6/26/2021: Re-uploaded the chapter due to some parts being missing
Chapter 10: Sense of relief
After witnessing the tower's collapse, the townsfolk instantly burst into cheers as they were suddenly overwhelmed with emotions. At first, they were simply happy at the sight of their tormentors' defeat. But as the reality of their situation finally sets in, their cheers grew louder, with most of them crying from sheer joy. Finally, they thought. They were free from the Pirates' tyranny. And the best part was that Arlong was defeated by one of their own.
While most of them quickly rejoiced, a few, including Nojiko and Genzo, ran inside the park. They stopped in front of Luffy and Sanji, paling once they got a closer look at Nami.
"Is she alright?!" Nojiko frantically asked Luffy.
Without waiting for his response, they quickly checked on her to see if she was okay. Both Nojiko and Genzo assumed the worse when they saw her collapsing in Luffy's arms. After a few seconds, they let out a sigh of relief upon seeing that she merely passed out due to exhaustion. The local doctor then lays her down on a clean sheet of fabric on the ground before quickly cleaning and bandaging her wounds.
Sanji lights up a cigarette as he took a glance at the pile of rubble in the courtyard. "After all that crap, you kinda understand why Nami-san would be tired. These fish bastards hit like a bitch."
Once the feeling of worry evaporates from Nojiko, she became overwhelmed by the sense of relief once realization dawned on her. She sits down on the ground, leaning on her shaking arms while looking in the same direction as the chef. "All our lives, we've been afraid of the Fishmen. I just couldn't believe that someone out there is strong enough to even try to go against them. Least of all, my sister..."
"Yeah! Nami-aneki was really amazing! Even Johnny and I struggled with the other Fishmen. We can only imagine what it took to beat the highest bounty head in east blue." Yosaku says with Johnny nodding in the background.
"I saw it with my own eyes, and even I couldn't believe it." Genzo added. Bellmere's daughters grew up to be strong. It might be cheesy to think of, but they both carried their mother's will all these years. While Nojiko might not have the same physical strength as Nami, both their resilience was awe-inspiring.
For Genzo, he was just glad that he got to see the island freed from the Fishman's reign in his lifetime.
It was then when a villager ran through the crowd, the panicked look on his face instantly halting their celebration. The man then ran inside the park, stopping in front of Genzo before taking deep breaths to gather himself. The crowd immediately looked at him, wondering what happened.
"Gen-san! I saw a marine ship on the port!"
This causes everyone to tense, their joyful mood from earlier turning sour as they shared worried looks. They recalled that a marine captain working for Arlong went here to try taking Nami's treasure. Was this his reinforcements? Will they have to deal with the marines as well?
A few moments later, a platoon led by a weird-looking marine with ponytails appears on the horizon, walking through the streets. The villagers outside the park took a few steps back to make way for the marines, allowing them to enter the courtyard. Once inside, their leader raises their hand to his side, ordering his men to stop.
"I am Commodore Purin Purin. I'd like to ask who's in charge of this village."
Genzo slowly walks towards the commodore with a practiced impassive look on his face. He tries his hardest to hide his rigid posture to avoid agitating the marines, just in case. "That would be me. I'm Cocoyashi village's sheriff."
The commodore rubs his chin while observing Genzo. "I see. I was called here by the survivors of Gosa village. They requested aid against the Arlong Pirates. Or at least, a rescue. We got delayed because a company of marines told us that they were on it. When there was no reply, we assumed the worst." He then turns to the collapsed building to his side. "But regardless, it seems as though we were late, and the issue has been solved."
"Yeah, we kicked the Fishmen's ass."
The commodore turns to the rubber man before raising his eyebrow in curiosity. "Oh? And who might you be? Are you a bounty hunter?"
"Nope. Pirates."
The villagers were surprised at the straw-hatted boy's confidence. It seems that he wasn't afraid to tell the marines that fact. That, or it was a stupid slip-up by him. Even Sanji was confused about this. The marines, however, immediately stiffen. They instinctively reach out to the swords strapped to their waists. Despite that, the commodore simply maintained his stare.
