Awakening
The instant, Nami step foot outside. Her eyes were glued to the pair of lips. Through all the students, she was able to see past them to a shocking sight. A streak of pain just, stung her heart. It felt like the kiss was never going to stop. She can feel small tears forming in the corner of the eyes but that didn't make her look away. Then she saw something strange coming from Luffy's mouth and into Reijus mouth. Purple dots enters Reiju who kept on sucking more of it.
Pudding was blushing like crazy. "what are you doing..PRESIDENT!" she thought can't move her eyes away.
"Ahhh.." Reiju said, pulling away from Luffy's mouth with a slight blush.
She slides her fingers against her lips. The purple dots that were around Luffy's neck disappeared.
"It's done...I got rid of all the poison in him" Reiju tells Ace.
Ace picks Luffy up over his shoulder. Luffy was unconscious.
"good..I'm going to take him to the infirmary" Ace said, soon noticing Nami and Robin. "Oh…"
Ace found himself in an awkward situation and judging by Nami's reaction, she seen what Reiju did. Its problem enough to see Luffy all beat up and now there is a broken hearted girl. He should tell her what happened, before she gets the wrong idea.
"Nami...it isn't what it looks like-" Ace spoke with a nervous smile.
"...uh?" Nami replies slightly opening her mouth wanting to say more but she doesn't think she has the courage at the moment.
"Listen-" Ace said slowly, hopefully trying to clear this mess up. "Luffy had poison in his system..and alot of it...I'm surprised he is alive"
"..p-poison?" Nami said shocked and realize, after taking a better look at Luffy, he wasn't in the best condition. "W-what happened to him..and why did.."
Nami looks at Reiju who looks back like nothing had happened. Nami's eyes focus on her lips that keeps causing her chest to be tight.
"I'm an enhanced human..with the power over poison" Reiju spoke. "I am the only person that is able to get all that poison from within Luffy...by sucking it all up"
"Sucking.." Nami said with a slight blush but couldn't look at Reiju straight in the eyes.
"Sabo...bring that cosplayer to the infirmary also...I can smell some poison in him too" Reiju tells him then turning to Pudding. "I want you to get our doctor, Pudding"
"Yes, president" Pudding said with a nod.
"Yes, Ma'am" Sabo said lifting the cosplayer off the ground.
"We should get a move on.." Ace said, walking towards the door and passes Nami. "you should come along…"
Nami didn't react just kept staring at the ground, holding onto her wrist. She soon hears a slight sound coming from behind her. She slightly, turns around and notice Luffy's straw hat on the ground. It had a hole on the side of it. She bends down and picks it up. After staring at it for awhile, she came to the conclusion to listen to Ace. Though, she can't help but feel a little awkward and sad. Nami re-enters the building.
Robin didn't like to see Nami depressed. It was like that time back in gold brook high when she hid her true feelings. She can see it through her fake smile that she was hurting. She looks at Reiju wondering if what she said was true. If there was no other way than putting her lips on Luffy's. Her knowledge about devil users and its uses are minimal so she can't just say out of assumption that there was another purpose behind Reiju's actions. Then again, she hasn't been in this school for so long to really justify if Reiju is a bad person.
Reiju begins walking to the doors, passing by Robin.
However, something tells Robin that there is more to meets the eye to Reiju. Besides her curly eyebrow. She giggles thinking about another person with the same feature. "Wait a minute...is it a coincidence that they have the same eyebrow shape…" Robin thought and gain a new mystery that needs solving.
OOO
Upon entering the infirmary, Nami spots Kira walking who was surprised to see her, Ace, Sabo and Luffy.
"Luffy..you found him!?" Kira said stopping in front of the group.
"Yup, but he isn't in a great condition...so we're bringing him to the infirmary" Nami replies with a sad tone.
"Oh.." Kira said, noticing the injuries on Luffy, when Ace past by her then seeing Nami past her. "Are you going to be alright?"
"Ya, ya.." Nami said, stopping next to her. "He has been like this before"
"Hmm.." Kira said, looking back at Luffy. "well..I hope he gets better"
Kira begins walking away from Nami.
