Disclaimer : I do not own Nami nor One Piece nor any other shows I mention in this fiction.
Chapter two :
Baby days.
It's the pinwheel guy Genzo. I thought looking at the newly arrived Genzo, the doctor and the other villagers.
"Yo Genzo" Bell-mere greeted adjusting her grip on me.
"So what are you going to do with these two?" Genzo asked pointing at Nami and then Nojiko
Take us in, duh. I thought rolling her eyes
"I'm going to raise them" Bell-mere answered fondly brushing the two girl's hairs
"I don't believe it" Genzo said adjusting his hat "Run that by again"
I wanted to snort in amusement but refrained from doing so.
"I said I'm gonna try and be the mother of these two girls, it's that simple" Bell-mere repeated
"No way!" Genzo yelled
"That's insane!" the doctor also cried out "You are way too immature to handle this much responsibility!" he tried to reason
"You can't handle them all by yourself...just hand them over to the-"
"I've made up my mind!" Bell-mere yelled scaring her visitors "You can't deny that I'm not an adult and what I've lived through as a marine has given me the right to be treated with more respect" she said looking down at me and Nojiko her face softening "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of these two girls and nothing will stop be from helping them grow into wonderful girls."
She brought Noijiko into a three way hug with her and me "Somehow we're going to be a family together, Nami and Nojiko have renewed my love for life"
'Oh, you flatter me. I didn't do anything to make you feel that way' I thought to myself
And it was kind of true. Usually if I wanted someone to like me I'd act like the kind of person the person I'm trying to get to like me would like. But right now I didn't even try to give the woman the will to live or anything like that. It almost makes me feel good. Keyword being almost.
'I wonder what the people I know back home are doing right about now. There's no guarantee that they even know I'm gone...and if so, why should I care? I'm still alive and that's what matters' I thought to herself as her eye lids started closing
I welcomed the slumber not wanting to think of complicated things like the prospect of my old and new life because I knew that dwelling on the past will mess up my future plans.
My future plans?
Prevent Bell-mere's death. She saved Nojiko and I's life so I owe her at least that much.
The rest? Further planning needed.
A few months later my vocal cords were developed good enough for me to 'officially' say my first words. 'Unofficially' my first words were "Aye sir" when I remembered about a talking blue cat who could fly.
Now I love planning things. Planning things ensure that I can pick the best possible outcome.
So obviously I will have to pick between Nojiko and Bell-mere.
If I pick Nojiko she'll treat me like the most precious little sister ever but eventually will forget that my first words would be 'sissy' and if I pick Bell-mere she would be in a really good mood but won't forget the fact I called her 'mother'. Now which one should I choose?
"Nami!" Nojiko called breaking me from my thoughts
I looked over at her with a raised eyebrow, she had her hands out as if wanting to pick me up, so I crawled over to her complying with her wishes. "So cute~" she gushed
It's strange how a two year old could act like a teenager who's gushing over their idols.
"Bell-mere wanted me to come get you...something about letting you get some sun" Nojiko explained
As usual I was impressed by her vocabulary. I just grinned at her as she walked to the tangerine grove, of course the tangerine plants are still little but as time pass they'll grow bigger helping us make money! I suppose you could say I value money a lot.
Nojiko quickly set me down and ran back to Bell-mere to help the latter.
I sighed and fell on my back to look at the clouds. In these last months cloud watching has become a hobby of mine along with going over the One Piece timeline and anything else that could help my situation.
I knew that I was going to join Luffy's crew, normally I would just act as if it's not my problem but I felt obligated considering I stole Nami's life. If I had been born as Nami's twin or something I wouldn't have felt obligated to do anything but seeing as I might have stole someone's existence I felt obligated.
So as I said I'm going to join Luffy's crew and become the navigator. That means I'm going to become a pirate, I loved pirates so this was just a plus for me.
Now when people say 'pirate' what's the first thought that comes into your mind? It may be Luffy or any character from One Piece but for me it would be Jack Sparrow from the pirates of the caribbean. He is just awesome. Anyone who says otherwise is clearly jealous.
I squirmed as I felt someone picking me up
"Relax Nami it's just me" well that certainly helps me figure out who you are.
The person turned me around to face him to reveal himself to be Genzo, there much better. My eyes quickly landed on something specific which made the man Genzo "Pinwheel" I stated without even realizing
A loud thud was heard making me turn my head to see the shocked Bell-mere and the pouting Nojiko.
