11:: Return. A Marine With a Heart of Gold and Soul of Steel

+Robin+

The night was cool and dark, waves softly lapping the bow of the Going Merry as the moonlight reflected off the ocean surface, making the silveryu light reflect like thousands of tiny facades. A seagull called out in the night, breaking the currents ever so softly.

I sighed as I snuggled deeper into my blanket, book at hand.

Suddenly (AN: i think the word "suddenly" is a bit cliche. but i cant think of anything better at the moment besides "out of no where"), the ship lurched forward from the sudden (AN there it is again! I hate suddenly and anyword like that! idk why!) waves. Unnatural, that's for sure. Well, this is the Grand Line. A huge crash came from a distance, along with a cannon fire and another wave, only bigger. A couple thunks resounded form below the deck, as Nami shrieked in shock.

The door to the boys' quarters slammed open, and Luffy, Zoro, Usopp, Sanji and Chopper came spilling out, tense and ready. Then the door to the girls' quarters opened and came out Nami in a night dress (An sort of weird, yes. Idk what nami sleeps in and i really dont care at this point. Imagine it as granny-like as you want) and Rhythm in a band shirt and underwear, hair sticking up on one side while the other was unaturally flattened.

"What happened, Robin?" Zoro asked, stretching and yawning.

"Sounds like an approaching ship." I held my binoculars up and looked out towards the source of the noise.

"Oi, Rhythm, can't you put some pants on?" Usopp asked her as I climbed down.

"I would, but I can't find my flannel pants. I think Luffy ate them." she replied.

"Why would he? Did he do it before?"

"Yeah, I had a pair of pajama pants that were decorated with little smiley face steaks and cows. i could see why he ate them. All that's left is the blue drawstring." she sighed.

"Well, can't you put some pants on, at least? If we have to fight, do you want to it in your underwear?"

"Well maybe I do!"

"Rhythm-dono looks absolutely amazing in her underwear! She can wear whatever she wants! <3" Sanji said.

"I'll put some pants on." Rhythm said.

"There's a Marine ship approaching!" I said.

"Everyone! prepare for battle!" Luffy yelled.

"Wait, they're waving a white flag!"

"WHAAT?!" Everyone gasped. (AN *GASP*)

The rising sun sent golden rays dancing across the ocean, and reflected the pure white flag of peace, Marine flag down. The ship approached with amazing speed and grace for its size.

"Stay on guard! It might be a trap!" Nami said, pulled a tank top on an strapping her sandles on. "Zoro, pull up the anchor!"

"Did you just get dressed on the deck?" Chopper asked.

"Yeah, so?"

The Marine ship turned and sailed up right next to us, close enough for Marine officers to hop on. Not good.

"Wait," Luffy held up his arm, indicating everyone to back down. "Let's see what they want."

A Marine approached the edge of the ship, Marine coat swaying in the gentle breeze with the word justice printed in its back. The man with shaggy dark hair, darker eyes, and tiny golden hoops piercing each ear. (AN Guess whoooo?????)

He looked up at the flag, then me, then at each of the crewmembers faces, finally resting on Luffy. He grinned.

Luffy on the other hand seemed a bit more relaxed.

"Well, looks like you've made it big, Monkey." he said.

Luffy's eys widen, "Sano?"

"Hell yeah! I'm back and better than ever!" he sprung from his ship and landed gracefully on the deck.

"Wait, sir, what are you doing?" a Marine officer asked.

"I raised the white flag for a reason. I don't want shrimoy here to attack. God knows we can't have that. Anyway, what happens here today, I want you to tell no one, okay?"

"Okay, Sano." a woman with short blue hair and a cigarette dangling from her mouth said.

"Oh, Jessie, you understand." He turned to us. "Now how's it going, Monkey?"

Luffy laughed, "Sano! It's been a while! Hey, you have the jacket thingy."

"Yeah, I juts got promoted to Rear Admiral."  he fixed his crimson tie, "And what about you and your Pirate King dream?"

"Amazing!"

"Hey Luffy, how do you know this guy?" Sanji said, lighting his cigarette.

"He's a good friend of mine. I knew him before he was an Admiral!"

"Rear Admiral, sadly." he said, looking a bit down.

