Chapter 7: Dinner

"Why on earth do I have to change for dinner?" Nami muttered as she stared at the dress laid out on the bed that had been provided for her. After being poked, prodded, and measured for what seemed like an inordinate amount of time, she'd been led to a bedroom as large as the home she'd grown up in. She assumed the room was a guest room since she'd only be sleeping there for two weeks. That thought made her stomach cramp with nerves, so she pushed it aside.

"Is it just because they're a royal family? What a waste of time and effort." With a sigh, she tossed her red dress on the floor and picked up the pink dress on the bed. It was a strapless evening gown with a slit on one side nearly up to the top of her thigh. She looked in the mirror, wondering if this dress was Reiju's. The two of them looked like they might be about the same size. The image somehow looked incomplete without long white gloves to cover her bare arms, but was improved slightly when she put on the white heels that had been in a box next to the dress.

She was happy to note that her things had been brought up to the room, but didn't know if she'd ever have the privilege of wearing her own clothes again. At the rate she was going, it seemed unlikely.

She was debating whether to leave her hair down or put it up when a knock sounded on her door. Warily, she opened it, hoping to find a maid on the other side. Instead, she encountered Sanji, who was wearing a suit this time. He seemed speechless as he looked her over and she had to withhold her smirk. At least her future husband had good taste.

Finally, he cleared his throat and said, "You look beautiful. Nami." It felt strange to hear her name coming from the man who would soon be her husband. The way he said it made her heart flutter, which was ridiculous. Money made her heart flutter, not men.

"Thank you. You look good as well." He beamed and this time it was a laugh she was forced to withhold. He looked so pleased at the compliment that it was adorable. And it was true that he wasn't hard on the eyes, so he at least had that going for him.

"I'm here to escort you to dinner," he explained, offering her his arm.

Tentatively, she took his arm, then cursed herself for being tentative. If she didn't do as Arlong wanted, he'd slaughter her entire island. She could play the part of the interested and excited fiancé…but she was so tired of playing a role. At least at Cocoyashi village, she had Nojiko she could be herself around. Here, she had no one. She wasn't sure she could stand it if she spent the rest of her life playing a role, and to her husband no less.

Maybe it was better to play things cool until she knew more about her fiancé and his family.

She caught Sanji giving her sidelong glances, but didn't pay much attention to it. She was well aware she was beautiful since it was a tool she'd used plenty of times in her thieving. Though the fact that her fiancé seemed enamored with her looks was definitely something she could use to her advantage. The next time he looked at her, she gave him a small smile and was pleased to see him blush.

"I'm afraid Father won't be able to join us this evening," Sanji said when they'd almost reached a pair of massive double doors. "He has plans to work on, but the rest of the family will be there." She imagined the plans dealt with war in some capacity or another and the thought made her sick. Everyone the Vinsmokes fought were probably only trying to defend their homes and their families while the Vinsmokes fought them merely because they felt that land that didn't belong to them should be theirs.

They entered the room to find the other four Vinsmoke siblings sitting to dinner, all dressed in fancy attire. She was a little disconcerted to note that there was no mother present, which probably meant there wasn't one since Sanji had said the rest of the family would be there. What had happened to her? Had she died? Or been disposed of? Nami hated having so little information about her situation. Even with the information Chew and Hatchan had given her, she still didn't know much.

The room fell quiet as everyone noticed them. The silence grew more awkward as the pair walked to their seats. Nami noted that Sanji didn't pull her chair out for when they sat. So much for princely manners. Of course, a country with a famous military probably focused on things other than how to treat women.

The brother with the red hair, Ichiji, was staring at her in a way that didn't feel friendly, though she couldn't decipher his expression through his sunglasses.

"Do you know that you're the first person to ever sit at this table who isn't of royal blood?" He asked, causing Sanji to stiffen next to her. "I never thought the Vinsmokes would sink so low as to let their dining table be defiled with impure blood."

