III
o0o0o0o
Yolande looked up at him as he started getting dressed, and let out a soft whimper. Hadn't he said that he would fuck her so hard she couldn't walk? It seemed to be the case right now.
"Do you need rest?" he asked gruffly.
"Please."
"I fucked you good, didn't I?" he asked with a prideful leer.
A soft chuckle escaped her throat.
"You can leave when you're ready." With that, he was dressed and gone, and she closed her eyes, basking in the afterglow of her pleasure and registering what he had done to her. The bites he'd given her were light, but his teeth were still sharp. On her upper arm was a shallow cut from his nose.
She looked down at her arm, running her finger along the cut. It was an accident caused by some nuzzling, but she'd liked when Arlong kissed it when he took notice of it. Such a nose! It was an experience she would never forget, not for the rest of her days.
She lay there for what she presumed was fifteen or twenty minutes before she felt strong enough to walk. It was getting dark and she knew if she didn't go back home, Lena would be worried about her. Her stepdaughter had already expressed reservations about her accepting a dinner invitation aboard a visiting ship of sailors, let alone fishmen.
She found the water closet and cleaned herself up, thinking about Arlong and all his unique anatomical features. That nose was insanely long and sharp, but it suited him. There was an appeal about his dorsal fin, jutting proudly through his thick black hair. And of course, the fact that he had two cocks. Two. It boggled her mind. She'd heard of extra fingers, but not this.
My siren. My mate. Fishmen certainly had some funny bedroom talk. But hey, she had fun. She firmly reminded herself of that as she emerged from the recesses of the ship, her hair looking a bit disheveled despite her effort to tame the thick waves. She did not miss the way a few fishmen had smirks on their faces and tried to not blush over that. Doubtless, they'd heard her – and Arlong – but she wondered if the sharkman had chosen to add any commentary to that. She hoped not, but now that she thought about it, he seemed like the kind of guy who would brag.
Well… considering his performance in bed, he'd earned his bragging rights. She held back a shiver as she thought about his hungry gaze and smile, the way his teeth, nose, and lips felt against her flesh, the solidness and raw strength of his tall, powerful form, the way his cocks felt when he was pressing them into or against her.
Hatchan approached her, and she smiled as she saw him. "Your pastries are a hit. I like the peach-filled ones. Would you make more in the future?"
She chuckled happily at that, relieved he wasn't asking questions about more intimate matters. "Absolutely." She paused as she thought about the fact that the ship was going to be leaving the island soon. She'd miss Hatchan. And Arlong. And hell, Shioyaki and Chew and some others too. The octopus man's face lit up with delight.
"I'm so glad you're here! You've been so good to the crew! Even if…" he trailed off, and she shrugged. Kuroobi had made his disapproval of her clear through his silence and glare. And he was not the only fishman who felt that way. She knew that Kuroobi or others only held their tongues because she was here with their captain's permission.
And now she'd just fucked Arlong. She wondered what the ray fishman thought of that – not that he could do anything about it. Nor did she intend to rub it in his face. She waved her hand dismissively. Kuroobi and the others who thought like him would be glad to be rid of her once they left the island. "It's fine. I'm happy to have met you and become your friend."
She turned away from him and veered in the direction of the gangplank. She'd been on the ship long enough. To her surprise, the ray fishman in question slid in front of the gap, crossing his arms.
She looked up at him with a quizzical expression, wondering if he'd found some passive-aggressive way to fuck around with her. Quickly, she moved to the right, and he matched her step.
"I need to go home. Would you be kind enough to step aside?" she asked.
"You are not to leave the ship, per captain's orders," Kuroobi replied, giving her a steady stare. She slid to the left, and like before, he matched her. Her heart started to pound.
Around human men, she was relatively confident. She was considered on the tall side for a woman, just over 210 cm (about 7') so many men who were used to intimidating women with their size found that tactic ineffective on her. Kuroobi on the other hand, had to be at least 250 cm, and he was not the only fishman taller than eight feet on this ship. Far from it.
She shook her head slowly as she tried to keep herself calm, Kuroobi staring at her coldly before he gave her a final, curt nod. She tried another step to the left, where she might squeeze between him and the railing if she was fast enough.