"Oh, so you know what this is? You're pretty smart for a baby" Genzo noted
"YOU STOLE HER FIRST WORD WITH YOUR STUPID PINWHEEL!" Bell-mere roared in anger throwing her shovel at us
I let out a shriek as Genzo quickly got us out of the way, I owe him one.
"What was that for?!" Genzo yelled in confusion
"Are you deaf? You just stole Nami's first word with your stupid pinwheel" Bell-mere repeated crossing her arms with a glare
"That was her first word? Well it doesn't matter. Now that stupid competition you and Nojiko have about who's going to be Nami's first word has ended" Genzo wisely said, maybe I owe him two.
"I-it wasn't stupid!" Nojiko sulked comically crying
"How do you even know about the competition?" Bell-mere asked raising an eyebrow
"The whole village knows." Genzo retorted
I however was distracted by the pinwheel, it seemed like it demanded my attention. I raised my chubby hands to grab it but stopped when Genzo looked at me, I gave him an innocent giggle.
He gave me a look that just screamed he wasn't convinced muttering things about a second coming of Bell-mere.
"Nami, look at me!" Bell-mere demanded
I complied with her demand turning to look at her as she held up Nojiko. I raised an eyebrow at the two
"Say Bell-mere/Nojiko!" the two said
I let out a yawn making Genzo chuckle in amusement "She reminds me of a cat"
I prefer being a lion or a tiger, thank you very much. Maybe a dragon? Snake? Wolf? It just has to be a cool name not something like 'cat' it makes me seem weak. That's on my list though, make sure I work my ass off in order to get stronger. I need to if I plan on being on the same level as the men in my future crew.
"Nyaah~" I teasingly said licking my hand
"You did that on purpose didn't you?" Genzo asked as Bell-mere and Nojiko glared at him
I just tilted my head in confusion
"How come she listens to you but not me?" Bell-mere asked
"Because she knows I'm the mature one" Genzo shot back
"I just want her to say my name!" Nojiko whined
"Maybe we can have Genzo ask her to say our names, it would be a draw on our competition since we got outside help" Bell-mere suggested
I'm still here! I mentally yelled
"Now why should I help you?" Genzo asked a bit smugly
Bell-mere smirked cupping Genzo's left cheek in a very suggestive matter "I'll pay you of course. With my body" she winked
Nami really takes after Bell-mere. I thought to myself greatly amused at how red Genzo's face turned
"I-idiot!" Genzo said
"Please?!" Nojiko begged tears welling up in her eyes
The seduction and child begging combo made poor Genzo cave "F-fine!" he said turning his gaze to me who didn't try to hide my amusement at the situation as I gave him a lazy look
"Say Bell-mere and Nojiko" he said
"Grrr!" I imitated a lion cub
Genzo gave me a look, a very not-amused look making me giggle "Pinwheel!" I stated pointing at his pinwheel
He gave me a thoughtful look before placing me down. I looked up at him curiously as he pointed at Nojiko "Who is she?"
Oh, I see what he did there. I thought in realization as I too looked at Nojiko who looked at me expectantly "Sissy" I answered ignoring Nojiko's shocked look, she had expected me to just call her Nojiko, but her face soon turned happy.
"And her?" Genzo asked with a smile as he pointed at Bell-mere.
Now this I was stuck on.
What should I call Bell-mere? It was easy to call Nojiko a sister since I've never had a sister before but I did have a mother. I frowned a bit, Bell-mere did everything and gave everything for Nami and Nojiko...she deserved to be called a mother hands down.
"Mommy" I said
"Nami...called me...her.." she didn't finish as she cried tears of joy
The bright look on Bell-mere's face as she cried tears of joy made me think I did the right thing by calling her my mom. Maybe, just maybe...she was growing on me. It didn't really surprise me considering she's raising me despite barely being able to take care of herself. I would be a total jerk if I didn't care about her effort.
"Now that's what I call family love..." Genzo commented
Did I mention I'm in a mischief mood? No? Well I am. I gave Genzo an innocent smile as I pointed at him "Daddy!" I yelled
"WHAT?!" Genzo and Bell-mere yelled, the former blushing red while the latter was blushing a bit. You just had to squint your eyes to see.
