19~ Aftermath

Mira

Of all my years of being on that damn island, not once did I recieve praise for doing something right. Not once was I even acknowledged for doing anything other than a slight slip-up. No one really cared for me. I didn't matter to them. I was something they could push around.

But today, I feel alive. An entire village was celebrating the fall of Arlong Park, and Luffy and I were in the middle of it. We were the center of attention. Several of the island's strongest men were tossing us in the air and catching us, only to toss us back up. They were cheering our names and smiling from ear to ear.

I've never been so happy in my life...

One of the men accidentally missed Luffy as he came back down again. Luffy fell right on his head, and the cheering stopped momentarily. I was set on my feet just as Luffy started laughing and holding his head.

"This is awesome!" He said around his laughing, and the whole village laughed with him. I couldn't help the huge grin that spread across my face. I love this place.

Nami came up from behind Luffy and stuffed his hat back on his head. He looked up at her and saw her true smile. It wasn't forced like she had to do all those other times. It was a genuine smile. Luffy stood and smiled back. They hig-fived and chuckled.

Sanji came up with Gen-san and Nojiko and laughed with us. This truely was a memorable moment. Nothing can ruin it now.

"Hold it right there, you!" I turned and spotted the Marine captain from before. Now that I have a better look at him, he almost resembles a mouse... Mmmmm....mouse...

"What a lucky day this is!" He said. "Well done. I watched the entire fight."

I raised an eyebrow. "From where? I was at every part of Arlong Park at least once."

"That's none of your concern!" He snapped at me. "Anyway, as fluke as it was, I never imagined the fishmen would lose to a bunch of nameless pirates like you. However, thanks to you, all the money I was to give to Arlong and all the money and valuables in Arlong Park now belong to me! Everyone, drop your weapons! I, Colonel Nezumi of Navy Branch #16, hereby take credit for what you have done here!" He suddenly let out a scream as Zoro grabbed him by the back of his shirt.

The other Marines were too stunned to do anything.

"Don't ruin other people's fun when they're finally happy!" Oh, God! That look he has! A sharp shudder ran up my back and I couldn't hide it. Even though it's not aimed at me, it still gives me the chills!

In just a few seconds, Colonel Nezumi was beaten to a pulp and lying on the ground, bleeding from everywhere. Sanji, Luffy, and Usopp took care of the other guys while I stood with the villagers.

"J-just try laying a finger on me!" He grunted. "You'll be sorry..."

"He's still saying it?" Sanji asked in a sigh.

"Too late..." I sighed. "Can I kick his head?"

"Sure," Luffy said.

"Awesome!" I ran up to the Colonel's head and brought my foot back, kicking him so hard his eyes started to roll around in his head. "Oops... Forgot my claws were still out..."

Nami slowly walked up to the defeated colonel and knelt down beside him. "This is for shooting Nojiko," She lightly pressed a hand to his face. "And for tearing up Bellemere-san's tangerine orchard."

"Huh?" but he didn't get to say anything more. Nami stood with blinding speed and cracked her staff across his face, sending him skipping across the water.

"Fore!!" I shouted as I watched him.

"Colonel!" Some of the Marines shouted.

"Thanks, Nami." Nojiko winked at her. "That felt good!"

"Give him a thousand more of those!" Gen-san shouted at the top of his lungs.

Nezumi Crawled half way out of the water and Nami took ahold of his whiskers. "Owowowow!"

"You guys are gonna clean up after those fishmen now!" She ordered as she tugged on them. "And you're gonna help rebuild the town of Gosa! And you're not gonna touch any of the money or valuables in Arlong Park! That's the island's money, got it?!"

"Ow! Ow!" He cried. "I-I'll do what you say!"

"And one other thing!" Nami added. "Give me back my money!" Oh, God! Her glare is even worse than Zoro's!!

"I'll give it back! I'll give it back!" He cried. "I don't care anymore..." He was crying and snotting blood all over himself.

Once he had done as Nami said, he and the rest of his group swam back to their ship. "I'll get you, you rotten pirates!" He shouted back at us. "Straw hat man! You're name is Luffy, right?! You're the captain, right?! Don't forget this! Some major stuff is going to happen to you, now! You've made me mad! It's too late to regret anything!"

