Welcome back folks! This was joy to write as I'm finally full swing back into the writing! Work has settled into a rather lax period going forward so I'm hoping to be much quicker with my story updates. Speaking of, the next story update is "Supernatural love". Enjoy!

Legend of the Straw hats chapter 8:

John's P.O.V

I've felt exhaustion many times in my life. The rigors of the sea, the countless times I've pushed myself in sports, even…other activities. But this? That attack of mine had devastated me. It felt as if every breath took what sweet energy I had left, leaving me with just enough to get by. Falling unconscious was the best outcome. I'm honestly surprised I didn't outright die. There was no question that this…Ice Age attack was beyond me for now. An absolute last resort. Well, as last a resort as it could be, considering what happened. I had effectively been at full strength unleashing that skill. Can't exactly use it as a last resort if it takes everything I have. I could feel my thoughts becoming sharper as I began to wake up.

Though out of everything I thought would be awaiting me, Caribbean-like music was not one of them. As my eyes drifted open, what seemed to be the most rambunctious party I've ever seen flittered across my hazy gaze, the frantic beat weaving across the dozens and dozens of people.

The dancing was frantic, the people buzzing with a barely contained energy. It felt like every breath was invigorating. I was no stranger to parties. Luffy, for all his energy, never quite threw parties on the level that I was accustomed to back home. Yet, the atmosphere here was intoxicating. The music, the people, all of it, and more were elevated by a sense of relief and freedom. People ran around, the smiles on their faces threatening to break with how wide they were. I felt like a bit of a buzz kill if I was honest. If I looked anything like how I felt, I must be dreadful. Still, I had no complaints about where I was. I had been placed on a makeshift cot on the ground, beside a blazing fire, the comfortable heat seeping into my bones. While I didn't feel cold per se, the heat was a welcome addition.

"Here".

I turned to the voice, Sanji holding a large meat dish of some sort. I didn't ask what it was, only that it smelled better than I could ever describe.

"Looks who's awake," muttered Zoro.

To my right was Zoro, with fresh bandages on his chest. He tilted his head, pouring me a glass of whatever he was drinking in some strange coconut cup.

"Thanks."

I took a tentative sip. It was, of course, sake. However, the sweet taste was an unexpected element. It tasted nothing like the coconut it was in.

"Orange Sake."

I stared at the man; my eyes raised. Zoro shrugged, chugging the entire bottle. I was slow to stand, my energy still low. But the food and drink were helping plenty. Across the fire that Sanji cooked with, was Kaya and Usopp. The two were chatting vividly, swaying to the sound of strings and drums, lost in their own little world. There was a Caribbean feel to the music, a group of men and women playing their hearts out to the side. So absorbed were the two into each other, they didn't notice me. I chuckled, shaking my head. The meat was savory and paired well with the strange orange spirit. Strength was slow to return, but I could state I was better off now than I was before. My body creaked as the parts of my body that were still ice grinded against my flesh…however, that worked.

Devil fruits were weird.

Everyone danced as if it was their last day on earth. To think, not hours ago these same people seemed dead on their feet, the park looming over their heads as a reminder of their place. Speaking of which, the park itself was lit aflame, acting as a strange backdrop for the entire party, the ice I conjured reflecting the light across the village in a makeshift aurora of color. Yet, loud, and proud through the music was a familiar chanting.

"CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG!"

I nearly spit my drink out at the sight of Luffy chugging away at a barrel. How the hell he managed to swallow everything was beyond me. However, that wasn't the best part. The villagers surrounded him, and egged him on, all the while Nami was casually drinking on top of another barrel. I smirked, knowing the small blush on both their faces could mean something more. Then again…perhaps it didn't. I could never tell with Nami how she truly felt…though I hoped that changed in the future. Zoro finally stood up, removing the bandages on his now miraculously healed wounds. Our stoic super samurai moved to join a group of older men, intent on drinking the night away in solemn company.

To each their own, I guess.

Sanji however was the biggest surprise. Blazing in front of what has to be the most jerry-rigged barbecue I've ever seen, Sanji cooked like a man possessed. The smile on his face as everyone enjoyed his dishes made the sun seem dull in comparison. This…this was the real Sanji. The woman who accompanied him and assisted with his cooking seemed all the merrier with him at the helm. Go figure, the man was charming when he didn't force it. Though…perhaps he was more aware than I gave him credit for. The quiet flirting with a green-haired woman seemed to indicate some success for the man. All of this and more…it felt so…complete…so,

"Beautiful, all of it," I muttered.

They say nothing tastes sweeter than the fruits of your labor. This village…it was free because of us. This joy, this happiness, all of it and more was due to our actions. Was it arrogant to have pride in something like that? I found I didn't really care if it was, I felt content.

I smirked a bit, looking at Kaya and Usopp having their little dance. Kaya wasn't entirely healthy yet, but the girl seemed entranced, enjoying the movement and energy she hadn't possessed for years. This…this was living. For the first time in a while…I felt weightless. I felt happy in the fullest sense.

"So, the sleeping hero wakes up."

I turned to face a tanned woman with blue hair of all things.

"Can I help you lass?"

The woman blinked.

"I know Nami said you talked weird but I thought she meant that in how you talked not….how you talked."

I smirked. I think I got what she meant by that. Probably.

"As I've been told numerous times."

The night partied on from there, with this strange woman taking a seat beside me.

"Nojiko, Nami's sister."

She was stunning, no question. If circumstances were different, I might have tried to get to know her better. However, her relationship with Nami quelled my less platonic desires. It would have felt like wooing a cousin.

Ew.

"John, the quartermaster."

Nojiko blinked.

"But isn't that?"

I gave a shrug.

"Take that up with our captain. He keeps giving me more duties and calling me a quartermaster."

The silence between us was a little awkward, but I diligently ate the food Sanji had made for me. As I expected, it was exquisite. After a moment, Nojiko leaned forward, staring at the bits of ice on my neck.

"…So…that whole ice thing, was you?"

