Double or Nothing: Chapter 9

Partners?

Having rid the town of pirates, we were celebrated as heroes. Drinks flowed freely while music and laughter filled the air as the townsfolk filled the tavern to celebrate. The dreaded Legionary pirates, or at least one of their lieutenants had just been captured and they weren't shy about letting their appreciation known.

"Three cheers for the heroes of Syracusa!" The men and women cheered as my tankard was refilled and my plates filled with the most wonderful cuts of roast meat served in freshly buns with a side of crisp cuts of fried potatoes.

"You're too kind!" I laughed as I ate to my heart's content. The Legionary Pirates were small frys, but they still worked up my appetite. It also helped that my meals were at a discount. Nothing was better than having a good meal after sweating a bit.

As I inhaled my fries, I noticed my companion staring at me while leaving her steak mostly untouched. "Hey, you haven't touched your food," I pointed out as I took a bite from my twentieth burger before I asked, "Is everything alright?" Feeling for my collar, I wonder if I had some sauce on my yukata.

Blinking, the girl chuckled as she replied "N-no, I'm fine!" Glancing away, she let out a nervous smile and scratched her cheeks as she admitted, "It's just I'm a bit surprised by your appetite…" Catching herself, the red head raised her hands appeasingly as she clarified, "Not that I'm saying it's bad. It's just healthy?"

Staring at her for a bit, it was hard to see the confident navigator of the Strawhats on this cagey girl. The way she looked around nervously and how guarded she was despite the festivities, it felt like she was going to bolt at any moment. It'd be a shame if she can't enjoy the celebration.

Smiling back at her, I jested, trying to lighten the mood, "Yeah, I kinda eat like a pig." As the girl sputtered, I explained, "It's just how it is, especially with how hard fighting is in the body." I told her as I took another bite. "I'm actually struggling to keep my weight up these days!" I added, wanting more food to feed the endless pit that was my stomach.

"Seriously?" The girl asked with a smile as she shook her head. "You already have a nice figure and you can eat whatever you want? No fair!" She replied as she playfully batted at my shoulders. "All that food has to go somewhere!" She told me as she poked me on the side.

Jolting away from her finger, I chuckled, "It's not there!" Fighting off her tickling assault, I laughed. "But seriously, it sucks being hungry all the time. If it wasn't for the bounties I've gathered, I'd probably starve half the time!" I told her as we settled down.

"I can only imagine," She sighed as an easy going smile settled on her lips. Taking a sip from her tankard, she said, "Thanks for the save by the way. If it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't have gotten out of that mess." I felt my cheeks heat up at her gratitude.

"Nah, don't mention it," I replied, glancing away. I felt silly acting like a love struck schoolgirl, but Nami was just beautiful. From her brown, almost orange eyes that drew me and that smile that just lit up the room, there was just something about her that commanded my attention. Rubbing the back of my head, I told her, "In fact, I owe you because I probably wouldn't have found them if it wasn't for you."

I felt my cheeks heat up as she gained a playful edge. "I'm glad we're on the same page then because I'll be taking an extra fifty percent of the total on top of my share," She replied as I nodded along before my thoughts came to a screeching halt.

"H-hey, wait a minute. You're already getting half the share," I told her as I stared at her in disbelief. The girl for her part only smiled wider and nodded. "If you take the other half, then what'll I have?!" I asked her. I knew she was shameless, but not this shameless!

Resting her elbows on the chair and cupping her cheeks, she answered, "My forgiveness~" I felt my jaw drop hearing her words. "Wasn't it the fault of a certain charming bounty huntress I fell down in the middle of a group of pirates?" She reminded me, making me shut up real fast. "Got anything to say about that, Miss Bounty Huntress?" She added as a vicious smirk stretched across her lips.

"I already said I was sorry about that!" I sputtered looking away. I might have messed up earlier, but I more than made up for it! "Besides, you're getting a sizable chunk of the bounty. Isn't taking all of it a bit greedy?" I told her; I offered to split the bounty fifty fifty.

"You shaved off a year of my life with that stunt of yours," The red head's smile fell as she replied, making me wince. I might have had a bit of fun from that little chase, but she's not that type of girl that seeked excitement like I do.

Looking away sheepishly, I nodded. "... Point," Still, I needed the cash. I can't just go empty handed especially with my enormous food bill. A growing girl like myself needed to eat and I was making up for lost time. I swear I will not be stunted because I didn't eat enough right now! "How about we split this sixty forty and call it even?" I suggested, trying to salvage things.

"Eight twenty" She countered as she crossed her arms. "I'm being generous here so best take it," She told me, making me bite my tongue.

"Oh come on, you're twisting my arm over here!" I whined, slumping on the table with how hard of a bargain she drove. She technically got there first so the common courtesy among bounty hunters was for me to leave, but then we fell down and that happened. I could argue that I did most of the work, but I really don't want to antagonize her. I had a feeling that I'd be needing her expertise moving forward.

"Do you know how expensive it is to find new clothes?" I asked as I lifted up my sleeves, trying to appeal to her pity, only to groan as I noticed a new hole in my expensive clothes. "Oh god damn it, I just patched these…" I sighed, knowing full well it'd cost me. I do hate how everything was so expensive in this world.

They don't have the advantage of having a globalized supply chain to drive things down. Honestly, it feels like the World Government is driving the world apart with the massive tax they impose just trying to cross the Red Line legally! I hope those Celestial Dragon's choke and die on all the riches they have.