I looked back at my crewmates. "Do any of you guys feel regret?" They shook their heads. "Me either."

"I'm gonna get revenge on you! Just you wait!" He babbled on.

"Oh, will you just shut up!" I said loud enough for the guys and Nami to hear. They snickered.

The Marines swam again at full speed to leave the island.

"Says some stuff is gonna happen." Sanji said nonchalantly while smoking.

"How does he know I'm going to be King of Pirates?" Luffy asked and I face palmed.

"That's not what he meant!" Zoro snapped. "You're an idiot!"

"H-hey! What do we do?!" Usopp cried fearfully as he pointed after them. "What if we really do end up in big trouble?!" None of us listened to him. "Hey! Hey! Hey, I said!!"

"Ah, chill out, Usopp!" I patted his back. "We're tough. We can handle it, right guys?" They nodded in agreement.

I looked over my shoulder and saw the villagers of Cocoyashi village running back and spreading out, yelling and shouting at the top of their lungs about letting the entire island know that Arlong is gone for good.

We let them go have their fun as we stayed near the rubble of the park.

"Hey, Zoro," Luffy stsed. "What happened to your chest?"

"GAH! Don't touch it, you idiot!" He shouted and clutched at his poorly stitched wound. Usopp and Luffy began laughing at him. Zoro was baring his teeth at the two of them while they just laughed. Nami and Sanji joined in and she was enjoying every second of it.

I gave them one last smile and slowly backed up. I turned and went to find my katana I had thrown at Yosaku. I looked over my shoulder and watched as they retold their tales to everyone. Their boisterous laughter could be heard from here.

I grinned and went back on my hunt for my katana. I found it leaning against the wall where the two were before. They must have gotten lost in the crowd. I picked up my katana and carefully pulled it out of its sheath. There... The crack and chip in my katana.

I lightly ran my finger over the damage and gave a sad sigh. I've had this katana for a few years now, and I don't have any thought about getting rid of it. I hope we can find a town that can fix it for me.

"Hey, Mira!" Nami called over to me.

"Yeah?" I turned and saw them walking toward me.

"Let's go! The entire town is throwing a celebration party for us!" She announced.

"Okay! I'll be right there!" I slid my katana back in its sheath and ran after them back to Cocoyashi village.

---------

At Naval Branch #16 Headquarters

"Hello?! Hello!!" Nezumi shouted into the receiver.

"Yes, this is Navy Headquarters," A bored voice answered.

"Headquarters?! Navy Headquarters?!" He didn't stop shouting. "Hello! This is Colonel Nezumi of Navy Branch #16! Marine code 00733! I have a request for HQ!"

"There's no need to shout." The voice on the other end said. "I can hear you."

"Listen!" Nezumi cut him off. "There is a pirate named Luffy, who wears a straw hat! I deem him and his five crew members as enemies of the government! They managed to take down Arlong, the fishman of Arlong Park, who was purported to have been invinsible! Based on their threat and dangerousness, a large bounty has been placed on their captain, Straw Hat Luffy!" He slammed his hand in the desk.

"And there's another thing!" He added. "Elmira Hojosen is part of his crew!"

"Elmira Hojosen?" The man on the other end asked. "You mean the kid who was claimed to have been able to destroy the world where ex-captain Morgan was under control of?"

"Yes! That Elmira Hojosen!" He confirmed. "I'm sending you an updated picture of Elmira and one of Straw Hat Luffy!" The pictures went through.

"Elmira hojosen... and... Huh? What the?!"

"Couldn't you have taken a better one than that?!" Nezumi scolded an Marine.

"No... That's all I could get..." He said sheepishly.

"After a quick verification, I will send it in for approval."

"Don't forget, now! They're vile pirates! 'Dead or Alive'!" Nezumi said into the receiver again. "I want them on Wanted posters all over the world!"

-----------

I've never seen a town so lively as these guys! This party is epic! The town square is full of people and everyone is shouting and getting drunk. Some people were already wasted and tripping over thin air. Despite being drunk off their asses, they danced and ate and acted like this was their moment to shine.

I looked over and saw Luffy stuffing his face with food. He stuffed a plate of meat and the plate down his throat. It got stuck and his face started to turn green then blue from lack of oxygen.