"That's correct."

"I still can't believe that devil fruits are real. I mean even watching him I still can't believe it!"

Luffy was the life of the party, letting some of the younger adults jump on his inflated body…for what reason I really don't know.

"Sorry If I seem a bit forward in asking this but can I see it?"

I shrugged, not really blaming her curiosity. I lifted my arm, letting it shift into a crystalline structure. I blinked, staring at a strange, clawed hand, though it disappeared back into its usual gauntlet state.

"Wow…does it hurt?"

"Not at all. You're welcome to touch it if you'd like."

Without a sense of hesitation, she gripped my arm. The exaggerated way she fondled it was…weird. The sensation was even weirder. It felt like a distant skin, I could feel her hand, but it felt muted, dull. I raised an eyebrow and noticed Nami giving me the stick eye in my peripheral vision.

"I appreciate the attention lass, but I don't wish-"

She winked at me. It took a moment for it to click.

"Nami?"

Nojiko grinned.

"She said you were some kind of womanizer. I can feel her eyes on me even now. "

My face became stony at the way that little brat described me.

"Cheeky brat."

Nojiko chuckled a bit and leaned closer.

"I like teasing her. She's already blowing a conniption just looking at us."

"I have a distinct feeling this is some kind of inside joke."

"A what?"

"…ah….A running joke between you and Nami."

Nojiko blinked and shrugged.

"Sure, you can think of it like that. I love Nami to death, but she deserves a bit of teasing. I tried flirting with her captain just to rile her up and the man just…"

"Completely ignored it."

"YES! Is he…I don't know into men or something? I'm not judging but people don't usually turn down…this?"

I shrugged. Not really knowing one way or the other. Nor was it my place to state either.

"Nami just laughed it off when I tried to hold his arm. Just drifted out of my hold…yet your strawhat captain seemed right at home with her."

"He's just like that. He's not a big fan of people touching him."

Take enough beatings from Garp and you'd be averse to people being too close too. Nojiko chuckled as she leaned forward, all the while staring at Nami as the poor lass' veins began popping.

"So, care to play?"

This seemed to be going way too fast but fuck it why not. Apparently, I was a womanizer. Might as well live up to the title. I leaned in whispering into Nojiko's ear.

"Shall we prove her right then? Hmm?"

Nojiko laughed, standing up and holding a hand out to me. I took her hand, slowly following her lead.

"I like you, you're more fun than the other two."

"Sanji and Zoro?"

"Sanji's nice, don't get me wrong. But the whole puppy affection's a bit of a turn-off."

I nodded. Though…this was supposed to be about a joke, right?

"And Zoro is Zoro," I supplied.

"Basically. That and the other one is so smitten with that smaller girl. It's sickeningly sweet," she muttered.

"They are adorable. It's been a joy watching them settle into their feelings," I replied.

Still felt like a voyeur but the truth was there was little room on the ship. Privacy was going to die a brutal death on our journey. Nojiko didn't let me fester in my thoughts as she dragged me near the other dancers. With a slight nod, a slower tune began to play. Our bodies moved with the music. A thumping beat and a shake of our hips and I was lost in the moment with her. How long has it been since I had gone dancing with a friend? No emotional by-plays, no strange foreplays, just a dance. Just the music and them.

I hadn't danced in years, but much like a bike, it came as naturally as breathing. I was no maestro when it came to dancing, but I could certainly hold my own. Though, I doubt the way I moved was as Nojiko intended, the way she smiled told me it didn't matter. Deciding to have a little fun I grabbed Nojiko's hand. I took the lead with the strange song playing and with her firmly in my arms I slid backwards on a slide of ice. She squeaked as leaned into me for support, I spun her around and the ice sputtered away like snowflakes. People cheered at the sight of the ice, but I was more focused on my dance partner.

"Having fun?"

Nojiko turned a bit, eyeing Nami biting her lip.

"Oh, plenty. Nothing feels as good as getting back at your sister."

I snorted. I knew the feeling well. The number of times me and my brother would rib each other over the silliest thing. Even as old as we had become, we always "got back" at each other….God…I fucking miss him. I miss everyone. A soft hand touched my face.

"You ok?"

I smiled,

"I am…just old memories."

A glint of understanding flittered between us. Nami's story filtered through my memories.

"I understand."

Yes…she really would, wouldn't she. The specifics were not the same…but the end result was all to similar.

"I know."

I smiled, turning to the musicians. A violin caught my eye, standing alone on a crate near us. Nojiko was quick on the uptake. It was obvious she was trying to make me feel better. She grabbed it before I could say anything, and I felt the weight of the instrument in my hands as she shoved it into my chest. My practiced fingers curled around the neck, the bow settled into my right hand like an old friend.

"You play?"

It started as it usually did. Even in this younger body, I could feel it in my bones, the thrum of the music. Yet…the familiar strength left my hands. I could feel whatever desire I had to play shrivel up within me. This wasn't the first time I felt this way, after all…playing music only reminded me of her. An old wound, long since healed. But even the oldest wounds leave their scars. My muse for song died along with her all those years ago…a shame really.

"No," I smiled, "not really. Though I have to say this is a fantastic violin."

"Keep it."

I stared at her.

"No. This belongs in the hands of a genuine musician. Not me."

Nojiko proved to be a far wiser woman than I gave credit for. She smirked a bit, staring at my hands.

"…Right, cause newbies just know how to hold instruments right the first time around. Consider it a personal gift. It belonged to old Barns. He couldn't pay the tax a few years back and…well…long story short the old man swore he'd travel the seas with nothing but his whiskey and his violin…even though the old fool was well over eighty. When Arlong came for him he gave me that violin to keep, till someone came along that could take it on that journey he wanted."

At the sound of whiskey, I perked up.
"You have whiskey?"

Nojiko cringed.

"Hell no, that tasteless piss was one of the….oh."

I chuckled a bit, shaking my head.

"What is with you people and your distaste for whiskey? You're the fourth island I've come across that doesn't carry the damn spirit."

