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The Thousand Sunny sailed silently on a golden sparkle of waters reflecting the setting sun, currently heading back to Luffy's hometown, the Windmill Village located at the Goa Kingdom in the East Blue. Along this, the captain silently sat with arms resting on his knees at the head of the ship shaped like a lion with petal manes, seems to be contemplating at the far distance.
This took the notice of the archeologist who was just silently sipping on her coffee at the near distance. She walked closer up to him and climbed up to the Sunny's head silently, making convenience out of her being an assassin in the past. "Is something the matter?" The raven haired archeologist broke the silence first.
This made Luffy jolt looking up behind him seeing the tall ebony haired woman, slightly smiling at him holding her cup of coffee. "Robin?"
"May I take a seat with you?" Robin asked and Luffy answered still wearing that worried kind of face "Yeah, okay..." as he moved slightly to the side making up space for her to sit.
They sat together side by side, shoulder up to shoulder. "So, what made you look so worried? It's quite unlikely of you." Robin looked at him still holding her coffee with two hands that was resting on her curled knees.
The strawhat boy was still looking at the horizon "Well...you see Robin, it's weird."
Robin got more curious "What is?"
Luffy looked at her face and said "I was thinking what would I do after becoming the Pirate King?"
"Then?" The archeologist took a quick sip on her coffee.
"I know that I already attained my dream, and you too Robin...All of us. That's why I know that all of you won't longer stay on the Sunny as our adventure is already over. Thinking about it is sad, but I need to accept it as the captain."
Robin softened at her captain's words. She knew about that herself, however if only her captain would ask for it, she would be staying in the ship forever, although Luffy wouldn't like it like that, he valued freedom more than anything else. Everyone would leave, just like Brook, as he would be staying with his old friend at the red line. Chopper, he would probably travel all around the world to cure the illnesses of the sick as his life as a doctor. Who knows, maybe more of them wishes to have their own life, maybe start their own family. She herself too feel saddened about it that they would be separated.
Luffy followed "And I was thinking what would I do after that...I always hear my grandpa say when he's drunk, that 'Marrying her wife was the best decision he ever did in his life' although I've never seen my grandma. Also, I thought being the pirate king was the only thing in my life. But what will I be after that?"
"So you're saying?" Robin wanted to hear more
"I was thinking...Is it really that good having wife and kids?"
Robin was wide eyed, she never thought her captain would ever think of something like that.
After saying that on her archaeologist's face, he slowly turned his head looking at the setting sun like he was doing before.
Robin chuckled covering her mouth with her hand. Luffy looked at her again. "What's funny?"
The girl of Ohara retorted. "...Fufu~ nothing, it's just. I never thought you would ever think of something like that."
"Is it really that weird if it was coming from me?"
"Honestly speaking, yes. No one would've expect that the Monkey D. Luffy was having thoughts on marriage and family."
"Is it bad?" Luffy meant the literal thing
"No~ of course not. In fact, it's exhilarating hearing that from you!" Robin said with a simper and simply followed. "I think it's a good idea having to spend your life with one woman. And who knows? Having kids was just after that."
Luffy grinned at her. "Is that so? Then I've made up my mind. Hancock was always pesky about me marrying her and that... So I guess I'll take her up on that then. shishishishi" He stood up and was about to leave.
Robin caught his hand and that made him stop. She looked back and said. "Wait Luffy, don't take marriage lightly. It doesn't mean that if she wants you, then you would just marry her like that." She sounded quite desperate trying to prove her point.
Luffy got that innocent eyes directed to Robin. "Eh...why?"
Robin paused. She knew her captain was slow...no, in fact he was dumb. She was only being kind not calling him that mean word unlike the others to the Strawhat. But she can't do anything about it, she has the brains between the two of them here, so she would explain it in a manner he would understand even though the answer is simple. "You need to have similar feelings with her. Like... Love." She slightly averted her eyes by his gaze at that last part, then spoke the following. "You mentioned Boa Hancock, the pirate empress wanted to marry you right?"
The strawhat quickly retorted as he sat back "Yeah."
"That means she loves you."
"Ah, yeahh...she always tells me that too." Luffy answered with a grin.
Robin hesitated to ask. "Then...do you feel the same as her too?"
"You mean if I love her?"
Robin simply nodded "Yes"
Luffy looked perturbed "Well, I don't know... I love my friends. But what's the difference about that and love in being married?"
Robin can't help but smile at his pureness. Even though this might be disadvantageous for him. Being innocent really never had it's pros. "It's completely different Luffy. Loving your friends, parents, and brothers is a completely different feeling from loving a girl who you should marry."
"How do I know if I love a girl who I want to marry?" He asked
"Simple, when you're with someone you love, you're feeling this tenderness. It's like...having butterflies in your stomach and fireworks exploding inside you."
Luffy looked terrified about what he heard. "I've never eaten butterflies before, are they any good? And fireworks exploding in my stomach!? NO WAY! Id really die if that happens." Luffy keep waving his hands saying no
Oh yeah... Robin almost forgot, his captain is an idiot. She chuckled to herself. "That's not what I mean... Anyway, for simple explanation. Your heart would be beating faster and would feel heat surging through your body."
Luffy beamed at her excitedly. "Just like an adventure?!"
She returned "Yes Luffy, just like an adventure."
"Now I'm fired up to find out who is the woman I'm in love with. shishishishi." Luffy gleamed with excitement. "Thanks, Robin. Now I understand what would I do after becoming the pirate king. Okay, I just need to find someone who I would feel like adventuring."
The archeologist with a confident smirk said. "It's not someone who should be found, Luffy. It's someone who should be discovered. Who knows who and where would that person that would make your heart pound, maybe a person behind you, maybe above, or even a thousand feet below, you won't know. " Said in a normal tone
"I see, so it's a mystery person." Luffy grinned
The woman answered with, "Yes, it's a mystery person." Followed by a small giggle.
"Marriage, huh...I said before that
have no plans of marrying someone, shishishi...but it looks like I'm looking forward for another adventure."
Robin brushed her hair to the side. "Me neither, I never actually thought that you would get to be having interest with these kind of things."
Luffy then asked. "Then how about you, Robin, do you have plans for marriage also?"
Robin was taken aback by that sudden question. It was silent for a while. "Ye... yes" She hesitated to answer.
"Marriage, huh...I said before that
have no plans of marrying someone, shishishi...but it looks like I'm looking forward for another adventure."
Robin leaned back slightly. "Well, I have already discovered that feeling of adventure towards someone, though."
"What, really? You mean that certain variation of love you've talked about, right?"
Robin calmly looked away and answered in a voice slightly self-conscious. "Y-Yes, you're right."
"That means you want to marry that person, am I right?" Luffy's curiousity knows no bounds.
By hearing this, the calm and collected archaeologist could no longer muster to wear that usual face she's known for having as her cheeks and ears slightly reddened, she could do nothing and just went quiet. "..."
The Strawhat didn't notice this, and is looking up for the Oharan woman's answer instead. "Come on, Robin, tell me."
She realized that not answering could really lead to nowhere, and so she said. "Yes, I want to marry that person!" She said unhesitatingly.
Luffy was really interested about marriages, and what they could do to someone and how would they change someone. That's why he's excited that Robin, his friend was feeling that way. He wanted to ask more, but Robin stood up, turning her back against him. Immediately saying. "Luffy, I-I still have something to do, so I will have to go now." She was afraid that he will go in deeper with his questions.
"Oh, sure Robin, thanks for-"
Before he could finish up, Robin muttered something. "Be sure to take responsibility for everything."
Luffy was left having a question mark floating above his head for that, as Robin climbed out of the Sunny's head.
Robin walked away with her face looking like ripe mussels of how red they were. 'What...What have I just said!?' She said panicking in her mind.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
A new day began at the Pirate King's ship. This day was a normal day just like the others passed. Luffy was playing with Ussop and Chopper, Franky was busy checking the ship's machinery, Brook was playing his violin, Zoro sleeping at some random spot on the watchtower after doing some heavy training, Jinbei was doing his job as the helmsman. Robin, sunbathing while reading a book,Sanji slaving himself to make drinks for the ladies, and Nami was busy writing her journal about their adventures, she chose to write her journal outdoors savoring the fresh salty breeze of the sea, she decided to place her working table outside in the open area of the grassy deck.
"Hahahaha, Dumb long-nose Usopp, you can't catch me!" Luffy waving his hands to tease Usopp to come after him.
"Bastard! I'll catch you in no time." Usopp ran after him.
They ran in circles, Luffy was making fun of Usopp, doing a mockery out of the Sniper's nose, he would look back and stretch his nose up to imitate his long nose, sometimes turning back making funny faces to irritate Usopp even more. "Hahahaha I bet u still can't chase me even if I ran backwards." And so he did, after running while not facing where he's going he was ignorant to where he's heading to. It was towards something, that means he's going to crash into something.
"Ah! Luffy, wait!..." Chopper yelled in panic.
What Luffy didn't know was that he was running towards where Nami is, and that something he's going to collide with was a someone.
He crashed into her, making the table turn upside down, the book flying off to somewhere although it was a good thing that the ink she was using were lidded and so it did not splatter and create a mess. As for Nami, she was shocked, seeing as she was too immersed with her work, to be suddenly came tumbling down. She was flabbergasted.
"kyaah!" She yelped the moment they collided.
They rolled together and it later unfolded for their position to be Luffy of top, while Nami below him.
The Navigator's view was blurry and confused as to what could have happened. She blinked her eyes several times for the clouded vision to disappear.
As her sight recovered, she saw Luffy on top of her, his hands on the either side of his head to support himself up.
"Nami! Nami! Are you okay?" Luffy yelled in concern.
"H-Huh?" Nami was still befuddled at the current situation.
"I'm asking if you're okay." Luffy just said.
"...huh?...huhh? huhhh?" A realization came. Luffy was on top of her, placing himself above her, as their faces were merely inches apart. A position where she could only read from romantic books.
Her face immediately flushed in bright tint of red. "Hey! Chopper, something's wrong with Nami, Her face suddenly became like this. Don't tell me it's a fever again!?" Luffy remembered that time when Nami have gone I'll two years ago called The Five Day Disease and how they were so worried about her life threatening condition back then. He went and cupped his right hand around her face, placing his palm upon her cheeks to check her temperature."Ahh...Nami, you're hot!" Luffy took off his hand to blow it off because of the heat.
Nami was feeling like she was in a dream world, as his voices were deaf towards her ears, his touch seems to be sending pain throughout her whole body and soul, and the world seems to be frozen in time. She doesn't know what she's feeling towards this rubber idiot of a captain of hers. Her mind played several thoughts in tunes. 'Why am I feeling like this? Why is my heart beating faster AGAIN towards him? I admit that it's not my first time having this certain sensation for him. All this time, I passed it off that all these feelings are just as pure adoration. Thinking about it, this first happened back then when he placed his strawhat over my head, the thing he called his treasure..That's when I first felt this aching feeling deep within my heart. This followed as we continued our adventure. As I'm getting to know him better, everytime he sent his opponent flying with the last ounce of his life and energy selfishly fighting for his belief, with how he treasure those who's around him especially his friends to view them as his family. That's why I'm afraid, I'm afraid to fit this feelings as something really special towards him, as we have our own goals and our dreams to fullfil. So I forced myself to view him only as my friend. Yet I'm only lying to myself, this feeling was something even more special, directed only towards him. I see him more than as a friend...I now realize that...I love Luffy!'
"Chopper, please check on Nami!" Luffy was panicking as he thought he caused all of this...(well, he did)
Chopper's face snuck in next to Luffy's face to look into Nami's condition which made Nami wake up upon her reverie due to disruption. "Uwaaaaahhhh!" Nami shrilled and punched Luffy immediately after gaining her consciousness. "What-What did I just think about?!"
"Ouch!" Luffy flew backwards."
Nami got up and brushed the dirt off her skirt, although her hair was kind of messy. She looked up her eye to see the Strawhat wearing man, she then said with a bright red face of embarassment as she scrunched her face to yell at him. "You-You stupid rubber moron dumb idiot!" After she ran away like a kid.
Luffy was left befuddled, cupping his face right towards the place where she hit him. "Ehh?"
"She looks okay to me and not sick." Said Usopp on the sideline. He did not see what happened after Luffy collided into Nami as he immediately went into hiding, afraid of what she might do to him, he's one of the involved after all. He only heard what they're talking about, about Nami being sick.
"Uhh...yeah, I'll ask her what she's feeling." Said Chopper.
"Umfufufu~ It's okay, Chopper, I don't think she's sick at all." Said Robin appearing behind Chopper.
The cotton candy lover looked behind him. "How did you know?"
"It's girls' stuff Chopper, It's much more complicated than you you think it is. I'll go and talk to her instead, okay?" Robin said in a sweet tone. Chopper then nodded along "Okay then"
"Oh, shishishi...then I guess we don't need to wor-"
Luffy's words got cut off as Robin glanced towards him, looking at him coldly, emitting murderous aura directed upon the captain before leaving without saying another word.
Luffy felt a chill run down his spine after encountering those gaze. "Wha-what was that?"
Meanwhile Nami was sitting on her bed. It was her and Robin's room to be exact. She was contemplating deeply about her feelings, looking downcast and worried. "What now? What am I gonna do? My heart was raging I want to tell him, but I can't...I know he never understood these kinds of things that's why I could never expect for these feelings to be returned as how I gave them. I-im afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
Nami jolted when she heard the voice of a certain woman entering the room. It was Robin. "R-Robin! What are you doing here?"
"This is also my room, why ask that silly question?" The raven haired archaeologist lightly smiled at the orange haired navigator.
Nami just faked laughed it off. "Ahahaha you're right."
...
There was silence for a moment until Robin spoke first.
"Fufu~ Isn't our captain so cute?" She smiled with a giggle.
Nami's face flushed pink roses when the conversation immediately diverted into Luffy. "H-huh? what are you talking about?"
Robin lightly smiled. "Well, he is really childish and innocent, he is just too pure. He is slow to get into things. Fufu~ That's why you always call him an idiot."
Nami just shyly smiled in front of her big sis.
Robin just continued. "Yet when it comes to us, when we're facing our down times. He could just decide for us, and a hundred percent of those decisions is for our good. He is really dumb,. stupid or whatever you call it, but he is smarter when it comes to knowing ourselves. He knew us better that ourselves. He is the man that got all the riches in the world, the Pirate King, wealth, fame, power, he has it all, doesn't he? Even your heart." Robin looked at Nami as if she could deny nothing from her.
Nami could not bear to be looking at these deep blue eyes focusing on her, as she averted the woman's gaze with a deep blush.
Robin chuckled at this. "Umfufufu~ It's really cute to see you this way. I know what you feel towards him since the beginning, on through how you look and act towards him. Hmm... Now that I think about it, I guess that you yourself is unaware based on how you're one blushing kitten in front of me right now, don't tell me you only realized it today?"
Nami was wide eyed. "Wha-What? Y-you knew even back then?" She slumped down. "A-and yes, you're right." The pouting at the older woman. "That's so unfair, you knew it even from back then, ugh...Am I that easy to read?"
"I've been with different kinds of people most of my life, battling everyday for survival. It's not even worth a sweat on how easy you are to read.
Nami was smoking red. But she thought this could be a great opportunity to ask for the older woman's advice or tips of how to make her love to be felt by the other. "T-Then...Robin can you please help me on how to tell him?"
"Don't jump into conclusions, Nami."
