Ch.48 Cat Burglar Nami

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　'Zaaaaaaaasssssh.....'

　Rain falling down on the boat in the middle of the sea, the sun had just set couple hours ago. Inside the boat's cabin one could heard someone eating with gusto.

　'Nom*, nom*, Sluuuurp*, nom*....'

　"Sluuuuuurp*. Ahhh! Rei more please!" Luffy exclaimed with his wide smile as he just finished his n'th bowl of soup.

　"Sure..." Rei took Luffy's bowl and refilled it once again with clear vegetable and meat broth.

　"Shishishi...Thanks!" Luffy took the bowl as he looked towards their 'new' member inside the cabin.

　"Go on, eat. Rei's meal was quite delicious, even with little meat inside. Hahaha..." Said Luffy towards the orange haired girl with brown eyes who sit together with the strawhats inside.

　"Ha-ha-ha..." The girl laughed awkwardly as she began to swirl her clear broth. In fact she doesn't have any apetite right now seeing the broth with diced carrot, potato and meat, as she felt the 45 million Bellies man keeping his eyes on her.

　Zoro stood up after he had finished his meal and went outside while Rei called him.

　"Where are you going? Its raining outside."

　"Train.." Zoro answered concisely and went out.

　Rei sighed as he opened his mouth to starts the conversation with the orange haired girl, "So, your name is Nami?"

　Surprised by his call, Nami who in the middle of slurping down a spoonful of broth suddenly choked, "Cough*, cough*...Yeah, yes! Cough*...."

　Luffy stretched his hand and took a glass of water from the small counter and offer it to her, while he was still gobbling up the food.

　"Nom*, Here, Here. *chomp, Careful..." Said Luffy.

　 Nami watched Luffy's hand stretched far with quite disbelief on her face. She knew from the 'White Ghost' about the man she had pushed overboard earlier today has devil fruit ability. She just still couldn't used to it yet.

　"Cough*, thanks..."

　Gulping down her water, Rei voice could be heard once again this time addressing Luffy.

　"Predicting a Typhoon appearance just from the weather. This girl has quite knowledge in seafaring Luffy...." Rei paused slightly and continued, "...You have great navigational ability miss 'Burglar'." Rei smirked towards Nami.

　Nami kept her silence as Luffy exclaimed in interest, "Its true! If it wasn't for you this afternoon, we might need to swim right now!"

　Nami smiled awkwardly, she actualy took a great pride with her navigational ability. And hearing a praise coming out from Rei give a slight relief within her heart.

　Earlier this afternoon...

　after Nami changed her clothes. She saw Luffy already regained his consciousness back. She then earnestly asked for Luffy forgiveness once again under Rei's eyes.

　Luffy laughed, "Hahahaha. Its okay, no harm done, its actualy interesting for me getting hijacked like that! I'm Luffy, Monkey D. Luffy. This is Rei and that one is Zoro."

　Hearing Luffy introduced his crews one by one, Nami finaly introduced herself while looking at each one of them albeit with slight trepidation, "I'm Nami..."

　"Anyway, what are you doing all alone here?" Asked Luffy feeling curious.

　Nami sighed as he told Luffy, "I'm sorry, its not my intentions to hijack your ship. Its true i was stranded here, i was running away from thugs before."

　Luffy nodded his head seemingly believed her story while Rei went inside the cabin to check on his broth.

　When the situation between them had calmed down. All of sudden Nami took a barometer out from her bag as she observed the sea with frown.

　She noticed the wind was picking up speed, waves was getting higher, and also some other things only she could notice.

　"WE MUST GET AWAY FROM THIS AREA NOW!" Nami yelled towards Luffy with stern expression.

　Luffy tilted his head and asked, "Eh? Why?"

　"Theres no time to explain! Quick! We need to turn around! Turn your rudder to the starboard side and adjust the canvas!"

　Zoro stopped swinging the kunai as he scoffed, "Turn back? Why we need to listen to your gibberish?"

　"I SAID TURN AROUND!" Nami increased her voice seemingly in desperate.