"Nyu?" Hachi let out a small sound of confusion as Kuroobi blocked her again. She took several steps back, feeling light-headed as she felt the stares of several fishmen upon her, Kuroobi maintaining his cool glare before he glanced at his crewmate for a moment.
"It's what Arlong said," Kuroobi said calmly as she took a few more steps back, barely hearing his words because of the ringing in his ears. She barely registered Hachi's anxious face and the way his hands reached for her. Later, when she was calmer, she would realize the octopus man had simply been trying to reassure her, but at the moment, all she registered were hands coming for her after she had been told she was effectively a prisoner. A sharp whine burst from her throat before she spun around, darting across the deck.
A surprised shout came from one of the fishmen as she slid out of her jacket and quickly jumped over the railing and dove into the water, trying to not let the shock of the cold water hit her too deeply.
Most people would have made their way to the nearest shore after jumping off a ship. Fortunately, she had other options. Instead of going to the pier or the rocks, she simply maintained her downward angle, slicing through the murky water.
There was little light in the sky now, let alone in the water, and she shivered as she felt the cold water filter through her gills as she propelled herself through the water. She did not dare look behind her as she aimed for the ocean floor, and for several moments, she thought that her ploy had succeeded.
It had in the past, hadn't it? When people thought she was nothing more than an ordinary human, it made them underestimate her, which was something she never hesitated to use to her advantage.
The strong hand that wrapped around her ankle made her realize that advantage was useless against a full-blooded fishman. Instinctively, she twisted around, opening her mouth. The water was already dark enough, but the ink that clouded Kuroobi's face caused him to recoil in surprise, and as soon as he let go, she kicked forward.
She knew that the battle was already lost, but instincts – and memory – propelled her forward nonetheless. She savored her last moments of freedom before Kuroobi was on her again.
She saw people in need of help, and she'd helped them. Granted, she hadn't helped Kuroobi directly, but he'd seen the care she had given his ill crewmates. And she'd been more than a willing bedmate for Arlong. Why was she being treated like this?
Despite her struggles, Kuroobi handled her, dragging her back to the surface and dropping her on the deck like she was the day's catch. She shivered and saw that he was as well. He'd removed his jacket before going in the water like she had, and she shuddered as she dared to glance upward. His face had a dark tint to it because of the ink, which did nothing to improve his scowl as he stared down at her, running a hand along his face to wipe it.
Hatchan approached them, his arms waving frantically.
o0o0o0o
Fuck. There wasn't a time Kuroobi missed the mild weather of the Conomi Islands more than when he had to dive into these damned cold waters of the south South Blue. The fins on his arms were especially vulnerable to the cold, and he swore to himself as he rubbed his arms, glaring at his captain's new…
Fuck. It was difficult enough to swallow his pride and disdain as he'd watched her work in the infirmary. But she'd helped Chew and the others, and Hachi gushed over how she'd been instrumental in getting them good deals, offloading the stolen items that the fishmen had no use for in exchange for provisions that were much welcome after their wanderings. So Kuroobi left her alone. They would leave the island soon enough and he wouldn't have to be bothered with any human for a good while, hopefully.
For a few moments, he thought Hachi was joking when he recounted the encounter between Arlong and Yolande earlier that day. Sirens were just a myth. He'd heard the stories, of course, but figured they were just tales for entertainment and fantasies, a universal desire of men the world over, regardless of race.
The noises that came from Arlong's cabin told him otherwise. He dreaded the thought of having a human live here on the ship with them. It never worked out in the past, did it? First Koala, then Nami...
But neither of them spat out ink. And he'd never seen a human dive that deeply – or quickly. Not even from that damn blonde man he had underestimated. He reached down, grabbing her by her collar and hearing her give out a short shriek, clawing at his arm as he did so. Suddenly, several hands were pulling at him, and he whipped his head to glare at Hatchan.
"I'm not going to hurt her," Kuroobi said with an impatient snarl. Whether or not he believed in sirens, Arlong would be pissed off if his new pet was harmed. "But she spat ink at me."
Hatchan blinked and stared at him. Yolande tried to kick free of him, and he snapped into action, grabbing her arm with his free hand. He'd dealt with plenty enough humans before, and this one showed more strength than even a strong, healthy human male, catching him off guard for a moment. In frustration, he yanked at her collar again, hearing the tearing of fabric.
