Chapter Sixteen – Somewhere in a Principal's Office

Rayleigh often wondered when the appropriate time was to retire. Rather, to return to retirement. Really, he'd been quite happy to spend the rest of his years coating ships and watching the development of the world with an experienced and expectant gaze. But, as usual, the World Government had other plans, and everyone, as usual, was compelled to follow suit. Not that Rayleigh was forced into this role by any means. Everyone knew that Rayleigh, former right-hand of the man who founded this era, would not could not be bent into shape and broken to the will of his opponent. Whoever his opponent may have been, they stayed out of his way for years, and, in return, Rayleigh had kept to himself as well. He deserved a peaceful retirement after the life he led. Fortunately, or not, this period did not last long.

Shakky was the one who originally suggested it, with no small amount of amusement.

"It'd be interesting, don't you think?"

"Does that mean you're getting tired of bar work? You can help me coat the ships instead, in that case."

"Ne-ver," his wife drawled and stubbed out her cigarette in an ashtray. She never specified which part she protested to. An intrigued and amused glint danced in her eyes as she traced a finger over the newspaper before her, tracing the invisible lines where she would cut out the excerpt for her collage; around the words printed in bold: GRAND LINE ACADEMY APPROVED…

"Isn't it about time we see what's going on, beyond keeping up with the papers?" she asked, "After all, they can be quite deceiving." Again, she'd never specified who or what could be deceiving. To Rayleigh, it was interchangeable. His wife referred to two sides of the same coin. For that reason, he decided it couldn't hurt to re-assume his role in the action. It would be a dull world, despite being shaped by his late captain's legacy, otherwise.

Still, Rayleigh liked to imagine what a fuss he must have caused when he presented himself as a potential candidate for the principal of Grand Line Academy. He felt Roger himself would have approved of it. After all, it had been his captain who'd possessed the original, goading smile that he'd passed on to the next generation.

"Do you wanna turn the world upside down with me?"

And, certainly, the world had been turned upside down that day. He was glad to do his captain proud.

"Rayleigh, are nyou listenying?" a voice demands.

"Yes, certainly," Rayleigh opens his eyes and shifts in his plush, office-type chair. He'd have to make a note to replace it with something more familiar and comfortable. Like wicker. Or wood.

"… If you wouldn't mind terribly, could you repeat it, though?" Rayleigh finishes. He takes it in stride when Elder Nyon waves her staff at him impatiently, muttering about this and that. The Boa sisters, too, stand off to the side; Hancock, with her shoulders thrown back, in the centre and flanked by Marigold and Sandersonia on either side. The former has a stance as taut as a soldier. The latter is a shift away from slouching, but those bright, perceptive eyes make up for what otherwise appears to be inattentiveness.

"There's restlessness in the area, Rayleigh," Sandersonia supplies, proving this thought to be correct, "Things that people are saying."

"Your territory is isolated," Rayleigh points out, "And there has never been dissent under Hancock."

Hancock's answering look is a neutral one, "My territory is not the issue, but the area that surrounds it." After a pause, "It is precisely that Amazon Lily is so isolated that it is concerning to feel restlessness even in our position.

"Hawk-Eyes feels the same way."

"Mihawk?" Rayleigh raises an eyebrow. Indeed, the other teacher originally resided in Kuraigana, another isolated territory. Hancock nods.

"You received my note a while ago, Rayleigh," she adds.

"To be more precise, Elder Nyon received it on my behalf." A muscle in Rayleigh's cheek twitches at the memory. A young woman with bright orange hair – no doubt the person Luffy had so happily described to him – who had stumbled back in fright when met with Nyon's constant companion. Obviously, she hadn't been a Pirate. So, Rayleigh pondered what exactly it was about her that Luffy had such a fascination with.

"When was the last time Luffy had an interest in anyone unless they were a Pirate?" Rayleigh questioned Shakky, "But then, he did have that brief period when he couldn't shut up about finding a musician – maybe the girl's a musician? Then again, he has Brook to fulfil that role…" He looked up, "You can help me out here."

Shakky only smiled in her knowing way, and didn't say a word.

"You and Elder Nyon share the same concerns," Rayleigh goes on, "Shakky and I looked into it as you'd requested.

"Arlong is a former member of the Sun Pirates, led by Fisher Tiger. That means he is a former ally of Jinbe." He watched all three of the sisters' faces soften at the mention of the late Fisher Tiger.

