Thank you for everyone who has given such kind and thoughtful reviews so far. I hope to continue providing interesting content for you. With that, here is chapter 3.
When Nami heard how much the sale of the devil fruit had fetched Arlong, she was so enraged she'd nearly hurled her lantern to the floor and allowed her to room go up in flames, burning down the entire wretched Park and taking every last fishman along with her to hell. Had she any idea how insanely valuable that 'pricey piece of produce', as Arlong had so flippantly dismissed it, actually was, she would have demanded that they take it as payment in full for Cocoyasi. What an idiot!
But now that she knew, she wasn't going to forget about how they took advantage of her. If Arlong thought he was giving her an inch by letter her have a few measly free days, then she would take a mile - that's what she'd decided.
The very first week she'd spent locked inside the cartography room churning out maps had nearly killed her. Sometime into her third day, her fever had spiked, and she'd become delirious to the point that the ship's doctor had to be brought up to tend to her. She wasn't sure how close she'd come to dying, but it was close enough for Arlong to allow her to rest in bed for an entire day before sending her back to the grindstone once again. The only positive about it was Arlong sending actual decent meals - rather than garbage scraps - up to her for the following two days. By the end of the week, however, she was so completely wiped out she barely had strength to make a trip home to see Nojiko, much less any kind of voyage.
The following week found her almost fully recovered only to be due back at Arlong Park, but the workload she found waiting for her was nearly enough to shock her back into delirium. Nami did her best to power through her herculean task even without the good food showing up to help her through the day, but the stifling loneliness of the room after having spent a week convalescing at home with her sister was suddenly soul crushing. Nights were especially difficult as renewed grief for Belle-Mere swept over her in abrupt waves and she struggled to hold her quill steady through dry sobs.
The last miserable evening of the week as Nami lay dozing with her head against the open window, the ink on her final map still drying at the desk, she was started from fitful dreaming by raucous laughter down below. The girl jerked up and stared wild-eyed around the room for a moment before regaining her bearings. A fine sheen of sweat still glazed her body from the intense heat of the day that rose up to the pinnacle. From the faint ocean breeze wafting in through the window crack, came another volley of Arlong's unmistakable cackles. Hey eyes slowly made out the silhouette of a large ship anchored just outside the ramparts as she picked up the low reply of a second, unfamiliar voice. Nami strained to catch whatever she could of the discussion taking place directly below on the patio.
"...ever think about getting a devil fruit power of your own?"
(barely audible grunt)
"Yeah? Maybe someday you'll get lucky and the Navy'll spring for it, Shahahaha!"
(more low muttering)
"Well, stick with me and you could do very well for yourself," Arlong boomed jovially in his usual careless manner - which often became even more pronounced after a few drinks.
A long pause with intermittent exchanges she couldn't quite make out ensued, then the sudden announcement - "There it is: nearly 100 million berries; ever seen so much money in your life?"
"..."
"And here's your cut for brokering the sale...you humans sure love devil fruits - and I love your money! Shahahaha!"
Nami sank disbelievingly against the wall, blood thundering in her ears.
"Whelp, spend it in good health and come back to see me in another month...Come prepared to drink next time - I won't take 'no' for an answer!"
The world outside fell silent save the waves and the creaking of the departing ship while inside Nami's world, a storm raged.
000
Even though she'd stayed in town for her entire first week off, Nami hadn't been completely idle. She'd spent most of her recuperation period reading newspapers and researching. She'd even prepared a spot in the orange groves to stash her loot. On the morning of her first solo voyage, the ten-year-old felt confident she'd thought of everything - despite the undermining comments from Arlong and company.
"Might've checked this boat over a little better before deciding to go all the way to Stringers," snarked Kuroobi, "looks like it'll probably sink about halfway there."
"That boat obviously hasn't made a voyage since Gol D Roger was in diapers - chu."
"Nyu, didn't it used to belong to some old fisherman from Gosa," Hachi furrowed his brow in recollection, "It was in such bad shape we didn't even bother destroying it."
