Chapter V
A soft knock from the door had Luffy lifting his head from his work and staring expectantly at the entrance to his private quarters. The ship they had now, having been dashingly 're-appropriated' from the Marines docked at Rogue Town, was much bigger than their original ship, the Going Merry, had been. It still remained nameless, unfortunately, but they'd all agreed not to christen their new vessel until they'd made some appropriate changes. But more than its size, it had been its contents that had come as a shock to most of the crew. Deep down, everyone knew the Navy was a war asset, always ready to rain hell down on their enemies, but to actually see a brig stock-full of weapons, powder and canon-balls was another thing altogether, especially for someone who'd just come from an innocent small caravel a few days before.
Being the Captain, Luffy was coming to learn, was more than just giving one's face as the head of the crew. There were decisions to be made, decisions that would invariably impact on the welfare of the crew. Such as the way to go or with which to approach a problem. Even the aforementioned task of deciding a course was tricky. Granted, in those situations he usually deferred to Nami and her expertise in navigation to help him choose but it was more than just knowing which way to go. Each day in the Grand Line came with its dangers and although he couldn't very well predict which way would be safest or, god forbid, easiest, he had to take into account a number of variables – such as whether or not their supplies of food and fresh water were enough to see them through to the next port. These were problems the stories never told of and the first times he'd tried they'd had, more often than he'd like, to scavenge for any goods they could get their hands on on every wild island they came across, once they inevitably ran out of sustenance.
Water was always more critical than anything else and now they always made sure to have supplies of fruit as often as humanly possible. Luffy still hadn't forgotten Yosaku, Johny and their scurvy. However, practice made perfect and, because none of them had been aware of the realities of command, they'd cut him some slack and nowadays Luffy hardly made a mistake any more.
"Enter." he invited after a moment, remembering Zoro's insistence that they all show respect for the 'Captain's privacy'. Never mind that he trusted them all with his life or that they'd pretty much been sleeping in the same room back in the Merry.
And that was another difference that had come with the new ship. After they'd settled course to the Grand Line and assured themselves they had not been pursued, the entire crew, to his surprise, had forced him to take the cabin. He'd argued, of course, but Sanji and Usopp had backed the other two, categorically stating that the Captain was cut above the crew and shouldn't have to sleep with the rabble.
Luffy thought they were crazy. Still, it had been unanimous (his own vote having been summarily discarded) so, in the end, he bowed to their wishes.
The door opened to reveal Nami's head, peeking curiously in an effort to find him. Her eyes sparkled approvingly when she spotted him behind the large desk and she smiled. Everyone had been in high spirits since their successful departure from Rogue Town.
Nami was, currently, the only female aboard the ship and, as such, was the only other member of the crew who had gotten a room to herself – although, admittedly, somewhat smaller than his. Everyone had been relieved by that – even though Sanji had protested bitterly for everyone to listen, he'd latter confided in Luffy by admitting that it was only proper for Nami to have her own room.
"If I ever see Nami-chan's naked beauty, it will be out of her own choosing, not because of circumstances." Pervert Cook Sanji may be but he had his own strange code of honour when it came to women, it seemed.
"May I come in?" she asked brightly before adding, almost in afterthought, "Captain." Nami and Usopp still had some difficulties remembering chain of command and Luffy was grateful for it.
"Of course!" he answered in kind, "and you don't have to treat me like that, Nami. When it's just the crew or when we aren't in an 'official business', it's just Luffy." he continued, reciting Zoro's speech from memory.
"But you look so official behind that desk, Captain!" she replied, clearly having the time of the day annoying him, "Really, I feel like I should at least stand at attention..."
"Come on in and quit saying nonsense." Luffy exclaimed a little exasperated.
Nami slipped inside and closed the door quietly, balancing a soft looking package, wrapped in an unassuming brown paper that rustled noisily with every move. She approached the desk gingerly, almost tiptoeing, and placed the wrapping in the desk, before peering over and trying to see his work from upside down.
"What're you doing?"
"Reading your testament on the Grand Line." he said jokingly, showing her the stack of pages she'd given him the day before. She'd apparently decided to ignore the package and, after an instant of curiosity, Luffy chose to go with it for the moment.
"Well? What do you think?" she asked, sitting atop the desk and bending towards him, an air of expectation on her face.
"From what I've understood, what you're telling me is that there's no way to actually predict what the weather's going to be next, right?" he asked, skimming over the pages again to remember some points. At her nod he continued, "So basically, all we can do is to keep an eye out and be ready for whatever comes our way, right?"
