Nojiko's POV;

I heard Nai-chan before I saw her. Lara was pulling my loudly protesting little sister on her hand. They came up from the bowls of the ship. I knew that Nai-chan would speak with Lara today, something about her possible training.

I wasn't much worried, while yes, Lara could be a training freak, she was also knowing what she does. A single glance to the side proved that better than any words. Had I not known Yosaku since the East Blue, I wouldn't believe anyone telling me that he was just a normal, even weak, guy just a year ago. His cheer bulk was intimidating and that he gained all that muscle in a few short months made this feat even more impressive.

Lara's training was demanding, hard, and sometimes gruelling. But the results speak for themselves, none of us would be as strong as we are without her and Lia's tips and help.

They passed the dinner table and Nai-chan has changed her pleading from Lara, over to me. I can hardly stand her puppy eyes on a good day when they were this teary-eyed it became even harder. I was just about to ask Lara to go easy on her when I spotted Lara's tiny nod.

A silent conversation passed between us. I was conferring my worry about Nai-chan's health and well being. Lara is a hard and demanding taskmaster. Nami isn't ready yet to face a full training course, led by Lara. Not even Jonny and Yosaku, the two most devoted of us to training, after Lara, can keep up with her in full training mode. Heck, Nai-chan couldn't even keep up with my training!

She in return promised that she wouldn't go overboard. I hope she has seen and felt that Nai-chan isn't as strong as us. Or even the strongest of the Straw Hats. The little Observation Haki I could focus on them at Sabaody has shown me that Nai-chan was even one of the weakest of the Straw Hats.

All of us, that were Fiara, Lia, me, Jonny and Yosaku, were following after them. This promises to be interesting and even with Lara's assurance, I might have to run interference if she goes too far.

“You know what this is about?” Asked Yosaku. I looked up at him, even with him slightly leaned down he was still taller than me.

“Nai-chan and Lara were going to have a chat about my sister's training schedule. I think Lara has decided that she needs to see where Nai-chan stands.” I answered.

Fiara and Lia, who have listened in, were quickly changing course and walking over to the control panel. Sparing while flying could become dangerous if one of us were to fall over the railing. And while they brought the Raptor down we came to a stop at the side of the training field.

Nai-chan was standing in the middle of the field, her blue staff weapon rested in her hands and she was looking at me unsure of what to do. I nodded at her encouragingly. She does not need to hold back if she fights against Lara.

“You think she is any good? I mean, she won't stand a chance against Lara, but is she any good?” He asked again.

I frowned. A year ago I would have answered 'yes, she is good with her staff' but nowadays. I am not so sure. The things I have seen since then have broadened my horizon on the topic of what can be considered strong.

“I don't know if she has kept up with her training then maybe. But I haven't seen her fighting for a long time,” I answered finally. And just in time as well. Lara has finished picking up a weapon for herself.

There were quite a few different weapons we can take for training. Naturally, we rarely do so. Why should we learn to fight with a weapon, not our own preference? But that was not the case with Lara. She loves to change between weapons of different kinds.

One day she trains with Yosaku and Jonny while using her daggers, the next she has a war-hammer that is taller than her. And all the weapons are also forged or crafted by her. Some of them are of such high quality that using them exclusively for training was a shame. All the random weapons she forges are placed in our training armoury.

The weapon she was using now was, unsurprisingly, a staff. At first, it looks like any other staff weapon. The main body was made out of wood, with metal encasing on both ends. But the differences to any other training weapon ended there. The encasing were both richly decorated and the wood so smooth it was almost shining.

“Well then, show me what you got. Don't hold back and attack me with anything you have,” started Lara once she was back inside the ring.

Nami instantly began to twirl her staff and clouds began to form on its end.

Sadly that was as far as she came, as for the next second Lara was already in reach and had swung her staff down on Nami. It was so fast that she was creating a small gust of wind.