Nami pushed past everyone gathered on the doc to 'see her off'. "I've already patched it, and it floats." She made a face at Kuroobi who sneered down at her as she loaded provisions into the small cabin.
"Alright, leave her alone," snickered Arlong, "It's Nami's adventure and I'm sure she's very well-prepared."
Nami kept her back to them, pointedly ignoring their snide remarks as she went over her checklist one final time.
"Even so, you may need a little extra cash at some point..." Arlong reached into his long coat and pulled out a wad of paper money, "Here ya go."
"I already have money," she bristled, "You just gave me some earlier this morning!"
"Oh well, take some more," he shrugged, "you never know when it'll come in handy - just use it wisely."
She snatched the bills resentfully from him, certain it was the same money from the sale of her hard-earned devil fruit he now waved in her face.
Everything double checked, Nami was finally ready to shove off. She looked forward to her time away from all of them and Arlong Park even if nothing else came of the trip.
"Bye Nami, steal lots of treasure!"
"While you're at it, steal a better boat!"
"Come back alive and we'll get Take to throw you a party!"
"Whoo! Go get 'em, killer!"
While the boat drifted steadily from the dock, Nami responded with a gesture that would have earned her a slap from Belle-Mere. The pirates just laughed harder.
Threadsville, the capitol city of Stringers Island, was a bustling port that made even the largest town on the Conomi Islands look downright comatose. Under different circumstances, Nami would have thoroughly enjoyed a trip to such a vibrant and (to her eyes) amazing city. She walked past numerous stores and venues that sold beautiful, stylish clothing and shoes. More than once, she recalled the fat bundle of cash from Arlong stowed beneath her blouse, but her purpose for coming weighed far too heavily for her to be seriously tempted by any of the vast array of luxury items.
A bookstore eventually proved too much enticement and she stepped in for a quick perusal. She glanced around at the small nautical selection, then for some reason a book on poisonous plants sitting on a shelf across the aisle caught her eye. Nami picked it up and flipped through the leaves, pausing from time to time to read certain sections and quietly store the information away. After several minutes, however, she put the book back and left the store.
Nami's main reason for choosing Threadsville, aside from its close proximity to home, was its infamous reputation for trafficking in pirate goods. Many Navy personnel also frequented the city, intermingling with the criminal elements in a variety of interactions and transactions - as her shifty nakama Hitchin could personally attest. Even the local papers Nami subscribed to were often peppered with mentions of the dubious hub and its many scandals. She felt confident she'd be able to gain some leads after a little time acquainting herself with the locale.
Wanted posters lined the streets like advertisements - attesting to the Navy's heavy presence in the town. Nami paused now and again to examine the candid shots and their corresponding bounties. One figure noticeably absent from the dozens of pictures splashed over the thoroughfare was "Saw-Tooth Arlong". No matter how carefully she combed the streets, she couldn't find even a single wanted poster for any member of the Arlong Pirates.
The girl's fists automatically clenched at her sides at the injustice. Even if the Conomi Islands were only the sticks as far as a city like Threadsville was concerned, shouldn't the population of Stringers know what was happening in her hometown and the numerous other villages of her archipelago - how could they pretend that the monster who casually sank five navy ships, then set up a base on their conquered lands only months ago wasn't worth a single poster among all the scum of East Blue with bounties on their heads? Word of something so egregious had to have gone out in the papers; it was simply unimaginable that other parts of East Blue were unaware of Arlong's presence. Not that she believed there were any bounty hunters in that part of the world capable of killing the fishman, but if they thought he wasn't their problem, then they were sorely mistaken. Once he had Nami finish mapping the entire ocean, Arlong and his crew would be coming for them next.
"Are you alright, young lady; do you need any assistance?"
Nami jumped in surprise to see a woman in a Marine cap staring solicitously down at her.
'I'm fine," Nami squeaked, "I was just waiting for uh - my mom to come back."
"Oh? Where is she?"
"Um...visiting, my dad."
The woman gave her a perplexed frown, "Then why didn't you go with her?"
