marines.
"Yeah, truth be told, nobody knows much about that Roronoa Gilea," Sanji remarked offhandedly as he distributed cream and sugar. "Even in my research of the Straw Hat Pirates, I could only get a limited amount of information on her, and my captain didn't even want to hear it." The rear-admirals looked suspiciously at Sanji, and Zetsubou, the most senior, stood up.
"You've researched the Straw Hats, recruit…?" Sanji grinned, shifting his cigarette to the side of his mouth.
"Choreboy Oujitamae, but friends call me Ouji. As for the Straw Hats, call it a hobby. Every man needs one. You'll have to pardon me for interrupting, sirs, but your conversation about the most elusive little Straw Hat caught my ear."
"No, no, anyone who knows anything about the Straw Hats could help. What do you know, newbie?"
"Oh, I'm no newbie, just recently demoted," Sanji chuckled. "But I've got a fascination with the Straw Hats. Real quick rise, small crew, high bounty in just a few years, pretty impressive for a couple of ragtag pirates… though I think that the Marines have really underestimated some of them. Black Cat Burglar Nami's got a real raw deal." Sanji leaned against the wall, still sucking his cigarette. "She's a lot more dangerous than her bounty indicates, not to mention much more useful. And that reindeer isn't an ordinary pack mule. He's actually a well-trained beast, just as useful as most of the men. Believe me, if my superiors had listened to me, they'd probably have caught those Straw Hats," Sanji chuckled, his smile wide and confident. The rear-admirals were taking notes.
"What's the trick with Black Cat Burglar Nami?" One rear-admiral asked.
"Well, she's valuable as their navigator, and the smartest aboard the ship. Her weapon can manipulate weather using ancient technology not seen in this world for a very long time. Not to mention, she's manipulative, a great beauty, and the beloved wife of Black Leg Sanji." Sanji kept his hat tilted so the admirals couldn't see the wicked grin on his features.
"Really, that devil woman is married to Black Leg Sanji?!" Zetsubou gasped, and the admirals flipped their pages to find their records of both Nami and Sanji. Sanji bit his tongue, until he heard, "Why do we have such a shitty picture?!"
"Heh, you'd have to tell me. He's much better-looking than that," Sanji laughed. "And Black Cat Burglar Nami is no devil, and surely, her husband would take offense if he heard such a thing." Sanji grinned. "If the people hunting those pirates would bother to check public records, they'd find a valid marriage certificate for them, dated and sealed."
"Any reason he's been spotted near the Shabondy Archipelago rather than with his crew?" One rear-admiral asked.
"Shabondy? I hear he's on extended honeymoon there," Sanji laughed, wondering what they were talking about. "But the subject of your meeting is that Gilea." Sanji strolled to the table and stubbed out his cigarette on the stack of papers of one of the rear-admirals, and quickly lit a new one. The rear-admirals listened intently, almost letting the coffee-boy run the show. "Your information says she's the daughter of Roronoa Zoro?"
"No, any information we have is speculative. However, the girl is the spitting image of Roronoa Zoro," Zetsubou held up the photos of Zoro and Gilea. "Same unruly hair, same eyes. She looks like he would if he were a small girl!"
"Only difference is, she smiles," Sanji chuckled. "Yeah, I think that's all a ruse. There's no way she's Zoro's at all, that heartless demon swordsman wouldn't be able to bed a woman if he wanted to. That look she has in public is an utter disguise. I don't know which Straw Hat she belongs to or where she came from, but the name is put-on and the appearance is fake. This is the so-called Roronoa Gilea I've seen." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a photograph of "Hitsuji." "It's no wonder nobody's caught her. They're looking for a face- hell, maybe a person- that doesn't exist. Their sniper, Sogeking, is a master of disguise."
"We'll have to change all the information we're passing out immediately!" Zetsubou declared, and he pressed the button on a Den-Den Mushi. "Secretary! We need to recall all the wanted posters on target Roronoa D. Gilea, we have a new photograph! It's also been determined that she's using an assumed name!" Zetsubou's eyes shot to Sanji. "What is her real name?"
"Even I haven't found that out. You'd be better off just putting out those photos," Sanji chuckled. "I fear I've outstayed myself, though. I'd better run to the next room before the coffee gets cold." Sanji took the cart in his hands.
"Wait, Choreboy Ouji!" Zetsubou cried, and Sanji stopped at the door.
"Yes?" Sanji smirked, his visible eye glinting.
"Your information is invaluable. I'll never forget you!"
"No, no, please. Forget me and take all the credit." Sanji waved over his shoulder and pushed the coffee cart out, leaving Rear-Admiral Zetsubou laughing with glee.
"This information will surely lead us to this target! We'll all get promotions!"