"If Arlong was a member of his crew…" Marigold begins. Almost imperceptibly, both sisters look towards Hancock's back, where a brand remained, a reminder of what they'd endured before liberation. Fisher Tiger's name meant something to them. It meant something.

"What will you do, Princess?" Nyon spoke first, addressing Hancock directly with a nickname that could convey mockery, sarcasm or fondness all at once. Today, that title is used with respect.

Hancock closes her eyes in thought for one second, two, three, four. Finally, she opens them.

"If this man was associated with Fisher Tiger, we will not intervene."

A decision was made. Although her sisters look wary, they both accept it without comment. Similarly, Nyon does not argue.

"So, is this restlessness caused by Arlong?"

"Elder Nyon and the Boa sisters seem to think so. Arlong came from a crew of a notorious name. It's a reasonable conclusion."

Thunk. Thunk.

Shakky seems miffed when Rayleigh's shot lands closer to the centre of the collage than hers. He offers a conciliatory smile and she returns it, briefly, before rising from her chair and collecting the pens to retry. It is lunch break now, and Rayleigh usually escapes his office long enough to join in on a game before attending to other duties around the Academy.

"Hm…" Shakky only offers in response, drawing out the sound in either thought or boredom. When it came to his wife, however, it was always the former. Again, a smile dares to appear on Rayleigh's face as he lines up his shot.

"You disagree."

"I think you are all attributing too much credit to someone based on where he came from," Shakky says as Rayleigh flicks his wrist forward. Thunk. "And excuse me, but how about you leave some room for me to hit the centre as well?"

"Where is the fun in that?"

"How cruel." Nevertheless, she lines up her shot, taking careful aim. She speaks again, back on the original topic at hand, "Whatever people may be saying, whatever they may sense coming, I don't believe it is at Arlong's hand."

"What do you propose then?" Rayleigh asks.

Surprisingly, when Shakky flicks her wrist, the pen shoots off- course almost instantly. It hits the upper right side of the collage, amongst the newspaper clippings from two years ago. Sometimes, others, including Rayleigh himself, mistakes the collection of clippings to be exactly what it looks like – an art collage. But, it would be more appropriate to call it a mind-map – a means of keeping track of several variables and construct plausible theories from information in plain sight. Shakky has always had a knack for it – always keeping herself two, three, maybe even more steps ahead of everyone else. Rayleigh smiles with fondness at those smaller newspaper clippings, the only brief testaments to this woman's ability – 'GARP ELUDED AGAIN'…'

Shakky draws his attention back to another part of the map, the part where her pen made its mark.

"Have the Whitebeard Pirates made their move yet, in response to the events of two years ago?" Shakky asks softly. When he doesn't reply, taking in the repercussions, the possible outcomes, if Shakky is correct, she adds:

"I assume when they do, that will be an event worthy of the current restlessness."

Rayleigh doesn't argue with her on it. Really, sometimes he wonders if Shakky would have made a better principal of the Academy. Maybe he should be getting on with retirement and let her run the place instead.

"Remind me to swap out that office chair with a wooden one," Rayleigh says.

"I would prefer the plush one, actually," she replies with an amused drawl, "… If we're discussing gift options for my promotion to principal. Not that I would ever want to be principal in the first place." And here, a sly smile graces her features, "You really don't know me at all, do you?"

Rayleigh only shakes his head with a laugh.

"There," Nami finishes the formula with a flourish, underlining the main points in how to progress from A to B, "Make sense?"

Luffy screws up his face, but even Nami can see the slightly peeved expression in his eyes. Next minute, though, he has assumed his awful 'liar's face' as Nami calls it. He lips jut out to the side and he can't meet her eyes.

"No," he mutters.

She grins in triumph, crowing, "Liar! It makes perfect sense to you, doesn't it? You just don't want to do the rest of the problems."

"Don't get ahead of yourself! It doesn't make perfect sense!" he argues.

"But you get the basics, don't you?"

"No…"

"You're a horrible liar, Luffy."

"Am not!"

"You're still making that face! You're not just a horrible liar, you know you're a horrible liar," Nami laughs.

"Shut it," he retorts, rolling himself up into a cross-legged position to cross his arms petulantly, pouting like a child, "I'm still not doing them. I refuse."

She just flicks the pen at him, watching as the boy catches it by instinct. As soon as he does, he yells in frustration at himself and Nami smiles sweetly, "Get to work."