By this, Nami was bewildered. "What do you mean by that?"
The conversation kept going.
...
...
"IT'S LUNCH TIME!" Luffy and Chopper kept chanting it.
The gang gathered up in the kitchen and sat at their own familiar seat. However, the two ladies came in delay, they both both never spoke as they sat. They both were glaring at each other.
What could have happened between these two girls who was just having a peaceful conversation earlier?
They both were glaring at each other warily, and making it seem that they were aware of each other. The other guys noticed this odd behavior between the two women, especially Franky, Jimbei, Brook, Usopp and Sanji. Although they don't seem like they just had a dispute, as how they look at each other doesn't have any speck of contempt towards one another, however, they cannot put out the cause of this.
The guys just acted calm, as Sanji asked. "Uhhh...N-Nami-Swan, Robin-Chan is there something the matter?"
"What do you mean Sanji, does it look like we're sick?" Nami said quite coldly at Sanji.
"No, that's not what I'm talking about."
"I'm kinda hungry, can't we just eat instead?" Robin smiled at Sanji.
"That's right, Sanji! I'm dying out of hunger here!" Luffy yelled at Sanji, raising his spoon.
"Shut up you damned rubber, I don't give a shit about you!" With a shark like teeth he said. And quickly turned 180 when he faced Robin. "Alright, Robin-Chwaan! I'll prepare the food immediately."
The food has been served as they begun to dig in, obviously, Luffy ate the most.
Various thoughts ran over into the Navigator's mind as she glanced at her captain. *I need to win him over." But she don't know how.
An idea came into mind. Nami looked at him, hesitatingly raising her spoon, until she did so. "L-Luffy, uhm...why don't you try this? It's really good." She extended her hands embarrassedly. 'Dammit! Why am I getting embarrassed now?' The spoon was trembling, same as her lips as the orange haired woman looked away to hide her flushed cheeks. She does this normally sometimes, but she wasn't conscious of her feelings back then, so it did not really bother her that much when she did that before. But now was different, she could not even look at him straight in the eyes anymore. And it's astounding to think that this change has only happened since earlier when she finally understood her feelings towards her captain.
Luffy did not think twice as he immediately took her offering without a single doubt. He was just being himself. Nami glanced back at him after she felt the spoon moving from her fingers. "Mmm... It's good! shishishi" He looked at her and smiled brightly.
"Fufufu~ Oh, my...how sweet, you look like you were feeding a disabled kid." Robin simply said with her casual dark jokes.
Luffy pouted upon hearing Robin's dark jokes. He does not feel pissed nor irritated by it at all. "I'm not disabled..."
"Then atleast know how to feed yourself." Her eyes disappeared as she smiled just like her usual while drinking tea.
"How about you first know how to mind your own business?" Nami answered unwaveringly.
Lightning sparked as they glared into each other's eyes.
Chopper's eyes were bulging at this unusual phenomenon. "A-are you two fighting?"
"Oh my...Nami, It's not like I'm contradicting you."
Nami smugly replied. "Hooo~...I don't know if it's just me, but it seems to me that you doing so, though."
"Fufu~ Nami, please don't be ill about it, it's just... a joke, nothing serious." The raven haired archaeologist just giggled it off.
"Haha I know right! What else could it be but a joke. I knew from the start, I'm just playing." Nami just followed her up, with a laugh.
Not only Chopper, but the rest of their friends gave a sigh of relief at this, after holding back their breath for a moment as they seriously thought they were fighting. "Namii-Swan, Robin-Chuwan! I almost thought for a moment that you were probably fighting over me." Sanji dramatically said. "You got me there, I really you both were fighting. " Chopper said clutching his left chest, smiling at them.
"Yohohoho me too." Brook followed.
Now what could be Luffy's reaction to this? Well, since the start he wasn't listening, instead he focused on eating.
"I'm full, thanks for the food Sanji, it's delicious as always." Robin gently stood up as Nami followed her with her gaze as she left and closed the door.
Sanji's legs were noodle as his eyes were hearts. "Yess! Robiin-Chuwaan! I'd happily serve you untill my deaaathhh!"
Robin got outside, sitting on a swing under the tree, she contemplated on what she have done, she was feeling guilty and... jealous for all that have happened today.
Going back to what happened earlier, during the Archaeologist and Navigator's talk.
"Don't jump into conclusions, Nami."
"What do you mean by that?" Asked Nami.
"I won't let you have him." She boldly declared, without a hint of hesitation.
Nami was taken aback as to what the archaeologist have just said. "H-huh?"
"Same as you, same as what you're feeling towards him, is what I also felt for him."
"You..You like Luffy?" Asked the orange haired woman.
Robin lightly smiled. "Is it wrong for me not to? It is not exaggerating to think that he gave me a life. So he will be my life."
Nami could not utter a word for a moment, then gathered up a thought to say this. "Then it's on." She bravely said.
Robin was wide eyed. "Excuse me? What do you mean by tha-"
Before she could even finish, Nami already stated. Looking at her eyes unwaveringly. "I won't give Luffy to you, he's mine!"
Robin was stunned and gathered up words in exchange for what Nami have said, but before her lips could even move, a voice came into heard.
"IT'S LUNCH TIME!" It kept chanting.
And that's the end of it. Both women came out, wary of each other. Having that sense of rivalry etched between them, fighting over the heart of their captain.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It was afternoon, as the sun was setting slowly giving out rich rays of gold across the ocean. The sea was calm and silent. Luffy ran across the ship, looking at each and every crevasses, every holes, and every rooms in the Sunny. He was finding something, or someone. He ran into Chopper's clinic and asked. "Hey Chopper, have you seen Robin anywhere? I haven't seen her since after lunch."
"Wasn't she always in the library?"
Luffy stood there for five seconds and slammed fist into his palm. "Oh, I never think of that...Thanks Chopper."
Chopper answered. "Okay, dont forget to close the door before you leave."
He ran towards the library and just as what Chopper have said, she was there sitting quietly reading a book. "Robin, I was looking for you." He was smiling.
She raised her head from her book, and when she saw that it was Luffy, she came back into reading, completely ignoring his presence.
Luffy thought this behavior of Robin seem to be kind of odd, for some reason, she would always try to greet back with a smile, he wanted to know the reason of this behavior and so he walked in and took a seat at the opposing side of the archaeologist, facing her. "Is there something wrong?" Luffy tilted his head.
"No, I don't think there is something wrong." Simply saying as she flipped a page.
"But you look kinda troubled."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Again, she casually said as her face was covered with a book she was holding with one hand.
"But you look troubled." He sounded concerned.
sounding unconcerned she said. "You just repeated what you said."
"Oh, shishishi, did I?" He smiled cheekily.
"So, what made you come here?"
He spread out his hands wide. "I'm here to talk about marriage!" Upon saying that, he noticed Robin flinching, however, she still didn't remove the book.
"What do you mean?" Behind the
book, Robin's face is mysteriously red.
"I'm here to know more what is it like, being married, or how do you get married." He just smiled while saying those.
"Then why come to me?" She asked.
"What? Didn't we talk about this yesterday? So I was asking if maybe you know more about marriage."
Robin closed the book she's reading and gently placing it over the table. "Luffy, I haven't been married yet, so I have no experience to contribute or to advise you with, if you want, you could go ask Nami for help instead. You're closer to her right? Just like earlier, you were even getting that lovely-dovey with you on top of her." Then with zero energy rolling her eyes she said with a mockery. "Wow, don't you two just look so sweet? So there's no point asking me about marriage stuff." Looking uninterested.
Luffy only blinked a few times. "What does it have to do with Nami? I don't know what you mean by that. And what's lovely-movie?" He mispronounced the 'Lovely-dovey'. "Anyway, I want it to be you Robin, that's because I trust you with explaining some stuff. I'm just so glad to have you, shishishi." Luffy said this with friendliness and innocence without knowing what it might sound like.
Upon hearing him say that last sentence , her face become light red. Slightly raising her voice she tried to be mad abut it but it turned out to be a cute girly voice and facial reaction. "D-don't even say such things so casually...you...you idiot!"
That was the first time Robin called him an idiot, so Luffy was kinda taken aback. Rubbing his cheeks, confused. "Did I say something wrong?"
This was so unlikely of Robin, she knew she wasn't acting herself, she was so embarassed that she wanted to run away and bury herself now. Making a fist, she coughed before saying. "I-I'm sorry about that. But okay, I'll teach you more about that thing."
"What thing?" Luffy was very slow on the uptake.
The archaeologist inhaled deeply to not sound, and look anymore weird. "Luffy, what did you came here for?... That's what we'll be talking about."
He realized. "Ohh okay."
She just couldn't help but smile at his antics. "So, what question to do you want to ask first?"
"You already mentioned to be on how a man and a woman needs to have mutual feelings to be right for marriage. But what about before being married? Do they just tell each other that they love each other and then they'll get married right away?"
Robin lightly smiled. "No, that's not how it works, It first needs to have come with confession, or dating."
Luffy was confused. "Confession? Dating?"
"Yes, dating is when the two person agree to meet each other at a certain place, just for example, An amusement park, a zoo, restaurant, and more entertaining places to be." Raising her index finger simply saying like a master.
"That means they're just going to have fun, right?" Luffy was all ears.
"Yes, you're right, they have fun together, only the two of them while making that date so memorable for them that they would not be able to forget it for the rest of their lives."
"Wow, that must be really a fun thing to do! Then what about the other thing? What was that again, Confusion? Con... Confucius? Confirmation?" He scrunched up his face trying to remember.
Robin could not help but to giggle, covering her mouth "Fufu~...'Confession'."
"Yes, yes, that's right, confession. Now, what is confession?"
"Confession is the most important aspect about relationships. It's when you admit to that person how much they mean to you, that means you, liking them or loving them." Luffy was nodding multiple times at each sentence of her, listening intently. "However, confession takes a lot of courage, well, same as how you ask a date too. But confession is when you say to that person your feelings, so that's why it's difficult to do."
"Then Robin, do you plan on confessing too?" He just asked purely.
Robin was trying to process what he just said. "Huh?"
"You said yesterday that you have someone you want to marry, right? That means you love that person. But do you plan on confessing to that person?" He was just too innocent for his own good.
Now the conversation shifted upon Robin. However unlike earlier, she let her guard down. But now she was more aware of her actions. Most of her life she was living in the shadows, trying to dwell with peoples of the dark. All her life she was living upon survival. That's how she learned how to control her emotions and hide her true intentions. She then calmly retorted. "Fufu~ Of course, that is a must. However, it takes time, I am still not ready to tell that person."
"Why?"
"That's because, I don't think that person is still ready for it." The girl of Ohara naturally enunciated. "He is still not in a stage where he'd understand my feelings, and I strongly think he could not provide a proper response to me either."
Luffy asked one more time. "Eh? Is that person stupid?"
Robin looked at Luffy and paused for a moment. Untill she let out a genuine but feminine laugh. "Hahahaha~" She was covering her mouth with fisted palm, then halting for a moment and looked unto him with half lidded eyes still wearing that grin etched into her smooth unblemished face. "Yes, he may probably be."
"But who is that person? You still haven't told me." The Rubberman leaned in towards the table.
"That's a secret." She delightfully stated pressing her index finger to her lips.
"Come on, tell me!"
"Nope, I can't, not yet." weaving her finger.
Luffy was getting inquisitive. "I'm your captain, so you should tell me!"
Robin leaned in closer to the table, resting her face into her palm, smiling mischievously and looked at his eyes, saying. "Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell you very soon."
Luffy instinctively leaned back, his sixth sense was telling him that it's dangerous for some reason. "Uh, okay...Also, it's also best if our friends will know about it too, right?"
"Of course, but for now, it's our secret, okay?!" She winked.
"Shishishi~ Sure.."
"...Alright, that's it for tonight talking about this topic."
Luffy wondered. "Huh? Why?"
"Well, bombarding you with informations will only make you overload and make you brains explode. Fufu~ That's why starting today, you will come to see me every evening at around time like this to lesson about such topics. Just think of it as like going to school." She pointed.
He lethargically responded. "I hate school!" Then changed his mood. "But I guess, being with you makes me happy, so it's cool!"
Robin felt her cheeks heat up at those words, and so she repeatedly shouted in her head. 'Calm down! Calm down! Calm down!' She was sweating on just putting an effort to look natural. "Oh I-I forgot, It's about time for dinner. Aren't you hungry?"
Luffy shouted in realization. "Ahh... That's right!" His stomach immediately grumbled. "Ughh... I'm hungry..."
Robin was amused. "You got hungry as soon as I reminded you about dinner."
They both went down towards the dining room.
"Where's Luffy? Ain't no way he's late when it comes to eating." Usopp was kinda worried that Luffy was five minutes late for dinner.
"Oh, he was looking for Robin earlier, maybe he's with her." Chopper stated.
Nami responded. "Looking for Robin? Why?" She said that in a confused but concerned tone.
Then the door opened as Luffy dashed in like a lighting. "Alright, let's eat!"
"Luffy, where have you been to?" Nami said.
"I was in the library."
"What? Why would you be in the library?" The Navigator could not believe that their captain would be having interest in books.
Then the tall ebony haired archaeologist entered, her long wavy hair was tied in a ponytail with a few bangs hanging, flowing down her face, wearing a white backless ruffled cropped cami, paired with black pleated miniskirt together with a waistband shorts on the inside.
Nami was disturbed by her presence, Luffy was in the library, and just as what Chopper has said, he was finding Robin. But what would Luffy's business with Robin be in the library? 'Aghhh... It's bothering me!'
"Hey, you bastard, you're five minutes delayed to dinner, I was actually quite worried." Sanji stated as he now uncovered the dish.
"What!? No way, I was late during a meal!?"
"Well, I'm sorry Luffy, even I too got lost in track of time." Robin said.
Nami hesitated to ask. "Uhm...What did you two do in the library?"
Robin answered her. "Oh, we just talked about some few things."
Nami decided to limit her questions to not cause a scene.
"Thanks for the food!" Luffy began to eat right away.
"..."
"..."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The night was filled with speckled starlight along the dark sky, and the light waves washed, resonating upon the ship's hull making a calming splashing noise. Sitting on the ship's frame was a familiar raven haired woman, composedly holding a wineglass as it reflected the sparkle of the moon on the red wine she's whirling with her right hand, looking with a face of content and stress free.
Nico Robin was having a calm expression, alone in the middle of the night, reclining her back. Then a known voice came into hearing, speaking to her. "...Robin"
She glanced the one who spoke. It was her friend, and also her rival. Known for her orange wavy hair and a pretty young face. Wearing a frilled white nightdress that would probably mistake her appearance as somewhat ghostly from afar. Ultimately, she looked really beautiful, even though it's a wear for sleeping.
Robin asked her her purpose. "What did you come here for, Nami?"
Like a girl who's confessing her love, Nami shyly stated her business. "...I'm here to talk to you about earlier."
"What do you mean?"
"Earlier during lunch. I've spoken to you quite rudely... I'm sorry about that." She stated quite embarassed. Not on the way of how she looked stupid right now, but on how she's acted upon earlier.
Robin stood up, facing her. "No, I'm the one who started it. So I should be the one to apologize. I'm really sorry about that." And then she followed. "I acted without thinking...well, it's because I was..." She could not say it, and so she averted her gaze.
Nami let out a chuckle. "Ahaha~ I know, it's because you were jealous, right?"
Robin hesitated. "...Well, you could call it that." Saying as she avoided the other woman's eye contact. "I'm really sorry about that Nami." Sounding apologetic.
