AN:
This was a fun chapter to write as most are these days. Just kind of trying to wrap things up here so we can move on to bigger and better parts of the story. Again, another slow one but I hope you guys enjoy it anyways. As always, I love reading the comments you guys leave and I very much appreciate the likes and follows.
Also, I've noticed that my chapters are getting longer and it's not really on purpose so I hope you guys don't mind too much. Lol.
Enough chit-chat. Here's Chapter 21. Hope you guys like it and always feel free to let me know even if you didn't. :)
Chapter 21: The Treasure of Dreams
"How the hell are we even supposed to open this without the key?", Carina asked, examining the cage filled with gold.
Nami and Sanji stood next to her as the three tried to figure out what to do.
Zoro was still on Mad Treasure's ship, unconscious. The wound in his side had been rather serious and it'd taken longer than Carina would have liked to stitch him up. She'd stitched up the other two, as well, and wrapped Nami in so much gauze she looked like a mummy. Overkill? Maybe, but she wasn't taking any chances. The orangette probably shouldn't have been walking on her injured foot but, regardless of what she said, the girl just wouldn't stay put... She couldn't do anything for Sanji's bloody clothes but he didn't have anything else to wear, so, he wore his dyed-red undershirt open and showing his muscular wrapped chest underneath. He still had on his shredded black slacks as well.
A groan came from the boy lying in the cage, "I don't know! I can't even break the stupid bars! And I'm really strong!".
Carina scoffed turning her head to the orangette at her side, looking for confirmation of the claim, and found the space empty.
"I don't care how! Someone get this damn cage open!", desperately yelled Nami, berri symbols in her eyes as she scrambled to reach through the stone bars and get her paws on all the gold sitting behind them.
"No treasure until I'm out!", Luffy yelled softly slapping at the orange-haired girl's reaching arms. He would do literally ANYTHING to get out of the cage. Even keep treasure away from his pretty friend.
"LUFFY! SHOVEL IT THROUGH THE BARS! NOW!", the orangette frantically begged. There was so much. It had to be more than enough...
The straw-hatted boy stood his ground, crossing his arms and turning away from her, "No! I want out!".
"LUFFY! STOP BEING AN IDIOT!", Nami screamed, "GIMME THAT DAMN TREASURE!".
"NO!", the boy screamed back.
Sanji looked over at Carina while they listened to the two scream at each other. "Should we do something?", he asked. He'd never seen Nami like this before...
The violette shrugged. Unless they found the key somewhere, they weren't getting inside the cage and if that was the case, it looked like they weren't getting the treasure either. It didn't help that she had no idea where it could be. She assumed Mad Treasure had it but... With his body 'exploded', as Luffy so elegantly put it, she had no idea what may have happened to it.
"SHUT! THE HELL! UP!", an angry voice echoed through the large space.
The yelling stopped as all heads turned to the gem-encrusted boat at the end of the dock.
Zoro huffed angrily, slowly hobbling his way out of the doctor's quarters and shoving his katanas into his belly warmer. He held his new sword in his hands, deciding what to do with it before shrugging and sliding it into his haramaki beside the other two like he had. He'd look for the blade's sheath after they got Luffy out of the cage but he wasn't too worried. If he couldn't find it, he'd just carry the sword without one. It would mean he'd need to care for it more often than the others but he didn't mind. He enjoyed caring for his katanas.
With his predicament sorted out, the swordsman made his way to the ramp leading to the dock. The swordsman had been having wonderful dreams of blades and booze when two VERY loud voices intruded on the peaceful reality. He abruptly woke to a very sore body and the voices hadn't made him feel any better about it.
"What the hell are you two yelling about?", Zoro asked, stumbling his way down the ramp. His feet found the dock and he started in the direction of the group standing in front of the cage, examining himself along the way. He pretty much had wrappings covering everything which didn't surprise him. That had been quite the fight... Zoro smirked to himself, bringing his hand into his vision. He'd grown again... He'd actually used it... The power that Luffy had told him about back then. And… He looked down at the white-hilted katana resting in his belly warmer, curiosity in his eyes.
