"The key is sleight of hand.", Nami enlightens her young new protege, "You always want your target focus on where you want their full attention, allowing you to slide your sticky fingers and grab what you want."
Lambo nods along attentively, writing in a notepad Nami had given him the day before when these lessons had first begun. He can still feel the warmth in his chest when thinking back to how proud Nami was when she saw how well Lambo could already lockpick. Quickly moving on and teaching him a few tricks to make the process go faster and how to go about trickier locks. She even taught him how to crack a safe!
Granted, it took Lambo nearly the rest of the day, with Ussop nearly dragging the younger boy to bed before he had finally cracked it, Nami of course did it in nearly seconds during her demonstration earlier that day.
"Keep attention... where... you... want it.", Lambo mutters under his breath, tongue sticking out in concentration.
Nami flicked Lambo on the forehead.
"Ow! What was that for?", Lambo cried out as he rubbed his forehead with an angry pout.
"Lesson number two.", Nami holds up two fingers with a smirk, "Always be aware of your surroundings, less you become the one being robbed rather than the robber. Like this!"
Nami holds up Lambo's wallet that has all his money with a giggle. Immediately, Lambo's hands went flying to his waistband, where he securely, or so he thought, hides the wallet so as to not be pickpocketed as easily as Nami has just done. For of course, the wallet was no longer there.
"Oh, come on...", Lambo slouches with a disappointed sigh, "I thought that was a good spot!"
"It was.", Nami shrugged, "If it were anyone else than me, you would have caught them pretty quick, especially since it's not a place one would usually think to put their wallet. If it's not in a pocket, it's usually in a hat or shoe. But this means you already got Lesson number three down all on your own then, take precautions. That's good, but it's pretty much rendered useless if you don't follow the second lesson and continue to remain aware of everyone and everything around, both in and outside of battles."
"Okay, okay. I need to pay more attention to people around me and stuff, I get it.", Lambo nearly whined with a near dead panned tone, "Now can I have my wallet back please?"
"I don't know.", Nami hummed in playful consideration, before winking at the younger teen, sticking her tongue down at him, "Why don't you just steal it from me?"
"C'mon Nami!", Lambo protested, jumping to his feet in his near desperation, "We're going to port soon, I need my money when we get to Loguetown!"
"Then take it back if you need it so bad.", Nami teased as she waved the wallet behind her, just out of the boy's reach.
An irk mark pulsed on Lambo's head as he glared at the Straw Hat Navigator in frustration.
Lambo then his eyes widened as he suddenly points behind Nami, "Luffy's messing with your charts again!"
"Again!?", Nami whirls around, only to see that her charts are perfectly fine.
Lambo snatched back his wallet, and jumped back a couple steps, out of Nami's reach, just as the Navigator turns back to him with a raised brow.
"Alright. I'll give you that one, for now.", Nami concedes, "Classic misdirection, but still works if used well. Speaking of my charts, Lambo's right, we should be making land soon guys."
Nami addresses the rest of the room, their audience consisting of Sanji and Ussop, Zoro and Luffy are still hanging outside. Zoro is most likely napping like the cat he is, and Luffy likes being the most, always the last one to come inside for bed. And Lambo has the feeling that, for once, it does not have to do with the older teens seemingly endless reserves of energy.
"It's kind of interesting watching you take on a mentor role.", Sanji comments casually as he gets off from where he was leaning against the island, "Taking Lambo under your wing, like a mother bird."
Lambo sweat dropped, "I'm not sure how I feel about Nami basically being called my mother when she is only three years older than me."
"And I'm not sure how I feel about Nami teaching you how to become a master thief like her. One money-grubbing thief on board is enough.", Ussop mutters to himself as he gets up from the kitchen table walking next to Sanji as they all make their way out of the galley to see Zoro up, leaning against the upper deck railing with Luffy sitting on it right next to them, both staring up ahead.
"What island is it?", the group heard Luffy questioning his first mate curiously.
"I can't believe you forgot, I just told you.", Nami admonishes with a sigh.
"Huh?"
"So that's the island where Loguetown is located.", said Ussop thoughtfully.
"I wonder if they have a market?", Sanji thinks out loud.
"The locals have to buy food too.", Nami replies with a smile.
"It's the closest island to the entrance to the Grand Line, I bet they have almost everything there.", Lambo comments, "I bet it's become a tourist trap ever since the Great Pirate Era began. We should keep an eye on the prices while we shop."
"Well, that's a given.", Nami agrees with crossed arms.
"Looks like I might have to redo the menu then. Fresh vegetables.", Sanji states thoughtfully, Lambo can see the gears turning in his mind as he thinks up all the dishes he may cook in the future.
