Sheath Island, Marine Branch 156.
The Rose Hotel, Luxury Suite.
The moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the heart-shaped bed in a silver glow.
Darian lay fast asleep, his breathing even and deep, a contented smile on his face. One of his hands was still possessively gripping the blanket covering Nami.
Nami's eyes snapped open.
She hadn't been sleeping. She had been waiting.
She turned her head slightly, looking at Darian's sleeping face. A mix of affection and deep melancholy washed over her.
He cared about her. She knew that. He had fought for her, protected her, and even "shared" his strange power with her. But Darian didn't know about Arlong. He didn't know about the fish-man monster who held her village hostage. If Darian tried to fight Arlong... he would die. Arlong was a monster who could crush stone with his teeth and flip houses with one hand. Darian was strong, but Arlong was a nightmare.
For his safety, she had to leave.
And now, she finally had enough money.
Thanks to Darian electrocuting the entire Black Cat crew, they had traded the pirates and their ship to the Marines for a massive payout. Combined with her previous savings, the suitcase under the bed now held over 100 million Berries.
The price of her village's freedom.
Nami carefully lifted Darian's hand from her chest. She slid out from under the covers, her movements silent as a ghost.
As her feet touched the floor, her legs buckled. She gasped softly, grabbing the bedpost for support.
Damn it, she thought, blushing. He really went all out tonight.
She rubbed her sore thighs and glanced back at Darian. He didn't stir.
After dressing quickly, she grabbed the heavy suitcase and her sandals. She walked to the door barefoot to avoid making noise.
Click.
The door closed softly behind her.
The moment the latch clicked, Darian's eyes opened. They weren't sleepy at all.
"Running away with the money," he whispered to the empty room. "Typical cat burglar."
Although he sighed, he wasn't angry. He knew why. He knew exactly where she was going and who she was going to pay.
"Arlong," Darian muttered, his eyes cold. "Your days are numbered."
He got out of bed, dressed in seconds, and activated his Human Path ability.
Transparency: 100%.
He vanished from sight.
The streets of the port town were deserted. Nami clutched the suitcase to her chest, her eyes darting nervously at every shadow.
She reached the docks where their small boat was moored. Her hands shook as she untied the ropes.
"I'm sorry, Darian," she whispered to the wind.
She hoisted the sail, and the small boat drifted away from the pier, carried by the night breeze.
As the island shrank in the distance, the adrenaline faded, replaced by a crushing wave of loneliness. She sat on the deck, hugging her knees.
"Bellemere," she sobbed, stroking the leather case. "I finally did it. I have the money. Everyone can be free."
Tears streamed down her face. She remembered the eight years of hell—drawing maps until her fingers bled, stealing from pirates, living in fear every single day.
And she remembered Darian.
"That idiot," she sniffled. "He's so weird. He has no common sense. He's a pervert. But..."
She buried her face in her arms.
"He was the first person to really protect me. Will he hate me now? Will he come looking for me? Or will he just think I'm a thief who used him?"
"I want to be free, Bellemere. But I don't want to be alone anymore."
She bit her lip, trying to stifle her sobs.
Suddenly, the boat dipped slightly. A weight settled on the deck next to her.
A warm, strong arm wrapped around her shaking shoulders.
Nami froze. She turned her head slowly.
The air shimmered, and a silhouette faded into view. Darian was sitting right next to her, his face illuminated by the moonlight. He wasn't angry. He was smiling gently.
"If you disappeared," he said softly, "that idiot would definitely go crazy. He would search the whole world for you. And he would always protect you. Because he's always by your side."
Nami stared at him, her eyes wide, tears still dripping from her chin.
"D-Darian?" she choked out. "What... what are you doing here?"
Darian chuckled, wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
"Well," he teased. "A little thief stole my wife's dowry. I had no choice but to chase her down to get it back. And since I was already there, I figured I'd catch the thief and take her back as my wife too."
Nami's lip quivered. She tried to look tough, tried to push him away, but her resolve crumbled.
"You idiot!" she wailed, throwing herself into his arms. "Why did you come?! You'll get killed!"
Darian held her tight, stroking her orange hair.
"Nami," he said, his voice serious now. "Stop carrying everything alone. Tell me what's wrong. Tell me about Arlong."
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