Polestar Island, the closest Island close to the entrance of the Grand Line had almost all of its surface covered by one of the largest towns of East Blue save for a few steep hills— Loguetown; A town famous for a very historical moment.

"It's huge!" Brody whistled as everyone looked at the strange group and decided to stay away from the exhibitionist in merely a pair of trunks that attracted the attention of plenty. "So this is the town where the King of Pirates, Gold Roger was executed, huh?!"

"Brody..." Still 'recovering' from her truly pleasant night as he'd guaranteed except for the biological clock that 'ticked' against her early in the morning and wholly scared by the sensation of it, Nami massaged her head, "Let's find something for you to wear first..."

"Again... sorry... my ability was activated accidentally..." Nojiko lowered her head while Alvida patted the woman's back, "Don't worry. It hasn't even been a day since you ate your devil fruit. You'll learn to control it."

"On the other hand, what were you even doing with his trousers?" Nami frowned.

"Trying to wash it," Nojiko replied with a straight expression and that only earned her a suspicious glare from her sister.

"Anyway, let's go!" Brody grinned.

"What about our treasure?" Nami looked back at the ship with thinly veiled worry as the group could only shrug. They had taken out stacks of bills but the gold and various other stones were hard to liquidate at once. Besides, they had over 13 million B in cash so they could purchase whatever they liked in this town.

"Right? I'm off to buy clothes and then find us a cook. Man, I miss Sanji..." Brody sighed, "I hope we get someone good."

"Oh, Captain, what about your partner?" Alvida questioned as she was the only one still hung about this mysterious female partner of their captain who was as strong as he was attractive... not that the last part was really important to Alvida... Besides, she wanted to see if this partner of his was really more beautiful than her!

"Her? We have a code, don't worry. I'll meet her soon enough," Brody smiled, "Oh, that reminds me, we should return to the ship before the end of the day, sounds good?"

"Fine by me, I need to buy clothes and information on how to enter grandline... sigh, my equipment needs an upgrade, too," Nami groaned.

"I'll tag along," Nojiko smiled, "I've never really hung out with you outside Cocoyashi Village so it could be fun."

Nami's grin broadened at that.

"Hmm, I'll follow captain then. Not like I have anything of interest here except trying out different maces at a weapon's store," Alvida smiled.

---

*Knock* *Knock*

"Hngh? Come in," A gruff voice of approval made the tanned marine soldier slowly open the door to an office as he was greeted with the sight of absolute 'mist' but he realized in a second that this 'mist' was nothing but the smoke of a cigar.

Although the smoke was heavy, the soldier entered the room with a gulp and gazed at the shadowy figure, "Captain Smoker, our men at the harbor have identified three new pirate groups. One of them is the recently infamous Straw Hats who... crashed into the western port of the town with their navigator, Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro flying out of the ship.

There is also the news of an Iron Mace Alvida entering the town with an exhibitionist and our scouts suggest that Buggy The Clown's crew are making their way towards Loguetown in a primitive ship paddled by many of his men..."

Finally stirred, the Captain named smoke walked towards the window of the office and opened it to let the smoke clear off as a tall, bulky silver-haired man with his torso uncovered and two cigars in his mouth was revealed to the eyes of the soldier.

"Any news on Brody Hanma?" Smoker, captain of the Marine Unit based on Loguetown, questioned with his gaze narrowed.

"Not yet, sir. The reports suggest that the exhibitionist accompanying Alvida has similarities known to Brody 'Ruin' Hanma but due to the unclear image in the bounty poster, we are unable to ascertain this for sure."

The soldier replied concisely as Smoke looked outside the office as his gaze fell on the large city filled with colorful houses, bazaars, and business centers.

"Brody... Straw Hat... their adventures will come to an end in this town.

"Sir... should we contact—"

"No need. I'm more than enough to handle them. Brody may be troublesome to others but just a high bounty is not an expression of strength. Tell me, since I took over the role of captain in this town, has any pirate ever escaped?"

"N-No, Captain!"

"Hmm, then do as I say. Inform the first unit to keep a lookout in the harbor and the west port. Don't attack any pirate ships yet less we alert them. Once these pirates are behind the bars, we'll distribute the wealth they stole back to their rightful sources." Inhaling a deep puff, Smoker continued while letting out a plume of smoke from his nostrils, "Let's go... and where is Tashigi?"

---

"Tch... none of this works," Brody scowled as he set aside yet another jacket while Alvida continued to gaze at her captain who simply couldn't decide on what to wear over his tank top. He had already purchased a few dark trousers and training pants alongside waistbands and tanktops but while he loved the idea of a jacket... he couldn't find anything he liked for that matter.

And this was their fourth store.

"Sigh... it's useless... sure you don't want to buy something, too?" Brody looked back at Alvida who smirked and shook her head, "I already have a lot of clothes. Besides, my beauty must not be contained in clothes. It's to be explored~!"

"Oh, alright," Brody shrugged and masterfully slapped away all the subtle suggestions since he was more excited about something else. He just wasn't here to shop, after all.

"Say, Buddy, did you see a tall man with shoulder-length red hair? Really well-built..." Brody looked at the store owner who looked a little confused but soon answered, "Well, this is Loguetown so we see all kinds of pirates. Every one of them is locked up by the Captain of the marines so maybe your friend is also locked up? Aside from that, I haven't seen any man of that description..."

"I see..." Brody sighed.

"Maybe he's wearing a disguise?" Alvida offered. She didn't know who Brody was looking for but that person must be important to him.

"No, he doesn't wear disguises..." Brody shook his head.