Anger boiled through her and before she could control herself, she spat back, "Better impure blood than inbred blood. All you royals only marrying each other means eventually you only have distant relatives to marry."

Ichiji's grip on his fork tightened as his eyebrows came together. She assumed he was glaring at her.

Yonji coughed, but looked like he was trying to cover up a smile.

"You dare talk to me like that?" Ichiji asked. "I am a prince. You are a commoner. Do you understand the difference between us?"

A hand landed on her thigh and she was ready to smack Sanji before she realized the hand belonged to Reiju. Slightly, so that the others wouldn't notice, she shook her head. The thought of backing off and letting this pig win in any capacity left a bad taste in Nami's mouth, but she was in foreign territory and badly outnumbered. Even if Chew and Hatchan had been there, Chew would just tell her it was her duty to say and do whatever pleased the Vinsmokes so she wouldn't risk harming their alliance with Arlong.

"Growing up in a village with a mayor rather than an overlord, I can't say I'm intimately familiar with the difference."

"Well, there will be time for talking later," Niji said. "We shouldn't let dinner get cold."

Nami looked down at her plate to find a ridiculous number of forks. She imagined each one had a particular purpose. What an utter waste. They looked expensive and the Vinsmokes could make quite a bit of money from selling all the extra forks they didn't actually need. Then again, maybe the Vinsmokes were rich enough that it wouldn't make a difference to them.

Reiju leaned over and gently murmured what each fork was used for, which Nami was grateful for. Either Reiju was genuine in her offer to help Nami, or wanted to lower Nami's guard.

For some reason, Sanji smirked at Ichiji during Reiju's explanation, causing Reiju to frown harder.

Through the rest of dinner, the brothers made idle comments about various war campaigns to each other. Nami tried to pay attention in case any of the information turned out to be useful to her, but struggled to pay attention. Her food didn't catch her attention either since she didn't have much of an appetite.

After the awkward affair finally ended, they all stood, Sanji offering to take Nami back to her room.

"Wait," Ichiji said, crossing his arms. "Your bride needs to learn how to talk to her betters."

Nami's heart pounded as her hand inched toward her staff. Thanks to the high slit of her dress, it was easily accessible. Of course, if it came to a fight with her against the five of them, she wouldn't stand a chance. Still, she couldn't make herself stand still and be harmed or humiliated. She was strong, but not that strong.

"No," Sanji said, standing protectively in front of her. "Nami is my bride and a future member of the Vinsmoke family. That means you aren't her better, no matter what blood runs through your veins."

"Your pride as a Vinsmoke and a royal has always been pathetic," Ichiji sneered. "Father was always too soft on his weakest son. He should have thrown you overboard when you were a child and let you drown. It would have been a mercy for us all."

"Sorry, bro," Niji said, snatching Sanji's arms and holding them behind his back. "I like your fiancé, but Ichiji has a point about the difference between royals and non-royals. She needs to learn to at least show the proper respect due our family. Don't worry, Ichiji won't kill her. Father would be too angry."

"And don't mess up her face either," Yonji added. "Father would be pissed if she didn't look perfect for the wedding."

Nami's blood ran cold. These men were talking about brutalizing a woman so casually. As though it were something they did all the time. Reiju stayed silent off to the side. So much for her supposed ally.

"If you're not going to let Sanji intervene, does that mean you won't intervene as well?" She asked.

Yonji and Niji blinked at her. "What?" Yonji asked.

Nami repeated her statement. Yonji threw back his head and laughed. "You are one gutsy woman. Sure. We won't let Sanji intervene and we won't intervene either." One-on-one, maybe she could at least convince Ichiji she was more than he wanted to deal with.

Ichiji pulled back his fist and lunged quicker than she expected. She back pedaled, whipping her staff out and putting it together. She whirled it and gale force winds appeared, throwing him into the far wall. The room went silent and she couldn't help her smirk. In her travels to steal enough money to support all the villagers who had to pay the living tax to Arlong, she'd come across a floating island of men she'd called weather wizards at the time. She'd demanded they teach her everything they knew and had hoped to one day use the knowledge she'd gained to take down Arlong and his crew, but she'd yet to gain the courage and confidence to try. If she failed, the consequences would be too catastrophic.