"You do need an extra pair," my companion replied as she quirked her lips. Taking in a deep breath, she sighed, "Ok tell you what, make it seventy thirty but I'd consider sixty five thirty five if you let me pick your next outfit." I expected her to ask for my service or even ask a favor she could collect later, but my next outfit?

I paused, considering her weird request before I hesitantly nodded. "I… don't know why you want that, but I'll take it," I replied, apprehensive about it, but not against it. I am in need of new clothes and I am admittedly lacking in style, as Zoro was all too happy to point out, so having someone pick things for me would be much appreciated. She wouldn't pick something embarrassing, right?

"No take backsies," the woman replied as she grabbed my hand and shook it. Smiling, the girl confessed, "Because I would have totally gone lower if you just gave me something that would make my day worthwhile~"

Clenching my fist, I shook it at her, before letting out a defeated sigh. "You're a demoness, you know that?" I told her while I glared up at her. How far was this girl going to go for just a few more berries? I felt violated, financially…

Sticking out her tongue, she teased me. "Come on, it's just a few berries." Batting her eyes at me, she asked, "Can't a cute girl like me have this? I swear I'll use it for good!" Damn her devilish charms and her sharp wit, she knows I like her and she had no qualms in taking advantage of me.

"Ok, fine. You win," I grumbled, knowing it was best to let her have this less my wallet suffers more. Speaking off… I need to check it if it's still there given she poked my sides.

As I was sneakily checking my wallet, I would see the girl roll her eyes before asking, "So, what's your plan with the information we got from that Lieutenant anyways?" Taking a chunk from her steak, she shared, "From what I gather, the Donquixote pirates are big shots from the grand line."

"Calling big shots is an understatement," I snorted. The fact that Dofflamingo's pirate were snooping around East Blue was bad news. Wherever that man goes, there's conflict to be found and I do not like the idea of him linking up with the likes of Crocodile. Doing my best to hide my grimace, I grinned before I replied, "But if you want to know, I'm planning on going after the Legion and the ones that the Donquixote are sending."

I was already gunning for all them so why not go after the buyer of the fruit as well? "Talk about ambitious," Nami replied with an amused smile.

"Hey, you can't win big if you're not willing to risk it all," I shrugged. Go big or go home. You can't half ass things in this world, not if you don't want to get chewed up and spat out. "If I could grab both of them and then grab that Devil Fruit, I'd probably get a hundred mil if I get lucky. That'll be enough money that I could get myself a proper ship," I mused, letting that little tidbit slip.

"A hundred mil?!" The girl sputtered as she choked on her meal. Coughing, she pounded her chest before taking a drink. As she cleared her throat and wiped her lips, she stared hard at me before asking, "You sure you didn't misplace a few zeroes there?"

Grinning back, I replied, "Nope!" I might actually be law balling here, but I didn't want to make her pass out. Sighing, I gazed out to the port as I told her, "New World Pirates are just something else. That and the allure of a Devil Fruit is just that big."

For a native of the four seas, New World pirates are the biggest fish one could face. I'd be lying if I wasn't getting excited knowing that one of Doffy's Lieutenants could possibly drop by. Perhaps it'd be a no name pirate doing his errands or maybe even the likes of Treble. Whatever the case was, it'll definitely be an exciting fight.

"I was originally just calling it quits and moving to another score, but I'm now tempted to tag along," Nami replied as she stroked her chin.

"I'd honestly appreciate having a partner for this operation," I replied. This was far bigger than my usual one man operation. A partner wouldn't be a bad idea and despite a little voice in the back of my head whispering that I should be careful around her, I was willing to risk it. Perhaps I was thinking with my crotch over here, but damn it I wanted her.

"But I kinda have a problem though," I admitted. Even if I could have her join it, this little operation could possibly be dead on the water before it even started. After all, what use is learning about where your target would be if they'd be long gone by the time you got there.

"The island they chose is on the other side of the sea and they're meeting in three days," I told her as I pulled out a small map and pointed at the island where the Lieutenant told us the crew would meet with the New World Pirates. "If I had a bigger boat, I'd probably get there, but all I have is a small skiff so I'd probably miss the big shot," I grumbled.

"Hmmm? Are you sure about that?" Nami replied as she took the map, tracing a route off the beaten path. "I could probably take us there in three days," She told me confidently.

"You're kidding right?" I asked with a teasing smile. Oh I know she could do it, but I wanted to see just how much she prided herself in her craft. "It'd take me five days on my own. I'd be lucky to get there in three and that's by sailing hard," I argued.

"Then it's good that you have them because you, my lovely samurai, have the best navigator this side of the East Blue," She replied as he rolled up the map before handing it back to me. Grinning, she added, "Of course, it'll cost you~"

"Of course it does," I rolled my eyes as a smile stretched across my lips. "Say, I never actually got your name," I told her, scolding myself for not asking. It would have been awkward if I told her name even if she hasn't introduced herself. "If I'm going to have you as my navigator, it's probably best we get to know each other, no?" I asked.
"True," the red headed thief nodded.

"Let's start over again, shall we?" I asked as I extended a hand to my future partner. "The names Kuina Shimotsuki, nice to meet you." I introduced myself as I gave her my best smile.

"Well Kuina, you can call me Nami," the woman replied as she took my hand and shook it. "I have a feeling you and I are going to be the best of friends," She told me as we sealed our pact. This partnership might be temporary for now, but perhaps this was the start of something more.