"Zoro!", Luffy shouted excitedly, watching his friend slowly walk toward them. He gave Nami's hand another light smack when it unconsciously began reaching for gold again. "You were amazing, Zoro! I wish I could have fought, too... But you were really cool!", he exclaimed, imitating his friend's sword swipes with imaginary katanas.
The swordsman quickly filed his thoughts away for later and laughed at his future captain's words, "I'm glad I could show you what I'm made of.". He shouldered in between Carina and Sanji, stopping in place to rest. He turned and gave the chef's blood-soaked form a once over, "You look like shit.".
Sanji scoffed, looking back at the swordsman with ire, "Same to you, Mosshead.".
Zoro grunted in return, ignoring the cook, and faced the girl on his right, "You're new.".
Carina looked at him blankly. What was she supposed to say to that?... She quickly realized she was staring and scrambled to reply, "I'm Carina. I've had a few run-ins with N-".
Suddenly, the verdet's hand was at the girl's throat, "You were on Mad Treasure's crew.". He remembered the now-dead man mentioning her name. Zoro realized that what he was doing was unnecessary but it never hurt to make sure.
"Lower your hand, you green-haired fiend.", Sanji growled. The shitty swordsman had no class.
"It's fine, Zoro. She's fine.", placated Nami. She still had her face pressed against the bars of the cage, her reaching hands still being lightly knocked away by the boy trapped there. Her head turned back to the gold still just out of reach, "Dammit, Luffy! Just give it to me! I just wanna touch it!".
"No!", the straw-hatted boy argued, "I told you! Not until I'm out! Isn't that right, Levi?".
The beast roared his approval at the words and laid his head back down on the dock, quieting again as Luffy smiled in his direction.
Zoro shook his head, eyeing the large sea creature. How the hell had he found them?... On second thought, it was probably best just to not ask questions... "I see you've all met Luffy's pet sea monster.", he casually said, watching Nami still trying to reach for the treasure. Greedy witch...
"You could say that.", answered Sanji, looking at the docile creature. It really was something that Luffy could control that thing.
"I'll say this.", Carina added, "It was quite the shock.". It was the first time she'd seen anything so out of the ordinary and a part of her was still in shock... Now that she thought about it, she'd seen devil fruits, so it probably wasn't fair to say she hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary before. But, still, it was her first time seeing a giant sea monster... Cut her a little slack.
"Enough about Levi!", Luffy yelled.
A sound like a pout came from the beast.
"I'm sorry, buddy.", he placated to his large friend, "But I gotta get outta here!". The boy dropped to his knees and stuffed his face between the bars in Zoro's direction, "Please get me out of here, Zoro. Pleeeaaassseee.".
The swordsman held back a laugh seeing his future captain's squished face and turned his back to him, facing the pile of dead bodies. It'd been there for a while now and it was starting to stink.
"One of you. Take care of unlocking the hoard when it gets down here. Obviously, I can't.".
Zoro really didn't want to go diving through bodies but... "The key's in there, somewhere.", he said over his shoulder, pointing at the pile of dead pirates, "For some reason, Mad Treasure couldn't open the cage. So, he was gonna make one of them do it.". He turned to the group and saw varied reactions.
Sanji took the information as he did most things and just kind of accepted it. He certainly wouldn't be the one getting the key, though. He'd leave Mosshead to go diving through blood and guts.
Carina looked queasy at the thought of being the one to look for the key. She was greedy, but... Even that was a little much for her.
The swordsman turned to see how Nami would take it and his eyes were met with empty space. Where the hell had she gone?... Wind blew by him, almost knocking over his injured form, and he stumbled backward with his eyes still searching for the orange-haired girl. Before turning around, he saw all the wide-eyed looks the rest of the people in the area were shooting at the pile of bodies behind him.
