And now we finally get to find out what happens to Arlong - does Nami kill him? (Oh no)

Also, why not find out what everyone else has been up to...

After seeing her sister safely off the following morning, Nojiko returned home to prepare for another day at market - which entailed the meticulous loading of as many orange crates as would fit into her over-taxed cart, and the arduous journey of lugging them into town.

She'd made it through the easy downhill portion, bracing now for the big push needed to make it up the steepest incline between home and the village square. Belle-Mere always handled the hill with a running start, Nojiko and Nami pushing from behind, and a loud bellow as the wagon rolled up to the highest point of the trail with scarcely a lag. Nojiko long suspected her foster mother of merely humoring her and Nami's meager contributions toward actually getting the cart over the hill. She hoped someday to become as strong as Belle-Mere by using the elevated point as a marker for her progress.

Nojiko wanted to shout her own war cry, barreling fiercely up the path like Belle-Mere hilariously used to, but a large lump in her throat warned her that if she started screaming now, she may not be able to stop. Losing all momentum, the cart ground instead to a slow halt before the incline. She stood staring defeatedly at the road ahead for several long seconds before a swarthy, scarred arm reached out and grabbed the handle from her.

"Gen-san," she exclaimed, swallowing the tightness in her throat as the mustachioed man carted the oranges steadily up the steep hill for her, "what are you doing all the way out here?"

"What am I doing out here," he echoed in disbelief, "I wanted to find out what Nami had to say to you yesterday! How is she?"

Nojiko hid her smile at his paternal concern. "She's...doing alright, I'd say."

He turned to her expectantly, awaiting more details. Nojiko deliberated on how much she should tell him, knowing even Genzo's self-restraint had its limits when it came to Nami's recklessness.

"She's gone out on another voyage to earn money."

"Well, I figured that much," he grunted as they reached the top of the hill, "but we haven't had any news from her in over a month now, and after all that commotion the other night - I've heard from the authorities of several other villages that some girls were abducted by the fishmen."

"She told me a little bit about that too," Nojiko nodded.

"Now Nojiko," he fixed her with one of the classic scowls she and Nami had grown up associating with him, "don't be coy - tell me everything!"

She frowned back up at him as they approached the bottom of the hill, "If I do, you have to promise not to do anything rash in response."

His mustache twitched in annoyance, "Don't be ridiculous - now tell me!"

She figured it was as close to a promise as she was going to get from him. "Okay. So, Nami's gonna try and kill Arlong."

Genzo halted so abruptly he was nearly clobbered by the rolling cart.

Nojiko gasped, trying to catch the stray oranges that toppled from the crates and bounced off Genzo's head.

"She's what," he roared, veins popping from his neck, "HAS SHE LOST HER MIND?"

"Gen-san, shhhh!" The girl glanced furtively around before continuing, "She's convinced that the pirates will leave the island if Arlong isn't around anymore."

"She's going to get herself killed," muttered the man, brushing a hand anxiously across his scarred face. "I can't let her go through with this."

"It's already done," Nojiko informed him. "She poisoned him at their party two nights ago and now she's gone as of this morning."

"Now if only she'd stay gone for her own good," he barked, giving the cart handle an angry wrench as they continued their trip into town. He turned an apologetic look on the dejected girl as they reached their destination several minutes later.

"I didn't mean to upset you with what I said earlier, Nojiko."

"I understand," she sighed, "I felt the same way when she told me."

He placed his rough hand reassuringly on her shoulder. Nojiko knew it must be especially difficult for the top law enforcement officer to stand on equally helpless footing with the impoverished orphan girl he was meant to protect, but they were all in the same metaphorical boat - Strong and weak alike.

"Good morning, Gen-san, Nojiko-chan," the market owner greeted while they unloaded oranges and Belle-Mere's eldest daughter began setting up their old stall just like her mother used to on so many previous market days.

"Good morning, Taza-san," replied the girl. Genzo tipped his hat in response, but immediately noticed his old friend Dr. Nako standing nearby and quickly excused himself. Nojiko knew, without having to ask, exactly what the pair of them were going to discuss.

"Your tangerines are looking beautiful," the middle-aged woman praised her sincerely, "I know Belle-Mere would be so proud!"