I giggled innocently "Mommy and Daddy!" I pointed at Bell-mere and then Genzo
Nojiko laughed at my little prank clearly enjoying it
"No way would I marry this old man!" Bell-mere stated
"I'm only seven years older than you!" Genzo yelled "Besides who'd want to marry a thug like you?"
"I'll have you know that countless men asked me on dates daily while I was in the marines!" Bell-mere boasted
"Well I guess you aren't in your prime anymore, are you?" Genzo shot back
"Please, I'm still drop dead beautiful!" Bell-mere said posing in a suggestive matter
"S-stop that!" Genzo yelled
"See? Even a stuck up man like you can't resist me" Bell-mere said sending an air kiss with a wink
"Now girls time for lunch" she said picking me up and leading the still laughing Nojiko inside while muttering things along the lines of 'the nerve of that guy!'
I just gave the still sputtering Genzo a lazy wave "Bye-bye pinwheel!" I called
"You can do it Nami!" Bell-mere cheered me on
I puffed my cheeks out as I pushed myself up to my feet, today I will walk. No more crawling! "Grr!" I roared like a lion standing up.
"She's doing it..." Nojiko noted
"Not even a year old and she's doing it" Bell-mere proudly said
"No!" I cried as I fell on my butt
"And she fell" Nojiko and Bell-mere stated at the same time
I glared at them "Meanies!" I pouted
Bell-mere chuckled at me "Relax Nami, you'll get it down eventually. Most kids start walking when they are over a year old, it's amazing how you're trying it this early"
That doesn't make me feel any better. Not at all, my glare did not soften. Instead I turned away with a huff "I'm not a kid!" I protested
"Yeah, you're a baby" Nojiko said in amusement
"Grr!" I tried growling at them
They just chuckled in amusement...the nerve!
If only I had mental powers...I'd lift them up.
Speaking of which, Nami wanted to draw a map of the whole world. I'll do the same as a way of atoning for me stealing her life but what I really want in this world is money, fame and power!
"Tehee...heehehe..." I silently laughed imagining myself bathing in money, millions of wanted posters and millions of servants waiting on me.
"Maybe I hit her head too much..." Bell-mere commented
I coughed, that was embarrassing. But seriously, what's my dream in this world? Is there any goal I want to achieve? Do I even deserve to be alive? Whoah...hold on, thinking about the last one is Ace's job, not mine.
But it is a justified question.
I stole Nami's life, do I deserve to be alive after stealing someone's existence? Isn't stealing someone's existence worse than killing someone?
"Bell-mere let me help you!" Nojiko requested walking over to Bell-mere
Bell-mere grinned at her "Sure, I'll teach you how to make my favorite tangerine juice"
I frowned at the scene feeling a bit sad, I used to make juice with my grandmother too. Why am I suddenly feeling home-sick? It's really strange considering I can't ever go back there.
"Nami?" Bell-mere asked
I blinked looking at her "What?" I asked
"Is something wrong? You seemed sad" she asked
I shook my head "I just want to walk!" I lied.
One thing I'm especially good at is lying. Acting and lying are ultimately the same thing after all. Acting is when you want to fool a crowd who knows you're fooling them while lying is when you fool a crowd who doesn't know you're fooling them.
Bell-mere just shook her head in amusement at me "You'll get there soon" she assured me before turning back to Nojiko
I've been living with the two of them for a few months now and I finally realized something, something I never knew could be painful.
Remembering something that no one else can is a painful thing. You can't talk to anyone about it. No one will understand you. You'll be alone and right now for some reason I'm feeling alone.
But why? I'm with people, how can I be alone?
I just feel like I don't belong, maybe that's why I'm lonely?
I shook my head, I can't let Bell-mere and Nojiko worry about me. Just have to stick with the plan and act like their precious Nami without letting them know. I thought looking down at my legs.
Maybe I just can't walk now? My legs might just not have it in them right now...just like maybe I won't ever be able to compare with Nami. What if I let everyone die? What if I make a mistake? What then?
"I can't tell you that… You have to figure it out. Stand up and walk. Keep moving forward. You've got two good legs. So get up and use them. " Edward Elric said.
I smiled at the memory and pushed myself up again. But failing doesn't matter, I just have to learn to navigate and go with the flow.
And even if I'm alone I can still stand. I can still fake a smile and maybe it will become real someday.