Chapter - 35

The Thousand was not too far from the Amazon and Revolutionary ship. It was parked on the opposite side of the Polar Fang which was closer to the Revolutionary ship. It had a good deal of privacy but the ship was still very visible.

Luffy arrived on the Sunny to see it completely abandoned. He decided to see where Nami ran off too. He hoped she didn't go to sleep, that would be his worst nightmare. After searching a few known places she'd be he assumed she wouldn't be working now. Maybe she was taking a bath. Deciding to occupy his time he went back to the Library.

Once there he grabbed the all too familiar chest tucked under his seat. Setting it on table he opened the chest and began examine the fruit. It was so mysterious by nature, just by looking at it on itself it didn't seem like a devil fruit. It was a completely different entity, if the rumors were true and it contained all three ability types he couldn't imagine what type of power the fruit held. Picking it up he could feel the untapped power in his hand instantly. The fruit igniting his body with a glow, it was a power he never felt before. This fruit was indeed everything the rumors said, he couldn't imagine what eating it would be like if touching it had him reeling.

"Luffy?" Nami's voice called out to him causing him to drop the fruit in the chest.

"Nami..." Luffy spoke immediately drawn in by her beauty. His heart was ready to leap out of his chest. She wore a white tank top with a short blue skirt. Her hair was retained in that short bun he loved so much. He loved her hair two ways, that way and straightened. Luffy could tell she wore it for him because certain days he noticed her more when she had her like that. This time was no different she came in and could tell she just bathed. As she walked over to him he was speechless he still hadn't moved or said a word. Nami had barley entered the room and had him on his heels.

Since he was frozen in place she came up to him. "What are you doing here?" She asked Her tone and expression neutral.

"I could ask you the same." He smirked which she returned.

She rolled her eyes at his playfulness. "I came to get work done, unlike you." She answered heading for her desk behind him.

"Hey I am working too! I'm trying to figure this devil fruit out." Luffy said turning his attention back to the fruit. He was a horrible liar he couldn't figure anything out about this. He was really killing time waiting for her.

"A devil fruit huh?" Nami looked at the fruit curiously.

"May I?" She asked causing Luffy to smile. Nami put her hand on the fruit immediately feeling an overwhelming power. The fruit itself was a spectacular sight in itself but it truly was the epitome of a super weapon. Luffy shook the chest abruptly causing Nami to break from her trance a little startled.

"Shishi, Nami you scaredy cat ahaha oh—" Nami punched the captain so a large bump on his head appeared with smoke coming out of it.

"Don't do that Dammit!" She screamed her fist dripping with steam. It was a relief to her to return to normalcy after she stormed off from the feast. Nami suddenly realized the fruit was on the last thing on his mind. He was teasing his navigator, because he wanted to spend time with her.

Growing a light blush on her cheeks she tried to compose herself as Luffy got up.

"Luffy this fruit.. what type is it exactly?" Nami asked a curiosity to her tone.

"I'm not sure to be honest. It's a combination of Zoan, Paramecia, and Logia type all in one. Anything other than that is anyone's guess.. just rumors." Luffy said causing Nami to grow even more curious.

"So this is what that monster was after? Along with Tra- Guys devil fruit? He would've lived forever if he did." Nami finished a little grimly remembering Luffy battling him with no punches held back.

Luffy could tell what she was thinking.

"He didn't win though Nami and were safe for now. We shouldn't worry about him anymore." Luffy said not realizing used we. Nami caught it and grew more nervous as she stepped closer to her captain.

"Luffy..." She said in an angelic voice. It made his heart swell seeing her now. Even though he viewed her as an equal and not someone that needed protection. The captain knew he was ready to kill and die for his navigator without any hesitation. Any cost to keep her alive and happy.

"Hm? What is it Nami?" He asked curiously stepping closer so they were within a few feet of each other.

She wasn't looking directly at him, something was bothering her. Reaching out tentatively touching her cheek so she would look at him.

"Nami whatever it is, tell me. Not as your captain... as your friend. You know I'll listen." Luffy said a slight cringe at own words. That's the second time he did that. The first time was after he saved her from cracker and told her not touch his friends. He cringed then and he cringed now, it seemed to fit but at the same time didn't. Their relationship didn't quite fit into that category and could not be labeled as one thing.

Nami saw his struggle after saying those words. She knew he was just trying to make her feel comfortable, to talk to him without worrying her about where they stood at the moment.

She slightly frowned causing Luffy to shift a bit. " I know when you killed Blackbeard he said something too you, be honest what did he say too you?"

"He said he was going to kill everyone and take you alive for himself so I killed him." Luffy said without a hitch. It was the truth the last straw was when Blackbeard taunted him about his navigator.

Nami realizing her captain would kill men like Blackbeard to keep her safe made her happy. She quickly hugged him tightly to which he immediately lifted her up off her feet lightly causing her to giggle and slap him on his arms to get him to put her down.

He did put her feet to the floor but he was refusing to let her go. He held her at arms length but had his hands on her sides.

Luffy grew serious again glancing at the fruit.

"Nami..." his voice was suddenly serious. It worried his navigator. She took both her hands to lift his face.

"Luffy, were...friends. You can tell me anything." The words sounded sour coming out of her mouth. Friends did not hug or hold each other this way. But she both knew it was their way of not getting off track. It was used to keep each other in check especially at an unsure time like this.

"Blackbeard said without this fruit we will fall against Kaido. He told me this is the only way to beat him. Consume a second devil fruit at a high price." Before he finished his explanation the navigator had already picked up the chest heading toward the door.

Luffy stopped her suddenly stepping in front of her. "Woah Hey! That's mine give it here!" The navigator simply tried to step past him.

"No it's not yours, not anymore. Just what the hell do you need it for your strong enough?" Nami said challenging her captain.

"No I'm not. Even if all eleven supernovas fought Kaido it still might not be enough." Luffy argued calmly trying to get her to see his side. He feared she would never accept his logic.

"Okay so what? Your just going to trust the word of madman and even if you did eat it you could...die." Nami worst fear was him succumbing to his recklessness. She would not have it, she would protect him even from himself.