Of course, her speed was easy for all of us to follow, none of us would even have trouble reacting to that kind of speed. But Nai-chan wasn't one of us.

She was staring wide-eyed at the metal tip of Lara's staff. It had stopped only a few centimetres short of her face and, had Lara not stopped, killed her most likely. This looked as if Lara was humiliating Nai-chan with how easily she had beaten her.

“I'm weak aren't I?” Asked Nai-chan after a long silent pause. Her tone was defeated and her whole demeanour was screaming 'I need a hug'.

Lara stepped back and sighed. “Sorry, this wasn't meant to show you how weak you are. Well, not in a derogatory way. This was simply the speed you can expect from most normal enemies in the New World.” I knew that Lara wasn't trying to make Nai-chan feel bad, but the slumped shoulders showed me that it happened anyway.

“But that does not mean that you can't become better. You just have to work for it,” continued Lara, now with a more encouraging tone. “Well, let's try again. For today I will refrain from attacking and only react to you. However, don't expect to not get hit. I will refrain from outright attacking you, but not from countering.”

Nami nodded and they got into their starting position. This time Lara was waiting for Nai-chan to prepare whatever she was doing. Slowly but surely the training field got filled with clouds. They were small but numerous.

They were red and translucent in colour. I don't know what they will do if being touched, but considering this is a fight, it can't be good. I also noticed how the air got warmer.

Next came a series of blue balls, they were shot at different positions within the training field. At first, there was no reaction, but that changed quickly. A small storm cloud began to form and wind picked up on our deck.

Nami was using these balls to change the weather. It took time but, depending on the limits of her weapon, could become an impressively strong attack.

Lara's choice of weapon will now become another part of Nai-chan's attack. The metal encasing on her weapon's tips would attract lightning easily. Thankfully the staff itself was still made out of wood.

Finally done with her preparations, which took over three minutes and would be way too long in any real fight, she shot one yellow ball into the storm cloud. “Thunderbolt Tempo!” Shouted Nai-chan out loud.

A massive lighting bolt launched itself out of the cloud and directly at Lara. I'm not sure what would happen to Lara if she takes that one directly. Lightning was one of the most destructive natural phenomena you could encounter.

However, I did not need to worry. Lara simply flicked her staff up and right into the path of the lightning bolt. The highly energetic attack launched itself at the closest conductor it could find, which was Lara's staff. The lightning travelled from one end of the staff to the other and was then directed into the ground, where it could not travel, thanks to the wooden floor.

A loud crack followed the lightning and Lara's staff was caught by her without trouble. The metal tips were glowing slightly from the produced heat, but the weapon itself looked fine. I have no doubt that any other normal training weapon would have been splintered or had downright exploded if she had used one of those for this.

Nai-chan did pause a moment from seeing her attack this easily deflected. By her expression, it was one of her more destructive ones. And seeing it this casually deflected must have been shocking.

She nonetheless was able to continue. She broke her staff into three parts and connected two of them into a cross. She then placed the cross at the top of her last part and aimed it at Lara. “Cyclone Tempo!” The cross launched itself off from the third part and raced at Lara with a speed that was surprising.

A wind had picked up alongside the travelling path of the cross and was blowing strongly into our faces. The cross finally reached Lara, but a step to the side allowed her to easily evade the attack.

She then swung her staff at the cross and hit it square in the middle, most likely with the intention of sending it back.

But that wasn't what happened. Instead of being thrown back the cross almost exploded in a ball of wind. It blew Lara's hair widely around and I could see that Lara had to adjust her position to counter the strength behind that blast of wind.

It nonetheless was too weak against Lara. She overcame the blast of wind and her swing powered through, it hit the centre of the cross and it got thrown back at Nai-chan.

My sister hastily ducked under the incoming projectile and allowed it to crash into the railing where it clattered to the ground. The ship wasn't damaged, Adam Tree, as Noa has called and praised the wood, is sturdy.