"Hmm. And your crew defeated the Arlong pirates?" He asks, earning a nod from Luffy.
It was then when Nojiko stomped her way towards the marine commander. "Don't you fucking dare arrest these people. They did your jobs for you, while you... you... Useless assholes! We became desperate enough to rely on pirates because you couldn't do anything about Arlong for years!"
Genzo immediately rounded on Nojiko to try and stop her from doing anything rash. "Nojiko! Stop this!" He says while grabbing the woman's waist and arms.
The commodore remained quiet for a while; the sheer anger on the woman's voice surprised him. Silence enveloped the courtyard; both the villagers and the marines were unsure of what to do. While they kept quiet, most of the locals echoed Nojiko's sentiments. Especially with what happened when a marine officer showed up earlier, they can definitely understand her anger.
It took a while before one of the commodore's men awkwardly approached him.
"Commodore. What are your orders? Should we arrest these people?" He asks, motioning towards the boy with the straw hat.
He simply shakes his head, which confused the soldier. "No. That won't be necessary. Just focus on the Arlong Pirates. They were the reason why we were called, after all."
"B-But sir!" One of the marines protested.
"Let me repeat myself. That won't be necessary."
The commodore repeated his orders, earning a gasp of shock from the soldiers and some townsfolk. He then turns to his men, giving them a leveled stare. "While these people claim to be pirates, we can't just arrest them for that. They actually did us a favor by making our jobs easier. And besides." He eyes the crowd for a brief moment before continuing. "They seem to like these pirates if I'm reading things right."
The villagers were just as surprised as his soldiers. After seeing someone like Nezumi, the townsfolk thought that the reason why the marines weren't helping them was not just because of Arlong's power causing them to hesitate to attack the Fishmen, but because he was bribing them as well. Perhaps not everyone is as corrupt as that bastard.
A few seconds later, a single marine soldier came running towards the platoon. He stopped in front of the commodore before giving him a salute. "Commodore, the extraction of Captain Nezumi, as well as his men, is complete. Also, we found one of the Fishmen on a nearby road. We brought him in just in case."
Immediately, Genzo began talking to remove any suspicion directed towards Nami's friends. "Ah yeah. A marine captain was attacked by Arlong and his crew if I heard it correctly." Genzo thought about telling them of the captain's corrupt acts. But without hard evidence, they would ignore their accusations. Or worse, the captain might get back at the villagers if he finds out that they attempted to tattle. The sheriff sighs in relief when he notices that the commodore seemed to take in what he said without question.
"I see. Men, arrest these Fishmen while they're down." The commodore orders his men. They respond with a salute before moving to restrain Arlong and his crew. He then turns to the orange-haired woman on the ground, taken aback by her battered state. "What happened to this woman?"
"Oh, she's my friend. She's the one who kicked Arlong's ass."
The commodore winced after hearing that. It was no wonder why she's bloodied and bruised like this. He only heard rumors regarding a Fishman's strength. But from what he's been told, fighting one is never a good idea.
"Ah. I see." It was the commodore's only reply.
It took a few minutes, but the marines managed to restrain every single one of the Fishmen. "This might be an indirect result of the fight between pirates, but regardless, I'd like to thank you for helping us deal with these people."
"Should a marine be saying thanks to a bunch of pirates?" Sanji asked. That thought sounded strange to him, considering those factions are practically at each other's throats.
The commodore shrugs off his question. "That might be, but I'm not concerned with what you are. You may be pirates, but you saved a lot of people. However, be warned. If you start doing anything illegal, I would personally lead my men to arrest you." Despite saying that, Purin Purin was grinning at the straw hats.
"Don't worry, weird-hair ossan. I'm not here to steal money or capture villages. Unless those villages are made of meat, I think."
The commodore simply shakes his head at Luffy's words before ordering his men to return to their ship along with the prisoners. Moments later, the Marines left the area, leaving the villagers and the straw hats in silence. Irritated at how boring the atmosphere has become, Luffy clapped his hands loudly.
"What's wrong with you guys?! Didn't Nami just free your village? Why aren't you celebrating?!"
