"These are conversations"

And these are Ryuki's narrations

Hello my beloved readers! I hope you enjoyed Nami's POV. Sorry for being so late again. I have really slowed down in my writing. I'll try to get back into a rhythm though, so good day everyone!

-/\-/\-

After dealing with Arlong, I had to face Nami's wrath. The witch is scary when it comes to money. Anyway, when I took her to the cliff that I hid the treasure, I decided to give her and her sister the option of seeing Bellemere again, those three deserve that much. I still don't know why I didn't tell them about my ability before though. The bad news is that I might have unnerved Nami a bit if that startled expression she had was an indication. I had to make a distraction.

I continued to press her a little bit more afterward, but then I saw the light blue smoke in the garden. Bellemere was waving at me. So, I hastily told Nami that I didn't want to miss the party and ran off. As a smoke screen, I ran until Nami's house was out of view and returned to the garden via tree jumping to avoid footprints. Something about it makes me want to laugh.

When I found Bellemere back at the garden, she took me to a secluded corner of a small opening in the trees. It's hidden so there's plenty of privacy, but I still whispered in case someone by chance walked by.

"So, what do you want to talk to me about?" She asked me.

"How did you know?" I was surprised.

"You ran off the moment I waved at you, and then you came back in all sneakily, there's obviously something you don't want others to see. And what could that be?" She grinned.

"Talking to thin air," I answered, face-palming.

"So, what is it?" She asked again.

"I want to let you meet with Nami again, face-to-face. And I can't enact the plan without your help." I told her.

"You do know that there's a chance that she might refuse, right?

"I know! I know she might not agree! But what if she does?"

"True. But are you really sure about this?"

"Well, I have to do it sooner or later! So why not now?"

"There is a chance that they might think you're a threat, you know."

"Yes, I know, although the captain might think otherwise. But that's why I need to do this before we leave!"

"That is true."

"So, are you in or not?"

"Fine, let's do it." She sighed.

"Alright. Worst case scenario just hides me somewhere." I'm relieved.

"I'll try. Let me find a good place to hide you." She looked resigned.

"See you at the party then." I smiled at her.

Then we part way. After that, I enjoyed the party with the crew. If things go wrong, it might be the last time I will ever see them again, so I want to enjoy things while it lasts. I also took some time to really think about why I couldn't just tell the crew about the Strangers.

The plan is to ask Nami for her consent in seeing Bellemere again before sunrise. If I can't, I'll just kidnap everyone and bring them to the orange farm. And in preparation for the worst scenario, I went and collected rations for my solo journey. The fact that jerky was the only ration is irrelevant.

Luckily, during my travel, I've tried to study up on my abilities as a medium for the living and the dead. Even though I couldn't find out much about it, I did notice two important things. One, my after-possession recuperation time that started at 24 hours is now only 18 hours. I still don't know why though. The second thing is that there is a time limit for possession, which went up from half an hour to a two-hour maximum.

With that, I asked Bellemere to hide my lifeless body if things went badly during her time with Nami and the rest. The total of two hours should give a good enough deadline. Honestly, I hope things won't come to that.

-/\-/\-

I stood in a wide circular room. The wall was dark gray in color with black vines growing all over the place. The vines' growth wasn't very dense, they had plenty of space between each of them, none of the vines overlapped, and the weirdest part was the fact that they would pulse occasionally. All this gave the room a strange feeling as if it were alive.

In contrast to the odd wallpaper of the room, there were colorful circular plaques (1) hanging all around. There were twenty-one in total, each has their own difference in material, color, and carving. The plaques all have vines of their own color growing downward and meeting in the middle, where I'm currently standing. However, most of the vines, while healthy, are dim, almost like they are sleeping. Only two of them are actually glowing quite brightly.

One of the glowing vines originated from the lone plaques in front of me. While most of them are evenly spaced out from each other, the one right in front of me stood far away from the others. This plaque was black, seemingly made of obsidian, and the only carving on it was a menacing skull and the word [ Mortem ].