"Well, because she doesn't want me t-to meet him!"
"What?" The navy woman's brow furrowed deeper.
"...because he's a pirate! She doesn't want me to meet him because he's a pirate. So, she told me to wait here for her."
"Your father is a pirate," the woman repeated dubiously.
"Yes," insisted Nami.
"What's his name, if you don't mind me asking."
"Why? Are you gonna arrest him?"
"No," she shook her head, "I have no intentions of doing that. I'm here on other business." Her eyes traveled to the wanted poster Nami had been staring at.
Quickly taking the que, Nami blurted, "That's him. That's my dad." She glanced back at the picture of a rotund pirate gnawing on a leg of meat.
The woman blinked. "Lucky Roux of the Red Hair Pirates is your dad?"
"Sure is!"
"I see. Well, this still isn't a very safe area for kids. Why don't you come wait inside with me until your mom gets back?" She nodded toward an establishment across the street with many Navy patrons sitting outdoors at tables.
Although the lady, who introduced herself as Warrant Officer Beckett, was a bit too nosy for Nami's taste, she decided to forgive her after the sailor treated her to lunch.
"Where are you from," the woman continued to pry as Nami scarfed down her plate of fried tilapia.
The girl considered her response as she chewed. With a final flinty look, she answered, "Oh, just a little place called Conomi."
The warrant officer choked on a sip of coffee, but quickly recovered her composure. She gazed with careful scrutiny into Nami's face as the girl did the same back to her.
"Ever hear of it," pressed Nami.
"I have," replied the woman cagily, taking another sip of coffee. Several seconds passed, but she offered no other comment and suddenly fell silent.
Nami couldn't decide whether to be relieved or disappointed. She went back to eating when she noticed an officer approach their table from behind the woman. She watched the man swagger up and her eyes where immediately drawn to the mouse ears on his Marine hat as well as the rodent-like whiskers sprouting from his face by way of a mustache.
"Good afternoon, Beckett," announced the man, leaning close to her ear.
Warrant Officer Beckett's eyes widened at the sound of his voice. She placed her mug down and abruptly stood and saluted. "Captain Nezumi!"
"Sorry to interrupt you," he offered a hooded smile, "but I've been looking forward to reading your report ever since we made land. Would you happen have the information on that pirate smuggling ring prepared?"
"Oh - yes Captain," the woman gave a flustered glance at a leather satchel lying next to her chair, "I have all the notes compiled already and I should have that report ready for you by this evening..." She lowered her voice as the two continued their discussion.
Nami frowned at the bewhiskered man who'd failed to notice her existence. Something about him seemed familiar. She was sure she'd heard his voice before. However, the moment she heard the words 'pirate smuggling ring', she immediately forgot everything else. The girl waited patiently until the Navy captain departed once again.
"Excuse me," she said as Beckett sat back down, "I need to use the bathroom; I'll be right back."
After sneaking out a back entrance near the restrooms, Nami pulled the stolen notebook out from beneath her blouse and began to scan the pages as she leaned against the wall in the alleyway. Her eyes widened as she read through the highly informative details described by Beckett during her weeks of spying on the parties involved. She remained in the alley as long as she dared, memorizing everything she could within the warrant officer's journals, before heading back inside.
"I'm back," the girl announced. "I should really get going, but I wanted to tell you 'Thanks' for buying me lunch." And also, for all the great information about where to steal pirate treasure, she mentally added.
"Wouldn't you like some dessert," asked the woman.
Nami gave it a brief consideration before replying, "No, I don't want to take up any more of your time or money, and anyway, I think my mom is probably looking for me." She bumped her hand against an empty water glass, knocking it to the floor with a thud. "Oops!"
Nami ducked under the table and hastily transferred the notebook in her shirt back to Beckett's satchel before grabbing the glass and setting it back on the table. With a final cheerful wave, she turned and trotted out of the eatery, leaving the nonplussed Navy woman staring after her.
