Queen of the Pirates

The Truth Behind Roger

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Unlike the first time I was on a flying fish with Luffy in control, this time I don't have to worry about crashing into a building. I'm settled on Luffy's lap with his arms around my stomach. The breeze rushing through me is calming as we soar towards Grove 13 and Shakky's bar. She'll be impressed to see who we have with us, and I'm hoping that I can ask Rayleigh a few questions about the journeys he had out at see with a certain famous pirate captain.

"Anything you want to tell me about what happened, dumpling?" Luffy says right into my ear.

I run my fingers over his arms. "Other than how horrible it was? To hear the fear in all the other people waiting to be sold. Each other that left the prison meant Camie and I were one step closer to our horrible moment on that stage. How they beat her, and there was nothing I could do. How they tried to take my bracelet," I twist the bracelet around my wrist. "The only time I've taken it off is when I bathe. I can't live without it now. Something happened when they tried to take it. Something that I can't explain."

"Do you want to explain?"

I take a deep breath, "Well, I started to freak out when they started to open the clasp. I was already on edge with being kidnapped, and this pushed be off the cliff. I couldn't control anything, and then the man trying to take it stumbled away."

"Did you push him without knowing?"

"I was trying, but there were chains on my wrists. There's no way that I could have. I desperately wanted it to, even if that meant I would get slapped and kicked like Camie. No one was taking that bracelet from me."

"Hm, well, it sounds like you accidentally figured out how to use a new technique. If you can teach yourself to use the speed like those guys that took Robin, then I'm sure that you can figure out how to do this without being in extreme stress."

"It had the same feeling as what Rayleigh did, but I can't believe that I would be able to do what he did to all those people in the auction hall."

"Don't tell me you're doubting yourself now?"

"No, it's not that, I just..."

"Akari, listen to me," he reaches up to tilt my head to look up at him. "You've been through hell and back, not just today, but a couple times in your life. And every single time, you've come out stronger than before. There's nothing that you can't do. All you have to do is put your mind to it, and with some hard work, anything is possible. I don't know how this Haki thing works, but if you want to figure it out and use it, I know you can."

"Thank you, Luffy," I breathe out. "I could say the same about you. I always know that you're going to come through for me. For us, the crew. I try not to worry, but sometimes I can't help it when you're in a really tough spot, but I know that you aren't going to give up. No matter what happens, you're going to figure out a way to win and make sure that we all get back safe. There's no one else in this world that I'd rather have as a captain."

"What about as a boyfriend?"

I chuckle, "Well, as a boyfriend, it's exactly the same, but with a few more things. I always know that I can talk to you about anything. There's no one else that I could do that with. You help me sleep through the nights, and your hugs are the first thing I want after a big fight or being apart. Oh, and ever since our first kiss, there's no one else I'd even imagine I'd want to kiss than you. I love you, Luffy. There's no one else in the world that could be the perfect boyfriend for me than you."