"Thank you," she beamed back, "I can only hope so."

"I wanted to ask you," she leaned in, lowering her voice, "If you've had any news recently from that poor sister of yours!"

"Oh, well, you know Nami - she's still hanging in there."

Taza clutched a hand to her large bosom. "We've been so worried - George and I," she said, referring to her husband, "after all that racket the other night from those..."

Nojiko had to strain to hear her as she mouthed the words 'damned monsters' next to the child's ear.

"It just breaks my heart knowing she actually believes the whole village hates her - I only wish there were some other way!"

"Me too," said Nojiko, and she sorely meant it. Not for the first time, she questioned the village's decision to collectively shun Nami. Though she understood their hearts were in the right place, she also knew her obstinate little sister was never going to abandon the island no matter how poorly everyone treated her.

Images of Nami's weary, hollow expression from only hours ago still haunted Nojiko who longed to somehow encourage her that she wasn't alone - even that knowledge, however, was likely to burden the young pickpocket. Being hated was unpleasant, but Nami far preferred it to the possibility of anyone sticking their neck out for her and getting hurt.

The busy Taza soon bustled off to speak with other merchants and Nojiko returned to setting up. She quietly resolved to continue keeping everyone's support a secret while praying that her sister's plan would soon abolish the awful necessity.

000

The octopus-man shifted awkwardly in the seat normally occupied by Arlong. The fingers of one hand drummed restlessly on the tabletop beside him while in another he held a bunch of grapes which he popped absently into his mouth as he read from a letter.

"Nyu, I don't know," he said aloud to the empty chairs, scratching his head with yet another hand.

"What don't you know," asked Karoobi, presently emerging from the pool and plodding up to him.

"Hm? Oh! Someone from one of our villages is writing to Arlong-san, begging for an IOU on this month's tribute money because his kid is sick, and they've had to spend everything they have on medical bills...But what am I supposed to do with this?"

"Just throw it away," The ray-man scoffed. "It's not that difficult, Hachi, everyone knows the rules: they either have the money on time or they die, and we destroy the whole village. Screw the sob stories about sick kids - we're pirates. Remember?"

"...Nyu, right."

"By the way, how is Arlong-san - seen 'im lately?"

"No, I haven't. He's with the Doc right now," a troubled Hachi pointed up at the captain's suite on the second floor.

Leaving his friend to sort out the administrative work, Karoobi made his way up the stairway, giving the door to the right of the landing a tentative knock.

"What?" came a snarl from within.

"It's me, Karoobi," announced the lieutenant, "I was just reporting back from my rounds."

"Get in here!"

Karoobi pushed the door open and crept inside.

A shirtless Arlong hunched like a gargoyle on the edge of the bed as the crew's doctor, a nurse shark-fishman named Renado, took a step back, closing his case with a snap. "Well, it's not a virus - but I don't think it's a typical case of food poisoning either. I still can't pinpoint the exact cause yet, but I'd advise you to continue drinking lots of fluids and try getting some solids on your stomach too if you can manage. Meanwhile, I'll mix up a solution that'll help flush out your system."

Arlong's loose hair hung in dark ragged curtains down his bare shoulders. He growled out from around them at the doctor, "Even if I could keep anything down, there ain't nothing been going through my system for the past three days!"

The ship's doctor nodded curtly, exchanging a look with Karoobi, "I'm currently running more diagnostic tests, but I'll be back up later to check on you and bring your medicine once the two of you've finished conducting your business." Captain and lieutenant watched him as he brusquely made his leave.

The ray-man winced as he took in Arlong's pallid gray appearance. "Still no improvement?"

"Fuck, it's worse. Feels like I'm being stabbed repeatedly in the guts," Arlong rumbled, pulling his legs up and propping himself against the headboard. He cast a dark look at Karoobi, "So what do you have to report?"

"Nothing much out of the ordinary," stated his subordinate, "All of those humans tend to clam right up whenever you approach them, but I did manage to uncover a few pieces of contraband we can add to our armory. I then made a very vivid example out of the culprits, which I doubt will soon be forgotten. Otherwise, all's quiet around the villages."

"Any word from Choo on the surrounding seas?"

