Chapter 51 - Arriving at Cactus Island! The First Island of the Grand Line!

I'm really REALLY sorry for this huge delay on posting. I'm enduring a hard week, one that I hadn't even for eating right. Work is killing me and the infernal cycle of sleep -> work couldn't let me write properly. Just to know, I'm trying to write this since past week...

Well, let's not complain too much. I'm alive and this is what matters! Good Chapter and I'll try to be better!

¨¨¨¨

"Did you know he likes snow?"

"Really? So that's why he had such a peaceful smile on the first day... it's a pity it hasn't snowed more after that."

"Yes... wait, it's snowing again now!"

Nojiko and Nami were whispering while clinging onto the meat pillow named Noah. Lying on top of his muscular arms, they could feel the warmth of his body as they ran their long nails over his skin, caressing carefully.

This was one of the many benefits that came with their body enhancements. Longer and prettier nails and more silky and voluminous hair. Although the two were not vain people, they were still women who cared about their own beauty. And with the use of orbs, they were miles away compared to any other woman.

And not only did their beauty increase. With the almost uninterrupted use of purple orbs, with the qualities getting better and better, their mental power and intelligence also took tremendous leaps. Whether learning a hobby or delving into a desired profession, they could achieve a lot in just one day. Not to mention the God Arts, as the two were now at Level 7 and very proficient.

Anyway, as they were chatting, they suddenly felt a hand grab their respective butts suddenly. And with a smile on their face, they watched these hands go up and up, squeezing every part of them until they reached their faces and pinched the noses.

"Do you usually talk this close to someone who is sleeping?" Noah's voice sounded groggy as he yawned. Having a good night's sleep after hours of sex is very good. Especially after having spent about six to seven days hunting in the PHD before dying again.

"Aren't you too big to sleep in?" Nami removed his hand from her nose and kissed it. Her lips touched every finger before going to the back of the hand and biting lightly.

"I'm big. Very big." Not caring about anything, he just lightly commented. He was feeling his left hand, where Nojiko was, slowly being guided to her breast and sticking there.

"Naughty." Nojiko laughed at him when she grabbed a certain low part of him and gently massaged, "Let's see if it's really big..."

In a magic show that the girls watched with a smile on their face, they saw how the sheet began to magically float where Noah was.

But they couldn't watch much, as he began to show them how the trick was done.

"Hmm!"

°°°

After dressing appropriately, Nami and Nojiko repeated the clothes from the first day, colorful pants and a simpler shirt, adorned with some usual gold jewelry and bracelets. Meanwhile, Noah wore comfortable black pants and firm leather boots, his upper part composed of a white silk button shirt and a thin black leather jacket with gold details.

And they were dressing like this because soon they would be arriving at Cactus Island, homeland of Whisky Peak, their actual designation.

As soon as Noah went out first to the deck, the first thing he received was the warm look of Ryu in the middle of all the snow that was forming. And this one, wagging his tail excitedly, jumped on Noah and put the feathered arms on his shoulders.

"Roar!” Ryu: Hi! (づ ◕‿◕ )づ

"Good times when you only reached my waist." Noah didn't feel much pressure with his weight, but had to say he grew up very fast. Smoothing his thick feathered back, the texture the same as an expensive rug, he continued, "Have you finished what I asked you yesterday?"

“Roar!” Ryu: Yes, sir! ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ

"Great." Noah petted him again and Ryu put his paws back on the ground, 'I want to see the results in the next battle...'

Soon after, the average dragon returned to his daily task: Watching Mr. 9.

Shaking his head at his pet dragon, Noah went to the ship's kitchen, since he was hungry and would not wait for Nojiko to make something. And yes, he is not going to use the stove. He understood that very well...

As soon as he entered the kitchen, he walked a little before noticing something strange in the corner. And a smile appeared on his face seeing that.

Lying on some thick sheets, Vivi had two pillows with her. One under her head, and one above. In addition, her hand was pressing the pillow, as if she wanted it to stop any sound from penetrating her ears.

With a clear demonstration of privileges, Vivi was using one of the rooms on the lower deck to sleep during the night, even though her partner had been tied to the helm for 3 days. She also ate meals with them and was always well treated.

So, for her to come to sleep in this place, and in this way... there was only one reason for this. And clearly, Noah wouldn't miss taking advantage of the situation.

Approaching her with silent steps, he crouched down and extended his hand. And with great care, he ran his fingers through her hair. With tremendous gentleness and sluggishness, he slowly stroked her head. He always did this with Nami and Nojiko and they said he had a Divine Hand... of course, there were other reasons too.

Therefore, no matter how much he stroked her head, Vivi continued to sleep like a baby. In fact, she seemed to sleep even deeper, as her hand slipped and Noah removed the pillow from her face.

