Chapter10
Sanji stared with shocked eyes as he and Nami shared their first kiss since ever meeting each other. It was just how he imaged it would be, her lips were soft and cherry flavored. He closed his eyes and savored the moment, pulling her in closer. He had to have been dreaming again, but he wasn't, he forcefully separated from her after a few moments.
"Na… Na… Nami-san… what are you doing?" Sanji asked.
"What does it look like?" Nami responded.
"Yes, I know… but this is just so random." Sanji said.
Nami noticed Sanji was serious. He wasn't head over heels, his eyes didn't have the same sparkles in them that he would get for her even if she just walked by.
"You didn't like it?" Nami asked softly.
"I didn't say that, but… why?" Sanji asked.
Nami paused for a second and then answered.
"Because… I really like you Sanji-kun… I have for a while." Nami said.
Sanji didn't say anything.
"Sanji-kun?" Nami asked, getting nervous.
"How long have you liked me?" Sanji asked.
"I don't know, maybe a while after we started sailing together. Even though I was so rude to you sometimes and didn't treat you with the respect I should've, you were still always wrapped around my leg…" Nami explained, "What kind of girl wouldn't fall for that type of guy eventually?"
Sanji lit up a smoke.
"Yeah, I see. So, let me ask you a couple things." Sanji said seriously.
Nami started to get very uncomfortable, this wasn't going at all how she expected or wanted it to.
"Um, okay?" Nami said.
"That business in the desert, with Robin-chan, was over me?" Sanji asked.
Nami's eyes shot open.
"Well, yes. But not because we were fighting over you… it was…" Nami was stopped.
"Sakura-chan? Right?" Sanji asked for validation.
"Yea… yeah." Nami confirmed.
Sanji blew a cloud of smoke.
"Ahhhh, it makes sense now. And, about all that stuff you said about treating me like I wasn't equal and just a nuisance." Sanji said.
Nami wore a face of annoyance.
"Well I didn't say ALL THAT…" Nami said to herself.
"So, you've really liked me ALL that time and are just now, in a palace in Alabasta, with a sick Chopper and a bunch of people we still don't entirely know, telling me how you feel?" Sanji asked.
"Are you being serious right now? You're the one always saying how a woman's feelings should be treasured and all this, but you're sitting here questioning my confession? I didn't have to come out here and tell you how I felt!" Nami said, getting louder.
"But would you have ever told me if Sakura-chan never came around? Sanji asked.
Nami stared at Sanji with shock.
"You're right. I do always say a woman's feelings should be treasured, but I know women better than you think. I can tell when they're lying to themselves." Sanji said.
Nami became very angry at that last sentence.
"I DO LIKE YOU, YOU IDIOT! I WOULDN'T HAVE FOUGHT WITH ROBIN IF I DIDN'T! I WOULDN'T EVEN BE WAISTING MY TIME OUT HERE RIGHT NOW IF I DIDN'T! YOU DAMN IDIOT COOK! YOU'RE ALWAYS HEAD OVER HEELS FOR ME EXCEPT FOR NOW? WHY?" Nami screamed.
"AND YOU WAIT UNTIL I FIND ANOTHER PERSON I'M INTERESTED IN TO TELL ME YOUR FEELINGS! QUIT TRYING TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE I'M AT FAULT!" Sanji yelled back.
Nami quivered.
"You know I'm right. Sakura-chan is who I'm interested in now… of course you and Robin-chan will always be beautiful to me and any other woman I see, but that's because you're all women and deserved to be told such things, but as far as going down a serious road with someone… I want it to be her." Sanji said.
Tears started forming in Nami's eyes and she dropped to her knees. Sanji leaned down and gently held the side of her face and stroked away her tears with his thumb.
"Nami-san… thank you for telling me how you felt, but I've made up my mind. You'll find a man to make you happy, believe it or not, there are men like me out there." Sanji assured.
Sanji lifted Nami's head up and lightly kissed her forehead.
"Go get some sleep please, Nami-san. We've gotta get up early tomorrow to get Chopper to Drum." Sanji said, walking away.
Nami, on her knees, looked out the window, tears forming again.
"Is this how you felt that night, Robin?" Nami said to herself.
ALABASTA STREETS
Sasuke walked the streets of Alabasta for some sight seeing. Shops were closed for the most part since it was in the middle of the night. A cool breeze was the only company he had while he walked.
"This place is certainly different than what I'm used to. Imagine, something like this not too far from the Sand village I've been to plenty of times. It's amazing." Sasuke thought to himself.
"Ah, that symbol… I've seen it before…" A voice said.
Sasuke pulled out his sword and turned around.
"Who's there?" Sasuke asked.
