Disclamer: I don't own One Piece. Oda Sensei does!

Luffy?

-The Next Night-

"Get to bed!" shrieked Nami to Luffy and Suta. It was almost 3:00 A.M. as Suta dragged herself to bed. The crew had hired a shipwright to add a little shack since Nami said it was already too crowded with Robin. And Suta certainly couldn't sleep in the Men's Quarters. She had a shack all to herself with a hammock which was practically her only possession. The door's hinges creaked as she sluggishly opened the door. The room was cast by shadows while moonlight streamed across the floor and walls. When she closed the door the room was overwhelmed by the dark. She slipped out of her clothes and slowly took her nightgown Nami had given her. The nightgown was white and silky, it had no sleeves and had a low collar. Under the collar it was deccorated with lace, and the white ribbon that weaved from the back was placed under her chest area which propped her breasts up a tad bit. The the skirt flowed down to her knees. Suta fluffed her pillow and then climbed into her hammock. She had a little trouble at first as it swung under her. Soon she was in but couldn't get to sleep. The air was too hot and she couldn't sleep without a blanket. After thinking about it for a while she tossed the flannel blanket to the flooring. Her eyes started drooping and before she knew it she was asleep. An ominous creak woke her with a startle.

"W-who's there?" she called out into the darkness. The silence began to drive her mad as her heart throbbed faster and faster. Her fright died away and her fear emptied into the darkness that surrounded her. She sighed with relief and layed back down. She looked up at the ceiling but soon she saw the shadows move from the corner of her eye.

"Is it my imagination or is someone there?" she thought to herself. The hammock swayed as a hand grasped the edge. Her eyes widened as she watched the unknown figure climb up into her hammock. The person's hands grasped the ropes at the sides of her head and she could feel their knees at her hips. For some reason the unidentified stranger was right on top of her. Their eyes glowed in the gloom of her room.

"L-Luffy?" she asked with her voice shaken.

"Hm?" he answered as his forehead was pressed against hers.

"What are y-you doing?" she asked as his lips was a hairs breath, so close his lips tingled her lips. He paused in that position for awhile.

"S-Suta?" he asked.

"Yeah?" she said as he sat up upon her legs. Luffy paused once again before he said quickly,

"SorrythoughtyouwereNami…Bye!!" With that he jumped off the hammock to the floorboards with a thump. He then rushed out the door and slammed it shut leaving the hammock rocking violently. Suta curled up in her hammock and sighed.

"So he likes Nami…" she whispered to herself. A tear trickle down to her neck.

She wiped it away quickly and went back to sleep.

-Meanwhile-

Luffy meandered to the rail. He pounded his elbows against the rail and lowered his head into is hands.

"Why did lie? I mean I actually lied to her! Why is this so hard?? I can rush into battle and beat people up, but I can't tell Suta how I feel???" He said to himself with a sigh. He stood there for awhile before he smelled some meat.

"Niku? Niku!" He said as he ran over to the aroma. He saw a box (4'x6') filled with meat. With a shout of "Niku!" Luffy dived in.

-Morning-

Suta awoke to screams outside and then all of the sudden Usopp bashed her door open.

"Have you seen Luffy??!" Usopp asked.

"No, why?"

"He's gone! We've looked around the whole ship but he's nowhere!!"

"What's so bad about it? He's probably at the island we're docked at."

"There is no island!! The next one is at least 30 miles off!!!" replied Usopp. Suta's eyes widened and she then jumped out of bed forgetting her depression. Everyone was up and about (yes, even Zoro) looking for Luffy.

"Man, I give up. He's nowhere, nowhere!!!" Zoro said as he slumped to the ground and closed his eyes.

"How can you say that, Zoro!!?" screamed Chopper.

"I guess we should wait untill we get to the next island. Maybe he's there," suggested Robin. Everyone one agreed and went off to their separate rooms. Everyone except Zoro (imagine that) was on edge waiting for the island to appear.

-About an hour later-

"MINA!!! THE ISLAND IS IN VIEW!!!!" screamed Nami to the crew. Eveyone lept to the starboard side and crowded up at the rail. The island was about 30 feet away from the Going Merry. Suta was about to ask Luffy to catapult her there, but then she realized he wasn't there.

"Zoro, throw me," said Suta plainly.

"What?!" he asked.

"If I can get to the island I can search for him while you dock the ship," she said with her eyes fixed upon the island.

"I can't throw you that far!!" he bellowed.

"Sanji-" she started before Sanji cut in.

"I won't kick you," he said as he lit a cigarette.

With a sigh she said, "Fine." Suta ran into the Men's Quarters and grabbed Usopp's fireworks.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" inquired Usopp.

"I'll use them as a signal when I get there," she replied.

"And how do you expect to get there?" asked Nami.

"With my Gumo Gumo no mi powers," she answered. Everyone was shocked but remained silent.

"Luffy… I won't fail you…" Suta thought to herself. She then closed her eyes an relaxed like Luffy had suggested.

-A memory of last night-

"Just close your eyes and relax then shove your arms before you allowing them to stretch," Luffy instructed her. Suta closed her eyes paused and then flung her arms ahead of her. Nothing.

