Chapter 5 - Importance of the Straw Hat

Seeing the fresh blood spurt from Zoro's side, I couldn't help but wince at the pain I knew he was in right now. Nami couldn't really even watch this part, and Luffy wore a similar expression to mine. It was down right dirty, the way Cabaji went after Zoro's wound.

Spitting a curse under his breath, Zoro sat up to face Cabaji once more. Cabaji on the other hand, got ready to spring his next attack now that Zoro was down for the moment. Putting the tip of his sword to the ground, he directed his evil smirk sat Zoro.

"ACROBAT TECHNIQUE: MURDER AT THE STEAM BATH." Cabaji said, as he then began to spin his sword around, creating a dust cloud to obscure him and his position. Eyeing the dust cloud warily, Zoro waited for Cabaji's next move. After a moment passed without anything happening, Zoro moved to get back on his feet, only to have to move his swords to block Cabaji about half way up. This sent Zoro rolling backwards as Cabaji took the chance to attack Zoro's side again.

"He did it again!?" Nami said, as she looked on with Luffy and I.

Ignoring the side line commentary, Cabaji simply looked down his nose at Zoro.

"What's this now?" Cabaji mockingly asked, as he placed the back of his blade against his shoulder as he addressed Zoro. "It's a disgraceful sight to see a grown man moaning in pain on the ground, don't you think? I guess you can see how foolish it was to make an enemy of our crew."

While Cabaji insulted Zoro, I couldn't help but feel my respect for Zoro's abilities begin to grow; all the while painful memories and images began to flash through my mind. I knew what it was like, to have to push on despite any sort of pain I was in at the time. I also knew that I only had an inkling as to what drove Zoro to the lengths he was going. To beat my father is one thing, what drove him to set such a goal for himself is another. What that was, was a question that's been burning at the back of my mind since I first heard him speak of his ambition. Either way, as long as Zoro kept that, Cabaji would never win…

"How in the hell is he able to stay in this fight? He's hurt so badly, yet he keeps going…" I heard Nami say, as she gave Luffy an aggravated look. "Why are you just standing here? Watching is only going to get him killed." Nami told him, as she turned to glance at me. "I'm sure you can agree with me on that, can't you Asuna?" she asked me, as I looked at her in return.

"Cabaji won't win this." I told her, as Nami gave me a confused look. Looking away from her, I turned my gaze to Zoro's crumbled form on the ground. "By underestimating Zoro, Cabaji's sealing his own defeat."

"You can't know that for sure, though." Nami argued, as she looked back at the fight as well.

Casting a small glance Luffy's way, I saw him regard his crew mate seriously. Not an ounce or worry for his friend flashed through his dark eyes as he watched Zoro get kicked around by Cabaji. Goofy as Luffy gets at times, he held an unshakable faith in Zoro's abilities. If anything, knowing this, made my prediction seem even more likely to come to pass.

"Roronoa Zoro…" I heard Cabaji say, as I turned my attention back to the fight. "You're finished!" he yelled, as he began peddling Zoro's way again.

Unfortunately for Cabaji, Zoro didn't intend to take his next attack lying down. Staggering to his feet, Zoro stood at the ready.

"You annoying little bastard." Zoro muttered, as he let his swords hang on either side of his body. "Are you having fun poking at my wound?… Go right ahead!" he shouted at Cabaji, as the self proclaimed acrobat's sword linked up the wound on Zoro's front, to the one further back on his side.

Seeing this, I couldn't stop the hiss of shock that passed my lips. Even Luffy muttered a sound in sympathy, while Nami cringed once again at the thought of the pain that had to have caused him. However, Zoro didn't make a sound as Cabaji's blade cut through his skin. He just stood there, as Cabaji passed him, and more of his blood fell to the ground. Soon as the wound was made, and Cabaji came to a standstill behind him, Zoro glanced over his shoulder, sweat running down his face.

"Is that enough of a handicap for you?" He asked Cabaji, who began to appear more pissed off than fiendishly delighted as he had before. Seeing this, Zoro turned the rest of the way around, as he lifted up one of his swords. "If it is, then how about I show you how much superior my skills are to yours." he said, as Cabaji became more wary of his opponent.

Apparently, he was beginning to see the mistake he had made upon initiating this fight with the ex-bounty hunter.

"You idiotic bastard… I won't be mocked." Cabaji warned Zoro, as he shifted his position. "The severe wounds you have at the moment should be a good enough excuse as to why you lost to me. Acrobat Cabaji of the Buggy Pirates." Cabaji said, as Zoro narrowed his eyes at him.

"My aim is to be the world's greatest. I can't submit to anyone who calls himself a swordsman. If I were to loose to you, with a scratch like this, then I wouldn't have a very bright future ahead of me, would I?" Zoro shot back, as he drew his white sword and placed it in his mouth.

Hearing his crew mates words, Luffy began to cheer him on. Nami remained silent like I did. However, I did so only because I knew that Zoro was only half right with his last statement. The level of training and torment Zoro will have to go through to reach his goal won't be easy. Same as it is with Luffy's goal to become the next pirate king. Yes, it might have some bright moments, but they'll always be overshadowed…

Seeing Nami turn away from the scene Zoro and Cabaji were in, I felt myself come out of my thoughts as I turned a curious look my sister's way. Noticing me, Luffy turned his focus on Nami as well.

"I refuse to stay here and watch this any longer." she began, as she headed towards an alley way that sat next to where the three of us were watching Zoro's fight from. "You pirates can go around killing each other until the end of time for all I care. What I do care about, is this beautiful opportunity you two have created for me to go and rob Buggy blind and get the hell out of here." Nami said, as she threw up a hand in a short wave towards Luffy. "Who knows, maybe we can team up again if we ever get the chance. Good luck with the fight! See ya!"

With that, Nami gave me a nod in the direction she was heading. Seeing the silent invitation for what it was, I sighed heavily. I had kind of wanted to stay and watch Zoro kick Cabaji's ass. However, I also knew that Nami could also probably use some help in getting through whatever guards Buggy had guarding his treasure.

Reaching up to pull my sunglasses down, I let out a small curse as I was reminded that they had been blown to bits by one of Buggy's special cannon balls. Making a mental note to pick up some more when I had the chance, I turned to look Luffy's way.

"Well, as much as I want to see how this ends, I need to catch up with Nami before I loose her again. I'll see you guys around." I told Luffy, as headed towards the alley Nami went down.

"Thanks for all of your help Asuna! See ya!" Luffy called after me, as I gave him one last wave. With that, I took off down the alley to catch up with my sister. As I made my way, I couldn't help but feel a pang in my chest. A pang I knew that I needed to bury as soon as possible.

Luffy and Zoro were the closest thing I'd had to having friends in a very long time. All of the pirates I've hauled into the marines, and none of them had found their way around the walls I'd built up around my heart like they had.

Yet, our friendship can never be. It would only end with them being killed.

Burying this, I concentrated on where I was going. Just in time to find that Nami had stopped a ways up ahead to wait for me. She was leaning up against a wall, as I slowed down to a walk, watching my approach. Stopping a few feet from her, I waited for her to speak.

"You sure like to find trouble, don't you Asuna." Nami said, as she glanced from me to her feet. "Trouble that might be more than what even you bargain for from time to time." she warned, as I folded my arms across my chest.

"You're probably right about that. Not that it really matters anymore though, does it." I said, as Nami turned a surprised gaze my way.

"Asuna…" She began, only to pause as I began making my way further down the alley way.

"Just leave it be Nami. Once we have Buggy's treasure, we're leaving them behind, right? Once we put them behind us, then it won't matter how I feel on the subject. And as far as handing them over to the marines, I've decided to let them go. They did help me after all." I told her, as I looked over my shoulder at my sister.

