A/N : Finally the chapter most...or at least me had been anticipating for awhile now...enjoy.
Disclaimer : I do not own Nami nor One Piece nor any other shows I mention in this fiction.
Warning :Spoilers, insanity, sarcasm, fan girling, emo-brooding etc are prone to appear depending on my mood, you have been warned
Chapter Ten
"No Trespassing" that's what it said
At least that's what I could read
No Trespassers? Yeah, my ass!
Wait till ya get a load of me!
(Adamn Lambert)
"When will she wake up?" Luffy questioned for the tenth time in the last ten minutes staring at the unconscious Nami who lay on a mattress. The only real sign that she was alive was her light snore.
Makino gave Luffy a re-assuring smile "I'm sure she'll wake up soon" she said
Luffy gave a childish pout "She slept forever now!" he argued making Makino sweat drop
"It's only been two days.." she pointed out looking at the girl
It had been a normal day at the bar, Luffy was sitting on a stool babbling about becoming a pirate as Makino prepared a meal for him. Shanks and his crew wasn't here, they were on a short trip. The bar had a few people taking shelter from the rain, then the door went open.
Makino turned, her welcoming smile "Welcome-" only to cut herself off staring at the newcomer in worry.
She wondered what a child was doing by herself in this weather soaked from the rain. Said child only had a backpack on along with her clothes and signature goggles. "I..made..it.." the child muttered placing on a smile, she tried to take a step only to fall down flat on her face.
"At least her fever is gone" she said in relief
The village concluded that the fishing boat which was anchored at the docks belonged to the girl, it made the villagers even more worried. What was a child doing by herself in the rain? How did she even manage to get to the island all by herself? There were a lot of questions they wanted to ask, but of course patience was needed before they could get them.
But unlike the villagers Makino found herself with more urgent questions for the girl, Why does she have a dagger in the backpack? Why does the girl have quite a bit of money for someone her age? Why did the girl have a map with various x marks including Dawn Island?
Luffy however stared at the girl, he didn't really think she was pretty or any cliche things like that even though he did find her hair weird he didn't judge seeing as Shanks has red hair for crying out loud! No, instead he was curious. Unlike all the other people who was suspicious of the girl he just saw her as someone who looked to be as old as him, sadly he had never associated with people his age before so he was excited!
That being said, Luffy was not a patient person and would more often than not pull off ridiculous stunts. So he crawled over to Nami's side while Makino was off in her own world wondering more about the girl and grabbed the collar of Nami's shirt. "Oi, wake up!" he ordered starting to shake the girl. When Nami kept on sleeping a tick mark appeared on the boy.
"Wake up!" he repeated again, only this time he kept slapping Nami in the face
"Luffy!" Makino exclaimed finally noticing the boy's actions.
"What?" the oblivious boy asked letting Nami go
The girl fell to the floor with a thump and started stirring, she didn't even groan already used to enduring pain but a tick mar appeared on her face "Go away.." she grumbled thinking it was Rex who woke her up at midnight for more training
When she didn't hear a witty reply such as 'Stop taking a catnap' or something she paused but kept on the facade of being asleep as she began recollecting her memories
She recalled going on a little adventure as she liked to call it, the weather turning a bit bad and then making it to Foosha village. Her head began asking multiple questions such as 'Where, who, how, how long, what?' as she listened in to the other voices.
"That wasn't nice Luffy..." Makino scolded with a frown
Nami almost smirked, almost. It seems she made it to Makino's place or so? No matter, she was now in the care of Makino who is a mother figure or older sibling figure to the future king of the pirates Luffy. Although the absence of her goggles worried her she knew they wouldn't really throw it away, right? Her only problem is her backpack. She knew there was a fifty fifty percent chance that someone had take a look into it and already came up with multiple lies, half-truths and cover up story concerning herself. Though she decided to keep it as close as the truth as possible considering Luffy might find out if she lied in the future. Distrust among her crew isn't something she wants for something stupid.
Letting out a purposely loud yawn to gain the other's attention she lazily sat up rubbing her sleepy eyes. Then as if finally noticing she was in a different place she made herself tense, made her eyes cautious and weary as she lifted her face up to meet the gaze of Makino. "W-who..." her hoarse voice couldn't finish the sentence as she concluded that she was out for more than a day
"Ah, I'll go get you some water! Luffy, keep an eye on her, okay?" Makino quickly said as she scrambled outside the room. Nami could hear her footsteps descending downstairs but diverted her attention to Luffy who looked like a perfect copy of the anime or manga version, only slightly more realistic. She took great relief in how Luffy had yet to have the scar under his eye or the straw-hat.
