I do not own One Piece
It is owned by Oda
I just own my OC
Enjoy!
All Scope Adventure opening: Colors - Flow, Code Geass OP1
"You can't be serious!?" Yosaku was the first to say something once Johnny blurted out what he had said.
"Yeah, it's true," Johnny said as he sat down. "She was a traitor all along. She's been winning Arlong's favor so she can have the treasure buried in Cocoyashi village all to herself. That woman is just a cold-blooded killer! She won't stop until she gets what she wants! Nami, had us fooled the enti-"
"That's enough!" everyone turned around to Jou who had made his way up to Johnny and knelt to his level.
"Johnny..." Jou said. "You better look at me right in the eyes and tell me the truth."
"I am!" Johnny exclaimed. "Nami killed him!"
At this point, Jou got tired of hearing Johnny mention that. Jou pulled Johnny by the shirt and stood as he lifted the bounty hunter off his feet.
"You and Usopp disappear on us and you go on and tell us this!" Jou glared. "Nami is the one that let Zoro and I go! You expect me to believe that she would go ahead and kill Usopp! I don't believe one word of it!"
"Me neither!" Luffy agreed with a disapproving scowl.
"Jou, stop!" Zoro intervened. "Let Johnny go! This has nothing to do with him!"
"Go on, believe whatever you want," Johnny stated. "But I know what I saw. Nami killed big bro Usopp!"
"Shut your mouth!" Luffy shouted. "Never in a million years would Nami kill Usopp! She wouldn't do that to her friends!"
"But I saw it!" Johnny argued.
"Nami wouldn't do that!" Jou claimed. "We know her! I know she wouldn't outright kill anyone!"
"Because you know me so well, don't you Jou?" Everyone turned to the source of the familiar voice and saw Nami standing a few feet behind them. She wore a pair of gloves on her hands.
"Nami..." Luffy said as he noticed the girl. Jou released Johnny as the bounty hunter dropped to the ground.
"What're you doing here?" Nami questioned.
"What're we doing here?" Luffy repeated. "You're our friend. We came to get you."
"What a pest," Nami said.
"Nami...?" Luffy said as he seemed surprised by her attitude.
"Friends, huh?" Nami said scornfully. "Don't make me laugh. You're just pathetic enough to deserve each other." Jou noticed she was turning on that demeanor that was just a front to hide how she truly feels. He figured that when he and Zoro were tied up in before of Arlong.
"Damn you!" Johnny shouted as he sprung to his feet. "You killed him! I watched you do it! Now big bro Usopp is gone!"
"Yep, that's right," Nami stated. "So, why don't you kill me and get your revenge."
"What...?" Johnny wondered.
"Please tell me this is the part where you tell us none of what Johnny said is true?" Jou asked hopefully.
"Oh Jou, for someone who acts like he knows about everything and everyone..." Nami smirked. "You're just so naive. Because of the idiotic stunt, you and Zoro pulled, Arlong wants to kill both of you along with your entire crew. And I don't care how monstrously strong you guys think you are. You're no match for the real monsters. I promise you, if you stay on this island you will die. So, you have a choice to make between life and death."
Nami stare was cold as she looked at everyone. Zoro barred his teeth at her, showing he was in no mood for her games. But Sanji's reaction to her was much different.
"Her heartless face is so hot~!" Sanji cooed as his eye morphed into a heart. "Hi, Nami! It's me Sanji~! Let's run away together~!"
"Can it, Romeo!" Zoro yelled at him. "This isn't the time or place for that!"
"Excuse me, love is like a hurricane," Sanji replied. "So, back off." Zoro turned his attention back to Nami.
"Hey, look at me when I'm talking to you!" Sanji yelled as the swordsman ignored him.
"Nami, where's Usopp?" Zoro asked.
"With the fishes," Nami answered.
As Nami said that, Zoro drew his sword and was about to run at her. He didn't get close to her as Sanji threw a kick at Zoro who avoided the attack by backing away.
"How sad," Sanji noted. "A swordsman striking a lady."
"Idiot!" Zoro grunted. "Can't you see what's happening here?! You're starting to piss me off!"
