Chapter 39: Commodore Don Krieg
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the calm waters of the East Blue, the Going Merry was a hive of activity. The newly assembled Straw Hat crew gathered on the deck, the excitement palpable in the air. Sanji, the latest addition to their ranks, leaned casually against the railing, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Beside him stood Zoro, arms crossed, his usual stern expression softened by a hint of curiosity. Nami, ever the navigator, spread out her maps on a wooden barrel, her eyes flicking over potential routes. Usopp, with his ever-present enthusiasm, sat cross-legged, fiddling with a new gadget. Johnny and Yosaku, the bounty hunters who had accompanied them this far, observed quietly, their eyes scanning the group.
"Alright, now that we have a cook," Nami began, glancing at Sanji with a mix of skepticism and approval, "we need to discuss our next move."
Sanji exhaled a plume of smoke and grinned, his eyes lingering on Nami a moment too long. "Wherever we go, just make sure there's a decent kitchen. And beautiful ladies, of course."
Zoro rolled his eyes but couldn't hide a small smile. "We're heading for the Grand Line, right? It's not going to be easy."
Nami nodded, her expression serious. "Exactly. We need to be prepared. The Grand Line is known for its unpredictability and danger."
Usopp, ever the storyteller, leaned forward. "I've heard tales of giant sea monsters and treacherous weather. We'll need more than just a good cook."
Johnny and Yosaku exchanged a glance before stepping forward. Johnny, the more talkative of the two, cleared his throat. "We've been thinking about our future too. As bounty hunters, we have our own path to follow."
Yosaku nodded in agreement. "We've enjoyed our time with you, but our job is to catch pirates. We've got a reputation to maintain."
Sanji raised an eyebrow. "Bounty hunters, huh? Never would have guessed."
Johnny pulled out a bundle of wanted posters from his bag, spreading them on the deck. "We've collected these over the years. Some of the most notorious pirates in the East Blue."
The crew gathered around, examining the posters. Usopp's eyes widened at the sight of the infamous faces. "Wow, you guys have quite a collection!"
Nami picked up a poster, her eyes narrowing as she recognized the face. "Arlong..." she whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of hatred and sorrow.
Johnny noticed her reaction. "He's got the highest bounty in the East Blue. Dangerous man."
Nami's demeanor shifted, her usual confidence replaced by a cold, distant expression. She clutched the poster tightly, her knuckles turning white. "I'll take this one," she said quietly, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
The crew exchanged concerned glances but respected her silence. Especially Luffy, who watched her with an expression that was hard to read. He remembered Nami and Arlong was the arc he'd heard about but the details were fuzzy. He didn't remember much of why the fight began in the first place, just that it mattered. That she mattered.
Usopp, sensing the tension, tried to lighten the mood. "How about we get some dinner at the Baratie? My treat!"
Johnny and Yosaku nodded eagerly, their eyes lighting up at the prospect of a good meal. "Sounds like a plan," Johnny said, slapping Usopp on the back.
Nami shook her head, her voice distant. "I'll stay here. Got some planning to do."
As the others headed off to the Baratie, Luffy lingered behind with Nami. He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her against his chest. She tensed for a moment, then relaxed into him.
"Hey," he said quietly.
"Hey yourself."
"Sanji's joining us."
"I heard."
"He's gonna be looking at you. A lot. He's a pervert."
Nami snorted. "Takes one to know one."
Luffy grinned against her hair. "Yeah, but I'm your pervert. He needs to understand that."
Before Nami could ask what he meant, Luffy spun her around, grabbed her face gently, and kissed her. Right there on the deck, in full view of anyone who might be watching.
Nami's eyes went wide, then fluttered closed. Her hands came up to his chest, not pushing him away, just... holding on.
When he finally pulled back, she was breathless and red-faced.
"What the hell was that for?" she demanded.
"Making sure everyone knows." Luffy's grin was insufferable. "You're mine. Only mine."
Nami opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out. She settled for punching his arm. Hard.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"For not warning me!"
"Where's the fun in that?"
She was about to hit him again when they heard laughter. Loud, obnoxious laughter coming from the direction of the Baratie's deck.
Johnny and Yosaku were doubled over, slapping their knees. Usopp was leaning on Zoro for support, tears streaming down his face. Even Zoro had a smirk that he was trying very hard to hide behind his usual scowl.
