Chapter 12 Approaching KayaThe morning sunlight streamed through the rough windowpanes of the inn, illuminating Nojiko.
Nojiko had changed into a clean, plain-colored dress, made of ordinary fabric bought hastily in the village, but the fit was perfect, highlighting her refreshing blue hair.
She adjusted her hair in front of the blurry bronze mirror in the room, tucking a few stray strands behind her ears. The person in the mirror looked more like a reliable caregiver than a fellow pirate.
Luffy leaned against the doorframe, his straw hat pulled low, the shadow obscuring most of his face, revealing only his sharply defined jawline.
"Remember, gain her trust, stay by her side, don't worry about anything else."
Nojiko paused, looking at Luffy's blurry reflection in the mirror, and nodded: "I know."
Nami, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed organizing a sea chart, pursed her lips upon hearing this, muttering softly, "The same old routine again."
Nami didn't look up, her orange hair falling down, concealing the complex emotions that flashed across her eyes.
Luffy ignored Nami's mutterings, turned, and left the room. Nojiko took a deep breath and followed suit.
Kaya's villa was situated on higher ground in the village. Its white walls gleamed in the sunlight, and the garden, filled with unidentified flowers blooming in the season, was neat yet exuded a sense of solitude.
Nojiko rang the doorbell beside the wrought-iron gate.
A kind-faced but cautious-eyed middle-aged maid opened the door.
Nojiko gave a perfectly measured, gentle smile and bowed slightly:
"Hello, excuse me. My name is Nojiko, and I'm a herbalist passing through."
"Yesterday I heard in the village that the young lady of your household is unwell. I know a little about remedies and care; perhaps I could take a look? Maybe I can be of some help."
The maid hesitated, looking Nojiko up and down. This unfamiliar woman had a gentle demeanor and clear eyes, not the air of a villain, but the young lady's health…
"Who's here?" A soft, slightly weak voice came from the direction of the stairs inside the house.
Nojiko looked up and saw a blonde girl slowly descending the stairs, holding onto the handrail.
She wore a light blue dress, and her face was indeed pale and bloodless, but her blue eyes were like a clear sky after rain, clean and filled with curiosity.
"Miss, this Miss Nojiko says she's a herbalist and would like to take a look at you," the maid quickly turned and reported.
Kaya walked to the door, her gaze falling on Nojiko. She didn't show any fear despite the woman being a stranger; instead, she smiled slightly—a weak but very sincere smile:
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss Nojiko. Please come in."
Nojiko thanked her and entered the house, discreetly observing the interior furnishings.
Elegant and expensive, yet it felt cold and lacking in human warmth.
After settling into the warmly furnished but somewhat empty living room, Kaya dismissed the maid who had wanted to stay by her side and personally poured Nojiko a cup of herbal tea.
The tea was warm, with a delicate aroma.
"Miss Nojiko isn't a local, is she?" Kaya asked softly, her tone purely curious, without any intention of probing.
Nojiko took the teacup, her tone natural: "Yes, my…companion and I were passing through here. My sister used to be in poor health, and after taking care of her for a while, I learned some herbal medicine."
Mentioning her younger sister, Kaya's eyes revealed a hint of envy and tenderness: "It's so nice to have sisters... I'm always a little lonely all by myself."
Kaya lowered her eyelashes, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of her cup: "Our parents died early, and it's just me and Mr. Krabatel, the butler... but he's always so busy."
"It will get better," Nojiko comforted her, her tone becoming slightly more sincere.
The girl's innocence and loneliness reminded Nojiko of the children in Cocoyasi Village who had lost their loved ones.
Nojiko seized the opportunity to offer: "If it's convenient, could I take a quick look at you? Just some basic methods."
Kaya readily agreed.
Nojiko performed the initial rituals—examining her tongue, inquiring about her daily feelings, and drawing on her knowledge of herbs from Bellemere and her life experiences over the years, offering some gentle remedies.
Nojiko's explanations weren't particularly profound, but they were clear, logical, and professional, further increasing the trust in Kaya's eyes.
Just as the atmosphere was becoming harmonious, the living room door was gently pushed open.
A tall, slender man with round glasses and meticulously combed hair entered.
He was dressed in a well-fitting butler's uniform, his face bearing an impeccably respectful smile, but behind his glasses, a fleeting glance of scrutiny and wariness crossed his eyes as he swept over Nojiko.
"Miss, a guest?" the butler, Krabatel/Baiji Kuro, spoke gently, his gaze landing on Nojiko.
"Mr. Krabatel, this is Miss Nojiko, a herbalist. Miss Nojiko is very knowledgeable," Kaya introduced, her tone becoming lighter.
Kro bowed slightly, his smile unchanged. "I see. Thank you so much, Miss Nojiko. Your health has always been my greatest concern."
Kro's words were ingratiating, but Nojiko keenly caught the fleeting cold glint in his eyes. This man was definitely not as simple and gentle as he appeared.
"You're too kind. I was just doing my bit," Nojiko replied politely, her mind racing.
Kaya, remembering something, asked expectantly,
"By the way, Miss Nojiko, you mentioned you were with your companions? Are they in the village too?