"You weren't relaxed. Here try it again," he said as he walked around her. Suta closed her eyes and let out a deep breath of air.

Luffy moved his lips close to her ear and whispered, "Relax, Suta." Lufy grabbed her arm and rubbed her muscle.

He let out a sigh and said, "You're still not relaxed." He took both of her hands and wiggled them.

"I should be able to do this," Luffy said with a laugh and made his arm wiggle and wave. Suta giggled with her eyes upon Luffy. She turned her head and closed her eyes; she then tried to concentrate. Suta shot her eyes open when Luffy's hand glided down her side, to her hip, and then to her belly. Luffy noticed her stomach was warm as he pressed his hand against it. (Suta was wearing a belly shirt.)

"Uh? Luffy??" she asked.

"Yep."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm… uh... holding you so when your arms snap back you won't fall," He said shyly. That wasn't really why, but it was partly that. He actually just wanted to hold her.

"Oh," she said as she blushed. After a few more attempts Nami scatted them to their beds.

Suta thought of when her and Luffy were together. Her shoulders lowered and a tear swelded in her eye. She pulled her arms ahead and when she opended them to her surprise they were reaching for a palm tree.

"WAHH!!" screeched everyone in suprise. Suta grabbed a tree with one hand (the other had the fireworks) and she was lunged forward. Suta screamed with joy as she flew through the air. She hit her head on the tree and spiraled into the brush. Grasping her head she quickly got up and raced to the shore. She ran along the beach. She started breathing heavily as her feet sank into the damp sand. She mistook many logs for Luffy. After running for about 20 minutes she saw a red and blue dot in the distance ahead. It was probably another tree log, but she didn't want to take any chances. With renewed strength she lunged over. She collapsed of exaustion close to the unknown figure. Suta's vision was blurred and was quickly fading as she squinted at the figure. Suta awoke and laid there for awile untill she remembered what she was doing. She jumped to her feet and she got a head rush that gave her loss of balance and sight, but after a while she gained her eyesight and noticed it was Luffy. She ran over but fell once again. She got on her hands and knees and crawled over to the limp, disfigured Luffy. She laid next to him puffing in air. She looked at Luffy and at first thought it was someone else. Luffy was covered in dirt and dried blood. His clothes were tattered and he was stitched up in many different places. His lips were slightly open and his chest was heaving roughly. Soon she remembered that she needed to send the signal. She slowly stood up and walked on her knees away from Luffy so the blast wouldn't hurt him. She took the matches from her pocket and lit the fuse. Suta wasn't able to run so the blast burnt her shirt and back but it was sent into the air with a whizz and then some booms and crackles. Suta slowly proceeded to Luffy. She didn't fall on the way but let herself fall to the ground when she got close enough. She crawled over and rested her head on his chest. Luffy winced which caused her to jump but he settled down so she closed her eyes and listened to the reassuring THUMP… THUMP…THUMP THUMP. Even though it was iratic she still could draw comfort knowing he was at least alive. Luffy slighly lifted his head and whispered,

"Am I dreaming or is it you Suta?"

"I'ts me," she said quickly wiping away tears.

"What happened to you?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter… I'm just glad you're here." He replied coughing a few times.

"They should be here soon." She said as she sat up. She gently placed Luffy's head on her lap and stroked his hair.

"Come closer, Suta." He said in a quiet voice. Suta leanded over and Luffy weaved his fingers through her hair and tenderly pulled her closer. Luffy then kissed her; after he was done Suta asked,

"What was that for?"

"Just in case I don't get the chance again," he said softly as he closed his eyes.

"Don't say that Luffy," Suta said as her eyes blurred with tears. Luffy just pulled a big smile. After a short pause Suta asked,

"B-but I thought you liked Nami."

"I was using that as an excuse. You know, I was so nervous."

"Luffy…" she said softly as tears came rolling down her face.

"Don't cry, Suta," he whispered to her as he unsteadily reached over to her cheek and brushed off her tears. Suta put her hands on his which were still upon her cheek. Suta closed her eyes and sat there with Luffy.

"I'm glad I got to see you one last time," he said with his eyes still closed. His hand slipped form her grasp to the moist sand.

"LLLLUUUUUFFFFYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!" Suta screamed in vain. She looked behind her and saw that the crew were getting ready to dock. Tears overwhelmed her as she looked at him. Luffy's chest stopped moving and she couldn'y hear him whisp when he breathed. She placed her head against his chest and listened. …nothing. She waited a little longer. …nothing. Tears were dripping from her face to the sand and she tried to think ractionally. Suta needed to get his heart going again so she balled up her fists and pushed roughly against his chest where his heart was. After about a minute she laid her head back down and listened. …thump…….thump…… Even though it was muffled he was alive but not nessicarily breathing. Suta blushed as she pressed her lips against his after gently tilting his head up. She compressed her lungs transmitting air into his. She did this every 5 seconds for a minute. She put her ear close to his mouth and took notice if he was breathing. Suta took in a deep breath and sighed. He was breathing again, but for how long?