Sighing heavily, Nami then looked from me up to the blue sky.

"I'll admit, while I'm ready to cut my losses with them, I will give Luffy and Zoro this…" Nami said, as a small smile graced her lips. "They made you feel again. In a good way. If you can take the memory that you can feel like a normal human being again from being near them, then I can't see it as a bad thing."

Once again, the pang I had tried to leave behind me returned full force to my chest at Nami's words. She had hit the nail on the head with that. Letting my bangs cover my eyes, I fought all of the emotions back.

"And yet, to save their lives, we have to let them and the friendship they promise go." I muttered, as I faced forward once more.

Nami didn't respond to my statement, as she lowered her one head in silent agreement. She knew just as well as I did of what I spoke. I let her be for a moment or two, before I glanced at her over my shoulder once more. Giving her a hollow smile, I nodded my head in the direction of the destroyed pub.

"If we want to rob Buggy under his big red nose, then we'd better get going." I told her, as Nami's small smile returned to her lips.

"Yeah." she agreed, as she pushed away from the wall. Moving to stand next to me, she gestured the other alley ways connecting to the one we were currently one. "If we keep going straight for a few more houses, then take a right, then that should put us towards the back of the pub. It's where I went to steal the chart in the first place." Nami said, as I nodded my head once in understanding.

"Alright then, let's get that chart and the goods." I said, as I began following Nami in the direction she had indicated.

Just as Nami had said, a few more houses down and a right turn put us towards the back of the pub. There were still a few pirates laying about the wreckage, but all of the ones still concious kept their attention on their captain. Probably for fear of Buggy turning his wrath upon them or something. Not that it really mattered, so long as they weren't pay any attention to Nami and I.

Creeping over to a good sized piece of debris, Nami stood at one end, and pointed towards the other side of it. Silently asking me to give her a hand in moving it. Moving to help her out, we picked it up as quietly as we could and moved it over to the side. Once it was out of the way, it was rather easy to see the way down into the basement. Letting Nami head down first, I kept my eyes on the pirates lying about.

Once Nami was in a good ways, I followed her in while passing the passed out guard Buggy had stationed for his treasure. Judging by the blue bottle in his hand, it looked like he had drank himself under the table. Ignoring him for now, I followed Nami over to the door that sat beyond the useless guard.

Reaching below the hem of her skirt, Nami pulled out one of the sections of her staff. Placing it through the opening on top of the pad lock that held the door shut, she quickly jerked it to the side to make it snap open. Hearing the loud noise it made, both Nami and I paused long enough to make sure the drunkard was still out of it before removing what was left of the lock.

Speaking of a lot of noise, we apparently had just enough luck left that the door swung open on well oiled hinges. As for the room that lay beyond, it was pitch black. Seeing this, I grabbed a lantern with a decent amount of oil and a box of matches from the shelf I stood next to, and handed them to Nami.

Taking them with a small thanks, Nami went just inside the darkened room in order to light it. After all, we still had a guard to keep from waking up.

Once she had it lit, Nami took the lantern further into the room with her with me right behind her. we didn't have to go far though, before the light of the lantern began reflecting off the huge ass pile of gold and jewels Buggy had stashed away in here. From the size of it, it looks like Buggy had been using this town as his home base for a good while now.

"Wow! Look at all this stuff!" Nami exclaimed excitedly, as I felt myself flinch a bit at the volume she used. Hearing a groan from the other room, I quickly realized that I wasn't the only one who was opposed to it. Watching as Nami went towards the gold to run her hands through it, I moved into the shadows that still sat behind the open door.

Sure enough, soon as Nami goes to put the crown she spotted in the horde of treasure on top of her head, the drunk guy from came stumbling in towards her. Thanks to me hearing him wake up before he got here, I was able to avoid being seen. Keeping a close eye on the bastard, I watched as he slowly drew his sword, and placed it close to Nami's neck. Luckily for the bastard, I recognized his intent to scare my sister rather than kill her. Had it been the other way around, the treasure would have been a little more red than gold right now.

Feeling the cold steel against her neck, Nami froze. Seeing that the damn pirate had Nami's attention, he backed off just enough to let her turn around to face him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing with our treasure?" he demanded, as the crown on Nami's head fell off with a clang. When she didn't answer, the pirate moved a little closer to her, raising his bottle of booze to take a drink. "By order of Captain Buggy, any one who touches the treasure will be-" the pirate paused, as he felt just how light his bottle was. Giving it a startled look, he put the lip of the bottle to his eye to peer inside.

Rolling my eyes at this, I spied an unopened bottle of sake sitting on top of a barrel next to me. Moving out of the shadows, I made sure Nami saw me picking it up. Catching on to what I wanted to do, Nami went full on into actress mode. Clenching her shirt just over her chest, she faked falling to her knees, and began making whimpering sounds as if she were in pain.

Seeing this, the pirate quickly forgot his main job in his drunken state, as he began to show concern for my sister's supposes condition.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he slurred, as Nami curled into her self a bit more.

"It's my chest…" she gasped out. "It's hurting really bad." Nami complained, as she moved her hands down just enough to show some of her cleavage. This action of course moved the pirates gaze from her face to her breasts. Not a second later, the bastard gets a goof look on his face as he began turning redder.

Feeling a bit ticked off that a drunken bastard was looking at my little sister in such a way, I gave no mercy when I smashed the bottle of sake I had into the back of his skull. I couldn't help but have a bit of a sadistic smirk of my own when the guy dropped like a sack of bricks. Served him right for being a pervert, and causing me to have to waste what smelled like good sake on top of that.

Letting out a heavy sigh in relief, Nami turned back towards the treasure.

"That was a close one." Nami said, as she then turned a glare in my direction. "Speaking of which, Asuna; why didn't you warn me that he had woken up?" she asked as I gave the pirate at our feet a good kick.

"Element of surprise." I simply answered, as I moved back towards the barrel I had gotten the sake from. Popping it open, I saw a few more bottles of the same kind of sake I had used. Picking one up, I popped off the cork and took a small sip. Feeling a good burn caress my throat, I knew that I was right in my assumption that this was indeed the good stuff. Grabbing an empty sack that sat next to the barrel, I put what looked to be the last four bottles of sake in it before tying it closed.

Now that the barrel was empty, I then reached for one of the two larger sacks that sat on the other side of the barrel that was currently sitting next to this one. The first one I picked up had potatoes in it before I dumped them all in the now empty barrel. Reaching for the other, I found that it had apples. Pouring those on top of the potatoes, I then closed the barrel before taking the now two empty sacks over to where Nami was fiddling with the treasure.

Upon reaching her side, I saw that she had found the key to a small purple chest, and was in the process of opening the pad lock. Once she had it off, she flipped the lid open. Seeing what was inside, she gave a soft cry of triumph as she grabbed the worn, rolled up parchment inside. Watching as she unrolled it, I quickly realized that it was the chart we had come looking for besides the gold.

"Yes! This is it! The chart of the Grand Line." she said, as a bright smile crossed her face. Seeing it, I couldn't help but smile secretly to myself. Having a chart in her hand was the only way that I've seen Nami truly smile over the last eight years. I've never told her that though, because I knew she'd deny it the moment I did.

Giving her a moment to bask in her accomplishment, I then cleared my throat to get her attention. Lowering the chart, Nami finally turned to acknowledge me.

"Now that we've found it, we'd better pack up the gold and get the hell out of here. If Buggy or his men realize we're down here, all they'll have to do is seal up the opening into the basement. Then there won't be adding this to our savings back home, or going to the Grand Line." I reminded her, as Nami gave me a sheepish smile.