"Heh," Sanji chuckled. "If someone had stopped me that easily. I'd be mad, too."
"You should watch your mouth," Zoro told him.
"I'll say whatever I want," Sanji retorted back. "Bastard."
"Big bro's!" Yosaku yelled. "We're all in this together, okay!? This is no time to fight!"
"Your pal's right," Nami mentioned. "Now quit your bickering and leave while you still can. You outsiders have no right to butt into this island's affairs. Don't you get it yet? The only reason I got close to you idiots was that I could rob you of everything you had but now that you're broke it looks like that dream's dead. So go, take your ship, find a navigator dumb enough to join you, and go to the Grand Line. Continue on your quest to find the One Piece or whatever. Just leave here, you're an eyesore!"
Jou figured she wasn't being true to herself. If she didn't care about them, she could have just let him and Zoro stay in that brig but she let them go. Jou still believed she didn't kill Usopp and knew there was more to this and wish he knew the whole story. The only way to figure that is to get it out of her but that was easier said than done.
"Good-bye now," Nami said as she turned to leave.
"Nami..." Luffy muttered as he fell flat on his back with his hat covering his eyes.
"Big bro Luffy?" Johnny wondered.
"Sleepy," Luffy stated and placed his hands behind his head.
"Sleep?" Yosaku repeated. "At a time like this? In the middle of the road!?"
"Well, I'm pretty tired," Luffy stated. "I'm not gonna butt-in to their affairs. Not interested. But I'm not leaving either. Night."
"Big bro...?" Johnny murmured.
Jou should've known that Luffy wouldn't go anywhere without Nami. If she doesn't come then that meant he wasn't going to leave the island. Luffy was the captain and a crew must stay by their captain's side. With that in mind, Jou nodded.
"I'm not going anywhere either," Jou said and looked at Nami.
"You too, big bro Jou?" Yosaku questioned but Jou never averted his gaze from the navigator. Zoro placed a hand on his forehead in exasperation. Luffy was already fast asleep showing he had already fallen asleep. Jou stared at Nami as she returned the look at him. She was obviously not happy with their decision to not leave. Nami could be angry at them all she wants but that wasn't going to stop them.
"Fine," Nami growled as she clenched her fist. "WHATEVER! JUST GO AHEAD AND DIE!" she dashed in the other direction away from the others. Sanji called after her but she was already gone. Jou wanted to give her space, though, he wasn't finished talking to her. Nami may not tell him everything, but Jou felt the need to speak to her and help her and soon ran after her.
"Jou!" Zoro yelled as Jou paused in his tracks. "Just let her go! There's no point trying to reason with her." Jou knew Zoro was partially right. But Jou despite that kept chasing after Nami.
"Jou, come back! There's-" Zoro sighed as he watched Jou leave.
Idiots. All of them. If Luffy decided to stay then that meant they were all staying. They're all just going to die staying on the island. If that's what they want then they can go right ahead. Nami didn't care anymore.
"Hey!"
Then there was him. Jou. He just never knows when to quit. He had to know especially that if he stayed here then Arlong will kill him. The Fishman leader already wanted him dead. If Jou cared about his life, he would leave the island and stop trying to help her. Yet, he continued to persist and it just made things harder for Nami.
"Nami, wait!" Jou called out as he caught up to her.
"What now?" Nami glared as she turned around. "I told you, you can all die! Since that's what you really want!"
"That's crap," Jou stated.
"What...?" Nami questioned.
"That's not what I heard," Jou shook his head.
"You may be good at deceiving others..." Jou figured. "But you don't have me fooled."
"Stop it, Jou..." Nami glared. "I mean it."
"You don't have to say it because I've already figured it out..." Jou said. "You're afraid," Nami said nothing and clenched her staff tighter.
"The story behind you and Arlong goes like this..." Jou said. "For Arlong, you're nothing but a lap dog on a leash who he gets to do whatever he wants and there is nothing you can do about it. You think putting on this cold personality will hide the fact that you're scared. But here's the thing? You're scared and Arlong is taking advantage of that."
Nami's narrowed her eyes and bit her lip. She had heard enough and started to walk away. However, Jou wasn't even finished yet.