The villagers looked at Luffy weirdly as they kept quiet, even after he practically demanded that they start celebrating. Then they started chuckling at the straw-hatted boy's antics before erupting into full-blown laughter seconds later. Hopefully, their happiness won't be interrupted this time.
Nami stirred in her sleep before gently blinking her eyes open. Slowly lifting her head to look around, she finds herself in the familiar infirmary of Cocoyashi, if the white walls and the sterile-looking room she's in were any indications. Carefully, Nami took a few bit of tries to sit up due to the stiffness of her body, holding her head to stifle the dull headache as she did.
"Dammit, everything hurts..."
As if on cue, the local doctor exits from one of the backrooms. Upon seeing her wake up, he quickly walks up to her bedside. "Oh, you've woken up. How are you feeling?"
She recognized the man as old man Nako, a very experienced doctor here in Cocoyashi. "Like my joints are made of concrete. Everything's stiff and aching." Looking through the window, she sees that it was already nighttime. "And I slept through the day, it seems."
He moves closer to her to take a quick check of her bandages. "Of course. You pushed your body far beyond its limits. Extreme fatigue, muscle damage, blood loss. Those are enough injuries to put a workhorse in a week-long coma."
Nami turned to him with an awkward smile. "Was it that bad?"
Nako nods. "It was. I'm actually surprised that you woke up earlier than expected. If it were any other person, it would take a few days for them to recover. Though, I shouldn't expect someone than can defeat Arlong as normal."
"Oh c'mon, Nako-san. It's not like I did it all alone. Oh. Speaking of which, how're Luffy and the others?"
"Luffy... Ah, you mean the rubber boy and your friends? They're fine. Though, that long-nosed kid was admitted here at the same time as you. But he recovered relatively quick once he heard that there was a celebration being planned."
Hearing this made Nami giggle. That's classic Usopp, alright. "I hope they didn't do anything while I was out."
"Well, the pirate hunter began sleeping after a few drinks. The man with the curly brow began talking with all the girls. I remember Genzo glaring at him while he flirted with Nojiko." The doctor recalls with boisterous laughter as Nami joined in.
"Oh, what about Luf- Err, I mean, the rubber boy?"
He flicks his head to the side, motioning Nami to turn in that direction. She smiled when she saw Luffy sitting on a chair in the corner of the room with his head resting on the wall. He must've fallen asleep while waiting for her to wake up. Her heart became warm when she remembers the time she discovered what Luffy did to bring her to safety when she got sick. He must've been worried for her safety even though he was confident in her abilities. Luffy treated them as his family, even going as far as claiming responsibility and fault for his crewmates' decisions. Honestly, she was extremely grateful and fortunate that she got someone like him for a captain.
Nami slowly moves to the bedside in an attempt to get out of bed, causing the doctor to try and stop her by softly pushing her shoulders back into the mattress. "Wait, Nami. You need to give your body time to recover."
She gently brushes him off as she continued moving out of the bed. "I'll be fine, Nako-san. Besides, it's been a while since I visited Bellemere. I need to tell her the good news."
"I see..." The doctor relents, removing his hands off of her. "Genzo and Nojiko are already there if I remember it correctly. You might catch them if you leave now. But don't move too much, alright?"
"Alright." She replied as she stood up. Even though her legs were weak and wobbling, she starts walking towards her captain. She lightly taps him on the shoulder to wake him up, causing Luffy's eyes to shoot open from the surprise at the sudden action. His eyes immediately landed on Nami, instantly smiling as he saw her in front of him.
"Nami! You're awake! Uhhh. Sorry, I kinda fell asleep." He says before jumping to his feet.
"It's fine, it's fine. Say, why aren't you out with the rest of the crew?"
"Err. I kinda don't wanna celebrate without everybody, so I stayed here to watch over you."
"I see. But why is no one else here?" Nami inquired. Luffy, however, seems to refuse to answer the question. She raised an eyebrow at him as his actions made her suspicious. Nami was sure that the crew would stay with Luffy if they knew that he planned on keeping an eye on her. Unless.
"You didn't tell them, did you?" When Nami saw Luffy averting from her gaze, she knew she was right. Sighing, she softly pats her captain on his head. "Why are you such a complicated fool?"
