ROMANCE DAWN

16

My eyes open slowly. I slowly emerge from my sleep. Pure sunlight floods into the room, lighting it up completely. I stand up slowly so as not to lose my balance. Today is the day we all go our separate ways. Luffy is reunited with his crew after two years apart, Rayleigh with her wife and her daily life here in the Sabaody archipelago. It's early and time for me to leave. I go to Luffy's room, which looks more like a storeroom than a bedroom. Rayleigh allocated the rooms, so I'm not surprised.

I yawn and head for the corner of the room where my things are laid out. I kneel down on the floor and gather them up, since they were scattered all over the floor. I haven't touched this bag since we left Amazon Lily. I put them in the bag that Hancock gave me when I got my things back, when I find an object that brings back countless memories. A snail phone that fits over the top of the ear. It's discreet and gives you the freedom to do whatever you want with your hands while making a call. I look at the shell with nostalgia, then place the little snail phone on my ear. I hear a signal and then a crackling sound.

"Y/n?" Says a voice I know very well.

"You." I say through clenched teeth.

Hearing his voice makes me angry, but this anger is combined with surprise and astonishment.

"Sweetheart, you're alive. "My throat knots, I can't speak. "I called you every day, you know. I haven't stopped worrying about you."

My face softens but I'm still wary. The emotions are fighting a merciless battle in my stomach.

"You're lying." I can barely articulate.

"I'm not.

— You tried to kill me. You left me for dead at Marine Ford.

— No, no, no." He refutes with a voice full of concern. "I admit I let my impulses get the better of me but you know me, I would never hurt you, would I?"

I hear Luffy behind me roll over in his bed. I turn towards the bed in one swift movement.

"You know I'd never hurt you, Y/n." I don't answer him. He sighs." Tell me where you've been for the last two years and why you're only answering me now.

— I was on Ama-" I stop, realising I'm instinctively trusting him too quickly.

"Tell me.

- I was on an island. After the battle, the straw hat and a few people were taken far away for treatment."

I lie to him but I don't want to risk him going after Amazon Lily or Hancock.

"And what did you do there?

— I've been training." I affirm as I watch the boy sleep.

A bubble emerges from his nostril and gets bigger as he breathes.

"You're with him, aren't you?

— Yes, I'm with him.

— You must have spent a lot of time with him, alone.

— I just-

— I don't blame you. I neglected you for those two years, so it's normal that you're trying to find alternatives to replace me. I've tried too." I clench my fist. "But no other woman is better than you. I promise you that.

— What do you want from me?" I finally ask.

— I want you to go back to DressRosa. I'll give you anything you want, no strings attached. Where are you?