Not even a day later, and the Straw Hat crew is already almost to their destination. Lambo can feel himself getting restless, sailing is awesome, everyday Lambo is enjoying life on the sea more and more. But that doesn't mean he doesn't want a change from the constant bobbing and changing of the wooden floor beneath his feet to the solid ground of land.
"I hope they have a sword shop.", Zoro says, looking to be in the same rush to get off the Going Merry as Lambo feels, "Using three-sword style with just one sword kind of blows. Think it's time to remedy that."
"Oh yeah...", Lambo nods with an excited glint in his eyes, "There are probably other weapons nearby where you're going, I'll probably follow along, try to find a replacement for my whip the Eel fishman destroyed."
"Oo! I can't wait to check their equipment shops for cool stuff!"
"That's it huh?", Luffy says wistfully, "That's the island where Gold Rodger was born and then executed, right?"
"Okay, so you did remember.", Nami says softly as she leans against the railing beside Luffy, whose eyes are shadowed by the brim of his hat.
Luffy tilted his hat back, revealing his eyes that seemed to looked off to the far distance beyond the island Loguetown resides, "Where the King of the Pirates met his fate. This place is known as the city of the beginning of the end."
...
"Whoo hoo!", Luffy exclaimed gleefully the moment the group stepped into town after making port, "This is going to be so fun!"
The group stood right in front of the entrance of the city that is bordered by an arch with the city's name printed in the middle of it.
"Every pirate heading to the Grand Line, stops here to resupply.", Nami explains, her tone light, seeming to soak in Luffy's excitement as her own, "It has everything you could possibly need."
"If that's the case, then I'm going on a shopping spree.", Ussop said excitedly, he hasn't even gotten to the shops yet, and his eyes are already flickering everywhere for things he could buy, "I'll bet they have all sorts of stuff here."
"I'll be able to stock up on some fresh produce.", said Sanji with a satisfied grin that quickly turned dreamy, "And fresh women..."
"You need help.", Lambo deadpanned at the cook.
Sanji just wrapped his arm around Lambo, "Oh no, my young friend, in time you'll understand."
"Nope, kid's right, you need help.", Zoro disagreed bluntly.
"What Did You Say Mosshead!?", Sanji angrily exclaims with sharp teeth.
"You'd think there'd be a sword smith around here.", Zoro says idly as he turns away, ignoring the outraged cook.
"I thought you were broke?", Nami grins sadistically as Zoro sweats nervously, avoiding eye contact with the third Straw Hat crewmate, "Are you going to steal a sword~?"
It's times like these, as Zoro reluctantly falls further into debt with Nami, that Lambo can understand why the swordsman calls her a witch. She is evil when it comes to money, no mercy is given, not even to her own crewmates. Lambo is very glad he managed to restock on some more berri before leaving Vongola mansion, but he also takes note to always keep his wallet full, so he doesn't end up deep in debt to the navigator like Zoro.
"Well, I'm gonna find out where they kill people.", Luffy announces to the group before he starts sprinting off in a random direction, "I got to see where the King of the Pirates got executed!"
"Hey, wait! We have to pick a meeting place!", Ussop shouts at Luffy's retreating figure, unsurprisingly, his protests fell on deaf ears, "Oh, that's not good."
"Who here wants to bet he doesn't even know where he's going?", Lambo sweat drops.
"No one here is dumb enough to take that bet.", Zoro sighs, "Especially when it comes to Luffy, he definitely doesn't know where he's going."
"Your one to talk, you have the worse sense of direction out of all of us.", Ussop needles with narrow eyes.
"Shut up! I do not!", Zoro protests angrily.
"Lambo, you're going to where the weapons shops are, right?", Nami asks the teen who nods in reply, "Make sure Zoro makes it to the right shop, would you? We shouldn't stay as long as it would take for the meathead to get to where he needs to be."
"Oi, witch! Who are you calling a-!"
"Remind me again whose money you're borrowing to buy two new swords?", Nami questions the swordman with a sly smirk, "Remember your paying me back~, with three-hundred percent interest!"
Zoro froze before grumbling, "Okay, fine, the kid can come too."
"Great!", Nami smiles victoriously.
Lambo sweat dropped again, "You scare me sometimes Nami."
Said woman only giggled.
...
Thanks to the family's I-Pin is staying with graciousness, and need to impress her and gain her favor, it didn't take long for I-Pin to receive word that the marines are combing through Loguetown in search of a pirate by the name of Monkey D. Luffy. A supposedly powerful pirate that took down the infamous Fishmen pirate captain, Arlong.
