Chapter 142: The End of the War and Nami's "Punishment"
High above the sky, the thunderclouds that seemed to swallow everything finally dispersed.
"Waaaaah—"
Luffy, having completed the final blow, exhausted all his strength and fell from the clouds like a falling leaf.
"Luffy!"
Robin, already prepared, crossed her hands on her chest, and countless arms grew from behind her. It was her gentle web.
"Cien Fleur: Spider Net!"
Countless arms wove into a giant net, steadily catching the falling Captain.
"Luffy!" Chopper cried as he rushed over, hugging the heavily injured Luffy, wiping his snot and tears all over him.
Not far away, the heavily injured Wyper lay on a stretcher.
This "War Demon" who had never bowed his head to anyone, now looked at the figure of the straw-hat boy, tears sliding past his rugged face.
He trembled his lips and whispered:
"...Thank you."
...
On the other end of the horizon.
Although defeated, Enel was not dead.
He piloted the heavily damaged Ark "Maxim", and at that final moment, he still stubbornly flew towards the distant starry sky.
"Hmph, monkeys of the Blue Sea..."
He looked at the increasingly distant Skypiea, with no nostalgia in his eyes, only a longing for the unknown.
The haze shrouding Skypiea completely dispersed, and the Ark turned into a shooting star, flying towards the "Infinite Land" he dreamed of.
Above the ruins of Angel Island.
Gan Fall and the Shandia Chief stood side by side.
Witnessed by the Golden Bell that had just rung across the sky, both sides finally realized.
The "Gods Island" they had fought over for four hundred years was actually their shared homeland—Vearth.
Hatred melted away in the tolling of the bell.
At such a moment, there was no need for too many words, only a grand banquet.
Although their homes were destroyed, as long as people were alive, there was hope.
...
Night fell, at the temporarily built stone house camp.
"Everyone, don't move around! The bandages aren't tied yet!"
Chopper was busy running around, changing dressings for the severely injured Zoro, Wyper, and Tatsuya.
Inside Tatsuya's room.
Although he had avoided vital points, this body had indeed reached its limit.
Tatsuya lay weakly on the stone bed, his upper body wrapped in thick bandages, revealing only a pair of deep eyes.
Even so, he was still holding that black notebook and a pen in his hand, painstakingly recording something.
"Click."
The door was pushed open.
Nami walked in holding a medicine tray.
When she saw Tatsuya still working in this state, her brows instantly furrowed, her eyes filled with both heartache and a suppressed anger.
"You're hurt like this, and you're still writing in that broken notebook?"
Nami strode over, snatched the pen and notebook from Tatsuya's hand, and threw them on the table to the side.
Then, she turned to Chopper, who was preparing ointment.
"Chopper, go take care of Luffy and the others. Tatsuya's late-night dressing change... leave it to me."
Chopper froze for a moment, then nodded movedly:
"Okay! Then I'll leave it to you, Nami! I was just worrying about not being able to keep up! You're a huge help!"
The simple little reindeer didn't notice the strangeness in the room's atmosphere.
He hugged the medicine box and trotted out, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
...
Late at night, moonlight shone through the hole in the roof of the stone house, spilling onto the stone bed like mercury.
It was so quiet all around that one could only hear the breathing of the two, and the occasional cheers of the banquet from outside the window.
Tatsuya looked at Nami, who was standing by the bed with her back to the light, and a bitter smile tugged at the corner of his mouth:
"My Miss Navigator, the look in your eyes doesn't seem like you're here to apply medicine, but rather like you're going to... murder your husband."
Nami didn't speak.
She put down the medicine tray in her hand with an expressionless face.
The next second, she did something that made Tatsuya's pupils quake.
Nami took off her sandals and climbed directly onto the stone bed.
She parted her legs and actually straddled Tatsuya's waist and abdomen.
Because Tatsuya was heavily injured at this moment, he couldn't resist at all and could only let her look down at him from above.
That long orange hair fell onto Tatsuya's chest, the tips brushing gently against his bandages, bringing a tingling itch.
Tatsuya's breathing hitched, his eyes instantly turning deep, his Adam's apple rolling up and down:
"Nami... I'm a severely injured patient right now, I can't handle being tossed around..."
"Shut up."
Nami suddenly leaned down, supporting herself with both hands on either side of Tatsuya's head, imprisoning him beneath her.
Borrowing the moonlight, Tatsuya saw her face clearly—her eyes were red, and there were still traces of fear and tears that hadn't faded from the corners of her eyes.
"Always like this..."
Nami's voice trembled, but it carried an unprecedented firmness:
"Always protecting everyone behind you while risking your life... whether it was against Crocodile or that Enel..."
"Who do you think you are? A god? Or are you immortal?"
Nami's cold fingers gently traced the charred bandage on Tatsuya's chest, her fingertips trembling violently, as if that were a wound on her own heart.
"Do you know... I thought you were really going to die..."
"This is a punishment."
Before the words fell, Nami lowered her head and actively kissed Tatsuya's lips.
Different from the kiss on the deck earlier, this time, she was extremely aggressive.
She occupied the absolute dominant position in this relationship.
Nami used the tip of her tongue to forcefully pry open Tatsuya's teeth, plundering his breath.
It was as if she wanted to convey all her anxiety, fear, and love through this kiss.
"Mmph..."
She rubbed slowly against Tatsuya's body, even though separated by clothing and bandages.
Tatsuya could still clearly feel the girl's amazing softness, as well as her rising temperature and rapid heartbeat.
As a man, how could he remain indifferent at a time like this?
Although his arms were weak, Tatsuya still managed to lift his hands and clasp Nami's slender waist.
Helplessly yet indulgently responding to her passion, letting her ravage his territory.
For a long time.
As their lips parted.
Both of their breaths became rapid and heavy.
Nami panted and pressed her forehead against Tatsuya's, their nose tips touching. Her brown eyes were unfocused, yet they revealed a possessive dominance:
"Listen well, Tatsuya."
"You are my Vice Captain, and your life... is also mine."
Nami's fingers dug into Tatsuya's hair, gripping tightly:
"From now on, without my permission... you are not allowed to die, and you are not allowed to get yourself into this state."
Tatsuya looked at this aggressive little wildcat in front of him, his eyes full of doting, and he chuckled:
"As you command... my Queen."
Nami bit her lip, a flash of shyness passing through her eyes, then she leaned down again, sticking to Tatsuya's ear, her breath as fragrant as an orchid:
"And..."
"Tonight, even if you can't move... you have to accompany me..."
The camera slowly pulled towards the bright moon outside the window.
Inside the stone house, the candle flickered.
The rustling sound of clothing friction could be vaguely heard, along with the deliberately suppressed yet still heart-stirring gasps.
This night was more moving than the tolling of the Golden Bell.