"I suppose your right." she agreed, as she rolled the map. Tucking it into her shirt, she then took one of the bags from me and began filling it. Doing the same, Nami and I managed to have everything we were taking packed away. Hefting my half of the burden up on my shoulder, I then grabbed the small bag of sake for later. Noticing it, Nami gave me a confused look.

"What's in the smaller bag?" she asked, as she hefted her own bag over her shoulder.

"Oh this?" I said, as I held it up a little higher. "It's sake. I was planning on using it to disinfect Zoro's wound when I get the chance to retreat it." I answered her, as Nami gave me a pointed look.

"If he survives, you mean." she said, as I shrugged my shoulder.

"I'm sure he will. But if he does kick the bucket, I'm sure one of us will need it by the time we leave this place." I said, as Nami and I began making our way for the exit.

"Maybe, but I'm hoping not. Now that we have what we need, we need to get the hell of this island." Nami said, as I paused at the steps leading back up into the light of day. Sensing this, Nami turned back to look at me.

"What about Luffy and Zoro? I have faith that they'll beat Buggy, but what about Boodle's neighbors. Once they realize that he hasn't gone back after his visit with Chouchou, I'm sure they'll come looking for him. And when they do, Luffy's not going to deny being a pirate." I asked, as Nami's expression became somber.

"No doubt that they'll blame him for all the damage done to the town too. Him and Zoro." Nami said, as she turned a thoughtful look at the bag she carried, and the one I carried. "And come to think of it, because they're distracting Buggy, we're walking away with what I estimate to be ten million berries. So I guess you're right to be hesitant. Helping them get off the island ASAP if needed is the least we could do."

"And from what I've noticed, Luffy and Zoro are heading in the same direction we need to be heading in anyway. The question is, do you want to stay on as partners with them for now?" I asked her, as Nami thought it over.

"Let's get through our fight with Buggy first. If Zoro and Luffy can really defeat him and his crew, then there won't be anyone breathing down our necks to get it back like usual. If yes, then I would agree to it. Who knows, maybe well get another haul like this." she answered, as I gave her a small smile.

"Then let's go see how the fights going, shall we?" I said, as Nami nodded her head once. With that, we made our way out of the basement. Moving as quietly and as quickly as possible, Nami and I made our way back to the allies we had used to get to the pub from the street. When we were about half way back to where we had left Luffy, Nami and I went towards the mouth of the alley. Setting my half of the treasure down, I peered to see what was going on.

Doing the same, Nami and I soon discovered that Cabaji and Zoro were still fighting. Though by what I could see of the expression on Zoro's face from where he sat on the ground, I'd say he was about to end it. Although, Luffy was standing in a different spot than where we left him. Between Zoro's back, and Buggy who was missing a hand. A hand Luffy was currently stepping on.

Oh, I get it now. Buggy must have tried to catch one of Zoro's feet in order to slow him down. And Luffy stopped him by pinning his hand to the ground. Way to keep his back Luffy! I thought, as my attention went back to Zoro and Cabaji.

Taking a good look at Zoro's side as he staggered back to his feet, I could see that his bandages were thoroughly soaked through now.

"Enough of this bullshit. I'm tired of it." Zoro said, as Cabaji balked at Zoro's statement.

"So you've finally decided to give up, haven't you?" Cabaji chuckled, as he raised his sword once more. "It's impressive that you've lasted this long with your wounds, but your road ends here."

"I think you misunderstood me. I'm tired of this boring little side show you've got going on." Zoro clarified, as several veins became visible on Cabaji's forehead. The self proclaimed acrobat was becoming quite pissed off with Zoro's indifference.

"So sorry to have disappointed you. How about I use my real swordsman skills!" Cabaji said, as he began peddling furiously towards Zoro once again. "Die!" Cabaji shouted at him, as Zoro stood at the ready.

The moment he did though, I felt a powerful aura start to emit from Zoro and his white sword. It felt dark, and immensely powerful. Much like the aura you would believe a demon to have. Once Cabaji was within striking range, Zoro slashed him, as Cabaji's blood painted the streets a darker red. A single glance at the wound, and I could tell that Zoro had cut him deep enough to leave a decent sized scar on Cabaji's side.

And speaking of the pirate acrobat, Cabaji didn't make it more than a couple of feet past Zoro before he froze in pain.

"I was bested... By petty thieves?" Cabaji gasped out, as he fell off his unicycle and abruptly passed out from the pain he was now in.

"We aren't petty thieves. We're pirates." Zoro corrected, as he crumbled to the ground himself. Not that I was too surprised, Zoro was wounded when the fight began, and Cabaji had only made it worse for him.

"Luffy…" Zoro called, as Luffy glanced at him over his shoulder. "I'm going to sleep." Zoro announced as he closed his eyes to do just that.

"Sounds good to me." Luffy told him, as he turned to face Buggy again. And let me tell you, if Buggy was pissed off before, then it was nothing compared to how he's feeling now. "I've been looking forward to this since we got here." Luffy bragged, as he held up a fist.

"No way. Zoro managed to beat that guy." Nami said in shock, as she glanced my way. "It's just like you predicted."

"Maybe so, but Zoro's wound was not only reopened, but made wider when he let Cabaji nick him earlier in the fight. But now that that's over a done with, all that's left is Luffy's big fight with Buggy the Clown." I said, as Nami and I turned our attention to the next two opponents about to square off.

Ignoring Luffy's boasts, Buggy's mind held on to what Zoro had mentioned to Cabaji before passing out.

"So. You two are pirates?" Buggy asked, as Luffy nodded his head.

"Yeah. We're searching for the Grand Line." he answered, as Buggy scoffed at him.

"The Grand Line? That's a difficult voyage two half wits like you wouldn't be able to make." Buggy said, as a mocking tone entered his voice. "And if by some miracle you make it to those waters, just what in the hell are you planning to do? Go on a sight seeing tour?" Buggy asked, as he broke out into laughter.

"Be king of the pirates." Luffy answered simply, as if Buggy should already know this.

The moment that left Luffy's mouth though, Buggy all but broke his neck in shock.

"You can't be serious, you fucking idiot!" Buggy raged at him. "If you were to become king of the pirates, then I'd become the God of Pirates! Besides, there's no way I'd let a scrawny runt like you beat me to obtaining all the treasure this world has to offer!"

"You're annoying." Luffy straight up told him, as Buggy all but choked on Luffy's interruption. "How about we go ahead an settle this?" Luffy suggested, as Buggy drew his knives.

"Why not?" Buggy agreed, as he narrowed his eyes in Luffy's direction. "Seeing that straw hat really pisses me off. You and that hat reminds me too much of that cheeky red headed pirate bastard."

Upon hearing the words, red headed, Luffy's eyes became wide in surprise.

"Red headed? Wait, are you saying you know my old friend Shanks?" Luffy asked, as I felt my jaw drop.

"Wait a damn minute! Luffy knows Red-Haired Shanks!?" I exclaimed in a harsh whisper, as Nami turned a confused expression my way.

"Red-Haired Shanks. As in the Four Emperors?" she asked, as I nodded my head yes.

"Yeah… Many years ago, back before Arlong, there was a rumor that the Red Haired Pirates based themselves on an island somewhere in the East Blue for a while. That must have been when Luffy met him." I explained to her, as Nami turned surprised eyes Luffy's way.

"Can you tell me where he is now!?" Luffy shouted, as I snapped my gaze to him and Buggy once more.

"Oh I don't know?" Buggy mocked, sneering at Luffy as he took the opportunity to try and make Luffy squirm. "Maybe I do, and maybe I don't."

Giving Buggy a droll stare, Luffy began scratching his head beneath his hat.