"Please don't be. I responded to you harshly."
"Then I guess it's okay to think that both of us have owed each other an apology." Robin smiled.
"I guess so." Nami smiled back.
The woman of Ohara raised a bottle of wine. "I don't think I could be sleeping yet. How about it, care to join me for a drink?"
Nami beamed at this. "Absolutely!"
They both sat across each other, pouring each other's glass and talking heartily, like how fine woman such as theirselfves would.
"By the way, uh...Robin, what did you two spoke about earlier with Luffy in the library?"
The archaeologist answered her. "I guess it should be fair to say this to you...that Luffy is planning on getting married."
By hearing this, Nami unconsciously raised her voice. "What!? With who? Don't tell me it's you..."
Robin grew an arm and covered Nami's mouth to stop Nami from yelling. "Calm down, you're misunderstanding it. I said he was still only planning on getting married. He said to me just yesterday, and to be truth, I was dumbstruck. And so he came to me earlier asking more about marriage, he was that curious."
Nami was in awe. "Knowing our captain, he must be dedicated to it."
"Fufu~ Well yes... He even told me that he is looking up for his new adventure. He's so cute, It's hilarious, ." Robin stated with a giggle.
Nami just smiled as she sips her wine, recalling Luffy. "That idiot." She then asked. "So what did you talk about earlier?"
Robin took a sip. "Well...He asked me what should do before being married. And so I answered him that it first needs to come to a process, such as dating and confession."
"Haha~ Knowing him, he should probably have asked you many questions."
She giggled. "Well yes, he did."
"But, don't you forget that I too would want to be his adventure, okay?!" Nami puffed up her cheeks.
Smiling playfully. "Of course, I won't forget. But you need to go through me before that happens. However whether whoever our captain would choose between us, I hope that we could still be as what we are right now."
"Of course!" Then came into a conclusion with her thought. "But what if theres more to it that just us?"
"What do you mean by that?" Robin asked.
Concerned "I'm saying if there will be more woman who likes Luffy. No, what if there's many of them!? There's no way we-.. no, I would have a chance!"
Robin was already aware of another rival's existence named Boa Hancock. As what Luffy have said. She's the woman who's been with their captain for two years. Who knows how close their relationship could be? And she is already popular, across the world. Having the title of The most beautiful woman in the four seas. Now who would not feel threatened when that woman of that title was immensely obsessed with their captain. However, Robin was confident not only with herself, but with her looks. But thinking about it, Luffy doesn't look at a person based on their appearance, so it shouldn't really be a matter. "Well, I guess you should only focus on the now... Whether there would be more girls lining up for the Pirate King. Right now, the only match you have is with me. Fufu~" The known collected archaeologist cockily retorted.
Nami playfully replied. "Hoo... you seem to be confident with yourself. Don't forget that I won't go down without a fight."
"..."
A pause
Then they both giggled at each other.
And so, the night continued as these girls shared a cup and a conversation with each other. No matter what may happen, they will always be best friends.
The sun rose as the early morning shone upon the ship.
Luffy got up with a yawn, as soon as he got out of the men's chambers. Others were still sleeping, while some were already gone, assuming they got up early. He walked straight outside and climbed up the Sunny's head, smiling as he usually does, he sat with content as he reclined backwards balancing himself with his hands, inhaling the early breeze of the ocean then he talked. "I...we are going to leave this ship soon, Sunny." He talked with the ship sentimentally. "I'm really sorry about it. It was a great experience being with you, thank you for bringing us into Raftel. Thank you for everything, Sunny." He softly rubbed it's head. "Forgive us for leaving." Smiling sadly, he looked down.
All their dreams were fullfilled, he knew that all of them have no reason to stay anymore. Where it all started was here, they rode this ship for the sole purpose of attaining their own dreams, now that they have done so. Then it will be the time to leave. Luffy was afraid of the moment to come, but he's the captain, he is responsible. He decided that he will disband the crew when he finally reached his hometown.
"..."
After talking with the Sunny for a while, he finally stood up and walked straight to the dining room where breakfast was probably prepared by now.
"Breakfast is served, captain!" Sanji greeted him as soon as he opened the door to the dinner room.
He saw them already seated and is now ready for breakfast, he couldn't help but chuckle by the sight of his friends. "Shishishishi~ Good morning everyone!"
"Don't raise your voice early in the morning." Zoro grumbled,
"Everyone seems lively." Nami said satisfactorily
As soon as Luffy took a seat, Robin greeted her. "Good morning, Luffy!"
Luffy looked at Robin and seeing her smiling so brightly as day. "Oh, Good morning Robin!"
Nami amusingly snuck in. "You seem to be forgetting about me."
"Shishishi~ Good morning, Nami!"
"Yohohoho...And me too!" Said Brook butting in.
"Good morning, Brook!" Luffy's smile was reaching up to his ears, he couldn't be any more happier seeing his friends being happy...until.
"Okay, here you go." Sanji placed the food on the table.
Luffy's eyes were hearts just by seeing the meat on the table. "It looks delicious!"
"Luffy, leave some for us!" Usopp yelled.
Chopper agreed. "Damn you, evil pirate king!"
"Now, having just meat is not good...try this." Robin out of the blue, offered a fork of salad towards Luffy's mouth.
Luffy was not a fan of vegetables, but food is food, so who is he to refuse. Like a puppy being offered a food right towards it's face, he chomped down into it, saying no single word after that, he continued to eat his meat.
Seeing this, Nami just narrowed her eyes in annoyance. 'Seriosly, doing that much effort just to offer him a salad?..' It was because Robin almost stood while stretching her whole hand and body just to let him try that salad. And Nami was in between them, making her irritation valid.
After retracting her hand, she sat back scrupulously, then looking at Nami as if, challenging her, looking someone high and mighty.
Nami was now tick off, smiling so casually as a vein popped on her head. 'Hohhh...so you're challenging me! Aright, I'll take you up on that."
Luffy was eating messily, and he couldn't care less as sauces drip down his lips, he could just lick it off, however he did notice a splattered sauce on his lower lips. And so, Nami took this opportunity. "Luffy, don't move for moment."
Luffy stopped for a bit. "Huh?"
Nami being next to Luffy stretched out her hand and rubbed the bottom part of his lips with her thumb, lusciously saying. "There's something stuck on your lips." Bringing her thumb close to her mouth, she licked the sauce, kissing her thumb as she winked at him. "Mmnn.."
Having this kind of treatment, a normal boy would be red embarrassed by having to be experiencing that kind of show. However, Luffy was different, well, simply saying it is because he is not normal.
Nami should be cockily looking at Robin right now. However, she could not bear to... There's only one thing she's feeling right now, REGRET. She realized what she have done, and embarrassment came in automatically. She could not bear to look at anyone's faces as she just slumped down face as red as if she was hanged upside down.
"Huh? You could've just tell me to wipe it off." Luffy told her.
"Aghhhh..." Nami laying flat on the bed screamed at the top of her lungs while burying herself in a pillow. "Why did I do that!? Why did I do that!? Whyyyyyy!? Wahhh!..." She was hiding her face and flapping her feet in shame.
Robin sweat dropped, even a genius scholar would find himself on a difficult situation to try and comfort this poor hopeless girl. Instead, she just placed her hand on top of the navigator's head. "It's already been done, just live with it."
"That's not really comforting, Robin!" She whined. Then raised her head and looked up straight into the older girl's eyes. "Oh, yes...I know a solution! Why not just bury me down?"
Robin calmly retorted. "Nami, we're in the middle of the ocean."
"Then how about tie me down with chains and throw me away?"
Robin, with a smile simply answered. "Sure, get up, I'll do that for you."
Frightened, she pressed her face back in the pillow and whimpered. "...Don't want to"
"Fufu~" the woman of Ohara was amused.
Nami continued. "However, I think what we did is wrong."
"..."
Turning her head to the side to be able to speak clearly. "I want Luffy to have feelings for me. Don't you too, right? Yet what we did was to compete with each other, we completely forgot the reason behind our purpose, and instead acted for our own pride."
Robin realized, and now she felt bad for Luffy, he became an instrument of their own selfishness. "You're right... I'm sorry about taunting you." She also wants to apologize to Luffy right now, but it would not really mend anything, he would not understand it anyway.
"Well, it's okay, I am to be blamed too." Nami sadly said.
"It is an issue we could no longer solve, nevertheless it's already been done. So why not just forget about it? The weather seems to be nice, I suggest to relax and go outside and enjoy? Hmm...?" Robin suggested to persuade Nami to forget about her shameful burden.
The orange haired navigator tardily got up. "... Okay"
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Nami and Robin were slouching down on the hammock as they wore their bikini attire, with sunglasses to shield their eyes.
Nami wearing a blue bikini with dots forming circle patterns as it's design, while Robin wore a black one with different patterns all over it.
A mere sight of them made Sanji salivate, ogling at their appearances as he was walking with legs like noodles to offer the ladies something to drink. "Nami-Swaan! Robiin-Chuwaan! Please accept this deliciously sweet, freshly squeezed juice I made to quench your thirst, o gorgeous ladies!"
After the drinks were accepted, he came back into the kitchen to make more drinks with his face marked with full satisfaction, daydreaming.
Humming something with a weird grin that's contorting his face, making it look from a normal person's perspective to be seemingly creepy.
Sanji noticed that Luffy was walking up to him as he entered through the kitchen. Stopping just as he got behind him. "Hm?...I'll make drinks for everyone so you just wait, I'll call you when it's ready."
Luffy spoke with a casual tone. "I'm here to ask you about something, Sanji."
"What?" Sanji was up to listen.
He asked with curiosity. "Why do you always do that when Nami and Robin are wearing those kinds of things?"
Sanji caught up to what Luffy was talking about. Luffy meant that Sanji was acting different towards the ladies, especially when they wore their beach attire. "Hehh! You might not figure it out with your brain made out of rubber, but that is because I am a true man." He followed with voice full of devotion. "A true man's purpose is to worship the ladies, to look at them with love and passion, gentleness and loyalty!"
Luffy happily raised his hand to ask one more question. "But I'm a real man too, why am I not doing that?"
Sanji looked at him distastefully. "Huhhh!? Then you dare call yourself a man?!"
That statement damaged Luffy's pride. " It does not require for me to be crazy for women to become a man, right?" He argued.
Sanji, with a smug, looked a him as if he were looking into a worm. "Luffy, why are there even men in this world?"
Luffy pressed his cheek with his index. "Uhh...To enjoy meat and adventure?"
"Hearing that from a rubber-brain does not even surprise me anymore." The perverted cook calmly uttered, and then exploded his voice, grabbing Luffy by his collar. "WRONG!... A man is made to be spending his life with a woman. You get it? To love and to make love, that is the whole purpose of the two, and I'm simply fulfilling it being as a man such as myself. If you could never understand those, then you're just a boy pretending to be a man!"
Luffy was pissed making him grit his teeth "What!?..."
Luffy's eyes stayed at Sanji, expecting him to probably say that he's just making fun of him, but his fiery eyes never changed, making him gulp at how serious his looks are.
"T-Then I'll show you, I can do what you did too, and I'll prove to you I'm a man!"
Luffy ran out of the kitchen to prove his manliness.
Sanji looked at Luffy blankly until he stepped out of the door, then just as Luffy was out of sight he fell down into his knees and banged his head repeatedly on the floor as tears goofily flowed down. "Ughh...Damn that bastard captain, that thing that happened this morning. I can never accept it! As a man that has an eye for women's feelings, how Nami and Robin acted towards him and their eyes were definitely looking at him with yearning!" He was so frustrated that his hands were inside his mouth. "If only it was me who's in his position..."
As Luffy stepped into the grassy deck, he took a chair to sit on and faced towards the two women who's enjoying their time under the parasol on a hammock, watching the two with his direction from a distance and squinting his eyes as he leaned in more to focus. He was thinking if even his nose would bleed from the sight of the two, or he would get hearts in his eyes as he's looking at them, he wants to really figure out and understand Sanji on how does one truly become a man and understand what is it like to feel love.
"Ughhh...ghhhngh" His face reddened. Not because of the two bombshell he's focusing his eyes on towards, but on how hard he was thinking, which he normally does not, that's why blood was rushing up into his head. He muttered. "Why is it so hard?"
After minutes of trying, Luffy finally shakes off his head. "Aghh!... Dammit! Why am I so dumb?" He felt down of himself. "I just want to know more about this love-thing, I want to feel it too. But why is it too difficult?"
"Want me to give you a hand?"
A sudden voice suddenly appeared behind his off guard pose. He jolted as he heard a certain girl's voice, turning back it was Nami who sneaked up behind him after she noticed he was watching them, she was hesitant to come at him first due to her inappropriate behavior earlier and she was still embarrassed by it. But she could not get to muster to not talk to him. She only heard the last statement; It made her so delighted, confirming that Luffy was interested in romance.
Luffy uttered in surprise. "Nami... earlier you were-"
Nami intervened. "I noticed you were spying on us, so it made me wonder why?" The navigator spoke with a confused tone, taking a sit next to him. "So, what's this?"
"Well, Sanji said that a true man's purpose is to worship and love the ladies, but It's just too difficult to do." He sounded and looked so worried as if his life depended on it.
Nami tried to suppress her laugh by this cuteness. "Pffft! You mean you want to be like Sanji?"
Luffy looked at her with puppy eyes. "But he said he's a real man, and that's what real men are supposed to do!"
Grinning, she bumped her shoulder against his, playfully. "What?... Then that means you're making us as your target practice then?"
"Well, maybe?"
Relying on his answer, Nami karate chopped his head. "Don't think of us women as tools to prove your stupid ideologies, you Idiot!"
Luffy rubbed his head to ease the pain. "Ouch! I-It's because Sanji feels looked different whenever he sees you two on that kind of outfit, what do you call that again? Bikini, was it? Then I guessed that, that means his love grows stronger whenever he sees a woman half naked. And so, I tried it myself, and it didn't work no matter how much I look at you guys."."
Nami struck her captain's forehead with a palm. "You idiot, that's not how it works. Also, that same idiot Sanji was just fulfilling his worldly desires. Ugh! What was he teaching Luffy." She closed her eyes trying to lecture him. "Listen Luffy, loving is not about looking at a person's body or their outer appearance. You need to know who they are too, what they are inside. You know what I mean? I'm talking about the personality, and if you feel that you accept that person based on who, he or she is, then I guess that's love."
"Accepting the person?"
Nami nodded. "Although, I guess It depends on you and what you maybe prefer. Do you want someone who has a pretty face, or if it's the personality that you seek, it's up to you." She cockily thought. 'I'm both, anyways'
Luffy gave her a grin as bright as the sun. "To accept a person is what love is, that's cool! Everybody deserves to be accepted, if so, everybody deserves to be loved."
Nami spoke "However, if you will ever find that so called woman on whom you love that you wished to marry, what do you think you will do?"
"What do you mean, what do I do?"
She just explained "Like, what will you do with that person, how will you spend the rest of your days? You, the pirate king, the freest man in the world." Nami was pointing out about the dangers for being a pirate, having a family while enjoying freedom, she don't know what to feel about it.
"No, I won't be a pirate anymore by that time." A smile with a hint of sorrow was printed into the captain's face. "We will all be going to walk our seperate ways."
The girl was shocked. "W-what do you mean!? Seperate ways? Huh?..."
