To Raise a Vampire

Being Honest

"Well, those are some interesting kids," Shanks said in good nature as he shared sake with the captain while the commanders talked to each other about how surprised they were that five of the nine Spades had stayed awake even after the burst of conqueror's haki. Something only very strong and competent people could do.

They were mostly shocked about Luffy and Jojo. Ace and Sabo were both clearly strong, and Deuce also had a strong presence. Jojo was a surprise as she was the cook and a woman. Thatch had hearts in his eyes about, "She's so cool and strong", making his brothers chuckle.

"So, when are they joining your crew?" the red haired pirate asked. Whitebeard didn't let people onto his ship unless he planned they were going to stay. The vampire captain laughed, and said, "Hopefully soon."

Shanks grinned. "A child vampire huh? Did he eat a devil fruit?" Shanks asked. There was no other way he could see having a power like that. He, surprising everyone, didn't ask about Luffy's heritage. They had all expected him to ask that first.

"No, we still don't know the mystery behind his illusions." Whitebeard then explained the shenanigans that had happened lately, starting with the first dream and ending with the butterfly. Shanks laughed about the time puppies ran around the ship and confused everyone, making messes.

"So, what are you doing in Paradise?" Marco asked, sitting on the railing cross legged. "And no, I'm not joining your crew."

"We just got a little bored in the New World and took a vacation to the East Blue," Shanks replied. "Visited many of the islands, came across a few oddballs out there. Like the island that has a ban on all vampires entering. Quite hostile. It was a surprise to us," the man explained after taking a sip of his sake.

"Hey, that's the island that Ace, Luffy and Sabo grew up on," Haruta said in interest. "They've been sailing around East Blue for a couple years," the vampire elaborated.

"I definitely wouldn't want to live there," Shanks said. "Even though I'm not a vampire. We didn't land, as outsiders we're not welcome, as we could be harboring a vampire to pollute the island. It was not a nice place. No wonder those kids left." The commanders frowned, not having really thought about what it must have been like to live there while hiding a vampire from everyone. No one knew the specifics of the boys' pasts, but it didn't sound the best.

Whitebeard chuckled. "Well, we'll give them a much better home here than there. They have no family, but hopefully we can change that. Eventually." Whitebeard didn't sound in the least bit doubtful that the stubborn Ace and Sabo would someday accept being with them permanently.

The smaller yonko then questioned how they met the Spades. And if they were pirates, since there was no Jolly Roger on their ship that he could see in the moonlight. "They accidentally ended up in the Grand Line, and came into contact with some large dolphins that destroyed their rudder.

"They were going hungry and running out of resources. Ace used his fire powers to make an SOS signal. Marco went and decided to help them and voila, now they're on our ship for the time being."

The two captains talked for awhile, drinking all of the sake Shank had brought. The Red Haired crew were fun to drink with with the other commanders, and soon everyone was drunk. Those who had been knocked out had awoken and were irritated that that happened every time Shanks came to visit. It was annoying, both that Shanks found it fun to do so and that they couldn't handle it and felt weak.

When Izo told some of the pirates that a group of the Spades had stayed awake, it garnered both respect and irritation that some kids and a woman could stay conscious and they couldn't. Haruta teased them all, causing many to leave the deck and give Shanks a glare. He just chuckled at it.