It had been about a week since the Straw Hat Crew increased in number, and since then everyone had fallen into their roles far easier than anyone had expected. Nojiko and Nami quickly became a bossy yet reliable pair, making sure the crew knew what they had to do and when to do it. At first Nojiko had been a little blase about the whole thing, maybe being a little too easy on the crew. Thankfully Nami quickly whipped her sister into shape, and soon the pair where ordering the men around the deck left, right and center.
Nojiko had also been training with both Sanji and Zoro, in an attempt to better herself in close range combat. After all, she seemed dead set on not being a liability to the rest of the crew. She seemed to pick up Sanji's kicks a little bit better than she did her training with Zoro, although that may have been because Zoro wasn't actually a master in hand-to-hand combat. He was just training her upper body after all. She also worked with Usopp a bit so she was a decent shot with her new pistols, the sniper making sure she was a steady shot in case she wasn't blasting someone close range. Regardless, she fell into the workings of the ship quite well.
Johnny and Yosaku, the resident Cabin Boys of the Going Merry, had also been hard at work for the past week. Granted, it was because Zoro was working them to the bone, but that wasn't really the point. The two men were woken up early in the morning, Zoro making them lift massive weights and stones for a few hours before letting Nojiko boss them around the ship for a bit. After that that they returned to training and sparing with Zoro, who didn't give them any room to relax. Any normal men would have dropped dead in the first few days, yet both held on throughout the week on just the meager breaks they were given. After the four day mark they both seemed like zombies just going through the motions, so Zoro decided to give them a break and recuperate. The whole crew had already gone through the motions so much that operating the ship without the two working actually took them a moment to readjust. After all, Zoro had wanted them to work hard at everything. That included doing as much for the ships daily workings as they could.
As things were going now, they would reach Loguetown within the next day if things went their way. But, as is with all things, something went awry in no time.
The Straw Hats peaceful afternoon was interrupted with a cannon firing, paired with the cannonball landing in the water near them.
"Gah!" Usopp shouted, sounding terrified as he fell backwards onto his back. "What the hell was that?!"
"Sounded like a cannon," Sanji replied as he stood back up straight from serving Nami her drink as she lounged around without a shirt on to tan. Usopp had no idea how everyone else was being so calm, someone had attacked them!
"What's going on out here?" Zoro asked, peeking his head out of the ship along with Nojiko, Yosaku and Johnny. Turning to look behind them, Usopp noted that a marine ship was tailing right behind them, preparing to fire another volley.
"There's marines behind us!" He cried in panic. "Luffy! What do we do?!"
There was no response.
"Luffy?! Where's Luffy?!"
"On the figurehead," Sanji replied, pointing ahead of them. Looking forward, the whole crew saw the Captain unconscious on Merry's figurehead, somehow snoozing amid the following cannon fire.
"Wake up!" Usopp shouted as he smacked Luffy on the head.
"Is it lunchtime?" Luffy asked, sitting up with a yawn. More cannons fired, this time many more coming close to the ship.
"We're getting attacked!" Usopp cried angrily. "We need to do something!"
"Chill out, Usopp." This time it was Nojiko who spoke up. Turning, he watched as the Quartermaster strapped her guns to her waist. "We can handle a single ship, can't we?"
"We can escape easily too," Nami said as she stood and stretched. "So let's get a move on and do that!" Before anyone else could speak, a mans voice cut through the air.
"STRAW HAT LUFFY!" He shouted, voice full of venom. "I'M HERE TO APPREHEND YOU! MY NAME IS LIEUTENANT FULLBODY, REMEMBER THAT AS YOU HEAD TO THE EXECUTIONERS BLOCK!"
"Fullbody?" Nami asked. "Wasn't that that pink haired loser from the Baratie?"
"Was it?" Sanji asked. "I don't really recall him. I only remember the beautiful lady he had with him!" This earned him a scornful look from the Navigator, but she sighed.
"If it really is him, he's not going to just let us escape. Should we fight back Luffy?" Luffy yawned as walked back to the rest of the crew, rubbing at his eyes.
"I suppose so," he said. "I hope they have some meat on board, we've been running low."
