Chapter - 13

When he first met a chopper he didn't have a need to bring him on board. It was Nami who initially initiated him into the crew. He began to grow close with reindeer the pair were nearly inseparable. He was grateful to have the doctor by his side. Whenever Luffy felt hungry Chopper would share his rare cotton candy sandwiches giving his captain a sugar high. Or even Chopper overly bandaging him up and forcing him to stay in the infirmary for his own good. Luffy was sure he had the best doctor in the world. He vowed to help him find every cure for every known disease in the world. It would probably require a few trips around the world.

Then it brought him all back to the moment with his navigator. Luffy remembered when Nami was in different bodies at punk hazard it didn't change their relationship. It was a little strange at first but her eyes remained, he loved her soul. It wasn't a lust thing with Luffy, nothing ever was. It's a special bond formed through mutual respect, admiration, and most importantly unwavering trust in one another. Their relationship was forged through the fire through adventure but never wavering. After Cake Island he was starting to think they might just take on the world some day.

Realizing that he did truly love her in his own way, he decided what he needed to do. He knew Zoro would not object to this either.

"Nami." His serious tone was back and Nami gave him her attention. "You told me earlier..to protect everyone. I might not be able to do that.." Luffy sighed before continuing "Franky asked me earlier how long would it be before Kaido tracked us and hunted us down. If he got us in the open sea..I-" the captain glancing towards his orange haired navigator to see she was waiting him to finish his thought. "I have to go back to Wano and face him, I know Zoro and Tra-Guy will back me up. But Nami.." the seriousness in his tone made her shuffle a bit nervous for his next words. "If Kaido wins and we lose I want you guys to leave and don't turn back so he can't follow you guys! This is the best pla-"

"YOU CANT BE SERIOUS!" Nami's voice rang out breaking the straw hat captains concentration.

"Nami it's the On-" Luffy began but was swiftly cut off.

"THATS A LOAD OF CRAP LUFFY! Are you seriously going to tell me that after-" he could see the anger starting to waver and Nami began to look a little sad.

Hugging herself she began to speak with a softer tone. "So you just want me to abandon you while you face an impossible task on your own."

Luffy lifted her chin so she could see the look in his eyes. "Kaido will NOT get anywhere near this ship Nami, if it has to be over my dead body then-!"

She pulled away from his touch. "Luffy that plan isn't happening so just get it through your thick head already! We will go back when we recoup with everyone."

"There's no time-"

"Its not happening Luffy." Nami crossed her arms. She would not budge on this. Luffy was getting fed up, she asked him to protect everyone and when he wanted to do it his way she was refusing to help him.

"I'm the captain Nami, we're setting a course for the Land of Wano." Luffy stated calmly.

"Is that an order captain?" Nami asked her bangs hiding her eyes.

"Yeah." Was simply his reply.

"Alright setting a course for Wano then." Nami stated in the same tone he had just earlier it sounded distant and he hated it. Pulling a chart from the drawer she began to get to work.

"Thanks Nami for agree-"

"I'm NOT agreeing with you! So don't thank me. But your the captain so.. I'm following orders." Nami returned to her work not batting the captain an eye. He could tell she was still upset.

"Look Nami I-"

"Save it Luffy. I have to work late because of you,so if you don't mind it'd be a lot easier without you here."

"We have to go for him before he comes for us." Luffy stated folding his arms hoping she would see his side to this.

"I understand. Now go Luffy I have to work." Nami said not sparing him a glance.

"Okay I'll leave." Looking back he could see the navigator hard at work. Her expression was of hurt and he was the cause of it.

"Nami I'm sorry." Nami finally glanced up at him. She repeated herself. "Just go." She waved nonchalantly continuing her chart.

"Really Nami I am-"

Nami lost her patience. "GO!" She yelled pointing towards the exit. Getting the point there was no way words would work at this point she was inconsolable. He would have to apologize properly at a later time.

"Okay I'll go." No more than a second later he was out of the room never making a sound as if he was never there at all.

Nami gave a sigh of relief to have a moment to herself. All the things they had done to each other in the room she would need a minute to recover. Why did things have to go the way they did? She wanted to support Luffy in what he did, but his recklessness would be the death of him. It was her way of protecting him. She couldn't lose him, how would she live with herself knowing she let her captain perish. Nami plopped on the couch rolling to her side, silently wishing Luffy was still there even if she was upset with him. He was such an idiot. It what made her fall in love with him but when he became reckless in battle it worried her death.

Nami shuttered at the thought of life without her captain. She couldn't help it sobs raked from her remembering the sweet words her captain said to her replaying in her mind over and over. "I care about you so much Nami." Luffy said claiming in a passionate kiss stealing her breath away. A slightly louder sob came forth as she curling herself wishing she didn't kick Luffy out but she needed to hold strong in hopes he would change his mind. Knowing it was unlikely, she remembered the extent of his injuries against Katakuri. She was relieved when he came back alive and barley conscious. Nami remembered the first place his eyes found when he came back to the sunny, hers. It was like he wanted her to be there by his side when he returned. He was left incapacitated for days barley able to do simple chores so she took care of him. The navigator remembering fondly her feeding him the first night in the infirmary because he couldn't use his hands. The two just enjoyed the time together remembering their adventure fondly as if it happened to other people and not them. Nami really did love Luffy, she hugged a pillow close to her chest.

"Oh Luffy.." she whispered to herself as she fell fast asleep her thoughts filled with her captain.

The navigator now asleep was unaware Luffy was frozen on the ladder not believing what he heard. Nami was sobbing to herself after angrily telling him to leave. It suddenly clicked in his head. He really was an idiot. His ego clouded his judgement at the moment proclaiming he would take on Kaido alone. Nami didn't care if he pulled rank on her to give her an order it was it disregard for his own safety in front of her. True she wanted him to protect them but not risking his life on a hair brained scheme. He finally understood now what she was mad about.

'I really fucked up' sighing to himself he gave one last look towards the library before descending the ladder. Sticking his hands in his pockets he began walking towards the men's dormitory. Not before taking one last look at the Library then back towards the starry night. He would like nothing more than to rush back in there shake her awake beg for forgiveness and kiss her breathless like before. Shaking his head to rid of his perverse thoughts. It would probably be awhile if he did that again, if ever. He swore Franky, Sanji, and Brook was rubbing off on him. Less than a minute later Luffy disappeared into the ship.

Zoro and Brook watched their captain enter the ship resuming their conversation.

"I told you he'd do it chew toy. Now bring more Sake and pay up." Zoro grinned laying back in a satisfied state.

"Wow he really did it? It was so intense I swore I died. Oh wait I'm already-"

"Just get my money and Sake already dammit!" The swordsman shouted kicking the skeleton from the crows nest onto the upper deck.

The former pirate hunter looked towards the night sky. Usually on nights like there was nothing better than drinking and looking for the brightest stars. It was a great pastime when he wasn't asleep. Zoro needed get his sleeping habits under control. He slept during the day so would usually kept night watch spending the time getting drunk and singing songs with Brook who never slept due to being a skeleton . The green haired samurai hated sleeping during wartime anyway it was unsettling, he'd settle for daytime power naps.

A chilling wind like no other broke Zoro out of his contemplation. 'What is this? It's like no other chill I've felt only when..' a pit formed in the swordsman stomach. This feeling he recognized it; hopelessness.

"Oi Swordsman-San! Another chorus of Bink's Sake? Yohoho!" Brooks voice brought the swordsman back to the world. The fleeting feeling gone as quick as it came.

"Yeah hurry up!" Zoro called leaning back once again. Brushing off whatever the feeling he had thinking it was an anomaly. He was wrong.