ʀᴜʙɪᴇꜱ - ᴏɴᴇ ᴘɪᴇᴄᴇ

『3』

⤿ Nami and Ami finally spotted land, and they skillfully rowed their small boat toward the welcoming shore. As they stepped onto the solid ground, Nami turned to her brother, her determination gleaming in her expressive eyes. "You stay put, I've got this," she declared firmly, ready to take charge of their next steps.

Ami, equally determined and always up for a friendly argument, looked up at his sister with a sly grin. "Oh, no, sis. You see, I'm the perfect candidate for this adventure," he countered with an air of confidence.

Nami raised an inquisitive eyebrow, fully prepared for Ami's persuasive reasoning. "And why's that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Ami struck a playful pose, theatrically listing his qualifications as if presenting his resume for the job. "Well, you know, I'm quicker, faster, stronger, sneakier, prettier–"

He barely finished his sentence when he gracefully dodged a playful punch from Nami, her laughter accompanying the motion.

"Fine! You can go," Ami conceded with a smirk, raising his hands in mock surrender. He knew when to yield to his sister's determined spirit.

Nami rolled her eyes affectionately, appreciating her brother's playful banter. "That's more like it," she quipped, walking away with a confident swagger, leaving Ami to shake his head and admire her spirit.

Ami settled back into the boat, its wooden frame creaking gently as it swayed with the tide. He reclined comfortably, gazing up at the drifting clouds overhead. The sun's warm caress on his face and the rhythmic lull of the waves conspired to create the perfect environment for relaxation.

With the tranquil beauty of the sea as his backdrop and the gentle sounds of the waves as his lullaby, Ami surrendered to the soothing embrace of sleep. In this peaceful moment, he allowed himself to be carried away into a well-deserved nap, content and undisturbed by the world's worries.

◤᯽◥

Ami's peaceful nap was abruptly interrupted by the clamor of familiar voices. Groggily, he blinked his hazel eyes open and, using a hand to shield them from the sun's glaring rays, he strained to listen to the heated conversation that unfolded before him.

"We are finally here!"

"Hey Luffy, don't be stupid enough to seek him out!"

"I haven't decided yet. It depends on whether he's a good guy or not."

"He's a bad guy!"

"That's why he was caught!"

Ami couldn't help but release a soft, amused scoff. It appeared that his recent adventures were taking intriguing turns. The coincidence of reencountering Luffy elicited a wry smile, injecting a dose of amusement into his serene countenance.

"Uh, is Zoro captured at the base?"

"You can't mention that name here!"

"Zoro," Ami mused, his mind connecting the dots. The name rang a bell – Zoro, the infamous bounty hunter.

Ami's sapphire eyes widened in genuine surprise, accentuating the mesmerizing allure of his gaze. He gracefully rose to his feet, a subtle air of sophistication in his every movement, and turned toward the duo with a charming smile playing on his lips. "No way," he began, his voice a velvet whisper that carried a hint of amusement, "you're attempting to entice the legendary Zoro into joining your modest pirate crew?"

Koby, a picture of nervousness and innocence, was startled by the sudden intrusion and spun around to face Ami. A rosy blush colored his cheeks, and he pointed a trembling finger at the newcomer. "Ah! What are you doing here?" he stammered.