"And whose fault is that exactly?" Sanji asked. Under Nami's reluctant instruction, the crew of the Going Merry slowed their ship, which allowed Fullbody's ship to catch up. Once they had, the crew had already crouched underneath the railing as Marines boarded them.
"Find every single one of those pirates!" Fullbody's voice cried. "We're taking them in right here and now!" Once a full squad of Marines had come aboard, the crew jumped up and attacked. Zoro went after a pair with his swords, quickly knocking them unconscious. Sanji and Nojiko went after a pair as well, both kicking the enemies in the side of the head. Luffy grabbed the remainder of the soldiers with his rubber powers, flinging them backwards into their own ship with massive force.
Meanwhile, Usopp hid with Nami, Johnny and Yosaku. He watched weakly as the stronger crew members boarded the marine ship, cries of pain following as they dealt with the marines.
"I never realised Nojiko was so reliable in a fight," Nami said. "Then again, she's reliable in general."
"Why're you two hiding?" Usopp demanded towards the two training swordsmen. "Zoro gonna raise hell when he finds out you hid."
"W-We aren't used to having Marines as our enemy," Yosaku said with a weak smile. "We just hid on instinct."
"Some pirates," Nami muttered. Usopp suspected that both men were too scared to point out to the Navigator that she too was cowardly, which was honestly the healthiest choice. After a while the sounds of battle ceased, and Luffy's laughter sounded from the other ship.
"You guys can come out now!" He called. "We dealt with them!" Taking their Captains word for it, Usopp and the other three came out from their hiding place and crossed over to the marines ship. All over the deck where marines in various states ranging from little wounds to outright unconscious, however Fullbody was still conscious and being held by his collar as Nojiko dragged him over.
"You lot will pay for this!" He shouted. "Don't think that you'll make it to your destination alive!"
"Would you shut it already?" Nojiko asked. "Jeez. You sure talk big for a guy who hid behind his men until the last possible second." The Quartermaster tossed the man aside, looking towards Luffy. "We'll start searching the ship for anything of use. You wanna deal with this guy?"
"Sure," Luffy replied with his hands behind his head. "The faster we get to Loguetown the better." Nojiko nodded and looked towards Usopp and the others.
"Johnny, Yosaku." she said. "You guys go down below and see what you can find. Usopp, Nami, check his office and anything else."
"Yes Master," Nami said sarcastically, sticking her tongue out at her sister as she dragged Usopp towards the aforementioned office. Usopp ignored the cries from Fullbody before Luffy pummelled him, and then he grew silent. As the cowardly duo reached the office, Usopp noticed the wanted poster immediately.
"Luffy's wanted for 30 million?!" He shouted in disbelief as he stared at the poster. Nami grabbed it off the wall and inspected it closely, also looking stressed out.
"That's probably why Fullbody came after us," she hissed. "He wanted Luffy's head. I knew there was no way he only came to get revenge on Sanji!"
"What's the problem?" Luffy's voice came, him and everyone else appearing in the doorway of the office. Nami turned and brandished the poster at the Captain, who stared at it in confusion.
"You're head is worth thirty million Berries!" Nami shouted in exasperation. "That's why we got attacked!" Luffy only laughed at this.
"I'm worth so much!" He said happily. "That's awesome! We haven't even made it into the Grand Line yet!"
"Isn't that Usopp in the back of the picture?" Nojiko asked. Usopp's eyes widened and he snatched the poster back from Nami. Sure enough, in the background he was standing there with his back turned to the camera.
"Crap!" He shouted. "I'm in a wanted poster! I'm so dead!"
"It's not even your poster..." Zoro said, confused.
"I'm still in it!" Usopp cried as he collapsed to his knees. "They know I'm with Luffy! It's only a matter of time before I get my own bounty!"
"I think you'll be fine," Sanji replied as he lit a cigarette. "What does it say on the bottom there?" Nami grabbed the poster back and started to read it.
"Just a disclaimer about how it's not the Navy's fault if you resemble Luffy," she said. "Same old thing as- Wait. It says the bounty was issued by Captain Nezumi."
"Well that explains why he has it for doing something good," Nojiko said. "That rat really must have had it out for him."