"What? Don't tell me for already forgot!" Luffy said, as Buggy's teasing went right above his head. Oh, I'd say about a thousand miles high…

"NO I DIDN'T FORGET, YOU MORON!" Buggy snapped at him, as he calmed himself down a moment later. "But I'm not just going to come out a tell you. You want to find out, you'll have to work for that kind of information." he challenged, as he went back to a language I knew Luffy would be able to understand.

"That's fine." Luffy smirked. "I'll just make you tell me."

Chuckling, Buggy kicked the heel of his shoe to the ground to make a hidden blade pop out of the toe.

"Well just see about that won't we?" Buggy said, as he held his foot up. "Although I doubt you'll like your chances. Rubber won't bounce back from a blade. Am I right?"

"You're right." Luffy fully admitted, while Nami slapped her palm to her head.

"Damn. You weren't joking when you said he couldn't lie to save his life." Nami said, as I gave her a side ways glance.

"Don't worry Sis, I'll play nice this time and I won't tell you I told you so." I reassured her.

"Yeah, you do that." Nami remarked as we turned our attention back to the rising tensions. Just in time too, for Buggy wasted not another second before he detached his lower half, and sent it into a spin.

"CHOP-CHOP RICE CRACKER!" Buggy shouted, as his spinning mass of steel flew towards Luffy. Jumping upwards, Luffy was able to dodge it. However, it soon became clear that it was just a ploy to get Luffy to go mid air when Buggy sent his hands flying at Luffy. Unfortunately for Buggy, being mid air didn't make stretching his arm out to pull himself away any difficult.

Calling his lower half and his hands back to him, Buggy gave Luffy an appraising eye.

"Oh-ho. An interesting manure." Buggy stated, as Luffy returned the sentiment.

"You're not so bad either." Luffy said, as he got ready to launch his next attack. "But here goes: GUM-GUM PISTOL!" He called, as he launched his fist towards Buggy's head. Watching it head towards him, Buggy dodged to the side as it sailed right past his face.

Giving Luffy's arm a passing glance, Buggy then looked at one of his daggers.

"Their nice abilities, but they also tend to leave you wide open." he commented, as he raised his daggers to slice through Luffy's extended arm. Seeing this, Luffy latched his stretched out hand onto something. Once he had a hold of something sturdy, Luffy simply let his rubbery abilities kick in and pull him towards Buggy.

"GUM-GUM SICKLE!" Luffy shouted, as he held out an arm to try and take Buggy out at the neck.

This only gave Buggy either enough time to cut Luffy, or try and dodge the new attack heading towards him. In the end, survival instinct won out as Buggy detached his head in order to get out of Luffy's way. Having missed his mark, Luffy went sailing past Buggy to crash land in what was left of a ruins house. Reattaching his head to his body, Buggy then looked back at the wreckage Luffy had fallen into.

"Not good enough, is it Gum-Gum." he teased, as Luffy busted out of the debris of the house, hat in hand. Placing it back on his head, Luffy gave Buggy an aggravated look.

"Damn, you keep breaking up into pieces." Luffy complained, as Buggy snorted at his expense. Instead of responding to Luffy's statement though, Buggy held out his fist full of daggers.

"CHOP-CHOP CANNON!" he shouted, as his hand flew off his arm. The daggers aimed for Luffy's chest as they flew. They ended up missing their mark though, seeing as Luffy caught Buggy's hand. Unfortunately for Luffy this time, that wasn't all Buggy was planning to do.

"Separate." Buggy commanded, as his hand split down the middle. This time, Luffy was only able to doge half of Buggy's fingers. The ones he did flew harmlessly by him, but the ones he couldn't avoid managed to slice into his face. The force of the blow knocked him back into the wreckage once more as Buggy let out an evil laugh.

As his hand melded back together and landed on Buggy's hand, Buggy let out an evil laugh to match.

"So, you want to give up yet ya little runt?" Buggy taunted him, as I felt a chill go down my spine. Glancing back at Luffy, I saw him gazing down at his hat, at a tear that sat around the edge. Seeing it, I knew that Buggy had better start digging. By the time Luffy got done with him, he'd need the hole for his grave. After about a moment or two of looking at his hat, Luffy threw a murderous glare at Buggy.

"You bastard!" Luffy growled at Buggy, who simply waved his anger aside.

"What? Was I not supposed to scratch your face or something?" Buggy asked, as Luffy turned his glare back at his hat.

"Bastard… No one damages my hat and walks away alive." Luffy growled, as he got back on his feet, his hand clutched in his right hand. "Anyone who so much as lays a single finger on my treasured straw hat is gonna pay!" He spat at Buggy, who gave Luffy's hat a thoughtful look.

"In this entire day that I've known Luffy, I didn't think there was anything that could phase him, but look at him now. He's getting so upset about a hat." Nami said, as I glanced back at her again.

"A breeze took it off Luffy's head on the way to this island. Luffy all but jumped right into the sea to try and get it back. Would have done it too had Zoro not caught it for him." I said, as I thought of something. "Now that you mention it, Luffy told us afterwards that he got it from someone important to him. With how he reacted to Buggy mentioning Red Haired Shanks, I wouldn't be surprised if that's who gave it to him."

"Wow. Then it really must be important to him then." Nami commented, as I nodded my head once in agreement.

"That hat must really have some history behind it then." Buggy said, drawing our attention back to the fight. "If its so important, then maybe you should protect it." he said, as he had the hand he shot at Luff fling one of it's knives at him.

Sensing the danger, Luffy dodged out of the way, leaving a pretty good sized opening to his hat. By the time I realized the trap for what it was, Buggy had already used his powers to send his hand and the remaining daggers through Luffy's hat. Tearing it up even worse than before.

Watching as the hat was torn form his grasp, Luffy could only look on in horror. Luffy was in so much shock, that he couldn't even move to keep from falling flat on his face.

As Luffy fell, Buggy recalled his hand to the stump of his arm. Once it arrived and reattached to him, he gave the hat a scathing look as he examined it.

"How can this old tattered hat be a treasure?" Buggy asked no one in particular as he glanced back at Luffy. "Treasure refers to gold and sparkling jewels. Things of great value which reflect their owners wealth. If you think this filthy old thing is a treasure, then you really need to grow up boy." he chuckled, as Luffy sat up once more.

"Shut the hell up! When Shanks gave me that, I made a promise!" Luffy shouted again, as that name gave Buggy pause.

I suspected as much. That hat really did belong to Red Haired Shanks. I thought as I continued to watch the exchange.

Looking back at Luffy's straw hat, Buggy began to give it a disgusted look.

"So this use to be Shanks'." Buggy echoed, as he threw the hat to the ground. "No wonder the damn thing looked so familiar. I'd never seen Shanks without it back when I knew him."

At this, Luffy gave Buggy a wide eyed look.

"So you and Shanks were members of the same pirate crew way back when." Luffy said, as Buggy looked back up at Luffy, a far away look on in his eyes.

"Yes. Back when we started out in the life of piracy, that damn detestable red haired bastard and I were comrades." Buggy answered, as he slammed his heel down on the straw hat. This action was enough to make Luffy charge at Buggy.

"SHANKS WAS A BETTER MAN THAN YOU'LL EVER BE! DON'T YOU DARE TALK BAD ABOUT HIM!" Luffy roared at Buggy, as he threw his fist back once more. Seeing it, Buggy tried to use his escape move again.

This time, it was Luffy who feinted a move, as he delivered a powerful kick to Buggy's gut rather than punching him in the face. This sent the rest of Buggy's body to the ground, as his head began floating back to its original place as Buggy coughed from the wind being knocked out of him.

"I can say whatever the hell I want about him." Buggy wheezed at Luffy, who reached down to pinch Buggy's cheeks. Pulling on them, Luffy got close and personal with Buggy's annoying face.

