Bloodlines

Chapter 1

The sea was calm for once, which was a rare thing you could come by while sailing in the New World. The sun didn't dare to hide behind a puff of white clouds and even the blue sky peeked out beneath the white fluff.

Today was a wonderful day.

Shanks stood against the railing of his large ship with a paper in hand and his eyes had a faraway look. The blue of the sea clashed with the blue of the sky but both of them stayed blue... A color that was nostalgic to him.

"You're still staring at that poster? I thought that you would frame it by now" Benn, his first mate's voice reached Shanks' ears and a smirk came onto his lips. The grey haired male came in next to him and he gave him a brief glance.

"No, not yet. I still need to find a frame first. I can't just put this in a dusty old wooden cover," Shanks said while pointing at the wanted poster. Benn chuckled at Shanks while shaking his head before his eyes rested on the calm ocean.

"What do think would happen from here on out, now that Rosalie has a bounty?" Benn asked and Shanks's face fell slightly but he managed to keep his smile. He glanced down at the poster of his daughter and a light sigh escaped his lips.

"Who knows? I'm sure she can handle herself and she has that rookie by her side. If push comes to shove I'll step in but until then we won't interfere. She has to have her own adventure," Shanks stated and Benn exhaled the smoke of his cigarette.

"What about Luffy? I think he'll be surprised when he hears that you have a daughter" Benn pointed out and Shanks burst out laughing. He could already imagine the small boy's reaction to the news and it amused him to no ends.

"He'll probably want her to join his crew at all costs!" Shanks said and continued to laugh while Benn gave a small chuckle. He agreed. "But I know she'll deny his request. She's attached to her current crew" Benn's brow twitched slightly when he heard a bitter tone in the statement.

"Are you jealous that Rosalie's attracted to that rookie?" Benn asked and Shanks gave his partner a look filled with disbelief. It was Benn's turn to burst out laughing and Shanks growled at the male while his cheeks tinted slightly.

"Shut up! She's my daughter! I don't have anything to be jealous of!" Shanks snapped and averted his eyes away from his first mate. "Besides, he better not do anything to my little girl or he's going to regret it" Benn's laughter died down, but his smug smirk was still visible.

"You mean anything 'bad', though your bad and her good may be the same thing." Benn pointed out and Shanks scowled at the male. He was treading towards a dangerous area and if the male didn't stop soon, Shanks was going to hit him.

"Whatever. As long as she stays out of deadly trouble, I'll accept her choices. It's not like I have a say anyway. She's just as stubborn and dangerous as her mother" Shanks said and Benn's face softened at the mention of the deceased female.

"I've been thinking about Liza a lot lately. I guess meeting up with Rosalie brought up old memories of her" Benn said and Shanks nodded while his eyes danced with various emotions. He had been thinking a lot about Liza as well and found that he couldn't shake her off as easy as always.

"Yeah, meeting Rosalie reminded me of how I met Liza. They were both so strong and prideful but didn't allow themselves to be stepped on. Dangerous women" Shanks murmured the last part and Benn chuckled.

That was just who Liza was...

***

Two years after the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger was executed on an Island named The Conquest Line located in East Blue...