A/N : Okay, this chapter focuses on Nami's relationship with the red-haired pirates, Luffy and Makino.
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, innuendo's etc are prone to appear depending on my mood, you have been warned
Chapter Fourteen
Party rock is in the house tonight
Everybody just have a good time (I can feel it baby!)
And we gonna make you lose your mind
We just wanna see you... shake that!
Every day I'm shuffling
Shuffling shuffling
(LMFAO, Party Rock Anthem)
"Ara? Where's Shanks, Luffy and the others?" Makino questioned seeing only Nami sitting on a stool busy drawing something.
"Luffy's off visiting the ship, Shanks and the others are having their usual hangover and they didn't want to be a bother to you. Except for Benn, he's just off doing his own thing" Nami answered not batting an eyelash as she continued drawing a chart of Dawn Island
"Oh, can I get you something that's not alcoholic and does not have a double entendre for a name?" Makino pleasantly asked
"Some breast milk please." Nami said hiding her smirk as she could practically feel Makino blushing
"I don't sell that at this bar" Makino said regaining her composure somewhat used to Nami's love for messing with people for the kicks, "Anything else?" she asked
"Do you by any chance have some tangerine juice?" Nami requested
"Ah, yes. I'll go get that right away." Makino said as she turned around to head to the fridge
Nami on the other hand frowned, "Homesick much?" she questioned herself, The real question is which home do I miss? Can I still consider the house I lived in my previous life my home? An image of her, Nojiko and Bell-mere eating diner together appeared in her head making her sigh I wonder when I started considering my house at Cocoyashi island more of a home than my previous home.
What worried her more was the fact that she's starting to forget things more and more. It all started with simple things like her supposed friends' name, then the password of her phone. But then she started forgetting how her stepdad looks like and now the image of how her mom looks started to fade too making her glad that she drew them and wrote a diary about her previous life.
"Here" Makino said placing the glass filled with juice in front of Nami making sure not to ruin the paper that Nami was drawing on
"Thank you Liquors" Nami thanked
"You're welcome" Makino said, it was apparent that she is now used to her nickname
"Liquors?" Nami asked
"Yes?" Makino inquired
"Do you have a lover?" Nami asked
"N-no" Makino stuttered out, "Why do you insist on asking me that question?" she asked
"Just trying to solve a mystery..." Nami muttered to herself, "No reason" she said in a louder voice putting on an innocent smile
"But while we're talking about my love life, how about yours?" Makino asked going into big sister mode
"I'm eight." Nami retored
"But I had my first crush when I was seven" Makino pointed out
"Know who else is seven? Luffy. And he's blind to romance" Nami said giving an example
"Well girls develop faster than boys" Makino pointed out
"Ah, you're right" Nami admitted remembering that she read that in one of doctor Noko's books, "But I'm not looking to get my heart broken by a useless crush that will never be-" she cut herself off feeling a headache as she remembered about her first crush almost asking her out, it was one of her last memories after all "Forget what I just said" she gritted out Great, I can stand a no holding back beating from Rex but all it takes to bring me down is a headache.
"You're too negative about love Nami-chan" Makino remarked
"And you're too positive about it Liquors" Nami retorted, "Besides I'm actually a fan of romance when it's realistic and not far fetched. I mean what are the odds that you're going to end up with your first crush? A million to one I tell you."
"But it's still one in a million, no? So it's better than zero" Makino stated
Nami blinked processing the sentence before she sighed in defeat "You won Liquors. Fine, I'll be more open minded about romance. But I really don't have a crush right now" she said
"Good, now that we're talking about a crush...is there any boy back home?" Makino asked with a sly smile
"Nah, they're all wimps." Nami waved off making the older woman deflate a bit
"How about Luffy?" Makino asked seeing an opportunity to play matchmaker
Nami however started laughing her butt off as if she had just heard the best joke ever, which kinda is depending on how you see it. Seriously, having a crush on Luffy? You'll never escape the friendzone.
"What's so funny?" Makino asked in confusion
"N-nothing," Nami wheezed out as her sides hurt a bit "It's just that Luffy doesn't know two shits about romance or anything that has to do with love, sorry for the bad word. The only thing he's in love with is meat and the idea of being a pirate" she explained before falling back out of the stool to continue laughing as she imagined Luffy confessing his love for a random person
Makino was about to open her mouth to argue only to close it with a thoughtful look. Nami was too busy rolling on the floor laughing to notice how this little conversation about crushes was going to change something. Oh, well. What she doesn't know won't kill her, right?
"Oh? Why's the little miss rolling on the floor?" Benn questioned making the two girls jump in surprise
"Since when did you get here?" Nami questioned raising an eyebrow
"Just now" Benn answered
"Is there something you need?" Makino politely asked
"Ah, we were looking for your special drink to get rid of hangovers?" Benn asked
"I'm sorry, but I'm all out of them." Makino apologized looking really sorry
"I can help with that!" Nami cheerfully said as she rolled up her chart of Dawn Island turning to the adults "I know a special drink for hangovers!"
