"What the heck are you talking about woman?" yelled Zoro at Nami. "Changing our direction just because Robin heard some drunken pirates talking." Continued the angry swordsman.
"First, I'm the navigator so I decide where to go. Second, it is Vivi we are talking about here, if there is a slight chance she is in danger, we'll go help her." Replied Nami firmly, pressing her slender index finger roughly against Zoro's nose tip.
He rolled his eyes and slapped Nami's hand away "I'm not saying we shouldn't help her, what I meant is that we can't just sail to some random island and wait for the princess to be harmed. We are not even sure if they want to hurt her." Replied Zoro.
Nami glared at him threatening "I don't care what you say, we're still going there." Spoke Nami strictly as she walked to her map covered desk. Zoro jut sighed and walked to his usual sleep spot.
"Vivi, I am glad that your father trusted me with your safety." Said Koza politely, and bowed to his princess.
Vivi smiled at him and placed her delicate hand over his shoulders " Koza please don't bow." Said the princess softly as she straightened her friend's pose. 'Oh God! She is a goddess.' Thought Koza, admiring the princess beauty.
"My father always trusted you. You've always helped me when I needed." Continued Vivi with a smile.
Koza blushed lightly and smiled back at her, he had always liked her; ever since they were young, he liked her. Now, he is sure, he is falling for her.
"Well, if you excuse me Vivi, I have to go." excused Koza himself politely. Vivi nodded with a smile.
As soon as Koza left the room, Vivi turned toward her room's window and watched the sea waves hit the ship's bottom gracefully; she smiled remembering the same scene she watched, from the Straw-hats ship, two years ago.
"Here we are." Said Nami happily as the Thousand Sunny docket at the island port. Soon everyone left the ship; after perfectly hiding it of course.
Zoro walked slowly at the back of the group, bored. He watched the scene in front of him with puzzled eyes; Sanji and Nami walked close to each other accidentlytouching hands while the laughed and giggled about thing they only knew and jokes they only could hear. Zoro rolled his eyes in a bored manner to the other side just to lay his eyes on Franky resting his arm on Robin's shoulder. 'What's with everybody suddenly in love?' Zoro thought and sighed in disappointment.
He didn't fully understand the concept of loving and caring about someone this much , sure he did care for his crew but as friends, but getting involved with one of them …err….one of the WOMEN , was just too complicated for his moss-like head.
Suddenly, Nami stopped walking and let go of Sanji's hand, the man looked at her with puzzled and disappointed eyes.
"Nami-san is everything alright?" asked the blond man worriedly.
"It is Vivi." Whispered the orange haired beauty softly.
Nami ran towards the blue haired girl "Vivi!" yelled Nami wand waved at her happily.
Vivi turned towards the voice that called her name." Nami "said Vivi softly with a smile, she ran towards her navigator friend and waved back at her.
"Oi Princess!" yelled Pell and followed Vivi.
Vivi hugged her friend with couple of happy tears escaping her eyes "Oh Nami! I missed you a lot." Said Vivi wiping her tears away.
"Vivi-sama." Said Pell panting.
"It is Ok Pell, that's Nami, don't you remember her?" said the princess.
"Of course I do." Replied Pell. "Hello Miss, it's been a while. I am glad you are alright." Politely, Pell saluted Nami.
"Come on Vivi, come meet the others." Said Nami grabbing her friend's hand and running wildly to where her friends were.
After Vivi , and her guards, saluted the Straw-hats , they all went to a nearby restaurant and talked about their adventure and the reason why Vivi was on this island.
"So Vivi, what brought you to the New World?" asked Sanji blowing smoke.
Vivi stopped drinking her juice and looked at the blond chef "I'm on a mission." Said Vivi smiling. "I am here to speak to the king about having an alliance between Alabasta and this island." Continued the excited princess.
Zoro who was involuntarily staring at Vivi, admiring her curvaceous figure through her knee length purple dress, cleared his throat and looked at her "Isn't the New World a dangerous place for a princess like you Vivi?" asked the swordsman.
Before Vivi could answer, Koza replied "That's why we are here. I am here." He corrected himself.
Koza never liked that muscled swordsman, he didn't care whether he saved Alabasta or not. In fact Koza was a bit jealous; Zoro was a strong swordsman, a very strong swordsman.
