38 World Noble

As he reached the deck, he saw the blue haired girl and the other man again. The blue haired woman looked familiar, but the man had a crown on his head and didn't ring any bells to Thirteen. He shouldn't have, which was why the blue haired girl's familiarity was strange.

Thirteen walked up to the blue haired girl, the blue haired girl looked up at him from the deck as she was sitting against the mast. Thirteen bent down and stopped his face in front of hers, staring into her eyes with a confused look in his own.

The blue haired girl blushed and the man with the crown said angrily "Hey you! Get away from her!" he got up to hit Thirteen only to get sent flying with a swing of Thirteen's hand, smashing into the railing and slumping down, groaning in pain.

Thirteen stared at the blue haired girl before moving in closer, Nami and the rest looked over and tilted their heads in confusion. She said "Thirteen. What are you doing?" Thirteen kept silent and sniffed the woman's neck and hair.

The blue haired woman looked around at the crew, who was just as confused as her and she said "Um.."

Suddenly, Thirteen's tail stood straight and frizzled as he growled and grabbed her neck, slamming her against the mast.

Nobody expected his sudden movements and the blue haired girl started clawing at his hand, choking for air. Nami ran over and grabbed Thirteen's arm, shouting "What are you doing?!" Zoro looked at the blue haired girl thoughtfully when the man with a crown shouted "Ms. Wednesday!" before getting up.

Sanji stomped on his chest, pinning him to the ground as he said "Relax, 'your highness'. I'll believe Big Cat before I let you go anywhere." as he exhaled a mouthful of smoke, adding "Though she IS a woman…"

Usopp teleported to the top deck, peeking over the railing at Thirteen, mumbling "Is he gonna eat her?" before trembling in fear. Luffy walked over and patted Thirteen's shoulder, asking "What's wrong?"

Thirteen stared at the blue haired woman and said "World Noble." The crew turned to the blue haired woman and slightly glared at her with an unfriendly look. Usopp's soul almost flew out of his body and the blue haired girl's pupils shrank as she looked at Thirteen.

Thirteen lifted her up in the air and Nami let go of his arm, stepping back with her hands behind her back. He tightened his grip slowly and the woman tapped on his arm quickly with a panicked look in her eyes.

Luffy said "Let her go." Thirteen turned to him and Luffy looked at him silently.

After a few seconds, Thirteen turned back and Luffy added "I want to ask her something." Thirteen dropped the woman to the ground and she slammed onto the deck, holding her throat and coughing violently, taking deep and quick breaths of air with beads of sweat rolling down her face.

Sanji turned to the crown man and said "What do we do with this guy?" pressing his foot down slightly, the man was so scared he pissed himself and passed out. Sanji stopped and spat on the man, grumbling "Disgusting…"

Zoro walked over to Thirteen and patted him on the shoulder without a word, while Nami held Thirteen's arm, hiding behind him and looking at the woman on the ground with a disgusted look in her eyes.

Luffy crouched down and said "Yo." the woman turned to him and coughed before saying in a raspy tone "H-Hello." Luffy tilted his head and said "Who are you?" the woman coughed again and replied "I'm-" before coughing violently.

Luffy turned to Usopp, who got up and grabbed a glass of water before bringing it over, not sparing the woman a glance. Luffy handed her the water and she drank it all before taking a deep breath and clearing her throat, continuing "I'm Vivi Nefertari. The princess of the Kingdom of Alabasta."

Luffy looked behind him at Zoro, who shook his head. Luffy turned back and said "Never heard of it. You're a World Noble?" Vivi rubbed her throat and sat back against the mast, replying "Sort of?"

A sword and a hardened hand were immediately at her throat and forehead, blowing her hair back. She gulped and Luffy had his hand up, Zoro looked at Vivi as his sword barely pricked her neck, drawing a drop of blood, while Thirteen was just staring at her. Luffy responded "What does that mean?"

Vivi looked at Thirteen and Zoro before sputtering a little as she answered "M-My f-family doe-doesn't li-live in Mariejois." Luffy was silent and Vivi continued "They didn't like the other nobles and left to rule Alabasta on the seas away from the White City…"

Luffy pointed at Thirteen's brand and scars while looking at Vivi without saying a word. Though there was a sword and hand at her neck and forehead, she was the most scared of Luffy at this moment.

His eyes were extremely intense and he radiated a subtle aura from his body, making her knees weak and her entire body shiver in a cold sweat. She stammered "I-I-I-I wou-would never!" she closed her eyes and shouted "I hate them! I hate everything they do! I only care about my country! What the Celestial Dragons do is awful and cruel! I can't stop it…"

She started crying genuine tears and Luffy looked at her before looking at Thirteen, who was unfazed by the crying. Zoro put his sword back and looked at Thirteen before stepping back and dragging Nami along, pulling her off Thirteen.

She gave him a look and he had an extremely serious face as he put a finger to his lips, shutting her up. Usopp sat on the railing, putting away his slingshot and watching uncharacteristically seriously, Sanji leaned on the sidewall of the Merry, smoking as he watched Luffy and Thirteen stare at each other.

Thirteen looked at Luffy, who stood in front of Vivi without a word. They looked at each other and Thirteen suddenly threw a punch. The crew tensed up and Luffy just stood there staring at him, Thirteen's fist stopped right in front of Luffy's face and he asked "Why?"

Luffy replied "She seems like a good person to me." Thirteen looked at him and he added "Just like you." Thirteen stared into Luffy's eyes and an aura unconsciously secreted from the both of them, clashing in the air without anyone's knowledge.

Luffy smiled and Thirteen took his fist back slowly, looking at Luffy before turning around and walking to the back of the ship. As he went, Luffy said "Thank you." Thirteen paused his steps for a brief moment before continuing and disappearing.

The crew let out breaths and Luffy rubbed his nose, chuckling as Vivi said behind him "Thank you." Luffy turned his head to look at her with a grin before walking back to the Figurehead of the Merry and sitting down, humming a new song.

Nami still gave Vivi a dirty look before running off to the wheel, while Usopp started trembling again, Zoro yawned, and Sanji kicked the crown wearing man on his way to the kitchen.

Vivi looked around and sighed, hugging her knees and looking at the ground with a sad look in her eyes. The ocean breeze seemed so cold tonight.