+~*~*~*~*~*~+
Time moves differently when you can't breathe, see, hear, and the only thing you can feel is a gross wax all over your body. It could be seconds or hours as I am trapped in the wax cocoon that Mr. 3 has wrapped us in. This isn't the way I thought I would go. Stuck in a stupid pose to be made into art by crazy bounty hunters.
There haven't been many times that I thought I would die. Even when it all looked like it was going to end, I knew that I had people around me that would save me when I couldn't save myself. If Luffy was nearby, I always knew that he would do whatever it took to get me out of a sticky situation. Now...
"HOT!" I scream, feeling the wax melt off and all movement and senses are back in one burst of flame.
The flame that has released the four of us from our waxy hell doesn't just melt away the wax, but catches our clothes on fire too. I notice it a bit late, stopping the flames when my t-shirt becomes a crop top and creates a few holes in my shorts. Nami's entire shirt goes up in flames, while Vivi escapes with singes across her jacket, and Zoro escapes practically unfazed.
Regardless, Ms. Valentine is up in the air getting ready to fall and crush Usopp who is too hurt to move out of the way. Nami pulls out her boa staff, Vivi swings around her peacock slashes, and I have shurikens between my fingers as we rush at the unsuspecting woman to take her out of the fight.
"What terrible heat," Nami says as the three of us land a little ways away. "Was there no other way to get us out of the wax?"
"It could have been worse," I say as I stand in the middle of the two girls.
"Akari is right," Usopp grits his teeth. "You're lucky to be alive."
"You're right, thanks," Nami smiles.
Vivi coughs, clearing her lungs, "I can barely believe it. We're alive."
"And instantly kicking ass," I grin.
"Damn, the wax melted!" Mr. 5 points a gun at us. "What a pain. We cannot afford to fail this mission!"
"Mr. 5!" Usopp grabs his slingshot. "Deathblow Exploding Star!" He lets a pellet fly towards the man.
"Dumbass! I've shown you many times that explosives will not work on me! I am a human bomb!"
"He swallowed it," Usopp grins. "Sorry, but since you don't know, I'm a fibber. That wasn't a bomb, it was my Deluxe Pepper Sauce Star!"
"GAH! Water!"
I chuckle, "Were you working on that back when we were still on our way to the Grand Line?"
Usopp laughs, "That's right. I have personally tested this one. I know it is effective."
"You lousy pirates!" Mr. 5 falls to his knees, coughing uncontrollably. "I'll blow you to bits with a fully body blast!" He rushes at Usopp, jumping up and wrapping his arms around him.
"Usopp!" the three of us girls shout, too afraid to rush at him for fear will blow up right along with Usopp.
"When I am finished, you won't even be a pile of bones!"
"Flaming...onigiri!" Zoro bursts throw the flames and smoke, slashing Mr. 5 to finally stop the man from send any more bombs at anyone.
"Zoro!" I happily jump around.
"A burning sword, hm? Not bad."
"Mr. Broggy, are you alright!?" I ask, turning to see the swords holding his hands down have melted away.
"It's good to be alive," Zoro looks around at everything.
Broggy softly chuckles as he sits up, "Been better, girlie."
"Master..." Usopp says.
"Only two left to fight now," Broggy says.
"Wait," I spin around, looking for a certain captain. "Where did Luffy go?"
"He rushed off after Mr. 3," Usopp answers. "He couldn't let that man who ruined the battle get away. Other than that, he's fine. Well, his shirt went up in flames, but he didn't have any serious injuries."
"Hear that, Akari?" Zoro teases, slinging an arm over my shoulders.
"Shut your mouth, Zoro," I bump my hip against his, placing my shurikens back in my pouch.
"Oh, Akari, don't blush too hard," Nami smirks.
Vivi giggles, "Is this what happens after a fight? You tease each other?"
"Only me," I pout. "And maybe Usopp."
"Hey!" Usopp snaps.
"You know we're right," Nami sasses.
"Whoa, you're all okay!" Luffy's voice snaps all of us to look at him coming out of the forest.
"LUFFY!" I break into a sprint, running right at the boy.
