Going Merry
The salty breeze blew gently across the deck of the Going Merry, making the sails snap in the wind. The ocean stretched as far as the eye could see, calm yet relentless.
Nami leaned against the railing, arms crossed, her eyes fixed on the horizon. Her face was pale, small beads of sweat trickling down her forehead.
"You don't look well, Nami."
Vivi approached, concern clear in her gaze.
"I'm fine. Just a little tired."
She tried to smile, but her body wavered slightly.
"Nami-san!"
Sanji appeared beside them in the blink of an eye, his eyes spinning in pure desperation.
"You're pale! Your delicate body shouldn't be pushing itself like this!"
He knelt down, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and fanning her frantically.
"I'll prepare a special tea for you! No, wait, maybe a soup! Better yet, I'll take you to bed!"
Nami frowned, pushing him away with her hand.
"Sanji, give me a minute to breathe."
"But, Nami-san!"
Vivi held her friend's arm, her touch gentle but firm.
"You're trembling."
Nami tried to ignore it, but her fingers trembled slightly against the railing.
Sanji clutched his head, spinning in panic.
"This is a nightmare! My dear Nami-san suffering like this! What will we do?!"
"Tch. Too much drama."
Alvida leaned against the mast, arms crossed, watching the scene with disinterest.
"If she's sick, she should take care of herself. Not my problem."
Sanji turned to her, eyes blazing.
"How can you be so cruel?! We're talking about the most beautiful woman on this ship!"
"If she faints, someone carries her. Simple as that."
"WHAT?!"
The blonde lunged forward, but before he could continue his emotional outburst—
Fwosh!
Riser moved past him, as calm as ever.
Sanji's eyes widened as he saw him approaching Nami.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!"
Without answering, Riser leaned down and picked her up in his arms.
"Ah—!"
Nami's eyes widened in surprise.
"Riser?! Put me down!"
She tried to resist, but her weak body didn't help.
Sanji huffed, stepping forward in fury.
"Hey, you bastard! Who gave you permission to—"
Riser's golden gaze settled on him, cold, unwavering.
Sanji felt a shiver run down his spine, his words dying in his throat.
"What are you doing, Riser?"
Vivi took a step forward, hesitant.
"Taking her inside."
The response was simple, emotionless.
Riser turned, carrying Nami effortlessly, ignoring Sanji's outraged look and Vivi's hesitation.
Alvida's eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Ahahah! Good. Someone had to end this nonsense."
Sanji clenched his fists, grinding his teeth.
"Luffy! Zoro! Say something!"
Luffy scratched his nose, not too interested.
"If he's helping, then it's fine."
Zoro yawned, leaning against the railing.
"As long as she's okay, I don't see a problem."
Sanji threw his hands up in fury.
"You guys have no heart!"
Riser disappeared into the cabin, carrying Nami.
Sanji tried to step forward, but as soon as he reached the door, a red barrier shimmered before him.
BZZT!
He instinctively recoiled, feeling the pulsating heat of the energy blocking his way.
"What is this?!"
His eyes widened in frustration, his fists trembling. He tried to touch the barrier, but as soon as his hand got close—
ZZZAP!
A jolt of electricity surged through his arm, pushing him back.
"ARGH!"
Sanji staggered, clutching his now-numb forearm.
"He locked the door with this thing! What the hell is he doing with Nami-san in there?!"
Vivi placed a hand on her chest, worry clear on her face.
"Riser… he wouldn't do anything wrong, right?"
Alvida let out a low laugh, leaning against the mast, her club resting on her shoulder.
"Ahahaha! Let him have his fun with the navigator."
Sanji spun around sharply, his eyes blazing.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!"
Alvida just laughed more, shaking her head.
"Oh, come on. You know he's not as… gentle as you are."
Vivi clenched her fists, stepping forward.
"We can't just leave him locked in there with her!"
Usopp, who had been silent until then, raised his hands nervously.
"Y-yeah! What if he's doing some weird experiment? What if he—"
Luffy stretched his arm, giving Usopp a light smack on the head.
"Shishishi! Don't be ridiculous, Usopp."
Usopp rubbed his head, pouting.
"I'm just considering all the possibilities!"