"Who?" Luffy asked. Nobody bothered to answer the Captain. After all, he'd just forget again. As the group left the office, Johnny and Yosaku reappeared from below deck, carrying a chest between them.
"Look what we found!" Johnny called with a huge smile on his face. "You'll love this, Big Sis Nami!"
"Will I?" She asked. "Why?" On cue, both men lifted the chest open to reveal glittering gold coins and Berry notes. Nami squealed happily as she jumped down to hug the chest, both men backing up as she did so. The redhead snuggled the money as if it was her boyfriend that came home safe from a war zone and sighed happily.
"Looks like we found the funds for our shopping we need to do in Loguetown," Sanji said with a smirk. "After all, we all need something I'm sure."
"Thank you Fullbody!" Nami shouted. "You're the best worst marine ever!"
After dealing with Fullbody and robbing him of the treasure he'd been holding, the Straw Hats quickly arrived at Loguetown the next day. They could tell because Luffy had started bounding up and down like an excited child once the city got in range.
"Alright you lot, file in!" Nojiko shouted to the scattered members of the crew. The girl was wearing a green and yellow plaid shirt as well as jeans, which was accompanied by the ever present red bow in her hair. Even saying she'd packed everything she had, it really wasn't all that much. After all, all the money she'd earned before went to Arlong. "We're distributing the money for our visit, so line up and tell us what you need."
"Distribution?" Nami demanded, still hugging the chest from the other day. "These schmucks don't know the first thing about money!"
"Don't be greedy," Nojiko replied, grabbing her sister by the ear and hoisting her to her feet. "If they need the money they need the money. Simple as that."
"I'm going with these two to find a sword shop," Zoro said, referring to Yosaku and Johnny. "I need two more swords thanks to Mihawk, and they need better swords in general."
"Four swords," Nojiko replied. "How much do you think you need?"
"I dunno. three or four hundred thousand?" Nojiko ignored the hissing her sister did at this amount and nodded, digging through the chest. Once she'd stacked all the bills, she handed them to the swordsman.
"Get a good deal if you can," she said. "Who else?"
"We need groceries," Sanji said. "And with how Luffy eats, I'm really not sure how much I'll need. But give me as much as you think I need, Nojiko-swan!"
"You're last," Nojiko replied as she rifled through the money. "You can take the rest with Nami and go grocery shopping." Sanji gasped at this, collapsing to his knees.
"I've been set up with Nami-swan by her own sister!" He proclaimed. "Surely this is fate! You're the best Quartermaster ever, Nojiko-swan!"
"Yes yes, thank you." Nojiko replied as she stood back up straight with her own wad of money. "Usopp, you're coming with me."
"Huh?" The sniper asked, looking up from the chemistry set in front of him. "Where are we going?"
"Shopping," Nojiko replied, winking at him. "Don't worry about it, it'll be fine." Usopp looked doubtful, but he didn't say more. "Now, where's Luffy?"
"About thirty feet ashore already," Yosaku replied, looking off ship. Turning, Nojiko watched the Captain running through the streets ahead of them. Unable to lose her smile but still forcing a smile out, Nojiko shut the chest and let Nami snuggle it again.
"I guess we're good then," she said. "Return to the ship once you're done. And for the love of God, don't start trouble. I know saying that without Luffy here might make no sense, but Lord knows he'll find it anyway." With this the crews meeting adjourned, everyone moving off in their own separate way. Nojiko left with Usopp, the blue haired girl in search of a certain type of shop. She could tell from the look the sniper was giving her that he was confused, but he'd see what they were doing soon enough.
"Did you want to stay on the ship or something?" She asked him, making him perk up. "You look confused."
"No, I'm just confused as to where we're going." Well, she had no reason to hide it from him, but she figured he might like the surprise.
"We're looking for a Gunsmith," she replied. "I figure if Luffy called you a sniper, we should actually get you a rifle."
"...Huh?" Nojiko didn't know what he was confused about, but she didn't bother answering him as she saw their destination ahead of them. Walking inside, the pair wandered over to the rifles and began to shop.
"What do you think we should get you?" Nojiko asked as she examined the guns. "A bolt action would probably have more power behind it, but if you're not comfortable with your shot maybe a semi-auto would be better."