He chuckles, opening his arms to catch me when I jump into them. "How are you feeling, dumpling? I'm glad to see you not stuck in wax."
I giggle, pulling back just enough to look at his face. "I am feeling a lot better. It was not fun being trapped in the wax. Even for a little bit. I knew you'd pull through for us, though. You always do."
"Sorry it took so long," he nervously smiles, adjusting his hold to grab my thighs and pull my legs around his waist. "Got a bit distracted."
"It's alright," I happily sigh. "It all worked out, but why didn't you want me to fight? After telling me that I could finally fight."
"And have you get needlessly hurt? I am your boyfriend as well as your captain, and I'd like to keep you safe if I can. Still plenty of fights left out there," he brushes some hair out of my face, and then presses a kiss to my cheek. "You look great when fighting."
"As do you," I pinch his cheek, pulling it out a bit before letting it go. "You'll need a new shirt."
"Maybe I'll just walk around like this," he sets my feet down on the ground. "Feels nice to have the sun on my skin all the time. Like you're doing with your stomach," he pokes at the revealed skin.
"Went up in flames thanks to you," I giggle.
"Your bullet wound scar makes you look even more badass," he traces the scar with his index finger.
"I would hope so." I squirm out of his hold and rush back to the others.
Nami sends a wink my way and Zoro gives me a nod.
All the peace is shattered when Broggy bursts into loud wails. Sobbing for his friend that he slain due to the interference of the honorable century long battle. His tears are like two waterfalls bursting from his eyes, and his cries could be heard from anywhere on the island. Even covering our ears doesn't help much.
"His tears are gigantic to match," Nami groans.
"They're two waterfalls," Zoro says.
"Look! A rainbow!" Luffy points into the sky.
"Beauty comes from pain, or something like that," I sigh.
"Quack!" Karoo wails.
"My ears!" Vivi whines.
"I know how Broggy feels!" Usopp cries as tears run down his face.
A groan comes from Dorry, the one we thought was dead this whole time, and then he slowly sits up, holding a hand over his still bleeding wound. All of us stare in wide-eyed shock.
"Hm, I must have passed out," Dorry groans.
"Dorry...how?" Broggy asks.
"Dorry!" Vivi and I happily cry out.
"Mr. Giant!" Luffy shouts.
"It must have been..." Dorry takes a deep breath, "the weapons."
"The weapons?" Usopp sniffles, wiping the tears off his face. "Oh, I understand! Even weapons forged in Elbaf would get worn out eventually. Especially in a battle that has lasted a hundred years. This is incredible. This is a miracle!"
Broggy pulls his friend in for a hug, completely disregarding his friend's wounds.
"Broggy, please, don't hug me so hard. My wound is still open."
"I'm so happy you're alive, my dear friend!" He lets out a hearty laugh.
Dorry softly chuckles with him.
"That was no miracle," Zoro says, a grin tugging at his lips. "It wasn't a surprise either. Those weapons haven't been properly cared for over the last one hundred years. Neither have their owners."
"This is a wonderful day!" Broggy shouts. "I give all my thanks to the Elbaf Gods!"
"Are you really that proud of yourself for knocking me out?" Dorry asks.
He slaps his friend, "No, you fool, that's not what I meant at all!"
"You hit my wound."
I chuckle as the two giants quickly stand up. Luffy has burst into laughter.
"Are you looking for a fight!?
"Sure! I'll be the one knocking someone out this time!"
"Are you seriously at it again!" Nami yells at the two giants.
"Now hold on a second!" I exclaim. "Both of you need to bandage your wounds!"
Luffy pinches my sides, picking my up and throwing me over his shoulder. "They know their limits."
I burst into giggles, "And you definitely don't!"
"Aren't you tired, Luffy?" Usopp asks.
"Nope," he chuckles.
"He's been away from Akari for a while, so making up lost time," Zoro comments.
"Yup," Luffy firmly nods.
I pout, "I missed you too." I snatch his hat from his head, placing it on my head. "I'll just take your hat then."
He sets me down, looking right into my eyes, "Cute."
