ROMANCE DAWN

12

"I'm sorry, okay?" I say, running my fingers through his hair. "I didn't really mean that."

That's really what I meant. And I'm not sorry I said it or thought it, I'm sorry he took it to heart. I sigh and draw circles on the boy's back to calm him down.

"You do your best to protect everyone. You're no match for any other captain. At this level, Doflamingo doesn't even come close."

He sits up slowly. My eyes widen at the sight of the boy's watery eyes. He bites his lower lip to hold back his sobs. A tear falls down my cheek.

"I'm sorry I tried to stop you from saving your brother." He climbs off me and sits on the bed. "But crying won't bring him back."

He bows his head.

"I want to protect my crew." He sobs. He clutches the sheets between his fingers. "When you appeared out of nowhere and started fighting me, I thought it was the end." He confesses softly.

"You didn't want to fight me and you were hurt."

He shakes his head. "Every time someone got in my way, an ally came to help me, and all the while I was running towards Ace to free him. And when you appeared, they were all so busy fighting for themselves and for me that no one could come and help me. I didn't have much time, I was alone against you and I knew I couldn't win. So I put my forehead to the ground and begged you to let me through. It was so humiliating!" He sniffs." I realised that without the help of others, I couldn't succeed at anything.

— It takes courage to do what you did. You let your guard down, I could have hit you any time I wanted." He listens carefully. "But what you wanted wasn't to beat me, but to save your brother, and your will was stronger than mine. I think deep down I knew that you deserved what you wanted more than I did."

I raise my hand to his face and wipe away his tears with my index finger. His big watery eyes stare at me. He looks exhausted. Then, like two magnets, our faces come together. His eyes travel down to my mouth and then back up to my eyes. Our lips touch several times, brushing against each other. I feel his hot breath crash against my face. My hand slips from his cheek, caresses his jaw and settles on the nape of his neck.

"I've never done this before." Luffy murmurs.

"Excuse me." A voice throws as someone enters the room.

I reflexively push the boy in the straw hat off the bed, sending him crashing headfirst into the floor. Then I turn to the dark-haired woman in the swimming costume standing between the two doors leading to the corridor.

"The Empress wants you to come and join her at the port." She says with an arched eyebrow.

I clear my throat and stand up slowly so as not to lose my balance. The boy in the straw hat rubs his head and stands up too. I walk towards the woman who is waiting for us at the end of the room, puzzled, without looking at the dark-haired man. She takes us to the port, taking us through the palace and the town. I stay by the side of the warrior woman, who quickly gives me a guided tour of the island, where I'm likely to be staying for some time, with Luffy walking a little further behind us. This is my first time on Amzon Lily. It's a very difficult island to get to as there are no winds or storms in Calm Belt. The island is covered in forest, the central point being a mountain with a deep crater on which are carved gigantic snake statues.

When we arrive at the port, we can see Boa Hancock and a few women. They are standing next to a boat. One is very small, wrinkled and has very thick lips. In her right hand she holds a snake-shaped walking stick.