Zoro slowly looked back over his shoulder and his eyes found Nami, berri symbols replacing her eyes, as she practically swam through dead men in search of the key. He ruffled his nose at the squelching sounds rising from the pile. He was glad it wasn't him but it wasn't a good look for the orangette... He would have at least searched carefully... Nami was just looking as fast as she could. He almost felt sorry for the dead men, she was being kind of ferocious...
"I FOUND IT!", the orange-haired girl screamed, taking in a deep breath. She'd had to dive pretty deep but she found it! She scrambled out of the pile and quickly made her way to the cage, completely missing the looks of disgust at her completely blood-soaked form, coming from Zoro and Carina. Sanji still thought his queen looked beautiful and Luffy didn't care, he'd heard the word key and that was all he could focus on.
Nami's legs carried her as quickly as she could make them and she walked up to the door on the short side of the cage, praying to the money gods that she had the right key. Her hands, slick with blood, almost dropped it but she reaffirmed her grip and pushed the small piece of metal into the lock, turning it slowly.
The orangette's heart already felt like it was trying to beat straight out of her chest, so, when she heard a click, it almost exploded.
The door swung open and Luffy immediately had the girl's body in his arms, hugging her softly but still trying to show his gratefulness for the person who'd freed him. He showed no care for the blood covering her form. "Thanks, Nami. You're the best.", he smiled into her shoulder.
As the straw-hatted teen pulled away, Nami's head followed and she pushed her lips lightly onto his for a moment before leaning back, shooting the boy a soft smile in return. No embarrassment was found on her face, it wasn't that kind of kiss. The girl heard a cry of agony come from behind her but ignored it. "That was the prize for stealing more treasure than me.", she purred, pausing to look over the shorter boy's shoulder, "And it looks like you managed to steal it all.".
Luffy smiled back at the orangette. "Thanks, Nami.", he laughed, letting the eager girl escape his embrace. He knew she was itching to get her hands on that treasure.
"FINALLY!", the greedy girl screamed, diving onto the pile of gold that had been just out of reach for far too long. Her body landed and she lightly grunted in pain, but she ignored it. All of her senses were filled with one thing at the moment. Treasure.
"LEVI!", screamed Luffy as soon as Nami was out of his arms, sprinting in the direction of his friend. He jumped toward Levi, flying through the air, and the beast lifted its head to catch him on his snout. "I really did miss you, buddy.", the boy cooed, nuzzling the sea monster's nose with his cheek. The reply was a deep purr that made him smile.
"Luffy! Zoro! Sanji! Carina!", Nami yelled as she shoveled gold into her arms, berri symbols firming rooted in her eyes once again, "Let's start moving all this to the dock!".
"You are NOT getting half! You didn't do anything!", Nami yelled at the purple-haired girl.
Carina scoffed at the words, "You'd all probably be dead if it weren't for me! You can't say I didn't do anything!".
Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy all stood gathered around Levi's head, Luffy's hand lightly patting the beast's large snout. The girls had been arguing over how to split the money for a while now and the three boys knew better than to try and get into that conversation, so they hadn't.
"Hey, Luffy. Not that I'm upset or anything...", the verdet's voice dripped with sarcasm as he stared at his friend, "But why the hell didn't you help me?". Everything ended up ok, but he felt like he had the right to be at least a little peeved.
The straw-hatted teen gaped incredulously at the question, "What do you mean?! I was stuck in that damn cage!".
Zoro looked at him as if to say, 'So?', "And?… I watched you fight that wolf. I know you can attack from far away.".
Luffy looked at the swordsman, seriously, "Trust me, I tried. You'da probably heard me if you weren't almost dying the whole time.". It sounded like an insult but he didn't mean it that way, Zoro seemed to understand that. He brought his hand up to look at it. He really had tried... But, it was hard without haki. He just wasn't strong enough without it yet... The boy shrugged and went back to petting Levi, replacing his small frown with a determined smile. He'd just have to get strong enough to do it without haki.
The verdet didn't have an answer for that, simply taking his future captain at his word, however, he wasn't finished just yet. "What about that crazy move you used at the end? Sun Palm or whatever?", he asked.