My face bursts with heat, "Who is giving you tips?"
He chuckles, but doesn't answer my question.
It doesn't take long for Broggy and Dorry to wrap up their various wounds that they sustained today, and then they take us back to one of their camps. There we all relax, letting our muscles untense. Luffy snatched Ms. Golden Week's picnic basket, so Karoo, Usopp, him, and I are snacking away.
Broggy chuckles, "You little people really saved our lives today. We want to repay you in whatever way we can."
Dorry lets out a deep laugh, "We totally forgot about the price over our heads."
"They only came here...because of me," Vivi sighs.
"Don't say that," Nami pinches her cheek.
"She's right, Vivi, it wasn't any trouble," I shove a rice cracker into my mouth as I lean back against Luffy.
"Akari is right," Luffy shoves a cracker into his mouth. "Want a cracker?" He finally takes his hat back from me.
"Where did those come from?" Nami asks before shaking her head and looking back at Vivi. "No one is mad at you, okay?"
"Let's have a rice cracker party!" I giggle.
"That's a great idea," Luffy wraps an arm around me.
"Hey Nami, dance for us!" Usopp teases.
Nami glares at him, whacking him straight across the head.
Luffy laughs, "Usopp, you're eyes almost popped out!"
"Idiot," Nami grumbles.
"Akari, why don't you dance for us?"
I look back at Luffy, "I only dance if everyone dances. Are you prepared to dance?"
"With you, always," he grins.
"I just remembered," I look back at the group, doing by best to keep the blush off my cheeks. "The log pose."
"That's right," Zoro says. "It takes a whole year for it to reset, which is not good for us."
"We're in real trouble if we have to wait that long!" Nami says.
Luffy pops up, making sure to sit me up so I don't fall. He faces the giants, pointing at that, "Is there anything you can do for us?"
"Are you serious?" Dorry chuckles. "Even we have no power over a log pose."
"Ah!" Sanji's loving voice that I haven't heard since the day began fills my ears. "Nami, Vivi, Akari! You're all safe! Thank the heavens!"
"Hey Sanji!" Luffy happily shouts, waving at the boy.
"Where have you been!?" I tease, wrapping my arms around Luffy's middle and settling into his side. "Could have used your legs," I chuckle.
"He wasn't around when we needed him, and then has the nerve to show up after all has been settled," Usopp grumbles.
Sanji notices Dorry the giant, getting into a fighting stance. "What the hell!? Are you Mr. 3!?"
"Hey, what do you know about Mr. 3!?" Nami asks, drawing Sanji's attention to her.
His eyes burst into hearts as he looks like he's about to burst. "Nami, you're beautiful!"
I scoff, shaking my head as he hands her his suit jacket.
"Jealous there, Akari?" Usopp teases.
"No reason to be," Luffy rubs his hand up and down my arm.
"I'm not," I slightly smile, resting my head on Luffy's chest.
"Well, I spoke to a man, Mr. Zero, on the phone, and I know enough," Sanji says.
"You mean to say," Vivi says, "that a little while ago, you spoke with the Mr. Zero?"
"That is correct," Sanji takes a seat on a log, letting off a drag of his cigarette. "He thought that I was Mr. 3, so I told him that we took care of all of us."
"You said that we were all dead!?"
"That's what I told him, yes."
"Ugh, Baroque Works may be off our tail, but we're still stuck on this damn island," Usopp groans.
"What do you mean we're stuck? We have this," Sanji holds up an eternal pose.
Everyone's jaw drops, but I widely smile.
"What?"
"You're my hero!" I burst out.
"The eternal post to Alabasta!" We all exclaim in a jumble. "You found it, so we can leave!"
Vivi rushes to hug Sanji, "Thank you so much, Sanji! I had almost lost hope of getting home soon!"
"It was nothing," Sanji gushes, awkwardly chuckling. "I didn't know you'd be so happy."
"Now it is cracker time!" Luffy exclaims, holding out his cracker.
"Impossible, we only have three rice crackers left!" Usopp says.
I giggle, "How about we have a party later, Luffy."
