Authors' Notes:
Con: Huh, no going to sleep and waking up the next morning this time... o: We're slipping. o.o
Darth: Great, now nobody is going to be reading this. They didn't get what they came for.
Con: Too damn bad. *Plugs nose* o.o They have to read it, because I said so.
Darth: There would be a lot more bestsellers if that was how getting an audience worked.
Con: Right? -.- Well, apparently, that's not how we work. They'll just have to deal with this.
Darth: Indeed. I'm still surprised people are still reading this.
Con: Yeah, me too, considering it's an AU, but people have told me that like it. o.o Crazy, right?
Darth: Well, unless you write an in universe story perfectly identical to Oda's style you'll always come up short. I actually really like AUs.
Con: Indeed, and I quite like AUs as well. Anyways, hope you guys like this chapter. :-)
Darth: Please come back after you finish.
Con: Yes, please! ^_^
Charmed
Chapter 14: She Fears
As they neared the town, Luffy turned to look at the others and said, "Now we just need to... What are you all wearing?"
"Eh?" Nami looked behind her and blinked at them. "Wha...?"
Vivi cleared her throat and looked to the side. "Um... earplugs..." she said, removing them from her ears.
Luffy blinked. "Why... were you wearing earplugs?"
Nami just blinked at them, totally oblivious. "Heh...?"
Gen groaned and rolled his eyes, keeping his earplugs in, while Zoro snored away softly.
"Well.. .anyway..." Luffy cocked an eyebrow, "we should find Captain Igaram and Pell, and the rest of the guards as soon as possible." He turned around and frowned. "I'm surprised we haven't found them yet... They should have met us partway..."
Vivi frowned softly and said, "I'm surprised they didn't follow at all. I'm a little worried about them."
"I'm sure we'll find them," Nami said, frowning deeply as she looked around, but then suddenly, a few men ran up towards Merry.
"Ah, miss! A lot of us saw what happened yesterday! You weren't hurt were you~? Is there anything I can do?"
"She doesn't need anything from you! I could help you with anything! I have a shop with produce! I'll give you anything you want!"
"How about a massage? Are you sore anywhere!?"
Nami frowned softly, instinctively moving a little closer to Luffy and away from the men. "I'm fine," she muttered to them, nearly pressing her face into his back, as if to hide.
Vivi blinked to this, but then her brows slowly started to furrow. Gen frowned deeply to the men, not liking how Nami seemed a bit afraid, and so yelled, "Oye!"
Luffy's eyebrow twitched. He shifted so that he was more between them and her. "All of you, either tell us what happened to the other men we were with, or piss off." He really, really couldn't stand all these men trying to get too close to her, especially when he knew it frightened her.
Robin smiled. Even if they fought, she enjoyed seeing how protective he was of her. Nojiko's eyebrows shot to her hairline. What was going on here!?
They all turned to glare at Luffy, looking very displeased with him, especially how close he seemed to be to the angel. "What'a you care? They all ran off that way," one of them said, pointing towards another road, "and we were talking to the beautiful lady."
Gen frowned even deeper as he watched Luffy. Something just wasn't right here. Nami turned away then, not wanting to deal with this. This time, she did bury her face within his back, feeling instinctively safe with him.
"Not anymore you aren't," his eyes started glowing blue, and he summoned a glowing blue orb of energy. "Piss off."
They all blinked up at Luffy, glancing towards Nami, who was no longer looking at them, and a tad more closer to Luffy, but just far enough away that her breasts wouldn't touch him. They then looked back up at Luffy before running off and called over their shoulders, "Yes, sir!"
Sighing in relief, Nami then sagged a bit before finally turning to look where they had run off to. This, or course, reminded her why she couldn't leave just yet. Gen's brows rose up at how far he went, just to make them go away, and how far he was going to protect someone he'd been bickering with the entire journey.
Luffy's eyes turned back to normal, and the orb winked out of existence. Taking a deep breath and exhaling, he then turned to look at Nami and then at the others. "So did anyone else see where they pointed? I wasn't paying that much attention to that..."
Gen and Vivi blinked up at him. What was going on!? Then both Vivi and Gen pointed in the direction they'd pointed in, and Nami peered up at Luffy a bit sheepishly, her cheeks flushed slightly.
Nojiko burst into laughter. "Sorry," she said, when Luffy stared at her, waving him away, "I just realized something is all."
