They didn't even bother to dock, before Nami was unceremoniously kicked off the Bonney pirates' ship.
"Good luck!" Bonney shouted, as the ship sailed away.
Frowning, Nami got up and dusted off her clothes. Rusukaina was a hell of a lot bigger than she imagined. The only thing she had heard of this island was that the animals here were apparently very powerful.
She paled at the thought of them. Steeling herself, armed with a small backpack of supplies and her Clima-Tact, Nami trudged on forward and into the forest.
It was official. Luffy was definitely here somewhere. Nami had already walked past an absurd amount of splintered and knocked over trees. The cluster didn't make things easier on her tiny legs. Nami mentally cursed Jewelry Bonney.
Right as her foot snapped a branch in two, she heard a ruffling from the bushes. Nami froze, extending her Clima-Tact. Without warning, a massive black bear lunged at her.
Nami jumped back with a shrill shriek, falling flat on her back. Now standing on its hind legs, the bear towered over her; at twenty feet tall. Her newfound short stature only made it worse. The bear let out a roar that shook all the nearby trees and tried to pounce on her. Nami readied a Thunder Tempo attack, right as the bears jaw clamped down on the staff with a crunch.
Nami hastily scooted, staring wide eyed at her Clima-Tact, which was now in two pieces. Looking into the bears black eyes, Nami began to cry.
"Gomu Gomu no!"
In a flash, a pink blur darted in front of her and kicked the bear back a step as one long stretched out arm trailed behind him.
"Jet pistol!"
He shouted as his entire arm snapped forward and drove his fist into the black bear, slamming it hard into the ground with a few cracks.
Nami watched through blurry vision as he grinned at the probably dead animal, slapping his straw hat back on his head.
"Shishishishi"
Nami blinked back the remaining tears.
"Luffy," she whispered.
He turned around and met her eyes. His smile faded into a look of contemplation.
I keep forgetting what Bonney did. He doesn't recognize me.
Nami watched as several different emotions crossed his face. One of which confused her. Sadness?
After a moment, a small smile returned. Luffy got down on his knee to be at her height. Then he lightly patted her on the head.
"Are you Nami's daughter?"
Nami blinked. She stared at him with wide eyes. "What?"
He smiled. "You look so much like her. That's crazy!"
He hesitated. "I-I didn't know she had a daughter. She never said anything. I'm sorry if I kinda took your mother away from you. Are you lost?"
Nami still could only stare at him, jaw dropped, and cheeks turning red.
How could he come to that conclusion?!
To be fair, he didn't know about Bonney's ability. So she supposed it wasn't too insane of a guess.
Nami tried to cut in but Luffy continued, practically talking to himself.
"I didn't know Nami was with someone. She had to have had you before she joined my crew."
"I—"
Luffy frowned slightly. "Who's your dad?"
It almost looked like he was hurt for some reason.
Nami found herself saying, "I don't know. I never met him."
It wasn't a lie, she never met her biological parents, after all. Nami chastised herself for not correcting him yet.
"Luffy I—"
He looked excited now. "Your mom told you about me? Ah! I bet she saw you after what happened at sabaody archipelago. That's great that she got to spend some time with you."
Nami lowered her head.
Damn you Bonney. Why wasn't me letting her speak?
"Family is important. I understand that now more than ever," Luffy said, in a quiet voice.
Nami's heart nearly broke at the look of sadness in his gaze. This was why she came here. To comfort him.
Luffy gave her his classic grin. "Your mother is my family too. She's my Nakama! You can hang with me until it's time to go home, if you want. Rayleigh said I was supposed to be alone here so I could focus. But I only have a few more months left and I know he'd understand."
He stretched out a hand. "So what do you say?"
Nami's heart fluttered in her chest.
I'm his family too?
Nami slowly met his eyes. She should've come clean by now and told him it was her. But the look of warmth in his eyes made it hard to speak. She could tell that Luffy saw a lost child and really wanted to help. It warmed her heart that Luffy was so eager to help out "her daughter."
Against all of her common sense and better judgment, Nami nodded her head.
"Can I stay with you?"
Luffy took off his hat and softly placed it on her head, smiling at her.
"Of course, we're Nakama!"
Tears started to form in the corners of her eyes. He gently took her tiny hand and began to guide her out of the forest.
"Oh how rude of me! What's your name?"
Nami thought hard for several moments.
"Bell," she said, softly.
"Shishishi, I bet Nami named you after her mom, Bellemere. Well I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm going to be King of the Pirates!"