000
For the following couple of nights, Nami waited futilely around the docks where Beckett's notes reported sporadic pirate transactions took place. She witnessed various unsavory scenes while lying under a pile of newspapers beside a nearby bench, some even involving money, but none that resembled what was described in the warrant officer's journal. Upon daybreak, she would drag herself back to her own vessel to sleep for a few hours only to head back out to gather any other possible leads the following afternoon.
She soon discovered a bar popular with pirates where she began ordering food. Throughout her time there, she endured rowdy patrons swapping absurd stories, arguing loudly or boasting about their exploits, but Nami hardly learned anything useful from them.
Later, after brawling men slammed into her table nearly collapsing it, Nami finally bolted - snatching a knife and satchel on her way out. Once safely inside the cabin of her own boat she inspected the contents of the stolen pouch: several gold coins of an unknown currency along with some large, gaudy pieces of jewelry she hoped were expensive. She then turned her attention to the knife she'd pulled from the pirate's jacket when he'd crashed unceremoniously into her plate of crab legs. It was small and sharp; it cut easily through the straps holding his money bag. She stowed it away for safe keeping.
The following evening's sentry duty found her back in position once again. Nodding off against her bench, she was suddenly startled awake by an undefined noise. Nami sat up and peered into the darkness toward the coast. The moon and the faint city lights painted the outlines of what appeared to be a dinghy moored to the wharf. People moved around on the boat, but she was unable to determine what they were doing. The girl, at the risk of drawing attention to herself, determined to move closer.
Doffing her newspaper covers, she scurried for the rocks along the coast, moving as quickly and quietly as possible over them toward the dock. Aside from the activity on the boat, no one else was around the low trafficked area outside of town. She could hear the voices of at least two people muttering back and forth as she approached.
"That quack just can't get enough of this shit. Is it really that good?"
"I tried it once, but all it did was make me puke my guts out."
"Well, I'll take two million over that any day - kyhuh,huh,huh!"
"Shhh! Keep your voice down, idiot."
"Why? There's no one out here."
"Shut up...Look - there's his signal - let's go."
A small light flashed quickly out in the distance and the two pirates, one toting a large jar of dark liquid while the other followed behind him with saber at the ready, disembarked out onto the pier, melding almost immediately with the shadows of the night. Their rendezvous taking just under five minutes, the pair returned with the first pirate now carrying a sack slung over his shoulder.
"Another day another two million berries," grunted the first man as he chucked the sack into the cabin, "this is the easiest money I've ever made."
"Almost too easy," agreed the second, absently using his blade to trim off a hang nail, his well-adjusted night vision catching a strange glimmer on the bottom of the boat. "Hey, did you happen to drop some money out of that bag?"
"No. Why?"
"'Cause I see something shiny right here." He bent down and picked up the small disc, holding it up to the moon for closer inspection. "It looks like gold!"
"There's no gold in that bag - it's all paper money." The other walked to the opposite deck and stared down, "Look, there's more scattered over here!"
"Do you think someone may have boarded our dinghy while we were gone?"
"Who would sneak onto our dinghy, sprinkle gold coins around, then disappear? Some kind of magic...uh, I dunno - boat nymph?"
"Well, there weren't any coins here before - how do you explain that?"
"Likely something besides a visit from a naked mythological woman."
"Huh? Are nymphs supposed to be naked?"
"They're nature goddesses, so I would assume they'd be..."
Two million berries was heavier than Nami had expected as she shimmied monkey-style down the pole of the pier with the sack of money stuffed as far down into her shirt as she could manage. Just a short drop to the rocks below and she'd be home free. Scattering all her recently pilfered coins over the boat in a momentary fit of insanity, her reckless gamble to stow away inside their cabin and await a bountiful harvest had paid off when the money literally dropped in her lap.
Finally making it to the ground, the girl squeezed into the crevasse between the underside of the pier and the sloping shore. The pirates' conversation had grown quiet, and she could no longer hear any distinct noises coming from the boat. They were sure to notice their missing money soon (if they hadn't already) but she was baffled by the silence from above. She waited several minutes more, straining her ears for a shout or an exclamation, possibly feet thudding rapidly over the wooden planks, anything to indicate what was going on, but nothing came.
