As the both of you walked, Shanks turned his head towards you.

"See? I told you could do it."

You ducked your head, scratching your smooth left cheek in mild embarrassment as you felt your face turn red.

"I...yeah." You looked back up at Shanks, who was looking at you with that smile and warm gaze within those dark brown eyes. Those eyes that can make you a thousand times lighter. "Yeah. I did." You reaffirmed, more confident in your tone.

Shanks looked down towards you as they walked, his expression then turning serious.

"But don't say those kinds of things again,
(Y/N)..." You furrowed your brows, wondering what he meant. You then remembering and yelling to the villagers that they can punish you, hate you, and hit you as they saw fit to take all loathing they had of the World Government onto you. "A person should never shoulder hate and burdens on themselves. That's why you have friends."

You immediately looked towards him, as his small smile was directed towards you as the both of you walked.

"I...but...I'm a marine." You weakly stated.

Shanks blinked and laughed, putting a hand up to his straw hat to make sure it doesn't fall from his head as his body shook.

"Dahahaha! Really? Cause all I see is a woman. A woman that I can now call my Nakama."

Your eyes slowly blinked as you looked up at him, in awe of what he was saying. For when he said those words, you remembered when you first saw him and told you that you were no monster, that you did not see a pirate but a man. He...thought the same as you? Your heart warmed, and seemed to have skipped a beat. But...that word.

"Na...Nakama?" You questioned, confused at the word.

Shanks widened his eyes as he looked at you, pure shock in his handsome features.

"You don't know what Nakama is?"

At the shaking of your head, Shanks exclaimed loudly in surprise and looked like he almost fell over. You furrowed your brows at his odd actions, a question mark appearing above your head as you quietly observed how the captain muttered quietly to himself in disbelief. Not believing your words on how you never heard of such a word. In truth, you've heard it before. But you've never known what it meant...it seems to be important to know from how dramatic Shanks is being.

"Ahhhh..." Shanks sighed, then looking around to spot a rock by a waterfall, pointing towards it for you. "Let's talk there, it's best to be explained sitting down."

You tilted your head.

"Is it hard to explain it standing up?"

"Yes. No. Wait." Shanks sheepishly laughed, a small red tint on his cheeks as he tried to talk to the clueless awkward woman. Only for you to laugh. Shanks blinked.

"Hahaha! I was joking Shanks. It's so we can talk more comfortably right?" You asked, your (e/c) eyes on him as he slowly blinked again.

This woman, Shanks thought with a smile as you looked at him with a cheeky grin, will be the death of him. And the red head didn't really mind. Shanks gave a slight laugh at your out of the blue teasing, seeing you slowly open up.

No. He didn't mind this at all.

He then swept his arm forward, and let it stay there for (Y/N) to walk ahead and sit first, "Shall we?"

You walked forward and sat on the rock by the waterfall, scooting over some for Shanks to have his own seating space as he sat down next to you. Another warm feeling spread throughout your chest as his shoulder grazed yours as he was fixing himself to sit down.

This feeling...its increasing. You thought in wonder. You felt your chest flutter when you heard his laugh from your small joke. You wanted to hear it more. Everything about Shanks...reminded you of something... Something that you can't quite put your finger on just yet.

Once Shanks was situated, he turned his head towards you in a soft smile.

"Let's see...how can I explain this..." Shanks eyes lit up in an idea and raised his index finger towards. "Oh! I know! Think of the person who's always been with you throughout your life! Who always protected you, and you did the same to them. Who you think you will always give your life to protect them."

Smoker.

You didn't even have to pause to think.

You saw Shanks tilt his head at you, brows furrowed.

"Smoker? Oh, is that who you thought of?"

You widened your eyes and flushed in embarrassment. You didn't even realize you said your dear friend's name out loud. But you nodded all the same, looking down at your lap in remembrance.

"Ya...he's a friend...a dear friend of mine that I trust with my life. He was the first to believe in the dream I had. Even if I was..." You trailed off and stopped, not sure if you want to continue and tell Shanks what you are. You internally shook your head, and moved your eyes towards the patiently waiting Shanks.

"He didn't care if I was a pirate's daughter. All he saw was me wanting to be a marine. That alone...made me happy."

Shanks rose a curious brow, then internally shook his head. They could talk about that at a later date. However, Shanks saw the look into your eyes as you spoke, and felt a pang in his chest. That look...those warm eyes as you spoke about this man. The red head wonders if you even realize it. He smiled down at you in approval.

"That's Nakama. He's your Nakama. And you are his." He said softly, voice in a whisper only for you to hear even though the both of you were already alone. You swallowed, and looked up at him shyly.

"Then...are we Nakama?"

Shanks fully turned towards you, and in that moment, the sun was behind his head, giving him a glow as he gave you a smile. You sucked a breath.

That smile.

"Why, of course we are!"

In that instance, as you looked at him mesmerized, not able to look away from that beautiful pure smile that makes you instantly warm, that you figured out what he reminded you of. You stared at him. Looked at the person who brought you out of the dark, and into the light again. Who saved you when he didn't have to, that brought you back to life again with that shining smile. That shining and glowing smile with those warm kind eyes that always looked at you in attention. Your mother's soft melodic voice came into your head once again.

"Okubyoukaze Ni Fukakerya Saigo(If you lose your nerve, this may be your last breath.)

Asu No Asahi Ga Hai No Hashi(But if you hold on, the morning sun will rise!)"

The sun, you thought, he's the sun.

He bursted through the dark stormy clouds that were over your head. He looked at your red hands, and touched them with a soft smile, saying that you're not defined by those red hands and to wash them. That he could even help with the washing. He didn't care about labels such as 'marine' or 'pirate', only shrugged them off. But most of all, the most powerful of all. He made you feel warm.

So warm.

It was different from the warmness you felt when Lucci gently patted your head before the mission. Or how you were the only one to get away with calling him or messing with him. It was different.

It was brighter.

It was so...so...nice.

Each time you looked in his eyes, your heart always turned lighter. Your chest would feel uplifted. And your problems felt washed away because of him. You craved everything from this man.

His laugh.

His smile.

Everything that made Shanks, Shanks you craved.

You wondered if this is what love felt like.

Cause if it is, it felt wonderful.

.

.

.

The FLUFF.

>//////<

I don't think I can handle all this cuteness mixed with angst. ITS BECOMING TOO MUCH FOR ME!!! DX

HELP!

Beach AU

RIP Ace. SB Loved you as well as many others.

School AU!

Admiral!SB AU(might write a What If of this in Strong AU's, it's been bugging me)

These are all by Hamfie, they're so amazing. ^/////^

Votes~

Main Pairings
Shanks: 108
Mihawk:110
Crocodile:50
Doflamingo: 37
Smoker: 59
Lucci: 36

Side Pairings
Kaku: 6
Paulie: 6
Buggy: 9

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THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS VOTED AND COMMENTED!! I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE THING FOR THE READERS WHO HAVE DONE SO!! XD

I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A NICE DAY/NIGHT!! XD