“In an actual fight you now would have lost two-thirds of your weapon,” lectured Lara. She has gotten back into her initial position and kept the staff resting on her shoulders, behind her back. She looked pretty nonchalant, but I have seen that once when she fought Yosaku with a staff.

A move of her arms would allow her to twirl the staff in either way and then bring down the pain on her unsuspecting opponent. Her neck and arms were acting as a lever, allowing her to create greater force through smaller movements.

“You can pick it up again,” she then said when it became obvious that Nai-chan did not know if she were to proceed without her weapon or if she could take it back. Slowly it became obvious what Lara was doing.

She wasn't giving Nai-chan a beat down in the traditional sense. What Lara is doing could be even more depressing for Nai-chan. Lara was showing her that not a single attack has any use, no matter what she tries, it will be pointless.

All the finishing attacks, special moves and tricks she uses are easily and quickly countered. Normally a flaming whirlwind flying at you will be troublesome, but Lara simply let her staff rotate with such speed that it generated a wind corridor against the flames.

The only attack that had some use was the mirage attack. Nai-chan used the heat and cold clouds her staff can generate to produce an optic trick. It made her invisible for the naked eye.

Still, it was again obvious that Nai-chan has no real training. We could still hear her footsteps and, if I strain my ears enough, even her breathing. And if I could hear it, then Lara can do so easily, with her freaky effective ears. Her breathing was also becoming more strained, seems like Nai-chan's endurance wasn't the best as well.

So it was without surprise when Nai-chan's staff came suddenly flying down at Lara's neck, only for it to then be easily deflected and countered. With a thwack, Lara's staff crashed into Nai-chan's side and send her flying.

I knew that the strength behind Lara's counter wasn't high, not even close, but it still was enough to give Nai-chan trouble standing back up. This was only partially the fault of Nai-chan's weak endurance and resilience to pain. The other part was the perfectly landed hit.

Getting a metal-tipped staff into the unprotected soft side of your belly does hurt.

Nai-chan groaned but managed to slowly stand up again. Thankfully Lara gave her all the time she needed. Were this a spar against Yosaku or Jonny she would have followed up with a second strike. Then again, both of them are way more skilled and sturdy.

“A good trick, you've used heat and cold to create a mirage. It might have worked if I couldn't have heard your breathing and your footsteps. You need to conceal both better. However, that was an attack which is hardly a good choice against me. I have eaten the Vibration Fruit, every move you do, be it the footsteps or even the disruption of the air, creates waves, which I can feel and interpret.

Not exactly practical on a hectic battlefield, but in a one on one certainly useful. Which does not mean that you would have succeeded, had I not eaten that particular fruit. There is also the fact that I am a long-ear human, my hearing is a lot more refined and better than that of regular humans. And, lastly, all of us has at least some training in fighting invisible opponents.” Her lecture finished she herself shimmered out of sight and became invisible.

I shuddered from a resurfacing memory. The day Lara learned to use her heat generating vibrations to turn invisible was something none of us wishes to remember. It was the starting point for a month-long track of pranks and hard training exercises.

She would sneak on us and scare us, turn the water in our showers cold, move stuff in our rooms to confuse us, steal chicken from the pastry or make training harder than it already was. I think I learned Observation around that time too. Come to think of it, Jonny and Josef did as well...

Thankfully she kept her promise and did not start any attacks, instead, she moved silently and without any sign of her whereabouts. And then turned visible again, right next to Nai-chan. “See? This is how you do it,” she whispered into my sister's ear. Nai-chan jumped from fright and generated a great gust of wind with her staff.

It harmlessly crashed into the unmoving body of Lara.

“Don't scare me like that!” Shouted Nai-chan. Without thinking she tried to hit Lara on the back of her head. I wasn't able to form my wince before the retaliation strike connected. Lara ducked under Nai-chan's crude swing, swung her staff and let the metal crash into the elbow of Nai-chan.

The bone broke with a crack and Nai-chan's left arm hung uselessly in an unnatural way. She screamed in pain and sunk to her knees. The second wince was partly in sympathy with her pain and partly for the shock, I felt.

