Chapter 25

"...Is it truly fine to leave her as it is?" At Nojiko and Nami's house, Genzo asked as he gazed outside through the window.

At some distance away, Nojiko, sitting behind the table, sighed before smiling knowingly.

"I don't have the right to control her life, and I don't seek to do so, Genzo-san."

Relaxing in her seat, Nojiko dazed off into the ceiling above,

"Yesterday, we had a nice time, free of concerns for once. We chatted about how Bell-mere used to take care of us, of many good memories we had together. I remember that delight in her when I overlayed her tattoo of Arlong Pirates and changed it into that of a windmill. But you know," Nojiko chuckled, "Throughout the whole time, Nami imitated me, trying to 'learn' how to live the life of a villager. Though there was no threat bringing her stress, she seemed as if she was suffocating... that's when I realized.

Ah, the weak girl crying over the fact that she can't purchase a book was no more."

Genzo listened silently as he stared at the mikan grove outside.

"She asked me what to do, saying that she doesn't feel at ease for an unknown reason. But really, only she herself knows the solution to her problem." Nojiko shook her head with a chuckle, "So I told her to make a decision by herself—one that she won't regret. By this morning, that girl… she was already gone, with all the money gone from the house."

Genzo's eyes, dazing off at the fragrant mikan grove outside, visioned the past. In his eyes, Bell-mere was plucking the fruits and tending this garden just like any other day. As Bell-mere stopped her work momentarily to turn back and grin at him, Genzo's eyes widened as he saw the striking resemblance between her, Nojiko, and Nami—even though they weren't related by blood.

"...Is that so."

Genzo realized that his concern was unnecessary. He took a step away from the window and shifted his eyes away from the outside, and as he did so, the windmill above his hat spun slowly—from the gentle breeze that entered through the window.

'...You two truly are Bell-mere's daughters.'

__________

"ROWAN!!!"

At the coast of the island, Rowan stopped as the familiar voice boomed from the back. Turning around, he was met with the sight of an orange-haired girl, Nami, huffing as she ran toward him with a huge sac—bigger than her body—on her back.

"...Nami?"

Dropping the sac and falling on top of it in exhaustion, Nami huffed rapidly. Gazing at the girl in amusement, Rowan remarked, "Nice tattoo. Fits you better than the last one."

Ignoring Rowan's comment, Nami exclaimed, "Huff... huff... why are you leaving so early? Did you even say goodbye to others?"

Observing the sac briefly, Rowan replied, "To their drunken selves, yes."

Taking a deep breath and normalizing her rate of breathing, Nami stood up and stared at Rowan. She looked at the ship behind, the still-bloody and filthy-looking Ugly Adventure that was—

"Nah, I'm not taking that one," Stated Rowan as he noticed Nami's gaze at it. Pointing his thumb to the side, he said, "There's one from Nezumi. A much better option."

"And how do you plan on reaching your destination?"

Rowan took out a compass from his pocket and showed it to Nami, "This, of course. I'll probably be sailing around the East Blue, looking for that thing called log pose for the Grand Line prior to the entry. Then—"

Rowan, replying without a thought, stopped in the midst of his words. After a brief pause, he said,

"...What's the point of telling you about this?" Rowan smiled weakly, "I'm going to be a pirate, Nami. The very same kind as Arlong and his scum of a crew, the very same kind that you hate with passion—I'm going to be one of them."

Nami frowned. She opened her mouth as if about to refute, but Rowan continued,

"I have a newfound dream, you know. One that I decided to place my life at risk for. It sounds foolish, but at the same time, worthwhile in my perspective." Rowan adjusted the black coat draped around his shoulders,

"I'm going to find One Piece and take it for myself."

"...Huh?"

As Nami expressed shock, he shrugged, "So basically, I'm aiming to become the king of scums."

Rowan had plenty of time to brainstorm. Based on the slightest bit of information that he had regarding the canon, if Monkey D. Luffy was a pirate and Nami was standing next to him, then Nami probably was part of that man's crew.

For 2 years, he's got to see how talented Nami was. Her capability to navigate them throughout the sea and avoid any upcoming calamities was simply godsent on multiple occasions. Yesterday, there indeed was a moment in which Rowan thought of Nami joining his sail, but in the end, he decided against it. After all, not only was Nami 12 in terms of age, but her hate for the pirates... Rowan couldn't dare to ask her. Thinking of just how much she's suffered against them, and how she's finally attained the freedom that she deserved to enjoy, Rowan didn't wish to take that joy away from her—even if she somehow became one in the canon.

"..."

As Nami stood silently, Rowan turned his attention to the surroundings—the nature of Cocoyasi Village. The sky was blue. The forest was lively and full of green. The animals moved, dashed, and ventured around this beautiful wild. The order has been restored to the Cocoyasi Village, and in this state, there should be no reason for Nami to bear a burden any longer.

"You can sleep as long as you want, and wake up whenever. You can eat until your belly's full. You don't have to risk your life in petty thievery any longer, and you probably know now, that none of the villagers ever hated you."

Rowan spoke softly to the girl he's been with for a long time.

"The bird is freed from its cage, able to do whatever it wishes to do so—ah, whatever. Quite a cringe, vahaha..."

"..."

And seeing that she didn't reply, he assumed that she's accepted his words.

"...So, I suppose this is where we actually part, Nami." Said Rowan.

Nami seemed to be at a loss for words. Standing still with her mouth parted, she watched as Rowan turned around, about to walk—

"...You are right."

Then, Nami whispered. Reaching Rowan's ears, he stopped in the midst of his track.

"For one week, my mind was alleviated. Thanks to you, I felt like a bird having been freed from its cage. But you forgot one thing." Nami let out a shaky smile, "The bird wasn't one. Instead, there were two of them in the cage. One, with nothing short of a miracle, broke the cage and readied to fly out with confidence. However, the second one will then be left alone, regretting the fact that it didn't follow the first."