Luffy uttered "Brook, Sanji, Usopp, I know they want to have their own paths in life. Sanji will stay in the all blue, yet he still could not say it to me, probably because he does not have the courage to do so, but I know what he really wants. Usopp... someone is waiting for him back home. And we all know Brook will stay with Laboon." His hair was shadowing his eyes. "I will never set sail happily knowing that suppressing my friends from their desire would take as a consequence, and I will never be happy to be sailing while we are not together as full. It's not adventure anymore."
Nami looked at her captain with grief as her hands were shaking. 'He was burdening it all, it was probably hard for him to give up being a pirate with disbanding the crew and being separated from his friends. Yet he made up for this decision secretly."
Luffy noticed Nami's eyes were teary. "Wha- Why are you crying?"
"Stupid, why would I not be!? You were keeping it all to yourself, you could've just said to us, you don't need to shoulder all this."
"I'm the captain, it's my responsibility and when I say this to all of you right now, then you will probably feel guilty and will no more leave, I don't want that to happen."
Luffy is really smart when it comes to knowing his friends and that's what made Nami's heard beat more faster. "Is that why you were suddenly interested in marriage?" Nami wiped off the droplets from her eyes.
Luffy thinks, tapping his cheek. "Hm, That's not really the full reason. It's because I was curious, I'm really interested about finding a person who's going to stick with you until the end as what my grandpa says. I'm not really that interested with it before, but now that I've attained my dream, I want to know more about this thing next. Shishi"
Nami was resisting the urge to get this man and capture him into a tight hug as what someone would do on a giant teddy bear given how innocent his statements are and how cute it is.
"Anyway Nami, about disbanding the crew. Can you not tell that to everyone and keep it as our secret only?" He asked quite concerned with it.
"O-only our secret?"
He grinned "Shishi Yes, I want it to be me myself to say to them when we finally reach my hometown."
Nami felt special about this secret. "Is it only me who knows about this secret?"
Luffy answered "Well, yes."
'This will be our only secret... Wait, I'm actually happy!'
"Oh, wait..." Luffy said which made Nami stop with her celebration in her mind for a moment. "Oh yeah, I remember I've told Robin about this too. shishishi"
"..."
Smack*
"Ouch! Again, what was that for!?" Luffy scrunched his face, rubbing his head.
"I felt so stupid to be so glad about about it, ugh!" She was talking to herself.
"Huh? what was that you say?" Luffy tilted his head curiously.
Nami actioned to hit Luffy one more time and he reacted, covering himself.
She stopped midway and instead glared at him like a little girl who got her lollipop stolen. "I hate you!" Her face as red as a tomato. She was also pissed about his dullness, she knew it was cute sometimes, but that is all there is to it.
Now Luffy, who didn't know what did he just do to receive that look, earlier they were okay, and in just a moment it came into a scenario like this. He was very confused, yet somehow he felt guilty, he couldn't put why though, he knew he didn't do anything wrong, yet for some reason he felt he did something she wouldn't like. It's like his observation haki were running wild. "...I-I'm sorry?"
That apology just came out of nowhere, he felt that he needs to say sorry although he don't know why.
This calmed Nami down, she backed up and released a sigh. Now she hate herself because of how immaturely she's acted.
"No, you're not supposed to apologize, I should be the one to say sorry. I'm sorry about that sudden...Uh, you know..." She was embarassed.
Luffy suddenly leaned in towards her and went to lightly pat her head thrice.
She has never seen Luffy gently touch nor patting someone's else's head except for kids like Tama and Momonosuke.
She blinked a few couple of times and just looked at him while placing a hand over her head that he touched. "Huh? What was that for?" She's not blushing telling how confused she is.
Luffy only uttered while grinning. "Shishishishi~ Good kid!"
She shrieked as she don't know what he's talking about. "Hahh!?"
"My brothers would do that to comfort me or if I did something good."
"Then why would you..."
"I don't know, but somehow I want to do it. Probably just because you're kinda like, troubled or something." He just laughed heartily.
ba-dump*...*ba-dump-...
She felt like she was being teased. 'Wha-What is he talking about? Is he doing this on purpose?' She questioned
Yet her heart was beating faster than the drums of liberation. "Me a kid!?" She pouted, puffing up her cheeks, the pale face she has before turned into a bright lively ripened tomato. "S-Shut up."
A tall shadow appeared behind them, It was the musician afro skeleton, Brook. "Ahem! Yoho...Sorry to interrupt your lovely conversation. But Nami-san, Jimbei-san is asking for your help to lead the ship to stop by at the nearby country."
Nami stumbled upon Brook's appearance. "Kyaah!...Ahem!... Y-Yes I understand, I'll go right away after I get to change into into my clothes."
The Navigator was frustrated to be disturbed by her role. "Well then Luffy, I still have something to do so, if it's okay with you..." She leaned in to whisper in his ears. "Let's talk again tomorrow, okay?" She was hesitant to say it, but if she wanted to win him over, she would do whatever she could to make him fall for her.
"Yohohoho~ ...Oh, how I recall the days of my youth."
Nami yelled, she thought that Brook had left already. "You're still here!?"
As she left, she pulled Brook's hand that so hard that she almost tore it off.
Brook only yelped as he got taken away like a stick.
Luffy followed Nami with his eyes as she left. He answered Nami's request through her back with a smile. "Sure, Nami."
...
Nami took Brook behind the ship's mast.
"B-Brook!"
"Yohoho~ Yes, Nami-san?"
"Tell me, was I too obvious?"
"By obvious, do you mean your lovely dovey with Luffy?"
"T-That means... You knew?"
"Yohohohoho~ Who wouldn't? You were too obvious earlier this morning, that time when you wiped off the sauce from Luffy's mouth, Yohooo! That looks soo wild."
She recalled the embarassing scene from earlier. "Uwaahhh! That means everyone knows now, it has only been one day, yet everyone knows already!" She went insane.
"Why are you so despaired? It's not like you're embarrassed to tell about your feelings. We're your friends, we have been through so much together, why would it be bad if we knew about your feelings towards our captain?"
She looked at Brook. "I-It's not like that! It's just... I-I don't know why, but I'm still kinda not ready for you guys to know."
"Yohohoho~ Nami-san, I suppose it's your first time falling in love, a total beginner."
By this statement, Nami's face reddened.
"I'm not telling you to tell to all the people about your feelings towards Luffy, I'm hitting on about fighting for it. If you love him truly, then I suggest to fight for it and take pride in it. Be sincere to your feelings, because I'm telling you, love is not all about sweets and cherries, love is no joke that it could kill, it could destroy anything within its path just like the old saying from the East Blue, 'Love is a hurricane' Yoho! Be sincere Nami, is all I'm saying."
"..."
Nami was awestruck.
"That's all I could say, well then Nami-san, I'll get going now, I'm suddenly in the mood to play a romantic music. Yohohohoho~"
Nami did not even take a glance at Brook as he left, instead she was looking down.
She was contemplating deeply.
"Brook is right, what am I so scared of? What am I so wary about."
She smiled "I won't be scared anymore to show him and let him appreciate my feelings."
She walked into her quarter and picked some clothes out of her closet. She changed into a white printed tee and a blue jean.
Jimbei saw Nami walking up to him, but there is something different about her aura this time, unlike the other times he's seen her.
Nami spoke. "Jimbei, I would guess that everything is going alright."
"Yes"
"That's great to hear, well then, our destination will be north."
"Then that means..."
"That's right, we're going to visit the land of the Samurais, the Kingdom of Wano."
Jimbei smiled. "It's been quite a while, huh? I wonder how are the others who we've fought together with?"
"We will turn the ship right away, if going with this current speed as we have now, we'll reach Wano in six days."
Jimbei answered. "Got it!"
In the land of Wano
A certain woman would not stop looking at a picture of the person from the newspaper, bringing the news of him becoming the Pirate King, she was in awe and amazement of this feat, a status that only one man could ever be.
The news paper was delivered for months now, yet the woman would still not cease to look at the image of the young Pirate King almost everyday, until now. "You're really amazing, Luffy, you've shaken the world and changed everything in it." She could not stop smiling. "I wonder what you're doing right now. The people of Wano is rejoicing, I wish you could go here and visit us again and see the country that is proudly bearing your flag. I want to see you again ."
This woman Is Yamato, son of Kaido.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
"Oh, there you are!" Luffy smiled as he peeked his head into the library.
"Fufu~ Hi there, Luffy!" She was rather happy to be seeing him. Robin waved her hand as she saw the presence of the man.
She was sitting at the bench that was going all the way around the whole library, however she is not reading a book nor holding one, instead she was holding a cup of cofee in her other hand. She was excited about their secret meeting that she came in two hours earlier than the intended time. "Come take a sit."
Luffy walked in and sat beside her.
The archaeologist smiled satisfactorily. "It sure is a nice day isn't it?
Luffys simply answered "Yes"
"So, how is your day?" She glanced at him, shrinking her eyes. "It looks to me that it went well."
The guy answered, rubbing his head as he gave out his usual grin. "Shishi~ Although nothing much happened today I think it's good as long as I'm together with my friends."
Robin witnessed the scene of the Captain and the Navigator's episode, although she felt that she was intervening just by watching, then instead, she just moved away for her friend. However, she was still so bothered about it. In the end it was none of her business, Nami does what she wants, and so, she will do as she pleases too.
"Nothing much?... That's good." She just blurted out of nowhere, when hearing from Luffy even his interaction with Nami, as nothing much.
"I mean, too bad, it must have been boring." She sipped from her cofee.
Luffy just smiled.
Then she decided to ask, resting her chin over her shoulders as she turned her head towards him while her legs crossed. "Is there something you'd like to ask me specifically as you are here right now?"
Indeed he does, however, Luffy asked a rather different question than what she expected for him to ask regarding about marriage. "Well actually Robin, I was thinking what drives Sanji to be crazy for women? And why does it intensify even more when she sees one who's like, clothes are like, you know... what's the term again?" He thought difficultly. "Ah 'Revealing,' yes, that's right!" He finally said
Robin calmly assimilated the question, while finishing her cofee. "Why do you ask something regarding Sanji?"
Like a puppy, Luffy slouched. "Earlier, you see? Sanji said to me that not chasing after girls is not manly, and so I said to him that I too am a man, but I'm not chasing after girls unlike him, and I asked why, and he said that I'm not a man. To be honest, It really upset when I heard that. But it's okay, since Nami taught me about it, saying that It was not love and doing it like that was not the way into it."
"Fufu~ So that's why you've asked why does Sanji do that, huh?" She placed the empty cup at her side.
"Yeah.."
Robin thought for a way to explain to him, but honestly speaking, she was quite concerned as Nami was brought up. But she just ignored that. "Well, you see... average males would get attracted to a woman, especially if the woman has a typical aspect that would get men to be attracted to them for."
Luffy looked at her dumbly. "Ha?"
Robin only smiled, she expected this kind of reaction. "What I mean Luffy, is that healthy males would get attracted to attractive women."
"And how do you tell an attractive woman?"
She looked at him, expecting the man to say. 'Just kidding, of course I know how to tell an attractive person!'
However, he didn't and was genuine with his question.
She nearly facepalmed, but her captain seriously is too innocent, no, he's just straight up stupid.
How could he not have a clue what an attractive woman is?
However, this naivety of him only boosted Robin's persistence of giving him knowledge about this world. "... Luffy, when you look at me, what do you think?" She quite hesitated to ask him this.
Luffy titled his head "Uhm... Smart."
"No, give me more of your opinions about me, but instead of my internal capabilities, you give me your thoughts about my physical, uh...figure, suppose that it's our first time meeting and that I'm a stranger to you. Shat would your thoughts be, regarding about my looks, and what do you notice that's part of my body that stood out specially when looking at me?" Smiling ear to ear she said.
"Oh, that sounds fun, okay!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Well then, tell me honestly, and I'll wait." She sat uprightly, giving out a formal posture chested out and stomached in, lightly smiling and closing her eyes while she faces him.
Luffy placed his hand under his chin and looked at her intently. "Hmmm..."
"..."
The whole place is quiet and not even Luffy made a single noise and just kept staring at her. He looked at her from top to bottom, not averting his gaze off her, Robin suggested for this game like thing and so this surely is a way to teach him about something, he was convinced.
Robin was wearing a black tight long sleeve cropped tee that exposes half of her belly and a scoop neck that generously displays her cleavage. Matching with the same black mini tennis skirt.
Any man that would come exposed with this beauty close up would surely loose his mind. But that man is Luffy, therefore it's fine.
...
It's been a couple of minutes and not a noise was produced, this made Robin quite anxious.
She decided to open her eys slowly out of curiousity, and the first thing she saw was her captain's face still on that same position. But the way he's just looking at her was so different... it was so intense that it actually made her nervous. His face doesn't look that of the same old him, it's as if he's not even Luffy. He's starting at her with eyes so sharp, like a hawk ready do pounce it's prey.
Her pink soft and supple lips began to temble, and her face produced a rosy pink color as it began to heat up, she looked down to avoid his eyes, with a gaze so strong she could not bring herself to look at him in the eye. The mature woman turned into a girl that's helpless against a simple gaze, like a prey getting ready to be devoured, powerless against the presence of the hunter. He was giving an aura that does the exact effect in the archaeologist.
'It feel as if he's staring straight into my soul?'
She felt insecurity by being stared at, as if she's naked before the man.
She clutched her short skirt which was showcasing a massive view of her glistening thighs, lightly lowering it down it to hide some of her skin away from him, which was before she wasn't bothered. And she gently raised her hand to hide and cover her protuberant chest and exposed cleavage, slightly turning away her body from him.
Then Luffy finally spoke, his face before which was humorless turned back into a goofy old him after noticing Robin's guarded behavior. "Hm? What's wrong?" He turned his head sideward,
Robin made an excuse. "Um N-Nothing ...I was just feeling dizzy." She refused to look at him, naturally making an excuse.
"Is that so? Then I guess it's best for you to rest, then." Luffy thinks he realized that she was being forced to be with him, teaching him something she thinks that is bothersome. "You don't have to force yourself to talk to me, I'll go leave now and I will tell Chopper to do check up on you." Luffy smiled and stood up, about to leave.
"W-Wait! Don't leave! It's only a light headache, so it's fine." She reached out for his hand personally instead of a hand grown out of her devil fruit.
Luffy looked down upon her to ser her face. What he saw was her deep dark blue eyes only directed towards him. "Are you sure?" Somehow, he reminds her of a cat begging for a food outside in the rain.
She let go of his hand and smiled. "Yes, I'm sure I'm fine!" She has finally calmed down when Luffy was no longer staring intensely.
"Well, if you say so." He sat back.
"So about the game." He recalled.
She understood immediately. "Oh, that's right. So what do you think?" Robin wasn't expecting much out of Luffy, but she still wants to hear what he thinks of her.
"If you're a stranger and I were to be asked about your appearance..." He repeated.
"Well, when I looked at you, I first looked at your face, and that, I noticed that you have a good face, your face is smooth and it's clear that's all I could say." Luffy said casually without stuttering.
This statement took Robin by surprise. Now she discovered something new about him, he knows how to tell someone's appearance, yet he doesn't find that having a good face equals to being attractive. (This was according to Oda's SBS btw) But most of all, Luffy said her face is good, that's literally equivalent to saying she's pretty, it made Robin's heart skip a beat, hearing this from him. Robin always prided herself to be blessed with looks alone, she knew and she was confident she was pretty, she was called that by many people but hearing it coming out of her captain's mouth made her feel really warm inside.
