A/N

So hello, again. I have no excuses for delaying this chapter for so long, but assignments and homework have been suffocating me for weeks. I want to continue the story I have in mind, but the lack of follows, comments and reviews from you is not that encouraging. Anyway, for the sake of the ones actually attached to the story, who I thank wholeheartedly, show must go one. So, here we go. Enjoy! [Since the rating changed, I am not really sure who of you are able to view the story anymore but it's okay]. Still not owning One Piece :(Warning: Contains harsh language and violent events.

Chapter 5: Vicious Cycle

"Well, look who's here. Welcome home, Nami."

He was sitting at the couch comfortably, glass of some cheap brand sake in his hand, drowning down his sorrows as he usually did. She did not utter a word to him. Instead, headed towards her room, closing the door behind her. She was in no state to deal with Arlong at that point and she preferred to avoid any interaction with him for as long as possible. She dropped her bag next to the desk occupying most of the space in the small room and moved to her bed. She lay down, closing her eyes, trying to get rid of the emotions the memories had once again created.

However, she was just not lucky. There was a knock on her door which was followed by Arlong's entrance. He stood at the door, keeping his distance from the orange haired girl, who did not even bother opening her eyes. "What do you want?", she sighed and addressed him in a frustrated and aggressive manner.

"Now, that attitude is rather rude, don't you agree?", he replied in a saddened manner. Anyone else would consider the man hurt by Nami's antics, but she knew better than to fall for the image he tried to show. Behind his fake expression and planned actions, she could see the gleam in his eyes. A gleam that showed the hidden sarcasm and his desire to just get on her nerves.

"Whatever, leave me the fuck alone.", she said, bored to deal with him at the moment. She hid her face under the pillow in an attempt to force him leave. "I am really sleepy, my homework is done and if you don't mind, sleep is one of my priorities unlike meaningless and petty conversations with you.", she bitterly answered to him, her words muffled by the pillow.

Arlong tried to control himself, but the alcohol he had earlier consumed together with Nami's behavior did not help much. Suddenly, he let out a dark and bitter chuckle, which made her shiver. "Listen, honey. I am not in the mood to have to deal with such a bitch like you, either, but at least I am trying to. Like it or not, I am still your guardian since your mother had to go and die.", he sarcastically said. Before Nami could tell him to go to hell, he interrupted her; "And don't you dare start saying all that bunch of crap you usually say. I just want to know why you are late. If you are to live in my house, you are obligated to follow my rules, otherwise there will be consequences.".

She rose from the bed, fuming with rage, her fists clenched and her blood boiling. "First of all, you may be the one responsible for me, but don't you fucking think that you can order me around. I am not gonna tolerate this bullshit from a drunkard like yourself, got it? And don't you dare even pronounce Bellemere's name ever again. You are the one responsible for what happened to her and we both know it. You can lie all you want to yourself, but we both know the truth Arlong. We know what you did. Do you feel proud of yourself, huh? Do you feel comfortable sleeping at night? I wouldn't, you sadistic bastard. So, the fuck with your rules and everything. You are in no place to talk at all."

"Shut your dirty mouth, already.". He smirked. But what should someone expect from the daughter of a slut?". He smiled evilly, knowing how to push her buttons. His drunken state was responsible for all of these pend up emotions of rage, but still, this had little to do with what he did next.

Nami's eyes stung from the newly developed tears of rage. She dived forward to slap him on the face. "You son of a bitch!". However, Arlong grabbed her wrist and threw her in the corner of the small room, head first.

Nami gasped at the sudden impact with the wall and pain filled her being. She tried to regain her composure and stand up again, however, Arlong was in front of her in an instant shoving her back down. She screamed when she fell backwards, her back throbbing with pain.

"Now, now, honey. What kind of behavior is that? Ah, just like your mother. Doing and saying whatever the hell you feel like, but never willing to face the consequences, are you?". He reached her chins, his fingers touching her flesh. She felt sick to her stomach at the contacted and pulled back, disgusted.

"Get the hell out of here!", she yelled at the top of her lungs. "Do not even dare come near me or touch me ever again!"

"Or else what? What are you going to do? Call the police. Well, that could be interesting now. Who would they believe, huh? A grown-up or a teenager girl full of hormones and rebellious intuitions towards her 'family'?", he laughed evilly once again. The most terrifying thing was that he was right.

He trapped Nami into a corner and whispered in her ear, making chills run through her spine. "Now, I am willing to forgive you, Nami, because I considerate of all the psychological drama you have gone through because of your mother's sucide."

She laughed bitterly. "And how could I earn your forgiveness?", she asked, sarcasm evident in her voice.