I sighed, bourbon, whiskey, scotch, none of them were on any of the islands I've come across. The only reason I even knew the alcohol existed was because of Garp and his personal stash. Honestly, was it too much to ask just to have something familiar? I rubbed my head in exhaustion. The dancing, the memories, all of it was more taxing than I'd like to admit in my current state. Maybe there was something to Luffy eating thew way he did.

"Tired?"

I chuckled.

"More than I'd like to admit yes. Is there a place I can rest?"

Nojiko had a strange grin as she nodded.

"For sure, follow me. I can show you one of the empty houses you can stay in."

"Excellent. Rather not bring the party down. Seems like it's just getting started."

It was too. The energy somehow got even more frantic. A frenzy of emotions and repressed feelings were exploding outwards. People were dancing, eating, and kissing the night away. It was honestly quite vexing that I just didn't have the stamina to enjoy it. But a person like me would just bring the mood down right now. Shame.

The island was smaller than I gave it credit for. It was naught but a few moments before I found myself in the house Nojiko was talking about. She was sweet, helping me find the room and getting me settled. Though…the odd grin was a bit disturbing. There was more to this, obviously. Yet, I was too tired to care. With that final thought I drifted off to sleep again. My dreams were nothing but eventually within this black slate a single tree grew. It was like a silvery oak, standing tall and proud. The branches of this tree slowly grew and as it did, I could feel more of myself relax. My eyes opened as sunlight broke through the window. The sheets had long since fallen off me. The only thought in my mind was the fact that I was in yesterday's clothes and I was in a desperate need of a shower. I opened the door and a head of orange hair stared at me.

"YOU."

"…me?"

"What did you do with Nojiko?!"

I snorted. That was the wrong thing to do apparently. Nami pouted and jammed her finger into my chest. The first few pokes didn't do a thing. Then out of nowhere her bony finger somehow jabbed my chest painfully. I cringed at the unexpected pain. I could have sworn a flicker of black echoed through her.

"Gah! Damnit lass that hurt!"

"Good! I don't need you sleezing up my sister!"

"I WOULD NEVER! We danced for a bit and then she brought me to this house to sleep!"

"OUR HOUSE! You think I'm stupid!"

Oh…that would explain the grin that Nojiko had.

"I assure you Nami. Nothing happened."

She took a breath and sighed.

"Honest?"

"Honest."

"….Fine. How are you? You ok?"

I nodded, flexing my arm.

"I feel good for the most part, must admit though. I've never been that exhausted before. Maybe Luffy's on to something about eating so damn much."

Now that I thought about it, I have never actually been 'full' in this world. I just ate what I thought was a normal amount. Something to check later.

"We don't need two gluttons eating us out of house and ship."

A fair point.

"I promise, I can at least control myself. Though I think Luffy is more likely to listen to you than me."

I grinned a bit at the scowl Nami shot me. We both noticed the slight blush she had.

"…quiet you."

I chuckled a bit and ruffled her hair.

"HEY!"

I entered what I assumed was the kitchen. I licked my lips at the sight of a strange orange pancake-looking item. Nami nodded at me, and I ate with gusto. As I ate there were two things I noticed. One, that this was orange-flavored. Two, that I was HUNGRY. It wasn't a bottomless hunger, but I ate far more than I expected. I felt a little pride at the fact I wasn't a total slob like Luffy though. The boy could pack it in but seriously, chew with your mouth closed. As I ate, I noticed that I began to perk up. I had more energy than I've had in a while. In fact, as I ate my eight waffles and my third glass of tangerine juice, I felt more energized than ever. My breath came out cold as the frost in my chest felt…brighter. It didn't feel any stronger but just…more. It was a difficult concept to explain. I swallowed the last bit of food, turning to face the door, a pep in my step.

"Where's Luffy and the others?"

"Luffy's been busy destroying the rest of Arlong park."

"The rest of it?"

Nami smiled, a little goofy smile, and just shrugged helplessly.

"I…might have mentioned wanting to raze it to the ground if I had the power to…Luffy's been at it all night. Last I saw there was barely any rubble left of it. He's got Zoro and Sanji sorting through whatever they find during his little rampage. I think Usopp was also rebuilding something. The only left here is you, John."

I rolled my shoulders, feeling ready for the day.

"Got it. So, what's your plan?"

"Getting supplies and then heading out!"

"….what?"
Nami blinked.

"Can't stay here forever, we got a sea to explore!"

"…we can stay a few days lass…there's no need to rush."

Nami chuckled.

"I know that! But I'd rather avoid the Marines if we can. Luffy defeating Arlong is going to make waves across the entire sea. If we don't hurry, making it to the Grandline will be a lot harder than it needs to be."

A fair point. Nami had traveled this sea more effectively than any other member of the crew, not to mention for much longer as well. If there was someone that would know the political landscape, it would be her. At least for here, anyways. Still…there was one point of concern.

"You seem awfully worried about the Marines caring about what happens with Arlong. They had a bounty out for him, I doubt they'll care if he's dead."

Nami scowled.

"Just…want to be safe than sorry. There was this Marine who would patrol this area that has me a bit concerned."

There was more to it than that…but she had said a lot over the last two days, more than she was likely comfortable sharing. I wouldn't press her. Rubbing her hair for the third time I exited the house, ignoring the screeching redhead behind me. I felt my mind shudder at the feeling of something new. An echo, a faint brush of…something. I turned to the northeast, watching the skyline in the distance. Down a beaten road came a group of Marines…a strange man at their forefront.

No…I'm sorry but I had to be honest. Strange was giving the man more credit than he was due. The man was just straight-up odd, like a living mouse. Without thinking about it I put Nami behind me as the man grew closer. I wheezed as her fist drove into my side, the impact somehow bypassing my seemingly impervious body. What was she made of!?

Nami walked around me, her eyes raised in a challenging manner.

"Can I help you?"

The mouse man turned forward to Nami, his grin becoming a dark malicious thing. It would have been intimidating on a less ridiculous person.

