I'm updating. After like 5 days of writers block, I'm back. Still, this is a short chapter and it didn't turn out the way I had orginally wanted. Too much fluff at the end. Darn writers block...
Chapter 22
Vivi slowly opened her eyes only to quickly shut them back when a ray of sun shone in and nearly blinded her. "It's morning." she murmered. Her eyes shot open. "Morning!!!" she thought in a panic. "I must have fallen asleep! Oh no!" She jumped out of the chair she had fallen asleep in, pushing it out of her way as she flew toward the closet to get dressed. "I have to go find Kohza and Luffy!"
Down the hall, Nami slowly opened her eyes and slowly sat up in her bed. She noticed that no one else was awake. "I wonder how the search went." Nami thought. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and slipped on her sandals. She pulled on her plain brown skirt and cream shirt before turning to leave the room.
"Going somewhere?" Robin asked, startling Nami.
Nami jumped before turning to face her friend. "R-Robin, I didn't know you were up yet." she stammered. "I was just going to check on-"
"She's in her room. She fell asleep. Luffy has not been found." Robin said, cutting her off and leaving her speechless. She was sipping coffee and calmly flipping through one of her many books.
"But...how...you...what?" Nami stuttered.
Robin just smiled. "Go talk to the princess. I'll wake the others and we'll meet you at the main gate to join the search."
Nami nodded, too dumbstruck to speak. She quickly exited the room, letting the door slam shut behind her. Her head was spinning from her odd conversation. "How did she know?"
Her thoughts were interupted when Vivi's door flew open, practically knocking her over. She jumped out of the way just in time.
"Nami-san!" Vivi gasped. "I'm sorry! I'm just a little...distracted this morning."
"It's okay. So am I." Nami muttered.
"I hate to be rude but...I really need to catch up with-" Vivi started to say but Nami cut her off.
"Save it. I already know what's going on." Nami said. Then, in response to Vivi's questioning face, she said, "Don't ask. Anyway, the others are going to meet us at the main gate in a few minutes. We're going to help you."
"You guys don't have to do this you know." Vivi said.
Nami smiled. "Hey, we've come this far haven't we? Besides, we're still you're nakama and Luffy's will always be our captain. I know we left but...never mind."
"You want to go back, don't you?" Vivi asked.
"If that was possible. It's just, I have a family now and I can't let my son grow up on a pirate ship. I had to grow up with pirates. I know this is different but it's still not I risk I want to take. I need to stay alive to take care of him. When he's gone, maybe I'll go back then. If it's not too late." Nami replied. She sighed heavily. "I guess those days are gone."
Vivi nodded sadly, hating to admit the truth.
"But hey, we can create new ones that are even better." Nami said with a smile. "Starting now. Come on, let's go meet the others and get Luffy back!"
A smile spread on Vivi's face. "You really think we can do this?"
"One thing we learned a long time ago is to always have faith in Luffy. We may not know what's going on in his head, but he always comes through. If you need him, he'll find a way to help you. And I can tell you need him. Have faith in him Vivi." Nami said.
"Then let's go!" Vivi said.
Nami smiled, grabbed Vivi's wrist, and took off. "We'll find him. I know we will." Nami thought as she ran happily down the hall, dragging Vivi helplessly behind her.
At the Alubarna Staircase
Luffy's stood, frozen by the words of a man now pointing a sword at his neck. His first instinct was to flee, but he knew that would make a fight inevitable. If he tried to solve it peacefully, well, he wasn't sure where what that would lead to. It was worth a try.
Slowly, he turned around, waving his hand in order to show he meant no harm. "Look, I just want to leave. I took care of things back at the palace and I have no wish to stay in Alabasta." Luffy said.
Kohza smirked and lowered his sword slightly. "You took care of things huh? Then why am I standing here?" he retorted.
"Just leave me alone. I'm not in the mood for this, and I don't want to fight." Luffy stated bluntly. He didn't even flinch when Kohza raised his sword back up.
"You don't want to fight or you can't? I know what happened to you." Kohza replied smuggly.
Luffy's eyes narrowed. "Leave. Me. Alone." he said.
"Straight to the point are we? I'm sorry, but I can't let you leave yet. Vivi sent me." Kohza said. He had complete control of the situation. Well, that's what he thought anyway.
Luffy finally decided that this had gone far enough. He knew that if Vivi had sent him, she wouldn't be far behind. He had to get out of there and there was only one way to do that. Slowly he brushed the sword aside and walked up to Kohza, who, thinking Luffy had given up, got a large smirk on his face.
"Given up have we?" he asked.
In reply, Luffy raised his fist and punched Kohza across the cheek. It sent Kohza flying back where he hit the ground and skidded to a hault about ten feet away. Luffy, who hadn't punched him hard at all, turned and began walking calmly down the stairs.
Kohza sat up and watched Luffy's back dissappear in shock. Before he could come to his senses, Luffy was gone.
Just as he reached the bottom of the stairs, Luffy heard another cry.
"LUFFY!!!!!!!!!!" was the only thing said, and yet, it made him freeze in his tracks. His blood ran cold as he slowly turned around.
At the top of the stairs stood Vivi with the rest of his friends around her. He felt hot tears form and begin to run down his cheeks but he didn't care. He let them fall as more cries came from above.
"Come back you idiot!" Nami yelled.
"Luffy!!!" Chopper and Usopp cried through tears.
"Don't make me come get you!" Sanji threatened.
"Hey Luffy, get up here before I make you!" Zoro called out.
"Come on Luffy!!!" Franky cried from down on all fours while crying.
Robin smiled. "Come back Luffy." she said.
Luffy smiled through his tears. His friends, they were waiting for him, but how could he go back? There was too much that he couldn't erase. Unless...
He sunk to his knees and stared at the ground though his vision was blurred by tears. His hands clenched into fists. "Before I lose my courage, I have to do it. I have to make things right now." he thought. He looked up at them and cried out, "I'M SORRY!!!!! I WANT MY NAKAMA BACK!!!!!!!!!!"
Vivi looked down at the small figure of Luffy at the bottom of the stairs. She heard his voice and as the words found her ears, she also began to cry. Without warning, she took off running down the stairs. A second later, everyone else followed.
Kohza stood at the top of the stairs, smiling. Knowing that his job was over, he sheathed his sword, turned around, and began the journey back to the palace. Once he found his hourse there, he would leave Alubarna. The palace life never had appealed to him.
Meanwhile, Vivi had reached the bottom and now held Luffy in a tight embrace. The others soon followed and surrounded them. Robin and Zoro stood at the edge of the large group with huge grins plastered on their faces. They were just as excited as everyone else, they just showed it differently.
Eventually, the group untangled themselves and took a few steps back until they formed a circle around Luffy. He wiped the last of his tears away and stood up. He turned around and looked at the smiling faces around him and he knew, he was home. He had always had a place to go. He did belong somewhere and that place was where it always had been, with his friends.
"Come on. Let's go back to the palace. Together." Vivi said with a warm smile.
Every eye turned to Luffy who suddenly broke into a large grin. "Let's go! I'm hungry! I want meat! Hey Sanji cook us some food! Meat, alot of meat!!!"
At this everyone sweatdropped but there expressions quickly changed to large grins. Luffy was back.
So...uhh...how was it? Okay? Bad...was it really that bad?! Oh well. I'll try harder next time.
