One Piece: Gold And Fire

Ragna didn't wan't it to be like this but he can't help it.

Everything had turned out completely different from what he had expected. From those girl being sister to one saving him and another putting him in danger to begin with. One stole from him and another heal him and fed him. It was ridiculous. He never have been conflicted on this next action. 

After learning she was Nojiko's sister, things became complicated. He couldn't bring himself to act against her anymore on just the matter that Nojiko was his benifactor. Let alone the entire emotional bagade about Arlong and their mother dying, which just has to be very similar to his own past and he now felt a sense of pity and similarity towards the girls.

But that didn't mean he wasn't frustrated. It just means that Nami's thieving days would last a little longer and she won't be visiting bars anytime soon.

Even after he had explained multiple times that he wasn't a pirate, that orange bitch kept calling him Pirate though, that was another thing nerving on him. No matter what he said, she refused to believe him. 

Even refuse to believe why she think that he was a pirate, not like he was interested in that girls delusions either. He didn't wanted to have anything to do with her now.

"Tch…" Ragna clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Whatever, I don't care anymore." 

He turned to Nojiko, deciding he was done dealing with the orange bitch. He wasn't here to waste his time arguing. 

"So?" he asked, crossing his arms. "Are you still going to ask for my help? What your sister did had nothing to do with whether I'll help or not. I gave my word and I don't intent to go back on it." 

Nojiko hesitated. 

Before, she was ready to ask Ragna for help against Arlong. But now, seeing the clear hostility between him and Nami, she wasn't so sure anymore. Both explain their side and she didn't think that Nami was right this time around. 

She geniunly belief that Ragna wasn't lying because maybe his words could lie but that pain she saw in his eyes while he told his past, that can't be fake. So this time she believed in Ragna over Nami, however, that doens't mean that she can overlook what happened between the boy and her sister.

She knew that Nami won't like if she asked for help, especially after knowing how close she was to completing the 100 million beli mark thank to money she stole from Ragna.

That was another thing as well. Even now the boy didn't asked the money back, he first ask whether she wanted his help...

After a moment, she sighed and shook her head. 

"No… I appreciate everything, but I don't want to ask more from you," Nojiko said softly. 

Ragna stared at her for a moment before sighing. He was a little disappointed, but he respected her choice. 

"Alright, fine," he muttered. "I won't force you." 

He turned to leave, but then he stopped and looked back at her. 

"One more thing." 

Nojiko blinked. "What?" 

"Tch, what more, can't you just go." Nami on the side spat. Ragna too glare at her.

"I won't be taking the money back," Ragna said. 

Nami's eyes widened. "What?" 

"Consider it a payment," Ragna continued. "For saving me, for patching me up… whatever you want to call it. But make no mistake, I'm giving the money to Nojiko, not you bitch..." Ragna glare at Nami who immediately wanted to retord but then sudden she started to doubt her choice...

'Was he really wasn't a pirate...' 

Nojiko opened her mouth to argue, but Ragna raised a hand, stopping her. 

"I don't need it that badly," he said with a small smirk. "Besides, It's troublesome travelling with that much money on me. I'll rather have you take it." Ragna said but then again glare at Nami.

"It's not stolen, now it given." He said with venom on his voice. 

"And I'll be taking my ship back..."

With that, he turned around and walked away, leaving Nojiko standing there in surprise. 

Nami didn't retort, the more she think the more she was thinking that she might have mistaken the boy. Though the circumstances did make him look like a pirate but as she remember Ragna's action were never look like a pirate. 

A doubt sprout inside her telling that she was wrong. And now that she think, she remember in which condition she left him there. More guilt pressed on her.

"Nami, mind telling me what's going on here. This time the truth." Nojiko said, looking at her sister with complicated expression. 

"I...I thought he was an Pirate." Nami said with uncertain voice.

"Is he a pirate ?" Nojiko asked.

"I... I don't know anymore." 

---

Ragna stepped out of Nojiko's house, grumbling to himself. 

"That damn orange-haired thief," he muttered, rubbing his side where the bullet had hit him earlier. It still hurt. "Calling me a pirate over and over… What's her problem?" He muttered with irritation. 

He shook his head and sighed. He didn't want to stay in this place any longer, especially with Nami around. It was annoying just thinking about her. 

He might don't care about money that much, after all the reason he had that money was fulfil in the end, he had his system activated. And yes that money would have been use to upgrade his stats but he didn't felt like taking the money back.

If it was only Nami then he would have no question asked, even if he had no use for the money, but he was indebt to Nojiko, and since the girl didn't want his help, that was the only way for him to repay her.

However, money is one think, but he wanted his ship back. It was a good ship, not to mention he really like the bed in that captain's room of his. He have gotten very used to it. He was definately not for the paint job he did to the ship which cost him more than he dare to say it out loud.

In his rush to leave, he hadn't even asked Nami what she had done with it. But there was no way he was going back inside to ask. That would just be embarrassing. 

"Tch. Guess I'll find it myself," he muttered. 

Ragna walked around the village, asking a few people about his ship. Many of them looked at him suspiciously, and he noticed a few of them whispering. It's makes sense, after Arlong took over, there surely won't be new people coming to this village. He might as well as the first new face around here.

He ignored them. He wasn't here to make friends. He asked around though, and hardly learn anything about his ship. 

Learn a little bit about Arlong too, though Nojiko said this but he didn't understood what she meant back then until he heard what exactly are Murlocks.

He had heard about them before—stronger than humans, faster in the water, and dangerous. He wouldn't mind fighting some if they are really that strong, but alas he can't do that. He wasn't in no condition to afford a fight right now.

Ragna clicked his tongue but kept moving. Eventually, after some searching, he found out where his ship was. 

It was parked near Arlong Park. 'Now that I remember right, Nojiko did say that Nami was a part of Arlong Pirates huh...'

"Fucking Bitch, calling me Pirate, the gall"

Ragna frowned though, that was the last place he wanted to go. 

"Well what else I can do in this situation, I'll just grab my ship and get out of here as soon as possible," he muttered. 

But just as he made his way toward the shore, a group of fishmen suddenly blocked his path. 

"Well, well," one of them sneered. "Look, its a new face." Once of the fish man said. 

He surprisingly look like a fish. Ragna honetly didn't know what else he was expecting at thsi point. 

"Really, can't say, all this insects look same to me. Hahaha..." Another laugh.

Ragna narrowed his eyes. "Look, I'm not looking for any trouble, let me grab my ship over there and I'll be my merry way." 

Another fish-man smirked. "Hahaha. Did ya listen to him what he's saying. He's really from outside. How about we teach him how this place work under boss Arlong. Were this human stand in food chain." 

Without warning, they lunged at him. 

Ragna quickly pulled out his sword and fought back. Despite his injuries, he moved fast, he tried fighting back but they were not normal pirate, they were much stronger than any normal man and he was out numbered. 

A powerful punch hit him in the stomach, making him stumble. Another one smashed into his back, sending him to his knees. 

'Fuck system, this might be the right time for you to show how useful you are...' 

[Host is advice to first get some gold to use system featues...]

'Fucking Useless piece of program...' 

Ragna gritted his teeth and tried to stand, but before he could react, a heavy blow struck the back of his head. 

His vision blurred. 

'Oh shit, note to self, don't talk with system while figh....' And then everything was blank.

The last thing he saw was the fish-men surrounding him before everything went dark.

xxx

[Word Count: 1600]

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