"Ah, just who we are looking for. Me and my men have been sent to investigate the sudden disappearance of the fishermen pirates that took root here! Arlong and his ilk have disappeared, breaking quite a few regulations in doing so. As you are the only crew member of the Arlong Pirates." "Wait, he named his crew after himself? What an asshole," I thought

"We will be taking you into custody."

"On what charges?"

The man turned to me, his eyes dismissive.

"Excuse me?"

"The charges. I would like to hear them. Along with the proof that this woman is a part of the Arlong Pirates."

Nami smirked.

"Arlong Pirates? You must be mistaken; I've never been a pirate my whole life!"

The marine smirked.

"I don't think you know who you're messing with. By the authority of the world government, we will be arresting this young woman and confiscating all of the belongings of the Arlong Pirates!"

Nami and I looked at the man, than at each other. She must have thought the same thing I did, because we both grinned and gestured towards Arlong Park.

"Sure go right ahead!"

"Of course! Makes sense to confiscate all that pirate's stuff!"

The man had the audacity to beam, BEAM at us, as if his authority had been respected. The poor grunts behind him sighed and shook their heads.

"Excellent! We'll come back for you little missy!"

The man's sneer turned deadly as he turned to his men.

"Come on men! We have pirates to arrest! We'll be back for you Missy!"

I stared at this….weirdo. Who says the same thing twice like that? We watched the man leave, Nami's stupefied face causing me to chuckle. There was also the fact that this man was just outright dumb. Who came here and basically admitted he was in with the pirates? Really, coming to investigate the disappearance of the pirates? Come on, what a joke.
"Does that idiot genuinely believe I'm going to wait?"

I shrugged.

"Perhaps. Doesn't matter. I'll see if I can't find their ship."

"Why?"

I grinned.

"So I can sink it."

She blinked and held her hand to her chest.

"John, doing property damage against the government? Luffy has finally corrupted you!"

I rolled my eyes.

"Your boy toy is a whole different level of chaos than me lass, I'll see you later."

It took the poor girl a second to decipher what I meant. The screeching I heard told me all about how she felt about it. Ah, making fun of her was like a balm for my soul. Either way, the small size of Nami's home island worked out for me in this instance. There was really only one dock that was of a substantial size. Sure enough, a Marine ship was docked there…alone…honestly the strangest part of this entire world I'm in has to be the sheer absurdity of only needing so few people to man the ships.

That and the idiot who leaves their ship unattended in supposed "pirate" territory. With a breath of frost a spear of ice jutted from the ground in front of me, piercing the hull with a loud creaking crunch. I made sure to avoid the keel. It was one thing to prevent the boat from leaving. It was another thing to purposely aim for the keel of a ship. Call me a sentimental fool, but it felt wrong to do such a thing to a ship like this. Still…perhaps there was something on this ship I could use. I hopped onto the smallish vessel, peeking through what few rooms it had. The size and shape of the ship made it obvious it was built for speed. There was not a single weapon that I could find aboard. There were a number of fire arms and a barrel of ammunition. The strangest part had to be the way ammunition was used. The guns looked for all intents and purposes like an old rifle from the colonial periods. Yet, it loaded and fired much like a modern gun.

I'll say it time and again…this place was weird.

The ammunition proved heavier than I thought, but it wasn't too much trouble to load the barrel over my shoulder and carry a good few rifles under my arm. I even took a pair of pistols just for the shits. Stealing from an asshole was a lot more fun than I anticipated.

….crap…Nami was right. Luffy was corrupting me.

Rather than risk being spotted on land, I took the relatively short way back to the ship. My newfound control made it a breeze for me to skate across the sea and to our ship. The going Merry stood proud…even with a goat head mast. It was moored as close to land as we risked it before Arlong. With a rampart launching me up, I landed on the ship and quickly loaded it with what I brought.

I had zero clue what Nami was going to bring, so I did a quick double check. Food was alright, stocked well and true. Toiletries were…a problem. I was thankful for the plumbing this ship came with but seriously, we needed a king's ransom in toilet paper between every island at this rate.

I highly doubted my crew mates would wanted icicle toilet paper.

Cannons, all three of them, were good to go but our supply of ammunition was short. I titled my head, feeling the flickering presences of what I assumed was my crewmates. This…this had to be whatever Haki was…it had to be. Yet, every time I tried to grip the sensation it slipped through my metaphorical fingers. This was going to take a while to get use to. A loud thunk echoed as I heard Luffy's chuckle.

"JOOOOOHN! WE'RE BACK!"

I walked through the kitchen, nodding to Sanji as I walked past him. The man was carrying an absurd amount of food, his grin nothing but pure joy at having a spice rank included in his haul…that and some purple lipstick on his cheek.

On the main deck, Luffy's giant grin was quick to launch into my face, my captain extending his neck to greet me.

"How you feeling!"

"Better. We have a heading?"

Luffy gave a smaller grin…but it was filled with something more. I didn't need Haki to tell me that.

"You bet! Nami has us heading out! Though she wants to head out as soon as possible!"

I rose an eyebrow, watching our resident navigator move with…more a fevor than I expected.
"What happened?"

Nami turned to me, a stupid grin that did not at all match the growl in her voice.

"LUFFY HAPPENED! He full on decked that stupid Marine! We had to start running after that!"
I blinked.

"…I should have figured."

Usopp walked past me carrying a tree with Zo….ro….wait. I stared as the two carried three trees. I stared…trying to calculate the absurdly quick packing and travel they had done…was…was I losing track of time? It felt like barely thirty minutes had past and yet they came here with everything we needed. Kaya came up behind Usopp carrying a surprising amount of weight for a girl her size. I smiled, helping the poor lass carry the weight she was beginning to struggle with. The fact that she was sick not too long ago and was now carrying two bags of what appeared to be dirt just made me smile. The people of this world had proven to be far hardier than I could have imagined.