"Yes. Quick thinking is your best friend in these waters. Which means we have to know the ship better than the palm of our hands, Luffy. We can't hesitate on something because we don't know if the ship can take it or where something is in it." Nami stressed, looking deadly serious.
Luffy scratched his cheek.
"Well..." he hesitated, "I'm not saying you're wrong, but I haven't really seen any sign of the weather here being that impossible to guess."
"You mean apart from the storm that greeted us the moment we left Reverse Mountain? Or the tsunami that sent us to the calm belt?" she retorted somewhat incredulously, "Luffy, we're lucky to be having it this easy. The stories I heard from Arlong made this place a living nightmare!"
"Arlong would hardly be what I call a good source of information." Luffy remarked, scowling slightly, "He was a coward who couldn't feel strong unless he had weak people to oppress. I don't think it's surprising he found Grand Line to be difficult. But you may be right," he allowed slowly, getting up from the chair he'd been sitting in and making his way to the windows behind him, "Don Krieg was also searching for a way to have an easier time in the Grand Line and he'd lost all of his fleet of ships by the time he made it to Sanji's restaurant. He was a stupid and bigoted, but he had a good ship that wouldn't break down easily... Well, before that sword guy cut it up I mean." he added to himself.
Nami shook her head, not understanding the last remark but not willing to waste time on it now that Luffy appeared to be taking her seriously, "All I mean is that we have to make time to know this ship. We should do it next time we find a port, make all the modifications we need and make sure we are as prepared as we can possibly be for all the challenges ahead." she stressed, before continuing softly, "I know you see this as an adventure Luffy – I do too and I'm glad I came with you guys. But I'm not strong like you and I don't want to die on this expedition. The preparations we make can mean the difference between survival or death..."
Luffy turned and looked at her with a disturbingly contemplating look and for a moment Nami was assaulted with the fear of being rejected as part of the crew. Because she was afraid and weak. Then he was next to her and his hands were on her shoulders and their weight swept the doubt away.
"I will never let anything happen to my friends. Ever! I promise: what happened at Rogue Town will never happen again." he vowed, tightening his grip slightly. Then he released her, the warmth from his hands growing fainter and Nami felt a strange sting of disappointment, before it also faded away.
"That said," he continued, looking at her with the look someone who just thought something amazing, "Why don't you ask Sanji and Zoro for help?"
"Sanji and Zoro?" Nami repeated, not expecting the suggestion.
"Well, yeah! I mean, Sanji's fighting style is probably better suited for you, since Zoro only uses swords, but I guess he can at least help you getting stronger!"
"What about you, though?" Nami asked automatically, still somewhat numb by the conversation.
"Well you see, Zoro and Sanji know how to fight. I don't."
"What? Don't be ridiculous, Luffy. You fight the strongest guys and you win every damn time!"
"Well, sure. I know how to beat up guys, by I don't know how to fight. I just hit them until they don't get up any more. I don't think this would work for you, Nami."
Nami was forced to admit Luffy might be right. Of course she didn't know what had passed through her head to actually ask him about training her, but that was beside the point. Luffy's way of charging head first into battles only worked for some one who already was strong in their own right, something she was not. On the other hand she was a bit weary of approaching Zoro and Sanji on the topic.
"I'll talk to the guys today during dinner." Luffy promised, almost as if he'd read her thoughts. "But I have a more serious problem, right now." he said seriously, before pointing to the package and asking, "What is that?"
Nami's face immediately brightened up, her eyes lighting with an excited smile, "Oh, I'm glad you asked that!" she exclaimed, looking almost like a child in her glee, "I got you a present in Rogue Town. Consider it my thanks for helping me out with Arlong!"
Nami took the package in her hands and hesitated, suddenly feeling shy about handing him the present. With a deep breath, she thrust the wrapped gift into his hands.
"Nami, I helped you because you're a friend, not to receive any kind of payment." Luffy said solemnly, nonetheless accepting the gift and starting to unwrap it with uncharacteristic carefulness.
"I know. But I wanted to get you something back- just accept it, please!" she exclaimed when it looked he was about to interject again.
"Of course I do! Thanks, Nami!" he said, ripping the remainder of the paper and revealing a magnificent double-breasted overcoat "Whoa!"
"Do you like it?" she asked with anticipation.
