Ameliorate ✦ One Piece

38

The gates of the city stretched high and wide in front of them as their group of six walked along the path leading through the open doors. The bustle and noise of the place—which they'd been able to hear coming up towards it—now mixed together with the bright colours and movement that filled the streets, all seeming to circle around a monument set right in front of them.

"Loguetown," Nami began to read from the plaque speaking of its importance as the group walked up to it. "The town of the beginning and the end."

"This is where it all started. The hunt for the One Piece," Luffy muttered out in amazement as he stepped up to the monument and set his hand on the plaque. He observed it for just a moment longer before throwing his hands into the air. "History happened here!" He yelled without any care for all the heads and eyes which turned in their direction as a result of it.

"Oh I can already see this going well." Akira couldn't help but shake her head and sigh. Somehow, she doubted it was smart for the guy with his face on the highest bounty wanted poster, which she didn't doubt was littered throughout this place, to be screaming at the top of his lungs in the middle of the streets.

"Check it, looks like they're having some kind of festival." Sanji pointed out the banners and decorations which seemed to be littered throughout the open space. There were even flyers occasionally floating on by in the wind, making Akira lean down to pick one up from where it clamped onto the side of her boot.

"For Gold Roger's execution," Zoro said as he read the words written out in bold text over her shoulder.

"A festival?" Usopp questioned warily, cutting off Akira who'd just opened her mouth to point out their captain was starting to wander off without telling anyone. "Not so good for laying low." Luckily, while she didn't manage to get a word in, she wasn't the only one who noticed.

"Then we'll just have to be smart," Nami said in a warning tone while Sanji walked by her and ran after Luffy, grabbing him by the shoulders and stirring him back to the group which only made their navigator sigh as she continued. "No attracting unnecessary attention."

"I want to see the execution platform," Luffy announced, rising his hand into the air as if he were a polite child sitting in a classroom. It made Nami and Akira share a look between themselves, the latter's raised eyebrow a silent question to Nami on whether she realized who her travel companions were.

"Of course you do." Her orange hair swayed around her face as she shook her head at him before pausing to think things over. "Sanji," she started to shuffle through her bag as an idea occurred to her. "what if you took Luffy with you for some food shopping?" She suggested as she handed over a wad of Berry bills to the cook while Luffy got even more excited—surprising Akira with the fact that it was possible—at the thought of both food and the platform together.

"Right!" Sanji smiled as he accepted the money from Namie. "Food will keep him out of trouble."

"Food is also supposed to make it back to the ship," Akira pointed out the most important detail. With Luffy, she couldn't be too sure of it happening if she didn't mention the rules about supplies and provisions. Even if they did seem like the most logical thing.

"I am headed to the fashion district," Nami said, already sure of where she wanted to go and what she'd do. "Zoro, you need new swords, right?"

"I need money too," he deadpanned right back at her.

"Okay, what do you want me to do about that?" Nami's equally dry tone had Akira unable to hold back a laugh which only continued as Zoro's expression changed into one of offence.

"The cook got money."

"I'm buying food for all of us," Sanji pointed out.

"Me having more swords is for all of us," Zoro argued back, earning himself nods and hums of approval from Luffy, not that anyone paid those any mind in this instance.

"God," Nami groaned out in exasperation. "How do you deal with them?" She asked, eyes turning to the only person on the crew who seemed to have some semblance of ability to keep the two butting heads from always being at each other's throats.

"With great difficulty," Akira shook her head with a small sigh.

It was why Nami took it upon herself to handle this particular situation, considering the power—and the money—was all in her hands. "You take this," she started while fishing out some more bills from her bag. "You pay me back." The firmness of her tone made it clear that part was non-negotiable as she handed the money over to Zoro. "With 300% interest."

"The..." Zoro's usually impassive expression now slipped away as his eyes widened in surprise at the information. "What if I need more?"

"You haggle," Nami said only for him to remain as dumbfounded and lost as he was before. "There's a price that they want and a price that they will take," she explained the concept to him, the impatience in her voice showing she definitely felt like she had better things to do than that.

"Haggle," Zoro muttered out, the word sounding like it was absolutely foreign to him as he said it. Not that he let his lost demeanour last for too long. "Fine." He soon pocketed the money and returned to his usual stance, ready to head off on his way.

"Let's get our stuff and get back to the ship," Nami reiterated the plan, eyes scanning each member of the crew with a pointed look to show just how serious she was about it too.

"I'm gonna stay with Nami" Usopp decided, squinting his eyes as he looked around the streets as if there were danger on every corner, just waiting to jump out. "Young woman in the big city. You gotta keep her safe."

"My hero." Nami's unimpressed tone only served to further drive the thought that was running through Akira's mind. And that was that if they ended up in trouble, it'd sooner be her keeping Usopp safe. "All right," she handed some extra money to Luffy as she spoke, "we meet back here when we are done, and remember, this is a large Marine town so keep a low..." Her voice kept rising as all of them started to disperse and head off in their own directions only to be cut off before she could finish.

"Hello, Loguetown!" Luffy's loud voice echoed through the streets, jumping off of walls and stones while Sanji's own joined it for a moment as he called for Luffy to wait for him.

"...profile." Nami finished her statement with a shake of her head as she watched them go for a few moments longer before turning to the last crew member who was yet undecided. "Where do you wanna go?" She asked Akira curiously, possibly the only person she wasn't concerned about going off on her own and causing trouble.

"I was hoping to check out some..." Akira started to say, head turning as she began to look around for what she wanted to find while in the city. Only, she didn't see any signs which would tell her which way to go. Only a head of green hair going in what was most certainly the wrong direction.

"That guy's gonna walk into the sea without realizing it." She shook her head in disbelief as she watched Zoro continue on heading for the gate which led them into the city in the first place. "I'm gonna go make sure that doesn't happen." She turned back to Nami as she decided to keep an eye on the swordsman, at least until he found his destination.

Nami nodded in acceptance, watching as Akira turned around and began to walk off, only to call her back a few seconds later. "Hey, wait up!" She walked towards her, digging into her bag again and pulling out some more money from what seemed to be an endless loot. "In case you end up needing it." She handed it to the brunette.

"Yeah, 300% interest is a bit steep for my tastes," Akira laughed and shook her head, trying to refuse the offer before she got herself into eternal debt she'd never be able to absolve herself of.

"No interest," Nami reassured her, earning herself a rather surprised look in turn. "But you still have to pay me back," she made it clear and caused Akira to laugh again.

"Alright then." This was certainly a better deal than the one Zoro got, and because of it, Akira was a bit more willing to take it. "Thanks." She smiled over at Nami as she took the money and stashed it away in her own bag. "I'll see you back on the Merry when we're all running away because something went to hell."

With one final laugh as she found Nami's expression at her words rather amusing, Akira turned away and now set off in a slight run, wanting to catch up to Zoro before she lost him in the crowd entirely.