"I- uh. I felt guilty, you know. I knew you could beat Arlong, but I wasn't really sure how you'd recover. I didn't tell them because they really wanna start partying."
She shakes her head at Luffy's actions. "You and your weirdness. Anyway, I'm fine now. Sort of. I'm just about to head out of this place. I'm sure you want to go out there and eat as much as you like."
At the mention of food, his eyes start twinkling, and his mouth started salivating. While Luffy was concerned about Nami's wellbeing, battling Fishmen and waiting for her to wake up made him quite hungry. He walks out of the building while repeatedly chanting "food" as she just smiles at Luffy's antics before following him out.
When Nami got outside, she sees that the streets were strangely empty. She guessed that they must be holding the festivities somewhere far from the hospital, for which she was grateful. She turns to Luffy, who seems to be waiting for her, telling him to go ahead. The two locked eyes for a while before he nods, running to where the feast is. She starts heading out in the opposite direction.
After a few minutes, Nami sees the familiar dense trees leading up to her destination. As she got closer, she could hear Nojiko and Genzo's voice, the latter of which seems slurred. Moving the branches away, she arrives at the clearing on the cliff overlooking the ocean; Right where her mother's final resting place is. The rustling causes them to look behind quickly. The two relaxed upon seeing that it was just Nami.
"The doctor said you'd wake up after a few days!" Nojiko exclaims.
She moves towards them before sitting in between the two. "Yeah, he said the same thing to me too. Don't worry though, I'm fine. I just felt that I needed to come here after I woke up."
Their protests died after Nami's reassurance. Despite their worrying, they couldn't stop her from coming here even if they tried. The area was covered in silence, with Nojiko and Genzo electing not to speak to give time for Nami to gather herself. After a good minute or two, she finally spoke up. "I did it, Bellemere. I freed Cocoyashi."
The orange-haired girl slowly started sobbing as she poured her heart out. She might've brushed it off earlier, but the feelings were just overwhelming. The emotions she was holding back since returning came crashing down all at once. From her failures during her previous life to the incredible joy she felt once she went back in time. Seeing her friends and loved ones again and hearing Arlong's taunts that hit quite close to home almost broke her. She finally vented it all out. Nojiko started rubbing her back to try and comfort her. And despite his drunken state, Genzo's presence was reassuring.
Of course, all those things were said inside her head. For those who were watching, it just seems that Nami was offering a silent prayer as she talked with her departed mother.
After a while, Nami calmed down as she began rambling about other things. "The entire island is celebrating. It seems that everybody really wanted this."
"Of course. The past eight years have been rough for everyone. You know, there were children born during the Fishmen's reign that never knew what it's like before Arlong. This is the first time they'll experience life without some boogeyman hovering behind them." Genzo added.
"You know what's unfortunate, though? I'm the only one with a tattoo now." Nojiko says with a hint of joking disappointment, gladly shifting the topic into something more humorous.
Nami flashes her sister a thumbs-up accompanied by a smile. "Don't worry, Nojiko. I just had an idea for a good replacement."
"It better be a damn good one." Nojiko replied, which made Nami and Genzo laugh.
The area returned to its quiet peace from earlier as they simply enjoyed each other's presence; The sound of cicadas and some distant cheering echoing throughout the night. Nami closes her eyes as she took a deep breath before opening it again, locking her eyes on Bellemere's grave.
"Hey, mom. I'm gonna be a pirate. I want to sail through the grand line and make a map of the world." Come to think of it, Nami never really declared her true dreams to Bellemere in her previous life. This was the first time she was honest with her mother about her desire.
While Nojiko was alright with it, Genzo still didn't like the idea that Nami wanted to be an outlaw. The thought of bounty pirates, marines, and other unwanted individuals chasing after her really bothered the sheriff. But considering who her crewmates are, the thought that she will be in good company eased his mind.
"If Bellemere was here and she said no, would you obey her?"
She turns to Genzo with her tongue sticking out as she playfully winked at him. "No way~."
