Disclaimer : I do not own Nami nor One Piece nor any other shows I mention in this fiction.
Warning : SPOILERS are prone to appear in this chapter.
Chapter six :
The shopkeeper.
"As per our agreement the one who wins gets to ask the loser some questions koneko which the loser has to answer honestly" the shopkeeper of the junk store stated lighting up his cigarette
Nami's wide eyes laid on the shogi board, all her pieces were taken away from her "I lost..." she muttered in disbelief
How could she have lost? Her strategy was perfect!
"I can see that," the shopkeeper chuckled exhaling some smoke from his mouth
Nami coughed as she accidentally inhaled the smoke, then she looked up at the shopkeeper with a serious look "What do you want to ask me Rex-san?" she questioned
"Well I'm not really one for formalities, just call me Rex. As for my questions, I think it's fair if I let you ask me three questions since it was obvious that I would win our little match from the start" the shopkeeper now dubbed Rex said inhaling and exhaling the smoke on Nami's face on purpose
Nami glared at him for a bit "Your manual on playing shogi was in a different language, I'd like to know how exactly you know that language"
"Why the same way you do of course" Rex answered in amusement "You've wasted on precious question on something so obvious"
So it's true, he's the same as me. But...
"How did you know I'm not Nami?" Nami asked furrowing her eyebrows
"There is a lot of hints, one of them being that a three year old preferring to read books all day and doesn't want to play with other kids, another being how Nami was never mentioned to have studied under Noko in the anime. Need I go on?" Rex asked in amusement "Last question" he stated
"How far were you in the series?" Nami asked
"Well aside from knowing spoilers like Sabo is still alive I reached up until the time skip." Rex answered with a shrug
Nami rubbed her temples feeling a massive headache coming up as she wondered if the man in front of her was friend or foe. She didn't know what this man would do with his knowledge of the future.
Of course she herself will be using her knowledge for selfish purposes but the things she'll be doing won't cause any ruckus and might even help others, but she had no choice but to join Luffy's crew considering she has to take responsibility for being Nami.
But this man didn't have any responsibilities or obligation to play the 'good' guy. He could use his knowledge to steal Luffy's devil fruit or something along those lines. Not to mention he's smart and she wouldn't put it pass him not knowing how to fight.
"Now my turn, I expect you to keep your word and answer honestly." Rex said giving Nami a stern look
Nami gulped but nodded, she was now screwed. Now even though she is a thief and had already planned some future murders she did have some standards and honor, one of them being she keeps her word no matter what.
"Go ahead..." she mustered up the courage to say
"What's your real name?" Rex started easy
"Ashley Ayame" Nami answered
Rex chuckled "Rather alliterative, are we?" he questioned raising an amused eyebrow
"Oh, my grandparents wanted to make my name easier to remember." Nami defended
"I see, now tell me how old were you before you came here?" Rex asked
"Nineteen" Nami curtly answered
"Ah, seven years younger than me. Now how far were you in One Piece?" Rex questioned staring intently at Nami
"Chapter seven hundred eighty fourth, the latest one" Nami supplied reluctantly hoping Rex wouldn't ask her everything that happens after the time-skip
"How handy, but I'll correct you there. It used to be the latest one. It's probably eight hundred or more now." Rex reasoned
Namu blushed out of embarrassment for making a stupid remark like that "R-right..." she said in agreement
"Let's get serious now" Rex said putting out his cigarette as he started to place the pieces back at the start for a new game of shogi "Why did you ask Noko to teach you? Chopper's the doctor"
"I don't plan on being a doctor, I plan on benefiting from knowing what a doctor knows." Nami answered as she helped Rex place the pieces
"Oh, well that's rather smart of you. Can't say I blame you for powering yourself up more, Nami's fights were rather boring from what I've seen so far" Rex commented "What else are you planning on learning?"
