Chapter 9: Worry

Ichiji frowned as he took off his raid suit and water sloshed out of the boots. That shouldn't have happened. He tried to activate the hover function and nothing happened. A chill went down his spine. Water had clogged the machine. Meaning if that navigator hadn't grabbed him, he would have fallen into the waves.

Angry, he threw the raid suit on the ground. He had only ever hovered in light rain before, not a downpour with wind so heavy the rain struck sideways. Clearly, this was a flaw in the design and he made a mental note to have their scientists fix it immediately.

Stripped down to his dry boxers, he tossed himself onto his bed before frowning more deeply. Why had she saved him? Obviously, it wasn't out of loyalty as it would have been if any of the crew had saved him. And it wasn't out of admiration or respect. They despised one another mutually.

He rolled over, trying to put the question out of his mind. It was a stupid thing to bother him. What did it matter why she'd saved him? He was alive. That was all that was important, so now he should move on.

Thinking about that commoner was a waste of his time. Well, thinking about her while pondering over questions that didn't matter was a waste of time. She obviously was useful as a navigator. He remembered her words that a navigator who couldn't get you through a storm was useless. It appeared his father was correct that the navigator would be a useful tool to them. However, you didn't marry tools. You used them until they broke, and then you got a new one.

~.~

Sanji hoped his distraction wasn't obvious as he went about his meetings, but he couldn't stop worrying about Nami. He really wished he knew what was happening. What if his brothers were harming her, or being cruel to her, and she believed he was just like them? What if she came back hating him?

He should have made up with her before she left. Then she would at least be honest with him about what happened when she returned. If his brothers did abuse her in any way, they certainly wouldn't admit to it and she would have no reason to tell him about it if she believed he was a monster like them. Why had he been so stupid and let such a small thing stop him from talking to her when she would now be gone for days? He hated it.

"Care to tell me what's on your mind?" Reiju asked, catching up to him after one of his meetings.

Sanji raised his eyebrows. "You mean besides the country we plan to invade in three weeks?" He'd barely get any time with Nami as his wife before he had to leave for that military campaign. Assuming she even deigned to look at him once they were married, which she probably wouldn't do if she thought he was a monster.

Reiju raised her eyebrows back at him. "You kept looking out the window during the meeting. I don't recall you doing that before."

"Captain Raiku is a bore," Sanji brushed off. "I always struggle in meetings when he drones on. You must not have noticed before."

"Then did you bore yourself as well?" Reiju asked. "Because you looked out the window even when you were talking."

Sanji stopped walking.

"Are you worried about her?" Reiju asked gently. "About Nami being with Niji and Ichiji? They can't harm her too badly—"

"That hasn't been on my mind at all," Sanji lied, interrupting her. "Why would I be concerned about a woman I met five days ago?"

"She could be good," Reiju said quietly.

"I'm sure she will be," Sanji said, resuming his walk at a brusque pace. "Father wouldn't have had her brought her here if she wasn't."

"I didn't mean good at navigating," Reiju said, but Sanji was already turning a corner. She sighed. Of course he wouldn't talk to her about this. Why would he? Reiju herself had rarely tormented Sanji, but she'd always laughed when their brothers had. She'd always taken their side, too afraid they would turn on her if she spoke up in Sanji's favor. Not becoming their target had been more important to her than being there for Sanji when he needed her. She hoped Nami was stronger than she was and could be someone who would finally be on Sanji's side no matter the circumstances…but she was probably putting far too much hope in a woman who was just a pirate.

~.~

That night, Sanji lay in bed frowning up at his ceiling. He'd been recalling his argument with Nami, wondering how he could have handled it better, when he remembered her words about being in danger from her own crew.

When he'd first heard about Nami, he'd been surprised at a human being in the famous Arlong Pirates crew when he'd heard that only fish-min were accepted as crew. At the time, he'd assumed that Arlong made an exception for Nami because she was such an incredible navigator, but what if she'd been forced to join the Arlong crew because she was an incredible navigator?

And now she was being forced to marry someone she didn't know by a crew she didn't want to belong to. No wonder she was so unhappy to be there. Whether she thought he was a monster or not, she couldn't possibly want to marry him. The thought depressed him. And then his brothers had gone and treated her like that. What must she think of them all? Did she even want to be a pirate?

He bit his lip as he thought. Maybe…maybe he could save her from Arlong's crew. The Arlong Pirates were strong enough that Judge hadn't wanted to take them on to get at Nami, though if Arlong hadn't been willing to make a deal, Judge would have gotten her one way or another. Probably by sending Sanji to get Nami since he was Stealth Black, after all. He suddenly wished that had been Judge's plan. Then he would have been Nami's rescuer.

Being brought to the Vinsmokes wouldn't have been great, but surely they were better than pirates…hopefully they were better than pirates. Anyway, hadn't they heard rumors that Arlong wanted to rule the world? He may be content with the Germa Kingdom's help in controlling the borders of his territory right now, but he would eventually want more and that meant clashing with the Germa Kingdom at some point.

Wasn't it better to take him out earlier? Maybe he could talk to his father about it after he and Nami were married and Nami had proved her worth. They would have all the information they would need to take on Arlong's crew with Nami on their side. Heck, Sanji could just assassinate Arlong and that might cause enough confusion to disband the whole crew. Assassination was easy when one could blend in as easily as Sanji. Maybe then Nami would feel that he was a husband she could trust and rely on…but first he would have to make it up to her when she returned. He hoped it wouldn't be too late to get her to trust him, but that probably largely relied on how his brothers treated her. If only he could somehow know what was going on with the three of them right now.

~.~

Ichiji and Niji better not be taking advantage of having Nami to themselves, Yonji thought as he stared at Nami's picture. Of course, they weren't completely to themselves since a whole crew was on board with them, but still. Yonji knew what he would be doing if he was on board that ship with Nami. Surely privacy could still be found on the voyage ship in the cabin, or in one of the bedrooms on board for the princes…He hoped he was sent on the next mapping voyage with Nami. Preferably before she and Sanji were married. He needed to think of something to ruin that fast.

He had been so amazed when he watched her face against his oldest brother. She could fight. How incredible was that? How rare was that? He'd certainly never seen a woman fight so well before, and certainly not against one of his brothers. Leave the weak, docile, idiotic princesses to Ichiji. He wanted someone who could hold her on against the Vinsmoke family and challenge him on every level. Clearly, that woman was Nami.

Sanji wasn't good enough for her. He didn't deserve a woman of her caliber. But how could Yonji fix this situation? Was there a way he could make Sanji look like an idiot in front of their father? Or somehow make their father angry at Sanji? Since he'd given Sanji Nami because he was happy with him, maybe Judge take her away if he was upset with Sanji…