"Oh," Luffy blinked. He then looked, where the convoy had apparently gone. "So," he said, looking down at Vivi, "it's your decision. Should we go after them, or press on to Mariejoie?"
She sighed then and looked down "I should be getting to Mariejioie. I have a deadline, and the others might not like me looking for them and risk something else going wrong," she said, thinking she may have lost before having entered the running at all, or if there ever was one. The mage obviously cared for the orange haired woman... quite a bit, and even if she bickered with him, she trusted him... quite a bit...
"Then let's get a move on!" Nami said, returning back to her usual self.
"Right," Luffy wheeled Merry in the proper direction, and they set out for Mariejoie.
"How far to the next town, or are we going to have to camp again?" Nami asked with a deep frown.
Robin pulled out a map. "We should be able to make the next town before nightfall. As we get closer to Mariejoie, the towns and villages become much closer together."
"Oh, well that's good," Nami said with a nod. "I don't like camping much."
"Me neither," Vivi agreed, still looking a little down.
"Maybe we should get something to eat first though," Nami said with a frown as she looked around.
"I agree," Luffy's said and so did his stomach, as it stomach growled.
"I can cook something Nami-san," Sanji offered with a bright smile and a bow from atop his horse.
"Eh?" Nami questioned, turning to look at the blond man and smiling. "Really? You cook?"
Gen snorted. "Yeah, pretty good too," he muttered, but loud enough to be heard.
"Ah, really?" Nami smiled then before turning to smile more brightly at Sanji. "That would be wonderful, Sanji-kun~! Now we just need to buy whatever you need to do it~!"
Nojiko nodde and said, "Yeah, I've never met a man who could cook as good as him."
Luffy snorted.
"Well," Robin said, "while we are still in town, let us restock our provisions. Perhaps we could visit the shop one of your 'suitors' owns?" she suggested to Nami with a wink.
Nami laughed nervously and said, "I-I guess we could. One did mention he owned a produce store. Did you happen to notice where he ran off to?"
"That way," Robin pointed in the right direction. "I paid attention, because I've been saving quite a lot on groceries since meeting you two."
Nami laughed nervously again before giving Luffy a pat on the back. "That way then..." she said, pointing a bit towards the man's shop.
Luffy nodded grimly and led the horse to the shop. Once there, he dismounted and helped Nami down. Nami allowed this, but only took a small step towards the shop with a deep frown and called, "Hello?"
The man immediately came out to her voice and smiled brightly. "Aah~! So you came after all~! I knew I could be of service to such a beautiful woman!"
Gasping in surprise, Nami took a step back, bumping right back into Luffy. "Aah! Um," she said, but then laughed nervously. How the hell was she able to do this before the incident? "Um, we jus... need a few things," she said before turning to Sanji. "Whatever he wants ..." she said and pointed.
However, the shopkeeper then glared at Sanji, but said, "If this is what the beautiful lady desires..."
"I-It is," ahe said, frowning deeply.
"Very well... Please... come inside..." he said, bowing to Nami.
Sanji glared back at the man and followed him inside. He glanced over at Nami, who was very nervous. He wondered, what had happened to make her this nervous. Once inside, Sanji picked out all the ingredients he needed for the afternoon's meal, and some more for later. Luffy placed a hand on Nami's shoulder, not saying anything.
At feeling Luffy's reassuring hand on her shoulder, Nami relaxed, and even more so when the shopkeeper went inside. Gen glared at Luffy. He was getting tired of wondering what the hell was the deal with them. "Keep in mind you're only getting these things, because the beauty said so," the shopkeeper said, glaring at Sanji with his arms crossed.
"You only serve customers that are with beautiful women? That's a terrible business practice," Sanji snapped at the man, though he should not be talking...
"Of course not! The lady is special~!" the shop owner said, clapping his hands together with a far off smile. "She has something about her~!"
"Can't disagree with that," Sanji wasn't feeling whatever influence the other men were feeling, but he himself was practically the walking incarnation of the spell. "So how much for all this?"
"Free, because of the lady. Now shoo!" he said, shooing Sanji off. Nami blinked when Sanji was being shooed out.
"Oh, but-!"
"Ah, don't worry, my lovely lady~! He got all he needed at no cost~! Don't you worry your pretty little head~!" he said, coming up to her and taking her hand in his and had intended to kiss it, but Nami gasped, trying to pull away, fear filling her eyes.
"Thank you," Luffy said, grasping the man's wrist. "But I hope you'll understand, if I tell you she doesn't like being touched."