"Geez..." I muttered to Sanji. "You'd think he'd learn after his fifth plate..."

"This is Luffy we're talking about." He informed. "He never learns."

"That's true..." I went to say more, but was cut off by Zoro crying out in pain. I sighed. "Sounds like he's giving birth..."

Sanji choked on his smoke filled air. He coughed and sputtered as he tried to laugh at my joke, but was failing miserably. Usopp found this funny and laughed at both Sanji and my joke.

"Geez! I didn't mean to kill you!" I slammed my hand on his back to try and help clear his lungs so he could breathe again.

Finally, Sanji could take in full, deep breaths without choking. "Sounds like ol' Zoro is really hurting in there..."

"Like he's giving birth." Sanji was expecting it this time and snickered.

"W-well, yeah!" Usopp gasped out as he, too, reclaimed his breath from laughing. "A normal person with those wounds would take two years to fully heal!"

"A doctor, huh?"

"Hey, it's Luffy." I pointed to the window where Luffy's butt was hanging out. He was just barely out of range for us to hear what he was saying.

I covered my mouth and chuckled darkly as an idea popped into my head. "Hey, you guys wanna see something hilarious?"

Sanji and Usopp gave me questioning looks. "Huh?"

I found a fairly large stick and tip-toed to the window. "Elmira Hojosen takes the plate. She's ready, folks... Here comes the pitch! WHAM! It is outta here!" I swung my stick and sent Luffy flying into the hospital. He slammed into a wall and slid down it.

"Luffy!" Zoro cried out.

"Stay down!" Zoro screamed in pain again.

"Oops... sorry, Zoro..."

"Mira?! What the hell was that for?!" Zoro shouted at me.

I peeked in through the window and held onto the ledge, my feet just barely touching the ground. "Well, his ass was just hanging out there in the breeze, and I thought it would be good to help him out a bit."

"Couldn't you have done it a little better?!"

I shrugged. "Maybe, but I didn't feel like it."

"Alright! It's done!" The doctor said as he cut the thread. "Your turn, Kitty."

"Eh?" I pointed to myself. "Me?"

"Yeah, you!" He reached up and grabbed me by the back of my neck. "The end of your tail is coming off and it might be infected! Plus, I need to attend to your bite wounds."

"ACK!! No!" I struggled to get away from him. "I don't like needles! I don't like needles!!"

"Sit still, damnit!" He shouted as he tried to pin me down in another bed. I screamed and thrashed around, not wanting to relive the terrible memoires that came with needles.

"Let go let go let go!!"

"You're only making things worse! Sit still!" He managed to get my arms down, but now he couldn't stitch me up.

"Sanji, help me!!" I shouted to the window.

"I'm coming, Mira-cha~n!" The door suddenly burst open. "Get your hands off my Mira-chan!"

"Idiot!" The doctor yelled. "I'm trying to help her feel better and she isn't cooperating! Get your butt over here and help me!"

I could tell Sanji was torn. Help me get away from this mad man, or help the mad man.

He sighed. "Sorry, Mira..." He walked up to me and replaced the doctor's hands with his.

"Sanji!" I felt betrayed. "I thought you cared for me!"

"I do!" He still sounded torn by his decision. "But this will help you!"

I felt the burn of alcohol on my cut and broken tail. I screamed and thrashed around even harder and more desperately to get away. Sanji closed his eyes and began trying to block my screaming out. Soon, the prick and tug of the needle and thread registered in my mind and each tug brought back the painful memories.