"Uhm, Thanks." She shyly arranged her hair behind her ear.
Luffy added more. "And also, your hair, I noticed that it's shining and flows down along your back smoothly, it kinda reminded me of a river. It smells good too. Shishishishi~ "
This took her unexpectedly, "A river, huh?" She was always taking good care of her hair and made sure it was always properly maintained and conditioned.
"Yes! That's because I love rivers, but I love the ocean more. Shishishishi~"
She giggled by his cuteness. "Fufu~ I appreciate that. Are there any more?"
"Yes, I noticed too that your face was red, then-"
She shut her eyes. "Let's just skip that part."
"Oh, okay."
This time Luffy finally got to the main point. "Your chest, they are big." Saying in a blank face while his eyes were staring straight down into Robin's ample bosom.
There was silence for a moment.
She looked down towards where he's looking at, at her own chest. Robin sweat dropped, she wasn't even blushing nor getting embarassed, she could have felt different depending on the tone he's using or his deliverance but instead he said it blankly, now she felt that the atmosphere turned out weird.
"..."
Luffy unhesitatingly added. "Now that I come to think about it. Why are women's chest bigger than men?" Rolling his eyes upward and rubbing his chin giving out that confused face.
This time, Robin spoke, "Why?... Has this question not intruded your mind even a long time ago? You're now just curious about it?"
The Idiot nodded, "Yeah,"
After suppressing herself for doing so until earlier, Robin let out a drained sigh and finally, she facepalmed. "A girl's breast enlarges as she goes on through puberty, and enlargement of breast is essential for childbirth in the later on, Luffy." Robin explained it briefly, she don't want the conversation to shift into a talk about human organs.
'Thank goodness Nami is not here, he would have surely get her so pissed and she would definitely hit him on the spot.'
"But wait!" He almost yelled.
"Isn't it bothersome? Having those huge burdens might be heavy, I think it's difficult to move around and most of all to fight... I didn't think of that!" He raised his voice, having that idiotic face.
The atmosphere have now turned weird, even weirder than before. Although she did not let this get into to her.
She calmly answered him. "They are indeed big, although I don't think it's getting in my way."
Like a kid asking someone. "Eh? Are you sure?"
"Please, let's not talk about my...chest." She raised both her hands to cover up her bosom, forming an X shape as if she's ready to use her devil fruit powers.
The conversation felt awkward, boring and dry, if this goes on she would totally get this day wasted without teaching him a single thing.
During the start, Robin's main goal was to dig out her captain's sexual attraction towards the opposite sex by asking him about her appearance, but it's just too difficult to do, Robin figured out. With him being not raised in a proper environment and grew up in the mountains alone with his brothers and some mountain bandits, making him lack interest in women as he grew up with instead's main focus was to eat, train and survive.
With this, it will be difficult for him to feel the urge to propagate and find a wife.
'He just noticed my chest because they were standing out, yet he wasn't interested, I have to make him have interest in a woman's body. Think, Robin...' She encouraged herself.
One of the main factors with having a partner was to have the desire to bring forth an offspring through sex, how can one be engaged in relationships when they were not feeling special intimacy towards one another?
Robin decided upon something. 'I-I have to do this.' She thought
'If it's impossible for him to figure out, then I'll have to do it myself for his manly desires to awaken.'
Again, she began to be nervous with this idea, but unlike earlier, this will be different. Her heart started beating at a faster pace. And her lips were hesitant to open and say something to him, while her hands, trembling and began to sweat along with some parts of her body. She was hesitant,
Finally, she hardened herself.
Luffy looked at her, but he could feel something about her presence of how she looked at him through his observation haki that tells him something's off about her. "A-are you feeling dizzy again?" Unsure, he asked.
Robin stood up and looked at him with narrowed eyes and her face flushed in red as if she was drunk. "L-Luffy, you asked why Sanji feels and act weirdly towards women, right? Well, I figured you could never grasp the idea about it, so instead, I'll show it, so you could understand."
She raised her left leg and placed her knee on the couch to rotate her body and face him directly.
"What will you- ?"
Luffy was cut off as before he could even finish, Robin gently placed her hands on her captain's shoulders and nudged him down, forcing him to lay down on the couch.
He groaned as he got pushed down.
He opened his eyes and was about to ask why she just did that, however what he saw was the face of the raven haired beauty, with a visible red, as if she could be breathing and steams could come out of her mouth anytime soon. Her hair which he complimented to be like river had it's strands flowing down wildly on top of him like a shower filling up his sense of smell with the scent of flowers, with the type of shampoo she's using.
The scene was familiar, as to what happened together with Luffy and Nami.
With her hands placed on the neither side of his head to keep her in balance, the distance of their faces were too close together that their noses barely touch, her heavy ample bosom was laying down completely smooched on top if his chest that he could literally feel her heart beat going rampant. Luffy could directly feel the intense temperature that's being emitted from her body.
Robin's senses were filled with Luffy's presence, her sight was covered completely with his only, the feeling of her touch was filled of him underneath, his scent that fills up her nostrils with intoxication with the smell of his own unique scent, she wants to smell more of him that she's resisting the temptation to bury her face down on his neck.
Robin finally spoke, but she spoke stuttering "Uhm, L-Lufy, I only did this because... because I want you to bring out your desires, and for y-you to be attracted to women." She could not even explain to him clearly that even the prodigy of brains which could store informations even after reading hundredths of books was now overloaded with a million thoughts of him, alone.
Luffy atleast knew this wasn't a normal thing to do, yet Robin did it anyway. Luffy felt saddened to make Robin do things he knew was surely embarrassing for her, just for him.
Does this act alter Luffy's perception of romance?
Surely not. He still felt nothing even throughout this. But now he knew for sure that Robin, her friend is willing to resort through such extreme measures just to help him out. Overall, he felt gratitude out of this.
He reached out his hand to envelop her back, just beneath her shoulders and his left arm grasped her body, then pulling it even closer to him with quite a force. This took Robin by surprise, making her let out a small squeak.
That goes, with her face already grazing with his, followed by him pulling her even closer, it could definitely result in a scene where both a man and woman's lips come into contact, or in short, a kiss. Luffy didn't even care what outcome could it be when doing so. But thanks to Robin's fast reflexes, she was able to tilt her head sideways and avoid their lips touching together.
Heaven knows how she wants to just press her lips with his, already. But Robin herself takes a kiss as somewhat memorable for couples only to share, she has no right to claim his first kiss just for her own selfishness. (Robin has no idea what Reiju did -_-)
With the pulling energy, her face went down straight and instead got buried on the side for her captain's neck, just as what she wished for.
'Tha-That was close!'
Luffy finally spoke, with a big grin on his face whilst hugging his archaeologist. "I'm sorry Robin, I still don't have an idea. But still, thanks for your help! I'm so happy that you're willing to teach me even though I'm stupid, Shishi~..."
Luffy did not notice that steam was already smoking out of the woman's head while buried on his neck.
The Strawhat followed. "I guess it's really difficult to understand Sanji and how to discern an attractive woman after all. I'm just curious, because, why is he doing it, and why I'm not? hahaha... But Nami also told me that love isn't all about outer appearance, but it is through accepting who that person is... That is love. I found that like that idea more."
Luffy felt a light huff out of Robin's mouth upon mention about Nami.
Then she spoke in a flat voice. "Luffy, you can now let go of me."
He gently retracted his the force within his arms and let go of his grasp.
In a blink of an eye, Robin, who was on top of Luffy, in a flash was already up and sitting on the couch composedly as if nothing even happened.
Luffy got up and lookied at her with a smiling face. Confirming how pure and innocent his thoughts are.
The woman spoke in an abrupt pace while eyes closed "That's it for today, It's time for dinner now."
"It's at that time already? Yayy!...Alright, food!" He yelled in delight, and jumped up.
He waited for her to stand up so that they could go together.
She noticed how he stood still, and she knew immediately that he's waiting for her, "You may go without me," She said "I'm not hungry so I guess I'll skip dinner and stay here to read some books to soothe my boredom."
This statement made Luffy frown. "Eh? Are you sure? Skipping a meal isn't good, you shouldn't!"
"It's fine... I'm fine."
She said with a smile.
Luffy took her answer as it is and finally conceded. "Well, if you say so." He smiled. "But if you ever get hungry just ask for Sanji to cook for you. Shi shi... Well then,"
Robin followed him with her eyes as he hurriedly ran to the exit.
She sat still for a couple of seconds and then she looked down to herself, bowing her head. Her face grew so red that her head was smoking just like earlier. She covered her face with her hands, then she spoke to herself in a tone of regret, muffled with her hands on the way. "What have I done!? Why did I do that? That going too far, that was so embarassing! Robin...you stupid!" She scolded herself.
She then fell sideways, letting her body fall, weakly on the couch, still with a face that is covered.
She muffled, "There is no way I'd be able to face him again." The scene kept replaying on her head, making her even more and more embarassed.
Then she replayed a certain response of Luffy.
-But Nami also told me that love isn't all about outer appearance, but it is through accepting who that person is... That is love. I like that more
She got up and sat again, and this time that response made her bothered,
-Nami told me...
-I like that idea more...
She kept replaying those statements in her head.
This made her awfully invidious at how Luffy always thinks about Nami.
She bit her lip achingly and clutched her skirt tightly. She muttered looking dejected. "Nami again..."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It was a nice afternoon at the Sunny There's no danger to worry from the marines to chase them down, no blistering storms to face, nor any trouble regarding with the ocean's abnormal current. Instead, it's a peaceful day and a beautiful weather. "Hey, Usopp! Let's play!" Luffy ran up to his friend that was tinkering with something at his so called 'Usopp's workshop branch'. Usopp looked back "Uh?... I'm busy, can't you see? I'm doing something." The captain didn't give up with just a single refusal. "Come on, come on! Let's play. Shishishishi~" Usopp answered quite annoyed. "After this," Luffy pouted. He was so bored right now that he was craving for something to happen, whether it be battles from other pirates or marines or even a violent storm to face. But for straight days now, not even one creature attacked the Pirate King's ship, that is because, for obvious reasons everyone was scared of it. He straightened up his stance and glanced towards the surrounding, there he noticed the archaeologist peacefully watering her flowers, gently humming with a light smile imprinted upon her face. He decided to greet her, walking closer. "Yo! What's up, Robin!" Hearing him as he approaches, Robin twitched, and suddenly paused her movement. Luffy continued "You're watering your flowers, huh?" Robin felt a sweat run down her cheek, and with her back faced to him, she hastily said, her tone however sounded normal. "...Yes" "I have something to do though, well then." With fast paced steps she hurriedly escaped not taking even a single glance at him. Luffy followed her with his eyes as she left. Robin walked away from his sight with with a cringed face. She kept remembering what she has done yesterday, that's the reason why she could not get herself to able to face him. When recalling about what happened, her face began to redden again. She just walked aimlessly with so many thoughts overloading her brain. Even the genius archaeologist that could decipher an ancient artifact at such a ripe age was under the mercy of this so called 'love' she's feeling for her own captain. Luffy just thought as she disappeared from his sight. "What's with her? Oh, well... whatever." He immediately diverted his focus back into Usopp. "You ready to play now, Usopp!?" "Huh? No, I'm not even halfway done yet." As the casual Luffy would do, of course he doesn't listen. He ran up immediately and tapped Usopp's shoulder. "It!" Usopp with a ticked mark at the side of his forehead turned towards Luffy as he reached out to him. "Hey! it's not on yet." The Strawhat immediately avoided the hand that was coming at him, he stepped back. "Oops, that was close. Shishishishi~" "What? I'm not even trying to play," Usopp's pride won't let it be after getting a touch from him, even though he wasn't intending to play. He got up and he tried to reach his hand out again to Luffy. Luffy jumped back, saying while mocking Usopp. "I won't let you!" Usopp ran after Luffy, abandoning his work. "Get back here, you!" They both began to chase each other up on the deck. Chopper was joyfully eating sweets sitting at the table like a birthday boy. Then he saw Usopp with an angry face chasing Luffy who was laughing immoderately "Are you guys playing? Let me join too!" Usopp halted "Sure, but you're It." And thus the trio began to play as what they usually do. "....." "Hey you guys, I brought drinks." Sanji came out of the kitchen offering drinks. The three looked back. "Good timing, I was getting thirsty!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper ran towards Sanji. "Yey! I want the sweetest juice!" Sanji answered upon Chopper's exclaim. "They're all the same sweetness and same flavor, orange." "Hey, don't you have any sake?" Zoro walked from behind the cook, which his question and his presence greatly pissed him off. "ARE YOU STUPID!? Why would you ask for alcohol in the middle of the day, and with this heat too? Does your brain have finally grown moss same as your head too!?" Sanji yelled with a shark like teeth. Zoro answered back with the same energy. "I JUST ASKED, you dumbass! What's wrong with you? Do you wanna... fight!? Uhh?!!!" "Oh, sure I do, whenever I see your face, my feet are just itching to strike it!" "What'd you say, you pervert cook!?" Sanji quickly placed the plate containing the drinks on the table before rushing at the swordsman. "Yoohoo! It's a fight! it's a fight!" Yelled Luffy "Go Zoro! "Go Sanji!" "Go, you two!" While sipping at the straws, each one holding a cup, Usopp cheered for Sanji, Chopper cheered for Zoro, and Luffy cheered at both. It is evident that they were enjoying this scene. "Sanji, go strike back!" "Here comes a kick, Zoro, Dodge it!" Out of nowhere, Nami appeared in between them and gave them a taste of her fist. *Schwap!* "Stop it, you two!" Both came tumbling down, and smoke came out of their trail, skidding out with their heads on the floor. "Aww... It got stopped," Luffy sighed disappointingly "Hey, Nami we were just starting to bet." Usopp protested. "Nami won!" Chopper celebrated, raising both his small hooves. Nami glared at the three with murderous intent, cracking her knuckles. "Hohh? It seems like you three want to meet the same fate as these two." This made the three shake down their knees and sweat down profusely, sucking away their lips to prevent them from saying anything stupid that would ignite the woman's wrath. Nami yelled at the three like a military officer, walking in front of them. "You three idiots, can't you see that these two morons were destroying our ship, why didn't you stop them and instead just laughed and cheered?!" "....." There was silence for a moment, untill Chopper spoke up. Chopper tried to answer, looking up at the navigator with frightened eyes. "U-uhm, But i-i'ts okay since F-Franky is here to fix, right?" Nami smiled, but it is clearly shown that she's mad. She bent down, towards Chopper and said. "I see, so it's fine since we got Franky to fix it up, right?" Chopper nodded, he thought that his statement finally eased Nami's anger. "Yes, and also, I don't think Zoro and Sanji would really destroy the sh-" Before he could even finish, Nami began to say, still with that smiling face. "So if I beat you up black and blue, it's okay since you're going to be healed up anyway, is that what you're saying?" "Eeek!... I'm sorry!" Chopper squealed, then hid behind Luffy's leg. Nami raised her head to face Luffy. She saw Luffy grinning like idiot as she faces him.Then Chopper yelled, eyes, teary whilst hugging his right leg. "Luffy, help me!... Protect me from her." Nodding in agreement, Luffy inhaled up with courage and faced Nami as if she were the finale boss. "Alright Chopper, you can count on me!" Nami shrinked her eyes, when their eyes met. He twitched The Strawhat turned to the side to avoid her menacing glare while sweating. "You were scared after all!" Chopper yelled "Sorry Chopper, but there's no way I can defeat Nami." Scrunching up his face and agonizingly clutching his thighs. "Luffy, nooo!!!" The doctor dramatically cried out. Usopp sweat dropped looking at the two. "What the hell is wrong with you two?" Nami externally looked annoyed upon seeing Luffy as if getting ready to be hit, but her conception about this inwardly was dissimilar. 