The man blinked and paled, the grip on his wrist was very tight, and so he looked up and smiled nervously with sweat beading down his face. "Of course..."
Nami backed away quickly, a little pale herself, and instinctively ended up pressed into Luffy's side. Gen narrowed his eyes further. Once the shopkeeper had been released and went back inside, Gen turned to Nami and asked, "Na-chan ... what happened to you?"
Nami stiffened, not looking up at Gen. "N-Nothing, it was nothing. I told you that. I... I got into a little trouble, but Luffy... managed to... It was nothing. I'll figure this out," she said before turning away.
Nojiko, who had been worried at her sister's behavior nodded, when Gen asked what had happened to her. "Are you sure? The men... seem to get very pushy around you..."
Luffy's jaw locked, and he clenched his fists, remembering the incident.
"I don't want to talk about it!" Nami said a little forcefully, though Gen was now paying attention to Luffy. "I'll figure this out," she said more quietly and forced herself to relax.
Vivi frowned softly to the woman before looking over at Robin. Robin's expression was guarded, though she watched Nami with understanding eyes.
Luffy looked over at Nami. He could still see the scene in front of him. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm down.
Sanji scoffed. "It was probably this idiots fault," he said and nodded at Luffy.
Luffy's eyes flared for an instance. "Yeah..." he averted his eyes, "it was..." He still felt the guilt... If he hadn't gotten her so mad, that she left alone...
Nami gasped softly, her eyes widening as she stiffened, but then she clamped her fisted together and lowered her head. Her eyes softened as her cheeks flushed darkly. He still blamed himself for what happened. She couldn't help but to remember their talk after the fact. The way he'd looked at her, and how he'd touched her. Tears came to her eyes then. She hadn't understood it. She still didn't. If he did feel guilty, why did he still argue with her all the time and piss her off? "W-We... should go," she finally said, moving back towards Merry, and Vivi frowned a little deeper, looking between them both.
Gen frowned very deeply at Luffy. How could this boy, who kidnapped their Na-chan, care so much about her? Sanji's eyes widened at the confession. Now if only he knew what had happened. Nojiko was certain then. The boy was falling in love with Nami, if he wasn't already. Robin frowned. She knew that it had been, because of their argument, but hadn't realized that he blamed himself to that extent.
Luffy nodded and said, "Yeah, we should." He climbed back onto Merry and held his hand down to Nami.
Nami kept her head lowered for a bit before finally looking up at his hand. Her eyes were still glossy with unshed tears, and her expression a soft frown before finally looking up at Luffy. Sighing then, she took his hand and climbed back onto Merry. However, she just kept her head lowered once seated, even pressing the top of it against Luffy's back.
Gen's brows rose up a bit to Nami's expression as she looked up at the brat, wondering what it meant.
Nojiko nodded. It was faint, but for whatever reason, she could tell that the mage was more important to her sister than Nami would admit.
Luffy's heart clenched at Nami's expression, and the tears in her eyes. If he could, he realized at that time, he'd do anything to help her forget that moment, when those... animals... He shook his head. "Lets... stop somewhere; a ways out from the town, we can have lunch there."
Nami nodded and muttered, "Sounds fine..."
Vivi gave a deep sigh. Even if she had lost this, she couldn't help but to think it all a little romantic. While sweet, Robin had to admit, a little too much drama for her tastes.
Once they had traveled a good distance from the village, Luffy stopped Merry. "Here's good, we can eat here." He turned around and glanced at Zoro. "Is he going to wake up for food?" he asked Robin.
Robin shrugged. "Maybe, I gave him some herbs to help him sleep."
Luffy blinked. "Why did you do that?"
Robin didn't answer, and instead she dismounted.
"Okay," Luffy said, turning to Sanji. "Blondie. Food."
Sanji's eye twitched. "My name's Sanji, and I don't take orders from you."
"Whatever," Luffy shrugged. "Just... do whatever it is you do."
Sanji muttered, but set about to prepare the meal.
"Thank you, Sanji-kun, for making us this meal," Nami said, though a bit quietly, but she smiled at him none the less, but then the pursed her lips at Luffy. "He is cooking for all of us. You could at least be nice," she said before sliding off from Merry and going to her bags.
"Fine," Luffy sighed. Glad that she was showing signs of getting back to normal. "Please make food, Sanji?"
Luffy was ignored. "Hai, Nami-swan," Sanji said subserviently, catering and bowing.
