Ameliorate ✦ One Piece

48

Akira loved the Merry, she really did. But after everything, it'd be a lie if she said she wasn't slightly happy to be on actual dry land, and as far away from stomach acid as one can get, lounging around in a chair with an amazing view and one of Sanji's cocktails in hand.

All thanks to the newest friend Luffy had made during their time apart.

As they'd come to learn after regaining their freedom from the whale's entrapment, the animal itself was named Laboon, while Luffy's friend was Crocus, the keeper of the lighthouse here on the island of Twin Cape. The man was more than hospitable, allowing them to take some time and rest on his island, even sharing his food and drinks, and all in exchange for Usopp fixing a door which Luffy had, of course, broken in the midst of his demand for answers and return of his crew.

They'd gotten the entire story from the two of them, about Laboon and the Rumbar Pirates that had left him behind to protect him. And it was a story that had Akira ceding defeat when Zoro refused to stop staring at her with that rather pointed look of his. Because, alright, maybe one should put the whale on the map after all.

"Fixed the door!" Usopp called out as he walked out of the lighthouse, carrying his toolbox as he walked along the porch and towards where they'd all stationed themselves with little wish to move. "You know if you ever get sick of living in a lighthouse, there's a lot of room inside Laboon," he said to Crocus as he passed by Sanji, snatching up one of the pieces of food he was grilling up for the entire group. "You could build a whole house in there. Live pretty comfortably."

"How cool would that be?" Luffy said in awe of the idea, the expression on his face making it seem like a part of him wanted to try just that, right here and right now. "To live inside a whale?"

"Gotta be honest," Akira shook her head as she set down her coconut cocktail, "the moving walls don't seem appealing in my opinion." It really had been the most eerie part of being in there.

"If things ever truly go to shit, I'll keep it in mind," Crocus smiled at their debating as he thought of it himself.

"What do we do with our friends tied up on board?" Zoro asked, knowing it was a matter that needed to be dealt with sooner rather than later. And now that their captain was back with them, there was no better time than the present.

"I'd prefer if you didn't leave two assassins on my little oasis," Crocus said.

"And the lady did help save Usopp," Sanji pointed out, serving as the devil's advocate as he walked over to the group, setting a tray of food onto the table.

"She did?" Luffy asked with a smile, happy with the piece of information.

"Which is why we haven't thrown them overboard yet," Akira noted. Sure, the helping had bought the two assassins some grace, but not blind faith.

"I still don't trust them." Nami made her position on the matter known before Luffy could be too far swayed.

"Nor should you," Crocus agreed with her, knowing it was better to be wary of such strangers than let optimism and naivety lead.

"I can keep them out like a light for as long as we need them to be," Akira said. It was their current state, after all, and one that seemed to be working for now. There was no reason it would stop being that way.

Considering Miss Wednesday's already attempted escape, the whole group agreed it'd be unwise to just leave them on the ship while they went to the island. And since there were some protests, most notably Sanji's, at the idea of just clobbering them on the head to knock them out, it was Akira who'd handled the problem. And subsequently healed up what were surely bruised ribs after their rescue of Usopp.