"Oi! Whoever decided to hide my pants are in a world of pa-" Rhythm came from the cabin and stopped in her tracks when she saw the scene before her.

"I think you just lost them," Nami said.

"Sano?" she said, ignoring her.

If it was possible, Sano's grin got even wider. "Delilah!"

Rhythm grinned and laughed, "Oh God, you have a huge ship, Justice coat, and some 100 men backing you up."

The man jumped down onto our the deck. Chopper hid behind the mast the wrong way, Usopp covered himself and ketchup and played dead, while Zoro, Sanji and Nami tensed.

"Damn, Delilah, you've grown! Chest-wise especially!" he laughed, a genuine laugh that came from his very heart.

Rhythm hit him upside the head, "yeah and I've gotten stronger to. I'm not afraid to use them against you." They both then laughed like old friends.

"Oh hey, intros." Rhythm turned to the Straw Hats. " Sano, you know Luffy. The rest is Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Chopper, Nami and Robin. Staw Hats (except Luffy) this is Sano. My boyfriend."

"WHHHHAAAAAA????!!!!!" Sanji, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Chopper exclaimed. Robin chuckled and Luffy laughed.

"You're dating a Marine, why?" Usopp asked.

"Well, I dated him when he was a lowly officer, known as officer B-"

"You're going to hold thaty over my head forever, huh?" Sano interupted.

"Yes. Yes I am. And I dated him for the somewhat man he was under that uniform."

"Whoa!"

"Perv." Rhythm smacked his back.

"The sad thing is, I only joined the Marines not only for Justice (that's only a quarter of the reason) but because I wanted to be known for something besides chore boy and for the cool coat. . . Mainly the cool coat."

"You're a sad, strange little man."

"That, is why you love me."

"Or do I?"

"Aw come on!" he pouted.

"Okay I have a lot I want to catch up on, so we'll leave you guys and make out at the back of the ship," Rhythm said, tugging Sano's hand.

"Really?" he seemed genuinly happy.

"Depends."

"Okay men!. . . and woman! This is an order! Don't attack the pirates and stay here! Socialize, take a nap, have a tea party. I don't care. Just don't harm the pirates! Okay you can hurt Luffy- ow! What was that for?"

Rhythm drew back her fist, "only I get to  beat up Luffy."

"Okay fine, don't hurt anyone and  just. . . relax." The disapeared beheind the ship.

"Erm. . . has anyone seen the new Batman movie?" one of the officers asked.

Some nodded in agreement.

"yeah."

"yesterday."

"pretty good movie."

"Yup."

"I'll make some tea." Jessie said, turning away and going inside the cabin.

"Wait! Beautiful lady! Don't go!" Sanji cried happily.

"Ero cook." Zoro muttered.

"Touch me, I'll strangle you with your own tie!" the blue head yelled.

~Rhythm~

I pulled him into a kiss, something I haven't done in 3 years.

"Nice tattoo, " he said, kissing the 3, up-side-down triangles under my left eye.

"Thanks. Got it done at a hooker bar."

"Really?"

"Nah I'm not that stupid. I got it done a gay man bar."

"That doesn't make a difference."

I laughed as we sat on the railing. After that, we exchanged stories of adventures and just funny moments that would put a smile on our faces. A  joy I haven't felt in a long time bubbled in my chest, coming out of my mouth in laughter and popping in happiness. Sano's eyes sparkled, while he talked on, hands moved with his words like fluttering wings. We cracked smartass jokes that resulted in small shoves with a smile painted on our faces, drawn by the brushes of our souls.

Gold. That's what I thought. My joy was limitless right now, gay gold (An gay means happy. I looked it up.) the lit up the sky like the rising sun, streaks of shimmering warmth that impailed the night sky like steel knives piercing enemy flesh.

The golden heart of this Marine called out mine, grasped it in its embrace and bounded towards the endless ocean waves, forever at peace.

We didn't kiss at all, except for the first one, and just talked what seemed like forever, until the sun rose up into the sky, with the morning calling for the new day to awaken. (AN I feel so poetic right now! And now back to your program MWAHAHAHAAHAHAAHHAHAHHAHAAAAAAAAAAA~~~~. . . why am i laughing?)