"Every and anything I can get my hands on" Nami stated
"Rather greedy" Rex hummed as he started the game
"It's my middle name, I'll be taking everything the world has to offer." Nami stated
"I don't doubt it, you are Luffy's future navigator" Rex said not missing the way Nami flinched "Or are you planning not to join?" he asked rather seriously
"I...have to take responsibility. I stole Nami's existence...so I have to make up for it." Nami explained as she moved a piece
Rex let a small smile come on his face "It's good to see you have a sense of responsibility Ashley. Luffy and the others need you after all"
"They need Nami"
"But you're Nami right now" Rex pointed out
"I'm just a body thief." Nami or rather Ashley said looking away with a face filled with shame
"Did you want to steal Nami's body?" Rex asked
"No!" Ashley exclaimed "I didn't even want to come here! My life was finally looking up and then bam I was in a war-zone!" she yelled in anger
"Looks like both of us didn't want to come into this shitty make believe world." Rex stated the obvious "But we have to take responsibility."
"I know" Ashley sadly said "But...I just wanted to be happy and lead a normal yet fun life. I never asked for this, I just wish..."
"Don't finish that line" Rex sternly said with an angered look
Ashley looked taken aback but then she glared at Rex "What would you know?! You're actually lucky since you don't have to get involved in the story line or have any responsibilities! Don't you dare tell me what to do!" she yelled in rage finally losing her temper
Rex laughed at her as if he just heard a joke
"Why're you laughing?!" Ashley yelled
Rex held up his hand, the other hand he used to wipe his tears "Listen princess this isn't some kind of sob story where you're the main character, Luffy's the main character not you. And this isn't one of those fictions where a girl gets send to this world and becomes Ace's girlfriend saving his life in the process while nothing bad ever happens and everything is sunshine and rainbows. This is reality."
"One day you'll kill someone or even come face to face with death. Things won't always work out how you want and nothing ever works out just by 'doing your best' or working hard. You have to be smart and survival of the fittest is your top priority along with taking care of the straw-hats."
At this point Rex slammed his hands on the table causing Ashley to flinch feeling the man's KI "Unlike me or anyone else who might have been placed in this world your future is guaranteed seeing as Luffy is your future captain and he nor his crew will let you die"
"So don't you dare be sad about your situation while the rest of us have to go through hell just to survive this world. Unlike you our futures aren't guaranteed, we don't have an oblivious idiot of a captain to save our asses no matter if we betray him or not. Don't you dare act as if you're the main star in a tragic story, because you are not."
"Then what...SHOULD I DO?! I have no fucking idea what I'm supposed to do with this life!" Ashley yelled also slamming her hands on the table "I get it, anyone else who wasn't born in a character's body has it way harder than I do, but that doesn't mean I don't have it hard either!"
Rex sat down with a heavy sigh "It's a second chance at life, take it. Fuck up the entire story line if you want, just live this life to the fullest because in the end there's nothing else we can do."
"Then what about my first life?" Ashley asked also sitting down again
Rex shrugged "It's gone, cry and mourn all you want but it won't come back. Believe me, I've tried." he said
"Well I've already figured that much." Ashley said with a chuckle
"I'm glad." Rex started earning Ashley's attention "That someone noble like you became Nami instead of someone else"
Ashley snorted in amusement "Noble? Ha! As if, I'm greedy and I plan on becoming powerful enough to take over the world if I really want to."
"Being noble doesn't mean that one is not selfish, it just means that you have a sense of responsibility. And from what I've seen so far you don't plan on using your future knowledge to ruin innocent people's lives." Rex explained
"Well I do plan on killing off some people, but they kind of deserve it either way. But I suppose you're not trying to ruin anything important either." Ashley said with a small smile as she began picking the fallen shogi pieces up
"Hmm, as long as you don't kill any straw-hat or people they care for I'm cool with it." Rex drawled out
"So you favor the straw-hats?" Ashley asked
"Who wouldn't? They've all had some rough childhoods. Besides I might have had a crush on Nami and Robin back in the days" Rex said, at the last part he looked away in shame a bit
"Pedophile" Ashley bluntly stated
"Am not! I was a perfectly healthy teenage boy." Rex said in annoyance
"I was just messing with you" Ashley chuckled in amusement
"Well whatever, I'm still not done with the questions." Rex said
"Go ahead" Ashley urged as she began placing the pieces on the board again
"Seven years from now Arlong will come to this village, what will you do?" Rex questioned
"I don't know, but what I do know is that I'll make sure Bell-mere doesn't die this time around" Ashley said in determination
"You got attached" Rex stated as a fact
"So?" Ashley asked
"It makes things troublesome, getting attached limits your course of action" Rex answered, "But good on you for making sure Bell-mere doesn't die, do you have a plan already?"