"Well, that explains it," he observed dryly as he saw the telltale openings at her neck and shoulder, similar to his own and so many other fishmen. She glared at him, and he smirked back.
"The hell is going on?" he heard the familiar snarl of his captain's voice. The fishmen parted before Arlong. Kuroobi stood calmly, his grip inexorable as Yolande went limp.
"She attempted to leave, and dove off the other side of the ship," he explained.
"Please…" she whined.
"Let her down," Arlong instructed. Kuroobi did as he asked, exercising just enough care to not simply drop her before he took a step back. The sharkman glanced at him. "Go inside and warm up."
The ray fishman slid away, only too glad to disappear within the ship.
o0o0o0o
Yolande shivered from cold and fear as she looked up at her lover – and captor.
"You can't- you can't do this to me." She tried to square her shoulders and puff out her chest, but her shirt clung to her as she shivered. One of the fishmen chuckled.
"You were mine the moment I laid eyes upon you," Arlong said with a low snarl. She lifted her chin and stared at him, seeing the glint of his eyes in the last of the sun's rays.
"Intercourse does not confer ownership," she replied icily. He stared at her before lowering his head, his eyes disappearing under the brim of his hat as he chuckled lowly, and there were a few laughs accompanying him.
She quickly looked up, seeing the ropes and mast. Going down was not an option anymore, so where else was left to go but up? In the next instant, she recognized the futility of her action. Arlong or his men would just come after her and drag her down even if she managed to make it to the crow's nest or a yardarm.
The laughter cut into her like knives, and she found herself unable to breathe, not simply because of the cold, or her soaked clothing. She felt the tears welling up. She'd had such a marvelous time with Arlong not so long ago, and now he was treating her like this? Laughing at her distress?
A sob broke from her throat despite her efforts to hold it down, and she looked around frantically for a place of safety. "You asshole," she hissed, and she saw the corners of his lips twitch.
"Please let me take her inside and give her some dry clothes," she heard Hatchan say as the octopus man moved between her and Arlong. Miraculously, Arlong permitted this, and she was taken within the ship to the laundry room. Along one side of the room were lockers and chests, and several lines of rope stretched between the walls that made a corner. A few empty tubs and washboards were stacked in another corner.
"You can put your clothes on these lines. I'll make sure nothing happens to them, and I also have your jacket here. Let's see, where's the spare clothing…" Hachi muttered to himself as he looked through several lockers before pulling out a pair of navy blue pants and a long-sleeved shirt. She blinked as she recognized the components of a Marine uniform, but said nothing, accepting the clothing. Hachi was quick to give her privacy, but she knew there were fishmen outside the door should she try to make a run for it. So she peeled everything off and wrung them out before hanging everything on one of the ropes, behind several shirts and pants.
A change of clothing did feel good after her ordeal, and she took a deep breath. These fishmen dwarfed her in strength and numbers, so she would have to find another way to fight them. She gritted her teeth as she thought about how smug some of the islanders would be, how they'd just point to this as a fine example of why fishmen deserved the prejudice that was directed at them.
… Would she ever set foot on the island again?
There was a soft knock on the door, and Hatchan entered the room, seeing her sitting on the wooden bench.
"Are you all right?" he asked, the concern evident in his expression and voice. He was twiddling his fingers together anxiously.
"Am I?" she shot back.
He let out a slow breath, thinking about what to say.
"You're just going to stand here and let Arlong take me prisoner? Really? I thought you were my friend?"
The octopus man let out a distressed 'nyu' before he shook his head firmly. Then he nodded as she said 'friend'.
"I am!" he took a deep breath. "You really don't know about sirens, do you? In regards to fishmen, I mean. I know humans have different stories…"
She shook her head slowly.
"Can I sit down?" he asked. "And I will help you. But let me explain things, please?"
"Yeah." She scooted over to give him some room.
"A siren is a fishman or merman's soulmate and more than that. But they're very rare. It is said that when one meets his siren, the bond is instantly felt between them."
She said nothing to that, and he continued, "Our sirens don't always sing, but they do have other gifts and talents that can benefit the fishman greatly, and they provide for and protect their sirens."
"I provide for myself," she grumbled. "So are you going to help me get away?"
At that, Hatchan looked away. "Only a fool would get between a fishman and their siren. I could help you escape but the consequences would not be pleasant for me, or you."
