Chapter 7
"Indeed, Zoro, you are a lousy liar," a female voice interrupted the moment.
Both Roronoas turned their faces to look at Nami, who was standing at the door of the room.
"Nami?" gasped the tiny girl, her eyes wide with surprise. She quickly darted behind her father's legs, clutching his pants nervously.
Zoro's eyes remained fixed on the redhead for a long moment, tension flickering in his gaze. Then, as he felt Kuina tugging at his pants for reassurance, he glanced down at his daughter, whose tiny hands gripped him tightly.
Nami attempted a faint smile as she stepped forward and sat down on one of the tiny chairs in front of Kuina. "So, you know who I am," she said softly, her voice trembling just a little.
Kuina nodded, still staring at her cautiously. "I... I'm sorry," she stammered, looking down and fidgeting with Zoro's pants. "For stealing from you."
Nami exhaled gently, offering her a reassuring smile. "It's okay. I know you're a good girl."
When Kuina dared to lift her gaze, she saw the warm expression on Nami's face and relaxed just a little.
"I'm also sorry for making Zo—your daddy—lie to you. You shouldn't be mad at him," Nami said, her throat tightening. She gulped, feeling the weight of every word.
Kuina looked up at Zoro, who was utterly silent, then back at Nami. "...O...okay," she mumbled.
A brief, quiet pause hung in the air, the kind that felt far too long for Zoro's comfort.
After a moment, Kuina reached into her pocket, her small hand fumbling for something. Then she extended her arm, holding the pearl out to Nami.
Nami sighed softly and gently took it from her hand. "Thank you," she said with sincerity.
"Why didn't you want to meet me?" Kuina's voice was small and frightened, but her question cut straight to the heart of things.
Nami froze for a second under the weight of that innocent question, her eyes darting to Zoro for help. But she quickly realized that this was something she couldn't run from. She had to face it.
"Because I didn't want to disappoint you," Nami admitted, her voice trembling with emotion.
Zoro's brow furrowed as he watched her carefully. He had expected her to deflect or fabricate some lie to satisfy Kuina's curiosity, but her honesty startled him. Could she really mean that?
"Why? Why would you disappoint me?" Kuina asked, surprised, her head tilting slightly as she studied the navigator.
Nami's head dipped slightly, her orange bangs shadowing her eyes. "I'm not as cool as you think I am," she whispered.
Kuina stepped out from behind Zoro's legs and took a hesitant step toward her. "But you can predict the weather, right?"
Nami nodded hesitantly. "Yes, but…"
"And you have your clima-tact and can create storms?" Kuina's voice grew more excited, her nervousness melting away.
"That's true, but—"
"I bet the pearl is part of a big treasure!" Kuina interrupted, her face lighting up with a hopeful smile.
The spark of optimism in Kuina's expression was contagious, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Nami couldn't help but smile in return.
Zoro stood back, silently observing. Something deep inside him told him not to interrupt this moment. Watching Nami's face, he saw something in her expression that was utterly unfamiliar to him—a profound mixture of joy, pain, and awe. Meeting Kuina was clearly a deeply moving experience for her.
Kuina placed her tiny hands on Nami's knees and looked directly into her eyes. "You can't disappoint me then. I've always wanted to meet you," she said with the kind of unwavering sincerity only a child could muster.
That was the breaking point for Nami. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks as she whispered, "I'm so sorry."
"Don't cry!" Kuina exclaimed, panicking as her small hands flew to Nami's.
"I'm so sorry for all of this," Nami said through her tears, squeezing Kuina's tiny hands. "Sorry for making you wait so long to meet me."
"But you were making maps and hunting treasure! You're a pirate!" Kuina said, as if that explained everything. "Daddy told me that, and I missed you, yes, but I want to be a pirate too, so I understand!" Without warning, the little girl threw her arms around Nami's waist and hugged her tightly. "Please don't be sad."
Nami felt her heart explode into a thousand pieces at those words, but the warmth of Kuina's tiny body clinging to her filled her with something new—something she had never allowed herself to feel before. Her arms instinctively wrapped around the child as tears streamed down her face.