"Tell me! What happened between you two, and where in the hell can I find Shanks now!?" Luffy demanded. However, seeing as Luffy had his face, Buggy wasn't able to answer. Becoming aggravated with Buggy's silence, Luffy tossed Buggy away from him, as he turned to look at his hat.

"Damn it… You just had to tear my hat all to hell didn't you?" Luffy asked rhetorically.

Sitting up from Luffy's rough treatment, Buggy coughed a few more times before he could get his voice back.

"Do you really want to know?" Buggy asked, as Luffy turned back towards him. "Shanks is the one man I absolutely hate with a passion. I'll curse his name until the very day I die. I'll never forgive him for what he did to me!" Buggy stated, as he glared at a spot on the ground that sat between him and Luffy.

"In all my life, I've never been as pissed off at anyone as much as I am with him. It's because of him that countless treasures I once planned on searching out, are beyond my reach…" Buggy began, as he then went into some sob story about how he faked eating a devil fruit his former crew had pilfered from one of the ships they raided long ago; and went about preparing to jump ship. The plan for that devil fruit was to sell it on the black market and use the money to buy his own ship.

A plan that backfired when Red-Haired Shanks snuck up on Buggy while he was trying to sneak away, causing Buggy to put the damn devil fruit in his mouth to hide it. After trying to get Buggy to go to a celebration they were having on the ship, he went to leave. Thinking he was safe, Buggy went to take the devil fruit out of his mouth. Only to end up swallowing it whole when Shanks rounded back to tell him something else.

As Buggy swallowed it, he lost the treasure map over board. A treasure map he dove in after. Having forgotten that devil fruits and water don't mix, Buggy got into trouble. Trouble Shanks saved him from by pulling him out of the water.

At least, that's the gist I got from it. Rolling my eyes, I couldn't help but give Nami a side ways glance.

"Sure sounds like he was a punk nosed kid huh?" I asked her, as Nami turned a very frightened look my way. Upon seeing it, I realized what I had said. Not even sparing a glance in Buggy's direction, I dove for Nami's side of the alley. Shrinking back into the alley way herself, Nami and I held our breath as we waited for Buggy to come after us.

"So, are you telling me that Shanks saved your life?" Luffy asked, drawing Buggy's attention back to him with a vengance. While Buggy cursed out Luffy for interrupting his story, Nami and I let out the breath we were holding.

"That was too close. What in the hell possessed you to say something like that, Asuna!?" Nami fussed in a harsh whisper.

"I was only making an observation, that's all." I answered, rolling my eyes. "If he's got a problem with other people's opinions, then he need to use the next chestful of treasure he obtains to buy himself an island or something." I said, as I moved away from the wall I had leaned up against to stay out of sight, and peered around Nami and the corner hiding us.

Buggy was still ranting and raving at Luffy about how his own idiotic actions got him cursed. Pulling back from sight once more, I glanced back at Nami.

"Alright, since Luffy has him distracted, I think it's best if we pick up and leave now." I said, as Nami nodded her head once.

"Yeah, your right." she said, as she hoisted one of the two bags of treasure we had onto her back. Doing the same with the other, Nami and I cautiously tip toed out of the alley while Buggy was still looking at Luffy. As we moved, I tried to keep tabs on how the fight was going. That way, if Buggy noticed us, I'd know to make sure Nami and I wouldn't be caught off guard.

"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Buggy shouted. "Because of what he did, I can no longer swim. And if I can't swim, then there is no way for me to reach any treasures that are sunken to the bottom of the ocean. Then I had a revelation… If I can't reach the treasures of the sea, then I'd just obtain all the treasure to behold on dry land using my Chop-Chop powers…" Buggy said, as his upper half floated up from the rest of his body. Seeing this, I felt another chill run down my spine.

"And now, I won't suffer anyone who touches my hard earned treasures to live." Buggy said, as he spread his arms outward, the knives he was still holding in his hands gleaming in the day light. "DEATH TO ALL WHO TRY TO PILFER MY HARD EARNED GOLD!" Buggy declared, as his floating torso turned to face my sister and I. Seeing it, I turned wide eyes back at Nami who was in the lead.

"Start running!" I told her, as Nami glanced back at me to ask why. Only to end up taking off with me upon seeing Buggy soaring straight for us through the air. Following after her, I held on to the bag of gold I was carrying.

"GET BACK HERE YOU THIEVES!" Buggy shouted at us, as Nami and I moved our legs faster.

"Damn it! He spotted us!" Nami shrieked, as she threw a glare in my direction. "You just had to say something to piss him off!"

"Just shut up and run! He sure as hell wont be nice if he catches us and my daggers won't work on him!" I shouted back at her as Buggy began gaining ground on us.

"Neither of you stand a chance against me! I'm going to flashily chop you both up!" Buggy yelled, as he came ever closer to us. Taking the load of treasure off of my back, I ignored Nami's protest as I chucked it as far as I could in the direction we were running towards. Now that my hands were free, I reached to pull my own set of daggers from my boots. Once they were in my hands, I spun to a stop behind my sister as she kept running.

"Blades won't work on me, remember? How about I give you a wound like Zoro's!?" Buggy mocked, as I braced myself for his attack.

Just as his daggers were about to make contact with me, Buggy's upper half froze midair with a look of pain etched into his face. The sudden stop and expression were enough to startle me, as a squeak left my lips. Hearing it, Nami chanced stopping to see if I was alright. Seeing Buggy's face and his daggers so close to me, Nami's face drained of color.

Then, before I could so much as blink, Buggy's upper half falls to the ground as huge tears began freely flowing from his eyes.

"Owwww! Damn it, my balls… My balls…" Buggy wheezed out, as I glanced from him to his lower half, then to the foot Luffy had applied none too gently to Buggy's crotch. I swear, I could even hear them crunching and shattering from where I stood.

"Don't run off yet." Luffy said, as he turned his monkey grin in the direction of Buggy's face. "We're not done with our fight just yet." When Buggy didn't answer right away, Luffy then took the time to glace up and Nami and me.

"Hey, you might want to drop that bag like Asuna did, and get out of here before he wakes up." Luffy suggested, as Nami began to look like she was ready to bite his head off.

"No way!" Nami snapped. "I'll be having words with you later Asuna, but as for you Luffy! There's no way that I'm just going to drop the bag and go! I'm not leaving this stupid island without my treasure!" Nami shouted, as Buggy's fallen form began to move again. Holding my daggers at the ready, I watched to see what Buggy the Clown was going to do next.

"Your treasure?" Buggy echoed, as he turned his murderous glare my way, then settled it upon Nami.

"Yeah, that's right!" Nami snapped at Buggy this time, her fear of him temporarily dissipated seeing as he wasn't trying to kill her right this moment. "I'm a thief who steals from pirates, and I just stole this horde from a really annoying one! So this makes it my treasure now! Got that!" Nami declared as I felt the urge to shake my head.

"Nami, I don't think it works like that until you get away with it." I muttered her way, only for my words to be lost on the wind. Rolling my eyes at the way my sister just ignored me, I turned my attention back to watching for Buggy's next move.

"That's utter bullshit! Just because you stole it from me, doesn't make it yours! You dirty, sneaking thief bitch!" Buggy shouted at her, as I felt my eyes narrow dangerously.

Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly. Then, while Buggy kept hatefully glaring at Nami, I planted my foot on the back of Buggy's head and began digging it painfully into the ground.

"Hey! What the hell!?" Buggy shrieked, as he turned his glare my way. Meeting it my own, I twisted my foot in tune with my next words.

"That's my sister you're talking about, you dumb ass, egotistical clown." I warned him. "Besides, you stole that treasure from somewhere else before you brought it here anyway, I'm sure."