'Cute' A thought that came out of nowhere, her lips almost formed into an arch when looking at him. She shook off her head clearing up those thoughts. Luffy looked at Nami who was shaking her head side by side, this activated his childish idiotic self again. He suddenly yelled, "Aha! Chopper, see that? It's one of my mental attacks, yes she's definitely battling with her mind when I mess it up. nyahahaha" "Uooohhh... Really?" Toni Toni Chopper reacted upon amazement. The tick mark was formed back on Nami's forehead and she came back with something for him. A smack into the head. Luffy fell down head first into the floor Nami at least agreed that he's messing up her mind... for days now, actually. "Shut up, you idiot." She acted to walk away, brushing off dust from her hand. "Luffyyy! Uwaahh! S-Someone call a doctor!...Oh, wait, that's me." For a long time of silence Usopp this time spoke up, affirming the over reacting Chopper. "Don't worry about it, Chopper, he'll wake up soon. Look, he wasn't even knocked out, he just straight out went to sleep when he got the chance to lay down on the floor." Usopp looked down at Luffy with tired eyes. The rubberman was already snoring, bubble of snot floating out of its nose, he was already used seeing this scene, and still wondering why Chopper isn't. "Let's just leave him be, I still have something to do, so I'll have to go." "Oh, yeah, me too. I almost forgot about the unfinished snacks I left earlier." Usopp sweat dropped. "You were worried about that?" ............There was light among darkness, and that light shone upon Luffy and his crew. It was lit as if a spotlight was surrounded over them, and when glancing at other angle there could nothing be seen but darkness. "I now disband this pirate crew! Everyone, you all should live out your own now." Luffy announced to everyone. "W-What are you talking about?" "Luffy, please tell us it's a joke." "Are you damn serious?" "No way!" Everyone got their own various response, however, it's all negative. Chopper cried out to Luffy. "Luffy, is it that easy for you to overthrow our crew? Our friendship?...How could you? You-you're horrible!" Then Franky "Luffy! After all we've been through, this what you're going to say? Why? Is it because that you've finally become the Pirate King and so you're done with us now?" Luffy tried to reason out. "No...guys, I-uh.." "You, you're going to abandon me?" Luffy looked up and it was the image of the massive ship, and Sunny spoke to him. "It would be better for you to let me go and sink into the bottom of the ocean rather than to be abandoned by you guys, my family." Luffy could not handle it and looked down with sorrow, and the moment he lifted up his eyes he saw his crew already walking away from him. "Wait, guys! No!" He tried to ran after them and stretch out his hand to reach, maybe just to touch a shoulder of among one of them, hoping it would halt them from moving on. But the group soon later vanished, entering the shadows.. And all that's left was Luffy, alone in the dark and cold, no one there to warm him up with care, compassion, and friendship. None. Luffy's eyes was left with despair, his body felt numb that all strength in his muscles just gave out until he collapsed on the floor backwards, making him sit down. Luffy curled up his body and lowered his head, embracing his knees tightly, as he cried out for his friends silently. "Zoro, Nami, Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Jimbei... Please, guys, I don't want you to leave me, I truly still want to keep going on adventure with you guys. I don't want to be alone! It's you that all I have." Luffy sniffled "But I know you all have no reason to stay anymore, please-please don't hate me guys if I disband our pirate crew." Then all of a sudden, Luffy felt a warm substance, crawling down into his face. It's something similar to a water. With all the tears running down against Luffy's face, he knew immediately that this strange feeling wasn't his, his tears felt cold, unlike this new weird tingling sensation of a liquid continuously dropping into his face... it felt warm. Luffy woke up... although his vision was blurry, the moment he slowly opened his eyes. However, there was a foggy image of a person, noticeably a woman judging by one of her key characteristics. Her long orange hair tied into a ponytail that's hanging down upon her shoulder. The guy grumbled as his mind was still fuzzy from quite a long time of sleeping. *drop* Again, with that same warm sensation. Upon feeling this, his mind began to be fully awake. He lifted up his hand to rub his blurry eyes just to notice it was blurry because of tears all along. He blinked several times until his sight became clear, and he finally noticed that it was Nami who was there after all, she was crying. She was kneeling at his side, lowering her head before him, as tears continuously fell down straight into the captain's face. Why is she crying? Luffy began to panic and explosively shot himself up to sit cross legged in front of her. "Wha- H-hey! Nami, what's wrong? W-why are you crying? Are we attacked?" Luffy was hella confused. Nami didn't answer, she just looked at him painfully and bit her lip. Luffy was so worried, he decided to tap his hands over her shoulders, desperately seeking an answer why she was tearing down. Then, out of a sudden, Nami pressed herself on towards Luffy and buried her face into his scarred chest. Supporting herself by hanging her hand into his left shoulder. Tears still continued to stream down her face as she continued sobbing. Luffy was shocked, he just slept and woke up and then Nami was suddenly in front of him crying? He wanted to ask her for details, but this sight of Nami just saddened him, and he returned to envelop his arms around her gently. "Nami...?" Nami finally spoke, squeezing his shoulder. "Luffy... There's no way we could hate you, no way that would happen, so please... please don't cry!" What is she talking about? She was the one who came here crying. Why could she be pointing at Luffy? "???" Luffy didn't spoke however, Nami knew exactly what he's in question about, she finally, answered him. "You were crying. You were muttering something while you're sleeping, and by that... I knew immediately what you're dreaming about." "I-It's just that, you sounded so alone, and that made me sad too. That's why..." Luffy gently rubbed Nami's back and called out to her warmly. "...Nami" Nami looked up, witnessing that Luffy was smiling as his usual self does naturally. This made the woman cease tearing. "Nami, It's okay... It's just a dream." Luffy reassured. Again by hearing this, Nami bit her lip and rapped her knuckle into his chest, then yelled at him quite angrily. "What are you comforting me for!?" "This is what I hate about you! You don't even care about yourself, you just care about us. Why is it that now when you're the one who's in most need of console, then again you turn back that comfort into me?" "I am not in need of comfort, because right now, it is you who needs it!" Those last words took Luffy aback, he was wide eyed upon those sentence. Then he recalled what woke him up from that horrible dream, no, it should be considered a nightmare. What awakened him was her warm tears that's falling down full of emotions. This time he felt it surging within his body too her own warm self among the cold darkness of the night. Right now, she is the warmth and the light. Luffy looked down on her with a light smile, voice so tender that it sounded like a whisper. "You're warm... Thank you..." Nami narrowed her eyes when she met his. And touched upon what he meant by that. "What?" Luffy was holding her her gently, and she was simply leaning down into his chest. Then suddenly, he forcefully pulled her closer to him. With his strong, muscular arms, he held her tightly as his eyes were overshadowed by his wild messy hair. "Thank you Nami, I was so scared, but your tears opened my eyes." "...." It was supposed to be a scene that's dramatic that would capture the warmth of the relationship (friendship) of the two. But His arms engulfed her whole body, however his hand's placement is just... Nami's face became piping red as his hands that wraps her around was was placed at the below parts of her hips. His hands was so strong that it dug it's way through Nami's pulpy flesh. "Luffy...?" Nami whispered into Luffy's ear. "What is it, Nami?" He let go of her. But the moment he let go of her, she delivered a hammer with her fist over his head, yelling. Her face red, "Where the hell do you think you're touching!" Nami stood up, she was clutching her thighs from embarassment. The guy looked up while rubbing his head from pain. "Did I do something wrong!?" He asked a question which heated up the woman's head even more. "You asked if you did something wrong? Of course you did, you dumbass! There are some places where you're not allowed to touch in a woman's body, okay!" She was pointing at him. Then she placed her hand on her waist and looked away, pointing her lips out, wearing a sullen expression. "A-Also, y-you should be gentle with your touch... I-Im sensitive, you know?." Luffy doesn't look guilty at all, and heck, he doesn't even understand what's the big deal about it. Although he was curious, this could probably help him to understand women and to know what they are like, since right now he's talking with his female friend. "Why can't I touch wherever I want to touch?" "Just because you can't! Unless the person allows you to. You seriously don't know about this?" She was quite annoyed by his usual obliviousness. "It doesn't make sense. If it's me, I won't make a big deal out of it." "That's because you're a man, and you're an idiot! That Idiot part was just you, anyway. But when you come look into it literally, men and women's body figures are just different, us women's body are delicate, therefore it should be treated like a precious gem." She confidently said upon those last sentence. "Is that so? Well, my bad." Luffy nodded and smiled, Nami let out a massive sigh. "This isn't what we should be talking about right now." She sat back into the grassy deck. But instead of sitting in front if him, she sat beside him, so close that their shoulders were rubbing against each other, as they both were almost on the same level of height. "About the dream you had..." Luffy turned to his side to face her, they both looked at each other's face. "Is it just now, or it's been happening even before?" Luffy was about to answer, rolling his eyes away and pointing out his lips to the side. But before he could even open his mouth, Nami spoke. "Don't lie!" "Wh-what? I didn't even say anything yet." Nami pinched his cheek roughly and stretched it out a little bit. "I know what you look like when you're about to lie...I mean, you can't lie, stupid! Tell me honestly." By this, Luffy's posture slumped. "It's been quite a few months since this kind of dream started to happen." Nami frowned, looking at Luffy. "Why? Do you actually think that our reactions would appear negative, contrary to what you're planning about the disbanding?" Luffy had a small pout and nodded. "I think you guys would hate me." Looking quite mad, she cleared out to Luffy, saying. "Luffy, I ...no, WE all trust you, that's why this is how far we've become. All our dreams are fullfilled now, and all of that would never happen if you never came into our lives." She held both his shoulder, and clutching it tightly. "There's nothing we could wish any more than that dream you've fullfilled for us... And now you're thinking that we would hate you?" Luffy could not find his words and remained speechless for a moment. Then he looked down and uttered. "I'm sorry." *Chop!* Nami delivered a karate chop over his head. "Ouch! Why!?" "That's right, you should feel sorry." The navigator said, irritated. The Strawhat only looked quite befuddled at her, not adverting his glance, only to notice her irritated face turn into a soft smile. Then as if her movement in a blur, she leaned her body in towards him in a tight embrace...again. However, this time, she was the one that enveloped her arms around him. Muttering at his ears. "I hate seeing you crying." Luffy, for his part just smiled at those words and answered back, simply. "I hate seeing you cry too." Recalling how much perturbed he's got after seeing Nami's eyes swell up in tears earlier. They both separated, Still each other's eyes lingered within their gazes, until Luffy decided to avert his eyes look at the surrounding. He was at the grassy deck of the ship and he just noticed that the sun has already gone down, with stars encompassing the ocean along the waters with just them two on the deck. Luffy just realized that he has fallen asleep on the deck. This however is not a rare occurrence for him, in fact, napping at random places around the ship is only a normal thing for Luffy and Zoro. But currently, looking at the sky, it's dark. Luffy only stared blankly until realizing something, panic started to take over him. What is it that he is so concerned about? *grumble* His stomach grumbled "That's right!..." "Dinner!!! I haven't had dinner yet!" He shot himself up looking disquieted, and asked Nami with face of desperation. "Where's everyone? Nami, what time is it!?" Nami chuckled at his antics. "Heheh~ Don't worry Luffy, It's still only about 7 pm, There's no signs of anyone here right now because I saw them all gathered up at the kitchen." "Well, let's see, Sanji told me earlier before I left to look for you to get ready for dinner, that the sea king meat is taking longer to soften. So he said, it'll be ready in about 20 minutes. I got here, I think..." Prolonging her answer to purposefully tease the tensed up Luffy "...That's right! I first got here about 20 minutes ago already!" Luffy's eyes almost bulged out. "Then the dinner is already probably being served right now! Let's go and hurry, they will probably eat it all up and nothing could be left for us!" Nami had a ticked mark on her forehead after he said that. "You're the one who's eating all our meals up until nothing remains, stupid." "Oh, that's right... Shishishishi~" Nami expected that Luffy would run away already into the kitchen. However, he stood just stood there while looking at her. The woman tilted her head, asking. "... What?" Then Luffy reached out his hand to her, acted to assist her to stand up from her sitting position. The reason why he stood still was because he was actually waiting for her. Nami simply smiled and took his hand, unhesitatingly. "I thought you would just run straight into the kitchen, who would thought that you would actually wait for me considering how hungry you are." He grinned and said. "Let's go together." He pulled her up, however, the moment Nami got up, she tripped and went straight towards him. Her face went on and got unexpectedly placed towards his shoulder. "Eh?" Nami's heart beat went faster and faster. The question is, how could she be so flustered on a single bump with each other's body? When earlier, she even freely went and embraced him with all her heart, but how could such a simple accident make her heart race and face, reddened abnormally? Well for her, the act of comforting her captain was something that she is abided to deal with as a Nakama. But right now, what happened was something she did not even desire as it was an accident. Right now there is no sad dreams to be comforted about, there is no friendship, no camaraderie... Simply a man and a woman under a starry night. Nami eyes appeared slumberous, it's happening like magic that her mind forgot the ability to think. She felt like her vigor has been drained by this man. She felt like she could tell the truth. Her lips opened up to say. "I love y-" "Shishishishi~ What are you doing Nami? You suddenly tripped." Nami who was about to confess, was halted by this same man who she was about to tell her love to. "By the way? Were you about to say something?" Her eyes opened wide and she immediately took a step back, curling her hand just about the level of her shoulder close to her chest while her palm were facing him. The scene were something she does whenever she's caught stealing back on her theif-life. And right now, she's acting like she just got busted. "Say something? Nu-n-no way, I-I didn't s-se-sssay something! I in no way did, I p-promise!" Her face was sweating while trying hard to lie, swaying both her hands side by side together with her head. "Huh?" Luffy found it odd that Nami suddenly acted this way, but he's too hungry to think for that. "Well, if you say so. But let's go now, I'm so hungry that I could die." He clutched his tummy and let out a drained sigh. "Ye-yes, I'll be sure to come and follow." Nami stood there as she watched Luffy's back as he's running for the kitchen hurriedly. Then she suddenly remembers the advice Brook told her. - "I'm not telling you to tell to all the people about your feelings towards Luffy, I'm hitting on about fighting for it. If you love him truly, then I suggest to fight for it and take pride in it. Be sincere to your feelings, because I'm telling you..." She looked down and spoke in a solemn tone. "I almost said it, yet... Yet I can't.... It's too difficult for me after all." As if realizing something, she shut her eyes tightly and lightly clapped both her cheeks, the light sting of the blow woke her up and gave her a felicitous thinking. Looking back into what her mother, Bellemere, had said a long time ago as they both laid down together to sleep in one bed covered by the blanket. Bellemere advised her two daughters about love life. Backstory; --"Listen, Nami, Nojiko, if ever both of you will get to find a man you think that you truly love... Well, as of now, you shouldn't think of something like that, you two are still snot nosed brat after all. But I'm just worried because you both are girls so I better remind you in still early age." Nojiko spoke at Bellemere's left side with full interest. "Ohh~... Romance, let me hear it, let me hear it!" Nami, at Bellemere's right side just sounded apathetic about these kinds of stuff. "Not interested..." "Whatever, you two just listen, I will not be at your side forever, you know? When you love, you must make sure to give out your all, but you should also expect to loose your all." "So it's a gamble." Nami asked. "Hehe~ That's right, it's a frickin gamble." "Hehh! In no way I would bet my all in one go." Nojiko was quite pissed at the snorting Nami. "This has nothing to do with money, Nami!" Their mother figure just chuckled lightly and kept going. "You see, a love between a man and a woman isn't so simple, it goes on through many process and challenges, something like that. In a relationship, don't expect that all things will just go on smoothly, it won't. 