Nami or rather Ashley knew there was no point in saying things like she didn't want to be friends with Luffy or anything idiotic like that. She had seen enough characters from fanfiction, games, movies etc. saying that and then ultimately becoming friends anyways. She didn't really like wasting time delaying something she knows will happen. She knew that even if she hadn't been in Nami's body and had instead been an OC she would have befriended Luffy anyways. She wouldn't deny her inner fan girl's desires, she would become friends with Monkey D Luffy. So she took the lead...
"H-hello..." she cursed her hoarse voice, her dry throat and her stuttering but didn't falter. She didn't immediately smiling deciding to play the part of the weary girl for now until she 'properly' introduce herself to the two
"Hey!" Luffy cheerfully greeted with his signature grin which was hard not to smile at in person, but Nami managed well considering she felt too tired to smile
"Who...a-are you?" she managed to ask
"I'm Monkey D Luffy!" Luffy introduced himself
Nami gave out a small chuckle at the name "Monkey, huh?" she repeated ending with a cough just as Makino re-entered with a glass of water immediately giving it to Nami who promptly chugged it down rather greedily, but hey? Who cares?
"Thank you..." she thanked Makino with a small smile, she didn't relax though making Makino know she was still weary.
"I'm Makino" Makino introduced herself
"Nami" Nami courtly said placing the glass down "I'm in Foosha village, right?" she asked just for the sake of it
"Yep!" Luffy confirmed cheerily "What are you doing here anyway?" he asked
Makino was also eager to know
"Just on a little adventure" Nami vaguely answered "I'll be leaving after I finished what I came here to do, but in the meantime do you know of any cheap accommodates here Makino-san?" she asked getting straight to the point not wanting to seem too eager in sharing her personal life with strangers
"Ah, y-yes..." Makino said with a nod a bit taken aback at how mature the girl was "May I ask where your parents are?" she questioned
"Hmm..." Nami hummed in though looking at the older woman with half lidded eyes in a calculating way which made Makino a bit unnerved "Biological?" she questioned
"Yes" Makino answered with a nod ignoring the odd way of phrasing it
"Well..." Nami started with a thoughtful look, a goofy smile then covered her face "I don't know!"
"Huh...?" Makino asked blinking at the sudden attitude change
"They're probably corpses right about now, I wonder if they got their proper burial? Well, it doesn't really matter. I do wonder who they are though..but my curiosity will have to wait." Nami mused aloud relaxing
Makino flinched at the casual way Nami spoke as if not even bothered by the fact that she was an orphan
"Though I do have a foster mom and sis though!" she quickly assured the older woman hiding back a smirk I wonder what move will be made next...
Makino was visibly relieved at the re-assurance "Where are they?"
Nami pouted "Is this an interrogation?" she asked dodging the question "I'm hungry!" she whined acting childish, to prove her point her stomach let out a growl
"Me too!" Luffy quickly said
"You just ate an hour ago Luffy..." Makino pointed out with a sweat drop
"That was just a snack!" the boy exclaimed making Nami giggle
So the trio made their way downstairs Makino telling them to wait awhile as she prepared the food. Nami had offered to help but the older woman politely declined and Nami wasn't the type to modestly insist on helping. She simply sat on the stool on Luffy's right, when Luffy got up a silence filled the air much to Nami's confusion, she thought Luffy would be really talkative but she was mistaken it seems. Maybe he was shy?
"So where are you from, weirdo? Did you really sail the boat by yourself? Are you a pirate?" Luffy started a string of questions making Nami take back her thoughts on Luffy being shy.
"One question at a time Monkey-chan" Nami stated placing her left elbow at the counter
Luffy didn't seem fazed by the usage of his last name "So?" he asked
Nami gave a hum as she rested her chin on her left palm "Secret, yes, no" she answered the questions, before Luffy could ask anything else however she asked a few things herself "How old are you? What's your dream?"