"Akari is right," Nami grabs my wrist, pulling me over to her side. "We can't waste any more time."
"Oh, by the way," Sanji turns to look at Zoro, "I hope you didn't forget about our hutting challenge."
"Oh that?" Zoro grins. "I definitely won. I got a huge rhino."
"A rhino? Well, I hope it's edible."
"Hey, roly-poly giants!" Luffy smiles at Dorry and Broggy. "We have to go now!"
"Oh, now you're in such a hurry," Broggy teases.
"It is sad to see you all go, but I will not stop you for getting back to your journey," Dorry says. "I hope that you are able to save your kingdom, princess."
"Thank you," Vivi says.
We all start to head back into the forest to make it back to the Going Merry.
"Don't kill each other!" Luffy calls back.
"Just you wait, Moss Head, mine is going to be bigger," Sanji says of his catch.
"We'll see," Zoro says.
"Goodbye masters!" Usopp says. "I promise that one day I will make it to Elbaf!"
"I hope that whatever happens, you stay happy!" I wave back at them.
+~*~*~*~*~*~+
"Luffy, you have to put a new shirt on," I sigh, holding out a new red vest for him. I've replaced my burned shirt with a cute sunflower yellow t-shirt that has a black outline of a sunflower.
"Don't you like me without one?" Luffy asks, placing his fists on his hips to show off his toned torso.
It would be a lie if I said no, but if I say yes, my entire face will look like a tomato. I haven't seen Luffy without a shirt for a long time, and I didn't realize how strong he has become. I mean, he has a six-pack! Still, I have to stay calm or else the teasing from everyone else won't stop. "I like you no matter what, and your vest has always made me smile."
He takes the vest from me, quickly putting it on and buttoning it up. "I like the shirt you decided to change into."
"Take a good look, Moss Head!" Sanji shouts. "My lizard is the winner!"
"Are you actually blind!?" Zoro retorts. "My rhino is way bigger!"
Luffy and I look over to where Sanji and Zoro are fighting about their catches from earlier today. Neither of them will concede to the other, so they've just been fighting since we got back to the ship.
"Who cares?" Luffy jumps up to hang off the railing and look at the creatures. "Both look good to eat, so what's the big deal?"
"Shut up!" Sanji and Zoro shouts at him.
I giggle, "This is a matter of their big heads, Luffy."
"How long are you to going to keep bickering like this?" Nami sighs. "Just cut up the good meat and load it up. It is time to set sail!"
"Yes Nami dear!" Sanji gushes, waving at her.
"Okay, Usopp, mine's bigger, right?"
"What?" Usopp looks over at the catches. "Oh, I don't care."
"Why don't you just call a draw?" Vivi asks.
"There are no draws in challenges!" Zoro shouts.
I rush up to the higher landing where Nami is standing. She's now wearing a light blue short-sleeve shirt.
"Akari, my dear," she smiles, running her fingers through my hair. "Even after the wax, your hair is still soft."
I chuckle, watching the two boys cut up the lizard and rhino. "I would hope that the fire that freed us would have melted it all out."
"You weren't too hot today with it down, were you?" She easily braids a chunk, securing it with a rubber band. "You'd look almost exactly like Vivi if you had it in a ponytail."
I turn to look at Nami, "That's true, so I better keep it down so no one confuses us. Besides, I've gotten used to having it down. The only downside is wind, but today wasn't bad. It wasn't a bother at all."
"Do you ever think about cutting it?"
"Since I've hit the seas, more times than I can count. I'm fine right now, though. I don't want to mess with it right now. Besides, you did such a nice braid, and that helps a lot."
"You'll know when the time is right, so for now, just enjoy it," she smiles, placing her arm around my shoulder.
It doesn't take long for Zoro and Sanji to fill the storage with the meat they got, and then we are finally heading down the waterway towards the other end of the island to get back onto the open sea. All of us heading down to the front of the boat to get the first look of what we've been missing. Luffy's arm finds its way around my waist the moment I step up to him.
"If we sail straight ahead, that will take us east of this island," Nami says.