"How?" Makino found herself asking
"Back at home my teacher can't hold his liquor but ends up drinking as much as you guys do anyways so he often wakes up with hangovers so doctor and I came up with a recipe to heal hangovers as quickly as possible!" Nami explained
"Your teacher is a really bad influence" Benn commented
"Well you guys ain't exactly perfect role models for Luffy,no?" Nami retorted
"Touche" Benn relented
Smirking in victory Nami followed Makino to the fridge so she can whip out the special drink forgetting about her tangerine juice.
"Minus twenty points" Nami stated
"Why...?" Shanks asked, he tried to yell but the hangover was really killing him
"Your usual voice is gone and replaced with this hangover after effect voice, it's a turn-off!" Nami explained
"This tastes awful!" Yasopp yelled spitting the special drink out cutting off the conversation as Nami turned towards him crossing her arms
"I never said it tasted good" Nami defended seeing the pointed looks of the crew who all had a glass filled with the special drink "I only said it would work fast and get rid of the hangover!"
"She does have a point" Shanks admitted
"No pain no gain, right? Or what the big bad pirates can't handle a little drink?" Nami taunted
"We'll show you!" the more dense members of the crew exclaimed gulping down the drink
Whoah, that taunt actually worked? Nami thought to herself in surprise but outside she had a smirk
The members who drank the special drink's face started turning green before the normal color returned making them sigh in relief. "It works!" one of them informed
"You weren't kidding about it working fast..." Yasopp commented, his glass now empty
"Hmph!" Nami huffed crossing her arms as she faced another direction ignoring Yasopp
"Help me" Yasopp muttered to Lucky Roo
"You brought this on yourself" Lucky stated chewing on some meat
"Ne, Benn?" Nami asked
"Yes little miss?" Benn inquired
"Did ya guys find any treasure?" Nami asked
"Do you really think I would tell you of all people little thief?" Benn asked in an amused tone
"Thief? Little old me?" Nami asked in confusion acting innocent
"Hmm, last time we were here I remember seeing a flash of orange at the ship at night and then guess what happened the next day? We found out some of our treasure were missing. Now I wonder who would be capable of stealing from pirates without fear?" Benn mused aloud looking at Nami who had the gal to whistle innocently
"Nope, doesn't ring a bell. I was cuddling with my pillow, totally fast asleep. It wasn't like I covered the pillow with a blanket to trick Makino into thinking I was there while I was hiding some stuff in my little boat" Nami said
"That sounds awfully specific" Benn pointed out in amusement
"I like details" Nami said puffing her cheeks out
"Oh, stop bullying her. It's our men's fault that a kid managed to steal treasure from our ship" Shanks easily said with a grin joining the conversation
"It makes me really wonder why you lot aren't piss poor" Nami dryly commented
"Well, I manage the finance" Benn said
"That explains a lot" Nami remarked
"Hey!" Shanks yelled offended, "I can spend my money responsibly, I just don't want to!"
"Keep telling yourself that" Nami chuckled
"Oi, Shanks take me out to sea with you!" Luffy demanded joining in the conversation
"Don't be stupid! Not being able to swim is a great weakness!" Shanks stated with a grin messing with Luffy as usual
"But Nami didn't swim when she came here!" Luffy pointed out
"Well Nami knows how to swim in case something happens" Shanks retorted causing Luffy to stick his tongue out at him
"I can teach you how to swim if you want" Nami offered
"Don't bother, Luffy will never get it!" Shanks exclaimed
"Hey!" Luffy yelled
Nami merely shrugged, she really didn't care either way knowing Luffy will be eating a certain fruit sooner or later.
"Speaking of which why did you come here Nami?" Yasopp questioned
"She followed the sea" Shanks dryly answered
"Actually," Nami started with a feline like smile "I chose to come to Dawn Island" she admitted
"You did that on purpose didn't you?" Shanks asked
"Did what?" Nami asked with an amused tone
"But why?" Yasopp asked cutting them off
"I had a feeling that this place would be fun to visit, so I followed that feeling. Nothing ulterior there, no?" Nami answered
"A feeling?" Benn asked seemingly interested
Nami nodded "Yeah, besides my teacher gave me a job to do if I ever came here so I decided 'oh, why not?' and grabbed a boat to sail here."