There was still a buzz in the air in the days following the fall of Arlong Park. The citizens of the island were so into their emotional high that the celebrations lasted for a while. Unsurprisingly, the Straw Hats were the guests of honor during the festivities. They tried leaving the day after Arlong's defeat, but the villagers insisted that they stay for a while, adding that staying on the island for a few days would allow Nami to recover properly.
Currently, Sanji and Zoro were carrying supplies to the Going Merry with the help of the bounty hunting duo. The townsfolk were generous enough to provide them with about four weeks' worth of rations. Well, two, considering who're the guys on board. It was the day of their departure, so the port was filled with people either trying to see them off or giving them various items.
"Oi Moss head. Are you sure you're allowed to do some heavy lifting? Your injuries from Mihawk still haven't fully recovered yet."
This causes the swordsman to stare at him weirdly, chuckling as he did so. While the chef irritated him a lot, he cannot deny that the concern he was showing was nostalgic and, loathe as he is to admit it, a bit heartwarming. "I've been resting since we got you from that restaurant, so I'll be fine. Thanks for the concern. And oh, by the way."
"Eh. What's that?"
"You're still a shitty cook."
After hearing this, Sanji rounded on Zoro, his eyebrows knit as he glared at the swordsman. "You saying something, Moss Head? You know what, screw you. That's the last time I'm gonna be worried for you."
The swordsman laughed heartily before turning to Johnny and Yosaku. "How about you two. What are your plans, now that Arlong's been defeated?"
"I guess we'll stay here in Cocoyashi. We kinda like it here." Johnny replied.
"Besides, they're treating us really well. Nami-aneki's place does need a bit more security. And Nojiko-aneki needs help with the tangerines." Yosaku added.
This earned a raised eyebrow from Zoro. "You're calling her aneki now?"
"Yeah, because she's our big sis now!" The bounty hunting duo replied at the same time.
From the corner of their eyes, they saw Luffy and Usopp walking side by side. They seem to be carrying some stuff. Unlike the ones on their hands, the two are bringing what looks to be supplies used for crafting and maintenance. Good thing, too. If they're going to sail for a long time, they should have the proper equipment to maintain their ship.
"Oi Usopp, where's Nami-san? Aren't we about to leave?"
"Yeah, she told us to go right ahead. She'll be here." Usopp says as they caught up with Zoro and Sanji.
"You better be sure she'll be here. She's the only reason I joined you, idiots."
"The only reason we let you join was to be our cook. Personally, I would've chosen someone less like you." The swordsman joked, which causes the chef to glare at him once again while shouting a few profanities. Usopp, Luffy, and the bounty hunting pair just laugh at their banter. This lasted until the four of them reached the Going Merry. After a few minutes have passed, Nami was still nowhere in sight. Despite that, Luffy orders his crew to prepare to set sail.
Their attention was grabbed when they spot a group of people heading towards the port through the street. In front were Nami, her sister, and that weird sheriff guy who, as Luffy noted, no longer has that pinwheel on his head. In the navigator's hand was a bag filled with her personal belongings.
"Nacchan. Bring this jacket with you in case you land somewhere cold."
"Also, don't forget to sleep whenever you have the chance. Rest is a luxury when in the open seas, you know."
Nami lets out a puff of air. Sure, she appreciated the concern from her neighbors, but it can get suffocating at times. "Guys, guys. I know, I get it. You've been telling me that at least four times now."
Nojiko giggled at the sight. "Oh, don't be like that, Nami. They're just worried for you."
"Yeah. And who knows what might happen to you out in the open."
"Gen-san, I think you're projecting your own worries at other people." Nojiko added, side-eyeing the sheriff.
"I can't help it, you know. You know how much I tried to hide it every time your sister goes back, Nojiko. And after arriving just a few days ago, she's suddenly going far away for a long time."
Upon hearing this, Nami looks back at Genzo. "Gen-san, I'm going to write to you. And besides, I've written the number to your Den Den Mushi. Once we get our hands on one, I'll call you whenever I have some free time."
"You better." Was the sheriff's only reply, as tears slowly started forming in the corner of his eyes.