"I hate this bet," Luffy grumbles as he sets to work, putting pen to paper in his notebook as he copies out a few questions. A couple of days before, they'd made a second bet, at Usopp's behest, in the interests of making sure Luffy would pass the year – if Nami could get the pen in his hand, he would do the homework, no questions asked. Fortunately, on most occasions, all Nami had to do was throw the pen at him and let his instincts do the work for her. Other times, when he dodged it instead, she would stealthily swap out a piece of food with a pen using her tried-and-tested skill set. Tutoring Luffy through the problems hadn't been too much of an extra hassle. The boy was truly a quick learner – not as simple-minded as his demeanour would suggest – once he paid attention without distractions; and could work well if he wasn't too bored.

Another one of my assumptions about him, Nami thought, watching him work diligently, if not slightly miffed at losing the bet. She was starting to wonder how many of these assumptions she'd held unfairly against him, knowingly or otherwise.

A hand claps on her shoulder, causing Nami to jump slightly, but her expression warms once she sees Usopp. It's lunchtime and they're all gathered on the roof once more.

(Nami wonders if Ace will turn up, though as the time drags by, it seems less and less likely.)

"Thanks a lot for helping me out with him," Usopp says, sitting down beside her. Jokingly, he adds, "You should have told us you were so good at Math; we could have set you on him sooner!"

"Only financial Math," she returns easily. They'd started the part of the syllabus that was her forte that week, but, "You're still the better mathematician when it comes to calculating angles and distances."

"Comes in handy for one of my hobbies," he brushes off. When she is about to ask about what that hobby is, Chopper comes pattering up to them. He looks almost in awe at the sight of Luffy working dutifully at his problems, and turns to Nami with a renewed respect and determination in his eyes.

"What is it, Chopper?" she asks.

"Please make a similar bet with Zoro!" the younger boy requests, "I can't get him to focus no matter what I do."

A wicked grin plays on Nami's lips, "Oh, I think I have a better solution than that."

"Please! Anything will do!" And with that, Chopper turns to leave the roof.

"Going back to the sakura trees, Chopper?" Usopp calls.

"I need to relax, I feel exhausted!" comes the reply. The remaining duo shoot sympathetic looks his way. When Nami stands to deal with Zoro, Usopp gives her an encouraging push on her back; like, Nami can't help but think with wonder, Nojiko always does. It even feels similar.

"Give 'im hell," he says, and suddenly, it doesn't feel merely similar, but the same. So, Nami throws the same reply in the same tone of voice back, "Of course."

So she says, but when she approaches Zoro, her confidence wavers, a little. He doesn't scare her, but… Intimidate, sure. Like Luffy, she'd assumed he was as block-headed as he appeared but… he was strong, and perceptive. Out of everyone, he was the least transparent with his emotions and, to someone like Nami who thrived on reading others and playing the role accordingly, this threw her off. It didn't help that he seemed to know more about her than he would let on, what with his cryptic remarks all the time – knowing when she was scared, knowing when something wasn't right with her, even if she didn't say anything.

Out of everyone, she was most afraid that he would find out first.

Play it cool.

"It's all well and good to self-sabotage yourself, but you know, Chopper's trying his best to help you," she says, setting herself down opposite his 'sleeping' form. When he doesn't respond, she snaps, "I've spent several days sitting beside you while you're actually asleep in Biology so that doesn't fool me."

Lazily, his one eye opens and he scrutinises her, maybe with an expression that's supposed to make her cower. She just returns his gaze right back, seemingly unfazed.

"Let's make a bet," she says before she loses her nerve. His gaze… in a different context, on a different person, it was the same gaze that haunted her: the look of a predator.

"I refuse," he replies, leaning back and closing his eye again, apparently bored already with their showdown. Unknowingly, Nami is grateful to be released from that gaze. She feels her confidence seeping back as he continues, "As you said, I wasn't asleep so I can hear Luffy suffering for getting into a bet with you. Don't think I'll make the same mistake as that idiot."

Belatedly, Nami seems to remember an injured arm, a refusal to receive treatment for it and eventually caving to the youngest member of their group. She also remembers his failure to graduate, yet the decision to stay. A soft spot, mixed with pride, then. She smiles, though he can't see it.

"You know, Chopper's face when he came to me and Usopp over there…" Nami starts and, she is satisfied to note, her voice is clear, unwavering, slightly mocking. Absolutely perfect. She can have fun with this.