And he is the captain of the very crew Lambo had joined, according to Tsuna. The only thing is...
"Are you sure this is him?", I-Pin questioned the grunt that handed her the wanted poster skeptically, "He... doesn't look like much."
Granted I-Pin's master, Tsuna, and many other people the martial artist knows have looks that don't match their notoriety. But this Monkey D. Luffy looked ridiculous, goofy even. Carefree (he was always carefree too, in the past, before she wrecked things).
"Uh, yes si- I mean ma'am! That's him.", the grunt stammered nervously.
"And what do the marines have on him and his crew?", I-Pin asked curiously.
The information she has, the more prepared she would be to meet Lambo and the rest of the crew, if they are with him. As long as she doesn't jump in swinging right away like Reborn and the others did, I-Pin has a higher chance of returning successful unlike Vongola.
In the past, she was closest with Lambo after all, she knows him best compared to the others (keyword being in the past, but that doesn't change anything, it doesn't change what she knows about the other teen in comparison with Reborn, Tsuna, and the others), she watched him from the sidelines just as much as she knew he would watch her. I-Pin saw him work for the change he so desperately craved praise and acknowledgment for. She watched on as he worked to become different, better than what others looked down on him for (and she can't help but feel a sharp twist of guilt in her gut as she does so, but forces herself to continue watching anyway).
"Monkey D. Luffy defeated the Captain Axe-hand Morgan, pirate Captain Buggy, pirate Admiral Don Krieg, fishmen pirate Captain Arlong, and he, uh, manage to leave a fight with Vongola's Decimo with few injuries.", the man stammered at the end, understandable, probably didn't want to insult I-Pin or receive her wrath for stating the known fact that the Straw Hat pirates beat the majority of Vongola Guardians, "He's accompanied by Roronoa Zoro, who was once a bounty hunter, and Bovino Lambo, the rest of the crew are... uh, unknown."
"Meaning they aren't infamous enough to be known yet.", I-Pin sighs as she leans back in her seat thoughtfully.
It's not a lot, just knowledge on who he beat, and one known crew member other than Lambo. You'd think a mafia would have more information than this. Maybe Hibari was right to quit, are they seriously this complacent that a simple background check is difficult? Again, aside from the captain and Lambo, only one other crew member, Roronoa Zoro!
"Roronoa Zoro... ", I-Pin mumbles to herself because actually, now that she's thinking about it, "I've heard of that name before..."
"H-he's actually a-a-also known as, uh, pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro.", the grunt says nervously, "He's a very notorious swordsman, infamous for his use of the rare three-sword style."
I-pin looked over with a dead eyed stare, "And why didn't you say that earlier?"
"Well, er- I uh,"
"Nevermind.", I-Pin waved him off with an irritable huff, she didn't want to hear that unneeded particular rant of excuses, what she's really curious about is, "How on earth did this guy get a pirate hunter and mafioso to join his crew? It's just... illogical. They both were secured in their places, what made them decide to become a pirate and join this particular man's crew?"
"It's actually known by the marines that Monkey D. Luffy is underage.", the grunt cuts in helpfully.
Great, the Marines background check is even better than theirs. This is really starting to get sad now (and low key making I-Pin tempted to follow Hibari's footsteps).
Wait second...
"HE'S WHAT!?"
...
It didn't take long for Lambo to drop Zoro off at one of the many sword shops in town, although he had to stop the swordsman from wandering off multiple times much to Zoro's offense and Lambo's own amusement.
For a while, Lambo has just been glancing into weapon shops, but they all seem to have either guns and swords, along with the occasional hammer or spear/naginata, but nothing that Lambo was looking for. The only shop that Lambo has come across that had any kind of whips, was one for farmers and ranchers, probably more for trade than for an island that's more city than wildlife.
Which, fine, if Lambo can't find what he's looking for, he might have to settle with what he got before. But Lambo would prefer that to not be the case, he'd have to buy extra if it were to be so.
See, Lambo has realized that if he got a normal bull whip like the one he had before, that can be easily destroyed in the East Blue, weakest of all the Seas, then there's is no chance a new whip built the same way would last very long in the Grand Line. Lambo needs something durable, something more, something special.
A one of kind weapon for Lambo's liking.
And that's when he came upon a smithy. Sabers, katanas and swords of all like are displayed. Alongside the swords there were spears, knives, and daggers, pretty much anything you can think of that has a blade is there. All crafted beautifully and with enough care that even someone whose as clueless to bladework like Lambo can see, they all hung in the forge/shop. But that's not all that's on sale in the shop, but guns, pistols, rifles, even a few canons resting in the corner so they are just barely in view to window shoppers just passing by. Something to grab tourist's attention and curiosity.
