85 Chapter 85

85

"So you want me to join the crew?" Hatchan asked, a bit of worry, he was now bandaged up and awake. "You do know… your crew was the reason Arlong and most of my crew is either dead or in the hands of the marine."

"Yes, but your crew did act all evil and enslaved a whole portion of the population…" Luffy shrugged. "Well, I'm not telling you to permanently join me… no. I'm telling you to lend me some help with your sea king friend. Momoo was it, not. You both can help us cross the first part of the grandline, and be on your dandy way to the fish-man island. Bud in the meantime if you want to stay in the crew I wouldn't mind. It will make the travel faster and you will also be able to repay Nami's debt."

"Nami's debt… but I apologized to her." The Fishman said. "And wouldn't she mind if I join her on the journey…"

Luffy shook his head, "I spoke to her beforehand, she would tolerate you… unlike everyone you weren't so bad… but it doesn't matter if you apologized or not. Your crew was the reason why she lost her mother… so she is still angry about it… but don't you want to show her that all fishman aren't monsters? Don't you want to break the circle of hatred… Wouldn't your late queen and Fisher Tiger want that?" Luffy said, "And who knows if you act right, she might even become your friend."

Hatchan didn't say anything, and thought for a moment. What the straw hat boy was saying certainly had merit. Now that he looked through what they did, over the years, they acted just like the celestial pigs that they hated most.

Hatchan always didn't agree with Arlong's superiority complex… but even then they grew up in the same streets and considered each other brothers. It was certainly hard that Arlong was now no more… but he also looked up to Fisher Tiger and Jinbie, both wouldn't want happened. Even the late queen gave her life trying to make peace between the humans and fishmans. He had to set it right.

So it was obvious what he needed to do. He would make it right… and won't let Arlong's deeds stain the name of Fishmans.

"I will do it." Hatchan said. "But I will let you know… I'm not part of your crew… I will help you travel through the first half of grandline… but after that Me and Momoo will leave. Got that."

Luffy grinned. "Well, welcome aboard. Shishishi…"

There were a few reasons why he wanted Hatchan on the ship. First was the knowledge of Fishman Karate… while Hatcahn mainly used swords he should be able to teach the basics of Fishman Karate. If not then no problem.

Sparky should also know some of the basics after watching Kuroobi and the other Fishman.

The other reason is also bringing in Jinbe later. Luffy would try his best to stop the war from happening. He didn't want Ace to die. And if that's the case then, he might not even meet Jinbe… let alone invite him to the crew.

And if the war doesn't happen, Whitebeard would probably be alive, then he might even join the Whitebeard pirates, after Warlord system was abolished, which he didn't want.

Also, Hatchan would also be helpful in controlling the sea king, it would cut their journey time by half the time. They might even be able to explore more islands that way.

Taming another sea king would take time and in nights when he wasn't looking the creature might get other ideas. But with Hatchan and Momoo it wouldn't be that much of a problem.

Luckily Nami wasn't opposed to the idea of Hatchan joining the crew, she actually liked the Fishman. As Hatchan would help her get out of trouble many times with Arlong. So it wasn't all bad.

For now, they would need to hunt down Captain Kuro… he really should have killed him the first time. A mistake. But you learn along the journey.

Also now that they had Captain Nezumi, it shouldn't be that hard to finding the pirate unless he flees to the other blues. Speaking of Captain Nezumi, the man also had a lot of treasures, and a devil fruit stacked in one of the islands… he was planning to retire soon from his corrupt Marine life.

But now Luffy would be able to get those as well. All in all, it wasn't all bad to take a slight turn in their journey.

.

The Going Merry had been stocked with everything the group would need until they reached the Grand Line. Arlong Park had been pillaged by the people and everything of value taken to help rebuild the towns of the island.

To remember her adopted mother, Nami had asked Luffy if she could take some tangerine trees with them. He had readily given her what she wanted, him, Sanji, and a slightly forced Gin doing most of the heavy lifting.

Kinda was enjoying her tea and cake break, while Zoro and Sparky were taking a nap. Usopp was tinkering with his gun adding new features and removing some.

One of those features were adding led bullet to his arsenal and more firepower to his guns. Now his gun should be able to kill. Luffy didn't suggest anything. It seemed Kuro's escape hit him quite hard.

The other members also did their work.

The sea king Momoo was tied with the ship, but was keeping itself underwater, until they left the island. Hatchan was also in the water as he didn't want to scare the villagers.

Now, every resident of Cocoyashi Village but one was on the docks to wave goodbye to the Straw Hat Pirates. The villagers were getting annoyed, however. Where was Nami?

"Set sail!" they heard the woman of their thoughts yell. She was running towards them.

"You heard her!" Luffy called. "Let's go!"

"She's gonna leave without letting us thank her!" one villager realized. They tried to stop her, but it was too late. She rushed through the crowd, passing by each person one by one.

When she reached the end of the dock, the thief leaped off as hard as she could. Luffy's arms stretched, wrapping around her waist and pulling her in. Setting her down, as the girl then lifted the hem of her shirt, allowing all of the wallets and purses that she'd just stolen to tumble to the deck.

"What?"

"My wallet's gone!"

"She took my purse!"

"You damn thief! We'll miss you!"

Nami didn't turn around, or cry, or say goodbye. They sailed away, the voices of the townspeople echoing in the wind.