"Oh great," Luffy muttered in irritation from being ignored. "Him too?"
Nami blinked at Sanji, frowning a little deeply, and pressing herself a bit against Merry. "Oh nah, the boy's just like that. Boy's naturally stupid," Gen said, waving it off.
"Eh?" Nami questioned, looking to Gen and Nojiko.
Nojiko nodded and said, "Yeah..." and then she sighed, "watch." She walked over to Sanji, and then she smiled sweetly. "Oh, Sanji-kun, could you make something extra special for me and my sister?"
"Hai, Nojiko-chwan," Sanji said, with the exact same reaction as he had around Nami.
"Oh," Nami said, relaxing a bit, "all right then." She frowned, still digging in her bags. "So... Sanji-kun... you don't... feel anything... strange around me then?"
"Strange?" Sanji blinked, looking up from the food he was preparing. "Ah, you must mean the potent pull of love. That sweetest sirens call, that..." He swooned.
Luffy, who was getting the fire started, felt his eye twitch. It was happening more often. Kind of getting annoying.
"Ah... no... like... how you usually act... You know what? Never mind..." Nami said, smiling sweetly. "Do you have magical abilities?"
"A little bit, Nami-swan," Sanji admited. "I've been known to augment my fighting ability with some spells, mostly fire based."
Luffy snorted and muttered, "Fat load'a good that did you."
"Oh, then you wouldn't be affected by me then," she said, relaxing further, and then brightened, when she found what she was looking for. A smile spread across her face, and then she walked to Merry's front. "Here you are, Merry," she said softly, holding up the apple for him. "Look what I've got for you," she continued to coo, petting over his face softly, her expression mimicking her words.
Luffy's and Sanji's eyebrows twitched at the same time. "Dumb animal," they both muttered at the same time.
Merry neighed appreciatively, and took the apple from Nami's hand, his lips brushing the palm of her hand.
Nojiko giggled and walked over to the horse. "Oooh, he's such a nice horse," she said and petted his neck.
"Lucky animal," Sanji muttered, but this time, Luffy didn't say anything. He only glared at his stupid horse.
"Merry's sucha good boy~!" Nami cooed and giggled, petting over his head, ears and his nose gingerly. "Would you like another apple, Merry? I think I have one somewhere in my pack."
Merry neighed in the affirmative, alternatively nuzzling Nami and Nojiko.
Nami giggled, petting the horse before going to check the pack and finding another apple, and then she held it up for Merry. "Here you go~!"
Merry ate the apple from her hand, snorting, and blowing several strands of hair on her head around.
"Ooooh, I want to try," Nojiko said, entranced by the incredibly tame animal.
"Hmm, lemme see if I have more," Nami said, giving a look before finding a pear. "Here's a pear," she said, handing it to her sister.
Nojiko took the pear and held it out to Merry. The horse ate the pear, carefully, out of her hand. His lips tickled as he ate the fruit, making Nojiko giggle.
"Oooh~!" Nami cooed, giving Merry a hug. "You're sucha good boy~! And so cute! All white with grey feet and a grey nose~!" she continued, rubbing Merry's nose, her cheeks bright and flushed and her smile wide.
"What is it," Sanji said, rhetorically, "about horses, that brings out the little girl in all women?"
Luffy frowned at the horse, glaring at Merry's shamelessly enjoying the attention.
"Hey," Sanji called. "Do you have that fire ready?"
"Yeah, yeah," Luffy muttered and snapped his fingers. A large column of flame erupted from the fire pit. He yelped and jumped backwards. It happened again!
Gasping and jumping, Nami looked over to them and frowned. "Would you be more careful with that!?"
"Sorry, sorry," Luffy said, patting flames out of his robe. He stood back and admired his handy work. "Have to say though, lighting fires is so much easier, when I can make this much, not just that lame little match head amount."
"It's dangerous is what it is!" Nami said, going over to give him a pop on the head.
"Oww," he muttered. "And what do you call those thunderstorms you keep calling?"
"So what was this fire all about then!?" Nami yelled, and Gen groaned, rolling his eyes. Not again...
"What?" Luffy muttered. "I was irritated..."
"About what!? What've you got to be irritated for!?"
Gen frowned at the brat. He was even jealous of the horse? That was a little funny... and thus, he sniggered. Nojiko covered her mouth with her hand. The horse? Seriously?