"...I dunno." Looking over at Usopp, she noted that he looked worried.
"What's the matter?" She asked, confused. Usopp was just playing with his fingers, mumbling something under his breath. "Speak up Usopp, I can tell something's bothering you."
"...I-I've never shot a gun before," he said. Nojiko blinked at him a few times, unsure if he was serious. He was supposed to be their sniper, was he not?
"Oh," she finally said. "That's fine, but I would think a sniper would want one, wouldn't you?" Usopp just let out a feeble sound, which wasn't really an answer that she could do anything with. "Does the idea of having one make you nervous?"
"N-Nervous?!" Usopp asked. "Captain Usopp doesn't get nervous! His enemies do once he shows his face on the battlefield! They tremble once I show myself on the-!"
"So that's what it is," Nojiko said as she cut him off. "You're nervous about using one."
"I-I said it wasn't!"
"I know but I don't believe you," she said, picking up a bolt action nearby. She turned and handed the gun to Usopp, who stared at it in confusion. "See if that feels good, if the sights line up and all that." Usopp just stared at the rifle weakly, but soon he took a deep breath and did as she asked, holding the rifle up to see if it felt right.
"I-I guess it feels good," he said. "Nice and lightweight too I guess. But..."
"But what?" Nojiko asked. Usopp made a face, probably trying to figure out what is what he wanted to say. Finally, he steeled himself and looked straight at Nojiko.
"I-I'm really not comfortable with this idea," he said. "I don't want to be shooting anyone, so I'd rather stick with my slingshot." Nojiko raised an eyebrow at him, which caused him to flinch a little, but he still stood his ground.
"Are you comfortable with the idea of one of us dying?" She asked. Usopp took his own turn to raise his eyebrow, looking confused.
"Huh?" He asked. Nojiko took one of her own pistols out and waved it back and forth it front of Usopp, his eyes watching it.
"These things aren't just show," she said. "I'd rather not use them at all, if I'm honest. I didn't join up with you guys to kill people, I came to look after Nami and be by her side. But if I have to use these things for any reason, I will. I'm not going to hesitate to pull this trigger on anyone who threatens her, or anyone else on the crew. Do you get what I'm saying?"
"N-No," Usopp replied. Nojiko put her gun away and lifted the rifle in Usopp's arms away from him.
"Picture it," she said. "Zoro, Luffy and Sanji are all tied up, guns to their heads. You're too far away for your slingshot to save them, so you can do nothing but watch lest you storm in by yourself. Oh how useful it would be to have a sniper rifle! Sadly, you don't like the idea of killing someone, so you neglected to get one. Now you have to watch as your friends get their brains blown out and-"
"Stop it!" Usopp shouted, hands over his ears. "I-I don't wanna hear that!"
"Then why take the chance of it happening?" She demanded, frowning at him. "What will you do if not having this rifle gets someone killed down the line, and you could have prevented their death if you had it?" Usopp was watching her, furrowing his brow as she spoke.
"What are you saying?" He asked. Nojiko frowned as images of Bellemere getting shot flashed through her mind.
"I'm saying we're entering the Grand Line," she said. "It's the most dangerous place in the entire world. On that sea, people kill others without a single ounce of hesitation. Entering that sea without that ability? You're dead already." She shoved the rifle back into his hands at this. "When I boarded that ship, I accepted that one day I may have to use these guns on someone threatening us. I don't like the idea, but I know it's a possibility. If using these guns let me protect Nami easier, than I'll take that chance. If I can prevent the death of someone I love with these, I will. Will you do the same?"
Usopp stared at her for a good long time, before he eventually looked back down at the gun in his hands. The silence lasted for a bit longer, but finally the man sighed.
"Fine," he said. "I get what you're saying. I'll take this rifle, and I'll protect the others with it." Nojiko smiled at him, slapping him on the back.
"I knew you had some balls after all."
"H-Hey! I'm the great Captain Usopp! My many enemies know I take no risks! I account for everything!"
"I'm sure you do 'Captain'. I'm sure you do."
Before anyone gets their panties in a twist, not to worry! Usopp's creative fighting won't go anywhere just because I gave him a gun! I just like the idea of him having one. I hope you enjoyed, leave a review!