Wait…did that mean I was to? God that would suck to find out that I was more fragile…oh right devil fruit. It was strange having so much more energy that usual. It was harder to focus.

"So…how long do we got?" I asked Nami.

From the top of the upper deck Nami looked down, her own smirk growing.

"Since you sunk the ship? A few weeks."

"Really?"

That seemed ridiculous. A few weeks to get off the island, with the resources they had?

Nami nodded.

"I'd be surprised if he brought a Mushi Snail. If he's there to collect pirate bounty than there is zero chance he has leave to do so. He can't report anything without incriminating himself!"

I blinked. My first thought was to ask about the snail, wondering where we could get some of our own. The second was silently thinking that Nami's thoughts were flawed. She assumed that the corruption of the Marines was a constant, never changing. But the way Garp described his situation made it clear that Marines were constantly being crushed for being corrupt, with new Marines taking their place.

"…right…anyway, if we got a few weeks head start on them, what about Logue Town?"

Nami's map was unfurled in front of her. A few moments later and the girl had already charted a course.

"A few days."

"Really?"

Nami nodded, rolling her map up.

"So long as the winds hold up, we can make it. Gives us a lot of time to get things ready for the Grand Line."

Luffy pouted, sitting on the deck.
"Ah come on. What's with all this preparation? I say we just go!"

"NO!" echoed four of us.

Luffy wilted a bit. I knelt beside the boy.

"Remember what we talked about when you were younger?"

Luffy nodded. I smiled sweetly at the boy, gripping his shoulder lightly.

"Now…remember what you did at the beginning of our adventure?"

Luffy nodded again, his face showing some dread as I gripped his shoulder harder, ice creeping across his skin.

"Good that you remember…because we're not doing that again."

"BUT!"

I gripped as hard as I could, and the boy began to shiver. I opened my eyes and growled.

"We're…not…doing…that…AGAIN. We have to get Kaya looked at by a doctor…and we need information. Even with the marines blocking the grandline hundreds of ships per year still fall to the treachery of whatever that place is. We need to be prepared. Still…you have a point. Loitering around out of fear won't help us either."

I leaned against the railing of our ship, as Nami hoisted the sails up, the wind beginning our next journey. I assume that Nami and the others had said their good-byes. I admit, I felt bad for not saying goodbye but the Marines necessitated a quick leave.

Our next few days were filled with the standards of travel. Nami's skill seemed to shine ever brighter, the ship moving seamlessly in a way that I could never do…I admit I was jealous. I was closing in on forty now a days and this young lass destroyed my skill at the sea. She could feel the wind and judge the sea in a way I could never truly appreciate…though I think I was the only one on the ship that could even fathom the absurdity of her skill. Any captain worth their salt would be grovelling at this girl's feet to have her be their navigator…Luffy's luck remained blessed. When we finally arrived at Logue Town, I was busy doing final counts across the ship, double checking exactly what we needed. The ship shuddered a bit as it docked, and I made my way back to the deck. The timing was great, as I had just finished tallying what we needed. Before I forget, I grabbed the stack of berries I left hidden in an ice block in my room. Going forward, it will be easier to get our resources, now that we knew the dimension and size of our crew. Still…was someone yelling?

"HEY! IT'S NOT JUST YOUR MONEY!"

I sighed.

"Here we go."

Sure enough Nami's greedy nature had reared it's head. She scoffed at Zoro, turning her nose at the swordsman.

"You'll just spend it on drinks or something!"

True.

"SO!? I need a new sword witch!"

Also true. I gave Zoro a large portion of the stack I had accumulated. Nami's eyes near bulged out of her skull at the amount.

"Here Zoro, this might be enough. Let me know if you need more."

The man stared at me as Usopp stared at the money, his face twisted in disbelief.

"How? Where!?"

I shrugged. To be honest I had been skimming off the enemies and pirates that we have met in battle whenever I got the chance. You'd be quite surprised how often you'd find a significant amount of money on these people. Without the bank system as I knew it, most people kept their money close to them. The pirates, with no home and a mistrust of each other, probably always carried most of their cash with them. It worked out for me. Zoro simply grunted. Usopp was dragged lightly by Kaya to the harbor master.

"…is she?"

Nami nodded, pointing at our mast and flag. Neither bore the symbol of a pirate. In fact, it bore what I could only assume was the symbol of Kaya's business. They were the extra sails we had taken down to make room for Luffy's Jolly Roger.

"She's registering us for her business?"

"And liquifying her assets while she's here."

I stared at Nami…but kept my mouth shut. To be fair to Kaya there was no real way that she could run her business any longer. There was no one that she trusted to run the books and it was obvious that she had no desire to actually man her parents' business. While there would certainly be people affected by her decision, the truth was that they would likely be in the same boat either way. They either lost the business because they're owner had zero experience, or they lost the business because the owner sold it. Lose lose. At least by selling her assets the workers had a chance of their employment continuing under another banner. Still, that was Kaya's battle to fight, me and Nami had other plans.

"Alright. So where to?"

Nami blinked, staring at me.

"Luffy already ran off and I have nowhere to go. What say we hit the town hmm? Sanji is grabbing the food so that leaves us for everything else and wherever else you want to go."

Nami grinned, sizing me up.

"You'll do!"

She seemed disappointed by my lack of response. This wouldn't be the first-time shopping with a friend. Even if Nami was a shopaholic, I doubt it would surprise me. This town however, this was certainly surprising me. Stalls and shops littered every wake of life here in this town. It was if all four seas could be found here in some capacity. Nami's first stop was a clothing store. She and I bought a great deal of clothing from the place, especially those made from the same water resistant fibers I still didn't believe actually existed. Nami even went as far as buying the fabrics themselves. Did she think we were going to recruit a tailor or something?

The amount of clothes that Nami bought was absurd…though the fact she kept trying to make me spend MY money was the greater concern. Honestly, I've never seen a cheaper human being.