"It's great!" he answered. And it was. It was reminiscent of the overcoats used by naval officers but, instead of the issued white colour used by all officer of the Marines, it was dark blue, so dark it was almost black and only by looking closely could one notice the difference. Instead of buttons it had wooden, neatly treated clasps that fit into thick loops of fabric and kept the coat safely closed even in the harshest winds. A line of red followed the arms and waved around the shoulder pads, reinforced with tanned leather, giving the overall coat a sturdier look. The cuff-links were made of metal, polished to look like silver although, to Nami's sorrow, she didn't have the money to afford actual silver adornments. "I love it."
Apparently it was the right thing to say, judging from the way Nami's face almost split from the grin that erupted in her face.
"Great! I thought, since you're our Captain, you should have something befitting your position, so that everyone would know right away what you are in the crew," she babbled, "It couldn't be a hat, because I think yours is pretty iconic and you wouldn't part with it anyway, so I settled for a coat – here, let me help."
And without waiting for an answer she danced around him, pulling where needed and helping Luffy fit into the piece of clothing, all the while not stopping in her explanation.
"It's a little big since I wasn't sure of your measurements, but it's better that way because it'll fit you longer than if it was smug. And look, look," she said, dragging him to the wardrobe and opening it to reveal a full size mirror that returned his coated image to them, "Its designed so you can lift the collar, see? This way you're protected from the wind and the rain, or the water from the waves..."
Luffy was reaching one life-changing conclusion: Women were scary things when talking about clothes. He was considering the best way to escape the glint that had been entering Nami's eyes when, without warning, the whole ship shook as if hit by a powerful punch and the air rumbled with an unexpected thunder.
Luffy reacted quickly, catching Nami before she fell and, after making sure the girl was all right, made his way to the door. His quarters were situated on the upper part of the castle and so opened right to the open air. The sight that greeted him outside was humbling. Where there had been calm seas and clear skies just moments before were now a collection of unruly demons determined to wreck havoc on any ship that dared sail through them. Or at least that was the impression it gave. The sky was full of low, oppressive dark clouds connected by ethereal squiggly lines of light every time there was a thunderbolt. The seas waved and rolled and the water threw itself against the ship, as if trying to make it roll on its side. As he watched, he noticed the a curtain of heavy rain fast approaching and, just as he made it to the balustrade that oversaw the main deck, it hit them with all its might. Luffy looked down just in time to see the door to the crew quarter's open, a level bellow, and witness as Zoro, Sanji and Usopp ran outside seeking the source of the disturbance, the latter instantly slipping in the wet floor and settling for curling himself on the ground once he realized the grim conditions they were facing. Looking back, he spotted Nami at the entrance to his room, looking at the weather with wide, frightened look, before catching his eyes and straightening almost reflexively. He watched as her chin set into a defiant position and she nodded to him, as if acknowledging some unspoken message and stepped into the fray.
Luffy faced the storm and quickly made his way down the stairs and into the deck, where Zoro and Sanji had stopped, a bit dazed by the violence of the elements.
"Zoro, Sanji, stop gawking around and lift the sails: we can't have them rip on us. NOW!" he shouted when they failed to act and instead turned to him in surprise. As they made their way to the nearest sails, Luffy quickly walked to Usopp and, grabbing his arm, pulled him up and shoved him in the direction of the masts, "You too Usopp, quickly!" he urged when the other turned amazed eyes on him.
Luffy went around, giving encouragements and helping where necessary. Suddenly, in the midst of all the turmoil, he spotted Nami, who seemed to be struggling hopelessly against the steering wheel of the rudder.
He took a step forward, braving against the wind and rain and gritting his teeth started to shout, almost in defiance to the sea that was so testing them.
"Take a deep breath! Trust yourselves! Don't let this tiny breeze faze you!" he started as he marched to the stairs almost angrily, his entire stance almost screaming how little he cared for the weather at the moment, "So what if it throws water our way, well take it like the men and women we are and go our way! Laughing and cleaner than before!" he took a step up the stairs, "Don Krieg! Arlong! Buggy! All of them were lauded as dangerous and powerful pirates! And yet Buggy demeaned himself into a petty criminal, Don Krieg lost his entire fleet to this sea and had to go back, with his tail between the legs, to try and rob the secret to survive in this place from someone worthier than him! And Arlong, Arlong cowered in fear of the hardships he faced here, hid in West Blue and covered his fear by terrorizing civilians." he took the wheel in his hands and with a grunt forced it to turn in the way Nami was trying to move it, "And I say: let those scallywags, cower. Let them speak of fate and death and fear. I will not do so. We will not do so! We're not doomed to sail this sea; this sea is doomed to have us sailing on it! We're the Strawhat Pirates, we'll become the greatest there is in the whole world and no one, much less a pitiful little storm like this is going to keep us from doing it!" With a thrust, Luffy lifted his hand to the skies, his fist closed in a punching motion and his coat flapping around him and finished, "Now let's show this miserable little sea who's in charge!"
