Chapter 3
The doorbell chimed loudly through Nojiko's house. She opened the door, and her jaw nearly hit the floor.
"How's my favorite sister doing?" Nami asked, her voice light and cheerful, though her posture betrayed a hint of weariness.
"Nami?!" Nojiko blurted, genuinely shocked. Before she could stop herself, she pulled her younger sister into a tight hug. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to meet my niece," Nami replied with a sly smile, brushing past her to step inside.
Nojiko closed the door behind her, crossing her arms as she turned. "Well, you're about two years late for that," she quipped, raising a skeptical eyebrow.
"Details, details," Nami said breezily, waving it off.
They moved to the kitchen, where Nojiko poured two cups of tea and set them on the table. "Really, though. What are you doing here?"
Nami took a sip of tea before glancing around. "Where's Bell-mère-chan?"
"She's with her father" Nojiko answered, her eyes narrowing. "Don't dodge the question, Nami. What are you doing here?"
Nami sighed, realizing she wasn't going to escape her sister's interrogation. "I happened to have some business nearby," she said, attempting nonchalance.
"Right. And it just happens to coincide with visiting your niece for the first time in two years?" Nojiko leaned forward, her skepticism palpable.
Nami said nothing, quietly sipping her tea.
"What happened to your arm?" Nojiko asked, her sharp gaze flicking to the bandage wrapped around Nami's forearm.
"I fell," Nami said quickly, too quickly.
Nojiko inhaled deeply, setting her tea down with a decisive thud. "Alright. Enough of the dodging. What the hell are you doing here after five years?"
Nami's shoulders slumped slightly. "Fine," she muttered. "I was passing through and… let's just say I bumped into something valuable. Valuable to me and some pirates. You know how that goes."
Nojiko's brows knit together as she processed the words. "You robbed some pirates? And judging by your injuries, I'm guessing it didn't go smoothly. Did they catch you?"
"Almost," Nami admitted with a small, rueful grin. "But I got away. I rolled down a cliff—don't ask—and lost them in the storm. By the time I got to town, they were long gone."
Nojiko's eyes narrowed further. "And you're sure they didn't follow you?"
Nami let out a dry laugh. "Please. Do you think I'd come here if I thought they were still on my tail? I wouldn't put you in danger."
That seemed to placate Nojiko for a moment. She sipped her tea, thinking it over, before her eyes widened in sudden realization. "Oh no."
"What?" Nami asked, confused by her sister's sudden panic.
Nojiko pointed an accusing finger at her. "You went to Zoro for protection!"
Nami blinked, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, yeah. I sort of… bumped into him. But the pirates never showed up, so it's fine. I must've shaken them off before I got there."
"You saw Zoro?" Nojiko's voice rose an octave, her hand covering her mouth.
"Yeah," Nami said casually.
"And Kuina?"
"No!" Nami snapped, a little too quickly. "Just him."
Nojiko's expression turned suspicious again. "Nami, seriously, what are you doing here?"
"I told you already! I was hiding from pirates, it was pouring rain, I was injured—he helped me out. That's all," Nami said, finishing the last of her tea with an air of finality.
"And?" Nojiko leaned forward, resting her chin on her fists.
"And… that's it," Nami said, looking away.
"Oh, come on!" Nojiko groaned, throwing her hands up. "You haven't seen each other in five years, and you didn't talk about anything?!"
Nami shrugged, feigning indifference. "There wasn't much to talk about."
"You're unbelievable," Nojiko said, shaking her head. Then she sighed, a soft smile creeping onto her face. "But you know what? I love you anyway. So I'm just going to play dumb and enjoy the fact that you're actually here."
"Thanks," Nami said with a grin.
Their sisterly moment was interrupted by the sharp chime of the doorbell.
Ding-dong.
Both women turned their heads toward the front door, their conversation hanging in the air like an unfinished sentence.
Nojiko broke the embrace and went to open the door.
At that point, she almost expected to find Zoro on the other side, but his angry stance still caught her off guard.
"I know she's here," he said, his voice like a low growl as he brushed past her into the house without waiting for an answer.
"Zoro! What the hell!" Nojiko protested, following him closely.
He stormed into the kitchen, and there she was—Nami, frozen in place, staring at him wide-eyed.
"YOU." He pointed at her, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.
Nami didn't move, didn't flinch. But Zoro's face was hard, his jaw tight, and his eyes burned with fury.
"How could you?" His voice was low at first, dangerous in its restraint. Then it erupted:
"I OPENED THE DOOR OF MY HOUSE TO YOU! I NEVER ASKED YOU FOR ANYTHING!" He advanced on her, his steps heavy with barely-contained rage.
