The Window Maker - (OCXCANON)

Chapter 45 (Alabasta Arc)

Ki spent the rest of the night avoiding the volley of questions from the navigator. She went to bed early and got up before the girls in an attempt to get some peace. Her clothes were thrown on quickly to not disturb her roommates. A simple pair of jean shorts and a cropped tank top with a fishnet long sleeve underneath and her spare boots she retrieved from Usopp.

As she trudged down the hallway to the cabin's exit, the chatter of the boys could be heard out on the deck. She pushed through the door and was immediately enveloped in the warmth of the morning sun. Her lip curled into a smile as she spotted the group surrounding the bottom of the stairs, "Mornin' boys."

Chopper bolted up the stairs and wrapped his arms around her leg as he cried, "Oh, Ki! It's just awful! They said, according to Vivi there's gonna be 2000 of the Baroque Works guys!! Can you believe that?!"

Ki patted the top of his hat and chuckled, "Don't worry, kiddo, that's nothing for us."

Sanji flashed her a coy grin, "Good morning my sweet dahlia! I'll have breakfast ready shortly! Not to worry!"

Luffy excitedly pumped his fist in the air, oblivious to his sister's intrusion, "Alright! I think I understand! When are we gonna get to Alabasta so I can beat up Crocodile?!"

Usopp furrowed his brow and shook his head, "Ughh. I don't think you get it at all, Luffy."

Zoro leaned over, resting his elbows on his thighs as he smirked, "If Baroque Works' sole objective is to take over Alabasta, then I can guess what that must mean."

Sanji nodded as he took a long drag on his cigarette, "The rest of the officer agents, as Vivi called them, and their subordinates are probably-"

Nami strode up behind Ki and cleared her throat, "On their way to Alabasta as we speak."

Vivi creased her brow and nodded, "Yeah."

Ki flinched from the sudden invasion but slightly turned her body to include the navigator and princess in the conversation. She flashed the pair a hopeful grin, 'Maybe with us being so close to landfall, Red will drop my personal stuff.'

Luffy tapped his chin, "I see! So in that case, we just go beat up Crocodile and then-"

Sanji cut off his captain with an irritated groan, "That's enough, Luffy. Just let it go!"

Straw Hat's shoulders drooped and he whimpered, "... Okay."

...

After a full breakfast, the ship was quickly approaching the coast of Alabasta. Ki was perched on the railing, leaning her back against Merry's neck as she watched the subtle ripple of the waves. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Usopp, Chopper and Karoo fishing while they hid the pilfered food they were munching on from the kitchen. She softly chuckled, "Sanji is gonna be pissed."

Right on que, she heard Sanji's shoes click angrily across the deck as he stalked their rubbery captain. He grunted, "Don't lie to me Luffy, tell me what you know right now."

Ki flicked her eyes up to watch the, all too familiar interrogation. She rested her cheek on her palm as she hummed, "Wonder if he's gotten any better at lying about it?"

The cook knelt down and gripped Luffy by his squishy jaw, "Don't look away from me. I want you to look me in the eyes right now and tell me the truth!"

Luffy turned his head away from Sanji's hand, stretching his cheek as he desperately avoided eye contact. He tugged himself free and pursed his lips as he waved his hand, "No idea what you mean, Sanji. I don't know anything, no clue!"

Sanji furrowed his brow and pointed his cigarette at the rubber boy, "Then tell me, how did enough food for eight people, which I carefully divided up so it would last until we reached Alabasta, suddenly go missing in the middle of the night?" Luffy's eyes darted back and forth while the cook grasped his face again, "Lying is pointless, so just tell me the truth. You have a terrible poker face!"