And just like that, the small group was led by Nami.
They were on their way to Orange Town, Buggy's hideout.
Luffy was lying on the deck. "This is boring," he said.
Zoro sat in the corner with his arms crossed.
"What a lousy pirate," Nami said. "Isn't it natural for pirates to feel bored when they're at sea?"
"Wh-what? That's a thing?" said Luffy, his mouth wide open.
"Seriously…" Nami shook her head. "Are you guys really pirates?"
"Shishishishi…" Luffy laughed as he stood up. He raised his hands toward the sky and shouted, "I'm not just gonna be a pirate—I'm going to be the King of the Pirates!"
"W-what did you say?" Nami was shocked.
Zoro just grinned.
Then a clapping sound echoed from inside the merchant ship.
"Shishishishi… see? Even the ship's clapping for me," Luffy said.
Zoro's mouth twitched at their idiot captain, while Nami stared into the distance and face-palmed.
After a while, they finally reached Orange Town.
"We're here," Nami said. "Remember what I told you. We're going in quietly and stealing nothing more, nothing less. Do you understand?"
She turned around mid-lecture—only to see that Luffy and Zoro were already gone, walking into Orange Town.
"I wonder if they have some food," Luffy said.
"Hm. I want to taste their sake," Zoro said, following behind him.
Nami was dumbfounded—and furious. "T-these fools… grrrhhh…"
But she had no choice now. She needed that Grand Line chart—and gold. She was about to jump off the ship when she suddenly felt a towering presence behind her.
She didn't want to look back at all. If those two were fools, then this man was a freak—completely insane.
Nami stood still, not moving.
The man behind her didn't move either. He didn't speak.
Nami gulped. With a timid voice, she asked, "W-what do you need…?"
The man said nothing and stepped closer.
She felt his body right behind her back. Heat crept up her spine. She swallowed hard.
Then she felt a large hand rest on her head. Slowly, carefully, he tilted it to the side, exposing Nami's white neck.
She couldn't move at all.
Then he bit her neck.
Nami felt her blood being sucked out. Heat flooded her body, and she began to shiver. Her senses blurred as her body reacted. She twisted—not to escape, but to feel the warmth more.
Then the man stopped.
Two black dots were left on Nami's neck.
She heard his voice.
"T-thank you. I-if y-you n-need h-help… j-just a-ask. I-I'll d-do it w-with e-everything I h-have."
And then he vanished from behind her.
Nami, still intoxicated, slowly came back to her senses. She let out a long, heavy breath.
"Haaaaaa…"
She held her neck. There was no blood leaking—nothing. When she touched it, she felt two small holes.
She didn't understand what had happened. Her whole body still felt strange, her flesh reacting.
She looked back.
He was gone.
Nami stood there for a long moment. Then she composed herself. She knew the man had sucked her blood—but only a tiny portion.
She whispered softly, "When the time comes… if I need your help… you should come and help me."
Then she jumped off the ship.
In the darkness, the bandage man whispered,
"O-okay… I p-promise."
♤
Luffy, Zoro, and Nami met the village chief, who explained why the town had become the way it was. After hearing everything, Luffy and Zoro decided to beat some asses, while Nami stood there as the only witness.
She watched as they defeated Buggy's crew.
Buggy turned out to be a Devil Fruit user as well. But with Nami's help, Buggy's chopped-up body parts weren't able to come back together properly. That was when Luffy sent Buggy flying into the sky.
Zoro finished off the clown's self-proclaimed swordsman.
With the battle won by the three of them, the town was freed. Nami obtained the chart and the treasure.
That made her happy.
The villagers celebrated their victory, cooking a feast for everyone to enjoy. As the food was being prepared, Nami asked, "A-are w-we not gonna c-call that man t-to eat?"
"W-who?" Luffy asked innocently.
Zoro shook his head. "The bandage guy. He hasn't eaten anything yet."
"Oh, you mean bandage guy," Luffy said while munching on some meat. "Well, he never eats food. He said some—many words, but he said he can't eat."
"He can eat," Zoro said, sipping his sake. "How's that possible?"
"How should I know?" Luffy replied, grabbing another piece of meat.
Nami reached up and touched her neck. The two holes were still there.
She whispered, "Maybe he really can't eat… but he drinks."
She blushed, remembering what had happened earlier.