[When the door to the cell bursts open, there are signs. Things that are off. A flicker of red in Luffy's eyes, too much shadow to Robin's dress. Aku's mimicry isn't perfect. It may be subtle enough for Sanji to miss those factors. It's definitely subtle enough for a girl who's barely slept in days and is pinning all her hopes on seeing her crew.
It's Luffy, Robin and Usopp that come through the door. Sanji in the doorway. There are others outside, silhouetted in the sudden light outside. (Shadows. That's all they are.) And Luffy's the only one that speaks, and it's a fair impression, face split in a wide Luffy-grin, and he helps Nami gently to her feet, talking about getting her home, really, they can't let her go anywhere, what was she thinking telling Aku those lies?
And she doesn't have time to frame a response before Aku's distinctive laughter is heard outside, and the light source flickers and nearly dies. And then there's fighting, dark and chaotic, and Luffy shoves her to the back of the cell and tells her to stay put.
And Aku is one hell of a performer. He makes the fight pitched and realistic, because he's seen three of those four Straw Hats in action. Only Usopp feels off, and in the chaos his lack of a weapon is easily missed by the audience this show is intended for.
But eventually the tide turns, and they start dying.
First Usopp falls. Then Robin. Sanji is crushed against a wall by darkness. Only Luffy is left, finally, interposing his body between Aku and Nami, fists up to keep fighting.
Eventually, Aku cuts him in half.
There's a torn and bloody straw hat wheeling off his head as the captain falls, and it lands by Nami's feet. She was screaming before. Now she stares at it, and she can't stop staring blankly, making no sound at all.
Aku sweeps from the room and takes all her will to fight with him. And the door clangs shut.
Nami's not watching anymore. At the first sign of fighting, she turned away, eyes shut. And soon after that, her hands are over her ears.]
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It's Luffy, Robin and Usopp that come through the door. Sanji in the doorway. There are others outside, silhouetted in the sudden light outside. (Shadows. That's all they are.) And Luffy's the only one that speaks, and it's a fair impression, face split in a wide Luffy-grin, and he helps Nami gently to her feet, talking about getting her home, really, they can't let her go anywhere, what was she thinking telling Aku those lies?
And she doesn't have time to frame a response before Aku's distinctive laughter is heard outside, and the light source flickers and nearly dies. And then there's fighting, dark and chaotic, and Luffy shoves her to the back of the cell and tells her to stay put.
And Aku is one hell of a performer. He makes the fight pitched and realistic, because he's seen three of those four Straw Hats in action. Only Usopp feels off, and in the chaos his lack of a weapon is easily missed by the audience this show is intended for.
But eventually the tide turns, and they start dying.
First Usopp falls. Then Robin. Sanji is crushed against a wall by darkness. Only Luffy is left, finally, interposing his body between Aku and Nami, fists up to keep fighting.
Eventually, Aku cuts him in half.
There's a torn and bloody straw hat wheeling off his head as the captain falls, and it lands by Nami's feet. She was screaming before. Now she stares at it, and she can't stop staring blankly, making no sound at all.
Aku sweeps from the room and takes all her will to fight with him. And the door clangs shut.
Nami's not watching anymore. At the first sign of fighting, she turned away, eyes shut. And soon after that, her hands are over her ears.]