Disclaimer: If you recognise it, surprise, I don't own it.

Chapter 34– Drowning.

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"So? What's your business with the witch, Captain Ussop?" Nojiko asks, a smile on her face.

"Well, after what you just said, I've got more important things to think about." Ussop starts, waving his hands about as he starts to explain. "So then... she's been deceiving us all along... she must have only been aiming for the treasure right from the beginning!" He says, having finally figured it out. That is Nami's MO, and she has gotten very good at it, to the point of getting away without a trace. Makes me wonder how this guy managed to follow her back here. She never usually leaves any clues.

"When I think that..." He suddenly slams his fist down on top of the table, his eyes white with fury and teeth snarling. "It pisses me off so damn much! That girl!!!" He focuses his gaze down at a spot on the table, sweat dripping down the side of his head.

"Even though she helped protect my village... and laughed so happily when sailing together with us..!" He grits his teeth, remembering memories of their time together. Though, it is weird hearing him talking about her laughing happily since she is usually all business and cutthroat. "Inside her mind, she was always planning on how to steal our money and ditch us..!" The anger on his face is immense. He is mad at Nami though I think he is also angry about something else.

"...Laughing happily..?" Nojiko also focuses on the things that I picked up on and asks, curious. "Her?" She says, with a smile on her face, curiosity in her voice.

"Why that evil witch!" He suddenly stands, and his previously furious face evolves into an indignant and petty, angry look. "A person like her deserves an attack of the spiritual order! I'll completely ignore her from now on!" I have to stop myself from laughing. It was such a sudden change. He was so mad, and I was worried that I would have to raise my hands and punch him out later, but then he said she deserved spiritual punishment and that he would ignore her from now on. This dude is hilarious.

"I told you already, don't start any trouble with the Arlong Pirates." Nojiko sweatdrops at his sudden change and then tells him that, reminding him that Nami is part of the Arlong pirates. She wants him to leave without a fuss, which would be better for everyone.

"Well, as long as I can get back my ship, it's all fine." Ah, he forgot his anger so quickly. This dude is very chill, and funny and over the top. Nami was laughing on his crew? I can see why. "And since I've found the ship already, I guess I should hurry up and leave." Usopp stands up and starts to move towards the door, not planning on sticking around.

"Well, that would be the wise thing to do," Nojiko says, and since her method seems to be working and this guy is going to leave without a fuss, I don't say anything. Don't want to ruin it and say something that will have this guy sticking around. He has already run into one Fishman, so they will surely be on the lookout for him. "Mess with the Arlong Pirates, and it won't end with mere injuries." That's right, leave before you end up dead.

"By the way, is that the ship you were talking about?" Nojiko says, pointing her thumb behind her and out of the window towards a ship that we can see at the very end of our tangerine farm. Huh, why the hell didn't I see that. I must have been more out of it than I thought. Damn, this dude really cheered up my mood.

"Ahh! The Going Merry!" Usopp gawks, his mouth once more dropping as he makes the most ridiculous face whilst looking out the window. "What is it doing over there..!?" Didn't you just say you know where your boat is? Damn, did this dude not even realise this was where he left it. I suppose not since Nojiko knocked him out and brought him here.

"Wait a minute, that means..." He takes a thinking pose, his eyes now focused. Of course, when I say thinking pose, I mean he has brought his point finger up in front of his face, and it has pushed up the tip of his nose, reminding me of another appendage entirely. Why is this man so ridiculous? "Alright, I've grasped the basic geography of this area." But you were just leaving. Why does it matter if you figured out the layout of the island?

"I do remember there being a village to the west of here. That must be the Cocoyashi Village Centre..." Yes, Gosa Village is to the East of here, Cocoyashi Village is to the west, with Arlong Park being after it and then at the very end of the island is Shokuyasi Village. "That's where I saw those Fishmen." Yeah, well, the Fishmen go wherever they want. It isn't weird for them to be there.

[You can see a map of it on my Pa treon, which is free to view]

"!" Suddenly, his jaw drops once more, and sweat starts to pour off of his face as he seems to have a realisation. This man must be bipolar or something. He switches lanes so fast.

"What's wrong?" Nojiko asks, most likely wanting to know why the hell he isn't leaving for his ship and is just standing there like a moron with his mouth wide open.

"I forgot that one of my crewmates, got himself unfortunately caught by the Fishman..!" What!? How the hell do you forget something like that? This is one of your men, right? Again his tone changes as his face become rigid once more as he crosses his arms, his visage deadly serious. "And he was already on the verge of death..." What!? And you seriously forgot about him? Also, how the hell is he already nearly dead?