Was Nai-chan really this weak? A broken bone was enough for her to fall down and stop any resistance? Having a bone broken during a spar wasn't abnormal, even before Josef and Lara could heal them. Rarer, yes, but not unheard of.

Nowadays it even sometimes happens that one of us loses a limb or a few fingers. They always are quickly reattached, but the fight itself isn't instantly over, there is at least the retaliation strike.

The sight of my crying sister, cradling her broken arm, was still enough for me to rush over and help. I knew that it isn't any wound that would be troublesome, Josef will heal it within seconds, but still. No sibling likes to see their younger ones in pain.

Josef came over as well, he has heard the sound of the fight midway and had come out to see what was happening halfway in the fight. “The break is easy to heal, give me a moment,” he said after a quick inspection. He carefully moved the arm into a better position and then began to heal the break.

A few low cracks and other disgusting noises followed. And, within seconds, the arm looked as good as new. If you ignore the holes where the bone has punctured through. But that was where Lara's power came into play.

She has come over as well and placed one hand on Nai-chan's elbow. A soft glow encompassed the wound and closed itself. The broken arm was healed not even five minutes after breaking. Nai-chan was staring at her healed arm in wonder. I don't think she has ever seen someone heal this quickly.

“Good?” Asked Lara in a caring tone. The question alone showed that she was giving Nai-chan the puppy treatment. She wouldn't have asked us in such a way, not for such a minor wound. She does care, but a broken arm isn't something any of us sees as trouble.

Yosaku, the idiotic freak, once even broke one of his arms before the fight. He thought it would be good for learning to fight when one of his arms is disabled. I gave him a beating for it that was harder to explain then his broken arm, needless to say, that he only did it once.

I'm just glad that Lara and Josef didn't notice. The first would have liked the idea and make us do it and the second would have our hide for deliberately harming ourselves.

Anyway, Nai-chan has tested moving her arm around and nodded silently. “You fine with a review or do you want to calm down?” Asked Lara next, Josef even looked slightly surprised at her question. Sparing analyses are done right after the fight when the memory is still fresh.

I smiled at Lara thankfully, I didn't expect her to give Nai-chan this much care. I also knew that she was doing this more for me, rather than for Nai-chan. We all know that both Lara and Lia are not friends with the Straw Hats, they go out of their way for us to interact with them.

Taking Nai-chan with us, to train her and keep her save are things she does for me and not for Luffy or Nai-chan.

“I..I think so,” answered Nai-chan after a deep breath. She smiled at me thankfully and then broke the hug to stand up. I stood up as well but kept close to her.

Lara nodded, waved us over to follow her and then sat down on one of the tables we have on our lawn. Lia quickly followed and sat down next to Lara, she whispered something into Lara's ear, but it was not loud enough for me to hear.

Nai-chan and I took the bench opposite of them. “Okay, tell me what you think you did wrong. The first step is to find your own faults,” began Lara, while using one hand to absent-mindedly strake through Lia's hair.

“Well, none of my attacks worked on you. You either easily evaded or deflected them,” began Nai-chan, before she fell silent. We waited for her to continue, and thankfully she did. If that were the only things she had to say I would be embarrassed. “In hindsight, I should have not used the mirage trick, your ears should have made it obvious that sneaking up on you is stupid. And maybe I should have moved more around, the returned 'Cyclone Tempo' almost got me.” At least there were some things she saw wrong.

“Anything else?” Asked Lara in a patient tone. Nai-chan thought for a moment longer but didn't come up with more. “Okay, then what would you have done differently now?” Added Lara then.

Nai-chan shrugged. “I don't really know, maybe not use the mirage? You countered my strongest attack with ease, I don't really know what else I could have done differently? Maybe, as I said, move more around.”

“Okay, then let me say what I would have done against myself with your skills.

