In Another Reality

Misaki: Part 13 Return

   "Oiiiiiiiii! Misakiiiiiiiiii!" Luffy screamed, waving at me from the Sunny. He jumped onto the shore, knocking Misaki flat on her back as he rammed into her full force. His arms and legs wrapped around her as they fell to the ground. He was so damned happy to see her. It was like his heart couldn't even stay inside of his chest, it was so jazzed.

   Kidd cleared his throat, his eyes narrowing at Luffy as he rubbed his face against Misaki's — an act that did not go unnoticed by Nami, who tilted her head at him.

  Misaki smiled like Kidd had never seen before. Not a dredge of sadness was to be seen with this smile. It was bright, and enthusiastic, and charming as fuck, making his heart do a flip. And she was giving that smile to Straw Hat. It made his blood boil, seeing how happy she was with the stupid Captain. He hadn't the pleasure of seeing such a bright smile from her. It made his chest ache as he realized exactly why she didn't want to leave the Straw Hat pirates. That crew is her home? Please. Maybe that's partially true, but there is no doubt the other part is that she's smitten with that dumbass.

    Kidd picked at his ear and sneered at Luffy as he helped Misaki up. "Two seconds and you already flatten the little stow away. You sure you wanna deal with shit like that, Saki?"

   "Did you just call her Saki?!" Luffy said, whipping his head around to look at Kidd.

   Luffy and Kidd did not have the best of rivalries. Even when Luffy was being nice, Kidd was always being shitty. That's just who Kidd was. But why was he picking at him about Misaki? And why did he have a nickname for her?

  "Just saying." Jaggy shrugged, making Luffy grit his teeth. "You can always ditch them if you want."

  "Hey! Are you trying to steal Misaki from us?!" Luffy growled. "What gives, Jaggy?!"

   "Relax, Straw Hat. I'm not serious. She's already made it clear she wants to go back to your ship." Jaggy said, crinkling his nose at him.

    "Well of course she does. It's not like she would want to go with you guys." Luffy muttered, sending daggers at Kidd.

   "Hey," she said, snatching his cheek, "be nice."

   "Yeah yeah yeah." Luffy said, making Kidd seethe.

   "Funny you should say that, because Misaki and I totally—"

    *CONK*

   Luffy blinked as Jaggy reeled back, a shoe falling to the ground after leaving a mark on his face.

   "I JUST SAID BE NICE!" Misaki growled, grabbing her other shoe to threaten him.

   Kidd laughed and tossed her shoe back to her. "Whatever you say, twerp."

   Misaki stuck her tongue out at him. "Brute." She muttered, a small grin poking at the edges of her lips.

   Zoro and Nami raised an eyebrow and looked at each other. That definitely seemed flirt-y to both of them. Misaki then strode over to Jaggy and hugged him, making most of the crew collectively gasp as he hugged her back. Luffy simply stood there, a little too shocked to react.

  "You take care of yourself, you brute!" Misaki smiled, looking up at him like a child hugging a parent.

   "Same to you, Saki. And remember. If you ever get sick of them, I'm just a transponder snail away."

   "Oi!" The crew said collectively as Kidd turned on his heel and made his way back to his ship.

   "So... ummm..." Robin began. "What was that about?"

   Misaki turned around and waved her hand innocently. "I'll tell you guys about it in a minute, but first, let's get back on the ship! I need a shower and a change of clothes!"

   >>

   After Misaki showered, she came down to tell the crew the tale of getting lost in the storm and how she ended up relying on Kidd for the time she was stranded on the island. When she finished, a couple of the crew members sort of shifted in their seats a little.

  "Is that all?" Nami said. "Cause it kind of looked like there was more from where I was sitting."

   "What do you mean?" Misaki asked, tilting her head.

   Luffy looked between the two, unsure what Nami was getting at. Despite not knowing, his heart rate quickened as his anxiety sky rocketed.

    "I mean, the way Kidd was acting... it kind of seemed like there was more than just friendship between you two.

    "Ohhh, that?" Misaki said, nervously scratching her head. Zoro looked away as the other crew members leaned in curiously.

   Luffy looked at her. Something tightened in his gut. He was a mess when she was gone. He was worried sick. Hell, for all he knew, she drowned at sea. When he got the call from Kidd, he was absolutely overjoyed. Nothing else had even crossed his mind, other than the fact that she was alive and doing ok. But now, a million possibilities were flooding into his mind. Internally, he was full on panicking. Misaki would never though. Not with a guy like Jaggy.

"Come on, Misaki! Spill!" Nami said.

   "Yeah, well... he um.. he did kiss me."

   "Wait, what?" Luffy said quietly.

   "Hold up! You and Kidd had a thing?!" Nami said, standing up in her chair.

   "What?" Luffy said, a little louder.

   "It, well... obviously I turned him down." She hummed, a mischievous little smirk forming on the edge of her lips.

   "Jaggy?" Luffy said, clenching his fists.

   "So less of a thing, more of a fling?" Nami laughed.

   "It wasn't really like tha—"

   "JAGGY?!" Luffy growled loudly, standing up so quick, he knocked over his chair.