"Why you!" Buggy shouted, not really having anything to come back with at my statement. After a moment, he could only growl at us. "Honestly! What in the hell did your parents teach you two!" Buggy said, as Nami looked down her nose at him.

"Oh, that's hilarious. A criminal trying to lecture another criminal." Nami mocked. "Please… The day I decide to take a lesson in morality, is the day I'll stop being a pirate thief."

Not really having anything to say to that either, Buggy pretty much returned to growling until he could find his voice again.

"I hope the two of you are ready for the consequences…" Buggy said, as I dug my foot into him once more.

"Oh really, and what's that going to be?" I asked him, as Buggy turned a smile my way that I didn't like.

"Here comes… CHOP-CHOP!" Buggy began, as he used his powers to yank his head from under my foot, sending me sprawling to the ground. "FESTIVAL!" Buggy shouted, as the rest of his body parts split into even smaller ones, and flew full speed towards Nami. Before I could find my footing again, Nami was forced to take off with the bag of treasure she still held, with Buggy after her once again.

"Nami! Give me back my treasure!" Buggy demanded, as Nami tried to run faster.

Muttering a curse, I surged to my feet and took off after them as fast as I could. When I made it about half way to them, Buggy suddenly began to laugh hysterically. A moment later, the laughing stopped and a grimace crossed Buggy's face. A moment after that, Buggy then began screaming in pain. At this, Buggy stopped chasing Nami long enough to look back at Luffy. Glancing back to do the same, I saw that Luffy was manipulating one of Buggy's bare feet.

Ignoring how disgusted that made me feel, I concentrated on closing the distance between me and Nami.

"Damn it! Would you knock it the hell off!" Buggy snapped at him, as Nami decided to try and make a move of her own. With Buggy being stationary in the air, she swung the bag of treasure at him in the hopes of knocking him away from her.

What she didn't account for, was the fact that Buggy was still able to catch the bag mid air. Realizing what she had inadvertent done, Nami broke out into a cold sweat, as Buggy beamed a sinister smile her way.

"Thanks for giving me my treasure back, Nami." Buggy said, as he took his turn to look down his big red nose at her.

Not wanting to give up so easily, Nami began shaking the hell out of the bag, trying her best to dislodge Buggy's hands on it. Then she and Buggy began a shouting match of 'let go' and 'no, you let go'. A match that was about to end in blood as Buggy dropped one of his hands from the bag, and let the knife raise up as it pointed towards Nami.

Seeing this, Luffy began running our way as well. If I had to take a guess, then I'd say that Luffy was about to kick Buggy right out of the air above Nami. If that was the case, then I needed to get there to get Nami out of danger before Luffy could get there. Dropping my daggers and making a mental note to pick them up later, I pushed myself to run faster.

I managed to get to Nami only a few seconds before Luffy, and wasted no time in using my leg to kick Nami's feet out from under her as gently as I could before throwing myself to the ground as well. Just in time too, for Luffy to kick the bag of treasure right into Buggy's face and his other parts. As Buggy was sent flying, even the bag of gold took damage as the precious treasures were sent flying in all directions.

As the dust cleared, Buggy's parts began falling to the ground as he fell unconscious for the moment.

Seeing this, Luffy gave Buggy's direction a triumphant grin.

"Consider that hit a little gift from the old mayor guy." Luffy told him, as Nami and I sat up.

"Nami, you alright?" I asked her, as she nodded her head once, then turned her startled look in Luffy's direction.

"Thanks a lot…" Nami said, as I got to my feet, and offered her my hand. "I owe you one." she finished, as she grabbed my hand, and I helped her up.

"Hey, it's no problem." Luffy said, as I gave him a smile of thanks of my own. As Luffy nodded his head back, I then turned and walked off in the direction my daggers had landed when they had fallen. Thankfully, they were rather easy to find among the wreckage of the pub. They needed a coat of polish, but otherwise, they remained undamaged.

Putting them back where they belonged in my boots, I then turned to head back to Luffy and Nami. Only to pause when I spotted Buggy floating once more in a cloud of rage. Well, his head, hat, and captain's coat of course. Spying some rope among the wreckage off to the side, I began to get an idea.

Jogging over, I grabbed the rope, and began to make my way to the parts of Buggy that were the closest to me. As I worked, I could hear Buggy raising all sorts of hell over his defeat.

"HOW DARE YOU FLASHILY DO THIS TO ME!" Buggy raged, as I finished tying off the rope. "ASSEMBLE! CHOP-CHOP PARTS!" Buggy shouted, as his hands, ankles, and feet slapped themselves to gather.

As for Buggy's legs, crotch, torso, and arms… Well, that's all the parts I managed to get before Buggy tried to reassemble himself. When Buggy finally realized that he was not as tall as he should have been, he froze with a rather funny look filled with embarrassment and horror on his face.

"Looking for these, you punk nosed brat!?" I called in his direction, just to piss him off.

I could practically count the tic marks that appeared on Buggy's face as he turned my way. However, whatever retort or insult he had lined up vanished as he realized what I had my foot currently planted on.

"My part!" he shouted, as Luffy began laughing hysterically. Flinging his arms back, I watched as Luffy got ready to pull of a familiar move. The one that got rid of Alvida if I remember correctly.

"Nice one Asuna!" Luffy shouted, as he focused on Buggy. Buggy on the other hand, began to turn pale as he got an inkling of what Luffy was probably about to do to him. "GUM-GUM BAZOOKA!" Luffy cried, as his rubber powers kicked in, and his arms returned to launch Buggy high into the air. All Buggy could do at this point, was scream as he sailed through the air.

Once Buggy was not but a star in the sky, Luffy's arm went back to their normal shape. Soon as they did, Luffy threw his arms up in the air with a shout of I win. Letting a small smile go Luffy's way, I then turned to dig through the remains of the buildings and pubs to find a new bag for Nami's half of the treasure to go in. Thankfully, I was able to find a new one in no time.

As Nami and I finished picking up the treasure, Luffy wandered over to where his torn up hat lie. Pausing in what I was doing, I watched as Luffy cast a sad look at it. Seeing this as well, Nami sent Luffy and apologetic look.

"I'm sorry about your hat. I know it's important to you." Nami said, as Luffy tried to brush it off with a laugh. Too bad that it sounded a bit too hollow.

"Don't worry. I'm still able to put it on, and I kicked Buggy's ass to the next island, so I'm satisfied for now." he said, as Luffy put the torn up hat back where it belonged upon his head.

Giving the damage a look, I felt that I could remedy that.

"When we leave the island, I'll fix it for you." I said, as Luffy turned a bewildered look my way.

"What? You'd really do that for me Asuna?" Luffy asked, as I gave him a droll stare.

"I'm a blacksmith. Although straw hats might be something more in the department of a tailor, needles and thread are needed in both trades." I said, as I gave him a small smile. "Besides, you did save my sister's life just now." I told him, as the hint of sadness lifted from Luffy's eyes.

"Wow! Thanks Asuna!" He beamed, as Nami and I both grabbed a bag, and made our way closer to Luffy.

Sitting her bag down, Nami then pulled out the chart of the Grand Line, and held it out to Luffy.

"Here… This is the chart to the Grand Line. I know that, that's where you want to go." Nami said, as Luffy gave her the same look he had given me just moments ago when I offered to fix his hat for him.

"You're really giving this to me!?" Luffy asked, as Nami gave him an annoyed look.

"Yes, because you saved my life." she answered, as Luffy took it from her, and held it close to his nose. Almost like he could smell the adventure the map promised to give.

"Wow! Now I can finally go to the Grand Line!" Luffy cheered, only to pause a moment later as he rounded back on Nami and me. "Oh! Does this mean you and Asuna will be joining my prate crew?" he asked, as Nami put her hands on her hips.