"Yeah," Sanji chuckled to himself, as he left their earshot and abandoned his cart near the women's bathroom. "Promotions and transfers to Retardia."
"Oi, Choreboy." Sanji froze in place when he heard Smoker's voice. He turned around to see Smoker with his arms folded, staring at him. "Didn't know you became a Marine." He smirked, letting himself tower over Sanji. "You're in a bad spot, aren't you?" Sanji laughed again, his voice high, and he whipped out his Baby Den-Den Mushi. Before Smoker could stop him, he pushed the button and hissed a message into it.
"Franky, emergency escape!"
"No worries, Sanji-bro! FPS, go!" Franky's voice cut off, but thick white poured from Smoker's mouth. Sanji yelped as it wrapped around him and flailed, but Sanji's imperilment ended as the wall was smashed down. Franky grabbed him around the waist and yanked him from Smoker's trap and away. "Super run like hell!" And with that, Franky ran off with Sanji in his grip. "Oi, Sanji, you get the mission done?"
"With any luck, I'll have them off her trail for a little while," Sanji chuckled. "Even better, I got to tell them a whole lot of bullshit and they believed it!" Franky laughed aloud, and dodged out of sight. Smoker, however, had been accosted by the rear-admirals and found himself surrounded and unable to give chase.
"Where's Choreboy Ouji?! Smoker killed Choreboy Oujitamae!" Zetsubou lamented over the smashed wall, and Smoker could only stare stupidly as the rear-admirals detained him.
"I am the only one in this organization with a brain," Smoker grumbled to himself as he was escorted away.
Zoro had been forced to wait outside the clinic, as only one person was allowed to enter with Luffy and he and Chopper agreed that the doctor assisting Luffy would be the best choice. (In addition, he lost at Rochambo.) He was still waiting there when Nami and Sanji approached with a completely cleaned-up and redressed Gilly carrying a paper package. He got down on one knee and opened his arms, and Gilly rushed to throw herself against his chest. Zoro grinned as he picked Gilly up and swung her around. He enjoyed these moments, when it felt like it was just the two of them. She put one hand on his cheek and looked in his eyes. "Daddy, Nami punished me!"
"What did you do?" Zoro asked in response.
"She ran off," Nami replied, as Gilly pouted. "You'd probably admire her reasoning, though. Check out what she bought with her pocket money." Gilly drew his attention to the big paper package, and Zoro opened it a bit to peer inside.
"Ohhh." Zoro began to laugh, as he set Gilly down and pulled out her sword. "What's this for?"
"So I can be a swordsman like you," Gilly replied, smiling and folding her hands behind her back. Zoro chuckled softly, and patted her head. "Just 'cos I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't be a swordsman! I can be a swords-girl!"
"That's right, kiddo. No matter what they say, a girl can be just as good, or even better, than a boy with a sword. Draw your sword, and I'll show you a thing or two." Zoro pulled one sword, and held it with both hands just like Gilly had to. Gilly pulled the sword over her shoulder and brought it down over her head, and Zoro grinned. "Hey, that's a good one. Now, to get a little more force, step forward while you do it. Let's do it together." Zoro turned himself next to her, and lifted his single sword. "One-sword-style heii-giri!" He stomped one foot forward as he brought his sword down. Gilly imitated him, and he quickly circled her to adjust her stance. Nami giggled; she could see the immensely proud smile on Zoro's face. "Kiddo, you're a natural."
"I was watching you!" Gilly chirped, still gripping her wooden sword.
"Perfect. I'll teach you everything. I'm going to make you a better swordsman than me." Zoro had never looked so terribly pleased, and it was almost creepy to Nami and Sanji. He took his black bandanna off his arm and tied it onto her head. She giggled and hugged Zoro, sword still in one hand. There was a distinct chuckle from behind, and Gilly turned to see Luffy and Chopper waiting. Luffy scooped Gilly up as she ran to him.
"What a girl!" He kissed her cheek. "Making your daddy proud without even trying!" He squeezed her tight. "You'll have to be a good example for your little sibling."
"How'd it go, Luffy?" Zoro sheathed his sword, and took Luffy in a gentle embrace. Luffy chuckled, as they grasped each others' arms.
"Everything's great. The new baby looks fine," Luffy chuckled.
"Fine?! It was better than fine!" Chopper finally exploded, wearing a big, big smile. "It was so cool! It actually looks like a baby! It's got a face and arms and legs and the doctor even told us what it was!" Chopper began to hop up and down. "But it's supposed to be a secret!" Gilly ran over and began to jump up and down with Chopper, chanting, "Baby! Baby! Baby!"
"No, no, I'm gonna tell Zoro, but I want to keep it secret from everyone else," Luffy giggled and slid into Zoro's arms.