Luffy sighed, looking over at his now-empty stone prison. He'd thought about trying it but he still wasn't very good at finding cores... It had been easy with Forest Guy because was so big. In the cage, he honestly had no idea what to do. A part of him wasn't sure he could break the stone even if he had found the core... The future pirate captain shook the thought away and answered his future first mate, "Honestly, I'm just not good at it yet... I think I got a little lucky that night with Forest Guy being so big.".
The words made Zoro scoff. Lucky… However, he understood and was satisfied with the other boy's answer. After all, everything had worked out in the end.
"What the hell are you two talking about?", Sanji chimed in. He'd been trying to follow, but the conversation was making absolutely no sense to him.
Zoro and Luffy looked at each other for a moment before looking back at the chef and replying at the same time, "Long story.".
He scoffed at the two. Whatever... It was probably stupid anyways. Anything Mosshead was involved in had to be.
The conversation settled for a moment and Luffy turned to see if the girls were done arguing over the gold… They weren't... He sighed, turning away from the arguing voices and toward the blond of the group. "Hey, Sanji.", he said, getting the attention of the chef again, "I still think you should come be a pirate with me and Zoro.".
The verdet grunted at the words. He'd been hoping his future captain would forget he'd asked the damn cook.
Sanji glared at the shitty swordsman before glancing past Luffy, his eyes landing on his Nami-Swan. "What about Nami?", he asked, gaze settling back on the straw-hatted teen. If Nami wasn't sailing with them... Definitely a deal breaker. And even if she was... He still didn't know if it would be enough to make him say yes.
"She's coming too.", Luffy said with a smile, turning to look at the still-arguing girls, "She just doesn't know it yet.". He knew that the next time he asked her she would say yes. No outside sources were influencing him or giving the feeling but, still, he just knew it. He knew it in his heart that she was his navigator... He wouldn't have anyone else.
"Well then, until she joins your crew.", the chef sent him an apologetic smile, "And even if she does... My place is at the Baratie with Chef Zeff.". He didn't miss the sigh of relief coming from Zoro's mouth and shot him another withering glare. That was also a plus of not joining... He wouldn't have to see stupid Mosshead's shitty face every day.
The black-haired teen groaned into the air. "Come on, Sanji! It would be so much fun!", he exclaimed, excitedly, "We'll go on tons of cool adventures and get really strong!".
Luffy paused for a moment, a smirk coming to his lips. "Plus, I'm sure there will be lots of giiirrrlllsss.", he sing-songed.
That caught Sanji's attention... He did love him some women. And the women on the Grandline were sure to be beautiful but...
"I've even heard stories about mermaids!", Luffy exclaimed. Shanks said they were some of the most beautiful women in the world and he really wanted to meet one! He liked pretty girls!... Not as much as Sanji though... He didn't know if that was possible.
"M-Mer... Mermaids?", the blond questioned, a slight stutter in his voice. He was so focused on the picture in his mind that he didn't even hear the scoff coming from the green-haired teen next to him.
"Yeah!", the future pirate captain confirmed, laughing at the chef's reaction. He liked women A LOT... His laugh turned into a smile he and looked Sanji in the eyes, "So, come on! Come be a pirate with me!... You're a dreamer just like me and Zoro, I can tell.".
"Don't lump me in with this perv.", grumbled Zoro.
"Oh, don't be like that, Zoro. You know it's true. He's got a dream, the same as us.", Luffy reasoned, matter-of-factly.
Sanji's eyes widened slightly. How could he have known about his dream? "What do you mean by that? That I'm a dreamer?", he questioned, curiously.
"It means exactly what I said.", Luffy replied, scratching the underside of Levi's jaw, "You've got a dream you wanna chase.".
"But how could you have known that?", the blond teen incredulously asked. He'd never even mentioned his dream... Or having one for that matter.
"Sometimes it's best just not to ask questions, Cook.", Zoro sighed. He could see Luffy's magic working. And that's exactly what it was... Magic. He just had a way with people. So much so, that the swordsman already knew the ero-cook would be joining them. He didn't know if it would be right there and then, but he knew it would eventually happen. It was the same with Nami.