Zoro closed his eyes, impatient.
"If he wanted to do something bad, he would've already done it. He doesn't need a locked door for that."
Sanji gritted his teeth, still leaning against the barrier, his gaze fixed on the cabin.
"This doesn't sit right with me…"
Karoo let out a distressed quack, shifting uneasily beside Vivi.
---
Inside the cabin, the air was heavy. The dim light illuminated the space unevenly, casting elongated shadows on the wooden walls.
Nami lay there, feeling the heat coursing through her body. Sweat trickled down her forehead, her breathing uneven.
She watched Riser. He stood beside the bed, golden eyes assessing every detail.
The silence between them stretched.
Her chest rose and fell slowly, orange strands sticking to her damp skin.
He's thinking… but about what?
Nami's mind was clouded. Exhaustion consumed her, but a part of her still fought to stay conscious.
She knew she had a fever. She knew something was wrong.
But… why did she feel so restless around him?
Riser's golden eyes gleamed in the dim light. His face remained calm, unchanged, but she knew he was analyzing the situation.
Her heart pounded.
I've never seen that look on him before…
She wetted her lips, trying to find the strength to speak.
"Riser…"
Her voice came out weak, almost a whisper.
He didn't respond immediately. He only tilted his head slightly, as if waiting.
Nami swallowed hard, feeling the heat pulse through her skin.
"What… are you going to do?"
Riser's gaze remained fixed on her. No answer came. Only silence.
She felt a shiver—not of fear, but of something deeper. Something she couldn't name.
He's never looked at me like this before…
Her body was exhausted, but her mind refused to shut down.
Nami didn't want to admit it, but part of her trusted him.
Even without understanding why.
The fever burned her skin. Her breathing was irregular. Sweat trickled down her temple, sticking her orange strands to her face.
"Am I going to die like this?"
Her voice was low, hoarse.
Riser remained still, golden eyes evaluating her like a riddle.
"You have two options."
She blinked, her lips dry.
"Phoenix Tears or vampire blood."
The silence between them grew even denser.
She tried to swallow, but her throat was too dry.
"What… does that mean?"
"Phoenix Tears will heal you completely. No side effects."
Nami parted her lips slightly, a flicker of surprise in her feverish gaze.
"Then… just give me that!"
Riser observed her reaction for a moment before continuing.
"Vampire blood will also heal you."
She waited, but he said nothing more. He only stared at her.
"There's something you're not telling me."
"If you choose it, you'll become a vampire."
Her heart faltered for a moment.
Vampire.
Stronger than her crewmates. An unknown power running through her veins.
Her gaze dropped to her chest, where the fever made her body tremble.
Then, something clicked in her mind.
"These tears… are they rare?"
Riser blinked once.
She furrowed her brow, her fevered brain already calculating possibilities.
"How much are they worth?"
Silence.
Then, he laughed. Low at first, but soon it became a deep, amused sound.
"You're really thinking about money right now?"
She tried to sit up, but her body protested.
"If it's something that can be sold… I could make a fortune!"
Riser propped an elbow on his knee, watching her with pure amusement.
"You don't even know what they are, yet you want to sell them."
"If they're rare, they're valuable. Simple as that!"
"Hahahah!"
His laughter echoed lightly through the room.
Nami huffed, crossing her arms—or at least trying to. Her body was too weak to keep up with her indignation.
"So, which one do you choose?"
She opened her mouth, about to say she wanted the tears. But then…
"Eternal youth."
She froze.
Her pupils dilated slightly.
The air seemed to grow heavier.
"Becoming a vampire means not just strength, but eternal beauty."
A sharp silence.
Her fevered gaze flickered.
The fever? The exhaustion? None of it mattered anymore.
"I choose the blood!"
The answer came faster than she wanted to admit.
Riser smirked.
"No matter the world… A woman's vanity is terrifying."
He stepped closer, lowering himself beside her, watching her eyes gleam—not with fever, but with expectation.
"Although… I do want to see Nami as a vampire."
She swallowed hard, feeling her heart pound.
What had she just done?
But part of her… Part of her wanted this.
More than any treasure.
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Also, don't forget to check out my other fanfic:
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A new life, a new Clark Kent — with all the memories of his past life intact.