"I'm seven! I want to become a pirate like Shanks!" he said in an energetic tone making Nami let out a small smile not showing any recognition at the name deciding to hold off on the fact that she knows who he's talking about
"Shanks?" she asked showing mild interest
"He's the captain of his own ship! One day I'm going to go on an adventure with him and the rest, I just have to learn how to swim better!" Luffy babbled on
Nami gave a cat smile, over the years she noted her similarity to the feline species which differed a bit from cannon!Nami's and got used to her habits which were similar to felines "Oh? Pirates are strong y'know? Are you strong too?" she asked
"Yeah! My fists hit like pistols!" Luffy bragged
"Oh? That's awesome!" Nami praised humoring him but knowing that it was true once he eats the devil fruit
"Shishishi, what about you?" Luffy asked
"Hmmm, pass." Nami winked
Luffy pouted "That's unfair!" he yelled
Nami resisted the urge to squeal as she merely gave him an amused look "Oh? Why's that?" she asked
"You're not sharing anything!" Luffy answered crossing his arms making his pout more cute
Nami gave a cheshire grin "You didn't ask!" she exclaimed laughing
"I just did!" Luffy argued sticking out his tongue
"Well okay, I'll tell you a bit about myself. My name's Nami, done" she said
Luffy gave her a mock glare making her chuckle
"Fine, I'm eight years old making me one year older than you. I like reading, training, sweets, puzzles, mysteries, board games and a lot of other things. I dislike a lot of things too, but I don't want to go emo on you just yet. My hobbies are studying, training, drawing, sewing, cooking and I'm planning on taking on gardening soon." she listed off
"Boring!" Luffy commented
She merely chuckled "Well, you didn't ask for interesting stuff about me"
"Interesting?" Luffy repeated
Nami nodded "Things like how I'm a liar, a thief, bi-polar...oh, the list could go on but I'm afraid it's classified." she said in a mysterious tone
"Weirdo" Luffy stated
"I'll take that as a compliment" Nami winked in amusement
"Huh?" Luffy asked in confusion
"It means a praise, something good spoken about another" Nami explained
"It wasn't a praise!" Luffy quickly said
"But I took it as one" Nami said in amusement
"You're not allowed to!" Luffy childishly argued
"Sue me" Nami smirked
Luffy didn't have a reply, he merely crossed his arms and turned away with a huff. Nami took a glance at him, for once she was a bit hesitant in doing something. She never liked being seen as too sentimental or anything but she needed to take the lead, sometimes rushing in is a good strategy. She hoped this was the case
"Hey Luffy?" she asked gaining the boy's attention
"What?" Luffy asked
"I...have never had a friend before." she confessed, it was a white lie, Nami never had a friend before. She ignored Luffy's confused frown yet understanding look as she continued "B-but..I think this is what it feels like to have a friend, s-so..." she started fidgeting glancing away nervously, "Umm w-would you l-like to be m-my friend?" she questioned
"You want me to be your friend?!" Luffy asked in surprise yet seemed excited
Nami gave a hesitant nod and decided to add another move "You're kind of me..." she said in a softer tone "You keep smiling a lot but I can see it in your eyes...you're lonely aren't you? Even though you won't admit it..." she trailed off
Luffy looked a bit shocked, he knew she was speaking the truth, but how could she know this so fast? Not even Makino knew. The only time he never felt alone was when Shanks' crew was here, but when they left it always made him feel left out and alone.
"Even though others don't notice, I can see it as clear as the sky in your eyes. I can see all the tears you hold back almost like a storm...yet you're still so happy. It's weird, but...in a good way you know? I'm lonely too sometimes." she finished
A silence filled the room. To Nami it was awkward but Luffy didn't seem to notice, it almost seemed like forever before Luffy finally said "You're weird Nami"
Nami's eyes widened He finally said my name. She thought turning to look at the blinding grin he was giving her, "You too...Luffy..." she reluctantly added at the end liking the fact she finally said his name
"I'll take that as a com-pli-ment..." Luffy said still grinning as he spelled out the new word making sure to say it right
Nami gave the whole D grin a try as she grinned at Luffy knowing his grin was better but content at her own grin. Both knew that this was the start of their friendship. Both didn't notice Makino smiling softly at them no longer unnerved by Nami as she called out that the food was ready
"Finally!" Luffy had yelled it mock annoyance but couldn't take the grin off his face while Nami merely chuckled
Chapter end!
A/N : There! So how did you like the chapter guys? Some feedback would be greatly appreciated! Also if there's anything you want to see happen or point out to me feel free to do so.
Important Question : I have an idea of a later plot point but I just need to set a fact straight about Nami's origins. Aside from her parents probably dying at the attack on her hometown is there anything else mentioned about them?