"Where are you heading off too?" Nami asked, curious.
"Not sure...I just been wandering around..there's actually a fencing club..might check that out" Kira tells her.
"Ah, alright then...see you later then" Nami tells her while Kira nods in response.
Nami continues to follow Ace. After a few minutes, they entered the infirmary. Ace laid Luffy at one of the beds with the curtain closed, for privacy. He stood outside of the curtain, with Sabo, Nami and Reiju. The other patient laid on the bed over.
"Well, this has been an interesting day.." Sabo states, scratching the back of his head.
"Reiju-" Ace said until she put her hand forward.
"We can talk somewhere else about the situation" Reiju tells him with a serious expression, then shifting her eyes to Nami who looks away from her. "We will leave him to you.."
"W-wait..what?" Nami said then seeing Reiju past by her.
"We have some business to take care of...you seem like reliable person for this" Reiju said with a smile. "Ace, Sabo...we're leaving"
Reiju walks out the door. Nami turns her head to Sabo who chuckles nervously then walking out.
"She's right..you know" Ace tells Nami, patting her shoulder. "Take care of my brother"
Ace leaves the room. Nami had a faint blush on her face and didn't know what to do. She was rubbing the edge of the straw hat in her hands, feeling out of place like she must do something. She looks around the room noticing a plain desk and a cabinet at the corner of the room with medicine inside. On the left of it is the window. Not really a lot for her to do. She turns to the curtain and slowly walks toward it, opening it a little for her to enter.
First thing she sees is the chair right next to Luffy's bed then Luffy who has the bed sheets up to his neck. He looks better than before. She takes a seat and looks at Luffy, placing the hat right on her lap. The silence is making her remember that kiss. "That was the only way to get the poison out of him" she thought, not wanting to let it get to her. Anyways, Luffy was unconscious the whole time. It's not like he enjoyed it. That idea might have just made her feel a little better.
Nami breathes out wondering how long will it take Luffy to wake up. Her left hand slowly moved to Luffy's hair and begins moving her fingers through his hair. It felt wet and silky almost like gel. It was gross to touch but that didn't stop her from doing it. She stops after realizing that she was doing it and moves her hand away. She can hear her heart beat loudly within her. She is surprised that she did that without thinking. She holds her hand that was playing with Luffy's hair a minute ago, feeling it want to play with his hair again.
A groan makes her flinch in her seat. It came from Luffy who was moving his head from left to right. This was it, Luffy was waking up. She waited so long to see him and talk. It made her angry that he stopped messaging her a month ago and ignoring her calls. The memory makes her clench her fist feeling the anger slowly rise again. However, he could have a good reason. That was what she came to the conclusion too. Luffy wasn't that type of person to ignore a friend without reason. Something must have happened. Hopefully she can find out.
Luffy begins slowly opening his eyes lids. He can see an orange blur on his right. He rubs his eyes and sits up on the bed. His vision clears up and sees Nami who gulps curious how he is going to react.
"NAMI!" Luffy screams and jumps off from his bed and hugs her waist.
The sudden hug surprised Nami whose blush slowly reaches her forehead.
"GET OFF!" Nami yells, smacking him in the head causing him to hit the floor.
Nami stands from her chair, breathing heavily with her blush glowing bright red. She really wasn't prepared for that, not all.
"Ow…" Luffy said, rubbing his head.
"Don't surprise me like that next time.." Nami said crossing her arms, with puffed out cheeks.
"Shishi.." Luffy said with laugh and grin not caring that she's mad.
Nami began giggling by his laugh. He hasn't changed from the person she met in Gold Brook high. She was glad.
"So, might be dumb of me to ask..where am I?" Luffy asked nervously.
"Oh..your in Raftel Academy" Nami answers him. "The infirmary to be exact"
"..Raftel" Luffy said eyes widen a bit then returning to their size, then rubbing his temple.
"We found you at the playgrounds-" Nami said remembering the kiss, then looking away with a frown. "You didn't look in good shape-"
"I see.." Luffy states, getting up.
"Y-ya..do you remember how you got so beaten up?" Nami asked him.
"Hmm" Luffy said, sucking in his lips staring at her.