　Luffy finaly nodded and shouted giving commands, "Rei! Helms the boat turn it towards starboard side! Zoro help me adjust the canvas quick!"

　Hearing Luffy's order, Rei left the stove and starts turning the rudder to full right turn as Luffy and Zoro were on standby under the boat's mast.

　The duo began to loosen and tighten the rope for sails adjustment by Nami's instruction. They actualy does well following her order considering she was still a stranger to them.

　'WOOOOOOOOO.....'

　The wind was getting faster and faster it began to rotate behind the boat!

　In only 10 minutes later, Zoro and Luffy couldn't help but widen their eyes as they saw something horrible happened at the sea area where they supposedly went to.

　"What the....." Zoro exclaimed in surprise.

　"Whoaaaah! Whats that!" Luffy shouted.

　Rei who also curious about his mates reaction couldn't help but went out and looked towards the area which the trio outside focused at.

　'WOOOO-WOOOOOO....'

　"Oh my god, a Cyclone?" Rei mutterred when he saw the huge whirlwind of seawater were rampaging on their previos route.

　"Its, a Typhoon..." Nami corrected Rei.

　"For a burglar, its quite something you could predict that kind of thing at sea..." Rei added as he squinted his eyes towards Nami.

　Nami threw her eyes towards the other crews as she actualy felt uncomfortable around him.

　Rei already knew about what Nami capable off as a navigator, she was nothing but praise. And yet Rei just left her be waiting for herself to introduce properly to Luffy and Zoro.

　Rei finaly remembered about his broth and went inside leaving Luffy who still captivated by the scene of a typhoon and Zoro who went to train once agan.

　Back to presents...

　'Pam! Pam''

　"Aaah! Its good, thanks for the meal!" Luffy patted his slightly bulging stomach in satisfaction.

　When Nami also finished her meal, Luffy laid down his head ontop of his hands at the table, looking at her with interest.

　Noticing Luffy and Rei eyes focused on her, Nami opened her mouth while clearing her throat.

　"*cough, Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Nami a navigator and part time burglar." She said without batting an eye when speaking about her 2nd profession.

　Luffy leaned on the table further, his eyes sparkled and said, "A Navigator? Thats great! Hey, join us!"

　"Burglar?" Rei added while he served 3 cups of tea.

　Nami tilted her head and asked, "Join you? Where? What are you guys exactly?"

　Luffy stood straight and laughed, then he claimed proudly, "We are Pirates! And i will be the Pirate King in the future! So, i'm looking for crews for the journey towards Grand Line!"

　Nami opened her small mouth and frowned before she said, "Pirate King?"

　Rei saw Nami looked towards him, so he nodded after sipping his cup of tea.

　"No way! I won't join your crews! I refuse!" Nami shook her head.

　"Huh? No! I refuse your refusal!" Luffy countered Nami concisely leaving her dumbfounded.

　Rei looked at the cabin ceiling feeling slight deja-vu at this situation.

　"I already decided that you will be our navigator from now on!" Luffy shamlessly claimed once more.

　Nami finaly turned towards Rei feeling annoyed, "You are the captain right? Tell this crew of yours i won't joining your ragtags group of pirates wannabe!"

　At some point in their conversation, Nami shown more and more expression at her face indicating she had begun to relax around Rei and the others .

　Twitching his mouth Rei answered while pointing at Luffy, "He is the captain."

　Nami was surprised hearing his words, she looked back and forth between Rei and the smug Luffy.

　"No way? You're not the captain? You? The 'White Ghost'?"

　Rei shrugged his shoulder while Luffy wondered about Nami's words.

　"Anyway, we realy need navigator right now. You have shown us great navigating skills before. You're perfect candidate for our voyage." Added Rei.

　"Thats right! Join us!" Luffy spoke once again, trying to persuade Nami.

　Nami shook her head once more, she looked towards Luffy and Rei then she stood up with stern face. "No way! What i like the most in the world are Money and Orange! And the thing i despise most is Pirates!"

　 Rei smirked as he slowly stood up. Seeing him standing, Nami felt warry of him and yet second later.

　'Clink, clank, clink.....'