"Haven't seen 'im," Karoobi shook his head, "I'm guessing he hasn't gotten back yet from patrolling."

"Alright," Arlong closed his eyes and brushed a hand along his forehead, back through his sweaty, unkempt hair, "Send him up when you see 'im."

"I will." Karoobi started for the door, then paused, giving him a backward glance. "Arlong-san? This mystery illness - have you thought perhaps there might be some foul play involved?"

The sawshark cracked open one bloodshot eye, fixing it on him. "By who? I don't know how anyone, aside from one of my own brothers, would ever have the opportunity to poison me. And even if he hated me, which one of my men would ever stoop to such a gutless and cowardly method?"

"I might be able to name one," retorted Karoobi.

000

"Land ho!"

With the island in sight and swiftly approaching, the Navy captain trudged onto the deck in preparation to disembark. He squinted through his spyglass, scanning the large gate glinting in the distance from its conspicuous position on the coast for the usual octopus gatekeeper. Moments after anchoring, a nonplussed Nezumi glanced to either side of the closed gate beyond the outer courtyard, but neither the octopus nor any other fishmen immediately appeared.

Exchanging a glance with one of his ensigns, the captain suppressed an aggravated sigh at the slight. Making the trip to such a backwater island was inconvenient enough without those damned pirates standing him up. He was just about to order their departure when a blue, puckered face suddenly bobbed up out of the water to their starboard side.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Captain - chu!" The fair-haired fishman leapt up the side of the ship in one bound, taking the rail and crouching on his haunches before the startled Naval officer.

Captain Nezumi suppressed a flinch at the mind-boggling feat, doing his best to maintain an unaffected smirk. "Not a problem; we only just arrived."

"Arlong-san offers his apologies as he's currently indisposed. He sent me to greet you and to extend his sincere gratitude for your continued cooperation." The lanky fellow reached behind his back and pulled out a small water-tight pouch from his waistband, handing it to the Navy officer.

Nezumi opened the satchel, counting out the hush money in a matter of seconds. With a hooded smile he nodded to the still dripping fishman, "Please send my greetings to your captain - as always, I appreciate his contributions, chi chi chi!" His eyes slid speculatively through the outermost entryway toward the closed gate once again. "Although, I do hope everything is alright - this is the first time he's failed to meet me himself."

"Chu," The pirate responded almost before Nezumi could finish, "Of course! Everything is fine - it was simply a matter of unfortunate timing." His distinctly rosy cheeks appeared to flush a slightly deeper crimson, but his smile never wavered. The two men were left staring at one another for a few awkward moments before the enormous rogue finally broke eye contact to spit absently over his shoulder, his expectoration hitting the water with all the force of a bullet.

"Well, I know what a busy man you are, so I won't keep you any longer - chu. I'll be sure and send along your greeting to Captain Arlong as soon as I see him."

"Very well, then. Until next month."

The Navy captain watched the fishman give a final nod, then rock backward off the railing and plop deftly back into the sea, disappearing under the waves. He shuddered as he turned back to his men. "Pull anchor and let's get the hell out of here."

With the island growing smaller in the distance, the ensign sidled up beside him. "Did that whole encounter seem a little odd to you, Captain?"

"More than a little," remarked the mousy man. "I didn't even get invited into that garish fort they're all so proud of. I don't know what's going on over there, but something's definitely fishy - and I don't just mean the pirates themselves."

He let out a sharp sigh before continuing pensively, "At least if our arrangement with that saw-nosed leviathan falls through, for whatever reason, I'll still have my connections on Beersdee."

"Beersdee, sir?"

"Yes, those fools Beckett arrested on Stringers nearly two months ago - the Cleaver Pirates - they have their headquarters there."

"I didn't realize you were also in business with them, Sir."

"We were able to reach an agreement: I'll allow them to continue unloading their product in my harbor so long as they understand they'll damn well pay me for the privilege from now on - chi chi chi!"

The ensign made no reply as the waves lapped steadily in their wake. At last, Nezumi cast a regretful look back at Conomi's main island. "Still, it would be a shame to lose out on all the extra income that Arlong character provided. I had a feeling that was a deal that could have lasted for years - a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone like me out here, forced to patrol the sticks. I only hope that whatever issues that Grand Line creatin is having, he's able to sort them out!"