Nojiko hesitated, her instincts telling her Zoro wouldn't hurt Nami—but his anger was palpable, a force she hadn't seen in years.
"I HEALED YOU. LET YOU SLEEP IN MY BED. I DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING IN RETURN." His voice cracked, hoarse with emotion. "YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE I DIDN'T HATE YOU. BECAUSE I CARED FOR YOU."
Nami's lips parted, but no words came.
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST A SCARED LITTLE GIRL, TOO MUCH ON YOUR SHOULDERS, TRYING TO SURVIVE! AND THEN, OUT OF NOWHERE, YOU SHOW UP AT MY DOOR LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY—LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED!"
His voice shook as he stepped even closer, the intensity of his words pressing down on her.
"And I cared. AGAIN. So I helped you. AGAIN. Like a damn fool."
Nojiko stood to the side, her gaze darting between the two of them, unease growing in her chest.
"But I was wrong," Zoro spat, his voice sharp. "You're just the same irresponsible, selfish liar you have always been."
Nami's throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, her eyes betraying the emotions she fought to hide.
"You won't play with me anymore, Nami," he continued, his tone venomous. "And you sure as hell won't play with us. Stay away from Kuina. Don't come near her ever again, or I swear—" He stopped himself, his chest heaving with the force of his words. "We'll leave. We'll disappear. You'll never see or hear from us again."
Tears welled in Nami's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She bit her lip, trying to hold it together as his words struck deep.
Zoro turned abruptly, heading for the door. "What the fuck did I ever do to you to deserve this?" he muttered, almost to himself. "You dragged a pirate into my daughter's room—for what? A stupid treasure? And you didn't even warn me."
Nojiko, who had been silent until now, felt her stomach drop. Her worried expression hardened into something sharper as she turned her disapproving gaze to her sister.
"Sorry, Nojiko," Zoro mumbled on his way out, his voice quieter now, though no less raw.
"It's okay," she said softly. She understood his anger.
Zoro reached the door, his hand on the handle, before he paused. He didn't look back as he spoke.
"I used to think you were scared." His voice was low, heavy with bitterness. "But I was wrong. You just don't care. You never did. You made that clear five years ago—you didn't want us in your life. So do us all a favor, Nami." He turned his head slightly, just enough for her to see the fire in his eyes. "Stick to your word this time."
The door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the quiet house.
The moment it closed, Nami broke. Tears spilled down her face, and she buried her hands in her hair, trembling with the force of her sobs.
Nojiko hesitated for a moment, anger lingering in her gaze, but it melted away when she saw how small her sister looked. She moved to her side and pulled her into an embrace.
Nami clung to her, burying her face in Nojiko's shoulder as her sobs wracked her body. "I never wanted any of this to happen," she choked out between cries.
"I know," Nojiko whispered, stroking her sister's hair. "I know."
Zoro was still angry, but somehow getting it off his chest helped him calm down. He was lucky to find one of Kuina's friends' mothers going to the school, so he followed her. In his angry state, he had somehow found his way to Nojiko's house in minutes, but now that he was calmer, the island felt like a maze again.
He arrived at the school just as all the kids were leaving. Kuina spotted him and waved, surprised to see him there.
"You're on time!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah, let's go," Zoro said, his tone softer but still carrying a bit of frustration.
"Yeah! Let's go!" she jumped in excitement, taking his hand.
As they started walking, the little girl suddenly interrupted him. "Daddy, we need to go to the village."
"We'll go tomorrow," Zoro replied, trying to push the errand to another day.
"But you said we'd get a new piggy bank today!" she protested.
Zoro sighed. "We have to go home."
Kuina sniffed, clearly upset.
"Kuina," he called gently.
The little girl's eyes welled with tears. "You promised! You promised we'd get the new piggy bank today!" she sobbed softly.
Zoro kneeled down to her level, his expression softening. "I didn't lie, something came up, we can't go to the village right now."
"What happened?" she sniffed, looking up at him with big, watery eyes.
Zoro scratched the back of his head, trying to come up with something to say. "I… it's nothing, Kuina. Don't worry about it."
She tilted her head, clearly not convinced. "You're lying."
Zoro's frustration grew as he clenched his fists. He wasn't good with words, especially when it came to explaining things to her. "It's just… it's nothing important," he muttered, trying to brush it off. But the look on her face told him she wasn't buying it.