Zoro rolled his eyes and sipped his sake, resting his eyes back on Vivi 'How come she became this beautiful?!' thought Zoro. Of course Vivi had always been beautiful, but never this beautiful; to catch his eyes and make him stare.
Koza noticed how the swordsman stared at the princess, he didn't like this situation , not at all.
Vivi sat quietly, watching how everyone has changed; Luffy a bit taller, but still with the same easy –going personality.
Chopper; much cuter. She couldn't believe how this reindeer got to be so cute.
Nami, of course her hair! She wondered what did she use these last two years to get her hair grow like that, and she definitely changed the way she treated the cook.
Usopp; a bit muscular with longer hair, but, she wondered, if he gained more strength and bravery.
Vivi looked at Zoro, who was still staring at her, and smiled at him, making him blush slightly and look away. 'Damn! What the heck is wrong with me staring like that?' he thought.
Turning his gaze to the other way gave Vivi a chance to notice how he changed, she noticed the big scar over his eye and wondered about what happened, but decided not to ask. As far as she is concerned, his new scar fits his perfectly shaped face and his body, obviously his muscles became bigger, and she noticed them as she looked at his partially covered chest. She turned her gaze away, blushing.
"Vivi, are you Ok?" asked Nami teasingly, already noticing the sexual tension between these two.
"Oh…um…yes I'm fine. It is just a bit hot here." Replied Vivi blushing even more.
"Have you met the king, Vivi?" asked Usopp biting his sandwich, he interrupted her conversation with Nami, and Vivi was grateful for that.
"No , not yet. We just arrived this morning and I wanted to take a tour at this beautiful island first. I heard that everything here is made of jewels." Answered Vivi, still feeling the heat rush through her whole body.
"Really! We should go for a tour too." Said Nami, excited.
"Yes I agree, I think it is time we go see the king Vivi, what you say?" asked Koza, he was dying to get out of this restaurant; he couldn't bear Zoro any longer.
"Yes, but…we just me them, can't we spend more time with them before we go." Replied Vivi.
"We have a mission to accomplish princess, and then maybe you can spend much time with them as you wish." Spoke Koza firmly.
"It is Ok Vivi, we are staying here for couple of days, you can finish your meeting and then meet us." Suggested Nami.
As soon as they walked out of the restaurant, a gunshot was heard. Zoro stood in front of Vivi and dodged the bullet swiftly with his sword. Koza's eyes widened in shock 'How did he…'
Couple of men dressed in black hoods ran away from the restaurant's door after seeing Zoro's move. Koza wanted to chase them but Chakka stopped him.
"Are you Ok Vivi?" asked Zoro turning to face the princess behind him.
"Yes I am Ok, thank you so much." Replied Vivi.
"Robin, are those guys the pirates you heard talking at the bar?" whispered Nami to her taller female friend, but Chakka heard her.
"I am not sure Nami." Replied Robin quietly, not wanting to attract anybody's attention.
"What do you know, woman?" asked Chakka, threatening Robin. He never trusted her, even if Vivi told him that she is alright now, and she is one of the straw-hats. To him she'll always be Miss All Sunday who helped Crocodile destroy their country.
"Oi! Calm down buddy! She had got nothing to do with this." Replied Franky in a protective tone as he glared angrily at Chakka and grabbing Robin to his side.
"Chakka, please calm down." Said Vivi. She took a deep breath and then spoke quietly "Miss All Sunday, do you know anything about this?" she asked calmly.
"The last island we've been to, I heard some pirates at the bar talking about you visiting Jewel's Island, but they didn't say anything specific." Answered Robin.
"Vivi, let's go to a hotel and stay there of today till we figure out anything about them. Maybe the king knows something." Suggested Koza.
"Staying in hotel isn't safe; they already know she is on the island. They might try again at night." Said Zoro calmly.
"Do you have any better idea?" asked Koza angrily. Damn, this guy was really getting on his nerves.
"Our ship." Answered Zoro simply, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"I agree with him, Koza. Let's stay the night on their ship." Said Vivi politely.
Koza only rolled his eyes in disbelief and sighed. He surely didn't like the way Zoro acted around Vivi, and the way Vivi responded to those acts.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry if the previous chapter was a bit boring, but this is because it was an introduction. And sorry if this chapter was a bit too long, but I was inspired heavily. :D
Read & Review please