Cautiously, Nami poked her head out. The moment she did, an arm yanked her roughly up by the collar and slammed her onto the wharf.
"Well, well, it looks like we found our nymph," the snaggle-toothed pirate sneered down at the gasping, breathless child. With one hand pinning her down, he reached for the bag sticking out of her shirt. Nami fended him off with a swipe of her dagger, but he caught it easily, squeezing her wrist until a scream ripped from her throat.
"Let's kill her," suggested the saber-wielding pirate, raising his sword eagerly behind his crewmate.
"There's no need to go that far," chided the other blandly, "she's just a girl." He turned his dark eyes back to Nami, then to the knife still clutched in her hand. "Were you planning to use that on me?"
He took the knife from her, sliding it lazily under the buttons of her blouse. "You shouldn't play with sharp objects. You could get hurt, y'know." He continued popping each one deliberately off, snatching the heavy bag away from her chest, "It would be a shame to scar up that cute little bosom."
"Lemme go! Lemme go! Please!" Nami squirmed helplessly against the arms pinning her in place.
"See if she's got any more of those gold coins hidden on her," chuckled the second pirate, coming up for a closer look.
"That's not a bad idea," grinned the first.
While rough hands roved over her torso, Nami's thoughts drifted back to the grove, sitting outside under a large umbrella and having lunch with Belle-Mere-san, Nojiko and Gen-san. Gen-san was telling jokes, and everyone was laughing. Bees buzzed around the orange blossoms. Out of nowhere a shrill whistle pierced the air.
Immediately, Nami was snapped back to the present where apparently the pirates had heard the same noise as she. The brute who'd been pawing her jumped to his feet, grabbing the money bag as he and the second pirate bolted for their vessel.
A sudden figure leveling a pistol barrel in their faces blocked the pirates' exit.
"Freeze," shouted a familiar voice.
Nami pulled herself up, squinting into the darkness in front of her at the indistinct form of Warrant Officer Beckett.
The tromping of many boots immediately followed as a contingent of Navy soldiers materialized out of the night from all directions and, within seconds, had their targets surrounded.
While the two pirates were cuffed and lead away, Beckett hurried to catch a retreating Nami.
"Wait! You're not under arrest, but don't run! You need medical attention!"
Nami paused, throwing a look back over her shoulder, "I'm not hurt, so if I'm not under arrest, then I'd like to go now."
Ignoring her statement, the Warrant Officer strode over to her, grasping Nami by the shoulders and staring hard into her face, "What were you thinking trying to rob those pirates? Did someone put you up to this?"
"No."
"Then why did you do it," she demanded to know. "You found out about their dealings from reading my notebook, didn't you? So, you thought you'd try to rob them? You need to tell me what's actually going on. If you're in some kind of trouble, the Navy can help you!"
Nami attempted to break from her grip, her buttonless shirt pulling off her left shoulder. Beckett's sharp eye immediately seized on its ugly marking, and she tugged the girl's arm toward her for closer inspection. A small gasp of recognition escaped her lips at the saw-nosed tattoo.
With a final violent wrench, Nami freed herself. Pulling her shirt closed, she glowered defiantly at the Navy woman. "What can you do to help me? The Navy can't do ANYTHING! You don't even try anymore, instead you just give up and pretend like we don't exist! Well, that's fine, we'll still survive without your help! I'll do whatever I have to, and I don't care how many damned pirates I have to steal from!"
Turning her back to Beckett's stunned expression, she sped as fast as she could away from the green, past the bewildered Navy soldiers, back to her own awaiting fishing boat. No one came after her. She knew they wouldn't.
000
Just as soon as light appeared on the horizon, Nami began plotting the course for her next destination. She'd originally planned to stay at least a week in Threadsville, but now that it was impossible thanks to the previous evening's events, she decided it best to leave Stringers entirely before word about her got around and she ended up either murdered by pirates or stuck in a Navy jail.