Not even a minute later, she ends, "… so don't you think you should stop causing trouble for others as a result of a choice you made?" Channelling her inner Hancock, she even adds for dramatic flair, "'Conscience doth make cowards of us all.'" Next, a raised eyebrow and a thoughtful gaze, a slight tilt of her head as she ponders aloud, "Or should I say, lack of conscience…"

She can almost see the physical flinch that creates in him, and knows she has won.

It makes her more satisfied than she should feel: a poor man's version of a victory against the predator she truly wanted to say those words to, but would never be able to. Arlong knew that… and somewhere, despite her hatred for him and her bravado and pride, Nami knew it, too.

Chopper returns at that point, having resolved not to give up so easily, but he gapes at the scene that greets him. Throwing himself onto Nami in a quick hug, he bounds over to the pair, as if needing physical proof that this is, in fact, what has happened in his short absence and not a hallucination caused by heat-induced delirium.

(… Or something like that. Chopper tends to babble his medical vocabulary when he gets too excited)

"How the hell did you do it?" Usopp laughs at the same time, watching both Luffy and Zoro working together some distance away (a delighted Chopper in their midst), grumbling in equal parts to themselves and to each other, like old men at the pub. Occasionally, they throw disparaging glances their way. Nami responds each time with poking her tongue out.

Yes, she was just as juvenile as them.

"Seriously though, how?" Usopp persists and, not wanting to give up a rare opportunity to tell a story to the storyteller, Nami reveals her ways. Usopp openly cackles as she reaches the end.

"That is the worst thing you could say to Zoro," Usopp sighs, almost sympathetically for his friend, "We should be so lucky Shakespeare didn't create 'have you no honour!?' Still, kudos. I approve of your methods. They've created a miracle, though I will now go verify that." He saunters over the group, peering over Zoro's shoulder. After a few exchanged words together, Usopp explodes with laughter again, catching the attention of both Chopper and Luffy.

"What is it? What is it?" Luffy yells, taking any opportunity to abandon his Math. Again, the same exchange of words and Luffy joins in the laughter. Chopper just looks faintly amused as Luffy crows, "Zoro, you're such a sore loser."

"What's going on over here?" Nami demands, striding over. In front of Zoro is the open textbook they received in English for their study of Shakespeare, open to a page with one quote underlined so furiously, it almost pierces the paper itself.

'Hell is empty and all the devils are here.'

Is that even the play we're doing? Still, even Nami has to bite her cheek to keep her laughter in at that one. Instead she grins at Zoro.

"That's right. I'm going straight to Hell." For both reasons you do, and do not, know. Around them both is joyful laughter. Between them is something quite the opposite…

…Because the look he gives her reminds her why she is so intimidated by him in the first place.

He knows. He knows.

"Shit, I hate you," Zoro snaps at her, "I hope you die a horrible, horrible death." This only encourages the three other boys and their hooting becomes almost deafening as they watch this heated, yet childish exchange between them. Looking at his opponent, at the way her smile grows wider, goading him, lets him know she knows he doesn't mean those words seriously and she takes them naturally in stride. He appreciates that – oversensitive people irritate him, but this woman gave as good as she got. On the other hand, even if that wasn't true… He wouldn't be able to say those words with the requisite malice, not really, because he wouldn't mean them.

He just doesn't get her. When people say one thing, or do one thing, it should mean one thing in return. But with this woman, it seems like everything she says, or does, has double, triple, multiple meanings layered in them; and he can't discover what those meanings are. It maddens him like hell.

As a rule, he is reluctant to give his trust to anybody. It's simply a safe habit to have. But particularly with her, it's like everyone in the crew, himself included much to his frustration, are drawn into the games she plays and the pace she keeps. But how much do they actually know about her?

Why did she flinch away that day? Why was she terrified in the presence of some Pirates and then stride and banter with confidence around others? What the hell was her game with them?

Zoro could respect her, learn to like her more than he disliked her and refrain from doing anything intentionally ill-mannered towards her. She doesn't seem like a bad person.

But, he certainly doesn't trust her either; because she definitely knows how to play the game, whatever this game is, and Zoro will not lose to her.

Psychology with Donquixote Doflamingo was an experience since Nami thought the teacher himself had a complete disregard for the syllabus. Instead, he seemed to use the mere name of the subject to explore what was unquestionably his own interests in psychological warfare. Not that anyone in his class complained – in fact, it catered to everyone's interests, including, Nami had to begrudgingly admit, her own. There was something about Doflamingo – when he spoke, people were compelled to listen.

… Except, of course, Luffy, who continued his task of constructing a multi-colour sword out of markers and highlighters.