"Stay calm, I'm no threat young man." An older man said while he came out of an alley.
"What symbol have you seen? The Uchiha fan?" Sasuke asked.
The old man's eyes widened.
"U-Uchiha... that's right... that symbol was on his clothing too!... Ps-Psycho!" The old man said.
Sasuke's eyes widened and he ran up to him.
"What do you know old man? What do you know about him?" Sasuke asked.
The old man paused and looked down. When he looked back up, his eyes were heavy with tears.
"60 years ago,… he killed 400 people!!!" The old man yelled.
ARLONG PARK 2.0
Psycho was in his room sleeping. At the same time the old man in Alubarna mentioned the incident Psycho's eyes opened slowly to look directly out the window. Psycho got up and closed it before slowly turning away and going back to bed.
ALUBARNA STREETS
Sasuke couldn't believe what he had heard.
"He did what?" Sasuke asked with sweat coming down his face.
The old man's tears fell a little harder now.
"I remember it like it was just yesterday… I was a 23-year-old private stationed at Marineford, when the sirens went off… every man we had went out to the beach when Psycho's ship had been spotted. Our three admirals all waited at the entrance to the Marineford mansion." The old man said.
"400 men were on that beach… Psycho and that damn Cyclone got off their boat and cleared through every one of them like they were nothing... They painted the beach with red… then they ran straight for us…" The old man stopped, "I hurried and hid in some bushes while Psycho and Cyclone treated our admirals at the time like rag dolls. Then they ran into the mansion…that's where they killed the 18 great navy officers…after they killed them, they left like nothing happened." The old man stopped again.
Sasuke couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"What the hell did they attack you all for?" Sasuke asked.
"They were very wanted men, even before the attack..." The old man said.
Sasuke choked on his words a little.
"After the attack the navy bumped up their prices to a staggering 5,000,000,000 Berries a piece! I didn't even know the navy had that much, but I guess they did." The old man said.
Sasuke stared in disbelief, but then had a question.
"Wait, Princess Vivi told us that this Psycho guy tried to kill her dad ten years ago, you said that he attacked Marineford 60 years ago.. how is that even possible?" Sasuke asked.
"Well, that can only imply Psycho attempted to attack Cobra as an old man... I guess I'm not surprised his assassination attempt failed then, being an old man and all. And if he's been missing for the last ten years... he has to be dead. Good riddance." The old man said.
"Yeah… good riddance." Sasuke said, "Where are you sleeping tonight?"
"Oh, me? I'm sleeping in that alley there, I'm homeless unfortunately." The old man said.
Sasuke gave him some Berries he traded in his Ryo for.
"Get yourself a nice hotel for the night." Sasuke said.
"Bless you sir! I really appreciate it." The old man said, running off.
As Sasuke walked back to the palace he thought about the conversation with the old man.
"If he's dead, then most likely this DEATH organization doesn't have anything to do with him. If he's powerful enough to run through 400 men like nothing, that would be a big problem. I'm still not even entirely sure I can trust these pirates." Sasuke said, "We'll just have to see what tomorrow brings, I won't get anyone worked up with this since this guy should be dead, and even if he isn't he's way too old to do anything serious."
Sasuke looked up.
"But why the name Uchiha? How did he know that name? And why would he have made it his own? Sasuke asked before continuing to walk.
Sasuke walked through the palace halls looking for the guys room. As he walked he saw a woman with orange hair laying in the middle of the hall.
"Hey, you okay?" Sasuke asked, waking up Nami.
"Huh? Where am I?" Nami asked.
"You're in the palace in the middle of the hallway, you fell asleep." Sasuke said.
Nami thought back to what happened earlier with Sanji and looked down, then back up when she realized who she was talking to.
"You. You came here with that pink-haired girl… tell me…" Nami paused, "Does she like that curly eye brow guy?" Nami asked.
"I don't know or care what Sakura thinks about him, I'm just here to explore, not have any relationships." Sasuke answered.
"Wow you're really straight to the point." Nami said.
"I have to be. Next to Kakashi I'm the most level-headed person in our squad." Sasuke said.
"Yeah I hear you on that one." Nami said with a small smirk, while Sasuke helped her up.
"Well thank you?" Nami waited for Sasuke to tell her his name.
"Uchiha, Sasuke Uchiha." Sasuke answered.
"I'm Nami, I don't think any of us properly introduced ourselves the other day!" Nami said.
"It's fine, there will be time for that at some point." Sasuke said.
"Well, goodnight, Sasuke." Nami said.
"Goodnight." Sasuke answered.
MORNING IN ALUBARNA
The Straw-Hats and Leaf shinobi were all outside of the palace ready to be sent off.