"Do you remember?" Nami said, stepping forward a bit causing Luffy to step back while keeping eye contact.
Luffy soon notice at the corner of his eye, the other patient on the bed. He doesn't look at him no longer than a second then returning to Nami. His eyes shift to his hat.
"Uh, Nami..why do you have my hat?" Luffy asked.
"Oh..it fell…" Nami states, bringing the hat close to her chest showing the hole in it. "also..I plan to fix it for you"
"You can do that?" Luffy said in a surprised tone.
"Of course..I learned how to knit from my mother….I use to knit holes on my pants or shirt" Nami said with a smile, rubbing the edge of the hat. "Saves a lot of money you know"
"Of course.." Luffy said with a slight smile.
An awkward silent is shared between the two. Nami didn't like it. She doesn't know what to say. She can hardly look into his eyes or she will blush. But, she doesn't want to stop talking to him. There is more to say and this is a better time than any. She gets the courage to look at his eyes, causing a small blush to form on her cheeks. She steps forward but again,Luffy to step back. Nami notice it before but didn't think too much of it. Until now, made her curious. She looks down and steps forward again then noticing Luffy's feet stepping back.
"Luffy?" Nami asked, looking up at him.
"Yes Nami.." Luffy replies.
"What's wrong-" Nami said, stepping a little closer.
"N-nothing" Luffy said with a nervous smile, stepping back but realises he hits the window.
"Luffy.." Nami said softly.
It was something about that smile, that is odd to her. She can't say what it is but something doesn't feel right.
OOO
A wet floor sign can be seen at the end of the hallway and a janitor can be seen wearing a blue suit and hat, sweeping the floor with the mop. Reiju, Ace and Sabo past him and pull out id cards. Reiju scanned her card first next to the door hidden in the wall then Ace and Sabo. The door opens for them allowing them entry.
Lights start turning on in the room revealing a long rectangular desk. Reiju sits at the far end while Sabo and Ace sits on opposite ends close to her.
"We're private in here so...say what do you want to say?" Reiju said to both of them.
"We need to make our move" Ace said in a serious tone. "We know where they are-"
"But aren't for sure that they are the ones involved" Reiju states.
"Luffy and that cosplayer...were poison...and not just a simple poison but something a devil user would do" Ace states. "Magellan"
"A delinquent that was cast to no man's land…" Reiju states.
"Wasn't he transferred their because he was a troublemaker here" Sabo exclaims.
Suddenly, a screen appears on the table. A map is being created in the screen revealing four islands. At the bottom, in front of Reiju is Raftel, slightly above Raftel on the left is another island called No Man's Land, the next island lies the same distance as No mans land but on the right called Mineral Island. The last island is further away from all three islands that lies directly North from Raftel called, Skuller Island.
"There is a strict school their meant to teach troubled students how to use their powers responsibly...Impel down.." Reiju exclaims.
"I said this before...I'll say this again….that place is hiding something" Ace tells her.
"You can't prove that...Impel down and Raftel Academy are in good terms-" Rejiu said, until seeing two pictures slam in front of her by Ace. It was pictures of former students, one named Kid and the other Drake.
"These 2nd years were brought to Impel down for misusing their powers...but these two were spotted on Raftel" Ace said with a serious expression. "Tell me...why would Impel Down allow these students to roam free"
"They graduated from it" Sabo suggest sarcastically.
"Sabo..not a joking matter" Ace said to him.
"I know i know...but that could be the reason..since that's the only way to leave that place...or some official reason that the principle there would allow them to come here" Sabo exclaims.
"The principle or...the student council president would have received news of it" Ace said, getting up from his seat.
"..if it makes you feel better...I'll make a meeting between the head of Impel down…" Reiju tells him. "But, you must not take action on your own"
"Fine.." Ace said, walking to the door.
"Also...don't forget to talk with Luffy about what happened" Reiju said to him.
"I will.." Ace said leaving the room.
OOO
"Luufffy.." Nami called him again getting closer, causing him to slide to her side nervously chuckling.
"Y-you know...Nami.." Luffy said, walking backwards. "Oh!..is the rest here too"
"Ya..they should be around the school somewhere" Nami answers, with her eyes following his movements.