Zoro remained silent, watching the navigator cry as she held their daughter close. It was surreal to see Nami like this, to see her so vulnerable and yet so connected to Kuina in a way that felt… right.
"I'm sorry for stealing your pearl and for making you cry," Kuina sobbed into Nami's waist. "And I know you probably have to leave soon, but could you stay with me for a little longer? I just want to show you my room."
Nami took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and gently wiped her tears. "Kuina," she said softly. The little girl pulled back to look at her with watery eyes. Nami smiled—a smile so full of warmth and love that it lit up her entire face. At that moment, everything became clear to her. She bent down and whispered something into Kuina's ear.
Zoro couldn't hear what she said, but he noticed how Kuina's expression shifted—her teary-eyed face lighting up with a smile.
The little girl turned to Zoro. "I'm sorry, Daddy, for yelling at you," she said, sniffling.
"It's okay," he said, patting her head.
Nami stood up, holding the pearl in her hand, her expression now filled with determination. "I'm going to finish this," she declared.
"What?" Zoro yelled, alarmed.
She grinned, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"But—" he stammered, glancing at Kuina, who was staring at Nami with admiration. "Oh, crap."
"Don't worry, Zoro. I'll go alone," Nami said, already moving toward the door.
But before she could take another step, Zoro grabbed her hand and stepped in front of her. "Shut up," he said firmly.
"But—"
"No buts." Without another word, he began dragging her along.
"AND KUINA, YOU'RE GROUNDED FOR STEALING!" he yelled over his shoulder.
"BUT—!" Kuina's indignant voice followed them as they left the room.
A short time later, the two of them were walking outside Nojiko's house.
"Come on, relax. Everything went fine," Nami said, glancing at him with an easy smile.
Zoro let out a heavy sigh, his thoughts clouded with unease.
"You don't have to worry about her," Nami continued, her tone light but confident. "That kid is smart—probably because you raised her so well. Maybe it's the genius genes she got from me." She smirked, nudging him playfully.
Zoro's expression didn't lighten. His mind churned with questions. Sure, things seemed fine now, but what about later? Was Nami planning on staying? Did she think everything was forgiven and they could just go back to how things used to be? Or worse—was she planning to leave again? That was the thought that truly unsettled him.
And then there was Kuina. What had Nami said to her? The girl seemed happy now, but how would she handle it if her mother left again? Would she be able to endure that pain?
The weight of it all finally boiled over. He stopped in his tracks and turned on her, his voice sharp. "Oh, come on! You met her for five minutes, and now you think you know her? That everything's going to be okay just because you showed up?"
Nami stopped too, still smiling, though there was a softness in her eyes. "I know you," she said simply. "And I know that as long as she has you, she's going to be alright."
Her hand reached up to his face, her touch gentle.
"Nami," he murmured, his voice quiet but steady.
"You're the best thing that ever happened to me," she said softly, her thumb brushing over his cheek. "You make me do good things, Zoro. You always have. You made me want to prove myself at Arlong Park, even though I was scared. You made me realize I could be a mother, even though I wasn't ready. And you let me leave when I wasn't strong enough to stay." Her smile widened, though her eyes shimmered with emotion. "You make me better, even when I don't deserve it. So, thank you."
Zoro nodded, his throat tight. He hadn't done those things expecting gratitude or acknowledgment. He had only done what felt right at the time.
After a moment, he cleared his throat and changed the subject, trying to ease the heaviness of her words. "So… what's so special about that pearl, anyway?" he asked as they began walking again.
Nami giggled, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "It's a magic pearl that can grant you a wish."
He raised an eyebrow. "Really? Let me guess—big treasure?"
"Huge treasure," she replied with a grin, her tone playful but laced with the promise of mischief.
FLASHBACK: 2 YEARS AGO
For the past three years, Nami had been living the life she thought she wanted. Sailing freely, drawing her maps, and enjoying the luxuries she could afford. She dined in the finest restaurants, dressed in expensive clothes, and strolled through bustling marketplaces without a care. From the outside, it seemed perfect.