"Just... earlier... those guys were being annoying..." Luffy muttered with a purse to his lips.
"Earlier when!? What're you even talking about!?" Nami said, hands on her hips.
"In the village," he murmured.
"That was a long time ago!" she exclaimed, frowning at him deeper. "Ugh! You're ridiculous!" she said, turning her attention back to Merry. "How do you put up with such a silly master, Merry~?" she cooed, rubbing her nose against Merry's.
"A long time ago? It was only earlier today!"
Liar. Nojiko thought, nuzzling the horse again. "I don't know how Merry does," she laughed. "How do you put up with him?" Merry just neighed in return, as if trying to tell his story.
"Who knows~! Poor Merry~!" Nami cooed. "He shouldn't be annoyed after so long already~!"
"I think he's jealous," Nojiko whispered to her sister.
Nami blinked, looking clueless, and then she asked, "Eh?"
"Your kidnapping mage friend," Nojiko clarified with a smirk.
"Heh?" Nami still questioned, looking confused now. "Luffy? Jealous of what? think he wanted an apple too, or something? He is a greedy hog when it comes to food. Poor Merry," she cooed again with a pout.
"Not exactly," Nojiko laughed.
"Eh?" Nami said and frowned then. "What're you going on about, Nojiko?" Gen snorted quite loudly.
"Maybe you'll figure it out on your own sometime," Nojiko said and patted her sister's cheek. Then she pulled her in for a hug, tears welling in her eyes.
Nami blinked in utter confusion, going stiff in her sister arms. "E-Eeh?"
"I was so afraid," she sobbed. "I was afraid that I wouldn't see you again."
Nami blinked a few more times, but then her eyes softened and saddened as tears came to them. Then she closed them, hugging her sister back, and she said, "Oh, Nojiko... I... I... I'm sorry. Please don't cry. I missed you so much."
"Sorry..." Nojiko whimpered. "I'm just so... so glad I found you again..."
Luffy felt his chest tighten painfully. So this was what he'd done? All so that he could get paid? He'd gone to save them from Arlong, and ended up causing even more pain. Suddenly, he could understand why Nami hated him so much. He stood up and decided to take a walk, give them some time to themselves, away from the one who'd torn them apart.
Sanji looked away from the sisters' private moment. He noticed Luffy walking away and frowned. Did that bastard even realize the pain he'd put those two sisters through? And all the people that cared about them?
Nami buried her face in her sister's neck, and cried softly, "I'm all right though. I still can't believe you came after me."
"Of course I did. We're sisters," Nojiko said and rubbed Nami's back. "I'll always come for you."
"I would have come for you too, Nojiko," Nami said, leaning back to cup her sister's face and smile softly.
Nojiko smiled wanly, and caressed her sister's cheek. "I love you."
Nami's expression warmed as she tilted her head slightly "Oh, I love you too, Nojiko!" she said before throwing herself into her sister's arms for another hug.
Nojiko tightened her hug around her sister, and kissed the top of her head.
After awhile, Nami pulled away, but then blinked as she finally glanced around the small encampment. "Eh? Where'd Luffy go?" she asked, looking about, but not seeing him anywhere.
"Somewhere over there," Sanji said and waved in the general direction.
Nami blinked again before frowning, and unbeknownst to even herself, she felt uneasy without him in sight. With a huff, she kissed her sister's cheek before standing up. "What'd he go walking off for?" she grumped as she headed in the direction Sanji had pointed in, and Vivi frowned softly as she passed her.
Luffy sighed, leaning against a tree. He was trying to figure out his new realization, console it with his knowledge of what would happen, if he came back empty handed. The more he thought about it, the more muddled the whole situation became.
"Oh, there you are," Nami said, crossing her arms as she stood off some distance. "What're you doing?"
"Oh," he looked over at Nami. "Nothing, just thinking..."
"Thinking? Are you sure? You weren't just staring off into nothing and thinking about nothing? You're pretty good at doing that," she said, pursing her lips at him a bit.
"So?" he said and frowned. Why was he feeling sorry for her again? "Is it time to eat yet?"
"Nah, just thought I would interrupt your solitude," she said with a shrug. After all, she couldn't go without bothering him at all.
He frowned at her, and then he said, "I'll be sure to return the favor in the future."
She snorted to this. "I'll look forward to it then," she said sarcastically, "but don't expect to survive if you try coming around, when I'm trying to bathe." She then turned around and walked back to camp.