"Oh man," Usopp wheezed. "That was... that was beautiful."
Johnny wiped his eyes. "Captain's got moves!"
Yosaku nodded vigorously. "Smooth as silk!"
Sanji stood nearby, cigarette dangling forgotten from his lips, expression caught somewhere between impressed and devastated. "I just got here," he muttered. "And already the best woman on the ship is taken."
Zoro clapped him on the shoulder. "You'll get used to it."
"I really won't."
Nami's face was approximately the color of a ripe tomato. "This is YOUR fault," she hissed at Luffy.
Luffy shrugged, completely unbothered. "Worth it."
"The marine woman you were drooling over yesterday!" Nami shot back, desperate to regain some ground. "The one you called amazing and beautiful and said you might be in love with!"
Johnny and Yosaku's laughter somehow got louder.
Usopp clutched his stomach. "Oh no, she's throwing it back at him!"
Zoro actually chuckled. "This is better than any fight."
Luffy just grinned wider. "She was pretty. You're prettier. And you're here. She's not."
Nami stared at him, mouth open, completely unable to formulate a response.
Sanji sighed heavily. "I came here to join a pirate crew, not watch a romantic comedy."
Johnny patted his back sympathetically. "Welcome to the Straw Hats, brother. It's like this all the time."
"I can see that."
Nami finally found her voice. "We are NOT done discussing this."
Luffy kissed her forehead. "Okay."
"I mean it!"
"I know."
"We're going to talk later!"
"Looking forward to it."
She punched him again. He laughed. The crew laughed harder. And somewhere in the chaos, Sanji lit another cigarette and accepted his fate.
---
Later that night, after the laughter had died down and the crew had dispersed to their usual spots, Nami found Luffy alone on the figurehead again. She climbed up beside him, this time with purpose.
"That was a surprise," she said flatly.
"Good surprise or bad surprise?"
"I haven't decided yet."
Luffy nodded like that made perfect sense.
They sat in silence for a moment. Then Nami spoke.
"You said danger was coming today. That thing you warned me about. The reason I had to stay close." She looked at him. "Nothing happened. Just Sanji joining and some laughs and Johnny and Yosaku leaving. What was that about?"
Luffy stared out at the dark water. "The danger came today."
Nami frowned. "What do you mean? Sanji? He's not dangerous."
"No. The man we saved. Gin."
Nami's eyes widened. "Gin? He was just hungry and pathetic. He could barely stand."
"He's not the danger." Luffy turned to her, and his eyes were serious. "The man he serves. Don Krieg. He's the danger."
Nami's mind raced back to the stories she'd heard. The Krieg Pirates. Fifty ships. Thousands of men. And one man who'd ruled them all with an iron fist.
"He's here?" she whispered.
"His ship is. He'll come ashore tomorrow. And when he does, this place is going to become a battlefield."
Nami gripped his arm. "How do you know?"
Luffy was quiet for a moment. Then he said nothing.
She should have questioned him. Should have demanded answers. But after everything she'd seen, everything he'd done, she found that she didn't need to.
"Tomorrow," she repeated.
"Tomorrow it reaches the conclusion." He looked at her, and there was something almost soft in his expression. "That's why I needed you close today. And why I need you even closer tomorrow. Whatever happens, you stay with me. Promise?"
Nami looked into his eyes and saw no trace of the pervert, the idiot, the carefree captain who laughed at everything. Just a man who saw something coming and was determined to protect what was his.
"I already promised," she said.
Luffy smiled, and it was the most reassuring thing she'd seen all day.
They sat together on the figurehead, watching the dark water, waiting for the dawn that would bring war to their doorstep.
---
The sun rose over the East Blue, casting a warm glow over the calm waters. High above, Luffy stood at the bow of the Going Merry, his eyes scanning the horizon. The vastness of the ocean stretched out before him, a reminder of the challenges that lay ahead.
As he looked out, he noticed a small shadow in the distance. It grew larger as it approached, revealing itself to be a massive galleon. The Jolly Roger of the Krieg Pirates flew proudly, its design striking fear into those who recognized it.
Luffy's voice carried across the deck. "Everyone, wake up! We've got company!"