"Straw Hat," Doflamingo drawls, stopping mid-sentence in detailing how Phillip II turned Athens into an ally, "Do you have a blatant disregard for my lessons or are you simply insolent to all of your teachers?"

"The first one!" comes the cheery reply. Subsequently, this is followed by a yell of indignation and despair along with the clatter of markers and highlighters falling to the floor. If Nami didn't know better, she might have thought the makeshift 'sword' broke by some action on Doflamingo's part. However, the teacher doesn't seem to have lifted a finger. He only perches – almost reclines – comfortably on the edge of his desk at the front of the room, watching Luffy at the back with a satisfied smirk. There was no way, no way he could have done anything.

Yet, everyone else seems to have grown wary and withdrawn, and Nami feels a chill of apprehension travel up her spine.

"Say that again," Doflamingo seems to ask, but there is more of a challenge in it than a question. A vein has appeared on his forehead and a deep crease between his brows. The tension in the room doubles, then triples, nobody daring to move.

"Don't make me repeat myself!" Luffy snaps. Both Nami and Usopp flinch. Chopper looks completely aghast, letting out a hissed whimper, "Luffy…" and Zoro's only contribution is closing his eye, seeming to either concentrate or hoping sleep will let him escape the situation.

"It just doesn't make sense to me," Luffy goes on, unperturbed by the twitching eyes and warning expressions thrown his way by the other members of the class, "Why would you play complicated mind games with people until you're not even sure who's an ally and who's not? If you have a problem with someone, challenge them and settle it properly, then move on!"

Silence. Out of shock or anticipation could be anyone's reasonable guess.

The first one in the room who smiles is Zoro. He's not asleep yet, though, Nami can see that. Shockingly enough, the second, only other person to smile, is Doflamingo. Like everything else the teacher does, however, the expression doesn't convey its traditional emotion of happiness but rather, mockery and a clear challenge.

"Political games aren't quite that simple to play, Straw Hat.

"On that note, everyone, dismissed. Tomorrow, we'll talk about the night of the incident involving the former King Riku Dold III." Here, he smirks, "And my beloved kingdom of Dressrosa. I'd be interested to see how much you all know. See what you can find about it."

(Again, that challenging, challenging tone.)

If Nami didn't know better, it seemed like Doflamingo looked straight at them as he spoke. Though, it may have been because Luffy was looking at him in the same way, first.

"Will we actually do or learn anything that we're supposed to do in that class?" Nami muses to herself as she clears the school gates that day, "That is the question..." Beside her, her companion only offers a neutral grunt in reply to convey he either doesn't know or, more likely, doesn't care.

"You," Nami adds, using her index finger to drift close to Luffy's face, but not daring to touch it, not yet, "also need to stop provoking him. He's intimidating enough without you baiting him into punishing the rest of us."

"I just don't like him," Luffy mutters, "Something about him…" He sniffs, "Doesn't feel right."

He's a Pirate, Nami would have scoffed, another time, to another person. Today, she holds her tongue, and doesn't say a word, not even that she agrees with him. At some point, she realised she would never know; never know whether she felt something wasn't right with someone because something truly wasn't right… or something else. And so, she doesn't say a word to the Pirate walking beside her.

"What time do you get off?" Luffy suddenly asks, "And don't say 'late.'"

She pulls a face at him, "You act as if I'm the one who decides to leave work whenever I please."

"You can't make it out tonight?" he sounds disappointed, but again, doesn't push her on it.

She doesn't trust her voice, so she just shakes her head; again, letting the words she really wants to say to him shrivel up and die in her mouth before being swallowed down and silenced.

Her relationship with Ain had still not yet recovered. Even though the two workmates are still coolly courteous towards each other and, despite their cold fronts, still work seamlessly like a well-oiled machine, something hangs over them both that neither want to address.

Well, I already tried, Nami tells herself, if it's anyone's responsibility to fix things now, it's Ain.

She knows Ain would be perfectly happy to stay this way as long as she lives. Still, Nami won't cave, either. So, the silence is maintained, until 5:00PM that day.

When the phone rings that day at 5:00PM, Nami deliberately delays her move to answer it. Each quiet beep is a tapping foot, a command and a beckoning smile. Answer it. Go on, Nami, I miss your company, he says. Ain looks up, a cutting remark to criticise Nami's slow response on her lips, but it dies before it ever forms. Instead, it is her eyes that sharpen, meeting the look on Nami's face; and she knows.

