The Ocean Winds
Re-entering the building, Nami and Kira found their group with Sabo.
"Sorry, we're late" Nami tells the group with Kira running behind.
"Its fine, Sabo hasn't shown much yet" Sanji states with his hands in his pocket.
"That's good.." Kira said in a soft tone.
"What have you seen so far?" Nami asked Robin.
"The cafeteria, the three places where you can go for lunch...the swimming pool-" Robin list until getting cut off.
"The locker rooms, the gym.." Sanji states nodding his head.
"Wow...so where are you taking us now, Sabo?" Nami asked him.
"The playgrounds" Sabo answers pushing the two doors open, causing a gust of wind to come in.
"Aren't we too old for that?" Vivi said imagining slides, swings and a play structure.
"Not in this case" Sabo said with a slight smirk.
Everyone begins to smell fresh air, once stepping outside. They are surprised to see two towers on either end that are separate to the academy's building. There is also a rock climbing wall on one side of the two towers, pillars of rock popping out of the ground in front of the towers. A forest begins a little further behind the left sound of waves can be heard in the distance. The group follows the sound until they are able to view the ocean . Sabo stops them from walking more before they find themselves falling a long way down.
"We are at the edge of the island...so do be careful" Sabo said with a grin.
"This is..unbelievable" Robin said in shock.
"Our very own beach!" Nami states noticing a layer of sand at the bottom which look like a nasty fall from where she stands.
"What's with the towers?" Zoro asked, curious.
"...battles" Sabo tells them.
"Battles?...what kind?" Sanji asked, peaking his interest.
"Look up there" Sabo said looking at the left tower, with a flag waving at the tip of the tower. "During the years...students in this school create groups..and challenge each other"
"What reason do they have to fight?" Vivi asked.
"...the ranking system" Sabo answers crossing his arms. "Its purpose is to allow enhanced students to learn how to control their new abilities in a friendly match...but it's not all about taking the other team out...like capturing the flag...but with powers"
"This school just got fun" Zoro said with excitement.
"There is an opening match in a week to announce the tournament of gold" Sabo states.
"Gold" Nami said with her ears liking the sound of it.
"Seems like your interested" Sabo said with a grin. "To participate...you need to create a team, have a name and submit it to the student council"
"Uh...it sounds interesting but, if we enter...we will be in a great disadvantage since we aren't enhanced" Robin exclaims.
"You don't have to join...but there is also another purpose for the system" Sabo said viewing the ocean. "You all met Slayer...and Caesar….you should know that there are more people like them...corrupted by the enhancement..experimenting on innocent people and turning them into devil users or...something even worse...the students here were either saved or brought here in order to be watched over them..however, this school isn't hundred percent safe...because of what kinds of students are enrolled here..they will be targeted..."
Nami's hand twitch hearing that. The memory of what Ace said came to mind. She frowns not wanting to think anything bad. She believes Luffy can take care of himself. He has Yusei. She seen their strength.
"So it's more like training for what's to come" Zoro states with a serious expression.
"Yes…" Sabo said with a smile. "You guys might run into trouble so i suggest you meet our top mechanic...he might lend you some weapons to defend yourselves.."
"Weapons!?...there allowed here!" Usopp said surprised and frightened.
"Alot is allowed here.." Sabo said with a chuckle and turns around. "I'll leave you to explore on your own..I hope you enjoy your first class today"
Sabo walks away from them and re-enters the building. The group stands, viewing the ocean. They feel nervous about their life here. Not even the beautiful view, can keep their nerves calm. Kira looks at the time on her phone.
"We should hurry...our class is about to start" Kira states with her hair swaying by the wind.
They all nod and heads their way into the building.
OOO
A few hours as passed during the lecture. The group were all seated in a large class with rows of students. Nami is sitting near the large window with the view of the entrance of the school. From her viewpoint, nothing really is different than a normal classroom. There is a teacher teaching a lesson at the front, students either paying attention or on their phones and students sleeping like her green haired friend in front of her. Still, there is one thing different. An annoying boy that should be seating next to her with a funny grin on his face.
However, that seat is filled with Robin who was paying deeply attention at what is being taught. Made a small smile appear in her face. "At least someone is happy" Nami thought and looks around the class. She wonders what kinds of abilities her fellow classmates has and which ones are dangerous.
OOO
Lunch as begun and the group splits in two. Sanji, Zoro and Usopp decided to explore the school a little more. The girls decided to eat something.
Sabo mentioned that there is an open lunch area there with a great view of the ocean. So, the girls decided that is the best place to have lunch. The girls makes it to the roof and already can smell the ocean breeze. Nami smiles and runs to the railings along the edge of the roof. She really gets a great view of the ocean.
"So beautiful..." Nami said with a smile.
"I agree" Kira said then taking a seat at one of the tables.
"..so Nami, Kira…" Vivi said, taking a seat. "...what did Ace tell you about Yusei and Luffy?"
Nami's ears twitches and keeps looking at the ocean.
"Hmm...they won't be here yet" Kira answers, putting on a half smile.
"Oh, i thought their training would be done by now" Vivi states.
"Hmm...or they just forgot" Robin said crossing her arms.
"Maybe" Kira said quietly.
"You girls look worried" said an unfamiliar voice, sitting at another table behind them.
"Uh?" Nami said, turning her head to a pink haired girl.
"H-hello.." Vivi spoke, feeling nervous and surprised not remembering seeing her up here when they showed up.
"Worried..what gave you that idea?" Robin asked, curious about the pink haired girl.
"It's written on your faces" she said calmly, with one leg over the other.
"Who are you?" Nami asked, feeling a little suspicious.
"i'm...Reiju" she answers kindly.