"I can just see it.", Luffy answered, laughing at the swordsman's comment and pointing in his direction, "You've got the same eyes he does.".
The swordsman grunted but didn't interrupt.
"So what is it?", he asked, "What's your dream, Sanji?".
The blond took a moment to think and gather his thoughts. The worst they could do was laugh… He shrugged his shoulders before replying, "Have you ever heard of something called the All Blue?".
Three heads shook in the negative.
... Could that sea monster understand him?... Sanji shook the thought away. What did it matter if it could? "Well... It's said that there's a place somewhere out there that's home to every single specie of aquatic animal in the world... A place where you can find fish from all four blues and the Grandline. All in a single body of water.", the chef explained, "I assume it's somewhere on the Grandline, otherwise, it probably would have been found by now... If it exists.".
The chef waited for the laughs to come and was surprised when they didn't, three pairs of eyes patiently waiting for him to continue. So, he did just that, bending over to sit down. The girls were still arguing and, with all the injuries, he was starting to get stiff from standing. "It's been my dream since I was a little kid.", he said with a sigh, stretching his legs out in front of him
The other two boys followed Sanji's example and sat as well, waiting for him to continue. Luffy had only asked what his dream was, but both he and Zoro could see more coming.
"It was really all that kept me going for a while.", the blond laughed to himself, parts of his past flashing in his mind... His sister had been a pretty big help too. "Everyone always laughed when I told them what my dream was. They'd always tell me that it was just a fairytale... That I should give up on ever trying to find it.", he said, laughs fading into a thin smile, "And then... I met Chef Zeff.".
Sanji debated telling them about how he met the man and their bout with starvation before just deciding to paraphrase it as best he could, "He was a pirate that attacked the ship I was on and, long story short... It sank and we both almost died... I certainly would have if he hadn't been there.". The chef paused, deciding how best to word the next part, "We ended up getting stranded with only two sacks of food to split between us.".
He'd never told the story to anyone before and it was bringing back the memory in full... The hunger. The anger. The eventual guilt. "I eventually ran out of food and got so hungry that I tried to steal the old man's.", Sanji recounted, guiltily, "It wasn't until I cut open his bag that I realized... He'd given every scrap of food to me...". The blond shut his eyes tightly, a pit settling in his stomach, and rode the feeling out until it went away, "He didn't save himself a single scrap... The geezer ate his own damn foot to survive.".
Both Luffy and Zoro's eyes widened at the words. They'd both figured the chef was tough but... Eating your own foot?... That took one hell of a man.
"I asked him why he gave me everything and left himself with nothing... Why he forced himself to eat his own foot to survive when he could have just taken everything for himself.", the blond continued, finally getting to the point of his story, "His answer was simple... We had the same dream.". Looking back, he still didn't quite understand the man's reasoning, but nonetheless, he was grateful.
"After we got rescued, we opened up the Baratie and ever since then, I've been working to pay him back for saving me.", Sanji finished.
Silence hung between the three boys while Zoro and Luffy digested the chef's words, Nami and Carina, somehow, still arguing in the background.
Eventually, the straw-hatted teen stood to his feet, his eyes filled with disbelief, and looked at Sanji incredulously, "That's so... Stupid!".
The chef looked down to the ground, a scowl on his lips... He should have known they would be just like everyone else.
"Listen to what he has to say, first, Cook.", Zoro insisted, eyeing his future captain.
Sanji's eyes glanced back up at the younger boy and was surprised when didn't see someone making fun of him... Was he... Angry at him?
"You think working for the old man is a way to repay him for making him eat his foot? That's why you're not saying yes?!", Luffy asked, seriously, an upset tone to his voice.
"Isn't it?", he asked, just as seriously, "How in the hell else could I repay him?".
"You idiot! He told you he has the same dream!... What better way to repay him than to find the All Blue?!", the future pirate captain exclaimed. It seemed so simple to him that he almost couldn't understand how the other boy didn't see it.
