71 Chapter 71

71

When Gin woke up he saw an unfamiliar ceiling. Wh… what happened? But then he remembered. "Don?" he cried as he snapped awake, removed his blankets, and looked around. The last thing he saw was his former captain's separated head before collapsing from exhaustion.

It was a standard room with a few beds, and other than him, a green-haired swordsman was also snoring in one of the beds, the other beds remained empty. Gin got out of the room.

He heard a small commotion from the down floors as if there was a party going on. Now that he was awake, he winched at the pain all around his body. His body was almost covered with bandages, the pink-haired kid did a number on him.

And his stomach rumbled…

"So you are awake?" It was Sanji who had a plate of food on him. "Captain told me to wake you up and feed you… but it seems that you are up already." The man then walked towards a nearby table. "Have it, and when you feel better come down…"

"Wait… is Don really dead?" Gin asked.

"Why do you care, the last thing he said to you, before trying to blow you up, was firing you of your duty as the vice-captain." Sanji said sighing, he really needed a smoke for this conversation. But alas he was forbidden from that act.

"That… that… I want to meet Luffy." Gin said as he looked down.

Sanji raised an eyebrow. "Might I ask what for… because if you are planning on attacking…" Luffy had his quirks, but as his new crewmate, he would do his damn well, to not let any harm towards his captain. Though the boy wouldn't need any help with his strength. It really made him wonder how a kid like him who was from the blues was able to go up against the Mihawk without pissing his pants. While Zoro stood his ground and survived Mihawk, Luffy was even more impressive.

"No! I want to thank him…" Gin said looking Sanji in the eye. "I might have served an ungrateful captain, but I'm a man that shows his gratefulness. Luffy saved my life back there… the pink-haired kid would have survived the explosion with his devil fruit, but I would have been dead."

"Meh, I didn't want to lose a prospective crewmate."

Gin jumped forward, looking back it was Luffy. "How do you even do that?"

Sanji rolled his eyes. And people called him fast.

Gin realized that Luffy was in front now. And… "Thank you… I don't know what else to say…"

"Don't mention it." He said, "But wanna join my crew… your previous crew is kinda dead. Well, Don Krieg is dead… and a few civilians on the ship called the marines to take care of the rest of your crew. They did have a nasty record of crimes… while you are no exception. But I can't see your talents wasted behind bars… I had to hide you here and bandage you up… I technically saved your life, and also saved you from prison." Luffy said, "Now, I'm not saying you have to join my crew because of it. No pressure and all… But pretty please?"

Sanji sweatdropped, was his captain gilt-tripping a former pirate into joining his crew? And it seemed to be working.

"O-Okay, then I will be in your care captain," Gin said, as streams of tears came out of his eyes. He always dreamt of following someone like Luffy. With grand ambition and strength to back it up.

"Shishishi…" Luffy then put his hand over Gin's shoulder, and hugged the man on his side, while also pulling Snaji into it. "Now, let's get to the party."

Sanji already felt a small smile on his face. This journey wouldn't be boring.

When Gin came down, the chiefs and the rest of Luffy's crew were a bit cautious, but Luffy managed to ease them up. Gin wasn't a party person, but he did enjoy the feast. Though it seemed that he would need to change up his food-eating habits, it seems that his new captain was all for health.

By his quote, alcohol and Muscles don't mix well. Meh, he wasn't a heavy drinker anyways.

But Gin wasn't the only one that was awkward in the party. Nami was having it hard as well, she was even trying to actively avoid Luffy.

Now that the party was on way, and Luffy was enjoying the party, Nami sneaked out of the Barattie, onto a small boat that she found. She didn't want to trouble Luffy anymore.

Luffy knew about her… knew about Arlong. No way, she could ask for his help now. As she got on the boat and pulled in the rope she almost got toppled out of it. But there was someone to catch her.

"Be careful."

"Uh… thanks." Nami said, as she sat down, putting her bag of treasures near her. Other than the money he got from Buggy she didn't steal a dime from the straw hat pirates, even while Luffy left the bounty from the Krieg pirates unguarded.

She looked back as the fished-shaped restaurant got smaller and smaller from her view, her small boat taking her away. "I'm going to miss those fools." She said softly.

"I will too, especially the handsome straw hat captain."

"Yes, especially the handsome straw hat captain." She said, fondly, before blinking and saw Luffy sitting on the boat with her, a piece of giant meat that he was taking bites out of. "How the heck are you here!?" she screamed comically.

"Eh… why wouldn't I be?" Luffy said, finishing his meal, and doing the whole thing down. Then he suddenly narrowed his eyes while he rubbed his chin. "Hmm… Nami, are you trying to hide something?"

"Uh… what do you mean?" she said, before sighing. She couldn't lie to Luffy, he was too dang smart for that. "Luffy… I…"

"I know you have feelings for me, and believe me it's mutual. But I'm a greedy man and I won't be just satisfied by only one woman, however pretty she is." Luffy nodded, seriously, before looking at Nami. Who was still dumbfounded. "Though you are really lacking in your chest and ass area..."

"Why you!" she tried to hit Luffy only to fall on top of the boy when he moved away. The boat was small, and sudden movements meant accidents.

"Fufufu… trying to jump on me the moment we are alone." Luffy said with a smirk on his face, "Gramps warned me about women like you, I was hoping he was right." He said wiggling his brows.

Nami got up from his chest, face a shade of deep red. But after some time she broke into a burst of laughter. Luffy also joined the laugh.

After the mutual laugh, Luffy spoke softly, "So you want my help?"

Nami looked at Luffy, he wasn't being… he was actually being genuine about it. And it panged her heart. And something in her told her to trust the boy.

.

On the Baratie,

"Get a move on." Sanji barked orders as the chiefs scrambled their way to the smaller ship, trying to set up Sanji's things in the Going Marry's kitchen.

"Come on Sanji, you are just mad that cause Captain's on a date." Usopp snickered at the love cook, while also carrying the supplies of food they would need into the ship. But a glare from the cook was enough to scramble him away.

The captain's orders were clear, come to Conomi Islands with their ship, and him and the navigator were going on a small date. But Usopp had the slightest clue that things weren't like that. Their next target was a pirate group called Arlong Pirates, while it might scare any other pirate crew in East Blue, Usopp had confident this would be another small activity for them.

"What do you mean?" Sanji said, his eyes streaming down with water. "I'm just concerned about Nami-san." He wept, and tightened his fist, "and my dear captain." he said biting his lips.

"Get a move on, we need to catch up to the captain…" Gin said as he limped to the ship with Coby's help. Gin was the only one who knew the location of the Conomi Islands, and he was put in charge of bringing the rest of the crew there.

The only person who was not working was Kuina, who was gifted tea and snacks to keep her busy, and Zoro and Sparky who were napping on the ship. Even Johnny and Yosaku were working hard.