"I just hope he didn't provoke them and get himself killed..." Usopp says, obviously not believing in his crewmate at all. If the guy is nearly dead, then he would probably be hiding and recuperating, waiting for his captain to come get him. There is o way he would go pick a fight... but then, he follows an idiot captain like you, so...

"Well, if he's anything like you, then he probably did end up provoking those guys. That guy is definitely dead. If I were you, I would cut my losses and get off this island while you still have your life." I say, trying to get him back on point. His friend is a lost cause, so now we have to get him off the island before the Fishmen find him.

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"Shut the hell up! You don't know anything about Zoro! He might be an idiot, but he is strong! " Dude, you're getting angry at me, but you are the one who just said he might be dead. Also, I respect the fact you are standing up for this Zoro, but maybe you should go out there and try to help him instead of hoping he will be fine. "He faced off against Dracule Mihawk, a Warlord of the Sea and survived! He is definitely alive." I... a Warlord of the Sea?

"Okay, maybe he is fine." Well, what do I know? Apparently, this guy faced off against a Warlord of the Sea and survived. Those guys are serious business. They are really strong motherfuckers that show up in the news sometimes with significant events. Arlong always gets angry and destroys things whenever he reads about the Knight of the Sea Jinbei. I've always thought there was a story there, but I don't care enough to find out though I could probably get Hachi to tell me. Anyway, maybe this guy is actually alright, even if he is half-dead. He did survive a Warlord after all.. right?

But then again, this Zoro follows a captain like Usopp, who definitely isn't the strongest guy or even at all level-headed. Plus, he has already lied a few times, like about his five thousand-man army, so he is probably lying about this as well. Well, as long as he doesn't end up pissing anyone off, he should be fine. Though, if he truly is anything like his captain, then I fear the worst.

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"I told you already, I came here looking for a single woman! You half-fish mutant!" In Arlong Park, we find a confrontation beginning. A man with green hair and three earrings on his left ear glares menacingly at his opponent. And his opponent towers above him, even as he sits down. Even wholly surrounded, the green-haired, heavily injured swordsman doesn't seem like he has even thought of giving in.

"Oh? An inferior human dares slight me..? I'll forgive you just this once, but don't you ever call us half-fish again!" Arlong laughs menacingly, not even treating Roronoa Zoro like a threat. He just looks down on him and begins his monologue. "We Fishmen are evolved humans who have gained the ability to breathe in the sea. With our abilities, we are beings of a higher order than you puny humans!" He explains, all of the surrounding Fishman nodding their heads vehemently in agreement.

"Our innate strength, which far exceeds that of humans, is very proof of that!" He tells Zoro, who is sitting cross-legged on the ground with both his legs tied together and his hands tied together behind his back. He sits there in the courtyard, right in front of Arlongs throne, the water entrance right behind him. A Fishman standing beside him, watching him. "In short, we are Lords Of Creation! Get that through your dense head!" Arlong preaches, getting cheers from his men.

"And so, a human who defies a Fishman is essentially defying the Diving Providence of Nature!" Arlong says, punctuating it by doing a thumbs down, acting like an emperor in a coliseum viewing a death match and declaring an execution, eyeing Zoro with glee. However, before he can go any further with his sermon on Fishman superiority, someone exits the building and walks to join them.

"I'm sick of hearing you blab on about that stupid pet theory of yours, Arlong." A voice says, and every eye turns towards it. The voice sounds annoyed, and Arlong turns around to look at the owner with a toothy grin.

"!!?" Zoro's eyes can't help but widen as he looks on in shock as Nami walks up to stand beside Arlongs throne, the Fishman looking pleased to see her waving a hand to beckon her towards him. Her face is stoic, and she shows no emotions on her face and no care for somebody that she once sailed with.

"Na..." Zoro starts, still in shock to see her there. A drop of sweat goes down the side of his face. Tied up and facing off against an entire crew of Fishmen, he refused to back down or cower, but once she appeared, he couldn't help but let his emotions surface.

"No need to make such a scary face, Nami! You're a different case, of course!" Arlong placates her, patting her back with his big webbed fish hands, his hand covering the entirety of her upper back. "You are the Arlong Pirates' prized Cartographer! You make the most accurate nautical charts!" He praises, a smile on his face that looked much more genuine than any he had shown earlier.

