At dusk, the ship paused on the open sea. Sails furled, it drifted with the waves. Kiri, citing long sailing experience, insisted this wouldn't stray them far if a watch was kept. Nami objected, but he overruled. Luffy and Zoro, directionally challenged, couldn't take night watch, nor could the women be burdened. Kiri volunteered, firm despite offers to relieve him. He'd nap and check the course, his expertise unmatched.
The crew prepped for rest. Kiri started cooking, but Silk, before helping, approached Zoro, who was training shirtless, sweating in a handstand, sword in hand. Her face was resolute, gripping her blade.
"Zoro, can you train me?" she asked.
"Huh?" Zoro looked up, pausing to sit cross-legged, serious. "Training?"
"I want to get stronger. I'm self-taught, but you're way better. I'd learn faster from you."
"I see…" Zoro sighed.
Silk's style used blade and scabbard, leveraging flexibility over strength to parry and strike non-lethally—opposite Zoro's slashing. Her self-taught skill impressed him, but their differing methods made training tricky. He hesitated.
"I get it, but our styles clash. My training might not give you what you want."
"Maybe, but…" Silk pressed.
"Just spar with me, then. Real combat practice, okay?"
"That works, but…" Zoro started.
"Do it, Zoro!" Luffy interjected, munching fruit on the railing, grinning. "Silk getting stronger helps us. Sounds fun!"
"You're so carefree," Zoro muttered.
"I won't be a burden. Just when you're free?" Silk pleaded.
"Fine, when I feel like it," Zoro relented.
Silk beamed, thanking both. Luffy laughed; Zoro groaned. "This ship's full of stubborn people."
"You're one too," Kiri teased, emerging to fetch Silk for cooking. She'd offered to learn, unlike Luffy, whose enthusiasm was firmly curbed. Kiri called her, and they left.
Luffy and Zoro remained. Luffy, done eating, sat beside Zoro. A calm breeze swept the idle ship, a rare peaceful moment. Luffy, unusually quiet, leaned back, hands behind head, eyes closed. Zoro, puzzled, spoke.
"Got something to say?"
"Nah," Luffy replied.
"You're quiet. Something up?"
"Hungry. Kiri said wait for dinner."
"You ate a banana."
"Just one. Two's too many, he said."
"I get Kiri's struggle now," Zoro sighed.
Classic Luffy—food and adventure-driven, now oddly subdued. Zoro realized they rarely spoke alone. He'd shared moments with Kiri and Silk, but not Luffy.
"Hey, why'd you pick me?" Zoro asked.
Luffy pondered. "Dunno. Just felt right."
"That's not an answer."
"We're crew now, so it's fine, right?"
"You're hopeless. Guess Kiri and I gotta keep things together."
"Cool, you got this," Luffy laughed.
Zoro glanced at Nami, leaning on the railing, gazing at the sea. He didn't trust her. Kiri was neutral, Silk was thrilled, and Luffy wanted her as crew, likely without reason, like with Zoro. Headache-inducing.
Luffy noticed, looking too. Nami's expression hinted at deep thought.
"You pulling her in like this?" Zoro asked.
"Yup. She said she's skilled," Luffy said.
"Anyone can claim that."
"I believe her."
"You trust too easily. Learn some suspicion," Zoro urged.
Luffy's naivety was pure but risky. He suddenly lit up, standing. "Let's ask her if she's really good!"
"Seriously?" Zoro groaned.
"Hey, Nami!" Luffy called, striding over. Zoro sighed, following. Nami's expression soured, wary.
"What?" she asked.
"You're a great navigator, right?" Luffy asked.
"Obviously. I don't lose at navigation," Nami said.
"Told ya," Luffy said to Zoro.
Zoro shook his head. "Whatever." To Nami, "What's your game? Luffy's naive, but I'm not fooled."
"Wow, I'm hated for nothing," Nami said, defiant. "If I join, fine. But a pirate thief teaming up? You'd assume I've got an angle. Luffy's the weird one."
"Maybe. Stick with us, we profit, I do nothing. I'll leave quietly," she added.
"Yeah, right," Zoro scoffed.
He didn't trust her. Letting a stranger, especially a pirate thief, aboard was insane. Luffy's recklessness was the issue—hero or fool, Nami couldn't tell. But Boodle's words about "pirate-hunting pirates" intrigued her.
"One question," Nami said.
"What?" Luffy asked.
"What's a pirate who hunts pirates?"
Luffy grinned. "Piece Main. Old-school pirates were Morganias, plundering anyone, and Piece Mains, who targeted them. Silk's from a port town hit by pirates. She hates those who attack the helpless, so she's a Piece Main. We're on board, so we smashed Buggy."
"Pirates helping people? Weird," Nami said.
"Not helping. I did it for Silk, not the town," Luffy clarified. "Pirates ain't heroes. I beat Buggy 'cause I wanted to, not for the townsfolk. Got it?"
"You're so weird," Nami sighed.
Luffy had principles, not childish bravado, but Nami couldn't grasp it. Her doubts lingered, but another question surfaced. Her expression wavered.
"You guys are strong, right?" she asked.
"Yup," Luffy said.
"Hate pirates who attack defenseless towns?"
"Yeah, so we smashed Buggy."
"If I knew pirates like that…" Nami trailed off, shaking her head, suppressing emotion. "Never mind."
"Sure?" Luffy asked, not pressing.