Clothing, accessories, navigational tools. The list went on as we toured through the town. Eventually we finally went to the first shop of my choice. I was bias of course, but I though had to be the most important one. The Mushi Snail shop. We entered, Nami's items being delivered to the ship (A thankful service made possible by both kaya's legal entry and Nami's massive purchase). I found it strange that the snails were all neatly in order, displayed like any other normal item. Yet, their bodies were obviously alive. They even bliked slowly…though the one with the lazy eye kept eying me the whole time.

"Hello and welcome!"

I turned to the young woman manning the counter. She wore a strange beige uniform…was it supposed to represent the snails? She also looked like she would rather be anywhere else than here. Her twitching eye was obvious from the get go. Her face faltered as she stared at me.

"Ah, hello lass. I was wondering if you could help me?"

"O-of course! Whatever you need dear customer."

I smiled, ignored the blank look Nami shot my way. I didn't want to hear it from the girl that had zero qualms with using her own sex appeal. Get off your high horse weirdo. I leaned against the counter and pointed to the snails.

"I gotta ask lass…what on earth are they?"

Before she could even open her mouth I gave an easy smile.
"I've seen them before, but my home island was rather closed off from much of the other larger cities and kingdoms. I've always wondered what sort of care went into these snails and how to use them."

The girl blushed a bit as she scratched her head.

"I…I actually know a lot but it can be pretty boring. You sure you want to know?"

It would probably be the equivalent of some young kid explaining their hyper advance cell phone to their WW2 Vet Grandparent, but I didn't care. I was deeply interested. She explained for a good thirty minutes about the creatures, and I was happy to report that they were disturbingly easy to use and take care of.

Emphasis on disturbing. These creatures were referred to as a Den Den Mushi and were comprised of a race of telepathic snails. The race themselves were not that sapient. How that worked for a race capable of telepathic powers was…beyond weird. They didn't understand human speech, didn't move much, barely ate, and slept all the time. How this species even survived was beyond me. It was obvious they were mostly bred in captivity, but the cashier assured me that they could be found in the wild.

For something so handy I couldn't help but wonder why they were not more widely available. The poor girl answered my questions dutifully, even though I didn't respond to her flirting. The first reason was rather simple. The cost. The snail itself was actually quite cheap for what it offered, a measly 90,000 berries for each full-grown snail. The snails were massive, the size of cats with a variety of shells. In fact, there was a crew pack that was comprised of a mother and her young. Apparently, the species was incredibly long lived, with the snails remaining small for a full human life time before they grew rapidly to fit their full shell. Their adolescent years spent building up the resources needed to create the larger shell.

The mother and her children were a package deal for 120,000 yen. A damn steal…until she began to describe the other costs. No…the issue came with the accessories. If we wanted full capability with the creature, it required a ridiculous fee of 467,957 berries just for the mother. An additional 100,000 berries for the children's accessories. It was fucking evil and was incredibly commonplace back in my own world. Sell the long lived product cheap, but make the accessories that made it work properly expensive and short lived. The cashier, bless her little heart, was honest and upfront with me. The materials and gear used with these snails were not designed to weather things at sea for long periods of time. In fact, most companies designed them purposely that way, to ensure a continued flow of funds. The only exception being military grade snails. Even with that warning I was sold. In this world, the use of instant information may be an overlooked concept, but I knew the truth. The ability to communicate in real time was a far greater boon than any devil fruit, at least in my opinion.

It took a fucking hour of arguing for Nami to relent and dip into her ludicrous funds for the purchase. I could have paid for a decent portion but I had plans tonight that needed some flush cash. No, this was a crew purchase, and it should be treated as such.

She was the crew's treasurer than she needed to act like it…though I had to promise her to scrounge the money from the rest of the crew at a later time to pilfer into her personal funds. But it was worth it. We had our own means of communication…so long as we had the numbers and frequency to home in on. The employee was a big help in that regard giving us to what amounted as radio stations for these living creatures and how to navigate the horrible user guide. The mother and the other snails barely registered we existed as we stored them in a travelling box and had them delivered to the boat. A large circular tub of feed was given to us for free. What astounded me was the fact that this supposed tub would last this entire family a full year.

Now, under ordinary circumstances I would simply return to the boat and call it a day…but the truth was that I needed some me time. Once we were in the streets and have shopped at a few other stores, I bid Nami farewell.

"Alright Nami, need me to walk you to the ship?"

She flipped me the bird. She was still made about paying for the snails it seems.

"Go away!"

"Make sure to tell the others I am boarding for the night here at the Salty Tavern."

A horrible name.

Nami ignored me and made her way back not the ship, the mid day sky turning amber as the sun slowly settled. Finally…I was alone. Being left to my own devices was like a balm to my very soul. I entered the worn tavern, enjoying the local atmosphere. The woman who manned the counter was an absolute stunner. There was no question of it. She was on the older side. Possibly the later half of thirty at the worst. Her chestnut hair was vibrant as what few wrinkles marred her perfect skin only added to her sophistication. While my body may have been young, my mind and preferences were far from it. I had always had a healthy appreciation for an older woman. I had little interest in younger women, such as 20 or 19. It always felt…wrong, at least for me. I could never look at Nami the same way I looked at this woman. Her hips were generous, and her chest was easily a knock-out, equal for Nami's…but it was her eyes. They were a brilliant shade of purple, the likes I've never seen before. They lured me in as her knowing smile gestured me forward. The way she held herself told me this was a woman who knew just how beautiful she was and wore that confidence proudly.

"What can I get you for young man?"

I inwardly chuckled as the woman crossed her arms, adjusting her breasts forward. Was she playfully flirting with me? How adorable. But I was no boy turned man, I wouldn't make this easy for her. I sat down with a practiced ease, decades of experience honing my attention. I wanted this woman…hopefully she felt the same. Instant attraction was a necessary part of the exchange after all. What woman wanted to waste her time with a man she didn't like and vice-versa. Nothing cringier than a person that didn't take no for an answer or worse yet, confused "persistence" with being forceful. I leaned forward just as the owner had, keeping our faces about a ruler's distance between us, a good 30 centimeters.