'Love is patient', think things through and don't just rush in hastily. It will do you no good if you solely follow your heart, you will only hurt yourself; have some space for your mind too, make sure both should be in balance." Nojiko rubbed her head. "I don't understand what you're talking about, Bellemere!" "Well, someday you will understand, like I said, 'be patient' Hahaha~" Nami scoffed at the woman. "Pffft! That's some deep words coming from someone who's single." A tick mark appeared on the woman's head, and pinched the young girl's cheek. "Shut up!... Anyway, it's time for sleep now." End Backstory; "That's right, I should just be patient." She lightly smiled upon the recalling of the past. "It sure takes back memories, huh?" A cold wind passed by, her orange hair flew as it does. Nami couldn't help but gaze at the direction where the wind is going, then slightly tilting her head upward looking at the countless starts that's reflecting upon the sea. She arranged her tied hair sidewards before saying, with a delightsome face. "It's getting cold out here, I guess I should go inside."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Luffy was laying down, with his head rested upon his opened up palms on top of the ship's figurehead, wide grin completely visible off his face, looking at the vast entirety of the blue sky, and it's massive clouds."Shishishishi~""That one one's shaped like a cotton candy, and that one shapes like a cotton candy too!...oh, wait... that one's a very massive cotton candy!"At this point, every cloud he's set his eyes upon is shaped like a cotton candy."The day is really peaceful, I don't like it! Hahahaha~"He complained, talking to himself in a silly way.He pouted to himself."Can't there be at least something interesting to happen? Everything's been so boring lately...""I wish we'd get attacked by a thousand fleet of marines! Shishi~""Or face a storm, or we could get to hop on into some interesting Island, or get to encounter a tsunami as big as a mountain! Or maybe even get attacked by sea kings, that could be fun too!..."The captain imagined all kinds of stuff with his simple and wild imagination, his innocence thinking really is portentous. A man that does not think of consequences, and a dream he felt that is simply cool is only what he solely follows."Sea King, huh?.... Oh,now that I think about it, I still remember that sea king they called 'Lord of the coast' back home at the Fuusha Village with it's 'red' glowing eyes who ate Shanks' hand. I wonder how it's still doing today?""Red, huh?... red...Wait... speaking of red. Why does Nami and Robin's faces, lately turn into deep colored red when I sometimes talk with them?"Placing a thumb beneath his chin, he remembered some of the scenes from which, whenever he gets too close with them, or when he talks with them, suddenly, their faces turn into something like hot faced. Somehow, this never happened even before back on their journey. So why is it only happening now?He slowly lifted himself up to sit.Luffy found this behavior as somewhat odd between the women in his crew. Which he only realized just now.Looking worried."Hmm... I wonder what's wrong with them? Robin mentioned to me, the last time I spoke with her that she was just feeling dizzy. Does the same thing happen with Nami too?""Why is it happening only when I simply talk to them?... It's weird."As if realizing something, he gasped out of his mouth in shock, then he covered his mouth like he's damned."No way!...D-don't tell me!..."Sweat profusely flowed out his face.What is it that revelation Luffy uncovered? So dreadful that it could make him exude such reaction?"... I have an illness!"A statement that came out of nowhere. His hands though, was shaking nervously.How did he come to conclude such situation?"That's right, Chopper once said that diseases could spread with or without touching people. And that transmissible diseases could even be passed on to others even when they're just talking."He looked really anxious, clutching his hair."Agh Dammit! Why did I not follow Sanji's advice to wash my hands first before eating!"He stopped suddenly."But wait, I don't really feel sick, and I haven't even caught an illness before."He then remembered the two years prior with his short conversation with Ivankov at the Impel down."Is it because of my immunity towards all poison? Then that must mean that Nami and Robin have completely caught my disease, because they are not immune to poison!"Luffy has completely misinterpreted poison and disease and interconnected them with each other as somewhat similar.Truthfully speaking, however, just as a matter of fact, even if he's immune to all kinds of poisons, or even illnesses, then that would mean there is no disease to be spread, since he carries none in the first place. (such a dumbass)"This is bad, I have to get looked at by Chopper right now!"He swiftly ran into Chopper's clinic. The moment he arrived in front of it's door, he grabbed the door knob and swung it open with agitation without even knocking.Chopper was in the middle of mixing some chemicals and herbs to make more rumble balls in case of unexpected happening. He then nearly jumped out of his favorite spinning chair, the moment the door banged open, revealing Luffy."Huh? Wha-what's happening!?"Chopper asked, quite scared while leaning back as he looked at Luffy.Luffy, with his mouth opened wide yelled."Chopper This is bad! I-I have a disease!!""Ehhh!??"Chopper's eyes bulged out, then he hopped out off his chair and moved those two small hooves to run up to him.Luffy moved his hand to face his palm into Chopper's face trying to stop him to try to avoid to pass on his assumed contagious illnes to Chopper."Wait, Chopper! Don't get close to me, you'll get caught by my illness too!""What, Is it that serious!?... But don't worry Luffy, I'm a professional. Please lay down on the bed and let me examine what type of disease it is, so that I could make a cure for it."Luffy nodded with a serious face, and did as what the Doctor has said.Chopper looked very worried with a mixture of perplexity. This was the first time Luffy has been reported having an illness, which before he himself stated that he never experienced being sick. But right now, he even rushed into his clinic to announce that he is carrying an illness. Which made Chopper deeply anxious about it, he was sweating drops as he performed various tests within his captain.Thirty minutes had past since inside the locked clinic."T-This..."Chopper sweat dropped to see the result of Luffy's test from his saliva, body temperature, and even blood samples."It's completely normal!"He glanced back from his desk towards Luffy, only to see only that he's sleeping. Chopper walked up to him and shook him intensively until his eyes woke open."Luffy, wake up!""... Huh? What is it Chopper?"Chopper immediately dove right into Luffy neck, crying."Uhwah! Luffy, you're fine, you're not sick! The results came out, and it has shown that you're completely in normal condition, no... In fact, you're really in healthy condition! I'm so happy for you!""What, I'm not sick?"Luffy got up, while Chopper still hang loosely from his neck."No you're not. And in the first place, how did you even conclude that you have an illness? You knew yourself that you're feeling well, right?""Huh, what's with that, Chopper? Of course I'm feeling fine, I'm completely immune to it, but others aren't!"He let go and landed down with a squeak from his hooves. He looked up straight into the rubberman with a blank expression."What are you talking about, Luffy?"This statement made Luffy look at Chopper with disgustingly questionable eyes, looking as if he doesn't know what he's doing at all as a doctor, so Luffy decided to remind him. Even though he himself doesn't know what he's talking about."Chopper, aren't I immune to all kinds of poison? Then that means I have a disease, but those are ineffective to me, but the disease is still in me, so I could potentially spread this disease towards others... Do you even know your job?"Chopper was blank after hearing this from his captain, this blankness however quickly shifted into an irritated face, with a tick mark at the side of his forehead.That sudden arrogant eyes, smirking while looking down on him made the doctor's eyes fume and he gritted his teeth. Feeling that his reputation as a doctor just by now is getting sullied by this idiot of a captain.His hooves that served as his hands clenched tightly similar to his teeth. And the reindeer's eyes was shadowed with his hat as he summoned energy to yell at him."You...You-you IDIOT!! That's not how it works! Poisons and diseases are two completely different things! And it doesn't make sense that you're carrying a disease when in fact you are completely immune to it, because you're antibodies already got rid of it! So you are unable to pass on that disease because there isn't in the first place!!!"He was angrily pointing his little hoof at the Pirate King, but even though no matter how much he's boiling right now, It still looked madly adorable."Oh, is that so? I don't know what you're talking about at all, but I guess I'm completely fine after all...ahahahaha... ahahaha"Luffy rubbed his head cheekily, he got completely no idea what Chopper have just said. But he thinks Chopper just proved he's completely healthy after all."You idiot! Why was I even worried about you!?"Luffy got kicked out of the clinic already by Chopper who sent him off with a scolding, a light lecture, and of course, a hard smack right into his rubber-head for acting all arrogant, and making him concerned for a stupid reason. Shutting the door before him.Luffy gently stood up, brushing some the dirt that has layered into his clothes. Even as though finally enlightened by Chopper about how contagious diseases works, a question about why Nami and Robin's strange behavior towards him just got him more curious."If I'm not sick, then why is Nami and Robin acting like they're ill when I'm with them? Too bad, I forgot to ask Chopper about that."He glanced back at the tightly shut door behind him. Not wanting to bother the doctor anymore.But other than that, there is even something more that he's secretly bothered towards with. And that was Robin's lesson suddenly coming into a halt out of a sudden. Luffy came back at the same meeting place every evening, however, his archaeologist could never be seen on sight. As a result, questions about marriage he's convinced Robin could only be the one who could answer bombarded his thoughts, there are many more something he'd like to ask that now has automatically been piled up for the last five days of her inactivity from her lesson.He tried to confront her several times already, and ask why she isn't at the library last night, and last night, and last night. However, the Oharan seemed to be like a butterfly from her elusiveness, because whenever he tried to get get close and speak towards her, she just come up with reasons to shrug the captain off. Then gallantly walks out of his sight as if she doesn't even consider him as a being that's existing.Luffy's positive insight just accepted her reasons and that even considered that probably, the woman just doesn't find this new goal of adventure worth the bother.However, Luffy was serious about this that even though he never liked classes, he is willingly going and waiting at her invariably inside the library, even though the longest he could wait is only 5 minutes, before finally getting bored after being surrounded by nothing but books.But still, he is for real serious about this, and is greatly upset whenever the archaeologist never arrive at the rendezvous for five complete days. __________Five days ago, Robin was up on the deck of the ship, freely watering her flowers that she's cultivated just below the main mast of the ship. She also enjoyingly watered even Nami's tangerines.When out of a sudden, a man called out to her. She knew immediately who it was judging by the voice alone."Yo! What's up, Robin!"Luffy approached with positivity, smiling.Robin immediately remembered what happened and what she has done last night. She was completely overwhelmed with the sense of discomfit, not even wanting to simply turn back and smile just as what she does always before.She kept recalling the event last night that she could not even get to sleep properly, and when she tries to read a book, she simply couldn't get into it, as her mind got completely invaded by her captain taking control of her brain.Now she tried to calm herself down by completely getting her focus into gardening, and just shut her mind off regarding the crew's matters for today. But she did not notice that Luffy has arrived and has gone up to a place where he's not often going around, around the area of the main mast. She didn't want to see his face right now so much that she even asked Sanji personally to reserve some food for her during breakfast ao that they won't meet."You're watering your flowers, huh?"She straightened up her back, still refusing to face him, she felt her cheek tingle with a sensation of a sweat running down from her face.'This is bad, I have to get away.'She inhaled deeply to exhaled it slowly to calm herself down, from a probable voice crack."...Yes...""Um, I-I've still got something to do though. And I think it would be excellent if you don't bother me for a moment, since I'm busy...well then."With quick steps, she escaped the area that contains the presence of her captain. Having her thoughts completely bombarded, she walked aimlessly with questions asking to herself, like.'What's wrong with me? Why is this happening to me?'Biting her lower lip, while having a troubled look carved visibly unto her face.'I knew I liked Luffy for a long time, but even I did not expect it to be of such an extent that it could have such an effect on me. I am not acting like myself anymore.'She tightly shut her eyes as this time her face suddenly redden like a ripe tomato.When she realized this, she gently slapped her cheeks by both hands to stop thinking about it, and focus. Still, it had no effect.'Am I going crazy!?'Robin just continued to walk without having a destination set, she did not realize however that she has completely entered into the aquarium bar.Finally, she snapped out and realized it as if she just got teleported. Looking around, she did not even realize she's completely heading to this place.Aquarium bar is also one of her favorite places in the Sunny's, where she could freely isolate herself from others with silence and relaxation, where she's freely sipping, tasting different kinds of beverages, and also viewing the wide glass full of different kinds of aquatic species. This could probably be as to why she has entered this place instinctively, knowing deep down this is her comfort zone.The woman paused as she noticed a certain Fishman, sitting somewhere on the couch."Jinbei!..."Robin reflexively uttered his name.Jinbei also noticed Robin's presence. He then happily greeted the woman, smiling while pouring himself a cup of sake."Oh, Robin, you here for a drink too?""... I'm sorry, but I don't feel like drinking right now."She retorted, smiling back at him."Oh, is that so? But what are you going to do with that watering can?"He curiously pointed at the watering can she used to water some plants at the deck, earlier.It never came into her mind, because the moment Luffy appeared, she just suddenly turn her brain off on autopilot, forgetting about the watering can which she is still holding.Noticing that she's still holding onto it, she was silently embarassed, bending her back to place it on the floor at the corner, telling him honestly with a casual giggle."Oh, Fufufu~ I kinda forgot that I was still holding onto it, how odd."Jinbei's favorite spot in the Sunny is also the Aquarium bar, Robin and him enjoyed drinking together sometimes in here.He slightly raised an eyebrow suspiciously."Hm... Lately, I've been kinda feeling that you're having something weighing you down. Tell me, Robin, did something happen?."By hearing that, she swallowed unnoticeably. She knew herself that Jinbei's intuition is the truth."Uhm...No, I-I don't think so."Even as though her tone sounded fairly normal, her gesture, however completely tells the contrary, as she gently rubs her fingers together, and lightly stepping back. Even just by an inch, Jinbei could certainly see that this calm, cool and collected archaeologist has something troubling her.However, he knew that the story isn't him to obtrude, it is hers to tell. If she wants to keep it a secret, then she is freely allowed to. It is not Jinbie's attribute, prying onto one's secrets.Jinbei just nodded at it with a light kind smile emanating from him, as if he understood."I see."For Robin's part, Jinbei's trusting appearance made her feel guilty, looking as if he is counting on her, and he completely trusted her. She flickered her eyes downward as she pondered about this.The woman thought smartly, Jinbei is one of the closest people to Luffy, he knew him well being as a man himself. Not to be mistaken, she knew Luffy greatly too, but a man's connection towards each other is just something different.And probably, Jinbei could give her some advise regarding love, which she admittedly contains zero experience with. Who knows? He's probably an experienced person as such a guy like himself. If so, Robin would want to seek out help from him.She has decided.She shook her head off."No, actually, Jinbei..."Robin found it difficult to convey it straightly. Unlike that time where she apprised Nami about her feelings towards their captain, this time, she found it difficult to admit it towards another person.For Jinbei, however, this sight of Robin looks new to him, he never saw the woman look this much troubled before. He noticed that the smart, calm and collected woman just turned into something new in front of his eyes."... It's about Luffy..."Jinbei raised an eyebrow upon hearing Luffy's name suddenly being brought up."Hm yes, what about Luffy?"She clutched her clothes tightly."It's kind of unexpected, but now that you're here, I'd like to ask you for some advice!""