Nami turned to the sea, her smile forced. Something was hidden. Luffy and Zoro exchanged glances, unable to break the silence.
Nami spotted something, leaning over the railing. "What's that?"
"A boat? Anyone aboard?" Luffy said.
"Looks empty," Zoro said.
"Let's pull it in," Luffy said, winding his arm.
"Think first!" Zoro snapped, too late.
Luffy's arm stretched, grabbing the boat and pulling it close. A girl, about ten, lay unconscious aboard. Luffy lifted her to the deck. The trio surrounded her, noting no injuries but her pale face and odd situation.
"She's out," Nami said. "Who is she?"
"Bringing her aboard's the issue. Get some caution," Zoro said.
"She's sleeping. Half-dead?" Luffy said.
"No odd marks, but not waking after all this? She's exhausted. Something's up," Nami said.
"Let's get Kiri. He'll know what to do," Luffy said, sprinting off.
Zoro glanced at Nami, who gently touched the girl's cheek, her expression soft. "Thought a thief'd be colder."
"Hmph. I'm a thief, not heartless, unlike you pirates," Nami said.
"Don't lump us with them. If you're just venting, stay away from pirates," Zoro shot back.
"I don't take orders from you."
"Wanna leave? Take that boat and the kid," Zoro said, pointing.
Nami's face darkened, mirroring Zoro's distrust. Their glare-off ended as Kiri, Silk, and Luffy returned. Focus shifted to the girl. Kiri took charge, issuing calm instructions to help her.
When the girl awoke, it was pitch dark. Not her boat or the Navy ship—she was in a strange room, likely a medbay, on a bed. A blonde girl slept beside her, slumped on a chair. Unfamiliar but not threatening.
The girl, Apis, slipped out, draping her blanket over the blonde. Quietly exiting, she reached the deck. Definitely a strange ship, not Navy or her boat. Alone, she panicked. She had to return to Warship Island, but without knowing its direction, she was stuck.
Frozen with worry, a voice startled her. "You're up."
"Eek!"
"Up here," the voice said from the mainmast's crow's nest. A man jumped down, landing lightly. In the dim moonlight, his dull blonde hair and kind smile eased her. "You okay? You were drifting in that boat. Remember anything?"
"Um, thanks for helping…" Apis said.
"No worries. Just wanted to help. This ship's a pirate ship, by the way."
"Pirate ship?" Apis gasped, spotting the black flag. Fear crept in.
Kiri smiled, hands raised. "We won't hurt you. Not that desperate."
"Real pirates?" she asked.
"Rookie ones. Just started," Kiri said.
"Not dangerous?"
"Nope. I've drifted a few times myself, so I get it. Rest here," Kiri said.
Apis sighed, collapsing with relief. Kiri crouched to her level, smiling. "Want a drink? You must be hungry."
"A bit. But I feel bad taking so much."
"Don't. I can't ignore a drifter," Kiri said.
"You were helped too?"
"At least three times," he said, heading to fetch food.
Alone, Apis gazed at the stars. Moonlight broke through clouds, easing her heart slightly. She'd planned to escape but now sat against the mast, chilled by the breeze, hugging herself.
How'd she end up here? Days ago, Navy ships came to her island. To save a friend, she lied and boarded their ship, planning to escape. Now, free but lost, she worried her friend was caught. Her chest tightened.
Kiri returned with water and a plate. "You look pale. Eat."
"…Thanks," Apis said, taking the cup and plate, eating slowly, her unease clear.
Kiri sat beside her, gazing at the sky, waiting. "Thanks for the rescue and this," she said.
"No need. Our crew did it," Kiri said.
"You're pirates, right?"
"Yup, though we don't look it."
Apis's face stayed dark. Kiri asked, "Name?"
"Apis."
"Why were you out there, Apis? In a boat?"
"I was escaping the Navy, and—"
She stopped, biting her lip. Kiri sensed a deeper story, likely Navy-related trouble. "I want to go home to Warship Island. My friend's waiting. I'm worried. Can you take me? I know it's a lot…"
"Warship Island? Never heard of it," Kiri said, thoughtful. He wasn't familiar with East Blue's geography—Nami would know better, and Luffy decided routes. Still, he nodded. "We're detouring anyway. Dropping you off's no issue."
"Really!?" Apis beamed.
"Gotta check with the captain, but he'll say yes. He loves adventure. 'Warship Island' will hook him."
"You're not the captain?"
"Nope. He's cool, though," Kiri said.
Apis ate eagerly, her expression softening. Kiri pondered Warship Island's location—a challenge without bearings.
"We need to find it. Know the direction?" Kiri asked.
"Nope. But I can ask," Apis said, setting down her plate and chugging water. She ran to the railing, scanning the sea, then shouted, "Hey!"
No response. Kiri joined her, spotting bubbles in the water. A dolphin surfaced.
"Animals know where islands are. I ask, they tell me. Where's Warship Island?" Apis said.
The dolphin nodded, pointing a direction. Apis grinned at Kiri. "That way."
"You talk to animals?" Kiri asked, stunned.
"Yeah. Weird, right?" Apis said, watching the dolphin swim off. "I ate the Whisper-Whisper Fruit. I can talk to animals."
"A Devil Fruit user…" Kiri said, masking concern with a smile.
The Whisper-Whisper Fruit's ability seemed non-combative but potentially troublesome. The Navy might want her for it. Kiri hid his unease, maintaining his gentle demeanor.