It took a moment but, eventually, the realization hit Sanji like a brick wall, a memory playing behind his eyes.
Silence reigned for a moment before it was broken by the older of the pair. "Don't waste your life here.", the man said softly, still looking out to the sea.
Sanji didn't have an answer besides shock and a hint of anger. Where the hell had that come from? And how the hell could he say that? How could he say that he was wasting his life here? Was it a waste of his life to pay back the debt he owed? He didn't think so... But apparently Zeff might.
"Those brats asking you to sail with them...", started the older chef, still not looking at the teen, "I think you should go.".
Sanji grit his teeth in anger. "You want me to just up and leave? You really think I could just do that?", he seethed, "After everything I've taken from you?! You really think I can just go out and sail with that kind of weight around me?!". Where was all of this even coming from? It was all so out of the blue. Zeff never usually talked like this!
"This isn't a prison Sanji!", Zeff yelled, turning in the direction of the blond and looking him dead in the eyes, "...You didn't take shit from me and you don't owe me a damn thing.". He hated talking the way he was but he didn't see another way. He wanted Sanji to go out there and chase his dreams. Not only for the boy himself but also for the old man who, to this very day, still dreamed of seeing the All Blue. "You wanna repay me, brat?", he asked, continuing to give Sanji a hard stare, "Then get out there and find that damn ocean.".
Zeff had told him... Even more than Luffy knew... Why was it just hitting him now? His wide eyes focused on Luffy who was looking right back, smiling at the realization on his face.
At that moment, it was like his world suddenly opened and became larger. He began to think of what life would be like outside of the Baratie, sailing the open seas to chase his dream... It always felt so far away, like it would always be out of reach, but, somehow, the straw-hatted boy smiling at him had brought it into the palm of his hand without even trying.
"So, come on.", Luffy exclaimed, his smile getting larger, "Come sail with us.".
Sanji didn't know what to say, "I... I...".
"Come on, Cook. He's not gonna stop until you say yes... Might as well go ahead and get it over with.", Zoro huffed from his left, sighing.
Sanji grasped for words but couldn't find them. He didn't know how to answer...
"I'll make this easy for you. You're gonna get on those brats' ship.", Zeff ordered in a commanding tone, watching his idiot sous chef's mouth open and close like a fish. He glared at Sanji when he made to interrupt and the boy held his tongue. "You're gonna get on that ship and help those three steal that treasure.", he paused, turning away with a sigh, and looked back out to the sea, "After that, the girl said they were splitting up. When that happens... You make your choice.".
Now was the time to make his choice... In his heart, he knew the choice he wanted to make, but something was still stopping him... "I don't think I can say yes right here and now.", the blond said, "I want to talk to Zeff again before I give you my answer.".
Luffy began to pout but the blond's next words stopped him.
"But I will say this.", Sanji's eyes found the future pirate captain's, "I want to go... I just got a couple of things to say to the old geezer first.". He'd realized it when he thought back on the little journey he'd been on. It was some of the most fun he'd had in his life... Even if he'd almost died... Spending time with Nami had obviously been the highlight, but hanging out with Luffy had been fun too... He didn't like the moss ball very much but even he was fun to be around, not that he would ever be saying that out loud.
The straw-hatted teen began to hoot and holler, jumping in the air. Finally! His cook said yes! Now he just needed Nami to do the same and everything would be perfect!
"What're you getting all excited about?", Nami asked as she and Carina approached the group of boys hanging around Luffy's pet sea monster. That thing still kinda scared her...
"Sanji's gonna join the crew!", Luffy exclaimed, laughing in joy while he tried to dance with Levi.
The orangette's eyes drifted to the blond chef. So, he'd said yes... The fact made her heart ache and she wasn't completely sure why. She shook the feeling away and teasingly smiled at him, "Good. Someone needs to keep those two idiots in line.".
Sanji reveled in the compliment from the beautiful girl for a moment before addressing her, "Will you not be joining us, my Nami-Swan?".