"But, Customer-san, if you're really looking for strange things. Two weeks ago, the entire eastern side of the town was caught in surprise. Some pirates released a poison that caused everyone in that region to go unconscious!"

Brody blinked, "Say that again!"

"Everyone in the eastern region went unconscious!" the salesman replied.

"We're leaving," Brody picked up his clothes while slapping down the money and left with eagerness in his steps as Alvida followed after him.

"Captain, who are you looking for anyway?" She inquired with a great deal of interest.

"Well..." Brody grinned, "Words fail to describe him, literally. The only thing I can describe is his appearance... the rest... must be felt."

---

The first thing Nami did despite listing out what she planned was to actually locate a tattoo shop. While she had joined the Devil Back Pirates, she still wanted to be completely done with the nightmares of her past, and the shark-like tattoo on her left shoulder needed to go. As such, Nami was having most of it removed while having another tattoo drawn over it while Nojiko waited for her outside in the lobby of the large store.

Tattoos were simply popular here in Loguetown and as such, most well-established artists have expansive stores. Nojiko herself went through the catalog while wondering if she should have some more tattoos for herself. Quite honestly, she wasn't into tattoos that much. The only reason she had tattoos riding up her right arm and chest was that she did not want Nami to feel isolated after being marked by Arlong.

But...

"Wow... a tattoo that completely covers the back in any jolly roger... must be painful..."

"It really isn't," a rather mature but soft voice replied to Nojiko's idle musing as a tall and curvaceous figure walked out of one of the rooms. Her shoulder-length pink hair curled upwards at the tips while her thick locks covered the right portion of her face, revealing a single violet eye with a thin brow that swirled in on the outer region similar to a blonde cook's brows. The woman wore a form-fitting one-piece light pink dress with even her neck covered as a broach decorated the region. Meanwhile, her exposed thighs revealed two tattoos, each of them being a dark-bluish, almost black, 0.

As if realizing with the pinkette's amused stare that she had been staring for too long, Nojiko blinked and closed the catalog, "It doesn't? When I got these, I cried a lot. But then again, I was very young when I got my arm inked."

"I see," the pink-haired woman whose only differing features from Sanji were her gender, her full lips, and her pink hair smiled, "Well, Tattoo artists have come a long way. Are you new to this town?"

Nodding, Nojiko replied, "I am... and you are?"

"Ah, a very terrible pirate whose name must not be spoken," the woman smiled and shook her head with humor clear in her tone and remarked.

"Oh," Nojiko smiled, "Well, I've heard while exploring with my sister that this Town has a famous marine captain so don't get caught."

"I see," a moment of sadness flashed in the woman's eyes before she nodded, "You and your sister take care. And if you really want a tattoo... I think you will look good with something on the back of your shoulder."

Nojiko nodded, "Thank you for your suggestions..."

As the woman began to leave, Nojiko finally couldn't keep her curiosity in check. It had only been two days since she left with Brody but she felt that she was being more and more reckless... but then again, she had lived while stifling herself and adapting to the situation. It felt good... questioning whatever she had in mind.

"Um, perhaps do you know someone named Sanji?" Nojiko's words made the woman stop in her tracks as she looked back with a flabbergasted expression that soon turned calm, "Sanji... No, I don't."

"I see..." Nojiko sighed and didn't speak further as the woman left.

Nami came out an hour later with her tattoo replaced by a blue pinwheel-like design and the duo soon departed from the shop to explore the town further ahead.

---

"Mademoiselle, Ah~ I'm touched by your very beauty. So elegant. So graceful. Please, give me the honor of kissing the back of your hand~!"

Alvida stared at the lean blonde youth in a black suit and blue shirt holding her hand. It would be much too easy to let her hand slip away, pick a mace she had her eyes on since this was the weapon's store, and smash the buffoon's face in for daring to touch her but...

"Sanji..." an eerie, haunting cackle rang beside the youth whose expression grew ugly while the fellow behind laughed, "Its fate, Sanji! Just be my cook!"

"Ara, Captain, you're back. Did you enjoy yourself?" Alvida questioned as Brody, still clutching Sanji's shoulder looked at her weirdly, "Who asks someone that after they come from pissing?"

"Then what should have I asked?"

"Did I wash my hands or not?" Brody replied.

"Did you?"

Brody blinked while Sanji screamed, "Oi, Bastard! How did you get such a beautiful lady as your crew member? Wait! Where is Nami-san?! What the hell did you do to Nojiko-san!!"

Brody looked at Sanji, "Nai, I didn't wash my hand~!" and grinned.

"You bastard!!"

Neither Alvida nor Brody knew what Sanji was the angriest for.

---

"Hne hne! Nami! Be my navigator! Zoro got us stuck in a whirlpool and then crashed into a port!" Luffy grinned while crossing his arms and standing in front of Nami and Nojiko who had their arms linked together.

It was clear that this could get troublesome...

So, Nami looked at the nearest marine, "Excuse me, kind sir! This Evil Straw Hat Luffy is harassing the two of us sisters... sniff, we can't even go out to shop without pirates staring at us..."

It was hard for Nojiko to not smile as Luffy tilted his head in confusion, "Harassing? What is that? Can you eat that?"

"Oh, no! This pirate wants to devour us!" Nami acted beautifully as not only the marines but even the civilians gathered around Luffy with an angry expression.

"Oi, Nami, it's me! Ah, no, listen, I know her—"

Luffy gaped in shock as Nami cutely winked and left with Nojiko who, in turn, mouthed an apology with a wry smile.