"I already told you that I'm never joining a pirate crew! And Asuna won't join unless I will so give a rest already." Nami said, as she crossed her arms, and gave Luffy a gentler smirk. "However, I see no reason why we have to break our partnership just yet. Being around you guys isn't as bad as I thought it would be, and it turns out to be pretty profitable. So Asuna and I will be sticking around for just a little bit longer. Just don't forget that we're joining for our own interests."

"So long as you guys sail with us, I'm good with that!" Luffy said, as his triumphant smile grew even bigger if that was at all possible. Looking away from Nami, Luffy then focused his attention on me.

"Did you hear that Asuna! You're both joining Zoro and me!" He said, as I rolled my eyes with him. Although, that didn't make me drop the smile from my face.

"Yeah, but we're not pirates." I reminded him, only for it to go over his head. Not that it really surprised me anymore. He was stubborn with the best of them.

"Now that that's been established, I think we'd better head back and check on Zoro and get out of here. With Buggy out of the picture, who knows how long it will be before the townsfolk come looking for their mayor." Nami suggested, as an imaginary light bulb clicked on in Luffy's head.

"Oh yeah, he fell asleep before I started my fight with Buggy. I wonder if he's feeling any better?" Luffy wondered, as he began heading over to where Zoro still lay. Grabbing the bag she set down, Nami followed after him while I followed after her with the bag I still toted around with me.

Upon reaching the sleeping swordsman, Luffy crouched down and began to gently slap at the back of Zoro's head.

"Hey Zoro!" Luffy called as he continued to try and wake up his first mate. "Zo-ro, wake up, we're leaving!" Luffy said, as Zoro finally blinked his eyes open. Sitting up, he regarded the three of us with drained and sleepy eyes.

"Did we take care of everything?" he asked, as he put a hand to his temple.

"Sure did. We've got a navigator, and a blacksmith, and a chart of the Grand Line." Luffy announced, as Zoro turned to look at Nami and I upon hearing Luffy mention us. However, as he turned to look at Nami, he got a suspicious look on his face. Much like the one he gave me back at the marine base before he joined Luffy.

"I'm not so sure about this shit." Zoro said, as he began to look green. "I feel lightheaded."

"Well, that tends to happen when you loose too much blood and don't look after the wound properly." I remarked sarcastically. Zoro cast an irritated look my way, but if I had to guess, he didn't feel well enough at the moment to retort.

"Honestly, it's always something with you two." Nami followed up, as Luffy gave her a confused look.

"Hey, what did I do?" He asked, as Nami bared her teeth at him.

"You're worse than anyone I've ever met!" Nami snapped at him, as she took a calming breath. Not that I could blame her. I didn't really do much in this fight, but running from Buggy had been tiring. Especially when he pulled those creepy as faces at us.

"Look, we're all tired. Let's just help the mayor so he can go back home, and get going." I suggested, as the four of us turned to look towards Boodle's unconscious form.

"I guess you're right. Now that everything's over, it should be safe to wake the old guy up." Luffy agreed, as he got to his feet to do just that.

Before he could so much as take a step towards Boodle, a bunch of people who were obviously not pirates showed up.

These must be the towns people Boodle was ready to fight and die for. I thought, as I examined the pitchforks and rakes, and home made spears. And from the looks of things, we'd better be careful of what we say.

"You there! None of you are residents of this town." One of them said, as Luffy turned to face the man who spoke.

"Nope, who are you guys?" He asked, only for his question to be ignored.

"What was all of that cannon fire earlier?" the man asked once more. "If you know anything, then please tell us."

"That's a relief, I was afraid that they were more pirates." Nami commented, as I hummed in agreement.

"Even so, be ready to run." I told her quietly, as Nami gave me a confused look.

"Why?" she asked, as I nodded my heads towards the tools and home made weapons. Seeing them as well, Nami began to become nervous. A feeling that increased the moment the towns people noticed Boodle lying out cold on the ground. My reason for why we needed to be ready to run was clear to her now.

As the townsfolk crowed around their beloved mayor, they began speculating what happened to him. When they reached the conclusion that the pirates had beaten him up, Luffy decided that he had to open his big mouth.

"No, I'm the one who kicked that old man's ass." Luffy said bluntly, as the townsfolk turned murderous glares our way.

"Hold on, Luffy! You didn't have to tell them that!" Nami whispered harshly, as Luffy gave her a straight look.

"Well, it's true." He answered, not even bothering to try and maintain the volume of his voice.

"Well fine, then explain to them why you did it so they won't get angry." Nami fussed, as the townsfolk began surrounding us.

"Uh, Nami. I don't think talking our way out of this was an option the moment Luffy opened his big mouth." I told her.

"Yeah you're right. They're getting rather blood thirsty. So long as they don't know what we really are, our fates won't be sealed." Nami whispered, as the towns people began firing many questions at us.

"You'd better explain yourselves." the man from before asked. "Why did you knock the mayor out and leave him on the side of the street to die?" he demanded, as a man behind him told us we'd better answer.

"Are you pirates?" asked another.

"Who the hell are you guys?" asked yet another.

Hearing them, Luffy turned the straight look he had given Nami at them.

"We're pirates." he said in a deadpan voice.

Hearing this, I couldn't help but plant my face into my palm, as Nami all but fell over. Zoro on the other hand, began laughing his ass off as he held his wounded side. Now that the cat was out of the bag, I grabbed the bag of treasure I held in a tight grip, and reached out to grab Nami by the wrist.

Meanwhile, Luffy went over to help Zoro get up. In his wounded state, Zoro won't be able to run anywhere for a while at least. As we got ready to make a run for it, the townsfolk kept yelling angry taunts at us, and painful promises. Pulling Zoro half onto his back, Luffy then took off at full speed towards a thin line of the towns people. Not wasting another second, I rushed forward as well, pulling Nami behind me as I took the opening Luffy had created for us. Once we cleared the citizens of the town, I let Nami go so she could run on her own.

"How the hell do you always seem to make things worse?" Nami asked, as we ran.

"This is a good town." Luffy commented, ignoring Nami's question all together.

"Huh?" Nami said, as she gave Luffy a confused glance before turning her eyes back to the way we were going.

"They're all so made over what happened with the old mayor guy. So there was no way they'd stop and listen to our side of the story." Luffy said, as he once again showed amazing perceptive.

After hearing this, Nami turned surprised eyes my way.

"Wait a minute. Is that why you told me to run Asuna?" she asked as I nodded my head once.

"Sure is. If they had caught on that we were about to run, then they would have made our escape harder than it needed to be." I answered her.

Luffy, Nami, and I ran a few more blocks before Luffy gives us two seconds warning that we needed to turn to the right down an alley. After we get into the alley a few feet, the three of us ended up having to jump over a very familiar pooch.

"Chouchou!?" Nami called in surprise, as we sailed over him. Soon as we cleared him, and the towns people rounded into the alley, Chouchou began barking at them. Being a well known guard dog, the towns people thankfully didn't try to hurt him in anyway. In fact, they stopped following us.

Again, as we ran faster to take the opportunity that had been granted to us, I couldn't help but wonder just how smart Chouchou really was. So far, he had proven himself to be rather intelligent. Chouchou's actions were certainly not lost on Luffy either.

"LATER DOGGIE!" Luffy called back, as we began to put quite a bit of distance between us and the mob after us.

The three of us continued to run until we reached the harbor. Only then did we even bother to slow down or stop. All of that running, and I was about ready to take a page out of Zoro's book and take a freaking nap.

"That was a close one." Nami said, as she panted for breath. "If it hadn't been for Chouchou, we would have been caught. Why do we have to put up with this? We're the ones who got rid of Buggy and his crew for them." Nami whined as Luffy readjusted Zoro.

