Disclaimer
I do not own One Piece – So the characters aren't mine, obviously.
This story is inspired by everything I ever read or watched, so occurring similarities aren't an attempt at stealing anything. If someone feels imitated or thinks I stole something somewhere, please contact me and I'll clear up and/or correct possible misunderstandings or errors.
English isn't my first language but I tried my very best to avoid mistakes (without beta, yet, by the way).
Read, enjoy, feel free to review if you like – I'm really looking forward to suggestions and opinions.
Please refrain from messaging me just to offer art commissions, especially if you aren't even familiar with the fandom of One Piece – I won't consider them until this story is completed, anyway.
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Unpredictable – Chapter eight – The Devil in Disguise
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Before Nami could do anything to stop – or at least slow down – her goofball of a captain, Luffy had already passed through the portal with an exuberant snicker and eyes full of mirth, trademark straw hat dangling wildly behind him.
The exasperated young woman couldn't do more than follow behind him as closely as possible to at least try to avert any worst case scenario.
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Arashi however, lingered in the doorway.
Meticulously watching the events unfolding before him, his previous cheerful demeanor slowly giving way to a devious smirk, eyes gleaming in utter excitement.
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So it may begin …
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"Woah! Is that … !?" Luffy couldn't stop his excitement when he saw the room's contents.
There, right in front of them – displayed on a wooden pedestal and safely stored in a glass showcase – a very familiar looking long red captain's coat was draped over a figurine. It was decorated with golden rims at the front as well as around both sleeve ends and yellow epaulettes which ended in long fringes. Overhead an equally red pirate hat dangled. The white Jolly Roger – a skull with a curved mustache – unmistakable. Additionally, the ensemble was completed with a yellow-spotted bandana underneath the hat.
"You recognize it." Arashi acknowledged pleased before answering proudly. "Yes, these were Gol D. Roger's belongings."
"Can I take a closer look?" the young emperor was bouncing up and down with barely suppressed eagerness – question directed at Nami, really – but it was their host that answered.
"Go ahead, my friend." was the older man's amused reply and with an encouraging shove to one shoulder he added "Who else would deserve to admire those relics more than you – the future King of the Pirates himself."
There was no stopping Luffy after that.
In just a few steps he was standing in front of the display case, his face and hands pressed against the cold glass, with an expression full of wonder and sparkling stars in his eyes.
"This is so cool! Shishishi!"
His navigator – who had stopped a few steps behind him – could only shake her head, grinning bemused at his childlike glee.
After everything that happened, he was still such a kid sometimes – and she wouldn't have it any other way.
"Oi, Nami …" the pirate captain started to turn towards her as if he had heard her thoughts. "… do you think – " but he was interrupted by a loud squeaking sound.
Before anyone could react, four heavy chains shot out of floor and ceiling, the connected cuffs trapping both of the young man's legs and arms without a chance to dodge them, stretching him out like an 'X' when they pulled back taut.
"What the hell – !" came a confused curse from the bewildered straw hat wearer. But his reaction was cut short when he started to collapse in on himself the moment the shackles made contact with his skin.
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Sea stone.
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"… crap …" the angry phrase lacked any strength.
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"Luffy!" The pirate's shocked crewmate yelled in distress, but just as she got ready to run towards her captain, Arashi's voice sliced through the air – stopping her in her tracks.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you, Miss Nami."
Gone were cheerfulness, friendly demeanor or amusement.
Instead he sounded serious, calculating and unyielding.
A stark contrast to the man they had met just this morning.
The orange-haired woman turned her attention to their newly unmasked adversary. She was so glad for Usopp's insistence to modify her staff to an extendable one again, so that it would fit under almost any outfit. Keeping her eyes on her opponent and trying to prepare for anything he might still have up his sleeve, she reached discreetly for the weapon hidden in her burgundy dress.
"You shouldn't think about fighting me, either, my dear." A condescending smirk grew on Arashi's face. "It won't do you any good anyway. You lost before you even knew you were playing."
He was gloating – the bastard!
"I don't have to win against you!" Nami tried to sound more confident than she felt at the moment. "All I have to do, is making sure the others hear the commotion. There is no way we will lose to the likes of you!"
The initial light chuckle soon turned into loud sniggering and reached its climax in a roaring laughter.
The angry pirate used the man's distraction to take hold of her staff – extending it to full length – and readied herself for an opportunity to take the enemy out – or at least alert her comrades to the unfolding events.
Arashi however, who had stopped laughing by now, didn't look the least bit concerned. Instead his head was tilted leisurely to one side while he wore a big, cocky smirk.
"Oh darling … I'm afraid, you already have …" he said ominously, not losing his smug expression.
Ignoring any implications behind this statement, the tense young woman called forth loyal thunder cloud Zeus – just in case – and straightened her stance.
"Hello Nami, what can I do for you?" the still fairly small, white cloud asked the moment he left his vessel.
"I need you to fry that bastard." was the immediate, curt answer.
Even in the off chance, that their 'Lightning Blast' couldn't take him out completely, the ensuing noise alone would be enough to get her remaining crew mates to notice their predicament.
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But … shouldn't they be here by now anyway? At least one or two of the lot?
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"You really are a feisty one, aren't you." Arashi remarked delighted. "Temperamental, confident and anything but easy to control." the man continued – and he seemed thrilled with that revelation.
"I will enjoy this so much."
Disregarding any possible allusions, the Straw Hat's navigator prepared to attack in a moment's notice.
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"… Nami, … go get … the others …" the chained young emperor strained with the effort it took for him to both raise his head and speak.
It shouldn't be this hard – even with the sea stone cuffs on.
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Something else was wrong here.
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"That's the plan, Luffy. But I have to at least distract that one a little bit." The addressed female countered heatedly without changing her posture or target.
"You need to … get out of here .. now! He shouldn't … have been able … to trap me … in the first place. Should have … been able to … see it coming …" Luffy wheezed out as fast as he could.
Nami froze at that information. Eyes widening in growing dread.
A slow clapping sounded.
"Excellent observation, captain." Arashi made the title sound more like an insult than anything else. "You seem to be smarter than I thought, after all." He seemed almost pitying now. "But too little far too late, my friend." the evil man added arrogantly. "That realization won't help you anymore."
"What the hell did you do to him?" The navigator's fury was palpable.
"To him?" A curt nod in his captives direction accompanied the counter question. "My dear … " He drawled the endearment sickeningly while locking gazes with the enraged young woman. " … you don't think I would single out only one of you like that now, would I?" The growing wicked smile on Arashi's face was a promise of unthinkable events to come.
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And Nami's blood ran cold with impending horror.
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Just as promised I uploaded the next part right away!
I've almost finished chapters 9 – 12 as well, so I might be able to upload quite frequently in the near future.
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I still hope you like my story and will continue reading it.
Feel free to review.
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And like always:
Stay safe and take care.
'Til next time.
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