The other vine is from a plaque directly behind me. This plaque had the light blue color of aquamarine and had the carving of a brig sloop riding upon giant waves. The word carved under it is [ Aqua ].

Not entirely sure of what I'm doing in this room, I continued to observe the other dimmed plaques.

One of them was orange from topaz, has a snail petroglyph and the word [ Ignis ]. Another was ruby red with a Scythe and the word [ Pulvis ]. A purple amethyst that had the carving of a bird with a pointy tail and the word [ Draco ]. And white jade with a wolf fang and the word [ Canis ]. Even a clear diamond with a hard to see reversed blade sword and [ Bellum ].

All the plaques have almost nothing in common. But somehow, I feel like I know them and the meaning behind them.

Before I could contemplate more on the matter, a voice called out to me.

"It's good to finally meet you."

I turn to face the speaker. The girl stood directly in front of the [ Mortem ] plaque. She was a short girl, five feet zero, brown hair, brown eyes, and a very common face. However, the strange glint of madness in her eyes made me wary of her.

"Oh come on. You don't have to be so tense. Let's be friends! Oh wait, that won't work. How can I be friend with OOPS, no no, no spoilers! He he he, soooooryyyyyy."

The girl has this mad wide grin when she speaks, and the way she changes topics made me feel even more uneasy.

"Eh. Anyway, there's not much time left! So choose wisely [ Aqua ]."

And everything faded to black.

-/\-/\-

That was a weird dream. Who the heck was that girl anyway? Ughhh. I'm so tired. Where am I, anyway?

I groggily opened my eyes. The first thing I saw this time is a ceiling. It should be around midnight right now so it should be pretty dark. Judging from the fact that there are lights dancing and flashing into the room and plenty of noises can be heard, I'm somewhere near the party. So, the guys either brought me to the clinic or the Bellemere hid me in plain sight. It seems to be the former since I can see various drawers of medicine around the place.

"You finally woke up huh?" Someone said.

I turned my head and found another clinical bed nearby. Atop that bed is a chained down Zoro. Seeing me stare at the chains, he said:

"My stitches came off."

"Figured," I smirked.

"Shut up." He retorted.

I lapsed into a comfortable silence. Zoro not lashing out means he's fine with me. That's a relief. And if he's not resisting the chains, then there is no immediate danger to me at the moment. With me awake, my chances of escape if anyone else sees me as a threat is also considerably high.

"Hey, you woke up!" Another voice called out to me.

This time it was Nami, who came in through the front door. She sat down next to my bed and put her hand on my cheek:

"Hmmm, you're not freezing anymore, that's good. Geez, you really scared us when you just dropped into a near death coma like that." She scolded me, gently! With a smile!

"Uhhhhhhh, N-Nami, are you alright? You're kind of creeping me out." I told her.

Nami's smile twitched and BAM!

"GAHAH!" I yelped. Nami's fist hurts like a bitch!

"Well excuse me for being concerned!" She scowled.

I curled up on myself and cradled my pulsing head. Zoro's laughter turned straight into wheezes of pain. His stitches might have come off again. Serves him right.

"Oiii, is Ryuki awake yet?" Usopp appeared at the door way.

"He is really missing out on the party." Sanji came with him.

"Hm hmm, hmm hmm hmm hmm." Luffy tried to say.

I have no idea what Luffy just said. He looks like a giant, humanoid, carnivorous chipmunk right now. Never the less, they thrust a whole bunch of food at me and chat like I didn't just show them that ghosts exist. I can tell right then and there, I was worrying too much. This is the Straw Hat Pirate crew, after all.

After making sure I wouldn't die, Luffy shoved the food down my throat and we left the clinic to rejoin the party. Zoro snuck out, too.

And that's how I found myself sitting in a corner between Nami and Zoro, once again holding a drink and some snacks, watching Luffy stuff himself, Sanji fail at flirting, and Usopp showing his oddly vast knowledge in songs about his greatness. We sat there and talk about the things of our past, the adventures and misadventures that we've been on, and the things we never knew about each other. The rest of our crew joined in too.