I blacked out, prepared for anything my mind might throw at me to ruin this day.

~~~~

I opened my eyes and my ears were suddenly assulted with the party in full swing. I groaned and covered my head with the pillow I was laying on. That has to have been the worst day ever... I never want to see another needle again...

I sat up and tossed the pillow away from me and inspected the doctor's work. My tail had splints on it to keep it from moving. I moved my tail and smirked. I pulled the badnages off and removed the splints. I'm already healed; that's why I didn't go to the doctor. My tail was now attached and healed once again and all my bones in my tail had realigned and formed together perfectly.

I also pulled my other bandages off, satisfied that all of those wounds had healed, too. I hopped out of bed and went to enjoy the rest of the party for the night.

I found Zoro chugging sake just on the inside of an alley. I sat down next to him. "Hey, Zoro!"

"Hey, Mira." he greeted.

"Phew!" Sanji huffed as he joined us. "I'm stuffed. Sometimes it's good to just only eat!" He sat down and leaned against a post. "Are your wounds all better now Zoro and Mira?" He asked.

"It's nothing!" Zoro assured. "Some food and drink'll fix it right up!"

I nodded. "Yup! I'm good! Not a scratch on me!"

"Eh?" Sanji questioned. "Not one scratch? But you were pretty injured back at the doctor's office."

I held up the end of my tail, showing them. "I'm a Neko! My blood heals me! If I hadn't gone, I'd be just as healthy as I am now."

"Oh."

"How long is this dumb party gonna last?" Zoro suddenly asked. "This is the third day now!"

I sat up straight. "What?! I've been out for three days?!"

"Calm down, Mira!" Sanji tried to assure me. "Your body needed rest!"

"But I was out for three whole days!!" I shrieked. My stomach suddenly growled, sounding like a lion. "No wonder I'm so hungry..." I stood and went to find some food. I grabbed a bottle of wine and a heaping plate of meat and rice.

I came back and sat next to Zoro again. "He's been eating non-stop for three days now!" Sanji complained.

"Who, Luffy?" I took a bite of my rice.

"Who else?" Zoro confirmed with a question of his own.

"But I'm done eating." Sanji said as he put his cigarette out. "Now I think I'll pick up some girls!" He ran out to the dance floor, hearts flying out behind him. My eye twitched at seeing him try to woo the girls.

Zoro gave a half chuckle and went to drink from his tankard. "Hm?" He shook it and leaned heavily against the wall after setting it down.

"Are you out?" I asked at the same time Usopp started to make a speech.

"Yeah..." He sighed. He put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. I poured half of the bottle of wine into his tankard and gave it back to him.

"No, you're not." He opened an eye at me and saw his tankard full again. He took it and raised an eyebrow at me. I smiled and giggled, holding my bottle up for an informal toast. He clanked his tankard into my bottle and took a huge swig. Almost instantly, he spat it back out.

"What the hell did you give me?!" He shouted.

"Um..." I read the label on the bottle. "Peach Berry Fizz Wine."

"Why the hell did you give me wine?!" he dumped the drink out. "I need sake! Sake!"

"Well, excuse me for trying to take care of a friend!" I stood abruptly to my feet and dumped the rest of the wine on his head. He sputtered incoherent words as I chucked the bottle to the ground and stalked off. Men... They never apreciate help...

Children ran past me and under my legs, laughing and giggling up a storm.

"Usopp Support Song #185!" I chuckled at him as he stood up on a towering pile of tables and desks. He's gonna fall if he keeps rocking back and forth like that.

"Luffy's still stuffing his face..." I sighed and kept walking. "Sanji is dancing with girls... Zoro is pissed at me, but I'm also pissed at him, Nami is off somewhere, and I'm stuck wandering by myself." I shrugged. "Oh well!"

A few hours later, the party crashed and everyone slept where they stood. Some were in piles of people, others draped across tables, chairs, and even in trees. I stepped over sleeping and drunk bodies, trying to make as little noise as possible.

"Yeesh... Couldn't they have moved a little bit?" I muttered to myself.

"Usopp Supprt Song #368!" Usopp cried out in his sleep. "Who is he? Who is he? He's the coolest guy in the world! He's the Great Captain Usopp!" Finally, Usopp fell backwards and on his stack of desks.

I stepped over Johnny and Yosaku and several bottles of wine and beer. Sanji had a huge pile of girls on him and he was smiling even in his sleep.

"Am I the only one in this town that didn't get hammered?" I chuckled to myself and found a fairly clear spot on the outskirts of the building and settled down for a good night's rest.

~~~~

Morning came and I was the first one at the ship. The others slowly made their way from the village and onto the ship. The entire village came and saw us off. They gave us food and provisions that should, hopefully, last us a month.

"Are you finished loading it all?" Luffy asked.

"Yeah!" Usopp confirmed.

"Now then," Sanji took a breath from his cigarette. "We have tons of provisions. We're good to go!"

Usopp set the last crate down. "We were only here a few days, but we made lots of memories, huh?"