Yet, what boggled Lambo's mind the most, is that the shop was pretty much empty all but for the short, yet muscular, man, with long salt and pepper flecked hair tied half-hazardly back in a low pony tail. He worked on the forge that was there in place of a counter a register, surrounded by barrels of metal and powders, that Lambo can't help but wonder what other metal but gun powder can be needed for his work?
The man seemed completely unbothered by the lack of customers in his shop, continuing to work diligently on whatever weapon that will join the rest on display of his stone walls.
"Oh, I wouldn't go in there if I were you boy.", a voice called from Lambo's left.
Causing the teen to jump with a strangled yelp in surprise, not expecting to be spoken to, as he turned to see a dark-skinned old woman wrapped in fabrics colors of all kind that somehow took shape of a dress that didn't look like an eye sore with all the different colors. Her store looked like something you'd find at a circus rather than a market with all the crystals, stones, and even incense on display. Her store was decorated with all different kinds of rugs and fabrics, matching the style the woman dressed. There even seemed to be other shawls, rugs, and dresses on sale, not just for decoration within the store.
As if reading his mind, the woman states, "I was once a fortune teller with a traveling circus during my younger years."
"Uh... right. That's cool, I liked the circus when I was younger.", Lambo tells her, a little self-consciously, as he walked closer to the stall so as to not shout or talk over the crowd
Is it any less obvious how he seriously wasn't expecting to be called out or anything by anyone he doesn't know.?
The old Fortune Seller chuckled, "Boy, everyone likes the circus, especially when we're children. Don't believe anyone that tells you otherwise."
. "And now you... Sell stuff?", Lambo asks hesitantly, but a little more relaxed due to the Fortune Teller'snatural prescence..
The Fortune Teller nods with a hum of confirmation, "Mmhm. Both the style and the gear. Anything one may need for aesthetic or purpose. Both if you're in the business."
Lambo couldn't help but smile in acknowledgment before drawing attention back to what brought him closer to her store in the first place.
"You said something about not going in to the store across the street? The...?", Lambo asks as he turns to check the name of said store, "The Weaponsmith? Bit on the nose, isn't it?"
The Fortune Seller chuckles, "A name that is straight to the point, goes along well with a blunt no nonsense man that owns and runs said store. Out of every store in this entire town, that man sells the least of his product, if ever. Yet somehow stays open! Whenever asked why he rarely sells, he would always say 'Nothing but the best for the best.' Although no one understands why he says that all the time, for when the best come, he stills hardly ever sells. At most he'll give away ammunition for the rifles and pistols, but the guns themselves? Fat chance."
"He sounds... very committed to his work.", Lambo replies slowly when the woman seems to expect some kind of answer to her long-winded explanation of The Weaponsmith.
"Ha!", the Fortune Sellerguffaws, "Piece advice from one of the very few that can stand that man and still call him a friend around here, if you are going in there, don't expect to come out with anything."
"And what if I'm just going in to take a look?", Lambo questions with a tilt of his head as he stuffs one hand in his pocket and the other reaches up to play with his bull-pendant while he listens.
"What part of no nonsense do you not understand?", the Fortune Seller questions with a raised brow, "If you're going in that store, you better be going in to buy something, or try to anyway, lest you be chased out crying like the child you look to be. Or scammed in a worst-case scenario."
"I'm young, not a child. There's a difference.", Lambo corrects, "Besides, I can't seem to find what I'm looking for, maybe I'll find something in there that I'll be of use to."
The woman's brows are raised up so high, they are almost hidden by her thick curly grey hair, that still seem to shine and as if to show off how beautiful she must have beenin her youth. Not that her beauty has faded with her old age.
"Don't you mean a weapon that's of use to you?", the Fortune Seller asks slowly.
Her dark eyes, full of life and wisdom seem to bore into the teen as he blinked up at her in surprise. Lambo thought back over his words, but saw no use in correcting himself.
"You know what? No, I meant what I said.", Lambo nods to himself, slowly lost in thought as he thinks about it.
Specifically, thinking back to Zoro and his swords. The white one, his treasure,mostof all.
"And on the other hand, I mean the other way too.", Lambo tells her slowly, "If weapon is no good, it's no use to me. But if I can't use the weapon, I'm of no use to the weapon I yield."
"I've never heard of it like that before.", the Fortune Sellermused curiously.
Lambo shrugs, "I sail with a great swordsman."
"For how long?"
