I do not own One Piece! That will always belong to Eiichiro Oda!

"Why did you run away?" Arlong asked when they returned to Arlong Park and were in Nami's room. "And don't even think about lying to me."

Nami didn't look at him, her guilt for what happened to Luffy eating away at her. "He died because of me. Just like Belle-mere did," she thought.

Arlong didn't like the fact that Nami was ignoring him, but he knew something was wrong. She was too quiet, uneasy. Yes, she did run off hours before they were to marry, but there certainly had to be a reason. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he tried to talk to Nami again.

"Nami, did you hear what I asked you?" he lightly touched her shoulder.

She nearly jumped at his touch, eyes wide in alarm. "Wha-what?" she said.

"I asked why did you run away?"

"I was—nervous," Nami lied.

"Nervous?" Arlong looked at her questioningly. "You're telling me you got cold feet and ran away instead of speaking with me?"

"Since you're getting better at understanding human terms, then you should have known that seeing the bride before the wedding is bad luck," Nami said.

"Bad luck?" Arlong said.

"Yes."

Before Arlong could say another word, Hatchi knocked on the door, and he cautiously entered. "Arlong-san…?

"What is it?" Arlong said, glancing over at him.

"Nezumi is here, demanding to see you," Hatchi said.

"Demanding to see me?" Arlong said with a growl. "Did the rat say what he wanted?"

"No, Arlong-san."

Arlong was not in the mood to deal with Nezumi, but if he didn't see what he wanted, the odds were good that he might be foolish enough to cause trouble. "Fine," he said. Bring him here."

"Yes, Arlong-san."

Arlong looked at Nami. "Stay."

She made no protest but seemed more uneasy suddenly. Hatchi soon returned with Nezumi, who dared to smirk at Nami. Arlong did not like that, especially when the marine captain brought four of his men with him. He sent Nezumi away after getting the information on Nami's whereabouts. What did the rat have planned?

"Captain Nezumi, what a pleasant surprise," Arlong said, forcing himself to smile as he gestured Hatchi to go.

"Always good to catch up, Arlong," Nezumi said with a smirk. "Though I bring some troubling news. It seems there was some trouble at the Baratie, and I know you went there."

"There was only a disagreement," Arlong said, having calmly placed a stack of Beli on Nami's desk.

Nezumi seemed to glare at the Fishman. "I have additional concerns," he added.

"How many?" Arlong said.

"About twice as many as that."

Arlong was not pleased. "That's double our usual arrangement."

"Well, times are changing, and it's becoming harder to cover up your tracks and activities," Nezumi said. "I could have it disappear quickly if the girl was, let's say—handed over."

Arlong wasn't going to allow that. "Tell me, Captain," he said, placing more beli on the desk. "What is a fair price for your discretion? Ten thousand beli? Twenty thousand? I thought we had a fair deal."

"It is not easy keeping marine patrols out of this area, and the girl is a wanted criminal," Nezumi said. "Wouldn't it be a shame if word reached back to marine headquarters of your increased activity and that you're also harboring a thief?"

Nami might have stood off, but Arlong sensed her sudden fear. "Hmm," he said, pushing the stacked beli forward. "I guess it's just the price of doing business."

Nezumi stepped forward, satisfied that he had gotten one above the Fishman. "You're a lot smarter than people give you credit for," he said, smirking.

Nezumi's words rubbed Arlong the wrong way, and he stood taller, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Because I'm a Fishman?"

Nezumi suddenly realized his mistake a little too late. "That's not what I —"

"Does it surprise you that I have intelligence?" Arlong said. "Ambition? Usage beyond manual labor for humans?"

"N-not at all," Nezumi stammered. "I've personally felt no ill will towards your kind."

"And yet the leaders of your government that you so proudly represent saw fit to disparage and enslave my people," Arlong growled, his temper starting to grow.

"Slavery has been abolished," Nezumi said quickly.

"But your prejudice remains," snapped the saw shark.

Nami could see Arlong was getting worked up, very worked up. She had never seen him like this before. She didn't know much about his people, only that they hailed within the Grand Line, but the mention of slavery had riled Arlong.

"Fishmen have all the same rights as humans," Nezumi said.

"Do we?" Arlong growled.

Nezumi was undoubtedly trying his best to appease Arlong. "The World Government has worked very hard to foster the relationships between our people to keep the peace," he said. "Why a Fishman is one of the seven warlords."