Zoro let out a frustrated breath, his patience thinning. "Fine, fine!" he snapped, unable to take the guilt of seeing her upset. "We'll go now, alright? But next time, you better stop with the tears, okay?"
Kuina's face instantly lit up, and she ran to hug him. "Yay! Thank you, Daddy!"
Zoro sighed but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he ruffled her hair. "Let's just get this over with," he muttered, and they started walking, with Kuina practically skipping beside him.
"If you could lend me some clothes, I'll get the hell out of here in 5 minutes," Nami muttered at her sister, her voice a mix of anger and sadness. She felt overwhelmed, trapped in the mess of her emotions.
"No, calm down! You're not going anywhere with those injuries," Nojiko said firmly, stopping her and pushing her gently back down into the chair.
"It's nothing, I don't want to be here," Nami shot back, looking away, her face contorted with frustration.
Nojiko took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Come on, Nami. You have to meet Bellmere. Just go upstairs, take a bath, relax, and spend the night here. For me," she begged, her voice softening.
Nami buried her face in her arms on the table, sobbing. "I want to die," she whispered, her voice broken.
Nojiko gently ran her fingers through her sister's hair, trying to comfort her. "Zoro's just a little angry right now. But it'll pass. You should've warned him, that's all. He'll forgive you. He always has."
Nami peeked up at her sister from between her arms, her eyes red and swollen. "Really? Why are you even trying to cheer me up?" Her voice was shaky, as if she couldn't understand why Nojiko was still trying to help.
Nojiko looked at her sister with a mixture of love and frustration. "I love you, Nami. But you have to admit he's right. You should've warned him. What if that pirate walked in when Kuina was in the room?"
Nami's face twisted with regret. "Look, I thought no one was following me anymore. I didn't want to drag him into this. I regretted going to him the second I saw him," she confessed, her voice soft, a mix of shame and sorrow.
Nojiko sat down beside her, the concern in her eyes deepening. "Then why did you do it? After all this time, why go to him now?"
Nami let out a heavy sigh. "I was stupid," she mumbled, wiping her face with her sleeve.
"No, Nami. I need you to tell me," Nojiko insisted gently.
Nami stood up suddenly, her voice quiet but resolute. "I'm going to take that bath offer," she said, her voice distant. She walked out of the room, leaving Nojiko staring after her with wide, worried eyes.
Nojiko knew Zoro had overreacted, and that deep down, Nami was a good person. But sometimes, Nami did behave selfishly. And it was painful to watch, knowing how much she was hurting herself in the process.
Kuina bounced excitedly around the store, finally stopping in front of a large, colorful piggy bank shaped like a cute animal. "Daddy! Look! This one is perfect!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "It's bigger than my old one, and it's way cuter! It'll hold more money!"
Zoro looked at the piggy bank, nodding approvingly, but still keeping his stance. "That's a nice one," he said, crossing his arms. "But remember, we're here to get a piggy bank, not to buy a new toy."
Kuina grinned, pointing at the price tag. "But look, it's perfect! I really need this one. Can you buy it for me?"
Zoro raised an eyebrow, his tone firm. "Don't you have enough saved up for it yourself?" he asked.
Kuina frowned, pouting. "But it's so big and cute, and my other one is almost full. I can't even fit anything else in there!" She shook her head, trying to work her charm on him. "You should just buy it, Daddy!"
Zoro stood his ground. "You've got to learn the value of saving your money, Kuina," he said, giving her a serious look. "It's important that you know how to save up and spend wisely. I'm not buying it for you just because you want it."
Kuina crossed her arms, clearly annoyed, but not backing down. "But Daddy, it's so cute, and it's bigger, and I can save more!" she argued, giving him a pleading look.
Zoro sighed, trying to be patient with her. "You can buy it yourself with the money you've saved. I'm teaching you a lesson here."
She thought for a moment, then smiled slyly. "Okay, but what if I don't have enough money right now? Could you pay for it? I'll break my old piggy bank when we get home, and I'll pay you back," she said, her voice sweet and persuasive.
Zoro hesitated for a moment, thinking it over. He didn't want to spoil her, but he knew she had a point. He finally relented, pulling out his wallet. "Alright, alright. But I'm trusting you to keep your word and pay me back when you can."
Kuina jumped up and down with joy. "Yay! Thanks, Daddy!" She quickly grabbed the piggy bank and took it to the counter, where Zoro paid for it.
As they left the store, Kuina skipped alongside him, holding her new piggy bank proudly. "Now, Daddy, since you're being so nice, how about we go buy some ice cream? You should pay for that too!" she said, looking up at him with big, hopeful eyes.