"He could be tricking you behind your back and you don't even know he's using you," Jou stated. "You know you can't hope to beat him on your own! So that just shows that you're afraid, Nami!"
Nami had enough at this point as she quickly swung her staff. Jou avoided with a duck of the head and evaded another from her. He leaped back to avoid the third strike and flicked his wrist and grabbed his red chain. Nami ran at him, holding her staff with both hands. As she got close, Jou closed his eyes and let go of his red chain. That didn't stop Nami's advance, with a quick motion she took her staff and smacked Jou across the face. The force of it caused him to turn his head. Nami noticed the mark on the right side of his face.
Nami's eyes widened in surprise. She didn't want to do that. But it's the only way to get him and the others to leave the island and forget her even if it pains her to do so.
"You..." Nami's voice shook but she calmed to get her words out. "Quit talking to me like you know me because you don't! You get the hell out of here! Go back to Luffy and take your wannabe pirates and NEVER come back to this island! You couldn't even begin to understand what's been happening to this island the past 8 years! So, now do me a favor and go away!"
With that, Nami ran in the other direction, away from Jou. She heard no footsteps which meant he wasn't going to follow her. Nami felt terrible pretty much screaming in Jou's face like that. He didn't deserve that, not when he's trying to help her. But if he and the others stay here, they will only be killed by Arlong. The thought of that hurt her. Just thinking of them giving up their lives for her brought tears from her eyes and the tears flew from her face as she ran.
Jou watched her leave from the corner of his eye. He made no move to follow her as she made it clear where they stood, even though she didn't mean it at all. Jou wasn't about to make it worse by following her. Hell, just setting foot on this island is bad enough and with the trouble he and Zoro and caused things were heating up. Jou reached to touch the side of his face where Nami struck him causing him to wince a little.
"I gotta admit, she's good with that staff of hers," Jou commented aloud.
Jou bent down to grab his red chain. He wasn't going to fight her. Not at all. His plan was to whip the staff from her grip and hopefully just talk but Jou decided that wasn't going to happen. She was making all this effort to keep them away from Arlong's crew, and even warning them that they've made it onto Arlong's list.
Jou re-wrapped his chain and started on his way back to Luffy and the others. Was what she said her way of saying she's through with their crew? Jou didn't believe it, not one bit. He knew Luffy felt the same and was planning on staying. Which meant Jou was going to stay, too. Jou found the others in the same spot. Sanji was leaning against a tree, Zoro was seated in the road, and not far off was Luffy, on his back taking a nap.
"Hey, big bro Zoro, what're you thinking?" Johnny asked. "C'mon!"
"Did you forget Arlong is out to kill us?" Yosaku added. "We should be running away!"
"Now that we know what Nami is like, there isn't a single good reason we should stay on this island," Johnny suggested. Jou had half-a-mind to knock some sense into Johnny but refrained from doing so since he has no idea why Nami's acting the way she was. Neither did Jou, but that was what he wanted to find out.
"My reason for staying here..." Zoro stated as he turned to their sleeping captain. "Is there. I'm staying because he's staying."
"Same," all eyes noticed Jou. He held up a hand and waved. "Yo." was all he said.
"Jou, you're back," Zoro said. "Did you talk to her? Can't imagine she actually listened."
"I did," Jou replied. "I think we're actually starting to see eye-to-eye with each other." Jou sat on the ground and found Zoro staring at him. Jou figured he might have noticed the possible mark left by Nami from her staff.
"Hey, did she-" Zoro started to ask.
"Forget it," Jou interrupted with a sigh. "It's no big deal. Wherever the captain stays, we stick with him."
"That's right." Zoro agreed.
"Don't be stupid, big bro Zoro," Yosaku said. "Are you saying you wanna bring her back, too?"
"What I want has nothing to do with this," Zoro said. "I don't decide who the navigator is, he does," Zoro said looking at the sleeping straw hat.
"Right," Johnny said. "Understood, you're not leaving. Sorry to cut our reunion short but I won't stay, my role as guide end's here."
"Yeah," Yosaku agreed. "I'm with him. I don't wanna deliberately get myself killed."
