Nami, of course, dragged Luffy and Merry along with her to the bathroom. There was no way she was wandering around this creepy place alone.
On the way to the bathroom, Merry whispered to Luffy, "Luffy, I think that doctor is acting strange. Do you think he's working with Moria?"
Nami felt the same way and nodded nervously. "I'm worried too, but let's get cleaned up first."
Before Luffy could answer, they had already reached the bathroom door.
Just then, Luffy's eyes sharpened. Without warning, he suddenly threw a punch at the seemingly empty air beside him!
BAM!
A dull thud, accompanied by a pained, agonized scream. The vague outline of a human figure materialized for a moment before being sent flying by the heavy punch, leaving a large hole in the wall.
"What was that?!" Nami shrieked, clutching Luffy's arm even tighter.
Luffy shook out his fist. "Probably some Devil Fruit user. Someone who can turn invisible."
He frowned. "If my Kenbunshoku Haki weren't decent, I almost wouldn't have noticed him."
The enemy's ability was indeed strange their presence was extremely well hidden.
But that punch of him had been full force. That guy was probably flying off to who-knows-where.
The thought that an invisible person might have been lurking nearby, watching them, made Nami's face drain of color. Without a second thought, she pulled Luffy into the bathroom and slammed the door shut with a bang.
The bathroom was large, with a luxurious bathtub.
Still shaken, Nami gave Luffy an order. "Don't you dare move. Just stand there with your back to me... actually, no. Don't turn your back. Come here. Merry, cover his eyes!"
"It's not like I haven't seen it before," Luffy mumbled.
"Don't give me that!" Nami snapped. "No looking!"
Merry obediently floated in front of Luffy and covered his eyes with her little hands—though the gaps between her fingers were rather wide.
Nami had only resorted to this because she was so frightened.
Every time she turned around, she could see Luffy—and Merry's wide finger-gaps.
Nami was both embarrassed and annoyed. Merry was clearly on Luffy's side.
But despite her embarrassment, her earlier fear had completely vanished.
When danger came, having Luffy around made her feel incredibly safe.
On second thought... this wasn't the first time Luffy had seen her naked, was it?
In Skypiea, in Alabasta—there had been similar accidents before.
Thinking about it that way, she started to feel a bit like what's done is done. Nami quickly stripped off her dirty clothes and turned on the shower.
At least there's some steam. And it's not like Luffy has perfect eyesight... right?
The warm water washed over her, chasing away some of the cold and fear.
As she washed, her mind couldn't help but wander. Her face grew hotter, and her movements carried an inexplicable mix of embarrassment and irritation.
Water splashed. Steam swirled.
Nami kept washing while staying alert to her surroundings, terrified that invisible man might sneak back in.
As for Luffy...
Fine, let him look.
At least Merry is here.
Halfway through her shower, Luffy suddenly spoke. "Nami."
"YAAH!"
Nami nearly jumped out of her skin. Forgetting that she was covered in soap suds, she dashed over to Luffy in one swift move, hugging him tightly as she asked in a panic, "What is it? Did you find something else?"
In that moment, she completely forgot that she was almost entirely naked, her wet, soap-slicked body pressed against Luffy as she sought a sense of security.
"Uh... no, never mind."
Luffy felt the warm, soft, soap-slicked body pressed against him. His body stiffened slightly, and his nose felt a bit hot. He touched his nose and said awkwardly, "I was just asking if you were done washing. Shouldn't we go find Moria now?"
Nami blinked, then realized the situation. Her face turned crimson with embarrassment and anger as she grabbed Luffy's cheeks, pinching them hard. "You idiot! You scared me to death! I thought there was another enemy!"
She suspected Luffy had done that on purpose!
She was too angry to speak, but her arms didn't let go of Luffy. It seemed only this could give her a shred of security.
After finally finishing her bath, Nami realized an awkward problem.
There were no clean clothes to change into!
That damn doctor had said the maid would prepare clothes, hadn't he?
"Um... Luffy, can you see if there are any clothes to change into outside?" Nami asked quietly.
"Could you let go of me first?" Luffy looked down, then slowly looked back up.
"Use your Kenbunshoku Haki for something useful!" Nami snapped.
Luffy acknowledged and, using his Kenbunshoku Haki to sense his surroundings, soon found a set of clothes in the dressing room outside the bathroom and brought them in.
Nami took the clothes and was about to say thank you when she unfolded them and froze.
In her hands was an exquisitely crafted pure white wedding dress?!
"Luffy! What is this?!" Nami asked, her cheeks flushed.
Luffy looked utterly innocent. "It seemed like the only clothes there. I found it outside."
Merry's eyes lit up instantly. She clapped her little hands. "A wedding dress! It's a wedding dress! Nami will look beautiful in it!"
Luffy nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty."
Nami clutched her chest, feeling a strange, tingling sensation. A complex mix of emotions welled up inside her.
A wedding dress?
Putting it on in a place like this?
With Luffy?
What is even happening?!
But there was no other choice.
Wearing a wedding dress was better than wearing nothing at all.
Nami clutched her pounding heart, feeling like a jar of honey had been knocked over inside her—sweet and chaotic.
Did he do this on purpose? Or was it an accident?
She shook her head, pushing aside those impractical thoughts. Face red, she murmured, "Fine. It's better than nothing. You two, turn around!"
Once Luffy and Merry obediently turned their backs, Nami quickly put on the wedding dress.
Looking at herself in the bathroom mirror, wearing the white wedding dress, Nami felt a momentary daze. The fit wasn't great—a bit tight in some places, and it showed far too much skin.
She shook her head and started altering it.
She tore off a section of the overly long skirt for easier movement, removed some of the more elaborate decorations, loosened the bust slightly, and added some lace trim. In the end, she transformed it into a knee-length skirt that was both beautiful and practical.
Maybe it was because of Luffy, but Nami felt like she had become more conservative.
No way!
There's absolutely no way it's because of him!
"I'm done."
Nami's voice was barely audible, her face still flushed.
Luffy and Merry turned around. When they saw Nami in her altered wedding dress, both their eyes lit up.
"You look great, Nami!" Luffy said sincerely.
Merry nodded vigorously. "Mm-hmm! Nami looks as beautiful as a bride!"
Nami, embarrassed by their stares, stomped her foot. "Sh-shut up! Let's get down to business—find Moria and get out of this creepy place!"
That's what she said, but her heart was pounding like a caged rabbit.
Wearing a wedding dress, going on an adventure with Luffy on a ghost ship...
She would probably never forget this experience for the rest of her life.
***
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