Zoro chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, I'll buy the ice cream," he said, smiling as he ruffled her hair. "But that's the last thing I'm buying for you today, kid."
Kuina laughed, her grin wide. "Deal! Ice cream!"
Nami stepped out of the bath, feeling slightly more at ease, though the weight of her emotional and physical exhaustion still lingered. She had applied the healing ointment to the worst of her injuries, wrapping her arm and hip in bandages. She moved slowly, carefully, as she left the bathroom. It connected to Nojiko and her husband's bedroom, where she paused to catch her breath.
She opened the wardrobe, her eyes scanning the clothes. She grabbed a pair of jeans and a semi-long-sleeved shirt, making sure it would cover her bandages. She dressed quickly, the silence of the room feeling like a relief, despite the tension swirling in her chest. Nami took a deep breath, her gaze drifting to the room's corners. She waited, allowing the quiet to settle around her. After hearing the sound of the main door closing, she moved swiftly, almost as if in a trance. Her fingers hovered over the drawers, picking through Nojiko's things, her eyes sharp with intent. She was searching for something.
Five minutes passed, and frustration crept into her movements as she didn't find what she hoped for. She then moved on, her steps more deliberate as she went into Bellemere's room. The nostalgia and pain that lingered there made her chest tighten, but she pushed it away as she rifled through the drawers, once again finding nothing of interest.
She moved through the house, glancing into several rooms, until she came to the closet behind the stairs. The closet, though small, seemed to hold secrets—memories that she didn't want to confront but needed to. She opened a box inside, finding photo albums stacked neatly. She paused, her heart skipping a beat as her fingers brushed over them. She pulled out one of the albums and quickly flipped through the pages, her eyes scanning each photo as if searching for something.
Her fingers stopped on a particular image, and she froze, staring at it for several long moments. She couldn't help but trace the edges of the photo with her fingertips, but after a few seconds, she shoved the photo into her pocket and carefully returned the album to the box.
Nami stood still for a moment, her thoughts swirling. With one final glance at the closet, she closed it gently, then made her way back to Nojiko's room, trying to steady her breath. She didn't want to linger on what she had just taken. She couldn't afford to let herself fall into that place of memory and regret. Not yet.
Zoro and Kuina walked down the street, a bag of shopping in Zoro's left hand while his daughter held the other. He had a popsicle in his mouth, enjoying the cold treat. Kuina, with a big grin on her face, licked her own popsicle, her eyes scanning the street.
"Tangerine is way better than this one," she declared, her tone firm as she compared the two popsicles.
Zoro glanced at her, an amused look crossing his face. "I'm not trading it," he replied, popping the tip of his popsicle into his mouth.
"Yakk! I don't want it! You sucked it!" she exclaimed, sticking her tongue out at him. "I had to try the pear one so I could tell which one is the best."
Zoro chuckled, enjoying the banter. "And? So far? Which one is the best?"
"Tangerine," Kuina declared with a serious nod, as though there was no other answer.
Zoro shrugged nonchalantly. "Guess it's your choice."
She looked at him for a moment, then brightened up. "Nee, Daddy, we could go visit Aunt Nojiko and Bellemere, since we're here!"
Zoro stopped walking, his expression turning serious. "NO."
Kuina tugged at his hand, her face full of hope. "Why not? It's on our way home! I'll guide you!" she tried to run ahead, but Zoro stayed put, not budging.
"We are going home. That's it," he said firmly.
"But!" she whined, pulling at his hand.
"Home, now," he ordered, his voice unyielding.
They walked in silence for a moment, the air thick with tension. Kuina finally broke the silence, her voice soft. "I'm sorry."
Zoro glanced down at her, surprised. "Why?"
"I don't know… but stop being mad at me," she pouted, looking up at him with big, apologetic eyes.
Zoro's heart sank. "I'm not mad at you."
"Yes, you are…" she murmured, glancing down at the ground.
Feeling the weight of her words, Zoro kneeled down to her level, looking her in the eyes. "I'm not mad at you."
"Then why are you acting so weird?" she asked, biting her lower lip, clearly worried.
Zoro sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Because…" He inhaled deeply, trying to gather his thoughts. "I have a headache. I didn't mean to sound angry, it's just that it hurts all the time… like when your tummy aches."
Kuina's eyes widened with concern. "Daddy! You're sick! We should go see a doctor!" She pulled at his hand, looking up at him with wide, worried eyes.
He smiled gently, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Don't worry. I'm getting better. Let's just get home quickly."