"Fine," Zoro said. "I'll see you around."
"Until we meet again, big bro!" Johnny called as he walked off.
"Take care, you guys!" Yosaku yelled as he left with his friend.
"You too!" Zoro said.
"See ya!" Jou waved.
Johnny and Yosaku left the four of them. It was understandable since they didn't want to get on Arlong's bad side. Jou took this time to sit cross-legged on the ground as a calm wind blew around the four. Luffy slept soundly as Sanji leaned against a tree, smoking his cigarette.
"Hey, what do you two think it is?" Sanji broke the silence. His question was directed at Jou and Zoro. "Why was she crying?"
"I don't know?" Zoro questioned. "Was she crying?"
"She was in her heart," Sanji stated.
Jou may not know Sanji well enough yet but agreed that he was right. Jou knew Nami was sad even if she didn't show it. He wasn't mad at her at all for striking him earlier and for what she said to him. Jou knew she didn't mean any of it, she had to be afraid. Afraid of losing all of them to Arlong.
"If there were, there'd be tears of guilt for killing Usopp," Zoro scoffed.
"Yeah, right," Sanji shook his head. "Are you serious? You really are dense. Do you still honestly believe Nami could've killed Usopp?"
"I meant what I said to Johnny," Jou chimed. "I don't believe Nami would kill Usopp."
"See, someone actually get's it," Sanji nodded.
"So, what you're saying is that Nami didn't kill him?" Zoro wondered. "Is that what you're saying?"
"Am I wrong?" Sanji questioned.
"Well, who knows?" Zoro shrugged. "I always thought of her as sort of a small-time crook who wouldn't watch a guy die let alone kill him, maybe she just snapped."
"Wait, what'd you say!?" Sanji suddenly snapped. Jou figured Sanji must've had a short fuse when it came to women, even Zoro seemed puzzled by it judging by the stare he gave the cook.
"SHE'S NOT SMALL-TIME!" Sanji shouted as his teeth mirrored a shark.
"Is she all you think about!?" Zoro shouted as Sanji went for a kick as Zoro raised his sheath to block. At this time, Jou had completely gone to ignoring the two. This really wasn't the time and place to be at each other's throats, especially with everything going on right now.
"And here I thought we were having an actual talk as a crew," Jou sighed and turned his head. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped once he saw the face squished between a foot and a sheath was a familiar long nose. "Usopp!?" It was indeed Usopp, who appeared to have been knocked out by both Zoro and Sanji from their exchanged blows.
"He's alive," Sanji said and sounded almost relieved.
"Well, he was," Zoro deadpanned. "I hope he still is." Jou woke up Luffy and showed him the good news and immediately went over to cradle the unconscious sniper in his arms.
"Usopp!" Luffy shouted frantically. "Did Nami do all this to you!?" he gave the long nose a couple of shakes.
"Sorry," Sanji smiled. "Zoro and I did that."
"No, you did," Zoro said.
"He's waking up," Jou noticed as he knelt in front of Usopp.
"Luffy, you're here now," Usopp said as he saw the straw hat.
"Yep, sure am," Luffy grinned.
"I'm here, too." Sanji greeted with a wave. "Hi there."
"One of these days I'll kill you!" Usopp growled to Sanji.
"Oh, you just made a full recovery," Sanji remarked.
"SHUT UP!" Usopp yelled.
"Usopp, I gotta tell you something..." Jou mentioned as Usopp looked at him.
"What is-OW!" Usopp howled painfully as Jou grasped and tugged it so Usopp was staring Jou directly in the eyes. Jou's expression was blank and his own hat shadowed his eyes which gave a frightful glare. The look Jou gave the sniper could make the devil crap himself as a scary-looking aura appear behind him.
"Don't you ever..." Jou said menacingly. "And I mean EVER knock me out, tie me up and abandon me on a boat ever again. Understand?"
"Yes! OK!" Usopp pleaded. "I'm sorry! Will you let me go!?" Jou complied with his plea, believing the apology is genuine. He released Usopp's nose, causing it to reel with a snap which almost knocked the sniper off his feet.