The party was awesome.

-/\-/\-

It is the fourth day after Arlong Park incident came. The party finally died down last night, and we decided to set off today. The villagers had helped us stock up the ship and everything. I, of course, did not forget my jerky.

Zoro carried up a crate and passed it to Usopp.

"This is the last one, right?" Usopp grunted.

"Yup!" Zoro confirmed.

"Is everything onboard?" Luffy asked.

"Yeah." I replied.

"Alright then. They've stocked us with food. Looks like we're ready." Sanji commented.

"We've only been here a few days," Usopp put the grate away, "but I feel like we've made so many memories on this island, you know?"

"Yeah. Shishishi." Luffy laughed.

Then Sanji looked around with a scowl and a worry expression. He seems to be searching for something. Suddenly, we heard someone from the ground:

"Anikis, thanks! We owe you all so much!" Yozaku started.

"We'll bid our farewells for now, but hopefully we'll meet again one day." Johnny finished.

"Take care, alright?" Zoro smirked down at them.

"You too, aniki!" they shouted up.

"Alright, shall we go too?" I started toward the sail.

"W-Wait a minute! Where's Nami-san?" Sanji stopped us.

"I thought she wasn't coming?" Zoro replied.

"WHY NOT! YOU BASTARD, YOU SAID SOMETHING RUDE TO HER, DIDN'T YOU?!" Sanji screamed at Zoro.

"I see, that's a good point. She doesn't have a reason to be a pirate anymore. She'll probably be happier if she stayed here." Usopp deduced.

"WHAT ABOUT MY HAPPINESS?!" Sanji rejected. "WITHOUT NAMI-SAN HERE, I ALREADY LOST 98.72% OF MY REASON TO BE HERE!"

"Uwah, he even calculated the exact percentage," I muttered in astonishment.

"Hey, you know I never found that ham-ham-melon thing!" Luffy completely ignored Sanji's outburst.

Because of Nami's absence, murmurs arose from the crowd. Everyone was getting anxious. That was when we spotted her at the very back of the sea of people below. Sanji yelled out her name and alerted everyone.

"START THE SHIP!" Nami shouted.

And she started running.

"Huh? What's up with her? She started running!" Usopp questioned.

"She said set sail." Luffy reminded him.

"B-but!" Usopp stuttered.

"You all heard her, so come on," I told the other two.

Zoro pulled up the anchor while Sanji and I unfurled the sail. Then we waited at the back of the ship and watch the commotion on the dock.

"Hey, are you sure you want to let her leave this way?" Sanji asked.

"It's fine, isn't it? It's her decision, after all." Luffy replied.

Nami weaved her way through the crowd of people trying to thank her and stop her at the same time. Then with a mighty jump and a step on Merry's rail, she landed lightly on the back. Then with everyone still flabbergasted, she wordlessly pulled up her shirt.

Wallets and purses rained out.

Nami pulled out a 10 000 Beri note, kissed it and faced the dock:

"Take care, everyone!" She grinned

The roaring "YOU LITTLE BRAT" from the crowd was heard loud and clear.

Usopp and Zoro made a really weird face.

"Oi, she hasn't changed a bit." Usopp dead-panned.

"Who knows when she'll turn on us again," Zoro muttered.

"Sticky fingers." I shook my head.

"Nami-san, good!" Sanji thumps up.

Luffy just laughed.

Everyone left Nami to say her goodbyes returned to their stations. Luffy left to sit Merry's figurehead. Zoro went to the stair's base and started snoring. Sanji wanted to check out the kitchen. Usopp disappeared to the boys' room. Nami started to pick up her hill of wallets. I helped her out despite the suspicious glances she gave me.

"Stop worrying. I'm just trying to help. Besides, I learned my lesson." I scratched my previously abused ear, "And I don't have the skill set to loot these without you knowing."