Arlong snapped. "JIMBEI IS A FOOL!" he roared, slamming his hands onto the desk. "A GOVERNMENT DOG TO A INFERIOR MASTER! I SERVE NO MAN!"

Nezumi was terrified as he didn't dare look at Arlong but shifted his attention to the beli in his hands. "Perhaps I was a bit hasty," he said as he placed some of the beli on the desk. "I can accept the terms of our usual deal."

Arlong strangely clicked his tongue, still glaring. Nezumi nervously placed another smaller stack down before glancing uneasily at Arlong. "Yes," Arlong said as he grinned and nodded. "You're smarter than people give you credit for."

Nezumi was so frightened that he mouthed a thank you in silence before he turned and hurried out of the room. Arlong smirked with great satisfaction, knowing he put the fear in the rat.

"Arlong, is there something that you want to talk about?"

"What?" Arlong said, slowly glancing over to Nami.

"I've never seen you like that before," Nami said, stepping from where she had been.

Arlong had never mentioned what his people had faced or had gone through. He turned away painful memories coming back, the horrors he saw as a child, and the loss of the one he owed his life to. He closed his eyes, his body trembling as he struggled with his feelings. He felt a gentle touch on his arm and looked to see Nami at his side. Would she understand how it affected him or what he had felt all those years? She was a human but different, and he knew this. Nami was unique, an exceptional human.

"To you, I'm a monster," he said, unable to look at her. His eye dropped to the desk and the unfinished map that lay there. "The Arlong Empire—it's the only way I can keep everyone safe. To keep humans from the Grand Line, away from Fishman Island. I won't let them come and take more of my people to be sold off as slaves."

To hear Arlong speak like this surprised Nami. He was a ruthless, cold-hearted monster, but in an odd, twisted truth, he was trying to protect those he cared for. It still didn't excuse him for killing Belle-mere, but Nami started to wonder more about his reasoning. Was it because she was an ex-marine, and he saw her as a threat? No, she knew that wasn't the reason. Arlong killed her because she didn't have enough to buy her life, only enough for her and Nojiko.

What sympathy she had felt at that moment was replaced by pain, anger, and hate. No matter what had happened earlier, Arlong was still the same. The monster who took the life of her mother. The monster she agreed to marry, forfeiting her chance ever to be free of his cruelty. She drew back, no longer wanting to touch or look at him.

"Nami….?" Arlong said.

"You're right," Nami said, turning her back to him. "You're a monster. The monster who murdered my mother and laughed after doing the deed."

Arlong swallowed, an odd, strange feeling of guilt wallowing within himself. She did not lie about him laughing over killing Belle-mere. He couldn't change the past, couldn't undo his evil act. When he spoke, his voice was so strange for him to hear. "What do you want of me?"

He wouldn't be shocked if she demanded that he end his life. He said he would if he broke his promise to her by freeing her village. Arlong offered her a new deal that involved her becoming his wife, yet she switched the terms up that all the villages he ruled were released from his rule and that he and his men leave the East Blue.

"Apologize."

"Wha-?" Had he heard her right? Did she want an apology? "You want me to apologize?"

"Yes," Nami said, her back still to him. "You're going to apologize for all you've done. To Belle-mere, to all the people who have suffered because of you."

Arlong said nothing. What could he say? She wanted to humiliate him publically, and she would see that done. "If I do this, would this please you, or would me spilling my blood make you more happy?"

"Get the hell out," was all Nami said.

Arlong did as she said.

~~.~~.~~

The night sky was bright and filled with stars as Arlong made his way to Belle-mere's grave marker. He stood before the crude wooden cross, eyes staring at it; his body felt numb. He relived that memory of taking the woman's life because she only had enough beli for her daughters.

"Promise you won't lay a hand on them!"

"I won't," Arlong said quietly, repeating his words. "As long as you die like a good girl."

The ghosts of the past haunted him as he remembered it all: Genzo trying to save Belle-mere only to be wounded by Kuroobi, the villagers attacking, and his men following his orders. Belle-mere shoved her daughters inside the house, and she stood defiantly before him, with no fear, as he pointed his flintlock at her chest, telling her to die with her pathetic love. He trembled at the haunting echo of the gun firing. He couldn't undo any of it. Arlong looked at the banquet of flowers he had in his hand. It was a pathetic excuse for an apology as he laid them before the grave marker before he sat next to them.

"She demanded that I apologize for what I did to you," Arlong said. "Apologize for the evil act that robbed them of you. I can't change it or undo the pulling of that trigger. I can never erase the tears your daughters shed because of me."