The crew stumbled out, their faces groggy. Nami was at Luffy's side before anyone else, true to her promise. Usopp rubbed his eyes. "What's going on?"
Luffy pointed towards the approaching ship. "A massive pirate ship is headed our way. We need to be ready."
As they gathered on the front deck, the galleon loomed closer, its damaged appearance a testament to the battles it had faced. The figurehead, a fearsome beast, added to its menacing presence.
The patrons of the Baratie noticed the ship as well, panic spreading among them. "It's the Krieg Pirates!" someone shouted. "They hourglasses represent the countdown to doom. Beware of their false surrenders!"
One patron, an older man with a weathered face, spoke up. "Pirate Commodore Don Krieg is known for his ruthless tactics. He often raises the white flag, only to attack when his enemies let their guard down."
The crew of the Going Merry prepared themselves, the tension thick in the air. They knew that the road to the Grand Line would be fraught with danger, but they were ready to face it together. As the massive galleon bore down on them, they steeled themselves for the battle ahead, their resolve unwavering.
Panic erupted among the patrons. "It's Don Krieg's ship!" someone screamed. The cooks, tough and battle-hardened from years of defending their floating restaurant, braced themselves for an epic fight.
From the deck of the galleon, a tall, gaunt figure was being helped down the gangplank by a muscular man. The once-feared Pirate Commodore Don Krieg appeared a shadow of his former self, his armor hanging loosely from his weakened body. His first mate, Gin, supported him, the strain evident on his face as he half-carried, half-dragged Krieg towards the restaurant.
As they reached the entrance, Krieg's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath. The cooks, including the burly Patty and Carne, stepped forward, weapons at the ready. Patty's voice boomed, "What the hell are you doing here, Krieg?"
Krieg lifted his head weakly. "Food... please, we need food," he begged shamelessly, his pride long since swallowed by desperation.
Gin, eyes pleading, added, "Our crew... they're starving. We just need some food to survive."
The cooks laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "The mighty Don Krieg, begging for food?" Carne sneered. "You've got to be kidding."
Sanji watched silently from the shadows, a cigarette dangling from his lips. With a sigh, he lit it and turned to walk away. "Where do you think you're going, Sanji?" Patty demanded.
Sanji paused, his back still turned. "I'm going to get started on the cooking," he replied calmly.
"You can't be serious!" Carne shouted. "You know what he'll do if he regains his strength!"
Sanji's eyes darkened with a distant memory. "I'll never let anyone go hungry if there's food around," he said softly, recalling the time he and Zeff had been stranded without food for months. The other cooks, sensing his determination, raised their weapons at him.
"You're crazy!" Patty yelled. "Krieg will destroy us all if he gets his strength back!"
At that moment, Luffy arrived at the scene, his red vest and blue shorts, paired with his straw hat, making him stand out. Nami was right behind him, close like she'd promised. He walked up to the kneeling Krieg and Gin. "Is this the same guy who lost in the Grand Line?" he asked Gin, his voice curious but unyielding.
Gin nodded. "This is Don Krieg, the Pirate Commodore."
Luffy studied Krieg intently, taking in every detail of the weakened pirate. "Are you going to destroy this restaurant if you regain your strength?" he asked bluntly.
Krieg, eyes hollow with hunger, shook his head. "No... I just want some food," he insisted.
Luffy contemplated for a moment before standing up and walking to a nearby table. He returned with a plate of food and handed it to Krieg. The pirate took it desperately, muttering thanks before devouring the food with ravenous speed.
Ignoring the shocked and angry mutters from the other cooks, Luffy turned to Sanji. "We'll be leaving soon. Are you ready?"
Sanji nodded. "Just need to take care of a few things."
Krieg, having finished his meal, stood up with renewed strength, stretching his body and feeling the power return to his limbs. He smirked, a glint of his old menace in his eyes. "Thank you for the food," he said, his voice dripping with newfound vigor. "Now, get off my new ship."
The air grew thick with tension as everyone realized that the real battle was just beginning.
Nami's hand found Luffy's arm, gripping tight. He covered her hand with his own, squeezing once.
"Stay close," he murmured.
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
Around them, the cooks raised their weapons. Krieg's smirk widened. And somewhere in the chaos, Sanji lit another cigarette and prepared for war.