"Ah good..can't wait to see them again-" Luffy said grinning then tripping backwards.
"Luffy!" Nami said, running to him until he sits up and waves his hands in front of him.
"It's fine...just needed to sit down" Luffy tells her, sliding on the floor until he hits the door behind him.
"Are you feeling alright...your acting kinda...weird?" Nami said, suspicious.
"whaaat..I'm always weird.." Luffy states, sweating.
"Ya but...this is a more weirder version.." Nami said feeling like Luffy is hiding something. "Luffy..what's the matter?"
"Nothing" Luffy said, with a plain expression but the sweat doesn't stop.
The door opens behind Luffy causing him to fall back. He looks at who opened it and notice Ace looking down at him with a confused expression.
"Ace!" Luffy shouts.
"um...Nami what's going on?" Ace asked her.
"Not sure…he isn't telling me nothing" Nami answers.
"Hmm...let me take care of him" Ace said with a smile and drags Luffy back into the room and pushing Nami out.
Nami blinks and turns around soon getting the door slam against her face. She wanted to be in the room to hear what Luffy has to say. She leans against the wall, looking at the straw hat. "Why isn't he telling me anything...does he not trust me anymore" she thought, gripping the edge of his straw hat. It was obvious Luffy was hiding something, his face was yelling that he was hiding something. So, why couldn't he tell her. Makes her angry.
Nami hears he door, click open and sees Ace walking out looking exhausted.
"So, what did he say?" Nami asked.
"Honestly.." Ace said, turning around. "Nothing.."
Nami is surprised with that answer. If Luffy wanted to tell someone a secret, his brothers would be first that pops in her mind. She looks into the door and sees Luffy staring through the window. He looked deep in thought which Nami thought out of the ordinary.
"That training must have been hell if it caused Luffy to act like this.." Ace states. "More mature...thought I would never see the day"
"Mature.." Nami said, thinking back at how he acted with her a few seconds ago. "No he's still a weirdo"
"Maybe not his personality.." Ace said, narrowing his eyes at Luffy. "But oh well..your going to watch over him for awhile"
"What do you mean?" Nami asked raising an eyebrow.
"Because he came late...his full paid dorm was given to another student that needed one...so...Luffy is homeless..unless" Ace said with a grin.
"Unless..?" Nami said, hoping she didn't hear him right.
OOO
The sun starts setting in the horizon. Nami was walking on the sidewalk to her apartment. "Curse you Ace...why me of all people!" she thought with her arms crossed underneath her chest, staring at the ground. "I barely have any furniture...and he expects me to have a roommate who eats three times more than me" she thought with a sigh and looks over her shoulder with a glare. "Also...why is he walking so far from me!".
Luffy was walking far behind her, wearing his hat, looking around with his hands in his pockets. Nami looks forward feeling awkward now since they haven't spoken to each other from the start of the walk. What went wrong, they were talking normally when he first woke up. Its when she started to ask him questions that's what made Luffy tense up. She clenches her hand, frustrated. She turns around and looks at Luffy with a serious expression.
"Why are you walking so far from me!?" she shouts, wanting an answer.
The sudden shout, surprised Luffy and knocking him out of his thoughts. He didn't know how to answer her. He just smiles nervously. Nami continues to glare for a while longer and turns around.
"Forget it..just keep on ignoring me!" Nami said angry. "I don't care"
Luffy sees Nami walking further away from him and begins walking again. He has his hat shadowing his eyes. He didn't want to make her angry it's just, too hard for him to be around her. Looking at her orange hair, shining by the light, it was hard not to go to her. Meeting her again, made him happy but, things are a little different now. Luffy turns his head to the direction of the sun, setting completely. "Endanger them or keep them out of harm's way" he thought thinking back on who told him that.
"Come on...hurry up" Nami said, at the front door.
Luffy turns to her and steps forward. The closer he gets to her, he can feel his mouth about to open. He knew what was going to come out but he can't. Though, he knew that the closer he gets to her, the easier it is to tell her the truth.
"Sorry.." Luffy said grinning, running to her.