Kuina wasn't convinced, but she stopped pulling him, allowing him to scoop her up onto his shoulders. "Ok! Left!" she said with a determined tone.
A few minutes later, they were home. Zoro put the bags down in the kitchen, exhausted but relieved.
"Hey, Daddy, are you feeling better now?" Kuina asked, her voice filled with concern.
Zoro forced a smile. "Yeah! Great!"
He reached into one of the bags and pulled out the brand-new piggy bank. Holding it up, he said, "You have to pay me for this."
Kuina reached out eagerly to grab it, but Zoro pulled it away from her hands. "Not now," she said, trying to take it back.
"You can't use it if you don't pay for it," Zoro insisted.
Kuina's face scrunched up in frustration. "But… ok, I don't want it!" She ran upstairs, clearly trying to escape the situation.
Zoro sighed, muttering to himself. "I'll get your bath ready."
He moved upstairs and started filling the tub, the sound of water running filling the silence. A few minutes later, Kuina appeared, her hands full of coins.
"Did you break your piggy?" Zoro asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, and I won't do it," she replied seriously.
Zoro blinked, confused. "So, what's going on?"
Kuina looked at him with a little smirk. "I thought that since I don't want it, you'll have to sell it back. And since it's used, you can't sell it for the same price. I'll offer you 8 Bellis for the piggy."
Zoro's jaw dropped. "What the hell! It cost 25!"
"Final offer," she said, without missing a beat. She then quickly began stripping off her clothes, preparing to get in the tub.
Zoro stood there for a moment, stunned, before he shook his head. That little brat was scamming him. But, despite his frustration, it was probably the cutest (and most horrible) thing she'd ever done.
"Call me when you're done. I'll get you out," he said, heading out of the room.
Fifteen minutes later, Kuina called out to him from the bathroom. Zoro went upstairs and wrapped her in a towel, carrying her to her room.
"Put on your pajamas. I'll wait for you downstairs," he said, guiding her toward her bed.
A few minutes later, they were both sitting at the table, eating noodles. Kuina was moving sluggishly, clearly tired, and her head was drooping with exhaustion.
"Kuina!" Zoro gently tried to wake her.
"I'm tired, Daddy. I'm not hungry," she muttered sleepily, her eyes barely open.
"Come on, you have to eat more than half of your bowl," he insisted.
She yawned and continued eating slowly, not in any rush.
When Zoro finished his own meal, he picked up his plate. "Ok, you can go brush your teeth and sleep."
"Thanks, Daddy," she said softly, standing up and making her way toward the stairs, looking like she might fall asleep at any moment.
Zoro smiled as he watched her go. Raising a kid wasn't easy, but moments like this made it all worth it.
As she made her way upstairs, he started clearing the table, but then he heard her soft voice from above. She paused for a moment, then whispered, "Daddy...I did try to trick you with the piggy bank."
Zoro grinned, his back turned so she couldn't see it. "I know."
She curled her hands around his thumb, her small fingers gripping it tightly. "I just don't want to break my old piggy bank. I know it's not fair that you sell it to me for 8 Bellis," she said softly, a guilty tone in her voice.
Zoro sighed and looked at her. "I know, but sometimes you have to think things through before doing them. You shouldn't have made me buy you a new piggy bank if you couldn't afford it."
She pouted, looking up at him with apologetic eyes. "I know."
He placed a hand on her head, his voice soft but serious. "Okay, let's do this. If you promise me that you're going to think more before buying things and that you won't try to trick me anymore, I'll give you the new piggy bank. For free."
Kuina's eyes lit up, and she immediately wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. "I promise, Daddy!"
Zoro patted her back, his heart swelling with pride. "Good girl."
Kuina pulled back just a little, her eyes serious as she asked, "Even if I trick you with good intentions?"
Zoro chuckled and smiled warmly. "You're a good person, Kuina. I know everything you do is with good intentions. You don't have to trick me. Just tell me what's on your mind, like you just did, and I'll help you find a way to fix it."
Kuina's face brightened, and she gave him a thumbs up. "Okay!"
Zoro chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Now go to sleep, you're exhausted."
He tucked her into bed, pulling the blankets up around her. She closed her eyes with a contented sigh.
"Good night, Daddy," her sleepy voice returned, soft and drowsy.
"Good night, Kuina." He kissed her forehead gently.
"I love you," she mumbled, already half asleep.
"I love you too," he whispered back, then stood up and quietly left her room.
As he stepped into his own bathroom, Zoro couldn't help but reflect on the day. He was exhausted, but it had been a good day in the end.
TBC