"That's kind of reckless of you ginger" Lucky Roo commented
"I admit, it wasn't a very well thought out plan-"
"Kind of crazy" Yasopp interrupted
"-but it worked!" Nami finished with a grin
"What about your family?" Yasopp questioned
Does he even have he right to ask me that? Nami briefly wondered to herself "Bell-mere and Nojiko? They already know I don't like staying at one place" she shrugged
"Bell-mere and Nojiko?" Benn asked
"My foster-mom and my adoptive sister" Nami answered
The men concluded that she was an orphan at that point and decided to change the subject knowing they were threading on thin ice, they didn't want to waste this chance now that Nami seems to be more willing to answer their question.
"What I want to know is how you survived at sea by yourself and managed to get to your destination" Shanks said letting his curios side get the best of him
"Me too!" Luffy added equally interested, he was interested in anything that has to do with the sea actually.
Nami scoffed at them, "I survived at sea when I was a baby during a storm on a small boat, so surviving while I'm eight is nothing" she stated
"Why were you out at sea when you were a baby?" Yasopp asked, his parental side getting the best of him
"Oh, right you guys don't know" Nami realized belatedly
"Know what?" Luffy the ever oblivious asked
"Just a little piece of my past" Nami said in a casual way
"Little? It seems like something bigger" Benn commented
"Depends, it's nothing that interesting really. My home island was attacked by pirates when I was a baby, there was a big battle between pirates and marines. Nojiko found me, Bell-mere found us and took us to her home island. She adopted us, simple as that." Nami explained
"You know it's worrying how you're acting like that isn't a big deal" Yasopp commented
"It isn't, I don't remember what happened so..." Nami trailed off with a shrug
"What's really surprising is how you don't hold a grudge against pirates" Benn noted
Shanks and the others seemed to belatedly react on the part that pirates attacked her home town as they all seemed to tense up a bit waiting for Nami to say that she hates pirates or something except for Shanks who knew better.
"Eh? You hate pirates?" Luffy asked looking at Nami with a frown
Nami for her part didn't show any visible reaction to that statement, "Well..." she started off in a rather reluctant tone "No, not really" she finished in a casual way as if they were talking about the weather
Luffy grinned in relief while the others sighed in relief
"Besides!" Nami started loudly "I'm going to make my future captain into the pirate kind and be the crew's navigator!" she exclaimed, the last part was a bit forced but only Shanks and Benn noticed making them curios
"Awesome!" Luffy exclaimed in awe
"You talk big of a brat" Yasopp noted, but he too had a smile I wonder what your dream is Usopp?
"You'll make it someday, just eat well and get strong!" Lucky Roo encouraged
"Well you're a good navigator already, but being able to navigate only won't get you far" Benn commented
"You and Shanks know well enough that navigating isn't the only thing I can do!" Nami pointed out
"But you're pretty weak right now" Shanks commented not hiding his amused grin, he found out about Nami's dislike at being called weak.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING WEAK?!" Nami exploded in rage
"Dahahahaha! Still priceless seeing you lose your cool!" Shanks laughed
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed finally aware of how amusing it is when the joke's not on you
"At least she has a better chance at being a pirate than you anchor" Shanks commented
"I'LL TOTALLY BECOME A PIRATE!" Luffy yelled in childish rage
Shanks just loved pushing people's buttons, but that was obvious.
"I'm not kidding, I'll show you!" Luffy promised
The crew merely laughed not taking him seriously at all while Nami had an unreadable look.
Everyone has something they want to do...but what about me? What's my dream? Do I even deserve to have a dream? She questioned herself
Next chapter preview :
"I almost fell for it...the temptation..if it weren't for..."
"It's because honor isn't worth your life, baka."
"You can spill drinks on me, even spit on me. I'll just laugh about it. But If you dare to hurt my friends... I WON'T FORGIVE YOU!"
"Idiot! If you don't have the strength to back up your words than you shouldn't talk!"
"Know what I hate? People like..."
"Unlike you I do listen to Shanks..."
"Next time I see you, I want to hear what your dream is"
"Yeah, those two are going to go far"
"I don't think I'll be switching crews"
Manifested Earth : Good to see you're not going to drop the story over the romance bit *sighs in relief*, thanks for pointing the wearily part out to me.
Zyma-nee-22 : Yeah, I wanted to add the diary bit just to show that Ashley's life wasn't all sunshine and rainbows even if she was content with it. I wanted to add a little more depth to Ashley and I didn't want to make her past overly tragic or anything but still a bit dark.
Chai Tea : And bonus twenty points if their eyes give out a nice contrast ;)
Zaralann : Ohh, that song! I haven't even thought of that. I'll have to see about that..
davycrockett100 : Thanks
QuirkyKit : I know right! Am I the only one who noticed that this happens a lot to female characters in shonen? Anyways I also agree that Nami needed more build, her navigating skills are awesome but most of her fights were average at best. She'll meet Ace and Sabo, and she'll travel to other islands so don't worry about that bit.
NobleFlare : How long exactly is long? (I'll try to work on it)