He rolled his eyes, pushing off the tree to follow her. "I think I'll pass on that. Don't see why I'd want to be around you while your bathing anyway."
"Oh? Why do you say that?" she asked in a huff.
"What? You want me to peek on you bathing?" he asked and smirked.
"I didn't say that!" she snapped, turning to offer him a glare, though her cheeks had some color, but just as quickly, she turned back around and walked into the camp, looking huffy.
He laughed, following her back to the camp. Well, at least they had fun together, even if a lot of it was annoying.
Gen looked up then with narrowed eyes, watching as the two came back, though he wondered what had happened when they'd been out of sight. "Yeah, laugh it up now!" Nami said, glaring at him over her shoulder before going back to Nojiko.
Luffy just shrugged and went to sit by the fire, where Sanji was preparing food.
Nojiko looked over at Nami. "Lover's spat?" she asked her.
"Are you out of your mind!?" Nami screeched, looking completely appalled and perhaps a little pale.
Nojiko laughed and said, "I'm only teasing you. Though," she added thoughtfully, "that was a very interesting reaction from you."
She didn't have to be that horrified at the idea, Luffy thought to himself.
"Whatever are you talking about, Nojiko!? You're beginning to worry me!" Nami said, frowning down at her sister deeply before sitting down with a huff. "Let's change the subject, shall we? I don't want to have any nightmares tonight," she muttered with a shudder.
"Nightmares?" Nojiko said and frowned. "Have you been having nightmares lately?"
Nami snorted into laughter and said, "No, I meant... Never mind." She shook her head with a sigh.
"I know what you meant," Nojiko snickered and elbowed Nami jokingly.
Nami pursed her lips at her sister then. "You're scaring me," she said, glaring slightly.
"What? Can't take a little teasing?" Nojiko said and laughed.
Nami snorted then. "Whatever," she muttered quietly, wondering why her sister was teasing her in the first place.
"I missed you so much," Nojiko said and gave her sister a one armed hug. "I'll make sure no one separates us again. Except maybe, when the right men come around." She laughed.
Nami frowned deeply with a flush and said, "Right men huh? Who do you think I am?"
"You're a woman, aren't you?" Nojiko asked and gripped her shoulder.
"But men!? Only need one," she muttered, her cheeks growing red once again.
"One for you, one for me," Nojiko said and rolled her eyes at her sister's misunderstanding. "That makes men."
"Oh, right," Nami said with a sigh, lulling her head to the side and into the palm of her hand.
"So, how much money are you making from this job?" Nojiko asked Nami.
"Supposedly, two thousand gold pieces," Nami said, looking down at the ground.
Nojiko's eyes widened. "Really? Wow, that would be enough to rebuild the village several times over."
Nami nodded with a smile and said, "Yeah, I should be getting about that much, or a little more after Luffy and I split the money."
Nojiko rolled her eyes and said, "Don't see why he should be getting any after the stunts he pulled."
"It's not like I have a choice or anything," she muttered between her tightly pursed lips.
Nojiko frowned and said, "Really? 'Cuz it seems to me like he just might give you his share if you asked him nicely."
Nami frowned at her sister as if she were daft and said, flatly, "There is definitely something wrong with you..."
"I have several days worth of banter to make up for," Nojiko said and rubbed her chin with her hand.
Nami snorted then, closed her eyes and turned away from her sister. "Well, keep saving it up!"
"But it's so much fun!"
"You just wait, Nojiko! Soon, I'm going to have something to tease you about!" Nami said, giving her sister a fussy pout.
"Hardlyyyyyy ~ !" Nojiko said and laughed.
"You'll see!" Nami cried, her lips sticking out a bit more.
"Oooh~! I'm scared now." Nojiko snickered, enjoying herself immensely.
"You should be! I'll find something on you! And I don't even know what you're picking on me about! And that makes it worse!" Nami huffed and stood up quickly before going over to Merry, "You'll be nice to me. Won't you, Merry?" she said, nuzzling the horse's neck.
Merry nipped at Nami's braid.
"You don't know, and that's what makes it funny~!"
Nami snorted again, and for some reason, that made her blush. What was Nojiko talking about? But then she patted Merry's nose and said, "Oye, that's my hair your nibbling on."
Merry licked at her ear.
Nami giggled and moved away a bit with a bright smile. "Well, aren't you a little flirt~? Getting fresh with me!" she said, laughing then and going back to hug the horse.