"But overall, I'm glad to see you're still alive," Jou said thankfully. "I knew Nami didn't kill you."
"Yeah, we kinda heard you were dead." Zoro chimed.
"Stupid Johnny!?" Luffy growled. "He was spouting nonsense that entire time!"
"Well, in a way it is the truth," Usopp stated. "But I'm alive. Because you see she actually saved my life."
After lashing at Jou, Nami went to the one place to find some kind of solitude. Her old house, the home she grew up in with a tangerine orchard out front. Nami had hoped to find peace here, but still found herself more wound up just standing in the house. She started to completely trash the place in a rage. Nami grabbed a vase and hurled it at the window which smashed through to the outside. Nami felt her body calm as she sat in a chair at the table, her hands resting behind her neck. The door opened but Nami didn't bother acknowledging who was there but she had an inkling who it was.
"Geez, Nami..." it was her only sister. "You sure know how to trash a place. Hey, what's wrong?" she sounded concerned.
"Nothing," Nami lied. "I'm just resting a little, that's all."
It obviously wasn't nothing. Moments ago, she had to tell Jou off and let him know she's done with him and the rest of the crew. She heard Nojiko pull up a chair and sat at the table.
"You mean to tell me that pouring over a treasure map and after wrecking a house is how you relax?" Nojiko questioned. "You're not fooling me. Now fess up already! What's bothering you?"
"Something happened to make me mad," Nami answered quickly. "It's nothing."
"Those guys," Nojiko sighed. "Who're they?" Nami brought up her head to stare in surprise.
"You know...?" Nami asked.
"Yeah, I met some captain guy," Nojiko explained. "He seemed kinda Liar-ish though. Nami, I heard that you smiled with them? We both know that's rare for you. As a matter-a-fact, I've never seen you smile in years. C'mon, tell me who these guys are?"
Nami was silent. She was trying to forget about them but she couldn't as she had grown quite fond of each of them.
"It's okay," Nojiko promised with a smile. "You can tell me anything, remember?" Nami was hesitant to speak about them. But steeled herself and told her sister everything.
"I had planned to forget about them," Nami stated with a thoughtful look on her face. "I thought I could erase them from my mind."
However, it was hard for her to do even that...
[Flashback]
Nami was on the deck of the Going Merry playing cards with Jou, Usopp, and Luffy, with Zoro napping not far away from them. They did a few hands as Nami grinned and laid her cards on the deck.
"And I'm out!" She cheered throwing a fist in the air.
"Oh, man," Usopp whined. "You gotta be kidding! How'd you win again?" Nami only smiled and laughed.
"Dammit," Jou said as he tossed his cards on the deck. "Here I was thinking I had a good hand." he picked up a mug that was beside him and stared at Nami. "You're cheating, aren't you?"
"Nope!" Nami giggled in response. "I was playing fair." she playfully stuck out her tongue.
"Sure you were," Jou remarked with a roll of his eyes. He took a drink from his mug and looked at Luffy who held several cards in his hands. "Luffy, how come your holding so many cards?"
"I don't know," Luffy replied. "It seems like more is better."
"IDIOT!" Usopp shouted. "Learn the rules like everybody else!"
"Alright, here's the rules!" Luffy exclaimed. "The one with the most wins!"
"How would that be any fun?" Jou questioned. Nami only laughed happily as the trio of boys kept bickering to each other.
"But..." Nami said. "The more I tried to erase them, the more I remembered."
[Flashback]
The 5 were below deck during a bad storm, the waves moving Merry from side-to-side. A lone hole burst through which caused water to leak into the ship.
"Oh crap!" Jou yelled. "Guys, there's a hole in the ship!"
"Hurry up and fix it!" Nami ordered. Usopp and Zoro held the leak closed with only their hands.
"I'll check if we have some spare wood and nails!" Jou suggested as Luffy ran over to help stop the leak.
"Leave it to me, guys!" Luffy announced and placed his mouth over the hole as the water filled his body. It caused him to bloat like a balloon that knocked the four on their backs. However, Luffy couldn't hold it and released the hole. Ocean water filled the room which shot up like a geyser with the 5 being launched into the air, each of them screaming.