000

The sight of her home approaching in the distance after nearly three weeks abroad brought mixed emotions. More than anything else, a sense of provisional dread hung over the island like a fog that might quickly dissipate depending on the outcome of her attempted coup several weeks ago. She attempted, yet again, to prepare herself for the worst-case scenario while Arlong's status still remained a mystery. The moment she stepped out onto the dock the truth would reveal itself all too quickly and she'd be left dealing with the consequences of either success or failure.

Though her trip had been relatively profitable by previous standards, Nami was not pleased with the amount she'd managed to rake in after lingering for nearly twice as long as she usually would at her destination. Her one attempt to join a pirate crew with the enticement of a fake treasure map ended abruptly with the snatching of the counterfeit and being knocked to the floor by a couple of knaves. She'd pulled their wallets in the process; however, it was a small consolation prize. Pickpocketing along the harbor and in bars made up the bulk of her earnings during the two weeks she spent ashore, but it still wasn't enough. Somehow, she needed to figure out how to steal more treasure - provided Arlong still remained alive.

Nami docked, carefully scanning the horizon for anything out of the ordinary before stepping out onto the platform. She didn't know what she should expect, but the surrounding coast as far as she could see remained deserted. Before anything else, she needed to secure her cache, so the girl grabbed her money bag and slunk into the woods, taking the longer but far less noticeable route to Belle-Mere's groves.

Amidst patrolling the perimeters of Cocoyasi, a restless Kuroobi stopped short at noticing the familiar fishing boat moored in the distance. He'd half expected the little wench not to return at all, but he supposed she couldn't help coming back to admire her handiwork. She would regret that mistake.

The last time he'd laid eyes on Arlong, only hours earlier, the captain had already fallen into a delirious, fitful sleep from which no one could awaken him - this following weeks of unrelenting muscle spasms and agonizing abdominal pain. The deeply disturbing situation had the ray-man wondering whether he might actually succumb to the poison after all - a truly disgraceful death for a proud fishman like Arlong.

Infuriated and unable to confront the responsible party, he'd resorted to taking out his frustrations on the inhabitants of the island, bullying villagers and damaging property - tactics that didn't sit well with his own code of honor despite (or perhaps because of) the inferiority of his human victims. Now, however, the very brat he'd been itching to get his hands on had the gall to stroll back into town and he felt a renewed resolve stir within him.

Kuroobi's sharp ears pricked at a soft rustle over his left shoulder; swiveling around, he spotted her skirting the village on her way back from wherever she'd gone skulking off to. Darting silently as an assassin, he slipped easily into step with the girl just as she reached the rice paddies.

His appraising eye locked with hers as she abruptly registered his presence. Following a brief jolt of fear, to be expected from such a deeply suspicious girl, her typical mask of cool disdain slid firmly into place.

"What's your problem, Kuroobi," she demanded flippantly.

"Long time no see, Nami," he retorted. "You sure have been gone a while."

"And what of it?"

"I don't suppose you're worried about what Arlong-san will say?"

Again, he gauged her response.

The mask didn't budge. "Not particularly. Anyway, what business is it of yours? The deal I made was between me and Arlong."

"Was? Shouldn't it still be between you and Arlong-san?"

She turned sharply to him. "I don't even know what you're babbling about."

Kuroobi leered down, thinking he noticed a small crack forming in her insolent little facade. Crossing her path to loom directly over the girl, he stared hard enough to piece through her soul. "I'll just bet you don't."

Craning her neck to meet his gaze, her brows knit together as she slowly crossed her arms. "I gather something happened to Arlong?"

"You tell me, Nami."

"How should I know; I've been gone for weeks! He seemed fine when I left - what happened?"

"He was poisoned," the ray-man said simply, holding her in his cold gaze.

"And you think I did it?" She squinted disbelievingly at him.

"Of course, it was you. There's no one else it could possibly be but you. And, what's more, Arlong knows it was you!" He lunged down at her, his hands longing to squeeze the breath and all that undeserved smugness right out of her. The girl's eyes widened at the sudden movement, but she didn't budge. Possibly fear froze her in place, but without Arlong's express permission, no one on the crew - not even an officer like Kuroobi - could lay a finger on Nami for any reason. Both of them understood this, and now he'd just overplayed his hand. The charade shattered, Kuroobi's deadly appendages dropped uselessly to his sides again and he glared impotently at Nami.