"Why are you gonna tell me?" Zoro looked slightly taken aback at this statement, but accepted Luffy on his chest.
"Well, since I picked Gilly's name, you get to pick this time," Luffy replied as he rubbed his cheek against Zoro's shoulder. Zoro smiled uncomfortably and rested his hands on the small of Luffy's back. "And you should pick a boy's name." Nami and Sanji both laughed, and he looked at them. "What?"
"N-nothing, Luffy. Nice secret," Sanji snorted. Luffy continued to blink in confusion, and Zoro glared at both of them. He then turned back to Gilly and Luffy with a calm smile.
"Come on, let's get Gilly back. Not sure why you're out of disguise, but you're safe with us." Zoro and Luffy each took one of Gilly's hands and began to walk back towards the ship with her swinging between them. Chopper scampered after them, hanging off of Luffy's side. Nami and Sanji smiled at one another, and took hands as they followed Zoro and Luffy.
"They're lucky, aren't they, Nami?" Sanji remarked, as he stared out the galley window at Zoro and Luffy. Nami was helping him dry dishes. It was late at night, and they were laid out on the grass on deck, cuddled up. Franky was sitting near the figurehead, strumming his guitar and singing an old ballad for Robin, who was half-listening and half-reading. Usopp was working on his Kabuto on the table behind Sanji, trying to improve the design, but he was tacitly surprised that Sanji had asked Nami to help with the dishes rather than making one of the men do it. Nami looked out the window for a moment, before responding to Sanji.
"How are they lucky?" Nami asked, and looked back down at the dish.
"Because they found each other. There's not a single person in the world either one of them could be in love with, and they found each other." Sanji offered a cleaned dish to Nami, and she quickly finished drying the one in her hand to take the new one. Nami scoffed quietly as she continued to dry.
"I don't believe in that soul mate stuff. You love who you love, that's it. They love each other."
"Well, Nami-swan, try and imagine Luffy in a relationship with anyone but Zoro," Sanji chuckled. "Nobody could balance Luffy quite so well. Besides that, I never thought Zoro could fall in love at all."
"Don't be so mean to him, I don't like that. Luffy is like a brother to me, and Zoro's saved my life more than a few times."
"Yeah, I know. Guess I shouldn't even think about it," Sanji said, shrugging his shoulders as he continued with the dishes. Usopp looked suspiciously over the Kabuto at the pair, eyes narrow. He had noticed, over the past several months, that Sanji was more calm around Nami and Robin (and other women) than he had been when they first met. However, he had more important things to think about.
"Let's see… seven-string Kabuto with two extra Flame Dials?" He tested the new rubber bands with one finger, and inserted a marble. He pulled the marble back and sent it flying at a target he'd pinned on the wall. The dials got turned around and scorched Usopp's face, and the marble ricocheted off the ceiling and floor and finally out the window to hit Franky in the sea-panties. Franky screamed in pain, dropped his guitar, and began to dance around swatting his burning crotch, and Robin laughed. The marble rolled from where it had been embedded, and Franky quickly calculated what had happened.
"Usopp! I'll kill you!" Franky roared, and he made a dash for the deck house. Usopp squealed in panic and rushed from the galley to the downstairs. Franky ran past Sanji and Nami, fists raised and ready to bring the smack down on Usopp. Robin finished laughing, and picked up her book and continued where she'd last left off. From the lounge, Nami could hear Brook begin to play a cheerful tune on the piano, and Chopper happily clapping along.
Nami put down the dishtowel and closed the galley window's blinds.
"Sanji." Nami smiled softly. "Let's dance." Sanji immediately put the dish he was cleaning down in the sink and wiped his hands on his pants. Nami spread her arms and took Sanji's hands, and the two began to slowly dance to the music drifting from below. Sanji slid one arm around the small of her back, and Nami didn't even object. His smile was different from the way he used to smile at her; it was calm, sedate, and affectionate.
You love who you love, that's it.
End Notes: Gilly's song is based off of Luffy's island song from the Skypiea arc. Check it out on Youtube! I managed to scramble together and approximate a Japanese version of her verse, along with a slightly more accurate translation:
Nishi no shima wa manman kaze!
Bakuha, bakuha, atama fukinuku
Ano baka!
(The islands of the west are full of wind!
Blow up, blow up, it blows through their heads
What idiots!)
I've also started using Japanese terms a little bit more, and I realized that I have not yet translated Gilly's nickname. Hitsuji means "sheep." Hitsujiko means "lamb." Hitsu means "chest," and yes, I am punning this off into treasure chest. I promise I will translate any Japanese words I incorporate.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Leave a review!
Any questions? Review! Any suggestions? Review! Like it? Review! Hate it? Review! Got any baby names you want to share? Review!