A pit settled in the girl's stomach at the question... So, it was really that time, huh?... Nami tried not to think of all the memories she'd made over the past month or so but it was almost impossible not to. She knew the answer she had to give but... Why did it have to be so hard? She shook her head, banishing the thoughts. She had to answer before her emotions got to her.
"Sorry, Sanji. We'll be parting ways from here.", the orange-haired girl said with a regretful smile. She glanced over at Luffy and saw a small frown on his face, the same for Zoro. It felt like they knew how much she wanted to say yes and just didn't understand why she couldn't. She looked back at Luffy and sent him a teasing smile, "Not gonna ask me again?".
A smile replaced the frown on the boy's face, "Nope. Cause the next time I ask you, you're gonna say yes."
The orangette shook her head at his determination, lightly laughing, "And when might that be?".
Luffy looked up for a moment as if thinking before looking back at her, shrugging and smiling his best smile, "Dunno.".
For some reason, his answer made Nami burst into laughter. It wasn't even really his answer. It was more the fact that she knew he absolutely meant every word he'd said to her... She wished she could say yes. A part of her was absolutely shocked by that fact. Never in her life had she ever thought it possible that she'd wish she could be a pirate... She let her laughter peter out before she spoke again, "I'll hold you to it.".
The orange-haired girl shoved all of the emotions she was feeling to the back of her mind to be dealt with later. Right now, Cocoyashi was the only thing that mattered. She had enough. She had enough with her right there in the cave. She just had to get it back and finally, her village would be free again... Maybe if he asked again after that... Maybe then she could say yes.
"Alright, we figured out how to split the money. ", Carina interjected, "There's five of us so we're dividing it into fifths.". What the boys didn't know was... That wasn't true at all. She and Nami had decided to split the treasure thirty/seventy in her favor, with the caveat that their cuts came from her take.
Luffy looked behind the two girls to the separated piles of gold and jewels on the dock, "Uhh... Why are two of those piles so much bigger than the others?". He was genuinely confused. He was also confused as to why there was a pile for him... He didn't feel like he really did anything. The boy pouted to himself... Stupid cage. Well... He did find the gold, so, he guessed that counted for something.
The purple-haired girl paused at begin caught in her lie. So, he was an idiot but not that much of an idiot. Noted.
"THAT'S HOW IT'S SPLIT! DEAL WITH IT!", Nami screamed with shark teeth. If her eyes didn't deceive her, which let's be honest when it came to money they never did, she had just a little more than enough. She couldn't afford to give the boys any more than she already had. Well... She could use some of what was under her trees back home but... She didn't wanna! That was hers now that she didn't need to use it to buy her village!
All three boys raised their hands above their heads in surrender.
Carina laughed at the interaction, her eyes glancing over the slightly frightened boys' forms. Her eyes caught Luffy and it was the first time that she'd noticed a necklace hanging from his neck. It was leather and had two charms on it, a deep violet one and a dark black one. She couldn't really tell what the purple one was, but the black one was obviously a moon and was covered in small white dots that were so tiny she almost couldn't see them.
In a word... the necklace was absolutely stunning. And if it came from the cage... The violette wanted it, "Hey, Luffy.", she purred, pointing at his necklace with a greedy glint in her eye, "You didn't happen to find that in the cage?... Did you?".
Everyone else in the room watched as Luffy looked down to where she was pointing. "This?", he asked gesturing to his necklace.
Carina nodded, licking her lips. Her eyes were so focused on the beautiful piece of jewelry that she missed the small smirk on the lips of the girl next to her.
"Nope! Someone helped me make it a long time ago!", the straw-hatted teen answered with a smile, looking down at the leather cord. As he gazed at the gems attached to it he began to wonder... Could he still eat them? He probably never would because of how much he enjoyed swimming, but after really examining them for the first time in a while, he realized he'd never asked the question when the necklace was made... Eh, he didn't really care. He didn't think he could bring himself to eat one of his treasures... This was also coming from the assumption that he would have to eat the entire necklace.
Carina was suddenly behind Luffy with her arms softly hanging around his neck and her head on his shoulder. "Jewelry is for girls, Luffy. You shouldn't be wearing that.", she whispered into his ear.