I would have tried to keep my distance from any close ranged fighter as your current skill with a staff in actual combat is rather weak. As you did, so a point for that.

As for attacking, well, first I would have used the mirage trick. And while yes, it does have little use against a long-ear human, it is not useless.

I then would have created wind to hide any noise I am causing, this would have tricked my vibration sensory skills as well, but you didn't know about that one. This I would have followed with a thunderbolt.

And then, the moment I launch the thunderbolt, I would have attacked as well. As you have little skill with the actual staff, I would have used the move where you shoot your cross at me. The wind blow that explodes upon contact with the cross was surprisingly strong.

Using it in combination with the thunderbolt might have been a good idea. You know, first sending a weaker bolt, then using the cross to blow me into another stronger version. I wouldn't have my staff to deflect the second bolt.

I am not knowledgeable about the limitations of your staff, but sending a the whirlwind of flames directly after the cross could be the deciding factor. Few are able to defend against three attacks at the same time. Maybe the flames would grow stronger with the wind explosion, air is fuelling fire after all. That or snuff it out, we have to test that later.

Other than that? Definitely moving around a lot more, being stagnant is most of the time stupid. You are not built like a tank, you can't take hits. And the best way, next to evasion, is simply not being where the enemy strikes.”

Nai-chan's shoulders went down. “So I am uselessly weak?” She asked in a pitiful weak voice.

“Let's not say useless. It would be unfair to compare yourself to me. I have a lot more experience in fighting than you. You wouldn't compare yourself against Luffy as well. Still, your attacks would have worked against him well better than me. With the exception of your lighting. Just think of yourself as weaker. There will always be someone stronger, we just have to decrease the gulf between yourself and those others.

We will help you make that gulf smaller. And when you are back with your friends you will see the differences. Don't expect to beat all of us after the two years of training. We all are also training alongside you. But I think once you are with your friends again that there will be an obvious sign of having become stronger.” She patted Nai-chan's hand comfortingly, who smiled in return.

“Like I said, you're first going to keep doing Nojiko's physical and Marine Skills training. Combat training with your staff under me will be added. We'll give Fiara your Clima Tact at those moments, you don't need it while training how to use a staff. You'll also need to decrease the time you need for preparing your attacks. Three minutes is way too long, three seconds might be too much even.

Then, after training, you two can go over your combined knowledge of navigation and maybe learn more about it together. I will not demand a minimum amount of time you invest in your training, as I do with my crew.

It is in your own interest to use these two years as much as possible. I will only give you the resources to learn, it's up to you to use them fully. I'm sure that each of us will have time to help you if you ask.” With that said she stood up, followed by Lia.

Nai-chan hastily stood up as well and bowed. “Thank you for helping and training me. I.. I wouldn't know where else I could have found people helping me becoming stronger.”

Unseen by Nai-chan, Lara was looking at me when she answered. “No problem, we help friend or family. You staying with us will is no bother.” Nai-chan nodded gratefully and smiled at me, I returned it.

Lara's words may be spoken to Nai-chan, but were meant for me. She was telling me that she is willing to help if friends or family of us are in need of it, but everything has a limit. Which means that I should keep an eye on Nai-chan and her attitude, because she is good to stay, as long as she is no true bother to the rest of us.

I knew that Nai-chan can be arrogant or demanding, two traits that all of us have in us, but they should only be shown when she can back up her behaviour with actions. And from what I have seen so far, she clearly can not if it comes to a fight.

“Anyway, Lia has found an island within her range of Observation. It's not Poultry, but another island. We will take a look, expect to see it in a few minutes,” Said Lara suddenly. She walked off to inform the rest of us, Lia, in tow.

Nai-chan opened her mouth, but I signalled her to stay quiet. She looked confused but followed me inside the ship and to our shared bedroom. She has decided to sleep in my room. I was glad for the hug pillow, even if it meant that I will have to go to Yosaku's room for our bedtime activity. Usually, it was him who came over and left afterwards.