"Nope"
"Well it was nice knowing Bell-mere"
"Have a little faith!" Ashley yelled in annoyance
"Just being realistic, how can a kid like you raise enough money to save Bell-mere? Oh, and don't bother asking me to help I'm poor too" Rex stated casually
Ashley clicked her tongue in annoyance
"I still haven't figured you out Ashley, so let me ask you...how far are you willing to go to save Bell-mere? Are you willing to ruin other people's lives? Kill? Steal?" Rex asked
"I am willing to do anything just to keep that annoying woman alive." Ashley stated without hesitation
"A wildcard" Rex stated
Ashley raised an eyebrow at that "Excuse me?"
"Willing to do whatever it takes to reach your goals. You'd even double-cross people and manipulate them." Rex elaborated
"That sounds about right" Ashley said
"But you're still soft. Earlier when we played you weren't willing to sacrifice your pieces when you knew that if you did you would have captured my pieces. You're still wearing your heart on your sleeve" Rex noted lighting up another cigarette "That hesitation of yours to do something bad will get you killed one day"
"Then help me" Ashley stated "You obviously are smarter than me, you have more experience, you know how to manipulate others and I wouldn't put it pass you not to know how to fight"
Rex hummed "Bell-mere made you flexible, Nojiko gave you unyielding support, the librarian gave you books, doctor Noko poured medical knowledge into you and you keep training with dagger and bo staff. All of this and yet you're still a dull tool."
"So?" Ashley asked "What's it going to be?"
He analyzed Ashley "Hmm, okay."
"That easy?!" Ashley yelled in disbelief
"Pretty much" Rex said "I have nothing better to do and turning you into a bad-ass sounds interesting, I can laugh at Rayleigh and Hawkeye's faces when you beat their students and you seem interesting."
"I can't beat Luffy or Zoro!" Ashley yelled
"Why not? Luffy's a close range fighter so just beat him with arrows and Zoro uses swords so beat him with guns. It's not like you care about fighting fair and square. Besides you know practically everything about them and knowing is half the battle." Rex reasoned "Besides they'll blush a pretty pink when you kick their ass"
Ashley won't deny that she found the idea tempting but, "I won't fight them! Seriously, I'll just stick in the background and pick off the easier opponents. I'll step up when I have to but I'm not stealing anyone's spot light"
"Being the shadow...I like you more Ashley." Rex said with a smirk, then his smirk dropped "That sounded so wrong on so many different levels"
"Ain't that the truth" Ashley said with a sweat drop "But I'm sure there's another reason why you're helping me" she said narrowing her eyes at the man
"You caught me, the truth is..."
Ashley leaned in closer in anticipation
"If you find a raw diamond, wanting it to become polished is natural right?" Rex questioned
"What's the catch?" Ashley asked
"You really have some trust issues" Rex said with a sweat drop
"I never like to work based on trust. It takes hard work to build up trust, but only an instant to lose it." Ashley said
"I hope you'll learn to trust someone someday" Rex said
"So what's the catch?" Ashley asked
Rex sweat dropped at her "You really are insistent on paying me back, huh?"
"Of course, even I have a few rules that I live by. I make sure to repay my debts" Ashley remarked
"Everyone gets help from someone else at some point in their lives. So someday, you should help someone too. That's the catch" Rex said
"Seems simple enough" Ashley said
"Now how much money did you steal this time koneko?" Rex asked taking great amusement in how the girl's face turned an interesting shade of red
"I just borrowed without asking, okay?! I plan to give them back their money before I go to sea with Luffy" she explained
Rex blinked "You're going to pay them back?"
"It's no fun stealing from innocent people, but I needed the money. Anyone else? Fair game" Ashley stated as she huffed
Rex smirked "Not going back on your word, taking responsibility and now this? It looks like even a thief like you has honor koneko"
"Honor among thieves, you know?" Ashley drawled out with a shrug
"Did you just drop a Sly Cooper reference?" Rex asked blinking in shock
Ashley smirked "There's no honor, no challenge, no fun in stealing from ordinary people. You rip off a master criminal, then you know you're a master thief." she quoted
Rex's eyes seemed to have a certain glint to them "I have a feeling you and I are going to get along just fine Ashley"
Chapter end