She let out a defeated groan.
"I'll help you where I can." He let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, I really am! I never imagined this would happen when I came to you asking for help. I will always be grateful for your willingness to help, and I know other fishmen are grateful, too. Please believe me."
She did. The octopus man could not be blamed for this bizarre twist of fate. But now what the fuck was she supposed to do on a ship full of…
"Is Arlong a pirate? Is this ship stolen?" she asked. He looked down before nodding slowly. "I wasn't involved in that, but yes, Arlong stole the ship before I joined him." Great, now she had to deal with the potential consequences of being targeted just for being Arlong's companion. Before either of them could speak, there was a sharp rap at the door. She closed her eyes before she felt a large but friendly hand on her shoulder.
"Just remember I am your friend. I'll show you around when you're ready. Come talk to me anytime," he reassured her before he pulled her off the bench.
Arlong seemed to fill the doorway as he looked down at her. Despite her anger at the situation, there was no denying the pull between them, and she swallowed thickly. This morning, she'd been a widow living with her stepdaughter on a quiet island in the South Blue, and now she was claimed by a sharkman pirate captain.
"There was no need for you to run away, siren," Arlong tutted as he looked down at her. She felt self-conscious under his gaze despite the modesty of her borrowed clothing.
"No one, especially a woman, wants to be informed they're a prisoner," she retorted. He stared at her with these cool blue eyes before a sharklike grin spread across his face. "You did say I could leave after I rested," she pointed out.
He stared for a moment as he recalled their earlier conversation before comprehension dawned on him. "I only meant that you could leave the cabin. Did you think that after claiming my siren, I was going to let her wander off so easily? Sweet one, I very nearly dragged you away the moment I laid eyes upon you!" He let out a hearty chortle, and damn if that deep laugh didn't send a pleasant shiver fluttering through her belly even as she took a step back, bumping into Hatchan.
"Wait!' she gasped, remembering something and spinning around to face Hatchan. "Lena, she's going to wonder where I am. If I'm not home soon..." Hatchan had met Lena and her baby at the marketplace when Yolande was helping him shop. Lena had been polite, but wary. The infant on the other hand was too young to harbor prejudice or racism and had laughed and reached for Hatchan.
Out of the mouths of babes and all that…
o0o0o0o
Arlong frowned. Lena? Who the hell was Lena and why should he care… A memory of a conversation with Hachi came up. He'd been telling the captain about the very nice woman who'd continued to help him even after the medical crisis had passed. A widow who lived with her stepdaughter. A pharmacist's assistant on top of her nursing skills. Something about meeting the stepdaughter and the baby in the marketplace and some nonsense about how cute the baby had been.
Now Hachi was concerned about this random woman and some stupid baby. But he saw the distress in Yolande's face, and the caution he'd practiced since the demise of Arlong Park prevailed. They weren't here to cause trouble – tempting as it was. Almost unconsciously, he ran his index and middle finger along his nose, feeling the slight thickness of healed-over bone and cartilage where that damn rubber kid had broken his nose twice.
"Write a note and tell her you have patients here to attend to, and you can leave the ship in the morning to pack your belongings and say your goodbyes," he said, the concession wrapped in a command.
She stared at him for a few moments. He lifted a hand, touching her chin as he stroked her jaw with his thumb, feeling the faint tremble that passed through her before she gave a curt nod.
"Good girl." At that, he felt her stiffen, and she frowned before pulling away from his hand.
"Don't call me that. If you insist on having a pet name for me, we'll figure something out, but it won't be that."
He raised an eyebrow. She glared at him. "You're spicy. Should I call you that?"
She took a slow breath, glaring at him as he smirked at her.
"Hachi, get her a pen and some paper…"
After the note was written, looked over by him, and dispatched with Hachi, he led her to his cabin. Though this ship was smaller than the Marine one they'd captured, the Sorrowfree Wanderer was considerably less conspicuous. The cabin was bisected by sliding wood panels to separate the captain's bedroom from his workspace. On the desk were several instruments for navigation including a compass and several Log Poses, fitted into slots carved into the desk for ease of use.
He closed the door and locked it before he looked down at her. "I need some spice," he said, leaning down and growling into her ear as he wrapped an arm around her. She tried to squirm away, but he held firm as he crossed the room. "And it seems you need a reminder of who you belong to..."