There was also a time with Jou in particular. They weren't constantly badmouthing or making fun of each other. Neither of them means anything by it. Jou was nice enough to bring her to bed when she had fallen asleep at the table...
[Flashback]
It was pretty late at night, Nami had fallen asleep in the kitchen with her head rested in her arms at the table. She was working on a map but felt herself dosing off which led to this. The door that led into the kitchen opened. Whoever just walked in, let out a sigh.
"Nami, what are you doing?" it was Jou who had walked in. "It's late. Sleeping like that is bad for your back. Don't you think sleeping in your own bed would be more comfortable?" he sighed when he got no response. "Alrighty then, we'll try it this way."
Jou felt it was time to take matters into his own hands. Literally. Jou bent down and tossed her onto his own back in a piggyback style. He was careful to put his hands on her thighs and avoid her backside.
"Let's get you to bed," Jou nodded. "Next stop, your room." Nami stirred awake and felt if she were draped over something, or rather, someone. Nami blinked her eyes a couple of times and saw Jou.
"Jou...?" Nami wondered with half-lidded eyes. "What do you think you're doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing, weirdo?" Jou asked with a smirk. "I'm taking you to bed."
"Just let me down," Nami tried to argue. "I can do it myself."
"Is that so...?" Jou questioned with the same smirk as before.
"Yes," she nodded. "Now put me down." Jou kept walking as he and Nami stared at each other. He seemed to think on it but instead turned his head forward as he kept walking with her still on his back.
"Nope," Jou stated plainly.
"Whatever," Nami sighed resting her head in his back. "You're lucky I'm tired." Nami will admit, that Jou's back felt strong, and not only that but it was warm, too, almost comforting. The thought caused her cheeks to flush, a little. Nami quickly put those thoughts out of her mind. She was lucky Jou had no view of her like this, she would never hear the end of it. Jou's hands were occupied so he improvised and nudged the door open with his foot. He made his way over to the bed and laid her down gently.
"Alright, and there you are," Jou said. "Any other last-minute requests? A bedtime story? Perhaps a lullaby?"
"Just go and shut the door on your way out," Nami sighed and rested her head on her pillow.
"Your loss," Jou smirked. "My singing ain't half-bad," he claimed with a soft chuckle and walked out the door. "Good night, Nami," Jou whispered before closing the door and assumed she was already fast asleep. Nami, with her head, rested in her pillow, smiled with her eyes closed.
"Good night, Jou," Nami murmured and let sleep take her.
"The truth is..." Nami spoke softly. "The only thing I forgot about was the pain that I bared."
Nami remembered back to Usopp's village and what those guys went through. Luffy's fight with Kuro, Usopp being attacked by the hammer-wielding Pirate and trying to protect his village, Zoro's own fight with the Nyaban brothers, and Jou's battle Jiro. She recalled how brave they all were, just fighting and risking their lives. Sailing with those 4 guys she's grown fond of had to be the most she's ever been happy.
"If it were possible..." Nami said with a hint of sadness. "I'd join up with those guys and sail around the world."
Nojiko listened to Nami's story. She was overjoyed that her younger sister was able to find happiness with people she met out there. Nojiko watched Nami from across the table as she'd fallen asleep.
"Now I see..." Nojiko realized. "Yeah, that would hit her hard. To think that someone actually showed up for her. Friends. That word means pain. It breaks her heart."
Usopp went on to explain how Nami saved his life at Arlong Park. Jou wondered what she was wearing gloves for, not that it was a big deal. He knew she wouldn't kill a friend of hers. If Nami was that cold, she would have let Jou drown when he fell back into the water while he was tied up. Jou knew Nami had a good heart.
"So, that's it," Usopp finished his tale. "That's how Nami pretended to kill me so I could escape from Arlong Park. Looks to me like she's got some hidden motive for hanging with a bunch of renegade Fishmen."
"Obviously," Sanji said.
"Fine, what next...?" Zoro said with crossed arms. "We gonna destroy Arlong Park?"
"That seems like the most reasonable choice," Jou figured. "Because then she'll be free from Arlong."
"It's no use either way," a new voice chimed.