"Thank you again for what you've done!" Cobra said.
"Oh, it's nothing!" Luffy said.
Vivi came downstairs with Chopper bundled up in a blanket.
"Here's your friend. He's developed a couple new symptoms we think so you may want to get to that place you're getting fast" Vivi said.
"Thank you Princess! Where we're going isn't too terribly far from Alabasta! We should make it there in time." Nami said.
"Don't worry Chopper, my dear friend, we're gonna get you fixed. We're gonna make you feel better!" Usopp said.
"Thanks again old man!" Naruto yelled back.
Cobra and Vivi both waved as the teams left the city. The Straw-Hats and shinobi got on board sand boats that the king let them use to get back to the harbor and to their boat.
"Mr. Captain, I was told some information about DEATH's leader back in the Sand." Kakashi said.
Luffy ran over to Kakashi.
"WHAT'D THEY SAY? I'M READY TO BEAT HIM UP ALREADY!" Luffy said, grabbing Kakashi's collar.
"The doctor, the one Sanji and Chopper fought with me, told us as their bosses' location as a reward for beating him." Kakashi said, pushing Luffy away.
"Where is he going to be Kakashi-sensei? All you need are Luffy and I and we can beat anybody up!" Naruto said.
"YEAH YEAH!" Luffy said.
FLASHBACK
"One more thing though… as another reward for my defeat… our leader… has set up base down The Grand Line at Arlong Park 2.0… go there… he'll be waiting…" Onawagi said, coughing up blood.
END OF FLASHBACK
"He said he'd be waiting for us at a place called Arlong Park 2.0 it's apparently here in the Grand Line." Kakashi said.
Nami's eyes shot open.
"ARE YOU SURE THAT'S WHAT HE SAID?" Nami asked.
"I'm certain that's what he said. He even gave me this hour glass thing." Kakashi said, holding up an eternal pose that read: Arlong Park 2.0.
"Arlong…" Nami thought to herself.
"Do you all have history with this Arlong guy or something?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah! I kicked his ass already a long time ago!" Luffy said.
"Well if you beat him up already, you've got me here this time, so we'll really beat him down now!" Naruto said.
Luffy's eyes sparkled and as he and Naruto danced in the background Usopp whispered.
"Fools…" Someone said.
Everyone looked at Usopp.
"It's been two years. If you really think Arlong hasn't improved then you're crazy! Especially since he's apart of this DEATH organization! That we still know nothing about by the way!" Usopp said.
"Long-nose does have a point." Robin said.
"I agree." Sanji seconded, "We've all come a long way, but I'm sure he has too."
Luffy looked out towards the sun.
"Well… we'll just see when we get there!" Luffy said with a smile.
Naruto smiled as well.
"You got that right!!" Naruto yelled.
ARLONG PARK 2.0
Psycho was reading his morning paper when Cyclone walked in carrying a man.
"Who's this?" Psycho asked.
"He's been creeping around here the past few days, I'm assuming gaining information on us." Cyclone answered.
Psycho knelt down next to the man.
"Is what he telling me true? I'd sure hope not, you'll be in a lot of trouble." Psycho said, "Who are you anyway?"
The man laughed and looked up at Psycho.
"The name's Sabo. Nice to meet you." Sabo said smiling.
ALABASTA PORT
"There she is guys, The Thousand Sunny!" Luffy said.
Naruto and the others stared in amazement.
"It's huge! Where'd you get it?" Naruto asked.
"Franky built it!" Luffy yelled pointing at Franky who blushed.
"It was nothing, really!" Franky yelled.
"Cool!" Naruto said, running on board.
Kakashi walked up to Sakura.
"Well, definitely too late to turn back now you think?" Kakashi said.
Sakura looked at him with a creepy face. While Kakashi backed away.
"All aboard!" Nami yelled out.
"Sanji I want breakfast!" Luffy yelled.
"GIVE ME A MINUTE TO GET SETTLED IN WOULD YA?!" Sanji yelled, "There you are Sakura-chan. You alright?"
"Yes Sanji-kun thank you." Sakura said with a smile.
Robin looked back at them and then at Nami.
"I'm gonna put Mr. Doctor in his room." Robin said, "Navigator please come with?"
Nami looked down at Robin and came down to follow her into Chopper's room.
"What's up?" Nami asked.
"How did it go with the cook?" Robin asked.
Nami looked down.
"Terrible… he… he didn't believe I was telling the truth." Nami said, "It's true I am jealous of how he treats the new girl, but I really do like him…" Nami said.
Robin smiled.
"I was awake reading when you both had that argument. I heard every word." Robin said.
"What should I do Robin?" Nami asked.
