Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
Foosha Village
"Waah, I'm coming, I'm coming already …!" Makino panted as she ran up the stairs to the second floor. Her son was tied tightly to her body in a carrying device that made it possible for her to take him anywhere she went.
She threw open the door to her room and roamed around in her closet until she found what she had been looking for.
"Buru buru buru …"
"Yeah?" she panted into the receiver and stared at the Den Den Mushi she had put on the floor. But who else could it possibly be?
"Hey, darling," a voice all too well-known by her came out of the snail's mouth, and her heart beat faster. She still found it weird, communicating with him through such means, but it couldn't be helped. Better than no contact at all.
"Hi," she smiled and re-arranged the baby in her arms. He was still sleeping soundly, a miracle regarding all that ruckus around him and the hectic movements of his mother.
"God, it's so great to hear your voice. I missed it."
Wasn't it amazing, being greeted by such sweet words? Makino's smile grew broader. "I miss you."
The Den Den Mushi sighed, and she almost laughed. It looked so ridiculous, trying to mimic his face and expression. "I know. I'd come if I could. If I could only swim through Calm Belt, like Rayleigh. Unfortunately he never taught it to me …"
"Don't you dare!" she snorted. "Don't you dare try such a thing. You'll end up eaten by a neptunian, and leave a miserable wife and half-orphan behind."
She heard him laugh, and closed her eyes. Hearing his voice like this, without the communication device in front of her, almost created the illusion of his being really here. Beside her. But when she opened her eyes again … a snail would make faces at her.
Yet, she was incredibly glad for that stupid snail he had given her. She would never bear with all that time when he wasn't around. Which, unfortunately, was most of the time. He hadn't even been witness to his son being born. Hadn't heard his first cries, hadn't held him after birth and claimed himself the happiest man in the world. Hadn't taken her into his arms.
That he had done after he had visited the island again, and Makino had been so overjoyed that her son finally got to know his father. He had been overjoyed, too. He had marvelled at the small creature, had held him, had held her.
Then he had taken off again.
But Makino was fine with this. After all, she had known what she had let herself in for by marrying a pirate.
"How's my little boy?" he asked, his voice soft as silk. She felt a slight shudder running down her spine.
"He's great. He's already sleeping through, and everything's going fine. But I think he's missing his daddy."
Another sigh. "Makino, I …"
"Don't. It's not an accusation, you know that."
"I know."
Her eyes suddenly lit up again as she remembered what had been in the newspapers a few days ago. "By the way. Did you hear from Luffy?"
The snail grinned. "Course I did. He's gonna be one great Pirate King."
"I never expected anything else," Makino smiled and softly stroked her little one's head. "I'm so proud of him."
"Me too." He was silent for one moment, then, out of the blue, "I love you."
Her heart jumped up in her chest. "I love you too," she replied, and chuckled when the snail with red hair and three scars over its left eye blew her a kiss. "You better take care," she whispered, breathing a kiss on her baby's head. "Little one is waiting for you. And I am too."