But late at night, when the world was quiet, she felt it: an emptiness that no amount of treasure could fill.
It wasn't immediate. At first, she brushed it off as a fleeting feeling. But over time, the emptiness lingered longer, like a shadow that grew larger the more she tried to ignore it.
One evening, while sipping wine at an upscale restaurant on a glimmering island, a loud commotion snapped her out of her thoughts. A flamboyant group of performers burst into the room, juggling flames, performing illusions, and pulling laughter from even the most stoic patrons.
The Shamanic Pirates, they called themselves.
Nami watched with mild amusement as they moved from table to table, dazzling the diners. But she wasn't fooled. She recognized the way their hands moved—deft, quick, and practiced. When her fingers brushed her bare ears, she realized her earrings were gone.
Her gaze sharpened. Scanning the room, she spotted them. The leader—a tall, charismatic man—caught her staring and flashed her a smile.
For a moment, she thought about turning them in. But then a familiar instinct stirred: If they've been robbing this many people, their ship must be overflowing with treasure.
Later that night, Nami followed them back to their ship. She moved silently, ready to slip aboard and take what she could. But before she could reach the treasure hold, the captain appeared.
"You've got guts," he said, leaning casually against the mast. "I like that."
Caught but unbothered, she smirked. "Maybe I should join your crew."
The captain raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Alright. Let's see what you've got."
Life with the Shamanic Pirates was unlike anything Nami had experienced.
They weren't like the Straw Hats. They weren't chasing dreams or seeking adventure. They simply sailed from island to island, putting on their performances, stealing from the wealthy, and reveling in the spoils. It wasn't the thrill of piracy that kept her with them—it was the company.
For the first time in a long time, Nami felt like she could breathe. The crew's easy laughter, the late-night conversations, the way they accepted her without question—it was comforting. And the captain, with his sharp wit and charm, made her laugh in a way she hadn't in years.
But the emptiness didn't go away. If anything, it grew sharper.
One afternoon, while exploring the ship's library, Nami stumbled upon a worn leather-bound book. Inside, its pages were filled with strange spells and fantastical illustrations. Potions for eternal youth, charms for immortality, and one entry that caught her attention: a pearl that grants a wish.
She snorted, flipping through the pages. "People actually believe this stuff?"
"It's not a joke," a voice said behind her.
Startled, she turned to see the captain leaning against the doorframe. He stepped closer and pulled a necklace from under his shirt, revealing a luminous pearl at its center.
"You're serious?" she asked, eyeing it skeptically.
"As serious as it gets," he replied. "This pearl can grant a single wish—but only if you have a connection to the thing you desire most. Something to channel its power."
"A connection?"
He nodded. "An object that ties you to your wish. Without it, the magic won't work."
She studied the pearl, her skepticism wavering. "And you haven't used it yet?"
"Not yet. I'm waiting for the right wish."
Nami laughed, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous."
But that night, she couldn't stop thinking about it.
The dreams started soon after.
They began as fragments of her past: Bellemere's laughter, Nojiko's warmth, the sound of Genzo's scolding. Then came the crew, Luffy, Robin, Chopper—their laughter, their camaraderie. But there was always something missing.
Zoro.
He wasn't there.
The absence left a strange ache in her chest. She told herself it didn't mean anything, but the dreams kept coming, more vivid with each night. One night, she dreamed of a cozy home, filled with the smell of dinner. Zoro sat at the table, holding a baby, while she laughed beside them.
She woke with a start, her heart pounding. For the first time in years, she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt.
The captain noticed her change in demeanor. One night, as they stood on the deck staring at the stars, he asked her what was wrong.
"If you had the chance to undo a mistake," she asked quietly, "would you take it?"
He looked at her thoughtfully. "Regret's a tricky thing," he said. "Sometimes, fixing the past means breaking the future."
She didn't respond, but his words stayed with her.
By the time the crew woke the next morning, Nami was gone.
So was their boat. And the captain's pearl.