Once inside I closed the door and let myself drop into a plush armchair. “From your expression, I could tell that you wanted to say something that is not friendly,” I began and saw a sheepish look pass over her face.

Still, with a huff she let herself fall into the other chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “Was it truly necessary for her to show how weak I am in comparison to her? I know that she is strong, but she does not have to rub it in my face.”

I sighed before I started to explain to her why Lara has done that and why I have taken her to my room, instead of speaking to her outside. “It was necessary, she has not done it to show how weak you are. It was more to show you that your current strength is not enough to do anything. And for us, those who have watched, to see how much of a gulf there is between us and you.

I'm sorry, but for all of us, your performance was pitiful. The first attack, the start, was nothing any of us would have trouble. And yet, you were not able to react at all. It showed us, more than telling could do, that we will need to protect you. Before the fight, we would have left you mostly alone if it were coming to a fight with someone else, but now we wouldn't.

I wouldn't have because I am your sister, but the others would. They thought that you are, if maybe not as strong as us, still able to protect yourself. I know that you don't see it like that, but for us you are weak. The enemies we have to fight wouldn't have minded a broken arm, they would have been able to react and counter Lara's first attack. It showed us that you are not ready to fight alongside us and that one of us needs to keep an eye on you if it comes to a fight.

Don't take it in the wrong way, it is just how things are. With training that will change and I have confidence that you can do it, just not right now.” Being told, over and over again, that you are weak isn't nice, but we have to show her what she is if she was going to become stronger. And now that we have done that it wasn't needed, except if she were not going to learn her faults. But Nai-chan was an intelligent girl, she wouldn't need a reminder.

“As for why I brought you to our room, that is complicated and could be a bit hard to understand. What I want to say, and don't take it the wrong way, is that this room is lined with sea stone and pretty much soundproof thanks to that. All of our rooms are. It's the only possible way for us to speak with each other, without Lia or Lara possible able to hear what we say.”

Nai-chan was looking horrified. “They are listening in on your conversation?” She asked in equal disgust and anger. Even when I have told her to not interpret it wrongly, but then again, it did sound bad.

That's why I quickly waved her off of that assumption. “It's not that they actively do. But they both have told us that their ears are sensitive enough to hear most conversations on the ship if they concentrate on it. Other sounds will generally stop that, like music or other general noise. But it is still a body trait they can't stop. You yourself are not able to simply stop listening to something.” She looked embarrassed and clearly understood what I was trying to say.

“Which does not mean that they can't do it. Lara especially, she can listen in to everything we say, even with a noise barrier. Her control over vibrations makes this possible. This is active eavesdropping. She even has done that before, the last time I knew of was when we were planning a party for her birthday.

That's one reason why we all have a fine coating of sea stone around our own rooms. So that she, or anyone else really, can't spy on us. It also helps when she has her Angel Fruit active and sleeps with Lia.” The last part was muttered, but Nai-chan clearly heard and turned red. I could only smile wryly.

“But yes, Lara can and most likely would have listened in on what you have to say after the training. She is not exactly a friend of you,” I continued.

She looked first troubled and then confused. “Why is that? I don't think I have ever done something that would annoy her. Aren't we Straw Hats friends with you Kage Pirates?” I don't hold it against her, she does not know Lara and Lia as I do. I could also understand her troubled expression, who wouldn't feel like that if the captain of the ship they are staying on does not like you.

Again, it's not as bad as she thought it is. “Well, let me explain that a little bit. Lara and Lia are not normal, they don't think as we do. They both are not exactly trusting people. They see each of us, I mean the crew of the Kage Pirates, as friends. And most likely would do a lot of stuff to help and keep us safe. But that's it, other people have not much room for their benevolence.

Almost anyone they encounter gets a throughout checking of their intention. First by Lia's Observation Haki and then by Lara's ability to sense emotions through her Angel Fruit.