Sanji glanced over at Zoro and sent the swordsman an insulting smirk, "Hear that Mr. Teardrops? Jewelry is for girls.".
The verdet scoffed at the other boy's comment, trying to hide the small tick mark forming above his brow... His earrings were cool, damn it!
Luffy laughed at the violette's words. "I don't think so! Just look at Zoro.", he said pointing at the teardrops decorating the swordsman's ear, "He wears earrings! That's got to be more girly than a necklace! And he's one of the coolest GUYS I know.". He leaned toward the girl's ear so only she could hear what he was saying.
"You also have a way better chance of getting those earrings from him than you do trying to take my necklace... So...", the straw-hatted teen paused, a small smirk coming to his lips at the light blush on the purple-haired girl's cheeks, "You can stop looking for a clasp. It doesn't have one.".
Carina tried to hide her face as she slipped off the boy's shoulders empty-handed, madly blushing.
Nami smirked teasingly at the violette, her voice lowering to a whisper, "Been there done that... At least I tried when he was knocked out though...". She laughed at the full blush spreading across Carina's cheeks and tried to pick up the conversation where it had been left off.
"Carina and I are taking bigger cuts because none of this would have even gotten started without us. Me, more specifically bu-". The orange-haired girl winced when she felt a palm lightly smack the back of her head. "Anyways, that's why you guys get smaller cuts. Mine's the biggest because it was my idea to come here.", she pointed at Carina, "Hers is the second because we wouldn't have even been able to get here without her.".
Nami dropped her hand and shot the boys a wink, "And you three get the same because you all played the roles you were supposed to... Muscle.".
The three looked at the girl for a moment, blankly... "Sure.", they all said simultaneously.
Luffy never expected to get any of the treasure to begin with, he'd come for Nami. He honestly expected her to take all of it. The only reason he really asked why the piles were uneven was because he didn't understand why it was split at all.
Sanji also came for Nami. He cared not for the money, only the orange-haired goddess that had blessed his cheek with her wondrous kiss. He could practically still feel the warmth... Damn that bastard for stealing his kiss on the lips... Yes, he was still very upset about it.
Zoro was honestly happy to get anything. He'd just followed Luffy's lead, but he certainly wasn't going to say no to a little treasure. Emphasis on the little...
Nami was slightly shocked, she wouldn't lie. She expected at least SOME pushback... Could she have just taken it all?... The thought made her want to scream at herself, so she shook it away. She had enough and that was what mattered. "Alright, we need you three strong boys to load up the treasure...", she drifted off, looking at the condition of two of the three before expectantly looking at Luffy.
The straw-hatted teen huffed to himself. He wasn't gonna make Sanji and Zoro move gold to a boat while they were injured, but he wasn't happy about it... That brought a thought to his mind. The Merry... They needed to get their gold on the ship somehow, but he didn't even know where it was... That also left the question, if Nami wasn't getting back on the Merry, where was he supposed to load her treasure? "Uh, Nami?", he asked, raising his hand like a student would.
The orangette nodded in Luffy's direction as if calling on him and his hand came back down, "Where'd you put the Merry?". Also, with their navigator leaving, how were they supposed to sail?... He thought for a moment before realizing who he was petting with his hand... That was it! Levi could take them around just like he used to! He would have to tell his friend to be careful though... He didn't want the Merry looking like their last boat...
"Don't worry I'll tow you guys and your shares out to the Merry when I leave.", Nami answered. Her voice caught when she said the word 'leave' but she hid it as best she could... It was really time...
The future pirate captain looked at her with a smile. "Alright then. Just tell me where to put this stuff and I'll do it!", he said, standing up from his cross-legged position and walking toward the treasure. As he neared the glittering piles, a thought came to his head and he voiced it, "You know, It might be easier if everyone bags their stuff up.".
Everyone there turned, looking at the black-haired boy strangely. That... Was actually a smart idea...
Luffy turned back to the group and saw everyone staring at him, "What?". Was it something he said?