She frowned in thought, then brightened up and accepted my help.

With the wallets in hands, I followed Nami to our shared room where she dumped everything on her bed. I sat down on my hammock while Nami pulled out a small chest next to the bed. She put the money to one side and the wallets in the other.

"Oh! I almost forgot." Nami perked up.

She fetched something and pushed into my palm.

It was an orange.

"Thanks." She smiled and went back to sorting out the money.

I let out a breathless laugh and put the gift on the small table designated to me. Then, I left to fetch my jerky. Gods know I need to hide them before Luffy gets his hands on them.

As soon as I emerge from our room, I had to block a black leg of a certain cook.

"You perverted little shit!How dare you defile Nami-swan's bedroom!?" He growled.

Then with a spin, he slammed his other leg into my arm, sending me out of the storage room. I skidded to a stop and slipped into the Earth stand: front stance, left foot in front, with centering low on the back leg; left arm point straight forward; right arm hip level, perpendicular the left arm, and parallel to the ground, fisted palm up. This stance is purely for defense, it wouldn't do to injure my new crewmate.

Why didn't I just tell him I'm not a guy, you ask? Well, I want to know how strong he is. I really need a good spar. And I really don't want him to fawn over me. It's uncomfortable.

I dropped down and dodged a spin kick, then had to roll to the side to dodge a drop kick. And then I had to back flip away from another spin kick. I landed in a crouch. The moment my feet touched the ground, I sprung up and send a straight punch right at Sanji. He dodged and kicked me in the guts. I blocked that kick and reply with a sidekick, which cause Sanji to jump away. He charged back in immediately.

Sanji's kicks are strong, crazy strong. The transition between his kicks is brilliant. If I hadn't been a martial artist, I highly doubt I would have lasted through the first few kicks.

We continued our slightly deadly dance until the others heard the commotion and came running. Nami stopped our fight:

"What is going on?" She demanded.

"NAMI-SWANNN! Do not fret, my dear princess. I'm simply punishing this heathen who dares to trespass into the room of a maiden!" Sanji swooned.

Luffy and Usopp burst out laughing. Zoro smirked with a raised eyebrow. Nami face-palmed.

"And you couldn't just tell him?" She pointed accusingly at me.

I shrugged, smiling back at her.

"Huh? Huh? Tell me what?" Sanji looked around puzzled.

"Sanji, Nami and I share that room." I pointed to the girls' room.

Sanji stared at me.

…

…

…

He paled and shrieked:

"NOOOOOOOOOO! IT CAN'T BE!" He cried and curled into a ball.

The moronic duo laughed harder, Zoro even joined in. Nami sweat-dropped. I sighed:

"Dude …" I started.

Sanji sprung up from his fetal position and grabbed my shoulders. He stared straight into my eyes:

"Ryuki, you have better treat Nami-san right, or I will personally kick your ass for making such a fair maiden cry. You hear!" He threatened.

My mind went blank. I can barely hear the other boys howling laughter and Nami badly concealed one. My eyebrow twitched violently. I can feel my face turning beat red from both embarrassment and anger. I head-butted him:

"I'm a girl dammit!"

I huffed at his crumpled form and walked to my jerky bag, glaring at the laughing morons on the way.

"A girl?" Sanji mumbling reached me.

"A GIRL?!" He screamed.

"Oh heavenly warrior maiden, please let me apologize to you! Please wait for me, Ryuki-kyun!" He shouted.

I tripped on thin air while hearing my crewmates wheezing from laughing too much. Idiots.

-/\-/\-

After sorting and putting everything away, it was time to decide our next course of action!

"Let's head for the Grand Line!" Luffy declared.

We all cheered. But then I remembered one very important factor and the smile slipped off my face. Zoro, being the ever-vigilant moron that he is, immediately noticed.

"Ryuki? What's wrong?" He called out.

Everyone stopped cheering and stared at me. Under there puzzled and worried stares, I had to tell them. Besides, maybe they could help me choose.