And Nami watched, with marvelled eyes, as Luffy morphed into a captain of legend, even if only for a few moments, his overcoat flailing impressively in the wind, and his three other subordinates answered his demand with the strength and noise of a fully manned crew.
"So Nami was talking to me, earlier today, and said she was interested in learning how to fight." Luffy started bluntly, and surprising said girl into a mute embarrassment. She had thought for sure he had forgotten it, with the storm they'd had in the meantime. Her gift to Luffy had caused a stir in the crew with everyone seeming to approve and with Zoro once again puffing his chest like he had been the one to think of the present and buying the damn thing, much to Nami's annoyance, "And I was thinking, maybe you guys could help her out with that."
There was a stunned silence in which Nami wished for nothing more than to sink into the ground itself before Zoro turned to her with a speculative face and Sanji lit up in a perverted grin that made her scowl reflexively to her plate. Usopp shifted uncomfortably.
"She is rather weak." Zoro stated in his blunt and rough way. She'd been learning not to take the way he said things as an injury. If Zoro wanted to insult you in any way, he made sure you had no doubts regarding the nature of his barbs, "But if we build up her speed and stamina, she'd have the potential to do some serious damage."
"I doubt I can punch people through a wall, training or not." Nami said, managing to speak and giving a rather self-deprecating smile.
"'Course not." acknowledged the swordsman, and Nami was left unsure on whether or not to take offence that he'd agreed with her so quickly, "But you have the frame for fast, focused attacks." he shifted into a more comfortable position and motioned for Sanji to pour him more grog. "This is actually something that has been bothering me. Looking at us we have Sanji and I, who can deal powerful blows in one go. Then there's the Captain, who can deal more damage than the two of us put together. We're a team of heavy hitters and we're handicapped because we're overly specialized. Getting you," he said, focusing on Nami, "to concentrate on dealing fast, crippling attacks makes you a major asset in both dispatching weaker enemies that might aid the stronger opponents and in providing support for us if we are ever in need. Usopp too, I think."
"Ooh! Do tell!" Luffy urged with a sharp glint in his eyes.
"Well first we have to get him a better ranged weapon than the ridiculous slingshot he carries." Sanji stated, cutting Zoro's speech before he could even begin and earning a look of disgust from the later, "I kind of like on how silent it is but let's be honest: its firing power is useless in anything but point-blank range. I'm not saying he has to quit on using those types of weapons but at least make it more powerful. Then we just place him on high ground and have him snipe enemies off their feet. Also," he added as if struck by a sudden thought, "if we manage to get some snail-dials, Usopp could even provide updates on the battlefield for our strategic planing."
Usopp sagged in his chair apparently relieved at not being included in Nami's training.
"Of course," Sanji continued cheerfully, "although I think training him in any kind of specific hand-to-hand combat might not be necessary, some physical conditioning can only do him good, so I think I'll oversee that while Zoro brings Nami-chan up to speed. Then, when he judges her ready, I can give her some one-on-one lessons on more personal encounters." he finished by waggling his eyebrows.
Nami ignored him.
"Don't I get any say in this?" Usopp asked indignantly.
"No." answered Zoro and Sanji at the same time, much to the amusement of Luffy.
"I don't want to fight! And I hate exercise!" the younger teenager complained bitterly.
"Then what the hell are you doing in a Pirate ship?" Zoro asked rudely.
"Zoro..." Luffy said, in warning.
"No, Captain. This HAS to be addressed." the First Mate insisted, "what exactly do you think being a pirate means, huh?" he demanded of Usopp, only to continued when he failed to provide an answer, "Do you think this is a fairy tale, a child's play with no consequences? We are criminals. We are wanted by the World Government. Because we are criminals, instances where we can rest safely and legally will be few and far between. We will live in the underworld – if we want to survive we'll have to thrive in it. And you think you can get through it al without lifting a finger, without fighting? Or are you planning on dragging others down with your weight, clinging to them for protection because you don't want to be physically uncomfortable?"
Usopp didn't answer, instead opting to engage in a staring contest with the swordsman – which he ultimately lost, when the man once again demanded an answer of him:
"Well?"