"Were you two sure you got all the meat?" Luffy looks back at Zoro and Sanji. "We couldn't take anymore?"
"That's all the ship would hold!" Sanji says.
"Do you want us to sink?" Zoro asks.
I chuckle, "Anything for meat."
The forest parts in front of us, and the sea is reveal. But it isn't the only thing that comes into view for us, as Dorry and Broggy are also standing on both sides of the passage way.
"Look, the giants!" Luffy points. "They came to send us off!"
"There's a reason that you little people," Broggy starts.
"Can't reach the next island," Dorry finishes.
We all look up at them in wonder and confusion.
"You risked your lives to defend our honor."
"No matter what happens now."
"We will allow no enemy to trample on our friends' pride!"
"Have faith in us! Sail straight ahead! No matter what happens next, sail straight ahead!"
"Okay!" Luffy shouts.
"What are they talking about?" Zoro asks.
"We'll sail straight ahead, no matter what!"
"It's time to say goodbye," Usopp sniffles.
"I hope that we are able to meet again," Dorry says.
"Yes, I hope we can too," Broggy says.
"Look ahead!" Nami screams.
Right in front of us is a giant fin that is poking out of the water. I know that it is a giant fish from the way the water moves as it makes it way towards us.
"There is it," Dorry intensely grins. "The Island Eater."
"You will give way," Broggy narrows his eyes as he grins. "The honor of Elbaf is at stake!"
A giant goldfish bursts out of the water, only looking intimidating because of its size, but it face makes it look quite dorky. If it weren't going to swallow us, I would think it is cute in some strange way.
"S-s-sea monster!" Usopp screams, using up the stairs to get a better view.
"It is huge!" Vivi panics.
"Turn the ship around!" Nami orders. "Right now! Do not waste any time or we will be eaten!"
"What...it...it's a gold fish!?" Usopp asks.
"A giant goldfish?" I nervously giggle. "I've heard this somewhere before."
"Usopp! Turn us around!" Nami demands.
"I...I can't!" Usopp states. "We-we're going to sail straight ahead! Isn't that right, Luffy?"
Luffy picks me up with one arm, rushing up to stand on the same level as Usopp. "That's right," he slightly smirks.
"This is crazy! This is not like Laboon!" Nami screams.
"I know," he nods. "There's no reason to panic. Here, have the last rice cracker," he tosses the cracker down to her.
"No thank you! Forget that and turn this damn ship around!"
"Nami," Zoro is calming leaning against the wall with his arm crossed. "Calm yourself."
She starts nibbling on the rice cracker, "B-b-b-but."
"Luffy!" Sanji shouts up at us. "Are you really trusting those giants!?"
"Uh-huh," Luffy nods.
"Are you serious!?" Vivi shouts. "We're going to sail straight into that demons mouth!"
"NO! It's too late!" Nami screams as the gold fish closes its mouth and traps us within.
"Straight ahead!" Usopp bellows. "Straight!"
"It is too late to do anything else! We've been swallowed!"
"Straight ahead! Straight ahead!" Luffy calls out, wrapping his arms around my middle and rushing to be on the figurehead.
"Luffy!" I whine, but I know that it will be useless. He wants to be at the very front, and he wants me right by his side.
Then, thanks to our new friends Broggy and Dorry, a hole right through the middle of the goldfish is formed, and the Going Merry flies right through it. Salt water and the sea air rushing all around us.
"Yahoo!" Luffy happily cries out.
"We're flying out!" I shout, wrapping my arms around his shoulders to hold on.
"Don't turn around! Straight! Go straight!" Nami cries.
"It's huge," Luffy breathes out.
"They blasted a hole right through the middle of it!" Usopp sobs. "That is the power that the warriors of Elbaf hold!"
The Going Merry crashes into the water, our speed propelling us through the waves without any issue.
"May good fortune accompany you!!" Dorry and Broggy shout after us.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hope you enjoyed reading! This arc is just really exciting for me, and I hope you are all ready and excited as well! I would love to know what you thought! :D
Also, if you want to ask a question about the plot or characters, feel free and I will answer them at the end of next chapter! :D