"Well, you guys remember when I was recruited?"

"Yeah," Zoro said, his eye twitched.

"Yes," Nami answered, shuddering.

"Huh?" Usopp and Sanji didn't know.

"Those two morons had a competition of 'who's more stubborn' for hours. It was annoying." Zoro explained.

I laughed a bit at their expression.

"Well, one of the reasons why I didn't accept was that I was actually on a training journey."

"Really!? That's so cool!" Luffy's eyes sparkled.

"It's a tradition for my dojo. All students at age eighteen will be sent out on a two years journey to learn. I've already finished mine."

"Wait, so does that mean you're twenty?" Luffy butted in.

"Dumdass! You don't ask a lady her age!" Sanji whacked him upside the head.

"It's fine Sanji. And no, I'm twenty-three."

"Wha…!" Nami's jaw dropped.

"Huh, you're older than I thought," Zoro commented.

"Damn, you look around our age!" Usopp whistled.

Sanji became a whirlwind.

"It's not that big of a deal. What's really the problem here, is that I'm three years late from the set date to come back. And since we're heading for the Grand Line, I don't know if I'll even get back to my family."

My crewmates seemed to understand my dilemma. Except for Luffy:

"So? We'll reach the end of the Grand Lind and then you can go visit them!" He grinned.

"True. But when? I know that either way they're going to worry if I'll ever come back, or that I'm dead somewhere. Especially when Luffy gets his bounty, I can't send them letters then."

The mood became solemn.

"That's why, captain, I have a request," I told him.

"Hmm? What is it?" He waited.

"I want to at least give them a proper farewell, so can we make a detour? My home island is just bit of a way south of the gate to Grand Line."

"Sure. Let's go visit Ryu's family!" Luffy announced.

Everyone cheered and smiled at me.

"Oh, Ryuki, tell me the name of your island so I can set our course," Nami asked.

"It's called Sushi Island," I told her.

"What! Really! Now we have to go! Nami, hurry up!" Luffy perked up.

Of course he would jump at that name. No matter, they all shifted from the goal for me, I'm grateful. *sigh* Dammit, I really love this crew.

-/\-/\-

(1) Plaque: an ornamental tablet, typically of metal, porcelain, or wood, that is fixed to a wall or other surface in commemoration of a person or event.

Me: Alright!

Haru: Finally.

Me: First off, I want to give thanks to one Flamarow. The reviews you wrote made me nearly cry tears of joy. So many reviews!

Haru: And thank you, for pointing out so many flaws in this lazy ass! It makes my torments under her just a little bit bearable.

Me: Shut up. Anyway, as you have pointed out in chapter 6, I forgot to explain the white striped black belt level. It is the final stage of the style. And you just made some really good guesses. I'll explain it later, so bear with me

Haru: In chapter 8, the comment section became like that was because this idiot somehow uploaded the chapter in the code format, making it almost impossible to read. Ahhh what a great laugh I had.

Me: Yeah, that was a bit embarrassing. Moving on to chapter 11, we have recognized your opinion on Haru's reason to travel with the Straw Hat. And worry not; we do agree that it is too shallow of a reason. Therefore, this will be resolved in the next arc!

Haru: Chapter 16. … Technically, I am an anime girl.

Me: Chapter 17, Zoro was just being mean. This is too early for any romance to actually form!

Haru: Chapter 19. I'm trying. It's harder than it sounds! That's all I'm going to say! And as for chapter 20. This matter of 'out of shape' will be explained very soon!

Me: Chapter 21. I decided to cut it off since I know I won't be able to do justice in that conversation. If enough people demand it, I'll try to make an omake for it.

Haru: And that's it! Damn, that's a lot.

Me: I'm grateful either way. If there's anything else, feel free to comment everyone. X3

Aliahra: Unless you have something very important to do, for example: dying and being reincarnated.

Haru and I: Oi. Anyway, that's all, have a good day, everyone!