"Yeah!" Luffy laughed.

"Huh? What is it, Sanji?" I asked him.

"Something's missing..."

"Well, Johnny and Yosaku are down there with the villagers." I said and pointed to the two.

"No, not them..." He mused.

"We owe you a lot for what you've done." Yosaku said. "We're going to get back to our profession of bounty hunting again!"

"Oh, thats right..." I huffed. "They're bounty hunters..."

"How could you have forgotten?!" Usopp shouted at me. I simply shrugged.

"This is goodbye for now," Johnny finished for him. "But we look forward to the day where we meet again somewhere!"

"Take care!" Zoro called down to them.

"Well, we should get going, too!" Usopp suggested.

"Hey! Hold on!" Sanji interrupted.

"Did you finally figure out what was missing?" I asked.

"Yeah!" He glanced around. "Where's Nami-san?!"

"Maybe she's not coming?" Zoro offered.

"W-why not?!" Sanji faced him with his fist raised. "You! You made another pass at Nami-san, didn't you?!"

"Why would I do that?" Zoro inquired in a bored tone.

"Yeah, she completed her goal..." Usopp spoke above their bickering. "And she has no reason to become a pirate, so she might be happier here."

"What about my happiness?!" Sanji rounded on Usopp. "If Nami-san isn't on this baot," He faced Luffy. "Then 49.36% of my reason for being here is gone!"

"49.36%?" I asked. "What's the other reasons?"

"The 49.36% is being here with you and the other 49.36% is being with Nami on the boat!" He faced Luffy again. "The remaining 1.28% is achieving my goal!"

"Oh." I leaned against the rail and looked out past the village as Sanji kept shooting his mouth off about not being with Nami. I listened in on some of the villagers conversations. Nami's been missing since this morning and she's leaving the 100 million berries behind. That's bold.

"Hey!" I called to the guys. "It's Nami!" They turned and saw her a few yards behind the villagers, Sanji being the most excited.

"Nami-san!" The villagers turned and saw her, too and cried out her name. She just stood there.

"Get the ship moving!" She yelled over the crowd. She suddenly took off running.

"Hey, she started sprinting!" Usopp pointed out.

"She says to get the ship moving." Luffy said in a calm, serious voice.

"But..." Usopp hesitated.

"Set the sails!" Luffy shouted as the sails unfurled and caught the wind. Zoro pulled the anchor up by hand and hooked it in place. I looked back at the frantic village as they tried to get Nami to stop. She weaved and ducked out of everyone's reach as she plowed right through them.

"Hey, is okay to let her leave like this?" Sanji asked.

"Why not?" Luffy shrugged. "It's her decision."

The villagers closed in on her as she ran to try and stop her, but she kept moving. We pulled completely away from the dock as Nami was racing toward it. She reached the end and leaped into the air right for the ship. There were shocked and fearful screams as she flew through the air.

Her feet met the railing and she jumped again to rid her legs of the extra momentum. She stood straight once she hit solid ground again and blew out a sigh. She then lifted up her shirt part way and out fell wallets, jewelry, and small purses, most likely owned by the villagers.

I let out a hard chuckle. "A pick-pocketer!" A pile was starting to build around her feet as they just kept falling.

Nami kissed a thousand berrie bill and faced the shrinking island. "Take care, everyone!" She said with a sly smirk.

"How dare you!!"

"You damn brat!!"

Nami simply smiled.

Usopp and Zoro didn't seem too happy. "She hasn't changed a bit..."  Usopp commented.

"Who knows when she'll betray us again?" Zoro questioned in a sour mood.

"Ah, lighten up, you guys!" I pulled them into a one armed hug. "She's our friend and the worst is over! She won't betray us again!"

Sanji gave her a thumbs up and Luffy let out a barking laugh.

The villagers were still flinging insults at her, but after a few seoconds, they changed to ones of kindness and to see her soon.

"Bye, everyone!" Nami waved her arms above her head. "I'll be back!" She smiled back at them and put her arms back at her sides.

"Next stop, the Grande Line!" I shouted and threw my arms in the air. Luffy jumped and cheered.

"Grande Line! Grande Line!" He looked about ready to explode with happiness. "YAHOO!"