"Arlong. Please." She squirmed again, and he felt himself responding to the feel of her body against his own. His free hand slid to her shoulder, grasping her arm as he turned her to face him, looking down at her. For whatever reason, fate, the gods, luck, whatever the fuck it was, had given him a siren. Even if she was only half-fishman, she was still pretty cute. He liked the color of her gray-green eyes and the fullness of her lips. Some might have thought her nose was too long but he thought it suited her.
(this scene has been cut to fit the standards of FFN, the uncut version can be found at my AO3, same username.)
When he was done, she lay there, curled up and shivering, all too aware of the throbbing pain in her shoulder before Arlong slid out of bed to pour her another drink. She gulped it down and held out her cup for more. He smirked and obligingly poured her some more before taking a long swig from the bottle. She reclined back, gingerly touching her shoulder. The bleeding had stopped, and there were only a few drops on the sheets because he'd licked up most of it. She knew she should be freaked out and disgusted, as she knew most women would. Her neighbors would most certainly clutch their pearls over this. Over the whole thing, really.
His hand brushed the hair from her shoulder, and she looked at him quietly as he examined his handiwork. Or in this case, bite-work. What was running through his mind as he looked at her?
-Desire. Confusion. Possessiveness. Curiosity. Affection. Satisfaction- All this poured into her for a brief, glimmering moment as she looked into his eyes. He finished the bottle and set it aside before pulling her into his lap, and at that moment, all she wanted to do was curl up against him. His strong arms wrapped around her, and she let out a short hum of pleasure. At that, his embrace tightened.
She looked up at him as she rested her head on his shoulder. Arlong might act fierce and possessive, but there was something nagging in the back of her mind. It refused to become clear, and she set it aside, telling herself that it would come to her sooner or later.
There are strange things in this world, and that's not counting Devil Fruit. Much progress has been made with science but there are still many things beyond the understanding of men. Like this infernal bond that pulled her and Arlong toward one another. She placed her hand on his chest, savoring the feel of the sharkskin under her hands. It was mostly smooth like a river pebble along his chest and thighs, but along his shoulders and back, it was a little bit rougher, almost like extra fine sandpaper.
She reached up to his face, and he watched her quietly as her fingers trailed from his chin up to his ear, and along his hairline before coming down to his nose. Some would have thought it was ridiculously long, but it suited Arlong the Saw just fine. She looked into his eyes, gauging his reaction as her finger slid past the bridge of his nose. His breath hitched for a moment, but he did nothing to discourage her. She made her way down the top side of his nose.
"Arlong the Saw. It suits you. It is a fine nose."
"You think so?"
"I can't imagine you without it. Like I can't imagine Hachi without his extra arms. It's just… you."
The smile that spread across his face was one of genuine warmth, and she was surprised at the effect it had on his face. She already thought he was fucking hot, but seeing that flash of warmth on his face, the contentment he gained from her kind words, sent a flutter through her heart.
"I don't want to fight you, Arlong. But I do ask one thing of you," she said. He gave her a brief nod, his gaze becoming calculating as he wondered what she might ask of him.
"Don't lie to me, even if you think it's for my good."
"That's not something I expected you to ask. Does my siren seek to pry secrets from me?"
She regarded him with a sad smile. "If there's something you don't want to talk about, just say so. I would rather hear that than be lied to."
"Hmm. And can I expect the same in return?" She nodded, and his hand trailed up her arm, ghosting his fingers over the bite mark before sliding her off his lap. "Get dressed."
She complied before he scooped her up in one arm and walked outside with her like he was showing off a trophy. "Let the festivities continue!" he said with a wave of his hand. The fishmen cheered and went back to drinking, playing games, or gambling under the light of the quarter moon and several lamps set across the deck. On occasion, a fishman would glance toward her and Arlong. She buried her face against his neck after several minutes, breathing in his scent as she took comfort in the solidness of his bulk.
"There's no need to be shy. You're part of the crew now."
She thought of Kuroobi, and she glanced around, and… there the ray fishman was, staring at her like he was still pissed at her. He stood to the back like a sentinel, his arms crossed as he observed his fellow fishmen enjoy themselves.