END OF FLASHBACK
Zoro and Nami arrived at the port, the sound of their hurried footsteps echoing off the wooden docks. They both knew what they were running toward—the ship that had docked there only hours earlier—but as the shore came into view, the obvious truth was staring back at them: the ship was gone.
"Where the hell are they?" Zoro barked, scanning the empty dock as if the ship might reappear out of thin air.
Nami slowed to a stop, her orange hair catching the fading sunlight. She gazed at the ocean in silence for a moment before turning on her heel. "Let's ask the port guardian," she said calmly, already heading for the small cabin at the dock's entrance.
Zoro grumbled and followed close behind, his swords rattling as he walked. Nami, in stark contrast, didn't seem frustrated. That irked him more than the missing ship.
When she knocked, a portly sailor opened the door, his face groggy from an apparent nap. "Yeah?" he yawned, scratching the back of his head.
"We're looking for the pirate ship that was docked here earlier today," Nami said, her tone polite but firm.
The man squinted at her before glancing out the window. "Pirate ship? Lady, no pirate ship has docked here in months."
"What are you talking about?!" Zoro snapped, stepping forward. "We were on it today!"
The sailor raised an unimpressed brow. "And I've been working this port for twenty years," he said with a sarcastic shrug.
"Come on!" Nami insisted, leaning forward. "A really tall guy in a suit with feathers—surely you remember him? I need to deliver something to him!"
The sailor sighed, clearly growing annoyed, but as he looked between the two of them, his expression suddenly shifted. His eyes lit up with recognition. "Wait… Are you Roronoa Zoro?" he asked.
Zoro blinked, caught off guard. "Yeah."
"And you're Nami, right?"
Nami nodded slowly, exchanging a confused glance with Zoro.
The sailor turned back to his cabin, rummaging through a desk drawer. "Took you long enough," he muttered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nami asked, crossing her arms.
The sailor eventually pulled out a sealed envelope. "Your tall friend left this here for you. Said you'd come asking for him eventually, though I never thought it'd take you a year." He handed the envelope to Nami.
She froze, staring at it in disbelief. "A year?" she whispered.
Zoro frowned. "What the hell is he talking about?"
Nami didn't respond. Her fingers trembled as she accepted the envelope. It was addressed to her in the captain's familiar handwriting.
"Open it," Zoro said, eyeing her warily.
Instead, she stepped away, her back to him as she carefully broke the seal.
Zoro rolled his eyes. "Oh, sure. Go ahead and keep secrets like always."
Inside the envelope, there was no letter, no instructions, just a single photograph. The moment she saw it, her breath caught.
It was the picture she'd stolen from Nojiko—the one she'd planned to use as the transitional object to channel the pearl's power. She'd carried it with her since yesterday, clutching it like a lifeline as she tried to make her wish come true. But how could it be here, in this envelope? She had it with her the whole time… didn't she?
Her hand flew to her pocket, frantically searching for both the pearl and the photo. The pearl was still there, smooth and cold beneath her fingertips, but the photo was gone.
She looked at the picture again, turning it over this time. On the back, a single line of handwriting stared back at her:
"Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending."
The weight in her chest lifted, replaced by something light and warm. She laughed—quiet at first, then freely and with relief.
She looked down at the picture again, her thoughts spinning. There was no wish? Was it all a trick? The Shamanic Pirates had sold her the pearl, told her it could take her back to the moment she left. But if that were true, why hadn't it worked? Had they lied to her? Tricked her? Or maybe it was her, she had tricked herself into believing there was an easy way to face this.
It didn't bother her, though—not anymore. She clutched the picture tightly, her heart racing for an entirely different reason. She didn't need a wish. She didn't need to go back. Seeing Kuina had made her want it—desperately, at first—but the past few days with Zoro and Kuina had felt so right. It wasn't perfect, far from it, but it was everything she'd been searching for, even when she didn't realize it. She couldn't risk losing that, not even for the chance to change the past.
She knew where she needed to go now—not to the past, but right here. To Zoro. To Kuina. To them.
Zoro's clueless face snapped her out of her thoughts, and she couldn't help but chuckle. He was going to be so mad at her when he figured out what was going on. But, damn it, he looked so handsome when he was angry.