She'd read in Beckett's journal that the Cleaver Pirates harvested a secretion from a fish species that only lived near Beersdee Island. By all accounts, the liquid in the jar traded for the two million in cash was the very same substance. According to the warrant officer's notes, the Navy had designs on raiding the Cleaver Pirates' headquarters on Beersdee, which controlled all production of the key ingredient in various drugs produced and distributed in cities like Threadsville.
Nami supposed the two detained pirates she'd tangled with were pawns in this larger plan to seize the entire crew's ill-gotten fortune from the undeveloped island they exploited. While still reeling from having gained and lost two million berries in the span of only ten minutes, she'd gone so far as to wonder if she could possibly beat the Navy to it? Insane as the idea admittedly was - especially in light of what she'd already suffered trying to steal from only two Cleaver Pirates - the thought of getting her hands on even a fraction of the wealth stored at their base of operations made her giddy.
Within the time it took to dash off a few lines, she had the course plotted and couldn't disembark fast enough away from the miserable city and toward a hopeful new beginning. The trip would be about a half a day longer than the one she'd taken to get to Threadsville and about twice as long getting back to her village in the old fishing boat. She'd certainly miss the timeframe she'd given Arlong for how long she'd be gone - not that she cared about that - but belatedly she began to wonder about the seaworthiness of her vessel. True she'd done a thorough patch job, still she wasn't sure how long it would actually last - especially were the weather to turn or she be laden down with excessive amounts of treasure.
Nami's focus pivoted to the direction of the sea breeze. She could already feel bad weather coming within the next hour or so. She'd get caught in the middle of it if she didn't change course, which caused her to worry again about the length of the journey. Right in the midst of her doubts, a thought she'd been suppressing for the past several hours finally broke loose and cavorted through her head like a wild horse.
The memory of being pinched and prodded while trapped under the weight of an evil chortling bastard, the hideous thought of how far it would have gone if Beckett and her men hadn't been there, the look of horror on Beckett's face when she saw Nami's tattoo, all of it churned together into a burning knot in the pit of her stomach. Abruptly, she leaned over the side of the boat and retched.
No matter how much money it was, she couldn't risk the trip. Nami steered back toward Cocoyasi to return home in failure.
000
The two rings and one gold chain hit the bottom of her treasure cavern with a sad thud like spare change tossed into a beggar's cup. She was glad Nojiko was not home; she was too ashamed to face her sister with such a meager payout from all those days spent in a city full of pirates.
Likewise, she had no desire to head back to Arlong Park, but had nowhere else to go other than back to her shabby little boat. Deciding it was still preferable to the company of the fishmen, she headed back to sleep in her cabin.
She was awakened to the sound of bumping on the hull. Nami sat up with a start and rushed out to see what was happening.
"Hey! What's going on," she shouted down at the water.
A moment later Aka-Mushi's head popped above the surface. "Oh. I didn't realize you were on board; I just saw your boat tied here and figured you'd already gone back to Arlong Park."
"Even if I had, why would you be poking around under my boat?"
"Well, I was already down there anyway, but even from far away I couldn't help seeing how bad the seam of the chine was looking - like when you see someone that has a big, ugly gash across their face - you can't help but notice! I could see it was filled with something, but whatever sealant was used ain't working so well. You must've taken on a lot of water - lucky you made it back!"
"Yeah, I'm so lucky," snarked Nami, hoisting herself onto the dock and stomping off.
Nami's already low spirits sank even further as The Park loomed into sight. Stealthily as possible, she crept through the side gate hoping not to catch any attention. To her slight confusion, the patio area - by far the most popular spot for the crew to congregate - was virtually deserted. A loud snore erupted from one of the lounge chairs at the far end of the pool, but otherwise nothing stirred. The girl stepped cautiously under the shade of the porch, eyeing Arlong's empty chair. Amidst the eerie desolation, she heard voices drifting through the entryway.