"Stupid animal," Luffy and Sanji muttered at the same time, then both turned to glare at each other, before finally turning away.
"He is, isn't he?" Nojiko said and laughed.
"Yes!" Though her reply was bright with laughter as she rubbed Merry's nose. "He's sweet~!"
"Lunch is ready," Sanji called, starting to deal out portions.
"Oh, all right," Nami said, smiling now at Sanji. "Thanks, Sanji-kun," she said before going over to get herself a plate.
Luffy stared down at his plate of food. "Why've I got so much less than anyone else?" he asked and glared at Sanji.
"Because you're a shitty rubber headed kidnapper, that's why," Sanji said and glared back at Luffy.
"Why you bastard..."
Nami sighed then, sitting down on her stump. "Did you really expect them to just like you?" she said with her eyes closed as she ate.
Vivi frowned softly, looking over at Luffy, and she had opened her mouth to speak, but Nami opened hers first. "You can have what I don't eat... okay?" she said, though her voice sounded as if she was chiding him.
Luffy blinked at her and asked, "Really?" He found it hard to believe, but that was pretty nice of her.
"If... I have anything left," she said and smirked then, looking quite smug.
Vivi sighed deeply and drooped. If Nami didn't have anything left, she would offer hers.
"Fine by me," Luffy smiled, and started eating his much smaller portion of food.
Nami snorted again, but her smirk turned into a small smile as she started eating, and like she had expected, she couldn't eat all of what Sanji had given her. Getting up, she went to him and thrust out her plate to him. "Here, stupid."
"Thanks," Luffy grinned up at her, "scary lady."
She snorted and pulled the plate back with a smirk. "I don't have to give it to you!"
"Aack!" Luffy cried and grabbed for the plate. "Nonononono, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! don't do that please!"
Nami grinned then with a giggle, still holding the plate away, and then she asked, "Are you gonna call me a scary lady then?" Gen quirked his brow and just watched the play ...
"Never," Luffy swore, but then added, "Well... maybe later..."
"Ooohoho~!" Nami said, pulling the plate further back and even taking a step back. "I'm sorry? What was that?"
"Nothing, I swear," Luffy said, reaching for the plate again.
Pushing against his chest with a nasty smirk and quite the evil chuckle, she then, after awhile, brought the plate down for him to take. "It's probably cold now."
Luffy took the plate and said, "Thanks." He then pointed at the fire. "Got that if it's too cold." But it wasn't, so he finished eating it.
Sanji's eyebrow twitched. Why was she giving her food to that shitty rubber mage?
Gen's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Nami take her seat back on the stump. Did she have feelings for the boy too then? He had noticed that she trusted him, even more than she seemed to realize. She instinctively knew that he would protect her.
"Um, Luffy-san... y-you can... have the rest of mine as well," Vivi said shyly with a blush as she gave him her plate.
Looking up at Vivi, Nami then frowned and said, "I already gave him some. He doesn't need more."
"H-He might!" Vivi called back with a soft frown, but Nami just snorted and looked away. Nami was obviously jealous of the girl, Gen observed. It was only a matter of time then for it to come to light to the both of them... that was... if the boy hadn't already noticed...
Yup, thought Nojiko, totally jealous.
"Oh, thanks Vivi," Luffy smiled and took Vivi's food as well.
Nami's brow twitched as she glared at Luffy and his smile to the girl. Gen could have sworn her eyes flickered with a blue glow, and looking up at the sky, he noticed a few clouds wanting to roll in, but something was suppressing them.
Robin looked up at the clouds and couldn't help, but roll her eyes. The girl had it bad, even if she was far from realizing it.
Snorting then, Nami leaned back against the tree next to the stump and seem to pretend like she didn't care as she closed her eyes. She forced her face to relax and crossed her arms under her bust, which pushed out over the bodice a bit.
Luffy noticed some clouds moving in and nervously glanced down at Nami. He blushed and looked away, when his gaze was attracted to her chest, and the support her arms were giving it.
Gen noticed this and snorted. He was definitely attracted to her, and he knew it. So then, the boy seemed to be aware of his feelings. Either that, or he was becoming more aware of it, faster than Nami was.
