A/N: Here, only Luffy and the women of female island are genderbent (I wanted it to be just Hancock, but then he'd get a harem, so…). Everybody else remains the same. I hope this is okay with you, folks!

WARNING: (1)Spoilers ahead! If you haven't watched the Marineford arc…. Finish it first! Ha-ha

(2) I have a conservative moral code in real life. Well. This is not IRL and I'm hoping no one bashes me about it. xD

Disclaimer: One Piece is not mine. It's Oda-sensei's.

ooo

CHAPTER 1: AFTERMATH

Her whole body is shaking and it feels like something is stuck on her throat. Her eyes restrict and her heart feels like bursting. She does not even realize she is crying. When he asks if he should've been born, she thinks it wouldn't have been the same. She wouldn't be the same. In the end, she can't even imagine a world without Ace.

"You have to survive Luffy," he says—wheezes—with some of his last breaths. He is holding her cheek and his forehead resting on hers and she forgets that Aikainu is right behind him. He leans over and his lips touch a part of her face, just below her left eye.

Then his weight disappears on her and she hears a flop, and there he is—lying on the cold concrete floor.

Something inside her exploded, and she does not remember anything after that.

ooo

"Her heart is slowing down," Law says, frowning, before skillfully maneuvering his hands to fix the blood vessels that needs to be fixed. This is easily the most difficult surgery he has ever performed, and the risks are high. Even with his skills, this woman still needs a miracle to survive.

But somehow he isn't as unsure as he should be, for Monkey D. Luffy has created many miracles—he admits somewhat reluctantly—miracles that have occurred by willpower.

He knows because he has been watching her not too long since she entered Grand line, from East Blue—the so-called weakest sea, yet at the same time where the Pirate King was born.

The first time he has seen her, it is purely a coincidence, and he doesn't even see her bounty. Bepo has been overtly-ecstatic with his new bounty and brought along the whole lot of wanted posters. He skimmed through them out of boredom, but his hand stopped at the sight of her stupid grin.

At first he has thought it's because of the utter lack of menace that other villains has, but soon he realizes that's not really it.

It's because she's genuinely enjoying herself. Free and unrestrained.

"It's beating normally again, Captain!"

He nods, and pulls off his gloves as he finishes. "Now it's up to her."

ooo

His sharp eyes meet with those of the Snake Emperor, and his eyes widens while his crew's hopelessly admiring a fellow man. That moment, he almost takes out his sword until Jinbei extends his hand to stop him. It is then that he realizes that the emotion in the man's eyes is fear, mixed concern and worry.

He looks behind him and sees the frozen marines behind him, admiring gazes then-etched in stone. He's got an idea what this is about, it just isn't easy to absorb it. "How is she?" He finally asks.

"It's up to her." He answers concisely. "And her will to live."

The answer does not calm the emperor, if anything it has worried him more. Strawhat had just lost her sworn brother after all. They must've been close.

Still, is it enough to worry about her will to live? Her—one he has believed had endless supply of it?

Ah, he thinks, it seems he is beginning to be unsure as well. But he pushes it off. Strawhat is his most impressive rival, for sure, but he shouldn't allow his thoughts to linger too long on her. It's dangerous. He could feel it.

"I'll be taking care of her from here." The emperor says, just as his minions—male half-naked warriors—transfers from their ship to the marine's, calling his name. Without him noticing, one of his eyebrows rose. "To the island of men?"

"They are all castrated," he says, as if no more questions would rise from that statement, which is the opposite of the case, especially as a doctor. "No outsider is allowed in the island. Luffy is safe with us."

"She will need me."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"It's true." Jinbei intervenes, noticing the tension. "It isn't like it's the island of women, other than Luffy-kun, we are all men trying to help her."

Still, they end up on a bay far from the center, much to his crew's disappointment.

ooo

Hancock watches helplessly as Luffy destroys part of the submarine and a large part of his forest, her being looking for something to destroy to ease her pain. It is no use, and she screams her heart out, and mourn for her loss, and hate herself for being so weak.

It is Jinbei who calms her down, reminding her there are still people who remain: she still has her companions. She should get stronger for them.

She cries her heart out again, for a long time, albeit for a slightly different reason.

And Boa Hancock was with her the whole time, whether she knows of it or not.

ooo

"She should gather her strength again." Jinbe predicts, and he agrees, knowing Luffy. "Perhaps a more comfortable living quarters would do for tonight."

"She'll also be closer to the food." He announces, starting to feel giddy again. "She must be famished!" So they decide to bring Luffy to the center, much to the doctor's disapproval. Hancock knows that the doctor knows Luffy's will, and that she won't go on another rampage. He frowns at this, but decides not to fight with the man that has saved Luffy's life.

He carries her on his arms to the room next to his. It is a room supposedly reserved for his Queen, among many others in the harem he should have been building. He carefully places her on the futon, gently brushing her short ebony locks away from her smooth skin. She twitches a little. He has thought it's due to his touch, but he realizes she's dreaming.

"…Ace…"

His hands stops and in a flash he is reminded of what he has seen in Marineford: their last moments together. Fire fist holding her face so gently, kissing her cheek, looking at her like so long as she's safe, he is not in pain.

Those two… he has understood, then. They were in love.

It feels like a dagger stabbing his chest every time he thinks of it.

Eventually she opens her eyes from the visibly blissful dream. "…Hammock…?" she voices out, eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement. He only smiles at her in response, touching her face where Ace had.

"I'm sorry it was a dream." He says, and tears began flowing from her eyes.

"It's so painful." She squeaks, holding his arm. "I want it to go away."

His heart clenches and he rummages his head to think of ways to help, only nothing comes up. Her eyes never left his and he feels her grip on his arm.

Before he knows it, he leans in, to begin the most unforgettable night of his life.

xoxox

Thank you for reading! I appreciate reviews/comments/rants/whatever you want to say the most!