　Nami's eyes turn wider as she saw Rei adusted his sleeve while several golden nuggets fell down 'involuntarily' from it!

　Rei 'noticed' the golden nuggets on the floor as he bowed down to 'pick' it back.

　"Ah sorry my bad..." Said Rei.

　Who would have thought his hand would 'accidentally' touched another person hand which suddenly appeared to pick the golds!

　Rei smirked as he looked towards the 'owner' of the hand which seemingly had 'good' intentions to help him 'picked' up his golds.

　The hand 'owner' awkwardly took back her hand while still grabbing the golds inside it. "Ah! Hehehe, i noticed you need help 'picking' up your gold. So, i 'help' you in reflex...ha-ha-ha."

　Luffy squated besides Rei and Nami and exclaimed, "Wow! Gold! Theres so many. Is it yours Rei?"

　Luffy helped Rei picking up the gold nuggets and returned it towards the later without any thoughts. As for Nami, she felt reluctant to release her grip on the golden nuggets.

　Nami was often dealing with precious metal as burglar. So, she knew that the gold within her palm are genuine!

　Rei sat back down on the stool, waiting for Nami to return his Golds with interest. While Luffy joined him and enjoy his cup of tea.

　"You have lots of gold Rei, are you rich?" Asked Luffy curiously.

　Rei chuckled while still keeping watch on Nami, "I never said i was poor Luffy."

　Luffy finaly remembered when they were still in previous town. That, whenever he and Koby wanted to buy something from the street stalls, Rei always paid for them!

　 Seeing Nami hesitation, Rei chuckled once again and shook his sleeve slightly on top of the table.

　'Jririring, clink, clink...'

　"Woooow! So many golds!" Luffy's eyes widen like a saucer seeing Rei 'produced' a lot of golden nuggets on the table!

　"How can you fit all of those items inside here?" Luffy attention however wasn't on the gold, he was more interested at Rei 'magical' sleeve as he always sees the later took something out of his black yukata sleeve.

　Rei let Luffy to inspect his sleeve inside and outside as he cleared his throat, "Uhum*, Excuse me..."

　The golden piles were shifted inadvertently towards Nami who without anyone noticing already sat back down opposite them.

　Nami jolted slightly, with awkward chuckle she pulled back her hand which she circled it around the golds and pulling those towards her slowly.

　"Ha, haha, haha...Don't mind me. ha-ha-ha." Nami scratched her 'itching' head awkwardly.

　Rei sighed as he 'complained', "I have many of those. I just don't know where to put it..."

　"Hahaha, why don't you just put it back inside your sleeve Rei?" Luffy laughed as he gave up upon inspecting Rei sleeve.

　Rei shook his head as he looked 'Frustrated' and said, "*sigh, Thats the problem Luffy. My sleeve couldn't hold too much..."

　Suddenly Nami spoke, "Then can i....." Yet she paused contemplating about something.

　Nami put her fist covering her mouth and cleared her throat, "*Ehm. About you offer before concerning me joining your crew. I won't joining you guys to become a pirates..."

　With her shifty eyes, She continued, "...so, How about if we cooperate? I'll temporarily become your navigator until you find another one?"

　Rei chuckled as Luffy smiled widely and agreed, "Sure! But i'll make you stay as our permanent navigator!"

　Nami turned her head sideways while her eye still focused on the golds, "...I'll think about it. And about this gold?"

　Rei laughed as he witnessed how Nami tried her hardest to be seen disinterested towards the gold.

　Rei stood up before cleaning the dishes and said, "Sure, why don't you 'help' keep it for me 'temporarily'? I'll appreciate that..."

　Nami was surprised and asked cheerfully, "Realy? Sure i will keep this gold 'safely'. hahaha."

　At the end of her sentence, Rei could seen Nami's eyes somehow turned into 'Bellies' symbol.

　Rei shook his head as he stood up and continuing to wash the dishes while Nami put the golds inside her bag with wide smile.

　Luffy tried to help Nami to put the gold away only to be shusing out of the way with stern face.

　Luffy just laughed loudly seeing her cute action just like a squirell who protected her stashed 'food'.

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