The sharpshooter avoided the green haired stared and stood sullenly in silent for a few moments, before mumbling something.
"I couldn't hear you."
"I said fine!" he shouted, getting up and leaving the room.
Nami hesitated and, after a nod from Luffy, followed after him.
"Was that really necessary, Zoro?"
"Yes, Captain." Zoro stated categorically, "if doesn't start taking this seriously now, he's going to die sooner or later. Or get one of us dead which would be worse. He's still convinced this is some kid's trip. It's not and if you want to pamper to him and pretend everything's going to be easy then I'm not on the right ship. What's going to be, Luffy?"
As he spoke, a slow flow of killing intent started to rise from the swordsman until, with his last remark, he got up and almost gave the feeling of truly being the monster he sometimes was accused of being. Luffy looked at him from under unimpressed eyebrows, before lashing out with an attack of Haki that quickly overwhelmed the other's life force. This result actually seemed to satisfy the swordsman.
Sanji shook his head, unwilling to understand why the Pirate Hunter felt the need to challenge Luffy at unexpected moments, almost as if wanting to reassure himself of the other's superiority.
"Of course he needs to take stuff seriously. But I don't want the fun we have to be drowned in rules and rigidity. That was never this crew's spirit." Luffy pointed out.
"I agree." Sanji cut in, "But I also agree with the seaweed over there." he added, dodging a metal cup thrown by the swordsman, "discipline and commitment are necessary components of any group effort. The Old Man loved us back at the restaurant and he wanted us happy, but that didn't keep him from demanding everything we had when we had to give our all."
"The same with my Dojo." states Zoro.
"Of course this is only when necessary," Sanji allowed, "but for that we have to commit to training, otherwise when we really need it, we won't be able to put all our potential into a fight. That's what I meant when I said I agreed. And honestly, Luffy, I know you don't like to hear it since he's the closest to you in age and all, but Usopp could use some discipline."
"He didn't exactly have parents to give him that." Luffy pointed out, "Hell, for that matter, neither did I."
"True." Sanji agreed, "But you naturally know you have to put effort into what you do. Usopp just doesn't work the same way. Besides, as surrogate family, it's our job to teach him what he needs, don't you think so?"
Luffy thought for a few moments and had to admit that Sanji's reasoning seemed sound.
"Fine. But Sanji?" he said, calling the other's attention. "Nami's serious about this. I hope you extend her the same courtesy."
Sanji nodded solemnly, "Of course, Captain."
Nami opened the door to Zoro's selected quarters with a sense of trepidation. When Luffy made a decision to take her words seriously, he immediately saw that the swordsman and the cook had their selected pick from the available rooms in the ship – his own quarters included. Sanji had decided that his training didn't require a room and "could very well be done on the main deck, thank you very much." Zoro, however, was quick to select a large room next to the stairs leading to the cargo hold, deep in the belly of the ship. When she entered, she noticed how the room seemed remarkably clean, even going as far as giving the impression of having been meticulously scrubbed and waxed. On the floor, in the centre of the room, was a sail, torn in one of the latest storms, extended to the maximum as to not having any ripples, and bolted to the floor with the same scrupulosity the room had been cleaned with. Zoro was waiting in the farthest side of the room, sitting over his legs and with his eyes closed.
When she approached he started speaking without actually lifting his eyelids to look at her.
"Sit." he ordered.
Rather mystified with the way the whole thing had been going so far, Nami did so, unconsciously mimicking the Pirate Hunter's pose.
"Good." he approved, "From now on, whenever we're in a session, not doing exercises and for as long as I am your teacher, this will be the position you'll sit in."
Nami nodded to herself and wondered how the hell he'd known what she'd done when he wasn't even with his eyes opened. But Zoro continued.
"You've decided to improve yourself physically and contribute to the more... confrontational aspect of this crew. While, as the First Mate, I approve and pleased by this decision, as your instructor I must tell you that it is much more important to be comfortable with yourself than what others perceive as being the right choice. If at any point you become uncomfortable or dissatisfied with what I have you doing, I'd rather you tell me you don't want to continue rather than keep wasting both our times. I will not teach an unwilling student. Am I clear?" he asked, this time opening his eyes to stare at her fixedly.
Nami set her mouth into a fine line and nodded her acceptance.
"Good. You will not be trained in the ways of the sword. However, you will be required to reach a similar level of physical conditioning as the practitioners of the sword arts. Fr this, we will engage in a series of physical challenges, repeated and added upon in the course of the next few months until I feel you are ready to start more focused exercises. I expect your diligence and commitment and will not accept either excuses or vows of success. If you want to prove something to me, do so by actions rather than words, understood?"