Confused by the context, Rowan turned his head back with narrowed eyes, "Hey—"

"I don't hate pirates, Rowan. The moment you claimed that you'll be one, I decided that that's the truth."

Nami, looking at Rowan in the eye, spoke,

"Take me with you."

It was Rowan's turn to be left speechless.

"Grand Line is the sea full of danger. The climate in the said sea is known to be unpredictable. If you somehow heard of log pose or whatever that maybe, you must be aware of this too." Nami brazenly took a step forth, right under Rowan's nose, "How are you going to get through all that and find One Piece without a navigator like me?"

Then, she weakly grabbed Rowan's black coat, with eyes glittering in tears,

"Besides... didn't you say that you won't leave me...?"

Rowan looked at Nami with inexplicable emotion. Then, he sighed,

"Quit acting."

"Ah—you saw through me?! Teehee~"

Nami revealed her tongue and playfully knocked her head with her fist. As the atmosphere took a sudden shift, Rowan revealed a grin, realizing that he's underestimated Nami.

'...That's right,' He thought, 'She's the girl who's undergone the horrible event of becoming her nemesis's crew member.'

"But seriously~ take me with you, Rowan!! I even brought our 125 million and 0.5 more on top of that!"

"...Did you steal from the others?"

"Well, duh! They were literally asking to be stolen, snoring in the open street like that!"

"Vahahaha!!"

Rowan laughed loudly as he lifted up the huge sac with his right hand. Filled with a strange sense of joy, he declared as he hanged the sac over his shoulder,

"Then welcome to the future Pirate King's crew, Nami!"

"Aye, captain!"

Nami laughed along as she walked next to Rowan. Though it was going to be a dangerous journey, she, for some reason, seemed happier than ever.

__________

The 16th Marine Branch, previously under Nezumi's command, was currently sailing toward the Conami island in caution. 5 ships in total were at the distance where the island was now viewable through binoculars, and the current commander of the marines, Lieutenant Doofus, was gazing at the front with a grim determination.

And then, one marine shouted urgently,

"Lieutenant Doofus, a ship is approaching from 12 O'Clock!"

"Whaaat?! That's the direction of Conami island!!!"

Confused by the sudden call, Doofus quickly snatched the binoculars from the reporter and looked through it himself. And as he did so, he was placed in even further confusion,

"...Isn't that Captain Nezumi's ship?"

"H-huh?" One marine scratched the back of his head, "Isn't that a good thing then?"

Doofus scratched the back of his head,

"Yeah. So I guess he was alive—"

Then, his eyes widened before he screamed at the marines in horror,

"HURRY!!! PREPARE TO GREET CAPTAIN NEZUMI!!! WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT MANIAC WILL DO IF WE FAIL TO MEET HIS EXPECTATIONS?!!"

All marines simultaneously froze in realization. After a brief moment of silence,

"AHHHHH!!!"

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!"

they began running all around chaotically, bringing out a mic, putting on a rat resembling hat, and standing still in one row. Gulping in their spots, they then waited as the ship was now viewable by sight alone.

"All marines!"

Doofus then shouted firmly with a mic in his hand,

"Greet the venerable captain of ours, CAPTAIN~ NEZUMI!!!"

"""OHAYO GOZAIMASU, CAPTAIN NEZUMI!!!"""

One marine then stepped out, "Please accept our token of love, Captain Nezumi!"

He raised his rifle up and began the shooting spree. With blasting noises, the bullets flew into the air like fireworks, and within seconds, the ammo was emptied. Licking his dry lips, Doofus then opened his mouth again, about to move onto the next step of 'greet Captain Nezumi,' before,

"...Pff," One orange-haired girl was seen from the marine ship instead, trying to conceal her laughter.

"...Eh?"

The ship was empty. Except for that orange-haired girl and one black-haired guy who was busy on the steering wheel, no marine was present. The imaginary Nezumi wasn't standing there, complaining over the fact that the marines' greeting lacked perfection.

"...W-what's going on?" Doofus muttered as the marine ship passed them and continued sailing. All marines in 5 ships stood still, trying to process what just happened.

"...Wait," One marine murmured, "Isn't that the Pirate Slayer?"

"Pirate Slayer? As if the East Blue's strongest bounty hunter?"

"He looks young though. Are you sure—"

PUK.

Then, something fell from the sky. The marines all turned to the objects. It was one sac in which its opening was tied up. Frowning in confusion, Doofus quickly walked up to it and opened it—

"GWAHHHH!!!"

Letting out a horrified shriek, Doofus fell to his butt. From the sac, the dried-up and deformed heads of marines and Arlong pirates rolled out, earning screams full of fear from other marines also. They then turned their eyes at the ship containing the boy and girl, and saw the boy, Rowan, looking back at them in a lazy manner.

"...R-R-R-R-Report immediately," Stuttered Doofus. Slowly standing back up with his legs trembling, he stated,

"P-Pirate Slayer, he's... d-d-d-d-d-d-defected."

That day, the entirety of East Blue became aware, that the infamous bounty hunter has corrupted into becoming East Blue's most dangerous pirate.

And then…

.

.

.

__________

[3 Years After]

"…SHHIIIIITTTTTT!!!!!" Within a chaotic storm, one blue-haired man was screaming at a muffled voice, "FUCK MY LIFEEEEE!!!!!"

With his boat lost and him flying along the storm, the man eventually,

BOOM!

lands face-first in the middle of one gloomy-looking island, with his consciousness lost from the impact.

"…Eh?"

And said man is found by the orange-haired woman, Nami, who's now turned 15 in terms of age.