As his caresses went down her hair, reaching her neck and cheeks, Vivi snuggled more and more into that hand. She soon got goosebumps and Noah could see the small lumps rising on her arm skin.

They stayed like that for a while, and soon his thumb was on her lips.

And all of this was interrupted by a cough that came from behind him.

"Hrm! Have you finished what you were doing?" With her arms crossed, Nojiko watched him caress the lips of that strange woman and jealousy immediately invaded her heart. It was okay that he shared him with his sister and in Loguetown he didn’t seem against the idea... but…but this one was a stranger!

And his answer made a vein bulge in her forehead.

"Not yet, just a little more-"

Just as he was really going to spend more time on it, the sound of their voices woke Vivi up. Her eyes were a bit blurred and she didn't understand what was happening. But as soon as her senses returned, she saw Noah in front of her... and with his thumb in her mouth!!

"Do you suck your thumb?"

"KYYAAA!"

°°°

After a particularly strange breakfast, with Vivi blushing horribly every time she looked at Noah, they organized themselves to continue the trip.

According to Mr. 9, who was shaking like a reed from having spent so much time in an uncomfortable position, they were getting close to the island. Nami also noticed this due to the changes in the sea currents and the increasing presence of some seagulls.

Her limited knowledge about the Grand Line expanded significantly through practice, but she found it inefficient. After asking Noah, they noted that the next goal after arriving on an inhabited island would be to look for books on navigation. Materials to build a library was also another goal, for other books besides navigation, which would be exclusively in Nami's room.

And a short time later, when the sun was almost in the middle of the sky, they spotted an island with huge “cacti” in the distance.

Along with these huge rock formations, the island's appearance seemed quite dry and deserted, as its plains were almost entirely rocky and not suitable for planting. Crossing the island there was also a river, which they would use to cross to the other side.

After setting the ship on course, they went to the only ones who knew anything about this island.

"There is a town there that welcomes pirates, so you don't need to worry about anything. The Log Pose also takes very little time to adjust, with one or two days at most." Vivi explained everything she knew to them. Her eyes sometimes went to Mr. 9, who shook his head negatively to the plan they had in mind before.

Noah saw this, but didn’t expose them. In the anime, because they were free and really being invited crew members of the Straw Hats, the two simply ran away when they got close to the island. But as Vivi was well accommodated and Mr. 9 was very well treated during the trip, they had no conditions to leave.

Yet, he wasn't exactly a monster. Walking up to Mr. 9, he grabbed the rope that tied him and easily tore it in two, undoing all the knots until the man was free again.

"Now that we're here, you can consider yourself free." Noah smiled at him as he gathered all the rope and threw it in a corner of the ship, "And sorry for the treatment, we were short-staffed and I don't trust you."

"Hm!" And giving a weak nod, Mr. 9 just fell to the ground as he felt his muscles stretch and the cramps come all at once. He was only not worse off because he spent enough time in the bathroom to recover.

"Think about it, after your legs recover, they will get stronger." Patting him lightly on the back, Noah ignored the situation. He gave him food, sheets, and even let him take a shower. What better treatment would he want?

A few moments later, they were in front of the island and were following the course of the river. Laboon, as he should, stayed behind and would look for the exit of the island from the outside.

A large amount of fog was present at the location, but that didn't stop the three of them from seeing some shadowy figures in the distance. Ryu was on the edge of the deck, with his tail slowly swinging behind him, and he could smell it from afar. Everyone was prepared for any kind of surprise.

"Why are they-" Nojiko was about to say something about the people chasing them through the fog when a series of screams interrupted her.

CHEER!! CHEER!! CHEER!!

As the ship continued through the river, the fog simply disappeared around them when they spotted a huge crowd of people, all of them screaming, whistling, celebrating as if they had returned with money in their pockets for everyone.

"Welcome to the Grand Line!"

"Welcome to our city!"

"Welcome to Whisky Peak, the city that welcomes pirates!"

To the disbelief of Nami and Nojiko, who thought they were about to face their pursuers, all they received were the cheerful smiles and the confetti that the city's inhabitants were releasing everywhere. But their disbelief didn't last long, as the strange woman (Vivi) had warned about this possible situation.

Whether they were old people, children, beautiful women, and ugly men, each of them had a smile on their face as they celebrated their arrival. Almost as if they'd been waiting for them for a long time.

"Pirates, welcome!"

"Long live the sea heroes!"

And Noah, who already knew about the “trap” he was getting into, only glanced slightly at Vivi. Her anxious expression and eyes that constantly looked in his direction indicated how nervous she seemed about her current mission. The mission to lead the pirates to the bounty hunter's city so that she could be forgiven by Mr. 0.

But, of course, Noah had other plans for this. He had a calm smile on his face as he looked at all of them.

'Let's celebrate first…and then let's see if this Baroque Works is really dangerous.'