"Does it really matter now? We're done with this island anyway." Luffy said, as he took a look at the boat that sat next to the one he, Zoro and I took to get to this island. "Hey, is this your boat? It's nice." Luffy said, as Nami gave it a smile.

"Isn't it though? I stole it from a couple of stupid pirates a few days ago." Nami answered, as said pirates decided to pop up from inside the very boat that was being spoken about. Three clown pirates I've seen before…

"That's a big mouth you got!" One of them called, as Nami jumped in surprise. "We've been waiting for you, ya little thief."

"You never thought that you'd run into us here, did ya girlie?" another asked.

"Nami, do you know these guys?" Luffy asked, as the one who originally spoke hopped off the boat to walk up to Luffy.

"Sort of…" Nami answered, as the pirate who approached grinned down his nose at Luffy and Zoro's unconscious form. Seeing this, I couldn't help but wonder just how much like a girl this pirate would sound the moment he realized it was the man who saved and beat his ass on the way to the island.

"It's not just sort of, we're bound by fate." the pirate said, as I began to feel a bit of anger in my blood. Bastard pops up, talks like he wants to teach my sister a lesson, and hits on her in all the same breath. And from the looks of things, I hadn't been noticed by them yet seeing as I've been standing at the back of our small group this entire time.

"These must be your friends." The pirate who was now digging his grave said, as I began to move forward. "I guess we'll have to punish them as well to teach you all not to go around stealing other people's stuff." he continued, as he began to reach for the back of Zoro's head.

"Hey you! Time to wake up and take your medicine!" the bastard taunted, as his hand neared Zoro's head.

Too bad for him, I managed to grab his wrist in a strong grip before he could so much as touch him. If Nami and I were going to be partnering up with Luffy, then that mean he and Zoro were people fell under the category of the people I look out for. Not expecting this, the man went to pull back, but his arm didn't move an inch. Looking from my hand to me with what seemed like a curse on his tongue, it died the moment he got a good look at my face.

The moment he did, he broke out into a cold sweat.

"So, you're just going to teach a lesson to two people who saved your sorry ass from drowning in the sea? How pathetic." I said, as I slowly began to bend the man's hand backwards. "Didn't I also tell you, that you'll be getting no other kindness from me?" I asked, placing an emphasis on the word 'me' as I broke the pirates wrist.

Screaming in pain, the pirate retreated back to his friends, who screamed like little girls as they grabbed their buddy and began running for their very lives.

"Ouchie…" I heard Luffy mutter, as Nami cast a nervous look my way.

"Was that really necessary, Asuna?" Nami asked, as I turned tired eyes her way.

"Hey, I'm not in the mood, and it was break his wrist, or his neck." I told her, as Nami raised her hand in surrender.

"Okay, wrist it was." she muttered, backing off.

With that matter settled, I then set about helping Luffy get Zoro into the boat they would be riding in. Meanwhile, Nami took the task of putting the treasure in the boat she and I would be occupying, and tying the two boats together. A smart idea considering how random Luffy seemed to be, and Zoro's absolute no sense of direction.

As we worked, Zoro regained consciousness again, and tried to get up to help. Thankfully a bonk to the head from Nami kept him quiet long enough for us to finish up, and for Luffy and I to push the two boats back into the water.

Floating out towards the open sea, Luffy and I lowered each of our boats sails to catch more wind. When we did, I noticed a jolly roger on the sail of my and Nami's boat. That of Buggy the Clown. I also wasn't the only one to notice it.

"Hey, isn't that Buggy's mark?" Zoro asked, as Nami glanced up at it.

"Well, this use to be Buggy's boat. Should I change it?" Nami asked with a shrug. Taking a look at it myself, I then glanced at the small cabin Nami and I had.

"Did you happen to see any kind of paint in the cabin after you got this boat?" I asked. "If you did, then I'll paint over it." I suggested.

"I'm afraid not. There's really just a bed in there." Nami answered, as I shrugged my shoulders.

"I guess we'll just have to deal with it then. At least until we reach the next island, then we could purchase a new one." I said, as I thought back to the amount of supplies I now had.

Zip…

Bloody clown pirate…

Before anyone could respond to my second suggestion, we all heard shouting coming back from the island we had just left. Glancing back, I spotted Boodle waving at us.

"Hey! Wait young ones!" the Boodle shouted, as he raised his head up high, as his eyes began to glisten with unshed tears. "THANKS! Thank you!" he shouted at us, as he waved goodbye.

To be honest, it was just as a touching goodbye as the one Luffy, Zoro, and I had had with Colby. Unfortunately for my sister though, all feelings of the scene being touching died when she noticed what was sitting on the ground next to the mayor. The one Nami had asked Luffy to grab…

"WHAT THE HELL LUFFY! DON'T TELL ME YOU LEFT THAT BAG BACK THERE!" Nami screamed at him, while Luffy just answered her with a smile.

"Yeah." he answered, as Nami's murder face started to come out.

"THAT BAG WAS WORTH AROUND FIVE FUCKING MILLION BERRIES YOU IDIOT!" Nami shouted, as she reached across the space separating our boats, and began trying to shoved Luffy down into the water between them.

"Whoa Nami, they need it to repair their town!" Luffy protested, as he held onto the boats for dear life.

"BUT THAT WAS MY TREASURE YOU JERK! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GIVING OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY AWAY! WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT!?" Nami demanded, as she doubled her efforts. This caused Luffy's hat to fly off his head. Kind of expecting that to happen with the position Luffy was in, I was ready and waiting to catch it for him.

Through Nami trying to murder him, Luffy was somehow able to give me a grateful look. Giving him a nod, I took his hat with me to the cabin on my side of our double boat. Going through Nami's things, I soon found a sewing kit, and the first aid kit she had the habit of keeping should she get into a scrape on one of her heists. Now that I had what I needed, I left the cabin, I hopped over to the boys boat.

Sitting across from Zoro much like I had on the way to the last island, I then set about fixing Luffy's hat. After a few moments of working on it, and trying to ignore Nami still trying to murder Luffy, I felt Zoro's gaze on what I was doing.

"How's your wound holding up?" I asked him, as I glanced up in time to see Zoro place a hand on the wound.

"It hurts like a bitch, but it doesn't feel like it's bleeding as much anymore." Zoro answered, as I went back to what I was doing.

"I could take another look at it for you if you want." I offered, as Zoro sent me a small smile of thanks.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much. Soon as I get some more rest, I'll be good a new soon enough." Zoro said, turning me down.

"Alright, suit yourself." I answered, as I focused my whole attention on my task. As I did, Nami's and Luffy's argument floated over us.

"STOP IT, I CAN'T SWIM!" Luffy protested.

"THAT'S THE POINT!" Nami shouted back at him.

"IF YOU WANT IT BACK SO BAD, GO BACK AND GET IT!"

"I CAN'T GO BACK AND GET IT, YOU GET IT!"

"NO! THIS IS DANGEROUS! I COULD DIE YOU KNOW!"

"I DON'T CARE!"

Looking up from my work, I couldn't help but bust out laughing at about the same time Zoro did.

"IF YOU DO THAT AGAIN, I REALLY WILL THROW YOU IN THE OCEAN!" Nami shouted at Luffy one last time, as she tossed him back into the boys boat. Poor Luffy could only crawl over to the mast, where he proceeded to hug it, as if it could provide him with comfort after Nami put him through such a scary ordeal.

Shaking his head at the scene, Zoro then looked up at the sky.

"Well, for better or worse, we have a navigator and a black smith now." he remarked..

"That we do..." I hummed in agreement.

All that was left, was to look for our next adventure, on the next island.

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Next Chapter: Chapter 6 - Captain Ussop and his 80 Million Men

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