Her chest swelled with determination. He didn't trust her yet. She had a lot to make up for—she knew that. But if being with him and Kuina meant earning his trust one small step at a time, she would do whatever it took.
"What's so funny?" Zoro asked, moving closer.
Nami turned to him, still grinning, and slipped the picture back into her pocket. "Nothing. It's fine. Everything's fine."
"Fine?!" he snapped. "What about those pirates? What was in that envelope?"
"You don't need to worry about them," she said, brushing past him. She walked toward the end of the pier, her steps light.
Zoro followed her, frustrated. "What the hell is going on with you?!"
Nami stood at the edge of the pier, staring out at the horizon as if the answer to all her problems lay somewhere out there. Zoro hovered nearby, watching her carefully, his arms crossed, waiting for some kind of explanation.
And then, without warning, she reached back and hurled the pearl into the ocean.
"What the—?!" Zoro yelled, his eyes widening as he watched the small object glint once in the air before vanishing into the blue depths. "What the hell did you just do?"
She turned to him with a small, serene smile. "I didn't need it anymore."
His jaw clenched as he looked at her, his patience wearing thin. "You're not going to explain anything, are you?"
"Eventually" she said cheerfully, brushing past him.
"Tch. Figures," Zoro muttered, shaking his head as he followed her.
As they left the pier, silence stretched between them. The only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves and the echo of their footsteps on the wooden planks. Nami walked a step ahead of him, her head tilted down, lost in thought. Zoro trailed behind, his mind spinning with questions he knew she wouldn't answer.
When they reached the edge of town, she stopped suddenly. Her shoulders were tense, and she turned to face him. In the dim light of the street lanterns, her expression was unreadable.
"Zoro," she started, her voice steady but low. "I owe you an apology."
He crossed his arms, watching her carefully. "For what?" he asked, though he had a dozen answers already.
"For everything," she said plainly. "For lying. For running away. For putting you through all of this… for putting Kuina through it."
Her words hung in the air for a moment. Zoro's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond, waiting for her to continue.
"I can't fix the past," she went on, her voice gaining strength. "But I want to try and make up for it. I want to stay, Zoro. I want to be part of Kuina's life… and if you'll let me…" She paused, her eyes locking onto his, her tone suddenly turning resolute—possessive, almost, like she was staking her claim on a treasure. "I want to be part of your life, too."
Zoro's eyes narrowed slightly. He hadn't expected her to say it so bluntly, and the sudden shift in her tone caught him off guard.
"I love you," she said, her voice unwavering, the conviction in it cutting through the quiet like a blade.
Zoro's arms dropped to his sides. He stared at her, his mouth opening slightly as if to say something, but the words didn't come.
"I'm not asking you to forgive me right away," she added, softer this time. "I know I have a lot to make up for. But I'm done running. I'm here now. And I'll do whatever it takes to prove to you—and to Kuina—that I mean it."
For a moment, all Zoro could do was look at her, his mind wrestling with everything she'd just thrown at him. Nami, always so sure of herself, standing there offering something so raw and vulnerable, yet still in that same tone she'd used a thousand times to claim her treasures.
Finally, he exhaled through his nose, his expression hardening slightly. "It's not going to be that easy," he said gruffly. "You've got a lot to prove, Nami. To me, and to Kuina."
"I know," she said simply, a faint smile pulling at her lips.
"And if you screw this up…"
"I won't."
He searched her face for any sign of doubt but found none. Her resolve was clear, almost as if she were daring him to test her.
"Tch," he scoffed, turning to keep walking. "We'll see."
Nami followed after him, quickening her pace until she was by his side. Without a word, she reached out and slipped her hand into his. For a moment, Zoro stiffened, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.
But then, with a small, almost imperceptible sigh, he tightened his grip, his fingers intertwining with hers.
The faintest trace of a smile lingered on her face as they walked together. She knew she had a long road ahead of her, but for the first time in years, she felt like she was exactly where she belonged.
THE END
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it! Let me know your opinions in the comments! ZoNa forever!