"This easily?" she asks, her voice filled with equal measures surprise and disgust. Nami only picks up the receiver, recites the toneless greeting and waits.

"I think we are overdue for a visit," Arlong says, his tone cordial.

You're never late, we both know that.

"Fine by me," Nami finds herself saying.

"Same as last time."

When Nami doesn't object, the line goes dead once more. She places it back into place calmly and awaits Ain's response.

"On the station phone?" Ain demands lowly, clear fury underlying her question, "Just how bold are you both? What would you have done if I'd picked up?"

"He hangs up if he doesn't hear my voice," Nami replies, "The station gets so many prank calls like that, it wouldn't be strange." A pause, "Police stations don't record their conversations anymore, or use heavy surveillance, ever since a couple of years ago. That's why we're able to do it."

Ain 'tch's and looks away, but the motion is a heavy one. Nami wonders if she also moved in such a way when she originally deserted the force; if another person also saw her in such a state, when a little bit more of her faith went lost because of how easy it was, how laughably simple.

"Ever since the main headquarters of the force moved to the New World, it's like… this part of the world is forgotten," Nami goes on, "Isn't it? It can't be helped… With Whitebeard's death two years ago, that part of the world is in chaos but…" she trails off.

"But this side of the Grand Line is the same," Ain finishes for her, "I know. And you're right about that. But you're wrong, too. This place isn't forgotten about… just ruled differently." A pause, and then, "I always agreed with Akainu the most out of all of them." Still, she refuses to address him respectfully with the proper title, "Sengoku was too lenient with Pirates. He kept the security protocols – recording devices, security cameras – in place so the police could gather evidence against Pirates before they were prosecuted. He wanted the process to be as thorough and transparent as possible. Part of me thinks Akainu got rid of them for that reason alone – and I agree with him."

"How can you say that?" Nami demands, "Should it just be fair to prosecute a Pirate based on little to no evidence they did anything wrong?"

"It is all well and good," Ain argues sharply, "to preach your perfect morals and ethics about what's right and wrong, but I've seen plenty of lives lost at the hand of a Pirate that walked free simply because the police couldn't prove it."

And Nami saw it: the face of the one, most important woman who lost her life – no, had her life taken, stolen from her as easily as Nami could have taken a book – because of such a reason; and she couldn't say a word.

"If a Pirate wants to declare themselves a Pirate, that's fine," Ain continues coldly, "But they should be prepared to deal with the consequences. How can they expect fairness? How do they deserve fairness, with the potential of what they could do?"

Nami wants to argue, because… it's unfair. It's clearly unfair, but… it would be, for a Pirate like Luffy. Luffy who grinned so childishly, who made people smile and who refused to wait for her, but came to her first. Would it still be unfair for a Pirate like Arlong? Hadn't she had these same thoughts herself, before? Did she still have them? Again, she finds herself in that grey area, stuck between what she knows, what she ought to know and what she wants to know, never knowing which one is right.

"You're wrong," Nami only says. She doesn't know why, but Ain must be wrong, she must be, because surely there was no way she could be right.

"I'm right," Ain counters, "You know I'm right. But I understand your hesitance.

"No one wants to believe in Absolute Justice, until it's relevant to them."

In the silence that follows, Ain concludes the topic, stating, "If it's all the same to you, then, I'm tagging along whenever you go to convene with him."

And "I'll do what the Police refuse to."

And Nami listens to her. She listens, and doesn't protest, doesn't refuse, because… because, she is right. Maybe it is unfair to bear prejudice against Luffy on the grounds that he was a Pirate, because he is a good person. Everyone knows he is a good person. But, if that same prejudice helped to put away a bad person, like Arlong, isn't that different?

Isn't it fair?

If Absolute Justice could make that distinction, maybe… maybe Nami could believe in it. Just this once.

"I'm in," she says. Ain looks at her sideways, eyebrow cocked in a way that may have meant she was surprised, if her eyes didn't flash with wicked satisfaction. She remembers that other time, when a door was thrust open between them, waiting for one of them to step through to the other side.

In or out?

"I'm in," Nami says again, quieter, but steadier. Certainty laces those words, making them strong. Ain does not know how the other girl came to her conclusion, and she does not care, nor question it. She only nods once, thinks of Z, thinks of her former force, and replies:

"We'll give him hell."

And so, formed the Nami-Ain Vigilante Squad: NAVS if you will.

I'm feeling Ace in the next chapter – I've been neglecting the kid, but I think he's fine.