"A... a little over a month I believe.", Lambo says thoughtfully.
The Fortune Seller shakes her head, "No one thinks like that after traveling over a month with someone. That's all you... go in the store."
Lambo jolts in surprise, "But you said... not to."
"And were you going to listen to me?", the Fortune Sellerchallenges.
"Well... no.", Lambo admits, unable to help but be sheepish.
"Go in the store."
Well, there was nothing else to do but listen to the command and Lambo entered The Weaponsmith.
...
After some time of pacing, kicking the desk (not with her full strength of course, the furniture needs to remain in one piece so she can kick it some more), some mumbled mandarin under her breathe in irritation and more pacing, I-Pin was sitting back in the desk, head resting on the wooden surface with an air of despair surrounding her. Fortunately, for both her and the minor famiglia's subordinates that were following her orders, I-Pin had dismissed them just before she had her, very justifiable in her opinion, meltdown.
Vongola... Tsuna... was defeated by a freaking minor who is only two years I-Pin's senior! How can I-Pin expect to get Lambo back... when he has a powerhouses like Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro in his corner!?
Clearly without violence, which is disappointing because that is I-Pin's go to solution to her problems. It's worked in the past. Many that don't know I-Pin are surprised by her violent tendencies, but those who are aware of flames, especially of her own, really shouldn't. Storm Flame users tend to be violent after all, some are just better at hiding it compared to others, like I-Pin and her master.
With another groan, I-Pin sat back up, rubbing her forehead in irritation, she wants to fight for Lambo, fight to keep him. But with all the information she has in hand, I-Pin can't do that by getting into fights.
She knows she's strong, she's confident in her skills (unlike most of the famiglia, I-Pin has been continuing to train alongside her master to improve her skills, not just maintain them as the others were doing). But I-Pin also knows that if she picks a fight, she is likely to lose, if not because of skill or power but because of lack of familiarity. Last she saw Lambo, the most he could do was throw a weak punch or tackle others by using his Dying Will Flames, which I-Pin notice growing weaker as the years dragged on.
Clearly that has changed since Tsuna sent Lambo off on his vacation. I-Pin can't help but seethe silently to herself, if it weren't for the Decimo not taking into consideration how trouble seems to love following after Lambo, whether he wants it to or not, and waiting until after the stupid Peace Gala before sending him on his way (maybe then I-Pin could have joined him, in more waysthan one, maybe she'd even be with him right now if Tsuna had just waited)
She can't help the bitterness that rises up, unable to help but blame Tsuna a little for the loss.
I-pin gaze drifts downwards and her eyes narrow as she glares at the wanted poster that remained on her desk. Right, the entire crew, including Lambo, defeated Vongola's Guardians, not to mention the Decimo himself. So, violence is definitely not the answer. I-Pin refuses to fail as the main family branch (even though she knows she technically already has in the past years ago). It's easy to rest the blame on the unfamiliar pirate captain's feet too.
No, I-Pin can't force Lambo to come back (to her). Vongola already tried that and look where it's got them now. She'll fight for him, for Lambo, that's without question. But she won't force him to leave his crew, to come with.
Especially if she wants Lambo to stay.
To rekindle their friendship.
I-Pin misses her qīn yǒu and the bond they had once shared, and she had to go and wreck it. Blinding herself to what she had before willingly throwing it, throwing him, away.
Yes, she won't force him... doesn't me she can't fight him though.
There was a loud 'bang!' as the office door slammed open, crashing loudly against the wall before almost ricocheting back into the grunt that had just come sprinting in, if he weren't already several steps into the room before the door practically slammed close by itself from the force the grunt used in opening it. I-Pin raised a questioning eyebrow at the grunts panting form.
"It's him!... Monkey D. Luffy's... been spotted! He's been running towards the execution stand... to the main town square!", the grunt exclaims through heaving breathes.
Chair falling behind her, I-Pin was already on her feet and running out the door before the grunt could barely finish his sentence.
Monkey D. Luffy... it's not Lambo, but he's her foot in the door at least. Soon she'll find him, soon, she can reunite with her qīn yǒu.
Author's Note:
Okay, the chapter is shorter than I wanted it to be. But the truth is that I had to shorten it, I have almost the entire beginning of the next chapter already written because it was supposed to be a part of this chapter, but it was getting too long. The chapter would have been over thirty pages long if I kept it.
But I hope this is some good food to enjoy until I update the next chapter. We got to dig a little deeper into I-Pin's character and her thoughts and feelings towards Lambo and the crew, with what little she knows that is.
Hope you liked it!
Be Your Best You! Bye~!