She found the officers, along with several other prominent members of the crew gathered with Arlong around a table inside the armory. Nami couldn't make out what they were talking about as they all babbled over each other, but something about the gathering filled her with unease. Hurrying past the doorway, she was abruptly halted by a sharp bellow.
"Hey Nami!"
Her lips pulled back in a grimace. Slowly she turned back to find all eyes fixed on her.
"Back already," inquired Arlong incredulously, his mouth twitched into a slight smirk, "I trust you had a successful trip."
"I'd say it was educational," Nami crossed her arms defiantly.
"I'm sure it was." There followed a wave of chuckles from the fishmen.
"Well, it's just lucky that you showed back up when you did, because I have just the job for you!"
"Job?" She frowned around at them, then at the suspicious books strewn over the table.
Arlong rose from his chair and guided her in with a sweep of his arm. "We were just discussing a very important element for our eventual conquest of East Blue. We need you to make a special chart for us with this data."
Nami stared dubiously at an open reference book. "Dawn Island? Navy Headquarters? What's all this about?"
"We need to be able to navigate the fastest route through these seas when the time comes," explained Hitchin, "It's important to have a strategy."
"You're already planning to attack the Navy and take over more islands," exclaimed Nami, staring around at them in amazement, "Don't you think you're getting a little carried away? You don't even have a fleet like Don Krieg!"
"Krieg!" Spat Kaneshiro, "Each of us is worth ten of his men!"
"Speak for yourself, I'm worth twenty," scoffed Kuroobi.
"Now, now," Arlong gave Nami a patronizing smile, "Let me worry about strategy and you can worry about drawing us the world's best charts, okay?"
"Nyu, yeah - it'll still be a while yet before we're ready take on the Navy; we're just getting prepared for when that day finally comes," Hachi attempted to assure her.
"Shaddup, Hachi," grumbled Choo.
"Look, I just got back from a long trip and I'm tired. Can't this at least wait until next week?"
"Oh, this shouldn't take that long for a cartographer as talented as you," the captain insisted, shoving the stack of books toward her, "you can rest right after you finish this map."
Sitting sullenly at her desk up in the sweltering apex of The Park, Nami glowered down at her preliminary plotting. "So, I should let you worry about strategy, huh," she muttered. "You'll decide who to attack and when and I'll just draw your charts for you, is that it?" She dipped her quill in the inkwell and placed it to the parchment, "We'll just see about that."
"Finished it," she announced two and a half hours later, walking out onto the porch where Arlong sat drinking with Hachi, Choo and Kuroobi.
"That's what I like to hear," boomed Arlong, draping his massive arm around her and dragging her into the inner circle. He picked up a bottle, pouring a round for the table. He then took an extra glass, drizzled a finger of amber liquid into it and handed it to Nami. Arlong and the other three raised their glasses. When Nami didn't move, Arlong grabbed her wrist, bringing her own glass together against theirs in a loud clink.
"Cheers, Nakama!"
"To the rulers of East Blue!"
"To fishman dominion!"
Everyone threw back the shot except Nami who dubiously chose to sip hers.
"Guugh!" She shuddered.
The fishmen guffawed.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," promised Choo.
000
Although it was the last thing in the world she wanted to do, Nami decided to get an early jump on her cartography duties in preparation for her next span of time off the island. She jotted off several maps first thing in the morning while the temperature was tolerable, then spent the rest of the afternoon in the groves with Nojiko helping with the harvest as she fretted to her sister about the major transportation obstacles she still needed to solve before her next trip.
When she returned again to Arlong Park that evening to get more work done, she discovered the same sawshark-man missing. What normally would've been a welcome relief was now an aggravation in light of her urgent desire to discuss her damaged boat with him while she still remained in his good graces.
He stayed gone the following day as well.
The third day from her return back to the island, Nami was once again at her desk in full surveyor mode. With reference books open around her and their data still fresh in her mind, the child closed her eyes and began the process of mentally converting raw measurements into identifiable features. The boundaries of the coast came slowly but ever sharper into focus, crisp and jagged with currents flowing intimately around each crag and shelf like a silk scarf running through her fingers. Once her mind's eye captured the entire picture, she was ready to begin.