"Well, you are presentable. You could pay off your mother's debt to me by offering some kind of entertainment, couldn't you now Nami?". Cold sweat started dousing her. She tried to push him off, but even in that drunken state, he still was more powerful than her. Tears increased in number when she felt him kissing her neck and pushing his body towards hers. She let out a desperate scream and fought to release herself from his grip, but he wouldn't back off.

Having accepted her fate, Nami stood as still as possible. His hands were all over her groping her and grabbing leaving marks on her arms and legs. At the last moment, out of the corner of her eye she spotted a vase located on her desk. Since Arlong was preoccupied with tending to his needs, she grabbed it with her free hand and smashed it to his head. His grip faltered and he fell down on the ground unconscious.

She was dead in her tracks for some moments until she realized he would not be waking up soon. She grabbed her bag and jacket and rushed out of the suffocating apartment. She started roaming in the cold, unable to process the whole event. She was on the verge of being hurt by the same man her mother had. Up until today, she was positive there was not any way to hate this person more than she already had. Obviously, she had to be proved wrong as if her life was not already shitty enough for her to cope with. The tears kept on rolling down her cheeks, but it was true the chilly wind did make her head clear a bit.

She had been waking for what seemed like hours before she realized she had nowhere to go now. What was she supposed to do? She had no money, no home, nothing anymore. And one thing was for sure. She couldn't return to that place, ever. She did not want to be near this man ever again. She would find a way to take her revenge of him from a distance because she felt weak and in danger around him. No matter what, she could not go back.

After the initial shock had subsided a bit, she remembered she had something, or rather someone. She had Zoro. But after all this time away from him could she trust him completely? How was she sure he would not leave her again? She debated on whether it would be a good idea to contact him and ask for his help or not. Sure, she would do anything for him if that was the case, but would he be willing to?

Some time passed and she still had not decided. Then, their encounter made its way back to her mind. "I'm sorry I couldn't be by your side to face those problems together", he stated matter-of-factly with guilt written all over his face. "But, I am here now".

She smiled slightly at the memory of his statement and finally, she started dialing his number. It was around 3 o' clock in the morning now and she was afraid he would be sleeping and not hear his phone ringing or that he would simply would not answer deciding to sleep instead of having to deal with an annoying friend of his at this time. Her anxiety reached dangerous levels until he replied. "Hello?", his gruff and slightly annoyed voice echoed in her ears.

She let out an amused chuckle realizing that he had not changed at all. Naps were a habit of his, which when disturbed, would have a negative effect on the green-haired's mood. He would get so irritated and his voice would turn hoarse by the sleepiness and hatefulness that characterized him at that time. "Hey. Did I wake you?".

"What do you want, witch?", he stretched out the last word just to get on her nerves for disrupting his sleeping pattern.

Suddenly, Nami remembered the reason she had called him. She swallowed the lump formed in her throat trying to remain calm and show no emotion. Her trembling voice not allowing her to do so. "I-Is there any chance we can meet…Like-like right now?"

Hearing her like that made him worry. He started putting on his discarded clothes all the while talking to her. "Sure, where do you wanna meet? I can pick you up from your house and we can either hang out there, my place or anywhere else you want." He reached for his keys and jacket, closed the door behind him and headed to his car.

"I-I' not actually at home.". That statement alone made him frustrated and terrified. He could make out from the tremble of her voice that something had gone very wrong in these hours they spent apart.

"Where are you? I'm coming to get you right now.". His statement was also validated by the sound of the car's engine. He started speeding up, desperate to find her before something else happened. She could not bear the thought of Nami being alone at such hour.

"Intersection of 79th and 4th. Please, hurry.". That's when he snapped. He could hear Nami's sniffing over the phone indicating that she was crying. The car could be missed if someone happened to stand on the street and blink even once. He was so afraid of her well-being that he could not forgive his poor directional skills for not making it there on time.

"Nami, listen to me. Don't hung up the phone. I'll be there in a minute, but keep talking to me. I need to make sure that you're safe and nothing funny happens, okay?". He heard her mutter a weak okay to his demand and his heart was breaking little by little. He could not stand seeing her like this.

His focus was on the road when he spotted a mikan head sitting on the pavement. He stopped in front of Nami and let her get inside. They hung up their phones and he was surprised when she hugged him, sobbing and tears rolling down her cheeks, staining his clothes. He hugged her back, trying to soothe her. He could sense that something was terribly wrong and he had to find out what that was. He stroke her back in an act of consoling her. "Shh, I am here now."

So, that's it for now. Hope you liked it and the path the plot follows. Please review or sent me a PM so I can know your opinions and improve the story based on your suggestions and critics. Again, a big thanks to Shivisdivis for the support. Await the next chapter soon enough as Christmas holidays are on the way. Kisses :)
-T