Nami's everyday life in Germa was, overall, very monotonous.
In the morning, the man in the white coat – the royal doctor, as Reiju informed her – would come and administer her daily dose of the devil's concoction.
She wished she could say that it burned less over time, but it seemed to only get worse with each dose.
Throughout the day, she observed Germa's army in the courtyard until Reiju eventually came by to keep her company. The visit from Sanji's sister was easily the highlight of every day. However, it always left a bitter aftertaste.
Why were they keeping her here?
And why hadn't her friends come to rescue her yet?
With each passing day, the questions became louder, but answers eluded her.
As the seventh day in captivity passed for Nami, she was awakened in the middle of the night by someone.
Tiredly, she blinked against the pale light the moon cast through the windows behind her bed.
No one was there.
Hm, maybe just a dream? Although Nami could swear someone had nudged her...
Again, she felt the same touch.
And again, there was no one in the room.
Perplexed, Nami sat up, at the same moment she felt the touch again.
It took a long moment for her to understand that she had indeed felt the touch, but ... from within. Her lips formed a surprised Oh! and her hands found their way to her belly on their own. Seconds passed, then she felt another gentle kick against her palm.
»Hi, baby«, she whispered and stroked gently over the spot where she had felt the kick before.
This small milestone overwhelmed her so much that she didn't think about how strange it was ... that just a few days ago, she had hardly felt any movement from the baby, and now she could clearly feel distinct kicks, even outside her belly.
She felt another light pressure against her palm, as if her baby was also greeting her. Carefully, not to move her hand - in case the baby kicked again -, Nami lay back down.
The inner restlessness she had felt since arriving at Germa had disappeared for the first time.
She just lay there and enjoyed feeling the tiny movements of her baby.
She didn't know when the others would come to rescue her.
If they would come.
But for the moment, she knew that, despite the hardships she endured here, her baby was doing well.
And that was enough for her at the moment.
»Hey, Reiju! Come quickly!«, Nami called the moment the door opened, and her newfound friend entered the room.
Curiously, Reiju looked at the red-haired navigator, who, as usual, stood at one of the windows. Her body was covered by one of the long, white nightgowns that Reiju had brought her a few days ago, and her hands rested on her belly, clearly visible under the soft fabric.
As she approached, Nami reached for her hand without warning and placed it on her belly.
Reiju resisted the instinctive urge to withdraw her hand and waited. After all, Nami obviously wanted to show her something.
Surprised, her eyes widened as she felt a strong kick against her palm.
»Oh, wow«, Reiju said, taken aback.
»Someone else will be fighting with their feet«, Nami chuckled, proudly.
»Just like Sanji«, Reiju recalled what Nami had told her about her little brother.
Namis smile faded, but her gaze softened at the mention of his name. »Exactly.«
Silence fell between them as they waited for another kick from the baby, until Reiju suddenly noticed something. Slowly, she withdrew her hand.
»The baby has grown quite a bit in the last few days«, Reiju remarked quietly, causing Nami to shrug.
»Oh really? I didn't notice«, she replied and then began to talk about what was written in her pregnancy book about her current stage.
Reiju only half-listened.
She discreetly observed Nami's silhouette, even though Nami probably wouldn't notice any conspicuous staring amidst her enthusiastic speech.
Her belly had grown significantly in the last few days.
Not that Reiju was an expert on pregnant women, but even she knew that couldn't be normal.
Nami looked heavily pregnant, even though it would still be months until the baby's birth.
»...I just remembered that I have something to do«, Reiju interrupted the navigator, who gave her a sad look.
»You're leaving again?«
She knew that her visits kept Nami afloat. Nevertheless, she nodded stiffly and quickly said goodbye.
She had something to take care of.
The worries about Nami were significant.
But the concerns the crew had for Sanji were not small either.
Since the day he tearfully reported that his family was apparently responsible for Nami's abduction, he had hardly spoken a word.
Although he still prepared the crew's meals, he did so with very little enthusiasm.
Once the meal was ready, he withdrew to the ship's deck and stared at the dark ocean.
Which was his main occupation besides cooking.
Every morning, when the other Straw Hats woke up, Sanji was already up, scanning the waves for a sign that would lead them to Nami.
He barely slept.
He barely ate.
It was as if Nami had taken a part of him with her, without which he could no longer live.
On the tenth day after her abduction, as Sanji once again tried to leave the table, Luffy pounded his fists on the table. His crew members looked at him in shock, and even Sanji's gaze flickered towards him. Luffy had never voluntarily delayed a meal.
»Sit down!«, he grumbled and stared at the cook with a stern look, who stood rooted next to the table. When he didn't move, Luffy added: »Captain's order!«
Slowly, as if to make sure this was serious, Sanji slid onto one of the empty chairs.
He sat there somewhat indecisively until Luffy pushed his own full plate in front of him.
Sanji stared at him with wide eyes, while the rest of the Straw Hats kept their mouths open. Only Luffy still looked serious.
»Eat something«, he urged Sanji.
Sanji continued to stare at him. »This is your plate«, he reminded him.
»I can wait«, Luffy replied, causing Usopp and Zoro, sitting on his right and left, to feign a cough to cover up their laughter.
As Sanji still didn't move, Luffy stood in front of him. »You haven't eaten for days«, he said, seriously. »How are we going to save Nami if you're barely holding on?«
At the mention of her name, Sanji hung his head. »Luffy...«
Everyone knew what he couldn't bring himself to say. That he had no hope that they would find her anytime soon.
»Eat«, Luffy repeated sternly. »Captain's order.«
Reluctantly, Sanji reached for the fork and took the first bite of the meal. He knew the dish was exquisite because he had cooked it many times before, but he tasted nothing.
Luffy watched with satisfaction as Sanji followed his instructions and chewed grumpily.
Then, he settled back into his seat, only to steal a leg of meat from Zoro's plate in the next moment.
It happened so quickly that the swordsman only exclaimed »Oi!« after Ruffy had already devoured the entire leg in one bite.
On the fourteenth day after her abduction, Sanji was awakened by a loud scream. Even Luffy, who slept in the hammock above him and usually had a very deep sleep, jerked awake and landed roughly on the wooden floor. Both boys had picked themselves up within seconds and rushed to the door, the rest of the men close behind.
Usopp had been on watch duty tonight. He stood on deck, shaking all over, clutching his Kabuto with both hands, seemingly aimed at an attacker.
Luffy and Sanji were the first to reach him.
While Luffy raised his fists, Sanji stood rooted to the spot.
Was this a dream? Or a hallucination due to lack of sleep?
He would recognize that person anywhere.
»Hey, why are you coming onto our ship in the middle of the night?! What do you want from us?«, Luffy asked the intruder, but her gaze was only on the blond cook beside him.
It had been more than a decade since the two had last seen each other.
Sanji could vividly remember the last time he had looked at her.
He never thought he would see her again on the Sunny.
Until two weeks ago, he never thought he would see her again at all.
He swallowed because his throat suddenly felt parched. If it weren't so dark, she would surely have seen that all color had drained from his face.
»Reiju«, he uttered quietly.
Her lips formed a gentle smile, giving him a pang. She looked so much like their mother.
»Hello, Sanji«, she greeted him.