As Nami and the crowd accompanying her got closer to the ship, the rest of the Straw Hats started forming up on the ship's end of the gangplank. The townsfolk stopped just in front of the port. They expected the orange-haired girl to continue on her way but were surprised when she stopped in her tracks, causing them to share worried and confused looks. Without warning, Nami drops her bag before turning around and tightly wrapping her arms around Genzo and Nojiko. The sudden action causes the two to stiffen in surprise before slowly relaxing in Nami's arms.
"I'm really happy that I got to see you two before I leave east blue. I'm going to miss you two so much." She whispered to Nojiko and Genzo, her trembling voice filled with emotion. The two returned her embrace, moving their faces closer to her.
"I'm going to miss you too, Nami. I haven't said this enough, but I'm really proud that you're my sister."
"Me too. Just... be careful out there." Genzo added, unsure of what to say without causing him to break down in tears. The villagers that were watching this started to become emotional as well. Even the straw hats felt their hearts were warming up from the sight. The bounty hunting duo, meanwhile, was simply bawling at this point.
They moved away from each other before Nami picks up her bag off the ground, continuing her way to the ship. Once she's on board, Usopp pulls the plank back onto the deck as Zoro raised the anchor. With the help of Johnny and Yosaku untying the boat from the port, the ship began moving. As the Going Merry sailed away from Cocoyashi, Nami waved her hands to bid the people seeing her off farewell.
"Thank you, everyone! I'm gonna be off!"
"Take care, Nami-aneki! Don't worry. We'll keep your sister safe!"
"Take care, Nacchan! Stay safe in your journey!" The villagers replied to her in mass. Nami continued shouting her farewells at the villagers when she suddenly remembered something.
"Oh yeah! Gen-san, I forgot to show you something!" She says before pulling a wallet from her back pocket. The sheriff looked closer, and as recognition dawned upon him, he began shouting at the girl.
"Oi, you rotten thief! Get back here!" This causes the people on the port to burst into laughter.
Nami winks at the sheriff, which slightly infuriates him further. "Don't worry, Gen-san. Check your pockets. Your money and other stuff are in there."
Genzo started shuffling around, feeling his pockets for his belongings. He sighs in relief once he confirms that his stuff was, indeed, still there. Just for good measure, he starts feeling his waist to check if his belt is still on. You never know with that woman. With everything secured, he looks back at the retreating ship. As he did, he saw Nami pulling something from his wallet. He wondered if it was something embarrassing that he might've left there; The thought of it making him shiver. He was then confused when she pulls out an unfamiliar photo from his wallet. He notices Nojiko using a pair of binoculars to see what it was, immediately turning to her once he heard her gasp.
"Nojiko, what-" The sheriff was interrupted when Nojiko pushed the binoculars to his chest. Gently taking it, he puts it in front of his eyes to see what Nami has on her hand.
"That's-!"
"That's a picture of our family when we were young." Nojiko started crying after seeing the picture. The image of their mother, together with their younger, more innocent versions of themselves, made her heart beat faster. She quickly moves closer towards the edge of the port as she shouted at Nami.
"Nami! After you make your map, make sure to get back here! You hear me?!"
"You bet, I will! Take care, Nojiko! You too, Gen-san!" Nami shouted back.
Genzo slowly lowered the binoculars before wiping off the tears from his eyes. "That woman really is one big heaping pile of trouble."
"Yeah. But she's our big heaping pile of trouble." Nojiko replies. "You know. Her new tattoo really fits her very well. Is that why you're not wearing the pinwheel on your hat?"
The sheriff chuckles softly. "Of course. It doesn't have any use now, after all. But it's not really gone, you know. It just transferred places."
Nojiko simply smiles, her eyes trained on the retreating ship.
As the Going Merry slowly moved away from the island, the sound of the villagers grew softer. But no matter how faint it's become, the message behind it was unmistakable.
"Come back soon!"
AN: Yeah, so a bit of a calm chapter, this one. So anyways, I'd like to thank everyone that fave'd and followed this story. I'm really grateful to you guys. I've reached the 300+ follow mark in less than two months. And it's all thanks to you, for supporting and not giving up on this story, despite its ups and downs. Anyways, like last time, your comments are greatly appreciated. I'm excited to see you guys again next chapter.