"What was that?" Ichiji demanded, getting up again.

"You have your genetic enhancements, I have my own abilities," Nami said. "I imagine you're not used to fighting in a fight that's anywhere near fair." At least some of the knowledge her 'crewmates' had provided her was useful. She knew she did not want to take a hit from any of these people. They were supposed to be crazy strong thanks to genetics enhancements their father had forced on them.

"You think this fight is fair?" Ichiji asked, raising his head proudly. "You honestly think you have a chance?"

He came at her again and Nami slicked the floor with rain water. Thanks to the marble floor, Ichiji went crashing into the table rather than reaching her. The fight continued in that manner with Ichiji getting angrier and angrier. She was pretty sure it was a poor decision to enrage someone like him so badly, but she wasn't willing to let herself get hit.

Finally, Nami pulled out her last stop, electrocuting the redheaded prince with lightning.

"Enough," Sanji, said, finally freeing himself from Niji's grasp.

"Agreed," Yonji said. "I think the navigator has proved herself capable. Ichiji, if she's able to take you on this well, you should admit that she can hold her own. She is a member of the pirate crew who rules over most of East Blue. Were you really expecting a pushover?"

"If I had my raid suit—" Ichiji started.

"Do you hear yourself?" Sanji demanded. "This is a woman. Of course you're stronger than her physically. Only a pathetic, worthless boy would attack a woman, because no real man would." He didn't know where the words were coming from. It was true he'd never hit a woman, unlike his brothers who regularly beat maids who upset them. He didn't remember where his conviction came from that he should never hit a woman, but the thought had always been strong within his mind. "It's just like Nami said, you're too pathetic to fight fair, and a disgrace to men everywhere that would you want to fight not just unfair to begin with, but against a woman no less."

"Watch your tongue," Ichiji snarled. "You're just the third son and the weakest. What right do you have to speak to me like that? Maybe you're the one who needs to be taught a lesson tonight."

"Perhaps we should all take the night to cool off," Reiju suggested lightly. "Father has big plans he wants to put in place immediately, and if any of us do anything to set those plans back in the slightest, he'll be furious and we'll all pay."

"Fine," Ichiji growled, straightening his shirt before stalking out of the room.

"Why don't I walk you to your room?" Sanji offered again, and was grateful when Nami followed. When he'd first made the offer, it had been because he'd wanted to spend a little time with her without his brothers around. Now it was because he was afraid Ichiji would try to attack her when she was alone.

"I'm glad you're okay," Sanji told her quietly once they were in the hall. His heart was still racing. He'd been so afraid he was going to have to helplessly watch as she was hurt. He knew just how cruel his brothers could be. He didn't ever want to be in a situation like that again. He needed to train harder. "I know Ichiji was out of line, but please don't try to get into fights. Women aren't as strong as men."

"I can hold my own," Nami snapped back. "Even without my weather abilities, I can take on ten regular men with my staff."

"But my brothers aren't regular men," Sanji said, rounding on Nami so he could grab her arms and hopefully impress upon her the importance of what he was saying. "They're dangerous and cruel. I don't want you to sit there demurely and take their insults." He would have hated it if she'd done that. "But I don't want you to put yourself in danger either."

"I'm always in danger," she snapped back. "With my crew and here amid warring strangers wanting to use my abilities for the same reason as Arlong. That's why I learned how to take care of myself." She broke away. "I know the way back to my room. I don't need an escort."

Sanji watched her leave, angry and confused. Couldn't she see that he was looking out for her? That he was trying to protect her? He had a right as her fiancé, and obviously it was kind of him to do so since they didn't even know each other yet. Why didn't she appreciate that? And what did she mean when she said she was in danger from her own crew?