Wisely, the human child suppressed any outward gloating, knowing full well she wasn't entirely out of the danger zone. Instead, she offered her seething crewmate a bemused frown, "But how could there not possibly be anyone else that would poison Arlong? It isn't as if he has no enemies."

"None closer than you," he quipped back, "No other despicable human on these miserable islands has access to Arlong-san - only you."

"So, when did he start showing signs of poisoning anyway?"

"Probably about a couple of days after you left, just enough time for you to have slipped him something - most likely during that party you wanted so badly."

"Well if that's the case," the girl calmly reasoned, "there were plenty of strange women you just randomly invited to that party. Why couldn't it have been any of them?"

"Because Arlong-san didn't have anything to do with any of them," he spat.

"Do you know that for sure," she squawked as she rose up on the balls of her feet, hands planted on her hips, "Were you with him the entire night?"

Kuroobi's fists clenched reflexively at his sides, "Quit trying to deflect! It was you - that's all! And, no matter what happens with our captain, you're never leaving this island again! Not ever."

The treacherous burglaress immediately quieted down as the stark reality of her situation slowly sank in.

Now came Koroobi's turn to sneer. Propping his own arms akimbo so that the fins on his elbows jutted out like blades, he stared down at the sobered surveyor. "So what do you have to say now? Do you still wanna deny everything? Or maybe you'd prefer to go ahead and take credit where it's due - hmm? It's the same to me, either way."

"I say 'kiss my ass', Kuroobi; I don't confess or deny anything to you!"

"Have it your way," He jabbed a webbed finger toward The Park, "Now march."

What else could she do? The trapped girl allowed herself to be guided the rest of the way through the paddies back to headquarters to face her fate. Upon their entry through the East Gate, they were met by a growing throng of their own crewmates milling together outside the building's main entrance. Some, such as Hitchin and Kaneshiro, were openly weeping. Karoobi and Nami exchanged identical shocked glances with one another as the spiky head of Hachi suddenly bobbed into view.

"Kuroobi, Nami - Nyuuu," The six-armed swordsman pushed through the crowd to meet them, tears also coursing down his cheeks, "Kuroobi, you won't believe it!"

"Aw shit, Hachi, what is it? Don't tell me..."

"You won't believe it, but there's just been a breakthrough!"

"Wait...A what?"

"Arlong-san - he just woke up and he's no longer shaking or hallucinating! He's in his right mind again!"

"Are you serious? When did this happen," his friend demanded to know.

"Nyu, just a few minutes ago when I went up to check on him - he was sitting up and speaking! You don't know how relieved I am about this - I'm so bad at governing!" He again dissolved into tears.

Kuroobi's mouth fell open. "Ca-can I go see him?"

"I don't see why not," replied a sniffling Hachi, dabbing his eyes while seemingly unable to restrain his other arms from flailing extatically in every direction, "The Doc just kicked everyone out of the room, but I'm sure he'd like to see you. You should both go."

Kuroobi's hand landed firmly on Nami's shoulder. "That's just what we'll do."

The room was dimly lit, with the curtains pulled against the blazing late afternoon sun. Nami recoiled as the stale smell of sickness and body odor assaulted her nostrils, even as she fought back hyperventilation at the thought that this could be the last room she ever entered. Arlong knows it was you, Kurobi's taunts echoed in her mind, you're never leaving this island again! Her slowly adjusting eyes fell upon the ghastly specter of Arlong sitting in the middle of the bed, cupping a large mug in his palms from which he took slow, deliberate sips. The crew's doctor, who stood closely by, looked up at their arrival.

"Kuroobi-san and Nami - welcome back," stated the physician with a weary edge to his typically gruff voice.

Arlong turned his head sharply at the sound of her name and the girl's insides withered as he peered out at her from a cave of his matted black hair. Kuroobi's ever-present hand gripping her shoulder shoved Nami further toward the figure on the bed.

"Thanks. We're all here now," replied the manta ray without taking his eyes off Arlong.