Reaching for parchment and a ruler, she jumped as a muffled boom suddenly reverberated up from the floor and through her chair. Silence followed. She wondered if someone had knocked over a heavy piece of furniture somewhere downstairs. Nami slowly sat back as an odd feeling of unease began to settle in the pit of her stomach.
Seconds passed and she heard the distinct thudding of someone coming swiftly up the stairs.
Nami whipped around in time to see the door thrown open and the specter of Arlong filling the entry - his lips pressed into a long grim line across his face.
She could tell from his damp appearance that he'd very recently been submerged and her suspicions he'd been off island were all but confirmed.
"You're back," she queried hesitantly.
To her deepening dismay, his mouth formed a slow smile as he stepped into the room. "I am - from a very long trip as a matter of fact. Guess where I went?"
"How should I know," retorted the girl with a shrug.
"Well let's just look and see if we can figure it out together," he stepped up behind her chair, pulling a rectangle out of his open shirt and unfolding it. Nami immediately recognized the navigational chart she'd drawn days earlier. "Because I thought I'd asked for a map of the coast of Dawn Island, but there seems to be a few errors on this one you gave me...inlets that lead to nowhere, phantom islands, sheer cliffs where a beach and a settlement should be - it's almost like you deliberately drew the opposite of the information we gave you."
He tilted his head as he stared down at her, his flimsy smile immediately collapsed. "Is that what you did?"
Nami felt her mouth go dry. She fidgeted with her compass, unable to hold his intense gaze any longer. "So that's where you went, huh," she replied weakly, "well, I did make it in a hurry; there might have been some mistakes..."
"Cut the shit, you little bitch! How dare you draw fake maps," he exploded, slamming her head against the desk with a swipe of his hand.
Nami saw spots and thought she might pass out. She struggled to pull free, but Arlong held her head like a ripe melon he was about to crush in his palm.
"How many others have you drawn wrong," he roared, his long, jagged nose cutting into her cheek as he loomed inches from her face. "Tell the truth, because if I find out later..."
"None," she squealed, "that's the only one - I promise!"
"Clearly you don't appreciate how well I treat you, Nami," the pressure against her head intensified until she thought it would split open, "because things could be a lot worse - and I mean A LOT worse than they are now. You may have lost your mother, but don't you still have a sister? What if something bad were to happen to her too?"
Nami immediately stopped struggling, falling limp as a rabbit in a dog's maw.
"There are so many human vermin living on this archipelago, and their lives are such fragile things. I can scarcely guarantee the safety of every lowly little worm if I can't even trust you to do your job properly." He pulled back slightly, regarding her changed demeanor, his hand easing gradually off her throbbing skull, "Do we understand one another?"
"Yes," she nodded against the desk.
"I'm glad to hear that. If you were a man, or even slightly less puny, I'd have you flogged, but you probably wouldn't survive the kind of lashings we fishmen give. Besides, I need you working. So as punishment you'll do double your regular workload for the next three days to make up for the three days of my time that you wasted on this," He held up the chart which he balled up and hurled to the floor. "They'd better be perfect, by the way, and no meals during that time - only water."
"Okay," she murmured huskily.
Nami didn't move again until long after she'd heard the door slam behind her. She struggled to steady her hand as she finally attempted to lift quill to parchment. A tear at the edge of her eye threatened to break free, but Nami quickly dashed it away. She'd made a promise not to cry anymore and it was time to start keeping that damn promise.
Slamming the quill down and spattering ink everywhere in the process, the girl got up and abruptly opened the window to get some badly needed fresh air. As she sat gulping the oxygen in long deep drags, she considered her circumstances once again. No money, no boat, no hope of ever getting any help, meanwhile the source of all her grief lounged without a care several storyes below. She thought about how quickly all of her and everyone's troubles would vanish if Arlong were dead.
"But how," she muttered softly.
The answer would come, she assured herself. For now, there were many, many charts to be made.