"Yes, Zoro." Nami growled, starting to feel uncomfortable with the position she was sitting in.
Zoro stared at her for a moment, "During these sections, you will address me as Sensei. The right to call me by name must be earned through your efforts in improving yourself. Understood?"
"Yes, Sensei." Nami corrected.
"Good. These sessions will take place every time we are fortunate enough to find a safe port to dock in, for every day we stay ashore. The exception will be made on every last day in a port, as the Captain has expressed the wish that both you and Usopp be given the opportunity to rest completely before venturing out to the sea." Nami felt a rush of gratitude for Luffy at that, "Today we will start with a series of light exercises. These will ease your way into the more demanding exercises, to be added at later sessions. Now," with surprising grace for such a blunt person, Zoro hoisted himself up and motioned for Nami to do the same, "you've already proved to have some proficiency in flexibility and agility exercises. However, it is very different to achieve success in these when one is tired or otherwise under duress. No doubt your years as the 'Burglar Cat' have given you some measure of confidence in your abilities." he paused before smiling darkly at her, "I will now destroy those illusions of yours."
And that he did. The exercises started with deceptive simplicity and harmlessness, simple movements: warming up exercises, stretching her arms above her head, slowly rotating them until they were extended to the side, then flexing them until her hands touched her chest and raising them again; Running around the room at a steady, even pace; Squatting slowly, holding the position for a few seconds, then assuming an upright stance once again. All simple exercises that left her dead after that first day.
Still with stubborn determination, she went back again and again, even as the exercises got increasingly more demanding. Many times, as she laid in bed, exhausted and incapable even of sleeping, she thought about quitting, about just admitting she couldn't do it. But then her mind would trace back to the day where Luffy had first worn her overcoat, to the silent promise she'd made to get better, to not be a burden, and she'd present herself again at the next session as if she'd never wavered in her commitment since the last time she'd been there. Which, apparently, was more than what could be said of Usopp. The young man had actually missed the second session with Sanji and had been completely unprepared for the chasing and subsequently dressing down the cook had delivered to him. While inwardly feeling sorry for him, Nami also privately thought that, up until then, Usopp hadn't quite grasped the seriousness of the situation he was in. It took a few days of tumultuous rebellion and the combined efforts of both Sanji and Zoro to bring the situation to manageable levels.
It was Luffy, however, that proved to be instrumental in finally convincing the other boy into being serious with his training, by recounting the horrors and suffering he felt at his grandfather's hands and providing a commiserating soul with which Usopp could count on. Nami wasn't sure if that had been purposefully planned by the Strawhat Captain or not, but she was learning that Luffy was much more perceptive, in certain things, than anyone gave him credit for. However, listening to him recounting stories of his own training sessions begged a question that had been in Nami's mind since that first night in the kitchen, when they'd decided to train her.
Zoro had described them has heavy hitters and almost every day you could see Sanji exercising his skills in between meals or whenever he had free-time, practising his personal moves on the main deck, while Zoro slept and Luffy and Usopp fooled around. As for the swordsman, he could be found every morning lifting ridiculously heavy weights and honing his skills with the blade. But she never saw Luffy training. One day, during her sessions with Zoro, she'd asked the Pirate Hunter about this detail.
Zoro had given her one look and told her, "If you're thinking that he can do all the damage he does without training you can disillusion yourself. The Captain is the one that trains the most out of all of us. He just does it at night."
Nami was baffled.
"But why not do it during the day, like yourselves." she insisted, meaning both him and Sanji.
"For the specific you'd have to ask him. I'm not privy to them, and even if I were, I wouldn't break his confidence. But I can tell you that one of the reasons is that he's the Captain."
Zoro didn't elaborate any more, but Nami couldn't understand for the life of her why the swordsman seemed to think that was all the explanation necessary.
A/N.: Another update. I'm enjoying writing this story – even having so little time for it. Sorry for the possible mistakes, this was not proof-read at all. So Nami decides to have some PE and somehow that ropes Usopp into it as well. He's not pleased.
I hope I managed to convey some of Zoro's character in this story. I'm not going to elaborate here, but I hope I manage to completely portray him in his future interactions. Although defining a character through the way he acts rather than stamping it in the story as the Narrator is hard stuff. My respect for good writers as been steadily climbing over the years since I joined FFN. I hope one day I become like them.