Helping their friends is what allowed you to stay on our ship. They are not helping you, but in their mind are helping me. I would be sad and broken if something were going to happen to you. Which means that preventing you from coming into such a position will prevent me from being sad.

That, in their mind, can only happen if you are either out of any danger or are able to overcome the danger without dying or being grievously wounded. Placing you somewhere where no danger isn't possible. You wouldn't accept that and forcing you would make you sad, which would make me sad.

Other people don't matter to them. Sure, they are not killing everyone they don't like, but I think that's more because it would be boring.” And coming to that realisation was troubling on its own. I first noticed it when we fought in this bounty hunter village. Neither Lia nor Lara cared about the consequences their destruction of the village caused.

The troubled expression didn't leave her face. “That's disturbing, I would not be able to not help someone who is in dire need of it.”

I sighed again, that's something I still don't understand as well. Neither of the twins cares about other people, but at the same time, they are still helping those who need it. Bon Kurei or the prisoner I killed in Impel Down are the most recent examples. They had no known connection to either of the two and yet they did help them anyway. Even when they must have felt how the prisoner was not a friendly person.

Why ever they do it, I hope they won't stop.

“It's not as if they are kicking those who need help away. They do help, but I don't know why they do, it's definitely not because they have pity. Maybe because we, the rest of us, wants to help and they simply follow along.

But that's not really important. What is, is you,” I said and pointed at her.

She too pointed at herself and looked at me in confusion. “Your future behaviour will decide if you are truly going to stay with us for the next two years. I'm fairly sure that nothing you could have said would have bothered Lara too much. But I wanted to explain some things that all of us know before you place your foot in your mouth.

There are only two rules you are not allowed to breach, other than that you can say whatever you want. First, never ever, and here I mean ever, insult either of the twins when the other can hear it. Both are dangerously possessive of each other and can hardly stand it when one of them gets insulted, attacked or degraded.

Again, I mean truly insulting. Calling either of them stupid for something stupid they have done is okay. Or calling insults after them for a prank or something similar is also no problem. But calling 'Lia a cold-hearted bitch that should be put behind bars or better yet put down', even if it can be true sometimes, is a sure way of gaining Lara's ire.

Sabo, an acquaintance we have, once seriously hurt Lia in a tournament. Both have known that they could get hurt in their fight, both have accepted that. But Lia was too stubborn to surrender when it became clear that Sabo was the stronger one. It ended in Lia receiving almost lethal wounds and Sabo only coming out of it slightly better.

Lara, who has known that she will get hurt, as she knew about Sabo's strength, was furious with both. I have never and hope I will never see her that angry again. In hindsight, it surprises me how good Sabo came out of it afterwards.”

“What has she done?” Asked Nami, unsure with herself if she really wants to hear it.

“She gave him diarrhoea,” I answered with a wry grin.

“That's it? From the built up I expected something more serious,” asked Nami flabbergasted.

“Oh, it definitely does not sound cruel. But when you aren't able to keep your food inside for almost a weak it shows itself on your body. He became thin and weaker the longer he stayed with us. I'm pretty sure that she would have killed him through this kind of starvation, had Josef not spotted it quickly enough.

It was rather devious, no one likes to admit that they have diarrhoea. Not even to a doctor, especially one you don't know very well.

Both can be like that. The World Nobles, that your idiot of a captain attacked,” here she had the decency to look embarrassed in his stead, “ are also dead because of them. They did something to their hearts and brain. The shock of seeing one of their own it was too much for them. The tempering they have done caused the heart to stop and the blood vessels in their brain to rip. For the world, they stopped because they either suffered from heart failure or an aneurysm. In truth they were killed, not that I mourn the loss.”

“I'm not sure I want to stay here any longer,” voiced Nai-chan. I looked up from my reminiscing and saw that she was really troubled, worried and even somewhat fearful.

Again, I waved her off. “You don't have to worry. Those are only examples I picked to show that they are not like your captain. They are not the stupid all loving idiot he is. Neither will cause pain or suffer on the whim of their mood.