Arlong lowered himself into a chair near the barbecue, close enough that he could enjoy a bit of the heat. She settled in his lap, adjusting herself and letting her gaze drift across the deck at the various fishmen. A couple of fishmen operated the grill and cooked the meat, and it felt surreal to be here now, drafted onto this crew because of… what? The whim of gods or fate? It sure as hell wasn't hormones. Or at least not just hormones. She still tingled down below from his attentions and almost without thinking, she clenched, closing down on nothing and feeling the soreness of her muscles.
The couple was offered food and drink. Arlong had several more drinks, and several meat-loaded kebabs, and even though she might have expected a large appetite, she was still impressed, and could not help but stare in fascination as the meat disappeared down his maw, shredded by his teeth. She was more tired than hungry, but she ate and drank a bit as she pondered her future. It wouldn't be the first time she was uprooted in her life. She sighed to herself.
"Is something the matter?"
She looked up at him before speaking quietly. "Before, when I was trying to leave the ship… I wasn't trying to run. I wanted to enjoy more of your company, but I have obligations. Surely as a captain, you understand obligations. Besides, there's no way I wasn't going to come back, not after the best sex I've ever had." She didn't mention that she'd also wanted some time to herself to clear her head after nearly having her brains fucked out of her head. Why the hell did Arlong have to be so damn sexy?
He burst into laughter, and several fishmen glanced at them with curiosity.
"You know that you belong to me," Arlong whispered in a velvety rumble. It sent a pleasing shiver down her spine and through her core. "Sweet little siren, say it. I want to hear it from you."
She looked up into his eyes, feeling the desire and need. His hand slid up her body before gently hooking around her neck and shoulder as his lips stretched into a slow smile, teeth glistening under the flickering light. "You asked me for honesty. So I will tell you what will happen if you try to run away from me. If I need to lock you up or chain you…"
An alarmed whine burst from her throat she went stiff. He tutted and continued speaking, "I will do you no harm, dear one. After all, as your mate, it is my duty to take care of you and protect you. But do not think I will tolerate escape attempts or games."
"So, you are asking me to agree to an invisible chain, or be forced into a literal one?"
He grinned remorselessly, offering no denial. She looked down before he lifted her chin back up. "Be glad you have a choice."
The smug bastard. She sighed softly. "I am yours, Arlong."
"Mmm. Don't look so sad about it, my little siren. After all, it means more of that sex you enjoy so much, yes?"
That smug, lecherous, possessive but oh so sexy bastard. She was in for one hell of a time, wasn't she? After a bit more time, he nudged her out of his lap, giving her permission to explore. Glad for the opportunity to stretch out her legs, she made her way along the side of the ship, staring out at the water. She turned to see Kuroobi staring at her, his exposed skin looking white under the moonlight.
"Making sure I don't jump overboard again, eh?" she asked. He gave her his steady gaze, the corners of his lips deepening into a scowl. "Don't worry. I'll spare us both the trouble, okay? Trust me, I don't want to go into that icy water any more than you do."
She wondered what made him so prickly towards humans, but she knew she was not in a position to ask him such a personal question. He let out a small snort at her comment. "I suppose you expect me to be grateful for that."
"No. but Arlong has made his choice. I hope it's not too much to expect that we are civil to one another."
"For my nakama's sake, that is something I will agree to."
After a few more minutes, she disappeared into the ship, getting a feel of the layout. Kitchen, dormitories, showers, pantry, cargo space, and so on. It was a decent mid-size ship, and she wondered at the story behind it. What had spurred Arlong and his fishmen to capture this ship, and what had happened to the former crew of the Sorrowfree Wanderer?
She turned, seeing Kuroobi several paces behind her. Did he think she was going to try to sabotage something? But she had no mischief in mind, so it wasn't as if his presence was altering anything, was it?
"So… how did your crew come to possess this ship?" she asked him casually.
"We captured it from unworthy humans who attacked us."
"I suppose if someone's attacking you, stealing their ship is justified."
He smirked at that, and she continued walking while he trailed behind. She was certain there was more to the story, but all things in due time. "And you're one of the crew's higher-ranked members?"
"I am one of Arlong's leaders, yes. Along with Chew and Hachi."
She blinked in surprise at the mention of Hatchan's name. She had the impression he was the ship's cook, but then she remembered how the octopus man was willing to stand between her and Arlong – and how Arlong had allowed it.
