Savior -Luffy-

-2-

As soon as Rayleigh saw me, he smiled wide and laughed.

"So, she returned!" I clasp my hand on his back and smile right back at him.

"I sure did!" I reply. "Shanks sends his love."

"Ah, yes... Shanks. How's the kid been?"

"Not a kid anymore," I comment with a small laugh. We both talk back and forth about Shanks and his cruises with me tagging along before he sighs and finishes off his booze.

"The ship's coated and ready to go. By the looks of it, you came alone. I'm guessing the rest of the crew is busy with the frauds?" I nod and he shrugs a little. "Well, the ship is ready to head to Fishman Island when everyone is on board." I smile wide and elbow his ribs gently.

"Thanks, Uncle Ray." He scrunched up his face and I immediately attempt holding in my laughter.

"Let me guess; Shanks told you to call me that?" I nod through a hidden giggle. He groans and rolls his eyes while standing up. "That brat is still causing trouble even years later..." He leads the way to the door but all I could think about was how happy I was to be able to tell Rayleigh that Shanks still thought of him as an uncle. "What else did the boy embarrass me with?"

"That was it, really," I mention while shutting the door behind us. "He had nothing but good to say."

"I suppose I'll give him that," He mutters. "Are you happy to be back?"

"Of course!" I answer with no hesitation. "Why wouldn't I be?" He hums, pulling out the new bounty I had seen this morning.

"It just seemed like you were really making a name for yourself as the only female on the Red-Haired Pirates. Kind of figured you'd enjoy that spotlight."

"Of course I did, but I still had my heart belonging to another crew, Rayleigh." He smiles at that and gives a simple nod.

"I know that loyal feeling well..." He trails."

"Hey," I call out to stop him. He does so and turns to look at me with a questioning expression. "Thank you for training Luffy in the past two years."

"You don't need to thank me, Maylene." He smiles wide. "The kid was a delight!" I returned the grin and followed him toward the ship. "The marines will be here soon. They no doubt already have arrived."

"That's alright. We will get away." I turn to look at him with my chest puffed slightly. "We are going to Fishman Island this time and nothing will stop us!" He laughs loudly while placing a hand on my upper back.

"That's what I love about you guys!" He shouts. "That's the fighting spirit we need in this world! Maybe you fools of the worst generation aren't so bad after all."

"We have our moments..." I hear the loud laugh of Brook and Luffy, making me look at the ship. As soon as I meet eyes with Luffy, his grin widens and he grabs to the railing of The Sunny. I sigh, patting Rayleigh's shoulder. "You're gonna wanna step about five feet to the left," I warn. He nods in understanding, doing as told just as Luffy's body comes slingshotting toward us. I plant my feet firmly, but the impact of the rubber-band man was too much and sent me to the ground with him anyways.

"There you are, May!" His lips found my cheeks, forehead, and nose quickly. I giggled at the embarrassing moves before shoving him off. "We're ready to leave!"

"Good, 'cause Rayleigh said we are good to go." The older man nods in response to Luffy looking at him. The captain gets up and pulls me to my feet with him, his arm still coiled around my waist.

"Thanks again, Rayleigh!" Luffy shouts over his shoulder. I could hear the marines closing in on the coastal area and I grip tighter to Luffy's shirt. He feels it's a cue to leave as he reaches for the railing of the ship again and flies towards it with me in his clutches.