...""You see, about 'Luffy'... I-I like him, and-and... I don't know what to do about this feeling!"The woman paused and straightened up her head to see the fishman's reaction. And indeed, as she thought, he was wide eyed by such statement from her.She continued."I have never been into a single relationship before, and I feel so helpless. That's why, Jinbei... If maybe... if maybe, you could help me!?"The raven haired archaeologist looked, what's something could be called, 'so full of emotion', in which the always calm and unemotional woman she is, no one could ever imagine for her to be wearing such a face."Pfft!... GYAHAHAHAHA~"The Helmsman was taken out by surprise, so much that he couldn't help but cackle so loudly, tapping his knees so ridiculously and clutching his stomach.Robin did not expect such reaction from him. Now she's fatally embarrassed, after through all that effort she carried out, Robin never imagined, out of all people she'd told among the crewmembers, he's the one who she expected the least to to be taking it with jest.Robin's face was red, her eyes almost felt teary, just like a child that's being teased. She immediately regretted why she ever told someone about her feelings.And what's worse, it's about both their own captain too.However still, she gathered up all the courage, how could Jinbei, of all people laugh at her honest feelings? Now she wanted to crawl down into a hole and hibernate forever, never to be seen again."W-Why are you... laughing?"Jinbei realized how much of a bully he seemed right now. So he wanted to clarify it to her that his reaction was being misunderstood, stretching his hand towards her, and even though it's quite a far distance, he only did it to stop her from maybe walking away, facing her his palm."No wait, please don't take it the wrong way. I don't mean to make fun of you at all. It's just that, I found it really... really interesting that you could have such a 'side' with you.""S-side?... what are you talking about?"By this, Jinbei once again let out a light chuckle."Just you not noticing it yourself what change it made you, makes it even more interesting."Again, she realized with her self that she's acting so unlikely of her usual self once again! Usually, she wouldn't even bat an eye if someone ever laughed at her, or even ridiculed her. But now, she feels so annoyed and mortified."What an amazing man our captain is, to be making such a naturally composed woman, into a blushing school girl!..Way to go, Luffy!""...Ehh?!"Robin was too stunned to speak, but instead gasped out of such statement."Why don't you take a sit first?"Jinbei offered her to sit next to him, with at least 1 meter distance.Robin did as what she's told, and walked closer then sitting on the couch.The helmsman smiled at her."You seeking for some advice, huh? I don't think I'd be much of help, but what is it that you want me to aid ya?""You'd help me?""Why would there be a reason I wouldn't? This is such a huge revelation, that even right now still astounds me. Who would have thought you would be falling for the captain...hm, but on the other hand, I guess it's only natural for you do so.""Why do you think so?""Why do I think so?... hm, well... At first glance, it doesn't really look that obvious, because of how I've seen the relationship you've got with Luffy as far as I've joined you guys. For me, you would much fittingly suit to look like a mature Onee-san for him. ""But when you come thinking deeper into it, didn't he save you from the jaws of the World Government? The one who haunted you the rest of your life?... I guess it would logical for the Princess to be fallen in love with the Prince who saved her, locked up in the dragon's castle.""A Princess!?....t-thats..."It made her slightly embarrassed.Jinbei grinned."So, what is it, that you'd want me to help you about?"The woman blinked and calmly asked him.She flickered her eyes to the side."Well, yesterday something really em-""Ah, Please wait a moment, I have something to ask..."Jinbei faced his palm towards her."Before that, I'd like to know why you would ask for a helping advice from me of all people? I know you're a smart woman, I never thought you would seek out help for yourself."The Fishman never asked with any insults behind his words, but instead, of pure curiosity and wonder.For Robin however, during the journey throughout yet finding the One Piece, a time before Luffy even became the pirate king, she firsthand never experienced blushing nor getting her composure taken out by him, unlike now. Yes, she is completely aware of her dissimilar outlook towards him since then, and she knew what she's feeling for Luffy is something special unlike how she looks at other crewmembers.However, the woman forced to disregard herself with a fixed mindset, that she is contended with her relationship with her captain to be left as friends, and to never think about daydreaming about it again, while suppressing her own feelings and ignoring her own butterflies.That is until Luffy has told her that he is actually looking up and enthused with having a woman in his life. Those words acted like a trigger that aroused the sleeping passion within her. The pent up feelings she thought she could never express to the captain for the rest of her life, which before she decided she would just leave it at that barrier of friendship was dissolved like a smoke. Like a dam collapsing, making the water it contained burst wild and destroying anything within it's path.That's how a woman who was secretly in love, made those hidden feelings gush out uncontrollably that even she unknowingly give out. Making her into someone who she never been in her entire life of darkness, a woman who could never control her emotions, not a strong, independent, and mature woman, but a 'girl' who is weak by a mere gaze, a blushing mess, as if she was in her youth that she never experienced.But of course, she herself never realized so, and simply told Jinbei, with a modest interpretation."As you may have already known, Luffy... he's kinda dense when it comes to romance and stuff, and I'm also inexperienced when it comes into such things. That's why, I'm asking you, Jinbei, to help to me get to him "Robin was elegantly sitting down with her back straightened while facing Jinbei, as both her hands lightly squeezed her own both knees, that's being met together like an inverted VHe calmly looked at her."Like, to help you get him to be attracted to you?"With such direct interpretation, Robin's ears turned into a warm dusty pink as she hesitatingly nodded."Yes... with Luffy as being right now. How he sees me, is nothing different to how he views his male friends, like Chopper, Usopp, and Zoro."She shyly massaged her hand."I-I want him to see me as a woman, and not like a friend, or a crewmember, or a sister figure!... I've tried, but..."Seeing as what happened yesterday, when that split second kiss almost happened, but Luffy didn't even care. It actually made her heart sore, even if her heart was hammering down, it still made her a little bit mad at Luffy even just a little bit from a lack of care about such matters, she felt a mixture of fondness, sadness, and bothered at the same time."See, Jinbei... Do I sound that desperate?"Seeing the orb of her wide dark blue eyes, with her face imprinted with a small frown. Clearly she is feeling negative about herself, so Jinbei wanted to assure her that...Jinbei closed his eyes then gently swayed his neck side by side, he said"No, not at all, you are genuine about your feelings, and that is by no means a sign of dreariness.""But, 'Luffy'... he already gave me a life and helped me accomplish my dreams which took multiple lives by how Impossible it could be achieved, he gave me shelter, and most of all, a family; which is you, guys.""I couldn't help but feel so greedy for wanting more; after all things he did for me, I even put shamelessly to desire him."The archaeologist confessed.Jinbei gently placed his hand over her shoulder, grinning."It's fine!"Robin looked into Jinbei's eyes that only confirms his genuineness.All it took was such simple words, then her soul was invigorated; lightly huffing out all her worries as her lips naturally turned into an arching smile.And so, Robin told all the stories, talking about their captain.And Jinbei, like a love guru, gave out advice for her regarding such matter."Oh, so Luffy actually wants to get married, huh? Not like I expected him to be single for the rest of his life, I just didn't expect him to be seeking it himself. Also, he personally asked you to teach him about that, that only means he trust you so much!""For him to think he could learn from you. That's a good plus for you, Robin. And also, about the embarrassing thing you did yesterday, and the reason why you're completely avoiding him now."Jinbei gently rubs his chin as he thinks."Hm... then how about you continue doing that?""Avoid him, why?... Shouldn't I instead go and act like nothing happened, if I wanted to be closer with him...s-sensually?"Jinbei teasingly smirked at her."Can you, though? To act like nothing happened? Judging by what I witnessed with my two eyes, how you were so red and stuttering just by merely talking about him, tells me a lot already."By being confronted about her own different outcomes, her face drew lines of red, once more."That's why... Why don't you continue to avoid him, to be coy so he will personally seek you out. Not to brag by my ignorant past, but, it works really well for me.""There's no way Luffy will do that! To chase me!?""But didn't you say that he came right into finding you, because he wants to learn about love? I'm sure you're aware already, but he did that because that's his goal."He smirked, and giving her a thumbs up."Luffy's goal is absolute, he will pursue his goal no matter what the road is, that is the Pirate King as he is! And that's also the reason why he will want to seek you out, for he thinks that you're the only one who could teach him about that new goal."Robin, with determined eyes nodded so cutely. Memorizing all what Jinbei is saying, she don't need any notes, being a genius as she is, she could easily remember whatever words that comes out of the Fishman's mouth.It's been five days since then.Robin has been constantly avoiding Luffy whenever he comes and tries to interact with her. Although doing so never failed to giver her a thought that she is like a girl who wants to be chased around. And when she comes thinking about it, her self esteem shatters, she always tells herself that 'she isn't like that at all', while in a red face.Flashing back into the scenes of which she tried to shrug him off."Hey Robin! I have something to ask you. Shishishishi~"Luffy appeared like a ghost in front of her, instinctually taking a step back out of her.She took a quick pivot, completely changing her direction."Uhm... Maybe next time, I'm currently doing something."The other day.....The door creaked open entirely, revealing an image of a man standing before the door's entrance, then audibly gasping when seeing the sight of a certain person."Ahh!...""Hey, Robin, why aren't you at the library yesterday? I tried to find you, but I couldn't. Where did you go anyway?"Luffy came right in, wearing an annoyed expression, entering the woman's chambers without even knocking, making the woman jolt in surprise from her woolgathering.She was caught reclining down comfortably on the cushy sofa, reading a book that appeared with its coverings in designs of hearts, but Luffy never bothered to read it's title as his eyes directly focused at her, waiting for the woman's answer.Robin was alone at the room, and was secretly pleased that Nami wasn't with her, as the navigator took her turn into the shower just now."Luffy, it's ethical to knock first, before entering."She calmly uttered, complaining about his inappropriate behavior, although in reality, she knew already that Luffy is that kind of guy, but she find it amusing otherwise to say it.Luffy exclaimed as sigh."Hahh... Fine!"Saying before he turned his back and walks out of the room, grabbing the handle as he closed the door behind him. Then he knocks into into it from the other side.Knock Knock!*Robin didn't answer from inside, and just wore a face of bewilderment.Luffy waited for what seemed like three seconds, when he did not get any response from the knock, before opening the closed door again."Okay, so... Why did you not come, yesterday?"He asked again, huffing up, and placing both his hands into his waist.She answered with a voice of carelessness out if her lips."Oh, that?... I was really busy yesterday with something really important, I'm sorry.""Oh, Is that so?"Luffy rolled his eyes sullenly, until she has talks with him that maybe next time could work until he finally decides to leave.This, shrugging him off continued for several days, taking a toll out of her, Robin found out that she couldn't bear to not see him, and also, increasing the guilt she felt as she perpetually ignored him.Although what Jinbei actually adviced is excellently going as what he's planned, the woman could never bear to always ignore her captain, who's everyday, always coming to meet her with that eyes of innocence, she felt as if she's totally just toying with him. A thought that made her depressingly feel bad.That's why this evening, she is planning on finally meeting with him, to apologize about her indelibly shaking him off. Obviously, her mouth will be only limited to that, keeping her deal with Jinbei a secret between her and him only.Robin sat herself into the dresser, facing herself into a fairly large mirror to get ready to meet her captain tonight.Rocking into her seemingly fine formal clothing, a milky white floral laced ruched dress that she struggled for at least an hour to choose which one to finally wear between the other option, styling her silky raven hair into a simple ponytail, allowing strands of bangs to freely fall down into her smooth unblemished face, brushing her face off with a light stroke of make up, and a natural coloured lipstick gently glossing through her lips.Robin is however much aware they were in the middle of the ocean on a single ship, yet she's dressed as if she would be going out on a date, but nothing could be stopping her to be looking aesthetically pleasing tonight. Finally, puffing up a fog of favorite perfume right directed above the collarbone of her neck, now as if a declaration that she is prepared to go, a light pat was sent directly into her lap with a subtle let out of breath.She gently turned her head behind as she stood up. She is pretty much alone in the room, and she wondered where the orange haired woman could be, since she could never be seen since earlier. At this hour, she should be in the women's chambers, doing her usual thing or reading a book, or just laying down the bed, until she finally falls asleep.But she is unusually absent at this hour, so the big sister archaeologist is a bit worried, however, realizing that maybe she could be just somewhere around the deck and maybe at the Aquarium Bar, drinking or maybe even the library, where it is her and Luffy's usual rendezvous. But she smartly think that even if Nami could be at the library, it's surely fine, since Luffy could not be at around the library right now.Since it is Luffy's turn with the schedule to be the night watch where it is a duty to guard the ship for the he whole night on a rotating schedule between the crewmembers. Furthermore, it is past the scheduled time for the time she's set on her tutelage, teaching Luffy, about things about marriage he's most confused with. Ultimately, any hope Luffy could be in the library is nil.So she is planning on going straight up into the lookout tower on top of the foremast of the ship, wherein where you were tasked to be guarding the surrounding with a broad sight.She briskly flickered her eyes side by side, making sure that nobody sees her, she walked stealthily as if back in her days with her role as an assassin, her sandals delicately clacked at the subtle contact against the wooden deck.The moon was in it's full form, brightly eluminating the whole ocean's calmness, complimenting with the cold salty breeze. Everyone was probably doing their thing inside, or probably sleeping already. However, among the silence of the night, Robin heard a familiar chuckle."Shishishishi~"Her head was directed towards the origin where the sound was located, around the main mast. There she saw a figure of a man wearing a large grin on his face, sitting at the frame above, where Robin could only see half of Luffy's body as it was mostly covered with the sight of tangerines planted on the way.She happily uttered his name."Luffy!"'I thought Luffy could be up in the watchtower, but I almost forgot, Luffy couldn't stay in the same place for five minutes. Fufufu~'She jovially thought.The mature woman's lips formed into a bright smile upon the sight of the man. With fast delicate steps Robin headed up to him.With quite feverish smile, she greeted him, with their distance with each other a mere steps away, still, he is sitting on the frame, facing the planted tangerine trees.""Luffy~! What are you doing up here?"Her excitement could never be hidden beneath her tone, when she met him. The woman inexplicably acted involuntary upon such reaction.Luffy's eyes, from looking at his side to facing the voice who called up to him, widening his eyes, as a smile began to be visible on his face the moment his eyes was set upon her.Raising an arm, he greeted the woman who was charmingly approaching with her white floral ruched dress that terminated just above her ankles."Oh, hey, Robin!"Unlike how she appeared before him with quite a get up to incite the last time, she now realized how the before confident woman she is, wearing just whatever she wants, turned into an insecure girl just by receiving a simple gaze from him at that time.That's why right now, she felt much confident meeting up with him wearing a formal get up.-"Eh!?"-Robin heard a familiar voice that followed Luffy's, and it intrigued her, discovering there's someone together with him, and judging by it's voice, she probably knew who it was.'Someone is with him... Don't tell me...'She slowly walked closer up to him warily, untill finally, getting past that tangerine tree. There revealed a certain woman, sitting on a frame beside Luffy.Her orange wavy hair, glistened brightly that it reflected upon the moonlight vividly, creating a red orange mixture, accompanying the enveloping darkness of the night. The tattoo on her left shoulder looked dim, but still however visible by the night. The white tank top she's wearing complimented her curvy body as same goes with her denim shorts, whilst crossing her legs gorgeously.Supporting herself wildly with both her hands planted at the either side, balancing herself from sitting on the railings.It was Nami, who was with Luffy all this time, and she looked directly at the newly approached raven with a flabbergasted look.Nami's lips went slightly open as their eyes met, and the same goes for Robin.Both uttering each other's names in the state of surprise."Nami!?""Robin?!"