If you don't mind, could you please invite them in? I… rarely have the opportunity to meet guests from outside."
Nojiko glanced at Kuro, whose smile was impeccable, but whose eyes were slightly narrowed.
Nojiko's mind raced, and she smiled, "Of course, they're in the village. I'll go get them right away."
This would be a good opportunity for Luffy to observe the butler firsthand.
Not long after, Luffy arrived at the villa with Nami.
As soon as Nami entered, her eyes involuntarily darted to the expensive-looking decorations and furnishings. Her greedy nature almost got the better of her, but she remembered the occasion and forcibly averted her gaze.
Luffy's gaze, however, landed directly on Kaya.
Kaya was also looking at him. Their eyes met, and Kaya's cheeks flushed slightly. She recognized him as the boy in the straw hat she had seen outside the window yesterday.
Luffy's eyes... were different from the other boys in the village, even from Mr. Krabatel. They were like the sea at night, revealing little emotion, yet strangely making one feel a little nervous, and also... attracted.
Kaya spoke softly, her voice weak, "Mr. Luffy... thank you for... looking over yesterday."
Kaya was referring to the eye contact through the window. After speaking, she seemed to realize her words were a little strange, and her face flushed even more.
Luffy simply nodded, his tone indifferent, "Your window was open, so you saw me."
This was a response, but attributing the accidental eye contact to chance made it seem distant and direct.
Kuro appeared at the opportune moment, carrying delicate tea and snacks, a professionally warm smile on his face, but his gaze lingered on Luffy and Nami for a moment longer.
"Please have some tea, esteemed guests. If I may ask, are you traveling on that small boat? But judging from your attire, you seem like...pirates?"
Kuro asked casually, as if merely out of curiosity.
Luffy picked up a pastry, stuffed it into his mouth, chewed a few times, swallowed, and then looked up at Kuro, readily admitting:
"I'm a pirate."
Kaya paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her blue eyes, but without the usual fear one would feel upon hearing the word "pirate." Instead, her curiosity intensified:
"Pirates...what are they like? Are they all like in the stories, searching for treasure and adventuring at sea?"
Nami chimed in, a sweet, business-like smile on her face, her tone light: "Not all pirates are bad! For example, we only fight bad guys, we never bully ordinary people."
As she spoke, Nami secretly glared at Luffy, annoyed by his bluntness.
Kro sneered inwardly.
Pirates? What a perfect identity.
If the plan goes awry, these suddenly appearing strangers will be the perfect scapegoats.
Kuro's smile grew even warmer: "I see. It seems you are all righteous heroes of the sea. Miss has always longed for the outside world; she'll be very happy to hear your adventure stories."
The rest of the conversation was mostly conducted by Nami and Kaya, with Nojiko occasionally adding her own. Luffy remained mostly silent, only occasionally returning Kaya's calm gaze when she looked at him.
Luffy's gaze wasn't fiery, even somewhat indifferent, but that focused look made Kaya's heart race involuntarily, and the blush on her cheeks never faded.
[System Notification: Kaya's Affection Updated: 18/100, Curiosity + Attraction to the Unknown]
Luffy indifferently assessed the situation; Kaya's basic favorability was there, a smoother start than expected.
It's perfectly normal for a girl of this age to feel curious and attracted to mysterious and slightly dangerous men.
When they said goodbye and left, Kaya was clearly reluctant to part, seeing them to the door and softly inviting them to come again tomorrow.
Kuro stood half a step behind her, bowing respectfully in farewell, the reflection in his glasses obscuring the calculating glint in his eyes.
On the way back, Nami leaned closer to Luffy and whispered, "That butler's eyes were sinister, and his fake smile was terribly fake. He's definitely not a good person."
Luffy hummed in response.
Nojiko asked, "Should we warn Kaya?"
Luffy looked straight ahead: "No need. Let him reveal himself."
Night, in an inn room.
Nami lay on the bed, studying a simple East Blue chart by the light of an oil lamp, her brow furrowed, seemingly calculating something.
Since Arlong's death, her understanding of sea charts had improved significantly. Things that used to require repeated calculations were now almost instantly clear.
The door opened, and Luffy walked in.
Nami's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. She didn't turn around, only the tips of her ears twitched slightly.
Luffy walked to the bedside, naturally wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her into his embrace. He rested his chin on her shoulder, looking at the sea chart in her hand.
"What did you figure out?"
His warm breath brushed against her ear, making the hairs on the back of Nami's neck stand on end, and her face flushed instantly.
She gave a token struggle, but couldn't break free, so she gave up, her voice muffled:
"The currents at Whiskey Peak are a bit more complex than recorded... Hey, what are you doing?"
Nami sensed that Luffy wasn't being honest.
Luffy's voice remained calm, but his arms tightened slightly: "Tomorrow might be troublesome. That butler won't stay quiet for long."
Nami's heart jumped: "Then we..."
"Stay with me tonight," Luffy interrupted her.
Nami blushed even more, muttering softly, "Always so domineering..."
But Nami's struggles had long since vanished; her body relaxed gently, leaning back into his firm embrace.
The lamplight flickered softly, casting their shadows on the wall...