Nojiko had to smile, the circumstances aside, they were kind of cute. She had to admit, he looked pretty good, and when he was around her sister, something just seemed to click. She laughed lightly when she considered, that perhaps, he kidnapped her, not because she didn't pay him, but because he was overcome with passion.
xxxxx
It took them at least three hours to finally get to town, and everyone was on edge and irritable... seeing as the "happy" couple... had bickered the whole damn way! A person would think the two would run out of things to argue about, but no, they seemed relatively content to do it, and even seemed to enjoy it greatly. However, they were the only two having a "good" time.
"You're just too stupid to realize it, is your problem! You're such an idiot!"
"You can call me an idiot all you want, I really don't care~!" Luffy laughed, for some reason he was in a good mood.
"That's because you're too stupid to realize it's an insult!" Though, she knew that wasn't true, but she was trying to get some kind of rise out of him. She felt pretty good otherwise, and she wasn't sure why.
"You're the one, who can't think of any new insults. Seems like I'm not the only stupid one here," he retorted and looked around, spotting an inn. "How's that place look for spending the night?"
"Looks nice... actually. It'll do," Nami said with a smile before adding, "Your stupidity must be rubbing off on me."
Gen grumbled and grouched, muttering what the hell were they so happy about to Nojiko and why the hell were they happy about arguing for three damned hours straight!
Nojiko sighed. It had been cute at first, but had quickly grown tiresome. All she could answer Gen with was, "I don't know."
"Then go take a smart bath to wash it off," Luffy said as he led Merry to the inn and climbed down, offering to help Nami down.
Sanji's eyebrow was twitching, rapidly, as he glared at the rubber mage, and the fact that Nami seemed to be getting along with him, despite the obvious tension on the surface.
Robin was wearing her earplugs again. She did not mind one way or the other.
"Ooh~! You're so clever~! Maybe I will," she said with a huff, lifting her nose into the air, but allowed him to help her down. However, she jolted a bit at a slight spark she felt, causing her heart to jump and her breath to catch in a gasp. She blinked a bit, looking up at Luffy for a split second before just hurrying inside to get the rooms.
Luffy blinked, staring after her, when she gasped and suddenly hurried into the inn. Finally, he shrugged and took their bags, letting a stable boy take care of Merry. He then followed Nami inside.
Everyone else sombered inside, ready to lay down in peace and quiet, grateful the two "lovebirds" or whatever the hell they were, got a single just for themselves. Nami still felt uncomfortable about having to sleep with Luffy with her sister and Gen around, but Luffy needed his sleep in case something went wrong, right? He needed his power...
Once inside Luffy yawned and stretched. "How many rooms are we getting?" he asked Nami.
"Well, Robin can share a room with Nojiko and Vivi, and Gen, Sanji-kun and Zoro can all share a room. We can just ask for cots. Then... we can get a single, so two doubles and a single." she replied the last part quickly without looking at him as she approached the front desk.
"Sounds good," Luffy said, as he followed her to the desk.
"Right," Nami said, going up to the desk. "Excuse me..."
A man suddenly turned around, looking flighty with a smile, and then he said, "Yes~! My dearest love~ What can I do for you? Anything at all and it shall be yours~!"
Nami blinked at the man, finding herself backing away and not at all liking his possessive speech. "I-I..."
"We need three rooms,' Luffy said, stepping up beside Nami and putting his hand on her shoulder.
The man suddenly turned to Luffy as if noticing for the first time that he was there. "And you are?" he asked in a snooty voice as his eyes narrowed. "My lady can speak for herself~! Isn't that right, dearest?" he asked, beaming at her as he took her hand, which she had rested on the counter.
Gasping and jumping straight up against Luffy, Nami pulled her hand away, paling considerably as flashes of hands touching her entered her mind and without any thought coursing through her mind other than the fact that she did not want this man touching her, while she was here, she screeched, "My husband! We need a single and two doubles please, now!" Her eyes were wide and fearful, ad her body shaking slightly.
Gen's mouth dropped open wide.
To Be Continued...
Authors' Note:
Darth: First!
Con: First? O.O D: DX How dare you!?
Darth: The balance of power has shifted.
Con: Oh my dear goodness no! D: It's the end of the world!
Darth: There are some changes that need to be made. First, we need a harem in this story!
Con: No. o.o
Darth: And all the chapters will be nothing but sex scenes.
Con: Wait, what? O.o No. o.o
Darth: The first has spoken!
Con: The first is about to get his balls chopped off and forcefed to him. So, the first can go to hell. The master has spoken. No. o.o
Darth: Bah.
Con: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! :-D Until next time~! :-D
Darth: The first will rise again!
Con: And get drop kicked.