"Looking for a room for a night, possibly more. I heard this place was good for it. What is your rate per night?"

The woman blinked…but didn't move away. Good. This did not imply interest as much as it was a competitive streak. She didn't want to be the first to back away.

"I may have a few rooms…they'll be 8,000 berri a night."

I smirked. The tourist price. Cute. I got up and simply left. She was exactly my type. A confident woman who didn't give a shit and knew exactly who they were. But I wasn't paying such an absurd upcharge. Simply walking through these streets, even for as short a time I have, made it clear. 8,000 was far too much. I couldn't go far though as she gripped my arm, her smile widening.

"Jeez, not much of a joker, are you?"

I shrugged.
"I know a bad deal when I hear it lass."

She bit her lip, staring at me.

"Ooooh, you're the dangerous sort, aren't you? You're barking up the wrong tree with me young man."

I grinned.

"Am I? I merely asked for a place to stay for the night."

She rolled her eyes…and backed off. I eased off her bar stand, and she gestured to me above her head. Sure enough, the price was right there in big red letters, easily visible in this dusty atmosphere.

"A man looking for the prices doesn't need to talk to me that way. I suggest you graze elsewhere; I don't ride young bucks."

This had to be hilarious. She talked as if she was from the southern ends of Texas without the accent. I dated a girl from there once, a real livewire. She had a thirst for life that eclipsed mine a hundred times over. It was her that got me into a few of the extreme sports I ended up loving. Ah Sadie…I hope things back home had cleared up for you. Still, she wasn't the focus right now.

"You make it seems as if I'm inexperienced."

The woman scoffed at me, cleaning a bar glass.

"Sure. I' flattered by the thought…but no."

I shrugged easily. It would have been nice, but no meant no.

"Well, while I would love to prove your assumptions wrong, I am genuinely here about the place. You have a room free?"

She nodded.

"The "suite" area", she said, using her fingers as air quotes. "3000 berries a night for that room, though food is included."

"Drinks?"

"Any of the spirits you see you get three shots for free a night with that room."

"I'll take it."

I gave her the money quickly. I pulled out a book and noticed that there was an empty table not far off.

"I'll take your steak and…"

I smiled, finally…it was here.

"I'll have a glass of the White Smoke whiskey."

The woman stopped rubbing her glass and stared at me. The entire bar went quiet. I turned to stare at all of them, some of the older men having quiet chuckles.

"…you really must be new around here if you want to drink that swill. Only captain smoker can drink that crap without passing out."

I rose an eyebrow.

"Really?"

She nodded…but than smirked.

"Tell you what squirt…if you can drink one shot of White Smoke without passing out…I'll tell you my name."

I bowed my head slightly.

"I'll hold you to it."

She was quick to offer me a drink, her intrigue obvious. The drink came out like hazy water. There was a bitterness to it and the smell of nuts as I downed the spirit. It filled me with the pleasant burn that I had been missing for some time! The burning sensation was a bit much, I'll admit. But the results speak for themselves. I have to say, the alcohol in this drink was ridiculous though, it hit me like a road hammer to the gut. Still…wasn't the worst I've had. That honor went to the moonshine produced by Clayton on the banks of Prince Edward Island. Now THAT was a drink that would knock you out. I placed the glass in front of her, giving an easy smile.

"Thanks. I'll have one on the rocks at my table when you get a moment."

There was no band, rowdy as this place was. Made it easier to focus on my book as I waited for the food. The book I had acquired as a simple novel, one that told the story of a young man wanting to find the island of dreams. Honestly, it sounded a lot like the One Piece, but without the pirates. It told of the desire to set sail, but without the plundering of piratedom. It was funny in a way, how privateering was not a concept out on these oceans.

There was definitely people who did it, there was not a chance that every single person stayed home and never ventured the oceans. Yet, it was strange how this government went out of their way to make it difficult to simply have a boat and sail the oceans freely. If I had to hazard a guess, it likely had to do with the desire to control and their inability to monitor the difference between pirates and privateers. My own world's history would speak to a few instances in which innocent privateers would be attacked by military forces, simply for being suspected of being pirates. I had just gotten to the fourth chapter when the bartender brought me my food. I smiled, putting a thin layer of frost to act as a book mark on my page.

"Thank you," I nodded.

The "older" woman bit her lip and shook her head.

"Ana."

I looked up at her, about to use my utensils.

"Hmm?"

She scoffed a bit, smirking.

"My name, it's Ana."

I smiled back.

"A pleasure Ana. My name is John. Now, feel free to ignore me…but when you're off…feel free to have a drink with me. I'll be here most of the night away from my crew, for a little solitude."

Ana rose an eyebrow.

"Your crew?"

I began to cut my steak into pieces while I talked to her.

"Yes, my crew."

I noticed that the drinks here were far from cold. The drink they made was nice, but I liked mine chilled whenever possible. I touched the glass, letting my ice frost over it. Ana blinked, not noticing the cup.

"Well?"

She blinked at me, her smile growing.

"…you're dead serious?"

I smirked.

"I'm not a child. If you want to simply spend the night talking away, I'll consider that a night well spent. If you want to spend it elsewhere, go for it. I like you, I want to spend time with you…if you're up for it."

I meant it too. Comfort was everything. If all someone was comfortable with was talking, then so be it. Disappointing sure, but I didn't dictate my happiness or enjoyment based off of someone else's response.

"I'll think about it."

I raised my glass to her and returned to my book. I wouldn't wait on her. I planned to finish my book and head to bed, sipping away on the whiskey I haven't had for literally two years. I got to about the eighteenth chapter when Ana joined my table. In her hands was two large mugs, not unlike a fantasy ale mug. It was filled with a sweet liquid that smelled like honey. This was ale.

"So?"

Ana smirked, leaning back. She pushed her chest out, a few buttons have been loosened from before.

"So. How about you start off with who you are?"

I smiled.