"Renado, would you give us a minute alone," Arlong's papery voice rasped at the doctor.

"Alright," The nurse shark agreed with a hesitant sigh, "I think you'll be fine for the moment, Captain, just don't overdo it. You still need rest in order to build up your strength."

Arlong grunted his acknowledgement as the old sawbones walked out, shutting the door behind him.

Silence fell over the room as, slowly, Arlong shifted position and reached his arm toward the bedside table to set his mug down. A nearby flickering lamp illuminated the shockingly lean musculature on his once bulging appendage - the heavy gold bracelet he always wore hanging loosely off his wrist. Nami's glance traveled disbelievingly down his protruding spine to where his hips jutted sharply above his slack waistband. She could understand now why Kuroobi appeared so uncertain about Arlong's chances. She'd come so goddamned close to killing him!

"Arlong-san, it's great to see you up. How are you feeling?"

"Like I need to take a leak," he rumbled.

"Oh. So do you need me to uh...give you som-"

"No. Forget it."

"Well, hopefully your stomach's doing better."

"I don't want to talk about my fuckin' stomach, okay?"

"Yeah, okay." He cast his gaze quickly down at Nami, "Anyway, what's important is that I brought the little witch back with me. I thought you might want to go ahead and take care of her - or if you'd rather wait, I could-"

"Did she admit to anything?" Interrupted Arlong.

Kuroobi balked. "Did she what?"

"Did she ADMIT to it," Arlong annunciated, staring blankly ahead at the drawn curtains.

Kuroobi gave an incredulous snort, "Well obviously not, but what difference does that make?"

Arlong's head whipped suddenly back to the petrified surveyor. "What do you have to say for yourself, Nami? Did you poison me?"

Truly how much did Arlong value her skills as a cartographer? The magnitude of that question and all it entailed brought a shudder to her very core. Peering reluctantly back into his savage glare, Nami forced herself to read the unspoken message relayed there.

"How dumb would I have to be to break our agreement and try to murder you, then waltz right back here again almost immediately afterward? I would hope I could come up with a better plan that that," she gulped as the words spilled out of her mouth.

Kuroobi's head swung from Arlong to Nami and back as he scrambled to grasp what was going on.

"That's a fair point," the captain nodded, then turned slowly toward the window again. "Alright. You can go now."

"But, Arlong-san..."

"I said GET THE HELL OUT," his roar shook the room.

The moment they'd fled Arlong's wrath and retreated back to the safety of the courtyard, a livid Kuroobi rounded on her. "Don't get too comfortable just because you miraculously got a reprieve today, Nami; I'm always watching you! Arlong's gonna live and he isn't always going to be this delusional from illness. I guarantee I'll make him see what a treacherous witch you actually are!"

Nami stuffed her hands in her pockets to hide how badly they shook. "Get a life, Kuroobi," she huffed, stepping around him and marching away to the furthermost pavilion beside the gates where she could curl up into a ball in one of the oversized chairs and quietly have a nervous breakdown.

She'd gone in with eyes wide open (or so she thought) while plotting out Arlong's assassination. Ultimately, she'd even been ready to put her life and any meager hope of rescuing her village on the line after weighing it against the imminent liberation of everyone throughout the archipelago. One thing she hadn't counted on was Arlong's outright dismissal of such an audacious attempt on him life.

Certainly, there would be consequences for her failure - there had to be - but the worst part was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Would he now revoke all her privileges, locking her permanently up in the cartography room to rot, she wondered. A new thought sent a shudder down her spine, jarring her chin against the knobby knees pulled up to her chest: what if, instead, he took his vengeance out on someone else - someone like Nojiko? Nami hadn't planned for this contingent.

She damned Kuroobi and his eternally suspicious nature for drawing attention to her. She damned herself for coming so close only to potentially destroy everything and everyone she'd worked so hard to protect. Most of all she damned Arlong, who by all rights should be dead if he weren't such a monster.

Gradually, as all the celebrating fishmen dispersed and the courtyard grew dark, Nami remained at the big table, a lone witness to the moon rising over East Blue like a silver coin forever out of her grasp. She held up her hand, imagining its hard, cool surface pressing into her palm as, slowly, she closed her fist around it.