Jou turned his head along with everyone. A blue-haired woman he had never seen before. She was beautiful at first gaze and Jou wasn't the type to drool over an attractive woman. Sanji on the other hand, Jou noticed the blonde cook's visible eye turned to the shape of a heart. He obviously had done that when he first spotted Nami at the Baratie. Jou knew it would be like that wherever the cook went. Jou's attention went back blue-haired lady.
"No matter what you guys do, Arlong's rule won't come to an end," she said.
"Nojiko?" Usopp gasped.
"Who's she?" Luffy pointed.
"Nami's big sister," Usopp answered.
"Her big sister?" Jou repeated. He had no clue Nami had a sister. When they spoke, she never mentioned anything about having one. Another thing she kept to herself. Jou figured they had to be adopted sisters since they obviously look nothing alike. Not that that was an issue or anything.
"Nami's sister~!" Sanji cooed. "No wonder she's so hot~!"
"What do you mean that it's no use?" Zoro asked as he ignored Sanji's comments about Nojiko's looks.
"Yeah, think you can explain?" Jou questioned.
"Just trust me," Nojiko assured. "Don't get yourselves involved in what's going on here and leave poor Nami alone. I'll explain the situation."
"I'm sensing a story coming," Jou hummed amusingly.
"The situation?" Sanji wondered.
"Do you mean that you can tell us why she joined up with Arlong's group?" Usopp asked.
"Yeah," Nojiko replied. "And if that doesn't get you to leave, I don't know what will."
"Okay," Usopp nodded. "So tell us all about it. I gotta admit, I'm curious."
"I'll pass," Luffy said and started walking off. "I don't care about her past."
"Where're you going, Luffy?" Sanji asked.
"For a walk," Was all the straw hat said.
"A walk?" Usopp repeated. "Do you mean you're not gonna listen to this!?"
"Nope," Luffy said simply and continued on his stroll.
"What's wrong with him?" She asked as she watched Luffy walk away.
"Don't mind him," Zoro said as he leaned against a tree. "That's just how he is." he rested his hands behind his head. "We'll hear you out, though I can tell you right now, I doubt it's gonna change anything."
"Well, I'll listen too," Usopp said. "It might help me make some sense out of everything that's going on around here."
"Me too," Sanji smiled. "I wanna know all about her." Zoro seemed to have gotten too comfortable and was now sleeping against the tree.
"Now he's asleep," Nojiko pointed.
"Hey!" Usopp shouted with teeth mirroring a shark. "You said you'd hear her out!?"
Jou let out a low sigh. Nojiko was about to give them a story about how she joined Arlong's group. Jou would have wanted Nami to tell it herself, but that would be too painful. Since she knows they would rush Arlong Park just for her. Jou noticed Nojiko staring right at him. It was almost like she was examining him.
"Something wrong...?" Jou asked.
"Did somebody hit you?" Nojiko questioned.
Jou recalled earlier that Nami smacked him well with her staff. It left a mark, it'll heal and he didn't hold it against her. Jou didn't answer Nojiko back and turned his head from her. She might've put it together that Nami had done that to him. Not to tell him she's done with him and try to hurt him but to protect him and the other people she's fond of. Nojiko turned to Luffy who was still walking away in the distance.
"I see," Nojiko sighed but with a smile. "This is why it was so hard for her."
Jou sat down to listen to Nojiko with the others. He'll listen to some of it but part of him wanted to hear Nami herself tell it. But wasn't going to happen, not until Arlong is taken care of.
"From the beginning then..." Nojiko started. "It all goes back to 8 years ago. Up until that day, when we were still little children, she lived here in the village. Nami and I will never forget her for as long as we live. Her name is Belle-mère..."
Sorry for taking so long. As a guest mentioned it has been months. Since February so I have another chapter coming soon, you won't have to wait long. Next chapter will showcase our second opening.
Jou: In the last story we only started doing them shortly before quitting the previous story.
I even made a list of opening songs to use for the openings. Here's hoping people get to see what songs we use for future ones. Also, I want people to try and think with an open mind. I'm trying new things with this story which is also important for Jou's own development, too.
That's all, I'll see you guys next time!
Later!