The night was warm, yet Arlong felt a cold chill surround him. Was it the ghost of the ex-marine whose life he took? Had she come to exact revenge upon him? Arlong closed his eyes, strangely welcoming her revenge upon him. His eyes were still closed when he heard the voice.

"Monster! How dare you come here?!"

Arlong's eyes snapped open to see Genzo with those of Cocoyashi Village, all armed, and they had him surrounded. "You know my rule about weapons," he said.

"We don't care! We'll kill you before you force Nami into that unholy marriage!" Genzo snapped.

How did they know of the wedding? No one else knew—wait! Nojiko! She knew because Nami told her, and she undoubtedly informed Genzo and the others. They weren't going to allow his marriage to Nami to happen.

"She agreed to marry—"

Arlong never got to finish speaking, for he was struck across the face with a club that surprisingly knocked him off balance. He fell to his side, and the villagers were upon him., attacking him mercilessly.

~~.~~.~~

Nami left Arlong Park early to visit her mother's grave. She didn't bother to check with Arlong since she had no desire to look at him. She took the forest path around Cocoyashi Village, which led to their family's tangerine orchard and Belle-mere's grave. As she approached the grave, Nami saw a shape in the distance near her mother's grave, making her stop and stare. She moved closer, and her confusion about what it may be turned into genuine concern when she realized what she was seeing.

"Arlong!" Nami shouted, running to him.

She dropped to her knees by his side and was shocked to see him bloody and badly beaten. Her fingers pressed underneath his jaw, seeking for a pulse, before she placed an ear to his chest. She heard nothing. Panic rose within her; this couldn't be happening. She looked at her mother's grave, spied the banquet of flowers, and realized what Arlong was doing here. Brown eyes welled up with tears as she did the unthinkable. Nami hugged Arlong's body, tears flowing as she buried her face against his neck.

"It's my fault," she sobbed. "You were doing what I had demanded of you, and they took you by surprise."

"Nami, why are you crying over this monster?"

She looked up to see Genzo and her sister not standing far from her. "Why?!" Nami said. "Why did you do this?!"

Genzo was taken aback. "Why? He was forcing you into marriage that you never be free of," he said.

"You know what this means?!" Nami shouted. "Kuroobi and the others will come to Cocoyashi, seeking revenge! You had no right to attack Arlong when he apologized to Belle-mere!"

"What?" Nojiko moved closer and saw the flowers. "He placed them….?"

"Yes," Nami sobbed as she now cradled Arlong's head in her lap, fingers stroking the proud Fishman's angular jaw. "He was doing what I said I wanted him to, and now you've taken him away. You took my husband from me…."

"Nami, are you mad?!" Genzo said. "Husband?! Are you damn blind?!"

Without warning, Arlong coughed, his body jerked from the spasm. Genzo was shocked. Impossible! It was impossible! Arlong couldn't still be alive?! Not after what they did to him?! He backed away nervously as Nami hugged the semi-conscious saw shark.

Arlong ignored him as he moved an arm to take Nami's hand into his. His eyes reflected his body's pain, but he refused to let it get to him. He heard Nami's voice, heard her call him her husband. It gave him renewed strength and a stronger will to live.

"Husband," he whispered, eyes meeting her. "You called me your husband."

"I should have known better about you, you damn stubborn shark," Nami whispered back. "You always said it's impossible to kill you, and you're right; I know better than anyone there."

Arlong gave a small laugh before he gritted his teeth from pain. "I need help," he admitted. "I need a doctor."

"Can you make it to Arlong Park or not?"

Arlong struggled to his feet, pain wracking his entire body, but he fought through it, determined to reach his feet. He closed his eyes as he willed himself to remain standing, feeling Nami close to him. He took uneven steps forward, knowing he wouldn't make it far before he fell flat on his face. Nami must've sensed it, for she gestured toward her old home.

~~.~~.~~

"You're not serious?!" Nojiko said as Nami guided Arlong into the house and to a bed.

Nami said nothing as she fetched a first-aid kit and rubbed alcohol to clean what wounds she could tend to. "Bring me the surgical kit," Nami said as she helped Arlong remove his shirt.

Nojiko sighed as she did as asked, then glanced out the window. "Nami, we've trouble!"

Nami hurried to the window. "Oh no."

"What is it?" Arlong wheezed.

"Kuroobi is coming with the others, and they have torches!" Nami said.

Yep, it's a cliffhanger! Remember to Read and Review.