"Like it or not, the cook is right at the end of the day, after all the affection he showed you to get shot down it's not really nice to play with his feelings once he's found someone he thinks he wants." Robin explained, "Please don't attack me again, but either you can show how much you really care about the cook or you can wait to see where this goes with him and the new girl."
Nami looked out the window in the door directly at Sanji.
"So, Luffy, what do you guys like to do for fun on this ship?" Naruto asked.
"We usually play games, dance, sing, or spar!" Luffy said.
Naruto's ears perked up at spar.
"You guys fight on here!?" Naruto asked.
"Yep!" Luffy answered.
"Easy Naruto, the type of sparring you want to do shouldn't be done here, you'll mess up the boat." Kakashi said, now sitting on a lawn chair, reading his book.
"Hm?" Luffy asked.
"Oh yeah! I want to spar with you one of these days Luffy, both of us going all out!" Naruto said.
"Sounds fun! I can't wait!" Luffy said happily.
Over the next few hours everyone was doing some sort of activity. Robin looked over at the sleeping swordsman and moved her chair next to him to read her book. Usopp was fishing but looking at her from the corner of his eye.
"Robin and Zoro huh? Who would've ever thought? They aren't official yet I don't think, they need to hurry so I can say I was the first to know, matchmaker Usopp! Haha I see it now!" Usopp thought to himself.
"What're you thinking about Mr. Sniper?" Robin asked with a smile.
"AHHHHHHH! SHE SAW ME SCHEMEING!" Usopp yelled to himself.
On Luffy's favorite seat he noticed an island coming up.
"Oi! Island ahead!" Luffy yelled.
Nami emerged from her room.
"There it is! Drum island!" Nami said.
Robin was in Chopper's room watching over him.
"You hear that Mr. Doctor? We're at your home. You'll be okay." Robin said with a smile.
The Straw-Hat ship docked, and the crew all walked to the village, except Zoro who stayed and watched the ship.
"UGHHHHH It's freezing out here!" Naruto yelled.
"Well yelling isn't making it any warmer!" Sakura yelled back.
Eventually the crew made it to the village and were greeted.
"Hey! Welcome back! It's been a long time!" A villager said.
"Good to be back!" Nami said with a smile, "Is the doctor in? We've got someone who needs help."
"Oh yeah, the doctor is where she always is, but be careful around here." The man said.
The squad all had a look of confusion on their faces.
"A bartender was killed by a person from some weird group recently! Nobody knows if they'll be back or not." He explained.
"You all don't have to worry! If anyone shows up just let us know we'll beat them up for you!" Luffy said.
"Really?" The man said.
"Yeah! They ain't bothering you all anymore!" Naruto added.
"This is wonderful! I'll make the trip to the town, you all go see the doctor!" The man said happily.
The team got on the lift to the castle, Luffy told Naruto how he carried Nami and Sanji and climbed up the giant pillars to get Nami some medicine and the battle with Wapol. Naruto told Luffy they could have carried everyone and ran up the walls if they were here at the time, much to Luffy's disappointment and amazement.
Eventually the lift stopped, and the crew got out and walked up to the castle doors.
"How does she stay in a place like this?" Kakashi asked.
"She's a witch!" Luffy answered.
"Stop saying that!" Nami said, while hitting Luffy over the head.
The door to the giant castle opened slowly but surely to eventually show an older woman wearing young people clothes.
"Well well if it isn't the straw brats. What brings you here? You sick again?" Kureha asked Nami.
"No no! Ha ha it's actually… um…" Nami stopped and Robin walked up holding Chopper.
"Chopper! Get in here now!" Kureha demanded.
KUREHA MEDICAL ROOM
"So, what mess did you get my Chopper get into?" Kureha asked.
"We battle a blind man who injected him with some pink liquid, he said Chopper would have five days exactly to live, it's been about two since then." Sanji explained.
"Ahhhh, the five-day disease, I know it well." Kureha explained.
"So, you can heal our doctor?" Robin asked.
"Yes. Only problem is that the antidote takes as long to the heal the person dependent on the amount of time they've been infected, so Chopper will be here for two days." Kureha explained.
"Anyway, to speed it up grandma? We got-." Naruto was interrupted by a slap.
Kureha smacked Naruto down and axe kicked him.
"Who you calling grandma, runt?" Kureha asked.
"Anyway, what was the man's name that injected him?" Kureha asked.
"I believe he said his name was, Onawagi Rinso." Kakashi said.
When Kureha heard the name, she stood completely still and held her chest. She fell back against the book case and almost knocked herself out.
"Woah are you alright?! What's wrong?" Sakura asked.
"That man…that demon…is my son." Kureha said.