"Of course! My brain's of a much higher order than any of yours!" Nami replies, not at all happy like Arlong. There is nothing on her face as she peers around the courtyard, her gaze skipping entirely over Zoro without another glance. Even though she had just basically insulted everybody here by calling them stupid, not one of the Fishmen is bothered by it, and Arlong smiles happily still.

"Cartographer..!? Hey, Nami!" Finally, Zoro can no longer hold it in and with veins bursting on his forehead and his teeth grinding tight, he finally confronts Nami. "Why the hell are you so chummy with these guys for..!?" He says, his molars gnashing together in frustration seeing how she talks to them all and how she is acting, utterly different from the Strawhat Navigator he knew.

"What, are you two acquaintances?" Arlong asks curiosity in his tone. Though, he never said friends. To him, a Fishman in all but species like Nami wouldn't have friends. She was just as ruthless and bloodthirsty as all of them, and so he doesn't even think their relationship goes beyond mere acquaintanceship.

"Don't be silly. He's just one of my victims." Nami says sardonically, walking forward and approaching Zoro with a casual demeanour, not at all troubled by his current circumstances. "I was able to swindle a huge fortune from these guys during my most recent haul." She finally reaches him and lowers herself so she is face to face with him and looks him dead in the eye, and for the first time, a smile appears on her face. A cruel one.

"...!?" Zoro has a momentary look of shock before all emotion drains from his face, and his face becomes completely blank, with no emotion at all. He stares straight ahead as if Nami isn't even there and no longer speaks or shows anything on his face at all.

"I knew you guys were chasing after me to a certain point, but to think you would actually make it here..." Nami says, and her voice is quite genuine as she says that. As if she couldn't actually believe that they would follow her all the way back to her island, as no one else had actually chased her here, and most pirates know that this is the territory of the Arlong Pirates, and no one dared encroach.

"..." Zoro's gaze focuses on Nami, and he looks deep into her eyes, judging. He has a grim look on his face as he weighs her, and then he speaks. "Is this your true self?" Zoro asks, his voice even and his gaze firm, but there is no anger or negativity in his voice. It is just a question.

"That's right. Surprised?" Nami replies immediately, affirming Zoro's question. "I'm an officer of the Arlong Pirates. I was already a pirate when we met." She informs, her smile cruel and her eyes looking down on him in amusement. There is silence throughout Arlong Park for a moment, and then it is broken by raucous raw laughter.

"SHAHAHAHA! She has you completely strung along! This girl right here would do anything for the sake of money. Even forget the death of her own parent!" Arlong barks, slapping his hand down on his knee, creating booms. All of the other Fishmen begin to laugh as well, following his lead. Though, the last thing he says seems to send a jolt through Nami. "She's a real cold-blooded witch!" Arlong finishes, but Nami doesn't hear it. Instead, her eyes are troubled as she bites down on her lips.

"!!!" No one notices it, and it is only for a moment, but Nami's behaviour changes entirely. Gone is the cruel, vindictive thief, and she is replaced by someone else, someone more familiar to the green-haired swordsman. The horror painting her face quickly leaves, giving way for the cold-blooded witch, but not before someone notices it.

"?" Zoro watches on, eyeing Nami silently. "Tricking people to swindle them is like her second nature!" Arlong continues, but Zoro isn't really paying attention to him anymore, and Nami is trying her best to go back to normal. "Moreover, she's got us as her backup!" Arlong gestures around to all of his crew, who all support the notion.

"I see..." Zoro finally says, still sitting in front of the water entrance, completely tied up, but talking calmly. "Well, it's not like I really trusted her anyways. Wouldn't surprise me if she turned out to be a devilish cutthroat." Nami doesn't say anything, but Arlong smiles at it. He is happy to hear how she has been acting, like a messed up proud parent.

"Right from the very beginning, I had a feeling you were a good-for-nothing woman. Heh heh..!" Zoro says, laughing at the end. He is not at all acting like he is bothered by any of it. In fact, he grins at everyone, not in the least bit afraid or distraught by what has been said here.

"Hmph... Well, then that makes things easier. If you realised that I was only tricking you, then can you just give up on your treasure and my navigation skills and disappear already? You're an eyesore!" Nami breathes a sigh of relief and says that, looking down on Zoro with annoyance.

"!" And then he jumps backwards... into the sea.

"Huh..." No one can quite understand what had just happened, or they just can't believe it happened. The heavily injured and trussed-up man had just leapt backwards into the water and sunk like a rock with a smirk on his face. Jumping to his own watery death.

"W-What!?" Nami stutters, a look of shock on her face.