Ignore them and they will do the same to you. Give them respect and they will do the same. Neither will hurt you if it isn't in retaliation for something you have done. Your broken elbow was not a result of the spar as well.”

Nai-chan winced and rubbed her elbow. “I know, she had warned me. It was even only half an hour before she has told me that she would not accept the same behaviour I have shown to my friends. She said that I am free to try, but that I could expect some form of retaliation.”

“Yes, Lara can't stand it being hit for something inconsequential. Come to think of it, as far as I remember, I can't think of any situation where she has hit any of us for something they have done. Even if it was something truly stupid and deserved a slap to the back of our heads.

She would verbally make us feel guilty or explain what we have done wrong if it was something during a fight but never hit us.

But at the same time, she does not stop us from hitting each other. She does not react to the ribbing Yosaku and Jonny do to each other or the few times I have hit one of them for something stupid.

I think I tried to hit her a few times for something stupid. It was never truly meant to cause pain, as I know yours wasn't as well, but those times she either evaded or retaliated with such force that I thought twice about trying again.

None of us ever tried to hit Lia, that would be stupid beyond measure.” Both of us shuddered, the possible consequences would not be pretty. “What I am trying to say is that they are not out for your blood. They are pretty easy going, as long as you're not pushing the wrong buttons. But we all have those, I just want to help you prevent finding those on your own.”

“So, what you are trying to tell me is that yes, I am weak but that I can work on it. And that I am not here because Lara wants me to be here, but because she is helping you by helping me.

Also, for all the scary images and implies she has given, she isn't against me. I am free to behave as I want but am not to expect the same results I would have with my friends. Which means that I have to think more and be less impulsive.

That does not sound so bad. I wouldn't expect anything less from someone I take in. Especially if I would see him or her as a stranger.”

I nodded glad that she understood. “Lara is not good when it comes to expressing their emotions. She was honestly trying to be nice to you. It's just a little hard to understand how she does that.”

Nai-chan nodded and shuddered. “No kidding, I was scared most of the time I spoke to her. There is some kind of aura she projects, it makes me feel weak and insignificant.”

Aura? Oh, that. “I think I know what you mean, it's a passive effect of both her Haki training and Angel Fruit. She projects her own presence to the world. For me and the rest of the crew it feels protective and comforting. Enemies, who are weak and directly in her presence, can feel hopeless and fear.

What you have felt is similar to what I have said about her ears. She can't stop it, but is certainly able to control that presence, even did it during the war at Marine HQ. You'll see it soon enough.

All of us have such a presence. You too, but those not skilled enough in Observation Haki can't feel such a weak presence. From all of us only Mrs Chicken Wing, Lia, Lara and Herbert have a strong enough presence that not Haki user can feel it. Sabo had one too, it felt as if we could easily be friends.”

She nodded in understanding and began to ask questions about this so-called Haki. I was gladly explaining what I knew and showed her what little I can do with my Armament Haki and my better-developed Observation.

I was also glad that we left the heavy topic behind.

So much were we in our discussion that we didn't notice how the time flew by. It was Noa who reminded us that we would soon reach the island Lia has spotted.

“By the way, what is the second rule I am not to break?” Asked Nami while we walked out.

“Never steal Lara's chicken or Lia's chocolate cake,” answered Noa for me. “The two rules never to cross with Lia and Lara. 1. never truly insult either while the other can hear it and secondly don't steal their favourite food.” He laughed at Nai-chan's expression, but it was the truth.

You should also not steal Josef's weed, Yosaku's alcohol, my orange juice, interrupt Jonny's sculpting, rearrange Fiara's workplace, use Noa's tools or ruffle Inari's tail. As I said, we all have some kind of trigger. And I only helped Nai-chan with the two people who would cause the most harm if she were to trigger them.

And yes, while I had to protect Nai-chan as her sister, I also, as a bigger sister, had the obligation to let my baby sister walk into one or two social traps.