"How long have you been with Arlong?"
"Why so many questions?" Kuroobi asked as he glared down at her.
She sighed. "I'm not trying to be nosy. But if I'm going to be stuck on this ship, I'd like to learn a bit about the people I'm going to be living with."
"I have known him since childhood. Does that satisfy your question?"
"Yes. Thank you." She decided to stop asking him questions for a while, and after being satisfied by her initial exploration of her new home, she came back onto the deck, seeing Arlong drinking and laughing with several other fishmen, including Chew and Hachi.
"Are you all right?" Hachi asked when they had an opportunity to speak. She looked up at him and nodded, recalling what Kuroobi said.
"Yes. And thank you for your help." She had plenty of questions and wondered where to even start. The speed with which Arlong claimed her and determined her future after meeting her put the term 'whirlwind romance' to shame. It would have been nice to get to know Arlong and the rest of the crew a little better, but what was done was done. "Speaking of. This is not my ship, but do you think some room could be spared for my plants? Some of them are quite dear to me."
"It shouldn't be a problem. You'd have to ask Arlong but having some plants on the ship would be great! Are you talking about flowers?"
"A couple, but most are for food or medicine."
"I'll make sure they have a good place!" The octopus man looked at her with enthusiasm. He certainly was a ray of sunshine compared to Kuroobi.
"What are you two doing over here?" she heard Arlong's rumble, and she and her companion turned to see Arlong in front of them.
"She has plants she wants to bring on the ship. I told her you'd need to be asked first, but-"
"So you do gardening?" Arlong asked.
"I wouldn't call myself a gardener, but I do have some basic knowledge and some plants I grow for food and medicine."
"Hmm. It would appear that my siren has many talents."
"No, no! You know the saying, jack of all trades, master of none? Well, I'm a jack of… some trades. I've worked a variety of jobs and picked up some things along the way. But please, don't think I'm a master of anything!" she added with a sheepish laugh. He raised his eyebrow at her, staring at her musingly.
"I'm curious to see what else you're capable of," Arlong finally said. Of that, she had no doubt. He grinned at her, and she felt weak-kneed, like some silly schoolgirl.
"Well," she said, quickly composing herself. "It's just a bit here and there. I certainly hope you don't expect any grand feats from me, Captain," she said half-jokingly. He leaned in, purring into her ear.
"You are grand in bed," came the lecherous whisper.
"I could say the same about you," she replied almost automatically. His pleased chuckle sent a shiver down her spine. He raised his head, looking down at her and Hatchan.
"We'll find room for the plants. I trust the two of you can make the arrangements," Arlong said as he looked at his siren and his nakama before wandering off for some more grilled beef.
"You all right?" Hatchan asked, seeing her furrowed brow.
"I've lived here for the last seven years. My husband wanted to move here after he retired, so I went with him." She stared across the railing at the lights that twinkled in town. "I had a lot more time to prepare for that move than I do with this." She regarded him with a wry chuckle.
She'd known when Yoshi proposed that he wanted to find a place to settle, and she was happy enough at that time to start a new life. And it had not been a bad life, not with a mild-mannered man like Yoshi. His son, Hiro, chose to follow his father's footsteps and enlist in the Marines, and Lena was a sweet girl. Even after Yoshi died, it was still a peaceful life, if more quiet than before. Her skills ensured that she didn't need to be dependent on anyone, so she earned herself the reputation of an independent and eccentric widow, which was something she was quite satisfied with.
Then a sharkman pirate sailed into her life and turned it upside-down.
"I'm sorry…" there wasn't much else Hatchan could offer. She sighed and shook her head.
"It is what it is. I'll survive. I always do."
The octopus man regarded her with a quizzical expression, but she offered no elaboration as she stared off at the stars.
o0o0o0o
There are plenty enough fishmen on Arlong's crew, but surprisingly few are named besides the Big Three. So for the sake of this story, I have named a couple of fishmen that appear in the anime several times.
Mido – He's the pale pink-skinned fat fishman in a shirt and shorts that are a cool shade of green, with neon green fins on the top and side of his head.
Ishidai – He has blue and yellow spiky hair and grayish skin with lines along his face and arms. He appeared in the OPLA as "Hachi" and was named Ishidai in Oda's notes if not the anime itself.