"My name is John, and I am just a man out on the sea with his friends, seeing where the wind takes us. Well…as much as the winds can take us with my captain at the helm."

The night melted away. I learned that Ana was a mother of two, her husband having left some time ago. The Salty Tavern had been a family owned enterprise since before even the pirate king, attracting what few tourists existed for the last 87 years. Her favorite color was blue, she liked her steak rare, and preferred a gritty story over some romance.

She spoke of dreams, of a rare adventure out on the sea, of a life well lived and well loved. Though, it was a life that had grown a bit dull as of late, with her kids now entering their teenage years. Sher had been craving some excitement, one that I was happy to oblige with.

One drink turned into three before I asked her what her plans were for the night. Three drinks turned into a dance on the open floor, beside the band that arrived later in the night. A dance on the floor turned into a dance upstairs. She was an excellent kisser and as I later found out, was a fan of going commando.

Who knew?

I doubt we went on for hours on end. It certainly felt like it, but the sex had been enjoyable precisely because of our little imperfections. It was awkward but fun, as we explored our bodies with the uncertainty of someone new. Though…she seemed oddly receptive to me, I would admit. It was strange how into it she became as we progressed further. Never had a partner so enthusiastic to return foreplay with me. I wasn't complaining mind you. The night had ended splendidly, with Ana even deciding to stay the night. As I awkwardly learned, her kids lived in this building with her. A quick talk and she joined me back into bed, naked as she had been previously.

It was a weird…but fantastic night. Her warmth spread across my body and I stayed up the whole night. As a logia my need for sleep was drastically lessened. While I would have loved to simply sleep the night away…I wasn't confident that my body wouldn't turn to ice in my sleep and kill this poor woman. Besides, she was adorable as she slept, and it was easy to finish my novel as she slept on my chest. I smiled a bit, keeping a nice chill in the warmer moist air.

Still…as most things do…they end. Though I doubt they ended with your idiot captain barging into the room with the rest of your crew. He didn't even smash the door open, the fucking dumbass just ramming in without a care!

"WAKE UP JOH-URK!"

My frost encased fist smashed into Luffy's rubber head, knocking the boy back into the hall where the others waited. Nami was snickering at what happened as Zoro and the others smirked…until they noticed my bed partner scrambling to cover herself. I didn't even think, creating a ice to cover the bed behind me.

"DAMNIT LAD! FUCKING KNOCK!"

Frost covered my naked body like a suit of armor. I turned to the door, sighing at its broken hinges.

"Damnit lad, we're not made of money."

I noticed Nami and Kaya blushing a bit.

"Really lass, you let him just ram into my room?"
Nami blinked out of her stupor.

"Hey! I didn't know that he would do that! I couldn't even stop him if I wanted to!"

A fair point.

"besides, it's not like Luffy knew you had….someone with you."

Usopp's mouth was basically on the floor as he stared at me. Sanjio not much better. Zoro was at least normal, respecting the fact that there was someone in there that DID NOT want to be seen right now. He grabbed the other two by the arms, dragging them with him.

"Come on, let's go. We can wait for him outside. Honestly, we didn't have to bother with all this."

I turned to Nami, ignoring Luffy as he stared at the ceiling on his place on the floor.

"What's with him?"

Nami sighed, lightly shaking Kaya out of her blushing state.

"He just wanted to get everyone together. Apparently he found a bar that Gold Roger went to…and his execution stand."

"Oh? Now that's interesting. I'll meet you downstairs."

I turned in, using the ice to block the door way. The ice I made fell into snowflakes, showing me Aya once more. She tried to grab a handful of the ice, even pouting as she watched it disappear.

"So…you're a logia huh?"

I smirked.

"I figured you'd be more shocked?"

Aya smirked in return.
"You think you were slick with that little glass of yours? I saw that ice from miles away. Most don't hide their devil fruit powers like you though."

Ava stood, her body bare as she stretched.

"Damn good night. I take it you're leaving."

I turned to the door.

"Most likely. I swear, that captain of mine doesn't know the meaning of the world relax. Would have preferred to stay a few more days."

Ava smirked, shaking her ass as she searched for her dress.

"Oh? For little old me?"

I chuckled, shaking my head as I watched her get dressed.

"You're more than worth staying a few extra days for. You enjoy yourself?"

Ava blushed, her skin turning red around her neck.
"Oh shut up you. You know I more than enjoyed myself. How does someone so young know what they're doing?"

I gave a smile and shrugged. She clicked her teeth at me.

"The devil's charm you got, that's for sure."

I formed some between my fingers. I admit, I enjoyed the way her eyes lit up, seeing my devil fruit. She watched, transfixed as the ice travelled up my arm. In my hand a large solitary rose formed. I gave it to her, watching as she held it. She seemed more surprise at the cold than the flower.

"What's this for?"

"To remember me if you'd like. That and keep your drink cold if you'd like that too."

Ava chuckled a bit as she came to me, her dress in her arms. The kiss he gave me was deep and hungry…but knowing as well.

"You're dangerous, you know that right? How many hearts have you broken?"

I gave a smile back.

"I try to avoid breaking hearts…but there's been a few, more often with me if I'm being honest."

Another hungry kiss and she put her dress on. She caressed my face, before her own went blank and dull.

"You owe me for the door."

I smiled crookedly.

"I'm more than willing to pay. Just tell me the amount."

Ava clapped her hand on my face, before walking away. Her hips swayed as she smirked back at me.m

"I think we can come to an arrangement."

I smirked even more. Yea last night was fucking great. Let's hope the rest of our stay here was just as smooth.
….wait….fuck. I didn't just jinx us did I?

-END-

Another chapter complete for the Strawhat story! I hope you guys enjoy! Now obviously this hasn't gone as canon did, since they were able to stay the night before getting involved with the Marines. As I mentioned before, FUCK CANON. Be used to canon events being twisted like this going forward! So please stop sending me these zealot filled PM's about how I "ruin GODA's work". Like seriously, this is fanfiction, why are you here otherwise?