"I'm Nami..and these are my friends, Robin, Kira, and Vivi" Nami said politely.
"You girls are new here...am I correct?" Reiju asked.
"Yes we are" Kira answers.
"Why have you decided to come to this academy?" Reiju asked another question.
"Hmm..why do we need a reason to come to this school?" Robin asked, sensing that Reiju is trying to get something out from them.
"Well.." Reiju said, taking a small sip from her tea. "..you all are aware that this school...isn't normal"
"Ya...but nothing is wrong with that" Nami states.
"Hm..glad to hear that" Reiju said with a smile. "I'm a 3rd year and is quite cautious about who comes and goes...there as been some trouble in the past week..involving disappearances"
"Disappearances.." Nami said with her eyes widening. "Do you know who is doing them?"
"No, but...a witness with the power of ice was seen" Reiju tells them.
"Wait..you can't possibly know that info" Kira said narrowing her eyes at her. "Only council members would know it"
"How do you know that?" Vivi asked, wondering where she got that fact.
"Ace told us the same thing...since he is part of the council" Kira answers her.
"Oh, you know Ace..that explains it then" Reiju said understanding the situation a little better now, she stands up and begins walking to the exit.
"Wait" Nami said walking closer to her. "Do you know anything more?"
"Sorry, that's all there is…" Reiju tells her noticing her pleading eyes.
Reiju leaves the roof. Nami stares down at the ground and clenches her hands. She can't take this any more. She turns around to her friends.
"Guys...I want you to listen.." Nami said with a serious expression.
OOO
The sun slowly sets in the horizon. The school as ended. Slowly students began leaving school grounds and others stayed behind. Nami is seen walking home with Robin next to her.
"So they really are missing" Robin spoke, breaking the silence between them.
"Ya, would be expected right...its them!" Nami said being dramatic.
"Ya, but it isn't you to take command" Robin said remembering what happened at the roof when Nami told them about Luffy's and Yusei's disappearance.
"I just can't stand around doing nothing…" Nami said shaking her head. "No, we will find them somehow..we have a clue though..we just need to find someone with ice powers and boom!"
"If we didn't know about enhanced humans or devil users...I would think your crazy" Robin states with a giggle. "But are you feeling ok?"
"Of course!" Nami said raising her voice.
"Really.." Robin said closing her eyes. "So your fine waiting another month to see him?"
Robin notice Nami stopped walking. She turns around to see Nami trembling a little. Her expression tells Robin everything. Nami may act brave but, she is frail when it comes to the heart. Robin walks to her and places a warm hand on her shoulder causing Nami to blink and look at her.
"Don't worry, you will get to see him.." Robin said with a smile. "Then you can give him all the kisses you want"
Nami's face soon turned bright pink causing Robin to giggle from her reaction. Nami breaks out of her mood and raises a fist to her. Robin begins to run sensing danger.
"Why you!...Robin!" Nami shouts feeling flustered.
"There she is" Robin thought with a smile.
After a few minutes of running, the girls reach the apartment building. Nami was exhausted, while Robin stares at her feeling worn out herself.
"Get some rest...we have a busy day tomorrow" Robin tells her and walks up the steps.
"Ya..we do" Nami replies with a smile. "Finding that iceman is our top priority!"
"You gave him a nickname?" Robin said raising an eyebrow.
"Meh...we don't know who the person is" Nami said with a shrug.
"Your right" Robin said entering through the doors along with Nami.
The two enters the elevator. It stops at the second floor which Robin is on. Nami waves her goodbye and she does the same. The doors close and Nami is now all alone. She reaches the fourth floor and leaves. She walks all the way to her room and opens it. When she enters, she didn't feel at home just yet. It's all too new to her that she might as well hit the bed early.
Upon, entering her room, she slowly strips out of her uniform starting with her blazer and skirt only leaving her white dress shirt that reaches her knees. Beginning to unbutton her dress shirt, her phone rings. She falls on her bed, back first, and looks at her cellphone. She smiles looking at who is calling her. She answers.
"Hi mom" Nami said in a cheerful tone.
"Nami!...how are you!, are you doing well!..how was school!-" Bellemere asked quickly.
"Woah, woah..calm down mom...its just the first day" Nami said with a smile, hearing her mother's voice. "I'm doing fine."
"Really..well that's good to hear...and what about Luffy!...have you two...connected"
Nami hesitates to respond. She sits up and leans her back against the wall and bends her knees against her chest. Her mother heard the long silence.
"Whats the matter...did he do something to you?...do I have to go over there and-"
"..no..no..he didn't do nothing" Nami states in a sad tone.
"So what is it?" Bellamere asked.
"...my chest hurts" Nami said leaning her forehead against her knees.
"Awe sweetie…"
"I was so excited to see him again..talk to him..hear his laugh.." Nami exclaims with tears slowly falling from her eyes. "But, he isn't here...and I'm scared..where could he be...I just want-"
"honey...I'm not sure where is Luffy...but he will show up...if he doesn't..I will hunt him down for you"
"Hehe.." Nami said giggling a little. "Thanks Bellamere...but this time.."
Nami pulls her head up and leans against the wall with puffy eyes. She looks at her window, seeing the skies change dark.
"I'm going to be the one tracking him down...he will get punished for making me wait this long" Nami said with a smile.
"That's my girl...I love you"
"I love you too...goodnight" Nami said ending the call.
Nami falls on her side and closes her eyes. She begins dowsing off to sleep.
OOO
Night covers Raftel. The ocean sparkles by the moonlight. A trail of footprints is visible in the sand.
"A-almost t-there.." said the male weakly. "H-hang o-on"
A hand is seen being dragged along the sand with a straw hat dangling.